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CHAP. IX. [ H]
Of Simons Acts against the Zealots.
AFter Simon had recovered his Wife from the Zealots, he went into Idumea, to rob and spoil that which was left: and chasing the Inhabitans up and down, at last he forced them to flie to Jerusalem, and he himself pursued them thither; and at the foot of the Walls, he killed all the People he took, that returned out of the fields from their labour. Thus Simon without the City, was more terrible to the People [ I] than the Romans, and the Zealots within the City crueller than them both, being in∣couraged and incited thereto by the counsel of the Galileans. For they had put John in Authority: and John in reward thereof permitted all things to be done as they re∣quested. There was no end of robbing and spoiling rich mens Houses, and of slaugh∣tering both of Men and Women, and to kill Men and Women was but a Pastime. And having with blood bedew'd their prey, and without all fear gotten what they liked, they now began to lust after Women: yea they became effeminate and lascivious, they curl their Hair, and clothed themselves in Womens Apparel, and anointed themselves with sweet Ointments, that their beauty might be pleasing and alluring; they now not only imitate the Attire of Prostitutes, but also their impudency, and became so shameless, [ K] that they thirsted after unnatural pleasures, as though Jerusalem were become a Stews, and so profaned the whole City with their execrable impurities. Yet though they ef∣feminated their Faces, their Hands were prone to blood-shed; and though they lived in ignominious manner, as People given over to pleasure, yet could they quickly become Warriors, and in the habits of Women, drawing their Swords they killed whomsoever they met. Whosoever escaped Johns hands, Simon the more cruel murthered; and whosover escaped the Tyrant within the City, was slain by the Tyrant without; and there was no way to flie to the Romans.
Furthermore, the Army of John began to be divided, for all the Idumeans separated themselves from the other People, and there rose a mutiny against the Tyrant, partly [ L] through envy of his Power, partly through hatred of his Cruelty. And so assaulting him, they slew many of the Zealots, and compelled the rest to fly into the Kings house, built by Grapta, Father of Izat, King of Adiabena. The Idumeans also broke in thither with them, and drave them from thence into the Temple, and seized upon Johns Trea∣sure: for John lived in the Palace, and had carried thither all his Spoils. Then those Zealots that were dispersed in the City, came to those that were in the Temple, and John purposed to send them against the Townsmen and the Idumeans. But they feared not so much their Forces (although they knew them to be the better Warriors,) as they did, lest now being desperate, they should steal out of the Temple in the night, and so slay them, and fire the City. Wherefore assembling themselves, they deliberated with [ M] the Priests how to avoid their assaults: but it pleased God to turn their own Counsel to their destruction, and that they should provide a Remedy of safety, far worse than Death it self. For to depose John, they devised to introduce Simon, and as it were to intreat another to Tyrannize over them. This counsel was thought best; and Matthi∣as the Priest was sent to Simon (of whom before they stood in great fear) to request him to come into the City. With him also came such as had fled from Jerusalem for fear of the Zealots, intreating him in like manner, because they desired to return to their Wives and Families. So he entred into the City proudly, promising them to be their Deliverer; and all the People made Acclamations as he entered into the City, that he was their Preserver. Simon being now within the City, presently deliberated [ N] with those about him, to establish his Dominion, thinking as well those that called him into the City, as those against whom he was called, his Enemies. John and the Zea∣lots with him finding no way to come out of the Temple, and having lost all that he had in the City (for Simon and his Followers, at their entrance, took all that belonged to him) began now to despair of his safety. And Simon, being assisted by the Citizens, assaulted the Temple, and the Zealots placing themselves upon the Porches, and in Towers of Defence, made resistance, and hurt many of Simons followers. For the Zealots were upon the higher ground on the right hand, and so had the advantage against Simon. And although by reason of the place wherein they were, they prevail∣ed against Simon, yet they raised four high Towers, that from hence they might shoot [ O] Darts and Arrows against Simons Men. One of these Towers they built upon the East