A certain woman named Mary, dwelling beyond Jordan, 1the daughter of Eleazar of the town of Vitezokia, which signifieth the house of Hyssop, descended of noble and rich parentage, flying with the rest unto Jerusalem, was ⟨p. 167⟩there with them besieged. Her other goods the tyrants had taken from her, which she had brought from beyond the river into the City, and whatsoever being hid, escaped their hands, the thieves daily came into her house, and took it away, whereat the woman greatly moved, cursed them, and with hard speeches animated them the more against her, yet no man either for anger or compassion would kill her, but suffered her to live to get them meat, but now could she get no more, and famine invaded her with rage and anger more then danger. Wherefore by rage and necessity she was compelled to do that which nature abhorred, and taking her son unto whom she then gave suck, O miserable child (quoth she) in war, famine, and sedition, for which of these shall I keep thee? If thou continue amongst the Romans, thou shalt be made a slave, yet famine will prevent bondage; or else sedition worse then them both. Be therefore meat for me, a terror unto the seditious, a tragical story to be spoken of by posterity, and that which is only yet heard of amongst the calamities of the Jews. Having thus spoken, she slue her son, and did seeth the one half of him, and did eat it, the rest she reserved covered. Presently came the seditious, smelling the sent of that execrable meat, threatening presently to kill her, except she forthwith brought some of that unto them which she had prepared. Then she answered that she had reserved a good portion thereof for them, and presently uncovered that part of her son which she had left uneaten; at which sight they trembled, and a horror fell upon them. But the woman said, this is truly my son, and my doing, eat you of it, for I my self have eaten thereof. Be not more effeminate then a woman, nor more merciful then a mother. If Religion make you refuse this my sacrifice, I have already eaten of it, and will eat the rest. Then the seditious departed, hereat only trembling, and scarcely permitting this meat to the mother. Presently the report of this heinous crime was bruited all about the City, and every man having before his eyes this execrable fact, trembled as though himself ⟨p. 168⟩had done it.
A certaine woman named Mary, dwelling beyond Iordane, 1the daughter of Eleazar of the towne of Vitezokia, which signifieth the house of Hysope, descended of noble and rich parentage, flying with the rest unto Ierusalem, was ⟨p. 167⟩there with them besieged. Her other goods the tyrants had taken from her, which she had brought from beyond the river into the City, and whatsoever being hid, escaped their hands, the theeves daily came into her house, and tooke it away, whereat the woman greatly moved, cursed them, and with hard speeches animated them the more against her, yet no man either for anger or compassion would kill her, but suffered her to live to get them meate, but now could she get no more, and famine invaded her with rage and anger more then danger. Wherefore by rage and necessity she was compelled to do that which nature abhorred, and taking her sonne unto whom she then gave sucke, O miserable child (quoth she) in warre, famine, and sedition, for which of these shall I keepe thee? If thou continue amongst the Romans, thou shalt be made a slave, yet famine will prevent bondage; or else sedition worse then them both. Be therefore meate for me, a terrour unto the seditious, a tragicall story to be spoken of by posterity, and that which is onely yet heard of amongst the calamities of the Iewes. Having thus spoken, she slue her sonne, and did seeth the one halfe of him, and did eate it, the rest she reserved covered. Presently came the seditious, smelling the sent of that execrable meat, threatning presently to kill her, except she forthwith brought some of that unto them which she had prepared. Then she answered that she had reserved a good portion thereof for them, and presently uncovered that part of her sonne which she had left uneaten; at which sight they trembled, and a horrour fell upon them. But the woman said, this is truly my sonne, and my doing, eat you of it, for I my selfe have eaten thereof. Be not more effeminate then a woman, nor more mercifull then a mother. If Religion make you refuse this my sacrifice, I have already eaten of it, and will eate the rest. Then the seditious departed, hereat onely trembling, and scarcely permitting this meate to the mother. Presently the report of this hainous crime was bruited all about the City, and every man having before his eyes this excerable fact, trembled as though himselfe ⟨p. 168⟩had done it.
- 1A mother kills and eats her own child.A mother kils and eates her owne child.
