The ancient history of the Septuagint written in Greek by Aristeus near two thousand years ago ; being his voyage to Jerusalem, as ambassadour from Ptolomæus Philadelphus, unto Eleazar, then High Priest of the Jews, concerning the first translation of the Holy Bible by the seventy two interpreters with many other remarkable circumstances, no where else to be found ; first English'd from Greek, by the learned and reverend Dr. John Done ... now revised, and very much corrected from the original.

The Resolution.

THat is, to hold and maintain th•• People in Peace; and to giv•• order that Suits and Process of La•• should be immediately and withou•• delay adjudged definitively; for such things are executed when the Prince hateth the wicked, and sheweth Fa••vour and Kindness to good and ho••nest Men, and such as be vertuous and that he esteems it a great thin•• to have saved the Life of one of hi•• Subjects: as we have been informed you do (Great King) that abhor•• all Murderers, disposing and tem••pering all by Justice: In which yo•• adorn to Eternity the Greatness o•• your Deeds; God having inspire•• you with a Soul free from all foul••ness of Vice, and illustrated the same with most excellent Vertue.

AFter these Answers, there arose a great Noise of Congratulati∣ons and Applauses with an excessive joyful Acclamation, and the whole Hall was full of joyful Shouts. The King then commanding silence, and taking his Cup, invited them all to drink: then addressing his Sp••ech to the said Doctors, pronounced these Words in the presence of all the As∣sembly. I repute this day (my Ma∣sters) to be to me most happy by your Presences, for your Answers have ••rought to me most great Profit and Instruction for the Government of my self and my Kingdom.

Thus all being ended, he ordained ••hat to every one of the Doctors ••hould be delivered three Talents of Silver, and by and by gave to every one of them a Page to wait upon ••hem at their Table. So with great contentment to every one, the Feast was ended with great Praise of the Kings Liberality; who above all,

shew'd a Countenance of receiving the greatest Satisfaction and most joyful content.

I Have been hitherto Philocrates, thus prolix in the recital of the Business, which I have done, for the great esteem I have had of such men, and of their Wisdom: marvelling at the readiness of their Answers, being so pertinent to that which was pro∣posed to them upon the sudden: shewing such Elegance in their Speech, as if these Questions had been long time in premeditation: and that he who proposed them, had thought of them long before he de∣manded them: and yet their Answers to him were found so agreeable, as if they had long before consulted to∣gether about them. Wherefore it is no wonder that they seem admira∣ble, not to me only, but to the Phylosophers also, and to all them that were present, assuring you that

such things are more hard to believe than one would imagine, in which I will not wonder, if the Faith of the Readers be vanquished: For my part, what occasion have I to add Dreams or Falsities, seeing that all which I have Written, is to be found in the Registers of the King, where it is held the greatest of Crimes, to find any untruth in the least thing of the World.

I assure you then, that this Reci∣tation is most true, containing the Discourse of all the things as they have passed in verity, without mix∣ture of any Errour; for to this end, that I might best know the truth, I have used this Diligence to search publick Registers, where we may see recited the Banquets and Feasts, to∣gether with the Interrogations also of the King; and the Answers which were given him, and all even Word for Word; from whence I have bor∣rowed what I have here Written. For you know it hath been the custom

to Register and Inroul all that hath been done and said, every day from the time that the King be∣gan to give Audience,* 1.1 unto the time He went to Bed, without o∣mitting any thing that he did, or was said to his Majesty: A course truly, very profitable and well instituted: For by that means the registred Acts of the precedent day being read, if any thing were omitted in what the King had said or done, there might be Opportunity of amendment.

Therefore, after I had diligently searched the Day Book of the King, I have collected the same for you, here by Writing, as afore-said; Well knowing the extraordinary great desire you have to understand all remarkable Occurrences.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It was a Custom to Register what was propounded and answered in the Kings of Egypts Presence.