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surprise them; for, whenever they march into an enemy's country, they do not begin to fight till they have walled in their camp and levelled their ground.

Their camp is made four square by measure; that which is within is set apart for tents, but the outward circumference resembles a wall, and is adorned with towers at equal distances, between which are placed the engines for throwing arrows, and darts, and slinging stones. They also erect four gates, one on every side, large enough for the entrance of beasts of burden, and for making excursions against the enemy. The camp is divided into streets, with the tents of the commanders in the middle; and in the centre of all, is pitched the general's own tent, in the nature of a temple, so that it appears to be a city built on a sudden, with its market-place-its place for handicraft tradės, and seats for the superior and inferior officers, where, if any differences arise, causes are heard and decided.

When they have thus secured themselves, they live together by companies, with quietness and decency. Each company have their wood and

their corn brought to them, and they sup and dine together. Their times also for sleep, and watching, and rising, are notified by the sound of trumpets; nor is any thing done without similar signals. In the morning, the soldiers go to their centurions, and the centurions to their tribunes to salute them, with whom all the superior officers go to the general, who then gives them the watchword and other orders, to be carried to those under their command.

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When they go out to war, a person stands at the general's right hand, and asks them three times if they are ready? to which they reply with a loud and cheerful voice, We are ready.' And this they do almost before the question is asked, as if filled with a kind of martial fury, lifting up their right hand towards heaven.

With this superb army, Vespasian and Titus proceeded to besiege, and succeeded in taking all the cities in Galilee; but not before it had cost the Romans incredible labour, and the Jews the loss of innumerable lives, besides six thousand youths sent at one time as slaves to the emperor Nero, at Rome.

CHAP. III.

STATE OF PARTIES IN JERUSALEM,

"Robbers, and zealots, and wild Edomites!
"Yea, these are they that sit in Moses' seat,

"Wield Joshua s sword, and fill the throne of David,"

Milman.

Now, at the surrender of Gischala, which was among one of the last cities of Galilee that was taken, John, who commanded there, and who had escaped by a stratagem by which he had deceived Titus, fled and took refuge in Jerusalem. Upon his entry into that city, the whole body of the people were in a tumult, and thousands crowded about John and the fugitives who accompanied him, to enquire what had happened abroad. But the fugitives talked big under their misfortunes, and pretended to say that they had

not fled from the Romans, but came to Jerusalem in order to fight them there with less hazard.

John, who may be characterized as a man of great subtilty, who had no regard for truth, asserted that the affairs of the Romans were in a weak condition, and extolled his own power. By these harangues he corrupted a number of the young men, and puffed them up for war; but among those in years, there was not a man who did not foresee the danger that was approaching, and lamented it as much as if the city were already ruined.

There was not only discord and sedition in the city, but the multitudes that came out of the country, flying for refuge from the other cities and villages to Jerusalem, were at variance among themselves. There was, in short, civil wars in every city; and those that were at peace with the Romans, were fighting among themselves. There were also bitter contests among the men who were fond of war, and those that were for peace. At first, these quarrels began among private families-then among friends, and even those that were dearest to each

other broke through all restraints, associated only with men holding their own opinions, and began to stand in opposition one to another; so that seditions arose in every quarter, the young and inexperienced that were for war, by their youth and boldness, were too strong for those who, being aged and prudent, were more pacific. While all, and in every place, betook themselves to rapine; and it seemed to be even a lighter thing to be ruined by the Romans, than to become a prey to each other.

The Roman garrisons that guarded the cities, did nothing for the relief of their miserable multitudes, till the captains of the various troops of robbers being satiated with plunder and rapine in the country, assembled together from every quarter, and becoming a band of wickedness, crept into Jerusalem, which was now become a city without a governor; and according to ancient custom, received into its bosom, without distinction, all who belonged to the nation, because it imagined that they came out of kindness, and to its assistInstead of which, they were one cause of the city's destruction; not only proving a useless

ance.

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