The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

PART III. The JEWISH Story.

§ 1. Herod and Herodias before the Emperour.

WE are now to present to Caius as bloody a woman as he was a man: He∣rodias, that hath committed as much murder in taking away but one mans life, John the Baptist, as he hath done in all his: And when these two are met together, two Princes of the greatest cruelty and bloodiness that either sex could then afford, are met together. You may remember that not long since we left Her and her Herod (for husband I may not call him) shipped for Rome to purchase, if possible, the Emperours good respect, and with that, an augmenta∣tion of their dignity and dominion. Agrippa, knowing of this their journey, and sus∣pecting that as it began in envy and emulation to him, so would it terminate, if they could compass it, to his disadvantage, he sendeth his servant Fortunatus after them with letters to the Emperour, either because himself was not yet at leasure to come, or in policy trying how his letters would speed and be entertained before he ventured his own person. At Baiae they all met before Caesar, and Agrippa's complaint by writing meeteth theirs by word of mouth. He layeth to Herods charge, confederacy with Seja∣nus at Rome and with Artabanus in Parthia, and an armory and magazine at his own home, sufficient to furnish seven thousand men, all which laid together could not but breed a just suspition of his revolting. Herod not being able upon questioning, to de∣ny the last thing that he was charged withall about his arms, gave Caius presumption to conclude the truth of all the other: whereupon he adjudgeth him to perpetual banish∣ment to Lions in France: and thus (thank Herodias) by his looking for a greater dig∣nity and honour, he lost that which he had already.

Caesar would have spared Herodias for Agrippa's sake as being his sister, but she re∣fused the curtesie, and chose to suffer the same fortune with her husband; and but very justly neither, for she had brought him to it. And she could not in civility re∣fuse to take part with him in his misery, as he had done with her in her folly, that had caused it; both their estates, dignities and dominions Caius bestoweth upon Agrippa to their greater vexation; and so we leave them going to Lions, there to think, and re∣pent too late, how wholesome the counsel was that was given them by the Baptist and that they tooke it not.

§ 2. The Alexandrian Jews still perplexed.

And now let us return from Rome to Alexandria, where the last year we left the Jews in so extream misery and distress, and now it is to be suspected we shall find them in the same still. Being so oppressed, plundred and massacred by Flaccus as we have heard, their utmost refuge is to petition to the Emperour, but a miserable refuge you must needs think it will prove when they cannot do it but by Flaccus his permission and assistance. When they made this motion and request to him (foolish men to expect such curtesie from their greatest enemie) he taketh on him to approve of their inten∣tion, promiseth to speed their petition the best he could, but when he had it, pretending to have sent it away, he keepeth and suppresseth it, and answered neither his promise nor their expectation, either in hast or in assisting. Thus do the poor Jews lie waiting in uncertain hopes but in certain misery, looking for some comfortable answer from Rome to their petition, which is still at Alexandria. But at last comes their old friend and countreyman Agrippa to Rome with the old grudg in his bosome against Flaccus for his base usage of him at his last being there, and he promotes their cause to Caesar with the best excuses he can make for them, and with some bitter accusing of their enemie the Govenour.

§ 3. Flaccus his downfall.

Whether it were the prevalency of Agrippa's letters with the Emperour, or the di∣vine vengeance upon this unjust and murderous Governour, or both, or some other con∣joyned,

Caius ere long sent Bassus a Centurion, with his band into Alexandria, to apprehend Flaccus: He stole in by night into the City, lest his approach (had it been detected) should have bred commotion, and meeting with a Souldier in the dark, and inquiring for the chief Captain, that he might acquaint him with the cause of his coming, and obtain his assistance with his Souldiers if there should be any resistance, he was informed that Flaccus and he were both at supper with Stephanio one of the Freemen of Tiberius. Thither he getteth with all secrecy, and scouting before the house, he sendeth in one of his Souldiers habited in the garb of a Servingman, that he might the more safely thrust in among the Servitors to see what store of company was there, and when he heard by him that it was but small, he bursteth in with his men and apprehendeth him. I leave to the Reader to imagine the contrary operation that this suddain action had with Flac∣cus and with the Jews. It was now the time of the feast of Tabernacles with them, but the feast was intermitted because of their common misery, but now somewhat solaced by the event of this feast of Flaccus. He is hurried away to Rome in the beginning of winter, and there tried, and condemned to perpetual banishmen•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Isle of Andros, where what became of him you shall hear the next year.

§ 4. The Jews of Alexandria still distressed.

Flaccus the Jews enemies at Alexandria, they are thus happily rid of, but a worse, if worse may be, springeth, as it were out of his corruption at Rome. Helicon a Ser∣vant of Tiberius whilst he lived, and now of Caius, a fit man for such a master, the more to ingratiate himself into the Princes favour (yet had he it already in no ordinary measure) bendeth himself with the utmost of his Rhetorick and Eloquence, skill and flattery to traduce the people and Religion of the Jews, and to make them odious, and himself the more acceptable to the Emperour. The envious Alexandrians having by their Ambassadours espied this advantage, do spur him forward who needed no incita∣tion: with great presents and greater promises they urge him on to prosecute that ma∣licious accusation that he had begun: which he performed accordingly, with a renewed impetuousness, added to his present spleen by his future expectation, and present fee. The miserable Jews thus betrayed, lie under distress and under the Emperours displeasure for a season, and could not learn from whence it proceeded: But at last they address a num∣ber of petitioners to Rome to make their peace with Helicon, if possible, and to make an humble remonstrance to the Emperour of their state and grievances, and a petition for some remedy and redress. Their Legation and Ambassy they indeed presented not to the Prince till the next year, yet since Philo saith that they took their voyage in the very depth and middle of winter, it was not unproper to mention their preparation and setting forth, this year, and you shall hear of their business, and the success of it, when the next year comes in.