e
not behaved myself with all decency, and after a virtuous manner, among
them. And I further conjure you, O Galileans! to hide no part of the
truth, but to speak before these men as before judges, whether I have in
any thing acted otherwise than well."

50. While I was thus speaking, the united voices of all the people
joined together, and called me their benefactor and savior, and attested
to my former behavior, and exhorted me to continue so to do hereafter;
and they all said, upon their oaths, that their wives had been preserved
free from injuries, and that no one had ever been aggrieved by me. After
this, I read to the Galileans two of those epistles which had been sent
by Jonathan and his colleagues, and which those whom I had appointed to
guard the road had taken, and sent to me. These were full of reproaches,
and of lies, as if I had acted more like a tyrant than a governor
against them, with many other things besides therein contained, which
were no better indeed than impudent falsities. I also informed the
multitude how I came by these letters, and that those who carried them
delivered them up voluntarily; for I was not willing that my enemies
should know any thing of the guards I had set, lest they should be
afraid, and leave off writing hereafter.

51. When the multitude heard these things, they were greatly provoked
at Jonathan, and his colleagues that were with him, and were going to
attack them, and kill them; and this they had certainly done, unless
I had restrained the anger of the Galileans, and said, that "I forgave
Jonathan and his colleagues what was past, if they would repent, and go
to their own country, and tell those who sent them the truth, as to
my conduct." When I had said this, I let them go, although I knew they
would do nothing of what they had promised. But the multitude were very
much enraged against them, and entreated me to give them leave to punish
them for their insolence; yet did I try all methods to persuade them to
spare the men; for I knew that every instance of sedition was pernicious
to the public welfare. But the multitude was too angry with them to
be dissuaded, and all of them went immediately to the house in which
Jonathan and his colleagues abode. However, when I perceived that
their rage could not be restrained, I got on horseback, and ordered the
multitude to follow me to the village Sogane, which was twenty furlongs
off Gabara; and by using this stratagem, I so managed