them For they were inioyned by them to cut Nilus into diuers trenches and to e◅iron their Cit◅es with walles and to build fortifications and banks whereby the inundations of the floud might be diuerted They also vexed our nation in building their hie and vaine Pyramides compelling them to learne diuers artes and to accustome themselues to endure labour and in such afflictions led they their liues for the space of 400. yeares the Aegyptians studying nought else but to tire the Israelites with continuall labour our country men endeuouring themselues alwaies to performe farre more then was expected from thē Liuing thus in this estate there grew afterwards an other occasion which instigated them the more to seeke the ruine and desolation of our Nation For one of the sacred secretaries to whose predictions those kind of people do very much attribute foretold the King that about that time there should be one bred and borne amongst the Israelites that in time to come should grieuously afflict the estate of the Aegyptians and wonderously enhance the good hap of the Israelites who should su◅passe all other in vertue and purchase to himselfe immortal glory if so be he should attaine to ◅ns estate Wherewith the King being greatly terrified he published an edict by the aduise of this secretary that whatsoeuer male child should be borne amongst the Israelites he should be cast into the floud to be drowned he commaunded likewise the Aegyptian midwiues diligently to obserue the time when the Hebrew women trauelled with child carefully to keepe marke their children at such time as they were deliuered For it was enioyned thē that they should be brought to bed by such midwiues who by reason of consanguinitie with that Nation should not transgresse the king◅ commaundement He enacted also a law with a penaltie that if any should be so bold to conceale their children both they and all their family should be done to death Great was this their calamity not onely in that respect because they were depriued of their children and for that the parents themselues were made the ministers to murther their owne children but foreseeing also the future time they were intolerably dismayed expecting nought else but the certaine and fatall ex◅pation of their wholenation by reason that when the children were s◅ine the parents themselues not long after were ass◅ed to die thus conceited they in themselues into what extreame misfortune they were fallen But no man whosoeuer although he complot neuer so many stratagems can resist the wil of God For both the child of whom the sacred secretary had fore prophecied was secretly brought vp vndiscouered by the kings spies and approued by the euents of his life that he was no false Prophet Amarames an Hebrew borne a noble man amongst his Nation fearing both the pub like perill least the wholenation should be brought to nothing thorow the want of issue and his owne priuate misfortune whose wife at home was big with child and readie to lye downe was troubled in his mind and vncertaine what to doe For which cause he made his recourse vnto God beseeching him that at the length he would haue mercy on those men of whom onely he had beene perpetually honoured and that it would please him to bring to end the present affliction which threatned the whole nation with vtter ruine and destruction But God being moued vnto mercy by his most humble prayer appeared to him in a dreame and recomforted him commaunding him to be confident telling him that he had in memory the pietie of his auncecestors and that he would for euer remunerate them euen as in times past he had beene gratious to their forefathers For it was he that had increased their posteritie and multiplied them to so mighty a nation that by his fauor Abraham departing alone out of Mesopotamia into Chanaan besides other felicities had issue by his wife that was before time barren and left ample possessions to his successors to Ismael Arabia to Chaeturas children Troglottida and to Isaac Chanaan Neither can you euer forget without note of impietie and ingratitude the attempts also which were happily atchieued in warre by my meanes but Iacobs name also is renowmed amongst forraine nations both in respect of the felicitie wherein he liued also for that prosperitie which by hereditarie right happened vnto his posteritie who taking their originall from 70. men that accompanied their father into Egypt are now increased to the number of sixe hundreth thousand know therefore now also that I inwardly and heartily affect your publike securitie and priuately thy glory For this child for feare of whose natiuitie the Egyptians haue condemned all your children vnto death shall be borne vnto thee he neither shall be discouered by the constituted spies and after he hath escaped beyond all expectation shall he be brought vp and in his time shall he deliuer the Hebrewes from the thraldome of the Egyptians and shall obtaine an eternall memorie for this his famous action not onely amongst his owne nation but also amongst straungers for this fauour will I extend vnto thee and on thy posteritie that followeth after thee he shall also haue such a brother who shall deserue both in himselfe and in his posteritie to inherite the priesthood for euer After these things were declared in a vision vnto Amram he awaked and told it to his wife Iochabel and by reason of the prediction of this dreame their suspition and feare the rather increased more and more for they were not onely pensiue in respect of their child but also by reason of the future great good fortune that was promised them But anone after the woman being brought a bed gaue credit to the Oracle who had so easie and gentle a labor that she beguiled the ouerseers spies in that she felt none of those throwes which do commonly afflict such as are in labor so that she nourished the infant three moneths secretly in her house without being in any sort discouered But afterwards Amram fearing to be surprised sore doubting least he should incurre the kings displeasure if the matter were discouered whereby both he and the child should be made away and Gods promises should be frustrate he had rather wholy commit the safety of his sonne to his prouidence supposing that if the boy were hidden which notwithstanding would be hard to effect yet that it would be troublesom vnto him to liue in continuall perill both of his owne and his sonnes safetie moreouer he thought that God would puruey some meanes of assurance to the intent that nothing of that which he had foretold might be proued false Grounding himselfe on this resolution they prepared and made a cradle of sedge after the manner of a couch so great as it was sufficient to lay the child in at ease and hauing pitched it on euery side least the water should pierce the same they put the child into it and
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
vp with great care and diligence sparing nothing that might appertaine to their sustenance or instruction Now therfore shall they say surely the follies of youth are to be pardoned let this suffice you that hitherto you haue forgotten your duetie for which cause remember your selfe and grow wise thinking with your selfe that God is grieuously offended against those who disobey or disdaine their parents by reason that he himselfe is the father of all mankind who seemeth to be preiudiced in himselfe in that dishonour which is done vnto those that beare his name at such time as they receiue not such dutie from their childrens hands as he commaundeth The law likewise inflicted an meuitable punishment against such which thou oughtest with all prouidence to preuent and not incurre If by these medicines the vnbridled irregard of youth may be healed let no man either impute or reproch him in his submission for in so doing the law-maker shall be accounted mercifull and the parents shall be held to be happie when as they see that their sonne or daughter is exempt from punishment But if such speeches and instructions of the father are set light by the sonne let the lawes be irreconciliable enemies against such continuall outrages committed by the children against their parents and let them drag them out of the Citie in the sight and presence of all the people and there let him be stoned to death and after the offender hath lien there a whole day in the sight of the people let him be interred and buried by night In like manner ought they to be buried who for any occasion whatsoeuer are condemned and executed by iustice Let the enemie also be enterred after the same manner and let no dead man lye vnburied after such time as he hath beene iudged and hath satisfied the lawes It is not lawfull for any Hebrewe to lend vpon vsurie whether it be meat or drinke for it is an vniust thing to make profit of the forumes of the tribes but it is better to succour their necessities and impute their thanksgiuing and Gods retribution to be a gaine vnto them which are wont to follow such kind of benefits But they that haue borrowed either money or any fruit either drie or moist when as by the fauour and assistance of God they shall reape their owne haruest and gather their fruit let them make a willing restitution to those that haue lent them as if they laid them vp for themselues to possesse them at such time as they had need of them But if there be any so impudent as they will not make satisfaction let no man enter into their houses to take a pawne before the iudges haue giuen order that the pledge should be demanded before their doore and the debter without contradiction shall bring it vnto him being assisted by the maiestie of the law If he of whom the pledge is taken haue sufficient abilitie the creditor may retaine the gage till such time as he be paid but if he be poore he shall restore him his pawne before the sunne set and especially if it be any garment whereon he is accustomed to sleepe for God doth naturally bestow his mercy on those that are poore It is not lawful to receiue in way of gage either a mill or ought else that belongeth thereunto least any debter should be depriued of the necessarie instruments to prouide his victuals with and he should endure any euill thorow pouertie Let him that committeth any theft be punished with death but he that hath stolne either gold or siluer let him restore it twofold If any man kill such as breake into their houses to rob them or they that breake their walles let not such a one be punished Who so shall steale a beast shall restore foure for it except it be an Oxe for which one shall satisfie fiuefolde and if the thiefe want meanes to pay this penaltie let him be their slaue against whom they haue trespassed and at whose suit they are condemned If any one be sold vnto one of his owne tribe let him serue him seuen yeares and at the seuen yeares end he shall depart with libertie but if during the time that he remaineth with the buyer he beget any child vpon a female fellow slaue and that he be willing to serue by reason of the good affection and great amitie that he beareth vnto the house in the yeare of lubile which happeneth euerie fiftith yeare let him be set at liberty leading away with him his children wife with their freedom If any man find money or gold by the way let him seeke out him that hath lost it and make knowne the place where he found it to the intent he may restore it knowing that the profit is not good which commeth and accrueth by an other mans iniurie The like is to be done with beasts for if any man find them straied in the desart if he find not out the owner let him presently keepe it by him taking God to witnesse that he will not detaine with him an other mans goods If any man find an other mans beasts bemired or bebogd let him not passe further but succour them or if he find them trauailed with foule weather let him indeuour himselfe to saue the same and helpe him that is the owner not sparing or making nice of any labour Let each man direct the ignorant trauailer in his way and set him in the right path if he wander without deluding him or hindering him in his necessities or misleading him in his iourney Let no man speake ill of him that is either absent or deafe If any man be stroken in a quarrell and it be not with a weapon let him that stroke him be presently punished in receiuing the like outrage as he hath offered him But if he be caried into his house and lie sicke vpon it diuers daies and in the end die thereof he shall be exempt of the penaltie But if he escapeth and during the time of his sicknes hath beene greatly hindred and charged then let him that stroke him pay all the charges he hath beene at during the time he kept his bed and satisfie the Phisitions He that with his foot shall strike a woman with child if the woman miscarry he shall be by the Iudges amerced in a summe of money for that he hath lesned the number of the people by the losse of him that is dead in his mothers wombe Let him likewise be condemned to pay a summe of money vnto the husband But if the woman die of the stroke he that offered the violence must die the death also by reason that the law iustly ordaineth that life should be satisfied with life Let not any one among the Israelites vse any mortall poyson nor any drugge that may do hurt vnto any man and if any man be found with such things about him let him die dying that death which he
reason of the despaire they conceiued of their future successe For being alreadie perswaded that they were masters of the field and that their armie should be alwaies warranted and safe at such time as they should fight according as before times God had promised them they saw contrarie to their opinion that their aduersaries had taken heart insomuch as clothing themselues in sackcloth vpon their raiments they spent all the day in teares lamentations without tasting any meate so grieuously were they afflicted with the inconuenient that had hapned But Iosuah perceiuing the army discomfited after this manner and conceiuing some sinister hope of their estates boldly addressed himselfe vnto God saying We haue not beene induced by our owne temerity to attempt the conquest of this land by force but we haue beene hereunto incouraged by thy seruant Moses to whom thou hast promised by diuers signes that thou wouldest giue vs this country to inhabite in that our army should haue alwaies the vpper hand in battell and of these thy promises we haue often times experimented the euent But now beyond all expectation hauing receiued an ouerthrow and lost some of our soldiers being terrified by this accident and suspitious of thy promises to Moses we both abstaine from warre and after so many enterprises and entrances of warre we cannot hope of any fortunate or succesful proceedings Be thou therefore assistant vnto vs O Lord for it lieth in thy power by thy mercy relieue our present sorrow with a largesse of victory take from vs the thought of despaire wherein we are too farre plunged Iosuah lying prostrate on his face made this praier vnto God who presently answered him that he should arise commāding him to purge the army of that pollution that had hapned therein and of a theft committed by one of the multitude who was so hardie as to violate and conceale those things which were ◅onsecrated vnto him assuring him that that cause was the meanes of the present calamitie but that as soone as he had searched out and punished the sacriledge the Israelites should become fortunate and obtaine the victory This Oracle Iosuah declared vnto the people and calling for the high Priest and the Magistrates he cast lots vpon the tribes and when as the lot had fallen on the tribe of Iuda it was againe cast by kinreds and when againe the sacriledge was found to be committed in Zacharias kinred they examined the same once more man by man and found out Achar who hauing no meanes to denie the same and being discouered by God himselfe confessed the fact and brought forth those things which he had concealed Whereupon being presently put to death he was by night buried after an ignominious manner according as he deserued it But Iosuah hauing purified the people led them forth against Ainan and laying an Ambuscado by night time aboue the Citie early in the morning he drew the enemie out to fight who boldly broke forth being incouraged by their former victorie but Iosuah making a shew of retreat drew them farther off from their Citie forming in them an imaginarie hope that the Israelites fled and that they should gaine a second victorie ouer them But when Iosuah sodainly made a stand and freshly charged them and gaue a signall vnto those that lay in ambush they were incontinently addressed and incouraged to fight and with all expedition entred the gates of the Citie on the walles whereof there stood diuers of the inhabitants being eye witnesses as they thought of their atchieued victorie In this manner was the Citie taken and all they that were therein were slaine and Iosuah on the other side inforced those in such manner with whom he maintained skirmish that they turned their backs and fled towards the Citie as if it had beene in the same estate as they left it but when they perceiued that it was surprised and saw both it their wiues and children consumed with fire they scattered themselues about the fields not being able to rallie themselues by reason of their disturbance and disorder After this ouerthrow of the Ainites there were a great number of women children and bondslaues taken captiue and store of all sorts of moueables The Hebrewes also became Lords of much cattell and gathered a great quantitie of siluer for the countrey was rich All which Iosuah vpon his returue to Galgal distributed amongst the soldiers But the Gabeonites who dwelt not farre off from Ierusalem vnderstanding what had hapned to them of Hiericho and seeing the estate of the Ainites and fearing least the like misfortune might fall vpon them thought it not good to offer treaties of peace to Iosuah supposing they should find no tolerable conditions at his hands because they knew that he warred vnder that resolution vtterly to roote out and extinguish the nation of the Canaanites from off the earth They therefore made a league with the Cepherites and Cathierimites their neighbours telling them that they should not escape the daunger if so be it so fell out that the Gabeonites were first taken by the Israelites but that if they were vnited together they might both resist the greatnesse and auoid the dangers of them Which counsell of theirs being accepted they sent Embassadours vnto Iosuah such men as they thought to be both most capable and wisest amongst them in the affaires of common-weale to the intent to entreate a peace betwixt them and the Israelites who knowing that it would be verie dangerous for them if they should say that they were Canaanites that on the contrarie side they should auoid the danger if they protested that they had no communitie or alliance with them but that they dwelled far off from them told Iosuah that being incited by his fame they had vndertaken a long iourney the truth whereof he might coniecture by their habits for vpon their setting forth their garments were new and now by their long iourney quite worne for they had purposely put vpon them old raiment to the end it might be sutable to their subtill insinuation Standing vp therefore in the middest of the multitude attired after this maner they told them that they were sent by the Gabeonites and the neighbouring Cities thereabouts farre disioyned from that countrey to articulate and ratifie a peace betweene them according as they haue bin accustomed to proceed in their accords For knowing well that the countrey of Canaan was giuen vnto them by the grace and gratuitie of God to the end they should be maste◅ and possessours thereof they were much reioyced thereat and required them to be receiued as their confederates By these words and tokens of their garments and intimation of their long iourney they perswaded the Hebrewes to intreate an accord and amitie with them And the high Priest Eleazar with the councell of the Elders sware vnto them that they should be reputed for friends and allies and that no vniust action
vnspeakable None of you were terrefied with feare but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had onely beene to go to blisse and felicitie you were truely brethren who euen by death were linked together God hath greatly in you magnified our nation and in you shewed vs all an example of fortitude whom therefore I thinke he caused to be so many in number as were the daies wherein he created the world so that seuen brethren may resemble the seuen daies wherein in all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her selfe with contempt of death who indeed is not to be called a mother but to be honoured with a higher title then humane frailtie can afford who bare into this world so many triumphs For the mother seeing her children dead was with a kind and godly zeale inflamed also to suffer and no maruaile seeing that the verie bruit beasts if they perceiue violence offred to their young do oppose themselues to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and talents yea and euerie one that is any way able to make resistance opposeth her selfe to the enemie to defend her young And not onely bruit beasts doe this but euen Bees doe defend not onely their young but also their honie threatning their sting to them that offer to taste thereof and more esteeming the good of their young then their owne liues But this zealous mother directed by the spirit of God and reasons loare hasted that her children might die before her who not being to liue depriued of her children chose rather to see them die ioyfully then to perish in care and sorrow Therefore when al her family had suffered she then the last glorie of them al came to her agony despising the tyrants threats and offering her motherly breast to those torments which her children had suffered O blessed stocke and blessed encrease of the selfesame wombe Why should I not affirme that in all lineaments and feature of the bodie you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside the shape of bodie receiue nothing else of their mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in fortitude vertue and religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are euerie way equall vnto her saue onely herein that she with her eies beheld the immanitie of your torments being also as constant in her owne martyrdome as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seuen torments before she came to suffer in her owne person and feared in euerie one of them least she should be ouercome But O thou example of all women I cannot tel whether thou bare these children in thy wombe or created them who could with drie eies looke vpon them whilst they were torne in peeces yea I say little affirming that thou with patience didst behold these sights for euen thou thy selfe didst exhort them thereunto thou reioycedst to see one of them torne in peeces with fleshhookes the other to be racked vpon the wheele and the third to be bound and beaten thou ioyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified herewith and although whilest thou beheldest their torments thy griefe was greater then that which thou hadst in childbirth yet didst thou frame a lightsome and merry countenance as though it had beene one trumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing onely one of all thy children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how euerie one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths when their sinewes were cut in two their heads fleane their tongues pulled forth by the roots their hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast vpon yron plates red hotte and vpon wheeles and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for the which we want names Neuer was any swanne which by the report of antiquitie sung so sweet a note before her death sweeter then the most melodious harmonie and the most pleasant voice was the funerall verses of those thy children that perished You children were not ouercome by the fabulous Syrens enchauntments who to honour God doubted not to leaue your mother without children And she sprung of noble stocke chose rather to want you all for a short time then to incurre eternall damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her children should be tormented then their soules Well she knew that nothing was more fraile infirme then our bodies which though persecutiō be wanting are often killed with agues and aboundance of blould or fluxes And who is ignorant of shipwracke incident to sailers hazard of life vnto them that trauaile and sodaine death to those that liue in ease Sodaine casualtie by fire and by the hands of theeues and a thousand other waies to dispatch our liues seeing then that our morrall bodies are subiect to so many miseries to bring vs to our ende who would not make choise of a quicke dispatch whereby we loose the goods of this world and gaine life euerlasting O thou most reuerent of all women the credit of thy nation and honour of our religion who like the Arke of Noe didst persist inuiolate amongst such stormie waues for as it withstood the force of the Deluge and being built strongly with firme bords did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the tyrant to ouercome the holy Ghost which thou hadst receiued in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacie reason is which often time maketh vs men inferiour to women For neither was Daniel so terrified at the sight of the Lions nor the three children with the firie furnace as this woman was grieued at the death of euery one of her children before she came to her owne agonie What would another woman mother haue done in this case but wept with pitiful lamentations haue cried Ah wretch that I am most vnhappie and miserable of all that breath who therefore bare so many children into this world that their seueral deaths might be so many seueral occasions of my griefe and sorrow she would haue iterated her frequent births and her toyle in her ten moneths bearing them she would haue bewailed her haplesse fortune who brought forth so many deaths and daungers she would haue recounted the milke wherewith she fed them and their meat she had prepared for them the paines she had taken with them how she had caried them in her armes and sung to them and taught them to speake her cares her watchings her feare least any mishap should betide them And with weeping teares would haue said shall I a grandmother embrace your children who a while agoe was a too fruitfull mother and am now depriued of you all If this day I die I haue none to burie me But this handmaide of
out of doores from them vpon the breake of day But she being wholy desolate and discomforted by this desaster returned to her lodging and both by reason of the agonie which she had suffered as also for the shame that hindered her from appearing before her husband who would be incredibly and extremely tormented with that accident she fell downe and gaue vp the ghost Her husband supposing that she was onely seased with some sound sleepe not suspecting any other inconuenient thought to awake her with that deliberation to comfort her because she had not willingly condescended to their violences and lusts but maugre her resist was rauished by them and taken out of his lodging But so soone as he perceiued that she was dead he moderated his affections considering the extremitie of his euils and laying the dead bodie vpon his Asse he caried it to his house where he no sooner arriued but that he deuided and cut the same into twelue pieces which he sent to the twelue tribes of Israel commaunding them that bare the same to tell euerie tribe who they were that were the authors of the death of his wife and what villany they had practised against her The tribes were verie much discontented at that which they both saw and heard hauing neuer before that time heard of any the like aduenture and incensed with extreme displeasure and yet iust they assembled themselues in Siloe and being arraunged before the Arke they resolued sodainly to take armes and to assaile the Gabeonites as their capitall and mortall enemies But the elders with-held them declaring vnto them that they ought not after that manner enterprise a headlong warre against their brethren before they had conferred and debated the cause with them and examined the crimes whereof they were accused the rather for that the law permitteth not any warre no not against straungers before an enterparle embassage which might reclaime those that were held culpable reduce them to reason For which cause they told them that they should conforme themselues both according to the letter of the law and the bond of brotherhood to send certaine messengers to the Gabeonites to demaund at their hands the authors of that villanie to the end that when they were deliuered they might take their satisfaction by their punishment but if they should not regard that which was demaunded then that it was lawfull for them to assaile them with open warre Hereupon they sent certaine messengers to the Gabeonites to accuse those yong men that had perpetrated that indignity against the woman to demaund them at their hands to the intent they might suffer condigne punishment by death for the breach they had made of the law But the Gabeonites would not yeeld vp the young men supposing it to be an indignity for them for feare of warre to be obedient to other mens commaundements by reason that they thought themselues no waies inferiour vnto others in feats of warre both in respect of their number and the courage both in the one and the other The rest of the tribe also made great preparation by reason they were all of thē resolued vnited together mutually to defend thēselues against whosoeuer should assaile them After that the report of the Gabeonites answer was brought vnto the Israelites they sware an oth the one vnto the other that none of thē would giue their daughters in mariage to a Beniamite promising each of them to issue make warre against them against whom they were more incensed then our predecessors haue bin animated against the Chanaanites as we haue bin giuen to vnderstand They speedily therfore leuied led into the field an armie of 400000 men against them The Beniamites host consisted of 26000. armed men and 600. others fiftie of which were expert in shooting and fighting with the left hand The field was fought neere to Gaba wherein the Beniamites put the Israelites to flight who were slaine to the number of twentie two thousand and more of them had bin slaughtered that day had not the night sodainly ouertaken them and ended the skirmish Thus did the Beniamites ioyfully returne vnto their cities the Israelites were discomforted thorow their vnexpected calamitie The next day they once more renewed the battel and the Beniamites had the vpper hand once againe so that the Israelites lost eighteene thousand men more and by that meane forsooke their campe thorow feare and retired to Bethel which was not farre off from the place The day after they fasted and besought God by the mediation of Phinees the high Priest that it would please him to appease his wrath against them and that contenting himselfe with the two ouerthrowes which he had sent them he would now at last both giue them victorie and valour to encounter their enemies All which God promised them by the prophecy of Phinees Whereupon they deuided their army into two parts and laid the one thereof in ambush neere vnto the Citie In the meane time whilest the other halfe that made head against the Beniamites retired themselues to the intent their enemies should assault them the Beniamites sodainly issued and set vpon them that orderly retired and the more they retired vnder purpose to draw them the further from the towne the more eagerly the enemie insisted so that all they likewise who thorow age and weaknes were left in the Citie sallied out as companions and sharers in the future pray But when as they were drawne farre enough from the Citie the Hebrewes staied made head and fought against them Then gaue they a signe to those that were in ambush in such sort as was accorded amongst them who sodainly issuing out together rushed in vpon their enemies with a huge crie Who seeing themselues so sodainly surprised knew not what to doe but retiring themselues into certaine Baricadoes they defended themselues with arrowes but all of them were slaine except it were sixe hundreth who making head and closely filletted and embattailed together thrust themselues desperately into the midst of their enemies and by this meanes escaped they into the mountaines hard by where they encamped All the rest to the number of twentie fiue thousand or thereabouts were slaine And the Israelites burned Gaba vtterly slew both the women and children They exercised no lesse iustice on the other cities of Beniamin so much were they fleshed and transported with furie And for that Iabes a Citie of Galaad would not ioyne with them in battell against the Beniamites they sent twelue thousand chosen men out of their companies to destroy the same who slew all those that might beare armes with their wiues and children except foure hundreth virgins So much griefe and furie had they conceiued thorow the accident that chaunced to this woman and the despight they had conceiued against the Beniamites for prouoking them vnto armes which furie when it was somewhat appeased they repented themselues reputing themselues to be depriued of one
occasion offered for a man to speake ill Touching the rest said he the matter standeth thus Thou hast a kinsman said he that is more neere thee in bloud then I am thou must enquire of him if it be his pleasure to take thee to his wife if he saith that he liketh thee thou then must necessarily submit vnto him but if he refuse thee I will take thee for my wife according as the lawe intendeth Now when she had reported these newes vnto her mother in lawe she gathered courage and conceiued hope that Boos would take care of her Thereupon Boos came into the Citie about noone-daies and called a councell of the Elders and sent for Ruth and his kinsman to whom in person he spake thus Doest thou possesse the heritage of Abimelech and his successors Who when he had publikely declared that he was seased thereof in right of proximitie according to the ordinance of the lawe Boos replyed Thou must not saith he onely obserue the lawes in part but thou must precisely execute them according as they are For behold here a yoong woman whom it behooueth thee to marrie according to the law if thou wilt be inheritor of his possessions But he surrendred vnto Boos not onely the possessions but also the woman by reason that Boos was allied also to those that were dead and especially for that the said kinsman had already both wife and children Boos therefore hauing first of all taken witnesse of all the councell called for the woman and willed her to draw neere vnto her kinsman and to vnloose his shoe and strike him on the face according as the law had ordained which done Boos espoused Ruth by whom about a yeare after he had a sonne which Naomi brought vp and by the aduice of the women she called his name Obed because she had nourished him in her age for Obed in the Hebrew tongue signifieth a slaue Obed begat Iesse and Iesse Dauid who was king and who left the Realme vnto his successours for one and twentie generations of men I haue beene enforced to declare these things as touching Ruth because I haue an intent to declare the power of God to whom it is possible to raise men from obscuritie to the highest tip and tittle of dignitie as he hath chosen Dauid who descended from these of whom I haue spoken The affaires of the Hebrewes were at this time in verie poore estate and they armed themselues anew against the Philistines vpon this occasion The high Priest Eli had two sonnes Ophni and Phinees They against all right and law offering outrages to men and vrging impieties against God suffered no sinne to ouerslip them which they committed not for they tooke presents partly in way of honour partly rauished by force and rapine And as touching those women that came vnto the Tabernacle in way of deuotion they abused them and rauishing some against their wils and corrupting some other by presents they so lewdly liued that their life seemed to be a true and licentious tyrannie for this cause their father was sore displeased with them but the people were so much the more ouerburdened with griefe because as yet they perceiued not that Gods punishmēt should so sodainly fal vpon them But incontinently after that God had declared to Eli and the Prophet Samuel who about that time was verie young what mishappe should fall vpon Elies children he mourned ouer them as if they had beene alreadie dead But I will first of all declare somwhat vnto you as concerning the Prophet Samuel and afterwards wil I speak of the children of Eli what inconueniēt fell vpon all the Hebrew nation Elcana was a Leuite of base condition liuing in Ramatha a part of Ephraim he had maried two wiues the one called Anna the other Phenanna by Phenanna he had children yet notwithstanding loued he Anna verie intirely although she were barren Now as Elcana with his wiues repaired to Silo where the Tabernacle of God was resident as we haue before declared to the intent to offer sacrifice in that place whilest I say during the festiuall he distributed the portion of his meat to his wiues and children Anna beholding the children of his other wife sitting round about their mother began to weepe and lament with her selfe because she was without issue and alone And after that by her grief she had ouercome all that consolation which her husband could giue her she went vnto the Tabernacle to beseech God that it might please him to giue her a sonne and make her a mother promising that her first begotten sonne should be dedicated vnto the seruice of God and should lead a particular life farre differing from that of other liuing men And for that she employed long time in making her praiers the hie Priest Eli who sate before the Tabernacle commaunded hir to depart from thence supposing that she had tasted too much wine but after that she had told him that she drunke nothing but water and that being oppressed with griefe she was come into the Tabernacle to beseech God that it might please him to grant her children he exhorted her to be of good courage promising her that God had heard her praiers whereupon she returned to her husband replenished with good hope and tooke her repast with ioy and gladnes When as then they returned to their owne house she began to waxe big with child and at last she bare a little young sonne whom she called Samuel that is to say Requested at Gods hands Afterwards they returned to offer sacrifice and giue thanks vnto God for the birth of the child which God had giuen them and to bring their tenths whereupon the woman remembring her of the vow she had made in his behalfe deliuered him into the hands of Eli and consecrated him vnto God to be his Prophet For which cause they suffered his haire to grow and he dranke nothing but water and Samuel was nourished and brought vp in the Temple Elcana had by Anna other sonnes and three daughters But as touching Samuel incontinently after he attained to the age of twelue yeares he prophecied On a certaine night therefore whilest he slept God called him by his name and he supposing that the high Priest had wakened him came vnto him but he told him that he had not called him This notwithstanding God continued to call him three times whereat Eli being fore amased he said vnto him Samuel I neither now at this present nor before this time haue spoken vnto thee but it is God that calleth thee answere him therefore and say here I am Now it chanced that he heard the voice of God once more and he required him that it might please him to speake and he would answere not failing any waies to doe him seruice in that wherein he should command him Whereunto God answered saying since saith he thou art here know that so great a calamitie shall
they might be sent vnto Dauid to informe him how matters went They therefore sent a trustie seruant vnto these who brought them newes of Absalons deliberations with expresse commaundement to enforme the King thereof with all speede who presently vpon this intelligence like good and faithfull ministers posted with all speede to report their fathers newes vnto the king But scarsely had they trauelled two furlongs when certaine horsemen discouered them and brought newes thereof vnto Absalon who presently sent out scoutes to apprehend them which when the children of the hie priest perceiued they forsooke the hie way and incontinently retired themselues into a certaine village neere vnto Ierusalem which is called Bocchura where they besought a certaine woman to hide them and shut them in some place of securitie who let them downe into a pit and couered the mouth thereof with bundles of wool She being demaunded by those that pursued them whether she saw them denied the same saying that as soone as she had giuen them drinke they departed from her presently assuring them that if they presently and speedily pursued them they might easily apprehend them but after they had long time followed and could not find them they returned from whence they came The woman perceiuing that they were departed and that there was no cause of feare least the yoong men should be surprised she drew them out of the pit and set them onward of their way who with as great speede as was possible resorted vnto Dauid and declared vnto him exactly what Absalons deliberation was Hereupon Dauid passed the floud Iordan presently with all his men and although it were night could not be withdrawen by reason of the darknesse But Achitophel seeing that his opinion had been reproued tooke his horse and sodainly repaired vnto his countrey of Gelmone there calling togither his houshold seruants before him he discouered vnto them what aduise he had giuen Absalon which since he had not accepted he tolde them that shortly they should see him dead alleadging that Dauid would haue the vpper hand in the warre and should returne into his kingdome It is better therefore said he for me with a great minde and as it becommeth a valiant man to depart out of this life then to submit my selfe to Dauids punishment for partaking with Absalon and giuing him counsell This said he retired himselfe into the most secret part of his house and hung himselfe being both his own iudge and executioner after which his kinsmen cut him down and buried him But Dauid as we said hauing past Iordan came and incamped in a strong Citie the most defenced in that countrey there was he entertained with great beneuolence by all the noble men of that countrey partly moued thereunto by the mans present necessitie partly thorow the reuerence of his former felicitie These were Berzillai the Galaadite Siphar the gouernour of the prouince of the Ammonites and Machir the chiefe of the countrey of Galaad who gaue Dauid and his whatsoeuer they wanted in abundance so that they lacked neither beds nor bread nor flesh but were plentifully stored with all things They that were sicke and wearied also wanted nothing that either might serue for repose or refection In this estate remained he But Absalon assembled a great multitude of people to make warre vpon his father and after he had passed Iordan he pitched his tents neere vnto his fathers within the countrey of Galaad and made Amasa generall of his army opposing him against Ioab his chosen For Amasas father was Iethar and his sister was Abigail sister to Saruia mother to Ioab When Dauid had mustered and numbred his forces and found that he had fortie thousand fighting men it was thought fit presently to hazard battel and not to expect till Absalon should charge vpon them He therefore ordained Coronels ouer thousands of his men and deuided them into three squadrons the one of which he gaue in charge to Ioab the second to Abisai his brother and the third to Ethaeus his familiar friend who was of the Citie of Geth In this battel his friends would not admit his presence and that vpon good and deepe consideration for they said that if they should be defeated in his company they should vtterly lose all good hope but if one squadron should be ouercome the rest might haue their recourie vnto him who might assemble vnto them and strengthen them with greater force the rather for that the enemies would alwaies thinke it likely that he had some other army with him This counsell of theirs seemed pleasing vnto him for which cause he remained within the Citie But at such time as he sent out his friends vnto the battell he besought them that in remembrance of all the benefits and fauours he had bestowed on them they would both shew themselues couragious and faithful men in the fight and that hauing obtained the victory they would spare his sonne for feare least his death should increase and redouble his discontents Thus praying God to giue them victorie he dismissed them to enter battell But when as Ioab had planted his army right ouer against the enemy and had extended them on the plaine hauing a wood vpon their backes Absalon also drewe out his army against him so that encountring and valiantly fighting the one against the other they performed many notable exploits on both parts the one hazarding themselues in all dangers and employing all their affections to the intent that Dauid might recouer his kingdome the others neither refusing to doe or endure any thing so that Absalon might not be depriued or exposed to his fathers punishment and displeasure for his insolent attempt Besides that they held it an indignitie for them that being so great in number as they were they should be surmounted by such a handfull of people as followed Ioab deeming it to be an vtter disgrace vnto them that being so many thousands of them in armes they should be discomfited by Dauids foullowers But Ioab and his men being more skilful and trained in feates of armes then the rest discomfited and brake Absalons army so that they fled thorow woods and steepie places Dauids soldiers pursuing after them tooke some and slew other some so that both in flight and fight a great number of them were put to the sword For there fell that day about twenty thousand men But all Dauids troupes freshly set vpon Absalon who was easily knowne by reason of his absolute beautie and high stature he fearing to be surprised by his enemies mounted vpon the royall mule and fled in great haste And for that by swift motion of his body his lockes were scattered abroad his bush of haire was entangled in a thicke and branchie tree where he hung after a strange manner and his mule ranne onward with great swiftnesse as if she had as yet borne her master on her backe but he hanging by the haire amidst the branches
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
thorow the waightinesse of the charge Consequently hee declared vnto him the death of him that had fortolde these signes that were to come and how he had been slaine by a Lyon For which cause he perswaded him to thinke that he in no sort was a Prophet neither any waies partaking with the truth of prophecie By such like allegations he made the King beleeue that which he said and hauing wholy distracted his thoughts from God and good workes and obseruation of Gods lawes hee drew him to all wickednesse and impietie by which act of his he outraged God and offended his lawes and sought daily after no other thing then to inuent some new and cursed wickednesse that was farre more hainous then all that which before time he had attempted This is all that at this time we haue to write as concerning Ieroboam As touching Roboam Salomons sonne who was King of the two Tribes as we haue before this declared he builded these great and strong Cities Bethleem Itama Thecos Bethsur Socoth Odolam Epan Maresa Zipha Adoraim Lachis Zicha Saraim Elon and Hebron which being within the confines of Iuda he builded first He builded also other great Cities in the countrey of the Beniamites which he walled and placed garrisons and gouernours in euery one of them and great store of corne wine and oyle and generally in euery Citie hee made a great storehouse with all sorts of prouision and victuals with an infinit number of targets and launces To him the Priests and Leuites annexed themselues who were dispersed thorow Israel who came and dwelt in Ierusalem For they tooke no pleasure to adore by compulsion those calues that Ieroboam had erected and during the terme of three yeeres they increased the kingdome of Roboam who being married to one of his owne line had three children and was afterwards married also with Maacha the daughter of Thamar daughter to Absalon who was of his parentage likewise of whom he begat his sonne called Abiah He had also diuers other children by other women but aboue all the rest he loued Maacha most intirely He had eighteene legitimate wiues married vnto him according to the law and thirtie concubines he had eight and twenty sons and threescore daughters and declared for his successor in the kingdome Abiah 〈◊〉 son of Maacha and committed all his treasures and strong sorts vnto his hands But mortall men most vsually are corrupted by the vntoward flatteries of wauering fortune as appeareth by this King For Roboam seeing his kingdome thus increased he bent himselfe to all vniust and impious actions and contemned the seruice of God the people also conformed themselues to his impieties For the life of the subiect is oftentimes peruerted by reason of the corrupt and dissolute life of their princes and those that are inferiours beholding the ryot of their superiours will easily be withdrawne from all modestie and follow those vices they professe as if they had beene their professed vertues for should they doe the contrarie they should seeme to disanull and mislike the actions of their Princes As it hapned vnder the gouernment of Roboam wherein the subiects addicted themselues to impietie and all errors for they would not make profession of honestie for feare least they should seeme to study the meanes to be offensiue vnto the king CHAP. IIII. Susac king of Aegypt after the spoile of Ierusalem transporteth the riches of that Citie into Aegypt BVt God sent Susac king of Aegypt to take vengeance for that excesse which was committed against his maiestie by Roboam whose actions Herodotus wrongfully ascribeth to Sesostris For this Susac in the fifth yeere of Roboams raigne assembled a huge army of diuers thousands of men and brought them out against Roboam wherein it is reported that hee had twelue hundreth chariots threescore thousand horsemen foure hundreth thousand footmen The greater part of these were Libyans and Aethiopians breaking in therefore into the Hebrewes countrey with this power without stroke-striking he seazed the strongest places of the kingdome of Roboam and fortified them and at last came and incamped before Ierusalem But Roboam and his associates seeing themselues begirt with a strong siege on euerie side by Susacs army at last had his recourse vnto praiers yet could he not moue God to incline and fauour him with the victorie For the prophet Samaeas threatned and told him that God would abandon both him and his in like sort as they had forsaken him and his seruice Which when they heard they sodainly lost their hearts and seeing no meanes to escape they all of them began to confesse that God had iustly forsaken them because they had shewed their impietie against him and had peruerted all his lawes But God seeing them thus disposed and making confession of their sinnes said vnto the prophet that he would not vtterly destroy them yet notwithstanding that he would deliuer them into the hands of the Aegyptians to the end that they might learne whether it were more difficult to serue God or men When as therefore king Susac had without bloudshed or resist taken and surprised the Citie and was receiued into the same by discomforted Roboam hee kept not those conuentions that were made betwixt them but spoiled the temple and tooke away with him those treasures that were dedicated vnto God and the seruice of the King rauishing from thence innumerable thousands of golde and of siluer not leauing any thing behind him He carried away also those targets and bucklers of gold which were made by King Salomon neither left he behind him the quiuer of gold which was offered by Dauid and receiued by him of the king of Sophena Which done he retired back againe into his own countrey Of this expedition Herodotus of Halicarnassus maketh mention who differeth only in the name of the King and saith that he assailed diuers nations and subdued Palestina and Syria and tooke many men prisoners without any resist wherby it is manifest that he meaneth no lesse then that our nation hath beene ouercome by the Aegyptian For he saith that in their gates who yeelded themselues vp vnto him without inforcement he erected pillars which were figured with the secret parts of a woman But our king Roboam yeelded vp the Citie into his hands without contradiction It is said that the Aethiopians haue learnt of the Aegyptians the vse of circumscissiō of the prepuce For the Phenicians and Syrians that are in Palestine confesse that they haue learnt it of the Aegyptians But it is a matter verie manifest that no other are circumcised in Palestine of Syria but our selues But let each one speake of these things according as him list After the retreat of Sisac king Roboam made shieldes and bucklers of brasse in steed of those of gold and gaue the like number vnto his guard and in steed of liuing in a braue army in a royall and princely estate he raigned after
telling her that he had neither graunge nor presse whereby he might any waies supply her necessitie The woman answered him that she had no need thereof and that she was not troubled for want of food but onely desired that hee would determine a debate betwixt her and an other woman Whereupon he commanded her to expresse and declare what she required Hereupon she said that she had made an accord with an other woman her neighbour and friend that since the famine and scarcitie was such as they could find no redresse for the same that they should kill their children for each of them had one and in this sort should nourish one another euery day As for my selfe said she I haue first of all strangled mine and we haue both of vs yesterday eaten thereof but now she will not doe the like but breaketh the accord betwixt vs and concealeth her childe Ioram was grieuously tormented to heare these words and rent his garments and cried out with a loud voice and afterwards wholy enraged against the Prophet he deuised in his heart to put him to death because he praied not vnto God to grant him meanes to escape those euils that inuironed them round about so that he sent a man presently to cut off his head who prepared himselfe with all expedition to the slaughter But Elizeus was not ignorant of this resolution of the kings for sitting at home with his disciples in his house he told them that Ioram the murtherers sonne sent a man to take away his head but said he when as he that hath the matter in charge shall come hither suffer him not to enter but make him attend and stay at the gate for the king will follow him and will resort vnto me in his owne person hauing altered his resolution and they according as they were commanded shut him out of the doores whom the king had sent Ioram repenting himselfe of that displeasure which he had conceiued against the Prophet and fearing least he that had the commission to murther him should speedily execute the same hasted himselfe all that he might to hinder the slaughter and saue Elizeus When as therfore he came into his presence he accused him for that he had not besought God to deliuer them from those many euils which they suffered considering that he himselfe was an eie-witnesse they were miserably consumed by them Elizeus promised him the next day about the same houre that the king came vnto him that he should haue so great aboundance of victuals that two measures of barley should be sold in the market for a sicle and a measure of flower for a sicle By these wordes of his the king with all his attendants were wonderfully comforted and made no difficultie to beleeue the Prophet because that before time they had beene ascertained by their experience of the truth of his prophecies and the expectation of this day was the cause that the necessitie and miserie of the present was more patiently endured But a certaine friend of the kings and the gouernour of the third part of his army on whose shoulder the king at that time hapned familiarly to leane spake vnto him after this manner Prophet thou tellest vs incredible matters for as it is impossible that God should raine downe heapes of barley and flower from heauen so cannot that which thou speakest come to passe To whom the Prophet replied Thou thy selfe said he shalt see the issue hereof but shalt partake no part thereof Which prediction of his had a most certaine effect according as hereafter it appeareth It was a custome in Samaria that they that were defiled with a leprosie should liue without the Citie walles for feare least their conuersation might infect others And at that time also there were some who for this cause had their dwelling without the gate These for that by reason of the extreme famine that raigned within the Citie they receiued no reliefe or sustenance out of the same and whether they had licence to returne into the Citie or whether they contained themselues in their houses they knew that they should assuredly perish by famine decreed amongst themselues to submit themselues to the enemies mercie to the end that if they spared them they might liue and if it hapned otherwaies that they might die with lesse torture Now hauing resolued vpon this deliberation amongst themselues they repaired by night vnto the enemies campe At that time God began to terrifie and trouble the Syrians and to fill their eares with a noise of chariots and armes as if an army had violently charged them Wherupon they grew suspitious and were so moued that they forsooke their tents and ranne vnto Adad and told him that Ioram King of the Israelites had entertained the king of Aegypt and the king of the Isles for his confederates whom he led out against them and how already they had heard the noise of them that approched to bid them the battell Adad whose eares wâ—… filled with no lesse rumour then those of the people was amated and amazed at their sayings so that all of them abandoned their campe their horses beasts of cariage and riches and betooke them to flight with disorder and confusion Those leapeâ—…s that were retired from Samaria into the enemies campe and of whom we haue hertofore made some mention being neere vnto the camp perceiued that there was great silence in the same and no lesse aboundance of all things for which cause approching the same and entring into a tent they found no body therein for which cause they fell to eating and drinking and that done to beare away a quantity of rayment and gold which they hid without the campe Afterward resorting to an other tent they bare away likewise that which was therin and did the like by foure others without any encountrie or contradiction of any man and coniecturing therby that the enemies were retired they began to accuse themselues because they had not giuen notice thereof to Ioram and the inhabitants of Samaria For which cause drawing neere vnto the walles of the Citie they cried out vnto the watch giuing them to vnderstand in what state they had found the enemies campe who signified no lesse to Iorams guard so that at last it came vnto his eares Whereupon he presently sent for his friends and captaines and told them that the departure of the Syrians made him suspect some stratageme or ambush for they said he hauing lost their hope to surprise vs by famine are retired vnder an intent that when we shall issue and fall a spoiling of their campe they may come vpon vs and kill vs and afterwards take our Citie without any stroke strooken For which cause said he I aduise you to keepe good guard within the Citie and let this retreat of our enemies make vs the more considerate Some one of his counsaile praised this aduise of his and allowed his foresight aduising him to
send out two scouts vpon horsebacke to search euerie quarter betwixt that and Iordan to the end that if they should be taken and slaine by the enemies ambushment their fall might be a president to the whole army to stand vpon their guard for feare least they should be surprised in like manner vrging this for a conclusion that the losse of two horsemen should not be very great since perhaps they might otherwaies haue been cut off by famine This aduise of his was allowed by the king and ratified by his assistance so that presently there were two spies sent out who rode along without encountring any enemy but they met with great quantitie of victuals and armes cast away and abandoned by the Syrians to the intent they might flie away the more lightly Which when the king vnderstood he suffered the people to issue out and spoile the campe who recouered things of no small valew therein but much gold and siluer and troupes of all sorts of cattell and besides that they found so great a quantitie of wheate and barley that had they dreamed thereof they could not hope or imagine the like Thus were they deliuered from all their precedent afflictions for there was so great quantitie of corne that two measures of barley were sold but for one sicle and a measure of wheate flower for a sicle according as Elizeus had prophecied Now the measure which we call Sat containeth an Italian bushell and the halfe But the captaine of the third part of the army was he only that enioyed no part of this benefit for being appointed by the king to haue the keeping of the gate and to restrain the multitude from headlong pressing out for feare least thrusting one an other some of them should be troden vnder foot and slaine he himselfe was trode vpon and slaine according as the Prophet had foretold for that he only amongst the rest would not giue credit to that which he had said as touching the great aboundance of victuals that should happen When Adad king of the Syrians was safely returned to Damasco and knew that God had suffered such a confusion and feare to fall both on him and his army and that it had not hapned by reason that the enemy sallied out vpon him he was sore discouraged to see that God was so displeased with him and through anguish and agonie of minde fell sicke And for that at that verie time Elizeus was come into Damasco Adad vnderstanding thereof sent Azael who was one of his most trustie seruants vnto him to present him and to consult with him vpon his sicknes whether he should recouer or no. Hereupon Azael loaded fortie camels with the most fairest and most honourablest presents that either Damasco or the princes royall court affoorded and repairing to Elizeus saluted him verie courteously telling him that he was â—…nt vnto him by king Adad first of all to present him and afterwards to aske counsaile of him 〈◊〉 touching his malady whether he might easily be healed The Prophet commanding the messenger to carrie no euill tydings vnto the king did notwithstanding tell him that he should die Aâ—…ael hearing thereof was sore grieued and Elizeus himselfe began to weepe so that the teares fell from his eies aboundantly in that he foresaw how many euils the people should suffer after the decease of Adad And when as Azael demanded him the cause wherefore he was so discomforted I weepe said he for the compassion that I haue of the people of Israel by reason of those calamities which they shall endure by thy meanes For thoushalt kill the better sort of them and shalt burne their strongest Cities thou shalt murther their infants and dash them against the stones and shalt open the womens wombes that are with child Azael answered what force is there in me to execute these things Elizeus said vnto him that God had certified him that he should be king of Syria When Azael was returned backe vnto Adad he signified nothing vnto him but glad tidings as touching his sicknes but the next day he cast a wet net vpon him strangled him and seazed the kingdome into his owne hands This Prince was a man of execution and well beloued amongst the Syrians and common people of Damasco who euen vntill this day honour Adad and Azael his successour as gods by reason of their benefits and those temples which were builded by them which adorne the Citie of Damasco For euery day do they celebrate feasts in memorie of these kings and honour them by reason of their antiquitie not knowing that they were moderne and such as raigned not past eleuen hundreth yeers since But Ioram king of Israel hearing of the death of Adad began to giue ouer his feare and cast off that suspition which he had conceiued of him reioycing that yet at last he might haue libertie to liue in peace The other Ioram king of Ierusalem for he likewise was so called as we haue heretofore declared by murthering of his brethren and his fathers friends who were gouernours obtained the kingdome and became so wicked and impious as he differed in nothing from the kings of Israel who transgressed the first lawes and ordinances of the Hebrewes and peruerted the seruice of God For Athalia Achabs daughter his wife taught him to execute diuers mischiefes and amongst the rest to adore strange gods This notwithstanding God would not altogither abolish his race by reason of his promise made vnto Dauid yet intermitted he not daily to introduce new impieties and soile the ancient lawes of his forefathers with new corruptions Meane while it came to passe that the Idumaeans reuolted and slue their king who had beene before time subiect vnto Iosaphat Iorams father and in his place established an other to their owne liking For which cause Ioram inuaded Idumaea by night with his horses and chariots and spoyled the countrey round about his kingdome without passing any farther yet profited he nothing in so doing for all of them reuolted from him and amongst the rest the inhabitants of the countrey of Labina But so great was the fury of this man that he constrained the people to ascend the high mountaines and adore straunge gods Yet whilest he behaued himselfe in this manner and vtterly rooted out of his thought the lawes of his forefathers there was a letter brought vnto him from the Prophet Elias which â—…ertified him that God would doe great iustice vpon him because hee had forsaken the waies of his forefathers and followed the impieties of the kings of Israel constraining the Tribe of Iuda and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to forsake the pure seruice of their God to serue Idols 〈◊〉 Achab had constrained the Israelites to doe Furthermore because hee had murthered his brethren and slaine vpright and vertuous men The Prophet likewise certified him by letters what punishment he should endure namely the ruine
sacrificed vpon the altar of thy God and to make whatsoeuer vessels of gold or siluer which either thou or thy brethren shall thinke meete Those sacred vessels also which are giuen thee thou shalt dedicate vnto thy God and if there be ought els requisite in this behalfe that according to thy wisedome shalt thou prouide and the charges shalt thou receiue out of my treasurie I haue also commended thee to the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia and haue written to them that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of God shall require they shall presently deliuer it him And to the end that God may be fauourable to me and my children my will is that a hundreth measures of wheat be giuen vnto God according to the law I commaund you also that are magistrates that you exact nothing neither impose any taxations on the Priests Leuites sacred singing men porters or holy officers But thou Esdras according to the wisedome giuen thee from aboue shalt appoint Iudges who shall in Syria and Phoenicia execute iustice vnto the people according to the science of the law Teach thou likewise freely all such as are ignorant so that whosoeuer violateth either Gods or the kings law he may be fined or els condemned to death as not sinning thorow ignorance but of contumacie Farewell When Esdras had receiued this letter he was wonderfully contented and began to adore God confessing openly that it was he who was the author of that fauour he had receiued at the kings hands for which cause he said that the onely thankesgiuing appertained to him And after he had read this letter vnto the Iewes that were at that time residentin Babylon he kept the originall but sent the copy to all those of his nation being in the countrey of the Medes who vnderstanding of the kings affection towards God and his fauour towards Esdras were very ioyful and diuers amongst them tooke their goods and came vnto Babylon desiring to returne to Ierusalem but all the rest of the Israelites would not abandon or leaue their quiet dwelling there For which cause it came to passe that two tribes were vnder the obedience of the Romans in Asia and Europe but the ten tribes were on the other side of Euphrates euen vntill this day being many infinites of thousands whose number may not be comprehended With Esdras there departed a great number of Priests Leuites porters singing men and seruants of the temple Now after that he had assembled those of the captiuitie that inhabited on this side Euphrates and soiourned there three daies he commanded them to solemnize a fast and to pray vnto God for his preseruation and that no euill might happen vnto him and that neither their enemies nor any other might doe them any violence For Esdras had foretold the king that God would be their protector and that therefore he required no conuoy of horsemen at his hand for his securitie After that they had recommended themselues vnto God they set forward on their way the twelfth day of the first moneth of the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Zerxes and arriued in Ierusalem in the fift moneth of the same yeere Whereupon he incontinently presented vnto the treasurers who were of the race of the Priests the siluer that was consecrated namely six hundreth and fiftie talents and siluer vessell a hundreth talents of vessell of golde twenty talents of brasen vessell more precious then gold waying twelue talents These were the presents of the king and his friends and of the Israelites that dwelt in Babylon When Esdras had deliuered these abouenamed presents vnto the hands of the priests he offered burnt offrings vnto God according to the law namely twelue bulles for the publike conseruation of the people 72. rammes and lambes twelue goates for the expiation of sinne And after them he deliuered the kings letters to his princes and gouernors in Coelosyria and Phoenicia who being constrained to execute that which was enioyned them by the king honoured the nation of the Iewes and supplied them euerie waies in their necessities This counsaile had Esdras himselfe giuen of their departure But in my opinion God hauing regard of his wisedome and integritie did happely aduance his deliberation Not long after this there came certaine men vnto him complaining that some of the people Priests and Leuites had transgressed against the pollicie and broken the lawes of the countrey for that they had espoused certaine strange women and confounded the race of the Priests requiring him that he would haue an inward regard to Gods ordinances for feare least he conceiuing a generall hatred against them all should send them anew some grieuous calamities For which cause Esdras deuoured with sorrowe incontinently rent his clothes and tore his haire and pulled his beard and cast himselfe vpon the ground because the principals amongst the people had part in that offence And for that he feared least if he should commaund them to forsake their wiues and those children they had begotten by them he should not be obeyed he persisted in griefe and lay continually couched vpon the ground Whereupon all those resorted vnto him who were not guiltie and wept and lamented with him for that which had hapned Whereupon Esdras raising himselfe from the earth and lifting vp his hands to heauen said that he was ashamed to looke thereupon because the offences of the people were so hainous who had forgotten the inconuenients that had befallen their forefathers for their impieties beseeching God that he would reserue some remainder and seede of the aduersitie and captiuitie which at that time hapned vnto thē that he would once more establish thē again in Ierusalem their natiue countrey that he would take compassion of them and grant them pardon for those sins which at that present were cōmitted by them for which though they deserued death yet hoped they in the mercies of God for their deliuerance Whilest thus both he and those that came vnto him lamented round about him with their wiues and children a certaine man called Achonius one of the principall men of Ierusalem repaired vnto him and said that they had sinned because they had espoused straunge women and perswaded Esdras to adiure them all to banish both them and the children begotten by them wishing that they who obeied not the law might be punished Esdras perswaded by these words made all the Princes of the Priests Leuites and tribes of Israel sweare that they would dismisse their wiues and children according to the counsaile of Achonius And as soone as he had receiued their othes he departed from the temple vnto Iohns house the sonne of Eliasib and there spent he all the day without tasting any meat by reason of the griefe which so inwardly he had conceiued Whenas therefore it was published by edict that all they that were returned from the captiuitie should repaire within two or three daies to Ierusalem vnder the penalty
he commaunded him to honour Nehemias and to furnish him with all things necessarie for that building which he intended As soone as he came to Babylon he tooke diuers of his countrimen with him who willingly followed him went with him vnto Ierusalem in the fiue and twentith yeare of the raigne of Xerxes and after he had presented his letters before God he deliuered them to Sadeas and the other gouernours Afterwards assembling the people in Ierusalem he stood vp in the midst of them and spake vnto the whole congregation to this effect You men of Iury there is none of you but knoweth that God hath our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob in perpetuall memorie and that in regard of their iustice he hath neuer failed to haue care of vs by his mercy likewise I haue receiued the fauour from the king to repaire your wals and finish the rest of the temple I therefore pray you who are assuredly perswaded of the enuie and hatred the neighbouring nations beare vnto you who hearing that we are intent and busie in our building will ouerpresse vs and labour by all meanes possible to hinder vs first to assure your selues in Gods prouidence who will oppose himselfe against the hatred which they beare vs and afterwards to intermit neither day nor night in prosecution of the building but with all care continue the worke in that the oportunitie of the time doth challeng our diligence therein After he had spoken to this effect he gaue order that the gouernours should take the measure of the wall and distribute the taske amongst the people according to the burroughs and townes and according to euerie mans abilitie and after he had promised to imploy both himselfe and all his family therein he dismissed the assembly Hereupon the Iewes incited by his authoritie addressed themselues to the worke which name of Iewes was first imposed both on them and their religion by reason of the tribe of Iuda who first of all came into these places The Ammonites Moabites Samaritanes and all the inhabitants of Coelesyria vnderstanding the walles were raised with such haste and diligence were sore agrieued and resolued with themselues to lie in ambush and to hinder them in their deliberations so that they slew diuers Iewes and sought the meanes likewise to murther Nehemias himselfe and hauing hired certaine strangers with money to commit the fact they layd in waite for him They bred also a feare and trouble amongst them by spreading certaine rumors that diuers nations intended to make war against them by which reports being too much distracted they desisted somewhat in the prosecution of their building Yet none of these things could weaken Nehemias diligence or resolution but that keeping a court of guard round about him he instantly prosecuted his purpose setting light by all occurrents so great was his affection to accomplish his intent And for that cause did he carefully and intentiuely stand vpon his guard not for that he feared death but for that he beleeued that after his departure the Iewes would not finish the building of the walles He commanded afterwards that the workemen in their trauell should haue their furnitures fast by them so that both Masons and labourers carried their swords Moreouer he gaue order that they should haue their targets by them and he placed certaine trumpeters some fiue hundreth foote distant the one from the other charging them that as soone as they discouered the enemy from any part they should incontinently sound the allarum and giue notice vnto the people to arme themselues and prepare for the fight for feare they should be surprised and found naked He himselfe also walked the round about the citie by night time with an indefatigable courage and without either eating or sleeping at his pleasure but onely for necessitie sake and this labour endured he for the space of two yeeres and three moneths For the wall of Ierusalem was builded againe in that time in the eight and twentith yeere of the raigne of Xerxes and in the ninth moneth After the Citie was fortified Nehemias and the people offered sacrifices vnto God and spent eight daies in feasting When the rumor was spred abroad that this building was finished the inhabitants of Syria were sore displeased But Nehemjas perceiuing that the Citie was weakely manned besought the Priests and Leuites to forsake their dwellings without the Citie and to come and dwell within and to that intent he builded them houses vpon his owne charge He ordained likewise that they that intended their husbandry should bring the tenths of their fruits vnto Ierusalem to the intent that the Priests and Leuits by enioying their continnall maintenance might intermit no time in the seruice of God wherein he was willingly obeied By this meanes the Citie of Ierusalem was very well peopled After that Nehemias had honourably executed diuers other worthy actions deseruing praise he died at such time as he was loaden with age He was a man of a good nature iust and highly affectionated towards his countrey he left the Citie of Ierusalem incompassed with a wall for a perpetuall memorie of his loue vnto his countrey All these things hapned during the raigne of Xerxes CHAP. VI. How during the raigne of Artaxerxes the whole nation of the Iewes were in danger to bee extinguished by Amans trecherie AFter the death of Xerxes the kingdome fell to Cyrus his sonne who by the Graecians was called Artaxerxes Vnder his gouernment all the race of the Iewes both men women and children were in danger to be vtterly exterminated the cause whereof I will hereafter declare But first of all it behooueth me to speake somewhat of the king and to declare how it came to passe that he married an Hebrew woman of the bloud royall by whose meanes as it is said our nation was preserued After that Artaxerxes had taken the kingdome vpon him and established gouernours ouer one hundreth and seuen and twentie prouinces from India as farre as Aethiopia in the third yeere of his raigne he entertained and feasted all his friends with great magnificence the nations of Persia likewise with their gouernours according as it became a king so opulent who was prepared for one hundreth and eightie daies to make shew of his wealth and bounty He feasted after this for the space of 7. daies the Embassadors of all nations in his Citie of Susa and the setting foorth of the banquet was such as ensueth He sate in a tent whose pillers were of golde and siluer couered with linnen and scarlet vailes which were of that greatnes that diuers thousands of men might take their refection therin All the acates were serued in in vessels of gold inriched with precious stones very glorious to behold The king likewise commanded his seruants that attended the feast that they should enforce no man to drinke by filling continually according to the manner of the Persians but to permit
the sonne of Ananus was made high Priest A yeere after this this Eleazar also was deposed and the Priesthood was giuen to Simon the son of Camithus who continuing in this dignitie for a yeeres space no loÌ„ger Ioseph called Caiaphas succeeded after him After Gratus had behaued himself thus he returned to Rome after he had remained in Iudaea for the space of 11. yeers After him came PoÌ„tius Pilate and succeeded him in the gouernment But Herod the tetrarch being entertained into Tiberius friendship builded a citie in honour of his name and called it Tiberias He planted it in the fruitfullest part of Galilee hard by the lake of Genazereth and neere vnto the naturall bathes in the borough called Emmaus This citie was peopled by straungers who resorted thither from all parts and by diuers of the countries of Galilee some of which were constrained to inhabite the same Some of those likewise who were in authoritie repaired thither and from all countries there flocked many who were not assuredly held for men of free condition all which he infranchised and gaue them great gifts vnder that condition that they should not abandon the citie To some of them he gaue houses alreadie builded to other some lands verie apt to be tilled knowing that the habitation of such a place was contrarie to the lawes and customes of his countrey and the ordinances of the Iewes For that Tiberias was builded in a place full of sepulchers and our law saith he that conuerseth in those places is held vncleaue and defiled for the space of seuen daies At that verie time died Phraates king of Parthia being traiterously slaine by his sonne Phraataces for this cause After that Phraates had gotten many lawfull children he tooke vnto him an Italian woman to his concubine called Thermusa whom with other presents Iulius Caesar had sent vnto him After he had begotten on her his sonne Phraataces he was so much besotted with her beautie that he tooke her to his wife and held her in high estimation She that might perswade him vnto all that whatsoeuer she listed enforced hir selfe to the vttermost to make her sonne king of Parthia and seeing that she might not attaine thereunto except she had first found out the meanes to deliuer hir selfe of Phraates lawfull children she perswaded him to send them hostages to Rome In a word they were presently sent away because Phraates in no sort had the power to contradict Thermusas will and only Phraataces was brought vp in the affaires of estate who thinking the time too tedious and long if he should expect the kingdome whilest his father were dead conspired against him by the instigation and furtherance of his mother with whom as it is thought hee committed incest In effect being equally attainted of these two hainous crimes both for the murther of his father as his incest committed with his mother he was generally hated by his subiects who rebelled against him before such time as he was setled in his kingdom By this meanes was his fortune ouerthrowen and he died The noble men among the Parthians perceiuing that it was impossible for them to maintaine their pollicy without a king and that their king ought lineally to descend of the race of the Arsacians because by custom they might not choose any out of another stock and supposing that their ordinances had too much alreadie beene contradicted and that it would redound to their great dishonour if the kingdome should be continued in the hands of such a man who was descended from an Italian concubine they sent Embassadors to require Herode to come and be their king who otherwise was in hatred with all the people and accused of extreme crueltie In a word he was an vnsociable man and extremely cholericke notwithstanding he were of the bloud of the Arsacides they therefore flocked about him and killed him at a banquet made at a certaine sacrifice for the custome of the Parthians was that euery one bare his weapon or as the common report was that he was slaine at such time as he was a hunting For this cause they sent Embassadors to Rome requiring that one of those that were hostages there might be their king and one Vonones was sent vnto them who was preferred aboue all his brethren For he seemed to be capable of that high degree of honour as to commaund two of the greatest soueraignties that were vnder the sunne the one of his owne nation the other of a forraine dominion But the Barbarians who are by nature mutable and most impatient of indignitie shortly after repented themselues for they disdained to execute the commaund of a slaue for so called they a pledge saying that the Parthians had not a king giuen them by right of warre but that which was the most out rage that might be fall them by iniury offered them in time of peace For which cause they speedily sent for Artabanus king of Media who was of the race of the Arsacides To this request of theirs he willingly condescended and came vnto them with his army And Vonones marched forward to make head against him At the first encountry although the common sort amongst the Parthians fauoured Artabanus yet was he ouercome and fled to the mountaines of Media But not long after hauing assembled a greater army he once more set vpon Vonones and discomfited him at which time Vonones retired himselfe with some horsemen of his into Seleucia But Artabanus hauing made a great slaughter of those that fled and wholy abashed the minds of the Barbarians he retired himselfe to the citie of Ctesiphon with those people that accompanied him and was afterwards made king of Parthia Vonones arriued in Armenia and at the first sought to make himselfe king ouer that nation sending to this effect certaine Embassadours to Rome but Tiberius repulsed his suite in respect of his cowardice but the rather for that Artabanus by an expresse Embassage had threatned him with warre For they of greatest power among the Armenians who are those that dwell aâ—…out the â—…loud Niphates maintained Artabanus title and Vonones destitute of all hope to obtaine the kingdome yeelded himselfe to Syllanus who was Gouernor of Syria and in regard that he had bin brought vp at Rome he was kept in Syria and Artabanus gaue Armenia to Orodes one of his sons Antiochus king of the Coâ—…agenes died also at that time and there fell a debate betwixt the commons and the nobilitie so that both parties sent their Embassadours to Rome The nobles required that the forme of their gouernment might be changed into diuers 〈◊〉 and the people requested that they might be honoured by a king as they had been accustomed The Senate decreed that â—…icus should be sent to settle the affaires in the East fortune â—…by presenting him with the occasion of his ruine For at such time as he arriued in the East and orderly disposed all things he
report of his death came to the Germans who were of his guard being a company chosen out of that nation named the Celtique band for the preseruation of the Emperours person These men are verie prone vnto wrath and amongst all other Barbarians it is a rare thing in them to examine the causes of their execution otherwise they are men strong in body and who in the warres alwaies giue the first onset yeelding great aduantage to those on whose side they fight They hauing notice of Caius murther were vehemently aggrieued therat for that it is their manner to censure all things not according to right but as they are answerable to their owne profits Caius in especiall was deerely beloued by them in that he had obtained their fauour by bestowing much money vpon them Their captaine was one called Sabinus who was not aduanced to that estate either for his vertue or the nobilitie of his auncestors for he was but a fencer but for his mightie strength and huge body They therefore ran about with their naked swords searching for Caesars murtherers from house to house and meeting with Asprenas at first whose gowne as we haue said was bebloudied with the bloud of the slaughtered sacrifice which was a presage that aboaded him but little good fortune they hewed him in pieces The second was Norbanus who for his nobilitie and auncestors might deriue his titles from the noblest Citizens amongst whom were diuers generals of armies who seeing they made no reckoning of his dignitie and being of himselfe endowed with great force and strength he tooke a sword from one of them which first assailed him with whom he grapled and made them know that he intended that they should buy his bloud verie deerely and in deed so had he done but that being inuironed by diuers who assailed him at once he was beaten downe and slaughtered with many deadly wounds The third was Anteius one of the number of the Senators who with some others met not with these men by chance as the two other had done but to shew the hatred that hee bare vnto Caius and the pleasure that he tooke to see him lie dead was come out of his house being egged on with enuie to feede his eies with that spectacle For Caius had banished Anteius father whose name likewise was Anteius and not content therwith he had sent his soldiers to kill him He therefore with great pleasure beheld the slaughtered carkasse of this tyrant but hearing the vprore that was raised in euerie part of the house he thought good to hide himselfe yet might he not auoid the narrow search of the Germans who were so displeased that they slew all those whom they met with whether they were guiltie or guiltlesse of the fact Thus were these three made away But after the rumour of Caius death was heard in the Theater euerie one vvas amased and could scarcely beleeue it For although diuers of them vvere verie glad that he was taken out of the vvorld perswading themselues that it vvould highly profit them yet did their feare hinder their beliefe On the other side there vvere some who desiring not that any such mishap should befall Caesar and conceiuing in their thoughts that it was impossible to be done for that there vvas no man so hardie as to enterprise the same they supposed the report to be vtterly vntrue Of this minde vvere certaine vvomen and children slaues and souldiers These by reason they receiued wages at his hand and tyrannized vvith him being his ministers in all those outrages that he offered to many good Citizens in partaking the bootie and other aduantages that Caius drew vnto him As for the women and children they vvere of that opinion by reason that such kinde of people take delight in plaies iusts donations of flesh and other such pastimes vvhich Caius in word pretended to do to gratifie the common people but in effect it was to haue means to satisfie his rage and crueltie He was also gratious among the seruants slaues for that by him they had the libertie to accuse and contemne their Masters and vvere therein countenanced by Caius For vvhen they falsely accused their Masters they vvere easily beleeued and vvhen they discouered their Masters treasures in recompence of their discouerie they vvere not onely made free by him but also sent home with rich and ample rewards For the reward that vvas assigned them vvas the eight part of those goods that were confiscated As for certaine of the nobilitie although the matter seemed true to some of them for that before time they vvere priuie to that vvhich the rest intended and notwithstanding they desired that the enterprise should be effected yet kept they all things close and gaue no signe of ioy nor made any shew that they heard that which was reported For some of them feared least if they should be frustrated of their hope they should bring themselues in danger of punishment for that they had discouered their intent sooner then they should haue done They likewise vvho knew the enterprise and vvere confederates vvith the actors yet did they more closely conceale it the one from the other fearing least if they should discouer the matter to any one of those vvho drew any commoditie from Caius tyrannie they might bewray them vvhereby if Caius should be yet aliue they might incurre the danger of punishment For the voice was that he had been vvounded in certaine places yet that he vvas not slaine but as yet aliue and among his Physitians hands vvho dresied his vvounds No man therefore durst liberally discouer the secrets of his heart to his neighbour for they that spred those reports vvere either friends and for that cause vvere suspected as fauourers of his tyrannie or enemies and by that meanes in that they vvere but sinisterly affected towards Caius there vvas no certaintie to be gathered of that vvhich they said There arose also another report vvhich abashed and beat downe the hearts and hopes of the nobilitie namely that Caius setting light by the danger vvherein he was and as little also by the vvounds he had receiued was come into the market place all bloudy as he vvas and after that manner declaimed before the people See here how they that spred these rumours preferred their coniectures vvhich were voide of all reason vvhich distracted those vncertainly that heard the same according as they were affectioned This notwithstanding no man remooued from his place for feare least they should be sodainly accused knowing well that they should be censured not according to their thoughts and affections but according to the disposition of their iudges and accusers But after that the troupe of Germans had inuironed the Theater with their naked swords all the assistance expected nothing but death and as soone as any man entred they vvere seazed vvith such an amazement as if they had alreadie felt the strokes so that they knew not vvhat to
was to raigne so many yeares as there were eares of corne in number and then after he had abidden many mutations he should die Fiue dayes after this interpretation Archelaus was sent for to Rome to answer that before Augustus whereof he was accused I also thought it worth rehearsing to set downe the dreame of his wife Glaphyra daughter to Archelaus king of Cappadocia who was first married vnto Alexander brother vnto this man and sonne to king Herod by whom he was put to death as we haue said before after whose death shee was married to Iuba King of Lybia and he being dead she returned home to her father and liuing in her widowhood at home with her father Archelaus the Ethnarch beholding her was so inflamed with her loue that presently being diuorced from his wife Mariamme he married her Who shortly after she came into Iudaea dreamed that she saw Alexander her first husband standing before her and saying vnto her It had beene enough for thee to haue married the king of Lybia but thou not contented therewith comest againe to my house greedy of a third husband and which is worse of all now married to mine own brother I wil not conceale nor dissemble this iniurie which thou dostme but I will recouer you against your will And she scarcely liued two dayes after she had recounted this dreame CHAP. VII Of Simon the Galilean and the three sects amongst the Iewes AFter that Archelaus his dominions were made a prouince a certaine Roman knight called Coponiu's was made gouernour thereof receiuing authority from Caesar to punish and put to death In his time a Galilaean named Simon incited his countrimen to reuolt reprouing them for paying tribute to the Romans and for being subiect to anie mortall men but God This Simon was a Sophister hauing a sect of his own deuising nothing like other sects For there are three sects of Philosophers amongst the Iewes one is that which the Pharisies do follow another which the Sadduces do follow the third is that which the Esseans follow which is the most famous of the three The Esseans are Iewes borne but they are most friendly to one another who beside al other pleasures do eschew witchcraft neither do they suffer thēselues to be led with their owne affections but account it a great vertue to abstaine from all vices and to keep chastity For they refuse mariage account other mens children put to them to be taught whilest they be young as their kinsmen whom they do diligently instruct in their manners and opinion◅ not for that they condemne mariage and propagation of mankind but for that they thinke men should auoid womens intemperance for they think that none of them keepe themselues truly to one man Also they contemne riches and all things with them are common no man amongst them is richer then other And they haue a law amongst themselues that whosoeuer will followe their sect he must make his goods common to them all for so neither any amongst them shall seeme abiect for pouertie nor any great for riches sake but they haue as it were all equall patrimonies like brethren They account it a shame to vse oile and if anie man against his will bee annointed therewith they vse all diligence to wipe it away for they account homelines best and all their clothes are white They haue amongst them procurators to ouersee and vse all things for their common benefit and euerie one seeketh the good of all who are chosen from among them by a common consent They haue not one certaine citie but are in manie cities and if anie of their sect come vnto them from another place they giue him any thing they haue as if he himselfe were owner thereof And in briefe they goe boldly in to those whom they neuer in their liues did see before as though they were verie familiarly acquainted with them and therefore when they take a iourny they only arme themselues against theeues carie nothing with thē els In euerie citie there is one of them appointed whose office it is to haue a care of the guests see that they neither want cloathes nor any thing els necessarie for them All children vnder gouernment brought vp by them go apparelled alike they neuer change their apparel nor shooes except they haue cleane worne their first apparell or that by reason of long wearing they will do no more seruice They among themselues neither buy nor sell but euery man that hath any thing that another wanteth giueth him it and taketh that of him which himselfe needeth yet euerie one of them may take any thing he hath need of from whom he pleaseth without any change Aboue all towards God they are verie religious for before the sunne rise they haue no profane talke but they make certain vowes praiers after the custome of their countrie as it were praying that it may rise vpon them After this euerie one is dismissed to practise the art he knoweth and when euerie one hath diligently laboured till fiue of the clocke they all gather themselues together againe and being couered with linnen cloathes so they wash their bodies with cold water hauing thus purged themselues they haue a secret assembly vnto the which no man that is not of their sect is admitted and so they come into the refectorie as into a holy temple all sitting down with silence and the baker setteth euery man in order a loafe the cook euery man a messe of pottage of one sort Then before meate the Priest giueth thanks and no man may taste anie meat before they haue made their prayers to God Likewise when dinner is ended they pray againe for both before and after they giue thankes vnto God the giuer of all and then putting off that apparell as sacred they apply themselues vnto their worke till euening This done they doe as before causing their guests to suppe with them if by fortune any come Their house is neuer troubled with cries or tumults for euerie one is appointed to speake in his turne so that they who are without the house esteeme their silence as some sacred mysterie The cause hereof is their continuall sobrietie and that euerie one is limited howe much he should eate or drinke And although that in all other matters they are ruled by their gouernour yet in these two to wit compassionating and helping they may doe as they thinke good for euerie one may when hee pleaseth helpe those whom he thinketh deserue helpe and when they please giue meat to them that are in need Yet may not they giue any thing to their kinred without the leaue of their Gouernour These men giue not place to anger but refraine from wrath keepe their promise and maintaine peace and account euery word they speake of more force then if they had bound it with an oath and they shun oathes worse then
Eleazars companions rose vp communed together that it did not become them that rebelled against the Romans onely to recouer their lâ—…bertie that they should bee traytors thereof to their owne companions who were of the same condition and that they should indure a King or Lord ouer them who although he be no seuere man yet hee was of more abiect and base condition then they If it were so that it were expedient to haue one ruler ouer all the rest they had rather haue any one then Manahemus and being thus agreed they set vpon him in the Temple where he was praying with great Pompe apparelled like a King and hauing about him a gard of his friends in armour Now when Eleazar his followers set vpon Manahemus the people did also throw stones at him so stoned him hoping that by his death the sedition would be extinguished The gard of Manahemus at first made some resistance but when they perceiued the whole multitude against them euery one shifted for himselfe as he could those that were taken were put to death and they that escaped were afterward sought for onely a few of them fled vnto Massada amongst whome was Eleazar the sonne of Iairus who was Manahemus kinsman and afterward in Massada became a tyrant But Manahemus fled into a place called Ophlas where hee basely hid himselfe and being taken hee was drawne out from thence and after many torments put to death and with him all the Nobilitie that had assisted him as also Absalomon who was his onely helper And in this matter as I haue said the people greatly helped hoping hereby to haue some end of that sedition But the rebels did not kill Manahemus to the end to extinguish sedition but to the intent to rob and spoyle more freely The people with many intreaties besought them to let the Romans alone whome they did befiege but they were so much the more earnest against them till they being no longer able to make resistance with the consent of Metilius their Captaine and some other of more authoritie sent vnto Eleazar requesting him to giue them licence to depart with their liues and leaue their munition to the Iewes Who accepting their petition sent vnto them Gorion the sonne of Nichodemâ—…s and Ananias the Sadducee and Iudas the sonne of Ionathas to confirme the promise of their liues Which done Metilius led away the Souldiours and whilest the Romans had their weapons none of the rebels durst attempt any of their treacherie against them but so soone as euerie one according to couenant laide downe their shields and swords and so departed mistrusting nothing Eleazar his gard set vpon them and killed them who neither made any resistance nor any intreatie for their liues onely putting them in mind of their promise and oth So they wereâ—…ll slaine saue onely Metilius who greatly intreated for his life and promising that he would become a Iew in religion and be circumcised they spared him Yet was this a small losse to the Romans who onely had then but a verie few slaine of their great and almost infinite armie and this seemed the verie beginning of the Iewes captiuitie When they saw themselues to haue giuen sufficient cause of wars and too great and that the Citie was now so filled with iniquitie that the wrath of God did hang ouer it though there had beene no feare of any harme to them by the Romanes yet the whole Citie mourned and was sorrowfull and quietly minded lamented as though they themselues should answere for the seditious for that murder which was committed vpon the Sabaoth when it is not lawfull for the Iewes to doe any good worke CHAP. XIX Of the great massacre of the Iewes at Caesarea and in all Syria AT the same houre on the selfe same day it happened as it were by Gods prouidence that the Inhabitants of Caesarea did massacre the Iewes that dwelled amongst them so that at one time aboue twentie thousand were slaine and not one Iew left aliue in all Caesarea For those that escaped Florus tooke and brought them forth bound vnto the people After this massacre done at Caesarea the whole nation of the Iewes waxed mad and diuiding themselues into companies they wasted and destroyed in short time all the borders of Syria and the Cities thereabout to wit Philadelphia and Gebonitis Gerasa Pella and Scythopolis and then they made incursion into Gadara Hippon and Gaulanitis pulling downe some places firing other some And from thence they marched towards Cedasa a Citie of the Tyrians and Ptolemais Gaba Caesarea and neither Sebaste neither Asealon could resist them but they also were consumed with fire Likewise they destroyed Anthedon with Gaza and most places adioyning to these Cities were sacked to wit the fields and villages and a mightie slaughter was made of them that were taken in these places The Syrians made as great a massacre of the Iewes as this amongst them for all the Iewes that inhabited amongst them were murdered not only for an old grudge but also for the auoyding of imminent danger And al Syria was troubled in most grieuous maner and euerie Citie was diuided into two parts and either parts safety consisted in this to preuent the other in murdering them first the daies were spent in bloudshed and the nights in feare worse then death it selfe For though they onely pretended to destroy the Iewes yet were they drawne to suspect other nations that followed the Iewes religion and because they were as it were neuters the Syrians thought it not good to destroy them and againe for their agreeing in religion with the Iewes they were constrained to hold them as enemies Manie of the contrarie part who before seemed modest were now through auarice incited to meddle in this murder for euerie one tooke the goods of them that were slaine and carried them to other places as conquerers And he was most renowmed that had stolen most as hauing also killed most There might you see in euerie part of the Citie the dead bodies of all ages vnburied old men and children and women lying in most shamefull maner their secret parts being vncouered Briefely all the Countrie was filled with exceeding great calamitie and the feare of myserie to come was vnspeakable And these were the conflicts betweene the Iewes and strangers But afterward making incursion vpon the borders of Scythopolis the Iewes there dwelling were their enemies For they conspiring with the citizens of Scythopolis and preferring their owne commoditie and security before their kinred and consanguinitie ioyned with the Gentiles against the Iewes who for all that were suspected for their forwardnes Finally the Scythopolites searing that they would assault the citie by night and excuse their reuolting by their great miserie they commaunded all the Iewes that if they would shew themselues trustie vnto the Gentiles they with all their children should go into a wood hard by who forthwith did
whole armie and almost all of them came running to see their generall and especially Titus who feared his fathers death so that the whole armie partly for the loue of their generall and partly for the feare of Titus his sonne were greatly troubled but Vespasian presently freed the armie from al perturbation and his sonne Titus from feare For the griefe of the wound being past he shewed himself to all that were sorrowful for him and incited them to fight against the Iewes more earnestly then before and now euery one as it were to reuenge their generall despised all danger and assaulted the wals one exhorting another Ioseph and his associates notwithstanding that many of them were killed with shot darts and arrowes yet they forsooke not the wals but with fire and sword and stones fiercely assaulted them that being defended with hurdles battered the wals with the Ramme but to little purpose for they were continually killed being in the sight of their enemies and for that they could not see them presently were stroken downe For their fire did make such a light as though it had beene day so that the Romans easily perceiued whither to direct their shot and for that their engines were not perceiued a farre off the Iewes could not defend themselues from the arrowes and stones which were shot against them by which meanes many of them were slaine and the tops and corners of the towers beaten downe And there was no man so wel guarded but he was slaine by force of these stones so that any man may know of what force that engine is by that which hapned that night For one that stood neere Ioseph vpō the wal was strokē with a stone his head caried frō his body by violence of that blow three furlongs as though it had been cast out of a sling the next day a woman great with child was stroken on the belly with one of those stones and the child caried forth of her from the place where she was stroken three furlongs so great was the force of this engine Therefore the violence of the engines was more terrible and likewise the noise of darts arrowes and other shot And many were slaine on euerie side and the bodies of those that were killed stroken against the vvall made a noise and within the citie was heard a pitifull lamentation and weeping among the women without a heauy mourning and crie of them that were wounded to death and all that part of the wal where the fight was flowed with bloud so that now the multitude of dead bodies had so filled the ditch before the wall that the Romanes might easily passe ouer them into the citie and the mountaines about did eccho with the cries of the citizens and all that night long nothing vvanted that either might by the eie or eare moue terror And many stoutly fighting for Iotapata died most valiantly many also vvere sore vvounded and notwithstanding the vvall was continually battered yet it vvas almost morning before it fell being all night long beaten with the Ramme And then they of Iotapata repaired the breach vvith their bodies and armour before the Romans could set bridges to enter it CHAP. X. How Iotapata was againe assaulted IN the morning Vespasian brought his armie to enter the breach hauing giuen them but little rest after their whole nights labour and desirous to make the Iewes that defended the breach to forsake their place before such time as he entred hee tooke the most valiant of his horsemen and vnhorsed them being armed from the head vnto the foote and placed them in three rankes that they being so armed might besiege round that part of the wall that was battered and to take long pikes in their handes so that as soone as the bridges were set they should first enter the breach After them hee placed the strongest of his footemen the rest of his horsemen hee set round about the Citie vpon the mountaine to the end that none might escape thereout after the footemen he commaunded archers to follow with their arrowes readie in their hands and them that vsed slings also and other engines for shot And he caused other to scale the wals where they were not battered to the intent that the townesmen busied in resisting them might leaue the breach vnmanned and the rest being wearied oppressed with the thicknesse of the shot should of force forsake their standing But Ioseph perceiuing his intent placed old men and children and those that were alreadie wearied vpon those parts of the wals that were not battered and himselfe with the stowtest in the Citie went to defend the breach and placed sixe men before them whom he choose out himselfe being one of them to sustaine the first brunt of their enemies assault commaunding them likewise to stop their eares to the end that they might not be terrified with the cries of the armie He willed them also to defend themselues with shields against the darts and arrowes and giue backe a little till such time as the Archers quiuers were emptied and if so bee that the Romans should offer to make bridges that then they with their instruments should resist and that euerie one now should fight not to defend his Countrie but as it were to recouer it being in a manner alreadie lost and imagine that they now did see their aged men murdered with their children and their wiues almost taken by their enemies and now to reuenge themselues vpon those that hereafter would massacre their whole Citie and thus he appointed men in both places The weaker multitude women and children seeing the Citie compassed about with three ranckes of horsemen and that the Romans with swords drawne preased against the breach that all the mountaines about did shine and glitter with their weapons that were placed there and certaine Arabians to serue the Archers with arrowes they cried out as though the Citie were now taken so that a man would haue iudged them alreadie amidst their enemies swords and not onely in danger to fall into their hands Wherefore Ioseph commaunded the women to their houses least their cries should effaeminate his souldiers mindes willing them likewise to keepe silence and threatned them if they did not and so hee marched vnto the breach which place fell vnto his lot and gaue no heede to them that sought to scale the wals but onely beheld a farre off the force of the arrowes When all the trumpets began to sound and the ayre to bee obscured with the multitude of arrowes Iosephs companions remembring the charge giuen them stopped their eares and armed their bodies against the shot of arrowes And so soone as the bridges were set against the wal presently they ran before the Romans could enter vpon them they got them into their hands resisted them that sought to come vpon them shewing great prowesse and strength and themselues no way inferiour vnto the Romans though
they were in extreame danger and the Romans in none and did not giue one foote backe till either they did kill or were killed But the Iewes had not any fresh men to second them that were tired and the Romans stil as they were wearied sent fresh supplie and ioyning together their long shields exhorting one another they became as it were a wall or defence inuincible and the whole armie like one bodie did beate backe the Iewes and so set foote on the wals Then Ioseph in this desperate case deuised some way to repell this present calamitle wherefore hee commaunded the Iewes to fetch scalding oyle which they had readie and powre it vpon the Romans yet seething who also cast the pans vpon them This deuise brake the ranckes of the Romanes so that with great paine and griefe they fell from the wall and tumbled downe for the scalding oyle easily got betweene their flesh and armour and scorched them like fire being easily heated and long continuing hot by reason of the fatnesse and the Romans being loaden with helmets and briest plates could not flie so that some lept downe off the bridge and others for griefe died others would faine haue retired themselues but could not because their enemies followed them so hard But neither the Romans wanted vertue and valour in aduerse fortune nor the Iewes prudence and good aduise For the Romans notwithstanding they were in intolerable paine being scalded with hot oyle yet did they freshly assault them that hurt them and euerie one did thrust him forward that was before him as it were desirous to shew their courage Then the Iewes vsed an other deuise to make them retyre for they powred fenugreeke boyled vpon the bridge so that they slid downe and neither they that would haue fled nor they who did striue to assault the Iewes could stand vpon their feete it was so slipperie and many falling downe vpon the bridge were by their owne companie troden to death others did slide downe vpon the Rampier and alwaies as they fell the Iewes strooke them and seeing that the Romanes were retyred from the place so that now they were not forced to handie blowes they had leasure to shoote arrowes and darts against them When Vespasian saw that his men in that fight endured much miserie towards euening he caused them to retyre manie being slaine and more wounded and sixe men of Iotapata were slaine and aboue three hundreth wounded this fight was vpon the twentith day of Iune But after that Vespasian had comforted his souldiers for that which had happened and perceiuing that they were angrie and desired to fight to reuenge themselues so that they needed no exhortation he raised the Rampier higher and erected three towers fiftie foote high couering them aloft with yron that so by reason of their weight they might stand stedfast and not bee consumed by fire and these hee placed ◅pon the Rampiers and in them Archers and men that cast darts and such like who not being perceiued of them that were vpon the wall because of the highnesse of the towers and the couering thereof easily wounded them who were placed thereon So the Iewes when they could not a◅oide the arrowes nor bee reuenged vpon them whome they could not see nor yet ◅e the towers being couered with plates of yron forsooke the wals yet alwayes encountred with them who sought to enter And the people of Iotapata thus resisted notwithstanding that many e◅rie day were slaine and that they did their enemies no harme without great danger to themselues CHAP. XI How Iapha was taken by Traianus and Titus AT this time Vespasian vnderstood that Iapha a Citie neere Iotapata minded to rebell encouraged so to doe for that they vnderstood how they of Iotapata had held ou◅ contrarie to all expectation wherefore he sent thither Traianus goue◅our of the tenth legion with him two thousand footmen a thousand horse who perceiuing the towne able to resist and the Inhabitants prepared for to fight and come out to meete him for the towne being for the situation strong enough it was also compassed with a double wall seeing this he fought with them and after a while put them to flight and the Romans following them brake in with them at the first gate which the Citizens perceiuing shut the second gate not suffering their ow◅ Citizens to enter in for feare that the enemies also should rush in with them as they had done into the first gate Truely God gaue that victorie vnto the Romanes whose will it was that all warlike men of the Citie should haue their owne gates shut vpon them and so fall into their enemies hands who were most greedie to destroy them For many came to the gates and called those that kept them by their names pitifully entreating that they might come in which whilest they did they were butchered like sheepe being enclosed betweene two wals their owne Citizens hauing shut one gate vpon them and the Romans the other and many thus enclosed perished with their fellowes swords and an infinite ◅umber by the rage of the Romans hauing no courage to resist and reuenge themselues For the treason of their owne Citizens and the terrour of their enemies together vtterly discouraged them and so they died all in number 12. thousand not cursing the Romans but the Iewes their owne Countrimen Traiane thinking that the Citie was now destitute of fighting men or if any were within that they durst not resist being thus terrified reserued the taking of the Citie for the generall and sent messengers vnto him requesting him to send his sonne Titus to make an end of the victorie Vespasian fearing that yet there would bee some resistance sent Titus with fiue hundreth horsemen and a thousand foot who hastning thither placed Traianus on the left side of the towne and himselfe on the right so the Romans on euerie side scaled the wals and the Galileans hauing awhile resisted presently left them Then Titus and his followers leaping downe presently got into the Citie and began a vehement fight with them that were assembled therein some valiantly issuing out of narrow streetes and assaulting them and the women casting such things as they could get vpon the Romanes from the tops of their houses and thus they held battell sixe houres When their fighting men were all slaine then the old men children al the other companie both in the streetes and in their houses were soon dispatched so that none of them were left aliue saue onely infāts vvho vvith the women were led captiues The number of thē that were slaine both in the citie and in the first conflict amounted vnto fifteene thousand and the nu◅er of those that were led into captiuitie vvere one thousand one hundreth and thirtie and this massacre of the Galileans happened the fiue and twentith day of Iune CHAP. XII How Caerealis conquered the Samaritans THe Samaritans also
in the way to their Metropolitane Citie he there intrenched his army and then leauing the fift legion there he with the rest went into the Toparchy of Bethlepâ—…on firing it and all places thereabout as also the borders of Idumaea but he reserued there certaine Castles in fit places and fortified them And hauing taken two townes in the middest of Idumaea to wit Begabri and Caphartopha he slew there aboue ten thousand men and took almost a thousand and driuing out the rest of the inhabitants he left a great part of his army there who made incursions and wasted all the high places thereabout and he with the rest returned to Iamnia and from thence by Samaria and Neapolis called by the inhabitants Mabortha the second day of Iune he came into Corea and pitching his tents there the next day he came to Iericho where one of his captaines named Traian met him with the souldiers he brought from beyond Iordan which place he had conquered But the multitude before the Romans came fled from Iericho into the high countrey ouer against Ierusalem and many that staied behinde were there slaine So he found the Citie desolate being scituate in a plaine vnder a great mountaine that is barren which is of a huge length for it reacheth on the Northside vnto the borders of Scythopolis and on the South vnto the borders of Sodome and the lake Asphaltites It is all rockie and not inhabited because it beareth no fruit Ouer against this neere Iordan is scituate a huge mountaine beginning on the North side at Iulias and reaching vnto Bacra on the South which is the limits of Petra a citie of Arabia In this place is that that is called the mountaine of Iron reaching vnto the countrey of the Moabites The countrey betweene these two mountaines is called the great field reaching from the village Gennabara vnto the lake Asphaltites being in length two hundreth and thirty furlongs and in breadth a hundreth and twentie and in the middest it is deuided by the riuer Iordan There are also two lakes of contrarie natures Asphaltites and Tiberins for one of them is salt and barren but that of Tiberias sweete and fertile This plaine in sommer time is burned with the heat of the sun and the aire is infected in all places thereabouts saue only about those which adioine to Iordan and this is the cause that the palme trees that grow about the riuer side doe flourish most and are more fertile then the rest Neere vnto Iericho there is a large great fountaine which plentifully watereth the fields therabout runneth with a great stream out of the ground neere vnto the olde Citie which Iosue the son of Nun generall of the Hebrewes tooke by war the first of all that he tooke in the land of Canaan It is reported that in the beginning the waters of this fountaine did destroy all fruits of the earth and also made women be deliuered before their time and to infect all places with diseases the plague and afterward by Helizaeus the successor of Heliâ—… â—…as made sweet and fertile Who being once curteously entertained by the inhabitants of Iericho did so reward them and all the countrey for that their kindnesse and going vnto the fountaine he cast a pitcher full of salt into the water and hard by lifting vp his hands to heauen tempering with the fountaine water certaine sweet waters he praied God to qualifie the rage thereof to make it flow with more sweet streams and befought God to giue a better aire vnto the fountaine which both might cause plentie of fruits and also of children vnto the inhabitants that the water might haue y e vertue to make women fertile so long as they persisted in piety After these praiers with his hands he altered the fountaine according to the knowledge he had and from that time this fountaine which before was the cause of famine and sterilitie was now the cause of plentie and fertilitie And it so watereth the ground that where a little of it commeth it doth more good then all the other waters which lie long vpon it and so they that water their grounds but a little with it receiue much fruits and they that water their grounds with it much doe not receiue them in that measure yet it watereth a greater compasse of ground then other fountaines and in length it runneth thorow a plaine seuentie furlongs long and twentie broad There are most pleasant goodly Orchards and many sorts of palme trees growing by brooks sides which are diuers in the taste of their fruits the fattest whereof being pressed doe yeeld a iuice like hony nothing inferiour to other hony yet there is great store of hony in that countrey and the iuice of balme which is more prâ—…ous then all fruits growing There grow also Cypres trees myrobalans so that one may iustly call that part of the earth diuine where what fruit soeuer is most deere and pretious is in most abundance Also in all other fruits it surpasseth all countries in the world for it multiplieth and increaseth all things sooner there The cause hereof I iudge to be the pleasant waters and warme nourishing aire which as it were inuiteth all things to spring vp and then encreaseth them and the moisture causeth all things to take firme roote and also defendeth them from drought in sommer time when that countrey is vexed with such intolerable heates that all things are as it were scorched so that nothing then will grow yet if they be watered with water drawne before sun rise by the blowing of a milde temperat winde they are refreshed and it receiues a contrarie nature in winter time it is as it were luke warme temperate to them that go into it The aire of that place is so temperate that when it snoweth in other parts of Iudaea and is extreme colde the inhabitants in this place doe only weare a linnen garment This countrey is distant from Ierusalem a hundreth and fiftie furlongs and threescore from Iordan and all the ground betweene it and Ierusalem 〈◊〉 desart and stonie and so likewise betweene it and Iordan and Asphaltites though it be lower ground then the other Thus we haue sufficiently declared the fertilitie of Iericho CHAP. V. The description of the lake Asphaltites IT is worth the labour to describe the lake Asphaltites which is salt and sterile yet whatsoeuer is cast into it how weightie soeuer it be it swimmeth aboue the water so that one though he would vpon purpose cannot scarcely sinke vnto the bottome Vespasian comming thither to see it caused some to be taken who could not swimme and their handes to be bound behind them and cast into the midst thereof and all of them did swimme aloft being as it were borne vp by the power of some spirit Moreouer it is admirable how this lake thrice in euerie day changeth colour and shineth diuersly
in our graues before we had seene that sacred Citie fired by a hostile hand before we beheld the holy temple destroied by impietie and seeing that the hope we had to be reuenged vpon our enemies is now vanished away and that we are left alone in miserie and necessitie let vs hasten to die well and take compassion vpon our selues our wiues and children and that whilest we haue time to compassionate our selues For both we are borne to die and all that are begotten by vs and the strongest men liuing cannot auoid it but iniurie and bondage and to see our wiues and children abused before our faces is no necessitie proceeding from mans nature but they onely are forced to endure it who when they might haue died without it did refuse for feare We first of all trusting to our strength rebelled against the Romans nowe lastly they exhorting vs to obedience we denied which of them then will not be enraged against vs if they can take vs aliue Most miserable shall those young men be whose strength will endure many torments and those olde men will mooue compassion whose aged yeeres cannot suffer tortures one shall see his wife carried away from him and another his sonne hauing his hands bound behind him crie vnto his father for helpe who now whilest they are free from the thraldome of their enemies may gloriously assist vs with their swords Let vs with our wiues and children die freemen let vs altogither depart out of this life This our religion commandeth this our wiues and children perswadeth God himselfe hath driuen vs vnto this necessitie for this purpose The Romans would haue it otherwise who feare least any of vs should perish and not fal into their hands aliue Let vs therefore hasten that in steed of their expected hope whereby they verily perswaded themselues to take vs aliue we may contrarie to their expectation daunt them with asodain admiration of our glorious deaths Whilest Eleazar was yet speaking and desirous still to continue his exhortation they all interrupted him euerie one now in a furie bent to follow his aduice made haste to effect it and as though they had been vrged by some bad spirit thereunto euerie one laboured to preuent one another in the execution thereof iudging him to shew most valour and fortitude that first dispatched himselfe They were also desirous to kill their wiues and their children with themselues And which is most strange their mindes were nothing altered when they came to effect this bloudy worke but with the same resolution that they had when they heard Eleazars speech euerie one retained his good affection towards his friends yet permitting reason to take no place and perswading themselues that thus they had well prouided for their children they all at once embraced their wiues and children for their last farewell and tooke their leaues of them kissing them with teares and then at once slew them as though it had been done by the hands of other men and not their owne comforting themselues being forced so to doe in that hereby they should escape the tyranny and crueltie of their enemies Finally no man was so cowardly who durst not presume to this action so euerie one of thē killed his deerest friends O miserable people whom necessitie forced to slay their wiues and children accounting the action thereof to be the verie least of all their miseries Wherefore now not enduring the griefe that ensued vpon this fact and thinking that in liuing any while after them they should iniure them whom they had slaine they with all speed possible gathered all their riches togither and set them on fire which done they elected ten by lot who should slay the rest euerie one prostrating himselfe vpon his wife and children embracing them in his armes and was was so slaine willingly by them that executed that wretched office who hauing without feare dispatched them they cast lots whose fortune it was to kill all the rest and he vpon whom the lot did fall should kill the other nine and lastly himselfe vpon them all euerie one so encouraging one another that there was no difference betweene them that were to be killed and them that were to kill and so the rest offered themselues to death which done one who was the last of all being yet aliue went amonst the dead bodies and searched to see if none liued that needed his hand in so great a multitude of slaine people and finding all of them dispatched he went and fired the pallace which done he with all his force thrust his sword into his owne bodie vp to the hilts and so fell downe by his deerest freinds In this maner they died thinking they had left no one aliue to haue fallen into the Romās hands but one certaine olde woman another that was Eleazars cosins who in learning wisedome surpassed all other women fiue children who all hid themselues in a caue wherein water was reserued to drinke whilest the rest were busied in this massacre who were in number 900. and 60 beside women and children This calamitie hapned the fifteenth day of Aprill In the morning the Romans expecting that the Iewes would fight with them made bridges from their mounts vnto the wals and so assaulted the wals and seeing none of their enemies appeare but all the wals wasted and on fire and deepe silence in euerie place they could not coniecture what was done and at last they made a crie at once as though they had beene beating the wals with a Ramme thereby to see if they could make any enemies come out The women in the vaults heard this crie and comming forth they declared vnto the Romans all that had hapned one of them relating vnto them the euent of all the whole matter yet for all this the Romans did not easily beleeue her words by reason of the greatnesse of that fact but they endeuored to quench the fire and passing through it they presently came into the pallace where they beheld all the dead bodies yet they did not insult ouer them as their enemies but admired that so many should be so obstinately minded to despise death CHAP. XXIX Of the death of the Sicarians that were fled vnto Alexandria and Thebes THe Castle being thus taken the generall of the Romans leauing a garrison there went vnto Caesarea for there was no one enemie left in all that countrey but now all Iudaea was destroyed through continuance of long wars and many of that nation though far distant from it tasted of those troubles for it so fell out that afterward many Iewes perished in Aegypt at Alexandria for those Sicarians who had escaped thither were not content to be safe and free from daunger but there also they attempted alteration and to defend their liberty against the the Romans esteeming themselues nothing inferiour vnto them and that onely God was their Lord. And some of the nobler race of the Iewes
to pietie Hence it groweth that some detract our nation for that amongst vs were no men inuentors of new matters and actes to whom we wil thus answere that other nations account it a glory not to persist in any thing that their forefathers vsed and hould them of most account amongst them that can best transgresse their forefathers wisedome But we contrariewise do account it the chiefest point of wisedome and vertue neither to do nor thinke any thing contrarie to that which our auncestors haue decreed which is a token that our law was established by as good aduice as was possible For those lawes that in all points are not as they ought to be are often by experience found faultie But amongst vs who beleeue that our law was first established by the will pleasure of Almightie God nothing is pious and vertuous which may any wise impugne the same For who can take away any tittle thereof or add better in the stead or who is he that can transferre and carie vs from the obseruance of them and ordaine for vs better lawes to gouerne our common wealth Or what law can be more iust and better then that which the wisedome of God who is the Lord of all things hath established He first of all permitted the disposing of all principall affaires to the priests in general and most wisely constituted a high priest as their head neither were they chosen to this dignitie by our lawmaker who either excelled in nobilitie of birth or riches but he appointed such to sacrifice vnto God who were knowne to excell others in wisedom and sanctitie and these do both keepe our lawes and obserue all other things belonging to their office withall integritie for our priests are appointed ouer-seers of all things and to iudge all strifes and controuersies and to punish the offenders What monarchie then or kingdome can be more holy then this Or how can God bee better honoured then amongst vs where all the people are prepared to pietie and the priests commaunded so to rule and gouerne the Commonwealth as if they were celebrating some festiuitie And whereas other nations cannot celebrate their mysteries which they terme sacrifices in a few dayes we with ioy and pleasure and immutable wils do celebrate our sacrifice continually without intermission It resteth now that I set downe our precepts and laws as arguments of that which I haue said The first is of God of whome our law saith God hath all things he is most perfect most blessed he is sufficient both for himselfe and all things else hee is the beginning middest and ending famous amongst all things for his workes and benefits more manifest then any thing else but his shape and greatnesse is to vs vnspeakable all matters how precious so euer being compared with his excellent beautie is nothing worth and all Art compared with his inuention is vnartificial we can neither see conceiue nor imagine any thing like him He is holy for we see his workes the light the heauen and the earth the Sunne the moone riuers and sea so many different shapes of liuing creatures and increase of fruites All these God himselfe made not with hands or worke nor as one needing any to helpe him but hee seeing them to be good they were presently made Hee is to be followed of all men who ought to worship him by the exercising of vertue for this is the most holy way to please him We haue one Temple as also one God which Temple is common to all men as he is the common God of all men For similitude alwayes pleaseth him doe all our priests honour with sacrifice and hee amongst them hath the first place who by birth is the chiefest and hee first sacrificeth to God seeth the lawes obserued iudgeth controuersies and punisheth those that are conuicted by the law whosoeuer disobeyeth him shall be punished as one that rebelleth against God himselfe hee offereth sacrifices not pertaining to gluttonie or drunkennesse for God is not pleased with such sacrifices but is rather iniured and superfluous expences are thereby made But God loueth them that are temperate and orderly and of good behauiour and especially requireth in vs that sacrifice an inuiolable chastitie In our sacrifices offered for our common good we first of all pray in common and then euerie one for himselfe because we are all fellows and he that delighteth herein more then in his owne life hee is most acceptable to God Wee pray and vowe vnto God not requesting riches of him for hee of his owne accord bestoweth them vpon euerie one and left them amongst vs but we pray that we may haue part of them and hauing gotten them may keepe them Our law hath also appointed purifications both from our Chamber bed and carnall copulation and many other things which are to long to rehearse And this is our speech and opinion of God who himselfe is our law And what concerning marriage Our law onely alloweth naturall copulation betweene man and wife done to the intent to get children But that men should abuse one another against nature it altogether disalloweth and punisheth such offenders with death It commandeth vs to marrie not respecting the dowrie neither must we take women violently by force nor allure them by deceitfull perswasions but that wee rather obtaine his good-will who may graunt vse ordinarie meanes to perswade It also appointeth that a woman shall be in all things inferiour to the man neither is she to obey in committing wickednes but as one vnder gouernment For it is God that gaue man this authoritie With her the husband only may lawfully accompanie and it is abhomination for her to make triall of another man and who so attempteth this can no wise auoide death the like penaltie attendeth him if hee offer violence to a virgine despowsed vnto an other man or if he by perswasions doe ouercome a married woman or other that hath children vnder her and all this our law commaundeth It hath also interdicted all women from concealing their children being borne or otherwise to destroy them for so shee should be a child killer destroy soules and mankind Who so therefore vseth carnall copulation and corruption is vncleane by our lawes and women after lawfull copulation must wash themselues iudging that a part of their soule was by this act defiled and shee being puffed vp was wounded in her bodie and therefore our law ordained water of purification for them Neither is it lawfull for them to feast and banquet at their child-birth wherby an occasion of drunkennesse may grow but that their beginning should be temperate they are likewise commaunded to traine vp their children in learning that they may learne the law and actions of their forefathers and imitate them that so being trained vp in the law they may not sinne nor transgresse them by ignorance Our law hath also prouided for the buriall of the dead
earth nor vsed any handy craft but ceasing from all labours and paines taking liued in their Citie far and faire-liking hauing both their meate and all other necessaries prouided and prepared for them by others and esteemed that onely their felicitie to doe or endure any thing so that they might preuaile against those against whom they enterprised warres and that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not onely one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole companies of them forgetting their owne lawes yeelded themselues to their enemies And can anie one tell of I say not so many but of one or two of vs that euer was treacherous to his own lawes or that feared to die for them I meane not a common death such as souldiers are subiect vnto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be deuised Which I think those that preuailed against vs imposed vpon vs not for hatred but that they desired to see so admirable a matter and to see if we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impietie possible to doe it could be compelled by them to speake or doe any thing contrarie to our lawes Yet it is no wonder that we for our law doe die with such constancie rather then any other nation for other nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a triflle to wit labour and simple fare and that no man eate whatsoeuer or what he desireth or lie with them whom he ought not or be idle except he be of noble birth or go gallantly attired and we are alwaies carefull that when we fight against our enemy we obserue our lawes concerning our meats And thus we take pleasure to obserue and keepe our lawes and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus passe and such as they be wicked lying writers and Sophisters deceiuers of young men and detracters of our owne nation as though we were the wickedest people liuing As for me I will not examine the lawes of other nations for it is our custome to keepe and obserue our owne not to detract others yea and our law-maker openly prohibited vs from blaspheming such as other nations hold for gods onely for the name of God attributed vnto them yet may we not leaue the obiections of our accusers vnanswered seeing that which wee are to speake against them is not our owne deuice but many before vs haue spoken it Who then of all the wise Greekes will not condemne the most famous Poets and especially the law-makers who at first brought and setled such vaine opinions of the gods amongst the cōmon people affirming the number of them to be so many as they thought good and to be borne at diuers times one of another allotting to euerie one his proper place as vnto other liuing creatures some to be vnder the earth others in the sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in heauen in words they do terme him a father but in deeds they shew him to be a tyrant and for this cause they report that his wife his brother and his daughter whom they affirme to haue been borne of his braine conspired against him to binde him and hang him as they report him also to haue dealt by his father Against these vanities all excellent and wise men doe worthily inueigh who beside this already rehearsed too in derision adde how some of the gods are young and some olde and some infants others are gods of artes and sciences and one is a Smith another a Weauer another a Pilgrime and is at variance with mortall men others delight in musicke others in shooting moreouer that they are at variance one with another amongst themselues and that they fall our one with another in mens behalfe and that not onely one of them laieth violent hands vpon the other but that also they are wounded by mortall men and sorrow feele griefe for the wounds and that which is most abominable of all do vse carnall copulation with mankind and that most vndecently that their vnbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chiefe God of all whom they call father contemned and drowned certaine women whom he himselfe had deceiued and gotten with childe and that he could not deliuer the children borne of these women from calamitie for that destinie had obliged him not see their deaths without teares This is all good stuffe as also is that which followeth to wit adulteries committed in heauen so openly and impudently amongst the gods that some professe themselues to enuie their fellow gods and goddesses tied togither in such filthinesse And what should the rest of them doe when as their king and the most auncientest amongst them could not refraine his lustfull licentiosnesse from the company of women Moreouer some of them became seruants vnto men and some built houses for money and others became shepheards others like malefactors were chained in hell What man then that euer was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprooue the inuentors thereof and the foolish beleeuers also Others presumed to feigne both terror and feare and madnes and such simplicitie as that they might be deceiued and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods haue perswaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexitie thinking that some of the gods are the giuers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seeke to please them with gifts as they would doe wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall sustaine great domage by their meanes except they doe daily pacifie their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shamefull ignorance and erronious iniquitie concerning God Truely I am perswaded for that their first law-makers were themselues herein to seeke and ignorant of the nature of God and that they did not faithfully deliuer vnto their common wealth so much as themselues knew concerning this point but as thought it had bin a thing of least moment did wilfully let it passe giuing licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the common wealths affaires and tell what them liked of strange gods Moreouer the painters and image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in making of gods it being lawfull for them euerie one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of earth others in colours and the chiefest godmakers amongst them vse iuorie and gold to make their gods of a true argument of their mutable noueltie And then the auncient gods whom they first so honoured and reuerenced as they could possibly deuise being now withered with age are out of credit and other youngsters possesse their places and honours their
God forgot all these laments that another mother would haue had and with an adamant sense stouter then the neuer yeelding rocks did neither forsake her children in their torments nor in their death but in a manner compelled them to perish and neuer sorrowed thereat For being apprehended together with her seuen sonnes she considering Eleazars martyrdome did thus exhort them in the Hebrew tongue O my most deare and louing children let vs hasten to that agonie wherein we may bee a credite to our nation and gaine of God an euerlasting reward let vs without feare present our selues vnto those torments which Eleazars aged bodie endured call to mind our father Abraham of worthie memorie who hauing but one onely sonne did sacrifice him being willed by God so to doe and feared not to bring him to the Altar whome he scarcely in his age obtained Isaak also was willing to bee sacrificed by his father knowing that God was to be obeyed in all things the like may be said of Daniel and the three children beleeue me wee are rather tried then tormented For whatsoeuer this world affordeth is mortall and like a shadowe Thus did this mother arme her childrens minds with fortitude and shee a woman wrought in men manlike minds Last of all her children being all dead shee a worthie mother of so manie champions kneeling downe in the place of torment besought of God an end of this life protesting that shee had not for loue of life so long deferred to die but onely for her childrens sake and that now shee had seene them all seuen triumphing The furie of Antiochus now waxed hot and he commanded this worthie mother to be tormented who was as the tyrant willed stripped naked and hanged vp by the hands and most cruelly whipped her dugges and paps were pulled off and shee put into the red hot frying pan being most willing to follow her childrens steps in torment and lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen shee praied for all women with child and so yeelded her chast soule to God But Antiochus was strucken with fire from heauen O mistris of iustice who followed thy triumphing children O conquerour of tyrants and a looking glasse for all Martyrs O example of patience not onely to women but to all men that shall bee after thee reuerenced of them that now are and to bee worshipped of them that are to come and to be admited not onely of our nation but of all other people Thy light obscureth the bright shining Moone and though shee fill the world with her brightnesse yet is shee not comparable to thy shining light Seuen lights enuiron thee about daseling the brightnesse of the seuen planets could any Painter expresse or any hand in writing declare the torments of your passions none could with drie eye read or behold them all people would flocke about to see it all people would praise and esteeme him to haue offered a great gift who to Gods glorie had painted that noble stratageme And if any skilfull workman should engraue this Tragedie vpon a sepulchre or in his house doubtlesse he should bee freed from all plague and misfortune But where could a stone bee found able to containe so many torments Therefore the olde man Eleazar the mother and her seuen sonnes are for their nobilitie graced with a sepulchre and great reuerence is done vnto them of all men yea euen by men that are not of our religion and there is a constellation of eight starres ordained as an argument of their iustice and Angels did execute their funerals The tyrant himselfe was astonished to see the constancie of such godly minds And thus haue they found such fauour in the sight of God that they haue obtained remission of the sinnes of our nation for presently after the tyrant was destroyed and Israell there was freed from his tyrannie But Antiochus seeing the greatnesse of their faith and their contempt of death gathered an armie of footemen out of the Hebrewes by whose helpe he terrified his enemies and got great renowne O blessed seede of Abraham behold what benefit the agonie of the mother and her seuen sonnes brought vnto vs their Countrimen let vs persist in this pietie that so we may bee like our forefathers behold the death of a few did end all the miseries and sinnes of our whole nation and you by your Countrimens hands vanquished your persecutors enemies and after that victorie our sinnes were remitted and last of all Antiochus being mad and his entrailes deuoured with wormes hee smelling most like carrion gaue vp the ghost and was euer after death punished for his offence For when he could not make the Citizens of Ierusalem to forsake their law he made warre against the Persians and there receiued that which he deserued It now remaineth that we briefely repeate all that is before said For in her agonie this sacred mother said thus vnto the standers by Whilest it was lawful for me I kept my selfe a virgine and then I married and liued a chast wife and forsooke not my owne house I brought forth such sonnes as I need not be ashamed of and though daunted with my husbands death yet I did not forsake my faith this and many things else shee recounted And what more Shee set before her childrens eyes the example of the Prophets how Abel by his brother was slain Isaak to be offered insteade of a sacrifice how Iacob was banished Ioseph kept in prison Daniel cast before the Lyons the three children into the fierie furnace she rehearsed also vnto them the booke of Esaias where it is said Although thou doe goe through the fire the flame shall not burne thee That of Dauid The iust shall haue much tribulation and Salomon who proposeth the tree of life to such as doe the will of God not omitting that of Ezechiel These drie and withered bones shall liue againe Also that of Moses Canticle I will kill and restore to life and the length of your dayes is in my hand Vnhappie tyrant what did thy caudrons red hot and thy torments profit thee what auailed it thee to cut away their eye lids and to pul out their tongues thou thy selfe for so doing dost now endure farre worse then all these And they whome thou killedst beleeue me enioy euerlasting comfort are now secure of blisse reuenge For they who suffer for Gods sake shall haue happie successe when God the Father of all things shall reward them with life euerlasting that follow him Thus haue I consecrated these worthie memorials which I find in the holy Scriptures of the sacred Machabees to the reading of all men that shall liue in any age heereafter The end of all Iosephus workes FINIS A Tahle of the chiefest and most memorable things which are handled in this Worke. A AAron Moses brother 47. a. commeth to meet him ibid. a. holdeth vp Moses hands 57. a. elected high priest 65. c. his sonnes 66.
d. Queenes house or pallace 200. i k. Queene of Ethiopia looke Nicaule Queene Vasti refuseth to come to the banquet 277. a b. deposed ibid. c d. hard Questions dissolued 201 a b c. Questions of Artaxerxes 267. b. Quintilius Varus Gouernour of Syria 443. b. pacifieth the seditious 455. b. deliuereth the legion 457. c. assisteth the Romans 611. c. taketh Cities and Castles 611. c f. crucifieth the seditious 612. g. R Rachel daughter of Laban 23. a. bringeth Iacob to her father ibid. b c d. stealeth away her fathers gods 24. m. how she hid them 25. c. taught by Iacob to contemne them 24. m. dieth in childbed 27. c. Race of the Chanaanites to be rooted out 106. k. Race of Giants remained 109. c. Race of Achimelech murthered 149. d. Rage of Antiochus 802. k. Raguel a priest of Madian 45. c. father in law to Moses ib. c. commeth to Moses in Sinai 57. c f. Rahab hid the spies 101. b c. requireth of them an oath and why ibid. c d. her and all hers saued 102. l. Raigne of Dauid 189. c f. of Salomon 206. g of Iosaphat 226. k. of Herode 450. l. of Tiberius 618. h. of Caius 619. f. of Agrippa 620. l. of Claudius 622. g h. Railing of Goliah 142. h i k. Rainbow a signe of attonement 8. k. Raine foreprophecied 216. i. k. Raising of a dead man 236. m. a Ram offered in Isaacs steed 18. l. m. Ram an engine 653. d. described ibid. shaketh the tower 710. h. Rampierâ—… builded by the Romans 719. d. Rapines committed by day 673. a. Rapsaces chiestaine of the Assyrian armie 245. c. perswadeth lizechias to submit ibid. d c. Rasis warreth against Achaz 241. b. seazeth Elath ibid. b. slaine 242. g. Rational 64. k. Rauishment of Dina reuenged 27. a. punished 94. h. Rayment of Ioseph 31. f. a proofe against him 32. h. Rayment taken in warre 106. l. Reading of the law 274. l m. Reason described 800. m. hath dominion ouer passions ibid. k. Rebecca daughter of Bathuel 12. g. sister to Laban ibid. g. sheweth courtesie to Abrahams seruant 19. c. 20. g. procures his entertainement ibid. h i. maried to Isaac 20. k. brought forth two twins 21. a. her deuice for her sonne ibid. c. Rebellion of Chore 77. b. of Siba 181. c d. of the Antiochians 327. c d. of the Iewes against the Romanes 631. b. Rebellion of Scythians and Sarmates 749. c. Rebellious punished 80. g. Rebels kill an Embassador 637 d c. Rebels conquered 420. g. Reconciliation of Absalon 147. h i. of Herod and his sonnes 590. k l. of Pheroras with Herode 428. h. Records of the Greekes for the Iewes antiquitie 768. l. 769. c. Reformation of Gods seruice 243. b c. Religion contemned cause of calamitie 110. i k l. 111. c. 112. i. 113. c. see pietie contemned Religion renued 213. a. Religion of the Esseans 615. d. Reliques of Iupiter taken away 9. e. Remissenes in punishing cause of sinne 139. f. Renowne of Salomons vertues 202. c. Repairing of the Temple 235 c d. Repairing of the Citie Ierusalem 239. b. c. Repentance of the people 74. l. of Achab 217. l. of Dauid 171. a b. of Ioachas 236. i. Report of Iosephs death 662. g. Report of the behauiour of Samuels sonnes 130. l. Repose 3. e. Request of Ionathan 327. b. of the Iewes 612. l m. of the Romans to Caesar 703. c. Requitall of courtesie 20. g. 45. c. required 101. c. performed 102. l. Resolution of Iosephs brethren 29. d. Restitution of things borrowed 95. c. Restoring of God seruice 234. l. m. Returne of Iacobs sons 35. of the spies 73. f. 101. a. of Vespasian 746. h. Reuenues of Priests 81. c. of Mephiboseths lands 168. h i. Reuenues of Agrippa 511. c. of Archelaus 613. b. of Pheroras 592. l. Reuerence of the Sabboth 616. i. Reuerence of the Roman souldier 648. i k. Reuolt from the Iawes of the fathers 86. h. Reuolt of the ten Tribes 206. l. 207. a. Reuolt of the Germans 748. l. Reward of learned preachers 220. i. 253. d. Reward of valiant men 727. e f. Reward of such as keepe the law 794. l. Rewards oppresse Iustice 130. l. Riches of the Madianites 87. e f. of the Ainites 103. f. of Dauid 189. f. of Salomon 202. l m. 203. a b. 204. g h i. of Ozias 239. c. Riddle of Sampson propounded to the Thamnites 121. f. dissolued ibid. Ripping of womens wombes foretold 230. g. Riuer of Arnon 82. h i. Riuer Sabaticus 749. c. Robbers punished 406. l. Robberies in Trachona 406. i. winked at 623. d. Roboam entreated to ease the peoples burthen 206. deâ—…ied their petition ibid. l. abandoned of ten tribes 206. l. forbidden to make warre 207. a. builded strong cities 208. m. his wiues and children 209. a b. impietie ibid. maketh brasen shields â—…10 dieth ibid. h. Rocke veeldeth forth water 55. c. Road of the Philistines 150. h. Rod of Moses turned into a serpent 46. i. deuoureth the Egyptians rods 47. d. Rod of Aaron fructifieth 81. a. the Romans gouernment how farre it extended 649. a b. Romans ouercome the Iewes 569. b c e. sacke Iericho 579. b. get a great pray ibid. b. skirmish with the Iewes 610. i k. fire the porches ibid. k. haue subdued the Athenians c. 628. k. l. yea the whole world ibid. m. 629. a c flie into the kings forts 632. m. are slaine 633. d. burne Ioppe c 636. l. burne the temple gates 638. h. ouercome the Iewes 645. e f. retire without their purpose 656. g. enter Iotapata 657. e f. moued with no compassion 658. g. their warlike discipline 647. e f. 648. g. c. attempt nothing rashly ibid. l m. 669. a. driue the Iewes to their ships 663. c d. assault Gamala 667. f. 668 b c. many slaine 668. h. winne Gamala 670. 〈◊〉 i. fight with the Iewes 701. c. their feare and trouble ibid. c. ouercome the seditiouâ—… 709 a. get the first wall 711. b. driuen out by the Iewes 713. a hindred by the Iewes 714. h. plant their courts of guard 721. c. feare the desperatenes of the Iewes 726. h. vndermine the wall 726. m. inuade Antonia 728. k. set Ierusalem on fire 741. b. enter Ierusalem 743. d. finde treasure in the vaults 744. l ruinate Citie and Temple 745. c. dining Roume fell downe 581. c. Ruben the sonne of Iacob 24. i. why so called ibid. his sonnes 39. c. his disswasion 29. d e. and his perswasion 30. b. intended to saue Ioseph 30. i. pleadeth before Ioseph 34. m. 35. a. Rue of admirable greatnes 752. k. Ruine of the Israelites sought 41. c d. Ruine of the Amalechites foretold 47. d. Rulers of Ierusalem 639. d. Rumor of Herods death 387. d. Rumor of the Emperour 478. h. 497. d. Ruth her loue to Naomi 124. g. maried to Booz ibid. l. m. 125. a. S Saba chiefe Citie of Ethiopia 44. l. called Meroe and why ibid. l. Sabach and Nephanus Dauids captaines
c. neglecteth the Prophets counsell ibid. surprised 154. l m. his eies put out 255. a. his death ib. f. Sedition against Moses 73. a. 76. m. 80. k l. of Chore for the priesthood 77. b c d. Sedition against Roboam 206. l. 243. f. of the Samaritans against the Iewes 288. h i. among the people 302. i. of the Iewes 480. g. betwixt Senat and people 503. f. Sedition at the passeouer 452. l. betweene the Iewes and Samaritans 519. f. for the golden Eagle 608. h. in Ierusalem 610. h. 6â—…3 b 〈◊〉 betweene Greekes and Iewes 635. c. a threefold sedition 697. e. tooke the Citie 709. a. Seditious more impious then the Sodomites 724. h. Seditious 623. b c. beaten 618. g. bribe Albinus 623. d. flie to the temple and why 629. l. gaue not eare to those in authoritie 631. f. put the Romans to flight 662. l. agree among themselues 700. l m. 710. h. challenge the sodden childe 734 l. summon Titus to parley 739. f. take away the kings treasure 741. c d. their vtmost hope 742. g. kept in Acra and in Vaults 743. a. Seed of the woman 4. l. shall bruise the serpents head ib. l. Seeds at first grew out of the earth 3. d. Seeds not to be mixed togither 92. l. Sehon king of the Amorites denieth passage to the Hebrewes 82. i. ouerthrowne by them ibid. l m. is slaine 83. a. Seir what it signifies 21. a. Seir Esaus dwelling place 26. l. Seleucus Nicanor priuiledgeth the Iewes 295. d. Selecus Soter raigneth in Asia 302. g. Sem Noahs third sonne 9. a. couereth his fathers shame 11. 〈◊〉 his progenie ibid. d. Semechoâ—…tis a lake 667. b. Semiramis built not Babylon 772. h. Senaar a plaine 9. a. Senabarus one of the fiue kings of Assyria 13. e. Senacherib surpriseth the Cities of Iuda 245. b. besiegeth Ierusalem ibid b c. his army striken with the pestilence 246. k. himselfe slaine ib. Senate perswadeth Claudius to resigne 503. b. Senates decree c. 360. m. Senates answere to Agrippa 620. g. their repaire to Claudius 620. i. Sencelesnesse of Achaz 242. g. Sentence against Herods sonnes 596. m. Sephora Moses wife 46. m. Sephoris walied 464. i. spoyled 551. d. entertaineth the Romans 636. m. Sepulchre of Dauid 190. g. of Memnon 618. l. Serpents tempting of Eua 4. i. his subtiltie ibid. h. his punishment ib. m. 5. a. enemy to man 4. m. wherin his strength lieth and how easily killed ibid. m. Serpents verie hurtfull destroyed 44. i k. Seruants of Elizeus 227. b. Seruants of Salomon happie and why 203. c. Seruant of Abraham taketh his oth 19. d. his praier and eare in discharge of his message 19. c. 20. g h i k. Seruiâ—…e of God neglected 242. h. Seruice of forraine Gods 204. i k. 237. d. 242. h. Seruice of Antipater 577. c. Seruices of the Gabeonites 104. k. Seruitude of the Egyptians great 40. k. of the Hebrewes insupportable 41. c. 46. g l. 47. c. Seruitude of the Israelites 113. d. and why ibid. e. 114. g. m. 715. a. c. Seth sonne of Adam 6. h. a vertuous man ibid. h. left a godly issue ibid. h. his age and death 7. b. Sethosis king of Egypt 770. Seuen men of Sauls kinred punished 1â—…2 k. Seuentie Iewes with Iohn and Simon sent into Italy 750. h. Seuentie interpreters 293. b. 785. a. Seueritie of Herode 407. a. Sextus Caesar gouernour of Syria 362. g. writeth in Herodes behalfe ibid. l. selfeth the presidents place 363. b. slaine 366. g. 572. k. Sheepshearing of Nabal 152. h. of Absalon 172. m. Shewes at Caâ—…sarea 746. i. Ships of Salomon 203. e. of Iosaphat c. 224. i. Shipwracke of Iosephus 530. l. Siba manureth Mephiboseths lands 168. h. accuseth him getteth his goods 180. i k. Siba sonne of Bochri 181. incenseth the people to rebellion 181. c. besieged by Ioab 182. g. his punishment ibid. h. Sibils prophecie of Babel 9. c. Sicarians 755. d. besieged 756. i. authors of new calamitie 761. e. taken 762. g. Sichama Iosuahs habitation 108. k. Sichem defloureth Dina 26. m. desireth to marrie her ibid. m. is slaine 27. a. Sichemites slaine 27. a. Sichemites constitute Abimelech their ruler 116. c. banish him 118. h. are slaine and their Citie sackt ibid. k l m. c. Sicknes of Ieroboams sonne 210. i. Sicknes of Ochozias 224. k. Sicknes of Ioram 130. k l. Sicknes of Adad 229. f. Sicknes of Ezechias 246. m. Sicknes of Herode 447. d. Sicle 66. g. Siege of Ierusalem 164. g. 245. a 〈◊〉 deferred 689. d. Signes of the law 91. c. Signe of Ezechias recouerie 257. a b. Signes before the destruction of Ierusalem 738. i k. c. 739. a. c. Signe of a true historie 766. g h. Signification of the golden head 259. c. Silas captaine of the kings guard 552. m. Silas groweth into hatred 509. a. Silon corrupted with money 376. g. Silua besiegeth Massada 756. i. Simei pardoned 190. g. punished 192. g h. Simeon the sonne of Iacob 24. i. why so called ibid. i. he and Leui slew the Sichemites 27. a. left as a pledge with Ioseph 35. d e. his sonnes 39. e f. Similitude 117. f. 271. a b 685. c. Simon succoureth the Galileans 309. e. taketh Bethsura 328. l. declared high Priest 331. c d. animateth the people against Tryphon ibid. c. his authoritie 332. m. raceth the Castle of Ierusalem 333. a. maketh warre against Antiothus 333. f. 334. g. traiterously slaine 334. h. 560. k. Simon degraded 442. i. Simon affecteth the crowne 456. k l. 611. b. Simons counsel against Ioseph 540. k. m. Simon the Galilean 614. l. deuiser of a sect ibid. Simon killeth many of his countrimen 634. l. m. his parents wife c. 635. a. Simon the sonne of Giora committeth rapines and murders 644. g h. Simon of Garasa 690. g. assembleth the theeues ibid. spoyleth Idumaea 691. b c. assaulteth the temple 693. a. his campe 708. l m. apprehended 744. m. 746. l. kept for the triumph ibid drawen through Rome with a halter 751. d. Singing looke song Single combate 142. h. Sinne escapes not vnpunished 153. a. Sinnes of the Iewes against the law 716. g h. Sinne cannot escape Gods Iustice 746. m. Sisara captaine of Iabins host 115. a. put to flight and slaine ibid. d e. Situation of the land of the Amorites 83. b. Situation of the higher Calilee 646. k. Situation of Iotapata 651. c. Situation of Gamala 667 c. Situation of Massada 755. d. Sixe thousand Iewes consumed with fire 738. g. Skirmish of the Romans with the Iewes 610. i k. Skirmish betweene the Galileans and Romans 656. m. Skirmish of Simon and Iohn 698. h i. Slaughter one of another 117. d. 137. d. 224. h. Slaughter on the Sabboth day 633. f. Slauerie of the Hebrewes see seruitude Slaughter of Achimelech and his familie 149. c d. Slaughter of Ochozias seruants 233 a. Slaughter of Baals priests 233. d. Slaughter of Azarias 420. g.
Moses hands ib. a. Vse of the plough by whom found our 5 ib. W Waies paued 204. 2. Waight of gold brought 203. d. Waights found out and by whom 5. e. Wall built about Ierusalem 721. a. first Wall taken 711. b. second Wall taken 712 l. Walles of Ierusalem finished 276. i 〈◊〉 Walles of Iericho fall downe 102. b. Walles of Babylon 772. k. Want of water 657. c. Want of water and victuals 53. a. 225. d. 227. f. c. 403. 2. Warrantize of securitie promised Rahab 101. c d. Warre how to be vndertaken 97. c d. Warre intended for libertie 674. m. Warre betweene Antonius and Augustus 5â—…4 h. Warre betweene the seditious and peaceable 632. g. Warre of the Aegyptians with the Ethiopians 43. c f. Warre of the Amalechites against the Israelites 56. li. Warre of the Philistines against the Israelites 142. g. 154. l. Warre of Dauid 165. a b. 166. l. Warre of Adad against Achab 218. g. ciuill Warre of the Israelites 111. d c. 112. g h. 160. h i k. 207. 〈◊〉 211. e f. Water powled on the earth c. 46. k. Water turned into bloud 48. g. h. Water failed the Israelites 53. a. changed ibid. Water of Bethieems well c. 183. c. Water deliuered by measure 652. i. Wearinesse of the Hebrewes 53. a. Whale deuoureth Ionah 239. a. Witch of Endor 155. a. Witch of Arabia 600. g. Wicked man punished 153. a. 230. k l. Wickednesse most horrible 110. l m. 111. a. Wickednesse cause of calamitie 111. a. 112. g. c. 113. 〈◊〉 114. g. m. 126. g. c. Widow of Sareptha 214. l. Widow of Obedias 226. l. Wife of Putiphar enticeth Ioseph to lie with her 31. a b c. ascuseth him to her husband 32. g h. Wife of the high priest 71. d. Wife of the dead brother 94. i k. Wife of the Leuit villanously abused 111. 2. Wife of Phinees 126. k. Wife of Ieroboam 210. i k. goeth to aske counsell and why ibid. i k. Wiues of Herod 437. e. Will of God to be obeyed 8p c d. Winding staires 196. g. h. Wisedome of the lawmaker 2. l m. of Ioseph 33. c d. 34. g 〈◊〉 Wisedome of Salomon 193. h. 202. m. 203. a. Wisedome of Daniel 258. g. a false Witnesse his punishment 91. f. false Witnesses suborned 217. d. Wiues of Salomon numbred 204. i k. iâ—…ed him to coâ—… Idolatrie ibid. k. Wiues of Herod 437. e. Wiues of Esau 21. d. 22. i. Wiues of Iacob 24. i k. Wiues of Lamech 5. f. Woman created 4. g. tempted and fell ibid. h i. punished 4. l m. Woman married for a virgine c. 93. f. two Women accuse one another 193. 2. Women seduce Salomon 204. i. Women at discord 423. c. Women care their owne children 228. g h. 734. i k. Women sing songs 143. c. Womens tearmes 25. c. Word of God not without fruit 242. m. Workmaisters of the Tabernacle 60. l. Workmen building the Temple 195. b c. Workes of God 793. b. World made in sixe daies 3. 〈◊〉 Wrastling of Iacob c. 26. i k. Wrath of God against the Egyptians 51. c f. Wrath of Saul against Dauid 144. m. Wrath of Dauid against Nabal 152. i. Wrath of God against the Iewes 727 b c. Wrath of Florus 625. 2. Wrath of Herode 590. g. 592. k. 662. h. Wrath of Vitellius 696. h. Wrath pacified 552. g h. 564. g. Wrath bridled 735. c. Writers why they omit to speake of the Iewes 775. c. Wrongs done by the Amalechites 98. g. Wrongs done by the Ammonites 168. k. X Xantique a moneth 69. d. Xerxes king of Persia fauoureth the Iewes 272. l. m. his letters to the Princes of Syria ibid. m. 273. a. granteth Nehemiahs request 275. d. Y Yeare of Iubilee 72. g. 7. Yeeres plentie and scarcitie 33. d e f. great Yeere 8. l. Yeeres betweene the building and destruction of the Temple 737. b. Yeeres of the captiuitie of Babylon 265. a. Young men pull downe the Eagle 487. h. 605. b. put to death ibid. d e. Youthly course of Manasses 247 e f. Youthly course of Amos. 248. i. Z Zabulon burned 636. k. Zabulon Iacobs sonne 24. l. what it signifieâ—… ibid. his sons 40 g. Zacharias stoned to death 235. f. and why ibid. Zacharias sonne of Achaz slaine 241. c. Zacharias king of Israel slaine 240. g. Zacharias encourageth the people 271. b. Zacharias condemned by the Zealous 682. k. acquited ibid. l. slaine in the Temple 682. l. Zacharias one of the chiefe of the Zealous 676. m. Zamaris the Babylonian Iew. 438. h. Zambrias marieth Chosby 86. i. speaketh against Moses ibid. 〈◊〉 slaine together with his wife 87. a Zamri king of Israel 213. f. rooteth out Basas posteritie ibid. burneth himselfe in the pallace 214. g. Zaraeus king of Aethiopia 212. k. ouerthrowne ibid. Zeale of Phinees 87. a b. Zeale of the people 248. m. Zeale of Elias 215. f. 216. g h i m. Zeale of Matthias and his sonnes 305. a. the Zealous occasion of violences 673. f. 674. g. why so called ibid. fight with the Citizens 675. c. require helpe of the Idumaeans 677. a. their fiction disproued ibid. d c. tyrannize ouer the liuing and dead 684. k. take Simons wife 691 c. fight with the Idumaeans 692. l. Zeb killed by Gedeon 117. b. Zelpha Leas handmaid 24. i. beareth to Iacob Gad. Aser ib. Zenodorus liueth by spoiles 406. i. accused by Herod 406. l. his countrey giuen to Herode 428. i. Ziphians promise to deliuer Dauid 150. l. m. labour againe to betray Dauid 153. b. Zoilus a tyrant of Straton 341. c. Zorobabel prince of the Iewes 265. e f. 269. c. obtaineth praise and rewards 268. l. and why ibid. FINIS Printed at London by Peter Short dwelling on Bred-streethill at the signe of the Starre 1602. Aâ—… 〈◊〉 1. before the 〈◊〉 of Christ 3963. Genâ—…sis 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. The creation of the world The first day The second day The third day The fourth day The fift day The sixt day Sabbatâ—… Hedio Ruâ—…finus chap Gâ—…es 〈◊〉 â—…entor â—…sicke The yeare of the world 1. before Christis Natiuitâ—…e 3963. 〈◊〉 the moâ—… oâ—… all uing â—…ures Paâ—…acice The 〈◊〉 slouds of Paradice Theâ—… Pâ—…ison or Ganâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hed. Seth. 2. Ephâ—…tes 3. Tygris 4. Gehâ—…n Nilus Hedio Ruffinus cap. 3. The subtilty of the Serpent Adam and Eâ—…ahs fall God speaketh vnto Adam Adam asketh pardon Adams punishment Euâ—…s punishment The seed of the woman that is Christ shall brâ—…ise the â—…rpents head Genes 3. 〈◊〉 â—…pents 〈…〉 The yeare of thâ—… world 〈◊〉 before Christs birth 3963. Hedio Rufâ—…nus chap. 4. Genef 4. Of Cain Abel brethren In the yeare of the world 70. before the birth of Christ. 3894. The sacrifice oâ—… Cain Abel Weake reason in Ioseph Cain slew his brother Abel The talk twixt God and Cain Cains banishment Cain is not bettered by Gods Chaâ—…sements Measures and waights found out by Cain Enosa the first
of the Israelites that were numbred Dauid hauing election of three sorts of punishment chose the plague A huge slaughter of those that died of the pastâ—…lence that was iâ—…flicted by God Dauid prayed for the innocent people A commaundement to â—…ld an Altar The yeare of the world 2930. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1034. Oronna the Iebusite supra lib. 7. ch 3 called Orphona Oronna giueth Dauid his floore The summe that was paied for the threshing floore The place of the Altar that was built Gen 22. Supra li. 1. ch 13 Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. The workmen allotted for the building of the Temple 1 Paral. 22. Dauid gathereth great store of iron brasse wood The building of Salomons Temple is commaunded Dauid counâ—…elleth Salomon â—…o honour God The yeare of the world 2930. before Christs Natiuity 1034. The treasure that was gathered towards the building of the Temple The assistants that Salomon had in building the teÌ„ple The commandement as touching the Arke and laying vp al other sacred vtensils within the Temple Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. Dauid groweth old and numbe Abisace warmeth him 3. Reg. 1. Adonias affecteth the kingdome The yeare of the world 2931. before Christ birth 1033. Bethsabe by NathaÌ„s perswa sion certifieth Daiud of Adonias vsurpatioÌ„ The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuitie 1033. The kingdome is confirmed to Salomon by an oth Salomon is annointed king and placed in his fathers throne Adonias for feare of the kings displeasure flieth from his banquet and taketh hold of the hornes of the Altar Dauid numbreth the Leuites and distribuith their offices 1. Paral 13. The diuision of the Priests into 24. kinreds 2. Paral. 24. The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuitie 1033. He deuided the Leuites into 24. parts Moses posteritie appointed to keepe the diuine treasure 1 Paral. 26. The army deuided into 12 parts 1. Paral. 27. Dauid assembling the gouernors of the tribes commendeth his son Salomon to theÌ„ 1. Paral. 28. Dauid giueth his sonne the modle of the Temple The princes of the people gaue a huge summe of gold siluer brasse precious stones towards the building of the Temple The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs birth 1033. 1 Par. 29. The â—…fices and â—…stiuall solemâ—…ed vpon Salomons coronation Hedio Ruffinus ch 16. 3. Reg. 2. Dauids last counsaile to Salomon Dauid willeth Salomon to punish Ioab Dauid coÌ„mendeth Berzillai sonnes to Salomon How Simei should be punished The yeares of the age and raigne togither with the vertues of Dauid The yeare of the world 2923 before Christs birth 10â—… The sumptuous sepulchre of Dauid Hircanus taâ—…th a huge summe of money out of Dauids tombe Herode spoyleth Dauids sepulcher The reare of the world 2931. before Christ birth 1033. 3. Reg. 2. Salomon king of Israel after Dauids death The yeare of the world 2931. before Christi Natiuitie 1033. Adonias requireth Abisace to wife Adonias is slaine Abiathar is dispossessed of the priesthood The genealogy of the high Priest Sadoc Ioab is slaine Banaia is substituted in his place The yeare of the world 29â—…1 before Christs Natiuitie 1033. Sadoc obtaineth Abiathars place in the Priesthood Simeies punishment and death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. 3. Reg 3. Salomon marieth the king of Egypts daughter and establisheth the kingdome God appeareth to Salomon by night in a dreame and willeth him to â—…ke that which most of all he desired Salomon requireth wisedome at Gods hands who with it giueth him riches and honours also The yeare of the world 2931. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1033. Two women accuse one an other for â—…chaunge of their children Salomon coÌ„mandeth both the children to be deuided into two parts Salomon by the speech and gesture of the women discouereth the true mother Salomons gouernours and captaines 3. Reg 4. The happy peace of the Israelites in Salomons time Salomons daily expences Salomons chariots and horsemen The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuity 1033. Salomons prudence and wisedome Salomons methode in coniuration whereby he cast out diuels The author in this place abuseth the giftes of God bestowed on Salomon in extending them to those artes which are sorbidden by the expresse word of God A Iew casteth out diuels Hirams embassadours to Salomon 3. Reg 5. Salomon requireth carpenters and workemen from Hiram Hiram promiseth Salomon wood and in steed thereof requireth corne The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs birth 1033. The truth of Iosephs history The king sendeth Hâ—… great quantity of wheat oyle and wine The order of the carpenters in Libanus The order of the malons and other workmen Hedio Ruffinus ch 9. 3. Reg. 6. When the building of the temple began The depth of the foundatioÌ„s of the temple The height length and breadth of the temple The porch before the teÌ„ple The cels which were builded in the circuit of the temple The beames and wals beautified with gold The yeare of the 〈◊〉 2933 before Christs birth 1031. Winding staires The temple deuided into two parts Two cherubims The pauement gates and all other things in the temple beautified with gold Salomon sendeth to Hiram for Vram a cunning workman 3. Reg. 7. A vessel called the brasen sea Ten brasen bases of the lauer Ten round lauers The yeare of the world 2933. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1031. The vse of the sea and the other ten lauers The Altar and vessels appertaining to the same The Table of sacâ—…ed bread The candlesticke The cuppes and vials The bowles The censors Priestâ—… garmeÌ„â—… Instruments of musicke The inclosure before the temple The Fanâ—… The huge treÌ„ches where in the foundation of the temple was laid filled Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4 3. Reg 8. Salomons temple was consecrated in the moneth of October The Arke is caried into the temple The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs Natiuity 1023. The Priests place the arke of God in the sanctuarie and in it the tables of stone wherin the tenne commaundements were written The candlesticke table and altar of gold The bâ—…asen altar A cloud in the tabeinacle Salomons praier vnto God Godimmeasurable The cause why the temple was builded God is true in his promises Salomons praier wherein he thanketh God for his benefits and beseecheth his future protection The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs Natiuitie 1023. Salomon humbly beleecheth God that he will protect this temple as his own house He prâ—…ieth that â—…angers may be heard aâ—… 〈◊〉 this place A 〈◊〉 from heauen consumeth Salomons sacrifies 3. Reg. 8. Salomon exhorteth the people to praise God and to giue him thanke and to pray vnto him 3. Reg. 8. Salomons sacrifices in the dedication of the Temple The feast of Tabernacles The king dismisseth the people 3. Reg. 9. God appeareth againe to Salomon and promiseth him all blessings if he swarued not from his fathers precepts A grieuous commination against the Israelites if they fall from the way