The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. VIII.

Of the signes foreshewing the warres.

SEducers (sayth he) and authors of lyes agaynst God, deceaued at that tyme, that seely and* 1.1 vvretched people, so that they neither marked those euident ougly shapes, forshevving the desolation to come: nether gaue any credit therunto, but as astonied, both blinde & sense∣lesse, contemned the demonstrations of God, so that a starre stoode ouer the city, like vnto a* 1.2 svvorde, and a Commett enduring the space of a vvhole yeare. Agayne, before their rebellion, and vvarlike tumulte, vvhen the people frequented the feaste of svveete breade, the viij. day of the moneth Aprill, in the night, at nyne of the clocke: so greate a light ouerspred the altar, and* 1.3 the temple, that it seemed to be cleare daye, continevving the space of halfe an hovvre, vvhich sight vnto the vnlearned seemed good, but vvas numbred of suche as exercised them sel∣ues in the holy Scripture, among thinges vvhiche shortly shoulde happen. At the same feaste, a covve ledde by the high priest to sacrifice, calued a lambe, in the middest of the temple.* 1.4 Moreouer the East gate of the inner temple, though of brasse, and most stronge, so that in the euening, tvventy men coulde scarse shutt it, being boulted vvith iron barres, and strengthe∣ned vvith longe postes, and pillers: in the night tyme, about the sixt houre, vvas seene to haue opened voluntarily, of it selfe. A fevve dayes after the feaste, the xxj. daye of Maye, there* 1.5 vvas seene the figure, and shape of the deuill, almoste incredible. some vvoulde thinke that I vvent about to reporte, a monstrous lye, vnlesse it had bene reported by them, that savve it: and the afflictions vvhiche folovved, vvere correspondent vnto the signes. For before sunne sett, there vvere seene in the aëre, throughout the contrye, charettes, and armed souldiers,

marching in the cloudes, and compassing the citye. In the feaste of Pentecost, vvhen the priestes* 1.6 after their maner, vvent into the temple, in the night season to offer sacrifice, they reported to haue hearde a commotion, and a ratling sounde, vvith this voyce folovving: Let vs goe hence. And that vvhich vvas more terrible on Iesus, the sonne of Ananias, a rude, and a contrey fellovv, came vnto the feaste, in the vvhich the lavve geuen by God, vvas deliuered vnto all, as in the tyme of their tents, foure yeares before the vvarres, vvhen the citye vvas in peace, and prosperi∣tie, and so dainly about the temple cryed out, and sayd: A voyce from the East: a voyce from the VVest: a voyce from the foure vvindes: a voyce vpon Ierusalem, and the temple: a voyce vp∣pon the bridegrome, and nevve maried vvife: a voyce vpon all this people. this, day, and night, cryed he out, in the crosse vvayes of the streates, Many of the chiefe of the people, not pleased vvith this infortunate voyce, vvere throughly moued, so that they chastized, and scourged him, vvith many, and grieuous stripes: he of the contrary, saying not a vvorde for him selfe, ceased not to cry seuerally, vnto them that vvere present, the same songe. The magistrates supposing him to be possessed of a fanaticall spirite, as it vvas in deede, brought him vnto the Romayne president, vvhere he vvas scourged, from top to toe, so that the bare bones might be seene, yet neuer entreated he for him selfe, nor shedd a teare, but as much as in him laye, lifted his voyce vnto lamentation, sounding at euery stripe, vvoe, vvoe, vnto Ierusalem. An other thing yet more straunge, the same Historigrapher writeth, that a certayne oracle was found in the holy Scri∣ptures,* 1.7 contayning in it this sense: y^• there should one rise out of their owne region, which shoulde rule the worlde, which Iosephus vnderstandeth to haue bene ment by Ʋespasian. yet ruled he not the whole worlde, but the Romayne Empire. This oracle may better be referred vnto Christ, vnto whome it was sayd of the Father: Aske of me, and I vvill geue thee the Gentiles, for thyne inhe∣ritance,* 1.8 and the endes of the earth, for thy possession, the sound of vvhose Apostles, vvent at the* 1.9 very same tyme, throughout the earth, and their vvordes to the endes of the vvorlde.

The translator vnto the Reader, toutching the infinite number of Iewes, which perished in all the warres, betwene the Romaynes, and the Iewes, diligently gathered out of Iosephus.

I thinke it not amisse (gentle Reader) to note here vnto thee the infinite number of Iewes which peri∣shed, from the beginning of the warres, betwene the Romaynes, and the Iewes, that is from the 12. yere of Nero, and the 2. of the Lieuetenantship of Florus, Anno Christi 68. (out of Iosephus a Iewe, whiche was present in the warres) vnto the ouerthrowe of Ierusalem, and the burning of the temple by Titus, the which Eusebius, in these former chapiters, hath partly mentioned, and partly omitted to the ende we may beholde eyther the long suffring, and goodnes of God, for the amendement of our liues, by repen∣tance, which winked so long at the wickednesse of these Iewes, to prouoke vs: or els the ire, wrathe, and heauy hand of God, ouer impenitent persons, to terrifie vs to feare his name, and tremble at his plagues. The land of Sodome for their abominable sinne was ouerthrowne, with fire, and brimstone from heauen. The Lord him selfe sayd: (Genes. 18.) that their sinne vvas exceeding grieuous. Abraham pleading with the Angell of God (which came to destroy them) for pardon, could not finde tenne iust persons, no not* 1.10 in fiue cities. if they could haue bene founde, all the rest had bene pardoned for their sakes. Iosephus wri∣teth of Sodome thus: (bell. Iud. lib. 5. cap. 5.) Terra Sodomitica olim tam fructibus, quàm substantia ciuitatum fortunata, nunc autem omnis exusta, atque habitatorum impie∣tate, fulminibus conflagrasse memoratur. denique adhuc in ea Diuini reliquias ignis, & oppidorum quinque videre licet imagines, & renascentes in fructibus cineres, qui colore quidem sunt edulibus similes, carpentium vero manibus in fumum dissoluun∣tur, & cinerem. The land of Sodome is knovven of olde to haue bene fortunate, both for frute and vvelth of cities, but novv to lye all parched, and to haue bene burnt vvith lightnings, for the sinne of the inhabitants▪ to be short, as yet a man may there see reliques of the fire, vvhich God sent, and tokens of the fiue cities, and ashes to spring agayne, and grovve in the frute, vvhich in color are like vnto the eateable frute, but being plucked dovvne in the hande of the gatherer, they are dissolued into smoke, and ashes. The tenne plagues of Aegypt were very grieuous, yet was the hart of Pharao, and of the Aegyptians, so hardened, that they could not repent. so that in steede of

the salt teares of repentance, which should haue trickled downe their cheekes, to the washing away of their sinnes: the redd sea was fayne to open, & to wipe away such monsters, from of the face of the earth. God ouerthrewe infinite nations, before the face of his owne people (I meane the Iewes) to make away, for them into the land of promise. Yet forgat they all his goodnes, and benefites bestowed vpon them. how shamefull a thing is it for the sonne to disobey his father, for the seruant to dishonour his Lorde and may∣ster, for the pacient to cast of the phisicion, for the chosen people to forsake their proper, and peculiar God? this haue the Iewes done, wherefore beholde what happened vnto them. Iosephus writeth (bell. Iud. lib. 2. cap. 13.) that in the 12. yeare of the raygne of Nero, the 17. yeare of the raygne of King Agrippa, in the moneth of May, and the 2. yeare of the Lieuetenantship of Florus, the Iewes beganne to rebell, and to take armour agaynst the Romaynes, reiecting the solemnitie done in the temple, to the honour of Cae∣sar. The chiefe cause that moued them thereunto, was the cruelty of Florus. VVherefore this Florus, to geue the Iewes a taste of his authority, for displeasure conceaued agaynst some which reuiled him, cau∣sed such a slaughter at Ierusalem, that the number of the slayne, mounted to six hundred and thirty persons. Iosephus bello Iudaico, lib. 2. cap. 14. Agayne through wiles, and deceate, this Florus raysed a great commotion at Ierusalem, to the slaughter of many. cap. 14. The inhabitors of Caesarea, slewe in one day all the Iewes which dwelled there, aboue tvventy thousande in number, all that fled, Florus tooke, and imprisoned. the Iewes seeing this, thought to reuenge them selues, vpon the Syrians, in which skirmishe there were slayne thirtene thousand Ievves, & all their substance taken for spoyle. bell. Iud. li. 2. cap. 19. Other contreyes in like sorte, set vpon the Iewes: the Ascalonites slewe tvvo thousande▪ the inhabitants also of Ptolemais destroyed tvvo thousande. The Tyrians imprisoned a great many, & slewe very many. The Hippinaei and Gadarits set packing the stoutest of them, and watched the rest very na∣rowely. Varus the procurator of King Agrippa, slewe seuenty of the noblelest, and sagest Iewes, being sent as Legates vnto him. lib. 2. cap. 20. The people of Alexandria, slewe fifty thousande Ieeves, cap. 21. Cestius gathered an hoast, went into Iudaea, he burned Zabulon, he tooke Ioppe, he destroyed eyght thousand, and forty persons. cap. 22. Caesennius Gallus, ouerrunneth Galilee, he destroyed in Asamon, tvvo thovvsande. cap. 23. The inhabitantes of Damascus, destroyed tenn thovvsande Ievves, which dwelt among them. lib. 2. cap. 25. The Romayne souldiers vnder Antonius their captayne, tooke Asca∣lon, and destroyed tenn thovvsande Ievves, immediatly at an other skirmishe, in the same place aboue eyght thousande. bell. Iud. lib. 3. cap. 1. Vespasian is sent from Nero into Iudaea, he inuadeth Galilee, he taketh Gadara, he burneth the citye, and the villages rounde about. lib. 3. cap. 5. 6. The city Aphaca was taken by Titus, the 25. day of Iune, there were slayne fiftene thousande Ievves, and tvvo thousand, a hundred, and thirty persones taken captiues. lib. 3. cap. 11. Ʋespasian tooke Samaria, the 27. daye of Iune, and slewe eleuen thousande, and six hundred. lib. 3. cap, 12. Ʋespasian tooke Iotapata, sett all the castels afire, the 13. yeare of Nero, the first of the Calendes of Iuly, he slewe forty thousande, he tooke a thousand, and tvvo hundred captiue. lib. 3. cap. 13. Ʋespasian tooke Ioppe, the second time, the Iewes seeing no way but one, slewe them selues, and fell hedlong into the sea, so that the sea was imbrued with blood, the number of dead bodyes which the sea threwe vp, was foure thousande and tvvo hun∣dred. the rest otherwise slayne, there remayned not one to bring tydinges thereof into Ierusalem. lib. 3. cap. 15. Vespasian besieged the Taricheans, he slewe in their citie six thousande, and fiue hundred, he tooke many aliue, whereof he commaunded a thousande, and tvvo hundred of the noblelest, and elder sorte of them to be slayne, he sent six thousande of the lustier to Nero, vnto Istmon. he solde thirty thou∣sande and foure hundred persons, besides those which he gaue to King Agrippa, this was done, the sixt of the Ides of September. Iosep. bell. Iud. lib. 3. cap. 19. The citie of Gamala, beganne to rebel, the 21. of September, the citie was taken, the 23. of October, there were slayne therein, foure thousande, be∣sides these, there were founde other fiue thousande, which had cast them selues headlonge, and broke their neckes, not one of the whole city left aliue, but only 2. women. lib. 4. cap. 3. Titus tooke the city Ga∣scala, the inhabitantes fledd to Ierusalem, they were ouertaken, tvvo thousande slayne, and three thousande taken captiue. and thus was all Galilee ouerrunne, and now to Iudea. lib. 4. cap. 4. In Ierusa∣lem there was such a sedition, and conspiracy among themselues, which opened a gappe for the enemy to come vpon them, that euen in the first bickering. there were founde dead eyght thousande, & fiue hun∣dred Ievves. lib. 4. cap. 7. againe the seditions persons among them, called Zelotae, by the helpe of the Idu∣maeans, sl••we tvvelue thousande of the chiefe of the Iewes. lib. 5. cap. 1. Vespasian tooke Gadara, and slew thirty thousande, besides these, the number was infinite that drowned them selues, the number of the captiues came to tvvo thousand, and tvvo hundred. lib. 5. cap. 3. Vespasian tooke Gerasion, & slewe a thousande yong men, which had not fledd. lib. 5. cap. 6. Vespasian now at length, after the death of Ne∣ro,

Galba, Otho, and Vitellius the Emperours: is chosen Emperour, and goeth to Rome, he committeth the warres in Iudaea to his sonne Titus. li. 5. cap. vlt. The misery of the Iewes in Ierusalem waxed so great, that the sedition afore tyme but one, was now become three folde, euery one hauing their captayne. Titus layeth siege to the city. Iosep. bell. Iud. lib. 6. cap. 1. 2. Their estate was miserable, the famyne lamentable, the slaughter out of all measure, such as came out of the city, were hanged on gibbetts: such as fledde a∣way, were taken: of the fugitiues tvvo thousand had their bowels ript, to see whether they had swalow∣ed vp any golde. lib. 6. cap. 15. report came vnto Titus, that from the 14. of Aprill, vntill the 14. of Iune, there were brought out at one gate of the city, fiftene thousande, one hundred and foure score Ie∣vves, which dyed of famine. bell. Iud. lib. 6. cap. vlt. The temple is sett on fire, the priestes, the women, and children, with other people which hid them selues in vautts, in walls, and in corners of the temple, which also were burnt to ashes: came to six thousande. lib, 7. cap. 11. Titus tooke the citye, the souldiours killed, vntill they were weary. Titus commaunded all that wore armour to be slayne: such as were olde, weake, and feeeble, the souldiours dispatched. the yong, the lusty, and profitable, they shutt vp in a certayne place of the temple, for further consideration. Many were solde for a smale price, there were many to be solde, but few to bye. all the theeues, robbers, and seditious persons within the city, he commaunded forth with to be dispatched. the chosen yong men of goodly bodyes, and tall stature, he reserued for triumphe: seuen∣tene thousand of elderly yeares, he sent bound to Aegypt, for slauery, & druggery▪ many others through out the prouinces, he allotted for spectacles, and teeth of wild beastes▪ as many as were vnder sixtene yeres▪ of age, were solde▪ of such as were shutt vp in the temple, for further consideration, during the time of this deliberation, and disposed order: there dyed tvvelue thousande of famine. Iosep. bell. Iud. lib. 7. cap. 15. 16. The number of the captiues, during the tyme of the warres, mounted to foure score and seuentene thousande. The number of all that dyed, during the siedge within Ierusalem, came to tenne hundred thousande. no maruell at all, that the city could comprise so many. for at the feast of the Passeouer, Ce∣stius being Lieuetenant of Iudaea, sent Neroworde, that the high priestes had numbred, at his request, all that came to offer, which came to seuen and tvventy hundred thousande. lib. 7. cap. 17. and suche was the wofull, and miserable ende of the Iewes. Iosephus moreouer (lib. 7. bell. Iud. cap. 18.) writeth of Ierusalem, that it was taken at sondry tymes before, his wordes be these: Ierusalem vvas taken the 2.* 1.11 yeare of the raigne of Vespasian, the 8. day of September, it vvas taken fiue tymes before, & then agayne destroyed. Asochaeus King of the Aegyptians: after him Antiochus: then Pompeius: & after these, Herode and Sosius tooke the city, and kept it▪ and before that tyme the King of Babylon, by conquest destroyed it, a thousande three hundred three score yeares, eyght moneths, and six dayes after the building thereof. The first founder of this city, vvas the most potent Prince of the Chananits, called after his contrey language The iust king▪ for such a one he vvas in deede▪ ther∣fore he first ordayned a priesthood vnto God, and hauing first buylded the temple: he termed the city Ierusalem, vvhich afore vvas called Solyma, Leobius King of the Ievves, hauing vanqui∣shed the Chananits, deliuered the city to be inhabited of his ovvne people, the vvhich vvas o∣uerthrovvne by the Babylonians, foure hundred, three score, foure yeares, and three monethes after. From Leobius the King, vvhich vvas the first Ievve that raygned in it, vnto the ouerthrovv vnder Titus, there vvere one thousande, one hundred, seuenty, and seuen yeares. Yet for all that, neyther did antiquity preuayle, neyther great riches profit, neyther the fame dispersed throughout the whole worlde, fauour them, neyther the great glory they put in their religion, helpe them at all, that the city shoulde not perishe.

Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere Christum.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioseph. bell. Iud lib. 7. cap▪ 12.
• * 1.2

  A starre like a sworde. A commet•…•…
• * 1.3

  A light in the temple in the night time.
• * 1.4

  A cowe cal∣ued a lamb•…•… A great gat•…•… opening it selfe.
• * 1.5

  A deuill in the forme 〈…〉〈…〉 man.
• * 1.6

  An army of souldiers in the cloudes. A cōmotion in the aëre. A voyce heard in the temple, Let vs go hence. One Iesus the sonne of Ananias, 4. yeres before the warres, cryed conti∣nually woe, woe, all a∣bout Ierusa∣lem.
• * 1.7

  An oracle to be vnder∣stoode of Christ.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 2.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 19.
• * 1.10

  Iosephus. lib ••. cap. 5.
• * 1.11

  Iosephus. lib 7. bell. Iud. cap. 18.