Page:Jerusalem's captivities lamented, or, A plain description of Jerusalem (1).pdf/20

20 ruined themſelves, by quitting thoſe holds of their own accord, that could never have been taken but by famine; and this after the Jews had ſpent ſo much time to no purpoſe upon other places of leſs value. By theſe means, the Romans became maſters of three impregnable forts by fortune, that could never have been taken any other way: For the three famous towers before mentioned were proof againſt all battery.

Upon Simon and John's quiitingquitting [sic] theſe towers; or rather, upon their being driven out of them, by the impulſe of judicial infatuation, they haſtened away to the vale of Siloa, where they took breath a while, and after ſome recollection, and refreſhment, they gave an aſſault to the new wall there: But ſo faint and weak, that the guard beat them off: for between fatigue, deſponpencydeſpondency [sic], dread, and miſery, their ſtrength failed them, and they were then ſcattered ſeveral ways in ſinks and gutters.

The ſoldiers were now broken looſe all over the town, up and down in the ſtreets, with their ſwords drawn; killing all that fell in their way without diſtinction; and burning intire houſes, and whatever was in them, in one common flame. In ſeveral places where they entered to ſearch for pillage, they found whole families dead, and houſes crammed with hunger-ſtarved carcaſes: So that upon the horror of ſo hidious a ſpectacle, they