murder and slaughter of one of his Friends Joseph being thus delivered from extream danger both from the D Romans Joseph resorteth to Vespasian with Nicanor and from those of his own Nation went with Nicanor to Vespasian All the Romans came about him to see him and pressing about their General they made a great noise some rejoycing that he was taken others crying out to punish him others striving to come near to behold him better and they who were afar off cryed out to kill that Enemy of the Romans Fame But those who were near and beheld him remembring his great Actions An example of Titus grace and mercy towards Joseph were astonished at his change of Fortune No Captain or Ruler but although before they were all moved against him yet now beholding him they begin to pity him especially Titus who being of a gentle disposition admired Josephs valour his constancy in adversity and considered his Age and thereby was moved to take compassion upon him remembring what a manner of man he had been during E the Wars and what he now was being fallen into his Enemies hands calling also to mind the power and force of Fortune and how uncertain the chance of War is and that humane affairs have no stedfastness His Example drew many minds to pity him so that Titus was the chief author of Josephs life Yet Vespasian caused him to be carefully kept as though he meant to send him to Caesar Which Joseph hearing requested that he might speak a word or two with him alone Whereupon all but his Son Titus departing Joseph hath private conference with Vespasian and two of his Friends Joseph spoke to him in these terms You think only that you have Joseph for your Captive but I am a Messenger to you of greater matters from God Joseph foretelleth Vespasian of his future honours Otherwise I knew my Country Laws and how it behoved the Generals of our Nation to die and not to be taken alive by their Enemies You will send me F to Nero Wherefore since Nero and those that are to succeed him before you have so little time to live you O Vespasian shall be Caesar and Emperor of Rome and Titus your Son after you keep me therefore in bonds with you for you are not only my Lord but Lord of all the World Sea and Land and all Man-kind And if I now fain these things in this state of mine own mind against God let me be reserved to greater punishment After he had thus spoken Vespasian gave small credit to his words thinking that Joseph fained these things of himself to save his Life yet by little and little he began to give credit to him because God put it in his mind to hope for the Empire and fore-told him of his Reign by many signs and tokens and he also found Joseph to tell the truth in other matters For one of Vespasians friends saying that it was strange that he knowing this G could not prophesie of the event of the War against Jotapata Josephs truth in all things and what was like to befal himself that so he might avoid those evils Joseph answered that he had foretold the Citizens of Jotapata that after seven and fourty dayes they should be destroyed and that the Romans should keep him alive in hold Vespasian secretly enquired of these H matters and finding by the relation of the Captives that it was true he began to give more credit to that which Joseph had told him concerning himself So he commanded Joseph to be kept Prisoner yet he gave him apparel and divers other things in most courteous manner Joseph is kept bound yet rewarded by Vespasian and Titus greatly honoured him The fourth day of July Vespasian returned to Ptolemais and from thence he came to the Sea-coast to Caesarea which is the greatest City of Judaea whose Inhabitants are for the most part Greeks The Inhabitants received the Army and the General with all friendship possible Caâ—sarea a great City by the Sea-side inhabited for the most part by Greeks both for that they loved the Romans and especially also for that they hated the Jews so that many intreated Vespasian to put Joseph to death But Vespasian judging this a rash Petition would make no answer to it and he left two Legions to Winter at Caesarea I because he saw it was a fit place and he sent the tenth and fifth to Scythopolis because he would not over-charge Cesarea with the whole Army Scythopolis This place is warm in Winter and exceeding hot in Summer by reason it is situate on a Plain by the Sea-coast CHAP. XV. How Joppa was taken by the Romans K IN the mean time a great multitude being gathered together Joppa the retreat of the Seditious and Thieves who either were seditious persons or thieves or such as had escaped out of the taken-Cities re-edified Joppa for their refuge which Cestius formerly had destroyed and seeing they could not find provision in the Countrey which was already wasted and left desolate by the War they purposed to become Pirates and so building Ships for that purpose they robbed the Phoenicians Syrians and Aegyptians not suffering any to pass those Seas without danger Vespasian understanding their practices sent Horse and Foot against Joppa who finding the City not guarded got into it in the night which the Inhabitants perceiving were so terrifi'd that they durst not make any resistance to expel L the Romans but they all fled to their Ships and there stayed all night a flight-shot from the shore Joppa is naturally no road for Ships for it is situated upon a turbulent Shore and on every side hath very high and eminent Rocks which trouble the Seas and make huge Waves In this place if we may believe the fable one may see the signs of Andromeda's Chains Of Andromeda read lib. 4. Ovid Metamorph When the North Wind blows it striketh the Waves against the Rocks and so causeth a dangerous Sea that it were far more safe to be in the midst of the Seas than at that Shore when the said Wind bloweth The Inhabitants of Joppa rode there all night A huge tempest drowneth those of Joppa in the Sea and by break of day the North Wind began to blow fiercely and drove some of the Ships one against another and others against the Rocks and many striving against Wind and Weather and seeking to get into the midst of the Sea for fear of the Rocky Shore and their Enemies there were drowned M They that escaped neither had any place of refuge nor hope of safety for the tempest drove them from the Sea and the Romans from the City so that the air was filled with cities of the people expecting to be drowned and with the noise and sound of the Ships beating one against another By this means some of the Inhabitants of Joppa were swallowed up by the
Evening yielded The fight of the Jews with the Romans in the Tower and offered themselves to be slain The Romans might have boasted that this Victory had been without blood-shed on their part had not Antonius a Centurion been slain treacherously Antonius slain by a Jew treacherously For one of them who fled into the Caves as many did requested Antonius to give him his hand in token that he might come out safe and without danger which he doing unadvisedly the Jew with I a spear struck him in the flank whereof he presently died The Romans that day slew all the people that they found and the days following they searcht all the secret places and drew those out of the Caves and Dens that had fled thither and slew all but Women and Infants 40000 Jews perish during the Siege and in the former battel so that they took away a thousand and two hundred Captives and the number of them who were slain during the siege and at such time as the City was taken amounted to fourty thousand Vespasian commanded the City to be destroyed and the Castles to be burnt Thus Jotapata was taken the thirteenth year of Nero's Reign on the first of July K CHAP. XIV How Joseph was taken and how he redeem'd his Life with Deeds and Words BUT especially above all others the Romans made diligent search for Joseph both for the animosity they had against him and also because Vespasian greatly desired to get him into his hands conceiving he being taken the greatest part of the War would then be ended so they sought him among the dead and amongst those that were L hid Joseph leaps into a deep trench and lieth hidden in a Cave but he fortune favouring him when the City was taken escaped from the midst of his Enemies and leapt into a deep Well which had a large Cave on the one side which they above could not perceive where he found fourty of the bravest of his men who had provision there for many days There in the day-time he lay hid and in the night he went forth to see if he could escape but perceiving that all places about were diligently watcht for to take him he returned again into the Cave and lay there two days Vespasian by Tribunes send Joseph assurance the third day a certain woman that had been with them in the Cave discovered him Then Vespasian sent two Tribunes to him to promise him safety and bring him before him the Tribunes names were Paulinus and Gallicanethus But Joseph would not accept the offer fearing that because he had been the Author of all M the Evils that the Romans had endured Nicanor the Tribune known to Joseph they sought him out to punish him till Vespasian sent Joseph Nicanor the third Tribune one of Josephs acquaintance Nicanor recounted to him how mild the Romans were towards them whom they had conquered and that the Roman Generals rather admired him for his Virtue than hated him Moreover that his General intended not to punish him which if he pleased he might do whether he yielded himself or no but to save him being so valiant a man adding also that if Vespasian meant ill he would never have imployed his Friend in such a message to use friendship so noble a Virtue to so evil a purpose as to work Treason and that he though Vespasian had been so minded would never have consented to have betrayed his friend Joseph For all Nicanors words he still hesitated as unresolved N what to do Whereat the Roman Souldiers being angry began to cast fire into the Cave but Vespasian hindred them being desirous to take Joseph alive Nicanor ceased not to intreat him and he perceiving how his Enemies began to be enraged and calling to mind the dreams he had had Josephs dream of the slaughter of the Jews wherein God had fore-shew'd him all the Jews calamities and what happy success should befal the Romans for he could interpret dreams and whatsoever God obscurely shewed being instructed in the Holy Books of the Prophets and himself a Priest as his Parents were being as it were now filled with the Spirit of God and the Dreams and Visions coming into his mind he prayed secretly to God after this manner Joseph filled with the Spirit of God secretly prayeth O great Creator of the Universe Seeing it pleaseth thee to ruin the Nation of the Jews and to send all good Fortune to the Romans and O that thou hast chosen me to foretell future events I submit to thy will and render my self to the Romans to save my life protesting that I mean not to go them to play the Traitor to my Country but as thy Minister And having thus spoken he yeilded himself to Nicanor H But they who were in the Cave with Joseph perceiving that he yeelded himself to the Romans flocked about him and cryed out What is become of all our love for our Laws Where are those generous Souls and true Jews to whom God when he created them inspired so great a contempt of Death Joseph consents to Nicanor Art thou O Joseph so desirous to live as to become a vile Bond-slave How soon hast thou forgotten thy self How many hast thou perswaded to embrace death for the sake of their liberty The Jews violence and expostulation against Joseph Truly thou hast but a shadow of valour and prudence in thee if thou dost hope that they will save thy life against whom thou hast so behav'd thy self or if they would save thee to desire life at their hands But seeing the Romans offer hath made thee forget thy self yet we to preserve the honour and credit of our Country will lend thee our Arms and Swords and so if thou be willing to die die like the General of the I Jews which if thou refuse to do thou shalt whether thou wilt or no die like a Traitor to thy Country When they had thus said they all threatned to kill him with their Swords if he yeilded to the Romans Joseph fearing their violence and being perswaded that if he died before he had revealed to his Nation the things which God had declared to him 〈◊〉 should fail in his duty to God he had recourse to the reasons which he thought most likely to prevail and spoke to this effect Wherefore Josephs Oration to his Countrymen O my Friends said he are you become murtherers of your selves Wherefore are ye so eager to divide things so united as the Soul and the Body are If any man imagine that my mind is changed the Romans know whether that be true or no. I confess K it is a thing most honourable to dye in War not any way but according to the Law of Arms to wit by the Conquerours hand If I entreat the Romans to spare my life then I am worthy to perish with mine own sword and hand But if they think good to spare
of almost three thousand talents of his in Alexandria For gathering up his money in Syria he was wont to send it thither and as oft as the prefixt time came E wherein the Kings tributes were to be paid Treason intended against Hircanus he commanded Arion to pay them Having therefore letters of Credit unto him he went towards Alexandria Whereupon his brethren wrote presently unto all the Kings friends that by some means they would make him away As soon as he was arrived in Alexandria and had delivered his fathers Letters to Arion Arion asked him how many talents he would have Hircanus apology for his actions hoping that he would desire but ten or thereabout but when Hircanus had told him he had need of a thousand he waxed wroth and reproved him for his prodigality telling him how his Father had gathered his goods with much labour and frugality and refusing to give it him he prayed him to imitate his fathers example and in a word he told him that he would deliver him F no more than ten talents and that for no other use than to buy presents for the King Whereupon Hircanus was offended and caused Arion to be kept in Prison Whereof his Wife informed Queen Cleopatra and desired her that the young man might be chastised for his insolence for Arion was in great esteem with the Queen so that she acquainted the King with the matter Whereupon Ptolomey sent for Hircanus and said unto him That he marveiled that being sent unto hin by his Father he had not as yet visited him and besides that he had committed his Fathers Agent to Prison he therefore commanded him to yield him a reason thereof Whereunto he answered that there was a law among the Jews that no man should taste of the sacrifices that had not first of all visited the Temple and sacrificed unto God and that in that respect he had not hitherto visited his Majesty because he expected G certain presents to present unto his Majesty from his Father who was his Servant Furthermore he alledged that he punished his Fathers Servant because he had disobeyed his commandment A which he ought not to do The year of the World 3780. before Christ's Nativity 184. whether his Master were noble or ignoble and if said he we chastise not such men as they have deserved expect O King that you also shall be neglected by your Subjects When Ptolomey heard these words he rose well pleased and wondred at the magnanimity of the young man Arion perceiving that the King rose satisfied and that he was like to have no assistance at his hands Hircanus apologie for his actions delivered Hircanus the thousand talents and by this means he was set at liberty Some three days after Hircanus came and saluted both the King and Queen who entertained him graciously and feasted him for the kindness which they bear unto his Father He enquiring among the Merchants bought one hundred young Lads well learned and in the flower of their age paying a talent B for each one and the like number of Virgins for so many talents Being invited to a banquet by the King with all the Princes and other Lords he was placed beneath them all because that by reason of his youth they that assigned the places according to every mans dignity made small account of him The rest that sate at table after they had eaten their meat laid all their bones before Hircanus so that the table was covered round about him whereupon a certain Droll called Triphon in whose railery the King took some delight to divert the company said See here Sir what store of bones lie before Hircanus whereby you may conjecture after what manner his Father hath fleeced all Syria Hircanus jests The King laughing at Tryphons words asked Hircanus how he came by so many bones before him Not without good reason said he O C King for doggs devour the flesh with the bones as these do poynting at those who sate with him at the Table because they had no bones before them but men eat the flesh and cast the bones away as I do because I am a man The King was so well pleased with his discreet answer that he commanded the rest not to offer him any affront for the future The next day he sought out all the Kings friends and the principal Courtiers and saluted them one by one Hircanus sounding what other men would give gave more than the rest for which he receiveth another kingly reward enquiring of their Servants what presents they would court the King with upon the birth of his Son Who told him that some of them would give twelve Talents and others that were in dignity would present them according to their ability Whereupon Hircanus seemed dissatisfied as wanting power to offer such a present pretending that he had no more than five Talents All which these Servants D presently reported to their Masters who were very joyful thereat in hopes that the King would not be well pleased to receive a small present from Hircanus Now when the day of solemnity was come and they that pretended to present the King most magnificently offred no more than twenty Talents Hircanus presented the hundred young Lads he had bought to the King and the Virgins unto Cleopatra for whom he had paid a talent by the pole At this unexpected magnificence all men were amazed but besides this he gave gifts of divers Talents to the King and Queens favourites and Servants and their attendants whereby he secured himself from the danger that might fall upon him by their means For the brothers of Hircanus had written unto them to murther him Ptolomey was much pleased with the great magnificence of this young E man and bid him ask whatsoever he pleased at his hands But he required no other thing but that it would please the King to recommend him by his letters to his father and brethren When therefore the King had particularly honored him and had given him many rewards he wrote unto his Father and brethren and all his Governours and Commissaries Hircanus brothers assailing him on the way are slâ—in and discomfited and in that manner sent him away His brothers hearing how he had in all things highly pleased the King and that he returned with great glory they went out to meet him with an intent to murther him with their fathers knowledg For he being displeased with him by reason of his above mentioned large expence took no care to secure him yet concealed he his discontent for fear of the King But when his brothers came and encountered him on the way he slew divers of those that accompanied F them and two of his brethren also were left slain upon the place and the rest fled unto Jerusalem unto their Father And when upon his comming unto Jerusalem he perceived that no man welcomed him he was afraid and departed
they submitted themselves to Herod whom to their own sorrow they had approved to be a valiant Souldier CHAP. IX Antonius is overcome by Augustus in the Battle of Actium Herod put Hircanus to death his pretence for it he resolveth to repair to Augustus his orders before his way going M HErod puffed up with his successful fortune Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. returned back into his own Countrey having obtained great reputation by his valour and vertue But when he supposed his State to be most assured Herod dismaied at Antonies overthrow he grew in danger both to lose his dignity and life by reason of that victory that Caesar obtained against Antony in the Actian War For at that time he not only supposed himself to be utterly overthrown but both his friends and Enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was unlikely that he should escape unpunished with Antony Whereby it came to pass that his friends could not conceal their despair and his Enemies under their colourable and dissembled griefs covered their joy promising themselves thereafter a better and N pleasing administration of the Common-Wealth Hereupon Herod perceiving that except Hircanus Herod determineth to make away Hircanus there was not any one of the blood Royal alive determined to cut him off resolving with himself that if he hapned to escape the danger a man who at that time was worthier the Kingdom then himself should not claime the Crown and if any misfortune should befall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossess Hircanus of the Kingdom in regard of the envy which he bare him for that he was the only man who deserved to be advanced to that dignity Alexandra solliciteth Hiranus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands Whilest thus he was tormented in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus own followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a milde and gentle nature during all his life-time O forbare to entermeddle with State affairs committing all things to fortune and contenting himself with whatsoever condition it pleased her to allot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and unable to conceal with modesty the hope she conceived of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their family but rather A that he should stand upon his own guard and reserve himself to his better fortune She gave him counsel to write unto Malchus who had the Government of Arabia requesting him to grant him both protection and entertainment for that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtless the Kingdom would return unto him both in regard of his Nobility as also of the peoples favour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being overcome by the importunity of the woman Alexandra solliciteth Hircanus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands who ceased not day and night to sing the same Song of future hope and of Herods Treasons he gave certain Letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certain Horsemen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite Lake which lieth distant from the confines of Jerusalem some three hundred Furlongs And therefore he committed these Letters to Dositheus trust both B for that he favoured Hircanus and his Daughter Three hundred furlongs contain nine Germane Miles and seemed likely for divers causes to hate Herod for he was Josephs kinsman who was killed by Herod and not long before certain of his Brothers were put to death amongst others at Tyre by Antonies command yet for none of those considerations continued he faithful to Hircanus For he preferring the present favour of the King that then reigned to the rest discovered the Letter unto the King who first of all giving him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding up the Letter and sealing it he should conveigh and deliver the same to Malchus and return his answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew C his resolution also Hircanus by Herods commands is put to death Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer that he was ready to entertain both himself and his whole family and all those Jews likewise which were of this faction promising to send him a band of Soldiers who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soon as Herod had seized on these Letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus he denied it but Herod protesting and bringing forth his Letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters Registred in Herods commentaries for by some they are delivered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some Treasons against the King For D they Write to this effect that Herod at a certain banquet dissembling his suspition demanded of Hircanus whether he had received any Letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had received Letters but such as contained nothing else but compliments Hircanus dieth guiltless He asked him also whether he had received any present and when he had answered that he had received nothing but four Coursers for his Saddle the King wrested this to a Capitall offence of corruption and treason Hircanus life and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltless they alledge this for a most approved argument namely his gentle disposition who evenin his youthful years never gave sign or appearance of rashness or pride or signification of audaciousness no not even then when he had the royal government in his hands but in the freedome E of authority disposed of the most things by Antipaters advice But at that time he was more then fourescore years old and knew that Herods estate was secured and that there is no likelyhood that he would remove from beyond Eufrates where he lived in great repute to live under Herods Jurisdiction or to engage in any trouble contrary to his humor and so far different from his nature so that all these things seem to be fained by Herod Thus ended Hircanus life after his variable and adverse fortunes wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For when his mother Alexandra lived he was created High Priest of the Jews and obtained that honor for the space of nine years and after his mothers death he had scarcely governed the Kingdom for the space of three F months but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus
blusht to commit such Villanies openly in the sight of them who had saved their lives and that their misdemeanours and impieties would be imputed to the Idumeans because they neither hindred their mischievous Practices nor forsook their Society That therefore it was their part seeing it was now evident that the report of Treason was only Calumny and that no assault by the Romans was to be feared and that the City was impregnable provided there were no domestick divisions to depart home and by forsaking the Society of the Impious to acquit themselves of their Impiety as being by N them deceived and so against their Wills made partakers thereof The Idumeans were hereby perswaded The Idumeans depart out of Jerusalem and first of all they freed those that were in Prison in number two thousand of the Vulgar and presently leaving the City they went to Simon of whom we will speak hereafter and so they departed home Their sudden departure was against the expectation of both parts for the People not knowing the Idmmeans were sorry for what they had done rejoyced as now delivered from their Enemies and the Zealots grew more insolent and proud as though they never had needed help and now were delivered from those in consideration of whom they abstained from some Villanies Whereupon they used no delay to effect all their Villany for they spent not much time in taking advice but whatsoever seemed best to them presently without any delay they put it in practice But O especially they murthered those men that were wise and valiant for they envied the A Nobility for their Virtue they thought it a principal point first to be effected not to leave any one man of account alive Wherefore they slew amongst the rest Gorion a Noble-man of great Birth and Dignity who loved his Country was very bountiful and a lover of Liberty so that there was none amongst the Jews like him but for his desire of Liberty Gorion's Death and Niger Peraita and his other Virtues he was put to death Neither could Niger Peraita escape their hands a man who in War against the Romans had shewed himself valiant and although he often cried out and shewed the scars of his Wounds received in defence of his Country yet they ceased not for all this most shamefully to drag him thorow the City and being led out of the City despairing of life he entreated that B he might be buried Niger's Prayers took effect as the end testifieth But the barbarous People denied his request and slew him At his death he besought God that the Romans might come and revenge it upon them and that Plague Famine and Civil Discord might light upon their City God heard his Prayers and sent upon them all which he imprecated and first of all they were plagued with Civil Wars amongst themselves Niger being thus slain they were freed from the fear they had of him that he would resist their wickedness Many of the Common People were by some forged tale or other put to death Some were slain because they had formerly born Arms against them and they who were innocent in all points were put to death for some occasion devised in the time of peace and they who did not converse with them were murdered as those that contemned them and they C that freely and friendly conversed with them were slain as those that sought to betray them In short the greatest offenders and the least were all punished alike to wit with death for no man escaped except he were either poor or of very base condition CHAP. II. The Civil Discords amongst the Jews D IN the mean while the Roman Officers had their Eyes open upon what passed in the City of Jerusalem The Souldiers incite Vespasian to resort to Jerusalem and seeing the Citizens at great variance among themselves they thought this to be for their great advantage Wherefore they pressed Vespasian their General not to lose this opportunity affirming that it was Gods providence who fought for them that the Jews should be at Civil Discord among themselves and that therefore he should not overslip so good an occasion lest the Jews should quickly be friends again one with another either by the weariness of Civil War or else repenting themselves of that which they had done To whom Vespasian answered That they were ignorant what was to be done Vespasian expecteth Victory by the civil dissention of his Enemies and desirous rather as it were in a Theater to shew their forces and strength than with him to consider what was profitable and expedient For E said he if we presently assault them our coming will make concord amongst our Enemies and so we shall bring upon our selves their forces yet firm and strong but by expecting a little while we shall have less ado to conquer them their chiefest forces being destroyed by their own Civil War God is more our friend than you are aware of who without our labour and pain will deliver the Jews into our hands and will give us the Victory without endangering our Army Wherefore it is rather our part to be beholders of the Tragedy than to fight against men desirous of death and troubled with the greatest evil possible to wit domestical Sedition and Civil War And if any think that the Victory is not glorious because gotten without fight let him know and consider the uncertain events of War and that it is better if it be possible to get a Victory without bloodshed then therewith to hazard a Defeat For they who by F Counsel and Advice do any worthy Act deserve no less praise than they who by force of Arms atchieve a Victory Moreover in the mean time that the Enemies destroy one another our Souldiers may take rest and so be stronger and better able to fight when need shall require Besides it seems not that there is much haste required to get the Victory for the Jews neither prepare Arms nor Engines of War nor levie any Forces nor seek for Aid and so by delay no damage can ensue but they will Plague one another more by Civil War than our Army can by attacquing their City And therefore whether we consider Prudence or Glory we have nothing to do but let them ruine themselves for in case we should even at this present make our selves Masters of that great City so it would be justly said that the Victory was not to be imputed to us but to their discord G The Captains all consented Many Citizens to fly the Zealous resorted to Vespasian and thought this advice of Vespasian best and presently it appeared how profitable this Counsel was For every day many Jews fled to him to escape the hands of the Zealots though it was dangerous to flie because all the ways were guarded with Watch-men And if any man upon any occasion whatsoever were H taken upon the way he was presently killed as one
in all those affairs For I was D Captian of the Galileans amongst our Nation so long as any resistance could be made against the Romans and then it so fell out that I was taken by the Romans and being Prisoner to Titus and Vespasian they caused me to be an eye-witness of all things that past First In bonds and fretters and afterwards freed from them I was brought from Alexandria with Titus when he went to the Seige of Jerusalem So that nothing could then pass whereof I had not notice For beholding the Roman Army I committed to writing all things with all possible diligence My self did only manage all matters disclosed to the Romans by such as yielded themselves Joseph writ the History of the Jews wars being at Rome for that I only did perfectly understand them Lastly Being at Rome and having leisure after all business was past I used the help of some Friends for the skill of the Greek tongue and so I published a E History of all that had hapened in the foresaid War which History of mine is so true that I fear not to call Vespasian and Titus the chief Commanders in that War to witness for them I first gave a Copy of that Book to them and afterwards to many noble Romans who also were present in the War I sold also many of them to our own Nation to such as understood the Greek language amongst whom were Julius Archelaus Herod Some do derogate from Josephs History a Man of great vertue and to the most worthy King Agrippa who all do testify that my History containeth nothing but truth and who would not have been silent if either for ignorance or flattery I had changed or omitted any particular Yet notwithstanding all this some ill disposed Persons endeavour to discredit my History as though they were disputing pro and contra amongst children in schools never considering F that he who promiseth other men a true Relation of things past must either be privy to them by his own knowledg as having been present in the affairs or else have that which he speaketh from other mens mouths by report of those who know them both which I have done For I gathered my other Books of Antiquity out of holy Scripture being my self a Priest and skilful in our Law and the History of our War I have written my self being an Agent in many matters therein contained and an eye-wirness of the rest so that nothing was said or done whereof I had not notice How then can any one excuse them from impudency and malice who labour against me to prove my Relation false Perhaps they alledge that they have read the Commentaries of Vespasian and Titus yet for all this they were not present in any action repugnant G to that which my History recounteth Thus as I thought necessary I have made a digression to shew how they are able to H perform their word who discrediting my History promise to set down the truth in writing I have also sufficiently as I think demonstrated that the registring of things is more ancient amongst other Nations than amongst the Greeks I will now first of all dispute against those who labour to prove our Nation of no Antiquity because as they say no Greek Writer maketh any mention of it Two things which Joseph intendeth This done I will bring forth proof and testimony of the Antiquity thereof out of other Writers and so I will shew that their malice who seek to discredit our Nation First therefore our Nation neither inhabiteth a Country bordering upon the Sea nor are we delighted in merchandise nor for this cause wearied with pilgrimages from place to place The Jews care to bring up their Children But our Cities lye far from the Sea in a most fertile soil which we cultivate with all industry and our I whole endeavours are how to get food for our Children The ancient Jews had no need to traffick with the Grecians and to keep our country Laws and to leave to our posterity the knowledg of Piety in which work we think all our Age ought to be employed Beside all this we have a form of living different from all other Nations All which concurring together we had no need to traffick with the Greeks as the Egyptians and the Phoenicians do who give themselves to bargaining and merchandise only for the covetousness of money Neither were our Ancestors delighted in thefts and robberies nor did our Fathers make war upon any Nation for desire of larger possessions nowithstanding our Country was furnished with many thousands of strong warlike men Wherefore the Phoenicians sailing to the Greeks to traffick with them they were thus made known to them and by them the Egyptians K and all other Nations sailing upon the Seas brought Merchandise into Greece The Medes also and Persians were known to them after such time as they reigned over Asia and the Persians brought war even into Europe Moreover the Greeks knew the Thracians because they were their Neighbours and the Scythians by sailing to Pontus and finally all that were disposed to write knew all the Nations bordering either upon the Eastern and Western Seas but such as dwelt far from the Sea-coast were long time unknown as also appears in Europe For neither Thucidides nor Herodotus nor any other of that time make any mention of Rome notwithstanding that so long since it was mighty and made so great Wars because it was but lately that the Greeks heard of it The Romans were lately known to the Greeks Yea their most exact Writers L and particularly Ephorus were so ignorant of the French and Spaniards that they thought the Spaniards to be a People only denominated from one City Certain Historiographers report Spain to be only one City wherein they inhabited whereas the whole World now knoweth them to inhabit a vast Country and a great part of the Western World Likewise the said Greek Writers relate the manners of the foresaid People to be such as neither are nor were ever used among them And the only cause why they were ignorant of the Truth was the distance of place and these Writers would seem to tell something which others of former time had not spoken of No marvel therefore though our Nation was unknown and none of them in their Writings made any mention of us being both so far from the Sea and living after a different manner M Suppose therefore I should deny the Greeks to be of any antiquity and to prove my assertion should conclude their Nation to be modern because our Histories make no mention of them Arguments to prove the Jews of more antiquity than the Greeks would they not laugh at this reason and use the Testimony of their neighbour Nations to prove their Antiquity I therefore may argue in like manner and use the Testimony of the Egyptians and Phoenicians whose Record the Greeks cannot