Priest Mâ—…reover Titus was minded to have put Rabby Gamaliel father of Râ—…hbag to death but Rabby Jochâ—… son of 〈◊〉 made suice for him and obtained pardon for his life This Râ—…bby Jochanan was he that came forth of Jerusalem in the beginning when Vâ—…spasian father of Titus came first against Jerusalem whom Vespasian honoured greatly insomuch that when he returned to Rome he commended this Râ—…bby Jochanan to his son Titus commanding him to honour him for he perceived he was a wise man Titus râ—…igned two years after he had taken Jerusalem anâ—… died He was a very eloquent 〈◊〉 expert in the Laâ—…ne and Greek Tongue and writ divers Works in both Tongues He loved most intirely justice and equity for he wasted the City of Jerusalem against his will and being compelled thereunto â—…ea all the mischief that came upon it hapned through the malice and naugâ—…ness of the Seditious as we have touched before THE Ten Captivities OF THE JEWES THe Israelites were Ten times led into Captivity Four times by the hands of Sanherib and Four times by Nabuchadnezzar Once by Vespasian and Once by superstitious Adrian First invaded them Sanherib and transporthe Rubenites the Gadites and the half tribe of Manosseh He took away also the golden Calf which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made He led them into Helah Habor to the River of Gozan and to the â—…ities of the Medes This Captivity was in the time of Pekah the son of Remaliah The second Captivity Hosea the son of Ela remained and slue Pekah the son of Remalâ—…h After he became the servant and subject of Sanherib seven years Then came Sanherib the second time and carried away the tribes of Asar Isachar Zebulon and Nephtali of whom he let go free only one of every eight He took away also another â—…alf that was in Bethel After the death of Ahaz raigned Zedekia his son in his stead four years The fourth year of whose raign Sanherib came and intrenched about Samarâ—…a besieging it three years and at length took it in the sixt year of the raign of Hizkiahu So led he away the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Mannasse This is the third Captivity When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned eight years he made wars against Jerusalem bringing with him the Chutean Hereticks out of Babylon Ethiopia Hemates Avim and Sepharvavim and as he warred upon Judea he took in that Country a hundred and fifty Cities in the which there were two tribes Juda and Simeon whom he took with him and caused them forthwith to be led into Halah and Habar untill the King of the Ethiopians rebelled against him whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of Egypt Then taking Juda and Simeon with him he made war with the King of Ethiopia So the holy and blessed God placed them in the dark mountains Here was four Captivities whereby ten tribes went into exile by Sanherib There remained yet of Juda one hundred and ten thousand and of Benjamin one hundred and thirty thousand in the City of Jerusalem over whom raigned Hizkiahu Moreover Sanherib came out of Ethiopia against Jerusalem again leading with him one hundred and ten thousand but the holy Lord overthrew him there as it is written And the Angel of the Lord issuing forth smote in the house of Asar 175 thousand men His people therefore was slain and no man left but Sanherib and his two sons and Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuzaraden this slaughter was in the fourteenth year of Hizkâ—… From which overthrow untill the time that Nebuchadnezzar invaded the Jews in the raign of Jehojakim were a hundred and seven years The fourth year of Jehojakim came Nebuchadnezzar the first time and carried away three thousand and twenty and three of the tribes of Juda and Benjamin and of other tribes seven thousand all the able men and all their power binding them with chains This is the fift captivity Seven years after this Captivity came Nebuchadnezzar another time unto Dophna a City of Antioch from whence he led four thousand and six hundred of the tribe of Juda and of Benjamin fifty thousand of the other tribes seven thousand This transmigration made he in Babylon which is the sixt Captivity Furthermore betwixt the sixt bondage and the seventh were nine years of the raign of Zidkiahu When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned nineteen years he came the third time unto Jerusalem and overcoming Zidkiahu he burnt the Temple and took away the Pillars the brazen Sea and the furnitures that Solomon made and all the vessels of the house of the Lord and the â—…reasures of the house of the King which was in Jerusalem all the vessels he sent to Babylon He slew also of the Israelites nine hundred and one thousand besides them that were slain to revenge the blood of Zacharias The Levites stood singing a song whiles â—…laughter was made of them but they were not able to finish it before the enemies entred the Temple and found them standing in their place with harps in their hands Therefore he carried away in this Captivity the Levites which were of the seed of Moses six hundred thousand whom when the Gentiles had brought unto the Rivers of Babylon they demanded of the Jews Sing us a song of Sion And by and by they gnawed off the tops of their fingers with their teeth saying How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange Land And the blessed Lord seeing that they would not sing a song he enlarged them and placed them on the further side of Sambatia Moreover he translated and carried away eight hundred and thirty two thousand which were all of the tribe of Juda and Benjamin whereof he left in Jerusalem six thousand setting over them for their Ruler Gedalia the son of Ahikam who was slain after by Ishmael the son of Natania whereupon the Isrâ—…elites being afraid fled from their Country into Egypt This is the seventh transmigration and 〈◊〉 The 27. year of the raign of Nebuchadnezzar he â—…ook Egypt and Tyre drowned the Jews that were therein and the Nations which descended of Amon and Moab and of the Land bordering upon Israel and led Jeremy and Baruch with them into Egypt This is the eighth Captivity Then the Israelites that remained alive in Egypt departed unto Alexandria and remained in it untill they grew and increased unto many thousands and who so saw not their glory saw no glory in his time For there was in it the Sanctuary the Altar the offerings incenses the ordinance of bread of faces the houses of studies and schools without number men of great substance riches and power But wicked Troganus made war upon them and slew very many of them After came Alexander against them who slew also many of them These are the eight Captivities or bondages which befell in the first House and time of the first Temple After the desolation of the first House seventy years Cyrus the son of Esther sent unto Nehemiah Zerubbabel
and in their will they brake the Crib Gen. 29. Crib for an Oxe Least the King should deride them and ask what hath a man to do with an Oxe The seventh And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them upon that that could bear a man Exod. 4. That that could bear a man for an Ass least the King should delude our Master Moses because he rod on an Ass and that he should not say how should an Ass bear a woman and two children He would never have done it if he had not been a begger The eighth And the dwelling of the Children of Israel in Egypt and other lands was 430. years Exod. 12. Notwithstanding they abode not in Egypt but 210. years and that is that their father Jacob told them Descend ye the letters of the which word in Hebrew signify 210 thither Furthermore the computation of 430. years is from the year that Isaac was born which was the holy seed unto Abraham The ninth And unto the little ones of the children of Israel stretched he not his hand Exod. 4. Little ones for Princes As who would say yea also unto their little ones he stretched not his hand Because he should not say the great men escaped but the children of the sons of Israel escaped not The tenth I took of them nothing of value Numb 16. Of value for an ass Least he should say he took not an Ass but he took one reward The eleventh Which things thy Lord God hath divided that they may shine on all People Deut. 4. That they may shine is added Least he should take an argument thereof and say Loe the Holy and blessed Lord hath divided them to all People and hath given them Licence to worship them The twelfth He went and worshiped strange gods which I commanded not to worship Deut. 17. To worship is added Least he should say now hast thou called them to strange worshiping of gods The thirteenth They Translated an Hare Little feet because the Kings wife was called Hare least he should say the Jews mock't me When these Seventy elders had Translated the Law into the Greek Tougue Ptolomy rejoycing much in their wisdom honored them with Princely apparel and great rewards brought them home again merry and glad Moreover he sent by them oblations to our God At that time there were many that condescend to follow the Laws of the Grecians but these Seventy refused Not long after Captain Seleâ—…cus Ptolomyes companion in Office died in whose stead Antiochus reigned in Macedonia This Antiochus making war upon Ptolomy bereft him of all his Dominions and slew him After that he subdued the Land of Israel then under the Regiment of Ptolomy and waxed very proud He hated Israel also because they loved Ptolomy and aided him in thâ—… wars against him This is that Antiochus that builded a great City upon the sea coast and called it Antiochia wherein he made a golden Idol commanding that the children of Israel should be brought unto it and worship it But some of them chose rather to suffer death for the religion of their God and some other fell from the Synagogue their mother Church Before this he took away also their Sabbath their New Moon and league of Circumcision forbidding that in any wise they should observe these Commandments in any place throughout all his Dominions For the which he put many of the Israelites to death and oppressed them more then did ever any of their enemies or adversaries The second man in honor next himself in Jerusalem was one Polipus he erected an Image in the Temple commanding the people of Israel to worship it and whosoever was disobedient to be slain Therefore he put to death Hanna and her seven children as it is mentioned in other places When Antiochus perceived this it increased his hatred towards Israel insomuch that he did his endeavour that none of them should escape or be left alive except such as would worship the Image Then fled many of the Israelites to the mount Modiit and to Jericho because of the law of Polipus and Antiochus his lord having to their Governour the high Priest Mattathias son of John otherwise called Casmoname The Priest enjoyned them to fast and punish themselves before the Lord with weeping sackcloth and ashes And after this he saith unto them if ye will jeopard your lives for the holy Lord why dye we like women Let us go and fight with Polipus and if we dye we shall dye with honor parad venture the Holy and blessed God will help us and will not root out the remnant of Israel To this counsel every man assembled and made a covenant with him upon this thing Polipus hearing this gathered his forces together and made towards them to destroy them and what Israelite soever he found in his way he slew him Mattathias the Priest and all the remnant of Israel understanding that Polipus came against them they went up the mount Modiit with their wives and children Then put he himself and his sons in aâ—…or He had five sons Judas the eldest the next Johonathan the third Joachan the fourth Schimeen the fift Eleazar All these were va iant men of war When Polipus came to them he craftily spake to Mattathias saying Thou art one of the chiefmen in Israel and a man of honor and estimation Come down therefore and all that be with thee worship the Image and strive not against the King that ye may live and not be destroyed Thou shalt be their Prince also if thou shalt be conformable But the Priest in no wise would be seduced by him but rather cursed and reviled him Mattathias had an Altar at the foot of the hill whereupon when he had offered sacrifice to the most blessed God there came one of the wicked Israelites out of Polipus Camp and killed upon it a swine This villain was young and lusty but the Priest was old yet when he saw what this lewd fellow had done crying to his God to strengthen him he challenged a combat between himself and the fellow Which thing being liked both of the fellow and of Polipus with his whole army Mattathias came down with his drawn sword in his hand and the fellow stood against him ready to receive him But the Priest rushing upon him by the assistance of his God overcame him cut off his head and cast his carcass upon the Altar whereat Polipus and his whole Hoast were much astonied beholding one another The Priest stood still by the Altar crying which of you will come to me man for man Then Polipus picked out a strong champion the best of all his army and brought him out of the arreis of his hoast to teach him his lesson how he should behave himself with the Priest The Priest therefore drew toward the camp with his naked sword in his hand as though he came to joyn with their champion but leaving him he turned his sword upon Polipus struck of his
so feeble a person and of no great wit nor sought much the Kingdom yea till all nations that were about him whose Dominions our progenitours conquered began now to despise him to pass little for offending him to deny him tribute for his simplicity and mopishness with lack of courage When Aristobulus had said there stood up a great multitude of goodly and beautifull young men apparrelled in cloth of Hyacinth and purple with mighty targets upon them other ornaments of gold chrystal and precious stones affirming with one accord that Aristobulus said the truth namely that Hircanus was not favoured by the kingdom At which Pompeius marvelled saying Happy is this people having so many goodly men true in their words and wise Happy also were the Senate of Rome if they could bring to passe that this great Nation might be under their Governance So he took his journey to Jerusalem with Hircanus and Aristobulus But after Aristobulus perceived that Pompeius stood not to the promise he made him at the beginning or the Vine he set light by him and fled from him to Alexandria in Egypt whither Pompeius followed with his Host and besieged Alexandria From thence Aristobulus fled again to Jerusalem and Pompeius pursued him also thither writing to Aristobulus a letter of Truce and pardon So Aristobulus came forth unto him and Pompeius did him at that time no harm but demanded to be given unto him all the vessels of the House of the Lord which Aristobulus refused to do Pompeius in a rage caused to lay him fast in heavy iron chains and assaulted Jeâ—…usalem battering the walls very sore till they of the town issued out against him and slew of his Host twelve thousand men After this had the Israelites civil Wars within Jerusalem because the siege was grevious unto them for they were â—…ivided into Factions one part said let us open the Gates to Pompeius and let him in that we may submit our selves under his protection The other said Let us fight against him unto death But much people disliked that so that that side prevailed that would yield Wherefore Pompeius entered the Town and the House of the Sanctuary killed much people of the Priests and the people of the Land made Hircanus King of Israel the second time and Antipater his Counsellor Moreover he set one Securus a Roman in the Country to receive the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him bound in iron And because he took his journey toward Arabia Hircanus and Antipater went with him to conduct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner and his two sons with him it fortuned that one of them called Alexander escaped and having intelligence that Hircanus and his Counsellour were gone out of Jerusalem he came thither and rebelled against Hircanus made up the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted unto him and made him King in Hircanus place Whereupon he gathered an Army and went forth to meet with Hircanus as he came homeward from Pompeius where he gave Hircanus the overthrow and Securus the receiver of the tribute fled and escaped Then Alexander returned to Jerusalem from whence shortly after Gabianus a Roman with a strong Army compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabianus his Mother Aristobulus wife went forth to Gabianus weeping and besought him that he would not destroy her Son for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabianus therefore having gotten all the Land of Judea made Hircanus King of Jerusalem now the third time who set Roman Captains and Rulers in Jericho and in Zephori and through all the Land of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus got out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on every side resorted men in such sort that he had a puissant Host of Israel Whereof when he had taken Muster he chose out eight thousand of the best and with them went against Gabianus where was a sore Battel fought between them till the best of Aristobulus men were slain and only one thousand left wherewith he fled to the Mountains But the Romans followed the chase and slew them every man Yet Aristobulus would not yeild but fought alone although his Helmet was broken till he had divers sore wounds in his head and then fell he to the ground and the Romans took him yet alive brought him to Gabianus who comforted him commanding his Surgeons to heal him and after sent him to the Consul and Senate of Rome where he was put in prison yet once again And this the Senate taking pity of Aristobulus wife which was reported to be a very wise woman released her two sons out of Prison and set them at liberty Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once again against Hircanus and the Romans Governours For he gathered together much people of Israel encountred with one of the Romans Governors that Gabianus had appointed and gave him the overthrow but proceeding further to fight with Gabinius had the worse and many of the Israelites were slain yet he escaped and fled This done Gabinius came to Jerusalem and renewed the kingdom of Israel to Hircanus the fourth time About this time one of the Senators Wives at Rome conceived a chiâ—…d and dâ—…ed in the birth and travel thereof They therefore that were about her straight-way ript her and got the child out alive whom they named Julius and because his mother was cut they called him Caeâ—…ar This child growing to great towardnesse and coming to mans estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the Wars and whatsoever he did he had goâ—…d fortune and prosperous successe He deprived the Grecians of the Empire and Dominion translating it to the Romans Many Provinces also besides that he did subdue and returning to Rome with a power attempted to get the Dominion and sole power over them But they had made solemn statutes in the time of their progenitors never to suffer any King among them or any man to have perpetual rule over them wherefore they wâ—…uld not make Julius king Upon this rose amongst them great and mortal Wars so that Julius slew a great many of them and without number When Pompeius understood that Caesar raigned at Rome and had killed the Consul and Senate with all the Nobility of Rome he gathered together his whole Army out of Arabia and made toward him Julius having intelligence of his coming against him sent for Aristobulus out of prison spake friendly unto him gave him a power and made him grand Captain thereof bidding him to go and encounter with Pompeius Indeed his Army was a strong Army and he himself a King of no small prowess and valiantnesse Pompeius hearing that Aristobulus came against him was sore afraid of his valiantnesse and of his Host wherefore he sent to the inhabitants of Jerusalem that were under his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift whereby they might
Rome Pagurus therefore having made Antigonus King of Jerusalem returned home into Persia carrying Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be King over all Iuda giving to him a very strong Army of the Romans to obtain it withal In the way thither Herod met with Alexandra Hircanus daughter and Marimi her daughter that she had by Alexander son of Aristobulus and brought them again into the Land of Israel where he took Marimi to wife and solemnized the Marriage with her in the Mount of Galilee for there the chief of all Israel dwelt with whom he took peace Marcus Antonius companion in Office with Octavian Augustus about that time made a voyage through all the West Countries to subdue them to the Romans together with Egypt Damasco and Syria Him Herod accompanied to the flood of Eupbrates and helped him not a little For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and intercepted all that would aid Marcus Antonius Herod met with them and vanquished them Wherefore Antonius was very glad of Herods valiantness and brought him again to Israel together with Cassius his Captain and Lieutenant of the wars having also his Letters to all the Captains of Syria this tenor Ye shall understand that our lord and Master Octavian Augustus King of Kings hath appointed Herod the son of Antipater to be King of all the Land of Juda. Therefore as soon as these Letters come unto you ye shall with speed aid him No man shall be excused all that can bear Arms shall go with him to Jerusalem to vanguish Antigonus the Kings adversary whoso refuseth to go with him it shall be 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to slay him forthwith I Maâ—…cus 〈◊〉 have sworn by my sword I will not When the Captains of 〈◊〉 â—…ad râ—…d 〈◊〉 they râ—…orted wholly to Herâ—…d so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was wonderfully increased sent one Pompeius 〈◊〉 of his â—…ars against them who fought a sore 〈◊〉 with them that much people were slain on 〈◊〉 sides 〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉 brother was slain in thaâ—… 〈◊〉 Noâ—…withstanding at the length Antigonus Host went to the worâ—…t and had the overthrow Sâ—… 〈◊〉 and Cassius proceeded to Jerusalem and beseged iâ—… 〈◊〉 third year after Herod was made king of Israel And when they had battered down a piece of the walâ—… Cassius with the Romans entred into the Town and made a great slaughter in Jerusalem They entred also into the Sanctuaâ—…y and attempted to enteâ—… into the Sanctâ—…m Sâ—…nctorum but Herod and his men lept between it and them and stood with their drawn swords in the Temple door to withstand their enterprises Herod was also dâ—…spleased with Cassius for his 〈◊〉 and said If ye will destroy all the inhabitants of the City upon whom shall I reign in the kingdom that Augutus bath given me Wherefore straâ—…ght-waâ—… Cassius caused proclamation to be made through all his Host that no man upon pain of death should kill on Israelite more This done Herod apprehended Antigonus and delivered him bouâ—…d to Cassius He rewarded also Cassius Souldiers both with Gold and Silver Then Cassius offered a Present unto the Lord a Crown of Gold for he was sore afraid of Gods displeasure because he had fought against the holy City That done he took his journey and returned into Egâ—…pt and Antigonus as prisoner with him Thither sent Herod unto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus and to murder him fearing least he should make claim unto the Kingdom again Whereunto Cassius consented and slew Antigonus CHAP. III. THus was the kingdom surely established to Herod Then made he wars upon all the Nations that were about him constraining them to become tributaries by which means he grew to such power as never any of his Predecessours were to be compared unto him After all this Pagurus king of Persia released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander and promoted him to be head of all the Israelites that were fled into the Land of Sennaar and into the Dominion of the Persians and he became their King This Hircanus had a fervent desire to see the holy City and the house of the Sanctuary also how Herod whom he took for his son and his kingdom did Herod hearing that Hircanus who had been prisoner at Babylon was now set at liberty and in great honour he was afraid of him mistrusting least the Israelites would restore unto themselves the kingdom of their Fathers wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him a mischief He then writ this letter unto Pagurus the contents whereof were such Thou shalt understand that Hircanus is he that brought me up and used me even as his Son Now therefore since I came to be King in Jerusalem I have called to my remembrance the goodnesse that he hath done to me wherefore my desire is to reward him according to his benefits therefore I require thee to send him to me otherwise assure thy self of wars between thee and the Israelites with their confederates Pagurus having read this letter sent to Hircanus giving him to understand that if he would go to Herod he might but notwithstanding Herods threats he ceased not to give to Hircanus all good counsel he could advising him to take heed of Herod because he is saith he a blood-shedder and a breaker of his League And he hath called thee for no love he beareth thee but because he feareth thee As long as thou livest shall he never sleep soundly lest the kingdom should be devolved unto thee It is better for thee to remain here in some honour though it be not of such estate than to go thither to die with greatdispight and end thy old age with a bloody death Furthermore thou shalt know such is the disposition of mens hearts If there be two men the one in honour the other in contempt after time shall come that the despised shall be had in honour and the honoured be neglected never will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt be content to see him that was before honoured nor speak friendly to him For he will think hi herto according to his accustomed manner he hath despised me how much more when his Dominion is taken from him and his servants reign in his room Moreover Herod knoweth right well that meâ—…s hearts are inclined to him that is the true King And it might be so if thou werâ—… meet for the Priesthood that he would promote thee unto it and be Governour of the kingdom himself But seeing thou art dismembred having one of thy eares cut off and thereby art unmeet for the Priesthood thou shalt remain in Jerusalem deprived both of kingdom and Priesthood which is uncomely for thee Such counsel gave Pagurus King of the Persians unto Hircanus yea and all the Jews that were in Babylon besought him that he would not go unto Herod Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded and why For it was the Lords will and his deed that the injury done
which shall be to your commodity Then the people gave ear unto Joseph who spake unto them in this wise AN Oration of Josephus to the Citizens of Jerusalem YOu should ere this good people of Jerusalem have fought so earnestly whiles your Cities were yet standing and your Land replenished with people ere ever this mischief had lighted upon you Now that with murthers and slaughters amongst your selves having destroyed one another and polluted the Temple of the Sanctuary with the blood of the murthered and not spared your own lives you are become few in number a small sort of you left What hope have you to prevail Again you have provoked a valiant Nation which is ruler over all people and hath subdued all other Lands which also hath those Nations in subjection under him which sometimes reigned over you besides this you wage battell with the Romans without all discretion and wisdom without any remorse of this famous City without any regard of the Sanctuary of the Lord without any compassion of your own lives Neither yet do ye forsake your purpose for I perceive you continue in this self-will to withstand the Romans still which is nothing else than to spread abroad this calamity further both on the people of God and on his holy Temple Albeit I am not afraid only for this holy Temple and most renowned City lest it should be razed and destroyed but for the Sacrifices and burnt offerings lest they should cease as the daily sacrifice is ceased And why because we have sinned against our Lord God Wherefore is his shaddow departed from us Because that in this same Temple we have kept wars making it an habitation for the wicked a tabernacle of seditious persons yea even the Ministers and Holy men of God have ye murthered and within the walls of the Temple have ye shed innocent blood without measure See now dear brethren and mark what Ordnance what Engins what Instruments of destruction are prepared to beat down the Temple the fire is already kindled to set a fire the Sanctuary and loe even your very enemies are so pitifull of your Temple that they would not have it defaced But you dear brethren and friends why are ye led with no remorse of your selves that your enemies may once remove from you these Engins of war What have you now left to trust unto when as two of your walls are already battered down and one only remaineth You will say peradventure we put not our trust in our walls but in our God Are ye not aware that your God hath long agone given you over and hath turned him to your enemies because they have with greater honour and reverence worshiped his name than we which rebelliously are fallen away from him Wherefore God assisteth not us but our enemies insomuch that except it be in such countries whereas either for extream cold of the one side or exceeding heat on the other no man is able to abide all Lands all Nations are under their Dominion Tell me I pray you what hope have you seeing God hath made them a terrour unto all Nations upon the earth who serveth them Why will not you obey them that you may live and not perish Do ye not consider it is come to their turn to rule over all that God hath committed Dominion unto them and ayded them with his assistance Remember you not how God in times past aided the Egyptians insomuch that they obtained the dominion over all the whole world but afterward departed from them and assisted you to get the Soveraignty over other Nations After that forsook you again and gave the Empire to the Chaldeans Assyrians and Persians which reigned far and wide over many countries Now also hath he given them over and helpeth the Romans these many years so that they bear rule over all If you will object and say To what intent should God give the dominion unto the Romans or other Nations over the world and over his inheritance and people also which is an holy people a peculiar and special Nation of all the earth Should ye not be ashamed to say this With what discretion can you wonder at this knowing that all mankind one or other are the handy-work of God who exalteth whom he list and whom he listeth he thrusteth down Ye say Ye be the children of God and his proper possession and ye aspire to the Soveraignty therefore it cannot be that God should determine any thing upon you by chance fortune or sudden anger and displeasure I grant But wot ye what The shadow or protection of the Lord hath forsaken you becausâ—… of your sins and transgressions against the Teâ—…ple and his holy ministers How can you stay upon his help when as he hath withdrawn his loving countenance from you and your sins have made a divorce between you and him O my dear children and brethren let never this imagination enter into your hearts for it shall nothing avail you Why will you my dear brethren and friends make war upon the Romans when as they are Lords over Nations and pierced the streets of India and all the Isles of the Sea even to the great Ocean-Sea and from thence to all the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extream parts of the earth Yea even to Britain which is environed on every side with seas whose people are huge like Giants of a big stature and of mighty courage most expert archers and valiant souldiers in battel To whom when the Captain of the Romans came they gave him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Princes of the Romans came they brought them into subjection and seâ—…itude under the Romans But you say my brethren and friends you will rather all dye than serve the Prince of the Gentiles and that death is better for you than life to be driven to see with your eyes the calamities of the sanctuary of the people of God Search the Histories and Chronicles from the time of your Ancestours When was there any time wherein you were free from the yoak of the Gentiles Do you not know that Jacob our father of worthy memory who was alwaies with God took his journey into Egypt to be a stranger in a strange land amongst a proud kind of people left he his children houshold and cattell should perish with hunger There he had with him his twelve sons which he had begotten and dwelt there also with his small family for fear of the grievous famine that was at that time Remember you not when that Judas with his brethren went down into Egypt how Joseph was moved as a stranger to pick a quarrel against his brethren to bring them into bondage bearing yet in his mind what injury they had done unto him Wherefore some of them he cast in prison and hanged them at his pleasure with crafty accusations especially Judas who was the chief amongst them of whom all the Jews took their name who if
you doth mark it The continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while ago the annointed Priest is cut away and put down These things though they be most manifest yet your hearts cannot believe them And many other words spake Joseph full of admonition and consolation but the Jews refused to hear him When he had made an end therefore and the Seditious had so hardened their necks Titus turned him and departed out of Jerusalem saying Let us go hence lest their sins destroy us Wherefore he pitched his Tents without the City in the same place where he encamped at first For he was afraid both for himself and his Army lest they should be circumvented and closed in and slain cruelly in so great City as that was Certain of the Priests of that time and of the Nobles of the Town with other godly men did wisely provide for themselves and came forth to Titus submitting themselves to his mercy and were received of him peaceably with great honour whom Titus commanded to be conducted into the land of Goshen where in times past the Israelites dwelt in the dayes of Jacob their Father and Joseph Lord of Egypt Thither sent he them and gave it them in possession to them and to their heirs for ever after commanding a company of the Chaldees safely to conduct them till they came to the land of Goshen Titus directed his letter also to the Roman President which was set over Egypt to take pity of the Jews that he had placed in the land of Goshen to sustain and succour them and to see that no Roman nor other should do them harm or annoy them by any manner of means Many other also of the Jews coveted to go forth of Jerusalem but they were disappointed by the Seditious that they could not do as they intended And who can tell whether they were entangled with their own sins and destined to destruction with their seditious brethren when as their hands also were polluted with the cruelty and iniquity of the Seditious Wherefore the Seditious closed up all the walls about the Temple that none of the Jews which were in Jerusalem might get out to Titus When Titus knew that many of the Jews were desirous to flee unto him and could not because of the Seditious he went again to the place where he was before Joseph with him Whom when the people saw to be there with Titus they fell a weeping and said unto him We acknowledge our sins and the transgression of our fathers we have swerved out of the way against the Lord our God for we see now the mercy and gentlenesse of Titus the son of Caesar and that he taketh pity upon us but what can we do when it is not in our power to flee unto him because of the cruelty of the Seditious The Seâ—…itious hearing them talking with Joseph in the presence of Titus and that they spake reverenâ—…ly of him and honoured his father calling him Lord they ran upon them with their drawn swords to kill them Then crâ—…ed they unto Titus Dear Lord and Master rescue us The Romans therefore made speed to deliver them out of the hands of the Seâ—…itious So rose there a fray in the midst of the Temple between the Romans and the Jews The Romans fled into the place called Sanctum Sanctorum which was the holiest of all and the Jews followed after and slew them even there Titus standing without cryed unto Jehochanan and said unto him Hearest thou Jehochanan Iâ—… not thy 〈◊〉 yet great enough Wilt thâ—…u never make an end of mischief Where is the honour of thy God Is it not written in the Law of thy God of the Sanctum Sanctorum that no Stranger ought to come at it but only the high Priest and that but once a year because it is the holiest of all And now how darest thou be sâ—… bold to kill those that are escaped unto it And how dare you â—…ed the blood of the uncircumcised therein whom ye abhor and yet mix their blood with yours The Lord your GOD is my witnessâ—… that I would not have this House destroyed but your own wicked works and your own hands do pull it dâ—…wn And would God you would receive your peace which if it were once done we would honour this House of the Sanctuarie and Temple of the Lord yea we would depart away from you But your hearts are hardned like Iron and your necks and foreheads are become obstinate as Brasse to your own undoing For ye shall carrie your own sins and die in the Land of the Romans I and my fathers house are innocent and guiltlesse of your death as the Lord and his Temple in whose presence we stand shall bear us witnesse this day But when he saw that none of the Seditious gave any regard to his words he chose out of the Romans thirty thousand valiant fighting men and gave them commandment to take and occupy the entry of the Temple which is a holy Court and determined to go with them himself but his Nobles would not suffer him but willed him to remain upon a high place where he might behold his souldiers fight and when they see thee afar off their hearts shall be comforted and they shall fight according as thou wilt wish them but come not at the entry of the Temple thy self lest thou be destroyed amongst other Titus followed the counsel of his Captains and went not out at that time with his men to the battel He made chief Captains of that host of thirty thousand one Karilus and Rostius two great Commanders who had order to set upon the Jews that night when they should be asleep with wearinesse The Romans therefore doing after his commandment set upon the Jews but the Jews having intelligence of the matter kept diligent watch and withstood the Romans all the night But the Romans were not hasty to fight in the dark fearing lest it might turn to their own harm As soon therefore as it was day the Jews divided themselves and bestowed their Companies at the gates of the entrance and fought like men Karilus and Rostius beset the Temple round about that not one of the Jews might escape out and so the battel encreased between them for the space of seven dayes sometimes the Romans getting the upper hand of the Jews driving them within the entrance sometime the Jews encouraging themselves made the Romans retire and pursued them to the walls of the Antochia in this manner fought they these seven dayes Afterward the Romans turned back from the Jews and would not fight hand to hand with them any more Then Titus commanded the walls of the Antochia to be pulled down further that there might be place for all his host to enter The famine in the mean season grew more grievous so that no food was left For the Jews began now to issue out and steal Horses Asses and other beasts whatsoever they could catch even out of the Romans
years after the death of Christ Titus son to Vespasian sack't the City and destroyed it leaving it only a garrison for the Roman souldiers Sixty five yearâ—… after that the Jews falling into rebellion Hadrian the Emperour of Rome utterly destroyed what Titus left standing and commanded salt to be sown where the City stood And thus was fulfilled what was spoken by our Saviour touching the Temple that there should not be left one stone upon another Hurcan or Hurcania a region in the greater Asia having on the East the Caspian sea on the South Armenia upon the North Albania on the West Iberia I â—…buam or Jamnua a â—…illage of the upper Gaâ—…ee standing upon a very â—…eep ground which Joseâ—…hus being Governour of Galilee fortified against the Romans â—…ericho A city in the south part of the Land of Canaan situated in a fruitful soil where grew balm roses sugar-canes and abundance of dates whence it was called the City of Palms Joppe or Japho a sea town and port of Judaea built on a high Promontory from whence materials of Timber and Stones were brought to the building of Solomons Temple from Mount Libanus or Lebanon Jordan in Hebrew Jorden the fairest and biggest river in all Palestina springing up at the foot of Mount Libanus running on the South of Canaan passing by many famous places at length falls into the Lake of Sodom Jorpata or Jatopatae an exceeding strong city of Jerusalem standing all well-nigh upon a Rock accessible only upon the North side K KAtiim or Cittim the Nations of the Greeks so called in Gen. 10. and in Balams prophesie Kittim saith he shall afflict Ashur and Eber. L LAgarith a City of Edom won by Vespasian M MAcedonia a Country lying in Greece in the western part of it it was the country of King Philip Alexander his son which wan to the Greeks the Persian Empire Maidai or Media a country having upon the South Pâ—…rsia upon the North the Hyrcanian-sea on the West Armenia Syria on the East Hyrcania and Parâ—…hia which country took its name from Madai one of the sons of Japhet Mesopotamia a Country which lyeth betwixt the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates from which situation it was so called as lying in the midst of Rivers Moriah a Mountain joyning very near to Jerusalem upon the East side of that City a very steep rockie place in this place Abraham offered to sacrifice his son Isaac and afterward upon this Mountain was Solomons Temple built Moâ—…nt Olivet So called from the plenty of Olives whiâ—…h grew here lying on the East side of Jerusalem and separated from the higher city by the valley of Cedron Into this Mountain our Savâ—…our Christ often repaired and offered up his prayers here unto his Father N NIcopolis a City of the Holy Land otherwise called Emaus S SAmaria a City standing in the tribe of Ephrâ—…im which after that the ten Tribes fell off from the tribe of Judah was made the Metropolis of the ten revolting Tribes called Sebaste in honour of Augustus the Emperour Scythopolis a city in Syria Sennaar The land of Chaldea where the Tower of Babel began to be builded Seleucia a city on the farther side of Jordan in the country called Gualonitis so named from Seleucus King of Syria Sichem a country near He bron belonging to Hamoâ—… the Father of Sichem from whence it is though he gave the name of hâ—… son to that country of which he was Prince and by some it is thought to be the name of that city called in the Gospel Sichar a city of refuge peculiar to the Levites a principal City of Samaria Sodom a city which stood in the Land of â—…anaan where now is the Dead-sea destroyed by fire from heaven for their sins Sidon a Haven and Mart Town of Phoenicia being the border of the Land of promise toward thenorth and in the Lot of the tribe of Zabulon although it was never conquered nor possest by them Sinai The Mountain otherwise named Horeb upon which the Almighty gave the Law to Moses by the ministery of Angels It was called Sinai from the word in the Holy Tongue signifying a Bush because God appeared there to Moses in a Bush in a flame of fire the Bush not consumed Sion The Hill and City built on that Hill called the City of David taken by him from the Jebusites lying on the North side of the City of Jâ—…rusalem upon which the Temple was built Siloe a Fountain rising out at the foot of Mâ—…unt Sion in the West part of the valley of Jehosaphat a very clear sweet and large Spring it runs into the brook Cedron Schiloh or Silo The highest Mountain of all that are about Jerusalem Or higher than any other Mountain in the Holy Land likewise the name of the City that stands upon that Hill where the Ark continued a long time with the Tabernacle of the Covenant till it was taken by the Philistines for which cause the people of Israel used to meet at this place and offer sacrifices until the time of Samuel the Prophet Afterward for the sins of the Israelites the City was destroyed and the Altar demolished T TIarva a city in Galilee which Vespasian took razed and put all the men to the sword and sold their wives and children Tiberias A city so named in honour of Tiberius Caesar by Herod the Tetrarch standing near the Lake of Gennezaret called also the Sea of Tiberias it is the utmost bound of the lower Galilee Eastward Tyre a city renowned in holy Scripture built upon a rock and upon all sides incompassed by the sea wherefore the Prophet cals her the city in the heart of the sea a city of incredible riches by the abundance of her merchandise by the speâ—…ial appointment of God and foretellings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prophets Isaiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made a prey to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King of Babylon and afterward to Alexander son of Philip King of Maceâ—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in the that part of the sea whicâ—… ran betwixt the maiâ—… land and the city witâ—… stones earth and timber and made it continent tâ—… the land first Nebuchadâ—…nezzar but in short timâ—… after that city was rebuilt and the bar of thâ—… sea quite demolished sâ—… the city restord to its former strength but Alexander stopt up the sea again sackt the city and crucified many of thâ—… chief men of the city tâ—… this day that little whicâ—… remains of it is annexed firmely to the Continent It stood in the territory 〈◊〉 the tribe of Ashur bâ—… had Kings of her own haâ—… ving never been in thâ—… hands of the Israelits A short view of the whole Matter By Th. F. A true Character of the Jews as they are at this day With the Hopes and Desires of all good men for their Conversion A Prayer unto God for their Conversion FINIS Tho Fuller D D. late Preacher at S. Mary Savoy Westm.
Titus Vespatianus Emperour of Rome Conquerour of Ierusalem Surnamed the delight of mankind w.s. sc. THE WONDERFUL AND MOST Deplorable HISTORY OF THE LATTER TIMES OF THE JEWS With the Destruction of the City of Jerusalem Which History begins where the Holy Scriptures do end By JOSEPHVS BEN GORION Whereunto is added a Brief of the ten Captivities with the Pourtrait of the Roman Rams and Engines of Battery c. As also of Jerusalem with the fearful and presaging Apparitions that were seen in the air before her Ruines Moreover there is a Parallel of the late Times and Crimes in London with those in Jerusalem London Printed for John Sims at the Sign of the Kings Head at Sweethings Alley end in Cornhil next the Royal Exchange 1671. To the Honorable Sir JOHN ROBINSON Knight and Baronet Lievtenant of the TOWER and Alderman of the CITY of LONDON Honorable Sir THIS rare and remarkable Piece of History as it was Dedicated before to the City of London in generall because of the quality of the Subject Treating of the ruine of one of the most famous Cities upon Earth So upon this Review and new Edition I take the boldness of Dedicating it to You alone who are one of the Eminent Members and Ornament thereof as also being Governor of that Place wherein lies her chiefest security It was formerly Dedicated to this City in the highest brunt of the late civill Confusions And the Noble Author of the following Epistle thought it very seasonable to do so out of an express design to awaken and warn Her of her desperate condition at that Time And it produced so happy effects that it made such impressions upon the spirits of many of the best Citizens that they began to recollect themselves and see their Error The said Author representing unto them that the same Crimes and Crying sins which raigned in Jerusalem before her last and utter destruction were very rife then in London which were the spirit of Sedition instable and stubborn Rebellious hearts their murmurings at Government and an itch after Innovations As also the defiling of their Temple the Irreverence and comtempt of the Priests the violation of the Tombs of the dead with other acts of Prophaness and Sacriledge But principally the Crucifying of the Lord of Life The City of London was guilty at that time of all these ugly and enormous Crimes and may be said to be lead all along by a true Jewish spirit And concerning the last viz. the Crucifixion of our Saviour though no Comparison may be made without a high prophaness yet the manner of murthering CHARLES the first may be humbly said to bear a kind of analogy and resemblance with it Nay the Jews whereof there are swarms now in this City will not stick to say that it was a Murther beyond theirs for what they did they did it out of blindness and ignorance for they neither knew nor acknowledged Him to be King of the Jew But the English did accuse and arraign they did condemn and murther King CHARLES by the name of their own King the King of England God Almighty avert those further judgments which hang over us as prayeth Honorable Sir Your most humble servant and Fellow-Citizen J. S. TO Englands Imperial Chamber THE Renowned City of LONDON To the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor the Right worshipfull the Sheriffs Mr. Recorder with the Court of Aldermen and Common Councel c. AS among men so there is a resemblance and a kind of affinity among Cities which are the Mansions of men and a reverence due to some more then to others Carthagena in Spain doth acknowledge old Carthage in Africk to be her Mother Leyden in Holland doth glory that she is allyed to Lions in France both of them bearing the name of Lugdunum Saragosa in Aragon confesseth her self daughter to Syracusa in Sicily and London by some Antiquaries is called Troynovant as having been first founded by the Trojans But of all the Cities upon the earthly Globe Jerusalem deserves most reverence in regard our Salvation was wrought and consummated in Her In regard that grand Prepitiatory Sacrifice for humâ—…ne souls was offered in her Therefore under favour I held it not improper to Dedicat the History of this once so famous Metropolis to the flourishing City of London In the holy Bible the most authentick Patent of saving Faith there is a Text which reflected upon the â—…ncient Nation of the Jews and aymed only at their Câ—…ntry viz. In Jury God is known c. Psal. 76. He was known indeed in that Land by the multitude of his Mercies but afterwards by the severity oâ—… his Judgments That race of people partly because they were not co-labourers at the building of that Mount of humane pride the Tower of Babel were for many ages the objects of his favour till they made themselves afterwards the subjects of his fury And as the Philosopher tels us Corrupâ—…o optimi est pessima or as we find that the sweetest wines become the tartest vineger so those heavenly indulgences turn'd to heavy indignations those silver showers of extraordinary benedictions became black stoâ—…ms of vengeance It is the method of divine Justice to correct first wâ—…th rods then with scourges and if that will not do with â—…corpions The Jews felt all the three degrees and never was any people upon earth made greater examples of wrath thâ—… his own chosen Inheritance a peculiar people that migâ—… have â—…m'd the right hand of primogeniture among the reâ—… of mankind Now whosoâ—…ver desires to make reserches into the grounds of these sad dysasters will find it was their sediâ—…ious proud spirits their instable and stubborn rebellious hearts which did them more mischief then the Roman Râ—… or any other destructive Engines the defiling â—…f their Temple the violation of the Tombs of the dead with other acts of profaneness and sacriledg but principally the rejecting and crucifying of the Lord of life For never any thing did thrive with them afterwards insomuch that if there were no other motive for the Jews convâ—…sion the length of these beavy judgments under which they groan to this day were â—…nough to do it And t is observed the length of these judgments doth often puzzle their intellectuals and put them at a stend Fâ—…r some of their Rabbies will stare and shrink-in their shoulders at it and sometimes break out into a kind of confession that their judgments could not last so long but for crucifying one that was more then a man Besides the punctuall accomplishment of our Saviours predictions were sufficient to convâ—…nce any rationall creature For not long after their Land became a stage of blood and all kind of barbarisms Their so renowned City their Temple and Sanctum Sanctorum so fam'd all the earth over was made level to the ground And observable it is that these judgments fell upon their Temple at the highest time of holiness at their Passover or Jubilee so that one might
them under tribute and so returned with honor to Jerusalem When he had after this well bethought him of his doings it repented him of his evil waies wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the Sages submitting him to their ordinance and esteemed their traditions There was at that time a kind of Sect that were called Pharisees of whom such as had escaped the King sent to call them home again and when they came into his presence he spake unto them words of comfort saying My brethren ye shall understand that the thing which is once done must needs be tearmed as it is and cannot be revoked And truth it is you cannot excuse the reproach that ye did me nor I cannot call again the blood that I have shed Notwithstanding I confess my fault unto you and have changed my indignation to love praying you to put out of your heart all rancor and malice lay away all your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds rejoycing in your reconciliation and atonement with me and be of good cheer But they made him answer we will not lay away our hatred and enmity for thou speakest but deceitfully and we speak that is truth Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and Elders neither hast thou only done us this injury but as Hircanus thy father began this mischief so thou hast holden on and continued it Wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root neither can we leave our lamentation till thou dye and God take vengeance on thee for our sakes Then shall we rejoyce when we see vengeance So they departed from his presence neither did the King give them any answer at all But when they saw the King to be incensed against them and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm after consultation had they went to the King of Greece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his son had don to the Pharisees and all the Israelites that bare them good will and followed their traditions and how they also hated Alexander for the mischief that he had wrought them so that if any man will come and revenge the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aid him Demetrius followed their advice and assembling together all his people to the number of 400000. horsemen and footmen without number he took his journey and encamped against Sichem The King Alexander raised six thousand horsemen to aid him But the King of the Grecians writ privily to the Antients of the Sectaries that they should not aid Alexander to the souldiers also that Alexander had hired he sent rewards gold and silver that they returned home to their country and aided not Alexander whereupon he was not able to withstand Demetrius Therefore hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toward Jerusalem intending to take him in the City he fled by night with a few of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the men of Israel that were in Judea heard that the King was fled out of Jerusalem and that the City was in fear to come into the hands of the Grecians they gathered themselves together and stood for their lives as though all had been one man to the number of ten thousand and sâ—… upon Demetrius Camp killed all his best men of war and spoiled all his Host that he fled from them and came home into his Country with great dishonor This done the King took heart to him and returned to his Kingdom but the Pharisees fled to Bethshemes fortifying themselves against the King who having intelligence thereof gathered aâ—… Army and went against them won the City and took 800 of the chiefest Pharisees bound them in chains and brought them to Jerusalem Then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his Pallace in a high place where his learned Peers did eat and drink till they were drunk And in his merry mood he commanded those eight hundred Pharisees prisoners to be fetcht forth and to be hanged every man of them upon gallowses before him at which sight he drunk and laughed heartily After this he fell sick in the four and twentieth year of his Reign of a grievous disease a Quartain Ague that held him three years and for all this he shrunk not nor letted to go to the war to encounter and fight with his enemies what nation soever they were round about him as though he had been a whole man In the 27. year of his Reign which was the third of his sickness he made an expedition into the Land of Moab against a certain City called Rabaga to get it by force At which time he was very sick and weak wherefore his wife Alexandra the Queen went with him fearing least he should dye by the way And as he encamped himself â—…gainst the City and urged it sore with assaults his fickness increased upon him more and more Wherefore his wife perceiving that he was like to dye wept bitterly for him and said to whom shall I be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead seeing thou hast wrought such mischief against the Pharisees whom all the Land favoureth and following their traditions obey their instructions if they shall be disposed to revenge themselves upon me and thy young children they shall have aid of all that dwell in the Land The King answered Weep not nor shew any resemblance of pensiveness I will tell thee what thou shalt do and if thou wilt follow my counsell thou shalt prosper and Raign thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire put case I dye there is no man in the world need know thereof tell thou every man therefore that ask for me that I am sick and will not that any man shall come at me In the mean while anoint and season me with balms fight with courage against this City till thou win it and then return to Jerusalem with joy and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell nor weep but bring me unto Jerusalem and lay me on a bed like a sick man and after call together the chief of the Pharisees bring them where I am and speak unto them gently in this sort Alexander hath been ever your enemy I know it very well wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogs or bury him it shall be at your choise I know well they are pitifâ—…ll men and so full of mercy that they will bury me honorably and appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be King The Queen did therefore as she was instructed of the King And when she had won Rabaga she joyfully returned to Jerusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisees and spake to them as the King had advised her The Pharisees hearing that the King was dead and that his body was in their hands to do withall what they list they answered the Queen God forbid we should do
company which he would not unlesse the King gave him leave wherefore he asked the king leave but he denied him at the first yet at length the young man intreated him so instantly that the king bad him do what he would He went therefore with the other young men to swim The king presently took his horse and returned to Jericho with all his train leaving the young men behind which continued swimming till Sun setting and as it began to be dark they drowned the Priest Aristobulus among them Wherof when tidings came to the king and it was known that he was dead the people wept and made great lamentation considering his Virtue Nobility and Beauty every man was full of sorrow that he should have so short a life and they bewailed so much that it was heard afar off But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the young mans Mother could no wise be comforted Yea the king also wept made great mone for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act yet all the people knew well enough that the thing was procured by the king insomuch that Alexandra his Mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face that he was the murtherer of her husband and of her father and now last of all of her son to whom the King answered neither good nor bad From that day forwards there was continuall hatred between Alexandra and Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herod and Salumith his Sister that came of base and servile blood For Marimi cast in their teeth to their faces that they were not of the seed of Israel but prophane unholy and of base birth Notwithstanding Herod loved Marimi as his life wherefore he would never displease her as long as she lived nor say so much to her as why saist thou so These things done Marcus Antonius a Noble man of Rome next unto Octavian Augustus King of Kings being sent by Augustus to war upon the Kings of the West Countries reigned in Egypt and by the provocation of his wife rebelled against Octavian Augustus made war with him both by the Sea and Land And forasmuch as Egypt is near adjoyning to the Land of Israel Herod joyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sort that no King durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Whereupon when Marcus conspired against his Prince and master Herod aideth him with an Army with horsemen and with ships also against Octavian In which wars Octavian got the victory slew Antony and all his people coming by ship to the I le of Rhodes and so into the Land of Egypt Herod hearing that Marcus Antonius was slain and that Octavian Augustus was come into Egypt he fainted for fear of the displeasure of Octavian Yet at length he took heart unto him prepared a royall present to be carried before him and followed after himself to Octavian Augustus And setting forwards he called Joseph the husband of Salumith his sister whom he made chief of his houshold commanded him that if Octavian put him to death he should poyson Marimi his wife saying It should not be seemly for Kings that any mean man should marry with a Kings widdow and sleep with her upon the Kings bed So then he took his journey towards Octavian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he understood Octavian to be displeased with him for that he had ayded Marcus Antonius Therefore as soon as Herod came to Octavian Augustus presence having his crown upon his head he took it of and fell down prostrate upon the ground at Octavians feet saying Most Noble Emperour I confess my trespass against your Majesty that I loved Marcus Antonius my companion in league who was my neighbour and ayded me and is true that your Majesty since the time you made me King have heard of mine affairs that hapned unto me but never succoured me This Marcus Antonius did not so I confess therefore that in his wars against your Majesty I ayded him with an Army with Horse-men and ships Neither went I out with him for any wars upon mine own borders but whensoever I went with him I helped him to the uttermost of my power When he was falling I bolstered him up and whâ—…n he stumbled I raised him again Amâ—…gst all these I protest also that I would not be counted of your Majesty a breaker of league but now Marcus Antonius is dead Wherefore whether that it shall please your Majesty to restore me my former estate or no forasmuch as I have kept touch with Marcus Antonius against your Majesty amongst others if you put me to death you will do me no wrong but justice because by the Law of arms I have deserved death When Octavian Augustus heard him speak so he said unto him Arise thou King of Israel in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nigh yea next unto my person I know that Marcus Antonius was inticed by his wife and would not follow thy counsel for if he had I dare say he would never have conspired against me So he commanded the Crown to be set again upon Herods head and made a league with him Then they went both together toward Egypt to be revenged upon Cleopatra But that wicked woman when she saw her City to be overcome put on her most precious apparrel and sitting upon the throne of her Kingdom commanded a Viper to be brought unto her which as soon as she had â—…uffered to sting her brest she died As Octavian Augustus came to the Pallace and saw her sit there he rejoyced that he might be revenged of her and commanded to thrust her from her Throne but when they came to her and found her dead it grieved Octavian very sore In this while Joseph Salumiths husband disclosed unto Marimi that the King had commanded if it so happened to him to be put to death by Augustus that he should poyson her Whereupon Marimi conceived yet a greater hatred toward the King insomuch that when the King was returned in safety and sound and with honor also from Octavian and that all his men and whole houshold rejoyced greatly Marimi shewed no countenance of gladness no not when the King himself told her how greatly he was magnified and honored of Octavian Augustus but alwaies she was very sad Salumith the Kings Sister perceiving that Marimi so vexed the King she told him how Joseph her husband had lien with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus But Herod say what she could gave no credit to her words knowing that she envyed Marimi until at length he asked the cause of Marimi why she rejoyced not as others did when he returned in safety from Augustus but was very sad which shewed her to have rancor and malice in her heart towards him She answered Thou hast said heretofore that thou lovedst me above all thy other wives and concubines yet thou didst will Joseph
have been in such estate now be cast out of my dignity and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished man He went therefore through all the Cities of Iudea and Galilee causing to be proclaimed in the streets and market places and sent his letters where he could not come himself in this manner and form Whosoever listeth to be rid from the bondage of his master or hath had any injury in his Country or what servant soever desireth to be set at liberty or who so cannot abide the rule of his Father or Master all that be in debt and stand in fear of their Creditors or fear the Iews for shedding any innocent blood and therefore lurketh solitarily in woods or mountains if there be any man that is accused of any notorious crime and in any danger therefore To be short whosoever is disposed to rob and to do injury and wrong to haunt whores to steal to murther to eat and drink at other mens cost without labour of his hands let him resort to me I will deliver him from the yoak and danger of the laws and will find him his fill of booties and spoils There assembled unto him about twenty thousand men all Murtherers Theeves Rebels Lawless persons wicked and Seditious men Then began Schimeon also to vex the Israelites to turn all upside down wheresoever he came When the Citizens of Jerusalem the Priests Elders and Anani heard tidings of Schimeons despightfull wickedness how he held on stil oppressing the people of God they were very pensive saying Now will this fellow more trouble us than Jehochanan be he never so cruel They consulted therefore and agreed secretly to send a power against him that might suddenly fall upon him and overthrow him Peradventure say they they may slay him or take him alive before this wickedness grow to further inconvenience and joyn himself with our foes then shall they assail us both within the Town and without They sent out therefore against him a great Army of Israelits and Jews with Chariots and Horse-men and foot-men in great number which came where the Camp lay and found him in the corn fields destroying of the grain pulling down of barns and burning all both â—…orn and Olive trees Then the Jerusolemites divided their Army set upon Schimeons tents suddenly smote them down and made a great slaughter upon the Seditious But shortly after Schimeon gat the upper hand of the People of God for he came upon them in the night season and made a sore slaughter amongst them Then they that remained took themselves to flight towards Jerusalem and Schimeon pursued them killing them unto the hard gates of Jerusalem so that many of them were slain in the way and very few escaped After this Schimeon went and moved war upon the Edomites to subdue them unto himself which before were under the Dominion of the Jerusolemites And first he came to the City Asa otherwise called Gaza for it was the first City within the borders of Edom as men came from Jerusalem But the Edomites met him in the field in great number and joyned battel neither part had the Victory therefore at length they retired both Then was Schimeon in so great a rage when as he could not overcome these Edomites that he wisht him out of his life So he ceased fighting a while and encamped himself in the borders of the Land of Edom right against it and there abode thinking to set upon them at another time And as he was devising how to order all things there came unto him an Edomite called Jacob one of the chiefest men among them and a Warriour He hearing of Schimeon's Proclamation was moved to come and enter a League with him and thereupon saâ—…d unto him Never let it discomfort thee that thou couldest not overcome the Edomites at the first battel If thou wilt be ruled by my counsel thou shalt win all the Cities in the whole land and I will deliver them into thy hands Schimeon desired to know how therefore said he Let us hear thy counsel and shew us how it may be brought about and when it is come to passe then will we honour thee and regard thee accordingly Jacob said Give me one half of thine Army which I will lead with me into an ambush then shalt thou in the morning betimes set thy men in aray against the Edomites for a stale and when thou shalt perceive them to come against thee then make as though thou fleddest until thou hast staled them out of the Town into the fields to pursue thee Then will I with my men come out of our ambush and make speed to the gates where we shall kill the Warders and suddenly enter the Town and killing all that we find there set up a flag upon the Tower of the Town Then when the Edomites shall see that their hearts will be dead for sorrow and so mayest thou turn again upon them and beat them down at thy pleasure Or if thou like not this device hear yet another way I have been a Captain against them a long while therefore I will return in the night season into the Town if the Watch examine me from whence I come I will tell them I come from Schimeons Camp whither I went as a Spy Then will I go to the Elders of the Town and desire them to let me have a company of the best fouldiers and I will bring Schimeon into their hands if he set upon us again For I have viewed the Camp and his power and understand that he intends to morrow to fall on us which thou shalt do indeed And when thou seest me to issue out against thee thou shalt set thy Spear in the Rest and come towards me then will I take me to flight and cast a fear in the Edomites hearts that they shall flee also which done thou mayest pursue and slay them at thy pleasure overcome them and enter the Town then that Town great Asa once taken thou shalt quickly win all the rest When Schimeon heard this he went and deliberated with his own Councel and they liked the last advice best wherefore that they concluded upon So Jacob the Edomite returned by night to Asa and declared to the Ancients of the Town how he had been in Schimeons Camp and had viewed his Army whereby he had perceived good hope that he should deliver Schimeon into their hands shortly The Elders therefore made him grand Captain and chief of all their men of War charging every man in this wise Forasmuch as none of you are so expert in the knowledge of warfare as is Jacob therefore it behoveth you to follow him in all things If he set forward set ye forward whereas he pitcheth his tent pitch ye also if he stay stay ye if he fleeth fleeye To be short when he returneth then return ye and go not one hair breadth from that that he shall command you neither one way nor other Upon the next
he had been so disposed had been able to lay Joseph at his foot a thousand times not knowing him to be Joseph Wherefore when he was so roughly and so sharply taunted of him he might have killed him in his rage for he was a very Bold man and a hardy and of a very Noble courage who surely would not have counted it nothing to have slain the Egyptian and many more of them Notwithstanding he did not so but contrary submitting himself under the yoak of Joseph called him his Lord and good Master and supposing him to be some Egyptian he humbled himself before him to obtain his petition and to get Corn least his father his brethren and their family should die for hunger What should I say of Joseph so beautifull so wise and witty a man Was not he fain to serve in Pharaohs house wherein although his wisdom was well known insomuch that Pharaoh set more by him than by all the Noble men that were then alive He was also called Lord great Master and Pharaohs Father Nevertheless he humbly besought Pharaoh that he might sustain his Father and Brethren with bread knowing at that time the dominion belonged unto Pharaoh and his people being given them of God And although Joseph had list to return into the Land of Canaan with all his fathers whole houshold without Pharaohs leave no man could have letted him to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that time in Egypt yet he did not so Benjamin also was likened to a ravening wolfe for his fierceness when he was fetched again by force of Josephs steward faining a lye upon him how chanced he did not kill him Or else when he alone pursued Benjamin and his other brethren could not he if he had list have slain the man and buried him so that the matter should never have come to light Notwithstanding they did nothing so nor so but Judas wisely weighing the exaltations and directions the promotions and disgraces with the common courses of the world returned again with his brethren into the City went to Joseph and besought him untill his bowels were moved to pity and he was known of his brethren All these things doth the most holy law of the Lord rehearse unto us and putteth us in mind of for this intent that we may learn to bear for necessities sake the yoak of him that hath the preheminence and rule for his time Neither let any judge or think that Joseph offended God in that he submitted himself under the yoak of Pharaoh for it is no shame for a wise man to crouch unto him whose help he standeth in need of whatsoever it be much more if he be a King or a Lord know ye not that our fathers were in bondage to King Pharaoh in Egypt But after the Lord remembred the covenant that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Egypt he sent Moses our master of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the Loâ—…d to be with him whereby he was able to destroy whosoever did rise against him Nevertheless when he came to Pharaohs presence who then bare rule in Egypt he shewed not himselfe in armes but rather with thunder and hail that Pharaoh might well perceive and know God was the Lord. But at what time as Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites too sore our master Moses by Gods help brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand and stretched forth arm against the Egyptians whom he punished with continuall plagues by that means delivering the Israelites out of the hands of their Lords and Masters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heirs full of all goodness that is to say of the most holy law of God And after Joshua had subdued the holy land to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chanced unto our fathers times of adversities as is mentioned in the books of the Prophets so that they were constrained to serve the King of Ashur a long season and the Kings of Persia To the Chaldees also were we in bondage although not very grievous but tolerable Moreover with other Kings of the Gentiles we had wars and sometimes we were put to foils sometimes we had the upper-hand Now therefore my brethren tell me What shame were it to you if ye were subject unto the Romans Or what are you to be compared to other Nations that be under their Dominion Do you not see that the Romans reign over your enemies and bear rule over them that sometimes were your Masters and hate us Were it not reason that you should love them which have brought down your enemies and revenged you of them Which notwithstanding you have nothing at all done but rather have hated them as men void of all perceivance without weighing and considering that since the time you were under them ye have alwayes lived in much peace And I my self when I withstood the Romans in Galilee knew very well that I should be overcome at length but I could do nothing because of the seditious persons that were with me which would in no wise follow my counsel Yea it stood me in hand to have a care of mine own person that I were not killed of them after I had once counselled and moved them to give up the Town Wherefore seeing the matter stood so and God knew my heart I thought best to fight against the Romans as I mighâ—… and when occasion served to escape to the Romans to take it Further when I was in the Cave with my forty companions I had been lost and perished had not God given me counsel making me a way to escape and save my life For they had almost slain me because I gave them counsel to yield themselves to the Romans and obey them For I saw this was the time of the Romans to bear rule and that God had appointed them to be Lords over all Nations For this is his manner like as above he hath made some to be rulers over othersome even so beneath also he hath set Rulers over the Kings of the Earth Who can controll him that is stronger then he The Romans at this present have the Dominion over all Lands and People over the Egyptians Assyrians Persians and Chaldees to every one of these you have been in bondage and over other Nations also which nevertheless do till their ground sowe mowe plant and gather in their fruits and who hath the profit of these goods and labour but the Romans who whiles the other toyl and travel do live in peace and rest themselves Wherefore mark this also my brethren the Kings of Macedonia once had the rule of the whole World specially in the time of Alexander of Macedonia but at this day their Empire is taken from them and they are become subjects to the Romans They when the Romans first set upon them were very haughty and stubborn determining to resist the Romans notwithstanding they were overcome of the