of reines very thicke powdred with precious stones cristal amethists and very many saphyres Then all his chief men of warre went about him in their coates of fence drawen swordes in their handes with helmes on their heades as in time of warre After theÌ„ came Archelaus his sonne that was made king Then folowed him all the people There were fiftie of his seruauntes that wente aboute the beare with euery man a chafing dishe of gold in his hande wherin they burnt swete woodes and perfumes euery foote casting vpon the herse pure miâ—rhe as many as went aboute hym He was borne by certayne great lordes noble meÌ„ of Israel vpoÌ„ their sholders going leasurably and with a maiestie til they came to ErodioÌ„ where they buried him with great honour that like was neuer done to any king These thinges done there resorted together suche as hated him were wery of their owne liues whiles Herode liued reioysyng that they hadde scaped his haÌ„des saying we haue loked till our eies bleared waytinge for the death of Herode that tirant and bloud sheder that oppressed vs with such heauy yokes left vs nothing to liue on for the great tributes taxes that he layd vpon vs. Yet now Archelaus his sonne is worse then he Wherfore thei coÌ„sulted together cast their mindes good willes toward Antipater the sonne of Salumith the kinges sister one of the bloud of Chasnonani and went with him to Oct. Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he woulde not graunt theÌ„ their sewte Yea rather he coÌ„firmed assured the kingdom to Archelaus Who wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord for he maried his brother Alexanders wife that had children by Alexander coÌ„mitted other many great offences The .ix. yeare of Archelaus reigne it chaunced vpon a night he dreamed a dreame Him thought he saw .ix. eyres of corne very good full grow vpon one stalke theÌ„ came a great oxe and slopt them vp all at once at one bit by and by he waked and perceiued it was a dreame Therfore calling one of the Sages or Pharisies vnto him he shewed them his dreame The wise man said This is the interpretacioÌ„ of it The nine eyres freshe and ful be the .ix. yeres which hither to thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great kinge Octauian Augustus This yeare thou shalt be remoued from thy kingdoÌ„ because thou hast neglected the worde of God hast maried thy brothers wife To this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within fiue dayes after Octauian came toward IerusaleÌ„ and when Archelaus weÌ„t to mete him he put him in prison deposed him from his kingdom of Israel made Antipas his brother kinge in his stede He turned his name also called him Herode That done he returned to Rome whiles Antipas was king died themperor Octauian Augustus the .lvi. yere of his reigne Tiberius Cesar succeded him This Antipas also wroughte wickednesse and sundry abominations more then any that was afore him for he toke his brother Philips wife froÌ„ him which had al redy childreÌ„ by Philip. For this shamful deds rabbi Ihon the hie priest rebuked him Ihon baptist wherfor Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Iesus a wise man if it be lawful to cal him a man Iesus Christ for he was a worker of woÌ„derful straunge workes a teacher of such meÌ„ as gladly did heare the truth had many disciples both of the Iewes also of the geÌ„tils This maÌ„ was Christ whoÌ„ after he was accused of the chiefe rulers of our natioÌ„ condeÌ„ned bi Pilate to be crucified thei neuerthelesse ceased not to loue which loued him euen froÌ„ the beginning To these he appeared the. 3. day aliue according as the prophets by deuine inspiratioÌ„ had told before aswel of this as also of many other woÌ„derful thinges which should be done by him And eueÌ„ vnto this day the christiaÌ„ sect which toke their name of him doth coÌ„tinue Against this maÌ„ Antipas of whom we spake before came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whoÌ„ whan Antipas resorted he appreheÌ„ded him laid him in irons sent him into Spaine where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius reign TheÌ„ Tiberius made Agrippa the soÌ„ne of Aristobulus whoÌ„ Herode put to death Antipas brother king in his stede The time that Antipas reigned ouer Israel was .xi. yeres In Agrippas time died Tiberias Cesar Caius succeded him This Caius called him selfe a god and would suffer no man to worship anye thing in his empire but him self He coÌ„tinued not loÌ„g in his digniti but decaied died After him succeded Claudius Claudius beinge deade Nero Cesar was emperor Agrippa reigned ouer Israel xxiii yeares In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presideÌ„ts ouer theÌ„ left them nothing to liue vpoÌ„ besides that punished theÌ„ with diuers tormentes vntill at lengthe they were constrayned to rebell agaynste the Romaine Empire and Nero Cesar to rid them selues from vnder his subiection And aboue all other one Pilus president and captaine of the Romain armye mooste greuouslye oppressed the Iewes and had done many things very wickedlye For not only had he shed innocent bloude rauished at his pleasure wifes and deflored maides in the cities of Iuda but also robbed with great cruelty euery man of his goodes It chaunced that Beronice king Agrippas sister came at that time to Ierusalem of deuotion to visit the holy place She seing Pilus violently to oppresse the people and for paiment of exacttoÌ„s and tollage to flea many of them euen at the entrance of the temple she came forthe wepinge vnto Pilus besechinge him to be fauourable spare the people for she pitied them very greatli Yet Pilus relented nothing but wheÌ„ she was departed from him he flouted mockt her although she were the kings sister that in the temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valeant yoÌ„g man Eleasar sonne of Ananie the hie priest He whiles his father was executing his office could not abide to se the Israelites so ordered at Pilus handes but being enkindled with a ferueÌ„t zele souÌ„ded a troÌ„pet wherby there asseÌ„bled about him forthwith diuerse coÌ„panies bandes of yong meÌ„ good warriours by whose aid he raised a great coÌ„mocion encountred with Pilus the Romainsouldiours of whome he made a great slaughter preuailing much and getting at length thupper haÌ„d of Pilus ouerthrew al his host so that Pilus was constrained to fle alone out of IerusaleÌ„ vnto Egipt In the way as he fled he chaunsed to mete with kinge Agrippa coÌ„ming from Rome from Nero Cesar and going home into Iudea to whome Pilus declared what had happened him thorow the youth of the Iewes at Ierusalem And as Agrippa had passed Egipt and drue toward Ierusalem his sister Beronice directed her letters vnto him
fyt for the warre Then the Romaines flonge with thengines stones into the towne on euery side from the mount munition It chaunced that a greate stone hit a woman with childe wyth such a violence that it passed through her body and caried the childe with it for the space of halfe a mile They cast vp and raised yet other munites also from whence they slinged stones and another like chauÌ„ce happened A stone came and hit one of Iosephes men of warre a valeant man in suche a sort that it deuided his head from his body and made it flie a large mile of AT the same time one of the Romain souldiours diuised with him selfe howe to strike Ioseph with a venomed arrow and gate him vnder the walle where Ioseph was to accomplishe his purpose But Ioseph espied him and cried vnto him hold thy haÌ„d thou wicked felowe and do not kil me With that the felow start somwhat aside being afraid at Iosephs voice and sodeÌ„ly the Iewes oute of the towne poured hote oyle vpon him from the wal that his skin was skalded of and he ran away naked howlinge and yellinge to the Romaines campe where he dyed Vaspasian and his Sonne Titus were fullye determined to continue the assaulte vntill the .xlviii. daye notwithstandynge the walles were so hie that they could not winne the towne Yet at leÌ„gth the men being so spent within the towne and they that remained a liue so weried with toyling that they were not able anye longer to furnishe their watch vpon the walles vpon a certaine nighte Vaspasian and Titus skaled the walles at a quarter wherâ— watchmen were lacking and after theÌ„ many other of the Romain souldiours folowed which went downe on the in side and brake open the greate gate of the towne wherat entred the hole army of the Romaines And being within the towne sounded their trompets and shouted vnto battall The Iewes with the alarme tumulte and hurlye burly of the Romaines awaked out of their slepe and were sore afraied Notwithstanding euerye man toke him to his weapon and into the market place as fast as they might They had made the market place of the towne so large of purpose that if anye busines should happen there might come together the hole city if they would So lokinge about them they saw the Romaine army entring into the town by the way that came from the greate gate Then fought thei with the Romains died eueÌ„ in the market place where they stode exhorting one an other and saiyng let vs die here fightinge and neuer suffer ourâ—solues to be taken aliue But Ioseph and fortye men with him worthye menne al fled out of the towne in to a woode where they founde a certaine caue and hid them selues therin All the reste of the citizens were slaine in that conflicte for they woulde not yelde nor commit them selues vnto the Romaines they trusted them so little For on a tyme a certayne Iewe besoughte a Romaine souldioure to saue his life and the Romaine sware vnto him sayinge God deale thus and thus with me if I slâ—a thee therefore yelde and come hither to me The Iewe required him to geue him his righthand that he might truste him and the Romain retch him his left haÌ„d The Iew beinge dismaied in that greate feare markte not that it was his left hande But when the Romain had once hold of him he kept him fast with that haÌ„d and with his right toke his sword and slue the Iewe that then was naked hauing cast awaye his weapon vpon trust of the Romaine When the Iewes sawe howe the Romaine regarded not his othe but slue the Iewe that vpon truste of his promisse and the othe had yealded him selfe vnto him they determined to dye all together and neuer to truste the Romaines Whereuppon they resolued with them selues vtterlye to die for the holinesse of the Lorde God of Israell But in so doinge they fie we muche people of the Romainesâ— and farre moe then they had done in anye other battaile So at the lengthe the Citye was taken When Vaspasian hadde knowledge where Ioseph was become and of his company he sent Nicanor Pilerimus and Gallicanus with him to Ioseph to wil him to come forth and he should haue his life and not be slaine Then Ioseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den asking them what say ye to this For my part ye wil folow my counsell I thinke best we go oute vnto them but vpon this conditioÌ„ that they wil make vs a formal assuraunce effectuallye as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vaspasian when we come vnto him will be appeased towardes vs. When those men perceiued Ioseph to be enclined to yeld vnto the Romaines they saide vnto him We maruaile at the Prince Ioseph thou that waste chosen oute of thousandes of people and promoted vnto the priesthode and kingedome to sanctifye and halow the LORDE God of Israell waste also appointed graund captaine of so huge an hoste haste seene with thine eyes the shameful reproche of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy sheepe that thou hast yet any desire to liue in this dishonoure What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to liue for shouldest thou not rather desire deathe then life PeradueÌ„ture thou perswadest thy self they cal thee to saue thy life or for thy commodity but without dout this were a vain perswasion For they cal thee for none other in tent then to take thee aliue to bragge how they haue ken Ioseph that was consecrated and addict to the warres and make that an argument their power prospereth and is exalted Now therfore our dear brother and oure prince consider that this thei wil do yea if thei saue thi life But put the case they put thee to death wer it not better for the to die of thine sword then of theirs Yea if it were for nothing but for this it is better forthe to die then to liue leaste thou shouldest heare their reproches their vpbraidinges and their quarrellinges And if they preserue the aliue neuer thinck they do iâ— for thy good but rather for thine ignominy shame whiche is far greuouser then death it self Wherfore our dear brother and our prince what cometh in thy minde that thou purposest to liue after that thou hast loste thy people and thy brethren and to what purpose serueth thi life after thei be gone Marke and consider diligentlye what Moyses of worthy memory oure master did howe he spake before God touchinge the people of Israell O pardone their sinnes saithe he or elsse blot me quite out of thy boke that thou hast written howe he would not liue after the destruction of his people although the almighty said vnto him let me alone that I may wreake mine anger vnon them and consume them Where is nowe Aaron with thee his brother that wente betwixte life and deathe in withstanding the angel that plaged the
people and offered him selfe to die for his people that the plage mighte cease from Israell Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the fielde Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed But hee when he sawe Israell haue the ouerthrowe in the battaile hadde no desire to liue anye lenger but chose rather deathe then life and woulde not be seperated from his brethren nother in life nor death as wel hee as Ionathan his Sonne those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne as the scripture termeth theim Why doest thou not remember our deare Prince the righteousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde who seinge a moste greuous pestilence to rage vppon the people of Israel saied Let thy hande O Lorde I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house For I am hee that haue sinned I haue transgressed as for these thy sheepe what haue they done What haue they offended Where is the holye Lawe smothered and stifled in thy hearte Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart with al our soul and withall oure strength If it be so that the seruice of God consisteth not in this that we should loue whome he loueth and die for his couâ—uaunt and saÌ„ctuary together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord Wherin staÌ„deth it then Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord his sanctuary his people and his law he is to be counted in the Lordes lot made worthye to goe vnto the greate light and shal not see euerlasting darknesse Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest that hast cried so ofteÌ„ in battail I am Ioseph the prieste consecrated to battaile that haue vowed my life for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye and his lande But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them and they order the dispitfullye what wilte thou say vnto them or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes I put the case they cast in thy teeth say thy wordes be but lies How shalt thou auoid that reproche Arte not thou he that saidst men shoulde fighte for the people of God vntil they die in the conflicte and in so doinge their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said whye then wilt thou shun deash and not folowe thy people that are gone before thee to that same lighte Euer hitherto thou hast had the vpper hand wher so euer thou camste in so muche that they that hearde of thee trembled for feare and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines as a vile slaue Shall not this thy dishonoure redound also vnto the people of God Thou that arte a prince a kinge and priest wilt thou be bound in cheines Euerye man shall saye this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die but hath â—â—ued him selfe and his owne life So when they hadde made an ende of talke eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue sainge Hearest thou thou Iosephe oure Prince if thou wilte be ruled by vs firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on that thou maiest die honourablye But if thou refuse to dye honestlye assure thy selfe of this that we will euerye manne set vpon thee and slea thee Ioseph aunswered In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him and receyue it vnto hym also For I am not ignoraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes But hee knoweth the secretes of mannes hearte and he it is that geueth life vnto menne It is God that closeth soules within the bodies and letteth theim oute againe bicause he is the liuinge GOD in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures He hath left with vs a Spirite of life and closed it vp within oure bodies What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut How shall we loose that that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe and that wee are his seruauntes If then we cast awaye life before that GOD take it shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous memorye and wyth other iuste and godlye menne our forefathers Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called and when they were called they came and soo dealt GOD with all holye and Godly men To Moyses our master of worthie memorye the electe of GOD ye knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim and so he did But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe had not God called him Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a maÌ„ to surrendre his life vnto God excepte he require it againe Take example I praye you of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in mighte not he ether haue hanged him self or haue run vppon a knife or at the least haue folowed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die Not withstanding he abode paciently in most extreme paine waitinge til God demaunded again his life and then restored it vnto his Lord god and would not restore it vndemaunded but taried till hys appoynted ende came King Dauid also of famous memory saide Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye and that none mighte let it forth but God I wot wel that death is a greate commodity so be that the soule may return in his due time vnto God that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord he shal come to the greate lighte But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth him self maketh hast to restore his soul before his time and withoute the Lordes calling Wherfore my frendes brethren I would ye shoulde knowe it I am no more cowarde then you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities but that I know I shoulde commit a
Ierusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to mete encouÌ„ter within the field suffered him selfe to be closed vp in the Citye The Kinge of the Grecians therfore raysed great Towers against the citye aparte from the wall digged a trench cast vp a mount TheÌ„ planted their engins named Rams against the gates so that the citie was hard besieged for they beat downâ—one of the turrets the stode vpon the wall wherat all Israel was afraied agreed togither to issue out skirmishe with theÌ„ whatsoeuer should come theron life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet thei so did and slewe many of their enemies put theim also to flighte that thei were coÌ„strayned to encampe them selues furder of from Ierusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Grekes had builded and raced theÌ„ to the grounde Thus they issued oute daiely skirmishynge with Pius vntill the feast of the tabernacles Then sent kyng Hircanus to Pius desierynge him that he would graunt them truice and let them be in peace while the feast lasted His request Pius graunted sent a fatte Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel coueryng his hornes with beaten golde and dressynge hym with fillets of Cristall other precious stones Clad him also in a garment of purple and diuers other precious clothes He sent moreouer plate bothe of siluer and golde full of diuers kinde of spices all to be offered vnto the Lorde When king Hircanus sawe this he went out vnto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chiefe men of warre a great feast and offred him a present of .ccc. pounde weight of golde After that he went to war with Pius in his armye to aide him againste the king of Persia that rebelled against him But sone after he was come with in the laÌ„d of Persia that time of Pentecost was at hande Wherfore kyng Hircanus and the hoste of Israel retourned but Pius and his armye of the Grecians proceaded Whom the king of the Persians met in the fielde slewe Pius hym selfe and vainquished the residue that almost none remained Whereof when tidynges came to Hircanus he was verye glad and returned to Hierusalem with peace and ioye After this Hircanus made manye great battails with the nacions aboute him and had euer the victorye He also came to the mount of Gorizim where he wanne a forte of the Sectaries and Samaritans raced downe the temple that the Sectaries hadde there as their house of Sanctuarye whiche they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Grekes He that builded it was Manasse the priest brother to Schimeon the iust But Hircanus the hye priest pulled it downe .cc. yere after it was builded From thence he went to the citye of Samaria and besieged it This was the mother citye of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to suche distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were faine to eate the carcases of dogges The feast of Propiciation then beinge at hande Hircanus made spede to Ierusalem to execute his office in that feaste for he was the hye priest appointing for generalles of his army Aristobulus his eldest sonne and his second son Antigonus In the mean season they within the towne writ to the kinge of Grece to come to succoure theÌ„ which he did with a great power But these .ii. yong men the kings sons went to meete them with the strength of the Israelites and gaue them the ouerthrow killing them vp almost euery one to the noÌ„ber of .xxi. M. fightyng meÌ„ the rest fled That done the yong men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coÌ„ming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceiued they shoulde haue the GreciaÌ„s of th one side of them the Samaritans Sectaries of thother But he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chauÌ„ced the .ix. day of Tisre Septembre His hart therfore was careful for his sons for Israel Notwithstanding he proceded in his office according as the feast required So as he entred into the house of SanctuÌ„ sactoruÌ„ or the most holiest to offer inceÌ„ce to cal for mercy for his childreÌ„ for the army he heard a voice speaking vnto him Neuer trouble thy minde with thy childreÌ„ with the host of Israel for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard theÌ„ according to the greatnes of his goodnes for thi fathers sakes Let thy heart therfore be right thy haÌ„d pure So the king going out of the saÌ„ctuary declared if to the people WherupoÌ„ the next day they seÌ„t post to Samaria had word again that this was true Wherfore king Hircanus was manified greatly of all Israel for thei knewe that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiryng him with the holy gost and increasyng his kingdome priesthode After this he tooke his iourney to Samaria besieged it a whole yere and at length wan it slewe all also that bare life within it He raced the walles the palaice and burnt vp the citye He had warres also with the Romains and the Arabians and God prospered all that euer he toke in hande So shortly after God gaue him rest and quietnes from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldlye in peace tranquilitie al his time On a tyme the kinge made a feaste to all the sages of Israel that they might make good cheare with hym And being merily disposed he said I am your scholar and what so euer I do that do I bi your aucthoritie Wherfore I pray you if you see any faulte in me or if I do not as it becometh me tell me of it that I maye reforme mine euill waye Then euery man greatly extolled and commended hym saiynge Who is like vnto thee our Lorde kyng so worthye of the kingdome and priesthode so notable in good workes whose woorkes be done for the God of heauen which hast also done so much good to Israel The king was very well pleased with their aunswere and reioysed greatlye Yet was there one amongest them an vndiscrete manne called Eleaser who spake vnaduisedlye to the king And it please your maiestie it were sufficient for you to haue the crown of the kingdome ye might leaue of the crowne of â—he priesthode to the sede of Aaron forasmuch as your mother was captiue in the mount Modiit Incontinente the king was moued and soore displeased against the Sages whiche certaine of his seruauntes that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of sectes perceiuyng one of them inâ—ourmed the king that what so euer that vndiscrete person had spoken it was not without the aduise of the Sages Whereupon the king demaunded of the Sages What law shal that man haue that in the dispiâ—e of the kinge speaketh thinges in his reproche They made answere he is worthy to be whipt Then
wery of their liues for feare of them Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode ruler of Galily desiring him to kil that Hizkias his complices Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria came vpoÌ„ him at vnwares and slue him and his menne Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified he sent a noble reward vnto Herode of siluer gold and precious stones bi whiche and by like meanes he became very famous The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his soÌ„nes for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda desiring that Herode might be called froÌ„ Galily to appere in iudgment and answer with other for the killing of Hezkias The king therfore sente for him he vpon that came to Ierusalem appered before the iudges princely apparelled with a gilt sword gird aboute him whose pride an aunciente man called Samai blamed and repreheÌ„ded also his stoute hearte but he woulde not geue eare vnto him nor yet regarde the iudges When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man to make him away he toke pitie vpon him said We wil not geue senteÌ„ce to day to morow is a new day and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death That night therfore he fled to the king of Siria declaring all what had happened vnto him The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army came with him him self purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him saiyng Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem vnto whom he condiscended after he had once let the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do and had shewed theÌ„ his power Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time as he was worshippinge in the house of his GOD was murdered by the conspyracye of certaine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine as is afore mencioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the couÌ„trey of Macedonia who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self Yea Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him for he had no rule him selfe but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme Moreouer Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time And for asmuch as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him and conspired to kil hym There was a man in great aucthoritie about Aâ—rcanus by whose meanes thei wrought this matter He corrupted the kinges Butler with rewardes to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe which as he had dronke he died These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstandinge they priuely writ vnto Cassius that raigned in Macedonia certifiynge him of this deede Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him who came with hym Malchias Phaseus and Herode Cassius entertainynge them all in his lodgynge willed his men that whatsoeuer Herode had them thei should do it Herode willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demauÌ„ded of the soÌ„nes of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him and wee knowe not whye Therfore Hircauus stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode being certain that this was their dede Wherfore he saide vnto theim This Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an vserer These thinges done Octauian Augustus brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered came vnto Rome and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the gouernement at Rome sent Marcus Antonius to warre vppon Cassius and to reuenge Iulius death Vnto him Hircanus sent a presente a crowne of golde in whiche were set sundrye precious stones praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings and him as there was betwene him and Iulius which Antonius graunted Pacorus About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus to remoue him and to restore the kingdome to him self and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth pouÌ„d weight of gold and a hundreth Israelitish virgins So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel and Antigonus departed oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel that toke his part and foyned them selues to Pagurus These came to Ierusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes gaue many greate assaultes vnto it til at lenght they vndermined the city Then toke they Hircanus and slue Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom cut of besides that one of his eares But Herode escaped fled to August emperour of Rome Pagurê° therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem returned home into Persia cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda geuing to him a very strong army of the Romaines to obtein it withall In the way thither Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus doughter and Marimi her doughter thou she had by Alexander soÌ„ne of Aristobulus and brought theÌ„ again into the land of Israel where he tooke Marimi to wife and was maried with her in the mount of Galile For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte with whome he toke peace Marcus Antonius companion in office vnto Octauian Augustus aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries to subdue them vnto the Romaines together with Egipt Damasco and Siria Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Euphrates and helped him not a litle For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and slue all that would aide Marcus Antonius But Herode mette with them and slue them Wherefore Antonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres hauinge also his letters to all the captaines of Siria after this tenure Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings hath appointed Herode the soÌ„ne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda Therefore assone as these letters shall come
her as one that hath conspired against thee Yet neuertheles I know wel that for the loue thou bearest vnto me thou wouldest spare her for this cause am I come vnto thee that wheÌ„ thou hast put thy sonne to death I also may slea my doughter For it is better that we should make them away then they vs. Herode hearing this was veri glad and gaue credit to his frendship WheÌ„ Archelaus perceiued that Herode had a good opinion of him he altred his communication sayinge to the kinge Firste let vs diligentlye examine and wel try the cause forasmuche as there are manye false witnesses and lyinge persons in the worlde let vs not shed innocent bloud vpon an vncertaintye For Archelaus knew that Herode had geuen to light credite howe he was ready to heare an euil tale which was the cause of all the mischiefe that befell to the people of his house Well Herode thoughte his counsel good One of them that accused the kinges children was Pheroras the kinges brother and to say the truthe he was the chiefe of all Herode loued Archelaus the kinge of Cappadocia as him self whithe Archelaus perceiuinge tourned his talke to rebuke the kinge sayinge Thou arte nowe waxen olde and wel striken in yeares thou suffrest these backebiters to rule thee who stirre thee to worcke all these mischiefes in thy house Yea Pheroras thy brother hathe falslye prouoked thee agaynste thy sonnes When Pheroras heard these wordes he was sore afraide for in dede he had seduced the king Therfore came Pheroras to Archelaus and besought him to saue his life Archelaus aunswered him if thou wilt obtaine pardon for thy wyckednes come and fall before his feete and coÌ„fesse that thou hast spoken falsly against his sonnes then wil I promise thee that he shal be merciful vnto thee and to his sonnes Pheroras did so confessed that he had falsly accused the kinges sonnes Then Archelaus besought the king for pardon and he graunted it After that he intreated him that the yong men might be dismissed and deliuered out of pryson whiche the kynge commaunded to be dooen The yonge men therfore came to the kinges presence and fell downe before his feete the king was louing vnto them embrased them and kist them He made great ioy also that Archelaus came in so good an houre vnto him to whome he gaue for a gift .vii. huÌ„dreth poundes weight of gold many precious stones and concubines and dimisâ—ed him But Antipater againe suborned false accusers and write counterfaite letters in the name of the kinges sonnes to one of the captaines declaringe howe they would conspire and kil the kinge and by suche meanes he encreased the enemities betwene them and their father diuers waies that the king commaunded them to be put in prison and most strong irons to be laid vpon them Besides this Antipater had surprised and won the hartes of the kinges chief rulers and seruantes that they suborned his barber to beare false witnesse againste Alexander howe that he hired him to kil the king at such time as he should shaue his beard WhaÌ„ the king heard his barbar speake he was wonderfullye troubled in his minde in so much that he said I am wearye of my life to heare these pickthanckes that open mine eares and fil my head with tales I can do no waye better then to geue charge that who soeuer bringes me ani such tales hereafter of any bodi he shall suffer death for it Wherfore he commaunded the barber to be slain his two sonnes to be brought forthe and hanged vpon gallowes sheading their innocent bloude Then reioysed Antipater supposing him selfe to be as sure of the kingdome as though he had it in his handes When as he was not aware that although he vvere neuer so hie aloft yet vvas there one aboue higher then he vvho considered his doinges Alexander had two sonnes Thigarum and Aristobulus And Aristobulus had thre sonnes Tigraues Herode Agrippa Alexander Whan the kyng returned to Hierusalem for he was in Samaria by the lake syde whan his sonnes were put to execution he commauÌ„ded that his nephewes shoulde be brought to the courte and taking pitie of them embrased and kissed them weping very sore both he and all his seruauntes For it greatly repented him of the heinous dedes that he had done But whaÌ„ the tyme of the mourning was past he caused to call all the chief of Israell together and said vnto them I am now growen in age and waxen grey headed certaine how shortely I shall die I se here before me these litle fatherles children whiche I neuer can beholde without great anguishe of my minde For when I loke vpon them I call to my remembrance what great domage I haue done vnto their fathers in my rage and headlong furiousnes Nowe therfore I woulde commit them to the fuicion and custody of some man that might be a patron as father vnto theÌ„ to succour them continually to his power All the people aunswered that he had wel spoken He spake therfore vnto his brother Pheroras Thou shalt be their patrone and defendour and shalt geue thy doughter to Thigarus Alexanders sonne He commaunded also his sonne Antipater to geue his doughter to Herode the sonne of Aristobulus And the mariages were made in the kynges presence When Antipater marked the loue that the kynge bare toward his nephewes he begaÌ„ to be in great care for Thegarus Alexanders sonne had a graundfather by the mother side a kinge of greate power namely Archelaus king of Cappadocia He falles down therfore at the kinges feete to dissolue and breake the frendship that he bare towards his nephewes and to leaue speaking in their cause as he had done but he preuailed nothing Therfore he left his father and wente to Pheroras the kinges brother made a confederacie with him Then desired him to frustrate the bond that was betwene him selfe and Herode and also betwene him and Thigarus the sonne of Alexander that was hanged So Pheroras came to the kinge tourned his minde and dissolued the mariages This done Pheroras and Antipater that sate vpon the kinges throne were become great frendes banketting one the other day and night and deuisinge their matters When this came to the kinges eare he was sore afraid of their traines and commauÌ„ded that his brother Pheroras should neuer more come in his sighte Antipater his sonne was sent to Octauian Augustus to establishe the kingdome vnto him and to enter in league with him For Herode was so olde that he could not go Antipater iourneying towards Rome passed through Egipte desirous to see it before the death of his vncle Pheroras And as he trauailed by the hie waies of Egipte there came a certaine marchaunte hauinge a Vyall in his hande close couered which cried saying who wil bie a thing at a great price before he see it or know what it is Antipater meruailed at his words and asked him what was
yoke from their necks and rebelled against the dominion of Ierusalem ioyning their power with the Romaine armye to ayde Vaspasian and Titus For these were afore subiectes vnto the Iewes that sore hadde burthened thē wherefore they came to aide the Romaines and to inuade Ierusalem and the people of the Iewes But the Edomites had not yet associate them selues with Vaspasian and Titus for they were in subiection to the Iewes and serued them So that not one of them aided the Romaines For longe before they hadde moued warre againste Ierusalem and coulde not gette the victorye but the Iewes preuailed againste them and subdued them Hircanus also the fyrste kinge of the Iewes circumcised them They dwelte also in Ierusalem kept watche and warde aboute the house of the Lorde and his couenaunte withoute all rebellion againste the Iewes and Ierosolimites And at that present was thirtye thousande of the best of the Edomites to keepe the walles of Ierusalem and the house of the Lorde After this Vaspasian and Titus with all their hoste toke their iourney from Acho and came to Galile and in the moūt they pitched their tentes Wherof when tidinges was brought to Ioseph howe the hoste of the Romaines lay vpon the moūt of Galile and howe Vaspasian had sent afore him a greate power to repayre the broaken waies to fyll the hooles and caste downe the hilles to leuel the waye that his people might passe the better for he was sore moued against the Iewes Ioseph issued out of zipporie with al his power sette vpon them and flewe them with the sworde takynge suche vengeaunce of them as neuer was the lyke afore for his God was with him Vaspasian and Titus hearing of this determined to set vpon Ioseph at vnwares and to beset all the wayes that he should escape of no syde But Ioseph had intelligence of their commynge wherefore he lefte zipporie and went to Tiberia whether Vaspasian folowed with his hoste Ioseph perceiuing them comming fled from thence to Iorpata the biggest city in al Galile closed vp the gates there remained with his armie THen sent Vaspasian certaine noble men in embassage vnto Ioseph to debate the matter with hym in this wyse Vaspasian generall of the Romaine armie desyreth to know what it should auaile the to be thus pend vp within a walled toun he willes the rather to come forth to entreate of peace with him enter in a league together for it shal be for thy auaile to serue Caesar emperour of the Romaines the thou maiest liue and not be destroied nor yet any of the people with the. Then Ioseph sent embassadours againe to Vaspasian demaunding treuce for a fewe daies that he might cōmen of the matter with the people and let them vnderstande his wordes peraduenture saith he they wil be perswaded to make peace with thee and then wyll we enter in league with the Romaine empire So Vaspasian ceassed from fighting againste Ioseph permittinge him space to deliberate of the thinge Vpon that Ioseph sente Embassadoures to all the people at Ierusalem to the priestes chiefe men rulers and to the reaste of the people lettinge them to witte this Ye shall vnderstande brethren and frendes that Vaspasian generall of the Romaines sente his Embassadoures vnto me inquiring what it shuld auaile vs to be so stiffe against them ▪ and not rather to com forth and to entreate of peace and to ioyne in league together that we maye serue the Emperour of the Romaines so to saue our liues and not to be destroyed And I pray you why wil ye lose your liues your wiues your sōnes doughters why wil ye all fal together vpon the sword that bothe they that shal be left aliue among you shal be led captiue oute of your countrye to a people that ye neuer knewe whose language ye vnderstande not and your countrye to be made desolate your sanctuarye laide waste that there shal not be so much as one man to enter into it Neuer suffre this you that be wise men but rather receiue my counsell come hither to vs that we may deliberat together what conditiōs of peace we shal make for the sauegard of your liues rather then to be destroyed and that ye maye vse the cōmodities of your country be at reaste and peace therin For life and quietnes is to be preferred before death and banishmente The inhabitantes therefore of Ierusalem bothe priestes chief men rulers and all the noble mē of Iudea with the reaste of the people sente vnto Ioseph sayinge Take hede to thy self that thou neuer consent vnto this to receiue conditions of peace with them but be stronge and bolde to fighte vntill suche time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the people die in battaile and so shalt thou fighte the fightes of the Lorde for his people and his sanctuarye with the cities of oure God In the meane season be as be maye so thy power be not with them When Ioseph hearde the determination of the people of Hierusalem howe all sortes with one consent willed by the embassadours the continuaunce of the warres he was wonderful wroth and in a great fury he issued out with all his people and set them in aray againste Vaspasian and the Romaine hoste in whiche conflicte were stayne very many of the Iewes And from the day forward Vaspasian began earnestly and fearcely to warre vpon the Iewes He departed from thence to the citie Gerarta a great citie in the higher Galile beseged it and wan it raced it flewe all the people man woman and childe oxen shepe camelles and asses leauing nothing alyue And then he saide nowe begin I to be reuenged for the Romains which the Iewes murthered in the lād of Iuda Frō thēce he departed brought his armie to Iorpata where Ioseph remained The first day that he entamped aboute Iorpata he gaue his souldiours meate and drynke plenty and made them good chere thē furnished euerye man with weapons So on the next morrow early the Romaine army gaue a great shoute and beset the city round aboute on euerye side In this businesse Ioseph stoode vpon a certaine towre from whence he behelde the huge campe of the Romaines wherefore he sounded forthe a Trumpet gaue a signe to battaile issued oute with the hole power of the Iewes that he had with him and sette vpon the Romaines campe at the fote of the hil continuinge the fighte from morning vntil night And when it began to be darke they ceassed fighting and departed the one sort frō the other the Iewes into the towne the Romaines to their tentes In this battail were very manye slaine on bothe parties aswel Iewes as Romaines The Romaines aduauncinge them selues proudly and stoutly said we wil quickly vanqueshe this little nation as we haue subdued all other nations that we haue conquered that they shall anoy vs no more and afterwardes we shal be at reaste The Iewes also on thother side encouraged them selues
in suretye of my life as longe as I am in thy company and thy sonnes seing Agrippas his sonne innocently put to death by you Gaesar answered Holde thy peace Ioseph I neuer loked for anye goodnesse of Arippas and hys sonne Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my maiestie and how thei wente about to rebell Thou hast brent their bones with thy hands Doest thou not know how I honoured him and his sonne in Iewrye howe I woulde not suffer mine armye to annoy anye of his Cities I aunswered Yes I knowe it was so as your maiestie saieth Then saied he but for all this hath Agrippas requited me again with euill For what time as the nobles of Rome in Iewry went about to make me emperour thinking me somwhat more mete to rule thempire then Vitellius Agrippas persuaded wyth thē that they should not make me Emperoure affirmynge that there was nothinge in me worthye wherefore they shold promote me to that dignitie And after when he came to Rome he wente from one bishop to an other and caused them go to the hye bishop to accuse me of suche crimes as in my conscience I knewe nothinge at all By this I perceiued that Agrippas heart was ful of rancour and rebellion therefore I iudged him to death For vvhere as vvickednes is there it is mete that condigne punishment should not be slackinge And I put his sonne to death likewise For the sonne of a traytoure ought not to liue vppon the earth because that in his hart remaineth the vvorke of his father being conceiued and borne of a rebellious sede But I haue founde thee alwaies faithful and true and therfore I commend my sonne to thy wisdome With this he commaunded my yrons to be taken away from me and beinge released and at libertie he set me honorably amongst the Princes and Senatours Then saied I vnto him Is not this a great dishonour vnto me that I shoulde be deliuered from my bondes and neuertheles the Israelites that be with me to be kept in prison still Now therefore if I haue founde fauoure in thy sighte and if thou wilte do any◠thinge at my sute loose the bonds like wise of al the rest of the Israelits that be with me set them at libertye also and thou shalt be assured that I wil be thy faithfull counselloure while my life lasteth and an ennemye to thy foes to make warre vppon them that assaile thee Vaspasian graunted Iosephe his request and willed them to be let at libertye as manye as were prisoners with Ioseph Shortlye after sente he Ioseph to his sonne Titus that abode at that presente at Alexandria in Egipt to whome he writte concerninge Ioseph in this wise I send vnto thee here my beloued sonne Ioseph a prince of the Iewes a manne of experience trained in warre in whome is greate wisdome he shal be thy father and faithfull counselour thou shalt not do against his counsel nether one way nor other for he is a wise man Wherfore thou shalt reuerence and honoure him accordinge as he is worthye for the Lorde his God is with him and beleue not rashly anye man that shall defame Ioseph vnto thee Yea rather put him to deathe streighte waye that will accuse him for Ioseph is a faithfull man and a good counselloure and who so is ruled by his counsell shall haue prosperous successe in that he goeth aboute Therefore when Ioseph shall come vnto thee after he hathe refreshed him selfe a fewe daies of the laboures and trauailes of the sea then shalt thou prepare to take thy iourney againste Ierusalem to besiege it And if the Iewes receiue the peaceably and wil submit them selues vnder the Romain empire then beware thou endamage them in nothing but rather repair their cities let them be fre frō altribute for the space of .ii. yeares yet of this condition that thrise euery yere they sette a flagge with the armes of the Romaines vppon their wals that is to say at their thre solempne feastes when as all the Israelites are wonte to resort to Hierusalem to appeare before the Lorde their God Moreouer they shall offer for vs euery feast a sacrifice vpon the most holy alter that is in Hierusalem And if they refuse to make peace with thee thou shalt vtterly race their townes and whosoeuer is left aliue and escape the sworde those shalt thou leade away captiue If so be it they desire to haue Ioseph to be their king we are content therwith In any wise remember to be ruled by Iosephs counsaile he shall be thy father thou his sonne After this Ioseph departed from Rome and came to Alexandria to Titus who hearinge of Iosephs arriual was wonderous glad and al the auncient and wise men with him For Iosephe was full of the spirite of wisedome vnderstandyng counsaile valiauntnes knowledge and feare of God Wherfore he went forth to mete hym accompanied with the captaines of the Romains armye receiued him with great honour Then Ioseph deliuered to Titus his fathers letters Whiche Titus hauinge red saide vnto Ioseph What so euer my father hathe written in these letters I would haue done thē by mine own accord but now that my father admonisheth me of the same I ought to do it the more Wherefore remaine here with me and I will be thy sonne and thou shalt be my father to rule and gouerne me with thy counsel So Ioseph abode with Titus at Alexandria a hole moneth after he came from Rome Then consulted they together to go to Ierusalem and besiege it for Ioseph vnderstode wel inoughe that this came of the Lorde and that his vvorde could not be letted nor hindered Titus therfore and Ioseph with him departed from Alexandria withal their army and pitched their tentes at Nicopolis from thence they came by water to Thanisa so forthe to Iraclea and leauinge that came to Pelisis From thence they trauailed through the desert to Baale Iouim after that to Dicron so to Gaza next to Askelon then to Inboam after to Iapho and so to Cesarea In these iourneis he wan Asam Askalon Iapho withall their townes and castels lying about them THe first yeare of the reign of Vaspasian December the tenthe moneth and senenth daye of the same came Titus with Ioseph and his armye to Cesaria a famous citye built by king Herod In this city he soiourned vntil his hole host were come together as wel of Romaines as of other natione that were vnder the dominion of the Romaines and came to aide them in the siege of Ierusalem Therefore Titus armye was wonderful huge and puissant wherewith he aboade at Cesarea til the could of winter was paste and the moneth of Af drewe nye Iulye The same yeare the ciuil warres grew and encreased in Ierusalem for the Citizens slue one an other withoute anye truce reaste or quietnesse no not in winter when as warres were wonte to cease but sommer and winter both the warres neuer
Prophets slaine amongst those holy men For before the holy temple was the Prophet Sechariahu that iust and holye man buchered and murthered yea without al burial nether was his bloud couered with earthe but yet stil wandreth about and muttereth in the. The blud of Anani also and Iosua the chiefe Priestes was yet neuer couered which were bothe slaine in thy temple as men be wont to kil theues yea the bloud of the godly yonge men and valeant men that would haue reuenged them was shed also by the sedicious like floudes of water How are the harts of the people turned so auckwardly that they wil heare no admonicion of iuste men But are like vnto blockishe images that neither see nor heare nor yet vnderstand any thinge All beasâ—es be they neuer so brutish al plantes and thinges that growe vpon th earth withstande them that inuade them to do them iniury and endeuour to auoid the force of their enemye but thy children the thou kepest within thee are chaunged into ennemies and one brother murthereth an other with the sworde Where is now thy valeauntnes thou that neuer wouldest how to beare the yoke of the gentils vpon thy shoulders but hast cast away the bondage of the Egiptians Philistines Aramites Assirians Chaldeis Persians and Medes Where is the strengthe that God gaue to the Chasmonaites that with a verye smal companye defended thee and preuailed againste the huge and puissaunte armye of the Grekes destroyed the stout souldioures of Babilon vanquished the mightye armye of the Persians slue Kamitiarus and Antiochus and pursued their armies making great slaughters of them and filling al places ful of dead carcases of the gentils They would not be ruled by sinners but veÌ„tred theÌ„ selues to die offring their liues not for their sonnes and doughters but for the sanctuarye of the Lord his temple leaste it shuld be polluted with the idols of the gentils Wher remaineth now the rod of god that holy rod that budded blossomed in the daies of gladnes Nowe is both the sprigs withered and the rod it self also The rod of faith is withered the rod of the kingdom the rod also of thy people froÌ„ whome the holy law is taken away nether is ther any man the can tel where to draw any waters of the heauenly mercy Alas the merciful meÌ„ that haue bene in times paste to their brethreÌ„ both aliue dead how are they now turned into moste cruel tirantes haue mercye of no man Where is the multitude of their mercies wherwith they were woÌ„t honorably to bury their dead Now the corses of their dead bodies couer the face of the hole earthe there is no body wil vouchsafe to bury theÌ„ yea they the wold caÌ„ not be suffred but straitwaies cometh other to theÌ„ kils theÌ„ before they can do it so that they also die lie vnburied are strowed about here there in the fields Such is the guise in the now a daies nether the father to bury the soÌ„ne nor the sonne the father the sedicious watch so diligâ—tly those that be dead least any man should bury them which if they do thei are also slaine by them and lie vnburied them selues The temple of the lord that is in thee and was wont to smell swetelye of spices anointmentes and perfumes How is it now choked with carian donge and most pestileÌ„t stenche of dead bodies bloud of the wouÌ„ded Thy streates are strowed full of deade men some run throughe with glaues and iauelines and other dead for hunger yea they that remaine yet aliue in the citye are as good as deade also and maye be taken for no lesse For they are weary of their liues because of the pestilente dampe of the deade bodyes whiche also hathe bene the deathe of manye and hathe cast many into most daungerous diseases This may worthelye seme to be it that Dauid the annointed of the God of Iacob the pleasaunte and swete musicall Poet of Israell speaketh of Lorde the gentilles are comen into thine inheritaunce they haue polluted the teÌ„ple of thy holines And woulde to God it had bene gentils tilles that thou haddest brought vppe nourished and exalted to do this dede to rebell and sinne againste thee and to pollute thus the holye temple that is in thee For in the maliciousnesse of an ennemye a manne finedeth the halfe of his comforte but in the malice of a frende there is no comforte at all Yea the verye children that thou hast bred broughte vppe and promoted the selfe same haue stuffed the teÌ„ple of the Lord that is in thee with vnburied carcases euery manne killinge his neighboure and the seditious suffringe no man to burye them but sleainge all that attempte to bestowe anye suche benefite vppon the deade in suche sort that they fall deade vppon the corses which they woulde haue buried by that meanes bothe the corses lie caste oute in the fielde no better then the carcases of brute beastes that be founde in deserte places Yea the iniquitie and crueltie of thy citizens O Ierusalem is grown so farre that they were not contente onlye to kil their neighbours but they muste also hewe their bodies in pieces for els they thought thei wer not sufficientlye reuenged althoughe that in so doynge manye tymes the stenche of the deade toke worthye vengeaunce againe of the liuynge by castyng him into vncurable diseases All whiche euils are come vppon thy children because they haue forsaken the lawe of the Lorde and haue traungressed hys couenaunt that hee made wyth their brethren because also they haue sinned againste the Lorde GOD of their fathers in sheadinge the bloude of iust menne and innocentes that were in in thee euen in the temple of the Lord. And therefore are our sorowfull sighbynges multiplied and our wepinge daiely encreased for that we haue bene the cause of all these euils that are befallen vs and are not yet ended O Lorde our God our Sinnes are gone ouer our heades and the wicked actes that we haue committed in thy sight are innumerable The Lorde our God is righteous it is we that haue rebelled against his will we haue prophaned and vnhalowed his lawe we haue broken his couenaunt And euer the more that his Wrathe enkindleth againste vs the more haue we traunsgressed against him Wherfore to hym belongeth iustice iudgement he hath worthelye poured the furye of hys displeasure vppon vs to vs onelye belongeth shame as wee haue aboundauntly at this daie But he will once turne againe and haue mercie vpon vs vainquishe all oure sinnes and caste theim all into the deepe bottomes of the sea So be it AFter these thinges the thirde daye of the firste moneth in the firste yeare of the raygne of Vaspasian Titus his soÌ„ne toke muster of his men in the plaine of Cesaria to knowe the certain number of theim which he had not done afore sence his fathers departure and he founde them verie manye in so muche that they
haâ—â—d them as men voyd of all perceyuing without weying considering that sence the timeye were vnder theÌ„ ye haue alwayes liued in most quietnes and peace I my self when I withstood the Romains in Gahle knew very wel that I shuld be ouercomed at lenght but I cold do nothing for the seditious persones that were with me whyche wolde in no wyse folowe my counsel yea it stode me in hand to take heed of myne owne person that I wer not killed of them after I had once counseled and moued them to geue vp the toune Wherfor seyng the matter stood soo and God knew my hart I thought beste to fight agaynste the Romaynes as I mought and when occasion serued to escape to the Romaynes to take it Further whan I was in the caue wyth my forty coÌ„pamoÌ„s I had ben lost vndone had not God geueÌ„ me couÌ„sel making me away to escape saue my â—yfe For they had almooste slayne me bycause I gaue them councell to yeld them selues to the Romaynes and to obey them For I sawe this was the tyme for the Romaynes to beare rule and that God had appointed them to be Lordes ouer all nacions For this is hys manner lyke as aboue he hath made some to be rulers ouer other some euen so benethe also he hath set rulers ouer the kinges of the earthe Who can iudge him that is stronger then he The Romaynes at thys presente haue the dominion ouer all landes and people ouer the Aegiptians Assirians Persians and Chaldeis to euery one of these you haue bene in bondage and ouer other nationes also whych neuerthethelesse till theyr ground sawe mawe plante and gather in theyr fruytes who hath the profyte of thys goodes and labour but the Romaynes who whyles the other toyle and trauayle liue in peace rest theÌ„ selues wherfore mark this also my brethrn the king of Macedonia but at this daye theyr empyry is taken frome them and they ar become subiectes to the Romaines They whan the Romaines fyrste fet vpoÌ„ them were very hautye and coye determined to resist the Romaynes Notwithstanding they were ouer come of the Romaines and are vnder there subiection at this daye What shuld I speake of the people of Philistins Which her to for alwayes haue vexed anoyed you doth not the meanest amongst al the Princes of the Romaines bear rule ouer them what hope then haue you to escape when ye know the Philistins were euer stroÌ„ger then you you were oftentymes ouercome of them as for example Saul your kinge was slayn by them But you wyll saye Dauid the annoynted of the Lorde of Israel pulled them doun and brought them into subiection Wote ye what then God loked vpon you with a favourable contenauÌ„ce and fought your battayles him selfe but at thys day he is in no wyse present with you for he hath turned away his countenauce of saluacion from you bycause you haue sinned against hym And which of you can say he hath intelligence of the secrete of the Lord or hath receiued any such watche word as god gaue at that tyme vnto Dauid 2. Samuel 5. VVhen thou shalte heare a sound of mouing in the toppes of the Mulbery trees then shalt thou set forvvarde for then shall the Lorde goo forth before thy face to smite the tentes and campes of the Philistines Whosoeuer I say hath knoledge of any such token let him vtter it to hys neyghbour and I cold wel consent to folow it But seyng there is no suche thinge herken vnto me my deare brethren come serue the Romaines in peace tranquillity It shal be no dishonesty for you with the kinges of Persia to be subiecte to the Romaines they that somtyme were your maysters shal be now your felowes and companiones If you wyll perseuer stande in your opinion still I will reason the matter with you thus Tell me I praye you when were euer your auncetors free when were they not entangled with the wars of the gentiles and the dominion of other natioÌ„s had you not euer the victory froÌ„ the tyme you came out of Aegipt vntyll the reign of Saule the sonne of Cis. So long as the lord was your king you were in bondage to no maÌ„ you serued god as your only king But after that your euyll and corrupt desyre stired you to be yrk of the lorde and lest he should reygn alone to chuse a man to haue the dominion ouer you according as the custome was in other nationes I meane Saul the son of Cis and the other kinges euery one then serued you him you your sonnes the chefest of you became his ministers your goodliest doughters were made his coÌ„fectionaries his cookes his bakers After Saule reygned Dauid of worthy memory who ruled ouer manne nations But euen he also brought you into bondage and put dyuers of you to death to satisfie hys pleasure withall He beyng dead you serued Salomon his sonne who neuer a whit lesse them the other euen as he listed exercised dominion ouer you he also toke vp your sones and doughters and made them his slaues After thys came other moste wicked kinges so the from that tyme your cuntrye began to go to wrecke and he that was the beste amongst them was Rehoboam whyche sayde vnto you my father corrected you with whippes but I will scourge you wyth scorpions And so dyd the reste of the kynges whyche reigned after hym very fewe of them pleased God All thother wrought abomination not one of them did any good or reygned in the feare of the Lorde And in this maner remained the Empyre longe tyme with you vntyll the kinges of Chaldea came and led you captiue into Babilon where as you were kept vntill Coresches tyme king of Persia who seÌ„t you agayn into your cuntrey wyth a woÌ„derful deal of gold and siluer with great honour which was couÌ„ted vnto him for rightousnes After Coreschs death rose against you the most wicked kinges of Grece who warrynge vpon you gaue you greate ouerthrowes vntill God stirred vp the spirites of certaine sage priestes of the stocke of Chasmonani that reuenged your iniuries At that time were you brethren and frendes of the Romayns and frendship grew betwixte you manie yeares After that you fell from the stocke of Chasmonani which had deliuered you and chose one whose name was Herode who oppressed you grenouslye After him succeaded Archelaus his sonne he yet layed a sorer yoke vpoÌ„ you wherfore falling from him ye protested neuer after to serue the Kynges of Iuda So goynge to the Romayns willinglye you submitted youre selues vnder their subiection to serue Augustus themperour who ordred you gentilly Him you serued as other nacions did and it was to your prayse because ye were vnder a good gouernoure Therfore nowe my brethren and children of my people what meane you at this present that you haue determined to dye and dooe not rather spare your selues and your children Consider
To whome wheÌ„ a prophet of the Lord came asked him why sekest thou and seruest the Goddes of that people that were not able to deliuer theÌ„ out of thy hand By by he taunted the prophet agayne sainge who made the of the kinges counsel wherfore after that he was no moar repreheÌ„ded of the prophet for the lord had determined to distroy him as it is writen in the bokes of the chronicles of the kinges of Iuda Ther fore he was taken prisoner afterward like a fore when as he fought agaynst Ioas king of Israel in Bethschemesch so was he compared to a lowe vyle thorn or shrub And Ioas vnto the noble hye ceder tree Yea all the euilles that euer happened vnto vs in any age it came of our selues for our lord God is ryghteous in all his workes that euer he wrought vpon vs. Oure enemis did vs neuer so much harm as we did to our selues to our owne liues Ye wote the geÌ„tiles toke our precious vessels of our saÌ„ctuary away to babel brought vs theÌ„ agayn vndefiled but we polluted defiled them our selues the teÌ„ple also with innoceÌ„t blud which we shed abundantly within it adding sinnes to sinnes euer mo mo breking the lawe with our euil actes For who brought the Romains first against the city of IerusaleÌ„ but Hircanus Aristobulê° for they being at dissentioÌ„ betwixt theÌ„ selues one hating the other called the to mains against this city who brought Antoni Sosius princes of the Romains agaynst Ierusalem but Herod beyng at variance for the kingdom with the house of Chasmonanites who also called Nero Caesar to reygn ouer vs dyd you it not your selues Nowe therfore why rebel ye against the empyre dominion of the Romaines If you will saye bycause the Romayn presideÌ„t Edomaeus ordered you to bad had it not ben mete rather to complain of him to the Emperour then to rebel agaynste the Romaynes and to make warre against them But you wyll say we rebelled agaynst Nero Caesar because he did vs to muche wronge Wherefore then rebell ye now against Vaspasian Caesar a moste merciful man and one which neuer hurt you Or why make ye not peace with his son to be vnder him accordinge as other nationes be that ye might lyue and not peryshe Haue ye not a sufficient profe of hys clemencie and mercifulnes when as he hath cause to be cruel vpon no man so much as vpon me whiche drew out my sword agaynst the Romaines and killed many of them notwithstanding neyther he nor the reste of the Romains haue done me any harme Yea rather they haue bestowed many benefites vpon me and although I was in their handes yet they haue saued my lyfe Yea I coÌ„fesse that before they had me prisoner I wolde gladly many times haue fled to theÌ„ but I could neuer do it for I was euer aferd of my wicked coÌ„paions least they shulde haue killed me so my death had bene to no purpose But now I prayse the lorde God without ceassing bycause that for his vnmeasurable mercies sake he wold not suffer me to be entaÌ„gled in the same mischieues the you be in Nether wold I wish to be a coÌ„panion of such loste vnthriftes castawayes as you be which haue shed the bloud of innoceÌ„tes in the teÌ„ple of the lord In deed if I had bene with you I shuld haue ben voyd of al hope as ye be seinge ye spare not your owne liues your owne coÌ„tumacie stubbernes is made a snare for you See I pray you with how great mischiefes you are laden First the lord is not emongst you insomuch the through the warres whiche you haue made emoÌ„gst your selues almost the waters of Schiloach ar dried vp which her tofore wheÌ„ the nations made war against you flowed in great abuÌ„dance ran ouer the bankes on both sydes But you are oâ—erth wart rebelles that haue euer prouoked the lord God vnto wrath you haue made slaughteres one vpoÌ„ an other in the midest of the teÌ„ple of the lord how can then the glory of the lord dwel emongst you Knowe ye not bycause of Korach his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ the lord sayd vnto Moyses to his people Separate your selues froÌ„ emoÌ„g this coÌ„gregatioÌ„ and I shal coÌ„sume theÌ„ in a tvvinkling of an eye But you are far worse then they for without all remors or pitie â—e pull doun the teÌ„ple of the lord with our own haÌ„des you your selues set fyre on the sanctuary which most noble kinges most holy prophets builded besyds al this ye nether spare your sonnes nor doughters And although I be in the Romains caÌ„p yet I am not absent froÌ„ you for my moste dearly beloued wife is with you the wife of my youth whoÌ„ I can not set lightly by at this present although I neuer had childreÌ„ by her but rather loue her moste entierly bycause she came of a most honest godly house My dear father mother ar also with you very aged persones for my father is at this day a hundreth three yeres olde my mother four score and fyue but the yeres of my life ar very few euil ful of tribulacion sorowe about threscore seuen nether haue I lyued yet so long that according to nature I shuld desire to dye Now therfor if so be it you trust not me but suppose I haue proposed these thinges to you deceytfully and that ther is no trust of Titus coueuant and bonde or that his league shuld be to your hinderaÌ„ce and discoÌ„moditie go to if it come so to pas it shal be leeful for you to kil my father mother my wife yea I swere vnto you by the lorde our God that I shall deliuer my lyfe also into your handes that you may do with me what ye list and by that meanes shall the bloud of my parentes my wyues myne be in pledge Therfore let the auncieÌ„t of the city come forth I wil make a league betwixt them and our lord Titus And doubt ye not but as hytherto the lorde God wold you shuld be afflicted punished by the gouernement of the Romaynes so hereafter he shall benefyt you therby and doo you good if so be it you wil once acknowledg and coÌ„fesse that al dominion is chaunged and altered at his coÌ„mandement that God humbleth whome he lyste and agayn whom he list he setteth aloft But persuade your selues of this that as longe as ye refuse to be subiect vnto the Romaines so long ye styre agaynste your selues Godes wrath and hye displeasure and besydes that differ the lengar and prolong your redemption and deliuerance not only to your selues but also to your posteritye Nowe therfore my brethern I thought it my parte to declare al these thinges vnto you and it is in your power to chuse whyther ye lyste for who so will let him geue eare vnto me and who not let him absteyn from my