The famous and memorable vvorkes of Iosephus, a man of much honour and learning among the Iewes. Faithfully translated out of the Latin, and French, by Tho. Lodge Doctor in Physicke

CHAP. I.

Cyrenius is sent by Caesar into Syria. [ L]

Cyrenius the Roman Senator hauing executed all degrees, offices, and digni∣ties, vntill such time as he obtained the Consulship: a man of great recko∣ning and estimation, was sent into Syria by Caesars direction, to doe iustice among the people, and to sesse and taxe each mans goods: with him was sent Coponius a captaine of a companie of horsemen, who was appointed to haue the commaundement of all Iewrie. Cyrenius therefore came into Iu∣daea, which was already annexed vnto Syria, to taxe the goods of the inhabi∣tants thereof, and to confiscate Archelaus substance. And although at the first the Iewes thought but hardly of this description, yet notwithstanding without contradiction they submitted them∣selues, being perswaded thereunto by the counsell of the high priest Ioazar the sonne of Boëthus, [ M] by whose aduice they suffered themselues to be taxed without contradiction. But after this there arose a certaine Iewe called Iudas the Gaulanite, borne in the towne of Gamala, who hauing a certaine man called Sadoc the Pharisee confederate with him, laboured to stirre vp the people to rebellion. Alleadging that the description was no other thing, but a manifest confession of their seruitude, exhorting all the nation to maintaine their libertie, and putting them in hope that they thereby should happely establish their estates, and enioy their goods with securitie; and besides

this, obtaine both honour and glorie in prosecution of such an enterprise. Moreouer, that God [ A] would not affoord them a more assured way to settle their fortunes then by this meanes, name∣ly, if they would employ themselues in the execution of their desseignes, and if hauing concei∣ued in their mindes hautie and noble attempts, they forbore not to finish the same, notwith∣standing the execution cost them their liues. These speeches of theirs were entertained by the people with great pleasure, and by the same they were the more confirmed & hartned to rebelli∣on. So that there was no kind of euil which these men set not abroach, yea the whole nation was replenished with such miseries, that it is impossible to recount them: for the wars therein conti∣nued with such furie, that it was impossible to restraine the violence thereof; so that they neither spared friends, nor respected enemies, but were wholy giuen ouer to the spoile. There raigned nothing but robberies and murthers of noble personages, who entertained one an other vnder [ B] pretence to establish the estate of the common weale, but in effect for their priuate profit sake, wherby the cities were replenished with seditions & murthers, in which the inhabitants slaugh∣tered one another, after a strange manner of furie; and desire they had not to spare any that was of their contrarie faction. They were afflicted with forraine enemies and famine; yet none of these could pacifie their furie, but that they furiously raced Cities, shed innocent bloud, till at length the horrible mischiefe tooke such a head, that they consumed the temple of God, and bur∣ned all the beautifull buildings. So dangerous a thing is it to change the customes and manners of a countrey. For Iudas and Sadoc hauing introduced and raised a fourth sect, and tying the Se∣ctaries to their commaund, filled the whole common weale for the present with many troubles, and produced the rootes of these mischiefes, which afterward branched abroad from this vnaccu∣stomed [ C] sect. For which cause I thinke it not amisse to discourse briefely of these sectaries opini∣ons, whereby so many euils haue fallen vpon our nation.

Notes

• Hedio & Ruf∣finus, chap. 1. Quirinius is sent by Caesar into Syria to execute iustice in that place. Coponius prefect of Iu∣daea. The taxation of the people of the Iewes.
• Alias, chap. 3.
• The yeare of the world. 3973. af∣ter the Natiui∣tie of Christ. 11.
• Slaughters, thefts, seditiōs and famine in Iudaea.
• The temple of Ierusalē burn•…•….
• Iudas and Sa∣doc authors of the fourth sect.