A discourse of constancy in two books chiefly containing consolations against publick evils written in Latin by Justus Lipsius, and translated into English by Nathaniel Wanley ...

CHAP. XXI.

A more strict confutation of it, by comparing the present Evils, with those of former times. First, of Warrs, of the wonderfull slaughter of the Jews.

LEave then those vulgar things Lip∣sius, and follow me to that com∣parison vvhich you challenge me to make. By this I shall clear it to you, that as to all the sorts of Calamities, not only the like have happened of old, but also greater; and that the age we live in, ha's rather matter of triumph than complaint. We are engaged in a Warr say you. What? Were there then no Warrs amongst the ancients? Yes Lipsius they vvere begun vvith the vvorld; nor are they like to end but vvith it. But possibly they were not so great, so grievous

as ours. So farr are you from the truth; that (I speak seriously) these vvars of ours, are onely pastime and sport, if compar'd vvith those of the Antients. I cannot easily find an entrance or an exit, if I should once lanch forth into this depth of examples. Neverthe∣less, vvill you that vve travel through the parts of the World? Let us s••r forward then, and begin vvith Iu∣dea, that is to say, vvith the holy Land and Nation. I omit what they suffer∣ed in AEgypt, and what after their departure from thence; for those are recorded, and easily to be met with in the Scriptures. I come to their la∣ter sufferings, and such as did accom∣pany their funerals; which I will place severally as in an Index. They suffe∣red vvhat by civil and what by forreign warres, all that followes. viz.

Slaine at Ierusalem by the command of Florus six hundred and thirty.

At Caesaraea by the inhabitants out

of hate to the Nation and their Religi∣on; twenty thousand.

At Scythopolus a City of Caelosyria, thirteen thousand.

At Ascalon in Palestine by the inha∣bitants also, two thousand five hunde∣red.

At Ptolemais in like manner, two thousand.

At Alexandria in AEgypt under Ty∣berius Alexander the then Governour; fifty thousand.

At Damascus, ten thousand.

All this was done seditiously, and by vvay of tumult; but there were slain besides in a just and open warr by the Romans

At the taking of Ioppa by Caesius Florus, eight thousand and four hun∣dred.

On a Mountain called Cabulon, two thousand.

In a fight at Ascalon, ten thou∣sand.

Besides by stratagem, eight thousand.

At the taking of Aphaca; fifteen thousand.

At mount Garizim vvere slain; ele∣ven thousand six hundred.

At Iotapa where Iosephus himself was present, about thirty thousand.

At the second taking of Ioppa there vvere drowned, four thousand and two hundred.

Amongst the Tarychaeans vvere slain, six thousand and five hundred.

At Gamala that vvere killed, and that precipitated themselves, nine thou∣sand.

Nor vvere any of that City saved, besides two vvomen that were Sist∣ers.

In the desart of Giscala vvere kil∣led in flight two thousand, and taken of vvomen and children, three thou∣sand.

Slain of the Gadarens, thirteen thou∣sand,

Taken two thousand two hunde∣red.

Besides infinite numbers of those that perished in the vvaters.

In the Villages of Idumaea ten, thou∣sand.

At Gerasa, one thousand.

At Machaerus, one thousand seven hundred.

In the Wood Iardes, three thou∣sand.

In the castle of Massada vvhich slew themselves, nine hundred and six∣ty.

In Cyrene by Catulus the Governour vvere slain, three thousand.

But in the City of Ierusalem through∣out the whole time of the siege, the number of them that dyed or were slain is, ten hundred thousand.

Taken ninety seven thousand.

The whole number amounts to (be∣sides infinite omitted) twelve hundred and forty thousand.

What say you Lipsius? Do you cast down your Eyes at these things? Look up rather; and (if you dare) compare

with the Massacres of this one Nati∣on, the Warrs of the Christian world for some years. And yet how small and inconsiderable is either this Coun∣try or people; in comparison of all Europe?