'time Paul and Peter were condemned to death. The former was beheaded, Peter was crucified.

So writes Sulpicius. It is not unlikely that he had read Tacitus. However, I think it ought also to be supposed that he had other memoirs besides.

Sulpicius says that Nero was at Antium when the fire began. The same thing is observed by Tacitus, who also says, that Nero did not come to Rome till the fire had approached his own palace, which at length, with every thing near it, was consumed.

IV. It is not needful for me to translate or transcribe all that Tacitus says of the Jewish people, of whose original he was ignorant, and writes very absurdly, and therefore is called by Tertullian a great liar. Nor need I translate exactly his history of the Jewish war. I observe however these following particulars.

u

He says, that Judea was first brought into subjection to the Romans by Pompey. After which he gives a summary account of their affairs under Herod and his sons, the emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero. He mentions Felix, whom he represents as a bad man, and tyrannical in his government. However, the Jews,' he says, "bore the exactions of their governors, till the time of their procurator Gessius Florus, under whom the war began. Cestius Gallus, president of Syria, came to his assistance: but he being defeated, Nero sent Vespasian into Judea, who was a general of great merit and reputation, and having also under him good officers, in the space of two years,' meaning the years 67 and 68,' he reduced the open country, and all the cities of Judea, excepting Jerusalem. The next year,' 69,' was taken up in civil wars ;' meaning the time of the short reigns of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, till the acces

¶ Eo in tempore Nero Antii agens, non ante in Urbem regressus est, quam domui ejus, quâ Palatium et Mæcenatis hortos continuaverat, ignis propinquaret. Neque tamen sisti potuit, quin et Palatium et domus et cuncta circum haurirentur. Tacit. Ann. 1. 15. cap. 39. r Tacit. Hist. 1. v. cap. 2.

s Cornelius Tacitus, sane ille mendaciorum loquacissimus. Apol. c. 16. p. 17. A. Romanorum primus Cn. Pompeius Judæos domuit, templumque jure victoriæ ingressus est. H. 1. v. cap. 9.

Claudius, defunctis regibus, aut ad modicum reductis, Judæam provinciam equitibus Romanis aut libertis permisit, e quibus Antonius Felix, per omnem sævitiam ac libidinem, jus regium servili ingenio exercuitDuravit tamen patientia Judæis, usque ad Gessium Florum procuratorem. Sub eo bellum ortum, et comprimere cœptantem Cestium Gallum Syriæ legatum, varia prælia ac sæpius adversa excepere. Qui ubi fato aut tædio occidit, missu Neronis, Vespasianus fortunâ famâque et egregiis ministris intra duas æstates, cuncta camporum, omnesque præter Hierosolyma urbes, victore exercitu tenebat. Proximus annus, civili bello intentus, quantum ad Judæos per otium

sion of Vespasian. The following year, [and the beginning of it,] Titus was appointed to attend the affairs of Judea; who now drew near to Jerusalem and besieged it. Tacitus supposeth that Titus was in haste to go to Rome to enjoy the pleasures and splendour of the city. He therefore carried on the siege with the greatest vigour. The army likewise was intent upon plunder, and eager to gratify their revenge. The city however was strong by situation, and with good walls and ramparts: the high tower Antonia, conspicuous from far. The temple itself was like a citadel well fortified. They had a fountain of water that ran continually, and the mountains were hollowed under ground. Moreover they had pools and cisterns for preserving rain water. And there was a great confluence of people. For the men of the other cities that had been reduced, and in general all the turbulent and seditious people of the nation, came hither. There were three captains,' or heads of factions, and as many armies, Simon, John, called also Bargioras, and Eleazer, who occupied several parts of the city. Among themselves they had fierce contentions, and therein great quantities of provisions were consumed. Eleazer being killed, they were reduced to two factions. These fought with each other till the near approach of the Romans obliged

transiit. Pace per Italiam partâ, et externæ curæ rediere. Augebat iras, quod soli Judæi non cessissent. Simul manere apud exercitus Titum ad omnes principatûs novi eventus casusve utilius videbatur. [Ejusdem anni principio Cæsar Titus perdomandæ Judææ delectus a patre. Lib. v. cap. i. in.] Igitur castris, uti diximus, ante moenia Hierosolymorum positis, instructas legiones ostentavit. Judæi sub ipsos muros struxere aciem- Mox cessere hostes,

et sequentibus diebus crebra pro portis proelia ferebant, donec assiduis damnis intra moenia pellerentur. Romani ad oppugnandum versi. Neque enim dignum videbatur, famem hostium opperiri: poscebantque pericula, pars virtute, multi ferociâ, et cupidine præmiorum. Ipsi Tito Roma, et opes, voluptatesque ante oculos: ac, ni statim Hierosolyma conciderent, morari videbantur. Sed urbem, arduam situ, opera molesque firmaverant, quîs vel plana satis munirentur. Nam duos colles immensum editos claudebant muri per artem obliqui, aut introrsus sinuati. [Conf. 1. 2. cap. 4.]- -Alia intus monia, regiæ circumjecta. Conspicuoque fastigio turris Antonia, in honorem M. Antonii ab Herode appellata. Templum in modum arcis propriique muri, labore et opere ante alios. Ipsæ porticus, quis templum ambiebatur, egregium propugnaculum. Fons perennis aquæ, cavati sub terrâ montes, et piscinæ cisternæque servandis imbribus- -magnâ colluvi, et cæterarum urbium clade aucti. Nam pervicacissimus quisque illuc perfugerat, eoque seditiosius agebant. Tres duces, totidem exercitus. Extrema et latissima monium Simon; mediam urbem Joannes, quem et Bargioram vocabant; templum Eleazarus firmaverat. Multitudine et armis Joannes ac Simon, Eleazarus loco pollebat. Sed prælia, dolus, incendia, inter ipsos, et magna vis frumenti ambusta. Mox Joannes, missis per speciem sacrificandi, qui Eleazarum manumque ejus obtruncarent, templo potitur. Ita in duas factiones civitas discessit, donec, propinquantibus Romanis, bellum externum concordiam

them to agreement. There were many prodigies foresignifying their ruin, which were not to be averted by all the sacrifices and vows of that people, superstitious in their own way of worship, though different from all others. Armies were seen fighting in the air with brandished weapons. A fire fell upon the temple from the clouds. The doors of the temple were suddenly opened. At the same time there was a loud voice declaring that the gods were removing: which was accompanied with the sound as of a multitude going out. All which things were supposed by some to portend great calamities. But the most had a strong persuasion that it was said in the ancient writings of the priests,' that is, ancient writings in the custody of the priests, that at that very time the East should prevail, and that some who came from Judea should obtain the empire of the world. Which ambiguities foretold Vespasian and Titus. But the common people, according to the usual influence of human passions, having once appropriated to themselves this vast grandeur of the fates, could not be brought to understand the true meaning by all their adversities. We have been assured, that the number of the besieged amounted to six hundred thousand. And more bore arms than could have been expected from that number. For great was the resolution of all, both men and women. Against this city and people was Titus sent. As the city could not be taken by assault, different posts were assigned to the several legions. Battering engines of all kinds were prepared and all the methods hitherto practised in sieges by the ancients, as well as new inventions, were employed on this occasion.'

So writes Tacitus, who could and might have been more particular in his history of the Jewish war in the several

pareret. Evenerant prodigia, quæ neque hostiis, neque votis piare fas habet gens superstitioni obnoxia, religionibus adversa. Visæ per cœlum concurrere acies, rutilantia arma, et subito nubium igne collucere templum. Expassæ repente delubri fores, et audita major humanâ vox, Excedere deos :' simul ingens motus excedentum. Quæ pauci in metum trahebant: pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret Oriens, profectique Judæâ rerum potirentur. Quæ ambages Vespasianum ac Titum prædixerant. Sed vulgus, more humanæ cupidinis sibi tantam fatorum magnitudinem interpretati, ne adversis quidem ad vera mutabantur. Multitudinem obsessorum, omnis ætatis, virilis ac muliebris sexûs, sexcenta millia fuisse accepimus. Arma cunctis, qui ferre possent; et plures quam pro numero audebant. Obstinatio viris feminisque par. Ac si transferre sedes cogerentur, major vitæ metus quam mortis. Hanc adversus urbem gentemque Cæsar Titus, quando impetum et subita belli locus abnueret, aggeribus vineisque certare statuit. Dividuntur legionibus muria, et quies prœliorum fuit: donec cuncta expugnandis urbibus reperta apud veteres, aut novis ingeniis, struerentur. Tacit. Hist. 1. v. cap. 9-13.

parts of that country, and likewise of the siege of Jerusalem. But his dislike of the subject, as it seems, and his love of brevity, have made him very concise.

However, it is not unlikely that in the next book, which, with all the following books of that work, is lost, there was an account of the triumph of Vespasian and Titus at Rome in the following year. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose, that there were also some more particulars concerning the event of the siege of Jerusalem: but what they were we cannot now say.

It is also worth our while to observe, that in this fifth book of his history, from which the preceding article has been taken, at his entrance upon his account of the war, he says, 'he was going to relate the final end of the renowned city of Jerusalem.'

V

W

He likewise takes notice that Jerusalem was the capital city of Judea, and that the temple there had in it immense riches.'

Nor should we omit to observe, that in the first chapter of this book he has reckoned up the forces with which Vespasian was furnished for carrying on this war, and not very disagreeably to Josephus: For he mentions the three legions quartered in Judea, the twelfth brought in from Syria, and other legions from Alexandria, beside the armies of the Roman allies, the kings Agrippa, Sohemus, and Antiochus, and a large body of Arabians, always averse to the Jews, and some volunteers of distinction even from Rome and Italy, who were willing to serve under Titus, a general of such renown and expectation, desirous to signalize their valour before him, and thereby to recommend themselves to his favour.'

And though we do not find in Tacitus every thing that we might wish for, certainly what we have in his remaining works is a very valuable testimony to the accomplishment ▾ Sed quia famosæ urbis supremum diem tradituri sumus, &c. Histor. 1. 5. c. 2. in. * Magna pars Judææ vicis dispergitur. Habent et oppida. Hierosolyma genti caput: Illic immensæ opulentiæ templum. &c. Ibid. c. 8.

X

W

Ejusdem anni principio, Cæsar Titus perdomandæ Judææ delectus a patre- Tres enim in Judæâ legiones, quinta et decima, et quintadecima, vetus Vepasiani miles, excepere. Tradidit et Syria duodecimam, et adductos Alexandriâ duo et vicesimanos tertianosque. Comitabantur viginti sociæ cohortes, octo equitum alæ. Simul Agrippa Sohemusque reges, et auxilia regis Antiochi, validaque et solito inter accolas odio infensa Judæis Arabum manus. Multi, quos Urbe atque Italiâ suâ quemque spes acciverat occupandi principem adhuc vacuum. His cum copiis fines hostium ingressus, composito agmine, cuncta explorans, paratusque decernere, haud procul Hierosolymis castra facit. Tacit. Hist. 1. 5. cap. i.

of our Lord's predictions concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the overthrow of the Jewish people.

He must have read Josephus; many things are evidently taken from him: however he differs from him sometimes. It is somewhat strange that he should not compute a greater number within Jerusalem at the time of the siege than six hundred thousand. How shall we account for this? I answer, that perhaps Tacitus had met with some other accounts of the Jewish war beside that of Josephus. And I am apt to think it not unreasonable to believe, that Tacitus never read Josephus with so much care and diligence as we christians have since read him. Moreover, six hundred thousand may be a certain number, used for an uncertain, denoting, that the city was then very full of people, and not intending to say there were no more.

CHAP. VI.

MARTIAL.

1. His time and writings. II. His testimony to the fortitude of christians.

I. MARTIAL,a or M. Valerius Martialis, author of fourteen books of epigrams, was born at Bilbilis in Spain, in the reign of Claudius. He is supposed to have come to Rome in the reign of Nero, when he was about twenty years of age, and to have lived there thirty years, beloved by the emperors, especially Domitian, after whose death he retired into his own country. As he lived long enough to write some epigrams in commendation of Nerva and Trajan, I have placed him so low as the last year of the first century, and © the third of Trajan. He was intimate with Juvenal, and well acquainted with Pliny the younger. Martial was poor. When he left Rome, Pliny made him a handsome present; a Vid. Voss. de Poet. Lat. Tillemont, H. E. Domitien. art. 23.

b Vid. L. 12. Epigr. v.-ix. L. xi. 4, 5. x. 34.

C

-Domitiani, Nervæ, et Trajani, tempora ingenio suo illustravit. Senex autem, Urbe relictâ, patriam suam repetens, in illà obiit sub eodem Trajano. Fabric. Bib. Lat. 1. 2. c. 20. De M. V. Martiali.

Audio, Valerium Martialem decessisse. Et moleste fero. Erat homo ingeniosus, acutus, acer, et qui plurimum in scribendo et salis haberet, et