Daughter She delivered the Castle into Pompey's hands and besides offered him rich and goodly presents all which he refused saving such as might serve to adorn the Temples of the Gods and that might beautifie his Triumph leaving the rest to Stratonice to dispose of as she pleased The King also of the Iberians sent him a Bedstead Table and Chair all of pure Gold praying him to accept it as a token of his love he delivered them into the Treasurers hands to be accountable for them to the State From hence Pompey went to the City of Amisus where he did such things as he had before condemned in Lucullus taking upon him to establish Laws to give Gifts and to distribute such honours as Victorious Generals used to do when they had ended all their Wars And this he did to gratifie twelve Barbarous Kings and Princes and Captains that came to him thither Writing also to the King of Parthia he gave him not that Title which others used to do who stiled him King of Kings He had also a wonderful desire to win Syria and to pass through Arabia even to the Red Sea that he might enlarge his Victories every way even to the Great Ocean As he did when he conquered Lybia and in Spain had enlarged the Roman Empire to the Atlantick Sea and in pursuit of the Albanians he went almost to the Hyrcanian Sea As he passed on towards the Red Sea he commanded his Souldiers with a sufficient number of Ships to wait for the Merchants that sailed to Bosphorus and to seize upon the Victuals and other Merchandize that they carried thither and so passing on with the greatest part of his Army he came to the place where he found the Bodies of the Romans that were slain by Methridates under their Captain Trierius which he caused to be honourably buried which thing Lucullus had neglected to do which made his Souldiers hate him Pompey having now by Afranius conquered the Albanians dwelling about Mount Amanus he marched into Syria and conquered it making it a Roman Province He conquered also all Judaea where he took King Aristobulus He built certain Cities there and delivered others from bondage sharply punishing the Tyrants in them He also spent much of his time there in deciding controversies and in pacifying the contentions which fell out betwixt free Cities Princes and Kings And truly if Pompey's fame and renown was great so was his Vertue Justice and Liberality which covered many faults which his familiar Friends about him did commit For he was of such a gentle nature that he could neither keep them from offending nor punish them when they had offended Whilst Pompey was in Judaea being angry with Aristobulus he marched against him Hyrcanus the Brother of Aristobulus who contended with him for the Kingdom provoking him thereunto Pompey understanding that Aristobulus was fled into Alexandrion a strong and stately Castle seated upon a high Hill he sent and summoned him to come unto him and Aristobulus being advised not to make War against the Romans he came to Pompey and after he had debated his Title to the Kingdom with his Brother Hyrcanus by Pompey's permission he retired into the Castle again This he did two or three times always flattering Pompey out of hope to prevail in his suit Yet Pompey required that he should deliver up his Castles into his hands which he was fain to do though he was much discontentedat it and therefore he went to Jerusalem with a purpose to prepare for War Pompey not thinking it fit to give him any time for preparation followed him immediately and first encamped at Jericho where were most excellent Dates and Balsom the most precious of all other Ointments and from thence he marched towards Jerusalem Aristobulus repenting what he had done came and met him promising him mony and that he would yield up both himself and the City in a peacable way Pompey pardoned him and sent Gabinius with a party of Souldiers to receive the mony Yet were they faign to return without it for Aristobulus's Souldiers would not stand to what he had promised Pompey being much provoked hereby committed Aristobulus into custody and presently marched against Jerusalem The Citizens being at this time divided amongst themselves they that stood for Hyrcanus were willing to open the Gates to Pompey But the faction of Aristobulus refused and prepared for War becausey Pompey kept their King Prisoner and accordingly they seized upon the Temple and cut down the Bridg which led into the City Hyrcanus and his Friends let in the Army and delivered over to them both the City and the Kings Pallace the custody of both which Pompey committed to Piso who fortified the Houses and buildings that were neer the Temple first offering to the Besieged conditions of Peace and when they refused he prepared to give a General assault being assisted by Hyrcanus with all things needful On the North side of the City Pompey encamped which was the easiest to be assaulted yet were there high Towers and a deep Ditch made with hands besides a deep Valley which begirt the Temple and towards the City the place was very steep when the Bridg was taken away To overcome these difficulties the Romans raised Mounts cutting down Trees round about and filling up the Trench with materials which the Souldies brought This work proved very difficult considering the vast depth of the Trench and the resistance of the Jews made from above But when Pompey observed that the Jews rested every seventh Day for though they would defend themselves from an assailing Enemy yet they held it unlawful on that day to hinder any work that the Enemy did he chose those Days especially wherein to carry on his work So that in time the Trench was filled and the Tower fitted upon the Mount and the Engins planted which shot huge Stones wherewith they battered the Temple yet was it long before those strong and stately Towers yielded to the assaults of the Besiegers The Romans being much tired Pompey wondered at the obstinacy of the Jews especially considering that all this while they never intermitted their daily Sacrifices which the Priests every Morning and Evening offered upon the Altar not omitting the same in their greatest extremities In the third month of the Siege the greatest Tower being shaken by the battering Rams at last fell and brake down a great piece of the Wall at which breach many of the Romans rushed into the Temple These running up and down while some of the Jews sought to hide themselves and others made small resistance slew them all Many of the Priests though they saw the Enemies rushing in with their drawn Swords yet being nothing at all dismaied continued their Sacrifices and were slain at the very Altar preferring the duty which they owed to their Religion before their own lives All places were full of slaughters Some of the Jews were slain by
hearing of his coming and fearing the issue besought the Sultan to compassionate their condition and to withdraw himself into Lybia whither Tamerlane could not follow him by reason of the barrenness of the Countrey Resolving for their parts to submit to Fortune and to do as the time required yet promising in heart to remain his and to make the same to appear to him so soon as occasion should be offered Hereupon the Sultan seeing all things desperate determined to retire yet hoping that time might bring a change for that Tamerlanes numerous Army could not long remain there And so departing out of Alexandria with Tears standing in his eyes he often said that God was angry with him and his People so that he must of necessity suffer the fatal Overthrow of his Estate yet for his own part he had done as much as in him lay according the Duty of his Place and to satisfie the expectation that the World had of him for the upholding of the same Notwithstanding he hoped to return again and to deliver his People from that bondage which for the present they were necessitated to submitto Tamerlane coming to Alexandria before yielded to Axalla stayed there a great while sending Axalla to pursue the Sultan being much grieved that he could not get him into his hands and therefore he still feared that some Innovation would be raised by him after his departure which made him to deal the more hardly with them whom he suspected to favour him Now the bruit of these Victories having with Axalla passed into Lybia brought such a fear not only upon the Countries adjoyning to these Conquests but also upon all Africa supposing that Tamerlane followed with the rest of his Army that twenty two of the Moorish Kings sent their Ambassadours to offer their subjection and obedience to him Oâ— the nearest of which Kings Tamerlane took Hostages but for such as were more remote he contented himself with their faith given and with other Testimonies of their good wills Axalla having long followed the Sultan who like a man forsaken of Fortune still fled before him seeing all his labour lost returned to Alexandria And Tamerlane after his long travel and pains taken was now more desirous than ever to return into his own Countrey The rather being moved thereunto by the earnest request of his Wife much longing for his return He had news also of the sickness of the old Emperour of Tartary his Father in Law and besides Age it self began to bring unto him a desire of rest With his did the desires of the Souldiers well agree who were now weary of running so many and divers Adventures His only stay was that he expected the coming of Calibes an old and faithful servant of his whom for his good desert he made choice of to govern all these his new Conquests in Egypt and Syria A great honour indeed it was but not too great for him that had so well deserved And indeed Tamerlane was alwayes so mindful of the good deserts of his faithful servant that he needed not by others to be put in remembrance of them were they never so far off as now was Calibes who at this time was with a third part of the Army making way for him along the River Euphrates for the Conquest of Mesopotamia and Persia whose coming was longed for with great devotion by the whole Army which was now very desirous to return but this expectation of theirs was not long delayed for Calibes being sent for came speedily to Alexandria where the whole Army was by Tamerlane's command now rendezvouzed Upon the coming of Calibes Tamerlane made the Prince of Zamalzan man of great reputation Governour of that place as Lieutenant General under Calibes whom Tamerlane as was said before had made his Vice-Roy over all Egypt and Syria together with the Countries newly conquered in Lybia and Barbary He gave him also six thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot to assist him therein And so leaving Alexandria he took Calibes along with him to the great City of Caire there taking the best order he could for the securing of his new Conquests He left with him forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot And having sufficiently instructed him how he would have those Kingdoms governed dismissed him not like a servant but a companion being very sorry to leave him destitute of his presence So setting forwards with his Army conducted by the Prince of Thanais Tamerlane with a few of his Train turned again aside to Jerusalem where he daily visited the Sepulchre of Christ whom he called the God of the Christians viewing the ruines of Solomon's Temple which he much admired and at Jerusalem the Seat of David's Kingdom and that of great Solomon grieving that he could not see them in their former beauty And to shew his Devotion and favour to this City he commanded it to be free from all Garrisons and Subsidies and so giving great gifts to the Monasteries he departed from thence to Damasco which great City for that it was infected with the Opinions of Jezides accounted an Arch-Heretick among the Mussulmen as also evil-affected to his Proceedings he caused it to be razed and the bones of Jezides the False Prophet to be digged up and burnt and his Sepulchre which before by his Disciples was much honoured to be filled with dung and so marching on and blasting the World before him being victorious which way soever he turned he at last passed over the River Euphrates where he conquered Mesopotamia with the great City of Babylon and all the Kingdom of Persia and so at last laden with the spoiles of the World and eternized for ever in his Fame he returned to Samercand the famous place of his Birth and Glorious Seat of his Empire Now had Bajazet a little before one of the greatest Princes on earth and now the Scorn of Fortune and by-word to the World with great impatiency lain two years in most miserable thraldom for the most part shut up in an iron Cage like a dangerous wild beast and having no better means to end his loathed life violently dashed out his brains against the bars of the iron Grate wherein he was enclosed and so died about the year of our Lord 1399. His dead body at the request of his Son Mahomet was by Tamerlane sent to Asprapolis from which it was conveyed to Prusa and there lieth buried in a Chappel built for the purpose without the City Eastward where also are interred the bodies of his best beloved Wife Despina and of his eldest son Erthogrul and in another little Chappel hard by lieth buried his brother Jacup whom he had murdered in the beginning of his Reign This Bajazet had some Vertues which were much obscured by his cholerick and wayward nature which made him to exceed in cruelty and Pride He was also very covetous which qualities made him indeed much feared but little beloved of
and Baruch to accompany them they went into Egypt and by the permission of Pharaoh they dwelt in Taphnes where when Ieremy often reproved them for their Idolatry foretelling the destruction of themselves and the Egyptians he was by these his own hard-hearted and ingrateful Country-men stoned to death and by the Egyptians who greatly reverenced him buried near the Sepulchre of their Kings Ier. 42. and 43. The nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzars Reign it was when destroying utterly the great and mighty City of Ierusalem he exceedingly enriched himself with the spoils of it and the Temple and by that dreadful Example terrified all those that should dare to resist him From that time forward he to his three and twentieth year laboured in the Conquest of those adjoyning Countries which God had exposed unto his Sword and commanded to wear his Yoke namely the Edomites Moabites Ammonites Tyrians Sidonians and Egyptians though some of these were already become his followers and served under him when Ierusalem was taken and burnt But the Tyrians whose City was built upon an Island and therefore secure from the invasion of any Land-Army and whose Fleet was so strong that they needed not to fear any enemy at Sea were neither daunted with the fall of their neighbour City nor with the obstinate resolution of this mighty King imploying all his wit and power to work their subversion That the City of Tyre was rather well-pleased than any way discouraged with the destruction of Ierusalem it appeareth by the Words which Ezekiel condemneth as the common voice of Tyrus Ezek. 26. 2. Aha! the Gate of the People is broken it is turned unto me For seeing she is desolate I shall be replenished Yet at length that great work before mentioned began to appear above Water and so to threaten them with inevitable mischief Nebuchadnezzar still follows his work hard notwithstanding all discouragements and in the thirteenth year of the Siege and the nineteenth of his Reign he had brought it to such perfection that now the Citizens despaired of holding out against him whereupon all the chiefest of them imbarked themselves their Families and Treasures in their Fleet and escaped to the Isle of Cyprus but the poorer sort were left to the fury of the enemy who being inraged for being put to so much pains slew with the Sword not only such people of Type as dwelt on the Continent who are called her Daughters in the Field but the like execution was done in the streets into which with excessive labour the Chaldeans made way for his Horses and Chariots Thus Nebuchadnezzar made his Army serve a great service against Tyrus wherein every head was made bald and every shoulder was made bare yet had he no wages nor his Army Ezek. 20. 18. but was fain to rest contented with the Honour of having destroyed that City which in all mens Judgments had been held invincible The destruction of these two Great and powerful Cities having made the name of the Chaldeans dreadful in the ears of all the Nations round about Nebuchadnezzar used this advantage of that reputation which he had obtained by his victories already gotten to the getting of more and more profitable with less pains The Kingdom of Egypt was the mark which he chiefly aimed at A Country so abounding in Riches and pleasures that it might well have tempted any Prince finding himself strong enough to pick occasion of quarrel against it Besides it was so far an enemy to the Crown of Babylon that had it been far poorer yet it must have been subdued or the Conquest of Syria could not have been secured Yet was it needful that before he entred upon this business the Countries adjacent should be reduced into such tearms that either they should wholly stand at his devotion or at least be able not to work him any displeasure And herein the Decree of God concurred as in all prosperous enterprises with reason of State For the people of Moab Ammon Edom Damascus Kedar Hazor and other adjoyning Regions whom God for their sins had condemned to fall under the Babylonian Yoke were such as regarding only their own gain had some of them like Ravens followed the Chaldean Army to feed upon the carcasses that fell by the cruelty thereof Others taking advantage of their Neighbours miseries occupied the Countries which by his Victories belonged to Nebuchadnezzar all of them thinking that when the Babylonian had satisfied his fury he would be forced to forsake those desolated Countries and leave the possession of them to those who could first seize upon them Particularly the Edomites and Philistines had shewed much malice against the Iews when their City was taken Ezek. 25. 12 15. Whether they had done any good service to the Chaldeans it appears not if they did any its like to have been in reference to their own advantage wherein yet they were deceived The Ammonites were not contented to rejoyce only at the fall of Jerusalem but presently they entred upon the Country of God and took possession of it as if not the Chaldeans but they had subdued Israel Ezek. 25. 3. Jer. 49. 1. Neither can it be imagined what other design Baalis King of the Ammonites had when he sent Ismael a Prince of the Blood of Judah to murther Gedalia whom the King of Babel had made Governour over those that remained in Israel and to carry Captive into the Ammonites Country the People that abode in Mizpah than a desire of entangling Nebuchadnezzar with so many labours at once as should force him to retire into his own Country and abandon those wasted Lands to himself and others for whom they lay conveniently Such or the like Policy the Moabites also did exercise whose Pride and Wrath were made frustrate by God and their dissimulation condemned as not doing aright Ver. 40. 14. 41. 2. 10. 28 27 c All these Nations had the Art of ravening which is familiar to such as either live in or that border upon Desarts and now the time ministred occasion to them to shew the uttermost cunning of their Thievish wits But Nebuchadnezzar made void all their devices by sharp and sudden War upon them overwhelming them with unexpected ruin as it were in one night according to the Prophesies of Isay Jeremy and Ezekiel who all foretold with little difference of Words the greatness and swiftness of the misery that should come upon them It appears not with which of them he first began but it seems that Moab was the last that felt his heavy hand For so many interpret that Prophesie of Isay threatning Moab with destruction after three years as having reference to the third year following the destruction of Jerusalem the next year after it being spent in the Egyptian expedition This is evident that all the principal Towns in these Countries were burnt and the people either slain or made captives few excepted who saved themselves by flight and had
with a Dart with such force as breaking the Wood he left the Iron Head sticking in his Body Having received this deadly wound he fell immediately to the ground But then was there a more cruel fight about him than ever there was before which occasioned great Slaughter on both sides till the Thebans by fine force made their enemies to flie for their lives and when they had pursued them a while they returned back to their Camp that they might keep the dead Bodies in their Power which was a certain Sign that the Victory was theirs and then they sounded a retreat and so the Battel ended Both sides challenged the Victory and made Triumphs for it The Lacedemonians did it because the Athenians had slain those of Negropont that were sent to seize upon the Hills before mentioned and kept their bodies in their power The Thebans on the other side having overcome the Spartans had the bodies of them that were slain in the Battel in their power which was by far the greater number wherefore they said that they were the Victors Thus both standing upon their tearms it was a good while before either would send a Trumpet or Herauld to the other for leave to bury their dead Yet at last the Lacedemonians sent first and then they all betook themselves to give the dead an Honourable Burial And as for him that had killed Epaminondas he was highly esteemed and honoured for his Valiant Act and the Lacedemonians gave him many rich Presents and made him and his Posterity free from all publick Taxes and contributions in the Common-wealth As for Epaminondas he was brought yet alive into his Tent howbeit his Physitians and Surgeons being called together to dress his Wounds they all concluded that so soon as they plucked the Head of the Dart out of his body he must needs die And truly he made a most noble and worthy end For first he called for his Target-bearer who was always at his hand in the Battel and asked him Is my Target safe He brought it straight Then he asked Who had the Victory The Boeotians answered the Target-bearer Then he commanded them to bring to him Diophantus and Jolidas they told him they were both dead Upon this he advised his Citizens to make Peace with their enemies for that they had not any Captain of skill to lead them to the Wars And now said he it is time for me to die and therefore pluck the Dart Head out of my Body At this word all his Friends that were about him fetched grievous sighs and even cryed out for sorrow and one of them weeping said unto him Alas Epaminondas Thou diest now and leavest no Children behind thee Yea said he that I do For I leave two fair Daughters behind me whereof the one is the Victory at Leuctres and the other this of Mantinea So they pulled out the Dart and immediately he gave up the Ghost without shewing any sign that he was at all troubled at it He used often to say That War is the Bed of Honour and that it is a sweet Death to dye for ones Country He was one of the bravest Captains that ever we read of For whereas others excelled in some one or two Virtues by which they made their Fame great and glorious he excelled in all the Vertues and good Parts that could be desired in a Grave Politick and great Captain to make him compleat in all things that could be expected in an Heathen In his time he advanced his Country to the Principality of all Greece But after his Death they soon lost it and not long after Alexander the Great utterly brake them in pieces made Slaves of those that survived and razed their City to the very ground As in his life time he had always detested covetousness so after his Death the Thebans were faign to bury him at the common charge of the City because they found no mony in his House to defray the least part of the Funeral expences THE WICKED LIFE AND WOFUL DEATH OF HEROD the GREAT In whose time Our LORD CHRIST was Born HEROD sirnamed the Great was the Son of Antipas or Antipater an Idumaean a prime man both for birth and wealth amongst them His Mothers name was Cyprus born at an eminent place amongst the Arabians so that when this Herod acquired the Kingdom of Judea that Prophesie of old Jacob was fulfilled Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come This Antipater riding his circuit about the Province of Judea whereof Julius Caesar had made him Governour repressed them who were desirous of innovation both by threats and counsel telling them that if they would be content with their Prince Hyrcanus whom Caesar also had confirmed in the High-Priesthood they might live happily in their own possessions but if they promised themselves new hopes and thought that they should gain much by innovations they should have him a Master instead of a Governour and Hyrcanus a Tyrant instead of a King and Caesar and the Romans bitter enemies instead of Princes for that they would by no means suffer any thing to be altered from what they had setled But Antipater perceiving Hyrcanus to be dull and idle he settled the state of the Province as himself pleased making his elder Son Phasaelus Governour of Jerusalem and the Countries adjoyning and to Herod his second Son being then a very young man he committed the care of Galilee Herod being Praefect of Galilee there was one Esekias a Jew who associating to himself many other lewd persons exercised thievery and used to make incursions into Syria in Troops These Herod pursued and having taken Esekias he put him to Death which fact of his gat him much favour with the Syrians which Province also was then under his Government The violence and bold nature of Herod who was desirous of the Tyranny much terrified the Princes of the Jews wherefore they addressed themselves to Hyrcanus and openly accused Antipater but especially they complained of Herod for that he had put to death Esekias with many others without any Commission from Hyrcanus in contempt of their Laws by which no man ought to suffer though never so wicked unless he were first condemned by the Judges The Mothers also of them that were killed ceased not daily in the Temple to weary both the King and the people with their continual exclamations desiring that Herod might be made to give an account of these his doings before the Sanhedrim whereupon Hyrcanus moved herewith commanded Herod to be called before the Council and to plead his own cause Herod having ordered the affairs of Galilee as he thought best for his own advantage being fore-warned by his Father that he should not come into the Council as a Private Person he took with him a moderate but yet a sufficient Guard not too great lest he should
fearing storms the Winter noâ— drawing on he hasted to sail into Jonia both he and his Friends having been honoured with great presents by Herod As soon as the Spring came Herod hearing that Agrippa was going with an Army to Bosphorus made hast to meet him and taking his way by Rhodes and Chios he came to Lesbos thinking there to find him But Agrippa being driven back by contrary North-winds Herod stayed at Chios to whom many came privately to salute him upon whom he bestowed many princely gifts and when he perceived that the Gate of the City that was thrown down in the War against Methridates as yet lay buryed in its ruins and that by reason of the poverty of the Inhabitants it could not by them be restored to its former beauty and greatness he bestowed upon them so much mony as would abundantly suffice to finish it and exhorted them to hasten the restoring of their City to its former beauty and grandure As soon as the wind served he left Chios and sailed to Mytilene and from thence to Byzantium and there understanding that Agrippa had already passed the Cyanian Rock he followed him with all speed and overtook him at Sinopi a City in Pontus where beyond Agrippa's expectation he arrived with his Navy His coming was yery grateful to him and they embraced each other with singular affection Agrippa looking upon it as an evident argument of his fidelity and friendship that leaving his manifold occasions he would come to him in so seasonable a time Wherefore Herod still abode with him in the Army was Companion with him in his labours and partaker of his counsels He was also present with him when he went to be merry and was the only man that he used in difficult matters for the love that he bore unto him Agrippa having forced the Bosphorans to lay down their Arms in his whole journey thorough many Countries and Cities he gratified Herod in many things and at his intreaty relieved the necessities of many If any one needed an Intercessor to Agrippa Herod was the only man by whom he could obtain his suit and assisted many in whatsoever they had need of When they were come into Jonia a great multitude of Iews that inhabited that Country complained of the great injuries that they suffered from the Jonians who would not permit them to live after their own Laws but that upon their Festival days they haled them before their Tribunals and forbad them to send holy money to Ierusalem which also they perverted to secular affairs contrary to the priviledges granted them by the Romans Herod took care that Agrippa should hear their complaints and allowed them Nicholas Damascene one of his Friends to plead their cause which when he had largely performed before Agrippa many honourable Romans and some Kings and Princes being present the Grecians denyed the thing excusing themselves that the Iews were troublesom to them But they on the contrary proved that they were free-born Citizens and that they lived according to their own Laws without injuring of any wherefore Agrippa answered that both for his Friend Herod's sake as also because that which they demanded was just he would gratifie them therein He ordered therefore that the priviledges which were formerly granted them should remain inviolable and that none should molest them for living after their Country Laws Then Herod rose up and gave him thanks in the name of them all and so after mutual embraces they took their leave each of other and departed from Lesbos Herod in a few days after having a prosperous Gale arrived at Caesarea and from thence went to Ierusalem where calling all the People together he gave them an account of his Journey and told them what immunities he had procured for the Jews in Asia and to win them the more to his friendship he professed that he would remit to them the fourth part of his Tribute with which bounty they being exceedingly taken wished him all happiness and departed with great joy Presently after his return he was greatly incensed by the false accusations and artifices of his Sister Salome and his Brother Pheroras against his two Sons that he had by Mariamne Alexander and Aristobulus whereupon to take down their spirits he began to use them more hardly and publickly he put hopes of the Kingdom into his Son Antipater whom he begat when he was a private man his Mother also being a woman of mean Parentage whom formerly he had banished the City in favour to his two other Sons and writing often unto Caesar for him privately he gave him great commendations and at the intreaties of Antipater he recalled also his Mother Doris whom he had put away when he married Mariamne Agrippa after his ten years Government in Asia being now to depart Herod sailed to salute him taking with him of all his Sons only Antipater whom he delivered to Agrippa with many gifts to be carried to Rome and to be brought into Caesars favour Antipater was much honoured at Rome being commended to all his Friends by his Fathers letters and though he was absent yet desisted he not by writing to incense his Father against the Sons of Mariamne pretending his great care of his Fathers safety but in truth to make way for his succession in the Kingdom About this time Agrippa died and being brought into the Market-place of Rome Augustus commended him in a Funeral Oration Herod being now incensed against his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus he sailed with them to Rome to accuse them before Augustus and not finding him there he followed him as far as Aquileia before whom he accused them of treachery against him but the young men satisfied all that were present by their Apology for themselves mixed with prayers and tears so that they were reconciled to their Father After which giving thanks unto Caesar they departed together and with them Antipater also who pretended much joy that they were received into favour again A few days after Herod gave Caesar three hundred Talents and again Caesar gave him half the revenues of the mettal Mines in Cyprus and the other half also he committed to his oversight and having honoured him with other gifts of Hospitality he gave him leave to choose which of his Sons he pleased to be his successor or if he liked it better to divide his Kingdom amongst them which when he vvas about to do Caesar told him that he vvould not suffer but that he should have his Kingdom during his life in his ovvn povver as vvell as his Sons In Herods absence there vvas a rumour spread in Judea that he vvas dead vvhereupon the Trachonites revolting fell to their old trade of Thieving but by the diligence of his Captains that he had left in his Kingdom they vvere subdued and forty of the chief of them being terrified by the punishment of those that vvere taken left their Country and fled
Sons the tenth part of their Fathers Patrimony and to Daughters the twentieth part but few or none had any benefit by this promise yea on the contrary they sacked many of them that demanded these rights They exacted great sums of money in Rome and all over Italy and to encourage the Souldiers they gave them unmeasurable gifts and granted them daily new pillage The Legions they Wintered in the richest Cities upon free Quarter To be short men by fear and custome were so inured to slavery that they became more slaves than the Tyrants would have had them These three men having done what they would in Rome and knowing that Brutus and Cassius had a very great Army in Greece who called themselves the Deliverers of their Countrey saying that they would go and set Rome at liberty from Oppression Cassius having overthrown and slain Dolabella in Syria and being informed that by the assistance of their Friends they had gotten together eighteen Legions hereupon Mark Anthony and Octavian resolved to go against them wich the greatest Army that they could possibly make of old Souldiers and that Lepidus should stay to guard Rome and accordingly they departed and arrived in Greece and marching on they drew near to the place where Brutus and Cassius were encamped which was in Macedonia in the Philippick Fields Before they came to joyn Battel there were sundry Prodigies for Fowls of prey hovered about the Camp of Brutus as if it had been their own already and as they marched out to Battel a Blackmoor met them which they accounted an ill Omen Brutus being alone in his Tent at night a man sad and gastly appeared to him and being asked what he was he answered I am thy evil Genius and so vanished But on the contrary Birds and Beasts promised good success to Caesar. These Armies lying so near together had frequent skirmishes and at last came to a Battel where the Victory was strangely divided For Brutus on the one side of the Field did beat Octavian and put his Battalion to rout pursuing them into the Camp where many of them were slain and while Brutus was following his Victory his partner Cassius was overthrown by Mark Anthony though he did all that was possible to encourage his men and by reason of the clouds of Dust knew nothing of Brutus his Victory whereupon retiring to an high ground he there pitched his Tent and so standing and looking about he saw Brutus his Troops coming to his aid and to relieve him but he imagining that they came flying before their enemies commanded a slave of his whom he had made free to kill him who did it accordingly Octavians men that escaped by flight retired to Mark Anthonies Camp and had not Brutus his men busied themselves in ransacking Octavians Camp they had that day obtained an entire Victory for they might in due time have rescued and relieved Cassius and both of them being joyned together might easily have overthrown Mark Anthony but God had otherwise determined The Victory being thus divided the Generals of either party gathered their Forces together and of Brutus side were slain eight thousand men and of the Enemies side a far greater number Brutus did his best to encourage and comfort his Souldiers and the Gentlemen which followed Cassius and the next day though both Armies were put in battel Array yet they fought not but a few dayes after Brutus by his Souldiers was forced to come to another Battel who was of himself willing rather to delay and prolong the War knowing that his Enemies wanted Victuals and many other necessaries and because he reposed no great trust in the Forces of Cassius for he found that they were fearful and hard to be commanded because of their late overthrow When they came to the second encounter Brutus did all the Offices of an able General and of a Valiant Knight yet in the end his men were broken and overthrown by the Enemy Brutus having gathered his scattered Troops together found himself unable to make any farther resistance and being advised by some of his Friends to fly he told them That so he would yet not with his feet but with his hands and thereupon taking a Sword from a Servant of his called Stratus he slew himself Thus Octavian and Mark Anthony remained Victors and Masters of the Field and all things succeeded according to Caesars desire for whom God in his secret Counsel had reserved the Monarchy of the whole World which for the present was divided between three These Wars being ended and the Legions of Brutus and Cassius reduced to the obedience of the Conquerours Octavian and Mark Anthony agreed and resolved that Anthony should remain to govern Greece and Asia that Lepidus should go into Africk and that Octavian should return to Rome and accordingly Mark Anthony went into Asia where he gave himself up to sensuality and delights with the fair but wanton Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt and Octavian though with some hindrances by reason of his health at last came to Rome Not long after there arose new Wars and troubles for though Octavian was at peace with Lepidus who was now in Africk Octavian having under his command Spain France part of Germany Italy and Illyricum yet Lucius Antonius who at this time was Consul being provoked thereto by his Sister in Law Fulvia Wife to Mark Anthony began to oppose himself against Lepidus and Octavian seeking to overthrow the Triumvirat which contention brake out about the division of Fields which Caesar had made to the Souldiers which had served him in his Wars Some say that Fulvia made this stir that she might procure the return of Mark Anthony to her of whom she was jealous hearing of his familiarity with Cleopatra The discord in Rome grew to that height that they came to Arms and Lucius Antonius went from the City and levied an Army against Octavian who also marched towards him with his Forces But Lucius not daring to joyn Battel shut himself up in Perugia where Caesar immediately besieged him and Divorced himself from Claudia the Daughter of Fulvia and was married to his third Wife Scribonia by whom he had one onely Daughter Octavian being about twenty three years old so strictly besieged Perugia that Lucius and his men were brought to such straits for want of Victuals that he was forced to yield up himself to Octavian who pardoned him and used him kindly and thus this War was ended without bloudshed And so Octavian returned to Rome of which he was now sole Lord and from hence some reckon the beginning of his Empire which was about four years after the Death of Julius Caesar and about thirty eight years before the Incarnation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Caesar being now in quiet Fulvia by Letters and false Informations sought to stir up her Husband Mark Anthony against Octavian with which resolution she left Italy and
Tamerlane greatly rejoyced yet without insolency and vaunting but rather with the countenance of such an one as judged the event of Battels to be alwayes doubtful saying sometimes That a small number well conducted did carry away the victory from the confused multitude Three dayes after he stayed at Buisabuich causing his souldiers continually to march forward who at two places passed over the River Euphrates which he did the rather to maintain his Army upon the spoil of the Enemies countrey chusing rather there to attend Bajazets coming then amongst his friends and allies All the Cities that yielded to him in the way as he marched he favourably received the other that refused to submit themselves to his obedience he used with all extremity especially the great and strong City of Sebastia where certain of the forerunners of his Army were by the Turks that kept Garrison in it cut off and slain and to despite him the more the City gates were set open in contempt of him Whereupon being justly offended he sent out certain Tartarian Horsemen charging them upon pain of his displeasure so to behave themselves against their Enemies that at his coming up to them he might find either the City taken or at least the Gates shut up against him And he had his men at so great command that no danger was unto them more dreadful than his displeasure neither did he punish any thing so severely as cowardize Now the Turks in Sebastia seeing these Tartarian Horsemen marching towards the City making little account of them because their number was not great issued out to meet them where they were so furiously charged by these few Horsemen that they were glad to retire and for hast to shut the Gates against some of their own men lest the Enemy should have entered pell mell with them which Turks were there slain at the Gates of the City Shortly after came Tamerlane with all the rest of his Army and sat down before the City where he lay still seven days not making any shew of violence at all The defendants because the City was of great strength thought that his purpose was by a long Siege to distress the same But about the eighth day the Towers and Walls being undermined in sundry places suddenly fell down leaving large breaches for the Enemy to enter wherewith the Turks being dismayed surrendred the City to Tamerlane in hope so to have saved their lives but he caused them all to be buried quick and the City utterly to be razed and then calling the Governour whose life he had spared for that end he bade him go and tell his Master what had happened to his strong City of Sebastia and what himself had seen there of which Tragical action when the Governour had made report to Bajazet he demanded of him whether of the two Armies he thought bigger or stronger for he had now assembled a mighty Army of three hundred thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Footmen whereunto the Governour having first craved pardon answered That it could not be in reason but that Tamerlane had the greater Army for that he commanded over far greater Countries wherewith proud Bajazet being offended replied in great Choller Out of doubt the sight of the Tartarian hath so affrighted this coward that he thinks every Enemy to be two As Bajazet marched forward he heard a Country Shepherd merrily pleasing himself with his homely Pipe as he sate on the side of a Mountain feeding his small flock whereupon he stood still and listned to him to the admiration of many and at last brake forth into these words O happy Shepherd which hadst no Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontentment and yet withal shewing that worldly bliss consisted not so much in possessing of much subject unto danger as in enjoying content in a little devoid of fears The rest of the Cities as Tamerlane marched forwards warned by the destruction of Sebastia yielded to him the Citizens whereof he used courteously especially the Christians whom he set at liberty for the Greek Emperours sake whom he sought therein to gratifie But Tamerlane had not gone far into the Turks dominions before he was certainly informed that Bajazet was coming against him with a mighty Army and was now within thirty Leagues of him which caused him from thence forward to march with his Army more close together Axalla leading the Van sent forth Chianson Prince of Ciarchan with four thousand Parthian Horsemen to get knowledg of the Turkish Army and where Bajazet lay as also what manner of Countrey it was beyond Sennas and if he could learn any thing thereof to make relation of it to him This Prince of Ciarchan was Tamerlanes near Kinsman a man of great reputation and next to Axalla in whose absence he had the command of the Avantguard who also sent before him another Parthian Captain with five hundred Horsemen who having advanced about ten Leagues and surprized Sennas was certainly informed there of the state of Bajazets Army which was now at Tataeia and so marching forward which Tamerlane being informed of commanded him not to retire from that place till he saw the arrival of the enemy and thereof to give him advertisement every hour resolving himself to pass on no further being encamped in a fair large plain which was very advantageous for him his Army being bigger then Bajazets which made him make choise of those large plains His Army also being compounded of sundry Nations he considered that he was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate people as of late but against the Turks a most warlike Nation and well acquainted with all manner of fights and warlike stratagems and therefore he judged it necessary to proceed warily against them Upon this consideration he presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to have his opinion whether it would be advantageous for him to stay there or no Axalla not misliking his choice of the place yet withal advised him to keep Sennas as long as possible he could and accordingly he sent word to them at Sennas that when they could keep the place no longer they should set fire on it and so retreat and this he did that the Enemy should have no desire to encamp there but to march forward to those plains where Tamerlane desired to fight the rather because he was stronger in Horse than Bajazet Accordingly the Prince of Ciarchan sent out a hundred Horse toward the Turks then divided he the rest of his Forces into two parts commanding the former that as soon as they perceived the Enemy to pursue the hundred Horse whom he had commanded to fly disorderly before them that they should receive them into their Squadrons and so retire altogether He in the mean time with the other part stood close in a Valley near unto a Wood-side wholly unseen where having suffered two thousand
now for three and twenty years exhorted them to Repentance But because they had stopped their ears against him and the rest of the Prophets he now foretold that their Captivity was at hand and that they should bear the Yoak of Bondage for seventy years The same Calamity he threatned to all the Neighbouring Nations to the Egyptians Moabites Ammonites Idumaeans and the rest foretelling that they should all drink out of the Babylonian Cup the Wine of his fury whom they had forsaken and that after the seventy years should be expired the Babylonians themselves should taste of the same Cup and be utterly subverted by the Medes and Persians by which means the Jews should be permitted to return into their own Country and Cities The first Imprisonment of the Prophet Jeremy seems to have been in the fourth year of this Jehoiakim at which time Baruch the Scribe wrote all his Prophecies from his Mouth whom he sent to Read them unto the people and afterwards to the Princes who presented them to the King But fearing the Kings fury they had first set Jeremy at liberty and advised him and Baruch to hide themselves Jeremy 36. 19 c. Jehoiakim having heard part of it read to him and perceiving the ill News contained therein he made no more ado but cut the Book in pieces and cast it into the fire All which Jeremy caused to be new written with this Addition That the dead Body of Jehoiakim should be cast out being exposed in the day to the heat and in the night to the frost and that there should be none of his Seed to sit upon the Throne of David Time thus running on Jehoiakim thought himself secure from all danger as being Tributary to the Babylonian and yet withal well thought on by the Egyptian About which time the mighty City of Tyre opposed it self against Nebuchadnezzar And upon just confidence of her own strength despised all preparations that could be made against her Now for as much as the term of seventy years was prescribed for the Desolation as well of Tyre as of Jerusalem and other places and Countries ' its apparent that they that refer the winning of this City to the ninteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar have good ground and warrant for it For the Siege thereof began in the seventh year of his Reign and lasted thirteen years Here it will not be amiss to insert a brief Note concerning the beginning of this great Princes Rule The third year of Jehoiakim was the last of Nabulasser who being freed from other cares and businesses took notice of such as had revolted from him to Pharaoh Necho and sent this Noble Prince his Son with an Army into Syria to reclaim them In this Expedition was 〈◊〉 carried to Babylon who therefore makes mention of it Dan. 1. 1. The year next following being the fourth of Jehoiakim was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar which Jeremy affirmeth in express words Jer. 25. 1. And from this we must reckon all his time and actions which follow to be spoken of In his three and twentieth year he conquered Egypt and then began his great Empire there being none left that durst offend or oppose him The second from this year it was wherein Daniel saw that Vision of the Image consisting of sundry Mettals which prefigured the succession of great Kingdoms that should Rule the World before the coming of Christ. But to return to the Siege of Tyre which began in the seventh year of his Reign The stately City of Tyre covered all the ground of an Island that was divided from the Continent by a deep and broad Channel of the Sea The Chaldaeans had no Fleet of Ships neither were they Seamen The Tyrians excelled all other Nations in multitude of goodly Ships and skill to use them And every Wind from one part or other brought in all needful provisions to the City Wherefore neither force nor Famine could greatly hurt the place whereof nevertheless the Judgments of God denounced against it by Isay Jeremy and Ezekiel had threatned the destruction and the obstinate resolution of Nebuchadnezzar had fully determined to accomplish it This hauty King impatient of resistance undertook a vast piece of Work which was to fill up that part of the Sea which divided the Island from the continent The City of old Tyre that stood opposite to the New upon the firm Land and the Mountain of Libanus near adjoyning that was loaden with stately Cedars and abundance of other Trees furnished him with materials to effect it Thirteen years were spent in this difficult and hopeless undertaking which need not seem strange if we consider that Alexander working upon that Foundation which was remaining of Nebuchadnezzars Peer and being withal assisted with a strong Fleet was yet seven months e're he could make way into the City Wherefore if the raging of the Sea was able to carry away that wherewith Alexander laboured to cover a Shelve with much more violence could it overturn and as it were consume the work of Nebuchadnezzar who laid his Foundation in the bottom of the deep Striving as it were to fill the empty Belly of this greedy Cormorant whereas the Macedonian did only stop the throat of it All may know that God could easily have accomplished his own threatnings against this place though it had not pleased him to use either a Miracle or such of his more immediate Engins as are Earthquakes c. by making at least the Seas calm and adding the favourable concurrence of all second helps But so it pleaseth him oft-times in chastising the Pride of man to use the hand of man even the hand of man striving as it may seem against all resistance of nature and providence So that by this excessive labour of the Chaldeans that Scripture was fulfilled that every Head should be made bald and every Shoulder should be made bare Ezek. 29. 18. Yet would not Nebuchadnezzar give over till he was Master of the Town When he was entred upon his desperate undertaking whether it were by some losses received or some Mutiny in his Army or some glorious rumour of the Egyptians strenth his evil willers took courage to rebel against him and amongst them Jehoiakim renounced his subjection and began to hope for the contrary which soon after fell out For Nebuchadnezzar gave him no leasure to do much hurt But with part of his Army he marched strait into Judaea where the amazed King made so little resistance the Egyptians having left him as it were in a dream that Nebuchadnezzar entred Jerusalem laid hands on Jehoiakim whom at first he bound intending to send him to Babylon but his mind changing he caused him to be slain in that place and gave him the Burial of an Ass to be devoured by Beasts and ravinous Birds according to the former Prophesie Leaving in his place his Son Jehoiakim or Jeconias whom yet after three
and therefore despised all the Arguments used by Sandanes to the contrary who desired him to consider aforehand that he provoked a Nation inhabiting a barren and Mountanous Region a People not covered with the soft silk of Worms but with the hard skins of Beasts not fed with meat to their Fancies but content with what they found Drinkers of Water and not of Wine and in a word a Nation Warlike Patient Valiant and Prosperous over whom if he became Victorious he could thereby enrich himself in nothing but Fame in which he already excelled and if by them he should be beaten and subdued so great would his loss appear of all things which the world makes account of that the same could neither be hastily recounted nor easily conceived Notwithstanding this solid and seasonable Counsel Croesus having prepared a powerful Army advanced with the same toward Media but in his passage he was retarded at Pterium a City in Cappadâ—cia of great strength which whilst he attempted both by power and policy to take and Conquer Cyrus came on and found the Lydians encamped before it Neither of these Champions were inferior to other either in strength or opinion For out of doubt Croesus as he excelled any Prince of that age in Riches and ability so was he not inferiour unto any in Territories and Fame that then lived But Kingdoms and Commonwealths have their increase and Periods from Divine Ordinance This time was the Winter of Croesus his prosperity the leaves of his flourishing estate being ready to fall and that of Cyrus but in the first Spring and Flower the God of all Power had given a date to the one and a beginning of glory to the other When these two Armies were in view each of other after divers skirmishes had passed between them the Persians and Lydians began to joyn together and encounter each other in gross Bodies and as either of them began to retreat fresh supplies were sent in from both their Kings And as the Persians had somewhat the better of the day so when the dark vail of night had hidden each Army from the others view Croesus doubting what success the rising Sun might bring with it quitted the Field to Cyrus and with all speed possible retreated towards his own Countrey and taking the next way thither he recovered Sardis the first City of Lydia and his Regal Seat without any pursuit made by Cyrus to retard him where being arrived and nothing suspecting Cyrus his approach or any other War for that Winter he dismissed his Army and sent the Troops of his sundry Nations to their own Provinces appointing them to re-assemble at the end of five Months acquainting his Commanders with his intent of renewing the War at the time appointed The morning being come Cyrus finding that the Lydians were departed put his Army in order to pursue after them yet not so hastily and at their heels as to be discovered But getting good intellegence of Croesus his proceedings he so ordered the matter that he presented not himself before Sardis till such time as Croesus had disposed of his Army and sent them to their Winter Quarters His coming 〈◊〉 altogether unlooked for and unfeared he had opportunity enough to surround Sardis with his Army wherein Croesus had no other Companies than the Citizens and his ordinary Guards insomuch as after fourteen days Siege Cyrus took the City by Storm and put all to the Sword that made resistance Croesus now having neither Arms to Fight nor Wings to fly in this common calamity he thrust himself into the heap and multitude of his miserable Subjects and had undergone the same lot with the rest of the vanquished persons had not a Son of his who had been dumb all his Life before by the extremity of Passion and Fear cryed out to a common Souldier who was with a drawn Sword pursuing his Father that he should not kill Croesus Hereupon he was taken and imprisoned and despoiled of all things but only the expectation of Death Shortly after he was bound with Fetters and Placed upon a large and high pile of Wood to be burnt to ashes thereon To which when Fire was set and kindled Croesus remembring the discourse which long before he had with Solon the Athenian Lawgiver he thrice cryed out O Solon Solon Solon and being demanded what he meant by the invocation of Solon he at first used silence But being urged again he told them that now he found that true which wise Solon had long since told him That many men in the race and course of their lives might well be accounted Fortunate but no man could discern himself to be happy indeed till his end Of this his answer Cyrus being speedily informed and thereby being put in mind of the mutability of Fortune and of his own mortality he commanded his Ministers of Justice speedily to withdraw the Fire and to save Croesus and bring him to his presence which being done Cyrus demanded of him who it was that had perswaded him or what reason had instigated him to invade his Territories and to make him of a Friend an Enemy To which Croesus thus answered It was thy prosperous and my unprosperous destiny the Grecian Gods with all flattering my Ambition that were the inventers and conducters of Croesus War against Cyrus Cyrus being much affected with this answer of Croesus and bewailing his estate though he was victorious over him did not only spare his life but entertained him ever after as a King and his companion Thus Herodotus relates it But Xenophon saith that Cyrus did entertain Craesus friendly at the first sight and makes no mention of any such cruel intent of burning him alive and this may seem the more probable because Crasus was his Grandmothers Brother and it s very likely that neerness of Alliance might withhold Cyrus if he had been vicious which he was not from so cruel a purpose as to have burnt him alive When Cyrus afterwards passed with his Army over Araxes into Scythia he left Croesus to be a companion and counseller to his Son Cambyses whom he made Governour over his Empire in his absence with whom he lived all the Reign of Cyrus and did afterwards accompany Cambyses in his Expedition into Egypt where he hardly escaped his Tyrannous hands At this time the Races of three of the greatest Kings in that part of the World came to an end to wit of the Babylonians Medians and Lydians in Balthasar Xiaxares or Darius Medus and Croesus After this Lydian War ensued the great Conquest of Babylon which gave unto Cyrus an Empire so large and mighty that he was justly reputed the greatest Monarch then living upon the Earth How long time the preparations for this great action took up is uncertain only it seems that ten whole years did pass between his taking of those two Cities of Sardis and Babylon which time was not wholly spent
in providing for the Assyrian War but much of it in setling the Estates which he had already purchased Ctesias also tells us that during this time Cyrus invaded Scythia and being victorious over that Nation he took Amorges their King Prisoner But being in a second Battel overthrown by Sparetha the Wife of Amorges himself was taken Prisoner and so one King was released for the other Gobrias about this time a Nobleman whose only Son the King of Babylon in his Fathers life time had in a hunting match villainously slain together with his Friends revolted to Cyrus It s very probable also that no small part of those troubles which sprang up in the lower Asia grew soon after Cyrus his departure with his Victorious Army before the Conquest was fully established For after Cyrus was returned out of Asia the less many Nations which were formerly conquered by Croesus and now by Cyrus revolted from him Against whom he imployed Pactias and then Harpagus who first reduced the Phocians under their former Obedience and then the rest of the Greeks that inhabited Asia the less as the Jonians Carians Aeolians and Lycians who very resolutely according to the strength they had defended themselves But in the attempt upon Babylon it self it s not to be questioned but Cyrus imployed all his Forces having taken order beforehand that nothing should be able to divert him or to raise that Siege or to frustrate that work upon which he did set all his rest And great reason there was that he should improve all his Policy and strength unto the taking of that City which besides the Fame and reputation that it held as being the Head of an Empire which depended thereupon was so strongly fortified with a trebble Wall of great heigth and surrounded with the waters of Euphrates that were unfordable and so plentifully Victualled for many years that the Inhabitants were not only free from fear and doubt of their estate but through their confidence they derided and despised all the Projects and power of their Besiegers For not long before Nicotris the Mother of Belshazzar a witty and active Woman foreseeing the storm that was ready to fall upon Babylon from the Medes to hinder their passing the River by Boats into Babylon She turned the River Euphrates which before ran with a strait and swift course drawing it through many winding Channels which she had cut for that purpose whereby she made it to run more slowly than formerly it did and then she raised a huge Dam upon each side of the River and up the River from the City-ward she digged a vast Pond which was every way three or four hundred Furlongs wide into which she turned the River thereby leaving the old Channel of the River dry which done she fell to work and fenced the Banke within the City with Brick-walls and raised the Water-Gates answerable in every point to the rest of the Walls which were made on the farther side of the Channel round about the City She built also a stately and Magnificent Bridge of Stone in the midst of the City which joyned to the Kings Houses that stood on each side the River and having finished all her Works and Fortifications she turned the River out of the Pond into its right Channel again And now came Cyrus to invade the Country of Babylon and appeared before the Walls of the City and there challenged the King to a Duel or single Combat but he refused it At this time Gadatas a Noble man of Babylon whom Belshazzar had gelt upon a jealousie that he had of him with his Wife fell over to Cyrus in revenge whereof the Babylonians sallied out and fell upon his Lands but Cyrus set upon them and routed them At which time the Cadusii whom Cyrus had appointed to bring up the rear of his Army unknown to Cyrus set upon a Country lying neer to the City but the King of Babylon falling out upon them cut them all off Yet Cyrus quickly revenged the Death of his men and then came to an agreement with Belshazzar to hold truce with the Plough-men on both sides and the War to go on between the Souldiers only After which passing beyond the City he took in three of their Forts and so returned into the confines of Assyria and Media and thither upon his invitation came his Uncle Cyaxares and was by him honourably received and entertained in a Pavilion that had been the King of Assyrias and Winter now approaching they entred into consultation to provide things necessary to maintain the Siege The only hope of Cyrus with his Medes and Persians who despaired of carrying by assault a City so well and strongly fortified and manned was in cutting off all supplies of victuals and other necessaries Whereof though the Town was said to be stored sufficiently for more than twenty years yet might it well be imagined that amongst such a World of People as dwelt within those Walls one great want or other would soon appear amongst them and vanquish the resolution of that unwarlike multitude Yet in expecting that success of this course the Besiegers were likely to endure much hardship and travel and that all in valn if they did not keep strict watch and sure guards upon all the Avenues and Quarters of it Which that he might the better do he caused presently a vast trench both for bredth and depth to be cast round about the Walls of the City casting the earth ever towards his own Army and made store of Bulworks all along upon it for his Guards to be upon and then dividing his whole Army into twelve parts he ordered that each of them should watch his Moneth by turn And yet this was a very hard work considering the vast circuit of those Walls which they were to gird in having neither men enough nor yet sufficiently assured to their Commander the consideration whereof Ministred unto the Babylonians matter of good Pastime when they saw Lydians Phrygians Cappadocians and others quartered about their City to keep them in who having been their Ancient Friends and Allies were more like to joyn with them if occasion were offered than to use much diligence on the behalf of Cyrus who had as it were but yesterday laid upon their necks the galling Yoke of servitude Whilst the Besieged were thus pleasing themselves with this foolish-fansie and vain mirth the ordinary forerunners of sudden calamity Cyrus who by God that set him on work was made strong valiant constant and inventive devised and by the labour of his men digged so many Channels as were capable of receiving the Waters of Euphrates and so to draw the same from the Walls of Babylon that thereby he might make his approaches the more facile and assured which when by the labour of many hands he had performed he waited for a fit time wherein to put in execution what he had designed For he had left in each of the
Trenches towards the River certain Banks or Heads uncut till he saw his opportunity Now Belshazzar finding neither any want or weakness within the City nor any possibility for his enemies without to approach the Walls by reason of the great River that surrounded them he prepared an exceeding sumptuous Feast Publick Plays and other Pastimes and thereto invited a Thousand of his Princes or Nobles besides his Wives Courtezans and others of that Trade This he did either to let the Besiegers know that his Provisions were sufficient not only for all needful uses but even for superfluity and excess Or because he hoped that his enemies by this time were discouraged and even broken under their manifold disasters Or else he made this Feast in honour of Bell his most adored Idol Or lastly because it was his Birth or Coronation Day Or for many or most of these respects Yea he was not contented to use and shew such Magnificence as no Prince else could Equal but he lifted up himself against the God of Heaven Dan. 5. 23. For he his Princes his Wives and his Concubines made carousing Cups of the Golden and Silver Vessels which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem and in contempt of the Lord of Heaven he praised his own Puppets made of Gold and Silver and Brass and Iron and Wood and Stone Whilst Belshazzar was thus triumphing and had his brains well filled with vapours he beheld a hand which by Divine power wrote upon the Wall that was opposite to him certain Words which he understood not wherewith so great a fear and amazement seized upon him that the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another Which Passion when he had in some measure recovered he cryed aloud to bring in the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers promising them great rewards and the third place of Honour in his Kingdom to him that could read and expound the Writing But it exceeded their Art and Skill In this disturbance and astonishment the Queen hearing what had passed came in and observing what distraction the King was in after Reverence done She used this Speech O King live for ever Let not thy thoughts trouble thee nor let thy countenance be changed there is a man in thy Kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods and in the Days of thy Father light and understanding and Wisdome like the Wisdom of the Gods was found in him whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy Father the King I say thy Father made Master of the Magicians the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers for as much as an excellent Spirit and knowledg and understanding in interpreting Dreams and shewing of hard Sentences and dissolving doubts were found in the same Daniel whom the King named Belteshazzar Now let Daniel be called and he will shew the Interpretation This Queen was either the Grandmother or the Mother of Belshazzar For it appears that She was not any of the Kings Wives because She was absent from the Feast and in regard of her age past banquetting and dancing Yet upon the report of the Miracle She came in to comfort and cheer up the King and whereas Daniel was forgotten and neglected by others of younger years and latter times this old Queen remembred well what Daniel had done in the days of Nebuchadnezzar Grandfather to this Belshazzar and kept in mind both his Religion and Divine gifts When Daniel was brought into the Kings presence he said unto him Art thou that Daniel which art of the Children of the Captivity of Judah whom the King my Father brought out of Jewry I have heard of thee that the Spirit of the Gods is in thee and that light and understanding and excellent Wisdom is found in thee and now the Wise men and the Astrologers have been brought in before me that they should read this Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof but they could not do it And I have heard of thee that thou canst make Interpretations and dissolve doubts Now if thou canst read the Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof thou shalt be clothed with Scarlet and have a chain of Gold about thy neck and shalt be the third Ruler in the Kingdom But Daniel made answer in a far differing stile from that which he had used to his Grandfather For the evil which he had foretold to Nebuchadnezzar he wished that it might befal his enemies But to this King whose contempt of God and vicious life he hated he answered in these Words Let thy gifts be to thy self and give thy rewards to another Yet I will read the writing to the King and make known to him the Interpretation which yet before he did he shewed him the cause of Gods Judgments against him and the reason of this terrible sentence whereof the King and all his Wise men were utterly Ignorant the substance whereof is this That Belshazzar forgetting Gods goodness to his Father whom all Nations feared and obeyed and yet for his Pride and neglect of those benefits as he had deprived him of his Estate and Understanding so upon the acknowledgement of Gods infinite power he restored him to both again And thou his Son said he O BelshazZar hast not humbled thy heart though thou knowest all this But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven and they have brought thee Vessels of his House before thee and thou and thy Lords thy Wives and thy Concubines have drunk Wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver and Gold c. and the God in whose hand thy â—reath is and whose are all thy wayes hast thou not Glorified Then was the part of the band sent from him and this writing was written Mene Mene Tekel Upharâ—in Whereof this is the Interpretation Mene God hath numbred thy Kingdom and finished it Tekel Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting Peres Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians The very Evening or Night of this Day wherein Belshazzar thus Feasted and wherein these things were done Cyrus either by his Espcials or being inspired by God himself whose Ensign he followed in these Wars finding the time and opportunity fit for him even whilst the Kings Head and and the Heads of his Nobility were no less distempered with the Vapours of Wine than their hearts were with the fear of Gods Judgments he caused all the Banks and Heads of his Trenches to be opened and cut down with all speed and diligence whereby that great River Euphrates was quickly drawn dry and himself with his Army passing through the Channel which was now dry without any opposition they easily made their entrance into the City finding none to disturb them Invadunt urbem somno Vinoque sepultam All the Town lay buried in Wine and Sleep and such as came in
under their Leader Zorobabel the Son of Salathiel and Nephew to King Jeconias and Joshua the Son of Josedech the High Priest were about fifty thousand And as soon as they arrived at Jerusalem they built an Altar to the living God and sacrificed thereon according to their Law and afterwards bethought themselves how to prepare materials for the building of the Temple Cyrus having set all things in order at Babylon returned through Media into Persia to his Father Cambyses and his Mother Mandanes who were yet living and from thence returning again into Media he married the only Daughter and Heir of Cyaxares and for Dowry had the whole Kingdom of Media given him with her And when the Marriage was finished he presently went his way and took her with him and coming to Babylon from thence he sent Governours into all his Dominions Into Arabia he sent Megabyzus into Phrygia the greater Artacaman into Lydia and Ionia Chrysantas into Caria Adusius into Phrygia Helle spontiaca or the less Pharmicas But into Cilicia and Cyprus and Paphlagonia he sent no Persians to Govern them because they voluntarily and of their own accord took his part against the King of Babylon yet he caused even them also to pay him Tribute Cyrus having spent one whole year with his Wife in Babylon gathered thither his whole Army consisting of one hundred and twenty Thousand Horse and two Thousand Iron Chariots and six hundred Thousand Footmen and having furnished himself with all necessary provisions he undertook that Journey wherein he subdued all the Nations inhabiting from Syria to the Red Sea The time that Cyrus enjoyed in rest and pleasure after these great Victories and the attainment of his Empire is generally agreed upon by all Chronologers to have lasted only seven years In which time he made such Laws and Constitutions as differ little from the Ordinances of all wise Kings that are desirous to establish a Royal power to themselves and their Posterity which are recorded by Xenophon The last War and the end of this Great King Cyrus is diversly written by Historians Herodotus and Justin say That after these Conquests Cyrus invaded the Massagets a very Warlike Nation of the Scythians Governed by Tomyris their Queen and that in an encounter between the Persians and these Northern Nomades Tomyris lost her Army together with her Son Spargapises that was the General of it In revenge whereof this Queen making new levies of men of War and prosecuting the War against Cyrus in a second sore Battel the Persians were beaten and Cyrus was taken Prisoner and that Tomyris cut off his Head from his Body and threw it into a Bowl of Blood using these words Thou that hast all thy time thirsted for blood now drink thy fill and satiate thy self with it This War which Metasthenes calls Tomyrique lasted about six years But more probably this Scythian War was that which is mentioned before which Cyrus made against the Scythians after the Conquest of Lydia according to Ctesias who calleth Tomyris Sparetha and makes the end of it otherwise as you may see before The same Ctesias also recordeth that the last War which Cyrus made was against Amarhaeus King of the Derbitians another Nation of the Scythians whom though he overcame in Battel yet there he received a Wound whereof he died three dayes after Strabo also affirmeth that he was buried in his own City of Pesagardes which himself had built and where his Epitaph was to be read in Strabo's time which he saith was this O Vir quicunque es undecunque advenis neque enim te adventurum ignoravi Ego sum Cyrus qui Persis Imperium constitui pusillum hoc Terrae quo meum tegitur Corpus mihi ne invideas O thou man whosoever thou art and whensoever thou comest for I was not ignorant that thou shouldst come I am Cyrus that founded the Persian Empire Do not envy me this little Earth with which my Body is covered When Alexander the Great returned from his Indian Conquests he visited Pesagardes and caused this Tomb of Cyrus to be opened either upon hope of great Treasure supposed to have been buried with him or upon a desire to honour his dead Body with certain Ceremonies when the Sepulchre was opened there was found nothing in it save an old rotten Target two Scythian Bows and a Sword The Coffin wherein his Body lay Alexander caused to be covered with his own Garment and a Crown of Gold to be set upon it Cyrus finding in himself that he could not long enjoy the World he called unto him his Nobility with his two Sons Cambyses and Smerdis and after a long Oration wherein he assured himself and taught others about the Immortality of the Soul and of the punishments and rewards following the ill and good deservings of every man in this life He exhorted his Sons by the strongest Arguments he had to a perpetual Concord and Agreement Many other things he uttered which makes it probable that he received the knowledge of the true God from Daniel whilst he Governed Susa in Persia and that Cyrus himself had read the Prophesie of Isay wherein he was expresly named and by God pre-ordained for the delivery of his people out of Captivity which act of delivering the Jews and of restoring of the Holy Temple and the City of Jerusalem was in true consideration the Noblest work that ever Cyrus performed For in other actions he was an Instrument of Gods power used for the chastising of many Nations and the establishing of a Government in those parts of the World which yet was not to continue long But herein he had the favour to be an Instrument of Gods goodness and a willing advancer of his Kingdom upon Earth which must last for ever Cyrus had issue two Sons Cambyses and Smerdis and three Daughters Atossa Meroe and Artistona At his Death he bequeathed his Empire to his Eldest Son Cambyses appointing Smerdis his younger Son to be Satrapa or Lieutenant of Media Armenia and Cadusia He reigned about one and thirty years and died aged The Greek Historians wholly ascribe the Conquest of Babylon to Cyrus because that he commanded the Army in Chief yet the Scriptures attribute it to Darius King of the Medes whose General Cyrus was For when Babylon was taken and Belshazzar slain It 's said Dan. 5. 31. that Darius the Median took the Kingdom being about sixty two years old It was Darius also that placed Officers over the several Provinces thereof as we read Dan. 6 1 2. It pleased Darius to set over the Kingdom an hundred and twenty Princes which should be over the whole Kingdom and over these three Presidents of whom Daniel was the first c. And thus was it Prophesied by Isay long before Behold I will stir up the Medes against them c. And by the Prophet Jeremy The Lord hath raised up the Spirit of the King of
Now when Artaxerxes was ready to enter into the Temple Tisaphernes came to him and brought him one of the Priests who had been Schoolmaster to Cyrus in his Youth who informed him that Cyrus had conspired Treason against him and that he meant traiterously to kill him in the Temple when he should put off his Gown Upon this accusation Cyrus was apprehended and condemned But as he was going to execution his Mother took him in her armes and wound the hair of her Head about his Neck wherewith she tyed him fast to her and withall she wept so bitterly and made such pittiful mone to the King her Son that at her intercession he granted to Cyrus his life and sent him again to his Government in the lesser Asia Yet Cyrus was not satisfied with this but shortly after entered into open Rebellion against the King his Brother for which end he kept Souldiers in pay in divers places not bringing them altogether into one Army because he desired to conceal his enterprise He had also Friends and Servants that levied him men in divers places and under divers pretences He had his Mother alwayes about the King that cleared all suspitions conceived against him Himself also whilst he made these preparations wrote very humbly to his Brother one while craving somthing of him and another while accusing Tisaphernes to delude the King and make him believe that he bent all his malice against the said Tisaphernes Artaxerxes at his first coming to the Crown followed and imitated the goodness and curtesie of the first Artaxerxes giving easie audience unto suitors and more honourably rewarding those that had deserved well of him and he used such moderation in punishing offenders that he made it appear that he punished not out of any malicious mind or desire of revenge nor yet out of a will to hurt any man When he had any thing given him he took it very thankfully and did as willingly and frankly give to them again For how small a thing soever was offered him he took it well One Romises upon a time presenting him with a marvellous fair Pomgranate By the Sun said he this man in a short time of a little Town would make a great City if he were made Governour of it At another time a poor Labourer seeing every man give the King a present he having nothing to give ran to the River side and took both his hands full of Water and came and offered it to the King who took it so kindly that in a Cup of Massey Gold he sent him a thousand Daricks which were pieces of Gold so called because the Image of Darius was stamped upon them And when one Euclidas a Lacedemonian presumed to give him bold words he answered by one of his Captains Thou maist say what thou listest and I as King may say and do what I list Another time as he was hunting Tiribazus shewed the King his Gown that was all tattered Well said the King what wouldst thou have me do I pray your Grace said Tiribazus take you another and give me that you have on The King did so adding Tiribazus I give thee my Gown but I command thee not to wear it But Tiribazus being a foolish light-headed Fellow not caring for the Kings Commandment did strait put on the Gown and besides set on many Jewels which Kings only used to wear whereupon every one in the Court murmured at him because it was a presumption directly against the Laws of Persia Yet the King did but laugh at it saying I give thee leave Tiribazus to wear those Women gawds as a Woman and the Kings Robe as a Fool. It was the manner in Persia that no Person sat at the Kings Table but his Mother which sat uppermost and his Wife which sat lowermost but Artaxerxes made his two younger Brethren Ostanes and Oxathres to sit with him which much pleased the Persians but especially because he was contented that his Wife Statira should sit openly in her Chariot that she might be seen and reverenced by the other Ladies of the Court and Country But some that hated Peace and desired innovations said that the Realm of Persia needed such a Prince as Cyrus that was bountiful given to Arms and that liberally rewarded his Servants At this time all the Cities of Jonia except Miletus which were under the Government of Tisaphernes fell from him to Cyrus and Cyrus sent to Artaxerxes praying him that he would be pleased to trust him being his Brother with those Cities rather than Tisaphernes and in this suit his Mother also sticked hard for him All this while the King discerned not the Treason intended against him but thought that Cyrus kept his Army about him to strengthen him against Tisaphernes and he was well content that they two should try it out between themselves for Cyrus did daily send the King the Tribute of those Cities which Tisaphernes formerly held But in the mean time Cyrus sent to Lacedemon praying them that as he had hitherto supported them with men and money against the Athenians so now they would send him some men boasting if they sent him Foot he would give them Horses if Horsemen he would give them Coaches If they had Lands he would give them Townships If Towns he would give them Cities for their rewards And for their wages they should have it not by tale but by weight and paid down presently Hereupon the Lacedemonians jndging his request but equal and that this War would tend to their advantage they decreed him aid and the Ephori sent presently to their Admiral at Samos to do whatsoever Cyrus required of him He therefore with his Ships put over to Ephesus where he met with Tamos the Aegyptian who was Admiral with Cyrus and offered him his service joyning his Fleet to his and so they both sailed round about the coast of Jonia unto Cania whereby they prevented Syenesis who Governed there that he could not stir to hinder Cyrus in his march against his Brother Cyrus having now his Army in readiness resolved to march into upper Asia giving out that he went against the Pisidians who as he said made often inrodes into his Government He sent for Clearchus of Lacedemonia Aristippus of Thessaly Xenes of Arcadia those which were banished from Miletus and the Army that lay before that City Proxenus also a Booetian with all the power he could make both of Grecians and others to repair speedily to him to Sardis But Tisaphernes seeing greater preparations made than a bare going against the Pisidians could require taking with him five hundred Horse made all the speed that possibly he could to Artaxerxes informing him of his danger who thereupon presently prepared for the Wars Cyrus in the mean time left some trusty Persians his Friends to look to Lydia and Tamos his Admital to take care of the Cities of Jonia and Eolia in his absence and himself
with his Army marched towards Caria and Pisidia still giving it out that some Persons in those parts were grown unruly He had in his Army a great number of his own besides thirteen thousand Grecians when news of his approach was brought to the Court all was strait in an uproar Many accused the Queen-Mother as having a hand in it and all her Servants were vehemently suspected But that which troubled Parysatis most was Queen Statyra her Daughter in Law who stormed exceedingly when she saw this War begun against her Husband and cryed out on the Queen-Mother for it Parysatis hereupon being a cruel and malicious Woman so hated her hence forwards that she sought her Death by all means Cyrus in the mean time came on without resistance even to the City of Babylon And whereas Artaxerxes had determined to retire into the farthest parts of Persia Tiribazus was the first that durst tell him that he should not shun the fight lerving to his enemies the Kingdomes of Media Babylon and Susa considering that he had a greater Army than Cyrus and far more skilful Captains which words made the King to alter his mind and to resolve to give Battel so soon as he could Cyrus coming with his Army to the River Cayster received money from Epiaxa Wife to Syenesis the King of Cilicia wherewith he paid his Army full four months Wages and by her perswasion her Husband Syenesis gave him also a vast summ of money towards the maintenance of his Army and like a wise man at the same time he supplied Artaxerxes with necessaries for the War and having two Sons he sent one of them to Cyrus with a competent number of men for his service and the other he sent privily away to Artaxerxes to let him know that having such an Army come upon him he durst not but keep fair with Cyrus nevertheless that he continued a true Servant in heart to Artaxerxes and would fall to him so soon as he had opportunity At Tarsus the Grecians who were eleven thousand Corselets and two thousand Targateers told Cyrus plainly that they would march no farther but by the wisdom of Clearchus they were perswaded to go on and so they came to Issus the utmost City of Cilicia where Cyrus's Fleet met him bringing great supplies to him and the Straights of Syria being abandoned Cyrus marched without any stop to the place where the fight shortly after was Cyrus besides the Grecians before mentioned had in his Army one hundred thousand fighting men and two hundred hooked Chariots Of Artaxerxes his part there were four hundred thousand men and fifteen hundred hooked Chariots The place where the fight was was called Cyanaxa five hundred furlongs from Babylon Cyrus his men were marvelously astonished when they saw the Army of Artaxerxes in such excellent good order whereas themselves were dispersed here and there stragling without any order and ill armed trusting too much to themselves and dispising their enemies So that Cyrus had much ado to set his men in Battel array and yet was it with great noise and tumult But of all others the Grecians wondred most when they saw the Kings Army march in so good order of Battel without any noise for they thought to have seen them in great disorder and confusion and supposed that they would have made such a noise as one could not have heard another whereas Artaxerxes had marshalled his Army excellent well He had placed before his Battel his best Chariots armed with Sithes and drawn by the strongest and biggest Horses he had hoping by their fierceness and fury to disorder the ranks of his enemies Before the Battel began Clearchus General of the Grecians advised Cyrus to keep behind his Squadron and not to hazard his Person amongst his own men To whom Cyrus answered What saist thou Clearchus What wouldst thou have me who strive to be a King to shew my self unworthy to be a King But Clearchus himself committed as great if not a worse fault whenas he would not order his men directly against the Battel of the enemy where Artaxerxes was but pent them up by the Rivers side for fear least they should be compassed in behind whereas if the Grecians had been set in opposition to the King he had never been able to endure their charge but had either been slain or forced to fly wherefore if Artaxerxes would have chosen or wished a place where the Grecians might have done him less hurt he could not have devised a fitter place that was so far from him and from whence the Grecians could neither see nor hear what was done in the place where he was as afterwards appeared Cyrus being mounted upon an hot and hard mouthed Horse the Governour of the Province of the Caducians spyed him afar off and clapping spurs to his Horse he came with a full career to him crying out O Traytor and most unfaithful man Thou dishonourest the name of Cyrus for that thou hast brought such valiant Grecians upon so wicked an enterprise to spoil the Persians Goods and to destroy thy Soveraign Lord and only Brother who hath an infinite number of Slaves and Servants that are honester men than thy self and that thou shalt presently know by experience for thou shalt die before thou seest the Kings face and therewithall he threw his Dart at him with all his force But the Armour of Cyrus was so good that it pierced not yet the blow made him stagger on his Horse back Artagerses having given him this blow presently wheeled about But Cyrus threw a Dart at him so happily that he slew him the head of his Dart passing quite through his Neck Cyrus hereupon presently slew upon those that were neerest to the Kings Person and came so near the King that he flew his Horse under him But Tiribazus presently mounted the King upon another Horse and Cyrus clapping spurs to his Horse threw another Dart at the King and hit him But at the third charge Artaxerxes told them about him that he could not abide this and that he had rather die than suffer it and thereupon he spurred his Horse to charge Cyrus who also came fiercely against him and threw his Dart at him as also did all those that were about the King and so was Cyrus slain in this conflict Now after Cyrus was dead Artasyras one of the Kings Eunuchs passing by found his dead Body whereupon he gallopped apace to the King and with a smiling countenance told him the news Artaxerxes was so joyful that he would needs go to the place to see it But he was advised not to go in Person for fear of the Grecians who carried all before them and were killing those that had fled before them Upon this advice the King stayed and sent thirty men with Torches in their hands to seek him out The King was very ill both by reason of the great thirst he suffered as also by reason of a wound that he had received
for seventeen dayes together and then died with much torment Now Parysatis to satisfie her revenge had only Mesabates to râ—ak her teen on who was one of the Kings Eunuchs who at his command had cut off Cyrus his Head and Hand But he was so wary that she could get no advantage against him wherefore she invented this device She was very skilful in playing at Cards and Dice and finding the King one day at leisure she enticed him to play at Dice with her for a thousand Daricks and was contented willingly to lose them and paid them down Then she prayed him to play with her for one of his Eunuchs the King was contented but they agreed that each of them should name five of the chiefest whom they would except and then the loser should presently deliver to the winner the choice of all the other Eunuchs they had Now did she play so warily and cunningly that she wan the Game and then required Mesabates to be delivered to her being none of those whom the King excepted And when she had him she delivered him to the Hangman commanding him to flea him alive and then to nail him to a Cross and crucifie him and to hang his skin by him which was done accordingly The King was marvellously angry when he knew it and was grievously offended with his Mother But Queen Statyra spared not to tell the Queen-Mother plainly that it was wickedly done of her to put the Kings true and faithful Servant to so cruel a Death for Cyrus sake Yet Parysatis laughed it out saying to her Son Indeed it becomes thee well to be angry for an old Gelded Villain whereas I lost a thousand Daricks and said never a word for it In brief she would never be out of her Sons sight but as little as might be and would let his Wife Statyra have as little time with him as possible that she might Govern him as she would because she hated her of all Creatures living as also for that she would bear the greatest sway and credit about him Tisaphernes having deceived Clearchus and the other Captains of the Greeks by falsifying his word and promise given to them he sent them bound to the King who cast them into Prison and though Parysatis was an earnest suitor to the King her Son for them yet at the perswasion of his Wife Statyra he put them all to death but Menon Parysatis had for a long time born implacable and inveterate hatred against Statyra for that she had more love and respect from the King than her self so that she determined that either her self or her Daughter in Law must dye Now Statyra had a Maid called Gingis or Gigis who was very gracious with her and whom Parysatis made use of in poysoning Statyra There is a little Bird in Persia called Rhindaces that hath no excrements at all but all her guts are stuffed full with fat One of these Birds as she sat at Table with Statyra she or one of her maids took and cut in two with a knife that was poysoned on the one side and so gave that half which was towards that poisoned side to her Daughter and did eat the other her self shortly after which the Queen died in extream torments And the King presently suspected his Mother for it knowing her cruel and implacable disposition and he caused her Servants and Carvers to be examined and wracked about it But Parysatis kept Gingis a long time in her own chamber and though the King required her yet would she not give her up to Justice till at last Gingis her self desiring to steal to her own lodging in the night she was apprehended and punished as a Poysoner As for his Mother the King neither did nor said any hurt unto her But when she desired to retire her self to Babylon the King gave it her but withall swore to her that while she lived he would not come thither Artaxerxes for his good service in the War gave to Tisaphernes all the Governments which his Brother Cyrus had held besides what he had before he heaped also many other large gifts and favours upon him and above all gave him his own Daughter to Wife and ever after used him as his most confident Friend and Servant Now Artaxerxes having done the utmost he could to overcome those Grecians whom his Brother Cyrus had brought into the heart of his Dominions yet could he never prevail against them For though they had lost Cyrus who entertained them and all their Captains that led them yet did they choose other Captains whereof Xenophon was one and made their retreat in spite of all the Power of Persia whereupon all the other Grecians waxed bold and despised those Barbarous People and the Lacedemonians thought it a great shame to them if they did not deliver the Grecians that dwelt in Asia from the slavery and bondage of the Persians For which end they sent thither their King Agesilaus who passing into Asia with his Ships began presently to make hot War against the Persians and in the first conflict he overthrew Tisaphernes and caused most of the Cities of the Greeks in those parts to rebell against him Artaxerxes being informed hereof considered seriously how he might prevent this mischief and at last resolved upon this as his only course He sent into Greece one Hermocrates a Rhodian with a very great sum of Gold and Silver which he was bountifully to bestow amongst the Nobility and chief Rulers of the Cities of Greece to provoke them to rise up against the Lacedemonians This Hermocrates so wisely managed his business that he made the chiefest Cities of Greece to rebell against the Lacedemonians so that all Peloponnesus being in Arms the Ephori at Lacedaemon were enforced to send for Agesilaus home again Agesilaus being sorry that he lef Asia said unto his Friends that the King of Persia had driven him out of his Dominions with thirty thousand Archers and this he said because the Persian coin was stamped on the Reverse with an Archer having a Bow in his hand Artaxerxes also drave out the Lacedemonians from all their jurisdiction by Sea by the help of Conon the Athenian Admiral whom Pharnabazus one of his Lieutenants had procured to take his part This Conon having been overthrown in a Battel at a place called the Goats River kept ever after in the Isle of Cyprus as being the meetest place to slay in till the Wars of Greece were ended He knowing that himself lacked power and that Artaxerxes wanted a man of Judgment to be employed he wrote Letters to him wherein he advised him what to do These Letters were delivered to Artaxerxes by Ctesias who was presently sent to assist Conon And it fell out that after Artaxerxes had through the conduct of Conon and Pharnebazus won the Battel by Sea near to the Isle of Gnidus and thereby had driven the Lacedemonians from their Lordship of the Sea
all Greece had him in marvellous great estimation so that he gave to the Grecians such conditions as he pleased whereupon that famous Peace called Antalcid as Peace was concluded This Antalcidas was a Citizen of Sparta who favouring the affairs of Artaxerxes procured by this Treaty of Peace that the Lacedemonians should leave to Artaxerxes all the Grecian Cities in Asia and all the Isles belonging thereunto and to cause them to pay him Tribute at his pleasure This Peace being concluded with the Grecians King Artaxerxes though he extreamly hated the Lacedemonians yet he loved Antalcidas very well and entertained him honourably when he came to him into Persia. One day the King took a Garland of Flowers and wet it in the most precious and sweetest Oyl of perfume that was prepared for the Feast and sent it to Antalcidas Indeed he was a meet man to follow the vanity and curiosity of the Persians Shortly after the Lacedemonians lost the Battel at Leuctres and therewith the Principality which they had kept so long over all Greece When Sparta flourished most and was chief of all the other Grecian Cities so long did Artaxerxes continue to make much of Antalcidas and called him his Friend But when the Lacedemonians had lost the Battel at Leuctres having received so great a blow and wanting money they sent Agesilaus into Egypt and Antalcidas into Persia to King Artaxerxes to pray him to aid and assist the Lacedemonians But he made so small account of him and disdained him so much denying his request that he returned to Sparta with shame and dishonour And there also seeing that his enemies did mock him and fearing that the Ephori would commit him to Prison he killed himself with Famine About the same time the Thebans having under Epaminondas won the Battel at Leuctres sent Ismenias and Pelopidas into Persia to King Artaxerxes where Pelopidas did nothing unworthy himself But Ismenias being commanded to kneel to the King let fall his Ring at his feet and stooped to take it up whereby some thought that he did it to kneel to the King At another time Artaxerxes liking well a secret advertisement sent him from Timagoras the Athenian he gave him ten thousand Daricks by his Secretary Belluris and because he had a sickly Body and was forced to drink Cows milk to restore him the King therefore sent him eighty milch Kine that he might have fresh Milk every day He sent him also a Bed with all things belonging thereto and Grooms of his Chamber to make his Bed saying That the Grecians knew not how to make it He also sent him men to carry him upon their Arms to the Sea-side because he was sick and whilst he was at Court he entertained him very honourably and bountifully But the Athenians afterward condemned Timagoras to dye because he had taken Bribes of the King of Persia. But Artaxerxes though he had in many other things vexed the Grecians yet he did one thing that pleased them exceeding well when he did put Tisaphernes to Death who was the greatest enemy they had Parisatis the Kings Mother did help to bring this to pass aggravating the accusations which were brought against Tisaphernes out of the hatred which she did bear him for her Son Cyrus his sake For the King did not keep his anger long against her but sent for her from Babylon knowing that she had an excellent wit and was fit to Govern a Kingdom Besides there was nothing now to hinder their coming together his Wife being dead And now Parysatis applyed her self to feed the Kings humour in every thing seeming to mislike nothing that he did By this means she grew into so great credit with him that he denied nothing that she asked She perceiving that the King was extreamly in love with one of his own Daughters called Atossa which hitherto he had dissembled chiefly for fear of her Parysatis having found out this began to make more of his Daughter than she did before and in her Fathers presence sometimes she praised her beauty another time her grace and good carriage saying That she was like a Queen and Noble Princess so that at length she perswaded him to marry her openly though before he had her Maidenhead not passing for the Laws and opinions of the Grecians considering that he was to establish Laws to the Persians to determine of right and wrong good and bad Hereupon he married Atossa and loved her very intirely insomuch as though she had a grievous disease that ran all over her Body yet he loved her not the less for it and prayed continually for her to the Goddess Juno and fell on his knees before her Image and sent to her so many offerings that all the way from the Court Gates to Juno's Temple which was sixteen furlongs off was full of Gold Silver rich Purple Silks and Horses which were sent thither About this time Artaxerxes made War against Aegypt by Pharnabazus and Iphicrates the Athenian but they did no good because they fell out betwixt themselves wherefore himself went in Person against the Caducians with three hundred thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse Their Country was very rude which he invaded alwayes dark and cloudy the earth brought forth nothing that was sowed by man and the Inhabitants lived upon Pears and Apples and such like fruit yet the men were strong and lusty When he was entred far into this Country his Army fell into great straits for want of Victuals for his Souldiers found nothing that was fit to eat neither could they come by Victuals from any other place because of the naughty and craggy wayes so that they were forced to live upon their own Beasts and that was sold very dear for an Asses head was sold for sixty Silver Drams Yea the Famine was so great that the King himself wanted food and now there were but few Horses left Now Tiribazus though he was at this time out of favour with the King yet he invented this Stratagem whereby he saved the King and all his men In this Countrey there were two Kings with their Armies in the Field and each of them camped apart from the other Tiribazus after he had imparted his Project to the King himself went to one of these Kings and at the same time sent his Son to the other and told either of them that the other had sent Ambassadours unto King Artaxerxes to make Peace with him unwitting to his Companion and therefore he counselled them if they were wise one of them to seek to prevent the other with all the speed that possible he could Both the one and the other Kings believed these words either of them mistrusting the other So that speedily the one sent his Ambassadours to Artaxerxes with Tiribazus and the other also his Ambassadours with his Son But Tiribazus tarrying somewhat long in the Journey Artaxerxes began somewhat to suspect him His enemies also accused
to his People He also it was who intending to make War upon Egypt that he might have the more assistance therein from the Grecians he sent his Ambassadours into Greece to induce them to make a general Peace among themselves upon these terms that every City should from thenceforth live according to their own Laws and should have no Garrisons amongst them This motion all the Cities of Greece embraced save only the Thebans as you may see in the Life of Epaminondas THE LIFE and DEATH OF ALEXANDER the GREAT KING OF MACEDONIA A LEXANDER surnamed the Great was the Son of Philip King of Macedonia and of his Queen Olympias He was born on the sixth day of our June called by the Macedonians Lous Upon the very same day that the Temple of Diana in Ephesus was burned down whereupon the Priests Magicians and South-sayers ran about the City crying that some great Plague and mischief to Asia was surely born that day Three Messengers came to King Philip presently after he had won the City of Potidaea upon the same day who brought him great News the first that Parmenio his General had won a notable Battel of the Illyrians the second that his Horse had won the prize at the Olympian Games and the third that his Wife Olympias had brought him a Son that was named Alexander born at Pella in Macedonia Philip being marvellous glad to hear these Newses the South-sayers much added to his joy assuring him that his Son that was thus born should be invincible He had naturally a very fair white colour mingled with red which chiefly appeared in his face and breast His Skin had a marvellous sweet savour and his breath was very sweet which sheweth his excellent constitution He was naturally hot and Cholerick which made him to be addicted to drink and hasty and yet was chast withall His Father was very careful of his Education and therefote gat for him excellent Tutors as Leonidas which had the chiefest Government of him Then Lysimachus an Acarnanian and Aristotle the Best Philosopher of his time to whom Philip allowed a very honourable stipend He delighted much in hunting divers kind of wild Beasts and playing at the Staff On a time while he was young Ambassadors were sent to his Father from the King of Persia and it fell out that Philip was in some journey out of his Kingdom Alexander therefore intertained them familiarly not using any childish questions to them nor enquiring about trifling and trivial matters but what distance it was from one place to another and which way they went into the higher places of Asia Also about the King of Persia himself how he behaved himself towards his enemies and what power he had c. insomuch as they were ravished with delight to hear him judging him to be of great Courage and of a Noble mind and one that was like to attempt great enterprises When at any time news was brought him that his Father had taken some famous City or had won some great Battel he was no whit glad to hear it but would say to his Play-fellows Sirs My Father will do all I shall have nothing left me to Conquer with you that will be ought worth Upon a time Philonicus a Thessalian brought a brave Horse called Bucephalus to sell unto king Philip demanding thirteen Talents for him and they went into the Field to try him But the Horse was found to be so unruly and churlish that they which should have ridden him said that he would never be made serviceable For he would let no man get upon his Back nor abide any of the Gentlemens voices that were about Philip but would yerk at them with his heels whereupon Philip being afraid bad them take him away as a wild untamable and unprofitable Beast which they had done accordingly had not Alexander that stood by said O Gods what a Horse do they turn away for lack of skill and courage to handle and break him Philip heard what he said but held his peace Alexander often repeating those words and seeming sorry that the Horse should be sent back Philip said Why doest thou control them that have more skill and experience than thy self and that know better how to handle a Horse than thou doest Alexander answered and yet me-thinks I could handle him better than all they have done But if thou canst do no more than they replied Philip what wilt thou forfet for thy folly I am content said Alexander to forfeit the price of the Horse Every one laughed to hear his answer and the match was made between the Father and the Son Then ran Alexander to the Horse and took him by the Bridle and turned him towards the Sun It seems he had observed how mad the Horse was to see his own shadow which was before always before his eyes as he sturred too and fro Then Alexander speaking gently to the Horse and clapping him on the back with his hand till he had left his fury and snorting softly let fall his Cloak from him and lightly leaped on his back and so gat up without any danger and holding the reins of the Bridle hard without striking or stirring the Horse made him to be gentle enough And when he perceived that the fury of the Horse was calmed he put him forward and began to Gallop Then he put him to his full carrier spurring and switching him Philip at first seeing his Sons confidence began to fear lest he should catch any hurt But when he saw him readily to turn the Horse at the end of his carrier and shewing bravery for what he had done all the Spectators gave a great shoot for joy and the Father fell a weeping for joy and when Alexander was alighted from the Horse his Father went and kissed him saying O Son thou must have a Kingdom that is meet for thee for Macedonia is not sufficient for thee Considering also that he was not to be rigorously dealt with and that by gentle means and perswasions he could make him do what he would he ever sought rather to perswade than to command him what he would have done Alexander in these his younger days was very mild and of a patient disposition insomuch as being told that some of his Friends used in secret to speak against him he said Regium est malè audire câ—m benefeceris It s a Kingly thing to hear ill when one doth well King Philip being dead his Son Alexander succeeded being a Prince no less Valiant by Nature than by Education being well instructed and inriched with all sorts of Learning He began his Reign in Macedonia four hundred and seventeen years after Rome was built being himself about twenty years old Upon this change of the King the neighbour Nations whom Philip had oppressed adventured to endeavour the recovery of their former liberty by force of Arms the young years of Alexander giving some hope of prevailing and his
yet was his victory so easie that the Persians flying he slew twenty thousand of the Foot and two thousand five hundred Horsemen with the loss of twelve of his own Foot and two and twenty of his Horsemen which shews that the Persians were rather killed in their backs whilst they ran away than hurt in their bosoms by resisting It was wisely done of Alexander to pass this River of Granick in the face of the enemy without seeking any other place or means to convey his men over For having beaten the Asiaticks upon their own ground he did thereby cut off no less of their reputation than of their strength leaving the partakers of such Cowards without hope of Succour Presently after this Victory he recovered Sardis Ephesus and the City of the Trallians and Magnesia all which were soon rendred to him the Inhabitants he received with great grace suffering them to be governed by their own Laws and about the same time by Parmenio he wan Miletus and by force took in Halicarnasseus which because it resisted obstinately he razed it to the ground From thence he went into Caria where Ada the Queen who had been cast out of all that she held except the City of Alinda by Darius his Leiutenants presented her self to him and adopted him for her Son and Successour which Alexander took so kindly that he left the whole Kingdom to her disposal Then entred he into Lycia and Pamphilia and assured to him all the Sea-coasts and subjecting to him Pisidia he steared his course towards Darius vvho as he was informed vvas marching towards him with a marvellous great Army by the vvay of Phrygia and this he might the easilier do for that his first Victory had laid under his feet all the Provinces of Asia the less which bordered upon the Sea-coast Then gave he order for the setling and Government of Lycia and Pamphilia and so marching towards the North he entred Celenas seated on the River Meander which was abandoned to him only the Castle held out which yet after forty days vvas surrendred to him also for so long time he gave them to attend succour from Darius From Celenas he passed on thorow Phrygia towards the Euxine Sea till he came to the City of Gordium somtimes the Regal City of King Midas vvhere he found the Gordian Knot which when he knew not hovv to undo he cut it asunder vvith his Svvord For there vvas an old Prophesie vvhich promised him that could unty it the Lordship of all Asia vvhereupon Alexander not respecting the manner so it vvere done assumed to himself the fulfilling of the Prophesie by hevving it in pieces Novv before he left this part of Asia to go to the East he took care to clear the Sea-coast on his back and to thrust the Persians out of the Islands of Lesbos Chio and Coos the charge vvhereof he committed to tvvo of his Captains giving them such directions as he judged most meet for that service and delivering to them fifty Talents for defraying the charges thereof and vvithal out of the spoil gotten by his first Victory he sent sixty Talents more to Antipater vvhom he had left for the Government of Macedonia and Greece From Celenas he vvent to Ancira standing on the same River of Sanguarius vvhich runs through Gordium there he mustered his Army and so entred into Paphlagonia vvhose Inhabitants submitted themselves to him and thereby obtained freedom from Tribute There he left Catus Governour vvith one Regiment of Macedonians newly come to him Here he heard of the Death of Memnon Darius's Lieutenant which much encouraged him to pass on towards him For of this one Commander he had more respect than of all the multitude assembled by Darius and of all the Captains he had besides Then did he travel hastily towards Cilicia with a desire to recover the Streights thereof before Darius should arrive there The Governour of Cilicia hearing of Alexanders hasty march left some Companies to keep the Streights which were indeed very defensible and now though too late began to prize and put in Execution the advice of Memnon who in the beginning of the Wars had counselled to wast all the provisions both for Man and Horse that could not be conveyed into strong holds and always to give ground to the Invader till he found some such notable advantage as might secure to him the Victory For the fury of an invading army is best broken by delays change of diet and want and other inconveniences bringing and breeding many diseases upon all Nations out of their own Country And had Darius kept the Macedonians but a while without meat and sleep refusing to give or take Battel and had wearied them with his light Horsemen as the Parthians afterwards did the Romans in all probability he might have saved both his life and Estate For it was one of the greatest encouragements given by Alexander to his Macedonians before the third and last fatal Battel that they were now to fight with all the strength of Persia at once But where God hath a purpose to destroy wise men are taken away and the charge of things is committed unto such as either cannot see what is for their good or that know not how to put in execution any sound advice the courte which Memnon had propounded must in all liklyhood have brought the Macedonians into great straits and stopt them at those narrow passages of Cilicia For had Cappadocia and Paphlagonia being wasted when Alexander was far off and the Streights of Cilicia been defended by Arsenes with his best Souldiers hunger would not have suffered the enemy to stay the tryal of all means for the forcing of that passage Or if the place could not have been defended yet might Cilicia at leasure have been throughly spoiled that the heart of Alexanders Army should have been broken whilest they sought out miseries by painful travel But Arsenes leaving a small number to defend the Streights took the best of his Army with him to wast and spoil the Country or rather as it seemed to make himself some work under which pretence he might with honesty run the further from Alexander And in truth he so handled the matter that he gave cause to the Cicilians to wish for Alexanders coming and as great cause to the Keepers of the Passage not to hinder it For Cowards are wise in apprehending all forms of danger These Guardians of the Streights hearing that Arsenes hasted to joyn himself with Darius burning down all as he went as one despairing to defend it began to think that surely their General who gave for lost the Country behind their backs had exposed themselves to certain ruin as men that were fit only to dull the Swords of the Macedonians Wherefore not being ambitious to die for their Prince and Country which honour they saw that Arsenes himself could well forbear they presently followed the footsteps of their General gleaning what he had
Darius was so infatuated that he would needs fight with Alexander in such a streight place neer unto the City of Issus where he could bring no more hands to fight than Alexander could who by the advice of Parmenio staid there as in a place of advantage whereby he was utterly overthrown his Treasure lost his Wife Mother and Children whom the Grecians had perswaded him to leave in Babylon taken Prisoners and all their train of Ladies spoiled of their rich Garments Jewels and Honour Indeed the Queen with her Daughters who had the good hap to be brought to Alexanders presence were entertained with all respect due unto them their Honours preserved and their Jewels and rich Garments restored and though the Queen was a most beautiful Lady and her Daughters of excellent features yet Alexander mastered his affections towards them all Only he embraced the Wife of the Valiant Memnon who was lately dead she being taken by Parmenio as she fled from Damascus at which time the Daughters of Ochus who reigned before Darius and the Wives and Children of almost all the Nobility of Persia fell into Captivity together with the Treasure of Darius not taken at Issus was seized upon amounting to six thousand and two hundred Talents in ready Coin and in Bullion five hundred Talents with a world of Riches besides Parmenio also in his Letter to Alexander sent him word that amongst other things he had taken at Damascus three hundred twenty nine of the Kings Women which were Skilful in Musick forty six Weavers or Knitters of Crowns Pastry Women two hundred seventy seven Cook Maids twenty nine White-meat-makers thirteen Makers of drinking Cups seventeen Wine-cellar men seventy Apothecaries and Confectioners forty Thirty thousand Men and seven thousand Camels Darius himself leaving his Brother dead casting the Crown from his head with divers others of his chief Captains hardly escaped by flight After this overthrow given to Darius all Phoenicia the City of Tyre excepted yielded unto Alexander who made Permenio Governour of it Also Aradus Zidon and Biblos which were Maritine Cities of great importance of which one Strato was King but hated of his People submitted unto Alexander Yea good success attended him every where For Antigonus who was his Lieutenant in Asia the Less overthew the Cappadocians Paphlagonians and others lately revolted Aristodemus also who was Darius his Admiral had his Fleet partly taken and partly drowned by the Macedonians Likewise the Lacedemonians who rose up against Antipater were beaten and four thousand of those Greeks that made so brave a retreat at the last Battel being led by Amyntas into Egypt intending to hold it for themselves were there slain for the time to divide Kingdoms was not yet come Alexander to honour his beloved Ephestion gave him power to dispose of the Kingdom of Zidon and Ephestion to shew his gratitude offered to bestow it upon his Host with whom he quartered But the Man not being of the Kingly Race refused it saying It is not our Country fashion that any should be king but such as are of the Kingly Line And such an one saith he lives hard by a good and a wise man but very poor and one that lives by his hard labour Then did Ephestion taking Kingly apparrel along with him go to this poor Man and saluted him King bidding him wash off his dirt and put off his rags and put on that Royal Apparel The poor Mans name was Abdolominus who thought he had been in a dream but being by the standers by washed and adorned Ephestion led him into the Pallace saying When thou sittest on thy Throne and hast power over the lives of all thy Subjects forget not thy former condition Alexander hearing of it sent for him and asked him with what pacience he being of so Noble an Extraction could bear his former poverty To whom Abdolominus answered I pray God that I may bear the Kingdom with the same mind For said he these hands have provided for my necessities and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing While Alexander staid in those parts he received a Letter from Darius wherein he desired to ransom his Mother Wife and Children with some other conditions of Peace but such as rather became a Conqueror than one who had been so shamefully beaten not vouchsafing in the Endorsement to give Alexander the Title of King Alexander disdained his offers and sent him word that he was not only a King but the King of Darius himself When Alexander came neer the City of Tyre he received from them the present of a Golden Crown and great store of Victuals with some other things which he took very thankfully sending them word that he desired to offer a Sacrifice to Hercules the Protector of their City from whom he was descended The Tyrians not liking his presence within their Walls returned answer that the Temple of Hercules was seated where the old City stood but Alexander was resolved to enter Tyre by force though in most mens Judgments the City was impregnable for the Island whereon it was built was eight hundred furlongs from the Land yet with the labor of many hands having great store of Stone from old Tyre and Timber sufficient from Libanus he stopped up the passage between the Island and the Main being more than once carried away by Storms and sometimes fired by the Tyrians yet with the help of his Navy he overcame all difficulties and prevailed having spent seven moneths in that attempt The Tyrians in the beginning of the Siege had barbarously drowned some Messengers sent by Alexander to perswade them to yield in respect whereof and of his great loss of time and men he put eight thousand to the Sword and caused two thousand of those that had escaped the first fury to be hanged on Crosses upon the Sea-shore and reserved for slaves thirteen thousand some say thirty thousand and many more of them had died if the Zidonians that served Alexander had not conveyed great numbers of them by shipping to their own City Alexander gave the Government of this Territory to Philotas the Son of Parmenio Ephestion had the charge of the Fleet and was commanded to meet Alexander at Gaza in the way to Egypt Whilst Alexander lay at the Siege of Tyrus he sent to Jaddus the High Priest at Jerusalem demanding of him supplies and provisions for his Army and withal such Tribute as they formerly paid to Darius But when Jaddus answered that he was tyed by a former Oath of Allegiance to Darius from which he could not be free so long as Darius lived Alexander growing wroth at this answer swore that as soon as he had taken Tyrus he would march against Jerusalem At the same time also came Sanballat the Cuthaean to Alexander who haing forsaken Darius brought with him eight thousand men Him did Alexander receive very graciously Whereupon he asked leave of him to build a Temple upon his
own Land and to make high Priest thereof his Son in Law Manasses who was Brother to Jaddus the High Prist at Jerusalem and having obtained leave because he now grew old he fell presently to work and built a Temple and made Manasses High Priest of it thinking hereby to leave a great Honour to the Posterity of his Daughter In the mean while Darius sends again to Alexander setting before him all difficulties he should meet with in his passing on to the East laying the loss of the late Battel to the streightness of the place He bids him to consider how impossible it was for him to pass the Rivers of Euphrates Tygris Araxes c. with all such other dreadful things as he thought might discourage him Moreover he profered to him all the Kingdoms which lay between the River Halis and the Hellespont as a Dower with his beloveed Daughter But Alexander rejected all saying That he proferred him nothing but what already was his own and what Victory and his Virtue had possessed him of That he was in a capacity to give conditions and not to receive any and that having passed the Sea it self he disdained to think of resistance in transporting his Army over Rivers Indeed Parmenio who was now old and full of Honour and Riches told the King that if he were Alexander he would embrace the offers of Darius to which Alexander answered that so would he if he were Parmenio Then did Alexander march on towards Egypt and when he came to Gaza Getes the Governour a faithful servant to Darius shut the Gates against him and defended the Town with a Noble Resolution at the Siege whereof Alexander received a wound in the shoulder which was dangerous and a blow on his Leg with a stone He found better men in this place than he had done in the former Battels For he left so many of his Macedonians buried in the Sands of Gaza that he was fain to send for a new supply into Greece Here it was that Alexander began to shew his cruelty For after he had taken Gaza by assault and Getes the Governour who was weakened with divers wounds and who never gave ground to the Assailants Alexander caused holes to be bored through his feet and himself to be dragged about the streets whilst he was yet alive who being as Valiant a man as himself scorned to ask him either for life or the mitigation of his Torments From Gaza Alexander led his Army towards Jerusalem a City for the Antiquity and great fame thereof well known unto him while he lay before Tyre he had sent for some supplies thither which Jaddus the High Priest being Subject and Sworn to Darius had refused him The Jews therefore fearing revenge and unable to resist committed the care of their Lives and Estates to Jaddus who had recourse to God by Supplications and Sacrifices for the Common safety and was by him warned in a Dream that he should make Holy-day in the City and set the Gates wide open and that he and the rest of the Priests every one in his Priestly Raiment and the People all clothed in white should go forth and meet Alexander and accordingly he Issued out of the City arrayed in his Pontifical Robes to wit an upper garment of Purple Embroidered with Gold with his Mitre and the Plate of Gold wherein was engraved the Name of God the Priests and Levites also in their rich Ornaments and the People in White Garments in a manner so unusual stately and grave as Alexander greatly admired it and when he came neer to the High Priest he fell to the ground before him as reverencing the Name of God and when Parmenio reproved him for it Alexander told him that in Dios a City of Macedonia his mind being busied about the Conquest of Asia he saw in his sleep such a Person as Jaddus and so apparelled by whom he was encouraged to pursue his purpose with assurance of Victory and now beholding with his bodily eyes him who before was only represented to his fancy he was so exceedingly pleased and encouraged as contrary to the expectation of the Phaenicians who hoped to have sackt and destroyed Jerusalem he gave the Jews all and more than all that they desired During his abode there Jaddus shewed him the Prophesie of Daniel wherein he saw himself and his Conquest of Persia so directly pointed at as that nothing from thenceforth could either affright or discourage him therein The next day Alexander assembled the People and bad them ask what they would of him But they asked nothing but that they might live according to the Laws of their own Country and that every seventh year vvherein they were to have no harvest they might be exempted from paying any Tribute all which he granted And when they asked further that he would suffer the Jews vvhich dwelt in the Countries of Babylon and Media to live according to their own Rites and Laws he answered that he vvould satisfie their desires in that point also so soon as he should get those Countries into his power And vvhen he told them that if any of them vvould follovv him in his Wars they should use their own Rites vvheresoever they came many listed themselves to serve him From Jerusalem Alexander turned again towards Egypt and entring into it Astaces vvho vvas Darius's Lieutenant received him and delivered into his hands Memphis vvith eight hundred Talents of Treasure and all other the Kings Riches and vvhen Alexander had set things in order in Egypt he began to affect a Deity at the Temple of Jupiter Hammon so foolish had prosperity made him He vvas to pass over dangerous and dry Sands vvhere vvhen the Water vvhich he brought on his Camels backs vvas spent he must needs have perished had not an extraordinary shower of Rain fallen just vvhen his Army vvas in extream despair Indeed it nevever Rains in Egypt but the purposes of Almighty God are secret and he bringeth to pass vvhatsoever pleaseth him It s said also that vvhen he had lost his vvay in those vast Desarts a flight of Crows flew before his Army making sometimes more sometimes less hast till they had guided him over those pathless Sands to Jupiters Temple When Alexander came neer the place he sent some of his Parasites to corrupt the Priests attending the Oracle that their answer might be given in all things according to his mad ambition vvho affected to be accounted the Son of Jupiter and accordingly he was saluted Jupiters Son by the Devils Prophet for which he was richly rewarded and presently a rumour was spread abroad that Jupiter had owned him for his Child and the better to confirm his followers in the belief of his Deity he suborned the Priests to give answer to such as consulted with the Oracle that it would be very pleasing to Jupiter to Honour Alexander as his Son But this is certain
suffered great want of water insomuch as when they came to the River Oxus there died more of them by immoderate drinking than Alexander had lost in any one Battel against the Persians He found upon the Banks of this great River no manner of Timber or other materials wherewith to make Bridges or Boats or Rafts but was forced to sew together Hides that covered his Carriages and stuffing them with straw he was six dayes in passing over his Army after that manner which Bessus might easily have distressed if he had dared but to look the Macedonians in the face He had formerly complained of Darius for neglecting to defend the Banks of Tigris and other Passes and yet now when this Traiterous slave had stiled himself a King he durst not perform any thing worthy of a slave and therefore they that were nearest to him and whom he most trusted to wit Spicamenes Dataphernes Cantanes and others the Commanders of his Army moved both by the care of their own safety and the remembrance of Bessus his Treason and cruelty against Darius bound him as he had done his Master only his chain was closed about his neck like a Mastiff Dog and so they dragged him along to present him to Alexander In the mean time Alexander was arrived at a certain Town inhabited by Greeks of Miletum brought thither by Xerxes when long before he returned out of Greece whose children had now almost forgotten their Countrey Language These entertained him with great joy but he most cruelly put them all to the Sword and destroyed their City At this place he received Bessus and having rewarded Spitamenes and his Associates he delivered the Traitor into the hands of Oxatre Brother to Darius to be tormented by him But now when he thought himself most secure and out of danger some twenty thousand Mountainers assaulted his Camp in repelling whom he received a shot in his leg the Arrow head sticking in the flesh so that he was fain to be carried in a Horse-Litter for some time after Shortly after he came unto Maracanda judged by some to be the same with Samarcand the Imperial City of the Great Tamerlain which was in compass seventy furlongs Here he received the Ambassadors of the Scythians called Avians who offered to serve him Presently after the Bactrians with the Sogdians were again stirred up to Rebellion by the same Spitamenes and Catanes who had lately delivered Bessus into Alexanders hands Many Cities were stoutly defended against him all which after he had subdued them he utterly defaced killing all therein At the Siege of one of these he received a blow in the neck which struck him to the ground and disabled him from action many dayes after In the mean while Spitamenes had recovered Samarcand against whom he sent Menedemus with three thousand Foot and eight hundred Horsemen In the heat of these affairs Alexander marched to the River Jaxartes that runs between Sogdiana and Scythia which he passed over while Menedemus was employed in the recovery of Samarcand Upon the Banks of this River he built another Alexandria sixty furlongs in compass which he beautified with Houses seventeen dayes after the walls were built But the Scythian King perswading himself that this City was built on purpose to keep him under made some attempts to hinder the erection of this new City but being naked of defensive Arms he was easily beaten away Sixty of the Macedonians are said to be slain in this conflict and eleven hundred wounded which might easily be done in passing a great River defended against them by good Archer Of the Scythian Horses eighteen hundred were brought into the Camp and many Prisoners Whilst Alexander was securing himself against those Scythians bordering upon Jaxartes he received the ill news that Menedemus was slain by Spitamenes his Army broken and most of them killed to wit two thousand Foot and three hundred Horse He therefore intending revenge upon Spitamenes made all the haste he could but Spitamenes fled into Bactria Whereupon Alexander killed burned and laid waste all before him not sparing the innocent Children and so departed leaving a new Governour in that Province To repair this loss he received a great supply of nineteen thousand men out of Greece Lycia and Syria with all which and his old Army he returned towards the South and passed the River of Oxus on the South-side whereof he built six Towns near each to other for their mutual security But he found a new upstart Rebell one Arimazes a Sogdian who was followed by thirty thousand Souldiers that defended against him a strong piece of ground on the top of an High and steep Hill Alexander sought but in vain to win him with fair words wherefore he made choice of three hundred young men and promised ten Talents to the first nine to the second and so proportionably to the rest that could find a way to creep to the top thereof This they performed with the loss of thirty two of their number and then made a sign to Alexander that they had accomplished his Commandment Hereupon he sent one Cophes to perswade Arimazes to yield up the place who being shewed 〈◊〉 Cophes that the Macedonians were already gotten up he yielded simply to Alexanders mercy and was with all his Kindred scourged and crucified which punishment they well deserved for keeping no better a watch in so dangerous a time For the place might have been defended against any power After these Sogdian and Scythian Wars Alexander committed the Government of Samarcand and the Country about it to Clytus whom yet he slew soon after for preferring the Virtue of Philip the Father before that of Alexander the Son or rather because he objected to the King the Death of Parmenio and derided the Oracle of Hammon for therein he touched him to the quick his Speech being in publick and at a drunken Banquet Clytus indeed had deserved as much at the Kings hand as any man living having saved his life which the King well remembred when he came to himself and when it was too late to repent As Clytus in his Cups forgat whom he offended so Alexander in his drunkenness forgat whom he slew for grief whereof he afterward tore his Face and sorrowed so inordinately that had he not been over-perswaded by Calisthenes he would have slain himself Drunkenness both kindles and discovers every vice It removes shame which gives impediment to bad attempts Where Wine gets the Mastery all the evil which before lay hidden breaks out Drunkenness indeed rather discovers vices than makes them Soon after this Spitamenes who slew Bessus and had lately revolted from Alexander was murthered by his own Wife and his Head was presented to Alexander Spitamenes being thus taken away the Dahans also seized upon his fellow Conspirator Dataphernes and delivered him up So that Alexander being now freed from all those petty Rebels and disposed of the Provinces that
he had quieted marched on with his Army into Gabaza where it suffered so much Hunger Cold Lightning Thunder and such Storms that in one of them he lost a thousand men From hence he invaded the Sacans and destroyed their Country Then came he into the Territories of Cohortanes who submitted himself to him and presented him with thirty beautiful Virgins amongst whom Roxane afterwards his Wife was one which although all the Macedonians stomached yet none of them durst use any freedome of speech after the death of Clytus From hence he directed his course towards India having so increased his numbers as amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand Armed men In the mean while he would needs be honoured as a God whereunto that he might allure his Macedonians he implyed two of his Parasites Hagis and Cleo whom Calisthenes opposed For amongst many other honest Arguments which he used in the Assembly he told Cleo that he thought that Alexander would disdain the Title of a God from his Vassals That the opinion of Sanctity though it did sometimes follow the Death of those who in their Life-time had done the greatest things yet it never accompanied any one as yet living in the world He said that neither Hercules nor Bacchus were Deified at a Banquet and upon drink for this matter was propounded by Cleo at a carousing Feast but for the more than manly acts performed by them in their Life-time for which they were in succeeding Ages numbred amongst the Gods Alexander stood behind a partition and heard all that was spoken waiting but for an opportunity to be revenged on Calisthenes who being free of speech Honest Learned and a Lover of the Kings Honour was yet shortly after tormented to Death For upon occasion of a Conspiracy made against the King by one Hermelaus and others who confessed it he caused Calisthenes without confession accusation or tryal to be torn asunder upon the Rack This deed unworthy of a King is thus censured by Seneca Thus saith he is the eternal crime of Alexander which no Virtue or felicity of his in War shall ever be able to blot out For as often as any man shall say He slew many thousands of Persians it will be replied He did so and he slew Calisthenes too When it shall be said that he won all as far as to the very Ocean whereon also he adventured with unusual Navies and extended his Empire from a corner of Thrace to the utmost bounds of the East it shall be said withall But he killed Calisthenes Let him have out-gone all the ancient Examples of Captains and Kings none of all his Acts make so much to his Glory as the Death of Calisthenes to his reproach With the Army before mentioned of one hundred and twenty thousand Foot and Horse Alexander entred into the borders of India where such of the Princes as submitted themselves to him he entertained lovingly the others he enforced killing man woman and child where they resisted He then came before Nisa built by Bacchus which after a â—ew dayes was rendred to him From thence he removed to a Hill at hand which on the top had goodly Gardens filled with delicate fruits and Vines dedicated to Bacchus to whom he made Feasts for ten dayes together And when he had drank his fill went on to Dedula and from thence to Acadera Countries spoiled and abandoned by the Inhabitants by reason whereof Victuals failing he divided his Army Ptolomy led one part Cenon another and himself the rest These took in many Towns whereof that of greatest fame was Muzage which had in it three hundred thousand men but after some resistance it was yielded to him by Cleophe the Queen to whom he again restored it At the Siege of this City he received a wound in the leg After this Nola was taken by Polisperchon and a Rock of great strength by Alexander himself He won also a passage from one Eryx who was slain by his own men and his Head presented to Alexander This was the sum of his Actions in those parts before he came to the great River Indus And when he came thither he found there Ephestion who being sent before had prepared Boats for the transportation of his Army and before Alexanders arrival had prevailed with Omphis King of that part of the Country to submit himself to this great Conquerour And hereupon soon after Alexanders coming Omphis presented himself with all the strength of his Country and fifty six Elephants unto him offering him his service and assistance He told Alexander also that he was an enemy to the two next great Kings of that part of India named Abiasares and Porus wherewith Alexander was not a little pleased hoping by this their disunion to make his own Victory be the far more easie This Omphis also presented Alexander with a Crown of Gold the like did the rest of his Commanders and withall he gave him eight Talents of Silver coined which Alexander not only refused but to shew that he coveted Glory not Gold he gave Omphis a thousand Talents of his own Treasure besides other Persian rarities Abiasares being informed that Alexander had received his enemy Omphis into his protection he resolved to make his own peace also For knowing that his own strength did but equal that of Omphis he thought it but an ill match when Alexander who had already subdued all the greatest Princes of Asia should make himself a party and head of the quarrell So then now Alexander had none to stand in his way but Porus to whom he sent a command that he should attend him at the Borders of his Kingdom there to do him Homage But the gallant Porus returned him this manly answer That he would satisfie him in the first demand which was to attend him on his Borders and that well accompanied but for any other acknowledgment he was resolved to take counsel of his Sword To be short Alexander resolved to pass over the River of Hydaspes and to find out Porus at his own home But Porus saved him that labour attending him on the farther bank with thirty thousand Foot ninety Elephants and three hundred armed Chariots and a great Troop of Horse The River was half a mile broad and withal deep and swift It had in it many Islands amongst which there was one much overgrown with Wood and of good capacity Alexander sent Ptolomy with a good part of the Army up the River shrowding the rest from the sight of Porus under this Island by this devise Porus being drawn from the place of his first encamping set himself down opposite to Ptolomy supposing that the whole Army of Alexander was there intending to force their passage But in the mean while Alexander with his men recovered the the farther shore without resistance and ordering his Troops he advanced towards Porus who at first imagined them to be Abiasares his confederate come over Hydaspis to assist him
by Cassander and Lysimachus Roxane the beloved Wife of Alexander together with her Son Alexander and Barsine another of his Wives which was Daughter to Darius were all slain by Cassander And presently after the whole Family of Cassander was rooted out Ptolomy died in Egypt Lysimachus was slain by Seleuchus and Seleuchus himself presently after by Ptolomy So that all the Family of Alexander within a few years after his Death was wholly extirpated and all his Friends and great Captains by their Ambition and mutual contentions came most of them to untimely ends When the dead body of Alexander had lain seven dayes upon his Throne at last the Chaldeans and Egyptians were commanded from thenceforth to take the care of it But when they came about it they durst not at first approach to touch it But anon after saying their Prayers that it might be no sin unto them being but mortals to lay their hands upon so Divine a Body they fell to work and dissected it the Golden Throne whereon he lay being all stuffed with Spices and hung about with Pendants and Banners and other Emblems of his high State and Honour The care of his Funeral and of providing a Chariot wherein to carry his Body to the Temple of Jupiter Hammon was committed to Aridaeus who spent two whole years in making provision for it which made Olympias his Mother seeing him lye so long unburied in great grief of heart to cry out and say O my Son Thou that wouldst needs be accounted amongst the Gods and keptest such adoe about it canst not now have that which every poor man hath a little Earth and Burial Long after when Julius Caesar had Conquered Pompey and was idle in Egypt Lucan tells us that he visited the Temples and the Cave wherein the Body of Alexander the Great lay In these Verses Vultu semper celante timorem Intrepidus Superum sedes Templa vetusti Numinis c. Then with a look still hiding fear goes he The Stately Temple of th' old God to see Which speaks the Ancient Macedonian greatness But there delighted with no Objects sweetness Nor with their Gold nor Gods Majestick dress Nor lofty City Walls with greediness Into the burying Vault goes Coesar down Where Macedonian Philip's mad-brain'd Son The prosperous Thief lies buried Whom just Fate Slew in the Worlds Revenge Alexander was very Learned and a great Lover of Learning and Learned men insomuch as he rewarded his Master Aristotle with eighty Talents for his History of Living Creatures He so prized Homers Iliads that in all his Wars he carried it in his Pocket and laid it under his Pillow a nights He loved his Master Aristotle as if he had been his Father and used to say We have our being from our Parents but our well-being from our School-Masters His Mother Olympias was very severe and morose in her carriage and once Antipater his Vice-Roy in Europe wrote large Letters of complaint to him against her to whom he returned this answer Knowst thou not that one little tear of my Mothers will blot out a thousand of thy Letters of complaint When he heard the Philosophers conclusion concerning the unity of the World he wept because there were no more Worlds for him to Conquer but one An evident note of his great Ambition which also manifested it self hereby That when he came to the Tomb of Achilles he fell as weeping considering that Achilles had a Homer to sing his Praises and to perpetuate his memory whereas he had no such Poet to set forth his Commendations Also he commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the World and that none should make his Statue in Brass but Lycippus the most excellent Workman in that kind Alexander used to carry his Head on one side inclining to the left wherein his Court-Parasites to ingratiate themselves with him imitated him One desiring to see his Treasures and his Jewels he bad his Servants shâ—w him not his Talents of Gold and Silver and such other precious things but his Friends When he had overcome Darius and gotten possession of all his Dominions and Treasures he began to degenerate into the Asian Luxury His Chastity and Moderation were turned into Pride and Lust. He judged his Country manners and the Discipline of the former Macedonian Kings too sordid and mean for him He imitated the Pride of the Persian Kings he made him a Crown and Robes like unto Darius He grew so proud and insolent that he suffered his Souldiers to fall down and worship him like a God Yea he commanded his Servants and Slaves to do so He cloathed his Captains and Horse-men like unto the Persians which though they disliked they durst not refuse He gat him three hundred sixty five Concubines of the beautifullest Virgins that could be found in Asia after the manner of the Persian Kings one of which lay with him every night He had his Troops of Eunuchs with Musicians Jesters Singing women c. He spent whole days and nights in profuse Feasting and Revelling All which was very offensive to his old Captains and Souldiers When he was a Boy he took both his hands full of perfumes and cast them into the fire as he was Sacrificing whereupon Leonidas one of his School-Masters said to him O Alexander when thou hast Conquered those Countries wherein these odors grow then thou maist be so liberal but in the mean time be more sparing Afterwards when he had conquered Arabia Foelix he sent to Leonidas a hundred Tallents of Myrrhe and five hundred of Frankincense bidding him to be hereafter more liberal in his service of the Gods He was of so bountiful a disposition that it was a greater trouble to him not to be asked than not to give He wrote to Phocian that he would make use of his friendship no more if he refused his Gifts Serapion a young Boy that used to play at Ball with him gat nothing because he asked nothing whereupon the next time he played he threw the Ball to all but Alexander the King marvelling at it asked him why he threw not the Ball to him Forsooth said Serapion because you asked it not Alexander laughing at the jest sent him a liberal Gift As he was travelling through the Desarts of Persia himself and his Army were in great straits for want of water One of his Souldiers having two Sons ready to dye of thirst sought up and down and at last found a little water wherewith he filled a leather Bottel and was running with it to his Sons but meeting Alexander by the way he filled it out into a dish and profered it to him Alexander asked him whither he was carrying it the man told him that his two Sons were ready to die with thirst But said he pray you Sir do you drink it For if my Sons die I can get more but if you die we shall not have such
an other King Alexander hearing this gave him the water again and bid him carry it to his Sons Alexander in his younger days was so moderate and temperate that he would often open his chests and look upon his Garments to see if his Mother had not provided him either delicate or superfluous Apparel Also when the Queen of Caria to shew her great love to him sent him dayly variety of Dishes and Dainties and at last sent her Cooks and Bakers to him he returned them back again saying That he had no need of their service for his Master Leonidas had provided him better Cooks by teaching him to dine and sup Frugally and sparingly Also when he had any rare and Dainty Fruits or Fishes sent him from the Sea he used to distribute them amongst his Friends reserving very little or none for his own use One craving a small gift of him he gave him a whole City and when the Poor man said That it was too much for him to receive Yea said Alexander but not for me to give As he was advanceing to conquer a Kingdom in India Taxilis who was King thereof came and met him saying O Alexander What need we fight if thou comest not to take away my food and water for which its only fit for wise men to â—ight If thou seekest after Riches if I have more than thou I will give thee part of mine if thou hast more than I I will not refuse part of thine Alexander being much taken with his speech said to him Go to I will contend with thee in bounty and so they mutually gave and received many Gifts At last Alexander gave him a thousand Tallents which much grieved his Friends and rejoyced the Barbarian He shewed an admirable Example of his Chastity in the heat of his youth when having taken the Mother Wives and Daughters of Darius women of admirable beauty yet neither by word nor deed did he profer them the least indignity thinking it a greater honour to overcome himself than his Adversaries And when he looked upon other Captive Ladies that excelled in stature and beauty he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but as on so many Statues When he was informed that two of his Captains under Permenio had ravished two of the Persian Ladies he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true he should cut off their Heads as of Beasts born for the hurt of mankind He also sent him word that himself was so far from contemplating the Beauty of Darius his Wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so careful of their Chastity that they lived in his Camp shut up in their Tent as if they had been in a Temple At the Death of Ephestion his Favorite he did not only clip the Haire of his Horses and Mules but plucked down also the Battlements of the City walls that they might seem to mourn for his Minions Death shewing now deformity instead of their former Beauty Porus an Indian King fighting valiantly against him receiving many wounds and at last being overcome and falling into his enemies hands they brought him to Alexander who hearing of his coming went forth with some of his Friends to meet him and asked him what he would have him to do for him Porus answered My only desire is that thou use me like a King Alexander admiring his magnanimity replyed This I will do for my own sake but what wouldest thou have me do for thine Porus answered That all was contained in his former demand of Kingly usage Alexander was so pleased with this that he restored him to his Kingdom and gave him another bigger than his own Alexander the Great saith Plutarch built seventy Cities He brought many barbarous Nations to civility He taught the People Hircani the use of Marriage and the Arachosians Tillage and Husbandry The Sogdians that they should nourish and cherish their aged Parents and not kill them The Persians to honour their Mothers and not to use them for their Wives The Scythians that they should not eat their Dead but bury them in the Earth c. His Clemency to those whom he conquered was very exemplary The same day that he took he restored again the Kingdom to Porus King of India Darius his Mother he entertained honourably as a Queen Darius his Wife and beautiful Daughters he would not so much as see as careful to preserve their Chastity His Liberality and Magnificence exceeded all his other Virtues He gave at one time three and twenty thousand Talents among his Souldiers to pay their Debts At his Marriage he invited ten thousand Guests and gave to every one of them a Cup of Gold To one that asked something of him he gave a City and when the Party would have refufed it as too great a Gift for him Alexander said Non quaero quid te decet accipere sed quid me decet dare I regard not what is meet for thee to take but what is meet for me to give Whereupon Plutarch saith that those Virtues for the which severally sundry worthy men have been commended did all concur and meet in him As the Valour of Achilles the Chastity of Agamemnon the Piety of Diomedes the Courage of Cyrus the Policy of Themistocles the Boldness of Brassida And the Prudence of his Father Philip. His Military Virtâ—es were remarkable As his Courage in that with thirty thousand Footmen and five thousand Horsemen for he had no more when he first passed over into Asia he durst bid defiance to all the World His Patience in enduring Hunger and Thirst Heat and Cold. His dexterity and celerity in omitting no opportunity of advantage to his affairs so that in seven years he accomplished all his great Conquests And to these may be added his singular success For he never besieged any City but he took it But after he had glutted himself with the Pleasures of Asia the Vices that he fell into were not inferiour to his afore-named Virtues Among the rest these four notable Vices were apparent in him First Drunkenness for he would drink so excessively that he would lie two or three dayes senseless till he had slept out his Drink Secondly In his Drunkenness he was cruel and outragious In one of those fits he slew his dear Friend Clitus whose loss he greatly bewailed afterwards Thirdly He was much given to Wantonness and Fleshly Lusts. Fourthly At length he grew so intolerably Proud that he would needs be accounted the Son of Jupiter and commanded Calisthenes one of his great Commanders to be slain because he would not worship him He accounted Achilles happy because he had such a man as Homer to set forth his Praises But himself had many worthy men to Register his Acts As Ptolomy King of Egypt Hecataeus Aristobulus Calisthenes
Lacedemonians Then did the Lacedemonians send King Cleombrotus with an Army towards Thebes who being come near to Chaeronea with ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse he pitched his Camp there staying for his Allies The Thebans being informed of the approach of the enemy chose Epaminondas to be their Captain General giving him the charge of this War with six other Counsellers to be assisting to him Now there came Oracles to Thebes from all parts some promising Victory and others threatning their overthrow and Epaminondas commanded them to set those on the right hand of the chair for Orations that promised Victory and the other on the left hand which being so disposed of he gat up into the chair and said to his Citizens If you will be obedient to your Captains and valiant against your enemies these Oracles on the right hand belong to you But if through faintness of heart ye refuse dangers those on the left hand shall be your Portion Then did he list the Names of all the Thebans which were able to bear Arms and chose out of some parts of Boeotia such as he thought fittest for the Wars His Presence exceedingly cheered up his Army and all the the time that he was Captain the Thebans never saw in their Camp any of those which they call sudden fears He used to say that there was no Death more honest and desirable than to die in the Wars and that the body of a Souldier should be hardened to endure any labour or pains He could not abide fat men and therefore cashired a whole Company of them as unprofitable burdens in his Army He had in all but six thousand fighting men and as they marched forwards they met with some unlucky signs as many esteemed them but he valued them not thinking that a resolution to fight in a good cause ought to be much stronger and of more force to raise in him good Hope than these evil signs that appeared to make him fear the worst As he was marching towards the Lacedemonians they heard it Thunder and they that were neer him asked him what that meant He answered that it betokened that the Enemies brains were troubled and beclouded who having places of advantage hard by them yet encamped in the plaines Indeed the Lacedemonians waited there for their Allies who yet failed them For all of them having at leasure considered of the speech of Epaminondas at Sparta began to distast the ambition of the Lacedemonians Epaminondas seeing his advantage caused his Army to march with speed and wan the straights by the City of Coronea and encamped there Cleombrotus underâ— standing that the Thebans had possessed themselves of that pass despairing to recover it he made his Army to march a great compass about the Country of Phocide going along the Sea Coast through a dangerous and troublesome way and so at the last he entered into the Country of Boeotia and as he went he took in some little Towns and certain Gallies that lay upon the Coast and at the last arrived at Leuctres and there sat down to refresh his men who were overwearied with their tedious march Then did Epaminondas presently advance that way to meet them and having passed over some little Mountains he discovered them in the plain of Leuctres where his men were much amazed to see so great an Army of their Enemies The six Counsellers came together to consider whether they should go forward and fight few against many or else retreat waiting for some better advantage In this Councel their opinions fell out to be equal Three judged it best to retreat the other whereof Epaminondas was one thought it best to fight and with these three Pelopidas who was Captain of the Sacred Band joyned whereupon they all agreed to give them Battel Epaminondas seeing his Souldiers somewhat affrighted at the former ill signs to put courage into them he suborned some that were newly come from Thebes to scatter a report that no man could tell at Thebes what was become of the Arms that hung up in the Temple of Hercules but it was commonly said that the Demigods their Ancestors had taken them away to aid their posterity at this present time He caused another also who was newly come from Trophonius hole to report that the God which gives his Oracles therein commanded him to tell the Boeotians that when they had overcome their enemies in the plain of Leuctres they should celebrate yearly Plays to the honour of Jupiter and to gain the more credit to these devices Leandridas a Spartan that was banished out of his own Country and now was assisting the Boeotians being brought before the Souldiers he encouraged them to fight valiantly that Day for he swore unto them that the Lacedemonians had many Oracles bidding them to beware of Leuctres Epaminondas also assembling his Army encouraged them with strong and lively reasons to shew their valour so that at last the Souldiers being freed from their superstitious fears longed for nothing more than to come to blows Epaminondas ever concluded his Orations to them with these Words O worthy men embrace sacred Death Advance your selves to a most honorable and famous Fight for your Country for the Tombs of your Ancestors and for your Holy things Just at this very time there came to the Thebans an aid of five hundred Horse and fifteen hundred Foot all Thessalians conducted by Jason This Jason endeavored to have made peace with both parties but could not prevail Also as Cleombrotus retired with his Army out of Boeotia he met a great supply of Lacedemonians and their Allies brought to him by Archidamus the Son of Agesilaus These he sent before thinking to daunt the courage of the Thebans with the sight of them and himself with the rest of his Army suddenly returned into the plain of Leuctres being fully resolved to fight and the Boeotians for their part shrunk not an inch back and so on both sides they set their men in Battel array Epaminondas ordered his Battel after a new fashion never practised by any Captain For having chosen out of his Army the best and most valiant Souldiers he placed them together in one of the Points of his Battel where himself meant to fight in Person seconded by Pelopidas and his three hundred chosen men called the Holy Band In the other Point he placed his weaker men commanding them expresly not to abide the charge of their enemies that should assail them in Front but fair and softly retire when they saw them come near them and it fell out as he wished and he hoped to determine the Battel by the Virtue and prowess of those where he had placed all the flower and choice of his Army Now the sign of Battel being given the Lacedemonians advanced with the two Horns of their Battel ordered in the form of a Crescent On the contrary one of the wings of the Battel of the Boeotians began to give
back and the other with great fury ran to charge the enemy in the Flank and soon they were come to the Swords point At the first because either side fought desperately the Victory for a time stood doubtful but at last Epaminondas his Troop brake in amongst the Lacedemonians and slew most of those that were about Cleombrotus Yet while the King was alive he kept back the Thebans from the Victory being accompanied with all the flower of his Army who fought very valiantly about him But after he fell dead to the ground having received and given an infinite number of wounds then thronged they together on all sides and there was a bloody and cruel fight about his Body where were heaps of men slain one upon another and though Epaminondas did all that possibly he could yet the Lacedemonians made such resistance that at last they forced the Thebans somewhat to give back whereby they conveyed the Body of the King out of the press But this continued not long For Epaminondas both by his words and example did so raise up and encourage the hearts of his men that they fought like Lions and gave so fierce a second charge upon their enemies that they wholly routed them and made them flie for life and Epaminondas fiercely pusuing the flying enemy made a great slaughter of them and obtained the most glorious Victory that ever Captain won having in a pitched Field overcome the most Noble and warlike Nation of all Greece and that with a far smaller number of men than his enemies had He also rejoyced more in this than in all his other Victories because it happened to him in his Fathers life-time and he often used to say that of all the honest and happy Fortunes that befel him nothing joyed his heart more than that he vanquished the Lacedemonians at Leuctres his Father and Mother living to see it and indeed he that day did not only preserve their lives but of all his Citizens besides the Lacedemonians having fully resolved utterly to destroy the Thebans Epaminondas used at all other times to come abroad fine and neat and with a pleasant countenance but the next day after this Battel he came out very sad heavy and pensive and when his Friends asked him whether he had heard any ill news which occasioned this posture he said No but said he I perceive by my self yesterday that being overjoyed with the Victory I obtained my heart was more elvated than it ought and therefore to day I correct that joy which yesterday exceeded its due bounds He knowing that it was the manner of the Spartans as much as possible to conceal their losses he suffered them not to carry away all their dead Bodies together but every City one after another by which it appeared that there were four thousand of them slain But of the Boeotians there were not found above three hundred dead This Battel was fought in the beginning of the second year of the hundred and second Olympiade The Lacedemonians having by this overthrow lost the greatest part of their honour which they had maintained so long yet lost not their courage but to keep their youth still in heart and to take away all fear from such as had escaped they sent Agesilaus with an Army into Arcadia who was contented to take a few small Towns of the Mantineans and so to return home again Some say that Lycomedes Captain of the Arcadians making an inrode neer to Orchomene slew in an encounter Politropus Captain of the Lacedemonians and two hundred Spartans with him which provoked the Lacedemonians against them and thereupon the Arcadians finding themselves too weak for them they sought alliance and aid from the Thebans Sure it is that these two States were now at enmity which occasioned the Arcadians and Thebans to joyn together who with their Allies being led by Epaminondas entred into Laconia with an Army of forty thousand men besides thirty thousand others that followed the Camp At this time the Athenians sent Captian Iphecrates with twelve thousand men to aid the Lacedemonians But before their coming Epaminondas was entered into Laconia and had sacked all the Country which had not been wasted by any enemy for six hundred years before The Spartans seeing their Country thus plundred and destroyed were desirous to have gone out with such Forces as they had but Agesilaus would not suffer them telling them how dangerous it was for them to leave their City and to set upon such a potent and numerous enemy This made them quiet and Epaminondas in the mean time marched with his Army towards the River Eurotas which at that time was risen very high because of the Winter rains He endeavoured all he could to draw forth Agesilaus to a Battel who beholding Epaminondas a great while marching with his Army in Battel aray along the River side at the Head of his Troops he wondered at his boldness and Valour but would by no means adventure out of his Fort So that when this Army had plundred all Laconia Epaminondas led them back again with a very rich Booty And though Agesilaus was commended for preserving his City in safety yet Epaminondas had by this inrode and especially by his Victory at Leuctres so impoverished the Country that Sparta could never after recover that loss nor grow into that reputation and power which it had before Yea notwithstanding the aid sent by the Athenians and the skill and experience of Iphecrates Epaminondas returned with his Army intire as he came Epaminondas that he might keep the Lacedemonians still underfoot and heap new troubles upon them gave Counsel to the Arcadians and their Allies to reedifie and replenish with People the City of Messina which the Lacedemonians had long before destroyed and when all the whole Councel had given their consents to it he forthwith by diligent enquiry sought out all that had been ancient Inhabitants in that City and in the space of eighty five Days having repaired the ruined Houses he raised again one of the most Noble and ancient Cities of Greece and left there a strong Garrison for their security This gat him as much if not more love and honour than any other service which he had ever done The Lacedemonians being freed from a great fear by his departure made an agreement with the Athenians leaving to them the chief command by Sea and reserving to themselves that by Land And afterwards by the assistance of the Athenians and that aid which came to them out of Sicily by little and little they recovered their Towns again The Arcadians to stop their proceedings assaulted the City of Pallene in Laconia and taking it by storm put all the Garrison therein to the Sword and then razed the Town and plundred all the Country there abouts And expecting that the Lacedemonians would seek revenge they sent for aid to the Thebans who sent Epaminondas and the other Counsellers to assist them with
six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse The Athenians having intelligence hereof sent their Army under the conduct of Chabrias who marched directly to Corinth where he met with a good supply of Souldiers from the Megarians Pallenians and Corinthians so that now he had a Brigade of ten thousand men These intended to fortifie and stop all the passages and entrances into the Country of Peloponnesus The Lacedemonians and their Allies joyning also with them made up an Army of twenty thousand men And accordingly beginning at the City of Cencrees unto the Haven of Lecheum they blocked all the ways from one Sea to another with mighty great pieces of Timber laid across and with a marvellous deep Diteh and this great work was followed with such speed both by reason of the great multitude of labourers as also through the frowardness of them that prosecuted it with such earnestness that they had quite finished it before the Boeotians could arrive there Epaminondas when he came thither viewing this fortification perceiving that the easiest place to storm it was that which the Lacedemonians themselves guarded he sent to give them defiance though they were thrice as many in number as he was yet for all this they durst not come out but kept close under their fortification Notwithstanding he assaulted them in it and at last drave them out In the heat of the fight every one doing his best some assailing others defending Epaminondas chose out the valiantest men in all his Army and bravely charging the Lacedemonians he forced them to give back and in dispite of them he entered into Peloponnesus which of all other his Noble exploits was the most wonderful and memorable action From thence he marched to the Cities of Epidaure and Trozen and so pillaged all the Country But he stayed not to take any of the Towns because they had strong Garrisons in them Yet he put Sicyone Phuente and some other Towns into such fear that they yielded themselves to him This being done he went to Corinth and overcame the Corinthians in a set Battel and beat them home even to the Gates of their City Yea some of his men were so unadvised trusting to their own Valour that they entered the Gates of their City pel mel with those that fled which put the Corinthians into such a terrible fear that they ran with all speed possible to shelter themselves in their Houses But Chabrias making head beat them out again and slew some whereupon he caused a token of Triumph to be set up as if he had given the Thebans an overthrow for which Epaminondas laughed him to scorn The Boeotians brought their Army as neer unto Corinth as they could and Chabrias with his Army encamped without the Walls in a very strong Place of advantage and there were many Skirmishes betwixt them in which Chabrias behaved himself with such Valour that he gained great reputation even of Epaminondas himself who upon a time being asked whom he thought to be the greatest Captain himself Chabrias or Iphecrates It s hard said he to judg whilst we are all alive News was brought to him that the Athenians had again sent an Army into Peloponnesus furnished with new Armor Indeed this Army consisted of ten thousand Spaniards and Gauls whom Dyonisius the Tyrant sent out of Sicily to aid the Lacedemonians having paid them for five months they did some reasonable service in this War and at the end of Summer returned home again It fell out in these last encounters that Epaminondas having forced the Lacedemonians that guarded the fortification before mentioned had many of them in his power to have slain them but he contented himself only with this Glory that in dispite of them he had entered into Peloponnesus seeking to do them no more hurt which gave occasion to those that envied his Glory to blame him and to accuse him of Treason as having willingly spared the enemies because they should in particular thank him only But here it will not be improper to take notice how he behaved himself amongst his Citizens and how wisely he defended his own Integrity Amongst all those that envied his Glory and Virtue there was one Meneclides an Orator and an eloquent man but withall most wicked and very malicious He finding that Eâ—aminondas won so much honour by the Wars never left perswading the Thebans to embrace Peace and prefer it before War and that because hereby they should not always live under the obedience and command of one man But Epaminondas one day told him in the open Counsel Thou wilt said he deceive the Thebans whilst thou advisest them to leave the Wars and highly commended ease and Peace thou goest about to put iron bolts upon their Feet For War begets Peace which yet cannot hold long but amongst them that know how to maintain it with the Sword Then turning himself to the Citizens he said If you will have the Principality and command of all Greece you must shroud your selves in your Tents and lie in your Pavillions in the open Fields and not follow Sports and Pastimes here at home For he knew well enough that the Boeotians undid themselves by ease and Idleness which made him endeavour continually to keep them in exercise and War Upon a time when the Thebans were to choose Captains they went about to choose Epaminondas one of the six Counsellours whereupon he said to them My Masters pray you consider of it now you are at leasure before you choose me For I tell you plainly If I be chosen your Captain you must to the Wars He used to call the Country of Boeotia which was a plain and Champion Country the Stage of War saying that it was impossible to keep it unless the Inhabitants had their Targets on their Arms and their Swords in their hands and this was not because he did not love Peace and privacy to study Philosophy or that he was not more careful of them that were under his charge than he was of himself using always to watch and forbear his meat when the Thebans were at their Banquets and Feasts giving themselves over to their pleasures but because he knew them well enough and was never more careful of any thing than to keep his Army from Idleness Upon a time the Arcadians desired him that some of his Companions might come into one of their Towns to lie dry and warm there all the Winter but he would by no means yield to it For said he to his Souldiers now they see you exercising your selves in Arms they wonder at you as brave and valiant men but if they should see you at the Fire side parching of Beans they would esteem no better of you than of themselves Neither could he endure Covetuousness for if at sometimes he gave his men leave to go a free booting his meaning was that whatsoever they got should be bestowed in furnishing them with good Arms and if any went about to
Pelopidas and Ismenias So with them he returned back to Thebes and always continued a faithful Friend to Pelopidas so long as they lived together Yet would he never share with him in his Riches but did still persevere in his former strict Poverty and Discipline He was very bold and yet it was mingled with a winning sweetness and a lively grace as may appear in sundry Examples Besides his bold speech to Agesilaus mentioned before At another time the Argians having made a League with the Thebans the Athenians sent their Ambassadors into Arcadâ—a to see if they could gain the Arcadians to be their Friends And these Ambassadors began roundly and hotly to charge and accuse both the one and the other and Callistratus speaking for them reproached them with Orestes and Oedipus Epaminondas being present at that Assembly stood up and said My Lords we confess that in times past we had a man that killed his Father and in Argos one that killed his Mother but as for us now we have banished all such wicked Murtherers out of our Country and the Athenians have intertained them At another time when the Spartans had laid many great and grievous imputations to the charge of the Thebans he said If they have done nothing else my Lords of Sparta yet at least they have made you forget to speak little But that which was most excellent and observable in Epaminondas and which indeed did stop the mouth of envy it self was his moderation and temperance knowing how to use any state or condition and never to rage either against himself or others always bearing this mind that howsoever they took him and in what place soever they set him he was well contented so that he might but advance the good of his Country As may appear by this Example on a time his evil-willers thinking to bring him into disgrace and meerly out of spite made him superintendant or overseer of all the customs whilst others of his inferiors unworthy to be compared with him were placed in the most honourable Offices Yet despised he not this mean Office but discharged it very Faithfully For said he the Office or Authority shews not only what the man is but also the man what the Office is Shortly after Epaminondas was returned out of Thessaly the Arcadians were overcome by Archidamus and the Lacedemonians who in the fight lost not a man and therefore they called this journey the tearless Battel and Epaminondas foreseeing that the Arcadians would yet have another storm he gave them counsel to fortifie their Towns which they did accordingly and built that City which afterwards was called Megalopolis situated in a very convenient place Whilst the Thebans made War with the Elians their Neighbours the mind of Epaminondas was always lifted up to high enterprizes for the good of his Country wherefore in an Oration which he made to his Citizens he perswaded them to make themselves strong by Sea and to endeavour to get the principality and to make themselves the Lords thereof This Oration was full of lively reason whereby he shewed and proved unto them that the enterprize was both honourable and profitable which he made out by sundry Arguments telling them that it was an easie thing for them who were now the stronger by Land to make themselves also the stronger by Sea and the rather for that the Athenians in the War against Xerxes though they had armed and set forth two hundred Gallies armed and well appointed with men yet they willingly submitted themselves to the Lacedemonians He alleadged many other reasons whereby he prevailed so far that the Thebans were willing to undertake the enterprize and thereupon gave present order to build an hundred Gallies and an Arsenal with so many Rooms that they might lay them under covert in the Dock They ordered also to send to them of Rhodes and of Chio and of Byzantium to desire their furtherance in this enterprize for which end Epaminondas was sent with an Army unto these Cities In his Passage he met with Leches a Captain of the Athenians with a number of Ships in his Fleet who was set on purpose to hinder this design of the Thebans Yet Epaminondas so affrighted him that he made him retire back again and holding on his course he brought the aforenamed Cities to enter into League with the Thebans Shortly after the Thebans fell out with the City of Orchomene which had done them great hurt and mischief and having won it by assault slew all the men that were able to bear Arms and made all the women and children Slaves Some time after the death of Pelopidas certain private Persons of Mantinea fearing to be called to an account for their bad behaviours and robberies which they had committed if the Arcadians and Elians should agree they so brought it about that they raised a new quarrel in the Country which was divided into two Factons whereof the Mantineans were the chief on the one side and the Tageates on the other This quarrel went so far that the Parties would needs try it by Arms. The Tageates sent to request aid of the Thebans who accordingly chose Epaminondas their Captain General and sent him with a good number of men of War to aid the Tageates The Mantineans being terrified with this aid that came out of Boeotia to their enemies and at the reputation of their Captain they immediately sent to the Athenians and Lacedemonians the greatest enemies of the Boeotians for their assistance which both the Cities granted Upon this there fell out many and great skirmishes in divers parts of Peloponnesus and Epaminondas being not far off from Mantinea understood by some of the Country men that Agesilaus and his Lacedemonians were come into the Field and that they wasted all the Territories of the Tageates whereupon judging that there were but few men left in the City of Sparta to defend it he undertook a great exploit and dangerous and had certainly effected it if the marvelous good Fortune of Sparta had not hindred it His design was this He departed from Tegea by Night the Mantineans knowing nothing of it and taking a by way he had certainly surprised Sparta without striking a stroak had not a Post of Candia speedily carried word of it to Agesilaus who immediately dispatched away an Horse-man to give intelligence to them of Sparta to stand upon their guard and he himself speedily hasted after and arrived there a little before the coming of the Thebans who being very near the City a little before day they gave an assault to them that defended it This made Agesilaus to bestir himself wonderfully even beyond the strength of so old a man But his Son Archidamus and Isadas the Son of Phoebidas fought valiantly on all parts Epaminondas seeing how prepared the Spartans were to oppose him began then to suspect that his design was discovered yet notwithstanding he left not off to force them all he could
terrifie Hyrcanus nor too little lest he should expose himself to danger from the Judgment When Herod therefore presented himself before the Sanhedrim in his Royal Robes and his Guard in Arms they were all astonished neither durst any one of them that accused him in his absence now speak a word against him but all of them kept silence not knowing what to do Then one of the Council called Sameas a just man being not at all distracted with fear rose up and not only accused Herod of presumption and violence but laid the fault upon the Judges and King himself who had granted him so great a liberty and told them that afterwards by the just Judgment of God they should be punished by Herod himself and the event made him a true Prophet For the Judges of that Council and Hyrcanus himself were afterwards put to death by Herod when he came to be King But Hyrcanus perceiving that the Judges were inclining to pass sentence of Death upon Herod put off the business till the next day and privately advised him to shift for himself and so he departed to Damascus as if he fled from the King and presenting himself before Sextus Caesar and having secured his own affairs he professed openly that if he were again cited by the Judges he would not appear which they took in great disdain and endeavoured to perswade Hyrcanus that all these things tended to his destruction Herod to increase his power gave a great sum of money to Sextus Caesar who thereupon made him Governour of Caelosyria He being elated with this advancement and taking it impatiently that he had been called before the Council raised an Army and went against Hyrcanus But his Father Antipater and Brother Phasaelus meeting him by their intreaties prevailed that he should not go against Jerusalem but be content to have affrighted them adding that it would be dishonourable for him if he should attempt any thing farther against him that had advanced him to his dignity hereupon he desisted judging it sufficient for his future hopes that he had shewed to that Nation of what power he was Cassius and Marcus two Roman Generals coming into Syria after the death of Julius Caesar confirmed Herod in his Government of Caelosyria and delivered to him great Forces both of Horse and Foot and Ships at Sea promising him also the Kingdom of Judea after the War should be ended which they were waging with M. Anthony and young Caesar. Not long after Antipater the Father of Herod was feasted at Hyrcanus his house at which time one Malichus corrupting the Kings Butler poysoned Antipater and presently raising a band of Souldiers seized upon the Government of the City of Jerusalem Phasaelus and Herod being grievously offended hereat charged Malichus with their Fathers death which he stifly denied But Herod had a great mind presently to revenge the murther and to raise an Army for that purpose had not Phasaelus interposed who judged it more meet to circumvent Malichus by Policy lest they should seem to be the beginners of a civil War and accordingly Phasaelus made as though he accepted of Malichus his justification and believed that he was not guilty of his Fathers Death and so busied himself in building a stately Monument for him In the mean while Herod coming to Samaria and finding it in a desperate estate by reason of their civil Dissentions he appeased the discords amongst the Inhabitants and restored it to peace and not long after the Feast of Pentecost approaching he went to Jerusalem accompanied with some Souldiers of whom Malichus being afraid perswaded Hyrcanus not to suffer him to enter which Hyrcanus accordingly did alledging that amongst the holy People that came to the Feast it was not lawful to bring in a mix'd multitude of prophane men But Herod making small account of the prohibition entred the City by night and thereby mightily terrified Malichus who thereupon according to his wonted dissimulations openly bewailed with tears the death of Antipater as of his dear Friend And it was judged meet by Herods Friends that he should take no notice of this dissimulation but courteously again entertain Malichus Herod by Letters certified Cassius of his Fathers death who very well knowing the temper of Malichus wrote back unto Herod to revenge the same and secretly also gave order to the Tribunes that were at Tyre to be aiding to Herod in his so just undertaking Cassius afterwar having taken the City of Laodicea Governours came from every place bringing Crowns and Presents to him and here Herod expecting that Malichus should do the like intended to have him punished for the Murther of his Father But Malichus had another design on foot purposing that whilest Cassius was busie in prosecuting the war against M. Anthony to stir up the Nation of the Jews to revolt from the Romans and to depose Hyrcanus and get the Kingdom to himself But Herod being politick and understanding of the treachery invited him and Hyrcanus with some other of their companions to supper At which time he sent one of his Servants under pretence of providing for the Banquet whereas indeed he sent him to the Tribunes to desire them to set upon Malichus with their weapons who being mindful of the commands of Cassius finding Malichus they ran him through and slew him at which Hyrcanus being astonished fell into a swoun and being scarcely come to himself he asked who had slain Malichus and when one of the Tribunes answered that it was done by the command of Cassius he said Truly Cassius hath preserved me and my Country in killing him who was a Traitor to both but whether herein he spake as he thought or that through fear only he seemed to approve the fact is uncertain After Cassius was gone out of Syria there arose a Sedition at Jerusalem For Faelix who was left there by Cassius with Souldiers in revenge of the death of Malichus set upon Phasaelus and the people betook themselves to their Arms. At which time Herod was with Fabius the Governour of Damascus and had a mind to help his Brother but was hindred by a sudden sickness Yet did Phasaelus get the better of Faelix forcing him into the Town and afterwards agreeing upon quarter suffered him to go out But he was very angry with Hyrcanus that after the receipt of so many favours from him he yet favoured Faelix and suffered the Brother of Malichus to seize upon some Castles and amongst the rest of the Castle of Massada which was a most strong piece As soon as Herod was recovered he went against the Brother of Malichus and took from him all the Castles that he had seized upon and Massada also where he took him Prisoner yet afterwards set him at liberty upon composition He also recovered three Castles that were seized upon by Masion the Tyrant of the Tyrians in Galilee but gave Quarter to all the
Souldiers and sent them home well rewarded by which means he procured the love of the Citizens but the greater hatred of the Tyrant Shortly after Antigonus the Son of Aristobulus Brother to Hyrcanus invaded Judea being assisted by Ptolomei the son of Menaeus and Fabius the Governour of Damascus and Masion the Tyrant of the Tyrians who adhered to him for the hatred that he bore to Herod whom Herod meeting when they had scarce entred the borders of Judea overcame them in Battel and drave them thence whereupon Hyrcanus honoured him with Crowns as soon as he returned to Jerusalem For he was already accounted as one of the Family of Hyrcanus being to marry Mariamne or Mary the daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus the Brother of Hyrcanus and of Alexandra the daughter of Hyrcanus M. Anthony having overcome Brutus and Cassius there met him Ambassies from all Nations in Bythinia and amongst the rest some of the Rulers of the Jews to accuse Phasaelus and Herod alledging that Hyrcanus ruled only in shew but in truth all the power was in the two Brothers Yet Anthony highly honoured Herod who was come thither to wipe of all those objections whereby it came to pass that his Adversaries were not so much as admitted to speak with Anthony and this Herod had obtained by his Bribes Yet not long after there came an hundred of the most honourable amongst the Jews to Daphne near Antioch in Syria to Anthony to accuse Phasaelus and Herod having chosen out of their whole number the most Eloquent to manage their business But Messala undertook the defence of the two Brothers with whom also Hyrcanus joyned who had betrothed his Grand-daughter to Herod Both Parties being heard Anthony asked Hyrcanus whether of the two parties were fittest to Govern a Commonwealth who speaking for the young men Anthony that loved them for their Fathers sake his old Friend he made them both Tetrarchs leaving to them the Government of all Judea writing his Letters to the same purpose and clapped fifteen of their Adversaries into Prison and would have put them to death had not Herod intreated for them But when the People did nothing but rail upon Herod Anthony in displeasure slew them all Antigonus the Son of Aristobulus hired the Parthians to translate the Kingdom from Hyrcanus to himself and to kill Herod who coming along with him and some Jews also joyning themselves to him he came to Jerusalem and they set upon the Kings House But Phasaelus and Herod defended it against them and in the Market place overcoming them in a fight forced them to fly into the Temple where they shut them in and placed sixty men in some adjoyning houses to prevent their flight but the people hating the two brethren set fire on those Houses and burnt the men in them which so inraged Herod that he slew many of the people and each laying wait for the other every day some were murdered The day of Pentecost being come many thousands of men as well armed as unarmed gathered together about the Temple from all parts of the Country and seized upon the Temple and City all but the Kings House which Herod kept with a few Souldiers as Phasaelus did the walls These brothers assisting each other assaulted their enemies in the Suburbs forced many thousands of them to flie some into the City and some into the Temple and others into a rampire that was near the City Hereupon Antigonus desired that Pacorus the General of the Parthians might be admitted to make peace between them which Phasaelus assented to and Pacorus perswaded him to go with him as an Ambassador to Barzapharnes another General of the Parthians laying an ambush for him by the way Phasaelus assented though much against the mind of his Brother Herod and was willing to go with Pacorus and took Hyrcanus along with him Pacorus leaving two hundred Horsemen with Herod and ten whom they called Eleutheri went along with the Ambassadors And as soon as they were come into Galile Barzapharnes entertained them with a cheerful countenance and bestowed gifts upon them but watched an opportunity to intrap them and so Phasaelus was brought with his Company to a place near the Sea-side called Ecdippon where Ophellus a rich Syrian understanding of the treachery intended against them offered Phasaelus some Ships to carry him away But he unwilling to leave Hyrcanus and his Brother Herod in danger expostulated with Barzapharnes about the injury offered to them who were Ambassadors who swore that these things were not true and presently went to Pacorus No sooner was he gon but Hyrcanus and Phasaelus were clapped up in Prison much detesting the perfidiousness of the Parthians and an Eunuch also was sent to Herod with a command to surprize him if he could get him out of Jerusalem Herod having intelligence what had happened to his Brother taking with him such forces as he had in readiness and his Mother Cybele his Sister Salome his Wife Mariamne and his Wives Mother Alexandra the Daughter of Hyrcanus and his yougest Brother Pheroras with their Servants he privately by Night took his flight into Idumaea In their journey his Mother by the overthrow of her Coach was in great danger of death and Herod fearing least the enemies should overtake them whilest they stayed there drew forth his Sword thinking to kill himself But being restrained by those which stood by he went towards Massada a very strong place which is seated in Arabia and Palestine by the nearest way that he could possible The Parthians first and also the Jews pursuing him by that he was sixty furlongs from the City but he repelled them both in fight The next day after Herod had fled from Jerusalem the Parthians plundered the City and the Kings House only the Treasure of Hyrcanus which was three hundred Talents remained untouched A great part also of Herods substance which he had not carried away with him they siezed upon and not satisfied therewith they harrized all the Country also and razed the rich City of Marissa Antigonus being thus setled in Judaea by the Parthians he received into his custody Hyrcanus and Phasaelus who were Prisoners yet he was much grieved that the Women were got away whom he had intended to deliver to the Parthians together with the money which he had promised to give them Being afraid also lest Hyrcanus should again by the favour of the People be restored to his Kingdom and Priest-hood he cut off his ears thereby rendring him unfit for the Priest-hood the Law forbidding that any one who wanted a member should approach to the Altar Lev. 21. 17 c. Phasaelus knowing that his death was determined sought to lay violent hands upon himself but being hindred by reason of his chains he dashed out his brains against a stone Yet before he was quite dead hearing by a Woman that his Brother Herod was escaped he
slain Antigonus being in a rage caused the dead body of Joseph to be whipped though Pheroras his Brother offered fifty Talents to have redeemed it After this loss the Galileans revolting from their Governours drowned those that were of Herods party in the Lake In Idumaea also there were many innovations Anthony having made peace with his enemy commanded Caius Sosius to assist Herod against Antigonus with two Cohorts When Herod came to Daphne the Suburbs of Antioch he heard of his Brother Josephs deah which caused him to hasten his journey and coming to Mount Libanus he took thence with him eight hundred men and one Cohort of the Romans and so came to Ptolemais from whence in the night he passed with his Army through Galilee Here his enemies met him whom he overcame in fight and forced them into the Castle from whence they had issued the day before Them he assaulted but was compelled to desist by reason of the extremity of the weather and to retreat into some neighbouring Villages but upon the coming of another Cohort from Anthony they in the Castle were so affrighted that they forsook the same by night Herod then hastned to Jericho purposing to revenge his Brothers death and being come thither he feasted his Nobles and the feast being ended and his guests dismissed he retired into his chamber and presently the room wherein they had supped being now empty of company fell down without hurting any which made many to think that surely Herod was beloved of God who had so miraculously preserved him The next day six thousand of the enemies came down from the Mountains to fight with him and their forlorn-hope with darts and stones so terrified the Romans and some of Herods Souldiers that they fled and Herod himself received a wound in his side Antigonus desiring to have his strength seem greater than it was sent one of his Captains named Pappus with some forces into Samaria whilst himself went against Machaeras In the mean time Herod took in five Towns and therein put two thousand of the Garrison Souldiers to the sword and setting the Towns on fire he went against Pappus and was strengthened by many that came to him out of Jericho and Judea yet was the enemy so confident that he would joyn battel with him but in fight Herod overcame them and being inflamed with a desire to revenge his Brothers death he pursued them that fled slew many of them and followed them into a Village and there slew many more of them who retreated into houses the rest fled After which Victory Herod had presently gone to Jerusalem and put an end to the war had not the sharpness of the Winter hindred him for now Antigonus bethought himself to leave the City and fly elsewhere for safety Herod in the evening when he had dismissed his Friends to refresh themselves as yet hot in his Armour went into a chamber attended with one only servant to wash himself wherein some of his enemies armed whom fear had forced thither were hidden and whilst he was naked and washing himself first one and then a second and a third ran out armed with naked swords in their hands so astonished that they were glad to save themselves without profering the least hurt to the King The next day Herod amongst others cut off Pappus his head and sent it by way of revenge for his Brothers death to his Brother Pheroras for it was Pappus that with his own hand had slain Joseph Herod in the beginning of the third year after he had been declared King at Rome coming with an Army to Jerusalem encamped near the City and from thence removing to that place where the Walls were fittest to be assaulted he pitched his Tents before the Temple intending to attempt them as Pompey had done in times past and having encompassed the place with three Bulworks by the help of many workmen he raised his batteries fetching materials from all places thereabouts and appointing fit men to oversee the work and then himself went to Samaria to solemnize his Marriage with Mariamne the Daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus who was formerly betrothed to him The Marriage ceremony being over Sosius came with an Army of Horse and Foot being sent by Anthony to the aid of Herod and Herod also took a great party with him from Samaria to Jerusalem so that the whole Army being come together consisted of eleven Legions of Foot and six thousand Horse besides the Syrian Auxiliaries which were very many and so they pitched on the North-side of the City Over this great Army were two Generals Sosius and Herod who purposed to displace Antigonus as an enemy to the people of Rome and to establish Herod in the Kingdom according to the Decree of the Senate The Jews being gathered together out of the whole Countrey and shut up within the Walls made a valiant resistance boasting much of the Temple of the Lord and saying that the Lord would not forsake his people in the time of danger By secret sallies also they burnt up and spoiled all provision without the City both for Man and Horse whereby the Besiegers began to be pinched but Herod provided against their excursions by placing ambushments in convenient places and sending parties to fetch in provision from afar off so that in a short time the Army was well furnished with all necessaries By reason of the multitude of Workmen the three bulworks were soon finished it being Summer time so that no untemperateness of weather hindred them and with his Engines Herod often battered the Walls and left nothing unassayed but the besieged fought valiantly and were every way as active and subtile to make void his endeavours often sallying forth and firing their Works both those that were finished and others that were but begun and coming to handistrokes with the Romans they were nothing inferiour to them but only in Martial skill The Sabbatical year now coming brought a Famine upon the besieged Jews notwithstanding which they built a new Wall within that which was beaten down by the battering Rams and so countermined the Enemies mines that many times they came to Handystrokes under ground and making use of despair instead of courage they held it out unto the last though Pollio the Pharisee and Samias his Disciple advised them to receive Herod into the City saying that they could not avoid his being their King by reason of their sins They held out the siege for five moneths space though there was so great an Army before the City but at length twenty of Herods choicest Souldiers got upon the Wall and after them the Centurions of Sosius So that the first Wall was taken on the forti'th day and the second on the fiftieth and some Galleries about the Temple were burnt down which Herod charged though falsly upon Antigonus thereby to bring him into hatred with the people When the outward part of
Citizens of Jerusalem made a Conspiracy against him amongst whom one was blind who made one not because he could do any thing but to shew how ready he was to suffer with those that defended their Country rights Herod had appointed secret spies to discover such plots one of which had fished this matter out and acquainted Herod with it who caused them to be apprehended and when they were brought before him with undaunted countenances they drew out their Weapons from under their Garments protesting that not out of any private respect but in the behalf of the publick weal they had undertaken this conspiracy Then were they led away and put to death with all manner of tortures Not long after their accuser being hated of all men was slain by some and being cut in pieces was thrown to the Dogs Yet were the authors hereof concealed till after long and wearisome inquisitions it was by torture wrung out from some silly Women who were privy to it When Herod had thus found out the Authors he punished them with death and their whole Families Herod the better to secure himself from the seditions of the tumultuous people in the thirteenth year of his Reign began to fortifie Samaria which was a days journey from Jerusalem and called it Sebaste or Angusta The circuit of it was twenty furlongs in the midst whereof he built a Temple of a furlong and an half which he wonderfully adorned and so ordered that many of the Souldiers and of the neighbouring Nations came and dwelt there Herod also built another Cidadel to be as a bridle to the whole Nation namely the Tower of Straton Also in the great plain he built a Castle and chose of his Horsemen by lot to keep it Another he built in Galile and one in Peraea which Castles being so conveniently disposed in several parts of the Country took away from the people all opportunity of rebellion About this time very grievous calamities befel the Nation of the Jews First there was a long Drought after which followed a Famine After the Famine by reason of their ill diet there came divers Sicknesses and the Plague and Herod having not wherewithal to supply the publick wants was forced to melt the Gold and Silver that was in his Pallace not sparing any thing for the curiosity of the Workmanship no not so much as the Vessels which were for his own daily use These being turned into money he sent to buy provisions into Aegypt where Petronius was Governour under Caesar who though he was pestered with multitudes that repaired to him upon the like necessity yet being Herods Friend he gave his Servants leave to export Corn and was assisting to them both in the buying and carriage of it When the Corn was brought to Herod he was very careful to see it divided first to such as had most need and then because there were many who by reason of old age or some other weakness were unable to dress it themselves he appointed them certain Bakers to provide their food for them By this means he procured the good will of the people and the praise of a prudent and provident Prince He provided also for his Subjects against the sharpness of the Winter taking care that none should want clothing their Cattel being dead and Wool and other materials failing And when he had made provision for his own People he took care also for the neighbouring Cities of the Syrians to whom he allowed Seed for sowing of their ground and the Castles and Cities and those of the common People who had great Families coming to him for succour he found a remedy for them also Insomuch that he gave to those that were not his Subjects ten thousand Cores of Corn each Core containing ten Athenian bushels As soon as the Corn was ripe for harvest Herod dismissed fifty thousand Men whom he had fed in the time of Famine into their own Countries by which diligence he restored the almost ruined estate of his own Subjects and did not a little relieve his Neighbours who groaned under the same calamities At the same time also he sent aid to Caesar. to wit five hundred chosen Men of his own Guard whom Aelius Gallus led into the Arabian Wars where they did most excellent service Herod also built himself a Pallace in Sidon in which he built two very large and stately Houses with which the Temple it self could in no wise compare and called one of them by the name of Caesar and the other by the name of Agrippa Herod having removed from the Priesthood Jesus the Son of Phales made Simon a Priest of Jerusalem the Son of Boethus of Alexandria Priest in his room and took also his Daughter Mariamne to Wife that was the most beautiful Virgin of that age The marriage solemnities being over he began to build another new Pallace unto which he adjoyned a Town which he called Herodian in a place distant from Jerusalem about sixty furlongs towards Arabia in the place where he had overcome the Jews when he was thrust out by the Arms of Antigonus He built also Sebaste and having finished that he began to build another most magnificent City in a place by the Sea-side where Straton stood which he called Caesaria and added to it an Haven of admirable work equal in bigness to the Haven Piraetus all which he finished in twelve years space sparing neither labour nor cost about them Then did he send his two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus whom he had by Mariamne the Asmonaean to Rome to Caesar to be there educated under him for whom Lodgings were prepared at the House of Pollio Herods great Friend Caesar intertained the young men very courteously and gave Herod power to make which of his Sons he pleased the heir of his Kingdom he added also to his Government Trachonitis Batunaea and Auranitis When Herod had received Trachonitis he took guides and went to the Den of the Thieves restraining their Villanies whereby the people lived in quiet But Zenodorus the former Governour being moved partly thorough envy and partly with the loss of his Government went to Rome to accuse Herod but could effect nothing About this time Herod went to Mytelene to salute his chiefest Friend Agrippa and so returned into Judaea and presently after some Citizens of Gadara went to Agrippa to accuse Herod whom he vouchsafed not so much as to hear but sent them bound to Herod Yet did he spare them for though he was inexorable towards his own People yet did he willingly contemn and forgive injuries received from strangers Zenodorus had solemnly sworn to the Gadarens that he would do his utmost with Caesar to get them freed from the jurisdiction of Herod and to be annexed to the Province of Caesar Many of themselves also exclaimed against Herod calling him cruel Tyrant complaining to Caesar of his violence and
of some ground within the City which in the first fury they had wan but they were pursued even to their own Trenches and Camp Yet at length the Carthaginian Army wherein were one hundred and fifty thousand men did so tire out the Townsmen by their continual Allarms that at length it gat into the Town and had been Masters of it but that they were hindred by some Counter-works which the besieged had raised In this extremity there was one Alcon that came out of the City to treat with Hannibal who would give no other terms but these hard ones That they should deliver up to him all the Gold Silver and Plate and other Riches which they had in the City That the Citizens should leave the City and take up such other habitations as he should appoint them neither should they carry any more out with them save the cloaths on their back These terms seemed so unreasonable to Alcon that he durst not return into the City to propound them to the Citizens Yet might they far better have submitted thereto how hard soever because thereby they might have saved their lives and the honour of their Wives and Daughters whereas the City being shortly after taken by storm they saw their Wives and Daughters defloured before their Faces and all put to the Sword that were above fourteen years of age The Treasures found in Saguntum which were very great Hannibal reserved therewith to pay his Army The Slaves and other booty he divided amongst his Souldiers reserving some choise things wherewith to present his Friends at Carthage to encourage them to the War This news exceedingly vexed the Romans being angry at their own slowness to send help to Saguntum which held out eight Months looking still for succour but in vain Then did the Romans send Ambassadors to Carthage to demand whether this act were done by their done by their consents or whether it were Hannibals presumption alone If they granted the former they were to give them defiance Answer was made them in the Senate of Carthage by one of the Senators to this effect That by this Message the Commonwealth of Carthage was urged to plead Guilty or nor Guilty That it belonged to them to call their own Commanders in question and to punish them according to their Faults but to the Romans to challenge them if they had done any thing contrary to their late League and Covenant It s true said this Speaker that in our negotiations with Luctatius your Ambassador the Allies of both Nations were comprehended but the Sanguntines were not then your Allies and therefore no parties to the Peace then made For of your Allies for the future or of ours there was no question As for the last agreement between you and Asdrubal wherein you will say that the Saguntines were comprehended it s you that have taught us how to answer that particular For whatsoever you found in the Treaty between us and Luctatius to your disadvantage you said it was his presumption as promising those things for which he had not Commission from your Senate If then it be lawful for you to disavow the Actions of your Ambassadors and Commanders concluding any thing without precise Warrant from you the same liberty may we also assume and hold our selves no way bound in honour to perform the contract that Asdrubal made for us without our Command and Consent In conclusion the Carthaginian Senate moved the Romane Ambassadors to tell them plainly the purposes of those that sent them whereupon Q. Fabius gathering up the skirt of his Gown as if something had been in the hallow thereof made this short reply I have here in my Gown-skirt both Peace and War Make you my Masters of the Senate election which you will have All answered even which of them you have a fancy to offer us Then quoth Fabius take War and share it amongst you Which all the Assembly willingly accepted War being thus proclaimed Hannibal resolved not to put up his Sword which he had drawn against the Saguntines till he had therewith opened his passage to the Gates of Rome So began the second Punick War indeed second to none that ever the People of Rome met with Hannibal wintered at Carthagena giving license to his Spanish Souldiers to visit their Friends and refresh themselves against the Spring In the mean while he gave Instructions to his Brother Asdrubal for the Government of Spain in his absence He also took order to send many Troops of Spaniards into Africk to supply the rooms of those Africans which he had drawn into Spain as also that the one Nation might remain as Pledges for the other He selected also four thousand Foot all young Men and Persons of Quallity out of the best Cities of Spain which were to be Garrisoned in Carthage it self not so much to strengthen it as that they might serve for Hostages He also left with his Brother to guard the Coasts and Ports fifty seven Gallies whereof thirty seven were ready Armed Of Africans and other Nations Strangers he left with him above twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse besides one and twenty Elephants Having thus taken order for the defence of Spain and Africk he sent some to discover the Passages of the Pyrenaean Mountains that part Spain from France and of the Alps that part France from Italy He sent Ambassadors to the Inhabitants of the Pyrenes and to the Gauls to obtain a quiet passage that he might bring his Army intire into Italy These being returned with good satisfaction In the beginning of the Spring he passed over the River of Iberus with an Army of ninety thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse All those parts of Spain which had not before been entered he now subdued and appointed one Hanno to Govern Spain on the east side of Iberus with whom he left ten thousand Foot and one thousand Horse When he came to the borders of Spain some of his Spanish Souldiers returned home without asking leave which that others also might not attempt he courteously dismissed such as were willing to be gone Hereby the Journey seemed the less tedious to such as accompanied him voluntarily With the rest of his Army consisting now but of fifty thousand Foot and nine thousand Horse he passed the Pyrenes and entered into Gaul now France But he found the Gauls bounding upon Spain ready in Arms to forbid his entrance into their Country but with gentle Speech and rich Presents which he sent to their Leaders he wan them to favour his expedition So without any other molestation he came to the Banks of Rhodanus where dwelt on each side of the River a People called Volcae These being unacquainted with the cause of his coming sought to stop his passage over the Water But he was greatly assisted by those of Vivarets and Lionois for though many of them had transported themselves and their goods into Daulphine thinking to defend
the Banks against him yet such as remained being willing to free their Countrey from such unwelcome Guests they helped him to make Boats informed him of a better passage higher up the River and sent him Guides When his Boats were ready he sent Hanno the Son of Bomilcar up the River to the Ford and himself in the mean time made a shew of entring the Ford below that Hanno charging the Gauls on their own side and himself at the same time passing the River in their faces might win the further Bank which was done accordingly though with some difficulty and thereby the enemies were dispersed Having passed this first brunt and overcome both the rage of the River and those that defended it he was visited by the Princes of the Cisalpine-Gauls that inhabited Piemout and Milan who had lately revolted from the Romans These informed him that the passage over the Alps was not so difficult as report made it and gave him Guides with many other encouragements Yet found he himself extremly incumbred by the Savoyards and lost more of his Carriages and Carthaginians than he could well spare For he was twice strongly assaulted by them before he could recover the Plains on the other side He was fifteen dayes passing over the Alps wherein besides the trouble of his enemies he was much assaulted by foul weather and Snow it being now the beginning of Winter But the fair and fertile plains which they now were entring into with the assistance and encouragement of the Cisalpine Gauls gave them much comfort having nothing else of difficulty remaining but that which from the beginning they made account to overcome by their proper Valour and Resolution namely the Roman Armies and resistance The Roman Ambassadours who had denounced War at Carthage in their return homewards took Spain in their way with a purpose to draw into their Alliance as many Cities and Princes as they could The first that they attempted were the Volcians from whom they received this answer that they would never joyn with them who had forsaken the Saguntines in their greatest need and that themselves had found the Carthaginians such good Neighbours that they meant still to adhere to them From Spain the Ambassadours passed through Gaul perswading them not to suffer Hannibal to pass through their Countrey and gloried much in their own strength But the Gauls laughed them to scorn and had scarce Patience to hear them speak telling them that they meant not to set their own Houses on fire to save the Romans from burning that the Carthaginians had never offended them as the Romans had done who had already forced some of them out of their habitations and made others Tributaries who were as free as themselves With these unpleasing answers the Ambassadours returned home carrying no good news of Friends like to help them but rather that the Gauls intended to take part with their enemies And accordingly when the Cisalpine-Gauls heard that the Carthaginians had passed Iberus and were marching towards Rome the Boij and Insubrians rose up against the Romans Their quarrel was the late planting of Roman Colonies at Cremona and Placentia within Territories Relying therefore upon the Carthaginian succour which they thought to be at hand laying aside all regard of those Hostages that they had lately given to the Romans they fell upon those Colonies The Towns they could not win but they forced the Roman Commissioners which were abroad to fly into Modena where they besieged them But the Gauls having little skill in besieging Cities grew weary and were desirous of Peace This they did on purpose to draw on some meeting that laying hands on the Roman Deputies they might with them redeem their Hostages and it fell out in part according to their wish For Ambassadours coming to them from Rome to treat with them they made them Prisoners Manlius the Praetor hearing of this outrage marched with his Army to relieve the Besieged But the Gauls laid an Ambush in his way that falling upon him utterly routed him and slew most of his Army except a few that escaped into a defensible place upon the River Po. This being heard of at Rome C. Atilius the other Praetor hasted with another Army to relieve the besieged But as the Gauls were too hastly so the Romans were too slow in the beginning of this War For they could not believe that Carthage which had almost servilely endured so many indignities from them in the late peace durst be so bold on a sudden as to attempt the Conquest of Italy it self Wherefore they appointed one of their Consuls to make War in Spain and the other in Africk Titus Sempronius went into Africk with one hundred and sixty Gallies of five to an Oar which preparations seemed to threaten Carthage her self P. Cornelius Scipio the other Consul hasted towards Spain and by the way touching at Massilia he was there informed that Hannibal had passed the River Rhodanus whom he had thought to have found busie in Spain Hannibal also heard of the Consuls arrival with whom he meant to have nothing to do Yet both sent forth Scouts Hannibal sent out five hundred Numidians and Scipio three hundred of his best Horse They met and fought and the Romans had the better of it But when Scipio drew near thinking to have met with the Carthaginians he found that they were gone three dayes before with an intent to see the Walls of Rome Scipio hereupon sent his Brother Cn. Cornelius Scipio into Spain with the greatest part of the Army against Asdrubal and himself with the choicest returned back and landing at Pisa he marched through Tuscany and Lumbardy where he drew together the broken Bands of Manlius and Atilius who were lately beaten by the Gauls intending therewith to oppose the enemy thinking to find them tired with their long Journey Five moneths Hannibal had spent in that tedious march from Carthagena When he had passed Rhodanus he had in his Army but thirty eight thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse the rest having perished with Diseases Enemies Rivers and Mountains Having newly passed the Alps and scarce refreshed his wearied Army in Piemont he sought the Friendship of the Taurini who being at this time in War with the Insubrians his good Friends the Taurini refused it whereupon he besieged their chief Town and in three dayes wan it the spoil whereof did much encourage his Army and the othere Calamity terrified their Neighbours Most of those parts would willingly have joyned with Hannibal but when the Consul Scipio came amongst them they began to be better advised This wavering affection amongst the People made the Generals to hasten to a Battel Their meeting was at Ticinum now Pavia where each of them wondred at the others expedition The Senate at Rome were much amazed at Hannibals arrival in Italy wherefore they sent presently to Sempronius and the other Consul now in Sicily to give him notice of it
wrongfully sustained Upon Fabius his approach Hannibal retired Fearing as he said to be well wet with the Cloud that had hung so long upon the Hill-tops Minutius forthwith submitted himself to Fabius by whose favour he acknowledged that his life was preserved Thence forward the War went on slowly whilst Fabius his Dictatorship lasted and the year following also when he had delivered up his charge to to the Consuls that followed his instructions With little pleasure did they of the poorer sort in Rome hear the great commendations which were given to Fabius by the principal Citizens because the War was not finished nor much done tending thereto And this affection was very helpful to Terentius Varro in his suit for the Consulship and farther to help him he had a kinsman Bibius Herennius Tribune of the People He boldly affirmed that Hannibal was drawn into Italy and suffered there to range at his pleasure by the Noblemen that without a Plebeian Consul the War would never be ended c. By which perswasions the multitude were won to be wholly for Terentius to the great vexation of the Nobles who could not endure such an upstart But nothing could hinder the choise of Terentius Wherefore the Nobles to ballast this hot-headed man set up L. Aemilius Paulus a gallant man and a brave Captain to stand for the other Consuls place and he easily carried it These new Consuls Varro and Paulus omitted no diligence in preparing for the War wherein though Varro made the greatest noife boasting what wonders he would do if he could but once see Hannibal yet the care and prudence of Paulus did tend much more towards the effecting of it He wrote to the two old Consuls to forbear fighting and yet to ply the Carthaginians with daily Skirmishes and so to weaken them by degrees that when he and his Fellow Consul came with the new Army they might find the four old Legions well accustomed to the Enemy and the Enemy well weakened These new Consuls raised an Army of above eighty thousand Foot and six thousand Horse Hannibal all this while lay at Geryon where all his provision and store was The Romans to be neer him lodged about Canusium laying up most of their provisions in the Castle of Cannae This place Hannibal wan and thereby not only furnished himself but compelled his Enemies to want many necessaries Hereby he also enabled himself to stay in that open Country fit for the service of the Horse Of this mishap when Servilius had informed the Senate it then seemed needful to them to 〈◊〉 Battel with the Carthaginian rather than to suffer him thus to roo◠himself in Italy When all things vvere ready in the City and the season of the year commodious the two Consuls with their Army set forward against Hannibal This was done with great solemnity Sacrifices and solemn Vows were made to Jupiter and the other Gods for good success and Victory and the Generals were accompanied with a great number that brought them out of the City and dismissed them with Friendly leave-taking and good wishes These new Generals arriving at the Camp dismissed M. Atilius one of the last years Consuls because of his age and retained Servilius with them as their assistant Aemilius laboured to encourage his men telling them that the enemy had stole all the former Victories by his Ambushes that otherwise the Romans were far beyond them in Valour c. and therefore he exhorted them to play the men and do their best This set them on fire to be dealing with the Carthagiuians and herein Varro concurred with them longing for an opportunity to get the honour which he promised to himself having now such a numerous Army By this means the Romans fell into a great inconvenience by the disagreement of their Generals Varro would fight and Aemilius would not for the present hoping for better advantage ere long when the enemy should be forced to dislodg out of the plain Country The Consuls command in turns every day Aemilius lodged six miles from Hannibal where the ground was uneven Terentius the next day descended into the plains his Colleague beseeching him to stay but could not prevail He sat down neer to the Carthaginian who yet gave him but a rude vvelcome and entertainment The Carthaginian Horse and light Armature fell upon the Roman Vaunt-Courriers and put the whole Army into a tumult whilst it was yet in its march but the Carthaginians were beaten off though not without loss The next day Aemilius who could not securely draw back the Army encamped upon the River Aufidus sending part of his Forces over the River where they encamped themselves with the rest he fortified and kept within his Trenches Varro was perswaded that it concerned him in honour to make good his word to the People of Rome When therefore it was his turn to Command at the break of Day he began to pass the River without staying to bid his Colleague good morrow But Paulus came to him labouring by all means to disswade him Terentius had norhing to answer but that his honour was engaged Hannibal had twice or thrice braved them which must not be endured When Aemilius perceived that he could not prevail he was careful that what must be done might be done well Ten thousand Foot he caused to be left behind in the Camp opposite to the Carthaginians to the intent that Hannibal might be forced to do the like or else when they were in fight these might fall upon his Camp and take it with all the wealth therein which would much distract the Carthaginians This done the Consuls drew forth their Army over the Water and ranged them in order of Battel This Hannibal was very glad of and therefore without any delay passed over the River also leaving in his own Camp enow to defend it and no more To encourage his men he told them how fit the ground was wherein they were to fight and that therefore they were to thank the Gods who had so infatuated the enemies as to choose such a place where the stronger in Horse was sure to prevail Besides said he These are the men whom you have beaten as often as you have seen them and now you are to fight for their Cities and all the Riches that are in them and ere many hours pass ye shall be Lords of all that the Romans enjoy This set his men 〈◊〉 to be it and at the same time came his Brother Mago whom he had sent to view the countenance of the Enemy to whom he said What news What works are we like to have Work enough answered Mago for they are a horrible Company As horrible a many as they be said Hannibal I tell thee that amongst them all there is not one man whose name is Mago and therewith he fell a laughing which all the Souldiers also took for a good Omen In this great day the Carthaginian excelled himself expressing abundance of Military skill
Spaniards and Africans and about two hundred Horse A loss not sensible in the joy of so great a Victory which if he had pursued as Maharbal advised him and forthwith marched against Rome probably the War had presently been at an end But Hannibal knew how to get not how to use a Victory and God had otherwise determined When Hannibal had sacked the Roman Camps and trused up the spoils he dislodged and marched away to Samnium finding a disposition in many People thereabouts to forsake the Romans and to make aliance with him The first Town that opened their Gates to him was Cossag where he laid up his Baggage and leaving his Brother Mago to take in other places he hastened into Campania He dismissed all his Prisoners that were nor Romans without ransom whereby he won the affections of most of the Common People in Italy to incline to him He also gave leave to his Roman Prisoners to sent to Rome to procure their ransom with whom he sent Carthalo the General of his Horse to see how Rome stood affected to peace The Senate commanded Carthalo to depart out of their Territories and refused to redeem their Prisoners probably because they wanted Mony wherewithal to do it Campania is a most pleasant and fruitful Country and Capua the chief City in it rich and wealthy the Citizens despised now the unfortunate virtue of the Romans and sent Ambassadours to Hannibal with whom these Articles were agreed upon That the Campans should be absolutely free and Governed by their own Laws That no Citizens of theirs should be subject to any Carthaginian Magistrate in War or Peace and that Hannibal should deliver to the Campans three hundred Roman Prisoners such as themselves should choose whom they might exchange for their Gentlemen that were Hostages with the Romans Then did Hannibal hasten towards Capua leaving Naples that he had thought to take in by Scalado but found the Walls too high and himself not fully furnished for a Siege At Capua he was intertained with great solemnity and Pomp all the Town being so earnestly in love with their new Guests that they murthered all the Romans that at present they could come by The same course with these of Capua ran the other Cities thereabout except Nola Nuceria Naples Cassiline and Acenae which yet stood out for the Romans Rome it self was in great fear of Hannibals coming at the first report of the overthrow at Cannae and the grief of that loss was so general and immoderate that it much hindred their provision against apparent danger All the Senators found work enough to quiet the Peoples lamentations Courriers were sent forth to bring them certain tidings how things went whereof when Letters from the Consul Varro had fully informed them they were so amazed that they ran into Barbarous Superstition and by the advice of their Southsayers they buried two Men and two Women alive in the Ox-market Ambassadours also were sent to the Oracle at Delphi to enquire with what Prayers and Supplications they might pacifie the Gods and obtain an end of their calamities In the midst of these extremities they called home their Consul Terentius that he might name a Dictator and all sorts of people went forth to meet him and welcome him home which was done to hold up their reputation M. Junius was chosen for the Dictator and T. Sempronius Master of the Horse These fell presently to the mustring of Forces and raised four Legions and a thousand Horse yet were they faign to take some that were very Boys and they encreased their number by adding to them eight thousand sturdy Slaves to whom liberty was promised if they would deserve it by their manly service The Dictator also Proclaimed that whosoever were in debt and could not pay it or that had committed any capital offence should be pardoned if they would serve in the War and to Arm these they were faign to take down out of their Temples the spoils of their enemies that had been there hung up The Dictator having dispatched all needful businesses in the City took the Field with twenty five thousand Men with whom he marched into Campania and did little more then to keep Hannibal from spoiling the Country Marcellus one of the Roman Praetors lying at Ostia with a Legion and fifteen hundred Souldiers newly taken up with whom he should have gone into Sicily hearing of the overthrow at Cannae sent his new levied men to Rome for the defence of it and with his Legion marched to Nola to help the Citizens there Hannibal had many Friends in Nola amongst the common People and therefore brought his Army thither and on a day seeing the Walls unmanned he bad his Souldiers bring the Ladders and scale them But whilst they did it and were in confusion Marcellus with his men issued out at three several Gates and set upon the Carthaginians expecting no such thing and did such execution amongst them that this was accounted a Victory and reputed the bravect act in all those Wars from whence they concluded that Hannibal might be overcome From thence Hannibal went to Acerrae where being refused entrance he laid Siege to it on every side wherewith the Citizens being terrified before his works were finished they stole out by Night and left the Town empty which Hannibal sackt and burnt then hearing that the Dictator was about Cassiline thither vvent he but found him not only many Companies of the Roman Confederats vvere gotten into the Town and kept it The Citizens vvere affected to Hannibal and vvould faign have been free from there Guests vvho finding their intent in a Night slew all the Citizens and fortified a part of the City against the enemy Hannibal gave divers assaults to it but vvas still repelled vvith loss and may sallies they made vvith variable success Hannibal mined and they countermined so that he vvas driven to enclose them that he might vvin it by Famine T. Sempronius Gracchus Master of the Horse lay up the River vvith the Roman Army and vvould faign have relieved the Besieged but durst not venture Barrels of Corn he sent floating down the River to relieve them which being discovered came into Hannibals hands Gracchus cost abundance of Nuts into the stream vvhich faintly sustained the Besieged At length vvhen all their food vvas spent and vvhatsoever green thing grevv under the Walls the Carthaginians plovved up the ground and the besieged presently sovved it vvith Rape-seed Hannibal admired their patience and said That he meant not to stay there till the Rapes were grown and therefore vvhereas he had intended to have made them an example for their obstinacy he vvas novv content to grant them their lives upon an easie ransom and so quietly dismissed them The time of the year novv being come Hannibal retired into Capua vvhere he vvintered and vvhere as some say his Army vvas corrupted vvith the pleasures and plenty there and made more
effeminate than before About this time Hannibal sent his Brother Mago to Carthage vvith the joyful nevvs of this great Victory He told the Carthaginian Senate vvith hovv many Roman Generals his Brother had fought hovv many Consuls he had chased vvounded or slain Hovv the Romans vvho never used to shun a Battel vvere novv grown so cold that they thought their Dictator Fabius the only good Captain That not vvithout reason their spirits were thus abated since Hannibal had slain above two hundred and six thousand of them and taken above fifty thousand Prisoners He told them how many States in Italy followed the Fortune of those great Victories He told them that the War was even at an end if they vvould follovv it close and give the Romans no time of breathing He wished them to consider that the War was carried into an enemies Country that so many Battels had diminished his Brothers Army that the Souldiers that had deserved so well ought to be well rewarded and that it was not good to burden their new Italian Friends with exactions of Mony Corn c. But that these must be sent from Carthage Lastly he caused the Gold Rings taken from the Fingers of the Roman Knights that were slain to be powred out before them which being measured filled three Bushels This errand of Mago for the present found extraordinary good welcome And large supplies vvere voted to be sent to him But his old enemy Hanno obstructed them and the too much Parsimony of the Citizens was the cause that there was very little done and that which was done came too late However Mago brings the news of the great supply which was decreed to be sent which much rejoyced Hannibal and his new confederates The Spring drew on vvhen the supply was expected but there came no more than a few Elephants and Hannibal was forced to rest contented with them Then did he take the Field and sought to make himself Master of some good Haven Town that might serve to intertain the Carthaginian Fleet when it should arrive with the supplies For this end he sent Himilco who by the help of his good Friends the Brusians won Petilia he won also Concentia and Crotan and the City of Locri and many other places only the Town of Rhegium over against Sicily held out against him The Romans at this time were in such a case that Hannibal vvith a little help from Carthage might have reduced them to great extremity But his own Citizens suffered him to languish with expectation of their promised supplies which being still deferred from year to year caused as great opportunities to be lost as a Conqueror could have desired But whatsoever Hannibal thought he was faign to apply himself to his Italian Friends and to feed them with Hopes and to trifle way his time about Nola Naples Cumae c. being loath to weaken his Army by a hard Siege that was to be reserved for a vvork of more importance Many offers he made upon Nola but always vvith bad success Once Mercellus fought a Battel with him there under the Walls of the City having the Citizens to assist him vvherein Hannibal lost a thousand men which was no great marvail his forces being then divided and imployed in sundry parts of Italy at once At this time T. Sempronius Gracchus and Q. Fabius Maximus the late famous Dictator were chosen Consuls But Fabius was detained at Rome about matters of Religion or Superstition rather vvherewith the City vvas commonly especially in the times of danger very much troubled so Gracchus alone vvith a Consular Army waited upon Hannibal amongst the Campanes not able to meet him in the Field yet attentive to all occasions that should be presented The Slaves that lately had been Armed were a great part of his followers These and the rest of his men Gracchus continnally trained and had not a greater care to make his Army skilful in the exercises of War than in keeping it from quarrels that might arise by their upbrading one another vvith their base condition Gracchus at this time had a bickering vvith the Capuans upon whom he came at unawares and slew above two thousand of them and took their Camp but staid not long to rifâ—le it for fear of Hannibal that lay not far off By this his Providence he escaped a greater loss than he brought upon the Capuans For vvhen Hannibal heard hovv things vvent he presently marched thither hoping to find these young Souldiers and Slaves busied in loading themselves vvith the Booty But they were all gotten safe into Cumae which so angred Hannibal that at the earnest request of the Capuans he assailed it the next day Much labour and vvith ill success he spent about this Town He raised a Woodden Tower brought it close to the Walls thereby to assault it but they vvithin built a higher Tower vvhence they made resistance and found means to set Hannibals Tower on fire and vvhilst the Carthaginians were busie in quenching the fire they issued out charged them valiantly and drove them to their Trenches The Consul vvisely sounded a retreat in time or Hannibal had requited them The day following Hannibal presented Battel to them but Gracchus refused it Seeing therefore no likelyhood to prevail he raised his Siege and departed About this time Fabius the other Consul took the Field and recovered some small Towns that Hannibal had taken and punished the Inhabitants severely for their revolt the Carthaginians Army vvas too small to Garrison all the Towns that had yielded to them and withall to abide as it must do strong in the Field Wherefore Hannibal attending the supply from Carthage that would enable him to strike at Rome it self vvas driven in the mean time to alter his course of War and instead of making as he had formerly done a general invasion upon the vvhole Country he vvas faign to vvait upon occasions that grevv daily more commodious to the Enemy than to him When Hannibal vvas gone to Winter into Apulia Marcellus vvasted the Country of the Hirpines and Samnites the like did Fabius in Campania The People of Rome vvere very intentive upon the Work they had in hand they continued Fabius in his Consulship and joyned vvith him Cladius Marcellus Of these two Fabius vvas called the Shield and Marcellus the Roman Sword The great Name of these Consuls and the great preparations which they made put the Campans in fear that Capua it self should be besieged wherefore at their earnest request Hannibal came from Arpi and having comforted his Friends on a sudden he fell upon Puteoli a Sea-town of Campania about vvhich he spent three days in vain there being six thousand in Garrison vvherefore he left it and marched to Tarentum vvherein he had great intelligence In the mean time Hanno made a journy against Beneventum where T. Gracchus met him Hanno had vvith him about seventeen thousand Foot Brutians and Lucans
had listed many Boyes and they made a Law for their encouragement that their years should go on from that time as if they had been of lawful age Before the Roman Army drew near the Capuans through their own wretchlesness began to feel want of Victuals they sent therefore to Hannibal desiring him to succour them before they were closed up and he sent Hanno with an Army to supply their wants Hanno appointed them a day to bring store of carriages to convey in the provisions which he should make but when the day came they brought only fourty Waggons with a few pack-Horses Hanno was much vexed at it and appointed them another day when they should come better provided But in the mean while Q. Fulvius the Consul came privately to Beneventum and having heard that Hanno was gone abroad a Forraging he marched all night and by the break a day assaulted his Camp which for a long time was gallantly defended but at last though with great loss he won it in which six thousand were slain seven thousand taken Prisoners besides a great Booty that Hanno had lately gotten from the Roman Confederates This misadventure and the neer approach of the Roman Consuls made them of Capua to send a pitiful message to Hannibal intreating him to hasten to their relief considering how faithful they had been to him Hannibal answered them with fair promises and sent away two thousand Horse to keep their Lands from spoil whilst himself was intent about taking the Citadel and some other Towns in those parts The Consuls fortifying Beneventum to secure their backs addressed themselves to the siege of Capua Many disasters befell the Romans in the beginning of this great enterprise Gracchus a brave Souldier and lately twice Consul was slain He was honourably interred by Hannibal some of whose straglers had slain him the Manumissed Slaves that served under him took this opportunity to go every man whither he pleased so that it was long ere they could be got together again Yet the Consuls proceed in their work Mago and the Citizens gave them but bad welcome sallying out and slaying fifteen hundred of their men Neither was it long ere Hannibal himself came fought with them and caused them to dislodge They removed by night and went several vvays Fulvius towards Cannae and Claudius into Lucania Hannibal follovved Claudius but could not reach him Yet by the way he met with one Penula a stout man that had the charge of neer sixteen thousand men with him he fought and slew him and almost all his men scarce a thousand of them escaping Then was Hannibal informed that Cneus Fulvius a Roman Praetor was in Apulia with about eighteen thousand men Coming to Fulvius so forward he was that needs he would have fought with him that night Hannibal set Mago with three thousand men in an Ambush then offering Battel to Fulvius he soon had him in the Trap whence he was glad to escape himself leaving all save two thousand of his men dead behind him These two great blows much astonished the Romans Yet when they had gathered the remainders of those Armies the Consuls fell hard again to the Siege of Capua At the first sitting down of the Consuls they proclaimed that whosoever would come out of Capua by such a day should be pardoned and enjoy his estate if not no grace was to be expected the Capuans relying on their own strength and the assistance of Hannibal rejected this offer with scorn And before they were wholly closed up they sent to Hannibal requesting his help He gave them good words and dismissed them But he thinking that they were well able to hold out for a long time staid to dispatch his business before he went by which means the Consuls had time enough to entrench and secure themselves When the Consulship of Claudius and Fulvius was expired they were continued in their charge of the Army as Proconsuls and their design was to take Capua by Famine But Hannibal came before he was expected by the Romans and took one of their Forts and fell upon their Camp the Capuans also at the same time sallyed out but were beaten in again Yet did Claudius in pursuing them receive a wound that ere long brought him to his Grave Hannibal followed his business better and had almost taken the Camp yet at length was repelled This extreamly angred Hannibal and made him entertain a haughty resolution even to set upon Rome which accordingly he pursued and because that work must be done with celerity he caused his men to provide victuals for ten days and so marched forward This news coming to Rome they sent to acquaint their Generals with it wishing them to do what they judged best for the safety of the City And thereupon Q. Fulvius took fifteen thousand choise Foot and a thousand Horse and with them hasted towards Rome As Hannibal drew neer making woful havock as he went all the streets and Temples in Rome were filled with women crying and praying rubbing the Altars with their hair the Senators were all in the Great market place ready to give advice upon all emergencies But Fulvius and Hannibal arrived at Rome neer together The Consuls and Fulvius encamped without the Gate of Rome attending Hannibal who coming within three miles of the City advanced with two thousand Horse and rode along a great way under the Walls viewing and considering how he might best approach them Yet went he back without doing or receiving any hurt Many tumults were at this time raised in the City and the multitude were so affrighted that they would have run out of the Gates if they could have done it with safety The day following Hannibal brought up his Army and presented Battel to the Romans who would have accepted it had not a terrible shower of Rain caused both the Armies to return into their Camps and this happened two days together and the weather cleered up presently after But Hannibal who had brought but ten days provision with him could not stay any longer he therefore made all the spoil he could in the Roman Territories passing like a Tempest over the Country and run towards the Eastern Sea so fast that he had almost taken Regium before his arrival was suspected As for Capua he gave it for lost and cursed the faction of Hanno which thus disabled him to relieve that fair City Fulvius returned back to the Siege of Capua which now began to suffer want And faign they would have sent again to Hannibal but that all ways were intercepted The truth is Hannibal had already done his best and now began to faint under the burden of that War wherein as he afterwards protested he was vanquished by Hanno and his Partizans in the Senate of Carthage rather than by any force of the Romans Capua being novv brought to extremity the multitude forced the Senators to consult about the delivering of it up to the
wherefore he went and besieged Locri the best City in Italy that held for the Carthaginian bringing all sorts of Engins to promote the work But Hannibal was not slow to relieve the City at whose approach Crispinus rose and retreated to his fellow Consul Thither followed Hannibal to whom the Consuls offered Battel He refused it yet dayly entertained them with Skirmishes waiting for some advantage and reserved his Army to a time of greater imployment when his Brother Asdrubal should come into Italy Marcellus was not well pleased with this and therefore sought to force him to fight for which end he commanded a Navy by Sea and the Garrison of Tarentum again to besiege Locri But Hannibal had an eye behind him and by the way laid an Ambush for those of Tarentum slew three thousand of them and made the rest to fly back into Tarentum As for the Consuls Hannibals desire was to wast them by little and little Betwixt him and them was a little Hill overgrown with Bushes amongst them he hid some Numidians willing them to attend every advantage To this Hill the Consuls thought fit to remove their Camp thither therefore they rode to view the place taking with them the Son of Marcellus a few Collonels and other principal men and about two hundred Horse The Numidian Centinel gave warning of their approach and the other discovered not themselves till they had surrounded the Consuls and their Company The Consuls defended themselves hoping to be quickly relieved from the Camp that was neer at hand But all their Horse save four forsook them and fled Marcellus was slain with a Lance Crispinus had his deaths wound and young Marcellus was wounded yet got to the Camp the rest were all slain Hannibal gave an honourable Funeral to Marcellus bestowing his ashes in a Silver pot covered with a Crown of Gold and sent it to his Son to be interred where he pleased Then Licinius the Roman Admiral laid hard Siege to Locri wherefore Hannibal went thither again but as soon as his Vant-couriers appeared the Romans ran in confused heaps to their Ships leaving all their Engins and whatsoever was in their Camp to Hannibal C. Claudius Nero and M. Livius were chosen Consuls at which time Asdrubal was already come into France and was approaching towards Italy Livius would not stir against him but with a considerable Army and those of the choisest men and Claudius with another Army was sent against Hannibal By this time news came that Asdrubal was passing the Alps and that the Ligurians and those about Genoa were ready to joyn with him When all was ordered according to the Consuls minds they went forth of the City each his several way The Citizens were full of fears there being another Son of Amilcar come into Italy and one that in this expedition seemed to be of more sufficiency than Hannibal For whereas in that long and dangerous march through so many Barbarous Nations over great Rivers and Mountains Hannibal had lost a great part of his Army Asdrubal in the same Journey had increased his descended from the Alps like a rowling Snowball far greater than when he came over the Pyrenes This made the People wait upon their Consuls out a Town like a pensive train of Mourners Asdrubal at his first coming into Italy set upon Placentia but there he lost a great deal of time and yet was faign at last to leave it whereby he gave the Roman Consuls leasure to make ready for him and caused his Brother Hannibal to make no hast to meet him knowing that Placentia would not be taken in hast Nero made what speed he could to meet with Hannibal and stop him from joyning with his Brother He had with him fourty thousand Foot besides Horse with which he oft offered Hannibal Battel and in diverse Skirmishes had the better of him At Grumentum Hannibal fought with him but was worsted yet gat he off and marched away to Venusia vvith Nero still at his heels Thence he vvent to Canusium and sat dovvn there near the place where he had obtained his most memorable Victory There also Nero sat down by him thinking it enough to hinder him from joyning with his succours There was he advertised of Asdrubals approach by Letters that were going to Hannibal which he intercepted wherefore he resolved that it was better to run some desperate adventure than to suffer them to joyn together He therefore took six thousand Foot and a thousand Horse all of his choisest men and away he posted as fast as he could to assist his Fellow Consul Livy at that time lay encamped neer to Serea Gallica and Asdrubal within half a Mile of him In six days Nero finished his journy thither and by the way his company was encreased by some voluntaries The next day after his coming they consulted together and resolved to fight the Enemy Asdrubal perceiving that both the Consuls were now together and thereupon feared that Hannibal was slain and though before he was forward to fight yet now he thought it no shame to retreat farther from them So he dislodged secretly by Night intending to get over the River Metaurus but being misled by his Guides he had not gone far before Nero was at his heels with all the Horse which hindred him from going any farther and the other Consuls followed with the Legions in order of Battel Asdrubal seeing a necessity to fight omitted no care or circumspection His Gauls he placed in the left Wing upon a Hill which the Enemy could not ascend without much difficulty In the right Wing he stood himself with his Africans and Spaniards His Lygurians he placed in the midst and his Elephants in the Front of the Battel On the Romans side Nero had the right Wing Livius the left and Portius led the Battel Livy and Portius found strong opposition and with great slaughter on both sides prevailed little of nothing Nero laboured much in vain against the steep Hill where the Gauls stood out of his reach wherefore taking part of his Forces he led them round behind Livy and Portius and charged Asdrubal in the Flank which made the Victory incline to the Romans For Nero ran all along the depth of Asdrubals Battel and put it to rout Of the Spaniards and Africans the greatest part were slain the Ligurians and Gauls saved themselves by flight Of the Elephants only four were taken alive the rest were slain most by their Riders the Guide having in readiness a mallet and a chissel wherewith he gave a stroak between the Ears in the joynt next the Head wherewith he killed the Beast upon a sudden Asdrubal strove with great Patience and against many difficulties and performed all the duties of a worthy General and stout Souldier and when he saw the loss irreparable he rode manfully into the thickest of the Enemies where fighting bravely he was slain The number of the slain on both sides is variously
had endured great troubles and misery and set them again at liberty the Mamertines only excepted who dwelt in Messina they despising his jurisdiction and Government pleaded the ancient priviledges of the Romans which had been formerly granted unto them But Pompey ansvvered them angerly What do you prating to us of your Law that have our Swords by our sides He dealt also too cruelly vvith Carbo in his misery for he might have killed him in hot blood when he first fell into his hands with less blame But Pompey when he was taken caused him to be brought before him though he had been thrice Consul and to be publickly examined sitting himself in his Tribunal and condemned him to dye in the presence of them all to the great distast and offence of all that were present Yet he bad them take him away to execution which was done accordingly Pompey dealt as cruelly also with Quintus Valerius a man of rare parts and excellent Learning who being brought to Pompey he took him aside and walked a few turns with him and when he had learned what he could of him he commanded his Guard to take him away and dispatch him Pompey indeed was compelled to make away all Sylla's enemies that fell into his hands But for the rest all that he could suffer secretly to steal away he willingly connived at it and would not take notice of it yea himself did help many to save themselves by flight Pompey had determined to have taken sharp revenge of the City of the Himerians who had stoutly taken the enemies part But Sthenes one of the Governours of the City craved audience of Pompey told him boldly that he should do great injustice if he should pardon him who was the only offender and destroyed them who were not guilty Pompey then asking him who he was that durst take upon himself the offence of them all Sthenes answered That it was himself who had perswaded his Friends and compelled his enemies to do what was done Pompey being much pleased to hear the frank speech and boldness of the man he forgave both him and all the Citizens After this Pompey being informed that his Soldiers did kill divers in the high-ways he caused all their Swords to be sealed up and whose seal soever was broken he punished them soundly for it Pompey being busy about these matters in Sicily he received instructions and a Commission from Sylla and the Senate at Rome to depart thence immediately into Africk with all his power to make War against Domitius who had a very great Army Pompey accordingly speedily prepared to take the Seas leaving Memmius his Sisters Husband to Govern Sicily and so imbarking in sixscore Gallies and eight hundred other Ships wherein he transported his Victuals Ammunition Money Engines for Battery and all other his Warlike provision he hoised Sail and Landed one part of his Army at Utica and the other at Carthage and presently after his landing there came to him seven thousand Soldiers from his enemies to take his part besides seven whole Legions that he brought with him Against him came Domitius with his Army in Battel array but before him there was a Quagmire that ran with a very swift stream very hard to get over Besides it had rained exceedingly all that morning so that Domitius judging it impossible then to fight bad his men truss up and be gone Pompey on the other side spying this advantage caused his men to advance and coming upon the enemy who was now out of order had a cheap Victory over them wherein he slew about seventeen thousand of them whereupon he was by his Souldiers saluted with the name Imperator or Emperour but he told them he would not accept of that honourable Title so long as he saw his enemies Camp yet standing whereupon they ran presently and assaulted it and took it by force and slew Domitius therein After this overthrow all the Cities in that Country came and submitted to Pompey and those that refused were taken by force They took also King Jarbas who had sided with Domitius and gave his Kingdom to Heimpsal But Pompey being desirous further to imploy his Army he went many days Journey into the main Land conquering all wheresoever he came making the power of the Romans dreadful to those Barbarous Nations who before made small account of them He caused also the Wild Beasts of Africk to feel his force bestowing some days in Hunting of Lyons and Elephants And in fourty days he conquered his enemies subdued Africk and setled the affaires of the Kings and Kingdoms of that part of the Country being then but twenty four years old Pompey being returned to Utica he received Letters from Sylla willing him to discharge his Army and to retain only one Legion with himself till the coming of another Captain that was to succeed him in the Government of that Country This grieved him not a little though he made no shew of it at all But the Souldiers were much offended at it and when Pompey prayed them to depart they gave out broad speeches against Sylla and told him directly that they were resolved not to leave him whatsoever became of them and that they would not leave him to trust to a Tyrant Pompey seeing that he could not prevail with them rose out of his seat and went into his Tent weeping But the Souldiers followed him and brought him again to his Chair of State intreating him to remain there and command them and he desired them to obey Sylla and to leave their mutinies In fine he seeing they were resolved to press him swore that he would kill himself rather then they should compel him yet scarce did they leave him thus Hereupon it was reported to Sylla that Pompey was rebelled against him which when he heard he said to his Friends Well I see then that it is my Destiny in my old age to fight with Children This he said because of Marius the younger who had done him much mischief and had greatly endangered him But afterwards understanding the truth and hearing that all generally in Rome would go to meet Pompey and receive him with all the honour they could he resolved to go beyond them all in shew of good will wherefore going out of his House to meet him he embraced him with great affection and welcomed him home calling him Magnus that is Great and commanded all that were present to give him that Name also After this Pompey required the honour of a Triumph which Sylla opposed affirming that this honour should be granted to none but to such as had been Consuls or at least Praetors He told him also that if he should stand for it he would oppose him Pompey was not discouraged herewith but boldly told him That all men did honour not the setting but the rising Sun Sylla heard not well what he said and therefore enquired and when it was told him he wondred at
and gave him Battel by Sea and after endured a Siege by Land Yet after a while they besought him to receive them to mercy yielding themselves their Towns and Islands which they had strongly fortified into his hands Thus was this War ended and all the Pirats within less than three Months space driven out of the Seas Pompey won also a great number of Ships and ninety Gallies armed with Copper Spurs As for those whom he had taken who were in number about twenty thousand lusty Men and good Souldiers he would not put them to Death but planted them in inland Countries in certain small Towns of the Cilicians that were scarce inhabited who were very glad of them and gave them Lands to maintain them and whereas the City of the Solians had not long before been destroyed by Tygranes King of Armenia he replenished it again by placing many of them there He bestowed others of them in the City of Dyma in the Country of Achaia which lacked Inhabitants and had great store of good Land belonging to it though many of his Enemies greatly blamed him for it Before Pompey was chosen General against the Pirats young Metellus was sent Praetor into Creet who finding it to be a Den of these Thieves he took many of them and put them to Death the rest that escaped being straightly besieged by him sent unto Pompey craving pardon and desiring him to receive them to mercy Pompey accordingly pardoned them and wrote to Metellus requiring him to give over that War commanding the Cities also that they should not obey Metellus He sent also Lucius Octavius one of his Lieutenants who entered into the Towns besieged by Metellus and sought against him in the behalf of the Pirats This act of Pompey procured him much ill will for that he fought for the common Enemies of the World who had neither God nor Law and that only to deprive a Roman Praetor of his Triumph who had done such good service against them Yet Metellus left not off his Wars for Pompey's Letters but having taken the Pirats he put them to Death When the news came to Rome that the Piratick War was ended and that Pompey had no more to do but to go from City to City to visit them one Manlius a Tribune of the People brought in another Law that Pompey taking the Army from Lucullus and all the Provinces under his Government with all Bythinia which Glabrio kept should go and War upon Tygranes and Methridates and yet reserve in his hands all his jurisdiction and Army by Sea in as royal a manner as he had it before which was to make him an absolute Monarch over all the Roman Empire The Senate stuck not so much at the injury offered to Lucullus depriving him of the honour of his doings and giving it to another but that which most grived them was to see Pompey's power established into a plain Tyranny Hereupon they encouraged one another to oppose it to the uttermost yet when the day came for the passing of this Law they all drew back for fear of angring the People and none durst oppose it Only Catulus inveied against it a long time together But say what he could the Decree passed by the voices of the Tribes And thus was Pompey in his absence made Lord of all that which Sylla with much effusion of blood had attained to with great difficulty When Pompey by Letters from Rome was informed what Law the People had past in his behalf he seemed to be much grieved that such great Offices and charges should be laid upon him one in the neck of another and clapping his hands on his Thigh he said O Gods shall I never see an end of these troubles Had it not been better for me to have been a mean Man and unknown than thus continually to be ingaged in War What! shall I never see the time that breaking the neck of spite and envy against me I may yet once in my life live quietly at hone in my Country with my Wife and Children His Friends that were about him were much displeased with this his deep dissimulation knowing that his ambitious desire to rule made him glad at heart to be thus imployed the rather because of the contention between him and Lucullus which his deeds forthwith discovered Hereupon he sent forth his Preceps into all quarters requiring all Souldiers immediately to repare to him and caused all the Kings and Princes within his jurisdiction to attend him and so going through all the Countries he changed all that Lucullus had before established He also released the penalties that were imposed upon them and took from them all the favours that Lucullus had granted them Lucullus finding himself so hardly dealt with Friends on both sides mediated a meeting betwixt them that they might talk together and accordingly they met in Galatia having their Sergeants and Officers with Rods wreathed about vvith Lawrel carried before them vvhich shevved that Pompey came to take Lucullus's honour from him Indeed Lucullus had been Consul before Pompey and was the older man yet Pompey exceeded him in dignity having Triumphed twice At their first meeting they discoursed very courteously each commending the others deeds and each rejoycing at the others good success but at parting they fell to hot words Pompey upbraiding Lucullus's covetousness and Lucullus Pompey's ambition so that their Friends had much ado to part them Lucullus when he was gone divided the Lands in Galatia which he had conquered and bestowed other gifts upon them Pompey on the other side camping hard by him commanded the People every where not to obey him He took his Souldiers also from him leaving him only sixteen hundred choosing out such as he thought would do him small service He blemished his Glory also telling every one that Lucullus had fought only with the shadow and pomp of those two Kings and that he had left him to fight with all their force and power Lucullus on the other side said that Pompey went only to fight with such as himself had subdued and that he sought the honour of Triumph over Armenia and Pontus as he had formerly practised to Triumph for overcoming a few Slaves and Fugitives Lucullus being now gone Pompey sent strong Garrisons into all the Sea coast from Phoenicia to the Bosphorus and then marched towards Methridates who had in his Camp thirty thousand Footmen and two thousand Horsemen yet durst he not fight but encamped upon an high Mountain till he was forced to leave it for lack of Water He was no sooner gone but Pompey seized upon the place and setting his Souldiers to dig he found Water enough for all his Army Then he encamped round about Methridates besieging him in his own Camp Methridates endured it forty five days and then slaying all the sick and impotent in his Camp with the choise of his Army he escaped by Night Another time Pompey found him by the
the Romans others by their own Countrymen that were of the contrary faction Many threw themselves down headlong from the Rocks others setting their Houses on fire burnt themselves not enduring to behold those things that were done by the Enemy Here fell twelve thousand of the Jews whereas of the Romans there were but few slain though many wounded Amongst the Captives that were taken was Absolon the Uncle and Father in Law of Aristobulus the Son of John Hyrcanus Upon the same day and in the same month was the Temple taken by Pompey as it had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar five hundred and forty three years before and it fell out also to be on their Sabbath about the twenty eight day of our December Pompey entered into the Temple and many others with him and there beheld those things which were not lawful to be seen by any but the High Priests only And whereas there were in the Temple the Table and Candlesticks with the Lamps all Vessels for Sacrifice and the Censers all of pure Gold and a huge heap of Spices and in the Treasuries of sacred mony above two thousand Talents yet Pompey medled not with any of these but the next day he commanded them which had the charge of the Temple to purifie and cleanse it and to offer their solemn Sacrifices unto God Pompey then restored the High Priesthood to Hyrcanus both because he had shewed himself so forward all the time of the Siege as also for that he hindred the Jews that were in all the Country from joyning with Aristobulus and together with the Priesthood he gave him the Principality also only forbidding him to wear a Crown Then did he put to death those that were the chiefest cause of the War and made the Jews Tributaries to the Romans and the Cities which they had formerly conquered in Caelosyria he took from them commanding them to obey their own Governours and the whole Nation of the Jews formerly advanced through prosperity he contracted within their ancient bounds The King of the Arabians that dwelt at the Castle of Petra that never before made any account of the Romans was now greatly afraid and wrote to Pompey that he was at his devotion to do what he commanded Pompey to try him brought his Army before his Castle of Petra and lodged them for that day and fell to riding and mannaging his Horse up and down the Camp In the mean time Posts came riding from the Realm of Pontus with Letters of good news as appeared by their Javelins wreathed about with Lawrel the Souldiers seeing that flocked about the place to hear the news but Pompey would make an end of his riding before he would read the Letters whereupon many cryed to him to alight which he did But then he wanted a high place to stand upon and the Souldiers were so impatient to hear the news that they would not stay to make one they heaped Saddles one upon another and Pompey getting up upon them told them that Methridates was dead having killed himself because his Son Pharnaces rebelled against him and had wan all which his Father possessed writing to him that he kept it for himself and the Romans Upon this news all the Camp rejoyced wonderfully and Sacrificed to the Gods with great mirth Pompey finding this troublesome War to be so easily ended presently left Arabia and by speedy marches he came to the City of Amisus There he met with great Presents which were sent him from Pharnaces and many dead Bodies of the Kings Kindred and the Body of Methridates himself who was known by certain scars in his Face Pompey would by no means see him but to avoid envy he sent him away to the City of Sinope He much wondered at his rich Apparel and Weapons The Scabbard of his Sword cost four hundred Talents His Hat also was of wondrous Workmanship Pompey having here ordered all things according to his mind he went homewards with great pomp and Glory Coming to Mytylene he eased the City of all Taxes for Theophanes his sake and was present at certain Plays the subjects whereof were the great acts of Pompey He so liked the Theater where these Plays were made that he drew a moddle of it to make a statelier than it in Rome As he passed by the City of Rhodes he heard the Rhetoricians dispute and gave each of them a Talent The like he did at Athens unto the Philosophers there and towards the beautifying of the City he gave them fifty Talents At his return into Italy he expected to have been received very honourably and longed to see his Wife and Children thinking also that they longed as much to see him But God so ordered it that in his own House he met with occasion of sorrow For his Wife Mutia in his absence had played the Harlot Yet whilst he was a far off he made no account of the reports which were made to him of her But when he drew neer to Italy he was more attentive to them whereupon he sent her word he would own her no more for his Wife There were also rumours spread abroad in Rome which much troubled him it being given out that he would bring his Army strait to Rome and make himself absolute Lord of the Empire Crassus hereupon to give more credit to the report and to procure the greater envy against Pompey conveyed himself Family and Goods out of Rome But when Pompey came to Italy calling his Souldiers together he made an Oration to them as the time and occasion required and then commanded them to disband and every one to return to his own home and to follow his business till the time of his Triumph As he passed such was the love of the People to him that multitudes of them accompanied him to Rome whether he would or no and that with a greater power than he brought with him into Italy so that if he had been disposed to have made Innovation he needed not the assistance of his Army therein At this time there was a Law that no man should enter into Rome before his Triumph wherefore Pompey sent to the Senate requesting them to defer the choise of Consuls for a few days that he might further Piso who sued for the Consulship that year But through Caetoes means they denyed his request Pompey marvelling to hear of his boldness and free Speech was very desirous to make him his Friend So Cato having two Neeces he desired to marry one himself and to have the other for his Son but Cato flatly denied him though his Wife and Sister were angry that he refused to make alliance with Pompey the Great After this Pompey being desirous to prefer Afranius to be Consul he caused mony to be given to the Tribes of the People which being reported abroad made every man speak evil of him as having put the Consulship to sale for money whereas himself had
purchased it by his Noble and Valiant deeds The time for his Triumph being come the stateliness and magnificence was such that though he had two days to shew it yet lacked he time to produce all For there were many things prepared for the shew which were not seen and would have set forth another Triumph First the Tables were carried wherein were written the Names of the Nations for which he Triumphed as the Kingdoms of Pontus Armenia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Media Colchis Iberia Albania Syria Cilicia and Mesopotamia As also the People that dwell in Phoenicia Palestina Judaea and Arabia And all the Pirats that he had overcome by Sea and Land In all these Countries he had taken a thousand Castles and neer nine hundred Towns and Cities Of Pirats Ships eight hundred Moreover he had replenished with Inhabitants thirty nine desolate Towns These Tables also declared that the Revenue of Rome before these his conquests arose but to five thousand Myriads but now he had improved them to eight thousand and five hundred Myriads Besides he now brought into the Treasury to the value of twenty thousand Talents in Silver Gold Plate and Jewels besides what had been distributed already among the Souldiers of which he that had least had fifteen hundred Drachma's for his share The Prisoners that were led in this Triumph were the Son of Tygranes King of Armenia with his Wife and Daughter The Wife of King Tygranes himself called Zozime Aristobulus King of Judaea The Sister of Methridates with her five Sons And some Ladies of Scythia The Hostages of the Iberians and Albanians as also the Kings of the Commagenians Besides a great number of Marks of Triumph which himself and his Lieutenants had won in several Battels But the greatest honour that ever he wan and which no other of the Consuls ever attained to was that his three Triumphs were of the three Parts of the World to wit his first of Africk his second of Europe And his third Asia and all this before he was forty yeards old But from this time forward Pompey began to decline till with his Life he had lost all his Honour Lucullus at his return out of Asia was well received by the Senate and much more after Pompey was come to Rome For the Senate cncouraged him to deal in affairs of State being of himself slow and much given to his ease and pleasure because of his great Riches So when Pompey was come he began to speak against him and through Catoes assistance gat all things confirmed which he had done in Asia and which had been undone by Pompey Pompey having such an afront put upon him by the Senate had recourse to the Tribunes of the People the vilest of whom was Clodius who closed with him and had Pompey ever at his Elbow ready to second what motion soever he had to make to the People He also desired Pompey to forsake Cicero his ancient Friend but Clodius his utter Enemy By this means Cicero was brought into danger and when he required Pompey's assistance he shut the door against him and went out at a back-door whereupon Cicero was forced to forsake Rome At this time Julius Caesar returning from his Praetorship out of Spain laid such a plot as quickly brought himself into favour but tended to the ruin of Pompey He was now to sue for his first Consulship and considering the enmity between Pompey and Crassus he considered that if he joyned with one he made the other his Enemy he therefore made them Friends which indeed undid the Commonwealth For by this means Caesar was chosen Consul who strait fell to flattering of the People and made Laws for their advantage distributing to them Lands which embased the Majesty of the chief Majestrate and made a Consulship no better than the Tribuneship of the People Bibulus his Fellow Consul opposed him what he could and Cato also till Caesar brought Pompey into the Pulpit for Orations where he asked him whether he consented to the Decree which he had set forth Pompey answered That he did und that he would defend it with the Sword This gat him much ill will Not many days after Pompey married Julia the Daughter of Caesar formerly betrothed to Servilius Caepio and to pacifie Caepio Pompey gave him his own Daughter in marriage whom yet he had promised to Faustus the Son of Sylla Caesar also married Calphurnia the Daughter of Piso. Afterwards Pompey filling Rame with Souldiers carried all by force For as Bibulus came to the Market place accompanied with Cato and Lucullus they were basely abused and many were wounded and when they were driven away they passed the Act for dividing of the Lands as they pleased The People being encouraged hereby never stuck at any matter that Pompey and Caesar would have done And by this means all Pompey's former Acts were confirmed though Lucullus opposed what he could Caesar also was appointed to the Government of both Gauls with four whole Legions Then were chosen Consuls Piso Father in Law to Caesar and Gabinius Pompey's great flatterer Pompey now so doted on his young Wife that he suffered himself wholly to be ruled by her and leaving all publick affairs he went with her to Country Houses and places of pleasure which encouraged Clodius a Tribune of the people to despise him and to enter into seditious attempts For when he had driven Cicero out of Rome and sent away Cato to make War in Cyprus and Caesar was occupied in Gaul finding that the people were at his beck because he flattered them he then attempted to undo some things that Pompey had established Amongst others he took young Tygranes out of prison and carried him up and down with him and continually picked quarrels against Pompey's Friends Pompey coming abroad one day to hear how a matter of his was handled this Clodius having gotten a company of desperate Ruffians about him gat up into a high place and asked aloud Who is the most licentious Captain in all the City They answered Pompey And Who said he is he that scratched his head with one finger They again answered Pompey clapping their hands with great scorn This went to Pompey's heart who never used to be thus abused and he was yet more vexed when he saw that the Senate was well pleased with this his disgrace because he had forsaken and betrayed Cicero Upon this a great uprore was made in the Market place and many were hurt whereupon Pompey would come no more abroad whilst Clodius was Tribune but advised with his Friends how he might ingratiate himself with the Senate they advised him to put away his Wife Julia to renounce Caesars Friendship and to stick again to the Senate Some of these things he disliked yet was content to call home Cicero who was Clodius his mortal Enemy and in great favour with the Senate Hereupon Pompey brought Cicero's Brother into the Market place to move the matter to
the People with many men about him and they fell to blows so that many were slain yet he overcome Clodius and Cicero was called home by the Decree of the People who also brought Pompey into favour with the Senate and caused a Law to be made whereby to enable Pompey to bring Corn to Rome and thus by Cicero's means Pompey had once again power given him both by Sea and Land over all the Roman Territories For all the Havens Marts and Fairs and all Store-houses and Merchandizes yea and Tillage came into his hand For this Clodius accused him saying that the Senate had made this Law not because of a dearth of Victuals but that they made a dearth that so the Law might pass for restoring Pompey's power which was almost come to nothing Pompey having now full Authority to cause Corn to be brought to Rome he sent his Friends and Lieutenants abroad and himself went into Sicily and when he was ready to return again there arose such a storm that the Mariners feared to weigh their Anchors but he commanded them to do it saying It s necessary that the People should have Corn but it s not necessary that I should live Thus by his prudence and courage he filled all the Markets with Corn and the Seas with Ships and so great plenty of Provision was brought in as fully furnished not only Rome but all Italy About this time Caesars great conquests in Gaul wan him much credit But whilst they thought him to be Warring afar off he appeared in the midst of the People at Rome and much opposed Pompey in the weightiest matter of the Commonwealth For he had the power of an Army which he hardened with pains and continual exercise not only to fight against the Barbarous People but to make himself invincible and dreadful to the World Moreover by that infinite quantity of Gold and Silver and other Treasures that he gat from the Enemy he purchased many Friends to himself sending great Presents to Rome to the Aediles Praetors Consuls and their Wives therefore when he was come back over the Alps and Wintered in the City of Luca multitudes of the People yea two hundred of the Senate themselves amongst whom were Crassus and Pompey went out of Rome unto him All these Caesar returned back again some with store of mony others with good Words But with Pompey and Crassus he agreed that they two should sue to be Consuls and that himself would send good store of voices upon the day of Election and that if they were chosen they should get a Decree of the People that they should have some new Provinces and Armies assigned to them and withal that they should procure his Government to continue for five years longer This Plot being discovered and spread abroad gave great distast to honest men and many who had intended to sue for the Consulship gave it over Only Lucius Domitius being encouraged by Cato stood for it For said he Thou doest not contend for the Consulship but to defend the liberty of thy Country against two Tyrants Pompey fearing Catoes faction thought it not safe to let Domitius come into the Market place He sent therefore armed men against him who slew the Torch-bearer that came before him and made all the rest to flie amongst whom Cato was the last man that retired who whilst he defended Domitius was wounded in the Elbow Thus Pompey and Crassus came to be Consuls wherein they carried themselves very dishonestly For the People being about to choose Cato Praetor Pompey perceiving of it brake up the Assembly falsly alleadging that he had certain ill signs and afterwards corrupting the Tribes they chose Antias and Vatinias Praetors and then by Trebonius a Tribune of the People they published an Edict that Caesar should hold his Government five years longer Unto Crassus they appointed the Province of Syria and to make War against the Parthians Unto Pompey they allotted Africk and both the Spains with four whole Legions of the which at Caesars request he sent him two to assist him in his Wars in Gaul Crassus at the going out of his Consulship departed into Syria and Pompey remained in Rome to dedicate the Theater which he had built where he caused many goodly Plays to be made and caused Wild Beasts to be baited and hunted amongst which five hundred Lions were killed but the most terrible fight of all was amongst his Elephants This he did to gratifiâ— the People though to his very great cost and he procured much love to himself thereby But he got more envy from others by committing the Government of his Provinces and Legions unto his Lieutenants whilst himself with his Wife took their pleasure up and down Italy At an Election of the Aâ—diles on a sudden there was a great hurly-burly Swords were drawn and many were slain about Pompey so that he was saign to send home his Garments that were sprinkled with their blood and to fetch others His young Wife that was great with child seeing his clothes bloody was so frighted that she fell into a swound that they had much ado to recover her At another time being with child again she fell in labour and died in childbirth and as Pompey was carrying her into the Country to bury her neer unto the City of Alba at his Country House the people took her corps and carrying it into the Field of Mars buried it there and this they did more for Caesar than for Pompey's sake This alliance between Pompey and Caesar being thus broken which rather covered than bridled their ambition to Rule there arose a new stir in Rome and every mans mouth was full of seditious words About which time news came that Crassus was overcome and slain in Parthia who was the only bar to hinder these two from civil War for they both feared him and therefore kept themselves quiet Yet they thought the Empire of Rome was too little for them Pompey thinking that Caesar would not disband his Army sought to strengthen himself against him by procuring Offices in the City and when he could not procure them the people being bribed by Caesar he left the City without a Magistrate so that there were none to command or whom the people might obey Hereupon a rumour was spread that a Dictator must be chosen and that Pompey must be the man This Cato opposed with all his power Bnt when Pompey's Friends excused him saying that he neither sought nor would accept of it then Cato highly commended him and pray'd him to see good order kept in the Commonwealth which accordingly he undertook Then were Domitius and Massala chosen Consuls but after a while one of them died vvhereupon many vvere earnestly bent to have a Dictator and Cato fearing great disorders was willing that Pompey should have some Office to keep him from that vvhich was more Tyrannical Bibulus a chief man in the Senate and
his Army Yet Curio Anthony and Piso procured that the Senate should decide the matter saying All they that would have Caesar disband his Army and Pomey to keep his let them go to the one side of the House and such as would have them both to disband let them stand on the other by this means it was carried against Pompey Curio much rejoyced at the Victory and going into the Market place he was there received by his faction with shouts of joy and clapping of hands and Nosegays of Flowers thrown upon him Pompey was not present to see the good will of the Senators to him but Marcellus stood up and said that he would not stand trifling and hearing Oration when he knew that ten Legions were already passed over the Alps intending to come in Arms against them and that he would send a man that should defend their Country well enough And so going through the Market place unto Pompey being followed by all the Senators he said openly Pompey I command thee to help thy Country with that Army thou hast already and also to leavy more to aid thee Lentulus also used the same Speech to him who was chosen for the year following When Pompey went to leavy Souldiers in Rome some would not obey him and others went very unwillingly the most part of them crying out Peace Peace Anthony also against the Senators minds read a Letter to the People sent from Caesar vvherein he seemed to make reasonable requests to draw the affections of the common People to him For he moved that both Pompey and he should resign their Governments and dismiss their Armies referring themselves wholly to the Judgments of the People and to deliver up unto them an account of their doings Cicero vvho was lately returned from Cilicia endeavoured to bring them to an agreement propounding that Caesar that should leave the Goverment of Gaul and his Army reserving only two Legions and the Government of Illyria attending his second Consulship Pompey liked not this motion and so all treaty of Peace was cut off In the mean time news came to Rome that Caesar had won Ariminum a large and strong City in Italy and that he came directly to Rome with a great power But the truth was he came but with three thousand Horse and five thousand Foot and would not stay for the rest of his Army that was not yet come over the Alps but hasted rather to suprise his Enemies on the sudden who were all in a hurly-burly not expecting him so soon than to stay till they were fully ready to fight with him When he came to the River of Rubicon which was the utmost bound of the Province which he had the charge of in Italy he made an Alt pondring with himself the great enterprise he took in hand At last he cryed out to them that were by Jacta est alea let the Die be cast Or let us put all to the hazard and so passed on with his Army News hereof coming to Rome never was there such a consternation and fear seen amongst them For all the Senate ran immediately to Pompey together with all the rest of the City Magistrates and Tullus asked him what power he had in readiness to resist Caesar He answered but something faulteringly that he had his two Legions that came from Caesar and with those that he had levied in hast he thought he should make up thirty thousand fighting men Then Tullus cryed out Ah! thou hast mocked us Pompey and thereupon ordered Ambassadours to be sent to Caesar. Phaonius also a bold man said Stamp now with thy Foot upon the Ground Pompey and make those Armies come which thou hast promised Pompey patiently bore this mock Then Cato thought good that they should make Pompey Lieutenant General of Rome with full and absolute Power to command all saying They that knew how to do the greatest mischief know best how to remedy the same And so immediately he departed to his Government in Sicily Also all the other Senators went to the Provinces whereunto they were appointed Thus all Italy being in Arms no man knew what was best to be done For such as were out of Rome came flying thither out of all parts and such as were in Rome fled out as fast where all things were in disorder They which were willing to obey were very few and they who by disobedience did hurt were too many neither would they suffer Pompey to order things as he would because every one followed his own fancy yea in one day they were in divers minds All this while Pompey could here no certainty of his Enemies the reports being so various and when he saw the tumult and confusion so great at Rome that there was no possibility of pacifying it he commandéd all the Senators to follow him declaring all such as staid behind to be Caesars Friends The two Consuls fled also without Sacrificing to the Gods as their manner was when they went to make War And Pompey in his greatest danger and trouble had great cause to think himself happy because he had every mans good will Shortly after Pompey was gone out of the City Caesar came into it who spake very friendly to all whom he found there labouring to quiet their fears Only he threatened Metellus one of the Tribunes because he would not suffer him to take any of the Treasure of the Commonwealth saying That it was not so hard a thing for him to kill him as to speak it Thus having put by Metellus and taken what he pleased out of the Treasury he prepared to follow Pompey intending to drive him out of Italy before his Army should come to him out of Spain Pompey in the mean time took Brundusium and having gotten some Ships together he caused the two Consuls presently to embark with thirty Compays of Footmen which he sent before to Dyrrachium He sent also his Father in Law Scipio and his Son Cneius Pompeyius into Syria to provide him Ships Then did he fortifie Brundusium and guarded the Walls with Souldiers commanding the Citizens not to stir out of their Houses He cast up Trenches also within the City at the end of all the streets saving those two which led to the Haven and filled those Trenches with sharp pointed stakes and when at leasure he had imbarked all the rest of his Souldiers he by a sign called off those vvhich guarded the Walls and having received them into his Ships he hoisted Sails and departed Caesar finding the Walls of Brundusium unguarded presently suspected that Pompey was fled and rushing into the City he had certainly faln into the Pits but that the Brundusians gave him warning of them whereupon he fetched a compass about to go to the Haven and coming thither he found all the Ships under sail save two vvherein were a few Souldiers Some judged this departure of Pompeys the best Stratagem of War that
ever he used But Caesar marvelled that being in so strong a City and expecting his Army out of Spain and being Master of the Seas besides he vvould so easily forsake Italy Thus Caesar vvithin threescore days became Lord of all Italy vvithout bloodshed He was very desirous speedily to have followed Pompey but having no Ships ready he was forced to stay Then did he hasten into Spain to joyn Pompey's Army with his own Pompey in the mean space had gotten a marvellous great power together both by Sea and Land By Sea he had five hundred good Ships of War besides multitudes of Galliots Foists and Pinnaces By Land he had all the flower of the Horsemen of Rome and of all Italy to the number of seven thousand Valiant men and of great Houses But his Footmen were raw and untrained Souldiers whom Pompey continually exercised at the City of Beraea taking as much pains therein as if he had been in his youth It was great encouragement to others to see Pompey being fifty eight years old fighting on foot compleatly Armed and then speedily to mount on Horseback and in his full Career to draw and put up his Sword to cast his Dart with as much agility and strength and point blank that few young men could do the like To Pompey there came divers Kings Princes and Lords of great Countries and of Roman Captains who had born Office to the number of a vvhole Senate Amongst these there came also Labienus who formerly had been Caesars great Friend and an assistant to him in his Wars in Gaul There came also to him Brutus a very Valiant man vvho had never before spoken unto Pompey because he thought him guilty of his Fathers Murther but novv he vvillingly joyned with him as a defender of the Roman Liberties Cicero himself also vvho had Written and given counsel for Peace thought it a shame not to be amongst the number of those vvho would hazard their lives in the defence of their Country There came also Didius Sextus though he was an old man and lame of one of his Legs vvhom when Pompey savv coming though others laughed him to scorn yet he rose up and vvent to meet him judging it a sign of much love vvhen such old men chose rather to accompany him in danger than to remain at home in safety The chief of Pompey's Army sitting in Counsel decreed that no Citizen of Rome should be put to death but such as fell in Battel That no City subject to the Empire of Rome should be sackt vvhich made Pompey's part liked the better And most judged those Enemies both to the Gods and Men that did not vvish him the Victory Caesar also shevved himself very courteous and merciful for having taken all Pompey's Army in Spain he set all the Captains at liberty and only reserved the Souldiers to himself Then coming over the Alps again he passed through all Italy and came to Brundusium in the Winter time and from thence passing over the Sea he came to the City of Oricum and having Vibius one of Pompey's familiar Friends with him whom he had taken Prisoner he sent him to Pompey again to desire that they might meet and both of them disband their Armies within three days and being reconciled and having given their Faith each to other to return into Italy like good Friends together But Pompey durst not trust to these fair words judging them but snares to entrap him He therefore suddenly removed to the Sea coast and took all the places of strength neer to the Sea side safely to lodg his Camp in and all the Ports Harbours and Creeks fit for Ships to lie in so that whatsoever Wind blew it served his turn to bring him either men victuals or mony Caesar on the other hand was so distressed both by Sea and Land that he was driven to hasten to a Battel and to assail Pompey even in his own strength to force him to fight with him and for the most part he always had the better in most skirmishes saving one wherein he was in danger to have lost all his Army For Pompey had valiantly repulsed all his men and made them flie and had slain two thosand of them in the Field but he durst not enter pell mell with them into their Camp when they fled which made Caesar say to his Friends That his Enemy had won the Victory that day if he had known how to overcome This Victory did so encourage Pompeys men that they would needs hazard a Battel But Pompey though he wrote to many of his Friends and Confederates as if he had already beaten Caesar yet was he not willing to adventure all upon a Battel thinking it better by protracting time and cutting his Enemy short of Victuals to overcome him For this end Pompey perswaded his men to be quiet and not to stir But when Caesar after this last bickering being scanted of Victuals raised his Camp and departed to go into Thessaly through the Country of the Athamaneans then he could no longer bridle their courage who cryed out Caesar is fled let us follow him And others said let us return home into Italy And some sent their Friends and Servants to Rome to hire them Houses near the Market place intending at their return to sue for Offices Some in a jollity would needs sail to Lesbos where Pompey had left his Wife Cornelia to carry her the good news that the War was endeed Pompey calling a Counsel Affricanus thought it best to go into Italy and to win that as being the chiefest mark they shot at in this War For whosoever had that was sure of all Sicily Sardinia Corsica Spain and Gaul He said also that it was a dishonour to Pompey who should be very tender of his credit to suffer their Country to be in such bondage and subjection to Slaves and base flatterers of a Tyrant when as it offered it self as it were into their hands But Pompey thought it dishonourable for him to flie from Caesar and to make him follow him since he now had him in chase nor lawful before the Gods now to forsake his Father in Law Scipio and many others who had been Consuls and who were dispersed up and down Greece and Thessaly who by this means would certainly fall into Caesars hands together with their Riches and Armies He said also that they had care enough for the City of Rome by drawing their Armies farthest from it so as they remaing safe and quiet at home not feeling the miseries of War might joyfully welcome him home that remained Conquerour With this determination he followed Caesar not intending to give him Battel but to besiege him and so to cut him short of Victuals But whilst he pursued him fair and softly his men cryed out of him that he intended not to War against Caesar but against his own Country that he might still keep the authority in his hand Phaonius
also mocked him and went crying up and down My Masters I give you notice that you are like to eat no Tusculan Figs this year With these and many other such lewd Speeches they compelled Pompey to submit to their rash and giddy desires contrary to his more prudent purpose and determination which yet a General over so many Nations and Armies should not have done These little considered that he with whom he was to sight was Caesar who had taken a thousand Towns and Cities by assault had subdued above three hundred several Nations had won infinite Battels of the Germans and Gauls and was never overcome Had also taken a Million of men Prisoners and had slain as many in divers Battels Yet Pompeys men still vexing him with their importunity when they were come into the Fields of Pharsalia caused him to call a Counsel There Labienus the General of the Horsemen swore before them all that he would not return from the Battel till he had driven his Enemies out of the Field and the like Oath did all the rest of the Commanders take The Night before the fatal Battel there were heard sudden and fearful Noises in Pompeys Camp which awaked all the Souldiers At the changing of the fourth Watch there was seen a great light over Caesar Camp like unto a burning Torch which came and fell in Pompeys Camp In the morning Caesar intending to raise his Camp and to remove to the City of Scotusa whilst his Souldiers were busy in sending away their Bag and Baggage some brought Caesar word that they saw much Armour and many Weapons carryed too and fro in thier Enemies Camp and heard a great noise and bustling as of men that were preparing to fight His Scouts also brought him word that Pompeys Van was already set in Battel array Caesar much rejoyced when he heard this saying Now the day is come that we shall no longer sight with hunger and want but with men and thereupon gave order that they should presently put out the red coat of Arms upon his Tent which was the sign used amongst the Romans when they were to fight The Souldiers when they saw that left their Tents Carriages and all and with great shouts of Joy ran to arm themselves and so without noise or tumult they were by their Captains put into Battel array Pompey himself led the right Wing of his Battel against Anthony The middle Battle he gave to Scipio his Father in Law which was right against Domitius Calvinus His left Wing was led by Lucius Domitius Aenobarlius which was guarded by the men at Arms for all the Horsemen were placed there to distress Caesar if possibly they could and to overthrow the tenth Legion which contained the valiantest Souldiers that Caesar had and amongst whom himself always used to fight in Person Caesar seeing the lest Wing of his Enemies so strong with the guard of Horsemen brought six Company 's of Foot for a reserve and placed them behind the tenth Legion commanding them to stand close that they might not be discovered by the Enemy and commanded them when the Horsemen should charge upon them that they should not throw their Darts strait forward but upwards at their Faces For said he These brave Fellows and fine Dancers will not endure to have their Faces marred Pompey being on Horse-back rode up and dovvn to observe hovv both Armies vvere marshelled and perceiving that his Enemies stood still in their ranks expecting the signal of Battel and that his ovvn Battel vvaved up and dovvn disorderly as men unskilful in the Wars he feared that they would flie before they were charged Therefore he commanded his Van to stand steadily in their ranks and to defend themselves in a close fight when the Enemy should assault them But Caesar disliked this devise for thereby said he the force of their blows was lessened and by with-holding them from giving the charge that courage was taken away which the assailant carrieth with him when he comes on with fury it made them also more fainthearted in receiving the Enemies charge In Caesars Army there were about twenty two thousand fighting men and in Pompeys above twice so many When the signal of Battel was given on either side and the Trumpets sounded an Alarm every man began to look to himself But a few of the chiefest of the Romans and some Grecians that were amongst them that yet were not entred into the Battel perceiving the eminent danger began to bethink themselves to what a sad pass the ambition and contention between these two great Persons had brought the State of Rome unto where were Kinsmen against Kinsmen and Brethren against Brethren imbrewing their hands each in others blood Whereas if they could have been contented quietly to Govern what they had conquered the Roman Empire was big enough for them both Or if that could not have quenched their insatiable desires and thirst after Glory they had occasion enough offered them against the Germans and Parthians Or else they might have proceeded to conquer Scythia and India For what Scythian Horsemen or Parthian Arrows or Indian Riches could have withstood the power of seventy thousand Roman Souldiers especially being led by two such Captains as were Pompey and Caesar whose Names were famous through the World Now when the Fields of Pharsalia were covered over with Horse and Men in Arms after the Signal was given the first man of Caesars Army that advanced forward to give the charge was Caius Crassinius a Captain of one hundred twenty and five men and this he did to make good his promise to Ceasar who having asked him that morning what he thought of the event of the Battel he said Oh Caesar Thine is the Victory and this day thou shalt commend me either alive or dead Thereupon he brake out of his rank many others also followed him and ran into the midst of his Enemies making a great slaughter but as he still pressed forward one ran him through the neck and slew him Pompey did not make his left Wing to advance over suddenly but staid to see what his Horsemen would do who had already divided themselves intending to compass in Caesar and to force his Horsemen who were fewer in number to give back upon his squadron of Footmen and thereby to disorder them But on the other side Caesars Horsemen gave back a little and the six Companies of Footmen that he had placed secretly behind them being three thousand in number ran suddenly to charge the Enemy in the Flank and coming neer to Pompeys Horsemen they threw their Darts as Caesar had appointed them full in their Faces The young Gentlemen being raw Souldiers and little expecting such a manner of fight had not the hearts to defend themselves nor could abide to be hurt in their Faces but turning their Heads and clapping their hands on their Faces they fled shamefully They being thus routed Caesars men made no account to follow
them but went presently and charged his Infantry and especially where they had no guard of Horsemen by which means they might be the easiler compassed about Thus they being charged by these in the Flank and in the Van also by the tenth Legion finding themselves contrary to their expectation compassed about by their Enemies whereas they thought to have environed them they could no longer make resistance but were put to the rout also When Pompey saw the dust flying up in the air and thereby conjectured the flight of his Horsemen he was like a man amazed and at his wits end forgetting that he was Pompey the Great and so retiring into his Camp he fat silent for a good while till such time as his Enemies entered pell mell into it together with his men that fled and then he said no more but What! Into our Camp And so rising up he put on a Gown fit for his sad condition and secretly stole out of the Camp His other Legions also fled and Caesars men made a huge slaughter of the Tent keepers and of their Servants that guarded the Camp there were slain about six thousand But at the taking of the Camp Caesars Souldiers plainly saw the madness and folly of Pompeys men For their Pavillions and Tents were full of Nosegays and Garlands of Mirtle and their Couches covered with Flowers their Tables full of Bowls of Wine as men prepared to sacrifice for joy rather than to arm themselves to fight When Pompey was gone a little way from his Camp he forsook his Horse having very few with him and perceiving that none pursued him he walked fair and softly on Foot having his head full of thoughts For he for thirty four years together used always to be Victorious and therefore now it was strange to him to flie He now law how in one hours space he had lost all that Glory and Riches which he had purchased by so many great Victories He that not long before was followed and obeyed by so many thousand men of War by so many Nations and Horsemen by such a great Fleet upon the Sea was now faln into a low and poor estate with so small a train that his very Enemies who sought him knew him not When he had thus passed the City of Larissa he came into the Valley of Tempe where being a thirst he fell down on his belly and drank of the River then rising up he went and came to the Sea side and lay all Night in a Fishers Cottage The next Morning by break a day he went into a little Boat upon the River having some Freemen with him and as for his Slaves he dismissed them and bad them go boldly unto Caesar and not to be afraid Thus rowing up and down the shore side in this little Boat he espied a great Ship in the Sea lying at Anchor which was ready to sail away The Master of the Ship was one Peticius a Roman who though he was not acquainted with Pompey yet he knew him well by sight Some of the Marriners told Peticius that they saw a little Boat coming towards them wherein were some men that held up their hands and made signs to them Peticius looking knew Pompey and commanded his Marriners to let down the Boat wherewith giving Pompey his hand he received him into the Ship and those that were with him and then hoised Sail. With Pompey their were both the Lentuli and Faonius Presently after they espied King Dejotarus coming in a Boat towards them and making signs to be taken in which accordingly they did At Supper time the Master made ready such meat as he had aboard And Faonius seeing Pompey for want of attendants washing himself he ran to him and anointed him and ever after waited upon him doing such Offices as Servants do to their Masters washing his Feet and preparing his food for him Pompey then passing by the City of Amphipolis sailed to the Isle of Lesbos to fetch his Wife Cornelia and his Son who were at Mitilene and having there cast Anchor in the Rode he sent a Servant into the City to his Wife whose Message did not answer her expectation For she had still been put in hope by Letters of her Husbands good success and that the War was well ended The Messenger finding her thus confident thought not fit to salute her but rather by his Tears discovered the great misfortune of Pompey and at last told her that she must dispatch quickly if she would see her Husband with one Ship only and that not his own but borrowed The young Lady hearing this fell down in a swound before him but after she was come to her self remembring that it was now no time to weep and lament she went speedily through the City to the Sea side There Pompey meeting her took her in his Arms and embraced her But she finking under him fell down and at last said Out alas Wo worth my hard Fortune not thine good Husband who now see thee with one poor Ship who before thou marriedst me the Unfortunate Cornelia was wont to sail in these Seas attended with five hundred Alas Why art thou come to see me and didst not rather leave me to my accursed destiny seeing my self am the cause of this thy evil Alas How happy had I been if I had died before I heard of the death of my first Husband Publius Crassus slain in the Parthian War And how wise had I been if according to my determination I then had slain my self whereas I yet live to bring this misfortune upon Pompey the Great To this Pompey answered Peradventure my Cornelia thou hast known a better fortune which hath also deceived thee because she hath continued longer with me than her manner is But since we are born men we must patiently bear these troubles and once more try what she will do For it is not impossible for us again to change this adversity for prosperity no more than it was to fall from our late prosperity into this Calamity When Cornelia heard him say so she sent into the City for her houshould stuff and Family The Metilenians also came to salute Pompey praying him to come and refresh himself in their City But Pompey refused and advised them to obey the Conquerour for said he Caesar is of a just and curteous Nature Then Pompey turning to Cratippus the Philosopher who came amongst the Citizens to visit him made his complaint to him and reasoned a little with him about Divine Providence Then taking his Wife and Friends he hoised sail and departed staying no where but to take in fresh provision and water The first City that he touched at was Atalia in the Country of Pamphilia Thither came to him some Gallies out of Cilicia and many of his Friends and Souldiers insomuch as he had now sixty Senators in his Company Then understanding that his Army by Sea was yet whole and that Cato
them but when they saw they were past their reach they let them go Then striking off Pompeys Head they threw his Body overboard where it was a miserable spectacle to all that desired to behold it Philip his infranchised Bondman stirred not from it till the Aegyptians had glutted themselves with looking upon it Then having vvashed it with Salt water and wrapped it up in an old Shirt of his own he sought about the Sands and at last found a piece of an old Fisher-boat scarce enough to burn all the Body and as he was gathering the pieces of this Boat together there came to him an old Roman who in his Youth had served under Pompey saying O Friend what art thou that preparest the Funerals of Pompey the Great Philip answered that he was a Bondman of his infranchised Well said he thou shalt not have all this honour alone Pray thee let me accompany thee in this devout deed that I may not altogether repent me that I have dwelt so long in a strange Country where I have endured much misery but to recompence me let me have this good hap to touch Pompeys Body and to help to bury this most famous Captain of the Romans The next day Lucius Lentulus not knowing what had happened coming out of Cyprus sailed by the shore side and perceiving a Funeral fire and Philip standing by it he asked him whose Funeral it was But straight fetching a great sigh alas said he perhaps it is Pompeys the Great Then he landed a little and was presently slain This was the deplorable end of Pompey the Great Caesar not long after came into Aegypt where there were great Wars at which time Pompeys Head was presented to him but he turned aside and would not see it abhorring him that brought it as a detestable Murtherer Then looking on his Signet Ring whereon was engraven a Lion holding a Sword he burst out a weeeping Achillas and Photinus he put to death King Ptolomy being overthrown in Battel by the River Nilus vanished away and was never after heard of Theodotus escaped Caesars hands and wondred up and down Aegypt in great misery dispised of every man And afterwards Marchus-Brutus who slew Caesar when he conquered Asia met with this Theodotus by chance and putting him to all the torments he could possibly devise he at last slew him The Ashes of Pompeys Body were afterwards brought to his Wife Cornelia who buried them in a Town of hers near the City of Alba. THE LIFE and DEATH OF JULIUS CAESAR The First FOUNDER OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE JULIUS CAESAR by the Fathers side was of a very Noble and ancient Family and by the Mothers side he descended from the Kings of Rome who were extracted from the Trojan Aeneas When he was a youg man Sylla having gotten the Lordship of Rome would have had him put away his Wife Cornelia who was the Daughter of Cinna the Dictator but he could not prevail with him either by promises or threats to do it whereupon he took away her Joynter from him Sylla being very busie in putting to Death many of his Enemies yet passed by Caesar whom he contemned for his youth And Caesar was not contented to retire in safety in those stormy times but came and made suit to the People for the Priesthood which was then void when he had scant any hair on his Face but by Syllâ—s means he suffered a repulse who was so irritated hereby that he determined to have killed him and when some of Syllas Friends told him that it was to no purpose to put so young a man to Death he answered That they did not consider that there were many Marius 's in that one Boy Caesar being informed of his danger secretly fled from Rome and hid himself a long time amongst the Sabines wandering from one place to another yet at length he fell into the hands of a party of Syllas Souldiers who sought for him but he bribed their Captain with two Talents and so escaped Then went he unto the Sea side and taking Ship he passed into Bythinia unto King Nicomedes And after a while he took Sea again and fell into the hands of some Pirates who at that time kept all the Sea-coast with a great Fleet. They asked him twenty Talents for his Ransom Caesar laughed them to scorn as not knowing what a man they had taken and of himself promised them fifty Talents and sent some of his men to get him this mony so that he was almost left alone amongst these Thieves which were the cruellest Butchers in the World having only one of his Friends and two Slaves with him Thus he continued thirty eight days amongst them not as a Prisoner but rather waited upon as a Prince by them For he boldly exercised himself amongst them in their sports He would make Orations and call them together to hear them and if they seemed not to understand or regard them he would call them Blockheads and Beasts and laughing would threaten to hang them and they took all in good part thinking that it proceeded from his Boyish simplicity When his Ransome was come he paid it them and so was dismissed and presently arming and manning some Ships out of the Haven of Miletum he followed these Thieves and finding them yet at Anchor he took most of them and got a great Booty and carryed their Persons to the City of Pergamus and there imprisoned them whilst himself went to Jumus the Governour of Asia to whom the execution of these Pirats did belong But he desiring to get the mony because there was good store of it said that he would consider of theâ—e Prisoners at better leasure Caesar hereupon returned back to Pergamus and there hung up all the Thieves openly upon the Cross as he often had threatened that he would do when they thought that he was but in jest When Syllas power began to decay Caesars Friends wrote to him to return to Rome But he first went to Rhodes to study there for a time under the Tuition of Apollonius an honest man and excellent Rhetorician whose Schollar also Cicero had been Caesar had an excellent gift to speak well naturally which was much holpen by his Studies so that he was very Eloquent and might have been second to none but that he applied himself rather to follow the Wars and to mannage great matters than to pleading of causes When he was returned again to Rome he immediately wan the good will of the People by his Eloquence and courteous speaking to every man being more ceremonious in his deportment than could be expected from one of his years Besides he ever kept a good Table and fared well and was very liberal which much encreased his estimation with the People And his Enemies presuming that when he could not hold out that charge and expence the favour of the People would quickly decay they suffered him to go on
was contrary to an express Law But when he perceived that many of the Senators being Caesars Friends favoured his request he cunningly sought all he could to prevent them whereupon Caesar resolved rather to give over his suit for the Triumph than to lose the Consulship So he came into the City and outwitted all but Cato His device was this Pompey and Crassus were the two greatest Persons in Rome and at jar between themselves Caesar affecting to make himself greater than either of them sought to make them Friends and thereby to get the power of them both For indeed they both affected his Friendship that by his help they might supplant one another And in the end by his endeavours a peace was concluded betwixt them yet being still jealous one of another and fearing to lose Caesar they both sought to gratifie him and by this means he made himself equal to either of them and that power which they two had formerly usurped was now divided between three and in the end Caesar hereby got the sole command This league being made betwixt them Caesar demanded the Consulship being brought into the Assembly for the Election betwixt these two Noble Persons and was there chosen Consul together with Calphurnius Bibulus without the contradiction of any And when he was entered into his Office he began to put forth Laws meeter for a sedicious Tribune than for a Consul because by them he preferred the division of Lands and distributing Corn to every Citizen Gratis and all to please the People And vvhen the Senators opposed it he took the advantage Protesting that the Senate by their austerity drave him against his will to cleave to the People and thereupon he asked Crassus and Pompey in the open Assembly if they gave their consents to his Laws They answered yea Then he prayed them to stand by him against those that threatned to oppose him with the Sword Crassus said he would and Pompey did the like adding that he would come with his Sword and Target both against such which gave great offence to the Senate but the common People much rejoyced Caesar to oblige Pompey more to him gave him his Daughter Julia in Marriage who was made sure before to Servilius Caepio promising him in her stead Pompeys Daughter who also was made sure unto Faustus the Son of Sylla And shortly after Caesar himself Married Calphurnia the Daughter of Piso whom he caused to succeed him in the Consulship Cato then cryed out and called the Gods to witness that it was a shameful thing that they should make such havock in the Commonwealth by such horribly Bawdy matches hereby dividing amongst themselves the Government of Provinces and great Armies And Bibulus perceiving that he did but contend in vain Caesar being too potent for him and that his Life was in danger for opposing these Laws he kept his House all the rest of his Consulship Pompey having married Julia he filled the Market-place with Souldiers and by open force authorised the Laws which Caesar had made in favour of the People He procured also that Caesar had both the Gauls and all Illyria with four Legions granted him for five years and when Cato stood up to speak against it Caesar bad his Officers to lay hold on him and carry him to Prison thinking that he would have appealed to the Tribunes but Cato said no more but went his way And Caesar seeing that not only the Nobility but the Commons also were offended at it out of respect to Cato's virtues he secretly prayed one of the Tribunes that he would take Cato from his Officers which was done accordingy Many of the Senators refused to be present in the Senate under him but left the City because they could not endure his doings whereupon one Considius an old man told him that the Senators durst not meet because of his Souldiers Why then said Caesar dost not thou also keep home out of the same fear Because said he My age takes away my fear from me for having so short a time to live I care not to prolong it further Caesar preferred Clodius a base fellow to be Tribune who sought the Office for no other end but to destroy Cicero who had discovered his Villanies and Caesar would not go to his Province till he had set them two together by the ears and driven Cicero out of Italy Yet did he deserve the name of as brave a General as any that went before him if we consider the hard Countries which he adjoyned to the Empire of Rome The multitude and power of the Enemies whom he overcame The rudeness and Valour of the men with whom he had to do whose manners yet he molliâ—ied and civilized His courtesie and clemency to those whom he overcame His great bounty and liberallity to those that served under him As also if we consider the number of Battels that he fought and the multitude of Enemies that were slain by him For in less then ten years he took by assault above eight hundred Towns He conquered three hundred Nations and having at several times above thirty hundred thousand Souldiers against him he slew a Million of them and took as many more Prisoners He was so intirely loved of his Souldiers that to do him service and to advance his honour they were invincible As appears by the example of Acilius who in a Sea-fight before the City of Marseiles boarding one of the Enemies Ships had his right hand cut off and yet he ran upon his Enemies thrusting them in their faces with his Target on his left hand and so prevailed that he took their Ship One Cassius Scaeva also in a fight before the City of Dyrrhacium having an eye put out with an Arrow his shoulder stricken through with a Dart and his thigh with another having received thirty Arrows upon his Shield called to his Enemies as if he would yield to them but when two of them came running to him he cut off one of their armes by the shoulder and wounded the other in the face and made them give back till he was fetched off by some of his fellows In Brittain also when some of his Captains were driven into a bog full of mire and dirt the Enemies fiercely assaulting them there Caesar viewing the Battel he saw a private Souldier thrust in amongst the Captains where he fought so valiantly that at length he forced the Barbarous People to fly and thereby saved the Captains who otherwise had perished there And then this Souldier being the hindmost of all the Captains marched through the bog sometimes swimming and sometimes on foot till he gat to the farther side only he lost his Target Caesar wondring at his valour ran and imbraced him But the poor Souldier hanging down his head with tears in his eyes fell at Caesars feet begging pardon for leaving his Target behind him In Africk also Scipio having taken one of Caesars Ships slew all
in Gaul which had been long designed by the chiefest and most War-like People in all that Country who had a very great Army leavying multitudes of men and much Treasure to fortifie their strong holds The Country where they were was very hard to come into especially then in the Winter when the Rivers were high and the Woods and Forrests covered with Snow the Meddows drowned with Floods and the Snow so deep that no ways could be discerned all which might have discouraged Caesar from setting upon them the rather because many Nations joyned in this conspiracy of whom the chief were the Vernians and the Carnutes who had chosed Vercingentorix for their Captain He divided his Army into divers places under divers Captains and drawn into his assistance all the Nations as far as to the Adriatick Sea So that if he had tarried a little longer till Caesar had been ingaged in his Wars with Pompey he had put all Italy into great fear and danger But Caesar who knew his advantages and how to take the best opportunities as soon as he heard of this Rebellion he hasted towards them intending to let them know that they had to do with an Army that was invincible and which they could not possibly withstand seeing they had marched with such speed in so hard a Winter This made them wonder when they saw him burning and destroying their Country when they thought him far off Such Towns and strong Forts as yielded to him he received to mercy But the Hedui who used to be stiled the Brethren of the Romans taking Arms against him much discouraged his men wherefore Caesar went through the Country of the Lingones to enter into Burgundy who were consederates with the Romans Thither the Enemies followed him endeavouring to compass him in on every side Caesar tarried their coming and then fighting with them a long time he at last overcame them Of those which fled most of them together with their King got into the City of Alexia which Caesar presently besieged though it seemed inexpugnable both in regard of the hight of the Walls and the many hands to defend them During this Siege Caesar fell into a very great danger For three hundred thousand of the best Souldiers amongst the Gauls came against him besides those within the City who were seventy thousand fighting men so that finding himself to be shut in between two such mighty Armies he was faign to fortifie himself with two Walls One against those within Alexia and the other against those without And truly the Battel which he wan at this place gat him more honour than any other that ever he fought before For in this extream danger he shewed more Valour and Wisdom and courage than in any other And this was wonderful that they within the City never heard of their Friends that came to assist them till Caesar had overcome them Yea Caesars own men that guarded the Wall against the City knew nothing of the Battel till they heard the cries and lamentations of those in the City when they saw the Romans bring into their Camp such a number of Shields glistering with Gold and Silver such store of bloody Corslets and Armour such a deal of Plate and movables and such a number of Tents and Pavilions of the Gauls which the Romans had gotten of their spoils Thus the greatest part of this huge Army were slain and as for those within the City when they had done and received much hurt they at last yielded and Vercingentorix went out of the City richly Armed and his Horse furnished with brave and glittering Caparisons and rode about Caesar who sat in his Chair of State Then allighting he took off the Caparisons and stript himself of his Armour and prostrated himself on the Ground and then went and sat down at Caesars feet speaking never a word Caesar after a while committed him to Prison to be led in his Triumph at Rome Now Caesar had long since projected the distruction of Pompey as Pompey had done the like for him Nothing kept Caesar from being the Greatest Person but Pompey the Great and nothing kept Pompey from being supream but Caesar. Hitherto Pompey had set light by Caesar thinking that he could crush him when he pleased But Caesar went more cunningly to work for to attain his end he procured to be sent into Gaul where he exercised and and hardened his Army and by his valiant deeds purchased fame and honour so that now he lacked nothing but an occasion to put his design in practice which Pompey partly gave him and the iniquity of the times much furthered it For such as sued for honours and Offices bought the voices of the People shamefully who therefore came to the Market-place not to give their voices but with Bows and Slings and Swords and the Assembly seldom brake up but the Pulpit for Orations was besprinkled with the blood of the slain so that many Wise men believed that there was no other cure of these evils but by putting the supream authority into one mans hand and many wished that Pompey were the man But he seemed to decline it though cunningly underhand he laboured to be chosen Dictator Cato smelling his drift perswaded the Senate rather to make him sole Consul thereby to satisfy his ambition This was done accordingly and the time also for the Government of his Provinces was prorogued they allowed him also a thousand Talents yearly out of the publick Treasury wherewith to pay his Souldiers Hereupon Caesar took occasion to send his men to Rome to sue in his name for the Consulship and for the prolonging of his Government This was too indiscreetly opposed by Marcellus and Lentulus and many things were spoken in his disgrace They took away also the freedom from the Collonies which Caesar had granted them And when Marcellus was Consul he caused one of those Senators to be whipt saying that he gave him those marks that he might be known to be no Citizen of Rome and bad him go and tell Caesar of it Shortly after Caesar opened his Treasures which he had got in Gaul and gave it freely among the Magistrates of Rome He set Curio the Tribune cleer out of debt He gave to the Consul Paul fifteen hundred Talents wherewith he built a stately Theater Pompey now beginning to fear laboured to have a successour sent to Caesar and withal sent for his two Legions which Caesar returned to him bountifully rewarding every Souldier and they which brought these Legions back disgraced Caesar all they could and told Pompey that if Caesars Souldiers did but once see him they would all forsake Caesar and cleave to him This made Pompey more secure that neglected to prepare for War One of Caesars Captains coming to Rome and moving the Senate to have his government prorogued they delaying their answer he laid his hand upon his Sword and said Sith you will not grant it him this shall give it
him Caesar seemed to be very reasonable in what he requested For he said that whilst they required him to lay down Arms for fear of a Tyranny and yet permitted Pompey to keep his they went about to establish a Tyranny Curio in the name of Caesar moved before all the People that both should be commanded to lay down Arms which motion was entertained with great joy and clapping of hands by the People who threw Nose-gays and flowers upon him for it Then Anthony one of the Tribunes brought a Letter from Caesar and read it before the People in spite of the Consuls wherein he desired that they would grant him Gaul on this side the Alps and Illyria with two Legions only and then he would desire no more But Scipio the Father in Law of Pompey moved in the Senate that if Caesar did not dismiss 〈◊〉 Army by a day appointed that then he should be proclaimed an Enemy to Rome Marcellus also added that they must use force of Arms and not Arguments against a Thief whereupon the Senate rose without determining any thing and every one put on his mourning apparel as in the time of a common calamity Cicero being newly come from his Government in Cilicia took much pains to reconcile them together and perswaded Pompey all he could who told him that he would yield to whatsoever he desired so he would let him alone with his Army But Lentulus the Consul shamefully drave Curio and Anthony out of the Senate who were in such danger that they were faign to flie out of Rome to Caesar disguised in a Carriers coat This gave Caesar great advantage and much incensed his men when they saw and heard how his Friends were abused Caesar at this time had about him but five thousand Foot and three thousand Horse having left the rest of his Army on the other side of the Alps to be brought after him by his Lieutenants Judging it better suddenly to steal upon them at Rome then to assail them with his whole Army which would require time and give his Enemies opportunity to strengthen themselves against him He therefore commanded his Captains to go before and to take in the City of Ariminum a great City on this side the Alps with as little bloodshed as might be Then committing the rest of those Souldiers which he had with him to Hortensius he spent a whole day in seeing the Sword Players exercise before him At Night he went unto his lodging where having bathed himself a little he came into the Hall and made merry with those whom he had bidden to Supper Then rising from the Table he prayed his Guests to be merry and he would come again to them presently howbeit he had secretly before directed his most trusty Friends to follow him not all together but some on way and some another Himself in the mean time took a Coach that he had hired and pretending at first to go another way he suddenly turned towards Ariminum But when he came to the River of Rubicorn which divides the hither Gaul from Italy he suddenly made a stop for if he once passed that there could be no hope of peace considering with himself of what importance this passage was and what miseries would ensue upon it Some say that he spake thus to his Friends Doubtless if I forbear to pass over this River it will be the beginning of my ruin if I pass it the ruin will be general Then turning towards the River he said it is yet in our power to turn back but if we pass the River we must make our way with our Weapons Some say that Caesar standing thus doubtful he was encouraged by the apparition of a man of very great stature piping upon a Reed whereupon many of the Souldiers and some Trumpeters went neer to hear him and that he catching one of their Trumpets leaped into the River sounding to the Battel with a mighty blast and so passed on to the farther side of the River Whereupon Caesar with a furious resolution cryed out Let us go whether the Gods and the injurious dealing of our Enemies do call us The Dice are cast I have set up my Rest Come what will of it After which he set spurs to his Horse and passed the River his Army following him Caesar having passed the River and drawn his Army together he made an Oration to them shedding some tears and tearing his Garment down the Breast laying before them the equity of his cause and craving their assistance To whom having with a general applause and consent made answer that they were ready to obey his will he presently marched on and came the next day to Ariminum upon which he seized The like he did to all the Towns and Castles as he passed on till he came to Corfinium which was held by Domitius who in a factious tumult had been nominated for his successour in the Government of Gaul This being taken he pardoned the Souldiers and Inhabitants and used Domitius kindly giving him leave to depart who went straight to Pompey by which clemency he purchased to himself much honour These thirty Cohorts he kept with him Caesars resolution being known at Rome it troubled Pompey amazed the Senate and terrified the common People Pompey now found himself deceived who before could not believe that Caesar would thrust himself into so great danger or that he could be able to raise sufficient forces to resist him but the success proved otherwise For though Pompey had authority from the Consuls and Senate to leavy Souldiers to call home his Legions and to send Captains for the defence of those Cities in Italy by which Caesar should pass yet all this was not sufficient to resist his fury and the power that he brought with him The fame of Caesars coming increasing daily Pompey with the whole Senate left Rome going to Capua and from thence to Brundusium a Sea Town seated at the mouth of the Gulph of Venice where he ordered the Consuls to pass to Dyrrhachium now Durazzo a Sea Town of Macedonia there to unite all their Forces being out of hope to resist Caesar in Italy who had already taken Corfinium where having drawn Domitius's thirty Cohorts to serve him he marched on and hearing that Pompey and the Consuls were at Brundusium he hasted towards them with his Legions with all possible speed But Pompey though he had fortified the Town sufficiently for his defence yet when Caesar began to invest the Town he imbarked himself and his men in the night time and so passed over to Dyrrachium to the Consuls Thus Caesar injoyed Italy without opposition yet was he doubtful what to resolve on He would gladly have followed Pompey but wanted Shipping and it being Winter he knew that Ships could not be procured so soon as was requisite and considering with all that it was not safe to leave an Enemy behind him which might cause an alteration in France or Italy
he resolved first to go into Spain which held for Pompey and where he had his best Legions under the command of Petreius and Afranius saying to his Friends Let us go against an Army which wants a Captain and afterwards we will go against a Captain that wants an Army For Pompeys Souldiers in Spain were very valiant and had been long exercised in Armes but their Commanders were neither Politick nor expert in War But on the contrary Pompey was a most Wise and Valiant Captain but his Souldiers were newly levyed and of small experience Caesar returning from Brundusium in sixty days space became Lord of all Italy and when he came to Rome the People were in great fear remembring the miseries they had suffered under Sylla But Caesar using his accustomed clemency hurt no man high nor low He called the Senators together which remained there comforting them with mild and good words and laying the whole fault upon Pompey he sought to justifie his own cause declaring how much he desired Peace with all requesting that Ambassadours might be sent to Pompey to procure the same And causing himself present to be chosen Consul he opened the Treasury though Metellus one of the Tribunes of the People opposed him and the Treasure which he took from thence which was very great he distributed amongst his Souldiers Then was he desirous to go into Spain first taking order for the civil Government and making choice of the Legions which should go with him he left the rest in Brundusium and Otranto and other strong places upon the Sea Coast to keep Pompey from landing if he should attempt to retùrn into Italy He also made Hortensius and Dolabella his Captains to provide Shipping to be brought into the Port of Brundusium there to be in a readiness against his return from Spain Quintus Valerius he sent with a Legion into Sardinia against Marcus Cotta which held the same for Pompey To Sicily he sent Curius and Marcus Cato with direction that having taken the same he should pass over into Africk Lepidus he sent to Rome as Prefect thereof and Mark Anthony he made Governour of all Italy And resolving to leave Lucinius Crassus in France with his accustomed celerity he went on his Journey finding no resistance neither in Italy nor France till he came to Marcelleis which held for Pompey This City he besieged and to avoid loss of time left Decius Brutus and Caius Trebonius with sufficient Forces who indured much in the siege himself hasted into Spain where being expected Afranius and Petreius attended him with four Roman Legions and the aid of their Friends between whom and Caesar the War continued for some while chiefly about the City of Lerida At first Caesar was in great danger and much distressed chiefly for want of Victuals as also for that the Winter was come on which troubled him with the swelling of Rivers before and after which there passed many great skirmishes between the two Armies And Caesar watching his opportunities at last brought his adversaries to such distress that they perished with hunger and were forced to come to a composition which was that the Legions should have liberty to go whither they pleased and so part of them took pay of Caesar the rest departed and Petreius and Afranius went to Pompey This War being ended and the Spring come Caesar that he might leave no Enemy behind him marched into the Province of Betica now Andaluzia with part of his forces commanding the rest to march whither he had appointed and there to stay for him because Marcus Varro held that Province for Pompey against Caesar with one good Legion But he not daring to oppose Caesar delivered up the Legion to him together with that Country and all was pacified there From thence Caesar went to Cordova where he called a Parliament of all the States of that Province in which he highly commended them and those of Sivil for taking his part and so marching forward he came to the Isle of Cadez where having gotten Ships in readiness he left Quintus Cassius with four Legions in that Province and so embarking he went to Taragona commanding his Legions to march by Land thither where having settled his affairs he advanced with his Army towards Narbona and from thence to Marcelleis which now yielded to him having endured many calamities during the Siege Caesar respecting the antiquity and fame of this City would not destroy it nor the Inhabitants but leaving a strong Garrison in it he ordered his Legions to march for Italy and himself with a sufficient guard and some of his Friends took passage by Sea to Rome Though all things succeeded thus well with Caesar yet some of his Captains had ill success For Caius Antonius whom he left with Dolabella for to command his Navy was overthrown and taken Prisoner in the Gulph of Venice by Octavius Lieutenant to Pompey In which overthrow this was very remarkable Anthony was faign to put his men into long Boats for want of Ships which were taken by a Strategem as in a toil by the Pompeians with Ropes under the Water One of them which had in it a thousand valiant young men being thus ensnared was assaulted by the Enemies whole Army against which they defended themselves bravely from morning till night and in the end being oppressed with the multitude by the perswasion of Valteius their Collonel they all slew one another rather than they would fall into the Enemies hand Dolabella was likewise overthrown near to the Island of Corcyra now Corfu and Curius who went with his two Legions into Africk though at first he had good success yet afterwards he was overthrown and most of his men slain by Juba King of Mauritania Pompeys Friend Caesar being come to Rome and made Dictator new Consuls were chosen whereof he being one layed aside his Dictatorship and provided Praetors for the Provinces as himself pleased He sent Marcus Lepidus into Spain Aulus Albinus into Sicily Sextus Peduceius into Sardinia and Decius Brutus into France and taking such further order as he thought good he departed from Rome in December towards Brundusium whither he commanded all his Forces to march there to take passage for Macedonia where he knew that Pompey staid with his Army who all that whole year that Caesar spent in his journey to Spain busied himself to provide a Navy wherein to return into Italy and in gathering Treasure and levying Souldiers having made an exceeding great provision of all things For there came unto him Ships money and men from sundry Kingdoms and Provinces both of Asia and Greece as from Syria Pontus Bithynia Cilicia Phoenicia Cappadocia Pomphilia Armenia Minor Aegypt Greece Thessaly Baeotia Achaia Epirus Athens Lacedemonia the Isles of Creet and Rhodes and from many other Countries There came also to his aid King Deiotarus and Aribarzanes of all which together with those which he brought with him from Italy
he compounded a very great Army by Land and a very great Fleet of Ships and Gallies by Sea It being now the depth of Winter Pompey presuming it improbable if not impossible for Caesar to pass the Seas to him having also intelligence that Caesar was in Rome he disposed of his Army to their Winter Quarters in Macedonia and Thessaly and himself retired farther from the Sea commanding his Sea-Captains of whom Marcus Bibulus was chief to guard the Sea-coast But Caesar knowing that in the speedy execution consisted his greatest hopes of Victory and that occasion once lost could hardly be recovered he departed from Rome and came to Brundusium though all his Legions were not as yet come to him There he embarked seven of his best Legions in such ships as were ready sending a Command to the rest which were coming to hasten to Brundusium whither he would send for them with all possible speed And so departing he crossed the Seas with a prosperous gale of Wind and the third day after arrived upon the coast of Macedonia before Pompey had any intelligence of his embarking There he safely landing his men in dispite of Pompeys Captains and commanded his Ships and Gallies presently to return to Brundisium to fetch the rest of his Army Presently after his first landing he seized upon the Cities of Appallonia and Erico driving from thence Lucius Torquatus and Lucius Straberius who held them for Pompey Pompey hearing of Caesars arrival sent for his Troops which were neerest hand with all speed possible with whom he marched towards Dirrachium where his Victuals ammunition and other provisions for the War lay lest Caesar should go and surprise them which indeed he attempted but in vain the situation of the place making it inexpugnable Pompey being come their Camps were lodged within a few furlongs each of other where he passed many adventurous skirmished and also some Treaties of Peace offered by Caesar but rejected by Pompey so consident he was of his own power In the interim Caesar daily expected the coming of the other Legions who staying longer than he expected he resolved in Person with three confident Servants secretly to embark himself in a Brigandine and to pass that streight of the Sea and to fetch them hoping to perform the same without the knowledg of any And accordingly passing down the River to the Sea he found it so troublesome and tempestuous that the Master of his Brigandine not knowing whom he carried durst not adventure forth but would have returned Then Caesar discovering his face said Perge avdactèr Caesarum enim fers fortunam Caesaris Bear up bravely and boldly against the Winds and Waves for thou carriest Caesar and all his Fortunes The Master herewith encouraged strove all that possibly he could to proceed in his Voyage but the force of the Tempest was so great and the Wind so contrary that do what possibly they could they were driven back again When Caesars Army heard of these passages they much wondred grieved and were troubled at it Commending him more for his Valour than for his Wisdom But within few days after M. Anthony arrived with four of those Legions which were left behind in Italy presently returning the Ships back for the rest Anthony after some adventures joyned with Caesars Army near to Dirrachium where we lately left him Frequent skirmishes still continued between the two Armies and many were slain on both sides and one day the skirmish was so hot supplies being sent from both sides that it almost came to a just Battel wherein Caesars men were so beaten that they fled before the Enemies and could not be made to stand by any intreaties or menaces till they were come into their Camp which they had strongly fortified yet many durst not trust to that but fled out of it But Pompey either because he imagined their flight to be faigned to draw him into an Ambush or because he thought there needed no more to be done and that Caesar could no more resist him he neglected to prosecute his Victory causing a retreat to be sounded without assaulting Caesars Camp which probably he might have taken and made an end of the War that day Whereupon Caesar said to his Friends Truly this day had ended the War if our Enemies had had a Captain that had known how to overcome At this time Caesar lost a great number of his men amongst whom were four hundred Roman Knights ten Tribunes or Collonels and thirty two Centurions or Captains and his Enemies took from him thirty two Ensigns Upon this Victory Pompey sent news thereof to divers parts of the World holding himself for an absolute Conquerour Caesar much blamed some of his Captains and Ensign beà rers for their cowardize and his Army were so grieved and ashamed that they much importuned him to lead them forth again to Battel But he thought it not fit so soon to lead them forth against a Victorious Army He therefore sent his sick and wounded men to the City of Apolonia and departed by night with as great silence as could be from the place where he was and marched towards Thessaly intending there to refresh and encourage his Army and to draw his Enemies farther from the Sea coast where their chief strength lay and where their Camp was well fortified and victualled or at least he intended to attempt the overthrow of Scipio who as he heard was coming to joyn with Pompey Pompey finding Caesar was departed followed him for some few days and then taking Councel what to do he resolved to leave a lufficient Navy to guard the Seas and with the rest to return into Italy and to seize upon it together with France and Spain and afterwads to go against Caesar But the Roman Lords that were with him and the importunity of his unskilful Captains and Souldiers forced him to alter his determination and presently to pursue Caesar who made an Alt in the Fields of Pharsalia which are in Thessaly making his retreat with so much prudence and in so good order that upon all occasions that were offered he ever had the better till at length seeing his men full of resolution and courage he resolved no longer to defer the Fight Concerning which Battel the ordering and event of it the flight of Pompey into Egypt and how basely and barbarously he was murthered there see it before in the Life of Pompey the Great Julius Caesar having obtained this great and glorious Victory used therein his accustomed Clemency not suffering any Roman either to be slain or hurt after the Battel was ended but pardoned all those that were either taken in the Fight or found in the Camp amongst whom was Marcus Tullius Cicero After which being informed which way Pompey was fled he pursued him with the lightest and swiftest of his Army and in the way subduing all the Cities he at last came to the Sea side where he gathered together
all the Ships and Gallies that possibly he could together with those whom Cassius had brought he therein shipped as many of his men as they could contain and passed into the lesser Asia where being advertised that Pompey had been in Cyprus he presumed that he was gone into Aegypt wherefore he steered the same course taking with him two Legions of old Souldiers only When he arrived at Alexandria he understood that Pompey presuming upon the many benefits and good entertainment which the Father of this King Ptolomy had received in his House had sent to this Ptolomy to harbour and assist him which accordingly the King promised and Pompey coming upon his safe conduct in a small Boat was by the false Kings commandment basely murthered thinking thereby to win the favour of Caesar. He understood likewise that Cornelia the Wife of Pompey and his Son Sextus Pompeius were fled from thence in the same ship wherein they came Caesar being landed and received into the City they brought him for a present the Head of the Great Pompey but he turned away and would not see it and when they brought him Pompeys Ring with his Seal of Arms he wept considering the end and success of the great adventures and properties of Pompey who with such honour and fame had Triumphed three times and been so many times Consul in Rome and had obtained so many Victories abroad When Caesar was landed in AEgypt he found the Country imbroiled in Civil Wars there being great discord between young King Ptolomy and his Sister Cleopatra about the division and Inheritance of that Kingdom wherein Julius Caesar as being a Roman Consul took upon him to be an Arbitrator For which cause or because their guilty consciences accused them for the treacherous murther of Pompey Fotinus the Eunuch who had contrived the said murther and Achillas who had been the actor of it fearing that Caesar inclined to favour Cleopatra sent for the Kings Army that lay near the City consisting of twenty thousand good Souldiers purposing to do by Caesar as they had done by Pompey so that within a few days there began between Caesar and his small Army both in the City and in the Harbour where the Ships and Gallies lay the most cruel and dangerous encounter that ever Caesar met with for he was often forced to fight in his own Person both within the City whereof the Enemies held the greater part and also in the Harbour with his Ships and was sometimes in so great peril and danger that he was forced to leap out of the Boat into the Water and by swimming to get one of the Gallies at which time he held his Commentaries in one hand above Water and carry his Robe in his teeth and to swim with the other hand But when his other Forces were come to him from Asia and other parts he at the end of nine months for so long these Wars lasted became Victorious as in all other his enterprises he had been and the young King Ptolomy was slain in fight In this War Caesar did such exploits and behaved himself so gallantly that for the same only he well deserved the fame and name of a brave Captain The Pride of the Aegyptians being thus tamed Caesar put to death the murtherers of Pompey and established the fair Cleopatra the Queen and Governess of Aegypt whom during his stay there he intertained for his Friend and had a Son by her called Caesarion And when he had quitted and settled all things in Aegypt he departed thence into Asia and travelled through Syria now Soria being informed that during his troubles in Aegypt King Pharnaces the Son of that mighty King Methridates thought it a fit time whilst the Romans were embroiled in Civil Wars to recover what his Father had lost For which end having overthrown Domitius whom Caesar had sent to govern those parts and having taken by force of Arms the Provinces of Bithynia and Cappadocia expelling thence King Ariobarzanes a Friend and Subject of Rome and beginning to do the like in Armenia the less which King Deiotarus had subjected to the Romans Caesar I say being informed hereof went with his Army sooner than Pharnaces imagined though he expected him and had intelligence of his appproach so that in few days they came to a Battel in which the King was soon overthrown and put to slight with great slaughter of his People yet himself escaped Caesar was very joyful for this Victory because of his earnest desire to return to Rome where he knew that many scandals were raised and many insolencies were committed for want of his presence He knew also that Pompeys eldest Son had seized upon a great part of Spain and had raised great Forces of those which Marcus Varro had left there and of his Fathers Troops He also understood that in Africa many Principal Romans who had escaped from the Battel of Pharsalia were gathered together whereof M. Cato surnamed Uticensis was the chief and Scipio Pompeys Father in Law and that these went thither with the greatest part of the Ships and Galleys which belonged to Pompey and with the greatest power that they were able to leavy and that joyning with Juba King of Mauritania they had subdued all that Country and had a great Army in a readiness to oppose him having chosen Scipio for their General because that Cato would not take that office upon him and for that the Name of Scipio had been so fortunate in Africa Caesar having intelligence of all these things within the space of a few days with great celerity and diligence recovered all that Pharnaces had usurped and chasing him out of Portus he regained all those Countries and so leaving Celius Minucius for General with two Legions to guard that Province pacifying the controversies and contentions in the rest and rewarding the Kings and Tetrachs which continued firm in their Leagues and amity with the Romans without any longer aboad he departed out of Asia and in a short space arrived in Italy and so passed to Rome within little more than a year after he went thence which was a very short time for the performance of so great matters and so long a Journey Presently after his comming to Rome he caused himself to be chosen Consul the third time and reforming so much as the time and his leasure would permit all disorders in Rome being troubled and not able to endure that his Enemies should possess Africk with great expedition he prepared all things necessary and from Rome took his way towards Africk commanding his Army to follow him First he went into Italy from whence taking Ship he passed over into Africk and though neither his Navy nor his Army arrived with him trusting to the valour of those that he had with him and his own good Fortune he landed with small Forces near to the City of Adrumentum and from thence marched to another City called Leptis
and considered it will plainly appear that in none of those things aforesaid nor in any other that may be said of him there hath been any Heathen King or Captain that ever excelled him And setting apart his Ambition and desire of Rule he was onely noted and blamed for being too much given to Women Caesar was thus slain in the fifty sixth year of his Age a little more than four years after the Death of Pompey in the seven hundred and tenth year after the building of Rome and about forty and two years before the Incarnation of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Caesar left behind him neither Son nor Daughter legitimate at that time of his Death For though he had been four several times married yet he had but one only Daughter named Julia that was married to Pompey and died before him Wherefore by his last Will he adopted for his Son and made his Heir in the Dodrant that is in nine parts of twelve of his goods his Nephew Octavius Caesar afterwards called Octavianus Augustus who was the Son of Acia his Neece and of Octavius Praetor of Macedonia which Octavius at this time was by the commandment of his Uncle in the City of Apollonia in the Province of Epirus where he applied himself to his studies staying for him there thence to go with him to the Parthian War being now about seventeen years of age Caesar being thus slain the news of it ran presently all over the City and the tumult therein was so great that no man knew what to do or say All Offices ceased the Temples were all shut up and every man was amazed Caesars Friends were afraid of those that slew him and they as much feared his Friends Brutus Cassius and the other Conspirators and others that joyned with them seeing the great tumult durst not go to their Houses nor prosecute their other designs for fear of Mark Anthony and Lepidus whereof the one was Consul and the other General of the Horsemen but presently from thence they went to seize upon the Capitol crying by the way as they went Liberty Liberty and imploring the favour and assistance of the People The rest of that day and all next night Mark Anthony and Lepidus who took Caesars part were in Arms and there passed sundry messages and treaties between them and the Conspirators At last it was agreed that the Senate should sit whither Brutus and Cassius came M. Anthonies Sons by the perswasion of Cicero a great lover of Liberty remaining as Hostages for them In the Senate they Treated of Peace and concord and that all that was past should be buried in perpetual oblivion whereunto Anthony who was Consul and the whole Senate agreed and the Provinces being divided there was a great likelihood of Peace For the Senate approved and commended the murther and the People dissembled their thoughts For on the one side the authority of Brutus and Cassius and the name of Liberty seemed to give them some content and on the other side the hainousness of the fact and the love they bare to Caesar did move and excite them to hate the murtherers and so all was quiet for the present But Mark Anthony who affected the Tyranny took every opportunity to incense the People against them and Caesars Testament being opened wherein besides the adopting of his Nephew Octavius and making him his Heir besides other bequests he bequeathed to the People of Rome certain Gardens and Lands near to the River of Tiber and to every Citizen of Rome certain Gardens and Lands neer to the sum of mony to be divided amongst them which being known much encreased their love to Caesar and made his death more grievous to them Caesars Funeral being agreed upon his Body was burnt with great solemnity in the Field of Mars and Mark Anthony made the Funeral Oration in his Praise and took the Robe wherein Caesar was slain being all bloody and shewed it to the People using such Speeches as provoked them both to wrath and commiseration so as before the Funeral solemnity was fully finished they all depart in great fury taking Brands in their hands from the fire wherein Caesar was burned and went to burn the Houses of Brutus and Cassius and if they could have found them and the rest of the Conspirators they would certainly have slain them and in their fury they unadvisedly slew Elius Cinna by mistaking him for Cornelius Cinna who was one of the Conspirators This tumult put Brutus and Cassius and their confederates into such fear that they all sled from Rome into several parts and though the Senate having appeased the tumult inflisted punishment upon some of the seditious and had already committed some of them to Prison yet Brutus and Cassius durst not return to Rome but after a while went into Greece to Govern those Provinces which Caesar in his Life time had allotted unto them which were Macedonia to Brutus and Syria to Cassius And truly this was very remarkable that within the space of three years all the Conspirators died and not one of them a natural death Caesar in his fifth and last Consulship made an Edict that thanks should be returned to Hyrcanus the High-Priest and Prince of the Jews and to the Nation of the Jews for their affection to himself and the People of Rome And decreed also that the said Hyrcanus should have the City of Jerusalem and repair the Walls of it which Pompey had beaten down and should Govern it as he pleased himself He also granted to the Jews that every second year there should an abatement be made out of their rents and that they should be free from Impositions and Tributes His Name of Caesar was so honourable that all his successors to this present day have assumed it into their Title and esteemed it an honour to be called Caesars THE LIFE and DEATH OF OCTAVIANUS AUGUSTUS In whose Raign our LORD CHRIST WAS BORN OCtavius Caesar who was afterwards called Octavianus Augustus was by the Fathers side descended of the Antient Family of the Octavij which was of great account in Rome even from the time of Tarquin their King By the Mothers side he was descended from the Regal Line His Mother was Accia the Daughter of Accius Balbus and Julia the Sister of Julius Caesar which Accia was married to the Father of Octavius He was born in the year of the Consulshp of Cicero and Caius Antonius He was but four years old when his Father dyed and at twelve years old he made an Oration at the Funeral of his Grand-mother Julia. When his Uncle Julius Caesar was Warring in Spain against the Sons of Pompey Octavius though he was but young followed him thither through many and great dangers and when that War was ended Julius Caesar intending to take him with him to the Parthian War sent him before to the City of Apollonia where he plyed his Book very diligently and on
a time having a mind to see Theogenes a learned Astronomer he calculated his Nativity and promised him great matters which made Octavius conceive great hopes of himself and in memory thereof he caused certain Medals to be coined and would often boast of what Theogenes had told him Octavius in the sixth month after he went to Apollonia having intelligence from his Mother of the Death of his Uncle Julius Caesar he hasted out of Epirus to Brundusium where he was received by the Army that went to meet him as the adopted Son of Caesar and without any further delay he assumed the name of Caesar and took upon him to be his Heir and that so much the rather because he had brought with him good store of mony and great forces that were sent him by his Uncle and so at Brundusium adopting himself into the Julian Family he called himself Caius Julius Caesar Octavius To this very Name as though he had been his true Son there came great store of partly of his Friends partly of freed-men slaves and Souldiers by whom being more strengthened and imboldned by the multitude of them that flocked to him and by the authority of the Caesarian name which with the common People was in great reputation he took his journey towards Rome with a great train which daily increased like a Floud On the fourteenth Kalends of May he entered into Naples where he gave Cicero a visit From thence as he was going to Rome there met him a vast company of his Friends and as he entered the City the Globe of the Sun seemed to compass his Head round like unto a Bow as it were putting a Crown upon his Head who afterward was to be so great a man and at night calling together his Friends he commanded them to be ready the next morning with good store of followers to meet him in the Market-place which was done accordingly and he going to Caius the City Praetor and Brother to Anthony he told him that he did accept of the Adoption For it was the Roman custom in Adoptions to interpose the authority of the Praetor which acceptance being Registred by the Scribes from thence he presently went to Mark Anthony the Consul who behaved himself proudly towards him and scarcely admitting him into Pompeys Gardens gave him time to speak with him Octavianus had a great mind to revege the Death of Julius Caesar but by his Mother and Philip his Father in Law he was advised to conceal his purpose for a time both because the Senate had approved his Death and because Mark Anthony who was principally to assist him therein did not shew himself very friendly to him Octavianus understanding that Mark Anthony had in his custody all the Treasure that was left by Julius Caesar he desired him to command it to be delivered to him therewith to pay his debts and to distribute it as Caesar had appointed in his Will But Anthony with greater Pride than Octavianus could well bear not only refused what he demanded but reproved him for desiring it whereupon discords presently arose betwixt them and Octavianus strengthened himself with the Counsel of Cicero a great Enemy to Anthony and one whose authority at that time by reason of his Wisdom and Eloquence was very great Anthony being Overseer of those things which Caesar had commanded to be done what by corrupting the Notes and changing them at his pleasure did what himself listed as if it had been the appointment of Caesar by this means gratifying Cities and Governours and heaping vast sums of money to himself selling not only Fields and Tributes but freedoms and immunities even of the City of Rome and that not only to particular Persons but to whole Provinces and of these things there were Tables hung up all over the Capitol Octavianus being nineteen years old at his own charges gathered an Army and sought the favour of the People and prepared Forces against Anthony for his own and the Commonwealths safety He allo stirred up the old Souldiers who by Julius Caesar had been planted in Colonies so that Anthony being afraid of him by the mediation of Friends had a conference with him in the Capitol and they were for the present reconciled but within a few days through the whisperings of some their enmity brake out again and Anthony not thinking himself strong enough and knowing that the Legions of Macedonia were the best Souldiers and six in number with whom also were many Archers light harnessed men and Horsemen these he sought to draw to himself who because of their neerness might presently be brought into Italy and thereupon he caused a rumour to be spread that the Getae wasted Macedonia by their inrodes and upon that occasion he demanded an Army of the Senate saying that the Macedonian Army was raised by Caesar against the Getae before he intended the Parthian War whereupon he was chosen General of those Forces and he obtained a Law for the change of Provinces whereby his Brother Caius Anthony challenged Macedonia which before by lot fell to Marcus Brutus On the seventh of the Ides of October Anthony went to Brundusium there to meet four of the Macedonian Legions whom he thought to draw to himself by money Thither also Octavianus sent his Friends with money to hire these Souldiers for himself and himself posted into Campania to engage those Souldiers which were in Colonies to take his part and first he drew to him the old Souldiers of Galatia then those of Casilinum on both sides of Capua giving to each man five hundred pence by which means he gat together about ten thousand men who marched with him under one Ensign as a guard In the mean while the four Legions of Macedonia accusing Anthony for his delays in revenging Caesars Death without any acclamations conducted him to the Tribunal as it were to hear an account of this matter and there continued silent Anthony taking this ill upbraded them with their Ingratitude and complained that they had not brought to him some disturbers of the Peace who were sent from that malapert young man for so he called Octavian and to ingratiate himself with them he promised an hundred pence to each of them which niggardly promise was intertained with laughter which he took so ill that being returned to his Quarters in the presence of his most covetous and most cruel Wife Fulvia he put to death some Centurions out of the Martian Legion When those of Caesars party that were sent to corrupt the Souldiers saw that they were more exasperated by this deed they scattered Libels about the Army wherein they disgraced Anthony and extolled the liberality of Caesar And when some sided with Octavian and others with Anthony the Army as if it had been set to sale at an outcry addicted themselves to him that would give most And because that Decius Brutus who commanded Gallia Cisalpirea now Lombardy opposed Anthony he went to
himself following with the other Fleet did the like About this time Octavian divorced himself from Scribonia though he had a Daughter by her called Livia and then he married Livia Drusilla Wife to Tiberius Nero by whom she had a Son called also Tiberius hereupon Tiberius was forced to leave her to please Octavian though at this time she was with Child of a Son This Livia he loved dearly and continued with her till his Death Agrippa assaulted and took in some places in Sicily which Pompey hearing of departed from Messina with one hundred and seventy five Gallies to relieve them and Agrippa being advertised of his coming prepared to meet him his Gallies being almost equal in number and so they joyned Battel which for a time seemed to be equal but at last Agrippa prevailed and Pompey retreated in time his Gallies and Foists withdrawing themselves into some Rivers near at hand whither Agrippa with his bigger Vessels could not follow them In this fight Pompey lost thirty of his Gallies Agrippa the next day went to a City called Tindaria thinking to surprise it by reason of intelligence which he had with the Citizens and Pompey in the Night gave secret order to his whole Fleet to retire to Messina Octavian in the mean time imbarked a great part of his Army which he landed in Sicily and set them on shore under the command of Cornificius little thinking that Pompey had been so near who if he had taken this opportunity might have defeated Octavian But loosing it Octavian imbarking again intended to determine the quarrel by a Battel at Sea leaving Cornificius with his men fortified on the Land Then did Pompey sail out of Messina with his whole Fleet and neither Parties refusing it they came to a Battel in which Octavian was overcome and all his great Fleet scattered and lost and himself driven to flie into Italy in a Brigandine where through many dangers he at last came to the Army whereof Mesalla was General and being nothing discouraged with this loss he presently took order for all that was needful To Rome he sent his intire Friend Mecenas to take order that this news should breed no alteration there and then presently sent to Agrippa the Admiral of his other Fleet that he should with all speed succour Cornificius and his Army in Sicily and to Lepidus he sent to desire him to make his present repair to the Isle of Lippari which is between Sicily and Calabria His diligence and good order about these affairs was such that in a short time by the help of Lepidus and Agrippa in dispite of Pompey he landed all his Forces in Sicily and joyning with Lepidus he encamped near to Messina where began a most cruel War both by Sea and Land wherein the power and sufficiency of Pompey did wonderfully appear in that he was able to grapple with so potent adversaries Yet seeing himself oppressed he sent a challenge to Octavian that to avoid the further effusion of blood he would try it out with him in a Naval fight so many Ships and Gallies against so many Octavian delayed him at the first but afterwards they agreed that with three hundred Ships and Galleys on either side they would meet in such a place and there fight it out and accordingly they prepared for the Battel Octavian leaving Lepidus with his Land Army embarked himself in his Fleet and Pompey did the like and so they joyned Battel which was one of the cruellest that ever was considering the Commanders and the strength on either side where Pompey after he had performed all the Offices of a good and Valiant Captain and after the slaughter of multitudes on both sides was overcome by Octavian and all his Fleet was burnt and sunk or taken saving sixteen sail which escaped by flight and he in one of them and these entered into the Haven of Messina And though the City was sufficiently fortified and Pompey knew that Plinius his General was coming to his rescue yet in a dark night he imbarked and with those sixteen Ships which had escaped he fled into the East to Mark Anthony hoping to find relief from him But after much toil and many accidents which happened to him he was slain by one Titius at the command of Mark Anthony and in him failed the House and memory of his Father Pompey the Great In this War Octavian escaped many dangers For having transported part of his Army into Sicily and sailing back to fetch the rest he was suddenly surprised by Demochares and Apolaphanes two of Pompeys Captains from whom he escaped with much difficulty with one only Ship Then travelling by Land to Rhegium he saw some of Pompeys Gallies near to the Shore and supposing them to be his own he went down to the Sea side where he had like to have been taken by them and then seeking to escape by unknown passages he met with a slave of Aemilius Paulus who remembring that he had proscribed his Master Paulus Father to this Aemilius he attempted to kill him Octavian having obtained this great Victory aforesaid though with very great loss he went to Land with the remainder of his Ships and Army commanding Agrippa to joyn with Lepidus and to go to Messina whither Pliny Pompeys General had retired himself But not thinking good to stand upon his defence now that his Master was fled he yielded himself to Lepidus with all his Legions This made Lepidus so proud that affecting to have Sicily to himself he contended with Octavian about it and entering into the City of Messina he placed a Garrison in it to hold it for his own use The like he did in many other places of the Island and when Octavian came he desired to speak with him greatly complaining of his proceedings But in Rule and Dominion equallity is intollerable whilst either of them coveted this Isle for himself they fell at variance and Octavian made his Navy to draw neer to the shore So that both Armies began to stand upon their guard the one against the other and many messages passed between them yet could they not agree But Octavian was far better beloved and esteemed by the men of War for his many vertues and Nobility and for his Name-sake Julius Caesar then the other and the Souldiers began to lay all the fault upon Lepidus Octavian understanding this laboured secretly to corrupt Lepidus his Souldiers to draw them to himself and one day with a great Troop of Horse he rode neer to Lepidus his Camp and parlying with his Souldiers justified himself and laid all the fault upon Lepidus insomuch that many of them began to come over to his side Lepidus being informed hereof caused an Alarm to be given and commanded his men to sally out against Octavian but when they came forth most of them joyned with him so that Lepidus seeing himself in danger of being forsaken of his whole Army
the Man-hater because he was abused by his Friends and had experience of their ingratitude and he called this House Timonion Yet at length he left this place and went to the Pallace where he spent his time in Feasting and jollity And Cleopatra got together divers sorts of deadly poysons of poysonsome Creatures whereof she made tryal upon many condemned persons and amongst all she liked the biting of the Aspe best for it brought a sleepiness without any contraction of the members or groaning only causing a gentle sweating of the face and a languishing stupidity of the senses At Rome many things were decreed in honour of Caesar for this Victory at Sea First a Triumph was granted him for Cleopatra and a Triumphal Arch was erected at Brundusium and another at Rome The base of the Julian Temple was adorned with the Beaks of the Ships he had taken There were Plays decreed to be kept every fifth year in honour of him Processions were always to be made on his Birth day and on the day wherein the news of his Victory was first brought That the vestal Virgins the Senate with their Wives and Children should go and meet him at his return that all the Ornaments of Anthony should be demolished cast down that his Birth day should be accounted unlucky and that none of his Family should ever have the forename of Marcus About this time Anthony and Cleopatra sent Ambassadours to Caesar into Asia Cleopatra demanded the Kingdom of Aegypt for her Children and without Anthonies knowledg sent him a Scepter Crown and Chair all of Gold as it were delivering her Kingdom over to him and Anthony demanded that he might live a private life at Athens if he might not continue in Aegypt Caesar accepted of Cleopatra's gifts accounting them as good Omens but he would afford no answer to Anthony and privately he promised impunity and her Kingdom to Cleopatra if she would kill Anthony They sent also a second Ambassage to Caesar and Cleopatra promised him a huge mass of Money and Anthony minded him of the former friendship and alliance that was between them and what acts they had done together he delivered also to him Terullius a Senator and one of Caesars murtherers whom he put to death he proffered also to kill himself to obtain security for Cleopatra yet Caesar would give him no answer Anthony and Cleopatra hereupon prepare for War and Caesar at last marched against them and sent Cornelius Gallus before with four Legions who suddenly seized upon Paraetonium the prime City of Aegypt toward Lybia Anthony being informed hereof marched towards Paraetonium hoping to draw Gallus his Souldiers to own him but when on the contrary he had received great loss both by Sea and Land he returned to Alexandria Presently after Caesar took Pelusium by the Treachery of Cleopatra who caused Selucus the Governour to deliver it up to him hoping to draw his love to her yet did she disown it to Anthony Cleopatra had Store-houses and Monuments admirable both for sumptuousness and highth which she had built by the Temple of Isis and thither she had brought the most precious things of all her Royal Treasure as Gold Silver Emeralds Pearls Ebony Ivory and Cinnamon as also store of Lamps and Flax whereupon Caesar fearing that she would set fire of them whereby he should lose such Treasures he to prevent despair gave her hopes of favour whilst he marched towards the City and she privately forbad the Citizens of Alexandria to sally out against him whereas openly she seemed to encourage them to oppose him Caesar being come before the City Anthony sallied out and fought valiantly with him and routed his Horse and drave them to the very Camp of which at his return he boasted to Cleopatra and she to reward him gave him an Headpiece and Armour all of Gold The next day Anthony dispersed tickets amongst Caesars Souldiers promising them fifteen hundred Drachmaes a piece if they would come over to him These Caesar read to his Souldiers rendring Anthony more hateful to them thereby and they being exceeding angry that their fidelity was tempted fought so valiantly at the next encounter that Anthony was driven back out of the Field After this Anthony challenged Caesar to a single Duel who answered That Anthony had more wayes to die He therefore considering that he could not die any way more honourably than in Battel resolved to set upon Caesar both by Sea and Land Many Prodigies fore-ran the bondage of Aegypt In some places it rained bloud Armies appeared in the Air. A huge Dragon was seen amongst the Aegyptians which hissed horribly A Comet appeared and the Images of the Dead The Statues seemed to mourn and Apis lowing heavily shed some tears On the Kalends of August Anthony early in the morning went down to the Haven to order his Fleet. But Cleopatra caused them to revolt from him and to joyn with Caesars Fleet Whilst Anthony beheld this he was also forsaken by all his Horsemen who revolted to Caesar and his Foot were beaten back into the City whereupon he cryed out that he was betrayed by Cleopatra She fearing his anger fled to her Monument with one Eunuch and two Maids and sent Anthony word that she was dead This he believing desired his faithful servant Erotes according to his former promise to kill him Erotes drew out his Sword as if he vvould do it but Anthonies back being towards him he slew himself who falling at his feet Anthony said Noble Erotes thou hast taught me what to do but couldst not endure to do it thy self So taking the Sword he thrust it into his Belly yet after a while the bloud stopping he desired those about him to dispatch him but they all fled which caused a great tumult Cleopatra from the top of the Monument perceiving it for the Gate was so made that being shut it could not be again opened she sent her Secretary to bring him into the Monument to her Anthony was carried to the foot of the Monument and being tyed in a Pulley vvas vvith great pains drawn up by Cleopatra and her two Maids It was a sad sight to see him thus drawn up besmeared with bloud and ready to give up the Ghost When he came to the top he stretched forth his hands to Cleopatra who receiving him in laid him on a bed tearing her head tire breast and face with her own hands so that she was all gore bloud He laboured to comfort her and advised her to look to her affairs and to save her life if she could do it without dishonour and that amongst all Caesars Friends she should most trust Proculeius and so gave up the Ghost In the mean time Dercetaeus one of Anthonies Guard stole his bloudy Sword and ran away with it to Caesar telling him what had happened Caesar then going into the inmost room of his Tent much bewailed Anthony his Kinsman and Colleague and who
gave direction and was very diligent in all things touching Justice Customes Religion and publick buildings so as in all things his Reign was happy peaceable and quiet during all his Life Yet in this so happy a time some People and Nations still affecting Liberty laboured to shake off the Roman yoke and thereby molested and disquieted the Empire as the Spaniards the Inhabitants of Illyricum and the Pannonians In Spain the Cantabrians the Asturians and part of Gallicia passing their bounds began a War against the Empire Augustus being informed hereof judging it to be a doubtful War and of importance commanded the Temple of Janus to be opened and determined to go against them in Person and to send other Captains to follow his other Wars And accordingly Augustus went into Spain and with three Armies made War against the People aforementioned which proved very doubtful and desperate and lasted five years and though he suppressed the Cantabrians and Asturians and drave them to their Rocks and Mountains yet before he could wholly subdue them he was fain to bring a great Navy upon the Coast of France to invade the Sea coasts of Cantabria and Galizia by which means he drave them to such extremities by Land that they were at last forced to submit to his obedience Augustus his great favourite Agrippa served him faithfully in this War whom therefore he married to his Daughter Julia who was the Widow of his Nephew Marcellus the Son of his Sister Octavia And thus he brought all Spain into subjection to him above two hundred years after the Comans began to make their first Wars there So as no Province cost Rome more Treasure more bloud nor more time than Spain This long and doubtful War being so happily finished Augustus was so pleased with it that he gave commandment that the Temple of Janus should again be shut and came to Rome in great Triumph But this Temple continued not long shut for some Nations of the Germans rebelled so that it was again opened These were the Inhabitants of Noricum now Bavaria and the Pannonia's now Austria and Hungary and the two Missia's now Bulgary and Servia as also Illyricum now Sclavonia and the Province of Dacia now Transylvania and Walachia and some others though at several times Against these Augustus sent his Generals and Armies amongst which were his Sons in Law the Sons of Livia Tiberius Nero who succeeded him in the Empire and his Brother Drusus Nero of whom Livia was with child when Octavian married her and these two Brothers though the War lasted somewhat long vanquished those Nations and obtained great Victories in Germany and the confines thereof especially Tiberius who in three years space subdued the Pannonia's Illyricum and Dalmatia for which Victories he afterwards entred into Rome in an Ovation Triumph with great Pomp and Honour Marcus Crassus also overcame and put to flight the Missians a People who had never seen the Romans before And when they were ready to give Battel they said Tell us who you are that seek to molest and disquiet us We are said they Romans the Lords of Nations whereupon they replied It shall be so if you overcome us which fell out accordingly But Augustus obtained not these Victories without some crosses For in these Wars died his Son in Law Drusus who was highly esteemed for his Noble acts and great Victories for the loss of whom both Augustus and Livia were much afflicted But yet his grief was greater for the mishap which befell Quintilius Varro who was General of three Legions in Germany and being careless was surprized by the Almans and himself his Legions and all his Auxiliaries were slain and two Standards with the Imperial Eagles taken for which he was so immoderately grieved that he knocked his Head against the Wall and cryed out unadvisedly Quintilius Varro Give me my Legions again For certain months also he suffered the hair of his Head and Beard to grow carelesly And the very day of this unhappy accident he did every year observe mournfully with sorrow and lamentation Of his Son in Law Drusus there remained two Sons Germanicus and Claudius which he had by Antonia Augustus his Neece and Daughter of his Sister Octavia and Mark Anthony of which Claudius was Emperour And Germanicus married Agrippina the Daughter of Julia Augustus his Daughter by whom he had Caius Caligula who also was afterwards Emperour Augustus after many notable Victories compelled his Enemies at length to sue for Peace whereupon again he commanded the Temple of Janus to be shut up and from thenceforth all things succeeded prosperously with him The Subjects of the Empire were now very obedient to him and all other sent their Ambassadours seeking his Favour and Friendship The Indians in the remotest parts of the East and the Scythians that inhabited the North and the Parthians an untamed People sent their Ambassadours to him giving security to keep the Peace and restoring to him the Standards and Eagles which were taken when Marcus Crassus was slain There came also Kings who were Friends and Subjects to the Roman Empire to do him Homage laying aside their Ensignes and Royal Robes and many of them bult Cities to his Name and for his Honour calling them Caesaria So did Herod the Great in Palestine King Juba in Mauritania and others The World being thus at Peace and quietness forty and two years being expired since that Augustus after the Death of Julius Caesar came to Rome In the time of this general Peace was the Prince of Peace our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ born in Bethlem of the Virgin Mary Herod being King of Judea placed there by the Romans of whose blessed Life and bitter Death as also of the order of his Ministry and Miracles see his Life published by me Anno Christi 1664. At which time there came forth a command from Caesar Angustus that all the Roman World should be taxed which taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria Luk. 2. 1. Out of which a little Book was made by Augustus in which all the publick riches were contained as also how many Citizens and Allies in Arms what Navies How many Kingdomes and Provinces what Tribute and Customes there were what necessary charges and Pensions went out Shortly after Augustus was called Lord by the People but he did not only refuse that Title but forbad it by a publick Edict Augustus enjoying so great prosperity was yet nothing altered in his qualities and behaviour as often it happens in other Princes but rather became more mild just and affable more courteous liberal and temperate He established very good Laws and Orders for the reformation and abuses and evil customes He erected both within and without Rome many stately and sumptuous Edifices which made him to boast concerning Rome Latericiam inveni Marmoream reliqui I found it built with Brick and left it built with Marble He bestowed great gifts
the Exchequer twenty five hundred thousand Crowns and suffered private men to take of it for three years without Interest putting in good security for the paying back of the principal and condemned such Usurers as had taken more than the Law allowed to pay four times as much to those who had been oppressed by them THE LIFE and DEATH OF TAMERLANE THE GREAT WHO FLORISHED ANNO CHRISTI 1400. TAMERLANE was born at Samercand the chief City of the Zagatajan Tartars His Father was called Zain-Cham or as others will Og Prince of the Zagatajans of the Country Sachithays sometimes part of the famous Kingdom of Parthia third in descent from Zingis the great and successful Captain of the Tartars which Og being a Prince of a peaceable nature accounting it no less honour quietly to keep the Countries left him by his Father than with much trouble and no less hazard to seek how to enlarge the same long lived in most happy peace with his Subjects no less happy therein than himself not so much seeking after the hoording up of Gold and Silver things of that Nation not regarded nor valued as contenting himself with the encrease and profit of his Sheep and herds of Cattel then and yet also the principal revenues of the Tartar Kings and Princes which happily gave occasion to some ignorant of the manner and customs of those Northern Nations and Countries to account them all for Shepherds and Herdsmen and so also to have reported of this mighty Prince as if he had been a Shepherds Son or Herdsman himself vainly measuring his Nobility by the homely course of life of his People and Subjects and not by the honour of his House and Heroical Vertues hardly to be paralelled by any Prince of that or the former Ages His peaceable Father now well stricken in years and weary of the World delivered up his Kingdom to this his Son not yet past fifteen years old joyning unto him two of his most faithful Councellours Odmar and Ally to assist him in the government of his State whom Tamerlane dearly loved whilst they lived and much honoured the remembrance of them being dead The first proof of Tamerlanes Fortune and Valour was against the great Duke of Mosco or Emperour of Russia for spoiling of a City which had put it self under his protection and for entring his Country and proclaiming War against him whom he in a great Battel overthrew having slain twenty seven thousand of the Muscovites Footmen and between fifteen and sixteen thousand Horsemen with the loss of scarce eight thousand Horsemen and four thousand Footmen of his own After which Battel Tamerlane beholding so many thousands of men lying dead upon the ground was so far from rejoycing thereat that turning himself to one of his familiar Friends he lamented the condition of such as commandâ— over great Armies commending his Fathers quiet course of life accounting him happy in seeking for rest and such most unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to procure their own glory protesting himself even from his heart to be grieved to see such sad tokens of his Victory Alhacen in his Arabick History of Tamerlane makes this Narrative of the Battel The Muscovites saith he had a great Army which he had gathered together out of sundry Nations and Tamerlane intending not to put up such wrongs and indignities assembled all his Forces and those of his Allies The Muscovites forces were such as had been well trained up in the Wars For having lately concluded a Peace with the King of Poland he had from thence ten thousand very good Horsemen There were also with him many Hungarian Gentlemen under the conduct of one Uladislaus who brought with him more than eight thousand Horse so that he had in his Army about eighty thousand Horse and one hundred thousand Footmen Tamerlane had in his Army about one hundred and twenty thousand Horse and one hundred and fifty thousand Foot but not so good Souldiers as the Muscovites for his Subjects had been long trained up in peace under his peaceable Father and though they had been sometimes exercised yet they wanted the practical part of War Tamerlanes order in his march was this He caused all his Army to be divided into Squadrons each consisting of six thousand Horse save his own which consisted of ten thousand so that he made eighteen Squadrons besides his own The Avantguard was conducted by Odmar who led eight Squadrons which were flanked by forty thousand Footmen divided on the right and left sides who shot an infinite number of Arrows The Battel was conducted by Tamerlane who with his own led ten Squadrons and fifty thousand Footmen the best and choicest Souldiers of his whole Army The Prince of Thanais his Kinsman led the Arereward with six Squadrons of Horse and forty thousand Foot his forlorn Hope consisted of some three thousand Horse adventurers The Muscovites fought by double Ranks with Lances and they seemed to be a greater number than Tamerlanes making a great noise but Tamerlanes skill and multitude at length overcame the force and valour of the Muscovites the Victory bending to the Parthians side which they pursued hotly In this Battel Tamerlane was hurt on the side of the left Eye and had two Horses slain under him and indeed that day Odmar was the safeguard of the Prince but he lost Ally who was slain with an Arrow The Battle being ended Tamerlane returned thanks to God publickly for his Victory and the next day reviewing his Army he found that he had lost between seven and eight thousand Horsemen and between three and four thousand Footmen The Muscovites lost about twenty seven thousand Foot and fifteen or sixteen thousand Horse The Prince slacked no time after so great a Victory but marching on came into the borders of the Muscovites whom he enforced this agreement That they should become his Tributaries paying yearly one hundred thousand Duckats That the great Duke should defray all the charges of the Wars amounting to three hundred thousand Duckats That he should withdraw his Army and send back all the Prisoners and that for the performance hereof he should give pledges which should be changed every year All which being agreed to he returned with great content and glory to his Father Shortly after the great Cham of Tartary his Fathers Brother being grown old and out of hope of having any more Children moved with the Fame of his Nephew after this Victory sent him divers presents and withal offering him his only Daughter in Marriage sent him word that he would proclaim him Heir apparent to his Empire as indeed in right he was being his Brothers Son and the Daughters not using to succeed in those Empires Which so great an offer Tamerlane gladly accepted and so the marriage was afterwards with great Triumph at the old Emperours Court solemnized and consummated and our Tamerlane
according to his Uncles promise and his own right was proclaimed Heir apparent of that great Empire Thus was Tamerlane made Great being ever after this marriage by the old Emperour his Uncle and now his Father in Law so long as he lived notably supported and after his death he succeeded him in that so vast and mighty an Empire Before his marriage Tamerlane would needs be crowned to the intent that none should think that the Crown came to him by the right of his Wife but by his own right and during his abode in the City of Quavicai where the old Emperour was he was entertained with all kind of Triumphs wherein he always carried away the Bell whether in shooting in the Bow in changing of Horses in the middest of their courses in Tiltings and in all other exercises which required agility or strength and so after two Months he returned with his Wife to Samercand in which City he delighted exceedingly to remain because the situation thereof was fair and being watered with a great River was a place of great Traffick whereby it was made richer than any other in that Country And whensoever be received intelligence from the Emperour his Uncle he still imparted the same to Odmar whom he used at his right hand in all his great affairs There was also in his Court a Christian whom he loved much and every one greatly respected called Axalla a Genovois by Birth brought up from his youth about his Person for he countenanced all that worshipped one only God that was the Creator of all things And about this time the old Emperour sent to him to stir him up to War against the great King of China who stiled himself Lord of the World and Son of the Sun who had exceeded his bounds and incroached upon the Tartarian Empire This was no small enterprise and therefore before he would begin the same he sent Ambassadours to the King of China to demand restitution of his Lands and the passages of a River called Tachii which were within the Tartarian Border and on this side that stupendious Wall builded on purpose by the Kings of China for the defence of their Country against the incursions of the Tartars and whilst he attended for the return of his Ambassadours expecting a Negative answer he caused his forces to be assembled together from all parts appointing their rendezvous to be in the Horda of Baschir The old Emperour also assembled for his aid two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the brave men of his Court that were accustomed to the Wars For this Emperour had greatly encreased his limits and conquered a great Country so as all these men were well trained up in the Wars and had been accustomed to travel and pains These were to joyn with Tamerlanes Army in the Desarts of Ergimul at a certain day In the mean time Ambassadours which were sent return and inform the Prince that this proud King of China wondering how any durst denounce War against him making this lofty answer That Tamerlane should content himself with that which he had left him which also he might have taken from him c. This answer being heard our Prince marched directly to his Army gave orders for conveiance of Victuals from all parts sent to hasten forwards his Confederates imparted the answer to the old Emperour caused the insolence of the King of China to be published that all the world might know the justness of his cause yet before his departure he went to take leave of his own Father who endued with a singular and Fatherly affection kissed him a thousand times made solemn Prayers for his prosperity drew off his Imperial Ring and gave it him telling him that he should never see him again for that he was hasting to his last rest and calling Odmar bad him farewel requiring his faithfulness to his Son The Prince having performed this duty returned to Samercand where the Empress his Wife remained whom he took along with him in this journey as the manner of that Country is and so presently departed committing the charge and care of his Kingdom in his absence to one Samay a man well practised in State affairs who also had had the charge of our Prince in his youth These things being dispatched he marched forwards in the middest of his Army which consisted of fifty thousand Horse and a hundred thousand Footmen relying principally on the Forces of the great Cham his Uncle yet he left order that the rest of his Forces should be ready to advance upon the first command as soon as he should be joyned with his Uncles Army In his march he was stayed by the way in regard some distemper of his body contracted by reason of his change of the air yet the Forces which Catiles Captain of the Army of the great Cham conducted went daily forwards Now the news of his distemperature was bruted abroad in all places yet did he not neglect ot send to the great Cham and often to advertise him of the state of his health to the end that the same should not cause any alteration which might arise in that great Empire whereunto he was lately advanced For he was very suspicious of a great Lord named Calix who was discontented with his advancement and had not yet acknowledged him as all other his Subjects had and indeed it was not without cause that he suspected him for Calix being informed that the Forces of the great Cham were advanced beyond the Mountains having passed the River of Meau and were encamped at Bouprou and that Tamerlane was sick he thought it a fit time for his enterprize and thereupon assembling the greatest part of his most faithful followers he told them that now was the time for them to shake off the yoak of the Parthians who otherwise would enslave them and seeing that now their Prince was so badly minded as to translate the Empire to Tamerlane of his own mind without calling them to Council which had interest in the election that this was the only means to assure their liberty which otherwise was like to be lost He caused also a remour to be spread that Tamerlane was very sick the Emperour old and crazy and that his Forces were far separated from him yet like cunning Traytors they dispatched away a Messenger to the great Cham to assure him that they bended not their Forces against him but were his faithful and obedient Subjects and they only armed themselves because they would not be governed by the Parthians their ancient Enemies As soon as our Prince was advertised of the pretences of Calix he marched one days journey forward to the end that he might approach unto Calibes who what face soever he set on the matter yet hearkened what would become of Calix that he might likewise make some commotion This Calibes was by Tamerlane made Commander of his Avantguard
which consisted of Parthians yet he had joyned with him the Prince of Thanais without whom he could not do any thing Tamerlane also gave special commandment that the passages which were not many should be diligently guarded to the end that the King of China should not be advertised of these tumults and so giving to Odmar the leading of his Avantguard he hasted forwards And surely it was high time for him so to do or else all had been revolted for Calix having assembled a hundred thousand fighting men presented himself before the great City of Cambalu chief of the Province of Cathai the Inhabitants whereof came out to meet him receiving him with all the joy that might be Tamerlane in his March went to Caindu and from thence to Calatia where he expected to meet with the forces of his native Country of Sachetai yet did he not neglect to send forward his Army towards Cambalu which caused the Inhabitants to their great terrour to think that all his forces were already on their neck Calix perceiving that the Citizens began already to repent his entertainment thought it not safe to remain amongst them and therefore withdrawing himself he sent for his forces from all parts resolving to meet Tamerlane in the Field and to put all upon the event and hazard of a Battel He drew out of Cambalu fifty thousand men whereof twenty thousand were Citizens the other thirty thousand were the Garrison-Souldiers placed there by the old Emperour Calix having corrupted their Leaders and so procured them to joyn with him in this revolt In short having assembled all his forces his Army consisted of fourscore thousand Horse and one hundred thousand Footmen which he gathered from all parts In the mean time Tamerlanes Army marching forward his Scouts which were two thousand Horse had news of the Army of Calix which came forward directly towards them of which they speedily advertised the Emperour who thereupon presently sent two thousand Horse more to the end that they should keep the passages of a certain River called Brore by which River Victuals were conveyed to his Army as also to win time the Prince well knowing that the motions of a Civil War are furious at the beginning and that therefore it 's best to resist slowly always drawing them out at length if it be possible For when means money and victuals fail the people use to be sensible of their faults and to return home The old Emperour sent to him to adventure all upon a Battel delivering up into his hands the safety of his life and estate that thereby he might end his days in peace By this means forces came to Tamerlane on all hands whose Army daily encreased whereas on the contrary the Enemies Army was then in its chiefest force and began to feel the want of Victuals Calix was about forty years old a Captain renowned with the great Cham and one of the chiefest in dignity and place about him so that many of the Tartars had always respected him as a Person most worthy of the Empire if the glory of Tamerlane and his reputation had not so far exceeded The Armies began to be in view one of another about eight a clock in the morning and many skirmishes began betwixt them before they came to the main Battel The place wherein they met at that time was a great Plain with like advantage on either part Odmar led the Avantguard wherein were forty thousand Horse and eighty thousand Foot which he divided into three Squadrons the first whereof he sent before him to begin the Battel Tamerlane marched in the same order but his Squadrons were much stronger The Footmen of both made the right and left Wings Tamerlane had drawn out six thousand Parthian Horsemen and two thousand Tartarians for his Arearguard which he committed to his faithful Servant Axalla a man of great judgment quick of conceit and in great esteem amongst the Souldiers although he being a Christian worshipped God in another manner than they did and he had many other Christians with him whom he had drawn from the Georgians and the Euxine Sea who fought with great agility Calix on the other side who was a well spoken man was exhorting and encouraging his Souldiers to fight for his Fortune and the Liberty of their Nation He divided his Army into three main Battels himself remaining in the midst encompassed with his Footmen and so the Battels joyned where after a terrible fight Calix fell into Axalla's hands being taken fighting valiantly which Axalla caused to be presently proclaimed through the Army to the overthrow of the courage of all the Adversaries who hereupon immediately fled Calix was kept till the next day and then by a Council of War was adjudged to death whereupon Tamerlane caused his head to be stricken off the which he sent as a present to the Inhabitants of Cambalu The like he caused to be done to all the chief Leaders not out of a cruel disposition but enforced thereto by necessity knowing very well that the way to cut off the foot of Civil War is to punish the Heads of the same which as Hydra's grow up too fast After this Tamerlane with his Army marched into the Kingdom of Cathay a Country rich in grass and all kind of pastures abounding with great quantity of beasts and people which knew not what War meant and the Prince gave command that they should not be used as Enemies but as his good Subjects and whereas divers Cities had adhered to Calix they came now and humbled themselves before him craving pardon which he gave them enjoyning them only to provide victuals for his Army which also they willingly did This example of Lenity of was no small importance for the appeasing of others which had put all their hope in extremity resolving to sell their lives dear and especially the Inhabitants of Cambalu had taken this resolution but being informed of the Emperours clemency they changed their purpose Yet as the Army daily approached nearer their fears encreased but Tamerlane was daily informed by his Friends in the City that the Inhabitants resolved to obey the Conquerour and therefore leaving his Army at Gonsa he only sent thirty thousand to the City which was the ordinary Garrison and within two hours after entred the City himself where he was received with great magnificence yet would he not pronounce their pardon but referred all to the old Emperour and to the ordinary course of Justice For which end he sent one of his Favourites to the old Emperour to certifie him of his Victory of the death of Calix and that the chief of his Faction remained Prisoners with him as also to know what Justice he would appoint to be inflicted upon those Citizens which were the authors of the revolt of this City and so after eight days he departed and not many days after he had intelligence that the great Cham his
I will direct you in a way whereby fifty thousand of your men may go into China whom I my self will conduct and they shall come upon those which guard the Wall in a manner before they are discovered In the mean time you shall lead your Army to a place which I will direct you to where you may win easily a Mountain which will give you great advantage against the Chinois For I assure my self that when they shall perceive your men to be passed they will lose their courage so that you may easily win the passage to assist your Army which shall be led by me amongst them and to assure you of my fidelity I will deliver into your hands my Wife my only Son and two little Daughters I have also one Brother who I assure my self will follow me to do you service The Emperour having heard this much rejoyced at it hoping that his affairs would succeed happily and kept this very secret no revealing it to the Prince of Thanais himself none being present at the discourse but the Lord and his Interpreter and so heaping new favours upon him he was conducted back by the Prince of Thanais with all the honour that might be Then the Emperour returned to his Quarters and the next day imparted the whole matter unto Odmar and then calling Calibes he asked what he had learn'd concerning China during his abode there To which Calibes made this Answer Know my Lord that I am your slave to obey you but seeing you command me to give you an account of all I know concerning the Kingdom of China for that I have remained these six moneths upon the borders I can assure you that the King of China who now reigneth is of great reputation and hath encreased the Limits of his Kingdom more than any of his Predecessors His strength consisteth in this wall opposed against us which he hath made to prevent the inrodes of our Nation I believe there are above fifty thousand to defend it and that of his best trained Souldiers and I know no good means to force this Wall without much hazard and great loss of your men To this Tamerlane answered I hope that the great God whose honour I will defend against those Idolaters will find out means to effect it and so dismissing Calibes he appointed his Army to remove to a certain place where he meant to chuse out fifty thousand men whom he would deliver to the Prince of Thanais and Axalla which accordingly he did and directed them to follow this Chinois Lord who was now again come to him and to do as they should be directed by him In the mean time himself with all the rest of the Army approached the Wall directly over against Quaguifou The Army led by the Prince of Thanais having marched ten Leagues by the conduct of the Chinois Lord entred without resistance and after a short repast they marched directly towards those that guarded the Wall who suspected no such matter but only had an eye to those which came to force the Wall But it fell our far otherwise for just as Tamerlane with his Army came to the Wall they saw Axalla with twenty thousand being followed by the Prince of Thanais with thirty thousand choice Souldiers more who without any words fell upon the Chinois and Odmar who gave the first assault upon the Wall easily in that distraction brake through and so the Chinois were cut off between the two Armies and Axalla before the Prince of Thanais came up to him had routed them Great riches were gotten that day and the King of China's Cozen was taken Prisoner much Gold was found as well on their Arms as on their Horses Furniture but they shewed no great valour The news of this overthrow being carried to the King of China who was now at Quantifou it brought great astonishment to him for that he judged it impossible to have been effected so that every one was filled with tears fears and lamentations for their friends Yet the King gathers forces from all parts calling also the Priests and such as had the charge of his unholy holies to come unto him commanding them to offer sacrifices to their gods whereof the Sun is principal requiring the same to be observed through all the Cities and then that every one that was able to bear Arms should mount on horseback and speedily repair to the King at Paguinfou whither he suspected that Tamerlane would march for that it was one of the Cities nearest to the borders In the mean time Tamerlane beat down the Wall the better to assure his return as also the Forlresses upon all the passages all which upon his Victory were easily surrendred to him He shewed himself very courteous to the people upon the Mountains and gave to the Lord that had conducted his Army a Country which bordered upon his wherein were seven or eight good Towns who came and delivered the Keyes to him He gave him also the Government of the Frontier-Province of Xianxi shewing himself to be a Prince of his word and reserved the rewarding of his Brother till he had farther opportunity Whilst he was thus employed news was brought him that the King of China had assembled his Forces and was marching forward himself being there in person as also that he had strengthened the Garrisons in all his Cities which of themselves were well fortified Upon his intelligence Tamerlane called a Council of War and having heard the opinions of all his Captains he resolved to take in some famous City that thereby his Army might be better provided for and then to give the King of China battel in the field For the effecting of the first he resolved to assault Paguinfou which was a great City strongly fortified and well replenished with people and for this end he sent Odmar with forty thousand Horse to summon it and to prevent the farther victualling of it and to hinder the driving away of the cattel out of the Champion-countrey about it which might nourish his Army He also caused the Lord Axalla whom now he had made Lieutenant General of all his Foot to follow Odmar vvith all his Foot which vvere near a hundred and fifty thousand men well trained and expert in War himself marching immediately after vvith all his Horsemen Artillery Engines and other Ammunitions belonging to the War directly to Paguinfou Odmar made such haste that he arrived unexpected by the Citizens vvho rather looked for their King than for an Enemy and having taken much cattel vvherevvith that Countrey abounded he pitched his tents on the farther side of the City There he continued two or three dayes giving the City many Alarms till the Infantry led by that brave Christian Genuois shewed themselves in the Plain of Paguinfou Then was the City summoned but they returnd ansvver That they were resolved to live and die in the service of their Prince By
the way you must understand that about forty years before the Father of this present King of China had conquered this City and Countrey from the Tartars and had so planted the same with new Colonies that but few of the Tartarians remained except only in the flat Countrey and some small walled Towns who all came with their Keys and willingly submitted to Tamerlane whereby he had great plenty of victuals in his Army which made him hope for good success there being nothing that doth sooner overthrow great Armies than the want thereof Thus was Paguinfou besieged round the footmen lying within a flight-shoot the Walls the Citizens and Souldiers using their best endeavour for their defence and Tamerlane doing the like for their offence Axalla having viewed a great Suburb which was in length almost half a League supposed that the Citizens kept no watch there and therefore acquainting the Emperour with his purpose in the first watch of the night his men being all ready with scaling Ladders he assaulted the same in sundry places and after a great fight entred and cut in pieces at least eight thousand men which were within the same yet on one side where they expected to be assaulted he lost many of his men The taking of this Suburb did greatly astonish the Citizens who observing the valour of the Tartarians began to suspect their own safety By this Suburb there ran a River which being now under the command of Axalla he stopt all provision from going to the City In the mean time the King of China's Army approached which was very great whereupon the Emperour determined to go in person and meet him with the greatest part of his Horsemen but to leave most of his Foot to continue the siege being very desirous to take the City for the accelerating whereof he caused his Engines for battery to approach as Rams and such like so that the City was assaulted on two sides very couragiously and in the end through the valour of Axalla who gave an assault with twenty thousand of his best Souldiers he won the Wall and at the command of the Emperour lodged there who desired rather to have the City by Treaty than storm the City being great and rich and the Enemy but thirty Leagues from thence and therefore he feared lest his Army should be found in disorder and knowing also that rich Souldiers never fight well Besides he intended to draw out of that wealthy City such things as he stood in need of and to make it his Magazine for the time to come Yet though the Wall was won the Enemies wanted not heart to defend themselves valiantly hearing that their King was coming for their relief but it so happened that an Engine shooting a bullet slew the Governour whereupon the Citizens were so discouraged that they resolved to yield saving their lives and the Souldiers to march away with Horse and Arms. The conditions were admitted and there came out of the City eighteen thousand Souldiers almost all the Inhabitants remaining behind This siege had lasted two months and the City had in it at first thirty thousand Souldiers Axalla had the honour of winning this City and therefore was made Governour of it and all the Country belonging to it but he beseeched the Emperour to bestow it upon some other Person reserving for himself the hope of his Master in whose fortune he would take part This gave great content to Tamerlane who much desired the service of Axalla and upon his refusal the charge was conferred upon the Prince of Thanais with the Title of Vice-Roy Then did Tamerlane give notice of his affairs to the old Emperour and having paid his Souldiers and setled all things in the best manner he could he marched forward and taking a general Muster of his whole Army Horse and Foot he found them to be diminished ten thousand men only And so with his Army he spent one whole day in Prayer calling upon the immortal invisible invincible and incomprehensible God and then went directly to meet the Enemy who was at Sintehu with all his own and the forces of his Allies and as soon as he received news that Tamerlanes Army was advanced over the River of Chulifu the King of China marched directly towards them with great magnificence There was nothing to be seen in his Army but Gold and precious Stones He himself usually rode in a Chariot whereof every part shone with Gold Pearls Rubies and Diamonds He was of the age of about three and thirty and had been brought up in pleasures and not under the bloody Ensigns of Mars So that he was very insolent in threatnings brava does and defying to the Battel He often accused Tamerlane for surprizing him before he was ready not giving him warning c. The rumours of his riches so fired the spirits of the Tartarians that they longed to be at the Battel and so both sides hasted forwards and in the way there was a City called Tunichevoy surrendred to Tamerlane which afforded him much refreshing for his Army And thus the two Armies drawing near together Tamerlane made choice of a place in his judgment most advantageous for the Battel and having set down to Odmar the Order which he would have to be observed he longed to see his Enemy Then did he send before him five or six thousand Horse as Scouts under Calibes and himself went with them and having viewed the great confused Army of his Enemies which came continually forward he commanded Calibes to retire himself so soon as they drew near to him And bring saith he this great cloud to me which I hope soon to disperse and so retiring to his Army he encouraged them assuring them of the Victory He placed all his Foot-men which were about a hundred and twenty thousand along a Mountain planting great store of Artillery for their guard Many of his Foot-Souldiers were armed after the Christian manner who were all commanded by Axalla His Horsemen were in a Battalia in a great plain who upon any disadvantage could retire to the assistance of the Footmen the Horsemen were eighty thousand Calibes with the Scythians were in the Avantguard being thirty thousand Horse who were to receive Odmar when he should retreat from the Enemy as he was commanded thirty thousand more were appointed for Odmar and Tamerlane himself remained in the Arrear at one of the Wings of his Footmen His purpose was to let that sixty five thousand Horse under two such Gallant Captains to break the force of the Enemy hoping after them to have a good market causing his Foot to march forward and reserving with himself twenty thousand of his best Horse who of themselves were able to make a new Battel if any mischance should befal the former For he understood that it was the custom of the Kings of China to enclose themselves in the midst of their Chariots with their Footmen and not to
with a very proud and haughty countenance and approaching near to the Emperour he by his Interpreter asked of Axalla which was he and being shewed him he spake in an haughty language after this manner The gods whom I worship being provoked against my Nation and People have conspired against my good fortune and made me this day thy prisoner But forasmuch as it is reported over all the world that Tamerlane maketh war for the honour of his Nation thou shouldst be content with this thy glory that the Lord of the world and child of the Sun is in thy power to receive such Laws as thou pleasest to subscribe unto him This he spake in a brave manner without any other humbling of himself The Emperour on the other side saluting him very courteously led him into his Tent. This King of China was a great Prince having two hundred famous Cities within his Kingdom which also is a fruitful and plentiful Countrey wherein are Mines of Gold and Silver much Musk and Rliubarb It abounds in Fish and Fowl and hath much Silk and Porclane with Cotton and Linnen c. Then did Tamerlane assemble his Captains to consult about the disposal of the King and how the Victory should be best improved At the same time he received news by Odmar that the Kings Brother who escaped out of the battel was at Quantou which he had strongly fortified and that great store of forces began to adjoyn themselves to him Hereupon he commanded two thousand Parthian horse to convey the King to Paguinfou and from thence to Burda where he was to be kept carefully Then did he resolve upon the besieging of Quantou and if it were possible to shut up the Kings Brother therein it being one of the principal seats that belonged to the King of China It was forty Leagues from the place where the battel was fought Thither therefore he sent a good party of his Army under Odmar who pitched his Tents about the City But the Kings Brother was gone The Emperour in the mean time summoned and took in many lesser Cities which yielded wholly to his mercy making great lamentation for their captive King yet the gentleness of the Conquerour made them to take all their losses with patience and the rather because they heard that he used their King courteously The Kings brother also sent Ambassadours to Tamerlane craving leave to see the King and to know of his health which the Emperour willingly assented to Now the Kings brother hearing of the estate of the besieged in Quantou he resolved either to relieve it or to fight a battel for which end he advanced strait unto Porchio making a bridge of Boats to pass over the River But Odmar being informed that about fifty thousand of his men were come over he suddenly set upon them being out of order and not informed of their enemies approach also to prevent the coming over of the rest to their assistance he sent a fire-boat down the stream against their bridge of Boats which brake it in sunder and where it was resisted set all on fire and so in a great battel overthrew them The King of Cauchin-China who was amongst them fighting valiantly was slain The Kings Brother who was on the other side of the River not yet come over saw his men slain and drowned and could not relieve them This second overthrow was of no small importance though it was but the third part of the Kings brothers Army For the Citizens of Quantou hearing of it and despairing of relief sent out some Proposals for their surrender Axalla which received them presently dispatched away a faithful messenger to the Emperour to know his pleasure therein This was more welcome news to him than the overthrow of his Enemies wherefore he referred all to the sufficiency and fidelity of Axalla So that upon Treaty the City was surrendred to Axalla who caused the Garrison to come out and received the inhabitants into the Emperours protection and all that would might continue in it unarmed afterwards he entred into it and was received with great signs of joy by the Inhabitants who resolved to entertain the Emperour with all the solemnity that might be Axalla put thirty thousand men into it for a Garrison injoyning the Citizens to pay the Emperours Army four hundred and fifty thousand Crowns Presently after he received a command from the Emperour to stay in the City himself and to send all the rest of his Footmen unto him which he commanded the rather because he understood that Ambassadours were coming to him from the Kings Brother to treat of Peace and he presumed the sight of all his Army together ready to march would strike such a terrour into them as would cause them the readilier to assent to good terms The Ambassadours sent by the Kings Brother were of their chiefest men whom Tamerlane entertained with all humanity causing his greatness to appear to them as also the activity of his Horsemen whereby they might discern that it would tend to the destruction of their Country if they agreed not with him Then did the Ambassadours deliver their message which consisted of two branches One was for the delivery of their King the other for the preservation of their Countrey The Emperour answered that they should deliver their message in writing and he would give a speedy answer Their Propositions were that they would leave Paguinfou and all the Country beyond it with all the Fortresses of the mountains in Tamerlanes possession That they would pay all the charges of his Army from that day forward And that they would give two millions of gold for the ransome of their King To this the Emperour answered that he would keep that which he had conquered within the Countrey being his own as taken by his arms That he would have the River by which his Army was now encamped and so along to the Sea to be his Frontiers That the King of China should pay him yearly two hundred thousand Crowns which should be delivered at Paguinfou for acknowledgment of his submission to his Empire That he should pay five hundred thousand Crowns in ready money for the charge of his Army That the King of China should be delivered and that all the other Chinois prisoners should pay ransomes to particular men that took them except those which carried the names of Kings who should pay ten thousand Crowns for their liberty and peace And that no Chinois should be kept for a slave nor sold for such hereafter being under the Emperours obedience That Traffick and intercourse of Merchants should be free between both the Nations That the King of China should deliver his Brother and two other called Kings with twelve principal men of the Countrey for Hostages to secure the Peace These conditions after they had consulted together were accepted of hoping that time would restore again their ancient liberty and in the
all manner of merchandise as well for delight as necessity By these Ambassadours the Greek Emperour yielded his Empire together with his Person unto Tamerlane as his most faithful Subject and Vassal Which as he said he was bound to do for that he was by him delivered from the most cruel Tyrant of the World as also for the long journey he had undertaken for his sake and the discommodities he had endured with the hazard of his Person and loss of his Subjects which could not be otherwise compensated but with the offer of his own and his Subjects lives to him which for ever he therefore dedicated to his service with all the fidelity and loyalty that so great a benefit might deserve besides that his so many virtues and rare endowments which made him famous through the world did oblige him the more hereunto and that therefore he would attend him in his chief City to deliver it into his hands as his own together with all the Empire of Greece Now these Ambassadours expected no less than to fall into the bondage of Tamerlane judging that which they offered to be so great and delicate a morsel as that it would not be refused especially of such a Victorious Prince as was Tamerlane and that the acceptance thereof in kindness and Friendship was the best bargain they could make therein But they received at answer from this Worthy Prince far beyond their expectation For he with a mild countenance beholding them answered thus That he was not come from so far a countrey nor undertook such pains for the enlargement of his Dominions big enough already too base a thing for him to put himself into so great danger and hazard for but rather to win honour and to make his name famous to future Posterities And that he would make it appear to the World that he came to assist their Master as his Friend and Ally at his request and that his upright intentions therein were the greatest cause that God from above had favoured him and made him instrumental to bruise the head of the greatest and fiercest enemy of mankind that was under heaven and therefore to get him an immortal name his purpose was to make free so great and flourishing a City as was Constantinople governed by so noble and ancient a House as the Emperours That he had alwayes joyned Faith to his Courage which should never suffer him to make so great a breach into his reputation as that it should be reported of him that in the colour of a Friend he should come to invade the Dominions of his Ally That he desired no more but that the service he had done for the Greek Emperour might remain for ever engraven in the memory of his posterity to the end they might for ever wish well to him and his Successors by the remembring the good he had done for them That he wished that long might the noble Emperour live happily to govern his estate and that before his return he would so well consider of the establishing of the same as that he should not lightly fall into the same jeopardy Easie it is to judge what joy the Ambassadours did conceive upon hearing this so gracious an answer from the mouth of Tamerlane who rather than he would break his Faith refused an Empire offered him together with one of the stateliest and magnificentest Cities in the World After the testification of their joy and thankfulness these Ambassadours were by the command of Tamerlane royally feasted by Axalla having all the honour done to them that might be And one of them being sent back to carry this unexpected news to the Emperour filled both him and all the City of Constantinople with exceeding joy and gladness which both he and all his subjects testified by making of Bonefires and other signs of joy and pleasure And the Emperour the more to shew his gratitude by the advice of his Counsellours passed over the streight into Asia to see Tamerlane in Prusa and in person himself to give him thanks who hearing of his coming and being glad thereof presently sent Prince Axalla to meet him and to certifie him of the joy he conceived to have the good hap to see him as also to conduct him to Prusa where those two great Princes with the greatest magnificence that might be met and so spent one whole day in conversing together and the Greek Emperor the next daytaking his leave was by Tamerlane with much honour conducted out of the City Now had Tamerlane himself conceived a great desire to see the famous City of Constantinople from which he was not now far yet would he not go thither as a Conquerour but as a private person which by the means of Axalla was accomplished and he thereinto by the Greek Emperour privately received and with all familiarity possible entertained the Emperour shewing unto him all the rare and excellent things that were contained therein and the other Greek Princes devising all the means they could to do him pleasure and them that were with him who were all in a manner cloathed after the Greek fashion The Greek Emperour was curious to shew him all the beautiful Gardens along the Sea-coast and so privately conducting him about spent five or six dayes with all the mirth that might be Tamerlane by the way often saying that he had never seen a fairer City and that of all others considering the scituation of it it was right worthy to command all the World He wondred at the costly buildings of the Temples the fair engraven Pillars the high Piramides and the excellent Gardens afterwards saying often that it nothing repented him to have undertaken so long and dangerous a journey if it had been only to preserve so notable a City from fire and sword In the Greek Emperour he greatly commended his mild nature and courtesie who knowing that above all things he took pleasure in fair serviceable Horses gave unto him thirty of the fairest strongest and readiest that were possibly to be gotten all most richly furnished He sent likewise great Presents to all the Princes and great Commanders of the Army and bountifully caused to be delivered to them all things which he thought necessary for the Army So after these great kindnesses and a strict bond of Friendship made and by solemn Oath confirmed by these two great Princes Tamerlane with great contentment took leave of the Emperour and returned to his Army at Prusa wherewith now at pleasure he spoiled and wasted all the dominions of Bajazet in Asia no man daring to make head against him The Winter now drawing on Tamerlane dispersed his Army into divers Provinces of the lesser Asia expecting daily when some of Bajazet's sons or great Friends should make suit to him for his deliverance but none came most fearing the fierce nature of Bajazet who if he had been delivered was like enough to have taken severe revenge upon all that forsook
him in the battel and therefore they never interceeded for him Whereupon Tamerlane one day passing by him said I marvel that none of thy sons nor friends either come to see thee or to intreat for thee it must needs be that thou hast evil deserved of them as thou hast of others But what thinkest thou if I should set thee at liberty would they receive thee again as their Lord and Sovereign or not To whom Bajazet stoutly answered Were I at liberty thou shouldest quickly see that I want neither courage nor means to revenge all my wrongs and to make the disobedient to know their duties better This proud answer made Tamerlane to keep a stricter hand over him In this great War the Sultan of Egypt as we said before had aided Bajazet which Tamerlane took in so evil part that he resolved revenge For as to his Friends he was most kind and courteous so to his Enemies most terrible and dreadful Yet before his departure he restored to the poor Mahometan Princes that had fled to him for refuge all their ancient Inheritances with something more out of bounty as also he did divers Cities and Countreys of Natolia to the Greek Emperour for the yearly Tribute of four hundred thousand Ducats of Gold and eight hundred thousand Franks of Silver And thus having enriched his Army with the spoils of the Ottoman Empire he turned his Forces against the Egyptian Sultan and so passing through Caramania he entred into Syria then part of the Sultans Kingdom where near unto Aleppo before yielded to him there was fought between them a great and mortal battel the Sultan having in his Army a hundred thousand Foot and seventy four thousand Horse whereof there were thirty thousand Mamelukes accounted the best Horsemen in the World In which Battel Axalla with the Avantguard of Tamerlane's Army was hardly distressed and Axalla himself taken but presently rescued by Tamerlane who had he not by his coming on with fresh Forces speedily restored the battel that day was like enough to have put a period to his Fortunes But Victory after a long and cruel fight wherein were eighty thousand of both sides slain inclining to Tamerlane the Sultan fled Tamerlane pursuing him for the space of three Leagues After this Victory Tamerlane dividing his Army sent Axalla with forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot to pursue the Sultan along the Sea-coast of Arabia The Sultan made divers Alts with four thousand Horse to have stopped Axalla who having the smallest Forces followed him the nearest whilst Tamerlane with sixty thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Foot marched along those Coasts having all the Cities as he went surrendred to him only the strong City of Damasco refused to receive him whereinto the Sultan had put the Prince Zamudzen with a strong Garrison who did what might be done to defend the same but all in vain For Tamerlane having by battery overthrown a great part of the Wall took the City by storm only the Castle yet remained which was accounted impregnable but at the taking of the City such a multitude pressed into it as that it was not possible for them long to subsist therefore within a short time being pinched with hunger and many already dead the rest upon promise of their lives offered to yield But Tamerlane would not receive them to mercy to make them sensible what it was to hold out against him So that most of them dying of famine the rest yielded at pleasure and were most of them put to the Sword for their obstinacy which severity of his caused all the Cities within the space of thirty Leagues to bring their Keyes to him in token of their submission whom he no way molested otherwise than in contributing to the charge of his Army From thence he turned directly towards Jerusalem at which time they of the City had turned out the Sultans Garrison as had almost all they of Judea submitting themselves unto Tamerlane at Chorazin was a Garrison of six thousand who at first pretended to defend the place but when they perceived that Tamerlane was resolved to have it they submitted and found mercy There Tamerlane left a Garrison of his own to repress the Mamelukes who with frequent incursions troubled his Army Himself with some of his Horsemen rode to Jerusalem to visit the Sepulchre so much reverenced of all Nations By the Inhabitants he was joyfully received and having sought out all the antiquities of that ancient City he would be conducted to all the places where Christ had preached and coming to the Sepulchre he gave there many rich gifts to the great content of all only the Jews much blamed him for so doing but he regarded them not calling them the accursed of God There had he news that the Sultan having gathered together all his Forces was fortifying his Cities in Egypt especially Alexandria and the Grand Caier whereupon Tamerlane commanded his Army to march towards Egypt to Damietta which strong City he thought not good to leave behind him though by some he was perswaded so to do for that it was thought impregnable both by reason of the strong Castle and great Garrison placed therein by the Sultan But he whose Fortune nothing could hinder would needs go thither And having commanded Axalla to attempt it followed himself after with the rest of his Army Now Axalla having summoned the City declared to the Inhabitants who were most of them Christians the mildness and courtesie of Tamerlane as also who himself and of what Religion he was causing many of his Greek Captains to speak to them and to tell them what misery they endured under the Moors and Mameluks which so far prevailed with them that they resolved to adventure their lives to put the Mameluks out of the City and the night after taking Arms made themselves Masters of one quarter of the City opening one of the Gates to Axalla whereby he entring put all the Mameluks to the Sword or took them prisoners and so became Master of that strong City Whereof Tamerlane hearing hoped by so prosperous a beginning to find an happy end of his Wars in Egypt For he knew that the Haven of Damietta might furnish him with Victuals out of all parts of Greece as the Emperour Emmanuel had promised him and wherein he nothing failed him Then did Tamerlane enter the City leaving therein a Garrison of two thousand of the Emperour of Greece his Souldiers with a Governour of whom he took an Oath for their obedience And having staid a while at Damietta he caused his Avantguard to march towards Alexandria and having passed over the River he suddenly turned directly towards Grand Caire to the great astonishment of the Sultan who provided for the defence of Alexandria as nearest to the Enemy But understanding this news used such diligence that he entred into Caire with forty thousand Horse and sixty thousand Foot even
as Tamerlane's Army approached to it By this unexpected coming of the Sultan the great City that before was ready to have revolted was again confirmed in his obedience to the great prejudice of Tamerlanes affairs For to remain long before it was impossible through want of Victuals for so great an Army in an Enemies Countrey Yet this discouraged not Tamerlane from approaching to it and with all his Army to encamp near unto the same having caused a great Trench to be made for the security of his Horsemen and therein to lodge his Army more safely during which time he caused divers attempts to be made as well to try the enemies confidence as to see how the people of the City especially the slaves which in that populous City are in great numbers were affected towards him who indeed were glad to see the state of his Army and the proud Mamelukes still put to the worst but farther strirred not During this siege he thought good one day to draw forth his Army before the City to try whether the enemy had any mind to come to a battel as also to view his own Forces and so indeed to seek occasion to fight hoping that if the Sultan should come forth with his Army some revolt might happen at the same time in the City as well by the slaves unto whom by secret Spies he had promised liberty as by the Citizens themselves who were much discontented with the insolency of the Mamelukes and by whom Tamerlane by the same Spies had made it known that he came not to hurt them but to deliver them from the tyranny of his and their enemies But standing thus in Battel array none stirred out of the City neither was there any tumult raised within according as he expected For the Sultan being plentifully provided with all things in that rich City resolved to weary out Tamerlane by lying still and not to put all to the hazard of a battel Tamerlane perceiving his Design yet resolved not to depart till he was Victorious whereupon he thought fit also to attempt him in his greatest strength and in the heart of his greatest City though it could not be done without great hazard such confidence had he in the Valour and Multitude of his Army Now his purpose was first to take one of the Cities for Caire is divided into three and therein encamping himself by little and little to advance forwards as he could find opportunity Upon this resolution he commanded a strong assault to be given and having conducted his Footmen to the place chosen by him for the onset for the City was not Walled but only fortified with Ditches and Trenches he commanded the Prince of Thanais with fifty thousand men to begin the Assault even in the face of the Enemy which he most valiantly performed which occasioned a great and terrible fight Axalla in the mean time deeming as the truth was that the Sultan had drawn the greatest part to his Forces to that place fetched a compass about and in another part of the City with small resistance passed the Trenches where he presently left thirty thousand men to fill up the Ditches thereby to make way for the Horsemens entrance himself with the rest advancing forwards against twenty thousand sent by the Sultan to oppose his farther passage the Prince of Thanais being at the same time almost beaten back by the Mamelukes But the Ditches being presently levelled ten thousand Horsemen entred who charged upon the backs of the Mamelukes where the Sultan himself was there were likewise seconded by ten thousand more sent in by Tamerlane himself following after with all his power Hereupon the Sultan retreated into a second strength which he had made in the next City This fight continued full seven hours wherein were slain of the Sultans men above sixteen thousand and of Tamerlane's between seven and eight thousand Tamerlane being well contented that he had dislodged his enemy and gained one of the Cities caused a retreat to be sounded hoping the next day to win all the rest as indeed he did For the next morning the Prince of Thanais storming the Trenches in one part as Axalla did in another the Sultan after a great fight finding himself hardly pressed by the obstinate Enemy and unable longer to hold out retreated abandoning the City and encamping himself along the River Nilus resolving to retire to the City of Alexandria his second strength and only refuge which Tamerlane suspecting followed after him with his Horsemen who only were in order and some few Foot hardly drawn from the City which their fellows were in plundering Tamerlane promising them both to regard and reward their good service Against these the Sultan upon a narrow cawse-way had opposed twelve or fifteen thousand men to favour his passage who being of his best Souldiers maintained their ground stoutly the place being much for their advantage yet at length their enemies still increasing and pressing hard upon them they were forced to cast themselves into the great River and made a most honourable retreat every man having his Weapon in one hand and swimming with the other hand to the farther Bank The Sultan flying with about eighteen thousand Horse the rest being either drowned or dispersed is said to have comforted his flying men by telling them they were not men but gods that had vanquished them Divers of the Mamelukes that were taken Prisoners being brought before Tamerlane were by him courteously used and asked if they would be content to serve him seeing their Master was fled and gone This they all utterly refused whom notwithstanding for their fidelity Tamerlane set at liberty to go again to their Master being no less desirous to be admired by his Enemies for his Goodness and Bounty than to be feared for his Force and Valour The wonderful wealth of this so great and famous a City became a prey to his Souldiers who for the space of twenty four hours had the spoil thereof At the end of which time every man was straitly charged by open Proclamation to retire to his Quarters Tamerlane would not suffer any of the Citizens to be taken Prisoners and such as were he released and so leaving ten thousand good Souldiers with many others that followed his Camp for the Guard of the City and taking with him all such persons as he thought might hurt him he caused his Army to pass over the River and to follow the Sultan to Alexandria that so his Victory might be compleated Axalla hasted before with the Avantguard to hinder the Sultan from gathering up his Forces together The rest of the Army was conducted by the Prince of Thanais Tamerlane himself with an infinte number of Boats and many Souldiers to attend him went by Water greatly delighting to behold that fair River of Nilus sometimes running with a swift course other sometimes very calm and scarce moved The Citizens of Alexandria
his Souldiers and men of War by whom therefore in his greatest need he was forsaken He used commonly to say That his Treasures were his Childrens meat and not his Souldiers Pay which by way of reproach was by a common Souldier cast in his Teeth when he raged to see himself by them forsaken in that great battel against Tamerlane telling him as he fled That he run not away but went to seek his Pay wherewith to provide his children bread Tamerlane as we said before having conquered Persia used his Victory so mildly that as long as he lived the people of that Countrey were alwayes much affected to him which served him greatly as well for the keeping of Syria as the Sultan of Egypts Empire In his own Countrey he was received with all Triumphs and expressions of joy that might be the chiefest prisoners marching before him and wheresoever he passed the people assembled themselves by thousands praising and singing his Victories The Emperour having spent a month or two in Feasts and Triumphs according to his accustomed Devotion he vowed a Church and Hospital unto God the most magnificent that might be devised and to beautifie his City of Samercand he searched out all sorts of Handicrafts-men intending to make it as large again as it was and one of the stateliest Cities in the World he peopled it also with so many several Nations as he had brought along with him unto whom he gave liberty to build houses distributing money unto them to do the same giving them also all kind of Priviledges and Immunities for their encouragement therein He caused also the streets to be plotted out and in one corner of it he built his Church and Hospital His next care was to preserve the good will and love of his famous Souldiers whose names he caused to be Registred in a general Muster-Roll which he kept by him and daily conferred honours and rewards upon them they not thinking of it in recompence of their former good services thinking that day lost wherein he did not some good Then did he declare the death of the old Emperour to his Council of which he had received private intelligence and forgat no Ceremony due unto his honour publickly expressing the grief he had conceived for his death Then did he with his ordinary Court consisting of forty thousand Horse and sixty thousand Foot set forward towards Quinsay where his Empress was And when he came to Cambalu he had intelligence of a battel fought by Odmar against the King of China's Captain General and how he had pursued his Victory having taken three or four great and rich Cities and that the Chinois did again desire Peace Hereupon he sent them these Articles That the King of China should pay all the Arrears of his Tribute That he should come in person to do his homage acknowledging himself a Vassal of his Empire That he should deliver up to him all his Cities saving three such as the Emperour should nominate That he should pay all the charges of the War because he had broken the Peace which performed things should be restored to the same state they were in before the War And to gratifie Odmar he sent to him with all Magnificence one of his Sisters to be his Wife When he first entred into Cambalu he was received with all the expressions of joy that might be whereupon he restored to them their Priviledges which he had taken from them for their Rebellion with Calix The Empress being informed of his being there leaving Prince Axalla to govern at Quinsay came to him So that he remained there near two moneths giving order for all his affairs the rather because it was near to Mount Althay where the Scythian Emperours use to be buried And so causing the body of the old Emperour to be brought thither himself conducted it with all Pomp honouring not only the Body but all that he had loved in the World and though it was not the custom for Women to assist at Funerals yet he took his Empress along with him who went near unto the Corps till they came to the place where it was interred amongst his Predecessors After these Ceremonies finished he returned to Cambalu where he spent the Winter in Tilts Turnaments Hunting and such like Recreations The rather because this placâ— was near to China whereby he had the fitter opportunity to hear how affairs passed there purposing to go thither in person the next Winter if Odmar that Summer did not make an end of the Wars and if the King of China did not submit himself to his Obedience The Mark he shot at now being only to keep that which by his Valour he had won desiring to spend the rest of his life in reaping the fruits of his hard Travels and former labours Now Prince Axalla governed at Quinsay as well to the great contentment of the Souldiery as of the Inhabitants who out of their abundant love to the Emperour requested Prince Axalla to write importunately to him that his Son might be brought up amongst them which at Axalla's request he consented to making him in the absence of his Son the Governour of Quinsay from Cambalu even to the Sea which Countrey contained in it about three hundred Cities besides an infinite number of Villages all which was formerly under the Government of the old Emperour He delivered also into his charge the Government of his Son Shortly after the King of China came to his Court according to the Covenants offered to him where he once again swore obedience to the Emperour who shewed him his greatness the more to make him stand â—awe for he knew that this Barbarian would keep no promise longer than â— should stand with his own interest This King of China was astonished to bâ— hold so many Souldiers and the Countrey so well replenished with People and above all that they used so little curiosity and riches in their apparel especially wondring that the Emperour himself was apparelled in mean cloth of one colour without curiosity Shortly after Tamerlane went to Quinsay and by the way was met by Prince Axalla and all the chief Lords and Citizens who entertained him with all the Magnificence that might be This City of Quinsay was the fairest and one of the richest in the World and of the most wonderful scituation being divided by many channels of Water upon which are framed wonderful and stately buildings having also an infinite number of Bridges It abounds with all kind of Spices and Merchandizes in great quantity The Citizens presented the Emperour with many rare things judged to be worth two Millions in Gold with great variety of strange and excellent things Then did the Emperour call for his Son that was there educated who was now seven years old He forbade that thenceforward they should suffer him to wear any thing on his Head and hung a Bow about his neck saying That
they which from their birth were called to Sovereignty should be used both to Cold and Heat and should be exercised to Arms betimes and not be brought up idly and delicately reprehending those which brought him up for using him so tenderly asking them if they meant to make a Woman of his Son They replying that he was tender If he be not born said he to be strong and valiant he will not be worthy to succeed me for he must not be an effeminate Prince that must preserve the Parthian Empire About this time his Empress was brought to bed of another Son at Samercand for joy whereof he made Feasts with Tiltings and Pastimes fifteen dayes together Then did he visit all the Sea-Towns near to Quinsay hunting all manner of Games yet often saying That the Recreations which he used were only helps to ease him in the pains of his publick affairs which God had called him to And when Prince Axalla told him that that City was a fit place for his abode O my friend said he it is not so For it 's a Maxime that the Lord of this great City must not come to it above once in ten years and when he is here he must temper his Actions as if he were upon a stage with Gravity and a good grace before the people who are apt to receive good or evil impressions according as their Princed eporteth himself Having setled his affairs in that part of his Empire he returned to Samercand where three times a Week he administred Justice publickly unto the meanest of his Subjects as well as to the greatest which made him much beloved of all over whom he did command On other dayes he gave secret audience and disposed of the affairs of his estate which were concluded daily in his presence In his Council he used such severity that none durst deal untruly or passionately in his presence Yet shewed he such courteousness in his conversation that he was both beloved and feared of his people He never changed his Servants except they committed some great faults against him All the servants of the late Emperour his Uncle he never changed one of them but increased their Pensions making them sensible of his liberality in that change The like bounty he used to strangers thereby to oblige them to him He drew great store of money yearly from the Muscovite by way of Tribute which yet he distributed in the same Country to maintain his authority there winning those to him who otherwise might have hurt him He had great care of his Revenues wherein he was so expedite that in one hours space he could see his Estate from three months to three months together with his ordinary and extraordinary expences they were presented to him so well digested But after all his publick affairs so well managed and his private businesses so well ordered Sickness arrested and Death conquered this Great Conquerour leaving his Empire to Sautochio his Eldest Son now nineteen years old who was proclaimed Emperour within two hours after his Fathers death Tamerlane from his childhood was well instructed in the Arabian learning wherein he was very studious insomuch as when they thought him to be in the Baths wherein they are very curious in that Contrey being their chiefest delight he was retired to the contemplation and study of Heavenly things He had within his eyes such a Divine beauty and radiancy full of Majesty that one could hardly endure the sight of them without closing of his eyes so that some that talked with him and beheld him were stricken dumb for the present which caused him with a comely modesty to abstain from looking upon them that talked with him All the rest of his Visage was courteous and well-proportioned He wore his hair long and curled contrary to the custome of his Countrey-men who used to shave their Heads He went almost alwayes bare-headed saying that his Mother came of the Race of Sampson who therefore advised him to honour long hair His hair was of a dusky colour inclining somewhat to a Violet the most beautiful that any eye could behold His stature was of a middle sort somewhat narrow in his shoulders He had a fair and strong leg his bodily strength and agility was such as none did surpass and often on Festival dayes he made trial of them with the strongest yet did he it with such a Grace mixt with Humanity that he whom he overcame held himself therein most happy though it was a great disgrace amongst the Tartarians to be thrown to the ground in wrestling In the time of his Wars against the Turks a Souldier of his found buried in the ground a great Pot of Gold which he brought to Tamerlane who asked him if it had his Fathers stamp upon it But when he saw that it had the stamp of the Romans he would not own nor meddle with it THE LIFE and DEATH OF CHARLES the GREAT King of FRANCE And Emperour of GERMANY PEPIN sirnamed The short the twenty third King of France a wise and valiant Prince had two Sons Charles and Caroloman and five Daughters Birthe who was married to Milon Earl of Mans by whom she had great Rowland Hiltrude married to Rene Earl of Genes by whom she had the renowned Oliver Rohard Adeline Idubergue Ode and Alix Pepin being toiled out with great Wars much broken with the care of publick affairs and now grown Old that he might imploy his last days in the maintenance of Justice and Peace the burden of War he laid upon his Eldest Son Charles a wise and valiant young Prince of whose modesty and obedience he was well assured And then retiring to Paris he was not long after surprised with sickness in which he recommended his two Sons to the Estates of France to give them portions at their pleasures and so ended his days Anno Christi 768. He was a Religious Prince wise moderate valiant loving to his Subjects and beloved of them happy in his Father and his Children and in his Government An excellent Pattern for other Princes who by his Example hold it for an undoubted Maxim That the strongest Fortress and best security for a Prince is the love of his Subjects and the surest bond of his Authority a respect gotten and preserved by virtue Pepin being dead the Estates of France assembled together and by their joynt consents divide the Kingdom betwixt his two Sons Charles and Caroloman by equal portions Brother 's these were of divers humours who had certainly ruined each other by this equality of power had not the death of Caroloman within three years after divolved the Government of the whole Realm upon Charles Charles was endowed with singular gifts both of Body and Mind which were much improved by the sedulous care of his Prudent Father manifested in the virtuous education of him For which end he procured Paul of Pisa a
time Pope of Rome against whom there was strange Sedition raised by Sylvester and Campul men of great credit in the Court of Rome These men with their adherents upon a solemn day of Procession seized upon Leo before St. Lawrence Church whom they stripped of his Pontifical Robes cast him unto the ground trod him under their feet and bruised his face with their fists and having dragged him ignominiously through the dirt they cast him into Prison where yet he stayed not long being freed by a Groom of his chamber called Albin and so having recovered St. Peters Church he sent to Vingise Duke of Spoleto intreating him to deliver him from this miserable Captivity Vingise failed him not but came to Rome and carried the Pope along with him to Spoleto where yet he stayed not long but from thence went to Charlemagne into France whom he found full of troubles He complained that many of the Romans sought to usurp his Power into their hands and advised the King to exact an Oath of Fidelity of them Paschalis was there soon after him and accused the Pope of Adultery and other gross crimes Charlemagne dismissed them both and promised to be at Rome within a few months and accordingly prepared for his Journey In December Anno Christi 800. Charlemagne was received in Rome with all shews of Honour and within eight dayes he went into St. Peters Church and in the presence of all the People and Clergy he asked who had any thing to say against Pope Leo Paschalis or Paschasires and Campalus had published the Popes crimes by Writ but knowing how Charlemagne stood affected towards both parties they appeared not so none prosecuting these crimes against him the Pope was absolved upon his Oath wherein he swore by God and the four Evangelists that all these things were false which they layed to his charge Whereupon the King declared him innocent and condemned his accusers and within few dayes three hundred of them were beheaded in the Lateran Field for their presumption and affectation of liberty on the eighteenth of December and shortly after Charles was chosen Emperour But before I speak of that I must represent you with a brief view of the present estate and condition of the Emperour of Constantinople The seat of the Roman Empire since the time of Constantine the great remained at Constantinople a City of Thrace situated in a convenient place for the Guard of the Eastern Provinces After which all the West being full of new Guests who had expelled the Romans the name authority and power of the Empire remained in the East where now the State was in a strange confusion the Mother being banded against her Son and the People amongst themselves Constantine the Son of Leo the Fourth was Emperour at this time who from his Infancy was governed together with the Empire by his Mother Irene But being now come to the age of twenty years he assumed the Government into his own hands There was then a great division in the East which had been continued from Father to Son for fourscore years together about bringing Images into the Churches The Bishops would needs bring them in But the Emperours together with the greatest part of the People opposed themselves against them This contention had its beginning under Philip Bardanes was continued under Leo Isaurus and from him was derived to his Son Constantine sirnamed Copronimus and to Leo the Fourth Son to the said Constantine This filled all the East with infinite scandals The same fire of contention continued in the minority of our Constantine who was yet governed by his Mother a Woman of a violent spirit who had undertaken the protection of Images and held a Counsel of many Bishops for the defence thereof But the people growing into a mutiny by force expelled them from Constantinople where there Assemhly was held But Irene being resolved to carry on her design assembled another Councel at Nicea City of Bithinia honoured for having entertained the first general Councel under Constantine the Great the first of that name where it was Decreed that Images should be placed in Churches for devotion But Charlemagne did not allow of this Decree and either himself or some other by his Command did write a small Treatise against this Councel the which bears this Title A Treatise of Charlemagne touching Images against the Greek Synode This crafty Woman made choise of the City of Nicea that the name of the ancient first Council held there might honour this new invention with the pretext of Antiquity For there are some that confound the first Council of Nicea with the second and Constantine the fourth with the first Constantine continued in the hereditary hatred of his Father and Grandfather against Images so as being of age and in absolute possession of his Empire he disannulled all these new decrees and caused the Images to be beaten down in all places Yet did he make all shews of respect to his Mother yielding unto her a good part of his authority and command which respect was the cause of an horrible Tragedy For this Woman being transported for two causes both by reason of her new opinion and for despight that she had not the whole Government in her own power grew so unnatural that she resolved to dispossess her Son of the Empire and to seize upon it herself And indeed the authority which her Son had left her and the free access which she had unto his Person gave her opportunity for the execution of her design For having corrupted such as had the chief Forces of the Empire at their command and won them to her with her Sons Treasure she seized on his Person put out his eyes and sent him into Exile where shortly after he died of grief and took possession of the Empire These unnatural and Tragick furies were practised in the East whiles that Charlemagne by his great Valour built an Empire in the West Irene in her Son Constantines life time would have married him with the eldest Daughter of Charlemagne but this accident crossed that design After the Death of Constantine Irene sent to Charlemagne to excuse her self of the murther disavowing it and laying the blame upon such as had done it as she pretended without her command And to win the good liking of Charlemagne she caused him to be dealt withall about marriage for at that time Festrude was dead with promise to consent that he should be declared Emperour of the West and that she also would resign unto him the Empire of the East But Charlemagne would not accept of her profers The Nobility and People of the Greek Empire did so hate Irene as having suffered her the space of three years in the end they resolved to dispossess her This Woman the unnatural murtheress of her own Child being thus publickly hated and detested Nicephorus a great and Noble man of Greece assisted by the
Osnabourg Hildesem and Halberstad But though he gave the Bishops power of Governing yet the Nobles did not altogether loose the power of administring in Publick affairs At last because the Saxons revolted again he removed ten thousand of them with their Wives and Children into Brabant and Flanders and sent some French to inhabit their rooms Charlemagne lived fifteen years after that he had united the Roman Empire to the French Monarchy yet not without many troubles For Grimoald Duke of Beneventum sought to disturb Italy in the behalf of the Lombards but Charles prevented it betimes imploying against him his Son Pepin a worthy and valiant Prince and Grimoald being vanquished was entreated with all mildness and being restored to his Estate he became afterwards a very affectionate and obedient Servant to Charlemagne who was a prudent Conquerour that knew as well how to use as how to get a Victory After this it followed that for some attempts made by the Venetians against the Empire of Charlemagne in the behalf of the Emperour of Constantinople or as others say upon the false information of Fortunatus Patriarch of Grado that Charlemagne commanded his Son Pepin King of Italy to make Wars against them which he acordingly began with great resolution and took the Cities and Fortresses which the Venetians held within the main land and at length besieged the City of Venice it self both by Sea and by Land to the relief whereof the Greek Emperour sent a Fleet about which Authors agree not for some say that Pepin wholly took Venice Others say that he only took some Islands thereof and that the place wich is called Rioalte defended it self How ever it was this War continued long Obeliers and Becur two great Personages being the chief Commanders for the Venetians At last Peace was concluded betwix them and the Venetians had liberty to live after their own Laws and customs and the Venetians won great reputation for being able to defend themselves against so potent and victorious an Enemy Charlemagne would have the Country which he had conquered from the Lombards to be called Lombardy that by retaining their Name he might somewhat sweeten their servile condition in the ruin of their estate But now Charlemagne finding himself old and broken and his Children Valiant Wise and Obedient he resolved to make his last Will and Testament wherein he divided his Kingdoms between his three legitimate Sons to wit Charles his Eldest Pepin and Lewis In which he made his eldest Son Charles King of the greatest and best parts of France and Germany To Pepin he gave the Kingdom of Italy and Bavaria with some other Provinces And to Lewis he bequeathed Provence and that part of France which bordereth upon Spain together with some other Provinces But all succeeded after another manner than he attended God the Soveraign disposer of Kingdoms having decreed otherwise to dispose thereof He endeavoured also to reduce all his Kingdoms under one Law making choise of the Roman Laws above all others both for the dignity of the Empire and because they seemed to him to be most just and equal But the French being loath to alter any thing in their customary Laws desired and obtained of him that they might be governed by the same So as Gaul Narbonne which comprehends Daulphine Languedoc and Provence do use the written Laws as the ancient Provinces of the Romans and the rest of France observe their customary Laws It afterwards happened that a great Fleet of Infidels which inhabited Spain with the aid and assistance of some Africans invaded the Isles of Sardinia and Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea for the defence whereof the Emperour Charlemagne sent commandment to his Son Pepin that he should send thither against them a valiant Captain whose name was Bucaredus who took so good order as that he drove those Infidels out of those Islands and slew five thousand of them in one Battel And with no less good success the Emperour undertook another War against the Dukes of the Bohemians and Polanders which is a part of the ancient Sarmatia who infested the Countries under his Dominions against whom he sent his Son Charles with great Forces of Burgonians Saxons and Germans And this young Charles imitating his Father Warred valiantly and with discretion against them and coming first to a Battel with the Bohemians led by Leo their Duke he overcame them as he did also at other times and at last he slew Leo their Duke the like success he had also against the Polanders so as at length they all became his Fathers Subjects And for these Victories of Charlemagne he was so much feared and renowned through the World that a great King of the East and Amurath the greatest of all the Mahomatists sent their Ambassadours with rich Presents unto him desiring peace and friendship and the like did all Christian Kings Charlemagne thus living with honour and in tranquillity Godfrey King of Denmark which was a dependance of the Realm of Germany and part of Charles his Portion as was hinted before made War against him This Godfrey was a mighty Prince and commanded over a large mighty Dominion and with great Forces came into Friesland and Saxony where he did great harm Against whom the Emperour addressing himself though he was now Old and unweildy speedily departed with a great Army but by the way news was brought him that King Godfrey was dead and that his Army was returned into their own Country And upon the same day news came also that his Son Pepin who had raigned in Italy in great prosperity was dead in the City of Millan which was an occasion of great grief to the old Emperour Then did he return to the City of Aken or Aix unto which place Ambassadours came to him from Hermigius who succeeded Godfrey in the Kingdom of Denmark humbly desiring Peace The like came also to him from the Emperour of Constantinople and others also from Ambulat a King of the Moors who raigned in a great part of Spain to all which he returned gracious answers and granted their Petitions withall giving hearty thanks to God for that he was generally so well esteemed of But after this Sunshine another storm returned as the Clouds return after the rain For it pleased God to take away another of his Sons called Charles who lay on the borders of Germany for the defence thereof so as now his whole hope rested in his third Son Lewis Thus man purposeth and God disposeth Thus the Sons die before the Father Thus we see the greatest cannot free themselves from the common calamities of mankind Thus both great Kings and great Kingdoms have their Period Crowns have their compass Kingdoms have their date Fortune her frowns Felicity her fate Thus Charlemagne lost his Children and his great Empire her best support under God For these two Princes like Stars of the greater magnitude did shine bright by inheriting their
other Doctors of the Church He resided also at Paris that he might have opportunity of conferring with learned men There he erected a goodly University which he furnished with as learned men as those times could afford and endowed it with great priviledges For he had an exceeding great care to make it a Nurcery for the holy Ministry that from thence the Church might be supplied with able Teachers whence also grew so many Colleges of Cannons with sufficient revenues annexed thereunto Thus Charlemagne spent three years happily in the only care of his Soul leaving an illustrious example to all Princes to moderate and ennoble their greatness with Piety and so to enjoy their Temporal estates as in the mean time not to neglect their eternal concernments and to think of their departure out of this Life in time Foreseeing his Death whereunto he prepared himself by these exercises he made his last Will and Testament leaving his Son Lewis the sole Heir unto his great Kingdoms and bequeathed to the Church much Treasure But all things and Persons in this World have an end His Testament was but the Harbinger to his Death for presently after he was taken with a pain in his side or Plurisie and lay sick but eight days and so yielded up his Spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 814. and of his Age seventy one and of his Reign forty seven including fifteen years of his Empire His Body was interred in a sumptuous Church which he had caused to be built in the City of Aquisgrave or Aix la Capelle where he was born and his memory was honoured with a goodly Epitaph He was one of the greatest Princes that ever lived His virtues are a pattern to other Monarchs and his great successes the subject of their wishes The greatness of his Monarchy indeed was admirable For he quietly enjoyed all France Germany the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a good part of Spain At the time of his Death he was in peace with the other Kings of Spain as also with the Kings of England Denmark Bulgary with the Emperour Leo of Constantinople and with all the Princes of that time This Noble Prince was endued with so many excellent Virtues that we read of very few in antient Histories that excelled him so that he may be justly compared with the best of them For in Martial Discipline in Valour in Dexterity in Feats of Arms there are none that exceeded him He obtained as many Victories fought as many Battels and subdued as many fierce and Warlike Nations as any one we read of and that both before and after that he was Emperour He was tall of Stature very well proportioned in all his members passing strong of a fair and grave countenance valiant mild merciful a lover of Justice liberal very affable pleasant well read in History a great Friend of Arts and Sciences and sufficiently seen into them and a man who above all loved and rewarded Learned men He was very charitable in his Kingdoms yea in his very Court he harboured and relieved many Strangers and Pilgrims In matters of Faith and Religion he was very zealous and most of the Wars which he made were to propagate and enlarge the Christian Faith He being mis-led by the darkness of the times wherein he lived superstitiously honoured and obeyed the Church of Rome and the Pope that was Bishop thereof together with other Bishops and Prelates commanding his Subjects also to do the like He was also very devout and spent much of his time in Prayer Hearing and Reading In his Diet he was very temperate and a great enemy to riot and excess and though he was Rich and Mighty yet fed he his Body with what was necessary and wholesome not rare costly and strange And yet his Virtues were not without their blemishes as the greatest commonly are not without some notable Vices For in his younger dayes he was much given to Women adding Concubines to his lawful Wives by whom he had divers children but this was in the time of his Youth For afterwards he contented himself with his Wife and for a remedy of this imperfection though he was three or four times a Widower yet he ever married again the Daughter of some great Prince or other To conclude all he was an excellent Emperour that loved and feared God and died when he was very Old and full of Honour leaving Lewis the weakest of his Sons the sole heir of his great Empire but not of his Virtues So that this great building soon declined in his posterity He had engraven upon his Sword Pro Deo Religione For God and Religion He used to set his Crown upon the Bible as our Canutus sometime put his Crown upon the Rood both of them thereby intimating that as all honour was due to God so true Religion was the best Basis of Government and that Piety was the best Policy The Epitaph which I spake of was this Sub hoc conditorio situm est Corpus Caroli Magni atque Orthodoxi Imperatorisqui Regnum Francorum nobiliter ampliavit per annos Quadraginta septem foeliciter tenuit Decessit Septuagenarius Anno Domini 814. Indicti one 7. Quinto Calend. Febr. Under this Tomb lieth the Body of Charles the Great and Catholick Emperour who most Nobly enlarged the Kingdom of the French and most happily ruled it for the space of forty and seven years He died in the seventy and one year of his Age In the year of our Lord eight hundred and fourteen the seventh Indiction on the fifth Calend of February He had five Wives the first was called Galcena the Daughter of the King of Galistria by whom he had no Children The second was Theodora the Sister or as others say the Daughter of Didier King of Lombardy whom he kept not long but repudiated her for sundry reasons The third was Hildebranda Daughter of the Duke of Suevia whom he loved exceedingly and had by her three Sons viz. Charles his Eldest whom he made King of the greatest and best part of France and Germany Pepin his Second whom he made King of Italy Bavaria c. Lewis his Youngest to whom he left the Empire intire his Brothers being both dead in their Fathers Life time This Lewis was sirnamed Debonaire or the Courteous He had also three Daughters the Eldest was called Rothruda the Second Birtha and the Youngest Giselia who would never marry His fourth Wife he had out of Germany called Fastrada And his fifth and last was also a German Lady called Luithgranda of the Suevian Race by whom he had no Children He shewed his love to Religion by having one during his Meal-times that either read to him some part of the Holy Scriptures or else some part of Saint Augustines Books especially that De Civitate Dei or some History He was also a great Friend to Learning and therefore erected three
Persian Empire that then it would please them to confer it on so just chast an enemy as was Alexander to whom once more before the last tryal by Battel he offered these conditions of peace That if he would marry his Daughter he would deliver and resign up to him all Asia the less with Egypt and all those Kingdoms between the Phaenician Sea and the River Euphrates That he would pay him for the Ransom of his Mother and other Daughters thirty thousand Talents and that for performance thereof he would leave his Son Ochus in Hostage and they sought by sundry Arguments to perswade Alexander to accept hereof Alexander causing the Ambassadors to withdraw advised with his Councel yet heard no man speak but Parmenio who was the very right hand of his good Fortune and he perswaded him to accept of such fair conditions He told him that the Empire between Euphrates and the Hellespont was a large addition to Macedonia That the retaining of those Persian Prisoners was a great cumber to him and that the Treasure offered for them was of far better use than their Persons with divers other Arguments yet Alexander rejected all though it was very probable that if he had followed his advice and set bounds to his ambition within those limits he might have been as famous for his virtue as he was for his great successes and might have left a successor of fit age to have enjoyed his estate which afterwards indeed he much enlarged rather to the greatning of others than himself who to assure themselves of what they had Usurped left not one of his issue alive within a few years after Besides Alexander by going so far into the East left behind him the reputation which he brought with him out of Macedonia of a just and prudent Prince A Prince temperate advised and grateful and learned by abundance of prosperity to be a lover of Wine of Flatterers and of extream cruelty But the Persian Ambassadors waited for their answer which was to this effect that what curtesies soever he had bestowed upon the Wife and Children of Darius proceeded from his own natural clemency and magnanimity without all respect to their Master but thanks to an enemy was improper That he made no Wars against adversity but against those that resisted him Not against Women and Children but against armed enemies And also that by the reiterated practices of Darius to corrupt his Souldiers and by great sums of money to debauch his Friends to attempt something against his Person he had reason to doubt whether the peace offered were really intended yet could he not were it true and faithful resolve in hast to accept of it seeing Darius had Warred against him not as a King vvith Royal and over forces but as a Traytor by secret and base practices Besides the Territories which he offered him were already his own and if Darius could beat him back again over Euphrates he would then believe that he offered him something that was in his power to give Otherwise he propounded to himself as a reward of his enterprizes all those Kingdoms which Darius as yet had in his possession wherein vvhether he was abused by his own hopes or no the Battel vvhich he meant to fight the day following should determine And in conclusion he told them that he came into Asia to give Kingdoms and not to receive them That the Heavens could not hold two Suns and therefore if Darius could be content to acknowledg Alexander his Superiour he might perchance be perswaded to give him condition fit for a second Person and an Inferiour The Ambassaders being returned with this answer Darius prepares to fight and sent Mazeus to defend a Pass which yet he never dared so much as to hazzard Alexander consulting with his Captains Parmenio perswaded him to force the Camp of Darius by night that the multitudes of his enemies might not affright his Macedonians being comparatively but a few But Alexander replied that he scorned to steal a Victory and resolved to bring with him Daylight to witness his Valour Indeed the success commended Alexanders resolution though the Counsel given by Parmenio was more sound Yet when he came to view the multitude of his enemies he began to stagger and entrenched himself upon a Ground of advantage which foolishly the Persians had abandoned And when as Darius for fear of a Camizado had stood with his men in Armour all the day and forborn all sleep in the Night Alexander on the contrary gave his men rest and store of food knowing that Souldiers do better stand to it in fight if they have their bellies full of meat and drink for hunger within fights more eagerly than steel without The numbers which Alexander had were about forty thousand Foot and seven thousand Horse which were of the Europaean Army And besides these he had Aegyptians Syrians Judaeans and Arabians which followed him out of those Countries He used but a short speech to his Souldiers to encourage them neither need he For one Victory begets another and puts courage into the Conquerors and taketh away spirits from those that have been beaten Some make large descriptions of this Battel fought at Gaugamela but in conclusion they tell us but of three hundred of Alexanders men that were slain and some say less but of the Persians there fell forty thousand But what can we judg of this great encounter other than as in the two former Battels at Granick and in Cilicia that the Persians upon the first charge ran away and that the Macedonians pursued them For if that every man whom Darius brought into the Field had but cast a Dart or a Stone the Macedonians could not have bought the Empire of the East at so easie a rate as six or seven hundred in three such notorious Battels Certainly if Darius had fought with Alexander upon the Banks of Euphrates and had Armed but fifty or sixty thousand of this great multitude only with Spades for most of his men were fit for no other Weapon it had been impossible for Alexander to have passed that River so easily much less the River of Tygris But as a man whose Empire God was putting a Period to he abandoned all places of advantage and suffered Alexander to enter so far into the bowels of his Kingdom as all hope and possibility of escaping by retreat being taken from the Macedonians they were put to the choise either to Die or Conquer to which Election Darius could no way constrain his men seeing they had many large Regions to run into from their Invaders Darius after the rout of his Army fled to Arbela that Night better attended in his flight than in the fight and to them that fled with him he propounded his purpose of retreating into Media perswading them that the Macedonians who were greedy of spoil and riches would rather attempt Babylon Susa and other Cities filled with
Treasure than to pursue the vanquished This miserable resolution his Nobility rather obeyed than approved Soon after the departure of Darius came Alexander to Arbela vvhich with a great mass of Treasure and many Princely Ornaments was surrendred to him For the fear which accompanied Darius took nothing with it but shame and dishonour He that had been twice beaten before should have sent his Treasure into Media rather than to have brought it to Arbela so neer the place where he intended to wait the coming of his enemy If he had been victorious he might have brought it back at leasure But being overcome he knew it impossible to drive Mules and Camels loaden with Gold from the pursuing Enemy seeing himself at the overthrow which he had in Cilicia cast the Crown from his head to run away the lighter But its easier to reprehend than to amend what is past From Arbela Alexander marched towards Babylon where Mazeus in whom Darius had most confidence rendred to him himself his Children and the City Also the Captain of the Castle where the Treasure was kept strewed the Streets with Flowers burnt Frankincense upon the Silver Altars as Alexander passed by and delivered to him whatsoever was committed to his trust The Magi also who were the Chaldean Astrologers followed this Captain to entertain their new King After these came the Babylonian Horsemen infinitely rich in attire but exceeding poor in Warlike furniture Between these and himself Alexander caused his Macedonian Footmen to march When he entred the Castle he admired the Glory thereof and the abundance of Treasure which he found therein amounting to fifty thousand Talents of Silver uncoined In this City rich in all things but most of all in voluptuous pleasures the King rested himself and his vvhole Army thirty four days spending that time in Banquetting and in all sorts of effeminate exercises which so much softned the minds of the Macedonians not acquainted till now with such delicacies as the severe Discipline of War which taught them to endure hunger and thirst painful travel and hard lodging began rather to be forgotten than neglected Alexander as he was rowed upon a Lake neer Babylon in his Gally a sudden tempest arising blew off his Hat and Crown fastened upon it into the Lake whereupon one of the Marriners leaping into the vvater swam and fetched it to him and to keep it the drier he put it upon his own head Alexander rewarded him with a Talent for saving his Crown but vvithal caused his Head to be cut off for presuming to put his Crown upon it During his abode here Alexander instituted those Regiments consisting of a thousand Souldiers appointing Colonels over them who thereupon were called Chiliarks This new order Alexander brought in vvas to honour those Captains which were found by certain Judges to have deserved best in the late War While Alexander vvas yet at Babylon there came to him a great supply out of Europe For Antipater sent him six thousand Foot and five hundred Hore out of Macedonia and of the Thracians three thousand Foot and as many Horse and out of Greece four thousand and four hundred Horse by vvhich his Army vvas greatly strengthened For those that were infected with the pleasures of Babylon could hardly be brought again to change their soft beds for hard boards and the cold ground Alexander left the City and Castle of Babylon with the Territories adjoyning in charge with three of his own Captains Agathon Minetus and Apolidorus leaving a thousand Talents to supply their wants But to grace Mazeus who delivered up the City to him he gave him the Title of his Lieutenant General and took along with him Bagistines who surrendred the Castle to him and having distributed to every Souldier a part of the Treasure he left Babylon and entred into the Province of Satrapene marching from thence towards Susa in Persia situated on the River Euleus which City vvas sometime Governed by the Prophet Daniel Here Abulites the Governour of this famous City gave it up to the Conquerour with fifty thousand Talents of Silver in Bullion and twelve Elephants for the War with all other the Treasure of Darius there such as the Persian Kings had for a long time heaped up together leaving it from Father to Son all which in one hour came into his hands who never cared for it In this sort did those Vassals of Fortune those lovers of the Kings prosperity not of his Person purchase their own peace and safety with their Masters Treasure and herein was Alexander well advised that whatsoever Titles he gave to the Persians yet he left all places of importance in trust vvith his own Captains as Babylon Susa Persepolis with other Cities and Provinces that were Conquered by him for had Darius but beaten the Macedonians in one Battel all the Persian Nobility would have turned again to their natural Lord. Whilest Alexander was ransacking Arbela Mazeus might have furnished Darius from Babylon and whilest he stayed those thirty four days at Babylon Abulites might have holpen him from Susa and whilest he was Feasting and Frolicking there Teridates from Persepolis might fully have supplied him for the chiefest bulk of his Treasure was laid up in that City But benefits bind not the ambitious but the honest for those that are selfish do in all changes consult only the conservation of their own greatness The Government of Susa with the Castle and treasure Alexander committed to his own Macedonians making Abulites who rendred it to him his Lieutenant as he had done Mazeus before giving them Honourable Titles but neither trust nor power For he left three thousand old Souldiers to Garrison that City and with them the Mother and Children of Darius to repose themselves there From Susa Alexander marched with his Army towards Persepolis but when he sought to pass those Mountains that sunder Susiana and Persia he was soundly beaten by Ariobarzanes who defended those Streights against him called Pilae Persidis and after the loss of many of his Macedonians he was forced to save himself by retreat causing his Foot to march close together and to cover themselves with their Targets from the Stones that were tumbled upon them from the Mountain-tops Yet in the end he found out another passage which was discovered to him by a Lycian that lived in that Countrey and thereby coming suddenly upon Ariobarzanes who now was enforced to fight upon even ground he overthrew him who from thence fled to Persepolis But the Citizens refusing to admit him he returned and gave a second charge upon the Macedonians in which he was slain Many Greeks for Authors agree not upon their number having been taken Prisoners by the Persians presented themselves here to Alexander These had the Barbarians so maimed by cutting off their Hands Ears Noses and other Members as that they could not have been known to their own Countrey men but by their Language To each of