“Coming home, then, from school I found the soldiers of Philip the Phrygian in the house, Philip himself being there. They had set forth a table in the court of the house, whereon they had placed abominable flesh. My uncles were standing bound, guarded by soldiers, and with them was my grandmother. Then said the Governor, Philip, to the eldest of the seven, whose name was Judah, ‘Pleasure me, my friend, by eating this excellent meat; ’tis of the most savoury, believe me.’ My uncle Judah answered, ‘I cannot obey thee in this matter, for it is forbidden by the Law.’ Philip said, ‘Maybe he lacks an appetite. Give him that which shall sharpen his taste.’ Thereupon the executioner stepped forth with his lash, and gave him ten stripes. ‘Dost feel hungry now?’ said the Governor. ‘I had sooner starve,’ said Judah, ‘than eat the abominable thing.’ ‘Nay,’ cried the Governor, ‘miscall not the good things which are provided for you at the charge of thy lord the King.’ Then he said to the executioner, ‘This fellow uses not his tongue for any good purpose, but only to rail against my lord. Cut it out, therefore.’ So they cut the tongue out of my uncle’s mouth; and after that they cut off his hands and his feet. And afterwards, he being yet alive, they put him in a pan and burnt him over the fire. Then the Governor said to the second in age, whose name was Eleazar, ‘Ah! friend, like you this better than the swine’s flesh? You may have your choice, if you will.’ But he answered nothing. Then they tortured him most cruelly till he died. And so they did to all, one after the other. What they did I cannot bear to tell; nor, indeed, do I know the whole truth, for when three had perished in this manner I fainted for the horror of the thing; nor did I come to myself till the sixth was ready to suffer. Him I heard say these words to the Governor—‘Be not deceived, or think that our God has abandoned us. He has given us over to your hand because we have offended against Him; nor do we suffer beyond what we have deserved. But as we have not escaped the punishment of our sins, so neither will you, but will perish miserably!’ After this he did not speak another word; nay, nor give a sign of pain, but stood steadfast and unmoved.