company of Alexander by the space of xiiii dayes to thentente to haue yssue by hym retourned into her kyngdome and within a whole after de ceased with whom the name of the Amazones vtterly decayed The Scithians in their thyrd viage into Asia when they had bene a seuen yeares from their wy◅es and chyldren were welcomed home with warre by theyr owne seruauntes For theyr wyues beyng weryed wyth longe tarieng for theyr husbandes supposynge that they were not so long deteyned with warres but rather all slayne maryed themselues to theyr slaues whom theyr maysters had lefte ◅t home to looke to their cattell The whyche hearynge o◅ their masters returne with conquest met them in order of battell well appoynted and harnessed to kepe them out of their country as if they had bene straungers The Scithians perceiuing that by battell they lost as much as they won aduised them selues to vse another kinde of fight remembring that they hadde not to doo with their ennemies but with their slaues who ought to be ouercom not by the law of armes but by the law of masters against whom it was more mete to bring whippes into the field then weapons and laying a side swordes euery man to furnishe him selfe with rods and whips and suche other kind of stuffe wher of slaues and bondmen are wont to be afraid This counsell was well alowed and therfore euery man being furnished as was before appoynted whē they aproched to their enemies sodenly they shoke their whippes at them wherwith they so amased them that whome they coulde not ouercome by battell they ouercame with fear of beating made them run away not like enemies ouercome by battell but like runnagate slaues As many of them as were taken were hanged vp The women also that knew them selues gilty of the matter partly by wepon partly by hanging wilfully dispatched them selues After this the Scithians liued in peace vntill the time of Lanthine their kinge to whome Darius king of Persie as is before mentioned because he woulde not geue him his Daughter in mariage made warre and with seuen hundred thousand men in armor entring into Scithia when he saw his enemies would not come and geue him battel fearing that if the bridge ouer the riuer of Danow shuld chaunce to be broken he shuld be enclosed From retourning home againe fearfully retired ouer the water with the los of four skore and x. M. mē The which neuerthelesse was counted as no losse for the exceding great nombre of mē that he had in his host Afterward he conquered Asia and Macedonie and vanquished the Iomans vpon the sea Finally vnderstanding that the Atheniens had aided the Ionians against him he tourned the whole brunt of the warre vpon them Now forasmuche as we be come to the warres of the Atheniens whiche were done in such wise not only as a mā could not well haue hoped for But also farre otherwise then a man wold almost beleue them to haue bene done And forasmuche as the dedes of the Atheniens were greater in effecte then coulde haue beene wished before they came to passe I thincke it conuenient to speake sōwhat euen of their originall beginning because they did not encrease from a base and vile be ginning to the highest estate that could be like as al other nations haue done For they alone may make their vaūt as wel of their verye first beginninge as of their good successe and increasement For it was not straungers nor a sort of raskals gathered here there together that foūded that city but they were bred in the same soyle where they inhabite and the place of their dwellinge is the place of their beginning They first taught the vse of Woll Oyle and wine And wheras men in times paste were wonte to liue by eating of Acorns they taught how to plow y ◠groūd and to sow corn And certenly as for lerning eloquens and all ciuill pollicy and order of gouernaunce may worthelye take Athens for their Temple Before the time of Dencalion they had a king called Cecrops who according to the re port of all the auncient fables hadde two faces because he fyrst ioyned man and woman together in marriage After him succeded Crands whose daughter Atthis gaue the name vnto the country Next him raigned Amphitrion which first consecrated the City to Minerua and called it by the name of Athens In his time a floud of water drowned the grea ter part of Grece only such eskaped as coulde recouer the tops of the mountaines or elsse such as could get ships and sail vnto Dencalion king of Thessalie Who by reson therof is reported to haue repaired made mankind Afterward by order of succession the kingdō descended to Ericthens vnder whom the sowing of corn was found out at Elensis by Tripto lemus In reward of the whiche deede the nighte sacrifices wer i◅tituted in the honor of Ceres aegeus also the father of Theseus raigned in Athens from whome Medea being diuorsed because her sonne in law Theseus was mangrowne departed to Col◅hos with her sonne medus whom she had by aegeus After aegeus Theseus enioyed the kingdō and next to him his sonne Demophoon which aided the Grekes against the Troyans Ther was betwene thatheniens the Doriēs an old grudge displeasure the which the Dorienses entending to reuenge by battel asked coūsel of the Oracles Answer was made that they shuld haue the vpper hād so they killed not the kinge of Athens When they came into the field great charge was geuen to all the Souldiers in anye wise not to hurt the king At the same time king of Athēs was Cadrus who hauing vnderstāding both of thanswer of Appollo of the charge that was geuen among his ennemies laid a side his robes princely apparell and in a ragged cote with a bundle of vineshreds in his necke entred into his ennemies campe There in a throng that stode about him he was slain by a souldier whom he of pretensed purpose had wounded with a hoke that he had in his hād The Dorienses when they knew it was the kinge that laye there slain departed without any stroke striking By this meanes the Atheniens through the prowesse of their captain yelding him self to death for the safegarde of his countrye were deliuered from warre After Codrus was neuer king more in Athēs the which was attributed to his high renown and remembrans of his name The gouernans of the common welth was appoynted to yerely officers But the Citye at that time had no lawes because that hitherto the commaundement of their kinges was accompted as a law Therfore was chosen one Solon a man of meruailous vprightnesse which should as it were make a new citye by his lawes Who vsed suche an indifferency and bare hym self so euen betwene the people and the Senate where as if he made any thīg for
of battel Conon also forasmuch as it was the first tyme that he shuld encounter with the hoste of his ennemy toke great pain care in ordring apoynting of his men thys contention was not all only among the captaines but also euen among the common Souldioures For the Captaine hym selfe Conon was not so carefull of the Persians as of his own country desirous that in likewise as in theyr aduersitye he hadde beene the cause that the Atheniens loste all their dominion and Empire euen so now to be the raiser and setter vp of the same again by conquest to recouer his countrye whiche by beinge vanquished he hadde loste the whyche shoulde redownde so muche the more to hys honoure in that he should not haue the Atheniens his couÌ„trimen to fighte vnder him but the power of a forrayne prince so that the peril and daunger of the losse shoulde be the kinges and the gaine and reward of the victory should be his Countries In which his doing he should attaine to honoure after a nother sorte and in manner cleane contrary then other that had bene Captaines in his countrye before times For wheras they defended the country by vanquishinge the Persians he shoulde restore it to her former estate by makinge the Persians conquerors On the other side Lysander beside that he was neare of kin to Agesilans he was also an earnest folower of his vertuous endeuouring by all meanes possible not to steppe a side from his noble examples and from the brightnesse of his renowne and glorye but so to behaue him selfe that the Empire gotten in so many battels and in so many C. yeres mighte not be ouerthrowne through his default in the turning of a hand The kinges and all the Souldioures also were in the lyke perplexity not so greatly disquieted for the kepynge of the richesse that they them selues had all readye gotten as for fear least the Atheniens should recouer their owne again But the sorer that the battel was the more glorious was the victory of Conon The Lacedemonians being put to the worse tooke them to flight and their garrisons were led away to Athens The people were restored to their former estate and their bondage taken awaye from them manye cities also were recouered to their Empire This was vnto the Atheniens a beginning of the recouery of their auncient preheminens and vnto the Lacedemonians an ende of reteining that they had For as though that wyth theyr Empire they had loste their prowesse also their neighbors began to haue them in disdaine First of all therfore the 〈◊〉 wyth help of the Atheniens rered warre agaynste them The whyche citye oute of innumerable encreasementes Through the prowesse of their Duke Epaminondas began to aspire to the Empire of al Grece There was therfore betwene them a battel on the land in the which the Lacedemonians had like successe as in the encounter vpon the Sea against Conon In the same conflict Lysander who was Captain the same time that the Lacedemonians subdued the Atheniens was slaine Pansanias also a nother of the Captaines of the Lacedemonians beinge appeached of treason fledde into exile The 〈◊〉 therfore hauinge gotten the vppe â–ª hande led theyr whole host to the city of Lacedemon thincking easly to haue won it because they were abondoned of al their aiders and com fortors The which thing the Lacedemonians fearing sent for their king Agesilaus whiche atcheued many great enterprises in Asia home to the defence of his Countrye For after time that Lysander was slain they had none other cap tain in whome they durst put their truste and confidence Neuerthelesse because it was long ere Agesilaus came they raised a power and went to mete their enemy But nether their courages nor their streÌ„gth was able to stand against them of whome they had beene put to the worse so latelye before and therfore at the first encounter they wer put to flight As the hoste of his country men was thus discomfited and in maner vtterly destroyed Agesilaus the king cam sodainly vpon them Who with his freshe souldioures hardened in many viages and encounters before with little a do wrested the victory out of his enemies hand How be it he him selfe was sore wounded When newes therof came to Athens the Atheniens fearing leaste if the Lacedemonians should get the vpper hande againe they shoulde be brought to their olde estate of seruitude and bondage raised an host and sent it to the aid of the Beotians by Iphicrates a yong â—…ripling not aboue xxi yeres old but of wonderfull towardnesse The prowesse of this yong man was maruelous and farre aboue his yeres For amongst all the noble and valiaunt Dukes and captains that the Atheniâ—…ns had before him there was neuer none either of greater likelihode or of more ripe towardnes theÌ„ he was In whose person wer plaÌ„ted not only the feats of cheualry which ought to be an expert graund captain but also knowledge belonging to a perfect orator Conon also hearing of the return of Agesilaus out of Asia returned himself likewise from theÌ„ce to wast the country of Lacedemon And so the 〈◊〉 being enclosed on euery side rouÌ„d about with fear of the war that continually rong in their eares wer brought to vtter despair But Conon when he had forraged the fields of his enemies made toward Athes wher being welcomed with great ioy of his country men yet notwithstanding he toke more sorow to se how his country had bene burned defaced by the Lacedemonians then plesure of the recouery of the same after so long a time Therfore such things as wer burnt down he builded a new of the spoiles of the Lacedemonians at the charges of the army of the Persians and such things as wer defaced he repaired again Suche was the desteny of AtheÌ„s that being before burned by the Persians it was repaired with the boties of the Persians and being now defaced by the Lacedemonians it was repaired with the spoiles of the Lacedemonians also euen cleane contrary to haue them now their felowes which theÌ„ were their enemies to haue them now their vttermost ennemies with whom they were then knit in most straightest bonds of league and frendship While these thinges were a doing Artaxerxes kinge of Persia sente ambassadoures into Grece commaunding all parties to cease from war who so enterprised to the coÌ„trary shuld be taken as his enemy He restored vnto the cities their liberty and all that was their own The which thing he did not so muche in regard of the continual labours daily battels of the cities for the hatred malice they bare one to another as least while he were occupied about his warres in Egipt the whyche he moued for sending aid to the Lacedemonians agaynst hys lieuetenaunts his hoste should be deteined in Grece The Grekes therfore being weried with so many battels were content to obey withal their harts
and that it was hys chaunce to be better entreated of his ennemy then of hys owne kin For wheras his enemy had geuen his wyfe and children life his kinsfolk to whome he had geuen both lyfe and kingdoms had vnnaturally bereft him of his life For the which his doinges he rendred him suche thankes as he himself hauing the victory listeth to accept This onlye one thing which lay in his power to do for him nowe lyinge at the poynt of death would he do for Alexander as inrecom pence of his good turnes that is to pray to the powers celestiall and the powers infernall and the Gods of kinges to geue him victory and dominion of the whole worlde As for himself he desired nothing but that it might be his plesure to graunte him buriall as of righte he oughte to haue without grudge And as touching the reuengement of hys death it was now no parte of his care but for exāples sake the common case of all kinges the whiche to neglecte as it should be dishonorable to him so might it turne to hys vtter perill For on the one part this case concerneth his Iustice and on the other it toucheth his owne vtility and profit In token wherof as an only pledge of the faith and honor of a king he gaue his right hand to cary vnto Alexander At those words he stretched out his hand and gaue vp the goste The which when Alexander hard of he came to see his body as he lay dead and he wept to beholde so worthye an estate come vnto so vnworthye a death Wherfore he caused his body to be entred with all solempnitye like a kinge and his reliques to be conueyed into the Sepulthres of his auncestoures The twelfthe Booke ALexander bestowed great cost in buryinge of his souldiours that were slaine in pursuing Darius to the residue of his companye he departed wyth xv M. talēts The greater part of his horses was foundred with heat and such as remained were able to do no seruice The whole summe of the mony gotten alate by this victory was a hundred and thre and fifty thousand talents wherof Parmcnio was made treasurer Whyle theese things wer a doinges letters were brought from Antipater out of Macedone the tenor wherof contained y ◠wartes of Agis king of the Spartans in Grece of Alexander king of Epire in Italy and of his lieuetenaunt Sopyron in Scithia The which made him somewhat to muse Neuerthelesse when he had wel disgested the natures of the ii kings his enuiers he was more glad of the losse of them then sorye for the losse of his armye and his captaine Sopiryon For after that Alexander had taken his iourney almoos◅e all Grece fell to rebellion in hope to recouer their liberty ensuinge the ensample of the Lacedemonians whyche alonelye forsooke the peace and despised the orders taken bothe by Phillip and Alexander Captaine and ringleader of thys Commotion was Agis kinge of the Lacedemonians The whiche tumulte Antipater suppressed with suche power as he had raised euen in the very risinge therof Yet notwithstandinge there was great slaughter on both partes King Agis when he saw his mē put to flight to the entent that all be it he coulde not haue as good fortune as Alexander he mighte not seeme inferioure to him in courage sent awaye his garde and him selfe alone made suche slaughter of his ennemies that sometime he put to flyghte whole bandes at ones At the laste althoughe he were oppressed by the multitude yet he wan the glory and renoun from them all Furthermore Alexāder king of Epyre being set into Italy for to aid the Tarentines against the Brutianes toke y ◠viage vppon him with so good a will as thoughe the whole worlde should haue beene deuided and that Alexander the sonne of his sister Olympias shoulde haue had the East for his part and himself the West entendinge to haue no lesse a doo in Italy Affrike and Sicil then the other shuld haue to do in Asia amonge the Persians And besides thys lyke as the Oracle at Delphos had prophesied vnto great Alexander that his destruction shuld be wrought in Macedone euen so the Oracle of Iupiter of Dodone had told this Alexander that the city Pandose and the riuer acheruse shoulde be his fatall end Nowe for as much as bothe of them were in Epyre not knowing that they were in Italy also to th entent to auoyd the daunger of his desteny he gladly enterprysed warre in a straunge land Therfore when he came into Italye the firste warre that he had was with the Appulians but when he vnderstode the destenies of their City he entred a leage and amity with their king For at that time the head City of Appulia was Brunduse the which was founded by the Aetolians vnder the conducte of Dyomedes that famous captaine for hys renowmed actes at the battell of Troye But being expulsed by thappulians they asked counsell of the Oracles Where answer was made that they shoulde possesse the place that they required for euer Here vppon they required thappulians by their ambassadors to render their Citye againe or elsse they threatned to make sharpe warre vpon them The Appulians hauynge knowledge of the answer of the Oracle slew the ambassadoures and bucied them in the Citye there to haue their dwellinge for euer and so hauing dispatched the meaninge of the Oracle they enioyed the City a great time The which dede when Alexander of Epyre knew of for reuerēce to the destinies of so long continuaunce he made no more warre to the Appulians Then made he warre with the Brutians and Lucanes won many cities of theirs Also he concluded a peace and frendship with the Metapontines Rutilians and Romains But the Brutians and Lucanes hauing gotten hope of their neighbors fiersly renewed the warres againe There the king neare vnto the citye Pandose and the riuer Acheruse was wounded to deathe not knowing the name of his fatall place besore he was slaine and when he should die he perceiued that in his own country was no nead for him to fear death for the whiche cause he had forsaken his countrye The Tyrians raunsomed his body at the charges of their city and buried it honorably While these things wer in doing in Italy Zopyrion also whome Alexander the great had lefte president of Pontus thinking himself dishonored if he laye still and attempted nothinge raised an army of xxx M. souldiers and made war to the Scythians Where being ◅aine wythal his hoste he suffred due punishment for making war so rashly againste an vnhurtfull kinde of people When tidinges of these thinges were brought vnto Alexander into Parthia he made himself very sory for the death of his cosen Alexāder and commaunded al his host to morne for him by the space of iii. daies After this as though the warre had ben ended in the death of Darius when all men loked to returne into their
〈◊〉 y â— fields of Heraclea lost hys ships y â— he left at rhode w t the greater part of his armye by force of a sodain teÌ„pest y â— put them al to wracke Therfore wheÌ„ he could not return by sea hauing lost his ships nor durst return by laÌ„d with so slender a coÌ„pany through so many sauage nations the Heracliens thinking it more honor to vse this occasion to shewing geÌ„tlenes then to re uengemeÌ„t furnished theÌ„ with victels safe condited theÌ„ home making accompt y â— the wasting oftheir couÌ„try was wel bestowed if they might therby win their enemies to be their frends AmoÌ„g many other euils they suffred also tirannye For when the common people vppon â—… wilfulnesse outragiously and importunately exacted to haue all dettes clerely released and the landes of the richmen par ted among them the matter hanging longe tyme in question in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and commâ—…n iudgemente place and after that of Epaminondas captain of Thebes againste the comminalty that were growen to such a welthines throughe ouer much ease and idlenesse But hauinge denyall at both their handes they wer faine to flie for succor to Clearche whome they them selues hadde banished before So great an ertremity did their calamities driue them vnto that whome they had erewhile forbidden his country eueÌ„ him were they faine to call againe to the defence of the same But Glearche beinge by his banishmente made more wicked then he was before and takinge the dissention of his country men as a mete accasion for him to vsurpe and make himself king firste of all commoned priuelye wyth Mythridates the ennemye of his Citezens and entringe in league with him compounded that when he were called againe into his country he should betray the citye to him and he to be made chiefe ruler of it for his laboure Yet afterward the treason that he hadde purposed agaynste hys country he turned vppon Mythridates him selfe For when he was retourned out of erile to be as an indiffereÌ„t iudge for the determination of ciuil controuersies the same time that he had appoynted to betray the town vnto Mythridates he toke him and his â—…rendes and for a great summe of mony let him go again And like as towards him he made him self of a frend a sodain enemy euen so of a defendour of thestate of the senate he sodainly became a protector of the comminalty and against the authors of his power preheminence by whome he had beene reuoked into hys country by whome he had bene placed in the toure of hys royalty he not onlye incensâ—…d the commons but also exercised all kind of most vnspeakeable tiranny and crueltye For he sommoned the people together and told them that he woulde not anye more assist the senators vsynge them selues so rigorously againste the comminaltye but that he would rather be a meane betwixt them if they continued in their accustomed tiranny and if they thought them selues able to make their party good against the crueltye of the senatoures he would depart with his men of warre and not entermedle himself in their ciuil discordes But if they distrusted their owne strength they should not wâ—…t his helpe for that that he was able to doo for them And therfore aduise them selues whether they were better to bid him goo his way or to tary as a partaker and supporter of the quarell of the commons The comminaltye being stirred with this talke made him their chiefe gouernour and so while they were offended at the authority of the senate they yelded them selues with their wiues and children in bondage vnder the subiâ—…ction of a Lordlye tiraunt Clearche therfore apprehended lx of the senatours for all the â—…est were fledde and cast them in prison The people reioysed to see the Senate destroyed and that in espetially by the captain of the Senatours and that contrary to all likelihode their help was turned to their vtter confusion Upon whom by threatning death to them all in generall he set the hier price For Clearche receiuing a great summe of mony of them as who should say he entended priuely to deliuer them from the peoples displeasure when he hadde robbed them of all theyr goodes he spoyled them also of their liues Afterward vnderstaÌ„ding that those that were fled hauing moued the cities of pity and compassion to helpe them prepared warre agaynste him he set their bondmen at libertye And to the entent there should want no kind of misery in those honourable houses and that he might make the slaues more faythfull to himself and more enemies to their masters he compel led the wiues and daughters of those noble men to marry with their slaues vppon paine of death if they refused so to do But those sorowfull weddinges were greuouser then sodain death to the honorable Ladies And therfore many of them before their mariage and many in the very time of their mariage killing first their new husbands slew them selues and by the vertue of their natural womanhode and shamefastnesse was a fielde soughte in the which the Tiranne gettinge the vpper hande drewe the senatoures as prisoners in manner of triumphe through the face of the city After his retourne into the citye some he cast in bonds some he racked and som he put to death and no place of the city was fre â—…rom the cruelnesse of the tiran With this outragiousnesse he became proude and with his crueltye â—…e became arrogante for throughe hys continuall good successe in prosperity he would somtime forget himself to be a man and sometime be wâ—…ulde call himself Iubiters sonne When he went abrode he wold haue an Eagle of gold borne before him as a token of his begetting He vsed to wear robes of purple and to goâ—… in buskens after the manner of kings in tragedies wyth a crown of gold vpon his headâ—… Moreouer to the entent to scorne the gods aswel in â—…ames as in counterfait gesture abhominable leasings he named his sonne Ceraunos Two noble yongmen called ChioÌ„ Leonides disdaining to se him do these things entending to set their country at liberty conspired to kil the Tiran These men wer the disciples of the Philosopher Plato who couetinge to bestow vpon their country the vertue vnto the whiche they were furthered by the moost perfect instructions of theyr master laid in an ambush fifty of their kinsmen whome they had gotâ—…en to be of their retinew They them selues counterfetting to be at defiaunce againste another made toward the Castie to the Tiran as to their king y e shuld decide theâ—…r controâ—…ersies and being ther admitted to his presence as they that were well knowen â—…hyles the tirant gaue autentiue eare to the fiâ—…st mannes tale the other stept within him and kild him But by reason theyr company was not quick inough in comming to their rescue they were slaine by the garde By meanes wherof it came to passe that the Tiran was slain but yet
the coun trye not deliuered For Satir the brother of Clearche after the same sort toke vpon him the tiranny aud the Heracleans many yeres after by degre of descent were vnder subiection of Tirannes ¶ The. xvii Booke ABout the same time well nie ther hapned a maruelous great earthquake in the countries of Hâ—…llespont and Chemesosus and the Citye Lylimachia being builded by Lyâ—…imachus not past a two and twenty yeres before was ouerthrowne the which wonder betookened horrible misfortune to Lysimachus and his ofspring with the decaye of his kingdome and the destruction of those countries that were vered therwyth And loke as was betokened therby so cam it to pas For within a short time after Lysimachus conceiuing a deadly hatred not only beyoÌ„d the course of a naturall father but also beyond all manhode and humanity against his sonne Agathocles whom he had proclaimed heir apparent of his kingdom by whom he had atcheued many battels prosperously by the mean and working of his stepmother Aâ—…syrice he poysoned This was the first sore of the mischief that was towards him this was the beginning of y â— ruin that hung â—…uer his head For after the murthering of his own sonne he fel to killinge of his noble men whome he executed for none other oâ—…fence then because they bewaâ—… led the death of his son By meanes wherof such as were chief officers in his campe reuolted by plumpes vnto Sâ—…leucus whom being of himself prone thervnto vpoÌ„disdaâ—… enuy at thother mannes glory they compelled to make war against Lysimacbus This was the last contention betwene them that had serued Alexander in the warres as it were a match reserued by fortune for exaÌ„ples sake Lysimachus was lxxiiii yeares olde and Seleueus â–ª lxxvii but in this age there was none of them both but he hadde a yong mannes â—…art and an iâ—…satiable desyre of dominion For when as they two alone held the whole worlde betwene them yet they thoughte them selues enclosed in a straight measuring the terme of their life not by the length of their yeres but by the boundes of their Empyre In that battell Lysimachus hauing loste before by dyuers chaunces xv children now dying manfully lastlye made himself the full and finall decaye of his owne house Seleucus reioysâ—…ng in so great a victory and that which he thought to be a greater matter then the victory that he onlye of Alexanders retinew remained and became conqueror of the conquerors bosted that it was not the work of maÌ„ but the very gift of God being vâ—…terly ignoraunte that it should not be long after ere he himself should become an example of the frailty of man For about vii moneths after by the pollicye of Ptolomy who had taken the syster of Lyâ—…machus in mariage he was surprised and slaâ—…ne and so with his life lost the kingdome of Macedone that he had taken from Lysimachus Ptolomy therfore being very diligent to curry fauour with the comminalty in remembraunce of his father Ptolomy the Great and for reuengâ—…g y â— death of Lysimachus fyrst of all determined to win the sonnes of Lysimachus vnto him and thervpoÌ„ made sute to their mother Arsinoe his sister to haue her to his wife promisinge to adopt the 〈◊〉 to th entent that when he had succeded in their roume what for reuerence to their mother or for the name of father they should not be so bolde as to attempt any thing agaynst him Moreouer he earnestlye sued by his letters to haue the fauor of his brother y e king of Egipt protestinge that he bare him no displeasure for takyng his fathers kingdome from him and y â— he woulde not any more sâ—…ke the thing at his brothers hand whiche he had with more honor gotten at the hand of his fathers enemy Furthermore he sought all the meanes he coulde deuise to winde him selfe into fauor with Emnâ—…nes and Antigonus the sonnes of Demetrius and with antiochus the soÌ„ne of Seleucus with the which he was like to â—…aue warre to â—…ntent he would not haue to do with iii. enemies at ones Nether omitted he Pâ—…rrhus king of Epyre as one that was like to be no small furtheraunce to what parte so euer he enclined himself who also coueting to set them all beside the sadle made fair countenaunce and set himselfe as it were to sale to them al. Therfore when as he was about to aid the Tarentines againste the Romaines he desyred of antigonus to lend him shippes to conuey ouer his armye of antiochus who was better furnished with rychesse then with men of warre he requested to borow a pece of mony of Ptolomy he demaunded to send to his ayd a crewe of the souldioures of Macedone But Ptolomy who by reason of his owne weaknesse was not able to bear with him long lent him fiue thousand footemen foure thousande horsemen and fifty Elephantes for no lenger time then ii yeres In consideration wherof taking the daughter of Ptolomy in mariage â–ª Pyrrhus left him for protectoure of hys kingdome But forasmuch as we fall in remembrance of Epyre I thinke good to entreat a little of the originall of the same First of all the Molosses raigned in that region Afterward Pyrrhus the sonne of achilles hauynge loste hys fathers kingdome by being absent at the battell of Troy reasted in the same countrye which after his name were first called Pyrrhides and after Epyrotes But Pyrrhus when he came into the Temple of Iupiter of Dodone to aske counsell rauished there anasa the nece of Hercules by whom afterward takinge her to wife he begate viii children Of the whiche some of theym beynge verye gentle and beutifull younge Ladies he marryed to the kynges that were his neighboures by meanes of whiche aliaunces he purchased great power and richesse And so leauyng the kingdome of the Chaonians with andromache the wife of Hector which in the diuision of the boty at the winnynge of Troye fel to his lot to be his wife vnto Helenus the sonne of king Priâ—…mus for his singuler knowledge in Prophecy within a while after by the treason of Orestes the sonne of Agamemnon he was slayne at Delphos euen before the aultare of the God After him succeded his sonne Pylates At lengthe by order of successyon the kingdom descended to Arymba Ouer whome because he was fatherlesse and that there were no moo alyue of that noble race but he of verye earnest desyre that the whole realme had to preserue him and bring him vp there wer certain protectoures appoynted by the common consent of the realm to haue the ouer syght and gouernance of hym Furthermore he was sente to Athens to schoole and looke howe muche he was better learned then hiâ—… predecessoures so much also was he better beloued amonge his subiectes For he was the fyrste that made lawes ordained a counsell appoynted yearely officers and established the estate of the common
wife and children by the commaundement of the God offred himselfe to Elisa as a companion and partaker of all her fortune makinge a couenaunt with her that he and his posterity should for euermore enioy the honour of the priesthode The condition was accepted as a manifest token of good lucke It was the manner of the Cyâ—…ans to send their maidens before they shoulde be married to the seas side there to earne their mariage mony certain dais with the abuse of their bodies and to make offeringes to Venus for the preseruation of their chaâ—… all theyr lyues after Of these sort of women Elisa commaunded her meÌ„ to rauishe toureskore or there aboutes that wer virgins and to put them in the shippes to the entent her younge 〈◊〉 might haue wiâ—…es and the city â—…ase of issue While these thinges were a dooinge 〈◊〉 knowing of the flying away of his sister when as he went about to pursue her wickedly with battel he was hardly perswaded by the entretance of his mother the threatnings of the Gods to be in quiet To whoÌ„ the Prophets being enspired with the spirit of prophesy declared y â— he should not â—…skape vnpunished if he wente aboute to hinder the aduauncement of a City so fortunate as the like was skarse to be founde againe in all the world By meanes wherof they that sled had sufficient leysure and time to eskape 〈◊〉 Elisa therfore arriuinge in the coastes of Affricke moued to frendship the inhabitauntes of the place reioysinge at the comming and entercourse of marchaundise of straungers Afterward purchasing a piece of ground â–ª as muche as might be compassed about with an Oxe hide wherein she might refresh her company weary of their long iourney vntill she shoulde take her iourney again she caused the hide to beicut into long and slender 〈◊〉 by meanes where of she had a greater piece of grounde then she demaunded where vpon euer after the place was â–ª calleâ—… Byrsa Afterward by the 〈◊〉 of the neighbours of the places there aboutes which for couetousnesse of gain brought many things to sell to the strauÌ„gers and builded them houses to dwel among them at lengthe there was such a resort of men thither that it was euen as good as a city Moreouer the ambassadoures of Vtica brought pre sents to them as to their kinsfolke encouraging them to build a Citye in the selfe same place where they had purchased a dwelling the afres also were desirous to detayne the straungers still Wherfore by the good consent of all parties Carthage was builded paying a yerely rent for the ground that the city standeth vpon In the first foundation digginge was founde an Oxe heade the whiche was a signifycation that it shoulde be a verye frutefull and plentifull lande but that the Citye shoulde be alwayes labouring and alwayes in bondage Where vppon the Citye was remoued to another place There they founde a horse heade whiche signifyed that the people shoulde be warlicke and of greate power and so in that place they builded the Citye with good lucke Then shortlye after by the concourse of the Countryes there â—…boutes resorting thither for the good opinion they hadde of the newe citye it became a greate and populous towne At suche tyme as Carthage was mooste flouryshing in estate and richesse Hiarbas king of Mauritane callinge to him tenne of the Princes of the Afres commaunded them to fetche Elisa to be his wyfe anâ—… to tell â—…er that if she refused so to doo he woulde compell her by force The whiche message the ambassadoures beinge afrayde to doo to the Queene wente to woorke wyth her craftely after the nature â—…f Afres declaringe that theyr kynge demaunded some personne that could learne hym and his Afres more ciuill manners and trade of liuynge but he coulde fynde none that would vouchsafe to forsake his owne kinsfolke to go among suche barbarous people that liued after the manner of brute beastes Then beinge rebuked of the Quene that they woulde shonne anye harde kinde of liuinge for the saue garde of their Countrye for the whyche euen the very life it selfe oughte to be spent if neade shoulde so require they vttered the king their maisters commaundement saying that she must doo thâ—… selfe same thinges her selfe that she taughte others to doo if she desâ—…red the safetye of her Citye Beinge surprised by this 〈◊〉 after the time she had a great while together called vâ—…pon the name of her husbande Sycheus with manye teares and lamentable com plaint at the last she answered she would goâ—… whether as her owne destiny and the destiny of her 〈◊〉 called her Uppon this matter taking iii. monethes respit she caused a great fâ—…re to be made in the vttermost part of the city as it had bene to pacify the ghoste of her fyrst husbande and to doo sacrifice to hym before she shoulde marrye agayne Whâ—…re after the 〈◊〉 of manye beastes takynge a sword in her hand she went vp to the top of the 〈◊〉 that was set on 〈◊〉 and so loking toward the people she sayd she would go to her husband according to the kings commaundement and w th that word she thruste the sworde to her hart As longe as Carthage â–ª was vnuanquished she was worshipped for a Goddesse This Citye was builded threscore and twelue yeres before Rome whose puâ—…ssans as it was notable in the warres so in the time of peace the state was distroubled with sondry misfortunes and ciuil debate Furthermore when that amoÌ„g other mischeues they were sore vexed with the plague for the remedy therof they vsed a bloudy kinde of religion and abhominable â—…ickednesse For they offered men in sacrifyce and they killed vpon the aultares the innocent younglynges which age is wont to prouoke euen the enemy to pitye seking to paciâ—…y the Goddes with the bloude of them for whose life the Goddes are wont moost of all to be prayed vnto Therfore the Goddes being worthelye wrathe and turned from them for â—…o great w ckednesse wheÌ„ they had made warre a long time in Sicill to their vtter destruction and thervpon translated the warre into 〈◊〉 there hau ng lost the greater part of their hoste they wer vanquished in a sore fought battell For the which occasion they banished with the few that remained of his armye theyr captain Machaeus vnder whose guidance they had conqâ—…ered part of Sicill and 〈◊〉 manye greate aduentures against the afres The which thinge the men of warre taking in great displeasure sent ambassadours to carthage fyrst entreating for retourne into their countrye and for pardon of theyr vnfortunate warrefare and yet to tâ—…l theÌ„ neuerthelesse â–ª that if they might not obtaine 〈◊〉 â—…equest by entretaunce they would win it by the swordâ—… When the Ambassadoures could get nothinge neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule within a few daies after they toke shipping and came to the City all in 〈◊〉 There they protested before God and man that their
shut vp the temples of the Goddes were shut vp all ceremonies were omitted all priuate duty was laide aside they went out all to the gate and made inquisition for their frendes of those few that remained from the plague as they came oute of the shippes after the time they perceiued what was become of them for vntil then they hung betwene hope and feate not knowing of certaintye whether theyr frendes were all dead or no then a man might haue hard ouer all the coast the sorowâ—…ull sighes and sobbes of suche as lamented the pitifull howling and shriking of the vnhappye mothers and the lamentable outcries of all men on all sides Amonge these thinges comes out of his ship the poore captaine Hamilco in a filthy and beggerlye cloke girte aboute him at the sight of whome the mourners as they stoode in rankes clustered about him He him self also holding vp his hands to heauen bewailed eft his own misfortune and eft the misfortune of his countrye sometime he cried out vpon the Goddes which had taken from him so great honour attained by his warres and so great ornaments of his victories which they them selues hadde geuen him whiche after the winning of so many Cities and after the vanquishing of so many ennemies so oftentimes both by sea and by land had destroyed that victoryous army not by battel but by pestilens Wherin yet not withstanding he said he brought no small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 countrymen in that their enemies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vaunt them selues of their calamities For thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able to say that they that were dead were â—…lain by them nor that they that were retourned were put to flyghte by them As for the praye that they founde in their desolate camp and caried away it was no suche that they myghte bost of it as of the spoyl taken from the vanquished ennemy but as of thinges falling into their mouthes vnloked for which they entred vpon hauinge none owner by the sodain deathes of the right owners In respect of the enemy they had come away conquerors in respect of the pestilence they wer come away vaÌ„quished And yet nothing greued him more then that he might not die amoÌ„g those most valiant men that he had bene reserued not to liue plesantly but to be as a gâ—…sing stocke for his calamities How beit assone as he had conueyed home the remnaunt of his wretched hâ—…ste vnto Carthage he wold also foloâ—… his fellowes that were gon before Wherby his counâ—…ry should perceiue that he had not liued to that daye because he was desirous of life but to the entent he wouâ—…d not by his death betray those few that the vnspeakable pestilens had spared by leauing them without a guide as besieged in the mids of the hostes of their enemies Entring into y â— city with suche an outcry â—…one as he came home to hys owne house he dismissed the multitude as the laste time that euer he purposed to speake to them and barringe in the dores to him suffring no man to come at him no not so much as his own sonnes he killed himselfe The. xxi Booke DEnnis hauinge expulsed the Carthaginenses oute of Sicill and taken the gouernment of al the whole Iland into his hand thinking it both a burtheÌ„ to the realme to kepe so many men idle and also a daungerous matter to suffer so great an army to lie stil slouthfully and do nothing conueyed hys hoste into Italy partly of purpose to quicken the strength of his souldioures by continuall laboure also to enlarge the bouÌ„ds of his Empire The first war that he had was against the Grekes that inhabited the next sea cosâ—…e of Italy The which being subdued he assailed euer the nexte vnto them and finally he proclaimed opeÌ„ war against all that bare the name of Grekes dwelling in Italy the whi che sort of people held not one part but almost al Italy at that time And ther be many cities which after so long coÌ„tinuaunce do yet at this day shew manifest tokens of the Grekish cuâ—…ome For the people of Thuscane which possesse the coast of the nether sea came out of Lydia And y t Uenetians who as we se are inhabiters of the vpper sea came vnder Antenor from Troy after the taking and destruction therof Adria also whiche is next to the Illyrian sea which gaue the name to the Adriatick sea is a greke city so is Apros the which Diomedes builded after the ouerthrow of Troy being cast vp in the same pâ—…ace by ship wrack Moreouer Pise in Lumbardy had Grekes to their founders And among y â— Thuscanes the Tarquines fetch their beginuing from the Thessalians and Spinambres And the Perusines from the Acheans What shall I say of the city Cere what shall I speake of the latine people which seme to be founded by Eneas Now the Falisces the Iapygians the Nolanes the Abelanes wer they not somtime enhabiters of Chalcis what is all the coaste of Campanie what are the Brutians Sabines what are the Sabines what are the Tarentines who as it is left in wrytinge came from Lacedemon and were called bastardes They say that Philâ—…ctetes builded the city of the Thurines whose tombe is to be sene ther at this day and the shafts of Hercules in the temple of Apollo which wer the destiny of Troâ—…e The Metapontâ—…es also haue yet to shewe in the people of Minerua the iron tooles of Epeus their firste founder wherwith he made the horse that destroyed Troy For the which cause all that parte of Italy is called the greater Grece But in the beginning of these foundations the Metapontines with the Sybarites and Crotoniens wer determined to driue all thother Grekes out of Italy Assone as they had taken the city Siris in y â— winning therof they killed before the very aultare of Minerua fifty yongmen embracing her image and her priest veiled in thattire accustomed in her ceremonies Herevpon being â—…exed with pestilens and ciuil sedition the Crotonienses went first to thoracâ—…e of Dâ—…lphos Answer was made to them that the mischief shoulde cease if they had ones appeased Minerua for working so wickedly against her Godhed and the ghostes of them that they had slaâ—…n Therfore when they had begon to carue images to set vp to the yongmen of the same bignesse that they wer being aliue and in especially vnto Minerua The MetapoÌ„tines knowing of the Oracle of the Gods thinkinge it good to work spedely in the pacifying of their ghostes and in pacifying of the gods set vp litle images of stone to the yoÌ„g men and appeasedthe Goddes with bread sacrifices And so while the one parte striued in costlinesse and the other part in swiftnesse the pestilence was ceased on both parties The Crotoniens hauing recouered helth abode not long in quiet Therfore taking displesure that in the siege of Siris the Locrines came to fighte againste them they entred vpon them by force of armes The
liberty all the bondmen that were of yeres mete for the warres and toke an othe of them and put them with the mooste part of his other souldiours into his ships thinking that forasmuche as he had made them all one in estate and degre there wold be strife among them who might behaue himself most manfully All the reast he left to the defence of his country This done the seuenth yere of his raigne hauinge in hys companye his two sonnes Archagathus and Heraclida noone of his souldioures knowinge whether he wold go he directed his course into Affrick wher as all his men supposed they shuld haue gon a forraging either into Italy or elsse into the Isle of Sardinia he neuer made them priuy where about he went vntill he had set his host a land in Affricke and then he tolde theym all what he was mineded to doo He shewed theym in what case Syracuse stode for the helpe wherof there remayned none other meane but to do to their enemy as he had don to them For warres wer to be haÌ„dled otherwise at home then abrode At home a man could haue none other help then his country is able to auorde him abrode the enemy myghte be vanquished by his owne power by reason the adherents and partakers being weary of their long continued Empire would commonlye faile them and looke for the helpe of forayne Princes And to the furtheraunce hereof the cities and castels of Affricke were not enuironed with walles nor situatein mountaines but set vpon the plaine ground in open and champion fieldes without any munition or defence all the whych for feare of being destroyed woulde easely be entreated to take theyr parte in the warre Wherfore the Carthaginenses should haue whotter warres at theyr owne dores out of Affrick then oute of Sicâ—…l and aide woulde assemble from all partes against that one city grâ—…ater in name then in power wher fore he should finde the strength there which he broughte not with him Moreouer the sodain fear of the Carthaginenses shoulde be no small furtheraunce to his victorye which being amazed at the wonderful audacitye of theyr enemies wold tremble and quake for feare Besydes this to thencrease of the same they should behold the burning of their villages the beatinge downe of theyr castles and holdes the sacking of the stoburne cities and finallye the besiegement of Carthage it selfe by all the which things they should well fele that they them selues laye as open to the warres of other men as other men lay open to the warres of them By the which meanes not only the Carthaginenses might be vanquished but also Sicill be sette at liberty For their ennemies woulde not lie styll at the siege there when they should hear that theyr owne were in ieoperdy Wherfore they could not haue deuised where to haue founde a more easy warfare nor a more ryche and 〈◊〉 praye For had they ones taken Carthage the conqueroures shoulde haue all Affricke and Sicill in reward for their labour And the glorye and renowne of so honourable a warfare shuld be so great as that it might neuer be forgâ—…tten while the world stands so that it shuld be said that they only hade beene the men whyche hadde turned the warre vpon their enemies heades which they could not out stand at home in theyr own country which of theyr owne accord had perased and pursued vpon theyr conqueroures and whiche had besieged the besiegeâ—…s of their citye Therfore they oughte all with valâ—…aunte and chearfull harts enterprise that â—…atre then the whiche there could a neither any greater rewarde be geuen them if they wan the victorye nor more honorable monument if they were ouercome With these and suche like enforcementes the harts of his souldiers were greatlye encoraged But the sight of a wonder that happened troubled theyr mindes because that as they sailed the Sunne was Eclipsed Of the which thing the kinge was as carefull to geue them a due reason as of the warre affirmynge that if it had hapned before theyr setting forth it might haue bene thought that the wonder had manased them that wer to set forth But now for as much as it chaunced after they wer com forthe it threatned them againste whome they wente Furthermore the Eclipsing of the naturall Planets dyd alwaies alter the present estate of thinges Wherefore there was none other thinge mente but that the estate of Carthage florishinge in welth and richesse and his estate oppressed with aduersitye muste suffer an alteration and exchaunge When he had thus comforted his souldiours by the consent of his army he set all his shippes on fire to th entent they might all knowe that seinge there was no helpe in running away they must either win or elsse dye Afterwarde when that they bare downe all that came in their way which way so euer they went settinge townes and castels on fyre Hanno captaine of Carthage met theÌ„ with thirty thousand Afres in the which encounter was slain of the Sicilians two and of the Carthaginenses iii. M and the captain him self through his victory the harts of the Sicilians were strengthened and the hartes of the Carthaginenses discouraged Agathocles hauing vanqui shed his enemies wan cities and holdes toke greate booties and prayes and slue many thousand of his enemies Then he pitched his campe about v. miles of from Carthage to th entent they might behold from the vâ—…ry wals of the city the losse of their dearest thinges with the wasting of their fieldes and the burning of theyr villages In the meane time there went a great brute ouer all Affricke of the ouerthrowe and slaughter of the Carthaginien army and of the cities that were won Wherat euery man was amased and wondered how so great an Empire should haue so sodain an ouerthrow in espetially by an enemy all ready vanquished This wonderment turned by little and little into disdaine of the Carthaginenses For ere it was long after not onlye Affricke but also the chefest cities there aboutes folowing this sodain alteration reuolted to Agathocles and aided hym both with victual and monye Besides these aduersities of the Carthaginenses to the augmentation of their miserable cala mities it hapned that their captain withal his army was vtterly destroyed in Sicil. For after the departure of Agathocles oute of Sicill the Carthaginenses became more siouthful and negligent in their siege at Syracuse which thing Antander the brother of king Agathocles espyinge issued out vpon them and sâ—…ue them vtterlye euerychone wherof sorowful tidinges were broughte to Carthage Therefore for as muche as the Carthaginenses had like misfortune abrode as at home here vpon not only the tributary cities but also the kings that were in league and amity with them waying freship by fortune and not by faithfulnesse reuolted from them Amonge others there was one Ophellas king of Cyrene who vpon a wycked hope gapinge for the dominion of all Affricke entered in
prepared before hande by hys father By meanes whereof being puffâ—…d vp with pride and forgettynge what chaunce hys father had before hym he willed his men to consider the auncient renoune of Alexander The first encounter was of horsmen in the which Perses getting the vpper hand procured himselfe the fauor of all men which before stode in doubte what way to encline because they wist not which way the world wold go Neuertheles he sent Ambassadors to the Romain Con sull to request peace as they had before graunted to his father beyng vanquished promisyng to pay the charges of the warre as yf he had ben ouercomme But the Consull Sulpitius propounded as sore condicions as if he had ben vanquished in dede While these thynges were a doyng the Romaynes for dread of so dangerous a warre created Aemilius Paulus Consull and made him extraordinarily Lieuetenaunt of the warres in Macedone Who assone as he came to the armie made no longe delay ere he encountered with his enemies The night before the battell should be fought the Moone was Eclypsed All men iudged it to be a sorowfull for token to Perses as the which signified that Th empyre of Macedone drew fast to an ende In that conflict M. Cato the sonne of Cato the Drator as he was feightyng among the thickest of his enemies fell of his horse and was faine to feight a foote for when he was downe a band of his enemies enclosed him about w t an horrible nâ—…yse to haue killed him as he lay on the grounde But he recouered himself quicklye and made a great slaughter among them the whyle his enemies came clusteryng about him on all sydes to oppresse him being but one man alone as he strake at one of their noble men his sword flew oute of his hand into the mids of his enemies to recouer the which he couered himself with his target and in thopen syght of both the armies thrust himself in among his enemies weapons and hauyng recouered his sworde with the receipte of manie woundes returned to his owne fellowes with a greate showte of all the whole fielde The residewe of his compaâ—…e ensewyng his bold example wan the victorie King Perses fled out of the field and with tenne thousand Talentes sayled to Samothrace Whome Cneus Dâ—…auius being sent by the Consul to pursewe hym toke him with his two sonnes Alexander and Philippe brought them ners to the Consull Macedone from the tyme of Caranus who first reigned there vnto Perses who was the last had thirtie kynges vnder whose gouernaunce it con tiâ—…ued by the space of nyne hundred twentie and three yeres but it helde the Souerayne Monarchie no lenger then a hundred 〈◊〉 and twelue yeres When it was once brought in subiection to the Romaynes Officers were appoynted in euery Citie and it was set at libertie receyuyng of Paule the Lawes which they vse at this day The Senetours of all the cyties of Aetoly with their wyues and children which hitherto had remayned as neuters were sent to Rome and there they were deteyned a long tyme to th entent they should not worke anie alteracion in their countrie vntill at length after manie yeares entreatans by often Ambassades sent from the Cities to the Senate of Rome euery man was dismissed into his owne countrie The. xxxiiii Boke THe Carthaginenses and Macedones beyng subdued and the power of the Aetolians weakened by the captiuity of their noblemen the Acheans onely of all Grece semed as yet to the Romayns to be at that tyme of to much power and authoritie not for the ouer great wealthe of euery citie by themself but for the earnest agrement of them all togither For although the Acheans be deuided by Cyties as it were into members yet they haue one Corporacion and one kynde of gouernement and yf anie wrong be offred to anyone cytie straight wayes all the 〈◊〉 make all power they can to redresse it Therfore as the Romaines sought to finde some quarell to make warre against them by fortune a coÌ„plainte was brought against them in due season by the LacedemoniaÌ„s whose fieldes for a mutual hatred betwene the two peoples the Acheans had forraged The Senate made answer to the Lacedemonians that they wold send ambassadors into Grece to se how their confederates were delt wythall and to defend them from taking any wronge But thambassadors had priuely in charge besides to dissolue the agreable consent of the Acheans and to set euery city fre from other to th entent they might the easlier be brought in subiection and if anye cities shewed theym selues so stout that they woulde not they should be compelled by force The ambassadoures therfore callinge the princes of all the cities before them to Corynthe recyted the decree of the Senate declaryuge what they woulde counsell them to do They said it was expedient for them all that euery Citye shoulde be gyuerned by their owne lawes and by theyr owne customes When thys was ones notifiee to them all they were in suche a rage that lyke mad men they kylled all the forreine people within the realâ—…e Yea and they had doene as muche to the Romaine Ambassadours them selues also yf they had not had intelligens of the hurlye burly and shyfted for them selues by flight Assone as tydinges her of came to Rome forth with the Senate appoynted Mnmmius the Consull to make warre against the Acheans Who without further delaye conueyinge thyther his armie and hauinge vigilantly puided for all thinges before hand offered his enemies battell But the Acheans as though they hadde take a matter of no importans in hand by making warre against the Romains so they loked and cared for nothing at all for they were so myndfull of the pray and so careles for the battel y â— they brought chariots wagous witâ—… them to lade home with the spoile of their enemies set their wiues children in y â— mouÌ„tains to behold y e conflict But when they came to hande strokes they were slayne ryghte downe before theyr frendes faces where by they gaue them a sorowfvll sight the rememberaunce wherof might greue them all the dayes of theyr life after Theyr wiues and children also beinge of lookers on made captiues were a pray to the enemy The chiefe citye Corinth was beaten downe Al the people were sold by the drum to the entent that by the ensample therof the other cities myghte be a fraid to make any trouble or insurrection While these thinges were a doinge Antiochus kinge of Syria made warre vppon Ptolomy the elder hys syslers sonne king of Egipt geuen all together to slouthe and so feble and vnlusty through daily and continuall ryot that he not only committed all thinges appertaining to the estate and office of a king but also by meanes of ouer much pamperinge vp of him selfe was in manner voide of that reason whiche oughte to be in man Being therfore driueÌ„ out of his kingdome
commyng of Tygranes Ariobarzanes conueying away all his stuffe gat him streight to Rome so by y â— meanes of Tygranes Cappadocia was again vnder y â— dominioÌ„ of Mithridates Thesame time died Nicomedes whose son named Nicomedes also was dryuen out of his kingdom bi Mithridates who resorted to Rome for succor vpoÌ„ whose huÌ„ble sute it was decreed by y e Senate y â— both be Ariobarzanes should be set in possessioÌ„ of their kyngdomes agayne For the perfourmaunce whereof Aquilius Manlius and Malthinius were sent to be Lieuetenauntes of the warre Mythridates hauyng knowledge hereof and enteÌ„dyng to make warre with the Romains alied himself with Tygranes And it was couenaunted betwixt them that Mythridates should haue for his parte the cyties and landes and Tygranes should haue for his share the men and cattell and whatsoeuâ—…r els was moueable After this Mithridates 〈◊〉 what a warre he had taken in hande sent out his Ambassadours some to the Cymbrians some to the Frenchegrekes some to the Sarmatians and some to the Bastarnes to request them of their ayde and help For all these Nations had he allured a good while before by shewyng them â—…endshyp and pleasure diuers wayes euer synce he fyrste purposed warre agaynst the Romayns Moreouer he raysed an host of men in Scythia and armed all the East agaynste the Romayns It was no great matter for hym therefore to ouercome Aquilius and Malthyne hauyng none but the men of Asia about them after the discomfiture of whome and of Nicomedes all the cyties were glad to seke his fauor There he found great plentie of gold and syluer laid vp in store by the kynges in tymes past and much furniture for the warres the which for as muche as they made greatlie to his furtherance he released the cyties all their dettes as well publike as priuate and exempted them frelie from all charges as well of the warres as of trybutes and taxes for fyue yeres space Then assembled he his souldiours before him and encouraged them with â—…iuers exhortacions to the warres of y e Romains otherwise cald the wars of Asia The copi of which Oracion I haue thought worthie to be put into this worde albeit I coâ—…et to be short in the same maner as PoÌ„peius â—…rogus hath indirectly set it forth because he fyndeth fault with â—…iuie Salust for putting Oracions in their works directly as they were spokeÌ„ so doyng exceded y â— bouÌ„ds of an history He said he would gladly haue wished that he might haue consulted vpon this poynt whether it wer better to haue warre or peace with the Romaines but nowe there was no remedy but to go through with the matter and not to feare them yea thoughe there were no hope of victorye at all For all men would draw their wepons vpon theues thoughe they were not able to defende them selues yet to reuenge theyr deathes But for as muche as he purposed not to debate whether it were mete to be in quiet considering they were not only ennemies in hart but also had encountered like enemies in open field he woulde fayne knowe by what meanes and vpon what hope they shuld maintaine the warres that they had begone Neuerthelesse he had good hope of the victorye if so be it they hadde good hartes That the Romaines might be ouercome his souldiers that vanquished Aquilius in Bythinia and Mal thinius in Cappadocia knewe as well as he But if hee thoughte the examples of other menne could moue them more then theyr owne triall and experiens â—…e harde saye that Pyrrhus king of Epyre hauyng no mo but fiue thou sand Macedones in his host vanquished the Romaines in thre pitched fieldes He heard saye that Hanniball by thâ—… space of xvi yeres abode in Italy like a conqueroure and â—…ad taken the city of Rome it selfe had not the preuy malice and enuy of his owne country men ben a greater hinderaunce to him then the power of the Romaynes He hard say that the Frenchmen inhabiting on the other side of the Alpes entered into Italye and there placed theym selues in moste of the welthiest cityes of all the countrye seisynge into theyr possession somewhat a larger piece of ground euery way then that which they had gotten in Asia for all it is counted so weake and cowardly Moreouer that the said French men hadde not onlye vanquished the Romaines but also taken their city in so muche that they left theÌ„no more in all the world but one hill from whens whence they were saine to remoue theyr ennemye not by battel but by raunsome The which Frenchemen whose name had alwaâ—…es ben so terrible to the Romaynes he had to strenghten him in his host For there was no differeÌ„ce betwene the Frenchmen that inhabit Asia and the Frenchmen that inhabit Italy but onely the distance of their dwellyngs asunder As for their originall their prowesse and their maner of feightyng was all one sauyng that these in Asia musâ—… nedes be of so much more pollicie and witte as they haue comme a wore longe and â—…edious youâ—…ney through Sclauany Thrace beyng a farre paynfuller matter to make themselues waye through those countries then to place themselues where they nowe inhabit Furthermore he heard say that Italy it selfe was neuer yet well pleased with Rome synce it was fyrst buylded but that continuallie froÌ„ yere to yere incessant warre had ben made by some for their libertie and by other sâ—…m for the right right of th empyre insomuch that by report manie cyties of Italie had vtterlie destroyed the Romain Armies by the sworde and some with a new kynde of reproche had compelled them shamefullye to crepe vnder a yoke And forbycause he should not seme to make long tarians in matters of old tyme euen the very same present all Italy was rysen to warre ioyntlie togyther with the marses not to demaund lybertie but Societie in Th empyre and in the Cytie itself Neyther was the Cytie oppressed more by the warres of their neighbours in Italie then by the partakyng of her owne noblemen at home so that the Ciuil warres were farre more dangerous then the forren warres of Italy besydes that the Cymbrians that vnmeasurable and moste fyltierable of sauage and vnmercifull rascalles were swarmed oute of Germanie and ouerwhelmed all Italy lyke a storm Of al the which forenamed nacions although the Romayns mighte perchaunce be able to withstande the brunt one after an other yet by all at once they must nedes be oppressed and that so sone that they should haue no leasur at al to think vppon his warres wherfore occasion ought to be taken when iâ—… was offered and good holde ought to be layed with spede vppon the iucreasment of their strength least yf they now sate still whiles thother were busie and had their handes full anone after they haue might haue more a doe with them when they were in quiet had nothyng els to dooe For it was not in question whether
comming oute of Asia entred the mouth of Tyber ioyned amitie with the Romayns From thence they went by water to thuttermoste coast of Fraunce and there among the Liguriens the cruell Frenchmen 〈◊〉 buylded the cytie Marsielles and dyd many noble actes bothe in defendyng themselfes by the sworde agaynst the sauage Frenchmen also in assailyng those that had assayled them before For the Phocenâ—…es by reason of the barrei esse and sterilitie of their contrie were compelled to set their myndes more earnestlie vppon the water then vppon the land and so they lyued by fishyng by traffike of merchaÌ„dyse and oftentymes by rob bing on the sea which in those days was coÌ„ted for a praise By meanes wherof they adueÌ„tured to thuttermoste border of Thocean arriued vppon the French coast by the ryuer of Rone with the plasauntnes of which place they were so taken in loue that at their returne home they re ported what they had sene and procured mo of their contrymen to go thither with them The Captaynes of their flete were furius Peranus Who with their company presented 〈◊〉 before Senanus kyng of the Segoregians in whose territorie they coueted to buyld them a cytie desyring his amitie frendship By chaunce the very same day the king was occupied in preparacion for the mariag of his daughter Eyptis whome accordyng to the custome of the countrie he purposed to marry to suche a one whome she herself at the feast would chose to be her husband Among other that were bydden to the Mariage the straungers of Grece were desyred to the feaste also Anone the yong lady was brought in who beyng coÌ„manded by her father to reache a cup of water to him whome she wold haue to her husband passed ouer all thother gestes turnyng herselfte the Grekes gaue the water to Peran Who by this meanes beyng made of a straunger the kynges sonne in law obteyned of his father a ploâ—…te to buyld a Cytie vppon So was the Cytie of Marsielles buylded hard by the mouthe of the riuer of Rone in an out nooke as it wer in an angle of the sea But the Ligurians enuying the prosperitie of the Cytie distroubled the Grekes with their continuall warres Who through valeaunt defendyng of themselfes became so renoumed that after they had vanquished their enemies they buylded many cyties in the groundes that they toke froÌ„ them At theire handes the Frenchmen lerned a more ciuill trade of liuynge throughe the whiche ' theire Barbarousnesse was layde a syde and as it were tamed togither with the tyllage of the grounde and the wallyng in of their cyties Then they framed themselfes to lyue by lawes and not by force then they lerned to shred theire vynes then they lerned to plant and graffe their olyues fynally bothe the men all other thynges were so exquisytely polyshed that Grece semed not to be remoued into Fraunce But rather that Fraunce was transformed into Grece After the death of Senanus kyng of the Gegoregians by whome the place to buylde the cytie vppon was graunted his sonne Comanus succedyng him in the kyngdome was inuegled againste the Massiliens by one of his Lordes alledgyng that the tyme would come that Marsielles shoulde be the destruccion of the people that were next neigâ—…bors about it wherfore it was to be suppressed now in y â— very rising therof least afterward being suffred to grow stronger it might oppresse him For the further manifestacion wherof he recited this fable how vppon a tyme a bytâ—…h beyng great with whelpe desyred a shepeherde to lende her houseroume to whelpe in the whiche beyng obteyned she desyred of hym eftsones to respite her so longe but tyll she mighte brynge vp her whelpes at length when they were full growen she and her whelpes were so strong that she chalenged the place to her selfe for euer In lykewise the Massilians whiche then semed to be but soieourners would perchaunce hereafter become Lords of the couÌ„trie The king beyng prouoked by this instigacion deuised how to surprise the MassiliaÌ„s So vppon a so lemne feastfull day of the Goddesse flora he sent a greate sorte of strong stout men into the Cytie as it had ben to make merrie causyng a great number mo to be coÌ„ueyed in cartes and wagens hyddeÌ„ with rushes and leaues and he himself with his host lay in ambushe in the next moun taynes to th entent that in the night when thother had set open the gates he might comme with all spede to the performance of his prepensed pollicie put the cytie to the sworde as they were dead a slâ—…pe or elles eatyng and drinkyng But a kynswoman of the kynges bewrayed this treason who beyng wonte to playe the goodfellowe with a certayn yong man of the Grekes as she embraced him hauing pytie on him for his beautie vttered the mat ter vnto him counselled him to auoyde the daunger He forthwith tolde the matter to the Officers of the Cytie By meanes whereof the treason commyng to light the Liguriens were layd hand on and they that laye hydden in the rushes were pulled oute by the heles The whiche beyng euerichone â—…layne the treason was turned vppon the kynges owne head for the Massilians slewe the kyng himselfe and seuen thousande of his souldiers with him From that day forward the Massiliens vppon their feast full dayes kept their gates shutte made good watche set men to warde vppon the walles serched all straungers tooke good hede and euen as yf they had had warre so kept they the Cytie in tyme of peace So well is good order kept among them at al tymes not so much in time of nede as vpon custome of doyng well Afterward thei had sore warres with the Ligurians with the Frenchmen The which thyng bothe encreased the renoume of the city also by atcheuing so many victories made the knight â—…ode â—…heualry of the Grekes famous redouted amoÌ„g their neighbors Moreouer thei diuerse times vanquished the armies of the Carthaginenses When they warred vpon theÌ„ for taking of their fisher botes gaue the peace at their pleasure like conquerors With the Spanyardes they entered in leage of amitie with the Romayns they made a continuall confederacâ—…e aliance almost from the fyrst laying of the foundacion of the cytie the whiche they obserued moste faithfullie and to thuttermoste of theire power ayded theÌ„ as their coÌ„federates in al their warres The which thyng both made theÌ„ to be bolder to trust to their own strength also purchased theÌ„ peace of their en nemies Therfore at such time as Marsiels florished most in renowme of cheualrie in abundance of riches was in the chief flower of her strength sodaynly al the people bordering about theÌ„ gathered theÌ„selfes together to rote vp the name of the Massiliens as it had ben to ertinguish some coÌ„mon fyre A noble man called Caramandus was by a coÌ„mon consent chosen to be
the temple of Haâ—…o in Egypt â–ª buyldeth the cytie Alexandria receyueth letters twyse from Darius and replyeth to thesame mourneth for the death of Darius wyse 〈◊〉 the thyrd letter from 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 thereunto 〈◊〉 Darius and 〈◊〉 the Monarchie of the 〈◊〉 with th empyre of Asia rewardeth his souldiers and fyndeth â—…eadyng riches in the cytie 〈◊〉 Da rius is bounde by his â—…wne 〈◊〉 found by a souldier half dead and sore wounded 〈◊〉 whome he 〈◊〉 his mynde and dyeth and Alexander causeth him to be 〈◊〉 accordyng to his estate The conteyntes of the twelueth Boke ALexander buryeth his souldiours sumptuously Agis kyng of 〈◊〉 maketh insurreccion in Grece and is 〈◊〉 â–ª Alâ—…xander kyng of Epyre warreth in Italy is 〈◊〉 to death â—…yron with his hoste is slayn by the Scythâ—…s Alexanders souldiours beyng in Parthia desyre to returne home he subdueth Hyrcanie and the mardes Thalestris Quene of â—…hamazones companyeth with Alexander he vsurpeth the maners of the Persians frequenteth feastyng licenceth his souldiers to mary their prysoners outrageth agaynst his noble menne conquereth the people that inhabite the foote of Cancasus in the which tyme Bessus that kylled Darius is brought bounde vnto him whome he deliuereth to be punished to Oxatres the brother of Darius he buyldeth Alexandria vppon Tanais kylleth Clytus at the table falleth in great dispayre for the same receyueth countries by composicion putteth Calisthenes and other noble men to death gyueth his souldiers syluer Bucklars entereth into Inde where a Quene called Cleophis yeldyng herself and her kyngdome vnto him recepueth it agayne at his hande ouercommeth kyng Porus. buyldeth two cyties subdueth fowâ—… Nacions is desyred by his souldieurs agayne to return home vanquisheth the Euâ—…ytes â—…ceyueth by coÌ„posicion the Gessones Asybanes conquereth the Ambres SycaÌ„bres is sore wounded in the citie of y â— Dpydrakes preserueth his host from poysoned woundes by thadmonishment of a dreame buyâ—…deth a Cytie in the mouthe of the ryuer Indus returneth to Babylon putteth the Lieuetenauntes of diuers countries to deathe punisheth a 〈◊〉 among his souldiers mourneth for the death of 〈◊〉 on enterteyneth thambassadours of Carthage Spayne Fraunce c. is poysoned by Antipater comforteth his souldiers makyng 〈◊〉 tumult for his death deliuereth his ryng to Perdiccas and dyeâ—… The contentes of the thirtenth Boke THe mother of Darius dyeth for sorrowe Aridens is made kyng th empyre is dâ—…utded among the noblemen of Alexander Thatheniens and Aâ—…tolians dryue â—…ntypater oute of Grece Perdiccas makeâ—…h warre agaynst 〈◊〉 kyng of Cappadocia the noblemen of Macedone fal at varians among themselfs the foundacion of the cytie 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Perdiccas is hated for his pryâ—… and Eumenes wynneth two fieldes â–ª The contentes of the fourtenth Boke EUmenes preuenteth the policies of his enemies he is beseged by Aâ—…tigonus rescowed by Antipater resorteth to the Aâ—…gyraspides for succor is ouer come by Antigonus and is betrayed by his owne souldiers Cassander is made Regent of Grece the Lacedemonians enclose their Cytie with a wal Eurydice and Arideus are slayne at the commaundement of Olympias Cassander lykewyse putteth Olympias to death and â—…prysoneth the sonne of Alexander The conteyntes of the xv Boke THe Conquerours fall at debate for partyng of the pray the Abderties are dryuen out of their countrey with frogges myce Cassander putâ—…eth the sonnes of Alexander to death Ptolomy is vanquished on the sea by Demetrius Alexanders Lieuetenauntes proclay me theâ—…es kynges Lysymachus taketh part with Cassander agaynst Antigonus a discourse of the doynges of the sayde Lysimachus the wonderfull 〈◊〉 of Seleucuâ—… with his par takyng agaynst Antigonus and his conquestes in the East Sandrocotte deliuâ—…th the Indians from the subiection of Macedone and oppressed them with Tyrannie himself â–ª Antigonus is slayne his son Demetrius put to flight the Conquerors â—…al at barâ—…ans agayne among themselues and Cassander dyeth The conteyntes of the. xvi Boke â–ª THabominable murder of Antipater the sonne of 〈◊〉 for the which his brother Alexander proclayâ—…th warre agaynste him Demetrius slayeth Alexander and vsurpeth his part of Macedone Lysimachus yeldâ—…h vnto him the porcion of Antipater also Ptolomy Lysimachus Seleucus Pyrrhus yoine themselfes in league agaynst Demetrius Pyrrhus dryueth Demetrius oute of Macedone Lysimachus putteth his son in law Antipater to death in whome the house of Cassander is extincted Demetrius yeld â–ª th himself prisoner to Seleucus Ptolomy dieth debate falleth betweÌ„ Lysimachus Pyrâ—… he expulsâ—…th Pyrthus out of Macedone â–ª the buyldyng of the Cytie Heraciea in Ponâ—…us the gâ—…es of the Heracleans their courâ—…e towarde their enemies their miserable oppression by tyrannie the bolde enterpryse of Chion and Leonides and the death of them The conteyntes of the. xvii Boke THe horrible Earthquake in Hellesponte and Chersonesus the crueltie of Lysimachus to his owne children by thinstigacion of their â—…tepmother Arsyrice the last warre betwene the succâ—…ssoro of Alexander wherein 〈◊〉 is slayn by Seleucus who also within a while after is slayne by Ptolomy the kynges brother of Egypt Pyrrhus aydâ—…th the â—…tynes agaynst the Romaynes a discourse of the Realme of Epyre with a declaracion of thactes of the kynges thereof The contentes of the. xviii Booke PYrrhus 〈◊〉 the Romayns Mage Duke of Carthagbryngeâ—…h ayd to them and is sent home agayne the Romayues take a truce with Pyrrhus the whiche is â—…ynged by Appius Claudius â–ª Pyrâ—…us takâ—…th vppon him the kyngdome of Syâ—…l the foundacion of Sydon and Tyre with a declaracion of thâ—…re Histories Dydo buyldeth Carthage and sleath herself The Carthaginenses 〈◊〉 abhominable kynde of sacrifice they suâ—…er losse by warre and pâ—…ens Macheus Duke of Carthage 〈◊〉 hys owne 〈◊〉 winneth Carthage is accused of treason and 〈◊〉 put to death The conteyntes of the. 〈◊〉 Boke MAgo Duke of Carthage dyeth his sonnes Hasorâ—…ball Hamilcar succede the Carthaginenses are ouercome by the 〈◊〉 â–ª fres and pay the rent for their cytie sâ—…ill they make warre in Sardynia and Sycill themessage of the Ambassadours of Darius to the Earthaginenses the Afres are compelled to releace the rent â–ª the army of Hamilco perisheâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pescilent influence of the star res the remnant whereof he bryngeth home and kylleth hymself The contents of the. xx Booke DEnnys the elder dryueth the Carthagineâ—…ses out of Sycill and maketh warre in Italy a declaracion of the fondacion of the cyties in Italy the warres betwene the 〈◊〉 and the Locrenses the lyfe doctrine and death of Pythagoras Dennys is ouercomme by the Croteniens and concludeth a league with the Frenchemen the doynges of the Frenchemen in Italy Dennys re turneth into Sycill agaynste the 〈◊〉 and is slayn by his owne men The contentes of the. xxi Boke THe yonger Dennys exercyseth all kynde Tyranny is expulsed the realme exercyseth moste vnspeakable tyranny at Locres in Italy â–ª is dryuen from thence and taketh Syracuse Hanno goeth about to oppresse the coÌ„mon weale of Carthage is â—…rayed twyse and put to death Dennys deposeth
doubtfull and no rewarde though he wanne the victory but apparant losse if he were ouercome Wherfore let him not thinke that the ScythiaÌ„s will wayte for his comming hyther seyng there is in their enemye so much worthe the fetchinge and goynge for but they will with all their hartes go and mete him As they had sayde so did they in dede When the king vnderstoode that they made towardes him with suche spede he fled for feare and leauing behynde him his hoste and all hys furniture for the warres he fearefullye retyred into his kyngedome The Scithians coulde not pursue him into Egipt because of the fennes As they retourned from thence they conquered al Asia and put them to a litle tribute rather in token of their conquest than in reward of their victorye Fyftene yeares they taryed in pacifieng and setting a staye in the countreye From whence they were called home by the importunat requestes of their wiues whiche sent them worde that if they hyed theym â—…ot home the sooner they would lye with their 〈◊〉 to haue fruite by them and not suffer the 〈◊〉 of the Scithâ—…s to decay throughe their default Thus was Asia tributary to them by y â— space of 1500 yeres Ninus kyng of Thassirians made an end of paying thys trybute But in the meane tyme amonge the Scithians tâ—…o yong gentlemen of the bloud royall named Plinos and Scolopythus being through debate among the noble meâ—… driuen out of their couÌ„trey led with theÌ„ a great noumber of youth and setled them selues in the borders of Cappadocia about the riuer Thermodoon and kept al the fieldes about the citie Themiscira There many yeares together being wont to robbe their neyghboures at the last the people prfuily conspired together and sette vpon theym vnwares and by a trayne slewe them eueryechone The wiues of these men perceyuing that besides their banyshement they were also made widowes armed theym selues and defended theyr borders first by standing in their owne defence and afterward by making warre vnto others Moreouer they had no mind to marry any more with their neyghbours calling it a bondage and not maryage A singular example for all ages to looke vpon They encreased theyr common wealth withoute men and defended theym selues euen in despyght of men And to thentente some of them should not thinke them selues in better case then the rest they killed their husbands that were left aliue at home Furthermore in reuengement of the deathes of their husbandes they destroyed theyr neyghbours also Thâ—…n hauing by warre gotten peace and tranquilitie they sente for theyr neyghbours and companied with them If any male children werâ—… borne they were killed The women chyldren were brought vp not in ydlenesse â–ª nor to spinning and carding but in feates of armes ridinge of horses and huntinge as the custome is to bringe vp men And forbycausâ—… theyr shooting and throwing of dartes should not be hindered theyr righte pappes were seared of while they were children whereupon they were named Bamazons They had two queenes the one called Marthâ—… the other Lampedo the which deuiding their hoste in two partes and growinge to great welth and richesse made warre by turnes the one cir cumspectely defending the countrey at home while the other made warre abrode as theyr turnes came about And oâ—… th entent to be the more renowmed in all their enterprises affaires they proclaymed theym selues the doughters of Mars Wherfore hauing conquered the greater parte oâ—… Europe they subdewed also manye cities of Asia Where hauing builded Ephesus and diuers other cities parte of theyr armie being sent home with a great bootye the rest whych taried styll to defend thempyreof Asia were by a sodaynâ—… â—…ssault of the barbarous people with their queene Marthesia all slayne In whose roome secceded in th empyre her daughter Orithia Who besydes her singular actiuitie in feates of warre was as a myrrour to all women for preseruyng of her maydenhed â–ª and virginitye while she lyued Through the prowesse of her the honour and renowne of the Amazones was so greatly auaunced that the kyng for whose pleasure Hercules atchieued xii daungerous aduentures commaunded him as a thing impossible to fetch him the armour of the Queene of Amazonie Hercules therfore accompanyed with many of the yong lordes and noble meÌ„ of Greece arriuing with nyne galleyes assayled them vnwares At the same tyme the kyngdome of Thamazones was gouerned by two of the foure systers atiope and Orithia Of the whiche Orithia was makyng warre in forreyne countreyes by reason whereof there was but a slender company about the queene Antyope when Hercules arryued at the shore of Amazonye bycause there was no suche thyng mistrusted nor any enemye thought vpon Wherefore it came to passe that those fewe beyng raysed with the sodayne alarme armed theym selues and gaue theyr enemies an easie victorie For many wer slayne and many taken amonge whom were two of Antiopes sisters Mâ—…alyppe taken by Hercules Hippolite by Theseus Theseus maried his prisoner of whom he begate Hippolitus But Hercules after the victory restored Menalâ—…ppe to her sister and for her raunsome tooke the queenes armoure And so hauyng accomplyshed his charge retourned to the kyng Orithia hauyng knowledge that warre was made agaynst her systers and that the prynce of Athens had ledde awaye one of them perforce exhorteth her companye to bee reuenged affirmyng that all their conquestes in Poâ—…us and Asia were to no purpose if they should take suche a foyle at the handes of the Greekes as to suffer not so muche the warres as the rauishementes of Thatheniens And thereupon she sent for succour vnto Sagillus kyng oâ—… Scithia Alledging that she her people wer by discent Scithians borne declaringe furthermore the losse of their husbandes whereby they were constrayned to take armoure vpoÌ„ them and what was the cause of the warres whyche they nowe tooke in hande sayeng that through theyr prowesse they had brought to passe that the Scithians myghte seme to haue as valiaunt women as men The kyng beyng moued with the honour of his house sente to her ayde hys sonne Penaxagoras with a greatbande of horsemen But before the battell beyng by meanes of dissention sodaynly fallen betwene them forsaken of their succoures and so lefte destitute of thelpe and ayde of them the Atheniens put them to the worser Neuerthelesse the campe of the Scythians was a refuge vnto theym â—…y whose helpe they retourned into their countrey vntouched of other nacions After Orithia Penthesilea obtayned the soueraynetye Who lefte behynde her a noble remembraunce of her worthie actes in that famous assemble of valiaunt men in the defence of the Troianes against the Greekes Finally Penthesilea beyng slayne and her armye wasted those sewe that remayned with muche a doe scarcely defendyng them selues agaynste theyr neyghbours continued vnto the tyme of great Alexander Whose Queene Minothea otherwyse called Thalestris after she had obteined the
them about but assone as night shoulde serue their turn to set vpō their enemies making mery without care in their tēts For conquerors could no where die more honorably then in the camp of their enemies It was no hard matter to perswade thē that wer al redy bent to die Forth with they armed them selues being but vi C. men in all brake into the cāp of v. C. M. and forthwith went vnto the kings pauilion of purpose either to die with him or elsse if they wer ouerlaid to die in especialli in his tent Al the cāp was on a rore The Lacedemonians when they could not find the king ranged through all the camp like cōquerors slaying throwing down al things as men that knew that they fought not in hope of victory but to reuēge their own death The battel was prolonged frō the beginning of the nighte vntill the more parte of the next day was spent At the last not vanquished but wery of vanquishing they fell down dead amōg the heapes of their dead ennemies Xerxes hauing receiued two iosses in battell on the land entended to try his fortune But Themistocles the captain of the Atheniens when he vnderstode that the Ion◅s in whose quarel the king of Persie made all this war wer come to the aid of the Persians with a nauy of shippes he entended to draw thē to his part if he could And because he could haue no opportunity to talke with the he caused these words to be engraued in stones set at the places wher they shuld ariue How mad are ye O ye Ionians what mischief intend you now to do purpose ye to make war against your first founders now of late your new reuengers haue we builded your wals to th entent they shuld destroy oures I put the case we had not this occasion of war firste with Darius and now with Xerxes seinge we forsoke you not when ye rebelled why do ye not come out of that siege into this our cāp Or if ye thinke ye may not do so without danger when the battel shal be ioyned step you aside draw back your ships depart out of the battel Before they shuld encoūter vpon the sea Xerxes had sent iiii M. men to Delphos to spoil the tēple of apollo as though he had made warre not only with the Grekes but euen with the gods immortal which bād of men was vtterly destroid with tempest lightnynge to th entent he might vnderstande that the more that God is wroth displesed with man the lesse power or rather none at all hath man against god After this he burned the cities of Thespie Plate Athens but ther wer no men in them because he could not haue the men to kil in his displesure he wreked his teme vpon their houses For the Athenies after the battel of Barathon by the counsell of Themistocles which gaue the warning that victory won of the Persians was not at end but rather a cause of greater warre made them a flcte of two hundred shippes Therfore when Xerxes was comming toward them they asked counsell of the Oracle at Delphos wher it was aunswered that they must prouide for their sauegard in wodden walles Themistocles deming it to be spoken and ment of shippes perswaded all the people that their Countrye was not the walles but the men and that the Citye was not the houses and buildinges but the Citizens and inhabitauntes Wherfore it was better for them and more for theyr safegard to betake them selues to shippes then to abyde in the towne whervnto God himself semed to counsel them The counsell was well liked and thervpon abandoning the Citye they conueyed their wiues and children with all theyr preciousest stuffe and iewels into secrete Ilands and there bestowed them in safety whiche beinge doone they armed them selues and tooke shipping Other Cities also folowed the example of the Atheniens Therfore when all the whole fiete of their complices and parrakers were assembled together in the narow seas by the I le of Salamine to th entent they mighte not be enclosed of Xerxes greate multitude as they were consulting how to maintaine the warres vpon the sea sodenly sprang a variaunce betwene the princes of the Cities euery man deuising how to breake vp priuely to steale home to defend his own Themistocies fearing least by the departure of his Companions his strength shoulde be abated sent woorde vnto Xerxes by a trustye seruaunte that now was the time that he myght easly take al Grece together in one place wheras if euery man were dispersed home to his owne Citye as they wer about to doo it shuld be more to his paine to pursue them one by one Thorough this pollicy he caused the king to geue a sign of battel The Grekes also being preuented with thapproche of their ene mies layed their power together ioyned battell During the time of thencounter the king as a loker on no medler with certaine shippes lay still at the roode But Artemysia the Queene of Halicarnassus whyche came to the ayde of Xerxes foughte fierslye euen amonge the formest Captayne in the battell So that as in Xerxes was to be sene a kinde of femine fearfulnesse so in her was to be seene the kynde of manlye couragiousnesse In the whottest of the battell the Ionians according to the commaundement of Themistocles began by litle and litle to withdraw them selues out of the prease Whose departure discouraged al the rest The Per sians loking about which way to eskape were put out of a ray sone after being vanquished were put to open flight In the whiche discomfiture manye shippes were drowned and many were taken But mo fearing more the kinges cruelty then their ennemy stale away and went home The king Xerxes beinge striken in great feare by reason of this slaughter and knowing not what to do Mardonius cam vnto him counselling him to depart into his kingdōe with as muche spede as might be least the brute of the discomfiture might cause any insurrection or he cam there which commonly is wont to make more of thinges then they be in dede Leauing him 0000. thousand of the tallest men picked souldiers of all his host with the which company he promised either to his great honour to subdue al Grece or if it were his misfortune to be ouercome he woulde wythout infamy or dishonor to his Maiesty geue place to his ennemies The counsel of Mardonius was well allowed Whervpon the said nomber of men wer to him deliuered and the remnaunt of his hoste the king him selfe purposed to conuey home again But the Grekes hearing of the kinges flight consulted together to breake the bridge whyche he as Lord of the sea had made at Abydus to the entent that his passage being cut of he might either with his army be vtterlye destroyed or elsse be brought to suche an exigent that as clerely ouercome
he should be compelled to desyre peace at their handes But Themistocles fearing least his enemies being stopped of their passage should tourn theyr despair into hardines and seing none other remedy make them selues way with their swordes told them that there were enemies ynough and to many all ready in Grece the nomber wherof ought not to be encreased by keping them against their wils ◅ut when he perceiued his counsel pre uailed not be sent the same seruaunt againe vnto Xerxes aduertising him of their entent purpose and willing hym to get him away with spede if he entended to eskape The king being striken in fear with this message deliuered his souldiers to be conueied home by their captains he with a few went toward abydos wher finding the bridge broken with the tēpests of the winter he feried ouer fearfully in a fishers bote It was a thing worth the beholding and as in consideration and valewing of mannes ◅ckle welth prosperity a thing to be wondred at to beholde him now lurking in a litle boat whome lately before skarse all the Sea was able to receiue and to se him destitute of all attendās seruice whose army by reson of the huge multitude therof was euen a burden to the earth Neither had the army whom he had assigned to captains any luckier or more for tunate iournying by land For besides their daily trauell as surely there is no rest to such as be in fear they were al so afflicted with hunger Furthermore the ◅ant of victels brought vpon them the pestilence by meanes wherof they died so thicke that the waies were couered with their dead carkasses in so muche that the beastes and foules allured with desire of pray followed the hoste In the meane tyme Mardonius toke Olynthus in Grece by assault Also he entreted with the Atheniens to sue to the kinge for peace and frendship promising to build vp their city which he hadde burnt larger and fairer then euer it was before When he saw they wold not sel their liberty for any worldly good he set on fire that which they had begō to build again from thence he passed with his army into Bo◅ thither folowed also the host of the Grekes which was a hundred M. men there was a battel fought But the chaunging of the captain chaunged not the kinges fortune For Mardonius being ouercōe eskaped with a few as it wer out of shipwrak His ◅entes replenished withall kinde of richesse after the princeliest sort that could be wer taken riffled Whervp on first of al among the Grekes when they had parted the gold of the Parsians among them grew excesse and riot By chaunce the same day that Mardonius host was destroyed there was another battell fought vpon the sea against the Persians in Asia hard by the mountaine Mycale Ther before the encounter as the two fleetes stoode in order of battaile one againste another a fame came vnto bothe the armies that the Greekes had gotten the vpper hande and vtterly slaine all Mardonius host So great was the swiftnesse of fame that the battel being foughte in Boetia in the mornynge by noone tidinges was broughte of the victorye into Asia ouer so many seas and ouer so muche grounde in so short a moment of time When the warres were fynished and that consultation was had how euery Citye shoulde be rewarded by iudgement of them all the Atheniens were demed to haue don mooste valiantlye Amonge the Captaines also Themistocles was by the verdite of all the Cities iudged chefe and soueraigne to the great renowne of his countrye The Atheniens therfore beinge increased as well in richesse as in honor began to builde their City new oute of the grounde When the Lacedemonians heard how they had enlarged the walles of their Citye and sette them further out then they were before they beganne to haue them in a gelowsye wiselye forecastinge what they were like to growe vnto hauinge ones made their Citye stronge and defensyble whiche by the decaye of their Citye had gotten so much as they hadde Wherefore they sent Ambassadoures admonishynge them not to buylde Fortresses for theyr ennemyes and holdes for the Warres that were lyke to ensue hereafter Themistocles perceiuing them to grudge and to repine at the raising of his city thinking that it stode him in hand to beware that he did nothing vnaduisedly answeared the ambassadors that there shuld certain go with them to La◅mon fully authorised to entreat and conclude with thē as concerning that matter So when he had dispatched the ambassadours of Sparta he exhorted his Citezens to make spede in their work and he him selfe within a while after went of ambassade In the which iourny what by faining him self sicke and what by putting fault in the slacknesse of suche as were in commission with him without whome he saide he was able to doo nothing by vertue of his commissyon he draue of still from day to day and all to th entent that they might haue leisure to furnish their woorke During which time it was reported at Lacedemon that the woorke went f◅r warde a pace at Athens Wherevpon they sente Ambassadoures agayne to see if it were so or no. Then Themistocles by a Seruaunte of hys sente a letter to the hyghe Magystrates of Athens willing them to hold the Spartane ambassadours in safe keping as pledges least otherwise then wel might be doon or committed against him at Lacedemon Then he wēt boldly before the Lacedemonians declaring that Athens was now throughly fortified and that it was able to withstand the force of enemies not only by the sword but also by the strengthe of their walles and if they entreated him otherwise then wel for the matter their ambassadors were kept as pledges for the same purpose at Athens Then he gaue them a great rebuke in that they soughte to make them selues strong and to obtain seueraignty not by their own power but by the weaknesse of their fellowes So beinge dismissed in manner triumphing ouer the Lacedemonians he was ioyfully receiued o◅ his own Citezens After thys the Spartanes least their strength shuld decay through idlenesse and to reuenge them selues vppon the Persians whyche twise before hadde made warre vpon the Grekes of theyr owne accord in◅aded the borders of their Empire They chose for captaine bothe of their owne army and of the army of the adherents one Pansanias who beinge not content with the Captainship but coueting in stede therof to make him self king of all Grece priuely conspired with Xerxes In reward wherof he should haue the kinges daughter in mariage and because the king should haue the more confidens in him he sent home the prisoners skot free without raunsome Moreouer he wrote vnto Xerxes that what messengers so euer he sent vnto him he shoulde putte them to death to the entent their purpose should not by talk be bewrayed But Aristides the
the conquerors Then they began the slaughter of the citizens at aicibiades least vnder pretens of restoring their liberty he might inuade the coÌ„mon wealth again For hauing intelligens that he was goyng towarde Art axeâ—…xes kinge of Persia they sent certaine after hym in post to cut him of by the way by whom he was ouertakeÌ„ But because they coulde not kill him openlye they set fyre on his chamber where he slept and burnte him vp quicke The tirauntes being deliuered oute of feare of this reuenger of his country with their slaughter extorcion and rauishmentes made euen a spoile of the miserable and wretched outcastes that were left in the City the whiche theyr doinge when they vnderstoode to displease one of their fellowes whose name was Tbemeranes to the terror of all the reast they put him to death Whervpon glad was he that might get himself out of the city insomuche that all Grece was ful of banished men of Athens and yet euen that one only reâ—…uge and comfort was taken from the poore wretches For the Lacedemonians had geuen straight charge commaundemeÌ„t that no city shuld be so bold as to receiue or harbrough the banished men of Athens Neuerthelesse they withdrew them selues al vnto Argos Thebes wheras they not only liued out of daÌ„ger During the time of their exile but also receiued hope of recouering their Country Ther was among the banished men one Thrasibulus a stout man one that came of a noble house who thinckinge that a man was bound to aduenture for his country sake thoughe it were to his own peril and ieoperdy of his life assem bled a company of his banished country men and toke the castle Phyle in the territory of Athens And he wanted not the fauour and helpe of certaine Cities that had pitye and compassion of their miserable estate and cruell handlynge For Ismenias the prince of the Thebanes although he could not aide them openlye with the power of his countrye yet notwithstanding he helped them with suche goodes as he had of his owne And Lysias an Orator of Syracuse being at the same time also a banished man sent CCCCC Souldioures well furnished at his owne proper â—…ostes and charges to the aid of the country of all eloquens therfore anon after was a sharpe encounter But forasmuchas the one part fought earnestly for the recouery of their country and the other parte negligently as they that 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of other mennes tiâ—… the 〈◊〉 were put to the worse and retiring into the City which they had in manner wasted and made desolate with their murderinges 〈◊〉 extortion and sacked it This done hauing all the Atheniens in a gelouly of treson they 〈◊〉 them euery one to remoue out of the city dwel in tharmes of the waâ—… that wer woken down defending their superiority doâ—…ions with souldiours â—…aunts Afterward they went about to corrupt 〈◊〉 promising to make him 〈◊〉 partaker of their Empire which thing wheÌ„ they could not bring to effect they sent for aid to the Lacedemonians at whose comming they made a new encounter In the whiche Critios and Hyppomaâ—…us the cruellest 〈◊〉 of them all were 〈◊〉 The residue also being vanquished when their army wherof the most part wer Atheniens fled toward the city 〈◊〉 callinge to them as loud as â—…e could cry demaunded why they should flie from him hauing obtained the victorye and not rather helpe him as the defendor and reuenger of the libertye of them all bidding them remember that his souldiours wer their owne neighboures and Citizens and not their ennemies And that he had not taken wepon in hande to thenâ—… to take anything from them being vanquished but to the entent to restore theÌ„ such things as haue ben taken froÌ„ them by others professing that he made war agaynste the 〈◊〉 and not against the city Moreouer he put them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 affinitye betwene them of their lawes of their rites ceremonies common amongst them of the felowship and coÌ„pany that had bene betwixt them in so many battels in times paste beseching them to haue pity vppon their banished countrye men And if they could finde in their hartes to â—…eare the yoke of bondage so paciently them selues he besought them to restore him his country and he would set them at liberty again He dyd so much with this perswasion that when tharmy was retur ned into the city they coÌ„maunded the xxx tirants to depart vnto Elâ—…sis and in their stead they substituted others to goâ—… the 〈◊〉 welth Who nothing abashed at the ensaÌ„ple of their predecessors fell to the same cruelty that they had exercised While these thinges wer a doing word was brought to Lacedemon that the Atheniens were very destrous of warre the which to represse they sent their kyng Pansanias who hauing compassion vpon the banished peo ple restored the wretched citizens to their country agains 〈◊〉 the x. tirants to remoue out of the City vnto Elensis to the reâ—…due of their company Peace being by this meanes established within a few daies after the Tirans disdaining as much the restitution of the banished citizens as their own deposinges banishment as though a nother mannes liberty â—…ad ben their bondage made war against the 〈◊〉 But as they came forth to commu 〈◊〉 as though they wold haue taken vpon them their preheminency souerainty again they wer by a policye taken 〈◊〉 a sacrifice for peace The people whiche they had coÌ„maunded out of the city wer called in again And so the city which was dispersed into diuers members was at length brought into one body corporation againe And to th entent no dissention might grow vpon things past they wer al sworn to forget and bury vnder fote all old debate grudge In the meane while the Thebanes and the Corinthians sent ambassadors to the Lacedemonians demauÌ„dyng their portion of the praise and botles taken in the warres wherof they had helped for their part to bear out the charges dangers Hauing denial of their requestes they dyd not immediatly proclaim open war against the Lacedemo nians but they conceiued suche an inwarde displeasure in their harts that it might wel be vnderstand that they mened no lesse to make war wheÌ„ they saw their time About the same time almost died Darius kyng of Persia leauing behinde him his two sonnes Artaxerxes and Câ—…rus He bequethed by his last wil vnto Artaxerxes the kingdom and vnto Cyrus the rities wherof he was that time ruler But Cyrus thought his father did him wronge in that bequest and therfore he coÌ„spired priuely against his brother 〈◊〉 hauing knowledge therof set for him and not regarding his counter fait pretence of innocencye nor hys fained excuses as that he was not priuy to the conspiracye bound him in fetters of gold and woulde haue put hym to deathe had not his mother letted him Cyrus
This yere was notable not only because peace was so sodenlye made throughe all Grece but also because the same time the Citye of Rome was taken by the frenchmen But the Lacedemonians being now at rest lying in await for aduaÌ„tage â—…spying the Arcadians from home surprised their castle put a garrison of their owne men therin The Arcadians therfore with the helpe of the Thebaâ—…es came into the field well armed and in good aray to recouer that that they had lost by the sword In the which conflict Archidamus captain of the Lacedemonians was wounded who seing his men beaten downe as vanquished demaunded by an heralt to haue the deade bodies of such as were slain to th entent he might bury them For this is a token amoÌ„g the Grekes of geuing the victory with the which confession the Thebanes being contented blew to the retreit pursued no further with a few daies after neither party atteÌ„pting any displesure when a man wold haue thought they had ben at a truce as it were by a secret consent and agrement amoÌ„g them selues while the Lacedemonians wer busied in other warres against their neighbors the Thebanes vnder the conduicte leading of their captain Epaminondas purposed to haue won their citie ere they wer aware of it Where vpon in the beginning of the night they setforth as closelye as they coulde deuise toward Lacedemon But yet they coulde not take them vnwares For thold men other persoÌ„s vnmeâ—…e for the wars by reson of their yeres hauing vnderstaÌ„ding ofthapproche of their enemies armed theÌ„ selues met them in the very entrance of the gates against xv M. souldiers not aboue a C. old forgrown men put theÌ„ selues to thencounter So much corage strength doth the present sight of a mannes country houshold geue a man so much doth â—…he preseÌ„ce of things geue men 〈◊〉 stomackes theÌ„ the remeÌ„braÌ„ce of theÌ„ being away For when theysaw within what â—… for what they stode at defence they determined either to win 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 die A few old men therfore helde them playe whome ere the next morning all the youth they had was not able to withstand In that battell two of the captains of their enemies were slain In the meane while word was brought that agesilaus was come where vppon the Thebanes retired and it was not longe after but they encountred againe For the yong men of Lacedemon being incensed with the prowesse and valiaÌ„t demenor of the old men could not be with held but that they would nedes try the matter immediatlye in open field when as the victory was all ready the Thebanes And Epaminondas whiles he executed the dutye and office not only of a stout captain but also of a valiaunt souldiour was greuously wounded The which thing being hard of the one party was so striken in feare and the other partye for ioy was so amazed that bothe parties as it were by a peaceable consent departed the field Within a fewe daies after Epaminondas deceased with whom the strength of the common welth decayed For in like manner as if ye break of the edge of a wepon the rest of it is able to doo no great harme euen so this Duke being dead who was as it were the edge of the common wealthe of Thebes the strengthe therof was appalled and in manner dulled in so much that they semed not so muche to haue lost him as altogether to haue died with him For neither before this Dukes time atcheued they any notable conquest nor afterwarde deserued to be spoken of for any famous attempt by them accom plished but only for the slaughters that were made of theÌ„ So that it appereth manifestly that the glory and renown of his country did bothe spring vp with him and die wyth him And a manne is not able to iudge whether he were a better captain and souldiour or a better man of his liuing For alwaies he sought preheminence to his countrye rather then to him self and he was suche a sparer of monye that be wanted wherwith to bury him according to his estate And he was euen as couetous of praise as of monye For authority and offices wer laid vpon him euen vtterly against his wil. And he behaued him self in such wise in his authority that he semed not to receiue but rather to geue honor to the same Furthermore he was so studious of lerning so instructed in the knowledge of philosophy that it was a woÌ„der to se how a maÌ„ bred brought vp in lerning shuld come by such sight experience in feats of war Neither did his death dissent from this his trade of liuing For being brought into his tent half dead when he was come to him self again had receiued his speache he demaunded this one thing of such as stode about him whether his ene mies had taken his shield from him when he was felled or no when he vnderstode it was saued he commaunded it to be broughte to him as the partaker of all his trauels and glory he kissed it Then he enquired again which parte had won the field and hearing that the Thebanes had gotteÌ„ it he said all was wel and so as it wer reioysing for his couÌ„tries sake he gaue vp the ghoste By the deathe of this man the prowesse of the Atheniens also decayed For after the time that he was once gon whose fotesteps they wer wont to fo low now geuing the selues all together to slouth idlenes they lashed out the common reuenues not vpon ships and men of warre as they had don in times past but in feastful daies and holy daies in making preparation for pagiants enterludes gathering theÌ„ selues together into the theaters to behold the famous stage players Poets visitinge oftner the stage then the campe setting more by versifiers and oratoures then by Captaines Then the common tresure wherwith men of war and mariners wer wont to be maintained began to be deuided amonge the people of the city By meanes wherof it came to passe that whyle the Greekes gaue them selues to idlenesse The name of the Macedones which before time was â—…ile and obscure sproÌ„g vp and grew to great honour that Philip who was kept iii. yeres as an hostage at Thebes being enstructed in all feates of armes and cheualry by 〈◊〉 and the Peloâ—… after his returne into his country laid the kingdoÌ„ of Macedony as a yoke of bondage vpon the neckes bothe of Grece and of â—…sia The seuenth Booke MAcedonie in auncient time was called â—…inathia after the name of emathio king of the couÌ„try who was the firste that gaue anye notable profe of his prowesse in those parts As this country encreased slowly by little and little so the boundes therof were very narowe The inhabitauntes were called Pclascians and the Country it self Bcotia But afterwarde throughe the prowesse of the kinges and industry of the people first by subduinge theyr
made lieuetenaunte of the Armenians In processe of time after y ◠death of king Ochus in remēbrans of hys former prowesse the people created him kyng And to th entent nothing shuld want in him that appertained to thestate of a king they called him by the renowmed name o◅ Darius Who afterward with great prowesse held warre a long time with greate Alexander somtime to his gaine and sometime to his losse At laste beinge vanquished of Alexander and slain of his own kinsmen he ended his life to gether with the Empire of the Persians The eleuenth Booke IN tharmy of Philip as there were sondry sorts of people Euen so after y ◠time that he was slain their mindes wer diuersly moued For some that were oppressed with wrongfull seruitude comforted them selues with hoope of libertye Others wearye of the warfares so far frō their natiue country reioysed to thinke y ◠the viage shuld be broken vp and they dismissed Manye were sory to see the Tapers y ◠were made to set before the daughter at her mariage stand vpon the herse of the father His frēds also wer not a litle amased at so sodain mutation of things considering how Asia was lately chalenged Europe scarsly yet cōquered and howe the Illyrians Thracians Dardanians other barbarous nations wer of minde vnconstāt and vnwauerig of promise vnfaithful not to be trusted to All the which people if they should forsake their obediens rebel all at ones it were not possible by any meanes to resist them Unto all these mischeues the comming of Alexander was as it wer a presēt salue Who in an oration so c◅forted forted encoraged al the people for the time y ◠he bothe exempted al fear out of their harts and made them to conceiue good hope expectation of him self He was then xx yeres old in the which he promised many things of him self wyth suche modesty y ◠it appered he wold do more when it came to the profe then he spake of He gaue the Macedones a quite discharge of al things sauing he wold not exempt them from the warres by the which dede he purchased him selfe such at al mens hands y ◠they said they had changed the body of their king but not his vertues the first chiefest regard y ◠he had was to enter his father accordinge to his estate In executing wherof before al other things he caused all such persons to be put to death vpon his fathers tombe as wer accessary to the same Only he pardoned Alexander of Lyncests his brother reseruing in him the good fore token of his own estate for as much as he was y ◠firste that saluted him by the name of a king Moreouer he caused Caranus his mother in lawes sonne his brother in law to be put to death as one that loked to be a partner with him in the kingdom In the beginning of his raigne he subdued many countries that rebelled and suppressed manye insurrections euen in the very rising Whereby beinge greatlye encouraged he went leiserly into Grece wher after the example of his father sommoning the Cities to appeare before him at Corinthe he was substituted captaine general in his stead And thervpon he went immediatly in hand wyth y ◠wars against the Persians which his father had begone While he was busy in the furniture therof tidinges was brought him that the Atheniens the Lacedemonians and the Thebanes were reuolted from him to the Persians that the author of this reuolting was the orator Demosthen◅s corrup ted by ◅he Persians for a great sum of golde who auowed before the people that the king of Macedone wyth all hys hoste was slaine of the Tribales bringinge the tales man in open audience who to make good the matter sayde he was wounded hym selfe in the same battel that the kynge was slayne Uppon the whyche reporte the minds almost of all the Cities were chaunged and the Garrisons of the Macedones besieged The whyche motions intendynge to preuent he entred into Grece with an host well aparelled and in good order with suche celerity that they skarse beleued their owne e◅es when they sawe him because they hearde not of his commynge In hys waye thither warde he exhorted the Thessalians to keepe their allegiaunce putting them in minde of the benefites of his father Phillip toward them and of the kinred that was betwixte hym and them by his mothers side which came of the stocke of A◅acus The Thessalians were glad to heare those wordes of him and thervpon made him lieuetenaunte generall of al their country as his father had bene before and rendred vnto hym all the tributes and reuenues that he was wont to haue But the Atheniens as they were the firste that reuolted so were they the first that repented turnyng the disdaine of their ennemy into admiration and wondremēt and extollinge the childehode of Alexander whyche before they had in despite aboue the prowesse of the auncient captaines Therfore they sent ambassadors desiringe pardon and that they mighte haue peace Whom Alexander hard and with greuous rebuke graunted them their request From thence he turned his power toward Thebes intending to haue shewed like mercy if he had found like repen taunce But the Thebanes went to it with force of armes and not with intretaunce and submission Beinge therfore vanquished they suffred most greuous punishment of miserable captiuity When the matter came to debatinge in counsel as concerning the d◅truction of the citye the Phocenses the Platecenses the Thespienses and the Orchome◅ians Alexanders companions in armes and partakers of his victory rehersed the crueltye of the Thebanes in destroyinge their Cities and the good wil that they alwayes bare to y ◠Persians not only at that time but also of old time to the open preiudice and domage of the liberty of Grece whiche thing was not to be borne withall In consideration wher of they were worthelye hated of all people ▪ for the proofe wherof there neaded none other triall nor witnesse then this that they all bounde them selues with an othe to rase Thebes assone as euer they hadde ouercome and made an end with the Persians Furthermore they tolde what enterludes had bene made of their former noughtinesse in so muche that there was wel nie no stage wheron they made not open showes therof to the entent they should be hated and abhorred not only for their presēt vnfaithfulnesse but also for their olde follye and madnesse Then Eleadas one of the prisoners hauing liberty geuen him to speake said that the Thebanes had not reuolted from th◅ king in as much as they hard say he was slain but from the kings heirs In which doing if there were anye trespasse it was rather to be imputed as an ou◅rsight for being so light of credit then as a promise br◅aking or vnfaithfulnesse and yet if it were so they had all redy suffred great
countries all readye after a sort embrasinge in theyr mindes their wiues and children Alexander sommoned his souldiers together perswading with them that al those battels were to no effect that were paste if the barbarous nations of the East should eskape vntouched for he desired not Darius body but his kingdome and all suche ought to be pursued as forsoke their obedience to the kingdome When he had by this oration quickned the mindes of hys souldioures a new he subdued Hyrcanie and the Mede◅ In y ◠same countrye met him Thalestris otherwise named Mynoshaea the Quene of the Amazones with CCC M. womē whiche had come a xxv daies iourny through the sauage countries and through the middes of her ennemies of purpose so haue issue by Alexander The sight comming of whom was wondered at both for the straūge attire of the womē and also for the request that they made to companye wyth Alexander his men For this occasion wer xxx dais spent in idlenesse whē she thought her self with child she depar ted home again After this Alexander as though he hadde had made himself subiect to their lawes customes whom he had vanquished tok◅ vpon him thattire and diademe of the kings of Persia which thing was neuer known amōg the kings of Macedone before that time And because they shuld not disdain him y ◠more for doing these things alone to th entent he might counterfet the Persians aswell in excesse of apparel as in excesse of fare he also commaūded hys frends to wear lōg robes of cloth of gold of skarlet More ouer he spent the nights in daliance among the kings cōcubines which wer women of most excellent beuty eft with one and eft with another as their turnes came about And for fear least through wāt of delitious fare he shuld not be able to hold with his venerus daliāces pastimes he made sumptuous feasts bankets and thervnto deuised princely showes pageants quite forgetting y ◠by suche meanes riches are wont to be consumed wasted not gottē or preserued Upon this his doing arose a great grudge through al the camp y ◠he held so sore degenerate frō his father Philip y ◠in manner he disdained ones to heare his country named shuld take vpon him the maners customes of the Persians whō for such maners customs he had subdued But for because he would not seme to haue yelded him self to the vices of them whōe he had subdued by battell alone he gaue his souldiers licens if any of thē wer delited with the cōpany of their prisoners to mary them to their wiues thinking that they would haue lesse minde of home if they had in their tents as it were an image or representation of their houshold gods dwelling places also that thei wold make les accōpt of their trauel in y e warres for the delite plesure they had in their wiues Besides this he thought y ◠Macedone should not nede to be spent so muche in sendyng forth soldiers to supply the nomber of them that wer slam If the yong nouices might succede the old and expert souldiers their fathers learning to playe the men of war euen in the same trenche that they were born in And that they should proue the bolder and hardier if they were not onlye trained vp to the Warres but also broughte vp from the shel in the camp The which custome remained also among the successors of Alexander Therfore there was a stipend appoynted to finde the Children with all and when they came to mannes estate they had apparel of house and harnesse geuen them and the fathers had wages alowed thē according to the nomber of their sonnes If any of their fathers died or were slain the Orphanes neuerthelesse toke their fathers wages whose childhode amonge so many viages was euen a very warfare For being from their tender yeares endured and hardened with continuall trauell and pearils they made the host inuincible accompting the campe for noone other then their countrye nor the battell for anye other then their assured victorye The people that were thus begotten were called Epigones Afterwarde when he had conquered the Parthians he made ruler ◅uer them one of the mooste noble men of all Persia named Andragoras from whome the kings of Parthia did afterward descend In the mean seson Alexander began to outrage with his own men not like a king but like an enemy In especially it displeased him that some of them tolde him and rebuked him for breaking the customes of his offences the ancient father Parmenio next vnto the king in estate and dignity with his sonne Ph◅otas after inquisition had vpon them were bothe put to death Whervppon al the campe began to be on a rore bewailinge the mischaunce of the innocent old man and his sonne not letting sometime to saye that it was not for them to loke for any better The whiche thinges when they came to Alexanders eare fearing that if the brute hereof should be blowen into Macedone the glory of his conquests should be distained with the spot of cruelty he made as thoughe he were minded to send certain of his frends into Macedone to beare hōme tidings of his conquests exhorting his souldiers to wryte to their frends for it wold be long or they had the like occasion again because they should make warre further of The whiche being doone he caused the packets of letters to be brought priuely vnto him by the whiche vnderstanding euerye mannes iudgement of him he put all those together into one band that had any ill opinion of him entending either to consume them by battel or els to distribute them in to new townes that he purposed to build in the vttermoste partes of the world Then he subdued the Dracans the Euergets the Parimans the paropamissadanes the Hydaspians and the other kindes of people that inhabite the fote of Caneasus In the meane time was broughte vnto him faste bounde Bassus one of Darius frendes who had not only betraied the king his master but also slain him Whom in reuengement of his traiterous act he deliuered to Darius brother to punish him as he thought good accompting not Darius so much his enemy as the frend of Darius that had slayne his own master And to th entent he might leaue his name behinde him in those countries he builded a City vpon the riuer Tanais and named it Alexandria the wall whereof beinge vi miles in compasse he finished within xvii daies remouinge into it the people of iii. other cities that Cyrus had builded Amonge the Segdians and Bactrians also he builded xii cities destributing into thē all such as he knew to be seditious personnes in his hoste These thynges thus brought to passe vpon a certain solempne holye day he bad hys frendes to a feast wher after the time they had taken in their cuppes mention being made
in armour in the field by the consente of them all he called certaine seditious personnes oute of euerye bande and caused them priuelye to be put to death The whiche done he returned againe and deuided the prouinces amonge the princes to the entent he myght send out of the way suche as wer his backe frendes and al so make them all to thinke that it was throughe hys goodnesse that they obtained suche authority First of all Egipt with a part of Affricke and Arabie fell by lot vnto Ptolomy whome Alexander for his manhode and valia◅tnesse had promoted from a raskall souldioure And to pntte him in his office was appoynted Cleomenes which builded Alexandria The next prouince adioyninge thervnto which was Syria was cōmitted to Laomedō of Mytilene Phylotas his son toke Cylicia Sclauonie Ouer the greater Media was made ruler Acr◅pat ouer the lesser Alcet the brother of Perdicas The country of Susa nie was assigned to Syno the greater Phrygia vnto Antigonus the son of Philip Learchus chaunced by lot vpon Lycia and Pamphylia Cassander vpon Caria and Menan der vpon Lydia Unto Leonatus happened the lesser Phri gia vnto Lysymachus Thrace the countries bordering vpon y ◠sea of Pontus Cappadocia with Paphlagonia wer geuen vnto Emnenes The marshalship of the campe fortuned to Seleuchus the sonne of Antiochus Cassander the sonne of Antipater was made captain of the kings garde In the further Bactria and in the countries of Indie the former lieuetenants wer cōmaunded to kepe their offices stil sauing that Taxilles had the gouernaunce of all y ◠lays betwene the two riuers of Hydaspes and Indus And that Phyton the son of Agenar was sent to haue the rule of the new townes that were builded in Indie Ariarches tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Parapomenians people that inhabite the vttermost parts of the mountain Cancasus Statener toke to gouern the Dracans and Argeans Amyntas the Bactrians Scythens obtained the Sogd◅ās Nicanor the Parthians Phillip the Hyrcanians Phrataphernes the Armenians Neoptolemus the Persians Pēcestes the Babylonians Arthius the Pelasgians and Archesilaus Mesapotamia This pertition like as it chaunced to euery one of them as his fatall charge so was it vnto ma nye of them the grounde and foundation of their encreasement and prosperity For ere it was any longe time after as though they hadde deuided kingdomes and not lieuetenauntships so being made kings of lieuetenaūts they not only got greate richesse to them selues but also lefte them to their posterity While these things were a doing in the Ea◅te the Atheniens and the Aetolians renued y ◠warres in Grece withall the power they wer able to make which they had all redy begon while Alexander was aliue The occasion of this warre was because that Alexander at hys retourne from Inde wrote his letters into Grece by the whiche all suche as were banished out of their natiue coun tries of what city so euer they were suche as were attainted of murder onlye excepted were restored to their countries againe The which being openly red in the presens of all Grece at the marte of Olympus caused much busines because that diuers of them were banished not by order of law but through discord and partaking of the princes fearing y ◠if they shuld be reuoked again they might bear grea ter sway autority in the common welth thē they Whervpon euen then many cities murmured saying opely that it wer mete to set them selues at liberty by the sword But the chefe doers and ringleaders in this quarell wer the Atheniens and the actolians Wherof assone as alexander had knowledge he enioyned his confederates to finde hym a thousande gallies to make warre withall in the West pur posing by the way to make a rhode againste athens and to destroy it vtterly The atheniens therfore hauinge raysed an army of thirty thousande souldiers two hūdred ships made warre with Antipater to whome the gouernmente of Grece fel by lot whom for as much as he durst not geue them battel in the field but kept himself within the walles of the city Hiraclea they besieged The very same time De mosthenes the orator of athens who beinge before banished his country for his offence in taking a bribe of Harpa lus that fled for fear of alexanders crueltye because he had moued the city to warre againste him by chaunce liued as an outlaw at Megara hearing that the atheniens had sent Hyperides of ambassade to moue the Pelopomiesians to take their part in these warres folowed him and with hys eloquens perswaded Sycion argos and Corinthe and all the other cities to ioyne them selues with the atheniens For the which his doing the Atheniens sent a ship for him and called him home out of exile In the meane season at the siege of Antipater Leosthenes captaine of the Atheniens was slaine wyth a Darte throwne at him from the wall as he passed by The which thinge gaue suche encouragemente to Antipater that he burste open his barriers and aduenture into the Trenche of his enemies Neuerthelesse he was fain to send his messengers to Leonatus for succour The Atheniens hearing that he was comminge towarde them with an hoste went to meete him in order of battell where amonge the horsemen he receiued so sore a wounde that he died for thwyth Antipater allbeit he sawe his reskowes put to flyghte yet notwithstanding he was gladde that Leonatus was dead For by meanes therof he was bothe rid of a backe frende and also encreased in strengthe by attaininge of his hoste Therfore assone as he had receiued his armye being nowe able to matche with his ennemies in plaine field they raised their siege and he departed into Macedone The Grekishe hoste also hauinge driuen the enemy oute of the borders of Grece went home euerye man to his owne citye In the meane while Perdicas making warre againste the innocent Ariarathes king of Cappadocia and gettinge the vpper hand in the field won nothing therby but woundes and pearils For his enemies retiring out of the battel into the city slue their wiues and children and set their houses and all that euer they had on fire Moreouer when they had throwen there into all theyr richesse they caste them selues also hedlong after them to the entent their enemy hauing gotten the victory shoulde enioy nothing of theirs more then the beholdyng of y ◠fire After this to th entent that to thestablishment of his strēgth he might get himself thautority of a king he entended to mary Cleopatra the sister of great Alexander and some time the wife of the other Alexander not without the con sent of her mother Olympias But first of al he coueted to surprise antipater vnder pretence of ioyninge aliaunce with him And therfore he pretended to desire his Daughter in mariage to th entent he might the more easly obtain a sup plement of yong souldiers oute of
of Cassander ere it was long time after entreatynge for her life eâ—…en by she wynge her brestes to moue him to pitye was crueâ—…ly slain by her sonne antipater The cause of the murther was this by reason that after the death of her husband when the kyngdome should be deuided she semed to be more fa uourable to Alexander The whych act apeared so much the more heynous in all mennes eyes by reason the mother ment no deceipte in the matter And yet to saye the trouthe there canne be no cause alledged iustly to excuse one for killing their father or theyr mother Alexander therfore vpon this occasyon entendynge to make warre vpon hys brother to reuenge hys mothers death desired healpe of Demetrius And Demetrius was easye to entreat in hope to inuade the kingdome of Macedone Of whose coÌ„ming Lysimachus being afraid perswaded hys son in law Antâ—…pater to fal to agremeÌ„t with his brother rather then to suffer his fathers enemy to enter into Macedone Demetrius perceiuing that a reconcilement was entreted vpon betwene the. ii brethren slew Alexander through great treson inuading the kingdome of Macedone to the entent to excuse himself of the murder before his men of war he called them together There he aledged y â— Alexander had lien in wait for him before and that he hadde not committed but only preuented the treason Saying it was more reson he himself shuld be kyng then the other bothe for because of his yeares he was of more discretion experiens and also for other consyderations For his father had accompanied both king Phillip grâ—…at Alexander in all their warres and afterwarde had serued Alexander as a captain in pursuing the rebels Where as on the contrary parte Antipater the graundfather of these yongmen was alwaies a more roughe gouernoure of the kingdome then the kinges them selues And Cassander the father of them the roter vp of the kings house spared neither women nor children nor neuer ceased vntill he had vtterly destroyed all the ofspring of the kings posteritye The reuengement of these milcheues for because he could not execute it vpon Cassander him self he said was transferred vnto his children Wherefore both Phillip and Alexander if the dead haue anye perseueraunce woulde not that the roters out of them and their issue but rather the punishers of those traitors should enioy the kingdome of Macedone The people being by this meanes mitigated proclaimed him king of Macedone Lysimachus also beinge entangled with the warres of Dromychet king of â—…hrace to y â— entent he would not be constrained to haue battel the self same time with Demetrius also yelded to him thother part of Macedone that fell to the lot of his sonne in law Antipater and made peace with him Demetrius therfore being furnished with the whole power of all Macedone when as he was mineded to conquere Asia Ptolomy Seleuchus and Lysimachus hauing tried by the former conflict what a strength concord was of entred in league againe and ioyning their hastes together remoued the warres into Europe against Demetrius Pyrrhus kinge of Epyre hoopinge that Demetrius might as easly and lightly forgoo Macedone as he cam by it ioyned him self with them as a fellowe and companion in their war And his hope deceiued him not For he fouÌ„d the meanes to corrupt his army with rewardes whereby he put him to flight and seised the kingdome of Macedone into his owne handes While these thinges were a doing Lysimachus put his sonne in law Antipater to deathe because he repined and 〈◊〉 that the kingdome of Macedone hys â–ª rightfull inheritaunce was taken from him throughe the falshod of his father in law And because his daughter eurydice toke her husbands part in making like exclamatioÌ„ he put her in pryson And so al the house of CassaÌ„der part ly by murder and partly by execution suffred due punishment in the behalfe of great Alexander whether it were for working of his death or for destroying of his issue and posterity Demetrius also being ouercharged with so many hostes wheras he might haue died honorablye chose rather to yeld himself to Seleuchus shamefully When theese warres were ended Ptolomy with great renowme of hys actes and enterprises died He contrary to the coÌ„mon law of all nations somewhat before he fell sycke had resigned the kingdome to the yongest of his sonnes and of hys so doing he rendred a reason to the people who fauored the sonne no lesse for receiuing the kingdome then the father for deliuering of it Amonge other examples of naturall loue and affection shewed on both partes betwene the father and the sonne â–ª this thing wan the hartes of the comminalty to the yoÌ„g man that the father after the time he had openly surrendred the kingdome vnto him executed the office of one of the garde and serued the kinge as an other priuate person sayinge it was far more honorable for a man to be father to a kinge then to be a kynge hym selfe But discorde the continuall mischief among pieres stirred vp strife betwene Lysimachus and Pyrrhus a litle be fore fellowes and confederates agaynste Demetrius Lysimachus getting the vpper hand droue Pyrrhus oute of Macedone and toke it into his owne haÌ„d After this he made war against Thrace and then against the city Heraclea y â— original end of which city wer wonderful both of theÌ„ For vpon a time wheÌ„ the Beoâ—…ans wer afflicted wyth a sore plage answer was geuen them at thoracle of delphos y â— they shuld build a city in the country of Pontus dedicate it vnto Hercules Now when as for fear of the long perillous sayling desiring al to die in their own country rather then to enterprise so loÌ„g a iourny the matter was omitted y â— Phocenses made war against theÌ„ By whoÌ„ being diuers times put to Y e worse they ran to the oracle again for couÌ„sel Answsr was made them y â— the same thing y â— shuld remedy â—…he pestilens shuld remedy y â— war Wher vpon gathering a litle noÌ„ber of men they sailed into Metapont builded the city Heraclea And forasmuch as thes had ben brought thither by thordinance of god w tin short space after they grew to great welth In proces of tyme this city had many battels with their neighbors much mischefe among theÌ„ selues through ciuil dissetioÌ„ Among other honorable dedes this in especially is worthye to be remeÌ„bred At suche time as the Atheniens bare the souerainty and hauing vanquished the Persians had raised a taxe bothe in Grece Asia for the maintenaunce of theyr flete wheras all other to saue theÌ„ selues harmlesse gladly gaue theÌ„ their asking onlye the Heracliens for the fauor they bare to the kings of Persia refused to be coÌ„tributary to y â— taxe Malachus therfore being sent froÌ„ Athens wyth an army to take perforce the thing y â— was denied whyles he weÌ„t abrode to wast
coming was not to offer any force to their country but only to recouer it and that they would shew their country men that they waÌ„ted not courage in the former warres but good fortune Herevpon â–ª they kept the City in suche wise from victuals and besieged it so narowlye that they brought the Carthaginenses to vtter despaire In the meanâ—… time Cartalo the sonne of the banished captain Macâ—…eus as he passed by his fathers campe from Tyre whether as he had bene sent by the Carthaginenses to carye vnto Hercules the tenthes of the booty that his father had taken in Sicil being sent for by his father aunswered he would first accomplishe his duty in the publike religion ere he woulde doo any priuate dutye to father or mother The whyche thing allbeit his father were much offended with yet he durst not as then vse any violence towardes him for reuerence of the religion Within a daye or two after desiring safeconduit of the people when he was retourned to his father and that he vaunted himselfe openly before all mennes eies decked in his purple robes and his myter according to the degree of priesthode his father leadynge him a side into a secreat place saide to him Thou wycked barlet durst thou be so bolde as thus bedect with skarlet and bedashte with golde to come into the open face of so many of thy wretched citezens and to enter into this sorowfull and mourning camp swimming in these tokens of quiet prosperity like as if thou shoulde triumphe ouer vs Could thou finde none other personnes to bragge thy selfe before but vs could thou finde no place â—…o meete as the penury of thy father and the calamities of his vnhappy banishment Doost thou remember that beinge the other day called thou proudlye disdained I say not thy father but certesse the captaine of thine own countrymen â–ª And I pray thee what elsse representest thou in thys thy purple robe and these crownes of golde then the titles of victories For as muche therfore as thou acknowledgest thy father for no better then a banished man I also wyll shewe my selfe as a graund captaine then as a father toward thee and I wil make thee example to all men here after not to be so bold as to laughe and skorne at the vnfortunate miseries of their fathers Immediatly here vpon he caused him to be nailed to a very high crosse in the sight of the city in his apparel attire as he went Within a few daies after he tooke Carthage sommoning the people before him he complained of his wrongful banish ment excusing the war which he was compelled to take in hand ful sore against his will by reason his conquestes were despised wherfore in as muche as he had punished thoppressors of his miserable countrymen he said he was content to pardon al the rest for his wrongful banishmeÌ„t And so hauing put ten of the senators to deathe he restored the city to her lawes again Not long after he was ac cused to haue gone about to make himself king Whervp on he suffred double punishment both for working treason against his country and for murtheringe hys owne sonne After him succeaded in the captainshippe Mago by whose industry bothe the richesse the bounds of the Empire and the renowne of the cheualrye of Carthage was greatly encreased ¶ The. xix Booke MAgo graund captain of the Carthaginenses when first of al he had by ordaininge the lawes of armes founded the Empire of the Afres and established the strengthe of his city no lesse by his pollicy and discipline in the warres then by puissaunce deceased leauyng behind him two sonnes Hasoruball and Hamilcar who running in the footesteppes of theyr fathers vertue as they succeded him in linage so succeaded they him also in worthinesse Under these captaynes warre was made in Sardinia Moreouer a fielde was fought against the Afres demaunding tribute of manye yeres for the rent of the sâ—…yle wheron the city standeth But as the Afres had the inster quarell so had they the better fortune by meanes whereof the warres were ended with them by paiment of mony and not by dinte of sword In Sardinia also Hasorâ—…hall being sorâ—… wounded surrendred the gouernmeÌ„t to his brother Hamilcar and died whose death was honorable both for the mourning of the whole City and for because he hadde bene a leuen times dictator and had had foure triumphes The ennemy also began to take hart a grace as though that wyth the captaine the strength of the Carthaginenses had decayed For the Siciltaâ—…s being oppressed by the Carthaginenses with daily iniuries reuolted to Leonida the brother of the king of Lacedemon Where vppon arose sore warres in the whiche there was manye encounters and fields fought somtime to the gain and somtime to y â— losse of either part While these thinges wer a doing ambassa dors came froÌ„ Darius king of the Persians to Carthage hauinge in charge to commaunde the Carthaginenses to leaue offering of men in sacrifice and to leaue eatynge of dogs flesh Moreouer the king commaunded them rather to burne their dead men then to bury them in the grouÌ„d requesting them of aid against the Grekes vnto â—… home Darius was about to make warre as then out of hande But the Carthaginenses denying him aide by reason of the continuall warres they had with their neighbors to th entent they wolde not seme disobedient in all thynges willingly obeyed all the rest In the mean season Hamilcar was slain in the warres in Sicil leauing behind him iii. sonnes Amilco Hanno and Gisgo Hasdrubal had also lyke noumber of sonnes Hâ—…ibal Hasdrubal and Sappho By these men were the affaires of Carthage ruled in those daies Therefore warre was made againste the Moores fieldes were foughte againste the Numidians and the Afres wer compelled to release vnto the Carthaginenses for euer the rent that they were wont to pay for the soyle of their City Afterward when suche a noumber of the graundecaptaines became as a burden to the City whiche before time had bene wont to be free in that they did aland iudged all together as they listed them selues there were a hundred of the Senatoures chosen to be iudges whyche when the captaines returned from the warres shoulde take an accompte of their doings to the entent that there by they might be kept in awe so to behaue them selues in executing their auctority in the warres as that they had neuerthelesse respect to do Iustice according to the lawes of their country In Sicill in the stead of Hamilear Hamilco was made graundcaptaine who hauinge prosperous successe and fortune bothe in battell on the sea and in battell on the lande sodainly by the influence of a pestilente planet lost all his menne of warre Wherof when tidynges came to Carthage the Citye was striken in heauinesse and all was full of houling and yelling as if the city had bene taken by the enemy Euery mannes doores wer
recouered the city Syracuse While these thynges were a doâ—…ng in Sicil in the meane time in Affricke Hanno prince of Carthage began to employe his richesse by the which he surmounted the power of the coÌ„mon weal about compassing of the souerainty entendynge to haue slaine the Senate and to haue made himself king To the perfourming of the whiche mischeuous enterprise he had chosen a certain day in the whiche he should marry his daughter solempnly to the entent that vnder the coloure of perfourming hys vowes he might the easyer woorke his wickednesse and the 〈◊〉 brynge hys mischeuous deuises to effecte vnespied And therfore he prepared a feaste for the people in the open porches and galleries of the Citye and for the Senate in his owne house To the entent that hauing couertly and wythout witnesses killed the Senatoures with poysonâ—…d drinkes he might with the more ease vsurpe vppon the common weale being destitute of her patrones and defendoures The whiche thynge beynge by the seruauntes bewrayed to the Magistrates the mischief was auoided but not punished least in a man of so great power the matter being knowen might putte them to more trouble then beinge but only surmised Being therfore contented to haue restrained him of his purpose they made a decree wherein was limited what coste shoulde be bestowed vpon mariages straightly charging and commaundinge the same to be obserued not of any one man but of all men in generall to the entent the person should not seme to be noted but the vices rebuked Beinge by this dâ—…uise preuented he stirred the bondmen to rebellion and hauing appoynted a day againe for the slaughter when he sawe himselfe the second time bewrayed fearing to be arraigned of treson he tooke a certaine stronge hold with twentye thousand bondmen well armed There whiles he sollicited the Afres and the kynge of Mauritane he was taken and beinge sore whipped and hys â—…yes pulled oute and hys armes and legges broken as thâ—…ughe euerye member were seuerally punished he was put to death in the open sight of the people and hys body being torne with whippinge was hanged vppon a gibbet Moreouer his sonnes and kinsmen euerychone of them were they neuer so giltlesse were all put to execution to th entent there should not of so wicked a stocke remaine any impe either to ensue his example in doynge the like mischiefe or to reuenge his death In the meane time Dennis being receiued Syracuse persisting euery daye more cruell then other toward the Citye they conspired against him again and besieged him Then seinge no remedy he deposed himselfe and yealded to the Syracusanes bothe his holde and his hoste and receiuinge no more but his owne priuate stuffe went his way as a banished man to Corynthe There thinkinge the basest to be the surest estate he fell to a most filthy and lothsome trade of liuing For he thought it not inough to loyter vp and down the streates onlesse he wer bibbing in euery tippling house nor to be sene in Tauernes and houses but to sytte stil in them all day from morning to night Moreouer he would braule with euerye raskall and varlet for moone shine in the water goo all to ragged and slouenlye prouoke men to laughter rather then laugh himself stande gaping and gasing in the shambles deuouring with his eies the thinges he could not bye with his monye skolde with baudes before the Wardens and in fine doo all thinges in suche wise that he might sâ—…me rather to be despised theÌ„ feared Last of all he professed himself a scholemaster and taught children in a threwaylet to th entent he might eyther be openly sene of them that feared him or els might the easier bring himselfe in contempt of them that feared hym not For all be it he alway abounded in tirannous vices yet notwithstanding this was but a counterfetting of vices and no naturall disposition and he did theese thinges of a pollicye then for that he had forgotten his royall and princely behauiour because he knew by profe how hatefull the name of a Tyran is yea thoughe they haue no â—…chesse nor power at all And therfore he labored to take a way the enuy of thinges past by bringing himself in contempt for his present demeanor hauing not so muche regarde what was for his honor as what was for the sauegard of his life Yet notwithstanding among al these couÌ„terfet dissimulations and policies he was thrise accused to haue sought meanes to make himself kyng again and nothing auailed so muche to his acquitall as that all men had him in disdaine In the time that these thinges were a doing the Carthaginenses beinge afraid at the prosperous successe of great Alexanders affaires for doubt least hauing conquered the kingdome of the Persians he wold also adioyne Affricke ther vnto to fâ—…le how he was mineded Hamilâ—…ar surnamed Rhodanus a man farre passynge all others in wit and eloquence For it encreased their fâ—…ar â–ª because they saw their mother city Tyrus the authoure of their beginning was taken and the city alexandria an enemy to the estate of Carthage builded in the boundâ—…s of Affricke and Egipt and also the fortunate felicity of the king himselfe of whose couetousnesse and good fortune they thought there woulde neuer be none â—…nd Hamilcor therefore attaining to the speche of Alexander by the helpe of Parmenio fained him selfe to be driuen oute of his country and that he was fled to the king for succour offâ—…ryng him self to serue him as a souldiour in his warres by the whiche pollicy hauinge perfect intelligence of the kingâ—…s entent and purpose he aduertised his countrye men therof in tables of woode couered ouer with plaine waxe But the Carthaginenses after the death of the king when he retourned into his country not only rewarded him not but also most cruelly put him to death as though he had gone about to chalenge the Citye to the king The. xxii Booke AGathocles the Tiranne of Sicill whiche succeaded in the estate of Dennis laste before him clymbed from a lowe and base degre to the maiestye of the kingdome For he was a potters sonne of Sicill and there was no more honesty in his childhode then there was honour in the stocke of his auncestry For being of fauor and personage exceding beautiful he liued a great while in sufferance of most filthy buggeâ—…y when he was ones paste boyes estate he tourned his lecherous lust from men vnto women After this beinge disfamed with bothe kyndes he chaunged that trade of liuing and fel to robberye In processe of time when he came to Syracuse and was taken into the city as amonge others inhabiters he was a great while without credit or estimation Because he semed not to haue any good to loose nor any honesty to distaine In fine obtaining the roume of a rascall souldiour loke how dishonest he was in his liuing before euen as seditious was he in his doinges
then and moste readye and forwarde to doo all kinde of mischiefe For he was counted strong of hand and in talking to the people verye eloquent Therfore within shorte space he was made captaine of a hundred men and anone after marshall of the hoste In the firste battell whiche was against the AetneaÌ„s he gaue the Syracusanes great profe of his towardnesse In the nexte followinge agaynste the Campaines he made all men concâ—…iue so good opinion of him that he was substituted in the roume of the graunde captaine Damasco deceased whose wife with whome he had committed aduoutry in the life of her husband afteâ—… his decease he toke in mariage And beinge not content that of a begger he was sodainly made riche he exercysed rouing on the sea againste his owne country But it was his chaunce to be saued because when his mates wer taken and putte to the torture they confessed nothynge of him Twise he went abouâ—… to vsurpe the Empire of Syâ—…acuse and twise he was banished for hys laboure The Murgantines amonge whome he liued in the time of his exile for hatred they bare to the Syracusanes created him first their Pretor and afterwarde their captayne In that warre he bothe tooke the city of the Leontines and besieged the city of Syracuse To the râ—…ue wherof Hamilcar captaine of the Carthaginenses beinge requested to come laying a side all emnity and hatred sent thither a crew of souldioures And so at one time and instant the City Syracuse was defended louingly and frendly by the enemy and â—…ye assailed by her owne Citizen But Agathocles when he sawe that the towne was more manfullye defended then assaulted he sent a pursiuant to Hamilcar desiringe hym to doo so much for him as to take vp the mater betwene him and the Syracusanes and to bee as an indifferente iudge for the determination of some peace betwixt them promisyng to doo the best that laye in him to recompence hys gentlenesse Where vppon Hamilcar beinge fulfilled with hoope and partly fearinge his power entred a league of frendshippe with him vppon condition that looke howe much he furthered Agathocles in strength agaynste the Syracusanes so muche shoulde Agathocles recompence hym withal againe to the furtheraunce of his aduauncement at home in his owne natiue country By meanes of this composition Agathocles was not only reconciled and brought to attonement with the Syracusanes but also hee was made Pretor of the Citye Then the holy fyre and the tapers were brought forthe whervpon agathocles laying his hand sware before Hamilcar to become true subiectes to the Carthaginenses Herevpon receiuing of him fiue thousand afres he put to death al the noble men that were of greatest power and authority and so as it were to th entent to refourme the state of the common welth he commaunded the people to assemble before him in the Theatre gathering the Senatours into the counsell house as thoughe he mineded to make some ordinaunce or decree before When he had brought his matters to this poynt he sent his souldiers to besiege the people and he him selfe slue the senators the whyche slaughter being finished he put to deathe also all suche of the commons as were the welthiest and forwardest persons These thinges beinge thus compassed he mustered souldiours and raised an army with the whyche beynge strengthened he sodainly inuaded the next cities lokyng for no hostility Furthermore by the sufferance of Hamilcar he wrongfully entreated and shamefully handled the confederates of the Carthaginenses For the whiche cause they made complainte to the Senate Carthage not so muche of agathocles as of hamilcar accusinge the one as a Lordly Tirant and the other as a traytoure by whome they were sold by composition and bargain betwene theÌ„ two to the vttermost enemy of their estate to whome at the beginning in coÌ„firmation of the said composition and agrement was deliuered Syracuse the city that had euer bene most enemy to the Afres and an enuier of the Carthaginenses alwayes contending with them for the Empire of Sicil and now moreouer were betrayed to y e same person the cities of their confederates vnder a counterâ—…aite pretence of peace Wherfore they gaue them warning that if they loked not to these matters in time with in a while they would light vpon their owne heades and soone after they shoulde feele what damage they shoulde bring as wel vpon their owne country of Affricke as vp 〈◊〉 the pore Iland of Sicil. By meanes of these coÌ„plaints the Senate was sore moued to displesure against Hamilcar But forasmuch as he was in Office they gaue theyr iudgement secretely vpon him commaundinge their verdits before they shuld be red to be cast into a pot together and there â—…o be sealed vppe vntill the other Hamilcar the sonne of Gysgo wer returned out of Sicil. But the death of Hamilcar preuented the suttle deuises and vnknowen verdites of the Carthaginenses and he was deliuered by the benefite of death whome his owne countrymen had wrongfully condempned without hearing of his answer The which thing gaue Agathocles occasion to moue war against the Carthaginenses The first encounter that he had was against Hamilcar the sonne of Gisgo Of whoÌ„e being vanquished he retired to Syracuse to raise a great power and to renue the battel again But he had like for tune in the second encounter as he had in the first Therfore when the Carthaginâ—…nses hauing the vpper hande had besieged Syracuse and that Agathocles perceiued he was neither of power to encounter them nor sufficiently furnished to endure out the â—…iege and â—…hat moreouer hys owne confederates being offended with his crueltye had forsaken him he determined to transfer the warres into Affricke I assure you it was a wonderful audacitye that he should enterprise to make warre agaynste the Citye of them whome he was not able to match in the soile of his owne city and that being not able to defend his owne he should geue the aduenture vppon other mennes and that being vanquished he should proudly vaunt him selfe ouer the conqueroures The keping secrete of this enterprise was as wonderfull as was the deuise therof for the people could learne nothinge at his hande but that he hadde found away to get the victorye Willing them to doo no more but take good harts to them to abide the siege whiche shoulde not be long or elsse if there were any that had â—…ot the harte to abide the aduenture of the present estate he gaue him fre liberty to go his way whether he would Whervpon when he had discharged a thousand and syâ—… hundred he furnished the reast that remained with vietuall artillerye and wages accordinge as the estate of the siege required He tooke with him no more but fifty Talents toward his charges to spend at that time thinking it better to get the reast if neade shoulde require more of his ennemies then of his subiects Then he set at
to liue vppon the spoyle made the country so hot that no man almost durste stirre abroade Dennis therfore king of Sicil being in manner wearyed with the continuall complaintes of his confederates sent ouer syre hundred Afres to suppresse them whose castle by the treason of a woman called Brutia they won and there builded a city which was soone peopled by the confluens of the shepheardes resorting thither vpon hope of the new city and they called them selues Brutians after the name of the woman The firste warre that they had was with the Lucanes the authors of their begynninge With the which victory being encouraged and hauynge concluded an equall and indiâ—…erent peace with theÌ„ they conquered their other neighbours by the sword and they gat so great richesse and power within a while that they seemed pernitious and able to doo displeasure euen vnto kinges Finally A lerander king of Epire comminge into Italy with a great hoste to the aid of the Greke Cityes was wythall his army by them vtterly destroyed Wher vppon their cruelnesse being enflamed wyth contynuall successe of prosperity became terrible to their neighbors a long time after At the last Agathocles beinge called to help in hope to enlarge his kingdome passed out of Sicilie into Italy As he was comming toward them for fear of his puissaunce they sent their ambassadoures to hym requesting him of peace and frendship Whome Agathocles biddinge to supper to the entent they shoulde not see the shippinge of his armye appoynted to common wyth them the next day and so in the meane while toke shippe priuely and stale ouer from them But the ende of thys fraude was not to be reioâ—…sed at For within a few daies after he was constrained to retourne into Sicill by the force of a disease wherwith he was taken ouer all his body â–ª the pestilent humor spreding it self throughe euery sinew and ioynt as thaugh that euery member had ben at ciuil war one against another Of the whiche no hope of recouery appering there arose war betwene his sone and his nephew eche of them chalenging the kingdome as if he had bene dead all redy in the which his son was slain and his nephew vsurped the kingdom Agathocles therfore when he saw the grief of his disease the thought of his minde stil greuouser and greuouser eche encreasyng by the furtherance of the other being vtterly in despair caused his wife Theogen to take his two litle soÌ„nes that he hadde begotten of her withal his treasure housholde houshold stuffe and princelye furniture appertaining vnto him of which no king was better stored then he was and to saile into Egipte from whence he tooke her to hys wife for feare least his nephewe who had robbed hym of his kingdom shuld also play the enemy with them How be it his wife entreted him earnestly a great while that she mighte not be drawen from him in his sicknesse least her departure might be worthely likened to the murther done by his nephew and men might reporte that she had as cruelly abandoned her husbande as he had supplanted his graundfather saying that when she was marryed to him he toke her not to be his companion and partaker of prosperitye onlye but of all other fortune what so euer should happen Wherfore it should not greue her to loose her life so she mighte tarye with her husband to the laste gaspe and according to her duty as she was bouÌ„d of loue and womanhode to do see him honorably entred whyche thing were she ones gone no man would take vpon hym to do When the litle ones should goo away they embraced their father and held him aboute the necke wepynge and crying oute on the other side the wife as she that neuer loked to se her husband more had neuer done kissyng him And it was a lamentable thing to se how pitâ—…ouslye thold man wept the children bewailing the father ready to die and the father moning his banished children The one sorowing to leaue their sicke and diseased olde father all alone as desolate the other lamentinge to leaue hys sonnes in penury whom he had begotten to inherite his kingdome Moreouer all the palace range with the noyse of such as stode about weping and sorowing to se â—…o cruel a deuorce and departure At the lengthe the necessitye of their forced departing was the end of their wepyng and the death of the king ensued immediatly vpon the departure of the children While these thinges were a doinge the Carthaginenses hauing intelligence howe the world went in Sicil thincking good occasion to be geuen theÌ„ of recouering the whole Iland sailed thither with a greate power subdued manye cities The same time Pyrrhus made warre against the Romains who as is said before beinge desired to come to the ayde of the Sicilians when he came to Syracuse and hadde subdued many Cityes he was proclaimed king of Sicil like as he was of Epyre. In the prosperous successe of which things greatly reioysing he appoynted that his sonne Heleu should be king of Sicil as in the righte of his graundfather for he was begotten of king Agathocles daughter and his sonne Alexander should be king of Italy After this he foughte many prosperous battels with the Carthaginenses Wythin a while after there came ambassadors from his conâ—…ederates in Italy bringing him word that it was not possible to make resistens againste the Romaines but that they must nedes yeld onlesse he reseued them Being troubled with so doutful a daunger and not knowing what to do or which of them he might rescue fyrst he toke spedy aduice as concerning both For the one side the Carthaginises assailed him and on the other side the Romaines so that it semed a daungerous matter not to passe his army into Italy and yet more daungerous to lead his hoste 〈◊〉 of Sicil least the one should be lost for want of succoure or the other by withdrawing his helpe from them In this rage of daungers the sureâ—… hauen of all other counsels and aduises semed to be fyrst with al his power to try the matter in Sicil and then hauing vanquished y â— Carthaginenses to transport his victorious army into Italy Therfore all be it he gate the vpper hande in that battel yet notwithstanding for as muche as he went hys way out of Sicil he was accompted to run away as a vaÌ„quished person and therefore his alies and confederates reuolted from him By meanes wherof he lost the kyngdome as lightly as he came by it easly Furthermore finding no better successe in Italye then he had in Sicill be retired into Epire. The wonderfull chaunce of bothe is to be noted for ensample For euen as before throughe prosperous fortune all things flowing beyond his desire and expectation he had gotten the Empire of Italye and Sicill with so manye victories againste the Romaines so now when fortune had chaunged her copy as it were
confederates â–ª iudginge it a greater reward to the Romaines to haue honoure and renowue then possessyons gotten by force For he said it was mete for a Romaine to chalenge glorye and fame and to leaue the superflouity of richesse to his partakers The xxxii Boke â–ª THe Aetolians which hadde prouoked Antiochus to warre againste the Romaines after the time that he was onercome remained all only againste the Romaines both 〈◊〉 to match them in strength and also destitute of all healpe and comforte By meanes where of within a 〈◊〉 after they were vanquished and lost their liberty the which they all only among so manye cities of Grece had reteined vntouched against the dominion of the Atheniens and Lacedemonians The which estate of bondage was so much the bitterer vnto them as it was later or it came â–ª râ—…oltynge with them selues those times in the which with the only power of theyr owne countrye they had withstoode and burne oute the greate force and power of the Persâ—…ans in the which they hadde repressed the violence of the 〈◊〉 men so terrible to Asia and Italye in the batâ—…ell at Delphos the glorâ—…ous remembraunce of which things kindled in them a 〈◊〉 desire of liberty While these thinges were a doing in the meane time the Messenians and the Acheans fâ—…ll â—…irst at conteâ—…ion anone after to plain sighting for the sâ—…raigntye In that battel Philopenienes the noble graund captain of the Acheans was takâ—…n prisoner not through his own defaulte because he 〈◊〉 not fyghte for sauynge of hys life but as he was about to bringe his men in araye that were sâ—…attered in the leapinge of a ditche his 〈◊〉 ouerthrew and so his enemies clustered about him and tooke him ere he coulde râ—…couer vp againe And yâ—…t the Messenians when they foâ—…nd him ouerthrowen whether it were for fâ—…are oâ—… his prowessâ—… or for reuerence of hys estate durst not kill him Therfore as though by taking of hym they had finished all the warre they led him like a prisonner about all the citye in manner of a triumphe the people ruuninge out by heapes to meete hun as if their own captaine and not the captaine of their enemies had bene comming And I beleue the Acheans would not haue ben more desirous to haue sene him if he had gotten the vpper hande then were the Messenians his enemies to beholde him being a prisonner For they led him into a Theatre to the entente tâ—…ey mighte all beholde him whome they thought an vncredible and vnpossâ—…ble mâ—…tter to be taken From thence they couueyed him to prysoÌ„ wher for shame of the villany they had offred to such a worthy estate they gaue him poyson the which he drancke with as mearye a cheare as if he had wonne the victory Demaundyng first of all whether Lycortas the lieuetenante of the Acheane whome he knewe to be the manne of best knowledge in feates of armes nerte vnto hymselfe hadde eskaped in safetye or no. When he vnderstoode that he was eskaped he sayde the world goeth not alltogether against the Acheans wyth that word he gaue vp the ghoste But ere it was longe after the warre was renued in which the Messenians being vanquished suffered worthy punishment for putting Philopemenes to death In the meane season Antiochus kinge of Syria beinge sore ouercharged with the tribute that he should pay to the Romaines and seinge hymselfe vanquished and burdened whether it were that he were compelled for want of mony or that he were allured with couetousnesse because he hoped that vnder pretence of the necessity the whiche he was put to for the payment of the tribute he should be held the better excused if he committed sacriledge he assembled an armye and in the nyghte time assaulted the temple of Iupiter of Dodon the which attempte was bewrayed and he withall his hooste was slayne by the inhabitauntes of the countrye that resorted to the reskue At Rome when many cities of Grece were come thither to complaine of the iniuries that Phillyppe king of Macedone hadde dâ—…one vnto them and that there was great contention in woordes in the senate house betwene Demetrius the sonne of Phillippe sent thither by his father to make satisfaction as the Senate shuld think righte and the ambassadoures of the Cities the yonge man beinge confounded with the noyse and exclamatyon of the appellantes sodenly helde his peace Then the Senate being moued with his modest shamefastnesse for the whiche he had bene well beloued of all men before times when he lay in hostage at Rome gaue iudgement on hys syde And so Demetrius obtained pardone for his father not by defending his righte but by the helpe of his modesty and shamefastnesse The which thinge was signifyed vnto him by the decree of the senate to th entent it should appeare that the kinge was not acquited as giltlesse but rather pardoned for his sonnes sake the whiche thynge purchased vnto Demetrius not thanke for his behauiour in that ambassade but hatred through the maliciousnesse of backebyters For with his brother Perses who sought by al meanes to surprise him it procured him enuy and with his father when he knew the occasion of his acquitall it procured him displeasure disdaininge that â—…he person of his sonne shoulde be of more force or strengthe with the Senate then the authority of the father or the estimation of his estate being a king Perses therfore per ceiuing his fathers disease made complaintes daily vnto him of his brother Demetrius and first he broughte him in mistrust with him and shortly in vtter displeasure obiecting against him that he sought the freudshippe of the Romaines to betray his father At the last he surmised that he went about trâ—…ason for the prouse where of he broughte in recorde and suborned false witnesses to vphold â—…he crime that he charged hym wythall By meanes whereof he compelled his father to murder his owne sonne and brought all the courte in sorow and heauinesse After Demetrius was thus put to death the party being dispatched out of the way whome he feared as his enemye Perses beganne to be not onlye more slacke in doing his duety but also more stubborn against his father behauing himselfe not like an heire but like a kinge Phillip beinge sore offended with his misdemenor bewailed the deathe of Demetrius verye vnpaciently from day to daye Where vppon mistrustynge hym self to be deceiued by cautele and treason he put the wytnesses and record bearers to torture Throughe whyche hauing boulted out their treason he was vexed as much with the wickednesse of Perses as with the vndeserued death of Demetrius And he hadde punished him for hys laboure had not death preuented him of hys purpese For shortly after throughe very sorow and pensiuenesse of hart he fell sicke and died leauing behinde hym greate furniture for the warres against the Romaines the whiche Perses afterward vsed Moreouer he had allured the Frenchmen called Rascians to
richesse in old tyme the which they should not nede to go to fyght for but to go to take possession of For Asia was so desyrous of their commyng that she called cryed to them a loude to make speade So greate a hatreded toward the Romayns hadde the greadie rauenousnesse of their Proconsultes the pollyng and shauing of their tolle gatherers the wrongfull delyng in sutes and controuer lies of the lawe of their officers rooted in the hartes of them all Wherefore he willed them to doe no more but followe him manfully ponder with themselfes what so great an army might be able to doe hauyng such a Capitayne as he was whome they themselfes had sene without the helpe of any of his souldiers by his own industrie onely slea the kyng of Cappadocia seyze his kyngdome who onely of all the men that euer lyued conquered all the countries borderyng vppo◅ the sea of Pontus Scythia also the whiche before his tyme no man could trauel through no nor go vnto in sauftie As for his own Iustice and lyberalitie he woulde not refuse that his souldiers which had had sufficient tryall and experience of them should beare wytnesse to the same as of the whiche these were manifest tokens that he only of all kyngs enioyed not onely the kyngdomes that his father possessed before him but also for his bountie and magnificence was adopted to be heyre of other forreyne Realmes as Colchos Paphlagonia and Bosphorus whiche he nowe peaceablie helde ▪ When he had thus encouraged his souldiers after the. xxiii yere of his reygne he entered into warre agayn◅ the Romayns At that tyme in Egypte after the death of P◅olomy kyng of Cyrene both the kyngdome and the Quene Cle◅patra his syster to be his wy◅e ▪ ◅lomy was glad in that he had recoured his brothers king dome without battell the which he knewe his mother Cleopatra and certeyn of the noble men went preuelye about to assure vnto his brothers sonne But assone as b◅ came vnto Alexandria to the great displeasure of all the Cytie he caused all such as fauored the chylde to be put to death The chylde himself also he slew in his mothers armes the very same day that he maried her in the myd des of all the feastyng and solemne ceremonies of wed◅cke And so he wēt to bed with his syster all bestayned with the blood of her sonne After the whiche dede he became euen as meke to his other countreymen that had called him to the kyngdome For he gaue his souldiers which were straungers leaue to kill whome they wold so that daylie all places were on a gore blood and he put away his syster and toke to wyfe her daughter a fayre yong mayden hauyng firste rauished her per force with the which thynges the people wer so dysmayed that they shronke away so◅e one whether and some another forsakyng theire natife countrie like banished folk for dread of death Ptolomy beyng left alone with his souldioures in so greate a Cytie when he sawe howe he was a Kynge of emptie houses and not of men made proclamacion that straungers shoulde come and inhabite the Cytie after whose resor thyther he went forth to mete the Romayn Ambassadors Scipio Affricanus Spurius Mumius and Lucius Metellus which came to see howe the Realmes of their confederates wer ordered But loke howe cruell he was to all his owne countriemenne so much was he a laughyng stocke to the Roma◅ns For he was yll visaged a dwarfe of stature he had such a fat paunche that he semed more lyke a beast then a man the whiche fouldnesse and deformitie his smal shyrle voyce and his thinne garmentes dyd more encrease as thogh of set purpose he had set oute the thynges to be sene which he that had any regarde of shame oughte with all care and studie to haue hydden moste secretlie After the departure of Thambadoures of the whiche Affricanus whiles he behelde the Cytie was himselfe a spectacle to the Alexandrians Ptolomy beyng nowe hated euen of his Alientes also fledde preuely oute of the Realme with his sonne whome he had begotten of hys syster and with his wyfe her owne mothers paramour for feare of treason and hauyng gotten an hoste of hyred souldiours he made warre bothe agaynst his syster and agaynst his owne countrie Afterwarde he sent for his eldest sonne from Cyrene for bycause the Alexandrians shoulde not make him kyng agaynste him he putte hym to deathe Then the people in despyght of him brake doune his ymages and tare doune hys pictures The which thyng thynkyng to be doone by the procuremente of hys syster he slew the sonne whome he hadde begotten uppon her and then cuttyng hys bodie in gobbettes closed it vp in a Casket and sent it for a present to the mother as she was makyng feast and great chere vpon the day of her byrth The whiche was a bitter and sorowfull syght not onelie to the Quene herself but also to all the whole Cytie and it cast such a grief vppon that ioyfull feast that sodaynlie in all the Court was nothyng but mournyng and lamentyng The noble men therfore turnyng themselfes from feastyng to funeralles shewed to the people the mangled bodie declaryng what hope they oughte to haue of theyr kyng who hadde so cruelly murdered his owne chylde Cleopatra after that the sorow for losse of her sonne was ceased perceyuyng herselfe to be sore infested by her brothers warre Demaunded help of Demetrius Kyng of Syria by his Ambassadors whose chances were strange and worthie to be spoken of For Demetrius as it is shewed before makyng warre agaynst the Parthians gettyng the victorie in manie encounters was sodaynlie sur prised by pollicie and besydes the losse of his armie was also himself taken prysoner Whome Arsaces kyng of the Parthians sent into Hyrcanie and of his noble and Royall courage not onely gaue him enterteynement lyke a kyng but also gaue him his daughter in mariage promisyng moreouer to restore him the kyngdome of Syria which Tryfo hadde vsurped in his absence After whose death Demetrius beynge past hope of returnyng into his kyngdome and beyng not able to away with captiuitie beyng wearie of his priuate lyfe though he lyued neuer so welthelie assayed a faithfull frende to steale home into his owne kyngdome His counseler and companyon in this enterprise was a frend of his called Callimander who after his Maisters captiuitie hyryng guydes for mo ny himself disguysed in Parthian apparell came oute of Syria through the deserts of Arabie vnto Babylon But Phrahartes which succeded Arsaces sent oute post horses after him who made such spede by gayner ways that they ouertoke him and brought him back agayn When he came before the kyng Callimander was not only par doned but also highlie rewarded for his faithfulnesse towards his Master But Demetrius with a great rebuke was sent agayn to his wyfe into Hyrcanie and ther
¶ Thabridgment of the Histories of TROGVS Pompeius Collected and wrytten in the Laten tonge by the famous Historiographer Iustine and translated into English by Arthur Goldyng a worke conteynyng brieflie great plentie of moste delectable Hystories and notable examples worthie not onelie to be read but also to be embraced and followed of all menne Anno Domini M. D. LXIIII. Mense Maâ—… ¶ Imprinted at London in Fletestrete nere vnto Sainct Dunstons churche by Thomas Marshe TO THE RIGHT HONORABL and his singular good Lord and Mayster Edward de Veer Erle of Oxinford L. great Chamberlayne of England Vicount Bulbeck c. Arthur Goldyng wisheth health and prosperitie with furtherance in knowledge and encrease of Honor. RIght Honorable I fynde in peruâ—…yng of auncient wryters that it hath ben the custome of the greatest Estates and Princes in the worlde when they haue had inter mission froÌ„ the serious and weightie affayres of their Realmes to bestowe their ydell tymes in reuoluyng and pervsyng stories For we reade that Artaxerxes surnamed Longimanus the fyfte kyng of Persia vsed to haue the Chronacles bothe of his predecessours and of his own tyme also read before him a nightes when he went to rest And Alexander the greate â—…ad that noble wryter of the famous battell of Troye in such veneration that he neuer went any wher but he had his workes about him nor neuer slept but that he had theÌ„ vnder his pyllowe Moreouer comyng into a schole and fyndyng not Homers workes ther he gaue the Master a buffet with his fyste Meanyng thereby that y e knowledge of Histories was a thyng so necessary to all estates and degrees that it was an offence to be without them For like as in Musike many notes and many tunes make one concent and one Harmonie so also in an History the varietie and multitude of examples tend all to one ende that is thaduauncement of Vertue and the defacyng of Vyce Offryng theÌ„selues as a moste clere and perfect myrror wher in for a man to behold I say not the outwarde portrayture and lineamentes of his bodye but the very lyuely Image and expresse figur of his inward mind enstructyng him how to gwyde and order hymselfe in all things For what can be a greater enforcemeÌ„t to cheualrie then not barely to hear but in a maner presently to behold the sage and graue consultacioÌ„s of expert Captaynes the spedie puttyng in practise of things deuised the pollicies stratagenies in executyng of them the fauorable assistence of fortune to the same with the fame and renowne of valiant enterprises what can be a greater encouragement to Vertue then to se men raised from lowe and base degre as it wer out of the dust vnto high estate honor to se Realmes florish to see common welthes prosper to se good meÌ„ exalted euil meÌ„ suppressed to se peace and tranquillity obserued to se Nacions willingly offer their obediens to se loÌ„g continuaÌ„ce in felicity w t honorable report wishyng for after y e decease On the contrary part what caÌ„ be a greater dehortacion from vice then to haue laid before ones eyes not only the heynousnesse and enormitie of the offence but also the miseries calamities shames and punishmentes worthely ensewyng vpon the same with endlesse reproch and infamie after death and so consequentlie what can be more commodious and profitable then an Historye Agayne what can be more pleasant or more to the satisfying and contentacion of mannes nature which is alwayes desirous of newes and couetous of knowledge then syttyng quietly by himself to receiue tydings of thyngs done through the whole world to behold the places the persons the tymes and the thyngs with thorder and circumstances in doyng of the same to se so many ruÌ„ nyng streames so many high montaynes so many ragyng seas so many wylde forests and deserts so many straunge beastes fowles fyshes serpents herbes and trees so many large contries so many rich and populous Cyties so many welgouerned coÌ„mon wealthes so many good lawes and customes and so many sundry sortes of people togyther with the natures disposicions effectes descriptions situacions coÌ„modities pleasures and displeasures foundacions continuances and decayes beginnynges procedynges and endynges of the same and that in such sort as euery thing may seme not to be reported but to be present ly in doyng Now at such tyme as I had finished my translacion of thistories of Iustine who in so small roume and in so fewe wordes comprehendeth so many and so notable thynges that it is to be doubted whether he be more brief of sentence or copious of matter as I stayed with my selfe as it were to take breath at th end of my race deuisyng to whome I might specially dedicate the same It came to my remembraunce that sithens it had pleased Almighty God to take to his mercy your Lordships noble father to whom I had long before vowed this my tra uell there was not any who eyther of dutie mighte more iustly clayme the same or for whose estate it semed more requisite and necessarie or of whome I thought it should be more fauorably accepted then of your honor For to omit other things wherof this tyme and matter serueth not to speake it is not vnknowen to others and I haue had experience therof myself howe earnest a desire your honor hath natu rally graffed in you to read peruse and coÌ„municate with others as well the Histories of auncient tyme and thynges done long ago as also of the present estate of thinges in oure dayes and that not withoute a certayn pregnancie of witte and rypenesse of vnderstandyng The which do not only now reioyse the hartes of all such as beare faithfull affection to thonorable house of your auncestours but also stirre vp a greate hope and expectacion of such wysedom and experience in you in time to come as is mete and besemyng for so noble a race To the furtheraÌ„ce wher of because I will not be ouer taedious in wordes I will briefly propound vnto your L. no mo but twoo examples which are mencioned among many other of like purport in this boke Th one is of the valiant Epaminondas Prince of Thebe who beyng an expert Captayn and politike in all Martial feates and warlike affaires was neuerthelesse so well lerned that it was a wonder to se howe a man bredde and broght vp in Philosophy should come by such knowledge in feates of Armes or howe a man accustomed to the licentious libertie of the Campe should reteyne suche exquisite knowledge in Philosophie with vnspotted innocencie of lyuynge and conuersacion whose fortune was suche by the consente of all wryters that the strength the glory and the renowme of his countrie dyd bothe ryse with him and dye with him Thother example is of Arymba kyng of Epyre who beyng very yong at the decease of his father was by the aduise and consente of the whole Realme duryng his nouage sente to Athenes to be enstructed
into hys kyngdome Mardonius is vanquished in Beotia Them istocles hath the pro rogatiue for his prowesse Athens is buylded agayn the Lacedemo nians make warre vppon the Persians Pausanias is condemned of treason Xerxes proclaymeth open warre agayn agaynst Grece he is ouercomme by Cymo duke of Athenes bothe on sea and land and returneth into his kyngdome The conteyntes of the thyrd Boke XErxes and his sonnes are slayne by the treason of Artabanus Artaxâ—…xes reuengeth the death of his father The Lacedemonians and Thatheniens fall at varians Lycurgus maketh lawes willyngly vannisheth hymself the Lacedemonians make warre vppon the Messeniens the Partheniens place themselfs at Tarent in Italy Messene rebelleth and is subdued warre is renued betwene the Lacedemonians and Thatheniens the Lacedemonians breake the truce the notable demeanor of Pericles truce is taken agayn and broken by the Lacedemonians The conteyntes of the fowerth Boke THe description of Sycill with the wonders therof â—…olus taketh vppon him the crowne of the same after whome euery eytie hath his Tyrrant among whome Anaxilaus contendeth agaynst thothers crueltie with Iustice and Equitie The men of Rhegium are cruelly dispossessed of their Cytie by their con â—…ederates The Cathanenses and Syracusans fall at debate the Athentens ayde the Catanenses truce is taken broken by the Syracusans Ahatheniens succor the Catanenses agayne 〈◊〉 rescoweth Syracuse vanquisheth the Atheniens bothe by sea and by lande and vtterlie destroyeth bothe their men and shyppes The contyentes of the fyft Boke ALâ—…ibiades willyngly bannisheth himself and compelleth the kyng of Lacedemon to warre vpon ThathenieÌ„s the which Darius kyng of Persia furthereth also 〈◊〉 causeth the cyties oâ—… Asia to reuolte from Thathentens the Lacede monians lye in wayt to kyll him he escapeth by the admonition of the wyfe of kyng Agis and flyeth to 〈◊〉 kyng Darius lyeuetenaunt in Lydia whome he withdraweth from the Lacedemonians the Ambassadors of Athens come vnto him he is reuoked into his countrie and made admirall he ouercommeth the Lacedemonians and is ioyfully receyued of his Cytizens he receyueth a losse by ouâ—…rsyght and bannisheth himself agayn 〈◊〉 are brought to vtter distresse Conon their Captayn flyeth to Cyprus the cytie is yelded vp to the Lacedemonians thyrty Tyrants haue the gouernaunce therof Darius kynge of Persia dyeth Dionyse the yonger is expulsed oute of Sycill Alâ—…biades is burned in hys lodgyng 〈◊〉 expulseth the xxx 〈◊〉 tenne others are placâ—…d in their stead â–ª Pauianias kyng of Lacedeuion commaun deth them out of the cytie and gyueth peace to the Atheniens the Tyraunâ—…s makyng warre agaynste Athenes are taken and put to death Artaxerxes sucâ—…edeth hys father Darius in y â— Persian kingdome Cyrus rebelieth agaynst his brothâ—…r Aâ—…xerxes and is slain the Grekâ—… that came to his ayde returne into their countrye vnvanquished The contentes of the syxte Booke THe Lacedemonians couet Th empyre of Asia â—…nes is displaced of his office of Lieuetenauntship Conon of Athenes is made Admyrall of the Persian flete the Lacedemonians send for ayde into Egypte 〈◊〉 is sent agaynst Conon Conon ouercommeth Lysander vppon the sea Athens is set at lybertie agayn Epamynondas ouercommeth the â—…a cedemonians and sleath Lysander Agesyiaus wresteth the victory from the Thebanes the Atheniens sende Iphicrates with an host to chayd of the Thebans y e Lacedemonians are broght to 〈◊〉 dispayre Conon is receyued with great ioye of his cytizens Athenes is repayred Aâ—…axerxes proclaymeth a generall peace through all Grece and setteth all the cyties at lybertie he maketh warre against Egypt Rome is taken by the Frenchmen warre ryseth betwene the Lacedemonians and Arcadians and is ceased of their owne accord Epamynondas Duke of Thebes inuaded Lacedemon and is repulsed by the olde menne Agesylaus encountereth with hym Epaminondas is slayne with whome the prowesse of the Grekes decayeth The conteintes of the seuenth Boke HE entreateth of 〈◊〉 and of the kynges thereof â—…ranus followyng a herd of goates wynneth the cyâ—…ie Edyssa he turneth the name therof maketh it the head of Macedone and subdueth diuers kyngs after him 〈◊〉 Perdicas and prophecieth of his posteritie Argeus taketh his place and 〈◊〉 the crown to his son Europâ—… the Macedones ouercome the Illyrians 〈◊〉 succedeth whose son Alexander kylleth the Persian Ambassadors sent by Darius of whome mencion is made in the fyrst and seconde bokes Bubares marryeth Alexanders syster Amynthas succedeth Alexander the mother kylleth her owne children Philyp is brought vp at Thebes and afterward he is crowned kyng he vanquisheth his borderâ—…rs conquereth the â—…ens maryeth Olympias the mother of great Alexander winneth Methone The contentes of the eyght Boke THe Lacedemonians Phocenses are condemned in a great sum of mony the Phocenses robbe the Temple of Delphos Philip is chosen Captayn generall agaynste them and vanquisheth them the which beyng doone he spoyleth the Thebanes whome he came to defend he stealeth the kyngdome of Cappadocia destroeth Olynthe in Thrace inâ—…th the goldmynes in Chessaâ—… the syluet â—…es in Thrace spoyleth the two kyngs of Thrace of their kyngdome maketh peace with Chateâ—…ens geueth sâ—…le aunswers to Chaâ—… of Grece breaketh premis with the Phocenses remoueth whole nacions and Cyties from countrie to countrie sâ—…th the Dardamerans dâ—…seth Arymba kyng of Eâ—…yre geuyng the kyngdo me to Alexander the brother of his 〈◊〉 Olympsas The contentes of the nynethe Boke PHâ—… besiegeth Constantinople duryng the which he wiâ—… neth many cyties â—…f Chersonesus feighteth vnprosperously agaynst the Tryballes he maketh warre to the â—…niens wynneth the Soueranity of Grece executeth strâ—…ghte Iustice vppon the Thebanes somoneth a Parlament at Cormthe prepateth for warre astaynst the Persians is sâ—…ayne by Pausâ—…ras at his daughters maâ—…ge The description of his nature and condicions with a comparison betwene him and his sonne Alexander The contentes of the tenthe Boke THe natural affection of Artaxerxes Mnemon toward his sonne Darius his treason against his father y â— punishmeÌ„t of Darius his fyfty brothers the cruelty of Ochus the prowesse of Codoman for the which he is created kyng by the name of Daius The conteyntes of the eleuenth Boke THe disquietnesse of the Macedones after the death of Phylype the whiche Alexander appeaseth Alexander putteth his kynsfelke to death suppressed rebellioÌ„s goeth forward with the warres that his father purposed againste the Persians â–ª pardoneth the Atheniens 〈◊〉 Thebes entereth into Asia vanâ—… 〈◊〉 ouercommeth diuers of his Lieuetenantes goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cytie 〈◊〉 and vntyeth the knot of the wayne a digression to thaâ—…yres and the kynges of Phrygia Alexander maketh haste to Châ—…us in Cilicia is reâ—…ered of a daungerous disease ouercommeth Darius agayne taketh the mother wyfe and daughters of Darius prysoners maryeth one of his prisoners called Barsiue sendeth Parmenio to inuade the â—…ersian flete and other of his noble 〈◊〉 to receyue the Cyties of Asia maketh abdolominus a kyng of a Gardiner winneth the 〈◊〉 Cyrus perforce goeth to
punished for the death of Phylomenes Antiochus and all hys host is slayn by the men of the countrie the cyties of Grece make complaynt of Phylyp kyng of Macedone at Rome he is absoyled by the 〈◊〉 of his sonne Demetrius who by the false accusacions of his brother Perfes is brought in displen sure with his father and put to death Phylyp dyeth for sorrowe Perses maketh 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 against the romans thoriginall of the I strians The ignominie of the Daces Prusias vppon trust of Hannybal that fled from Antiochus vnto him breaketh the truce â—…gaynst Eumenes the â—…ollicy of Hanniball conueyng hymself oute of Candie Prusias is 〈◊〉 vpon the land Hannibal throgh â—… suttle inucncion vanquisheth the â—…nemie vppon the sea Ambassa â—…ours are sent from Rome to set the two kynges at one and to desyre to haue 〈◊〉 yelded vnto theÌ„ Hannibal poisoneth himself The conteyntes of the. xxxiii Boke PAulus Emilius encounâ—…ereth with Perses the valiant demeanor of Cato Perâ—…es is ouercomme and taken with hys sonnes flying towards Samothrace with whome 〈◊〉 of Macâ—…done endeth the noblemen of Etoly with their wyues and children are led prysoners to Rome The conteyntes of the. xxxiiii Boke THe Romaynes subdue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 doune Antiochus maketh warre agaynst Prolomy kyng of Egyt and 〈◊〉 him out of hys countrie P. Popilius is sent Ambassador to byd hym depart out of Egyyt the seuerity of Popilius in executyng his commission Antiochus dyeth his brother Demetrius 〈◊〉 leth pryuely from Rome and killyng hys yonge nephew vsurpeth the crowne Prusias is deposed and murdered by hys owne sonne The conteyntes of the. xxxv Boke 〈◊〉 maketh warre agaynst 〈◊〉 kyng of Cappadocia supporteth his brother Holofernes aganyst him whoÌ„ afterward for treason prepensed he kâ—…peth in pryson one ProÌ„ palus is suborned as the sonne of Antiochus by the name of Alexâ—…der agaynst 〈◊〉 by whome Demetrius is depryued of lyfe and kyngdome Demetrius the â—…on of Demetrius recouereth his fathers kyngdome The conteyntes of the. xxxvi Boke Demetrius maketh warre agaynste the Parthians aâ—…d is taken prysoner 〈◊〉 vsurpeth the kyngdome of Syria Antiochus the brother of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it out of his handes and subdueth the Iewes Thoriginall of the Iewes the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the goyng of the 〈◊〉 oute of Egypt vnder Moyses the halowyng of the sabboth day the srute sulnesse of Iurie with a description of the vale of 〈◊〉 and of the dead sea of Attalus kyng of 〈◊〉 â–ª of hys â—…rueltie and his madnesse and howe he made the people of Rome his heyre Aristomicus the bâ—…stard sonne of 〈◊〉 chalengeth the crown and is ouercome by the RomaÌ„s The conteyntes of the. xxxvii Boke THe Massyliens entreate the Romaynes to râ—…lease theire displeasure agaynst the 〈◊〉 the romains reward the kings that ayded them agaynste 〈◊〉 â–ª and the crueliye of 〈◊〉 toward her owne children the byrthe education and daungerâ—… of Mythridates he subdueth the Scythians he trauaileth through â—…sia disguysed he putteth his wyfe â—…o death for goyng about to poi son him his warlyke conuersacion he entereth in league with Nico medes kyng of Bythima and they iointlie conquer Paphlagonia he subdueth also Galatia contrary to the prohibitio of the Romans Nicoinedes alâ—…ereth the name of his sonne anâ—… proclaymeth hym kyng of Paphlagonta The conteyntes of the. xxxviii Boke MIthridates destroyeth Ariarathes kyng of Cappadocia and Nicomedes inuadeth the kyngdome Myâ—…hridates vnder pre tence of helpyng his systers sonne dryueth Nicomedes out of the realme by a cautele ryddeth his sayd systers sonne of his lyf and and maketh one of his owne sonnes kyng The Cappadâ—…cians rebeil and set vp Ariarathes the brother of the king slayn before whoÌ„ Mythridates ouercommeth and dryueth him oute of the realme the sayde Ariarathes dyeth wherevpyon Nicomedes suborneth a beautifull yong man vnder the color of beyng brother to the sayde Ariarathâ—…s to sue to the Senate of Rome for the kyngdome Mythridates dothe the lyke with an other of his owne sonnes the Cap padocians beyng set at lybertie desyre a kyng Ariobarzanes is appoynted by the Senate Mythridates entereth in leage with Tygranes kyng of Armeny who expulseth Ariobarzanes out of Cappadocia the Romans sent their Lieutenaunteâ—… to set Ariobarzanes agayn in his kyngdome Mythridates maketh greate preparicions and forniture for the warres he encourageth his souldiers and consulteth of thorderyng of his warres Ptolomy kyng of Cyrene obteynyng the kyngdome of Egypt after the death of his brother wor keth moste extreme crueltie agaynste thauthors of his promocion the Ambassadours of Rome come to Alexandria Ptolomye flyeth out of Egypt maketh warre agaynste the same committeth moste execrable cruelnesse agaynst his owne children the courtesie shewed by the kyng of Parthia to Demetrius beyng thâ—…yr prisoner Demetrius stealeth away twyse and is set backe agayne Antiochus the brother of Demetrius maketh warre agaynst the Parthians Demetrius is let go into Syria Antiochus is slayn and all his host murdâ—…red by a sodayne conspiracie Demetrius escapeth into hys kyngdome The contents of the. xxxix Booke DEmetrius whyle he goeth aboute for to conquere the whole â—…alme of Egypte loseth his owne Realme by sodayn rebelion the kyng of Egypt suborneth one as adopted by Antiochus to chalenge the kyngedâ—… of Syria proclaimyng him by the name of Alexander who ouercoÌ„meth Demetrius and â—…ylieth him Grypho the sonne of Demetrius is crowÌ„ned kyng by name his mother bearyng all the rule he is supported by the power of the Egyptians agaynst Alexander whome he vanquisheth Alexander is taken by theues brought vnto Grypho and put to death The mother of Grypho offeryng her sone a cup of poyson is compâ—…lled to drynke it her sclfe His brother Cyriceâ—…us maketh insurreccion agaynst him the Kyng of Egypt dyeth Grypho ouercomâ—…eth Cyri cenus the crueltie of Gryphin towardes her syster Cleopatra the wyfe of Cyricenus Cyricenus vanquisheth Grypho and reuengeth his wyfes deaâ—…h vppon her sister Cleopatra Quene of Egypt sâ—…tteth vp and pulleth downe her sonnes at her pleasur and 〈◊〉 length is slayne by Alexander the yonger of them who for his labor is bannished the Realme and his brother Pâ—…olomy made kyng in his stede The kyng of 〈◊〉 bâ—…queateth his kyngdome to the Ro maynes Heroâ—…yinus kyng of Araby inâ—…teth Egypt and Syria The contâ—…yntes of the. xl Boke TYgranes king of armeny is creatâ—…d kyng of Syria by eleccioÌ„ a great earthquake in Syria Aâ—…granes is vanquished by Lucâ—…llus by whome the kyngdome of Syria is gyuen to Antiochus the sonne of Cyricenus whome Pompeius afterwarde deposeâ—…h and maketh the Realme a pronynce of the Romaynes The xli Booke THe Originall encrease and habitacion of the ParthiaÌ„s the order of their common weale their lenguage and apparell the maner of the warres and thâ—…ducacion of their bondmen theyr trade of lyuyng burâ—…all superstiâ—…ion and naturall inclynacion How they serued vnder diuerse kyngs whose Realmes they afterward brought in subieâ—…ion Of the kyngdom of Bactria The foundacion of the Parthian Empyre by Aâ—…aces with
obseruing and executyng of a mannes duetye as it doth to men of the countrey whyche in the sackyng of a citie come to the ryffling of some Apothecaries of Grocers shoppe plenteouslye furnyshed with al thynges belongyng to the crafte and beyng allured with the swetenesse of the confections and spices which they chaunce first to laye their handes on thynking all the residue to be of the same sorte do eate suppe deuour cramme in and lycke vp all that comes to hand in such wise that some fal sicke some runne madde some dye out of hand and euery one of them be maruaylouâ—…ye distempered so that all the armye laugh them to skorne for their labour For euen as the life is full of commodities and discommodities euen so is an hystorye which is the ymage and representacion of the life And the wysedome of the life consisteth onely in the vsage of the lyfe Farewell enioye these thinges to thy most furtheraunce and commoditye THE PREFACE OF THE MOST famous Historiographer Iustine vpon the Histories of Trogus Pompeius unto antoâ—…ye the Emperour WHereas many of the Romaines euen such as were of the state of Consuls had put thactes of the Romaynes in writing both in Greeke and also in other straunge language Trogus Pompeius a man of aunciente eloquence whether it were for desyre of lyke renowne and glory or for pleasure that he hadde in the varietie and straungenesse of the worke compiled as well the hystories of the Grekes as the Histories of al the whole world besides in the Lating touÌ„g to th entent that as our Chronicles are redde in Greeke so the Chronicles of the Greekes myght be red in our toung also Wherein he enterprysed a piece of worke of great payne both to bodye and mynde For seyng that many Authours which haue taken vpon them to put in writing the doinges of some one kynge or of some one peculiar kynd of people do thynke theym selues to haue taken a matter of great weyght in hand may we not wrothelye thynke Pompeius to haue bene as bolde as Hercules that durst aduenture vpon the whole world in whose bookes are conteyned the doinges of all ages of all Kynges of all nacions and of all contreyes And those thinges that the Greeke Chroniclers haue entreated vpoÌ„ disorderly as euery man thought moste conueniente for hym selfe all the same thynges hath Pompeius plaring them in theyr tymes and settyng them in due order compyled in Hystorye omittyng all such thinges as were not profytable to be spoken of Therfore of these xliiii volumes for so many dyd Pompeye set forth by leasure durynge the tyme that I was in the Cytie I drewe out all such thinges as I thought worthy to be knowen â—… leauing out such thinges the knowledge wherof could not haue delyghted nor yet were necessary for example I haue gathered as it were a little bundle of flowres to th eÌ„tent that such as haue learned Greeke might haue whereby to be admonyshed and they which haue not learned Greeke whereby to be instructed The whyche I haue dedicated vnto youre maiesty not so much to read as to peruse and correcte and also to th entent to geue an accâ—…unpte of spending my time whereof Cato willeth a due accompte to be made For it suffiseth me at this present yf your highenes do allow my doynges trusting hereafter that when the brunte of slaunderous enuye is ouerpaste they that come after me shall beare witnesse of my trauaile and paynes takynge Farewell ¶ The first Booke OF THABRIDGEMENT OF Histories taken out of the Hystorye of Trogus Pompeius by Iustine the Historiographer IN the first beginnyng of thinges the rule and gouernement of countreyes and nacions was in the handes of kynges Who were aduaunced to this hyghe estate and preheminence not through ambicion and fauour of the comminaltye but for their vertuous and modeste behauioure suffycientlye tryed and approued amongest good men There were no lawes to bynd men to their obedience but the commaundementes of Princes were in steade of lawes whose custome was rather to defend thaâ—… enlarge y â— borders of their kyngdomes And there was none that woulde vsurpe or take vpon him further than in his owne countreye where he was borne Ninus kyng of Thassirians did first alter and breake this olde and aunciâ—…t custome of the Gentiles through a straunge desyre of bearyng rule For he first made warre vpon his neyghbours and conquered the nacions whyche yesiknewe not howe to make resystence agaynste hym euen vnto the borders of Affricke There were before his tyme two auncient kynges Uexores kyng of Egypt and Tanais kyng of Scithia of the which th one made a voyage into Pontus and the other into Egypt But they made warre a farre of and not nere home not of purpose to enlarge theyr empyre but to wine honour and renowne of Chiualry to their subiectes and so beyng satisfyed with the victory they absteined from bearing rule But Ninus continually dilated his Empire by seizing into his possession such countreyes as he wonne By reason whereof hauing subdewed his neyghbours and ioyning theyr power vnto his and so goyng euer stronger and stronger to the next eche former victory beyng an occasion and furtheraunce to the next followyng he conquered all the Easter parte of the world The last fyeld that he fought was with zoroastres kyng of the Bactrians who is reported to haue first inueÌ„ted art Magicke and diligeÌ„tly to haue serched out the beginning of the world and the mouinge of the starres This zoroastres beyng slaine Ninius him selfe also dyed leauynge behinde him a sonne as then vnder age called Ninus by his wyfe Semiramis She durst neyther put the gouernement of the Empyre to the child beyng vnder yeares of discrescion nor yet her selfe take it vppon her openly Wisely foreseing and thinkinge with her selfe that so manye and so mightye nacions whych scarcelye by their good willes would obey a man would muche lesse abyde to be subiect to a woman Therefore where as she was Ninus wyfe she fayned her selfe to be his sonne and whereas she was a woman she fayned her selfe to be a boye And she myght well do it For they were both of a meane stature both of them spake small and in the â—…amentes and proporcion of bodye was lytle difference betwyxte them Wherefore she put on mannes apparayle and close hosen and on her head she ware a kynde of coyâ—…e called Tyara And for bycause folke shoulde not mistrust any thyng to be hidden vnder this newe found apparell she commaunded the people to be apparelled after the same sorte the whyche kynde of attyre all Thassirians haue euer vsed froÌ„ that day to thys Thus at the fyrste by counterfaytyng the kynde she was taken for a boye Afterward she atchieued manye noble enterprises by the greatnesse whereof when she thoughte she had ouercome enuye she confessed who she was and whoÌ„ she counterfeyted Neyther dyd this her doyng diminishe the honour and estimation
displeasure vpon hym he kylled his sonne and set him before his father to eate Harpagus disseÌ„bling his inward griefe for the time differred the hatred iustly agaynst the kyng conceyued vntill he might espye occasion of reuengement At the length when Cyrus came to mans estate beyng moued thereunto with sorowe for the losse of his sonne he wrate vnto hym howe his graundfather had as it were banished him into Persia how his graundfather had commaunded hym to be slayne howe by his benefite he had bene preserued howe for the same he had gotten the kynges displeasure and how he had lost his owne sonne exhorting him to rayse an army and to take the kyngdome forthwyth vpon hym promisynge that the Medes should at the day of battell turne to hys syde And forasmuche as the letter coulde not be caryed openlye for the kynges officers which kept all the passages and sear ched suche as came by it was put into a Hares bellye the â—…owels first taken oute and the Hare was 〈◊〉 to a trusty seruaunt to carye to Cirus into Persia. Moreouer hâ—… tooke nettes with him to 〈◊〉 that vnder pretence of hunting his purpose might be hidden When Cyrus had redde the letter he was commaunded in a dreame to take the same way as he was counsayled in the epistle Neuerthelesse he was furthermore warned that whom soeuer he met first the next day him he should make his companion in all his enterprises Wherfore as he went into the countreye before the dawning of the daye he met with a seruaunte called Sibaris that had escaped out of pri son from a certayne man of Media enquiring what coun treyman he was vnderstanding that he was borne in Persia he pulled of his fetters toke him to be his companion retourned to the city Persepolis There he called the people together coÌ„maunding theÌ„ euery man to take his Are go cut downe the wood that grewe by the hygh way side The which thing being lustely done the â—…ext day he made a feast and bade them all to it When he sawe them mery in the middest of theyr good cheare he demaunded of them if they were put to the choyce whether they had rather chose to lyue in labour and toyle as they had done the daye before or in myrthe and pleasure as they dyd that presente daye The cryed all with one voyce in myrth and pleasure as we do to day Then quod he as long as ye be in subiectioÌ„ to the Medes so long shall ye leade all your lyues in labour and toyle lyke vnto yesterday but if you will folowe me ye shall liue in pleasure euen as you haue done this day And so with mery cheare and glad hartes of theym all he made warre agaynst the Medes Astyages for getting the great displeasure done to Harpagus made him his lieutenaunt ge neral and committed to his charge the whole stay of his bat tell who immediately vpon the receypt therof yelded and betrayed the same vnto Cirus and so throughe treason and disloyaltye requited the kynges crueltie When worde thereof came vnto Astyages he raised another power with al spede possible and went him selfe into Persia wher â—…ly renewing the battel as his men were fightinge he set a company at their backes commaunding them to beat them â–ª perforce vpon theyr enemyes that made any countenaunce to flye away causyng it to be plainely told them that if they wanne not the victorye they should finde as good men behinde their backes as before theyr faces And therefore ad uise them selues well whether it were better for thâ—…ym to breake through th one flyeng cowardly or through thother by fighting manfullye His souldiers perceyuing there was none other remedie tooke courage to them and stoode to it stoutly By meanes whereof when the host of the PersiaÌ„s being euercharged began somewhat to geue backe and by litle and litle to lose ground their mothers and wiues came running ouâ—… against them desyring them to retourne into the battell and perceyuing that they made no haste as men that wer at their wittes endes they lifted vp theyr clothes and shewing the priuie partes of their bodies asked them if they woulde runne into their mothers and wyues bellyes for succour The PersiaÌ„s being stayed with this reproch re tourned into battell and makinge a prease vpon their enemies coÌ„pelled them to flye from whom but euen now they fled themselues In this battell Astyage was taken prysoner From whom Cyrus toke nothyng saue the kingdome behauing hym selfe in this conflycte rather lyke a nephewe than lyke a conqueroure and he made hym ruler ouer the Hircanians For he would not retourne vnto the Medes This was then of the Empire of the Medes whyche endured CCC L. yeares In the beginning of his raigne Cirus made 〈◊〉 whom accordyng to his vision in the nyght he had deliuered out of prison and takeu as companion in all his enterprises and affayres lieutenaunt ouer the Perfi ans gaue him his sister in mariage But the cities whych wer tributare before to the Medes forasmuch as thempire was chaunged supposing their estate to be chaunged also fell from Cirus which thing was vnto him a cause and beginning of much warre many battelles At the length ha uing brought many of theym to their accustomed obediece when he made warre agaynst the Babilonians Crâ—…asus king of Lidia whose welth riches wer at those dayes very notable came to succour the Babilonians Wher being baÌ„quished and nowe carefull what shoulde beecome of hym selfe he retyred into his owne kyngome Cyrus also hauyng set althinges at a stay in Babilon passed from thence with his hoste into Lydâ—…a where he ouercame the power of Craesus with no ado to speake of being alredy dismayed with the discomfiture taken before at Babilon Craesus hym selfe was taken prisoner but the lesser daunger the battell was of the gentlyer was the victorye vsed For besydes that he pardoned Cresus of hys life he gaue him also the most part of his inheritaunce the citie of Barce In the whyche although he liued not a kyng in dede yet might he liue a like a king as might be deuised This mercy and clemency was profitable as well to the conquerour as to the conquered For after it was once knowen that warre was made agaynst Cresus throughout al Greece souldiours were mustered and sent for the to his ayde as it had bene to quenche some commen fyre So well was Cresus beloued wyth all the cities that the Grekes would haue made sharpe warre vpon Cyrus if he had delt with Cresus any thyng cruellye Afterward in processe of time while Cyrus was occupyed in other warres the Lydians rebelled From whem beynge vanquished agayne he tooke quite their horses armor and weapon commaundyng them to vse victaling minstralsye gamyng and all kynde of ribawdrye and wantonnesse And so by this meanes the people which sometime wer of
but also to such as behold it a far of Moreouer ther is such a do when the waues mete that a man shall se some as it were ruÌ„ning away drowned in the whorlpoles falling into the bottom of the sea other some in maner of conqueroures proudly bear theÌ„ selues a loft And again hear in one place the roring of the raging tide in another place as it were the sighing of the falling into the gulf And to the encrease therof maketh also the nere and continuall burnyng of the mouÌ„tain Aetna of aeolus iles as though the fire wer norished with the water For it is not possible that so greate a fire shuld other wise continue so long season together in so smal a roum onles it wer norished by moysture HerevpoÌ„ therfore grew the tales of Scylla Charibdis herevpon came it that men hard the barking of dogs hervpon meÌ„ beleued that they saw monsters which sailing that way being feared with the noise of the waues falliÌ„g into the great gulfs imagined the waues to bark which was nothig els but the noise of the waters beting one against another as they wer drawn bi violâ—…ce into the whorlpoles The like cause is also of the coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of the fire of the mouÌ„tain aetna For this vi oleÌ„t meting of the waters draweth the winde with it perforce into the bowels of therth there holdeth him pent so loÌ„g vntil being spred into the holes of therâ—…h it setteth the â—…iry matter a burnig Now Italy Sicilie ar so near together and the promontories of bothe so like in heigth that looke how much we now wonder at it so much men in olde time wer afraid of it beleuing that the hils met and departed a sonder againe and that whole nauies of shippes were swalowed vp and neuer sene after Nether was this thing deuised in olde time for pleasauntnesse of the tale but for the wonderment of suche as passed that way For suche is the nature of the place that they whiche beholde it a farre of woulde rather take it to be an elbowe of the Sea shotyng into the land then a passage And when a manne comes neare he would thincke that the Mountaines parted and went a sondre Sicill was firste of all named Trinacria afterward it was called Sicania This Ilande from the beginnynge was the countrye of the Giauntes with one eye in their forehead called Cyclopes The whiche beynge roted out acolus tookâ—… vpon him the rule of the 〈◊〉 after whose decease euery City had a Tyran by them selues and there was neuer countrye that had better store of them theÌ„ had Sicilie Of the noumber of theese tirauntes there was one Anaxilaus that striued againste the crueltye of the others with iustice whose modest gouernaunce profited him not a little For when he was departed out of this life leauing his children verye yonge vnder the tuition and gouernement of a trusty seruaunte of his called Mycithus he was so wel beloued of al his subiects that they were conteted to obey his seruant rather then to abandon forsake his children And the princes of the citye forgettinge their estate suffred the kingdoÌ„ to be ruled by a bondman The Carthaginenses assaid to conquer thempire of Sicil fought a loÌ„g season with the kinges there of sometyme to their gaine and sometime to their losse At the last when they had lost their graund captain Hamilcar al his host their harts wer discoraged and so kept them selues in quiet for a good while after In the meane season the inhabitauntes of â—…hegium fallinge at debate among them selues the City being deuided in two factioÌ„s the one part thinking them selues to weak â–ª sent for the old souldioures whiche were then at the citye of â—…mera to come and healpe them who hauynge driuen oute of the Towne those againste whome they wer called and forthwith slaying them whose quarell they supported tooke their Citye with their wiues and children and all that euer they had whiche was suche a cruell acte as neuer tiraunt attempted in so muche that it had bene farre better for the menne of Rhegium to haue beene vanquished then to haue gotten the victory For whether they had bene driuen by the lawe of armes to haue serued the Conqueroures or whether they had bene driuen to forsake their countrye as banished persons yet notwithstanding they should not haue bene miserably murthered betwene the temples and their dwelling houses and haue left their natiue couÌ„try with their wiues and children as a pray to suche cruel tirants The Catenenses also beinge sore oppressed by the Syracusans distrustynge their owne strength demaunded succor of the Atheniens the whiche whether it were for desire to dilate their Empire because they had all redy conquered all Grece Asiâ—… or that they feared least the great nauy of shippes whyche the Syracâ—…sanes had lately builded shuld aid streÌ„gthen the Lacedemonians sent a Captaine called Lampozius wyth a nauy into Sicill to the entent that vnder the coloure of aiding the Catenienses they might attempt to get the kingdoÌ„e of Sicill And because that they had prosperous successe in their affairâ—…s at the beginning and made greate slaughter of their ennemies they went to Sicil again with a greater â—…eete and a stronger power wherof wer captaines Lachetes and Charâ—…ades But the Cateuâ—…nses whether it were for fâ—…are of the Atheniens or that they were wearye of the warres made peace with the Syracusanes and sent home the Atheâ—…ens againe that came to their rescue Wythin a while after when the Syracusanes obserued not iustlye the peace they sent their ambassadours again to Athens who in filthy apparel with longe heades and longe beardes fafashioning their countenaunce gesture as much as might be to prouoke pity came sorowfullye before the people In making their complainte they wept and with their humble submission so moued the sely people to pity that the cap tains wer condemned for withdrawing their succors from them Wherfore a great nauy was sent forth wherof wer appoynted captaines Nicias Albiciades Lamachus and they entred Sicilie with such a power that euen they whoÌ„ they came to defend were a fraid of them Shortlye after alcibiades being sent for home to answer to certain enditements that were put vp against him Nicias and Lamachus foughte two prosperous battels vpon the lande And soone after so enclosed their ennemies and kepte them so straighte that they coulde haue neither rescue nor victailes from the sea â–ª The Syracusanes being so sore distressed desired healp of the Lacedemonians Unto them was sent no mo but only Gylippus but he was suche a one as was worthe all the helpe they had beside For he hearing of the manner of the war and perceiuing his complices to be brought to a low ebbe raised a power partlye in Grece and partlye in Sicill and toke such a pece of ground as he thought meete for the two hostes to
encounter in Wher being twise put to the wors at the third encounter he slue Lamachus put â—…is ennemies to flight and raised the siege But when gylippus perceiued that the Atheniens remoued from the lande to battell on the Sea he sent for the nauye of Lacedemon to aide him the which thing being knowen at Athens they also to supplye the rowme of the captaine that was slain sent Demosthenes and 〈◊〉 with a newe furniture of souldiers The Xeloponesians also by a common decree of all the Cityes â–ª sente great aid to the Syracusanes and all the power that either parte coulde make was sent thither as thoughe the warre had bene remoued oute of Grece into Sicilie Therfore at the first encounter vpon the Sea the Atheniens wer vanquished their tentes also with all their Treasure priuate and common were taken Besides al these mischeues wheÌ„ they were ouercome vpon the lande also then Demosthenes began to counsel them to depart out of Sicilie betimes before their matters which all ready were in great hasarde were not yet all together brought to vtter despaire Saying it was not good to peâ—…uer and lenger in the warre so vnluckely begone and that there was sorer and perchance more vnfortunate warre towarde at home in theyr owne countrye for the defence and withstandinge wherof That furniture of the City ought to be reserued Nicias whether it were for shame of his ill successe or for feare of his owne Citizens disapoynted of that they loked for or that hys destenye compelled him there vnto made all the meanes he might to abide still Whervpon eftsones was renued the warre by sea and for all the stormes of their former misfortune yet they toke courage to encounter againe But throughe the vnskilfulnesse of their captaines that set vppon the Siracusanes keping them selues in the straights they were lightly ouercome The captain 〈◊〉 fighting very valiantly in the foreward was the first that was slaine The xxx shippes wherof he hadde the charge were set on fire Demosthenes and Nicias beinge also vanquished did set their men a lande supposing by that waye the better to eskape The hundred and xxx shippes whiche they lefte behinde them Gylippus inuaded and afterward pursuing them as they fled some he slue and some he tooke prisoners Demosthenes when he had loste his armye deliuered hym selfe from bondage by wilfull sleing of him self with his sword But Nicias hauyng not the hart to doo by him selfe as dyd Demosthenes dishonourably encreased the slaughter of his men by yelding him self vnto shamefull captiuity The fifthe Booke VUhile the Atheniens warred in Sicilie by the space of ii yeares with more gredinesse then successe in the meane season Alcibiades the stirrer and chieftaine therof in his absence was accused at Athens to haue published the misteryes of Ceres and the night sacrifices done in her honoure whiche are by no meanes so highly solempnized as by silence And being sent for from the warres to aunswer to hys complainte whether his conscience gaue him to be giltye or that he could not abide such a reproche to his honor he made no woordes but went as a banished man to Elis. Afterward when he vnderstoode that he was not onlye condempned but also accursed by the priestes of all the orders of religion he wente to Lacedemon and there perswaded the king to warre vppon the Atheniens nowe auexed and troubled with their misaduentures in Sicilie Immediatly whervppon all the kingdomes of Grece gathered them selues together as it had ben to quench some common fire so great hatred hadde the Atheniens gotten through their vnmeasurable desire of bearing rule Darius also the king of Persians remembring the hatred that hys father and graundfather bare to this City entred in leage with the Lacedemonians by Tyssaphernes lieuetenaunte of Lydia and promised to bear the charges of the warre This was the pretence of entraunce in leage with the Grekes but in verye deede he doubted least when the Lacedemonians had ouercome the Atheniens they would set vppon him What wonder is it then if the estate of Athens were so flourishinge since that to oppresse that one Citye all the power of the whole East bent them selues together Yet notwithstandinge they were not as cowardes ouercome wythout great bloudshed but fightinge to the vttermost and some whiles also getting the vpper hand they were at lengthe rather by vnstablenesse of fortune consumed then by plain force vanquished In the beginning of the warre not so muche but euen their owne fellowes forsooke them as it is daily sene that wheras fortune semeth to fauor thither also do mennes harts encline Alcibiades also furthered this warre that was moued againste his countrye with all the power he might not like a common souldier but like a puissaunt captain For taking with him x. shippes he sailed into Asia and there by the authoritye of his name compelled the Cities that were tributary vnto the Atheniens to tourne to the Lacedemonians For they knew wel that he was a man of great power in his owne countrye and they thought he was not the lesse by reason of his banishmente supposing him not to muche to be taken from the Atheniens as to be deliuered for a captain to the Lacedemonians and so they set his winninges against his losses But amoÌ„g the Lacedemonians Alcibiades greate prowesse and â—…aliantnesse wan him more enuy then thank Therfore when the Princes laid wait secreatly to kill him by treason as an ennemye to their glory and renowne Alcibiades hauynge knowledge therof by the wife of king agis with whome he had committed aduoutry fled to Tissaphernes kinge Darius lieuetenaunt with whome through his curtesy and lowly behauior he quickly wound him self in For he was then in the florishing time of his youth and for his beautye personage and eloquence amonge all the Atheniens was none like vnto him But he was better in winning frendshippe then in keepinge because that euer at the firste vnder the faire shadowe of eloquence were cloked his euill manners and conditions Therfore he perswaded Tissafernes that he should not alow to muche wages and viand to the fleete of the Lacedemonians and that the Ionians ought to be called to part of the charges for whose libertye when they payed tribute to the Atheniens this warre was first begonne Moreouer that the Lacedemonians oughte not to haue to much helpe consideringe he prepared for another mannes victory and not for his owne wherfore the warre ought so farre forthe to be maintained that it be not broken vp for want of things necessary For as long as the Grekes were thus at debate amoÌ„g them selues the king of Persia shuld alwaies be an indifferent iudge bothe of peace and warre at his owne pleasure And he should ouercome them wyth their owne power whome he could not ouercome with all the power he was able to make of his owne And assone as the warre were
ended whiche waye so euer the gole went he should be compelled to haue warre with the conquerors Wherfore it wer good to suffer the Grekes to busy them selues in wasting their own country to the entent they haue no leisure to inuade forain countries To the performance wherof either parte oughte to be maintained in strength able to match his aduersari and the weaker to be aided with new succors For it was not to be thought that the Lacedemonians would be in rest if they might get the vpper hand considering they had professed and proclaimed them selues all redy the defenders of the liberty of Grece This Oration liked Tissaphemes very well whervppon he allowed them not so liberall expenses neither sent he forth all the kings flete least he shuld either geue them the victorye oute of hande or elsse constraine them to breake vp the warres In the meane season Alcibiades did thus muche for his country men that when the Atheniens sente their ambassadors vnto him he promised to get them the kinges fauor if so be it that the administration of the common welth wer remoued from the people and put into the senatours handes Hopinge there by that if the Citye agreed well he shoulde be chosen captaine of the warre by their common assent or els if there arose any variaunce betwene the two estates he shoulde be called to the ayd of the one part But the Atheniens seinge the daunger of the warre that they were wrapped in had more respect of their safegarde then of their honoure Therfore with the good wil of the people the gouernance of the common wealth was put into the hands of the senators The which because that through a certain pride natu rallye engraffed in that estate they dealed with the people â—…om what cruelly euery man taking vpon him to be a lord the souldioures called home the banished alcibiades made him admirall of the Sea Whervppon immediatly he sent woord to Athens that he woulde incontinently come thither with an host of menne and take the gouernment out of the CCCC Senatoures handes whether they woulde or no onlesse they surrendred it vp of their owne accorde before he came The greate menne of the City being sore froâ—…hled with this message first attempted to betraye the Towne to the Lacedemonians whiche thing being not able to bringe to passe they willinglye forsoke their Countrye and became as banished men alcibiades therfore hauinge deliuered hys countrye from inwarde sedition furnished his ships wyth all diligence possible and so proceded into warfare against the Lacedemonians Nowe Mindarus and 〈◊〉 the Captaines of the Lacedemonians with their shippes furnished likewise awaited his comminge The battell being soughte the victorye fell to the Atheniens In thys conflicte the greater parte of the armye and almooste all the captains of their enemies wer slain and lxxx shippes takeÌ„ Within a fewe daies after the Lacedemonians remouing from the Sea vnto the lande were eftsones in another encounter put to the worse The which discomfiture beynge greatly afflicted and discouraged they sued for peace The which was letted to be graunted through their mean es had aduaÌ„tage and gain by the warres In the mean season the Carthaginenses made war in Sicil by reason wherof the Siracusanes wer fain to call home their succors to defeÌ„d their own The LacedemoniaÌ„s being therby destitute of al aid comforte Alcibiades with his victorious nauye wasted and spoiled the coaste of Asia foughte battels in diuers places and euery wher getting the victorye recouered the Cityes whiche were tourned from the Atheniens and diuers he won of newe and subdued them to the dominion of the Atheniens also And so hauinge recouered his auncient renowne and honor in battel on the sea with thencrese and augmentation therof by his conquestes on the land he returned to Athens to the great reioycement of all his Citezens In all these battels were taken of their enemies two C. shippes and a great pray To beholde this triumphante retourne of the army all the people came out of the Citye by heapes praising highlye all the souldioures but in espetially wondring at Alcibiades On him all the City gased on him they earnestlye fastned their eies as thoughe they could neuer haue seene inough of him him they behelde as one sent from heauen and as it wer the victory it self they praised his noble actes done for his countrye no lesse extolling the thinges which he did against the same in the time of his banishment makinge his excuse them selues as that he did them in his anger and prouoked there vnto It is a meruelous thing to see that there should be in one manne suche power and valure as to be the onlye cause of the ouerthrowe of so mighty a kingdome and of the settinge vp of the same againe victory euer folowing that side that he tooke and that fortune should so wonderfully alwaies encline that way that he went Wherfore they honored hym not as a man but as a God they striued with them selues whether they had banished him more spitefullye or called him home again more honourablye They broughte theyr Goddes with them for ioy to welcom him home by which not long before they had accursed hym And whome of late they had forbidden all mannes help now and if they could they would haue set him in heauen Recompensing the despite with honour his harmes and losses with giftes and rewardes and his curses with blessings There was no wordes among them of the battels that he loste in Sicil but of the victories that he woâ—…e in Grece There was no speaking of the shippes that he hadde lost but of the shippes that he had taken The Syracusanes were forgotten and there was no talke but of his conquestes in Ionia and Hellespont Thus was Alcibiades neuer meanely hated nor meanely honoured and exalted of his country men While theese thinges were a doing amonge the Lacedemonians Lysander was made Captaine generall of the warres bothe by sea and by land and in steade of Tissaphernes Darius kinge of Persians hadde made his sonne Cyrus lieuetenant of Ionia and Lydia who aided the Lacedemonians in such wise both with men and mony that they doub ted not to recouer their former estate Beinge therfore thus encreased in strength and hearing that Alcibiades was gon into Asia with a nauye of a C. shippes whiles he was there wasting and spoiling the country which was grown riche by reason there had bene no warre of a long time be fore and toke no hede to his souldioures but suffred them for couetousnesse of booties to disperse them selues where they lifted as thoughe there had bene no treason to be feared they sodenlye came vppon them and assailed them ere they could gather them selues together And they made suche a slaughter amonge them as they were skatred that the Atheniens toke more losse and hurt in that one battel then they had done to their ennemies in all the
battels before wherwith they were brought to luche a dèspaire that forthwith they put away alcibiades chose conon to be theyr captain in his stead Thincking them selues to haue beene vanquished not by the chaunce of warres but through the treson of their captaine whiche more regarded the old displesure then the benefits newly bestowed vpon him And that he had vanquished his ennemies in the former battels for ndne other purpose but only to shewe vnto them what a captain they had despised and to th entent to sel them the victory the derer And to say the truthe alcibiades had so suttle a hed was therwith so muche geuen to vice and lasciuious liuing that it was like inough he wold worke such a thing Fering therfore the displesure of the people in their rage of his own wil he banished him self againe Then Conon beinge put in the roume of Alcibsades hauinge before his eies what a captaine he had sucâ—…eded furnished his nauy with all diligence and circumspectinesse tha tmyght be But there wanted men to furnish the shippes for the â—…ou test and strongest souldiours wer lost in the forraginge of Asia Yet notwithstanding old menne and berdlesse boyes wer armed and so filled vp the nomber of souldiers without any strength of the host Yet for al that they letted not to encounter with their enemies by whom like weak and vnable soldiers they were euerye where beaten downe or els taken running away And there was suche a destruction what of them that were slaine and what of them that were taken that not only the Empire but euen the verye name of the Atheniens semed to be vtterly extinct By the which battel they wer brought to so low an ebbe and lefte so bare by reson all their warlike men wer consumed and spent that they were driuen folet their city to straungers to set their slaues bondmen fre and to geue pardoÌ„ to such as were condempned to die And with this rout of raskals wherof their army was compact they which lately before wer lords of al Grece were now skarse able to maintaine their owne libertye Neuerthelesse they determined yet once again to try their fortune vpon the sea So stout were their stomakes so coragious wer their harts that wheras a litle before they wer in despair of their own safegard they were now in good hope to get the victorâ—…e But these were not the souldioures that were able to vphold the honor of Athens nether was that the power wherwith they wer wont to geue their ennemies the ouerthrow neyther was there suche knowledge of feats of armes in those that had bene kepte in prison and not in the campe Therefore they were all either slaine or taken prisoners The captain Conon which eskaped alone froÌ„ the battel fering the cruelty of his country men toke viii ships and sailed to Euâ—…goras king of cyprus But the captaine of the Lacedemonians hauing atcheued al thinges prosperously and according to his own desire proudly reioysig at thaduersity of his enemies sent the ships that he had taken withall the boty gotten in the warres decked garnished in maner of a triumph vnto Lacedemon receiued by composition all the cities that wer tributary to the Atheniens which as yet continued in their due obedieÌ„ce because they knew not to what end the war wold come leuing nothing vnder the dominion of the Atheniens sauing only the bare city Of al the which mise ries wheÌ„ tidings came to Athens all the people forsakyng their houses ran vp and down the city amased one askyng an other what tidings seking for him that brought vp first the newes not the children their waÌ„t of discretion not the old men want of strength not the women the weaknesse delibity of nature could kepe at home so sore did the feling of that misfortune perce vnto alages They met together in the market sted and ther al night long lameÌ„ted and bewailed their coÌ„mon misfortune some made mone for theyr brothers some for their sonnes some for their fathers som for their kinsfolk other some for their frends which wer derer to them then their kinsfolk and amoÌ„g theyr priuate mischances was alwaies repeated the coÌ„mon misfortune loking for none other but present vtter destruction both to them selues to their country esteming them that were aliue to be in worse case then them that were deade Eche person setting before their eies besiegement hunger and the arrogant enemy hauing them in his haÌ„d to worke hys plesure vpon theÌ„ And therwith cam to their remeÌ„braÌ„s the ouerthrow burninge of their city the captiuitye of them selues the most miserable seruitude boÌ„dage which they were all like to be brought vnto Thincking the first ouerthrow of the city by the Per. to be couÌ„ted hapy in coÌ„parisoÌ„ in the which their wiues childreÌ„ pareÌ„ts kinsfolk remaining in safegard they lost nothiÌ„g but their houses wheras now they had no ships left whervnto thei might fly for suâ—… had no army of souldiours through whose help they might be defended til they were able to builde a fairer Citye And as they werthus bewailing their misfortune and misery their enemies coÌ„ming vpoÌ„ them enuironed the town with a strong siege and constrained them greatly with huÌ„ ger For it was wel knowen that there were not many of the soldioures left aliue within the towne and they wer so straightly loked to that no new succors could be broughte in By which mischeues the Atheniens being brought low after long famin and daily pestilence desired peace There was longe debatinge betwene the Lacedemonians their adherentes whether it was to be graunted or no. When many gaue counsel vtterly to rote out the name of the Atheniens to put the city to the fire the Spartanes sayde they would not in any wise condiscend that if the two eyes of Grece the one shoulde be put out And so they graunted theÌ„ peace vpon condition they should cast down the armes of the walles that stretched toward the hauen of Pyreum de liuer vp all their ships that were left and receiue at theyr hand xxx rulers to gouern their coÌ„mon welth Upon these articles the city was yelded to the Lacedemonians who coÌ„ mitted thordering therof to the discretion of theyr captaine Lysander This yeare was worthy to be noted bothe for the winning of Athens for the deth of Darius king of Persia also for the banishment of Dyonise tiraunt of Sicil. The estate of Athens being thus altered the estate of the people was altered also The xxx rulers of the common welth fel to tiranny For at their firste comminge they chose them a gard of thre M. men wheras in al the city remained skarse as manye moo they were so wasted and consumed by the warres afore And yet not so content as though this bande were to weake to keepe the Citye in awe they borowed DCC souldiours of
in law that shuld haue maried her daughter had taken vpon her to kil her husband and make her peramor king If her daughter had not bewrayed all her mothers whordome and priuye conspiracies to her father Theolde man therfore being deliuered out of so many pearils died leauing the kingdome to his eldest sonne Alexander who in the verye entraunce of his raigne made peace with the â—…yrians and deliuered his brother Philip in hostage In pro cesse of time also by the same hostage he entred a league of peace with the Thebanes the which thinge was a greate furtherans vnto Philip in all princely vertues whervnto he was meruelously enclined of nature For being 〈◊〉 as an hostage iii. yeres at Thebes a city of auncient seueritye he passed his childhode in the house of the moste renoumed captain and Philosopher 〈◊〉 Ere it was loÌ„g after Alexander was surprised and slain â—…y the treson of hys mother Eurydice whom Amyntas hauing taken her wyth the fault had before pardoned for the Childrens sake that he had by her not knowing y â— in time to com she wold be their vtter destructioÌ„ His brother Perdicas also was by like tre sonpreuented It is an abhominable thing y â— for filthy lusts sake the mother shuâ—…d work the death of her own childreÌ„ at whose coÌ„templation she was saued from the punishmeÌ„t that her wickednesse had deserued The murther of Perdicas semed so much more heinous in that not so muche as his litle childe could finde any mercy at his cruell mothers hand Philip therfore a long time tooke not vpon 〈◊〉 as king but as protector of the infant But when the country was sore oppressed with warre and that it wold be to late to tary for help vntil the childe came to age he was coÌ„pelled of the people to take the kingdom vpon him Assone as he begoÌ„ his raign al meÌ„ conceiued great hope of him both for his wit which in manner all redy declared that he wold proue a great man And also for the ancient Prophecies of Macedonie which said that while one of the sonnes of amin tas raigned thestate of Macedone shuld be most florishing the which hope and prophecies to fulfil there wer now no mo left aliue through the wickednesse of their mother but only he In the beginning of his raign when on thoue side the murder of his brothers vnworthely slain on the other side the multitude of his enemies on a nother side the fear of treson and on another side want of mony artillery the realme being in manner wasted and consumed with continuall warre disquieted the minde of this yong souldioure that sondry nations out of diuers places at one tyme flocked together as it wer by a common conspiracy to the entent to oppresse Macedonie by battell For as muche as he was not able to matche them all at once he thoughte it conuenient to dispence with them some he toke truce with vpon reasonable Articles â–ª some he bought of for mony and suche as were weakest he assailed by force by vanquishing of whome he did bothe strengthen the faint hartes of hys souldiers and tooke awaye the disdaine that his ennemies had at him The first encounter that he had was with the Atheniens whome he ouercame by policy and for feare of a worser afterclap wheras he might haue slain them all he sent them all safe home without raunsome After this he turned hys power against the Illyrians of whom he slew many thousandes and toke their head city called Laryssa Next not so muche for couetousnesse of praye as for dâ—…syre to ioyne the Thessalian horsmen to his fotemen therby to encrease the strength of his army he conquered the country of Thessaly â—…re anye hostilitye or warre was looked for and so of theyr horsemen and his owne fotemen made one bodye and inuincible army The which thinges comminge luckelye to passe he tooke to wife Olympias the Daughter of Neoptolemus king of the Molosses The maker of this marriage was his brother Arimbas king of the Molosses vncle to tâ—…e maid by the fathers side who had the bringinge vp of her had taken in mariage Troas 〈◊〉 of y â— said Olympias which was the cause of muche mischiefe vnto him and finallye of his destruction For wheras by the affinity of king Philip he hoped to haue had his kingdom enlarged he was by the same Philip depriued of his owne Realme and compelled in his olde age to liue a banished man These thinges thus brought to passe Philip could not nowe content hym selfe to repulse iniurye offered by others but prouoked and distroubled suche as sate still in quiet As he besieged the city of Methon one threwe a dart at him from the wall as he passed by and strake out his right eie For y â— which wound he became neither the slouthfuller in his enterpryse nor the angrier againste his ennemies In so muche that within few daies after wheÌ„ they desired peace be grauÌ„ted it and vsed the victory against them not only modestlye but also mercifully The eyghte Booke THe cities of Grece while euery of them sought to beare rule were euery chone brought vnder subiection For after the time they coulde not with holde them selues â—…ut that they must seke eche others destruction they were vnuanqui shed of all men and brought to confusi on None but suche as were oppressed did fele the losse and smart hereof For Philip king of Macedone lying in a wait like a spy out of a watch toure to surprise them all of theyr liberty by nourishing debate betwene City and City and by supporting the weaker side compelled both the conque red and the conquerors to become his vassals and subiects The originall cause of all this mischiefe were the Thebanes who hauing the soueraignty and wanting discretion to vse their good fortune arrogantly accused at the common couÌ„sel of Grece the Lace demonians and the Phocenses whome they had vanquished in battel as thoughe the slaughters rauish ments that they had abidden had beene to little punishment for them It was laide to the Lacedemonians charge that they had taken the towre of Thebes in the time of truce and to the Phocenses that they had wasted the couÌ„try of Beotia as thoughe that after warre and battell they would haue the lawes also to worke their forâ—…e IudgemeÌ„t being executed according to the plesure of the conquerors they were condempned in suche a summe of mony as was not possible to be paide The Phocenses therfore when they shoulde haue bene bereft of their landes their children and their wiues compelled therby to vtter necessity chose one Philomelus to their captain and as men offended with God him selfe inuaded the Temple of Apollo at Delphos Herevpon being enriched with gold and other mony they waged an army of souldiers straungers and made warre to the Thebanes This dede of the Phocenses although all men abhorred
were they inflamed with hatred againste the Phocenses that vtterly forgetting their owne slaughters they had rather pearishe them selues then to suffer them vndestroyed and had rather to abide the cruelty of Philip which they knew all redy by experience then by anye meanes to for bear their enemies On the contrary part the 〈◊〉 wyth thambassadours of Lace and Athens besought hym that he would not make warre the whyche they hadde all ready iii. times bought of at his hand with their monye Surely it was a foule and miserable sight to behold Grece which euen yet at that time bothe in strength and dignity was princesse of the whole world alwaies a conqueresse of kinges and countries and as yet the Lady of many cities daunsing attendaunce in a forain land and there entreting for warre or peace to put her hed vnder a nother mannes girdle And that the reuengers of the whole world should be brought to that poynte through their own discorde and ciuil warres that they were glad to fawne and hang vpon their sleues who not longe before were accompted as the vilest part of their retinue and hangers on ▪ and that in espe cially to be don of the Thebanes and Lacedemonians who lately before ruled the whole rost betwixt them and now in the time that Grece bare the souerainty wer enemyes one of anothers estate Philip in the meane season for the aduauncement of his owne glory debated as concerninge the preheminence and estate of so mighty cities deuising of which he were best to make most accompt And therfore when he had seacreatly heard thambassades of both partes seuerally he promised the one to discharge them of the warres taking an othe of them not to bewray his answer to anye man On the contrary part he promised the other to come and helpe them geuing both parties straight charge and commaundemēt not to fear or prepare for any warre Through this variable answer it came to passe that while euerye man kepte him self in quiet he toke the straightes of Thermopile Then first of all the Phocenses perceiuing them selues entrapped by the pollicy of Philip fearfully tooke them to their weapons But they had no leisure either to surnish their owne battels or to send for succor to their neighbors And Philip threatned he would vtterly destroy them onlesse they yelded incontinent Being therfore ouercome with necessity they yelded them selues simply their liues only saued But euen of as muche force was this composition as was hys promise before to discharge them of the warres Therfore they were euery wher slain and spoiled The children wer not left to their parents nor the wiues to their husbands nor the Images of the Goddes in the temples One onlye comfort had this wretched people that wheras Philip defrauded his owne companions of their parte of the praye they saw nothing of theirs in their enemyes hands When he was returned into his kingdome like as Grasiers shift their cattel somtime into one layer sometime into another according as the season of the yere requireth euen so remo ued he at his owne pleasure whole countries and Cityes according as he thought the places mete to be replenished or forsaken It was a miserable sight to behold in al places and in respect euen like to a desolation For this feare was not like as when the ennemy approcheth or when men of warre run vp and downe a Citye or when two hostes encounter vielently in the fielde nor when men are slaine in the stretes their goods taken away perforce but a secret sorow mourning fearing leaste euen their forced teares shuld be taken for contimacy the grief encresed by the cloking therof so much the depelier persing the hart as it had lesse liberty to vtter it selfe Somtime they considered the sepulchres of their ancestors somtime their old housholde gods somtime the houses wher they were begotten had begotten children them selues Bewailing eft their owne case in that they had liued to that day eft the state of their children y ◠it had not bene their fortune to be borne after y e time Some people he placed in the vtmost boundes of his kingdom euen in his enemies mouthes other he set in the furthermost borders of all his realme other some that wer mete for the warres he put in garrison in cities as nede required And so of many kindes of people manye nations he made one entire kingdom one people The affaires of Macedonie being set at a stay through fraud pollicy he toke the chief of the Dardamans other borders and subdued their coūtries Nether withheld he his hand frō his own kinred For he determined to put Arymba king of Epyrus his wife Olympias neare kinsman from his royalty And thervpon he sent for Alexander his sonne in law brother of his wife Olympias a boy of excellent beuty in his sisters name to com vnto him into Macedonie And ther by al meanes possible ha uing entised him with hope of the kingdom vnder pretens of counterfet loue abused him in most filthy buggery thin king that either shame and remorse of his own conscience or elsse the making of him king should cause him to be the more at his commaundement Therefore when the chylde was come to xx yeres of age he toke the kingdom from Arymba and gaue it to him being a very boy playinge a wicked part with them bothe For neither delt he like a natural kinsman with him from whome he toke the kingdome and him to whome he gaue it he made a harlot before he made him king The ninthe Booke VUhen Philip was come into Grece allured with the sacking of a few cities the spoil of a few smal townes ther vpō gathering in his minde how great wer the richesse of them all he determined to make warre against all Grece To the furtherance wherof he thought it wold greatlye aduauntage him if he myghte bring in his subiection the noble hauen town of Byzance as a refuge for his hostes both by-sea lād The same because they shut their gates against him he besieged This Citye was builded at the first by Pansanias kinge of the Spartanes by him was possessed by the space of vii yeres ▪ Afterward as victory enclined to either part it belonged eft to the Lacedemonians and eft to the Atheniens The which vncertain possession made it to stand stiflye in the defence of her own liberty forasmuch as neither partye succored or rescued it as their owne Phillip therfore hauing spent his treasure with the long continuaunce of his siege made a shifte to get mony by rouing on the Lea. And hauing taken lxr shippes laden with marchaundise he refreshed his gready necessity for a while Furthermore because so great an army shoulde not be deteined aboute the siege of one city he went with a nomber of the stoutest of his souldioures and wan manye cities of Chersonesus Moreouer he sente for hys
againe Of the whiche sorte he made three hundred iudges and rulers of the City Before whome when all the greatest men of the Citye were araigned as giltye of their wrongfull banishment they were of suche constancye that they all confessed them selues to haue bene authors therof in deede Affirmynge y ◠it was better with the common wealthe when they were condempned then when they were restored again It was out of doubte a meruelous audacitye ◅or prisoners to geue sentence on their iudges that sate vppon their life death as who would say they disdained to be acquite at their ennemies handes and for asmuch as they coulde not reuenge them selues in worke to vsurpe their libertye in woordes When Phillip had set thinges at a staye in Grece he commaunded all the cityes to sende ambassadors to Corynthe for the reformation of the thinges that were a misse Ther he enacted a statute of peace for al Grece accordyng to the deseruinges of euery City and he elected oute of them all one Counsell and as it were one Senate Onlye the Lacedemonians despised bothe the king and his lawe accōpting that peace but as a seruitude or bondage which was not agreable to the cities them selues but was geuen at y ◠pleasure of the conqueror Furthermore euery city was apoyn ted what manner of men they should setforth to y ◠warres if the king should haue neade either to assiste him when he wer assailed by foraine power or els to make warre vnto others vnder him For it was to be thoughte none other but that all this great preparation was made to assayl the Empire of the Persians The summe of al his succors was two hundred thousand footemen and fiftene hundred horsemen Besides this nomber was also the hoste of Macedone and other barbarous nations bordering ther vpon whom he had subdued In the beginning of y ◠spring he s◅t ouer before into Asia which belōged to the Persians thre captains Parmenio Amyntas Attalus Whose sister hauinge put away Olympias the mother of Alexander vpon suspition of aduoutry he had lately taken in mariage In the meane season while his succors were assemblynge out of Grece he solemnized a mariage betwene his daughter Cleopatra and Alexander whome he had made kynge of Epyre. That day was great solempnity and feasting according to thestate of the two kings th one geuing his daughter thother taking her in mariage And there wanted no kinde of royall showes and pageauntes that coulde be deuised to see the which as Philip was going forth withoute any gard in the middes betwene the two Alexanders hys sonne and sonne in law A noble yong manne of Macedone called Pansanias mistrusted of no man where aboutes he w◅nt stept vpon the king in a strait and as he would haue passed by slue him turning the day into sorowe and heauinesse that was appoynted to mirth and pleasure This Pansa◅as in the first prime of his youthe had suffered Attalus perforce against his wil to abuse him moost filthely wherwith being not contented he offred him this villanye besides He brought him into a banket and there making him dronken cōpelled him like a st◅king strompet to sustaine not only his beastly lechery but also the shamelesse and abhominable lust of al y ◠guests wherby he madehim a laugh ing stock to all men when he came amonge hiscōpanions Pansanias being with this his doinge sore agreued did oftentimes make complainte therof to the kinge At whose hand being with diuers delaies put of not without a mock for his labor and perceiuing his aduersary to be aduaunced furthermore to a captainship he turned his wrathe vppon the king him self and for because he could not be reuenged vpon his aduersary he reuenged him vpon the wrongfull iudge It is thoughte that he was sent by Olympias the mother of Alexander and that Alexander him self ◅as pre uy to his fathers murthre For it is not vnlike but that Olympias toke ber deuorcement and the preferment of Cle opitra as greuously as Pansanias did his abusing and that Alexander feared his brother begotten of his stepmother as an enemy of his kingdome Whervpon it came to passe before this time that he fell at woordes at a banquet fyrste with Attalus and after with his father In so muche that his father pursued him with his sworde drawne and hys frendes had much a doo to entreate him to holde his hande from killing him Uppon which occasion Alexander wyth his mother fled vnto his vncle into Epyre and frō thence went to the kinge of Sclauonye and would skarse by anye meanes be reconciled to his father when he sente for hym in so muche that his frendes coulde not in manner by anye intretaunce compell him to returne agayne Olympias al so was procuring her brother Alexander king of Epyre to raise warre against Philip and had obtained her sute if he had not preuented him with the mariage of his daughter and made him his sonne in lawe These thinges therefore were as spurres vnto Pansanias iust displeasure prickyng him forward to the accomplishment of this acte vpon hys complaint sorowing to be so shamefully abused and coulde haue no redresse This is certaine that Olympias had laid poste horses to conuey him awaye when he had striken the king Afterward when she hard of the murder of the king she came to his funerals the same night vnder pretence of doing obsequies to him and there the very same night that she came she set a crowne of golde vpon Pansanias hed as he ◅ong vpon the galowes the which thing no body durst haue bene so bold to haue doone but she Philip hauynge a sonne a liue And within a few daies after she toke downe the body of Pansanias and burned it vppon her husbandes ashes and builded him a tombe in the same place causyng yerely certaine Ceremonies and obsequies to be doone for him wherby she draue a superstitiō into the peoples heds This doone she compelled Clep◅tra for whose sake Phillip had diuorsed him self frō her hauing first killed her daughter euen in the mothers lap to hang her self and in beholdinge her howe she hong enioyed the reuengement vnto which she made so muche hast by the murder of her owne hus◅and Last of al she consecrated the sword wherwith the kyng was stain vnto Apollo by the name of Myrtalis for that was Olympias name when she was a litle one Al y ◠which things wer don so openlye that it was to be thoughte she shoulde haue feared least her doing wold not be alowed or rather as though she cared not who knew that she had doone the dede ▪ Philip deceased of thage of xlvii yeares when he had raigned xxv yeres He begate of Larissa a daunsing damosel a sonne named Arideus that raigned after Alexander He had many other sonnes begotten of diuers women as the manner of kings is of whome some died of theyr naturall death
sonne in law of antipater whome he had left his vicegerent in Macedone went about to worke treson against him For which cause fearing that if he should put him to death there wold rise summe commotion in Macedone he put hym in safekeping This doone he marched towarde the citye Gordis the which is situate betwene the greater and the lesser Phrygia The desire that Alexander had to get this city into his possession was not so muche for the spoyle of it as for because he hard say that in that City in the temple of Jupiter was the yoke of Gordius waine the knot wherof whosoeuer could vndoo should be king of all Asia as the auncient Oracles had prophesyed The occasion and originall hereof was this As one Gordius was going to plough in the country with Oxen that he had hired birdes of all sorts began to flie about him Whervppon as he went to aske counsell of the Southsayers of the city therby in the gate he mette with a maid of excellent beautye and demaundynge of her what Southsayer he were best to goo to When she heard thoccasion wherfore he woulde aske counsell beinge seene her selfe in the science by thenstruction of her Father and mother she answered that it meaned he should be a kinge and there vpon offred her selfe to be his partaker bothe of wedlock and of the kingdom y â— was behighted He thought himself happy to haue suche a faire offer at the first entrye of his kingdome After the marriage the Phrygians fell at discord among them selues And when they asked counsell of the Oracle how they mighte bringe it to an end answer was made that they could not end their controuersies with out the healpe of a king Demaunding again as touchinge the person of their king what manner of man he should be commaundement was geuen them to marke whom they saw first after their returne ridinge into the temple of Iupiter in a cart and to take him for their king The first man that they met was this gordius where vppon immediatlye they saluted him by the name of king The cart whâ—…rin he rode when the kingdome was laid vppon him he set in the temple of Iupiter and consecrated it for an offeringe as kinges are wont to doo at their coronation After this man raigned his sonne Midas who being traded vp by Orpheus in manye superstitious Ceremonies filled all the realme full of sectes of religion by the whyche he liued more in safegarde all his life then by his chiualry Alexander therfore hauinge taken the Towne when he came into the temple of Iupiter immediatlye enquired for the yoke of the Waine the whiche being broughte before him when he sawe he coulde not finde the end of the thonges that wer bidden within the wrethes constraining the Oracle to the vttermooste he cutte the wrethes a sonder with a sworde and so when he had losed the wreathes he found the endes of the knottes wythin the braides As he was a doing this tidinges was broughte him that Darius approched with a great hoast of men Whervpon fearyng to be enclosed within the straightes he passed the mountaine Taurus with all spede possible in the whiche haste he ran CCCCC furlonges When he came to Tarsus beinge muche delighted wyth the plesantnes of the riuer Cydnus which runneth through the mids of the city he cast of his harnesse and full of duste and â—…wet as he was threw him self naked into the cold wa ter wherwithall suche a nomnesse and stifnesse by and by strake through all his finewes that he lost his speche in so much that men thought he should not only neuer recouer it but also loked he shuld haue died presently Onlye there was one of his Phisitians named Philip which wold take vpon him to warrant to make him whole again And yet the same Phisition was had in great mistrust by reason of the letters sent the daye before oute of Cappadocia from Parmenio Who knowing nothing of Alexanders mischaunce wrote vnto him to beware of Philip the Phisition for he was corrupted by Darius for a great summe of mony Yet notwithstanding he thought it more for his safegard to coÌ„mit himself to the phisition though he more then halfe suspected him of treason then to abide the daunger of his disease wherof ther was no way but death Therfore be toke the drinke that the Phisition had made him and deliuered him the letter and as he drank he beheld his face stedfastly to se what countenance he wold make at the reding of it When he sawe him vnabashed he was glad of it and the iiii day after recouered his healthe Darius therfore wyth CCC M. fotemen and a C. M. horsmen proceded into battel This huge nomber of his enemies somwhat moued Alexander when he beheld howe fewe in respect he had hym self But then again he called to minde what great enterprises he had atcheued how mighty countries he had sub dued with that smal nomber Wherfore when hope had ex pulsed fear he thought it daungerous to delay the battell And to th entent his men shuld not be discoraged he rode a bout from band to band with sondry orations spake vnto eche kinde of people He encoraged the Illirians 〈◊〉 with promesse of richesse and substance The Grecians he set on fire with putting theÌ„ in mind of their batels in time past of the continual hatred that they had with the Persi sians The Macedones he admonished of Europe by theÌ„ all redy coÌ„quered of Asia now chalenged bosting of theÌ„ that there wer not y â— like men of power strength as they wer in al y â— world Of al which their trauels this battell should be y â— final end to their high renown estimatioÌ„ As he had said these words he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his battels to staÌ„d stil again to th entent y e by this pausing they might enure theÌ„ selues to behold y â— huge noÌ„ber of their enemies with opeÌ„ eies Da rius also was not behinde the haÌ„d in ordring of his battels For wheras it beloÌ„ged to the duty of his captains to haue don it he weÌ„t himself in proper person froÌ„ rank to raÌ„k exhorting theÌ„ al to play the men putting the in remeÌ„braÌ„ce of thanciet renown of the PersiaÌ„s of the perpetual possession of thempire geuen theÌ„ by the gods immortal This don both tharmies with great corage buckled together In the which battell both kings wer wouÌ„ded the victory huÌ„g in doutful balaÌ„ce so loÌ„g vntil Darius forsoke the field Then ensued the slaughter of y â— Persians ther were slain of fotemeÌ„ lx one M. of horsmen x. M. and xl M. wer taken prysoners Of the Macedones wer killed a C. xxx fotemen a C. l. horsmen In the teÌ„ts of the Persians was fouÌ„d much gold other riches AmoÌ„g others wer takeÌ„ prisoners Dari us mother his wife which also was his sister and ii of hys daughters WhoÌ„ when
of his prisoners 3000. talents Here vnto Alexander made answer that thank at his enemies hād was more then neded and y ◠he had not done any thing to flatter him withall nor for y ◠he sought a defens against thuncertain end of war or for articles of peace but of his own noble hart whiche taught him to contend with the power of his enemies and not with their calamities promising to perform all Darius request if he wold take himselfe as next vnto him and not as his coequal for like as the world could not be ruled if there wsr ii sonnes so the world cannot without preiudice be go uerned by ii souerain kings therfore either yeld hym selfe the same day or els prepare him self to battel the next day and flater not himself with hope of any other victory thē he had tried alredy The next day they brought their men into the field Sodenly before the battel Alexander being he ◅y with cares fel a slepe Al his men being in a redinesse to geue the charge vpon their enemies the king was missing Who being with much a do waked by Parmenio beyng asked how it chanced y ◠he slept so soundly in so dangerus a time seing he was wōt to sleepe but litle euen whē he was most at his harts ease said he was deliuered of a great fear and y ◠he slept vpon a sodain quietnes that came vpon him because he should encoūter withal the whole power of Da rius together for he was afraid leasts the war should haue ben prolonged if the Persians had deuided their hoste Before the battel eche armye stode in the sighte of other The Macedones wōdred to so the great nōber of their enemies their goodly personages their rich costli armor On the other side the Persians wer amased to thinke how so fewe shuld ouercome so many thousandes as they had The captaines went busely about to viewe their bandes and see euery man kepe good order Darius told his souldiers that if they were deuided they wer mo then ten to one of theyr ennemies Alexander willed the Macedones not to be abashed at the multitude of their ennemies at the hugenesse of their bodies nor at the straungenesse of theyr couloure onlye he wolde haue them to remember that this was the iii time they foughte with them and that they shoulde not think them to be become better men by reson of runnyng away cōsidering they shuld bring into the battel with the ◅o sorowful a remembrans of their own discomfitures and of so muche bloudshed as they had gon away with in the ii former conflicts And as Darius had the greater nomber of men so had he himself the greater strength Wherfore he exhorted them to despise that host y ◠glistered so with golde and siluer in the which there was more gaine to be gotten then danger seing that victory is not gotten by y ◠glistering of habilments but by the sharpnesse of wepons After thys cōmunication the onset was geuen The Macedones layd about them with their wepons as in disdain of their ennemy whom they had vanquished so often before On the cōtrarye parte the Persians chose rather to die then to be ouercome Which caused so much bludshed as hath not light ly bene sene in any battel Darius when he saw his mē put to the worse would gladly haue died in the fielde but that suche as were about him compelled him to flie whether he would or no. Afterwarde when some gaue him counsell to breake the brydge ouer the riuer Cydnus to the entent to stop his enemies from pursuing him any further he sayde he set not so much by him self that for the sauegard of him self alone he wold cast so many of his companye into theyr enemies hands and therfore it shuld be away for other to eskape as wel as it had beene for him selfe Alexander enterprised such thinges as were most daungerous where he saw his enemies thickest and fighting sharpest thither would he euer thrust himself in among them to break the prease desirous alwaies to take such things as were most dangerous to himself and not to leaue thē to his souldiers By this battel he toke away thempire of all Asia the fifth yere after he began to raign Whose felicity was so great that no man hereafter durst rebel and the Persians them selues after so many yeres continuance of their monarchie paciently receiued the yoke of bondage When he had rewarded and refreshed his souldiers he did nothing xl dais after but take a vew of the spoil of his ennemy He founde xl M. talents locked vp in the city Also he wan Persepolis the hed city of the kingdome of Persia a city that had continued famous and notable many yeres together and stuffed with the spoiles of y ◠who le world which was not sene before the taking therof While these thinges were a doing about viii C. Grekes came to Alexander whiche in the time of their captiuitye besides other greuous punishments had had certain of their limbes and members of their bodies cut of requestring him that as he had reuenged Grece so he would also reuenge them of the cruelty of their enemies and set them at liberty When he would haue geuen them licence to return home into their countries they chose rather to tary still and take certayne landes least they shuld not so much reioyce their frends as make them abhorre to loke vpon them In the meane season to win the conquerors fauor withall Darius own kinsmen bound him in fetters and chains of gold in a village of the Parthians called Tane I think it was euen the ordinaunce and disposition of God that the Monarche of the Persians should take his end in the lande of them that should succede in the Empire Alexander also the next morow folowing after vpon the spurre had intelligence that Darius was conueied out by night in a lyter whervpon commaunding the residue of his hoste to folow after with as much spede as they coulde conuenientlye he tooke vii M. of his horsmen and pursued him In his iourney he fought many daungerous battels and when he had ridden many a mile and could hear no inklinge of Darius as his horses were a baiting one of his souldioures goyng down to a watering therby founde Darius in a litter striken through with many woundes but as yet a liue Who callinge to him the Souldioure when he perceyued by hys speche that he was one of his owne countrye men he sayde it was a comfort to him being in the case that he was that he should speake to one that could vnderstand him and not vtter his last wordes in vaine He had him say vnto Alexāder in his name that he died a great dettor of his without any desert of his owne parte for as much as he had foūd him like a king and not like an enemy towards his wife and children
Macedone But by meanes of antipater who smelled oute his subteltye while he wente aboute two wiues at ones it came to passe that he attained none of bothe After this there arose warre betwene antigonus and perdicas Antigonus was aided by Craterus and Antipater who taking a truce with the Atheniens made polyperchon regent of Macedone and Grece Perdicas perceiuing that the world went not on his side sent for arideus and great Alexanders sonne of bothe whome the charge was vnto him committed into Cappadocia to haue their aduise as concerning the order of the warres Some were of opinion to remoue the warre into Macedone to the very welspring and heade of the kingdome forasmuche as there was Olymplas Aleranders mother which shuld be no smal stay on their side and also for the fauor of the coÌ„minalty in remembrauÌ„ce of Philip Alexander But it was thought most for the common profit to begin at Egipt least wheÌ„ they wer gon into Mace done ptolomy might inuade Asia Emnenes besides the prouin ces he had before had deliuered vnto him paphlagonia Caria Lycia and Phrygia there he was commaunded to abyde the comminge of Craterus and Antipater and to assiste hym were appoynted alcetas the brother of perdicas and Neoptolemus with their armies Clytus was made chiefe admirall of the Fleete Cilicia was taken from phylotas and geuen to phyloxenus and perdicas himself with a great army went toward Egipt So Macedone through the discord of the captaines deuiding them selues in two partes sette her weapons against her own bowels tourninge the habilimentes of warre that were appoynted for the foraine ennemye to the slaughter of her owne inhabitaunts after the manner of madmen entendinge to cut and mangle the handes and members of her owne body But Pâ—…lomy through his industry and pollicy got greate richesse in Egipte For by his singuler modestye he bothe wan the hartes of the Egiptians to him and by his frendlinesse and gentle behauioure he compassed the good â—…ils of the kinges that were his neighbors dwelt about him Furthermore he also enlarged the bounds of his kingdom by conquering the city Cyrene by meanes wherof he was now become a prince of suche power that he hadde not so muche cause to be afrayde of his enemies as his enemâ—…es had cause to be a fraid of him This citye Cyrene was builded by Aristeus who for because he was tounge tyed was surnamed Battus This mannes father called Cyrenus king of the Iland There when as moued with shame and sorow that his sonne being man growen could not speake he came to the Oracle at Delphos to make intercession to God for his sonne he receiued an answer wherby his sone Battus was commaunded to go into Affricke and builde the City Cyrene there to receiue the vse of speche Now because that the aunswer semed like a mockerye by reason of the liâ—…enesse of the Isle Theramene oute of the whiche inhabiters were commaunded to repaire into Affricke there to build a city in a country so farre of the matter was lefte of Afterwarde in processe of tyme for theyr stubbornesse there fell suche a Pestilence amonge them that they were compelled to obey the commaundement of the God whether they would or no and there was so smal and slender a noumber of them that they were 〈◊〉 able to furnishe a ship When they came into Affricke both for the pleasauntnesse of the place and for the aboundance of water springs that there were they expulsed the inhabiters of the mountain Cyra and plaÌ„ted them selues in the same place Ther their captain Battus had his tonge stringes losed and began to speake The whiche thing encouraged theyr hartes to build vp the rest of the city in as muche as the God had all ready performed part of his promises Therfore when they had pitched their tentes they solowed the opinion of an old fable How that Cyrene a maid of excellent 〈◊〉 was rauished by Appollo in the mountain Pelius in 〈◊〉 saly and caried from thence to the toppe of the mouâ—…tain â–ª Wheras the God begather with childe and when she had gone her time she was deliuered of iiii sonnes Nomius Aristeus 〈◊〉 and Ageus And that her father 〈◊〉 king of Thessaly sent out men to seke her who being allured with the plesantnesse of the place abode styll with the maid in that country Of these children wheÌ„ they came to mannes estate three retourned into Thessaly and enioyed the graundfathers kingdome Aristeus had a large dominion in Arcadie and first taught men the vse of Bees and hony of milke and creame and first found out y â— times of the yeare â–ª when the sonne is at the highest in Sommer and likewise at the lowest in Winter together with the courses of the other starres Upon which reporte Battus learninge the name of the maiden by the Oracles builded the citye Cyrene Ptolomye therefore beinge enâ—…ased in strengthe by the power of this City prepared for the war against Perdicas comming But the hatred that Perdicas had gotten through hys passinge pride and statelinesse did him more harme then the puissaunce of his enemies For his owne companions hated him so sore that they forsoke him and fled by heapes with Antipater Neoptolemus also being left to aid and assist Emnenes purposed not only to turn vnto the contrary part but also to betray the whole host of his coÌ„plices The whiche pretence when Emnenes had espyed he had none other shift but to try the matter by dint of sword agaynste the traitoure Neoptolemus being vanquished â—…ed to Antipater aâ—…d Polyperchon perswadinge with them that if they would kepe on their iournye withoute stayinge they might fall vpon Emnenes ere he were ware being nowe in ioy and gladnesse for his late victory and taking no care by reason they had put him to flight But his purpose was vnknowen to 〈◊〉 Therfore the treason tourned vpon the traitoures heads For they whiche thoughte to haue surprised him vnwares were mette wythall them selues when they looked leaste for any suche thing beinge wearied with trauell and watchynge all the nighte In that encounter polypercbon was slaine Neoptolemus also fightinge hande to hande with Emnenes a greate while together after many woundes geuen and receiued was in the ende ouercome and slaine emnenes therfore gettinge the vpper hande in two pitched fieldes together vpheld and maintained his side for a while whiche was not a litle empaired by the reuoltinge of his adherentes Neuerthelesse at the last when perdicas was ones slain both he and phyton and Illirius and aleâ—…tas the brother of perdicas were proclaimed traitoures by the hoste of their enemies and Antigonus was appoynted to make warre agaynste them The. xiiii Booke ENmnenes when he vnderstode y ◠〈◊〉 dicas was slain hiself proclamed trai tor in Macedone and that Antigonus was appoynted to make war against him declared the matter of his owne accord to his souldioures least the sodain
into his handes Emnenes hearing of this practise attempted wyth a few to eskape by flight But being set backe againe seynge no hope of recouery as the multitude flocked aboute him he made request that he might yet ones ere he dyed speke vnto his army Being willed to say his minde when â—…lence was made and his bondes losed â–ª he stretched forthe his hande fettered as he was and shewed it them saying Beholde my souldiours the apparel and ornaments of your captaine whyche none of his enemies hath put vppon him For that were a comfort to him But euen you your selues you haue made me of a conqueror a vaÌ„quished persoÌ„ you haue made me of a captain a captiue four times within this twelue month you haue sworn to be true to me but I will let that passe For it is not mete for â—…en in aduersity to vpbraid others This only one thing I require at your hands that if Antigenus be so fullye bent to take my heade from me as in whose death al his affaires and purposes shuld be finished you wil let me die among you For I am sure he cares not after what sort or where I die so I be dead neyther doo I passe greatly for my life so I might be deliuered froÌ„ thys slaunderous death If you will graunt me this request I discharge you of your othe wherby you haue bound your selues so often vnto me Or if ye be ashamed to slea me your selues then reach me a weapon and geue me leaue to do that thing for you without conscience of breaking of your othe which you haue sworne so oftentimes to do for your captain When he saw he coulde not obtaine his request he left intreatance and fel to anger Now the Gods quod he the iust reuenger of periury looke vpon you you false forsworne kaitiues and geue such endes vnto you as you haue geuen vnto your captaines For it is not longe a go since you polluted your selues with the bloude of Perdicas practising to haue done the like with Antipater yea and that that is worst of all you oftentimes troubled euen Alexander himself with your seditions and mutinies doing your best to haue slain him if it had beene possyble for him to haue died of mannes hand And nowe I laste of all whiche shal be offered as a sacrifice by you false forsworne wretches do pray God that these curses maye lighte vpon you that being beggers and outlawes you may spend all your life time in this warfare like banished people neuer to retourne to your country againe and your owne weapons deuour you with the which you haue consumed mo captaines of your owne then of your ennemies This spoken in a greate rage and anger he commaunded hys keners to go before him to Antigonus campe The army fâ—…lowed after to betray their own captain and he being prisoner led as it were a triumphe of him self vnto the camp of his conquerour Deliuering vp into the conqueroures handes both them selues and all the antesignes of kynge Alexander together with the honour and renowne of so many conquestes And for because there shoulde want no pompe the Elephantes also and the suc câ—…urs of the East folowed after So much more glorious wer these thinges to Antigonus then vnto Alex ander all the conquests he atcheued in that where as Alexander conquered the East Antigonus ouercame them by whom the East was conque red Antigonus therfore dispersed those conquerours of the world into his host making restitution vnto them of such things as he had takeÌ„â—…m them at the time of their ouer throw And for because he had in times past had familyer acquaintaunce frendship with Emnenes he would not for shame suffer him to come in his sight but assigned him ii kepers In the mean season Eurydice the wife of king aride us vnderstanding that Polyperchon was retourninge out of Grece into Macedone and that he had set for Olympias being thervpon striken with womanly malice abusyng y â— weaknes of her husband whose office authority she toke vpon her wrate to Polypercbon in the kings name that he should deliuer vp the host to Cassander as into whose hand the king had put the whole order and gouernment of the Empire The like coÌ„maundement she sent also to antigonus into asia By which benefite Cassander being bound vnto her did euery thing after her rash vnaâ—… uised coÌ„maâ—…nde ment Then went he into Grece made war against ma ny cities at the â–ª destruction of whiche as of a fire neare at hand the spartanâ—…s being afraid both contrary to the aunswers of the oracles contrary to 〈◊〉 renown of their ancestors distrusting their owne chiualry enclosed their city with a strong wall the whiche euer before that time they had ben wont to defend by force of armes and not by strength of wals So much wer they degenerated froÌ„ their aâ—…cestors y â— wheras many C. yeres before the prowesse of the citezens was the wal of the city now they thought they might not liue in safety onlesse they myght hide their heds within walles While these things wer a doing the estate of Macedone was so troubled y â— Gassander was fain to return thither out of Grece For when Olym pias the mother of king Alexander the great came out oâ—… Epyre into Macedone accompanied with acacida kynge oâ—… the Molosses and that Eurydice and arideus the king went about to prohibit her from entring into the realm the Macedones whether it wer for remembrance of her husbaÌ„d king Phillip or in respecte of the greatnesse of her sonne Alexander or that they were moued at the vnworthy demeanor gathered them selues vnto Olympias at whose commaundement Eurydice and the king were both slaine wheÌ„ he had raigned vi yeres after Alexander â–ª But Olympias her self raigned not long For when she prâ—…ceaded to make slaughter of her noble men peres more like a tirant then like a Quene she turned her fauor into hatred Therfore when she hard of Cassanders coÌ„ming putting distrust in the Macedones with Roxane her daughter in law Hercules her nephew she conueyed her self into the citye Pictua She had also in her traine deidaâ—…ia the daughter of king aeacidâ—… and her daughter in law Thessalonice a Ladye much set by for her father Philips sake with many other noble mennes wiues a company more gorgious the profitable When these things wer reported to Cassander immediatly he cam in al hast to Pictua enuironed the town with a strong siege Olympias being constrained w t sword famin wery of the long continuance of the siege yelded her selfe the liues of her hers onlye saued But Cassander assembling the people together to aske theyr aduise what they woâ—…d haue don with Olympias priuely suborned y â— pareÌ„ts of such as she had put to death who putting on moâ—… ning apparel shuld come complain of her great cruelty by whom
they named Sydon For the Phenicians call a Fyshe Sydon Manye yeares after being subdued by the king of the Ascalonites they tooke shippinge and arrâ—…ued in the same place where they builded Tire which was done the yore before the destruction of Troye There they were oftentimes and diuersly assaâ—…ed with warres by the Persyans but euer they had the vpper hand But when theyr power was once wasted theyr bondmen aboundinge in multytude and noumber delt out â—…giouslye and cruellye wyth theym For they made a conspiracye amonge them selues and killed all the fre borne people with their maysters also and so hauynge the citye at wyll they entered possessyon in their maisters houses they inuaded the common weale they maried wiues and that whiche they theym selues neuer were they begatte free children There was one among so manye thousand slaues who being of a meke and honest nature for pity of the fortune of thold man his master and his yong sonne did not of beastly cruelty murther them but of mercyfull compassion and manhode saued them Wherefore when as he had hid them out of the waye as if they had beene slaine and that the bondmen consulting vpon the estate of the common weale thought it good to create theym a kinge of theyr owne corporation and him in especially to be the person as a man most acceptable to the Gods that first should see the sunne rising he declared the matter secreatly to his master Strato for y â— was his name where he lay hid in a corner Being by him sufficientlye instructed what to dod when they were all assembled into the field by midnight whiles all the reast stoode gapynge into the East he only alone looked aduisedly into the west At the 〈◊〉 all the resydue thoughte it a madnesse to looke for the rysinge of the Sunne into the West But assone as the day began to breake and the East beganne to glister vppon the hyghest toppes and pynnacles of the toures and temples of the Citye while all the other gased for to see the Globe of the Sunne he 〈◊〉 of all syewed vnto them all the brightnesse of the Sunne shynâ—…ge vpon the toppe of the Citye this seemed to be doone of a greater reason then was in a sâ—…aues heade Wherevppon they enqutred who gaue hym the counsell and be coâ—…essed as touching his master Then it was perceiued what difference there is betwene the wit of a slaue and the wit of a gentleman and that 〈◊〉 excell in maltce but not in wisdome Therefore the old man and his sonne were pardoned and forasmuche as they thoâ—…ght theym to be preserued by the deuine 〈◊〉 of God they created Strato kinge After whose decease the kingdome descended to his sonne and so forth to his posteritye This was a notable aâ—… of the slames and a terrâ—…le example to the whole worlde Wherfore Aleraâ—… he great when as a long time after he made warre in tâ—…e East as a reuenger of the common tranquillity hauing wonne theâ—… Citye perforce al of them that remained after the battel in remembraunce of the murther doone in olde time by their predecessours he crucified Only the kinred of Stâ—… he preserued vnuiolated and restored the kyngdome to hys of spryng makynge newe inhabitauntes that were free 〈◊〉 and vndefiled wyth the like offence in the Ilande to the 〈◊〉 that the seruile seede and slyppe being vtterly roted oute the ofspring of the Citye mighte be as it were planted of new again The Tyrians therfore being in this wyse by the meanes of Alexander newe founded throughe they owne sparing and trauell in getting grew stâ—…oÌ„g agayne wythin a short space Before the siaughter of the masters when they abounded 〈◊〉 in richesse and in noumber of menne they sent a company of youth into Affricke and â—…ded Utâ—…a when as in the meane while the kinge of Tire deceased ordayninge for his heires his sonne Pygmalion and his daughter Elisa a mayde of very excellent beauty But the people deliuered the kingdome to Pygmalion beinge a verye childe Elisa also was marryed to her vncle Sycheus the prieste of Hercules the whiche Rome is of greatest honoure next vnto the kynge Thys manne hadde greate richesse but no manne knewe wher they were and for feare of the kinge he had hidden hys golde not in houses but in the grounde The whiche thinge though men knew not of certaintye yet it was commonlye so reported with the whyche brute Pygmalion being incensed forgetting all bonde of nature and humanity without any respect of godlynesse killed his vncle being also his brother in lâ—…e 〈◊〉 dâ—…sting her brother a greate while after for doynge of thys wicked acte at the last dissemblinge her inwarde hatred and bearinge a faire countenaunce towardes hym for the tyme practised priuely to flye away and takinge into her companye certaine of the noble men whom she knew to beare like hatred to the kinge and to haue like desyre of flyinge away she came to her brother with a pollicye she fained that she would remoue out of her owne house and come dwell with him to the entent the sighte of her husbandes house should not continually renewe her sorowe and mourninge for him whiche she coueted to forget and to the entent the bitter remembraunce of him should not any more ware before her eies Pygmalion was wel contented to hear his sister say those words because he thought she wold bring her husband Sycheus gold with her But Elisa caused the kinges seruaunts that wer lent her to help to remoue her stuffe to goo into shippes and car â–ª her richesse with them in the shutting in of the euening and when she had them a good waye from the shore she compelled them to throwe certain bagges and cofers ful of sande into the sea making them beleue it was monye Then she her selfe weping with piteous veyce besought her husband Sycheus willingly to receiue his own richesse which he had lefte behinde him and that he woulde take them for an offeringe like as they had beene the cause of his death Which doone she turned her self to the kinges seruauntes â–ª sayinge the time was come that she herselfe should receiue the death that she so sore had longe before desired and that they should abide bitter tormentes and greuous punishmentes because they had made away the richesse of her husbande Sycheus for couetousnesse of the which the king committed murther that he myghte not haue them to satisfy his gredy appetite wythal WheÌ„ she hadde put them all in this feare they were contented to beare her company in her flighte and to goo awaye with her Moreouer a great nomber of the nobility beynge in readinesse for the same purpose set forth with her and so hauing made sacrifice againe vnto Hercules whose Priest Sycheus was they forsoke their countrye to get theÌ„ a new dwelling place The first lande that they arriued at was the Isle of Cyprus where as the priest of â—…piter wyth hys
Millain Come Brixia Uerone Bergome Trident and Uincent The Thuscanes also with their captain Rhetus hauing losâ—…e their owne countrye tooke the Alpes and after the name of their captaine founded the nation of the Rhetians But Dennis by meanes of the tomming of the Carthaginenses into Sicil was dryuen to retuâ—…ne home for they had repaired their army wyth a greater power renued the warres which they had brokeÌ„ vp by constrainte of the pestilence The captaine of this war was Hanno of Carthage whose enemy Suniator a man at that time of the greatest power one of them in all Affricke in despyte of him wrate familierly in Greke vn to Dennis aduertising him of the comming of the army and of the cowardise of the captain but his letters were taken by the way whervpon he was condemned of treason and an act of Parliament was made that no man of Carthage should here after learne Greke letters or study the Greke tounge to the entent he should not talke wyth the ennemy or wryte vnto him without an interpretor ere it was longe after Dennis whome a litle before neither Sicilie nor Italye were able to hold being ouercome with continuall warres in battel and brought lowe at laste was slayne by the treson of hys owne subiectes The. xxi Booke AFter the time that â—…he Tiran DeÌ„ 〈◊〉 was sâ—…aine in Sicill the men of warre placed in his roume hys eldest sonne named Dennis also bothe because he was a man growen also because they thoughte the kingdome should be the stronger if it remained stil inone mans hand rather then if it shuld be deuided among his sonnes in many portions But Dennys in the beginnyng of hys raygne coueted sore to haue put to deathe hys brothers vncles as enuiers of his estate and prouokers of the children to demaund a partition of the kingdome Where vppon he dissembled his desyre a while setting his mynde to procure the fauoure of his commons thincking to doo it with lesse blame if all menâ—…e shâ—…ulde fyrste conceiue good opinyon of his doinges And therfore he let three hundred offenders out of prysonne and released the people three yeares subsidie alluringe theyr mindes by all kynde of counterfet gentlenesse that he was hable to deuise Then goynge in hande with the mischiefe he had so longe purposed he slewe not onlye his brothers kynsfolke but also hys brothers them selues in so muche hat whome he ought of righte to haue made partners of his kingdome he suffred not to be partakers of life and breth beginning to execute his tiranny vpon his owne kinred ere he proceded to worke it against straungers When he hadde dispatched hys brothers of whome as of his enemies he stode in fear he fell to slouthfulnes and throughe excessiue â—…edynge he became fatte and coarsye and gate suche a disease in his eyes that he was not able to abide the Sunne nor the dust nor finally the glistering of any light For the which causes beleuing himselfe to be had in disdaine of all men he executed moste extreme cruelty not filling the gails with prisoners as his father did but replenishing the city with slaughters for the whychthinges he was not so muche disdained as hated of al meÌ„ Therefore when he perceiued that the Syracusanes were mineded to rebel against him and bid him battel he was in doubte a great while whether it were better to depose him selfe or to withstande them by force but his men of warre in hope to haue the spoyle and sacking of the citye compelled him to stand to the triall of it by battel where beinge vanquished and attemptinge fortune the seconde time with like successe he sent ambassadoures to the Syraâ—… promising to depose himselfe from his tirannye if they would send their commissioners vnto him authorysed to conclude an agrement with him They sent y â— chief men of their City for the same purpose whome be put in custody and so sodainly ere any man 〈◊〉 therof or feared that he ment any such mischiefe against them he sent his army to destroy the city Whervppon ensued a sore and doubtfull encounter euen within the verye Citye but by reason the townes men were farre mo in noumber Dennis and his men were put backe Who fearing to be beseged if he abode in the Castle priuely fled into Italy with all his princely apparell treasure and houshold stuffe being in his banishmente receiued by his confederates the Locrines as though he had bene their rightfull kyng he tooke their fortresse and there exercised his accustomed cruelty He commaunded the noble mennes wiâ—…es to be broughte from their husbandes perforce that he myghte haue his pleasure of them the maidens when they shuld be maryed he fetched away and when he had abused theÌ„ sent theym to their spouses againe The richest and welthiest personnes eyther he draue out of the Citye or elsse caused them to be put to deathe and seised theyr goodes And when he sawe there was no more for him to catche conueniently he compassed all the whole city by a subtle inuention At such time as the Locrines were oppressed w t the warres of Leophron king of Rhegiâ—…n they made a vow that if they wan the vpper hand they wold vpon a feastfull daye of Venus set their virgins in the open stewes for all men to abuse The which vow being left vnperfourmed hauing vnfortunate warres with the Lucanes Dennis called them together before him and there exhorted them to send their wiues daughters as gorgeously apparelled decked as they could into the temple of Venus out of the which ther should be a hundred drawen by lot to perfourme the common vow the whiche for religions sake should stand in the stewes for the space of one month all their husbandes being before sworn not to haue to do with any of them And to th entent the maidens thus per forming the common vow should not be hindred therby they should make a decre that none other maid should be ensured to any husband before those other were maryed This counsel was wel alowed as in the which prouision semed to be made both for the performans of their superstitious vow allo for the preseruation of the chastity oâ—… their virgins Whervpon al the women asseÌ„bled into the teÌ„ple of Venus so gorgeously costly attired as who might be best among whom Dennis sent his men of war stripped them euery one conuertinge their iewels sumptuous ornameÌ„ts to his own gain and proâ—…it som of their hus bands being very welthy men he killed and some of the women he put to the torture to make the confesse where their husbands mony lay When he had with these such like suttleâ—…ies raigned by the space of vi yeres the Locrines conspired against him and draue him out of the city from whence he returned into Sicil and there by treson no man mistrusting any thing after so long continuauns oâ—… peace
league with Agathocles by his ambassadoures and bad conditioned with him that when the Carthaginenses were ones ouercome Agathocles should take thempire of Sicil and he thempire of Affrick Therfore when Tphel las was come with a great host to aid him in the warres Agathocles entertaining him with fair words and counterfet curtesy very lowly and humbly because Ophellas had adopted him his sonne after they had manye times often dined and supped together he slewe him vnwares and entring vpon his armye in an other sore encounter vanquished the Carthaginenses nowe comminge to the fielde withal the power and furniture they were hable to make not without great slaughter and bludshed on both partes Through the discomfiture of this ouerthrow the Carthaginenses wer brought to such an after deale that if there had not risen a mutiny in Agathocles camp Bomilcar the captaine of the Carthaginenses had wyth hys army reuolted vnto him For the whiche offence the Carthagi nailed him vpon a crosse in the mids of the market place to th entent that the same place might be a monument and remembraÌ„ce of his punishment whiche had befâ—…re times bene an aduauncement of his honor But Bomilcar toke very stoutlye the cruelty of his country in so muche that from the toppe of the crosse as if it had beene from the iudgement seate he preched against the wickednesse of his citizens obiectynge to them somtime their vnrightfull entrapping of Hanno vpon malice and enuy falsely surmising that he went about to make himself king someitme the banishment of innocent Gysgo without cause why sometime theyr seacrete verdits against his vncle Hamilcar because he sought to make Agathocles their frende rather then theyr enemy WheÌ„ he had vttred these things with a loud voyce in a great audiens of people he gaue vp the ghost In the meane season Agathocles hauing put his enemies to the worse in Affricke deliuering the charge of his host to his sonne Archagathus returned himself with spede into Sicill thincking that all that euer he had doone in Aâ—…ricke was to no purpose if Syracuse were still beâ—…ieged For after that Hamilcar the sonne of Gâ—…go was slayne the Carthaginenses sent thither a new hoste of men Therfore assoone as Agathocles was come into Sicil all the cities hearing of his doings in Affâ—…icke yelded them selues to him who mighte yelde fasâ—…est by meanes wherof haâ—…ing driuen the Carthaginenses out of Sicill he toke vppon him as kingdome of all the whole Ilande When he came into Affrick again his souldiours welcomed him with a mutiny For his sonne had delayed y â— paiment of their wages vntill the comming of his father Wherfore he called them before him and entreted them with gentle words saying they ought not to demauÌ„d wa ges at his hand but to seke it at their ennemies hand for as the victory shuld extend to thâ—…m al so the pray shuld be common to them all in likewise Desiringe them to playe the men and take pain a litle while vntil the remnant of the warres wer dispatched considering they knew wel â—…nough y â— if Carthage were ones taken it were able to satisfy al their desires w t more then they could â—…ope for Ha uing thus appeased the vprour in his caÌ„pe within a fewe daies after he led his army to the camp of his ennemies There by setting vpon them vnaduisedly be lost the grea ter part of his army Being therfore retired into his caÌ„pe when he perceiued howe his souâ—…diers grudged maligued at him for aduenturing so rashly vâ—…aduisedlye fearing moreouer thold displesure for nonpaimeÌ„t oâ—… their wa ges â–ª in the dead of the night he fled out of the campe taking no mo with him but onlye his sonne Archagathus The which thing wheÌ„ his souldiers vnderstode they qua ked for fear as if they had bene taken prisoners by theyr enemies crying out that their king had now twise forsaken theÌ„ in the mids of their enemies and that he had left theÌ„ in danger of their liues whome he ought not to haue left vnburied As they would haue pursued the king they wer stopped by the Minidians and so returned into their caÌ„pâ—… hauing taken archagathus who had lost hys father by reason of the darknesse of the night agathocles in the same ships that he came in out of Sicil with suche as he had left in them to kepe them was transported vnto Syracuse a singuler example of wickednesse a kyng to be a forsaker of his own army and a father to be a betrayer of his own children In the meane time in affrike after the flying away of the king his souldiours falling to composition with their ennemies slue agathocles sonnes yelded theÌ„ selues to the Carthaginenses archagathus when he shuld be put to deth by arcesâ—…laus one that before time had bene his fathers frend asked him what he thought agathocles woulde doo to his children by whome he was made childelesse Then he answered it was inoughâ—… for him that he knewe they were a liue after the children of agathocles after this the Carthaginenies sent captains into Sicil to pursue the remnaunt of the war with whoÌ„e agathocles made peace vpon indifferent articles ¶ The. xxiii Booke AGathocles king of Sicil hauynge made peace with the Carthaginienses subdued certaine of the Cities whiche vppon truste of theyr owne strengthe rebelled agaynste him Here vpon as thoughe he had bene enclosed in a straight wythin the Ilande of the Empire where of at the first beginning he looked not for any part at all he passed in to Italye following the ensample of Dennis which subdued manye cities of Italy The first therfore whome he proclaimed his enemies were the Brutians whiche seemed to be bothe of mooste puissaunce and of most wealth and also rediest to do their neyghboures wrong For they had erpulsed many cities of the Greke discent out of Italye Furthermore they hadde also vâ—…nquished theâ—…r owne founders the Lucanes and made peace with them vppon equall conditions So cruell harted were they that they spared not euen theyr owne fyrste founders The Lucranes did bring vp theyr children after the same maneâ—… that the Lacedemonians are wont to doo For from the verye fyrst time they began to grow past childreÌ„ they wer kept in the country among shepherdes and grasiers wythout attendans or seruice without garmentes to put on theyr backes or bed to lie vpon to th entent y t from their tender yeres they might enure theÌ„ selues without help of y e city to away with hardnesse and sparinge Their meate was such as they could get by huntinge theyr drynke was eyther methe milcke or elsse faire water of the sprynge so were they hardened to endure the paynes of warrefare of this sort of people fifty at the first being wont to steal cattel out of their neighboures grounde and afterwarde growing to a greater noumber by the resort of such persons as were allured
death of her first husbande Lyâ—…chus of her owne accord and fre wil desired her husbande into her city Gassandria for couetousnesse of whiche city all this craft and deceit was wroughte She went thither before him and proclaimed that the day of his comming shoulde be kept holy day through all the city geuinge commaundement that the houses the temples and all other places shuld be decked and garnished and that altares and sacrifices should be set forth orderly in a readâ—…esse Moreoâ—…er she caused her two sonnes Lysimachus of xvi yeares and Philip three yeres yonger then he both children of excellent beuty and fauor to goo meete him with crownes on their heades Whome Ptolomy to cloke his deâ—… wyth all desirously and beyond all measure of true loue and affection enbrased and kissed a greate while together But assone as he came within the gate hee comâ—…aunded hys men of warre to take the holde of the towne and to kyll the children Who flying to their mother for helpe were slaine euen in her bosome as they hong kissing about her necke Arsinoe cried out and asked what she had done or wherin she had trespassed eitherin her mariage or aâ—…er her mariage wherby she should desâ—…rue to be delt wyth so cruelly Oftentimes she put herself betwene y â— sworde and her children offering to die for them oftâ—…times she embraced and couered her childreâ—…es bodyes wyth her own body and would gladly haue receiued the woundes that they should haue At the laste beinge not suffered so muche as to haue the buriall of her children shee was thruste out of the towne with two â—…untes in a torne â—…ne and her hear about her eares and so wente as a 〈◊〉 person to Samothorace so muche the more miserable in that she might not be suffered to die with her children offeringe to dye for them oftentymes she embraced and couered her childrens bodyes wyth her owne bodye and woulde gladlye haue receiued the woundes that they shoulde haue At the 〈◊〉 being not suffered so muche as to haue the buriall of her children she was thruâ—…e out of the towne with two seruauntes in a torne gowne and her heare abeute her eares and so wente as a banishedde person to Samothorace so muche the more miserable in that she myghâ—…e not be suffered to die with her children But Ptolomye eskaped not with his wickednesse vnpunished For within shorte time after throughe the vengeaunce of the Goddes immortall for so manye wilful periuries and so manye cruel murders he was berefte of hys kingdome by the french menne and being taken prysonner as he worthelye deserued his head was striken from his shoulders For the frenche menne aboundinge in multitude in so muche that the countrye where they were bred was not hable to fynde them sent forthe three hundred thousande men as it were on pilgrimage to seke them a new dwellynge place Of the which one part rested in Italy which also tooke the câ—…ye of Rome and burnte it Another parte followinge the flighte of byrdes for the frenchmen are aboue all other nations comminge in birdspillinge wyth muche slaughter of the barbarous nations pearsed vnto the coste of Sclauonie and reasted in Pannonie A kynde of people fierce hardy warly which firste after Hercules who by doinge the same before purchased himselfe an immortall fame of his prowesse climbed ouer the hyghe toppes and vnmercifull colde places of the Aipes There hauing 〈◊〉 the Panâ—…onians they made warre with their neighbours many yeres together somtime to theyr gaine and somtime to their losse Afterwarde beinge prouoked by their fortunate successe they raised two armies wherof th one went toward Grece the other toward Macedone putting al to the sword that came in theyr daÌ„ger By meanes wherof the names of the Frenche men was so terrible and so redouted that euen kinges before they were assailed were gladde and faien to geue them greate 〈◊〉 of mony that they might liue in rest by theÌ„ Only Ptolomy king of Macedone made lighte of the matter when he hard of the comming of the frenchmen And eueÌ„ as if it had bene as easye a matter with him to dispatche warres as to do mischief being pricked forwarde there to with the furious remorse of his conscience obiectinge before his eies the rememberaunce of his wicked murders be met them with a few â–ª and those out of order Furthermore he toke skorne of the frendly offer made by the ambassadoures of Dardanie which was to send him twenty thousand menne well armed to helpe him geuinge them moreouer this taunt for their labor saying that the good dayes of Macedone wer farre spent if after the time they had of their own puissance alone conquered all the East they should haue nead of the Dardanians to defend theyr owne country For he had in his â—…oste the sonnes of them that hadde serued vnder great AlexaÌ„der and had subdiâ—…ed the whole worlde The whiche thinges when they were reporsed to the kynge of Dardanie he sayde that the famous and renowmed Empire of Macedone woulde shortlye decaye throughe the rashnesse of an vnaduised and hastye yonge man The french men therfore by the aduise of 〈◊〉 captaine Belgius â–ª to the entent to trye howe the Macedones were mineded sent ambassadours to Ptolomye offeryng him peace if so be it he would by it But Ptolomy 〈◊〉 amonge his men that the French men desyred peace for feare of him no lesse vauntinge himselfe before the ambassadoures â–ª then he had doone among his owne frends â–ª Denying to graunt them peace any otherwise theÌ„ if they gaue him theyr noble men for hostages and deliuered 〈◊〉 â—…heyr armour and weapons so 〈◊〉 would not truste them onlessâ—… they were disarmed When the ambassadors had reported this answer the frenchmen laughed 〈◊〉 it crying out on euery side that he should shortlye fele 〈◊〉 they offred him peace to his owne behofe or to theirs within a few daies after the matter came to hand strokes and the Macedones being vanquished were slayne ryghâ—…e down Ptolomy being very sore wounded in diuers 〈◊〉 was taken prisoner his head was striken of and being put vp on a speares poynt was caried vp and downe all the host to the terroure of their ennemies Few of the Macedones eskaped by flyght the rest were either slaine or taken prisoners When newes hereof was spred throughe Macedone they shut in the gates of their citiâ—…s and all was ful of sorowe and mourninge One while they bewayled the losse of their sonnes another while they feared the besieging of theyr cityes at another time they called vpon the names of Philip and Alexander theyr kynges as if they had bene Goddes for helpe casting in their myndes how that vnder them they had not onlye liued in safety but as conqueroures of the whole worlde Beseechinge them to defende their countrye whiche throughe the 〈◊〉 of their chiualrye they had aduaunced to the 〈◊〉 and to help them nowe in theyr
in Asia in the meane season beinge vanquished in Sicill by the Carthaginenses in a battel on the sea sente his ambassadoures to Antigonus kinge of Macedone for a freshe crewe of souldioures sending him worde that if he sent them not hee should be constrained to retire into his kingdome and to seeke to make that conquest vpon him whiche he was about to make vppon the Romaines Whan hys ambassadoures brought him word he shuld none haue he fained an excuse and sodenly departed from thence Wylling his confederates to lay for the warres in the meane season he betoke the keping of the castle of Tarent to his sonne Heleâ—… and his frend Milo Assone as he was returned into Epyre forth with he 〈◊〉 the borders of Macedone with whome Antigonus met with an hoaste of men and being put to the worse was faine to 〈◊〉 And so all Macedone yelded vnto Pyrrhus Whervpon as if he had recoÌ„pensed the los of Sicil Italy with the gain of Macedon he sent for his sonne Heleu his freÌ„d Milo that he had left at Tarent Antigonus whâ—… was fled with a few of his horsmen being sodenly bereft of al thornaments of fortune to th entent to marke what wold become of his kingdom y â— he had lost conueyed himselfe into the city Thessalonica that if occasion serued he might hire the french souldiers and renue the war from thence But being vtterly vanquished again by Ptolomy the son of king Pyrrhus eskaping with no mo but only vii of his retinue he neuer hoped to recouer his kyngdoÌ„ but sought caues and wildernesses where to saue his life Pyrrhus therfore being enstalled in the siege royall of so great a kingdome not content to haue attained to that that he could scarsly haue wished for begaÌ„ to practise how to win thempire of Grece and Asia Neither toke he any more plesure of his Empire then of his warres neyther was ther any manable to withstand the force of Pyrrhus whoÌ„ he once assailed But as he had no pier in coÌ„quering of kingdoms so did he as lightly for go them when he had ones won them gotten them So much did he more study endeuor to win kingdoms then to kepe them Ther fore when he had transported his army ouer from Chersonesus ther receiued him thambassadors of th Athenies the Acheans and the Messenians Yea and al the Grekes for the renoun of his name for that they wer astonied at his noble dedes against the Romains CarthagineÌ„ses awaited his comming there The first war y â— he had was with the Lacedemonians where he was receiued wyth greater valiantnesse of the women then of the meÌ„ Ther he lost his son Ptolomy the strongest part â—…f all his army For when he assaulted the town such a sort of womeÌ„ came running to the defence of the citye that he was not more valiantly vaÌ„quished theÌ„ shamefully driueÌ„ to retire Furthermore his son Ptolomy is reported to haue bene so couragious and so stout a man of his hands that wyth lx men he toke the city Corcyra by force And also in a batel vpon the sea out of a cock bote he lepte with vii of hys men into a gally and won it And last of all in thassault of Sparta he brake with his horse into the mids of the city ther was ouerpressed with the number of his enemies and slain Whose body when it was brought to his father Pyrrhus it is reported he should saye that he was slayne somwhat later then he loked for or then his owne folishe hardinesse deserued Pyrrhus when he had taken the repulse at Sparta went to Argos Ther whiles he endeuâ—… red to get Antigonus into his hands whom he had besieged in the city as he fought moost valiantlye among the thickest he was slain with a stone throwen from the wal His hed was cut of and brought to Antigonus who vsing the victory gentilly sent home his sonne Helen with hys Epyrotes which wer yelded vnt ohim into his kingdom without raunsome and deliuered him his fathers body y â— lay vnburied to cary home with him into his country It is a constant report amongste all authors that there was not any kinge either in those daies or in the latter tymes before worthy to be compared vnto Pyrrhus and that it was a hard matter to finde any not only among kynges but also among other famous men either of more holy liuing or of more tried approued iustice and as for know ledge in cheualry and feates of armes there was so much in him that wheras he had continuall warres with Lystmachus Demetrius and Antigonus kinges of so greats power and puissaunce yet was he neuer ouercome by any of theÌ„ neither was he euer brought to so low an ebbe but that he was able to matche the Illyrians Sicilians Romaines and Carthaginenses at all times yea and som times to get the vpper hand of them By meanes whereof throughe the fame of his noble actes and the renownâ—… of his name he made his country famous and renoumed ouer all the worlde beinge of it self before his time bothe small and of no reputation â–ª The. xxvi Booke AFter the death of Pyrrhus there arose very great and troublesome warres not onlye in Macedone but also in Asia and Grece For the Peloponnesians being betraied vnto Antigonus and according as men wer either striken in fear or els prouoked to gladnesse lyke as euery city hoped for succour at Pyrrhus hande or stode in dreade of him euen in like case either they entered in leage with Antigonus or els vppon malice and hatred fell together by the eares amonge them selues In the time that the prouinces were in this turmoyle Arystotimus a noble man of the realme toke perforce the chiefe citye of the Epyrotes and made himself king who after that he hadde put many of the head menne to deathe and driuen 〈◊〉 of them into exile when as the Aetolians required by their ambassadors that he should restore vnto the banished meÌ„ their wiues and children at the fyrst he denied to doo it Afterward as thoughe he had repented him he gaue all the Ladies and gentlewomen leaue to goo to theyr husbandes and appoynted a day when they shuld take theyr iourny The Ladies as they that thought to liue all their liues in exile with theyr husbands toke al the preciousest iewels and best thinges that they had with theym But assone as they were all come to the gate of purpose to go in one company together he spoyled them of all that euer they had slue the litle children in their mothers bosomes threw the mothers them selues into prison and rauyshed the maidens All menne beinge amased at this hys cruell 〈◊〉 a noble manne of the realme named Helemate being an old man and without childre as one that in respect of his yeres in that he was childlesse was voyde of al fear called home to his house
solempnised wherby the newe wedded wife fel in great fauor and the old wife in displeasure For the fyrst wife as thoughe she had beene deuorced of her owne accord departed to her brother antiochus and prouoked him to war vpon her husband The acarnanians also distrusting the Epyrotes and thervpon â—…equiring healpe of the Romaines obtained of the Senate of Rome that ambassadours were sent to commaund the aetolians to withdraw their garrisons from the cities of acarnania and to suffer them to liue â—…ree out of bondage whiche all only in old time sent no help to the Grekes against the Troianes thautors of their beginning But the Aetolians hard the ambassade of the Romaines proudly and disdainfully Casting them in the tethe with the Carthaginenses the frenchmen by whom they had ben so affâ—…cted in so many battels so oftentimes vtterly slain saying it was meâ—…e for theÌ„ first to open their gates against the â—…thaginenses which they had shut vp for fear of y â— warrâ—…s of affrick ere they toke vpon them to make warres in Grece Moreouer they bad them remember whome they manased for they were not able to defend their owne city agaynste â—…he frenchmen but y â— when it was taken tâ—…ey were fayne to redeme it with mony â–ª not recouer it by the sworde The which nation entring into Grece with a nother maner of host they them 〈◊〉 had not only without the aid of any other forain power but also not so much as helped wyth their own houses vtterly destroyed made their realm a place for their burâ—… which they had determined to make the â—…eat and key of their kingdome Wheras on the contrary part Italye the Roâ—…es yet still tremblynge for fear of the laâ—…e burning of their city was wel 〈◊〉 whollye subdued by the frenchmen Wherfore it was 〈◊〉 â—…or theÌ„ first to driue the frenchmen out of Italye ere they presumed to manase the aetolians and first to defeÌ„d their own ere they toke in hand to defend other mennes And what maner of men were the Romains in good faith no better but a sort of ragged shepherdes y â— rongfully held a piece of ground taken from the right owners by robery which being not able to get theÌ„ wiues for the dishonesty of theyr beginning were fain to rauish them by open force and to be short which buiâ—…ded their city with moste cruel and vnnaturall 〈◊〉 and bestained the foundations of theâ—…r walles with brothers bloud But the Aetolians wer euer the princes of Grece and 〈◊〉 as they passed all 〈◊〉 in estate and worthinesse so they excelled them in â—…owesse and actiuity and they wer the men alone which had euer despised the Macedones florishinge in thempire of all the whole world which feared not king Philip which disdained to obey the lawes of alexander the great after he had subdued the Persians and Indians when all other men dyd moost fear and dread his name Wherfore they counselled the Romaines to holde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wyth theyr present estate and not to proâ—…ke these weapons agaynst them through which they sawe boâ—…he the frenche men slayne and also the Macedones despised When they they had in this wise dismissed the Romain ambassadors to the entent they woulde not seeme to haue talcked more boldly then they woulde doo in dede they forrayed all the borders of the kingdome of Acaruania By this tyme had Olympias deliuered the kingdome to her sonnes and in stead of his brother Pyrrhus deceased Ptolomy succeâ—…ed in the whole kingdome Who geynge wyth an â—…ooste of men well furnyshed againste his ennemies as by the waye taken with a disease and died Olympias also ere it was longe time after beinge wounded with sorowe for the death of her two sonnes skarse able to draw her painfull breathe liued a small while after her children There remayned of the bloude royall no moo but â—…nlye a younge mayde called Nereis and her sister Laodamia Nereis was maryed vnto Gelo sonne of the kinge of Sicil And Laodamia flying for her sauegard to the aultare of Diana was there by the concourse of the people slaâ—… The whiche offence the Goddes immortal reuenged and punished with continuall slaughters of that natyon and well neare wyâ—…h the vtter dâ—…structyon of all the whole realme For first and formost being punished with dearth and hunger and beinge 〈◊〉 with ciuill discorde laste of all they were in manner quite consuâ—…ed by the warres of foraine nations and Milo who killed Laodamia fallyng oute of his wittes so mangled his bodye sometyme wyth yron sometime with stones and in fine so rente and tare hys owne bowels with his teethe that wythin xii daies he died moost miserably While these thinges were a doinge in Epyre Demetrius dyed in Macedone leauynge a lyttle sonne called Phillip to be hys heir Ouer whome Antigonus beinge made protector tooke the chyldes mother to his wife and went about to make himself kynge Within a while after when as the Macedones makynge insurrection against him threatninge to kill him had besieged him in his own palace he came forth to them with out any gard casting among them his crowne and hys purple robe of estate bade them bestow those thinges vpon some other person which ether knew how to rule theÌ„ or to whome they coulde finde in theyr hartes to obey for as for him he had not hitherto during the time he had the gouernment of that odious kingdome felt or tasted of any plesures but of labor of trauel of perill and of leoperdy Then he rehersed what he had done for them how he had punished suche of their confederates as had reuolted how he had asswaged the courage of the Dardanians and Thessalians triumphing at the death of Demetrius and finally how he had not only maintained but also augmeÌ„ted thestate of thempire of Macedone Of the which thinges if so be it they repented them he was contente to depose himself and to surrender his office into their hands and let them seke them a king whom they mighte rule as they liste them selues When the people beinge strycken with shame willed him to take his kingdome vppon hym again he refused it vtterly so long vntill the authours of the rebellion were yelded vnto him to punish them at hys pleasure After this he made war agaynst the Spartanes which all only despised the warres of Philip and Alexander and the Empire of the Macedones with the knyghthode and chiualry so sore redoubted ouer all the worlde The warre was prepared for withall the furniture and power that could be made on bothe partes betwene these two noble and famous nations The one fighting for the auncient renowne of Macedone the other not only for the maintenaunce of their vntouched liberty neuer before vn lated but also for theyr common sauegarde The Lacedemonians being vaÌ„quished not only they them selues but also their wiues and children toke their misfortune with very stout courage For there
was not any man that spared his life in the battel there was not any woman that wept for the losse of her husband The olde men commended the deathe of theyr sonnes and the sonnes reioysed that theyr fathers were slaine in the fielde Euery man lamented hys owne chaunce that they had not died for the libertye of theyr countrye The fathers and mothers receyued into theyr houses all suche as were wounded healed suche as were wounded healed suche as were hurte and recomforted suche as were stricken downe And in all thys busynesse there was not in the city any outcry or any wringyng of handes there was not any trembling for feare euery maÌ„ bewailed more the common misfortune then hys owne priuate case While these thinges were in doinge Cleomenes theyr king after he had made a great slaughter of his enemies being all on a gore bloude as well with hys owne woundes as with the bloud of his enemyes came among them and â—…hen he was entered the citye he sate not downe to rest him he called not for meat nor drinke no nor ones put of his harnesse but leaninge hys backe to a wall when he saw there remained no mo but only iiii thousand of his men from the battel he exhorted them to reserue themselues to some other time when thei might be able to doo theyr countrye better seruice And then with his wife and children He went his way into Egipt to king Ptolomy of whome he was honorably entertained and liued a long time in great fauor and estimatyon with him like a king But at the last after the decease of Ptolomy he and all his houshold were slain by his sonne Antigonus hauing made so greate a slaughter of the Lacedemonians toke pity of the misfortune of so worthye a city and therfore would not suffer his souldiours to sacke it but pardoned all that remained aliue protâ—…stynge that he made the warre against Cleomenes and not agaynst the Lacedemonians whome for as muche as he had dyscomfited and put to flight all his wrathe was at an ende wherfore he thought it should stand more with his honor to saue their city then to destroy it Nowe seing there remained no mento shew his mercy vpon he said he wold shew it vpon the soyle of the Citye and vpon the houses It was not longe after but that Antigonus dyed and left his kingdome to Phillip a childe of xiiii yeres of age The. xxix Booke ABout the very same season there happened an alteration almost in all the kingdomes of the worlde by the successyon of yong kynges For in Macedone Philippe after the decease of his protector Antigonus who also was his father in law toke the kingdome vpon him being but. xiiii yeres olde In Asia Seleucus being slaine Antiochus as yet vnder the age of xiiii yeares was made kynge The kingdome of Cappadocia was surrendred by his father to Ariarathes beinge a verye childe Ptolomy who for the wickednesse of his offence was in derision surnamed Philopater slue his father and mother and vsurped the kingdome of Egipt But the Lacedemonians in stead of Cleomenes subrogated Lycurgus And for because there shoulde be store of alterations in those times Hannibal being as yet skarse manne growen was made captaine of Carthage not because there was skarsity of men of more yeres and experience but for the natural hatred that was knowen to be rooted in him againste the Romaines euen from his verye childhode born to the vtter destruction not so muche of the Romaines as of his own countrye of affricke Nowe allbeit theese children kinges had no auncient and graue protectors appoynted to haue the 〈◊〉 of them â—…et notwithstanding euery one of them so ententiuely pursued the steps of their auncestors that there was great likelihode of prowesse and actiuity in them Only Brolomy as he was wicked in vsurping the kingdome so was he also â—…outhful and negliget in gouerninge of the same The Dardanians other people that were borderers who â—…are as it were an immortal hatred to the kinges of 〈◊〉 disdaining Phillip by reason he was so yong troubled him continuallye On the contrary part Phillip when he had put his enemyes to flight being not content to haue defeded his own purposed to make war against the aetolians As he was imagining and deuisinge howe to enterprise the matter Demetrius king of Iliyria being lately vanquished by Paul câ—…nsul of Rome came to him as an humble suter making complaint of the wrong that the Romaines had done vnto him who being not content to kepe them sclues within the boundes of Italy but of a wicked desire coueting thempire of the whole world made war withal kinges Alledging that for the like couetousnesse of the Empyre of Sicil of Sardinia of Spain and consequently of all affricke they had entered into war with Hannibal and the Carthaginenses and that they had made war vpon hym also for none other occasion but only y â— he was next neigh bor vnto Italy as though it were not lawful for any king to dwell neare the borders of their Empire Wherfore it was good for antiochus to take ensample how to beware by other men whose kingdome the nobler and nearer it was to the Romaines so muche should he finde them his fiercer enemies Moreouer he professed that he was contented to surrender his right and title to him of the king dome whiche the Romaines hadde by force taken from him Saying it should lesse greue him and that he coulde better finde in his hart to se his neighbour and his frend rather then his enemy enioy the possession of his kingdoÌ„ With this and suche other like talke he perswaded Phillip to leaue the aetolians and to tourne the brunte of the warre against the Romaines so much the rather because he thought they shoulde be the lesse able to resist him by reason as he hard say they had lately before bene vanqui shed by Hannibal at the lake of Thrasymenus Therfore because he would not be charged with manye warres at ones he made peace with the aetolians not as that they shoulde thincke he did it to the entent to make warre in another place but as thoughe it had bene for some great regard that he had of the quietnesse of all Grece y e which he affirmed was neuer in the like pearill and ieoperdye by meanes of the newe Empires of the Romaynes and Carthaginenses latelye risen vp in the west whyche had none other let or stop to kepe them out of Grece and Asia but only this while they were trying by the sworde which of them should beare the soueraintye For whiche party so euer gate the vpper hand the same would imme diatlye vpon the victorye passe directly into the East Therfore he saw suche a cloude of cruel and bloudye war rising out of Italy he saw suche a roring and thundering storme comming out of the west that into what parte of the world so euer
the violent force of the victorye shoulde driue the tempest therof it was like to washe all thinges with a terrible and bloudy shour He said that Grece had oftentimes before suffered great trouble by the war◅es somtime of the Persians sometime of the frenchmen and sometime of the Macedones but they shoulde fynde that all that euer is paste was but a sporte If those armyes which now were fighting in Italye shoulde once spreade them selues into Grece For he sawe well inoughe howe cruell and bloudy bothe with puissaunce of hostes and policye of captaines those two peoples made warre one against another The whiche rage certainly coulde not be ended in the only destruction of one of the partyes wyth out the ruine and decay of suche as were next neighbors Wherefore Grece had more cause a greate deale to be afraid of the cruelty of whether party so euer gate the vpper hand then Macedone both because Macedone is further of from them and of more strength to defend it self And yet he knew for a certaintye that those that encountered now with so great puissaunce would not be conten ted to end their conquest so but that he himself shuld haue cause to sear least he be driuen to haue to doo with them that should get the vpper hand Hauinge vnder this pretence broke vp his ◅age against the Aetolians minding nothing saue the warres of the Carthag◅enses and Romaines he waied with himself the power and abilities of them bothe Neither were the Romaines all be it the Carthaginenses and Hannibal were then in manner rea dy to light vpon their necke voyde of feare of warre out of Macedone also For they stode in dreade of it bothe for the auncient prowesse and actiuitye of the Macedones for renowne of their conquestes in the East and also for Philip himselfe who was enflamed with an earnest desyre to become equall to Alexander in knighthoode and cheualry and whome they knew to be forwarde and actiue in feates of armes Phillip therfore when he vnderstode that the Carthaginenses hadde vanquished the Romaines again sent his open defiaunce vnto them and began to builde a fleete wherin to transport his armye into Italy Furthermore he sent an ambassador with letters to Hanniball to conclude a league and society with him Who being taken by the way and brought before the senate was sent away withoute anye harme or displeasure done vnto him not for any good wil they bare to the king his master but to th entent that of a suspected frende they would not make him an open ennemye But afterwarde when it was reported that Philip was transporting hys armye into Italye they sent the Pretor Leuinus wyth a nauye wel decked and furnished to stoppe him of his passage Who after he was arriued in Grece with hys faire and large promises compelled the Aetolians to take war in hand against Phillip And on the other side Phillip did what he could to perswade the Aetolians to make warre against the Romains In the mene time the Dardanians began to waste the borders of Macedone and hauing led away xx M. prisoners ▪ constrained Philip to retire home from inuading the Romaines to the defence of hys owne kingdome While those thinges were a doinge the Pretor Leuinus entring in league with kinge Attalus wasted the country of Grece With the whiche losse and destruction the cities being stricken in fear sent diuers am bassades to Philip desiring aid of him The king of Illyria also his next neighboure bordering vppon the one side of Macedone made incessant sute that he should perfourme his promise Besides the Macedones called vpon him instantly to reuenge the wasting of his own country with the which so many and so waightye matters he was sore enuironed and as it were besieged at ones that he wyste not which to remeady first Yet notwithstanding he promised to se◅d succors to eury one of them ere it wer-lōg But because he was hable to perfourme as muche as he promised but to th entent that by putting them in hope of comfort he might kepe them his frendes stil. But y ◠first viage that he toke in hand was against the Dardanians who watchinge the time to finde him from home determined to take their aduaūtage and to inuade Macedone with a greater puissaunce in his absence Also hee made peace with the Romaines and so being contented to haue delayed the Romaine warres againste Macedone for the time he laid wait to entrap Philopemenes Duke of the Acheans who as it was reported to him stirred the Romaines and the mindes of his confederates against him But the Philopemenes hauing knowledge therof and so auoiding the danger of the same compelled the Acheans by his authoritye to rebelle against him The. xxx Booke DUringe the time that Phillippe w◅s earnestly occupied aboute greate and ◅aightye affair◅s in Macedone Ptolomy behaued himselfe cleane contrary wise in Egipt For after he had obtained the kingdome by murtheryng of bothe his parentes and that he had moreouer killed his owne brother as thoughe he hadde afchieued all thinges prosperously he gaue hym selfe to ryot And all the realme followed the steppes of theyr king By meanes wherof not onlye hys noble men and Officers but also all his men of warre laying a side the exercise of cheualry and feates of armed vtterly wasted and spoiled them selues wyth slouthe and idlenesse Antiochus kinge of Syria who therof beinge prince through a certain old grudge betwene those two raised a power sodainly and wan many cities from him and entred forceably into Egipte Ptolomy trembled for feare and besought Antiochus by his ambassadours that he would respite him but so long as he mighte raise a power Afterward hauing hired a great host out of Grece he fought a prosperous battel and he had vtterly berefte Antiochus of his kingdome if he had anye thinge furthered his good fortune wisdome and audacity But he was content with the recouery of the Cities that he ▪ had lost and so concluding a peace desirously tooke the occasion of quietnesse when it was offered him and so wallowinge againe into his olde accustomed ◅outhfulnesse he sl◅we his wife Eurydice beinge hys owne syster through the enticementes of a harlot called Agathoclea with whom he was taken in loue And so forgetting quite the renoume of his nauy and the maiesty of his kingdome he spent the nightes in lechery and the daies in feastinge and bankettinge Besides this the more to encrease and enflame his lecherous appetite withall he had at his feastes musicall drincking and dansing Neither could the king nowe content himselfe to beholde and heare others but also like a master of naughtinesse would play vppon instrumentes and daunce to the same These were the fyrst plagues and preuy maladies which afterward were the ruine and decay of the kinges house For within a while after they grewe to suche a licentious libertye and the harlot waxed so bolde that the
glorying in the Empire of the East the other in thempire of the West the one bringing into the battel with them the auncient and forworne renoume of their predecessors the other the fresh and fragrant flour of their late tried knighthode and cheualry But the Romains had the fortâ—…ne to vanquish the Macedones Phillip being vtterly discouraged by this battel and dâ—…siring peace of the Consull Flaminius retained styll the name of kynge but he was bereste of all the Cityes of Greâ—… as it were the members of his kingdome which were situate without the boundes of the auncient inheritaunce and so he had no more left him but onlye the countrye of Macedones And yet the Aetolians being offended that at their plesure Maceâ—…one also was not taken from him and geuen to them in rewarde of theyr paynes taken in the warre sent ambassadoures to Antiâ—…chus who by flattering him in adâ—…uncing his puissaunce cheualry might enforce him to make warre against the Romains in hope that all Grece would take his part The. xxxi Booke PTolomy Philopater being dead Antiochus kâ—…ng of Syria disdaimng his little sonne because he was so yonge who being the onlâ—…e hope of the posteritye of the Ptolomtes lefte to enherite the kingdome was euen as a pray to his owne subiectes purposed to conquere Egipt Whervpon whâ—…n he hadde inuaded Phenice and the other cities situate in Syria but vnder the dominion of Egipte the Senate of Rome sent an ambassade vnto him willinge hym to abstaine from the Orphans kingdome whiche was committed to their charge by the laste bequest that his father made The whiche being sent away with a 〈◊〉 answeare within a while after came another ambassade which leauing the personne of theyr pupill commaunded him to make restitution with full amendes and satisfaction of the cities that by the lawe of armes appertayned of right to the Romaines Upon his refusall they made their defiaunce the which as he lightly receiued so he as vnfortunately performed The same time the Tirant Nabis subdued manye cityes in Gâ—…ece The Senate therfore least the power of the Romaines shoulde bee entangled in two warres at one instaunte wrate vnto Flamminius that like as he had deliuered Macedone from the bondage of Phillippe so if he thoughte it good he shoulde deliuer Grece from the bondage of Nabis In consideration whereof his authoritâ—…e was proroged For the name of that Hanniball made the warres of Antiochus terrible whome his enuious aduersaries hadde accused to thâ—… Romaines of secreate conspiracye with Antiochus alledginge that hys harte woulde not serue him to liue vndeâ—… a lawe beinge accustomed to beare rule and beinge accustomed to the ouer licentyous liberty of the campe and that he was so weary of the rest and quietnesse of the citye that hee euer more soughte to picke some quarel to th entent to haue occasyon agayn of some newe warres The whiche thinges all be it they were reportâ—…d vppon malice contrary to the truth yet not withstandinge amonge them that stode in dreade of hym they were bâ—…leued for a truthe For the â—…enate beynge strycken with fâ—…are sente Seruilius of ambassade into Affricke to note the demeanor of Hanniball geuing him secreatelye in charge that if it were possyble hee shoulde fynde the meanes to kill him by some of his aduersaries and so deliuer the Romaines from the dreadfull feare of his hatefull name But this secreate working coulde not be longe kepte from Hanniball beinge a wise and expert person in foreseing and auoidynge of daungers and such as looked as well for aduersitye in the time of prosperity as for prosperity in the time of aduerâ—…ye Therefore when he had shewed himselfe all day longe before the eyes of the noble men and of the Româ—…in ambassadoure in the face of the courte euen to the 〈◊〉 in the shuttynge in of the euenyng he toke horseback and rode to a manor that he had in the subburbes neare vnto the sea syde not makynge anye of his seruauntes preuye wher about he went but willed them to wait at the gate til he came again He had at the said manor shippes mariners hidden for the nones in a noke of the sea Moreouer he had there a great sum of monye in a readinesse in the same pece of ground to th entent that if he wer driueÌ„ to such necessity he wold not be letted of his iourney for want of ships or for want of mony There vppon wyth a company of his moste picked seruauntes the noumber of whom was incresed with Italian prisoners he toke ship ping and directed his course toward Antiochus The next day the city waited in the iudgement hal for their prince and the same time their Consul When they hard that he was gone they trembled for feare as if the City had ben taken by the enemy mistrusting that his departure wold tourne to theyr vtter destruction And the Romaine ambassador as though Hanniball had euen then made war again vpon Italy made no more a doo but retourned to Rome and brought y â— sorowful tidinges therof with him In the meane time Flaminius hauing made confederacy with certaine Cities in Grece vanquished Nabis in two pitched fieldes one after a nother by meanes wherof hauing brought him to alow ebbe he lefte him in his kyngdome lyhe a man without life or soule But after that he had withdrawen his garisons out of the cities and coÌ„ueied his host again into Italy Nabis being entised againe for as much as he saw no man to kepe possessyon agaynst him raised a power and sodenlye inuaded manye Cityes Wherwith the acheans being put in fear for doubt least the mischiefe wherwith their neighbors were entangled shuld crepe vpon them determined to make war against Nabis Of the which warres they made lieuetenant general their Pretor Philopemenes a man of excellent actiuity who behaued himselfe so valiantly in that war that by al mennes iudgement he was to be compared to Flaminius the graundcaptaine of the Romaines The same time Hanniball when hee was come to Antiochus was entertained and wellcomed as a gift sent from God and the kynge tooke suche a courage to him vppon hys comminge that he semed not so carefull for the war as howe he myght rewarde him for getting the victorye he thought himselfe so sure of it But Hanniball who knew by profe the prowesse and puissaunce of the Romaines denied that it was possyble to ouercome them but in Italy to the performans wher of he willed him to deliuer him an hundrâ—…d shippes with tenne thousand footemen and thre thousande horsemen promisinge to make as hotte warres in Italye with that little band as euer he had done before so that his maiesty sitting in quiet in asia he woulde either bring him home victory and conquest or elsse indifferent articles of sinall peace and attonement For bothe the Spaniyards were desirous to renue the warres if they had a captaine to set
them a woorke and he himselfe was better acquaynted with Italy now then he had beene in foretimes Moreouer he knewe that Carthage woulde not syt at reast but adi◅yn herself as partaker of his enterprises out of hand The king lyked the counsel wel and there vppon one of Hanniballes retinue was sente vnto Carthage to stirre them to the warre beinge of them selues all readye desirous there of declarynge vnto them that Haniball wold shortlye come thither with an army Neuerthelesse he was charged to saye nothinge to the factions but only that the Carthaginenses wanted hart for asia shoulde fynde them bothe men and mony When newes hereof came to Carthage the messenger was apprehended by the enemies of Hanibal and being brought into the Senate and there examined to whome hee was sent he aunswered like a suttle afre that he was sente to the whole Senate In as muche as this matter was not the peculier case of anye one of them but appertained in generall to them all While they were debating of the matter in coūsel many daies together whether it were best for dischargynge of their own consciences to send him to Rome ther to make his purgation or no he toke ship priuely and returned to Hannibal Whervpon the Carthagi immediatly sent an ambassador to Rome The Romaines also sent ambassadors to antiochus the which vnder the coloure of ambassade should bothe marke and note the kynges furnyture for the warres and also eyther reconcyle Hannibal to the Romaines or elsse through their daily and continuall cōmoning with him bring him in suspitiō and hatred with the king Thambassadors therfore when they were come before y e king antiochus at Ephesus de◅yuered him the◅r commission from the Senate Duringe the time they laye there geuing attendaunce for theyr answer daye by daye they were euer in hand with Hannibal saying that there was no cause why he should haue fled so fearfullye out of his country ▪ seing the Romains withall faithfulnesse obserued the peace concluded not so muche with the body of the common weale of Carthage as with him cōsideryng they knew he had made war againste the Romaines not so much for ill wil he bare towardes them as for the loue he bare towardes theym as for the loue he bare towarde his owne country in the whiche quarell euery good man ought to spend his life For the occasyon of those warres grew vpon the displesure that the one country bare openly against the other and not vpon anye priuate quarell of the captaines amonge them selues Herevpon they too◅e occasyon to commend his noble actes the which communication so greatlye delighted him that hee was desyrous to talke with the ambassadors oftner not foreseinge that for the familiarity he had with the Romaines he shoulde purchase himself the kings displesure For antiochus vpon this ◅is daily communication thinking hym to be reconciled and faln in fauor with the Romaines wold not aske his deuise as he was wont to do nor make him preuy to any part of his doinges but hated him as an ennemy and abhorred him as a traytoure The whiche thing laide a water all that great furniture for the warres after the time that the policy of the graūd captaine was thus dashed out of countenaunce Theffect of the commissyon was to commaund Antiochus in the name of the Senate to be contente with the boundes of Asia onlesse he would driue them to enter into asia whether they would or no. Antiochus making light there of answered howe he was fullye resolued before not to receiue warre at theyr handes but to make warre vppon them When he had oftentimes debated with hys counsell and his captaines as concerning this warre not making Hannibal preuy there to at the last he sent for him not to th entent to doo any thinge after his deuise but to th entent he wold not seme to haue vtterly despysed him and there vpon when euery man had said his minde lastly he asked him ◅is aduise The whiche thing Hanniball vnderstanding wel inough said that he perceiued he was called not because the king thought himself to haue nede of his counsel but onlye to supply the noumber of sentences Neuerthelesse for the hatred he bare to the Romains and for the good will hee bare to the kinge as in whose courte onlye he had had safe refuge in the time of hys banishment he wold discusse what way he were best to enterprise his warres Thervpon he desired pardon in that he should speake so largely for he said he liked no part of their counsels nor opinions in that behalf as that Grece should be appoynted the place of the warre seing that Italye was better for the maintenaunce of the same For the Romains might not be vanquished but by their own weapons nor Italye otherwise bee subdued then by her owne power For those kinde of people were of a cleane contrary nature from all other menne and therefore the warres were to be ordered farre otherwise against them then agaynst all other men In other warres it is wonte to be a great furtheraunce and healpe for a man to haue taken some aduauntage of the place or of the tyme to haue wasted the fieldes or to haue wonne some Cityes But with the Romain whether ye haue gotten anye aduauntage before or whether ye haue ouercome him ye must be faine euen then to wrestle with him when he is vanquished and lyeth at your fote Wher◅ore if a man assaile them in Italy he might ouercome them with theyr owne weapons their owne richesse and theyr owne power like as ◅e himselfe had doone But if anye man shall suffer them to enioye Italye as the well springe of theyr strength he shal be as sore deceiued of his purpose as if a man woulde goo aboute to driue backe a riuer agaynste the streame or to dry it vp not beginninge to stoppe it at the heade but at suche place as the waters were deep◅st and mooste encreased This he saide was his opi◅yon in himself whervpon he was mineded to haue offered hys seruice and aduise vnrequested the which he now hadde vttered in the presence of al his frendes to th entent they mighte all vnderstande howe to make warres with the Romaines who out of theyr own country were inuincible and at home at their owne doores weake and easy to be ouercome In so much that it was an easyer matter to set them beside Rome then beside their Empire and to driue them out of Italy then out of their prouinces For their city had bene sacked by the frenchmen they them selues almost vtterly destroyed by him and yet he neuer vanquished before he departed out of their country But assone as he was retourned to Carthage immediatlye w t the place was also aultered the fortune of the warres ▪ The kings councel held as muche against this aduyse as could be not waying the vtility of the mater but for
ioyned with 〈◊〉 it is an vncredible thing how greatly they encreased The enryching of the Iewes came by the reuenewes of Balme whiche groweth no where but only in their countrie For there is a certayn valey inclosed round about with continuall hylles as it were walles like vnto gardines The place conteyning two huâ—…dred thousand Acres is named Iericho In the same vale there is a wood notable bothe for the frutefulnesse and for the pleasauntnesse thereof For it is beset with date trees and balme trees The Balme trees are lyke in makyng and groweth vnto pytche trees sauyng that they be much lower and are dressed as vines are These at certeyn tymes of the yere doe swete out balme But the place is not so muche to be wondered at for the frutefulnesse as for the colenesse thereof For whereas throughout all the Clymate of that Countrie the sunne is excedyng hote there is in that place as it were a naturall warmenesse and a continuall shadowe In that countrie is a lake which for the greatnesse therof and for the vnmouable standyng of the water is called the dead sea For neyther is it moued with y â— wyndes by reason the bytumen resisteth the force of them wher with all the water is made to stand immouable neyther can it be sayled vppon bycause that all thynges wantyng lyfe synke downe to the bottom and it will not beare any substaunce onlesse it be ouerlayed with Alume Xerxes kyng of Persia fyrst subdued the Iewes Afterward they and the Persians also were brought in subiection by great Alexander and continued a longe tyme vnder the gouernaunce of the Empyre of Macedone Lastely rebellyng agaynst Demetrius by sekyng the frendshyppe and Aliance of the Romayns who at that tyme dyd cut large thonges of other mens lether they were the fyrste of all the Nacions of the East that requested lybertie Duryng the same tyme that there was such alteracioÌ„ of the kyngdome of Syria among the new kynges Attalus kyng of Asia distayned his moste florishyng kyngdome which he had receyued of his vncle Eumenes with the slaughter of his frendes and thexecucion of his kynsfolke false lye surmisyng one whyle that the olde lady his mother another while that his owne spouse Beronice were by their sorcery and enchauntmentes kylled After the committyng of this wicked and outragious crueltie he put on fylthie apparell he let his hed and his beard growe long lyke as offenders are wont to dooe in person he woulde not come abrode he would not shew himself to the people he would not make any myrthe or good chere in his house no nor pretend anie token at all of a manne that is in his right wittes so that it was not to be thought but that he punished himselfe to pacifye the Ghostes of suche as he had wrongfullie put to death There vppon leauyng the gouernement of the kyngdome he gaue himselfe to makyng of gardynes and sowed sedes settyng herbes anâ—… wedes myngled togyther all the which he woulde stepe in venemous liquors and send as a speciall present to his frendes Furthermore he gaue himselfe to the studie of Smyths craft and to founding of metalles maruelously delightyng in meltyng and casting of brasse Fynallie entendyng to make his mother a Tumbe as he was earnestlie occupied about the same he caught a Surfettâ—… by the heate of the sunne of the which he dyed within seuen dayes after By his last will he made the people of Rome his hâ—…ire But there was one Aristonicus the sonne of Eumenes not begotten in lawfull wedlocke but borne of a single woman of Ephesus the daughter of a certayn Mynstrell who after the death of Attalus toke vppon â—…im the kyngdome of Asia as yf it had ben his by right of inheritaunce When he had fought manie prospâ—…rous battelles agaynst such of the Cities as woulde not yelde themselfes vnto him for feare of the Romayns and thervppon semed now to be righfull kyng in dede Licinius Crassus the Consul was appoynted to haue the charge of Asia who hauyng more mynde of Attalus riches then of the warre by aduenture in the later end of the wynter for wante of good order and gouernaunce in the fyelde was ouercomme and with the losse of his lyfe suffered due punishement for his vnaduised rashenesse and couetousnesse In his roume was sent the Consull Perpenna who in the fyrst encounter vanquished Aristonicus and toke him prisoner and also shipped all the riches of Attalus belongyng to the Romayns by force of Legacie and conueyed them to Rome The which his successor Marcus Aquilius the Consul takyng sore to hart made al the hast and spede he could deuise to take Arystonicus perforce out of Perpennas hand as who shoulde say that he himself ought rather to haue the honor of Tryumph foâ—… vanquishyng hym But the deathe of Perpenna brake the stryfe of the Consulles and so Asia beyng made the right of the Romayns with her richesse sent also her vices vnto Rome The. xxxvii Boke AFter that Arostonicus was takeÌ„ prisoner the Massilias sent Ambassadors to Rome humblye requestyng pardon for the Phocenses their fouÌ„ders whose Citie Senate yea and name the Romaynes had geuen sentence should be vtterly rooted out bycause that bothe at that tyme and before tymes when they had warres with Antiochus the same lyke deadlie enemies had euer furthered the warre agaynste theym the which request with much sute the Massilians obteyned This done they rewarded the kynges that had ayded them agaynst Aristonicus vnto Mythridates kyng of Pontus they gaue the lesser Syria vnto the sonnes of Ariarathes kyng of Cappadocia who lost his lyfe in the same battell they gaue Licaonia and Cilicia And the people of Rome delt more faithfully with the sonnes of their confederates then the mother dyd deale with her owne children For by th one the child had his kyngdome enlarged by thother he was bereft of his lyfe For Laodice of syxe sonnes that Ariarathes had begotten by her for feare least by continuall succession in the gouernement of the kyngdome some of them mighte happen to come to mannes estate kylled fyue of them One of the yongest by the helpe of his kynred was saued from his mothers crueltie who after the death of the sayde Laodice for the people had put her to death for her crueltie enioyed the kyngdome alone Mythridates also beyng surprised by sodayne death left a sonne behynd him of his owne name who afterward grewe so great that he surmounted in estate not onely the kynges of his tyme but also all the kynges that had ben before hym and helde warres with the Romaynes syxe and fowerty yeres togither sometyme with conqueste and sometime with losse Whome the moste expert and valiant Captaynes Sylla and Lucullus with diuers others in fine â—…us Pem peius ouercame in such sorte that he still rose with greater force and prowesse to renewe the battell and by
his losses semed euer to be made more terrible to them Finally at the length he was not vanquished as an enemie but in his oldeage leauyng his 〈◊〉 to be his heire he dispatched himselfe by wilfull death in his owne kyng dome where his auncesters had raygned of long continuance The very wonders of heauen dyd prognosticate what a great man he shoulde be for bothe the same yet â–ª that he was borne and the same yere he firste began his reygne there appered by the space of threskore and tenne dayes at both tymes suche a blasyng starre that all the skye semed to be on fyre For it was so bygge that it occupied a quarter of the heauen it was so brighte that it blemished the light of the Sunne when it rose or went doune it consumed fower howers at eche tyme. When he was a chylde his owne Gouernours wente about to destroy hym settyng hym vppon a rough horse and compellyng him to lern to ryde and to torney The which attempt followyng not their myndes as they woulde haue had the yong Prince Mythridates rulyng the horse better then was loked for in one of his age they assayed him with poyson The which he standyng in doubt of before dronke tryacle oftentymes by meanes whereof he so stayed his bodie with tryed and exquisite medicines that when he was olde he would haue poysoned himselfe and coulde not After this fearyng least his enemies woulde compasse the thyng by weapon which they could not doe by venim he couÌ„terfeyted a desyre of huntyng whervppon by the space of fower yeres he came not vnder anie roofe eyther of house in the Cytie or cotage in the countrie but wandered vp and doune the forestes and woods rested the night time in the mountayns sometime one where and sometime another no man knowyng where was his haunt enuryng himself eyther to chase or to pursue the wylde beastes on foote and with some of them to encounter with playne force By meanes whereof he both auoyded all treason and also hardened his bodie to abyde all kynde of trauell and exercyse Afterward when he came to take the kâ—…gdome vppon him immediatlie he set his mynde not so muche of gouernyng as of enlargyng thesame Therefore he maruelous fortunately subdewed and brought in subiection the Sâ—…ythians who before that day were neuer conquered whiche had vtterlie destroyed Zopyron the Capitayne of greate Alexander with thirtie thousand armed men whiche had slayne Cyrus kyng of Persia with two hundred thousand men of warre and which had put to flyght Philyp kyng of Macedones Being thus encreased in strength he conquered Pontus and consequentlie Cappadocia Then with certayn of his frendes he went secretly disguysed out of his owne kyngdome without knowledge of anie man and wanderyng through Asia vewed the situacion of all the Cyties and Prouynces of the same From thence he trauayled ouer Bythinia and as though he had ben alreadie Lorde of Asia he deuised all thynges that might helpe to fâ—…rther him toward his conquest After this when all men beleued he had ben dead he returned home into his own Realme where he found a lytle sonne whome Laodice his syster and wyfe had brought him forth in his absence But in the myddes of the ioye that was made for his returne and for the birth of his chyld he was in daun ger to be poysoned For his syster Laodice beleuyng him to be dead and therevppon abusyng her bodye with his frendes as though the might haue hydden her offence by committyng of a greater cryme prepared a cuppe with poyson to welcome him home withall Wherof Mythridates hauyng intelligence by a Damosell punished the offence vppon the deuisers thereof After when wynter drew nigh he spent not the time in feastyng but in fâ—…ates of armes not in 〈◊〉 but in exercise not amoÌ„g carpet knights but eyther in yoâ—…sting and tournying in runnyng on foote or on horsebacke or els in wrestlyng and tryal of strength among his pâ—…res Also he daylie enured his men of warre by lyâ—…e exercyse to abyde labor and trauell as well as himself by meanâ—…s wherof as he was iâ—…incible himself so made he his host inuincible also Then he entred in league with Nicomedes and inuaded Paphlagonia the which he conquered and parted it with his companyon When woorde was brought to the Senate that these kyngs had subdued the countrie they sent Ambassadours to them both coÌ„maun dyng them to set it in the lyke estate as they found it My thridates thinkyng himself nowe able ynough to matche the puissaunce of the Romayns answered proudelie that the kyngdome was his fathers by inheritaunce and that he maruayled they should make alteration with him for it hauyng not done the lyke to his father Moreouer he set so lyght by their Manaces that he inuaded Galatia also Nicomedes for asmuch as he was not able to make his partie good by anie tytle answered he woulde surrender it to the rightfull kyng and so chaungyng the name of his owne sonne he called him Phylomenes by the name of the kyngs of Paphlagonia by which conueyance vnder a counterfect name he helde still the kyngdome as though he had restored it to the right heire The Romayne Ambassadoures beyng thus had in derision returned to Rome with a mocke Morrouer he sent his wyfe Laodice to Rome to testifye that she haâ—…e tâ—…ree sonnes by Ariarathes The which thyng when Mithridates knew of he also with lyke impudent vnshamefastnesse sent Gordius vnto Rome to auouche before the Senate that the chylde to whome he had deluded the kyngdome of Cappadocia was the sonne of the same Ariarathes whiche in the quarell of the Romaynes was slayne in the battell agaynst Aristouicus But the Senate vnderstandyng the meanyng and endeuour of both the kynges wold not gene other mens kingdoms to vsurpers that tooke wrong names vppon them Whereupon they tooke Cappadocia from Mithrydates and to comfort him withall they toke Paphlagonia from Nicomedes And to th entent it should not seme they wold take any thynges from the kynges in despight of them to bestowe it vppon others bothe the Nacions were seâ—…at at free lybertie But the Cappadocians refusyng the gyfte of lyâ—…ertie sayd that their countrie could not liue without a kyng Whervppon Ariobarzanes was appointed by the Senate to be their kyng There was at the same tyme one Tygranes king of Armenia kept in hostage not long before by the Parthâ—…aÌ„s and now lately remitted by them into his fathers kyngdome Hym dyd Mithridates couet to allure to take his part in the warres that he had of loÌ„g tyme purposed agaynst the Romaynes Wherfore by the meanes of Gordius he persâ—…ded him as one that knew not what it was to displease the Romaynes to make war vppon Ariobarzanes who was a very cowarde And to th entent it shoulde not seme be dyd it for anye cautele or pollicy he gaue him his daughter Cleopatra in mariage At the fyrst
kept more straightlie then he was before In processe of tyme when it was to be thought he would haue taryed for his chyldrens sake that he had by his wyfe accoÌ„panied with his foresayd frende he stale away agayn But euen with lyke infelicitie as before he was apprehended nere vnto the lymites of his owne kyngdome and beyng broughte backe agayn vnto the kyng was commaunded out of his presence in great displeasure Neuerthelesse beyng then also graunted his wyfe and children he was sente agayne into Hyrcanie his olde place of penaunce and was rewar ded with a payre of dyce of golde in exprobration of hys chyldishe lightnesse But this so gentle and fauorable demeanor of the Parthians towarde Demetrius proceded not of any mercie naturally engraffed in that nacion or in respect of Aliance and affynitie but bycause they coueted the kyngdome of Syria entending to vse Demetrius as an instrument agaynst his brother Antiochus accordyng as eyther the matter the tyme or the chaunce of warre should requyre Antiochus hearyng therof thoght it wysedome to preuent the warre and there vppon led his his host whiche he had hardened through manie viages and battelles agaynst his neyghboures agaynste the Parthians But he made preparacion as much for ryot as for warre For wheras he had eight hundred thousand men of warre there wer besydes thre hundred thousand others that followed the host of the which the moste part were Cokes bakers and mynstrels players of enterludes Surely of gold syluer ther was so great abundaÌ„ce that euen the coÌ„mon souldiers ware their hosen enbroydered with golde trode vnder their fete the metall for loue of which other people were wonte to fyght and kyll one another Moreouer all the furniture of kytchens wer of cleane syluer as though they had gone to banquetting and not to battell At Antiochus fyrste commyng manye kyngs of the East mette him yelded themselfes their kyngdomes vnto him vtterlie detestyng the pryde of the Parthians It was not long ere it came to thencounter Antiochus gettyng thupper hand in thre fought fieldes and thervppon winnyng Babylon by force began to be counted great By meanes whereof all countries reuolted so fast vnto him that the Parthians had nothyng left them more then the bare soyle of their owne Realme of Parthia Then Prahartes sent Demetrius into Syria with an host of Parthians to inuade the kyngdome to thintent that by that pollicie Antiochus might be enforced to withdrawe himself out of Parthia to the defence of his owne Realme In the meane whyle bycause he could not ouercom Antiochus by force he sought meanes to surprise him by pollicie Antiochus by reason he hadde such a multitude dispersed all his army into the Cyties duryng the wynter season the which thyng was his vtter vndâ—…yng For the Cyties felyng themselfes greued with victailyng of hiis hoste also with the iniurious demeanour of the souldiers reuolted agayn to the Parthians and on a day appointed for the nones all at one tyme by trayterous conspiracie set vppon the hoste as it was deuided among them seuerllie to th entent they shoulde not be able to rescowe one another when tydinges herof came to Antiochus he assembled suche as wyntered with him went to rescow them that were nerest But in his way he met with the kyng of Parthians against whome he fought more valiauntlie himself then dydde his hoste Notwithstandyng at the laste forasmuche his ennemies were of more force and courage his men for feare forsoke him and so he was slayne For whome Phrahartes made a royal herce dyd exequies after the maner of Prynces and moreouer beyng taken in loue with the daughter of Demetrius whome Antiochus had broght with him he toke her to wyfe Then it repented him that he had let go Demetrius he sent oute menne in post after him to fetche him backe But Demetrius dreadyng the same thyng before hand had made such spede that they founde him in his owne kyngdome so beyng frustrate of theire trauell expectation they returned to the kyng The. xxxix Boke AFter that Antiochus with all hs army was thus destroyed in Parthia his brother Demetrius beyng delyuered from captsuitie of the Parthians and restored to his kyngdome when as all Syria as yet mourned for the losse of the armye as though the warres that he and his brother made in Parthia in the whiche th one was taken prysoner and thother slayn had had prosperous successe he purposed to make warre in Egypt at the request of Cleopatra his wifes mother who promysed to gyue him the kyngdome of Egypte in recompence yf he would helpe to support her agaynste her brother But whyles he went about to get that that was another mans he lost his owne by meanes of a sodayne insurrection in Syria For first the Cytizens of An tioche throgh the instigacion of their Capitayne Tryfo 〈◊〉 the kynges pryde which by his conuersacion among the cruell Parthians was becomme intoierable and anone after the Apameniens with all the rest of the Cyties followyng their ensample toke occasion vpon the kynges absence and rebelled against him Ptolomy also kyng of Egypt against whome the sayd Demetrius made warre when he vnderstode that hys syster Cleopatra had shypped all hhr goods treasur and was sled into Syria to her daughter her 〈◊〉 in lawe Demetrius he suborned a certayn yong men of Egypte the son of Merchantman called Protarchus to chalenge the kyngdome of Syria by bâ—…ttell forging a pedegre as though Antiochus had adopted him into the blood royall And the Syrians cared not who were theyr kyng so they might be delyuered from the pryd of Demetrius So the yong man was proclaymed by the name of Alexander great succor was set to him oute of Egypt In the meane while the bodie of Antiochus slayne by the kyng of Parthia was sent into Syria in a coffyn of syluer to be buried the which was receyued with great reuerence by all the Cyties but chiefly by Alexander himselfe to th entent to make men oredyte the tale that he was adopted to be his heire The which his doyng wann him much fauor of the commonaltie all men thinkyng no lesse but that he ment good faith without dissimulacion in his sorowfull mournyng Demetrius beyng vanquished by Alexander and being enuyroned on all sydes with vnauoydable dauÌ„gers was at the last forsaken of his own wyfe childreÌ„ being therfore left desolate sauyng a fewe seruaunts as he was purposed to haue fled to the temple of Tyrus there to re gistre himself as a sanctuarieman yf percheunce the reue rence of the place might saue his lyfe when he went out to lande he was slayne by the commandement of the Ma ster of the shyppe The one of his sonnes whose name was Seleucus bycause he crowned himself kyng without his mothers conset was by her slayn Thother of his sonnes who for the greatnesse of his
was coÌ„mitted to Satagenor a stranger that had serued Alexander in his warres These afterward when the Macedones fell to ciuill warre with thother nacions of thupper Asia toke part with Emnenes after whose discomfiture they submitted themselfes to Antigonus after Antigonus Nicanor Seleucus Antiochus and his successors kept them in obedience from whose graundchylde Seleucus they fyrst of all reuolted in the fyrst warre that was betwene the Romayns the Carthaginenses L. Manlius Piso and M. Attilius Regu lus beyng Consuls The occasion that they escaped clere with this their rebellion was the discorde betwene the two brothers kyng Seleucus aad kyng Antiochus who were so earnest to plucke the kyngdome one from another that they hadde no leasur to pursewe the rebelles The same tyme also rebelled one called Theodotus the whiche was the Lieuetenaunt of the thousande Cyties of the Bactrians and proclaymed hymselfe Kynge Whose ensample all the other resydewe of the people of the East ensewyng reuolted froÌ„ the Macedones Ther was at the same tyme one Arsaces as of vnknowen lynage so of approued actiuitie This man beyng wonte to lyue by rauyne robberie hearyng say that the Frenchmen had vaÌ„quished Seleucus in Asia beyng out of feare of his Prince entered into Parthia with a bande of robbers and â—…ewe their Lieuetenaunt Andragoras and after he had dispatched him out of the way vsurped the dominion of the countrie It was not long after but he conâ—…uered the kyngdome of Hyrcanie also and so beyng esta blished in the Empire of two Realmes he leuied an huge hoste for feare of Seleucus and Theodotus kyng of the Bactrians But he was sone deliuered froÌ„ feare of Theodotus for he dyed â–ª with whose sonne called Theodotus also â–ª he concluded a league continuall peace And within a while after he enconntred with Seleucus that came to subdewe the rebelles and ouercame him The whiche day the Parthians haue euer sythens kept holye with much solemnitie as the beginnyng of their lybertie Afterwarde when Seleucus was through newe Insurreccions called backe into Asia Arsaces hauyng thereby reâ—…pite and oportunitie sette order in the publike weale of Parthia mustered souldiers builded for tresses stronge holdes strengthened cyties and also edified a Cytie new oute of the ground in the mountayn Thabortene which he named Dara The situacion of whiche place is suche that there cannot be any deuised eyther more strong and defensible or more pleasaunt and delectable For it is so enuyroned round about with stepe rockes that the place of it self is able to hold out the enemie though there wer no bodie to defend it And the soyle thereaboutes is so fer tile and frutefull that it is able to suffice the whole cytie without helpe of any other place Besydes this there is suche abundaunce of sprynges and woodde that besydes the commoditie of the water wherewith it is moste plen tifullie moystured they may also haue the pleasur of haukyng and huntyng when they lyste Arsaces hauyng in this wyse bothe gotten and established his kyngdome at once dyed an olde man as greatlie renoumed among the Parthians as was Cyrus among the Persians Alexander among the Macedones or Romulus among the Romayns In remembraunce of whome the Parthians attributed this honor that they called all theire kynges by the name of Arsaces euer after This mans sonne heire named Arsaces also hauyng an army of an hundred thou sand sootemen and twentie thousand horsemenne fought very valiauntlie agaynst Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus and at length was receyued by him into aliance and frendshippe The third kyng of the Parthians was Pam patius lykewyse surnamed Arsaces for as I told you before they called all their kinges by that name lyke as the Romaynes call theirs by the name of Cesar Augustus This man hauyng raigned twelue yeres deceased leauyng two sonnes Mythridates Pharnax Of the which Pharnax the elder inherityng the kyngdome accordyng to the custome of their countrie conquered a stout kynde of people called the Mardes and within a while after deceased leauyng manie sonnes behynde him the which he made no accompte of in that case but left the kyngdome to his brother Mythridates a man of excellent prowesse and actiuitie thinkyng that the kyngdome was more to be regarded then the name of father and that he oughte rather to prouyde for his natiue contrey â–ª then for his chil dren The same tyme lyke as Mythridates in Parthia so Eucratidâ—…s in Bactria bothe of them notable Princes began their raygnes at once But the Parthians had the happier fortune For through the pollitique gouernance of their kynge they aspyred to the Souerayne prehâ—…minence of th empyre Wheras the Bactrians beyng tossed to and fro with the vncertayn fortune of the warres lost not onely their kyngdome but also their lybertie For after the tyme they had wearied themselfs with the continuall warres of the Sâ—…gdianes Dranganitanes and Indians last of all as when half dead and without of harte they were subdued by the Parthians which wer weaker then they Yet notwithstadyng Encratides atcheued many battels with great prowesse through the which being brought lowe when as Demetrius king of Inde had beseged him he hauyng no mo but thre hundred souldiours about him by his continuall yssuyng oute preuelye vanquished threscore thousand of his enemies Wherevppon beyng after fyue monethes siege enlarged agayne he brought Inde vnder his subiection From whence as he was returnyng homewarde he was slayn in his iourney by his owne sonne whome he had made fellow in Them pyre Who nothyng dissemblyng the vnnaturall murder but rather reioycâ—…ng as though he had killed his enemie and not his father draue his chariot throgh his blood and commaunded his bodie to be throwen awaye vnburied While these thyngs were a doyng amoÌ„g the Bactrians in the meane space there arose warre betwene the Parthians and the Medes in the whiche after diuers aduentures of bothe nacions at length the Parthians gate the vpper hand Mythridates beyng increased in strength by their power made one Bachasus Regent of Media and himselfe went into Hyrcania At his returne froÌ„ whence he made warre vppon the kyng of the Elymeans whom he ouercame and adnexed that Realme also to his kyngdome And there vppon receiuyng many contries by com posicion he dylated th empyre of Parthia from the montayn Cancasus euen vnto the ryuer of Euphrates Fynallie beyng taken with a sicknesse he dyed honorablie in his olde age of no lesse fame and renoume then his greatgraunfather Arsaces The. xlii Boke AFter the decease of Mythridates kynge of the Parthians his sonne Phrahartes was crowned kyng Who beyng fully purposed to warre vppon Syria to be reuenged vppon Antiochus for attemptyng the kyngdome of Parthia was by 〈◊〉 of the Scythians reuoked to the defence of his owne For the Scythians beyng solicited vppon promise of wages to ayde the Parthians against Antiochus
kyng of Syria when as the warre was fynished ere they came and thei in reproche of their late coÌ„myng were defrauded of their hyre beyng greued to haue trauailed so farre for nothing when as they demaunded eyther theire wages for theire paynes takyng or els some other ennemie to fyght with such a skornefull aunswere was gyuen them that they beyng offended therewith began to waste the borders of Parthia Phrahartes therefore when he should take his iourney agaynst the Scythians left to gouuerne his Realme in his absence one Hymâ—…rus highlie in fauour with him for thabuse of him in the florisshing prime of his childhod Who forgettyng bothe his owne former lyfe and whose persone he represented through his tyrannous crueltie vexed importunatlie bothe Babylon and manâ—…e other ci ties And Phrahartes himselfe ledde to the warres with him the Grekysh hoste the whiche he hadde taken in the warres of Antiochus had entreated cruelly proudelie quite forgettynge that their captiuitie hadde not mitigated their enemielyke myndes so much but y â— his wrongfull demeanor towardes the had more styrred the to displeasur against him Therfore when they espied that the Parthien battel began to haue the worse end of the staÌ„ffe they turned themselfes and tooke part with the enemie and so with the bloudie slaughter of the Partbien hoste of the kyng Phrahartes himselfe they executed the reuengement of their wrongfull captiuitie which they had so longe tyme desyred In stead of him at his vncle Artabanus was created kyng And the Scythians beyng con tented with the victorie after that they had wasted Parthia returned into their owne countrih But Artabanus dyed immediatlie of a wounde in his arme that he receyued in a battell agaynst the Colchatarians After him suc ceded his sonne Mythridates who for his noble acts was surnamed the Greate For beyng enflamed with desyre to excell in prowesse he behaued himself so noblie that in magnanimitie he surmounted al his famous progenitors Therefore he accomplished manie warres agaynste his neighbours with greate prowesse and subdewed manie nacions vnder the Dominion of Parthia Moreouer he foughte diuerse tymes to his aduauntage agaynste the Scythians and reuenged the displeasur doone to his predecessours At the laste he made warre agaynst artoadistes kyng of the Armenians But forasmuche as we be passyng into Armenie I thynke it necessarye to repete thoriginall thereof somewhat deper For me thynkes it is not lawfull to passe ouer so great a kyngdome with sylence coÌ„syderyng that next vnto Parthia it surmounteth al other kingdoms in greatnes For armenia is in leÌ„gth from Cappadocia vnto the Caspian sea eleuen hundred myles and in bredthe seuen hundred myles It was foun ded by Armenius one of the companyons of Iason the Thessalien whome kyng Pelias couetyng to destroy for his notable prowes which semed dangerous to his kingdome for feare least he should depose him told him what a noble viage ther was for him into Colchos perswading him to take thenterprise vpon him to fetche the golden fliece y â— was so famous notably talked of 〈◊〉 y â— worlde Hopyng that eyther through so long and perâ—…llous a saylyng or eis by feightyng agaynst so sauâ—…age and Barbarous a people he might brâ—…ng the aduenturous knight tâ—… confusion Iason therefore when he had made proclamacion of so notable a voyage and that therevppon the noble yong men almoste of all the whole worlde resorted in great number vnto him he assembled an armie of moste valiaunt knightes whiche were all called by the name of Argonantes Whome when after thaccomplishement of his aduenturous enterprises he had brought home again in sauftie he was expulsed agayn oute of Thessaly by the sonnes of Pelias Wherevppon with a great multitude which for the renowme of his prowesse daylie resorted to him oute of all Realmes hauyng in his companie his wyfe Medea whome after his late diuorcement for pytie of her exilement he had receyued agayn with her sonne Medeus begotten by Egeus kyng of Athenes he wente agayn to Colchos and restored his father in lawe to his kyngdome from whiche he was deposed After that he made manie battels with his neighbours and their Cyties whiche he had taken he partlie annexed to the kyngdome of his father in lawe to th entent to abolishe the reproche of his former warfare wherein he had both ledde away his daughter Medea and 〈◊〉 slayne his sonne Aegialus and partly gaue them to the 〈◊〉 that he broght with him to inhabyte By report he was the fyrste of all men next after Hercules and Liber whiche as the same goeth were kynges of the East that conquered that clymate of the worlde Ouer some Nacions he assygned captaynes Phrygius and Ansystratus the wageners of Castor Pollur He made a league with the Albanes which as it is reported followed Hercules out of Italy froÌ„ the mountayn Albanus when after the slaying of Gerion he draue his cattell through Italie who also bearyng in mynde that they came oute of Italie saluted the armie of Pompeius by the name of brothâ—…rs wheÌ„ he warred with Mythridates By meanes whereof all the whole 〈◊〉 almoste buylded Temples and dyd diuine honors to Iason as to their fyrst founder The whiche Parmenion one of the Capitaynes of great Alexander manie yeres after commanded to be beaten doun to th entent that no mans name shoulde be had in more honor in the East then the name of AlexaÌ„der after the death of Iason Medus being an earnest follower of his vertues in honor of his mother Medea buylded the cytie Mâ—…dea and established the kingdome of the Medes callyng it after his own name which in continuance of tyme grewe to that estate that all the Cast was in subieccion to th empyre thereof The Albans are next neighbors to the Amazones whose Quene Tha lestres manie authours haue reported to â—…aue desyred the carnall companie of Alexander Armenius beyng also a Thessalien and one of the number of Iasons Capitains hauyng gathered togyther the multitude whiche after the death of Iason their kyng wandred vp and doune euery where founded the toune of Armenie in the mountaynes whereof springeth the riuer Tygris which at the fyrst is a very small streame Then a good waye from the head it falleth into the grounde and a fyue and twentie myles beyonde it ryseth vp a great 〈◊〉 in the contrie Sophone and so is receyued into the lakes of Eufrates Therefore Mythridates kyng of the Parthians after his warre in Armenie was for his crueltie deposed from the kyngdome by the counsell of the Realme His brother Ho rodes inuadyng the Royal sea beyng vacant beseged Ba bylon a greate whyle bycause his brother Myth idates was fledds thither so long vntill he 〈◊〉 them for famyn to yeld vp the toune Mythridates vppon trust and coÌ„fidence in that he was so ners of his kynne willynglie submitted himself to his brother Horodes But
natife countrie Therfore he toucheth brieflie the beginnyng of the Romayne Empyre so that he neyther excedeth the boundes which he propounded to himselfe in his worke nor yet passeth ouer with silence the fondacion of that Cytie which out of doubt is head of all the world The fyrste inhabiters of Italye were the Aborigines whose kyng Saturne is reported to haue ben of suche Iustice and vprightnesse that duryng his â—…eygne ther was not any slaue or bondman nor any man that had oughte priuate to himself but all thynges were common and vndeuided to all menne a lyke as thoughe it hadde benne one Patrymonie and one Inheritaunce equallie belongyng to all menne In remembraunce of the which example it is enacted that in the feast of Sâ—…turne no man shoulde be more set by then another but that the bondemen should syt doune to their meale fellowelyke with theire Maysters eueryewher Furthermore Italy was called Saturnia after the name of the foresayd kyng The Hyll also where he dwelled was called Saturne on the which at this day Iupiter hauyng as it were remoued Saturne out of his place standeth the Capitoll After him in the thirde place by reporte reygned Faunus in whose tyme Euander with a small companie of his countrymen came from Palantener a cytie of Arcadie into Italie to whome Faunus of gentlenesse and courtesie assigned landes to lyue vppon and the mountayne which afterward he called PalaÌ„tine In the foote of this hill he builded a Temple to Lycens whome the Grekes call Pan and the Romaynes Lupercus The Image of the God beyng otherwise naked is clade in a goates skynne in the whiche maner oâ—… attyre menne are yet wonte to runne vp and doun the stretes of Româ—… in the celebracion of the feastes kepte vnto Pan. Faunus had a wyfe named Fatua whiche beyng continuallie rauished with a holy spirite as it were in a furie Prophecied of thynges to comme whervppon such as are wonte to be so inspyred are sayd to playe fatua vnto this day Of the daughter of Faunus and Hercules who the same tyme hauyng kylled Gerion draue his cattel which he had gotten in reward of his victorie throughe Italie was vnlefull begotten Latinus Duryng whose raygne Aeneas after that Troye was destroyed by the Grekes â–ª came from thence into Italie Where at his fyrst arriuall he was bydden battell But when he hadde brought his menne into the field before thencounter they fell to communicacion In the whiche he brought Latinus in suche admiracion of him that he was content to make him Compartener of hys kyngdome and also made him his sonne in lawe by geuyng him his daughter Lauinia in mariage After this they made warre 〈◊〉 agaynste Turnus kyng of the Rutilians who chalenged them for defraudyng him of Lauinia that by promis should haue ben his wyfe In the which bothe Turuus Latinus wer slayn Aeneas therfore obteynyng bothe the nacions by the law of armes buylded a cytie gaue it the name of his wyfe Afterward he made warre agaynste Mezentius kyng of the Hetruscians in the which he was slayne and his son Ascanius succeded in his stead Who leauing Lauinium buylded Alba longa the whiche for the space of thre hundred yeres togyther was the head of the kyngdom After manie kynges of this Cytie at length raygned Numitor and Amulius But Amulius hauyng wrongfully deposed his elder brother Numitor to thentente none yssue male should ryse of the stock of Numitor to chaleng the croune thrust his daughter Rhea into a nonrie there to leade all her lyfe in vowâ—…d virginitie clokyng his iniurie with an honorable color that men might suppose she was not put there as a condemned persone but rather made chief prio resse of the place by election Beyng therefore as a recluse in the Groue consecrated to Mars she was delyuered of two sonnes whether she conceyued them by aduouterye or by Mars no manne is able to say of a truthe Amulius vppon knowledge hereof beyng in more feare then euer he was by reason of the byrth of the two children coÌ„man ded them to be cast away and layd their mother in prison through distresse wherof she dyed But fortune prouiding before hand for thoriginall of the Romaynes sente a she-wolfe to nource the children the whiche hauyng loste her whelpes for desyre to haue her dugges drawen that wer payned with fulnesse of mylke offered herselfe to be nourice to the chyldren As â—…he came and went oftentymes to the children lyke as yf they had ben her whelpes A shepeherde named Faustulus perceyued the matter and stealyng them from the wolfe brought them vp lyke shepeherdes among his Cattel Now whether it were for that they were borne in the Groue of Mars or for that they were nourished by a wolf which is in the tuicion of Mars it was beleued to be as a manifest proofe that they were the sonnes of Mars The one of theÌ„ was named Remus thother Romulus When thei were men growen they accustomed to trye Maystries daylie one with an other wherby they encreased as well in strength as in agilitie and swyftnes Therfore when they had oftentymes man fully pollitiquely chased away the thefes from stealyng of the cattell Remus was taken by the sayde thefes as though he had ben thâ—… same himself whiche he had prohibited thothers to doe was brought before the kyng and there accused for a stealer of Numitors cattell Whervppon the kyng deliuered him to Numitor to punish as he thought good But Numitor hauyng pitie of the yonge man had half a mistrust that he should be one of his nephewes that were cast away by reason he resembled his daughter so much in fauor and makyng by reason that the tyme of her deliueraunce was agrâ—…able vnto his yeres As he was in this doubtfull perplexitie with himself Faustulus came sodaynlie in with Romulus by whome beyng further instructed of the byrthe bringyng vp of the children they made a conspiracie and toke weapon in hand the yong men to reuenge their mothers death and Numitor to recouer the kyngdome wrongfully witholdeÌ„ from him Amulius was slayne and Numitor restored to the crowne Anone after the yongmen builded the cytie of Rome The whiche beyng finished there was ordeyned a Senate of an hundred elders which were called fathers Then because the neighbours disdeyned to marry their daughters to shepeherdes they rauished the maydens of the Sabines aud hauyng subdued the people that were next about them fyrst they gate thempore of Italy and anone after th empyre of the whole worlde At those dayes as yet the kynges in stead of Diademes hadde maces which the Grekes call Scepters For euen from the fyrst begynnyng of thynges men in olde tyme dyd worship maces for Goddes In remembraunce of which Religion the ymages of the Goddes are yet styll â—…ade with Maces in their handes In the tyme of kyng Tarquine a companie of the Phocenses
captain of the Atheniens elected his fellow in the warre what by working againste his enterprises and what foreseing wiselye what was like to ensue disclosed the entent and purpose of his treason Whervpon ere it was long after Pansanias was arrained and condemned Xerxes therfore when he perceiued that his secrete conspiracies were disclosed determined to proclaime open warre againe The Grecians also appoynted for their captaine Cymo of Athens the sonne of Milciades their graundcaptaine at the battell of Marathon a noble yong gentleman whose naturall and godly disposition declared before hand what great honor he was like to come vnto For when his father being cast in prison for robbing of the common tresure was there departed and could not be buried he by taking his fathers irons vppon him redeamed his body and buried it Neither wer they any thing at all deceiued that chose him to be their soueraign Captain For being a man of no lesse prowesse then was his father he vanquished Xerxes both vpon the sea and vppon the land and compelled him fearfully to retire into his own kingdome The third Booke XErxes king of Persia of whome all nations a litle before stode in feare after he had sped so vn fortunatelye in his warres in Grece began to be had in contempt euen of his own subiectes For Artabanus his lieuetenaunt perceiuing the kings estate dailye to decaye beinge therwith broughte in good hope to obtain the kingdom one euening wyth vii of his sonnes all men growen and stout men of their handes entred the kings palace For he was so well be trusted and beloued with the king that he might come in whenso euer he wold Wherfore whē he had slain the king he wrought by pollicy to destroy his children whome he knewe to be a lette to his enterprise As for Artaxerxes whiche was but a childe to speake of he toke no great thought and therfore the sooner to compasse his matters he surmised that Darius which was a tall strippling had slaine his father to the entent he might the soner possesse the kingdom Wherby he compelled artaxerxes to reuenge murder with murder When they came to Darius lodginge they founde him as it were neither sleping nor waking and there killed him Afterward artabanus perceiuing that for all the mischief he could deuise there was yet one of the kinges sonnes aliue and fearing that the peres of the realme wold stand in con tention with him for the kingdome made of his Counsell one Baccabassus who being content with his present estate bewrayed the whole matter to artaxerxes howe his Father was slain how his brother vpon false presumption of murder was put to death and finallye howe there was treason a woorking againste his owne personne When artaxerxes knew that fearing to attempt any thing rashly or agaynst artabanus because he had so many of his sonnes about hym he commaunded his army to be in a readinesse in their armour before him the next day sayinge that he woulde take musters of them him selfe and see a trial of euery mannes behauioure howe he coulde handle his weapon Therfore when as among the rest artabanus himselfe stoode by in his harnesse the kinge fained that his Curet was to shorte for him commaundinge artabanus to chaunge with him As he was putting it of the king espying him naked thrust hym throughe with his sworde and ther with all commaunded all his sonnes to be laide hande on And by this meanes the worthy yong Prince reuenged the death of his father and the murder of his brother and saued him selfe oute of the bandes of traitoures While these things were a doing among the Persians in the mean season all Grece deuiding it self in ii parts wherof the one folowed the Lacedemonians thother the Atheniens turned their wepons from forain enemies agaynste their owne bowels Of one people was made two bodies the souldiers of one campe wer parted into ii hostes of deadly and mortall enemies On th one side the Lacedemonians drue to their parte all suche as were before times waged at the common charges of al the cities for the defēce of the whole country On thother side the Atheniens being renowmed as wel for their antiquity and long continuance as also by their dedes of cheualry trusted all to their own strength And so two of the mightiest people of all Grece egall by the statutes of Solon and lawes of Lycurgus throughe enuy one at anothers estate fel together by the eares amonge them selues For Lycurgus succeadinge his brother Polybita in the kingdome of Sparta when as he might lawfullye haue chalenged it to him selfe surrendred the same with as muche faithfulnesse as mighte be vnto his sonne Charilans whyche was borne after the deathe of hys father assone as he came to mannes estate To the entent that all men myghte vnderstande howe muche good men doo set more by rightuousnesse then by al the richesse in the world In the meane while therfore that the childe grew of whom as protector he had the gouernment he deuised lawes for the Spartanes whiche hetherto hadde none in whyche doing he deserued not more renowne for inuenting of them then for geuyng example in keeping them For certainlye he ordayned no law for any other man wherof he gaue not ensample first of all by him selfe He taughte the people due obedience to their Princes and the Princes to minister iu◅ice indifferently to al their subiectes He counselled all estates to vse temperance and frugalitye thincking that throughe the dailye and accustomable vse therof the trauell and penye of warfare should seeme much more light and easy he commaunded all things to be bought not for mony but for exchaunge of wares The vse of golde and siluer as the occasion of all mischief he vtterly toke away The gouernment of the publike weale he distributed to certain estates and degrees Unto the kinges he gaue power absolutely in all matters concerning the warres vnto the magistrates authority in iudgementes and matters of lawe whome he would to continue in office but one yeare at ones vnto the Senatoures to see the lawes executed and kept to the cōmons power to chuse the Senatoures or to create what officers they listed He parted all their landes equallye amongste them portion and portion like to the entent that euery man hauing like liuelihode no man shuld take more vpon him then other He ordained that they should all eate and drinke together openlye to the entent that no manne should secreatly vse any excesse or super◅uitye he permitted not the yong men to weare anye moo garmentes then one all the yere nor one to go gayer then another nor one to fare better then an other leaste by followinge one anothers example they should fall to riot Children vnder xv yeares age were not suffred to come into the Courte but were commaunded to keepe in the Country to the entent they might
spend their first yeares not in riotousnesse but in labor and trauel And when they slept they myghte not lay any thing vnder them to rest vpon or eat anye daintye meate al their liues nor retourn into the City before they were men growne He made a lawe that maidens shoulde marrye without dowrye and gaue commaundement that men should chuse their wiues for loue and not for monye thinckinge by that meanes menne woulde more straitlye obserue the dueties of wedlocke when there was no dowrye to let them The greatest reuerens he woulde shoulde be assigned not to rich men and men of authoritye but to aged men accordinge to the degree of their yeares And to say the truthe there is no place in all the worlde wher age is more honoured then in ◅parta Nowe forasmuch as these thinges at the first semed harde to them that before times were w◅nt to liue as they listed he fained Apollo of Delphos to be the author of them and that he had fetched them fro thence at the commaundement of God to the entent that the feare of God might enure them vnto it vntill that custome had driuen awaye all wearinesse Afterwarde to the entent he might ◅stablishe his lawes for euer he caused all the Citye to be sworne not to alter or breake any parte of his lawes vntil he returned againe tellinge them that he was going to the Oracle at Delphos to take counsel what was to be altered put to or taken from his lawes But in very dede he sailed vnto Candy where gladlye he liued the residue of his life like a banished man And when he shuld die he commaunded his bones to be throwne into the sea least if they were caried again to Lacedemon the Spartanes might thinke them selues clere of their othe in disanulling and abrogating of his lawes By meanes of these statutes and ordinaunces the City grew so stronge within a while that when as they made warre againste the Messenians for rauishing certaine of their maidens in a sol◅mpne sacrifice of the Messenians they bounde them selues with a greuous othe and thervnto cursed them selues if they retourned home before they had wonne the City of Messenia so muche did they trust either to their owne strength or to their fortune The which thing was the beginning of discorde and the cheefe cause and occasion of warre in Grece Therfore when contrary to their presumption they had beseged the towne x. yeres and could not take it and that their wiues thinking them selues all this while as widowes sent often to them requesting them earnestly to come home at lēgth fearing least by their obstinate perseueraunce they myght doo them selues more harme then the Messenians For as much as the youth which the Messenians lost was supplied the frutefulnesse of their wiues being daily among thē wheras their own losse during the warres was vnrecouerable for as muche as in the time of their absens their wiues as barraine folke broughte for the no frute at all Ther fore they chose oute certaine yong menne of that bande of Souldiers that came to supplye their noumber after the othe was taken and sent them home to Sparta with free liberty to company with any women whome so euer they woulde supposinge their wiues should sooner conceiue by attemptinge it wyth diuers men They that were so begotten in respecte of their mothers dishonour were called Partheniens who when they came to the age of xxx yeres for feare of pouertye for none of them coulde saye who was his father by whome he mighte hope for anye inheritaunce or liuing tooke to be their Captaine Phalanthus the sonne of Aracus which gaue the Spartanes the forsaid coūsel to send home these yonge men to engender issue To the entent that as of late his father was the authoure of theyr begetting so might they haue the sonne the author of their hope and prosperiti Therfore not so much as once bidding their mothers farewell whose aduoutry they thought soūded greatly to their shame reproche they toke their way to seke them a new dwelling place and after diuers aduen tures being long tossed from post to piller at lengthe they came into Italy where they besieged the fortresse of Tarent the which being wonne by assault they draue out the auncient inhabiters therof and dwelled ther them selues But many yeres after their captain Phalanthus beinge by a tumult driuen into exile went vnto Brundusium whether as the auncient inhabitants of Tarent being expulsed their natiue country had withdrawn them selues When he should die he perswaded them to take his bones the residue of his body being dead and beat them into poulder secretely to cause them to be strowed in the market place of Tarent saying that apollo at Delphos had told him that in so doynge they shuld recouer their country again The Tarentines ◅upposing that to reuenge the displesure don vnto him he had bewrayed the desteny of his citizens obeyed his counsell But the meaning of the Oracle was cleane contrary For it promised by so doing the cōtinual possession of the town and not the losse o◅ it And so through the counsell of theyr banished captain the working of their enemies the Parthenians enioyed the possession of Tarent for euer In remembraunce of the whiche good turne they euer after honoured Phalanthus as a God In the mean time the Messenians beinge not able to be ouercome by plaine force were ouercome by pollicye Afterwarde hauinge by the space of lxxx yeres suffered sore punishmentes of bondage with emprisonment and other miseries and calamities of thraldome captiuity after long sufferance of these mischeues they renued the war again The Lacedemonians also came to the field so muche the more earnestlye because they seemed to fight against their bōdmen The courages of both parties therfore being quickned th one with iniury thother wyth disdain the Lacedemonians demaunded counsell of the Oracle at Delphos to what end the warre should come there they wer cōmaunded to send to the Atheniens for a captē Thatheniens hauing intelligence of thanswer of apollo in despite of the Lacedemonians sent thē a poet called tirteus lame of one fote who being vanquished in iii. battels brought the Lacedemonians to such an afterdele that to suppli their army they were faine to make their bondmen free promise to geue them the wiues of them that were slain so that they shuld succede such as wer lost not only in nōber but also in estate worship But the kinges of the Lacedemonians least by str◅inge againste fortune they myghte brynge more domage vpon their countrye were myneded to haue conueyed home theyr host If Tyrteus had not come in the meane season who sommoning his armye together rehearsed vnto them certaine verses that he had compiled wherin was contained the encouragemente to vertue the comfort of aduersity and the pollicies of warre Wherwith he set his
sonne Alexander of the age of xviii yeares to the entent he mighte trade him vp in the warres vnder him He made a rode into Scythia also to fetch some boty from thence enten ding after the manner of merchantmen to bear out y â— char ges of one war to the gain of another The same time was king of the Scythians Matthey who being ouercharged with the warres of y â— Istrias desired help of Philip by y e Apollonienâ—…s promising him to adopt him to be the king of Scythia But in the meane season the king of the Istriâ—…es departyng oute of this life deliuered the Scythians bothe from feare of battel and from neade of help Matthey therfore â—…ending y e Macedones home again willed them to bear word to their master that he neither requested him of succoure nor yet gaue the Apollonienses commission to adopte him For neyther had the Scythians neade of the reskues of the Macedones seinge they were better men then they were and as for heir he wanted none nor none wold adopt as longe as he had a sonne of his owne in health Upon the receyte of this message Philip sent ambassadours to kinge Matthey requiring somwhat towarde the charges of his siege least he be constrained through pouerty to breake vp his camp To the which request he ought of reason so much the willinglier to condescend in that he did not allowe the souldiers that he sent to his aid so much as their costes and spendinge monye by the waye nor gaue them any rewarde for their trauel and paines taking Matthey alledging for hys excuse that his countrye was so vnmercifullye colde and so barrain that no Scythian had any patrimonye to enryche him no nor skarse wherwith to finde him meat and drink aunswered that he had no richesse wherwith to satisfye so great a king and therfore he thought it a greater dishonor to reward him with to little then to geue him nothinge at all For the Scythians were estemed according to the courage of the minde and hardinesse of the bodye and not according to their substaunce Philip seing him selfe skorned in this wise brake vp his siege at Byzance bent his whole power againste Scâ—…thia And for beâ—…ause he woulde make them the more carelesse he sent his ambassadoures before him to declare vnto kinge Matthey that while he besieged Byzance he vowed an Image vnto Hercules the whych he was coÌ„ming to erect in the mouth of the riuer of Danow desiringe to haue peaceable accesse to the performaunce of his vow to God warde for he would not come otherwyse then as a frend to the Scythians The king sent him word that if he wold performè his vow he shuld send him the Image promising that it shoulde not onlye be set vp but al so should remaine and stand safe and vnuiolated But as to suffer any army to come within his borders that he denied vtterly And if he woulde attempte to place the Image whether the Scythians would or no he should not be so sone gone but he woulde pull it downe againe and tourne the brasse of it into spear heads and arowe heads The mindes of bothe parties being in this wise stirred they encountred in open fielde The Scythians wheras they were of greater power and mo in nomber were neuerthelesse by the pollicy of Phillip ouercome Twenty thousande women children were taken prisoners and a great booty of cattel but of golde and siluer nothing at al which was a sufficient triall and profe of the pouerty of the Scythians Twenty M. fayre Mares were sent into Macedone to brede But as Philip returned out of Scytbia the Tribals met him by the way denying him passage through their couÌ„try onlesse he wold geue them part of his boty Herevpon they fel to wordes and sone after to hand strokes In the which skirmish Philip was so sore wounded in the thighe that hys horse was slain vnder him and he left for dead by meanes wherof y â— boty was lost So the boty of Scythia being as it were forespoken had like to haue tourned the Macedones to greate sorowe Yet notwithstandinge assone as he was recouered of his wound he made warre against the Atheniens y â— which he hadde so longe time before dissembled Whose parte the Thebanes toke for fear least if the Atheniens were ouercome the brunt of the warre lyke as when one neighbors house is on fire should ensue vpon them A league therfore being taken betwene these two cities which a little before were at most mortal hatred they sent ambassade vpon am bassade ouer all Grece perswading that the common enemy ought to be remoued by the common force of the country For if Philip shuld happen to spede wel at the first He would neuer cease vntill he had subdued all Grece Some being moued herewith ioyned theÌ„ selues to thattheniens other some for fear of the war toke part with Phillip WheÌ„ it came to thenâ—…ounter Although the Atheniens were far mo in nomber then their ennemies yet not withstandinge the Macedones were so hardened with continual warsare that they put them to the worse Howe be it they died not vnmindfull of their auncient glorye For looke what place euery man tooke of his Captaine to kepe the same beynge first wounded in diuers places of his foreparte he couered with his carkase when he died This daye ended the renown of the Empire and the auncient liberty of al Grece The ioy of this victory was pollitikelye cloked and dissembled For that daye Phillip made not sacrifice as he â—…as as wont to doo he laughed not at the table he would not suffer any enterludes at his banket he ware no Crowne nor anoynted him selfe with swete oyntmentes and as muche as lay in his power he so vsed the victory that no maÌ„ could perceiue by him that he had won the victory Moreouer he would not suffer him self to be called the king but the captain of Grece And so through his secret reioysâ—…ng with him self he so mitigated the sorow of his enemies that it semed not that he either bosted him self among his owne men or proudly reioysed at the ouerthrow of his ennemies For as touching the Atheniens whom he had tried to be his most vtter enemies he let go their prisoners skotfre and deliuered the bodies of such as were stain to be buried and of hys own accord erhorted them to carye home their bones and bestow them in the sepulchres of their ancestors Besides all this he sent his sonne Alexander with his frend Antipater to Athens to conclude a smal peace and frendship with them But as concerninge the Thebanes he did not onlye put their prisoners to raunsome but also made them paye for the burying of their dead men The princes of the city some he beheaded some he banished and the goods of them all he toke by force suche as had beene wrongfullye driuen out of their country he called home