A compendious and most marueilous history of the latter tymes of the Iewes commune weale beginnynge where the Bible or Scriptures leaue, and continuing to the vtter subuersion and laste destruction of that countrey and people: written in Hebrew by Ioseph Ben Gorion, a noble man of the same countrey, who sawe the most thinges him selfe, and was auctour and doer of a great part of the same. Translated into Englishe by Peter Morvvyng of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

❧ The state of the com∣mon vvealth of Iury, from the Macha∣bees, vnto the vtter destruction and subuersion of the same.

ACcordynge vnto those things that we haue founde in the Booke of Ioseph the priest, the sonne of Go∣rion, & in other bokes writtē ac∣cordyng to the most certain veritie: we will drawe forthe and rehearse some thinges for the comfort that may come therof, especially seing all the prophets haue bent and directed their prophecies of things to come, to this, that the king¦dome of the house of Dauid shoulde re∣turne and florishe in time to come. Therfore, if there had bene any kinges of the house of Dauid, duringe the time of the seconde house, or seconde temple: then should wee haue ben in suspence, yea, euen now already our hope hadde bene dasht. But there was no kinge∣dom

of the house of Dauid in that age, saue onely a certain dominion that Ze∣rubabel and Nehemia had. Yea rather the kingdome remained at that time to the house of the Machabees, and them that were toward them. But nowe to the purpose. When Alexander the first king of the Grekes hadde fortified and established his kingdom, he died, being yet but a yong man, and his kingdome was deuided amonge foure of his cap∣taines, as it is written. VVhiles he is yet aliue, his kingdome shalbe broken, and deuided into four coastes of the hea∣uens. He left behinde him a sonne of tē∣der yeres called Arkolas, whose tutour or keper perceiuing him to be toward: gaue him impoisoned drinke, and made him away. Those captaines made war one vppon another: of whom one that was named Ptolomie, procured Moses lawe to be translated into Greke, to the entent he might finde some occasion to picke a quarell against Israel. For by their lawe he sought meanes to with∣drawe them from their religion, accor∣ding

to the Psalme. Many a time haue thei fought against me fro my youth vp (may Israel novve saie.) There were seuentye auncient men that translated the lawe, whom Ptolomye the kynge seperated one from an other, puttynge euery mā apart in a house by him self. And thei all agreed in sence, albeit thei chaunged thirtene places: whiche was not done without miracle, that they all agreed together in the meaninge, as thoughe one alone had writ it. Those xiii. places be these. First, GOD hathe made in the beginninge, whereas no worde or thing is put before the name of God, & also for y^t in the Greke tong, the thing y^t doth is put before, and that that is made is placed after: least this worde Bereschith shoulde be taken for a Creatour, and Elohim for a creature. The seconde. I vvill make man accor∣dinge to the image and likenesse, that it should not be heard as though he were one y^t consulted with other. The third. And God finished in the sixt daye, and rested on the seuenth. Least it shoulde

seme as though he had made ani thing in the seuenth daye, and in it ended his workynge. The fourth. Go to, I vvil go doune, and there vvill confounde their language, least by speakinge in the plu∣rell number, they shoulde haue bene thought to be many. The fift. And Sara laughed, speaking vvith them that stode by her. Because Ptolomye the kinge shoulde not mocke them and saie, who shewed you what she saide to her selfe? The sixt. Because in their furie they kil∣led an oxe, and in their vvill they brake the cribbe, Lest the kinge should mocke and saie, what hath a man to do wyth an oxe. The seuenth. And Moses tooke his vvife and his sonnes, and set them vpon that that could beare a man. Lest the king should mocke our master Mo∣ses, because he rode vppon an asse. And that he should not saye, how should an asse beare a woman and two children? He would neuer haue done it if he had not bene a begger, or base person. The eight. And the dvvelling of the childrē of Israel in Egipt and other landes, vvas

cccxxx. yeres. Notwithstandynge they abid not in Egipt but .ccx. yeres, & that is that their father Iacob tolde theim. Descende ye (the letters of the whiche worde in Hebrue, signifie .ccx.) thither. Furthermore, the cōputation of ccccxxx yeres, is from the yere that Isaac was borne, which was the holye seede vnto Abraham. The ninthe. And vnto the little ons of the children of Israel stret∣ched he not his hande? As who woulde saye: yea, also vnto their little ones he stretched not his hande. Euen bicause he should not saye, the great men esca∣ped, but the children of the sonnes of Is∣rael escaped not. The tenthe. I toke of them nothing of valure, least he shoulde saie, he toke not an asse, but he toke one rewarde. The eleuenth. VVhich thin∣ges thy Lorde God hathe deuided, that they may shine vpon all people. Lest he shoulde take an argument thereof and saie: Loe, the holye and blessed Lorde hath deuided them to all people, & hath geuen them licence to worshippe them. The twelf. He vvent and vvorshipped

straunge Gods vvhiche I commaunded not to vvorshippe. Lest he should saie: now hast thou called them to straunge worshippinge of Gods. The thirtenth. They translated an Hare, little fete, bi∣cause the kinges wife was called hare: lest shee should saie, the Iewes mocke me. When these seuentie elders hadde translated the law into the greke tong, Ptolomee reioysing much in their wis∣dome, honored them with princely ap∣parell and great rewards, brought thē also home again mery and glad. More∣ouer, he sendeth by them oblations to our God. At that time there were ma∣ny contented to folow the lawes of the Grecians, but these seuentye refused. Not longe after captaine Seleucus, Pto∣lomies cōpanion in office died, in whose stede Antiochus raigned in Macedonia. This Antiochus makyng warre vpon Ptolomee, bereft him of all his domini∣ons, and slewe him. After that he sub∣dued all the lande of Israel then vnder the regiment of Ptolomee, and waxed verye proude. He hated Israel also be∣cause

they loued Ptolomee, and ayded him in the warres againste him. This is that Antiochus that builded a great citye vppon the sea coaste, and called it Antiochia, wherein he made a golden ydole, commaundyng that the children of Israel should be brought vnto it and worship it. But some of them chose ra∣ther to suffer deathe for the religion of their god: although some other fel from the synagoge their mother church. Be∣fore this he toke away also their Sab∣both, their new mone, and leage of cir∣cumcision: forbiddyng that in any wise they should obserue these commaunde∣mentes in anye place throughout his whole dominiōs. For the which he put many of y^e Israelits to death, & oppres∣sed thē more then did euer anie of their enmies or aduersaries. The second mā in honor next him self in Ierusalē was one Polipus, he erected an ymage in the tēple, cōmaundyng the people of Israell to worship it, and who so euer was dis∣obedient, to be slaine. Therfore he put to death Hanna and her seuen children

as it is mencioned in other places. When Antiochus perceiued this, it in∣creased his hatred towarde Israel, in so muche that he did his endeuour y^t none of them should scape or be left aliue, ex∣cept such as would worship the image. Then fledde manie of the Israelites to the mounte Mediit and to Iericho, be∣cause of the lawe of Polipus and Anti∣ochus his lorde, hauinge to their gouer∣nour the hie priest Mattathias sonne of Iohan, otherwise called Chasmonany. The priest enioyned them to faste, and punishe thē selues before the lorde with wepinge, sackeclothe, and asshes, and after this he saith vnto them. If ye wil ieoparde your liues for the holy Lorde, why die we like women: Let vs go and fight with Polipus, and if we die, wee shal die with honour: peraduenture the holie and blessed God wil helpe vs, and will not roote out the remnaunt of Is∣racll. To this counsell euerie man as∣sented, and made a couenant with hym vpon this thing. Polipus hearing this, gathered his force together, and made

toward them to destroye them, & what Israelite so euer he found in his waie, he slewe him. Mattathias the priest and all the remnant of Israel vnderstāding that Polipus came againste them, they went vp vpon the mount Mediit wyth their wiues and children. Then hee put him selfe and his sōnes in armour. He had fiue sonnes. Iudas the eldest, the next Iehonathan, the thirde Iochanan, the fourth Schimeon, and the fifte Elea∣sar. All these wer valiant and good men of warre. When Polipus came to them he vsed crafte with Mattathias, saiynge vnto him. Thou arte one of the chiefe men in Israell, and a man of honour & estimation. Come doune therfore, and all y^t be with thee, worship the ymage, and striue not againste the kinge, that ye mai liue and not be destroied. Thou shalt be their prince also, if thou wilt be conformable. But the priest in no wise woulde bee seduced by him, but rather cursed and reuiled him. Mattathias had an aulter at the fote of the hill, where∣upon when he had offered Sacrifice to

the most blessed God, there came one of the wicked Israelites oute of Polipus campe, and killed vpon it a swine. This villaine was yong and lustye, but the prtest was olde: yet when he saw what this lewde felow had done, criyng vnto his god to help him & strenthen him, he chalenged a combate betwene him self & the felow. Which thinge being liked both of the felowe, and of Polipus with his whole Armye: Mattathias came downe wyth his drawen sworde in his hande, and the felow stode against him readye to receiue him. But the prieste russhed vpō him by the assistence of his god, ouercame him, cut of his head, and cast his carcas vpon the aulter, wherat Polipus and his whole host were much astonied, beholdyng one another. The prieste stode still by the aulter, criynge: whiche of you wil come to me man for man? Thē Polipus picked out a strong champion, the best in all his armye, and brought him out of the arayes of hys hoste to teache him his lesson, howe he should behaue him selfe with the priest.

The prieste therfore drewe toward the Campe with hys naked sworde in hys hand, as though he came to ioyne with their Champion: but afterwardes lea∣uynge him, he turned his sworde vpon Polipus, stroke of his heade, and fledde to the hill. Then blowing their hornes and makynge a shoute together, they russhed doun vpō the Grecians campe. But when the Grecians saw that their graunde captaine was slaine, they fled. Chasmonany and his sonnes with all Israell folowed the chase, ouerthrewe thē, and made a great slaughter. This done, Mattathias the priest went to Ie∣rusalem, purified the tēple, restored the worshippyng of god: & commaunded al that were born during the time of Po∣lipus to be circumcised, for bi the means of his inhibition, they were vncircūci∣sed. Thus being established, he sate vpō the throne of the kingdome, and droue the Grekes out of the lande of Israell. His kingdome endured one yere, whi∣che was the .cc. xii. yere frō the building of the seconde house. After this he fell

sicke, and like to die, charged his sonnes to kepe the obseruations of the Lorde, and to walke in his waies. Also to play the men againste the Grecians for the religion of the Lord. Then brought he forth Iudas, a tall man and a hardy, and placynge him in the sanctuarie, toke a horne of oyle, and poured it vppon his head, wherat all the Israelites clapped their handes, and gaue a great shoute, saiynge: God saue the kinge, God saue the kinge. Sone after Iudas gathered an armie of Israel, and made an expe∣dicion against the rēnant of the Grekes that were left in the holdes of Israell, and whatsoeuer he toke in hande, God gaue it good successe. Notwithstanding Antiochus sent against him a puissant army vnder the leadyng of one captain Pelonius, against whom Iudas so war∣red, that the Grecians went to wrack, for he espied his tyme when they were destitute of victuals, and spedely set v∣pon them, beat thē doune handsmoth, & approched to captain Pelonius, slew the valiauntest about him, yea & him also.

When Antiochus heard of this, he was in a great rage: wherefore he chose out a most valiaunt captaine called Lisias, and sent him against Hierusalem with a thousande horsemen, and fotemenne without number. Iudas hauing know∣ledge therof, cōmaunded a fast through out all Israel for three daies after, toke muster of all his armie, and made ouer them captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tennes. These saide to their souldiours. VVho so euer is aferde. &c. Wherupon many of the people retur∣ned home, yet there remayned .vii. M. and fiue hundred of suche courage all, that one would not haue runne awaye from an hundreth. Lisias deuided his hoste into three partes, committing thē vnto three capitaines, Nicanor, Bagris, and Ptolomee. But after the Israelites had once geuen a great shoute: the lord beat downe the Grekes, so that the Is∣raelites, destroyed nine thousand hors∣men of them, & spoyled the whole host, and they that remayned alyue, tooke them selues to flight. The next daye

Kynge Iudas kepte his Sabboth toge∣ther wyth all Israell in the campe, for the battayle was vppon the sixte daye. The morowe after the Israelites re∣turned to the spoyle of those that were kylled, and after to pursue other that were not able to resist: but they founde none, for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaiim. Durynge the tyme of this warres, Antiochus inuaded the land of Persia, for they hadde moued warre a∣gaynste hym, and done hym iniurye. Wherfore he fought against them: but hauynge the ouerthrowe at their han∣des, he retourned to Antiochia wyth great shame, where also he founde hys armyes wyth an other dishonoure and foyle. Wherewyth he was in suche a rage, that he gathered together all the valiauntest and beste Warriours in al Grecia: yea, all that were able to beare weapon, swearinge he woulde bringe with him suche an armye, that all the grounde about Hierusalem should not suffice theim to stande vppon that hee woulde haue wyth him, euen for hys

sotemen onelye. And so he set forwarde his horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all maner of furnitures for the warres, as Bowes, shieldes, Tar∣gets, swordes, and speares, brestplates, and mourens, besides a huge noumber of Elephantes: and suche, that a dosen valiant men might fight vpon one E∣lephant, the Elephants being to them as a Fortresse. But kinge Iudas toke heart to him, put his truste in his God, and ioyned battaile with him. At len∣gth when he with the power of Israel approched to the Elephants, they slew theim downe right, so that the Ele∣phantes roared, the Horses and all the beastes that caried the baggage and furnitures were verie soore afrayed. Kinge Antiochus also beinge mounted vppon his mare, and not able to sit her in her flight, was throwen downe. His seruauntes therfore findyng him, toke him vp, and bare him a while vpō their shoulders, and (being a corpulent and a grose man) they were not able to carye him further, but cast him downe in the

waie. The Lorde had plaged him also and his whole hoste before with a drye scabbe, or rottē mattier, and with other most horrible diseases: which as he saw he confessed it to be the hande of God. Wherfore he made a vowe, that if he escaped, be woulde circumcise him selfe with all his souldiours, and would con∣uert them to the worshippynge of the God of Israel: but God heard him not. He fledde therfore a fote as well as he might, and died bi the way through his greuous and soore diseases, and Opiter his sonne raigned in his stede. Kynge Iudas with all Israell retourned wyth great ioye to the house of the Lord, of∣fered sacrifices: and as they had layed wodde vpon the alter, and the sacrifice vpon that: they called vnto the Lorde, louingly to accept their sacrifice, and in the meane space, fire came forthe of the aulter by the owne accorde, consumed the sacrifice, and the wodde, the lyke neuer chaunced vnto them to this day. This miracle was wrought the .xxv. daie of the moneth Elul. The Kynge

made an expedicion also into Arabia to warre vpon the people thereof, & made of them a great slaughter, brought thē into subiection, and made theim tribu∣taries. In his returne he set vppon a great citie of the Grekes, wanne it, and raced it. After that he made a roade in∣to Grece, ten dayes iourney, where as came against him with a huge armye, the chiefe man in king Opiters realme next his persone: but Iudas discomfited him and all his people. From thence he went to the citye Sipolis, that was vnder the Romains, where as came foorthe to meete hym Godolias with a royal present, informing him that they had euer borne the Israelits good will, were their neighbours, & shewed them pleasures. The Kinge examined the matter, and founde their wordes true, so receiuinge their presentes, departed thence. After this Gorgorius a captain of the Romaines moued warre wyth Iudas, but Iudas stroke a battaile wyth him, and destroied his whole armye, so that none escaped. Opiter sonne of An∣tiochus

hearinge what Actes Iudas did in all countreys rounde aboute: he mu∣stred all his people, leuied a puissante armie, wherwith he came and besieged Bethar. Then cried Iudas and all Israel vnto their God with fastynge and sa∣crifices. The night after Iudas deuided his men into certaine bandes, cōmaun∣dynge theim to geue the Grecians a Camisado, and to enter their Campe whiles it was darke: whiche they did, and slewe verie manie of the best of the Grecians, about a foure thousand, pre∣paringe neuerthelesse for the fielde a∣gainste the morowe: where as also the Israelites did beat downe many of the Greekes. In that battaile was slaine Eleasar sonne of Mattathias, the kinges brother. For when he espied one wyth a golden sworde vpon an Elephant, he thought him to be kinge Opiter, who had .xx. Elephants in his armie. Ther∣fore he toke hart to him, and beat doun the souldiours of the Grekes on bothe sides him, were they neuer so stronge, till he came to that Elephant. And be∣cause

the Elephant was so hye that he coulde not reache them that sate vpon him, he shoued his sworde into the bea∣ly of the beast to ouerthrowe the king: wherat the Elephant shronke together and fel vpon Eleasar, that he died there. For whose sake al Israel mourned and made great lamentation. But Opiter hearinge this, straite waye made suite to king Iudas for peace, and a league to be made betwene them, whiche after Iudas had consented vnto: he returned home into Grece againe, and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slewe him. After him succeded De∣metrius his enemie, who was the cause of his death. Ther were at y^e time cer∣tain euil disposed persōs of the Iewes y^e serued the king of the Grecians in his warres, namelye one Alkimus: who went to the king of the Grekes at that tyme liynge at Antiochia, and stirred him to moue warre vpon Israell, and king Iudas. Whereupon Demetrius sent against him a capitaine called Nicanor with a stronge armye. He nowe com∣minge

to Hierusalem, let Iudas vnder∣stande that he bare him good will, and was desierous to make peace, and en∣ter into a league with him. Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sonnes of Chasmona∣nye: Nicanor met him in the waie, im∣brased him, and kissed him: after that ledde him to his pauilion, and set hym vpon his seate•• of honour. Kinge Iudas also after he returned from the campe, made vnto Nicanor a greate feaste, cal∣lyng him and his noble men with him into Hierusalem, where they eate and dranke at the kinges table. Kynge Iu∣das was yet vnmaried, wherfore Nica∣nor moued him to take a wife that hee might haue issue, and not lose his suc∣cession, whose counsaile Iudas alowed. This done, the lewde pickethanke Al∣kimus declared to kynge Demetrius the league that Nicanor hadde made wyth king Iudas. Whereat Demetrius being wrothe, writ vnto Nicanor that he had intelligence of his traiterous practises. Nicanor was in Hierusalem when this

letter was deliuered him. When Iudas hearde of the contentes of the letter, he fled out of Hierusalem into Samaria, where he sounded a trumpet, & gathe∣red Israel together. Nicanor vpō these letters, entred into the house of the lord to seeke Iudas, but he founde him not. Then he examined the Priestes, who sware they knewe not where he was become. After he had now sought him in euerye corner throughout Hierusa∣lem and could not finde him: in a fume he sware he woulde beate downe the temple. And gathering together ai his hoste, he made spede againste Iudas. When he hearde of Nicanors cōming he issued out of Samaria to mete him, and after they hadde stroke the battail, Iudas slewe of the Grekes to the num∣ber of .xviii. thousande horsemen, toke Nicanor aliue, and was minded to kyll him. But Nicanor besought him of par¦don, alledgynge that the kinge knewe well inough that he beganne not this battaile with his good will, but lest he shoulde traunsgresse the commaunde∣ment

of the king his maister. Where∣fore (saieth he) I humblye beseche your maiestie not to kill mee, and I sweare vnto you that I wyll neuer beare ar∣mour againste you, nor anoye you in any wise. Vpon this the kynge made a league with hym, and dimissed him. So he returned to the king his master with shame inough. After this Deme∣trius dyed, and Lisia his sonne raigned in his stede. Yet the wicked men ceased not, but moued againe Kinge Lisia to make a voyage in his owne Persone with a puissant armye againste Iudas: but hauinge the ouerthrowe of kynge Iudas, he fled vnto Asdotum till he had repaired againe his armye strongelye. Then came he the seconde time vppon Iudas, in whiche conflicte the Israelites were put to flight. King Iudas notwith¦standinge fled nother one waye nor o∣ther, but called to his men, & exhorted them to returne and sticke by him, yet they would not obeye him. So he abid alone with his drawen sworde in hys hand, vnto whom none of his enemies

durst approche nie, but with charettes and horsemen they enuironned hym, and archers shot at him, woūding him sore, till he fell downe deade vppon the ground, and they that were about him were taken alyue. The tyme that he raigned ouer Israel was .vi. yere. Ma∣nie of the Grekes captains were slaine also in that battaile, and the king him selfe so wounded, that he was faine to get him into his countreye to be cu∣red of his woundes. After he hadde re∣couered his health, he returned again, came to Hierusalem, and to all the ci∣ties of Israell wyth the power of the Grekes, wherwith he so afflicted them at that tyme for the space of foure mo∣nethes after the death of Iudas, that the like tribulation was neuer sene in Is∣raell. In the meane season the Israe∣lites resorted to Ionathas the sonne of Mattathias, and made him king in Iu∣das stede, and were sworne vnto hym. This Ionathas foughte diuers greate battails against the Grekes, hauynge the aide of one Sauinus of the kinred of

kyng Alexander y^e first, who had made a league with Ionathas, & toke his part againste Grecia, wasted and spoyled it sore, till at length the king of the Gre∣cians slewe Ionathas by a traine. His raigne ouer Israel dured .vi. yere. Then was Schimeon his brother king in his stede. Against him Antiochus the secōd kinge of the Grecians came to warre. But Schimeon met him, and laied first an ambushe to entrapte the Grekes, then ordered his battayles in araye a∣gainst Antiochus. After that he wyth his whole hoste made a face, fayninge as though they fledde, and retired, tyll thei perceiued Antiochus who pursued them, to be within their daunger, then the ambushe brake foorthe vppon the Grekes, & made a very great slaughter. After this Schimeon returned to Ierusa¦lē with great ioye. Then sent Ptolome king of Egipt an imbassage to Scimeō king of Israel, offering him his daugh¦ter in mariage. To his request when king Schimeon had cōsented: Ptolome came to Ierusalē, where was made a

great feast, & they were alied together. Whereupō Antiochus king of the Gre∣ciās writ to Ptolome king of Egipt, pri¦uily to murder Schimeō king of Israel. Whō Ptolomee durst not but obey, for at that time the king of Egipt was in subiection to the Grekes. Therefore when Schimeon came into Egipt to se his father in lawe Ptolomee: he was receiued with greate feastinge, but in the same he had poyson geuen him, that he died thereof. Besides this also, his sonne which came with him, Ptolome cast in prisō. These things iustly chaū∣ced vnto Schimeon, for that he hadde traunsgressed the worde of the Lorde, that forbade all aliance with the Gen∣tiles. The time that he raigned ouer Israel was .xviii. yeres. Then Iohn his sonne raigned in his steede, who was called Hircanus in the Greke tongue. The same Ptolomee king of Egipt in∣uaded Israel with al the power that he coulde make. But Iohn the sonne of Schimeon mette him, and the Lorde o∣uerthrewe Ptolomee wyth his whole

hoste, that they were slaine of the Isra∣elites, and pursued to the citye Dagon, about the whiche the Israelites made trenches, and beseged it. Nowe within the towne thei had the mother of kyng Hircanus, whom Ptolomee caused to be sette vppon the Walles: and to bee scourged with whippes in the sight of her sonne. When Hircanus sawe the great affliction of his mother, he wold haue raised his siege, and departed frō Ptolomee. But his mother called vnto him and said: My deare sonne Iohn, re∣garde not my tribulation, for all cha∣steninges come from GOD. Procede manfully with thy siege againste thys citye, for it is in great distresse, and re∣uenge me, thy father, and brother mur∣dered by Ptolomee. The king folowed her aduise, & manfully raysed a mount from the which he battered the walles with engynes of yron like charrettes till it began to shake. Wherfore many of the souldiours of the towne fledde, and their companies began to scatter. Ptolomee seinge this, commaunded to

afflict hys mother yet more, and to en∣crease her scourgynges, vntill the en∣trails of Hircanus was moued, that he could abide no lenger to see his mother so cruelly handled, but left the siege, & let Ptolomee escape: who neuerthelesse killed his mother, and fled into Egipt. In the fourth yeare of kinge Hircanus raigne, Pius king Grece came and be∣sieged Ierusalem with a great power and strength, whom Hircanus was not able to mete & encoūter within y^e field, suffered him selfe to be closed vp in the Citye. The Kinge of the Grecians therfore raysed great Towers against the citye aparte from the wall, digged a trench, & cast vp a mount. Thē plan∣ted their engins named Rams against the gates, so y^t the citie was hard besie∣ged: for they beat down••one of the tur∣rets y^e stode vpon the wall, wherat all Israel was afraied, & agreed togither to issue out & skirmishe with thē, whatso∣euer should come theron, life or death. Which although Hircanus liked not, yet thei so did, and slewe many of their

enemies, put theim also to flighte, that thei were cōstrayned to encampe them selues furder of from Ierusalem. Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Grekes had builded, and raced thē to the grounde. Thus they issued oute daiely, skirmishynge with Pius, vntill the feast of the tabernacles. Then sent kyng Hircanus to Pius, desierynge him that he would graunt them truice, and let them be in peace while the feast la∣sted. His request Pius graunted, & sent a fatte Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel, coueryng his hornes with bea∣ten golde, and dressynge hym with fil∣lets of Cristall, & other precious stones. Clad him also in a garment of purple, and diuers other precious clothes. He sent moreouer plate bothe of siluer and golde full of diuers kinde of spices, all to be offered vnto the Lorde. When king Hircanus sawe this, he went out vnto Pius, and after he had made peace with him, he made him and his chiefe men of warre a great feast, and offred him a present of .ccc. pounde weight of

golde. After that he went to war with Pius in his armye to aide him againste the king of Persia that rebelled against him. But sone after he was come with in the lād of Persia, y^t time of Pentecost was at hande. Wherfore kyng Hirca∣nus and the hoste of Israel retourned: but Pius and his armye of the Greci∣ans proceaded. Whom the king of the Persians met in the fielde, slewe Pius hym selfe, and vainquished the residue that almost none remained. Whereof when tidynges came to Hircanus, he was verye glad, and returned to Hie∣rusalem with peace and ioye. After this Hircanus made manye great battails with the nacions aboute him, and had euer the victorye. He also came to the mount of Gorizim, where he wanne a forte of the Sectaries and Samaritans, & raced downe the temple that the Secta∣ries hadde there as their house of San∣ctuarye, whiche they builded by the li∣cence of Alexander the first king of the Grekes. He that builded it was Ma∣nasse the priest, brother to Schimeon the

iust. But Hircanus the hye priest pul∣led it downe .cc. yere after it was buil∣ded. From thence he went to the citye of Samaria, and besieged it. This was the mother citye of the Samaritans and Sectaries, which was brought to suche distresse by the long siege of Hircanus, that they within were faine to eate the carcases of dogges. The feast of Propi∣ciation then beinge at hande, Hircanus made spede to Ierusalem to execute his office in that feaste (for he was the hye priest) appointing for generalles of his army, Aristobulus his eldest sonne, and his second son Antigonus. In the mean season they within the towne writ to the kinge of Grece to come to succoure thē, which he did with a great power. But these .ii. yong men the kings sons went to meete them with the strength of the Israelites, and gaue them the o∣uerthrow, killing them vp almost eue∣ry one to the nōber of .xxi. M. fightyng mē, & the rest fled. That done, the yong men returned to the siege of Samaria. King Hircanus their father had tidings

of the cōming of the Grecians against his sons, so y^t he perceiued they shoulde haue the Greciās of thone side of them, & the Samaritans & Sectaries of thother. But he knew nothing what was hap∣ned, for that victory chaūced the .ix. day of Tisre. His hart therfore was careful for his sons, & for Israel. Notwithstan∣ding he proceded in his office according as y^e feast required. So as he entred in∣to the house of Sanctū sactorū, or y^e most holiest to offer incēce, & to cal for mercy for his childrē & for the army: he heard a voice speaking vnto him. Neuer trou¦ble thy minde with thy childrē, & with the host of Israel, for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard thē, & according to y^e greatnes of his goodnes for thi fathers sakes. Let thy heart therfore be right & thy hād pure. So y^e king going out of y^e sāctuary, declared if to y^e people. Wher∣upō the next day they sēt post to Sama∣ria, & had word again y^t this was true. Wherfore king Hircanus was manifi∣ed greatly of all Israel, for thei knewe y^t the blessed Lord accepted his doings,

inspiryng him with the holy gost, and increasyng his kingdome & priesthode. After this he tooke his iourney to Sa∣maria, besieged it a whole yere, and at length wan it, slewe all also that bare life within it. He raced the walles, the palaice, and burnt vp the citye. He had warres also with the Romains and the Arabians, and God prospered all that euer he toke in hande. So shortly after God gaue him rest and quietnes from all that dwelt about him, and from all his enemies, so that Israel rested bold∣lye in peace & tranquilitie al his time. On a tyme the kinge made a feaste to all the sages of Israel, that they might make good cheare with hym. And be∣ing merily disposed, he said: I am your scholar, and what so euer I do, that do I bi your aucthoritie. Wherfore I pray you if you see any faulte in me, or if I do not as it becometh me: tell me of it, that I maye reforme mine euill waye. Then euery man greatly extolled and commended hym, saiynge: Who is like vnto thee, our Lorde kyng, so worthye

of the kingdome and priesthode, so no∣table in good workes, whose woorkes be done for the God of heauen, which hast also done so much good to Israel? The king was very well pleased with their aunswere, and reioysed greatlye. Yet was there one amongest them an vndiscrete manne called Eleaser, who spake vnaduisedlye to the king. And it please your maiestie, it were sufficient for you to haue the crown of the king∣dome, ye might leaue of the crowne of ••he priesthode to the sede of Aaron, for∣asmuch as your mother was captiue in the mount Modiit. Incontinente the king was moued and soore displeased against the Sages, whiche certaine of his seruauntes that hated the Sages, and smelled somewhat of sectes, percei∣uyng: one of them in••ourmed the king that what so euer that vndiscrete per∣son had spoken, it was not without the aduise of the Sages. Whereupon the king demaunded of the Sages: What law shal that man haue, that in the di∣spi••e of the kinge, speaketh thinges in

his reproche? They made answere, he is worthy to be whipt. Then said one of y^e Saduces, the matter is plaine, that according to y^e mindes of the Sages & at their bidding he vpbrayded thée, & therfore they would not awarde him to die. Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to an∣swer. So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse. The next day, at the commaundement of the king, pro∣clamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions, that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus: and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees, or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil: shuld suffer death. This was Ihon the hie priest, whiche had the priesthode. xl. yeares, and in thend became a Saducie. Not∣withstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement, but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages. The king him selfe and all his seruantes, folowed the traditions

of the Saducies, making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages: and putting to deathe, as many as he coulde get knowledge of. By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion. The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere, and then he died. After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus, for he had .iii. sonnes, Aristobulus, Anti∣gonus and Alexander. This Alexan∣der was hated of his father and bani∣shed out of his presence. He went ther∣fore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon: subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised. Aristobulus re∣garded not the high priesthode, but set light by it, wherfore he wold not exe∣cute the office therof, but toke y^e king∣dome vppon him, and set the crowne vppon his heade: and was called the great king. Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother, and wold not suf∣fer them to dwell in Ierusalem. But he loued his brother Antigonus, and

made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres, setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies. Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune, and prospered in al thin∣ges that he toke in hād, and returned safe to Ierusalem. Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king, which at that time was greuously sicke: and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God, his goodnesse and mercye towardes him, in that he aided him against his enemies. Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king, & informed him with this tale. Thy brother (saith he) returning from the warres, inquyred▪ of thy health, & when it was told him thou wast sicke, he saide: I will go to him to day, & rid him out of the world. When the kinge heard this, he was wrothe towarde the sages: commaun∣ded his brother to be apprehēded, and caried to the palaice of Starton, there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges.

In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde. But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed, he cried mainly out and wepte, smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande, that he sowned, and muche blud issued out of his mouth. He reig∣ned ouer Israel .ii. yere. After him his brother Alexander reigned, who was also called king Ianai, being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him, and made king of Israel. He was a mighty man, and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies, preuai∣ling against thē. He had warres with the Philistines, namelye Azam and Ascalon, whom he put to the worsse, and ouercame them. This man refu∣sed not the priesthode, but was his priest. It chaunced on a time, when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice: one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him, wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare, crying: geue me my sword.

Then the Sages kneled down before him, and sware they did it not of anye contempt, but rather (say thei) that we thus sporting before the Lord, would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye. But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again, saiynge: Althoughe ye play and reioyie, yet it is not the ma∣ner of the country to vse any such di∣spitful custome with the king. The cō∣tencion waxed hot amongste them, til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king, castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person, and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit, wherby her seede was steined. The king was sore moued at that, in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine. Therefore, wher so euer they founde them, in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusa∣lem: they killed them forthwith. Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tra∣dicions of the Saducies. So in those

daies had the Sages great tribulatiō: some fel vpon the sworde, some fled a∣waye, and some taried at home with dishonor and shame. After these mat∣ters the king made an expedicion in∣to Arabia, entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes, against Hartam kinge of Arabia, and subdued his lande. After that he warred vpon Medaba, and the hole lande of Moab, vanquishing them, and bringing them vnder tribute: and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem. When he had af∣ter this wel bethought him of his do∣ings, it repēted him of his euil waies: wherfore he altered his minde and be∣gan to make much of the Sages, sub∣mitted him to their ordinaunce, and estemed their tradicions. There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called Phariseis, of whom such as had escaped, the kinge sente to call them home again, and when they wer come into his presence, he spake vn∣to them comfortable wordes, saying: My brethern, ye shal vnderstand that,

that is once done and past, must nedes be termed as it is, and can not be reuo∣ked. And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me: nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed. Notwithstanding, I confesse my faulte vnto you, and haue chaunged my in∣dignation to loue: praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and ma∣lice, laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes, re∣ioysyng in your reconciliation and at∣onement with me, & be of good cheare. But they made him answere. We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie, for thou speakest but disceitfully, & we speake that is truthe. Furthermore, thou hast killed our chief men and el∣ders, neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie: but also Hircanus thy fa∣ther, who began such mischiefe, & thou hast holden on and cōtinued it. Wher∣fore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote: neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge, tyll thou dye, and God take vengeaunce

vpon thee for our sakes, then shal wee reioice, when we see vengeaunce. So they departed from his presence, nei∣ther did the kinge euer geue them any answere. But when thei perceiued the kinge to be incensed against them, and by that meanes the matter mighte re∣dounde to their owne harme: after con∣sultation had, they went to the king of Grece, whose name was Demetrius, shewed him what Hircanus and Alex∣ander his sōne had done vnto the Pha∣riseis and all the Israelites that bare them good will, and folowed their tra∣ditions: and how thei also hated Alex∣ander for the mischiefe that hee hathe wrought them. So that if any manne would come and reueng the malice of Alexander, they would be ready to aide him. Demetrius folowed their aduise, and assembling together all his people to the number of .xl. thousand horsemē, and fotemen without number. He toke his iourney, and encamped against Si∣chem. Then kinge Alexander waged .vi. thousand horsemen to aid him. But

the king of the Grecians writ priuilye to the auncientes of the Sectaries y^t they shold not aide Alexander. To the mer∣cinary souldiours also that Alexander had hired, he sent rewardes golde and siluer, that they returned home to their coūtrey, & aided not Alexander. Wher∣upon he was not able to withstande Demetrius. Therfore hearing y^t Deme∣trius was remoued frō Sichem toward Ierusalē, entending to take him in the citie: he fled by nighte with a fewe of his men to the mountains, and lurked there. When the menne of Israel that were in Iudea heard the king was fled out of Hierusalem, and that the citye was in hasarde to come into the hādes of the Grecians: they gathered them selues together, & stode for their liues as thoughe all had bene one man, to the number of .x. thousand, and set vpō Demetrius Campe, killed all his beste men of warre, and spoyled his whole host, that he fled from them, & returned home into his coūtrey with shame & di∣shonour. This done, the king toke hart vnto him, & returned to his kingdom,

but y^e Pharises fled to Betshemes, strēgth¦ning thē selues against the king. Who hauing intelligēce therof: gathered an army & went against thē, wan the city, and toke .viii.c. of the chiefest Pharisies, bound thē in chains, & brought them to Ierusalē. Then bāqueted he al his ser∣uants vpon the roufe of his palaice in a very hie place, where the chiefe lear∣ned men eat & dranke, vntil he and thei were dronke. And in his merye mode he commaunded those .viii.c. Pharisies prisoners to be brought forth & to be hā¦ged euery man of thē vppon gallowes before him, at which sight he dronke & laughed hartely. After this he fel sick y^e xxiiii. yere of his raigne, of a greuous disease, a quartan ague y^t held him thre yere: yet for all this he shronke not, nor letted to go to the war, to encounter & fight with his enemies what nation so euer they were of round about him, as though he had ben a hole man. In the xxvii. yere of his raign, which was the third of his sicknes, he made an expedi∣tiō into the land of Moab against a cer∣tain city called Ragaba, to get it bi force

At which time he was very sicke and weake, wherfore his wife Alexandra the Quene wente with him, fearinge least he shuld die by the waye. And as be encamped him self against the city, and vrged it sore with assaultes, his sicknesse increased vpon him more and more. Wherfore his wife perceiuinge that he was like to die, wept bitterly before him, & said. To whō shal I be so bold as to shew my face, whē thou art once dead, seing thou haste wroughte such mischief vpon the pharisies, whō all the lande fauoureth, and foloweth their traditions, obeiyng their institu∣cions? If they shalbe disposed to wreke them selues vppon me and thy yonge children, they shal haue aid of all that dwel in the lād. The king answered. Wepe not, nor shew any resēblance of pēsifnes: I wil tel the what y^u shalt do, & if thou wilt folow my counsell, thou shalt prosper and raigne, thou and thy children, as thou woldest desire. Be it that I die, there is no man in y^e world nede know therof. Tel thou euery mā

therfore that aske for me: y^t I am sick, & wil not that ani mā shal come at me. In the meane while, anointe & season me with balmes, fight with a courage against this city til thou win it, & then return to Ierusalem with ioy: and be∣ware thou put on no mourninge ap∣parail, nor weepe, but bringe me into Ierusalem and laye me vpon a bedde like a sicke man, and after call toge∣ther the chiefe of the Phariseis, bryng them where I am, and speake vnto them gentilly in this sort. Alexander hath bene euer your enemy. I knowe it very wel: wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire, or to the dogges, or bury him, it shalbe at your choise. I knowe wel, they are pitifull men and so ful of merci, that they wil bury me honorably, and shall apointe some one of my sonnes whō they like best to be king. The Quene did ther∣fore as she was instructed of the king. Whan she had won Ragaba, she ioy∣fully returned to Ierusalem: after that gathered together the elders of the

Pharisies and spake to them as the king had aduised her. The Pharisies hearing the king was deade, and that his bodye was in their handes to do withal what they liste, they answered the Quene: God forbid, we shoulde do this vnto our Lorde the annointed of God. He was the king and hie prieste: what though he were a sinner, yet his deathe shalbe an expiation for him of al his iniquities. Therfore we wil be∣waile him and mourne for him: yea, we wil cary his coffen our selues vp∣on our neckes and burye him as it be∣commeth a kinges magnificence, and so they did. The time that he reigned was .xxvii. yeares. After him reigned his wife Alexandra in his stede, for the Pharisies after they had finished the .vii. daies of y^e mourning, they comitted the kingdō vnto her. She had .ii. sons by the king: the elder was called Hir∣canus, the other Aristobulus. Hircanus was a iust man & righteous, but Ari∣stobulus was the warrioure & man of prowes: besides that, of a familier &

louing countenance. He fauored also y^e learned men, & folowed their instructi∣on. But Hircanus his elder brother, lo¦ued the Pharisies. On a time therfore when the Quene sate in the throne of her kingdom, she called the auncients of the Pharisies before her, honoured them, & commaunded to release & set at liberty al such Pharisies as y^e king her husband & her father in lawe had cast in prison: and taking the pharisies by the handes, she commaunded all Israel to obey their ordinaunces. Thē made Hircanus her sonne hie prieste, and Aristobulus lieueteuaunte of the warres. She sent also to al the landes that her husbande and father in lawe had subdued, and demaunded the n••∣ble mennes sonnes for pledges, which she kept in Ierusalē. So the lord gaue vnto the Quene quietnesse frō al that were vnder her subiection. She gaue also the Pharisies authority ouer the learned sort, puttinge them into their handes to ordre at their pleasure.

Wherupon straight way they founde one Dogrus a greate man amongst the learned sort, whom they stewe, & much people besides of the auncients of that sect, so that the Sectaries were in great distresse. Thei gathered them selues to∣gether therfore and came to Aristobu∣lus the lieutenaunt of the warres, and with him they came to the Quene, sai∣yng vnto her: Thou knowest the en∣mitie that is betwene vs and the Pha∣risies, which hate thy busband, and fa∣ther in lawe, yea, and thy children also. We were his men of warre that went with him in all his affaires, and ayded him now thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the Lande. What will Hartam kinge of Arabia dooe when he heareth this, that we shall forsake thee? He w•••• come and reuenge him of all the bat∣taile that thy husband fought agaynst him. Yea, the Pharisies will take his parte, and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes, that there shall not be left vnto Hircanus the kynge, and his

sonne Alexander thy husbande, anye name or remnant at all. The Quene gaue them no word to answer: wher∣at Aristobulus was angrye, and letted not to vtter it to his mothers face, but she would not heare him. Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart oute of Ie∣rusalem, to chuse them cities in the lād of Iuda where they mighte dwel with their honor: & not to suffre them selues to be slain vnder the Pharisies hands. Wherfore departing from Ierusalem, they dwelte in the cities of Iuda. Not longe after this it fortuned the Quene fel sore sicke, that she was like to die. Wherof when Aristobulus heard, he feared least the Pharisies wold make his brother Hircanus kinge, and at length apprehende him: wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies, to be their heade, and make war vpon his brother if he would pre∣sume to reigne. He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies called Ga∣lustius, who was a good man of war.

And after he had gathered a stronge armye of the Saducies, his mother the Quene sent vnto him that he shoulde returne vnto her, which he wolde not do: but rather went to war vppon the nacions that dwelt about him, where he wan .xx .cities, and gate him great renowne therby. Now as the Quene his mother waxed sicker and sicker: the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her, with her sonne Hircanus, weping be∣fore her, and saiyng, how they were a∣fraid of her sonne Aristobulus, who if he should come into Ierusalem & take it, he would deliuer them vp into the handes of the Saducies. Vnto whome she answered: I am as you see, at the point of death, not able to talke much with you: there is here in my house great treasure that my husbande and my fathered gathered, and their parēts kings of the posterity of Chasmonani: take that vnto you, and make my sōne Hircanus king ouer you. If Aristobu∣lus wil perturbe him and make warre againste him: ye may wage menne of

war therwith and succour him as you thinke good. And euen with this she fainted and died and was buried a∣mongst her people, after she had reig∣ned .ix. yeare ouer Israel. The Phari∣sies therfore and priestes with all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Hir∣canus her sonne king in her stede. Ari∣stobulus hearinge tidinges of these thinges assembled his army and came toward Ierusalem, to fight against his brother. But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nye vnto Ior∣dane Iericho. The Saducies of Aristo∣bulus hoste were good men of warre, and to strong for the Pharises. Wher∣fore Hircanus & the Pharisies had the ouerthrow at Aristobulus and the Sa∣duces handes, who with this victorye proceded forth to Ierusalem, besieged it, & brought it to great distres. Wher¦fore the priestes and the aunciente of the people consulted together, & came forth to Aristobulus, fel prostrate vpon thearth afore him, and besought him y^t he wold not scatter abrode the inheri∣taunce

of the Lorde. He condiscended vnto their desires vpon these conditi∣ons, that he should enter into Ierusa∣lem with them and be kinge: and his brother Hircanus shoulde be the hie priest. Wherunto they agreed. Then as Aristobulus entred into Ierusalē, his brother came out of the sanctuary to mete him: and with embrasings, he kissed him. So Aristobulus was king, & Hircanus executed the office of the hie priest. The Lord also gaue Israell rest and peace for a while. But after∣ward the Lord sente an euil spirite a∣mongst them, which was the cause of translating the kingdō from the stock of Chasmonani, and of y^e destructiō of his posteritye. For the sonne of Hirca∣nus the great, and the sonne of Alex∣ander his sonne in y^t they shed so much innocent blud, & drue Israel frō thobe∣dience of the Prophets, vnto the lies & trifles of the Saduces. For thus it chaū¦ced. The Saduces bet into Aristobulus heade, y^t as long as his brother Hirca∣nus liued, he, nor his kingdome could

neuer be stablished. Wherupon Aristo∣bulus deuised how to make awai Hirca¦nus. Which thing a certain mā called Antipater was aware of, a mā of most power in al Israel, & therto also a wise, expert, & learned man in all wisdome, both in the lawes, & in the knowledge of the Greke, iust of his word, & prudent if ani straūge or new matters chaūced. His ofspringe was not out of the chil∣dren of Israell, but of those Romaines which chaūced to be vainquished, & be∣came subiect vnder the dominion of the Israelits, being but straūgers, & of no noble house in Israel. He had. iiii. sōnes Ioseph his eldest, the nexte Pasilus, the third Herode, & the .iiii. Pheroras. These had also a sister called Salumith. Anti∣pater fauoured Hircanus so intirely for his iustice & vprightnes sake, y^t he ope∣ned vnto him him his brother Aristo∣bulus & the Saducies intent: geuing him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Ara∣bia, but Antipater him self went before to breake the matter to Hartā, of whose comminge Hartam was very glad.

Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus kinge of Hierusalem was in minde to flee vnto him, because of Ari∣stobulus his brother. If thou wilt helpe him (saith he) and let him haue speedy aide: thou shalte easilye set Aristobulus besides the kingdome, for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus, and fauoure not Aristobulus. Hartam answered. I am afraied of the Iewes and their wilines. Alexander his father put mee thrise to the foile in battail by his subtiltie, and toke my dominiōs from me. Thē An∣tipater sware vnto him. He shalbe (saith he) thy true & trustye frend, to do what soeuer thy hart desiereth. Thus Hartā was perswaded, & they made a league together. Then Antipater returnyng to Hierusalem, caused Hircanus to flee in the night, and they both went toge∣ther to the king of Arabia, who muche reioyced at Hircanus commynge, and receiued him honourably. When they came together to entreat of the league: Hartam demaunded restitution of such cities as Hircanus father had taken frō

him: to whom Hircanus consented in all thinges. Wherfore Hartam raysed all the people of Arabia, and led theim to Hierusalem to warre vppon it. To Hircanus also came all the men of Iuda saue onely they that dwelt at Hierusa∣lem. So betwixt them they beset the ci∣tie rounde aboute. It fortuned that in the solemnitie of the Passeouer, they coulde not haue their seruice of the so∣lemnitie in the holy place bicause of the warres. Wherupon a certain iust and perfect man of the towne called Hony auriga, brake out priuely into the camp of Hircanus and Antipater his counse∣ler, besought thē with much prayer & teares that they would graunt a truce vnto Ierusalē while the feast of swete breade lasted, that they might execute the seruice of Solemnitie in the holye place. To whom Hircanus saide. Thou art a iust manne, and often when thou hast prayed, the Lord hath heard thee: pray now therfore vnto thy lord God, to deliuer Aristobulus into our hands, and that Israel may haue rest. Hony

auriga answered. Am I a God, or able to remoue battailes that be stirred vp for manye mennes iniquities? Thus when he semed to bee vnwillynge to to pray, Hircanus men compelled him, drawinge their swordes, and saiynge: If thou wilt not praye, thou shalte dye for it. Therefore as he sawe his life in ieopardye, he cryed vnto the Lorde. O Lorde euerlastyng, which haste chosen thy people Israell oute of all people, & hast set thy name in this house: maye it please thy maiestie to plant amonge the children of Israel frendshippe and brotherhode, take away from amonge them this hatred which is risen of no∣thing, & let not thone of these factions preuail against thother, seing thei al be thy seruantes, and children of thy coue∣naunt. When the seruantes of Hirca∣nus heard him saie so: they ranne vpon him with their swords, and killed him. But God deferd not his vengeance: for he strake the host aswel of the Arabiās as of Hircanus wyth a greuous pesti∣lence. At the same time came frō Rome

a famous captain called Pompeius, to warre against the coūtry of Armenia. This Pompeius sent one of his chiefe men to Damasco, of whom as Aristo∣bulus (thus besieged had heard) & that an armye of the Romaines was come into Damasco: he sent him a presente of .iiii. C. pound weight of golde, desi∣ring him to remoue the armye of the Arabians frō him, and raise the siege. In those daies all the worlde obeyed the Romaines. That captain therfore writ vnto Hartam king of Arabia in this wise: Depart from Ierusalem: if not, thou shalt vnderstande thou haste broken thy league with the Senate of Rome, and the hole armye of the Ro∣maines shall shortly inuade thy land. Hartam vppon the sight of this letter raised his siege and departed frō Hie∣rusalem. Hircanus also and Antipater departed with shame and reproche. A∣ristobulus vpon that gathered a pow∣er and pursued after them, gaue the Arabians & Israelites that toke Hir∣canus part a greate ouerthrowe, and

after returned to Ierusalem with ioy. Shortly after Pompeius came to Da∣masco: him Aristobulus presēted with a vine of gold, merueylous artificially wrought. The rotes of the vine, leues clusters, & grapes, y^t were vpon it wer pure gold: the weight therof was .v. C pound. Pompeius was very glad ther∣of, & sent it to Rome to the Cōsul. And the hole benche of the Senate whiche was of the nōber of .iii. C .xx. senators, wondered at the cunning & wit of him that made it: and with great ioy they bare it into the temple of their gods, placing it in the presēce of y^e great I∣dol Iupiter, so called after y^e name of y^e planet Iupiter. Pompeins writ his let∣ters to Aristobulus with great thākes & cōmendaciō for y^e same: assuring him how both he & the hole Senate fauored him, & that he shuld haue a frēd of him to speke in his cause as lōg as he liued Hircanus hearing of this, was cleane dashed & in dispair. But Antipater cō∣forted him saying: let not the frēdship y^t is betwixt Pōpeius & thi brother dis∣may

thee: I wil go to him & make him thy frēd. Vpō y^t he wēt to Pompeius & perswaded his minde to hate Aristo∣bulus & to fauor Hircanus, informinge him thus. If thou (saith he) defēd Hir∣canus, al Israel wil be cōtent to be vn∣der thy protection, for they loue him euery mā. But if thou defēd Aristobu∣lus, the people wil not obei the, for thei hate him. Pompeius charged him y^t no man should be made priuy of their cō∣munication. For I (saith he) wil sende for Aristobulus to come vnto me to Damasco, and then wil I cause to lay handes of him, and deliuer him bound to his brother, restoring the kingdō to him. Aristobulus vppon the sighte of Pompeius letters resorted vnto him. Hircanus also came from the rocke of the wildernesse. And as they appeared together before Pompeius: Antipater desired him that he woulde do iu∣stice betwixte Hircanus the king, and Aristobulus hys brother, that rebel∣led againste him, and toke hys kinge∣dom from him without cause. Whose

saiynges a thousād of the elders of Is∣rael stode vp & witnessed to be true. A∣ristobulus made answer. I neuer stroue with him for the kingdom, vntill such time as I saw al these that made Hir∣canus king, to run in great obloquy, & to susteine muche reproche because he was so feble a person and of no great wit, nor forced much of the kingdome: yea, til al nations that wer about him whose dominions our progenitors cō∣quered, began nowe to dispise him, to passe little for offending him, to denye him tribute, for his simplicitye, & mo∣pishnesse, with lacke of courage. Whē Aristrobulus had said, there stode vp a great multitude of goodlye and beau∣tiful yong men, apparailed in cloth of Hiacinth and purple, with mighti ter∣gettes vpon the same, and other orna∣mentes of gold, christall and precious stones: affirming with one accord that Aristrobulus saide the truthe, namelye that Hircanus forced not of the kinge∣dome. At whom Pompeius merueiled saying: Happy is this people hauinge

so many hansome menne, true in their wordes, and wise: Happy also wer the Senate of Rome, if they could bringe to passe that this great nation mighte be vnder their gouernance. So he toke his iourney to Ierusalem with Hirca∣nus and Aristobulus. But after Ari∣stobulus perceiued y^e Pompeius stode not to the promise he made him at the beginning for the vine: he set light by him, and fled from him to Alexandria in Egipt, whether Pompeius folowed with his host, and beseged Alexādria. From thence Aristobulus fled againe to Ierusalem, and Pompeius pursued him also thither, writing to Aristobu∣lus a letter of truce & pardon. So Ari∣stobulus came forth to him, & Pōpeius did him at that time no harme, but de∣maunded to be geuen vnto him all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Aristobulus refusing to do: but Pōpei∣us in a rage, caused to lay him faste in heauye iron chaines, and assauted Ie∣rusalem, batteringe the walles verye sore, til they of the towne issued out a∣gainst

him & slue of his host .xii. M. mē. After this hadde the Israelites ciuill warres within Ierusalem, because the siege was greuous vnto them, for they were deuided into factions, one parte said: Let vs open the gates to Pompei∣us & let him in, that we mai submit our selues vnder his protection. The other said: Let vs fight against him vnto the death. But much people misliked that, so that that side preuailed that woulde yelde. Wherfore Pompeius entred the town, & the house of the sāctuary, killed much people of the priests & the people of the lād, made Hircanus king of Isra∣el the .ii. time, & Antipater his coūseler. Moreouer, he set one Securus a Romain in the countrey to receiue the tribute & departed, leading Aristobulus with him boūd in irons. And because he toke his iorney toward Arabia, Hircanus & Anti¦pater wēt w^t him to cōduct him. Aristo∣bulus thus being prisoner, & his .ii. sons w^t him, it fortuned y^t one of thē called A∣lexāder escaped. And hauing intelligēce that Hircanus and his counselour were

gone out of Ierusalem: he came thither & rebelled againste Hircanus, made vp the breaches of the wall that Pompei∣us had battered: yea, the Israelites re∣sorted vnto him, & made him Kinge in Hircanus place. Wherupon he gathe∣red an armye, and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homewarde from Pompeius, where he gaue Hirca∣nus y^e ouerthrow, & Securus the receiuer of the tribute escaped. Then Alex∣ander returned to Ierusalē, frō whence shortly after Gabinius a Romain with a stronge armye compelled him to flee to Alexandria. And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius: hys mother Aristobulus wyfe went forthe to Gabinius weping, and besought him that he would not destroy her sōne, for whose sake he did Alexander no harm.

Gabinius therefore hauynge gotten all the Lande of Iudea, made Hircanus king of Ierusalem now the .iii. time: who set Romain captaines and rulers in Iericho and in Zephori, and through all the lande of Israel. It fortuned af∣ter

this that Aristobulus gat out of pri∣son at Rome, and came into Israel: to whom on euerye syde resorted men in such fort y^t he had a puissāt host of Is∣rael. Wherof whē he had takē muster, he chose out .viii. thousand of the best, & with thē went agaynst Gabinius, wher was a sore battayle foughte betwene them, tyll the beste of Aristobulus men wer slayn, and only one thousand left, wherwith he fled to the mountaynes. But the Romayns folowed the chase, and slew them euery man. Yet Aristo∣bulus would not yeld but fought alone, although his helmet was broken, til he had dyuers sore woundes in hys head: and then fell he to the ground, and the Romayns toke him yet aliue, brought hym to Gabinius, who comforted hym: commaundinge hys surgeons to heale hym, and after sent hym to the Consul and Senat of Rome, wher he was put in prison yet once agayne. After thys, the Senate takinge pitie of Aristobu∣lus wife, whiche was reported to bee a verye wise woman: released her two

sonnes out of prison, and set theim at libertie. Alexander the one of those could not be content, but rebelled once againe against Hircanus and the Ro∣maine gouernours. For he gathered together muche people of Israell, en∣countred wyth one of the Romayn go∣uernours that Gabinius had appointed, and gaue him the ouerthrowe. But proceadyng further to fight with Ga∣binius: hadde the worsse, and many of the Israelites were slaine, yet hee es∣caped him selfe and fled. This done, Gabinius came to Hierusalem, and re∣newed the kingdome of Israel to Hir∣canus the .iiii. tyme. About this tyme one of the Senators wiues at Rome conceiued a childe, & dyed in the byrthe and trauaile thereof. They therfore that were about her, straite waye ripte her body, and gate the childe out alyue, whom they named Iulius, and because his mother was cutte, they called hym Caesar. This childe growynge to great towardnes, and commyng to mannes estate: the Consul and Senate sent him

into the warres: and what so euer he did he had good fortune & prosperous successe. He depriued the Grecians of the empire and dominion, translating it to the Romaines. Manye prouinces also besides that did he subdue, and re∣turning to Rome with a power: attēp¦ted to get the dominion and sole regi∣mente ouer them. But they had made solempne statutes in the time of their progenitors neuer to suffre any kinge emongst them, or any mā to haue per∣petual rule ouer them: wherfore they would not make Iulius kinge. Vpon this risse amongst thē great and mor∣tall warres, so that Iulius slue wōder∣ful many of them, & without number. When Pompeius vnderstode that Ce∣sar raigned at Rome, had killed the Consul and the Senate, with all the nobilitye of Rome: be gathered toge∣ther his hole army out of Arabia, and made toward him. Iulius hauinge in∣telligēce of his comming against him, sente for Aristobulus oute of prisone, spake frendlye vnto him, gaue him a

power and made him graund captain therof, bidding him to go & fight with Pompeius. In dede his armye was a stronge armye: and he him self was a Kinge of no small prowesse and va∣leantnesse. Pompeius hearinge that Aristobulus came againste him, was sore afraid of his valeantnesse and of his hoste. Wherfore he sent to the in∣habitantes of Ierusalem that wer vn∣der his obedience, that they should pre∣sent Aristobulus with some gift, wher∣by they might deceiue him and poison him. The inhabitantes of Ierusalem at his request, sent vnto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men, wherat Aristobulus was right ioyous, and eat and banqueted with them til he was ouercame with drinke: then thei gaue him poyson and he died. The time that he reigned ouer Israel was four yeares and sixe monethes. He was a good man of war, hardy in fighte, and a man of an amiable countenaunce. Pompeius receiuinge tidinges of his deathe: the more gladder proceded

with his hoste to Rome to besiege if. But Iulius met him in the waye, and destroyed him and his hoste: whereby the Empire was established vnto Iuli∣us. He after this sente presentes to the kinge of Siria and into Egipte by his captaines, to allure them to his frend∣shippe. Antipater aduised Hircanus to aide Iulius if perchaunce he might win his fauour, whiche Hircanus did: and Antipater was captaine of the hoste, who plaied the man, and founde suche fauoure with Iulius, that he made him lieuetenant of his warres. And after he had fought sondry & great battails, he retourned to Ierusalem with great ho∣noure, and by the way prospered much more. Hircanus after this, made Pha∣selus Antipaters sonne gouerned of Ie∣rusalem: and Herod his third sōne pre∣sident of Galily. There was a certaine yong man at that time in Ierusalem, called Hizkias, a valeant man of war: to whom claue al such as were in any distresse, and he became their captain. These wente and raunged aboute in∣to

Siria, rouing and murthering in such sort, that the Sirians were wery of their liues, for feare of them. Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode, ruler of Galily, desiring him to kil that Hizkias & his complices. Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria: came vpō him at vnwares and slue him and his menne. Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified: he sent a noble reward vnto Herode, of siluer, gold, and precious stones: bi whi∣che, and by like meanes, he became ve∣ry famous. The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his sōnes, for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda: de∣siring that Herode might be called frō Galily, to appere in iudgment and an∣swer with other, for the killing of Hez∣kias. The king therfore sente for him, & he vpon that came to Ierusalem, appe∣red before the iudges princely apparel∣led with a gilt sword gird aboute him: whose pride an aunciente man called

Samai blamed and reprehēded also his stoute hearte: but he woulde not geue eare vnto him, nor yet regarde the iud∣ges. When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man, & to make him away: he toke pi∣tie vpon him, & said: We wil not geue sentēce to day, to morow is a new day, and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands. Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death. That night therfore he fled to y^e king of Siria, declaring all what had happe∣ned vnto him: The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army, & came with him him self, purposing to besiege Ie∣rusalem. But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him, saiyng: Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee, and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde? Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem, vnto whom he condiscended, after he had once let the

inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do, and had shewed thē his power. Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time, as he was worship∣pinge in the house of his GOD, was murdered by the conspyracye of cer∣taine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine, as is afore mencioned. The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the coū∣trey of Macedonia, who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome. This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia. Antipater also of whom we spake, was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda, and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self. Yea, Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him, for he had no rule him selfe: but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme. Moreouer, Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time. And for as∣much as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him, and conspired

to kil hym. There was a man in great aucthoritie about A••rcanus, by whose meanes thei wrought this matter. He corrupted the kinges Butler with re∣wardes, to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe, which as he had dronke, he died. These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at, as though they knew nothing. Notwith∣standinge they priuely writ vnto Cas∣sius that raigned in Macedonia, certi∣fiynge him of this deede. Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus, from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him, who came, & with hym Mal∣chias, Phaseus, and Herode. Cassius en∣tertainynge them all in his lodgynge, willed his men that whatsoeuer He∣rode had them, thei should do it. Herode willed them to kill Malchias, they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side. Hircanus demaūded of the sōnes of Antipater the cause hereof, who an∣swered: Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him, and wee knowe not whye? Therfore Hircauus

stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode, being certain that this was their dede. Wherfore he saide vnto theim. This Malchias was worthy of such a death, for he was a crafty man and an vserer. These thinges done, Octauian Augu∣stus, brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered, came vnto Rome: and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure. He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the go∣uernement at Rome, sent Marcus An∣tonius to warre vppon Cassius, and to reuenge Iulius death. Vnto him Hirca∣nus sent a presente, a crowne of golde, in whiche were set sundrye precious stones: praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes, and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings, and him: as there was betwene him and Iulius, which Antonius graunted. A∣bout that time Antigonus fonne of A∣ristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus

to remoue him, and to restore the king∣dome to him self: and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth poūd weight of gold, and a hundreth Israe∣litish virgins. So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel, and Antigonus de∣parted oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel, that toke his part, and foyned them selues to Pagurus. These came to Ierusalem, besieged it, fought many skirmishes, & gaue many greate assaultes vnto it, til at lenght they vn∣dermined the city. Then toke they Hir∣canus, and slue Phaselus. And to the in∣tent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod: Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom, cut of besides y^t one of his eares. But He∣rode escaped & fled to August emperour of Rome. Pagur{us} therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem: returned home into Persia, cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him. But Augustus ap∣pointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda, geuing to him a very strong army of y^e Romaines to obtein it withall. In the

way thither, Herode met with Alexan¦dra Hircanus doughter, and Marimi her doughter, y^u she had by Alexander sōne of Aristobulus, and brought thē again into the land of Israel, where he tooke Marimi to wife, and was maried with her in the mount of Galile. For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte: with whome he toke peace. Marcus Antonius com∣panion in office vnto Octauian Augu∣stus, aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries, to sub∣due them vnto the Romaines, together with Egipt, Damasco and Siria. Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Eu∣phrates, and helped him not a litle. For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way, and slue all that would aide Mar∣cus Antonius. But Herode mette with them and slue them. Wherefore An∣tonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse: and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres: hauinge also his letters to all the cap∣taines of Siria, after this tenure.

Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings, hath appointed Herode the sōne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda. Therefore assone as these let∣ters shall come vnto you, ye shall with all spede aide him. No man shalbe ex∣cused: all that can beare weapon shall go with him to Ierusalem, to vanquish Antigonus the kings aduersary. Who so refuseth to go with him, it shalbe le∣ful for the warriours ••o slea him forth∣with. I Marcus Antonius haue sworne by my sword, that I will not alter this that I haue saide. When the captaines of Siria had red this, thei resorted whol∣ly to Herode, so that his host was wō∣derfully encreased. Antigonus hearing of this, sent one Pompeius lieuetenant of his warres againste thē, who fought a sore battaile with them, that muche people were slaine on bothe sides, Io∣seph kinge Herodes brother was slaine in that battaile. Notwithstandinge, at lengthe Antigonus hoste wente to the worsse, and had the ouerthrow. So He∣rode

& Ca••••ius proceded to Ierusalem, and besieged it, the third yere after He∣rod was made king of Israel. And whē they had battred downe a peece of the wal: Cassius with the Romains entred the towne and made a greate slaugh∣ter in Ierusalē. They entred also into the Sanctuary, and attempted to enter into the Sanctum sanctorum: but Herod and his men lept betwene it and thē: and stode with their drawn swordes in the temple dore, that they shoulde not. Herod was also displeased with Casius for his crueltye, and saide: If ye wil de∣stroy all the inhabitantes of the citye, vpon whom shal I reign in this king∣dome that Augustus hathe geuen me? Wherfore streight way Cassius caused proclamation to be made throughe all his hoste, that no man vppon paine of death shuld kil one Israelite moe. This done, Herode apprehended Antigonus, and deliuered him bound to Cassius. He rewarded also Cassius souldiours both with gold and siluer. Thē Cassius of∣fred a present vnto the Lord, a crowne

of Golde, for he was soore afrayed of gods displeasure, bicause he had fought against the holye citye. That done, he toke his iorney, & returned into Egipt, and Antigonus as prisoner with him. Thither sent Herode vnto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus & to murder him, fearinge least he shoulde make clayme vnto the Kingedome a∣gaine. Wherunto Cassius consented, & slew Antigonus. Thus was the kyng∣dome surely established to Herode. Thē made he warres vpon all the nacions that were about him, constrainyng thē to become tributaries, bi which means he grew to such power: as neuer any of his predecessours were to be compared vnto him. After al this, Pagurus king of Persia, released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander, & promoted him to be head of al the Israelites y^t were fled or flitted into y^e land of Sennaar, & into the dominion of the Persians, & he became their king. This Hircanus had a feruēt desire to see the holy citie & the house of the sāctuary. Also how Herode whō he

toke for his sonne, & his kingdome did. Herode hearynge y^e Hircanus who had bene prisoner at Babilon, was now set at liberty & in great honour: he was a∣fraied of him, mistrusting lest the Isra∣elits would restore vnto thē selues the kingdome of their fathers. Wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him mis∣chiefe. He thē writeth his letters vnto Pagurus: the cōtents wherof were such. Thou shalt vnderstand y^e Hircanus is he that brought me vp, & vsed me euer as his son. Now therfore sence I came to be king of Ierusalē: I haue called to my remēbrance the goodnes y^t he hath done to me, wherfore my desire is to re¦warde him accordyng to his benefites. Therfore I require thee to send him to me: otherwise assure thi self of wars be¦twene thee & the Israelits w^t their cōfe∣derats. Pagurus hauing red this letter, sēt for Hircanus, & asked him if he wold go to Herod: & notwithstāding Herods threats, he ceased not to geue to Hirca∣n{us} al good coūsel he could: aduising him to take heede of Herode, because he is (saith he) a bloude sheader, a breaker of

his league. And he hath called thee for no loue he beareth thee, but because he feareth thee. As longe as thou liuest, shal he neuer slepe sound slepe, lest the kingdome shold be deuoluted vnto the. It is better therefore for thee to tarye here in some honour, thoughe it be not of suche aucthoritie: then to go thither to dye with great dispite, and end thine olde age with a bloudy death. Furder∣more thou shalt knowe, such is the dis∣position of mannes heart. If there be two men, the one in honour, the other in contempt: after time shall come that the dispised shalbe had in honoure, and the honoured to be neglected: neuer will he that is now honoured and be∣fore was in contempt, be content to see him that was before honoured, nor speake frendelye to him. For he wyll thinke: Hitherto according his accusto¦med maner he hathe dispised me: how much more whē his dominiō is taken frō him, & his seruaunt raigneth in his roume? Moreouer, Herode knoweth right well, that mens heartes are in∣clined

to him that is the true kinge. And it might so be, if thou were mete for the priesthode, that he woulde pro∣mote thee vnto it, and be gouernoure of the kingdome him selfe. But seinge thou arte dismembred, hast one of thy eares cut of, and thereby arte vnmete for the Priesthode••: thou shalt remaine in Hierusalem depriued both of king∣dome and priesthode, which is vncome∣ly for thee. Such counsaile gaue Pagu∣rus kyng of the Persians vnto Hirca∣nus: yea, and all the Iewes that were in Babilō besought hym that he wold not go vnto Herode. Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded, and why? For it was the Lordes wyll and hys dede, that the iniury done vnto the Sa∣ges, whom his father and graundfa∣ther slew, and the iniury committed to Hony auriga: myght returne vpon his head, and be reuenged: so that no rem∣nant of the house of Chasmonany, no name, no residue, no kinsman or po∣steritie shoulde be left aliue. Hircanus therfore toke his ••ourney toward Hie∣rusalem,

and Herode came forthe to mete him, embrased him, & kissed him: after brought him into his house, and feasted him dayly, called him his father before all men, albeit in his hearte he conspired to murther him. And that knewe Alexandra his doughter and mother in lawe to Herode: who ope∣ned it vnto Hircanus, but he wold not credite her at the first, til on a time he perceiued the matter cleare to be so, thē deuised he how to flee to Maloc kynge of Arabia. He sent therfore a messenger to Maloc, to send him hors and a cha∣ret to flee withall: but the messenger dealt vnfaithfully & lewdly with him, for he broughte Hircanus letters priue∣ly vnto Herode, who rewarded hym well for his laboure, and bad him goe to Maloc, and to let hym knowe what aunswere Maloc gaue. The messenger vpon this went and deliuered the let∣ters to Maloc, who fulfilled Hircanus request, sent him horses and a charet, writing in this sorte. I haue sent the horses & horsemen: come therfore vnto

me, and whatsoeuer thy hart desireth, I wil do it for thy sake. So the messen∣ger brought the aunswer secretly vnto Herode: wherupon he sent streight to the place in whiche he vnderstode Ma∣loces men to lurke, waiting for Hirca∣nus: and caused to apprehende them a∣liue. Herode cōmaunded to cal together the elders, before whome he willed also Hircanus to be brought, and of him the king demaunded. Tell me if thou writ∣test any letters to Maloc king of Ara∣bia? he aunswered: I wrote none. Thē was Restius the messenger brought in as his accuser, and the mē of war also of Arabia y^t were apprehended, which declared the hole matter before the coū∣sel, so that Hircanus was quite dasshed. Then the king cōmaunded him to bee put to death, and so was the kingdome establisshed vnto Herode. The tyme that Hircanus reigned, was fourty yea∣res and sixe monethes. After the death of his mother he reigned thre yeares, and Aristobulus his brother remoued hym, makynge hym priest. Agayne

thre yeares after he returned to his kingdome, and raigned fourty yeares. Then Antigonus sonne of Aristobulus deposed hym, cuttynge of his eare, & banishing him out of the holy citie. So after when Herode his seruaunte came to the kingedome: he returned to Ierusalem, and Herode shed his bloud without cause. Yet he notwithstādyng had deliuered Herode frō the hands of the elders, who would haue put him to death, for the death of Hizkias. From that time Hircanus wrought none euil in the sight of the Lorde, nor offended him in any great matter: saue onely in this, that he bare to much with Herod in sheadyng the innocent bloud, wher∣fore his owne life wente for the other. Therfore happy is he that neuer forget teth any part of his dutye. Marimi the daughter of Alexander the Sonne of Aristobulus, the wyfe of Herode, had a brother whose name was Aristo∣bulus: hym Herode woulde in no wise promote to the hye priesthode becau∣se he feared the children of Chasmo∣nany,

althoughe his wyfe sued harde, and laye sore vppon him for the same matter. But the kyng made hye priest one that was nothing of the kinred of Chasmonany, whose name was Haniel Notwithstandynge when he had once made awaye Hircanus his wiues pro∣genitour, father of Alexandra his mo∣ther in lawe: then he deposed Haniel the hie priest, and promoted his wiues brother Aristobulus to the dignitie, al∣though he were but a child: yet he was wise, and of good vnderstandyng, and beautifull withall, so that in al Israell was not a goodlier nor hansomer yong man thē he was. And this Haniel was the first that euer was deposed frō that office of the hie priesthode, by any king of Israel afore Herode: who did this to quiet his wyfe, and to fulfil his mother in lawes minde. Notwithstāding this Alexandra his wyfes mother, was not cōtent nor satisfied, for the death of her father was suche a griefe: but alwaies spake snappishly to the kynge, that he sent her to warde. Then she writ to

Cleopatra Quene of Egypt, wyfe vnto Marcus Antonius, a noble manne of Rome, declaryng vnto her all the mis∣chiefe that Herode had dooen to the po∣steritie of Chalmonani, and desiring her of aide. To whom Cleopatra made this answer. If thou cāst finde the meanes to come to me secretly: y^u shalt perceiue what I will dooe for thee. Whē Alex∣andra had red the letter, she sent to Ari¦stobulus her sonne the hie priest, she∣wing him that she wold flee to the sea Iapho, and from thence wold take ship∣ping into Egipt, perswading him also to flee with her. We wil (saith she) make two great coffers, one for my self & the other for thee: & we wil with rewardes procure our seruauntes to cary vs oute priuily, wherby we may flee to saue our liues. This their deuise was perceiued of one of Herodes seruaūtes, who forth∣with made y^e king priuie vnto it. The king cōmaunded his seruaunt that be∣wraied them, that when they did cōuey the coffers they shoulde bring them to him, whiche the seruauntes did. So

when the coffers were broughte to the kinges presence, he caused them to bee opened, and tooke out Alexandra & her sonne Aristobulus, to whom the kynge spake sharpely and rebuked them sore. But Alexandra aunswered him again as short, in somuch y^t the king moued with anger, flang away from her into his chamber, saiyng: It is better to sit in a corner of the house, then with a brawling & skolding womā in an open place. The king dissembled the matter & shewed no great displeasure. A yeare after as Aristobul{us} the hie priest appa∣railed in his ponticall vestures, stode in the the tēple nie vnto the alter to offer sacrifices: y^e Israelites beheld his beau∣tie, his wisdome, & behauiour in the mi∣nistery, wherat euery mā reioysed, prai¦sing God that had not taken al away, but left one to reuenge y^t iniuries done to the house of Chasmonani. The kyng hearyng this, was sore afrayed, and not a litle displeased: thinking to him selfe the Israelites woulde restore the kyngdome of their fathers vnto hym.

He perceiued euery mās hart to be incli¦ned towards him. Wherfore he delibe∣rated a while, & in the feaste of y^e taber∣nacles, he wēt to Iericho withal his ser∣uāts, wheras he made a great feast to al his nobles and seruaunts, placing them euery man after his degree before him. Aristobulus the hie priest, he set vpō his righthand. And as they eate, dronke, & made mery: the kinges seruants were disposed to go and swim in Iordane. To these the king had geuen secret cō∣maundemente, that they shoulde desire Aristobulus to go and bathe with them in Iordane, and then to drown him. So when they were goinge, they came to Aristobulus & desired him to go bathe with them, which he would not vnlesse the kinge gaue him leaue: wherfore he asked the king leaue, but he denied him at the first, yet at length the yong man intreated him so instātly, that the king bad him do what he would. He wente therfore with the other yong menne to swim. The king toke his horsse strait∣waye and returned to Iericho withall

his traine, leauinge the yonge men be∣hinde, which continued swimming till Sunne setting: and as it began to be darke they drowned the prieste Aristo∣bulus emongst them. Wherof when ti∣dinges came to the kinge, and it was knowen that he was deade: the people wept and made great lamētacion: con∣sidering his vertue, nobility, and beau∣ty, euery man was ful of sorow that he should haue so short a life: and they be∣wailed so much that it was harde a far of. But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the yonge mannes mother could in no wise be comforted. Yea, the kinge also wept and made great moane, for it re∣pented him that he had done so wicked an acte. Yet all the people knewe well inough, that the thinge was procured by the king: In so much that Alexan∣dra his mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face, that he was y^e mur∣therer of her husband, and her father, & now last of al of her sonne: to whō the king answered nether good nor bad. From that daye forwardes there was

perpetual hatred betwene Alexandra & Marimi, and Kiparim the mother of Herode, & Salumith his sister that came of base & seruile blud. For Marimi cast in their teethe to their faces, that they wer not of the sede of Israel: but vnho∣ly & of base birth. Notwithstāding He∣rode loued Marimi as his life, wherfore he would neuer displease her as lōg as she liued, nor say so much to her as whi saiest thou so? These thinges done, Marcus Antonius a noble mā of Rome, next vnto Octauian Augustus kinge of kinges, being sent by Augustus to war vpon the kinges of the west countries: raigned in Egipt, & by the prouocation of his wife rebelled against Octauian Augustus, made war with him both by sea & land. And forasmuch as Egipt is nie adioyninge to the lande of Israell, Herode ioyned with him and helped him. For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sorte, that no kinge durst meddle with him for fear of Mar∣cus Antonius. Wherupon whan Mar∣cus conspired againste hys prynce and

master: Herode aided him with an ar∣my, with horsmen, and with shippes al∣so against Octauian. In which warres Octauian gate the victorye, slue Anto∣ny and all his people comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes, & so into the land of Egipt. Herode hearinge that Mar∣cus Antonius was slaine, and that Oc∣tauian Augustus was come into E∣gipte: he fainted for feare of the dis∣pleasure of Octauian. Yet at lengthe he tooke hearte vnto him, prepared a royall presente to be caried afore him, and folowed after him selfe to Octaui∣an Augustus. And setting forwardes, he called Ioseph the husband of Salum∣nith his sister, whome he made chiefe of his houshold: commaundinge him that if Octauian Augustus put him to death: he shuld poison Marimi his wife, saying: it shuld not be semely for kinges that any meane & base man shuld mary with a kinges widow, and sleepe wyth her vppon a kinges bedde. So then he toke his iourney toward Octauian Au∣gustus, who then was at the Rhodes,

where he vnderstode Octauian to be displeased with him, for that he had ai∣ded Marcus Antonius. Therfore assone as Herode came to Octauian Augustus presence, hauinge his croune vpon his head: he toke it of, & fel down prostrate vppon the ground at Octauians feete, saying: Most noble emperour, I confesse my trespasse against your maiesty, that I loued M. Antonius my cōpanion in league, who was my neighbor & aided me. And it is true, y^t your maiesty sēce the time you made me king, haue herd of mine affaires y^t haue happened vnto me, but neuer succoured me. This. M Antonius did not so. I cōfesse therfore y^t in his warres against your maiesty, I aided him with an army, with horsmē & ships: Neyther went I out with him for ani warres vpō mine own borders, but when so euer I wente with him, I holp him to the vttermost of mi power When he was falling, I bolsterd him vp: & whā he stōbled I raised him again. Emongst al these thinges I cōfesse al∣so, that I wolde not be counted of your

maiestye a breaker of leage: but nowe M. Antonius is deade. Wherfore whi∣ther y^t it shal please your maiesty to re∣store me to my former estate or no, for∣asmuch as I haue kept touch with M. Antonius against your maiesty amōgst other: if you put me to death, you shall do me no wrong, but iustice, because I haue deserued death. When Octauian August herd him speake so, he said vn∣to him: Arise thou kinge of Israell in peace, be of good comfort and fear not, for thou art worthy to be nie, yea, next to my person. I knowe that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife, and would not folow thy counsel, for if he had, I dare saye he woulde neuer haue conspired against me. So he commaū∣ded the croune to be set againe vppon Herodes head, and made a leage with him. Then they went both together to ward Egipt to be reuenged vpō Cleo∣patra. But that wicked woman whan she saw her city to be ouercome: put on her moste precious apparaile, and sit∣ting vpon the throne of her kingdom:

commaūded a vipor to be brought vn∣to her, which assone as she had suffred to sting her brest, she died. As Octauian August came to her palaire & sawe her sit there, he reioyced that he mighte be reuenged of her: and commaunded to thruste her from her throne, but when they that came to her founde her dead, Octauian was pensife and verye sore greued. In this while Ioseph Salu∣mithes husbande disclosed vnto Mari∣mi, that the kinge had commaunded: if it so fortuned him to be put to deathe by Augustus, that he shoulde poyson her: Wherupon Marimi conceiued yet a greater hatred towarde the kinge, in so muche that when the kinge was re∣tourned in safetye, sounde, and with honoure also from Octauian, and that all his menne and whole houshoulde reioysed greatelye: Marimi shewed no countenaunce of gladnesse, no not when the kinge him selfe told her how greatlye he was magnified and hono∣red of Octauian: but alwaies she was sadde. Salumith the kinges Sister per∣ceiuing

that Marimi so vexed the king, she toulde him howe Ioseph her hus∣bande had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus. Herode (saye what she could) gaue no credite to her wordes, knowing that she enuied Ma∣rimi: vntill at length he asked the cause of Marimi whye she reioysed not as o∣ther did when he returned in safetye from Augustus: but was euer sad, whi∣che shewed her to haue some rancoure and malice in her heart to wardes him. She answered. Thou haste saide here∣tofore that thou louedst me aboue all thine other wiues and concubines: yet thou didst will Ioseph thy sisters hus∣bande to poyson me. Whan Herode hearde this, he was exceadinglye aba∣shed that Ioseph had disclosed his se∣crete: & began to mistrust with him self that which Salumith had told him, y^t he had slept with his wife in dede, and vp∣on that had detected that secret. Ther∣fore he departed out of his palaice in a greate anger and rage, wherby Salu∣mith perceiued that he detested Marimi

and therefore she accused her fur∣ther, hyring false accusars and forgers of lies, to witnes that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the kinge, whereof she had diuers argumētes also by her coū∣tenaunce. She added moreouer, if thou (saith she to the king) let her scape thus she wil spedely destroy thee, and bereue thee of thy kingdom. The lawe geueth a man this counsell. If any man gooe aboute to murther thee, preuent hym & slea him first. With this and suche like wordes, she so moued the king, that he commaunded to bring Marimi forthe, and to be beheaded in the hie streate of the citie. And as she was brought forth vnto the market place of the citie, all the women of the citie folowed her. Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her, saiyng: come oute, thou that haste abhorred thy husbande, and conspired against thy lorde. Alexandra wepte also as thoughe it hadde been for the wickednes that her doughter had cōmitted: thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes, and to bleare

his eies, if peraduenture he might suf∣fer her to liue til she might haue opor∣tunitie to poison him. Marimi thus go∣ing to execution helde her peace, and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left: nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innocēt in dede and thought, and therfore God would rēder her a good rewarde in the world to come. Wherfore she bared her necke without feare, and thei cut of her head, sheding the innocent bloud. But God made no delay in punishing the same: for there fell a sore plague and pestilēce in the house of Herode, so that his chief seruauntes, his noble women and con∣cubines died sore therof. Yea through∣out all Iudea reigned the pestilence ve∣hemently: whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto thē for the bloude of Marimi. They cried therefore vnto the lorde, saiyng: Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion? The lorde toke pitie therfore vp•••• the lande, and withore we the plague from

the people. The king repēted him also that he had shed bloud without cause: and loue so grew in his harte, that he was sicke and at deathes dore. Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym. Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge: he com∣maunded to apprehende her, and to kil her. In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees, lea∣uing none aliue that were called by y^e name. He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith. The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobu∣lus, by Marimi his wyfe. They were both at Rome when their mother suf∣fered, for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain tō∣gue. When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death, they wepte and mour∣ned for her: hating their father for his rcueltie. Sone after, y^e king their father recouered of his sickenes, was establi∣shed in his kingdome, builded stronge cities, and rose to great prosperitie. In the. ••iii. yeare of his reigne, there fell a

great dearth in the lande, wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer, and precious stoones, wherwith he sent into Egipt and pro∣cured plentie of corne: and refres••hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of hūger: yea, he spared not his owne propre goodes. And not onely to y^e Israelites shewed he this liberality: but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations, hearing of his renoume. Moreouer in all his war∣res he had good fortune. Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary: wherupon he delibe∣rated with the Israelites, to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salo∣lomon king of Israel builded it. For y^e Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch, began to build it after the measure y^e Coresch prescribed thē, & not as it was afore. The people of Is∣rael hearing that the king was purpo∣sed to pul down the tēple to the groūd, and buylde it a freshe: they made hym

none aunswere, fearing left whan he had pulled it downe, he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe. But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes, saide: he woulde not flack the matter, nor reste till he hade brought it to passe. He said moreouer, that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer, and geue it to grauing: also precious stones, stones of Thasies, & marble. To the carpen∣ters also and masons, he would deliuer timber, & stones, gold & siluer, brasse & iron, to make all thinges necessary to the woorke. Wherefore if he pulled downe the house, he was able to builde it streight waies again. So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it, in length a hundred cu∣bites, in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites, and in height a hundreth cu∣bites, all of white marble: so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites. For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde, and a hundreth aboue. The

breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites, and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites, euery stone was of like bignesse. The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin: the thresholdes were of siluer & y^e tops also. He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke, the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold, the lesser braun∣ches, slips, or latest shutes of gold, sum∣what red: & al aboue was yelow gold, wherupon hong clusters of cristal. The vine was so great y^t it weied a thousād pound weight of pure gold. In all the world was not the like to be seen. He made also a porche, & before the porche ii, walles of siluer marueilous cūning∣ly wrought. Behind y^e house toward y^e west he made a court of .c. l. cubites lōg, and a. C. in bredth: whiche was paued with pure marble. Toward the south & north, the length of the court was also Cl. cubites, & a. C. in breadth. He erec∣ted in it also. C. l. pillers of white mar∣ble in foure orders. The length of one

order was fortye cubites, and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie, and three cubites thicke. The pillers were all of like measure, as the court of y^e north side and of the South was also of like measure, with al the pilloures thereof. Toward the east the court conteined. D. ccxx. cubites, euen to the broke Ce∣dron. No man euer se the like building in all the world. In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height: that they y^e walked therin might easily se the wa∣ters running in the broke Cedron, by the space of a cubit. Betwene the porch and the house also (as though it were a vaile or perticion) the king made a wal of siluer, of halfe a handful thicke. In the which was a dore of beaten golde, and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii. pound weight. There were certain poses grauen in the sworde, as this. VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her, let him die for it. So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful: nether was there euer hard

of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building. When the worke was finished, the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell: from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bull••ckes, and verye many shepe, accordinge to his Prince∣lye estate. So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great ••oy and gladnesse. There was one certain day in the yeare, when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court, to al his nobles, & sages in Israel. Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes, whiche made bothe him more glad and al his people. The same also commaunded he to be done in all the prouinces of his kingdom, sending his letters by his poastes to the noble men, captaines, & presidētes of the pro∣uinces, that they shuld obserue y^e dai af∣ter the same maner euery yeare. The people also y^t were flitted into their ene¦mies coūtries: their head rulers & cap∣tains came out of eueri coūtri far & ners

to see the house and the kinge: for they could neuer beleue it til they had seene it: and when they had seene it, it exc••a∣ded farre that they hadde hearde of it. These thinges done, the kinges two Sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus whiche he had by Marimi, came home from Rome to Ierusalem in a greate heate and fury, with a stronge compa∣ny, yea their hartes were verye hautye also: for Alexander the elder had mari∣ed the kinge of Capadocies doughter, and Aristobulus the doughter of Salu∣mith the king his fathers sister. These comminge to Ierusalem, wente not to the court to do their duety to the kinge their father, neither wold se him, wher∣by the king gathered they went about some mischief against him. Moreouer, all his men gaue him warning to take hede of them, and to kepe his power or gard about him. He had had a wife of base stocke out of the country, before he came to the kingdome, by whome he had a sōne named Antipater. And whē he had put Marimi his beloued wife to

death, he called home his wife which he had disdained before, to his courte. Wherfore now seinge the two sonnes of Marimi hated himhe appointed An∣tipater his sōne to be his heir apparāt, and to raise his estimacion, gaue him al his treasure, made him Lord and ruler of all that he had, affirminge that he shuld reign after him. This Antipater had a subtile witte and a crafty, for he said dailye to his father. If it like your maiesty wherto should you geue me al these thinges, when as these two lions shalbe euer in my top, and ready to de∣stroy me. By such surmised meanes he raised discord and hatred betwene them and their father. Albeit the kinge was lothe to hurt his two sonnes. Not long after he toke his iourney to Rome to Octauian & his sōne Alexander waited vpō him, hoping y^e Octauian wold be a meanes for him to turn his fathers ha∣tred frō him, & put al malice oute of his minde. When the king was come thi∣ther, Octauian reioysed much of his cō∣uring, saying: I haue thought lōg to se

thee. To whom hast thou left the land of Iuda? Herode answered, for the obe∣dience that I owe vnto my Lorde the Emperour, I am come to declare him my chaunces with this my sonne his seruaunte. So he tolde him the whole matter from the beginning to the end. Then Octauian Augustus blamed the yonge manne because he hated his fa∣ther. The yong man answered. Howe can I otherwise do? How can I forget the mooste chaste wombe that bare me, whiche was of the holye stocke? If I forget my mother that was slaine giltlesse and withoute crime: then let me forget my righthand. These and suche like spake the yonge manne not withoute teares in the presence of Oc∣tauian, so that his bowels was muche moued: and the noble menne also that were aboute Octauian coulde not ab∣staine from wepinge, but lamented greatlye. Octauian firste reproued He∣rode for his greate transgression and crueltie: then labored to pacify the yōg manne wyth comfortable woordes,

and biddinge him honoure his father, & submit him selfe vnto him. When he had done as he was willed (for he wold not striue against the Emperoures cō∣maundement). Octauian toke the yong man by the hande, and put it into He∣rodes bosome. Then his father kissed him and embrased him, so that they wepte eche of them. After that they toke their leaue and departed from Oc∣tauian, who comforted them, and gaue them a gifte, committinge it into He∣rodes hands. Herode yet perceiued that the hatred of the children of Marimi woulde not be apeased. Whereupon when he came home to Ierusalem, he called together al thelders of Israell & said vnto thē: I had determined once to place one of my sōnes captain ouer the people of the Lord, but I might not do it without the consent of Octauian Au∣gustus. Now therfore I haue appointed my .iii. sōnes, & haue deuided my king∣dō equally emongst them. Helpe ye thē against their enenmies, but in no wise shal ye help one of thē against another.

And if ye perceiue any breach of trend∣ship betwene them, do that lieth in you to take it awaye. Whereunto he made them sweare presentlye in Ierusalem: and the bonde made, eche man depar∣ted home to his house. But for all this the hatred betwene Antipater and his two brethren was nothinge dimini∣shed: for he feared them because they were of the house of Chasmonani, and alied with kinges of greate power: he suborned therfore false accusers to say vnto the king, that the yong men, sōnes of Marimi, were determined to destroy him. Likewise he set variance betwene Salumith and thē: for she was in grea∣ter estimacion then he: in so muche that the kinge did nothinge withoute her counsell. The same wroughte he also betwene Pheroras the kinges brother and them. But to Salumith he saied: doest thou not consider how the sonnes of Marimi knowe y^t their mother was put to death by thy counsel. Therfore if they maye bringe to passe to make the king away: they wil hew thee to peces.

But when the yong men herd of this: they came before the king, & sware thei neuer entended to hurt their father, and with weping they perswaded the king that he beleued them, and they gote his fauour again. Wherat Antipater was not a litle displeased: wherfore he hired fals witnesses to say they saw Alexan∣der the kinges sonne vppon a certaine night with his sword drawn before the kinges palaice, mindinge to murther Antipater. He suborned also certaine of the kinges seruauntes to witnesse a∣gainste Alexander, that he should geue them great rewardes to allure them to his pleasure, and to abuse them in fil∣thy buggery, which they refused. More ouer, that he desired them to poison the king, which they wold not also agre to do. Wherupon the kinge was sore dis∣pleased towarde him, commaundinge not only him, but al that toke his parte or defended his integritye: to be appre∣hended and put in prison, that executi∣on mighte be done vppon them. Then Alexander writ vnto Archelaus his fa∣ther

in lawe, desiring him to come to Hierusalē to his father Herode. This Archelaus was a very wyse man and a notable counseler. When he was come to Hierusalem, Herode was very glad of his comming: and demaunded what matters brought hym thether at that present. He aunswered: I haue hearde that Alexander thy sonne, and my sonne in lawe, hath attempted to rebel against thee: it is not possible but my doughter his wife shoulde be acces∣sarye of this thinge, and yet she hathe not shewed it vnto the: wherfore I vt∣terly detest her, as one y^t hath conspired against thee. Yet neuertheles I know wel that for the loue thou bearest vnto me, thou wouldest spare her: for this cause am I come vnto thee y^t whē thou hast put thy sonne to death, I also may slea my doughter. For it is better that we should make them away, then they vs. Herode hearing this was veri glad and gaue credit to his frendship. Whē Archelaus perceiued that Herode had a good opinion of him: he altred his

communication, sayinge to the kinge: Firste let vs diligentlye examine and wel try the cause, forasmuche as there are manye false witnesses and lyinge persons in the worlde: & let vs not shed innocent bloud vpon an vncertaintye. For Archelaus knew that Herode had geuen to light credite, & howe he was ready to heare an euil tale, which was the cause of all the mischiefe that befell to the people of his house. Well, He∣rode thoughte his counsel good. One of them that accused the kinges chil∣dren was Pheroras the kinges brother: and to say the truthe he was the chiefe of all. Herode loued Archelaus the kinge of Cappadocia as him self: whi∣the Archelaus perceiuinge, tourned his talke to rebuke the kinge, sayinge: Thou arte nowe waxen olde, and wel striken in yeares: thou suffrest these backebiters to rule thee, who stirre thee to worcke all these mischiefes in thy house. Yea Pheroras thy brother hathe falslye prouoked thee agaynste thy sonnes.

When Pheroras heard these wordes, he was sore afraide: for in dede he had se∣duced y^e king. Therfore came Pheroras to Archelaus and besought him to saue his life. Archelaus aunswered him: if thou wilt obtaine pardon for thy wyc∣kednes, come and fall before his feete and cōfesse that thou hast spoken falsly against his sonnes: then wil I promise thee that he shalbe merciful vnto thee, and to his sonnes. Pheroras did so, con∣fessed y^t he had falsly accused the kinges sonnes. Then Archelaus besought the king for pardon, and he graunted it. After that he intreated him that the yong men might be dismissed and deli∣uered out of pryson, whiche the kynge commaunded to be dooen. The yonge men therfore came to the kinges pre∣sence, and fell downe before his feete: & the king was louing vnto them, em∣brased them, and kist them. He made great ioy also that Archelaus came in so good an houre vnto him: to whome he gaue for a gift .vii. hūdreth poundes weight of gold, many precious stones,

and concubines, and dimis••ed him. But Antipater againe suborned false accu∣sers, and write counterfaite letters in the name of the kinges sonnes to one of the captaines, declaringe howe they would conspire and kil the kinge: and by suche meanes he encreased the ene∣mities betwene them and their father diuers waies, that the king commaun∣ded them to be put in prison, and most strong irons to be laid vpon them. Be∣sides this, Antipater had surprised and won the hartes of the kinges chief ru∣lers and seruantes, that they suborned his barber to beare false witnesse a∣gainste Alexander, howe that he hired him to kil the king at such time as he should shaue his beard. Whā the king heard his barbar speake, he was won∣derfullye troubled in his minde, in so much that he said: I am wearye of my life, to heare these pickthanckes that open mine eares and fil my head with tales. I can do no waye better then to geue charge, that who soeuer bringes me ani such tales hereafter of any bodi,

he shall suffer death for it. Wherfore he commaunded the barber to be slain, & his two sonnes to be brought forthe and hanged vpon gallowes, sheading their innocent bloude. Then reioysed Antipater, supposing him selfe to be as sure of the kingdome as though he had it in his handes. When as he was not aware that although he vvere ne∣uer so hie aloft, yet vvas there one aboue higher then he: vvho considered his do∣inges. Alexander had two sonnes, Thi∣garum and Aristobulus. And Aristobu∣lus had thre sonnes, Herode Agrippa & Alexander. Whan the kyng returned to Hierusalem, (for he was in Sama∣ria by the lake syde, whan his sonnes were put to execution) he commaūded that his nephewes shoulde be brought to the courte, and taking pitie of them: embrased and kissed them, weping ve∣ry sore both he and all his seruauntes. For it greatly repented him of the hei∣nous dedes that he had done. But whā the tyme of the mourning was past, he caused to call all the chief of Israell to∣gether

and said vnto them: I am now growen in age and waxen grey hea∣ded, certaine how shortely I shall die. I se here before me these litle fatherles children, whiche I neuer can beholde without great anguishe of my minde. For when I loke vpon them, I call to my remembrance what great domage I haue done vnto their fathers in my rage and headlong furiousnes. Nowe therfore I woulde commit them to the fuicion and custody of some man that might be a patron & as father vnto thē to succour them continually to his po∣wer. All the people aunswered, that he had wel spoken. He spake therfore vn∣to his brother Pheroras. Thou shalt be their patrone and defendour, and shalt geue thy doughter to Thigarus Alex∣anders sonne. He commaunded also his sonne Antipater to geue his dough¦ter to Herode the sonne of Aristobu∣lus. And the mariages were made in the kynges presence. When Antipa∣ter marked the loue that the kynge bare toward his nephewes: he begā to

be in great care, for Thegarus Alexan∣ders sonne had a graundfather by the mother side, a kinge of greate power, namely Archelaus king of Cappadocia. He falles down therfore at the kinges feete to dissolue and breake the frend∣ship y^t he bare towards his nephewes, and to leaue speaking in their cause as he had done: but he preuailed nothing. Therfore he left his father and wente to Pheroras the kinges brother: made a confederacie with him. Then desired him to frustrate the bond that was be∣twene him selfe and Herode, and also betwene him and Thigarus the sonne of Alexander that was hanged. So Pheroras came to the kinge, tourned his minde, and dissolued the mariages. This done, Pheroras and Antipater that sate vpon the kinges throne, were become great frendes, banketting one the other day and night, and deuisinge their matters. When this came to the kinges eare, he was sore afraid of their traines, and commaūded that his bro∣ther Pheroras should neuer more come

in his sighte. Antipater his sonne was sent to Octauian Augustus to establishe the kingdome vnto him, and to enter in league with him. For Herode was so olde y^t he could not go. Antipater iour∣neying towards Rome, passed through Egipte, desirous to see it before the death of his vncle Pheroras. And as he trauailed by the hie waies of Egipte, there came a certaine marchaunte ha∣uinge a Vyall in his hande close coue∣red, which cried saying: who wil bie a thing at a great price before he see it, or know what it is? Antipater meruai∣led at his words, and asked him what was in his Vyal. But the seller tolde him not what it was, before he hadde bought it and paide deare for it. Then whispered he in his eare, tellinge him that it was a strong poison, that would kil one out of hand. This Vyal Anti∣pater sente to Pheroras to be kepte vn∣till he retourned from Rome. In the meane season Pheroras died, and his wife hidde the Vyall. After when An∣tipater came home againe from Rome:

Pheroras wife and he fel at variance, insomuche that she obiected vnto him y^t he was the cause that Pheroras was banished the kinges presence, the so∣row wherof was his death. On the o∣ther side Antipater went aboute to ac∣cuse her, sowinge discorde betwene her and the king, to stirre him against her. He suborned also a certain Ennuch or gelded parson to go vnto the king and informe him, howe that at what time as he tooke displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his pre∣sence: Pheroras procured a strong poisō and gaue it to his wife, commaunding her to destroy the king therewith. The king hearinge this was wrothe with the Ennuche, and saide: I searched for that venom longe a go when it was noysed that my housholde seruauntes would geue it me to drinke: but I could not finde the thinge to be true. Yea, I haue bene to rashe in such matters: for I put my wife Marimi to deaths with∣out a cause, and Alexandra my mother in law, with my two children. When

Antipater heard that the king credited not the Ennuche, he made sute to the king to send him to Octauian the secōd time: for he was a fearde for the Viall that was in Pheroras wifes house. He had writen also with his hande howe that he sent it, intending therewith to poison the kinges sonnes children. But he that prepareth a pit for another, oft times falleth into it him self. So desiring the kinge to sende him, he let him go. After this the kinge commaunded to make searche if the Ennuches woordes were true or no: he sente firste for all Pheroras housholde seruauntes, exami∣ned theim whether euer they coulde perceiue that Pheroras was in minde to hurte him. They all sware no. Then the king cōmaunded to scourge them verye fore, but they confessed nothynge: althoughe some dyed vn∣der their handes in the examination. Some he ordered with diuers kinde of torments of some he caused to pluck oute all their teethe.

And as he hade scourge a certaine wo∣man seruaunt, which hadde bene verye trusty to Pheroras, at length when she could no lēger stand for strokes, she cri∣ed out and said: The holy & blessed God reuēg vs of Rostios the kings wife An¦tipaters mother, which is cause of this. The kinge hearyng these wordes, bad let her alone, she will disclose all. Then spake shee. Antipater made feasts eue∣rie foote for thy Brother Pheroras and him selfe: and as thei eate and dranke, they deuised how to poyson thee, speci∣ally when as Antipater was going to Octauian. For thei said: Except we de∣stroy him, he wil destroy vs, as he hath done al the children of his house. More∣ouer, he loueth the children of his son∣nes that were put to deathe, whiche grow apace: and it is possible he maye chaunge his minde, and make one of them kinge. Antipater also said to thy brother. The king makes as though he were much my frende, but I trust him not. He gaue me (saith he) a. C. pounde weight of golde, but all that satifieth

not me. When the kinge heard this he told how he had geuen Antipater this gold secretely. The woman said more∣ouer. There is yet a Vyal of strōg poi∣son in Pheroras house, that thy sonne sent out of Egipte. Streightwaye the king sent to Pheroras wife, that she shoulde bringe him the Vyall of poison her own self. When she espied y^e kings Ennuches come to fetche her whether she woulde or no: she gate her vp to the top of the house and cast her self downe headlonge to kil her selfe, because she would not see the kinge nor abide his tormentes. But she died not therof, whereuppon the kynges messengers brought her in a horse litter, and set her afore the king. Then she confessed vn∣to him, how Antipater his sonne had cōspired with Pheroras to kil him with a strong poyson that he had bought in Egipte, and sente to Pheroras when he want to Octauian. And how that Phe∣roras being at the point of death, repē∣ted him therof, charging that we shuld neuer geue that venome to Antipater,

but poure it out vpon the ground, that the king mighte not be poisoned there∣with: and I did as he bad me, cast it out al saue a litle that I kepte in the glase botome, for I euer feared that whiche is now come to passe. Then at the kin∣ges commaundement, the Vyall was broughte forthe before him, and there was a litle of the venome left, where∣fore they gaue better creadite to her wordes: so that the king was contente with her, and bad his Phisitions heale her, and she recouered. This done, the king write to Antipater to come home with spede, because I am old (saithe he) & weake, vncertain how shortly I shal dye. The kinge had yet also two other sonnes at Rome, Archelaus & Polimus. So whē Antipater writ to answer his fathers letters: he signified vnto him y^t his .ii. sōnes had diffamed the king and slaundred him vnto Octauian. But the king answered him: come and brynge them with thee, & I wil order them as thou thinkest good. Notwithstandinge Antipater dalied & delaied for the space

of .vii. monethes, to se if he might learn somwhat of his fathers doings, but he could heare nothing. The messengers that his father had sent, lay vpon him euery day & drged him to make spede. Therfore at the .vii. monethes ende he toke his iourney towardes Iudea, and came to Cesarea. There hearde he that his father had taken displeasure with his mother and banished her the court•• but he coulde not learne what shoulde be the cause: therfore he was strokē in such feare, that he woulde haue gone backe again and left his iourney. But they that waited vpon him, beinge de∣sirous to go home to their houses & fa∣mily, crafted with him, and perswaded him that if he shuld now return backe out of his waye: he shoulde iustifye his enmies saiyngs to be true. But if thou come once to thy fathers presence (saye they) who loueth the so intirelye: thou shalt preuaile againste thy foes, and get the vpper hande of them that trou∣ble thee. So he folowed their counsell, and came to Ierusalem.

Whē he entred into y^e city, no mā came forth to meete him, nor once to bid him welcome home. For al the people hated him for his lies, slaūders, peruers & wic¦ked coūsel, but chiefly for fear of y^e king Yet went he forward to the court, al∣though with a fearful heart. When he came to the kinges presence, he fell do∣wne and did his dutye: but the Kinge turned away his face, and could not a∣bide to loke vpon him. He went home therfore to his house with a heuy hart, hanging downe his head, and hidynge his face. There his mother to••de hym how their counsaile concerning the vi∣all of poyson, was bewraied: and howe the king was wonderfully incensed to∣wardes him, that encreased yet his fear more and more. The next daie by the kings cōmaūdement he was brought•• forth, & before al the chief of Israell as∣sēbled together, the king sate to iudge Antipaters cause. There rehearsed the king vnto thē his sons lewdnes & lies, how he had seduced him & stirred him to kil his children that wer of the king

bloude, farre better and more vertu∣ous then he: in so much y^t with a loude voice the king burst out and bewailed his wife Marimi, whō he put to death without a cause, and his two Sonnes, that they that were far of might heare him. Then Antipater lift vp his head, and began to speake craftely and sub∣tilly. First he forgote not to geue gen∣tle words to pacifie his fathers wrath, (but that he coulde not do.) After he fel to intreatie in such sort, that all the no∣bles were moued to pity, and bewailed his euill Fortune, not without teares: saue only Niraleus the kings serretary, who loued the kinges children that were put to death. He rebuked them al that were sory for the calamity of An∣tipater, crying with al his might: wher are ye Alexander & Aristobulus y^t were slaine giltlesse? Lift vp your heads & be∣hold this bloudy & wicked man fal into the pit which he him self made: see how how his foote is catched in the net that he laid his selfe for other. Marke ye not how your maker reuengeth your death

and requireth yourbloude at his hande in the time of his destruction? For the wicked man is spared vntil the time of his death. So the king him selfe verye much infensed, sent to fetch a condem∣ned person oute of prisone: who beinge brought before them and tasting a litle of the poison in y^e Vial, fel down starke deade forthwith. Then the kinge com∣maunded Antipater to be caried to pri∣son, & to be laied in the strongest irons. The .xl. yeare of his reign, which was the .lxx. yere of his age, kinge Herode fel sicke, & no remedy, no phisicke could be found to helpe him. Nether his ser∣uaūtes nor phisiciās could procure him any rest, so greuously came his disease vpō him, with lacke of breth, & through the anguish of y^e manifold euils y^t had happened vnto him by his owne folke. Whe••upon he cried out, saiyng: Woe may he be••, that hathe none left to suc∣cede him in his kyngdome: nor none to go before his Coffin, and mourne for him at his death. Then called he to his remembraunce, his wyfe Mari∣mi,

and his two sonnes, rehearsynge them by name, howlyng and wepyng styll continually. Vpon a certaine daye when his sicknes came sore vpon him: he called to his seruauntes to fetche him some pleasaunt apple to see if he myght comforte his hearte: and when they had brought it he axed for a knife to cut it, one was brought hym. Then he gathered his strength vnto him and rered hym selfe vp vpon his left arme, and perceyuyng his lyfe to bee full of sorowe and lamentacion: he tooke the knyfe with his right hande and fet∣ched his way to thrust it into his bely. But his seruauntes stept to him, and caught his arme, holdyng his handes, and woulde not suffer hym to dooe it. Then wepte he sore and all his ser∣uauntes that the voyce was heard out of the courte, and shortly all the cytie was in a sturre, sayinge: the kynge is dead, the kynge is dead. Antipater be∣ing in the prison, heard the noyse, and asked what busines is this? they aun∣swered hym, the kynge is dead.

Then was he glad, and reioyced won∣derfullye, saiyng vnto the Iaylo•••••••• Strike of mine irons and let me dute that I may go the palaice, and Iwyll remember thee with a good turne▪ The keper answered: I feare least the kinge be yet altue. I will go therfore & know the truthe, and come againe by and by. Antipater saw he coulde not get loose, wept for anger at the keper. So the ke∣per came to the court, which as it was tolde to the king: he commaunded him to be brought to his presence. Then the kinge asked him. What did Antipater (I pray thee) when he heard this mour¦ning, and that I was dead? The keper answered. He was verie glad thereof, and when I woulde not smite of his irons and let him out, he wept for an∣ger. The king crted out vnto his lords See howe he hateth me beinge yet in prison: if he were here, he would dooe what he could to kill me. He would not doe as my seruauntes did, make haste to wrest the knife out of my hande. As true as God liueth, he shal neuer haue

that he gapeth for. So the king com∣maunded he shoulde bee put to death. And there was neuer a mā that wold intreat•• for him or desier the kinge to the contrary, but euery man was glad of his destruction. The king commaū∣ded the kepar to bring him forth to the market place: whiche dooen, his head was smiten of, and so he lepte, besides his purpose. The kinge commaunded moreouer his body to be taken and ca∣ried to the citie of Ankalia, there to be buried and not in the citie. That done, and the people returned from the bu∣riall: the king sent to call al the nobles of Israell together, and enforsinge his strength, he sat vp in his bedde, and cō∣maunded to call his sonne Archelaus, vpon whome he layde his handes and made him kinge ouer Israell. Then showted euery mā: God saue the king, god saue y^e king. The king liued .v. dais after the execution of Antipater: then fainted & died. The time y^t he reigned ouer Israel was fourty yeres. He was a worthy warriour, a wise & a prudent

man, a goodly man of persone, hauing God on his syde. He loued euer the sa∣ges Hillell and Samai with their com∣panies. He enriched the seconde house more then all other kinges, and was more liberall then all the kynges that were before him. His giftes and re∣wardes were ryche: for he counted gold and syluer as chaffe & stones. He kepte Israel in quiet and peace from al their enemies. He buylded also a more royal temple then did kyng Salemon. But he made the yoke of tribute and exac∣tion in Israell heuier: and gaue open eare to euill tonges. He was a cruell bloudshedder of poore and innocente persones. He willed before his death that they should bury hym in the citie Erodion, twoo daies iourney and a halfe from Hierusalem. So they put him in a coffin couered with gold, sette here & there with precious stones. The bed vnder him was wrought with gold & ful of precious stones. Likewise, vpō his head was a cloth of reines powdred with precious stones, & vpon y^t a royall

crowne, made fast to the left syde of the coffin: & vpō the right side was the re∣gall scepter. Vpon the beare was also a clothe of reines very thicke powdred with precious stones, cristal, amethists, and very many saphyres. Then all his chief men of warre went about him in their coates of fence, & drawen swordes in their handes, with helmes on their heades, as in time of warre. After thē came Archelaus his sonne that was made king. Then folowed him all the people. There were fiftie of his ser∣uauntes that wente aboute the beare with euery man a chafing dishe of gold in his hande, wherin they burnt swete woodes and perfumes, euery foote ca∣sting vpon the herse pure mi••rhe, as many as went aboute hym. He was borne by certayne great lordes & noble mē of Israel vpō their sholders, going leasurably and with a maiestie, til they came to Erodiō, where they buried him w^t great honour y^t like was neuer done to any king. These thinges done, there resorted together suche as hated him, &

were wery of their owne liues whiles Herode liued, reioysyng that they hadde scaped his hādes, saying: we haue loked till our eies bleared, waytinge for the death of Herode that tirant and bloud sheder, that oppressed vs with such hea∣uy yokes, & left vs nothing to liue on, for the great tributes & taxes y^t he layd vpon vs. Yet now Archelaus his sonne is worse then he. Wherfore thei cōsul∣ted together, & cast their mindes & good willes toward Antipater the sonne of Salumith the kinges sister, one of the bloud of Chasnonani, and went with him to Oct. Augustus: requesting him to translate the kingdom from Arche∣laus to Antipater, but he woulde not graunt thē their sewte. Yea, rather he cōfirmed & assured the kingdom to Ar∣chelaus. Who wrought wickednes in y^e sight of the Lord: for he maried his bro∣ther Alexanders wife that had children by Alexander: & cōmitted other many great offences. The .ix. yeare of Arche∣laus reigne, it chaunced vpon a night, he dreamed a dreame. Him thought he

saw .ix. eyres of corne very good & full grow vpon one stalke, thē came a great oxe and slopt them vp all at once at one bit: by and by he waked, and perceiued it was a dreame. Therfore calling one of the Sages or Pharisies vnto him: he shewed them his dreame. The wise man said: This is the interpretaciō of it. The nine eyres freshe and ful, be the .ix. yeres which hither to thou hast raig∣ned. The great Oxe is the great kinge Octauian Augustus. This yeare thou shalt be remoued from thy kingdō be∣cause thou hast neglected the worde of God, & hast maried thy brothers wife. To this Archelaus answered him nei∣ther good nor bad. Within fiue dayes after Octauian came toward Ierusalē: and when Archelaus wēt to mete him: he put him in prison, deposed him from his kingdom of Israel, & made Antipas his brother kinge in his stede. He tur∣ned his name also & called him Herode That done he returned to Rome, whi∣les Antipas was king, died themperor Octauian Augustus the .lvi. yere of his

reigne, & Tiberius Cesar succeded him. This Antipas also wroughte wicked∣nesse and sundry abominations, more then any y^t was afore him: for he toke his brother Philips wife frō him, which had al redy childrē by Philip. For this shamful deds, rabbi Ihon y^e hie priest re∣buked him, wherfor Antipas put him to death. There was at y^t time one Iesus a wise man (if it be lawful to cal him a man: for he was a worker of wōderful & straunge workes, & a teacher of such mē as gladly did heare the truth, & had many disciples both of the Iewes, & al∣so of the gētils:) This mā was Christ. whō, after he was accused of the chiefe rulers of our natiō, & condēned bi Pilate to be crucified, thei neuerthelesse ceased not to loue which loued him euen frō y^e beginning. To these he appeared the. 3. day aliue, according as the prophets by deuine inspiratiō had told before, aswel of this, as also of many other wōderful thinges which should be done by him. And euē vnto this day the christiā sect which toke their name of him doth cōti¦nue. Against this mā Antipas of whom

we spake before, came Tiberius Empe∣rour of Rome, to whō whan Antipas resorted: he apprehēded him, laid him in irons, & sent him into Spaine where he died. Archelaus also y^t was deposed be∣fore died in the time of this Tiberius reign. Thē Tiberius made Agrippa (y^e sōne of Aristobulus whō Herode put to death) Antipas brother king in his stede The time y^t Antipas reigned ouer Is∣rael was .xi. yeres. In Agrippas time di∣ed Tiberias Cesar, & Caius succeded him This Caius called him selfe a god: and would suffer no man to worship anye thing in his empire but him self. He cō∣tinued not lōg in his digniti, but decai∣ed & died. After him succeded Claudius. Claudius beinge deade, Nero Cesar was emperor, Agrippa reigned ouer Israel xxiii. yeares. In his time Nero sore op∣pressed Israel by setting cruel presidēts ouer thē, left them nothing to liue vpō: besides that punished thē with diuers tormentes, vntill at lengthe they were constrayned to rebell agaynste the Romaine Empire, and Nero Cesar,

to rid them selues from vnder his sub∣iection. And aboue all other one Pilus president and captaine of the Romain armye mooste greuouslye oppressed the Iewes, and had done many things ve∣ry wickedlye. For not only had he shed innocent bloude, rauished at his plea∣sure wifes, and deflored maides in the cities of Iuda: but also robbed with great cruelty euery man of his goodes. It chaunced that Beronice king Agrip∣pas sister came at that time to Ierusa∣lem of deuotion to visit the holy place. She seing Pilus violently to oppresse the people, and for paiment of exacttōs and tollage, to flea many of them, euen at the entrance of the temple: she came forthe wepinge vnto Pilus, besechinge him to be fauourable & spare the people for she pitied them very greatli. Yet Pi∣lus relented nothing, but whē she was departed from him, he flouted & mockt her, although she were the kings sister, & that in the temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valeant yōg man, Eleasar sonne of Ananie the hie

priest: He, whiles his father was execu∣ting his office, could not abide to se the Israelites so ordered at Pilus handes: but being enkindled with a feruēt zele soūded a trōpet, wherby there assēbled about him forthwith diuerse cōpanies & bandes of yong mē, good warriours, by whose aid he raised a great cōmoci∣on, & encountred with Pilus & the Ro∣mainsouldiours, of whome he made a great slaughter, preuailing much, and getting at length thupper hād of Pilus, ouerthrew al his host, so that Pilus was constrained to fle alone out of Ierusalē vnto Egipt. In the way as he fled, he chaunsed to mete with kinge Agrippa cōming from Rome from Nero Cesar, and going home into Iudea: to whome Pilus declared what had happened him thorow the youth of the Iewes at Ie∣rusalem. And as Agrippa had passed Egipt and drue toward Ierusalem: his sister Beronice directed her letters vnto him, mouing him to toyn with y^e Iewes and to aid them. The people also came wholly the space of .lx. miles out of the

city of Ierusalem to mete him, and fell down flat before him crying, God saue our king Agrippa. But the king studi∣ed al he might to procure quietnes and peace to y^e city & people. So he entred in to Ierusalem accōpanied with a couple of noble mē of Rome, worthy captains whō he brought with him in his train. And whē he came into the midst of the city, the people cried mainlye out vpon him, saying: Deliuer vs o king, and let thy hand & help be on oure side to suc∣coure vs, for we wil neuer more be vn∣der the Romains subiection. The king hearinge this pitied the people verye muche: not withstandinge he was not content that they were mineded to re∣bell againste the Romaine Empire. Wherfore he called together the people at thentrance of the courte of the tem∣ple, where were presente the elders of Israel and all the chiefe men, with the hie priest Anany: declared vnto thē the power of the Romaines, the strengthe of their kingdome, and what nations

rounde aboute them they had subdued, in suche sorte as no remayne of them was left. Wherfore he besought ••them not to prouoke the Romaines, nor to destroye the people remaining of Isra∣el. He added moreouer. Harkē my bre∣thren, saith he: I knowe well inoughe that there reasteth in your heartes a greate griefe, and I my selfe am ful of sorowe and anguishe, that we are not of power able to withstande the Ro∣maines. All be it if ye wil be ruled by my counsell, ye shall finde a redresse for this matter. For vvhere as counsell is and good deliberation. there is safetye and things come to prosperous successe. Ye shall susteine for a while the yocke of the Romaine captaines, til I maye certify Nero of the matter by mi letters and intrete him to ridde vs of these ru∣lers. I beseche you be not to hastye of libertye: Manye sekinge libertye, haue fallen into further captiuitie and grea∣ter bondage. There be amongste oure people manye euell disposed persones,

whose delite is in warres, for it is their whole study: amongst whō many good mē do also pearish. Wherfore hear my wordes, as for them that be wise maye perceiue the matter them selues: they that lacke experience, let them learne wisdom at my sayinges. Kepe therfore silence, whiche shalbe as well to mine, as to your owne commodity, for I shal not nede to streine my selfe but speake the softlier, with lesse pain: and ye on the other side may the better heare and vnderstand what I say. If ye holde not your peace, ye shall haue two discom∣modities: ye shall interrupte my com∣munication, and let your selues from hearinge. But nowe to the purpose, ye shalbe content and suffer til I write to Rome of these matters, that Cesar mai remoue these euill rulers, and sende vs thē that be more humain and gētle. If ye may haue once such, then shal ye not thinke your selues in bondage, but in libertie, and worthilye: for then only is seruitude greuous, whan as the ruler is an vniuste manne and wicked.

Now therfore stay your selues: quarell not with them, for althoughe they bee wicked, yet wyll they be ashamed to do wrong openly, as that that they do, thei do it secretly. But if ye shuld accuse thē to much, thei would rub their foreheads and do it openly without all shame: so shoulde you make of your iudges and rulers, your open enemies. But it vvere farre better to suffer an vniust gouer∣nour, then a iust enemie. For the one robbeth men priuely: the other is an open destroier, prouoke them not ther∣fore. Consider the wylde beastes that be vnder mans power, and be kepte in cheynes, as Lions, Beares, and Leo∣pardes: if a man lette them alone, they are quiet and harme no man. But if a man go to their dennes and anger thē, then they will flee vpon hym & worry him, and other to that be present. The same ye maye perceaue in a seuer and an agew, which if a man wil go about to cure at the beginning, he shall make it more greuous: but if he will remedy it by leasure, y^e seruencie of it wil easly

be quenched. Nowe therfore refrayne your selues, take hede ye set not Caesar in your toppes, & the hole Romain em∣pire. Caesar coueteth not your harme, neither sent he vnto you these rulers to hurt you. His eies can not see frō easte to west, nor his hand reatch frō Rome hether, for it is flesh and bloud. But if ye will abide til I may sende embassa∣dours to Caesar, I doubt not but I shal remoue these rulers, and rid you of thē peaceably without any warre or bloud shed. If ye be vtterly determined to re∣sist the Romaine Empire, you shal vn∣derstand you be in no wise able to dooe it: for god is euery where on their side, so that they be Lordes throughout all the worlde, and all people serue them: and shall, till their ende also come. But if ye will not dooe this for your owne sakes: yet do it for your own countreis sake, your children and wifes, the sanc∣tuary & priestes, whome ye are boūden to loue and spare, least ye caste awaye and vndoe all them at once. I beseche you take my wordes in good parte, for

I haue spoken nothyng but that that is for your wealth, and that may fur∣ther oure peace with the Romaines, whiche I moste wishe. If you will be ruled and chuse peace, I will take your parte and dooe the beste I can for you: but if ye wyll nedes haue warres, ye shall haue it alone for me, I will not medle with you. With this Agrippas fell on weping, and so did also all the elders with him, and the men of moste wysdome, the chiefe in all Israell: yea, Ananie the hie priest also coulde nor refreine from teares. Notwithstāding Eleasar his stoute sōne with his routes of warlike yonge men about him, they wepte not at all, nor would harken or geue any eare to holsom coūsell: but all at once with their drawen swoordes, violently rushed vpon the Romayne capitaines that came with Agrippas, slue thē, their men, & al the multitude y^t was with him in Hierusalem & Iudea. The elders in Iudea with the wisest & godliest Israelites, seynge what was done, departed frō Hierusalem, fearing

Nero & the crueltie of the Romaines. Therfore they toke the toure of Sion & remained there. For they woulde not be taken of the Romaines to be of the same confederacie with the other. The sedicious seing that, tooke the temple of the Lorde. So dissention and ciuyll warres fell betwene the sedicious and the aunciētes. For when Eleasar heard the elders and heades of y^e people were fled to the mount Sion: he and his com∣pany set vpon them, preuailed against them, and slew a great meany of them. Agrippas perceiuing the power of the sedicious grewe apace: he sent oute of his campe where he laye without the towne, twoo valeaunt captaines, one named Darius, y^e other Philippus with sixe thousand men, to succour those el∣ders and sages that were desirous of peace. These preuailed against Eleasar and the sedicious that tooke his parte: made a great slaughter of them, skir∣mishing for the space of seuen daies to∣gether, and at the length put them to flight and pursewed them to the tem∣ple.

From that time forthe the warres incresed more & more, betwene Eleazar and his complices: and Agrippas with his hoste and the Sages elders & prin∣ces that toke their parte. Vppon a time when the captaines of Agrippas entred the temple: certaine cut throte murthe∣rers waged by the sedicious, mixte thē selues amongst the kinges bandes, and getting behinde their backes, wounded them with short daggers, that they had hid vnder their iackes, so y^t the kinges souldioures hauing launces and great armed swordes in their handes, such as they vse in the warres: could not weld them in the prease, by this meanes ma∣ny of them were slain, and the seditious gate the victory. Thus Darius & Philip∣pus with the Romaine army were put to flight, & the elders with the Sages y^t were desirous of peace, departed out of the towne, and fled to kinge Agrippas. Then had Eleasar and the seditious the hole rule of the city, and that to al their great damage. For the fury of the sedi∣tious increased to such outrageousnes

that thei set a fire king Agrippas house that he had in Hierusalē, spoiled al his treasure, & al y^t was any thing worth, thei deuided amongst thē. Thei burnte his bokes of accompts & billes of debts euerychone y^t were in his palaice. Bero∣nices house also the kings sister thei set on fice: and thei slue al the cunning ar∣tificers that were masters of the kings works. So their rule and power in the citie grewe euery daye more and more greuous then other.

IN those dayes dwelt the Iewes & A∣ramites together in all the Cities of Siria, amongst whom also warre was moued, for the Cesarians brought the Romaines into the towne againste the Iewes, & slue thē as mani as thei could finde in the towne. The Damascians also conspired together to distroy al the Iewes that dwelt amongst thē, which thing thei kept secrete frō their wiues, bicause for the most part thei fauoured the Iewes religion. Therfore the A∣ramites vppon a certaine night armed for the purpose, beset all the waies and

entrances into the towne, & the houses also, and slue about .x. M. of the Iewes commynge vppon them at vnwares when they were in their beddes, no∣thinge mistrustynge any such matter. Whē the Iewes of Hierusalem heard howe the Aramites had dealt with the Iewes in their countrey: sodainly they put them selues in armes, and in a fury and rage like as it hadde bene Lions & beares that had lost their whelps, they ranne to Damasco, burnt their holdes, slew the Damascians with the sword, man, woman, & childe, euē the very suc∣king babes: yea, their oxē, shepe, camels, & asses, with all other cattell, leauinge none aliue. And thus they dealt wyth many cities of the Sirians, sleing and killynge them, not sparyng either olde or yonge: male, or female: but distrey∣inge all in most cruell wyse, euen the the verye infantes and sucklyngs they haled from their mothers breastes and murthered them, in so muche that all the whole Lande was full of stenche of the deade bodyes that were slayne,

for there was no man left to burye the carcases. So the Iewes wasted all the lād of y^e Aramits, & had destroied it had not Castius a captaine of the Romains deliuered Siria & the countrey of Zofa. The people therfore departed wholly frō Aram to return into Iudea, & in the waie thei came bi Scithopolis a citie of Siria, entending to besiege it, for it was yet left vntouched, & was verie strong. At that time also Iewes and Aramites dwelt together in it. The Iewes ther∣fore that were without, offred peace to the Iews y^e dwelt in the town: but thei refused it, and defied them, railinge at them, and for their frendly offer acqui∣ted them with opprobrious wordes, & with in••uries also. For those Iewes that dwelt in the foresaid citie with the Aramits, loued together like brethren, and for the more parte thei were of the Leuitical tribe, stoute men and hardy. The hoste of the Iewes without the ci∣tie, saide vnto them: Wee come frend∣ly vnto you, and would aide you. The other Iewes within annswered: Wee

will neither your frendship nor aide. The armie of the Iewes hearing that, cōsented and agreed to raise their siege, to goe to Hierusalem, and there to re∣maine. For thei had a huge bootie of goulde and siluer that they had gotten together of the spoiles of Siria. After this, the Sirians that dwelt in Scitho∣polis saide one to another: Putcase the Iewes returne agayne & make warre vpon vs: surelye if they shoulde so do, these Iewes that dwell amongest vs would ioine with them, and deliuer vp the Citye into their handes, and then woulde they be reuenged vpon vs, and distroy vs as they haue done the other cities of Siria. Therfore they agreed to saye vnto the Iewes that inhabited the citye with them: Wee vnderstand your countrey men will inuade vs a∣gain, and make warre vpon vs: wher∣fore departe ye forthe of the citie wyth your wiues and children, and lodge in the woode nie vnto the citye, till their armye be gone againe, and then you shal return vnto vs. The Iewes were

content to fulfil their mindes, wēt out of the citye, and placed them selues in the woode. There was amongst them a certaine yonge man named Schime∣on, a good man of watre, fearce, bigge made, and verye stronge withall: he in fauoure of the gentiles had slaine ma∣nye of the Iewes, and solde muche of the people of God. For duringe the time that the Iewes besieged Sitho∣polis: he issued oute continuallye, and skirmished with the host of the Iewes, many times puttinge them to flighte, and neuer would suffer them to waste the towne or to do anye harme to the inhabitauntes thereof. Nowe as this Schimeon with his father Saule an ho∣nest old man, and the reast of the peo∣ple of the Iewes that dwelte in Sci∣thopolis, remained all together boldly in the woode, withoute mistrustinge anye harme: the Romaines ioyned with the Sirians in greate nomber, en∣tred the woode and slew the Iewes all that euer they could finde, to the nom∣ber of .xiii. thousande. Schimeon him

selfe with his father and their fami∣lies had pitched their tentes nie vnto a faire fountain y^t was in the woode, to whome when their ennemies came to slea them and to destroye their hole families: Schimeon ranne vpon them with his drawne sweard, made a great slaughter of theim, and constreyned them to retire. But when as a huge multitude inuironed him, and he per∣ceiued that all the reaste of the Iewes were slaine, and he with his housholde onlye remained, nether sawe he anye waye to escape: he stepte vppon a little hyll wyth hys naked swearde, sayinge: Harken vnto me ye Sirians and Romaines and ye that dwell in Scithopoles, I will speake vnto you a fewe woordes full of lamentacion and sorowe. Nowe I perceiue that iustli and not without a cause ye make warre against me, withoute any fauor or cōsideracion y^t I haue deliuered you from the hostes of the Iewes, & neuer suffred thē to do any displesure to you,

your wiues and children, nor to your city as they had done to other cities of Siria. For I am he that for your sakes haue warred against my country men to please you withall: yea, bothe their bloud and mine owne haue I pledged vnto you: and haue kept immolated the loue of straungers, hatinge mine owne people, of whome, for your pleasures I haue slain oft both the fathers and the children: and nowe you render euill for the good that I haue done vnto you. But in dede God of his iust iudgmente hathe stirred you vp to rewarde me in this sorte, to murther me that haue so oft receiued you. Now therfore ye shall beare me witnesse that I shal sufficiēt∣ly and sharpli inough take vengeaunce of my self, not withoute rage and furye most seuerly, because I haue slaine my felowes & frendes. I will therfore like∣wise slea my selfe to be auenged of my self for my brothers bloude that I haue shed: and so shal I be a reuēger of their blud. And ye shal wel perceiue me to be of that hardinesse & courage that rather

then ye shuld slea me, and after boast & bragge how ye haue killed Schimeon: I wil bereue my selfe of my life and punishe the sheadinge of my brothers bloud none otherwise then the law pu∣nisheth a murtherer and a māqueller. When he had spokē this, his eies were filled with bloud & his face with rage, and so inflamed with furie, latynge a∣parte all pity: ran and caught holde of his father, haled him oute of the woode and slue him, Then slue he his mother least she should intreat him for the chil∣dren, and be sory for their sakes. That done, his wife came runninge of hir owne accord, and held her necke downe to the sword: leaste she shoulde be con∣strained to see her children die. Yea, Schimeons children came and offered them selues to be slain: least they should see the deathe of their father, or remain after him to be deliuered to the enne∣mies. After this he slue all his hole fa∣mily, that not one of his shoulde come into the hādes of their enemies. Final∣lye, he gathered their bodies together

into one place like a valiaunte stoute warrioure, and then boldlye goarded him selfe vpon his owne sworde, least any mā else should impare his strēgth, or boast that he had killed him. Al this Schimeon did with a greate courage to take punishment of him self, because he had bestowed his loue rather vpon straungers then vpon his owne peo∣ple, and to declare his force and man∣hode. So he died an abhominable and detestable death, saue onlye it was an argument of his hauty minde & great courage, as it is said before.

NOw when the Iews had thus re∣belled against the Romains & slain their souldioures and captaines: king Agrippas went to Rome, and recoun∣ted vnto Nero Cesar the Emperour of Rome al that was happened. Where∣vpon Nero sente captaine Castius (that was at that time in Siria, & had made warre vpon the kinge of Persia, had vanquished him and al his power, and subdued hys dominyons to the Ro∣maines,) and with him a puissante ar∣mie

of Romaines, commaunding him to go into Iudea to offer peace vnto the people, to comfort them, and to bringe them again into league with the Ro∣maines if it might be. Castius therfore toke his iourney toward Iudea, whom Agrippas met in the waye, & informed him what had happened vnto him of the Iewes: howe he had offred them peace and they would none of it, howe also they had burnte his palaice & sac∣ked it. Castius hearing that, was verye glad that he had gotten suche an occa∣sion to reuenge the bloude of the Ro∣maines and Sirians whiche the Iewes had shed. Wherfore he leuied a mighti army and came to Cesarea. And wher∣soeuer he might espy the goodliest buil dinges, those caused he to be burnte. From thence wente he to the citye Ia∣pho, which he besieged both by land & by water, and at length wan it: where he slue in the streates eyghte thousand and foure hundreth menne. After that he came to Iabes, where he fyrste brente all the Countrye aboute it,

and whom so euer he caught withoute the town, he slue them. But the citizins of Zippori went out to mete Castius, & besought him of peace: whom he spa∣red, came not nie their towne, nor slew any that dwelt in their countrey. The sedicious Iewes that were in the citye of Zippori, hearing of Castius cōming: fledde vnto the mountains. But in the waie they lighted vpon part of Castius army, wherof they slew .ii. hundred mē, and wounded their captaine Glaphira. Yet at lengthe the sedicious were put to flight, and manye of them, Glaphira with his horsmen pursued, ouerthrew, and distroyed: the rest fled to the moun∣tains. Then Glaphira captaine of Ca∣stius armie wente to Cesaria that was subdued to y^e Romaynes, there to cure his woūds y^t the Iewes had geuē him. From thence wente hee to Antipire, which as he would haue assaulted, per¦ceiued it to be furnished with a greate power of the Iewes & sedicious. These hearing that Castius also was cōming, thei went purposely to fight with him:

but perceiuing that Castius power was very great: thei determined to encoun∣ter with him in the plaine of Gibeon, 50. miles from Hierusalem. Wherupō the Iewes with their companies fay∣ned them selues to flee, to thintent they might stale the Romaines after them. And within .vi. daies they came to Gi∣beon, and there rested. Castius pursued after with his whole hoste till he came to Gibeon, whiche he besieged and as∣saulted also. It chaunced then vppon one of the Sabbothes in the mornyng watch, the Iewes (armed at al places) issued out of the towne to geue their e∣nemies a Camisado. So after they had geuen a token of warre, they marched towarde the hoste of Castius, whereof they slewe. 515. horsemen, and fotemen 27. thousand, with the losse of onely. 22. of their owne companie. In that bat∣taile did well appeare the valiantnesse of Mugbas a captain of the Iewes ar∣mie. One Baudius also plaied the man at the same time: for at the commaun∣dement of Eleasar the priest, chief of the

sedicious, he set the first fote within the Romains cāpe. Then began the Iew∣ish warriours to be famous, after they had once so manfully encountred with the Romains. This done, Castius and Agrippas sente their embassadours yet once agayne to Hierusalem to Eleasar the sonne of Anany the priest, chiefe of the rebels that were in Iudea and Hie∣rusalem: requiring peace, and to come in league with Eleasar, least the people the people of the Iewes shoulde be di∣stroied bi the Romains incursions and inuasions on euerye side. But Eleasar refused to heare the legates, and slewe one of them because he made to manye woordes in persuadinge the peace and league. Vppon this, Eleasar assembled the priestes and people together to go out & fight with Castius. Castius per∣ceiuinge howe Eleasar and the people were affected, and what mindes they were of, how thei had vtterly conspired to distroy the Romaines y^t were there, and to consume them cleane, hauing a sufficient trial also of the force and va∣liantnesse

of the rebels: he determined fullye to go to Rome, for he perceiued he was not able to matche with the se∣dicious, neither his owne power to be compared with theirs. Wherefore he woulde go see what ende shoulde come of this warres, and what counsell Cae∣sars maiestie would geue. Taking his iourney therfore to the citye Iapho, he founde there letters of the Romaines, for thither was their armie come. Frō thence wente hee with theim and his owne host to Rome, and made relation vnto Caesar of such things as had chaū¦ced him: whereat Nero was wonder∣fully abashed, & not onely he, but all the people of Rome were soore astonied to hear of the great puissant and valiant∣nes of the Iewes. For the which cause the warres ceased for that yere, so y^t the land of Iudea was at great rest & quiet∣nes y^e yere through Eleasars means the head rebel, specially frō y^e hands of wic∣ked Castius, y^t had sworne to reueng the Romaines, & to quite the Iewes: and that he would destroye all the Iewes, that none shoulde be left aliue.

Therefore these are they that deliuered Israel in the time of the second temple oute of the handes of their ennemies, what time as warres were moued a∣gainst the Iewes and their countrye: what time also commotions and tu∣multes began in Israell. The first bu∣sinesse was made by Antiochus the wicked kinge of Macedonia: who had determined, not to leaue one man in Israel. His mischeuousnesse proceded so farre, that he slue of the people of God, the Sages & wise men, princes, elders, and yonge men, children greate and smal, Israelites, Leuites also and priestes: vntil all the chiefe men of Iu∣da cast their heades together and went to Matthathias sonne of Iochanan the hie prieste in the mounte of Modiith, where he had him self for the iniquity of Antiochus and his rulers, cryinge vpon him, and sayinge: Deliuer at this season the people of the Lord, and neuer thinke to escape thy self, whiles the moste wicked enemy raūgeth thus and runneth vpon thy people, & shea∣deth

thy bloud. For the bloud of all Is∣rael what is it but thy bloude, and the eies of euery man are fixed vpon thee, hopinge that thou shouldest assist and aide them in this calamitie, that they may finde deliuerance by thy meanes. Mattathias hearyng this, wept bitterly and said vnto them: Feare ye not, nor let these Macedonians dismay you: the Lorde shal fighte for you, be ye onelye quiet. So thē was Mattathias stirred, & deliuered Israell oute of the handes of Antiochus, and after he had ouercomed him, he was hie priest for one yere, and then died. In whose roume succeaded Iudas his sonne, who executed the office in the temple .vi. yeres, and was slaine in battaile. Then his brother Iochanan was chief in the temple .viii. yeres, and died likewise in battaile. After him his brother Schimeon was ruler .18. yeres, whō Ptolomae his wiues father poy∣soned at a banket. Then Iochanan his sonne succeaded his father in thoffice, that is he that was named Hircanus, first of that name: so called, because he

vanquished a king of that name called Hircanus, he raigned .21. yeres and died. Afterwardes raigned Aristobulus one yere, he was called the great kinge, be∣cause he firste put the royall crowne v∣pon his heade, and turned the dignitie of the hie priesthode into a kingdome, vnhallowing and staining the holines therof. 480. yeares and .iii. monethes after the retourninge of Israell from Babilon. He beyng dead, his brother Alexander reigned .xxvii. yeares. After whose death Alexandra his wyfe, held the kyngdome .ix. yeares and died. In whose stede succeded her sonne Aristo∣bulus, and reigned thre yeares. In his tyme Pompei a Romain captain, came against Hierusalem, wan it and appre∣hended Aristobulus, bound him in irōs and caried him captiue to Rome. In whose place he ordeiued Hircanus his brother to succede, who reigned fourty yeares. During his reigne, rebelled An tigonus, forme of Aristobulus Hircan{us} brother, & with the aide of an armie of the Persians encountred with Hircanus

toke him prisoner and sent him to Ba∣bilon, cutting of his eares, y^t he should neuer after be meet either for the prie∣sthod or for the kingdome. Antigonus reigned .iii. yeres. In his daies Herode fled, and ioyned himselfe with the Ro∣maines, by whose helpe he slue Antigo∣nus the .iii. yeare of his reigne, & reig∣ned after him .xxxvii. yeares, and then died. After Herode succeded in the king dome, Archelaus his sonne: who was taken by the Romaines the .ix. yeare of his reigne, layde in bondes and en∣ded his life at Rome. Next to him reig∣ned Antipater his brother, who chaun∣ged his name & called him self Herode, he reigning fully ten yeares, ouercame and vasted Spaine, because the king of Spayne had rauished and taken away his brothers wyfe, and there died. Af∣ter him folowed Agrippas sonne of A∣ristobulus that was his brothers son, he reigned thre and twenty yeares. After whose death his sonne Agrippas reigned twentye yeares.

This is that Agrippa of whom▪ wee now speake of, & of the calamities that befel in his time vpon Israel. For all the wh••le y^t he raigned, the warres be∣twene the Romains and Israell neuer ceased, vntil the people of Iudea were led captiue into the prouince of the Ro∣mains: what time also the temple was desolate. I meane the desolation of the second temple, which we saw with our eies builded and distroyed.

THe .xx. yere of the raigne of kynge Agrippas, the .ix. daye of the fifte moneth that is called Af, Nero Caesar sent a present for burnt offerings to be offred in the temple at Hierusalē, requi∣ring peace of thelders & sages of Iudea & Hierusalem, & that thei would receiue him into league with them, saiyng: My request is that you would offer my pre∣sent to the Lorde your God, for his ser∣nice and religion liketh me very well, so that I desire you to ioyne in league with me accordinge as you haue done with the emperours of Rome my pre∣decessours in time past. I haue hearde

what Castius the captain of mine armi hath done vnto you, which displeaseth me out of measure. Wherfore I assure vnto you a faithful league, by the con∣sent and coūsel of the Senate of Rome, that hereafter there shall neuer Ro∣maine captaine stirre hand nor fote a∣gainst you, but rather your heades, ru∣lers, & iudges, shal be al Iewes and of Ierusalem. Yea, Agrippas your kinge shalbe Lorde of all your rulers, & what he commaundeth ye shal do it, the Ro∣mains shal only be called your lordes, and haue no more to do with you. So when these legates came to Ierusalē, they wente and spake with Anani the priest, informed him of Neroes minde, & shewed him his presēt, placing it afore him. The present was this, a bull for a burnt offring with a great crown of gold vpō his head, his hornes also were couered with gold, vpō him was a cloth of purple poudred w^t precious stones: there wēt certain afore him y^e caried .x. talentes of gold: behind folowed verye many shepe for peace offringes. Whē

Eleasar Ananies sonne heard therof, he came & cast out of he temple of the Lord Nero Caesars presentes, saiyng: we will not suspend & vnhallow y^e sanctuary of our Lord with the offerings of straun∣gers. For oure Lorde God will▪ ac∣cept nother their burnt offeringes nor their peace offerynges. When he had so fayd: he sounded a trompet, set hys men in araye againste the hoste of the Romaines that kepte watche & warde in the citie of Hierusalem, and flewe manye of them that daie, with one of their capitaines also, and another they toke aliue. He beyng a valiaunt man, and seyng the routes of the Iewes to vrge him greuously, sayde vnto them: saue my life and I will yelde me. Vnto whome Eleasar the rebell sware that he would not slea him, but spare him for his manhede, (for he has slayne verye many of the Iewes afore) whereupon he yelded him selfe. Then Eleasar sayde vnto him: like as thi sword hath made many women childles, so shall thy mo∣ther be made childles of thee aboue all

other, and therewith contrarye to his othe he commaunded his seruaunt to kyll hym and so he died. Kyng Agrip∣pas seing this, was wonderfull sorye, therfore as he stoode in one of the stre∣tes, he cried. O thou rebell Eleasar, I praye God that this mischief, whereof thou art cause, and thy actes may light ••pō thee and thy fathers house: which when it comes to passe, we shall neuer bewayle nor be dismaied at. It appea∣reth they shall haue sumwhat to dooe, that study to make peace and tranquil litie in thy daies, for they are sure to be destroied with thee. Howe longe wilte thou cōtinue to bring vs into the brea∣res, thou enemie & hater of the Lorde? Why doest thou destroy & waste y^e vin∣yard of the Lord God of hostes? Eleasar answered him: what, takest thou vpon thee, the name of a king? for if thou be a king, why cōmaundest thou not vs to be punished. Where be thy valeāt sou∣diours? let see, come thou & they toge∣ther & chasten me, that it may be tried whether thou be a king in dede or no.

Thou stādest a loofe of, and whē thou speakest, thy fete are readye to run a∣way, like as though a dogge should set him selfe againste an armed man and barke at him, bleatinge out his tonge. With this, he wincked vppon the re∣bels his complices, to run vpon Agrip∣pas and take him whiles he helde him in talke. But that was perceiued of one of Agrippas seruaunies, whome he had appointed for the same purpose to stand ouer against him as nie as he might, to marke and espy if the rebels should make any stour towardes him, and to let him haue knowledge. He th••rfore laying his hand vpon his hed, gaue a signe to the king to ••lie, saying: Away, away, for if thou tary neuer so litle, the sedicious will slea the and vs together. Which Agrippas perceiuing he gate him thence with all the spede he might, and the rebels pursued him but in vaine, ••••r they coulde not euer∣take him. So he gate to Iapho a town vnder the Romaines where he was in sauegard. Frō thence he fled to Rome,

and declared to themperoure Nero, the mischiefe that befel at Ierusalem, and al that seditious Eleasar had done to his offring: also how his commaunde∣ment toke no place. Wherefore Nero ioyned vnto him againe Castius with a huge army, wherwith they both en∣tred Iudea and wanne manye walled townes, amongst which they raced Ia∣pho. For the Romaines perceiuinge the power of the Rebels to encrease, were afraid least they should get it in∣to their handes, wherby it might be a∣noyaunce in time to come to the Ro∣maines: chiefly seinge it was a notable hauen for their shippes to arriue at in Iudea. After this bothe Agrippas and Castius led their army towardes Ieru∣salem to warre vpon the Rebels, and vtterly to destroy them. Eleasar and o∣ther priests with much people hearing this, they issued out against them, and found them encamped in the waye be∣twene Ierusalem and Iapho, but after they had ioyned their battail, many of the Iewes were slain bi the Romains

the residue Castius and Agrippas put to flight, & pursued the chase vnto y^e gates of Ierusalem, besieged also the city for the space of thre daies. The fourth day the priestes and the people issued oute sodenlye, vnwares to the Romaines, set vpon their campe, and slue .v. thou∣sand fote men, and one thousand hor••∣men. Castius seinge that nether be nor his coulde wel escape, he chose oute .xl. thousand of his best souldioures & pla∣ced them betwixte his campe and the priestes, commaunding them to stande al the night soundinge their trompets and making of fires, that he & Agrip∣pas might escape, and that they should not remoue oute of their place till the morowe. The Iewes harkeninge to the sound of the trompets, and musing what it should meane, pursued not the Romaines: but perceiuing in the mor∣ninge that they were departed toward Cesaria thre daies iourney of, Eleasar with the people folowed: and in the waye founde their baggage strawed, that the Romaines had cast from them

to runne the lightlier and escape the easilier: whiche they let lie and pursu∣ed them to the gates of Cesaria. But Castius and Agrippas gate safe within the towne, and from thence went both together to Rome, where they decla∣red vnto Nero the Emperoure, howe they sped at Ierusalem. And as they were makinge relation of this vnto the Emperoure. There came also a poste oute of Perfia with tidinges that the kinge of Persia was reuelted from the Romaines Empire, these thinges troubled the Emperoure sore, to se al∣moste all fall from him, that heretofore hadde obeyed the Empire of the Ro∣maines.

AT the same time retourned Vas∣pasianus, captaine of the hoste that Nero had sente into the West partes, as Germauie, Britaine and Spaine, whiche landes he hadde subdued and broughte vnder the subiection of Ne∣ro. To him Nero declared what

mischief the priestes had wrought to y^e Romaine hoste in Iudea, how they had slaine the Romaines, and so for the all the tale that Agrippa and Castius had told him, which displeased Vaspasian very greatly. After this Nero set Vas∣pasian captaine and his sonne Titus to reueng the Romaines vpon the Per∣sians and Iewes, geuing in commaū∣dement to race their walled townes, to beate downe what so euer they founde without sparing any body, either men or wemen, children or infants, sucking babes or olde folkes, but to slea all. So Vaspasianus and Titus, set forwarde with a chosen and picked armye of the Romains, passed the seas and came to Antiochia. The Iewes hauing intelli∣gence of this, chused out of al their cap∣taines, thre principal most expert war∣riours: of whome I Ioseph prieste that writ this history was one, who by the deuine fauour am valeant in battaile: and Anani the hie prieste, and Eleasar his sonne. To these thre they commit∣ted the hole land of Iudea, deuidinge it

to them by lot, and gaue them all fur∣niture of warre. One third part ther∣fore, (which was hole Galile from the land af Napththaly and beyond) fel to Ioseph the prieste sonne of Gorion to his honoure and glorye, whome for his worthinesse they named also Iosi∣phon, because he was then annointed: apointed, & consecrated to the warres. The second lot came forth: by the whi∣che fell vnto Anani the hie prieste, the citie of Hierusalem and the countrey a∣boute it, with a charge to repaire the walles of the citie, to sustaine the brunt of Vaspasian, if he should come so farre The thirde lot fell to Eleasar the sonne of Anani the priest, to whom was ioy∣ned captaine Iehoscua and other Iew∣ish captaines. By the vertue of this lot fell to them the whole lande of Edom from Elath vnto the redde sea. The rest of the land from Iericho to Euphrates, with that also that is beyond the riuer and all the lande of Mesopotamia, fell to captaine Menasches lotte. To other Princes also of Iudea and to the wor∣thiest

priestes, they committed the fen∣sed cities from the frontiers and boun∣des of Hierusalem vnto Egipt. Vaspa∣sian taking his iourney with his hoste frō Antiochia, came & pitched his tētes in Aram Zofa. For he had deuised and determined thus with his counsel: first to inuade Galile, and after to try what they could do in Ivdea. Ioseph the sōne of Gorion hauing intelligence of thys: his purpose, departed from Ierusalem to Galile, built vp the townes y^t were destroied & repaired their wals, gates barres & palaces. Ordeined captaines ouer the people to lead & gouern them, some of thousandes, some of hundreds, tribunes and Decurians. He instruc∣ted the people also in feates of warres what the soundes of trompettes signi∣fied, what sound serued to fal in aray, what to gather the souldioures toge¦ther, and what to deuide them, and af∣ter he had instructed them, the discipl•••• and feates of warre, he spake vnto thē in this wife. Ye shal vnderstand (deare

lites) that ye go to fight at this present, againstyour enemies. Wherfore let no effeminate feare ouercome your harts, nor dismaye your selues at the sight of your ennemies, but play the men and take a good courage vnto you to fight for your cities, for your countrye, and for your selues. Be not afraid of death but rather be stoute in the defence of your countrye that ye be not led away from it, and to fighte for the sanctuary of the Lorde, that it be not steined and polluted with thunclennesse of y^e gen∣tiles. Consider that it is better to die in battaile then to liue in captiuitye and bondage. Therefore when as ye shall come to ioyne with your ennemies, and shall see anye of theym beaten downe and attempte to rise againe, who soeuer of you is by and seeth him, remember the zeale of your GOD, wherewith it becommeth you to re∣uenge his quarell, and beinge moned therewith, strike him that he neuer rise agaiene.

But if you shal se any of your selowes downe, being enkindled with the zeale of your God, rescue him from the han∣des of the enemies: and if he be not yet slaine, cure him. If he be dead: ye shall do what ye can to burie him in the Is∣raelites burial. And so if we shal chuse rather to die then to liue, we shall pro∣spere in our warres, we shal die for the couenaunt of our God, and deliuer our soules, bringinge them to the light of life in heauen. After he had said this, he chose out of the Iewes .ix. thousand fotemen, and but fewe horsemen. And out of these he chose .vi. hundred of the beste, suche as one of them woulde not shrinke from ten, ten from an hundred, a hundred from a thousande, a thousād from ten thousand. With them Ioseph went to the cities of Agrippas y^t were in Iehudea to winne them. For Agrip∣pas stucke to the Romaines were it right or wronge with al the power he could make. He went firste to Tiarua a greate citie that belonged to Agrippa, where as both his treasure and muni∣cion

of warre was. Whē he came the•• ther, he spake to the people vppon the walles and offered them peace, on con∣dicion that they should open the gates and deliuer vnto him all the treasure of Agrippas and all his iewels: Thus if they would do, he then would spare them and flea none of them. Were it not better for you (saith he) to take part with them that defende the sanctuary of God & his inheritance, then to ioyne your ayde with Agrippas, which is cō∣federate with our enemies and assay∣leth vs, augmenting the power of thē that hats vs, so that he refuseth not to fight against the sanctuary of the lord, and the people of his inheritaunce. The men of the toune condescending to Io∣seph, openeth the gates and he ••niring the toune, made peace with them, and they deliuered him al the kinges trea∣sures, for they liked Iosephs woordes & consented to take such part as he toke. At that time came newes vnto Ioseph that troubled him sore: namely that Tiberias had rebelled & were reuolted

from the people that dwelt at Hierusa∣lem and were chaunged from his lot, to become Vaspasianus subiectes, who had set a Romaine captaine ouer thē. For reformation wherof, he left his ar∣mie at Tiarua, and toke those six hun∣dreth yong men with him to Tiberias, commyng vpon it sodeinly and at vn∣wares. And as he stode vpō the bankes of Genosar, he espied y^e nauy of the Ro∣maines that laye there at road, to aide Vaspasian, whiche Ioseph cōmaunded to be brooken in peaces and to be scat∣tered abrode in the sea laake. The mē of Tiberias therefore seinge the shyp∣bordes dispersed in that fashion, they conieciured it was done by some of Io∣sephs hoste, wherfore the bandes of the Romaines fled to the towne, gate in & shytte the gates. Ioseph notwithstan∣ding came to one gate of the citie and ••••tes that the people myght heare, sai∣yng: What meaneth this cōspiracie of yours against me? yea, not against me, but rather againste the Lorde God,

whose couenaunt ye haue transgressed and brooken the bonde that we made with hym: ye haue also violated your othe that ye sware by the GOD of Is∣raell, that we shoulde altogether fyght againste oure enemies, to abate their pryde. The people aunswered from the walles: wee beseche thee oure Lorde heare thy seruauntes speake. God for∣bidde we shoulde aide the Romaines, and not rather the people of the Lorde God of Israell and his sanctuary, with the people of his enheritaunce. Howbe it there be amongest vs certain proude mē vngodly persōes, that haue made a league with Vaspasiane, and haue broughte into the towne one of his chieftaynes. Wherefore and it please thee our Lorde to enter the cytie with thy souldiours, come vnto vs that we maye liue with thee, rather then to pearishe in the handes of theim that hate vs. So they opened the gates that Iosephe wente in: and tooke the towne.

Then he caused to apprehende those vngodly persones that were there, a∣boute sixe hundred men and laid them in irons, sending thē to Tiarua whiche▪ he had afore taken, the other wicked men that had aided Vaspasian, he put to the sworde. But the chiefe gouernor of the towne he apprehended aliue, ca∣ried him out of the city, and commuū∣ded one of his souldioures to cut of his handes forthwith. Then the captaine besought Ioseph, saying. I beseche the my Lorde, let but one of my handes be cut of, and thother to be left me. This sute Ioseph and his souldiours loughe to scorne, iudgeging him to be no vale∣aunt man nor of any hautye courage, Yet Ioseph hade his souldiour, to g••ue him the sword in his owne hande and let him cut of whither hand he list, and leaue him whiche he will. So the Ro∣maine captaine toke the sword and cut of his left hand him self, leauinge him the right, & so was he let go. He came therfore vnto Vaspasians cāpe to shew what shame was done him. After thys

the citizens of Zippori rebelled also, ma¦king a league with Vaspasian and the Romaines host, Ioseph being certified of this, made thither with his hole host to besege it, but the town abid y^e brunt of the assaulte, that Ioseph coulde pre∣uaile nothing against it. Wherfore he besieged it a long season.

ABout that time it was signified al¦so to thē of Ierusalē, y^t the Askelo∣nites had entred in frendship with the Romaines. They sente therfore Neger the Edomite & Schiloch the Babilonian, & Iehochanon with a power of the cō∣mō people, these came to Askalon & be seged it a great space. Within y^e town was a Romain captain called Antoni∣us, a valeant man & a good warriour, he vpon a certain night in y^e morning watch issued out of the town with his companye to geue a camisado to the Iewes that besieged the town: entred their campe and made a great slaugh∣ter, continuing the same i••l it was day lighte, so that aboute ten thousand of the Iewes were slaine. The reaste ne∣uer

moued out of their place, saying, it is better for vs to die in this battayle, then to flie from our enemies: therfore they toke a good heart vnto them, and stode manfullye in their stations and places, trustinge in the Lorde God of Israell. And when it was daye they al¦so sette them selues in araye againste Antony, slue manye of his menne, not withoute losse also of their own parte, for Schiloch the Babilonian and Ieho∣chanan of Ierusalem were bothe slain by the Romaines, with other also of the Iewes, to the noumber of eyghte thousande fightingmen, that were vn∣der Schiloh and Iehochanan. And ne∣uer a one of the Iewishe captaines es∣caped that conflicte saue onlye Neger the Edomite, whiche hid him self in a certaine sepulchre that was there in the plaine, whome the Romaines in their pursuts soughte, but founde him not. Wherefore they set afire the wod that it burnte rounde aboute the se∣pulchre wherein he laye hid, and con∣sumed all the trees, shrubs and bushes,

but came not nie the sepulchre: for Neger had called vnto y^e Lord with his hole hart, to deliuer him this once from his enemies, lest he should be shamful∣ly handled of thē, promising at another time to be ready to die valeantly in his quarel. So Neger escaped y^e Romaines by the helpe of the God of Israell, in whome he put his truste. Shortlye af∣ter sente the Ierosolimites muche peo∣ple to Askalona, to the n••mber of .xviii thousand good men of war, to buri the body of the Iewes y^t were there slaine in the cōflictes by Antoni: they sought also the bodye of Neger the Edomite, but they founde it not, til at lengthe he cried vnto them oute of the sepulchre, sayinge: I am here: for God hathe de∣liuered me oute of the handes of mine ennemies, to the intente I maye yet be auenged of them in the warres of the LORDE. So Negar declared vnto them at large all thinges howe they chaunced vnto him. Wherefore the Iewes reioysed wonderfu••lye, that

that they had found him aliue, that he was saued by such a miracle & that the Lord had deliuered him: Therfore thei put their confidence in the Lord, bele∣uing that God wold be presente with them to aide them, wherof this deliue∣rance of Neger they toke for a sure sign and token. The Romaines kept them within the towne, for feare of the mul∣titude of the Iewes that were come to bury the bodies. So the Iewes buried all the bodies of their owne parte that wer slain in bothe battails, for the Ro∣maines were not able to prohibit and let them, but helde them in the towne. And whē the burial was finished, they toke Neger with them to Ierusalem, to geue God thankes there, for his de∣liueraunce at that present. Thē Ioseph the priest gathered his strengthe and came vpō Askalon with his hole army, assaulted them, gate thupper hand and wan the towne: after slue Antony and al his people, with the sword that of al the valeante men of warre that were with him, not one escaped. Besides

this, all the villages and hamlets that were there aboute without the towne, he burnt them euery one. And in like maner serued he all the townes & vil∣lages there aboute that had entred in league with the Romains, fleaing both Iewes and Romaines that dwelte in them with the sworde, as manye as be founde: and their houses he brente. This done, Ioseph returned again to Zippori, sought with them & gate the vpper hande: there shed he much bloud of the people that had conspired with the Romaines, vtterlye destroyed thē, burnt also their cities and villages, led their wiues and children prisoners a∣waye to Ierusalem, and what Ro∣maines so euer he founde there, hee slue them with the sworde. Whan as Vaspasian and Titus his sonne hearde of all that Iosephe had wroughte a∣gainste the Romaines, bothe howe he slue their garisones as manye as he coulde finde in Galile, and also all the Iewes that hadde made anye league with him and his sonne, they were

wonderfull wrothe, and in a greate rage. They toke therfore their iourny, & came to Apitelma, otherwise called Acho, where as at that present Agrip∣pas kinge of Iudea was abidinge and fortye thousande menne with him: all good menne of warre and archers e∣uerye one: these ioyned them selues with Vaspasians armye, by whyche meanes the Romaines campe became verye huge. Moreouer, oute of other nations, rounde aboute Iudea, good menne of warre withoute noumber, ioyned with Vaspasian. He had aid al∣so of all the best menne of warre, oute of Mesopotamia, Aram, Zofa, Assur, Sinear, Persia, Chaldea, Macedonia, and oute of the prouinces of the peo∣ple of the East, yea, the people of Miz∣raim, Lob, Dedam and Seba with all prouinces farre and neare, that were from vnder the subiection of the Iews, caste of the yoke from their necks, and rebelled against the dominion of Ie∣rusalem, ioyning their power with the

Romaine armye to ayde Vaspasian and Titus. For these were afore sub∣iectes vnto the Iewes, that sore hadde burthened thē, wherefore they came to aide the Romaines and to inuade Ie∣rusalem and the people of the Iewes. But the Edomites had not yet asso∣ciate them selues with Vaspasian and Titus, for they were in subiection to the Iewes and serued them. So that not one of them aided the Romaines. For longe before, they hadde moued warre againste Ierusalem, and coulde not gette the victorye, but the Iewes preuailed againste them and subdued them, Hircanus also the fyrste kinge of the Iewes circumcised them. They dwelte also in Ierusalem, kept watche and warde aboute the house of the Lorde, and his couenaunte, withoute all rebellion againste the Iewes and Ierosolimites. And at that present was thirtye thousande of the best of the E∣domites, to keepe the walles of Ieru∣salem, and the house of the Lorde.

After this, Vaspasian and Titus with all their hoste, toke their iourney from Acho and came to Galile, and in the moūt they pitched their tentes. Wher∣of when tidinges was brought to Io∣seph, howe the hoste of the Romaines lay vpon the moūt of Galile, and howe Vaspasian had sent afore him a greate power to repayre the broaken waies, to fyll the hooles and caste downe the hilles, to leuel the waye that his people might passe the better, for he was sore moued against y^e Iewes. Ioseph issued out of zipporie with al his power, sette vpon them, and flewe them with the sworde, takynge suche vengeaunce of them as neuer was the lyke afore: for his God was with him. Vaspasian and Titus hearing of this, determined to set vpon Ioseph at vnwares, and to be∣set all the wayes that he should escape of no syde. But Ioseph had intelligence of their commynge, wherefore he lefte zipporie and went to Tiberia: whether Vaspasian folowed with his hoste. Ioseph perceiuing them comming, fled

from thence to Iorpata, the biggest city in al Galile, closed vp the gates, & there remained with his armie.

THen sent Vaspasian certaine noble men in embassage vnto Ioseph, to debate the matter with hym in this wyse. Vaspasian generall of the Ro∣maine armie, desyreth to know what it should auaile the to be thus pend vp within a walled toun: he willes the ra∣ther to come forth to entreate of peace with him, & enter in a league together, for it shalbe for thy auaile to serue Cae∣sar, emperour of the Romaines y^e thou maiest liue and not be destroied nor yet any of the people with the. Then Io∣seph sent embassadours againe to Vas∣pasian, demaunding treuce for a fewe daies, that he might cōmen of the mat∣ter with the people and let them vnder¦stande his wordes: peraduenture (saith he:) they wilbe perswaded to make peace with thee, and then wyll we en∣ter in league with the Romaine em∣pire. So Vaspasian ceassed from figh∣ting

againste Ioseph, permittinge him space to deliberate of the thinge. Vp∣on that Ioseph sente Embassadoures to all the people at Ierusalem, to the priestes, chiefe men, rulers and to the reaste of the people, lettinge them to witte this. Ye shall vnderstande bre∣thren and frendes, that Vaspasian ge∣nerall of the Romaines sente his Em∣bassadoures vnto me, inquiring what it shuld auaile vs to be so stiffe against them▪ and not rather to com forth and to entreate of peace and to ioyne in league together, that we maye serue the Emperour of the Romaines, so to saue our liues and not to be destroyed. And I pray you why wil ye lose your liues, your wiues, your sōnes & dough∣ters? why wil ye all fal together vpon the sword, that bothe they, that shalbe left aliue among you, shalbe led captiue oute of your countrye to a people that ye neuer knewe, whose language ye vnderstande not: and your countrye to be made desolate, your sanctuarye laide waste, y^t there shal not be so much

as one man to enter into it. Neuer suf∣fre this, you that be wise men, but ra∣ther receiue my counsell, & come hither to vs, that we may deliberat together, what conditiōs of peace we shal make, for the sauegard of your liues, rather then to be destroyed and that ye maye vse the cōmodities of your country, be at reaste and peace therin. For life and quietnes is to be preferred before death and banishmente. The inhabitantes therefore of Ierusalem, bothe priestes, chief men, rulers, and all the noble mē of Iudea with the reaste of the people sente vnto Ioseph, sayinge. Take hede to thy self, that thou neuer consent vn∣to this, to receiue conditions of peace with them: but be stronge and bolde to fighte vntill suche time as thou shalt consume them, or till thou and all the people die in battaile, and so shalt thou fighte the fightes of the Lorde for his people and his sanctuarye, with the cities of oure God: In the meane sea∣son, be as be maye, so thy power be not with them.

When Ioseph hearde the determina∣tion of the people of Hierusalem, howe all sortes with one consent willed by the embassadours the continuaunce of the warres, he was wonderful wroth, and in a great fury he issued out with all his people, and set them in aray a∣gainste Vaspasian and the Romaine hoste, in whiche conflicte were stayne very many of the Iewes. And from y^e day forward Vaspasian began earnest∣ly and fearcely to warre vpon the Ie∣wes. He departed from thence to the citie Gerarta, a great citie in the higher Galile: beseged it and wan it, raced it & flewe all the people, man woman and childe: oxen, shepe, camelles and asses, leauing nothing alyue. And then he saide: nowe begin I to be reuenged for the Romains, which y^e Iewes murthe∣red in the lād of Iuda. Frō thēce he de∣parted, & brought his armie to Iorpata, where Ioseph remained. The first day that he entamped aboute Iorpata, he gaue his souldiours meate and drynke plenty, and made them good chere, thē

furnished euerye man with weapons. So on the next morrow early, the Ro∣maine army gaue a great shoute and beset the city round aboute on euerye side. In this businesse Ioseph stoode vpon a certaine towre, from whence he behelde the huge campe of the Ro∣maines, wherefore he sounded forthe a Trumpet, gaue a signe to battaile, issued oute with the hole power of the Iewes that he had with him, and sette vpon the Romaines campe at the fote of the hil, continuinge the fighte from morning vntil night. And when it be∣gan to be darke, they ceassed fighting and departed the one sort frō the other, the Iewes into the towne, the Ro∣maines to their tentes. In this battail were very manye slaine on bothe par∣ties, aswel Iewes as Romaines. The Romaines aduauncinge them selues, proudly and stoutly said, we wil quick∣ly vanqueshe this little nation, as we haue subdued all other nations that we haue conquered, that they shall a∣noy vs no more: and afterwardes we

shalbe at reaste. The Iewes also on thother side encouraged them selues a∣gainst the Romaines, sayinge: At this time we will all die together for the zeale of the sanctuary of our God, and neuer suffer these vncleane persones to pollute it: and when we haue once de∣stroied them, we shalbe quiet. So what for the pride of the Romaines of thone side and the stubbornnes of the Ie wes on thother, much people was slaine in that fight, for it cōtinued til the seconde third and fourth day. In this while all the Iewes that dwelt aboute Iorpata, fled to Vaspasians campe and ioyned them selues to the Romaines to aide them. And euer as Ioseph skirmished with Vaspasian without the city, Vas∣pasian sente a power to assaulte the citye. So Ioseph and his men foughte with Vaspasian without the towne, & the Iewes that were within the town defended the walles against the routes of the Romaines, that was a smal host made oute of the maine armye. But the Iewes that weee lefte within the

towne, began to deminishe euery day, vntil very fewe were lefte. The hardi∣est also of Iosephes souldiours and the worthiest yong men that fought with out were all slaine, a very few except, with whome Ioseph fled and escaped into the towne, shuttinge the gates af∣ter him. But as Vaspasian with all his armye besieged Iorpata a longe while, he espied at lengthe a conduite with∣oute that ranne into the citye, whereof the citezens dronke, because the water thereof was good and swete, he deri∣ued the waters thereof besides the towne, that it could no more come in∣to the citye, whereby the inhabitantes of the city were destitute of beuerage, hauinge nothinge lefte them but wel waters. Ioseph therefore perceiuinge y^t the conduit water wherof they were alwaies accustomed to drinke, was ta∣ken away, conceiued with him selfe. Now wil the Romaines bragge and boast against vs, & thinke to take vs at their pleasure, whiles we haue no water but shalbe cōstreined to die for thirst.

He toke therfore garmentes, and dip∣ped them in the wel waters that were in the towne & hanged them here and there ouer the walles, to declare vnto the Romains that they had water plē∣ty in the towne, leaste they should con∣ceiue anye hope of swift winninge the towne, thinking they had no waters. Then commaunded Vaspasian a moūt to be raised ••ie to the towne side, to plant an iron Ram vpon, to batter the walles with, and beate them downe. The maner of the makinge of an iron Ram, is thus. Firste they take a great long thicke beame, vpon the fore part wherof they put a great strong heade, made like vnto a Rams heade, wish hornes al of principall streng iron, the weight therof is as much as halfe the beame, and couereth the beame also to the middes. Then fasten they into the groūd ouer against the place that they entend to batter, two greate trees like mastes of shipps, betwene which, they hāg the beme y^t is called the ram with very strong ropes made of hempe, the

best that may be gottē, and fron wyre twisted together. At the hynder part of this beame from the wall warde, are ringes of iron surely fastened, with ropes made of hempe and wire tied to them: that whē the assaulters wil bat∣ter the walles, they pushe forwarde the beame as though it were a speare, and fasten his strong hornes amongest the stones. Thē hang they weightes at the ringes in the hinder parte, and muche people a far of take holde of the ropes that come through the ringes behinde, and hale that hinder part of the beame vpon the ground: and by suche meanes they shake the wall that they made it to quake again. Thus in many places they wrest and wrenche out the stones of the building, so that afterwards the wal falles downe. There be also other maner of engins, as an iron ram vpon foure wheles bounde with iron, and fastened with iron nailes. To this they make foure feete as hath a Ramme, or moe as the bignesse of the beames requireth. The biggeste for the moste

parte is of .xxx. cubites longe, and the least of ten. And loke how many ••eete the Ramme hath, so mani wheles hath it also. For euery where hath his foote by him, and when they will batter a wall, certaine men appointed therunto draw it first a good way of, thē a great multitude of men take hold of the hin∣derpart therof, by foure porters or lea∣uers of wodde that are put therin, and with all their sway shoue forward the Ramme to strike the wal that they wil batter. The head of this yron Ramme that goeth vpon wheles hath no horns but is blunt, made of the strōgest kinde of yron, wyth a wonderful thicke neck. They haue also vpon hoth sides of the engyne, a Pentase of wodde for the sauegarde of them that shoue forth the Ramme behynde from the arrowes or stones of them that are vpon the wals.

The Rammes that Titus vsed at Ierusalem, for the mooste parte, ran all vppon wheeles. Of the other forte, he had only two, as we shall declare in

his place. The beame of this Ramme that we euen nowe described, was as as thick as .x. men could fadō: y^e length thereof, was fifrye cubites. It was al∣so holow within and filled with Ore hides, folded and sowed together. The woode serued for none other purpose, then that the fashion of the Leithar mighte be sette vpon the ground. The hinder parte of the beame was coue∣red ouer with iron plates. The leather was put within that the beame should not breake with the poise of y^e weights that were hanged by the ringes be∣hinde, when as menne appointed for the purpose, haled at the ropes to draw backe the beame.

The woode therefore that wente aboute the leather serued to keepe the leather in facion. In that they couered it with iron plate, y^t they did least they that kept the wals should set it on fire. The bornes that were vpon the heade of the Ram, were as manye as they

listed, but neuer fewer then ten, & then the beame was .xx. cubites longe: nor also moe then. l. and then the beame was a hundred cubites in lengthe. Betwixt euery horne was the space of a cubite, and euery horne was as thick as a man could fadom, the length was one cubite and a halfe at the least. The wodden walle or pentase was as long as the leather that was put within the beame, and it was set on bothe the sydes towarde the hinder parts of the beame, to defende the men that labou∣red to batter the walles, lest thei shold be hurte with arrowes or dartes. The Ramme that Vaspasian vsed at Iorpa∣ta which he besieged, and me in it, was made in this forte. The length there∣of was .l. cubites, it had .xxv. hornes in the heade, whiche was as thicke as ten men: euerye horne also was as thicke as one man, and betwixt euerye horne the space of one cubite. The weight that was hanged on the hinder parts was a thousād & fiue hundred talents, euery talent is about a hundred Troy

weight. The men that laboured in the erecting of this engine, were .xv. hun∣dred. To remo••e it from one place to another, or from one Cit••e to another, were appointed an hundred and fiftie yoke of oxen, or els. 300. couple of bor∣ses and mules. Whē as thei should as∣sault any fortes or cities that stode vpō hilles, then must thei deuide it in parts and bringe it vp to the siege by piece-meele, and there set it together againe. Now when the Romains had battred the walles of Iorpata, and Ioseph per∣ceiued the wall to shake: he toke great•• sackes, filled them full of Chaffe, and hanged them downe by the Walles, that the hornes of the Ramme coulde not come nie the stones of the wall, but light vpon the sacks, which by the rea∣sō of their softnes of the chasse, damned the stroke y^t the wal was lesse hurt. For such is y^e nature of soft things, to geu•• back to y^e hard, & to weakē their force. But Vaspasian seinge the subtiltie of Ioseph: vsed also policie for policie, for he sent into the towne secretely Iewes

spies, which when the batteries should he, might cut asunder the coardes that the sackes were tied to, and with them slipt downe the walles, where the Ro∣mains were ready to receiue them that they did not hurt them in the fall, and immediatly they stroke the wall with the ramme. There was at that present in the citie a certaine valeant man na∣med Eleasar of the house of Anani the hie prieste that then dwelt at Hierusa∣lem. This Eleasar perceiuyng the Ro∣mains to go about to batter downe the walles as ••hey did before, plucked out of the wall a mightye stone, so that hee made a great hole or gappe, wherat he ••idde downe the wall, and light stride∣linge vppon the engine, made fast an fron cheine to the hornes thereof, and gate vp againe quickelye and nimlye from the beame into the towne wyth the cheyne in his hande, for the walle was not verye hye aboue his heade as he stode vpon the Ramme. Then other tall fellowes tooke holde vppon the cheyne, and fastened it to Pillers and

Walles in the Towne, that the Ro∣maynes myghte rather hee constray∣ned to breake their Ramme then take it awaye from thence. The Prieste Eleasar yet once agayne boldlye wente downe and sate vppon the beame, slue fiftie menne that laboured aboute the Ramme; and the rest he put to flighte: then returned into the Towne, beinge drawen vp againe from the beame by theim that were wythin the Towne, greatlye reioy••ynge in his manhode. After that went he vp vpō a hie tower from whence he tūbled downe with a mighty force a great stone and a harde vppon the heade of the Ramme, brake it that bothe a great parte of the heade and the bornes fell vpon the grounde. For the yron that it was couered with all was olde and rustye, so that it was muche wasted and eaten therwyth, the ropes also were olde. After that Eleasar went downe agayne, toke parte of the bead that was broken, and hurled it in∣to the toune, the Romains that remai∣••ed, either he flue or put to flyght.

The archers shotte at him, & wounded him with fiue arrows, wherfore by the helpe of his felowes vpon the walles, he climed vp, otherwise he had not ben able for the griefe of his wounds. The people then gaue a shout for ioye of the dictory of the worthi priest Eleasar that had slaine the Romaines, and broken their Ramme wherein they put their confidence, & brought part of it into the toune, & fastned it with an iron cheine y^t the Romains could not pull it backe a∣gain to them, nor haue thuse of it after warde. Wherfore diuers of the vali∣antest citizens of Iorpata armed them selfes y^e day, being stirred with y^e great courage that they had sene in Eleasar, and went down, hewed the beame in∣to pieces, brought the poyses with the ringes and two mastes with them in∣to the towne: and the same daye died Eleasar with great renowne, as one y^t had sought for the sanctuary of the lord and for his people and countrye of Is∣rael, like a faithful seruant and souldi∣er of the Lorde: whome all the people

mourned for, buriyng him in y^e town, and honoring him for his deathe, wor∣thinesse, and faithfulnesse, appointinge him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battail with the ennemies of the Lorde. The yonge menne of the Iewes seing this, and specially two of them, the one called Nitra, thother Po∣lipus, men of wisdome and vnderstan∣ding, & therwith expert in the warres being moued with zeale for the god of Israel: opened the gates & issued out a∣gainst the Romaines, skirmished with them & slue mani of thē. But at length thei were slain them selues in the skir mishe for the sanctuarie of their God, for Israell, and their countrey. When Ioseph saw the wars to encrease more and more, he issued oute, and made a great slaughter in the Romains tents, burnt the mounte & engines of warre that the Romaines had left, by which meanes the warres wared yet hoater and hoater, in so muche that Iosephus repulsed the Romaines: for when they saw the Iewes so desperatelys geue

their liues for their God and land, they woulde not abide their force. When Vaspasian sawe his menne shrinke he stode vp then, and put them in hearte, exhorting them with faire wordes, and promises, aswell golde and siluer, as meate and drinke, wherewith the Ro∣maines allured, foughte with Iosephe that day vnto the Sunne setting, and as the battaile waxed hote, the Iewes woūded Vaspasian with an arrowe in his right legge, which fore dismaies y^e Romaines, when they saw the bloude run down his legge: and that day was a fore fighte betwene the Iewes and the Romaines. Titus seinge his father wounded, fore abashed ranne to him to helpe him, to whome his father saide, how it is my sonne that thou art thus astonied, take harte to thee, and with a courage reuenge thy father of these Iewes that haue now the better hand of vs. So they fought both Titus and Vaspasian withal their hole host y^e day a very sore fight, and many were slain of both partes yea very few were lefte

on Iosephes part, with whō he returnd into the towne, The nexte day the R••∣maines raised a newe mounte in stede of that that Ioseph had brent, and plā∣ted an other iron Ram therupon be∣twene two postes accordingly, for Vas∣pasian had brought .iiii. of this sortwith him frō Rome, but other battering pe∣ces vpō wheles had he with him thir∣ti, what more, what lesse, y^e bigger sort were of .xxx. cubites longe, the leaste ten. He broughte also ten engines to hur••e greate and weighty stenes with al, which he placed ab••ute the walles. The Romaines therefore renued the warres & assaults against the town as thei were wōt afore. But y^e town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men, for they were al slain in the fightes. Albeit Ioseph remained & a fewe with him, who went euery one & the women also to defend the wals, for there was almost no men lefte, fyt for the warre. Then the Romaines flonge with thengines stones into the towne on euery side, from the mount &

munition. It chaunced that a greate stone hit a woman with childe wyth such a violence, that it passed through her body, and caried the childe with it for the space of halfe a mile. They cast vp and raised yet other munites also, from whence they slinged stones, and another like chaūce happened. A stone came and hit one of Iosephes men of warre, a valeant man, in suche a sort, that it deuided his head from his body, and made it flie a large mile of.

AT the same time one of y^e Romain souldiours, diuised with him selfe howe to strike Ioseph with a venomed arrow, and gate him vnder the walle where Ioseph was, to accomplishe his purpose. But Ioseph espied him and cried vnto him: hold thy hād thou wic∣ked felowe, and do not kil me. With that the felow start somwhat aside, be∣ing afraid at Iosephs voice: and sodēly the Iewes oute of the towne poured hote oyle vpon him from the wal, that his skin was skalded of, and he ran a∣way naked, howlinge and yellinge to

the Romaines campe, where he dyed. Vaspasian and his Sonne Titus were fullye determined to continue the as∣saulte vntill the .xlviii. daye: notwith∣standynge the walles were so hie that they could not winne the towne. Yet at lēgth the men being so spent with∣in the towne, and they that remained a liue so weried with toyling, that they were not able anye longer to furnishe their watch vpon the walles: vpon a certaine nighte Vaspasian and Titus skaled the walles at a quarter wher•• watchmen were lacking, and after thē many other of the Romain souldiours folowed, which went downe on the in side and brake open the greate gate of the towne, wherat entred the hole ar∣my of the Romaines. And being with∣in the towne, sounded their trompets and shouted vnto battall. The Iewes with the alarme, tumulte, and hurlye burly of the Romaines, awaked out of their slepe and were sore afraied. Not∣withstanding euerye man toke him to his weapon, and into the market place

as fast as they might. They had made the market place of the towne so large of purpose, that if anye busines should happen, there might come together the hole city if they would. So lokinge a∣bout them they saw the Romaine ar∣my entring into the town by the way that came from the greate gate. Then fought thei with y^e Romains, & died euē in the market place where they stode, exhorting one an other, and saiyng: let vs die here fightinge, and neuer suffer our••solues to be taken aliue. But Io∣seph and fortye men with him, wor∣thye menne al, fled out of the towne in to a woode where they founde a cer∣taine caue, and hid them selues therin. All the reste of the citizens were slaine in that conflicte: for they woulde not yelde nor commit them selues vnto the Romaines, they trusted them so little. For on a tyme a certayne Iewe be∣soughte a Romaine souldioure to saue his life, and the Romaine sware vnto him, sayinge: God deale thus and thus with me if I sl••a thee, therefore yelde

and come hither to me. The Iewe re∣quired him to geue him his righthand that he might truste him: and the Ro∣main retch him his left hād. The Iew beinge dismaied in that greate feare, markte not that it was his left hande. But when the Romain had once hold of him, he kept him fast with that hād, and with his right toke his sword and slue the Iewe that then was naked, hauing cast awaye his weapon vpon trust of the Romaine. When y^e Iewes sawe howe the Romaine regarded not his othe, but slue the Iewe that vpon truste of his promisse and the othe had yealded him selfe vnto him: they deter∣mined to dye all together, and neuer to truste the Romaines. Whereuppon they resolued with them selues vtter∣lye to die for the holinesse of the Lorde God of Israell. But in so doinge they fie we muche people of the Romaines•• and farre moe then they had done in anye other battaile. So at the lengthe the Citye was taken. When Vas∣pasian hadde knowledge where Io∣seph

was become and of his company: he sent Nicanor, Pilerimus, and Gallica∣nus with him to Ioseph, to wil him to come forth, and he should haue his life and not be slaine. Then Ioseph deba∣ted the matter with them y^t were with him in the den, asking them: what say ye to this? For my part, & ye wil folow my counsell, I thinke best we go oute vnto them: but vpon this conditiō, that they wil make vs a formal assuraunce effectuallye as we shall require them: which done, I doubt not but Vaspasian when we come vnto him, will be ap∣peased towardes vs. When those men perceiued Ioseph to be enclined to yeld vnto the Romaines: they saide vnto him. We maruaile at the (Prince Io∣seph) thou that waste chosen oute of thousandes of people, and promoted vnto the priesthode and kingedome, to sanctifye and halow the LORDE God of Israell: waste also appointed graund captaine of so huge an hoste, haste seene with thine eyes the shame∣ful reproche of thy people, with the dis∣pleasures

and damages of thy sheepe: that thou hast yet any desire to liue in this dishonoure. What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to liue for? shoul∣dest thou not rather desire deathe then life? Peraduēture thou perswadest thy self, they cal thee to saue thy life, or for thy commodity: but without dout this were a vain perswasion. For they cal thee for none other in tent, then to take thee aliue, & to bragge how they haue ken Ioseph, that was consecrated and addict to the warres, and make that an argument their power prospereth, and is exalted. Now therfore (our dear bro∣ther and oure prince) consider that this thei wil do, yea if thei saue thi life. But put the case they put thee to death, wer it not better for y^e to die of thine sword, then of theirs? Yea, if it were for no∣thing but for this, it is better forthe to die then to liue: leaste thou shouldest heare their reproches, their vpbrai∣dinges, and their quarrellinges. And if they preserue the aliue, neuer thinck, they do i•• for thy good, but rather for

thine ignominy & shame, whiche is far greuouser then death it self. Wherfore our dear brother and our prince, what cometh in thy minde, that thou pur∣posest to liue after that thou hast loste thy people and thy brethren? and to what purpose serueth thi life after thei be gone? Marke and consider diligent∣lye what Moyses (of worthy memory) oure master did, howe he spake before God, touchinge the people of Israell. O pardone their sinnes (saithe he) or elsse blot me quite out of thy boke that thou hast written: howe he would not liue after the destruction of his people, although the almighty said vnto him: let me alone that I may wreake mine anger vnon them and consume them. Where is nowe Aaron with thee his brother, that wente betwixte life and deathe, in withstanding the angel that plaged the people, and offered him selfe to die for his people, that y^e plage mighte cease from Israell. Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and

died in the fielde? Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed? But hee, when he sawe Israell haue the ouer∣throwe in the battaile, hadde no desire to liue anye lenger, but chose rather deathe then life, and woulde not be se∣perated from his brethren nother in life nor death, as wel hee, as Ionathan his Sonne, those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne (as the scripture termeth theim.) Why doest thou not remember (our deare Prince) the righ∣teousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde, who seinge a moste greuous pe∣stilence to rage vppon the people of Is∣rael, saied: Let thy hande (O Lorde) I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house. For I am hee that haue sinned, I haue transgressed, as for these thy sheepe, what haue they done? What haue they offended? Where is the holye Lawe smothered and sti∣fled in thy hearte? Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe,

wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart, & with al our soul, and withall oure strength? If it be so that the seruice of God, con∣sisteth not in this, that we should loue whome he loueth, and die for his cou••∣uaunt and sāctuary, together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord: Wherin stādeth it then? Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs, howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord, his sanctuary, his people, and his law: he is to be counted in the Lordes lot, & made worthye to goe vnto the greate light, and shal not see euerlasting dark∣nesse? Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest, that hast cried so oftē in battail, I am Ioseph the prieste, consecrated to battaile, y^t haue vowed my life, for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye, and his lande? But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them, and they order the dispitfullye, what wilte thou say vnto them, or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes? I put y^e case

they cast in thy teeth, & say thy wordes be but lies. How shalt thou auoid that reproche? Arte not thou he that saidst, men shoulde fighte for the people of God, vntil they die in the conflicte, and in so doinge, their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes, and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life? Which if it be true, according as thou hast said, whye then wilt thou shun deash, and not fo∣lowe thy people that are gone before thee, to that same lighte? Euer hither∣to thou hast had the vpper hand, wher so euer thou camste, in so muche that they that hearde of thee, trembled for feare: and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines, as a vile slaue? Shall not this thy disho∣noure redound also vnto the people of God? Thou that arte a prince, a kinge and priest, wilt thou be bound in chei∣nes? Euerye man shall saye, this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die, but hath ••••ued him selfe, and his owne life. So

when they hadde made an ende of talke, eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue, sainge: Hearest thou, thou Iosephe oure Prince, if thou wilte be ruled by vs, firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince: and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on, that thou maiest die honourablye. But if thou refuse to dye honestlye: as∣sure thy selfe of this, that we will eue∣rye manne set vpon thee and slea thee. Ioseph aunswered. In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true. For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye? and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him, and receyue it vnto hym also. For I am not ig∣noraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue, for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes. But hee knoweth the se∣cretes of mannes hearte, and he it is that geueth life vnto menne.

It is God that closeth soules within

the bodies, and letteth theim oute a∣gaine, bicause he is the liuinge GOD, in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures. He hath left with vs a Spirite of life, and closed it vp within oure bodies. What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut? How shall we loose that, that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs? Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe, and that wee are his seruauntes? If then we cast a∣waye life before that GOD take it, shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs, and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous me∣morye, and wyth other iuste and god∣lye menne our forefathers? Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called, and when they were called they came, and soo dealt GOD with all holye and God∣ly men. To Moyses our master of wor∣thie memorye, the electe of GOD, ye

knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said: get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim, and so he did. But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe, had not God called him. Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a mā to surrendre his life vnto God, excepte he require it a∣gaine. Take example (I praye you) of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in, mighte not he ether haue hanged him self, or haue run vp∣pon a knife, or at the least, haue folow∣ed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die? Not withstanding he abode paci∣ently in most extreme paine, waitinge til God demaunded again his life, and then restored it vnto his Lord god, and would not restore it vndemaunded, but taried till hys appoynted ende came. King Dauid also, of famous memory, saide. Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison. For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye, and that none mighte let it forth but God. I wot wel that death is a greate com∣modity, so be that the soule may return

in his due time vnto God, that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord, he shal come to the greate lighte. But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man y^t killeth him self, & maketh hast to restore his soul before his time, and withoute the Lordes cal∣ling. Wherfore my frendes & brethren, I would ye shoulde knowe it, I am no more cowarde then you: and I do not disagree with you, because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities, but that I know I shoulde commit a heinous offence against the Lord if I should kil my self. And howe say ye (you princes) that sticke vnts your God, to you I speake, tel me who shall make intercession vnto God for vs, if we should commit this sinne and eche kil other? Wold not a man iudge him a slaue, a foole, a froward person, a rebel, and a stubburne man, y^t woulde be forced with any misery, to be so ma•• that because all thinges fall not oute, as he woulde wishe, woulde therefore

hange, or desperatly murther him self with his owne hands? Such ye know the law thus punisheth, their righthād is cut of wherewith they forced them selues to die, then, they are lefte vnbu∣ried, as men that haue destroied their owne soules: by what reason then shall we kill oure selues? I woulde wishe that we mighte be slaine of oure ennemies rather then we shoulde so shamefully murther our selues, wher∣by euer after we shoulde be taken for manslears, if anye manne flea him selfe, as did Saule whome ye commen∣ded: withoute doubte he committeth a heinous crime, and suche a one, as no satisfaction can be made for. Besides that, he shall be reckened fainte hear∣ted, and as one that dispaireth of his recouerye. Wherefore our forefathers haue taughte vs. A man oughte not to despaire of his sauegarde and deli∣ueraunce: vvhiche commeth of God, no not vvhan the knife is put to his throte to cut it. For kinge Hezekia of famous memory, when he heard these

woordes of Esaye, that worthye pro∣phet. Make thy vvil and set thy thinges in a stay, for thou shalt die and not es∣cape. Neuerthelesse he fainted not nor ceassed to pray vnto God for the proiō∣ging of his life in this worlde, that he might amende his life, and send a bet∣ter soule vnto God. Then the Lorde God of Israel, seing his vnweried and strong hope with his repentaunce▪ suf∣fred him to liue .xv. yeares yet longer. But Saul that saw he was not appoin¦ted kinge ouer Israel after the Lordes minde, but alonely by the peoples that craued vppon Samuel Geue vs a Kinge to reigne ouer vs: Whereuppon af∣terwarde God departed from Saule, for he was not obediente to Goddes will, but wente aboute by force to e∣stablishe his kingdome. The Lorde then seynge the wyckednesse of hys hearte, gaue him ouer, and chose him an other to be kynge ouer hys peo∣ple, annointinge Dauid hys ser∣uaunte, whyles that Saule was yet li∣uinge. Whiche Saule perceiuinge

persecutinge Dauid, and laboured with all his endeuoure to destrdy him, because he knew God was with him, and prospered all that he did, whereas contrary al went backward with him. For these causes, I say, he chose rather to die then liue: and would not liue af∣ter y^e people of Israel was ouerthrown in y^e moūtains of Gilboa. And in mine opinion, he slue him selfe for nothinge, but for that he was a ••aint harted co∣ward and vtterli dispaired of his saue∣garde. For althoughe he saide. Leaste these vncircumcised come and run in throughe, yet if he had bene of a vale∣ant courage, he woulde haue standed to his defence vnto the death: perauen∣ture God woulde haue deliuered him. But he contrary, al in dispaire procu∣red him self and his sonne a shamefull deathe. But ye shall consider this, He was an vnmerciful king, and therfore did G••••••rid him out of the worlde: for he that wil not spare his own life and his sonnes: howe woulde he spare o∣ther? And where as ye alledge Aaron

vnto me, I woulde know of you, why did he put him self betwene the liuing and the deade? was it not because he would turne away the plage from Is∣raell? If he had knowen that he him selfe shoulde haue bene stricken there∣with: doubtlesse he woulde not haue striuen against the striker, but trusting in the holines of his righteousnesse, he stode before the Aungell to deliuer Is∣raell from that miserie. I am not to be compared with Aaron, albeit I am one of his children, and neuer yet in all my life did I shrinke to venter my life in the warres of the Lorde. And nowe I am not determined to kill my selfe, lest I should sinne against God, and spoyle my soule of hope of saluation. I know it well, it were more expedient for me to be slaine of mine enemies, then that I should slea my selfe. And if ye say the word, let vs go forth and sodainely set vpon our enemies to kill and to be kil∣led in the battaile of the Lorde, and so shall we do well: peraduenture GOD will geue them into our handes. For

God is able to saue as vvell by a small armie as by a great. Then if you see me to be afrayed of mine enemies sworde▪ ye shal therbi know me to be a dastard, and one that fawneth vppon his ene∣mies, and hūteth for their fauour. But you shal see me go afore you, as a vali∣ant man should, nor once turn my face from death. But what did ye euer see in me that ye should iudge me fearful? Did ye euer knowe mee to refuse to fight? In the towne of Iorpata I haue euer kept my quarter and warde, and euery daie haue I fought with mine e∣nemies, whom I haue not spared but empaired, and that not a little, whiles I defended that little citie. 48. daies a∣gainst them. For I thought wyth my selfe, peraduenture I maye driue away the ennemyes of the LORDE out of our Lande, and put theim by Hie∣rusalem that they goe not thither, and so haue I foughten with theim tyl all my valeaunt Souldioures be spente, and none lefte but you. I coulde no

lenger withstande their force, and I woulde not yelde my self as a Priso∣ner vnto them, therfore I sledde hither with you into this Caue. Now there∣fore brethren, ye shal vnderstande that death is commodious and good in dede whiche commeth in his time. But it is neither good nor godly for a manne to kill him selfe and his brother, to go afterwarde▪ for that deede into Hell and perdicion. And what other thing can more clearelye set for the a mannes manhode and hautye minde wyth hys hope in GOD, then Pacience, for a manne to suffer pacientlye what so e∣uer chaunseth vnto hym, vntyll hys ende come. Beholde the Lyons and other Beastes, howe they are wonte to wythstande their aduersaries that lye in wayte for theim, to the intente they maye saue their lyues. Whose armoure is their Teeth and Clawes, wherewyth neuerthelesse they hurte not theim selues, but vse them against other that assayle theim, til they ether ou••rcome, or be ouercommed.

Therefore if a manne wyll wyth his owne handes let foorthe his soule oute of his closure before his tyme, God will not receiue it, neither shall it finde anye reaste, but be destroyed. And whye? Because it is expulsed and thruste out of his place before his time, and before God dooe call it: wherfore it shall wander inconstantlye for euer. Whye then, my deare Brethren and frendes dooe you aduise vs to kill one another, and to expell and banish our Soules from vs, they not called for? Howe can wee put awaye this oppro∣brye? Howe can wee make amendes for this synne? Who shall pray and make intercession for vs? And wyth this Ioseph burste oute on weepynge abundauntlye, but they laught him to scorne.

THen Ioseph helde vp his handes to heauen, saiynge: Thou Lorde al∣mightye art our father, thou hast sha∣pened vs, and by thy great mercye ta∣ken vs out of cley: thou art he that lea∣dest vs in thy faieth, and the multitude of thy mercies and benignitie towards vs hath not ceassed. And although our sinnes haue seperated vs from thee, yet neuerthelesse we are thy handy worke euery one of vs, and of longe haue ben called thy people. Thou art Lorde o∣uer all creatures & soules. Thou doest what thou wilt, and no man dare saye to thee whye doest thou so. Thou arte our father, we are cley, thou hast geuen vs our shape and fashion. Therefore if it please thee to take oure Soules, take them by the handes of thine aun∣gels, that wee commit none euyll a∣gainste theim. And if these my fel∣lowes that be presente with mee wyll not bee partakers of my Prayer: be∣holde my life alone, for the whiche I beseche thy benigne Clemency, if it please thee to take it, for thou gauest it

mee, therefore dooe wyth it whatso∣euer shal seeme good vnto thee, it is in thy handes, thou lendst it mee, and hast preserued it wythin me. I will not di∣stroye it my selfe, or let it out of prison before thou aske for it. For thou know∣est that As man can not liue vvithout iudgemēt: so likevvise the same can not die vvithout iudgement. Vnto thee therefore do I lifte vp myne eyes, thou that dwellest in Heauen, to deale mer∣cifullye wyth thy seruauntes and with mee, to tourne our heartes that wee consente not vnto thys, to murther our selues. If thou knowe anye amongst them, that entende so wycked an Acte, I beseche thee, O Lorde my GOD, let me finde fauoure in thyne eyes, geue them an hearte to heare holesome counsel, that I may deliuer my self and mine owne life, which I commend in∣to thy bandes, that thou wouldest re∣ceiue it vnto thee, for in thy hand is the life of euerye liuinge creature. Thus whan Ioseph had finished his praier, he turned him vnto his felowes and

saluted thē. Then said they, canst thou therfore encline oure mindes, because thou hast pra••ed vnto God for thy selfe & for vs? did not we tel y^e erewhile, like as we tel the now, y^e we are determi∣ned to die by one means or other, wher fore say thy minde, & tel vs what kinde of death thou wilt ende thy life, for we haue euer knowen the a iust man and a worthy prince, therfore art thou wor∣thy to die first. Ioseph perceiuinge that his felowes were vtterlye determined to die, and woulde geue no eare to his perswasions, for he coulde by no rea∣sons drawe them to his opinion, he wente subtilty to worke with them, sayinge: Seinge it will be none other∣wise brethren, I wil shewe you my de∣••ise. Ye are determined to die, ye saye, and that vppon your owne swor••es, therefore there is no better waye then to do it by lot, in this wise. Let vs caste lottes amongste oure selues, that we maye be ioyned together by couples: then will we caste lottes, whiche cou∣ple shall die firste: after they two shall

cast lottes betwene thē which shal kil hys fellowe: he that remaineth shall chuse him one of the seconde couple to kil him. Likewise the seconde couple shal caste lottes betwene them selues, who shal die firste, and he that is lefte, shal chuse him one of the thirde cou∣ple, whome he hathe a fansy to be kil∣led of▪ Then they shal trye by lot who shal die firste, who beinge slaine, the other maye chuse him selfe one of the four the couple to kil him, and so on, til al be slaine, that we see not the capti∣uitie of oure people. The laste couple that shal remaine, shal do thus, runne one vppon the others sworde, or elsse set them caste lottes betwixte theim selues, and vpon whome it falleth, let him die firste. But for asmuche as we are fortye and one, so that we can not be iustlye ioyned in couples: let vs cast lottes firste of all, and see whiche of vs shal firste be slaine, and when he is once oute of the waye, then lette vs deuide the couples. He that is to

be staine firste, lette him chuse oute one of the firste couple to be slain of, and when he is deade, the firste couple shall caste lottes, and do as I haue de∣uised. Then euery man likt his deuise (which was gods doing, who hard Io∣sephes prayer) and saide all with one mouth, we wil do as thou hast deuised and to the it perteineth to deuide the men and to caste the lottes. Ioseph an∣swered: but let vs sweare by the name of the lord, that this deuise shal stand, be ratified and perfourmed. Wherun∣to they accorded, and sware all by the name of the Lorde, that they woulde haue that deuise to be ratified & kepte, which Ioseph had inuented of casting of lottes. Then Ioseph began to make lottes, who should be thod man: and it light vpon Iehoiada a prieste, sonne of Eliakim a Galilean, which was a vale∣ant man, and chiefest in euery counsell next to Ioseph, and the principall per∣swader of this wicked fact to kill them selues. After that did he craftely deuide them into couples, so that the lot of his

owne couple came forth last of al, who loked to be saued and trusted in God, be••eninge that he woulde deliuer him from this abhominable dede. Then Ie∣hoida chose him one of the first couple, who slue him. That done, the first cou∣ple cast lottes betwene them, so thone killed his felowe, and chose him one of the second couple to kil him. Thē they of the second couple caste lots betwene them selues in the presence of Ioseph, and thone killed theother, then he that remained, chose him one of the thy: de couple to flea him. And in this manner did they, til there were al slaine & none lefte aliue, but Ioseph and his felowe: who said vnto Ioseph, go to, let vs cast lottes that we may go to our brethren. Ioseph answered him, we wil do so, if thou be so disposed: but first heare me, I praye the, speake a fewe thinges in thine eares, Tel me, haue not these sin∣ners rebelled against god, in thus mur¦thering of them selues so shamefully, nether could I by ani meanes diswade them, nor ha••e them from this opiniō.

Wherfore shuld we two sinne against God so greuously, & against our own soules, if the lot should so fal y^t I shuid kil thee. I shuld be counted a mās••ear & that worthily: & it may so chaūce that I shal escape after thee and saue my life. But if the lot shoulde so fal that thou shouldest flea me, thou shouldest be ta∣ken also for a murtherer, and perauen∣ture thou shuldest not escape after me, and althoughe thou thinkest yes. Not∣withstanding we lose our hope in god, for that we sinne againste oure owne soules. For all these men that thou se∣est heare dead, loe, they haue sinned a∣gainst their owne soules, dying with∣oute discipline and all good order. If thou wilt say, how shal we do for oure othe that we haue sworne. Doste thou not knowe, that. He that breaketh a vvicked othe, do the nothing vvickedly him selfe. For a man is not constrei∣ned to performe an othe vnto God, but to the kepinge of his lawes, and bere∣upon it is that Dauid saithe. (I haue svvorne and vvil perfourme. For nei∣ther

vow nor othe, that is made against the commaundementes of God, can be ratified before God. And that more is, before y^e we sware, oure fathers sware firste, a great while ago at the mounte of Sinai, that they and their children woulde keepe the lawe of the Lorde. Moyses also made a couenaunte with them vpō the same, and not only with thē that then were there, but also with vs. Howe then dare we be so bolde to swcare, to breake the law of our God, and become māquellers, seing it is one of the .x. commaundements expressely. Thou shalt not kil. Wherfore, my bro∣ther, thou shalt vnderstande that we nede not be sollititous nor careful for the oth that we haue made, but rather to breake it, for God wil neuer be dis∣pleased with vs for that, for I beinge afraide of these wicked persones, that lie nowe he are deade, did inuente this subtil meanes, and way to swear that I mighte saue my life. Thou therfore, my brother, if thou wilte be ruled by mine aduise, thou shalt saue thy life &

mine, and I wil caste no lottes, nor performe the othe that we made. VVhiche is not good in the lavve: if thou wilte not. I wil withstande thee, and fighte with thee, to kill thee and skape my selfe. And with this Ioseph lepte backe and drue oute his sworde, standinge ouer againste him, to see what his felowe woulde answer. His companion hearinge this, sturred nei∣ther hande nor foote againste him, but saide: Loe, I am contente, do what thou thinckest good, because thou arte a manne of God. And blessed be the Lorde God of Israel, that bathe not withdrawne his mercye from me, but made me to be in thy lotte, whereby my soule is saued from goinge to helt thy lotte is a iuste lotte For the Lorde vvil not leaue the scourge of sinners, vppon the lotte of the iuste. Muche elsse besides this, spake Iosephes com∣panion vnto him, for he was sore a∣fraide of him, leaste he shoulde haue killed him if they hadde entermedled

together, for Ioseph was the better man of his hands, and therfore Ioseph chose him into his lot, that he might be able to make his party good with him. In this pointe Ioseph played the wyse mannes parte, for he escaped by this meanes both from the handes of those wicked foles: and also from his felow.

THerfore Ioseph called out of y^e caue to captain Nicanor, and said to him in this wise: Wilte thou promise mee that neither thou nor anye of thy men that be here with thee, or in the Ro∣mains campe shal kyll vs, before thou hast brought vs vnto Vaspasian? and l••t hym dooe wyth vs as he thynketh good. Nicanor aunswered. So and so deale God with mee, if I fulfyl not thy request, if so be it thou wilt come forthe vnto mee together with the men that thou hast with thee. Ioseph aunswered, I will come forth vnto thee, and so ma∣nye moe of vs as be aliue: for so is it come to passe, that some of vs be deade here in the caue, wherefore howe can they come forthe? Then said Nicanor:

neuer thincke (frend Ioseph) that I am come to deceiue thee: come foorthe and trust in thy Lord God, for thou neadest not to feare. Ioseph said, sweare vnto me this, by the god of Israel, although he be vnknowne vnto thee. Nikano•• answered, I sweare vnto the by that God that made the world by his wis∣dom, that thou nedest not to fear me, but boldly maist come forthe vnto me. So Nikanor made a couenaunte with Ioseph and his felow, co••firming and ratifying it in writing after the man∣ner of the Romaines: and reatched it into the caue vpon a speare, holding the pointe of the speare in his owne hand. Ioseph toke the writinge, red it and beleued Nicanor: thē came he forth to Nicanor and his felowe with him. When Nicanor sitting vpon his seate of estate that was made him there in the woo••e, nie vnto the caue, sawe Io∣seph come towardes him: he rise vp & embrasing him kissed him: set him on his righthand, and wept with him a∣boundauntly, he honoured his felowe

also, plaringe him betwene Pohrinus and Gallicanus, whom he had at that present with him. Then Nicanor asked hym for the reste of the men that were wyth him, willynge that they shoulde come forth, and he would honour them also, and dooe them no harme. Ioseph declared the whole matter vnto hym, what was become of theim. Nicanor hearing of the pertinacious stubburn∣nesse of the Iewes heartes, & their wi••∣ked intentes, was wonderfully moued. So then he rose and went from thence with Ioseph and his companion vnto Vaspasian. When the Romaine army sawe Ioseph, they were greatly astoni∣ed, and gaue a mightye shoute. Some reioysed that Ioseph was takē, saiyng: This is good lucke, that our eyes shall see oure longe expected desire. Other lamented and let teeres fal from their eyes wyth pensiue heartes, saiynge: Is not this that worthye manne, who made all the Romayne hoste to quake for feare: and whose Fame and re∣nowne was knowen throughout all

landes? Howe is it come to passe that so mighty a man is taken in his owne countrey, & amongst his owne people? If this chaunceth vnto suche a manne to be taken in his owne Lande in the middest of his family and frends? How shal we escape in a straunge land. Cer∣taine euil disposed persons of the Ro∣main souldiers went to Vaspasian and said. Sir, you shal do well to cōmaund this man to be slaine without mercye, that hath ben the distruction of so ma∣ny of the people of the Romains. This is the self same, that shot the arow and stroke you in the leg: put him to death and then shal you be sure he shal neuer moue warre more against you. If you do not, ye shal see him one daye againe rayse an armye against vs, and distroy vs. But Iosephe founde frendshippe at Titus Vaspasians sonnes handes, whiche came of the LORDE. Ther∣fore when hee hearde those wycked mens wordes that desiered Vaspasian to put Ioseph to death, he laught them

to skorne and taunted theim, saiynge: Will you tell my father what he hath to dooe? Will you geue him so wicked counsell to flea that man that yeldeth him self to vs vpō the trust of our lea••e & band of frendship, which you now go about to breake and frustrate? Did not captaine Nicanor in my fathers name & Caesars, with al the Romaines, make a couenant with him? Take hede what you saie. Is it not treason that you go about to breake the Cesarical fidelitie? Moreouer, who can tel whether it may so happen that some of vs be taken by the Iewes, like as Iosephe is prisoner at this present with vs? When Vaspa∣sian heard his sonnes wordes, it plea∣sed him, and he spared Ioseph, not suf∣feryng him to be slaine, but committed him to a certaine capitaine of his, and earied him about with him through the cities together with kinge Agrippa. After this Vaspasian remoued his cāpe to Talmida, which also is called Acho, and from thence he went to Caesaria a great citie. When thei of the citie saw

Ioseph, thei cried vnto Vaspasian, kyll him, kyll him, or else he will one daye be an occasion to stirre great Warres against thee. But Vaspasian woulde not heare theim. Tidynges came to Vaspasian that they of Iapho inuaded the Isles that were subiecte vnder hys dominions with a nauie, roauynge to spoile them. Vaspasian therfore com∣maunded to laye in wait for them, that they might be met withall. So there was an ambushe laied withoute the towne, and it came to passe, that when the pyrates were gone out a roauyng, Vaspasian entred the towne, and toke it, because their Souldiours were ab∣sente. When the Citizins retourned with their Nauie, and sawe the Ro∣maines in the Citie, they laboured to arriue and set a lande: but by and by a huge tempest and a mightye storme droue all their Shippes againste the Rockes that were in the Sea shoare, for there was no Hauen for Shippes and there they were loste manye of of them: suche as swamme to Lande,

the Romaines slue them. They that were drowned in the sea and slaine by the Romaines, were in noumber .iiii. thousande good men of warre: besides them were slaine in the town .xl. thou∣sand, all Iewes.

THis done, Vaspasian set forth Va∣lericus and Taribus two Romain captaines with his sonne Titus, who wente, besieged and wan the townes of defence that were in Galile. And thus did Titus vse them: they that yel∣ded vnto him, he saued their liues: and who soeuer withstode him, he slewe. More ouer all the cities that belonged to Agrippas in Galile, he restored them vnto him againe, only Tiarua excepte, which he vtterly raced, and slue all the mankind, specially such as were apt to the warres, sold also their wiues & chil¦dren. And this was the only city in all Galile, that Titus shewed such rigor & extremity vnto. Vaspasian departinge thence toke his iorny to Gamala, whi∣che is a citye vpon the top of a moun∣tain.

The name therof is called Gama∣la, of an Hebrue worde Gamal, that signifieth to quite or to do a good turn because it is the best citye that belon∣ged to Agrippas, and the inhabitantes thereof were all verye riche. The citye also called Selencia was not farre from it situated, a country replenished with good townes, Gardens, brookes, and all kinde of frutefull trees. Agrippa besoughte Vaspasian, that he woulde not destroye this citye: let me go firste (saithe he) and offer them peace, pera∣uēture they will take it, that they may saue their liues from destruction. Vas∣pasian was intreated: sayinge vnto him: go and do as thou wilte, for to ho∣noure thee, I will do••e so muche for thy sake. So Agrippa wente to them, and spake frendlye and peaceablye vn∣to them, and they receiued him in lyke manner, but they mente deceite, say∣inge. Thou arte oure LORDE and kinge: to whome therefore dothe all that is of anye price to be desired in all Israell belonge, but vnto thee?

therfore come ne••e vnto vs and debate the matter with thy seruaunts, Agrip∣pas crediting their wordes, came harde to the citye, and as he listened to them that talked with him, one cast a greate stone frō the wal, which light iust be∣twene his shoulders, and brake his backe with one of his armes also, with suche violence y^t it stroke him prostrate to the grounde. But his seruauntes stepte to him: toke him vp, and caried him to Vaspasian. Who seinge him so sore hurte, sware he woulde neuer go from thence til he had taken the city & ordered them in like manner as he did Tiarua, to leaue neuer a mā a liue ther in. The Romaine Phisitions did be∣stow suche diligence aboute Agrippas that they cured him. Vaspasian in this rage against the Selucians, because thei had wounded the kinge, besieged and assaulted them. The Iewes within y^e towne encouraged one an other, sa••∣ing, let vs sticke to it nowe and playe the men, for we haue none other hope to saue our liues, seinge we haue thus

ordered the king. Certain stout men of thē therfore issued & encountring with the Romaines, made a great slaughter amongst thē. After that the Romains addressed their engines, planted their iron Rammes that they brought with them against the walles, and by that time night came, battred a great parte therof down to thearth, that Vaspasian and much people with him might en∣ter at their pleasure. But Vaspasian gaue commaundement to his armye, that they should not enter that nighte into the towne, but stande and cōpasse the walles vntil morow, y^t they might see howe to win it. Notwithstandinge they wold not be ruled by him, but en∣tred: then the Iewes came vpon them, drue the stretes with chaines, and clo∣sed the waies of the city, entrappinge them in such a sort that they coulde go nother one way nor other: after set vp on them and bette them downe euen there, so that they were all slaine saue a ten men that fled with Vaspasian & a captaine named Butius, one of the

best men of war in all the Romaines army, him the Iewes pursued and slue But Vaspasian & his fled to the moun∣taines, that he might be there in saue∣garde. And from thence he sent to Ti∣tus his sonne that was in Siria, for the Romaine army, that he had sent with him into Persia, whiche Titus led in∣to Iewrye.

SHortlye after Vaspasian gathered souldioures and repaired his armye, ioyned with Agrippas companye, and returned to Selencia, wan it & slue them euerye manne leauing none aliue, and afterwards wente to other Cities of Galile and tooke them, seruinge them in like sorte. After that he came to the citye called Nascela, whiche was a walled towne, and of all the townes of defence throughe oute all Galile, none lefte but it. Thus he besieged, because thither were resorted manye cutthrotes and wicked persones with∣oute all feare of GOD, suche as were Robbers and rouers of the lande of

Iudea. Emongste whome was a cer∣taine manne named Iehochanan, lear∣ned, wise and prudente, speciallye to do mischiefe, a wittye counselloure, and of suche eloquence that he coulde perswade cunninglye, and disswade menne from that they had purposed. Besides this, he was a murtherer, readye to shedde bloude and to do any mischief: a great robber, and one that euer gaped after other mens goodes. By whiche meanes he was become verye riche, wherefore there resorted vnto him all vaine persones, mansie∣ars, rebels and ruffains, like him self, geuynge hym large rewardes, that they mighte be of his fraternitie, his brethren and adherentes: and he to be their heade. Titus was sente to this citye, by his father to offer them com∣ditions of peace, whether, whē he was come, he sente his embassadours to the citizens to intreate the peace with thē. Whereunto the Cityzens accorded, and were readye to enter in league with Titus.

When as this wicked Iehochanan per¦ceiued the auncient men of the towne and the heades wolde receiue peace, he commaunded his companions to kepe the walles, to let them from speaking with the Romaines, and that they woulde geue the Romaines their an∣swer. So therfore, seditious Iehochanā made answer to the embassadoure of Titus, saying, to morow haue we a so∣lempne feast to the Lord God, tell thy master Titus therfore, that he graunte vs truce for two daies, and the thirde day we wil geue him answer. Wher∣with Titus was contente and lefte the assaulte for two daies. These thinges were done vpon Whitson euen, which was called the feaste of weakes and haruest. The night afore the third day appointed was come, Iehochanan and his complices, gate them oute of the towne and fled toward Ierusalem, ere Titus knew therof: On the morow he sent his embassadour to demaūd their answer, what they would do They an¦swered, we desire to entre in a league

w^t you, for we are yours to do you what pleasure your hart desireth, vpon this condicion that none of the Romaines hurt ether our bodies or goodes, Titus vpon this made peace with them, con∣firminge it by writinge sealed, for the better assuraunce therof: So they ope∣ned the gates and Titus came into the town with his hole armi, & the Iewes receiued him with great ioy, honoring him very much. Then Titus inquired for Iehochanan and his confederates, the citizens declared vnto him, how he fled by night withal his, towards Ie∣rusalem. Titus hearing that, sent after to pursue him: yet they found him not, he had made such spede: Notwithstan∣ding many of the people, that wēt out of the town with him that they might escape the daunger, both men wemen children, old and impotent persōs, they enertoke, slue them euery one, and re∣turned with a great spoyle. After this Titus wan all the cities in Galile, and set rulers in them. Then Vaspasian dislodged from thence and came to the

mount Tabor, which hath snow vpon it continually: the height therof is .xxx. furlonges, and vpon the top is a plaine of .xxiii. furlong•• broade. Thither sent Vaspasian one of his Captaines called Palgorus, whiche tooke the mountaine and the towne that stode thereon. But here I will leaue of the historie of the rest of the battails that were fought in other places in the lande of Israel and Galile: and speake no more of them in this boke, for they be almoste innume∣rable, and we haue made mencion of them in the historie of the Romains.

Notes

• Daniel.
• Psal. 129.
• Gene. 1.
• Gene. 1. I for wee.
• Gene. 2. Sixt for seuenth.
• Gene. 2. I for wee.
• Gene. 18. With thē that stode by hir for, to her self.
• Gene. 49. Crib, for an oxe.
• Exod. 4. That that could bear a man, for an Asse.
• Exod. 12.
• Exod. 24. little ons for Prin∣ces
• Num. 16. Of valure for an asse Deute. 4. That thei may shine is added
• Deu. 17
• To wor∣ship is ad∣ded.
• Hasmo∣nany.
• August.
• Septem∣bre.
• * These I take to be the same that he cal¦leth sages before.
• Phaselus
• Onias.
• Pōpeius.
• Pacorus.
• Herodes ingrati∣tude.
• Cirus.
• Tigraues.
• Dosis An∣tipaters mother.
• Hircaniū.
• Ihon bap¦tist.
• Iesus Christ.
• ••••ly.