1 Maccabees 8

8And Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were valiant men, and that they were friendly disposed towards all who attached themselves to them, and that they offered friendship to as many as came unto them, and that they were valiant men. And they told him about their wars and exploits which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute; and ⁽they told him also of⁽ what things they had done in the land of Spain, how they had acquired the mines of silver and gold there; and how that by their policy and persistence they had conquered the whole land ⁽and the land was exceeding far from them⁽; also ⁽they told⁽ of the kings that had come against them from the uttermost part of the earth, until they had discomfited them, and smitten them very sore; and how the rest had given them tribute year by year. Furthermore, ⁽they told⁽ of how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of Chittim, and them that lifted themselves up against them, and had conquered them; Antiochus also, the great king of Asia, who had come against them to battle, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with cavalry, and chariots, and an exceeding great host,—he had also been discomfited by them, and they had taken him alive, and had appointed that both he and such as reigned after him should give them a great tribute and should give hostages, and a ‘tract’ ⁽of land⁽, ⁽namely⁽ the country of India, and Media, and Lydia, and of the goodliest of their countries; and how they had taken them from him, and had given them to king Eumenes. Also ⁽they told of⁽ how they of Greece had purposed to come and destroy them, and the thing had become known to them, and they had sent against them a captain, and had fought against them, and many of them had fallen, wounded to death; and ⁽of how⁽ they had made captive their wives and their children, and had spoiled them and conquered their land, and had pulled down their strongholds, and had brought them into bondage unto this day. And ⁽they told of⁽ how they had destroyed the residue of the kingdoms and of the isles, as many as had risen up against them, and had made them their servants; but that with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity; and ⁽of⁽ how they had conquered the kingdoms that were nigh and those that were far off, and that all who heard of their fame were afraid of them. Moreover ⁽they told⁽ that whomsoever they will to succour and to make kings, become kings; and that whomsoever they will, do they depose; and they are exalted exceedingly; and that for all this none of them did ever put on a diadem, neither did they clothe themselves with purple, to be magnified thereby.⁽They told⁽ also how they had made for themselves a senate house, and how day by day three hundred and twenty men sat in council, consulting alway for the people, to the end that they might be well ordered; and how they committed their government to one man year by year, that he should be over them, and be lord over all their country; and that all are obedient to this one, and that there is neither envy nor emulation among them.

And Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them and that they should take the yoke from them, when they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks did keep Israel in bondage. And they went to Rome, and the way was exceeding long; and they entered into the Senate house, and answeredand said: ‘Judas, who is also ⁽called⁽ Maccabaeus, and his brethren, and the whole people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered ⁽as⁽ your confederates and friends.’ And the thing was well-pleasing in their sight. And this is the copy of the writing which they wrote back again on tablets of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of peace and confederacy:

‘Good success be to the Romans, and to the nation of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever; the sword also and the enemy be far from them. But if war arise for Rome first, or for any of their confederates in all their dominion, the nation of the Jews shall help them as confederates as the occasion shall prescribe to them, with all their heart; and unto them that make war they ⁽i.e. the Jews⁽ shall not give, neither supply, food, arms, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto Rome; and they ⁽i.e. the Jews⁽ shall observe their obligations, receiving nothing ⁽in the way of a bribe⁽. In the same manner, moreover, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them as confederates with all their soul, as the occasion shall prescribe to them; and to them that are confederates there shall not be given corn, arms, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto Rome; and they shall observe these obligations, and that without deceit.’ According to these words have the Romans made ⁽a treaty⁽ with the people of the Jews. But if hereafter the one party or the other shall determine to add or to diminish anything, they shall do it at their pleasure, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be established. And as touching the evils which king Demetrius doeth unto you, we have written to him saying: ‘Wherefore hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends ⁽and⁽ confederates the Jews? If, therefore, they plead any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight thee by sea and by land.’