he hath [in
effect] deprived Caesar of that power of disposing of the kingdom, which
he justly hath, and hath not abstained from making a terrible slaughter
of his fellow citizens in the temple, while he was but a private person.

6. So when Antipater had made this speech, and had confirmed what he had
said by producing many witnesses from among Archelaus's own relations,
he made an end of his pleading. Upon which Nicolaus arose up to plead
for Archelaus, and said, "That what had been done at the temple was
rather to be attributed to the mind of those that had been killed, than
to the authority of Archelaus; for that those who were the authors of
such things are not only wicked in the injuries they do of themselves,
but in forcing sober persons to avenge themselves upon them. Now it
is evident that what these did in way of opposition was done under
pretense, indeed, against Archelaus, but in reality against Caesar
himself, for they, after an injurious manner, attacked and slew those
who were sent by Archelaus, and who came only to put a stop to their
doings. They had no regard, either to God or to the festival, whom
Antipater yet is not ashamed to patronize, whether it be out of his
indulgence of an enmity to Archelaus, or out of his hatred of virtue
and justice. For as to those who begin such tumults, and first set about
such unrighteous actions, they are the men who force those that punish
them to betake themselves to arms even against their will. So that
Antipater in effect ascribes the rest of what was done to all those who
were of counsel to the accusers; for nothing which is here accused of
injustice has been done but what was derived from them as its authors;
nor are those things evil in themselves, but so represented only in
order to do harm to Archelaus. Such is these men's inclination to do an
injury to a man that is of their kindred, their father's benefactor, and
familiarity acquainted with them, and that hath ever lived in friendship
with them; for that, as to this testament, it was made by the king when
he was of a sound mind, and so ought to be of more authority than his
former testament; and that for this reason, because Caesar is therein
left to be the judge and disposer of all therein contained; and for
Caesar, he will not, to be sure, at all imitate the unjust proceedings
of those men, who, during Herod's whole life, had on all occasions been
joint partakers of power with him, and yet do zealously ende