purposes But Apion thus vrgeth vs if quoth he the Iewes be citizens how hap they worship not the same God nor haue not the same religion that they rest of the Alexandrians haue To whom I thus answere how hapneth that you Aegyptians do so eōtend and warre against one another onely for diuersitie of religion shall we hereupon conclude that you are all Aegyptians or not all men because you worship and with great diligence nourish beasts against nature yet our nation seemeth one and the same If therefore amongst you Aegyptians such difference of opinions be why dost thou so maruell of this that we in a straunge place to wit at Alexandria do constantly perseuer in our first religion But he saith that we are the cause of all sedition which suppose he speake true of the lewes of Alexandria yet are not all Iewes in all places the cause of sedition for we are knowne to be peaceable amongst our selues But indeed as euerie one may perceiue the people like Apion himselfe are authors of sedition in Alexandria For whilest the Greekes and Macedonians held Alexandria they and we liued peaceably to gether and they permitted vsquietly to vse our owne solemnities but when the number of Aegyptians encreased by confusion of time sedition also by their meanes encreased But our nation remained vnpermixted They therefore were authors of those troubles not ha uing the gouernment of the Macedonians nor the wisedome of the Greeks but vsing their Aegyptian manners and renuing their olde hatred against vs. And that wherewith all they hit vs in the teeth befalleth them for most of them not hauing the priuiledges of the citie themselues call vs straungers that haue them For none of the ancient kings bestowed the libertie of the citie vpon the Aegyptians neither haue any of the Emperours of Rome bestowed the priuiledge But Alexander himselfe brought vs into the citie the kings after him encreased more priuiledges and it hath pleased the Roman Emperors to ratifie and confirme them But Apion detracteth vs for not erecting statues to the Emperours as though the Emperours knew not hereof or that they needed Apion to speake for them whereas he should rather admire the Romans magnanimitie and modestie who compell not their subiects to violate their auncient lawes and religion but content themselues with such honours as the giuer may with pietie and equitie giue them For they account not of forced honours which come of compulsion The Greekes and diuers other thinke it not amisse to erect statues for they delight to haue the pictures of their ancestors wiues and children and some of the beloued seruants also what maruaile then if they accord to yeeld the like honour to Princes and Emperours But our sawmaker not as prophecying the Romans power not to be reuerenced but foreseeing that it was neither profitable to God nor man forbad vs make an Image of any liuing creature much more of a not liuing God as we will proue hereafter But he permitted vsto reuerence all good men with any honour else not due to God and all those we giue vnto the Emperours and people of Rome and make our continual sacrifice for them and not onely vpon worke daies do this at the proper cost of all the Iewes but vpon such daies as we offer no other sacrifice no not for our own children we then sacrifice for the Roman Emperour yeelding that honour to the Roman Emperour which we do to none else And let this suffice to answere that which Apion alleageth against the Iewes of Alexandria yet can I not but admire at them who gaue him this occasion namely Possidonius and Apollonius Molon who a ccuse vs for not worshipping the same Gods that others do although they lie all alike slaundering our temple most absurdly and yet for all this they doe not beleeue that they herein commit any impietie whereas it is a most ignominious thing for any free man to lie vpon any occasion much more of a temple famous ouer all the world for sanctitie For Apion affirmeth that the Iewes in that sacred temple placed the head of an Asse and worshipped it most religiously And this quoth he was manifestly knowne at such time as Antiochus Epiphanes spoyled that Temple who found that Asses head being of massie gold and great value To this first slaunder I first answere that were that true which he reporteth yet an Aegyptian ought not to haue spoken against vs for it seeing that an Asse is of no lesse worth then a Goate and other bruite beasts that they honour for gods Was it possible that hee knew not the contrarie of his owne affirmations by our deedes and Scriptures For we vse the same lawes that at the first wee did and remaine in them without change and for all that our Citie as others also haue hath by the variable euent of warre bene vexed and troubled and that Antiochus surnamed the god and Pompey the great and Licinius Crassus and now lastly Titus Caesar haue all vanquished our Temple yet did they neuer find in it any thing as Apion affirmeth but sincere pietie not lawfull for vs to disclose to strangers And as touching Antiochus many writers of good credite report that hee neuer had any iust cause to spoyle our Temple but that he was drawne vnto this fact for want of money Not for that hee was our enemie but for that as from his friends and fellowes hee sought supplie and found nothing in that place that was worthie of derision and thus doe Polybius Megapolitanus Strabo the Cappadocian Nicholas Damascene Timagenes Castor the Chronicler and Apollodorus avow who all doe witnesse that Antiochus wanting money brake the league hee had with the Iewes and robbed and spoyled their Temple being full of gold and siluer Apion ought to haue considered this had he not had an Asses heart and a dogges impudencie which hee and his Countriemen worship for gods As for vs we doe neither honour nor reuerence Asses though the Egyptians doe their Crocodiles and Aspes esteeming them that are bitten by Aspes and deuoured by Crocodiles to be happie and fit for God But we esteeme those to be Asses which all our wisemen doe to wit them who beare burdens imposed vpon them and if comming into a field they fall to eate and doe not that which they ought to doe we vse to beate them with many stripes and force them to till the ground and doe other drudgerie But Apion was either the greatest Asse that euer was in telling alie or else hauing begun to doe it he could not compasse his enterprises in that hee found not any iust cause of detraction against vs. He addeth an other fable of the Greekes detracting vs to the which I will make only this replie that it is more commendable and agreeing to pietie and lesse vncleannesse to passe thorowe the Temple then for priestes to come and feigne impious words and speeches which they not
touching Euphrates and Tygris they flow into the redde sea Euphrates is called Phora that is to say dispersion or flower Tygris is called Diglat which signifieth streight and swift Gehon runneth by the countrey of Aegypt and signifieth as much as comming from the East the Greekes call it Nilus Now God commanded Adam and his wife to eate of the fruites of all other plantes and that they should abstaine from that of science telling them that at what time soeuer they should taste of the same they should die the death Whereas then at that time all liuing creatures were at accord one with another the Serpent conuersing with Adam and his wife was inflamed with enuie for that he sawe they should be happy if they continued in the obseruation of Gods commandements and that contrariwise they should cast themselues headlong into ruine and destruction if they should disobey the same He therefore maliciously perswaded the woman to taste the fruit of the tree of intelligence giuing her to vnderstand that the knowledge of good and euill was in the same and that as soone as they had tasted thereof they should lead a life no lesse happy then Gods and by this meanes he caused the woman to fall which tooke no regard of the ordinance of God For hauing her selfe tasted of this fruit and finding it pleasant and delicious in taste she perswaded her husband also to taste the same at which time they vnderstood that they were naked and sought meanes to couer themselues for this fruit had in it selfe the vertue to giue vnderstanding and to quicken the thought Then couered they themselues with fig leaues which they put before their priuities esteeming themselues more happy then they were before in that they had found out that which they wanted But when as God came into the garden Adam who before times was accustomed familiarly to talke with him finding himselfe guiltie of sinne hid himselfe from his presence but God wondring hereat asked him for what cause he fled and shunned him at that time whereas before time he had taken pleasure to talke familiarly with him Adam knowing that he had transgressed the ordinances and commandements of God answered him not a word but God spake vnto him after this manner I had prouided for you the meanes whereby you might haue led your life without sufferance of any euill or sense of any miserie so that all whatsoeuer was requisite for necessitie or pleasure might happen of it selfe vnto you by my onely prouidence without any trauell or care on your parts which if you had well vsed age had not so soone ouertaken you but that you might haue liued many yeares but thou hast scorned this mine ordinance and broken my commandement For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth not of vertue but of euill of which thou findest thy selfe culpable wherefore both old age shall quicklier come vpon thee and the daies of thy life shall be shortened Adam excused his sinne and required at Gods hands that he would not be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had happened on his wife alleadging that he had offended by reason he was suborned by her and the woman accused the Serpent But at that time God punished him because he had suffered himselfe to be ouercome by the counsaile of a woman that the earth thence forward neuer more of her owne accord should bring foorth fruit but that when they had trauailed and almost deuoured themselues in labour it should sometimes giue them foode and at other times refuse to sustaine them And as touching Eue he chastised her with child-bearing and throwes in trauell for that being her selfe deceiued by the Serpent she had drawne her husband by the same meanes into extreame miserie He tooke also from the Serpent his voice and was displeased against him * by reason of the malice he had conceiued against Adam and he put venome on his tongue declaring him an enemie both to man and woman whom he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that the euill which chanced vnto men consisted in the head as also â—…at being assaulted in that part he is most easily done to death Moreouer hauing depriued him of his feete he condemned him to slide and traile himselfe along the earth And after that God had ordained them to suffer those punishments he translated Adam and Eue out of the garden into another place CHAP. III. Of the Posteritie of Adam and of the ten ages euen vnto the Deluge BVt Adam and Eue had two male children the first whereof was called Cain which signifieth acquisition and the second was called Abel which is as much to say as mourning they had also daughters These brothers addicted themselues each one of them to their particular exercises Abel the younger honoured iustice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he alwaies and wholy fixed his thoughts on vertue and his exercise was keeping of sheepe But Cain being the wickedest man amongst men and addicted to vnsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the vse of the Plough and who killed his brother for the cause which ensueth Hauing concluded among themselues to sacrifice vnto God Cain offered the fruites of his labour and planting Abell presented milke and the firstlings of his folde which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselues by the order of nature then that which a couetous man had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being wroth because his brother Abell was more honoured by God then himselfe slewe his brother and hauing hidden his bodie out of sight he thought that such a murther should be concealed But God knowing well this fact appeared to Cain and questioned with him as concerning his brother what might become of him for that many daies since he had not seene him when as heretofore he had alwaies seene him conuersant before him Cain being troubled and ignorant what aunswere he should make vnto God said first that he wondered what was the cause his brother was so long time absent and finally aggreeued in that God continued the quest and did more exactly seeke after him he said he was â—…ot his brothers keeper or bound to take care of his affaires Then God reproued and conuicted Cain of murthering his brother and spake vnto him after this manner saying that he wondered he should denie the knowledge of his brothers death whereas he himselfe had slaine him notwithstanding he acquited him of the punishment deserued for this murther by reason that Cain had done sacrifice and made request vnto God that it might please him to remit somewhat of the seueritie of his iustice against him yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his successors to the seuenth generation Then did he driue him his wife out of
stones which hee had heaped togither in steed of a pill◅v and during the time of his rest this vision following was presented vnto him It seemed vn◅ him that he saw a ladder that extending it selfe from the earth reached vp vnto heauen along the steps whereof there descended certaine resemblances more excellent to looke on then the ordinarie port of humane nature could impart and on the top thereof God manifestly appeared and calling him by his name spake vnto him after this manner Iacob sure thou art the sonne of a good father and descended from a grandfather renowned and famous for his great vertue thou must not be daunted or appauled by thy present trauels but rather be confirmed in hope of future good hap For by mine assistance thou shalt be blessed a◅d endowed with many benefites For I am he that brought Abraham hither from the countrey of Mesopotamia at such time as he was pursued by his kinsmen I haue also made thy father happy and will be no lesse gracious and fauourable vnto thy selfe Be confident therefore and prosecute thy iourney vnder mine assistance The mariage which thou pursuest shall haue a happy issue and thou shalt haue good children who in number shall grow infinite and shall likewise leaue after them a plentifull and famous posterity and I wil giue them the soueraigntie ouer this countrey both to them and their successors and they shall people and replenish both the earth and the sea as farre as the sunne enlighteneth the world Let not therefore any danger dismay thee nor trauaile discomfort thee for besides all this whatsoeuer thou shalt vndertake I will not cease to assist thee These things did God foretell vnto Iacob who verie highly reioycing at that which he had seene and that which had been denounced vnto him annointed the stones on which the promises of so many blessings had beene made and vowed to offer sacrifice vnto God on the same if at such time as he had attained the good hee sought he should grant him the grace to returne in health and safetie into his countrey which as soone as he returned backe he performed offering vnto God the tenth of all that which he had giuen him And as touching the place where this vision appeared vnto him he hallowed it and called it by the name of Bethel which in the Greeke tongue signifieth the house of God Continuing thus his iourney into Mesopotamia he trauelled so long till at last he arriued at Charran and hauing met in the suburbes of the Citie with certaine shepheards and yong men accōpanied with yong maidens sitting neere to a certaine fountaine he drewe neere vnto them desiring them to giue him drinke and falling in discourse with them he asked them whether they knew one that was called Laban and whether he were yet aliue All of them answered that they knew him well and that he was a man of that reputation that his name could not be concealed that his daughter was accustomed to feede her flocke with them and that they wondred that she was not as yet ariued of whom said they thou maist perfectly vnderstand all that which thou desirest to know Whilest thus they past the time in talke the Damsell drewe neere accompanied with her shepheards whom one of the companie informed that Iacob was inquisitiue after her father who reioycing after the manner of young maidens asked him what he was and whence he came and what necessitie had driuen him thither wishing she had the meanes to supply whatsoeuer his necessities required Iacob being ouercome not by the force of affinitie or by her good behauiour and curtesie but with the loue of the maiden was inflamed seeing her so faire and matchlesse in beautie said vnto her If thou art the daughter of Laban there is a greater and more ancient coniunction betwixt both thy father thy selfe and me then eyther thy yeares or my birth can attaine vnto For Abraham Aran and Nachor were Thare◅ sonnes Bathuel thy grandfather was Nachors sonne Isaac my father was the sonne of Abraham and Sara daughter of Aran there is yet a neerer and deerer bond of friendship wherewith we are linked one vnto another For Rebecca my mother is sister vnto Laban thy father borne of one father and mother so that you and I are cosens and therefore now am I come at this present to salute you and renewe that auncient loue which our alliance requireth at our hands But she remembring her of all those things which her father was wont to report and discourse of Rebecca and knowing that her parents were desirous to heare some newes from her she wept for ioy remembring her of the loue of her father hung about his necke and embraced the young man and after she had saluted him she said vnto him Thou bringest a most desired great pleasure to my father al his family who neuer forgetteth thy mother but often times maketh mention of her would esteeme it a great felicitie to heare tidings from her Then desired she him presently to follow her to her father least any longer he might be depriued of so desired a pleasure This said she brought him vnto Laban where being acknowledged by his vncle he both by that means liused securely amongst his friends as also brought him great contentment by his vnexpected accesse vnto them Some few daies after this Laban told him that he tooke so much contentment in his presence that he could not expresse it in words yet required he him to manifest the cause that had induced him to leaue his father and mother in their extreame age at such time as they had most neede of him to find him out moreouer he promised him all assistance and fauour in whatsoeuer cause he had to make vse of him Whereupon Iacob discoursed vnto him the whole matter that Isaac had two sonnes himselfe and Esau that his brother in that by his mothers deuise and counsell he had defrauded him of his fathers blessing sought and desired to kill him as he that was the rauisher of that principalitie from him that was destinated vnto him by God and the surpriser of all his fathers other intended vowes that this as also his mothers commaund was the cause why he came thither by reason they are all brothers and by reason that in especiall his mother was their neerest a kinne telling him that next after God he hoped to finde his greatest assistance and helpe by the meanes of his vncle Whereupon Laban promising vnto him whatsoeuer humanitie he could imagine as well in respect of their common auncestors as for the loue he bare vnto his mother towards whom although she were absent he would expresse his good affection in shewing himselfe well affected towards him that was there present he told him then that he would giue him the charge of his flocke and make him master ouer all his shepheards and that when he should thinke good to
to be almost desperate yet our only hope as yet resteth in your goodnes and clemencie For which cause we beseech you that you will not only haue compassion of vs but of your owne nature and that in this cause you would be pleased to take counsaile not of your iust indignation but your natiue goodnesse gouerning your wrath with a great mind to which vulgar men both in great and small occurrences are wont to submit Consider I pray you whether it stand with your dignitie to kill those who present themselues to be punished desire in no sort to liue except it be by the benefit of your mercie Suffer not your selfe to be depriued of this honour that after you haue deliuered vs from famine and liberally furnished vs with come so of your mercie likewise you haue permitted vs to returne vnto our family being trauelled by the same perill and to bring them home sustonance For one and the same bounty is it to continue them in life who are trauelled with famine and to forgiue them death who haue merited it by their offences to whom their wickednes hath enuied that bounty which you haue heroically extended towards them It is one and the same grace imparted by you in diuers manners For thou shalt saue those whom thou hast fed and that life which thou wouldest not suffer to faile by force of famine thou shalt redeliuer and giue againe whereby thy clemencie may be more commendable whilest both thou giuest life and those things likewise whereby life is maintained Moreouer I thinke that God himselfe hath giuen thee this meanes to expresse thy vertue that it may appeare that thou settest lighter by the iniuries offered vnto thee then by thy will to doe good and that thou art not liberall to them only who are poore and innocent For although it bee a great praise to yeeld succour in aduersities yet is a prince no lesse honoured by his clemencie especially in a cause that concerneth his particular interest For if they that remit small offences are followed by deserued praise what is it to restraine a mans ire in a capitall crime doth it not most neerely approximate the diuine clemencie And hadde I not good experience by Iosephs death how grieuously my father digesteth the want of his children I would not so earnestly intreat for his safety but so farre forth and no otherwise but as it might redound to the praise of thy clemencie and were there not some to whom our death would bring both griefe and discontent we were willing all of vs to suffer punishment But now whereas we haue not so much commiseration of our selues although as yet we be but yong and haue not much tasted the pleasures and fruit of this life as of our wretched parents being drowned in yeares and cares we offer vp vnto thee these our prayers in his name also and beseech thee to graunt vs life though at this day wee are vnder thy iustice for our offences Assuredly hee is a good man and begate vs that we should be like vnto him worthy is he neuer to taste or to be tried by any such calamitie who now thorow our absence is discruciate with care and sorrow Now if so be he should receiue any tydings either of our death or the cause thereof he will not indure any more to liue the infamy of our deaths will shorten his daies and make his death by this meanes more vnhappy who rather then he should heare the rumors of our shame would hasten his death in supposing them All these wel considered although thou art iustly moued by this offence remit the reuenge vnto our father and rather let thy pity towards him then our iniquity towards thee preuaile with thee Impart this honor to his old age which if it be depriued of our presence neither wil nor can desire to liue yeeld this respect to thy fathers memory yea ascribe it to the very name of a father wherewith thou art honoured so God the father of all men will blesse thee in that name and fortunate thee in thy increase whom also thou shalt honour if in respect of that common name thou take compassion of our father in considering the sorrow that he shall endure if perhaps he shall be depriued of his children It now lieth in your power to giue vs that which you may depriue vs of by that power which God hath giuen you and in doing vs this fauour you shall imitate the nature of God and in this respect become like vnto him For since it lieth in your power to doe both the one and the other it were better thou didst good then euill and contenting thy selfe with thy power not to remember or vrge thy reuenge but onely to thinke that thy power was giuen thee to keepe and conserue men and that the more mercie thou extendest towards many the more honour thou redoublest on thy head now it lieth in thy power by for giuing our brothers errour to giue vs all life For neither can we be safe except he be saued neâ—…ther may we returne home vnto our father except he returne but here must we suffer whatsoeuer our brother suffereth Neither doe we craue any other mercy at thy hand dread prince if we be repulsed in this but that thou wilt inflict one and the same punishment on vs in no other manner then as if we had been partakers of the felony for this were more better for vs then that we our selues thorow sorrow should offer violence to our owne soules I will not alleadge or vrge his youth or iudgement as yet vnripened neither will I inferre that pardon is vsually granted vnto such but here will I make an end that whether we be condemned in that I haue not sufficiently pleaded his cause or whether we be absolued we may wholy ascribe this grace to your fauour and clemencie to the bounds of whose praise this likewise shall be added that not onely thou hast saued vs but also in pardoning vs of the punishment which we haue iustly deserued hast had more care of vs then we our selues If therefore it be thy pleasure to adiudge him to die suffer me to suffer for him and send him backe vnto our father or if it please thee to retaine him for thy slaue I am more fit then he to doe all sorts of seruices as you may perceiue and am ready to suffer all that which may be inflicted on me When Iuda had spoken thus he humbled himselfe at Iosephs feete indeuouring as much as in him lay to mollifie and appease his ire in like sort also all the other brothers prostrated themselues offering themselues to die for Beniamin But Ioseph conquered with pitie and vnable any longer to personate a displeased man sent away all those that were present and being alone with them discouered himâ—…elfe vnto his brothers and in this sort to them onely he disclosed himselfe and said I cannot but commend the
pietie and loue which you beare vnto your brother which I find to be greater then I did expect gathering my coniectures from those things which in times past haue hapned vnto me For to this end haue I done all this that I might make triall of your brotherly beneuolence whereof since you haue giuen me a notable proofe I will not ascribe that which you haue done vnto me to your natures but rather wholy to the will of God who hath at this present furnished you with all things which are profitable for you and will hereafter giue you greater things if he withdraw not his fauourable hand from vs. When as therefore I vnderstood of my fathers rather desired then hoped health and found you to be such as I desired you should be towards your brother I freely forget those iniuries which in times past were done vnto me rather making choice to giue you thankes as the ministers of Gods prouidence that against this time prouided for our common profit then remember me as then it seemed vnto me of your pretensed malice I therefore pray you that forgetting those things which are past you will be of courage and waxe confident suffering willingly the good euent of an ill intent neither that blushing at your former faults you should be any waies amated Let not therefore the euill sentence which in times past you pronounced against me any waies trouble you since you perceiue i◅ hath wanted effect but reioice ye at these workes of God and gō and tell your father that which you haue seene for feare least he being cōsumed with immoderate care of you I my selfe be depriued of the chiefest fruit of my feliciti before he come to my presence and be made partaker of those benefits Wherfore depart you bringing with you him your wiues and children and all your kinred come backe vnto me for it were inconuenient my deare brethren that you should not be partakers of my felicitie especially since this famine is as yet to continue for the co◅e of fiue yeares This said ◅eph embraced his brethren but they were wholy confounded in teares and sorrow and the grea◅er was their repentance in that they had sinned against so kind a brother After all this there followed a banquet And the king vnderstanding that Iosephs brethren were arriued as if some good fortune had befallen him right hartily reioyced and he gaue them chariots laden with corne and gold and siluer with other presents to present their father with who enriched with diuers gifts some by their brother vnto his father other some to themselues but in especiall to Beniamin they returned home into their countrey But after that Iacob vnderstood by his sonnes in what estate his sonne Ioseph was that he had not only escaped from death which he had so long time bewailed but also that he liued in high prosperitie and ministred to the king of Egypt and had welnie the whole gouernment of the kingdome vnder his hands he easily beleeued all things that were told him acknowledged the great works of God and his goodnesse shewed vnto him although for a time it seemed to be intermitted And a little time after he addressed himselfe to go and visit his sonne Ioseph CHAP. IIII. How Iacob with all his progenie departed vnto his sonne BVt when he arriued neere the fountaine of Couenant he offered in that place a sacrifice vnto God and fearing least his children should inhabit Egypt by reason of the fertility of the place and that his posteritie by not returning backe into the land of Chanaan should leese the possession of that which God had promised them and furthermore doubting least that his iourney into Egypt being by him enterprised against the will of God should be ominous vnto his children and suspecting likewise least he should die before he came to Iosephs presence he was wonderfully perplexed in mind Whilest thus he rumina ted and examined these things in his thought he was surprised with a heauy sleepe during which time God appeared vnto him and called him twise by his name who asking who it was that called him God answered Doest thou not acknowledge O Iacob that God who hath both protected thee and thine auncestors and succoured you all in your necessities who contrarie to thy fathers purpose made thee Lord of his family and when as by thy selfe thou diddest trauell into Mesopotamia I brought to passe that being matched in wedlocke verie happily thou returnedst into thy countrey backe againe being blessed with many children and stored with much riches I also kept thy progenie in safety and when it seemed thou hadst lost Ioseph I raised him to that high steppe of dignitie wherein now he liueth and made him the next in person to the king of Egypt And now also am I come vnto thee vnto this end that I may guide thee in this thy iourney and that I may fo◅ell thee that thou shalt leaue thy life betwixt the hands of Ioseph and that thy posteritie shall be mightie and famous for many ages and shall posses◅e that land the empire whereof I haue promised them Assured and made confident by this dreame he more willingly ◅astened both he his sons with all their progenie into Egypt whose number amounted to the summe of 70. Their names in that they are somewhat hard I had not written downe except it were to satisfie some who contend that we are Egyptians and not Mesopotamians The sonnes of Iacob therefore were twelue in number of whom Ioseph came thither long before them Now are the rest to be reckoned vp with euerie one of their progenies Ruben had foure sonnes Anoches Phalles Essaron and Char◅sus Simeon had sixe Iumilus Iaminus Puthodus Iachenus G◅r Saar Leui also had three ◅lsemis Caathus and Mararis Iuda had likewise three Sala Phar◅s Zara with two sonnes of Phares Esrom and Amyrus Issachar had foure Thulas Phruras Iobus and Samaron Zabulon had three Saradus Elon and Ianel And these were the children ◅e had by Lea who also led with her Dina her daughter the number of whom amounteth to 33. But Rachel had two sonnes of which the elder who was called Ioseph had likewise two Manasses and Ephraim But Beniamin had ten Bolossus Baccharis Asabel G◅a Naemanes Ises Aros Nomphthis Optais and Sarodus These foureteene added to those abouenamed make vp the number of fortie seuen And this was the legitimate issue of Iacob But on Bala Rachels handmaid Dan and Nephthalim who was attended by foure sonnes Eleinus Gunes Sares and Hellimus But Dan had onely one sonne called Vsis Now if those be added to the aboue named they make vp the number of 54. But Gad and Asser were borne by Zelpha Leas handmaid of these Gad was attended by seuen sonnes Zophonias Vgis Sunis Zabros Erines Erodes and Ariel Asser had one daughter and sixe male children whose names were Iomnes Essus Iubes Baris Abarus Melmiel
assault and exp◅gnation he thought good that they who had beene drawne from out the countrey scituate beyond Iordan to be associates in this common cause of conquest and by reason of affinitie had made themselues copartners and companions in their perils should be sent backe into their owne countrey with all complement of thankes and gratuitie Afterwards that some one of each tribe of approued vprightnes and loyalty should be pickt out who leuying out and suruaying the countrey might faithfully and without fraud report the greatnes thereof This sentence was approued by the whole multitude and thereupon diuers men were sent accompanied with such as were skilfull in Geometry who in respect of their science could neither erre nor be deceiued to measure out the land according to the goodnes thereof For the nature of the land of Chanaan is such that there are great plaines very fruitfull and which being compared with other places might be esteemed happy and fruitfull in all sorts of fruit but if they be compared with the other countries of Iericho and the land about Ierusalem they seeme to be nothing worth for although in generalitie the whole countrey be small and for the greater part mountainous yet in respect of the aboundance bountie and incredible beautie of the fruits thereof it is second to no other whatsoeuer For this cause he thought good that the portions should rather be estimated according to their value thē their measure by reason that oftentimes one plow land was worth one thousand other Those which were sent were ten in number who hauing trauailed ouer the whole countrey and suruaied the same returned againe to Siloe at the end of sixe moneths where the Arke was kept Then Iosuah taking vnto him Eleazar with the Elders and Princes of the tribes deuided the Region amongst nine tribes and the halfe part of the tribe of Manasses hauing an vnpartiall respect of the greatnes of euery tribe and when as each mans lot was cast there fell to Iudahs part all the higher Iudaea which extendeth it selfe in length euen vnto Ierusalem and in breadth to the lake of Sodome to which likewise were annexed the cities of Ascalon and Gaza The tribe of Simeon which was the second obtained a part of Idumaea confining vpon Aegypt and Arabia The Beniamites had that countrey which extendeth from Iordan vnto the sea in length and in breadth vnto Ierusalem and Bethel and this portion was verie small by reason that the countrey was good for it contained the Cities of Iericho and Ierusalem The tribe of Ephraim was allotted his portion in length from Iordan vnto Gadera and in bredth from Bethel vnto the great plaine The halfe tribe of the Manassites was valued from Iordan to the citie of Dor in length and in bredth vnto Bethsan which is at this day called Scythopolis After them Isachar had the mount of Carmel and the floud of Iordan for their limits and termes of his length and the mountaine Itabir for the bounds of his bredth The Zabulonites were allowed that countrey which stretcheth out as farre as Genazereth and that abutteth on the mountaine Carmel and the sea The countrey which is betwixt Carmell and Sidon was adiudged to the Asserites in which portion was comprised the Citie of Arce which is also called Actipus The Nephthalites possessed that quarter that stretcheth out from the East vnto the Citie of Damascus and the lower Galilee as farre as the mountaine of Libanus and the head of Iordan that issueth from the same on that side where are the borders of the Citie of Arce on the North side To them of Dan was assigned the valley that is extended to the Westward and is terminated by the Cities of Azoth and Dor that containeth all the countrey of Iamnia and Gitta from Abaron euen vnto that mountaine where beginneth the tribe of Iuda After this manner did Iesus deuide the countrey of the sixe nations bearing the name of Chanaan and gaue it in possession to nine tribes and a halfe For Amorrhaea so called by one of the sonnes of Chanaan had beene alreadie taken by Moses and assigned by him to two tribes and a halfe as I haue alreadie heretofore declared But all the quarter of Sidon of the Aruceans Amatheans and Aritheans were not comprised in this deuision neither was it tilled But Iesus seeing himselfe ouerburdned with yeares and vnfit to execute in his owne person those counsels which he had concluded vpon and foreseeing that the Gouemours of the people which should succeed after him would be negligent in procuring the common profit commaunded euery seuerall tribe in particular that when they should possesse the countrey thus distributed amongst them they should not suffer any one of the race of the Chanaanites to liue For Moses had before time told and perswaded them that their securitie and the maintenance of the customes of their forefathers consisted in that one point which he had likewise leamt by his owne experience Further that they should deliuer vnto the Leuites thirtie and eight Cities because they had alreadie ten in their possession within the land of Amorrhea three of which were ordained for Cities of refuge to those that fled for he aduised them with all consideration and care to omit nothing of that which Moses had commaunded them of the tribe of Iuda Hebron of that of Ephraim Sichem and of Nepthali Cedesa which is a place in higher Galilee Moreouer he distributed vnto them the surplusage of the pray which was verie great so that not onely in publike but in priuate they got no small quantitie of substance for there was so much gold and rayment and household stuffe and so great store of cattell and horses as the number may not be comprehended After which he assembled the whole armie and to those that were planted on the other side of Iordan who had borne armes with the rest and were in number no lesse then fiftie thousand he spake after this manner Since God the father and master of our Hebrew nation hath giuen this countrey into our possession and hath promised that at such time as it shall be conquered that he will continue and conserue the same in our possession and since likewise you haue willingly and forwardly asassisted vs in all our necessities and daungers according to Gods commaund and direction it is requisite at this present since there remaineth not any further matter wherein we haue neede to employ you that we dismisse you and abuse not your forwardnesse and readinesse any further by reason we are assured that if hereafter we shall haue need of you you will with no lesse endeuour and willingnes be as industrious to do vs kindnes We therfore yeeld you heartie thanks for that you haue vouchsafed to be companions in our perils and we require you that you will perseuere in this your mutual beneuolence remembring you of your friends and how you haue gotten
twenty and three yeers olde who raigned in Ierusalem his mothers name was Ametala he was a man full of impietie and of a malignant and peruerse nature The King of Aegypt returning from the warre sent vnto Ioaz commanding him to meet with him in Samath a Citie of Syria where he was no sooner arriued but he kept him prisoner committing the kingdome to Eliacim his brother on the fathers side who was his elder brother likewise He changed his name also and called him Ioachim he imposed atribute also on Iudaea of one hundreth talents of siluer and a talent of golde which Ioachim paid And as touching Ioaz hee led him into Aegypt where he finished his daies after he had been king three moneths and ten daies Now Ioachims mother was called Zabuda of the Citie of Abuma He was a wicked person and of a malignant nature hauing neither pietie towardes God nor respect of equitie towardes men CHAP. VI. Nabuchodonosors army commeth into Syria IN the fourth yeere of his raigne a certaine man called Nabuchodonosor possessed the kingdome of Babylon who at that time went out with a great army against Carchabesa a Citie scituate neere vnto Euphrates resoluing with himselfe to fight against Nechao king of Aegypt vnder whose power all Syria was subiect Nechao vnderstanding of the Babylonians intent and how great his army was made verie little account thereof but with a huge army addressed himselfe towards Euphrates with an intent to repulse Nabuchodonosor But he was ouercome in battell and lost diuers thousands of his men Whereupon the Babylonian passing Euphrates seazed all Syria as far as Pelusium Iudaea onely excepted The fourth yeere that Nabuchodonosor raigned ouer these conquered countries the eight yeere of the raigne of Ioachim ouer the Hebrewes the Babylonians led forth his army against the Iewes with a mightie power threatning them to vse al hostility except Ioachim would pay him tribute Ioachim fearing his threats bought his peace with siluer and paid him for three yeers space the tributes that were imposed on him But in the third yeere vnderstanding that the Aegyptian was vp in armes against the Babylonian he denied the paiment of the tribute notwithstanding he was frustrated of his hope for the Aegyptians were not so hardy as to make warre All which the Prophet Ieremy daily foretold him signifying vnto him that he builded his hope in vaine vpon the Aegyptians and that it would fall out that the Citie should be ouerthrowne by the king of Babylon and Ioachim himselfe should be deliuered prisoner into his hands But because there was no meanes for them to escape this iustice all that which he said was nothing auailable For notwithstanding the people and gouernours heard thereof yet made they no reckoning of the same but were displeased with those counsailes which he proposed vnto them accusing Ieremy as if he tooke pleasure to vtter and publish ominous and aduerse presages against the king they likewise called him in question before the kings counsaile and required that he might be condemned Whereupon some of them gaue sentence against him the rest reproouing the aduise of the elders that were thus addicted tooke a more discreete course and caused the Prophet to depart out of the kings house forbidding his aduersaries to doe him any mischiefe they protesting that he had not only foretolde the future calamities of the city but that many before him had done the like as Micheas and diuers others yet that no one of them had suffered any euill by the kings of their time but that contrariwise Micheas had been honoured as a Prophet sent from God By these words they appeased the people and deliuered Ieremy from the death intended against him This man wrote all his prophecies and red them to the people in their fasts and assembled them in the temple in the ninth moneth of the fifth yeere of the raigne of Ioachim which booke he had composed touching that which should happen vnto the Citie the temple and the people When the gouernours heard the same they tooke the booke from him and commanded that both he and his secretarie Baruch should withdraw themselues out of the sight of men and they tooke the booke and presented it vnto the king who in the presence of his friends commanded his secretarie to reade the same and after he had heard the contents thereof he waxed wondrous wroth and renting it in pieces cast it into the fire intending that it should neuer be seene He sent out likewise a strickt commission to seeke out Ieremy and his secretarie Baruch and to lead them out to be punished But they had preuented his indignation CHAP. VII Nabuchodonosor putteth Ioachim to death and establisheth Ioachin in the kingdome NOt long after this he went out to meete the king of Babylon who was marched out to make warre against him and being incredulous and carelesse of the Prophets predictions he opened the gates vnto him supposing that he intended him no euill But when the Babylonians were entred into the Citie the King obserued not his promises but put all such to death as were in the flower and beautie of their yeeres and spared none of the inhabitants of Ierusalem with them also he slew their king Ioachim and caused his body to be cast from the toppe of the wals and vouchsafed him no sepulture establishing Ioachin his sonne King of the countrey and of the citie Moreouer he tooke three thousand of the most honourable Citizens of Ierusalem prisoners and led them to Babylon with him amongst whom was the Prophet Ezechiel at that time very yoong in yeers This was the end of king Ioachim who liued thirty six yeeres and raigned eleuen Ioachin that succeeded him in the kingdome was the sonne of Nosta of Ierusalem and raigned three moneths and ten daies CHAP. VIII Nabuchodonosor changeth his purpose and besiegeth Ioachin and receiueth him vnder composition AS soone as the Babylonian had bestowed the kingdome of Iudaea on Ioachin he was seazed with a sodaine feare which made him suspect least Ioachin remembring himselfe of the iniuries he had done vnto him by the murther of his father might draw the countrey into rebellion and reuolt against him For which cause he sent out certaine forces and besieged Ioachin in Ierusalem who being a man of a good nature and of an vpright heart was loth to forsake the Citie in that danger without a gouernour considering that it was for his cause that the common weale was in that hazard For which cause taking his wife and his neerest akin with him he deliuered them into the hands of the captaines that were sent against him receiuing an oth from them that neither they nor the Citie should receiue any harme But this promise continued not a yeere for the King of Babylon obserued it not but commanded his captaines to imprison all the youth and artificers that were in the Citie and to bring
in the fift yeere after the destruction of Ierusalem which was the three and twentith yeere of the raigne of Nabuchodonosor Nabuchodonosor in his owne person led his army into Coelosyria and hauing conquered the same he made warre vpon the Ammonites and Moabites And after he had brought these nations vnder his obeisance he went and sought against the king of Aegypt and ouercame him and after he had slaine their king that gouerned at that time and planted an other in his place he afterwards tooke the Iewes that he found in that countrey and carried them prisoners into Babylon By this means we haue learned that the state of the Hebrewes being brought to this point hath bin translated twise to the other side of Euphrates For the people of the two tribes were captiued by the Assyrians during the raigne of Oseas and consequently that of the two tribes vnder Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians and Chaldees vpon the taking in of Ierusalem True it is that Salmanazar after he had displaced the Israelites planted the Chutheans in their place who beforetime inhabited the innermost of the countries of Persia and Media and were called Samaritanes according to the name of the place which they inhabited but the Babylonian hauing led the two tribes prisoners hath not planted any other people in their places For this cause Iudaea Ierusalem and the temple remained desert for the space of seuentie yeeres and all the time that passed betweene the captiuitie of the Israelites vntill the destruction of the two tribes was a hundreth and thirtie yeeres six moneths and ten daies But Nabuchodonosor chose the most noblest yoong men amongst the Iewes and such as were allied to king Sedecias and esteemed likewise for the good disposition and faire proportion of their bodies and faces and committed them to masters to be instructed commaunding that euery one of them should be gelded according as they were accustomed to deale with yoong children of other nations whom he subdued by force He allowed them victuall from his owne table and they were taught and instructed in the disciplines of the countrey and in the Chaldeetoong These were verie apte to learne wisedome and for that cause he commanded that they should be trained vp in the exercise thereof Of these there were foure of Zedechias kindred faire in body and vertuous in nature who were called Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias whose names the Babylonian changed and willed them to be called by other names distinct and different from their own Daniel was called Balthasar Ananias Sidrach Misael Misach and Azarias Abdenago These did the king esteeme very highly for their excellent nature and for the great affection that they had to attaine vnto learning and wisedome wherein they profited greatly and were for that cause highly reckoned of by him And whereas Daniel and his kinsemen thought good to liue austerely and to abstaine from those meates that came from the kings table and in generall from all things that had life they went vnto Askenas the Eunuch who had the care and charge ouer them beseeching him to conuert those meates to his owne vse which were sent them from the kings table and to allow them herbes and dates and such things as had no life because they intended to hold that course of life and to forsake all other Askenas told them that he was ready to condescend vnto their demaunds but that he feared least being called for by the king they should be found to be leane in body and discoloured in face for without doubt in following that diet they must needly lose their colours and be lesse dispost in comparison of others which might be the cause to bring him into hazard of his head They perceiuing that Askenas intended nought els but his securitie perswaded him to allow them but ten daies of approbation vnder condition that if by that regiment of diet their habitude of body should not be any waies altered they might continue in that fashion of life and diet which they had intended from that day forwards but if they should be found leane and weake and lesse proportionable then they that sed vpon the kings allowance that then they should returne to their accustomed diet Now it so fell out that not onely their bodies were better in growth but they seemed rather better fed and of a taller statute then the rest so that they that liued vpon the kings ordinarie seemed leane and wearish where as Daniel and his companions made shew as if they had beene nourished with dainties and brought vp in aboundance From that time forward Askenas tooke all that which was allowed the foure yoong men from the kings table and boldly kept it to himselfe giuing them in steed thereof the diet that they chose and delighted in They hauing their spirits more pure and subtill to comprehend their masters instructions and their bodies more strong to endure labour for their spirits were not charged with diuersitie of meates nor their bodies effeminated for the same cause attained the more readily to all that doctrine that was taught them by the Hebrewes and Chaldees Daniel especially hauing profited in wisedome studied the interpretation of dreames and God appeared vnto him Two yeeres after the surprisall of Aegypt king Nabuchodonosor dreamed a wonderfull dreame the issue whereof God made him see in a dreame but he forgat the same when he arose out of his bed And for that cause sent he for his Chaldees and diuines telling them that he had dreampt a dreame but that he had forgot the same commanding them to declare vnto him what the dreame was and the signification thereof also Whereunto they answered that it was impossible for men to sound out the secret thereof notwithstanding they promised him that if he would declare his vision vnto them they would cause him to vnderstand the signification thereof Hereupon Nabuchodonosor threatned them with death except they represented his dreame vnto him and they protesting that they could not fulfill his request he commanded them all to be slaine But Daniel hearing how the King had condemned all the sages to death and knowing that both he and his companions had part in that danger addressed himselfe to Ariochus the captaine of the Kings guard requiring him to informe him for what cause the king had adiudged the Chaldees and sages to be put to death And hauing intelligence what had hapned as touching the dream how the king by forgetting the same had charged them to informe him therin how they had answered that it was impossible for them to performe the same and how thereby they had prouoked the king to displeasure he besought Ariochus to go vnto the king and to procure one nights repriue in the behalfe of the Aegyptians and Chaldees in that he hoped during that night time to beseech God and intreat from him both the dreame and the signification thereof Hereupon Ariochus told the king what Daniel had requested
brother which was this Eleazar of whom we speake at this present tooke vpon him the priesthood and to him wrote Ptolomey in such maner as is hereafter expressed King Ptolomey to the high priest Eleazar Health Whereas diuers Iewes dwelt in my kingdome whom my father hath honoured though during the raigne of the Persians they were drawen thither as prisoners some of whom he hath established to be chieftaines in warre vnder honourable wages conditions To other some borne in his time in Aegypt he hath committed his forts and garrisons to the end they might be respected among the Aegyptians After that I haue beene called to the gouernment I haue behaued my selfe graciously towards all men and especially towards those of your nation of whom I haue deliuered more then one hundreth thousand out of captiuitie disbursing their ransome out of mine owne cofers I haue likewise inrouled some of those that were of age in the companies and bands of my men of warre I haue receiued some into my court whom I tooke to be faithfull and loyall and in my opinion well worthy of such preferment supposing that the most acceptable and the deerest present I might offer vp vnto God for his prouidence extended toward mee in aduancing me to the kingdome was to performe the same And being desirous not only to gratifie them but also all those Iewes that are in the whole world I haue determined to cause your law to be translated that after it hath been transcripted out of Hebrew into Greeke I might place it in my librarie You shall therfore doe well if you choose me out six disereet and learned men of euery tribe amongst you who are already stept in yeers and send them vnto me who by reason of their age shall be well instructed in your lawes and sufficiently enabled to expound the same For in so doing I shall accept it at your hands as a great honour For this cause I send vnto you Andrew the principall captaine of my guard and Aristaeus also whom we especially honour to conferre with you by whom I haue sent you one hundreth talents of siluer as the first fruits of those gifts and sacrifices which we intend to offer in the temple You shall doe vs an especiall fauour if you signifie your mind vnto vs by your letters As soone as Eleazar had receiued the kings letters he returned him an answere full of honor and affection according to the tenour which ensueth The high Priest Eleazar to king Ptolomey Health If you your Queene Arsinoe and your children be in health all our affaires likewise haue no lesse fortunate successe We haue receiued your princely letters with no small ioy and haue both read and considered vpon the contents thereof we haue also published them in the presence of all the people and haue declared vnto them your pietie towards God and haue shewed them those viols which you sent vs twenty of gold and thirty of siluer with fiue vessels and a table which in way of present you haue sent vnto vs. We haue likewise shewed them those hundreth talents which Andrew and Aristaeus very vertuous and excellently learned men and honoured by you amongst your deerest friends haue brought vnto vs to be imploied in sacrifices and other necessities of the temple Know therefore that whatsoeuer standeth either with your content or profit we will enforce our owne natures to the ende we may acknowledge the benefits which you haue diuers waies bestowed vpon our nation We haue therefore duly and continually offered sacrifice for you your sister Arsinoe your children and friends the people likewise haue praied that God would send you happy successe in whatsoeuer you desire that your kingdome may be continued in peace and that the translation of our law may be accomplished in such sort as you desire for your owne commodity To that intent we haue chosen fix Elders out of euery tribe whom we send vnto you together with the originall of our law Our request is that according to your accustomed pietie and iustice you returne vs both our lawes and these interpreters in safety as soone as they haue satisfied your expectation Fare you well This is the answere which the high Priest sent vnto him Yet haue I thought it to be a matter meerely vnnecessarie to set downe the names of the seuentie two Elders in particular who were sent by Eleazar togither with the lawe notwithstanding they are set downe in the Epistle Yet thinke I it not amisse to recite the excellencie and fashion of those presents that were sent by the king and offered vp vnto God to the end that all men may know how zealous he was towards the seruice of God For in performance thereof he spared no immeasurable expence but continually assisted the workemen and examined their workmanship to the end that nothing might be carelesly finished or negligently performed I will therefore set downe as neere as in me lieth the excellencie of euery piece although it may bee thought that the course of historie requireth it not but therefore will I discourse the same because my desire is by so doing to expresse vnto the readers how great the liberalitie and generositie of the king hath been And first of all I will begin to describe the table The king desirous to make it great in all dimensions desired to know the greatnesse of that which was at Ierusalem to the intent that he might cause it to be far greater And hauing certain notice how great it was and that there was no let but that he might make his far greater he said that he would haue it fiue times greater then the other but that he feared least being so great it would be vnfit to offer sacrifice thereupon and his intention was that the oblations which he offered should not only serue for shew but that they might also be somewhat proper for the vse and seruice of the temple For this cause concluding that the first was of sufficient and conuenable measure he resolued that his should not exceede the other in greatnesse but that equalling the same in quantity of gold it might exceed the other in varietie and beauty of workmanship For he was ingenious to obserue the nature of diuers things and to inuent new and vnexpected fashion so that by his ripe iudgement he shewed the workemen such inuentions as before time had not been in vse and commanded them to make and finish them hauing alwaies an eie to the model that he had proposed them to worke by He vndertooke therefore to make the table of two cubits and a halfe in length of one in breadth and of one and a halfe in height all of massiue gold about the which there was made a border a hand breadth large enriched with mouing waues on which there was a bend grauen with admirable art appearing on three sides For being triangulary euery angle presented the same engrauing so that when
had said and vntill this day it is a custome among vs that if need require we make no difficulty to fight on the Sabbath day Matthias therefore hauing assembled a sufficient number of men about him destroyed the Altars and slue those that had forsaken their religion as many of them as he could lay hands on For diuers were scattered heere and there among the nations for the feare they had these commaunded he to circumcise their children that were not circumcised driuing those from euery place whom King Antiochus had ordained to see his law executed After therefore Matthias had gouerned for the space of one yeere he fell sicke of a most desperate disease for which cause he called for his sonnes and spake vnto them after this manner My sonnes I must now walke the way that is destinated vnto all men I therefore recommend and exhort you to follow my deliberation and diligently to obserue the same remembring you of the intent of me your father who haue begot and nourished you which is to maintaine the lawes of our countrey and to establish our estate which is vpon the point to be ouerthrowen except you submit vnto those who either voluntarily or forcibly betray the same shew your selues therefore to be worthy sons of me who am your father strengthen your hearts with courage to ouercome all force and necessitie thinking with your selues that if God see that you be such he will not forsake you but taking pleasure in your vertue he will once more grant you the fauour to recouer your former peace and liberty and will establish you in assured possession of your auncient lawes True it is our bodies are mortall and subiect vnto destinie but the memorie of our vertuous actions are enfranchised by immortalitie being therefore stirred vp with the loue thereof striue and bestirre your selues to obtaine honour to the end that proiecting mighty things you make no difficultie to hazard your liues in the execution of the same Aboue al things I exhort you vnto cōcord to the end that in whatsoeuer one of you shal be found more naturally apt and fitted then another he may prosecute the same without any contradiction of the rest I charge you also to obserue and obey your brother Simon who is a politique and valiant man in whatsoeuer he shall counsaile you As touching your chiefetaine you shall serue vnder Machabaeus because he is both valiant and strong for he shall reuenge the iniuries and outrages which haue been done to our nation and put our enemies to flight second him therfore with men of valour and such as feare God and by this means you shall augment your forces CHAP. IX Matthias dieth and his sonne Iudas succeedeth him AFter Matthias had spoken in this sort vnto his sonnes and praied God to fauour their enterprises and to restore the people to their auncient policie and the accustomed fashion of their life which they had in former times continued and obserued hee died anon after and was buried in Modin And after the people had grieuously lamented and mourned for him for a certaine time and performed publikely such honour in his funerals as was agreeable to his estate his sonne Iudas Machabaeus tooke vpon him the gouernment of the warres in the hundreth fortie and sixt yeere and by the assistance both of his brethren and other Iewes he droue the enemies out of the countrey and put those of his owne nation to death who had forsaken their religion and purged the countrey of all vncleannes which had been brought into it CHAP. X. Apollonius generall of Antiochus army commeth into Iewry and is discomfited and slaine WHen Apollonius who was Antiochus generall in Samaria heard hereof he gathered his army togither and inuaded Iudaea against whom Machabaeus made head and ouercame him in a battell wherein there died many and among the rest Apollonius whose sword Machabeus got as his part in the spoile There were a great number of them also who were wounded and much booty was taken in the enemies campe after which execution enriched with spoiles he retired himselfe But Seron gouernour of Coelesyria hearing hereof and vnderstanding that diuers had ioyned themselues with Iudas and that he had already about him a sufficient power to keepe the field and bidde the battell he thought that it concerned him to begin to punish those who resisted the kings Edicts For which cause after he had assembled all the forces that he had and besides them hired certaine apostate or figitiue Iewes he marched foorth against Iudas and came as farre as Bethoron a village in Iewry where he incamped Iudas also came out to meete with him determining with himselfe to bid him battell and seeing that his souldiers would hardly be drawne out to fight both by reason of their inequalitie of number as also for that they had eaten no meate but had fasted a long time he encouraged them saying that the meanes to obtaine victorie and to haue the vpper hand ouer their enemies consisted not in the greatnesse of their number but in their deuotion towards God whereof they had a most euident example in their forefathers who had oftentimes defeated with a small number of men diuers thousands of their enemies because they fought for iustice for their law and for their children for the greatest force said he that a man may haue is to be innocent and without iniurie By these words perswaded he his souldiers so that without any feare of the multitude of their enemies they all togither ranne vpon Seron and encountring with him they discomfited the Syrians For their chiefetaine being slaine all the rest betooke them to their heeles in which thing onely consisted the safetie of their liues Iudas therefore pursuing them as farre as the Champion slew about eight hundreth of them The rest saued themselues in those quarters that bounded vpon the sea CHAP. XI Lysias and Gorgias leade their armies into Iewry and are ouerthrowne WHen King Antiochus heard these tidings he was highly displeased at that which had hapned he therefore assembled all his forces and hiring diuers straungers and mercenarie Islanders he prepared himselfe to inuade Iudaea about the spring time But after the muster of his army when he truely found that his treasures failed him and that he was in great scarcitie of money for all his tributes were not truely paid him because the nations were rebellious being likewise in his owne nature a man of a great and magnificent spirit that could not be contented with that which he then had he resolued first of all to go into Persia to gather his tributes He therefore left the charge of his affaires with Lysias a man very much esteemed by him and such a one as gouerned all the countrey from Euphrates as farre as the borders of Aegypt and the lower Asia giuing him likewise a part of his army and some of his Elephants To him had the King
the kingdome he discouered his hypocrisie and shewed plainly that he was not vnaptly called Tryphon that is to say a trifler or mocker By which meanes he drew the hearts of the better sort from him and as for his army they grew so much in hatred of him that they submitted themselues to Cleopatra Demetrius wife who had at that time shut vp both her selfe and her children in Seleucia And wheras Antiochus surnamed the Deuout and brother to Demetrius was driuen from place to place and had not any Citie that would entertaine him for feare of Tryphon Cleopatra sent vnto him enuiting him both to be her husband and to take the possession of the kingdome And hereunto did she the rather draw him partly for that she was thereunto perswaded by her friends and partly for the fear she had least some one of Seleucia should betray the citie to Tryphon As soone as Antiochus was arriued in Seleucia and that from day to day his forces increased he marched forth into the field and fought with Tryphon and ouercame him in battell and droue him out of the higher Syria and pursued him as farre as Phoenicia where after he had retired himselfe into Dora a strong and impregnable Castle he besieged him therein and sent present Embassadors to Simon the high priest of the Iewes to confirme a friendship and confederacie with him Simon very curteously accepted his demaunds and presently sent Antiochus both money and victuals sufficient to furnish his army at the siege of Dora so that in short space he was accepted amongst the number of his intire friends Tryphon flying from Dora to Apamea was in that place besieged taken and flaine after he had raigned three yeeres CHAP. XIII After Tryphons death Simon made warre against Antiochus and droue Cendebaeus out of Iudaea BVt the innated auarice that was in Antiochus and the malignitie of his nature made him forgetfull of those offices and seruices that Simon had done him so that he sent Cendebaeus his great friend with a mighty army to inuade Iewry and to surprise Simon But he hauing some priuie intelligence of Antiochus treacherie notwithstanding that at this time hee was verie olde was in such sort moued with the iniuries that Antiochus had done him as animated with courage more then became his age he went himselfe to the warre as if as yet he had beene but youthfull he therefore caused his sonne to march before with the picked soldiers of his army and hauing left a number of his soldiers in ambush in the hollow retreats of the mountains he executed al his deseignes without failing in any one of them so that after he had euery way obtained the vpper hand of his enemies he euer after enioied his gouernment in peace during the remainder of his life and renewed likewise the confederacy with the Romans CHAP. XIIII Simon is traiterously slaine by his sonne in law Ptolomey at a banquet HE gouerned Iudaea for the space of eight yeeres and was at length slaine at a banquet by the trechery of Ptolomey his sonne in law who being seased of Simons wife and his two children and detaining them in prison sent out certaine of his traine besides to kill Iohn the third sonne surnamed Hircanus But the young man hauing-some inkling of their drift retired himselfe speedily into the citie and auoided the daunger that they complotted against him assuring himselfe of the good will of the people in consideration of the benefits they had receiued at his fathers hands and the hatred that they bare vnto Ptolomey who intending to enter the citie gates was sharply repulsed by the citizens for that they had alreadie entertained Hircanus CHAP. XV. How Ptolomey failing of his hopes Hircanus obtained the Soueraigntie WHereupon Ptolomey retired vnto a certaine Castle scituate beyond Ierico called Dagon but Hircanus was made high Priest in his fathers steed who after he had recommended himselfe to God by the firstling sacrifices that he offered marched out against Ptolomey his brother in law to make warre vpon him Now when he was fully addressed to besiege the place whither Ptolomey was retired he had the aduantage in all other things but onely by the affection that he bare vnto his mother and his brethren he was ouercome For Ptolomey hauing taken them and whipt them vpon the walles in all mens presence threatned Hircanus that vnlesse he leuied his siege he would cast them downe headlong from the top of the Castle now whereas one way Hircanus had a great desire to enforce and surprise the place so also on the other side he was wholy weakned thorow the desire that he had to redeeme those whom he loued from the enemies tyranny True it is that his mother stretching out her hands besought him that for her sake he should not giue ouer valiantly to assault the place but that he should bee the more encouraged to surprise the fortresse and to lay hold vpon his enemy be reuenged on the wrong that was offered vnto his decrest friends alledging that she thought it better to die in the middest of a thousand torments then that the enemie should escape vnpunished who had beene so manifest an occasion of their misery When Hircanus heard his mother speake thus he was more furiously incensed to giue the assault but as soone as he saw his mother so beaten and so sore wounded his heart melted within him and that seruent desire which he before had to batter and beat downe the citie was presently alaid and cooled and so the pitifull compassion on his mother surmounted and ouercame his irefull affection of reuenge Whilest thus the siege was continued and prolonged the yeere of reposâ—… celebrated among the Iewes was come For they obserued the seuenth yeere as the seuenth day is obserued in the weeke so that by this occasion Ptolomey was deliuered of this siege who afterwards slue both Hircanus mother and brethren which done he fled vnto Zeno surnamed Cotyla who at that time tyrannized in the citie of the Philadelphians CHAP. XVI Antiochus the Deuout maketh warre against Hyrcanus and vpon the receit of three hundreth talents contracteth alliance with him ANtiochus calling to mind the manifold losses he had receiued by Simons meanes inuaded Iury in the fourth yeere of his raigne and in the first of Hyrcanus gouernment which was in the hundreth sixtie and two Olympiade And after he had spoiled all the countrey he locked vp Hyrcanus within the Citie of Ierusalem which he had besieged with seuen campes yet with no aduantage at all both in regard of the strength of the walles as in respect of the valour of the Citizens as also the want of water which he had in his campe which was notwithstanding remedied by a great fall of raine which fell about the setting of the Pleiades in the beginning of Aprill On the North side also where there is a great plaine Antiochus caused one hundreth towers
with like hatred that they were hated of them For they for their ingenuous manners and noble race dissembled not their anger but with lauish tongues declared their mindes But Salome and Pheroras contrariwise enuiously and craftily prepared themselues a way by calumniations alwaies prouoking the magnanimous spirits of these young men whose fiercenesse might soone bring them into suspition with their father to the intent that hee might gather hereby that they wanted not will to reuenge their mothers death yea euen with their owne hands forasmuch as they were not ashamed to be the children of such a mother and would contend that she was vniustly put to death And now all the whole Citie talked of them euerie one pitying the young mens simplicitie Salome not ceasing to gather by their owne speeches probable arguments of suspition that they did not only take their mothers death impatiently but also raging like young men did both bewaile her death and their owne case who were compelled to liue with the murtherers of their infortunat mother as it were contaminat themselues with liuing amongst them And the absence of the king greatly increased this their dissension who being returned and hauing made a speech vnto the people he presently was admonished both by Pheroras and Salome his sister that he was in great danger by reason of the two young men who did openly boast that they would be reuenged of them that killed their mother feining moreouer that they were incouraged for that they hoped that Archelaus king of Cappadocia would helpe them to accuse their father vnto Caesar. Herod hearing this was greatly troubled and so much the more for that he heard the same also reported vnto him by others And hereby he was put in memorie of that which was past how that for the dissension of his house he could not long enioy his friends and dearest wife And as it were foreseeing by that that was past what would ensue and fearing some greater calamitie would befall him he was altogither amazed And truely as abroad he was most fortunate aboue all hope so at home he was most vnhappy and infortunate beyond mens opinion So that one may well doubt whether his fortunate successe abroad did counteruaile his misfortunes at home or whether it had beene more expedient for him to haue had neither the one nor the other but to haue had onely a common and ordinarie fauour at fortunes hands Deliberating thus with himselfe he thought it good to call vnto the court another sonne of his whom he begat when he was a priuate man and to grace him with honours and to oppose him against the other two brethren to the end to bring downe and represse their fierce and hautie mindes this sonne of his was called Antipater not minded which after ouercome by affection he did to make him sole heire of all but thinking hereby to bridle Mariammes children and to diminish their arrogancie by setting them see that it was not needfull to keepe the inheritance of so flourishing a kingdome onely for them wherefore he introduced Antipater one opposed against them that thereby the young men laying their pride aside might shew themselues more tractable to their father and so now hee thought he had by this meanes prouided for the safetie of these young men But it fell out farre otherwise then he expected for the young men esteemed this fact as an iniurie done vnto them And Antipater was of that nature that hauing gotten promotion contrarie to his expectation he did endeuour all waies possible to be in greater account with his father then the two young men who was now through false accusations alienated from him and euerie day as he also desired ready to beleeue any thing that might incense him against them Wherefore this was all his labour yet had he an especiall care not to be thought an accuser of his brethren but he vsed others of his accomplices whom the king nothing suspected who for the trust the king put in them might also haue better credit giuen vnto their words For now this man had many followers and fauourers as it were gaping after preferment by his meanes who with a kinde of counterfeit goodwill made a shewe of loue and goodwill towards Herode And being many in number and trusty one to an other the young men were euerie day entrapped more and more for many times they shed teares for very griefe of the contumelies and iniuries that they suffered and many times they mentioned their mother and complained vnto those whom they thought to be their friends of their father as one that dealt not well with them all which Antipaters partakers malitiously noting and adding therunto something of their own inuention they did presently tell it vnto Herode and so did nourish the dissension of his house For the king being mooued hereat and purposing to humble Mariammes children did daily encrease and augment Antipaters honours and at his entreaties at last brought his mother into the court and many times secretly writing vnto Caesar in fauour of Antipater he especially commended him in particular vnto him and being to sayle to salute Agrippa who now was to depart out of Asia hauing gouerned that prouince ten yeeres he onely tooke with him Antipater of all his sonnes whom also he committed vnto Agrippa with many gifts to go with him to Rome and to be brought into fauour with Caesar so that now all things seemed to be done as it were by this mans becke and the young men to be already disinherited CHAP. VII How Antipater liuing at Rome Herode brought Alexander and his brother thither and accused them before Caesar. THis iourney did greatly aduantage Antipater and increase his honour and preeminence aboue his brethren for he became famous at Rome being by his fathers letters commended vnto all his friends there yet this was a great griefe vnto him that he could not daily calumniate his brethren for he feared least his fathers minde should change and so hee should affect Mariammes children most This was his daily cogitation but though he were absent yet he ceased not by letters to incite his father against them as hauing care of his safetie but in deede for that he thereby through his bad practises hoped to obtaine the kingdome so that he so encreased Herodes wrath against them that he now was become a deadly enemy vnto the young men But indeuouring to resist this affection and fearing rashly in his anger to commit any thing to preiudice them he determined to saile againe to Rome and there accuse his sons before Caesar least he being lead away thorow indignation and displeasure conceiued against the young men should seeme to cast off all loue fatherly affection towards them And repairing to Rome and not finding Caesar there he followed him vnto Aquileia and comming to speech of him and requesting him to take notice of his misfortunes he presented his
which had passed to prosecute the rest that appertained to the inquest and approbation of his crime But Antipater turning himselfe towards his father began to iustifie himselfe vrging the same testimonies and fauours that his father had shewed vnto him and the honours hee had receiued at his hands which he would neuer haue shewed him if he had beene vnworthy of the same and had not by his vertue deserued these fauours He alledged also that by his vertue he had preuented all that which might haue hapned and that where the cause required his labour or diligence he dispatched all things with his owne industrie that it was vnlikely that he who had deliuered his father from those treasons which were intended against him by other men should himselfe attempt the like and as farre from probabilitie that he should go about to extinguish that vertue whereof euen vntill that day he had giuen testimonie to the end that alwaies hereafter he might be defamed for such an indignitie For long before this time he was named and entitled to succeede him and to enioy those verie honours whereof alreadie he pertooke no small part whereby he protested that it was vnlikely that he who might enioy the halfe of all that his father had in all securitie vertue and honour should desire the whole with infamy and daunger yea and with incertitude to obtaine the same considering in especial that the punishment which had befallen his brothers whom he had both disclosed and accused at such time as they were hidden was procured by him who if he had listed might haue concealed them in secret and whose wickednes towards their father after it was approued he himselfe had reuenged vpon them neither as he said repented he himselfe of that which he had done for that action of his might be an argument to approue how incorruptly he loued his father And as touching that which he had delt in at Rome Caesar himselfe was witnes thereof who could be no more deceiued then God himselfe whereof those letters bore record which were written by him which in equitie should be of no lesse force then the slaunders of those who fought to set them at oddes the most part of which obiections and reproches had beene complotted and deuised by his enemies who haue had the leasure to pursue the same during his absence which they could not haue performed in his presence Finally he auowed that all those confessions were false which were extorted by torture in that it ordinarily falleth out that such as are put to the triall confesse many things by force of torment that are vntrue to satisfie them that put them thereto briefly without all fauour he offered himselfe to the racke in iustification of his innocencie Vpon these his protestations all the councell and assistants were confounded For all of them had great compassion of Antipater who was wholy drowned in his teares so that his verie enemies began to pitie him And Herode himselfe made it appeare that he seemed in some sort to be altered in his opinion notwithstanding he enduoured to conceale the same But Nicholaus according as he was requested prosecuted that accusation which the king had begunne vrging all things to the vttermost and producing all the witnesses and those manifest prooues that were gathered from their examinations who were tortured In especiall he amply discoursed of the kings vertue which he had fatherly expressed in the education and instruction of his children for which he had beene so vnkindly and vnnaturally required Moreouer that his first childrens foolish rashnes was not so much to be wondred at for that being yong they had beene corrupted by the malice of their counsellors had blotted out of their hearts al the lawes of nature rather through ambition of rule then desire of riches But that Antipaters boldnes was both wonderfull and wicked who more cruell then the cruellest beasts who toward their benefactors acknowledge each good tume was nothing mollified by his fathers so great indulgence neither terrified by his brothers calamitie but that he must needs emulate them in their crueltie And thou thy selfe said he O Antipater wett the Iudge of their attempted treasons by thy inquisition they were indited thou didst execute the iustice against them being conuicted Neither do we disallow that thou didst prosecute them with iust indignation but rather admire thee for that thou imitatest their intemperance we easily gather that those acts of thine were not attēpted for thy fathers securitie but intended for thy brothers ouerthrow that by detesting their malice thou mightst insinuate thy selfe into the allowance and good liking of their father and thine that afterwards thou mightest more cunningly and securely bring him to his end which at length thou hast attempted to performe For whilest thou adiudgest thy guiltie brothers to death and sparest their confederates thou makest it manifest in all mens eies that thou art in good liking liking with them whose assistance thou mighest hereafter vse in oppressing thy father Thou hast therefore taken a double pleasure worthy thy manners the one openly as if reioycing and glorying that by thy brothers death thou hast atchieued a matter of honour the other secretly by indeuouring with greater wickednes but more secret fraud to make an end of thy father the reuenger of whose iniuries thou pretendedst to bee For if thou haddest truely detested their malice thou hadst neuer esteemed the same to be worthie of thy imitation For thou haste not cut them off for committing such capitall offences as were answerable vnto thine but for that they had a more iust and rightfull title to succeed in the kingdome then thou hast And thou hast thought good to mixe the murther of thy father with the slaughtered bodies of thy brothers for feare least thou shouldest be sodainly conuinced in thy conspiracies against them and to the end that the punishment which thou well deseruest to suffer should light vpon thy vnfortunate father proiecting with yourselfe such a patricide and so rare and hainous a murther that to this day the like thereof hath not beene heard of amongst men For thou being his sonne hast practised these treasons not onely against thy father but against him that loued thee aboue measure and did thee good beyond hope with whom thou hast actuall participation of the gouernment of the kingdome and who had appointed thee his heire in the same being no waies hindered eyther for the present or in times past to participate the pleasure of soueraigntie and being assured of the hope of succession both by the will and writings of thy father But you haue measured the course of your affaires not according to Herodes vertue but according to your owne appetite and malice intending to depriue such a father of his part who graunted you the whole and seeking in effect to murther him whom in words you pretended heretofore to protect from iniurie And not content of your selfe to
who was confirmed in the kingdome by his fathers testament yet would he not giue eare thereunto But Antipas no sooner arriued in Rome but all his kinsfolke reuolted from Archelaus vnto him not so much for the loue they bare him as for the hatred they had conceiued against Archelaus and aboue all for the desire they had to recouer their libertie and to draw themselues vnder a Roman gouernour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they indeuoured to procure the roialtie should be more profitable vnto them then Archelaus Sabinus also by his letters accused Archelaus to Caesar But Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited vnto Caesar a supplication containing his right and title to the kingdome his fathers testament and the account of the money which Herode his father had sealed vp togither with his ring and expected the issue But when he had read these letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and vnderstood what summes of money he had left and what the annuall reuenue was and how Antipas challenged the kingdome and appropriated it to himselfe according as his letters made mention he assembled all his friends to haue their aduise thereupon Amongst them was Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the assistants to speake what they would touching this matter At that time Antipater Salomes sonne a man verie eloquent and a great aduersarie to Archelaus spake first saying that it was a mockerie for him at that time to speake of the kingdome â—…nsidering that before Caesar had granted it him he had alreadie seazed the forces of the state when as vpon a festiuall day he had slaine so many who although they had deserued that punishment yet ought the iustice thereof to haue been reserued to a lawfull power and not to haue bin vsurped by him either being king with Caesars preiudice whose authoritie he had contempned or by being a priuate man which was a greater ouersight For which cause he vndeseruedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had depriued of the title and authoritie of his allowance Moreouer he obiected against him that of his owne authoritie he had chaunged certaine chieftaines of the armie and that he had seated himselfe in the royall throne and like a king had determined certaine causes and had granted certaine demaunds of the people finally that he had left nothing vndone which he might haue performed had Caesar confirmed his title He alledged also that they who were inclosed in the Hippodrome were dismissed by him and diuers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to gouerne do ordinarily commit such things besides this his neglect in mourning for his father and withall his reare banquets all night long at that verie time his father died whereat the people began to mutinie seeing the smal regard he had of his fathers death from whom he had receiued so great goods and honours How all the day long he made a shew of his sorrow and teares in his pauilion but all the night tooke pleasures like a king and being such if Caesar should grant him the kingdome he would behaue himselfe no lesse vnkindly towards him then he had done towards his most kind father That it was no lesse then a hainous crime in him to delite himselfe with songs and daunces at his fathers death as if he had beene his enemie That he now came to Caesars presence to the intent to obtaine the kingdome by his consent whereas alreadie he had behaued himselfe no otherwise then if he had alreadie beene established king by his authoritie But most of all he exaggerated the slaughter he had committed in the temple and the impietie perpetrated so neere to the feast of Easter at which time diuers both straungers and citizens had beene slaughtered after the manner of sacrifices and the temple filled with carcasses not by a straunger but by him who vnder the colour of religion desireth the gouernment of the kingdome to the end he might satisfie the vniustice of his nature in exercising each way his tyranny toward all men for which cause his father neuer thought nor euer dreampt to substitute him king in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former testament and that of greatest force had ordained his aduersarie Antipater to be king For he had beene allotted the kingdome by his father not when his mind was dead before his bodie but when both his iudgement was sound and his bodie in health Yea although at that time Archelaus father had such a conceit of him as in his latter testament and bequest he pretendeth yet that he had alreadie declared what kind of king he was likely to be who contemned Caesars authoritie in confirming the kingdome and being as yet a priuate man doubted not to murther the citizens in the temple This said Antipater to giue greater credit to his words bringing diuers of his kindred as witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholas arose and alledged in Archelaus behalfe as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impietie who could not be restrained from their tumults and vprores before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging that they were so much the more guiltie for that they had not onely exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so hainous a reuenge against them for their insolencie seemed in appearance to concerne Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacie pertianed to Caesars iniurie For those that had beene sent by him to appease and represse their sedition were against all law and right charged and slaine by them without respect of God or regard of the solemne feast whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equitie so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare vnto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from iniurie but whetted those swords which were drawen in maintenance of the peace against their owne bosomes He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselues saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grieuous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their kinsman a man both well respected and affected by his father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the testament that it was made by the king when he was in perfect estate of minde and bodie and of greater force then the former because the authoritie and confirmation thereof was ascribed to Caesar the soueraigne of the world Further that Caesar would
him to disobey him therein and whilest he was in danger of death for this his delay the sodaine and successefull death of Caius warranted him from the same Yea so farre stretched his vnbridled fury that hauing a daughter newly borne he caused her to be caried into the Capitol and laid at the feete of the Image of Iupiter saying that that child was common betwixt him and Iupiter leauing the iudgement to all men which of the two parents were the greatest And notwithstanding all these his misdemeanours yet did men tolerate him He gaue liberty to slaues also to accuse their masters of whatsoeuer crimes they would which was so much the more hateful because all things were done by Caesars authoritie to his good liking so that Pollux who was Claudius bondman durst accuse him and Caius the Emperour was contented among the Iudges to heare his vncle brought in question for his life hoping although it fell out otherwise to picke out an occasion to put him to death For hauing filled all the countries of his Empire with false accusations and all sorts of mischiefes and giuing slaues a prerogatiue aboue their masters their Lords deuised many conspiracies against him some for spight and with an intent to reuenge them of those iniuries they had receiued other some pretending by his death to preuent those inconueniences that threatned them In a vvord his death concerned the securitie of the lawes and the safetie of all men and had he not beene speedily cut off on t nation almost had beene vtterly exterminated For which cause I thought good to make an exact and ample declaration of euerie occurrent namely for that the knowledge there of maketh very much towards the manifestation of Gods power and will which bring consolation vnto those who are in aduersitie and keepe them within the bounds of modestie who suppose that their prosperitie should continue alwaies firme and that although they neglect vertue thinke that no euill may befall them Three plots of conspiracie were intended against him and purposed to his vtter mine each of which was attempted by men of great reckoning For Aemilius Regulus who was borne in Corduba in Spaine was fully resolued to kil him himselfe or to make him away by the meanes of his confederates Chaereas Cassius colonel ouer a thousand men was the chieftain of an other band and Annius Minucianus was in no lesse readines to doe his vttermost herein The cause that moued thē to accord thus altogither in hatred against Caius was that in resp◅ct of Regulus he was by nature a detester of all iniquitie for he was a man endowed with great magnanimitie and beautified with a liberall spirit so as he dissembled not any of his counsails but communicated them with many who either were his friends or valiant men fit for execution And as touching Minucianus he was induced to seeke his reuenge thorow the desire he had to doe iustice on him in Lepidus behalfe who had beene one of his especial friends one of the rarest men that were euer found among the Roman citizens whom Caius had put to death thorow the feare he had conceiued of him knowing well that all they against whom Caius was incensed could not escape with lesser indignitie then losse of life As for the third man Chaereas he could not endure the shame reproch of cowardise that Caius had obiected against him but feared besides that his friendship inward familiarity with Caius would draw him into manifest dangers for which cause his owne securitie and honours sake he thought good to make him away Generally all of them were resolued to ridde the world of Caius bring an end to his pride and tyrannical power for their hope was that their attempt should haue good successe which if it happily fel out their coūtrey and cōmonweale should reape the fruits therof for whose securitie safetie it became them to hazard thēselues though it were with the losse of their heads But aboue all the rest Chaereas was egged on with a desire he had to grow famous and thorow the facilitie conuenient means he had to finish the same because his colonels roome gaue him most secure accesse vnto him About that time the Circensian games were solemnized which is a kind of pastime which the Romanes very willingly behold and to this intent they resort to the place of these exercises and the common people is wont to demaund somewhat at their Emperours hands which they desire to obtaine and they after they haue examined their requestes doe neuer refuse them Now they required with instant and importunate supplications that Caius would discharge them of their taxations and moderate the excessiue tributes which they paied but he would giue no eare vnto them and caused those to be apprehended who called vpon the matter most earnestly sending of his guard some of them one way some of them another to put them to the sword After he had giuen this commaundement and they who receiued the charge had fully executed it there were a great number of men slaine The people seeing this ceased to exclaime any more setting light by their goods and seeing before their eies that their refusall would be the cause of their deaths These considerations incited Chaereas the more to execute his enterprise to the end he might finish his furious and lawlesse life whose pleasure was all mens iniury preiudice And very oftentimes was he determined to set vpon him whilest he banqueted yet deferred he to do the same not for that he failed or fainted in his resolution but because he expected some fit oportunitie to hit him home and speede him to the death He liued captaine of Caius guard a long time yet tooke hee small pleasure in conuersing with him But after that Caius had appointed him to gather in his tributes and that money which was confiscate he seemed to haue lesse occasion then before for at that time he had doubled their paiments in the execution whereof he followed his owne nature rather then Caesars commaund and spared those of whom he ought to haue compassion for their pouertie sake Caius was sore displeased herewith and obiected it against him that the cause why he delayed the bringing in of his money was his cowardise and negligence And amongst other outrages that he offered him as oft as he gaue him the watchword as he vsually went to setch it once a day vpon his watch day he gaue him the names of women and other that were full of ignominie notwithstanding that he himselfe was not exempt from note of no lesse daintines For in certaine ceremonies which he himselfe had established he attired himselfe like a woman and was disguised with certaine vailes whereby he might the better counterfait that sexe and yet notwithstanding durst he obiect this dishonour to Chaereas As oftentimes as Chaereas receiued the watchword so often times grew he in choler which
vertue with Arise therefore and take possession of the throane of thine auncestors This said he lifted him on his shoulders for that Claudius could not walke on foote thorow the feare and ioy that he had conceiued of that which had been tolde him Vpon these speeches diuers of the souldiers of the guard assembled about Gratus and perceiuing that it was Claudius whom they supposed to be dragged to his death they had compassion of him as on an innocent for that they knew him to be a man of a milde nature who all the time of his life intermedled with nothing and who in like sort had beene often in great dangers during Caius life There were others of them that said that the iudgement of his matter appertained to the Consuls whereupon although a great number of souldiers flocked about him and the simple people that were vnarmed fled from them yet could not Claudius goe onward in his way so weake and feeble felt hee himselfe in his whole body It fortuned likewise that they who carried his litter perceiuing this flight fled away for feare and left him so little hope had they that their Maister should escape with his life whom they saw thus to be drawne by the souldiers Now when Gratus and his associates vvere arriued in the court of the pallace which as it is reported is the place vvhich was first of all inhabited in Rome they began to thinke vpon that which was to be done thither also there flocked a great number of other souldiers vnto them who tooke pleasure to behold Claudius enforcing themselues to place him in the imperiall dignitie in regard of that good affection which they bare to Germanicus his brother whose memorie was much honoured among all those who had at any time conuersed with him Moreouer they ripped vp how many auaritious acts the Senate had committed and how great errors the chiefest Senators had defaulted in before the publike gouernment was changed Moreouer they considered vpon the danger and difficultie of their actions then in hand for that the gouernment being administred by one only man would be dangerous for them if he should obtaine the same by any other meanes whereas if Claudius should enioy the same by their permission and good will he would haue them in remembrance who had fauouted him and would recompence them according to their merits This was the effect of their discourse which they held among themselues or when they met with one an other Finally all of them atlength concluded vpon this aduice and enuironed Claudius and lifting him vp vpon their shoulders they carried him into the army to the intent that no man might hinder them to finish that which they intended There fell a debate also betwixt the Senators and Citizens For the Senate desirous to recouer their former dignitie inforcing themselues to auoid the seruitude that had befallen them by the outrage of tyrants intended the maintenance of their offered good fortune Contrariwise the people enuied them that dignitie And knowing that their Emperours should be as it were certaine bridles to restraine the auarice of the Senate and the refuge of the people they were verie glad to see that Claudius was aduanced making their account that if he were created Emperour they should auoid a ciuill warre like vnto that which hapned in Pompeius time The Senate knowing that Claudius was carried into the army by the souldiers chose out some of their order now sent them as messengers in their behalfe to signifie vnto him that he ought to vse no violence in obtaining the Empire but rather to remit the charge of the common weale to the Senate That he both was and should be one of the Senators and haue the conduct of the common weale and dispose it according to lawe perswading him to call vnto his remembrance those grieuous mischiefes which the former tyrants had wrought in the common weale and what dangers he himselfe also had suffered with them during the raigne of Caius their late Emperour That it should ill become him who had detested the furie of others tyrannie at such time as they vsed outrages should willingly be drawne to oppose himselfe against his countrey That if he would obey them continue to expresse the vertue and constancie of his life which in times past he led with commendation he should obtaine those honours which free Citizens could affoord him and in suffering himselfe to be gouerned by lawes to the end he might haue part in the commandement and to be commanded in his turne he should obtaine the praise of vertue That if he would not be disswaded by the slaughter of Caius which was fresh in memorie for their owne parts they would hinder his proceedings as much as in them lay They also alleadged that they were furnished with men of warre with store of armour and a great number of domesticall seruants all which they would employ against him but ouer and aboue these things they had farre greater helpes namely their hope good fortune and the gods who are woont to fight for those who maintaine vertue and goodnesse They solemnly protested also for their owne parts that they were of that minde that there was nothing more honest and iust then to fight for their libertie and countrey The Embassadours that brought this message were Veranius and Broccus who both of them were Tribunes of the people They prostrating themselues on their knees before him humbly besought him that he would not drawe the common weale into ciuill warre And seeing that Claudius was inclosed with a great companie of men of warre in respect of whom the Consuls were of no force they besought him that it would please him to demaund the gouernment at the Senats hands and receiue it froâ—… them if he were resolued to be Emperour For that it would be an act more holy and coupled with iustice and goodhap if he should obtaine the same with their good will and not in desâ—…ight of those who would vouchsafe it him willingly CHAP. III. The Sedition that arose betwixt the Senate and the people ALthough Claudius knew with what presumption the Senate had sent this Emâ—…assage yet did he modestly entertaine the same for the present But supposing that it stood very little with his securitie to commit himselfe to their trust and being encouraged by the exhortation of the souldiers who promised him their vtmost endeuour and by the incitation of king Agrippa he determined in no sort to let the soueraigntie escape out of his hands â—…n that it was so willingly and freely bestowed on him when he thought least on it After that Aâ—…rippa had performed all those dueties vnto Caius which were requisite for such a one as had bin by him aduanced to honour and hauing taken his body and laid it in a litter he brought him out before the souldiers of his guard and certified them that Caius was yet aliue and foâ—… that
Herode to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Father of the people signifieth this that followeth Vnderstanding that the Iewes inhabitants in Alexandria and for this cause called Alexandrines haue at all times enioyed the selfesame priuiledges of the Citie which the ancient and first Alexandrines haue had Which fauors they haue obtained by the largesse of those princes that were our predecessors as it hath been plainly made knowne vnto vs as well by letters which haue been written vnto vs as by confirmed decrees and that since Alexandria hath beene annexed to our Empire by Caesar Augustus their priuiledges haue continued in force during the seuerall successions of many of our gouernours which rights of theirs haue neuer been called in question no not in that time when Aquila was gouernour in Alexandria Since in like sort Caesar Augustus hath not letted them but when the chiefetaine of their nation was dead they might establish other substitutes and gouernours in his place willing that all of them should yeeld him obedience in obseruation of their lawes and customâ—…s without constraint or impulsion to doe any thing contrarie to their religion yet notwithstanding the Alexandrines haue mutined against the Iewes being in the Citie of Alexandria in the time of the Emperour Caius by reason of the folly and frenzie of Caius who disgraced and oppressed the nation of the Iewes because they would not violate their religion nor acknowledge the said Caius for a god Our wil and pleasure is that no one of the priuiledges of the nation of the Iewes be abolished by reason of Caius frenzie but my minde is to maintaine those which heretofore haue beene giuen them to the ende they may continue and liue according to their auncient lawes and customes Commanding you and euerie one of you verie carefully to prouide that after the publication of this our ordinance they be in no sort troubled This was the tenor of that ordinance which was made in fauour of the Iewes in Alexandria But that which was generally made in fauour of those who were dispersed thorow the whole world was to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus High priest Father of the people elected Consul the second time signifieth that which ensueth Our we beloued friends the kings Agrippa and Herode haue required vs that we will permit all those Iewes that liue vnder the Roman Empire to vse the same lawes and priuiledges which they haue vsed heretofore as we haue granted to the Iewes that dwell in Alexandria Which suite of theirs we haue willingly granted not onely in fauour of those that require the same but also for that I thinke them worthy such a grace for whom I haue been intreated in regard of the fidelity and friendship they haue alwaies expressed towards the Romans My pleasure therfore is that no Citie either Grecian or otherwise shall deny any priuiledge from whence they shall be excluded for that since the Emperour Augustus time they haue neuer been exempted from them It standeth with reason therefore that henceforth the Iewes who liue vnder our Empire of what place soeuer they bee may obserue their auncient customes without any contradiction Giuing them to vnderstand that hereafter they vse our clemencie so much the more moderately without neglecting the religion of other nations in retaining their own And our wil is that this present ordinance be published by the Magistrates of Cities Colonies and countries of Italy and be sent vnto kings and forraine princes by fit embassadours within thirtie daies at the least to the end that they should be in such sort set vp that they may be seene and read by all those that passe by CHAP. V. Agrippas returne into Iudaea BY these edicts of Claudius Caesar which he sent both to Alexandria and other parts of the world it plainly appeareth how well affected he was towards the nation of the Iewes And presently after this after he had dignified Agrippa with all kinds of honour he sent him backe into his kingdome to gouerne the same commanding all his presidents and lieutenants in his prouinces thorow which he was to passe to giue him a friendly and honourable conuoy But he hauing wisely and happily dispatched his affaires returned in all haste As soone as he came to Ierusalem he offered his sacrifices of thanksgiuing which he had vowed without omitting any thing that was commanded by the law He caused also diuers Nazarites to be pould and offered in gift that chaine of gold that Caius had giuen him which was of the same weight the yron chaine was of wherewith his royall hands were manacled in memorie of the aduersitie he had past and the testimonie of the exchange thereof into better fortune commaunding that it should be hanged vp in the temple and ouer the chamber of the treasurie to testifie vnto those that should behold the same that the highest estates are subiect to alterations and that God can raise men againe from obscuritie to happy fortune For this chaine that hanged in the temple being consecrated to God manifestly expressed vnto all men that king Agrippa was vpon a verie small occasion despoiled of his former dignitie and made prisoner and then a little while after that he being deliuered from his bonds was raised and exalted to a famous kingdome To signifie thereby that humane affaires are of that nature that that which is the greatest may be easily ouerthrowne and that which is declining may recouer againe his auncient honour and dignitie When as therfore Agrippa had duely and deuoutly acknowledged Gods mercies he deposed the hie priest Theophilus the son of Ananus and bestowed that honour on Simon surnamed Canthara the son of Boëthus This Simon had two brothers Boëthus was their father whose daughter had bin married to king Herod as heretofore it hath bin spoken Simon held the priesthood with his brethren and his father in such sort as before time the three sons of Simon hie priest son of Onias had done during the Empire of the Macedonians as we haue declared in our former bookes After the king had giuen order for the priesthood he thought good to recompence the good affection that they of Ierusalem had borne vnto him for which cause he acquited them of those tributes that euerie family paied knowing well that it became him to shew kindnesse vnto them who had been faithfull and wel affected towards him He created Silas who had been his companion in many dangers generall of all his army Not long after certaine young men that were Dorites vnder the colour of constancie in case of religion who also had daily expressed in their actions an vnbridled rashnesse brought the image of Caesar into the temple of the Iewes and erected it in that place which insolence of theirs highly offended Agrippa who construed it as an act that tended to the abolition of the religion of their countrey for which cause with all expedition he
contu◅eliously intreated me but if he thinke that he can restraine me from speaking freely he deceiueth himselfe For my conscience knoweth how many hazards I haue deliuered him from and as long as I breath I will ring it in all mens eares how many trauels I haue endured for his conseruation and honour in recompence where of I am at this day in bonds and shut vp in an obscure prison which I wil neuer forget Yea and when my soule shall depart out of this bodie she shall beare with her the remembrance of those benefits I haue imployed on him These words spake he with a loud voice willing them to relate the same vnto king Agrippa who seeing that he was grounded in an incurable folly left him in prison After this the king began to fortifie the walles of Ierusalem on the side of the new towne vpon the common charge increasing them both in length and bredth might he haue thorowly finished them it had beene a fortresse inuincible by all humane force But Marsus the gouernour of Syria certified Caesar what the worke was and Claudius suspecting some commotion wrote expresly to Agrippa commaunding him thence forward to desist from further building of the walles according to that forme wherein he had begunne whereunto he would not disobey This king Agrippa was of a nature so readie to exercise liberalitie and tooke so great pleasure to vse his magnificence toward all sorts of nations that the great expences he was at obtained him great reputation So that his whole pleasure and delight was to shew courtesie vnto al men and to purchase good esteem being euery way differēt in nature disposition from king Herod his predecessor For Herod was naturally malicious extreme in punishing mē irrecōciliable to those with vvhom he vvas displeased manifestly expressing that he loued the Grecians better then the Iewes For he beautified those cities that belonged to straungers gaue them money and erected them bathes and sumptuous Theaters and Temples in some of them galleries but as touching the cities of the Iewes he bestowed not this bountie on any one of them no not the least reparation or gift that vvas worthy the speaking of Contrariwise king Agrippa was verie courteous and lowly and equally imparted his bountie vnto all men He was courteous vnto straungers and testified no lesse by the bountie he bestowed on them To his countrimen he behaued himselfe affably and in especiall he was mercifull to all those that were in misery For which cause his ordinarie court and the place he tooke most pleasure in was Ierusalem He was a diligent obseruer of the lawes of his countrey and liued religiously and with as great pietie as was possible neither passed there one day wherein he offered not sacrifice It hapned at one time that a certaine cunning lawyer who was called Simon and dwelt in Ierusalem had assembled the people by reason of the kings absence who for the present was in Caesarea In which assembly he alleaged many things against him that he was a prophane man and that vpon iust cause he was forbidden to enter the temple in that it was not lawfull nor decent for those that were vncleane to enter thereinto These words of Simons thus wrongfully vrged against him were signified to the king by certaine letters sent him by the gouernour of the citie when as therefore he sate him downe in the Theater he commaunded that verie Simon to sit next him and in peaceable and kind manner he spake thus vnto him Tell mee I pray thee what thing thou seest fault worthy or done contrarie to the law in that which is done heere Simon hauing not any thing to reply besought him to pardon him The king grew friends with him farre sooner then it could be imagined resoluing with himselfe that mercie doth farre better become a king then wrath and that moderation is more requisite then-◅aughtie courage so as he after he had bestowed certaine presents on Simon he dismissed him Now although he had many reparations in diuers places yet honoured he those of Beryth aboue all the rest and builded them a Theater surpassing all other in sumptuousnes and beauty and besides that he made them a sumptuous Amphiatheater and bathes and porches in which he neither spared cost neither scantled the beautie and greatnes of the works in any sort The dedication also of these things were celebrated with great pomp and magnificēce he also made great shewes plaies in the Theater in which there were all sorts of musicke and recreation He made also diuers ◅aments in the Amphiatheater expressing in all things the greatnes of his magnificence and being desirous to delight the people with a combate he gathered all the malefactors that he might get and made two seuerall companies of seuen hundreth apeece and brought them togither to fight to the end that in skirmishing they might receiue their punishment and besides that by this warlike exercise he might present the people with a pastime concluded with the punishment of wicked men for each of these combatants slue one another After that he had finished these aboue named buildings in Beryth he resorted to Tiberias a citie of Galilee and was admired of all the otherkings so that Antiochus king of Comagena came to visit him the like did Samsigeran king of the Emesenians Cotys king of Armenia the lesse and Polemon Lord of Pontus and besides all these Herode prince of Chalcis and his brother all whom he receiued and entertained most magnificently and amiably to shew his greatnes to the end that all men might perceiue that he was deseruedly honoured with the presence of so many kings And during the time that these princes were with him Marsus the gouernour of Syria visited him likewise whom to the end he might expresse the reuerēce he bare to the Romans he met with seuen furlongs off from the citie This interuiew of so many kings was the original of that discontent that grew betwixt him and Marsus for whilest he sate in his litter he sent for these other kings But Marsus suspected this concord and so great amitie supposing that this agreement of so many kings would be no waies profitable or beneficial to the Romans For which cause he presently sent vnto them charging them with all expedition to returne each of them into their owne countries which strict commission of his Agrippa tooke in ill part and for this occasion he conceiued scarce kindly of Marsus He tooke the priesthood from Matthias and gaue it to Aelioneus the son of Cithaeus After he had raigned three vvhole yeeres ouer Iudaea he came to Caesarea which in times past was called the tower of Straton and there made he sports in honour of Caesar ordaining a certaine feast for his conseruation to the celebration whereof there vvere assembled a great number of all those vvho were of estate and dignitie thorow the whole countrey On
but also prouided victuals for his army Whereupon the citizens of Memphis would not fight but yeelded of their own accord vnto Mithridates so that passing through Delta he fought with the other Aegyptians in a place called the tents of the Iewes being with all his cōpany in danger he was rescued by Antipater who marching along the riuer side set vpon discomfited the left wing of the enemies battel rushing vpon them that pressed vpon Mithridates he slue many pursued the rest that fled till he got their tents and al with the losse of fourescore men But Mithridates flying lost eight hundreth men being against all hope preserued out of those wars was without all enuie a true witnes before Caesar of al that vvhich Antipater had both done deserued Wherupon Caesar redoubled his courage vvith praise and promises vnto him and made him forward to hazard himselfe for him In a word he proued shewed himselfe a stout vvarrior hauing many vvounds in euery part of his bodie he bare a badge testimonie of his valour and vertue Afterward when the state of Aegypt was quiet he returned into Syria where he made him a citizen of Rome and granted him the immunities thereof and did so honour him in other things and vse him so friendly that he made him a patterne for all to imitate and for his sake he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high Priesthood CHAP. VIII How Antipater was accused before Caesar of the Priesthood of Hyrcanus and how Herode made warre AT the same time Antigonus the sonne of Aristobalus repairing to Caesar against his will was a cause of Antipaters greater felicity for comming to complain of his fathers death who was as it was thought through Pompeies enuie poisoned and to accuse Scipio of crueltie which was vsed against his brother whereas he should haue abandoned all passion which moued him to mingle hatred with his miseries contrariwise he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater as though they had vniustly driuen him and his brethren out of their natiue soile and grieuously iniured the people to obtaine their intent Alleadging that they had sent aide into Aegypt to Caesars forces not for good will but for feare of auncient enmitie and that hereby they might acquite themselues of the good will they bare to Pompey At these words Antipater casting away his vesture shewed the number of his wounds saying it was not needfull to vse words to proue what affection he had borne to Caesar for his verie body would shew it although hee himselfe held his peace adding that he admired the impudent boldnesse of Antigonus who being sonne to an enemie of the Romans and a fugitiue from the Romans and still continued his fathers purpose of noueltie and sedition should dare to accuse others before the Roman Emperour demaunding of him how he durst hope to obtaine any good thing who ought to be contented with his life onely alleadging that hee craued not maintenance for that he wanted but that he might raise a rebellion amongst the Iewes and against them who should bestow any thing vpon him Which when Caesar heard he said that Hyreanus was most worthy to be high priest and bid Antipater wish what dignitie he would haue who leauing that to the pleasure of the giuer he was made gouernour of all Iudaea And moreouer he obtained to reedifie the rased wals of his countrey and Caesar commanded that those honours should be engraued in the Capitoll that it might be a token in time to come of Antipaters Iustice and vertue Antipater hauing attended Caesar out of Syria first of all repaired the ruined walles of his countrey which Pompey had raced and going thorowout all the countrey he threatned the obstinate and perswaded the seditious to obedience admonishing them that if they obeied Hyrcanus they might liue in wealth and peace and enioy happinesse and an vniuersall selicitie but if they suffered themselues to be led with the vaine hopes of those who for their priuate commodities sought for alteration that then they should find him in steed of a Procurator the Lord of all and Hyrcanus in steed of a king a tyrant and the Romans and Caesar in steed of friends deadly enemies for that they would not suffer his power to be ouerthrowne whom they themselues had established for king But notwithstanding he spake these words yet because he saw Hyrcanus more dull and not of so seruent a spirit as the care of a kingdome required he himselfe setled the estate of the countrey and made Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour of the army and the Lord of Ierusalem and of his owne liuing and sent Herode his youngest son to gouerne Galilee although he was very young who being by nature of a valiant courage found out a present occasion to shew his braue minde for he tooke Ezechias which was captain of theeues who as he vnderstood was woont to pray vpon the confines of Syria with a great multitude and put him to death with many other theeues which thing was so gratefull vnto the Syrians that in all townes and villages they made songs of Herod as though he had restored them to peace and to their possessions At length the glorie of this fact came to the eares of Sextus Caesar who was Caesar the Emperours kinsman who then ruled Syria Phasaelus also did striue to ouercome the towardnesse and good reputation of his brother by daily increasing and winning to himselfe the good wils of the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that during the time he gouerned the Citie he did nothing insolently through might or power for which cause the people honoured Antipater as their king and reuerenced him as Lord of all yet was his fidelitie and good will neuerthelesse towards Hyrcanus But it is impossible that any man that liueth in prosperitie should not be enuied For Hyrcanus although before time he were mooued something at the glorie of these young men and especially with the prosperous successe of Herod being often annoied with frequent messengers who spred his praise for euerie thing he did yet in particular he was stirred vp by many enuious persons who are woont to haunt the courts of Princes who were grieued that Antipater and his sonnes ruled without offence These men tolde Hyrcanus that he onely enioyed the bare name of a king and that Antipater and his sonnes ruled all and that he so long would permit winke at them til that at last they would make themselues kings for they now did no more so much as pretend themselues to be procurators But leauing that title they took vpon them the dignities of Lords and maisters without any regard or reuerence toward him for Herod had put to death a great multitude of Iewes against the law whereas neither by word of mouth nor by writing the king had giuen him any such authoritie and that Herode if he were not a king but a priuate
pursued them they fled into the safest tower of a towne called Bezedel Antonius knowing it to be in vaine to stay about the tower that was inuincible yet loth to let the Generall of their aduersaries to escape set fire on the walles and so departing triumphed thinking that Niger had beene burned But he lept into a deepe vault in the Castle and so escaped and three daies after he shewed himselfe vnto his souldiers who sought for him weeping that they might burie his body for they thought him dead whō against all expectation seeing aliue they were verie glad as though by Gods prouidence he escaped to be still their leader Vespasian came to Antiochia which is the mother Citie of all Syria and brought his army with him which for greatnesse and happy successe doubtlesse was the third in the whole world and finding that king Agrippa did expect his comming he hasted with all his forces from thence to Ptolemais At this place there came vnto him the Citizens of Sephoris a Citie of Galilee who had no thought at all of rebellion these both prouident for their owne safetie and well knowing the forces of the Romans before Vespasian came submitted themselues vnto Cestius Gallus and receiued from him a garrison of souldiers and now also curteously entertaining Vespasian offered their help against their countrimen To whom Vespasian at their request gaue a guard of horse and foote so great as he thought was able to resist the force of their enemies if the lewes should attempt any thing against them For he thought it would be a great help vnto him in his warre to come to haue Sephoris the greatest Citie of Galilee scituate in a strong place on his side which otherwise might be a safegard to the whole nation CHAP. II. The description of Galilaea Samaria and Iudaea THere are two places named Galilaea the one is called high Galilaea and the other lowe Galilee and they are both compassed with Phoenicia and Syria On the west Ptolemais with the limits of his territorie doth part their borders and the mount Carmel which in time past belonged vnto Galilee but now vnto the Tyrians Vnto which adioineth Gabaa which signifieth the horsemens Citie so called for because king Herods horsmen were sent thither to inhabite On the South part it ioyneth to the Samaritanes and Scythopolitanes vnto Iordan On the East part it bordereth vpon Hippene and Gadaris and Gaulanitis which are the borders of king Agrippa his countrey On the North it bordereth vpon Tyria The length of lower Galilee reacheth from Tiberias vnto Zabulon neere which is Ptolemais by the sea coast In breadth it reacheth from the Village Xaloth scituated in a great field vnto Bersabe where also beginneth the breadth of high Galilee and reacheth vnto the village called Baca bordering vpon the Tyrians and the length thereof is from a village neere Iordan named Thella vnto Meroth And being of such bignesse and enuironed with so many nations yet did they alwaies resist forraine forces For the Galileans are from their childhood warlike and neuer are daunted by feare or penurie for their countrey is most fruitfull set with all manner of trees and verie fertill notwithstanding the inhabitants take small paines in tilling the ground All parts thereof are tilled by the inhabitants and there is no waste part There are many Cities and in euerie place there are villages populous and rich so that the least village there hath in it aboue fifteene thousand inhabitants And although Galilee be lesse in compasse then the region beyond the riuer yet it is more populous fertiler and richer then the same for it is all tilled and al beareth fruit But that beyond the water though it be bigger yet is it not all inhabited for there are many desert and barren places and onely beareth wilde fruits Peraea hath a good soile large fields beset with diuers trees especially oliues vines and palme trees and it is abundantly watered with brooks running from the mountaines and springs that continually come downe when in the dog daies they are almost drie The length of this place is from Macherunt to Pella the breadth from Philadelphia to Iordan This towne Pella before mentioned lieth on the North part and Iordan on the West and the countrey of the Moabites bordereth on the South and on the East Arabia Silbonitis Philadelphia and Gerasis Samaria is seated betweene Iudaea and Galilee beginning at a towne scituate in a place called Ginaea endeth in the Toparchy of Acrabatena nothing differing in nature from Iudaea For both of them are full of mountaines and fields and good for tillage full of trees abounding both with wild apples and others for they are of their nature drie but haue raine inough and haue passing sweet waters and aboundance of good grasse and great store of milch beasts and which is a great argument of wealth both places are verie populous The confines of these countries is Anauth a village otherwise called Borceos which lieth on the North part of Iudaea The South part of Iudaea if you measure the length is extended vnto the village of the Arabians called Iardan the breadth reacheth from Iordan vnto Ioppe in the midst thereof is scituate Ierusalem so that some call that citie the nauell of that countrey Iudaea also bordereth on the sea coast euen vnto Ptolemais It is deuided into eleuen portions the first is Ierusalem head chiefe of al being aboue all the rest as the head is aboue the bodie and the rest are Toparchies Gophna is the second after that Acrabatena then Thamna afterward Lydda also Ammaus and Pella and Idumaea and Engadda and Herodium and Iericho besides these Iamnia and Ioppe commaund the places adioyning Moreouer there is Gamala Gaulanitis Batanea Trachonitis which are portions belonging to King Agrippa his kingdome This countrey beginneth at mount Libanus and the fountaines of Iordan and reacheth in breadth vnto the lake neere Tiberias And in length it reacheth from Iulias to Arphas and the inhabitants are partly Iewes and partly Syrians CHAP. III. How aide was sent vnto the people of Sephoris and of the militarie discipline of the Romans I Haue alreadie spoken of Iudaea as briefely as might be and with what countries it is enuironed Now Vespasian sent helpe vnto the inhabitants of Sephoris to wit one thousand horsemen and sixe thousand foote Placidus the tribune being their gouernour the horsmen deuided themselues into two companies and lodged in a great plaine and the footmen were in garrison in the citie for to defend it but the horsemen staied without These horsemen made excursions on euerie side and greatly molested Ioseph who was quietly bent and also spoiled all that was without the cities alwaies repulsed the inhabitants if at any time they tooke courage to reuenge themselues Notwithstanding Ioseph assaulted the citie Sephoris hoping to take it which he before such time as it
him safety and bring him before him the Tribunes names were Paulinus and Gallicanus But Ioseph would not accept their offer fearing that because he had been the author of all the euilles that the Romans had endured that therefore they sought him out to punish him till Vespasian sent vnto Ioseph Nicanor the third tribune one of Iosephs acquaintance Nicanor recounted vnto him how milde the Romans were towards them whome they had conquered and that the Romane Captaines rather admired him for his vertue then hated him Moreouer that his Generall intended not to punish him which if he pleased hee might doe whether he yeelded himselfe or no but to saue him who was so valiant a man adding also that if Vespasian ment ill he would neuer haue employed his friend in such a message to vse friendship so noble a vertue to so euill a purpose as to worke treson and that he though Vespasian had been so minded wouldneuer haue consented to haue betrayed his friend Ioseph after Nicanor wordes began to studie as doubtfull what was best to do Whereat the souldiers being angrie began to cast fire into the caue but Vespasian hindered them being desirous to take Ioseph aliue Nicanor ceased not to entreate him and he perceiuing how his enemies began to waxe angrie and calling to minde the dreames he had in the night wherein God fore-told him of all the Iewes calamities and what should betide the Romane princes for hee could interpret dreames whatsoeuer God obscurely shewed being instructed in the holy bookes of the Prophets and himselfe a priest as his parents were So at that time being as it were filled with the spirite of God and recording the dreames and horrible visions which hee saw in his sleepe he prayed secretly to God after this manner O creator quoth hee seeing that it pleaseth thee to ruinate the nation of the Iewes that all good fortune is gone vnto the Romans that thou hast chosē my soule to foretell future euents I yeeld vnto the Romans tosaue my life protesting that I meane not to goe to them to play the traytour vnto my countrey but as thy minister and hauing thus spoken he yeelded himselfe vnto Nicanor But they who fled into the caue where Ioseph was perceiuing that Ioseph yeelded vnto the Romans flocked all about him and cried out How are our countrey lawes violated Where are those promises of God made vnto the Iewes where are those gallant minds that contemne and despise death Art thou O Ioseph desirous to liue and see thy selfe to become a vile bondslaue How soone hast thou forgotten thy selfe How many hast thou perswaded to embrace death for their libertie sake Truly thou hast but a shadow of valour and prudence in thee if thou doest hope that they vvill saue thy life against vvhom thou hast so behaued thy selfe or if they vvould saue thee to desire life at their hands But seeing the Romans offer hath made thee forget thy selfe yet we to preserue the honour and credite of our countrey vvill lend thee our armes and swordes and so if thou beest vvilling to die die like the generall of the Iewes which if thou refuse to do thou shalt whether thou vvilt or no die like a traitour vnto thy countrey When they had thus said they all threatned to kill him vvith their swordes if hee did yeelde vnto the Romanes Ioseph feared their violence and perswaded himselfe if he died before hee had put them in minde of Gods commaundements that then he should die a traitour vnto God wherefore he began to make a Philosophicall discourse vnto them concerning this present estate what was to be done Wherefore O my friends quoth he are we become murtherers of our selues Wherefore do we make warre betweene things so vnited as are the soule the bodie Will any man say that my mind is changed Why the Romans know that it is a thing most honourable to die in wars not any way but according to the law of armes to wit by the conquerers hand If I entreat the Romans to spare my life then am I worthie to perish with mine own sword hand but if they think good to spare their enemies should not we thinke it good likewise to spare our own selues Truly it is meere folly to do that vnto our owne selues for the which we fight against them I confesse it is a commendable thing to die for ones libertie but yet to die in fight and by their hands who tooke away that libertie but now neither do they warre against vs nor kill vs. He is not only to be iudged a coward who refuseth to die when need requireth but also he who will die when no need vrgeth Moreouer what withholdeth vs from offering our selues vnto the Romans truly feare of death Shall we therefore make that certaine our selues which we feare at the Romans hands But some will say how if not then we are made captiues consider what liberty we now haue You will say it is the part of him that is valiant to kill himselfe nay truly it is the part of a varie coward For I thinke him to be a timorous seaman who perceiuing a tempest comming before it fa◅l sinketh the ship wherein he is Moreouer it is against the law of nature and the nature of all creatures to kill themselues and thereby we should commit a hainous crime against God There is no liuing creature that of his owne seeking would willingly die for euery one feeleth in himselfe the strong and forcible law of nature whereby they desire to liue and for this cause we iudge them for our enemies that seeke to take it from vs and punish them that do take it indeede And do you thinke it is not a great contempt of God for a man to despise his gift For we of him receiued our first being and from him let vs expect our ending The bodie is mortall framed of corruptible matter but our soules are immortall and there is a little part of God placed in our bodies If any one abuse that which another man putteth him in trust with presently we think him a perfidious wicked man and shall we thinke that if we cast away out of our bodies that which God hath put vs in trust withall and placed in the same that he shall not know of it whom wee haue so abused We hold those slaues worthy to be punished that runaway from bad masters and shall not we then be held for impious who flie from so good a master as God is Do ye not know that they who according to the law of nature depart out of this life and render that to God which they receiued of him when he vvho gaue it requireth it shall leaue behind them a perpetuall name to their posteritie and family And that vnto those soules vvho are obedient vnto their creator when he calleth them he giueth a holy and sacred mansion
enuironed it round about with vallies so deepe that the bottome thereof cannot bee descried neither could one passe ouer them nor fill them vp for that which is on the West part is threescore stounds large and endeth at the lake Asphaltites and on this side Macherus hath a verie high prospect and it is inuironed on the North and South with vallies of the like measure that the former is whereby it is impossible to winne the Castle but that vallie which is on the East side is at least a hundred cubits deepe and it endeth vpon a mountaine neer vnto Machaerus King Alexander seeing the nature of the place did there build a Castle which afterward Gabinius in the warre against Aristobulus destroyed But Herode when he was King iudged this place worthie to be fortified as a principall defence against the neighboring Arabians For it was aptly situate vpon a mountaine where one might behold their borders wherefore making a large wall he builded a Citie there in the place that men doe enter vnto the Castle he also compassed the verie top thereof with another wall and in the corners he placed towers that were threescore cubites high and in the verie middest of all he built a pallace for largenesse and beautie admirable and made many Cesterns to receiue water in conuenient places which serued the people aboundantly as it were striuing with nature that the places which he had made inexpugnable he by Art might make places more strong then that was He also laid vp there in store arrowes and engines and made all prouision wherewith the Inhabitants might bee able to hold out a great siege In the Kings pallace there grew the herb called Rue which was verie admirable for the greatnesse for there was no figge tree taller or broader then it and it was reported that it had continued euer since Herods time and had endured longer had not the Iewes Inhabitants of the place cut it downe In the vallie that lieth on the North side of the Citie there is a place called Baaras where also groweth a roote of the same name the colour whereof resembleth the flame and it shineth at night like the Sunne beames and is not easie to bee pulled vp till that one cast vpon it the vrine of a woman or her flowers which done whosoeuer toucheth it is sure to die except he carrie the roote hanging on his hand It is also gathered another way without daunger after this manner They digge all round about it so that they leaue a verie little of the roote couered with earth and then they tie a dog vnto it which striuing to follow his master who maketh as though he would goe away he easily pulleth vp the roote and the dogge presently dieth as it were in his stead that seeketh to get it so that afterward none that handleth it or taketh it neede to stand in any feare therof This herb notwithstanding al this danger is diligently sought out for the vertue it hath Fo◅ it driueth away diuels which are the spirits of wicked men out of mens bodies if it be but applied vnto them whereas otherwise if they had no helpe these diuels possessing their bodies would kill them Out of that place also doe spring certaine hot waters verie different in taste one from another for some are bitter some sweete there are also sources of could waters one neere vnto another in a plaine but which is most admirable there is a caue hard by not very deepe enuironed with an eminent rocke aboue from the which their cōmeth as it were two dugges or paps hard by one another and out of the one of them their floweth verie cold water out of the other verie hot which mingled together make a pleasant bath and serue to cure many diseases and especially helpeth all paines of the sinnewes In the same place also are mines of Sulphure and Alume Bassus hauing viewed this place on euerie side resolued to besiege it and endeuoured to fill vp the valley that was on the East side and so make away vnto it which he began to doe hastening to raise a verie high mount and so make it easie to be taken Those that were inhabitants constrained Iewes that were strangers to go into the lower citie iudging them an vnprofitable multitude and so caused them to endure the first brunt of the enemies and they themselues kept the Castle both for that it was strong and also to preserue themselues hoping that by yeelding the place vnto the Romans they might obtaine pardon of them yet first they purposed to make triall if they could auoide the siege and therefore verie couragiously euerie day they made excursions and fought with them they found and many were slaine on both parts Fortune and opportunitie sometime caused one to be victors sometime another for the Iewes got the best when they could assault the Romans at vnawares and the Romans ouercame when they were aware of the Iewes comming and armed themselues But the siege was not ended by these skirmishes yet a chance befell that forced the Iewes to yeelde their Castle Amongst them that were besieged was one Eleazar a young man and verie hardy and bold in any enterprise who oftentimes made excursions and sought to hinder the Romans worke who alwaies in euerie fight did greatly endomage the Romanes and by his valour and aduenturous courage he gaue them that were his fellowes opportunitie to assault the Romans and to flie againe and retire in safetie himselfe being alwaies the last that so retired It happened one day that the fight being ended and both parts parted he as it were contemning all men and thinking that none of his enemies durst vndertake to combate with him staied without the gate speaking to them that were vpon the wall giuing great attention vnto them Then one Rufus an Aegyptian one of the Roman army espying this opportunitie ranne vpon him so suddenly that he at vnawares tooke him all armed as he was and they vpon the wals stood amazed whilest Rufus led him vnto the Romans campe Then the General of the Romans caused him to be led into a place where they in the citie might see him there to haue all his cloathes taken off him and whipped and the misfortune of this young man did greatly discourage the Iewes and all the citie was resolued into teares for the calamitie of that one man Bassus seeing this he deuised this councell against them for he sought to mooue them so to compassion that for to saue him they should yeeld their castle which fell out as he desired For he presently commanded a crosse to be erected as though he would presently haue crucified Eleazar which sight greatly mooued them in the Castle to sorrow so that now with lowd cries they lamented saying that this calamitie was insupportable Then Eleazar besought them not to despise him who was now to die a most miserable death and
with him hearing this were eased of the great care they tooke for their father whom they greatly feared to be fallen into some danger and now they also conceiued some hope to be reconciled vnto Caesar. Whereof Vologesus writing vnto Caesar for they were not contented to liue out of the Roman Empire notwithstanding that they were honorably entertained Caesar. courteously gaue them leaue they came to Rome their father was presently sent for vnto them from Lacedemon so they remained at Rome in great honour The nation of the Alans being Scythians inhabited about Tanais the marishes of Maeotis as in an other place we haue recounted Who conspiring with the king of the Hyrcans to passe into Media and sacke it for he was king of that passage which king Alexander had made in such wise that it was shut vp with yron gates obtained leaue to passe and so came into Media the Medes nothing fearing any such matter and sacked and spoiled all their populous and wealthie borders being full of cattel none daring to resist them for Pacorus king of that countrey for feare fled into the strongest hold he had and left all his goods behind him and with much adoe redeemed his wife and concubines whom they had taken for one hundreth talents Hauing therfore licence to rob and spoile for that no man resisted them they came into Armenia wasted all the countrey there about Tyridates was then king of that country who with an armie comming to fight against them was almost by them taken aliue in the battaile for one cast a halter about him began to draw him amongst the enemies so had done but that he with his sword did quickly cut the rope and fled and they being more enraged by reason he fought against them wasted all the countrey and carying with them a huge multitude of men and cattell out of both countries they returned into their owne CHAP. XXVIII How Massada a most strong Castle was taken BAssus dying in Iudaea Flauius Sylua succeeded in his place and now perceiuing that all the countrie else was conquered saue one only castle he with al the forces he could make went against it This castle is called Massada The captaine of the Sicarians named Eleazar who first inuaded it was a verie strong and valiant man borne of the tribe of Iuda who perswaded a great many Iewes as is before said not to inrole themselues when Cyrenaeus was Censor and sent to tax Iudaea For at that time the Sicarians had conspired against them that obeyed the Romans and in all things vsed them like enemies taking and driuing away their goods and firing their houses affirming that they did not any thing differ from straungers who betraied the libertie of their countrey rather then they would fight for it and that they had rather haue them warre on the Romans side But that was onely an excuse to hide their auarice and iniurious dealing as the proofe made manifest for they themselues reuolted and bare armes against the Romans and their enterprises against the Romans was worse then the rest and when their first forged pretence was known and confuted they did rage more then before against those that vpbraided them with 〈◊〉 For that was amongst the Iewes abounding with all manner of iniquitie so that none was left vndone yea though one indeuored to inuent some new villanies yet could he deuise none that was not then practised all laboured with this maladie both in particular and in common and euerie one did striue with other to surpasse his fellow in impietie against God and iniustice towards his neighbour The mightie vexed the weaker sort and the meaner sort destroyed the potentates and tooke their riches away from them they gaped after rule and dominion these after mischiefe The Sicarians were the first that were so cruell and iniurious against their neighbours for not prouoked thereunto neither by deed nor word they slew and iniured all men without cause but Iohn shewed them to be verie moderate For he did not onely slay all that counselled that which was good and profitable as his greatest enemies and especially dealing thus with the citizens but also many waies iniuried his countrey like one who had impiously also contemned God himselfe For he did eare forbidden meats and violated his countries temperancey so that it was no wonder to see him obserue no iustice nor fidelity towards men who had now infringed the lawes of God Againe what villanie did Simon Giora leaue vndone or what iniurie did he abstaine from to offer vnto â—…hier bodies who had chosen him for their ruler What did kinred and friendship then preuaile any man saue onely this that it made them be more cruelly vsed and euery day to be more tyrannously butchered then otherwise For they thought it a hainous offence to abuse straungers and a glory to exercise crueltie vpon their most familiar friends The Idumaeans were followers of this furie who killed the high priests and left not any one of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…he citie whereby God might be honoured and induced all iniustice possible wherein the Zealous excelled For they committed all mischiefe leaning nothing vnattempted that had euer before that time beene practised yet they tooke their name from them that imitated good and godlines but in truth it was to mocke and â—…out them that did well so sauage and cruell was their nature or else accounting the greatest impietie to be goodnes But their end was as they deserued and God punished their desert with his iust vengeance For euen vnto the latter end of their liues they endured all the miseries that is possible for mans nature to abide being killed with diuers sorts of torments Perhaps one will say that their punishment was not so greatas they deserued but what punishment could be deuised sufficient for their defert But I cannot now stand to lament those who perished by these mens crueltie wherefore I will returne to that where I left The Roman captaine came against Eleazar and them that kept Massada with him who were Sicarians and he brought an armie with him and presently subdued all the confines and borders round about and he placed iâ—… euerie fit place garrisons and enuironed the castle with a wall least any of them that were besieged should escape and that they that besieged them might there keepe a continuall guard Moreouer he placed his campe in a fit place for the siege euen there where the rocke that the castle was built vpon ioyned vnto the other mountaine which was an vnfit place to get necessaries in For not onely victuals were fetcht farre off by great labour of the Iewes who were commaunded to doe it but also water for the whole armie somewhere else for there was no fountaine neere that place This done Silua attempted the siege wherein it was requisite for him to vse both art and labour by reason of the strength
had not such successe as he hoped for he came to Rome and brought Ionathas and the rest bound with him thinking that no more inquirie would be made of the false accusations inuented by himselfe But Vespasian suspecting the matter made diligent inquirie to know the truth and finding these crimes iniuriously imposed vpon those men at Titus intreatie he acquited them and punished Ionathas according to his desert who being first whipped was afterward burned aliue And Catullus at that time by reason of the mildnesse of the Emperours had nothing said vnto him but not long after he fell into a grieuous disease and was cruelly tormented not onely in bodie but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the ghostes of them whom hee had so vniustly slaine readie to kill him so that hee cried out and not able to containe himselfe lept out of his bed as though hee had beene tortured with torments and fire And this disease dayly increasing on his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died in this manner leauing behind him an euident argument that the diuine iustice doth punish impious malefactors And this is the end of the Historie which we promised to bee set downe with all fidelitie for them that are desirous to know the euent of the warres betweene the Iewes and the Romanes And as for our stile we leaue it to the iudgement of the Reader but touching the veritie of the Historie it is such as no man neede to doubt of for I doe affirme that to bee the onely scope which I aymed at in this whole worke The end of the seuenth and last Booke of Flauius Iosephus of the Warres of the Iewes THE FIRST BOOKE OF FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS WRITTEN AGAINST APION AS TOVCHING THE ANTIQVITIE OF THE IEWES ISuppose O thou worthiest amongst worthie men Epaphroditus that I haue sufficiently testified vnto them who shall reade those bookes which I haue written as touching the autentique historie of the Iewes that our nation is most auncient and that they haue had their originall from themselues and haue from the first beginning inhabited that Countrie whereof they are now possessed at this present To which effect I haue gathered out of our sacred writings and published in the Greeke tongue a Historie containing the occurrences of fiue thousand yeeres And for that I see their are diuers who being too much addicted and seduced by the scandalous blasphemies and reports which some of those who are Iewdly affected towards vs haue published against vs haue misconceited and misbeleeued that which I haue written of our antiquitie and labour to approue our nation to bee moderne because none of the most auncient and most renowmed Historio graphers among the Grecians haue thought our auncestors worthie to bee enrowled in their writings I haue for these causes held it a part of my dutie to write som short treatise hereupon both to reproue the euill intent and affected lying of those our calumners as also to correct their ignorance by teaching those who are desirous to know the truth what the originall of our motion is For proofe whereof I will reduce no other testimonie then those who from antiquitie haue beene iudged worthie of credite among the Greekes laying open before their eyes that they who haue slaunderously and falsely written against vs are conuicted by their owne mouthes I will also enforce my selfe to expresse the causes wherein verie few Grecians haue made mention of vs in their Histories and moreouer I will make it knowne to those that are ignorant either in effect or in pretence who they haue beene that omitted not our Historie First of all therefore I doe not a little maruaile at those who in respect of antiquitie suppose that the truth ought onely to be gathered from the Greekes and that they iustly may claime the honour and knowledge of faithfull writing whereat they neither vouchsafe either vs or any others the credite or truth in that wee set downe although I am able to proue that all things haue fallen out quite contrarie For which cause it behoueth vs not to looke vnto mens various opinions but to examine that which is right and gather the same by the effects For all that whatsoeuer is set downe by the Greekes is new and of late memorie and hath beene brought to execution in a maner but yesterday I meane the foundations of Cities the inuentions of Arts and the descriptions of Lawes and the latest practise amongst them hath beene and is the diligent trauaile in Historie But among the Aegyptians Chaldeis and Phoenicians for I presume not to compare my countrimen with them as they themselues confesse the memorie of their writings is most ancient and infallible For all these nations dwell in such countries as are not subiect to the corruption of aire and haue carefully prouided that none of those things that haue been done by them should sleepe in obscuritie but should be kept in memorie in the publike writings of the learnedest men Whereas innumerable corruptions haue crept in among the Greeks by which the memorie of things forepassed is defaced But they alwaies who haue established new estates haue each of them supposed in their owne behalfe that whosoeuer was of theirs he was the first of the world Yet notwithstanding they haue had the knowledge of the nature of letters verie late and haue attained the same with verie great difficultie For they that speake of the most auncient vse of the same doe boast and glorifie themselues that they haue receiued the knowledge thereof from the Phoenicians and Cadmus Yet notwithstanding there is not any one of them that can shew any record of that time either in their temple or in their publike registers whereas after there arose a great doubt and question whether those letters were in vse during their time who sithence haue for the space of many yeeres continued the siege before Troy And in sooth their opinion who affirme that they were ignorant of the vse of those letters which are at this present allowed and accustomed amongst vs is not to be refused For it is most manifest that there is not any writing extant among the Greekes that is more auncient then Homers poesie which as it is most manifest hath bin in allowance and continuance since the time of the siege of Troy and yet it is reported that he left no part of that his poesie in writing which was composed of diuers songs and onely sung by roate by which meanes it came to passe that there are so many contradictions in the same And as touching those who haue vndertaken to write histories among them I meane Cadmus the Milesian and Acusilaus the Argiue and after him if there were any others they were not aliue but verie little time before the passage of the Persians into Greece Furthermore they who among the Greekes were the
earth nor vsed any handy craft but ceasing from all labours and paines taking liued in their Citie far and faire-liking hauing both their meate and all other necessaries prouided and prepared for them by others and esteemed that onely their felicitie to doe or endure any thing so that they might preuaile against those against whom they enterprised warres and that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not onely one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole companies of them forgetting their owne lawes yeelded themselues to their enemies And can anie one tell of I say not so many but of one or two of vs that euer was treacherous to his own lawes or that feared to die for them I meane not a common death such as souldiers are subiect vnto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be deuised Which I think those that preuailed against vs imposed vpon vs not for hatred but that they desired to see so admirable a matter and to see if we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impietie possible to doe it could be compelled by them to speake or doe any thing contrarie to our lawes Yet it is no wonder that we for our law doe die with such constancie rather then any other nation for other nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a triflle to wit labour and simple fare and that no man eate whatsoeuer or what he desireth or lie with them whom he ought not or be idle except he be of noble birth or go gallantly attired and we are alwaies carefull that when we fight against our enemy we obserue our lawes concerning our meats And thus we take pleasure to obserue and keepe our lawes and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus passe and such as they be wicked lying writers and Sophisters deceiuers of young men and detracters of our owne nation as though we were the wickedest people liuing As for me I will not examine the lawes of other nations for it is our custome to keepe and obserue our owne not to detract others yea and our law-maker openly prohibited vs from blaspheming such as other nations hold for gods onely for the name of God attributed vnto them yet may we not leaue the obiections of our accusers vnanswered seeing that which wee are to speake against them is not our owne deuice but many before vs haue spoken it Who then of all the wise Greekes will not condemne the most famous Poets and especially the law-makers who at first brought and setled such vaine opinions of the gods amongst the cōmon people affirming the number of them to be so many as they thought good and to be borne at diuers times one of another allotting to euerie one his proper place as vnto other liuing creatures some to be vnder the earth others in the sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in heauen in words they do terme him a father but in deeds they shew him to be a tyrant and for this cause they report that his wife his brother and his daughter whom they affirme to haue been borne of his braine conspired against him to binde him and hang him as they report him also to haue dealt by his father Against these vanities all excellent and wise men doe worthily inueigh who beside this already rehearsed too in derision adde how some of the gods are young and some olde and some infants others are gods of artes and sciences and one is a Smith another a Weauer another a Pilgrime and is at variance with mortall men others delight in musicke others in shooting moreouer that they are at variance one with another amongst themselues and that they fall our one with another in mens behalfe and that not onely one of them laieth violent hands vpon the other but that also they are wounded by mortall men and sorrow feele griefe for the wounds and that which is most abominable of all do vse carnall copulation with mankind and that most vndecently that their vnbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chiefe God of all whom they call father contemned and drowned certaine women whom he himselfe had deceiued and gotten with childe and that he could not deliuer the children borne of these women from calamitie for that destinie had obliged him not see their deaths without teares This is all good stuffe as also is that which followeth to wit adulteries committed in heauen so openly and impudently amongst the gods that some professe themselues to enuie their fellow gods and goddesses tied togither in such filthinesse And what should the rest of them doe when as their king and the most auncientest amongst them could not refraine his lustfull licentiosnesse from the company of women Moreouer some of them became seruants vnto men and some built houses for money and others became shepheards others like malefactors were chained in hell What man then that euer was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprooue the inuentors thereof and the foolish beleeuers also Others presumed to feigne both terror and feare and madnes and such simplicitie as that they might be deceiued and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods haue perswaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexitie thinking that some of the gods are the giuers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seeke to please them with gifts as they would doe wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall sustaine great domage by their meanes except they doe daily pacifie their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shamefull ignorance and erronious iniquitie concerning God Truely I am perswaded for that their first law-makers were themselues herein to seeke and ignorant of the nature of God and that they did not faithfully deliuer vnto their common wealth so much as themselues knew concerning this point but as thought it had bin a thing of least moment did wilfully let it passe giuing licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the common wealths affaires and tell what them liked of strange gods Moreouer the painters and image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in making of gods it being lawfull for them euerie one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of earth others in colours and the chiefest godmakers amongst them vse iuorie and gold to make their gods of a true argument of their mutable noueltie And then the auncient gods whom they first so honoured and reuerenced as they could possibly deuise being now withered with age are out of credit and other youngsters possesse their places and honours their
temples also some are desolate others newly erected as men pleased Whereas contrariwise they ought most constantly to keepe their opinion of God and his religion Appolonius Molon was one of these prowd fooles but those Grecians that followed true Philosophie knew all that is already said and the colde reasons of this allegorie and therefore did iustly despise them and agreed with vs in the true and decent opinion of gods nature Which Plato well seeing affirmeth that Poets are not to be permitted in a common wealth and sendeth Homer away verie honourably crowned and annointed least that he with fables should destroy or depraue the true opinion of God For Plato of all others especially imitated our law-maker as he did herein also commanding all his Citizens that all of them should perfectly learne his lawes and that for no casualtie any strange forraine custome should be admitted into their Citie but that their common wealth should be pure and they persist in the obseruation of their lawes But Appolonius Molon not respecting this inueigheth against vs for not receiuing into our societie men of strange opinions or religion whereas not onely we doe so but commonly all Greekes yea and the most prudent amongst them The Lacedemonians did expell all strangers and did not permit their Citizens to trauell into other countries fearing that by both these waies their lawes might be corrupted They therefore are to be spoken against rather then we seeing they neither admit strangers to conuerse with them nor to inhabite amongst them no nor impart their religion vnto them but we though not desirous to learne other nations religigion yet doe we not denie to impart ours to strangers that desire to embrace it which if I be not deceiued is a token of magnanimitie and clemencle in vs but this shall suffice concerning the Lacedemonians Apollonius was ignorant how matters stood with the Athenians who boast that their citie is free for all nations for they did most seuerely and without all mercy punish those that did but speak any word against their God For what was the cause of Socrates his death he neither betraied the city to enemies nor destroyed their temples but onely swore by a strange oath which as he said whether in iest or in earnest a diuell taught him and for this offence was he put to death by drinking hemlocke his accusers alledging that he corrupted young men and contemned the lawes and religion of his countrey And this Socrates sustained being a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras was of Clazomenia and for that he affirmed the sunne which the Athenians worshipped for God to be a fierie stone he was by the sentence of some few condemned to die They also proclaimed that whosoeuer would kill Diagoras of Melus should be rewarded with a talent for his labour onely for that this Diagoras was said to deride their misteries Protagoras also had beene by them taken and put to death had he not made quicke escape onely for that they supposed him to haue written certaine doubts of the Athenian Gods And what wonder is it that they so vsed these famous men who spared not to vse the like crueltie vpon women For they killed a priest for that some accused her to worship straunge Gods and their law appointed that who so did introduce straunge Gods into their citie should be punished with death It is therefore euident that they who enacted such streight lawes did not beleeue the Gods of other nations to be Gods for had they beleeued in them they would not haue depriued themselues of the benefit of many Gods The verie Scithians who delight in manslaughter so that they verie little differ from bruit beasts yet do they thinke themselues bound to maintaine their owne lawes as best so that they slew Anacharsis a famous Greeke that came vnto them onely for that he seemed to attribute too much vnto the Grecian Gods yea thou maist find many amongst the Persians who for this cause haue beene tortured And it is euident that Appolonius approued the Persian lawes for when the Greeks admited their fortitude and concord of opinions concerning God I meane the fortitude they shewed in the burning of their temples this Appolonius in all things imitated the Persians violating other mens wiues and putting out their childrens eies Whereas our lawes adiudge him to death that so vseth vnreasonable beasts And neither the feare and terrour of potentates nor the fauour of them whom all men reuerence could euer cause vs to forsake or abandon these lawes neither do we exercise fortitude to the end to depriue other men of their goods and fortunes by warre but to keepe our owne lawes and we who patiently put vp all other iniurie yet if any man do in our religion prouoke vs we presently seeke reuenge not respecting our owne abilitie yea though thereby we worke our owne vtter ruine and calamitie What therfore should moue vs to imitate the lawes of other nations when they that made those lawes yea euen the lawmakers themselues did transgresse them Or how can the Lacedemonians auoid reproch for their inhospitalitie neglecting mariage Or the Elians and Thebans for accompaning with men contrarie to the law of nature which fact most shamefull they deemed good necessary Yea not content to do so themselues they also ascribed the like vnto their gods to be done by them which the Greeks also now of late haue done for this cause they refused to marry with their own women iudging their satisfaction to be contrarie to the prescript of nature But I wil speak no more of punishment neither how great malefactors those first lawmakers freed from punishment being bribed with mony how vniust they were in the lawes appertaining to wedlock It is long to examine how great occasions of impietie they gaue For many haue alreadie long ago forsaken their lawes which cannot be said of vs who for our lawes haue suffered losse of our cities fortunes and liues we keeping and persisting in our lawes euen vnto death if any Iew be in a straunge countrey where there is a tyrant king yet doth not he so feare him that he would for his commaund any iot transgresse our lawes if therefore we do valorously endure thus much for our lawes all men must needs grant our lawes to be verie good but if they say we suffer all these calamities for to maintaine wicked or naughtie lawes what punishment are they not worthie of who hauing as they say better lawes then we do so easily forsake them whereas we do maintaine ours euen with our owne liues But seeing antiquitie of lawesis the greatest argument to prone their goodnes I will set downe of what antiquitie our lawes are together with our law-makers opinion of the Dietie if therefore any one compare our lawes with the lawes of all nations he shall find that ours are of more antiquitie then theirs
he begged a Tetrarthy at Caesars hands for his brother Pheroras on whom he bestowed one hundreth talents of reuenue out of his owne kingdome to the intent that if he should happen to die Pheroras estate might be assured and left no waies subiect vnto his children As soone as therefore he had conducted Caesar as farre as the sea vpon his returne he builded a goodly temple of white marble in honour of his name in the countrey which belonged to Zenodorus neere to a place which is called Panion which is a goodly caue in the heart of a mountaine and a place of great pleasure vnder which there is a wide poole of immeasurable depth which is full of standing water and the vpper part of the mountaine is very hie From vnder this caue spring the fountaine heads of the floud Iordan This place of it selfe so famous and delightfull was chosen out by Herod and adorned also with a temple which he built in honour of Caesar. At that time also he released the third part of those tributes which his subiects paid vnto him to the end as he said that he might relieue his subiects after the penurie they had endured But the truth of his intention was that he did it to that end to winne their fauours who were sinisterly affected towards him For they had conceiued an hatred against him because all pietie was in a manner abolished and the ordinances of the country in a sort disanulled by the means of those temples which he had built and each man priuily muttered with bitternesse against him so that welny they were addressed to mutiny But Herode with great discretion preuented the same and cut off all occasions of insurrection commanding euerie one to intend his labour forbidding them to make any assemblies in the Citie or to talke one with an other vnder colour of walking abroad for pleasure or feasts sake Moreouer he had sent out certaine intelligencers to discouer all that which was done appointing grieuous punishments for those that misliked or maligned his gouernment For diuers of them were led vnto the Castle of Hircania some openly some priuately where they were no sooner imprisoned but they were put to death and both in the citie in the country there were certain men appointed to take note of al such that vsed any assemblies vpon any occasion whatsoeuer And so inwardly was he tormented with their dislikes that as it is reported of him he tooke vpon him the habite of a priuate man and thrust himselfe in the night time into the company of thepeople to vnderstand and gather what they thought of his gouernment and those whom he found to be vntractable and obstinate and would not be conformed to his will he dispatched them by one meanes or other binding the rest of the people by an oath to serue him faithfully and constrained them to keepe the oath they had sworne and to acknowledge his soueraintie whereunto diuers thorow the feare they conceiued easily condiscended But they who had a more greater courage and were discontented to see themselues constrained he cut them short by all the meanes that he might He required also an oath of diuers of those sectaries who followed the Pharisees Pollio and Sameas and notwithstanding they denied to take the oath yet did he not punish them as he did the other for their refusall in respect and reuerence of Pollio their master From this rigour also were they exempt who amongst vs are called Esseans which is a sort of men that liue after that manner that Pithagoras did among the Graecians of whom I haue more expressely discoursed in an other place At this present I thinke it not a matter to be ouerslipt neither estranged from the aime of my historie to report for what cause the king had so religious an opinion of those men There was a certaine Essean called Manahem who in his sect was accounted an vpright and iust man and one that had obtained from God the knowledge of things to come He seeing Herode one day at such time as he was verie young and went to schoole saluted him and called him king of the Iewes Herode supposing that Manahem knew him not or that he mocked him reprooued him sharpely for this his speech saying that he acknowledged himselfe to be one of the common sort Manahem smiling hit him gently with his hand vpon the backe and said vnto him Thou shalt be king and shalt haue a happy raigne For such is Gods pleasure and at that time remember thy selfe of the words that Manahem spake vnto thee which shall serue for a testimonie to put thee in minde of thy mutable estate For it becommeth thee nothing more then by iustice pietie â—…nd equitie to winne the hearts of thy subiects yet know I by reuelation from God that thou wilt not follow these instructions for thou shalt forget and neglect both diuine and humane lawes though in other respects thou shalt be most fortunate and purchase eternall glorie Yet shalt thou not escape Gods hands for he shall chastise thee in the latter time of thy life with a grieuous punishment At that time Herode gaue small regard to those his words in that he had no hope that any such thing should happen but not long after as soone as he had obtained the kingdome to the fulnesse of his felicitie he in the greatnesse of his power sent for Manahem and asked him how long he should raigne But he returned him a doubtfull answere Which when Herode perceiued he asked him anew if he should raigne ten yeeres Whereunto Manahem answered and twentie and thirtie without setting him downe any prefixed terme Herode contenting himselfe herewith embraced Manahem and gaue him licence to depart and continued his affections towards the Esseans for his sake I haue thought good to register these things notwithstanding they may seeme vncredible to declare that diuers of our nation haue had communication with God by reason of their holinesse CHAP. XIIII Herode buildeth a new Temple in Ierusalem after he had pulled downe the olde IN the eighteenth yeere of his raigne Herode after he had finished these many and admirable actions conceited in his minde no meane but a mightie proiect which was to reedifie Gods Temple of greater bignesse and answerable height hoping that this worke which was the most admirable of all those he had vndertaken as indeed it was in being finished would eternize his memorie But fearing least the people in regard of the greatnesse of the enterprise would be hardly drawne thereunto he determined to sound their intents by his discourse and for that cause assembling them togither he spake after this manner Men and brethren I hold it to be a matter both vain superfluous to recount vnto you what things I haue performed during the time of my gouernment For they haue been of that nature that they haue returned me but little honour
and your selfe great profit and securitie For you your selues know that in those aduersities that haue befallen you I haue beene no waies negligent in that which concerned your profit and in those buildings I haue erected by Gods assistance I haue not so much regarded my selfe as that which concerneth you all and my hope is by the will of God that I haue brought the estate of the Iewes to that degree of felicitie that they neuer had or expected before this time As for that which I haue particularly exploited in the heart of the country in the cities which I haue augmented as wel with ornament and beautie as with a number of inhabitants since you your selues know I thinke it a ridiculous matter to reduce them to your memorie But I must at this time assure you that the desseigne which I will presently enterprise is far more holy and more excellent then may be performed by vs. For our predecessors after they were returned from the captiuity of Babylon builded a tēple in honour of our great and mightie God which in height wanted sixtie cubits of that which Salomon first built yet ought we not to obiect as a blame or ascribe this action to any impietie in our ancestors For the temple was not at their disposition but the measure of the building was set them downe by Cyrus and Darius the sonne of Hystaspes to whom and their successors they haue first of all beene slaues as after their time they haue beene vnder the subiection of the Macedonians so that they had not the meanes and opportunity to raise this religious monument according to his first patterne to that requisite and conuenient height But since at this present by Gods permission I haue obtained the kingdome and that for a long time hitherto we haue enioied a happie peace and that neither money nor great reuenues are wanting and that which is our greatest good we are made happie by the fauour of the Romanes who in a sort are the Lords of the whole world and in effect are our entire friends I will enforce my selfe to repaire that defect which hapned in times past thorow the miseries and weake meanes of our noble predecessors resoluing with my selfe to perfect that which is requisite for the seruice of God in acknowledgement of the benefits which I haue receiued from him by whose mercy and meanes I haue obtained my kingdome This sodaine and vnexpected speech of Herodes filled all mens eares with wonder and hearts with expectation in that he seemed to promise such a thing as was beyond their hope and as they thought farre greater then his power and that which most distracted them was for that they had conceiued a feare least after he had pulled downe the olde he should not be of abilitie to erect a new For which cause his counsaile seemed to be daungerous and attempt ouer difficult But the king perceiuing with what doubts they were detained encouraged them promising in no sort to deface the olde temple before all that was prepared and polished which was requisite for the building of the new And in this he kept his word For he appointed a thousand chariots to draw stones vnto the place and chose out amongst the rest ten thousand cunning and expert workmen He apparrailed also at his owne charge one thousand Priests in their accustomed vestments whereof some gaue the masons instructions how they should worke and the rest assisted the carpenters This done after he had fitly and readily performed and prepared all things requisite he caused them to fall to their building As soone as therefore the former foundations were taken away and other meere newe were planted in their place the temple was erected vpon them in length one hundreth cubits and twentie cubits in height aboue those hundreth cubits which the former contained which twentie cubits were in some sort scantled after that by succession of time the foundations began to be setled and during Neroes raigne our countrimen had thought to haue raised it to the first height The building was of white and strong marble stones which were each of them twentie and fiue cubits long eight cubits high and about some twelue cubits broad All the structure of the fame was made after the manner of a princely pallace on all sides and the middle part thereof was higher then the rest so that it might easily be discouered by the inhabitants of the countrey many furlongs off and especially it was most apparant and subiect to their sight who dwelt opposite against it or repaired vnto the citie The doores thereof and their tramsomes were correspondent to the rest of the magnificence of the temple garnished with diuers rapestries azured flowers which inuested adorned the pillars vnder whose chapters a golden vine spred it selfe on each side replenished with many goodly clusters of grapes hanging downe which was an admirable worke to behold both in respect of the greatnes as also for the workmanship and matter whereof it was made He encompassed all the temple with most goodly galleries and porches correspondent to the magnificence of the same and surpassing those in times past for the cost so that neuer any man before him so magnificently adorned the temple Two of which were vnder-propped with verie strong wals whose workemanship was so exquisite as it is incredible to be reported amongst men There was a stony rising or hillocke and verie straight and high the top whereof towards the eastermost part of the citie was somewhat smooth and vpright The first that incompassed it with a wall was Salomon our king who by Gods fauour and the mediation and labour of diuers workmen did first of all build the higher part Herode also inuested the lower part thereof with an other wall vnder which to the southward there lieth a most deepe valley This wall was made of huge stones close fastned the one vnto the other with lead shutting all within his enclosure extending it selfe very deepe so that the greatnes and height of this foure square building was an incredible thing to be imagined The greatnes of the stones appeared in the front but on the inside they were fastned togiether with claspes of yron which fortified and strengthned the building for euer against all iniuries of times This worke hauing beene thus continued to the top and the void space betweene the wal and the rising hillocke filling vp the floore aboue was made plaine and equal The whole circuit of the tower contained about foure stades or furlongs a stade or furlong in length to euerie pane from angle to angle On the inside and neere vnto the top there was an other wall of stone extended along the easterne side hauing a double porch of equall greatnes with that of the wall and placed in the midst of the temple and openeth right vpon the gates thereof which the kings before time had adorned Round about the temple were planted those spoiles which