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.

§. 7. Claudius made Emperor.

That rule and Monarchy that the Souldiers would have tumbled upon Claudius they cared not how, Agrippa the King of whom we had mention a good while ago folded it as it were upon him fairly and smoothly, that it both lay more easie for him himself, and less wrinckled and rugged to the eyes of others. For first coming privately to Clau∣dius whilst he somewhat fluctuated in opinion, and was ready to have yielded to the Se∣nates propositions, he setled him in a contrary resolution, perswading him by no means to forsake or relinquish that fair apprehension and seisure of the dominion that was of∣fered him. Then cometh he as craftily into the Senate as if he had been a meer stranger to what was in hand, and there asketh how the matter went between them and Claudius; when they ingenuously laid all the business before him, and demanded his counsel and advise in those affairs: He subtle enough for his own ends, and neither regarding their liberty, nor Claudius his Monarchy so much in the matter as his own security in his King∣dom, maketh fair weather to them, and professeth with all solemnity to serve them in their designs to the utmost of his power. But when it came to the vote what must be done, and the resolution was that they must take up arms, and arm their servants, and compass that with the sword that they could not do with perswasions; then Agrippa thought it was time to work or never. He therefore puts them in mind of the strength of the Souldiers that had proclaimed Claudius, and of their forces but weak, few, and utterly unexpert: that to hazard a war was to hazard their State, and therefore he would advise them to tender to Claudius propositions of accommodation, and if they were so pleased, he himself would be the agent. It is agreed upon, and he sent upon this imployment, which how he would perform it is easie to guess, by looking upon his own condition in which he now stood. For in the life of Caius it was conceived that his evil counsel had very much forwarded the others cruelty and mischievousness, and therefore if the Senate be masters of their desires, he can little expect to be master any more of his Kingdom, but if with all his officiousness and trotting up and down he can help Claudius to the Monarchy, he is sure he hath then holpen himself to the Royalty. It was therefore not an oversight in that grave and discreet great Councel that they im∣ployed such a man as this in their occasions, who, a far dimmer eye of judgment than any of theirs would easily perceive, would be against them: but it was their discreet evasion with their honour, when finding themselves too weak to deal it out by force of Arms, they came to a noble reference, by the motion and meditation of so great a Prince.

When Agrippa cometh to Claudius he is now more urgent than before, that he stand to his challenge, because he had now groped the mind and strength of the Senate: and he prevaileth with him so far that the Souldiers go to the Senate house, and there demand a confirmation of their choice. It was now come to it in the Councel, that they were resolved to choose one Monarch, for they saw the Souldiers would so have it, but now the question was who that must be; some were for one, some for another; but the conspirators against Caius were against Claudius howsoever: This division had like to have caused another tumult, but the end of all was, that the power and fear of the Souldiers prevailed, and the Senate was glad to accept him for their Prince whom they durst not refuse.