vsed the propriety of their Characters according to their Language all otherwayes then the Aegyptians following the disposition of theyr Letters they adopting and accommodating them to the propriety of their Voyce and that they were much deceiued who held they spake the Syrian tongue for theyr fashion of speaking was farre otherwayes To this the King replyed that hee would write to the Pontiffe of the Iewes to the end that all might be obtayned what was requisit to bring to effect this affayre as Demetrius pretended Then it came into my spirit that Time and occasion presented themselues for deliuery of all the Iewes the which his Father Ptolomeus Lagus had led prisoners from Iudea into Aegypt For the which deliuerance I had often prayed Sosibius the Tarâ—ntine and Andrea Captaine of the Guarde to the Kings Body For these two Commanding in the Army had brought into obedience all that which was in Syria and Phenicia filling all these Regions with feare and terrour and then were the Iewes led some Prisoners others in manner of Colonies in such a manner and multitude that there was brought into Aegypt to the number of a 100000 men of whom were chosen well neere 30000. all men of Warre who were established for the Guard of the Prouince True it is that before there had bin sent with the Persians and other Companies that were sent against the King of Aethiopia vnder the Charge of Psammiticke but all those which were there were not of so great nuÌ„ber as those which were led away by onely Ptolomeus Lagus For as we haue sayd hee adress'd to Armes all those whom Age or Force shew'd to bee proper and all the rest of the Populer as well Children Old men Woemen he instituted as Colonies determining in himselfe that if at any time his men of Warre grew insolent that none could surpasse them in course or necessity of Warre hee had meanes to abate such their presumption by those might rise from these Colonies Now then seeking the occasion to bring about the Liberty of these poore men as I haue formerly sayd and hauing found my opportunity I opened my desire to the King thus prosing The Proposition of Aristeus to King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the deliuery of the Iewes IT is nothing wonderfull my Gracious Lord and King if it come to passe many times that the very affayres which wee manage notes and argues vnto vs contrariety and as it were direct against vs for all the Nations of the Iewes haue one selfe-same Law the which wee desire to bee ours not onely Copied but also Translated into the Greeke language How then suppose you to send to them about this businesse when the greatest part of them is here in your Kingdome held Prisoners Vnlesse it may please Your Magnanimity and Worthy Noblenesse to desire theyr Holy Bookes after you haue giuen free Liberty to those who liue heere in great calamity and affliction hauing aboue all things Respect to that GOD which makes your Kingdome flourish and You in high prosperity who is the same GOD which hath giuen them that Sacred Law which wee desire to haue For they worshipping the GOD which hath made and created all things and is the very same whose wonderfull Workes all Humanes see and admires though some not so clearely as others for Sir wee and others Call him Iupiter and that not without reason for it hath seemed good to our Ancestors because by him are procreated and liue all Creatures the which also they esteeme the Conductor and Gouerâ—our of the whole Vniuerse And altough that hee holdes in his Domination all men mortall neuerthelesse shining with Spirituall light hee neyther frustrates nor deceiues the â—owes and Prayers of those implores his ayde Wee then ought humbly to desire that hee would incline our hearts to such good affections as to doe good and that freely to euery one and especially to deliuer and free those which are in slauery and bondage for being that Humane kind is the Worke and Creation of God who hath power to turne the heart and incline it to what part it pleaseth him Wee many times and in diuers fashions desire it would please him to lead vs to a perfection in goodnesse as the principall Ruler of hearts vnderstanding and spirit By this acknowledgement I conceiue a great hope to come to the Head of this businesse principally because I know God to be fauorable to those that pray for things reasonable and equitable For when men adopt themselues wholy to seeke and accomplish things tending to Iustice and perfection of good workes God the Lord of all things conducts and addresseth their actions and affections to blessed happy effects ends The King then as something gained with a contented Countenance sayd to Andrea how many is there of the Iewes detayned in Captiuity He answered in few words more then 100000. it is a small request then said the King Aristeus requires of vs Sosibius and some others then there present answered it is a thing Sir worthy of Your Highnesse and Magnificence to make an agreeable present vnto God by their deliuerance in liew of thankes and action of acknowledgement beeing that the Gouernour of Heauen and Earth haâ— exalted you into more Sublimiâ— then all your Predecessors and it will do well you by this make â—e manifestation of your thankes The King then disposed to Banqueting A Dâ—ma is 3 shillinâ— sixe penâ— that is 3. Pound â— 10. shillings thâ—â—eaâ— and pastines in a full Feast and assembly of his Noble Commanded that the Iewes should bee all searcht out and that euery body of them should bee rebought for the summe of 20. Drackmes by pole and to confirme the same that his Edicts should bee made and that heerein as much speed and promtitude should be made as might possible be And so it seemed that GOD perfitted and brought to passe our desires for hee pleased to put into the heart of the King to set at liberty not onely those that by the Army of the King his Father led Captiues into Aegypt but also all others that before or since had beene carried Prisoners into Aegypt by what meanes soeuer the summe then of those were franchis◠〈◊〉 Talenâ—â— 600 F 〈…〉 Crâ—â—nes mounted vnto 400. Talents Moreouer I hold it not out of purpose to â—â—d you the Copie and Tenour of the Edict by which you may vnderstand the greatnesse of the Affayre and â—e debonarity and facility of the King who was moued by the Goodnesse of God for the saluation of many ⧠The Edict of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the Deliuerance of the Iewes WEe will and commaund all those that followed Armes vnder our deceased Father through the Countrey of Syria and Phaenicia entring into the Land of Iudea and their taking the Iewes and leading them prisoners hauing applied them to their workes and seruice both in Townes and fields That they shall deliuer and restore them into full Liberty moreouer we will
succeeding in his Fathers place as being vnder age This Eleazer therefore receiued the Honour that in his Time the Holy Translation of the Law was made by the Seuenty two Doctors that hee sent to Ptolomeus second of that Name King of Egypt as Aristeus hath left by writing 4. Of DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS was an Athenian Orator and Philosopher as Cicero notes in the first Booke of his Offices calling him a subtill and sharpe Disputant and in the rest an Orator little vehement Hee had beene Disciple of Theophrastus hee was a man of such Knowledge excellent Carriage that forraigne Kings had him in admiration and drew him to their Seruice euen Cassander King of Macedon And for this Reputation the Athenians gaue him the Principality of the City and Common-weale in which hee was Ten yeeres in great prosperity But some of the Citizens hauing conceaued malice against him chased and threw him out of his estate and then he was honorably receiued of King Ptolomy of whom we speake where hee was Maister of the Lybrary Royall the Athenians hauing formerly raysed to him 360. Statues of Marble in despight cast them to the earth and iudged him to death as a Traytor of which Demetrius being aduertised sayd a At virtutem non euerterunt Diog. Laert in vit Demet. The Athenians haue throwne downe my Statues * but they cannot ouer-turne my Vertue for which they first erected those Statues He was wont to say that b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diog. Laert ibid. Eloquence was as necessary in a Common-weale as a Sword in the Warres Hee dyed by the byting of an Aspick and was buried in the Region of Busina neere to Diospolis NOW FOLLOWETH the History of ARISTEVS Ambassador of King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS concerning his Voyage vnto Ierusalem and the first Translation of the Holy Bible by the seauenty two Elders Written in Greeke 1900. yeares since ARISTEVS to his brother PHILOCRATES WEll knowing your Naturall and good inclination Philocrates to haue alwayes had in great esteeme the knowledge of all things and that you haue beene desirous nay couetous to vnderstand the occurrences and passages of good achiuements I haue deliberated to frame vnto you by Writing a thing not onely excellent but well deseruing to be knowne which vnto vs is hapned being sent Excellence of this History of late vnto Eleazer great Pontiffe of the Iewes But because these things shal bee more facile vnto you I will first declare you the Causes by the which we were sent and then I will come to the Progresse of the Matter so as I will fashion my Discourse to Your vnderstanding and that the most truely I possible can aswell for the dignity of the Subiect as to delight your Spirit desirous of all good Knowledges assuring my selfe that man hath in him nothing more excellent and praysable then incessantly to desire Learning eyther by the meanes of Histories or by the Obiects of things or by experience of Affaires themselues For the Spirit of Man though Rude and Childish is greatly adorned and embellished when from the beginning it Delighteth to Taste and Rellish those most nectarine faire worthy and excellent things that may conduct him by an infallible course to follow Piety and Reason WE therefore searching with great curiosity the Knowledge of Diuine things and could not attayne them not vnderstanding the Diuine Law without being interpreted and rendred into our knowing tongue we vndertooke to goe Ambassador vnto one onely Person who amongst his Cittizens and others by debonarity and great glory was the most Honorable and who not onely did great Honor and Profit to the Citizens with whom He conuersed but also to all the other Iewes of what other place or wheresoeuer WE beeing then well informed that they had the DIVINE LAVV written in Hebrew Characters in â—kins of Parchment we were ioyfull to accept this charge giuen vs by the King as also that the Colonies heere of the Captiue Iewes desired the same aboue all things of the World who had beene hither ledâ— by the Kings Father who had puâ— into his Obedience the City of Ierusalem and all the Countrey adjacent BVT since we are falne to makâ— mention of that businesse it shaâ— not be impertinent to giue you to vnderstand the whole Discourse thaâ— thereby you may haue better intelligence knowing well that it shalbâ— much better more carefully to informe you how to fashion you to thâ— seruice of GOD Reuerently theâ— to trauayle your selfe in the search oâ— mens Lawes or Actions although they may be iust Which affectioâ— you haue sufficiently manifested since from an â—le so far Remote you are come into this Countrey to see in Person those things which may serue you to the adornment of your Spirit without hauing Respect to place whatsoeuer I haue here therefore Reduced by Writing First what hath seemed to me worthy of Memory touching the Nation of the Iewes as I haue something vnderstood by the Learned and Wise Priests of Aegypt to the end that by this meanes I may ayde and encrease by some meanes Your knowledge For one ought to haue in Remembrance the good they haue receiued from persons and especially to those to shewe all gratitude who appertayne vnto vs And principally You that haue knowledge of Vertue drawing from your Brother not onely Resemblance Proximity of blood and Linage which may thrust on with the same impetuosity of Courage to attayne the Honour Glory and Beauty of Vertue assuring my selfe that neyther the admiration of Gold or Riches neither the appearance of things more precious serue to nothing but vayne-glory neyther will yeeld you such fruit as we may gather from Knowledge Institution and consideration of all good Disciplines For the rest to the ende that it may not seeme that we exercise ostentation in being prolix in this Preface I will reduce me to that which from my purpose hath extrauagated DEmetrius Phalerius master of the Kings Library giuing order with the greatest care hee could to buy Bookes from all parts of the World And to that end imploying great numbers of Persons as Factors spread abroad in many places who had charge to buy and Transcript them they so doing and that diligently the designe of the King was accomplished and executed at leastwise in the best manner for him possible For wee being present the King asking him how many thousand Volumes he had gotten together in his Bibliotheicke He answered that for the present hee had no more then two hundred thousand and that he ☞ hoped erelong to haue to the number of 500000. But Sir sayd hee I haue vnderstood that the Lawes of the Iewes deserues also to bee Copied and Translated and to be put in your Library And what hinders it answered the King that they be not haue you not all things to serue you commodiously to this purpose Demetrius Answerd that it was needefull that those Lawes were Translated and Interpreted because that the Iewes
debt or forfeit But to you great King you shall haue easily that which you demaund in doing well as you do to all the World for GOD will giue you a good share in all your good affaires and actions To the other What one ought to doe to liue agreeingly with his Wife ALthough that some race of Women are deficile and troublesome and that opinion of themselues grow obstinate in their affections Moreouer frayle by reason of the imbecillity of the Sexe and subiect to commit some faultes yet neuerthelesse it behooueth to temporize with them and to vse them for our health and commodity contesting not with them nor contradicting them with the Spirit of frowardnesse for it is necessary to addresse ones life to a certayne Butt or End as the Gouernours and Pylots of Ships doe by obseruing Land-markes all which things are conducted by the order and Prouidence of our great GOD. To the other What meanes he should not to be deceiued IF you do all things by reason you will not suffer your selfe to be perswaded by the reports of detractors but as you are indowed with a very good spirit put a difference betwixt the deedes and sayings of euery one By the meanes whereof you shall so doing that you shal bee out of the danger of being circumuented accomplishing your desires in your designes the which you shall proiect by assured iudgement neuerthelesse you must resolue and thinke that the intelligence of such businesse and the effect and execution of them is the worke of the Diuine puissance To the other What he should do not to be Cholericke at all GReat King if you consider that Hee of whom Dependeth the Life of many is the cause of the Death of abundance of folkes when he executeth his Will with fury and choller and it is a thing accursed to extinguish the life of many by ambition of dominationâ— But when the subiects conforme themselues to the will of the Prince humbly yeelding and obaying What reason hath hee then to vexe himselfe and to enter into Choller Moreouer hee must thinke that GOD who guideth and Gouerneth the Vniuersall world is not any way subiect vnto Wrath nor heated with Choller of whom a Prince ought to follow the benigne and sweete goodnesse To the other What thing is that which may well be fore-seene by good Counsell THat is to Administer well all things by the Rule and Discourse of Reason and to conduct them to a certayne end and designe pretended and to reiect all that which is Vnprofitable and contrary to right and reason in such manner that discouering the Spirit by euery thing wee come to the head of our affayres by good Counsell But GOD by his Vertue makes all counsell assured and firme and yours principally because you are giuen to the exercise of Piety To the other What is it to Philosophize THat is Well and Wisely to argue and consult of all things which present themselues and come vppon one and not to suffer ones selfe to â—lide along in his Appetites to desâ—se all follies and vanities proceeding from Couetousnesse and Lusts and to bee alwayes ready to the accomplishment of good Workes by good and iust measure which to attayne vnto wee ought to implore the ayde of GOD incessantly To the other What is the Soueraigne grace of Hospitality IT is to shewe oneâ— selfe not to be ingratfull but mensurable and equitable to all the World redoubling with bounty the pleasure you haue receiued from another in such sort as you may beare the prize of Courtesie For GOD exalteth the humble greatly bearing great fauour and loue to those abate themselues to exalt and shewe Vertue to others To the other What are the workes of most Durability A Person is esteemed to do a du 〈…〉 Worke when he hath brought to passe a weighty businesse and worthy of Reuerence and when it is such as the Beholders durst not put their hands to it for the difficulty and excellency of the businesse and that he neuerthelesse suffers not any body that hath trauelled therein to be vnrecompensed Likewise forgetting not to prouide for those that hee hath constrayned to busie themselues therein of all things to them necessary For GOD regarding all things in this world gratifieth men with Infinity of gifts enlarging to some health of Body and of Vnderstanding and many such goods Wherefore Great King you in the imitation of GOD ought to giue comfort to the afflicted and to change their calamities into solace and rest being assured that what is done by iustice and equity is of longest lasting euen perpetuall To the other What is the fruite of Wisedome THe fruite of Wisedome is when wee haue committed nothing whereof our conscience doth not remember vs knowingly and when we haue passed the course of our liues in â—â—rity For of such things Excelâ—ent King there is ingendred in our spirits a very great contentment and an infinite ioy with a pleasant voluptabitity For you Great King you can neuer want hope in GOD conducting your Raigne in Piety and Religion These Answers heard all the assistants made signes of great Iouisance with an applauding approbation Then the King prouoked them graciously to drinke The morrow when all the company returned to the Table the King asked the others in this manner What meanes hee should hold neuer to be lifted vp with Pride YOu shall neuer bee blowne vp or lifted with Pride if you keepe equally in your selfe that is to say if in all things you haue this Maxiâ—e imprinted in your spirit that you which haue commandement vpon Men consider you are a Man alsoâ— thinking also with your selfe that God extermineth the proud and high minded and that he lifteth vp those who What Counsellours he ought to haue neere his Person THose shall bee your Counsellours Great King which haue beeneâ— long exercised and versed in your affayres and such as you know beare you great fidelity and loue those which know to conforme and accommedate themselues to your conditions the light of GOD will discouer those which are worthy of such a function To the other What is the thing is most necessary to a King THe loue of his Subiects for by that meanes he will make a bond of indissoluable good willâ— To the rest GOD accomplisheth that which one chuseth for the best To the other What is the end of a Speech or Oration in one pleading IT is after he hath proposed your intention perswading your cause to be good confuting the Obiections of your aduerse party and shewing them to be inept worthlesse and ☞ impertinent But the mayne end is to march rightly in the businesse in all affayres and not to stray with ambages for the true perswasion is a thing addressed from GOD. To the other How hee should accommodate himselfe to diuers People in one Kingdome DOing and administring Iustice to euery one equally and by the same you shall Gouerne and Rule them as you list for the
of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
quâ—stion of any good inuention thâ— there may be found at this day peâ—sons more Learned more subtile aâ— more prompt to inuent any gooâ— thing then those haue done wâ— haue bin in these times long since paâ— yet they are not therefore adorâ— as Gods although the Sage Greekâ— esteemed such Inuentors worthy â— Hoâ—our What should I say of thâ— Aâ—gyptia as and of their Neighbouâ— which are herein more madd then the others who haue brought in diuine worship to bruite beastsâ— others vnto Reptiles which out as it were of common reason and all vnderstanding making Sacrifices to the liuing and dead immolating to them Victimes whereby the Wise and Prudent Law-maker being instituted of God in the knowledge of all things hath compar'd and fortified vs as it were with a Trench and Palisado and with inexpugnable Endowments hath enuironed vs with a Wall of Iron to the end that beeing innocent in the Soule and pure in the Body wee should not mingle our selues in what fashion soeuer with other Nations and that reiecting all follies and vaine opinions we should adore one onely GOD which hath power ouer and vpon all Creatures For this the Priests of the Aegyptians Princes of the People although they fayle in many things name vs men of GOD and agree with vs in many things becauâ—e other People hath not this Religion tâ— Adore one onely God according to the Truth as wee doe For thosâ— giue themselues ouer to Gurmanâ— disings and Drunkennesse building vp shadowes amusing themselueâ— with no other things but pleasureâ— and belly-cheere Of which there iâ— no one of vs hath so much as thoughâ— but all the course of our liues is imployed to the onely knowledge oâ— Vertue and Diuine â—ower to the end wee fall not into Sinne and beâ— not polluted by the conuersation oâ— such people in any manner what euer Hee hath also defended and armeâ— vs on all sides with Purity and Honesty not onely in our Drinke and Meate but also in what wee handleâ— touch see and heare for hee hath reduced and brought all things before our naturall reason euen so aâ— all things haue their being from onâ— Power so as with a most profoundâ— vnderstanding hee hath ordayned the things which wee ought to vse and also those we ought to abstaine from I will alleage you one or two for example to the end that if you take heed to the words and plaine speech you cannot thinke that Moses hath not taken such paines to ordaine his Lawes because of Rats Weasels and such things For it is necessary you vnderstand that hee hath very well and wisely ordayned all things to the Honesty of liuing hauing regard to Purity and Cleanlinesse and to the correction and amendment of manners And as for Birds and flying Fowles hee hath permitted vs to eate ordinarily of such as are tame and are different from the others in purity and cleanenesse and that liue vpon Graine and Seeds as are Pigeons Turtelâ— Peacocks Partridge Geese and such like And those hee hath forbidden vs to eate they are wilde rauenous liuing vpon flâ—sh and Carion of proud natures enclin'd to raâ—ine and prey and such as by force set vpon others and seeke not their liuing but to the damage hurt and iniury of the other Poultrey which are gentle and tame but those fierce ones not onely assayle those of their kinde but also seaze vpon Lambes Kidds and euenâ— vpon men yet liuing or halfe dead Our Law maker therefore nothing this by way of Similitude and by aâ— certaine way of Translation takenâ— from the Nature of such Fowles hathâ— pronounc't them vncleane and infectious willing to reduce and bring all things to the consideration of Purity and Cleanelinesse of the Soule to the end that euery one being admonished by ordinary and houshold examples may vnderstand how it behoueth to vse Equity and Iustice and that it is not granted to man be he nâ—uer so strong powerfull proud bold and audacious soeuer to rauish by force that of anothers nor doe iniury to any person but that is conuenient hee orders the course of his life to the imitation of the Fowle which I haue spoken of who liue by Graine leading a gentle and peaceable life And that it is not lawfull to vexe and trouble any person of our kinde nor rampe away his goods by force as doth those Beasts hee hath prohibited to eate and not to vse force in whatsoeuer cause which is shewed by the Nature of Beasts that are not wholy depriued of Sence You vnderstand then the cause for which he hath forbidden vs the vse of the sayd things that is to say by reason of the Inclination and Nature of euery Beast You may therefore now well conceiue how our Law-giuer Moses hath beâ—ne carefull in all things to correct our Manners and establish them by the things to which wee are accustomed and there to regard the Nature of bruite beasts for where hee hath licensed vs eating the flesh of foure-footed beasts who haue two and the hoofes clouen is the signe and signification that wee ought to part our operations into right and bounty by this compartiment and sigâ—eâ—ee â—nioyneth vs to bee inuentiue to Iustice For the which cause wee are seperated from other Nations to the end wee bee not polluted with Sin by their frequentation and company For many people of the Gentiles are sullied with Impiety by mixture of one with another and not onely suffer the Prouinces and Cities to bee spotted infected and dishonoured with the finâ— against Nature but are fouly staind with the vncleane blood of Child-bearing Woemen hauing no feeling or shame to coÌ„mit Incest with their owne Daughters from which things wee are wholy seperated Moreouer where hee hath noted to vs the signe of this Diuision hee hath also aduertised vs to bee heedfull by the same Character being in the selfe-same subieâ—t for in all places where it is printed by their tract it giues vs mention of this Diuision and still admonishment to the afoâ—e-sayd He hath adioyned that they should be such as chew the Câ—d By which he manifestly admonisheth vs to haue this rumination in memory course Reasons for the Iewes choice and diuersity in Meateâ— of our Actions for what signifieth this chewing of the Cud but that we ought still to haue in our mindes a continuall recordation of our liues and acts and so by a frequent meditation the duty to which wee are bound and that wee ought to doe For euen as the life of the Body is intertayned in still Cogitating so is our Spirit nourished in reducing to memory her functions And for this cause he sayth in the Scripture Haue GOD still in thy Memory and Thought which hath made in thee such great and admirable things If this thou truely considerest thou shalt finde it great and admirable indeed For first thou shalt behold the Architecture of the Body the distribution and transfusion of the Elements the Conexion and
King dispose the estate of your Kingdome very well and wisely if in all and by all you giue your selfe to be an Imitator of the sweetnesse and Debonarity of GOD vsing Patience and Sufferance raysing to Honour those which are Worthy and bringing the high and ambitious proud spirits to repentance and knowledge of themselues by shewing them Humanity Affability and fairnesse of accesse To the other How he might bring all things to good end iustly IF in all things answered he great King you haue your eyes and thoughts bent vpon your actions taking heed to your selfe you shall doe nothing which shall not be well done and if you consider that the Sense and Reason proceeds from God of whom wee ought alwayes to haue the feare before our eyes and before all our operations for that is the meanes neuer to goe astray To the other How he should haue friends agreeable to himselfe IF they know Great King that you thinke not of any other thing then that is good and profitable and for the vtility of the People and that you doe so considering that the wealth that GOD giues to humane kind hee giuing according to the want of the Body sustinance to sustayne the life health of body and other goodnesse To the other How hee should purchase good repâ—tatation in expedition of affaires both in doing Iustice and punishing offenders IF you shew your selfe reasonable and equitable to the right of euery one and if you execute nothing against Malefactors from your absolute power and by affection you may get knowledge if you take into your remembrance the prouidence and disposition of GOD which granteth the requests and wishes of those are worthy and to the Malefactors and vicious he shewes that to them is hurtfull eyther by worke and expence or by terrours and dreames also hee chastiseth not the sinnes of men according as they haue deserued nâ—r according to his great power but seekes their amendment sweetely vsing all gentle meanes To the other What hee should doe to bee invincible in Warre IF you put not your trust in the force of Armes or in your Puissance but that you call vpon GOD incessantly for his aide to that is your Iust businesse and hee will adresse and conduct you with Counsell and designes To the other By what meanes he may make himselfe terrible to his Enemies IF you bee prouided of good Armes and of a strong Army and of all furniture of warlike Engines neuerthelesse that you take heed that for a time all this your preparation bee as it were throwne behind you and neglected as if you esteemed it not for before GOD disbands the Terrour of his power hee giues a certaine truce and then hee comes withall his prouision to put the vnderstanding of men in amazement fâ—are and dread To the other What thing may be to him most profitable and best in this life THat is Great King to haue in perfect Knowledge that God is the Dominator Soueraigne of all men for wee haue not the power of our selues to addresse our Counsels to all worthy workes but it is GOD that ruleth ouer all things that leadeth and conducteth to perfection the Actions of all humane affayres To the other By what meanes hee might saue his goods without losse of any thing and so to leaue them in the same estate vnto his Children IF incessantly you pray to GOD great King that he will giue you good aduice and good vnderstanding in that you are continually Negotiating and that you commaund your Children that they boast not themselues or grow proud eyther in Riches or Honour but that they acknowledge and perswade themselues that GOD hath inlarged all that they haue and inioy by his free benignity and liberality and that for their part they possesse nothing which proceedeth from themselues To the other By what meanes Hee might beare patiently good and euill Fortune IF you consider in your selfe great King that all humane people are Created of GOD vnder this Condition to bee afflicted with great mis-fortunes in the beginning and then after to come agayne into prosperity and to haue well and ill alternatiuely For there is no man in this World that is not subiect to such alteration or that can auoyde it But it is requisite he pray vnto GOD that hee will bee pleased out of his free goodnesse to reduce all your Estate into Tranquillity The King then approouing this reason sayd that they all had well and pertinently answered But after sayd he I haue asked one demaund yet behind I will leaue questioning because we may returne to our reioycing passing the rest of this day in merriment and sixe dayes hence wee will Learne that for the present wee intermit And so he put foorth this Question to the other What is the end of Magnanimity IT is to be content when there happens perilous accidents after one hath prouided by good Counsell to come to the end of his affayres For GOD giueth good successe to Negotiations that are conducted by good and profitable Counsell To this answer was made acclamations and applauses of prayse by all the Assistants And the King turning himselfe towards the Phylosophers which were there in good number I am sayde hee of opinion that these Men are excellently ornified in Vertue and that they haue great experience in all thing beeing they haue so promptly and pertinently at the suddayne answered to such high Questions still founding their speeches alwayes in GOD. Then a Phylosopher named Menedemus Eretriensis answered the King in this manner Truely Sir considering that man is a Diuine work which one may know by the Fabricke of the whole World it is a thing well-beseeming and reasonably fitting that we begin with GOD and found in him all the efficacy and elegancy of our Discourse The King approouing his speech all the Company betooke them to make cheare and to jouisance and so the Feast lasted till Night in great pleasance and recreation Vppon the morrow the Tables were disposed in the same order and the Banquet continued And when the occasion came to make interrogations as pretented The King began to addresse his Countenance to those were in the ranke of answering next to those were in the former day questioned beginning at the eleauenth after the ten precedent What is the meanes to well Rule or Gouerne a Kingdome THat is first to wel rule ones selfe and not suffer himselfe to be transported with pride and ouer-weaning through the affluence of much hauing and Worldly honours and not to desire any cruell thing or agaynst due by a lofty fiercenesse Which if you consider of well great King and ponder well in your minde esteeming all things as they iustly are You shall reckon all that you possesse as it were nothing Thinke also that GOD is full of all goodnesse and hath no neede of any thing which cogitation you ought to fixe in your minde and Spirit as firmely as the humane spirit can contayne and
not too couetously wish the ouer-flowing abundance of Worldly greatnesse and riches to thinke thereby the better to Râ—iâ—ne To the other How hee ought to chuse the best things IF you haue alwaies regard to that is iust and equitable and if you censure things vniustly and wicked to be put priuation of Life for GOD hath ordayned great and abundant goodnesse to iust men To the other How I may auoide the vnrest that many times comes to vs by dreaming YOu aske me Great King a most diffâ—câ—lt Questâ—on for one can giue no order to things that trouble the Vnderstanding by troublesome Dreames For we are sometimes led by our sensuality fore comming from eyther which hath beene or from the obiects presenting themselues to our view Whereby wee many times thinke dreaming we are sayling vpon the Sea or wee are passing ouer Riuers sometimes we are in earnest businesse then that wee flye with Wings moouing from place to place and such like things that are euen ridiculous to waking trueths Moreouer things to which we haue great Appetite and desire troubles our Fantasies by dreames Wherefore great King I am of opinion that with all your power and that all you say and doe let still all your intention bee addressed to Piety and Holinesse to the end that perseuering in that manner you shall bee inuironed and fortified on all parts with Vertue and shall shewe your selfe inuiolable against all Voluptibilities And on the other part that you take not by force from another that to him iustly belongs because the things of which we most intreate and most â—usie our selues in waking commonly appeare fantastically vnto vs againe in our dreames led into our fantasies by our affections wee had to them but when you conduce all your affections operations and affaires to the Butt and White of Vertue and to honest ends then sleeping and wakeing you shall be at rest To the other By what meanes he should doe nothing vndecently IF in all things you consider that which appertaines to your Estate and that which is in your power to the end there escapes not from you any vnworthy thing or vnfitting to your high degree neyther in deed or word Also you must consider that all your Subiects still speake of you iudging all your acts and censuring your courses Further consider ☜ how you are exposed to flatterers that deuiâ—e vpon your very thoughts by the diuersity of your carriage and countenance by which they will bee shaping out their owne ends but in this great King you should know well how to direct your selfe not subiecting your selfe to any person that may charme you with his Syren flattery or disguise the truth by dissimulation for God hath endowed you with great Ciuility in your behauiour accompanied with grauity and readinesse The King thenâ— applauded the auswere with great ioy and gaue leaue to all the Company to goe to their rest yet preparing them all to their meeting at the Feast the day following which was ordered as the former they being met and as before the time presenting it selfe for discourse the King made this Question to the first of those that yet had not spoken What is the most difficult thing to a King THat is to command himselfe and not to suffer himselfe to bee gained with Appetites and euill affections For all Humanes haue a certaine naturall inclination whereto they many times aptly suffer themselues to bee led as their concupiscences will guide them some to Banquets and drunkennesse other to pastimes and voluptuousnesse where the greatest part of the Multitude suffer themselues to tumble But King that should haue their thoughts more high for they are solicited by the greatnesse of glory and honours to settle their actions to conquests and to subiect vnder their obeysance Peoples and Nations Neuerthelesse this is greatly prayseable to hold a measure in all things and to conserue carefully that which GOD hath and shall giue you and not so much as to wish for that which is out of reason or vnworthy of the high glory of your place To the other What is the meanes to carry no enuy to any person IF before all things you consider in your selfe and memory that riches honours and greatnesse are gifts of GOD to Kings of whom no person hath true right to command Wherefore if any would make himselfe participant of this glorious praerogatiue he will neuer obtaine his end for it is a gift of GOD. To the other What is that he ought to doe to meprize his enemies IF you become gracious and fauorable towards all persons exercisiâ—g Liberality without respect of Amity to any body Likewise in that you receiue from others not to shew your selfe vnthankefull to the seruices and good-turnes you haue receiued from them for that is a signe of the grace of GOD. To the other How hee might continue in Glory and Honour IF you be towards others and abone all excellent in Liberality and magnificient in good deeds accompaning the same with a good grace neuer will glory and honour abandon you and it behoueth you still to pray to GOD that such vertues may perpetually assist you To the other To what Persons he should doe honour THey esteeme commonly Great King that we ought to doe honour to those that we especially loue but for my part I am of opinion that one ought to doe all the honour that one can to the enuious and to be towards them gracious and beneficiall with all our power to the end that by such meanes they may be induced and drawne to doe that which is good beneficiall and profitable iâ— which wee must implore the ayde of GOD who in inspireth the vnderstanding to the end that hee may accomplish in vs this perfection To the other What persons he ought to gratifie FAther and Mother Great King before all persons For GOD hath establish'd a great Commandement to the duty wee owe to our Father and Mother giuing therein but a second place to friends the which hee hath named semblable in spirit Further I esteeme it Great King no small happinesse that you prouoke all the world to loue you To the other What thing is more worthy then Beauty THat is Piety for she her selfe is excellent Beauty aboue all the others and her puissance consisteth in Charity the which is a gift of GOD which you haue and with her you shall possesse all good and all vertues To the other By what meanes one may recouer greatnesse and glory lost BEing Great King that if you bee full of Clemency Debonarity and gracious to all the world which are things drawing and attracting the loue of the people it is hard if you loose your greatnesse Oâ— the other part great preparations for Armes promiseth a great assurance but those who fall into such accidents it is needfull then they abstaine from the things that made them fall into such inconuenience and thence forward they acquire friends by giuing themselues to exercising
equity and bearing themselues iustly for good workes are gifts of GOD. To the other How hee should liue without sorrow IF you offend no body and that you ayde euery one doing Iustice to all the world For from so doing one gathereth such pleasant fruites as they shall liue alwayes pleasantly Neuerthelesse wee ought to craue of GOD that the accidents which comes against our hope bring vs not damage as death sicknesses and such like inconueniences the which can doe you no damage if that you bee full of Piety To the other What is the thing of the World worthy of the most great Glory THat is to serue GOD not by Sacrifices neyther by oblations so much but by purity and sincerity of Spirit and to conforme himselfe to the will of a simple and liuely faith Which if you doe Great King you will imprint firmely in your heart that all you haue done and shall doe hereafter shall be euident and discouered to all the World After these things the King with a high voyce saluted them all attributing to them great praise and so did also the assistants especially the Philosophers which were there present and not without cause for these Personages were excellent in deeds and in words putting alwayes the foundations of their Answers and Opinions in GOD. This done the King began to reioyce in this Feast and Bâ—nquet merrily The day following the Tables were couered in the same manner as before aod all the Lords aforesayd being set to the Table the King taking his opportunity of Deuising began to to interrogate those who followed the others in the precedent day of answering and made this Question I would know if Prudence may be taught PRudence is a certaine decoration and ornament to the Soule flowing from the puissance Diuine hauing propriety to receiue good things and to repulse the contrary To the other Which is the thing is most profitable to the health of the Soule THat is Prudence which no person can acquire or obtayne vnlesse GOD prepares his vnderstanding to receiue it To the other By what meanes may one sufficiently and enough yeeld thankes to their Father and Mother IF you giue them no cause of griefe in the world although there is scarse any person to bee found which can so gouerne themselues excepting GOD Prince of all light doe inluminate his vnderstanding to all the actions of Vertue To the other How he might be made couetous to heare many things IF you consider Great King how much it is to you gainefull and profitable to know euery thing Created for by that meanes accommodating and comparing that which you haue vnderstood to the quality of the times present you shall haue the choice and election of that which to you shal be most agreeable and conveniable in which you ought alwayes to pray vnto GOD that hee wil be your succourer for from him proceeds all the accomplishment of good workes To the other What he shoul'd doe not to transgresse the Lawes IF you know that GOD hath inspired the vnderstanding of those who hath established the Lawes for the gouernment and addresse of the life of vs humanes you shall well follow the Lawes To the other What profit may arise to him by Parentage GReat King if wee will weigh the accidents which happen we shall finde that when our Parents fall into any aduersity that wee receiue our part thereof and are oppressed and also grieued with the greatnesse of their sorrow And if there come also any prosperity and happy fortune wee are glad finde content and pleasure in which wee reioyce And in verity if the Parents are so well aduised that they can transpose and so intreate their affaires amiably together and that all things betweene them be so well linked together by astriction of firme Amity one neede not desire a life more happy and from the same there remaineth no other or further blessing but onely to pray vnto GOD that hee will giue prosperity vnto all things To the other How he might be free from all feare IF your conscience be free from all knowings of former euill dealings putting alwayes GOD before your eyes for your guide and addresse of all your counsels to happy and good issue To the other How he should be readily prouided with right Reason and Sense at all times IF you seriously bethinke you how â—to the importunate accidents of this humane life all the world is exposed putting often before your eyes the admirable changes that GOD hath sent to men How some are aduanced vnto riches and honours others fettered with calamities and strucke downe into extreame ignominy To the other What meanes hee should hold and follow not to be vanquished by idlenesse or by voluptuousnes THe same to you Great King is easâ—e that haue the Regiment of a great Kingdom and by consequent so the management of great affayres So that by doing according to your estate it is impossible that you shall haue the leasure to settle seriously your fantasie vpon other things then to your affaires which will neyther promit nor permit any repose For it is conuenient therefore you be alwayes carefull of your charge and to pray vnto GOD that â—ee will giue you the grace to omit nothing of that which concernes your function To the other By what signes he may know those that would deceiue him IF you take heede in your selfe what liberty euery one vseth in your behalfe if hee hath alwayes so ☞ done and if hee continueth the same fashion still so to court you according to his will Or if hee holds the same meanes in giuing you Counsell as a custome and if his conuersation and manner of life is the same as before And if hee hath forgot nothing of that which loue and obseruance that hee owes you doth requireâ— Briefly if his affections and other fashions of doing are changed GOD instruct your vnderstanding to fore-see the surplus Then the King gaue prayse to all naming euery one by his name wherewith all the assistants reioyced The next day when the King espied his oâ—portunity in the Feast he began to Question the others in this same manner What is the most greatest negligence of the World THat is not to hold an account of his Children and not to take care for their instruction to institute them in Vertue and good manners behauiour For pray we not ordinarily to GOD not for our selues but also desire him that it will please him to addresse our Children in all goodnesse and to impart to them Doctrine and Wisedome the which proceeds from the grace of GOD also To the other How he should come to be a louer of his Country IF you perswade your selfe that it is a happy thing to liue and dye in your House and that peregrinations brings nothing but folly to the poore and dishonour to the Rich for most people are of opinion that they haue beene chased out of their Countries for some misdeed
moreouer that he enquireth for those Writings that teacheth to conserue Kingdomes and to correct the manners of men which to accomplish with such diligence as you doe GOD will giue prosperity to your designes in which hee will grant you an excellent glory farre aboue other Kings To the other What Persons ought one to inuite to Banquets ONe ought to call those which are couetous â—o learne and those who often thinke how the affaires of a Kingdome ought to passe and that know how to recount the liues of Princes for there is nothing more pleasant nor more delectable then such Company For they are those that are well instituted and instructed in the beauty of Know ledge and haue GOD in high reuererâ—ce The which thing it seemes you doe accomplish well Great King as one may perceiue by that wherein GOD hath sent you prosperity and happinesse in all your affaires To the other Which is most profitable for the People eyther to choose ouer them a King from a priuate person or to obay a King that was Sonne to a King THe most profitable to the People is that which is most according with Nature For although that some Kings Sonnes bee sometimes rude to the People neuerthelesse those which from priuate persons come to bee lifted into such Sublimity and Greatnesse because they haue experienced Pouerty and endured calamities and laborious trauailes of priuate persons they are more curell then bloody Tyrants and command their Subiects by force and intollerable violence Wherefore the Ordinance receiued and accustomed and the common fashion of doing is much more sure and much better for Regiment that it come from the King by succession from Father to Sonne as it is with you Worthy and Great King for your Greatnesse and Excellency consisteth not so much in honours glory and great Domination as in Clemency and Benignity The which by a gift from God draweth and attracteth the hearts of all persons to loue you The King accepted this Answer with praise and turned himselfe towards the last saying What is most profitable to a Kingdome THat is to hold and contayne the People in peace and to giue order that Suites and Processes of Law should be incontinently and without delay adiudged definitiuely for such things are executed when the Prince hateth the wicked and sheweth fauour and loue to good and honest men and such as bee vertuous and that hee esteemes it a great thing to haue saued the Life of one of his Subiects as wee haue beene informed you doe Great King that haue in horrour Murderers disposing and tempering all by Iustice In which you adorne to eternity the greatnesse of your deeds God hauing inspired you with a Soule deliuered from all fowlnesse of Vice and illustrated the same with great Vertue AFter these Answers there arose a great noyse of Congratulations and Applauses with an excessiue ioyfull acclamation and the whole Hall was full of ioyfull rumour The King then commanding silence and taking his Cup inuited them all to drinke then addressing his Speech to the sayd Doctors pronounced these words in the presence of all the Assistants I repute this day my Maisters to be to mee very happy by your presences for your Answers haue brought to mee a most great profit and instruction for the Gouerâ—ment of my selfe and my Kingdome This purpose ended hee ordayned that to euery one of the Doctors should bee deliuered 3. Talents of Siluer and by and by gaue to euery one of them a Page to waite vpon them at their Table So with great contentment to euery one the Feast tooke end with great praise to the Kings Liberality who aboue all shewedâ— a countenance of receiuing the greatest satisfaction and most ioyfull content I Haue beene hitherto Philocrates thus prolixe in the recitall of the businesses which I haue done for the admiration I haue had of such men and of their Wisedome maruelling at the promptitude of their Answers and so pertinently answering to that which was proposed to them vppon the sudden shewing such Elegance in their Speech as if these Questions had beene long time in premeditaâ—ion and that hee who had proposed them had thought of them long time before hee demaunded them and yet their Answers were to him found so accordant as if they had about them long before consulted together Wherefore it is no maruaile that they seeme admirable not to me only but to the Phylosophers also that were there present in the Company and to all them were present assuring you that such things are more harder to beleeue then one would imagine in which I will not wonder if the faith of the Readers be vanquished For my part what occasion haue I to adde dreames or falcities seeing that all which I haue Written is to be found in the Registers of the King where it is held the greatest crime of the World to finde falcenesse in the least thing of the World I assure you then that this Recitation is most veritable contayning the Discourse of all the things as they haue passed in veritie without mixture of any errour for to this ende that I might best know the truth I haue vsed this dilligence to take out the Registers publicke where wee may see recited the Bankets and feasts together with the interrogats also of the King and the Answers which were giuen him and all euen Word It was a Custome to Register what was propounded Answered in the Kings of Egypts presence for Word from whence I haue borrowed that I haue here Written For you know it is the custome to Register and Inroule all that is done and sayd euery day since the houre that the King began to giue Audience vnto the time the King went to bed without omitting any thing that hee did or was sayd to his Maiesty A thing and coursetruely very profitable and well instituted For-byâ— that meanes the Acts inregistred beeing read of the day preceedant if the King hath sayd or done any thing that there is want eyther in his saying or doing there is occasion and meanes of amendment Therefore after I had dilligently searched the day Booke of the King I haue Collected the same to you here by Writing as afore-sayd Knowing the great and good desire you haue to know all worthy and extraordinary occurrences The meanes holden by the 72. Doctors in their Interpreting or Translating the LAW THree dayes after these Feasts and Disputes Demetrius conducted all these Doctors towards the Sea into an Ile and entring vpon a Banke passed a Bridge which drew towards the North where was the place designed for this Assembly and where they should make their Conference for their Interpretation of the LAVV. It was a House of pleasant Scituation and in a Triumphant manner vpon the Bankes of the Sea very stately and minionly deoked and trimmed where aboue all commodities there was great silence for the tranquillity of the Spirit and repose of the vnderstanding Moreouer there was
all things neoessary for the Life carefully prouided and prepared with great conuenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselues to the Interpretation of the Law in which they began to trauell disputing and conferring together of euery thing vntill they came all to one generall accord and consent to resolue in a true sence aduisedly The which done they set downe in Writing that which was so by them composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the aduice and counsell of all they put it apart that the same after might bee put into the hands of Demetrius Their Colloquiums and Conferences lasted from the Morning vntill nine of the Clocke and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Ayre for their health after all things were sumptuously administred vnto them For Dâ—rothea who had the same in charge was therein so carefull that there was nothing made ready for the Kings Person but euery day they had as much of the same to euery single person and hee would once the day come to visit them with courtship in his owne proper Person and they sometimes to salute with reuerence the King and so returne to priuacy Euery Morning it was custome to make their prayers to GOD after they had washt their hands in the Sea as the Iewes accustomably vse Lauations so after to their readings and interpretations I was so bold to aske them why they so washed their hands before they made their prayers to which demâ—â—nd they made this Answere that this washing of the hands did admonish them to doe nothing wickedly but to accomplish all things of their actions to Piety and Sanctity because that all the workes they doe with their hands might bee effected according to iustice and truth and cleanenesse as we haue before-sayd To conclude these Personageâ— being in such Serenity of ayre Beauty of dwelling Tranquility of silence and Pleasantnesse of repose and Royall entertainment finished the worke vndertaken and which is a note of maruaile they had so expresly taken order amongst themselues and followed it with such care and diligence that the Interpretation of Law was fully finished in the space of 72. dayes Demetriuâ— then seeing the Translation and Interpretation of the Law was so wel and happily brought to an end made the meanes that the multitude of the Iewes then being in Aegypt were conuccated to the place where the Worke was then perfited to whom hee shewed how all things had beene done beginning with all circumstances of the Enterprize and all in the presence of the Interpreters To the King all the Multitude attributed great praise and gaue infinite thankes for being the mediate cause of so important a good and a benefit of such excellency Lâ—â—ewise they shared a part of the Honour to Demetrius intâ—earing him to shew them that fauour as to haue a Copie for their Princes for to haue their aduice and to deliberate vpon the profit or damage might arise vpon the same In this sort was the Law reuiewed visited and re-knowne in the assistance of the Princes of the Iewes and of the Multitude and of the Ambassadors of Townes vpon the which spoken and proclaimed the 72. Doctors being present that all was well and holily Translated and that all was most very well so prouided that nothing thereof should be changed and that all things should remaine in the same estate without alteration of the least thing or title of the world As the Translation was thus approued of all and the Decree made for the ratification of the same Demetrius â— commanded that according to their custome they should make Imprecations and Maledictions against those which should vndertake or should presume to adde any thing thereto or to transferre it otherwayes by changing efficacing ordering any thing whatsoeuer it were vnto that which was so perfectly now written And when all was perfected and accomplished in this manner hee adjured the Iewes to hold keepeâ— and preserue it inviolably foreuer the which they promised to doe with great Ioy and Acclamation So Demetrius finding himselfe greatly satisfied in himselfe especially because hee had beene a Conductor of the Worke and that hee had giuen to the King such contentment in the happy execution and accomplishment of his charge and of this his felicity made great congratulations to the King Who hauing after with great diligence visited this Interpretation and considered the profundity of the Sence of the Law-maker which hee admired with an astonished regard hee sayd to Demetrius how comes it to passe that none of the Poets or Historians hath not put their hands to this Law being that it is a thing of so high and ☞ perfect Excellency To which Demetrius answered that no body neuer durst touch it as well for the reuerence of the same as also that GOD hath forbidden it so as some hauing presumed to attempt it haue beene chastised with Diuine punishment Whereupon they haue beene constrayned to desiste from their enterprize For as testifieth Theopompuâ— which by a recitall of himselfe saith that presuming to transferre into his History some secrets of the Holy Law hee was afflicted more then 30. dayes following with a perturbation of his vnderstanding But calling vpon GOD in the interuals and cessations of the most vehement fitts of this his Malady it was told him in his sleepe this punishment was sent him from God for hauing presumed to prophane and falcifie things Sacred So by this Vision he was corrected repented and re-came to his good sences againe And sayd Demetrius vpon mine owne knowledge I affirme that Theodorus a Tragickeâ— Poet willing to vsurpe something from this Law therwith to enrich his Poesie lost his sight Neuerthelesse aduising with himselfe and concluding that this his audaciousnesse was the cause of his blindnesse prayed to God for many dayes whereby hee came againe to health The King saying that this was wisely spoken adored the Law making Commandement that the Books of the same should bee preserued the most curiously and carefullest that might be possible and deuising with the Interpreters benignely and graciously prayed them that when they were in Iudea they would often come and see him Finally hee gaue order that they should be honourably returned backâ— and conducted into theirâ— Countrey promising them that how oft soeuer and when they pleased to returne he would entertaine them as his principall friends so honouring them with faire presents according to their merits and commanding that all things should bee made ready for the dispatch of their returne vsing towards them all Royall Magnificence Hee gaue to euery one of them three rich Habilliments and two Jalents of Gold and an excellent Cup of the waight of a Talent Moreouer furniture for the whole furnish of a Chamber ouer and aboue hee sent to Eleazer ten Table-beds or Couches of ease which had the feete of Siluer and ornified with all that was