The history of the world

§. X. The end of AMAZIA his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Life.

ANy man is able to ghesse how Amazia looked, when the enemy had left [unspec 30] him. He that had vaunted so much of his owne great prowesse and skil in armes, threatning to worke wonders, and set vp a new the glorious Empire of Dauid, was now vncased of his Lyons hide, and appeared nothing so terrible a beast as he had beene painted. Much argument of scoffing at him he had ministred vnto such, as held him in dislike; which at this time, doubtlesse, were very many: for the shame that fals vpon an insolent man, seldome failes of meeting with aboundance of reproch. As for Amazia (besides that the multitude are alwayes prone to lay the blame vpon their Gouernours, euen of those calamities which happened by their owne default) there was no child in all Ierusa∣lem, but knew him to be the root of all this mischiefe. He had not only challenged [unspec 40] a good man of Warre, being himselfe a Dastard; but when he was beaten and taken by him, had basely pleaded for the common enemy, to haue him let into the Citie, that with his owne eyes hee might see what spoyle there was, and not make a bad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by heare-say. The father of this Amazia, was a beastly man; yet when the Aramites tooke him and tormented him, hee did not offer to buy his owne life at so deare a rate, as the Citie and Temple of Ierusalem. Had he offered; should they haue made his promise good? Surely the haste which they had made in condescending to this hard match, was very vnfortunate: for by keeping out the Israelite (which was easie enough) any little while, they should soone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beene rid of him, seeing that the Aramites would haue made him runne 〈◊〉〈◊〉, with greater speed than hee [unspec 50] came forth. Then also, when hauing trussed vp his baggage, hee was ready to bee gone, a little courage would haue serued to perswade him to leaue his load behind; had not their good King deliuered vp Hostages, to secure his returne, as loth to de∣fraud him of the recompence due to his paines taken.

Such exprobrations could not but vexe the heart of this vnhappy King: it had beene well for him, if they had made him acknowledge his faults vnto God, that had punished him by all this dishonour. But we find no mention of his amendment. Rather it appeares, that hee continued an Idolatour to the very last. For it is said of him, that after his turning away from the Lord, they wrought treason against him in* 1.1 Ierusalem; a manifest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he was not reclaimed, vnto his liues end. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they which tell a man in his aduersitie of his faults passed, shall sooner bee thought to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him with his fortune, than to secke his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Wherefore it is no maruaile, that Priests and Prophets were lesse welcome to him, than euer they had beene. On the other side, flatterers, and such as were desirous to put a [unspec 10] heart into him, whereof themselues might alwayes be masters, wanted not plausible matter to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him. For hee was not first, nor second, of the Kings of Iuda, that had beene ouercome in battaile. Dauid himselfe had abandoned the Citie, leauing it, before the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was in sight, vnto Absalom his rebellious sonne. Many be∣sides him had receiued losses, wherein the Temple bare a part. If Ioas might so ea∣sily haue beene kept out; why did their Ancestors let Sesac in? Asa was reputed a vertuous Prince, yet with his owne hands hee emptied the Temple, and was not blamed, but held excusable by necessitie of the State. Belike these traducers would commend no actions but of dead Princes: if so, hee should rather liue to punish them, than dye to please them. Though wherein had he giuen them any cause of [unspec 20] displeasure? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was he indeed that commanded to set open the gates to Ioas; but it was the people that did it. Good seruants ought not to haue obeyed their Masters Commandements, to his disaduantage, when they saw him not master of his owne Person. As his captiuitie did acquite him from blame, of all things that hee did or suffered in that condition; so was that misfortune it selfe, in true estimation, as high∣ly to his honour, as deeply to his losse. For had hee beene as hasty to flye, as others were; hee might haue escaped, as well as others did. But seeking to teach the base Multitude courage, by his Royall example, he was shamefully betrayed by those in whom hee trusted. Vn worthie creatures that could readily obey him, when spea∣king another mans wordes, being prisoner, he commanded them to yeeld; hauing [unspec 30] neglected his charge, when leading them in the field, he bade them stand to it, and fight like men. The best was that they must needs acknowledge his mischance, as the occasion whereby many thousand liues were saued; the Enemie hauing wisely pre∣ferred the surprise of a Lion that was Captaine, before the chase and slaughter of an Armie of Stags that followed him.

These or the like words comforting Amazia, were able to perswade him, that it was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so indeed. And such excuses might haue serued well enough to please the people, if the King had first studied how to please God. But hee that was vn∣willing to ascribe vnto God the good successe foretold by a Prophet; could easily find how to impute this late disaster, vnto fortune, and the fault of others. Now [unspec 40] concerning fortune, it seemes that hee meant to keepe himselfe safe from her, by fit∣ting still; for in fifteene yeeres following (so long he out-liued his honour) we find not that he stirred. As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his subjects, though nothing henceforth bee recorded of his gouernment, yet we may see by his end, that the middle time was ill spenta∣mong them, increasing their hatred, to his owne ruine. He that suspecteth his owne worth, or other mens opinions, thinking that lesse regard is had of his person, than he beleeueth to be due to his place, will commonly spend all the force of his autho∣ritie, in purchasing the name of a seuere man. For the affected sowrenesse of a vaine fellow, doth many times resemble the grauitie of one that is wise: and the feare wherein they liue, which are subiect vnto oppression, carries a shew of reuerence, to [unspec 50] him that does the wrong; at lest it serues to dazle the eyes of vnderlings, keeping them from prying into the weaknesse of such as haue jurisdiction ouer them. Thus the time, wherein, by well vsing it, men might attaine to be such as they ought, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vsually misspend, in seeking to appeare such as they are not. This is a vaine and

deceiuable course; procuring instead of the respect that was hoped for, more indig∣nation than was feared. Which is a thing of dangerous 〈◊〉〈◊〉; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when an vnable spirit, being ouerparted with high 〈◊〉〈◊〉, is too passionate in the execution of such an Office, as cannot be checked but by violence. If therefore Amazta thought by extreme rigour to hold vp his reputation, what did hee else than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to make the people thinke he hated them, when of themselues they were aptenough to beleeue, that he did not loue them? The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was that he had, by re∣uenging his fathers death, prouided well enough for his owne securitie: but who should take vengeance; (or vpon whom?) of such a murther, wherein euery one had a part? Surely God himselfe, who had not giuen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or leaue vnto the [unspec 10] people, to take his office out of his hand, in shedding the bloud of his Anoynted. Yet as Amazia, carelesse of God, was carried headlong by his owne affections; so his subjects, following the same ill example, without requiring what belonged vnto their duties, rose vp against him, with such headlong fury, that being vnable to de∣fend himselfe in Ierusalem, he was driuen to forsake the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and flye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lachis, for safegard of his life. But so extreme was the hatred conceiued against him, and so ge∣nerall, that neyther his absence could allay the rage of it in the Capitail 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor his presence in the Countrey abroad procure friends, to defend his life. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he chose the Towne of Lachis for his refuge, as a place of all other 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to him; yet sound he there none other fauour, than that the people did not kill him [unspec 20] with their owne hands: for when the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (who troubled not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about raysing an Armic for the matter) sent pursuers after him, hee was abandoned to death. Lachis was the vtmost Citie of his Dominion Westward, standing some∣what without the border of Iuda; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he might haue made an 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 (if hee durst aduenture) into the Territorie of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Israel. Therefore it may seeme that hee was detained 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where certaine it is that hee found no kind of fauour: for had not the people of this Towne, added their owne treason to the generall insurrection; the murtherers could not at so good leisure as they did, haue carried away his bodie to Ierusalem, where they gaue him buriall with his fathers. [unspec 30]

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Chron. 25. 27.