of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
ordayning that from our Money a iust ransome should bee payed to all those that held them Prisoners valuing at a certayne price and summe for euery head of them with desire to giue order by reason and to remit them into good estate and tranquillity whom the Impetuosity Cruelty and Disorder of Warre had disturb'd and diuerted from Right and Equity In which wee esteeme to haue done a good and holy deede as a worke yeelding thankes to the Great GOD for all his great benefits receiued from him wee make him this Offering for hauing adorned and celebrated before all the World this our Kingdome with a most remarkable Peace Tranquility and notable Glory And those others which had beene Slaues and Bondmen in our Army wee haue ordayned Souldiers in the Company and them who haue beene found more recommendable in Faith and Fidelity wee haue made them Chiefes and most aduanced in our Court. Further because we desire those and all others of the Nation spread and scattered through the Vniuerse to bee thankefull to our Fauours wee haue deliberated to make that your Law which is Written in Hebrew Letters should bee Translated into the Greeke Language and that our Royall Library bee adorned therewith as it is with other Books you shall doe well then as a thing to vs very agreeable and correspondent to our Designe and Intention if you elect out of euery Tribe or Line of your Nation sixe of the most Ancient Personages and those shall bee found of the best breeding and sufficiency and most Authorised in the Seruice of the Law and haue the best Style in Writing to make for vs this Translation for so shall the Verity thereof bee best and cafiliest drawne if the Company of the Interpreters bee men of mature Iudgement and well exercised in the Law well waighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needefull there be Solicitude curious Study and Meditation which may bee found in the Many see more then one onely consideration of many who are more sharpe more subtile and more cleare-seeing then of one alone Moreouer wee shall esteeme that by th' accomplishment of so great a Worke there will redound to vs great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore wee haue sent vnto you Andrea Chiefe of the Guarde belonging to our Person and Aristeus men of Honorable place in our Court hauing Commission from our part to present you with Iewels for your Sacrifices and for other vses an Hundred Talents of Siluer Besides heerein you shall doe vs contentable pleasure and courtesie resenting Amitie if you haue neede of any thing to require it of vs for wee will not fayle to accomplish and accommodate you therwith immediately To this Epistle Eleazar made Answere in these words ELIAZER Pontiffe to King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queene Arsinöe and my Lady your Sister and your Children my Lords praysed be God for health is a thing to be desired and thanked for as a due vnto him which is the Giuer thereof As for vs wee are in good prosperity also lauded be the Giuer Wee haue receiued your Letters which brought vnto Vs great Contentment by reason of your Counsell Enterprise and Designe as also for the loue and good will you beare to vs. Hauing receiued them wee made a great Assembly of the People to whom by a long Discourse hauing made knowne your Liberality towards our Nation and demonstration of your Presents and Oblations to the end they should vnderstand your holy affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickely the twenty Vessels and Viols of Golde the thirty of siluer which we haue sent the fiue cuppes of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of siluer for the prouision and re-eadying of the victimes and other Vses requisite to the Sacrificers Which Iewells were to vs presented by Andrea one of our Princes and Aristeus Persons truely worthy of note both in corporall beauty and excellency of Behauiour and Condition as also rare Knowledge briefely Lords worthy in all things of your Conuersation and Iustice by whom wee haue beene fully informed of your will and intention according with the Tenor of your Letter Wherefore wee will wholy put our selues into endeauour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to well bring to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you haue obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an inestimable Benificence Whereupon wee haue offered to GOD the Sacrifice of Thankesgiuing for You your Sister Children and Friends and the whole multitude of people hath prayed to GOD for your Prosperity and that it will please him to addresse your affection in all your Acts and that GOD the Ruler of all things will make your Realme to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound vnto your Vtility and Profite After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being to 〈…〉 wee haue chosen the persons 〈…〉 sort and men of honor and of good life and Report beeing sixe of euery Tribe or Line which we haue sent to you with the Holy Law which was left to vs by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to returne them vs after the Translation of the Bookes shal be accomplished These are the Names of those which were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes for to go into Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of MOSES Of the first Tribe IOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoâ—lus Adeus Mathias Eschâ—â—ias Of the third Neemias Iosephus Theodosius Baseas Ornias Dacis Of the fourth Ionathas Auxeus Heliseus Annanias Chebrias Sacheus Of the fifth Iasacus Iacobus Iesus Cabateus Simon Leuis Of the sixth Iudas Iosephus Simon Zacharias Somelns Selemias Of the seauenth Sabbateus Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The eighth Theodosius Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The ninth Theophilus Abrahamus Arsamus Iason Endemias Danielus The tenth Hieremias Eleazarus Zacharias Baneas Heliseus Datheus The eleauenth Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the answere to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare vnto you the most succinctly I possible can the beauty and Decoration of the things we found in Hierusalem being with Eleazer and those also which were sent vnto him for all was wrought with singularity of manufacture and of most exquisite beauty the King beeing therein so carefull and intentiue to performe abundantly all that was necessary for excellency of finishing the Worke that of his owne proper motion hee went and came visiting euery one of the Maister-Worke-men and Gold-smithes whom hee helde so close to their businesse
all things neoessary for the Life carefully prouided and prepared with great conuenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselues to the Interpretation of the Law in which they began to trauell disputing and conferring together of euery thing vntill they came all to one generall accord and consent to resolue in a true sence aduisedly The which done they set downe in Writing that which was so by them composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the aduice and counsell of all they put it apart that the same after might bee put into the hands of Demetrius Their Colloquiums and Conferences lasted from the Morning vntill nine of the Clocke and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Ayre for their health after all things were sumptuously administred vnto them For Dâ—rothea who had the same in charge was therein so carefull that there was nothing made ready for the Kings Person but euery day they had as much of the same to euery single person and hee would once the day come to visit them with courtship in his owne proper Person and they sometimes to salute with reuerence the King and so returne to priuacy Euery Morning it was custome to make their prayers to GOD after they had washt their hands in the Sea as the Iewes accustomably vse Lauations so after to their readings and interpretations I was so bold to aske them why they so washed their hands before they made their prayers to which demâ—â—nd they made this Answere that this washing of the hands did admonish them to doe nothing wickedly but to accomplish all things of their actions to Piety and Sanctity because that all the workes they doe with their hands might bee effected according to iustice and truth and cleanenesse as we haue before-sayd To conclude these Personageâ— being in such Serenity of ayre Beauty of dwelling Tranquility of silence and Pleasantnesse of repose and Royall entertainment finished the worke vndertaken and which is a note of maruaile they had so expresly taken order amongst themselues and followed it with such care and diligence that the Interpretation of Law was fully finished in the space of 72. dayes Demetriuâ— then seeing the Translation and Interpretation of the Law was so wel and happily brought to an end made the meanes that the multitude of the Iewes then being in Aegypt were conuccated to the place where the Worke was then perfited to whom hee shewed how all things had beene done beginning with all circumstances of the Enterprize and all in the presence of the Interpreters To the King all the Multitude attributed great praise and gaue infinite thankes for being the mediate cause of so important a good and a benefit of such excellency Lâ—â—ewise they shared a part of the Honour to Demetrius intâ—earing him to shew them that fauour as to haue a Copie for their Princes for to haue their aduice and to deliberate vpon the profit or damage might arise vpon the same In this sort was the Law reuiewed visited and re-knowne in the assistance of the Princes of the Iewes and of the Multitude and of the Ambassadors of Townes vpon the which spoken and proclaimed the 72. Doctors being present that all was well and holily Translated and that all was most very well so prouided that nothing thereof should be changed and that all things should remaine in the same estate without alteration of the least thing or title of the world As the Translation was thus approued of all and the Decree made for the ratification of the same Demetrius â— commanded that according to their custome they should make Imprecations and Maledictions against those which should vndertake or should presume to adde any thing thereto or to transferre it otherwayes by changing efficacing ordering any thing whatsoeuer it were vnto that which was so perfectly now written And when all was perfected and accomplished in this manner hee adjured the Iewes to hold keepeâ— and preserue it inviolably foreuer the which they promised to doe with great Ioy and Acclamation So Demetrius finding himselfe greatly satisfied in himselfe especially because hee had beene a Conductor of the Worke and that hee had giuen to the King such contentment in the happy execution and accomplishment of his charge and of this his felicity made great congratulations to the King Who hauing after with great diligence visited this Interpretation and considered the profundity of the Sence of the Law-maker which hee admired with an astonished regard hee sayd to Demetrius how comes it to passe that none of the Poets or Historians hath not put their hands to this Law being that it is a thing of so high and ☞ perfect Excellency To which Demetrius answered that no body neuer durst touch it as well for the reuerence of the same as also that GOD hath forbidden it so as some hauing presumed to attempt it haue beene chastised with Diuine punishment Whereupon they haue beene constrayned to desiste from their enterprize For as testifieth Theopompuâ— which by a recitall of himselfe saith that presuming to transferre into his History some secrets of the Holy Law hee was afflicted more then 30. dayes following with a perturbation of his vnderstanding But calling vpon GOD in the interuals and cessations of the most vehement fitts of this his Malady it was told him in his sleepe this punishment was sent him from God for hauing presumed to prophane and falcifie things Sacred So by this Vision he was corrected repented and re-came to his good sences againe And sayd Demetrius vpon mine owne knowledge I affirme that Theodorus a Tragickeâ— Poet willing to vsurpe something from this Law therwith to enrich his Poesie lost his sight Neuerthelesse aduising with himselfe and concluding that this his audaciousnesse was the cause of his blindnesse prayed to God for many dayes whereby hee came againe to health The King saying that this was wisely spoken adored the Law making Commandement that the Books of the same should bee preserued the most curiously and carefullest that might be possible and deuising with the Interpreters benignely and graciously prayed them that when they were in Iudea they would often come and see him Finally hee gaue order that they should be honourably returned backâ— and conducted into theirâ— Countrey promising them that how oft soeuer and when they pleased to returne he would entertaine them as his principall friends so honouring them with faire presents according to their merits and commanding that all things should bee made ready for the dispatch of their returne vsing towards them all Royall Magnificence Hee gaue to euery one of them three rich Habilliments and two Jalents of Gold and an excellent Cup of the waight of a Talent Moreouer furniture for the whole furnish of a Chamber ouer and aboue hee sent to Eleazer ten Table-beds or Couches of ease which had the feete of Siluer and ornified with all that was