From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

Chapter 31
Antipater Is Convicted by Bathyllus
1. After these things were over, Bathyllus came under examination, in
order to convict Antipater, who proved the concluding attestation to
Antipater's designs; for indeed he was no other than his freed-man. This man
came, and brought another deadly potion, the poison of asps, and the juices
of other serpents, that if the first potion did not do the business, Pheroras and
his wife might be armed with this also to destroy the king. He brought also
an addition to Antipater's insolent attempt against his father, which was the
letters which he wrote against his brethren, Archelaus and Philip, which were
the king's sons, and educated at Rome, being yet youths, but of generous
dispositions. Antipater set himself to get rid of these as soon as he could, that
they might not be prejudicial to his hopes; and to that end he forged letters
against them in the name of his friends at Rome. Some of these he corrupted
by bribes to write how they grossly reproached their father, and did openly
bewail Alexander and Aristobulus, and were uneasy at their being recalled;
for their father had already sent for them, which was the very thing that
troubled Antipater.
2. Nay, indeed, while Antipater was in Judea, and before he was upon
his journey to Rome, he gave money to have the like letters against them sent
from Rome, and then came to his father, who as yet had no suspicion of him,
and apologized for his brethren, and alleged on their behalf that some of the
things contained in those letters were false, and others of them were only
youthful errors. Yet at the same time that he expended a great deal of his
money, by making presents to such as wrote against his brethren, did he aim
to bring his accounts into confusion, by buying costly garments, and carpets
of various contextures, with silver and gold cups, and a great many more
curious things, that so, among the view great expenses laid out upon such
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