CAP. VI.
ƲƲhat miseryes happened vnto the Iewes, after that haynous offence which they committed agaynst Christ.
PHilo doth write, that after the death of Tiberius, Caius, hauing obtayned the empire, vexed many with manifold, and innumerable afflictions, but chiefly among all others, the nation of the Iewes, which in few of his wordes may be gathered, writing thus: so greeuous (sayth* 1.1 he) vvas the dealing of Caius Caligula tovvards all men, but specially bent agaynst the nation of the Ievves, vvith greate indignation, that in other cities (yet beginninge in Alexandria) he vvoulde chaleng vnto him selfe, their prayers, and supplications, paynting in euery place, the fi∣gure, and forme of his proper picture, and reiecting all others, successiuely by might and force to place him selfe, and dedicating the temple in the holy city (vntill that tyme vndefiled, & free euery vvay,) to him selfe, and his proper vse, translating and consecrating the name to nevv Ca∣ius as a famous God. And infinite more mischeeues which can not be tolde, the same Philo repor∣teth, to haue happened vnto the Ievves at Alexandria, in his second booke of vertues. And Iosephus agreeth with him, which likewise signifieth all the miseryes of these men, to haue had their origi∣nall, from the tyme of Pilate, and their rashe enterprise against Christ. Heare then what he shew∣eth in the second booke of the Iudaicall warres, thus writing worde by worde. Pilate being sent* 1.2 from Tiberius, Lieuetenant into Iudaea, couertly conueyed by night into Ierusalem, the vayled picture of Caesar, vvhich they call his Armes, vvhich thinge, vvhen day appeared, moued the Ie∣vves not a litle. For they vvhich vvere nearest vnto them, at the sight therof, stamped them vvith their feete, as if they had bene abrogated lavves. They iudged it an haynous offence, that any carued image, should be erected in the city. But if thou conferre these with the trueth in the Go∣spell, thou shalt easily perceaue, how that not long after, the voyce pressed them, which they pro∣nounced before Pilate, saying: VVe haue no other King but Caesar. Moreouer the same historio∣grapher* 1.3 reporteth an other calamity, to haue eftsones ensued the former, saying: After this he rai∣sed* 1.4 an other tumulte, for their heaped treasure, vvhich they call Corbon, vvas vvasted vpon a conduyte, reaching the space of three hundred furlonges. This vvas the cause of the commotion among the Ievves, and vvhen Pilate vvas present at Ierusalem, they compassed him, crying out vnto him. But he foreseeing their conspiracy, assigned certayne armed souldiers, in outvvarde shevv of apparell, like vnto the common people, vvhich he mingled vvith the multitude, com∣maunding* 1.5 that no svvord should be vsed, but such as of the multitude, clamorously murmured (a signe being giuen from the tribunall seate) he caused to be beaten to death vvith clubbes. The Ievves being thus foyled, many perished of their vvoundes, and many in their flight, being trodden of their felovv citizens, vvere crushed to death. At this lamentable slaughter the multi∣tude being thus quayled, vvas silent. Besides these an innumerable more altercations, to haue bene at Ierusalem, Iosephus declareth, teaching how that from that tyme, sedition, warres, and of∣ten practises of mischeefs incessantly haue shaken not onely the city, but all Iudaea, vntil at length the vtter foyle, by their besieging vnder Vespasian ouerreached them. Thus hath vengeance ligh∣ted vpon the Ievves, for their horrible fact committed agaynst Christ.