A COMPENdious and most marvelous History of the latter times of the jews common weal, beginning where the Bible or Scriptures leave, and continuing to the utter subversion and last destruction of that country and people: Written in Hebrew by joseph Ben Gorion, a noble man of the same country, who saw the most things himself, and was author and doer of a great part of the same.  
Translated into English by Peter Morwing of Magdalen College in Oxford.  
LONDINI. Anno Domini. 1558.   

❧ The Epistle to the Reader.  
BEing moved and requested of a certain honest mamprynter of London, studiousse in his vocation of the commodity of this our country, that I would take in hand to translate this part of the histoty of the jews, to the intent that as there is amongst us already, in our native tongue, the original beginning of that nation, & the continuance also for a long space in the Bible, and annexed to the same: so there might be likewise an understanding and declaration to all men in the English tongue, as well as in other, of the destruction of so famous a common weal: I both thought it honest to further so good an attempt: yea, and almost dishonest to repulse his request, opportunity and leisure serving me: considering also how many prophecies there be in the scriptures of the destruction not only of the city jerusalem, but also of the whole country, and no specialty nor notification in our tongue of the fulfilling of the same. For the performance whereof, after long weighing and debating of the matter, it was thought most convenient not to burden the desirous hereof with the providing of so chargeable a volume, as is the great history of Flavius josephus that writ the discourse of the same to the Romans, together with many other acts of other nations nothing at all pertaining to the history of the jews: but that we should plenteously content men's desires and satisfy our prefixed and abundantly with a far more brief: much less costly, and as sufficient a commentary for our purpose, nothing inferior to the other in verity: yea, written by the same josephus, as the tenure and contents of both the books do import, although he name himself in this, Ben Gorion, that is the son of Gorion, and in the other the Son of Mattathias: which is a thing so common in the jews genealogies, that men need not sick far for the like, for one man to deduct his discente from divers names of father, grandfather or great grandfather, of the father's side or of the mother's side, now taking the name of the next, now of the most notable of his kindred. But howsoever the names be unlike, th'histories do so agrie, that they may well be thought to be written by one man: this unto his countrymen jews, or for them that desire no more but a just rehearsal of the things concerning that only country: the other for the romans, or for than that desire to understand of the feats of the Romans in the time of that age: which we thought not to be so necessary for our purpose We determined therefore to take in hand this joseph, or rather this his own epitome or bridgment of his great book, yet the whole history of the jews notwithstanding.  
In the translation whereof what pains is taken, not only in restoring divers words that were depraved and corrupted in the latin text: yea, and some hole members of sentences left out which were expressly in the Hebrew, but also that the hebraical forms of speech so discrepant from our phrase & accustomed manner of speaking, might be reduced unto our vulgar and familiar communication, that they might be the better understanded: I refer it unto the judgement of them that be expert in the tongues: who if they list to confer both the texts, they shal-everiwhere espy a great dissimilitude between the words of both, and sometime find hole members of sentences transposed: yet I trust they shall likewise confess both that I have not swerved any thing from the sense and meaning of the author, which I most attentifly did always ponder and consider, as the thing most profitable for our purpose, & also that it was necessary so to do, to reduce it unto our manner of speaking. For whereunto serveth it, if it should not be understanded? Were it not as good to remain still not understanded in a strange tongue, as not understanded in our own? If such translations, word for word, be to be counted in our tongue, being turned into our words only. This therefore was chief endeavoured, that it might be framed and come most nigh unto our vulgar tongue, not to our vulgar words only, and yet it should not be disframed, nor digress from the true meaning of the Historiographer.  
saying then that it may now be red in our mother tongue, and understanded also, our hope is that our travail shall not be lost, but that thou likewise for thy part (gentle Reader) wilt diligently peruse and read this history, worthy of so great pains to be bestowed upon it, both for the pleasantness of the matter, and also for the inestimable profit that thou mayest take thereby. For pleasure: who would not be very much delighted and desirous to understand the end, and what became at length upon such a people, that he hath heard so much of, as every man hath red & heard of the jews in the Bible and otherwise? besides the delectation, in perceiving things of so great antiquity. Every man delighteth to behold the pictures of ancient persons, as of Hercules, Hector, julius Caesar, Arthur, and reverenceth them as though they were half Gods: how much more pleasure should it be to behold the lively images of their minds which appear in their acts and deeds while they were here in this life, whereby we should learn to know good from evil, and by the applying of their deeds unto our manners, with considering the event and success they had of their actions, we may take either an example or some admonition, or occasion to amend our lives, wherein besides pleasure, is also profit. As when thou seest the jews' here afflicted with divers kinds of misery, because they fell from God: then mayst thou be admonished hereby to see the better to thine own ways, lest the like calamities light upon thee, unless thou be so fond to think God will more spare thee, which art but a wild Olive & but grafted into the stock of faith, if thou bring enther naughty fruit or no fruit, than he did the natural branches which sprang naturally of the rote itself. Thou shalt read here of terrible and horrible events of sedition and rebellion, yea there was no such cruelti exercised upon them by their external enemies, as they used amongst themselves one upon an other, subjects against their princes, and subjects against subjects: in so much that nothing hastened their destruction so greatly as their own doggidnesse & intestine hatred▪ Be thou warned therefore by their harms, & take heed that thou mayst avoid the like. Consider more over and mark well, the jews were counted God's people, the Romans contrary his enemies, as without all doubt, having no knowledge of God, & being Idolaters as they were at that time, they could not be gods people: yet for all this, God would they should prevail against the jews, and subdue them under their yoke. Wherbi we may learn how greatly God is infensed against iniquity, in so much that he will rather bring in upon his own children a nation more wicked: then to leave them unpunished, to run forward in their wicked race. Such profitable ensamples and lessons are in this history without number: which if I should recite all, I should bring the whole book into the preface. We will therefore be content with these few at this present, neither as all, nor as the chief: desiring and wishing chief (good Reader) that thou mayest find out not the chief only, but all, and not only find them out, but note them, and imitate them in thy living and ordering of thy doings: which if thou do, then have we the expected end of our pains and travail, and thou the profit, wherewith all parties may justly, or will gladly be contented and satisfied.  
❧ The siege of Jerusalem.   


❧ The state of the common wealth of jury, from the Maccabees, unto the utter destruction and subversion of the same.  
According unto those things that we have found in the Book of joseph the priest, the son of Gorion, & in other books written according to the most certain verity: we will draw forth and rehearse some things for the comfort that may come thereof, especially seeing all the prophets have bend and directed their prophecies of things to come, to this, that the kingdom of the house of David should return and flourish in time to come. Therefore, if there had been any kings of the house of David, during the time of the second house, or second temple: then should we have been in suspense, yea, even now already our hope had been dashed. But there was no kingdom of the house of David in that age, save only a certain dominion that Zerubabel and Nehemia had. Yea rather the kingdom remained at that time to the house of the Maccabees, and them that were toward them. But now to the purpose. When Alexander the first king of the Greeks had fortified and established his kingdom, he died, being yet but a young man, and his kingdom was divided among four of his captains, 
Daniel.  as it is written. Whiles he is yet alive, his kingdom shallbe broken, and divided into four coasts of the heavens. He left behind him a son of tender years called Arkolas, whose tutor or keeper perceiving him to be toward: gave him empoisoned drink, and made him away. Those captains made war one upon another: of whom one that was named Ptolemy, procured Moses law to be translated into Greek, to the intent he might find some occasion to pick a quarrel against Israel. For by their law he sought means to withdraw them from their religion, according to the Psalm. 
Psal. 129.  Many a time have they fought against me fro my youth up (may Israel now say.) There were seventy ancient men that translated the law, whom ptolemy the king separated one from an other, putting every man apart in a house by himself. And they all agreed in sense, albeit they changed thirteen places: which was not done without miracle, that they all agreed together in the meaning, as though one alone had writ it. Those xiii. places be these. First, 
Gene. 1.  GOD hath made in the beginning, whereas no word or thing is put before the name of God, & also for that in the Greek tongue, the thing that doth is put before, and that that is made is placed after: lest this word Bereschith should be taken for a Creator, and Elohim for a creature. The second. 
Gene. 1. I for we.  I will make man according to the image and likeness, that it should not be heard as though he were one that consulted with other. The third. 
Gene. 2. sixth for seventh.  And God finished in the sixth day, and rested on the seventh. Lest it should seem as though he had made any thing in the seventh day, and in it ended his working. 
Gene. 2. I for we.  The fourth. Go to, I will go down, and there will confound their language, lest by speaking in the plural number, they should have been thought to be many. 
Gene. 18. With them that stood by her for, to herself.  The fift. And Sara laughed, speaking with them that stood by her. Because ptolemy the king should not mock them and say, who showed you what she said to herself? The sixth. Because in their fury they killed an ox, 
Gene. 49. Crib, for an ox.  and in their will they broke the crib, Lest the king should mock and say, what hath a man to do with an ox. 
Exod. 4. That that could bear a man, for an Ass.  The seventh. And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon that that could bear a man. Lest the king should mock our master Moses, because he road upon an ass. And that he should not say, how should an ass bear a woman and two children? He would never have done it if he had not been a beggar, or base person. The eight. 
Exod. 12.  And the dwelling of the children of Israel in Egypt and other lands, was cccxxx. years. notwithstanding they abid not in Egypt but .ccx. years, & that is that their father jacob told them. Descend ye (the letters of the which word in Hebrew, signify .ccx.) thither. Furthermore, the computation of ccccxxx years, is from the year that Isaac was borne, 
Exod. 24. little ones for Princes  which was the holy seed unto Abraham. The ninth. And unto the little ones of the children of Israel stretched he not his hand? As who would say: yea, also unto their little ones he stretched not his hand. Even because he should not say, the great men escaped, but the children of the sons of Israel escaped not. The tenth. 
Num. 16. Of valour for an ass duty. 4. That they may shine is added  I took of them nothing of valour, lest he should say, he took not an ass, but he took one reward. The eleventh. Which things thy Lord God hath divided, that they may shine upon all people. Lest he should take an argument thereof and say: Lo, the holy and blessed Lord hath divided them to all people, & hath given them licence to worship them. The twelve. 
Deu. 17  He went and worshipped strange Gods which I commanded not to worship. 
To worship is added.  Lest he should say: now hast thou called them to strange worshipping of Gods. The thirteenth. They translated an Hare, little feet, because the kings wife was called hare: lest she should say, the jews mock me. When these seventy elders had translated the law into the greek tongue, Ptolomee rejoicing much in their wisdom, honoured them with princely apparel and great rewards, brought them also home again merry and glad. Moreover, he sendeth by them oblations to our God. At that time there were many contented to follow the laws of the Grecians, but these seventy refused. Not long after captain Seleucus, Ptolemy's companion in office died, in whose stead Antiochus reigned in Macedonia. This Antiochus making war upon Ptolomee, bereft him of all his dominions, and slew him. After that he subdued all the land of Israel then under the regiment of Ptolomee, and waxed very proud. He hated Israel also because they loved Ptolomee, and aided him in the wars against him. This is that Antiochus that builded a great city upon the sea coast, and called it Antiochia, wherein he made a golden idol, commanding that the children of Israel should be brought unto it and worship it. But some of them chose rather to suffer death for the religion of their god: although some other fell from the synagogue their mother church. Before this he took away also their Sabbath, their new moan, and league of circumcision: forbidding that in any wise they should observe these commandments in any place throughout his whole dominions. For the which he put many of the Israelits to death, & oppressed them more than did ever any of their enemies or adversaries. The second man in honour next himself in jerusalem was one Polipus, he erected an image in the temple, commanding the people of Israel to worship it, and who so ever was disobedient, to be slain. Therefore he put to death Hanna and her seven children as it is mentioned in other places. When Antiochus perceived this, it increased his hatred toward Israel, in so much that he did his endeavour that none of them should scape or be left alive, except such as would worship the image. Then fled many of the Israelites to the mount Mediit and to jericho, because of the law of Polipus and Antiochus his lord, having to their governor the high priest Mattathias son of johan, 
Hasmonany.  otherwise called Chasmonany. The priest enjoined them to fast, and punish themselves before the lord with weeping, sackeclothe, and ashes, and after this he saith unto them. If ye will jeopardy your lives for the holy Lord, why die we like women: Let us go and fight with Polipus, and if we die, we shall die with honour: peradventure the holy and blessed God will help us, and will not root out the remnant of Isracll. To this counsel every man assented, and made a covenant with him upon this thing. Polipus hearing this, gathered his force together, and made toward them to destroy them, & what Israelite so ever he found in his way, he slew him. Mattathias the priest and all the remnant of Israel understanding that Polipus came against them, they went up upon the mount Mediit with their wives and children. Then he put himself and his sons in armour. He had five sons. judas the eldest, the next jehonathan, the third jochanan, the fourth Schimeon, and the fift Eleasar. All these were valiant and good men of war. When Polipus came to them he used craft with Mattathias, saying unto him. Thou art one of the chief men in Israel, and a man of honour & estimation. Come down therefore, and all that be with thee, worship the image, and strive not against the king, that ye may live and not be destroyed. Thou shalt be their prince also, if thou wilt be conformable. But the priest in no wise would be seduced by him, but rather cursed and reviled him. Mattathias had an altar at the foot of the hill, whereupon when he had offered Sacrifice to the most blessed God, there came one of the wicked Israelites out of Polipus camp, and killed upon it a swine. This villain was young and lusty, but the priest was old: yet when he saw what this lewd fellow had done, crying unto his god to help him & strengthen him, he challenged a combat between himself & the fellow. Which thing being liked both of the fellow, and of Polipus with his whole Army: Mattathias came down with his drawn sword in his hand, and the fellow stood against him ready to receive him. But the priest rushed upon him by the assistance of his god, overcame him, cut of his head, and cast his carcase upon the altar, whereat Polipus and his whole host were much astonished, beholding one another. The priest stood still by the altar, crying: which of you will come to me man for man? Then Polipus picked out a strong champion, the best in all his army, and brought him out of the arrays of his host to teach him his lesson, how he should behave himself with the priest. The priest therefore drew toward the Camp with his naked sword in his hand, as though he came to join with their Champion: but afterwards leaving him, he turned his sword upon Polipus, stroke of his head, and fled to the hill. Then blowing their horns and making a shout together, they rushed down upon the Grecians camp. But when the Grecians saw that their grand captain was slain, they fled. Chasmonany and his sons with all Israel followed the chase, overthrew them, and made a great slaughter. This done, Mattathias the priest went to jerusalem, purified the temple, restored the worshipping of god: & commanded all that were born during the time of Polipus to be circumcised, for by the means of his inhibition, they were uncircumcised. Thus being established, he sat upon the throne of the kingdom, and drove the Greeks out of the land of Israel. His kingdom endured one year, which was the .cc. xii. year from the building of the second house. After this he fell sick, and like to die, charged his sons to keep the observations of the Lord, and to walk in his ways. Also to play the men against the Grecians for the religion of the Lord. Then brought he forth judas, a tall man and a hardy, and placing him in the sanctuary, took a horn of oil, and poured it upon his head, whereat all the Israelites clapped their hands, and gave a great shout, saying: God save the king, God save the king. soon after judas gathered an army of Israel, and made an expedition against the rennant of the Greeks that were left in the holds of Israel, and whatsoever he took in hand, God gave it good success. Notwithstanding Antiochus sent against him a puissant army under the leading of one captain Pelonius, against whom judas so warred, that the Grecians went to wrack, for he espied his time when they were destitute of victuals, and speedily set upon them, beat them down handsmoth, & approached to captain Pelonius, slew the valiantest about him, yea & him also. When Antiochus heard of this, he was in a great rage: wherefore he chose out a most valiant captain called Lisias, and sent him against Jerusalem with a thousand horsemen, and footmen without number. judas having knowledge thereof, commanded a fast through out all Israel for three days after, took muster of all his army, and made over them captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. These said to their soldiers. Who so ever is afeard. etc. Whereupon many of the people returned home, yet there remained vii M. and five hundred of such courage all, that one would not have run away from an hundredth. Lisias divided his host into three parts, committing them unto three captains, Nicanor, Bagris, and Ptolomee. But after the Israelites had once given a great shout: the lord beat down the Greeks, so that the Israelites, destroyed nine thousand horsemen of them, & spoiled the whole host, and they that remained alive, took themselves to flight. The next day King judas kept his Sabbath together with all Israel in the camp, for the battle was upon the sixth day. The morrow after the Israelites returned to the spoil of those that were killed, and after to pursue other that were not able to resist: but they found none, for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaiim. During the time of this wars, Antiochus invaded the land of Persia, for they had moved war against him, and done him injury. Wherefore he fought against them: but having the overthrow at their hands, he returned to Antiochia with great shame, where also he found his armies with an other dishonour and foil. Wherewith he was in such a rage, that he gathered together all the valiantest and best Warriors in all Grecia: yea, all that were able to bear weapon, swearing he would bring with him such an army, that all the ground about Jerusalem should not suffice them to stand upon that he would have with him, even for his sotemen only. And so he set forward his horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all manner of furnitures for the wars, as Bows, shields, Targets, sword, and spears, breastplates, and mourens, besides a huge number of Elephants: and such, that a dozen valiant men might fight upon one Elephant, the Elephants being to them as a Fortress. But king judas took heart to him, put his trust in his God, and joined battle with him. At length when he with the power of Israel approached to the Elephants, they slew them down right, so that the Elephants roared, the Horses and all the beasts that carried the baggage and furnitures were very sore afraid. King Antiochus also being mounted upon his mare, and not able to sit her in her flight, was thrown down. His servants therefore finding him, took him up, and bore him a while upon their shoulders, and (being a corpulent and a gross man) they were not able to carry him further, but cast him down in the way. The Lord had plagued him also and his whole host before with a dry scab, or rotten matter, and with other most horrible diseases: which as he saw he confessed it to be the hand of God. Wherefore he made a vow, that if he escaped, be would circumcise himself with all his soldiers, and would convert them to the worshipping of the God of Israel: but God heard him not. He fled therefore a foot as well as he might, and died by the way through his grievous and sore diseases, and Opiter his son reigned in his stead. King judas with all Israel returned with great joy to the house of the Lord, offered sacrifices: and as they had laid wood upon the altar, and the sacrifice upon that: they called unto the Lord, lovingly to accept their sacrifice, and in the mean space, fire came forth of the altar by the own accord, consumed the sacrifice, and the wood, the like never chanced unto them to this day. This miracle was wrought the xxv day of the month Elul. 
August.  The King made an expedition also into Arabia to war upon the people thereof, & made of them a great slaughter, brought them into subjection, and made them tributaries. In his return he set upon a great city of the Greeks, wan it, and razed it. After that he made a road into Grece, ten days journey, where as came against him with a huge army, the chief man in king Opiters' realm next his person: but judas discomfited him and all his people. From thence he went to the city Sipolis, that was under the Romans, where as came forth to meet him Godolias with a royal present, informing him that they had ever borne the Israelits good will, were their neighbours, & showed them pleasures. The King examined the matter, and found their words true, so receiving their presents, departed thence. After this Gorgorius a captain of the Romans moved war with judas, but judas struck a battle with him, and destroyed his whole army, so that none escaped. Opiter son of Antiochus hearing what Acts judas did in all countries round about: he mustered all his people, levied a puissant army, wherewith he came and besieged Bethar. Then cried judas and all Israel unto their God with fasting and sacrifices. The night after judas divided his men into certain bands, commanding them to give the Grecians a Camisado, and to enter their Camp whiles it was dark: which they did, and slew very many of the best of the Grecians, about a four thousand, preparing nevertheless for the field against the morrow: where as also the Israelites did beat down many of the Greeks. In that battle was slain Eleasar son of Mattathias, the kings brother. For when he espied one with a golden sword upon an Elephant, he thought him to be king Opiter, who had twenty Elephants in his army. Therefore he took heart to him, and beat down the soldiers of the Greeks on both sides him, were they never so strong, till he came to that Elephant. And because the Elephant was so high that he could not reach them that sat upon him, he shoved his sword into the belly of the beast to overthrow the king: whereat the Elephant shrunk together and  upon Eleasar, that he died there. For whose sake all Israel mourned and made great lamentation. But Opiter hearing this, strait way made suit to king judas for peace, and a league to be made between them, which after judas had consented unto: he returned home into Grece again, and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slew him. After him succeeded Demetrius his enemy, who was the cause of his death. There were at the time certain evil disposed people of the jews the served the king of the Grecians in his wars, namely one Alkimus: who went to the king of the Greeks at that time lying at Antiochia, and stirred him to move war upon Israel, and king judas. Whereupon Demetrius sent against him a captain called Nicanor with a strong army. He now coming to Jerusalem, let judas understand that he bore him good will, and was desirous to make peace, and enter into a league with him. Therefore as judas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sons of Chasmonanye: Nicanor met him in the way, embraced him, and kissed him: after that led him to his pavilion, and set him upon his seate● of honour. King judas also after he returned from the camp, made unto Nicanor a great feast, calling him and his noble men with him into Jerusalem, where they eat and drank at the kings table. King judas was yet unmarried, wherefore Nicanor moved him to take a wife that he might have issue, and not lose his succession, whose counsel judas allowed. This done, the lewd pickthank Alkimus declared to king Demetrius the league that Nicanor had made with king judas. Whereat Demetrius being wroth, writ unto Nicanor that he had intelligence of his traitorous practices. Nicanor was in Jerusalem when this letter was delivered him. When judas heard of the contents of the letter, he fled out of Jerusalem into Samaria, where he sounded a trumpet, & gathered Israel together. Nicanor upon these letters, entered into the house of the lord to seek judas, but he found him not. Then he examined the Priests, who swore they knew not where he was become. After he had now sought him in every corner throughout Jerusalem and could not find him: in a fume he swore he would beat down the temple. And gathering together ai his host, he made speed against judas. When he heard of Nicanors coming he issued out of Samaria to meet him, and after they had struck the battle, judas slew of the Greeks to the number of xviii thousand horsemen, took Nicanor alive, and was minded to kill him. But Nicanor besought him of pardon, alleging that the king knew well enough that he began not this battle with his good will, but lest he should traunsgresse the commandment of the king his master. Wherefore (saith he) I humbly beseech your majesty not to kill me, and I swear unto you that I will never bear armour against you, nor annoy you in any wise. Upon this the king made a league with him, and dismissed him. So he returned to the king his master with shame enough. After this Demetrius died, and Lisia his son reigned in his stead. Yet the wicked men ceased not, but moved again King Lisia to make a voyage in his own Person with a puissant army against judas: but having the overthrow of king judas, he fled unto Asdotum till he had repaired again his army strongly. Then came he the second time upon judas, in which conflict the Israelites were put to flight. King judas notwithstanding fled neither one way nor other, but called to his men, & exhorted them to return and stick by him, yet they would not obey him. So he abid alone with his drawn sword in his hand, unto whom none of his enemies durst approach nigh, but with charettes and horsemen they environed him, and archers shot at him, wounding him sore, till he fell down dead upon the ground, and they that were about him were taken alive. The time that he reigned over Israel was vi year. Many of the Greeks captains were slain also in that battle, and the king himself so wounded, that he was feign to get him into his country to be cured of his wounds. After he had recovered his health, he returned again, came to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Israel with the power of the Greeks, wherewith he so afflicted them at that time for the space of four months after the death of judas, that the like tribulation was never seen in Israel. In the mean season the Israelites resorted to jonathas the son of Mattathias, and made him king in judas stead, and were sworn unto him. This jonathas fought divers great battles against the Greeks, having the aid of one Savinus of the kindred of king Alexander the first, who had made a league with jonathas, & took his part against Grecia, wasted and spoiled it sore, till at length the king of the Grecians slew jonathas by a train. His reign over Israel dured vi year. Then was Schimeon his brother king in his stead. Against him Antiochus the second king of the Grecians came to war. But Schimeon met him, and laid first an ambush to entrapte the Greeks, then ordered his battles in array against Antiochus. After that he with his whole host made a face, feigning as though they fled, and retired, till they perceived Antiochus who pursued them, to be within their danger, than the ambush broke forth upon the Greeks, & made a very great slaughter. After this Schimeon returned to jerusalem with great joy. Then sent Ptolemy king of Egypt an embassage to Scimeon king of Israel, offering him his daughter in marriage. To his request when king Schimeon had consented: Ptolemy came to jerusalem, where was made a great feast, & they were allied together. Whereupon Antiochus king of the Grecians writ to Ptolemy king of Egypt, privily to murder Schimeon king of Israel. Whom Ptolomee durst not but obey, for at that time the king of Egypt was in subjection to the Greeks. Therefore when Schimeon came into Egypt to see his father in law Ptolomee: he was received with great feasting, but in the same he had poison given him, that he died thereof. Besides this also, his son which came with him, Ptolemy cast in prison. These things justly chanced unto Schimeon, for that he had traunsgressed the word of the Lord, that forbade all alliance with the Gentiles. The time that he reigned over Israel was xviii years. Then john his son reigned in his steed, who was called Hircanus in the Greek tongue. The same Ptolomee king of Egypt invaded Israel with all the power that he could make. But john the son of Schimeon met him, and the Lord overthrew Ptolomee with his whole host, that they were slain of the Israelites, and pursued to the city Dagon, about the which the Israelites made trenches, and besieged it. Now within the town they had the mother of king Hircanus, whom Ptolomee caused to be set upon the Walls: and to be scourged with whips in the sight of her son. When Hircanus saw the great affliction of his mother, he would have raised his siege, and departed from Ptolomee. But his mother called unto him and said: My dear son john, regard not my tribulation, for all chasteninges come from GOD. proceed manfully with thy siege against this city, for it is in great distress, and revenge me, thy father, and brother murdered by Ptolomee. The king followed her advise, & manfully raised a mount from the which he battered the walls with engines of iron like charets till it began to shake. Wherefore many of the soldiers of the town fled, and their companies began to scatter. Ptolomee seeing this, commanded to afflict his mother yet more, and to increase her scourgings, until the entrails of Hircanus was moved, that he could abide no longer to see his mother so cruelly handled, but left the siege, & let Ptolomee escape: who nevertheless killed his mother, and fled into Egypt. In the fourth year of king Hircanus' reign, Pius king Grece came and besieged jerusalem with a great power and strength, whom Hircanus was not able to meet & encounter within the field, suffered himself to be closed up in the City. The King of the Grecians therefore raised great Towers against the city apart from the wall, digged a trench, & cast up a mount. Then planted their engines named Rams against the gates, so that the city was hard besieged: for they beat down●one of the turrets the stood upon the wall, whereat all Israel was afraid, & agreed together to issue out & skirmish with them, whatsoever should come thereon, life or death. Which although Hircanus liked not, yet they so did, and slew many of their enemies, put them also to flight, that they were constrained to encamp themselves further of from jerusalem. Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Greeks had builded, and razed them to the ground. Thus they issued out daily, skirmishing with Pius, until the feast of the tabernacles. Then sent king Hircanus to Pius, desiring him that he would grant them truce, and let them be in peace while the feast lasted. His request Pius granted, & sent a fat Ox to be offered to the God of Israel, covering his horns with beaten gold, and dressing him with fillets of Crystal, & other precious stones. Clad him also in a garment of purple, and divers other precious clothes. He sent moreover plate both of silver and gold full of divers kind of spices, all to be offered unto the Lord. When king Hircanus saw this, he went out unto Pius, and after he had made peace with him, he made him and his chief men of war a great feast, and offered him a present of ccc pound weight of gold. After that he went to war with Pius in his army to aid him against the king of Persia that rebelled against him. But soon after he was come with in the land of Persia, that time of Pentecost was at hand. Wherefore king Hircanus and the host of Israel returned: but Pius and his army of the Grecians proceeded. Whom the king of the Persians met in the field, slew Pius himself, and vainquished the residue that almost none remained. Whereof when tidings came to Hircanus, he was very glad, and returned to Jerusalem with peace and joy. After this Hircanus made many great battles with the nations about him, and had ever the victory. He also came to the mount of Gorizim, where he wan a fort of the Sectaries and Samaritans, & razed down the temple that the Sectaries had there as their house of Sanctuary, which they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Greeks. He that builded it was Manasse the priest, brother to Schimeon the just. But Hircanus the high priest pulled it down .cc. year after it was builded. From thence he went to the city of Samaria, and besieged it. This was the mother city of the Samaritans and Sectaries, which was brought to such distress by the long siege of Hircanus, that they within were feign to eat the carcases of dogs. The feast of propitiation then being at hand, Hircanus made speed to jerusalem to execute his office in that feast (for he was the high priest) appointing for generals of his army, Aristobulus his eldest son, and his second son Antigonus. In the mean season they within the town writ to the king of Grece to come to succour them, which he did with a great power. But these ii young men the king's sons went to meet them with the strength of the Israelites, and gave them the overthrow, killing them up almost every one to the number of xxi M. fighting men, & the rest fled. That done, the young men returned to the siege of Samaria. King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coming of the Grecians against his sons, so that he perceived they should have the Grecians of th'one side of them, & the Samaritans & Sectaries of tother. But he knew nothing what was happened, for that victory chanced the ix day of Tisre. 
Septembre.  His heart therefore was careful for his sons, & for Israel. Notwithstanding he proceeded in his office according as the feast required. So as he entered into the house of Sanctum sactorun, or the most holiest to offer incense, & to call for mercy for his children & for the army: he heard a voice speaking unto him. Never trouble thy mind with thy children, & with the host of Israel, for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard them, & according to the greatness of his goodness for thy father's sakes. Let thy heart therefore be right & thy hand pure. So the king going out of the sanctuary, declared if to the people. Whereupon the next day they sent post to Samaria, & had word again that this was true. Wherefore king Hircanus was manified greatly of all Israel, for they knew that the blessed Lord accepted his doings, inspiring him with the holy ghost, and increasing his kingdom & priesthood. After this he took his journey to Samaria, besieged it a whole year, and at length won it, slew all also that bare life within it. He razed the walls, the palace, and burnt up the city. He had wars also with the Romans and the Arabians, and God prospered all that ever he took in hand. So shortly after God gave him rest and quietness from all that dwelled about him, and from all his enemies, so that Israel rested boldly in peace & tranquillity all his time. On a time the king made a feast to all the sages of Israel, that they might make good cheer with him. And being merrily disposed, he said: I am your scholar, and what so ever I do, that do I by your authority. Wherefore I pray you if you see any fault in me, or if I do not as it becometh me: tell me of it, that I may reform mine evil way. Then every man greatly extolled and commended him, saying: Who is like unto thee, our Lord king, so worthy of the kingdom and priesthood, so notable in good works, whose works be done for the God of heaven, which hast also done so much good to Israel? The king was very well pleased with their answer, and rejoiced greatly. Yet was there one amongst them an undiscrete man called Eleaser, who spoke unadvisedly to the king. And it please your majesty, it were sufficient for you to have the crown of the kingdom, ye might leave of the crown of ●he priesthood to the seed of Aaron, forasmuch as your mother was captive in the mount Modiit. Incontinente the king was moved and sore displeased against the Sages, which certain of his servants that hated the Sages, and smelled somewhat of sects, perceiving: one of them in●ourmed the king that what so ever that undiscrete person had spoken, it was not without the advise of the Sages. Whereupon the king demanded of the Sages: What law shall that man have, that in the dispi●e of the king, speaketh things in his reproach? They made answer, he is worthy to be whipped. Then said one of the Saducees, the matter is plain, that according to the minds of the Sages & at their bidding he upbraided thee, & therefore they would not award him to die. Whereat the king held his peace and gave never a word to answer. So all the joy was dashed and turned into sadness. The next day, at the commandment of the king, proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kings dominions, that they should stand to the ordinance of Sadoch and Bithus: and who soever should refence to follow their decrees, or would observe the traditions of the Sages and obey their will: should suffer death. This was John the high priest, which had the priesthood. xl. years, and in th'end became a Saducie. notwithstanding the Israelites obeyed not the kings commandment, but rather privily followed the orders of the sages. The king himself and all his servants, followed the traditions of the Saducies', making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages: and putting to death, as many as he could get knowledge of. By this means he drew much people of Israel into this opinion. The time that Hircanus reigned over Israel was xxxi year, and then he died. After him reigned his son Aristobulus, for he had iii sons, Aristobulus, Antigonus and Alexander. This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence. He went therefore and made war upon Tire and Sidon: subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised. Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthood, but set light by it, wherefore he would not execute the office thereof, but took the kingdom upon him, and set the crown upon his head: and was called the great king. Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her son his younger brother, and would not suffer them to dwell in jerusalem. But he loved his brother Antigonus, and made him lieutenant general of all his wars, setting him forward into the wars against his enemies. Wherein the young man Antigonus had good fortune, and prospered in all things that he took in hand, and returned safe to jerusalem. Whereas he entered into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king, which at that time was grievously sick: and also to acknowledge before the Lord God, his goodness and mercy towards him, in that he aided him against his enemies. Then came a certain wicked person unto the king, & informed him with this tale. Thy brother (saith he) returning from the wars, inquired▪ of thy health, & when it was told him thou wast sick, he said: I will go to him to day, & rid him out of the world. When the king heard this, he was wroth toward the sages: commanded his brother to be apprehended, and carried to the palace of Starton, there to be kept in prison till he had made inquisition of his doings.  
In the mean space the Queen the kings wife commanded him to be put to death there without knowledge of the kings mind. But when the King heard that his brother was killed, he cried mainly out and wept, smiting his breast in such a sort with his hand, that he swooned, and much blood issued out of his mouth. He reigned over Israel ii year. After him his brother Alexander reigned, who was also called king janai, being brought out of prison where his brother had put him, and made king of Israel. He was a mighty man, and valeante in all his wars against his enemies, prevailing against them. He had wars with the Philistines, namely Azam and Ascalon, whom he put to the worse, and overcame them. This man refused not the priesthood, but was his priest. It chanced on a time, when he stood at th'altar to offer sacrifice: one of the sages cast Cedar tree upon him, whereat he lift up his right-hand upon the altar, crying: give me my sword. Then the Sages kneeled down before him, and swore they did it not of any contempt, but rather (say they) that we thus sporting before the Lord, would be merry upon the high solemn day. But the kings servants answered roughly again, saying: Although ye play and reioyie, yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such dispitful custom with the king. The contention waxed hot amongst them, till at the length the Sages spoke evil of the king, casting in his tethe that he was an unhallowed and suspended person, and that his grandmother on the father's side was a captive in the mount Modiit, whereby her seed was stained. The king was sore moved at that, in so much that he commanded all the Sages to be slain. Therefore, where so ever they found them, in the sanctuary or in the streets of jerusalem: they killed them forthwith. Then the king commanded that every man should obei the governance and traditions of the Saducies'. So in those days had the Sages great tribulation: some fell upon the sword, some fled away, and some tarried at home with dishonour and shame. After these matters the king made an expedition into Arabia, entered the country as far as the rock of the wilderness, against Hartam king of Arabia, and subdued his land. After that he warred upon Medaba, and the hole land of Moab, vanquishing them, and bringing them under tribute: and so returned with honour to jerusalem. When he had after this well bethought him of his doings, it repented him of his evil ways: wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the Sages, submitted him to their ordinance, and esteemed their traditions. There were also at that time a kind of sect that were called 
* These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before.  Phariseis, of whom such as had escaped, the king sent to call them home again, and when they were come into his presence, he spoke unto them comfortable words, saying: My brethren, ye shall understand that, that is once done and passed, must needs be termed as it is, and can not be revoked. And truth it is you can excuse the reproach that ye did me: nor I can not call again the blood that I have shed. Notwithstanding, I confess my fault unto you, and have changed my indignation to love: praying you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice, lay away also your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds, rejoicing in your reconciliation and atonement with me, & be of good cheer. But they made him answer. We will not lay away our hatred and enmity, for thou speakest but deceitfully, & we speak that is truth. Furthermore, thou hast killed our chief men and elders, neither haste thou only done us this injury: but also Hircanus thy father, who began such mischief, & thou hast holden on and continued it. Wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root: neither can we leave our sorrow and mourning, till thou die, and God take vengeance upon thee for our sakes, then shall we rejoice, when we see vengeance. So they departed from his presence, neither did the king ever give them any answer. But when they perceived the king to be incensed against them, and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm: after consultation had, they went to the king of Grece, whose name was Demetrius, showed him what Hircanus and Alexander his son had done unto the Phariseis and all the Israelites that bore them good will, and followed their traditions: and how they also hated Alexander for the mischief that he hath wrought them. So that if any man would come and revenge the malice of Alexander, they would be ready to aid him. Demetrius followed their advise, and assembling together all his people to the number of xl thousand horsemen, and footmen without number. He took his journey, and encamped against Sichem. Then king Alexander waged vi thousand horsemen to aid him. But the king of the Grecians writ privily to the ancients of the Sectaries that they should not aid Alexander. To the mercenary soldiers also that Alexander had hired, he sent rewards gold and silver, that they returned home to their country, & aided not Alexander. Whereupon he was not able to withstand Demetrius. Therefore hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toward jerusalem, intending to take him in the city: he fled by night with a few of his men to the mountains, and lurked there. When the men of Israel that were in judea heard the king was fled out of Jerusalem, and that the city was in hazard to come into the hands of the Grecians: they gathered themselves together, & stood for their lives as though all had been one man, to the number of ten thousand, and set upon Demetrius Camp, killed all his best men of war, and spoiled his whole host, that he fled from them, & returned home into his country with shame & dishonour. This done, the king took heart unto him, & returned to his kingdom, but the Pharisees fled to Betshemes, strengthening themselves against the king. Who having intelligence thereof: gathered an army & went against them, won the city, and took. viii.c. of the chiefest pharisees, bound them in chains, & brought them to jerusalem. Then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his palace in a very high place, where the chief learned men eat & drank, until he and they were drunk. And in his merry mode he commanded those. viii.c. pharisees prisoners to be brought forth & to be hanged every man of them upon gallows before him, at which sight he drunk & laughed heartily. After this he fell sick the xxiiii. year of his reign, of a grievous disease, a quartan ague that held him three year: yet for all this he shrunk not, nor letted to go to the war, to encounter & fight with his enemies what nation so ever they were of round about him, as though he had been a hole man. In the xxvii. year of his reign, which was the third of his sickness, he made an expedition into the land of Moab against a certain city called Ragaba, to get it by force At which time he was very sick and weak, wherefore his wife Alexandra the Queen went with him, fearing lest he should die by the way. And as be encamped himself against the city, and urged it sore with assaults, his sickness increased upon him more and more. Wherefore his wife perceiving that he was like to die, wept bitterly before him, & said. To whom shall I be so bold as to show my face, when thou art once dead, seeing thou hast wrought such mischief upon the pharisees, whom all the land favoureth, and followeth their traditions, obeying their institutions? If they shallbe disposed to wreak themselves upon me and thy young children, they shall have aid of all that dwell in the land. The king answered. Weep not, nor show any resemblance of pensifnes: I will tell the what thou shalt do, & if thou wilt follow my counsel, thou shalt prosper and reign, thou and thy children, as thou wouldest desire. Be it that I die, there is no man in the world need know thereof. Tell thou every man therefore that ask for me: that I am sick, & will not that any man shall come at me. In the mean while, anoint & season me with balms, fight with a courage against this city till thou win it, & then return to jerusalem with joy: and beware thou put on no mourning apparel, nor weep, but bring me into jerusalem and lay me upon a bed like a sick man, and after call together the chief of the Phariseis, bring them where I am, and speak unto them gently in this sort. Alexander hath been ever your enemy. I know it very well: wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire, or to the dogs, or bury him, it shallbe at your choice. I know well, they are pitiful men and so full of merci, that they will bury me honourably, and shall appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be king. The Queen did therefore as she was instructed of the king. When she had won Ragaba, she joyfully returned to jerusalem: after that gathered together the elders of the pharisees and spoke to them as the king had advised her. The pharisees hearing the king was dead, and that his body was in their hands to do withal what they list, they answered the Queen: God forbidden, we should do this unto our Lord the anointed of God. He was the king and high priest: what though he were a sinner, yet his death shallbe an expiation for him of all his iniquities. Therefore we will bewail him and mourn for him: yea, we will carry his coffin ourselves upon our necks and bury him as it becometh a kings magnificence, and so they did. The time that he reigned was xxvii years. After him reigned his wife Alexandra in his stead, for the pharisees after they had finished the vii days of the mourning, they committed the kingdom unto her. She had ii sons by the king: the elder was called Hircanus, the other Aristobulus. Hircanus was a just man & righteous, but Aristobulus was the warrioure & man of prows: besides that, of a familiar & loving countenance. He favoured also the learned men, & followed their instruction. But Hircanus his elder brother, loved the pharisees. On a time therefore when the Queen sat in the throne of her kingdom, she called the ancients of the pharisees before her, honoured them, & commanded to release & set at liberty all such pharisees as the king her husband & her father in law had cast in prison: and taking the pharisees by the hands, she commanded all Israel to obey their ordinances. Then made Hircanus her son high priest, and Aristobulus lievetevaunte of the wars. She sent also to all the lands that her husband and father in law had subdued, and demanded the n●ble men's sons for pledges, which she kept in jerusalem. So the lord gave unto the Queen quietness from all that were under her subjection. She gave also the pharisees authority over the learned sort, putting them into their hands to order at their pleasure. Whereupon strait way they found one Dogrus a great man amongst the learned sort, whom they stew, & much people besides of the ancients of that sect, so that the Sectaries were in great distress. They gathered themselves together therefore and came to Aristobulus the lieutenant of the wars, and with him they came to the Queen, saying unto her: Thou knowest the enmity that is between us and the pharisees, which hate thy busband, and father in law, yea, and thy children also. We were his men of war that went with him in all his affairs, and aided him now thou hast given us into their hands to be murdered and banished out of the Land. What will Hartam king of Arabia do when he heareth this, that we shall forsake thee? He w●● come and revenge him of all the battle that thy husband fought against him. Yea, the pharisees will take his part, and deliver thee and thy children into his hands, that there shall not be left unto Hircanus the king, and his son Alexander thy husband, any name or remnant at all. The Queen gave them no word to answer: whereat Aristobulus was angry, and letted not to utter it to his mother's face, but she would not hear him. Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their ways and departed out of jerusalem, to choose them cities in the land of juda where they might dwell with their honour: & not to suffer themselves to be slain under the pharisees hands. Wherefore departing from jerusalem, they dwelt in the cities of juda. Not long after this it fortuned the Queen fell sore sick, that she was like to die. Whereof when Aristobulus heard, he feared least the pharisees would make his brother Hircanus' king, and at length apprehend him: wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies', to be their head, and make war upon his brother if he would presume to reign. He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies' called Galustius, who was a good man of war. And after he had gathered a strong army of the Saducies', his mother the Queen sent unto him that he should return unto her, which he would not do: but rather went to war upon the nations that dwelled about him, where he won twenty cities, and gate him great renown thereby. Now as the Queen his mother waxed sicker and sicker: the chief pharisees came unto her, with her son Hircanus, weeping before her, and saying, how they were afraid of her son Aristobulus, who if he should come into jerusalem & take it, he would deliver them up into the hands of the Saducies'. Unto whom she answered: I am as you see, at the point of death, not able to talk much with you: there is here in my house great treasure that my husband and my fathered gathered, and their parents kings of the posterity of : take that unto you, and make my son Hircanus' king over you. If Aristobulus will perturb him and make war against him: ye may wage men of war therewith and secure him as you think good. And even with this she fainted and died and was buried amongst her people, after she had reigned ix year over Israel. The pharisees therefore and priests with all the inhabitants of jerusalem made Hircanus her son king in her stead. Aristobulus hearing tidings of these things assembled his army and came toward jerusalem, to fight against his brother. But Hircanus met him and encountered with him nigh unto jordane jericho. The Saducies' of Aristobulus host were good men of war, and to strong for the Pharisees. Wherefore Hircanus & the pharisees had the overthrow at Aristobulus and the Saducees hands, who with this victory proceeded forth to jerusalem, besieged it, & brought it to great distress. Wherefore the priests and the ancient of the people consulted together, & came forth to Aristobulus, fell prostrate upon th'earth afore him, and besought him that he would not scatter abroad the inheritance of the Lord. He condescended unto their desires upon these conditions, that he should enter into jerusalem with them and be king: and his brother Hircanus should be the high priest. Whereunto they agreed. Then as Aristobulus entered into jerusalem, his brother came out of the sanctuary to meet him: and with embracings, he kissed him. So Aristobulus was king, & Hircanus executed the office of the high priest. The Lord also gave Israel rest and peace for a while. But afterward the Lord sent an evil spirit amongst them, which was the cause of translating the kingdom from the stock of , and of the destruction of his posterity. For the son of Hircanus the great, and the son of Alexander his son in that they shed so much innocent blood, & drew Israel from th'obedience of the Prophets, unto the lies & trifles of the Saducees. For thus it chanced. The Saducees bet into Aristobulus head, that as long as his brother Hircanus lived, he, nor his kingdom could never be established. Whereupon Aristobulus devised how to make away Hircanus. Which thing a certain man called Antipater was aware of, a man of most power in all Israel, & thereto also a wise, expert, & learned man in all wisdom, both in the laws, & in the knowledge of the Greek, just of his word, & prudent if any strange or new matters chanced. His offspring was not out of the children of Israel, but of those Romans which chanced to be vainquished, & became subject under the dominion of the Israelits, being but strangers, & of no noble house in Israel. 
Phaselus  He had. iiii. sons joseph his eldest, the next Pasilus, the third Herode, & the four Pheroras. These had also a sister called Salumith. Antipater favoured Hircanus so entirely for his justice & uprightness sake, that he opened unto him him his brother Aristobulus & the Saducies' intent: giving him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Arabia, but Antipater himself went before to break the matter to Hartan, of whose coming Hartam was very glad. Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus' king of Jerusalem was in mind to flee unto him, because of Aristobulus his brother. If thou wilt help him (saith he) and let him have speedy aid: thou shalt easily set Aristobulus besides the kingdom, for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus, and favour not Aristobulus. Hartam answered. I am afraid of the jews and their wiliness. Alexander his father put me thrice to the foil in battle by his subtlety, and took my dominions from me. Then Antipater swore unto him. He shallbe (saith he) thy true & trusty friend, to do what soever thy heart desireth. Thus Hartan was persuaded, & they made a league together. Then Antipater returning to Jerusalem, caused Hircanus to flee in the night, and they both went together to the king of Arabia, who much rejoiced at Hircanus coming, and received him honourably. When they came together to entreat of the league: Hartam demanded restitution of such cities as Hircanus' father had taken from him: to whom Hircanus consented in all things. Wherefore Hartam raised all the people of Arabia, and led them to Jerusalem to war upon it. To Hircanus also came all the men of juda save only they that dwelled at Jerusalem. So betwixt them they beset the city round about. It fortuned that in the solemnity of the passover, they could not have their service of the solemnity in the holy place because of the wars. Whereupon a certain just and perfect man of the town called honey auriga, 
Onias.  broke out privily into the camp of Hircanus and Antipater his counselor, besought them with much prayer & tears that they would grant a truce unto jerusalem while the feast of sweet bread lasted, that they might execute the service of Solemnity in the holy place. To whom Hircanus said. Thou art a just man, and often when thou hast prayed, the Lord hath heard thee: pray now therefore unto thy lord God, to deliver Aristobulus into our hands, and that Israel may have rest. honey auriga answered. Am I a God, or able to remove battles that be stirred up for many men's iniquities? Thus when he seemed to be unwilling to to pray, Hircanus' men compelled him, drawing their sword, and saying: If thou wilt not pray, thou shalt die for it. Therefore as he saw his life in jeopardy, he cried unto the Lord. O Lord everlasting, which haste chosen thy people Israel out of all people, & hast set thy name in this house: may it please thy majesty to plant among the children of Israel friendship and brotherhood, take away from among them this hatred which is risen of nothing, & let not th'one of these factions prevail against tother, seeing they all be thy servants, and children of thy covenant. When the servants of Hircanus heard him say so: they ran upon him with their swords, and killed him. But God deferred not his vengeance: for he struck the host aswell of the Arabians as of Hircanus with a grievous pestilence. At the same time came from Rome a famous captain called Pompeius, 
Pompeius.  to war against the country of Armenia. This Pompeius sent one of his chief men to Damascus, of whom as Aristobulus (thus besieged had heard) & that an army of the Romans was come into Damascus: he sent him a present of four C. pound weight of gold, desiring him to remove the army of the Arabians from him, and raise the siege. In those days all the world obeyed the Romans. That captain therefore writ unto Hartam king of Arabia in this wise: Depart from jerusalem: if not, thou shalt understand thou haste broken thy league with the Senate of Rome, and the hole army of the Romans shall shortly invade thy land. Hartam upon the sight of this letter raised his siege and departed from Jerusalem. Hircanus also and Antipater departed with shame and reproach. Aristobulus upon that gathered a power and pursued after them, gave the Arabians & Israelites that took Hircanus part a great overthrow, and after returned to jerusalem with joy. Shortly after Pompeius came to Damascus: him Aristobulus presented with a vine of gold, marvelous artificially wrought. The roots of the vine, leaves clusters, & grapes, that were upon it were pure gold: the weight thereof was .v. C pound. Pompeius was very glad thereof, & sent it to Rome to the Consul. And the hole bench of the Senate which was of the number of iii C twenty senators, wondered at the cunning & wit of him that made it: and with great joy they bore it into the temple of their gods, placing it in the presence of the great Idol jupiter, so called after the name of the planet jupiter. Pompeins writ his letters to Aristobulus with great thanks & commendation for the same: assuring him how both he & the hole Senate favoured him, & that he should have a friend of him to speak in his cause as long as he lived Hircanus hearing of this, was clean dashed & in despair. But Antipater comforted him saying: let not the friendship that is betwixt Pompeius & thy brother dismay thee: I will go to him & make him thy friend. Upon that he went to Pompeius & persuaded his mind to hate Aristobulus & to favour Hircanus, informing him thus. If thou (saith he) defend Hircanus, all Israel will be content to be under thy protection, for they love him every man. But if thou defend Aristobulus, the people will not obei thee, for they hate him. Pompeius' charged him that no man should be made privy of their communication. For I (saith he) will send for Aristobulus to come unto me to Damascus, and then will I cause to lay hands of him, and deliver him bound to his brother, restoring the kingdom to him. Aristobulus upon the sight of Pompeius' letters resorted unto him. Hircanus also came from the rock of the wilderness. And as they appeared together before Pompeius: Antipater desired him that he would do justice betwixt Hircanus the king, and Aristobulus his brother, that rebelled against him, and took his kingdom from him without cause. Whose sayings a thousand of the elders of Israel stood up & witnessed to be true. Aristobulus made answer. I never strove with him for the kingdom, until such time as I saw all these that made Hircanus' king, to run in great obloquy, & to sustain much reproach because he was so feeble a person and of no great wit, nor forced much of the kingdom: yea, till all nations that were about him whose dominions our progenitors conquered, began now to despise him, to pass little for offending him, to deny him tribute, for his simplicity, & mopishness, with lack of courage. When Aristrobulus had said, there stood up a great multitude of goodly and beautiful young men, appareled in cloth of Hyacinth and purple, with mighty tills upon the same, and other ornaments of gold, crystal and precious stones: affirming with one accord that Aristrobulus said the truth, namely that Hircanus forced not of the kingdom. At whom Pompeius marveled saying: Happy is this people having so many handsome men, true in their words, and wise: Happy also were the Senate of Rome, if they could bring to pass that this great nation might be under their governance. So he took his journey to jerusalem with Hircanus and Aristobulus. But after Aristobulus perceived the Pompeius stood 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 Egypt, whether Pompeius followed with his host, and besieged Alexandria. From thence Aristobulus fled again to jerusalem, and Pompeius pursued him also thither, writing to Aristobulus a letter of truce & pardon. So Aristobulus came forth to him, & Pompeius did him at that time no harm, but demanded to be given unto him all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Aristobulus refusing to do: but Pompeius in a rage, caused to lay him fast in heavy iron chains, and assaulted jerusalem, battering the walls very sore, till they of the town issued out against him & slew of his host xii M. men. After this had the Israelites civil wars within jerusalem, because the siege was grievous unto them, for they were divided into factions, one part said: Let us open the gates to Pompeius & let him in, that we may submit ourselves under his protection. The other said: Let us fight against him unto the death. But much people misliked that, so that that side prevailed that would yield. Wherefore Pompeius entered the town, & the house of the sanctuary, killed much people of the priests & the people of the land, made Hircanus' king of Israel the ii time, & Antipater his counsellor. Moreover, he set one Securus a Roman in the country to receive the tribute & departed, leading Aristobulus with him bound in irons. And because he took his journey toward Arabia, Hircanus & Antipater went with him to conduct him. Aristobulus thus being prisoner, & his ii sons with him, it fortuned that one of them called Alexander escaped. And having intelligence that Hircanus and his counsellor were gone out of jerusalem: he came thither & rebelled against Hircanus, made up the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered: yea, the Israelites resorted unto him, & made him King in Hircanus' place. Whereupon he gathered an army, and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homeward from Pompeius, where he gave Hircanus' the overthrow, & Securus the receiver of the tribute escaped. Then Alexander returned to jerusalem, from whence shortly after Gabinius a Roman with a strong army compelled him to flee to Alexandria. And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius: his mother Aristobulus wife went forth to Gabinius weeping, and besought him that he would not destroy her son, for whose sake he did Alexander no harm.  
Gabinius therefore having gotten all the Land of judea, made Hircanus' king of jerusalem now the iii time: who set Roman captains and rulers in jericho and in Zephori, and through all the land of Israel. It fortuned after this that Aristobulus got out of prison at Rome, and came into Israel: to whom on every side resorted men in such fort that he had a puissant host of Israel. Whereof when he had taken muster, he chose out viii thousand of the best, & with them went against Gabinius, where was a sore battle fought between them, till the best of Aristobulus men were slain, and only one thousand left, wherewith he fled to the mountains. But the romans followed the chase, and slew them every man. Yet Aristobulus would not yield but fought alone, although his helmet was broken, till he had divers sore wounds in his head: and then fell he to the ground, and the romans took him yet alive, brought him to Gabinius, who comforted him: commanding his surgeons to heal him, and after sent him to the Consul and Senate of Rome, where he was put in prison yet once again. After this, the Senate taking pity of Aristobulus wife, which was reported to be a very wise woman: released her two sons out of prison, and set them at liberty. Alexander the one of those could not be content, but rebelled once again against Hircanus and the Roman governors. For he gathered together much people of Israel, encountered with one of the roman governors that Gabinius had appointed, and gave him the overthrow. But proceeding further to fight with Gabinius: had the worse, and many of the Israelites were slain, yet he escaped himself and fled. This done, Gabinius came to Jerusalem, and renewed the kingdom of Israel to Hircanus the four time. About this time one of the Senators wives at Rome conceived a child, & died in the birth and travail thereof. They therefore that were about her, strait way ript her body, and gate the child out alive, whom they named julius, and because his mother was cut, they called him Caesar. This child growing to great towardness, and coming to man's estate: the Consul and Senate sent him into the wars: and what so ever he did he had good fortune & prosperous success. He deprived the Grecians of the empire and dominion, translating it to the Romans. Many provinces also besides that did he subdue, and returning to Rome with a power: attempted to get the dominion and sole regiment over them. But they had made solemn statutes in the time of their progenitors never to suffer any king amongst them, or any man to have perpetual rule over them: wherefore they would not make julius king. Upon this risse amongst them great and mortal wars, so that julius slew wondered many of them, & without number. When Pompeius understood that Cesar reigned at Rome, had killed the Consul and the Senate, with all the nobility of Rome: be gathered together his hole army out of Arabia, and made toward him. julius having intelligence of his coming against him, sent for Aristobulus out of prison, spoke friendly unto him, gave him a power and made him grand captain thereof, bidding him to go & fight with Pompeius. In deed his army was a strong army: and he himself was a King of no small prowess and valiantness. Pompeius' hearing that Aristobulus came against him, was sore afraid of his valiantness and of his host. Wherefore he sent to the inhabitants of jerusalem that were under his obedience, that they should present Aristobulus with some gift, whereby they might deceive him and poison him. The inhabitants of jerusalem at his request, sent unto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men, whereat Aristobulus was right joyous, and eat and banqueted with them till he was overcame with drink: then they gave him poison and he died. The time that he reigned over Israel was four years and six months. He was a good man of war, hardy in fight, and a man of an amiable countenance. Pompeius' receiving tidings of his death: the more gladder proceeded with his host to Rome to besiege if. But julius met him in the way, and destroyed him and his host: whereby the Empire was established unto julius. He after this sent presents to the king of Syria and into Egipte by his captains, to allure them to his friendship. Antipater advised Hircanus to aid julius if perchance he might win his favour, which Hircanus did: and Antipater was captain of the host, who played the man, and found such favour with julius, that he made him lieutenant of his wars. And after he had fought sundry & great battles, he returned to jerusalem with great honour, and by the way prospered much more. Hircanus after this, made Phaselus Antipater's son governed of jerusalem: and Herod his third son precedent of Galily. There was a certain young man at that time in jerusalem, called Hizkias, a valeant man of war: to whom clave all such as were in any distress, and he became their captain. These went and ranged about into Syria, roving and murdering in such sort, that the Syrians were weary of their lives, for fear of them. Wherefore the king of Syria sent unto Herode, ruler of Galily, desiring him to kill that Hizkias & his complices. Whereupon Herode prepared himself and went to meet with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Syria: came upon him at unwares and slew him and his men. Whereof when the king of Syria was certified: he sent a noble reward unto Herode, of silver, gold, and precious stones: by which, and by like means, he became very famous. The noble men of juda made their complaint unto Hircanus upon Antipater and his sons, for their sore oppressing of the land of juda: desiring that Herode might be called from Galily, to appear in judgement and answer with other, for the kill of Hezkias. The king therefore sent for him, & he upon that came to jerusalem, appeared before the judges princely appareled with a gilt sword gird about him: whose pride an ancient man called Samai blamed and reprehended also his stout heart: but he would not give ear unto him, nor yet regard the judges. When Hircanus perceived that the judges had almost determined to give judgement against the young man, & to make him away: he took pity upon him, & said: We will not give sentence to day, to morrow is a new day, and by that means delivered him out of their hands. Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death. That night therefore he fled to the king of Syria, declaring all what had happened unto him: The king of Syria let him have a strong army, & came with him himself, purposing to besiege jerusalem. But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forth unto him and rebuked him, saying: Is this the reward that thou rendrest to king Hircanus that took pity upon thee, and would not have thy blood shed? Therefore they willed him to departed from jerusalem, unto whom he condescended, after he had once let the inhabitants of Jerusalem know what he could do, and had showed them his power. julius Emperor of Rome about that time, as he was worshipping in the house of his GOD, was murdered by the conspiracy of certain of them which had served Pompeius that was slain, as is afore mentioned. The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the country of Macedonia, who fled thither being afraid to tarry at Rome. This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia. Antipater also of whom we spoke, was a great scourge to the noble men of juda, and a great deal forer man than was Hircanus himself. Yea, Hircanus could do nothing in comparison of him, for he had no rule himself: but Antipater and his sons bore all the sway throughout the whole realm. Moreover, Antipater was in great estimation amongst all the Kings of that time. And for as much as he so sore oppressed the jews they therefore hated him, and conspired to kill him. There was a man in great authority about A●rcanus, by whose means they wrought this matter. He corrupted the kings Butler with rewards, to put poison in Antipater's cup, which as he had drunk, he died. These things his sons Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at, as though they knew nothing. notwithstanding they privily writ unto Cassius that reigned in Macedonia, certifiing him of this deed. soon after came Cassius to Tyrus, from whence he sent messengers to Hircanus to come unto him, who came, & with him Malchias, Phaseus, and Herode. Cassius entertaining them all in his lodging, willed his men that whatsoever Herode had them, they should do it. Herode willed them to kill Malchias, they slew him therefore sitting hard by Hircanus' side. Hircanus' demanded of the sons of Antipater the cause hereof, who answered: Is it not manifest that King Cassius servants slew him, and we know not why? Therefore Hircaws stood in fear of Phaselus and Herode, being certain that this was their deed. Wherefore he said unto them. This Malchias was worthy of such a death, for he was a crafty man and an usurer. These things done, Octavian Augustus, brother's son unto julius that was murdered, came unto Rome: and the people of Rome made him their Emperor. He had a fellow in office named Marcus Antonius his uncle. Octavianus therefore seeing to the government at Rome, sent Marcus Antonius to war upon Cassius, and to revenge julius death. Unto him Hircanus sent a present, a crown of gold, in which were set sundry precious stones: praying him to strengthen his Kingdom in his hands, and to be a means of a league to be made between Octavian Augustus king of kings, and him: as there was between him and julius, which Antonius granted. 
Pacorus.  About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus' king of the Persians to aid him against Hircanus to remove him, and to restore the kingdom to himself: and he agreed to give him for his travail five hundredth pound weight of gold, and a hundredth Israelitish virgins. So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel, and Antigonus departed out of jerusalem with much people of Israel, that took his part, and foined themselves to Pagurus. These came to jerusalem, besieged it, fought many skirmishes, & gave many great assaults unto it, till at length they undermined the city. Then took they Hircanus, and slew Phaselus. And to the intent Hircanus should be clean removed from the priesthood: Antigonus that had deprived him now of his kingdom, cut of besides that one of his ears. But Herode escaped & fled to August emperor of Rome. Pagurus therefore having made Antigonus king of jerusalem: returned home into Persia, carrying Hircanus as prisoner with him. But Augustus appointed Herod to be king over all juda, giving to him a very strong army of the Romans' to obtain it withal. In the way thither, Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus' daughter, and Marimi her daughter, thou she had by Alexander son of Aristobulus, and brought them again into the land of Israel, where he took Marimi to wife, and was married with her in the mount of Galilee. For there the chief of all Israel dwelt: with whom he took peace. Marcus Antonius companion in office unto Octavian Augustus, about that time made a voyage through all the East countries, to subdue them unto the Romans, together with Egypt, Damascus and Syria. Him Herode accompanied to the flood of Euphrates, and helped him not a little. For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way, and slew all that would aid Marcus Antonius. But Herode met with them and slew them. Wherefore Antonius was very glad of Herodes valiantness: and brought him again into Israel together with Cassius his captain and lieutenant of his wars: having also his letters to all the captains of Syria, after this tenure. Ye shall understand that our Lord and master Octavian Augustus' king of kings, hath appointed Herode the son of Antipater to be king of all the land of juda. Therefore assoon as these letters shall come unto you, ye shall with all speed aid him. No man shallbe excused: all that can bear weapon shall go with him to jerusalem, to vanquish Antigonus the king's adversary. Who so refuseth to go with him, it shallbe leeful for the warriors ●o slay him forthwith. I Marcus Antonius have sworn by my sword, that I will not alter this that I have said. When the captains of Syria had read this, they resorted wholly to Herode, so that his host was wonderfully increased. Antigonus hearing of this, sent one Pompeius lieutenant of his wars against them, who fought a sore battle with them, that much people were slain on both sides, joseph king Herodes brother was slain in that battle. notwithstanding, at length Antigonus host went to the worse, and had the overthrow. So Herode & Ca●●ius proceeded to jerusalem, and besieged it, the third year after Herod was made king of Israel. And when they had battered down a piece of the wall: Cassius with the Romans entered the town and made a great slaughter in jerusalem. They entered also into the Sanctuary, and attempted to enter into the Sanctum sanctorum: but Herod and his men leapt between it and then: and stood with their drawn sword in the temple door, that they should not. Herod was also displeased with Casius for his cruelty, and said: If ye will destroy all the inhabitants of the city, upon whom shall I reign in this kingdom that Augustus hath given me? Wherefore straight way Cassius caused proclamation to be made through all his host, that no man upon pain of death should kill one Israelite more. This done, Herode apprehended Antigonus, and delivered him bound to Cassius. He rewarded also Cassius' soldiers both with gold and silver. Then Cassius offered a present unto the Lord, a crown of Gold, for he was sore afraid of god's displeasure, because he had fought against the holy city. That done, he took his journey, & returned into Egypt, and Antigonus as prisoner with him. Thither sent Herode unto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus & to murder him, fearing lest he should make claim unto the Kingdom again. Whereunto Cassius consented, & slew Antigonus. Thus was the kingdom surely established to Herode. Then made he wars upon all the nations that were about him, constraining them to become tributaries, by which means he grew to such power: as never any of his predecessors were to be compared unto him. After all this, Pagurus king of Persia, released out of prison Hircanus' son of Alexander, & promoted him to be head of all the Israelites that were fled or flitted into the land of Sennaar, & into the dominion of the Persians, & he became their king. This Hircanus had a fervent desire to see the holy city & the house of the sanctuary. Also how Herode whom he took for his son, & his kingdom did. Herode hearing the Hircanus who had been prisoner at Babylon, was now set at liberty & in great honour: he was afraid of him, mistrusting lest the Israelits would restore unto themselves the kingdom of their fathers. Wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him mischief. He then writeth his letters unto Pagurus: the contents whereof were such. Thou shalt understand the Hircanus is he that brought me up, & used me ever as his son. Now therefore sense I came to be king of jerusalem: I have called to my remembrance the goodness that he hath done to me, wherefore my desire is to reward him according to his benefits. Therefore I require thee to send him to me: otherwise assure thy self of wars between thee & the Israelits with their confederates. Pagurus having read this letter, sent for Hircanus, & asked him if he would go to Herod: & notwithstanding Herod's threats, he ceased not to give to Hircanus all good counsel he could: advising him to take heed of Herode, because he is (saith he) a blood sheader, a breaker of his league. And he hath called thee for no love he beareth thee, but because he feareth thee. As long as thou livest, shall he never sleep sound sleep, lest the kingdom should be devoluted unto the. It is better therefore for thee to tarry here in some honour, though it be not of such authority: then to go thither to die with great despite, and end thine old age with a bloody death. Furthermore thou shalt know, such is the disposition of man's heart. If there be two men, the one in honour, the other in contempt: after time shall come that the despised shallbe had in honour, and the honoured to be neglected: never will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt, be content to see him that was before honoured, nor speak friendly to him. For he will think: Hitherto according his accustomed manner he hath despised me: how much more when his dominion is taken from him, & his servant reigneth in his room? Moreover, Herode knoweth right well, that men's hearts are inclined to him that is the true king. And it might so be, if thou were meet for the priesthood, that he would promote thee unto it, and be governor of the kingdom himself. But seeing thou art dismembered, hast one of thy ears cut of, and thereby art unmeet for the Priesthode●: thou shalt remain in Jerusalem deprived both of kingdom and priesthood, which is uncomely for thee. Such counsel gave Pagurus king of the Persians unto Hircanus: yea, and all the jews that were in Babylon besought him that he would not go unto Herode. Notwithstanding he would not be persuaded, and why? For it was the Lords will and his deed, that the injury done unto the Sages, whom his father and grandfather slew, and the injury committed to honey auriga: might return upon his head, and be revenged: so that no remnant of the house of Chasmonany, no name, no residue, no kinsman or posterity should be left alive. Hircanus therefore took his ●ourney toward Jerusalem, and Herode came forth to meet him, embraced him, & kissed him: after brought him into his house, and feasted him daily, called him his father before all men, albeit in his heart he conspired to murder him. And that knew Alexandra his daughter and mother in law to Herode: who opened it unto Hircanus, but he would not credit her at the first, till on a time he perceived the matter clear to be so, them devised he how to flee to Maloc king of Arabia. He sent therefore a messenger to Maloc, to send him horse and a chariot to flee withal: but the messenger dealt unfaithfully & lewdly with him, for he brought Hircanus' letters privily unto Herode, who rewarded him well for his labour, and bade him go to Maloc, and to let him know what answer Maloc gave. The messenger upon this went and delivered the letters to Maloc, who fulfilled Hircanus' request, sent him horses and a chariot, writing in this sort. I have sent the horses & horsemen: come therefore unto me, and whatsoever thy heart desireth, I will do it for thy sake. So the messenger brought the answer secretly unto Herode: whereupon he sent straight to the place in which he understood Maloces men to lurk, waiting for Hircanus: and caused to apprehend them alive. Herode commanded to call together the elders, before whom he willed also Hircanus to be brought, and of him the king demanded. Tell me if thou writtest any letters to Maloc king of Arabia? he answered: I wrote none. Then was Restius the messenger brought in as his accuser, and the men of war also of Arabia that were apprehended, which declared the hole matter before the counsel, so that Hircanus was quite dashed. Then the king commanded him to be put to death, and so was the kingdom established unto Herode. The time that Hircanus reigned, was forty years and six months. After the death of his mother he reigned three years, and Aristobulus his brother removed him, making him priest. Again three years after he returned to his kingdom, and reigned forty years. Then Antigonus son of Aristobulus deposed him, cutting of his ear, & banishing him out of the holy city. So after when Herode his servant came to the kingdom: 
Herodes ingratitude.  he returned to jerusalem, and Herode shed his blood without cause. Yet he notwithstanding had delivered Herode from the hands of the elders, who would have put him to death, for the death of Hizkias. From that time Hircanus wrought none evil in the sight of the Lord, nor offended him in any great matter: save only in this, that he bore to much with Herod in shedding the innocent blood, wherefore his own life went for the other. Therefore happy is he that never forgetteth any part of his duty. Marimi the daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus, the wife of Herode, had a brother whose name was Aristobulus: him Herode would in no wise promote to the high priesthood because he feared the children of Chasmonany, although his wife sued hard, and lay sore upon him for the same matter. But the king made high priest one that was nothing of the kindred of Chasmonany, whose name was Haniel notwithstanding when he had once made away Hircanus his wives progenitor, father of Alexandra his mother in law: then he deposed Haniel the high priest, and promoted his wives brother Aristobulus to the dignity, although he were but a child: yet he was wise, and of good understanding, and beautiful withal, so that in all Israel was not a goodlier nor handsomer young man them he was. And this Haniel was the first that ever was deposed from that office of the high priesthood, by any king of Israel afore Herode: who did this to quiet his wife, and to fulfil his mother in laws mind. Notwithstanding this Alexandra his wife's mother, was not content nor satisfied, for the death of her father was such a grief: but always spoke snappishly to the king, that he sent her to ward. Then she writ to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt, wife unto Marcus Antonius, a noble man of Rome, declaring unto her all the mischief that Herode had done to the posterity of Chalmonanis, and desiring her of aid. To whom Cleopatra made this answer. If thou canst find the means to come to me secretly: thou shalt perceive what I will do for thee. When Alexandra had read the letter, she sent to Aristobulus her son the high priest, showing him that she would flee to the sea japho, and from thence would take shipping into Egypt, persuading him also to flee with her. We will (saith she) make two great coffers, one for myself & the other for thee: & we will with rewards procure our servants to carry us out privily, whereby we may flee to save our lives. This their devise was perceived of one of Herodes servants, who forthwith made the king privy unto it. The king commanded his servant that bewrayed them, that when they did convey the coffers they should bring them to him, which the servants did. So when the coffers were brought to the kings presence, he caused them to be opened, and took out Alexandra & her son Aristobulus, to whom the king spoke sharply and rebuked them sore. But Alexandra answered him again as short, in somuch that the king moved with anger, flung away from her into his chamber, saying: It is better to sit in a corner of the house, then with a brawling & skolding woman in an open place. The king dissembled the matter & showed no great displeasure. A year after as Aristobulus the high priest appareled in his pontical vestures, stood in the the temple nigh unto the altar to offer sacrifices: the Israelites beheld his beauty, his wisdom, & behaviour in the ministry, whereat every man rejoiced, praising God that had not taken all away, but left one to revenge that injuries done to the house of . The king hearing this, was sore afraid, and not a little displeased: thinking to himself the Israelites would restore the kingdom of their fathers unto him. He perceived every man's heart to be inclined towards him. Wherefore he deliberated a while, & in the feast of the tabernacles, he went to jericho withal his servants, whereas he made a great feast to all his nobles and servants, placing them every man after his degree before him. Aristobulus the high priest, he set upon his right-hand. And as they eat, drunk, & made merry: the kings servants were disposed to go and swim in jordane. To these the king had given secret commandment, that they should desire Aristobulus to go and bathe with them in jordane, and then to drown him. So when they were going, they came to Aristobulus & desired him to go bathe with them, which he would not unless the king gave him leave: wherefore he asked the king leave, but he denied him at the first, yet at length the young man entreated him so instantly, that the king bade him do what he would. He went therefore with the other young men to swim. The king took his horse straitwaye and returned to jericho withal his train, leaving the young men behind, which continued swimming till Sun setting: and as it began to be dark they drowned the priest Aristobulus amongst them. Whereof when tidings came to the king, and it was known that he was dead: the people wept and made great lamentation: considering his virtue, nobility, and beauty, every man was full of sorrow that he should have so short a life: and they bewailed so much that it was hard a far of. But Marimi chief and Alexandra the young man's mother could in no wise be comforted. Yea, the king also wept and made great moan, for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act. Yet all the people knew well enough, that the thing was procured by the king: In so much that Alexandra his mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face, that he was the murderer of her husband, and her father, & now last of all of her son: to whom the king answered neither good nor bad. From that day forwards there was perpetual hatred between Alexandra & Marimi, and Kiparim the mother of Herode, & Salumith his sister that came of base & servile blood. For Marimi cast in their teeth to their faces, that they were not of the seed of Israel: but unholy & of base birth. Notwithstanding Herode loved Marimi as his life, wherefore he would never displease her as long as she lived, nor say so much to her as why sayest thou so? These things done, Marcus Antonius a noble man of Rome, next unto Octavian Augustus king of kings, being sent by Augustus to war upon the kings of the west countries: reigned in Egypt, & by the provocation of his wife rebelled against Octavian Augustus, made war with him both by sea & land. And forasmuch as Egypt is nigh adjoining to the land of Israel, Herode joined with him and helped him. For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sort, that no king durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius. Whereupon when Marcus conspired against his prince and master: Herode aided him with an army, with horsemen, and with ships also against Octavian. In which wars Octavian gate the victory, slew Antony and all his people coming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes, & so into the land of Egypt. Herode hearing that Marcus Antonius was slain, and that Octavian Augustus was come into Egipte: he fainted for fear of the displeasure of Octavian. Yet at length he took heart unto him, prepared a royal present to be carried afore him, and followed after himself to Octavian Augustus. And setting forwards, he called joseph the husband of Salumnith his sister, whom he made chief of his household: commanding him that if Octavian Augustus put him to death: he should poison Marimi his wife, saying: it should not be seemly for kings that any mean & base man should marry with a kings widow, and sleep with her upon a kings bed. So then he took his journey toward Octavian Augustus, who then was at the Rhodes, where he understood Octavian to be displeased with him, for that he had aided Marcus Antonius. Therefore assoon as Herode came to Octavian Augustus' presence, having his crown upon his head: he took it of, & fell down prostrate upon the ground at octavians feet, saying: Most noble emperor, I confess my trespass against your majesty, that I loved M. Antonius my companion in league, who was my neighbour & aided me. And it is true, that your majesty sense the time you made me king, have herd of mine affairs that have happened unto me, but never succoured me. This. M Antonius did not so. I confess therefore that in his wars against your majesty, I aided him with an army, with horsemen & ships: Neither went I out with him for any wars upon mine own borders, but when so ever I went with him, I holp him to the uttermost of mi power When he was falling, I bolsterd him up: & when he stumbled I raised him again. Amongst all these things I confess also, that I would not be counted of your majesty a breaker of league: but now M. Antonius is dead. Wherefore whither that it shall please your majesty to restore me to my former estate or no, forasmuch as I have kept touch with M. Antonius against your majesty amongst other: if you put me to death, you shall do me no wrong, but justice, because I have deserved death. When Octavian August herd him speak so, he said unto him: Arise thou king of Israel in peace, be of good comfort and fear not, for thou art worthy to be nigh, yea, next to my person. I know that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife, and would not follow thy counsel, for if he had, I dare say he would never have conspired against me. So he commanded the crown to be set again upon Herodes head, and made a league with him. Then they went both together to ward Egypt to be revenged upon Cleopatra. But that wicked woman when she saw her city to be overcome: put on her most precious apparel, and sitting upon the throne of her kingdom: commanded a vipor to be brought unto her, which assoon as she had suffered to sting her breast, she died. As Octavian August came to her palaire & saw her sit there, he rejoiced that he might be revenged of her: and commanded to thrust her from her throne, but when they that came to her found her dead, Octavian was pensive and very sore grieved. In this while joseph Salumithes' husband disclosed unto Marimi, that the king had commanded: if it so fortuned him to be put to death by Augustus, that he should poison her: Whereupon Marimi conceived yet a greater hatred toward the king, in so much that when the king was returned in safety, sound, and with honour also from Octavian, and that all his men and whole household rejoiced greatly: Marimi showed no countenance of gladness, no not when the king himself told her how greatly he was magnified and honoured of Octavian: but always she was sad. Salumith the kings Sister perceiving that Marimi so vexed the king, she told him how joseph her husband had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus. Herode (say what she could) gave no credit to her words, knowing that she envied Marimi: until at length he asked the cause of Marimi why she rejoiced not as other did when he returned in safety from Augustus: but was ever sad, which showed her to have some rancour and malice in her heart to wards him. She answered. Thou haste said heretofore that thou lovedst me above all thine other wives and concubines: yet thou didst will joseph thy sister's husband to poison me. When Herode heard this, he was exceedingly abashed that joseph had disclosed his secret: & began to mistrust with himself that which Salumith had told him, that he had slept with his wife in deed, and upon that had detected that secret. Therefore he departed out of his palace in a great anger and rage, whereby Salumith perceived that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further, hiring false accusers and forgers of lies, to witness that Marimi would have poisoned the king, whereof she had divers arguments also by her countenance. She added moreover, if thou (saith she to the king) let her scape thus she will speedily destroy thee, and bereave thee of thy kingdom. The law giveth a man this counsel. If any man gooe about to murder thee, prevent him & slay him first. With this and such like words, she so moved the king, that he commanded to bring Marimi forth, and to be beheaded in the high street of the city. And as she was brought forth unto the market place of the city, all the women of the city followed her. Alexandra her mother also cursed and railed at her, saying: come out, thou that hast abhorred thy husband, and conspired against thy lord. Alexandra wept also as though it had been for the wickedness that her daughter had committed: thinking surely to please the king by that means, and to blear his eyes, if peradventure he might suffer her to live till she might have opportunity to poison him. Marimi thus going to execution held her peace, and looked neither to the right hand nor to the left: nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innocent in deed and thought, and therefore God would tender her a good reward in the world to come. Wherefore she bared her neck without fear, and they cut of her head, shedding the innocent blood. But God made no delay in punishing the same: for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of Herode, so that his chief servants, his noble women and concubines died sore thereof. Yea throughout all judea reigned the pestilence vehemently: which affliction all Israel knew well enough chanced unto them for the blood of Marimi. They cried therefore unto the lord, saying: Wilt thou forth offence of one man deal so cruelly with the hole congregation? The lord took pity therefore vp●● the land, and withore we the plague from the people. The king repented him also that he had shed blood without cause: and love so grew in his heart, that he was sick and at deaths door. Then Alexandra Marimies' mother sought means how to poison him. Which being uttered unto the king: he commanded to apprehend her, and to kill her. In this manner dealt Herode with all the posterity of the Maccabees, leaving none alive that were called by the name. He put to death also joseph the busband of Salumith. The king had two sons Alexander and Aristobulus, by Marimi his wife. They were both at Rome when their mother suffered, for their father the king had sent them thither to learn the Roman tongue. When they heard tidings of their mother's death, they wept and mourned for her: hating their father for his rcueltie. soon after, the king their father recovered of his sickness, was established in his kingdom, builded strong cities, and rose to great prosperity. In the. ●iii. year of his reign, there fell a great dearth in the land, wherefore the king took out of his treasure much gold and silver, and precious stones, wherewith he sent into Egypt and procured plenty of corn: and refres●hyng with bread all that lacked and was in distress of hunger: yea, he spared not his own proper goods. And not only to the Israelites showed he this liberality: but also to all that came unto him out of other strange nations, hearing of his renown. Moreover in all his wars he had good fortune. Besides this he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary: whereupon he deliberated with the Israelites, to have their advise for the building of it after the same quantity and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it. For the jews' returning from captivity in the time of Coresch, 
Cirus.  began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed them, & not as it was afore. The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pull down the temple to the ground, and build it a fresh: they made him none answer, fearing left when he had pulled it down, he would not be so hasty to build it up again. But the the king perceiving what they feared in their minds, said: he would not flack the matter, nor rest till he had brought it to pass. He said moreover, that he would take out of his treasure plenty of gold and silver, and give it to graving: also precious stones, stones of Thasies, & marble. To the carpenters also and masons, he would deliver timber, & stones, gold & silver, brass & iron, to make all things necessary to the work. Wherefore if he pulled down the house, he was able to build it straight ways again. So he pulled down the house and repaired it again and finished it, in length a hundred cubits, in breadth likewise a hundredth cubits, and in height a hundredth cubits, all of white marble: so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundredth and twenty cubits. For the foundation was twenty cubits within the ground, and a hundredth above. The breadth of every stone was xii cubits, and the thickness thereof viii cubits, every stone was of like bigness. The gates of the house he covered with fine gold and precious stones finely set therein: the thresholds were of silver & the tops also. He made also a vine of gold a marvelous cunning piece of work, the arms thereof or bigger branches were glittering gold, the lesser branches, slips, or latest shutes of gold, somewhat red: & all above was yellow gold, whereupon hung clusters of crystal. The vine was so great that it weighed a thousand pound weight of pure gold. In all the world was not the like to be seen. He made also a porch, & before the porch two, walls of silver marvelous cunningly wrought. Behind the house toward the west he made a court of c l. cubits long, and a. C. in breadth: which was paved with pure marble. Toward the south & north, the length of the court was also Cl. cubits, & a. C. in breadth. He erected in it also. C. l. pillars of white marble in four orders. The length of one order was forty cubits, and every pillar was xl cubits high, and three cubits thick. The pillars were all of like measure, as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure, with all the pilloures thereof. Toward the east the court contained. D. ccxx. cubits, even to the broke Cedron. No man ever see the like building in all the world. In the extreme parts of the courts he made also walks and and galleries of such height: that they the walked therein might easily see the waters running in the broke Cedron, by the space of a cubit. Between the porch and the house also (as though it were a vail or partition) the king made a wall of silver, of half a handful thick. In the which was a door of beaten gold, and upon the gate a sword of gold of xii. pound weight. There were certain poses graven in the sword, as this. What stranger so ever approacheth nigh her, let him die for it. So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful: neither was there ever hard of in all the world any king that was able to make such a building. When the work was finished, the king sent to Sarons his pastures for his cattle: from whence were brought him three hundredth young Bullocks, and very many sheep, according to his Princely estate. So then they dedicated and and hallowed the house with great ●oy and gladness. There was one certain day in the year, when as the king was ever accustomed to make a great feast to all his court, to all his nobles, & sages in Israel. Against that self same day the king was mined to finish his works, which made both him more glad and all his people. The same also commanded he to be done in all the provinces of his kingdom, sending his letters by his posts to the noble men, captains, & presidents of the provinces, that they should observe the day after the same manner every year. The people also that were flitted into their enemy's countries: their head rulers & captains came out of every countri far & ners to see the house and the king: for they could never believe it till they had seen it: and when they had seen it, it exc●aded far that they had heard of it. These things done, the kings two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus which he had by Marimi, came home from Rome to jerusalem in a great heat and fury, with a strong company, yea their hearts were very haughty also: for Alexander the elder had married the king of Capadocies' daughter, and Aristobulus the daughter of Salumith the king his father's sister. These coming to jerusalem, went not to the court to do their duty to the king their father, neither would see him, whereby the king gathered they went about some mischief against him. Moreover, all his men gave him warning to take heed of them, and to keep his power or guard about him. He had had a wife of base stock out of the country, before he came to the kingdom, by whom he had a son named Antipater. And when he had put Marimi his beloved wife to death, he called home his wife which he had disdained before, to his court. Wherefore now seeing the two sons of Marimi hated himhe appointed Antipater his son to be his heir apparent, and to raise his estimation, gave him all his treasure, made him Lord and ruler of all that he had, affirming that he should reign after him. This Antipater had a subtle wit and a crafty, for he said daily to his father. If it like your majesty whereto should you give me all these things, when as these two lions shallbe ever in my top, and ready to destroy me. By such surmised means he raised discord and hatred between them and their father. Albeit the king was loath to hurt his two sons. Not long after he took his journey to Rome to Octavian & his son Alexander waited upon him, hoping the Octavian would be a means for him to turn his father's hatred from him, & put all malice out of his mind. When the king was come thither, Octavian rejoiced much of his conuring, saying: I have thought long to see thee. To whom hast thou left the land of juda? Herode answered, for the obedience that I own unto my Lord the Emperor, I am come to declare him my chances with this my son his servant. So he told him the whole matter from the beginning to the end. Then Octavian Augustus blamed the young man because he hated his father. The young man answered. How can I otherwise do? How can I forget the most chaste womb that bore me, which was of the holy stock? If I forget my mother that was slain guiltless and without crime: then let me forget my right-hand. These and such like spoke the young man not without tears in the presence of Octavian, so that his bowels was much moved: and the noble men also that were about Octavian could not abstain from weeping, but lamented greatly. Octavian first reproved Herode for his great transgression and cruelty: then laboured to pacify the young man with comfortable words, and biding him honour his father, & submit himself unto him. When he had done as he was willed (for he would not strive against the Emperors commandment). Octavian took the young man by the hand, and put it into Herodes bosom. Then his father kissed him and embraced him, so that they wept each of them. After that they took their leave and departed from Octavian, who comforted them, and gave them a gift, committing it into Herodes hands. Herode yet perceived that the hatred of the children of Marimi would not be appeased. Whereupon when he came home to jerusalem, he called together all th'elders of Israel & said unto them: I had determined once to place one of my sons captain over the people of the Lord, but I might not do it without the consent of Octavian Augustus. Now therefore I have appointed my iii sons, & have divided my kingdom equally amongst them. Help ye them against their enenmies, but in no wise shall ye help one of them against another. And if ye perceive any breach of trendship between them, do that lieth in you to take it away. Whereunto he made them swear presently in jerusalem: and the bond made, each man departed home to his house. But for all this the hatred between Antipater and his two brethren was nothing diminished: for he feared them because they were of the house of , and allied with kings of great power: he suborned therefore false accusers to say unto the king, that the young men, sons of Marimi, were determined to destroy him. Likewise he set variance between Salumith and then: for she was in greater estimation than he: in so much that the king did nothing without her counsel. The same wrought he also between Pheroras the kings brother and them. But to Salumith he said: dost thou not consider how the sons of Marimi know that their mother was put to death by thy counsel. Therefore if they may bring to pass to make the king away: they will hue thee to pieces. But when the young men herd of this: they came before the king, & swore they never intended to hurt their father, and with weeping they persuaded the king that he believed them, and they got his favour again. Whereat Antipater was not a little displeased: wherefore he hired false witnesses to say they saw Alexander the kings son upon a certain night with his sword drawn before the kings palace, minding to murder Antipater. He suborned also certain of the kings servants to witness against Alexander, that he should give them great rewards to allure them to his pleasure, and to abuse them in filthy buggery, which they refused. More over, that he desired them to poison the king, which they would not also agree to do. Whereupon the king was sore displeased toward him, commanding not only him, but all that took his part or defended his integrity: to be apprehended and put in prison, that execution might be done upon them. Then Alexander writ unto Archelaus his father in law, desiring him to come to Jerusalem to his father Herode. This Archelaus was a very wise man and a notable counselor. When he was come to Jerusalem, Herode was very glad of his coming: and demanded what matters brought him thither at that present. He answered: I have heard that Alexander thy son, and my son in law, hath attempted to rebel against thee: it is not possible but my daughter his wife should be accessary of this thing, and yet she hath not showed it unto thee: wherefore I utterly detest her, as one that hath conspired against thee. Yet nevertheless I know well that for the love thou bearest unto me, thou wouldst spare her: for this cause am I come unto thee that when thou hast put thy son to death, I also may slay my daughter. For it is better that we should make them away, than they us. Herode hearing this was veri glad and gave credit to his friendship. When Archelaus perceived that Herode had a good opinion of him: he altered his communication, saying to the king: first let us diligently examine and well try the cause, forasmuch as there are many false witnesses and lying persons in the world: & let us not shed innocent blood upon an uncertainty. For Archelaus knew that Herode had given to light credit, & how he was ready to hear an evil tale, which was the cause of all the mischief that befell to the people of his house. Well, Herode thought his counsel good. One of them that accused the kings children was Pheroras the kings brother: and to say the truth he was the chief of all. Herode loved Archelaus the king of Cappadocia as himself: whithe Archelaus perceiving, turned his talk to rebuke the king, saying: Thou art now waxed old, and well stricken in years: thou sufferest these backebiters to rule thee, who stir thee to work all these mischiefs in thy house. Yea Pheroras thy brother hath falsely provoked thee against thy sons.  
When Pheroras heard these words, he was sore afraid: for in deed he had seduced the king. Therefore came Pheroras to Archelaus and besought him to save his life. Archelaus answered him: if thou wilt obtain pardon for thy wickedness, come and fall before his feet and confess that thou hast spoken falsely against his sons: then will I promise thee that he shallbe merciful unto thee, and to his sons. Pheroras did so, confessed that he had falsely accused the kings sons. Then Archelaus besought the king for pardon, and he granted it. After that he entreated him that the young men might be dismissed and delivered out of prison, which the king commanded to be done. The young men therefore came to the kings presence, and fell down before his feet: & the king was loving unto them, embraced them, and kissed them. He made great joy also that Archelaus came in so good an hour unto him: to whom he gave for a gift vii hundredth pounds weight of gold, many precious stones, and concubines, and dimis●ed him. But Antipater again suborned false accusers, and write counterfeit letters in the name of the kings sons to one of the captains, declaring how they would conspire and kill the king: and by such means he increased the enmities between them and their father divers ways, that the king commanded them to be put in prison, and most strong irons to be laid upon them. Besides this, Antipater had surprised and won the hearts of the kings chief rulers and servants, that they suborned his barber to bear false witness against Alexander, how that he hired him to kill the king at such time as he should shave his beard. When the king heard his barber speak, he was wonderfully troubled in his mind, in so much that he said: I am weary of my life, to hear these pickthanckes that open mine ears and fill my head with tales. I can do no way better than to give charge, that who soever brings me any such tales hereafter of any body, he shall suffer death for it. Wherefore he commanded the barber to be slain, & his two sons to be brought forth and hanged upon gallows, shedding their innocent blood. Then rejoiced Antipater, supposing himself to be as sure of the kingdom as though he had it in his hands. When as he was not aware that although he were never so high aloft, yet was there one above higher than he: who considered his doings. Alexander had two sons, Thigarum and Aristobulus. And Aristobulus had three sons, 
Tigraves'.  Herode Agrippa & Alexander. When the king returned to Jerusalem, (for he was in Samaria by the lake side, when his sons were put to execution) he commanded that his nephews should be brought to the court, and taking pity of them: embraced and kissed them, weeping very sore both he and all his servants. For it greatly repent him of the heinous deeds that he had done. But when the time of the mourning was past, he caused to call all the chief of Israel together and said unto them: I am now grown in age and waxed grey headed, certain how shortly I shall die. I see here before me these little fatherless children, which I never can behold without great anguish of my mind. For when I look upon them, I call to my remembrance what great damage I have done unto their fathers in my rage and headlong furiousness. Now therefore I would commit them to the fuition and custody of some man that might be a patron & as father unto them to secure them continually to his power. All the people answered, that he had well spoken. He spoke therefore unto his brother Pheroras. Thou shalt be their patron and defender, and shalt give thy daughter to Thigarus Alexander's son. He commanded also his son Antipater to give his daughter to Herode the son of Aristobulus. And the marriages were made in the kings presence. When Antipater marked the love that the king bore toward his nephews: he begun to be in great care, for Thegarus Alexander's son had a grandfather by the mother side, a king of great power, namely Archelaus king of Cappadocia. He falls down therefore at the kings feet to dissolve and break the friendship that he bore towards his nephews, and to leave speaking in their cause as he had done: but he prevailed nothing. Therefore he left his father and went to Pheroras the kings brother: made a confederacy with him. Then desired him to frustrate the bond that was between himself and Herode, and also between him and Thigarus the son of Alexander that was hanged. So Pheroras came to the king, turned his mind, and dissolved the marriages. This done, Pheroras and Antipater that sat upon the kings throne, were become great friends, banqueting one the other day and night, and devising their matters. When this came to the kings ear, he was sore afraid of their trains, and commanded that his brother Pheroras should never more come in his sight. Antipater his son was sent to Octavian Augustus to establish the kingdom unto him, and to enter in league with him. For Herode was so old that he could not go. Antipater journeying towards Rome, passed through Egipte, desirous to see it before the death of his uncle Pheroras. And as he travailed by the high ways of Egipte, there came a certain merchant having a Vial in his hand close covered, which cried saying: who will buy a thing at a great price before he see it, or know what it is? Antipater marveled at his words, and asked him what was in his Vyal. But the seller told him not what it was, before he had bought it and paid dear for it. Then whispered he in his ear, telling him that it was a strong poison, that would kill one out of hand. This Vyal Antipater sent to Pheroras to be kept until he returned from Rome. In the mean season Pheroras died, and his wife hid the Vial. After when Antipater came home again from Rome: Pheroras wife and he fell at variance, insomuch that she objected unto him that he was the cause that Pheroras was banished the kings presence, the sorrow whereof was his death. On the other side Antipater went about to accuse her, sowing discord between her and the king, to stir him against her. He suborned also a certain Ennuch or gelded parson to go unto the king and inform him, how that at what time as he took displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his presence: Pheroras procured a strong poison and gave it to his wife, commanding her to destroy the king therewith. The king hearing this was wroth with the Ennuche, and said: I searched for that venom long a go when it was noised that my household servants would give it me to drink: but I could not find the thing to be true. Yea, I have been to rash in such matters: for I put my wife Marimi to deaths without a cause, and Alexandra my mother in law, with my two children. When Antipater heard that the king credited not the Ennuche, he made suit to the king to send him to Octavian the second time: for he was a feared for the Vial that was in Pheroras wife's house. He had written also with his hand how that he sent it, intending therewith to poison the kings sons children. But he that prepareth a pit for another, oft times falleth into it himself. So desiring the king to send him, he let him go. After this the king commanded to make search if the Ennuches' words were true or no: he sent first for all Pheroras household servants, examined them whether ever they could perceive that Pheroras was in mind to hurt him. They all swore no. Then the king commanded to scourge them very sore, but they confessed nothing: although some died under their hands in the examination. Some he ordered with divers kind of torments of some he caused to pluck out all their teeth. And as he had scourge a certain woman servant, which had been very trusty to Pheroras, at length when she could no longer stand for strokes, she cried out and said: The holy & blessed God revenge us of Rostios' the king's wife Antipater's mother, 
Dosis Antipater's mother.  which is cause of this. The king hearing these words, bad let her alone, she will disclose all. Then spoke she. Antipater made feasts every foot for thy Brother Pheroras and himself: and as they eat and drank, they devised how to poison thee, specially when as Antipater was going to Octavian. For they said: Except we destroy him, he will destroy us, as he hath done all the children of his house. Moreover, he loveth the children of his sons that were put to death, which grow apace: and it is possible he may change his mind, and make one of them king. Antipater also said to thy brother. The king makes as though he were much my friend, but I trust him not. He gave me (saith he) a. C. pound weight of gold, but all that satifieth not me. When the king heard this he told how he had given Antipater this gold secretly. The woman said moreover. There is yet a Vyal of strong poison in Pheroras house, that thy son sent out of Egipte. straightway the king sent to Pheroras wife, that she should bring him the Vial of poison her own self. When she espied the kings eunuchs come to fetch her whether she would or no: she gate her up to the top of the house and cast herself down headlong to kill herself, because she would not see the king nor abide his torments. But she died not thereof, whereupon the kings messengers brought her in a horse litter, and set her afore the king. Then she confessed unto him, how Antipater his son had conspired with Pheroras to kill him with a strong poison that he had bought in Egipte, and sent to Pheroras when he want to Octavian. And how that Pheroras being at the point of death, repented him thereof, charging that we should never give that venom to Antipater, but pour it out upon the ground, that the king might not be poisoned therewith: and I did as he bade me, cast it out all save a little that I kept in the glaze bottom, for I ever feared that which is now come to pass. Then at the kings commandment, the Vial was brought forth before him, and there was a little of the venom left, wherefore they gave better creadite to her words: so that the king was content with her, and bad his Physicians heal her, and she recovered. This done, the king write to Antipater to come home with speed, because I am old (saith he) & weak, uncertain how shortly I shall die. The king had yet also two other sons at Rome, Archelaus & Polimus. So when Antipater writ to answer his father's letters: he signified unto him that his ii sons had defamed the king and slandered him unto Octavian. But the king answered him: come and bring them with thee, & I will order them as thou thinkest good. notwithstanding Antipater dallied & delayed for the space of vii months, to see if he might learn somewhat of his father's doings, but he could hear nothing. The messengers that his father had sent, lay upon him every day & drged him to make speed. Therefore at the vii months end he took his journey towards judea, and came to Caesarea. There heard he that his father had taken displeasure with his mother and banished her the court● but he could not learn what should be the cause: therefore he was strooken in such fear, that he would have gone back again and left his journey. But they that waited upon him, being desirous to go home to their houses & family, crafted with him, and persuaded him that if he should now return back out of his way: he should justify his enemies sayings to be true. But if thou come once to thy father's presence (say they) who loveth the so intirelye: thou shalt prevail against thy foes, and get the upper hand of them that trouble thee. So he followed their counsel, and came to jerusalem. When he entered into the city, no man came forth to meet him, nor once to bid him welcome home. For all the people hated him for his lies, slanders, perverse & wicked counsel, but chief for fear of the king Yet went he forward to the court, although with a fearful heart. When he came to the kings presence, he fell down and did his duty: but the King turned away his face, and could not abide to look upon him. He went home therefore to his house with a heavy heart, hanging down his head, and hiding his face. There his mother to●de him how their counsel concerning the vial of poison, was bewrayed: and how the king was wonderfully incensed towards him, that increased yet his fear more and more. The next day by the king's commandment he was brought forth, & before all the chief of Israel assembled together, the king sat to judge Antipater's cause. There rehearsed the king unto them his son's lewdness & lies, how he had seduced him & stirred him to kill his children that were of the king blood, far better and more virtuous than he: in so much that with a loud voice the king burst out and bewailed his wife Marimi, whom he put to death without a cause, and his two Sons, that they that were far of might hear him. Then Antipater lift up his head, and began to speak craftily and subtly. First he forgot not to give gentle words to pacify his father's wrath, (but that he could not do.) After he fell to entreaty in such sort, that all the nobles were moved to pity, and bewailed his evil Fortune, not without tears: save only Niraleus the king's serretary, who loved the kings children that were put to death. He rebuked them all that were sorry for the calamity of Antipater, crying with all his might: where are ye Alexander & Aristobulus that were slain guiltless? Lift up your heads & behold this bloody & wicked man fall into the pit which he himself made: see how how his foot is catched in the net that he laid his self for other. Mark ye not how your maker revengeth your death and requireth yourbloude at his hand in the time of his destruction? For the wicked man is spared until the time of his death. So the king himself very much infensed, sent to fetch a condemned person out of prison: who being brought before them and tasting a little of the poison in the Vial, fell down stark dead forthwith. Then the king commanded Antipater to be carried to prison, & to be laid in the strongest irons. The xl year of his reign, which was the lxx year of his age, king Herode fell sick, & no remedy, no physic could be found to help him. Nether his servants nor physicians could procure him any rest, so grievously came his disease upon him, with lack of breath, & through the anguish of the manifold evils that had happened unto him by his own folk. Whereupon he cried out, saying: Woe may he be●, that hath none left to succeed him in his kingdom: nor none to go before his Coffin, and mourn for him at his death. Then called he to his remembrance, his wife Marimi, and his two sons, rehearsing them by name, howling and weeping still continually. Upon a certain day when his sickness came sore upon him: he called to his servants to fetch him some pleasant apple to see if he might comfort his heart: and when they had brought it he axed for a knife to cut it, one was brought him. Then he gathered his strength unto him and reared himself up upon his left arm, and perceiving his life to be full of sorrow and lamentation: he took the knife with his right hand and fetched his way to thrust it into his belly. But his servants stepped to him, and caught his arm, holding his hands, and would not suffer him to do it. Then wept he sore and all his servants that the voice was heard out of the court, and shortly all the city was in a stir, saying: the king is dead, the king is dead. Antipater being in the prison, heard the noise, and asked what business is this? they answered him, the king is dead. Then was he glad, and rejoiced wonderfully, saying unto the Iaylo●●●● Strike of mine irons and let me dute that I may go the palace, and Iwyll remember thee with a good turn▪ The keeper answered: I fear lest the king be yet altue. I will go therefore & know the truth, and come again by and by. Antipater saw he could not get lose, wept for anger at the keeper. So the keeper came to the court, which as it was told to the king: he commanded him to be brought to his presence. Then the king asked him. What did Antipater (I pray thee) when he heard this mourning, and that I was dead? The keeper answered. He was very glad thereof, and when I would not smite of his irons and let him out, he wept for anger. The king crted out unto his lords See how he hateth me being yet in prison: if he were here, he would do what he could to kill me. He would not do as my servants did, make haste to wrest the knife out of my hand. As true as God liveth, he shall never have that he gapeth for. So the king commanded he should be put to death. And there was never a man that would intreat● for him or desire the king to the contrary, but every man was glad of his destruction. The king commanded the kepar to bring him forth to the market place: which done, his head was smitten of, and so he leapt, besides his purpose. The king commanded moreover his body to be taken and carried to the city of Ankalia, there to be buried and not in the city. That done, 
Hircanium.  and the people returned from the burial: the king sent to call all the nobles of Israel together, and enforsinge his strength, he sat up in his bed, and commanded to call his son Archelaus, upon whom he laid his hands and made him king over Israel. Then shouted every man: God save the king, god save the king. The king lived .v. days after the execution of Antipater: then fainted & died. The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He was a worthy warrior, a wise & a prudent man, a goodly man of person, having God on his side. He loved ever the sages Hillell and Samai with their companies. He enriched the second house more than all other kings, and was more liberal than all the kings that were before him. His gifts and rewards were rich: for he counted gold and silver as chaff & stones. He kept Israel in quiet and peace from all their enemies. He builded also a more royal temple than did king Salemon. But he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israel heavier: and gave open ear to evil tongues. He was a cruel bloudshedder of poor and innocent persons. He willed before his death that they should bury him in the city Erodion, two days journey and a half from Jerusalem. So they put him in a coffin covered with gold, set here & there with precious stones. The bed under him was wrought with gold & full of precious stones. Likewise, upon his head was a cloth of reins powdered with precious stones, & upon that a royal crown, made fast to the left side of the coffin: & upon the right side was the regal sceptre. Upon the bear was also a cloth of reins very thick powdered with precious stones, crystal, amethists, and very many sapphires. Then all his chief men of war went about him in their coats of fence, & drawn sword in their hands, with helms on their heads, as in time of war. After them came Archelaus his son that was made king. Then followed him all the people. There were fifty of his servants that went about the bear with every man a chafing dish of gold in his hand, wherein they burned sweet woods and perfumes, every foot casting upon the hearse pure myrrh, as many as went about him. He was borne by certain great lords & noble men of Israel upon their shoulders, going leasurably and with a majesty, till they came to Erodion, where they buried him with great honour that like was never done to any king. These things done, there resorted together such as hated him, & were weary of their own lives whiles Herode lived, rejoicing that they had scaped his hands, saying: we have looked till our eyes bleared, waiting for the death of Herode that tyrant and blood sheder, that oppressed us with such heavy yokes, & left us nothing to live on, for the great tributes & taxes that he laid upon us. Yet now Archelaus his son is worse than he. Wherefore they consulted together, & cast their minds & good wills toward Antipater the son of Salumith the kings sister, one of the blood of Chasnonanis, and went with him to Oct. Augustus: requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater, but he would not grant them their sewte. Yea, rather he confirmed & assured the kingdom to Archelaus. Who wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord: for he married his brother Alexander's wife that had children by Alexander: & committed other many great offences. The ix year of Archelaus reign, it chanced upon a night, he dreamt a dream. Him thought he saw ix heirs of corn very good & full grow upon one stalk, them came a great ox and slopped them up all at once at one bit: by and by he waked, and perceived it was a dream. Therefore calling one of the Sages or pharisees unto him: he showed them his dream. The wise man said: This is the interpretation of it. The nine heirs fresh and full, be the ix years which hither to thou hast reigned. The great Ox is the great king Octavian Augustus. This year thou shalt be removed from thy kingdom because thou hast neglected the word of God, & hast married thy brother's wife. To this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad. Within five days after Octavian came toward jerusalem: and when Archelaus went to meet him: he put him in prison, deposed him from his kingdom of Israel, & made Antipas his brother king in his stead. He turned his name also & called him Herode That done he returned to Rome, whiles Antipas was king, died themperor Octavian Augustus the lvi year of his reign, & Tiberius Cesar succeeded him. This Antipas also wrought wickedness and sundry abominations, more than any that was afore him: for he took his brother Philip's wife from him, which had all ready children by Philip. For this shameful deeds, rabbi John the high priest rebuked him, 
John baptist.  wherefore Antipas put him to death. There was at that time one jesus a wise man (if it be lawful to call him a man: 
jesus Christ.  for he was a worker of wondered & strange works, & a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth, & had many disciples both of the jews, & also of the gentiles:) This man was Christ. whom, after he was accused of the chief rulers of our nation, & condemned by Pilate to be crucified, they nevertheless ceased not to love which loved him even from the beginning. To these he appeared the. 3. day alive, according as the prophets by divine inspiration had told before, aswell of this, as also of many other wondered things which should be done by him. And even unto this day the christian sect which took their name of him doth continued. Against this man Antipas of whom we spoke before, came Tiberius' Emperor of Rome, to whom when Antipas resorted: he apprehended him, laid him in irons, & sent him into Spain where he died. Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius reign. Then Tiberius made Agrippa (the son of Aristobulus whom Herode put to death) Antipas brother king in his stead The time that Antipas reigned over Israel was xi years. In Agrippa's time died Tiberias Cesar, & Caius succeeded him This Caius called himself a god: and would suffer no man to worship any thing in his empire but himself. He continued not long in his digniti, but decayed & died. After him succeeded Claudius. Claudius' being dead, Nero Cesar was emperor, Agrippa reigned over Israel xxiii. years. In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel precedents over them, left them nothing to live upon: besides that punished them with divers torments, until at length they were constrained to rebel against the Roman Empire, and Nero Cesar, to rid themselves from under his subjection. And above all other one Pilus precedent and captain of the Roman army most grievously oppressed the jews, and had done many things very wickedly. For not only had he shed innocent blood, ravished at his pleasure wives, and deflored maids in the cities of juda: but also rob with great cruelty every man of his goods. It chanced that Beronice king Agrippa's sister came at that time to jerusalem of devotion to visit the holy place. She seeing Pilus violently to oppress the people, and for payment of exacttons and tollage, to slay many of them, even at the entrance of the temple: she came forth weeping unto Pilus, beseeching him to be favourable & spare the people for she pitied them very greatli. Yet Pilus relented nothing, but when she was departed from him, he flouted & mocked her, although she were the king's sister, & that in the temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valeant young man, Eleasar son of Ananie the high priest: He, whiles his father was executing his office, could not abide to see the Israelites so ordered at Pilus hands: but being enkindled with a fervent zeal sounded a trumpet, whereby there assembled about him forthwith diverse companies & bands of young men, good warriors, by whose aid he raised a great commotion, & encountered with Pilus & the Romainsouldiours, of whom he made a great slaughter, prevailing much, and getting at length th'upper hand of Pilus, overthrew all his host, so that Pilus was constrained to i'll alone out of jerusalem unto Egypt. In the way as he fled, he chanced to meet with king Agrippa coming from Rome from Nero Cesar, and going home into judea: to whom Pilus declared what had happened him thorough the youth of the jews at jerusalem. And as Agrippa had passed Egypt and drew toward jerusalem: his sister Beronice directed her letters unto him, moving him to toyn with the jews and to aid them. The people also came wholly the space of lx miles out of the city of jerusalem to meet him, and fell down flat before him crying, God save our king Agrippa. But the king studied all he might to procure quietness and peace to the city & people. So he entered in to jerusalem accompanied with a couple of noble men of Rome, worthy captains whom he brought with him in his train. And when he came into the midst of the city, the people cried mainly out upon him, saying: Deliver us o king, and let thy hand & help be on our side to succour us, for we will never more be under the Romans subjection. The king hearing this pitied the people very much: not withstanding he was not content that they were mined to rebel against the Roman Empire. Wherefore he called together the people at thentrance of the court of the temple, where were present the elders of Israel and all the chief men, with the high priest Anany: declared unto them the power of the Romans, the strength of their kingdom, and what nations round about them they had subdued, in such sort as no remain of them was left. Wherefore he besought ●them not to provoke the Romans, nor to destroy the people remaining of Israel. He added moreover. hearken my brethren, saith he: I know well enough that there resteth in your hearts a great grief, and I myself am full of sorrow and anguish, that we are not of power able to withstand the Romans. All be it if ye will be ruled by my counsel, ye shall find a redress for this matter. For where as counsel is and good deliberation. there is safety and things come to prosperous success. Ye shall sustain for a while the yoke of the Roman captains, till I may certify Nero of the matter by mi letters and entreat him to rid us of these rulers. I beseech you be not to hasty of liberty: Many seeking liberty, have fallen into further captivity and greater bondage. There be amongst our people many evil disposed persons, whose delight is in wars, for it is their whole study: amongst whom many good men do also pearish. Wherefore hear my words, as for them that be wise may perceive the matter themselves: they that lack experience, let them learn wisdom at my sayings. Keep therefore silence, which shallbe as well to mine, as to your own commodity, for I shall not need to strain myself but speak the softlier, with less pain: and ye on the other side may the better hear and understand what I say. If ye hold not your peace, ye shall have two discommodities: ye shall interrupt my communication, and let yourselves from hearing. But now to the purpose, ye shallbe content and suffer till I writ to Rome of these matters, that Cesar may remove these evil rulers, and send us then that be more human and gentle. If ye may have once such, then shall ye not think yourselves in bondage, but in liberty, and worthily: for then only is servitude grievous, when as the ruler is an unjust man and wicked. Now therefore stay yourselves: quarrel not with them, for although they be wicked, yet will they be ashamed to do wrong openly, as that that they do, they do it secretly. But if ye should accuse them to much, they would rub their foreheads and do it openly without all shame: so should you make of your judges and rulers, your open enemies. But it were far better to suffer an unjust governor, than a just enemy. For the one robbeth men privily: the other is an open destroyer, provoke them not therefore. Consider the wild beasts that be under man's power, and be kept in chains, as Lions, Bears, and Leopards: if a man let them alone, they are quiet and harm no man. But if a man go to their dens and anger them, than they will flee upon him & worry him, and other to that be present. The same ye may perceive in a sever and an ague, which if a man will go about to cure at the beginning, he shall make it more grievous: but if he will remedy it by leisure, the fervency of it will easily be quenched. Now therefore refrain yourselves, take heed ye set not Caesar in your tops, & the hole Roman empire. Caesar coveteth not your harm, neither sent he unto you these rulers to hurt you. His eyes can not see from east to west, nor his hand reach from Rome hither, for it is flesh and blood. But if ye will abide till I may send ambassadors to Caesar, I doubt not but I shall remove these rulers, and rid you of them peaceably without any war or blood shed. If ye be utterly determined to resist the Roman Empire, you shall understand you be in no wise able to do it: for god is every where on their side, so that they be Lords throughout all the world, and all people serve them: and shall, till their end also come. But if ye will not do this for your own sakes: yet do it for your own countries sake, your children and wives, the sanctuary & priests, whom ye are bound to love and spare, lest ye cast away and undo all them at once. I beseech you take my words in good part, for I have spoken nothing but that that is for your wealth, and that may further our peace with the Romans, which I most wish. If you will be ruled and choose peace, I will take your part and do the best I can for you: but if ye will needs have wars, ye shall have it alone for me, I will not meddle with you. With this Agrippa's fell on weeping, and so did also all the elders with him, and the men of most wisdom, the chief in all Israel: yea, Ananie the high priest also could nor refreine from tears. Notwithstanding Eleasar his stout son with his routs of warlike young men about him, they wept not at all, nor would hearken or give any ear to wholesome counsel: but all at once with their drawn swords, violently rushed upon the Roman captains that came with Agrippa's, slew them, their men, & all the multitude that was with him in Jerusalem & judea. The elders in judea with the wisest & godliest Israelites, saying what was done, departed from Jerusalem, fearing Nero & the cruelty of the Romans. Therefore they took the tour of Zion & remained there. For they would not be taken of the Romans to be of the same confederacy with the other. The seditious seeing that, took the temple of the Lord. So dissension and civil wars fell between the seditious and the ancients. For when Eleasar heard the elders and heads of the people were fled to the mount Zion: he and his company set upon them, prevailed against them, and slew a great meany of them. Agrippa's perceiving the power of the seditious grew apace: he sent out of his camp where he lay without the town, two valiant captains, one named Darius, the other Philippus with six thousand men, to secure those elders and sages that were desirous of peace. These prevailed against Eleasar and the seditious that took his part: made a great slaughter of them, skirmishing for the space of seven days together, and at the length put them to flight and pursued them to the temple. From that time forth the wars increased more & more, between Eleazar and his complices: and Agrippa's with his host and the Sages elders & princes that took their part. Upon a time when the captains of Agrippa's entered the temple: certain cut throat murderers waged by the seditious, mixed themselves amongst the kings bands, and getting behind their backs, wounded them with short daggers, that they had hid under their jacks, so that the kings soldiers having lances and great armed sword in their hands, such as they use in the wars: could not wield them in the press, by this means many of them were slain, and the seditious gate the victory. Thus Darius & Philippus with the Roman army were put to flight, & the elders with the Sages that were desirous of peace, departed out of the town, and fled to king Agrippa's. Then had Eleasar and the seditious the hole rule of the city, and that to all their great damage. For the fury of the seditious increased to such outrageousnes that they set a fire king Agrippa's house that he had in Jerusalem, spoiled all his treasure, & all that was any thing worth, they divided amongst them. They burnt his books of accounts & bills of debts everichone that were in his palace. Beronices house also the king's sister they set on fice: and they slew all the cunning artificers that were masters of the king's works. So their rule and power in the city grew every day more and more grievous than other.  

IN those days dwelled the jews & Aramites together in all the Cities of Syria, amongst whom also war was moved, for the Cesarians brought the Romans into the town against the jews, & slew them as many as they could find in the town. The Damascians also conspired together to destroy all the jews that dwelled amongst them, which thing they kept secret from their wives, because for the most part they favoured the jews religion. Therefore the Aramites upon a certain night armed for the purpose, beset all the ways and entrances into the town, & the houses also, and slew about ten M. of the jews coming upon them at unwares when they were in their beds, nothing mistrusting any such matter. When the jews of Jerusalem heard how the Aramites had dealt with the jews in their country: suddenly they put themselves in arms, and in a fury and rage's like as it had been Lions & bears that had lost their whelps, they ran to Damascus, burnt their holds, slew the Damascians with the sword, man, woman, & child, even the very sucking babes: yea, their oxen, sheep, camels, & asses, with all other cattle, leaving none alive. And thus they dealt with many cities of the Syrians, slaying and killing them, not sparing either old or young: male, or female: but distreyinge all in most cruel wise, even the the very infants and sucklyng they haled from their mother's breasts and murdered them, in so much that all the whole Land was full of stench of the dead bodies that were slain, for there was no man left to bury the carcases. So the jews wasted all the land of the Aramits, & had destroyed it had not Castius a captain of the Romans delivered Syria & the country of Zofa. The people therefore departed wholly from Aram to return into judea, & in the way they came by Scithopolis a city of Syria, intending to besiege it, for it was yet left untouched, & was very strong. At that time also jews and Aramites dwelled together in it. The jews therefore that were without, offered peace to the jews the dwelled in the town: but they refused it, and defied them, railing at them, and for their friendly offer acquitted them with opprobrious words, & with injuries also. For those jews that dwelled in the foresaid city with the Aramits, loved together like brethren, and for the more part they were of the Levitical tribe, stout men and hardy. The host of the jews without the city, said unto them: We come friendly unto you, and would aid you. The other jews within annswered: We will neither your friendship nor aid. The army of the jews hearing that, consented and agreed to raise their siege, to go to Jerusalem, and there to remain. For they had a huge booty of gold and silver that they had gotten together of the spoils of Syria. After this, the Syrians that dwelled in Scithopolis said one to another: Putcase the jews return again & make war upon us: surely if they should so do, these jews that dwell amongst us would join with them, and deliver up the City into their hands, and then would they be revenged upon us, and destroy us as they have done the other cities of Syria. Therefore they agreed to say unto the jews that inhabited the city with them: We understand your country men will invade us again, and make war upon us: wherefore depart ye forth of the city with your wives and children, and lodge in the wood nigh unto the city, till their army be gone again, and then you shall return unto us. The jews were content to fulfil their minds, went out of the city, and placed themselves in the wood. There was amongst them a certain young man named Schimeon, a good man of water, fierce, big made, and very strong withal: he in favour of the gentiles had slain many of the jews, and sold much of the people of God. For during the time that the jews besieged Sithopolis: he issued out continually, and skirmished with the host of the jews, many times putting them to flight, and never would suffer them to waste the town or to do any harm to the inhabitants thereof. Now as this Schimeon with his father Saul an honest old man, and the rest of the people of the jews that dwelt in Scithopolis, remained all together boldly in the wood, without mistrusting any harm: the Romans joined with the Syrians in great number, entered the wood and slew the jews all that ever they could find, to the number of xiii thousand. Schimeon him self with his father and their families had pitched their tents nigh unto a fair fountain that was in the wood, to whom when their enemies came to slay them and to destroy their hole families: Schimeon ran upon them with his drawn sword, made a great slaughter of them, and constrained them to retire. But when as a huge multitude environed him, and he perceived that all the rest of the jews were slain, and he with his household only remained, neither saw he any way to escape: he stepped upon a little hill with his naked sword, saying: hearken unto me ye Syrians and Romans and ye that dwell in Scithopoles, I will speak unto you a few words full of lamentation and sorrow. Now I perceive that iustli and not without a cause ye make war against me, without any favour or consideration that I have delivered you from the hosts of the jews, & never suffered them to do any displeasure to you, your wives and children, nor to your city as they had done to other cities of Syria. For I am he that for your sakes have warred against my country men to please you withal: yea, both their blood and mine own have I pledged unto you: and have kept immolated the love of strangers, hating mine own people, of whom, for your pleasures I have slain oft both the fathers and the children: and now you render evil for the good that I have done unto you. But in deed God of his just judgement hath stirred you up to reward me in this sort, to murder me that have so oft received you. Now therefore ye shall bear me witness that I shall sufficiently and sharpli enough take vengeance of myself, not without rage and fury most severely, because I have slain my fellows & friends. I will therefore likewise slay myself to be avenged of myself for my brother's blood that I have shed: and so shall I be a revenger of their blood. And ye shall well perceive me to be of that hardiness & courage that rather than ye should slay me, and after boast & brag how ye have killed Schimeon: I will bereave myself of my life and punish the shedding of my brother's blood none otherwise then the law punisheth a murderer and a manqueller. When he had spoken this, his eyes were filled with blood & his face with rage, and so inflamed with fury, lating apart all pity: ran and caught hold of his father, haled him out of the wood and slew him, Then slew he his mother lest she should entreat him for the children, and be sorry for their sakes. That done, his wife came running of her own accord, and held her neck down to the sword: least she should be constrained to see her children die. Yea, Schimeons' children came and offered themselves to be slain: lest they should see the death of their father, or remain after him to be delivered to the enemies. After this he slew all his hole family, that not one of his should come into the hands of their enemies. finally, he gathered their bodies together into one place like a valiant stout warrioure, and then boldly goarded himself upon his own sword, lest any man else should impair his strength, or boast that he had killed him. All this Schimeon did with a great courage to take punishment of himself, because he had bestowed his love rather upon strangers then upon his own people, and to declare his force and manhood. So he died an abominable and detestable death, save only it was an argument of his haughty mind & great courage, as it is said before.   

NOw when the jews had thus rebelled against the Romans & slain their soldiers and captains: king Agrippa's went to Rome, and recounted unto Nero Cesar the Emperor of Rome all that was happened. Whereupon Nero sent captain Castius (that was at that time in Syria, & had made war upon the king of Persia, had vanquished him and all his power, and subdued his dominions to the Romans,) and with him a puissant army of Romans, commanding him to go into judea to offer peace unto the people, to comfort them, and to bring them again into league with the Romans if it might be. Castius therefore took his journey toward judea, whom Agrippa's met in the way, & informed him what had happened unto him of the jews: how he had offered them peace and they would none of it, how also they had burnt his palace & sacked it. Castius hearing that, was very glad that he had gotten such an occasion to revenge the blood of the Romans and Syrians which the jews had shed. Wherefore he levied a mighty army and came to Caesarea. And wheresoever he might espy the goodliest buil dinges, those caused he to be burnt. From thence went he to the city japho, which he besieged both by land & by water, and at length won it: where he slew in the streets eight thousand and four hundredth men. After that he came to Jabes, where he first brent all the Country about it, and whom so ever he caught without the town, he slew them. But the citizens of Zippori went out to meet Castius, & besought him of peace: whom he spared, came not nigh their town, nor slew any that dwelled in their country. The seditious jews that were in the city of Zippori, hearing of Castius coming: fled unto the mountains. But in the way they lighted upon part of Castius army, whereof they slew ii hundred men, and wounded their captain Glaphira. Yet at length the seditious were put to flight, and many of them, Glaphira with his horsemen pursued, overthrew, and destroyed: the rest fled to the mountains. Then Glaphira captain of Castius army went to Cesaria that was subdued to the Romans, there to cure his wounds that the jews had given him. From thence went he to Antipire, which as he would have assaulted, perceived it to be furnished with a great power of the jews & seditious. These hearing that Castius also was coming, they went purposely to fight with him: but perceiving that Castius power was very great: they determined to encounter with him in the plain of Gibeon, 50. miles from Jerusalem. Whereupon the jews with their companies feigned themselves to flee, to th'intent they might stale the Romans after them. And within vi days they came to Gibeon, and there rested. Castius pursued after with his whole host till he came to Gibeon, which he besieged and assaulted also. It chanced then upon one of the sabbaths in the morning watch, the jews (armed at all places) issued out of the town to give their enemies a Camisado. So after they had given a token of war, they marched toward the host of Castius, whereof they slew. 515. horsemen, and footmen 27. thousand, with the loss of only. 22. of their own company. In that battle did well appear the valiantness of Mugbas a captain of the jews army. One Baudius also played the man at the same time: for at the commandment of Eleasar the priest, chief of the seditious, he set the first foot within the Romans camp. Then began the jewish warriors to be famous, after they had once so manfully encountered with the Romans. This done, Castius and Agrippa's scent their ambassadors yet once again to Jerusalem to Eleasar the son of Anany the priest, chief of the rebels that were in judea and Jerusalem: requiring peace, and to come in league with Eleasar, lest the people the people of the jews should be destroyed by the Romans incursions and invasions on every side. But Eleasar refused to hear the legates, and slew one of them because he made to many words in persuading the peace and league. Upon this, Eleasar assembled the priests and people together to go out & fight with Castius. Castius perceiving how Eleasar and the people were affected, and what minds they were of, how they had utterly conspired to destroy the Romans that were there, and to consume them clean, having a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantness of the rebels: he determined fully to go to Rome, for he perceived he was not able to match with the seditious, neither his own power to be compared with theirs. Wherefore he would go see what end should come of this wars, and what counsel Caesar's majesty would give. Taking his journey therefore to the city japho, he found there letters of the Romans, for thither was their army come. From thence went he with them and his own host to Rome, and made relation unto Caesar of such things as had chanced him: whereat Nero was wonderfully abashed, & not only he, but all the people of Rome were sore astonished to hear of the great puissant and valiantness of the jews. For the which cause the wars ceased for that year, so that the land of judea was at great rest & quietness the year through Eleasars' means the head rebel, specially from the hands of wicked Castius, that had sworn to revenge the Romans, & to quite the jews: and that he would destroy all the jews, that none should be left alive. Therefore these are they that delivered Israel in the time of the second temple out of the hands of their enemies, what time as wars were moved against the jews and their country: what time also commotions and tumults began in Israel. The first business was made by Antiochus the wicked king of Macedonia: who had determined, not to leave one man in Israel. His mischievousness proceeded so far, that he slew of the people of God, the Sages & wise men, princes, elders, and young men, children great and small, Israelites, levites also and priests: until all the chief men of juda cast their heads together and went to Matthathias son of jochanan the high priest in the mount of Modiith, where he had himself for the iniquity of Antiochus and his rulers, crying upon him, and saying: Deliver at this season the people of the Lord, and never think to escape thyself, whiles the most wicked enemy rangeth thus and runneth upon thy people, & sheddeth thy blood. For the blood of all Israel what is it but thy blood, and the eyes of every man are fixed upon thee, hoping that thou shouldest assist and aid them in this calamity, that they may find deliverance by thy means. Mattathias hearing this, wept bitterly and said unto them: Fear ye not, nor let these Macedonians dismay you: the Lord shall fight for you, be ye only quiet. So then was Mattathias stirred, & delivered Israel out of the hands of Antiochus, and after he had overcomed him, he was high priest for one year, and then died. In whose room succeeded judas his son, who executed the office in the temple vi years, and was slain in battle. Then his brother jochanan was chief in the temple viii years, and died likewise in battle. After him his brother Schimeon was ruler .18. years, whom Ptolomae his wives father poisoned at a banquet. Then jochanan his son succeeded his father in th'office, that is he that was named Hircanus, first of that name: so called, because he vanquished a king of that name called Hircanus, he reigned .21. years and died. Afterwards reigned Aristobulus one year, he was called the great king, because he first put the royal crown upon his head, and turned the dignity of the high priesthood into a kingdom, unhallowing and staining the holiness thereof. 480. years and iii months after the returning of Israel from Babylon. He being dead, his brother Alexander reigned xxvii years. After whose death Alexandra his wife, held the kingdom ix years and died. In whose stead succeeded her son Aristobulus, and reigned three years. In his time Pompey a Roman captain, came against Jerusalem, won it and apprehended Aristobulus, bound him in irons and carried him captive to Rome. In whose place he ordeived Hircanus his brother to succeed, who reigned forty years. During his reign, rebelled An tigonus, form of Aristobulus Hircanus brother, & with the aid of an army of the Persians encountered with Hircanus took him prisoner and sent him to Babylon, cutting of his ears, that he should never after be meet either for the priesthood or for the kingdom. Antigonus reigned iii years. In his days Herode fled, and joined himself with the Romans, by whose help he slew Antigonus the iii year of his reign, & reigned after him xxxvii years, and then died. After Herode succeeded in the king doom, Archelaus his son: who was taken by the Romans the ix year of his reign, laid in bonds and ended his life at Rome. Next to him reigned Antipater his brother, who changed his name & called himself Herode, he reigning fully ten years, overcame and vasted Spain, because the king of Spain had ravished and taken away his brother's wife, and there died. After him followed Agrippa's son of Aristobulus that was his brother's son, he reigned three and twenty years. After whose death his son Agrippa's reigned twenty years. This is that Agrippa of whom▪ we now speak of, & of the calamities that befell in his time upon Israel. For all the wh●le that he reigned, the wars between the Romans and Israel never ceased, until the people of judea were led captive into the province of the Romans: what time also the temple was desolate. I mean the desolation of the second temple, which we saw with our eyes builded and destroyed.   

THe twenty year of the reign of king Agrippa's, the ix day of the fift month that is called Of, Nero Caesar sent a present for  offerings to be offered in the temple at Jerusalem, 
●●ly.  requiring peace of th'elders & sages of judea & Jerusalem, & that they would receive him into league with them, saying: My request is that you would offer my present to the Lord your God, for his sernice and religion liketh me very well, so that I desire you to join in league with me according as you have done with the emperors of Rome my predecessors in time past. I have heard what Castius the captain of mine armi hath done unto you, which displeaseth me out of measure. Wherefore I assure unto you a faithful league, by the consent and counsel of the Senate of Rome, that hereafter there shall never Roman captain stir hand nor foot against you, but rather your heads, rulers, & judges, shall be all jews and of jerusalem. Yea, Agrippa's your king shallbe Lord of all your rulers, & what he commandeth ye shall do it, the Romans shall only be called your lords, and have no more to do with you. So when these legates came to jerusalem, they went and spoke with Anani the priest, informed him of Nero's mind, & showed him his present, placing it afore him. The present was this, a bull for a  offering with a great crown of gold upon his head, his horns also were covered with gold, upon him was a cloth of purple powdered with precious stones: there went certain afore him the carried ten talents of gold: behind followed very many sheep for peace offerings. When Eleasar Ananies son heard thereof, he came & cast out of he temple of the Lord Nero Caesar's presents, saying: we will not suspend & unhallow the sanctuary of our Lord with the offerings of strangers. For our Lord God will▪ accept neither their  offerings nor their peace offerings. When he had so said: he sounded a trumpet, set his men in array against the host of the Romans that kept watch & ward in the city of Jerusalem, and flew many of them that day, with one of their captains also, and another they took alive. He being a valiant man, and seeing the routs of the jews to urge him grievously, said unto them: save my life and I will yield me. Unto whom Eleasar the rebel swore that he would not slay him, but spare him for his manhood, (for he has slain very many of the jews afore) whereupon he yielded himself. Then Eleasar said unto him: like as thy sword hath made many women childless, so shall thy mother be made childless of thee above all other, and therewith contrary to his oath he commanded his servant to kill him and so he died. King Agrippa's seeing this, was wonderful sorry, therefore as he stood in one of the streets, he cried. O thou rebel Eleasar, I pray God that this mischief, whereof thou art cause, and thy acts may light ●pon thee and thy father's house: which when it comes to pass, we shall never bewail nor be dismayed at. It appeareth they shall have somewhat to do, that study to make peace and tranquil litie in thy days, for they are sure to be destroyed with thee. How long wilt thou continued to bring us into the breares, thou enemy & hater of the Lord? Why dost thou destroy & waste the vineyard of the Lord God of hosts? Eleasar answered him: what, takest thou upon thee, the name of a king? for if thou be a king, why commandest thou not us to be punished. Where be thy valeant soldiers? let see, come thou & they together & chasten me, that it may be tried whether thou be a king in deed or no. Thou standest a loof of, and when thou speakest, thy feet are ready to run away, like as though a dog should set himself against an armed man and bark at him, bleatinge out his tongue. With this, he winked upon the rebels his complices, to run upon Agrippa's and take him whiles he held him in talk. But that was perceived of one of Agrippa's seruaunies, whom he had appointed for the same purpose to stand over against him as nigh as he might, to mark and espy if the rebels should make any stour towards him, and to let him have knowledge. He therefore laying his hand upon his head, gave a sign to the king to ●lie, saying: Away, away, for if thou tarry never so little, the seditious will slay the and us together. Which Agrippa's perceiving he gate him thence with all the speed he might, and the rebels pursued him but in vain, ●●r they could not evertake him. So he gate to japho a town under the Romans where he was in safeguard. From thence he fled to Rome, and declared to th'emperor Nero, the mischief that befell at jerusalem, and all that seditious Eleasar had done to his offering: also how his commandment took no place. Wherefore Nero joined unto him again Castius with a huge army, wherewith they both entered judea and wan many walled towns, amongst which they razed japho. For the Romans perceiving the power of the Rebels to increase, were afraid lest they should get it into their hands, whereby it might be annoyance in time to come to the Romans: chief seeing it was a notable haven for their ships to arrive at in judea. After this both Agrippa's and Castius led their army towards jerusalem to war upon the Rebels, and utterly to destroy them. Eleasar and other priests with much people hearing this, they issued out against them, and found them encamped in the way between jerusalem and japho, but after they had joined their battle, many of the jews were slain by the Romans the residue Castius and Agrippa's put to flight, & pursued the chase unto the gates of jerusalem, besieged also the city for the space of three days. The fourth day the priests and the people issued out suddenly, unwares to the Romans, set upon their camp, and slew .v. thousand foot men, and one thousand horsemen. Castius seeing that neither be nor his could well escape, he chose out xl thousand of his best soldiers & placed them betwixt his camp and the priests, commanding them to stand all the night sounding their trumpets and making of fires, that he & Agrippa's might escape, and that they should not remove out of their place till the morrow. The jews harkeninge to the sound of the trumpets, and musing what it should mean, pursued not the Romans: but perceiving in the morning that they were departed toward Cesaria three days journey of, Eleasar with the people followed: and in the way found their baggage strawed, that the Romans had cast from them to run the lightlier and escape the easilier: which they let lie and pursued them to the gates of Cesaria. But Castius and Agrippa's gate safe within the town, and from thence went both together to Rome, where they declared unto Nero the Emperor, how they sped at jerusalem. And as they were making relation of this unto the Emperor. There came also a post out of Perfia with tidings that the king of Persia was revelted from the Romans Empire, these things troubled the Emperor sore, to see almost all fall from him, that heretofore had obeyed the Empire of the Romans.   

AT the same time returned Vaspasianus, captain of the host that Nero had sent into the West parts, as Germavie, Britain and Spain, which lands he had subdued and brought under the subjection of Nero. To him Nero declared what mischief the priests had wrought to the Roman host in judea, how they had slain the Romans, and so for the all the tale that Agrippa and Castius had told him, which displeased Vespasian very greatly. After this Nero set Vespasian captain and his son Titus to revenge the Romans upon the Persians and jews, giving in commandment to raze their walled towns, to beat down what so ever they found without sparing any body, either men or women, children or infants, sucking babes or old folks, but to slay all. So Vaspasianus and Titus, set forward with a chosen and picked army of the Romans, passed the seas and came to Antiochia. The jews having intelligence of this, choosed out of all their captains, three principal most expert warriors: of whom I joseph priest that writ this history was one, who by the divine favour am valeant in battle: and Anani the high priest, and Eleasar his son. To these three they committed the hole land of judea, dividing it to them by lot, and gave them all furniture of war. One third part therefore, (which was hole Galilee from the land of Napththaly and beyond) fell to joseph the priest son of Gorion to his honour and glory, whom for his worthiness they named also josiphon, because he was then anointed: appointed, & consecrated to the wars. The second lot came forth: by the which fell unto Anani the high priest, the city of Jerusalem and the country about it, with a charge to repair the walls of the city, to sustain the brunt of Vespasian, if he should come so far The third lot fell to Eleasar the son of Anani the priest, to whom was joined captain jehoscua and other jewish captains. By the virtue of this lot fell to them the whole land of Edom from Elath unto the red sea. The rest of the land from jericho to Euphrates, with that also that is beyond the river and all the land of Mesopotamia, fell to captain Menasches' lot. To other Princes also of judea and to the worthiest priests, they committed the fenced cities from the frontiers and bounds of Jerusalem unto Egypt. Vespasian taking his journey with his host from Antiochia, came & pitched his tents in Aram Zofa. For he had devised and determined thus with his counsel: first to invade Galilee, and after to try what they could do in judea. joseph the son of Gorion having intelligence of this: his purpose, departed from jerusalem to Galilee, built up the towns that were destroyed & repaired their walls, gates bars & palaces. Ordained captains over the people to lead & govern them, some of thousands, some of hundreds, tribunes and Decurians. He instructed the people also in feats of wars what the sounds of trumpets signified, what sound served to fall in array, what to gather the soldiers together, and what to divide them, and after he had instructed them, the discipl●● and feats of war, he spoke unto them in this wife. Ye shall understand (dear lights) that ye go to fight at this present, againstyour enemies. Wherefore let no effeminate fear overcome your hearts, nor dismay yourselves at the sight of your enemies, but play the men and take a good courage unto you to fight for your cities, for your country, and for yourselves. Be not afraid of death but rather be stout in the defence of your country that ye be not led away from it, and to fight for the sanctuary of the Lord, that it be not stained and polluted with thuncleanness of the gentiles. Consider that it is better to die in battle then to live in captivity and bondage. Therefore when as ye shall come to join with your enemies, and shall see any of them beaten down and attempt to rise again, who soever of you is by and seethe him, remember the zeal of your GOD, wherewith it becometh you to revenge his quarrel, and being moaned therewith, strike him that he never rise agaiene.  
But if you shall see any of your selowes down, being enkindled with the zeal of your God, rescue him from the hands of the enemies: and if he be not yet slain, cure him. If he be dead: ye shall do what ye can to bury him in the Israelites burial. And so if we shall choose rather to die then to live, we shall prosper in our wars, we shall die for the covenant of our God, and deliver our souls, bringing them to the light of life in heaven. After he had said this, he chose out of the jews ix thousand footmen, and but few horsemen. And out of these he chose vi hundred of the best, such as one of them would not shrink from ten, ten from an hundred, a hundred from a thousand, a thousand from ten thousand. With them joseph went to the cities of Agrippa's that were in jehudea to win them. For Agrippa's stuck to the Romans were it right or wrong with all the power he could make. He went first to Tiarua a great city that belonged to Agrippa, where as both his treasure and munition of war was. When he came the● there, he spoke to the people upon the walls and offered them peace, on condition that they should open the gates and deliver unto him all the treasure of Agrippa's and all his jewels: Thus if they would do, he then would spare them and slay none of them. Were it not better for you (saith he) to take part with them that defend the sanctuary of God & his inheritance, then to join your aid with Agrippa's, which is confederate with our enemies and assaileth us, augmenting the power of them that hats us, so that he refuseth not to fight against the sanctuary of the lord, and the people of his inheritance. The men of the town condescending to joseph, openeth the gates and he ●niring the town, made peace with them, and they delivered him all the kings treasures, for they liked joseph's words & consented to take such part as he took. At that time came news unto joseph that troubled him sore: namely that Tiberias had rebelled & were revolted from the people that dwelled at Jerusalem and were changed from his lot, to become Vaspasianus subjects, who had set a Roman captain over them. For reformation whereof, he left his army at Tiarua, and took those six hundredth young men with him to Tiberias, coming upon it suddenly and at unwares. And as he stood upon the banks of Genosar, he espied the navy of the Romans that lay there at road, to aid Vespasian, which joseph commanded to be brooken in pieces and to be scattered abroad in the sea laake. The men of Tiberias therefore seeing the shypbordes dispersed in that fashion, they conieciured it was done by some of joseph's host, wherefore the bands of the Romans fled to the town, gate in & shit the gates. joseph notwithstanding came to one gate of the city and ●●tes that the people might hear, saying: What meaneth this conspiracy of yours against me? yea, not against me, but rather against the Lord God, whose covenant ye have transgressed and brooken the bond that we made with him: ye have also violated your oath that ye swore by the GOD of Israel, that we should altogether fight against our enemies, to abate their pride. The people answered from the walls: we beseech thee our Lord hear thy servants speak. God forbid we should aid the Romans, and not rather the people of the Lord God of Israel and his sanctuary, with the people of his inheritance. Howbeit there be amongst us certain proud men ungodly persons, that have made a league with Vaspasiane, and have brought into the town one of his chieftains. Wherefore and it please thee our Lord to enter the city with thy soldiers, come unto us that we may live with thee, rather than to pearish in the hands of them that hate us. So they opened the gates that joseph went in: and took the town.  
Then he caused to apprehend those ungodly persons that were there, about six hundred men and laid them in irons, sending them to Tiarua which▪ he had afore taken, the other wicked men that had aided Vespasian, he put to the sword. But the chief governor of the town he apprehended alive, carried him out of the city, and commuunded one of his soldiers to cut of his hands forthwith. Then the captain besought joseph, saying. I beseech the my Lord, let but one of my hands be cut of, and tother to be left me. This suit joseph and his soldiers loughe to scorn, iudgeging him to be no valiant man nor of any haughty courage, Yet joseph had his soldier, to give him the sword in his own hand and let him cut of whither hand he list, and leave him which he will. So the Roman captain took the sword and cut of his left hand himself, leaving him the right, & so was he let go. He came therefore unto Vaspasians camp to show what shame was done him. After this the citizens of Zippori rebelled also, making a league with Vespasian and the Romans host, joseph being certified of this, made thither with his hole host to besiege it, but the town abid the brunt of the assault, that joseph could prevail nothing against it. Wherefore he besieged it a long season.   

ABout that time it was signified also to them of jerusalem, that the Askelonites had entered in friendship with the Romans. They sent therefore Neger the Edomite & Schiloch the Babylonian, & jehochanon with a power of the common people, these came to Askalon & be seged it a great space. Within the town was a Roman captain called Antonius, a valeant man & a good warrior, he upon a certain night in the morning watch issued out of the town with his company to give a camisado to the jews that besieged the town: entered their camp and made a great slaughter, continuing the same ill it was day light, so that about ten thousand of the jews were slain. The rest never moved out of their place, saying, it is better for us to die in this battle, then to fly from our enemies: therefore they took a good heart unto them, and stood manfully in their stations and places, trusting in the Lord God of Israel. And when it was day they also set themselves in array against Antony, slew many of his men, not without loss also of their own part, for Schiloch the Babylonian and jehochanan of jerusalem were both slain by the Romans, with other also of the jews, to the number of eight thousand fightingmen, that were under Schiloh and jehochanan. And never a one of the jewish captains escaped that conflict save only Neger the Edomite, which hide himself in a certain sepulchre that was there in the plain, whom the Romans in their pursuts sought, but found him not. Wherefore they set afire the wood that it burnt round about the sepulchre wherein he lay hid, and consumed all the trees, shrubs and bushes, but came not nigh the sepulchre: for Neger had called unto the Lord with his hole heart, to deliver him this once from his enemies, lest he should be shamefully handled of them, promising at another time to be ready to die valiantly in his quarrel. So Neger escaped the Romans by the help of the God of Israel, in whom he put his trust. Shortly after sent the jerosolimites much people to Askalona, to the n●mber of xviii thousand good men of war, to buri the body of the jews that were there slain in the conflicts by Antoni: they sought also the body of Neger the Edomite, but they found it not, till at length he cried unto them out of the sepulchre, saying: I am here: for God hath delivered me out of the hands of mine enemies, to the intent I may yet be avenged of them in the wars of the LORD. So Negar declared unto them at large all things how they chanced unto him. Wherefore the jews rejoiced wonderfu●lye, that that they had found him alive, that he was saved by such a miracle & that the Lord had delivered him: Therefore they put their confidence in the Lord, believing that God would be present with them to aid them, whereof this deliverance of Neger they took for a sure sign and token. The Romans kept them within the town, for fear of the multitude of the jews that were come to bury the bodies. So the jews buried all the bodies of their own part that were slain in both battles, for the Romans were not able to prohibit and let them, but held them in the town. And when the burial was finished, they took Neger with them to jerusalem, to give God thanks there, for his deliverance at that present. Then joseph the priest gathered his strength and came upon Askalon with his hole army, assaulted them, gate th'upper hand and won the town: after slew Antony and all his people, with the sword that of all the valeante men of war that were with him, not one escaped. Besides this, all the villages and hamlets that were there about without the town, he burned them every one. And in like manner served he all the towns & villages there about that had entered in league with the Romans, flaying both jews and Romans that dwelt in them with the sword, as many as be found: and their houses he brent. This done, joseph returned again to Zippori, sought with them & gate the upper hand: there shed he much blood of the people that had conspired with the Romans, utterly destroyed them, burned also their cities and villages, led their wives and children prisoners away to jerusalem, and what Romans so ever he found there, he slew them with the sword. When as Vespasian and Titus his son heard of all that joseph had wrought against the Romans, both how he slew their garisones as many as he could find in Galilee, and also all the jews that had made any league with him and his son, they were wonderful wroth, and in a great rage. They took therefore their journey, & came to Apitelma, otherwise called Acho, where as at that present Agrippa's king of judea was abiding and forty thousand men with him: all good men of war and archers every one: these joined themselves with Vaspasians army, by which means the Romans camp became very huge. Moreover, out of other nations, round about judea, good men of war without number, joined with Vespasian. He had aid also of all the best men of war, out of Mesopotamia, Aram, Zofa, Assur, Sinear, Persia, Chaldea, Macedonia, and out of the provinces of the people of the East, yea, the people of Mizraim, Job, Dedam and Seba with all provinces far and near, that were from under the subjection of the jews, cast of the yoke from their necks, and rebelled against the dominion of jerusalem, joining their power with the Roman army to aid Vespasian and Titus. For these were afore subjects unto the jews, that sore had burdened them, wherefore they came to aid the Romans and to invade jerusalem and the people of the jews. But the Edomites had not yet associate themselves with Vespasian and Titus, for they were in subjection to the jews and served them. So that not one of them aided the Romans. For long before, they had moved war against jerusalem, and could not get the victory, but the jews prevailed against them and subdued them, Hircanus also the first king of the jews circumcised them. They dwelt also in jerusalem, kept watch and ward about the house of the Lord, and his covenant, without all rebellion against the jews and jerosolimites. And at that present was thirty thousand of the best of the Edomites, to keep the walls of jerusalem, and the house of the Lord. After this, Vespasian and Titus with all their host, took their journey from Acho and came to Galilee, and in the mount they pitched their tents. Whereof when tidings was brought to joseph, how the host of the Romans lay upon the mount of Galilee, and how Vespasian had sent afore him a great power to repair the broken ways, to fill the hooles and cast down the hills, to level the way that his people might pass the better, for he was sore moved against the jews. joseph issued out of zipporie with all his power, set upon them, and flew them with the sword, taking such vengeance of them as never was the like afore: for his God was with him. Vespasian and Titus hearing of this, determined to set upon joseph at unwares, and to beset all the ways that he should escape of no side. But joseph had intelligence of their coming, wherefore he left zipporie and went to Tiberia: whether Vespasian followed with his host. joseph perceiving them coming, fled from thence to jorpata, the biggest city in all Galilee, closed up the gates, & there remained with his army.   

THen sent Vespasian certain noble men in embassage unto joseph, to debate the matter with him in this wise. Vespasian general of the Roman army, desireth to know what it should avail the to be thus penned up within a walled town: he wills the rather to come forth to entreat of peace with him, & enter in a league together, for it shallbe for thy avail to serve Caesar, emperor of the Romans the thou mayest live and not be destroyed nor yet any of the people with the. Then joseph sent ambassadors again to Vespasian, demanding treuce for a few days, that he might comen of the matter with the people and let them understand his words: peradventure (saith he:) they willbe persuaded to make peace with thee, and then will we enter in league with the Roman empire. So Vespasian ceased from fight against joseph, permitting him space to deliberate of the thing. Upon that joseph sent Ambassadors to all the people at jerusalem, to the priests, chief men, rulers and to the rest of the people, letting them to wit this. Ye shall understand brethren and friends, that Vespasian general of the Romans sent his Ambassadors unto me, enquiring what it should avail us to be so stiff against them▪ and not rather to come forth and to entreat of peace and to join in league together, that we may serve the Emperor of the Romans, so to save our lives and not to be destroyed. And I pray you why will ye lose your lives, your wives, your sons & daughters? why will ye all fall together upon the sword, that both they, that shallbe left alive among you, shallbe led captive out of your country to a people that ye never knew, whose language ye understand not: and your country to be made desolate, your sanctuary laid waste, that there shall not be so much as one man to enter into it. Never suffer this, you that be wise men, but rather receive my counsel, & come hither to us, that we may deliberat together, what conditions of peace we shall make, for the safeguard of your lives, rather than to be destroyed and that ye may use the commodities of your country, be at rest and peace therein. For life and quietness is to be preferred before death and banishment. The inhabitants therefore of jerusalem, both priests, chief men, rulers, and all the noble men of judea with the rest of the people sent unto joseph, saying. Take heed to thyself, that thou never consent unto this, to receive conditions of peace with them: but be strong and bold to fight until such time as thou shalt consume them, or till thou and all the people die in battle, and so shalt thou fight the fights of the Lord for his people and his sanctuary, with the cities of our God: In the mean season, be as be may, so thy power be not with them. When joseph heard the determination of the people of Jerusalem, how all sorts with one consent willed by the ambassadors the continuance of the wars, he was wonderful wrath, and in a great fury he issued out with all his people, and set them in array against Vespasian and the Roman host, in which conflict were stain very many of the jews. And from the day forward Vespasian began earnestly and fiercely to war upon the jews. He departed from thence to the city Gerarta, a great city in the higher Galilee: besieged it and won it, razed it & flew all the people, man woman and child: oxen, sheep, camels and asses, leaving nothing alive. And then he said: now begin I to be revenged for the Romans, which the jews murdered in the land of juda. From thence he departed, & brought his army to jorpata, where joseph remained. The first day that he entamped about jorpata, he gave his soldiers meat and drink plenty, and made them good cheer, them furnished every man with weapons. So on the next morrow early, the Roman army gave a great shout and beset the city round about on every side. In this business joseph stood upon a certain tower, from whence he beheld the huge camp of the Romans, wherefore he sounded forth a Trumpet, gave a sign to battle, issued out with the hole power of the jews that he had with him, and set upon the Romans camp at the foot of the hill, continuing the fight from morning until night. And when it began to be dark, they ceased fight and departed the one sort from the other, the jews into the town, the Romans to their tents. In this battle were very many slain on both parties, aswell jews as Romans. The Romans advancing themselves, proudly and stoutly said, we will quickly vanqueshe this little nation, as we have subdued all other nations that we have conquered, that they shall annoy us no more: and afterwards we shallbe at rest. The jews also on tother side encouraged themselves against the Romans, saying: At this time we will all die together for the zeal of the sanctuary of our God, and never suffer these unclean persons to pollute it: and when we have once destroyed them, we shallbe quiet. So what for the pride of the Romans of th'one side and the stubbornness of the Ie was on tother, much people was slain in that fight, for it continued till the second third and fourth day. In this while all the jews that dwelled about jorpata, fled to Vaspasians camp and joined themselves to the Romans to aid them. And ever as joseph skirmished with Vespasian without the city, Vespasian sent a power to assault the city. So joseph and his men fought with Vespasian without the town, & the jews that were within the town defended the walls against the routs of the Romans, that was a small host made out of the main army. But the jews that were left within the town, began to diminish every day, until very few were left. The hardiest also of josephes' soldiers and the worthiest young men that fought with out were all slain, a very few except, with whom joseph fled and escaped into the town, shutting the gates after him. But as Vespasian with all his army besieged jorpata a long while, he espied at length a conduit without that ran into the city, whereof the citizens drunk, because the water thereof was good and sweet, he derived the waters thereof besides the town, that it could no more come into the city, whereby the inhabitants of the city were destitute of beverage, having nothing left them but well waters. joseph therefore perceiving that the conduit water whereof they were always accustomed to drink, was taken away, conceived with himself. Now will the Romans brag and boast against us, & think to take us at their pleasure, whiles we have no water but shallbe constrained to die for thirst.  
He took therefore garments, and dipped them in the well waters that were in the town & hanged them here and there over the walls, to declare unto the Romans that they had water plenty in the town, least they should conceive any hope of swift winning the town, thinking they had no waters. Then commanded Vespasian a mount to be raised ●ie to the town side, to plant an iron Ram upon, to batter the walls with, and beat them down. The manner of the making of an iron Ram, is thus. first they take a great long thick beam, upon the forepart whereof they put a great strong head, made like unto a Ram's head, wish horns all of principal streng iron, the weight thereof is as much as half the beam, and covereth the beam also to the mids. Then fasten they into the ground over against the place that they intend to batter, two great trees like masts of ships, between which, they hung the beme that is called the ram with very strong ropes made of hemp, the best that may be gotten, and from wire twisted together. At the hinder part of this beam from the wall ward, are rings of iron surely fastened, with ropes made of hemp and wire tied to them: that when the assaulters will batter the walls, they push forward the beam as though it were a spear, and fasten his strong horns amongst the stones. Then hang they weights at the rings in the hinder part, and much people a far of take hold of the ropes that come through the rings behind, and hale that hinder part of the beam upon the ground: and by such means they shake the wall that they made it to quake again. Thus in many places they wrest and wrench out the stones of the building, so that afterwards the wall falls down. There be also other manner of engines, as an iron ram upon four wheels bound with iron, and fastened with iron nails. To this they make four feet as hath a Ram, or more as the bigness of the beams requireth. The biggest for the most part is of xxx cubits long, and the least of ten. And look how many ●eete the Ram hath, so many wheels hath it also. For every where hath his foot by him, and when they will batter a wall, certain men appointed thereunto draw it first a good way of, then a great multitude of men take hold of the hinderpart thereof, by four porters or levers of wood that are put therein, and with all their sway shove forward the Ram to strike the wall that they will batter. The head of this iron Ram that goeth upon wheels hath no horns but is blunt, made of the strongest kind of iron, with a wonderful thick neck. They have also upon both sides of the engine, a Pentase of wood for the safeguard of them that shove forth the Ram behind from the arrows or stones of them that are upon the walls.  
The Rams that Titus used at jerusalem, for the most part, ran all upon wheels. Of the other fort, he had only two, as we shall declare in his place. The beam of this Ram that we even now described, was as as thick as ten men could fathom: the length thereof, was fifrye cubits. It was also hollow within and filled with Ore hides, folded and sowed together. The wood served for none other purpose, then that the fashion of the Leithar might be set upon the ground. The hinder part of the beam was covered over with iron plates. The leather was put within that the beam should not break with the poise of the weights that were hanged by the rings behind, when as men appointed for the purpose, haled at the ropes to draw back the beam.  
The wood therefore that went about the leather served to keep the leather in fashion. In that they covered it with iron plate, that they did lest they that kept the walls should set it on fire. The bornes that were upon the head of the Ram, were as many as they listed, but never fewer than ten, & then the beam was twenty cubits long: nor also more then. l. and then the beam was a hundred cubits in length. Betwixt every horn was the space of a cubit, and every horn was as thick as a man could fathom, the length was one cubit and a half at the least. The wooden wall or pentase was as long as the leather that was put within the beam, and it was set on both the sides toward the hinder parts of the beam, to defend the men that laboured to batter the walls, lest they should be hurt with arrows or darts. The Ram that Vespasian used at jorpata which he besieged, and me in it, was made in this fort. The length thereof was l cubits, it had xxv horns in the head, which was as thick as ten men: every horn also was as thick as one man, and betwixt every horn the space of one cubit. The weight that was hanged on the hinder parts was a thousand & five hundred talents, every talon is about a hundred Troy weight. The men that laboured in the erecting of this engine, were xu hundred. To remo●e it from one place to another, or from one Cit●e to another, were appointed an hundred and fifty yoke of oxen, or else. 300. couple of borses and mules. When as they should assault any forts or cities that stood upon hills, then must they divide it in parts and bring it up to the siege by piece-meele, and there set it together again. Now when the Romans had battered the walls of jorpata, and joseph perceived the wall to shake: he took great● sacks, filled them full of Chaff, and hanged them down by the Walls, that the horns of the Ram could not come nigh the stones of the wall, but light upon the sacks, which by the reason of their softness of the chasse, damned the stroke that the wall was less hurt. For such is the nature of soft things, to geum back to the hard, & to weaken their force. But Vespasian seeing the subtlety of joseph: used also policy for policy, for he sent into the town secretly jews' spies, which when the batteries should he, might cut asunder the cords that the sacks were tied to, and with them slipped down the walls, where the Romans were ready to receive them that they did not hurt them in the fall, and immediately they struck the wall with the ram. There was at that present in the city a certain valeant man named Eleasar of the house of Anani the high priest that then dwelled at Jerusalem. This Eleasar perceiving the Romans to go about to batter down the walls as ●hey did before, plucked out of the wall a mighty stone, so that he made a great hole or gap, whereat he ●idde down the wall, and light stridelinge upon the engine, made fast an from chain to the horns thereof, and gate up again quickelye and nimlye from the beam into the town with the chain in his hand, for the wall was not very high above his head as he stood upon the Ram. Then other tall fellows took hold upon the chain, and fastened it to Pillars and Walls in the Town, that the Romans might rather he constrained to break their Ram then take it away from thence. The Priest Eleasar yet once again boldly went down and sat upon the beam, slew fifty men that laboured about the Ram; and the rest he put to flight: then returned into the Town, being drawn up again from the beam by them that were within the Town, greatly reioy●ynge in his manhood. After that went he up upon a high tower from whence he tumbled down with a mighty force a great stone and a hard upon the head of the Ram, broke it that both a great part of the head and the bornes fell upon the ground. For the iron that it was covered with all was old and rusty, so that it was much wasted and eaten therewith, the ropes also were old. After that Eleasar went down again, took part of the bead that was broken, and hurled it into the town, the Romans that remained, either he slew or put to flight. The archers shot at him, & wounded him with five arrows, wherefore by the help of his fellows upon the walls, he climbed up, otherwise he had not been able for the grief of his wounds. The people than gave a shout for joy of the dictory of the worthy priest Eleasar that had slain the Romans, and broken their Ram wherein they put their confidence, & brought part of it into the town, & fastened it with an iron chain that the Romans could not pull it back again to them, nor have those of it after ward. Wherefore divers of the valiantest citizens of jorpata armed themselves the day, being stirred with the great courage that they had seen in Eleasar, and went down, hewed the beam into pieces, brought the poises with the rings and two masts with them into the town: and the same day died Eleasar with great renown, as one that had sought for the sanctuary of the lord and for his people and country of Israel, like a faithful servant and soldier of the Lord: whom all the people mourned for, burying him in the town, and honouring him for his death, worthiness, and faithfulness, appointing him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battle with the enemies of the Lord. The young men of the jews seeing this, and specially two of them, the one called Nitra, tother Polipus, men of wisdom and understanding, & therewith expert in the wars being moved with zeal for the god of Israel: opened the gates & issued out against the Romans, skirmished with them & slew many of them. But at length they were slain themselves in the skir mishe for the sanctuary of their God, for Israel, and their country. When joseph saw the wars to increase more and more, he issued out, and made a great slaughter in the Romans tents, burned the mount & engines of war that the Romans had left, by which means the wars warred yet hotter and hotter, in so much that josephus repulsed the Romans: for when they saw the jews so desperatelys give their lives for their God and land, they would not abide their force. When Vespasian saw his men shrink he stood up then, and put them in heart, exhorting them with fair words, and promises, aswell gold and silver, as meat and drink, wherewith the Romans alured, fought with joseph that day unto the Sun setting, and as the battle waxed hot, the jews wounded Vespasian with an arrow in his right leg, which fore dismays the Romans, when they saw the blood run down his leg: and that day was a fore fight between the jews and the Romans. Titus seeing his father wounded, fore abashed ran to him to help him, to whom his father said, how it is my son that thou art thus astonished, take heart to thee, and with a courage revenge thy father of these jews that have now the better hand of us. So they fought both Titus and Vespasian withal their hole host the day a very sore fight, and many were slain of both parts yea very few were left on josephes' part, with whom he returned into the town, The next day the R●maines raised a new mount in stead of that that joseph had brent, and planted an other iron Ram thereupon between two posts accordingly, for Vespasian had brought four of this sortwith him from Rome, but other battering pieces upon wheels had he with him thirti, what more, what less, the bigger sort were of xxx cubits long, the least ten. He brought also ten engines to hur●e great and weighty stenes with all, which he placed ablute the walls. The Romans therefore renewed the wars & assaults against the town as they were want afore. But the town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men, for they were all slain in the fights. Albeit joseph remained & a few with him, who went every one & the women also to defend the walls, for there was almost no men left, fit for the war. Then the Romans flung with thengines stones into the town on every side, from the mount & munition. It chanced that a great stone it a woman with child with such a violence, that it passed through her body, and carried the child with it for the space of half a mile. They cast up and raised yet other munites also, from whence they slinged stones, and another like chance happened. A stone came and it one of josephes' men of war, a valeant man, in such a sort, that it divided his head from his body, and made it fly a large mile of.   

AT the same time one of the Romain soldiers, devised with himself how to strike joseph with a venomed arrow, and gate him under the wall where joseph was, to accomplish his purpose. But joseph espied him and cried unto him: hold thy hand thou wicked fellow, and do not kill me. With that the fellow start somewhat aside, being afraid at joseph's voice: and suddenly the jews out of the town poured hot oil upon him from the wall, that his skin was scalded of, and he ran away naked, howling and yelling to the Romans camp, where he died. Vespasian and his Son Titus were fully determined to continue the assault until the xlviii day: notwithstanding the walls were so high that they could not win the town. Yet at length the men being so spent within the town, and they that remained a live so wearied with toiling, that they were not able any longer to furnish their watch upon the walls: upon a certain night Vespasian and Titus scaled the walls at a quarter wher● watchmen were lacking, and after them many other of the Roman soldiers followed, which went down on the in side and brake open the great gate of the town, whereat entered the hole army of the Romans. And being within the town, sounded their trumpets and shouted unto battle. The jews with the alarm, tumult, and hurly-burly of the Romans, awaked out of their sleep and were sore afraid. Notwithstanding every man took him to his weapon, and into the market place as fast as they might. They had made the market place of the town so large of purpose, that if any business should happen, there might come together the hole city if they would. So looking about them they saw the Roman army entering into the town by the way that came from the great gate. Then fought they with the Romans, & died even in the market place where they stood, exhorting one an other, and saying: let us die here fighting, and never suffer our●solues to be taken alive. But joseph and forty men with him, worthy men all, fled out of the town in to a wood where they found a certain cave, and hid themselves therein. All the rest of the citizens were slain in that conflict: for they would not yield nor commit themselves unto the Romans, they trusted them so little. For on a time a certain jew besought a Roman souldioure to save his life, and the Roman swore unto him, saying: God deal thus and thus with me if I slay thee, therefore yield and come hither to me. The jew required him to give him his right-hand that he might trust him: and the Roman reach him his left hand. The jew being dismayed in that great fear, marked not that it was his left hand. But when the Roman had once hold of him, he kept him fast with that hand, and with his right took his sword and slew the jew that then was naked, having cast away his weapon upon trust of the Roman. When the jews saw how the Roman regarded not his oath, but slew the jew that upon trust of his promiss and the oath had yielded himself unto him: they determined to die all together, and never to trust the Romans. Whereupon they resolved with themselves utterly to die for the holiness of the Lord God of Israel. But in so doing they fie we much people of the Romaines● and far more than they had done in any other battle. So at the length the City was taken. When Vespasian had knowledge where joseph was become and of his company: he sent Nicanor, Pilerimus, and Gallicanus with him to joseph, to will him to come forth, and he should have his life and not be slain. Then joseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den, ask them: what say ye to this? For my part, & ye will follow my counsel, I think best we go out unto them: but upon this condition, that they will make us a formal assurance effectually as we shall require them: which done, I doubt not but Vespasian when we come unto him, will be appeased towards us. When those men perceived joseph to be inclined to yield unto the Romans: they said unto him. We marvel at the (Prince joseph) thou that waste chosen out of thousands of people, and promoted unto the priesthood and kingdom, to sanctify and hallow the LORD God of Israel: waste also appointed grand captain of so huge an host, haste seen with thine eyes the shameful reproach of thy people, with the displeasures and damages of thy sheep: that thou hast yet any desire to live in this dishonour. What seest thou that thou wouldst desire to live for? shouldest thou not rather desire death then life? Peradventure thou persuadest thyself, they call thee to save thy life, or for thy commodity: but without doubt this were a vain persuasion. For they call thee for none other in tent, then to take thee alive, & to brag how they have ken joseph, that was consecrated and addict to the wars, and make that an argument their power prospereth, and is exalted. Now therefore (our dear brother and our prince) consider that this they will do, yea if they save thy life. But put the case they put thee to death, were it not better for the to die of thine sword, then of theirs? Yea, if it were for nothing but for this, it is better forth to die then to live: least thou shouldest hear their reproaches, their upbraidings, and their quarrellinge. And if they preserve the alive, never think, they do i● for thy good, but rather for thine ignominy & shame, which is far grievouser than death itself. Wherefore our dear brother and our prince, what cometh in thy mind, that thou purposest to live after that thou hast lost thy people and thy brethren? and to what purpose serveth thy life after they be gone? Mark and consider diligently what Moses (of worthy memory) our master did, how he spoke before God, touching the people of Israel. O pardon their sins (saith he) or else blot me quite out of thy book that thou hast written: how he would not live after the destruction of his people, although the almighty said unto him: let me alone that I may wreak mine anger unon them and consume them. Where is now Aaron with thee his brother, that went betwixt life and death, in withstanding the angel that plagued the people, and offered himself to die for his people, that the plague might cease from Israel. Where is king Saul and his son jehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the field? Cowl not Saul have saved his life and his Sons both if he had been so disposed? But he, when he saw Israel have the overthrow in the battle, had no desire to live any longer, but chose rather death than life, and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death, as well he, as jonathan his Son, those dearly beloved and most amiable men (as the scripture termeth them.) Why dost thou not remember (our dear Prince) the righteousness of David the anointed of the Lord, who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel, said: Let thy hand (O Lord) I beseech thee be turned upon me and my father's house. For I am he that have sinned, I have transgressed, as for these thy sheep, what have they done? What have they offended? Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart? Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the holy Law, whereby we might learn how to love our Lord God withal our heart, & with all our soul, and withal our strength? If it be so that the service of God, consisteth not in this, that we should love whom he loveth, and die for his cou●uaunt and sanctuary, together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord: Wherein standeth it then? Hast not thou oft times taught and proved unto us, how that every man that dieth in wars for the lord, his sanctuary, his people, and his law: he is to be counted in the lords lot, & made worthy to go unto the great light, and shall not see everlasting darkness? Art not thou that joseph the priest, that hast cried so often in battle, I am joseph the priest, consecrated to battle, that have vowed my life, for the people of the Lord his sanctuary, and his land? But now when thou baste yielded thyself unto them, and they order the dispitfullye, what wilt thou say unto them, or what amends canst thou have at their hands? I put the case they cast in thy teeth, & say thy words be but lies. How shalt thou avoid that reproach? Art not thou he that saidst, men should fight for the people of God, until they die in the conflict, and in so doing, their death should be a ransom for their sins, 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, why then wilt thou shun deash, and not follow thy people that are gone before thee, to that same light? Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand, where so ever thou camest, in so much that they that heard of thee, trembled for fear: and now wilt thou yield thy life into captivity to the Romans, as a vile slave? Shall not this thy dishonour redound also unto the people of God? Thou that art a prince, a king and priest, wilt thou be bound in chains? Every man shall say, this is he that hath given his soldiers and the rest of his people to die, but hath ●●ued himself, and his own life. So when they had made an end of talk, each man drew out his sword and came unto him in the midst of the Cave, saying: Hearest thou, thou joseph our Prince, if thou wilt be ruled by us, first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince: and thou shalt choose what death thou wilt die on, that thou mayest die honourably. But if thou refuse to die honestly: assure thyself of this, that we will every man set upon thee and slay thee. joseph answered. In deed I know my Brethren that your words are just and true. For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly? and would GOD that he would call my Soul unto him, and receive it unto him also. For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live, for the great troubles that have passed through my brains. But he knoweth the secrets of man's heart, and he it is that giveth life unto men.  
It is God that closeth souls within the bodies, and letteth them out again, because he is the living GOD, in whose hands remain the Souls and Spirits of all living creatures. He hath left with us a Spirit of life, and closed it up within our bodies. What is he then that will open that that he hath shut? How shall we lose that, that he would have bound and knit fast within us? Do ye not all know that the life is a thing that he hath left with us to keep, and that we are his servants? If then we cast away life before that GOD take it, shall he not worthily be displeased with us, and make that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory, and with other just and godly men our forefathers? Do you not know that they went not unto God before they were called, and when they were called they came, and so dealt GOD with all holy and Godly men. To Moses' our master of worthy memory, the elect of GOD, ye know that the Lord God of Israel said: get the up upon this mountain Abarim, and so he did. But he would not have done it of himself, had not God called him. Whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrendre his life unto God, except he require it again. Take example (I pray you) of job. What time he cursed the day that he was borne in, might not he either have hanged himself, or have run upon a knife, or at the least, have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die? Not withstanding he abode patiently in most extreme pain, waiting till God demanded again his life, and then restored it unto his Lord god, and would not restore it undemaunded, but tarried till his appointed end came. King David also, of famous memory, said. Lead thou my life out of his pinfold and prison. For he knew that the life was enclosed in the body, and that none might let it forth but God. I wots well that death is a great commodity, so be that the soul may return in his due time unto God, that gave it us. I know also that he that dieth in the wars of the lord, he shall come to the great light. But I know not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth himself, & maketh haste to restore his soul before his time, and without the Lords calling. Wherefore my friends & brethren, I would ye should know it, I am no more coward than you: and I do not disagree with you, because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities, but that I know I should commit a heinous offence against the Lord if I should kill myself. And how say ye (you princes) that stick unts' your God, to you I speak, tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us, if we should commit this sin and each kill other? Would not a man judge him a slave, a fool, a froward person, a rebel, and a stubborn man, that would be forced with any misery, to be so ma● that because all things fall not out, as he would wish, would therefore hang, or desperately murder himself with his own hands? Such ye know the law thus punisheth, their right-hand is cut of wherewith they forced themselves to die, then, they are left unburied, as men that have destroyed their own souls: by what reason then shall we kill ourselves? I would wish that we might be slain of our enemies rather than we should so shamefully murder ourselves, whereby ever after we should be taken for manslayers, if any man slay himself, as did Saul whom ye commended: without doubt he committeth a heinous crime, and such a one, as no satisfaction can be made for. Besides that, he shall be reckoned faint hearted, and as one that despaireth of his recovery. Wherefore our forefathers have taught us. A man ought not to despair of his safeguard and deliverance: which cometh of God, no not when the knife is put to his throat to cut it. For king Hezekia of famous memory, when he heard these words of Isaiah, that worthy prophet. Make thy will and set thy things in a stay, for thou shalt die and not escape. Nevertheless he fainted not nor ceased to pray unto God for the proionging of his life in this world, that he might amend his life, and send a better soul unto God. Then the Lord God of Israel, seeing his unwearied and strong hope with his repentance▪ suffered him to live xu years yet longer. But Saul that saw he was not appointed king over Israel after the lords mind, but alonely by the people's that craved upon Samuel give us a King to reign over us: Whereupon afterward God departed from Saul, for he was not obedient to God's will, but went about by force to establish his kingdom. The Lord then saying the wickedness of his heart, gave him over, and chose him an other to be king over his people, annointing David his servant, whiles that Saul was yet living. Which Saul perceiving persecuting David, and laboured with all his endeavour to destrdy him, because he knew God was with him, and prospered all that he did, whereas contrary all went backward with him. For these causes, I say, he chose rather to die then live: and would not live after the people of Israel was overthrown in the mountains of Gilboa. And in mine opinion, he slew himself for nothing, but for that he was a ●aint hearted coward and utterly despaired of his safeguard. For although he said. least these uncircumcised come and run in through, yet if he had been of a valeant courage, he would have standed to his defence unto the death: peradventure God would have delivered him. But he contrary, all in despair procured himself and his son a shameful death. But ye shall consider this, He was an unmerciful king, and therefore did G●●●rid him out of the world: for he that will not spare his own life and his sons: how would he spare other? And where as ye allege Aaron unto me, I would know of you, why did he put himself between the living and the dead? was it not because he would turn away the plague from Israel? If he had known that he himself should have been stricken therewith: doubtless he would not have striven against the striker, but trusting in the holiness of his righteousness, he stood before the Angel to deliver Israel from that misery. I am not to be compared with Aaron, albeit I am one of his children, and never yet in all my life did I shrink to venture my life in the wars of the Lord. And now I am not determined to kill myself, lest I should sin against God, and spoil my soul of hope of salvation. I know it well, it were more expedient for me to be slain of mine enemies, then that I should slay myself. And if ye say the word, let us go forth and suddenly set upon our enemies to kill and to be killed in the battle of the Lord, and so shall we do well: peradventure GOD will give them into our hands. For God is able to save as well by a small army as by a great. Then if you see me to be afraid of mine enemy's sword▪ ye shall therbi know me to be a dastard, and one that fawneth upon his enemies, and hunteth for their favour. But you shall see me go afore you, as a valiant man should, nor once turn my face from death. But what did ye ever see in me that ye should judge me fearful? Did ye ever know me to refuse to fight? In the town of jorpata I have ever kept my quarter and ward, and every day have I fought with mine enemies, whom I have not spared but impaired, and that not a little, whiles I defended that little city. 48. days against them. For I thought with myself, peradventure I may drive away the enemies of the LORD out of our Land, and put them by Jerusalem that they go not thither, and so have I fought with them till all my valiant soldiers be spent, and none left but you. I could no longer withstand their force, and I would not yield myself as a Prisoner unto them, therefore I fled hither with you into this Cave. Now therefore brethren, ye shall understand that death is commodious and good in deed which cometh in his time. But it is neither good nor godly for a man to kill himself and his brother, to go afterward▪ for that deed into Hell and perdition. And what other thing can more clearly set for the a man's manhood and haughty mind with his hope in GOD, than Patience, for a man to suffer patiently what so ever chanceth unto him, until his end come. Behold the Lions and other Beasts, how they are wont to withstand their adversaries that lie in wait for them, to the intent they may save their lives. Whose armour is their Teeth and Claws, wherewith nevertheless they hurt not themselves, but use them against other that assail them, till they either overcome, or be overcomed.  
Therefore if a man will with his own hands let forth his soul out of his closure before his time, God will not receive it, neither shall it find any rest, but be destroyed. And why? Because it is expulsed and thrust out of his place before his time, and before God do call it: wherefore it shall wander inconstantly for ever. Why then, my dear Brethren and friends do you advise us to kill one another, and to expel and banish our Souls from us, they not called for? How can we put away this opprobry? How can we make amends for this sin? Who shall pray and make intercession for us? And with this joseph burst out on weeping abundantly, but they laughed him to scorn.   

THen joseph held up his hands to heaven, saying: Thou Lord almighty art our father, thou hast shapened us, and by thy great mercy taken us out of clay: thou art he that leadest us in thy faith, and the multitude of thy mercies and benignity towards us hath not ceased. And although our sins have separated us from thee, yet nevertheless we are thy handy work every one of us, and of long have been called thy people. Thou art Lord over all creatures & souls. Thou dost what thou wilt, and no man dare say to thee why dost thou so. Thou art our father, we are clay, thou hast given us our shape and fashion. Therefore if it please thee to take our Souls, take them by the hands of thine angels, that we commit none evil against them. And if these my fellows that be present with me will not be partakers of my Prayer: behold my life alone, for the which I beseech thy benign Clemency, if it please thee to take it, for thou gavest it me, therefore do with it whatsoever shall seem good unto thee, it is in thy hands, thou lendest it me, and hast preserved it within me. I will not destroy it myself, or let it out of prison before thou ask for it. For thou knowest that As man can not live without judgement: so likewise the same can not die without judgement. Unto thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes, thou that dwellest in Heaven, to deal mercifully with thy servants and with me, to turn our hearts that we consent not unto this, to murder ourselves. If thou know any amongst them, that intend so wicked an Act, I beseech thee, O Lord my GOD, let me find favour in thine eyes, give them an heart to hear wholesome counsel, that I may deliver myself and mine own life, which I commend into thy bands, that thou wouldst receive it unto thee, for in thy hand is the life of every living creature. Thus when joseph had finished his prayer, he turned him unto his fellows and saluted them. Then said they, canst thou therefore incline our minds, because thou hast pra●ed unto God for thyself & for us? did not we tell the erewhile, like as we tell the now, the we are determined to die by one means or other, wherefore say thy mind, & tell us what kind of death thou wilt end thy life, for we have ever known the a just man and a worthy prince, therefore art thou worthy to die first. joseph perceiving that his fellows were utterly determined to die, and would give no ear to his persuasions, for he could by no reasons draw them to his opinion, he went subtlety to work with them, saying: seeing it will be none otherwise brethren, I will show you my de●ise. Ye are determined to die, ye say, and that upon your own swor●es, therefore there is no better way then to do it by lot, in this wise. Let us cast lots amongst ourselves, that we may be joined together by couples: then will we cast lots, which couple shall die first: after they two shall cast lots between them which shall kill his fellow: he that remaineth shall choose him one of the second couple to kill him. Likewise the second couple shall cast lots between themselves, who shall die first, and he that is left, shall choose him one of the third couple, whom he hath a fancy to be killed of▪ Then they shall try by lot who shall die first, who being slain, the other may choose himself one of the four the couple to kill him, and so on, till all be slain, that we see not the captivity of our people. The last couple that shall remain, shall do thus, run one upon the others sword, or else set them cast lots betwixt themselves, and upon whom it falleth, let him die first. But for asmuch as we are forty and one, so that we can not be justly joined in couples: let us cast lots first of all, and see which of us shall first be slain, and when he is once out of the way, then let us divide the couples. He that is to be stain first, let him choose out one of the first couple to be slain of, and when he is dead, the first couple shall cast lots, and do as I have devised. Then every man liked his devise (which was gods doing, who hard josephes' prayer) and said all with one mouth, we will do as thou hast devised and to the it pertaineth to divide the men and to cast the lots. joseph answered: but let us swear by the name of the lord, that this devise shall stand, be ratified and performed. Whereunto they accorded, and swore all by the name of the Lord, that they would have that devise to be ratified & kept, which joseph had invented of casting of lots. Then joseph began to make lots, who should be thod man: and it light upon jehoiada a priest, son of Eliakim a Galilean, which was a valeant man, and chiefest in every counsel next to joseph, and the principal persuader of this wicked fact to kill themselves. After that did he craftily divide them into couples, so that the lot of his own couple came forth last of all, who looked to be saved and trusted in God, be●eninge that he would deliver him from this abominable deed. Then jehoida chose him one of the first couple, who slew him. That done, the first couple cast lots between them, so th'one killed his fellow, and chose him one of the second couple to kill him. Then they of the second couple cast lots between themselves in the presence of joseph, and th'one killed the other, than he that remained, chose him one of the thy: de couple to slay him. And in this manner did they, till there were all slain & none left alive, but joseph and his fellow: who said unto joseph, go to, let us cast lots that we may go to our brethren. joseph answered him, we will do so, if thou be so disposed: but first hear me, I pray thee, speak a few things in thine ears, Tell me, have not these sinners rebelled against god, in thus murdering of themselves so shamefully, neither could I by any means dissuade them, nor ha●e them from this opinion. Wherefore should we two sin against God so grievously, & against our own souls, if the lot should so fall that I shuid kill thee. I should be counted a manswear & that worthily: & it may so chance that I shall escape after thee and save my life. But if the lot should so fall that thou shouldest slay me, thou shouldest be taken also for a murderer, and peradventure thou shouldest not escape after me, and although thou thinkest yes. Notwithstanding we lose our hope in god, for that we sin against our own souls. For all these men that thou seest hear dead, lo, they have sinned against their own souls, dying without discipline and all good order. If thou wilt say, how shall we do for our oath that we have sworn. Dost thou not know, that. He that breaketh a wicked oath, do the nothing wickedly himself. For a man is not constrained to perform an oath unto God, but to the keeping of his laws, and bereupon it is that David saith. (I have sworn and will perform. For neither vow nor oath, that is made against the commandments of God, can be ratified before God. And that more is, before the we swore, our fathers swore first, a great while ago at the mount of Sinai, that they and their children would keep the law of the Lord. Moses' also made a covenant with them upon the same, and not only with them that then were there, but also with us. How then dare we be so bold to swcare, to break the law of our God, and become manquellers, seeing it is one of the ten commandments expressly. Thou shalt not kill. Wherefore, my brother, thou shalt understand that we need not be sollititous nor careful for the oath that we have made, but rather to break it, for God will never be displeased with us for that, for I being afraid of these wicked persons, that lie now he are dead, did invent this subtle means, and way to swear that I might save my life. Thou therefore, my brother, if thou wilt be ruled by mine advise, thou shalt save thy life & mine, and I will cast no lots, nor perform the oath that we made. Which is not good in the law: if thou wilt not. I will withstand thee, and fight with thee, to kill thee and scape myself. And with this joseph leapt back and drew out his sword, standing over against him, to see what his fellow would answer. His companion hearing this, stirred neither hand nor foot against him, but said: Lo, I am content, do what thou thinkest good, because thou art a man of God. And blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that bathe not withdrawn his mercy from me, but made me to be in thy lot, whereby my soul is saved from going to helt thy lot is a just lot For the Lord will not leave the scourge of sinners, upon the lot of the just. Much else besides this, spoke josephes' companion unto him, for he was sore afraid of him, least he should have killed him if they had intermeddled together, for joseph was the better man of his hands, and therefore joseph chose him into his lot, that he might be able to make his party good with him. In this point joseph played the wise man's part, for he escaped by this means both from the hands of those wicked fools: and also from his fellow.   

Therefore joseph called out of the cave to captain Nicanor, and said to him in this wise: Wilt thou promise me that neither thou nor any of thy men that be here with thee, or in the Romans camp shall kill us, before thou hast brought us unto Vespasian? and l●t him do with us as he thinketh good. Nicanor answered. So and so deal God with me, if I fulfil not thy request, if so be it thou wilt come forth unto me together with the men that thou hast with thee. joseph answered, I will come forth unto thee, and so many more of us as be alive: for so is it come to pass, that some of us be dead here in the cave, wherefore how can they come forth? Then said Nicanor: never think (friend joseph) that I am come to deceive thee: come forth and trust in thy Lord God, for thou neadest not to fear. joseph said, swear unto me this, by the god of Israel, although he be unknown unto thee. Nikano● answered, I swear unto the by that God that made the world by his wisdom, that thou needest not to fear me, but boldly mayst come forth unto me. So Nikanor made a covenant with joseph and his fellow, confirming and ratifying it in writing after the manner of the Romans: and reatched it into the cave upon a spear, holding the point of the spear in his own hand. joseph took the writing, read it and believed Nicanor: them came he forth to Nicanor and his fellow with him. When Nicanor sitting upon his seat of estate that was made him there in the woo●e, nigh unto the cave, saw joseph come towards him: he rise up & embracing him kissed him: set him on his right-hand, and wept with him abundantly, he honoured his fellow also, plaringe him between Pohrinus and Gallicanus, whom he had at that present with him. Then Nicanor asked him for the rest of the men that were with him, willing that they should come forth, and he would honour them also, and do them no harm. joseph declared the whole matter unto him, what was become of them. Nicanor hearing of the pertinacious stubbornness of the jews hearts, & their wi●ked intentes, was wonderfully moved. So then he rose and went from thence with joseph and his companion unto Vespasian. When the Roman army saw joseph, they were greatly astonished, and gave a mighty shout. Some rejoiced that joseph was taken, saying: This is good luck, that our eyes shall see our long expected desire. Other lamented and let tears fall from their eyes with pensive hearts, saying: Is not this that worthy man, who made all the Roman host to quake for fear: and whose Fame and renown was known throughout all lands? How is it come to pass that so mighty a man is taken in his own country, & amongst his own people? If this chanceth unto such a man to be taken in his own Land in the midst of his family and friends? How shall we escape in a strange land. Certain evil disposed persons of the Roman soldiers went to Vespasian and said. Sir, you shall do well to command this man to be slain without mercy, that hath been the destruction of so many of the people of the Romans. This is the self same, that shot the a-row and struck you in the leg: put him to death and then shall you be sure he shall never move war more against you. If you do not, ye shall see him one day again raise an army against us, and destroy us. But joseph found friendship at Titus Vaspasians sons hands, which came of the LORD. Therefore when he heard those wicked men's words that desired Vespasian to put joseph to death, he laughed them to scorn and taunted them, saying: Will you tell my father what he hath to do? Will you give him so wicked counsel to slay that man that yieldeth himself to us upon the trust of our lea●e & band of friendship, which you now go about to break and frustrate? Did not captain Nicanor in my father's name & Caesars, with all the Romans, make a covenant with him? Take heed what you say. Is it not treason that you go about to break the Cesarical fidelity? Moreover, who can tell whether it may so happen that some of us be taken by the jews, like as joseph is prisoner at this present with us? When Vespasian heard his sons words, it pleased him, and he spared joseph, not suffering him to be slain, but committed him to a certain captain of his, and earied him about with him through the cities together with king Agrippa. After this Vespasian removed his camp to Talmida, which also is called Acho, and from thence he went to Caesaria a great city. When they of the city saw joseph, they cried unto Vespasian, kill him, kill him, or else he will one day be an occasion to stir great Wars against thee. But Vespasian would not hear them. Tidings came to Vespasian that they of japho invaded the Isles that were subject under his dominions with a navy, roving to spoil them. Vespasian therefore commanded to lay in wait for them, that they might be met withal. So there was an ambush laid without the town, and it came to pass, that when the pirates were gone out a roving, Vespasian entered the town, and took it, because their Soldiers were absent. When the Citizens returned with their Navy, and saw the Romans in the City, they laboured to arrive and set a land: but by and by a huge tempest and a mighty storm drove all their Ships against the Rocks that were in the Sea shore, for there was no Haven for Ships and there they were lost many of of them: such as swam to Land, the Romans slew them. They that were drowned in the sea and slain by the Romans, were in number four thousand good men of war: besides them were slain in the town xl thousand, all jews.   

THis done, Vespasian set forth Valericus and Taribus two Romain captains with his son Titus, who went, besieged and won the towns of defence that were in Galilee. And thus did Titus use them: they that yielded unto him, he saved their lives: and who soever withstood him, he slew. More over all the cities that belonged to Agrippa's in Galilee, he restored them unto him again, only Tiarua except, which he utterly razed, and slew all the mankind, specially such as were apt to the wars, sold also their wives & children. And this was the only city in all Galilee, that Titus showed such rigour & extremity unto. Vespasian departing thence took his journey to Gamala, which is a city upon the top of a mountain. The name thereof is called Gamala, of an Hebrew word Gamal, that signifieth to quite or to do a good turn because it is the best city that belonged to Agrippa's, and the inhabitants thereof were all very rich. The city also called Selencia was not far from it situated, a country replenished with good towns, Gardens, brooks, and all kind of fruitful trees. Agrippa besought Vespasian, that he would not destroy this city: let me go first (saith he) and offer them peace, peradventure they will take it, that they may save their lives from destruction. Vespasian was entreated: saying unto him: go and do as thou wilt, for to honour thee, I will do●e so much for thy sake. So Agrippa went to them, and spoke friendly and peaceably unto them, and they received him in like manner, but they mente deceit, saying. Thou art our LORD and king: to whom therefore doth all that is of any price to be desired in all Israel belong, but unto thee? therefore come ne●e unto us and debate the matter with thy servants, Agrippa's crediting their words, came hard to the city, and as he listened to them that talked with him, one cast a great stone from the wall, which light just between his shoulders, and broke his back with one of his arms also, with such violence that it struck him prostrate to the ground. But his servants stepped to him: took him up, and carried him to Vespasian. Who seeing him so sore hurt, swore he would never go from thence till he had taken the city & ordered them in like manner as he did Tiarua, to leave never a man a live there in. The Roman Physicians did bestow such diligence about Agrippa's that they cured him. Vespasian in this rage against the Selucians, because they had wounded the king, besieged and assaulted them. The jews within the town encouraged one an other, sa●ing, let us stick to it now and play the men, for we have none other hope to save our lives, seeing we have thus ordered the king. Certain stout men of them therefore issued & encountering with the Romans, made a great slaughter amongst them. After that the Romans addressed their engines, planted their iron Rams that they brought with them against the walls, and by that time night came, battered a great part thereof down to th'earth, that Vespasian and much people with him might enter at their pleasure. But Vespasian gave commandment to his army, that they should not enter that night into the town, but stand and compass the walls until morrow, that they might see how to win it. notwithstanding they would not be ruled by him, but entered: then the jews came upon them, drew the streets with chains, and closed the ways of the city, entrapping them in such a sort that they could go neither one way nor other: after set up on them and bet them down even there, so that they were all slain save a ten men that fled with Vespasian & a captain named Butius, one of the best men of war in all the Romans army, him the jews pursued and slew But Vespasian & his fled to the mountains, that he might be there in safeguard. And from thence he sent to Titus his son that was in Syria, for the Roman army, that he had sent with him into Persia, which Titus led into jewrye.   

Shortly after Vespasian gathered soldiers and repaired his army, joined with Agrippa's company, and returned to Selencia, won it & slew them every man leaving none alive, and afterwards went to other Cities of Galilee and took them, serving them in like sort. After that he came to the city called Nascela, which was a walled town, and of all the towns of defence through out all Galilee, none left but it. Thus he besieged, because thither were resorted many cutthroats and wicked persons without all fear of GOD, such as were Robbers and rovers of the land of judea. Emongste whom was a certain man named jehochanan, learned, wise and prudent, specially to do mischief, a witty counsellor, and of such eloquence that he could persuade cunningly, and dissuade men from that they had purposed. Besides this, he was a murderer, ready to shed blood and to do any mischief: a great robber, and one that ever gaped after other men's goods. By which means he was become very rich, wherefore there resorted unto him all vain persons, mansiears, rebels and ruffains, like himself, giving him large rewards, that they might be of his fraternity, his brethren and adherentes: and he to be their head. Titus was sent to this city, by his father to offer them comditions of peace, whether, when he was come, he sent his ambassadors to the citizens to entreat the peace with them. Whereunto the citizens accorded, and were ready to enter in league with Titus.  
When as this wicked jehochanan perceived the ancient men of the town and the heads would receive peace, he commanded his companions to keep the walls, to let them from speaking with the Romans, and that they would give the Romans their answer. So therefore, seditious Iehochanan made answer to the ambassador of Titus, saying, to morrow have we a solemn feast to the Lord God, tell thy master Titus therefore, that he grant us truce for two days, and the third day we will give him answer. Wherewith Titus was content and left the assault for two days. These things were done upon Whitsun even, which was called the feast of weaks and harvest. The night afore the third day appointed was come, jehochanan and his complices, gate them out of the town and fled toward jerusalem, ere Titus knew thereof: On the morrow he sent his ambassador to demand their answer, what they would do They answered, we desire to enter in a league with you, for we are yours to do you what pleasure your heart desireth, upon this condition that none of the Romans hurt either our bodies or goods, Titus upon this made peace with them, confirming it by writing sealed, for the better assurance thereof: So they opened the gates and Titus came into the town with his hole armi, & the jews received him with great joy, honouring him very much. Then Titus inquired for jehochanan and his confederates, the citizens declared unto him, how he fled by night withal his, towards jerusalem. Titus hearing that, sent after to pursue him: yet they found him not, he had made such speed: Notwithstanding many of the people, that went out of the town with him that they might escape the danger, both men women children, old and impotent people, they enertoke, slew them every one, and returned with a great spoil. After this Titus won all the cities in Galilee, and set rulers in them. Then Vespasian dislodged from thence and came to the mount Tabor, which hath snow upon it continually: the height thereof is xxx furlongs, and upon the top is a plain of xxiii furlongs broad. Thither sent Vespasian one of his Captains called Palgorus, which took the mountain and the town that stood thereon. But here I will leave of the history of the rest of the battles that were fought in other places in the land of Israel and Galilee: and speak no more of them in this book, for they be almost innumerable, and we have made mention of them in the history of the Romans.    

❧ The History of the siege of Jerusalem.  
Now will we describe the battles of Jerusalem, & how the city was besieged by the Romans: wherein we will declare all things truly as our manner is, & faithfully, according to the verity of that was done. It came to pass therefore as jehochanan the Galilean was fled to Jerusalem, he found there men meet for his purpose, injurious persons wicked men, murderers, disceivers, bloudsheaders an infinite number, for out of all countries within the land of juda, there repaired thither all men of war, to defend the sanctuary of our God: and Anani the high priest received all that came. These seeing jehochanan and his valiantness, fell from Anani the high priest, and clave unto him, devising with him of all their affairs, So jehochanan conspired with those cutthroats, to lay hands upon the rich men of the city, and to spoil them of their goods, and this was their manner, when they espied any notable rich man of the city, they would after this sort quarrel with him. Art not thou he that hast sent letters to the Romans, and to Vespasian to betray the city unto them: Thus would they examine him before the people: and when he would answer. God forbidden I should so do: then would they bring in limbs of the Devil, of their own company to bear false witness against him, that he might be condemned to death by the law for a rebel. Thus dealt they with Antipas and Lohia, both noble men, and of the chief of the city, and their goods withal their jewels, the seditious ceased for themselves. They quarrels also to the high priests, thrust them from their charges that they could not execute their service. Moreover, they cast lots who should have the priest's office, and who should be no priest. For they held the priesthood and service of God, for joys, gauds, and trifles. So the lot fell upon one that was called Pani the son of Peniel, a carterly husbandman, ignorant what belonged to the priests office, so that he was utter lie unworthy of the priesthood: yet they made him high priest for all thee, so light a matter made they of the priest hood. The good & Godly men of Jerusalem seeing the power of these Ruffians and wicked persons bear such swinge: they stack together, and determined to with stand them by force. The people therefore earnestly moved with anger, set upon them, and encountered with them in such sort, that the fight was great on both sides, in the streets, in the market place, in the temple, and in the entrance of the Temple, till all the city was filled full of dead bodies and slain men. For there was not so much as one street, but there was some skirmishes in it. The people at length got the upper hand of the Ruffians, for they were eigerly set & earnestly bend against them. The seditious therefore, seeing them selves not able to make their party good with the people: fled every man into the temple of the Lord, shut it after them, and there remained. But Anani the high Priest seeing the wicked to be fled to the temple: willed the people to cease their fighting upon them in the holy temple of the Lord, lest they should pollute it with the blood and dead carcases of these wicked persons. The people therefore left of the fight. Then Anani beset the temple round about with a. us. thousand of the best and pickedst men of the people, well armed all of them with jacks and Sallettes, and as well weaponed, with every man a sword, a Target, and a Spear or Pike, to keep the Temple that they should not come forth. Moreover, Anani cast in his mind that besides the setting upon them in the Temple, which were in no wise seemly: it should also be as great a damage if the people of the Lord, should one rive and stick an other in the very Temple. For these causes he sent Ambassadors to jehochanan the Galilean chief captain of the the seditious and thieves, offering him peace: but jehochanan refused it. For the Seditious had sent for the Edomites to come and aid them. These Edomites had been ever from their first beginning very hardy and Valiant men, and warrelyke: yet were they subject to the jews. For Hircanus' king of juda had conquered them, and caused them to be circumcised: binding such of them as were the best warriors amongst them, to stand in arms, and keep watch & ward upon the walls of Jerusalem day & night, the rest of them to pai tribute to the jews. Upon a certain night came xxii thousand of these Edomites, all good men of war against Jerusalem. When Anani the high Priest and the People that were with him, heard the noise of the Edumites army: he went upon the ways and demanded of them what they were, from whence they come, and whither they would. They answered. We are Edomites, and came out of Edomea to visit the Lord God and his temple, & to see in what case his people standeth: for this we come according to our accustomed manner as ever here tofore. Anani answered. You are dissemblers & not as your words do show: neither come ye to seek God & his sanctuary, nor yet to aid his people, but rather to the succours of jehochanan, grand captain of thieves. Were it not better for you to assist the sanctuary of God, than these sinful seditious persons, that covet nothing else, then to lay waste the house of God, and to destroy his people? They in the most holy city of God, do shed the blood of just, Godly, and innocent men: thorough whose wickedness the romans have the upper hand upon us: because we have Civil wars at home with the Seditious, and external with the Romans. Yea, the wickedness of the seditious is grown so far, that the most part of us had rather be slain of the Romans, then of our brethren the jews. If so be it, ye be come to aid them, ye shall understand that ye offend our LORD God grievously, to help sinners and murderers, that tread the People of GOD under their feet, like as men tread Grapes in a wine press, and make the temple of the Lord a dwelling place of manquellers and wicked persons. Ye say ye come to seek the Lord: how is it then that ye are thus in arms after the manner of War? Ye shall understand, we shut not the Gates of the Town because of you, lest you should come in, after your accustomed manner: but because of your Armour and Weapons that you have with you, which are instruments of destruction, a very unmeet fashion to come and visit the Lord with. Ye should rather have come with offerings, sacrifices, confession, and praise. notwithstanding, if ye will enter into the town for devotion sake, ye are welcome: but ye must lay away your Weapons, and so enter in peaceably. The Edomites answered. We marvel not a little at thee which art the high Priest, our Lord and mediator, and at the rest of the priests of the Lord, with the Elders and judges of the people that be present with thee, and your words seem strange in our ears. For we understand you take us for your enemies, and thereupon you stop us of our entrance into the city to visit the Lord God after our accustomed manner. In that we be armed as ye object unto us: do ye not know that Vespasian draweth nigh to come to this holy City? This we hearing of, was the cause that we took our Weapons with us, to come to aid you, and keep the town, as we have been wont these many years. But how should ye gather this, that we come to succour the wicked and seditious that be with you: when as from the first day that ever we and our fathers were circumcised, we never swerved from the Law and commandments of the Lord? Tell us if there be any commandment in the Law that biddeth a man to strengthen and maintain the power of the wicked, to the which we are bound to hearken, and to aid these? God forbid we should do this: for we all, both that be here, and the other Edomites also be servants of the Lord and his people, to maintain and defend the law, the people, and the house of the Lord. Whiles they were thus talking together, there rose up a great cloud, and lightenings were seen with fire, darkness with mighty thunder claps and showers of hail, that all that saw it were wonderfully afraid. Wherefore the people fled wholly, left the walls & forts by Anani, of God, all good men of war, besides innumerable other that they killed of the common people. In the morning they laid hands on the rich men, drew them before judges and the. ixx. elders, which otherwise be called Sanhedrine whom they called together, & there wicked jehochanan the Galilean, spoke unto them in this wise. why condemn ye not these rich cobs, that have made a conspiracy with the Romans, & determine to betray this holy city into their hands? namely one Sechariahu a just man, perfect, godly, and virtuous, one that feared the lord, & oved both god & man: but for his richesses only, which were very great, this jehochanan captain of the seditious apprehended him, willing th'elders to condemn him to death, for that he had joined with their enemies (as he said) to betray the city to them. The priests, elders, and judges, hearing his words: & perceiving that both he and the rest of his bloudi hand desired nothing else then to make this man away, although they knew him to be most innocent: they wept & sighed greatly. jehochanan seeing them weep for Sechariahu, and that they would not condemn him, respecting his justice & integrity: What, saith he: do ye begin to mourn before there be any corpse present? I would I should never come where God hath to do, but if ye order us thus in your judgements, ye shallbe the first that we will lay hold of, and we will sit in judgement ourselves, to discern the matters of the people of god, according as we think good. Then laying apart all shame, with an obstinate mind the wicked sort hoist up Sechariahu, carried him out of the place of judgement, and brought him up to the top of a very high tour, at the east end of the town, from whence they thrust him down headelonge, and he died there at the walls side in the vale of jehoschaphat. The priests therefore were sore afraid of their own parts, and the judges also with the elders because of wicked jehochanan and the rest of the seditious.  
For jehochanan had given them warning and said, except ye give sentence upon every man that we shall bring unto you, according to our minds, be ye assured, ye shall all of you go the same way that Sechariahu is gone before you. After that they apprehended a just man and a rich, that was beloved of all the town, whose name was Gorinion, surnamed valeanut: and he was a valeant man in de●e, most expert in the wars, thereto wise and witty, and a man of a pure and perfit life. One that was ever the formest in battle. When so ever they had any conflict against the gentiles that besieged jerusalem: and this was his accustomed manner, that when the enemies marched to join battle the jews, he would run upon them with such force, & make slaughter of them, that spite of their hearts, he would drive them to retire, and by that means his body was full of scars, of wounds and his face, and his head wonderfully mangled, with the wounds that he had received in battles that he had been in for the people of the Lord. Yet now because he would not follow the most cruel villains mind jehochanan, and take his part, jehochanan commanded him to be apprehended and brought before him, and when he was come, said thus unto him Make thy will, set thy house in a stay, & confess thyself unto the Lord, for there is no way with the but death, and so they led him out of the town to kill him there, lest there should be any business about his death, if they had put him to death within the town: for all the citizens of jerusalem loved him, & he likewise loved them. When they were come to the place of execution, Gorinion fell down afore them, & besought them with tears, in this wise.  ye have so determined, the ye will needs slay me, when as notwithstanding I have committed no crime, nor any thing offended, and that ye will in no wise spare me, although I be innocent as you know well enough yourselves: yet I beseech you, let me obtain this one thing at your hands, that you would do so much at the least wise at mi request as to bury my body: other favour I desire not. They made him answer: If the hadst not spoken unto us thereof, we had thought to have done it, for so we were determined with ourselves. But now seeing thou art so bold as to demand this of us, we will slay thee, but burial gettest thou none, thy body shallbe cast forth unto the beasts of th'earth & fouls of their. Gorion yet besought them to the contrary, until the most cruel jehochanan struck him & siue him, and after threw out his body to the beasts of the field: this done they returned into the city.  

VAspasian in the mean season drew n●e jerusalem, for he had pitched his tents at Cesaria, where he vitailed his army, and paid his soldiers great wages: wherefore they tarried in that city many days, for when Vespasian understood of the civil wars in jerusalem, he said unto his people, let us make no haste to besiege jerusalem: till such time as they have slain one an other amongst themselves: and so at length their pride will be pulled down when as they see themselves waste away with civil wars, hunger and thirst. For Vespasian was a wonderful wise man in all affairs of wars and his wisdom never turned him to more commodity then in this device only. So he sojourned at Cesaria with his men many days. The people of jerusalem made war upon jehochanan and his complices, until innumerable of them were destroyed, some of them were slain with sword: some the seditious stickte with short daggers. For certain of the seditious carried short daggers secretly under their garments, where with they would come suddenly upon an honest and just man, & thrust him to the heart, that he should faldown dead in the place without know ledge who struck him. So by this means, what with sword in open frays, & what with daggers secretly, very many of the people were slain: and far more that way, then by the Romans: in so much that now very few citizens were left alive. Thus when jehochanan had gotten the upper hand of the city, he made an army out of jerusalem, to go and take the cities that had made peace with Vespasian, which they sacked and razed to the ground, and who so ever they found in them, Romans or jews they slew them. Yea jehochanan went with them himself, to aid thee, spoiling and carrying away all the richesses that they found in them. They took also the city Gerara, that stood beyond jordane, where as they remained. Then the inhabitants of jerusalem both priests, elders and the rest of the people, sent embassaders to Vespasian to desire peace with him, and succours against jehochanan, & his wicked rabble, which daily in the town slew very many of the people of God. The citizens also of Gerara sent ambassadors unto Vespasian, saying: If thou wilt be Lord over the land of judea, and the city of jerusalem, and desierest to assure the rule thereof, and establish it unto thee: them hearken unto our counsel, and come unto us without delay, to deliver us from the hands of jehochanan, and the wicked seditious persons, that with all their might endeavour to spoil all our goods, and to get the dominion over us, our wives, and children, to none other purpose, then by that means to destroy us utterly, that no remnant of us should be left. If so be it thou wilt come and valiantly withstand them with thy power, we will also fight against them within the town, till they be all slain, and then thou shalt be our Lord. And that done, thou mayest go to Jerusalem without any impediment or hindrance of any man, for they also of that city desire the same, and would gladly become Subjects to the Romans. When as therefore Vespasian heard the petitions of the Citizens of Gerara, he took his journey thither to secure them, and deferred to go to jerusalem. But jehochanan heard of his That done, he returned to Cesaria to take muster of his hole army, and prepare to go to besiege jerusalem. But in the mean season came pursuivants from Rome and brought him word the Nero the Emperor was dead, and how that, as he was a hunting in the country, the fire of the lord came down from heaven, and fell upon him that he died of it. After whom reigned Galba not one half year, for afore it was fully ended: he was slain by the noble men of Rome, and Vitellius created in his stead, a fool, yet a sore cruel man, much given to drunkenness, so that he was in all points unworthy of the Roman empire. The noble men of Rome that were with Vespasian, hearing this, greatly disdained at the matter & said. Was there never a noble man of Rome left, to be placed in the Empire, but ye must choose a drunken wine souffer? Why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince Vespasian that is here with us, a sage and wise man, thereto also moste valeant, one that conquered many cities, and vanquished many nations, & those most fierce? What puissant kings hath he subdued under the Roman empire? how far and wide hath he enlarged the dominions of the Romans? And now when as the empire ought to have been bestowed upon Vespasian or some one like unto him, and none such could be found amongst you; ye bestowed it upon a fool, and a blowbole drunkard, wherein ye have done very undiscreetly. Well, th'empire of Rome shall have a better emperor one day, and God say Amen. whereupon the princes that were there, cast their heads together, and decreed to proclaim Vespasian Emperor. Therefore with one consent, they went unto Vespasian & said unto him. Thou shalt be our head, for the Empire belongeth unto such a one: and thou shalt have the dominion over us. But Vespasian refused to take it upon him, and would in no wise consent unto them. Notwithstanding they compelled him and placed him upon a throne of majesty, setting an imperial and far more that way, then by the Romans: in so much that now very few citizens were left alive. Thus when jehochanan had gotten the upper hand of the city, he made an army out of jerusalem, to go and take the cities that had made peace with Vespasian, which they sacked and razed to the ground, and who so ever they found in them, Romans or jews they slew them. Yea jehochanan went with them himself, to aid th●, spoiling and carrying away all the richesses that they found in them. They took also the city Gerara, that stood beyond jordane, where as they remained. Then the inhabitants of jerusalem both priests, elders and the rest of the people, sent embassaders to Vespasian to desire peace with him, and succours against jehochanan, & his wicked rabble, which daily in the town slew very many of the people of God. The citizens also of Gerara sent ambassadors unto Vespasian, saying: If thou wilt be Lord over the land of judea, and the city of jerusalem, and desierest to assure the rule thereof, and establish it unto thee: them hearken unto our counsel, and come unto us without delay, to deliver us from the hands of jehochanan, and the wicked seditious persons, that with all their might endeavour to spoil all our goods, and to get the dominion over us, our wives, and children, to none other purpose, then by that means to destroy us utterly, that no remnant of us should be left. If so be it thou wilt come and daliauntlye withstand them with thy power, we will also fight against them within the town, till they be all slain, and then thou shalt be our Lord. And that done, thou mayest go to Jerusalem without any impediment or hindrance of any man, for they also of that city desire the same, and would gladly become Subjects to the Romans. When as therefore Vespasian heard the petitions of the Citizens of Gerara, he took his journey thither to secure them, and deferred to go to jerusalem. But jehochanan heard of his coming, wherefore he slew the chief governor of Gerara, & gate him out of the town with his companions and took them to their feet, determining to i'll into a certain wode. Vespasian having knowledge thereof, made out after them, sending one Pologarus, who overtook them & made a great slaughter of them. And in his return toward Gerara, upon jordane side, he light upon much people going to jerusalem, that they might escape together with the Seditious. Them Poligorus drove back unto the river, where he slew xiii thousand of them, the rest leapt into jordane and were drowned, to the number of. lxxxxii. thousand men, women and children, with much cattle that were all drowned together in the river, in so much that the channel of jordane so stuffed and stopped with dead bodies, the waters rise and ran over the banks here and there into the fields and plains: yet at the length the waters increased and bore the carcases down the river as far as the sea of Sedom, which is the sea of pitch, other wise called the salt sea: & all the banks of jordane lay full of dead bodies. After this Vespasian took his journey from thence & went into the land of Edom, where he won two strong cities, the one called Lagarith, the other Cephar, Toch, and slew a ten thousand of the people thereof, leading the rest away into bandage. From thence he dislodged and came to a town called Chamath Gedi, which he subdued: In this city were well springs of heat waters, from whence the hot baths of Tiberiah have their original. The natural Philosophers and Astronomers of that countri, hold an opinion that these are the heads of all the hot well springs in that hole country, Departing from thence, he came to Samaria and wan it. Then repaired he again all the towns that he had subdued, and made up their walls, placing garrisons therein to aid him, what time he should besiege jerusalem. That done, he returned to Cesaria to take muster of his hole army, and prepare to go to besiege jerusalem. But in the mean season came pursuivants from Rome and brought him word the Nero the Emperor was dead, and how that, as he was a hunting in the country, the fire of the lord came down from heaven, and fell upon him that he died of it. After whom reigned Galba not one half year, for afore it was fully ended: he was slain by the noble men of Rome, and Vitellius created in his stead, a fool, yet a sore cruel man, much given to drunkenness, so that he was in all points unworthy of the Roman empire. The noble men of Rome that were with Vespasian, hearing this, greatly disdained at the matter & said. Was there never a noble man of Rome left, to be placed in the Empire, but ye must choose a drunken wine souffer? Why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince Vespasian that is here with us, a sage and wise man, thereto also moste valeant, one that conquered many cities, and vanquished many nations, & those most fierce? What puissant kings hath he subdued under the Roman empire? how far and wide hath he enlarged the dominions of the Romans? And now when as the empire ought to have been bestowed upon Vespasian or some one like unto him, and none such could be found amongst you; ye bestowed it upon a fool, and a blowbole drunkard, wherein ye have done very undiscreetly. Well, th'empire of Rome shall have a better emperor one day, and God say Amen. whereupon the princes that were there, cast their heads together, and decreed to proclaim Vespasian Emperor. Therefore with one consent, they went unto Vespasian & said unto him. Thou shalt be our head, for the Empire belongeth unto such a one: and thou shalt have the dominion over us. But Vespasian refused to take it upon him, and would in no wise consent unto them. Notwithstanding they compelled him and placed him upon a throne of majesty, setting an imperial crown upon his head: which he would have put alway, and pulled of with his hand, because he would not be Emperor. Wherefore the Roman captains drew out their sword, and said: Thou shalt be Emperor and reign over us, therefore refuse it not: if thou do, thou shalt die upon our sword. Vespasian therefore seeing himself constrained being afraid of his life: he was content to suffer himself to be proclaimed Emperor. Then all the Army was sworn unto him, and he sat upon the royal seat, as emperor, and king of kings.   

THE Civil Wars at Jerusalem increased yet still, and much blood was shed thorough the wickedness of jehochanan captain of thieves, a limb of the devil, and through the cut-throat murderers that were with him, who had all even sworn the utter destruction of the city of the Lord and the deaths of his people. There was also an other cutthroat, a noble man of judea at Jerusalem about the same time called Schimeon, who begun also to follow jehochanans' manners, in sleainge innocentes, and robbing and reaving in Jerusalem, for asmuch as Anani the high Priest had once appointed him Prince and chief captain of Jerusalem: and afterwards finding him an enemy, banished him the City.  
Wherefore Schimeon went and gate him a rout of Unthrifts, murderers, and thieves, casting in his mind and saying: Except I join myself unto such good fellows, I shall never be able to be revenged of Anani and his assistants that have thus banished me out of Jerusalem into exile wrongfully, unto my great dishonour. Shall I that have been in such estate, now be cast out of my dignity, and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished man?  
He went therefore through all the cities of judea and Galilee, causing to be proclaimed in the streets and market places, and sent his letters where he could not come himself, in this manner and form: Who so ever listeth to be rid from the bondage of his master, or hath had any injury in his country, or what servant so ever desireth to be set at liberty, or who so can not abide the rule of his father or his master, all that be in debt and stand in fear of their creditors, or fear the judges for shedding any innocent blood, and therefore lurketh solitarily in woods or mountains, if there be any man that is accused of any notorious crime and in any danger therefore: to be short, who so ever is disposed to rob and reave, to do injury and wrong, to haunt hores to steal, to murder, to eat and drink at other men's cost, without labour of his hands: let him resort to me, and I will deliver him from the yoke and danger of the laws, I will find him his fill of booties and spoils. There assembled unto him about twenty thousand men all murderers, thieves, rebels, lawless persons, wicked and seditious men. Then began Schimeon also to vex the Israelites: to turn all up side down where so ever he came. When the citizens of jerusalem, the priests, elders and Anani the high priest, heard tidings of Schimeons' despiteful wickedness, how he held on still oppressing the people of God, they were very pensive and said: now will this fellow more trouble us than jehochanan, be he never so cruel. They consulted therefore and agreed secretly to send a power against him, that might suddenly fall upon him and overrun him: peradventure (say they) they may slay him or take him alive, before his wickedness grow to further inconvenience, and join himself with our foes, then shall they assail us both within the town and without. They made out therefore against him a great army of Israelites and jews, with Chariots, and horsemennes, and footmen in great number, which came where his camp lay, and found him in the corn fields distroiing of the grain, pulling down of barns, and burning all, both corn and Olive trees. Then the jerosolimites divided their army, and set upon Schimeons' tents suddenly, smote down his tents, and made a great slanghter upon the seditious. But shortly after Schimeon gate the upper hand of the people of GOD, for he came upon them in the night season, and made a sore slaughter amongst them. Then they that remained took themselves to flight towards Jerusalem, and Schimeon pursued them killing them unto the hard gates of Jerusalem, so that mavye of them were slain in the way, and very few escaped. After this Schimeon went and moved war upon the Edomites, to subdue them unto himself, which before were under the dominion of the Hierosolimites. And first the came to the City Asa, otherwise called Gaza, for it was the first City within the borders of Edome, as men come from Jerusalem. But the Edomites met him in the field in great number, and joined with him, but neither part had the victory: wherefore at length they retired both. Then was Schimeon in so great a rage when as he could not overcome these Edomites, that he wished himself out of his life. So he ceased fighting a while, and encamped himself in the borders of the Land of Edome right against it, and there abode, thinking to set upon them at an other time.  
And as he was devising how to order all things, there came unth him an Edomite called jacob, one of the chiefest men amongst them, and a warrioure: He hearing of Schimeons' proclamation, was moaned to come and enter in league with him & thereupon said unto him. Never let it discomfort thee that thou couldst not overcome the Edomites at the first battle. If thou wilt be rulled by my counsel thou shalt win all the cities in the whole land, and I will deliver them into thy hands. Schimeon desired to know how: therefore said he, let us here thy counsel, and show us how it may be brought about, and when it is come to pass, then will we honour thee and reward thee accordingly. jacob said, give me the one half of thine army, which I will lead with me into an ambush: then shalt thou in the morning betimes set thy men in array against the Edomites for a stolen, and when thou shalt perceive them come against thee: then make as though thou fledst, until thou hast staled them out of the town into the fields to pursue thee. Then will I with my men come out of our ambush, and make speed to the gates: where we shall kill the Warders, and fodainely enter the town, likewise kill all that we find there, and set up a flag upon a tower of the town. Then▪ when the Edomites shall see that, their hearts will be done and dead for sorrow: then mayest thou turn again upon them, and beat them down at thy pleasure. Or if thou like not this devise: hear yet another way. I have been a captain amongst them a long while, therefore I will return in the night season into the town: if the watch examine me from whence I come, I will tell them I come from Schimeons' camp, whither I went as a spy. Then will I go to the elders of the town, and will them to let me have a company of the best soldiers: and I will bring Schimeon into their hands, if he set upon us again. For I have viewed his camp, and his power, and understand that he intends to morrow to intermeddle with us, which thou shalt do in deed. And when thou seest me to issue against thee: thou shalt set thy staff in the rest, and come towards me, then will I take me to flight, and cast a fear in the Edomites hearts that they shall fly also, which done thou mayst pursue to slay them at thy pleasure: overcome them and enter the town. Then that town great Asa once taken, thou shalt quickly win all the rest. When Schimeon had hard this, he went and deliberated with his own counsel: and they liked the last devise best: wherefore, that they concluded upon. So jacob the Edomite returned by night to Asa, and declared to the ancients of the town, how he had been in Schimeons' camp and had viewed his army, whereby he had conceived good hope that he should deliver Schimeon into their hands shortly: The elders therefore made him grand captain and chief of all their men of war, charging every man in this wise. For somuch as none of you are so expert in the knowledge of warfare, as is jacob, therefore behoveth it you to follow him in all things: if he set forward, set ye forward: whereas he pitcheth his tent, pitch ye also: if he stay, stay ye: when as he flieth, fly ye: to be short: when he returneth, then return ye, and go not one here breadth from that that he shall command you, neither one way nor other. Upon the next morrow, Schimeon issued out of his camp with all his army, and upon that assembled jacob his men, and went out to meet him. But when they came at the point ready to join, and Schimeon with his company had charged their stases against them, by and by jacob left the field, turned his back and fled, and the chief soldiers that were about him fled with him. The rest of the people see their captain fly, they ●oke themselves like wise to flight, every man: then Schimeon pursuing, made a great slaughter of them and wan the town, bringing them under his subjection. And when he had sacked the houses of them that were slain of the Edomites, and spoiled their goods, which was very much, the rest that he took prisoners and kept alive: he made peace withal, and joined them unto his own camp. After that he departed from thence, accompanied with xl. thousand good fighting men, part Edomites, and part jews, and came to Chebron, which he wan and destroted all their grain and corn fields. Yet afterwards he repaired their walls and such of them as were left alive, made peace with Schimeon, who received them into league with him, & they became his men, and followed him in his wars. So he dislodged from thence with his whole army, which by the accession of the Chebronites, was now wonderfully increased, and determined to go to Jerusalem. And when he came nigh the city, he ranged here and there upon the fruits that were upon the ground, and destroyed their corn. Captain jehochanan having intelligence of Schimeons' coming to besiege the Town, and how he had destroyed the fields: thought to have gone out of Jerusalem and to fight with him, but he durst not, for his spies had told him that he should not be able to overcome him, he had so puissant an Army and so well apappointed. Yet nevertheless he issued out, and lay in an ambush for Schimeon. In the mean space by chance Schimeons' wise (that was fled out of Jerusalem with her men and women feruauntes toward her husband, for fear lest she should be slain for her husbands sake, if she should have tarried at Jerusalem:) passed by where be lay in his ambush▪ Her he took and brought again to Jerusalem, not a little proud of such a pray: thinking, now shall we have Schimeon at our pleasure, seeing we have his wife our prisoner: he lousth her intirelye, therefore will he do for her sake whatsoever we will have him. This came to Schimeons' ear, who also had taken many of jehochanans' men, and cut their right hands of, sending them so home with shame to Jerusalem to their master. He sent moreover Ambassadors to jehochanan, willing him to send him his wise in such sort that she might come to him with all that was hers, or if he refused to do it, he should be the extremelyer handled: for he would take the town or it were long: and to jehochanans' shame, cut of the hands and legs of all them that did inhabit it. jehochanan hearing this, was sore afraid and all they that were with him▪, and therefore they sent him his wise. Whereupon Schimeon kept him without the town. And as Schimeon played the tyrant without, so likewise did jehochanan within the town. For jehochanans' soldiers ravished the Israelites wives, and shed innocent blood. Shortly after Schimeon left the town for a space, and returned into Edomea: for he had word that the men of most power, and the richest fort of that country, rebelled. Whereupon he sacked & spoiled all the towns of Edomea and left them nothing: in so much that he was become very rich, and then returned to jerusalem, bringing the Edomites wholly with him, that were mets for the war● and many of the jews resorted unto him also, and with his power he besieged jerusalem even at the hard gates. Yet the tyranny of jehochanan and his complices ceased not, but increased more and more daily in jerusalem, in so much that they taught the citizens of jerusalem to murder their neighbours, and to commit adultery with their wives: by which means fornication was rife and common in the city. Yea, many of the people and youth, shaved their beards, letting their here of their heads grow, and accompanied themselves with women, that thereby they might exercise their adultery the safer and not be espied. Which sin did wonderfully defile the town of jerusalem: and without doubt furthered the desolation thereof. The gates also of the town were closed up that no man might go in nor out. Yet, who so went out, fell into the hands of Schimeon, & was slain, they that tarried within, were constrained to see before their faces, their shame in every street and corner. And if any man found any fault, he was slain straight by jehochanan the most cruel captain of the seditious rebels. The citizens therefore seeing the tyranny of jehochanan, to be without measure, they assembled altogether, and encountered with jehochanan, & were slain a wonderful sort of them in that conflict. And except the Edomites that were fled to jerusalem for the tyranny of Schimeon had succoured the citizens, the hole people of jerusalem had benen utterly destroyed and slain every mother's son by jehochanan, his power was so great. Then Anani the high priest and the other priests, with the ancient, faithful, and sages, and the rest of the people of jerusalem, seeing the wickedness of jehochanan, and that they could not suffer it any longer: consulted together to deli●er up the town to Schimeon, to bring him in, and make him their king, to help them against jehochanan, whom they took to be far more wicked than Schimeon, hoping that it might come to pass, that Schimeon should slay jehochanan at length. They sent therefore Amittai the priest to Schimeon to bring him into the town. But Schimeon craftily refused it, alleging what should I come into the town to you that hate me, and of late banished me your town. Yet they ceased not so, but sent the same Amittai to him again, to entreat him in the name of all the people to come, upon a certain night: so he entered into the town with his hole army. Notwithstanding, he was no sooner within the town, but he broke his promise and league that he had made with the citizens, and whereas he had promised to secure them and aid them: now he was altered and became their enemy, joining himself with jehochanan. And they two rebels reigned in the city of jerusalem by course, one one month, and an other another: so where before Schimeons' coming, they thought much to bear the yoke & oppression of one seditious person: now were they constrained to hold down their shoulders & bear the yoke of two. Yet with in a few days after theridamas fell a variance & discord between jehochanan and Schimeon, about Eleasar priest, the son of Anani the high Priest. This Eleasar was the beginner and first sower of sedition amongst the Israeli●s, whom Schimeon would now have put to death to be wroken of his father that banished him out of Jerusalem: but jehochanan took Eleasars' part and defended him. For Eleasar was always jehochanans' friend, & aided him. His father was high priest, and bore a great rule in Jerusalem, wherefore Eleasar was of great estimation and authority with the elders, so that they durst not reprehend him, and his father also looked negligently unto him, & let him do what he list, because he had no more sons but him. So he was the first that assembled naughty persons together, & held ever on jehochanans' side from his first coming to Jerusalem. And for his sake fell division and dissension between jehochanan and Schimeon, so that they became enemies, and warred the one upon th●ther ever after, as we shall declare hereafter.   

IN this while Vespasian had sent Antoni and Mankiminus (two noble men and of his counsel,) to Rome against Vitellius, that they might make him out of the way, and then would be come to Rome to receive the imperial crown there. Those ii: captains went therefore & raised an army, by whose aid they set upon Vitellius & slew him, not without much ado, for there were slain that day at Rome. 80. M. good men of war. When Vasp. had word that he was dispatched, he made speed to Rome to his coronation, dividing first his army in ii parts, whereof he took th'one with him to Rome as a safeguard for himself whatsoever should happen: & the other he left with Titus his son to besiege jerusalem withal. So departing, he left his son Titus at Alex andria, commanding him to remain there ill such time as he should signify unto him otherwise by his letters, & show him what he should do, and that in no wise he should meddle with the siege of jerusalem in the mean space. Titus' answered, I shall do dear father according unto your commandment, for to you it belongeth to command, & to me to obey. Vespasian took with him king Agrappas, & Munabas his son: for he feared left they would rebel, & me joseph priest also as prisoner fast bound in chains, for so had his counsel moved him, saying: we cannot say the contrary, but the we have found no sign of rebellion in joseph hitherto, neither think we that he hath gone about any: but who can tell when we are gone hence, whither he will fly to jerusalem, & help to set them at unity and concord: them they make him their king, & after he be the sorer enemy unto us. Besides this you shall have need of him in this journey, he being a man of such great prudence & wisdom, that whosoever followeth his counsel, shall bring his matters to good & fortunate success. Vespasian thought their counsel good, and took me prisoner with him, together with king Agrippa's & his son, albeit they had no irons upon them, neither of hand nor foot, but only had their keepers appointed them, that they should not step aside. And as Vespasian drew nigh Rome, all the citizens came forth to me●e him, & received him with great joy & mighty shouts. Then commanded he me to be put in prison, but Agrippa's & his son he let go at liberty. The nerte day, assembled all the Senate of Rome to create Vespasian emperor, after the manner of the Romans: with whom was Agrippa's and his son. I also entreated the jailor to let me have keepers with me, and so to bring me to the place where he should be crowned and created Cesar: which the jailor granted me, & went with me himself to the place, & brought me where I might see all that was done. Within few days after. Vespasian took displeasure with Agrippa's upon the information of certain evil disposed persons that had slandered him and persuaded Vespasian that he went about to rebel, & how he had sent letters to jerusalem concerning the same matters. Wherefore Vespasian put both him & his son Munabas to death. This befell iii years and a half, before the destruction of jerusalem. Moreover, before this deed, the continual sacrifice ceased, for a. M. CC. and ninety days, as it is written in Daniel. Capitu. 12. And from the time that the continual sacrifice shallbe taken away, and abomination shallbe put into desolation, a thousand. 290. days. The same year and month that Agrippa's was put to death, God moved the mind of Vespasian to remember me with his mercy, wherefore he commanded that I should be fetched out of prison & brought to his presence. And as I stood in irons before him, Cesar had me welcome and spoke comfortably unto me, saying: Thou knowest well that I have ever loved thee from the day I first saw thee, and although I have kept the continually in durance, do not think I did it of any eui● will or malice towards thee, but rather mayst thou persuade thyself I did it least the Roman princes should disdain or envy thee: & say. See here this fellow, that in our wars hath endamaged us so greatly, now goeth he checkmate with us, in as great favour as we. Let us kill him and put him out of the way. But, my friend joseph, be thou of good cheer: I will deliver thee from these iron bonds, and thou shalt be with me in no worse case then as one of mi chief princes. And I will send ●hee into jewrye to my son Titus, to whom thou shalt be as a father and a counsellor. Thou knowest, Titus was be that took pity on thee, and would not suffer thee to be put to death. Yea he hath sundry times moved me to release thee of thy bonds and to honour thee, which I have differred to do, only for this cause that I showed thee. I made him answer.  
But how can I be quiet or in surety of my life, as long as I am in thy company and thy sons, seeing Agrippa's & his son innocently put to death by you? Gaesar answered. Hold thy peace joseph, I never looked for any goodness of Arippas' and his son. Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my majesty, and how they went about to rebel. Thou hast brent their bones with thy hands. Dost thou not know how I honoured him and his son in jewrye, how I would not suffer mine army to annoy any of his Cities? I answered. Yes, I know it was so, as your majesty saith. Then said he, but for all this hath Agrippa's requited me again with evil. For what time as the nobles of Rome in jewry went about to make me emperor, thinking me somewhat more meet to rule th'empire then Vitellius: Agrippa's persuaded with them that they should not make me Emperor, affirming that there was nothing in me worthy, wherefore they should promote me to that dignity. And after when he came to Rome, he went from one bishop to an other, and caused them go to the high bishop to accuse me of such crimes as in my conscience I knew nothing at all. By this I perceived that Agrippa's heart was full of rancour and rebellion, & therefore I judged him to death. For where as wickedness is, there it is meet that condign punishment should not be slacking. And I put his son to death likewise. For the son of a traitor ought not to live upon the earth, because that in his heart remaineth the work of his father, being conceived and borne of a rebellious sede. But I have found thee always faithful and true, and therefore I commend my son to thy wisdom. With this, he commanded my irons to be taken away from me, and being released and at liberty, he set me honourably amongst the Princes and Senators. Then said I unto him. Is not this a great dishonour unto me, that I should be delivered from my bonds, and nevertheless the Israelites that be with me to be kept in prison still? Now therefore if I have found favour in thy sight, and if thou wilt do anya thing at my suit, lose the bonds like wise of all the rest of the Israelits that be with me: set them at liberty also, and thou shalt be assured that I will be thy faithful counsellor, while my life lasteth: and an enemy to thy foes, to make war upon them that assail thee. Vespasian granted joseph his request, and willed them to be let at liberty, as many as were prisoners with joseph. Shortly after sent he joseph to his son Titus that abode at that present at Alexandria in Egypt, to whom he writ concerning joseph, in this wise. I send unto thee here (my beloved son) joseph a prince of the jews, a man of experience, trained in war, in whom is great wisdom: he shallbe thy father and faithful counsellor, thou shalt not do against his counsel, neither one way nor other, for he is a wise man. Wherefore thou shalt reverence and honour him according as he is worthy, for the Lord his God is with him, and believe not rashly any man that shall defame joseph unto thee. Yea rather put him to death straight way, that will accuse him: for joseph is a faithful man and a good counsellor: and who so is ruled by his counsel, shall have prosperous success in that he goeth about. Therefore when joseph shall come unto thee, after he hath refreshed himself a few days of the labours and travails of the sea: then shalt thou prepare to take thy journey against jerusalem to besiege it. And if the jews receive the peaceably, and will submit themselves under the Roman empire: then beware thou endamage them in nothing, but rather repair their cities, & let them be free from altribute for the space of ii years: yet of this condition that thrice every year they set a flag with the arms of the Romans upon their walls, that is to say, at their three solemn feasts, when as all the Israelites are wont to resort to Jerusalem, to appear before the Lord their God. Moreover, they shall offer for us every feast a sacrifice upon the most holy alter that is in Jerusalem. And if they refuse to make peace with thee, thou shalt utterly raze their towns, and whosoever is left alive, and escape the sword: those shalt thou lead away captive. If so be it they desire to have joseph to be their king; we are content therewith. In any wise remember to be ruled by joseph's counsel: he shall be thy father, & thou his son. After this joseph departed from Rome, and came to Alexandria to Titus, who hearing of joseph's arrival, was wondrous glad, and all the ancient and wise men with him. For joseph was full of the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, valiantness, knowledge, and fear of God. Wherefore he went forth to meet him accompanied with the captains of the Romans army, & received him with great honour. Then joseph delivered to Titus his father's letters: Which Titus having red, said unto joseph. What so ever my father hath written in these letters, I would have done them by mine own accord: but now that my father admonisheth me of the same I ought to do it the more. Wherefore remain here with me and I will be thy son, and thou shalt be my father to rule and govern me with thy counsel. So joseph abode with Titus at Alexandria a hole month after he came from Rome. Then consulted they together to go to jerusalem and besiege it, for joseph understood well enough, that this came of the Lord, and that his word could not be letted nor hindered. Titus therefore and joseph with him departed from Alexandria withal their army and pitched their tents at Nicopolis: from thence they came by water to Thanisa: so forth to Iraclea: and leaving that, came to Pelisis. From thence they travailed through the desert to Baale jovim: after that to Dicron, so to Gaza, next to Askelon, then to Inboam: after to japho: and so to Caesarea. In these journeys he won Asam, Askalon & japho, withal their towns and castles lying about them.   

THe first year of the reign of Vespasian, 
December  the tenth month and senenth day of the same came Titus with joseph and his army to Cesaria, a famous city, built by king Herod. In this city he sojourned, until his hole host were come together, as well of Romans as of other natione, that were under the dominion of the Romans, and came to aid them in the siege of jerusalem. Therefore Titus army was wonderful huge and puissant, wherewith he abode at Caesarea till the could of winter was passed, and the month of Of drew nigh. 
july.  The same year the civil wars grew and increased in jerusalem, for the Citizens slew one an other, without any truce, rest or quietness: no not in winter, when as wars were wont to cease; but summer and winter both, the wars never stintted between Schimeon, jehochanan and Eleasar. For the Lord the same year had sent amongst them of jerusalem a turn sick spirit of giddiness that the people were divided into iii parts, whereof the first and best followed Anani the priest, who at the time had stained, unhallowed & suspended his office of priesthood. another part followed seditious jehochanan: the third, most cruel Schime on. So that in the midst of jerusalem was civil wars, and without, the Romans army made roads from Cesaria even to jerusalem, by the means whereof, no man durst go forth for fear lest he should fall into the enemies hands: nor enter into the town to bring any necessaries thither. Anani being a perfit godly man and seeing the common weal of jerusalem, to be governed by the pleasure of the seditious, gave over his third part that stake to him to Eleasar his son, which was the first author of sedition, and he the gave the first occasion, that was cause also of all the mischief that befell in jerusalem, and in the hole land of judea. For he began a conspiracy against the Roman garrisons, and provoked Israel to rebel against the Romans and to lay hands upon them. Wherefore there assembled unto Seditious Eleasar, jehudah, Chezron, Schimeon, & Chiskiahu young men of the nobles of jerusalem: & Eleasar with his company took the temple, and the courts about it, appointing of his men, some to be spies, some to keep watch & ward about the temple of the lord. But jehochanan, who because of the great resort of people unto him, was stronger than Eleasar: he took the market place and streets, the lower part of the city. Then Schimeon the jerosolomite took the highest part of the town, whereby his men annoyed jehochanans' part fore with slings and cross bows. Between these iii therefore was most cruel battle in jerusalem, for the space of four days, without ceasing or any breathing: & every day very many were slain, so that the blood of the jews that were slain, ran every where abounoauntly through the market place & streets: yea, even to the temple of the Lord, like unto a flood that had come of great showers. And unto the thresholds of the gates of the temple, the dead bodies overwhelmed one an other by heaps, for no man buried them. jehochanan having the middle part of the town, had Schimeon on the one side him, & Eleasar on tother. But Schimeon had the best place, from whence he might annoy both jehochanan and Eleasar. Eleasar did also what he could to endamage Schimeon. And Iehochanan that was in the midst, encumbered them both, notwithstanding to little purpose. For Schimeons' company slang stones, and shot at them sore: but when as jehochanans' part slange likewise at them, the stones redounded again upon themselves. Thus amongst these iii the battle was sore, and increased every day, that all men were in great terror and fear thereof. Then assembled to the temple much people of the priests and elders, beseeching these inward enemies, not to pollute and defile the temple with their slaughters, and were almost all slain for their labour. The same day was slain the priest Agani and josua a priest, both of the chiefest Priests, and Sechariahu the most faithful Prophet of the Lord. Then had the continual sacrifice ceased, sire and thirty days: for ever until that time was there some good men, or other at jerusalem that offered always sacrifice to the Lord. But now when they would have continued it, and the priests lay the sacrifices upon the altar, the seditious would run upon them & kill them, that the priests bodies and their cattle, that they would have sacrificed, should fall all dead to the ground together. They that resorted also out of the country to jerusalem for devotions' sake, the seditious slew and utterly destroyed them that almost no one of them was left alive. Moreover, the dead bodies of men lay cast in the temple, and that without number, tread under the feet. Yea, the dead body of the priest, that was offering sacrifice, lay upon the earth together with his offering. And when any man would offer any sacrifice, strait way one or other of the seditious would step to him and & kill him, that the blood of the sacrifice and sacrificer should be mingled together. In so much that the pavement of the temple, being all of marble, was made so slipperye with the blood & fat of them that were slain, that no man could go upon it without falling. And the priest should not sooner lay hand up on the sacrifice, but he was slain: and straight an other dead body should fall upon him: stranger and other: they spared none. So thus the dead bodies of the good & bad: clean and unclean, wicked & virtuous, thief & true man, lay one upon an other, and their blood mixed together in the midst of the temple, with out respect of any man, what degree or condition so ever he were of. Wherefore the fight & slaughter waxed great both in the town and in the temple. For whom soever the seditious overcame: they set fire on their houses also, where through the fire took into the great men's houses that were nigh the temple, and into the store houses, whereas against times of necessity and besiegynges of the town: were laid up in store, corn, wine, and oil, to the number of a thousand and four hundred store houses, all filled full of victuals. For the Elders and other Godly men what time as Vespasian was in Galilee, they made up the doors of those garner houses, and laid in victuals into them sufficient for ii hundred thousand men for xx. year, and now in this one battle of the seditious, they were brent every one stick and stone, which was a speedy cause of famine and hunger in Jerusalem. At the same time also the seditious pulled down and razed all the fair houses and goodly buildings, that there should be no monument of any noble house left to any of the citizens of Jerusalem. So this you see at that time the Lord visited the citizens of jerusalem, with four kind of plagues, sword, pestilence, hunger & fire: besides this, a fift also was added: the ruin and decay of all beautiful and gorgeous buildings. And where soever a man turned him, there was nothing but desolation, pollution (namely of the temple and all holy things) uproars, without all rest and refuge, no help, no succour, but every corner of jerusalem was full of howling and yelling: wailing and weeping, sobbing and sighing of women and children. Here should ye hear the roaring and groaning of wounded men, not yet thorough dead: there the mourning and lamentation for the Elders that then were slain by the seditious: yonder children crying out for hunger: to be short, most sorrowful oppression of them that lived, done by the seditious. Such voices were made every where: that happy and fortunate was he that before this day died: and unhappy and in a woeful case were all such as remained alive to see this day. All these things when I joseph heard word of: I tore my beard with my hands, and cast ashes upon my head sitting in great sorrow upon the ground, be wailing them misery and calamity of Jerusalem.   

ANd this lamentation made joseph upon Jerusalem, saying: How is the holy city laid waste, that was wont to be more happy and more renowned then all the provinces upon the earth. How is the City that was heretofore in such highness and dignity, now brought under the foot through the sins of the citizens thereof: whereas sometime was the dwelling place of the faithful, now bear rule there such men as provoke and stir God's wrath against it, and turn it away from their God, wasting it as thieves. In the which sometime remained the brightness of the godhead, it is now become a by word and a mocking stock to the enemies, replenished with blood of wounded and slain men. In stead of mirth, gladness, rejoicing, haps, and psalteries: is sorrow, sighhing, heart breaks, mourning and pensiveness comen in place. Even as heretofore the priests executed the service of the Lord in offering sacrifices: so likewise now seditious person's murder Godly and faithful men. Where was wont to be the dwelling place of most wise and prudent men: now is it made a common hostry of wicked murderers and thieves. O Lord God of Israel, have not angels in time passed come down from heaven to earth to fight thy battles? have not the floods of the seas persecuted them that persecuted thee? hath not the earth swallowed up them that despised thee? and the winds scattered a sunder, that made insurrectyons against thee? and thunder from heaven destroyed thine enymyes and stars have fought against thy foes? What means this therefore, and how cometh it to pass that thou hyddeste thy ●ace from us? to whom hast thou betaken the sheep of thy pasture? Look upon us our GOD, and behold thy people and inheritance, that thou broughtest out of Egypt, with a mighty power, and a strong hand: with wonders and signs, leading them until this day in thy faith: take pity upon them in thy mercy, and extend not thy wrath against thy servants. Where art thou Moses the son of Amram? stand up and see thy people and flock of sheep, which thou feddest all thy life with thy wisdom: see how Wolves and Lions tear them: see how the Israelites are become foes of their own lives & souls: Yea, wasters and destroyers are sprung up of their own selves. Behold the people of God, for whose sake thou liftedste up thy staff over the sea, wherewith thou struckest and devidedst it, that it was made dry ground, so that the Israelites passed through and escaped their enemies. Remember thy prayer, when as in time of famine and lack of soode, thou obteinedst for them meat from heaven, & at the same time when they were weary of their lives for thirst, thou broughte●t water out of the most hard rock. Come forth Aaron, most holy priest of God, that didst put thyself between the living and the dead, to turn away the plague from Israel, and strokest the destroyer, that he should not come nigh the living. Arise out of thy grave thou Phinees, that moved with such fervency: didst revenge the glory and maiesti of the lord God of Israel. Come and run through these seditious in thy fury, which murder the people of God & his priests. Awake thou josua, that didst throw down the walls of jericho, with the sound and shout of thy trumpets, that the holy priests held in their hands. Come now and see thy people that thou madest to inherit many nations, & to conquer most puissant kings, how they kill one an other, how they further & helpforwarde the Idolater to rule & have the dominion of thy holy land that thou gavest thy people Israel to inherit. Why sleepest thou king David, awake and come with the sound of thy psaltery and harp, to sing the holy Psalms. Ask account of thy sweet words, that are ceased from the mouths of this people, and out of all men's mouths, because of the maliciousness thereof. See how their princes be trans●o●me● into enemies and destroyers: and do not as thou didst (good king David) that didst give thine own life for theirs, saying. Let thy hand (O Lord) be turned against me, and against the house of my father: and do not fall upon thy people to destroy them. Where art thou Eliseus? come and see what thou canst do, if thou canst reseve the remnant of Israel, and find them any gap to scape at. Didst not thou by thy prayer bring the power of the Syrians to a town of defence, and prevailedste against them without dint of sword or battle, and broughtest them down, smiting them with blindness, that they turned their enmity toward Israel into love? In deed thou waste he that vanquishedst the Syrians by thy prayer, that they fled for fear of the same. Now● therefore ye herdsmen of Israel, assemble together & listen with your ears, and hear my words that I will speak in your ears this day. Tell me, what is become of your prayer the ye have made for the people of Israel, to desende and turn away from them all wrath, indignation, tribulation, fury, & immissions of evil spirits? How is it the now ye see not the sanctuary turned into a vile sink of blood? for the dead bodies of priests lie in the midst of it. The holy city jerusalem is become a strange citi, as though the name of the Lord had never been in it, and the sanctuary of the Lord is in that case at this present, as thought the divine Godhead had never dwelt therein, for the temple is turned into a den of thieves: a lodging of seditious persons, a tabernacle of cruel murderers. And who so flieth thither for refuge, there they be slain: as the seditious have murdered in the midst thereof Anani the high priest, and josua a priest also, that were Princes and chief priests, the most reverent amongst the people of God, whom ere this, kings and nations had besought and desired their favour: but never cast their slain bodies in the midst of the temple. The nobility also of Jerusalem, the elders of juda, and sages of Israel, whose friendship kings and nations have sought, and desired to make peace with: they eye now slain here and there in the midst of Jerusalem, are meat unto the fowls of the air, and beasts of the field, to dogs and Ravens, because there is no man to bury them. These died not for their offences, but because they found fault with the Israelites when they sinned. How are they slain in thee (O jerusalem thou holy city, renowned thorough out the whole earth) all just men, all holy men, whom the seditious have got the upper hand of, those hellhounds and bloodsuckers that have brought all these mischiefs upon ●hee? How are are the priests of the Lord, and his Prophets slain amongst those holy men. For before the holy temple, was the Prophet Sechariahu, that just and holy man butchered and murdered: yea, without all burial, neither was his blood covered with earth, but yet still wandereth about and muttereth in the. The blood of Anani also and josua the chief Priests was yet never covered, which were both slain in thy temple, as men be wont to kill thieves: yea the blood of the godly young men, and valeant men that would have revenged them, was shed also by the seditious like floods of water. How are the hearts of the people turned so auckwardly, that they will hear no admonition of just men? But are like unto blockish images, that neither see, nor hear, nor yet understand any thing. All beasts be they never so brutish, all plants, and things that grow upon th'earth, withstand them that invade them to do them injury, and endeavour to avoid the force of their enemy: but thy children the thou keepest within thee, are changed into enemies, and one brother murdereth an other with the sword. Where is now thy valeauntnes, thou that never wouldst how to bear the yoke of the gentiles upon thy shoulders: but hast cast away the bondage of the Egyptians, Philistines, Aramites, Assyrians, Chaldeis, Persians and Medes? Where is the strength that God gave to the Chasmonaites, that with a very small company defended thee, and prevailed against the huge and puissant army of the Greeks: destroyed the stout soldiers of Babylon: vanquished the mighty army of the Persians, slew Kamitiarus and Antiochus, and pursued their armies, making great slaughters of them, and filling all places full of dead carcases of the gentiles. They would not be ruled by sinners, but ventured themselves to die, offering their lives, not for their sons and daughters: but for the sanctuary of the Lord & his temple, least it should be polluted with the idols of the gentiles? Where remaineth now the rod of god, that, holy rod that budded & blossomed in the days of gladness? Now is both the sprigs withered and the rod itself also. The rod of faith is withered, the rod of the kingdom, the rod also of thy people, from whom the holy law is taken away, neither is there any man the can tell where to draw any waters of the heavenly mercy. Alas the merciful men that have been in times passed to their brethren both alive & dead: how are they now turned into most cruel tyrants, & have mercy of no man? Where is the multitude of their mercies, wherewith they were want honourably to bury their dead? Now the corpses of their dead bodies cover the face of the hole earth, & there is no body will vouchsafe to bury them: yea, they the would, can not be suffered, but straightways cometh other to them, & kills than before they can do it, so that they also die & lie unburied, & are strewed about here & there in the fields? Such is the guise in the now a days, neither the father to bury the son, nor the son the father: the seditious watch so dilig●tly those that be dead, lest any man should bury them: which if they do, they are also slain by them, and lie unburied themselves. The temple of the lord that is in thee, and was wont to smell sweetly of spices, anointmentes, and perfumes: How is it now choked with carian dung, and most pestilent stench of dead bodies & blood of the wounded? Thy streets are strewed full of dead men, some run through with glaives and javelins, and other dead for hunger: yea, they that remain yet alive in the city, are as good as dead also, and may be taken for no less. For they are weary of their lives, because of the pestilent damp of the dead bodies, which also hath been the death of many, and hath cast many into most dangerous diseases. This may worthily seem to be it that David the anointed of the God of jacob, the pleasant and sweet musical Poet of Israel, speaketh of: Lord the gentiles are comen into thine inheritance, they have polluted the temple of thy holiness. And would to God it had been gentiles tills that thou hadst brought up, nourished and exalted to do this deed, to rebel and sin against thee, and to pollute thus the holy temple that is in thee. For in the maliciousness of an enemy, a man findeth the half of his comfort: but in the malice of a friend, there is no comfort at all. Yea, the very children that thou hast bred, brought up, and promoted: the self same have stuffed the temple of the Lord that is in thee with unburied carcases, every man killing his neighbour: and the seditious suffering no man to bury them, but sleainge all that attempt to bestow any such benefit upon the dead, in such sort, that they fall dead upon the corpses which they would have buried: & by that means both the corpses lie cast out in the field, no better than the carcases of brute beasts that be found in desert places. Yea, the iniquity and cruelty of thy citizens O jerusalem is grown so far, that they were not content, only to kill their neighbours: but they must also hew their bodies in pieces, for else they thought they were not sufficiently revenged: although that in so doing, many times the stench of the dead took worthy vengeance again of the living, by casting him into uncurable diseases. All which evils are come upon thy children because they have forsaken the law of the Lord, and have traungressed his covenant that he made with their brethren, because also they have sinned against the Lord GOD of their fathers, in shedding the blood of just men and innocentes that were in in thee, even in the temple of the Lord. And therefore are our sorrowful sighbynges multiplied, and our weeping daily increased, for that we have been the cause of all these evils that are befallen us, and are not yet ended. O Lord our God, our Sins are gone over our heads, and the wicked acts that we have committed in thy sight, are innumerable. The Lord our God is righteous, it is we that have rebelled against his will, we have profaned and unhallowed his law, we have broken his covenant. And ever the more that his Wrath enkindleth against us: the more have we traunsgressed against him. Wherefore to him belongeth justice & judgement, he hath worthily poured the fury of his displeasure upon us: to us only belongeth shame as we have abundantly at this day. But he will once turn again, and have mercy upon us, vanquish all our sins, and cast them all into the deep bottoms of the sea. So be it.   

AFter these things, the third day of the first month in the first year of the reign of Vespasian, Titus his son took muster of his men in the plain of Cesaria, to know the certain number of them, which he had not done afore sense his father's departure: and he found them very many, in so much that they almost seemed to cover the earth. This done, he took his journey from Caesaria with his power, and came to Samaria, where the Citizens received him with great joy, and did him much honour. Wherefore he spared them, and did them no harm. From thence he came Aielona. thirty. furlongs from Jerusalem: there he pitched his tents, and leaving them there, took six hundredth horsemen with him, and came to Jerusalem to view the town, to know what height the walls were, what strength there was in the town, specially of the seditious of whom every where great rumour was: finally, to receive peaceably all such as were desirous of peace. So as he came to the wall, he saw no man neither go out nor in: for the gates were shut up, & the seditious had laid an am bush without the town to trap Titus, who went somewhat before accompanied with a fews, the rest following a pretty way behind. Whiles therefore he was in viewing the walls, the seditious issued out of their ambush that they had laid nigh unto Aielonia, and set upon the back of Titus men behind. Then issued an other fort out of the town, so that they had Titus between them, and running upon him, separated him from his men, and environed him on every side, where they slew. lx. of his men, and might have slain him also, save that they coveted to take him alive. Titus seeing himself beset, and forsaken of his own men that thought it was impossible for him to escape, perceiving also that they went not about to kill him, but to take him alive: more over, that he could in no wise escape except he would make an irruption and run through their bands: he took a good heart unto him, and valiantly broke through, slaying whomsoever came in his way to lay hold of him, and so escaped. If they had intended to have slain him, they might have done it: but being desirous to take him alive (as is said) they abstained from striking him, and so they lost him. And GOD would not deliver him into their hands, that by him hes might scourge Israel. But the jews seeing him to be thus escaped, repent fore that they had not killed him, saying one to another: What meant we that we killed him not while we might? it is ill handled of us. Therefore they pursued him, hurlinge and shooting after him with engines of War, but they could not over take him: for God preserved him, that he● might afterward deliver Jerusalem into his hands. So he returned to Aielona, and perceived the hearts of kings to be in the hands of GOD. The next morrow brought Titus all his army to Jerusalem, determining to encamp himself upon the mount Olivet: wherefore he first spoke unto his soldiers in this wise. This day ye go to fight against a most mighty nation, whose warriors be strong as lions, valiant as liberdes, and nimble as towns that run in the mountains, to overturn chariots and such as sit upon them. Now therefore take good hearts unto you, and be courageous: for so it stands you in hand. Do not think them to be like the nations that heretofore ye have had to do withal. I myself have experience otherwise of their dalianntnes and sleights of war. This said, he marched in array most strongly, that they should not be scattered asunder, and gave them charge, specially to the vaward to take heed of stumbling upon Welles or cisterns, whereby they might be hindered, for as yet the day was scarce broken: and besides that, Titus had knowledge how the jews fearing of his coming, had digged secret trenches & pitfalls. Wherefore to avoid them, he led his host by the mount Olivet, in which place it never came in their minds to dig. Therefore when he came to the mount Olivet, he encamped there against Jerusalem, right over against the Brook Cedron, that ran between the city and the hill, and many times ran very shallow. Titus' camp was about six furlongs from the town. The next morrow they of the town seeing Titus to be encamped upon the mount Olivet, the captains of the seditious with their companies assembled together, and fell at agreement every man with an other, intending to turn their cruelty upon the Romans, confirming and ratifiing the same atonement and purpose, by swearing one to an other, and so became peace amongst them. Wherefore joining together that before were three several parts, they set open the Gates, and all the best of them issued out with an horrible noise and shout, that they made the romans afraid withal, in such wise, that they fled before the seditious, which suddenly did set upon them at unwares. But Titus seeing his men flee, rebuked them saiinge: Are ye not ashamed of this timerious cowardness, when ye are so many and a hundredth for one of them? What ignominy is it, so many to be repulsed of so few? wherewithal Titus stayed them, and brought them manfully to withstand the jews, so that very many were slain on both sides. But the Romans were not able long to abide the force of the jews, albeit that Titus with his elect and most valeant Soldiers did manfully keep their ground and never recoiled. Titus also laboured to encourage the rest to fight but they were so dismayed that they wist not what to do. For to forsake Titus they were ashamed, and to resist the violence of the jews they were not able. notwithstanding Titus and his company made their party good against the jews, who at length left the field, and withdrew themselves toward the town. Then Titus being wroth with his soldiers that they had fled from the jews, said unto them: Shall I not be avenged of these jews? shall so few of them put us to flight, not able to stand in their hands? and will ye flee or recoil, seeing me abide by it? The next day Titus took all his at my save a few that he lest in his camp to keep the baggage, and went downs the Mount Olivet, setting his men in battle ray even against the gates of the city. Then exhorted he them to plays the men, and although they were come down the hill, yet they should not fear the jews, for their camp that they had left behind them: for the broke Cedron (saith he) is between our camp and the Israelites, with these words they were encouraged, and determined to encounter with the jews under the walls hard at the gates of the city, trusting to the safeguard and defence of the brook Cedron. The captains of the seditious likewise used policy: For they dividing their men, sent one company to pass sodenli the broke Cedron, to invade and spoil the Roman camp that were left in the Mount Olivet. These therefore went and fought with the Romans upon the Mount, and drove them out of their camp. Titus looking behind him, and perceiving that the jews had gotten over the broke and were in hand with his men, he was wonderfully afraid, seeing himself so environed with battles on every side. They within the town when they saw their fellows once at the mount Olivet, they opened the gates, issued withal their power that was left in the town and encountered with Titus, where he had set his men in array over against the gate: where they made a great slaughter of the Romans, which striving to avenge the shame gotten the day before fled not, but stuck to it hard. The jews also took heart unto them, & fought manfully, bet down the Romans, that at length they took them to flight toward the mount Olivet, and in their flight many of them were slain of the jews that pursued the chase. Upon this divers of Titus soldiers seeing themselves beset both before and behind, counseled Titus to flee with them unto the mountains to save his life, lest he should be slain by the jews, and they all together with him. For thou (say they) art a great Lord of many kingdoms, and God shall one day bring thee to the imperial crown of our Lord thy father. Now therefore if thou shouldest be slain of the jews, we are all but dead and what good should thy death do other to thyself or to other to be slain like one of us? Yet Titus would not be ruled by them, nor receive their counsel, but kept his ground boldly without once turning his face, saying: I will choose rather to die with honour, then to live with shame And with that he rushed upon the jews that were nigh him, and drew them to recoil. When the jews that had environed the Roman camp, saw that: they left the Romans and came flocking about Titus by routs, assailing him on every side, endeavouring also withal their might to overcharg him: wherethrough, in that place was a sore and vehement fight, and much people slain on both parties: yea, Titus scaped narrowly from being slain in that fight and he had died in deed, if certain of his valeant soldiers had not returned unto him, and rescued him ou●e of the jews hands. That day were the chief of Titus soldiers slain. Then the jews retired to their place at the walls side. They also that went to the mount Olivet, returned homeward by the broke Cedron. The Romans seeing that, pursued them, whereupon the jews turned again upon the romans, who fled by and by. Thus the jews put the romans to flight thrice upon one day.   

IT came to pass them, that the external wars paused, and internal civil wars revived most terribly amongst the seditious at Jerusalem. For upon the first day of the high solemn feast of passover, captain jehochanan and his men came into the temple of the Lord, where he was honourably received of the priests and Elders, with the rest of the commonalty. And when they were within, they cast of their upper garments, under which they were armed with coats of fence & swords tied to their thighs. After that they beset the doors & laid hold of the priests: slew them & the people also, their hearts was so cruelly bend against their brethren, neither regarding the reverent countenances of old men, nor inclining to the prayers of them that besought them: without sparing either women or children, no not the sucking babes. This done jehochanan stood up & openly protested that neither Schimeon nor Eleasar, nor any of the rest of the captains of the seditious, nor any man else should have the sovereignty in that city but he. The other hearing that jehochanan had wrought such displeasure to the people of God in the temple, risse together and slew very many of jehochanans' part, but in the mean season, what of th'one part, and what of the other, the Israelites went to wrack, and were slain in great number. Tidings came to Titus how the jews conspired against themselves, and slew one an other daily: whereat he rejoiced greatly, & came with his hole host to the town: where he found certain jews without that had fled because of the rage of the civil wars. When they saw Titus, they came & besought him to enter the town and deliver them from the cruelty of the seditious, & they would be his servants: for these wars had made them almost weary of their lives. Yet Titus gave little credit to their tale, although they made many words to persuade him that it was true. For he remembered how within three days afore, he saw the jews fight against him egarlye all with one accord, so earnestly one rescuing and defending an other, that no discord appeared to be amongst them. Wherefore he would not believe their words, in that they required secure and offered to yield. And as they were thus debating the matter, suddenly they heard an uproar in the town, and wonderful hurly burly, some crying. Open the gates, and let Titus come in: other cried shut the gates, & let not the romans come in. Then certain upon the walls called unto the romans to make speed and come unto the town, they would open them the gates that they might enter in, and deliver them from the tyranny of the seditious, lest they should be all slain by the hands of those ravenous and cruel seditious persons. The Romans therefore ran to the gates, and when they approached nigh the Walls, and were come within danger: the jews hurled stones from the walls, & shot arrows at them, flaying very many of the romans. The other jews also that were without the town, and had besought Titus to deliver them from the hands of the seditious: began to assail the Romans that were gone to the walls with such force, that many of them they slew, the residue they put to flight, & the jews followed the chase almost to Aiclona. Then the jews mock● & flouted the Romans calling them fresh water soldiers, men of no experience, and innocent fools that never saw the trains of war before: clapping also their targetes and shaking their sword against the Romans in mockage. The Roman captains seeing these things, they took great disdain at the matter and in a great ire would have turned back upon the jews again had not Titus caused the retreat to be blown. Upon this Titus assembled all his counsellors, captains, and soldiers together, and said unto them in this wise. I have a sufficient trial, and understand well mough your valiantness & courage (most worthy men & dear soldiers) which far passeth the strength & manhood of all other nations: & not only in this most excellent virtue do ye excel: but also in know ledge and sleights of war, in wisdom & forecast ye have been chief of all other. Now therefore brethre & friends, I marvel not so greatly at the jews subtlety & craft in their swearing to you for the persuading of a thing, & after keep not their oath: but this seemeth wonderful to me, that ye suffer yourselves still to be deceived of them, & to be slain by their wiles. For all the wit ye have, could not deliver you out of their snares, but now yet again the iii time ye have approached the walls, & this is the iii time ye have been slain for your labours. And all this cometh because ye will not be ruled by me, but transgress your general & lords commandment. But now mi brethren take heed what ye do hereafter, it becometh you not to rebel against mi words which yet ye have done oftentimes. Do ye not remember a certain n●ble man of our country in the wars of Augustus Caesar against the Persians, how he put his own son to death, because the contrary to his father's commandment (who was grand captain of the army under Augustus) he had fought: with his enemies: yea, although he killed iii. Persians. But what speak I of once? ye have oftentimes set life by my commandments, skirmishing daily with the jews, & that without all discretion, rashly, & out of order: wherethrough your conflicts can have no good success. If you continued these manners, it shall redounded unto your own dishonours. Wherefore it were better for you to leave of this, and lay away your pride, contuma●ye, and stubburunesse: which if ye do, things shall be in better safeguard. Much more spoke Titus to his men, rebuking them sharply, not mentioned here, but declared at large in the volume that we writ unto the Romans. When he had said, his princes and captains fell every one prostrate to the earth, & besought him of pardon for their rashness in that they had so unadvisedly and without order against his mind encofitred with the jews. Then Titus taking pity of them, pardoned them, requesting them to be ware hereafter that they committed nothing against his commandment neither in word nor deed: & so doing, the● should have his favour, & avoid his displeasure & danger of death for the contrary. But if they refused to do it, whatsoever he were the should transgress his commandment, he would not spare him, but put him to death, & give his body to be eaten of the fouls of thair. They answered all with one voice: We are content with these conditions, and will do what so ever thou shalt command us. After this Titus considering how earnestly the jerosolimites were set one against an other, how they were become such cruel and mor●al enemies, that each of them conspired others death: he caused the pits, cisterns, and trenches that were about jerusalem to be damned up and stopped with earth, that the ways might be levilled for his army. That done he encamped himself nearer the walls. Against which attempt the jews issued not out of the town after their accustomed manner, to put them back from the walls. For Schimeon was otherwise occupied, he had entertained ten thousand men of the best of the seditious jews, and joined himself to jacob the Edomite, captain of ix thousand Edomites: with whom he had made a conspiracy utterly to destroy captain jehochanan. And setting upon him, they compelled him to fly into the court of the temple: where he remained in the gate of thentrance of the temple with eight thousand and four hundredth good men of war, all well appointed in ●acks. Eleasar also was against him, and joined with Schimeon becoming an enemy to him that before had saved his life: and so they both together assailed jehochanan, neglecting the defence of the town. By this means the Romans encamped themselves about the walls at their pleasure, raisings towers, and casting trenches to plant their iron Rams upon to batter the walls. The common people of the jews, that were under the rule and government of the three seditious captains, namely Schimeon, Eleasar, and jehochanan (which although they were ill enough all: yet the tyranny of jehochanan far passed Schimeon, & Schimeon was far worse than Eleasar: though Eleasar was the head author and first beginner of sedition in all Israel) were amongst them as sheep ready to be killed. For the foresaid seditious captains, slew the people at their pleasures, and divided them into bands, cas●yng lots upon them who should have which, so that one had another's men, & another man his. And this did they not only with their own men, but also with all the rest of the people, in such wise, that when the Romans made any assault, than joined they together as one man to resist the romans, & when they had given them a repulse, then wouldthey return to their cruel wars, & fall together by the ears among themselves. Extreme and dreadful was the civil conflict at that season between the three foresaid captains: and so sore, that the blood streamed down the channel out of the gates of Jerusalem, like as a broke that runneth out of a fountain and well spring. The Romeynes seeing it, were moved with much pity, that they wept bitterly. But joseph that was amongst them was stricken with so great heaviness, that he burst out into a sorrowful lamentation, lifting up his woeful voice in this wise.   

ALas alas jerusalem, the city of the great king, how shall I now call thee at this day, or what name shall I give thee? Sometime thou wast called jebus of jebusaeus that builded thee first in all this land. After that thy name was Zedek, that is justice: whereupon thy king jehoram was called Malkizedek, for he was a righteous king, and because he reigned in thee with sustice, therefore was thy name Zedek. Then righteousness had his abiding in thee, and thy bright star that shined in thee, was Zedek. Moreover, in his time was thou called Schalem, as the Scripture witnesseth, and Malki zedek king of Schalem, and that because the iniquity of the people that dwelt in thee was then fulfilled. For at that time chose Abraham our father (of worthy memory) to worship god in thee, and to take thee to his inheritance, to plant in thee the rote of good works. Whereupon the tabernacle of God remaineth in thee to this day: as it was revealed unto the same our father Abraham. In the (say His the sanctuary of the Lord. For in that place did Abraham bind his only Son, upon the top of one of thy hills, that is called mount Moriah, holy and hallowed: and therefore art thou called jerusalem, because our father Abraham (of famous memory) called the place of thy sanctuary Adonai ijreeh, the Lord shall see. Then thy late name being Schelem, this joined to it, made it Ijreshalem. For the Lord God shall behold the place of thy sanctuary, at what time as it shallbe Schalem, that is pure, uncorrupt, without lack or spot: but when so ever it is polluted and defiled as it is at this day, then will he turn away his face from it. Furthermore thou art also called jerushalaim therefore: because that who so understand the dignity and worthiness of the place wherein thy sanctuary is: shall bid the angels of heaven, to teach in it the doctrine of the holy ghost, and the spirit of wisdom and understanding, wherewith little children and the unlearned in thy land may be made wise. He also that ministered in thy temple, had on a garment of four colours, Scarlet, Violet, Bisse, and Purple. Scarlet in respect of the heanens that be above the firmament: Violet and Bisse colours (which be made of flax) because of the earth of which they come: finally purple in respect of the sea where purple is gotten. Therefore when as the priest came into the temple to minister appareled in these four colours, he said before the almighty God: I come to present myself here in thy sight (O Lord of the world) in four kinds of colours, that do represent the parts of thy world, and in such wise do I appear before the●, as though I should bring all the hole world into thy sight. Moreover, the foresaid apparel was garnished with pure gold and precious stones, after the likeness of the tribes of the sons of jacob, who was called Israel: that in that garment he might have the sovereignty before the angels that be above and by them prevail to bring the virtue of the holy ghost, by the which they should obtain wisdom that dwell in thee, and prosper in their study and faith, that they might have wisdom and understanding together. His loins also were girded with linen slops, wherewith he covered his secret parts, for it becometh priests most of all other persons to be shamefast and bashful, specially when he should minister in the two sanctuaries. For there are ii sanctuaries, the utter and thinnar, which is the sanctum sactorun or the holiest of all. In the utter, the priests minister as the high priest commandeth them: but into the inner, that is the sanctum sanctorum entereth no man, save the buy priest only, & that but once a year. For in it was the ark of the covenant of the Lord, in the which were laid up the ii tables of thecovenaunt the God made with the people of Israel in the mount Sinai. There is also the rod of Aaron that flourished & brought forth leaves. All these were in the first temple whiles it was yet standing. Over against that sanctuary, were xiiii stairs or steps upon the which appeared the miracle to king Chiskiahu. And thou jerusalem at that time was stronger than other cities, Lady of all provinces for great kings and princes builded thee. King Herode much exalted thee, raising thy walls on height, & besides that also, defenced thee with an other wall, 
Antochia  that he named Antochia of Antiochas a Roman, who liberally gave much money toward the repairing of the ruins & decay that were in thee. How cometh it to pass therefore that thou art brought thus low? the gentiles have the rule over thee now and besiege thee, racing thee, & casting thee down (yea, they are now in the midst of thee. Woe be to us for our sins, for the haughtiness of thy strength is dashed, thy sanctuary is trodden under the foot, and made a sink of the blood of slain persons. Drink now of thy cup O jerusalem with thy daughter Zion, drink I say the cup of veration and grief together with her: for yet the time shall come, that visions shall be revealed and redemption also itself, that thy children shall return to their coasts, with the health of their redeemer. Then shallbe the time of friendship, and then shalt thou drink the cup of health and consolation. After this, Titus went to view what way he might best assault the city, and as he devised with himself, he espied a plain on that side where the sepulchre of jochanan the high priest was, whereas he stayed a while, and sent one of his captains that were there with him called Nikanor, to common with the jews that were upon the walls, to move them to peace: willing him to say thus unto them: Friends, my Lord Titus is desirous to spare you and to make a league with you, that ye might be at quiet and out of this danger of desiruction. And if you be so disposed to consent thereunto, Titus shall make a league with you yet before night. Nikanor went and spoke with the people in such wise as Titus had willed him. The jews gave him no word to answer, but held their peace: wherefore Nikanor spoke unto them again, and as he was talking unto them, one from the walls struck him with an arrow and killed him. Whereat Titus was exceeding wrath that they should shout at his captain offering them peace, and his death grened him marvelously. Wherefore he commanded ladders brakes, slings, iron rams, and other engines of war to be brought to assault the town. So the soldiers brought an iron Ram to batter the wall, and planted it upon a mount accordingly. The jews seeing that were sore afraid, wherefore the three captains of the seditious sell at one, and opening the gates, issued out, and beat the Romans from their pieces, and engines that were now ready addressed, setting fire on them and burning them, the ram, slings, & all tother engines, a few excepted, which Titus & his men saved from the fire. In this conflict the men of Alexandria, that served Titus, behaved themselves like tall fellows in the rescuing of the slings from the jews: yet the jews prevailed: and gate the upper hand of them, till Titus came with a strong power of picked men, to succour the Alexandrians, whereas twelve of the stoutest jews were slain. In the same skirmish jehochanan a captain of the Edomites, that came to aid the jews was slain, by an Arabian, that came behind him, and struck him with an arrow, whiles he was talking with the Romans that had entreated him to come unto them. For whom the Edomites mourned, and lamented sore, for he was a good man of war. The next night certain of the seditious, chiefly of jehochanan and Schimeons' company, issued out and came to the three wooden towers that Titus had crected before the Walls, and set a great Garrison of valiant Soldiers about them to defend them, and to view also the town out of them to see what the jews did. And whosoever were nigh the touses, those the jews slew, the other fled to Titus camp. But the romans that were within the towers wist nothing of the matter, trusting to them that were set about the towers for their safeguard: and therefore slept all the night. The jews after they had slain the Roman watch and put them to flight, they came to the towers with saws, and cut the feyt a sunder so that they fell suddenly together with them that were within them, which were very many and slew them every one. Titus hearing the alarm and the crasshing of the falling of the towers, was sore afraid and all his hole army: and not knowing what the matter was, they durst not stir toward it: so the jews returned clear into the town. On the morrow Titus brought his hole power to the walls, and whiles the jews were at their contenciones in the town, he addressed an other Iron Ram wherewith he suddenly struck the utter wall and battered it through: whereupon, the people that warded that wall were said to get themselves within the safeguard of the second wall▪ Then Titus commanded his soldiers to race to the ground that wall that he had pierced, and to carry away the stones thereof, that they should be no let nor hindrance to his men. This was the most substantial and strongest wall of all, thicker than both tother, and was builded by Herode. The Romans labouring earnestly in the defacing of the utter wall, were slain in great number by the jews from the middle wall, before they could finish their purpose. The chief of the jews perceiving that Titus had not only taken, but also quite pulled down the utter wall, & how there was now but two walls left about the town: it went to their hearts and made them look about them: therefore began the seditious now earnestly to think of unity and concord amongst themselves: so than they divided the town amongst them into three wards. jehochanan was appointed unto that ward that is on the north part of the temple, beside the Antochia. That part of the town that was toward the tomb of jochanan the high priest, was attributed to Schimeon. To Eleasar was committed the keeping of the wall. These exhorting one an other to play the men, did valeantlye resist the Romans: so that the conflicts then, began to be sore and hard. The Romans for their renown and fame, laid on load: and the jews again stuck stiflye to the defence, seeing their end at hand if they were slack. Titus now and then exhorted his soldiers to play the men, promising them that would valeauntlye give the onset upon the jews, abundance of gold, silver, and much honour withal. Then stepped forth one of his soldiers named Longinus, and put himself amongst the routs of the jews that were issued out of the town, where he slew a couple of the chief of them, and straight recovered himself, again within the array of the Romans. But the jews shrinkt not from the Romans: for they were in a fervent rage and a wonderful disdain: and to further their courage, Schimeon came unto his men and cried upon them with a loud voice saying: For the reverence of God, friends, fly not this day: who soever doth▪ fly, let him be sure he shall die for it, and his house destroyed. Titus also admonished his to keep their array and not to give back to Schimeon. Then went he himself to that par●e of the town where jehochanans' ward was, there he caused an Iron Ram to be planted and bent against the wall, (for there was a large plain). There was at that time in jerusalem one called Kantor, who got to him a company of the seditious, and shoot from the walls into the Romans army, where he slew very many, compelling the rest to retire, he with nine other tale fellows whereof he was the Decurian defended one part of the town. Now as the Romans bended the Ram to batter the wall, Kantor cried unto Titus. I beseech thee my Lord Titus, be merciful of this most famous City that is almost beat down all ready: do not deface it utterly, but take pity of the sanctuary that is in it, and destroy not the habitation of the Lord God. Titus at his request commanded his men to stay and to leave of battering the wall, then said he to Kantor. Come forth hither to me and thou shalt save thy life, I will pardon thee, thou shalt not be destroyed. Kantor answered, I will see if I can persuade these my fellows to come with me. But he did it upon colour, for none other cause then craftily to trifle out time, to make Titus to leave of the assault for a while. So he spoke unto his fellows that knew his mind that the Romans might hear: Let us go down and fly to the Roman army. Then they drew out their sword and made as though they would kill him, striking upon his harness, and he fell down to the ground in the sight of the Romans, which were ignoraun●e of his deceit. Then one of the Romans let fly an arrow, that wounded Kantor upon the face, and glauncinge from him, slew an other that stood by him. Then Kantor cried out. What do ye? will ye shoot at us that desire to be at peace with you, which ye granted yourselves, and now will break your promiss that ye made unto us? Is this the reward my Lord Titus that thou rendrest me for going about to fly unto thee? that thy soldiers shall shoot at me, hearing me to require conditions of peace? Now therefore my Lord, pleaseth it thee to sends hither some man of honour, to whom I may come down and receive assurance of thy promiss, and come to thee afterwards to be as one of thine own men. Titus thinking he mente good faith, spoke unto joseph, willing him to go and make peace with the jew in his name: then to bring him unto him that he might find safeguard of his life, from the common destruction. joseph answered. Why wilt thou send me? what have I offended thee? have I not ever done the true and faithful service? Therefore if thou bear me any good will or favour, send me not unto him whom I can not tru●●e: for joseph mistrusted some subtlety knowing Kantor afore. So Titus sent ●ne captain jiarus, who said unto Kantor, come down and let us go together to Caesar's son. Kantor desired him to hold abroad his cloak lap, that he might hurl him down his money that he had there, (lest the jews perceiving it would take it from him) and then he would come down. And as jiarus held up his lap to receive the money that Kantor spoke of, Kantor with all his might cast down a great Stone, which jiarus espiing, leapt aside and avoided: but it light upon one of his fellows and slew him. Titus was wonderful wroth at this, and forthwith planted yet an other iron Ram against the Wall, and at length laid it flat upon the ground. Then commanded Titus to make fires about the Wall, whereas the jews should escape by. Kantor seeing that, would have fled, and as he made haste to scape the fires, the weight of his armour bore him down into the fire, and there he died, more desirous of death than life. Then entered the Romans within the second Wall, against whom the Seditious issued and fought with such vehement force, that they prevailed against their enemies, slew many of the Romans, and forced the rest to retire unto the first Wall that they had beaten down afore. In this skyrmyshe Titus himself took a bow and shot at the jews in such wise, that no one of his arrows were spent in vain, but that it did some annoyance unto the jews, yet for all that the jews gave them the repulse from the Town, and the Romans were not able to make their party good with them. Within four days after came unto Titus a new supply of Soldiers out of all quarters for to aids the Romans, by whose help they prevailed against the jews at such times as they issued out of the Town, and constrained them to wythorawe them selves within the walls.  
Yet Titus pitiing the miserable state of the City, Temple, and people of the Lord, at that time commanded his people to withdraw themselves from the walls, and to leave of the assault for a while: that he might offer peace unto the jews, to see if they would now be content to submit themselves unto the romans, to have quiet and rest without danger of destruction. Wherefore he gave them truce for five days. And upon the fift day he came to the gate of the city, whereas he straightway espied Schimeon and jehochanan together preparing fire to destroy the Romans engines of war, for all the jews had agreed together with one accord and one mind still to withstand the romans. Wherefore Titus perceiving the jews to be so desperately set, that they had even vowed their lives to death: he began to offer and propose unto them conditions of peace, & sharply to reprove and blame their obstinate stubbornness, saying: I have now won two of your walls, and ye have but one left. Therefore if you will continue still in this self-willed frowardness: what will ye do (most miserable creatures) when as I shall achieve also the third wall, and quite destroy your city, pulling down your Temple and all? Why do ye not rather favour and spare your own lives, your wives and children? But the jews set upon a solemn obstinacy, would in no wise hear Titus speak. Therefore Titus sent joseph to declare his mind unto them in Hebrew, that they might safely credit his promises, and the peace that was offered. joseph therefore went and stood over against the gate, képing himself aloof of, for he was afraid to come nigh the wall, knowing that the people hated him because he had yielded himself to the Romans. He called therefore unto them aloud: Hearken all ye hebrews and jews, I will declare unto you that, that shall be to your profit. Then the People gave ear unto joseph, who spoke unto them in this wise.    

An oration of josephus to the citizens of Jerusalem.  
YOu should ere this (good people of jerusalem) have fought so earnestly whiles your Cities were yet standing, and your Land repienished with people, ere ever this mischief had lighted upon you. Now after that with murders and slaughters amongst yourselves, you have destroyed one another, and polluted the temple of the sanctuary with the blood of the murdered, neither have spared your own lives. You are become few in number, a small sort of you is left: what hope have you then to prevail? Again, you have stirred here and provoked a valiant Nation, which is ruler over all people, and hath subdued all other lands, which also hath those nations in subjection under them, which sometime reigned over you. Besides this you wage battle with the Romans without all wit or wisdom, without any remorse of this most famous City, without any ruth of the sanctuary of the Lord, & without any pity of your own lives. Nether yet do you sorsake your purpose: for I perceive you to continued in this same self will to withstand the Romans still, which is nothing else then to spread abroad this calamity further, both upon the people of God, & upon his holy temple. All bet I am not afraid only for this holy temple, & most renowned City least it should be razed and destroyed: but for the sacrifices & burntoffringes, least they should cease, as the daily sacrifice is ceased. And why? For we have sinned against our Lord God, wherefore his shadow is departed from us, because that in this same temple we have kept wars, which hath been an habitation of wicked, a tabcrnacle of seditious persons: yea, even the ministers and holy men of God have ye murdered, & within the walls of the temple have ye shed innocent blood without measure. See now (dear brethren) mark what ordinance, what engines, what instruments of destruction are addressed to beat down the Temple, the fire is already kindled to set a fire the sanctuary: And lo, even your very enemies are sorry for your temple, that they would not have it defaced. But you (dear brethren and friends,) why are you led with no remorse of yourselves that your enemies may once remove from you these engines of wars. What have you now left to trust unto, when as two of your walls are already battered down, and one only remaineth. You will say peradventure, we put not our trust in our walls, but in our God. Are ye not aware that your God hath long agone given you over, and hath turned him to your enemies, because they have with greater honour and reverence worshipped his name, than we which rebelliously are fallen away from him? Wherefore God assisteth not us but our enemies, in so much, that except it be in such countries, whereas either for extreme cold of the one side, or exceeding heat on the other, no man is able to abide: all lands, all nations are under their dominion. Tell me, I pray you, what expectation have you, seeing GOD hath made them a terror unto all nations upon the earth, who serveth them. Why will not you obey them, that you may live and not perish? Do you not consider it is come to their turn to rule over all, that God hath committed dominion unto them, and aided them with his assistance? Remember you not how God in times past aided the Egyptians, in so much that they obtained the dominion over all the hole world? but afterward departed from them, and assisted you to get the sovereignty over other nations? After that forsook you again, and gave the empire unto the Chaldeis, Assyrians, and Persians, which reigned far and wide over many countries? Now also hath given them over and helpeth the Romans these many years, so that they bear rule over all? If you will object and say. To what intent should God give the dominion unto the Romans or other Nations over the world, and over his inheritance and people also, which is an holy temple, a peculiar and special Nation of all the earth? Should you not be ashamed to say this? with what discretion can you wonder at this, knowing that all mankind one and other, are the handiwork of God, who exalteth whom he list, & whom he list he thrusteth down? Ye say ye be the children of God, & his proper possession, and ye aspire to the sovereignty, therefore it can not be the God should determine any thing upon you by chance, fortune, or sudden anger & displeasure. I grant, but wots ye what? The shadow or protection of the Lord hath forsaken you because of your sins and transgressions against the temple & his holy ministers. How then can you stay upon his help, when as he hath withdrawn his loving countenance from you, and your sins have made a divorce between you and him? Oh my dear children and brethren, let never this imagination enter into your hearts, for it shall nothing avail you. Why will you my dear brethren and friends make war upon the Romans when as they are lords over nations, & have pierced the straights of India, & of all Isles of the sea, even to the great Ocean sea, & from thence to all the parts of the East: whose dominion extendeth to the extreme par●es of the earth. Yea, even to britain, & over all scotland, which is enupronned on cuerye side with Seas, whose people is huge like Giants, of a big stature, and of a mighty courage, most expert archaeus, & valiant soldiers in battle. To whom when the captain of the romans came, they gave him the repulse, and would not be subdued: but when the Princes of the Romans came, they brought them into subjection and servitude under the romans. But you say (my brethren & friends) you will rather all die then serve the Princes of the gentiles: and that death is better for you then life: to be driven to see with your eyes the calamities of the sanctuary and people of GOD. Search the histories and chronicles from the time of your ancestors. When was there ever any time wherein you were free from the yoke of the Gentiles? Do you not know that jacob our father of worthy memory, who was always with GOD, and God with him, took his journey into egypt, to be a stranger in a strange land amongst a proud kind of people: lest he, his children, household, and cattle should pearish with hunger? There he had with him his twelve sons which he had begotten, and dwelled there also with his small family, for fear of the grievous famine that was at that time. Remember you not when that judas with his brethren went down into egypt, how joseph was moved as a stranger to pick a quarrel against his brothers to bring them into bondage, bearing yet in his mind what iviurye they had done him? Wherefore some of them he cast in prison, and ●handeled them at his pleasure with crafty accusations, especially juda who was the chief amongst them, of whom all the jews took their name, who if he had been so disposed, had been able to lay joseph at his foot a thousand times not knowing him to be joseph.  
Wherefore when he was so roughly and so sharply taunted of him, he might have killed him in his rage. For he was a very bold man and a hardy, and of a noble courage, which surely had not forced a rishe to have slain that Egyptian and more to of his fellows. notwithstanding he did not so, vut contrary, submitted himself under the yoke of joseph, called him his Lord and good master, supposing him to be some Egyptian, humbled himself before him to obtain his petition, & to get corn, lest his father his brethren, and other family should die for hunger. What should I say of joseph, so beautiful, so wise & witty a man, was not he feign to serve in Pharoos house, wherein although his wisdom was well known, insomuch that Pharaoh set more by him then by all the noble men that were then alive, was also called lord greatmaster, and Pharaos' father: nevertheless he humbly besought Pharaoh that he might sustain his father and brothers with bread, knowing that at the time the dominion belonged to Pharaoh & his people being given them of God. And although if joseph had list to return into the land of Canaan with all his father's whole household without Pharaos' leave: no man could have letted him to do it, for he bore the greatest rule at that time in egypt, yet did he not so. Benjamin also who was likened to a revening wolf for his fierceness, when he was fetched again by force of josephes' Steward, feigning a lie upon him, how chanced he did not kill him? Or else when he alone pursued Benjamin and his other brethren, could not be if he had list have slain the fellow, and buried him so that the matter should never have come to light. notwithstanding they did nothing so nor so: but judas wisely waiing the eraltations and dejections, the promotions and disgracynges, with the common courses of the world: returned again with his brethren into the City, went to joseph and besought him, until his bowels were moved to pity, and he was known of his brethren. All these things doth the most holy law of the Lord rehearse unto us, & putteth us in mind of for this intent, that we may learn to bear for necessities sake the yoke of him that hath the pre-eminence & rule for his time. Nether let any judge or think the joseph offended god in that he submitted himself under the yoke of Pharaoh, for it is no shame for a wise man to crouch unto him whose help he standeth in need of, whatsoever he be: much more if he be a king or a Lord. Do ye not know that our fathers were in bondage to king Pharaoh in Egypt? But after the lord remembered the covenant that he made with our fathers, and had determined to lead them out of Egypt, he sent Moses our master of famous memory: his Angel his chosen, who knew the lord to be with him, whereby he was able to destroy who soever did rise against him: nevertheless when he came to Pharaos' presence who then bare rule in Egypt, he showed not him self in arms, but rather with thunder and hail, that Pharaoh might well perceive and know, God was the Lord. But at what time as Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites to sore, our master Moses by gods help brought them out of Egypt, with a strong hand and a stretched forth arm, against the Aegiptianes', whom he punished with continual plagues by that means delivering the Israelites out of the hands of their Lords and Masters, and bringing them to the mount of God, made them heirs of all goodness, that is to say, of the most holy law of God. And after josua had subdued the holy land to the Israelites, and that they inhabited it, there chanced unto our fathers, times of adversity, as it is mentioned in the books of the Prophets, so that they were constrained to serve the king of Aschur a long season, and the kings of Persia, to the Chaldees also were we in bondage, although not very grievous but tolerable. More over with other kings of the gentiles we had wars, and sometimes we were put to foils, sometimes we had the upper hand. Now therefore my brethren, tell me, what shame were it to you if you were subject to the Romans? or what are you to be compared to other nations that be under their dominion? Do you not see that the Romans reign over your enemies, and bear rule over them that sometimes were your masters and haters? were it not reason rather that you should love them, which have brought down your enemies, and revenged you of them? which notwithstanding you have nothing at all done, but rather have ha●●d them, as men void of all perceiving, without weighing & considering, that sense the timeye were under them, ye have always lived in most quietness and peace. I myself when I withstood the Romans in Gahle, knew very well, that I should be overcomed at length, but I could do nothing for the seditious persons that were with me, which would in no wise follow my counsel: yea it stood me in hand to take heed of mine own person that I were not killed of them after I had once counseled and moved them to give up the town. Wherefore seeing the matter stood so, and God knew my heart: I thought best to fight against the Romans as I mought, and when occasion served to escape to the Romans: to take it. Further when I was in the cave with my forty compamons, I had been lost & undone, had not God given me counsel, making me away to escape & save my ●yfe. For they had almost slain me because I gave them council to yield themselves to the Romans, and to obey them. For I saw this was the time for the Romans to bear rule, and that God had appointed them to be Lords over all nations. For this is his manner like as above he hath made some to be rulers over other some: even so beneath also he hath set rulers over the kings of the earth. Who can judge him that is stronger than he. The Romans at this present have the dominion over all lands and people over the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians and Chaldeis, (to every one of these you have been in bondage) and over other nationes also, which neverthethelesse till their ground, saw, maw, plant and gather in their fruits: & who hath the profit of this goods and labour but the Romans? who whiles the other toil and travail, live in peace & rest themselves. wherefore mark this also my brethrn: the king of Macedonia, but at this day their empyry is taken from them, and they are become subjects to the Romans. They when the Romans first fet upon them, were very haughty and coy, determined to resist the Romans. Notwithstanding they were over come of the Romans, and are under there subjection at this day. What should I speak of the people of Philistines Which her to for always have vexed & annoyed you: doth not the meanest amongst all the Princes of the Romans bear rule over them? what hope then have you to escape, when ye know the Philistines were ever stronger than you, & you were oftentimes overcome of them: as for example, Saul your king was slain by them. But you will say David the anointed of the Lord of Israel, pulled them down and brought them into subjection. Wot ye what? then God looked upon you with a favourable countenance, and fought your battles himself: but at this day he is in no wise present with you, for he hath turned away his countenance of salvation from you, because you have sinned against him. And which of you can say, he hath intelligence of the secret of the Lord, or hath received any such watch word, as god gave at that time unto David? 
2. Samuel. 5.  When thou shalt hear a sound of moving in the tops of the Mulberry trees, then shalt thou set forward: for than shall the Lord go forth before thy face, to smite the tents and camps of the Philistines. Whosoever (I say) hath knowledge of any such token, let him utter it to his neighbour, and I cold well consent to follow it. But seeing there is no such thing, hearken unto me my dear brethren, come & serve the Romans in peace & tranquillity. It shallbe no dishonesty for you, with the kings of Persia to be subject to the Romans: they that sometime were your masters, shallbe now your fellows and companiones. If you will persever & stand in your opinion still, I will reason the matter with you thus. Tell me I pray you, when were ever your ancestors free, & when were they not entangled with the wars of the gentiles and the dominion of other nations? had you not ever the victory from the time you came out of Egypt until the reign of Saul the son of Cis. So long as the lord was your king, you were in bondage to no man, you served god as your only king. But after that your evil and corrupt desire stirred you to be yrk of the lord, and lest he should reign alone to choose a man to have the dominion over you, according as the custom was in other nationes. I mean, Saul the son of Cis, and the other kings every one, than served you him, you & your sons, & the chiefest of you became his ministers, your goodliest daughters were made his confectionaries, his cooks, & his bakers. After Saul, reigned David, of worthy memory, who ruled over man nations. But even he also brought you into bondage, and put divers of you to death, to satisfy his pleasure withal. He being dead, you served Solomon his son, who never a whit less them the other, even as he listed, exercised dominion over you: he also took up your sons and daughters and made them his slaves. After this came other most wicked kings: so the from that time your country began to go to wreck, and he that was the best amongst them was Rehoboam, which said unto you, my father corrected you with whips, but I will scourge you with scorpions. And so did the rest of the kings, which reigned after him: very few of them pleased God. All tother wrought abomination, not one of them did any good, or reigned in the fear of the Lord. And in this manner remained the Empire long time with you, until the kings of Chaldea came and led you captive into Babylon, where as you were kept until Coresches time king of Persia who sent you again into your country, with a wondered deal of gold and silver, with great honour, which was counted unto him for righteousness. After Coreschs' death, rose against you the most wicked kings of Grece, who warring upon you, gave you great overthrows, until God stirred up the spirits of certain sage priests of the stock of , that revenged your injuries. At that time were you brethren and friends of the romans, and friendship grew betwixt you many years. After that you fell from the stock of  which had delivered you: and chose one whose name was Herode, who oppressed you grenouslye. After him succeeded Archelaus his son, he yet laid a sorer yoke upon you: wherefore falling from him, ye protested never after to serve the Kings of juda. So going to the romans willingly you submitted yourselves under their subjection, to serve Augustus' th'emperor, who ordered you gently. Him you served as other nations did, and it was to your praise, because ye were under a good governor. Therefore now my brethren and children of my people, what mean you at this present, that you have determined to die, and do not rather spare yourselves and your children? Consider I beseech you the things that grow upon the earth, and all living creatures, beasts, worms, that creep upon the ground, fowls of the air, and fishes of the sea: Do you not see how ever the stronger hath the dominion over the weaker? neither is it any rebuke or shame for the weaker to give place and obey that which is stronger. For the Ore and Goat are in awe of the Lion, the Ram and the Ewe of the Wolf, the cow and the lamb fear the bear, the goat the libbart, the hawk is afraid of the eagle, the dove of the hawk? Wey the manner of Beasts and birds amongst their owns kind, you shall see ever the bigger and stronger to be master over the lesss & weaker. And so in all other things, the stronger set themselves before the weaker always. Wherefore ye mortal men learn ye hereat, did not one God make all things, & he himself hath dominion over them all? notwithstanding all things are so knit together amongst themselves, that no one thing can stand without another. But he the holds up all things is the blessed god, who if he list can bring them all into dust again, his name be extolled for ever. Take example I pray you of the parts of the hole world, you shall see one part to be in subjection, an other to bear rule. Be not than so stiff necked to pernert the natural courses of the world, but rather let your election follow the causes & events of the same, which if you do, you shall be esteemed for wise men. Now than my dear country men, never think it shame for you to serve the Romans: it is time for you now to return to the lord with your hole heart, & then even you also shall have the dominion over other nations according to your desire. This shall then come to pass, when you follow your lord God with all your strength. Therefore never think that the Romans, which have rule over you at this day, are of less power than other people that heretofore have had the domivion over you. For they are a mighty nation, their Empire and rule over other people they have from above, as I have proved to you by the similitudes of brute beasts, which according to nature, bear rule one over an other. notwithstanding in mankind it should never have come to pass, that the bigger should so have the dominion over the less, unless for their sins, for the which they are so punished, the one is compelled to bow his neck under another's yoke. Now therefore, my dear people, take humility and meekness unto you, never covet to alter the laws of nature, but rather receive my words & follow my counsel, obey the Romans, priest & ready to make a league with you according to their bountifulness, that you may live & do full well. When joseph the priest had spoken these things in the hearing of the Citizens of Jerusalem, they burst out and wept, gnasshed with their teeth, & railed at joseph over the walls, hurling stones and darts at him to have killed him. Therefore when joseph saw that they would not follow his counsel, but were so stiff necked, he begun to rebuke them most sharply, crying unto them in this wise.  

Woe to all froward People, and such as rebel against the LORD GOD, what mean ye you wretches, what have ye to lean unto that ye are so stubborn, when as nevertheless the Lord is gone from you? For you are wicked people, & have sinned against him. How can your sins be purged which ye have committed in the Temple of the Lord by shedding of innocent blood without all mercse? Ye are most guilty, for ye have fought in the temple and sanctuary of the Lord, ye have defiled it with the dead bodies of them, whom ye have slain in the midst thereof. Besides that, ye have suspended and unhallowed the name of the Lords with your fightings, making wars upon your Sabbath day, upon your solemn and festival days. Tell me now ye froward rebels: whether did ever your forefathers prevail against their enemies with spear and shield, or rather with prayer, penance, and pureness of heart, wherewith they served GOD, and he again delivered them? But you, what have ye to trust unto, when as ye are unfaithful? Your shadow and protection is departed from you, and your Lord God aideth your enemies, whose power he maintaineth to destroy you. If you imagine to be delivered with your swords & spears, you are foully deceived, whereas God would not that you should escape the hands of your enemies. Open your eyes and see what David the anointed of the lord said. For the lord will save neither by sword nor spear. Call to your remembrance (ye very fools) Abraham your father which begat you, by what means he overcame Pharaoh the king of Egypt, who violently had taken away Sara his wife from him, surely nonother way did he obtain the victory, then by prayer unto the lord, who stirred the spirit of Pharaoh, and put him in mind to restore him his wife Sara clean & undefiled. Abraham was quiet in his bed, & at rest from all troubles, but Pharaoh that great Lord and ruler, he was punished in the mean season with great plagues, because of Sara whom he had taken to him by violence to deflower her, which God would not suffer, but rather uncovered Pharaos' flesh, that he was fain to show the secret parts of his body to physicians to see if they could he ale them. But who can cure thinfirmities which god sends, or who knows his entents? For who knew that jeschaciahus biles could be healed with a plaster of figs, or Naman Syrus lepry, with the waterꝭ of jordan: or the bitter waterꝭ with wormwood? Wherefore when as no man could cure Pharaoh, he was glad & feign to speak Abraham fair, & to entreat him to pray unto god to take away from him this plague: & so by his prayer Pharaoh recovered. Then Pharaoh apparaled Sara in precious garments, gave her gifts both gold and silver and preous stones, & sent her home honest, pure and holy to Abraham, lying then in his own house. Isaac also when he was driven out by Abimilech king of the Philistines, and had with him the bond servants of his father's household, to the number of .8. hundred & .18. with whom Abraham had discomfited five kings, befide many other more of his family, so that he had been strong enough to to have invaded the Philistines: yet he would not do it, but with all meekness & humility he used himself toward the king of that country. notwithstanding after he was driven out of that land, the Philistines came unto him, and entreated him, saying: we perceive the Lord God is with thee. etc. as it is written in the Scripture. What shall we say of jacob when he fled from the presence of his brother Esau, he carried nothing with him but a bare staff, wherewith he passed over the river jordan, as it is written: With my staff passed I this jordane. His necessaries took with him for his journey, was prayer, wherewith he made all his wars. That was it for the which God assisted him when he went away to Laban, and when he returned from him, when also he was delivered out of the hands of his brother Esau that sought to kill him. Moreover, by the way as he returned, when he wrestled with a certain man, and overcame him. Oh lord, who is able to number the mercies of the Lord, & the maruails which he wrought with our fathers of worthy memory, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob? What should I speak of Moses our shepherd the man of god that feared the cruelty of Pharaoh, until he writ in the law, that he had called the name of his son Eliasar, for he said the god of his father helped him, & delivered him out of the hands of Pharaoh. And when he came before Pharaoh to deliver Israel out of his hands, and to lead them out of Egypt: what thing else overcame he the tyrant withal, them with prayer? Did he not overthrow the pride of Pharaoh & his charmers only with the rod of the Lord, which he had with him? Wherewith also he smote Egypt with ten plagues, & divided the sea into twelve paths? And at the red sea Moses resisted not Pharaoh and his hosts with force of arms, but with prayer: wherefore Pharaoh & all his ware drowned in the bottom of the sea. But Moses sang a song of praise unto our God while the soldiers of the Egyptians perished that came against Moses and the people of Israel with weapons, horses, & chariotes: notwithstanding by the means of Moses' prayer they were overwhelmed all in the sea, so that not one of them escaped. Who is ignorant of this, that prayer is of more force than all instruments of war: that it speedeth and hasteneth the help of the Lord, and his saving health? Do you not know when josua the minister of Moses passed over jordan, that he was a warlike man, and had with him very many most valeant soldiers? Nevertheless he destroyed not the seven walls of jericho by force of war, but all only with prayer, and with the shouts & noise of the priests of the Lord, our forefathers? Know ye not how that prayer availed Gedeon, when as he with 300. men vanquished the hole host of Median. Amalek & the people of the east, if prayer had not helped him, I pray you what had 300. men been able to do against so great a multitude? Mark (ye fond people) what chanced in the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that the Philistines took away. Our fathers truly were not able to recover it by their sword & force of arms. But with the prayer that the just men of that adge made, the ark was brought again unto his place. Consider the times of Hezekia king of juda, when as Sennacherib king of Assur came up blaspheming, & railing upon the sanctuary of the Lord God of hosts, uttering the pride & malice of his heart: by what means was he overthrow? did our fathers overcome him by force of arms? Nay without doubt: but with prayer & supplication. For Hezekia the king, went & put on apparel meet for prayer: in stead of a shield he took sack cloth, for a helmet, he cast dust upon his heed, & in steed of arrows & a sword, he set hand upon prayer and supplieation. And the prayer the Hezekia made, mounted up so far as no arrow had been ever able to flee: so that his one petition and prayer overthrou 185. thousand most valeant men of the host of Sennacherib. furthermore the king of juda & king of Israel & king of Edom joining their powers together, invaded the Moabites, & in a wilderness, an unoccupied & barren dry land they were in great peril for thirst: what profited them their artillery & furniture of war? Did there not issue out for them at the instant prayer of Eliseus a prophet & man of God plenty of waters in the desert & a broke in the wilderness? Came it not to pass also by the prayer of the same Eliseus, that a wonderful hurlybucly, a rumbling, & rattling of chariots of war & of horses was hard in the camps of the Sirianes besedging the city of Samaria: with the which noise the Sirianes being afraid, fled, noman pursuing nor following them? ye know also the by the prayer of the foresaid prophet, the famine and lack of victuales that was in the town of Samaria, was turned into great abundance and plenty, in so much that thirty Ephas or measures of fine meal were sold for one piece of silver. Do you not see (most foolish men) how our forefathers had the victory ever by prayer? But let us come to the beginning again, and speak of Moses: what time as he held up his hands toward heaven, had not Israel the upper hand of the Amalekites, by his prayer? josua also by his prayer stayed the sun and moan in the sight of the people of Israel, & the sun stood still in Gibeon, & the moon in the valley of Ailon, that the evening was changed into monday, and so Israel vanquished their enemies. Samson also that most valeant giant, until such time as he had sinned, did not God evermore hear his prayer, & ever he got the victory thereby? After he had once sinned, he decayed as any other mean person. Likewise also king Saul, all the while he walked perfectly and purely, his prayer increased his valiantness and strength: but after he had once sinned, God left him & gave him over. David also king of Israel, of famous memory, from the time of his youth till his last end, his valiantness never failed him, and why? because he always was helped by his prayer, neither would he ever fight against his country men and native people when as Saul persecuted him. Wherefore he prevailed against his enemies, and because he abstained to lay his hands upon his brethren: therefore afterward all nations feared him. Did not Assa king of juda accompanied with a small numbered of men, make an expedition against the Aethiopianes, and praying to the Lord God, said on this wise: We in deed, know not what to do, but our eyes are bent upon thee, etc. Which prayer the almighty did hear, and the victory followed, so that Assa slew in the camps of the Aethiopians ten hundredth thousand men. Deboras a prophetyse by her prayer brought to pass great health in Israel. What shall I tell of divers other just & godly women, which by their prayers obtained many things. Tell me (ye mad men) know ye not what Amaziahu king of juda did? He having wars with the Edomites, vanquished them and led them prisoners with their wives and children & idols also to jerusalem: then fell to worshipping of the same idols that he had taken from the Edomites, saying unto them, you are they which have saved me, & by the reason Iworship you: therefore have I overcomed the Edomits. To whom when a prophet of the Lord came & asked him, why seekest thou and servest the Gods of, that people that were not able to deliver them out of thy hand? By & by he taunted the prophet again, saying: who made the of the kings counsel? wherefore after that he was no moar reprehended of the prophet, for the lord had determined to destroy him, as it is written in the books of the chronicles of the kings of juda. therefore he was taken prisoner afterward like afore, when as he fought against joas king of Israel in Bethschemesch, & so was he compared to a low & vile thorn or shrub: And joas unto the noble & high cedar tree. Yea all the evils that ever happened unto us in any age, it came of ourselves: for our lord God is righteous in all his works that ever he wrought upon us. Our enemis did us never so much harm as we did to ourselves, & to our own lives. Ye wot, the gentiles took our precious vessels of our sanctuary away to babel, & brought us then again undefiled, but we polluted & defiled them ourselves & the temple also with innocent blood, which we shed abundantly within it, adding sins to sins ever more & more, breaking the law with our evil acts. For who brought the Romans first against the city of jerusalem, but Hircanus & Aristobulus, for they being at dissension betwixt themselves & one hating the other, called the to mains against this city? who brought Antoni & Sosius princes of the Romans against jerusalem, but Herod, being at variance for the kingdom with the house of Chasmonanites? who also called Nero Caesar to reign over us, did you it not yourselves? Now therefore why rebel ye against the empire & dominion of the Romans? If you will say, because the roman precedent Edomaeus ordered you to bad: had it not been meet rather to complain of him to the Emperor, then to rebel against the Romans and to make war against them? But you will say, we rebelled against Nero Caesar because he did us to much wrong. Wherefore then rebel ye now against Vespasian Caesar, a most merciful man, and one which never hurt you? Or why make ye not peace with his son, to be under him according as other nationes be, that ye might live and not perish? Have ye not a sufficient proof of his clemency and mercifulness, when as he hath cause to be cruel upon no man so much as upon me, which drew out my sword against the Romans, and killed many of them? notwithstanding neither he nor the rest of the Romans have done me any harm. Yea, rather they have bestowed many benefits upon me, and although I was in their hands, yet they have saved my life. Yea, I confess, that before they had me prisoner, I would gladly many times have fled to them, but I could never do it, for I was ever afeard of my wicked compaions, lest they should have killed me, & so my death had been to no purpose. But now I praise the lord God without ceasing, because that for his unmeasurable mercy's sake, he would not suffer me to be entangled in the same mischiefs the you be in. Nether would I wish to be a companion of such lost unthrifts & castaways as you be, which have shed the blood of innocentes in the temple of the lord. In deed if I had been with you, I should have been void of all hope as ye be, seeing ye spare not your own lives, & your own contumacy & stubbornness is made a snare for you. See I pray you, with how great mischiefs you are laden. First the lord is not amongst you, insomuch the through the wars which you have made amongst yourselves, almost the waters of Schiloach are dried up, which her tofore when the nations made war against you, flowed in great abundance & ran over the banks on both sides. But you are o●erth wart rebels that have ever provoked the lord God unto wrath, you have made slaughteres one upon an other in the midst of the temple of the lord: how can then the glory of the lord dwell amongst you? Know ye not because of Korach & his congregation, the lord said unto Moses & to his people Separate yourselves from among this congregation and I shall consume them in a twinkling of an eye? But you are far worse than they, for without all remorse or pity, ●e pull down the temple of the lord with our own hands, & you yourselves set fire on the sanctuary, which most noble kings & most holy prophets builded, & besides all this, ye neither spare your sons nor daughters. And although I be in the Romans camp, yet I am not absent from you, for my most dearly beloved wife is with you, the wife of my youth, whom I can not set lightly by at this present, although I never had children by her, but rather love her most entirely, because she came of a most honest & godly house. My dear father & mother are also with you, very aged persons, for my father is at this day a hundredth & three years old, & my mother four score and five, but the years of my life are very few, evil & full of tribulation & sorrow, about threescore & seven, neither have I lived yet so long, that according to nature I should desire to die. Now therefore if so be it you trust not me, but suppose I have proposed these things to you deceitfully, and that there is no trust of Titus coveuant and bond, or that his league should be to your hindrance and discommodity: go to, if it come so to pas, it shallbe leeful for you to kill my father & mother, & my wife: yea I swear unto you by the lord our God, that I shall deliver my life also into your hands, that you may do with me what ye list: and by that means shall the blood of my parents, my wives, & mine be in pledge. Therefore let the ancient of the city come forth, & I will make a league betwixt them and our lord Titus. And doubt ye not but as hitherto the lord God would you should be afflicted & punished by the government of the Romans: so hereafter, he shall benefit you thereby and do you good, if so be it you will once acknowledge and confess, that all dominion is changed and altered at his commandment, & that God humbleth whom he list, and again whom he list he setteth aloft. But persuade yourselves of this, that as long as ye refuse to be subject unto the Romans, so long ye stir against yourselves Gods wrath and high displeasure: and besides that differ the lengar and prolong your redemption and deliverance, not only to yourselves, but also to your posterity. Now therefore my brethren, I thought it my part to declare all these things unto you, and it is in your power to choose whither ye list, for who so will, let him give ear unto me, and who not, let him abstain from my counsel.   

THe people hearing these words & sainges of joseph the priest, wept wonderfully, for they could have been content to have followed his counsel. At that time Titus gave commandment to all the Romans, to send again the jews the were prisoners, and the slaves into the city, & by that means he shifted from himself the blood of the servants, and laid it upon the necks of their masters: for Titus took pity of them through joseph's oration, & his good counsel. The common people of the jews' desired nothing more than to have comed forth, & to fall at agreement to make peace with Titus, but Schimeon, Eleasar, & jehochanan captains of the seditious, set strong watch & ward at every gate, charging them to kill all that would go forth, and by that means many were killed which would have fled forth to Titus: and so the city of jerusalem was closed up that no man could get out nor in. In the mean season fell a great dearth & famine in jerusalem, in so much that the seditions searched every man's house and cellar to find food, which when a certain housekeper would have withstood, he was killed amongst them. And thus they dealt with all men the dwelled at jerusalem, till all the victuales in the town was spent, that men began to seek dung & very man's excrements to eat, wherefore much of the people died for hunger. Whosoever at that time could get any herbs, or roots, mice, serpents or other creeping worms what soever they were to eat: he was counted happy, because he had found meat to susteyn & save his life withal, in the hard famine & terrible hunger. Moreover who so had any corn in store that no man knew of, he was afraid to send it to the mill or bake it, because of the wickedness of the seditious, lest they should take away from them their sustenance, wherefore many cat the dry corn unground in their sellers privily. At the time also were exceeding rich men in jerusalem, which stolen meat one from an other, so that the father catched meat from his son, the son from his father, the mother snatch from her children, the children likewise from their mother, & such as fled out at the gates or otherwise let themselves down over the walls in the night time unwares to the seditious persons, the romans killed them without. This evil therefore & distress increased so long, till the people had devoured all the ever crept on the earth from the mouse to the spider, from the never to the weasel, wherefore a more grievous pestilence followed, whereof died innumerable among the people of the lord, & there was noman to bury them. When they chanced to find any dead horse or other beast in the town, a man should see many Israelites strive & fight for it, so that in such contentions also very many were slain, in all points like to samisshed ravens lighting upon a dead carcase. Therefore when divers men with their wives and children got out of the city to gather herbs to eat, and chanced among the Romans, the romans laid hold of the little children, and killed them saying: we will dispatch these, lest when they grow once to man's state, they make war upon us as their fathers do at this day: so that many which came out of the gates of the city now and then, the Romans killed them & hanged them upon gallows over against the gates of jerusalem to the number of five hundredth. After the same manner Schimeon, jehochanan & Eleasar dealt with those Romans whom they could by any train, catch, even hanged them up, upon the walls. Whosoever also they could perceive would flee unto the Romans, they hanged them likewise over the walls to the number of five hundredth. But Titus gave commandments to all his soldiers, that no man upon pain of death should kill any of them that fled out of jerusalem. For he took pity of the israelites, & ceased not to speak friendly & lovingly to the jerosolimites: so that he went yet once again to the walls, & spoke unto the jews on this sort. Hear, I beseech you, the counsel of joseph, and come to me, that you may live and not perish utterly. Spare your people, why will you oppress them vexed with hunger, thirst, pestilence, and besieging? But the seditious hearing Titus speak, were wonderfully incensed, and intended to add mischief upon mischief, handling yet more cruelly the people of God. Moreover, they railed at Titus to provoke him to anger, that he might leave of speaking to the people, which had now almost left their obedience and fear of the seditious: wherefore the seditious answered unto the Romans. It is better for us to dies for hunger and to be killed in this affliction, so to come to the bliss & light we hope for: then to live & see the most holy temple of God defiled and destroyed. When Titus saw this, he commanded an iron ram to be set to the wall to batter it, that he might deliver those poor wretches out of Schimeons', Eleasar, and jehochanans' hands, who held them in as captives. At the same time as they erected that engine to the wall, it from the citizens. 
2. Reg. 21.  Likewise of David our king we read, how he entered alone into the camps of Giants, which when Abisai brother of joab son of Servia heard: he went after him, and received upon his target a stroke that a giant let fly at David, and killed the Giant. But as concerning Alexander, we know that he wan the city by none other means then thorough the sins of the inhabitants and them that dwelled therein. Likewise also at this present the sins of the jerosolimites have delivered and saved thee from death, that thou mightest be a snare of destruction to them hereafter. Wherefore thou shalt understand that the Romans have done wisely to abstain from the assault at this time, because they knew they should have to do with a most valiant nation, which thou having so well tried, mayest report and testify when thou art asked the question.   

AFter this, Titus divided his whole army, and laid them privily in ambushes round about the walls. He prepared moreover four Rams of iron to batter the walls: of these one he planted upon the side of the place called Antochia, the engine was thirty cubits long. The same night captain jehochanan with his company issued forth, and undermined the ground under the wheels of the wagons that bore the Ram, putting pitched boards oiled, and done over with brimstone, in the trenches under the wheels, and under the boards they spread leather, which likewise was smeared and done over with pitch, oil, and brimstone. Then they set fire upon the boards which burned till they came to the feet of the Ram, and they once set afire and burnt, the engine fell upon the watch that was appointed to keep it being a sleep: and killed them. Whereat the romans were much dismayed, and said. It is not possible we should assault this city hereafter, for they have burnt all our engines of war wherewith we have subdued all other kingdoms, so that now of fifty iron rams which we brought with us, we had but five left, and the seditions jews have burnt three of them, what shall we now do? how shall we batter the walls hereafter? The jews upon the walls, hearing their words, flouted them and lough them to scorn. Wherefore Titus incensed with anger, commanded tother three Rams to be addressed in the place of that which was brent. In the mean season whiles the Romans were at work four young men moved with a great zeal, whose names were first Thopatius, Galilaeus, then Megarus Chebronita, the third jorminus Schomronita & the fourth Arius jerosolimita, these all armed, issued out into the camp of the Romans that then stood about their three engines & iron rans, devising how to batter the walls of the city: of whom, some those young men killed, the other fled. Then ii of them stod at defence to keep of all them the approached nigh the engine, while the other two, jerosolimitanus & Schomronita daubed the timber with a certain matter which they had prepared to make it take fire, & straight way set fire upon them, so the suddenly the rames were on a light fire. Then they all iiii. joined together withstood the Romans that they should not come at the engines to quench the fire. Schortly the rams fell down and the Romans stood a louf hurling stones and shooting thick at them, for they were afraid to come nigh them, because of their great fierceness, although they were three thousand men the kept the rams, yet these four set nothing by them, nor never went of the ground, till the rams were clean brent up, shot the Romans never so thick at them. Titus hearing of the valeantnes of these young men & the harms that they had done unto the Romans: made speed with his hole host, to save the rams from the fire & to apprehended those young men. Then fortwith issued out Schimeon Iehochanan & Eleasar captains of the seditious with their soldiers, sounding their trompetes, & made the Romans retire, that they could not come nigh the fire, and so rescued the four young men from the Romans that had environed them round about. In that skirmish were killed ten thousand men and five hundredth. Then gathered together all the whole army of the Romans to assault the jews at once approaching hard to the walls of jerusalem, there they cried unto the jews, saying: What? are ye Oren or goats, that you fight on this fashion upon the walls? Will ye be taken in the midst of the city like as oxen and goats are taken in their folds? If ye be men come forth, and let us try our manhood here in this plain. But you by stealth and at unwares set upon them that keep our engines, snatching them up like as it were wolves should snatch sheep, then run away into the town, as the wolves run to the wode. If there he any manhood in you, behold we are ready here, come forth to us, so many for so many, and then we shall see what end will come thereof. When the captains of the seditious heard that, they spoke unto the warriors that were in Jerusalem: Which of you will go out with us to these dogs, to show our force and stomachs for the sanctuary and city of the Lord? Then five hundredth tall fellows of their own accord issued out upon the Romans suddenly, slew viii M. men, and compelled the rest to recoil from the walls. The Romans then witted what valiantness the jews had, for the Romans were in number forty thousand fight men, and the jews were only five hundred, whereof not one of them was killed in that skirmish. The Romans a far of shot at the jews and hurled stones, to whom the jews said: come hither to us, are not you they the called us forth & provoked us to come to you? Why come ye not now near? You go about to drive us away with arrows and stones. What? do ye think us to be dogs, and that we are afraid of your stones? Are we not men? Yea, we are your masters & betters, for ye run away from us, as servants flee from their masters, when they follow them, to beat them.   

Titus' seeing his army part to be fled, and part to be slain, he cried to his people saying, is it not a shame for you ye Romans, & a wonderful great dishonour, to flee from the jews, so hunger beaten, famished, almost dead for thirst, & besieged? Alas, how shall ye put away this your rebuke & ignominy, when as all nations, which heretofor, ye have most valeantly subdued, shall here the ye flee from these dead jews, whose hole land we have in possession, so that they have nothing left but this only town, which we have also so battered, that they have but one only wall to defend them? Besides this, they are very few, we are innumerable, they have no nation to aid them, we have help of all lands, why then do ye flee from their sight, like as the small impotent birds flee from the eagle? What though the jews vow and hazard them selves desperately for their temple and land, why do not you the same also in these wars, to get you a renown of valiantness? Thus the jews prevailed that day, and had the upper hand, wherefore they returned into the town with great glory, having put the Romans to so great a foil. Titus commanded his to address and prepare the two other rams that were left, to batter the walls of jerusalem withal. Wherefore the Roman carpenters cast a trench to prepare and set up the Rams within it, in such place as Titus had assigned them. The jews were ware of it well enough, but winked at the matter as yet until they had planted the master beams between the standing posts. So when the work was finished, even to the hanging up of the engines betwixt the standing posts, to shake the wall withal, the Romans being secure, nothing mystrustinge that the jews would stir, because they had been quiet a few nights & never issued forth of the city. Upon a certain night a pretty while before day, the three principal captains of the seditious came and cast their heads together to devise what they should do. Eleasar gave this counsel, and said: You two the last time issued out, burnt three Rams, and gate you renown, and I kept the gates the while: now keep ye the gates, and I will issue out with my men against the Romans to get me a name also. The other answered. Go then a God's name unto them, the Lord God of the sanctuary which is in Jerusalem shall be present with thee, but beware thou be not slain, and in any wise thou be not taken alive. To whom he answered: the Lord God shall keep me, for upon the trust of the righteousness of my father Anani the high priest, and his sincere service unto god, will I set upon them. Eleasar therefore chose an hundred valiant soldiers & with them he issued out of the town before day. The same night the Romans had made fires about their engines where they watched because of the cold. The artificers & soldiers that kept watch and ward about the rams, were in number a hundredth and fifty. The day was the. 27. of the month of Kislef, 
Novenver.  which was the ninth month that Titus had besieged jerusalem. Eleasar & his company thus being issued out, came & found some of the Romans snorting about the fires, other watching in their wards, killed than all, that not one remained. Then some of Eleasars' company set fire upon the Rams, burned the standing posts, ropes, chains, & other instruments of war. The artificers that were there they catched alive and burnt them, so that no man escaped. When it was day, Titus was aware of the Smoke of the fire mounting up very foul, and stinking of the wood & men together, he drew towards the place therefore with his host, to see what the matter was. Eleasar in the mean season and his company, took as they might get, every man a piece of the engines out of the fire, or some of their heads that they had killed and returned with great joy, flouting the Romans and laughing them to scorn, by the way till they came to the gates of jerusalem, where they were received of Schimeon and jehochanan with great honour.   

soon after this came many soldiers & great bands of men, out of all nations that were subject to the Empire of the Romans, to aid Titus, to whom Titus declared what had happened him in the siedg, the stoutness of the jews, & how they had annoyed many ways the Roman army, adding moar over and ask them, did ye ever see four men withstand ten thousand & five hundred, so that they all together could neither over throw them nor take them prisoners? but the four slew the other, like as it had been tops of cucumbers smitten of with most sharp sword, when they heard this, they wondered all very much. Then Titus spoke unto his host & to them which were newly repaired unto him, to show their advise & best counsel what was to be done, lest we should be shamed (saith he) before all them the shall hereafter here of our wars. The gravist & most ancient of the nations that were newly come to his aid, answered. If it please your majesty let the Romans breathe a while & take their rest, which are now wearied with the sundry battles of the jews, & we who are not so broken with labour but fresh and lusty shall try what the jews can do, we can not think that they arable to withstand so great a multitude. But the princes of the Romans desired Titus that he would not permit them this, lest he should increase their own sorrows, if peradventure they should be discomfited (say they) of the jews, & the matter redound unto our shame. For if we which are acquainted with them & know their manner of fight can not sustain their violence, how shall they do it the never had proof of the strength & force of the jews. They shallbe to them, like Isop which groweth upon the walls in comparison of the cedar trees of Libanus. Tother said, nay, they should do well enough with them, & they urged Titus so instantly & dishonour returned unto Titus, who reprehended them because they would not believe the Romans. The nexie day following the jews brought forth the three thousand nobles and gentlemen that they had taken prisoners and plucked out of every one of them an eye, and cut of of every man the toon hand, after sent them back with shame & reproach to Titus' camp. Then Titus consulted with all his princes, what were best to do with the Israelites: & when every man had said his mind, he liked never a man's counsel, but said unto them. Well I have devised this with myself, which I will follow, and no man shall bring me from my purpose: we will keep the siege without any assault or skermishe, for their victuales failed them long ago, and so they shallbe famished. Besides this, when they shall see us cease to fight with them, they will fall at variance amongst themselves and kill one an other. This counsel was thought good of all Titus Pryn●es, wherefore they besieged the town as Titus commanded, and closed up all the ways of the city round about, least the jews should as they had done before, come upon them at unwares. They appointed more over, watch day and night, to take heed that no man should come out of the town to gather herbs for their sustenance. Then increased the hunger in jerusalem, which if it had not been so grievous, the City had never been won: for the soldiers of the town were lighter than Eagles and fearcer then Lioness. There died therefore of the famine wonderful many of the jerosolomites, so that the jews could not find place to bury them in, they were so many in every place of the town. Many cast their dead folks into their wells and tumbled in themselves after and died, many also made themselves graves, & went into them alive, where they tarried day and night, and died unmourned for. For all mourning and customed lamentation for the dead was left of, because of the unmeasurable famine, which was so great that it can not be told, and I can not rehearse the thousand part of the mischief that followed of the hunger. Titus seeing the innumerable carcases of the dead that were cast into the broken Kidron like dung, was wonderfully amazed with fear, and stretched out his hands toward heaven, saying: lord God of heaven and earth, whom the Israelites believe in, cleanse me from this sin, which surely I am not the cause of, for I required peace of them, but they refused it, and they themselves are long of this mischief, they have sinned against their own souls and lives. I beseech thee reckon it not to me for a sin, that the jews die on this fashion.   

AT that time certain wicked persons of jerusalem slandered Amittai the priest falsely, saying to captain Schimeon, behold Amittai the high priest which did let thee into the city, goeth about to flee to the ten●es of the Romans. Thou haste experience of his great wit and craft, how he also knoweth all the secret ways unto the town, temple, and sanctuary, and who can tell whither he will bring the Romans some night at midnight into the city? Therefore Schimeon sent certain to fetch Amittai and his four sons unto him. They thou were sent, brought Amittai & but three of his sons, for one was fled to the Romans & came to joseph. Amittai with the other, when he came to Schimeons' presence, he besought him not to live, but that he might be put to death by & by, lest he should live to see the death of his children. But Schimeon was hard hearted and would not be entreated, for it was God's will that Amittai should be punished, because he was the bringer of Schimeon into jerusalem, & therefore fell he into his hands, which for good, rewarded him with evil. Schimeon commanded a sort of murderers to place Amittai upon the walls, in the sight of the Romans, and said unto him: seest thou Amittai? why do not the Romans deliver and rescue the out of my hands, the I say which wouldest have fled away unto them? Amittai answered nothing to this, but still besought him that before his death he might kiss his sons & bid them far well: but Schimeon utterly denied him. Wherefore Amittai wept a loud, saying to his sons, I brought, dear children, I brought this thief into this town, wherefore I am counted now for a thief myself: all this mischief which is comed upon me and you, it is mine own doing, bycaufe I brought this seditious villain into this holy City. I thought then, peradventure he willbe a help to the town, but it is now proved contrary, for he hath been a most cruel enemy of the same. It was not enough for us to keep one seditious person, jehochanan I mean, which took unto him Eleasar the first beginner of sedition: but I must bring in also this wicked Schimeon, which is joined to our foes to destroy us. In deed I never brought him in for any love that I bore unto him, but all the Priests and the hole multitude of the people sent me to fetch him, notwithstanding I am worthy of this just judgement of God, because I took upon me such an ambasage. What should I speak of thee thou most wicked Schimeon, for whither so ever thou turnest thee, thou bringst all things out of frame. In deed thou dealest justly with me, because I have sinned unto God, to his people and his city, in that I have brought the in, to be a plague to it. Wherefore I were worthy to be stooned: notwithstanding it had been thy part, thou wicked murderer to deliver me and my sons from the hands of the other seditions, for I have wrought them displeasure, but to thee have I done good. Howbeit our God will not alter nor change his judgements, which is, that I should fall into the sword of thy hand, for that I made thee to enter into this city, where in I offended God grievously. If ever I had purposed to flee unto the Romans, could I not have done it before ever I brought in thee? for at that time barest thou no rule over us. And before we called in thee, jehochanan with his sedition was an offence unto this city, wherefore we persuaded all the anuncient of the town, that thou shouldest be an aid unto us, to drive out our foes, but thou in whom we put our trust, art become our enemy: yea, thou haste been worse than they, for the other put men to death privily, thou dost it openly. Who is he that hath strengthened the power of the Romans? art not thou he? which hast killed the soldiers of God in the midst of this city jerusalem? for few have been slain without. Titus would have made peace with us, taking pity upon us, but that same diddest thou let and hinder, every day moving new wars and stirring new battles. Titus gave charge to his souldi●rs to lay no hands upon the temple, but thou hast polluted and defiled the temple of the Lord, shedding blood without measure in the mids thereof. Titus went back from us upon the holy day of the Lord and ceased from fight, saying, go and observe your holy feasts in peace, but thou unhalowedst the feast of the Lord and leshedst out the continual fire with innocent blood. All these evils which thou hast committed, thou murderer, at imputed unto me, because I brought the into the town. Now therefore this bengeaunce is appointed to mine age of the lord God, and by thy hands shall I go to my grave with sorrow, because I by my foolishness, was a door in this mischief that is wrought by thee. Albeit now thou wicked Schimeon; in this that thou killest me, before mine eyes may see the burning of the temple, it pleaseth me very well, but whanedeth thee thou murderer to put my sons to death before my face, why dost thou not spare mine age? Would God that like as I shall not see the burning of the temple, so also I might not see the blood of my children shed before my face. But what shall I do when God hath delivered me into the hands of a most wicked man? We that were the ancients of Jerusalem abhorre● jehochanan because he murdered old men without all reverence, but he slew no young men: thou destroyest ●ld and young, great and small, without any pit or mercy. jehochanan mourned for the dead, and buried them also: thou playest upon instruments at their burials, singest to the Lute, and seundest the trumpet. Then spoke he to Schimeons' servant, who was ready with a sword in his hand, and an are to kill him, and to cut of his head, saying: Go to now, and execute Schimeons' thy master's commandment: be head Sons in sight of their father, and let me hear the voice of cruelrye in my sons, which notwithstanding I forgive thee. For as I shall see and hear that against my will: so I dare say thou killest them not willingly. Would God that Schimeon would suffer me to kiss my Sons, and whiles I am alive, to embrace them or they die. But thou gentle minister, in one thing show thy pity towards me, that when thou hast put my sons and me to execution, separate not our bodies, neither ley in sunder their corpses from mine: but so, that my body may● lie uppermost and cover theirs, to defend them from the fowls of the air, lest they devour my sons bodies, for it may fortune they may be buried. I beseech thee also that my mouth and tongue when I am dead may ●ouche my sons faces, that so I may both embrace and kiss them. But what do I delay or tarry any longer, saying the enemy denies me this, to kiss them whiles we are yet alive? See thou therefore that our bodies be not severed, and if Schimeon will not permit this, that our bodies may be joined in this world, yet can he not let our souls to be joined, for after I shallbe once dead, I doubt not but I shall see the light of the Lord. His sons hearing their father's words began to weep very sore with their father, who said unto them. Alas my sons why weep ye? what availeth tears? why do ye not rather go before me, and I will follow as I may, for what should I do now, seeing God hath given me into the hands of a most cruel tyrant, who spareth neither mine age nor your youth? But I trust we shall live together in the light of the lord, and although I can not be suffered now to see you enough, yet when we shall come thither we shallbe satisfied with beholding one another. Go ye therefore my dear sons and prepare us a place. O that I might go before you, the lord knoweth, I would do it gladly. But ye my sons, marvel never at this that is chanced unto us, for it is no new thing, such like hath happened before this in the time of the Chasmonanites, when as Antiochus by his wickedness put to death the seven brethren young men, in the sight of their mother which was a righteous and a godly woman, who chanced to find this mercy at the lords hands, that she might kiss her sons and embrace them, as they also kissed one an other before they died. Al they were put to death by the cruelty of the uncircumcised king of the Macedonians, yet obtained they that which is denied at this day to us the are put to death by Schimeon, who hath the name of an Israelite, who beareth also the covenant of our father Abraham in his flesh. And would God it might fortune us to live in their inn or place of rest, which all be it it will not be granted, yet we shallbe their neighbours, seeing that we also die for the law of the lord. Therefore be of good comfort my sons and lament not for my sake, for I judge this my misery easier, and not so great as the calamity of Zidkiahu, whose sons were first killed, than his eyes put out by the king of Chal●ea, and he lived man● years after: we are so much the more happier in my mind, because we shall die together. Then said Amittai to Schimeons' servant which should kill him. Make speed I pray thee and kill me first before my children die, then after kill them also that we may die together, for so it is more expedient for us then to see the temple of the lord turned into a butchery or slaughter-house to slay men in. After cried he unto God, saying: I beseech thee, O Lord God most high, which dwellest in the highest, judge this Schimeon according to his works, reward him according to his deservings. For thou art the god almighty, & dreadful, let not this thief die therefore amongst the people of thy pasture, but that his death may be severed from the death of other men, let him die a horrible and a sudden death, that he have no time to confess his sinne●, and to return himself to thee, that thou mayest receive him (for thou art wonts to receive them which turn to thee by repentance) for he is not worthy of repentance, which hath spoiled & wasted many goodly things in thy temple, besides that, hath murdered most holy men in the same. To th'intent therefore that thy judgements may be declared in him, I beseech thee make him to be taken of his enemies, together with his wife, children, and family, & all that ever love him. Nether give unto his soul any part with the people of god, nor let his portion be with the just men in thy sanctuary, for he is unworthy of them, because he hath not only sinned himself, but hath caused Israel to sin. Wherefore let his judgement & sentence go forth from thy sight, that he may see his wife, children, & his hole house led into captivity & bondage before his face. Afterward let him die a strange death, such as never man herd of, let him be killed of must cruel men, which when they have smitten him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet alive, and that he may see his go into bondage. Let him also be a curse before all that shall see him. More over let him perceive that my words and destiny is better than his, when as I go unto thee, in that great light, which he shallbe deprived of. After these words Amittai said to the servant, who was appointed to kill him, I beseech thee, let me find so much favour atthy hands, that when thou hast slain my Sons, thou wouldst kill me with the same sword, while it is yet wet with the blood of my sons, that our blood may be mingled, and this may be a recreation to my soul, Kill me also in the sight of the Romans, that they may avenge me and my sons upon this most cruel Schimeon, they shallbe witnesses against him, that I was not their friend. But would God my matters were all in that state as they were before, for than should they perceive me to be an enemy of Schimeons', and a friend of theirs▪ Would God I had withstanded Schimeon at the first so earnestly, as I made war upon the Romans, that I might have avoided his cruelty from the people of God: when he had said all these things he prayed before god almighty, saying. O God which dwellest in the highest, thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy judgements, consider and judge betwixt me, and seditious Schimeon, whose malice is be comen unmeasurable upon the people of God, that he which sheddeth the blood of them that fear thee in the midst of the temple, may be rebuked of thee with thy rebukings according to his works, make speedy vengeance, & prolong not, and that for the deaths sake of thy saints: for thy judgements are the judgements of truth. Then Schimeon gave commandment to four cut throats of his, that three of them should kill Amittais three sons before their father's face, & the fourth should kill Amittai himself: and so the blood of the sons was mixed with the blood of their father. afterward Schimeons' servant took the body of Amittai: and laid it upon the bodies of his sons, as his desire was, then tumbled them over the walls. After that commanded Schimeon that Chananehu the high priest should be put to death, whose body was cast unto the bodies of Amittai and his sons. Aristius also the scribe, one of the noble men of jerusalem was killed at the same time: and ten more just men of his kindred and house because they murned for the death of Aristius. It fortuned while Schimeon was a kill of those ten, certain substantial rich men passed by, and were wonderfully amazed when they saw the thing, saying one to an other. How long will God suffer the malice of Schimeon, and will not search out the blood of just men, nor revenge them? Certain seditious persons hearing this, told it unto Schimeon, who commanded them to be apprehended and murdered the same day. After this, there passed by a leaven of the noble men of jerusalem, which seeing two and forty innocentes to be put to death by Schimeon, they lift up their eyes to the heavens, and said: O Lord god of Israel, how long wilt thou hold thy hand, and keep in thine anger against these transgressors of thy will? which when Schimeon heard of: he commanded them to be apprehended, and killed them with his own hands. Eleasar the son of Anani the priest seeing the malice & wickedness of Schimeon to be great, that he made away the just and godly men of the city, & that there was no hope left: he took the tour of jerusalem, remained in it, & kept it with his. jehudas also a captain over a M. men, which kept a turret the Schimeon had made to put just and godly men in, got him up upon the top of the walls, and cried to the Romans, if peradventure they would deliver him & the rest that were at jerusalem. Wherefore he went about to escape with his. M. men that he had could I ever have looked that I should have over lived my son, & that I should not be suffered to see him & to burt him? I had trusted he should have buried me, and that he should have been a help to me in mine age, and when my whole family by the seditious was almost made away & extinguished: yet I said, this shall consort me. Now therefore what shall I do, when I have none left to comfort me of all my children that I bore, for between the seditious and the gentiles our enemies, they have slain, xviii. sons that I had, & what shall I do now from henstorth, but covet death? for I desire not to live now any longer. And how should. I receive any consolation when I see my son dead, & I can not bury him? Lord that I might die by and by, for I can not live any longer sense my son joseph is dead. She went up yet farther upon the walls, till she came to the turret where her husband was in prison, & stretch out her hands toward heaven, crying with a loud voice: O my son joseph, my son where art thou, come & speak unto me & comfort me. The seditious hearing her, laughed her to scorn: but the Romans when they heard her, and knew of joseph that it was his mother, they wept & lamented her case, & many of the jews also that were in Jerusalem, but they were feign to refrain it, lest they should be perceived of Schimeons' cruel cutthroats, Then josephes' mother said to the seditious that were by her upon the walls, why do ye not kill me also which bare joseph my son, and nursed him with these breasts? ye enemies of the Lord have murdered him with other just and righteous men, why kill ye not me also? God be judge betwixt me and you that hau● killed my son guiltless. The seditious answered her, canst thou not if thou list, fall down over the wall and dye● we will give thee good leave. When thou hast done so, the Romans shall take thee up, and bury thee honourably, because that thou art josephes' mother, who is their friend. She answered, how should I do this evil unto myself, to kill myself, and constrain my soul to go forth of my body, before that God do call it? If I should do so, I should have no hoop left in the world to come, for no body will bury them, whom they perceive to have killed themselves. These and such like, while she reasoned wisely, the seditious heard and mocked her. Wherefore she wept the more abundantly, so that the Romans and other godly men, hearing her wisdom, could not abstain from weeping. joseph when he hard his mother speak, he gate on armour, and approached to the wall, accompanied with most valiant Romans, to defend him from the arrows of the jews, and spoke to his mother. Fear not my dear mother, nor take no thought for me, for I have escaped the hands of the seditious, God hath not suffered me to come into their hands. Wherefore I have hard the words of those wicked counsellors that advised thee to kill thy self, and thine answer again to them, which before thou gavest them I knew thou wouldst answer. God forbidden I say, God forbidden that josephes' mother and the wise of Gorion should consent to the council of the wicked. Wherefore (my dear mother) be content and bear the yoke of the seditious patiently, and humble thyself before them. Never strive against the miseries and calamities of this time, which thou canst not alter nor remedy. For they shall perish, but we shall stand and continue.   

THere were certain men of Jerusalem at that time that came to the Gates, overcame the ward, and gate out with their wives and children, and so escaped to the Romans, because they could no longer abide the famine and the iniquity of the seditious. They were faithful citizens and of great authority, whom when joseph heard of, be brought to pass that Titus spared them and received them to mercy. For joseph bare witness and reported for them that they were noble men of jerusalem. Wherefore the romans received them, and gave them food and sustenance, but certain of them could not brook nor take it because of their great hunger wherewith they had been long pined, and when the meat went down into their bealyes, they died strait. And their little children when they saw bread, they fell upon it and took it in deed with their teeth, but they were not able to chew it, and died holding the bread betwixt their teeth. Titus seeing them die when they tasted of meat, had ruth and compassion upon them, and was very sorry, saying unto joseph. What shall I do for thy people, which assoon as they begin to eat, die strait way? joseph answered. My Lord, I remember I have seen this experience that they which fast long, and after would take meat, first they drink a little sodden milk, or else eat of a certain Corn called Simill sodden in milk, wherewith they strengthen their bowels before they took meat: specially such as walked through wildernesses, whose bowels were long empty when they came to places inhabited and found meat, they were wont to use this means. Therefore Titus commanded his men to do as joseph bade them, whereby many of the jews recovered, and many died of the flyre. These jews which were escaped thus out of Jerusalem to the camps of the Roman, had swallowed up first their gold silver, & precious stones to hide them, lest they should be found of the seditious. They therefore which recovered and brouked meat, when they would satisfy nature, they went alone out of the camp, & after sought their gold & silver, & precious Stones, which were digested in their excrements, and so did they every day. At length certain Aramites and Arabians espiing the jews to use this fashion, told it amongst their fellows one to an other, and made a conspiracy to lay wait for the jews, and whom so ever that they gate, they ripped their bealies to find the Gold and other jewels which the jews had hid there. And by this means the Aramites and Arabians had murdered two thousand jews. But when Titus heard of this, he was wonderful wroth, and commanded them to be apprehended that had done this wicked deed, & to be put to death, whose goods were given to the jews that remained alive. They that were put to death for this fact, were two thousand Aramites and Arabians together. After this Titus seeing his princes and captains to have decked their armour with gold and silver, some of them also to bear golden sceptres, and some of silver, with other ornaments upon their heads, he called them together and said unto them. Say away this gear, these things are they that provoked the Aramites and Arabians to work this wickedness against these poor and miserable jews which fled forth unto us, that they might live under our pretection. The Captains therefore and princes of the Romans hearing the commaundemet of Titus, were obedient, & strait laid away from them those ornaments of gold and silver. Titus also gave commandment that the rest of the Arabians and the Aramites should be banished the camp, and that no man hereafter should commit any such heinous deed against the jews. notwithstanding when as any Aramite or Arabian could get any jew far out of the camp that no man see it, he killed him. Of the Romans in the camp, no man either did or said any evil to the jews, save certain ungodly Ruffians which had learned at the Aramites and Arabians those evil and wicked pranks: for they also when they chanced to meet with any jew out of the Camp, if there were no man by, they killed him, and took away his gold and silver that lay hid in his bowels. When this came to Titus' ear: he commanded to make Proclamation in this wise. Whosoever he be that hath seve, heard, or known any thing of this horrible deed which is committed of certain Romans upon the jews, or whosoever hath done any such thing himself: let him come & make relation to Titus, which if he do, the matter shall be forgiven him, if not, he shall bear the burden of his own wickedness and stand at his pearyll, if any thing be proved by him hereafter. Therefore certain Romans which knew with themselves that they had committed the deed, and being afraid of Titus, reasoned with themselves thus: if we do not confess unto him the truth, he will by his wisdom search out these offenders, and punish them by death. Wherefore trusting unto Titus' words of the Proclamation, they came all, who so ever had either done it himself, or known other to do it, & declared it unto Titus' saying: This have I done, this have I known, this was I accessary unto, and have not hitherto made thee privy thereunto. There were of them in number ccc and twenty men the made this confession, all those Titus commanded to be cast into hot Ovens, and to be burned. This done, the jews were more safe ever after in the Romans Camp without all jeopardy, no man hurting them either in word or deed. Yea, if any Roman found a jew abroad wandering, he conducted him gently and peaceably into the camp. There was a certain scribe of Jerusalem at that time, a faithful man, whose name was Menachen, son of Seruk the scribe, whose ancestors had served Esdras the scribe of worthy memory in Babylon, he being a keeper of the least gate which was in jerusalem upon the side toward the broke Kidron, noted the number of the dead that were carried forth to burying by that gate, & found they came to a 115. M. 8. C. and. 8. persons, which were all of the nobles & gentlemen, or at the lest of the substanciallest of the jews. Titus on a time (joseph being present) asked the question of those princes of the jews which were fled unto him, saying: with their companies against the Romans and five very many of them in that skirmish. Wherefore Titus said, it is not wisdom to fight with them any more, but rather with the Ram to shake and batter the wall, for they have no more but this wall left, and so we may bring in our hole host at once upon them and subdue the seditious. This counsel of Titus was liked of all the princes and people. The captains of the seditious mistrusting no less than the Romans intended, that they would be occupied hereafter in battering their wall, began to build a countermure within over against the places where the Romans wrought with their Ram, which was in the plain, by the tomb of jochanan the high priest, for there was none other place besides that they might come unto with their Ram. And there the Romans had made ii breeches in the two other walls before. The seditious made this countermure, because they were not able to burn the iron Ram, as they had done before, being now almost famished & so pined away that they could scarf stand upon their legs, for if they had been so lusty as they were before, & able to set a fire thengines, the Romans had never been able to win the town, but should have been compelled to leave the assault, as they were constrained to give over skirmishing & fight. On a certain time when the Romans fled, the seditious pursuing killed many of them, they said: the Romans will once be weary, leave of their siege & go their ways, the we may dwell at liberti, & turn to the lord our god. And when they returned at this time or at any time prosperousli into the town, they oppressed the people the more: cruelly exacting food of them, & saying, gene us meat, if ye will not, we will eat your flesh & your sons. But the Romans took courage to themselves, determined to fight stoutly, and said one to an other, let us stick to it hard and be valeant in our fights, it shallbe shame for us to i'll from these feeble and hunger starved jews, which are more like dead persons then living. Therefore they began more earnestly to set upon the walls and to make a battery suddenly, they bet down a great part of that inner wall which the jews had newly erected, and gave a great shout, saying: jerusalem is won, we have gotten the town. But when they looked a little further, they espied an other countermure raised over against the breach. Wherefore the jews through the town gave also a great shout, & sounded their trumpets, rejoicing that they had builded another new countermure for that which was battered down. The same was in captain jehochanans' ward. The Romans seeing the countermure, & bearing the jews make such triumphs in the town: were much astonished, all their joy was dashed & turned into dumps, so that they could not tell what they should do with that stubborn people of jerusalem which had done them such damages. The Romans set upon the town again an other way, whom Titus willed rather to remove thengine, & bend it to the new wall, whiles it was yet green and unsettled, saying: let us batter it, and we shall see it fall by and by, and then shall we enter the town. The Roman captains followed not Titus counsel, but scaled the walls which they had battered. The jews defending their countermure, fought with the Romans within the breach, repuised them from the wall & the town: & so having abated much the strength of the Romans, returned to their lodgings. Then said some of the Romans, we will never besiege this town any longer, for we shall not be able to get it whiles we live. And therefore let us break up and departed before we be all destroyed with this siege, for except we do so, we shall all be confumed therein. Titus seeing his soldiers to make so hard a matter of the winning of the town, called them all together and said unto them. Tell me now ye Roman princes, do ye not know that all wars and other businesses whatso ever they be: are more hard, and require greater diligence in the end, then in the beginning? in which who so travail, if they faint in th'end, do they not labour in vain? even as your labour shallbe in vain, if ye give over the siege now. Consider a ship, when it hath compassed the hole sea, and is now ready to arrive at the shore, being troubled with a tempest, if the mariners should then be negligent, the ship may easily be lost, & all they which are in it perish, the mariners disappointed of their purpose, in that they shall not attain unto the place which they coveted to come unto. Like wise builders if they finish not their work, but leave of afore they make an end: is not all their labour lost and spent in vain? Husband men also if they till their ground, and then so we it with seed: shall they not lose their pains, unless they will also mow it? In like manner, you have fought very long against this city, many Princes of you and worthy men have been slain, and now you may see the strongest walls of the town are broken and made equal with th'earth, the people your adversaries is consumed with hunger, pestilence & sword. What shall it then avail you all that ever you have done, if you slake your diligence, and will not finish the work of the siege? have you not then employed your labour in vain? And why should this new wall so dismay you? ye why do ye not prepare yourselves to beat down this new wall, which is much sclenderer than tother three that ye have cast down? If so be it ye should determine to leave of the siege, had it not been better for you to have done it at the beginning, whiles your army was yet whole? Now, when as your are few, & your most valiant soudioures slain: why do you not rather choose to die than to live? Did not you once enter this town, in the time of Nero Cesar, to defend his name? Now therefore when Vespasian my father reigneth, who is not only of greater power than Nero, but also more gentle toward you then ever was Cesar, if you should abate and slake your endeavour and diligence: it should be to your great shame and reproach. Why take ye not ensample of these jews valiantness, whom now already, sword, pestilence, and famine hath wasted, so that they have ne hope left: nevertheless they fight still and never give it over. Do you not see every day, how some of them issue out of the town, and boldly assail the Romans, not without se●pardy of their lives, in so much that sometimes they die for it? Which things they do for none other cause then to get than praise and renown for their great prowess. When as Titus had well debated these things and such like in the ears of his souldi●ures: a certain valeant man named Sabianus said unto his fellows. Who so dare go with me to assault these jews, let him come hither to me, that we may fulfil the commandment of Caesar's son our Lord and master. And forthwith he took his target and his drawn sword in his hand, made toward the town with a xi tall fellows following him, whose valiantness and courage Titus wondered at greatly. The jews kept their ward upon that part of the wall, where the Komaines had had a repulse of late: so when they saw Sabianus and his company draw fast toward them, they began to assail him with stones and arrows, but Sabianus setting light at them, urged the jews. Shortly one of the jews met with him, and gave him such a blow that he felled him to the ground: yet he gate up again and fought for all that wound mansully, as one that had rather leave his life then the fight, till an other Israelite came & slew him out right. Three also of his fellows were killed fight valiantly in the place, tother viii  to the camp so sore wounded, that they died the next day every one. Further, other Romans seeing Sabianus act, & studying to do the like: the next night they took a counsel upon a tweniye of them, and agreed to assault the town. This their enterprise when they uttered to the standard bearer of Titus, he and many other of the Romans went with them. They all scaling together & clammering up by the breeches, got up upon the wall, sounded a trumpet, and gave a great shout. The jews being at their rest as men oppressed with hunger and weariness, & hearing this alarm and shout of the Romans: were wonderfully amazed, not knowing what the matter mente, or how they should defend themselves. Titus also heard the shout, and when he had inquired the matter: he chose out certain valiant men, and drew toward the breeches with them. In the mean season the day was broken, and the jews rising from their sleep, espied Titus upon the walls, and marveled thereat greatly. The Romans therefore gathering toward Titus, came very thick into the town, some by the breeches of the wall and other some through a vault, by the which the jews were wont now and then to issue out and in. The jews set them selves in array against the Roma●●es in the very entry of the temple: upon whom the Romans ran with their drawn sword for they had none other armour, nor the jews neither being so hastily taken at such a sudden. The battle warred very hard and wonderful dehement on both barties, the like was never seen in jerusalem, nor heard of in ancome, for every man clave hard to his next fe●● we, and no man could flee on no side, wherefore the battles wart strong with lamours & shouts on both parties: now the ●oyful shouts of the vanquishers, now the wailings on the other side of them that were put to the worse. The Romans encouraged & erborted one an other to fight, saying: this is the day which we have long looked for. The jews again took heart unto them, saying: it boats not to f●e hence, but for the glory of the lord and of his temple let us d●e manfu●lye as necessiti constraineth us, & so doing we shallbe counted for sarrifices & offerings: which earnestness on both sides filled the entry of the court of the lord with blood, the it stood like unto a pole or a pond. And that fight continued from that morning until that day four days. Then a certains souldioure of Titus whose name was Golinus, a valiant man as was any amongst all the company of Kuttiim, he seeing the jews to prevail and to have thupperhande of the Romans, which now had left of fight & fled, the jews pursuing them: in a rage he ran against them, and met them at the new wall that Herode builded, called Antochia, drive them back, and made them take thentry of the temple again, whereas pressing into the routs of the jews, he was sore wounded of a certain Iew. And when he perceived himself wounded, he would have leapt back, but stumbled at a stone in the pavement of the court of the temple & sell down, where he roughte yet still, t●● a certain jew killed him outrighte. He fought in deed very boldly and valeauntlye, but unwarily: for he considered not his ground wherein he had to do with the jews. Titus waiting for Golinus return, and hearing him to be slain, would have gone himself to rescue the rest of his which were with him. But his men would not suffer him, fearing left he himself should be slain. The jews therefore gate the upper hand that day, and slew wonderful many Romans in that bat tail, spoiling them also which were killed of their armour. These were the names of the jews the made that skirmish. Of the company of captain jehochanan, Elasa, and Iphtach: of Schimeons' company, Malchiah, and jaikob a Prince of the Edomites. And Arsimon, and jehudah, of the company of Eleasar the son of Anam. These with their companions made this slaughter of the Romans in the entrance of the temple and drove them back to the Antochia, where they kept ●hem up that they could not get out. Wherefore when Titus perceived that the Antochia was in the Romans way, and hindered them: he caused it to be 〈◊〉 & pulled down to the ground. These things were done upon the .v. day of Sivan, 
may.  the third month, vp● the even of the solemn festival day of weeks, which otherwise is called Pentecost, and that 〈◊〉 the xiiii month from the beginning of Titus sieg● against this city.   

SHortly after, upon the third day of the feast of weeks, then, jews as ma●●e as were at jerusalem, kept holy 〈◊〉 and celebrated the waste. Titus taking with him joseph the son of Gorion▪ went unto the house of the sanctuary where the seditious & soldiers of the jews were gathered together, and called unto jehochanan & the rest of the captains of the seditious, to whom he 〈…〉 the means of joseph being his interpreter in this wise: What hath this temple offended thee, (thou seditious jehochanan) why hast thou brought upon it thi● great evil and mischief? If so be it thou trust so much to thy 〈…〉 forth to us with thy men into the fields, and we shall fight with thee thy fill. Is not this your solemn festival day? Why then will ye fight in that place where ye should offer your sacrifices? Ye pollute and defile the sanctuary of your God and his name, & we spare it, knowing it is the house of God. And th'only cause why we make war upon you, is your stubborn stiffneckedness, that you will not submit yourselves to us, whom God hath given the dominion unto, whose will ye lahoure in vain to disappoint. Either therefore, if ye will fight no more, humble yourselves under our subjection that ye may save your lives: or else if ye be determined still desperately to fight with us, then get ye forth from hence, and let us go into the fields, there to set our battles in array, for why, will ye defile your sanctuary & hinder the worshipping of your God? Much more besides this spoke Titus, partly blaming their stubbornness in that they had defiled their temple, and yet ceased not to pollute it more and more: partly with fair words and gentleness exhorting them to yield, admonishing them not to resist so mighty an army, when as they could not do it without danger of utter destruction. These & many other things joseph expressed in Hebrew to the people as Titus willed him, but the jews answered never a word: for jehochanan had given a charge that no man should speak. Then captain's jehochanan answered Titus himself, saying: We can offer no kind of sacrifices more acceptable to God, then to vow, jeopardy, and abandon our own bodies and blood for his name's sake. Wherefore we will die free in this our town, and will never come in bondage to serve you. Titus made him answer by joseph, saying: This your city, I grant is a holy city●, and your temple is mo●●e holy, which no man doth deny. But ye have grievously sinned, in that ye have polluted the temple of the Lord your God by shedding in it the innocent blonude of saints and priests of God, with other most godly and holy men.  
By what reason can ye then say that you shall be accepted for sacrifices and offerings before God? Yea, rather God abhorreth and detesteth you utterly, when as he requireth in his sacrifices that they should have no default nor spot, but ye are all to be spotted, so that no sound place is in you. For tell me (I pray you) if there be any more abominable spot in man then sin, when as he traunsgresseth the law of God as ye have done? Neither is there any wisdom or intelligence in you. For wise men would wisely bear with the calamities of times, and know the courses of things. How then are ye so polished to say that ye are an acceptable and well pleasing sacrifice unto god, when as ye resist the will of GOD so proudly? But thou jehochanan and the rest of the seditious captains that are with thee: tell me, art not thou a mortal man, subject unto the griefs and vexations of this life, and worms meat as we be? Should he not displease thee that should take away a table or such like thing prepared to the honour of thee, & wouldst thou take it in good part, & hold him excused that should do so unto thee? Why then hast thou taken away the sacrifices of thy God out of his Temple, and haste stuffed it with innumerable dead bodies? Who can see or hear this, and abstain from weeping, when he shall know so many Israelites to have suffered death by thee, and Schimeon, and Eleasar thy fellows? Nether canst thou yet apply thy mind to cease and leave of thy malice, and yet nevertheless persuadest thy self the while that God is with thee, and that thou with thy fellows art an acceptable and well pleasing Sacrifice unto GOD: nothing perceiving that your sins separateth you, and keepeth you a sunder more strongly than aunt Brazen wall. It is true, I confess that it becometh every valeant man to stand stoutly in the defence of his people, city, and country, For it is better to die valiantly then to come into the subjection of his enemy that goeth about to pluck him from his religion, and drive him out of his country. But I came not hither for that intent to draw you from your law, or to banish you out of your land, or else to destroy it and your Cities: but this is the cause of my coming hither, to effer you peace, and to make a league with you, that you should take upon you our yoke, and be our subjects as ye were ●●ore. Where did you ever hear of a people in all the world, that hath showed themselves so merciful & gentle, both towards other, & towards you, as we have done? Hannibal the captain of the Garthaginian●, after he had wasted our country, & at longth was taken by us was he not had in great honour & reputation of us, & with such humanity handled, the we made him king of his people? And so dealt we with Antiochus the Macedonian, & other king's the we took prisoners▪ Ye▪ brag the ye keep the watch of ●our god, Why then follow ye not the example of jechaniah your king, who to save the temple of your god from destruction, & left your people also should be led away into bondage, or be destroyed with the sword: yielded himself and his house into the hands of the king of the Chaldeis. Why spare you not your own lives, your city, and sanctuary? Now therefore hearken unto me▪ and I will make a league with you before the God of this house, who shallbe a witness betwixt me and you: by whom I swear that I will never break this league, neither do you any harm, nor spoil your goods, nor lead you away captive, nor yet set any ruler over you but a jew of your own nation, even joseph the priest which is with me shall be your prince if you think it good, and all the faithful men also which are with me shall return to you home again, ye shall inhabit your own land, ye shall have the use of the fruits thereof with peace and quietness, without any corruption or alteration of the service of your God. Wherefore credit 〈◊〉 ●o make a league with you, and that y● may trust me the better, ye shall have pledges, joseph a noble man of your country, and other princes and noble men of the Romans. Come forth therefore and entreat a peace with us, bow your shoulders and humble your necks to serve us like as all other nations do, & as you have done yourselves in the time of Nero Caesar, the ye may live & not be destroyed, keeping your religion safe & sound. joseph the priest hearing the words of Titus & his clemency, in that he was minded to spare the jews, burst out aloud and wept in the presence of the captains of the seditious very bitterly, but they nothing regarded it. joseph therefore seeing that Titus could do nothing with the seditious, said unto their princes. I marvel nothing though this city tend to desolation & destruction, for I know the end of it is at hand. But this is it that I marvel most, that ye have red the book of Daniel and understand it not, which is now fulfilled in all things, and yet never a one of you doth mark it. The continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while ago, the anointed Priest is cut away and put down. These things although they be most manifest, yet your hearts can not be leave them. And many other words spoke joseph full of admonition & consolation, but the jews refused to hear him. When as he had made an end therefore, and the Seditious had so hardened their necks, Titus turned him and departed out of Jerusalem, saying: Let us get us hence lest their sins destroy us. Wherefore he pitched his tents without the City, in the same place where he encamped at the first: For he was afraid both for himself and his army, lest they should be circumvented and closed in, and slain cruelly in so great a City as that was. Certain of the priests at that time & of the nobles of the town, with other Godly men did wisely see to themselves▪ & came forth to Titus, submitting themselves to his mercy, & were received of him peaceably with great honour. Whom Titus commanded to be conducted into the land of Goschen, where in times past the Israelites dwelled in the days of jacob their father, & joseph Lord of egypt. Thither sent he them, & gave it then in possession to them and to their heirs for ever, commanding a company of the Chaldeis to safe conduct them till they came to the land of Goschen. Titus directed his Letters also to the Roman Presidente which was set over Egypt, to take pity of the jews that he had placed in the Land of Goschen, to sustain and secure them, and to see that no Roman or other should do them harm, or annoy them by any means. Many other also of the jews coveted to go forth of Hi●rusalem, but they were letted of the Seditious, that they could not do as they intended. And who can tell whether they were entangled with their own sins, and destinied to destruction with their Sediciousse brethren? when as their hands also were polluted with the cruelty and iniquity of the Seditious? Wherefore the Seditious closed up all the ways about the temple, that none of the jews which were in Jerusalem might get out to Titus. When Titus knew that many of the jews were desirous to flee unto him and could not because of the seditious: he went again to the place where he● was afore, and joseph with him. Whom when the people saw to be there with Titus, they fell a weeping, and said unto him. We acknowledge our sins, and the traunsgression of our fathers, we have all swerved out of the way against the lord our God, for we know the mercy and gentleness of Titus the son of Caesar, and that he taketh pity upon us: but what can we do, when it is not in our power to flee unto him, because of the cruelty of the seditious? The seditious hearing them talking with joseph in presence of Titus, & that they spoke reverently of him, & honoured his father calling him Lord: they ran upon them with their drawn sword to kill them. Then cried they unto Titus, dear Lord and master rescue us. The romans therefore made speed to deliver them out of the hands of the seditious. So risse there a fray in the midst of the temple between the romans and the jews. The Romans fled into the place called Sanctum sanctorum, which was the holiest of all, and the jews followed after and slew them even there. Titus standing without, cried unto jehochanan, and said unto him. Hearest thou, thou Ichochanan, is not thy wickedness yet great enough? Wilt thou never make an end of thy mischief? Where is the honour of thy God? Is it not written in the law of your God of the Sanctum sanctorum, that no stranger ought to come at it, but only the high priest, and that but once a year, because it is the holiest of all? And now how darest thou be so bold to kill those that are escaped unto it, & how dare ye shed the blood of the uncircumcised therein whom ye abhor, and yet mixed their blood with yours. The Lord your God is my witness, that I would not have this house destroyed, but your own wicked works, & your own hands pull it down. And would god you would receive our peace, which if it were once done done, we would honour this house of the sanctuary & temple of the Lord: yea, we would departed away from you. But your hearts are hardened like iron, & your necks and foreheds are become obstinate as brass to your own undoing. For ye shall carry your own sins, & die in the land of the Romans. I and my father's house are innocent and guiltless of your death, as the Lord and his temple, in whose presence we stand, shall bear us witness this day. But when he saw that none of the seditious gave any regard to his words, he chose out of his Romain? thirty. M. valiant fight men, & gave them commandment to take & occupy then try of the temple, which is a holy court, & determined to go with them himself, but his nobles would not suffer him, but will led him to remain upon a high place where he might behold his sodiers fight. And when the●se thee a far of, their h●●ts shal●e comforted, & they shall fight according as thou wilt wish them, but come no● at then try of the temple thyself, lest thou be destroyed amongst other. Titus followed the counsel of his captain's, and went not at the time with his men to the battle. He made chief captains of that host of xxx M. one Karilius & Rostius. i●. noble men, whom he commanded to set upon the jews the night when they should be a sleep with weariness. The Romans therefore doing after his commandment set upon the jews. But the jews having intelligence of the matter, kept diligent watch, & withstede the Romans valiantly all that night. But the Romans were not hasty to fight in the dark, fearing lest it might turn to their own harm. Assoon therefore as it was day, the jews divided themselves, and bestowed their companies at the Gates of the entrance, and fought like men. Karilius and Rostius beset the Temple round● about that not one of the jews might escape out, and so the battle increased between them for the space of v●●. days, sometime the Romans getting the upper hand of the jews, driving them within the entrance: sometime the jews encouraging themselves, made the Romans retire, and pursued them to the walls of the Antochia, in this manner fought they these seven. days. afterward, the Romans returned back from the jews, and would not fight hand to hand with them any more. Then Titus commanded the Walls of the Antochia to be pulled down further, that there might be place for his whole host to enter. The famine in the mean season grew more grievous, so that no food was now left. For the jews began now to issue out, and steal horses, asses, and other beasts what soever they could catch, even out of the romans camp, that they might dress them some meat and sustain their lives. Which they doing often times, at length the Romans perceived it, & were wonderfulfye displeased with the matter. Wherefore they set watch and ward round about the camp, lest by the deceit of the jews they should be spoiled of their cattle, so after that the jews could steal no more from thence. After ward notwithstanding they armed themselves, and issued out at the East gate, and broke the wall that Titus had raised for his own safety, lest the jews should issue out upon a sudden, and come upon him at unwares.▪ A sort of tall fellows therefore of the you the of the jews issued out by the breaches of the wall, & gate up quickly to the mount Olivet, whereas they found horses, mules, asses, and much other cattle, and fleeing their keepers, they drive them before them with great shouts into the town. The romans perceiving that, pursued them to fight. Wherefore the young men deui●e● themselves into two bandes● the one to drive the booty, and the other to resist the Romans. So there was a sore ●yght betwixt them, but the jews gate the upper hand, and went their ways clear with the 〈◊〉 toward Jerusalem. For the 〈◊〉 came for the constrained by the necessity of hunger, and fought for their living: the Romans had no cause to fight, save only for shame to ●●e their cattle driven away before their eyes, for otherwise they put not their lives in jeopardy to fight unto drathe as the jews did, yet was there many of the Komaynes slain in that ●ighte. The jews while the romans pursued them in deign, they gate into the town with their spoil and 〈◊〉, and strait way turned vppon●●● R●maines and drive the●●n back, pa●suynge them again till they ●●the almost to Titus ●ampe, which when the other Romans saw & the ●●ame to the rescue of their fellows▪ 〈…〉 ed again those young men to 〈…〉 to take them, albeit the● scaped 〈◊〉 without any ha●the, save that 〈◊〉 took a boy and brought him unto 〈…〉 that took this lad 〈…〉 So the Romans 〈…〉 the jews at that time, and for a certain token of victory, they had this y●g jew prisone●. Pornas' the took him was had in great estimation for that act, of Titus and all the Romay●s. Titus' apparelled the boy, and committed him to josephus to keep. This Boy had a brother amongst them that escaped into the town, a vile parsonage evil favoured, and of a low stature, his name was jonathan. He seeing his brother taken, cometh forth to the tomb of jochanan the high priest over against Romans, and cried unto Titus, and to all the army, saying: If there be ever a man amongst you, let him ●ome forth unto me, here will I aby●● him, and fight with him upon thy● ground: and ye shall know this day whether the Romans or the jews be the better men. The Romans despised him, yet durst they▪ not meddle with him, but said: if we kill him, we shall never be counted the better men for such an act, and if he should kill any of us, it should be a great dishonour to be slain of a wretch. jonathan said to to the Romans, how much is the manhood of the Romans to be regarded in our eyes? Have not you been slain and put to flight by us? What were you then if that bands and companies of the Gentiles came not every day to aid you? If they had not helped you, we had long ago eaten you up. We have destroyed ourselves▪ one an other with civil wars, so that we are but few left, but what are you? Who is so hardy of the best of you also come and declare his strength, and to fight with me? I am one of the meanest and outcasts of the jews: pick you onte the chiefest and vale antest man amengest you all, and you shall know by and by whether part is more valiant. When jonathan had spaken thus proudly, there came for the one of the most valiantest soldiers of the Romans whose name was Pornas, the same that had taken the brother of this jonathan and brought him to Titus, he came no sooner at jonathan, but he was killed of him straight way, leaving behind him a divers inheritance to jonathan and the Romans. To jonathan a fame of fortitude & valiantness: to the Romans shame and reproach. When jonathan had so slain the Romain, the jews' changed his name & called him jehonathan, by an honourable name, & gave him a sceptre of dominion in his hand. But jehonathan when he had gotten this victori, gave not the glory to god, but ascribed it to his own prowess & became very proud withal, he was not content with one victory, but would yet provoke the Romans, ●ailing at them, and calling for an other valiant champion to be sent to him, that I might kill him (saith he) and ●●lare my force upon him And even as he said so, one of the Romans whose name was Poriian stroke him through with an arrow at unwares and killed him. By whose example we may perceive. It is every man's part chiefly to take heed, that when they overcome their enemies, they rejoice not over much, nor wax proud for the matter, for who knoweth what end they shall have themselves? These things done, the jews seeing the walls of the temple & the three walls that compassed the town to be razed & pulled down, knowing also that they had no hope left, nor any thing to trust unto: they consulted what were best to be done. There was a great huge house joining upon the side of the temple that king Solomon had builded, of a great height, whose walls also the kings of the second temple had raised on height, & had decked it with timber of fir and cedar trees. The jews went & anointed every where the Cedar timber of the house with brimstone and pitch abundantly. So when the Romans came again to the temple to assault the jews, & pursued them unto that palace: they entered the palace after the jews (who went out again an other way) & some climbed up to the battlements of the house, other set up ladders to scale it. Then rejoiced they wonderfully, saying▪ the palace is taken: now have the jews no place left to flee unto for refuge. Thus when the Romans had gotten the palatre & the house was throng full of them, a certain jew a young man, vowing himself desperately to die, went & shut up the palace, & set fire of the gates before anointed with brimstone and pitch. And straightway the side walls of the house, & the whole building begun to be on a light fire, so that the Romans had no way to escape because the fire compassed the house on every side. The jews also stood in harners reund about the house least any of the Romans should escape. Wherefore so many of the Romans' as entered the house, were destroyed with the fire, which was xxii M. men of war. Titus hearing the cry● of the Romans that pearished in the fire, made speed with his men to come and rescue them, but they could not deliver them out of the fire, it brent so vehemently, wherefore Titus and his wept very bitterly. The Romans that were above upon the house when they saw their master Titus weep, and the fire to be between them that neither could come at other: they cast themselves down headlong from the batlementes of the house which was very high, & died, saying: we will die in Titus' presence, to get us a name thereby. The jews kept the gates of the palace, & if they perceived any man go about to escape out of the fire, or to come down of the batlementes: them they killed with their sword. In that fire was a certain noble man of the stock of kings, whose name was Longinus, to whom the jews cried and flouted him, saying: come hither to us, the thou mayst save thy life and not be destroyed, but he durst not go out at the gate, fearing lest the jews would kill him, wherefore he drew out his sword and thrust himself through before their faces. another noble man also was in the fire, whose name was Artorius, who looking forth from the top of the house, saw one of his dear friends by Titus which was called Lucius: to whom Artorius called, saying. My dear friend Lucius get on thine armour and come hither, that I may leap down upon thee, and thou mayst receive me. If I die, I make thee mine heir, if thou die, thy children shall inherit my goods. Wherefore Lucius ran and held his lap open at the house side, and Artorius leapt down and light upon him with such weight that they both died therewith. Titus commanded the covenant that they two made before their death to be written upon a sword with blood, and their friendship to be noted in the chronicles of the Romans, that it might be an example to all men to learn true friendship by. At that time therefore the jews revenged themselves meetly well upon the Romans. The fire brent till it came to the house of Chiskiiahu king of jehudah, and had almost taken the temple of the Lord, which the Romans seeing, fled out of the town and gate them to their tents, a great part of them beings destroyed by the cruelty of the jews, so that few of them remained. The rest therefore lay still in their siege round about the town, saying: we shall not be able to win the town by the sword, but rather we must be fain to drive than to yield by famine, wherefore they compassed it on every side. In the town now had they no victuals left.   

THere was a certain notable rich woman at jerusalem, of a noble house also, whose name was Miriam, her dwelling was beyond jordan, but when she perceived the wars to grow more & more in the time of Vespasian, she came up with her neighbours to jerusalem, bringing with her not only her men servants & women servants, & all her whole family: but also her goods & riches which were very great. When the hunger was grievous at jerusalem, & the seditious went from house to house to seek meat, they came also to this woman's house & took away from her by force all that ever she had, and left her nothing remaining. After therefore she herself was oppressed with very great hunger so that she wished her out of the world, but her time was not yet come to die. Wherefore that she might slake her hunger and su●●eine her life, she began to scrape in the chaff and dust for beasts dung but could find none. She had one son, & when she saw the famine ware greater & greater upon her, she laid aside all womanhood and mercy, and took upon her an horrible cruelty: for when she heard her boy weep and ask for meat which she had not to give him, she said unto him: What shall I do my son? for the wrath of God hath environed the whole city, in every corner thereof famine reigneth, without the city the sword killeth up all, within we stand in fear of the seditious, our enemies prevail without, in the town are fires, burnings, and ruins of houses, famine, pestilence, spoiling, and destroying, so that I can not feed thee my son. Now therefore my son, if I should die for hunger, to whom should I leave thee, being yet a child? I hoped once that when thou shouldest come to man's state, thou shouldest have sustained mine age with meat, drink, and cloth, and after when I should die, to bury me honourably, like as I was mined to bury thee, if thou shouldest have died before me. But now misonne the art as good as did all redi, for I have no meat to bring thee up withal, because of this great famine and cruelty of the enemies both within and without. If thou shouldest die now amongst other, thou shouldest have no good nor honourable tomb as I would wish thee. Wherefore I have thought good to choose that a sepulchre, even mine own body, lest thou shouldest die, & dogs eat thee in the streets. I will therefore be thy grave, & thou shalt be my food. And for that, that if thou hadst lived & grown to man's state, thou oughtest by right to have nourished me: now feed me with thy flesh, and with it sustain mine age, before that famine devour thee: and thy body be consumed. Render therefore unto thy mother the which she gave unto thee, for thou comest of her, and thou shalt return into her. For I will bring thee into the self same shop, in the which the breath of life was breathed into thy nostrils, forasmuch as thou art my well-beloved son, whom I have loved always with all my strength, be therefore meat for thy mother, an ignominy & reproach to the Seditious that by violence have taken away our food. Wherefore my son hear my voice, and sustain my soul and my life, and go to th'end that is determined for thee by my hands, thy lot be in the garden of Eden and Paradise, be thou meat for me, & a rebuke and shame to the Seditious, that they may be compelled to say: Lo, a woman hath killed her son, and hath eaten him. So when she had thus spoken to her son, she took the child, and turning her face away lest she should see him die, she killed him with a sword, & after cut his body into certain pieces, whereof some she roasted, some she sod, & when she had eaten of them, she la●ed up the rest to keep. The savour of the flesh roasted when it came out into the streets to the People: they said one to an other: see, here is a smell of cost meat, which thing came unto the knowledge of the Seditious 〈◊〉 length, who went into the house of the woman, and spoke roughly unto her: why shouldest thou have meat to live with, and we die for hunger▪ The woman made them aunswer●, and said unto them. Be not dispeased I beseech you with your handmaid for this, for you shall see I have kept part for you. Sat you down therefore and I will bring it you that ye may taste thereof, for it is very goodimeate. And by and by she laid the Table, and set before them part of the child's flesh, saiy●ge: Cate I pray you, here is a child's hand, see here his foot, and other parts, and never report that it is any other woman's child, but mine own only Son that ye knew with me, him I bore, and also have eaten part, and part I have kept for you. Which when she had spoken, she burst out and wept, sayings Oh my son, my son, how sweet waste thou to me whiles thou yet livedst, and now at thy death also thou art sweeter to me then honey: for thou hast not only said me in this most grumous famine, but thou hast defended me from the wrath of the seditious, wherewith they were incensed towards me, when the smell of the meat brought them into my house. Now therefore are they become my friends, for they sit at my table, and I have made them 〈◊〉 feast with thy flesh. After she turned her to the seditious, and bade them eat and satis●ie themselves, for why (saith she) shoulbe ye abhor my meat which I have set before you? I have satisfied myself therewith, why therefore do you not eat of the flesh of mi son? Taste and see how sweet my sons flesh is, I dare say ye will say it is good meat. What needeth pity, ought ye to be more moaned therewith then a woman? If y● will in no wise eat of the Sacrifice of my Son, when as I have eaten thereof mi self. Shall not this be a shame for you, that I should have a better heart and greater courage than you? Behold I have prepared a fair Table for you most valiant men, why eat ye not? Is it not a good feast that I have dressed for you? and it was your will that I should make you this feast It had been my part rather to have been moved with pity of my son, then yours: and how chanceth it therefore that ye are more merciful than I? Are not ye they th●● spoiled my house, and lest me no kind of sod for me and my son? Are 〈◊〉 ye they that constrained me to make you this feast, notwithstanding the great bonger that I have? Why then ●at y● not thereof, when as ye were the auct● 〈◊〉 and the causers that I did this ded●? The jews hearing this matter, were wonderfully smitten into ●●dnesse: yea, even the governors of the seditious began to stoop when they heard of this, so that they all in a manner desired death, they were so amazed at this horrible Act. Many therefore of the common people stolen out in the night forth of Jerusalem with all their substance to the Romainꝭ camp, and showed Titus of this, who wept thereat, and was sorry for the matter exceedingly, holding up his bands to heaven, and crying. Thou Lord God of the world, God of this house, to whom all secrets are known, which also knowest my heart, that I came not against this City as desirous of Wars, but rather of Peace, which I ever offered them, but yet the citizens thereof evermore refused it, although I often times entreated them, and when they destroyed one another by their civil dissension, I would have delivered them, but I found them always like most fierce & cruel beasts, nothing sparing themselves, & this mischief is come now so far, that a woman hath eaten her own flesh, being driven thereunto by most extreme necessity. I have heard, and my forefathers have told me all the power that thou hast exercised in times passed towards them and their fathers, how thy name dwelled amongst them. For thou broughtest them out of egypt with a strong hand and a stretched forth arm out of the house of bondage, ●o whom also thou devidedst the Sea, leddest them through it dry, & drownedst their enemies in the water: after cōd●●tedst thy people through the wil●erhes, and seddest them with brea●● from heaven, thou causedst quails to ●●ee unto them, and broughtest out water out of the rock for them. At length thou broughtest them into this holy land by great and terrible miracles and wonders. For thou 〈…〉 up the waters of jordane, and ma●est them stand as it were on a ●●ape ●yll they were passed over. Thou cau●edst the sun and the moan also to stays the●● course for thy peoples sa●e, till they might vanquish thei● enemies, thou wouldst also the thy name should 〈◊〉 amongst them, and thou gavest th●●●●●his city by inheritance. Some of 〈◊〉 thou chosedst for thyself to be Prophets, which might correct thy people, teach them, and lead them in the right way, to give them warning of miseries following, that they might take heed of themselves, and beware of them▪ Thou stirredst up wise men amongst them, ●o the intent Israel might know what were to be done. Moreover, thou didst choose of them priests to serve thee, and to bless thy people Israel. Certain Godly men of them also thou drewedst unto thee, ●●d in a fiery Chariot thou cariedst them up into Heaven. Thou smotest the ●en●es of the king of Assur, and killed'st in them clxxxu thousand men. These and divers other things have I learned of my forefathers: yea, and joseph the priest, a very wise man ●●the told me a great part● of the 〈◊〉. And now Lord GOD, this people which I have striven against I would have mayed they had trusted in th●●, but thou seest they trust not in thy saving health, but in their own sword: thou seest also how proud they be●, notwithstanding thy terrible signs and wonders wherewith thou haste ●ought on my side against them, which they will not acknowledge. They say, there is no man can bring us under, because the Lord our God will help us, yea, although we be wicked: for as much as for our sakes he rained bread down from heaven, divided the sea, brought out waters forth of the hard Rock, and stayed the courses of the Sun, and all for us. But they consider not that thou sh●w●●st those signs to their fathers for their righteousness sake, and those for their wickedness thou haste strooken in 〈◊〉 wars to make their 〈…〉, and to lay waste their Cities because of the multitude of their tra●●●g●●●●i●ns, and how thou hast consu●●● them with Sword, Pestilence, 〈◊〉 Famine, that they are fain to 〈◊〉 the flesh of their children, and yet for all this, they can not find in 〈◊〉 har●es to humble themselves before thee, nor to acknowledge thy hand to have been upon them for their wicked works. I also have not been very earnest upon them, but have assaulted them ever gently: If so be it, thou wilt not deliver them into my hands: I will get me hence from these most wicked men, & ●●e away to save my life, least I also perish in their ●innes, when thou shalt overthrow them as thou didst overthrow Sedom and Amora. Wherefore, lo●, I will get me out of their land with speed least we be destroyed with the●●, for our eyen do see Sedom that was overthrown in their borders. Yea, but this hardeneth their hearts also like iron, that they fay: why should we not be like to our fathers in crueliye, for our forefather. Abraham when as he had but one only son, he went to ●acri●l●e him to the lord, whom in deed I do not apprehend for this fact, for why? I know not the mystery thereof, all be it I marvel, how he had no pity on his son. I have heard also of a certain king of theirs, who the same day he set forwards to the wars, made a v●●● to God that he would offer a sacri●●c●, i● he should have good success in his wars, and when he returned from the wars, he offered to god his only doughter, and so performed his vow that he had vowed unto God. And hereby I know they are men of a stubborn spirit, for what so ever it giveth them in their heads to do, that they think must needs be done, and they are a naughty people & most heinous sinners. Wherefore except thou 〈◊〉 deliver them to ●e: I will give over the wa●●es, for I will not be slain with them without all judgement. When Titus had said all these things, he commanded to bring an 〈◊〉 Ram, & to bend it against the new 〈◊〉 which the seditious had raised, that they might batter the wall & cast it down. Then came forth many of the nobles of the seditious unto Titus & made peace with him, whom he placed amougst● his chief men. Shortly after the Romans set a fire a certain gate of the temple, that was shut, whose door was covered over with silver, & while the timber of it burned, the silver melted & ran upon the ground. So when the gate was open, there appeared the way which goeth to the Sanctum sanctorum or holiest of all. Assoon as Titus saw it, he honoured it with great reverence, & forbade his people that no man should come ni● it, saying: take heed ye medie not with this house, till we take further deliberation what is to be done in the matter. Wherefore he commanded proclamation to be made throughout at his camp● in this wise. Whosoever colbeth nigh this Sanctuary, shall suffer death for it. He appointed also a strong kande of men to keep the temple, that it were not suspended and unhallowed by any of his. But his princes and captain's answered him, ●aiyng: unless this house be set a fire, thou shalt never subdue this people, so: as much as to save it they vow themselves to die. Notwithstanding Titus would not hearken to their counsel in this matter, but appointed of his soldiers & such jews as had made peace with him to keep ward, giving them charge to keep the temple and Sanctum sanctorum: least it should be polluted, till they had consulted upon the matter. The seditious jews that remained in jerusalem, seeing the Romans departed from the temple, and leaving the keepers there behind them, they ran upon them with their swords drawn and slew the ward up, letting never a man scape. Which Titus hearing of, be brought his whole army thither against the seditious and killed many of them, the rest fled to the mount Zion. The next day the Romans set fire upon the Sanctum fanctorum, laying wood to the doors that were covered over with gold, and then set fire in them. So after the gold waxed hot and the timber of the gates was once brent, the house of the Sanctum sanctorum was open (that all men might see it) the ninth day of fift month, 
july.  which was the very same day that it was opened also in the time of the Chaldeis. The Romans therefore when they had gotten that door of the Sanctum sanctorum once open, and had entered into it, they made great joy and gave a great shout, whiles the Sanctum sanctorum was a fire: which when Titus saw, he made great speed to quench the fire and to save the Sanctum sanctorum, but he could not do it, there did so many set it a fire in so many places. Titus therefore cried unto them, that they should not do so. But they would not hear him, for like as a vehement ●●oude of water breaketh all things, and driveth them down before it: even so with a furious violence the gentiles rushed upon the temple of the Lord, the fire flaming now and then out of measure. Thus Titus cried upon them in vain: wherefore when Titus saw be could not refrain the people from the Sanctum sanctorum with words, he drew out his sword, blaming the captains of his own people, and the other that were not Romans, he killed them, for they in time paste were more wont to spoil the temple, nevertheless thelesse he could not stay them nor put them back. He cried still upon them notwithstanding, till be was so hoorse that he could cry no longer. The priests which were in the Sanctum sanctorum withstood the Romans stoutly, till they were no more able to lift up their hands against them. Wherefore when the priests saw there was none other safeguard left, th●y leapt into the ●ire, and divers other jews with than, that had hid themselves in the Sanctum sanctorum, and so were all brent together: for they said, what should we live any longer, now that the temple is burnt? Titus ceased not to strike the people to chase them from the temple, that they should not sin against the Sanctum sanctorum, but no man would obey him, for they were many the spoiled temple. Titus therefore being so weatye that all his strength failed him: he fell down upon the ground. So when he saw he prevailed nothing with his crying: he left of forbidding them. After that the house of the Sanctum sanctorum was burnt: Titus rose & entered into it, and saw the glory & magnificence thereof, and believed that it was the house of the Lord, for as yet the fire had not utterly consumed all, so that be said: now I well perceive that this is none other than the house of God and the dwelling of the God of heavens, neither was it for nought that the jews stood so earnestly in the defence thereof, nor the gentiles also did not without a cause send gold and silver to this temple from the furthest parts of the world. For great is the glory of this temple, and it far passeth the temple of the Romans and all the temples of the gentiles that ever I saw. The GOD of heaven which is the God of this house, take vengeance of the Seditious, whose mischievous and heinous deeds have brought this evil upon it. The seditious the yet remained at jerusalem, seeing the Sanctum sanctorum to be burnt: they set the rest of the temple a fire themselves, and all the houses also that were filled full of treasure, and all kind of precious jewels: and where they knew there was yet some victuals left, they set it a fire also, least the Romans should have any commodity by it, saying: now that the Sanctum sanctorum is wasted, what should we live any longer, and then what need have we of any other buildings or houses? After this the Romans quenched the fire, & set up their Idols and images in the temple, and offered burnt offerings unto them, blaspheming, railing, & mocking at the jews and their laws in the presence of their idols.   

ABout that time was there a certain jew that prophected a lie unto the seditious that remained yet at jerusalem, bidding them to play the men and resist their enemies: for now (saith he) shall the temple be builded by itself with out man's hand, that God may declare his power unto the Romans, which now glory in themselves that they have overcome the jews. Therefore if ye will fight stoutly against the Romans, this day shall the temple be builded by itself. Wherefore the seditious set upon the Romans and ●●ewe many of them. So the Romans enkindeled with ire, handled the people cruelly, killing them like sheep, where they had favoured them hitherto. All these things happened unto the people because they gave e●edite to the false prophet, and market not the signed that appeared at jerusalem. For the year next before the coming of Vespasian, there was seen a star over the Temple so bright, as though a man had had many draw sword in his hand at once. And at the same time as the star appeared in the time of the folemne feast talled Passach: 
Easter.  that whole night the ●emple was as light and as ●●e are as though it had been middaie, and it con●in●●● so by the space of vii days of the feast. The men of understanding in Israel knew well enough that this was an evil sign, but the rest of the people interpreted it in good part. The very same time also they brought a Heifer for a burnt offering, which when she was field and strooken down that they might dress her, she brought forth a lamb, This miracle they said likewise made for them, and pretended good. As also this that followeth they interpreted to good. There was a certain Gate that was called the Cast Gate, a great and wondrous heaven gate that was never opened nor shut, but twenty men had enough to do about it, the creking of the gynnoes and hooks whereof might be heard a far of. This Gate was found open without any man's help, and they could not shut it, till a gr●ate number assembled and joined their strengths together. After this▪ there was seen over the Temple, and the Sanctum sanctorum by the space of a whole night a face of a man wonderful terrible. There appeared also at that time ●●ery chariots and horse men and great hosts in the sky coming nigh to Hiernsalem, and all the Land of Inda. In the feast also of Week●● the Prtestes heard a man walking in the remple, & saying with a great & a wonderful terrible ●ase voice. Come 〈◊〉 us go away out of this Temple, and get us hence. But specially there was one passing all these. A certain man in the City of a base and ●●we 〈◊〉, whose name was jehoscua the 〈◊〉 of Chananeiahu, began to cry upon the feast of the tabernartes with a land voice on this wise. A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds of the heavens, a voice against jerusalem, a voice against the temple● a voice agaynlle the Bridegroom, a bye against the bride, and a voice against the whole people. Which whē●e or ye● thus very o●●e, the citizens of H●●usalem hated him, & saind to him: What triest thou always this cry? But the governor that then was in the ●●tie forbade the Citizens to say ●●●●ye thing to him afterward, supposing h●● to be besides himself & mad. Therefore he never left crying for the space of. iiii ye●●●il the wa●rrs began, sa●yng: Woe to H●erusalem, & to the sanctuary thereof. When the wars were once beg●●e, and the town besieged, it fortuned as he wandered about upon the walls pliing after his manner, and at last adding this, Woe unto my self: a stone came out of an engine from the camp, and smitte out his brains. At that time▪ also there was a wrtting found 〈…〉 in a stene of old, which the Ie●●● red, the words were these. Wh●● tin the building of the temple shallbe brought to sour square, than it shall be destroyed. Now when the Antoch●● was taken and razed by the Romans, and the walls of the temple were also broken: the jews making speed to repair the ruins and 〈…〉, without any remē●raunce of this scripture, they made the templ●●. 〈◊〉. square. Besides this there was a scripture fo●●●●e in the wall of the Sanct●m san●●●um on this wise. When the whole building of the temple shallbe four 〈◊〉: the ●f hall a king rain over Israel▪ and that king and ruler shall reign over all the land of Israel. Some interpreted this upon the king of Israel. But the Priests said, it is the king or ruler of the Romans. The whole army of the Romans being now commed into the temple, and the jews also fled to the mount Zion: the Romans set up their idols in the temple of the Lord, and offered Sacrifice unto them, blasp●eminge and railing at the jews, and their god. At that time there came down to the Romans a little boy of the priests from the mount Zion, which wont to a captain of the romans that was keeper of the temple, and desieted him to give him some water to drink. He took pity of the boy, and bade give him water. The boy taking the vessel that the water was in, first drank himself, than ran away with the rest. The captain ran after him himself, but he won●●e not overtake him of a purpose, because he was delighted with the Boys doing, wherefore he let him go for the nonces, so he gate up to the priostres & gave them drink. On a time when the Romans were a● their sacrifice in the presence of Titus their Lorde● certain of the priests came and besought. Titus that he would not kill them: to whom Titus made answer, why do ye wish to live now, and n●●●ather to die with your brether● that have 〈◊〉 death for the God's sake of this house? Then T●tus commanded his men to 〈◊〉 them, and so died they. After Schimcon and jehochanan sent embassadorial Titus to requyer peace, to whom Titus made answer in 〈◊〉 wise, Ye 〈◊〉 this thing to late, and how cometh, it to pass that ye now entreat, for 〈…〉 lives, when that of so great a number of people, ye have left none save a ●●●y sew. When as also ye have wasted, all things most cruelly and despe●●●● yt● How after all these, your mischi●ons acts ye reguire peace which ye would never receive of me, although I desired you never so of●e. For it pitied me to see your people, some to he vere ●yth hunger, and some to be cast ●ute of the City without any burial. But ye hardened your necks and would never admit any Peace till all the people were destroyed.  
Therefore Titus reprehended them with many other words, saying unto them. Tell me you Seditious, you wicked and sinful persons, have not you slain the people of the Lord? You set his house on fire, you brought upon this City all this mischief. How can you therefore persuade yourselves, or presume to desire the safeguard of ●our lives? and why will ye live alone of all the Sages, righteous, innocent, Godly, and holy men whom ye have slain without any mercy? How may I commit this, not to be avenged of you that have done me so much mischief? Ye desire life, and yet persever and continue in your malice still, holding your swetdes in your hands, and being in Arms, nevertheless ye entr●●●e ●●es to save your lives. Have we not now taken the City, and also the temple, & the Sanctum sanctorum, have we not burnt it with fire? What is there left for you to put any hope in, & what look ye for to remain? Wherefore cast away your swords, and lay away your armour, & then come unto me and entreat me, and then shall I know what I have to do, peradventure I shall be gracious unto you, and pardon you your lives. The captains of the seditious, Schimeon, and jehochanan made answer to Titus. We have sworn by the Lord our God, who is God of heaven & earth ●●at we will never bear thy yoke, no 〈◊〉 thee, nor make any peace with th●● to be subject unto thee. Now therefore if it be thy pleasure to show us mercy, suffer us to go out of the City, and we will take our journey into the wilderness: which if thou wilt grant us, we will report that we have found favour at thy hand: if not, we will remain in this place to see what we shall determine, and what manner of death we will die.  
When Titus heard this, he was wonderfully wroth and said, remaineth the pride of your hearts, and the hardness of your necks yet with you still, although ye be taken? yet ye dare be so bold to say, we have sworn that we will not bear thy yoke? Yea, ye have sworn unto death, for ye have despised life, when as your city is won, the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt, and no refuge is left you. Where with them can ye put away your ignomini & shame, and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉? Then gave Titus command 〈…〉 the Romans, that they should not omit any opportunity to set upon the seditious, & by one means or other to destroys Schimeon & jehochanan. There was at time a certain man of the kings blood, whose name was Serach, he accompanied withal his brethren and sons that were there with him of the kings blood, came down from the Mount S●on to Titus, who received them honourably & getlely ordered them. When jehochanan & Schimeon understood that Serach and the rest were gone, and had yielded them to Titus: they went and set fire upon all that was in the kings palace, that the Romans should have no commodity thereby.   

FRom thence they went to the temple, where they found certain noble men and captains, whom Titus had put in authority about the temple, of whom three were chief: one captain of the horsemen, the second of the charets, and the third of the foot men, him they killed and took his companion alive. This besought them that had taken him, that he might be brought to Schimeon their captain, let him (saith he) do with me as he lift, and in this one thing let me find favour at your hands. They agreed, & brought him to Schimeon, who commanded his servants assoon as he was come to slay him. But while he that was appointed to this business, made delay, and killed him net by and by, he whipped down of the hill, escaped and came to Titus, who commanded him out of his sight, being wroth with him that he had not sought unto death, rather than to be taken quick. But with the jews was he wonderfully displeased, that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men: wherefore he commanded to kill all the jews as many as could be found in the streets of the ●●ye, whom he would have spared before, and caused proclamation to be made throughout all his camp for their safety. Then died many of the jews, so that every place was full of dead bodies. The men of war of the Edomites whythe were with Schimeon perceiving how the matter went, they sent Ambassadors to Titus, to desire peace, and to save their lives: which when it came to Schimeons' ear, he went unto them, and slew the chief of them and their noble men, the rest of the people of the Edomites fled unto Titus. From that time forth Titus commanded his men to use no more truelty upon the jews. soon after fled jehochanan and Schimeon, and hid themselves in certain caves. The rest of the chief men of the jews that were with them seeing them now to be fled: came noun from the Mount unto Titus, & set down upon their face before him upon the ground, whom Titus receiue● gentlelye: As for the seditious that were with Schimeon & jehochanan, they fought till they all died together. Then came forth unto Titus one josua a priest son of Schaftai the high priest, bringing with him two candlesticks of gold which were in the sanctuary, and the tables of gold, with other vessels of silver and gold, and also the holy vestures decked with gold and precious stones, all those he gave unto Titus: who made him chief priest over them that remained next under joseph the priest, for Titus gave joseph authority as well over the priests and Levites, as over the whole people of the jews. Then was Gorion the father of joseph that writ this history, brought out of the prison with his wife and children, among whom was one Bonian joseph's younger brother, he was a very wise & a godly priest, by whom god bestowed many benefits upon the Israelites. For Titus left him at jerusalem, and took him not with him as he did joseph. josephes' father lived after the city was taken twenty months & died. They took then also one Phmeas a priest who was keeper of the treasure house, he bewrayed and uttered to the Romans all the treasures of the priests and their vestments: he gave also unto Titus a moosse precious oil with swear odours and perfumes, and garments also of purple which the kings of the second temple had given. Wherefore both this Phineas and josua whom we mentioned afore, transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and offended God, in that they delivered his jewels to the enemies of his people, which they ought not to have done, but rather to have died for the glory of the Lord, as the other priests did, which cast themselves into the fire. Thus was the city of jerusalem taken with all the precious things that were therein: and Titus went up to the mount Zion, ●●ke it, and razed the walls thereof: Upon a three days after jehochanan sore vert with hunger, lest his place where he lucked, and came to Titus, fell down afore him and kissed his feet, saying: save me. O Lord king. Titus commauded him 〈◊〉 be fettered with iram cheins, & when he had caused him to be carted about the camp so bound, & to be mocked of all men by the space of vii days he commanded to han● him, & so gate he a just end and fit reward for his cruelty. After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den, being driven with famine, he had out on king ye apparel, & showed himself a far of to the Roman host: who seeing him, were afraid to go to him, but he called unto them & asked fo● s●me captain. Than one came forth & s●id unto Schimeon, tell me who the art, & I will not kill thee. Schimeon answered therefore & told him, I am Schimeon, that seditious Captain of the jews which have made you so much a not now I beseech thee show me so much savour as to bring me to Titus thy master, which he did. Titus therefore when he saw Schimeon, he commanded him to be fast bound and to be ●ed about the whole host, that he might be deluded & mocked. Afterward he was put to a fore death: first his head was stricken of, them he was cut in many pieces and cast unto dogs, so he died an abominable death being punished for his iniquity.   

THe number of the jews aswell citizens as other that came unto the feast to jerusalem, which were slain partly by the Romans, partly by the seditious, during the whole time of those warns was known to be thus many, eleventh hundredth thousand, besides them whose number was not known. Only they were counted which were slain & buried, besides them also, that after the death of jehochanan & Schimeon, died with Eleasar the son of Anam the priest, which were not reckoned. They that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome, were xvi M. men. Titus therefore with joseph went to Rome, leaving Bonian joseph's brother at jerusalem, who was appointed the chief priest of them that abode there, for that did joseph request of Titus, which he performed. The seditious were all slain in that battle which they took in hand for the people's sake, and the temple of the Lord▪ They also that Titus took prisoners were put to vile deaths. For he reserved many to be mocking stocks in every 〈…〉 wh●re he passed by in his way is Rome; and in every town he commanded some to be brought forth and cast unto the Lions, till they were all confumed.   

THere was a certain people 〈◊〉 that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat, that were called Alamites, whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearing, closed them in on every side. This people although they had no knowledge of the use of iron, nor armour, yet this was their manner: that one of them with a great poal burnt a little at the end, would put to flight a hundred good soldiers, were they never so well appointed and armed. Until this year they were always shut in: but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout all their land, they sent Ambassadors to the People of Hurkan their neighbours, requiring them that they would open the straights of the mountains, that they might come forth with their wives and children to seek them food. The Hurkans granted their requests, opened them the entrances of the mountains. So they came forth, wandering here and there, and spoiling diverse countries, till at length they took their journey toward the Mountains of the land of Madai, where they found horses, namely in the desert of Madai, amongst the people of Araf, they gate those horses, leapt upon them, and entered the land of Madai. The precedent or ruler of the country hearing thereof, fled unto the highest hills, leaving his wife and children behind him for haste, he was so afraid of the Alanites knowing their valiantness. Sraight way he sent to them ambassadors to make peace with them, and he would let them have victuals, upon this condition that they should not spoil his country. They made answer, if so be it he would keep them, and let them have food for the space of one month, syll the corn in their own country were ripe: they would return home again at the months end. For we desire not (say they) thy gold or silver, being men separated from all intercourse & traffic with other people, nor any thing else then food we seek not. This the ruler granted them, and let them have a certain grain called Mill, sodden with one kind of flesh or other. The number of them was vil, 
155140.  thousand a hundredth, fifty, and five thousand, a hundredth & forty persons. When the month was ended, and the Alanites understood the corn in their own country was ripe, they departed out of the land of Madai according as they had sworn, & returned toward their own country. And as they were a geing homeward, Mithridates' king of Ararat came against them to annoy them, minding to drive them from his coasts, lest they should waste his country. Therefore while they passed through his country going toward their own: Mithridates made war upon them, but his men were beaten down by the Alanites, like as camels fall upon the ground when a strong man treads them down. Then one of the young men of the Alanites in despite put a rope about Mithridates' neck, and drew him after him unto his great shame. Mithridates' gate out his sword, and cut a sunder the rope & fled. To whom the Alanites looking back, said: Go thy way, get thee home, and move no more war upon us hereafter, for we were not minded to waste thy Land, nor to kill thy people. For if we had ever intended it, could we not have done it long ag●e, when as nothing is betwixt us & you but the mountains of Ararat? But we were of this mind, that we should greatly offend to kill men of our own shape & likeness. See now how Alexander which went about to subdue the hole earth, & to declare his power, closed us up with in our land, why? because he was afraid we should come out upon him. But we laughed him to scorn when he did it. If we had listed, we could have letted him from shutting us in, & to make no peace with him, but we forced not of his doings. For it is our custom to keep us within our country, we seek none other land, when as our own land is better than any other. It pleased us well that he enclosed us, that the cruel wild beasts which are in the mountains of Ararat could have no passage to us. The cause why we came out now was nothing else, then that we were grieved with a great dearth: and we determined to be no longer from home, then till our own fruits waxed ripe, and then to return as you see we do. If we had been minded to win your land, had we not been able utterly to have overcome you, and to have gotten the dominion over you? But neither ye nor your country did ever delight us greatly, for our manners differ far from yours. Behold the king of Madai, when he had kept us for a month, we did him no harm, we are not wont to hurt men as ye are, that can not be content with your own state, but must encroach upon other men's inheritance. Now therefore go and return to your own country, and so will we to ours, without doing you any more harm: wherefore ye need not be afraid of us. So the Alamites went home to their own countries, having slain of Mithridates people ccc thousand men, and never a one of their own was killed. Titus hearing of this, was desis●ous to go unto them, to show them his valiantness, but he could not do it, because all his best men were spent in the wars at Jerusalem. Wherefore he determined to return to Rome after he had take jerusalem, where he abode as yet besides the Antochia. There he had intelligence that divers of the jews were gathered together, with whom was Eleasar the son of Anani the priest, who during the siege, fled unto a certain castle called Mezira, whereupon many of the jews resorted to him. Titus hearing this, that many had joined themselves to Eleasar, feared least after his departure, Eleasar would from thence make a road & take jerusalem, so kill up all the Romans, & be an offence to the Roman Empire. Wherefore he made out against him, & sent thither one Silcham a noble man of Rome, with a great host to besiege Mezira, but he could not get it. Wherefore he sent unto Titus for an iron ram to batter the Walls withal. Which after he had received, he beat down the walls of Mezira therewith. The jews seeing that, raised a great countermure within of wood and timber, which the Romans set fire in, and burned. After that they assaulted the town from morning till night, at what time the R●maynes left of, supposing they were not able to prevail against Eleasars' defence in the dark.   

ELeasar in the mean season called together all the chief men of the jews that were with him, and said unto them in this wise. Come hither ye seed of Abraham and kingly priesthood which have until this day ever prevailed against the enemies of God, let us hear your advise what is best to be done against this multitude that is comed upon us at unwares, ye see that at this time chiefly it becometh us to follow the courage and valeauntnes of our forefathers, wherewith they were in time passed endued. Consider moreover the every thing hath his end, and that there are sometimes in wars when as men are wont to follow the pursuit, sometime to flee from the same whom they pursued & to humble themselves before them. And It is no shame to be humbled and disgraced, when as all things have their determinate end. Albeit who so is of a haute courage, he must so establish his heart, that he quail not with fear, then shall he be deemed a valiant man? If ye therefore be of that courage that ye fear not death: then will I call you valiant men, and worthily? Consider the fortitude of Abraham our father, and the fact that he did, for having but one only son, whom Sara bore unto him in her age, he never staggered nor stayed at it to offer him up to the lord God for a burnt offering. For hes thought not that he should kill him, but persuaded himself most certainly that he should promote him to the life & light of the lord, for as much as for the love of God, & at his commandment he should have killed him. Wey the thing that joschiiahu the just king did, who setting at nought this wretched life, & aspiring to everlasting felicity, would not avoid the jeopardy of his life, when as as he might have done it. For although Pharaoh Necho said he came not against him, but against the king of the Chaldeis: yet would not joschiiahu hear him, but rather proceeding against Pharaoh in arms, was slain in the battle, and went unto that great lights in the garden of paradise, which is the lot & inheritance of the just. We know that in this world no man receiveth the reward of his righteousness, but it is laid up for him in the otherworld where he shall reap the fruit of his righteousness, that he hath sown in this world. Nether doth long life in this world profit a man to thobtaining of everlasting bliss, except he work righteousness, & lead his soul forth of darkness into light: like as contrariwise, shortness of life hindereth no man from everlasting happiness, if so be it his soul have no defect in those things that pertain to the world to come. For Abel which was slain of his brother, lived no long life: yet when he had ended it, he obtained everlasting rest. But Kain that lived long in this world, was a wanderer & a runagate in this earth, and after this life, went to perpetual misery. Now therefore, my brethren, if we also shall live any longer, our life shallbe a miserable life, and our days, days of vanity and travel: yea, our soul as long as it shall remain in this body, it shallbe tossed with great tribulation: but if it once go forth, then shall it rejoice and never be afraid. And all the days that it is in the body, it never linneth weeping and mourning, for it is the spirit of life, which is hedged in within the body, sinews, bones, and other members, none otherwise then if it were bound with chains. The spirit is also that which quickeneth the flesh, that is taken of the dust of the earth, for flesh can not quicken the spirit. Besides this, the spirit is that which observeth and marketh the flesh, and searcheth the works thereof, so long as it is in the body. Yea, the flesh can not see the spirit, but the spirit seeth the flesh always, neither is there any member of the body hid from it. The eyes also of the bod●e can not perceive what time the spirit resorteth to the flesh and departeth from the same, for the spirit of man, which is his soul, is from heaven: but the flesh is taken from the earth. Wherefore the soul may remain without the body, but not likewise the body without the soul, and when the spirit comes to the flesh, it visiteth it as a neighbour is wont to go and see his neighbour, and quickeneth it: and when again it departeth from it, the flesh dieth, and if the soul will follow the desires of the flesh, than this is the death of the soul: but if it give no ear unto the flesh, then shall the soul come to the light of life, and the flesh shall die. Wherefore the soul is glad when it departeth out of the body, like as one that hath been bound, is well paid when he is dismissed out of prison, for all the while that the soul is kept closed in the flesh, it is as it were a slave, in most hard & grievous bondage, under a hard master. Therefore when it departeth from the body, it is glad, because it must go to the garden of paradise, thus ye see that in this life the soul is compared to a bond servant & slave. Much more than this did he reason of thimmortality and blessedness of the soul before them, which we have omitted here: & when he had done that, he lamented & wept most bitterly for the case of the city of jerusalem, saying.   

Where is now the city of jerusalem, that great & populous city? where is that most beautiful city of Sion, that holy city which made merry the whole earth? Oh thou worship of Israel, the mirth of our hearts, whither is thy glory come? where is thy magnificence O jerusalem, where be the hills of the daughter of Zion? where be her kings and princes? where be the kings that were wont to come to inquire of her welfare in her gates? where are her sages and elders, her young and most vavaleaunt men, which were jocund and merry in her streets, upon her sabbaths & festival days? where is her famous sanctuary, the dwelling of th'almighty god? where is the house of Sanctum sanctorum, the habitation of holiness, wherein no man might set his foot but the high priest, which in all ages only once a year entered into it? But now, O jerusalem, thou wast once replenished with people, & renowned amongst kings, beloved of God, in thee was established the seat of the kingdom of ●ustice and judgement, whose streets were paved with most precious marble, whose walls glistered and shined with the same stone, whose gates every one were plated with gold and silver, whose walls were builded with great stones most honourably, whose priests in the mids of the sanctuary like to angels of God and princes of holiness, with sacrifices and  offerings made the lord loving to thee & thy people. How art thou now stuffed full of slain men and carcases, which have pearished some by the sword, some by famine? and how are thy sons that dwelled in thee, & the strangers also the resorted unto thee, to honour thy feasts, fallen now in thee? How art thou fallen from the height of thy pride, & how art thou set a fire and brent even unto thy foundations, and art left desolate & solitary? What eye is so hard that can behold thee? what heart so stony that can abide to see thee? How art thou become a burying place of carcases? and how are thy streets made void and destitute of living creatures, & they which heretofore were replenished with living, are now stuffed with dead. How hath the ashes of fire covered thee, that the sun can not come at thee? How do the ancient men which in times past did sit in the midst of thee, in the seat of wisdom, ivogment, and justice: now they sit by the carcases of their children, to drive away crows and beasts from them, having their hoar heads be syrinkled with dust & ashes, in stead of their glory? And those women thy daughters that are left, they remain in the houses of them that made thee desolate, not that they may live, but to be unhallowed and polluted? who shall see all these things in thee, and shall desire to live rather than to die? who knowing thy magnificence that thou hadst of late, and now shall see thine ignominy and the dishonour of the same, will not choose to die? And would God we had been dead before, the we might not have seen in thee thy reproach, or who would bring to pass the we might lack eyes, that we should not be compelled to see these mischiefs the are in the mids of thee? And behold we live a most sorrowful life, for our enemies even now afore we be dead, cast lots upon our sons & daughters to divide them amongst them to be their servants & handmaids. When Eleasar had ended this lamentation, he spoke to the people that was with him, thus.   

NOw therefore brethren & friends take pity of yourselves, your wives, & children, with old men which he with you, let them not be led into bondage with out all mercy, the they be not constrained to mourn under the hands of their enemies: for if ye do this, ye lose without all doubt, all places that are prepared for you in the world of righteousness, neither shall ye have any part in the light of life. But rather with your own hands kill them, thus if ye will do, they shallbe counted as sacrifices most accdptable unto God, and that done, we will after issue out upon our enemies, and fight against them till we use valeantly for the glory of the lord, for we will never suffer them to bind us with bonds and cheins as bond slaves in the hands of the uncircumcised. Nether will we see our ancient men to be haled by the beards before our eyes most miserably, nor yet our maids, wives, and daughters to be unhallowed and deflowered, nor our sons crying to us and we can not help them, for what shall our life avail us, after that our land is desolate, our sanctuary pulled down, the Romans ravish our wives & daughters before our eyes, and oppress our sons with a most grievous and hard yoke? Now therefore it is better for us to kill all our wives and children, whose blood God shall accept thankfully as the blood of  offerings, & after▪ we will issue out upon the Romans, fight till we be all destroyed, & die for the glory of the Lord our God. These men therefore went and gathered together their wives and daughters, embraced 〈◊〉 and kissed them, saying: is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini & shame into the lands of your enemies, and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles? These sayings when the people had beard: they drove forth that night in great sorrow and pensiveness, weeping and making great lamentation, but they all confessed with one accord that they had rather choose to die then live. Therefore assoon as it was day▪ Eleasars' companions killed their wines and children, cast their bodies into the ●esterns and wells that were in Mezirah, covering and stepving them with earth. Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his men, and forced a battle upon the Romans, of when the jews killed a great fort, and fought so long till they all died manfully for the Lord God.   

BUt Titus left a remnant of Israel in the city jafnah and the villages thereabout, and in the estye Bitter, and Aossa & their villages, in which place Rabban jochanan son of Sakkai was appointed chief. Bonian the priest younger brother to joseph the Priest, was put in authority by Titus for joseph's sake, over all the jews which were at jerusalem. At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to ●●ath▪ and Ischmael, son of Elischa the 〈◊〉 priest. Moreover, Titus was minded to ha●● put Rabban Gamaliel, father of Ra●chbag to death, but Rabban jochanan; son of Sakkai, made suit for him, and obtained to save his life. This Rabban jochanan was he that came forth of jerusalem in the beginning when Vespasian father of Titus came first against jerusalem, whom Vespasian honoured greatly, in so much as when he returned to Rome, he commended this Rabban jochanan to his son Titus, comaunding him to honour him, for he perceived he was a very wise man. Titus reigned two years after he had taken jerusalem and died. He was a very eloquent man, expert in the Latin and Greek tongue, & writ divers works in both the tongues. He loved most entirely justice and equity, for he wasted the city of jerusalem against his will, & being compelled thereunto. Yea, all the mischief that came upon it, happened through the malice and noughtiness of the seditious, as we have touched before. And thus far of the wars of the second house.  
¶ Thus endeth the destruction of jerusalem. Nn. two.    

❧ The ten Captivities of the jews.  
i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captivity, four times by the hands of Sanherib: and four times by Nabuchadnezar, once by Vespasian, and once by superstitious Adrian. First invaded them Sanherib, 
●●ennache ●●b.  and traunsposed the Rubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasse. He took away also the golden calf which jeroboam the son of Nebat had made. He led them into Halah, Habur, to the flood of Gozan, and to the cities of the Medes. This captivity was in the time of Pekah, the son of Remaha.  
two. The second Captivity. Hoscha the son of Ela remained, and slew Pekah the son of Remalia. afterward he became the servant and subject of Sanherib seven years. Then came Sanherib the second time, and carried away the tribes of A●ar, Isachar, Zebulon, and Naphtali: of whom he let go free only one of every eight. He t●ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel.  
iii. After the death of Ahaz, reigned Hiz kiahu his son in his steed four years: 
Hezekia.  the fourth year of whose rain, Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria, besieging it iii years, and at length roke it in the, vi. year of the reign of Hiskijahu. So led he away the Israelites that were in Samaria, the tribe of Ephraim, and Manasse. This is the iii captivity.  
iiii. When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii. years, 
Sanheri● peradventure.  he made wars against jerusalem, bringing with him the Chuteans heretics out of Babylon, E. thiopia, Hemates, Auim, and Sepharuavim, and as he warred upon judea, he took in that country a. C and l. cities, in the which there were ii tribes, juda and Simeon, whom he took with him, & caused them forthwith to be led into Halah & Habur, until the king of the Ethiopians rebelled against him, whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of Egypt. Then taking juda & Simeon with him, he made war with the king of Ethiopia. So the holy and blessed God placed them in dark mountains. Here was four captivities, whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib. There remained yet of juda. Cx. thousand, and of Benjamin. Cxxx. thousand in jerusalem, over whom reigned Hizkiahu. Moreover, Sanherib came out of Ethiopia against jerusalem the fift time, leading with him. Cx. thousand: but the holy Lord overthrew him there, as it is written: And the angel of the Lord issuing forth, smote in the host of Assur. Clxxxu. thousand men. His people therefore was slain, and no man left but Sanherib and his two sons, and Nabuchadnezar, and Nebusaradan. This slaughter was in the fourteenth year of Hizkiahu from which overthrow, until the time that Nabuchadnezar invaded the jews in the reign of jehoiakim, were. Cvii. years. 
v.   
The four year of jehoiakim came Nabuchadnezar the first time, and carried away three thousand and xxiii of the tribes of juda and Benjamin. and of other tribes seven thousand, all the able men, and all their power binding them with chains. This is the v. captivity.  
Seven years after this captivity came Nabuchadnezar an other time, 
vi.  unto Dophna a City of Antioch, from whence he led four thousand and six hundredth of the tribe of juda: and of Benjamin fifty thousand: of the other tribes, seven. M. This transmigration made he into Babylon, which is the vi captivity.  
Furthermore, 
seven.  betwixt the sixth bondage and the seventh, were xi years of the reign of Zidkiahu. 
Zedekia.  When Nabuchadnezar had reigned nintene years he came the third time unto jerusalem, and overcoming Zidkiahu he brent the temple, & took away the pillars, the brazen sea, & the furnitures that Solomon made, and all the vessels also of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the house of the king which was in jerusalem: all the vessel he sent to Babylon. He slew also of the Israelites ix C. M. and one, besides them that were slain because of the blood of Zacharias. The Levites stood singing a song whiles slaughter was made of them, but they were not able to finish it before the enemies entered the temple, and found them standing in their place, with harps in their hands. Therefore he carried away in this captivity the levites which were of the seed of Moses. vi. C. M. whom when the gentiles had brought unto the rivers of Babylon, they demanded of the jews: Sing us a song of Zion. And by and by they gnawed of the tops of their fingers with their tethe, saying: How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? And the blessed Lord seeing that they would not sing a song, he loosed them and placed them on the further side of Sambatia. Moreover, he translated and carried away viii hundred and xxxii thousand, which were all borne of juda and Benjamin. Whereof he lest in jerusalem vi. M. setting over them for their ruler Gedalia the son of Ahikam: who was slain after by Ishmael the son of Netania: whereupon the Israelites being afraid, fled their country into Egipte. This is the seventh transmigration and bondage.  
The xxvii year of the reign of Nabuchadnezer, he took Egypt and Tire: 
viii.  drowned the jews that were therein, which descended of Amon and Moab, and of the land bordering upon Israel, until they led jeremy and Baruch with them into Egipte. This is the eight captivity. Then the Israelites that remained on live in Egypt, departed unto Alexandria and remained in it until they grew and increased unto many thousands: and who so saw not their glory, saw no glory in his time. For there was in it the sanctuary, the altar, the offerings, incenses, the ordinance of bread, of faces, the houses of studies, & schools without number, men of great substance, riches, and power. But wicked Trogianus made war upon them and slew veri many of them. After came Alexander against them, who slew also many of them. These are the eight captivities or bondages which befell in the first house, and time of the first temple.  
After the desolation of the first house lxx. years, 
ix.  Cyrus the son of Hester sent unto Nehemia, Zerobabel, Baruch, and his whole society, and they builded the second house. Then after four years of the reign of Cyrus, after the house was destroyed, Ezra went from Babylon with forty thousand in his company, and the Israelites were afflicted and vexed under Cyrus, for the space of xxxiii years. Then came Alexander the king of Macedonia and flew Cyrus, & when he had reigned xii. years, he died. After him came four usurpers which afflicted the Israelites clxviii years. But after that the sons of Hasmonai came, they slew those usurpers, and taking the dominion from them, reigned themselves ciii years. Then reigned one Herode the servant of Hasmonai, who killed his masters, and their whole family, save one maid whom he loved. But she climbing up to the top of an house, said: There is no body left alive of my father's house but I alone: so she cast herself headlong from the top of the House, and died. Herode did lay her in honey, and preserved her for the space of seven year. There were that said he had carnal copulation with her after she was dead. Herode, and Agrippa's his son, and Monabaz his Nephew held the kingdom a hundred and three years. So hast thou four hundredth and three years of the second house. Then came Vespasian Caesar and Titus his wives son, and waisted the second house, carrying away Israel unto Rome. This is the ninth traunsmigration. Moreover, one Bitter remained after the desolation and wasting of the Temple fifty and two years.  
After that Adrianus who used superstition with bones made war upon them, 
〈◊〉  and traunsposed Israel from their country when he had spoiled it, conveying them into Spain. This is the tenth captivity. This Adrian vanquished the jews (which rebelled the second time against the Romans) with a final and utter destruction, 
Haymo.  forbidding and not suffering them in any wise to enter into Jerusalem, which he had begun to fortify with very strong walls, & caused it to be called Helia, 
Historia utriusque testamenti.  after his name. He caused also a Sow to be graven over the chief gate of she city, & the jews under her feet carved also in stone, in token of their subjection.   
FINIS.   

❧ Imprinted at London by john day for Richard jug, dwelling at the north do●e of Paul's, at the sign of the Bible.  
¶ Come priuile●●● a●● imprimendum 〈…〉.