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destitute of virtue； that when they set about any wicked
undertakings； they fall to work according to their own
inclinations； as if they believed that God was unconcerned in
human affairs； but when once they are found out； and are in
danger of undergoing the punishment due to their crimes； they
endeavor to overthrow all the evidence against them by appealing
to God； which was the very thing which Antipater now did； for
whereas he had done everything as if there were no God in the
world； when he was on all sides distressed by justice； and when
he had no other advantage to expect from any legal proofs； by
which he might disprove the accusations laid against him； he
impudently abused the majesty of God； and ascribed it to his
power that he had been preserved hitherto； and produced before
them all what difficulties he had ever undergone in his bold
acting for his father's preservation。
7。 So when Varus； upon asking Antipater what he had to say for
himself； found that he had nothing to say besides his appeal to
God； and saw that there was no end of that； he bid them bring the
potion before the court； that he might see what virtue still
remained in it； and when it was brought； and one that was
condemned to die had drank it by Varus's command； he died
presently。 Then Varus got up； and departed out of the court； and
went away the day following to Antioch； where his usual residence
was； because that was the palace of the Syrians； upon which Herod
laid his son in bonds。 But what were Varus's discourses to Herod
was not known to the generality； and upon what words it was that
he went away； though it was also generally supposed that
whatsoever Herod did afterward about his son was done with his
approbation。 But when Herod had bound his son； he sent letters to
Rome to Caesar about him； and such messengers withal as should；
by word of mouth； inform Caesar of Antipater's wickedness。 Now at
this very time there was seized a letter of Antiphilus； written
to Antipater out of Egypt （for he lived there）； and when it was
opened by the king； it was found to contain what follows： 〃I have
sent thee Acme's letter； and hazarded my own life； for thou
knowest that I am in danger from two families； if I be
discovered。 I wish thee good success in thy affair。〃 These were
the contents of this letter； but the king made inquiry about the
other letter also； for it did not appear； and Antiphilus's slave；
who brought that letter which had been read； denied that he had
received the other。 But while the king was in doubt about it； one
of Herod's friends seeing a seam upon the inner coat of the
slave； and a doubling of the cloth； （for he had two coats on；） he
guessed that the letter might be within that doubling； which
accordingly proved to be true。 So they took out the letter； and
its contents were these： 〃Acme to Antipater。 I have written such
a letter to thy father as thou desiredst me。 I have also taken a
copy and sent it； as if it came from Salome； to my lady ＇Livia＇；
which； when thou readest； I know that Herod Will punish Salome；
as plotting against him？' Now this pretended letter of Salome to
her lady was composed by Antipater； in the name of Salome； as to
its meaning； but in the words of Acme。 The letter was this： 〃Acme
to king Herod。 I have done my endeavor that nothing that is done
against thee should be concealed from thee。 So； upon my finding a
letter of Salome written to my lady against thee； I have written
out a copy； and sent it to thee； with hazard to myself； but for
thy advantage。 The reason why she wrote it was this； that she had
a mind to be married to Sylleus。 Do thou therefore tear this
letter in pieces； that I may not come into danger of my life。〃
Now Acme had written to Antipater himself； and informed him；
that； in compliance with his command； she had both herself
written to Herod； as if Salome had laid a sudden plot entirely
against him； and had herself sent a copy of an epistle； as coming
from Salome to her lady。 Now Acme was a Jew by birth； and a
servant to Julia； Caesar's wife； and did this out of her
friendship for Antipater； as having been corrupted by him with a
large present of money； to assist in his pernicious designs
against his father and his aunt。
8。 Hereupon Herod was so amazed at the prodigious wickedness of
Antipater； that he was ready to have ordered him to be slain
immediately； as a turbulent person in the most important
concerns； and as one that had laid a plot not only against
himself； but against his sister also； and even corrupted Caesar's
own domestics。 Salome also provoked him to it； beating her
breast； and bidding him kill her； if he could produce any
credible testimony that she had acted in that manner。 Herod also
sent for his son； and asked him about this matter； and bid him
contradict if he could； and not suppress any thing he had to say
for himself； and when he had not one word to say； he asked him；
since he was every way caught in his villainy； that he would make
no further delay； but discover his associates in these his wicked
designs。 So he laid all upon Antiphilus； but discovered nobody
else。 Hereupon Herod was in such great grief； that he was ready
to send his son to Rome to Caesar； there to give an account of
these his wicked contrivances。 But he soon became afraid； lest he
might there； by the assistance of his friends； escape the danger
he was in； so he kept him bound as before； and sent more
ambassadors and letters ＇to Rome＇ to accuse his son； and an
account of what assistance Acme had given him in his wicked
designs； with copies of the epistles before mentioned。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning The Disease That Herod Fell Into And The Sedition
Which The Jews Raised Thereupon； With The Punishment Of The
Seditious。
1。 Now Herod's ambassadors made haste to Rome； but sent； as
instructed beforehand； what answers they were to make to the
questions put to them。 They also carried the epistles with them。
But Herod now fell into a distemper； and made his will； and
bequeathed his kingdom to ＇Antipas＇； his youngest son； and this
out of that hatred to Archclaus and Philip； which the calumnies
of Antipater had raised against them。 He also bequeathed 。a
thousand talents to Caesar； and five hundred to Julia； Caesar's
wife； to Caesar's children； and friends and freed…men。 He also
distributed among his sons and their sons his money； his
revenues； and his lands。 He also made Salome his sister very
rich； because she had continued faithful to him in all his
circumstances； and was never so rash as to do him any harm； and
as he despaired of recovering； for he was about the seventieth
year of his age； he grew fierce； and indulged the bitterest anger
upon all occasions； the cause whereof was this； that he thought
himself despised； and that the nation was pleased with his
misfortunes； besides which； he resented a sedition which some of
the lower sort of men excited against him； the occasion of which
was as follows。
2。 There was one Judas； the son of Saripheus； and Mattbias； the
son of Margalothus； two of the most eloquent men among the Jews；
and the most celebrated interpreters of the Jewish laws； and men
well beloved b