women to nurse the child for thee Yea quoth Pharaos daughter goe thy way So the mayd his sister went and called this Iochebed the childes mother and hers to whom Pharaos daughter committed the childe to nurse saying take this childe away and nurse it for me and I will reward thee Then Iochebed tooke her owne child and nursed it and so was Moses preserued from perishing by water as the king had cruelly commanded Wherby we see that mans counsell cannot hinder that which God hath determined shall come to passe nor destroy that which he wil haue saued So when the child was well growen in age Iochebed brought him vnto Pharaos daughter who made him her adoptiue soÌ„ne called his name Moses because sayde she I drew him out of the water Exod. 2.1.6 â—0 Num. 26,59 Iudith or Iudea signi praysing or confessing he that prayseth or confesseth She was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Ox and wife of one Manasses Who being dead in the yeere of the world 3492 about barly haruest time left her much riches and a great familie in the citie of Bethulia where she dwelt So beyng left a desolate wydow she made her a tent vpoÌ„ her house to pray in put on sackcloth her widowes apparrel fasted al the dayes of her widowhood saue the day before y e Sabboth the Sabboth the eues feasts or solemne dayes y t were kept in Israel yea she was a woman of so great chastity vertue godlines feared God so greatly that there was none could bring an euill report of her but euery one gaue her their good worde Nowe during the time of her widowhood it chaunced Olophernes the captayne of Nabuchodonozor king of Assyria to come and besiege the citie of Beâ—hulia where she dwelt of whose huge host mightie power the Iewes and Citizens of Bethulia were so sore afrayde that they wist not what to doe for he hauing layde siege vnto the citie 34. dayes had in that time destroyed all the water conduits so that they must eyther starue or yeeld of force Wherevpon the people with one consent men women children ran to Oseas the hie Priest and chiefe elders of the city cryed out vpon theÌ„ to yeeld giue ouer the citie to Olophernes in time least they al perished through their negligeÌ„ce who exhorted them to tarry and wayte yet fiue dayes longer for the mercy of God and if he helped them not in that space the elders woulde doe as they had required Then Iudith who all this while had kept her house and was continually in fasting and prayer hearing of the euill words of the people against the Gouernours for lacke of water and what promise Ozias the elders had made vnto the people to deliuer the city vnto the enemy within 5. daies she sent her mayd Abra that had the gouernment of all things y t she had for Ozias the other auncients of the city made this learned oration vnto them saying Heare me O yee Gouernours of the inhabitaunts of Bethulia for your wordes that yee haue spoken before the people this day are not right touching this othe and promise that ye haue made pronounced between God you haue promised to deliuer the city to the enemy vnles within these 5. daies the Lorde turne to helpe you And now what men are yee that yee haue tempted God this day set your selues in Gods steede among the children of men So now you seeke the Lord almighty but yee shall neuer know any thing for you can not find out the depth of the heart of man neither can ye perceiue the thinges that he thinketh then how can you search out God that hath made all these thinges and know his mind or comprehende his purpose Nay my brethren prouoke not the Lorde our God to anger for if he will not helpe vs within these fiue dayes hee hath power to defende vs when he will euen euery day or to destroy vs before our enemies Doe not you therefore binde the counsayles of the Lorde our God for God is not as man that hee may bee threatned neyther as the sonne of man to bee brought to iudgement Therefore this your deuise obtayneth no mercy of God but rather prouoketh him to wrath and displeasure Will yee set the mercy of the Lorde a tyme and appoint him a day at your will No exhort the people to repentance and prayer and let vs heartily fall downe before him and serue him with a meeke spirite and with weeping eyes say vnto the Lorde that hee deale with vs according to his owne will speedily in mercie that like as our heart is nowe vexed and brought low through the pride of our enemies it may so be comforted by his grace Yea let vs wayte for saluation of him and call vppon him to helpe vs and he will heare our voyce if it please him For there appeareth none in our age neyther is there any nowe in these dayes neyther of tribe nor family nor people nor citie among vs which worshippe the gods made with hands as hath bin afore time of our forefathers for the which sin our forefathers were giuen to the sworde for a spoyle and had a great fall before our enemyes as appeareth Iudg. 2.11.4.1.6.1 But as for vs wee knowe none other God but onely the Lorde therefore we trust that he will not despise vs nor any of our lynage yea for his comfort let vs tarie with meekenesse and he shall require and make inquisition for our blood from the vexation of our enemies hee shall bring downe all the heathen that rise vp agaynst vs and put them to dishonour euen the Lorde our God shall doe it neyther when wee shall be taken shall Iudea be so famous for our Sanctuarie shall bee spoyled and hee will require the prophanation thereof at our mouth And the feare of the people our brethren the captiuitie of the countrey and the desolation of our inheritaunce which they rather wishe will he turne vpon our heades among the Gentiles wheresoeuer we shall bee in bondage and wee shal be an offence and reproch to all them that possesse vs for our seruitude shall not be directed by fauour but the Lord our God shall turne it to dishonour Now therefore O deere brethren Let vs shewe an example to our brethren the people because their heartes depende vpon you and the Sanctuary and the house and the altar rest all vppon you that are the honourable and elders in the people of God Moreouer let vs giue thankes to the Lorde our God whiche tryeth vs euen as hee did our fathers and lift yee vp the heartes of the people with your exhortations that they may call to remembraunce howe our fathers also in times paste were tempted that they might bee prooued if they woorshipped theyr God aright yea put them in minde of this I saye how that our father Abraham being tempted and tryed through
shéepe and of thy corne and of thy wine and of that wherwith the Lord hath blessed thée and remember that thou wast a seruant thy selfe in the lande of Egypt c. Deut. 15.12 Exod. 21. Thou shalt not oppresse an hired seruant that is néedy and poore by withholding his wages from him that hée hath earned by his work neither of the stranger that is in the land nor of thy brethren Thou shalt giue him his hire for his day neither shall the sunne goe downe vpon it For hée is poore and therewith susteineth â—he his life least hée cry against thée vnto the Lord and that turne to be sinne vnto thée Deut. 24.14 Leuit. 19.19 If I haue with holden their wages saith holy Iob that laboured for me or gréeued the soules of the men of my tabernacle or be an extorcioner or briber or cruell man then let mine arme rot from my shoulders Iob. 31.13 Let not the wages of any man which hath wrought for thée tary with thée but giue him it out of hand For if thou serue God hée also will pay thée Tobâ— 4.14 Yea Tobit rather added and increased the wages of his man then diminished one iote for his faithfull seruice as a most thankefull master requiting so painefull a seruant in his businesse Tob. 5.8.12.1.13.1 Iudith also at her death made hir maid Abia frée because she had faithfully and truly serued hir all hir life Iudith 16.23 Alexander king of Macedon also in his death bed distributed his kingdome liberally among all his chiefe seruants whom hée had brought vp of children and they raigned after his death in his roome as appeareth 1. Macha 1.7 For equitie and liberalitie is to bée vsed indifferently to all seruants as appeareth in the parable of the housholder Matthewe 20.1 And to him that worketh the wages is due not by fauour but by debt and to bée paide therefore vnto thy seruant without grudging Rom. 4.4 Because the workeman is worthie of his meate Math. 10.10 And the labourer is worthie of his wages Neither shalt thou mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne 1. Timoth. 5.18 Finally I will come néere to iudgement and bée a swift witnesse against those that wrongfully kéepe backe the hirelings wages and oppresse the stranger and feare not me saith the Lord of hostes Malach. 3.5 The dutie of handmaides and seruants towardes their Masters and Dames LET euery one abide in the same vocation wherein hée is called art thou called being a seruant care not for it For although god hath called thée to serue in this life yet thinke not thy condition vnworthie for a Christian but reioyce that thou art deliuered by Christ from the miserable slauerie of sin and death But if thou mayest bée frée vse it rather For he or shée that is called of the Lord being a seruant is the Lords fréeman or fréewoman Likewise hée or shée that is called being frée is Christes seruant Yée are bought with a price bée not seruants of men Brethren let euery man wherein he was called therein abide with God sincerely as in the presence of God 1 Cor. 7.20 Let euery seruant be subiect to his gouernour For there is no power but of God of whom the powers and gouernours that be are ordeined Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the authoritie of y e gouernour or master resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue vnto themselues iudgement euen both the punishment of the Iudges and Magistrates and also the vengeance of God neither are masters or gouernours to be feared of seruants for good workes but for euill wilt thou then bee without feare of thy Master or gouernour do well then and be faithfull diligent in thy seruice so shalt thou haue praise of the same For hee is the minister of God for thy wealth but if thou doe euill and bee stubborne rebellious then feare for God hath not giuen him authoritie ouer thee in vaine Wherfore yée seruants must be subiect obedieÌ„t vnto your masters not because of wrath or for feare only but also especially for loue conscience sake Rom. 13.1 Seruants be obedient vnto them that are your bodily masters according to the flesh and haue dominioÌ„ ouer your bodies but not ouer your soules and that in all things with feare treÌ„bling in singlenes of heart as vnto Christ not with seruice to the eye as meÌ„ pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing y e will of God froÌ„ the heart with good will and whatsoeuer yée do do it heartily as to the Lorde and not vnto men knowing that of the Lord yée shall receiue the reward of the inheritance whether yée be bond or free For yée serue the Lord Christ but he that doth wrong whether he be master or seruaÌ„t shal be sure to receiue punishmeÌ„t for y e wrong y t hée hath done For there is no respect of persons with God Ephe. 6.5 Col. 3.22 Yée seruants giue ye dutie to whom ye owe dutie feare to whom feare belongeth honour to whom yée owe honour and seruice to whoÌ„ seruice appertainethâ— and owe nothing to any but loue For hée that loueth fulfilleth the law Rom. 13. Let as many seruants as are vnder the yoke of seruitude count their masters and dames worthie of all honour that y e name of God his doctrine be not euill spokeÌ„ off they that haue beléeuing masters let them not despise theÌ„ because they are brethren but rather do seruice because they are faithfull and beloued and partakers of the benefite that is of the grace of God as their seruants are and hauing the same adoption 1. Tim. 6.1 Obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue as accounts that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe for y t is vnprofitable for you Heb. 13.17 Let seruants bée subiect to their masters and please them in all thinges not answering againe neither pickers â—ilchers or stealers from them but that they shall shew all good faithfulnesse and truth towards them that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things Tit. 2.9 Seruants bée yée subiect to your masters and mistresses with all feare not only if they bée good and courteous but also though they bée froward and â—estie for this is thanke worthie if you for conscieÌ„ce sake towards God knowing that God laieth this necessitie or charge vpon you endure griefe and suffer wrongâ—ully For what prayse is it if when yée be buffetted for your faultes yée take it patiently knowing that yée haue well deserued it but if when yée doe wel yée suffer wrong take it patiently at your masters or dames hand without any murmuring grudging resisting taunting or answering againe this is acceptable to God your reuenger for héereunto are yée called Yea Christ himselfe also suffered for vs leauing vs an exaÌ„ple that wée should follow his steps who did
alloes and cynamom Come I saye let vs therefore lye together and take our fill of loue and let vs solace our selues and take our pleasure in daliance for my husbande is not at home hee is gone a iourney farre of and hath taken with him a great bagge of money and will not returne home againe of a long time vntill the day appoynted Thus this impudent harlot with her great subtilty and craft ioyned with sweete woordes and flattering speeches ouercame so the silly young man that she caused him to yeeld and with her dissembling lippes she so entised and bewitched him as it were that he silly foole followed her straight wayes home to her house as an Oxe ledde to the slaughter which thinking he goeth to the pasture willingly goeth to his owne death and destruction And as a natural idiot and foole that laugheth when he goeth to the stockes to be punished and as a byrde y t hasteth to the snare not knowing what danger and perill his life is in Euen so I say went this besotted young man after her so long till shee had wounded his languishing liuer with the dart of her filthy luste brought him home into her house of hell and chamber of death destruction and there placed him as her gheste in the deepe pitte of hel Prou. 7. The description of the great whore or harlot of Babilon By S. Iohn the Euangelist Whore of Babylon I sawe sayeth Saint Iohn a woman sitte vppon a scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemie which had seuen heads and tenne hornes and the woman sate vppon many waters and was arrayed all in purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones pearles had a cup of gold in her hand ful of abhominatioÌ„s filthines of her fornications And in her forehead was this name writteÌ„ A misterie great Babilon the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth And I saw this woman dronken with the blood of Saintes and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus And I heard this strumpet glorifie her selfe and boast gloriously of her prosperitie saying in her heart I sitte and lyue in pleasure being a queene and am no widdow and shall see no mourning Yea I saw the kings of the earth commit fornication with this whore and the inhabitantes of the earth drinke til they were dronken with the wine of her fornication and the marchantes of the earth traffike with her and buye her ware to make them selues rich thereby of the aboundaunce of her pleasures euen her ware of gold and siluer precious stones pearles of fine linnen purple silke scarlette and all manner of Thymwood vessels of Iuory and of pretious wood of brasse yron and marble her wares also of synamom sweete odours oyntmentes frankinsence wyne oyle fine flower and wheate of beastes and sheepe horses and charyots seruants and soules of men And when I sawe her saieth S. Iohu I wondred with great maruell But the Angell of the Lorde after that hee had shewde me the misterie of the woman and of the beast that bare her told mee that this whore or harlot Babilon for her sinnes and abhominations committed which were all ascended and come vp to heauen shall haue a great fall and be sore plagued and tormented in one day all at once euen with death sorrowe and famyne and that shee shoulde bee rewarded double according to her workes and drinke the dreegges of her own cuppe and bee burnt with fire for strong is the Lord which will condempne her yea that they that hate the whore shall with one consente make her desolate and naked and shall eate her fleshe and burne her with fire as God hath put in their heartes to fulfill his will vppon her That the kinges of the earth which liued in pleasure with her also shall bewayle and lament her when they shall see the smoake of her burning And standing a farre off for feare of her torment shall saye Alas alas the great Citie Babylon the mightie Citie howe is thy iudgement come euen in one houre The inhabitants and people of the world also shall runne out of her and crye out mightelye with a loude voice and saye Alas alas it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great citie is fallen and is become the inhabitation of diuels and the holde of all foule spirites and the cage of euery vnclean and hateful byrde Finally y e marchants of her trash which made them selues rich therby for sorrowe and wante of their filthy gaine shall stand a farre off from her for feare of her tormente and erye out and dispayre weeping and wayling and saye Alas alas the greate Citie that was cloathed in fine linnen purple and scarlet and gilded with golde and pretious stone and pearle howe in one houre are so great riches come to desolation And all shipmen and trauaylers by sea shall flye vp to the toppe of their mastes to see her destruction and shall crye out when they see the smoake of her burning and cast dust vppon their heades and saye alas alas what Citie in all the world was like vnto this great Citie wherein all that had shippes on the sea were made rich by her costlynesse howe in one houre is shee made desolate But contrariwyse the Angelles tolde mee that the Saintes and Martyrs whome shee hadde slayne shoulde greatlye reioyce in her destruction and saye O heauen reioyce of her desolation and yee holye Apostles and Prophets tryumph in her ouerthrow for GOD hath giuen your iudgement on her c. And with that the Angell cast a greate myghtye mylstone into the sea saying With suche violence shall that great Citie Babylon bee caste downe so that shee shall bee founde no more Reuela 17. 18. see more 19.1.2.3 I Of the Virgins of Iabes Gilead read in Syloe Ieptahs daughter Ieptahs daughter being a very fayre virgin vnknowne of manne â—he onelye childe and heire of her father went out of her fathers house in Myspheh accompanyed with diuers damoselles to meete her father with Tymbrelles daunces and songes as the manner and custome of women then was after anye great victorie to welcome him home from warre and to praise God for the victory giuen him against the Ammonites but alas to her destruction and her fathers infamy For her father hauing before made a rash vow to God that if hee gat the victory came home in peace he would dedicate offer vp in sacrifice vnto God the thing that first came out of his house to meete him as wickedly performed the same rash vow And so soone as he saw his daughter come out to meete him being nowe ouercome with blinde zeale little considering whether his vowe were lawful or no hee rente his cloathes and sayde alas my daughter thou haste brought mee lowe and arte one of them that trouble mee for I haue opened my mouth and made a vow vnto the Lorde to sacrifice vnto him the first thing that meeteth mee
and cannot goe backe O my father quoth shee if thou hast opened the mouth so vnto the Lord doe with me as thou hast promised seeyng that the Lorde hath auenged thee of thine enemies the children of Ammon Howbeit yet before thou performe thy vowe doe thus much for me suffer me I pray thee for the space of two monethes that I may goe to the mountaines and bewayle my Uirginitie together with my fellow Uirgins so Ieptah gaue her leaue sent her away And she went with her companions and lamented her Uirginity vpon the mountaynes because it was counted a shame in Israel to die without children And after the end of two moneths she returned againe vnto her father who slue her and sacrificed her according to his vowe that he made And euer after it was a custome in Israel that the daughters and virgins of Israel went yeere by yeere to lament the death and Uirginitie of the daughter of Ieptah the Gileadite foure dayes in a yeere vppon the mountaynes Iudges 11. 34. c. Ieroboams wife Ieroboams wife when her sonne Abijah fell sicke at her husbands request tooke a present of ten loaues cracknels a bottel of hony as y e custome was and because she would not be knowen to be y e Queene shee disguised herselfe and so went vnto Syloe to the Prophet Ahiiah and there feining her self to be another woman then the wife of Ieroboam she asked counsel of him what should become of the young maÌ„ her sonne whether he should liue to succeed his father in the kingdomâ— or die of that disease But the Prophet albeit he was blynde and his eyesight decayed for age yet hauing her coÌ„ming vnto him reuealed by God before hande and her craft and subtletie disclosed vnto him ere she came so soone as he heard the sound of her feeete as she came in at his dore he sayde Come in thou wife of Ieroboam why feynest thou thy selfe to bee another then the wife of Ieroboam I am sent to thee with heauy tydinges Goe tell thy husband thus saith the Lord that forasmuche as I haue exalted thee whiche wast but a seruant to SalomoÌ„ froÌ„ amoÌ„g y t people haue made thee Prince ouer my people Israel c thou hast not kept my coÌ„mandements but done euill aboue all other kinges y t were before thee in coÌ„mitting abhominations setting vp Idolatry not only sinning thy self but making other to sinne Therefore beholde I will bring this euill vppon the house of Ieroboam for his sinnes namelye I will cutte off from him all that pisse against the wal that is euery male euen to the dogges aswel of them y t are shut vp in prison and strong holdes as at libertie and abroad yea I will sweepe away his posteritie as a man sweepeth awaye dounge or dyrte till it bee all gone And the dogges shall eate them that dye in the Citie and the fowles of the ayre deuoure them that die in the fielde for the Lorde hath sayde it Up therefore and gette thee to thine house for when thy feete enter into the Citie thy childe shall die and all Israell shall mourne for him and burye him For hee onelye of Ieroboam shall come to the graue because in him there is founde some goodnesse towardes the Lorde God of Israell in the house of Ieroboam So Ieroboams wife with a heauy cheere departed and came to Terzah where shee dwelt and when she came to the threshold of the doore ready to enter into the house the young man her childe died and they buryed him and all Israell lamented his death euen according as the Prophet from the mouth of the Lorde had foretolde her 1. King 14. Widow of Ierusalem There was a certeine poore widdow in Ierusalem who beeing in the Temple at the time when the rich men and people cast in theyr almes into the tresorie to the reliefe of the poore came also and caste in two mites which make a quadrin or halfe a farthing into the treasorie with the rest of the people whome when Iesus sitting ouer against the treasorie sawe and behelde hee to shewe hee esteemeth our giftes or almes deedes by the hearts ready wil and affection of the giuer and not by the quantitie or value of the thing giuen commended this poore widows offring liberallitie aboue the rich mens saying vnto his Disciples that were about him Uerily I say vnto you that this poore widdow hath cast more into the offrings of God theÌ„ all they which haue cast into the treasorie for they all did cast in of their superfluitie but she of her pouertie did cast in all the lyuing that she had Mark 12.42 Luk. 21.1 Iobs Wife Iobs wife seeing her husband visited by the hande of God and grieuously plagued with botches and byles from toppe to toe beganne to loathe and dispise him because of the loathsomnesse and continuaunce of his diseases And being stirred vp of Sathan as an instrument to â—empt her husband Iob as Eue was to tempt Adam she knowing death to be appoynted for the blasphemer most impatiently and wickedly sayde vnto her husbande Doest thou continue yet in thine vprightnesse curse God and die as though she would haue sayde what gaynest thou to serue God seeing hee thus plagueth thee as if he were thine enimie Blaspheme Gods name by curssing and denying him so shalt thou bee stoned to death by iudgement of the law and be quicklye ridde of this payne wherein most loathfully thou languishest But Ioab like a most quiet and pacient man teaching her and vs all paciently to endure the crosse of affliction and hande of God sayde vnto her O wife thou speakest like a foolishe woman What shall we receyue good at the hande of God and not receyue euill also Iob. 2.9.10 L There was a certeine Ladye a noble Gentlewoman which for her excellent vertue and deuout godlinesse in religion and bringing vp her children in vertue and learning accordinglye was had in great reputation and worthily honoured of all men especiallye of the Apostles Insomuch that S. Iohn not for anye worldly or priuate affection but according to godlinesse so loued this Lady that to her perpetual prayse and all other womens good example by imitating her vertues hee wrote a learned Epistle to her and her children as an electe and most noble Ladye wherein hee reioyced greatlye as all godlye men doe that hee founde her and her children walking in the trueth of Christes Gospell and shunning the by pathes of errour superstition and idolatrie exhorting her most friendely and christianlye therein that as she had begunne to loue and imbrace the Gospell so she and her children would still loue and continue in the constant profession of the same doctrine of Christ which she and her children to fore had learned And warneth her and them also to beware of deceiuers and to haue nothing to doe with false preachers and teachers 2. Iohn 1. The description of the woman called
the seditious our enemies preuaile without in the Towne are fires burninges and ruines of houses famine pestilence spoyling and destroying so that I cannot feede thee my sonne Nowe therefore my sonne if I shoulde die for hunger to whome shoulde I leaue thee being yet a childe I hoped once that whē thou shouldest come to mans state thou shouldest haue susteined mine age with meate drinke and cloth and after when I shoulde die to bury mee honourablie like as I was minded to burie thee if thou shouldest haue died before mee But nowe my sonne thou art as good as dead alreadie For I haue no meate to bring thee vp with all because of this great famine and crueltie of the enemies both within and without If thou shouldest die nowe amongst other thou shouldest haue no good nor honourable tombe as I woulde wishe thee Wherefore I haue thought good to chuse thee a sepulchre euen myne owne bodie least thou shouldest die and dogges eate thee in the streets I will therefore bee thy graue and thou shalt bee my foode And for that that if thou hadst liued and growne to mans state thou oughtest by right to haue nourished mee Nowe feede mee with thy fleshe and with it susteyne mine age before that famine deuoure thee and thy body bee consumed Render therefore vnto thy mother that whiche shee gaue vnto thee for thou camest of her and thou shalt returne into her For I will bring thee into the selfe same shape in the which the breath of life was breathed into thy nostrelles Forasmuch as thou art my welbeloued sonne whom I haue loued alwayes withall my strength bee therefore meate for thy mother an ignominie and reproch to the Sedicious that by violence haue taken away our foode Wherefore my sonne heare my voyce and sustayne my soule and my life and goe to thy ende that is determined for thee by my handes thy lotte bee in the garden of Eden and Paradise bee thou meate for mee and a rebuke and shame to the Seditious that they may bee compelled to say Lo a woman hath killed her sonne and hath eaten him So when shee had thus spoken to her sonne shee tooke the child and turnyng her face away least shee shoulde see him dye shee killed him with a swoorde and after cutte his bodie into certayne peeces whereof some shee roasted some shee sodde and when shee had eaten of them shee layd vp the rest to keepe The sauour of the fleshe rosted when it came out into the streetes to the people they sayde one to another see here is a smell of rostmeate Which thing came to the knowledge of the sedicious at length who went into the house of the woman and spake roughly vnto her why shouldest thou haue meate to liue with and wee die for hunger The woman then made them an answere and sayde vnto them Bee not displeased I beseeche you with your handmaide for this for you shall see I haue reserued part for you Sitte you downe therefore and I will bring it you that you may taste thereof for it is very good meate And by and by shee layd the table and set before them part of the childes fleshe saying Eate I pray you heere is a childes hande see heere his foote and other partes and neuer reporte that it is any other womans childe but mine owne onely sonne that yee knewe with mee him I bare and also haue eaten part and parte I haue kept for you Which when shee had spoken shee burst out and wept saying Oh my sonne my sonne how sweete wast thou to mee whiles thou yet liuedst and nowe at thy death also thou art sweeter to mee then honie For thou haste not onely fedde me in this most grieuous famine but thou hast defended mee from the wrath of the sedicious wherewith they were incensed towardes mee when the smell of the meate brought them into my house Nowe therefore are they become my friendes for they sit at my table and I haue made them a feast with thy fleshe After shee turned her to the seditious and badde them eate and satisfie them selues For why saide shee shoulde yee abhorre my meate which I haue set before you I haue satisfied my self therewith swhy therfore do you not eate of the flesh of my sonne Tast and see how weete my sonnes fleshe is I dare say you will say it is good meate What needeth pitie Ought yee to bee more moued therewith then a woman If yee will in no wise eate of the sacrifice of my sonne when as I haue eaten thereof mee selfe shall not this bee a shame for you that I shoulde haue better heart and greater courage then you Beholde I haue prepared a fayre table for you most valiant men why eate ye not Is it not a good feast that I haue drest for you and it was your will that I shoulde make you this feast It had been my part rather to haue been mooued with pitie of my sonne then yours and howe chanceth it therfore y t ye are more mercifull then I are not ye they that spoyled my house and left me no kinde of foode for mee and my sonne are not yee they that constrayned mee to make you this feast notwithstanding the great hunger that I haue why then eate yee not thereof when as yee were the authours and the causers that I did this deede The Iewes hearing this matter were wonderfully smitten into saddenesse Yea euen the gouernours of the Seditious beganne to stoupe when they heard of this so that they all in a maner desired death they were so amazed at this horrible acte Many therefore of the common people stale out in the night foorth of Hierusalem with all their substaunce to the Romanes campe and shewed Titus of this who wept thereat and was sory for the matter exceedingly holding vp his handes to heauen and crying Thou Lorde God of the worlde God of this house to whome all secretes are knowen whiche also knowest my heart that I came not against the Citie as desirous of warres but rather of peace which I euer offered them but yet the Citizens thereof euer more refused it although I oftentimes intreated them And when they destroyed one another by their ciuill discention I woulde haue deliuered them but I founde them alwayes like most fierce and cruell beastes nothing sparing them selues And this mischiefe is come nowe so farre that a woman hath eaten her owne fleshe being driuen therevnto by most extreeme necessitie I haue hearde and my forefathers haue tolde mee all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towardes them and their fathers howe thy name dwelt amongst them c. And nowe Lorde God c. if so bee thou wilt not deliuer this people into my handes I will gette mee hence from these most wicked men and flie away to saue my life least I also perishe in their sinnes when thou shalt ouerthrowe them as thou diddest Sodome and Gomorre c. For