CHAPTER The third, the force of women: build: if he command to cut downe, they cut downe; if he command to plant, they plant. So all his people and his armies obey him; furthermore he lieth downe, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest. And these keepe (watch) round about him, neither may any one depart, and doe his owne businesse, neither disobey they him in any thing. O yee men, how should not the King be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? and he held his tongue. Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth (this was Zorobabel) beganne to speake. O yee men, it is not the great King, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them, are they not women? Women have borne the King and all the people, that beare rule by sea and land. Even of them came they and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards from whence the wine commeth. These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men, and without women cannot men be. Yea and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, doe they not love a woman, which is comely in favour and beautie? And letting all those things goe, doe they not gape, and even with open mouth fixe their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire unto her, then unto silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever? A man leaveth his owne father that brought him up, and his owne countrie, and cleaveth unto his wife. He stickes not to spend his life with his wife, and remembreth neither father, nor mother, nor countrey. By this also you must know, that women have dominion over you : doe yee not labour and toyle, and give and bring all to the woman? Yea a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob, and to steale, to saile upon the sea, and upon rivers, and looketh upon a lyon, and goeth in the darknesse, and when he hath stolen, spoiled and robbed, he bringeth it to his love. Wherefore a man loveth his wife better then father and mother. Yea many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes: many also have perished, have erred, and sinned for women. And now doe yee not believe me? is not the King great in his power? doe not all regions feare to touch him? Yet did I see him and Apame the Kings concubine, the daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the King, and taking the crowne from the Kings head, and setting it upon her owne head; she also strooke the King with her left hand. And yet for all this, the King gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth if she laughed upon him, hee laughed also: but if she CHAPTER tooke any displeasure at him, the King was faine to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him againe. O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they doe thus? Then and of Trueth. the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speake of the trueth. O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the Sunne in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course againe to his owne place in one day. Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger then all things. All the earth calleth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it, all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked workes, and there is no trueth in them. In their unrighteousnes also they shall perish. As for the trueth it endureth, and is alwayes strong, it liveth and conquereth for evermore. With her there is no accepting of persons, or rewards, but she doeth the things that are iust, and refraineth from all uniust and wicked things, and all men doe well like of her workes. Neither in her iudgement is any unrighteousnesse, and she is the strength, kingdome, power and maiestie of all ages. Blessed be the God of trueth. And with that he held his peace, and al the The third is people then shouted and said, Great is trueth, and mightie above judged to be all things. Then saide the king unto him, Aske what thou wilt, more then is appointed in the writing, and we wil give it thee, because thou art found wisest, and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt bee called my cousin. Then said hee unto the king, Remember thy vow which thou hast vowed to build Ierusalem in the day when thou camest to the kingdome, and to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Ierusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when hee vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them againe thither. Thou also hast vowed to build up the Temple, which the Edomites burnt when Iudea was made desolate by the Chaldees. And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberalitie proceeding from thy selfe: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance wherof with thine owne mouth thou hast vowed to the king of heaven. Then Darius the king stood and obtaineth up and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers Letters of the King to build and lieutenants, and captaines and governours that they should Ierusalem. safely convey on their way, both him, and all those that go up with him to build Ierusalem. Hee wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Coelosyria and Phenice, and unto them wisest, CHAPTER in Libanus, that they should bring Cedar wood from Libanus unto Ierusalem, and that they should build the city with him. Moreover he wrote for all the lewes that went out of his realme up into lurie, concerning their freedome, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their dores, and that all the countrey which they hold, should be free without tribute, and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the lewes which then they held, yea that there should be yeerely given twentie talents to the building of the Temple, untill the time that it were built, and other tenne talents yeerely, to maintaine the burnt offerings upon the Altar every day (as they had a commandement to offer seventeene). And that all they that went from Babylon to build the citie, should have free liberty as well they as their posteritie, and all the priests that went away. He wrote also concerning the charges, and the priests vestments wherein they minister and likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them, untill the day that the house were finished, and Ierusalem builded up. And he commanded to give to all that kept the city, pensions and wages. He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon that Cyrus had set apart, and all that Cyrus had given in commandement, the same charged hee also to be done, and sent unto Ierusalem. Now when this yong man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Ierusalem, brethren what and praised the king of heaven, and said, From thee commeth victory, from thee commeth wisedom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant. Blessed art thou who hast given me wisedom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers. And so he tooke the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren. And they praised the God of their fathers: because he had given them freedome and libertie to goe up, and to build Ierusalem, and the Temple which is called by his Name, and they feasted with instruments of musick, and gladnes seven dayes. He praiseth God, and sheweth his he had done. A CHAPTER V FTER this were the principall men of the families chosen according to their tribes, to go up with their wives, and sonnes, and daughters, with their men-servants and maidservants, and their cattel. And Darius sent with them a thousand horsmen, til they had brought them backe to Ierusalem safely, and with musicall [instruments,] tabrets and flutes: and all their brethren played, and hee made them goe up together with them. And these are the names of the men which went up, according to CHAPTER V their families, amongst their tribes, after their severall heads. The Priestes the sonnes of Phinees, the sonne of Aaron: Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, the sonne of Saraias, and Ioachim the sonne of The names and Zorobabel, the sonne of Salathiel of the house of David, out of the number of the Iewes that rekindred of Phares, of the tribe of Iuda; who spake wise sentences turned home. before Darius the king of Persia, in the second yeere of his reigne, in the moneth Nisan, which is the first moneth. And these are they of Iewrie that came up from the captivitie, where they dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon: and they returned unto Ierusalem, and to the other parts of Iurie every man to his owne city, who came with Zorobabel, with Iesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias, Enenius, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana their guides. The number of them of the nation, and their governours: sonnes of Phoros two thousand an hundred seventie and two: the sonnes of Saphat foure hundred seventie and two; the sonnes of Ares seven hundred fiftie and sixe: the sonnes of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve: the sonnes of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and foure the sonnes of Zathui, nine hundred fourtie and five: the sonnes of Corbe seven hundred and five: the sonnes of Bani, sixe hundred fourtie and eight: the sonnes of Bebai, sixe hundred twentie and three: the sonnes of Sadas, three thousand two hundred twentie and two: the sonnes of Adonican, sixe hundred sixtie and seven: the sonnes of Bagoi, two thousand sixtie and sixe: the sonnes of Adin, foure hundred fiftie and foure: the sonnes of Aterezias, ninetie and two: the sonnes of Ceilan and Azetas, threescore and seven the sonnes of Azuran, foure hundred thirtie and two. The sonnes of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sonnes of Arom thirtie two, and the sonnes of Bassa, three hundred twentie and three: the sonnes of Azephurith, an hundred and two: the sonnes of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sonnes of Bethlomon, an hundred twentie and three. They of Netophah fiftie and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred fiftie and eight: they of Bethsamos, fourtie and two: they of Kiriathiarius, twentie and five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred fourtie and three: they of Pyra, seven hundred: they of Chadias and Ammidioi, foure hundred twenty and two: they of Cyrama, and Gabdes, sixe hundred twentie and one: they of Macalon, an hundred twentie and two: they of Betolius fiftie and two: the sonnes of Nephis, an hundred fiftie and sixe. The sonnes of Calamolalus, and Onus, seven hundred twentie and five: the sonnes of Ierechus, two hundred fourtie and five: the sonnes of Annaas, three thousand : CHAPTER three hundred and thirtie: the Priests, the sonnes of Ieddu, the sonne of Iesus, among the sonnes of Sanasib, nine hundred seventie and two the sonnes of Meruth, a thousand fiftie and two: the sonnes of Phassaron, a thousand fourtie and seven: the sonnes of Carme a thousand and seventeene. The Levites: the sonnes of Iessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, seventie and foure. The holy singers: the sonnes of Asaph an hundred twentie and eight. The porters: the sonnes of Salum, the sonnes of Iatal, the sonnes of Talmon, the sonnes of Dacobi, the sonnes of Teta, the sonnes of Sami, in all an hundred thirty and nine. The servants of the Temple: the sonnes of Esau, the sonnes of Asipha, the sonnes of Tabaoth, the sonnes of Ceras: the sonnes of Sud, the sonnes of Phaleas, the sonnes of Labana, the sonnes of Graba: the sonnes of Acua, the sonnes of Uta, the sonnes of Cetab, the sons of Agaba, the sonnes of Subai, the sonnes of Anan, the sonnes of Cathua, the sonnes of Geddur: the sonnes of Airus, the sonnes of Daisan, the sonnes of Noeba, the sonnes of Chaseba, the sonnes of Gazera, the sonnes of Azia, the sonnes of Phinees, the sonnes of Azara, the sonnes of Bastai, the sonnes of Asana, the sonnes of Meani, the sonnes of Naphisi, the sonnes of Acub, the sons of Asipha, the sonnes of Assur, the sonnes of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth. The sonnes of Meeda: the sons of Coutha, the sonnes of Charea, the sonnes of Chareus, the sonnes of Aserer, the sonnes of Thomoi, the sonnes of Nasith, the sons of Atipha. The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sonnes of Azaphion, the sonnes of Pharira, the sonnes of Ioeli, the sonnes of Lozon, the sonnes of Isdael, the sonnes of Sapheth: the sonnes of Hagia, the sons of Phacareth, the sonnes of Sabie, the sonnes of Sarothie, the sonnes of Masias, the sonnes of Gar, the sons of Addus, the sonnes of Suba, the sonnes of Apherra, the sonnes of Barodis, the sonnes of Sabat, the sonnes of Allom. All the ministers of the Temple, and the sonnes of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred seventy and two. These came up from Thermeleth, and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading them and Aalar. Neither could they shewe their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the sonnes of Ladan, the sonnes of Ban, the sonnes of Necodan, sixe hundred fiftie and two. And of the Priests that usurped the office of the Priesthood, and were not found, the sonnes of Obdia: the sonnes of Accoz, the sonnes of Addus, who married Augia one of the daughters of Berzelus, and was named after his name. And when the description of the kinred of these men was sought in the Register, and was not found, they were remooved from executing the office of the Priesthood. For unto them said Nehemias, |