looketh backward is not iudged fitte for the kingdome of God as also hee afterward preached which sentences may haue a more fit place hereafter to bee discussed lette it nowe suffice that they shew howe that the young prince did not in vaine spend his time in making yoakes and ploughes whose principall arrant was for nothing else but that his spouse taking on her his yoake and going stil forward frō vertue to vertue might recouer with a sweet pain what she carelesly lost by a proude sin But Palestina labored all this while vnder a most grieuous yoake so much the more grieuous because they had no hope of any help The 72. seniors who were alwaies of the familie of Dauid and the chiefe princes of the people therfore could beare great sway among thē were al murdered by Herod for he could neuer brooke any of the ancient nobility and Proselithes as himselfe was were in their place The two brethren whose falling out for the Kingdome was Herods falling into it were both put to death first Aristobulus who gaue the first occasion of the ruine of the countrey was poysoned by Pompey afterwarde Hircanus in whome was all the right which was knowne both to the priesthood and to the kingdome was put to death by Herod Alexander eldest sonne to Aristobulus and husband to Alexandra daughter to Hircanus was beheaded at Antioch in Siria Antigonus his other sonne fled with his sisters to mount Libanus where hee bestowed one of them vppon a great Lorde without the mountaine but himselfe was afterwarde taken and after some grieuous torture beheaded by Antony Alexandra daughter to Hireanus Herod did put to death and her daughter Mariamnes who was his owne wife also his own sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus whome hee had by her but before those hee caused Aristobulus who was brother to Mariamnes to bee drowned for he was the onely man whome at that time hee feared as well for his towardlinesse as his title hee hadde to the kingdome Yet to colour his malice hee gaue him all the honour which hee could he displaced Ananelus whome before hee had exalted vnto the priesthood and restored Aristobulus to the high-priesthood by which fact all that stocke thought themselues bound to him he might at his pleasure make him away when he would for before Alexandra had procured Cleopatra the Queene of Egypt to make Antony the Emperour send for him fearing lest that at one time or other hee should be murdered by Herod but when that Herod perceiued that some did worke to get him out of his handes after the first excuse made to Antony that the people would not like well to haue their onely hope from them in a strange countrey by this exalting him hee contented them all and Alexandra ioyed so much to see her sonne made high priest as shee forgot that euer shee had any iust cause to thinke him in any perill Herod seeing all things to goe forward as hee would wish and that nowe hee was trusted with the youth for hee was not past sixteene or seuenteene yeeres of age which was vsed for a colour that he was not before placed in that dignity he practised the more securely what he intended against Aristobulus but as it is thought hee made the more haste because he saw an extraordinary ioy in all the people who were maruailously affected vnto the youth for that in all his actions especially at the Altar in his rich ornaments hee did most liuely represent vnto them his grandfather Aristobulus performed all things with exceeding great maiestie and reuerence Herod resolued to rid him and his owne feare playd with him as he was woont to doe for he cared not sometime if hee were seene to vse some youthfull games in his companie to make him and others thinke how much hee loued him and when they were both somewhat hote vnder pretence of some refreshing hee carryed Aristobulus to a verie pleasant place where were large pondes and men swimming in them amongst whome at Herods verie importunate intreatie Aristobulus went also to swimme and the swimmers hauing gotten him into the water pretended to make him some sport but Herod who was a looker on had all the pleasure for they diued so long and so often and ducked him with them so much that in the end striuing to small purpose hee was drowned by them Then was nothing heard in the country but weeping and lamenting and Herod himselfe although hee wept at the beginning was thought afterwarde to grieue somewhat when hee reflected vpon those commendable parts which were in the youth and hee repeated this fact when Antony by Cleopatra her procurement at Alexandra her suite sent for him to answere for it but before hee went to make his answere hee sent such effectually pleading presents as when hee came all which he swore and forswore was beleeued and contrary to the expectation of the whole world and his own was not only acquited of this cruell murder but also vsed in most friendly and familiar manner The children which Alexander and Aristobulus Herods sonnes by Mariamnes left behinde them were too yong at this time to lay clayme to the kingdome although afterward Agrippa who was sonne to Aristobulus enioyed it But Archelaus shewing himselfe to be Herods son in all things which might vexe the Iews brought them all into such humours as they cared not what King they had so that they might bee freed from Herods kinred and some of them without anye head opposed themselues at Hierusalem agaynst the Romanes as the cheefest authours of their miseries others seeing no possibilitie of withstanding the Romanes who were now become conquerours of all the worlde made suite at Rome to the Emperour Augustus that they might bee altogether vnder the Romanes gouernement Some followed one named Iudas whose father Ezechias had in Herods time troubled the whole countrey and they were the more encouraged to accept him for their King because at Sephoris the cheefest Citie of Galile hee tooke the Storehouse wherein was exceeding much armour with the which hee armed those who followed him Others about Hierico were contented to honour one named Simon with the title of a Kinge hee had serued Herod in his life time and nowe perswaded himselfe that hee had as much right vnto the kingdome as Herod his maister had before him whereupon to shewe some forwardenesse hee burned and spoyled many Pallaces therabout and gaue what was to bee gotten among his souldiours But these factions continued not so longe as that which a shephearde beganne of a huge stature and strengthe his name was Athronges hee had foure bretheren not much inferiour to himselfe whome hee made gouernours of those multitudes which flocked vnto him but in the end some of the brethren being taken the other vpon condition yeelded vnto Archelaus Others hearing a rumor that Alexander one of Herods sonnes whom he had by Mariamnes was yet liuing beleeued it because they much wished it and no honour
mountain in the north part of this for this speciall cause a most sacred land 3. daies iourny from Ierusalem the chiefest citie in the country in a citie of the tribe of Zabulon called Nazareth for the beautie thereof pleasantnesse so called for Nazareth signifieth a flower yet hath it her principall worth in being a garde to her who was for that time the flower not onely of that country but of the whole world at the appearing of which vpon this mountaine the lillies of the vallyes were ashamed of their whitenes the roses in Hiericho blushed wheÌ„ they ordred their leaues to breath out their sweetnes the Cedars of Libanus woulde neuer haue mustred theÌ„selues to make knowne their starelines had not nature coÌ„manded them all to do this honor vnto theiâ— princesse that they also appearing in theâ—r richest beautifullest sweetest comliest attâ—re she might the more easily bee discerned to exceed them all hauing in one what perfection was in them all and what was not The seed of this sacred flower was Iudas sonne to Israel who was grandchilde to Abraham by Isaacke the roote was Iesse the stalke king Dauid and his ofspring the bud Anna wife to Ioachim otherwise called Hely or Eliachim who hauing together from their youth liued in plenty aswell of heauenly grace as worldly goodes onely felt this punishment of God and this reproch of the world they had no issue for which cause Ioachim comming according to his religious custome to offer in the Temple was vpbraided by the priests for his barennes and iudged vnworthy to encrease Gods offeringes whome God thought not worthy to encrease his people which strake so great a sorrow into his hart that forthwith he forsooke his house and friendes and liued as a man forlorne among his shepheatdes His wife also retyred her selfe vnto a priuate kind of life best fitting the humor which now had gotten the maistery in her yet shee frequented the Temple at Hierusalem where shee seasoned all her prayers with this solemne vow that if it would please God to take from her that reproach shee would consecrate her childe vnto him in the Temple and she was the more importunate in this kind of deuotion because shee had heard that one of like name and condition by feruent prayer and such like promise made vnto God obtained her sute she hoped she might if so also God would make her husband Ioachim as glad a Father as Anna the mother of Samuell made her Husbande Elcana How often did Ioachim also accompanie his wandering pensiue thoughts with a little and that scant-settled comfort when hee considered that Sara when shee was past child-bearing had a sonne by Abraham how often would hee increase this comfort with calling to minde that Rachel for whose loue Iocob serued her father Laban fourteene yeares was numbred among the barren vntill shee brought foorth Ioseph Sampson would also offer himselfe many times vnto his thoughts whome his father Manue neuer looked for nor any other because his wife was barren and Samuel the Prophet and last Iudge of Israel borne of a woman who was a long time barren comming to poore Ioachim his made made him thinkè it a thing possible vnto God to giue him also a child if it so pleased him and herewithall he refreshed sometime his spirits vntill his imagination recoyling backe vpon him gaue him to vnderstand that Isaac was promised to Abraham as one from whom should spring the blisse of the whole world Ioseph was ordained to saue the world from being destroyed with famine when the earth yeelded no corne for seuen yeeres together and therefore might it bee a great mystery that hee made a ioyfull mother who had beene barren before whilst Lya Iacobs other wife had brought foorth seuen children the last onely of which being a daughter imported a defect after plenty which Ioseph supplyed And although hee saw that the dissention betwixt the Asamones who were both priests and princes did threaten vtter ruine of their estate being alreadie in subiection to the Romans and vnder the gouernement of Herod an vsurper of the kingdome and therefore looked for a mightier then Samson to deliuer them as hee thought from that temporall bondage yet withall he thought his part to be least in this worke because that worthie which was to make this conquest was to be borne of a Virgin But neither conld he hope for an other Samuel because the Messias approaching neare by all accounts would speake no more so much by others as before hee had done but by himselfe vpon which discourses his sudden ioyes fayling him he fell into his former griefes and perswading himselfe that hee was vnworthie to father any great worthie hee could not thinke that God would extraordinarily open his wiues wombe after she had beene so long a time barren for a childe who should not extraordinarily excell other children wherefore hauing a conceit onely what God of his omnipotencie could doe and not so much as any little hope of that which God of his clemencie would doe he thought his miserie was so great as iustly he could complaine himselfe of it although he was so iust a man as he would not repine against God for it So liued Anna frequenting the temple among saints and Ioachim the fileds among sheep fit places for such as were ordained to bring foorth a Saint-like mother of a sacred Lambes vntill the young Prince who beganne to doe some honour to his mother before shee was his mother sent as solemne an Embassage to her parents to foreshewe her comming into the worlde as hee did afterwarde vnto her herselfe to further his owne For while Ioachim and his wife were at their woonted deuotions a Prince appeared suddainlie vnto them sent from him whose meanest subiect was no lesse then a Prince who tolde them that they shoulde haue a childe who shoulde bring them more ioy then the want of one had bredde them griefe and that the reproach they had sustayned by an infamous barrennesse should be most honourably recompensed with a gracious fruit and therewithall departed So straunge a message brought vnto them by a straunger might haue seemed incredible had it not beene pleasing vnto them but being so welcome newes they perswaded themselues that hee carryed as much truth in his mouth as comlinesse in his person and was so like one who woulde not deceyue them that with most ioyfull mindes they well accepted the message and expected what was promised vnto them meeting therefore at the Temple whither both repaired to giue GOD thankes for what they had heard and embracing each other in signe of great ioy likely to succeede an exceeding greate griefe they returned home to Nazareth where at her appointed tyme Anna was deliuered of a daughter whom her parents named Mary whose gracious priueledges were such as no man is able worthily to expresse them and her perfections so great as the most perfect Angelles did admire them for to which of the
who although his auncesters also had beene Princes of the Iewes yet was hee but a poore Carpenter and to him they gaue what was most excellent in the whole worlde choosing for her safetie rather a well disposed then a wealthie husbande Ioseph for so was the Carpenter called receyuing her at the Priestes handes was according to the custome of the countrie espoused vnto her at a solemne meeting of their friendes which was done by the taking of their names by such as were in authoritie for the purpose but afterward her parents kept her at home vntill the day came of her marryage during which season they were accounted as husbande and wife and as fast linked as if they had beene marryed And her sonne before hee became her sonne wrought maruailouslie to her contentment in Ioseph least at any time her virginitie shoulde haue beene in ieopardie for who would haue iudged her to haue meant to remaine a Maide which see her take a mate her selfe beeing of tender yeares and her husbande no olde man but Ioseph hauing the same minde that shee had before hee marryed her or perswaded by her after hee was marryed as shee was enformed no doubt by him who wrought it that shee shoulde preuaile with him in that matter did neuer so much as purpose to preiudice her vowe which shee had made of perpetuall virginitie but being moste truly and properly her husband he resolued to behaue himselfe onely as a most constant faithful and chastly louing friend By this meane was the Enchaunter deceyued taking her for no pure maiden being marryed and the worlde satisfied afterwarde when shee was with childe which else woulde haue iudged her to haue done amisse Thus did the Prince conceale from his aduersarie what was doone and left him to iudge as hee lysted of that which was neuer doone and as of himselfe the aduersarie was not of power to enter into the Virgins thoughtes so was hee also restrayned that his knowledge might deceyue him in her deedes And although that hee coulde neuer perceyue that euer shee gaue consent to anye such act yet was shee of such a nature as hee knewe shee might and being maried he thought it so likelie a matter as he hoped he should not by her in any sort be restrayned in his malice yet because he knew the time approached neere of which had beene many prophesies of the end of that wickednes hee had wrought he could doe no lesse then feare and withall bee verie watchfull but the yong Prince beeing more wise then the other was wilie and more cunning to conceile then the other was to conceiue gaue him leaue by some accidents to coniecture his neerest miseries but yet kept him altogether vncertaine of the cheefest misteries The Virgin being in her fathers house retyred in her chamber as shee vsed to bee a Prince of the Emperour his court came vnto her either one of those which was wont to visit her or some of higher qualitie whom shee was most ioyfull to see but when shee heard him salute her after an accustomed manner shee beganne to bee afrayd and to tremble for feare Hayle full of grace saith the Embassadour our Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women And how could shee that was mother of all humilitie not blush to bee told that shee was full of grace howe could shee choose but bee astonished to heare him who or his like was woont alwayes before to speake nothing but truth now say that which she thought was verie farre from the tâ—uth shee doubted not but that her Lord of his kindnesse was continually with her but shee could not resolue her selfe that shee was so gracious a creature in his sight as to bee saluted by this name Full of Grace shee was woont to bee called Marie to which name shee neuer feared to aunswere but now that shee heareth one called full of Grace humilitie would haue assured her that the Embassadour meant some other than her but that shee neither had any thought of any others being in place nor the Prince any power to fixe his eye but vpon her Here therefore made she a stop and stayed vpon this salutation for easily would she haue consented that the woman was most blessed aboue all other women who was full of grace but her humble thoughts would not graunt that shee was this woman Whereupon falling into a verie deepe meditation whereunto this vnwoonted salutation should tend shee changed her colour so often as her imagination varyed making with her or against her which the Embassadour perceiuing hee awaked her as it were out of some troublesome dreame and soluing all her doubts sayd thus vnto her Feare not Mary for thou hast found grace with God behold thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and shalt beare a sonne and thou shalt cal his name Iesus hee shall bee great and shall bee called the sonne of the most high and our Lord God shall giue him the seate of Dauid his father and hee shall raigne in the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall bee no end When shee perceiued beeing nowe named that shee was the partie to whome the embassage was to bee deliuered and was also perswaded that her Lord had that care of her that hee would not suffer her easily to bee deceiued either with any fayned shewe of that which was not or false promise of that which could not bee with a modest boldnesse shee demaunded of him how so great a mysterie should bee wrought in her being a thing well knowne vnto his Lord and her that shee did not knowe any man which shee spake with that constancie in her gesture and shamefulnesse in her countenance as the Embassadour might very well coniecture that as she did not mistrust his message so shee meant not to preiudice her vow she had made of perpetuall keeping her selfe a maiden and therefore he returned her this aunswere The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shall ouer-shadow thee and therefore that holy one which shall bee borne of thee shall bee called the sonne of God and behold Elizabeth thy cosin shee also hath conceiued a sonne in her old age this monâ—th is the sixt of her who is called barren because no worke shall bee impossible to God This Virgin who had profited so much in vertue as nowe shee was become peerelesse seeing right wel that without any blemish to her honour shee might entertaine such loue as was offered her by him who was of so high renowne as shee might presume hee would not and so absolute as she might be throughly perswaded hee could not doe any thing whereby either repentance should fall to him or any shame redound to her to satisfie the expectation of the Emperour his sonne and all the Princes attendant on them which seemed at this time to mind nothing else then her answere shee yeelded her selfe to her Lords will and with more humilitie then Abigail to
Elizabeth whose time was at hande was somewhat comforted and the blessed virgin when shee espied her sonnes harbinger was the more contented the one seeing her ioy present the other knowing hers not to bee farre distant For although some do doubt whether she staid her coosens deliuerie because it was the custome that Maydens shoulde not bee present at womens labours yet the house contayning more roomes then one woulde affoorde her another vntill her Coosen were deliuered and it is not likely shee woulde take so long a iourney stay there so long and then leaue her kinswoman whome shee so entirely effected when she shoulde haue most need of her comfort as being in labour in her olde age with her first childe whose worthinesse was such as his father not beleeuing it was bereaued of the vse of his tongue he by her presence sanctified in his mothers wombe and in whose natiuitie it was foretolde by the Oracle that not onely his parents but many other also shoulde reioyce And although a diuine Hystorie dooth mention the Virgins departure before it mentioneth Elizabeths trauaile yet dooth it not say it was before her trauaile And a festiuall day beeing celebrated in remembraunce of this visitation the morrowe after the Circumcision of the childe wee may probalye thinke shee stayed there vntill that tyme comforting the olde couple with her companie and delighting hir selfe with her young Coosen who had as great affiaunce with her by spirituall giftes as hee had by carnall generation And if wee should allowe her but a fewe dayes to thinke vppon that which the Angell sayde vnto her which was a matter not lightly to bee considered on as also to obtaine leaue of her parents to goe vnto her Coosen and to prepare her selfe for her iourney she coâ—ld not stay there three moneths and go away before her coosen was deliuered No Ladies title was here giuen vnto her much lesse the honour due to any princesse Shee gloryed more in beeing an humble Coosen among her kinsfolke then in her chiefest calling among the Angels and being mother to the greatest prince in the worlde she famed her selfe at this downe lying of her coosen as a most venerable writer affirmeth to be seruiceable vnto his seruantes The day came in which the child should be circuÌ„cised a ceremonie prescribed vnto the Iews to distinguish theÌ„ from al the world except the Israelites otherwise callen Saracens a people which ranged in the Desart of Pharan for these did circumcise themselues and the Arabians which descended of them but not vntill they were thirteene yeeres of age because that Ismael was so olde when he was circumcised And in this they differ from the Iewes who descending from Isaac did circumcise their children the eight day after their natiuitie as Isaac was and as their lawe commaunded vnder paine of death which penaltie was perchaunce onely to terrifie the parents as it seemeth for during the time they were in the Desart none were circumcised which no doubt was through exceeding great negligence for infants of 8. dayes old did aske little attendaunce more when they were circumcysed then otherwise also when Moses was going from God vnto Pharao to bring the Israelites out of Egypt an Angell appeared vnto him and his wife in their Inne making proffer to kill him because one of his sonnes much elder which hee had there with him was not circumcised at what time sodainely Sephorâ— his wife daughter to Iethro the Medianite tooke vp a sharpe stone which lay by her as the next instrument for such a purpose and cut off the superfluous skin of her sons priuie members after which done the Angell departed and this maner of circumcising with a stone endured euer after among the Iewes great paine no doubt to little infants and no great pleasure to such as at riper yeeres were circumcised for it was lawfull for any to bee circumcised who would and afterward to bee accounted in some sort as a Iew but distinguished by the name of a Proselite that is one who passed from one Religion to another and because there should be no confusion of families by this cohabitation of Iewes and Proselites a verie exact order was obserued in keeping euerie mans pedigree both in publike offices and priuate mens houses vntill the first Herod which was king of the Iews to this end that there should bee no knowledge of the nobilitie from others because himselfe came of a base house and was no Iew borne called for all those pedigrees and burned theÌ„ so that neuer after was any kept publikely as before but onely with priuate families such as had them alwayes in theyr owne keeping before Herod was King Abraham the great Patriarch the Iewes glorie Gods especiall friend and worshipper liuing vnder the law of nature when hee was an hundred yeeres of age by order giuen him from heauen circumcised himselfe first and all his familie and from him as the first father of circumcision descended this ceremonie vnto all his posteritie and because at that time that hee was commaunded to circumcised himselfe God changed his name from Abram to Abraham the Iewes also vsed at that time to take their names by which euer after they should bee called obseruing this custome in euery familie and kindred that their children should either beare the fathers name or of some other their kinsmen which at this present bredde a mutinie among a menye which came to Zacharias his house eyther for kindred neighbourhood or wonders sake but the greater part would haue had the childe named Zacharias as his Father was against which Elizabeth beeing before instructed eyther by her husband or some heauenly spirite exclaymed saying His name should bee Iohn to which the companie replyed that none of her kindred were so called and therewith they made signes to Zacharias to end this controuersie who making signes to them againe for writing tables and receiuing them writ in this manner Iohn is his name and immediately feeling his tongue at his often wished for libertie as if hee had beene nine moneths busied 〈◊〉 setting a 〈◊〉 vnto a diâ—tie which contayned many worthy misteries as comfortable words he beganne to prayse God and prophesie of his yong sonne with this canticle Blessed be our Lord God of Israel Who visiting his folke redeemed them And hath erect for vs an horne of health Of holy Dauid his childs royall stemme As long before himselfe by others told Who sacred Prophets euer counted were Health from our foes to whom our sins vs fold And from their hands who did vs hatred beare To shew his mercie vnto our fathers And call vnto his mind his holy will An oath sworne to Abraham we without feares Freed from our enemies should serue him still In holines and iustice all our dayes Before his face and thou child a Prophet Shalt called be of the most high whose wayes Shall bee to make his paths before him straight To giue his folke knowledge of their safetie By
pardon of thier deedes doone sinfully Through the bowels of our Lords mercie In which he came to vs rising from high To comfort those with light the which doe sit In darkenesse and in the shadow of death And that the waies of peace each one may hit Our feete from straying he also guideth His song being ended and his enduring without ende next vnto her sonne whome in this songe hee acknowledged the author of his ioy he thought the B. virgin was to haue her due wherefore comming vnto her he gaue her that honour which at that time hee thought meete although hee dared not to giue her in open shew so much as he meant her in his minde And by this time the companye finding theyr sences which they seemed to haue lost vpon this sodaine accident beganne to whisper among themselues what such straunge wonders should poâ—tend An old and barren couple to haue a childe was a thing full of ioye to theyr friendes and maruaile to straungers but Zacharias his speech restored vnto him after nine moneths dimnesse was to them both both ioy and wonder They remembred when hee was first dumbe which by their account was immediately before the conception of the child they did assure themselues that he had seene some vision in the Temple but when they heard him at the circumcision of his sonne not onely speake but fore-show also matters of such importance to be now at hand they could doe no lesse then coniecture that this child should beare some part in them and therefore demanded they ech of other â—ow think you will this childe proue which doubt one which was present would soon haue solued if he would haue bin seen but it was somwhat too soone therfore he deferred it vntil a fitter opportunitie should be offred for that purpose where we shall in part also vnderstand what thiâ— child proued for this time accoÌ„pany the blessed virgin who verie well vnderstanding the matter when she saw her time left her coosens with a friendly farewell although they were greatly sorie for her departure to comfort themselues in their little one and the rest to diuulge those strange wonders in the mountaines Her guard was quickly in a readinesse to safeconduct her to Nazareth where her parents reioyced not a little to see their daughter and Ioseph was exceeding glad to inioy his spouse who thought the time very long of her stay and therefore requyted her long absence with his often presence after her returne through which he perceyued the sooner that she was with childe which did not onely checke in some part his loue but also choaked all his ioy He loued her so intirely well that hee knew not howe to hate her and yet in his conceyte she had deserued such hatred that hee knewe not howe hereafter hee coulde loue her He meant truly and faythfully to haue kept his promise made vnto her when they were betrothed and hee could not but thinke it great disloyaltie in her towarde him by this supposed spousebreach For the loue he bare vnto her he would not openly defame her for then according to the lawe shee shoulde haue beene stoned to death yet could he not frame himselfe to detaine her because he conceiued an offence impardonable and if at any time her vertues ranne in his thoughts to bee such that it coulde not bee possible shee shoulde in so foule a matter fâ—ll from her faith giuen to God and him yet againe hee thought it impossible but that she should be faultie hauing such manifest proofe of a matter of which he could conceiue no reason but guiltines against reason Not brooking therefore what he mistrusted nor yet willing that she should be a by-word for the world hee bethought himselfe that it would bee best for them both if hee should dismisse her without defaming her for although he saw euident perill of his owne life as well by forsaking her whom he loued as his life as by liuing with her who had alreadie grieued him almost vnto the death yet hee thought it would be an easier death if he were altotogether from her then to die in the dayly sight of her whom he tooke to be his murderer But while hee was thus troubled in chusing by which torture he could best like to end his life and in a manner resolued to dismisse her crying out against heauen earth the one because he thought it had wrought him this wrong the other to reuenge it his eyes grew as heauie as his heart and by a mourneful fall bereaued him of all his sences And being now at some little rest not because he had no griefe but because he felt it not hee thought hee saw a man whose attire comelinesse and maiestie bewraied him to be no lesse then a prince although some kinde of his behauiour shewed him to bee no more then a messenger as bold to speake as he seemed able to perswade him he thought he heard vse these words vnto him Ioseph sonne of Dauid feare not to take Marie thy wife for that which is bred in her is of the holy ghost she shal be deliuered of a son whom thou shalt call Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sins Which message being done he departed Ioyfull tydinges to poore Ioseph but straight he feared that they wer too good to be true He knew her vertue was such as she might very wel be thought the least vnfit to mother such a child but againe he thought himselfe not worthy to husband such a wife with which conceit being somewhat troubled he awaked and calling to mind the vision which he had seene sleeping hee remembred also what he had often heard waking that a serpent was threatned by a diuine oracle a perpetuall enmity pronounced betwixt him on the one part a woman and her seed on the other part which he heard expounded of a maiden who should bring forth a son without the company of man expressed sufficiently in that it was called her seed and confirmed at another time by the same oracle to Achas K. of the Iewes when it was told him that a virgin shold conceiue in her womb bring forth a son afterward an other answer was giuen that a sprig shold spring from the root of Iesse who was K. Dauids father a flower from thence shold bud to shew that as a flower grew only froÌ„ one so likewise shold he of whoÌ„ was so great expectation And what strange or new thing this should be which the oracle did insinuate God wold make that a virgin shold conceiue a man he could not imagin vnles it shold be vnderstood to be done without the company of a man that the infant shold haue what perfection could be in man which agreed very wel with his visioÌ„ These such like as he recounted in his mind he recanted that which before he ment now hauing as great difficulty to beare the ioyes he felt as he had
some say beside what 〈◊〉 ordinarie taxes were sometime exacted by the Emperour as his treasure wasted And most gladly would Ioseph at this time haue doubled the tax that he might haue stayed at Nazareth for Winter being but half gone and therefore at the sharpest and the virgin almost all gone out her time and therefore at the biggest it did not onely moue him to extreame melancholie but menaced also an irreparable miserie for Ioseph pitying as hee loued and louing without limit pitie caused that in him which because he enioyed his loue loue could not so that now he began to languish with thinking that she whom he so intirely loued should be subiect to so perilous an accident as not hauing many daies to reckon to her deliuerie she should be compelled to trauaile no few dayes iourney But shee who was alway aswell fraught with ioy as she was full of grace and assured that neither foule weather could wrong her nor long waies weary her to doe her any harme hauing him in her wombe who was to commaund both the earth and the heauens comforted her husbande in such sort as she both acquieted his minde and quickned againe his spirits that now he beganne to haue an assured hope hee should bring her happily to the ende of a hard iourney in which after that he had once set forward hee wayted more vpon her lookes then he looked vnto his owne wayes more then necessarie care commanded him for her easier trauaile thinking not any thing did more then dutie which either exhibited that which might ease her or prohibited that which might displease her Three dayes iourney was Nazareth from Hierâ—salem but all circumstances considered very likelie they made it aboue foure from whence they went to Bethleem for although that Hierusalem were the chiefe Citie and all the kings were of the tribe of Iuda after king Saul yet was Hierusalem in that portion of land which fell by lot to Benâ—amin Bethleem was a Citie sixe miles south from Hierusalem possessed by Caleb at the Iewes first entrance into Palestina he was a prince of the tribe of Iuda and one of the twelue Princes sent by Moyses from the desart to take view of Palestina and also one of the two which brought all glad tydings to enconragâ—â— the people wherefore he onely and Iosâ—â—e who was the other of all the Iewes who were aboue twentie yeeres of age when these two returned backe to Moyses entred into this land the rest being all dead in the wildernes for murmuring against God who had promised to bring them thither It was also the more famous for one called Abessan who liued in the time that the people were gouerned by Iudges himself was iudge 7. yeeres he married froÌ„ thence out of his house 30. daughters tooke home vnto him 30. wiues for his 30. sons This Citie was sometime called Ephrada and the whole countrey about it as some doe say because that Ephradâ— Caleb his wife was there buried but others doe shew that it was so called in Iacob the patriarch his time and it kept that name vntill a great plentie of corne came after that dearth which caused Noenn and her husband and houshold to goe and dwell in the countrie of the Moabites and after this plentifull time it beganne to bee called Bethleem which is as much to say as the house of bread but when as that king Dauid was their annoynted king of the Iewes for there was he first annoynted by Samuel and because he was there borne and brought vp as also his father grandfather and other his ancestors it was called after his name as the worthiest of them all the Citie of Dauid The soyleround about it was comparable vnto the most fruitfull part of Palestina the Citie stood vpon the top of a reasonable high hill which what it lacked in breadth it had in length the going vppe vnto it was only on the west side and that not werie easie because it was somewhat steepe Hither came Ioseph aâ—d Mary not so welcome as wearie yet not so hardly vsed as they were well contented they enquired from one end of the Citie to the other neither for loue nor mony could they bee entertained euerie house perchance in the Citie hauing some guest might also haue some colour for their discurtesie but any little corner in a house at such a pinch could not but haue beene accounted great hospitalltie they looked not for the best they sought a meane host but the verie worst cottage would not bee opened vnto them this fauour onely did they finde that being come in at the one gate they might without any trouble goe out at the other where by good fortune nature wrought that in beasts which nurture could not work in men A yong womaÌ„ tired with trauel for in mans conceit it had beene more fit to haue been with hir midwife in some house then to be wandering in the streets with her husband moued people to so little piâ—tie as the beastes were thereof ashamed and freely gaue them such house-roome as themselues enioied for not farre from the East gate of the Citie was an hollow place in a rocke either by nature or art made fit for the receite of cattell wherein was a maunger where stoode an Oxe and an Asse and into this rocke entered the wearied couple in the coldest time of Winter where they neither had other companie nor comfort then is alreadie shewed no bed was made to ease them no boord was spred to refresh them Some little what did poore Ioseph prouide in the towne to vittail theÌ„ and somwhat perchaunce had he from the beasts to lay vnder them he got some light that they might see aswel as feele what they wanted And when they perceiued the incoÌ„ueniencie of the place to be such as they knew not where to make any little fire they resolued themselues that patience and contentment must be their best fare with which after they had spent halfe the night and the virgin perceiued her houre was come to be deliuered she applied her self vnto her wonted deuotions Ioseph being warned thereof hastened to make ready such cloutes as he brought with him when in a moment did he appeare in the world who was before all worldes and his mother taking him in hiâ— armes swadled him in as good order as either her skill or her clothes would suffer her and laide him in the maunger betwixt the Oxe the Asse who with their breath qualified the coldnesse of the aire round about him her selfe also being readie to comfort him what she could least that he should suffer any inconuenience by taking cold Wonder O ye heauens be astonished O earth he who was prince both of heauen and earth seemeth to haue forsaken heauen to lyue in earth Was it euer heard since the beginning of the world that one of such a nature as neither any sense could discerne any portraiture nor any science discouer his least
remedie wherefore calling the chiefe of the Priestes the Scribes of the people he asked them where Christ shoulde be borne for so was the prince called to shew that hee was annointed In Bethleem they answered of Iuda for in Galilie was an other cittie called Bethleem and was in the tribe of Zabulon according vnto the prophesie And thon Bethleem of Iuda art not the least among the chiefest cities of Iuda because out of thee shall come a guâ—de who shall gouerne my people Israell Herod being thus enstructed by the priestes of the prince he beganne to deuise the prince his destruction and hauing resolued how hee would preuent his misconstered fall he ranne into a greater follie he called the three kinges secretlie vnto him and learned of them what he could aswell concerning the starre as also their prophesies and whatsoeuer they coulde enforme him eyther by their owne skill or the traditions of their countrie which they coulde not want but rather haue in greate plentie where so many Iewes had liued and left a posterity and afterwarde sent them to enquire diligently where the prince was and requested them to bring him worde thereof that hee might also goe to adore him The princes set forward to finish a long iorneye for Ierusalem was at the least 1200. miles from Saba which was the seat of Iasper one of these three kings and no doubt Melchior and Balthasar for so were the other two named had their seates not far from thence for in those times within the compas of 20. miles dwelled commonly three or foure kings as in Palestina which for length or bredth seemed to little for one were 37. kinges so that they might without any great busines beginne this iorney together or without any great difficultie meet by chance in the way none knowing before of others intention and perchance this might bee the cause that all three brought of the same kind of presents which might haue been thought superfluous if they had in one companie begunne their iorney and the starre keeping his course toward the west might bee a guide vnto them all coÌ„ming from places in the east whiâ—h were not much distant one from the other but froÌ„ that part of Arabia as some say which was called Magodia whereupon these kinges were called Magi that is to say men of that country yet many think they were called Magi because they studied art Magicke and say that by their skill in this art they had vnderstanding of this prince his birth and who he was but it is not likelie that the prince of that arte had himselfe any such knowledge for there was as great reason to conceale the mysterie of this prince his birth as the mysterie of his conception others were also called Magi who liued in great abstinence and spent their liues in honest studies and of this sort perchance were these three kinges who knowing no naturall cause of the appearing of this starre remembred that extraordinarily a starre should appeare to shew the birth of a mighty prince in Iuda and when this starre appeared in so strange a sorte they perswaded themselues this was it which was foretold by Balaam in their countrie mounting vpon Dromedaries which are incomparaby swifâ—er then any horses in 13. dayes they came this long iorney guided by the same starre which now lastly shewing it selfe again vnto their no little ioy when they passed out of Ierusalem toward Bethleem it weÌ„t before them vntill it came to the place where the prince was and his mother and there it staide so low in the aire that the kinges neuer asked for the house in which they were and hauing ended his course which was no longer then the kinges ioruey for it went not round aboute the worlde as other starres planets or cometes vse to doe but kept his course in such order as when the kinges remoued the starre did also remoue and when they rested the starre did not stirre any further it was no longer seene eyther by them or by any other When these three kings entered into the caue they founde the childe and Mary his mother and falling downe they adored him and vnderstanding perchance of the custome among the Iewes that no man shold come empty handed in the presence of God each of them offered of their treasure thâ—â—e but the same presents golde mirrhe and frankensence acknowledging thereby that hee was a prince a mortall man yet a God or as some will a priest whose office it was to offer frankensence vnto God but being both God and man not onely a prince by defcent but also a Priest the frankensence could not without greate mystery bee offered vnto him whether it was in the one respect or the other yet it is more probable that it signâ—fied at that time that hee was God because his priesthood by which he offered sacrifice was not according vnto the order of Aaron who among other sacrifices offered also incense but according to the order of Melchisedech and was a farre more spirituall kind of priesthoode Beside that these three kings brought it to offer it themselues vnto him not that hee should offer it vnto an other That this infant was of the blood of the princes of Iudah is manifestly deducted by his pedegree from Dauid by the kings of Iudah vnto Ioseph the virgins husband for although the law permitted mariage betwixt the tribe of Iudah and Leui yet was it vnlawful for such as to whom their fathers inheritance did descend to marry with any other then the next of kinne in the same familie least that any confusion should grow in the possessions which were first giuen by portions vnto euery one of the 12. tribes and Ioachim the virgins father being knowne to bee of such substance as he liued onely vpon the thirde part of his yeerely reuenue and when he died to leaue his daughter Marie at the least a coheire with her sisters if she had any or sole heire if shee had none for Ioachim neuer had any male issue it is a good proofe according vnto the law mentioned that if Maries husband were of the familie of Dauid she was also of the same family Wherfore although that the yong prince tooke no flesh of Ioseph but only oâ— the virgin his petigree is sufficiently shewed by Iosephs for neuer was any petigree kept of women but of meâ— only Maidens prouing their petigrees by their fathers and wiues by their husbands But an other hystorie seeming to fetch Ioseph his petigree from king Dauid by other parents woulde make the former suspected were it not a law among the Iewes that the widow of the one brother should marry with the other or the next of kin if she had no children by the first and that the child of the second husband should bee accounted by the law the first husbaÌ„ds child although in nature it is the seconds for by this meanes a man might be said to be the son of two men
of one by nature and of another by the law Hereof Ioseph is said in one petigree to bee the son of Iacob and in another petigree the son of Hely as being the naturall son of Iacob and called the son of Hely because Iacob had hâ—m by Helies wife whom Hely left a widow and without any children for Hely and Iacob were brethren of one wombe although of diuerse fathers that is to say of Mathaâ— who was father vnto Iacob and Mathat who was father vnto Hely But although it be most true that the yong prince did descend of the princes of the Iewes and that he was of the familie of Dauid yet these petigrees of Ioseph proue nothing but that the prince his mother was of the tribe of Iuda because Ioseph who in these petigrees is proued to be of that name did espouse her it being a thing vnlawful among the Iewes that any shuld match but in their own tribe but neither doth this proue that this prince was of the tribe of Iuda because notwithstanding diuerse tribes should not ioyne togither in mariage the tribe of Iuda and Leui might and therefore the the proofe that Ioseph was of the tribe of Iuda and of the family of Dauid sheweth notâ—â—ng for the yong prince but that hee did by his mother discend either of the tribe of Iuda or of the tribe of Leuy For this cause many take the seconde petigree for the petigree not of Ioseph but of the yong prince by his mothers auncesters Thus beginneth that petigree Iesus was entring into his 30. yeare who was thought to be the son of Iâ—seph who was the sonne of Hely that is to say Iesus was accounted the sonne of Ioseph but he was the sonne of Hely by Mary daughter to Hely otherwise called Heliachim or Ioacâ—im for all is one name among the Iewes and although by this account the Prince should haue but one King among his auncesters yet hee had manie absolute Princes and gouernours of the people descending from Zorobabel vnto Iamnes otherwise called Ioannes Hircanus who not brooking the miserie in which hee and his people lyued through the oppression of the Syrians at the beginning of Antiochus Epiphanes his raigne who forced them to doe manie thinges agaynst their lawes slewe himselfe for which fact all his wealth was confiâ—cate which was a cause that the familie of Dauid liued afterwarde somewhat obscurely But in these petigrees appeareth a verie intricate difficultie For if Salathiell and Zorobabel mencioned in the seconde petigree are the same which are mencioned in the first why doth not the seconde petigree name the princes auncestours from king Dauid by king Salomon as the first doth but by Nathan an other of Dauids sonnes by Bersabe king Salomon his mother Againe if Salathiel and Zorobabel mentioned in the second petigree are not the same which are mencioned in the first petigree how came they which are reckoned in the second petigree to be princes of the people and their posterity vntill Iamnes slue himselfe A sacred history affirmeth that Zorobabel who is saide to descend from Iechonias the last king of the Iewes by Salathiel did carrie the people home out of Babylon where they had beene captiues And other hystories of authoritie continue this gouernment by Mosullam or Misciola Zorobabels sonne and such as are reckoned in the seconde petigree to bee the prince his ancesters The difficultie will bee easilie solued if we may say that Salathiel and Zorobabel mencioned in the one petigree were the same which are mentioned in the other and that Salathiel was not sonne vnto Iechonias but vnto Neri And this is agreeable vnto the Oracle which said that Iechonias should be barren and one who should neither prosper nor haue anie ofspring which shoulde sit in the throne of Dauid or haue any authoritie euer after in Iudah Which shoulde not haue beene true if hee shoulde haue children to succede him and to say that a man is barren or that the sonne dooth not succeed his father when the sonne hath not that pompe and maiestie which his father had is to say that most men are barren and few sons succeed their fathers so we may say that neither Salomons sonne did succeed him from whom ten tribes fell and followed Ieroboam nor Ioachas succeed his father Iosias because that Pharaoh king of Egypt within three moneths after tooke him sent him into Egypt where he died prisoner nor Ioachim brother to Ioachas who after that he had for a space paide to Pharaoh a yeerly tâ—ibute of a 100. talents of siluer and one of gold paide tribute for the space of three yeeres to Nabuchodonosâ—r king of Chaldea and rebelling against him was taken and slaine and throwne out of Hierusalem and lay vnburied according to the Oracle which sayd that hee should haue no other then the buriall of an Asse Nor his sonne Iechonias who was within three moneths after caried prisoner into Chaldea least perchance he should by some meanes haue reuenged his fathers death yet notwithstanding is this Iechonias sayde to haue sitten in the throne of Dauid and Zorobabel and his children hauing authoritie in Iudah as Kinges although for some cause they woulde not bee called Kings it is euident the Oracle being of infallible truth that Salathiel father to Zorobabel was not naturall sonne to Ieconias but to Neri and accounted the sonne of Ieconias as descending of Ieconias his wife who was left to Neri the next of kinne to Ieconias and to raise seed to Ieconias who according to the Oracle was barren Some woulde seeme to solue this difficultie by saying that Salathiel was the naturall sonne of Ieconias and adopted by Neri after Ieconias his death but why then were the princes his auncestors reckoned from King Dauid by Nathan the other beeing both a more true and more honourable petigree By this pedigree also is shewed how the prince was high priest for Onias the high priest hauing one onely daughter and one sonne hee gaue his daughter in marriage vnto Tobias otherwise called Mathathias Siloa who was grandfather vnto Iamnes the last prince which the Iewes had immediately before the Machabees and one of the yong prince his anncestors but his sonne Onias some call him Ananias and say that hee was not his sonne but his brother fledde from Hierusalem into Egypt where by Philomater the King of Egypt his lycense hee built in Hieropolis a Temple like vnto the temple in Hierusalem and there ended his life in scisme Onias the Father hadde also twoo brethren who after they hadde brought him out of the high-priesthood were themselues as they bribed Antiochus Epiphanes the King of Siria nowe one of them high priest nowe another and in the ende both shutte out and slaine Some doe say that those three brethren were sonnes to Simon who was high Priest and sonne vnto that Onias which fled into Egypt but whosoeuer they were all perished and oue succeeded them in that dignitie whose name
of his conception replenished with all grace by reason of that heauenly vnion which then was made but that as a man he encreased it by other kind of actions then he practised before he was a man which what they were more then his subiection to his mother and to the poore Carpenter his supposed father are not in any credible historie recorded except what hee did after he was thirty yeares of age and so forward vntill his returne from whence he first came But concerning the spending of his youth some affirme that he vsed the Carpenters art which hee seemed to haue learned of Ioseph because an infallible truth hath reuealed that men of that place where he dwelled such as in such a matter could not be deceiued after they heard him what he said and saw what he did when he shewed himselfe vnto the world maruelled whence he should haue so great power and so much knowledge one of them putting another in mind that he was the Carpenter who was Maries sonne and whose kinsfolke dwelled among them But how can it be that the virgine should bee an inheretrix aud to no small reuenewes and yet bee forced to liue vpon her sonnes labour for Ioseph liued not many yeares after his returne from Egipt it seemeth a very inconuenient thing that without any necessitie either she should giue from her selfe all that she had or he be subiect both to euill words and wâ—rse vsage To this some do easily make this answere that the virgine enioyed what her parents had before although after her sonne shewed himselfe vnto the world both he and she forced themselues to liue vppon the charitie of others lest in counselling others to sell all which they had and giue it to the poore if they would follow him hee might iustly haue beene challenged for preaching one thing and practising another wherefore the yong prince vsed an arte onely because he would not seeme to the world to liue idely for that was so scandalous a thing in that country that the chiefest men did train vp their children in one kind of trade or other but the young prince although hee could haue vsed what arte hee would being skilfull in all by his extraordinarie knowledge as well of the least matters as the greatest yet hee chose to bee a Carpenter rather then any other artificer first because he was not yet to shew himselfe vnto the world and therefore would do nothing but what people might thinke he was taught by Ioseph whom they tooke to bee his father Secondly for the affection he did beare vnto that arte aboue all other hauing vsed it from the first framing of the world a worke so much more excellent then euer any other Carpenter could make by how much the instrument by which it was made is incomparablie better then any Carpenters tooles Thirdly because it was the custome among the prophetes which were sent vnto the Iewes to shew before they did prophesie by some action what was the effect of their message and he would do the like The Prophete Ose being to foretell the ouerthrow of the house of Iehn who was king of Israel and also how Israel that is the ten Tribes which diuided themselues from Iuda and Beniamin was forsaken of God for their sinne and euill customes he tooke a wife which was before an harlot by which hee would signifie vnto the people that they liued in fornication and all manner of filth although because he married her he committed no sinne and when hee had gotten by her a sonne hee called his name Iesrael whereby hee would signifie that the blood which was shed in Iesrael should bee reuenged vpon Iehu for although Iehu pleased God well in ouerthrowing the house of Achab and Iezabell and therefore was rewarded with the kingdome of Israel and his posteritie vnto the fourth generation yet because he was not free from those vices of Ieroboam the first king of the Israelites which diuided themselues from the rest Zacharâ—as who was the fourth from him was slaine and the kingdome possessed by Sellum who was of another stocke And after the prophet had this sonne by his wife he had also a daughter which hee called without mercie because God would haue no mercie vpon Israel then he had also by her another sonne whom hee named Not my people whereby hee would shewe vnto them how that God had altogether forsaken them So that three yeares or thereabout at the least were past before hee ended his prophesie which without this action hee might haue ended in fewe more then three wordes In the same manner Ezechiel the prophet when hee was in Babilon carried out of his house all his substance by day in the sight of the Iewes who were captiues there at the same time and by night hee digged a hole in the wall of his house through which he crept and when hee was out he was taken vp and caried away by which he would shew vnto the Iewes which see this strange deuise how Hierusalem should be spoiled and Zedechias the king carried away captiue as afterward it proued although by night hee had thought to saue himselfe by flight through a priuate gate Ieremie also the Prophet after he had tried in vaine to stay the reliques of the people in Palestina who hastened into Egipt for feare that Nabuchodonosor would reuenge vpon them the death of Godolias who was left by him as president of the countrie and slaine by the Iewes when he came into Egipt for thither the Iewes carried him against his will he laid a great heape of stones in a caue which was vnder a bricke wal at Pharao his court gate and then he said vnto them that Nabuchodonosor who was king of Babilon should place his throne vpon these stones and when hee should strike Egipt they also should perish with the Egiptians Many other things are recorded which both this and other prophets did before they vttered their message but these suffice to shew their names of prophesying and the young prince perchance because he would obserue the 〈◊〉 course being the chiefest of all prophetes busied himselfe in such things before he preached as might very fitly bee applyed to his purpose for as some men do say he wrought nothing but yoakes and ploughes Hee made yoakes to shew that the perfection of his law consisted in mutuall loue and because in a yoake are as it were two parts in one wee should studie for nothing else but the true loue of God and our neighbour and this not so much for any our own interest or our neighbours as purely and onely for God in which yoake whosoeuer draweth tasteth first and then tryeth how sweete it is for hee which made this yoake sayde also my yoake is sweete and my burden light He made ploughes to shew that men must perseuere in that good woorke they beganne or else all the former gaine is to little purpose because he which holdeth the plough and
for to make Statues hee would haue none dedicated either to him selfe or vnto anye other then vnto him who shoulde saue all mankinde aud vnto Peace for hee had reade the Sibilles which promised sâ—ch a prince and prophesied of the whole course of his life among the which being ten of great fame all virgins and of diuerse places one which was called â—umana of her cittie where shee was borne in the lesser Asia named Cumâ— disciphering his birth constitution and his name gaue forth this oracle Then vnto mortall men the sonne Of an Omnipotent Father shall come He shal be like vnto a mortall man Clothed with flesh with natures two but one In 6. letters is containde his name Foure vowels two none remember this same Eight 8 tens one hundred 〈◊〉 times 8. Declare his name vnto the faithles streight Ι 10 Η 8 Σ 200 Ο 70 Î¥ 400 Σ 200 888 These Oracles as they were with much maruaile receyued so were they giuen with much maiestie the manner thereof is thus set downe by one who writte of Sibella surnamed Cumea because she forsooke Babilon in Chaldea and liued in a towne called Cumea in Campania a Prouince of Italie In Cumea was a Church of great praise because it was of a strange bignes and of as greate price because it was of one stone in the middle whereof were 3. large vessels of the same stone wherein this Sibill vsed to bath her selfe and afterwarde being attyred with some precious robe shee went into a more secret place in the same temple in the middle of which was a seate like vnto a princes throne shee spake of future thinges as if they had beene present But Apollo who was accounted most cunning in reading riddles after that hee had beene a long time ashamed to shew himselfe and to the daunting of the whole world had many yeeres beene dumbe being fayrely entreated by Augustus Caesar and in the end importunated with a sacrifice of an hundred Oxen to tell the cause of such an extraordinarie silence hee made him this answere A Iew a child in shew a God in power Who rules all other Gods commandeth me Hence to depart and dwell in hellish bower Hereafter silence must thine answere be Hereupon Augustus returning to Rome erected presently in the capitoll an Altar with this â—â—scription The Altar of the first begotten of God for he was conuinced with these Oracles and conceiued no reason why this child could not as well cause these accidents which befell them in Rome both in the heauens and in the capitoll as haue power so long before to pâ—tte the Oracle to silence Great shame it might haue beene for the Iewes that Gentiles should giue such credite to euill spirits if they had beene carelesse of diuine inspirations 〈◊〉 a prisoner in Babilon a Prophet among his people after that hee had foretold them in how short a time they were to returne to Hierusalem hee added also that 69. weekes after hee should come whom they expected vnderstanding a yeere for euerie day in the week which mount to 483. yeeres at the which time the Prince was borne Israel by being whose children they were distinguished from other nations lying vpon his death-bed after that hee was 147. yeeres of age called all his sonnes vnto him and blessed them foreshewed what should befall vnto all their families and among the rest of Iudas who was his fourth sonne hee prophesied in this sort Iudas thy brethren shall prayse thee thy hands shall be vpon the necks of thine enemies and thy fathers children shall adore thee The scepter shall not bee taken from Iudas neither shall there bee a ruler who shall not be of his stocke vntil he come which is to bee sent and he shall be the expectation of the Gentiles These notwithstanding and diuers other tending thereunto some were as forward as the Gentiles and began to haue a great opinion of themselues Theodas a Iew hearing that as mightie a Prophet as Moyses should about that time be raised hee perswaded himselfe that he could as well diuide the riuer of Iordane with his word as Moyses did the red sea with his waâ—d with which brags hee seduced many but going to shewe the people this idle slight he and many of his followers were slaine Iudas of Galile knowing also that about that time a Prince should be borne who should redeeme the Iews and that none but themselues should eate the labor of their hands deuised how he might compâ—â— this conceit imperiously gaue a commandemeÌ„t vnto the people not to pay tribute vnto Caâ—sar which many obeyed euen to the suffering of exquisite torments and cruell death in so much as children not without wonder would abide great torture rather then yeeld to accept Caesar for theyr Lord but in the end he with his followers failed of their purpose Others seeing Herod confirmed in the kingdom assured themselues that he was the prince which was so long before promised vnto them because now first did the scepter faile in the familie of Iudas for wheÌ„ Nabuchodonosor carryed Ioachim king of the Iewes captiue into Babilon he left no prince ouer them but one of the same familie called Sededechias vncle vnto Ioachim Sedechias afterward rebelling against him being carried away also into Babilon none was accepted for king or ruler ouer the Iewes vntill their returne out of captiuitie at which time Zarobabel who was of the kings family took vpon him the gouernment of them but would not be called king either because he was tributarie vnto the Medeâ— and Persianâ— who since the Iewes their captiuity had conquered Chaldea all the countries thereabout or els because perchance he did not directly descend froÌ„ the later kings of the Iews for diuers had 〈◊〉 tributaries both to the Egiptians and Chaldes who notwithstanding both were and were called kings Also when Antiochus Epiphanes King of the Sirians made war vpon the Iewes and preuailed somtime by falshood sometime by force against them he vsed the victorie with such cruelty that hee caused them to eate meate forbidden by their lawes yea and offer sacrifice vnto Idols which he set in their temple as also in other places where were new altars erected for that purpose But hauing brought their Princes to so low an estate as they were accounted of no more then priuate men yet before he could set vp a Prince ouer them Mathathias who by some small right was high Priest and also of the tribe of Iudas for those twoo tribes and onely those might marrie together gathering such vnto him as would rather leaue their liues then liue against their lawes resisted Antiochus his power and his children following their fathers example remained high Priests and Princes ouer the people so that the scepter still remained in the familie of Iudas till Herod vsurped the crowne into which by these meanes he inâ—roched Aristobulus grand-child vnto Simon the last suruiuing brother of the Machabees sonnes of
Mathathias tooke vpon him the name of a king neuer before vsed since their captiuitie in Babilon and dying without issue a yeere after hee beganne his raigne leaft his wife according to their lawes as well as his kingdome vnto his brother Alexander who had by her two sonnes the elder was named Hircanus who after his fathers decease during his mothers widowhood was high priest and after her death was also king of the Iewes the yonger who was called Aristobulus aspiring to the kingdome by force of armes made his elder brother to yeeld it vnto him and to content himselfe with the high priesthood which also not long after hee demaunded in like sort as he had demaunded the kingdome Wherefore Hircaâ—â— beeing too weake to resist his forces fledde for ayde vnto Pompey a noble Romane well experienced in wars and had alreadie beene a 〈◊〉 of many Kings who â—ay with a great armie at that time in 〈◊〉 a principall citie of Siria bordering vpon the north side of Palestina This did Hircaâ—â—s partly because not long before had beene a great league of friendship concluded and kept betwixt the Iewes and the Romanes and partly by the perswasion of one in some credite with him whose name was Anâ—ipater hee was no Iew but of Idumea or as some say of Ascalon one of the fiue Dutchies of the Philistins neere vnto the middle earth sea and some to one of those Idolatrous priests which belonged to Apollo or some other which kept his temple and was stolne away by the theeues of Idumea whence because his friends were either not able or not willing to redeeme him he remained vntill in the ende hee was one of their cheefe leaders and in a 〈◊〉 betwixt them and the Iewes taken prisoner but beeing found by Alexanderâ—ing â—ing of the Iewes to be both valiant and wiâ—e he was made gouernor of Idâ—mea in which office he behaued himselfe so well as the Arabians â—ought his friendship and to confirme it gaue him to wife a noble woman of their country named Cyprâ—s and for his sake were euer after readie to ayde the Iewes vntill some priuate quarrelles chanced to be betweene them and when hee returned againe to Palestina he alwaies fauoured Hircanus eldest sonne to Alexander and encouraged him to maintaine his right against Aristobulus his yonger brother Nicholas of Damascus who when neede was pleaded before Caesar for Herod and Arthelâ—â—â— laboured to shew that this Antipater was descended of the kings of Palestinâ— fetched his pedigree from the chiefest of those Iewes which returned after their captiâ—â—itie from Babilon but if Antipater or his children were the first which would seeke to gentilzie a base bloud Nicholas will not be the last which will find it Pompey hauing giuen Aristobulus the ouerthrow carryed him away captiue to Rome although hee restored Hircanus to his kingdome yet he made the Iewes tributarie to the Romanes left Antipater as a president ouer the countrey who because hee was in yeeres committed Galile which contained al the north end of Palestina vnto his sonne Herod and Iudea which contained all the South part vnto his sonne Phaselus himselfe ruling onely in Samaria which was the heart of the countrey which when Antigonus Aristoâ—â—lâ—s his sonne perceiued and conceiued small hope of any helpe from the Iewes to recouer the dignitie which his father lost he requested ayde of the Parthians who comming with a great power set vp Antigonus in Hircanus his rome and led away Hircanus prisoner also Phaselus but Antigonus to the end that Hircanus should neuer after be capable of the high preisthood disfigured him by cutting or biting off his eares and Phaselus hearing that his brother had escaped hoping that he would reuenge his death beate out his owne brains against a stone Antipater not long before was poysoned by Malchus a Iew and Herod escaping although verie hardly trauailed with great paine to Rome notwithstanding the time of the yeere was vnseasonable for so long a iourney where declaring vnto Augustus Caesar and vnto the Senate what had chanced in Palestina he was created in the capitoll king of the Iewes and returning with a great power of men after much bloudshed against Antigonus whom Antony Emperour of the East by an agreement made betwixt him and Augustus Emperour of the west against which Antony Tully thundred out in vain to his cost so many phillipics after he had whipped and crucified him caused to be heheaded and established Herod in the kingdom of the Iewes But although many were so besorted with Herod as to take him to be the Prince of which they had so many prophesies yet many others which see the seepâ—er â—ayle in Iudas his familie and knew that hee who was promised vnto them should not onelye come when the 〈◊〉 fayled but be also of that family and of Dauidâ— stocke expected dayly when he would shew himselfe and set them at libertie who liued vnder Herod in too much sauery but Marie and Ioseph kept al things most secret awaking themselues often with the consideration of this heaueÌ„ly misterie waiting the wished time of her happie deliuery And when the virgin had made prouision not such as princes commonly affect but such as their pouerty could conucnieÌ„thy afford she gaue her self wholy to the meditation of that which had 〈◊〉 ofteÌ„ broken her sleep without any trouble bereaued her of her senseâ— without any paine and poore Ioseph was as forward in will although he were not sâ— highly fauoured as his wife when suddenly did a speach arise which wrought in him an vnspeakable 〈◊〉 and would also haue amased her had she not beene well armed against all weather Augustus Caesar sole Emperour both in the East and West hauing ouercome Anthonie at Acâ—â—um in Greece as at other times before so now sendeth order to the Presidents of euerie pâ—ouince to gether the tribute due vnto him the maner wherof was in Palestina as it seemeth at that time to take the names of the people not where they dwelled but where was the portion of land alotted to the tribe of which they were and as neare as they could in the citie which principally belonged to that family which exquisite course of eâ—acting the tribute hath giuen a probable cause of suspition that this was the first description which was made of Palestina by cause afterward we read that one of the tribe of Iudah and of the familie of Daâ—id borne in 〈◊〉 belonging vnto the same tribe and familie and brought vp in a citie of Zabulon paied tribute in 〈◊〉 a Citie of Nepthalim But whether this were the first description of Palestina or no it is not materiall Ioseph being of the tribe of Iudah and of the family of Dauid was forced to depart from Nazareth toward his country there to giue vp his name and to pay the tribute demaunded which was ordinarily euerie fiue yeares for euery man two grotes sterling or foure groates as