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BEcause I haue before briefly intreated of the beginning and foundation of this city, I shal not need here againe to repeat it. I will now therefore shew the end of it, which was principally caused by the obstinacie of the inhabitants: who refusing the do∣ctrine
and prophecy of Elias and Elizeus, imbraced and followed strange gods, and offered incense vnto idols; whereby the wrath of God was kindled against them, insomuch that hee left this goodly city as a prey to the Gentiles and forreine nations, that carried the people thereof into captiuitie, where for a long time they remained in great miserie.
After the first desolation, because the countrey round about this citie was very fertile and pleasant, abounding with springs, riuers, vines, oliue gardens, mountaines, fruitfull valleyes, faire cities, and strong castles and townes; Herod Ascalonites (that great King of the Iewes, who put to death the innocent children) ree∣dified it, set vp many goodly buildings beautified with marble pillars and pleasant walkes: and also in the circuit of the Kings house, and vnder the buildings of the nobilitie in the common Market place, the houses and vaults were supported with marble pillars, according to the maner of the Iewes. The pallace (callled the K. house, stood in the midst of the citie, vpon the top of the mountain: and round about it there were diuers other buildings set vp, but much lower, euen about the descent of the mountaine; yet so scituated, that the inhabitants might see out of their hou∣ses the country round about. Then close to the pallace in the vp∣per part of the citie, he caused a temple to be built in honor of Au∣gustus. Thus hauing finished the inside, he compast it about with a mighty wall, and vpon that placed many turrets: & then to flat∣ter Augustus, called it by the name of Sebasten, which among the Grecians signifies Augustum & venerabile principem: now although this citie was very glorious and spatious in those times (for it was three miles about) yet at this day it is vtterly ruined & destroied, insomuch, that there is not a house standing, two Churches only excepted, which were built in honour of S. Iohn Baptist: and the chief of these, which was the Cathedrall Church, the Saracens haue conuerted to their vse, so that at this day Mahomet is wor∣shipt in it. In this stood the Sepulchre of S. Iohn Baptist, cut out in marble, like the sepulchre of Christ, where (as Hierom saith) he lieth buried between Elisha & Obediah the Prophets. This church stands vpon the side of the mountaine, in the descent.
The Saracens do principally reuerence S. Iohn Baptist next af∣ter
Christ, and they affirm the virgin Mary to haue conceiued by the holy Spirit, and not by the seed of man: That S. Iohn was the greatest prophet (except Christ) that euer was. They also beleeue Christ to be the son of God, but not to be equall with God. Yet they prefer Mahomet before both, because they hold him a mes∣senger sent of God, not vnto all men, but onely vnto the Saracens and Turks, and their subiects.
The other Church which stood in Samaria, was vpon the top of the mountain which somtimes the Kings palace stood. In this Church in times past there dwelt certain Grecian Monks, which were Christians, and entertained Christian Pilgrims with great humanitie, and furnished them with many necessaries.
But the city of Samaria it selfe hath bin so often ouerthrown, and brought to such extreme miserie, that almost all the ground where it stood is at this time conuerted into an Olive garden. So that as that wicked King Ahab turned the Vineyard of Naboth which stood close by his house, into an olive garden; so God in his singular justice hath turned the palace of that King, & the whole city wherein he dwelt, which was the strength of his kingdome, into an olive garden. There are not so many ruins found through all the land of Iudaea (though there haue bin many worthy cities destroyed) as are in this place at this day. The scituation of this city was very beautifull, for a man might haue seen from it to the sea of Ioppa and Antipatris; also to Caesarea Palestina, & thorow al the mountain of Ephraim, to Ramatha Sophim, & so to mount Carmel and the city of Ptolomais.