avoid his displeasure and danger of death for the contrary but if they refused to do it he would not spare any man whatsoever he were that should transgress his commandment but put him to death and give his body to be eaten of the fowls of the air They answered with one voice We are content with these conditions and will do whatsoever thou shalt command us After this Titus considering how earnestly the Jerusolemites were set one against another how they were become such cruel enemies that each of them conspired others death he caused the pits cisterns and trenches that were about Jerusalem to be damn'd up and stopt with earth that the wayes might be levelled for his Army This done he encampt himself nearer the walls Against which attempt the Jews issued not out of the City after their accustomed manner to put them back from the walls For Schimeon was otherwise busied he had entertained ten thousand men of the best of the Seditious Jews and joyned himself to Jacob the Edomite Captain of nine thousand Edomites with whom he had made a conspiracy utterly to destroy Captain Jehochanan And setting upon him they compelled him to flee into the court of the Temple where he remained in the gate of the entrance of the Temple with eight thousand and four hundred good men of war all well appointed in jacks Eleazar also was against him and joyned with Schimeon becoming an enemy to him that before had saved his life and so they both together assailed Jehochanan neglecting the defence of the Town By this means the Romans encamped themselves about the walls at their pleasure raising Towers and casting Trenches to plant their battering-Rams to beat down the walls The common people of the Jews â—…hat were under the rule and Government of the three Seditious Captains namely Schimeon Eleazar and Jehochanan which although they were ill enough all yet the tyranny of Jehochanan far passed Schimeon and Schimeon was far worse than Eleazar though Eleazar was the head Authour and first beginner of sedition in all Israel were amongst them as sheep ready to be killed For the foresaid seditious Captains â—…lew the people at their pleasure and divided them into bands casting lots upon them Who should have which so that one had anothers men and another man his And this did they not only with their own men but also with all the rest of the people in such wise that when the Romans made any assault then joyned they together as one man to resist the Romans to whom when they had given a repulse then would they return to their civil wars and fall together by the ears among themselves Extreme and dreadful was the civil conflict at that season between the foresaid Captains and so sore that the blood streamed down the channel out of the gates of Jerusalem like as a brook that runneth out of a fountain and welspring The Romans seeing it were moved with much pity so that they wept bitterly But Joseph that was among them was stricken with so great heavinesse that he burst out into a sorrowful lamentation lifting up his woeful voice in this wise Alas alas Jerusalem the city of the great King How shall I now call thee at this day or what name shall I give thee Sometimes thou waâ—… calâ—…ed Jebus of Jebusaeus that builded thee first in all this Land After that thy name was Zedek that is Justice whereupon King Jehoram was called Melchizedek for he was a righteous King and because he reigned in thee with justice therefore was thy name Zedek Then righteousnesse had abiding in thee and thy bright star that shined in thee was Zedek Moreover in his time wast thou called Schalem as the Scripture witnesseth and Melchizedek King of Schalem and that because the equitie of the people that dwelt in thee was then fulfilled For at that time Abraham our father of worthie memorie fell to worship God in thee and to take thee to his inheritance to plant in thee the root of good works Whereupon the Tabernacle of God remaineth in thee to this day as it was revealed unto the same our father Abraham In thee say I is the Sanctuarie of the Lord. For in that place did Abraham bind his onlie son upon the top of one of the hills that is called Mount Moriah holie and hallowed and therefore art thou called Jerusalem because our father Abraham of famous memory called the place of the Sanctuarie Adonajureth The Lord shall see then thy late name being Schalem this joyned to it made it Jiereshalem For the Lord God shall behold the place of thy Sanctuarie at what time it shall be Schalem that is pure uncorrupt without black or spot but whensoever it is polluted or defiled as it is at this day then will he turn away his face from it Furthermore thou art called Jerushalem therefore because that whoso understands the dignitie and worthiness of the place wherein thy Sanctuarie is shall bid the Angels of heaven to teach in it the doctrines of the holy Ghost and the spirit of wisdom and understanding wherewith little children and the unlearned in thy Land may be made wise He also that ministereth in the Temple had â—…n a garment of four colours Scarlet Violet Bâ—…sse and Purple Scarlet in respect of the heavens that be above the firmament Violet and Bysse colours which he made of flax because of the earth of which they came Finally Purple in respect of the sea where Purple is gotten Therefore when as the Priest came into the Temple to minister apparelled in these four colours he said before the Almighty God I am come to present my self here in thy sight O Lord of the world in four kinds of colours that represent the parts of thy world and in such wise do I appear before thee as though I should bring all the whole world into thy sight Moreover the aforesaid apparel was garnished with pure gold and precious stones after the likenesse of the Tribes of the sons of Jacob who was called Israel that in that garment he might have the soveraignty before the Angels that be above and by them prevail to bring the vertue of the holy Ghost by the which they should obtain wisdom that dwell in thee and prosper in their study and faith that they might have wisdom and understanding together His loyns also were girded with linnen flops wherewith he covered his secret parts for it becometh Priests most of all other persons to be shamefac'd and bashful especially when he should minister in the two Sanctuaries the outer and the inner which is the Sanctum Sanctorum or holiest of all In the outer the Priests minister as the High Priest commandeth them but in the inner that is the Sanctum Sanctorum entreth no man save the High Priest only and that but once a year For in it was the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord in which were laid up the two Tables of the Covenant that God made
was this their exterminaâ—… for their Religion but for their notorious Criâ—…es as 〈◊〉 of wels â—…ounterfeiting of coins falsâ—…fying of 〈◊〉 and crucifying Christian children with other villanies This hapned in the year 1291. And sixteen years after France followed our example It was near upon 200. years after that Ferdinand dis-terred them out of Spain and five years after him Emanuel of Portugal did the like But the Countries whence they were last expeld was Naples and Sicily Anno 1539. In other parts of Christendom they reside yet in great numbers as in Germaâ—…y high and low Bohemia Lituania Poland and Russia In Italy also they are found but in no country which is subject to the King of Spain They live at Rom every quietly under the Pope's nose and St. Mark makes no scruple to entertain them at Venice In sundry places of the Ottoman Empire they are found very numerous so that it is thought Constantinople and Thessalonica only have near upon 20. thousand of them Asia is full of them as Aleppo Tripoli Damascus Rhodes and indeed all places of commerce and traffick There are numbers of them found also in Persia Arabia and about Cranganor in India And to come to Africk they have their Synagogues and Lumbards in Alexandria the Grand Cairo as also in Fesse in Tremisen and divers places in the Kingdom of Morocco There are about one hundred families yet left in Jerusalem But that place where they are most unmingled is Tiberias which the Turk gave to Mendez the Jew for some signal services Thither they oftentimes bring or send the bones of their dead friends who have left large Legacies to be interred from other places Besides those various visible judgments which have fallen upon the Nation of the Jews as the utter subversion of their Temple and City with the slaughter of above eleven hundred thousand souls during Titus siege Besides the degeneration of their Country of that Land which flowed with milk and honey into such a barren condition Besides their stragling confused course of life with the generall contempt and despicableness they fell into Besides the abjection 〈◊〉 their spirits and giddiness of their brains I say besides all these changes upon their minds it seems there is a kind of curse also fallen upon their bodies witness those uncouth looks and odd cast of eye whereby they are distinguished from other people As likewise that rankish kind of sent no better indeed then a stinck which is observed to be inherent and inseparable from most of them above all other Nations And I wish that England may not be troubled with that sent again The occasion of these sad calamities which fell down in such catarracts upon the Jews the discerning Reader shall discover in this ensuing story therefore very worthy of his perusal in regard they may serve for cautions to all people not to provoke the High Majesty of Heaven by such kind of sedition and profaneness they may serve as so many buoys to preserve them from sinking into such gulfs of miseries For if the naturall branches were not spared how can the wild olive think to escape the fire of his displeasure So with my hearty prayers to Heaven for the prosperity and welfare of this glorious City and that she may take fair warning by these Judgments I rest Your Humble and ready Servant JAMES HOWEL From the Prison of the Fleet 5. Feb. 1650. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION of ASIA AND The Holy Land ASia is twofold the Greater and the Less the Less is a part of the Greater and is at this day called Anatolia in respect of the Eastern situation thereof from Byzantium the Greater is now one of the four parts of the Earth by reason of the accession of America unto the former three before a third part and by the account of some according as Varro tels us one of the two parts of the same For whereas they of late accounted Europe Asia and Africa until America or the New world was found out others made Africâ—… a part of Europe so the parts of the earth were Europe one and Asia the other and no more By neither of these two accounts doth Asia get or lose any thing from the vulgar division only when the division is made into two parts Europe is a gainer Those which write of the name and etymology of Asia derive the word from Asia a woman daughter to Oceanus and Thetis wife to Iapetus mother to Prometheus This Genealogy if it be taken according to the letter there is no reason to suspect it fabulous why any man of understanding should doubt it and yet if the meaning of the fable be searched into it seems to carry in it this appearance of truth That Asia was named so from Oceanus the sea and Thetis the water or wife of the sea that in this part only of the world which before the deluge was peepled came the flood and destroyed mankind by water the reason of the etymology lying hid in the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 moisture The bounds of this part of the eartâ—… are the Aegean sea the Propont is and Black sea Paluâ—… Mâ—…eotis Tanais Duina which separate it from Europeâ—… but it is parted from Africk by the Red sea and Isthmusâ—… of Egypt In the first ages of the world this part of theâ—… earth was more renowned then Europe or any part thereof The affairs of Europe were very mean or at least in great obscurity before Xerxes expedition agaiâ—…st Greece which was after the Baby lonian Captivity of the Jews But in Asia was the wonderfull work of our Creation and of all other creatures wroughtâ—… in thiâ—… part our Saviour wrought our Redempâ—…on aâ—… shewed his miracles here was the glorious and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chaldoeans signified by the Image Head in Daniel and that Monarchy of by the arms and brâ—…t of silver the Macâ—…donian kingdom of brasâ—… was 〈◊〉 in the Greater Asia is â—…uated the land of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so from Canaan the son of Ham the son dwelt there alâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that peopled part of it buâ—… it was 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Promise because God promâ—…sed thaâ—…land uâ—… 〈◊〉 posterity and the Holy Land as the country in 〈◊〉 the holy people dwelt which had the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and Priesthood This 〈◊〉 lies in 32. 〈◊〉 northward from 〈◊〉 equinoctâ—… it is nâ—… 〈◊〉 2â—… miles long nor doth the breadâ—… excâ—…d 50 accouâ—… 〈◊〉 paces to a mile A coâ—…ry so fruiâ—…full that the â—…pture from the mouth of God â—…lls us that it was a Land which flowed with milk and â—…ney and thaâ—…â—…his was the glory of all Lands Before the children of Israel drove out the inhabitants it was governed by 30. Kings and afterward it was divided into 2. Kingdoms in the daies of Rehoboam the son of Solomon David numbering the people of the Land found the account to be thirteen â—…undred thousand men of war excluding the Benjamites the tribe of
thy Sisters husband to poyson me When Herod heard this he was exceedingly abashed that Joseph had disclosed his secret and began to mistrust with himself that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife indeed and upon that detected that secret Therefore he departed out of his palace in a great anger and rage whereby Salumith perceived that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further suborning false accusers and forgers of lyes to witnesse that Marimi would have poisoned the King whereof she had divers presumptions also by her countenance She added moreover if thou saith she to the King let her escape thus she will speedily destroy thee and bereave thee of thy Kingdom the law giveth a man this counsâ—…l If any man go about to murther thee prevent him and slay him fiâ—…st With this and such like words she so moved the King that he commanded to bring Marimi forth and to be beheaded in the high street of the City And as she was brought forth into the Market place of the City all the women of the City followed her Alexandra her Mother also cursed and railed at her saying Come out thou that hast abhorred thy Husband and conspired against thy Lord Alexandra wept also as though it had been for the wickednesse that her daughter had committed thinking surely to please the King by that means and to blear his eyeâ—… if peradventure he might suffer her to live till she might have opportunity to poison him Marimi thus going to execution held her peace and looked neither to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innocent in deed and thought and therefore God would render her a good reward in the World to come wherefore she bared her Neck without fear and they cut off her head shedding the innocent blood But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of Herod so that his chief servants his Noble women and Concubines died sore thereof yea throughout all Judea raigned vehemently which afflâ—…ctions all Israel knew well enough chanced unto them for the blood of Marimi They câ—…yed therefore unto the Lord saying wilt thou for the offence of one man deal so cruelly with the whole congregation the Lord took pity therefore upon the land and withdrew the plague from the people The King repented him also that he had shed blood without a cause and love so grew in his heart that he was sick and at deaths door Then Alexandra Marimis mother sought means how to poyson him which being uttered unto the King he commanded to apprehend her and to kill her In this manner dealt Herod with all the posterity of the Machabees leaving none alive that were called by the name Herod put to death also Josephat the husband of Salumith The King had two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wife They were both at Rome when their Mother suffered for their Father the King had sent them thither to learn the Roman tongue When they heard tidings of their Mothers death they wept and mourned for her hating their Father for his cruelty Soon after the King their father recovered of his sickness was established in his Kingdom builded strong Cities and rose to great prosperity In the thirteenth year of his Raign therefell a great dearth in the land wherefore the King took out of his treasure much gold and silver and precious stones wherewith he sent into Egypt and procured plenty of corn and refreshed with bread all that lackt and were in distress of hunger yea he spared not his own proper goods And not only to the Israelits shewed he this liberality but also to all that came unto him out of other strange Nations hearing of his renown Moreover in all his wars he had good fortune Besides this he thought it good to renew the house of the Sanctuary whereupon he deliberated with the Israelits to have their advice for the building of it after the same quantity and measure that Solomon King of Israel had builded it For the Jews returning from captivity in the time of Coresch began to build it after the measure that Coresch prescribed them and not as it was before The King of Israel hearing that the King was purposed to pull down the Temple to the ground and build it afresh they made hâ—…m no answer fearing lest when he had pulled it down he would not be so hasty to build it up again But the King perceiving what they feared in their minds said he would not slack the matter nor rest till he had brought it to pass He said moreover that he would take out of his treasury plenty of gold and silver and give it to graving also precious stones stones of Thasies and Marble To the Carpenters also and Masons he would deliver Timber and Stones Gold and Silver Brass and Iron to make all things necessary to the work Wherefore if he pulled down the House he was able to build it straight waies again So he pulled down the House and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubits al of white Marble so that the whole height of the stone was in all a hundred and twenty cubits For the Foundation was twenty cubits within the ground and a hundred above The breadth of every stone was twelve cubits and the thickness thereof eight cubits every stone was of like bigness The gates of the House he covered with fine gold and precious Stones finely set therein the thresholds were of Silver and the tops also He made also a Vine of gold a marvellous cunning piece of work the arms thereof or bigger branches were glittering gold the lesser branches slips or latest shoots of gold somewhat red and all above was yellow gold whereupon hung clusters of Crystall The Vine was so great that it weighed a thousand pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porch and before the porch two walls of Silver marvellously and cunningly wrought Behind the house toward the West he made a court of a hundred fifty cubits long and a hundred in breadth which was paved with pure Marble Toward the south and north the length of the court was also a hundred and fifty cubits and a hundred in bredth He erected in it also a hundred and fifty Pillars of white Marble in 4 rancks The length of one ranck was fourty cubics and every Pillar was fourty cubits high and three cubits thick The pillars were all of like measure as the Court of the North side and of the South was also of like measure with all the pillars thereof Towards the east the court contained seven hundred and twenty cubits even to the brook Cedron no man ever saw the like building in all the world The Vine that he made placed he before the porch In â—…he extream parts of
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
his place where he lurked and came to Titus fell down before him and kissed his feet saying Save me O Lord King Titus commanded him to be fetâ—…ered with iron chains and when he had caused him to be carryed about the Camp so bound and to be mâ—…cked of all men by the space of seven dayes he commanded to hang him and so got he a just end and fit reward for his cruelty Afterward came Schimeon also forth of his den being driven to it with famine He had put on Kingly apparel and shewed himself afar off to the Roman host who seeing him were afraid to go to him but he called unto them and askt for some Captain Then one came forth and said unto Schimeon Tell me who thou art and I will not kill thee Schimeon answered therefore and told him I am Schimeon that Seditious Cap-tain of the. Jews which have made you so much ado now I beseech thee shew me so much favour as to bâ—…ing me to Titus thy Master which he did Titus therefore when he saw Schimeon he commanded him to be fast bound and to be led about the whole host that he might be derided and mockt Afterward he was put to a sore death first his head was striken off then he was cut in many pieces and cast unto dogs So he died an abominable death being punished for his iniquity The number of the Jews as well Citizens as others that came unto the Feast to Jerusalem which were slain partly by the Romans partly by the Seditious during the whole time of these Wars was known to be eleven hundred thousand besides them whose number was not known only they were counted which were slain and buried Besides them they also were not reckoned that after the death of Jehochanan and Schimeon died with Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest They that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were sixteen thousand men So Titus with Joseph went to Rome leaving Bonian Josephs brother at Jerusalem who was appointed to be the chief Priest of them that abode there for Joseph did request it of Titus which he performed The Seditious were all slain in the battel which they took in hand for the peoples sake and the Temple of the Lord those also that Titus took prisoners were put to vile deaths for he reserved many to be mocking stocks in every City where he passed by in the way to Rome and in every Town he commanded some of them to be brought forth and cast unto the Lions till they were all consumed CHAP. V. THere were certain people at that time dwelling amongst the Mountains of Ararat that were called Alanites whose power Alexander King of Macedonia fearing closed them on every side This people although they had no knowledge of the use of Iron nor Armour yet this was their manner That one of them with a great pole burnt a little at the end would put to flight a hundred good souldiers were they never so well appointed and armed Until this year they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout all the land they sent Embassadors to the people of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that they would open thestraights of the Mountains that they might come forth with their wives children to seek them food The Hurkans granted their requests and opened them the entrances of the Mountains So they came forth wandering here and there spoiling divers Countries till at length they took their journey toward the Mountains of the Land of Madai where they found horses namely in the Desart of Madai amongst the people of Ararat They got those horses leapt upon them and â—…ntred the land of Madai The President oâ—… Ruler of the Country hearing thereof fled into the highest hills leaving his wife and children behind him for haste he was so afraid of the Alanites knowing their valiantnesse Straightway he sent unto them Embassadours to make peace with them and he would let them have victuals upon this condition that they would not spoil his Country They made answer If so be he would maintain them and let them have food for the space of one moneth till the corn in their own Country were ripe they would return home again at the moneths end for we desiâ—…e not say they thy gold or silver being men separaâ—… from all entercourse in traffick wiâ—…h other people nor any thing else than food do we seek This their request the Ruler granted them and let them have a certain Grain called Mill sodden with one kind of flesh or other The number of them was seven thousand one hundred and fifty and five thousand one hundred and forty persons When the moneth was ended and the Aâ—…anites understood the corn in their own Country was ripe they departed out of the land of Madai according as they had sworn and returned toward their own Country And as they were in their way homeward Mithridates King of Aâ—…arat came against them to annoy them minding to drive them from his coasts lest they should waste his Country Therefore while they marched through this Country going toward their own Mithridates made War upon them but his men were beaten down by the Alanites like as grasse falls upon the ground when a strong man treads upon it Then one of the young men of the Alanites in despight put a rope about Mithridates's neck and drew him after him unto his great shame Mithridates gat out his sword and cut asunder the rope and fled To whom the Alanites looking back said Go thy way get thee home and make no more war upon us hereafter for we were not minded to waste thy Land â—…or yet to kill thy people For if we had ever intended it Could we not have done it long ago when as nothing is betwixt us and you but the Mountains of Ararat But we were of this mind that we should greatly offend to kill men of our own shape and likenesse See now how Alexander which went about to subdue the whole earth and to declare his power closed us up within our land Why because he was afraid we should come out upon him But we laught him to scorn when he did it If we had listed we could have letted him from shuâ—…ting us in and to make no peace with him but we made no reckoninâ—… of his doings For it is our custom to keep us within our own Country we seek no other Land when as our own Land is better than any other It pleased us well that he inclosed us that the cruel wild beasts which are in the Mountains of Ararat could have no passage to us The cause we came out now was nothing else then that we were oppressed with a great dearth and we determined to be no longer from home then till our own fruits were ripe then to return as you see we do If we had been minded to win your Land had we not been able utterly to have
Levi. The fruits of this Land were these in special Balm Hony Spices Myrrhe Nuts Almonds nor is their Wheat to be forgotten nor their Oyl with which they traded in the market of Tyrus besides the forenamed commodities Ezech. 27.17 That it did excel in Palm-trees Strabo tels us and the Roman coyns which in their reverse represent a woman sitting in the gesture of a mourner under a Palm-tree signifying Judaea captivated But the Almighty as he drove out and destroyed the Nations which dwelt in this land before so did he afterwards his own people because of the greatness of their sins so that the Land as he tels us by his Prophet spued them out and turned part of this countrey whereabout Sodom and Gomorrah stood into slime pits or the dead or salt sea when as before it was for pleasantness like to the garden of God even so did God deal with his own unthankfull and rebellious people first he carried the ten Tribes into bondage by Salmanazer who at this day are not to be found the other two Tribes were carried away into Babylon where they indured 70. years Captivity and last of all for rejecting and crucifying his own son the Lord of glory they have been destroyed driven out of their own Country and continue as vagabonds thorow the whole world And the fruitfulness of this goodly Country doth scarce appear at this day according to that of the Psalmist Psal. 07.33 34. He turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water-springs into dry ground a fruitfull land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein No man hath observed the great increase of their seed which Isaac fonnd who sowed in that Land and reapt a hundred fold at this day the balm which Justin the Historian writes of brought in their treasure was a plant not as some have thought proper or common to Arabia but as Pliny notes peculiar to the Lanâ—… of Judaea or Syria as others call it and of that high price that it was valued at an equall rate and somtimes double to silver is now no where to be found Nevertheless lest men should think in their foolish imaginations that this Land had never been such as it is by the Word of God himself commended to be in some places there are certain marks and signs of the ancient fertility thereof for in a certain Plain divers miles long and broad there is found such fruitfull pastures that in so hot a Country the grasâ—… is seen to grow in some places as high as a mans middle in other places as high as to the brest But though the Lord for a time hath cut off this his people and turned their fruitfull Land into barrenness yet he hath abundantly shewed as in his word that the fulness of the Gentiles being come in God will have mercy upon and take into his favour this his Ancient people re-establish them in their own Land in security and without all doubt restore the Land to its former fruitfulness All which let us humbly pray to God the Father that for his infinite mercies in Jesus Christ he will speedily accomplish and turn the wilderness into a standing water and dry ground into water-springs Amen The first Book of the WARRES OF THE JEWES The Proeme IN the great Volum of Josephus there were Historicall Narrations made of things â—…s they had reference in chief to the Romans and other Nations This lesser Piece or Epitome rather declares matters as they relate principally to the Jews themselves and the State of their Common-wealth from the Macchabees unto their final subversion and ruine of the second House therefore according unto those things that we have found in the Book of Joseph the Priest son of Gorion and in other books written according to most certain truth we will draw forth and rehearse some things for the comfort that may thence arise especially seeing all the Prophets have bent and directed their Prophesies and predictions to this point that the Kingdom of the house of David should be restored and and flourish in time to come Therefore if there had been any Kings of the house of David during the time of the second Temple then should we have been in suspence yea even now already our hope had been dasht But there was no Kingdom of the house of David in that Age save only a certain Dominion that Zerrubbabel and Nehemiah had Yea rather the Kingdom remaine at that time in the House of the Machabees and in such that were toward Them and their Servants But now to the purpose CHAP. I. VVHen Alexander the first King of the Greeks had established his Kingdom he died being yet but a young man and his Kingdom was divided among four of his Captains as it is written Whiles He is yet alive His Kingdom shall be broken and delivered into four coasts of the Heavens Dan. 8. He left behind him a son of tender years called Archelaus whose Tutor or Governour perceiving him to be toward gave him impoysoned drink and made him away These Captains made war one upon another of whom one that was named Ptolomy procured Mâ—…ses Law to be Translated into Greek to the intent he might find some occasion to pick a quarrell against Israel For by their Law he sought means to withdraw them from their Religion accordâ—…ng to Psal. 129. Many a time have they affâ—…cted me from my youth up may Israel now say There were Seventy ancient men that Translated the Law whom Pâ—…olomy the King separateâ—… one from another putting every man a part in a house by himself But they all agreed in one sence albeit they changed 13. places which was not done without miracle that they all agreed together in the meaning and writing as though one alone had writ it These 13 places be these First God created in the beginning Here no word or thing is put before Name of God and also for that in the Greek Tongue the thing that doth is put before and that that is made is placed after least this word Berâ—…shith should be taken for a â—…reator and Eâ—…him for a creature The second I will make man according to the image and likeness Gen. 1. I for we that it should not be thought as though he were one that consulted with other therein The third And God finished the sixth day and rested the seventh Gen. 2. 〈◊〉 for seventh least it should seem as though He had made any thing in the seventh day and in it ended his working The fourth Go to I will go down and â—…here will confound their Laâ—…guage Gen. 2. I for we least by speaking in the pâ—…all number He should have been thought to be 〈◊〉 The fifth And Sarah laughed speaking to them that stood by her Gen. 18. With them that stood by her for to her self because Ptolomy the King should not mock them and say Who shewed you what she said to her self The sixth Because in their fury they killed an Oxe
burnt up the City He had wars also with the Romans and the Arabians and God prospered all that ever he took in hand Shortly after God gave him rest and quietnesse from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldly in peace and tranquility all his time On a time the King made a Feast to all the Sages of Israel that they might make cheer with him And being pleasantly disposed he said I am your Scholler and whatsoever I do that do I by your Authority Wherefore I pray you if you see any fault in me or if I do not as becometh me tell me of it that I might reform my evil way Then every man greatly extolled and commended him saying who is like unto thee our Lord King so worthy of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Priesthood so notable in good works whose works be done for the God of heaven which hast also done us so much good in Israel The King was well pleased with their answer and rejoyced greatly Yet was there one among them an undiscreet man called Elezaar who spake unadvisedly to the king And it please your Majesty it were sufficient for you to have the Crown of the Kingdom ye might leave the Crown of the Priesthood to the seed of Aaron for as much as your mother was Captain in mount Modiit Incontinent the King was moved and sore displeased against the Sages which certain of his servants that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of Sects perceiving one of them informed the King that whatsoever that undiscreet person had spoken it was not without the advise of the Sages Whereupon the King demanded of the Sages what law shall that man have that in despight of the King speaketh things to his reproach They made answer he is worthy to be whipt Then said one of the Saducees the matter is plain that according to the minds of the Sages and at their bidding he upbraided thee and therefore they would not award him to die Whereat the King held his peace and gave never a word to answer so all the joy was turned into sadnesse The next day at the commandment of the King proclamation went to all the Cities in the Kings Dominions that they should stand to the ordinance of Saboch and Bithus and whosoever should refuse to follow their Decrees or would observe the Traditions of the Sages and obey their will should suffer death This was John the high Priest which had the Priesthood forty years and in the end became a Saducee Notwithstanding the Israelites obeyed not the kings commandment but rather privily followed the ordinances of the Sages The king himself and all his servants followed the Traditions of the Saducees making Inquisition for them that stuck to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of By this means he drew much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus ruled over Israel was 31. years and then he died After him reigned his son Aristobulus for he had three sons Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his Father and banished out of his presence He went therefore and made War upon Tyre and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high Priest-hood but set light by it wherefore he would not execute the office thereof but took the Kingdom upon him and set the Crown upon his head and was called the great King Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her son his younger brother and would not suffer them to dwell in Jerusalem But he loved his brother Antigonus and made him Lieutenant General of all his Wars setting him forward into the Wars against his enemies Wherein the young man Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in all things that he took in hand and returned safe to Jerusalem where he entred into the house of the Sanctuary to pray for his brother the King which at that time was grievously sick and also to acknowledge before the Lord God his goodnesse and mercy towards him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person unto the King and informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the wars inquired of thy health and when it was told him thou wast sick he said I will go to him to day and rid him out of the world When the King heard this he was wroth toward the Sages and commanded his brother to be apprehended and carried to the place of Starton there to be kept in prison till he had made further inquisition of this matter In the mean space the Queen the Kings wife commanded him to be put to death there without knowledge of the Kings mind But when the King heard that his brother was killed he cryed out and wept bitterly smiting his breast in such sort with his hand that he swouned and much blood issued out of his mouth He reigned over Israel two years After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called King Janai being brought out of Prison where his brother had put him and made King of Israel He was a mighty man and valiant in all his wars against his enemies prevailing against them He had wars with the Philistims namely Asam and Ascalon whom he put to the worse and overcame them This man refused not the Priesthood but was high Priest It chanced on a time when he stood at the Altar to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast a Cedar tree on him whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the Altar crying give me my sword Then the Sages kneeled down before him and sware they did t not of any contempt but rather say they that we thus sporting before the Lord would be merry upon the High solemn day But the Kings servants answered roughly again saying although ye play and rejoyce yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such despightfull custome with the King The contention waxed hot against them till at length the Sages spake evil of the King casting in his teeth that he was an unhallowed and suspended person and that his Grand-mother on the fathers side was a Captain in mount Modiit whereby her seed was stained The King was sore moved at that insomuch that he commanded all the Sages to be slain Therefore wheresoever they found them in the Sanctuary or in the streets of Jerusalem they killed them forthwith Then the King commanded that every man should obey the governance and traditions of the Saducees So in those daies had the Sages great tribulation some fell on the sword some fled away and some tarried at home with great dishonor After these matters the King made an expedition into Arabia entred the country as far as the rock of the Wilderness against Hattam King of Arabia and subdued his land After that he warred on Medaba and the whole Land of Moab vanquished them and bringing
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
this unto our Lord the anointed of God He was the King and high Priest what though he were a sinner yet his death shall be an expiation for all his iniquities Therefore we will bewail him and mourn for him yea we will carry his coffin our selves on our necks and bury him as it becometh a Kings Majesty and so they did The time that he had raigned was xxvii years after him raigned his wife Alexandra in his stead for the Pharisees after they had finished the seventh day of the morning they committed the Kingdom unto her She had two sons by the King the Elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a just man and a righteous but Aristobulus was a Warriour and a man of courage besides that of a familiar and loving countenance He favoured also the learned men and followed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loved the Pharisees On a time therefore when the Queen sate in the throne of her Kingdom she cal'd the antients of the Pharisees before her honored them and commanded to release and set at liberty all such Pharisees as the King her husband and her father in Law had cast in prison and taking the Pharisees by the hands she commanded all Israel to obey their ordinances Then made she Hircanus her son high Priest and Aristobulus Lieutenant of the Wars She sent also to all the Lands that her husband and father in Law had subdued and demanded the noble mens sons for pledges which she kept in Jerusalem So the Lord gave to the Queen quietness from all that were under her subjection She gave also the Pharisees authority over the learned sort putting them in their hands to order at their will Whereupon straight way they found one Dogrus a great man amongst the learned sort whom they slew and much people besides of the Ancients of that Sect so that the Sectaries were in great distress They gathered themselves together therefore and came to Aristobulus the Lieutenant of the wars and with him they came to the Queen saying unto her Thou knowest the enmity that is between us and the Pharisees which hate thy husband and father in law yea and thy children also We were his men of war that went with him in all his affairs aided him now thou hast given us into their hands to be murthered and banished out of the Land What will Hartam King of Arabia do when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He will come and revenge him of all the battel that thy husband fought against him Yea the Pharisees will take his part and deliver thee and thy children into his hands that there shall not be left unto Hircanus the King and his Son Alexander thy husband any name or remnant at all The Queen gave them no word of answer whereat Aristobulus was angry and letted not to utter it to his mothers face but she would not hear him Wherefore Aristobulus counselled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart out of Jerusalem to choose them Cities in the land of Juda where they might dwell with their honor and not to suffer themselves to be slain under the Pharisees hands Wherefore departing from Jerusalem they dwelt in the Cities of Juda Not long after this it fortuned the Queen fell fore sick that she was like to dye whereof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisees would make his brother Hircanus King and at length apprehends him wherefore he fled away by night to the Ciâ—…y of the Saducees to be their head and make war upon his brother if he should presume to Raign He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducees called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a strong army of the Saducees his mother the Queeen sent unto him that he should return unto her which he would not do but rather went to war with the nations that dwelt about him where he won twenty Cities and got him great renown thereby Now as the Queen his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chief Pharisees came unto her with her Son Hircanus weeping before her and saying how they were afraid of her son Aristobulus who if he should come into Jerusalem and take it he would deliver them up into the hands of the Saducees Unto whom she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talk much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husband and my father gathered and their parents Kings of the posterity of Chasmonany take that to you and make my son Hircanus King over you If Aristobulus will disturb him and make war against him ye may leavy men of war therewith and succour him as you think good And even with this she fainted and dyed and was buried amongst her people after she had raigned nine years over Israel The Pharisees therefore and Priests with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Hircanus her son King in her stead Aristobulus hearing tidings of these things assembled his Army and came toward Jerusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nigh unto Jordan Jericho The Saducees of Aristobulus host were good men of war and too strong for the Pharisees wherefore Hircanus and the Pharisees had the overthrow at Aristobulus and the Saducees hands who with this victory proceeded forth to Jerusalem besiegeâ—… it and brought it to great distress Wherefore the Priests and the Ancient of the people consulted together and came forth to Aristobulus fell prostrate on the earth before him and besought him that he would not scatter abroad the inhabitants of the Lord. He condescended unto their desires upon these conditions that he should enter into Jerusalem with them and be King and his Brother Hircanus should be High Priest whereupon they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into Jerusalem his brother came out of the Sanctuary to meet him and with embracing he kissed him So Aristobulus was King and Hircanus executed the office of the High Priest The Lord also gave Israel rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sent an evill spirit among them which was the cause of translating the Kingdom from the stock of Chasmonany and of the destruction of his posterity for the sin of Hircanus the great and the sin of Alexander his Son in that they shed so much innocent blood and drew Israel from the obedience of the Prophets unto the lies and trifles of the Saducees For thus it chanced The Saducees beat into Aristobulus head that as long as his Brother Hircanus lived he nor his Kingdom could never be established Whereupon Aristobulus devised how to make away Hircanus which thing a certain man called Autipater was aware of a man of most power in all Israel and thereto also a wise expert and learned in all wisdom both in the laws and in the knowledge of the Greek just of his word and prudent in any strange
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
deceive him and poison him The Inhabi ants of Jerusalem at his request sent unto Aristobulus a present by certain Noble men whereat Aristobulus was right joyful and did eate and banquet with them till he was overcome with drink then they impoisoned him and he died The time that he raigned over Israel was four years and six moneths He was a good man of War hardy in fight and a man of amiable countenance Pompeius receiving tidings of his death the more gladder proceeded toward Rome to besiege it But Julius met him in the way and destroyed him and his Host whereby the Emâ—…ire was established unto Julius He after this sent Presents to the King of Syria and into Egypt by his Captains to allure them to his friendship Antipater advised Hircanus to aid Julâ—…us if perchance he might win his favour which Hircanus did and Antipater was Captain of the Host who played the man and found such favour with Julius that he made him Lieutenant of his wars and afâ—…er he had fought sundry and great Battels he returned to Jerusalem with great honour and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters son Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his third son President of Galilee There was a certain young man at that time in Jerusalem called Hizkias a valiant man of war to whom adhered all such as were in any distresse and he became their Captain These went and ranged about in Syria roving and murdering in such sort that the Syrians were weary of their lives for fear of them Wherefore the King of Syria sent unto Herod Ruler of Galilee desiring him to kill that Hizkias and his complices whereupon Herod prepared himself and went to meet with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Syria came upon him unawares and slew him and his men Whereupon when the King of Syria was certified he sent a noble reward unto Herod of Silver Gold and precious Stones by which and by like means he became very famous The Noble men of Juda made their complaint unto Hircanus upon Antipater and his sons for their sore oppressing the Land of Juda desiring that Herod might be summoned from Galilee to appear in judgement and answer with other for the killing of Hizkias The King therefore sent for him and he upon that came to Ierusalem appeared before the Judges princely apparelled with a guilt sword girt about him whose pride an antient man called Samai blamed and reprehended also his stout heart but he would not give ear unto him nor yet regard the Judges When Hircanus perceived that the Judges had almost determined to give judge-ment against the young man and to make him away he took pity on him and said We will not give sentence to day to morrow is a new day and by that means delivered him out of their hands Herod knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death that night therefore he fled to the King of Syria declaring all what had hapned unto him The King of Syria let him have a strong Army and came with him himself purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his Father Antipater and his eldest brother Phaselus came forth unto him and rebuked him saying Is this the reward that thou renderest unto King Hircanus that took pity on thee and would not have thy blood shed Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem unto whom he condescended after he had once let the Inhabitants of Ierusalem know what he could and had shewed them his power Julius Emperour of Rome about that time as he was worshipping in the house of his God was murthered by the conspiration of certain of them which had served Pompeius that was slain as is afore mentioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the Country of Macedonia who fled thither being afraid to tarry at Rome this Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a great scourge to the Noblemen of Juda and a great dâ—…al 〈◊〉 man than was Hircanus himself yea Hircanus could do nothing in comparison of him for he had no rule himself but Antipater and his Sons bare all the sway throughout all the Realm Moreover Antipater was in great estimation with all the Kings of that time And forasmuch as he so sore oppressed the Jews they therefore hated him and conspired to kill him There was a man in great authority about Hircanus named Malchias by whose means they wrought this matter He corrupted the Kings Butler with rewards to put poison in Antipaters cup which as soon as he had drunk he died These things his sons Phaselus and Herod dissembled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstanding they privily writ unto Cassius that reigned in Macedonia certifying him of this deed Soon after came Cassius to Tyre from whence he sent Messenges to Hircanus to come unto him who came and with him Malchias Phaselus and Herod Cassius entertaining them all in his â—…odging willed his men that whatsoever Herod bad them they should do it Herod willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therefore sitting hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demanded of the sons of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that King Cassius servants slew him and we know not why Therefore Hircanus stood in fear of Phaselus and Herod being certain that this was their deed Wherefore he said unto them this Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an Usurer These things done Octavius Augustus brothers son unto Julius that was murthered came to Rome and the people of Rome made him their Emperour He had a fellow in office named Marcus Antonius his Uncle Octavianus therefore seeing to the Government of Rome sent Marcus Antonius to war upon Cassius and to revenge Julius death Unto him Hircanus sent a Present a Crown of Gold in which were set sundry precious Stones praying him to strengthen his Kingdom in his hands and to be a means of a League to be made between Octavins Augustus King of Kings and him as there was between him and Julius which Antonius granted About that time Antigonus son of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus King of the Persians to aid him against Hircanus to remove him and to restore the Kingdom to himself promising to give him for his travel five hundred pound weight of Gold and an hundred 〈◊〉 Virgins So Pagurus gathered an Host against Israel and Antigonus departed out of Jerusalem with much people of Israel that took â—…is part and joyned themselves to Pagurus These came to Jerusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes and gave many great assaults unto it till at length they undermined the Ciâ—…y then took they Hircanus and slew Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus might be clean removed from the Priesthood Antigonus that had deprived him of the Kingdom cut off besides that one of his ears But Herod escaped and fled to Augustus Emperour of
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
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
man at that same time for at the commandment of Eleazar the Priest chief of the seditious he set first foot within the Romans camp Then began the Jewish warriours to be famous after they had once so manfully incountered with the Romans This done Castius and Agrippa sent their Embassadours once again to Jerusalem to Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest chief of the rebells that were in Judea and Jerusalem requiring peace and to come in league with Eleazar lest the people of the Jews should be utterly destroyed by the Romans incursions and invasions on every side But Eleazar refused to hear the Legates and slew one of them because he made too many words in perswading the peace and league Upon this Eleazar assembled the Priests and people together to go out and fight with Castius Castius perceiving how Eleazar and the people were affected and what minds they were of how they had utterly conspired to destroy the Romans that were there and to consume them clean having a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantness of the rebels he determined fully to go to Rome for he perceived he was not able to match with the seditious neither his own power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he would go see what end should come of the wars and what counsel Caesars Majesty would give Taking his journey therefore to the City Japho he found there letters of the Romans for thither was their army come From thence went he with them and his own army to Rome and made report to Caesar of such things as have chanced whereat Nero was much abashed and not only he but all the people of Rome were sore astonied to hear of the great puissance and valiantness of the Jews For which cause the Wars ceased for that year so that the Land of Judea was at great rest and quietnesse that year through Eleazers means the head Râ—…bel especially from the hands of wicked Castius that had sworn to revenge the Romans to extinguish the Jews and that he would destroy all the race of them as none should be left alive Therefore these are they that delivered Israel in the time of the second Temple out of the hands of their enemies what time as wars were moved against the Jews and their Country what time also commotions and tumults began in Israel The first War was made by Antiochus the wicked King of Macedonia who had determined not to leave one man in Israel His mischievousnesse proceeded so far that he slew the people of God the Sages and Wisemen Princes Elders and young men children great and small Israelits Levites also and Priests until all the chief men of Judea cast their heads together and went to Matthathias son of Jochanan the High Priest in the Mount of Modiit where he hid himself for the iniquity of Antiochus and his Rulers crying upon him and saying Deliver at this season the people of the Lord and never think to escape thy self whiles the most wicked enemy rangeth thus and runneth upon thy people and sheddeth thy blood For the blood of all Israel What is it but thy blood and the eyes of every man are fixed on thee hoping that thou should'st assist and aid them in this calamity that they may finde deliverance by thy means Matthathias hearing this wept bitterly and said Fear ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lord shall fight for you Be ye only quiet So then was Matthathias stirred and delivered Israel out of the hands of Antiochus and after he had overcome him he was high Priest for one year and then died In whose room succeeded Judas his son who executed the office in the Temple six years and was slain in battel Then his brother Jochanan was chief in the Temple eight years and died likewise in battel Afterward his brother Simeon was Ruler eighteen years whom Pâ—…olomy his Wifes father poisoned at a Banquet Then Jochanan his son succeeded his father in the office this is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a King of that name He reigned 31. years and died After him reigned Aristobulus one year he was called the great King because he first put the Royall Crown upon his head and turned the dignity of the high Priesthood into a Kingdom unhollowing and staining the holinesse thereof 480. years and 3. moneths after the returning of Israel from Babylon He being dead his brother Alexander reigned 27. years After whose death Alexandra his wife held the kingdom nine years and then died In whose stead succeeded her son Aristobulus and reigned 3. years In his time Pompey a Roman Captain came against Jerusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in irons and carried him captive to Rome in whose place he ordained Hircanus his brother to succeed who reigned forty years During his reign rebelled Antigonus son of Aristobulus Hircanus brother and with the aid of an Army of the Persians incountred with Hircanus took him prisoner and sent him to Babylon cutting off his eares that he should never after be meet either for the Priesthood or for the Kingdom Antigonus reigned three years In his dayes Herod fled and joyned himself with the Romans by whose help he slew Antigonus the third year of his reign and reigned after him 32. years and then died After Herod succeeded Archelaus his son who was taken by the Romans the ninth year of his reign laid in bonds and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who changed his name and called himself Herod he reigned full ten years overcame and wasted Spain because the King of Spain had ravished and taken away his brothers Wife and there died After him followed Agrippa son of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned three and twenty years after whose death his son Agrippa reigned twenty years This is that Agrippa of whom we now speak of and of the calamity that befell in his time upon Israel For all the while he reigned the Wars between the Romans and Israel never ceased until the people of Judea were led captive into the Province of the Romans at that time also the Temple was desolate I mean the desolation of the second Temple which we saw with our eyes builded and destroyed The 20. year of the reign of King Agrippa the 9. day of the 5. moneth that is called Ab viz. July Nero Caesar sent a Present for a burnt-offering to be offered in the Temple at Jerusalem requiring peace of the Elders and Sages of Judea and Jerusalem and that they would receive him into league with them saying My request is that you would offer my present to the Lord your God for his service and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to joyn in league with me according as you have done with the Emperours of Rome my Predecessors in time past I have heard what Castius the Captain of mine Army hath
that were under the subjection of the Jews cast off the yoke from their necks and rebelled against the Dominion of Jerusalem joyning their power with the Roman Army to aid Vespasian and Titus For these were also subjects unto the Jews that sore had burthened them wherefore they came to help the Romans and to invade Jerusalem and the people of the Jews But the Edomites had not associated themselves unto Vespasian and Titus for they were in subjection to the Jews and served them so that not one of them aided the Romans For long before they had moved war against Jerusalem and could not get the victory but the Jews prevailed against them and subdued them Hircanus also the first King of the Jews circumcised them They dwelt also in Jerusalem kept watch and ward about the house of the Lord and his covenant without all rebellion against the Iews and Ierusolimites And at that present was thirty thousand of the best of the Edomites in Jerusalem which kept the walls and the house of the Lord. After this Vespasian and Titus with all their host took their journey from Acho and came to Galilee and in the mount they pitched their tents Wherefore when tidings was brought to Joseph how the host of the Romans lay upon the mount of Galilee and how Vespasian had sent before him a great power to repair the broken waies to fill the holes and cast down the hills to levell the way that his people might pass the better for he was sore moved against the Jews Joseph issued out of Zippory with all his power set upon them and slew them taking such vengeance of them as never was the like before for his God was with him Vespasian and Titus hearing of this determined to set upon Joseph at unawares and to beset all the waies that he should escape of no side but Joseph had intelligence of their coming wherefore he left Zippory and went to Tiberias whither Vespasian followed Joseph perceiving them coming fled from thence to Iorpata the biggest City in Galilee closed up the gates and there remained with his Army Then sent Vespasian certain Noble men Embassadours to Joseph to debate the matter with him in this wise Vespasian Generall of the Roman Army desireth to know what it should avail thee to be thus pend up within a walled town he wills thee rather to come forth to intreat of peace with him and to enter into a league together for it shall be to thy avail to serve Caesar Emperor of the Romans that thou mayest live and not be destroyed nor any of thy people with thee Then Joseph sent Embassadours again to Vespasian demanding truce for a few daies that he might deliberate upon the matter with the people and let them understand his words Peradventure saith he they will be perswaded to make peace with thee and then will we enter league with the Roman Empire So Vespasian ceased from fighting against Joseph permitting him to consult of the thing Upon that Joseph sent Embassadours to all the people at Jerusalem to the Priests Chief men Rulers and to the rest of the people giving them to understand Vespasians mind Ye shall understand brethren that Vespasian Generall of the Romans sent his Embassadors unto me enquiring What it would avail us to be stiffe against them and not rather to come forth and intreat of peace and to joyn in league together that we may serve the Emperour of the Romans so to save our lives and not to be destroyed And I pray ye why will ye lose your lives your wives your sons and daughters Why will ye all fall together on the sword that both they that should be left alive among you shall be led Captive out of your Countrey to a people that they never knew whose language they understand not and your Country to be made desolate your Sanctuary laid wast that there shall not be so much as one man left to enter into it Never suffer this you that be wise men but rather receive my counsell and come hither to us that we may deliberate together what conditions of peace we shall make for the safety of our lives rather than to be destroyed and that we may use the commodities of your Countrey being at peace therein For life and quietness is to be preferred before death and banishment The inhabitants therefore of Jerusalem both Priests Chief men Rulers and Noble men of Judea with the rest of the people sent unto Ioseph saying Take heed to thy self that thou never consent to this to receive conditions of peace with them but be strong to fight till such time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the people dye in battel and so shalt thou fight the battel of the Lord for his people and his Sanctuary with the Cities of our God in the mean season be it as it may but let thy power not be with them When Joseph heard the determination of the people of Ierusalem how all sorts with one consent willed by the Embassadors the continuance of the wars he was wonderfull wroth and in a great fury issued out with all his people and set them in array against Vespasian and the Roman host in which conflict were slain very many of the Jews and from that day forward Vespasian began fiercely to war upon the Iews He departed thence to the City Geerara a great City in the highest Galilee besieged it and won it razed it slew all the people Man Woman and Child Oxen Sheep Camels and Asses leaving nothing alive And then he said Now begin I to be revenged for the Romans which the Iews murthered in the land of Iudea From thence he departed and brought his Army to Iorpata where Joseph remained The first day that he incamped about Iorpata he relieved his souldiers with meat and drink plenty and made them good cheer then furnished he every man with weapons So on the next morning early the Roman Army gave a great shout and beset the City round about on every side In this business Ioseph stood upon a certain Tower from whence he beheld the huge camp of the Romans wherefore he sounded forth a Trumpet and gave a sign to battel issued out with the whole power of the Jews that he had with him and set upon the Romans camp at the foot of the hill continuing the fight from morning till night And when it began to be dark they ceased fighting and departed the one from the other the Jews to the town the Romans to their tents In this battel were many slain on both sides as well Jews as Romans The Romans advancing themselves proudly and stoutly said We will quickly vanquish this little Nation as we have subdued all other Nations that we have conquered that they shall annoy us no more and afterwards we shall be at rest The Jews also on the other side encouraged themselves against the Romans saying At this time we will all dye together for the
Cities that stood on hills then they did divide it in parts and bring it up to the siege by piece-meal and there it was set together again Now when the Romans had battered the walls of Jorpata and Joseph perceived them to shake he took great sacks filled them full of chaff and hanged them down by the walls that the horns of the Ram could not come nigh the stones of the wall but light upon the sacks which by reason of the softnesse of the chaff hindred and brake the stroke that the walls were lesse hurt For the nature of soft things is to give back to the hard and to weaken their force But Vespasian seeing the subtilty of Joseph used also policy for policy for he sent into the Town secretly Jews spies which when the batteries should be might cut asunder the cords that the sacks were tyed to and with them slip down the walls where the Romans were ready to receive them that they should not hurt them in the fall and immediately they struck the wall with the Ram. There was at that present in the City a certain valiant man named Eleazer of the house of Anani the high Priest that then dwelt at Jerusalem This Eleazer perceiving the Romans to go about to batter down the wall as they did before plucked out of the wall a mighty stone so that he made a great hole or gap whereat he slid down the wall and stradling did light on the Engine made fast an iron chain to the horns thereof and got again up nimbly and quickly from the beam into the Town with the chain in his hand for the wall was not very high above his head as he stood upon the Ram then the other tall fellows took hold upon the chain fastened it to the pillars and walls in the Town that the Romans might rather be constrained to break their Ram than take it away from thence The Priest Eleazer yet once again boldly went down and sat upon the beam slew fifty men that laboured about the Ram and the rest he put to flight then returned into the Town being drawn up again from the beam to them that were within the Town greatly rejoycing in his manhood After that he went up upon a high Tower from whence he tumbled down with a mighty force a great stone and a hard on the head of the Ram and brake it that both a great part of the head and the hornes fell on the ground For the iron that it was covered withal was old and rusty so that it was much wasted and eaten therewith the ropes were also old After that Eleazar went down again took part of the head that was broken and hurled it into the Town the Romans that remained either he slew or put to flight The Archers shot at him and wounded him with five Arrows wherefore by the help of his fellows upon the wals he climbed up otherwise he had not been able for the grief of his wouuds The people then gave a shout for joy of the victory of the worthy Priest Eleazar that had slain the Romans and broke their Ram wherein they put their confidence and brought part of it into the Town and fastened it with an iron chain that the Romans could not pull it back again to them nor have the use of it afterward wherefore divers of the best Cities of Jorpata armed themselves that day being stir'd with the great courage that they had seen in Eleazar and went down hewed the beam to pieces brought the poyses with the Rings and two masts with them into the town and the same day died Eleazar with great renown as one that had fought for the Sanctuary of the Lord and for his people and Country of Israel like a faithful servant and souldier of the Lord whom all the people mourned for burying him in the Town honouring him for his death worthiness and faithfulnesse appointing him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battel with the enemies of the Lord. The young men of the Jews seeing this and especially two of them the one called Nitra the other Polipas men of great wisdom and understanding and therewith expert in the Wars being moved with zeal of the God of Israel opened the gates and issued against the Romans skirmished with them and slew many of them But at length they were slain themselves in the skirmish for the Sanctuary of their God for Israel their country When Joseph saw the Wars to encrease more and more he issued out and made a great slaughter in the Roman tents burnt the mount and Engines of War that the Romans had left by which means the Wars waxed yet hotter insomuch that Joseph repulsed the Romans For when they saw the Jews so desperately give their lives for their God and Land they would not abide their force Vespasian seeing his men shrink he stood up and encouraged them exhorting them with fair words and promises as well Gold and Silver as meat and drink wherewith the Romans allured fought with Joseph that day unto the Sun-setting and as the battel waxed hot the Jews wounded Vespasian with an arrow in his right leg which sore dismayed the Romans when they saw the blood run down his leg and that day was a sore fight betwen the Jews and the Romans Titus seeing his father wounded being sore abashed ran to him to help him to whom his father said How is it my son that thou art thus astonied Take heart to thee and with a courage revenge thy father of these Jews that have now the better hand of us So both Titus and Vespasian with all their whole host fought that day a sore fight and many were slain on both parts yea very few were left on Josephs part with whom he returned into the Town The next day the Romans raised a new mount instead of that which Joseph burned and planted another iron-Ram thereupon between two posts accordingly for Vespasian had brought four of this sort with him from Rome but other battering pieces upon wheels had he with him thirty what more what lesse the bigger sort were 30. cubits long the lesser ten He brought also ten Engines to hurle great stones withal which he had placed about the walls The Romans therefore renewed the assaults against the Town as they were wont before But the Town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were all slain in the fights Albeit Joseph remained and a few with him who went every one and the women also to defend the walls for there was almost no men left fit for the War Then the Romans flung with the Engines that stood on the mount stones into the Town on every side It chanced that a great stone hit a woman with child with such violence that it passed through her body and carried the child with it by the space of half a mile They cast up and raised yet other Mounts also from whence they flung
live and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death as well he as Jonathan his son these were dearly beloved and most amiable men as the Scripture termeth them Why doest thou not remember our dear Prince the righteousnesse of David the anointed of the Lord who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel said Let thy hand O Lord I beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house For I am he that have sinned I have transgressed as for these thy sheep What have they done What have they offended Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the Holy Law whereby we might learn how to love our Lord GOD with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength If it be so that the service of God consists not in this that we should love him whom he loveth and die for his Covenant and Sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord wherein standeth it then Hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us how that every man that dieth in the wars for the Lord his Sanctuary his people and his Law he is to be counted in the Lords lot and made worthy to go unto the great Light and shall not see everlasting darknesse Art not thou that Joseph the Priest that hast cryed so often in battel I am Joseph the Priest consecrated to battel that have vowed my life for the people of the Lord his Sanctuary and his Land But now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them and they order thee despitefully What wilt thou say unto them or what amends canst thou have at their hands I put the case they cast in thy teeth and say thy words be lyes How shalt thou avoid the reproach Art thou not he that said'st that we should fight for the people of God until we die in the conflict and in so doing death should be ransome for our sins and that we were sure to go to that great Light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said Why then wilt thou shun death and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st insomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the Romans as a vile slave Shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of God Thou art a Prince a King and a Priest Wilt thou be bound in chains Every man shall say This is he that gave his souldiers and the rest of the people to die but saved himself and his own life So when they had made an end of talk each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Hearest thou Joseph our Prince if thou wilt be ruled by us first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die that thou mayest die honourably But if thou refuse to die honestly assure thy self of this we will every man set upon thee and kill thee Joseph answered Indeed I know my brethren that your words are just and true For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly and would God that he would call my soul unto him and receive it unto him also For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live for the great troubles that have passed through my heart but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts and it is he that giveth life unto men It is our GOD that closeth souls within the bodies and letteth them out again because he is the living God in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures He hath left with us the spirit of life and closed it up within our bodies What is he that will open that he hath shut How shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us Do ye not all know how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep and that we are his servants If then we cast away life before that God take it Shall he not worthily be displeased with us so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory and with those just and godly men our forefathers Do ye not know that they went not unto God before they were called and when they were called they came and so dealt God with all the holy and godly men To Moses our Master of worthy memory the elect of God ye know that the Lord God of Israel said Get thee upon this mountain Abiram and so he did but he would not have done it of himself had not God called him whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the Living GOD except he require it again Take example I pray you of Job what time he curst the day that he was born in Might he not either have hanged himself or have run upon a knife or at the least have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die Notwithstanding he abode patiently in most extream pain waiting till God demanded again his life and then restored it unto his Lord God and would not restore it undemanded but tarried till his appointed time came King David also of famous memory said Lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the body and that none might let it forth but God I wot well that death is a great commodity so that the soul may return in his due time unto God that gave it us I know it also That he that dieth in the Wars of the Lord he shall come to the great Light But I know not what can appease Gods wrath towards the soul of that man that killeth himself and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time and without the Lords calling Wherefore my friends and my brethren I would ye should know it I am no more coward than you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities but this I know I should commit a hainous offence against the Lord if I should kill my self And how say ye you Princes that stick unto your God to you I speak Tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us if we should commit this sin and each kill one another Would not a man judge him a slave a fool a froward person a rebel and a desperate man that should be forced with any misery to be so mad that because all things fall not out as he would wish would therefore hang or desperately murder himself with his
in a strange Land Certain evil disposed persons of the Roman souldiers went to Vespasian and said Sir you shall do well to command this man to be slain without mercy that hath been the destruction of so many of the people of the Romans This is the very same that shot the arrow and stuck you in the leg Put him to death and then shall ye be sure he shall never move war more amongst you If ye do not ye shall see him one day again raise an Army against us and destroy us But Joseph did find friendship at Titus Vespasian son's hands which came of the Lord. Therefore when he heard those wicked mens words that desired Vespasian to put Joseph to death he disapproved their advice and partly in mockage he taunted them saying Will you tell my Father what he hath to do will you give him so wicked counsel to kill that man that yieldeth himself to us upon the trust of our league and band of friendship which you now go about to break and frustrate Did not Captain Nicanor in my fathers name and Caesars with all the Roman host make a Covenant with him Take heed what you say Is it reason to break the Caesarean fidelity Moreover who can tell whether it may so happen that some of us be taken by the Jews like as Joseph is prisoner herc with us VVhen Vespasian heard his sons words it pleased him and he spared Joseph not suffering him to be slain but committed him to a certain Captain of his and carried him about with him through the Cities together with King Agrippa After this Vespasian removed his Camp to Thalmida which also is called Acho and from thence he went to Caesarea a great City When they of the City saw Joseph they cryed unto Vespasian Kill him kill him or else he will one day be an occasion to stir great wars against thee But Vespasian gave no ear to them Whiles he was at Caesarea tidings came to him that the Citizens of Papho invaded and spoiled the Isles that were subject under his Dominions with a Navy Vespasian hearing thereof commanded to lay wait for them that they might be met withal So there was an ambush laid witâ—…out the Town and it came to passe that when the Pyrates were gone out a roving Vespasian entred the Town and took it without great resistance because their souldiers were absent When the Rovers therefore returned with their Navy and saw the Romans in the City they laboured to set a land but suddenly a huge tempest and a mighty storm drove all their ships against the rocks that were in the sea shore for there was no haven for ships and there they were lost many of them and those that swam to land the Romans slew they that were drowned in the Sea and slain by the Romans were in number four thousand good men of War besides them that were slain in the Town 40000. all Jews This done Vespasian set forth Valericus and Taribus two Roman Colonels with his son Titus who went besieged and wan the Towns of defence that were in Galilee And thus did Titus use them They that yielded unto him he saved their lives and whosoever withstood him he slew Moreover all the Cities that belonged to Agrippa in Galilee he restored them unto him again only Tiarva excepted which he utterly rased and slew all the Males especially such as were apt to the Wars sold also their wives and children And this was the only City in all Galilee that Titus shewed such a rigour and extremity unto CHAP. VII VEspasian departing thence took his journey to Gamala which is a Citie upon the top of a Mountain the name thereof is called Gamala of an Hebrew word Gamal that signifieth to Requite or to do a good turn because it is the best City that belongeth to Agrippa and the inhabitants thereof were all very rich The City also called Seleucia was not far distant from it a Countrey replenished with good Towns Gardens Brookes and all kinde of fruitfull Trees Agrippa besought Vespasian that he would not destroy this City Let me go first saith he and offer them peace peradventure they will take it that they may save their lives from destruction Vespasian was entreated saying unto him Go and do as thou wilt for thine honour's sake I will do so much for thee So Agrippa went to them and spake friendlily and peaceably unto them and they received him in like manner but they meant deceit saying Thou art our Lord and King to whom therefore doth all that is of any price or to be desired in all Israel belong but unto thee Therefore come near unto us and debate the matter with thy Servants Agrippa crediting these Words came close up to the City and as he listned to them that talked with him one cast a great stone from the Wall which lighted just between his shoulders with such a violence that it struck him prostrate to the ground and brake his back with one of his arms also But his Servants stept to him took him up and carried him to Vespasian who seeing him so sore hurt sware he would never go from thence till he had taken the City and ordered them in like manner as he did at Tiarva to leave not a man therein The Roman Physicians did bestow such diligence about Agrippa that they cured him Vespasian in his rage against the Seleucians because they had wounded their King besieged and assaulted them The Jews within the Town encouraged one another saying Let us stick to it now and play the men for we have no other hope to save our lives seeing we have thus used the King Certain stout men of them therefore issued out and encountring with the Romans made a great slaughter amongst them After that the Romans made ready their Engins planted their battering Rams playing with them against the Walls and by that time night came beat so great a part thereof down to the earth that Vespasian and much people with him might enter at their pleasure But Vespasian gave commandment to his Army that they should not enter that night into the Town but stand and compasse the walls until the morrow that they might the better see how to win it Notwithstanding they would not be ruled by him but entred Then the Jews came upon them drew the chains crosse their streets and closing the wayes of the City intrapped them in such sort that they could go neither one way nor other After that settâ—…ng upon them beat them down even there so that they were all slain save ten men that fled with Vespasian and a Captain named Butius one of the best men of War in all the Roman Army yet him the Jews pursued and slew But Vespasian and his fled to the Mountains that he might be there in safegard and from thence he sent to Titus his son that was in Syria for the Roman Army that he had sent with him to Persia which
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
floods of the seas persecuted them that persecuted thee Hath not the earth swallowed up them that despised thee and the winds scattered them a sunder that made insurrections against thee hath not thunder from heaven destroyed thine enemies and stars fought against thy foes What means this therefore and how cometh it to pass that thou hidest thy face from us to whom hast thou delivered the sheep of thy pasture Look upon us our God and behold thy people and inheritance that thou broughtest out of Egypt with a mighty power and a strong hand with wonders and signs leading them untill this day in thy faith take pitty upon them in thy mercy and extend not thy wrath against thy servants Where art thou Moses the son of Amram stand up and see thy people and flock of sheep which thou feedest all thy life with thy wisdom see how Wolves and Lions tear them see how the Israelites are become foes to their own lives and souls yea wasters and destroyers are sprung up of their own selves Behold the people of GOD for whose sake thou lifted'st up thy staff over the sea wherewith thou struckest and dividest it that it was made dry ground so the Israelites passed through and escaped their enemies Remember thy prayer when as in time of famine and lack of food thou obtaindft for them meat from heaven and at the same time when they were weary of their lives for thirst thou broughtest water out of the most hard rock Come forth Aaron most holy Priest of God that didst put thy self between the living and the dead to turn away the plague from Israel and staydest the destroyer that he should not come â—…igh the living Arise out of thy grave thou Phineas that moved with such fervency didst revenge the glory and majesty of the Lord God of Israel come and run through the Seditious in thy fury which murther the people of God and his Priests Awake thou Ioshua that didst throw down the walls of Jericho with the sound and shout of thy Trumpets that the holy Priests held in their hands Come now and see thy people that thou madest to inherit many Nations and to conquer most puissant Kings how they kill one another how they further and help forward the Idolater to rule and have the Dominion of the holy Land that thou gavest thy people Israel to inherit Why sleepest thou King David Awake and come with the sound of thy Psaltery and Harp sing to thy holy Psalms too Ask account of thy sweet words that are ceased from the mouthes of this people and out of all mens mouthes because of the maliciousness thereof See how their Princes be transformed into enemies and destroyers and do as thou diddest good King David that didst give thine own life for theirs saying Let thy hand O Lord be turned against me and against the house of my father and do not fall upon thy people to destroy them Where art thou Elizeus Come and see what thou canst do if thou canst rescue the remnant of Israel and find them any gap to escape at Didst not thou by thy prayer bring the power of the Syrians to a Town of defence and prevailedst against them without dint of sword or battel and broughtest them down smiting them with blindness that they turned their enmity towards Israel into love Indeed thou wast heâ—…that vanquishedst the Syrians by thy prayer that they fled for fear of the same Now therefore ye heard-men of Israel assemble together and listen with 〈◊〉 and hear my words that I will speak in your ears this day Tell me What is become of your prayers that ye have made for the people of Israel to defed and turn away from them a I wrath indignation tribulation fury and inmissions of evill spirits How is it that now ye see not the Sanctuary turned into a vile sink of blood for the dead bodies of Priests lye in midst of it The holy City Jerusalem is become a strange City as though the name of the Lord had never been in it and the Sanctuary of the Lord is in that case at this present as though the Godhead had never dwelt therein for the Temple is turned into a den of theeves a lodging of Seditious persons a tabernacle of cruel murtherers And who so flieth thither for refuge there they be slain as the Seditious have murthered in the midst thereof Anani the high Priest and Joshua a Priest also that were Princes and chief Priests the most reverend amongst the people of God whom ere this Kings and Nations had sued to and desired their favour but never cast their slain bodies in the midst of the Temple The Nobility also of Jerusalem the Elders of Juda the Sages of Israel whose friendship Kings and Nations have sought after and desired to make peace with they lye now slain here and there in the midst of Jerusalem are meat for the fouls of the ayre and beasts of the field to dogs and ravens because there is no man to bury them These died not for their offences but because they found fault with the Israelites when they sinned How are they slain in thee O Jerusalem thou holy City renowned throughout the whole earth all just men all holy men whom the Seditious have overcome those helhounds and blood-suckers that have brought all these evils upon thee how are the Priests of the Lord and his Prophets slain amongst those holy men For before the holy Temple was the Prophet Sechariahu that just and holy man butchered and murthered yea without all buriall neither was his blood covered with earth but yet still wandreth about and cryeth in thee The blood of Anani also and Joshua the chief Priests was yet never covered which were both slain in thy Temple as men be wont to kill theeves yea the blood of the godly young men and valiant that would have revenged them was shed also by the Seditious like floods of water How are the hearts of the people turned so aukwardly that they will bear no admonition of just men but are like unto blockish Images that neither see nor hear nor yet understand any thing All beasts be they never so brutish all plants and things that grow upon the earth withstand them that invade them to do them injury and endeavour to avoid the force of their enemy but thy children that thou keepest within thee are changed into enemies and one brother murthereth â—…nother with the sword Where is now thy valiantness thou that never wouldst bow to bear the yoak of the Gentiles upon thy shoulders but hast cast away the bondage of the Egyptians Philistines Aramites Assyrians Chaldees Persians and Medes Where is the strength that God gave to the Chasmonanites that with a very small company defended thee and prevailed against the great and puissant Army of the Greeks destroyed the stout souldiers of Babylon vanquished the mighty Army of the Persians slue Kamitiatus and Antiochus and pursued their Armies making great
stones and shooting thick at them for they were afraid to come nigh them because of their great fierceness although they were three thousand men that kept the Rams Yet these four set nothing by them nor yet never went off the ground till the Rams were clean burnt up shot the Romans never so thick at them Titus hearing the valiantness of these young men and the harms they had done unto the Romans made speed with his whole Hoste to save the Rams from the fire and to apprehend those young men Then forthwith issued out Schimeon Jehochanan and Eleazar Captains of the Seditious with their souldiers sounding their Trumpets and made the Romans retire that they could not come nigh the fire and so rescued the four young men from the Romans that had environed them round about In that skirmish were killed ten thousand and five hundred men Then gathered together all the whole Army of the Romans to assault the Jews at once approaching hard to the walls of Jerusalem where they cryed unto the Jews saying What are you Oxen or Goats that you fight on this fashion upon the Walls Will you be taken in the midst of the City like as Oxen and Goats are taken in their folds If ye be men come forth and let us try our manhood here in this Plain But you by stealth and at unawares set upon them that keep our Engins snatching them up like as it were wolves should snatch sheep then run away into the Town as the wolves run into the Wood If there be any manhood in you behold we are ready here come forth to us so many for so many and then we shall see what end will come thereof When the Captains of the Seditious heard that they spake unto the warriours that were in Jerusalem Which of you will go out with us to these dogs to shew our force and stomachs for the Sanctuary and City of the Lord Then five hundred tall fellows of their own accord issued out upon the Romans suddenly and slue eight thousand men and compelled the rest to retreat from the walls The Romans then felt what valiantness the Jews had for the Romans were in number fourty thousand fighting men and the Jews were only five hundred whereof not one of them was killed in that skirmish The Romans a far off shot at the Jews and hurled stones to whom the Jews said Come hither to us are you not they that called us forth and provoked us to come to you why come ye not now nearer you go about to drive us away with arrows and stones What do you think us to be dogs and that we are afraid of your stones Are we not men yea we are your Masters and betters for you râ—…n away from us as servants flee from their Masters when they follow them to beat them Titus seeing his army to be part of them fled and part to be slain he cried to his people saying Is it not a shame for you ye Romans and a wonderfull great dishonor to flee from the Jews so hunger beaten famished almost dead for thirst and besieged Alas how shall ye put away this your rebuke and ignominy When as all Nations which heretofore ye have most valiantly subdued shall hear that ye flee from these dead Jews whose whole Land we hâ—…ve in possession so that they have nothing left but this only Town which we have all battered that they have but one only wall to defend themselves Besides this they are very few we are innumerable they have no Nation to aid them we have help of all Lands Why then do ye flee from their sight like as small impotent birds flee from the Eagle What though the Jews vow and hazard themselves desperately for their Temple and Land why do you not the same also in these wars to get you a renown of valiantness But the Jews prevailed that day and had the upper hand wherefore they returned into the Town with great glory having put the Romans to so great a foil Titus commanded his to address and prepare the other two Rams that were left to batter the walls of Jerusalem withall Wherefore the Roman Carpenters cast a trench to prepare and set up the Rams in such places as Titus had assigned them The Jews were aware of it well enough but winked at that matter as yet untill they had planted the master beams between the standing posts So when the work was finished even to the hanging up of the Engins betwixt the standing posts â—…o shake the wall withall the Romans being secure and void of care nothing mistrusting that the Jews would stir because they had been quiet a few nights and never issued forth of the City Upon a certain night a pretty while before day the three principall Captains of the Seditious came and cast their heads together to devise what they should do Eleazar gave this counsell and said You two the last time issued out and burnt three Rams and got you renown and I kept the gates the while now keep ye the gates and I will issue out with my men against the Romans to get me a name also The other answered Go then on Gods name unto them the Lord God of the Sanctuary which is in Jerusalem shall be present with thee but beware thou be not slain and in any wise thou be not taken alive to whom he answered The Lord God shall keep me for upon the trust of the righteousness of my father Ananias the high Priest and his sincere service unto God I will set upon them Eleazar therefore chose 100. valiant souldiers and with them he issued out of the Town before day The same night the Romans had made fires about their Engines where they watched because of the cold The Artificers and souldiers that kept the watch and ward about the Romans were in number a hundred and fifty The day was the 27. of the month of September which was the ninth month that Titus had besieged Jerusalem Eleazar and his company thus being issued out came and found some of the Romans snorting about the fires other watching in their wards and killed them all that not one remained Then some of Eleazars Company set fire upon the Rams burnt the standing posts ropes chains and other instruments of war the Artificers that were there they apprehended alive and burnt them so that no man escaped When it was day Titus observed the smoak of the fire mounting up very foul and stinking of the wood and men together he drew towards the place therefore with his Host to see what the matter was Eleazar in the mean season and his company took as they might get every man a piece of the Engins out of the fire or some of their heads that they had killed and returned with great joy flouting the Romans and laughing them to scorn by the way till they came to the gates of Jerusalem where they were received of Schimeon and Jehochanan with great honour Soon
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
in the flesh it is as it were a slave in most hard and grievous bondage under a hard Master Therefore when it departeth from the body it is glad because it must go to the Garden of Paradise Thus ye see that in this life the soul is compared to a bond servant and slave Much more than this did he discourse of the immortality and blessedness of the Soul before them which we have omitted here And making then a Digression from that he lamented and wept most bitterly for the case of the City of Jerusalem saying Where is now â—…e City of Jerusalem that great and populous City Where is that most beautiful City of Sion and that holy City which rejoyceth the whole Earth O thou worship of Israel the miâ—…h of our hearts whither is thy glory come Where is thy magnificence O Jerusalem Where be the hillâ—… of the daughter of Sion Where be her Kings and Princes Where be the Kingâ—… that were accustomed to come to enquire of her welfare in her gates Where are her Sages and Elders her young and most valiant men which were jocund and merry in her streets upon her Sabbaths and Festival dayes Where is her famous Sanctuary the Dwelling of the Almighty God Where is the House of Sanctum Sanctorum the habitation of holiness wherein no man might set his foot but the high Priest which he never but once a year entred into but in thee O Jerusalem thou wa'st once replenished with people and renowâ—…ed amongst Kings beloved of God in thee was established the seat of the Kingdom of Justice and Judgement whose Streets were paved with most precious Marble whose walls glistred and shineâ—… with the same Stone whose Gates were every one plated with Gold and Silver whose Walls were builded with great Sâ—…ones most honourablâ—… whose Priests in the midst of the Sanctuary like to Angels of God and Princes of Holinesse with Sacrifices and burnt-offerings made the Lord loving to thee and thy people How art thou now full of slain men and carcâ—…ses which have perished some by the sword some by famine and how are thy sons that dwelt in thee and the strangers also that resorted to thee to honour thy Feasts brought to ruine now in thee How art thou fallen from the height of thy pride and how art thou set afire and burnt even unto thy foundations and art left desolate and solitary What eye is so hard that can behold thee What heart so stony that can endure to see thee How art thou become a burying place of carcases and how are thy streets made void and destitute of living creatures and they which heretofore were replenished with living are now stuffed with dead How hath the ashes of the fire covered thee that the Sun cannot come at thee How do the ancient men which in times past did fit in midst of thee in the seat of wisdom judgement and justice now fit by the carcases of their children to drive away Crows and beasts from them having their hoary heads besprinkled with dust and ashes instead of their glory and those women thy daughters that are left they remain in the houses of them that made thee desolate not that they may live but be unhallowed and polluted Who shall see all these things in thee and shall desire to live rather than to die Who knowing the magnificence thou hadst of laâ—…e and now shall see thine ignominy and dishonour of the same will not chuse to die And would God we had been dead before that we might not have seen in thee this thy reproach O that we were without eyes that we mâ—…ght not be compelled to see these mischiefs that are in the midst of thee And behold we live a most sorrowful life for our enemies even now afore we be dead cast lots for ouâ—… sons and daughters to divide them amongst them to be their servants and handmaids When Eleazar had ended this lamentation he spake to the people that was with himâ—… thus Now therefore Brethren and friends take compâ—…ssion of your selves your wives and children with the old men which be with you Let them not be led into bondage without all mercy that they be not constrained to mourn under the hands of their enemies For if you do this ye lose without doubt all places that are prepared for you in the world of righteousnessâ—… neither shall ye have any part in the light of liâ—…e Yâ—…a rather with your own hands kill tâ—…m For if â—…e will do so they shall be counted as sacrifiâ—…s most acceptable unto God And that done we will after issue out upon our enemies and fight against them till we die valiantly for the glory of the Lord. For we will never suffer them to bind us with bonds and chains as bondslaves in the hands of the uncircumcised Neither will we see our ancient men to be haled by the beards before our eyes most miserably nor yet our maids wives and daughters to be prophaned unhallowed and defloured nor our sons crying to us and we cannot help them Forwhat shall our life avail us after that our land is desolate our Sanctuary razed the Romans will ravish our wives and daughters before our eyes and oppress our sons with a most grievous and hard yoke Now therefore it is better for us all to kill our wives and children whose blood God shall accept thankfully as the blood of burnt offerings and after we will issue out upon the Romans fight till we be all destroyed and die for the glory of the Lord our God These men therefore went and gathered together their wives and daughters embraced them and kissed them saying Is it not better for you to die in your holy Country honourably than to be led away into bondage with great ignominy and shame into the Land of your enemies and be compelled to die before the Idols of the Gentiles These sayings when the people had heard they broke forth that night in to great sorrow and pensivenesse weeping and making great lamentation but they all confest with one accord that they had rather die than live Therefore as soon as it was day Eleazars companions killed their wives and children and cast their bodies into cesterns and wells that were in Mezirah covering and stopping them with earth Afterward issued Eâ—…eazar the Priest forth of the Town with all his men and forced a battel upon the Romans of whom the Jews killed a great nâ—…mber and fought so long till they all died mâ—…nfully for the Lord God But Titus left a remnant of Israel in the City Jafnah and the villages thereabout and in the City Bitter and Aâ—…ssa and their villages in which place Rabby Jochanan son of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the Priest younger bâ—…other to Jâ—…seph the Priest was put in authority by Titus for Josephs sake over all the Jews which were at Jerusalem At the same time was 〈◊〉 a Prince of Israel put to death and Ischmael son of Elischa â—…he high
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.
hearing he brought his whole Army thither against the Seditious and killed many of them the rest fled to Mount Sinai The next day the Romans set fire on the Sanctum Sanctorum laying Wood to the doors that were covered over with gold and then firing it so after the gold waxed hot and the timber burnt the Sanctum Sanctorum was open that all men might see it in the ninth day of the filth month which was the very same day that it was open also in the time of the Chaldees The Romans therefore rushing into the Sanctum Sanctorum gave a great shout while it burnt which when Titus heard he hastened to quench the fire and save the Sanctum Sanctorum but he could not do it because it was set on fire in so many places thereupon Titus cried unto them that they should forbear but they would not hear him For as a vehement floud of Waters breaketh through all things and drives them down before it with such a furious violence the Gentiles rushed upon the Lords Temple the fire flaming every where out of meaâ—…ure When Titus saw he could not restrain them from the Sanctum Sanctorum with words he drew out his Sword blaming the Captains of his own people and others that were not Romans he killed and he cried out so long and so loud upon them that he was grown hoarse The Priests that were within the Sanctum Sanctorum withstood the Romans stoutly till they were able no longer to lift up their hands Wherefore when they saw there was no other safeguard left they leaped into the fire and divers other Jews with them and so burnt all together saying What should we live any longer now there is no Temple Yet Titus ceased not to strike the people and chase them from the Temple and being grown so weary that all his strength fail'd him he fell upon the ground and forbore crying upon them any further After that the Sanctum Sanctorum was burnt Titus arose and entring thereinâ—…o he saw the glory and magnificence thereof and believed it was the house of the Lord for as yet the fire had not consumed all therefore he said Now I well perceive that this is no other then the House of God and the dwelling of the King of Heaven neither was it for nought that the Jews stood so earnestly in defence thereof nor did the Gentiles also without good cause send gold and silver to this Temple from the farthest parts of the World for great is the glory of it and it surpasseth all the Roman and Temples of the Gentiles that ever I saw The God of Heaven who is the God of this House take vengeance of the Seditious whose mischievâ—…us and hainous deeds have brought this evil upon them CHAP. IV. THe Seditious that yet remained at Jerusalem seeing the Sanctum Sanctorum to be burnt they set the rest of the Temple a fire themselves with all the houses that were filled with treasure and all sorts of precious jewels and where they knew there remained yet some victuals they set it also on fire lest the Romans should receive benefit thereby After this the Romans quenched the fire and set up their Idols and images in the Temple offering burnt offerings unto them and blaspheming mocking and railing at the Jews and their laws in presence of their Idols About that time arose one who 〈◊〉 a lye unto the Seditious that remained yet in Jerusalem exhorting them to play the men and oppose their enemies for now saith he shall the Temple be built by it self without humane hands that God may declare his power unâ—…o the Romans who now glory in themâ—…elves to have overcome the Jews therefore if you fight stoutly this day the Temple shall erect it self hereupon the Seditious set furiously upon the Romans and slue many of them which made the Romans who had favoured them formerly to kill them like sheep These things hapned because they gave credit to a false Prophet and marked not the signs that appeared formerly For the year next before the coming of Vespasian there was seen a star on the Temple so bright as if a man had so many drawn swords in his hands And the same time this Star appeared which was at the solemn passover that whole night the Temple was light and clear as mid-day and continued so seaven nights together Understanding men knew well enough that this was an ill augury though others thought it good The same time also they brought a heifer for a sacrifice which when she was knocked down she calved a Lamb. Besides there was a certain gate called the East gate that was never opened nor shut but twenty men had enough to do about it and the creaking of the hinges might be heard a far off This gate was found open without any mans help and they could not shut it till a great number joyned their strength Moreover there was discerned on the Sanctum Sanctorum a whole night long the face of a man wonderfull terrible There appeared also the same time four Chariots with horsemen and great blasts in the skie coming towards Jerusalem In the feast of the weeks the Priest likewise heard a man walking in the Temple and saying with a great and wonderfull terrible voice Come let us go away out of this Temple let us hence away But especially there was one surpassed all these a certain man in the City of a base degree called Joshua began to cry upon the feast of Tabernacles in this wise A voice from the East a voice from the West a voice from the four winds of the Heavens a voice against Jerusalem a voice against the Temple a voice against the bridegroom a voice against the bride and a voice against the whole people Thus he cried very oft so that they of Jerusalem hated him and said unto him Why criest thou alwaies this cry But the Governour of the City for bad them to wrong him supposing he was mad Therefore for four years space he never left crying out Wo to Jerusalem and to the Sanctuary thereof When the wars had begun and the Town was besieged it fortuned as he wandred upon the walls he added this aâ—…so unto his cry Woe unto my self and with that a stone came out of an Engin from the Camp that dashed out his brains At that time also there was a Writing found graven in an old stone What time the building of the Temple shall be brought to a four square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochia was taken and razed by the Romans and the Walls of the Temple were all bruised the Jews making speed to repair the ruines and dilapidations without remembrance of the old Writing they made the Temple four square Besides these words were found in the Walls of the Sanctum Sanctorum When the whole building of the Temple shall be four square then shall a King reign over Israel and that King and Ruler shall reign over all the Land
of Israel Some interpreâ—…ed this of the King of Israel but the Priests said It is the King of the Romans The whole Roman Army being now come into the Temple and the Jews fled to Moâ—…nt Sion the Romans set up their â—…dols in the Lords Temple and railed at the Jews It happened that there came down to the Romans a little boy of the Priests from Mount Sion to a Captain of the Wall Keeper of the Temple desiring him to give him some water he taking pity on the boy gave him some the boy taking the vessel the water was in first drank himself then ran away with the rest the Captain made shew to run after him but let him go of puâ—…pose Once when the Romans were at their sacrifice with Titus some Priests came and besought him that he would not kill them he answered Why do you wish to live now and not rather dye with your brethren who have suffered death for Gods sake and for the sake of this House whereupon he commanded they should be all slain After Schimeon and Jehochanan sent to Titus for peace he answered This thing ye seek too late but how cometh it to pass that you beg your lives now being so few and that ye have wasted all things so desperately ye desire life and yet persevere in your malice still holding your swords in your hands have we not now taken your City Temple and the Sanctum Sanctorum What is there left for you to put hope in Therefore cast away your swords and lay down your armour and then if you come to me I know what I hâ—…ve to do peradventure I shall be gracious unto you Schimeon and Jehochanan answered We have sworn by the Lord our God who is God of Heaven and Earth thâ—…t we will never bear thy yoak nor serve thee or make any peace to be subject to thee therefore if it be thy pleasure to shew us mercy we will take our journey into the wilderness in granting this we will report to have found favour if not we will remain in this place to see what manner of death we shall dye Titus hearing this was much incensed and said remains the pride of your hearts and the hardness of your neck still with you though ye be Captives dare ye yet be so bold as to say ye have sworn not to endure our yoak Then Titus gave commandment to the Romans not to omit any opportunity to set upon the Seditious and by one means or other to destroy Schimeon and Jehochanan There was at that time a certain man of the Royall Blood whose name was Serach he accompanied with all his brethren and Sons that were there with him of the Kings blood came down from the Moâ—…nt Sion â—…o Titus who received them honorably and gently ordered them When Jehochanan and Schimeon understood that Serach and the reâ—…t were gone and had yielded themselves to Titus they went and set fire upon all â—…at was in the Kings Pallace that the Romans should have no â—…modity thereby From thence they went to the Temple where they found certain Commanders and Captains whom Titus had put in authority about the Temple of whom thâ—…ee were chief one Captain of the hoâ—…semen tâ—…e second of the Chariots and the third of the footmâ—…n him they killed and took hâ—…s companion alive One of them besought thâ—…m that had taken him that he might be bâ—…ought to Schimeon their Captain Let him saith he do with me as he list and in this one thing let me finâ—… favour at your hands They agreed and brought him to Schimeon who commanded his servants as soon as he was come to slay him But while he that was appointed to this business made delay and killed him not by and by he whipt down off the hill escaped and came to Titus who commanded him out of his sight being wroth with him that he had not fought unto death rather then to be taken alive But with the Jews was he wonderfully displeased that they had so despighâ—…ully ordered his men wherefore he commanded to kill all the Jews as many as could be found in the â—…ets of the City whom he would have spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughout all his Camp for their safety Then died many of the Jews â—…o that every place was full of dead bodies The men of War of the Edomâ—…tes which were with Schimeon perceiving how the matter went sent Embassadors to Titus to desire pâ—…ace and to save their lives which when it came to Schimeons ear he went unto them and slew the chief of them and their Noblemen the rest of the people of the Edomites fled unto Titus From that time forth Titus commanded his men to use no more cruelty to the Jews Soon after fled Jehochanan and Sâ—…himeon and hid themselves in certain caves The rest of the chief men of the Jews that were with them seeing them now to be fled came down from the Mount to Titus and fell down upon their faces before him upon the ground whom Titus received gently As for the Seditious that were witâ—… Schimeon and Jehochanan they fought till they all died together Then came forth unto Titus one Joshua a Priest son of Schaftai the High Priest bringing with him two Candlesticks of gold which were in the Sanctuary and the Tables of gold with other vessels of silver and gold and also the holy vestures decked with gold and precious stones all those he gave to Titus who made him chief Priest over them that remained next unto Joseph the Priest for Titus gave Joseph authority as well over the Priests and Leviâ—…es as over the whole people oâ—… the Jews Then was Gorion the Father of Joseph that writ this History brought out of prison with his wife and children among whom was one Bonian Josephs younger brother he was a very wise and godly Priest by whom God bestowed many benefits upon â—…e Israelites for Titus left him at Jerusalem and took him not with him as he did Joseph Josephs father lived after the City was taken twenty moneths and died They took also one Phineas a Priest who was keeper of the treasure-house he bewrayed and detected to the Romans all the Treasures of the Priests and their Vestments He gave also unto Titus a most precious oil with sweet odours and perfumes and garments also of purple which the Kings of the second Temple had given Wherefore both this Phineas and Joshua whom we mentioned before transgressed the Covenant of the Lord and offended God in that they deâ—…ivered his Jewels to the enemies of his people which they ought not to have done but rather to have died for the glory of the Lord as the other Priests did which cast themselves into the fire Thus was the City of Jerusalem taken with all the precious things that were therein And Tiâ—…us went up to Mount Sion took it and razed the walls thereof Three dayes after Jehochanan sore vext with hunger left
overcome you and to have gotten the dominion over you But neither ye nor your Country did ever delight us greatly for our manners differ far from yours Behold the King of Madai when he had kept us for a moneth we harmed him not we are not wont to hurâ—… men as ye are that cannot be content with your own state but must desire other mens inheriâ—…ance Now therefore go and return to your own Country and so will we to ours without doing you any more hurt wherefore ye need not be afraid of us So the Alanites went home to their own Countries having slain of Mithridates people three hundred thousand men and never a one of their own was killed Titus hearing of this was desirous to go unto them to let them understand his valiantnesse but he could not compasse it bâ—…cause all his best men were spent in the Waâ—… at Jerusalem Wherefore he determined to retuâ—…n to Rome after he had taken Jerusalem where he abode as yet besides the Antochia There he had intelligence that divers of the Jews were gathered together with whom was Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest who during the siege fled unto a certain Hold called Mezira whereupon many of the Jews resorted to him Titus hearing this that many had joyned themselves to Eleazar feared lest after his departure Eleazarâ—… might from thence make an inrode and take Jerusalem and destroy the Romans which should be no smal damage to the Roman Empire Wherefore he made out against him and sent thither one Silcham a Noble man of Rome with a great host to besiege Mezira but he could not get it Wherefore he sent unto Titus for an Iron Ram to batter the Walls withal which after he had received it he beat down the walls of Mezira therewith The Jews seeing that raised a great Countermure within of Wood and Timber which the Romans set on fire and burnt After that they assaulted the Town from morning till night at what time the Romans leâ—… off supposing they were not able to prevail against Eleazars defence in the dark Eleazar in the mean season called an assembly of all the chief men of the Jews that were with him and said unto them in this wise Come hither ye seed of Abraham and Kingly Priesthood which have until this day ever prevailed against the enemies of God Let us hear your advice what is best to be done against this multitude that is come upon us at unawares Ye see that at this time chiefly it becometh us to follow the courage and valiantnesse of our forefathers wherewith they were in time past endued Consider moreover that every thing hath his end and there are some times in War when as men are wont to follow the pursuit sometimes to flee from the same whom they pursued and to humble themselve before them And it is no shame to be humbled and disgraced when as all things have their determinâ—…te end Albeit whoso is of an haughty courage he must so establish his heart that he quail not with fear then shall he be deemed a valiant man If ye therefore be of that courage that ye fear not death then will I call â—…ou valiant men and worthy Consider the fortitude of Abraham our father and the fact that he did for having but one only son whom Sarah bare unto him in her age he never staggered nor stayed at it to offer him up to the Lord God for a burnt-offering for he thought not that he should kill him but perswaded himself most certainly that he should promote him to the life and light of the Lord forasmuch as for â—…he love of God and at his commandment he should have killed him Weigh the thing that Josiah the just King did who setting at nought this wretched life and aspiring to everlasting felicity would not avoid the jeopardy of his life when as he might have done it For although Pharaoh Necho said He came not against him but against the King of the Chaldees yet would not Josiah hear him but rather proceeding against Pharaoh in arms was slain in the battel and went unto that great Light in the Garden of Paradise which is the lot and inheritance of the just We know that in this world no man receives the reward of his righteousnesse but it is laid up for him in the other world where he shall reap the fruit of his righteousnesse that he hath sown in this world Neither doth long life in this world profit a man to the attaining of everlasting blisse except he work righteousnesse and lead his soul forth of darknesse into light like as contrariwise shortnesse of life hindreth no man from everlasting happinesse if so be it his soul have no defect in those things that pertain to the world to come For Abel which was slain of his brother lived no long life yet when he had ended it he obtained everlasting rest but Cain that lived long in the world was a wanderer and a runagate in this earth and after this life went to perpetual misery Now therefore my Brethren if we also shall live any longer our life shall be a miserable life and our dayes dayes of vanity and travel yea our soul as long as it shall remain in this body it shall be tossed with great tribulation but if it once go forth then shall it rejoyce and never be afraid And all the dayes that it is in the body it never leaveth weeping and mourning for it is the Spirit of life which is hedged within the body by â—…inewes bones none otherwise then if it were bound with chains The spirit is also that which quickneth the flesh that is taken of the dust of the earth for flesh cannot quicken the spirit Besides this the spirit is that which observeth and marketh the flesh and searcheth the works thereof so long as it is in the body yea the flesh cannot see the spirit but the spirâ—…t seeth the flesh alwayes neither is there any member of the body hid from it The eyes also of the body cannot perceive what time the spirit resorteth to the flesh and departeth from the same for the spirit of man which is his soul is from heaven but the flesh is taken from the earth Wherefore the soul may â—…main without the body but not likewise 〈◊〉 body without the soul and when the spiriâ—… comes to the flesh it visiteth it as a neighbour is wont to go and see his neighbour and quickeneth it and when again it departeth from it the flesh dyeth and if the soul will follow the desires of the flesh then this is the death of the soul but if it give no ear unto the flesh then shall the soul come to the light of life and the flesh shall die Wherefore the soul is glad when it departeth out of the body like as one that hath been bound is well contented when he 〈◊〉 dismissed out of prison For all the while that the soul is kept closed