according to Daniels Prophecy five hundred yeares before At this time there was a universall peace over the whole world for the said Emperour after five civill warres waged by himselfe and after infinite broyles and blood shed in the world raigned peaceably alone for many yeares together and in token of an universall peace over the whole earth he caused the Temple gates of Ianus to be shut according to the custome of the Romans in such cases albeit this happened but twice before from the building of Rome to that time And the very same day that Christ was borne in Jury Augustus commanded in Rome as afterward was observed that no man should call him Lord thereby to signifie the free liberty rest joy and security wherein all men were after so long miseries which by continuall warres the world had suffered to fulfill the Prophesie of Esay above an hundred yeares before Daniel that at the comming of Christ people should sit in the Tabernacle of peace in sure dwellings and safe resting places And againe he shall be called the Prince of peace and againe there shall be no end of peace and David long before him in his dayes shall arise Justice and abundance of peace Now for the particular state of Jewry at Christs Nativity thus it was according as Iosephus the Iew who was borne within five yeares after Christs Passion describeth the same One Herod a stranger whose Grandfather was sexton in Apollos Temple and his father called Antipater waâ— brought up among theeves in Idumea came out of Idumea was risen to acquaintance and favour with the Romans partly by his said fathers meanes who was as Iosephus words are a well monied man industrious and factious And partly by his owne diligence and ambition being of himselfe both witty beautifull and of excellent rare qualities By which commendations he came at length to marry the daughter of Hyrcanus King of Iewry that was descended lineally of the house of David and Tribe of Iuda and by his mariage obtained of his father in law to be Governour of the Province of Galily under him But Hircanus afterwards falling into the hands of the Parthians that carried him into Parthia Herod runne away to Rome and there by the especiall helpe and favour of Anthony that ruled together in company with Octavius he obtained to be created King of Iury without any title or interest in the world for that not only his said father in law Hyrcanus was yet alive in Parthia but also his younger brother Aristolulus and three of his sonnes named Antigonus Alexander and Aristobulus and divers others of the blood royall in Iewry Herod then by this means having obtained that Kingdome procured first to have in his hands the foresaid Hyrcanus and so put him to death he also brought to the same end his younger brother Aristobulus and his three sons likewise he put to death also his own wife Mariamnes that was King Hyrcanus daughter as also Alexandra her Mother and soon after two of his own sons which he had by the said Mariamnes for that they were of the blood royall of Iuda And a little after that againe he put to death his third son named Antipater He caused also to be slaine at one time forty of the chiefest Noble men of the Tribe of Juda and as Philo the Jew writeth that lived at the same time with him he put to death all the Sanhedrin that is the seventy two Senators of the Tribe of Juda that ruled the people He killed the chiefe of the sect of the Pharisees He burned the Genealogies of all the Kings and Princes of the house of Juda caused one Nicholaus Damascenus an Historiographer that was his servant to draw out a pedegree for him and his line as though he had descended from the ancient Kings of Juda. He translated the high Priesthood and sold it to strangers and finally he so raced dispersed and mangled the house of Juda as not one jot of government dignity or principality remained therein And when he had done all this then was Iesus of the same house and line of Iuda borne in Bethlehem the proper City of David which David was the founder and first author of regality in Juda. Now then consider the prophesie of Iacoh concerning the particular time of Christs appearance almost two thousand yeares before these things fell out Come hither my children said he that I may tell you the things which are to happen in the latter dayes c. The Scepter shall not depart from Iuda nor a Law-giver from betweene his feet untill he come who is to be sent The expectation of all Nations Which prophesie that it was fulfilled now at Christs Nativity when Herod had extinguished all Government in Iudah no man can deny that will acknowledge the things set downe before which are recorded by writers both of that time and of the Iewish Nation and Religion themselves And that it was never fulfilled from Davids dayes who began the governmeÌ„t of the house of Iuda untill this time appeareth plainely by all histories and records both divine and prophane For that from David who was the first King unto Zedechias that was the last and dyed in the captivity of Babylon the Scripture shewes how all the Kings descended of the house of Iuda And during the time of their captivity in Babylon which was seventy yeares the Iewes were alwayes permitted to chuse themselves a Governour of the house of Iuda whom they called Resch galuta and after their deliverance from Babylon Zorobabel was their captaine of the same Tribe and so others after him untill you come to the Macchabees who were both Captains and Priests for that they were by the mothers side of the Tribe of Iuda and by the fathers side of the Tribe of Levi as Rabbi Kimchi And from these men â—owne to Hyrcâ—nus and Aristobuâ—us whom Herod slew there continued still the same line as Tosephus declareth so that by this Prophesie it is evident that Iesus was borne at the proper time appointed for the Messias when there was neither King nor Captaine nor High Priest nor Counsellor nor any one Governour of the house and Tribe of Iuda left in Iury. For further proofe that Christ came incarnate into the world at the time appointed here might be shewed the destruction of the second Temple according to Daniels prophesie after sixty two weekes Christ shall be slaine The attestation of Oracles the observation of Rabbins and expectation of all the Jewes at that time but I intend brevity and this is else-where learnedly described by divers famous Writers Therefore I conclude as Saint Luke declares it in the second Chapter 1. It was saith he when Augustus Caesar caused the whole world to bee taxed by taking of every person in all places a penny wherby they might professe themselves subject to the Roman Emperour and he might know how many Townes Cities and persons were in the whole world under his dominion and
dust and ashes dare speak unto him for my sins cry for vengeance and shall I be silent for pardon Gracious God either silence them or heare me If thou wilt not heare the voice of my words heare the voice of my tears if thou wilt not heare them heare the voice of thy sonnes blood which speaketh better things then the blood of Abel I confesse I have sorely displeased thee but it troubleth me that I have so incensed thee I have grieved thy Spirit but it grieveth me that I should be so gracelesse as to grieve that Spirit of grace which sealeth thy chosen to salvation I deserve that thou shouldest even abhorre me for my sinnes but I abhorre my selfe for them in dust and ashes I have offended thee in gluttony but I now fast for it in pride but I humble my selfe in laughter and sports but I weepe for it in sinfull joyes but I mourne for it I have wallowed in filthy pleasures but I wallow for it in dust and ashes I have broken all thy Comman dements but I have broken my heart in true contrition for it Thou didst not break a bruised reed wilt thou grinde to powder a broken heart What profit is in my blood O Lord when I goe downe into the pit Nay what profit is in thy blood O blessed Redeemer if they for whom it was shed goe downe into the pit of destruction shall the dust give thanks unto thee O Lord or the ashes and cinders of hell praise the God of heaven Heare O Lord and have mercy upon me thou that healest those that are broken in heart and givest medicine to cure their sicknesse raise up my prostrate and dejected soule Why diddest thou hunger O Lord but to satisfie for my gluttony why didst thou thirst but to satisfie for my drunkennesse why didst thou weepe but to satisfie for my sinfull joyes why didst thou endure unspeakable torments but to satisfie for my lewd pleasures why didst thou dye an ignominious death but to satisfie for my sinfull life why didst thou shed thy blood but to satisfie for my crimson sins Adam our first parent did eat the forbidden fruit and all our teeth are set on edge but thy fasting forty dayes hath fully satisfied for his eating But I renew my sins daily and thou renewest thy mercies The guilt of my sinne is great but the price of thy blood is greater I have offended an infinite Majestie but satisfaction hath beene made by an infinite Majestie My wickednesse cannot exceed thy goodnesse for my power of sinning is finite but thy faculty of pardoning is infinite Wherefore sith my sinnes be they never so many never so weighty fall within the measure of thy mercy and compasse of thy goodnesse and sith it is all one with thee to give what I ask and to incite me to aske to heale my wounds and to make me feele the smart of them Lord who hast given me the one deny me not the other rebuke the surges of temptations and quiet my soule Thou who in the dayes of thy flesh offeredst up prayers with strong cries here the strong loud cries of a penitent sinner Thou who tookest upon thee our infirmities take pity upon them thou who wert in thine agony stricken with horror and unutterable griefe allay the troubles of my affrighted conscience Thou who fastedst forty dayes accept of my humiliation these forty dayes and grant that my stomack may not onely fast from accustomed meats but all my sences from their usuall delights and most of all my heart from worldly comforts and contentments Let no sight delight me till I see my sins removed like a mist and thy countenance shine upon mee Let no sound or voice delight me till I heare thee by thy Spirit to speake peace to my conscience and say to my soule I am thy salvation Let no pleasant fields and gardens delight me till I have gathered red flowers out of that garden which was watered with thy blood Let no fruit delight me till I have fully tasted of the fruit of the tree of thy crosse Let no meat delight me till with the sowre hearbs of sorrow and anguish of heart for my sin I have eaten the Christian Passeover the flesh of thee that immaculate Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world Heare me blessed Redeemer and as thou wrotest in dust when thou tookest the woman in adultery so I beseech thee write my sins in dust bury them all in the ashes of oblivion So be it Amen SATVRNE OR a Meditation on Goodfriday HAving in the former meditations shewed you an immaculate Lambe and the first fruits of the meritorious blood thereof then how the said Lambe was prepared to be a fitting Sacrifice for the expiation of the sins of the whole world Now I should according to my promise in the entrance of this work show you how this Sacrifice was laid upon the Altar of the Crosse as on this day under the metaphor of the Planet Saturne But herein I perceive my owne inability and presumption that I should dare to adventure upon such holy things in such vile comparisons for the expulsion of Saturne out of his kingdome by his brother Titan and sonne Jupiter is no way equivalent to the malice of the Jewes against our blessed Saviour For Saturne broke covenant with his brother and kept three of his male children alive contrary to the condition which he held his kingdome by And therefore Titan had just cause to make warre against him and recover his inheritance due to the first borne And Jupiter likewise did expell his father out of his kingdome because his father threatned to kill him But Christ had done offence to none he had broken no bonds but rather made up the breach hee was so farre from destroying that he came on purpose to save and redeeme that which was lost And what were the troubles of Saturne King of Creet to the unsupportable sufferings of Christ the King of glory Nay what were all the troubles of all the men that are or ever were in the world to the troubles of our blessed Saviour And where is the patience of Saturne Iob or any other that was in Christ For as the light of the natural Sun is darknesse to the Splendor of the Sunne of Righteousnesse so all the excellency and worth that is in all mankind is not able fully to demonstrate the excellencie that is in Christ yet because Saturne was imprisoned by his Brother and driven out of his Kingdome by his own sonne I did intend to shew how our blessed Saviour as on this day was bound imprisoned by the cruell Jews his brethren according to the flesh of the Virgin Mary and driven out of the Kingdome of this world by those which should as obedient children to the cōmands of God their Father have kept their hands from killing the innocent But being conscious of my owne insufficiency for the performance of such a work it being excellently
that made the stout souldiers to bow their heads in humility the fruitlesse and barren Publican to bear the fruit of Charity and all the common people to cry out with an unanimous consent What shall we doe This is the Angell of the Lord sent as a Messenger before his face to prepare his wayes he that was borne after a supernatural manner lived an austere angelicall life clad in course and rough habite fed with spare diet And after one yeare in his ministerial office for testifying the truth to fulfill the wicked desires of a lewd struÌ„pet prompt by her bloody mother when hee was little more than one and thirty yeares of age by the commandement of cruel Herod was beheaded in the Tower of Macherus which was a Towne of Peraea beyond Jordan twenty miles from Jerusalem towards the East scituated on a high Mountain which Townes name being derived from Machera signifies a sword and Iohn dyed by a sword Thus was this light withdrawne this lampe extinguished and this star clouded But all this is so excellently performed by Mr. Austin that the lustre of his bright Sun hath eclipsed this my star which inforceth me to conclude as hee doth in the Collect of the Church saying Almighty God by whose providence thy servant Iohn Baptist was wonderfully borne and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching of Penance make me so to follow his doctrine and holy life that I may truly repent according to his preaching and after his example constantly speake the truth boldly rebuke vice and patiently suffer for the truths sake through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen On the Feast of Saint Matthew THe next light after the Baptist in the Evangelical firmament I place the first of the Evangelists for which it may be some of the upholders of the universall Bishops Soveraignty will cavill with me because I doe not set the prime Apostle S. Peter in the first place For though Saint Matthew was the first Writer yet it may bee said Saint Peter was the first Preacher after the Ascension of our Lord as is evident in the first and second of the Acts. And there hath been as glorious lights Preachers as Writers But yet for that the History of the Gospell is the foundation of all writing and preaching I will begin with Saint Matthew who wrote his Gospel before the other three as is evident by Revel 6. 1. For when Christ which is the Lamb there mentioned had opened the sealed doctrine of our redemption in the first yeare of his ministeriall office to the six and thirtieth yeare after his birth one of the foure Beasts which by interpretours is Matthew writes his Gospell in the Hebrew tongue and in the mighty stile of Gods thundring Spirit set out the same willing all Nations to come and see viz. approach and consider it About which time in accomplishment of the second verse Christ and his Apostles passe out and preach to all the testimony of the Gospell shooting the arrowes of zeale to pierce all godly hearts which is prefigured in him that sate on the white horse crowned with victory and triumphantly conquering and overcomming the world And that S. Matthew is one of the four beasts is evident for both Ezekiel in his first chapter and S. Iohn in his fourth makes mention that one of the beasts had a face like a man which by all interpreters is applyed to Matthew because hee begins his first face or leafe with the genealogie of Christ as he is man of the seed of David by the Virgin Mary And the Prophet Ezekiel writing in Hebrew to the Hebrewes saith the first face of one of the foure beasts was as the face of a man meaning S. Matthew wrote first in Hebrew But the Prophet S. John writing in Greeke to the Grecians saith the first beast had the face of a Lion meaning S. Marke who wrote first in Greek S. Matthew was the third whose Gospell when S. Iohn wrote his was translated out of Hebrew into Greek Another reason why S. Matthews Gospell is set first is because he being an Apostle was to give light and open the way to the rest as S. Iohns Gospell is set last because being an Apostle he might give authority and confirme the former two which were Disciples and writ their Gospell Saint Marke by the instruction and approbation of S. Peter and S. Luke by the authority of S. Paul Saint Matthew setting downe his owne story is so farre from flattery that he cals himselfe Matthew the Publican and tels how he was called to be an Apostle as he was sitting at the receipt of custome which text is excellently expounded in M. Austins divine Meditations And as some report it was in Caesarea Philippi where likewise Christ cured the woman afflicted with the bloody issue 12 yeares by the touch of the hemme of his garment It is likewise related that S. Matthew having writ his Gospel delivered it to Iames the Lords brother then Bishop of Jerusalem preached the Gospell in Aethiopia now called the Kingdome of Presbyter-Iohn and was entertained by the Eunuch Chamberlaine to the Quâ—ene Candace whereof there is mention in the Acts. He prevailed so much that Aeglippus the King of Aethiopia and his people came to baptisme But there reigned after him one Hyrtacus which hated the Apostle and commanded him to be runne through with a sword But some say he was runne through with a speare at Hierapolis in Parthia where he was honourably buried so that he did not only write the Testament of his Lord but for confirmation of the truth thereof sealed it with his blood What may be further writ concerning this blessed Apostle I leave to the learned and conclude with the prayer for the day as the Church hath set it in her Liturgy saying Almighty God which by thy blessed Sonne didst call Matthew from the receipt of custome to be an Apostle and Evangelist grant me grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and to follow thy said son Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and thy holy Spirit three persons and one God now and for ever Amen On S. Markes-day THe next fundamentall light that appeared in the Evangelicall Sphere was S. Marke as appeares in the third and fourth verses of the sixth of the Revelation For when the second Beast or Gospell began to invite men to the perusall thereof then there went out another horse which was red and power was given to him that sate theron to take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword which is thus paraphrased At that time proceeded tyrannous and bloody magistrates sitting in the seat of tyranny to whom power was given to persecute Gods Saints on earth and to deprive them of peace by causing all men to kill them abusing so the sword of Justice that God had given them And this was
much inquisition therinto without first acquainting the King therewith so upon Alholland day presented it to his Majesty the Contents whereof follow My Lord out of the love I beare to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament for God and man have concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time and think not slightly of this advertisement but retire your selfe into your countrey where you may expect the event insafety for though there bee â—o appearance of any stirre yeâ— I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harme for the danger is past so soone as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The King no sooner read it but after a little pause and then reading it over againe contrary to all Grammaticall construction of this sentence in the said Letter That they should receive a terrible blow at this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and then joyning this sentence immediately following for the danger is past as soon as you have burnt the Letter concluded that the danger mentioned should be some sudden danger for no other Insurrection Rebellion or whatsoever other private or desperate attempt could be committed or done in time of Parliament and the Authors thereof unseene except it were by Powder which might be performed by one base Knave in a corner And therefore wished that the lower roomes under the Parliament House should be narrowly searched or else there should be no going to Parliament wherupon the Lord Chamberlaine with the Lord Mounteagle made as it were a carelesse and racklesse search where they found in the Vault under the Upper house great store of Billets Faggots and Coales which gave just cause of suspicion and wondred why such extraordinary provision of fuell should be in that house where Mr. Percy had so seldome occasion to remaine besides viewing M. Percyes alledged man they thought him to be a very tall desperate fellow but yet in case this Letter should prove but the evaporation of an idle braine then a curious search being made and nothing found would not only turn to the generall scandall of the King and State as being suspicious of every light toy but lay an ill imputation upon the Earle of Northumberland this Thomas Percy being his Kinsman confident familiar Therefore upon pretence of Whyniards missing some of the Kings Stuffe Sir Thomas Knevit a Iustice of Peace in Westminster with some small company about midnight the fourth of November searching the said house found Mr. Percyes pretended man standing without doore booted and spur'd and presently apprehended him then removing the Coals Billets found thirty six Barrels of Powder and other instruments fit for their purpose and searching Fawkes found in his pocket three Matches a piece of Touchwood and a Watch by which they had tryed how long the Touchwood would continue burning till it came to the traine of Powder When Fawkes saw this Treason discovered he instantly confessed That if he had beene within the house as he was without when they first laid hands upon him he would have blown up them himselfe and all When the rest of the Traitors knew for certain that all was discovered they fled out of the City and went to Dunchurch at Sir Everard Digbyes lodging where they were met by Iohn Graunt one of their Associats who with others had stolne seven or eight great Horses out of a Stable in Warwickeshire And seeing they could not prevaile with a private blow they went about to practise rebellion dreaming to themselves that they had the vertue of a â—nowball that by running up and downe the countrey they might increase their company but as in the other so in this also they were deceived for the greatest company that ever they could get together was not passing fourescore and those most of their servants and Tenants and much adoe they had to keepe them from stealing from them And at last were all beaten killed taken and dispersed by the Sheriffe of Worcester not knowing any thing of the Treason but only upon their riâ—tous assembly and stealing the Horses And see herein Gods judgements being in the house of one Stephen Littleton by chance a sparke of fire fell into a Paper of Powder burnt Catesby Rockwood and Graunt And in the same house by the said Sheriffe and his company Percy and Câ—tesby were shot and kild and their heads cut off and set on the ends of the Parliament house and the rest had triall at Westminster and were drawne hanged and quarter'd their heads fixed on London Bridge and their limbes upon the gates of the City Thus having seene the true relation of this unparallell'd Treason may I not very well compare it to the Rainbow an effect of the Aire for it apparantly appears to proceed from the Prince of the Aire who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience and dwels in utter darknesse And these delight to worke and be in darke vaults with darke Lanthornes agreeable to their blinde religion But if this devillish stratagem of the Prince of Darknesse and Miners of Antichrist had taken effect which God be praised is discovered and defeated wee should have then seene the Image of the last and terrible day when the Sunne of man shall descend in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not the Gospell we should have heard louder cryes lamentations then the mournings of Adadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo When Soveraign Majestie and Ecclesiasticall and civill authority and publick justice and all the honour and digty of the Kingdome should have laine in the dust or floted in the Aire The King our Head the Queene our fertile Mother and those young and hopefull Olive Plants not theirs but ours our reverend Clergy our honourable Nobility the faithfull Counsellors the grave Judges the greatest part of the worthiest Knights and Gentry as well as of the wisest Burgesses the Clerkes of the Crowne Councell Signet Seals or of any other principall Iudgement feat all the learned Lawyers together with an infinite number of common people Nay their furious rage should not only have lighted upon reasonable and sensible creatures without distinction either of degree sex or age but even the insensible stocks and stones should not have beene free of their fury The Hall of Iustice the House of Parliament the Church used for the Coronation of our Kings the monuments of our former Princes the Crowne and all other markes of Royalty All the Records aswell of Parliament as of every particular mans right with a number of Charters and
fishes Matthew the Publican at the receipt of custome and S Austin enamoured with eloquence by the lustre of S. Ambroses stiâ—e and intising eloquence I beseech thee take advantage of such seasons and apply such meanes for my unfeined conversion unto thee as are most agreeable to my inclination disposition and condition So will I come unto thee and fall downe before thee and present unto thee gold frankincense and Myrrh gold in acknowledgement of thy kingdome frankincense of thy Priâ—sthood and Myrrh of thy death I will offer willingly and freely unto thee incense of praise and thanksgiving for thy benefits the Myrrh of bitter teares for my sins and gold according to my ability for the maintenance of thy service and adorning thy Temple Lord who by this rich present providedst for the Virgins wants to supply them in her journey to Egypt extend thy goodnesse to me in all necessities and establish my faith and confidence in all dangers and difficulties whatsoever for thou hast promised never to leave nor forsaken them that trust in thee The stony rock shall yeeld a fountaine of water and the dry cruse a spring of oile the loaves shall multiply by spending nay the clouds shall be store-houses of bread and the winde serve in foul and the Ravens bring in provision the fishes pay tribute of money and Heathen sages from the East by the conduct of a starre bring in costly presents and new yeares gifts before thy children shall want their necessary maintenance or sustenance Blessed Babe who at thy birth didst presage thy death and assayedst the crosse in thy cratch and being excluded as it were from all men wast constrained to take up thy lodging with beasts in a stable teach me what I am to look for in this world If it give me course and base and beastly entertainment it gave thee worse and the servant is not to expect better respect then the Master O King of glory who hadst no Palace but an Inne no chamber of presence but a Stable no Tapestry but straw no chaire of estate but a Cratch no Scepter but a Reed and no Crowne but a wreath of Thorns work in me a holy high-mindednesse to despise this world which so despised thee Make worldly greatnesse seeme small honour base estimation vile and pompe vaine unto mee let not the glittering show of gold silver and pretious stones or the lustre of eminent condition dazell the eyes of my minde but let the beames of this starre light and guide me rather to honour thee in a stable then leave thee to follow Herod in his palace upon any hopes whatsoever The wise men after they had seene thee never returned back to Herod but went another way to their owne home so let me after thou hast called mee to the knowledge of thy truth and redeemed me from my vaine conversation never returne back to my worldly courses but take another way to my true home in Heaven The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad I see thy starre in Scriptures nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart O let my joy exceed theirs as my knowledge doth The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest and entred into thy bedchamber So O Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life even till I come to see thee not in a stable on earth strewed with litter and dung but in a Palace in Heaven built with Sâ—phyrs and founded upon Pearls not receiving a present of gold from men but wearing a crowne of glory put upon thee by thy Father not having a quantity of frankinsence or Myrrh in thy hand but a golden Censor full of sweet odours which are the prayers of Saints Among which I beseech thee offer up the prayers of me a sinner that I may be a Saint after thou hast purged me from all filthinesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen The Southerne Hemisphere OR a Meditation on Innocents-day THe reason why I fix the Stars of the Southerne Pole on this day is because as those innocent Doves those harmelesse Lambes those glorious Starâ—eâ— that first appeared in the Christian firmament the infinite number of sucking infants under two yeares old that were as this day slaine by the appointment of cruell Herod were borne and soone after dyed in the place of Christs Nativity Bethlehem Ephrata which was a City which stood upon a hill some six miles from Jerusalem towards the South But for the number of the starres noted by Astronomers in this Hemisphere 15 Constellations which are 293 are not the third part of the tithe of 14000 which is the number of those blessed martyred Infants if it be true which the Lyturgie of the Aethiopians and Calends of the Greeks affirme But all this was done as S. Matthew testifies to performe the word of the Lord spoken by Ieremiah the Prophet saying In Rama was heard a voice of lamentation weeping and great mourning Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they were not That it was prefigured by Rachels weeping is evident For Rachel Iacobs wife dyed in childbed and was buried about a quarter of a mile from this place on the right hand towards Jerusalem The monument that Iacob set upon her grave as some affirme was twelve stones pitcht an end which ceremony the ancient Fathers used to testifie their hope of the Resurrection to come which was not generally reveiled And by reason of this grave al the countrey therâ—bouts ever since was called by the name of Rachel And for this cause these Infants were called her children albeit she were dead above 2000 yeares before they were slaine and 1500 yeares before Ieremy writ the prophesie Having thus taken a view of the truth of the story I will insist a little further in the description of this ambitious Tyrant Herod who being of meane parentage though of an ambitious spirit by faire pretences subtile demeanour obtained the daughter of a King for his wife then having one foot in the stirrup of preferment and worldly honour he further hunting after his prey the Crowne of the Kingdome of Jewry deposâ—d his father in law and sâ—ew him and all his sonnes he stayed not there but killed his own wife and all the Nobility of Juda. And so fearfull was hee that any should rob him of his honour when hee heard that a King was borne from the Magi and could not finde the particular party that he did not only cause an infinite number of innocent babes to be slaine but for more assurance killed his own sonne because as Philo saith he descended by his mothers side of the line of Juda which cruelty comming to Augustus's eares he said as Macrobius reporteth That he had rather be Herods Swine then his Sonne for that he being a Jew was forbidden by his religion to kill his swine though not ashamed to kill his