death of his thrice-honoured father, and immediately of the death of his well-beloved brother; whose days he wished might have been lengthened with his own years: But that nothing afflicted him so much as to see her a wi∣dow, burdned with an infant, whose hands were not so ear∣ly fit to manage a scepter. Behold therfore the cause why be now undertook the government of the Kingdom of Syria, which was the possession of his Ancestours, and whereunto she had right by the title of dower. But other∣wise, though he were heavily surcharged with two King∣doms, he was no whit discouraged to share with her also in the cares of Aegypt, since, besides charitie towards his own, the continual practice of affairs he had at Rome, in the most knowing school of the world, it had acquired him some dexteritie and experience in the sway of King∣doms. That he would make her reign in the affluence and pleasures of a flourishing Court, and prostrate the whole world at her feet. That she should onely be trou∣bled to see their submission, as the Gods behold earth from heaven, and that he would be as faithfull a Regent, as be hadever been a loving brother.
Cleopatra had been married to Ptolomeus Epiphanes, and cast as a bait by the father, to catch the Kingdom of Aegypt, under hope conceived, that having studied in his school, she would beguil her husband, and bring Nilus to Euphrates: But she opening her eyes, found her flesh was much nearer than the smock, and ever upheld both her husband and son, against her fathers plots. She understood the heart of her brother to be desperately subtie, and ambitious, and seeing she could not possess Syria, where he had strongly fortified him∣self, she easily admitted this his imaginary title of Re∣gency, which she could no longer withhold: But for so much as concerned Aegypt, she made answer, That she very humbly thanked him for the compassion he had of her widow-hood, and that the Gods who afford the deep∣est roots to trees the most subject to winds, would furnish her with sufficient courage to suffer so boisterous shocks. As concerning the Kingdom of Syria, his providence had prevented the good opinion she conceived of him, being alreadie resolved to put the Regencie into his hands. But as for Aegypt, there was no necessitie be should rob him∣self in the freshnese of his youth, of the pleasures so fairly acquired for him, to undergo so many burden som charges in a forreign Countrey, wherein he would not be honour∣ed, as were the Ptolemees. That her people were some∣what jealous, nor would confide in external power; which might much discontent him in the sinceritie he pretended in the mannage of her affairs. That she was assisted by a wise Councel, with whose did she hoped to maintain her people in perfect peace, and raise her son to the height of the happiness of his extraction, and that it should ever be a singular comfort for her to be assured of the good affe∣ction be bare towards her estate, and to correspond with him in an unfained intelligence.
Antiochus, who found not his expectation in his si∣sters letters, laid down the sheep-skin, to put on the Lions, and began to make open war, by invading the Kingdom of Aegypt, which was the cause Cleopatra instantly cast her self into the protection of the Ro∣mans, although she nothing doubted, but that her bro∣ther had thence sought support, and credit: But she on the other side knew they favoured justice, and wil∣lingly undertook the causes of widows and orphans. And verily the Senate of Rome, either through the in∣tegritie of their manners, or to ballance scepters which swayed under them and make none too great to the prejudice of their power, inclined to the wi∣dows part, and commanded Antiochus to retire out of Aegypt. He who knew how to court men, went about to gain Popilius Lenas, deputed by the Senate to de∣termine this affair, requiring some delay to withdraw his forces leisurely, of purpose to spend time for the renewing his plots.
But the other, a man resolute, and not to be paid with words, making use of a riding-rod which he had in his hand, drew a circle about Antiochus, and enclosed him within it, saying: There is but one word to be used; Before you come out from thence you must necessarily resilve, either on peace with your sister, or wars against the Senate and people of Rome. He seeing himself so strongly charged, gave way to their de∣mands, and wrote to the Senate, That he esteemed the Peace which came from their motion, more glorious than all his victories, and heard their Embassadours, as if the Gods had spoken out of heaven to him: Therein imita∣ting the most supple Courtiers, who in stead of shew∣ing their discontent against power, give thanks for a beating. Howsoever, becoming enraged with ran∣cour, to see so rich a prey escaped out of his hands, he discharged all his choller upon the Jews, as those who make their servants suffer for the losses they had in game. He had a spleen against this religious Nation, both through the motive of his own impiety, and rea∣son of State, suspecting them more to encline to King Ptolemee's faction. Behold why he entered into Je∣rusalem like an enraged Lion with huge troups, in the beginning pillaging the Citie and Temple, sparing nei∣ther the prophane, nor sacred, swallowed excessive riches, and plunged the fiery flames of his anger in the bloud and tears of four-score thousand people; some killed, divers sold, and many fettered, unable to satisfie his cruelty.
For presently after came out those wicked and bloudy Edicts, which made God a party, with a vio∣lent hatred, and let loose the rains of impiety, even to the desire of utter defacing the marks of Religion. The streets of Sion mourned, Priests were banished or massacred, the Altars demollished, Temples pollu∣ted with ordures, and uncleanness, by abominable monsters who renewed sacrifices to B••elphegor, and Bacchus in the Sanctuary, heretofore impenetrable to mortal eyes. The abomination of desolation foretold by the Prophet Daniel, which was a statue of olympick Jupiter, was seen to be raised in the holy place, in sight of all the world. The books of the law were sought out through all the houses, and committed to flames, the festivals changed into Bacchanals, all exercise of piety interdicted with whips, wheels, fires, so far that two poor mothers being found administering Cir∣cumcision to two little in fants, were drawn through the Citie, having their lamentable offipring hanged about their necks, and in that posture thrown into a ditch. The whole Citie was nought else but a spe∣ctacle of gibbets and slaughters, the Pagans by some false brothers, conspiring with much fervour to put the Kings Edicts in execution. Then was the time Eleazars combat with the seven young Machabees ap∣peared, which is excellently described in the Scripture in Josephus, and the Fathers of the Church, that it were a thing superfluous to endeavour enlargement upon it, with a more ample discourse. I onely say, that if God permitted upon one side to be seen the un∣bridled soul of a man, professed an enemy of all piety; on the other, an admirable spectacle was beheld of fear and reverence, rendered to his Name by the faithfull.
What a prodigie to see an aged man four-score and ten years old, of one of the prime families of his Nation, learned in the Law, of an Angelical aspect to go smiling to punishment? And he cracking even their hearts with compassion, who sate as Magistrates upon his execution, some perswaded him onely but to make a shew to eat hogs flesh for the Kings satisfacti∣on. But he reflecting on the true point of honour, The hoariness (saith he) of this venerable hair wherewith my head is covered, having waxed old in the exercises of Religion, sufficiently teacheth me my dutie. It is not fit for Eleazar to counterfeit impietie, but profess virtue. God forbid, I should forget the law of my God, dishonour the school and doctrine in which I was bred, or become a scandal to these young men, to whom God is now pleased to make a Theater of my Constancie: The honour of my