their iourneye towarde the Mountaines of the land of Madai where thei found horses namelye in the desert of Madai amongste the people of Araf they gate those horses leapt vpon theim and entred the lande of Madai The president or ruler of the countrey hearyng thereof fled vnto the highest hilles leauyng his wife and children behinde hym for haste he was fo afraied of the Alanits knowing their valiantnesse Sraight waye he sent to them imbassadours to make peace with them and he woulde let them haue vittails vpon this condicion that thei should not spoile his couÌ„trey They made aunswere if so be it he would kepe them and let them haue fode for the space of one monthe syll the corne in their owne countrey were ripe they would returne home agayne at the monethes ende For we desire not saie they thy golde or siluer being men seperated from al entercourse traffique with other people nor anye thinge els then fode we seke not This the ruler graunted theim and let them haue a certaine graine called Mill sodden with one kinde of fleshe or other The number of them was vil 155140. thousaÌ„d a hundreth fifty and fiue thousande a hundreth forty persons When the moneth was ended and the Alanites vnderstode the corn in theyr own couÌ„trey was ripe they departed out of the lande of Madai accordyng as they had sworne returned toward their owne countrey And as they were a geynge homeward Mithridates king of Ararat came against them to anoy them mindyng to driue theim from his coastes least they should waste his countrey Therefore while thei passed throughe his countrey going toward their own Mithridates made warre vpon theÌ„ but his men were beaten doun by the Alanites like as Camelles fall vppon the ground wheÌ„ a strong man treades theÌ„ downe Then one of the yong men of the Alanites in dispite put a rope about Mithridates necke and drew him after him vnto his great shame Mithridates gate out his sworde and cut a sunder the rope fled To whom the Alanites loking back said Go thy way get thee home and moue no more warre vpon vs hereafter for we were not minded to waiste thy Lande nor to kyll thy people For if we had euer intended it could we not haue done it longe agâ—e when as nothinge is betwixt vs you but the mountains of Ararat But we wer of this minde that we shold greatly offend to kil meÌ„ of our owne shape likenesse Se now how AlexaÌ„der which went about to subdue the hole earth to declare his power closed vs vp with in our land why bicause he was afraied we should come out vpon him But we laught him to scorne when hee did it If we had listed we could haue letted him from shutting vs in to make no peace with him but we forced not of his doinges For it is our custome to kepe vs within our countrey we seke none other land wheÌ„ as our own land is better then anye other It pleased vs well that he inclosed vs that the cruell wild beasts which are in the mouÌ„tains of Ararat could haue no passage to vs. The cause whi we came out now was nothing els then that we were greued with a great derth and we determined to be no lenger from home then tyll our owne fruites waxte ripe and then to returne as you se we do If we had bene minded to winne your lande had we not bene able vtterly to haue ouercome you and to haue gotten the dominion ouer you But nether ye nor your countrey did euer delite vs greatly for our maners differ farre froÌ„ yours Beholde the kinge of Madai when he had kepte vs for a moneth we did him no harme we are not wonte to hurt men as ye are that can not be content with your owne state but must encroche vpon other mennes inheritaunce Now therfore go and returne to your owne countrey and so wil we to ours without doing you any more harme wherfore ye nede not be afrayed of vs. So the Alamites went home to their own countreis hauing slain of Mithridates people .ccc. thousande men and neuer a one of their owne was killed Titus hearinge of this was desisâ—ous to go vnto theim to shewe theim his valeantnesse but he coulde not doe it because al his best men were spent in the warres at Hierusalem Wherefore he determined to return to Rome after he had take IerusaleÌ„ wher he abode as yet besides the Antochia There he had intelligeÌ„ce that diuers of the Iewes were gathered together with whoÌ„ was Eleasar the sonne of Anani the priest who during the siege fled vnto a certain castle called Mezira wherupon manye of the Iewes resorted to him Titus hearinge this that many had ioyned them selues to Eleasar feared least after his departure Eleasar woulde from thence make a rode take IerusaleÌ„ so kill vp al the Romains be an offence to the Romaine Empire Wherfore he made out against him sent thither one Silcham a noble manne of Rome with a great hoste to besiege Mezira but he coulde not get it Wherfore he sente vnto Titus for an yron ramme to batter the Walles wythall Whiche after he hadde receiued hee beat doune the walles of Mezira therwyth The Iewes seing that raysed a great counâ—ermure within of wodde and â—ymber whiche the Romaynes set fire in and buâ—nt After that they assaulted the towne from mornynge tyll nyght at what tyme the Râ—maynes left of supposynge they were not able to preuayle againste Eleasars defence in the darke ELeasar in the mean season called together all the chiefe men of the Iewes that were with him and said vnto theim in this wise Come hither ye sede of Abraham and kingly priesthode whiche haue vntill this daye euer preuailed against the enemies of God let vs heare your aduise what is best to be done agaynste this multitude that is comed vpon vs at vnwares ye see that at this time chieflye it becommeth vs to folow the courage and valeauntnes of our forefathers wherwith thei were in time past indued CoÌ„sider moreouer the euery thing hath his end and that there are sometimes in wars wheÌ„ as meÌ„ are wonte to folowe the pursute somtime to flee from the same whoÌ„ thei pursued to huÌ„ble them selues before theÌ„ And It is no shame to be humbled and disgraced vvhen as all thinges haue their determinate ende Albeit who so is of a haute courage he must so establishe his heart that he quaile not with fear then shal he be demed a valiaunt man If ye therfore be of that courage that ye feare not death then will I call you valiaunt menne and worthely Consider the fortitude of Abraham our father and the fact that he did for hauing but one onelye sonne whom Sara bare vnto him in her age he neuer staggerd nor staied at it to offer him vp to the lord God for a burnte offerynge For hes thought not that he shoulde kyll hym but
Ierusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to mete encouÌ„ter within the field suffered him selfe to be closed vp in the Citye The Kinge of the Grecians therfore raysed great Towers against the citye aparte from the wall digged a trench cast vp a mount TheÌ„ planted their engins named Rams against the gates so that the citie was hard besieged for they beat downâ—one of the turrets the stode vpon the wall wherat all Israel was afraied agreed togither to issue out skirmishe with theÌ„ whatsoeuer should come theron life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet thei so did and slewe many of their enemies put theim also to flighte that thei were coÌ„strayned to encampe them selues furder of from Ierusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Grekes had builded and raced theÌ„ to the grounde Thus they issued oute daiely skirmishynge with Pius vntill the feast of the tabernacles Then sent kyng Hircanus to Pius desierynge him that he would graunt them truice and let them be in peace while the feast lasted His request Pius graunted sent a fatte Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel coueryng his hornes with beaten golde and dressynge hym with fillets of Cristall other precious stones Clad him also in a garment of purple and diuers other precious clothes He sent moreouer plate bothe of siluer and golde full of diuers kinde of spices all to be offered vnto the Lorde When king Hircanus sawe this he went out vnto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chiefe men of warre a great feast and offred him a present of .ccc. pounde weight of golde After that he went to war with Pius in his armye to aide him againste the king of Persia that rebelled against him But sone after he was come with in the laÌ„d of Persia that time of Pentecost was at hande Wherfore kyng Hircanus and the hoste of Israel retourned but Pius and his armye of the Grecians proceaded Whom the king of the Persians met in the fielde slewe Pius hym selfe and vainquished the residue that almost none remained Whereof when tidynges came to Hircanus he was verye glad and returned to Hierusalem with peace and ioye After this Hircanus made manye great battails with the nacions aboute him and had euer the victorye He also came to the mount of Gorizim where he wanne a forte of the Sectaries and Samaritans raced downe the temple that the Sectaries hadde there as their house of Sanctuarye whiche they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Grekes He that builded it was Manasse the priest brother to Schimeon the iust But Hircanus the hye priest pulled it downe .cc. yere after it was builded From thence he went to the citye of Samaria and besieged it This was the mother citye of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to suche distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were faine to eate the carcases of dogges The feast of Propiciation then beinge at hande Hircanus made spede to Ierusalem to execute his office in that feaste for he was the hye priest appointing for generalles of his army Aristobulus his eldest sonne and his second son Antigonus In the mean season they within the towne writ to the kinge of Grece to come to succoure theÌ„ which he did with a great power But these .ii. yong men the kings sons went to meete them with the strength of the Israelites and gaue them the ouerthrow killing them vp almost euery one to the noÌ„ber of .xxi. M. fightyng meÌ„ the rest fled That done the yong men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coÌ„ming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceiued they shoulde haue the GreciaÌ„s of th one side of them the Samaritans Sectaries of thother But he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chauÌ„ced the .ix. day of Tisre Septembre His hart therfore was careful for his sons for Israel Notwithstanding he proceded in his office according as the feast required So as he entred into the house of SanctuÌ„ sactoruÌ„ or the most holiest to offer inceÌ„ce to cal for mercy for his childreÌ„ for the army he heard a voice speaking vnto him Neuer trouble thy minde with thy childreÌ„ with the host of Israel for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard theÌ„ according to the greatnes of his goodnes for thi fathers sakes Let thy heart therfore be right thy haÌ„d pure So the king going out of the saÌ„ctuary declared if to the people WherupoÌ„ the next day they seÌ„t post to Samaria had word again that this was true Wherfore king Hircanus was manified greatly of all Israel for thei knewe that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiryng him with the holy gost and increasyng his kingdome priesthode After this he tooke his iourney to Samaria besieged it a whole yere and at length wan it slewe all also that bare life within it He raced the walles the palaice and burnt vp the citye He had warres also with the Romains and the Arabians and God prospered all that euer he toke in hande So shortly after God gaue him rest and quietnes from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldlye in peace tranquilitie al his time On a tyme the kinge made a feaste to all the sages of Israel that they might make good cheare with hym And being merily disposed he said I am your scholar and what so euer I do that do I bi your aucthoritie Wherfore I pray you if you see any faulte in me or if I do not as it becometh me tell me of it that I maye reforme mine euill waye Then euery man greatly extolled and commended hym saiynge Who is like vnto thee our Lorde kyng so worthye of the kingdome and priesthode so notable in good workes whose woorkes be done for the God of heauen which hast also done so much good to Israel The king was very well pleased with their aunswere and reioysed greatlye Yet was there one amongest them an vndiscrete manne called Eleaser who spake vnaduisedlye to the king And it please your maiestie it were sufficient for you to haue the crown of the kingdome ye might leaue of the crowne of â—he priesthode to the sede of Aaron forasmuch as your mother was captiue in the mount Modiit Incontinente the king was moued and soore displeased against the Sages whiche certaine of his seruauntes that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of sectes perceiuyng one of them inâ—ourmed the king that what so euer that vndiscrete person had spoken it was not without the aduise of the Sages Whereupon the king demaunded of the Sages What law shal that man haue that in the dispiâ—e of the kinge speaketh thinges in his reproche They made answere he is worthy to be whipt Then
been for the wickednes that her doughter had coÌ„mitted thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eies if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue oportunitie to poison him Marimi thus going to execution helde her peace and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innoceÌ„t in dede and thought and therfore God would reÌ„der her a good rewarde in the world to come Wherfore she bared her necke without feare and thei cut of her head sheding the innocent bloud But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestileÌ„ce in the house of Herode so that his chief seruauntes his noble women and concubines died sore therof Yea throughout all Iudea reigned the pestilence vehemently whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto theÌ„ for the bloude of Marimi They cried therefore vnto the lorde saiyng Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion The lorde toke pitie therfore vpâ—â— the lande and withore we the plague from the people The king repeÌ„ted him also that he had shed bloud without cause and loue so grew in his harte that he was sicke and at deathes dore Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge he commaunded to apprehende her and to kil her In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees leauing none aliue that were called by the name He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wyfe They were both at Rome when their mother suffered for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain toÌ„gue When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death they wepte and mourned for her hating their father for his rcueltie Sone after the king their father recouered of his sickenes was established in his kingdome builded stronge cities and rose to great prosperitie In the. â—iii yeare of his reigne there fell a great dearth in the lande wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer and precious stoones wherwith he sent into Egipt and procured plentie of corne and refresâ—hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of huÌ„ger yea he spared not his owne propre goodes And not onely to the Israelites shewed he this liberality but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations hearing of his renoume Moreouer in all his warres he had good fortune Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary wherupon he deliberated with the Israelites to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it For the Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch Cirus began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed theÌ„ not as it was afore The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pul down the teÌ„ple to the grouÌ„d and buylde it a freshe they made hym none aunswere fearing left whan he had pulled it downe he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes saide he woulde not flack the matter nor reste till he hade brought it to passe He said moreouer that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer and geue it to grauing also precious stones stones of Thasies marble To the carpenters also and masons he would deliuer timber stones gold siluer brasse iron to make all thinges necessary to the woorke Wherefore if he pulled downe the house he was able to builde it streight waies again So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubites in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites and in height a hundreth cubites all of white marble so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde and a hundreth aboue The breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites euery stone was of like bignesse The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin the thresholdes were of siluer the tops also He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold the lesser braunches slips or latest shutes of gold sumwhat red al aboue was yelow gold wherupon hong clusters of cristal The vine was so great that it weied a thousaÌ„d pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porche before the porche ii walles of siluer marueilous cuÌ„ningly wrought Behind the house toward the west he made a court of .c. l. cubites loÌ„g and a. C. in bredth whiche was paued with pure marble Toward the south north the length of the court was also Cl. cubites a. C. in breadth He erected in it also C. l. pillers of white marble in foure orders The length of one order was fortye cubites and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie and three cubites thicke The pillers were all of like measure as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure with al the pilloures thereof Toward the east the court conteined D. ccxx cubites euen to the broke Cedron No man euer se the like building in all the world In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height that they the walked therin might easily se the waters running in the broke Cedron by the space of a cubit Betwene the porch and the house also as though it were a vaile or perticion the king made a wal of siluer of halfe a handful thicke In the which was a dore of beaten golde and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii pound weight There were certain poses grauen in the sworde as this VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her let him die for it So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful nether was there euer hard of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building When the worke was finished the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bullâ—ckes and verye many shepe accordinge to his Princelye estate So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great â—oy and gladnesse There was one certain day in the yeare when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court to al his nobles sages in Israel Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes whiche made bothe him
the .iii. time ye haue approched the wals this is the .iii. time ye haue ben slain for your labours And al this coÌ„meth bicause ye wil not be ruled by me but transgresse your generall lords coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t But now mi brethreÌ„ take hede what ye do herafter it becometh you not to rebel agaiÌ„st mi words which yet ye haue done ofteÌ„times Do ye not remeÌ„bre a certain nâ—ble man of our couÌ„try in the wars of Augustus Caesar against the Persians how he put his own son to death bicause the contrary to his fathers commaundemeÌ„t who was grand captain of the army vnder Augustus he had fough with his enemies yea although he kild iii. PersiaÌ„s But what speke I of once ye haue oftentimes set life by my coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts skirmishing dayly with the Iewes that without al discretioÌ„ rashly out of order wherthrough your coÌ„flicts can haue no good successe If you coÌ„tinue these maners it shall redownde vnto your owne dishonours Wherefore it were better for you to leue of this and lay away your pryde contumaâ—ye and stubburunesse whiche if ye dooe thinges shall be in better sauegarde Muche more spake Titus to his men rebuking them sharpely not mencioned here but declared at large in the volume that wee writ vnto the Romains When he had said his princes and captains fel euery one prostrate to the earth besought him of pardon for their rashnes in that they had so vnaduisedlye and without order against his mind encofitred with the Iewes Then Titus taking pitie of theÌ„ pardoned them requesting theÌ„ to be ware herafter that they coÌ„mitted nothing agaiÌ„st his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t nother in word nor dede so doing theâ— shold haue his fauour auoid his displesure dauÌ„ger of deth for the coÌ„trary But if thei refused to do it whatsoeuer he wer the shold traÌ„sgres his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t he wold not spare him but put him to death geue his body to be eateÌ„ of the fouls of thayre They aunswered all with one voyce We are content with these condicioÌ„s and wil do what so euer thou shalt coÌ„maunde vs. After this Titus considering howe earnestly the Ierosolimites were set one againste an other howe they were become such cruel and morâ—al enemies that eche of them conspired others death he caused the pittes cesterns and trenches that were about Ierusalem to be damde vp and stopte with earthe that the waies mighte be leuilled for his army That don he enâ—aÌ„pt him self nearer the wals Against whiche attempte the Iewes issued not out of the town after their accustomed manner to put them backe from the walles For Schimeon was otherwise occupied he had enterteined ten thousande men of the best of the seditious Iewes and ioyned him selfe to Iacob the Edomite captaine of .ix. thousande Edomites with whome he had made a conspiracy vtterly to destroye captaine Iehochanan And settinge vppon him they coÌ„pelled him to flie into the courte of the temple where he remained in the gate of thentrance of the temple with eight thousand and .iiii. hundreth good men of war al wel appointed in â—acks Eleasar also was against him and ioyned with Schimeon becomming an enemy to him that before had saued his life and so they both together aâ—â—ailed Iehochanan neglectinge the defence of the towne By this meanes the Romaines encamped them selues aboute the walles at their pleasure raisings toures and castinge trenches to plante their iron Rammes vpon to batter the wals The coÌ„mon people of the Iewes that were vnder the rule and gouernment of the three seditious captaines namelye Schimeon Eleasar and Iehochanan which although they were ill inough al yet the tiranny of Iehochanan far passed Schimeon Schimeon was far worsse then Eleasar thoughe Eleasar was the head author and firste beginner of sedicion in al Israel were amongst them as she pe redy to be killed For the forsaid sedicious captains slew the people at their pleasures and deuided them into bandes casâ—yng lots vpon them who should haue which so that one had anothers men another man his And this did they not onelye with their owne men but also with al the rest of the people in suche wise that when the Romains made any assault then ioyned they together as one man to resist the Romayns wheÌ„ they had geuen them a repulse then wouldthey returne to their câ—uel warres fal together by the eares among them selfes Extreme and dreadfull was the ciuyll conflict at that season betwene the thre foresaid captains and so sore that the bloude streamed downe the chanel out of the gates of Hierusalem like as a broke that runneth out of a fountayne and well sprynge The Romeynes seinge it were moued with much pitie that they wept bitterly But Ioseph that was amongst theÌ„ was striken with so great heauinesse that he burst out into a sorowful lamentation liftyng vp his woful voyce in this wise ALas alas Ierusalem the citie of the great kinge howe shail I now call thee at this daye or what name shal I geue thee Sometyme thou wast called Iebus of Iebusaeus that builded thee first in all thys lande After that thy name was Zedek that is iustice wherupon thy kinge Iehoram was called Malkizedek for hee was a ryghteous kyng and because he raygned in thee wyth sustice therefore was thy name Zedek Then ryghtuousnesse hadde his abidyng in thee and thy bright starre that shined in thee was Zedek Moreouer in his time was thou called Schalem as the Scripture witnesseth and Malki zedek king of Schalem and that because the iniquitie of the people that dwelte in thee was then fulfilled For at that tyme chose Abraham oure father of worthye memorye to worship god in thee and to take thee to his enheritaunce to plant in thee the rote of good woorkes Whereupon the tabernacle of God remayneth in thee to thys daye as it was reuealed vnto the same our father Abraham In the say His the sanctuarye of the Lorde For in that place did Abraham binde his onlye Sonne vpon the toppe of one of thy hilles that is called mount Moriah holy and halowed and therfore art thou called Ierusalem because oure father Abraham of famous memory called the place of thy sanctuary Adonai ijreeh the Lorde shall see Then thy late name beinge Schelem this ioyned to it made it Ijreshalem For the Lord God shall behold the place of thy sanctuarye at what time as it shal be Schalem that is pure vncorrupte without lacke or spot but wheÌ„ so euer it is polluted and defiled as it is at this daye then wil he turne awaye his face from it Furthermore thou arte also called Ierushalaim therfore because that who so vnderstande the dignity and worthinesse of the place wherin thy sanctuary is shall bid the angelles of heauen to teache in it the doctrine of the holye ghoste and the spirite of wisdome and vnderstanding wherwith litle childreÌ„ and the vnlearned in thy lande may be made wise He also that ministred in thy
said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thée therfore they would not awarde him to die Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to answer So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse The next day at the commaundement of the king proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil shuld suffer death This was Ihon the hie priest whiche had the priesthode xl yeares and in th end became a Saducie Notwithstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages The king him selfe and all his seruantes folowed the traditions of the Saducies making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to deathe as many as he coulde get knowledge of By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere and then he died After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus for he had .iii. sonnes Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence He went therfore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthode but set light by it wherfore he wold not execute the office therof but toke the kingdome vppon him and set the crowne vppon his heade and was called the great king Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother and wold not suffer them to dwell in Ierusalem But he loued his brother Antigonus and made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in hād and returned safe to Ierusalem Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king which at that time was greuously sicke and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God his goodnesse and mercye towardes him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the warres inquyred ▪ of thy health when it was told him thou wast sicke he saide I will go to him to day rid him out of the world When the kinge heard this he was wrothe towarde the sages commaunded his brother to be apprehēded and caried to the palaice of Starton there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed he cried mainly out and wepte smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande that he sowned and muche blud issued out of his mouth He reigned ouer Israel .ii. yere After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called king Ianai being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him and made king of Israel He was a mighty man and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies preuailing against thē He had warres with the Philistines namelye Azam and Ascalon whom he put to the worsse and ouercame them This man refused not the priesthode but was his priest It chaunced on a time when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare crying geue me my sword Then the Sages kneled down before him and sware they did it not of anye contempt but rather say thei that we thus sporting before the Lord would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again saiynge Althoughe ye play and reioyie yet it is not the maner of the country to vse any such dispitful custome with the king The cōtencion waxed hot amongste them til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit wherby her seede was steined The king was sore moued at that in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine Therefore wher so euer they founde them in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusalem they killed them forthwith Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatiō some fel vpon the sworde some fled awaye and some taried at home with dishonor and shame After these matters the king made an expedicion into Arabia entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes against Hartam kinge of Arabia and subdued his lande After that he warred vpon Medaba and the hole lande of Moab vanquishing them and bringing them vnder tribute and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem When he had after this wel bethought him of his doings it repēted him of his euil waies wherfore he altered his minde and began to make much of the Sages submitted him to their ordinaunce and estemed their tradicions There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called * These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before Phariseis of whom such as had escaped the kinge sente to call them home again and when they wer come into his presence he spake vnto them comfortable wordes saying My brethern ye shal vnderstand that that is once done and past must nedes be termed as it is and can not be reuoked And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed Notwithstanding I confesse my faulte vnto you and haue chaunged my indignation to loue praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes reioysyng in your reconciliation and atonement with me be of good cheare But they made him answere We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie for thou speakest but disceitfully we speake that is truthe Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and elders neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie but also Hircanus thy father who began such mischiefe thou hast holden on and cōtinued it Wherfore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge tyll thou dye and God take vengeaunce vpon thee for our sakes then shal wee reioice when we see vengeaunce So they departed from his presence neither did the kinge
euer geue them any answere But when thei perceiued the kinge to be incensed against them and by that meanes the matter mighte redounde to their owne harme after consultation had they went to the king of Grece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his soÌ„ne had done vnto the Phariseis and all the Israelites that bare them good will and folowed their traditions and how thei also hated Alexander for the mischiefe that hee hathe wrought them So that if any manne would come and reueng the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aide him Demetrius folowed their aduise and assembling together all his people to the number of .xl. thousand horsemeÌ„ and fotemen without number He toke his iourney and encamped against Sichem Then kinge Alexander waged .vi. thousand horsemen to aid him But the king of the Grecians writ priuilye to the auncientes of the Sectaries that they shold not aide Alexander To the mercinary souldiours also that Alexander had hired he sent rewardes golde and siluer that they returned home to their couÌ„trey aided not Alexander Wherupon he was not able to withstande Demetrius Therfore hearing that Demetrius was remoued froÌ„ Sichem toward IerusaleÌ„ entending to take him in the citie he fled by nighte with a fewe of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the menne of Israel that were in Iudea heard the king was fled out of Hierusalem and that the citye was in hasarde to come into the haÌ„des of the Grecians they gathered them selues together stode for their liues as thoughe all had bene one man to the number of .x. thousand and set vpoÌ„ Demetrius Campe killed all his beste men of warre and spoyled his whole host that he fled from them returned home into his couÌ„trey with shame dishonour This done the king toke hart vnto him returned to his kingdom but the Pharises fled to Betshemes streÌ„gthning theÌ„ selues against the king Who hauing intelligeÌ„ce therof gathered an army went against theÌ„ wan the city and toke viii.c of the chiefest Pharisies bound theÌ„ in chains brought them to IerusaleÌ„ Then baÌ„queted he al his seruants vpon the roufe of his palaice in a very hie place where the chiefe learned men eat dranke vntil he and thei were dronke And in his merye mode he commaunded those viii.c Pharisies prisoners to be brought forth to be haÌ„ged euery man of theÌ„ vppon gallowes before him at which sight he dronke laughed hartely After this he fel sick the xxiiii yere of his raigne of a greuous disease a quartan ague that held him thre yere yet for all this he shronke not nor letted to go to the war to encounter fight with his enemies what nation so euer they were of round about him as though he had ben a hole man In the xxvii yere of his raign which was the third of his sicknes he made an expeditioÌ„ into the land of Moab against a certain city called Ragaba to get it bi force At which time he was very sicke and weake wherfore his wife Alexandra the Quene wente with him fearinge least he shuld die by the waye And as be encamped him self against the city and vrged it sore with assaultes his sicknesse increased vpon him more and more Wherfore his wife perceiuinge that he was like to die wept bitterly before him said To whoÌ„ shal I be so bold as to shew my face wheÌ„ thou art once dead seing thou haste wroughte such mischief vpon the pharisies whoÌ„ all the lande fauoureth and foloweth their traditions obeiyng their institucions If they shal be disposed to wreke them selues vppon me and thy yonge children they shal haue aid of all that dwel in the laÌ„d The king answered Wepe not nor shew any reseÌ„blance of peÌ„sifnes I wil tel the what thou shalt do if thou wilt folow my counsell thou shalt prosper and raigne thou and thy children as thou woldest desire Be it that I die there is no man in the world nede know therof Tel thou euery maÌ„ therfore that aske for me that I am sick wil not that ani maÌ„ shal come at me In the meane while anointe season me with balmes fight with a courage against this city til thou win it then return to Ierusalem with ioy and beware thou put on no mourninge apparail nor weepe but bringe me into Ierusalem and laye me vpon a bedde like a sicke man and after call together the chiefe of the Phariseis bryng them where I am and speake vnto them gentilly in this sort Alexander hath bene euer your enemy I knowe it very wel wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogges or bury him it shal be at your choise I knowe wel they are pitifull men and so ful of merci that they wil bury me honorably and shall apointe some one of my sonnes whoÌ„ they like best to be king The Quene did therfore as she was instructed of the king Whan she had won Ragaba she ioyfully returned to Ierusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisies and spake to them as the king had aduised her The Pharisies hearing the king was deade and that his bodye was in their handes to do withal what they liste they answered the Quene God forbid we shoulde do this vnto our Lorde the annointed of God He was the king and hie prieste what though he were a sinner yet his deathe shal be an expiation for him of al his iniquities Therfore we wil bewaile him and mourne for him yea we wil cary his coffen our selues vpon our neckes and burye him as it becommeth a kinges magnificence and so they did The time that he reigned was .xxvii. yeares After him reigned his wife Alexandra in his stede for the Pharisies after they had finished the .vii. daies of the mourning they comitted the kingdoÌ„ vnto her She had .ii. sons by the king the elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a iust man righteous but Aristobulus was the warrioure man of prowes besides that of a familier louing countenance He fauored also the learned men folowed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loued the Pharisies On a time therfore when the Quene sate in the throne of her kingdom she called the auncients of the Pharisies before her honoured them commaunded to release set at liberty al such Pharisies as the king her husband her father in lawe had cast in prison and taking the pharisies by the handes she commaunded all Israel to obey their ordinaunces TheÌ„ made Hircanus her sonne hie prieste and Aristobulus lieueteuaunte of the warres She sent also to al the landes that her husbande and father in lawe had subdued and demaunded the nâ—ble mennes sonnes for pledges which she kept in IerusaleÌ„ So the lord gaue vnto the Quene quietnesse froÌ„ al that were vnder her subiection She gaue also the Pharisies
authority ouer the learned sort puttinge them into their handes to ordre at their pleasure Wherupon straight way they founde one Dogrus a greate man amongst the learned sort whom they stewe much people besides of the auncients of that sect so that the Sectaries were in great distresse Thei gathered them selues together therfore and came to Aristobulus the lieutenaunt of the warres and with him they came to the Quene saiyng vnto her Thou knowest the enmitie that is betwene vs and the Pharisies which hate thy busband and father in lawe yea and thy children also We were his men of warre that went with him in all his affaires and ayded him now thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the Lande What will Hartam kinge of Arabia dooe when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He wâ—â— come and reuenge him of all the battaile that thy husband fought agaynst him Yea the Pharisies will take his parte and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes that there shall not be left vnto Hircanus the kynge and his sonne Alexander thy husbande anye name or remnant at all The Quene gaue them no word to answer wherat Aristobulus was angrye and letted not to vtter it to his mothers face but she would not heare him Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart oute of Ierusalem to chuse them cities in the laÌ„d of Iuda where they mighte dwel with their honor not to suffre them selues to be slain vnder the Pharisies hands Wherfore departing from Ierusalem they dwelte in the cities of Iuda Not longe after this it fortuned the Quene fel sore sicke that she was like to die Wherof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisies wold make his brother Hircanus kinge and at length apprehende him wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies to be their heade and make war vpon his brother if he would presume to reigne He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a stronge armye of the Saducies his mother the Quene sent vnto him that he shoulde returne vnto her which he wolde not do but rather went to war vppon the nacions that dwelt about him where he wan .xx. cities and gate him great renowne therby Now as the Quene his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her with her sonne Hircanus weping before her and saiyng how they were afraid of her sonne Aristobulus who if he should come into Ierusalem take it he would deliuer them vp into the handes of the Saducies Vnto whome she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talke much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husbande and my fathered gathered and their pareÌ„ts kings of the posterity of Chasmonani take that vnto you and make my soÌ„ne Hircanus king ouer you If Aristobulus wil perturbe him and make warre againste him ye may wage menne of war therwith and succour him as you thinke good And euen with this she fainted and died and was buried amongst her people after she had reigned .ix. yeare ouer Israel The Pharisies therfore and priestes with all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Hircanus her sonne king in her stede Aristobulus hearinge tidinges of these thinges assembled his army and came toward Ierusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nye vnto Iordane Iericho The Saducies of Aristobulus hoste were good men of warre and to strong for the Pharises Wherfore Hircanus the Pharisies had the ouerthrow at Aristobulus and the Saduces handes who with this victorye proceded forth to Ierusalem besieged it brought it to great distres Wherfore the priestes and the aunciente of the people consulted together came forth to Aristobulus fel prostrate vpon th earth afore him and besought him that he wold not scatter abrode the inheritaunce of the Lorde He condiscended vnto their desires vpon these conditions that he should enter into Ierusalem with them and be kinge and his brother Hircanus shoulde be the hie priest Wherunto they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into IerusaleÌ„ his brother came out of the sanctuary to mete him and with embrasings he kissed him So Aristobulus was king Hircanus executed the office of the hie priest The Lord also gaue Israell rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sente an euil spirite amongst them which was the cause of translating the kingdoÌ„ from the stock of Chasmonani and of the destructioÌ„ of his posteritye For the sonne of Hircanus the great and the sonne of Alexander his sonne in that they shed so much innocent blud drue Israel froÌ„ thobedience of the Prophets vnto the lies trifles of the Saduces For thus it chauÌ„ced The Saduces bet into Aristobulus heade that as long as his brother Hircanus liued he nor his kingdome could neuer be stablished Wherupon Aristobulus deuised how to make awai Hircanus Which thing a certain maÌ„ called Antipater was aware of a maÌ„ of most power in al Israel therto also a wise expert learned man in all wisdome both in the lawes in the knowledge of the Greke iust of his word prudent if ani strauÌ„ge or new matters chauÌ„ced His ofspringe was not out of the children of Israell but of those Romaines which chauÌ„ced to be vainquished became subiect vnder the dominion of the Israelits being but strauÌ„gers of no noble house in Israel Phaselus He had iiii soÌ„nes Ioseph his eldest the nexte Pasilus the third Herode the .iiii. Pheroras These had also a sister called Salumith Antipater fauoured Hircanus so intirely for his iustice vprightnes sake that he opened vnto him him his brother Aristobulus the Saducies intent geuing him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Arabia but Antipater him self went before to breake the matter to HartaÌ„ of whose comminge Hartam was very glad Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus kinge of Hierusalem was in minde to flee vnto him because of Aristobulus his brother If thou wilt helpe him saith he and let him haue speedy aide thou shalte easilye set Aristobulus besides the kingdome for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus and fauoure not Aristobulus Hartam answered I am afraied of the Iewes and their wilines Alexander his father put mee thrise to the foile in battail by his subtiltie and toke my dominioÌ„s from me TheÌ„ Antipater sware vnto him He shal be saith he thy true trustye frend to do what soeuer thy hart desiereth Thus HartaÌ„ was perswaded they made a league together Then Antipater returnyng to Hierusalem caused Hircanus to flee in the night and they both went together to the king of Arabia who muche reioyced at Hircanus commynge and receiued him honourably When they came together to entreat of the league Hartam
heauye iron chaines and assauted Ierusalem batteringe the walles verye sore til they of the towne issued out against him slue of his host .xii. M. mē After this hadde the Israelites ciuill warres within Ierusalem because the siege was greuous vnto them for they were deuided into factions one parte said Let vs open the gates to Pompeius let him in that we mai submit our selues vnder his protection The other said Let vs fight against him vnto the death But much people misliked that so that that side preuailed that woulde yelde Wherfore Pompeius entred the town the house of the sāctuary killed much people of the priests the people of the lād made Hircanus king of Israel the .ii. time Antipater his coūseler Moreouer he set one Securus a Romain in the countrey to receiue the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him boūd in irons And because he toke his iorney toward Arabia Hircanus Antipater wēt with him to cōduct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner his .ii. sons with him it fortuned that one of thē called Alexāder escaped And hauing intelligēce that Hircanus and his counselour were gone out of Ierusalem he came thither rebelled againste Hircanus made vp the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted vnto him made him Kinge in Hircanus place Wherupon he gathered an armye and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homewarde from Pompeius where he gaue Hircanus the ouerthrow Securus the receiuer of the tribute escaped Then Alexander returned to Ierusalē frō whence shortly after Gabinius a Romain with a stronge armye compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius hys mother Aristobulus wyfe went forthe to Gabinius weping and besought him that he would not destroy her sōne for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabinius therefore hauynge gotten all the Lande of Iudea made Hircanus king of Ierusalem now the .iii. time who set Romain captaines and rulers in Iericho and in Zephori and through all the lande of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus gat out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on euerye syde resorted men in such fort that he had a puissāt host of Israel Wherof whē he had takē muster he chose out .viii. thousand of the best with thē went agaynst Gabinius wher was a sore battayle foughte betwene them tyll the beste of Aristobulus men wer slayn and only one thousand left wherwith he fled to the mountaynes But the Romayns folowed the chase and slew them euery man Yet Aristobulus would not yeld but fought alone although his helmet was broken til he had dyuers sore woundes in hys head and then fell he to the ground and the Romayns toke him yet aliue brought hym to Gabinius who comforted hym commaundinge hys surgeons to heale hym and after sent hym to the Consul and Senat of Rome wher he was put in prison yet once agayne After thys the Senate takinge pitie of Aristobulus wife whiche was reported to bee a verye wise woman released her two sonnes out of prison and set theim at libertie Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once againe against Hircanus and the Romaine gouernours For he gathered together muche people of Israell encountred wyth one of the Romayn gouernours that Gabinius had appointed and gaue him the ouerthrowe But proceadyng further to fight with Gabinius hadde the worsse and many of the Israelites were slaine yet hee escaped him selfe and fled This done Gabinius came to Hierusalem and renewed the kingdome of Israel to Hircanus the .iiii. tyme. About this tyme one of the Senators wiues at Rome conceiued a childe dyed in the byrthe and trauaile thereof They therfore that were about her straite waye ripte her body and gate the childe out alyue whom they named Iulius and because his mother was cutte they called hym Caesar This childe growynge to great towardnes and commyng to mannes estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the warres and what so euer he did he had good fortune prosperous successe He depriued the Grecians of the empire and dominion translating it to the Romaines Manye prouinces also besides that did he subdue and returning to Rome with a power attēpted to get the dominion and sole regimente ouer them But they had made solempne statutes in the time of their progenitors neuer to suffre any kinge emongst them or any mā to haue perpetual rule ouer them wherfore they would not make Iulius kinge Vpon this risse amongst thē great and mortall warres so that Iulius slue wōderful many of them without number When Pompeius vnderstode that Cesar raigned at Rome had killed the Consul and the Senate with all the nobilitye of Rome be gathered together his hole army out of Arabia and made toward him Iulius hauinge intelligēce of his comming against him sente for Aristobulus oute of prisone spake frendlye vnto him gaue him a power and made him graund captain therof bidding him to go fight with Pompeius In dede his armye was a stronge armye and he him self was a Kinge of no small prowesse and valeantnesse Pompeius hearinge that Aristobulus came againste him was sore afraid of his valeantnesse and of his hoste Wherfore he sent to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that wer vnder his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift wherby they might deceiue him and poison him The inhabitantes of Ierusalem at his request sent vnto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men wherat Aristobulus was right ioyous and eat and banqueted with them til he was ouercame with drinke then thei gaue him poyson and he died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was four yeares and sixe monethes He was a good man of war hardy in fighte and a man of an amiable countenaunce Pompeius receiuinge tidinges of his deathe the more gladder proceded with his hoste to Rome to besiege if But Iulius met him in the waye and destroyed him and his hoste whereby the Empire was established vnto Iulius He after this sente presentes to the kinge of Siria and into Egipte by his captaines to allure them to his frendshippe Antipater aduised Hircanus to aide Iulius if perchaunce he might win his fauour whiche Hircanus did and Antipater was captaine of the hoste who plaied the man and founde suche fauoure with Iulius that he made him lieuetenant of his warres And after he had fought sondry great battails he retourned to Ierusalem with great honoure and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters sonne gouerned of Ierusalem and Herod his third sōne president of Galily There was a certaine yong man at that time in Ierusalem called Hizkias a valeant man of war to whom claue al such as were in any distresse and he became their captain These wente and raunged aboute into Siria rouing and murthering in such sort that the Sirians were
wery of their liues for feare of them Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode ruler of Galily desiring him to kil that Hizkias his complices Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria came vpoÌ„ him at vnwares and slue him and his menne Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified he sent a noble reward vnto Herode of siluer gold and precious stones bi whiche and by like meanes he became very famous The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his soÌ„nes for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda desiring that Herode might be called froÌ„ Galily to appere in iudgment and answer with other for the killing of Hezkias The king therfore sente for him he vpon that came to Ierusalem appered before the iudges princely apparelled with a gilt sword gird aboute him whose pride an aunciente man called Samai blamed and repreheÌ„ded also his stoute hearte but he woulde not geue eare vnto him nor yet regarde the iudges When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man to make him away he toke pitie vpon him said We wil not geue senteÌ„ce to day to morow is a new day and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death That night therfore he fled to the king of Siria declaring all what had happened vnto him The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army came with him him self purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him saiyng Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem vnto whom he condiscended after he had once let the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do and had shewed theÌ„ his power Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time as he was worshippinge in the house of his GOD was murdered by the conspyracye of certaine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine as is afore mencioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the couÌ„trey of Macedonia who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self Yea Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him for he had no rule him selfe but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme Moreouer Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time And for asmuch as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him and conspired to kil hym There was a man in great aucthoritie about Aâ—rcanus by whose meanes thei wrought this matter He corrupted the kinges Butler with rewardes to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe which as he had dronke he died These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstandinge they priuely writ vnto Cassius that raigned in Macedonia certifiynge him of this deede Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him who came with hym Malchias Phaseus and Herode Cassius entertainynge them all in his lodgynge willed his men that whatsoeuer Herode had them thei should do it Herode willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demauÌ„ded of the soÌ„nes of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him and wee knowe not whye Therfore Hircauus stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode being certain that this was their dede Wherfore he saide vnto theim This Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an vserer These thinges done Octauian Augustus brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered came vnto Rome and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the gouernement at Rome sent Marcus Antonius to warre vppon Cassius and to reuenge Iulius death Vnto him Hircanus sent a presente a crowne of golde in whiche were set sundrye precious stones praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings and him as there was betwene him and Iulius which Antonius graunted Pacorus About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus to remoue him and to restore the kingdome to him self and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth pouÌ„d weight of gold and a hundreth Israelitish virgins So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel and Antigonus departed oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel that toke his part and foyned them selues to Pagurus These came to Ierusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes gaue many greate assaultes vnto it til at lenght they vndermined the city Then toke they Hircanus and slue Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom cut of besides that one of his eares But Herode escaped fled to August emperour of Rome Pagurê° therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem returned home into Persia cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda geuing to him a very strong army of the Romaines to obtein it withall In the way thither Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus doughter and Marimi her doughter thou she had by Alexander soÌ„ne of Aristobulus and brought theÌ„ again into the land of Israel where he tooke Marimi to wife and was maried with her in the mount of Galile For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte with whome he toke peace Marcus Antonius companion in office vnto Octauian Augustus aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries to subdue them vnto the Romaines together with Egipt Damasco and Siria Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Euphrates and helped him not a litle For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and slue all that would aide Marcus Antonius But Herode mette with them and slue them Wherefore Antonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres hauinge also his letters to all the captaines of Siria after this tenure Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings hath appointed Herode the soÌ„ne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda Therefore assone as these letters shall come
vnto you ye shall with all spede aide him No man shal be excused all that can beare weapon shall go with him to Ierusalem to vanquish Antigonus the kings aduersary Who so refuseth to go with him it shal be leful for the warriours â—o slea him forthwith I Marcus Antonius haue sworne by my sword that I will not alter this that I haue saide When the captaines of Siria had red this thei resorted wholly to Herode so that his host was woÌ„derfully encreased Antigonus hearing of this sent one Pompeius lieuetenant of his warres againste theÌ„ who fought a sore battaile with them that muche people were slaine on bothe sides Ioseph kinge Herodes brother was slaine in that battaile Notwithstandinge at lengthe Antigonus hoste wente to the worsse and had the ouerthrow So Herode Caâ—â—ius proceded to Ierusalem and besieged it the third yere after Herod was made king of Israel And wheÌ„ they had battred downe a peece of the wal Cassius with the Romains entred the towne and made a greate slaughter in IerusaleÌ„ They entred also into the Sanctuary and attempted to enter into the Sanctum sanctorum but Herod and his men lept betwene it and theÌ„ and stode with their drawn swordes in the temple dore that they shoulde not Herod was also displeased with Casius for his crueltye and saide If ye wil destroy all the inhabitantes of the citye vpon whom shal I reign in this kingdome that Augustus hathe geuen me Wherfore streight way Cassius caused proclamation to be made throughe all his hoste that no man vppon paine of death shuld kil one Israelite moe This done Herode apprehended Antigonus and deliuered him bound to Cassius He rewarded also Cassius souldiours both with gold and siluer TheÌ„ Cassius offred a present vnto the Lord a crowne of Golde for he was soore afrayed of gods displeasure bicause he had fought against the holye citye That done he toke his iorney returned into Egipt and Antigonus as prisoner with him Thither sent Herode vnto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus to murder him fearinge least he shoulde make clayme vnto the Kingedome againe Wherunto Cassius consented slew Antigonus Thus was the kyngdome surely established to Herode TheÌ„ made he warres vpon all the nacions that were about him constrainyng theÌ„ to become tributaries bi which means he grew to such power as neuer any of his predecessours were to be compared vnto him After al this Pagurus king of Persia released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander promoted him to be head of al the Israelites that were fled or flitted into the land of Sennaar into the dominion of the Persians he became their king This Hircanus had a ferueÌ„t desire to see the holy citie the house of the saÌ„ctuary Also how Herode whoÌ„ he toke for his sonne his kingdome did Herode hearynge the Hircanus who had bene prisoner at Babilon was now set at liberty in great honour he was afraied of him mistrusting lest the Israelits would restore vnto theÌ„ selues the kingdome of their fathers Wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him mischiefe He theÌ„ writeth his letters vnto Pagurus the coÌ„tents wherof were such Thou shalt vnderstand the Hircanus is he that brought me vp vsed me euer as his son Now therfore sence I came to be king of IerusaleÌ„ I haue called to my remeÌ„brance the goodnes that he hath done to me wherfore my desire is to rewarde him accordyng to his benefites Therfore I require thee to send him to me otherwise assure thi self of wars betwene thee the Israelits with their coÌ„federats Pagurus hauing red this letter seÌ„t for Hircanus asked him if he wold go to Herod notwithstaÌ„ding Herods threats he ceased not to geue to Hircanê° al good couÌ„sel he could aduising him to take heede of Herode because he is saith he a bloude sheader a breaker of his league And he hath called thee for no loue he beareth thee but because he feareth thee As longe as thou liuest shal he neuer slepe sound slepe lest the kingdome shold be deuoluted vnto the. It is better therefore for thee to tarye here in some honour thoughe it be not of suche aucthoritie then to go thither to dye with great dispite and end thine olde age with a bloudy death Furdermore thou shalt knowe such is the disposition of mannes heart If there be two men the one in honour the other in contempt after time shall come that the dispised shal be had in honoure and the honoured to be neglected neuer will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt be content to see him that was before honoured nor speake frendelye to him For he wyll thinke Hitherto according his accustomed maner he hathe dispised me how much more wheÌ„ his dominioÌ„ is taken froÌ„ him his seruaunt raigneth in his roume Moreouer Herode knoweth right well that mens heartes are inclined to him that is the true kinge And it might so be if thou were mete for the priesthode that he woulde promote thee vnto it and be gouernoure of the kingdome him selfe But seinge thou arte dismembred hast one of thy eares cut of and thereby arte vnmete for the Priesthodeâ— thou shalt remaine in Hierusalem depriued both of kingdome and priesthode which is vncomely for thee Such counsaile gaue Pagurus kyng of the Persians vnto Hircanus yea and all the Iewes that were in BabiloÌ„ besought hym that he wold not go vnto Herode Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded and why For it was the Lordes wyll and hys dede that the iniury done vnto the Sages whom his father and graundfather slew and the iniury committed to Hony auriga myght returne vpon his head and be reuenged so that no remnant of the house of Chasmonany no name no residue no kinsman or posteritie shoulde be left aliue Hircanus therfore toke his â—ourney toward Hierusalem and Herode came forthe to mete him embrased him kissed him after brought him into his house and feasted him dayly called him his father before all men albeit in his hearte he conspired to murther him And that knewe Alexandra his doughter and mother in lawe to Herode who opened it vnto Hircanus but he wold not credite her at the first til on a time he perceiued the matter cleare to be so theÌ„ deuised he how to flee to Maloc kynge of Arabia He sent therfore a messenger to Maloc to send him hors and a charet to flee withall but the messenger dealt vnfaithfully lewdly with him for he broughte Hircanus letters priuely vnto Herode who rewarded hym well for his laboure and bad him goe to Maloc and to let hym knowe what aunswere Maloc gaue The messenger vpon this went and deliuered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a charet writing in this sorte I haue sent the horses horsemen come therfore vnto me and whatsoeuer thy hart desireth I wil
answered nether good nor bad From that daye forwardes there was perpetual hatred betwene Alexandra Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herode Salumith his sister that came of base seruile blud For Marimi cast in their teethe to their faces that they wer not of the sede of Israel but vnholy of base birth Notwithstāding Herode loued Marimi as his life wherfore he would neuer displease her as lōg as she liued nor say so much to her as whi saiest thou so These thinges done Marcus Antonius a noble mā of Rome next vnto Octauian Augustus kinge of kinges being sent by Augustus to war vpon the kinges of the west countries raigned in Egipt by the prouocation of his wife rebelled against Octauian Augustus made war with him both by sea land And forasmuch as Egipt is nie adioyninge to the lande of Israell Herode ioyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sorte that no kinge durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Wherupon whan Marcus conspired againste hys prynce and master Herode aided him with an army with horsmen and with shippes also against Octauian In which warres Octauian gate the victorye slue Antony and all his people comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes so into the land of Egipt Herode hearinge that Marcus Antonius was slaine and that Octauian Augustus was come into Egipte he fainted for feare of the displeasure of Octauian Yet at lengthe he tooke hearte vnto him prepared a royall presente to be caried afore him and folowed after him selfe to Octauian Augustus And setting forwardes he called Ioseph the husband of Salumnith his sister whome he made chiefe of his houshold commaundinge him that if Octauian Augustus put him to death he shuld poison Marimi his wife saying it shuld not be semely for kinges that any meane base man shuld mary with a kinges widow and sleepe wyth her vppon a kinges bedde So then he toke his iourney toward Octauian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he vnderstode Octauian to be displeased with him for that he had aided Marcus Antonius Therfore assone as Herode came to Octauian Augustus presence hauinge his croune vpon his head he toke it of fel down prostrate vppon the ground at Octauians feete saying Most noble emperour I confesse my trespasse against your maiesty that I loued M. Antonius my cōpanion in league who was my neighbor aided me And it is true that your maiesty sēce the time you made me king haue herd of mine affaires that haue happened vnto me but neuer succoured me This. M Antonius did not so I cōfesse therfore that in his warres against your maiesty I aided him with an army with horsmē ships Neyther went I out with him for ani warres vpō mine own borders but when so euer I wente with him I holp him to the vttermost of mi power When he was falling I bolsterd him vp whā he stōbled I raised him again Emongst al these thinges I cōfesse also that I wolde not be counted of your maiestye a breaker of leage but nowe M. Antonius is deade Wherfore whither that it shal please your maiesty to restore me to my former estate or no forasmuch as I haue kept touch with M. Antonius against your maiesty amōgst other if you put me to death you shall do me no wrong but iustice because I haue deserued death When Octauian August herd him speake so he said vnto him Arise thou kinge of Israell in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nie yea next to my person I knowe that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife and would not folow thy counsel for if he had I dare saye he woulde neuer haue conspired against me So he commaūded the croune to be set againe vppon Herodes head and made a leage with him Then they went both together to ward Egipt to be reuenged vpō Cleopatra But that wicked woman whan she saw her city to be ouercome put on her moste precious apparaile and sitting vpon the throne of her kingdom commaūded a vipor to be brought vnto her which assone as she had suffred to sting her brest she died As Octauian August came to her palaire sawe her sit there he reioyced that he mighte be reuenged of her and commaunded to thruste her from her throne but when they that came to her founde her dead Octauian was pensife and verye sore greued In this while Ioseph Salumithes husbande disclosed vnto Marimi that the kinge had commaunded if it so fortuned him to be put to deathe by Augustus that he shoulde poyson her Wherupon Marimi conceiued yet a greater hatred towarde the kinge in so muche that when the kinge was retourned in safetye sounde and with honoure also from Octauian and that all his menne and whole houshoulde reioysed greatelye Marimi shewed no countenaunce of gladnesse no not when the kinge him selfe told her how greatlye he was magnified and honored of Octauian but alwaies she was sadde Salumith the kinges Sister perceiuing that Marimi so vexed the king she toulde him howe Ioseph her husbande had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus Herode saye what she could gaue no credite to her wordes knowing that she enuied Marimi vntill at length he asked the cause of Marimi whye she reioysed not as other did when he returned in safetye from Augustus but was euer sad whiche shewed her to haue some rancoure and malice in her heart to wardes him She answered Thou haste saide heretofore that thou louedst me aboue all thine other wiues and concubines yet thou didst will Ioseph thy sisters husbande to poyson me Whan Herode hearde this he was exceadinglye abashed that Ioseph had disclosed his secrete began to mistrust with him self that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife in dede and vpon that had detected that secret Therfore he departed out of his palaice in a greate anger and rage wherby Salumith perceiued that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further hyring false accusars and forgers of lies to witnes that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the kinge whereof she had diuers argumētes also by her coūtenaunce She added moreouer if thou saith she to the king let her scape thus she wil spedely destroy thee and bereue thee of thy kingdom The lawe geueth a man this counsell If any man gooe aboute to murther thee preuent hym slea him first With this and suche like wordes she so moued the king that he commaunded to bring Marimi forthe and to be beheaded in the hie streate of the citie And as she was brought forth vnto the market place of the citie all the women of the citie folowed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her saiyng come oute thou that haste abhorred thy husbande and conspired against thy lorde Alexandra wepte also as thoughe it hadde
to manye woordes in persuadinge the peace and league Vppon this Eleasar assembled the priestes and people together to go out fight with Castius Castius perceiuinge howe Eleasar and the people were affected and what mindes they were of how thei had vtterly conspired to distroy the Romaines that were there and to consume them cleane hauing a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantnesse of the rebels he determined fullye to go to Rome for he perceiued he was not able to matche with the sedicious neither his owne power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he woulde go see what ende shoulde come of this warres and what counsell Caesars maiestie would geue Taking his iourney therfore to the citye Iapho he founde there letters of the Romaines for thither was their armie come FroÌ„ thence wente hee with theim and his owne host to Rome and made relation vnto Caesar of such things as had chauÌ„ced him whereat Nero was wonderfully abashed not onely he but all the people of Rome were soore astonied to hear of the great puissant and valiantnes of the Iewes For the which cause the warres ceased for that yere so that the land of Iudea was at great rest quietnes the yere through Eleasars means the head rebel specially froÌ„ the hands of wicked Castius that had sworne to reueng the Romaines to quite the Iewes and that he would destroye all the Iewes that none shoulde be left aliue Therefore these are they that deliuered Israel in the time of the second temple oute of the handes of their ennemies what time as warres were moued against the Iewes and their countrye what time also commotions and tumultes began in Israell The first businesse was made by Antiochus the wicked kinge of Macedonia who had determined not to leaue one man in Israel His mischeuousnesse proceded so farre that he slue of the people of God the Sages wise men princes elders and yonge men children greate and smal Israelites Leuites also and priestes vntil all the chiefe men of Iuda cast their heades together and went to Matthathias sonne of Iochanan the hie prieste in the mounte of Modiith where he had him self for the iniquity of Antiochus and his rulers cryinge vpon him and sayinge Deliuer at this season the people of the Lord and neuer thinke to escape thy self whiles the moste wicked enemy rauÌ„geth thus and runneth vpon thy people sheadeth thy bloud For the bloud of all Israel what is it but thy bloude and the eies of euery man are fixed vpon thee hopinge that thou shouldest assist and aide them in this calamitie that they may finde deliuerance by thy meanes Mattathias hearyng this wept bitterly and said vnto them Feare ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lorde shal fighte for you be ye onelye quiet So theÌ„ was Mattathias stirred deliuered Israell oute of the handes of Antiochus and after he had ouercomed him he was hie priest for one yere and then died In whose roume succeaded Iudas his sonne who executed the office in the temple .vi. yeres and was slaine in battaile Then his brother Iochanan was chief in the temple .viii. yeres and died likewise in battaile After him his brother Schimeon was ruler .18 yeres whoÌ„ Ptolomae his wiues father poysoned at a banket Then Iochanan his sonne succeaded his father in thoffice that is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a king of that name called Hircanus he raigned .21 yeres and died Afterwardes raigned Aristobulus one yere he was called the great kinge because he firste put the royall crowne vpon his heade and turned the dignitie of the hie priesthode into a kingdome vnhallowing and staining the holines therof 480. yeares and .iii. monethes after the retourninge of Israell from Babilon He beyng dead his brother Alexander reigned .xxvii. yeares After whose death Alexandra his wyfe held the kyngdome .ix. yeares and died In whose stede succeded her sonne Aristobulus and reigned thre yeares In his tyme Pompei a Romain captain came against Hierusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in iroÌ„s and caried him captiue to Rome In whose place he ordeiued Hircanus his brother to succede who reigned fourty yeares During his reigne rebelled An tigonus forme of Aristobulus Hircanê° brother with the aide of an armie of the Persians encountred with Hircanus toke him prisoner and sent him to Babilon cutting of his eares that he should neuer after be meet either for the priesthod or for the kingdome Antigonus reigned .iii. yeres In his daies Herode fled and ioyned himselfe with the Romaines by whose helpe he slue Antigonus the .iii. yeare of his reigne reigned after him .xxxvii. yeares and then died After Herode succeded in the king dome Archelaus his sonne who was taken by the Romaines the .ix. yeare of his reigne layde in bondes and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who chaunged his name called him self Herode he reigning fully ten yeares ouercame and vasted Spaine because the king of Spayne had rauished and taken away his brothers wyfe and there died After him folowed Agrippas sonne of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned thre and twenty yeares After whose death his sonne Agrippas reigned twentye yeares This is that Agrippa of whom â–ª wee now speake of of the calamities that befel in his time vpon Israel For all the whâ—le that he raigned the warres betwene the Romains and Israell neuer ceased vntil the people of Iudea were led captiue into the prouince of the Romains what time also the temple was desolate I meane the desolation of the second temple which we saw with our eies builded and distroyed THe .xx. yere of the raigne of kynge Agrippas the .ix. daye of the fifte moneth that is called Af Nero Caesar sent a present for burnt offerings to be offred in the temple at HierusaleÌ„ â—â—ly requiring peace of thelders sages of Iudea Hierusalem that thei would receiue him into league with them saiyng My request is that you would offer my present to the Lorde your God for his sernice and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to ioyne in league with me accordinge as you haue done with the emperours of Rome my predecessours in time past I haue hearde what Castius the captain of mine armi hath done vnto you which displeaseth me out of measure Wherfore I assure vnto you a faithful league by the consent and couÌ„sel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall neuer Romaine captaine stirre hand nor fote against you but rather your heades rulers iudges shal be al Iewes and of Ierusalem Yea Agrippas your kinge shal be Lorde of all your rulers what he commaundeth ye shal do it the Romains shal only be called your lordes and haue no more to do with you So when these legates came to IerusaleÌ„ they wente and spake with Anani the priest
yoke from their necks and rebelled against the dominion of Ierusalem ioyning their power with the Romaine armye to ayde Vaspasian and Titus For these were afore subiectes vnto the Iewes that sore hadde burthened thē wherefore they came to aide the Romaines and to inuade Ierusalem and the people of the Iewes But the Edomites had not yet associate them selues with Vaspasian and Titus for they were in subiection to the Iewes and serued them So that not one of them aided the Romaines For longe before they hadde moued warre againste Ierusalem and coulde not gette the victorye but the Iewes preuailed againste them and subdued them Hircanus also the fyrste kinge of the Iewes circumcised them They dwelte also in Ierusalem kept watche and warde aboute the house of the Lorde and his couenaunte withoute all rebellion againste the Iewes and Ierosolimites And at that present was thirtye thousande of the best of the Edomites to keepe the walles of Ierusalem and the house of the Lorde After this Vaspasian and Titus with all their hoste toke their iourney from Acho and came to Galile and in the moūt they pitched their tentes Wherof when tidinges was brought to Ioseph howe the hoste of the Romaines lay vpon the moūt of Galile and howe Vaspasian had sent afore him a greate power to repayre the broaken waies to fyll the hooles and caste downe the hilles to leuel the waye that his people might passe the better for he was sore moued against the Iewes Ioseph issued out of zipporie with al his power sette vpon them and flewe them with the sworde takynge suche vengeaunce of them as neuer was the lyke afore for his God was with him Vaspasian and Titus hearing of this determined to set vpon Ioseph at vnwares and to beset all the wayes that he should escape of no syde But Ioseph had intelligence of their commynge wherefore he lefte zipporie and went to Tiberia whether Vaspasian folowed with his hoste Ioseph perceiuing them comming fled from thence to Iorpata the biggest city in al Galile closed vp the gates there remained with his armie THen sent Vaspasian certaine noble men in embassage vnto Ioseph to debate the matter with hym in this wyse Vaspasian generall of the Romaine armie desyreth to know what it should auaile the to be thus pend vp within a walled toun he willes the rather to come forth to entreate of peace with him enter in a league together for it shal be for thy auaile to serue Caesar emperour of the Romaines the thou maiest liue and not be destroied nor yet any of the people with the. Then Ioseph sent embassadours againe to Vaspasian demaunding treuce for a fewe daies that he might cōmen of the matter with the people and let them vnderstande his wordes peraduenture saith he they wil be perswaded to make peace with thee and then wyll we enter in league with the Romaine empire So Vaspasian ceassed from fighting againste Ioseph permittinge him space to deliberate of the thinge Vpon that Ioseph sente Embassadoures to all the people at Ierusalem to the priestes chiefe men rulers and to the reaste of the people lettinge them to witte this Ye shall vnderstande brethren and frendes that Vaspasian generall of the Romaines sente his Embassadoures vnto me inquiring what it shuld auaile vs to be so stiffe against them ▪ and not rather to com forth and to entreate of peace and to ioyne in league together that we maye serue the Emperour of the Romaines so to saue our liues and not to be destroyed And I pray you why wil ye lose your liues your wiues your sōnes doughters why wil ye all fal together vpon the sword that bothe they that shal be left aliue among you shal be led captiue oute of your countrye to a people that ye neuer knewe whose language ye vnderstande not and your countrye to be made desolate your sanctuarye laide waste that there shal not be so much as one man to enter into it Neuer suffre this you that be wise men but rather receiue my counsell come hither to vs that we may deliberat together what conditiōs of peace we shal make for the sauegard of your liues rather then to be destroyed and that ye maye vse the cōmodities of your country be at reaste and peace therin For life and quietnes is to be preferred before death and banishmente The inhabitantes therefore of Ierusalem bothe priestes chief men rulers and all the noble mē of Iudea with the reaste of the people sente vnto Ioseph sayinge Take hede to thy self that thou neuer consent vnto this to receiue conditions of peace with them but be stronge and bolde to fighte vntill suche time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the people die in battaile and so shalt thou fighte the fightes of the Lorde for his people and his sanctuarye with the cities of oure God In the meane season be as be maye so thy power be not with them When Ioseph hearde the determination of the people of Hierusalem howe all sortes with one consent willed by the embassadours the continuaunce of the warres he was wonderful wroth and in a great fury he issued out with all his people and set them in aray againste Vaspasian and the Romaine hoste in whiche conflicte were stayne very many of the Iewes And from the day forward Vaspasian began earnestly and fearcely to warre vpon the Iewes He departed from thence to the citie Gerarta a great citie in the higher Galile beseged it and wan it raced it flewe all the people man woman and childe oxen shepe camelles and asses leauing nothing alyue And then he saide nowe begin I to be reuenged for the Romains which the Iewes murthered in the lād of Iuda Frō thēce he departed brought his armie to Iorpata where Ioseph remained The first day that he entamped aboute Iorpata he gaue his souldiours meate and drynke plenty and made them good chere thē furnished euerye man with weapons So on the next morrow early the Romaine army gaue a great shoute and beset the city round aboute on euerye side In this businesse Ioseph stoode vpon a certaine towre from whence he behelde the huge campe of the Romaines wherefore he sounded forthe a Trumpet gaue a signe to battaile issued oute with the hole power of the Iewes that he had with him and sette vpon the Romaines campe at the fote of the hil continuinge the fighte from morning vntil night And when it began to be darke they ceassed fighting and departed the one sort frō the other the Iewes into the towne the Romaines to their tentes In this battail were very manye slaine on bothe parties aswel Iewes as Romaines The Romaines aduauncinge them selues proudly and stoutly said we wil quickly vanqueshe this little nation as we haue subdued all other nations that we haue conquered that they shall anoy vs no more and afterwardes we shal be at reaste The Iewes also on thother side encouraged them selues
laboured in the erecting of this engine were .xv. hundred To remoâ—e it from one place to another or from one Citâ—e to another were appointed an hundred and fiftie yoke of oxen or els 300. couple of borses and mules WheÌ„ as thei should assault any fortes or cities that stode vpoÌ„ hilles then must thei deuide it in parts and bringe it vp to the siege by piece-meele and there set it together againe Now when the Romains had battred the walles of Iorpata and Ioseph perceiued the wall to shake he toke greatâ— sackes filled them full of Chaffe and hanged them downe by the Walles that the hornes of the Ramme coulde not come nie the stones of the wall but light vpon the sacks which by the reasoÌ„ of their softnes of the chasse damned the stroke that the wal was lesse hurt For such is the nature of soft things to geuâ— back to the hard to weakeÌ„ their force But Vaspasian seinge the subtiltie of Ioseph vsed also policie for policie for he sent into the towne secretely Iewes spies which when the batteries should he might cut asunder the coardes that the sackes were tied to and with them slipt downe the walles where the Romains were ready to receiue them that they did not hurt them in the fall and immediatly they stroke the wall with the ramme There was at that present in the citie a certaine valeant man named Eleasar of the house of Anani the hie prieste that then dwelt at Hierusalem This Eleasar perceiuyng the Romains to go about to batter downe the walles as â—hey did before plucked out of the wall a mightye stone so that hee made a great hole or gappe wherat he â—idde downe the wall and light stridelinge vppon the engine made fast an fron cheine to the hornes thereof and gate vp againe quickelye and nimlye from the beame into the towne wyth the cheyne in his hande for the walle was not verye hye aboue his heade as he stode vpon the Ramme Then other tall fellowes tooke holde vppon the cheyne and fastened it to Pillers and Walles in the Towne that the Romaynes myghte rather hee constrayned to breake their Ramme then take it awaye from thence The Prieste Eleasar yet once agayne boldlye wente downe and sate vppon the beame slue fiftie menne that laboured aboute the Ramme and the rest he put to flighte then returned into the Towne beinge drawen vp againe from the beame by theim that were wythin the Towne greatlye reioyâ—ynge in his manhode After that went he vp vpoÌ„ a hie tower from whence he tuÌ„bled downe with a mighty force a great stone and a harde vppon the heade of the Ramme brake it that bothe a great parte of the heade and the bornes fell vpon the grounde For the yron that it was couered with all was olde and rustye so that it was muche wasted and eaten therwyth the ropes also were olde After that Eleasar went downe agayne toke parte of the bead that was broken and hurled it into the toune the Romains that remaiâ—ed either he flue or put to flyght The archers shotte at him wounded him with fiue arrows wherfore by the helpe of his felowes vpon the walles he climed vp otherwise he had not ben able for the griefe of his wounds The people then gaue a shout for ioye of the dictory of the worthi priest Eleasar that had slaine the Romaines and broken their Ramme wherein they put their confidence brought part of it into the toune fastned it with an iron cheine that the Romains could not pull it backe again to them nor haue thuse of it after warde Wherfore diuers of the valiantest citizens of Iorpata armed them selfes the day being stirred with the great courage that they had sene in Eleasar and went down hewed the beame into pieces brought the poyses with the ringes and two mastes with them into the towne and the same daye died Eleasar with great renowne as one that had sought for the sanctuary of the lord and for his people and countrye of Israel like a faithful seruant and souldier of the Lorde whome all the people mourned for buriyng him in the town and honoring him for his deathe worthinesse and faithfulnesse appointinge him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battail with the ennemies of the Lorde The yonge menne of the Iewes seing this and specially two of them the one called Nitra thother Polipus men of wisdome and vnderstanding therwith expert in the warres being moued with zeale for the god of Israel opened the gates issued out against the Romaines skirmished with them slue mani of theÌ„ But at length thei were slain them selues in the skir mishe for the sanctuarie of their God for Israell and their countrey When Ioseph saw the wars to encrease more and more he issued oute and made a great slaughter in the Romains tents burnt the mounte engines of warre that the Romaines had left by which meanes the warres wared yet hoater and hoater in so muche that Iosephus repulsed the Romaines for when they saw the Iewes so desperatelys geue their liues for their God and land they woulde not abide their force When Vaspasian sawe his menne shrinke he stode vp then and put them in hearte exhorting them with faire wordes and promises aswell golde and siluer as meate and drinke wherewith the Romaines allured foughte with Iosephe that day vnto the Sunne setting and as the battaile waxed hote the Iewes wouÌ„ded Vaspasian with an arrowe in his right legge which fore dismaies the Romaines when they saw the bloude run down his legge and that day was a fore fighte betwene the Iewes and the Romaines Titus seinge his father wounded fore abashed ranne to him to helpe him to whome his father saide how it is my sonne that thou art thus astonied take harte to thee and with a courage reuenge thy father of these Iewes that haue now the better hand of vs. So they fought both Titus and Vaspasian withal their hole host the day a very sore fight and many were slain of both partes yea very few were lefte on Iosephes part with whoÌ„ he returnd into the towne The nexte day the Râ—maines raised a newe mounte in stede of that that Ioseph had brent and plaÌ„ted an other iron Ram therupon betwene two postes accordingly for Vaspasian had brought .iiii. of this sortwith him froÌ„ Rome but other battering peces vpoÌ„ wheles had he with him thirti what more what lesse the bigger sort were of .xxx. cubites longe the leaste ten He broughte also ten engines to hurâ—e greate and weighty stenes with al which he placed abâ—ute the walles The Romaines therefore renued the warres assaults against the town as thei were woÌ„t afore But the town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were al slain in the fightes Albeit Ioseph remained a fewe with him who went euery one the women also to defend the wals for there was almost no men lefte
people and offered him selfe to die for his people that the plage mighte cease from Israell Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the fielde Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed But hee when he sawe Israell haue the ouerthrowe in the battaile hadde no desire to liue anye lenger but chose rather deathe then life and woulde not be seperated from his brethren nother in life nor death as wel hee as Ionathan his Sonne those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne as the scripture termeth theim Why doest thou not remember our deare Prince the righteousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde who seinge a moste greuous pestilence to rage vppon the people of Israel saied Let thy hande O Lorde I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house For I am hee that haue sinned I haue transgressed as for these thy sheepe what haue they done What haue they offended Where is the holye Lawe smothered and stifled in thy hearte Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart with al our soul and withall oure strength If it be so that the seruice of God consisteth not in this that we should loue whome he loueth and die for his couâ—uaunt and saÌ„ctuary together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord Wherin staÌ„deth it then Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord his sanctuary his people and his law he is to be counted in the Lordes lot made worthye to goe vnto the greate light and shal not see euerlasting darknesse Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest that hast cried so ofteÌ„ in battail I am Ioseph the prieste consecrated to battaile that haue vowed my life for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye and his lande But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them and they order the dispitfullye what wilte thou say vnto them or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes I put the case they cast in thy teeth say thy wordes be but lies How shalt thou auoid that reproche Arte not thou he that saidst men shoulde fighte for the people of God vntil they die in the conflicte and in so doinge their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said whye then wilt thou shun deash and not folowe thy people that are gone before thee to that same lighte Euer hitherto thou hast had the vpper hand wher so euer thou camste in so muche that they that hearde of thee trembled for feare and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines as a vile slaue Shall not this thy dishonoure redound also vnto the people of God Thou that arte a prince a kinge and priest wilt thou be bound in cheines Euerye man shall saye this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die but hath â—â—ued him selfe and his owne life So when they hadde made an ende of talke eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue sainge Hearest thou thou Iosephe oure Prince if thou wilte be ruled by vs firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on that thou maiest die honourablye But if thou refuse to dye honestlye assure thy selfe of this that we will euerye manne set vpon thee and slea thee Ioseph aunswered In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him and receyue it vnto hym also For I am not ignoraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes But hee knoweth the secretes of mannes hearte and he it is that geueth life vnto menne It is God that closeth soules within the bodies and letteth theim oute againe bicause he is the liuinge GOD in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures He hath left with vs a Spirite of life and closed it vp within oure bodies What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut How shall we loose that that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe and that wee are his seruauntes If then we cast awaye life before that GOD take it shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous memorye and wyth other iuste and godlye menne our forefathers Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called and when they were called they came and soo dealt GOD with all holye and Godly men To Moyses our master of worthie memorye the electe of GOD ye knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim and so he did But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe had not God called him Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a maÌ„ to surrendre his life vnto God excepte he require it againe Take example I praye you of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in mighte not he ether haue hanged him self or haue run vppon a knife or at the least haue folowed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die Not withstanding he abode paciently in most extreme paine waitinge til God demaunded again his life and then restored it vnto his Lord god and would not restore it vndemaunded but taried till hys appoynted ende came King Dauid also of famous memory saide Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye and that none mighte let it forth but God I wot wel that death is a greate commodity so be that the soule may return in his due time vnto God that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord he shal come to the greate lighte But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth him self maketh hast to restore his soul before his time and withoute the Lordes calling Wherfore my frendes brethren I would ye shoulde knowe it I am no more cowarde then you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities but that I know I shoulde commit a
Warres at Hierusalem encreased yet styll and muche bloude was shedde thorowe the wyckednesse of Iehochanan Capitayne of Thieues a lymme of the Deuyll and throughe the cut-throate murtherers that were wyth hym who had all euen sworn the vtter destruction of the citye of the Lorde and the deathes of hys people There was also an other cutthroate a noble manne of Iudea at Hierusalem aboute the same tyme called Schimeon who begā also to follow Iehochanans manners in sleainge innocentes and robbynge and reauing in Hierusalem for asmuche as Anani the hye Prieste hadde once appointed him Prince and chiefe Capitaine of Hierusalem and afterwardes findynge hym an ennemye banished hym the Citye Wherefore Schimeon wente and gate hym a route of Vnthriftes murtherers and thieues castynge in hys minde and saiynge Excepte I ioyne my selfe vnto suche good felowes I shall neuer bee able to be reuenged of Anani and his assistauntes that haue thus bannished mee oute of Hierusalem into exyle wrongfullye vnto my greate dishonoure Shall I that haue bene in suche estate now be caste out of my dignitie and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished manne He wente therfore throughe all the cities of Iudea and Galile causinge to be proclaimed in the stretes and market places and sente his letters where he coulde not come him selfe in this manner and fourme Who so euer listeth to be ridde from the bondage of his master or hathe had anye iniurye in his countrye or what seruaunte so euer desireth to be sette at libertye or who so can not abide the rule of his father or his master all that be in debte and stande in feare of their creditours or feare the iudges for sheadinge any innocente bloude and therfore lurketh solitarilye in woodes or mountaines if there be anye man that is accused of anye notorious crime and in any daunger therefore to be shorte who so euer is disposed to robbe and reaue to do iniurye and wronge to haunt hores to steale to murther to eat and drinke at other mennes coste withoute laboure of his handes let him resorte to me and I will deliuer him from the yoake and daunger of the lawes I will finde him his fill of booties and spoiles There assembled vnto hym aboute twentye thousande men al murtherers theues rebelles lawlesse persones wicked and sedicious menne Then began Schimeon also to vexe the Israelites to tourne all vppe side downe where so euer he came When the citizens of Ierusalem the priestes elders and Anani the hie priest hearde tidinges of Schimeons dispitefull wickednesse howe he helde on still oppressinge the people of God they were verye pensiue and saide nowe will this felowe more trouble vs than Iehochanan be he neuer so cruel They consulted therefore and agreed secretelye to sende a power against him that might sodenlye fall vpon him and ouerrunne him perauenture saye they they may flea him or take him aliue before his wickednesse grow to further inconuenience and ioyne him selfe with oure foes then shall they assaile vs bothe within the towne and without They made oute therefore agaynste hym a greate armye of Israelites and Iewes with Charettes and horsemenne and footemenne in greate number whiche came where his campe laye and found him in the corne fieldes distroiynge of the graine pullinge downe of barnes and burninge all bothe corne and Oliue trees Then the Ierosolimites deuided their armie and set vppon Schimeons tentes sodainelye smote downe his tentes and made a greate slanghter vppon the sedicious But shortelye after Schimeon gate the vpper hand of the people of GOD for he came vpon them in the nighte season and made a soore slaughter amongest them Then they that remained tooke theim selues to flighte towardes Hierusalem and Schimeon pursued them killinge them vnto the harde gates of Hierusalem so that mauye of them were slaine in the waye and verye fewe escaped After this Schimeon went and moued warre vpon the Edomites to subdue them vnto him selfe whiche before were vnder the dominion of the Hierosolimites And first the came to the Citye Asa otherwise called Gaza for it was the firste Citye wythin the borders of Edome as menne come from Hierusalem But the Edomites met hym in the fielde in greate noumber and ioyned wyth hym but nether part hadde the vyctorye wherefore at lengthe they retired bothe Then was Schimeon in so greate a rage when as he coulde not ouercome these Edomites that he wishte him selfe out of his lyfe So he ceassed fightynge a whyle and encamped hym selfe in the borders of the Lande of Edome ryght agaynste it and there abode thynkynge to sette vppon theim at an other tyme. And as hee was deuisynge howe to order all thynges there came vnth hym an Edomite called Iacob one of the chiefest menne amongste them and a warrioure He hearinge of Schimeons proclamation was moned to come and enter in league wyth him therupon sayd vnto hym Neuer let it discomfort thee that thou couldest not ouercome the Edomites at the firste battail If thou wilte be rulled by my counsell thou shalt winne all the cities in the whole lande and I will deliuer thē into thy handes Schimeon desired to knowe how therfore sayde he let vs here thy counsell and shewe vs how it may be brought about and when it is come to passe then wil we honour thee and rewarde thee accordinglye Iacob said geue me the one halfe of thine armie which I will lead with me into an ambushe then shalte thou in the mornyng betimes set thy men in araye againste the Edomites for a stale and when thou shalte perceiue them come againste thee then make as thoughe thou fledst vntill thou hast staled them out of the towne into the feldes to pursue thee Then will I with my menne come out of our ambushe and make spede to the gates where wee shal kill the Warders and fodainely enter the towne likewise kill all that wee finde there and set vp a flagge vpon a tower of the town Then ▪ when the Edomites shal see that their heartes wil be done and deade for sorowe then maiest thou turne again vpon them and beat them downe at thy pleasure Or if thou like not this deuise heare yet another way I haue bene a captaine amongst theim a longe while therefore I will returne in the night season into the towne if the watche examine mee from whence I come I will tell theim I come from Schimeons campe whither I went as a spie Then will I go to the elders of the towne and will thē to let me haue a companie of the best souldiours and I wil bringe Schimeon into their handes if he sette vppon vs againe For I haue vewed his campe and his power and vnderstande that hee entendes to morow to entermeddle with vs which thou shalt doe in dede And when thou seest me to issue against thee thou shalt set thy staffe in the reste and come towardes me then will I take me to flight and caste a feare
all suche as remained aliue to see this daye Al these thinges when I Ioseph heard worde of I tare my bearde with my handes and cast ashes vpon my head sittynge in greate sorow vpon the ground be wailing theÌ„ miserie and calamitie of Hierusalem ANd this lamentation made Ioseph vpon Hierusalem saiyng Howe is the holy city layd wast that was wont to be more happy and more renowmed then all the prouinces vpon the earth How is the Citie that was heretofore in suche highnesse and dignitie nowe brought vnder the foote throughe the sinnes of the citizins thereof whereas sometime was the dwellynge place of the faiethfull nowe beare rule there such men as prouoke and stirre Gods wrathe agaynst it and turne it awaye from their God wastyng it as thieues In the whiche sometime remained the brightnes of the Godheade it is nowe become a by woorde and a mockynge stocke to the enemies replenished with bloud of wounded and slaine men In stede of mirthe gladnesse reioysynge harpes and psalteries is sorow sighhyng heart breakes mournynge and pensifenes commen in place Euen as heretofore the priestes executed the seruice of the Lorde in offering sacrifices so likewise now sedicious persoâ—s murther Godly and faithfull men Where was wonte to be the dwellynge place of mooste wyse and prudente menne nowe is it made a common hostrye of wicked murtherers and thieues O Lord God of Israell haue not aungels in tyme paste come downe from heauen to earthe to fyghte thy battayles haue not the floudes of the seas persecuted them that persecuted thee hath not the earth swalowed vp them that dispysed thee and the wyndes scattred a sunder that made insurrectyons agaynst thee and thunder from heauen destroyed thyne enymyes and starres haue fought agynste thy fooes What meanes thys therfore and how commeth it to passe that thou hyddeste thy â—ace from vs to whom haste thou betaken the shepe of thy pasture Loke vpon vs oure GOD and behoulde thy people and enherâ—taunce that thou broughtest oute of Egipt with a mightie power and a stronge hande with wonders and signes leadinge them vntill this daye in thy faithe take pitye vpon them in thy mercye and extende not thy wrathe against thy seruauntes Where arte thou Moyses the sonne of Amram stande vp and se thy people and flocke of shepe which thou feddest all thy life with thy wisdome see howe Wolues and Lions teare them see howe the Israelites are become foes of their owne liues soules Yea wasters and destroiers are sprong vp of their owne selues Beholde the people of God for whose sake thou liftedste vp thy staffe ouer the sea wherewith thou struckest and deuidedst it that it was made drye ground so that the Israelites passed throughe and escaped their enemies Remember thy praier when as in time of famin and lacke of soode thou obteinedst for them meate from heauen at the same time when thei were wery of their liues for thirst thou broughteâ—t water out of the moste hard rocke Come forth Aaron mooste holye prieste of God that didst put thy self betwene the liuing and the deade to tourne awaye the plague from Israel and strokest the destroyer that he should not come nie the liuinge Arise oute of thy graue thou Phinees that moued with suche feruencye didste reuenge the glory and maiesti of the lord God of Israel Come and run through these seditious in thy fury which murther the people of God his priestes Awake thou Iosua that didst throwe down the walles of Iericho with the sound and shout of thy trompets that the holy priestes helde in their handes Come now and se thi people that thou madest to enherit manye nations to conquere most puissant kinges howe they kil one an other how they furder helpforwarde the Idolater to rule haue the dominioÌ„ of thy holy laÌ„d that thou gauest thy people Israel to enherite Whye sleapest thou kinge David awake and come with the sound of thy Psalterie and harpe to singe the holy Psalmes Aske account of thy swete wordes that are ceased from the mouthes of this people and oute of all mennes mouthes because of the maliciousnesse thereof See howe their princes be transâ—oâ—meâ— into ennemyes and destroiers and do not as thou didst good kinge Dauid that diddest geue thine owne life for theirs saiynge Let thy hande O Lord be tourned against me and against the house of my father and do not fall vpon thy people to destroye them Where arte thou Eliseus come and see what thou canste do if thou canste reseue the remnaunte of Israel and finde them anye gap to scape at Didst not thou by thy praier bring the power of the Sirians to a towne of defence and preuailedste againste them withoute dinte of sworde or battaile and broughtest them downe smitinge them with blindnesse that they turned their enmity toward Israel into loue In deede thou waste he that vanquishedst the Sirians by thy praier that they fled for feare of the same Nowâ— therfore ye herdmeÌ„ of Israell assemble together listen with your eares and heare my wordes that I wil speake in your eares this day Tel me what is become of your praier the ye haue made for the people of Israel to desende and turne away from theÌ„ al wrath indignation tribulation fury immissions of euil spirits Howe is it the now ye see not the saÌ„ctuary turned into a vile sincke of blud for the dead bodies of priestes lie in the midst of it The holy citye IerusaleÌ„ is become a straung citi as though the name of the Lorde had neuer bene in it and the sanctuary of the Lorde is in that case at this present as thought the deuine Godhead had neuer dwelte therin for the temple is tourned into a den of theues a lodginge of sedicious persones a tabernacle of cruell murtherers And who so flieth thither for refuge there they be slaine as the sedicious haue murthered in the middest thereof Anani the hie prieste and Iosua a prieste also that were Princes and chiefe priestes the most reuerent emongest the people of God whom ere this kinges and nacions had besought and desyred theyr fauoure but neuer cast their slain bodies in the middest of the temple The nobilitie also of Hierusalem the elders of Iuda and sages of Israell whose frendshippe kinges and nacions haue sought and desiered to make peace with they iye now slain here and there in the middest of Hierusalem are meate vnto the foules of the ayre and beastes of the field to dogges and Rauens because there is no man to burie them These died not for their offences but because they found faulte with the Israelites when they sinned Howe are they slaine in thee O Ierusalem thou holie citie renowmed thorow out the whole earth all iust meÌ„ all holie menne whom the sedicious haue gote the vpper hande of those helhouÌ„des and bloudsuckers that haue brought all these mischiefes vppon â—hee Howe are are the priestes of the Lorde and his
you and hym Oh my deare children and brethren let neuer this imagination enter into youre heartes for it shall nothinge auail you Why will you my deare brethren and frendes make war vpon the Romains when as they are lords ouer nacions haue pearced the straightes of India of al Isles of the sea euen to the great Ocean sea froÌ„ thence to al the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extreame parâ—es of the earth Yea euen to Brytayn ouer al Scotlande whiche is enupronned on cuerye syde wyth Seas whose people is huge like Gyantes of a bigge stature and of a mightye courage most expert archeâ—s valiant souldiers in battail To whom when the Capitaine of the Romayns came they gaue him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Prynces of the Romaines came they brought them into subiection and seruitude vnder the Romayns But you saye my brethren frendes you wyll rather all dye then serue the Princes of the Gentyles and that death is better for you then lyfe to be driuen to see with youre eyes the calamities of the sanctuarye and people of GOD. Search the histories and chronicles frome the tyme of youre auncestours When was there euer anye tyme wherin you were free frome the yoke of the Gentils Do you not know that Iacob our father of worthy memorye who was alwayes wyth GOD and God with hym toke his iourney into Egypte to bee a straunger in a straunge land amongst a proude kinde of people least he his children housholde and cattell shoulde pearish with honger There he hadde wyth hym his twelue sons whiche he had begotten and dwelt there also with his smal familie for fear of the greuous famine that was at that tyme. Remember you not when that Iudas wyth hys brethren wente downe into Egypte howe Iosephe was moued as a straunger to pycke a quarell agaynste hys brethrene to brynge theim into bondage bearynge yet in hys minde what iuiurye they hadde done hym Wherefore some of theim he caste in Prisone and â—handeled theim at hys pleasure with crafty accusations especially Iuda who was the chiefe amongest them of whom all the Iewes toke their name whoe if he hadde bene so disposed hadde bene able to laye Ioseph at hys foote a thousande tymes not knowynge hym to bee Iosephe Wherefore when he was so roughlye and so sharpelye taunted of hym hee myghte haue killed hym in hys rage For he was a verye bolde manne and a hardye and of a noble courage whiche surely hadde not forced a rishe to haue slayne that Egyptian and moe to of his fellowes Notwythstandynge he did not soo vut contrary submitted hym selfe vnder the yoke of Iosephe called hym his Lorde and good master supposing him to be some Egiptian humbled him self before him to obtain his peticion to get corne least his father his brethren and other familye should die for honger What should I saie of Ioseph so beautifull so wise wittye a man was not he faine to serue in Pharoos house wherein although his wisdome was well knoweÌ„ insomuch that Pharao set more by him then by al the noble meÌ„ that were then aliue was also called lord greatmaster and Pharaos father neuertheles he huÌ„bly besought Pharao that he might sustaine his father and brethrene wyth bread knowyng that at the time the dominion belonged to Pharao his people beinge geuen theim of God And although if Iosephe had list to returne into the lande of Canaan wyth all hys fathers whole housholde without Pharaos leaue no man coulde haue letted hym to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that tyme in Egypte yet did he not so Beniamin also who was likened to a reuenynge woulfe for hys fearcenes when he was fetched agayne by force of Iosephes Stewarde faynyng a lye vppon hym howe chaunced he did not kyll hym Or els when he alone pursued Beniamin and hys other brethren coulde not be if he hadde list haue slayne the felowe and buried him so that the matter shoulde neuer haue come to light Notwythstandyng they did nothinge so nor so but Iudas wiselye waiynge the eraltations and deiections the promocions and disgracynges wyth the common courses of the worlde retourned agayne wyth his brethren into the Citye wente to Iosephe and besought hym vntyl his bowels were moued to pitye and hee was knowen of his brethren All these thinges doth the most holy lawe of the Lord rehearse vnto vs putteth vs in minde of for this intent that we maye learne to beare for necessities sake the yoke of him that hath the preeminence rule for his time Nether let any iudge or thinke the Ioseph offended god in that he submitted him selfe vnder the yoke of Pharao for it is no shame for a wise maÌ„ to crouch vnto him whose helpe he staÌ„deth in nede of whatsoeuer he be much more if he be a kyng or a Lorde Do ye not knowe that oure fathers were in bondage to king Pharao in Aegypt But after the lorde remembred the couenaunt that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Aegipt he sent Moses our maister of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the lorde to be with hym wherby he was able to destroy who soeuer dyd ryse against him neuerthelesse when he came to Pharaos presence who then bare rule in Aegipt he showed not hym felfe in armes but rather wyth thunder and hayle that Pharao mighte well perceyue and knowe God was the Lord. But at what tyme as Pharao oppressed the Israelites to sore oure master Moyses by godes helpe brought them out of Aegipt with a strong hand and a stretched forthe arme agaynste the Aegiptianes whom he punished with continuall plages by that meanes deliuering the Israelites out of the handes of their Lordes and Maisters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heyres of all goodnes that is to saye of the moste holye lawe of God And after Iosua had subdued the holy lande to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chaunsed vnto oure fathers times of aduersitie as it is meÌ„tioned in the bookes of the Prophetes so that they were constreyned to serue the king of Aschur a long season and the kinges of Persia to the Chaldees also were we in bondage althoughe not very greuous but tollerable More ouer with other kinges of the gentiles we had warres and sometimes we were put to foyles sometimes we had the vpper hand Nowe therefore my brethern tell me what shame were it to you if you were subiecte to the Romaines or what ar you to be coÌ„pared to other nations that be vnder theyr dominion Do you not see that the Romaines reigne ouer your enemies and beare rule ouer them that sometimes were your maisters and haters were it not reason rather that you shuld loue them whiche haue brought doun your enemies and reuenged you of them whych notwithstanding you haue nothing at all dooen but rather haue
assault this citie hereafter for they haue burnte all our engines of war wherwith we haue subdued al other kingdoms so that now of fifty yron rāmes whiche we brought with vs we had but fyue left and the seditions Iewes haue burnte thre of thē what shal we now do how shall we batter the walles hereafter The Iewes vpon the walles hearing their wordes flouted them and lough them to scorne Wherfore Titus incēsed with anger commaunded thother three Rāmes to be addressed in the place of that which was brente In the meane season whiles the Romaines were at work .iiii. yong men moued with a great zeele whose names were first Thopatius Galilaeus then Megarus Chebronita the thirde Iorminus Schomronita the fourth Arius Ierosolimita these all armed issued out into the camp of the Romains that then stoode about their thre engines yrō rās diuising how to batter the walles of the city of whom some those yong mē killed the other fled Then .ii. of thē stod at defence to kepe of all thē the approched nye the engine while the other two Ierosolimitanus Schomronita daubed the timber with a certain mater which they had prepared to make it take fire streight way set fyre vpō thē so the sodenly the rames were on a light fire Then they al iiii ioyned together withstood the Romains that they shuld not come at the engins to quenche the fyre Schortly the rams fel doune and the Romaines stood a louf hurling stones and shooting thick at thē for they were afraid to come nye them bicause of theyr great fearcenes although they were thre thousand mē the kept the rams yet these four set nothing by thē nor neuer wēt of the groūd til the rams were clene brent vp shot the Romaines neuer so thick at them Titus hearing of the valeātnes of these yong men the harmes that they had done vnto the Romains made spede with his hole hoste to saue the rams frē the fyre to apprehēd those yōg mē Then fortwith issued out Schimeō Iehochanā Eleasar captaines of the seditious with their souldiors soūding their trōpetes made the Romains retyre that thei could not come nie the fire and so rescued the four yong men from the Romains that had enuironed them round aboute In that skirmish were killed ten thousand men and fiue hundreth Then gathered together al the whole armye of the Romains to assault the Iewes at once approching hard to the walles of Ierusalem there thei cryed vnto the Iewes saiyng What are ye Oren or goates that you fight on this fashion vpon the walles Will ye be taken in the midste of the citye like as oxen and goates are taken in their foldes If ye be menne come forth and let vs trie our manhode here in this plaine But you by stealth and at vnwares set vppon theim that kepe our engines snatching theim vp lyke as it were wolues shoulde snatch shepe then run away into the towne as the wolues run to the wode If there he any manhod in you behold we are redy here come forth to vs so many for so manye and then wee shall see what end will come therof When the captaynes of the seditious heard that they spake vnto the warriours that were in Hierusalem Whiche of you will go out with vs to these dogges to shewe our force and stomackes for the sanctuary and citye of the Lorde Then fiue hundreth tal felowes of their owne accorde issued out vpon the Romains sodainely slew .viii. M. men and compelled the reste to recule from the walles The Romaines then wist what valeantnes the Iewes had for the Romaines were in nūber forty thousand fighting men and the Iewes were onely fyue hundred wherof not one of them was killed in that skirmish The Romaines a far of shot at the Iewes and hurled stoones to whome the Iewes said come hither to vs are not you thei the called vs forth prouoked vs to come to you Why come ye not nowe neare You go about to driue vs awaye with arowes and stones What do ye think vs to be dogs and that we are afraied of your stones Are we not men Yea we are your maisters betters for ye runne away from vs as seruantes flee from theyr masters when they folow them to beat them TItus seing his army part to be fled and part to be slain he cryed to his people saing is it not a shame for you ye Romains a wonderful great dishonour to flee frō the Iewes so hūgar beatē famished almost dead for thirst beseged Alas how shal ye put away this your rebuke ignominy whē as al nations whiche heretofor ye haue most valeātly subdued shall here the ye flee frō these dead Iewes whose hole land we haue in possession so that they haue nothing left but this onely toun whiche we haue also so batterd that they haue but one onelye walle to defend them Besydes this they are very few we are innumerable they haue no nation to ayde them we haue help of al landes why then do ye flee from theyr sight lyke as the smale impotent birdes flee frō the egle What though the Iewes vowe and hassard them selues desperatly for theyr temple and land why do not you the same also in these warres to get you a renowne of valeantnes Thus the Iewes preuayled that day and had the vpper hand wherfore they returned into the toune wyth great glory hauing put the Romains to so great a foyle Titus commaunded his to addresse and prepare the two other rammes that were left to batter the walles of Ierusalē withall Wherfore the Romane carpēters caste a trenche to prepare and sette vp the Rams wythin it in suche place as Titus had assigned them The Iewes were ware of it well enough but winked at the matter as yet vntyll they had planted the master bemes betwene the standinge postes So when the worke was fynished euen to the hangyng vp of the engynes betwixt the standynge postes to shake the walle wythall the Romaynes beynge secure nothing mystrustinge that the Iewes would sturre bycause they had ben quiet a few nightes neuer issued forth of the citie Vpon a certain night a prety while before daye the thre principall capitaines of the sedicious came and cast their heades together to deuise what they shoulde dooe Eleasar gaue this counsaile and saied You two the laste tyme issued oute burnte three Rammes and gate you renoune and I kepte the gates the whyle now kepe ye the gates and I wyll issue out with my menne againste the Romaynes to get me a name also The other answered Go then a Gods name vnto them the Lord God of the sanctuary whicke is in Hierusalem shall be present with thee but beware thou be not slaine and in any wise thou be not takē aliue To whom he aunswered the Lorde God shall kepe me for vpon the trust of the rightuousnesse of my father Anani the hie prieste and his
that intent to draw you from your lawe or to banish you out of your lande or els to destroye it and your Cities but this is the cause of my commynge hither to effer you peace and to make a league with you that you shoulde take vppon you our yoke and be our subiectes as ye were â—â—ore Where did you euer heare of a people in al the worlde that hath shewed them selues so mercifull gentle both towardes other towards you as we haue done Hanniball the captain of the Garthaginianâ— after he had wasted our couÌ„trey at loÌ„gth was taken by vs was he not had in greate honor reputatioÌ„ of vs with such humanity haÌ„dled the we made him king of his people And so delt we with Antiochê° the MacedoniaÌ„ other kings the we toke prisoners â–ª Ye â–ª brag the ye kepe the watch of â—our god Why theÌ„ folow ye not the exaÌ„ple of Iechaniah your kinge who to saue the teÌ„ple of your god froÌ„ destructioÌ„ left your people also shold be led away into bondage or be destroyed with the sworde yelded him selfe and his house into the hands of the king of the Chaldeis Why spare you not your owne liues your citie and sanctuary Nowe therefore hearken vnto me â–ª and I wil make a leage with you before the God of this house who shal be a witnes betwixt me and you by whom I sweare that I will neuer breake this league neither do you anye harme nor spoyle your goodes nor leade you away captiue nor yet set any ruler ouer you but a Iewe of your owne nacion euen Ioseph the priest whiche is with me shall be your prince if you think it good and all the faithfull menne also whiche are with me shall returne to you home againe ye shal inhabite your own land ye shal haue the vse of the fruites therof with peace and quietnesse without any corruption or alteration of the seruice of your God Wherfore credite 〈◊〉 â—o make a leage wyth you and that yâ— may trust me the better ye shall haue pledges Iosephe a noble man of your countrey and other princes and noble men of the Romaynes Come forthe therefore and intreate a peace with vs bowe your shoulders and humble your neckes to serue vs like as all other nacions do as you haue done your selfes in the time of Nero Caesar the ye may liue not be distroied keping your religion safe sound Ioseph the priest hearing the wordes of Titus his clemency in that he was minded to spare the Iewes burste out aloude and wept in the presence of the capitaynes of the sedicious verye bitterlye but they nothinge regarded it Iosephe therfore seinge that Titus coulde do nothinge wyth the sedicious said vnto their princes I maruaile nothing thoughe this citie tende to desolation destruction for I know the ende of it is at hande But this is it that I maruaile moste that ye haue redde the boke of Daniel and vnderstaÌ„d it not which is now fulfilled in al thinges and yet neuer a one of you dothe marke it The continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while agoe the annoynted Prieste is cut awaye and put downe These things although thei be most manifest yet your herts caÌ„ not be leue theÌ„ And mani other words spake Ioseph full of admonition consolatioÌ„ but the Iewes refused to heare him WheÌ„ as he had made an end therfore and the Sedicious hadde so hardened their neckes Titus turned him and departed out of Hierusalem saiynge Let vs get vs hence least their synnes destroye vs. Wherefore he pitched hys tentes without the Citye in the same place where he encamped at the firste For he was afrayed both for him selfe and his armie lest they shoulde be circuÌ„uented and closed in and slaine cruellye in so great a Citye as that was Certaine of the priestes at that tyme of the nobles of the towne with other Godlie men did wisely se to theÌ„ selues â–ª came forth to Titus submittyng theÌ„ selues to his mercye were receiued of him peceably wyth great honor WhoÌ„ Titus coÌ„maunded to be coÌ„ducted into the land of Goschen where in tymes past the Israelites dwelt in the daies of Iacob their father Ioseph Lord of Egypte Thither sent he them gaue it theÌ„ in possession to theim and to their heires for euer commaundynge a companye of the Chaldeis to safe conducte theim til they came to the lande of Goschen Titus directed hys Letters also to the Romayne Presidente whyche was set ouer Egypt to take pitie of the Iewes that he hadde placed in the Lande of Goschen to sustayn and succour them and to see that no Romaine or other shoulde do them harme or anoye them by anye meanes Manye other also of the Iewes coueted to go forthe of Hiâ—rusalem but they were letted of the Sedicious that they coulde not dooe as they intended And who can tell whether they were intangled wyth their owne synnes and destenyed to destruction wyth theyr Sediciousse brethren when as their handes also were polluted wyth the crueltye and iniquitye of the Sedicious Wherfore the Sedicious closed vp all the waies about the temple that none of the Iewes which were in Hierusalem might get out to Titus When Titus knew that many of the Iewes wer desierous to flee vnto him and coulde not because of the sedicious he wente agayne to the place where heâ— was afore and Iosephe with him Whom when the people sawe to be there with Titus they fel a wepynge and said vnto him We acknowledge our synnes and the traunsgression of our fathers wee haue all swarued out of the waye against the lord our God for we know the mercye and gentlenes of Titus the sonne of Caesar and that he taketh pity vpon vs but what can we do when it is not in our power to flee vnto hym bicause of the cruelty of the sedicious The sedicious hearing theim talkyng with Ioseph in presence of Titus that they spake reuerently of him honored hys father callyng him Lorde they ranne vpon them with their drawen swordes to kill them Then cried they vnto Titus deare Lorde and maister rescue vs. The Romayns therfore made spede to deliuer theÌ„ out of the haÌ„des of the sedicious So risse there a fray in the midst of the temple betwene the Romayns and the Iewes The Romains fled into the place called Sanctum sanctorum which was the holiest of all and the Iewes folowed after and slewe theim euen there Titus standinge without cryed vnto Iehochanan and saide vnto hym Hearest thou thou Ichochanan is not thy wickednes yet great inough Wilt thou neuer make an ende of thy mischiefe Where is the honoure of thy God Is it not written in the lawe of your God of the Sanctum sanctorum that no straunger ought to come at it but onelye the hye prieste and that but once a yeare because it is the holiest of al And now how darest thou be so
Romaines therfore when they had gotten that dore of the Sanctum sanctorum once open and had entred into it they made great ioy and gaue a greate shoute whiles the Sanctum sanctorum was a fire which when Titus saw he made greate spede to quench the fire and to saue the Sanctum sanctorum but he could not do it there did so many set it a fire in so manye places Titus therefore cried vnto them that they shoulde not do so But they would not heare him for like as a vehement â—â—oude of water breaketh all things and driueth them down before it euen so with a furious violence the gentiles rushed vpon the temple of the Lord the fire flaminge nowe and then out of measure Thus Titus cried vpoÌ„ them in vaine wherefore when Titus sawe be coulde not refraine the people from the Sanctum sanctorum wyth wordes he drue out his sword blaming the captaines of his owne people and the other that were not Romaines he killed them for they in time paste were more wont to spoile the temple neuerthelesse thelesse he could not stay them nor put them backe He cried still vppon them notwithstaÌ„ding til be was so hoorse that he coulde crye no longer The priestes which were in the Sanctum sanctorum withstode the Romaines stoutlye till they were no more able to lift vp their handes against them Wherfore wheÌ„ the priestes sawe there was none other sauegarde lefte thâ—y lept into the â—ire and diuers other Iewes with theÌ„ that had hid them selues in the Sanctum sanctorum and so were al brent together for they said what should we liue anye longer nowe that the temple is burnte Titus ceased not to strike the people to chase them from the temple that they should not sinne against the Sanctum sanctorum but no man wold obey him for they were mani the spoiled temple Titus therfore being so weatye that al his strength failed him he fell downe vpon the ground So whan he saw he preuailed nothing with his criyng he left of forbiddinge them After that the house of the Sanctum sanctorum was burnt Titus rose entred into it and saw the glory magnificeÌ„ce therof and beleued that it was the house of the Lord for as yet the fire had not vtterly consumed al so that be said now I wel perceiue that this is none other then the house of God and the dwelling of the God of heaueÌ„s nether was it for noughte that the Iewes stode so earnestly in the desence therof nor the gentiles also did not withoute a cause send gold and siluer to this temple froÌ„ the furthest partes of the worlde For greate is the glorye of this temple and it far passeth the teÌ„ple of the Romains and al the temples of the gentiles that euer I sawe The GOD of heauen whiche is the God of thys house take vengaunce of the Sedicious whose mischeuous and heinous deedes haue brought this euell vpon it The seditious the yet remained at IerusaleÌ„ seinge the Sanctum sanctorum to be burnt thei set the rest of the temple a fyre theim selues and al the houses also that were filled full of treasure and all kynde of precious iewels and where they knew there was yet some victuals lefte they set it a fire also leaste the Romaines should haue any commoditye by it saiyng now that the Sanctum sanctorum is wasted what should we liue any loÌ„ger and then what nede haue we of anye other buildinges or houses After this the Romains quenched the fire set vp their Idols and images in the temple and offred burnt offerings vnto them blaspheminge railinge mocking at the Iewes and their lawes in the presence of their idols ABout that time was there a certain Iewe that prophected a lie vnto the seditious that remained yet at Ierusalem bidding them to playe the meÌ„ and resist their enemies for now saith he shal the teÌ„ple be builded by it self with out mannes hande that God maye declare his power vnto the Romaines which nowe glory in them selues that they haue ouercome the Iewes Therfore if ye wil fight stoutly againste the Romains this daye shal the temple be builded by it selfe Wherefore the sedicious set vpon the Romains and â—â—ewe many of them So the Romains enkindeled with yre handeled the people cruellye killinge theim like shepe where they had fauoured theim hitherto All these things happened vnto the people because they gaue eâ—edite to the false prophet and market not the signed that appered at IerusaleÌ„ For the yere next before the coÌ„myng of Vaspasian there was sene a starre ouer the Temple so bright as thoughe a man had had many drawe swordes in his hand at once And at the same time as the starre appered in the time of the folemne feaste talled Passach Easter that whole night the â—emple was as light and as â—â—e are as though it had bene middaie and it conâ—inâ—â—â— so by the space of .vii. dayes of the feast The men of vnderâ—â—andynge in Israel knewe well inough that this was an euill signe but the rest of the people interpreted it in good parte The very same time also they brought a Heffer for a burnte offerynge which when she was feld and stroken downâ— that they might dresse her she brought forth a lambe This myracle they saied likewise made for them and pretended good As also this that fâ—loweth they interpreted to good There was a certaine Gate that was called the Caste Gate a great and wonderous heauâ—â— gate that was neuer opened nor shut but twentye menne had inough to doe about it the crekynge of the gynnoes and hokes whereof myght bee hearde a farre of This Gate was founde open without anye mannes helpe and they coulde not shutte it tyll a grâ—ate noumber assembled and ioyned their strengthes together After this â–ª there was sene ouer the Temple and the Sanctum sanctorum by the space of a whole nighte a face of a manne wonderfull terrible There appeared also at that time â—â—ery chariots and horse meÌ„ and great hoasts in the skye comming nye to Hiernsalem and all the Lande of Inda In the feast also of Weekâ—â— the Prtestes hearde a man walking in the remple saiynge with a great a wonderfull terribâ—e â—ase voyce Come 〈◊〉 vs go avvaye oute of thys Temple and get vs hence But specially there was one passynge all these A certain manne in the Citye of a base and â—â—we 〈◊〉 whose name was Iehoscua the 〈◊〉 of Chananeiahu began to crye vpoÌ„ the feast of the tabernartes with a lond voyce on this wyse A voyce from the east a voice from the vvest a voice from the four vvindes of the heauens a voyce agaynst IerusaleÌ„ a voyce agaynst the teÌ„pleâ— a voyce agaynlle the Bridegrome a â—oyee agaynste the bryde and a voyce against the vvhole people Which wheÌ„â—e or yeâ— thus very oâ—â—e the citezins of Hâ—â—usalem hated him saiâ—d to him What tryest thou alwayes this crye But the gouernouâ— that then
was in the â—â—tie forbade the Citizins to say â—â—â—â—ye thing to him afterward supposing hâ—â— to be besides him self mad Therfore he neuer left criyng for the space of iiii yeâ—â—â—il the waâ—rrs began saâ—yng Wo to Hâ—erusaleÌ„ to the sanctuary therof When the warres were once begâ—â—e and the towne besieged it fortuned as he wandered about vpon the wals â—â—iyng after his maner and at last adding this Woe vnto my felfe a stone came out of an engine from the campe and smitte out his braines At that time â–ª also there was a wrttynge founde 〈…〉 in a stene of olde whiche the Ieâ—â—â— redde the wordes were these VVhâ—â— tyâ—ne the building of the temple shal be brought to soure square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochâ—â— was taken and raced by the Romains and the walles of the temple were also broken the Iewes makinge spede to repaire the ruiâ—es and 〈…〉 without any remeÌ„â—raunce of this scripture thei made the teÌ„plâ—◠〈◊〉 squarâ— Besides this there was a scripture foâ—â—â—â—e in the wall of the Sanctâ—m sanâ—â—â—um on this wise VVhen the vvhole building of the temple shal be foure 〈◊〉 the â—f hall a king raine ouer Israel â–ª and that king and ruler shal raigne ouer all the lande of Israell Some interpâ—â—ted this vpon the king of Israell But the Priestes saide it is the kinge or ruler of the Romains The whole armye of the Romains being now commed into the temple and the Iewes also fled to the mount Syon the Romaines set vp their ydols in the temple of the Lorde and offered Sacrifice vnto theim blaspâ—eminge and raylinge at the Iewes and their god At that tyme there came downe to the Romaynes a little boye of the priestes from the mount Syon whiche wonte to a â—aptaine of the Romayns that was keper of the temple and desieted him to geue him some water to drinke He toke pitye of the boy and bade geue him water The boy takyng the vessel that the water was in first dranke him self then ranne away with the rest The captaine ranne after him hym selfe but he wonâ—â—e not ouertake hym of a purpose because he was delited with the Boyes doinge wherfore he let him go for the nonces so he gate vp to the priostres gaue theÌ„ drinke On a time when the Romains were aâ— theyr sacâ—â—fyes in the presence of Titus theyr Lordeâ— certayâ—e of the priestes came and besought Titus that be waulde not kyâ—l them to whom Tâ—tus made aunswâ—r why do ye wysh to lyue nowe and nâ—â—â—ather to dye with your bretherâ— that haue 〈◊〉 deathe for the Gods sake of thys house Then Tâ—tus commaunded hys menne to 〈◊〉 them and so dyed they After Schimcon and Iehochanan sent embassadoâ—â—â—â— Titus to requyer peace to whom Titus made â—unswer in 〈◊〉 wyse Ye 〈◊〉 thys thyng to late and howe cometh it to passe that ye now intreate for 〈…〉 lyues when that of so great a number of people ye haue left none saue a â—â—â—y sewe When as also ye haue wasted al thynges most cruelly and despeâ—â—â—â— ytâ— Howe after all these your mischiâ—ons actes ye reguire peace which ye would neuer receyue of me althoughe I desâ—red you neuer so ofâ—e For it â—ityed me to see youre people some to hee vered â—yth honger and some to bee caste â—ute of the Citye wythoute anye buriall But ye hardened youre neckes and woulde neuer admit anye Peace tyll all the people were destroyed Therefore Titus reprehended theim with manye other wordes saiyng vnto theim Tell mee you Sedicious you wycked and synnefull persones haue not you slayne the people of the Lorde You set his house on fire you brought vpon this Citye all this mischiefe Howe can you therefore persuade your selues or presume to desire the sauegarde of â—our liues and why will ye liue alone of all the Sages righteous innocente Godlye and holye menne whom ye haue slayne without anye mercye Howe maye I committe this not to be adâ—enged of you that haue done me so much mischiefe Ye desire lyfe and yet perseuer and continue in your malyce still holding your swetdes in your handes and beynge in Armes neuerthelesse ye entrâ—â—â—e â—â—es to saue youre lyues Haue we not nowe taken the Citye and also the temple the Sanctum sanctoruÌ„ haue wee not burnt it with fire What is there left for you to put anye hope in what loke ye for to remaine Wherfore cast away your swords and laie awaye your armoure then come vnto me and entreat me and then shal I knowe what I haue to do peraduenture I shall be gracious vnto you and pardon you your liues The captaynes of the sedicious Schimeon and Iehochanan made answere to Titus We haue sworne by the Lorde our God who is God of heauen earth â—â—at we wil neuer bear thy yoke no 〈◊〉 thee nor make any peace with thâ—â— to be subiect vnto thee Nowe therfore if it be thy pleasure to shewe vs mercye suffer vs to go out of the Citye and we will take our iourney into the wildernesse whiche if thou wilt graunt vs we wil reporte that we haue founde fauour at thy hande if not wee wyll remayne in this place to see what wee shall determyne and what maner of deathe we wyll dye When Titus heard this he was wonderfully wroth and said remaineth the pride of your hartes and the hardnesse of your neckes yet with you still although ye be taken yet ye dare be so bould to say we haue sworne that we wil not beare thy yoke Yea ye haue sworn vnto death for ye haue despised life when as your citye is wonne the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt and no refuge is left you Wher with theÌ„ caÌ„ ye put away your ignomini shame and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉 Then gaue Titus coÌ„maunde 〈…〉 the Romaines that they should not omit any oportunity to set vpoÌ„ the sedicious by one meanes or other to destroys Schimeon Iehochanan There was at time a certain man of the kinges bloud whose name was Serach he accompanied withal his brethren and sonnes that were there with him of the kinges bloude came downe from the Mount Sâ—on to Titus who receiued them honorably getlely ordered them When Iehochanan Schimeon vnderstode that Serach and the rest were gone and had yelded theÌ„ to Titus they wente and set fire vpon all that was in the kinges palaice that the Romains should haue no commodity therby FRom thence they wente to the temple where they founde certaine noble men and captaines whome Titus had put in authoriti about the temple of whome three were chiefe one captaine of the horsmen the seconde of the charrets and the thirde of the foote men him they killed and toke his companioÌ„ aliue This besought them that had taken him that he might be brought to Schimeon their captaine let hym saith he do with me as he lift and in this one thinge let me finde fauour at your
handes They agreed broughte him to Schimeon who commaunded his seruauntes assone as he was come to flea him But while he that was apointed to this businesse made delay and killed him net by and by he whipt downe of the hill escaped and came to Titus who commaunded him oute of his sighte being wroth with him that he had not sought vnto deathe rather then to be taken quicke But with the Iewes was he wonderfullye displeased that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men wherfore he commaunded to kil all the Iewes as many as could be founde in the streetes of the â—â—ye whome he woulde haue spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughoute all hys campe for theyr safetye Then died many of the Iewes so that euerye place was full of deade bodies The menne of warre of the Edomites whythe were wyth Schimeon perceiuinge howe the matter wente they sente Embassadoures to Titus to desire peace and to saue theyr lyues which when it came to Schimeons ear he wente vnto them and slue the chiefe of them and their noble men the rest of the people of the Edomites fledde vnto Titus From that time forthe Titus commaunded his men to vse no more truelty vpoÌ„ the Iewes Sone after fled Iehochanan and Schimeon and hid theÌ„ selues in certain caues The rest of the chief meÌ„ of the Iewes that were with them seing them nowe to be fled came nowne from the Mounte vnto Titus set downe vpon their face before hym vpon the ground whome Titus receiueâ— gentlelye As for the sedicious that were with Schimeon Iehochanan they fought till they al died together TheÌ„ cam forth vnto Titus one Iosua a priest sonne of Schaftai the hie prieste bringing with him two candelstickes of gold which were in the sanctuary and the tables of gold with other vessels of siluer and gold and also the holye vestures decked with golde and precious stones all those he gaue vnto Titus who made him chiefe priest ouer them that remained nexte vnder Ioseph the priest for Titus gaue Ioseph authority as wel ouer the priestes and Leuites as ouer the whole people of the Iewes Then was Gorion the father of Ioseph that writ this history brought oute of the prison with his wife and children among whoÌ„ was one Bonian Iosephs yonger brother he was a verye wise a godly priest by whome god bestowed many benefites vpoÌ„ the Israelites For Titus lefte him at Ierusalem and tooke him not with him as he did Ioseph Iosephes father liued after the city was taken twenty moneths died They tooke then also one Phmeas a prieste who was keper of the treasure house he bewraied and vttered to the Romains al the treasures of the priestes and their vestements he gaue also vnto Titus a moosse precious oyle wyth swere oâ—ours and perfumes and garmentes also of purple which the kinges of the second temple had geueÌ„ Wherfore both this Phineas and Iosua whoÌ„ we mentioned afore transgressed the couenaunte of the Lord and offended God in that they deliuered his iewels to the ennemies of his people whiche thei ought not to haue done but rather to haue died for the glory of the Lord as the other priestes did whiche caste them selues into the fire Thus was the city of Ierusalem takeÌ„ with al the precious thinges that were therein and Titus went vp to the mount Sion â—â—ke it and raced the walles therof Vpon a three daies after Iehochanan sore vert with hunger leste his place where he lucked and came to Titus fell downe afore him and kissed his feete sayinge saue me O Lord king Titus commauded him 〈◊〉 be fettered with iraÌ„ cheins when he had caused him to be carted about the campe so bound to be mocked of al men by the space of .vii. daies he commaunded to hanâ— him so gate he a iuste ende and fit rewarde for his cruelty After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den being driueÌ„ with famin he had out on king ye apparel shewed him self a far of to the Romaine host who seing him were afraide to go to him but he called vnto theÌ„ askt foâ— sâ—me captaine Then one came forth sâ—id vnto Schimeon tel me who the art I wil not kil thee Schimeon answered therefore tolde him I am Schimeon that sedicious Captaine of the Iewes whiche haue made you so muche a not now I beseche thee shew me so muche sauour as to bring me to Titus thi master which he did Titus therfore when he saw Schimeon he coÌ„maunded him to be fast bound and to be â—ed about the whole host that he might be deluded mâ—ckt Afterward he was put to a fore death first his head was striken of theÌ„ he was cut in many peces and cast vnto dogges so he died an abhominable death being punished for his iniquity THe number of the Iewes aswell citizens as other that came vnto the feast to Ierusalem whiche were flaine partly by the Romaines partly by the sedicious duringe the whole tyme of those warâ—es was knowen to be thus many eleuenth hundreth thousand besides them whose noumber was not knowen Onlye they were counted which were slaine buried besides theÌ„ also that after the death of Iehochanan Schimeon died with Eleasar the sonne of Anam the priest whiche were not reckened Thei that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were .xvi. M. men Titus therfore with Ioseph wente to Rome leauing Bonian Iosephs brother at Ierusalem who was appointed the chiefe priest of them that abode there for that did Ioseph request of Titus whiche he perfourmed The sedicious were all slaine in that battaile whiche they toke in hand for the peoples sake and the temple of the Lord â–ª They also that Titus toke prisoners were put to vile deathes For he reserued many to be mocking stocks in euery 〈…〉 whâ—re he passed by in his way is Rome and in euery towne he commaunded some to be brought forthe and caste vnto the Lions til they were al confumed THere was a certain people 〈◊〉 that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat that were called Alamites whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearinge closed them in on euery side This people although they had no knowledge of the vse of yron nor armour yet this was their maner that one of theÌ„ with a great poal burnt a little at the ende would put to flight a hundred good souldiours were they neuer so well appointed and armed Vntill this yeare they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout al their land they sent Embassadours to the People of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that thei would open the straightes of the mountayns that they might come forth with their wiues and children to seke theim fode The Hurkans grauÌ„ted their requests opened them the entrances of the mouÌ„tains So they came forth wanderyng here and there and spoilynge diuerse countreis til at lengthe they toke
to dye And woulde God we had bene dead before the we might not haue seene in thee thy reproch or who would bring to passe the we might lacke eyes that we shuld not be compelled to see these mischeues the are in the mids of thee And behold we liue a most sorowful life for our enemies eueÌ„ now afore we be dead cast lots vpon our sonnes daughters to deuide theÌ„ amoÌ„gst theÌ„ to be their seruaÌ„tes handmaids When Eleasar had ended this lamentacion he spake to the people that was w e him thus NOw therfore brethreÌ„ frends take pitye of your selues your wiues children with old men which he with you let theÌ„ not be led into boÌ„dage with out al merci the they be not coÌ„streined to mourn vnder the haÌ„ds of their enemies for if ye do this ye leese withoute all doubte all places that are prepared for you in the world of rightousnesse neither shall ye haue any part in the light of life But rather with your owne handes kil them thus if ye wil do they shal be couÌ„ted as sacrifices most accdptable vnto God and that done we wil after issue out vpon oure enemies and fight against them till we vse valeaÌ„tly for the glory of the lord for we wil nener suffer them to bind vs with boÌ„des and cheins as bond slaues in the handes of the vncircumcised Nether wil we se our aunciente men to be haled by the berdes before our eyes most miserably nor yet oure maides wifes and doughters to be vnhalowed and defloured nor oure sonnes criynge to vs and we can not helpe them for what shal oure life auaile vs after that our land is desolate our sanctuary pulled downe the Romains rauishe our wiues doughters before our eyes and oppresse oure sonnes with a most greuous and hard yoke Nowe therfore it is better for vs to kil al our wiues and childreÌ„ whose bloud God shal accepte thankfullye as the blud of burnt offerings after â–ª we wil issue out vpon the Romains fight til we be al destroyed die for the glory of the Lord our God These menne therfore wente and gathered together their wiues and doughters embrased 〈◊〉 and kissed them saying is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini shame into the landes of your ennemies and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles These saiynges wheÌ„ the people had beard thei droue forth that night in great sorow and pensifenesse weping and makinge great lamenâ—â—cion but they all confest with one accorde that they had rather chuse to die then liue Therefore assone as it was daye â–ª Eleasars companions killed their wines and children caste their bodies into the â—esterns and welles that were in Mezirah couering and stepving theÌ„ with earth Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his meÌ„ and â—orced a battel vpon the Romains of wheÌ„ the Iewes killed a great forte and fought so long till they al died maÌ„fully for the Lord God BUt Titus left a remnaunt of Israel in the citye Iafnah and the villages thereabout and in the estye Bitter and Aossa their villages in whiche place Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the priest yonger brother to Iosephe the Prieste was put in authority by Titus for Iosephs sake ouer al the Iewes which were at Ierusalem At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to â—â—ath â–ª and Ischmael soÌ„ne of Elischa the 〈◊〉 priest Moreouer Titus was minded to haâ—â— put Rabban Gamaliel father of Raâ—chbag to deathe but Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai made sute for him and obteined to saue his life This Rabban Iochanan was he that came forthe of Ierusalem in the beginning wheÌ„ Vaspasian father of Titus came firste against Ierusalem whoÌ„ Vaspasian honoured greatly in so much as when he returned to Rome he commended this Rabban Iochanan to his sonne Titus comaunding him to honor him for he perceiued he was a verye wise man Titus reigned two yeares after he had taken Ierusalem and died He was a very eloquent man expert in the Latin and Greke tong writ diuers workes in both the tonges He loued moste intirely iustice and equitye for he wasted the city of Ierusalem against his wil being compelled therunto Yea all the mischiefe that came vpon it happened through the malice and noughtinesse of the sedicious as we haue touched before And thus far of the warres of the second house ¶ Thus endeth the destruction of Ierusalem Nn. ii ⧠The ten Captiuities of the Ievves i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captiuitie foure times by the handes of Sanherib and foure times by Nabuchadnezar once by Vaspasian and once bi supersticious Adrian First inuaded them Sanherib â—â—ennache â—â—b and traunsposed the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasse He toke awaye also the golden calfe whiâ—he Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had made He ledde them into Halah Habur to the floud of Gozan and to the cities of the Medes This captiuitie was in the time of Pekah the sonne of Remaha ii The second Captiuitie Hoscha the sonne of Ela remained and slew Pekah the sonne of Remalia Afterwarde he became the seruant and subiect of Sanherib seuen yeares Then came Sanherib the seconde time and caried awaye the tribes of Aâ—ar Isachar Zebulon and Naphtali of whom he let go free onely one of euery eight He tâ—ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel iii. After the death of Ahaz raigned Hiz kiahu his soÌ„ne in his steede four yeres Hezekia the fourth yere of whose rain Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria beseging it .iii. yeares and at lengthe roke it in the vi yeare of the raigne of Hiskijahu So led he awaye the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Manasse This is the .iii. captiuity iiii When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii yeares Sanheriâ— perauenture he made warres againste Ierusalem bringynge wyth hym the Chuteans heretikes out of Babilon E. thiopia Hemates Auim and Sepharuauim and as he warred vpon Iudea he toke in that countrye a. C and. l. cities in the which there were .ii. tribes Iuda and Simeon whome he toke with him caused them forthwith to be led into Halah Habur vntil the king of the Ethiopians rebelled againste him whose kingdoÌ„ was on the hinder parts of Egipt Then taking Iuda Simeon with him he made war with the king of Ethiopia So the holye and blessed God placed them in darke mountains He re was foure captiuities whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib There remained yet of Iuda Cx. thousand and of Beniamin Cxxx. thousand in Ierusalem ouer whoÌ„ raigned Hizkiahu Moreouer Sanherib came out of Ethiopia againste Ierusalem the fifte time leading with him Cx. thousand but the holye Lorde ouerthrewe hym there as it is written And the angell of the