Memorabilia mundi, or, Choice memoirs of the history and description of the world by G.H.

THE Lamentable Destruction, OF THE Ancient and Memorable City and Temple OF JERUSALEM; Being destroyed by Vespasian, and his Son Titus.

WArs hath brought dreadful Jars and Confusions, both of hor∣rour and terrour unto Domestick, For∣reign, Inward and Outward Estates: In Jehovahs ire were shafts shot at Juda,

so that War, Fire, Sword, Famine, In∣fectious Plagues, Depopulations and Desolations, was the final Conquest of old Jacobs Land.

These are the Theames of my mournful Muse, these are the grounds of my Lamentation; Josephus wrote these things in ample manner, which I do here Epitomize. That worthy Author in a large scope relates, and the Books of his Antiquities do tell his Countries altera∣tions, how oftentimes they rose how of∣ten they fell, how often God favoured them, and how often his frowns was up∣on them, and at last in his anger he cast them head-long down.

The seventh Book of Josephus's wars, declareth plainly how the Romans did by Conquest gain the Kingdom, how death did in sundry shapes tyrannize, both in Sword, in Fire, in Famine, and in Rapes.

Since Hebers Sons enjoyed the Coun∣try, it hath been six times wasted and destroyed; so that if you account all

the Wars since the Creation that hath chanced, they are nothing to Jerusalems desolation: No story, no Memory de∣scribes the calamity of old Israels Tribes to be parallel'd: And indeed if each Land in the universal did recount the bloudy broyls to them, it were but a Molehill to a Mountain; all which for sin, the Almighty in his anger heaped upon this sinful Land.

It is now about sixteen hundred years since great Vespasian, Romes Imperial Prince, with his stout Valiant Son, brave young Titus, did over-run Judea's King∣dom, and with a Royal Army renown∣ed, did beleaguer Jerusalem with Forces and stratagems, as with Rampiers, En∣gines, scaling Ladders and Towers, with all the Art that either might or sleight could do.

The besieged amongst themselves, in this interim, fell to Sedition, like Bavines that lyeth near one to another, if one burn, and burning, each one burneth another; so did the Jews each other

madly kill, insomuch as their streets were fill'd with their slain Corpses.

Eleazer, Simon and John disagreeing, rent Jerusalem in pieces, each contending who should be the chief; John scorned Eleazer, as thinking himself most wor∣thy to be Superiour, on the other side Eleazer thought John to be his Inferi∣our, and Simon scorned them both, and each scorned another, and would not by any be ruled or over-born.

The City being thus divided into three Factions, sad it is to relate how horrid their bloudy and inhumane acti∣ons were, there all impieties were com∣mitted in sundry sorts of varieties, all sacrilegious acts were counted most no∣ble and meritorious facts: In evil they strived each other to surpass, and labour∣ed most how to serve the Devil. These men had no thoughts of grace and goodness, but daily each against the o∣ther most madly fought, and over-turn∣ed all things by their hurly burly, so violent were they one against another,

that they burned each others store∣houses, with their Victuals: And with hearts more harder than the Adamantine Rocks, they drailed Virgins by the hair of their heads, as also the Aged they spared not to drag about the streets, some Infants their brains they dashed out, and some upon the points of Lances, they bore about the streets: It is not possible to write with Pen, the devillish out-rages, and barbarous acts that was committed by them.

The advantage upon this seditious and most inhumane disorder that the Romans took, is most incredible; yet credible it may be, because the Jews were altogether unmindful of their own safety, they wasted and spoiled one another without remorse, insomuch as their enemies, their cruel foes, relented and wept in pity of them, whilst they (relentness Villains) void of pity; did their Mother City consume and ruinate, the Channels flowed all with gore bloud, the streets were bestrowed with

murdered carkasses, the Temple with unhallowed hands defiled; there was no respect to any, to Man, Woman, or Child.

Thus this three headed multitude, or hellish crew did waste themselves, till indeed they did at length subdue themselves: but you must note they were not altogether neglective, some vi∣gilancy they had upon their enemy, and whilst they were making their strength more sure within, the Romans with∣out with their dreadful Batteries, made not only the City to tremble, but the Walls to break, at which the factious wisely bethought themselves, and assembled themselves together with all their powers; and, as a won∣derment it was united together like good friends: And then like swoln Ri∣vers bounded in with Banks, they sally forth and fight their enemies, like as the ambitious torrent breaks his bounds, and over-runs whole Lordships; so did these Jews out-dare and challenge any

that would withstand the fury of their insulting pride, whereupon they out of the City came, and entred the Romans Army like a flood, and in their despe∣rate madness, all was overwhelmed that durst withstand them; the Walls then could not be assaulted, the enemies fearful Engines was then by them set on fire, and bravely fighting they bravely made their enemies to retire!

The Battel done, back go these hair∣braind men, and divide again, and each becomes the others foe, and then pell mell they go to it, and begin to disor∣der, and bring all things to confusion; with fire their Corn and Victuals they consumed, all their provision in a mo∣ment spoiled and wasted, which if well kept, might have lasted them many years; upon which the Famine, like a Tyrant, roams and rages, and makes all, both Old and Young, Rich and Poor to starve and dye with fleshless A∣natomies.

This was a Plague of Plagues, a Woe of Woes, death on every side did in∣close them; this being their condition, they knew not what to do, to sally forth they durst not, for then their lives they were sure to lose, to stay within for want of food they starved, out they could not go, for the Gates were shut and strongly warded, their throats were cut if any staid within; so that if they stay or go, or go or stay, every way De∣struction they are sure to meet with.

But of all torments, hunger is the worst, for that will burst through the stony Walls; therefore these people having been with War, Woe, and want on every side beset, do now begin to con∣sult and strive how they might get to the Romans, for there was their hopes, that in their swords they should find more mercy, then their still dying famisht state afforded them: And indeed when man is opprest, then is wit most sharpest, and then wisdom amongst evils, chuseth the least.

Now they knowing Vespasian for a noble Prince, and one that did not glo∣ry in their Woe, they thought it best to try his clemency, and not with hun∣ger and famine to die, and therefore de∣spairing of all hopes, resolved with Ropes to slide down the Walls, which a number of them did, and fled to Titus, who bemoaned the sadness of their con∣dition, and relieved and took them to his grace and favour. Thus when all hopes failed, they were by their foes preserved, to the number of at least 40000.

The City Souldiers searched every house where they thought any Victuals were conveyed, and if they found any, the owners were most certainly bea∣ten for concealing it; but if they saw a man look plump and fat, his throat they would surely cut, for they thought him too much pampered, and too full fed; they would therefore strike him dead to save meat and drink. The Richest and Noblest that was born both

of Men and Women, gave all they had for one poor strike of Corn, and hid themselves and it under the ground in some close Vault, and there they would eat it under the ground unground; if any could get flesh, they would eat it raw: Thus the weaker were over-awed, and kept under by the stronger.

No respect of persons where hunger came; natural affection was then banish∣ed; then the Husband did his own Wife reject, the Wife she snatches the meat from her Husband, all pity from the Mother was exiled, she from the Child tears and takes the Victuals, the Child plays the thief with the Parents, and steals the food, though with grief the Parents pine away.

There was neither Free-man, nor Bond-man, Fathers nor Mothers, Wives, Husbands, Masters, Servants, Brothers, Sisters, be it propinquity or strong affi∣nity, no Law, or reason, or rule could bear sway; and indeed obeysance must be given where strength commands; the

pining Servant will not know his Ma∣ster, the Son will not shew his duty to his Father, the Commons regardless to the Magistrate, each for one, and but for one he cared; disordered, like the cart before the horse, force caused all respect to yield.

These Miscreants with vigilancy did watch where a door was locked or latch∣ed that they could spy, for there they supposed the people were at meat, and in their out-rage the doors they would beat open, where entring if they found them feeding, they would tear it in haste out of their throats, half eaten and half uneaten; these wretches would constrain the people to cast it up again, they hauld them about the house by the ears, to force them to bring out their Victuals, which they supposed they had; some by the Thumbs they hanged up, and some by the Toes, some had many blows, others were pricked with Bod∣kins, sadly were they tormented to re∣veal their meat when they had none to

conceal; and in truth all was fish that came into their net, and all was food that could be got by fraud or force.

Grass, Hay, Barks, Leaves of trees, Cats and Dogs, Frogs, Worms, Rats, Mice, Snails, Flies and Maggots, all stinking and contagious roots, the cover∣ing of their Coaches, Boots and Shoes, and the dung of Fowls and Beasts, were Feasts for these poor miserable starved wretches; things loathsome to be na∣med in time of plenty, is now dainties among these starved distressed Jews.

This Famine run beyond all natures bounds, (as before I have hinted) and confounded all Motherly-affection, no compassion was there had to bloud or birth: It forced a woman to kill her on∣ly Son, she ript and dis-joynted him, and dis-joynted him limb from limb, she drest, she roasted, she broiled and boil∣ed him, she eat him, she interr'd him in her womb; his life by nature proceed∣ed from her, and she her self most unna∣turally did feed upon him, he was her

flesh, her bloud, her bones, and there∣fore she eating him her self, her self made food: No woe can equal her mi∣sery, no grief can match her sad cala∣mities, the Souldiers they smelt the meat, upon which they straitly assem∣bled, which when they saw, they trem∣bled, and with staring hairs, and ghast∣ly looks were thereat so affrighted and amazed, that thereupon they presently left the house: This horrid action did more with them, then any force of man could ever do, for this sad sight over came them.

Oh then thou that dost live like a fatted Brawn, and cramst thy guts as long as thou canst; thou that dost eat and drink away thy time, accounting it no crime for gluttony to be thy God, thou that must have fowl of all sorts, and hast the bowels of the Ocean search∣ed to satisfie thy appetite, and hast thy dainties from all parts and places, near and remote, and all to satisfie thy de∣vouring throat, whose pamper'd paunch

never leaves to feed and quaff. Think on Jerusalem, perhaps it will move thee in the midst of thy Diet and rio∣tous courses, to a more temperate and sober demeanor.

And you brave Dames, adorned with Jems and Jewels, that must have Grewels and Caudles, Conserves and Marchpanes, & that too in sundry shapes made, as Castles, Towers, Horses, Apes, and Bears; think on Jerusalem in the midst of all your glory, and then you will be more sorrowful and less dainty; poor Jerusalem had once Beauty, Strength, Riches, spacious Buildings, Authority and honour, yet these avail∣ed them nothing, wrong trode down right, and Justice was quite forgotten, which was their chiefest, their greatest, their only earthly good.

But now one little piece of bread they reckoned more upon, then ever before they did of bags of Gold. Scraps, parings, and fragments, &c. which your full sed Corps did usually fling away,

with them had been a ransom for a King, the loathsome garbage which our dogs refuse, had been amongst the Jews a dish of state.

Whilst within Famine plaid the Ty∣rant, the Romans Army strived to win the Walls, their Pioners, and all their Engines were at work to batter and as∣sault the Wall: Now note, Jerusalem had three strong stone Walls, and long it was ere the Romans could get one, but the dearth so spread, and death of the sword, as that in the streets the living trod upon the dead, the Carkasses which the Seditious kill'd, fill'd many great houses, so that with the stinck of bodies putrefied there dyed a number number∣less of people, for burial they afforded none, but where they fell they let them lye stink and rot, yet very unsensible were they of the sad condition of each other, by hundreds and thousands: then did the souldiers throw their liveless Corpses over the Walls, upon this and their dis-uniting, the Romans had high

advantages, and could with more securi∣ty batter and scale the Walls.

When the Romans saw their dismal fall from the Walls, they told it to Ti∣tus▪ which when he perceived he wept, and lifted up his hands to Heaven and called on God to witness with him this.

These flanghters saith he, were no thoughts of mine, neither was it my fault. Indeed those wretches that e∣scaped from out of the City, and came amongst their foes in my Army, found both relief and pity, if any of those that fled to my Army had by the Seditious been caught, they had without remorse strook them dead.

But another misery I must unfold un∣to you, many Jews had swallowed store of Gold, which they supposed in their need should help them, but from this treasure did their bane proceed, the Gold was the cause that many of them perisht, amongst them all, one unhappy poor creature went privately to do the needs of Nature, and in his dung he

looked for his Gold, where being by the straggling souldiers took, they ript him up and searched his Maw, to find what Gold or treasure there remained: In this sort was many a Man and Woman ript and slain for the gain of Gold that the souldiers gaped for. In some they found Gold, in many none, but had they Gold or not, it was all one with them, they were unbowelled and searched most barbarously whither they had any or no.

But my story briefly to conclude, Ve∣spasians Souldiers had subdued the walls, & his triumphant banner was displayed, and that in the midst of the streets, at which the Jews were all dismayed, and upon which they desperately did retire to the Temple, which with ungodly hands they set on fire; which noble Ti∣tus with great care intreated them they would spare: Oh save the house (quoth he) and I will spare you for the Temple sake, quench the fire,

put out the flame! Oh let not after∣times report that you have burnt the worlds unmatchable glory! For your own sakes, your wives, and your chil∣drens, if from Vespasians hands you ex∣pect grace, if from Vespasians hands you expect your lives; oh save your Temple, Titus doth command you to save the Temple.

The Jews heard of the mercy they might have had, but with hearts hard they refused the offer, they refused mer∣cy, and themselves regarded not; but in their madness they burned, consumed and confounded to the ground King Solomons great Temple, that Temple which did cost thirty Millions, was in a moment lost and consumed. The blest Sanctum Sanctorum, the holiest place of∣ten blessed with Johovahs sacred grace, where as the Text saith, were 22000 Ox∣en slain, and 12000 sheep besides, dyed at the same time for an oblation. That house of God whose glorious fame

made all the World to wonder, was burnt, and ransackt, and laid level to the ground, which when it was seen by Ve∣spasian and young Titus, they cry'd kill, kill those wretched Jews, spare not to kill, use speedy and Marshal Law; the Roman souldiers then fell on and spared none, they slew while they were weary of slaying, and had no respect to Age or Sex, the streets were drowned in bloud, and slaughtered-Carkases did swim in in bloud, the ablest men that were saved they carryed away for slaves, John, Si∣mon, and Eleazer, as they deserved were brought to violent ends.

Now from that time that the Romans began their siege, until the City was won by Sedition, by the Sword, Fire, and Famine, were depri∣ved of their lives eleven hundred thousand, be∣sides one hundred thousand were taken as beasts and sold for slaves, and from the time it was first erected, till the Romans had take•• it, it stood as appears in Histories twenty one hundred seventy and nine years.

But before Gods vengeance was showred down upon them, what strange prodigious Wonders did he shew, as warnings how they should avoid their destruction, and cause them to repent the wicked evils they had done.

1. The Firmament shewed them a Comet like a fiery Sword.

2. Divers nights the Temple and the Altar were environed with bright burning lights.

3. In the midst of the Temple though un∣a Cow did bear a Lamb.

4. No Bolts or Bars could restrain the Temple-gates, but they would fly open of themselves.

5. In the Air assembled Armed men and Chariots, the pondrous Earth quaked, affright∣ed and trembled.

6. To this sense a voice cryed in the Temple, & the people cry'd oh let us from hence depart!

These supernatural accidents, foretold some fearful Judgment was to come, but toyes they were accounted to the Jews, or scar-crow-bug∣bears to fright children with, and not minding them, nor no way by them being affrighted, they did in Jerusalem securely revell, they thought these signs were against their foes, and not them.

But when war, when death, when spoil, when ruine had storm'd them, appear'd the place so desolate as none could have known there had been a City.

Thus Juda, and thus Jerusalem fell, which Christ did foretell, and was now fulfill'd, that all their joys they should be bereft off, and that one stone should not be left to stand upon ano∣ther.

FINIS.