I was not in like manner afraid of my own writing, but I offered
my books to the emperors themselves, when the facts were almost
under men's eyes; for I was conscious to myself, that I had
observed the truth of the facts; and as I expected to have their
attestation to them, so I was not deceived in such expectation.
Moreover, I immediately presented my history to many other
persons, some of whom were concerned in the war, as was king
Agrippa and some of his kindred. Now the emperor Titus was so
desirous that the knowledge of these affairs should be taken from
these books alone, that he subscribed his own hand to them, and
ordered that they should be published; and for king Agrippa, he
wrote me sixty-two letters, and attested to the truth of what I
had therein delivered; two of which letters I have here
subjoined, and thou mayst thereby know their contents: - "King
Agrippa to Josephus, however, when thou comest to me, I will
inform thee of a great many things which thou dost not know." So
when this history was perfected, Agrippa, neither by way of
flattery, which was not agreeable to him, nor by way of irony, as
thou wilt say, (for he was entirely a stranger to such an evil
disposition of mind,) but he wrote this by way of attestation to
what was true, as all that read histories may do. And so much
shall be said concerning Justus (24) which I am obliged to add by
way of digression.

66. Now, when I had settled the affairs of Tiberias, and had
assembled my friends as a sanhedrim, I consulted what I should do
as to John. Whereupon it appeared to be the opinion of all the
Galileans, that I should arm them all, and march against John,
and punish him as the author of all the disorders that had
happened. Yet was not I pleased with their determination; as