Ascatades the eighteenth king of Assyria at which time Moses died in the plaine of Moab Then Tros altered the name of Dardania after his owne name being the third king of Troy and called it Troia and nowe last of all by Ilus the fourth king called Ilion Dedalus of whome the Poets fained much flourished likewise about this time and fled with his sonne Icharus from Greece vnto Creete vnto king Minoes Mydas gouerned nowe in Phrygia This was he of whome the prouerbe is made Midas eares c. And in Sicyonia reigned Polybus their second king in Gedeons time Cadmus who for ielousie of his wife Armonia the sister of Iasius brought letters first into Greece from Phenicia as Xenophon sayth 17. letters Nowe after Gedeon had gouerned Israel fourtie yeeres he likewise died hauing left behinde him three score and tenne sonnes lawfully gotten by wedlocke and one bastard by his concubine Druma a woman of Sichem This bastard was named Abimelek a wicked and a cruell tyrant full of all mischiefe and bent to all wickednes hee slewe by his treacherie conferring with his mothers kinsfolkes all his brethren onely Iotham by fleeing escaped who a little afterwards tolde the people of Sichem the parable of the trees of the figge tree and of the vine tree and of the bramble This Abimelek when hee had vsurped the kingdome and put all his brethren to death vsing all kinde of tyrannie in such sort of wickednes that after he had slaine all the Sichemites and taken the Citie and burned a thousand of men in the Towre he then destroied the Citie and sowed salt therein that it might bee vnfruitefull and neuer serue to any vse Thus was Sichem destroied for their vngratitude to Gedeons sonnes Then Theber and Abimelech besieged it where a woman threw a peece of a milstone vpon Abimelechs head and slewe him after he had vsurped three yeeres the gouernment Thus God taketh vengeance on tyrants by such miserable death for marke the calamitie that fell vpon the posteritie of Gedeon a man of singular fauour with God and yet three score and tenne of his sonnes by wedlocke slaine and his bastard the tyrant that slewe them to succeede him The sinne of Israel was the cause thereof and of many more plagues Miletum a towne in Miletia the Countrey of Thales one of the seuen wise men of Greece was about this tyme builded and Tyre an other famous towne was builded in Phenicia this was builded 240. yeeres before the Temple of Salomon was builded Thola of the tribe of Isachar nowe iudged Israel three and twentie yeeres during which tyme the people liued in tranquillitie and peace in the beginning of the fourth Iubile at which tyme flourished Orpheus the Thracian and the great Musician Sosarinus the 26. king of the Assyrians reigned in Niniue at this time Hercules the sonne of Amphitrion was likewise in this age borne After Thola succeeded not by succession as I wrote before but by the election of God for the will of the Lorde should be a lawe to his people Iair the Gileadite of the tribe of Manasses the 8. Iudge of Israel vnder whom likewise the Israelites liued quietly all the time of his gouernment which was 22. yeeres who ruled Israel in prosperitie hauing 30. sonnes that rode on 30. assecoltes men of great authoritie and they had 30. cities in the land of Gilead As soone as Iair died Israel wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord they serued Baalim and Astaroth the gods of Syria and Sidon and God was angrie and gaue them to the handes of the Philistims and the children of Ammon who vexed and oppressed Iuda Beniamin and the house of Ephraim against whom the children of Ammon went ouer Iordan to fight with them so that all Israel specially they that dwelt in the lands of the Amorites beyond Iordan were sore tormented Then they cried then they praied then they confessed their sinnes and sayde they had serued Baalim God most mercifully heard their crie and appointed them Ieptha a valiant Captaine the sonne of a stranger and therefore was chased away by his brethren and nowe by God appointed their Captaine whome they reiected before as no body nowe God hath chosen to doe these enterprises Men often desire helpe euen of those whome before they haue refused This poore abiect exiled and banished by his brethren slewe and destroied the Ammonites and tooke twentie of their cities for the which fact Ieptha was much enuied by the men of Ephraim in the like sort as they of Sichem did enuie Gedeon notwithstanding he killed 42. thousand Ephramites Thus Ieptha ruled Israel 6. yeeres and ended his gouernment most happily Tantanes reigned and gouerned the Assyrians about this time and Theseus the 10. king of Athens ouercame the monster Minotaurus The historie you shall reade in Plutarch in the life of Theseus for the Athenians paied tribute to Minoes king of Creete for the death of Androgius his eldest sonne who was by treason slaine in the Countrey of Attica for the which cause Minoes pursuing the reuenge of his death the Athenians by entreatie of peace to appease Minoes wrath sent to Minoes which peace being granted vpon condition that the Athenians should be bound to sende him yeerely vnto Creete 7. yong boies and as many yong girles some say to feed Minotaurus the huge monster others say they were shut within the Labyrinth wandring vp and downe and could get no place to come to vntil such time as they died some others say that king Minoes kept these youthes of Athens as prisoners within the Labyrinth in memorie of his sonne Androgeus Howsoeuer it was Theseus after he had fortified Athens with people to whome he gaue lawes and coyned money with moe things sailed from Athens vnto Creete and wanne the citie of Gnosus slewe Deucalion with all his Garde and Officers and killed Minotaurus About this time Hercules instituted certaine games or masteries called afterwards Olympiades in respect of Mount Olympus the place where these exercises were appointed This was 430. yeeres before any Olympiade began Likewise in the time of this Iudge Iephthe Theseus rauished Helene Menelaus wife was by Aedoneus king of the Molossians taken and imprisoned but by his companion Hercules he was rescued and deliuered Hercules tooke Ilion killed Laomedon the king and gaue the kingdome to Priamus his sonne At what time the Amazones a people of Scythia mooued warres against the Thebans here is the first mention made of them in histories of whose originall you may reade Iustine where you shall see more Nowe after Ieptha had gouerned Israel 6. yeeres obeying God in all thinges saue in his rashe vowe in sacrificing his daughter he died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead Abesan the Bethlemite of the tribe of Iuda gouerned the Israelites 7. yeeres Certaine
he had taken Ciprus and made slaughter most cruelly of the citizens killed without respect of olde amitie and acquaintance Of this Euagoras there is extant an eloquent oration of Isocrates hee proceeded forwarde in armes to Egypt where he exercised the like tyrannie with sword fire without mercie vntill he had subdued Egypt thence he went fomed in blood vnto Phoenicia with all tyrannie he could deuise Nowe after he had subdued Sidon Ciprus Egypt Phoenicia he woulde not spare Iudea the next prouince vnto Phoenicia which had beene in great rest from Artaxerxes the long handed vntill this time at what time cōtention grew betweene two brethren about the office of the high Priest at Ierusalem Iohanna who was then the high Priest and Iesus who sought ayde at Vagoses hand the Persian to auoide this helpe Iohanna slue his brother in the temple of Salomon Thus they did prouoke God to anger and God raised Vagoses Ochus lieutenant to be their enemie brought him to Ierusalem went to the temple which was prophaned and polluted with blood Vagoses spoiled it caried the treasures with him to whom the high Priest had tolde him that he did most wickedly so to defile the temple hee answered Not so wickedly as thou in killing thy brother Whē he had both spoiled Ierusalem and the temple and brought the Iewes vnder Ochus foote to pay tribute vnto the Persians for the space of seuen yeeres after this he brought diuerse families of the Iewes captiues with him vnto Hircania this great calamitie endured vnto Alexander the great which when he came to Ierusalem made all things well againe Of this Ochus there is no good thing to be written though Herodot doeth not altogether omitte him Ctesias doth make likewise mention of him and doth write of his birth of his life and of his gouerment and doeth much varie from others for Ctesias euer flattered the Persia kings forwhich Plutarch in many places reproueth him In this time reigned king in Macedonia Perdiccas who was taken by the Illyrians in battell after him succeeded Philippus Amintas sonne and father to Alexander the great who began to moue warre against the Athenians and continued after against other cities of Greece for three yeeres In the eleuenth yeere of Ochus was Alexander the great borne the same selfe day was the temple of Diana in Ephesus burned at the which time Philomelus a captaine of Phocea in Greece spoiled the temple of Apollo at Delphos thereby grew great warres called sacrum bellum which continued tenne yeeres in Greece About this time Clearchus the tyraunt reigned in Heraclia and Spartacus the sonne of Leuconis reigned as king in Pontus In the eleuenth yeere that Phillip reigned king in Macedonia Greece was sore troubled and vexed for Philip with an armie of Macedonia tooke Myciberna Tiro and Olynthus three great townes of Helespont hee pursued the Phoceans vnto the temple of Apollo at Delphos who thinking to haue sanctuarie were burned the rest of Phocea yeelded to Philip. Timoleon a noble captaine of Corinth sailed to Sicilia ouerthrewe the castell of Syracusa and made a popular state of Syracusa he deliuered the Greekes that were in bondage in Sicilia vnder the Carthagineans vnto their countrie banished the thousand traiterous souldiers that had forsakē Timoleon in Sicilia This time Philip subdued the Illyrians vāquished the Thracians and deliuered Thessalie from tyrants that long gouerned in Thessalia he made free al the cities of Greece frō all the incursions of barbarous nations concluded a peace with the Greekes The olde Persians had this custome when they went to warres to goe in red cassockes according to the Persians maners so did Artaxerxes enter to battell with his brother Cyrus at what time euery souldier should put an arrowe with his name written on it into a large great coffer that stood in the kings Court which arrowe if he returned aliue from the warres hee shoulde at his comming to Persia take his arrowe out of the coffer for by arrowes left in the coffer they knewe who they were and howe many that died in their warres This time died Plato and Speusippus succeeded him in his schoole after whom succeeded Xenocrates Aristotle the Philosopher florished in this time Demosthenes and Aeschines two famous Orators bore most swaynowe in Athens After Ochus had reigned in tyrannie twentie sixe yeeres he was vsed euen as he had vsed others slaine of Bagoas and his sonne called Arsames being very young succeeded him who when he had bene foure yeres king and had growen into some stature of body Bagoas feeling a gilitie conscience for that he had killed Ochus the kings father fearefullest some reuenge would fall vnto him he to preuent the danger thereof practized the like conspiracie against the sonne as he did before against his father slue the young king this was the ende of Ochus and his sonne Arsames no marueile to see tyrants die by tyrannie This Bagoas would haue had translated the kingdome of Persia after this murther of the father and the sonne and his great tyrannie vnto one Darius gouernor at that time of Armenia for he had murthered al them that issued out of Cyrus for whē Artaxerxes Mnemon had made warres with the Caduceans one of those nations chalenged Monomachian which is a combate with any one Persian that durst take him in hand Darius one of Artaxerxes captaines fought with this Caducean and slue him to whom the gouernment of Armenia was giuen for that seruice by Artaxerxes Nowe Bagoas when he had brought Darius to be king in Persia stil his conscience tormented him and doubted much Darius fearing lest he should haue the reward of a traytor hee deuised to poyson Darius but of the conspiracie Darius had such intelligence as Bagoas was forced to drinke that draught which hee had prepared for Darius and so Bagoas dranke his owne poyson and dyed Nowe the great kings of Persia for so were they called in respect of their force and power continued no longer their race ended their kingdom cameto an Aliens hand a forreine prince who in short time waxed strong and stout withall not inferiour to any of his predecessors who hauing intelligence of a great armie of Macedonians and Grecians by Philip king of Macedon sent to Asia hee gathered his force and hauing already a huge hoste of Persians hee appointed a generall ouer them called Memnon a Rhodian a singuler skilfull souldier In the meane season Philip died and his sonne Alexander the great succeeded him a yong gallant king of twentie yeeres of age this stept in into his fathers roume he enterteined his fathers souldiers and tooke the warres of Asia in hand Darius hearing of Alexanders setting forward made him ready stirred the cities of Greece against him so that diuers of Greece vnderstanding the force power and florishing state of Persia dehorted their countrie men from Alexander
Cyrus Metasthenes doeth not much dissent from the Greekes in his Cataloge sauing that he speaketh not of Cambyses because hee reigned in his fathers time for hee was appointed to be king in Persia in the absence of Cyrus who in his owne person went against the Scythians at that time Likewise Metasthenes omitteth to speake of Xerxes who for the like reason being in great warres at that time from home in Greece leauing behinde him to gouerne Persia his sonne Artaxerxes so that Metasthenes writeth that Darius Medus and Cyrus reigned together two yeeres and then passeth to Darius Hystaspis which is also called Assuerus making no mention of Cambyses name and then he goeth to Artaxerxes the long handed passing ouer the name of Xerxes his father the cause is layd downe by Melancthon in the rest Metasthenes doth agree with the Greekes After that the Persians the strongest and the greatest nations of the world had gotten the Monarchie of the Assyrians Chaldeans not by the sword of Cyrus but by the idolatrie of Balthasar whom God gaue ouer vnto Cyrus hand making an end of one and beginning with the other for the finger of God doth appoint Monarchies according to Sirach saying No kingdome shal be translated if wickednesse of the king and kingdome be not the cause thereof Nabuchodonosor was conuerted and confessed Gods power Euilmerodach his sonne acknowledged the Highest but Balthasar through blasphemie and idolatrie lost the Empire of Assyria Euen so in Persia while Cyrus Darius Medus Darius Hystaspis Artaxerxes gouerned Persia the Persians florished they were lordes of the whole world Nowe when Alexander had abated their pride and diminished their force had taken their Empire from them vnto Macedonia and had substituted lieutenants and gouernours vnder him in all kingdomes and countries where the Persians had before soueraigntie for as the Persians were obscure and of no fame before Cyrus time so after Alexander the great their renowne was lost their pompe and their pride decayed their kings afterward of small accompt for nowe Macedonia and the Grecians triumphed and the Persians being destroyed and scattered without any king or any prince of fame to gouerne them vntill the time of Alexander Seuerus Emperor of Rome fiue hundred fiftie yeres after Alexander the great at what time liued in Rome Vrbanus Bishop there at that time this Emperour had a mother named Mammea a wise and a discreete woman who hauing knowledge that Origen a great man in the Church of God was then at Antioche sent for him and so enterteined him as a rare iewell in those dayes At that time reigned in Persia one Artaxerxes who being of the name of the auncient kings of Persia was likewise wise and valiant and in processe of time grewe so strong that he ouerthrew Artabanus king of the Parthians and thereby restored to the Persians a beginning of a newe kingdome CHAP. V. Of the estate of the Persians vnder the Romanes after the time that they were conquered by Alexander the great vntil the time of Alexander Seuerus Emperour of Rome 550. yeeres after at what time began the newe kingdome of Persia by one Artaxerxes and of his successors vntill the Persians the fourth time were vtterly destroyed by the Saracens THe Persians againe began to take strength and to drawe together in the fourth yere of Alexander Seuerus reigne in the which time florished many great and famous learned men which were for their singularitie elected Counsellers to the Emperour as Fabius Sabinus Domitius Vlpianus Aelius Gordianus Iulius Paulus Pomponius Alphenus Florentius and Martianus Calistratus and Hermogenes Venulcius and Triphonius Metianus and Celsus Porculus Modestius professours of all the ciuill lawe and to Papinianus a singular rare man in those dayes but of this matter Lampridius doth write at large But let vs nowe returne to Persia and to the newe kingdome which had beene so long without king or kingdome but kept vnder of euery nation not daring to name a king from Darius vntill this Artaxerxes This first king of the newe kingdome of Persia after hee had slaine Artabanus king of Parthia and had reigned fifteene yeeres hee was ouerthrowen and subdued by the Romane Emperour Alexander Seuerus of whom hee triumphed in the ninth yeere of his Empire though some hold the contrarie that Alexander in that battell was discomfited by Artabanus In this time the Romanes had gotten three great victories one in Mauritania by Furius Celsus the seconde in Illirico by Varus Macrinus and the third in Armenia by Iunius Palinatus three famous Romanes of these victories Lampridius maketh mencion Herodianus sayeth that in Fraunce reigned Hildegastus a king much honoured of the Frenchmen by whose diligence and pollicie Fraunce which was then rude and barbarous both in liuing and in maners became ciuill and pollitike for vnto this time their building was very base and simple in Fraunce About this time Origene was called from Alexandria vnto Caesarea where he made his booke entituled De Martyrio And nowe was Iulius Affricanus of great estimation after Artaxerxes succeeded Sapores the second king of Persia this reigned thirtie one yeeres hee had sore warres with Gordianus king of Affrica this Gordianus pronounced open warres and commaunded their temple of Ianus to be opened as the Romanes did vse when warre was proclaimed hee destroyed many Cities and Townes and continued his warres against the Persians made great hauocke in all places and gaue the repulse to Sapores howe be it Gordianus was by conspirators deceiued and of him whome hee deserued well of by treacherie slaine of one Philip surnamed Arabs This Philip gouerned the Romanes fiue yeres and builded a towne of his owne named Thracia called Philippus Caesar at what time the plaies Ludi saeculares were set forth with such pompe in Rome as the like to that time were not seene The Parthians inuaded Armenia droue the king called Tyridas out of the countrie tooke his children possessed his countrie certeine sectes of heresie began in Arabia which Origen did ouerthrow in Affrike likewise questions grew whether heretikes being conuerted from their errors might be rebaptized of this Ciprian and the ecclesiasticall histories write and of a councell called concerning the same for Berilhis about this time bishop of Bostherna fell to a monstrous error denying the eternitie of Christ. In the twelfth yeere of Sapores reigne happened such a sicknesse in the most part of the world specially in Egypt and Alexandria that Ciprian thereby tooke an occasion to write a booke entituled De mortalitate About this very time the Gothes rushed into Asia spoiled townes and cities wasted many countries burned the great temple of Diana at Ephesus and did great harme the Germanes ioyned with the Frenchmen gathered a huge armie very strong against the Romanes ented into Italie made hauocke in all places vntill they came
many countreys out of Asia as in Spaine with such armies by long warres with the Gothes who at that time mastred all Spaine After the Romans time and now after the Gothes the Saracens possessed the West part of Spaine and from Spaine such an infinite nomber entred into Fraunce in the time of Martellus and Charles the great that made all Europe to be in feare of these monstrous infidels these spoiled and destroied countrels kingdomes and vsed great tyrannie in euery place of Europe in like sort as they did before to the Hebrewes and to the Church of God at what time they were Agareni or Ismaelites after the name of Ismael and his mother Agar and nowe from Agareni are called Saraceni continuing their tyrannie euen from Abrahams time vnto this day the name of Turkes which in the yeere of our Sauiour 1299. tooke the Empire of Constantinople and began to set his Empire there And for that the Saracens and the Turkes after them haue their histories in the chronicles at large set forth in Aug. Caelius Egnatius Blōdus and others I will set downe as in a table some fewe of these Saracens Amiras for that they followed the Persian historie whom they the fourth time haue conquered as before is written first by Cyrus the second time by Alexander the great the thirde by Alexander Seuerus being long before by the Romanes kept vnder and now the fourth time by Haumar the third Amiras of the Saracens and so the Persians endured the bondage vntil the time of Sophi came who gaue diuers repulses to the Turkes and to the late Egyptians called Soldani recouered Persia that now againe Persia is very populous and inhabited and strongly defended by the Sophie which is now the generall name of all their kings But to returne to Habdimelech the ninth Amiras who had now concluded a league with Iustinian the Emperour and had also subdued Armenia and Mesopotamia and ended the ciuill warres which this time grewe betweene the Princes of Arabia this hauing done great exploits ended his life after he had raigned two and twentie yeeres This time raigned in France Clodoueus the thirde foure yeeres and after him his brother Hildebertus raigned king in France 18. yeeres During the raigne of Habdimelech a huge nomber of Egyptians inuaded Affrica and destroyed Carthage After this succeeded the tenth Amiras of the Saracens this turned many of the Christians Churches to be temples for Mahomet as the Church of Damascus and others this time Masalmas a Barbarian captaine gaue a great ouerthrowe to the Romans at the assaulting of Tyrannia and after spoiled the countrey of Galici in his returne and died in the ninth yeere of his raigne Zulzimin the eleuenth Amiras folowed he raigned three yeeres during which time Haumar the second of that name and the 12. Amiras that succeeded after Zulzimin subdued Cilicia and Masalmas another prince of the Saracens inuaded Asia tooke the citie of Pergamum layde siege to Constantinople which siege endured three yeeres at what time Zulzimin died Haumar the second that succeeded him raigned two yeeres after him who was glad to haue escaped the great famine cold and plague which then raigned among his armie during the siege of Constantinople beside his whole nauie vpon the sea were burnt vp with wilde fire and monstrous great hailestones this Haumar persecuted the Christians most extremely Gizid the second of that name the 13. Amiras succeeded Haumar and raigned 4. yeres this was by a Iewe perswaded to destroy images About this time Muza a Saracen captaine inuaded Spaine and conquered diuers prouinces and cities setled himselfe and inhabited as a king ouer the Saracens in Spaine after whom succeeded 15. kings of the Saracens within 20. yeeres after Muza at what time Rodericus the last king of the Vestgothes which raigned in Spaine the Christians were forced to flee and to keepe Asturum and Legio for their principall strength after which time they were called the kings of Legion This time the cities of Italy beganne to elect in euery citie a chiefe Magistrate which they nowe call by the names of the Duke as the Duke of Millaine the Duke of Florence and so of the rest all Italy being before gouerned by Hexarchies from the which the cities reuolted into this new order and election of Dukes in euery citie after the time of foureteene Hexarchies which gouerned Italy before it was deuided into dukedomes Euelid the 10. Amiras and the sonne of Gizid raigned after his father 18. yeres during which time Masalmas a prince of the Saracens tooke Caesarea a citie in Cappadocia This time the Saracens strength force were great for they inhabited euery coast of the world they were strong in many and in diuers partes of Asia they ruled as kings in Africke and in Spaine they possest many places in Fraunce and of the Romane territories for now the glorie of the Romanes and their power decaied after whom the Saracens and the Turkes beganne to be mightie After this Euelid died in the 18. yeere of his reigne After him succeeded Gizid the 3. of that name and the fifteenth Amiras this was slaine by his owne people the same yeere that he became Amiras after whome Eyces his sonne reigned one yeere after his father the 16. Amiras this time reigned in Fraunce Carolus Martellus with his brother Pipinus this Martellus made a great slaughter of the Saracens at what time Eudo their general brought to the number of foure hundred thousande Saracens of men women and children from Spaine to Fraunce and was subdued by Martellus with the most of his people ouerthrowen and their king Abdimarus slaine In the time of this valiant Martellus the Saracens inuaded Fraunce sundry times and tooke Narbon and Anemon two of the chiefest cities of that part of Fraunce but they wer assaulted by Martellus so that they fled from place to place were vanquished and slaine in heapes for Martellus slue three Saracen kings Abdimarus Athinus and Armoreus but they wanted no kings the best captaines tooke vpon them the names of kings when any king died or was slaine in the field for in Spaine fifteene kings of the Saracens were slaine within twentie yeres and yet the Saracens continued and preuailed from 200. yeeres before Martellus time vntill the time of Ferdinandus the great 800. yeeres well nigh after During which time the Saracens as I write in the historie of Spaine much preuailed This time Maruan the second of that name and the seuenteenth Amiras inuaded Cyprus with an armie of Saracens but such ciuill warres began betweene the princes of Arabia that Maruan was constrained to forsake Arabia and to flee to Egypt after he had reigned Amiras 4. yeeres and from thence forced to take the like flight towards Spaine to rest among his Countriemen but hee was preuented and slaine by Salim prince of Chorasimia About this
made his Court and gathered together the scattered Macedonians into one place and began to reigne there as a king At what time Procas Siluius reigned ouer the Latines Ozias reigned ouer the Hebrewes Ieroboam in Israel was king and Alexander reigned king in Corinth this time Arbaces translated the Monarchie of Assyria vnto the Medes hauing giuen the ouerthrow to Sardanapalus whereby both the kingdomes of the Medes and of Macedonia beginne at one time for nowe the kings of Lacedemonia ended 〈◊〉 gouernment and these kingdomes beganne to florish 37â—… yeeres after the destruction of Troy in the beginning of the thirteene Iubilee of the Iewes before the Olympiads the space of one whole Iubilee which is fiftie yeeres This Cranaus the first king of the Macedonians reigned twentie eight yeeres whose successor I reade in Eusebius and Glareanus was Caenus he reigned the second king of Macedonia twelue yeeres at what time Amulius Siluius the fifteene king of the Latines reigned this Amulius the yonger sonne of Procas Siluius draue Numitor his elder brother out of his Countrie and also Numitor had a daughter whom hee caused to be a vestall virgine to auoyde mariage but notwithstanding shee was gotten with childe of two children in steade of one which were called Romulus and Remus of whose education and strange bringing vp how they slue Amulius and restored their graundfather Numitor to the kingdome againe and howe they both builded Rome you may reade in the histories of the Romane kings after whom succeeded the Romane kings In Egypt reigned this time Sabachus this is named in Scripture Sech the third king of Macedonia was Tyrimas who succeeded in the kingdome in the time of the second Olympiad as Eusebius and Glareanus do witnesse whom I folow chiefely in placing the kings of Macedonia though Iustine Sabelicus say otherwaies that one Telegonus reigning in Paeonia which is a piece of Macedonia and one Europus who likewise on the other side of Paeonia gouerned These two bare most sway in Macedonia vntil Caranus came with a great number of Greekes by the Oracle commaunded to seeke a seate in Macedon who by force expelled Mida which gouerned in a part of Macedon and forced other gouernours which then ruled diuers countries about Macedonia which was no large kingdome in the beginning but Caranus by this meanes augmented much the Countrie of Macedon After this Caranus Iustine setteth downe Perdiccas with whom agreeth Soliâ—… and saith that this Perdiccas was the first that bare the 〈◊〉 of a king in the twentie two Olympiad who liued in such liking and loue of his subiects that his life seemed a lawe and his death an oracle for which hee died being an olde man hee called his sonne named Argeus and shewed him a secrete place where hee woulde haue his body buried and his successours the kings of Macedonia after him This superstitious buriall the kings of Macedonia helde as by an oracle commaunded vntill the time of Alexander the great who was the ninteenth king after this Perdiccas Argeus succeeded his father and was a modest prince hee did minister iustice to his subiectes and liued in Ioue and fauour with his people leauing behinde him to gouerne the Macedonians his heire Philip who died in his youth and left the kingdome to Europus a young childe in whose time the Thracians and the Illyrians had continuall warres with the Macedonians The Illyrians vexed and ouerthrewe the Macedonians in a great battel despising the infancie of their king and litle waiing the Macedonians in respect of their king they were hereby much mooued to fight againe and gathered a huge hoste brought their king in his cradle to the field and gaue battell to the Illyrians ouerthrewe them vanquished them and slue the most of them for the sight of their young king made them like lyons hungrie of their praye with double courage to fight But I will returne to Eusebius and Glareanus where I beganne and whom I chiefely imitate though Solinus and Iustine wrote otherwaies for it is no rare thing to haue writers to varie specially in histories of long time for here Perdiccas is placed to be the fourth king which both Iustine and Solinus wrote to be the first king of Macedonia in this Functius in his table of the kings of Macedon a singular Chronographer following the best learned and next agreeing with the Scripture doth set this Perdiccas to be the 4. king who came of a meane state to be a king of Macedon where he reigned 51. yeeres This time Romulus had great warres with the Sabines which continued three yeeres with whom Tatius Sabinus reigned in Rome together with Romulus fiue yeeres About this verie season Saneherib was ouerthrowen for his great blasphemie against God with a hundred fourescore and fiue thousand slaine in one night by the Angel of the Lord while this Perdicas reigned in Macedon Merodach the sonne of Baladan after hee had gouerned Babylon twelue yeeres and ouercame the Assyrians and brought the Monarchie againe to the Chaldeans about the thirtie yeere of Perdicas Egypt was gouerned by twelue Magistrates of equall authoritie After Perdicas succeeded Argeus his sonne the fifth king of Macedonia of whom you reade before by Iustine set downe to be the second king Philip the sixt king of Macedon reigned thirtie eight yeeres in the 34. Olympiad in whose time happened in Rome great warres betweene Tullius Hostilius the third king of Rome and the Sabines The Latines likewise beganne warres with the Romanes which continued fiue yeeres this time reigned in Egypt Necho who had warres with the Chaldeans at what time hee ouercame the Syrians and slue Iosias in Mageddo the Messenians reuoulted from the Lacedemonians and the rude barbarous Scythians entred into Asia spoyled and wasted all the Countrie vntill they came vnto the land of Palestine This time Periander reigned in Corinth whose life you may reade in Herodot of whom is also written a historie of this time of Phaortes the sixth king of the Medes who was slaine at the siedge of Niniue by the Assyrians with all his companie In these dayes Tullius Hostilius with al his familie were burned in his owne house in the thirtie fiue Olympiad many great warres and blooddy battels fell in the time of this Philip for both Ieconia with all his friendes likewise Daniel with his fellowes were caried away captiue vnto Babylon and within a while after Ierusalem was besieged and made euen to the ground and the Iewes caried captiues vnto Chaldea Againe Ciaxeres which is by Daniel and others named to be Darius Medus had great warres thus the Assyrians tooke the citie of Niniue and reuenged the death of Phaortes and so the Assyrians were quite destroyed brought the monarchie vnto the Medes All the warres that Ancus Martius the fourth king of Rome had with the Latins Fidenats the Sabins the Veiens the Volscans and
and Cato of the sundry opinions of Rome you shall finde all in Halic Many fables are written concerning the name of Rome and as many about Romulus birth who as the best writers agree is the most likest to haue first named Rome This Romulus descended right from the line of the kings of Alba euen from Aeneas body which was the first king of the Latines that became king of Alba for so were the kings of Alba before Ascanius time named from whom Romulus by succession lineally issued The historic is knowen of the two brethren Numitor and Amulius the last kings of Alba these brethren agreeed by lotte for the kingdome to make diuision the one to haue the golde siluer iewels brought thither from Troy readie money and goodes which fell by lotte vnto Amulius and the other the kingdome which fell to Numitor. This had a daughter named Rhea of some named Syluia of others Ilia this was Romulus mother afterward though her vncle Amulius had put her to be one of the vestal virgins which by the law might not be maried before thirtie yeeres of age vnto whom Amulius had a speciall regard lest shee should haue children notwithstanding she was found with child against the profession of the vestall virgines and deliuered of two twinnes This put Amulius in great fright for the kingdome which for all his sleightes in seeking meanes to destroye these two twinnes he coulde not hinder one iote of Gods prouidence herein this Romulus grewe in time a goodly young man in height and strength passing all his people hee was holy and religious and much addicted to obserue diuinations and vnderstanding the lewde practises wicked intention of Amulius from time to time without cōsent of his graundfather Numitor they sluehim restored their graundfather Numitor into the kingdom of Alba and hauing many fugitiue slaues and banished men which came from diuers countries with Romulus Remus to kill Amulius they thought good to build them a citie in that place where they both were brought vp first at what time strife beganne betwixt Romulus and Remus the two brethren about the placing of Rome which coulde not agree before Romulus had slaine his brother Remus After whose death Romulus layde the first foundation of Rome the twentie one of April which day the Romanes kept holy and in memorie of the natiuitie of their countrie they kept a feast day which the olde Thuscanes kept before and vpon that day named the feast of Palilea yet some write that the foundation of Rome was laide by Romulus the thirtie of Aprill Eutropius the second day of May. But when he had builded Rome and situated the Citie vpon foure litle hilles to them three other litle hilles afterward were added whose names were written by Fabius Pictor in this sort The first Mount named the mount Tarpeius The second mount Quirinall The third mount Palatine The fourth mount Caelius The fifth mount Exquilinus The sixth mount Auentinus The seuenth mount Viminalis After Numitor his graundfather died the kingdom of Alba fell vnto Romulus by inheritance and after hee once builded Rome hee was also by common consent of all made king which Romulus refused before hee had seene some mysterie by diuination wherein Romulus was very expert but after that he had offered sacrifice vnto Iupiter and sawe light shining vpon the left hand towardes the right hand which among the olde Hetruscans were signes of good successe Romulus was perswaded by diuination to take the kingdome of Rome vpon him hee being king in his kingdome confirmed and made a lawe that no king shoulde be in Rome after him but such as by auguration had some happie tokens of his successe in gouernment this lawe continued not onely all the time of the Kings but also in the time of the Consuls it was obserued that no Consul nor Dictator shoulde be elected without consultation with Augurers according to Romulus lawe reade more in Halicar Nowe after that Romulus had builded Rome in this sort and had gotten the kingdome of Alba into his hande for now Numitor his graundfather died he diuided his best fighting and chosen men into two companies in euery one of these companies were three thousand footemen and three hundred horsemen which were called by the olde Romanes Legions After this hee instituted a common wealth hee ordeined a hundred counsellours which were named Patricians or Senators In the fourth moneth after Rome was builded Romulus faigned certeine playes in Rome to drawe people into the Citie whereby hee appointed by that meanes to entice the Sabines daughters and the women of Alba to come to Rome to see the playes at what time a number were rauished by Romulus and his souldiers the number of women which were thus rauished some say were but thirtie others say fiue hundred twentie seuen and others say sixe hundred eightie three of the which maides Romulus tooke but one onely to him selfe named as Plutarch calles her Hersilia a wise sober Virgine and who afterwarde was the mediation of peace betwixt the Romanes and Sabines and they say Talassiues was the watch worde giuen by Romulus to his men at that time when this rauishment shoulde bee executed which name was so much honoured amongst the olde Romanes as Hymeneus was amongst the Grecians For as the Greekes doe celebrate the feaste of Hymeneus and so honour him with songes at mariages euen so the olde Romanes vsed the like ceremonie of Talassiues when any Romane was maried in Greece they vsed songes to Hymeneus at the mariages in Rome songes named Talassion I referre them that woulde faine delight them selues with those matters to Fabius Pictor and to Plutarch and I wil briefely returne to the Romane histories which are long and large for that the Romanes of this litle poore beginning which you heard of I speake of Romulus a meane man in the beginning and of Rome a litle Towne at the first became so great in time that it deuoured and swallowed vp all the kingdomes of the worlde so Eutropius saith that the Romane Empire which at the first beginning thereof was the least of al other in processe of time became the most ample of all other Empires Now while Romulus deuised by al pollicie to make Rome of some fame Acron king of Ceminenses mistrusting the old enterprises of Romulus and fearing the like attempt as he did to the Sabines began to make hote and violent warres vpon him with a puissant army inuaded Romulus territories where Romulus met him couragiously and to auoide the slaughter of many a combat was betwixt the two kings in persons appointed in the which combat Romulus killed Acron ouerwhō he first triumphed gote the victorie This was the first battell that Romulus began with such good successe that he ouerthrew the Ceminenses the Antenates and the Crustumens being aided by Seuis king of Etruria Romulus to
discharge his vowe made to Iupiter made his triumph ouer these nations hanging the armour weapons of king Acron about the bowe of a yong oke which Romulus caried on his right shoulder marching on foote before the army towards the citie with a royal song of victory This was the first triumph of Romulus the first entry giuē into other triumphs that folowed presētly After this triumph of Romulus the Sabines could not forget their iniurie for their daughters and virgines rauished by Romulus but elected Tatius a gallant gentleman to be Generall of the Sabines and to reuenge the wrong done by Romulus Tatius besieged Rome that time one named Tarpeius was appointed captaine of the Castle whose daughter named likewise Tarpeia betrayed the whole Citie for a reward which Tatius promised some say that Tarpeia was Tatius daughter By this treason of Tarpia the Sabines entred Rome and great warre continued betwixt the Sabines the Romanes 3. yeres But in time betwixt Romulus and Tatius peace was concluded and they both together reigned ioyntly and gouerned Rome fiue yeeres Tatius dwelling by mount Tarpeius afterwarde called the Capitoll and Romulus on mount Palatium but within a while in this fiue yeere Tatius was slaine and Romulus gouerned himselfe and ouercame the Antenates the Veients and other nations triumphed ouer them the second time And when that Romulus had reigned thirtie seuen yeres after three seuerall triumphes he died of whose death diuerse opinions are of Romulus assencion into heauen in the sight of Proclus and of a voyce heard he should be called Quirinus after his death reade Plutarch concerning his vanishing away and concerning his whole life Romulus strength his whole force exceeded not aboue two thousand footemen and not three hundred horsemen when he beganne his kingdome in Rome but when Romulus died hee left fourtie sixe thousand footemen and a 1000. horsemen During the time of Romulus gouernment reigned in Assyria Salmanasser 10. yeres by whō Samaria was subdued the 10. tribes of Israel caried captiue into Babylon Also Senaherib his sonne reigned after his father seuen yeeres he likewise wasted and spoyled Iudea in the time of king Ezechias vntill hee was vanquished al his armie to the number of a hundred twentie sixe thousand In Lydia reigned two kings during Romulus time Haliagtes the 2. king and Meles the 3. king In the beginning of the Romans kingdom the third kind of gouermēt begā in Athens after 17. kings gouernment then after 13. Iudges Now beganne the thirde alteration of the state called Decennales principes a magistrate that should continue tenne yeeres in office and then another elected into his roume Now in that time that Romulus raigned beganne in Rome diuers kinds of magistrats and officers lawes and orders were by Romulus appointed for the better gouernment of the citie of Rome as Senators Tribunes Aediles Celeres and diuers other sacred and religious offices as Flamines Bishops Foeciales Salij vestal Nunnes southsayers and others the right vse of their offices being not knowen to the reader vnlesse he be wel read in histories I haue orderly as they were appointed by Romulus here set downe as many magistrates officers and offices as were in Rome by Romulus first instituted during his raigne After that Romulus had builded Rome after the death of his brother Remus he made these many lawes 1. First he deuided the whole company of the multitude into three tribes and hee deuided the three tribes into 30. partes which were called Curiae 2. Then he elected one chiefe magistrate to gouerne Rome in his absence which was named Praefectus vrbis as Viceroy or as lieuetenant to Romulus as Iulius Caesar and Augustus 750. yeeres after Romulus time vsed the like 3. Romulus made a choise of 300. stoute and valiant souldiours called Celeres and a captaine ouer them called Tribunus Celerum these were Romulus gard the Tribune was as Esquire of the body or as captaine of the gard to defend him from any sudden assault and readie to execute the kings commandement 4. Romulus appointed 12. men officers called Lictores that should carie tipstaues or rods to make roume and way before the king 5. Hee also appointed after them 12. othermen called Caduceatores which were appointed next the kings person before him to carie axes or mases as Serieants at armes an office of great antiquitie in all countreys of the world for we reade in Homer that Agamemnon sent a Serieant at armes called Talthubius to arrest Achilles for his absēce in the warres and for his disobedience to Agamemnon being then appointed generall for the Grecians against the Troyans 6. When Romulus had prouided these officers for the sauegard of his person he likewise erected counsellers and made choise of a hundreth graue and wise men who for the honour of their place and dignitie of their calling should be named Senators to gouerne and to foresee the dangers and perils of the citie to punish vice and to reward vertue These were called by strangers princes of Rome to whom the king committed the whole direction and correction of the citie The familie and stocke of the Senators were called Patricij for all Senators were elected out of the Patricians 7. Hee appointed the place and the time where the Augurers and Southsayers should vse their diuination touching the euents and proceedings of Rome which should be before Sunne rising and after sunne setting for Romulus himselfe caried the Augurers crooked staffe for his skill in diuination 8. Then hee erected three Augurers with their orders and authorities by whom all sacrifices and religious ceremonies were solemnized These three hee elected out of the three tribes 9. He instituted that no man might enter into the Senate to heare any cause pleaded or consulted before hee were 25. yeres of age he seemed to be of Aristotles opinion that held Iuuenem non esse Philosophiae idoneum 10. After that Romulus had inuented these many good and seemely decrees to set foorth that little kingdome of Rome Now last of all he made lawes for setting foorth the dignitie of a king as to weare purple colours for Romulus ware a coate of purple in graine and vpon that a long robe of purple colour for this princely and riche colour was onely esteemed of the olde Romanes and so honoured that none might weare it but the kings of Rome and after the kings time onely the Dictators and Consuls 11. Romulus instituted a feast in memorie of Hersilia and other Sabine virgines which were rauished by whose meanes peace was concluded betwene Romulus and Tatius king of the Sabines These feasts were called Matronalia 12. He also instituted the feast called Lupercalia which was celebrated in Rome in memory of Romulus escape when that he slew Aemilius his father vnknowen but taken for his vncle he ranne with a naked sword in his hand from Alba
the other not able to succeed his father in the kingdom therfore Tarquinius a man of good seruice before time knowen and in great friendship with Anc. Martius was by consent of the Senators and of the people elected the 5. king of the Romans In the beginning of whose raigne Thales Periander and Terpāder euen then the 17. Iubilee after Moses began in the 41. Olympiad But first I must set downe what kings raigned in other countreis before I speake of Tarquinius Priscus In the beginning therefore of Ancus Martius raigne raigned king of Egypt Necho by whom Iosias king of Iuda was then slaine and in Media Ciaxeres in Daniel called Darius Medus This time raigned in Babylon Nabuchodonosor by whom Ioakim king of Iuda was caried captiue vnto Babylon and in Lidia raigned Sadaites their seuenth king Then the Prophet Ieremie prophecied the 70. yeeres of captiuitie to the Iewes in the time of Ancus Martius after whom Tarquinius Priscus by election and not by succession became the fift king of Rome Of whose countrey parentage and friends and how he came to be king of Rome reade Halicarnassaeus where you shal finde the whole historie therof Against this king the Latins had diuers aydes frō the Hetruscans specially from fiue great cities inhabited by people called Clusini Arretini Volaterani Rusellani and Vetulonenses And in like maner as before to Ancus Martius so now they began with Tarquinius Priscus one that had good cause to knowe them for that he had tried them before and therefore vsed them as his predecessors did ouerthrew them and subdued them so that their cities their townes and their countreys were made euen to the ground By this king were the Fidenats the Latins and the rest of those nations about Rome subdued and destroyed the Hetruscans which kept Tarquinius in warres nine yeeres were ouerthrowen in so much that they made Tarquinius prince of Hetruria so the Hetruscans after nine yeres warres being broken and weary thought good with one consent to send ambassadors from all the cities of Italy to Tora to entreate for peace which was graunted vnto them vpon condition that they would make Tarquine their prince and to haue the name of their chiefe magistrate in euery city which were called Lucumones to hold of him This being of meere force consented Tarquinius Priscus granted them their owne lawes customes and liberties in all points as they had before After this he gouerned in peace after he had triumphed with great pompe and solemnitie as then the time serued He went dayly most sumptuous inapparel he ware a crowne of gold vpō his head and had on Togam pretextā with a scepter of Iuory in his hand which was then strāge to see in Rome for Romulus had his scepter but of wood he sate in a chaire of Iuory and his Serieants about him where he gaue lawes to the people he was admonished of this good fortune whē yet he was a stranger in Rome by an Egle who toke his hat frō his head in his claw and flew so hie in the aire that scant the Egle could be seene and in the sight of al his people the Egle brought the hat againe and let it fall vpon Priscus head he was by this perswaded that it signified good and therefore expected the kingdome after Ancus Martius though a stranger and that Ancus had 4. sonnes to succeed him The Sabines which held the Romanes play for 5. yeres were also by Tarquinius ouerthrowen In these warres against the Sabines Ser. Tullius was made general this for his good seruice and wise policie afterward succeeded Tarquinius in the kingdome for he was esteemed of the people in much fauour with Tarquinius in the like fauour was Tarquinius before with Ancus Martius whose seruice seemed such that he was elected king ouer the Romanes though he was a stranger Now after that Tarquinius had subdued al townes and cities about Rome and had made the confines of Rome larger then before yet as Eutropius saith all the warres victories and triumphes which Romulus T. Hostilius Anc. Martius and this Tarquinius Priscus these 5. kings had ouer many people extended not aboue 15. miles from the citie of Rome so hard were the Romans kept in warres on all sides applied with their neighbours and so long were they augmenting their Empire But to returne to Tarquinius who made the city of Rome farre more famous then before by building the walles thereof by doubling the nomber of the Senators the first beginning of the capitol this king also builded a place for playes called Circus and instituted diuers games there betwixt mount Auētine and mount Palatine he made sinks to auoyd the filth and ordure of the citie and with great expences made it to be caried into the riuer of Tiber. This Tarquinius was the first that entred the citie of Rome with any triumph on chariot though some say that Romulus some Valerius Publicola but Tarquinius Priscus by cōmon consent was the first that set forth triumphs in so stately and magnificent shew and hee himselfe the first that triumphed on triumphant chariot and that three seueral times ouer the Latines Sabines and Hetruscanes and when hee had ◅aigned 38. yeeres he was slaine by the sonnes of Ancus Martius his predecessour During his gouernment raigned in other countreys these kings in Lydia Haliactes their 8. king in Macedonia Europus their 7. king in Egypt raigned Apries whom Ieremy calleth Hophra at what time Ierusalem was destroied by Nabuchodonosor and the Iewes broght captiue vnto Babylon In this kings raigne the warres grew betwixt the Lydians the Medes when Astiages raigned king ouer the Medes This time florished in the last yeres of this king many wise men as Solon in Athens Thales in Miletū and others called the 7. sages Likewise about the last yeeres of this king Nabuchodonosor was by repentance for his transgressions against the Lord restored to his kingdome againe Now after this the 6. king of the Romans was named Seruius Tullius of whom you heard before how he was a captaine vnder Priscus and now elected king in the 50. Olympiad in the beginning of the 18. Iubilee being maried to Tarquinius his own daughter a noble womā borne yet a captiue and a handmaid This time liued Accius Nauius a great soothsayer of great fauour and credite in the citie of Rome this man before the king who scoffed the art of Nauius and caried in his bosome a hard flint stone onely to trie the skill of Nauius which he with a knife did cut through the midst and therfore the king commaunded his statue or image to be made and to be erected vp in that very place where he vsed this feat before Priscus Tarquinius in memorie of his arte with his flint stone and knife in his hand His fathers name was Tullus his mother was named Ocrisia
he was wise eloquent and discreete whom the people honored much and whose counsel Tarquinius vsed in any doubtful action as an oracle he was brought vp in militarie discipline as both the Sabines and Hetruscans can testifie This king perceiuing that Ancus Martius sonnes had slaine king Priscus his predecessor and his father in lawe vnderstanding himselfe to stande in the like danger if they should liue they being right heires to the Empire of Rome Seruius by decree banished the sonnes of Martius out of the territories of the Romanes yet Fabius Pictor saith that they were the sonnes of Tarquinius Priscus but hee is reprehended and conuicted with probable reasons by Halicarnassaeus But howsoeuer it was the like ende that Tarquinius Priscus had by Ancus Martius sonnes the same had Seruius Tullus by Tarquinius sonnes both murthered As touching the gouernment of Seruius Tullius in the warres against the enemies of Rome he excelled his predecessours and brought the people the townes and cities about Rome most willingly to yeeld themselues after that he had triumphed ouer them with 3. solemne triumphes for this king for the space of 20. yeeres waged warres with the Hetruscans with the Sabines and others so that he conquered at length all places about Rome without blood for the Romans yet had no great force to make warre farre from Rome for during the time of their kings which was 244. yeeres which was the first infancie of Rome they had their handes full to answere those next cities and their next neighbours dwelling about them This king was the first that inuented mustering of men which before this time was not knowen as Eutropius saith in al the territories of Rome for in Seruius Tullus time the names of all the inhabitants of Rome were taken and accompted by the pole there were found in the Citie of Rome eightie foure thousand Citizens able men In Seruius time brasse was coyned in Rome and after Seruius time two hundred yeeres there was no siluer coyned in Rome By this king three hilles were annexed to Rome the one was called Quirinalis the seconde Viminalis the third called Esquilinus By this king the walles of Rome were entrenched rounde about and by this king was a faire Temple builded vpon mount Auentine to the godesse Diana Reade more in Dionysius Halic but the end of this king was as I saide before to be slaine by the wickednesse of his sonne in lawe Tarquinius who was sonne to the last king Tarquinius Priscus whō this Seruius Tullus succeeded the treacherie of his owne daughter whō he had espoused to the said Tarquinius Thus was he slaine when hee had reigned fourtie foure yeeres king of Rome During which time reigned in Egypt king Amasis and in Macedonia Alcetas In the time of this king Seruius Croesus the last king of Lydia was conquered by Cyrus and the kingdome of Lydia brought vnder the Persians at what time Cyrus beganne his Empire in Persia after he had conquered Astiages the last king of the Medes and made Medea as Lydia was subiect vnto Persia at one time for Cyrus grew in Seruius time the strongest king and the onely Monarch of the worlde for after he had conquered these two great kings Croesus king of Lydia and Astyages king of Media he also at that instant subdued Balthasar the last king of Babylon so that he adioyned to the Empire of Persia the kingdomes of Media Lydia and Babylon This time did Daniel prophecie of the foure Monarchies by the foure beastes rising out of the seas the very ground of all Chronicles In Seruius Tullius reigne happened the renowmed and famous battell betwixt the Argiues and the Lacedemonians three hundred against three hundred on either side to trie and to make a full conquest by them of all their warres which happened to the Lacedemonians for that three of the three hundred escaped and all the rest on both sides died manfully in the fielde This time florished Stesichorus and Hiponax likewise Anaximenes the Philosopher and Chilo one of the seuen wise men liued in this age Nowe I will returne againe to Rome and speake of Lu. Tarqninius surnamed the proud who succeeded Seruius Tullus in the kingdome not lawfully but by force and strength in the 601. Olympiad sixteene ye◅es before the begining of the nineteenth Iubilee In this Olympiad Agatharchus wanne the victorie in the games of Olympus This king as hee entred vnto the kingdome of Rome with force and violence so hee continued with crueltie and tyrannie farre differing frō Tarquinius Priscus his graundfather This king planted himselfe in Rome against the Senators and the people and garded himselfe with wicked and lewde people translating the whole gouernment of the kingdome into tyrannie he maried his daughter to the Gouernour and Dictator of the Latines named Octauius Mamilius of the stocke of Telegonus the sonne of Vlisses by Cyrses to strengthen himselfe against his enemies This Tarquinius was maried to Seruius daughter a very vertuous and modest lady and his yonger brother named Arnus maried the yonger daughter of Seruius a wicked and lewde woman not of the disposition of her elder sister a match vnfitte for so quiet a husband not like his elder brother the difference betweene Tarquine the proud and his brother or his sōne as some suppose also the differēce betweene the two sisters was great the one rash cruell wicked false and full of all impietie to whom happened an honest sober and vertuous lady and yet could not doe any good vnto him and to his good brother being gentle courteous good godly happened as I tolde you that wicked scorpion the yonger sister who when that she coulde not perswade her husband to any wicked acte shee came to him I meane to Tarquine the proude who was as ready as shee to kill to murther and to commit any wicked thing else shee councelled him and shee furthered him to murther the olde king her father and to take the kingdome into his hand What should I rehearse the number of this womans faultes Reade ◅iui and Halicarnassaeus and you shall reade how Tarquinius slue the king his father in law and vsurped the kingdome and afterward how tyraunt like he gouerned the Citie of Rome vntill he became so odious as he was deposed from his Throne and banished from Rome aswell for his owne tyrannie and murther as also for his sonne Arūtius Tarquinius his rape and wicked incontinencie for when he had forced a noble woman named Lucretia the wife of Colatinus who when shee had of this iniurie complained to her husband and other her friends in the presence of them all she slue her selfe the filthines and horror of this wicked acte kindled the heartes of the Senators and the people against Tarquinius Sp. Lucre. Pu. Val. Publicola C. Lu. Iunius Brutus sware in that place the destruction of Tarquinius and hee himselfe
who appointed him his lieutenant general ouer his garisons for Cneus Carbo the Consul which fought with young Marius together against Silla which Marius was slaine by Silla in Preneste At what time Carbo fledde and was slaine by Pompey and after that Pompey slue Domitius a captaine of Marius his side and withall slue Hiarbus king of Mauritania being of Domitius side and therefore triumphed Pompey ouer Affrike being but twentie foure yeeres of age which was neuer earst graunted to any Romane and hauing not bene Consul While this ciuill warre continued in Rome little or nothing was done in other countries for nowe all places were made quiet by the Romās sauing some of Marius friends who fled after Marius death held out and did what they could to trouble the Romanes as Hirtulius Sertorius and others of Maririus friends that stirred wars in Spaine in Cicilia Pamphylia against these Q. Metellus sonne to that Metellus which subdued king Iugurth was sent with him Cneus Pompeius was sent to aide him for Sertorius was a valiāt approued captaine Apius Claudius was then sent after his Consulship was expired to Macedonia where hee died without any harme done to the enemies in his place succeded Scribonius Curio who for his good seruice merited a triumph Then was sent into Cilicia Pamphylia Publius Seruilius a passing good captaine for hee wanne the worthiest cities of Licia and subdued Cilicia hee wanne Phasilides Olympus Coritum three great cities and finished his warres in three yeeres and returned to Rome and had a triumph graunted him ouer the Isaurians So had Metellus ouer Spaine Scribonius Curio ouer Macedonia Pompeius againe ouer Spaine which was his second triumph so at that time were foure triumphs in Rome together Againe Mithridates infringed the league before made and renued warres with the Romanes and would haue inuaded Asia and Bythinia had not Lu. Lucullus the Consul and his fellowe M. Aurelius Cotta come in time for before this time hee pretended warre against Bythinia and their king Nicomedes and after that inuaded Capadocia and Paphlagonia and draue both Nicomedes king of Bythinia and Pilemenes king of Paphlagonia to exile and from thence he went to Ephesus killing and flaying the Romanes friends and withall he was so cruell that he sent letters through all Asia that wheresoeuer any Citizen of Rome might be found he shoulde be killed though he was discomfited by Silla and Lucullus and at last driuen to flee for succour to Tigranes king of Armenia a captaine of great renowme in those dayes for this Tigranes was so mightie a king that he had subdued the Persians and Mesopotamia hee also wanne Syria and a peece of Phoenicia yet still Mithridates renued warres called his armie from Scythia and ioyned them with Tigranes force But Lucullus followed Mithridates hard to Armenia and required Tigranes to deliuer him Mithridates which being denied Lucullus foorth with inuaded king Tigranes realme and gaue him a great ouerthrowe and passed from place to place as conqueror destroying of countries and taking cities vntil he came to the riuer Danubius he destroyed Appolonia Parthenopolis and other cities of Pontus and returned to Rome a conqueror of many coūtries both he his cousin germaine M. Lucullus and triumphed with great glory but yet he missed of king Mithridates he plaied still the tyraunt with the Romanes vntil Pompey the great came who ouercame Mithridates in Armenia sackt his tents and slue fourtie thousand of his armie and forced Mithridates to flee when hee poysoned himselfe and died after hee had kept warres with the Romanes fourtie yeeres for this warre of Mithridates began with Silla and was ended by Pompey Thus the Romanes at last conquered the great king Mithridates who had not continued so long had not ciuill warres bene in Rome betweene Marius and Silla and after that the conspiracie of Cateline and after Cateline the ciuill warres betweene Pompey and Caesar of this you shall reade hereafter In the meane season there was no warre in other kingdomes for Syria Egypt Libya and all other places were friendes and subiects to the Romanes for nowe the Romanes were in their greatnes and in their most glory and fame Such men liued then in Rome as did conquer the whole world Now assoone as Mithridatates was by Pompey ouerthrowē he addressed his battell against Tigranes who yeelded vnto Pompey without battell and came to Pompeis tent fell prostrate before him and deliuered vp his crowne vnto Pompeius After the yeelding of king Tigranes Pompey made warres with the Albanes and ouercame Orodes king of the Albanes in three sundrie battels he also subdued Arthaces king of Iberia and receiued him vnder the allegeance of the Romanes To be briefe Pompey was the onely man that not onely augmented the glory of Rome but also enriched Rome with infinite treasures gotten by his conquest of Cilicia Syria Phoenicia Iudea Mesopotamia Capadocia Armenia Iberia Albania and a great part of Arabia By these kingdomes whom Pompey conquered the reuenues of Rome were augmented three thousand and fiue hundred Myriades The glory of Pompey grew to be such in Rome that hee was elected to be a Consul alone himselfe without a fellowe for Pompey at his triumph ouer Mithridates his sonne for Mithridates him selfe as you heard died before the triumph had Tigranes also and his sonne and Aristobulus king of the Iues ledde before his chariot for at that time he triumphed ouer two kings and ouer two kings sonnes The pompe and pride of that triumph farre excelled other triumphes for Eutropius saith that at that very triumph Pompey had vanquished certeine pirates on the seas when Lucius Metellus had triumphed ouer Creete and therefore surnamed Metellus Cretius After that Pompey had finished these wars in the sixe hundred eightie nine yeere after the building of Rome Lucius Catiline a man of a noble stocke descended but of an euill disposition conspired with diuers other rash young men like himself but yet were they noble men and many gentlemen but by Ciceros meanes then Consul Cateline was expulsed foorth of the Citie and shortly slaine in a battell by Caius Anthonius fellowe Consul with Cicero some of his confederates were apprehended and thratled in prison others as Lentulus Cethegus with the rest slaine About this time Horace the Poet was borne and within fewe yeeres after Octauius which was called Augustus was borne afterward This time reigned in Egypt Alcetes the father of Cleopatra after whome Cleopatra with her brother reigned vntill Marcus Anthonius time with whome shee liued and died for nowe reigned in euery kingdome lieutenants and gouernours vnder the Romanes all kingdomes and countries were made prouinces vnder Rome These pirates nauies as Plutarch saith were about a thousand in number they had takē aboue 400. Townes they had spoiled many temples as in Samos the temple of Iuno in Tenaria
the left shoulder he caused the like picture to be made for himselfe and commanded all his souldiers to call him Alexander This Emperor died as he was preparing a voyage against the Parthians at Edessa when hee had liued 43. yeeres Presently after the death of Caracalla Opilius Macrinus and his sonne Diadumeus were created Emperours who after they had reigned ioyntly fourteene moneths they were both slain in a sedition which fel among the souldiers without doing any thing worth the writing After them stept to the empire Marcus Aurelius surnamed Heliogabolus well so named for in all beastlinesse he resembled his predecessors these vnderwritten Nero Caligula Sergius Vitellius Domitianus Commodus This Heliogabolus was supposed to be the sonne of Caracalla he likewise defamed himselfe with all kind of shame and reproch whose filthinesse and lewd behauiour you may reade in Herodian He was slaine in an vprore which the souldiers made at what time also his mother Semia Sira called of some Semiamira died after he had liued very vnchastly and filthily for 4. yeres but Eutropius saith 2. yeres 8. moneths During the raigne of these 3. last emperors there were no good things done in Rome but vprores and sedition of souldiers creating whom they would to be Emperour one day and the next day deposing them from life empire Only this happened that the Amphitheator was set on fire and few fellowes were quiet at Rome The great men of authority then were these Titus Saturninus Marcus Noninus Mutianus Cornelius Amulinus Lu. Torpilius Dexter C. Gallus Gentianus and Bassus Gentianus Clodius Albinus Balbinus chosen Emperour against Maximinus Aur. Alex. Seuerus and Maximus were both made Emperours Aurelius Alexander Seuerus was chosen Emperour when he was but twelue yeeres of age whome the souldiers named Caesar and the Senate created Augustus he was a very vertuous Prince and one that fauoured all good men he gaue him selfe to martiall pollicie and tooke in hand about the 9. yeere of his raigne warres against Artaxerxes king of Persia who had before vanquished Artabanus king of the Parthians who then gouerned the Persians And as Artaxerxes ouercame Artabanus was the first king of Persia after Darius who before was conquered by Alexander the great so this Artaxerxes was subdued by this Alex. Seuerus with great glorie and had his triumph graunted him in Rome being but 21. yeeres of age he had such care of the Empire and such diligence that he committed the charge of Armenia to a noble captaine called Iunius Palmatus he committed the prouince of Illyrica vnto Varus Macrinus and the countrey of Mauritania to Furius Celsus Of these 3. Captaines victories in these countreys reade Lampridius This was the first Emperour that fauoured Christians and being so yong an Emperour he associated with him to assist him in iudgement Vlpianus a great Ciuilian a lawe maker and had an office called Magister Scrinii as it were Master of the Rowles he had in those dayes in his Court a number of learned men whose names Lampridius setteth down in this sort whome he vsed as Counsellers Fabius Sabinus Domitius Vlpianus Aelius Gordianus Iulius Paulus Modestinus Pomponius Alphenus Africanus Florentinus Proculus Martianus Callistratus Hermogenes Tryphonius Metianus Celsus The most part of these were Ciuilians and scholers to Papinianus Besides these lawyers florished in Seuerus Court Quintilius Caius Marcellus Aelius Seuerianus Cutilius Seuerus three singuler learned Romanes but he reigned not long for he was slaine in Fraunce in a tumult that grewe amongst the souldiers hee and his mother Mammea in a towne called Moguntia after he had reigned 13. yeeres After this good Emperor Seuerus succeeded Iulius Maximinius a man of meane parentage whose beginning was to be a shepheard in Thracia and after came to be a souldier and in processe of time came by the meanes of the souldiers to be Emperour without consent of the Senators who in the beginning had some good successe against the Germanes but not long after slaine by Pupienus at Aquilea and his yong sonne called also Maximinius when hee had reigned three yeeres After him succeeded Pupienus Balbinus Gordianus three Emperours together in Rome but Pupienus and Balbinus were slaine at Rome and Gordianus obtained the empire and held it sixe yeeres alone he espoused Tranquillina Masetheus daughter and after tooke his voiage into Persia and ouerthrewe Sapores king of Persia tooke diuers cities and in many sundrie skirmishes did greatly afflict the Persians But as hee returned thence he was likewise slaine through treason of one Philip who succeeded him in the Empire but his monument is erected vp by one of his souldiers in memoriall of him and that place is called Gordianus graue Marcus Iulius Philippus after he had slaine Gordianus he and his sonne Philip came to the empire and reigned ioyntly fiue yeeres In the time of these two Philips there was celebrated in Rome great solemnitie and preparation of Gunnes and shewes with such pompe and magnificence as Capittollius affirmeth that the like before in Rome scant had beene seene Philip builded a towne in Thracia named it after his owne name Not long after both the father and the sonne were slaine the father at Verrona and the sonne at Rome being of the age of 12. yeeres About this time liued Iulius Africanus a great Historiographer and that godly man Origen wrote his booke of Martyrs After these two Philips succeeded Decius borne at Bubalia a Towne in Hungaria a man well instructed in all kinde of sciences but hee was the eight Emperour that persecuted the Christians and beside commaunded by an Acte that all that worshipped Christ shoulde be slaine hee repressed some warres that were cōmenced in Fraunce and made one voyage against the Gothes at what time hee caused his sonne to be created Caesar. This Decius founded Bathes in Rome who when he had reigned two yeeres both he and his sonne died in Barbaria Some iudged that hee was swallowed vp in an earthquake and some affirme that hee was drowned in a riuer of Thracia called Abricium Then were created Emperours in Rome Gallius Hostilianus and Voluntianus his sonne they committed no act worthie of writing but they were likewise persecutors of the Christians and in their time fell great plagues and sundrie other diseases in the Romane Empire and after they had reigned scant two yeeres they were slaine and within three moneths after them Aemilianus who succeeded them in the Empire was in like sort slaine so that of 30. Emperours which reigned since Octauius Augustus time vntill Licinius Valerian sixe of them escaped not the handes of murtherers Such was the enuious estate of Rome from time to time such was their tyrannie and auarice vntill the Romanes fame and dignitie was much obscured and so little esteemed of the kings about ouer whome they had before so long triumphed euen
sword for few people knew then contention for they had more countreys then they had men to inhabite but with people for no warre was yet knowen any where but with the Assyrians who first vsed to trespasse vpon other nations about them euen from Nimrads time In Iubaldas time Hercules Libyus florished before the Hercules of the Greekes welnigh 700. yeres In this Iubaldas time died Noah the righteous preacher whom prophane writers cal Bifrons Ianus and so is in euery countrey painted and set forth in histories This Noah forsaw the great miserie and calamitie of Gods iustice for sinne in the first age the general plague that folowed the destructiō of the whole world with a flood and after he sawe himselfe dispised of his wicked sonne Cham and cōtemned of his posterities in the second age at the building of the tower of Babylon where he saw the pride disobedience and impietie of his owne people that came out of his owne bodie who to seeke immortalitie vpon earth sought to auoyd God and his power and to seeke to skale through too much follie the skies but they were cōfounded and their deuises brought to nothing No doubt hee sawe more miserie come to man and more wickednes committed by man against God then any man euer could see He died 350. yeres after the flood In Assyria raigned Zamisnenias which in Genesis is called Amraphael the fift king of Assyria Abraham was called from Vr in Chaldea to the land of Palestina and after three yeeres driuen to Egypt for that the famine was so great in the land of Canaan This time gouerned in Egypt Osiris which was that Pharao that tooke Sara Abrahams wife away but was warned in his sleepe not to touch her and cōmanded by God to restore her to her husband againe During the time of this king Iubalda Sodom Gomorrha Zeboim Adama and Segor fiue noble cities of Canaan were destroyed by fire frō heauen for their abominable wickednes and there remaineth in memorie of their filthie vitious liues in the place of these fiue cities a stinking horrible great lake called Stagnum Asphaltidis The 4. king that succeeded Iubalda in Celtiberia was named Brigus he began to raigne in the 4. yeere of Arius the 6. king of Assyria at what time Hyarbas Priscus beganne to gouerne in Libya a stout and a fierce king in armes and therfore the Numidians would be called after him Hyarbae for stoute and warlike people This Brigus builded many strong castles in Celtiberia in that prouince of Lusitania he builded 2. great castles and called them after his owne name Laccobryga and Mirobriga and he builded also Brygantum in the prouince of Taracon This time gouerned the Celtes an expert skilful man a man in those dayes of most honor for his wisdome and iudgement in all things named Drius after whose death the priests of the Celtes were named Druydes of whom mention is made in Caesar and in Plini The authoritie and credite of these priestes in their dayes was great they were honoured and reuerenced of all people their wordes were had in such estimation as though they had bene Oracles giuen for at this time it was rare to see a wise man or to talke with a learned man for the Magi of Chaldea and the priests were not heard of no philosophie spoken of no Art taught few scholes or none knowen in so much that almost 300. yeeres after the flood there raigned no malice no pride no ambition no warre in the most part of the world and therefore it was called Aureum seculum for the simplicitie of the people and of the plentie of al things which was cōmon among all men sauing in Assyria where the first Monarchie began and quarrels grewe as you shall heare betweene the Chaldeans and the Assyrians and after betwene the Assyrians and the Egyptians So that nothing is to be written of any great exploit done in Celtiberia all this time neither in any place else sauing to set downe the names of those kings that then raigned and to know the agreement of time which is the touchstone of trueth In this Brygus time Abraham offered his sonne Isaac at what time God blessed all the nations of the worlde in the seede of Abraham One Bardus raigned this time in Celta which was of great authoritie with them for his first finding of Musike and meeter In this Brigus time Araunus the sōne of Cranus which was the sonne of Ianus builded a temple in Vetulonia and dedicated the same vnto Ianus which they also called Vertumnes and therein he erected vp the image of Ianus and after he builded a chapell to the god Razenus in Vetulonia so that now idolatrie began in euery countrey the nomber of the gods so encreased that superstition had the better hand of true religion euery where sauing in Gods owne Church those 2. Patriarches Abraham and his sonne for Sara was now dead But I wil passe to the fift king of Celtiberia named Tagus sirnamed Orma of this king the riuer Tagus taketh her first name Of this I reade nothing worth the nothing but as his predecessors he raigned by the name of a king without resistance with whom raigned together in other kingdoms Baleus Xerxes the eight king of Assyria this encreased the kingdome and conquered euery where vntill the Indians for he was valiant and couragious very fortunate in all his affaires In the beginning of this Tagus raigne the Argiues kingdome began where Inachus raigned their first king Phaeton came this time to Italy at what time many townes and cities were burnt about the riuer Ister and about the Cymerians and Vesunians and the places burned to this day are named Palestina that is to say the coūtrey burnt recorded with writers Phaetontis incendium Esau and Iacob were borne this time and a litle after their grandfather Abraham the patriarch died 101. yeres after he was called from the Chaldeans and in 175. yere of his age After Tagus succeeded Belus the 6. king of Celtiberia he began to raigne in the 482. yeere after the flood and raigned in Celtiberia 31. yeres at what time Eusebius setteth down the 17. Dynastia of the Egyptians where shepheards gouerned bare rule in Egypt which gouerment cōtinued 303. yeres in Egypt With this Belus began Armatrites to raigne the 9. king of Assyria a king giuen to idlenes to al kinde of pleasures About this time died Sem the sonne of Noah who likewise saw as his father did before much wickednes and abomination he died 35. yeres after Abraham was dead Sem liued 600. yeres Pharoneus the 2. king of the Argiues of whom Plato maketh mention in the beginning of his booke made lawes to the Argiues and was of them greatly honoured after his death In this kings time Nilus did ouerflowe all the countrey of Egypt and Osiris
kept the Saracens in some awe and gaue diuers ouerthrowes vnto them during his time After whom succeeded Raimiris the first of that name and 9. king of Astura and Legio he raigned sixe yeres In his time Abderana king of the Saracens sailed with a nomber of ships from Affrica and inuaded many places in Italie and vsed great crueltie of whose tyrannie and spoiles euery where you may reade in the Historie of the Saracens I name none here but such as troubled Spaine whose historie I haue in hande during the time that they raigned in Spaine This time Theophilus helde the Empire at Constantinople and Lewes sirnamed the Godly the sonne of Charles the great was king of France and Emperour of Rome as his father was Now succeeded in Spaine Ordonius the first of that name who raigned king after Amiris 10. yeres During which time the Normanes and the Danes rushed into France and annoyed the countrey much burnt Antwerpe and afflicted the Friseans most miserablie All this while the cruel Saracens were no where quiet especially in Italy where they spoiled and killed all that they came vnto with sword and fire euen vnto the very gates of Rome burning all the suburbes of the citie About this time Anno 838. the Danes inuaded England but they were to their great losse ouerthrowen and vanquished by Egbertus at which time died Lewes king of Fraunce sirnamed the Godly After this Ordonius succceded Alphonsus the thirde of that name sirnamed the Great he raigned as a wicked cruel king who to auoyde suspition of his tyrannie fained a conspiracie to bee done of his owne brethren against him and therefore caused that all his three brethrens eyes should be plukt out thinking thereby with lesse danger to gouerne his kingdome Then succeeded Garsia who raigned 3. yeres after whom Ordonius the second of that name folowed king of Astura and Legio This king also vsed crueltie and caused 4. of the chiefe noblemen in the Prouince of Castile to be imprisoned and in prison to be slaine for which cruel fact the Prouince of Castile reuolted from Ordonius and they elected foure Iudges to gouerne the Prouince of Castile since which time which was 900. yeeres after Christ kings beganne a kingdome in Castile for now was Spaine gouerned as England was by 7. kings the gouernment whereof was called Heptarchia and therefore I wil passe ouer the time and infinite quarels and toiles which continued for a long rime in Spaine First betweene the Vandols and the Spaniards after betweene the Gothes and the Spaniards and then last betweene the Saracens and the Gothes CHAP. V. From the time that the Saracens possessed Hispaine vntill the time of Ferdinandus the great and Alphonsus king of Arragon which were the onely first two kings that possessed all Hispaine from the first Monarchie of their kings which was 2400. and odde yeeres so base a Countrey was Hispaine and conquered so many times vntill Ferdinandus time AT what time in diuers Prouinces of Hispaine dwelt seuerall kings which then gouerned and possessed Hispaine whose names are these that follow The first king after the inuasion of the Saracens which was driuen out of the kingdome was Pelagius who raigned twentie yeeres in Astura Phafilla Pelagius sonne raigned two yeres and was slaine by a beare in hunting Alphonsus sirnamed Catholike the first of that name raigned 19. yeeres His sonne Phroilla succeeded his father in Astura and Legio and raigned twelue yeeres and after was by his brother Aurelius slaine Veramundus Phroillas sōne succeeded but was forced to flie by Sillo which gouerned the kingdome after Phroilla 6. yeeres Mauregatus a base sonne of Alphonsus the Catholike tooke the kingdome of Austria by the meanes of the Mauritanes and raigned three yeeres Veramundus the sonne of Bilmarus which was sonne to Alphonsus raigned two yeeres Alphonsus the seconde sirnamed the Chaste raigned thirtie and six yeres This king raigning the Saracens spoiled and wasted all Sardinia and Corsica After him succeeded Raimirus the first of that name and raigned sixe yeeres in whose time Abderana king of the Saracens with an huge armie vsed great crueltie and tyrannie in many places After him Ordonius the first which raigned also tenne yeeres after whom Alphonsus the thirde sirnamed the great which raigned 46. yeeres Then succeeded Carsia the first of that name and raigned three yeres After whom succeeded Ordonius the second who vsed tyrannie in Castile the onely cause of their reuolting and of the change of their gouernment in chusing first to them foure Iudges and after erected kings At what time the kingdome of Castile beganne Reade Ritius more of this historie Then succeeded Ordonius Phroilla the seconde which raigned two yeres and after him Alphonsus the fourth which gouerned in Astura and Legio fiue yeeres Raimirus the second of that name raigned nineteene yeres this caused his brother Alphonsus eyes to be pluckt out and after to bee in close prison for that Alphonsus denied to become a Christian. In this Raimirus time the Hungarians ouercame Lodowicke king of Germanie and both Luitboldus duke of Bauaria and Burgardus duke of Thuringia were slaine at that time of the Hungarians Ordonius the thirde of that name raigned fiue yeeres and Sanctius the first of that name raigned 11. yeeres king of Astura Raimirus the thirde being a childe obtained the kingdom and raigned 25. yeeres by whome Abdera then king of the Saracens in Spaine was vanquished but Luiterus saith that one Ramirus king of Galatia vanquished the Saracens and their king whome he named Abdamara This time Enechus Countie of Bigora gaue a great ouerthrow to the Saracens and made the Saracens to forsake their cities and to flie from many partes of Spaine This Enechus founded then the kingdome of Nauarra as Ritig affirmeth Then succeeded in Spaine Veramundus the third who raigned 17. yeere This king after he had once or twise vanquished the Saracens yet they so preuailed that he was vāquished and ouerthrowen his citie of Legio assaulted and taken Lusitania possessed againe and the most places of Spaine wonne againe which the Saracens lost before This time the kingdom of Polonia beganne Alphonsus the 5. reigned 37. yeeres during which time the Saracens entred into Italie tooke Capua assaulted Barū destroyed many places and spoiled cities In this Alphonsus time the kingdome of Hungarie beganne in whose time reigned in Fraunce Hugo Capetus the first king of the Gaules Veramūdus the 3. of that namereigned after Alphōsus 6. yeres and Ferdinandus gouerned at Astura and Castile 40. yeeres Sanctius the 2. king of Castile and Alphonsus the 6. king of Astura the one reigned 13. yeres the other seuen yeeres but Sanctius being not contented with the kingdome of Castile draue Alphōsus out of his kingdome and possessed both Legio and Astura who fledde to Toletum to the king of
diuers names and of succession of their kinges Leauing Gomer the eldest sonne of Iaphet with his posterities among them by the name of Cimbri Sicambrians and others I wil speak briefly of their first arriuall frō Scythia of their comming to Germany of their first habitations about the riuer of Rhene and of their continual warres victories in enlarging the territories of their first possession which was but little by many sharpe battels continuall long warres at home and brought all Gallia subiect vnder them which now is the onely flourishing kingdome of the worlde that earst contained many nations by the name of Gallia Cisaphina Transalpina Belgica as now Germania doth is situated betweene the riuer of Rhene the mountains Pyrenaei a fertile a rich coūtrey replenished with plenty of al things wel watred with riuers fountains Solinus writeth that out of Gallia you may trauel to any part of the world the most part of this countrey is nowe called Fraunce of whose description situation other commendations due to that soile of the length bredth and maners of Frenchmen Reade Srabo Pomporius Mela and Solinus As for the originall antiquitie of the people I reade that they are little beholden to them selues either in finding out their antiquities or recording of the same but such fables as their parents yeelded from time to time as the Egyptians did and others which for want of true Histories fill their bookes with fables And for that they were first strangers and foreiners in Gallia comming from Scythia into Germanie where their king named Marcomirus with the most part of his armie was slaine by the Gothes Marcomirus his ◅onne gouerning the rest of the Scythian armie brought his people to the confines of Germanie ad ostia Rheni seeking out voyde places to inhabite to whome in the seuenth yeere of his raigne came 489. thousande moe Scythians and there Marcomirus sonne began a new kingdome possessed many places by force about Rhene and they were called of the Germanes Neumagi at their first dwelling after they were called Sicambri and lastly they were called Franci The Frenchmen were in their first comming to Gallia so tossed and so afflicted for want of dwellings their nomber and multitude was such that of necessitie they were forced to seeke seates to dwell in by the sworde and wonne diuers places about the riuer of Rhene possessed many fertill places in Germanie about Hercinia for Iulius Caesar in his Historie of Fraunce saith Fuit tempus c. There was a time that the Gauls which afterward were called Frenchmen did vanquish the Germanes in warre and for the multitude of their armie wanting places to inhabite they in spite of the Germanes possessed about the riuer of Rhene other places about Witenberge and Boemia And so Liuy affirmeth that the people named then Celtae which are Frenchmen nowe were scattered ouer all Europe and dwelt in Panonia before the Romanes had any being there And so Iustine seemeth to affirme when he had said that 300000 Galatae sought new countries to dwell in naming them Gens aspera bellicosa and the first nation after Hercules that ledde an armie ouer the Alpes at what time they went to Illirica and from thence to Panonia where likewise Appianus doth verifie their comming when Camillus had driuen them and their captaine Brennus from Rome Herodot also doth remember these Scythians how they came to dwell among the Cymbrians and howe their nomber increased It is euident in Polibius Strabo and in Appianus that the inhabitants about Rheni and other places of Germanie called Boios Brenici Tenani and Senoues were Frenchmen but for that nothing is certaine before Augustus time in Germanie as Strabo saith who liued in Augustus time but controuersies are such about the antiquitie which in truth is very ancient and about their names which are many and diuers as Neumagi Marcomanni Franci Salii Cimbri Celtae Galli before they were called Frenchmē that it would be both tedious vnpleasant and also vncertaine for the variety of opinions Leauing therfore the dissension of these writers and the vncertaintie of kingdomes beginning I will briefly speake of Marcomirus the first king of the Frenchmen named yet Neumagi in whose time the countrey of Gallia was sore afflicted for Marcomirus made sharpe warres and died after he had reigned eight and twentie yeres After whom succeeded his sonne Antenor who hauing maried a wife learned and a modest Queene borne in Britaine named Cambra daughter to Bellinus the great after whose name they were called Sicambri which cōtinued vntill Francus time which was the sixtenth king after this Queene Cambra her husband Antenor who reigned in the 91. olympiade at what time the Egyptians reuolted from the Persians in the time of Darius Nothus the sixt king of Persia they were called Sicambri for Galli at that time were not called French but Gaules Of these Pau. Aemylius taketh no notice neither doth Arnoldus Ferronus make any mention two of the chiefe Frnech writers neither the French chronicles but Tritemius is recited by Functius who setteth down what Tritemius thought of the originall of the Frenchmen yet Aemylius affirmeth in that the antiquitie of the Frenchmem is from the Troians At what time Aeneas came from Ilion to Laurentum after the destruction of the Citie one Francus a Captaine of some nomber of Troians came with his companie ad paludem Meotim after whose name they were named Frenchmen but let Tritemius and Paul Aemylius dispute of that matter I will set downe the names of the kings from Marcomirus vntill Francus I will briefly runne ouer the Historie for at the first arriuall ouer of these Scythians into Germanie they inuaded many places and grewe so strong in so many places that they possessed many Cities Townes and Castles that for the space of foure hundred yeeres and more during which time reigned sixteene kings ouer the Sicambrians they had continuall warres one after another vntill Francus time and from Francus againe vntill Faramundus time another foure hundred yeeres and more still in warres of whom Tritemius writeth seuerally and obserueth the like order in his historie of the Kings of France as Suetonius doth for the Emperours of Rome Marcomirus waxed so great that the Romanes had much a doe in his time not onely to keepe those holds which they had but also were constrained to answere these fellowes in Italie for the Sycambrians were so fleshed with diuers victories which they had ouer the Gauls and ouer the Germanes that they were determined to stay no where before they had first destroyed Rome and sacked all Italie The Romanes had thought to see the hardinesse strength of these people to curbe them but perceiuing the multitude to bee such as terrified all Europe and doubting that they should haue the like warres
Lacedemonians and of the kings of Corinth who at one time beganne their gouernment vnder the state of Monarchie and also ended about one time of their gouernment and continuance 327. Of the generall gouernment in all the cities of Greece from Lycurgus time the king and the lawmaker in Sparta vntill the comming of Xerxes the great the 4. king of Persia into Greece of Lycurgus lawes among the Lacedemonians and of Solons lawes among the Athenians 333. Of the huge armie of Xerxes of his preparations both by lande and by sea of the pompe and pride of Xerxes in his iourney to Greece of his shamefull great ouerthrow and ignominious flight from Greece againe into Persia and of the flourishing state of Greece at that time 339. Of the ciuill discention in Greece after Xerxes time howe euery citie was in armes one against another of their Peloponesian warre which continued 27. yeeeres to the ouerthrow of Greece by Philip and after by his sonne Alexander the great 347. Of the last destruction of Greece by the Macedonians by meanes of ciuill discord and the Peloponesian warres the onely cause of their ruine and confusion at what time king Philippe brake their backes and his sonne Alexander their neckes And after them last of all the Romanes kept them in perpetuall seruitude 362. Eusebius Iosephus Zonaras Theo. Bibliander Strabo Xenoph. Thucydides Herodotus Plutarchus Archilogus Diod. Siculus Functius Orosius OF THE MACEDONIANS OF the kingdome of Macedonia of their continuance lawes and gouernment of their kings and of their warres vntill the time of Alexander Fol. 372. Of the renowme and fame of Macedonia during the raigne of Alexander the great of his conquests and victories ouer all the East of his dangerous warrs in India Egypt and in Scythia and of the subduing of Darius and the taking away of the Monarchie from Persia into Macedonia 382. Of the diuision of Asia and Syria after the death of Alexander the great betweene his captaines for hee left no king to succeede after him but the sword So many kingdomes were voyde by his death that his captaines that fought then vnder Alexander for wages and spoiles fought now for kingdomes and Empires Of their warres and of their continuance 393. Of the Romane warres with king Philip and his sonne Perseus the two last kings of Macedonia of their ouerthrow by Paul Aemilius and of the ouerthrow of false Philip and counterfaite Andriscus by Q. Metellus in his last conquest of Macedonia 404. Glareanus Theo. Bibliand Plutarchus Q. Curt. Liui. Plinius M. Scotus Orosius Florus ASIA AND SYRIA OF the warres of the kings of Asia and Syria with the Romanes of their succession in the warres and of the continuance of their kingdome after Alexanders death Fol. 413. Of that wicked and most blasphemous king Antiochus Epiphanes sonne to Antiochus the great and the type of Antichrist of his vsurpation and tyrannie of the kingdome of his sacking and crueltie in Ierusalem of his bloody warres and persecutions of the Christians 420. Of the last destruction of Asia and Syria through their ciuill dissention and long warres one against another the onely cause of their bondage afterward to the Romanes vnder whom they liued as subiects and all Asia and Syria made prouinces vnto Rome 429. Eusebius Appianus Eutropius Valerius Max. L. Florus Liuius Functius and the Machabees AFFRIKE AND LIBYA OF the first Affricane warres betweene the Carthagineans and the Romanes which continued 24. yeeres and of the victories of the Romanes ouer them Fol. 436. Of the second Affricane warres betweene the Carthagineans and the Romanes which endured 17. yeeres during which time Hanibal held terrible warres with the Romanes which brought the Empire of Rome well nigh to Carthage but at last by Scipio Affricanus the warres were ended Carthage ouerthrowen Affrica wonne and Hanibal forced to flee 443. Of the thirde and last Affricane warres betweene the Romanes and the Carthagineans which endured foure yeeres of the ouerthrowe of Carthage and Numantia of the ruine and last conquest of Affrica by the Romanes 453. Liuius Appianus Plinius Polybius Orosius Eutropius Dionys. Halic Val. Maximus L. Florus Frontinus And all the Romanes OF ITALIE OF the antiquitie of olde Italie first called Ianicula and then Saturnia of the beginning of the kings of the Latines the first kingdome of Italie of their lawes and gouernment from Faunus vnto Aeneas and from Aeneas vntill Romulus Fol. 459. OF THE ROMANES OF the first building of Rome by Romulus of his gouernment lawes and appointing of Magistrates after he had founded the Citie of his warres with the Sabines of his conquestes and victories ouer these Sabines Fidenates and of his triumph ouer king Acron 467. Of the gouernment lawes and orders of Rome after Numa Pomp. time vntill the ende of Tarquinius the proud the last king of Rome of their warres and victories during this time ouer their neighbours about them of the enlargement of the Citie of Rome and of their territories and last of the banishment of their king 480. Of the first change of gouernment in Rome from a monarchie vnto Aristocratia at what time one Dictator and two Consuls were appointed to gouerne the people in the roome of kings of their good gouernment lawes warres and victories vntill the Tarentine warres where Pyrrhus began to ayde the Tarentines against the Romanes 493. Of the warres and victories of the Romanes ouer king Pyrrhus called the Tarentine warres vntill the Carthaginean warres of their victories and triumphs had ouer Italie with diuers other forraigne nations and kingdomes 507. Of the Romane warres and of their conquest ouer Carthage Numantia and all Asia and of their diuers victories and triumphs ouer other nations during the time of this Affricane warres 514. Of the conspiracie of Lucius Catilina and of the two ciuill warres the first betweene Marius and Silla and the second betweene Pompei the great and Iu. Caesar during which time Carthage and Numantia were subdued in Hispaine and the last conquest of Affrica by Scipio the younger and also surnamed Affricanus the younger 524. Of the alteration and change of the common wealth of Rome from Aristocratia to Monarchia againe as before from kings to Consuls so nowe from Consuls to Emperours the state was altered by Iu. Caesar the first Emperour and last Dictator of Rome and so from Iu. Caesar vnto the ende of Nero which was the last of the progenie of Augustus 536. From Nero the tyraunt the sixt Emperour of Rome vntill the time of Lu. Antoninus Commodus the cruell the 18. Emperour a match meete for Nero in the one the stocke of Caesar was extinguished in the other the blood of Antoninus ended and quite failed two Emperours of like condition and maners of the gouernment of them ouer Rome from Nero to Commodus during which time reigned 12. Emperours 550. Of the good Emperour
singular man of God Moses to whome the lawe in Mount Sinai was giuen and by whome the lawe had full execution with whome GOD talked so familiarly that hee alone continued with GOD fourtie dayes in Mount Sinai the moste auncient Chronographer of the worlde the verye light of prophane Histories and the onely teacher of time as by his 5. bookes appeare but for that Moses must be spoken of almost in euery place for the recourse and triall of time I will nowe goe forward with the historie Nowe reigned ouer the Assyrians Ascatades the 18. king in Niniue and in the 8. yeere of this Ascatades Cancres Pharaoh the king of Egypt with all his great armie were drowned in the red sea In Moses time happened two great floods the one called Deucalion flood 784. yeeres after Noahs flood the other in Thessalia after which followed such earthquakes in Thessalie that many thousands of beasts men women and children townes and cities were destroied as both Berosus and Xenophon doe agree After which earthquake fire wasted many townes and cities in Greece called incendium Phaetontis In Moses time the kingdome of Athens beganne wherein Cecrops was the first king of Athens 350. yeeres before the destruction of Troy From Abraham to Moses 450. from Moses to the first building of the Temple 480. yeeres Thus farre Berosus writeth euen from the beginning of Noah out of the arke vntil the going of the Israelites out of Egypt yet a litle farther vntill the falling of Dathan with 250. more which held with Abiran and Chore for their murmuring against Moses After this went Moses vp from the plaine of Moab to mount Nebo where the Lorde shewed vnto Moses all the lande of Canaan according to his promise saying thou shalt see the lande of Canaan with thine eies but thou shalt not goe ouer thither and there Moses the seruant of the Lorde died for whome Israel wept 30. daies and after whome Iosua succeeded Moses was 120. yeeres of age when he died Nowe you must vnderstande that when Ioseph was dead and the Hebrewes began to be multiplied the Egyptians both feared and hated them oppressed them as you heard with all toile and slauerie and not yet contented but a law was made among the Egyptians that euery male childe of the Hebrewes should be throwen to Nilus This lawe continued from Moses birth and before vntill their God deliuered them by Moses God had appointed with Moses and after with Iosua wise and graue men as Elders Iudges Magistrates to gouerne the Common-wealth of the Hebrewes vnder Moses as Iethro his father in lawe had councelled him the head of any tribe or of any citie Conuocauit populos Israel Senatum eorum principes eorum iudices eorum Ios. 23. Hee had also the Leuites the Priest and the high Bishop a state of Common-wealth chaunged from Oligarchia which was in Abrahams time into Aristocratia by the expresse commandements of God in all the lawes of the Hebrewes Morall and Iudiciall And after God gaue the Ceremoniall Lawes to Moses at mount Sinai for the Common-wealth of the Hebrewes were of all others most principally to be allowed for that God ordeined all their lawes ordered their Iudges al their Kings and their high Priestes for these three states gouerned the Hebrewes from Moses the first Iudge vntil the last high Priest though by Moses other officers were appointed as Tribunes Centurions and Captaines some ouer a 1000. some ouer a 100. some ouer 50. by the Greekes named Chiliarchi Hecatontarchi Pentecontarchi Decatarchi The offerings which were gold siluer and brasse blewe silke purple and scarlet fine linnen Goates haire and Rammes skinnes coloured red oile spices perfumes of sweete sauour the Tabernacle the Arke the stone table and the rod of Aaron and Manna which were testimonies of Gods presence Read of these Ceremoniall lawes in Exod. 25. About this time reigned in Egypt Ramesses afterwards hauing vanquished his brother Danaus from Egypt Egyptus vsurped the kingdom of Egypt named it Egyptus after his owne name Amongst the Argiues Stelenus their 9. King and after him succeeded Danaus being driuen out of Egypt by the foresaid Egyptus his brother giuing that name to the Countrey of Egypt being before named Mizraim Nowe in Creete gouerned Axit and in Athens the 4. king Ericthonius in these daies Nowe Memphis in Egypt of one Epaphus as Eusebius doth name was builded Dardanus builded Dardania in the sixt yeere of this king Egyptus this afterwarde was called Troy-Cyrene at this time was likewise builded in Libya and Nisa a great citie in India by Dionysius In Niniue Amintes the 19. king of the Assyrians gouerned It is written by Orosius that Danaus king at this time of the Argiues hauing fiftie daughters who being married to fiftie brethren sonnes to his owne brother Egyptus wrought meanes by these his daughters to requite the iniurie of his brother they agreeing with their father conspired the deathes of their husbandes and slewe them all in one night This historie is diuersly written which I leaue to euery mans iudgement After that Moses had gouerned the people of God 40. yeeres in the wildernes hee made choise of Iosua as you heard to be their Gouernour and Iudge for there was no succession of Gouernors no election of states no Prince no Iudge to claime right amongest the people of Israel but the lawe of God was the Iudge that gouerned Israel So Gedeon saide Non dominabor vestri nec dominabitur vestri filius meus sed Dominus he was the onely ruler so they prospered all the time of good Iudges This Iosua the second Iudge of Israel whome God raised after Moses was adorned with excellent giftes as with counsell to gouerne Israel and with strength to defend Israel this bringeth them after all difficulties vnto the land of Canaan which Iosua diuided among the people he appointed their borders he established lawes and ordinances assuring them of Gods fauour if they would obey God and contrariwise of his plague and vengeance by disobedience To this good Iosua God saide my seruant Moses is dead nowe therefore arise goe ouer Iordan thou and all this people vnto the lande which I gaue them for euery place where you shall tread vpon haue I giuen you there shall be no man able to withstande thee all the daies of thy life bee thou strong and be of good courage I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee This was great comfort to Iosua to haue God to be with him to assist him to strengthen him to defend him Then Iosua commanded his hoste with their Captaines and officers to passe ouer Iordan he exhorteth the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasses to execute their charge saying the Lord your God hath giuē you this land which was somtime in the possession of Sihon king of the Amorites and in the hands of Og king of Bashan goe you
forward God shal go before you and cast out the Cananites the Hittites the Iebusites Girgashites Perisites and the Amorites so they passed ouer Iordan drie the water staied and gaue them place in like sort as the red sea did The walles of Iericho fell downe and gaue them place to enter vnto the citie without strokes Nowe Iericho being burned diuers kings countreies and cities hearing how Iericho and Ai were destroied gathered their forces together one to helpe an other but in vaine for the Lorde fought for Israel for fiue kings rose against Iosua which were destroied and discomfited and as it is written in the 12. of Iosua thirtie kings were vanquished ouerthrowen and slaine whose names you may reade in Iosua This godly Iosua was an other Moses ruled Israel in all obedience of the Lorde conquered and possessed the land of promise and kept Gods people all his time in peace liued 110. yeeres and gouerned Israel two and thirtie yeeres Eusebius saieth thirtie and hee died two hundred yeeres after Iosephs death CHAP. III. Of the Iudges of Israel after Iosuas death vntill Saul the first king of Israel of their gouernment warres and continuance THe Hebrewes had none to gouerne them 8. yeeres after so long inter regnum continued whereby the Israelites euer rebelling against God cōtemned the lawes despised religiō quiteforgat Moses Iosua the benefits of God toward thē a thing almost incredible that so soonefrō God they would fall hauing tasted of his goodnes and mercie so long for after they had entred into the lande of Canaan and had seene the promise of God performed insteed of thanks for the same they rebelled and prouoked God to anger for he suffered them to be vexed and tormented by tyrants he tooke their libertie away from them and left them destitute of all comfort and helpe yet God raised from time to time such as should defend them if they would be obedient and thankefull vnto God and although the Israelites fell to idolatrie after Iosuas death and thereby were giuen vnto their enemies handes as the tribe of Beniamin 1005. in one day slaine and so the tribe of Dan with others yet God left them not for all their ingratitude but stirred good and godly Iudges as Othoniel Ehud Gedeon and others to deliuer them in extremities The Lorde pitied them and raised Othoniel of the tribe of Iuda the yonger brother of Caleb which gouerned the Israelites 8. yeeres animated them againe to goe to warre against the king of Syria whom God deliuered to the hands of Othoniel and brought them to the fauour of God that Israel had rest 40. yeeres 32. vnder Iosua and 8. vnder Othoniel yet still Israel offended God and committed wickednes before the Lord so long vntill that Eglon king of Moab was by God appointed to bee their scourge Hee smote them and afflicted them and kept them vnder him 18. yeeres vntill Ehud of the tribe of Beniamin a man whome God appointed to defende and to deliuer his people euen he ouerthrewe the Moabites slewe 10000. at one time and killed Eglon the king of Moab and caused Israel to haue rest 80. yeeres the whole time of his gouernment But when this good Iudge died the children of Israel againe fell from the Lord. Then Iabin the king of Canaan had them in his power troubled and persecuted them extremely for God had sold them for their wickednes vnto the handes of Iabin and Sisera his Generall yet still his mercie continued with them for Debora and Barach of the tribe of Nephthali were of God appointed to defend the Hebrewes for Israel preuailed against Iabin king of Canaan and prospered vnder Debora and Barach while Debora and Barach gouerned which was fourtie yeeres Some writers doe interpose Shamgar to be the thirde Iudge of Israel compting Othoniel to be first Iudge that deliuered Israel after Iosua Ehud the seconde Iudge that killed Eglon and then Shamgar which slewe of the Philistims sixe hundred with an Oxe goade Nowe while these thinges were done amongest the Israelites reigned in Niniue Pannias in Athens reigned Pandion the 8. king of the Athenians About this time Bithinia was builded Gedeon the first Iudge one of the tribe of Manasses after that Israel committed wickednes was sent by God to deliuer them from the Madianites who at that time oppressed Israel miserably but they alwaies in great extremities at the last pinch when necessitie forced them and miserie oppressed them according to their wonted maner cried vnto the Lorde and he heard them and helped them by Moses in Egypt and in the wildernes by Iosua to come to the lande of Canaan and in the lande by Othoniel in often deliuering Israel from the king of Syria by Ehud in sauing them from Eglon the king of Moab whome Ehud most boldely and zealously killed in his priuie chamber by Shamgar in defending them from the Philistims of whome he slewe sixe hundred with an Oxe goade by Barach and Debora from Iabin king of Canaan and Sisera and nowe by Gedeon whom God raised to defend them and to deliuer them from the Madianites who preuailed much against Israel for both the Madianites and the Amalekites brought Israel into so great misery that they made them dennes in the mountaines and caues to hide themselues from the Madianites After seuen yeeres oppression and affliction then they cried vnto God when they were most afflicted and persecuted and not before But the mercie of God was with them for all their vilenes and stubbornes Gedeon was called by God to be their aide who ouerthrewe the Madianites and ouercame the Amalekites not by strength or force of Israel but by the workes and wonders of God as you may reade in the Iudges at large for with three hundred Gedeon slewe one hundred and twentie thousand of the Amalekites Madianites and Arabians And though Ephraim murmured against Gedeon yet he appeased them and reuenged him selfe on them of Succoth and Penuel Reade the 8. of the Iudges you shall be satisfied By Gedeon nowe againe Israel was restored to the former libertie and dignitie hauing vanquished the Madianites and slaine Oreb and Zeeb two of their princes and their heads brought to Gedeon beyond Iordan Nowe reigned Panninas in Niniue the fiue and twentieth king of the Assyrians Pandayon of that name the second king after Cecrops reigned in Athens Euristheus the first king of Mycena this was that king whose fame was great in Greece he brought the Argiues and their kingdome subiect vnto Mycena which kingdome continued from Iacobs birth vntill Gedeons time fiue hundred and fiftie yeeres during which time reigned foureteene kings ouer the Argiues About this time reigned in Troy Ilus the fourth king of this kings name Troy was called Ilion being first called Dardania by Dardanus who first builded it in the last yeere of
writers suppose this Abesan to be the Prophet Dauids Grandfather for Ishai Dauids father was borne in the time of Iair in the which time happened inter regnum for 18. yeeres whereby the Hebrewes were compelled to serue the children of Ammon and the Philistims They were in great miserie this time vntill Israel repented which was the onely repentance acknowledging of sinnes we can reade of Israel described in the Iudges at large This Abesan had 30. sonnes and 30. daughters and he sent his 30. daughters to bring other 30. more for his sonnes and when he had gouerned 7. yeeres he died and was buried at Bethlehem Then Elon came in steede of Ieptha he was of the tribe of Zabulon and he iudged Israel 10. yeeres and died and was buried in the Countrey of Zabulon After him Abdon of the tribe of Ephraim iudged Israel 8. yeeres Of these three last Iudges there is nothing left in memorie woorth the writing During this time in Niniue gouerned Tanteus the 29. king of the Assyrians Mezentius gouerned the Tuscans but being driuen by the people called Vitulones out of his chiefe citie he fled vnto an other citie of his called Carites and from thence gathered a great armie and went in armes against Aeneas with Turnus Protheus the Egyptian a Priest of great Ianus flourished this time Likewise happened this season a great deluge in Egypt called diluuium Pharaonicum in so much that the Isle of Pharaoh was drowned with water Agamemnon reigned nowe in Mycena of whom Thucidides doth make mention in the preface of his first booke About this time Helene againe was taken away by Paris hereby the Grecians did gather a great armie for rescuing of Helene after Messengers being sent vnto Priamus and being denied of restoring of Helene the Greekes prepared for warres 1210. nauies as Dares Frigius writeth After this greatwarre the Latines beganne their kingdome ouer whome Aeneas after Latinus time was the first king hauing married Lauinia Latinus daughter All these things were done in the beginning of the sixt Iubile at which time reigned in Athens Demophon the 12. king of the Athenians and one Mopsus reigned in Cilicia of whome they were named afterwarde Mopsecrenae Then after Abdons death Israel had no Iudge for fourtie yeeres but continued in their wickednes and offended the Lorde whereby they were oppressed by the Philistims vntill the birth of Samson of the tribe of Dan whom God had blessed with many vertues as strēgth courage godlines zeale to reuenge the people of god vpō the Philistims This was the last Iudge of Israel but for that the historie is written in the 13. 14. 15. and 16. of the Iudges I will omit other things for during the time of Samson which was twentie yeeres Israel was by the Philistims much molested and fourtie yeeres after Samson when the Israelites were gouerned vnder Ely the high Priest Nowe the Iudges of Israel ended that gouernment which God deliuered them euen from Moses death vntill the birth of Samuel 357. yeeres adding thereunto 40. yeeres of Moses gouernment doeth make the continuance of the Iudges of Israel to be 380. and 17. About this time Orestes the sixt king of Mycena slewe Pyrrhus the sonne of Achilles in the Temple of Apollo for after Orestes time there reigned no more kings in Mycena but Orestes sonne named Tisamenus after whome succeeded Penthilus and after him Cometes the last king of Mycena After this Cometes descended the stocke of Heraclides which afterward came from Peloponesus and tooke Mycena Thus ended the kingdome of Mycena who beganne their gouernment in the time of Gedeon at what time the kingdome of the Argiues was translated vnto Mycena where reigned 10. kings whose names are these Perseus Stelenus Euristheus who was accompted a second Hercules for his worthines After him Atreus Theistes Agamemnon Orestes Tisamenus Penthilus And Cometes the last king The continuance of these kings was from the beginning of Gedeon vntil the beginning of Elie the high Priest which was 157. yeeres so long continued the kingdome of Mycena Now after Samsons daies the house of Israel began according to their vse not to thanke God for his benefites but stil discontented murmuring against God seeking newe Magistrates newe lawes wearie of their gouernment and of their Iudges most desirous of change stubborne people and a wilfull nation idolaters rebellious and factious alwaies by disobedience offending their God God followed their humors they had what they would and they did what they listed they had Elie the high Priest for their Iudge 40. yeeres in his time the Arke was taken by the Philistims his sonnes slaine and himselfe fell from his stoole and died After Elie the high Priest died they had Samuel for their Prophet but they still cried out for a king for neither Iudge Priest nor Prophet might please them but a King and therefore God commanded Samuel to anoint Saul to be their king But first I will lay downe the names of all the Iudges that iudged Israel from the first vnto the last After Moses and Iosua succeeded 1. Othoniel of the tribe of Iuda 2. Ehud of the tribe of Ephraim 3. Debora of the tribe of Ephraim 4. Barach of the tribe of Nephthal 5. Gedeon of the tribe of Manasses 6. Abimelech the bastard of Gedeon the tyrant that slew his 70. brethren 7. Thola of the tribe of Issachar 8. Iair of the tribe of Manasses 9. Iephthe of the tribe of Manasses 10. Elon of the tribe of Zabulon 11. Abdon of the tribe of Ephraim 12. Samson the last Iudge of the tribe of Dan. After these Ely the Priest and Samuel the Prophet Now God had commaunded Samuel to annoint Saul their king saying vnto Samuel They haue not cast thee away but they haue cast me away euer since I brought them out of Egypt to this day because they were not content with the order that God had appointed but would be gouerned as the Gentiles were CHAP. IIII. Of the third change of the common wealth of the Hebrewes first from Oligarchia vnder the Patriarchs secondly from Aristocratia vnder the Iudges now to a Monarchie vnder Kings which Israel cried out and neuer ceased vntill they had a king NOw Saul was king of Israel in the beginning of the 7. Iubile at what time Tineus gouerned the Assyrians and Melanthus gouerned Athens for though Saul Samuel gouerned together 40. yeeres yet Saul gouerned as a king as both Iosephus and Ruffinus affirmed not ten yeeres He had good successe in the beginning of his warres for God gaue him the spirit of strength and courage against the Moabites Edomites Ammonites and against the Philistines till Saul disobeied God in sparing of Agag for the which Samuel reprooued Saul and the lord reiected Saul and his kingdome was gluen to Dauid For after the great victories of Saul of those afore rehersed nations he
hundred sixtie two yeeres and Iuda which continued three hundred ninetie three yeeres but both Iuda and Israel forsooke God and followed idolatrie vntill GOD at length by his iust iudgement destroyed them vtterly for the rigour of Roboham in following of lewd counsell made the people to rebell the house of Dauid against the house of Israel hee folowed women and had eighteene wiues and threescore concubines hee had eight and twentie sonnes and three score daughters Roboham forsooke the Lord and therefore Susack king of Egypt came vp against Ierusalem ransackt the Citie spoyled the Temple and tooke the treasures of the Citie and of Robohams house this was the first destruction and affliction of Ierusalem for Roboham had transgressed the commandements of God for no calamities could come to Israel no countrey might annoy them no king could hurt them But when the Lord gaue them ouer for sinne this Susack king of Egypt came in the fift yeere of Roboham with twelue hundred chariots with three score thousand horsemen and the people were innumerable that were with him as Iosephus saieth foure hundreth thousand footemen came from Egypt with him Lubins Sukimes people of Affrica called also Troglodites he had Aethiopians Egyptians with diuers other more nations he tooke the strong cities of Iuda and caried their treasure to Egypt After the time of Roboham who raigned 17. yeeres succeeded him in Ierusalem his sonne Abia against whom Ieroboam straight after Robohams death came in armes with great expedition they both prepared for the battell the greatest armie that euer was in Israel Abia had foure hundred thousand chosen men Ieroboam had eight hundred thousand men and the battell met and fought and for that Abia trusted in the Lord who is the stay of all kingdomes and the giuer of all victories hee had such a victorie ouer Ieroboam that Israel fled before Iuda and God deliuered them vnto the hands of Abia being yong of yeeres and too tender to execute such a charge and to gouerne such an armie so that the slaughter was great euē fiue hundred thousand chosen men slaine so that Iudea preuailed against Israel at that time because they depended vpon the Lord of their fathers so Ieroboam was brought vnder at that time Hee was so pursued by Abia his strong Cities taken his men slaine himselfe hardly escaped the Lord plagued him that he could not recouer strength in Israel againe all the dayes of his life For because God made him a king of a seruant and he neglected the seruice of God and forgot his benefits therefore he was iustly punished for Dan and Bethel was the first and the greatest cause of his fall I neuer read in prophane histories of such a number neither in the historie of the Church foure hundred thousand souldiers in one armie and eight hundred thousand in the other Ieroboā after he had raigned in Israel 22. yeres died See you the anger of God for idolatrie in seruing worshipping the calues of Dan and Bethel for God gaue Israel ouer vnto their last destruction which was in the time of Salmanasser Senacheribs father for Iuda deuoured Israel and Israel deuoured Iuda that both at length were destroyed and ouerthrowen Iuda by Nabuchadonosor Israel by Salmanasser both Ierusalem and Samaria made euen to the ground in the time of Zedechias the last king of Iuda and Osea the last king of Israel Then succeeded Ieroboham in Israel Nadab their second king the naturall sonne of Ierobohā wicked malicious cruel following his fathers steps in idolatrie all wickednes But God stirred vp one tyrant to punish an other for Nadab did offend in prouoking the people to commit idolatrie with his golden calues and as hee was most busie in besieging a towne belonging to the Philistims named Gibbethon he was slaine of Baasha according to the Oracle of God before spoken The sinne of Ieroboam was great and therefore Baasha was appointed by God to destroy all the house of Ieroboam he slewe Nadab and reigned in his steede In Iuda nowe reigned Asa a wise godly and discreet man an obseruer of the lawes of God a walker in his waies and in Israel Baasha the 3. king reigned warre grewe betweene Baasha king of Israel and Asa king of Iuda Ramah was builded by Baasha to that purpose that none might goe in or out to Asa king of Iuda who followed the example of Ieroboam But Asa assembled all Iuda and tooke the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof and builded Mizpah and Geba two great townes in Iuda the warres continued betweene the house of Israel and the house of Iuda But still the Lorde had respect to Dauid and to his stocke for Baasha and all his posteritie had the like ende as Ieroboam had and his house But Asa walked right before God he destroied idolatrie tooke away the altars of the strange gods and brake downe the images and cut in peeces the groues hee deposed his mother Maacha from her regencie and threwe downe her idols which she had made in a groue Asa brake it stampt it and buried it at the brooke of Cedron commanded Iuda to seeke the Lord and to serue him for he knewe like a godly king that in abolishing of idolatrie and aduauncing true religion the rest and quietnes of kingdomes stoode For when Zareus king of Aethiopia came against him with an huge armie of ten hundreth thousand to Maresa a towne of Iuda Asa praied vnto God when he should goe to fight and acknowledged all victories to come from God and therefore obtained the victorie ouer the Aethiopians slewe them and pursued them to Gerar and there was no warre in Iuda vnto the 35. yeere of Asa. Yet he was reproued by the Prophet for his couenant with Benhadad king of Syria and likewise offended God to trust in Physicions to helpe his disease not to seeke helpe at Gods hands About this time Elias and Elizeus were borne in the middle age of the world Capetus Siluius nowe reigned the 9. king ouer the Latines Eutropius calleth this king Epidus In Assyria gouerned Ophrateus and in Lacedemonia the fift king Doristus at what time Smyrna was builded in Samos in king Asas time Nepher Cherres reigned in Egypt king for 4. yeeres and after him succeeded a king in Egypt called Amenophis who reigned 9. yeeres In Athens gouerned Phorbas the 5. Iudge and in Corinth ruled Basis the 5. king after whom their kings were called Bacidae as the Romane Emperours were named Caesares In these daies Hiel the Bethelite did build Iericho which fel before in the daies of Iosua at the sounding of the trumpets and shouting of the Israelites But the iudgement of God followed Ieroboams house according to the Prophet saying to Nadab and to Baasha that slewe Nadab That dogges should eate him that died in the citie and the fowles
the Machabees you may reade vntill contention grewe betweene the Samaritanes and the Iewes in Alexandria concerning the religion and holines of their temples which was with great malice followed standing one with an other in defiance vntill the matter was to be iudged before Ptolomeus Philometor king of Egypt the Iewes hauing one Andronicus a learned Iewe to open the priuiledge authoritie of the Temple of Hierusalem the Samaritans had also one Sabbeus a wise discreete man to pleade for the Temple of Samaria For there dwelled amōgst the Iewes at that time 3. sects of religion the first were called Pharises the 2. Saduces the 3. Esseni The Pharises acknowledged the iudgement of God to come with the reward of good and euill confessing the immortalitie of the soule The Saduces cleane contrary holding an opinion stoute against the Pharises in all points The Esseni supposed al things to be gouerned by fate and that nothing could happen to man but by destinie After this Ionathan sent to Sparta and to Rome to renewe the couenant betwene the Iewes and the people of Sparta for it was founde and knowen in their Chronicles that the Spartians came of the generation of Abraham In the meane time one Triphon that was tutor to Alexanders sonne named Antiochus a very yong man expected to be king in Syria in the roome of his father considering how falsly and traiterously he was slaine by the meanes of Ptolomeus his father in lawe and Demetrius to whom Cleopatra his wife was wrongfully giuen in mariage This Triphon by the colour of this title to yong Antiochus Sedetes sonne to Antiochus Epiphanes became very ambicious of the kingdome himselfe layd wait to kil Ionathan and take him by deceite and hauing also heard howe Demetrius calamities encreased by the Parthians sawe an easie way to obteine the kingdome by killing of the yong king Antiochus to whome he promised faith and seruice to restore him to his kingdome for that his father Alexander was wrongfully deposed and slaine For as soone as Triphon had slaine Ionathan and his two sonnes and also king Antiochus hee straight wayes maketh warres vpon Simon the brother of Ionathan who succeeded in his roome to defend the Iewes promising to followe the steps of his father and of his brethren for Simon was well beloued of the Iewes and therefore in great authoritie proceeded with the like courage as his brethren did to warre vpon the enemies and came in armes against Gazara Iamnia and Ioppa wasted them and spoyled them layde siege to Ierusalem and wanne the castle pursued Triphon which then vsurped the kingdome of Syria to the castle of Dora from whence he secretly fled vnto Apania a citie in Phenicia where he was slaine by Antiochus friendes within 3. yeeres after he had falsly vsurped Syria After this grew strife betweene Antiochus and Simon and therefore Cendebaeus was appointed Captaine by Antiochus against Simon but Simon preuailed in all his actions prospered in al his warres and conquered his enemies for the space of 8. yeeres vntill Ptolome who maried Simons daughter conspired against him slewe him and his 2. sonnes at a banquet and sent secretly to kill Iohn named likewise Hircanus the sonne of Simon But he hauing intelligēce that his father and his 2. brethren were slaine and that Ptolome had sent to slay him also he preuented that and slewe them and fled to a castle called Dagon Now Hircanus possessing the office of his father not forgetting the villenie and cruel murther of this Ptolomeus thought to reuenge it when time would serue In the meane season Antiochus sirnamed Pius being mindeful of iniuries receiued of Hircanus father Simon came with a great hoste to Iudea in the 162. Olympiad compassed the Citie Ierusalem with his armie kept Hircanus close within the citie not daring to looke out but after that Hircanus had promised 500. talents to Antiochus to depart in peace hee opened the graue of Dauid where he founde 3000. talents of siluer of the which he satisfied Antiochus which within a short time after was slaine amongst the Parthians in whose place succeeded his brother Demetrius Hircanus When he had heard that Antiochus was dead he came presently with an armie to Syria destroyed the temple in Samaria which Alexander the great permitted to be builded tooke Samega before called Samaria with the citie Sicima and many townes beside where the nations of the Cutheans dwelt which Salmanassar brought with him to inhabite Samaria in stead of the 10. tribes which he caried captiue away to Babylon for after that Samaria was destroyed first by Salmanasser the Samaritans were called Chutheans a people of Babylon and of Caldea Now it was plagued by Hircanus besieged by Aristobulus and Antigonus the sōnes of Hircanus that after one yeres siege they broght Samaria euen to the groūd and caused riuers lakes to ouerflow the place where Samaria was that no man knewe where Samaria stood so wicked a seate and so vngodly a towne full of all horrible idolatrie and blasphemie For Samaria had bene twise builded first by Omri which was destroyed by Salmanasser king of Syria after builded by Manasses the brother of Iaddus the hie Priest by the meanes of his father in lawe Sanabalat chiefe gouernour vnder Darius builded a Church to encounter with Hierusalem in mount Garizin at Samaria where from Babylon and from Assyria men and women came to dwell willing to receiue the lawes of Moses but not to forsake their Idols At what time Onias builded the 3. temples in AEgypt this was the sonne of that Onias which was the hie Priest at Hierusalem whom Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria slewe at his ransaking of Hierusalem at what time hee destroyed the citie spoyled the temple and put vp the Image of Iupiter Olympus vpon the altar of the Lord this 3. temple continued at Heliopolis in Egypt 330. yeres Reade more of this in the Machabees Beside al this I meane the tabernacle the hie hilles called excelsa the 3. temples they had certaine other meetings and seruing of God though not in temples yet in places that resembled the temple Of this no mention is made neither in the historie of the Iudges nor of the Kings and therefore it seemeth that after the Iewes were captiuated into Babylon and their kingdome destroyed many of them being dispersed some to Egypt some to Asia and some to Europa met together as many as were in one citie or countrey hauing no temples but places by themselues made like temples which were called after Synagogues and so continued for after the 70. yeeres of captiuitie the Iewes being permitted by Cyrus to returne and to reare their temple for strangers that dwelt in other Prouinces as at Alexandria Silicia Asia and in diuers other places and yet Iewes borne when they came to Hierusalem either to the feast which was thrise a yeere or vpon any
last by the Romans Cornelius Festus Sillas sonne and Furus Centurio entred first the Citie and after the whole Romane armie rushed in and slew 22. thousand Iewes spared the temple and the sacred treasures therein defiled not the Sanctuarie neither touched Pompey the golden table neither tooke away with him one penie of the 2000. talents which was the treasure of the temple But Crassus in short time after going against the Parthians in his voyage spared neither treasure nor the temple Ierusalem was builded in Iudea by Sem the sonne of Noah and was by him first named Solima or Salem a citie most famous and the soile it selfe most fertile and so by God blessed and preserued from the first building in the time of Sem vnto the last ouerthrowe of the same by Titus the Romane Emperour being 2177. yeeres Iosephus doeth describe the situation and building of this towne that it was builded vpon two hilles the one hill higher then the other Dauid the first king of the tribe of Iuda in whose time for that he fortified the higher hill after his dayes it was called Castellum Dauid the lower hil was called Acra ouer against this hil Acra they began afterwards to drawe another hill to enlarge this citie and to ioyne the temple within the same for the temple was builded on a hard high rocke for that it might the better be seene that the state and magnificence thereof might be beholden and seene aboue the towne and aboue the high towres of the walles for Hierusalem was compassed with three seuerall walles fronted one against another with such high strong towers that some of them were 70. cubites higher then the walles as the tower called Psephina likewise the tower of Hippicos was fourescore and fiue cubites high The second towre called Phasaelis after Herods brothers name was fourescore and tenne cubites high the thirde named after his wiues name Mariannes which farre excelled the rest whose large descriptions you shall reade in Iosephus a Iewe borne and brought vp in Ierusalem vntil the destruction thereof where he was taken prisoner by Titus there it is set forth to the ful the situation of the citie the beautie of the temple the strength of the walles the height and largenesse of the towres the port and state of the gates the full description of the foure hilles which Hierusalem was builded on and other things which now I omit for the circuite of Hierusalems walles was no more but thirtie and nine furlongs This towne was nothing like in bignesse to Babylon or to Niniue but farre greater in fame and in victories for Hierusalem had triumphed and sawe the ende and last destruction of the Caldeans Assyrians Egyptians Arabians and Persians for litle Iudea endured the force and power of the three first Monarchies which was the Assyrians the Persians and the Grecians though it was before conquered fiue seuerall times by the iust iudgement of God for their transgression and sinne yet by the mercie of God saued and preserued as is before mentioned vntil thirtie eight yeres after Christs death All that while that they serued God and followed the steppes of their forefathers I meane Abraham Isaac Iaacob Daniel Iosaphat Ezechias and Iosias they preuailed against all nations they conquered all Countreys and brought all the kingdomes of the worlde to admire their vertues to feare their force and to seeke fauour and friendship at their handes though they were sometime touched for their stiffenecked stubbernes and too much iniquities as in Egypt in the wildernes and after they had possessed the land of Promes for still they offended the Lorde for the which these seuerall fiue conquests were had ouer them The first was by Nabuchodonosor the great king of Babylon the second by Asocheus king of Egypt the thirde time by Antiochus the great king of Syria the fourth by Pompeius the great and the fift and last was by Titus Vespatian In the which last subuersion and ouerthrowe of Hierusalem wee reade in Iosephus being then a present souldier in the warres the calamities and great miseries that then fel on the citie of Ierusalem and on the inhabitants thereof Their hunger and famine was so great that one did eate an others vomite the fathers did eate their children and the mothers fed on their owne babes in the cradle in so much that stinking carions and dead bodies which died for hunger in the streete was meate of great daintines in Ierusalem They were constrained to eate beastes dung dried leather girdles shoes and skinnes which couered their shields yea they sought their foode in Iakeses many slewe and butchered one another in the citie Besides this the plague was so hote amongst them that lodgings houses temples and all the streetes in Ierusalem were filled with dead bodies The slaughter was such as within 18. moneths siege 110000. were slaine within the citie and most of them strangers and Gentiles which came vp to the feast according to the custome of the Iewes where suddenly they were taken and besieged you must thinke by famine and by the sword During which time 97000. were taken prisoners and captiues there were found of the Iewes in priuies and Iakeses and hiding themselues in caues sinkes and holes of the earth aboue 2000. Some sent of these to the nomber of 70. thousand to Egypt as bond slaues there to moile like beastes in intollerable toile some solde more cheape then dogs for Egesippus witnesseth that 30. Iewes were solde for a penie and those were yong boyes vnder sixteene yeeres OF THE FIRST ORIGInall of the CHALDEANS first called Arphaxades after the name of Arphaxad the thirde sonne of SEM which was the first kingdome of the world of their continuance gouernment and last destruction by Darius Medius and Cyrus NOw hauing ended the historie of the Hebrewes the posteritie of Arphaxad the thirde sonne of Sem I will followe Assur the second sonne of Sem who builded Niniue from whom and after whose name the Assyrians are called whose history I haue now in hand In the hundreth thirtie and one yeere after the flood when people had multiplied in the land of Shinear olde Noah taught the people to seeke new seates and dwellings instructed the newe worlde the first age after the flood in the course of the Sunne the Moone and the starres and in all other things wherein Noah was most perfite hee declared to his people what he knewe and sawe in the first age and deuided the world into three parts Asia Africke and Europe and sent his sonnes to seeke aduentures Cham he sent to Egypt and to Africke with his company Sem to Asia and Iaphet with his people to Europe of whom I will speake where their historie is handled Now I will begin the historie of the Chaldeans who after that the people were dispersed at the building of Babel and had scattered into euery partes of the worlde were the first that
Of this queene and of her doings her warres and her great workes you shall reade in Diodorus and Annius how she became so great so terrible and so luckie in any warre she tooke in hand that she excelled farre all the Assyrian and Caldean kings in victories and triumphs vntil Nabuchodonosors time but slaine at last by her sonne called Nynus or Nynias as Melancthon and Annius and Ruffinus writeth the 5. king of the Assyrians who liued with his mother and had no gouernment for that he was a simple man and who succeeded his mother being neither like to his father nor to his mother a king giuen to slouthfulnesse full of idlenesse of whom we reade nothing worth the writing sauing that he repaired beautified the temples of their idols and made much of the Chaldean magi which were accompted wise men obseruing the turne of Astrologers who began then in those dayes to vse diuination he reigned 38. yeeres who a litle before he died Camesenus being forced to flee frō all the partes of the world came to Bactria and there strengthened himselfe with the Bactrians that he prepared a great army to inuade the Assyrians but he was slaine and his armie ouerthrowen euen of this king Ninias as Berosus affirmeth yet Diodorus Iustinus Orosius say that this was done by Nynus the father of Ninias Let the reader beleeue whō hee list I had rather follow Berosus though he is supposed not to be Berosus yet the best writer vseth him in this historie for he is best to be beleeued for that hee knoweth better the Chaldean histories being a Chaldean borne then others This Ninias or Ramisninias is takē to be that king which is called Amraphel in Genesis king of Shinar which is Babylon for in the daies of Amraphel came Arioch king of Ellasar who came with the king of Shinar against the kings of Sodom Gomorrha together with two other kings Chedor king of Elam and Tidal king of the nations gathered of diuers countries These foure kings made warre with Bera king of Sodom with Byrsha king of Gomorrha with Shemeber king of Seboim and with the king of Bela in the vale of Siddim At this very warre Lot the nephew of Abraham for hee dwelt then at Sodom was taken with the king of Sodom the rest was rescued by Abraham his vncle he all his goods al his substance men women Abraham recouered frō Amraphel king of Shinar his company By this time Egypt began to florish and the kings of Egypt beganne to be strong they were all named Pharaohs as the Romanes called their Emperors Caesars names of great dignitie While this conflict and these great armies of fiue kings against foure were in the field you must vnderstand they were but gouernors of cities for in these daies skant the names of kingdoms were knowen but a kind of gouernment called Oligarchia by reason it was within 350. yeres of the flood At that time Abraham comming backe with Lot Melchisedec king of Shalem came to meete him blessed him to whom Abraham gaue tithe of al that he had This Melchisedec is taken to be Sem the sonne of Noah king of Shalem afterward called Ierusalem After this Ninias succeeded his sonne Arius the sixt king of the Assyrians as Functius writeth but Ruffinus the fourth and yet they vary not but in this that Functius beginneth from Nimrod which Ruffinus saith began in Babylon not in Niniue Againe Functius numbreth Semiramis reigne for that she reigned 40. yeres after her husband Nynus which Ruffinus omitteth coumpting Nynus reigne for both for both the gouernment of Semiramis and Ninus forward stil of the rest of the kings of Assyria Ruffinus omitting these two Nimrod Semiramis maketh Functius to say sixe and Ruffinus to accoumpt foure but in this I will follow Functius This Arius after that his father Ninias was dead hee gathered a great host of souldiers against the Bactrians and the Caspians with whom his father and his forefathers were enemies alwayes hee inuaded them againe spoyled their countrey slue their king and brought Bactria and Caspia subiect to the Assyrians in this kings time died Noah about twelue yeres after Abraham was called from Vr in Chaldea and came to Haran where hee staied foure yeres Thus florished the kingdome of the Assyrians being still augmented with more Prouinces Cities and Countries by Arius and his predecessors and when hee had reigned 30. yeeres he died and after him succeeded Aralius the seuenth king of the Assyrians a warlike prince a man of great prowesse skilfull in militarie discipline full of martiall exploites of whom Berosus affirmeth that it was he that first vsed triumphs and pompes with great honor dignitie and rewards to souldiers that deserued praise began to be delicious in bankets and feastes and inuented many engins of warres that then were not knowen In this kings fathers time there dwelt in Celtiberia a great wise man expert in many things whose name was Druyas of whom as Berosus writeth the auncient priests and wise men were called Druyades so doth Plinie write and Caius Iulius Caesar in his booke de bello Gallico This Aralius ruled Assyria fourtie yeeres and died Then beganne in Niniue the reigne of Baleus surnamed Xerxes the eight king of the Assyrians this surmounted farre his predecessour Aralius for hee brought vnder the scepter of Assyria twise asmuch people Nations and Countries as his predecessour did and therefore he was called Xerxes that is the conquerour the triumpher which long after were names of great dignitie among the Persians This king was both fierce and fortunate and enlarged the confines of his kingdome with many Nations he conquered al Countries vnto India he made the kings to bee feared so much of all kingdomes that he was named of the Assyrians Xerxes victor triumphator this reigned as Berosus doth write thirtie yeeres In this Baleus dayes Inachus the first king of the Argiues and their first kingdome began After Baleus reigned in Assyria a king named Armatrites the ninth of him there is no great thing to bee read to his commendation hee was giuen much to wicked lust and slouthfulnesse consuming his time in feasting and banquetting from one pleasure vnto another more cōuersant with women then with men and more delicious in apparell then hardie in warres and more giuen as Berosus saith to a lewde life then to vertuous exercise he reigned 38. yeeres In these dayes Sem the sonne of Noah died and the king of Salem being sixe hundred yeeres olde for Sem was a hundred yeere olde when the flood began and hee liued before the flood with three of his olde fathers with Noah Methusalem and Lamech and after the flood he liued in the second age vntill Iacobs time and died in the fiftie yere of Iacobs age seuen hundred yeeres iust before Dauids birth
that the olde Assyrian Empire possessed but a litle part of Assyria Modicam quandam Assyriae partem obtinuit as Dionysius affirmeth for during the time and gouernment of the first kings of Assyria euen from Nynus the first king vntill Sardanapalus their last king was fabulosum tempus the trueth of their historie and the glory of their Empire appeared from the time of Phul Belochus which was father to Phul Assur and in the sacred Scripture named Tiglat Assur This Phul Assur was father to Salmanasser and Salmanasser was father to Senaherib At this time it was called newe Assyria whose Empire was againe after the death of Saneherib by Merodach brought into Babylon for in Babylon the first Empire began after translated from Babylon to Niniue and now from Niniue to Babylon againe where it ended in Balsaar as it shall be shewed when the historie commeth to it In this kings time the Midianites preuailed much against the children of Israel for seuen yeres and they were sore oppressed vntill Gedeon was sent to be their deliuerer and to be their iudge Then Pannias or otherwise Pannas was the 25. king of Assyria in whose time the kings of Argiues ended their kingdome their Empire was translated into Mycena after they had gouerned as kings 540. yeeres In this time reigned in Athens Pandion and Mydas gouerned in Phrygia About which time Abimelech the tyrant vsurpeth the kingdome of Israel and putteth seuentie of his brethren to death Habuit mercedem for at Thebes as Abimelech was besieging a high strong Towre a woman did cast a piece of a milstone vpon his head and brake his braine panne after he had bene a iudge in Israel three yeeres In the 24. of Pannias happened the fourth Iubilee after Moses In this kings time likewise ruled in Israel Thola a iudge of the tribe of Isachar and gouerned the people of Israel 23. yeres After this reigned Sosarmus 19. yeeres in Assyria It is written that Orpheus the Thracian the most famous and most auncient musitian liued at this time Iair the Gileadite gouerned Israel 22. yeeres this iudge had thirtie sōnes that rode on 30. asse coltes men of great authoritie for they had thirtie Cities in the land of Gilead and they kept the land in peace 22. yeeres Now Faunius Iunior gouerned Italie to whom Euander came from Arcadia and had giuen him certaine lands in Italie which Euander called afterward Palatinum Manethon writeth that Hercules Amphitrions sonne was borne about this time of whom the Poets faine that he was the sonne of Iupiter of this man more shal be spoken amongst the Grecians when I speake of their histories But againe to the Assyrians who had after Sosarmus a king called Mytreus the 27. king and raigned 27. yeeres in the latter ende of this kings raigne Hercules killed Cacus the great giant in mount Auentine after Hercules ouerthrew Troy and killed the king called Laomedon and made Priamus his sonne king of the Troyans who againe repaired and builded vp Troy to be one of the strongest townes of the worlde This Hercules came to Italie fiftie and fiue yeeres before AEneas comming and gaue to the Italians lawes Reade of this more in Halicarn lib. 1. In Israel after Iudge Iair died it was 18. yeres interregnum without a Iudge and they wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord againe and serued Baalim and Ashtaroth the gods of Syria and the gods of Sidon the gods of Moab the gods of Ammon and the gods of the Philistines and God was angrie with them and deliuered them to the handes of their enemies who vexed and oppressed them 18. yeeres vntill the time they put away the strange gods and serued the true God with great repentance Ishai the father of the Prophet Dauid was borne about this time three hundreth yeere after the Israelites going out of Egypt Nowe with the Assyrians Tautanes the 28. king beginneth to rule about which time Hercules appointed the games of Olympia where all the Grecians came to exercise feates of armes running and wrastling with all other kinde of exercise 430. yeeres before the Olympiads began This time happened in Egypt in the Isle of Pharao a great deluge called Diluuium Pharaonicum which did ouerflowe the whole countrey which was seldome seene in Egypt for that they haue no raine but onely the ouerflowing of Nilus which once a yeere happeneth vnto them By this time Iephtah was made Iudge in Israel a valiant man but for that hee was a bastard sedition grewe in Israel against Iephtha by the Ephraimites his brethren thrusted him out and Iephtha fled to the land of Tob but hee was made afterward captaine ouer Israel and hee subdued the Ammonites from Aroer to Abel 20. cities and slew 42. thousand of the Ephraimites and for the victorie here of he sacrificed his daughter vnto the Lord according to his vow though it was rash vnlawful In this Tautanes time raigned 4. Iudges Iephtha 6. yeres Ibzan gouerned 7. yeres some thought this to be Boas the husband of Ruth the grandfather of Dauid this had 30. sonnes and 30. daughters After him Elon of the tribe of Zabulon iudged Israel 10. yeeres and after Elon ruled Abdon this Iudge had 40. sonnes and thirtie sonnes sonnes that rode on 70. assecolts and he gouerned Israel 10. yeres and died About this time Theseus rauished Helen the wife of Menelaus which being by Adoneus king of the Molosseans taken was rescued by his felow and alwayes his companion Hercules In the kingdome of Assyria succeeded Tautanes who raigned 40. yeres of which we reade nothing worth the writing At this time Samson the sonne of Manoah of the tribe of Dan gouerned Israel 20. yeeres he plagued the Philistims who had kept Israel vnder hand for their sinnes wickednes for God was angrie with them for notwithstanding all his goodnes his mercy towardes them and his miracles amongst them yet they still rebelled and moued the Lord to wrath this Samson was the last Iudge of Israel Then the state of the Israelites gouernment was altered and they were vnder Ely the priest At this time raigned a king that gouerned the Thuscanes named Ocnus Beanor this builded Mantua the coūtrey where Virgil was borne which the Romans called after Hethruscanes Now that the race of the Iudges of Israel is ended which continued from Moses death vntil Samuel 357. yeres God suffred kings to gouerne his people and appointed his Prophets to direct his kings this came to passe in Samuels time who anoynted Saul king ouer Israel and they both together raigned 40. yeeres By this time Tyneus the 30. king of the Assyrians raigned in Niniue 30. yeres and in the 13. of his raigne the 7. Iubilee of the Iewes began The kingdome of Hispane before called Iberia before that time Celtiberia is in this time deuided into prouinces into seueral gouernmēts of
cities and countreis hauing 24. kings by succession which continued vntil 75. yeeres after the destruction of Troy continued so vntil the Carthaginians began to flourish whom the Romanes afterward cōquered At this time one Pypinus gouerned the Thuscanes and raigned as Manethon writes 56. yeres In the last yeres of this king Tyneus the Prophet Dauid was borne 407. yeres after the children of Israels going out of Egypt and in the 7. Iubile after Moses then began to raigne in Assyria Dercillus he raigned 40. yeres In his dayes began the kingdome of Lacedemonia 83. yeres after Troys destruction the first king of Lacedemonia was called Euristenes who raigned 42. yeeres of him came lineally 2. noble and valiant captains Cleomenes and Leonidas who in their time were most famous for they inuaded the Persians and ouerthrew them at Thermophila About the same yere the Corinthians began likewise to establish a kingdome for the Lacedemonians and the Corinthians began at one time to raigne the first king of Corinth was Alethes and he raigned 35. yeres In the 10. yere of king Dercillus the Arke of the Lord was taken by the Philistines and caried vnto Ashdod one of their fiue principal cities they kept the Arke 7. moneths For when the Israelites were ouercome by the Philistines and the arke taken away Ely the priest hearing that the Israelites were ouerthrowen the arke taken and his two sonnes slaine fel down frō his stoole brake his necke for so the Lord told Samuel before what should become vpō Ely his house Israel stil offended God now not contented with the gouernmēt which God appointed them but cried out for a king God cōmanded Samuel to anoint Saul their king About this time great warres grew betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenians Codrus at that time liued was the last king of Athens for after Codrus there was no king there but gouernours called Metontidae Codrus sonne called Medon was the first Iudge in Athens after the kings Codrus according to the Oracle giuen that the Athenians should haue no victories vnlesse their king were slaine in the battell he disguised himselfe like a common souldier rushed into the midst of the battaile purposely to be slaine that his countrey might haue victorie being the last of the 17. kings hauing ruled Athens 21. yeeres ended his life and his kingdome About this time Samuel was commanded to anoint Dauid king ouer Israel and many learned men would haue Homer about this time to be borne some controuersie is of Homers time Eratosthenes thought it within 100. yeeres after the destruction of Troy and so saith Aristarchus and Cornelius Nepos both affirme that Homer flourished 100. yeeres before the first Olympiad Budaeus saith that Homer liued in the latter yeres of king Dauid so they square about 80. yeres of Homers birth During this time raigned ouer the Latines AEneas Siluius their fourth king After this raigned in Assyria Eupales 38. yeeres in whose time the Peloponesians againe mooued warres against the Athenians Now about this time the promise is made to Dauid that the continuance of his kingdome should for euer endure but with crosses and afflictions for Absalon killed his brother Amnon a litle after and fled vnto the king of Gessur and taried there three yeere By this time Salomon was borne of Bethsaba the wife of Vrias Nathan and Gad were in those dayes Prophets of the Lord. Now raigned in Athens Medon the first Iudge the sonne of Codrus the last king of Athens in Lacedemonia Argis the second king raigned one yeere Arcestratus succeeded the third king of Lacedemonia and gouerned the Lacedemonians 35. yeeres in Corinth likewise Ixon the second king raigned 37. yeeres for both these kingdomes had one beginning and therefore their kingdome is accordingly to be handled for in the last yeres of the kings of Assyrians histories the Grecians began for this vnderstand that the Caldeans Assyrians Egyptians and all the East part of the world which were first inhabited after the flood were euen consumed with sworde and fire before the Grecians or the Romanes were acquainted with the world and therefore the lesse to be spoken of these olde auncient people for want of authorities and had not the holy Ghost lightened prophane histories with true records of the Scripture all antiquities had almost bene put to obliuion for all that are in trueth learned in histories take their light from Moses he is the grand scholemaster of all writers About this time Nicius Fesulanus gouerned the Thuscanes 47. yeres he expelled the people called Phocenses out of Corsica and Nicius builded a towne and named it Nicea after his owne name By this time Salomon grewe great in Gods fauour began to make the temple in Ierusalem excelled all the princes of the world in wisdome gouernment Hiram king of Tyrus at that time sendeth to Salomon and Salomon to him purposing to builde the house of God which temple began to be builded the fourth yeere of Salomons raigne and the 12. of Hiram king of Tyre Salomons friend who procured workemen to worke in Libanon and after the going of Israel out of Egypt 480. yeeres Some thinke that Carthage was builded by Charcedon at that time some thinke of Dido others say otherwise both of the building of Carthage and of the time of building as in the building of Troy and in the building of Rome the like controuersie is that sub iudice lis est Laosthenes the 33. king of the Assyrians is the next king after Eupales and is now in hand to be spoken of in whose time Alba Siluius gouerned the Latines the sixt king for the sirnames of the Latin kings were called Siluij as the kings of Alexandria were called Ptolomei as before I told you of the Caesars of Rome and Pharaos of Egypt About this time the kingdome of Israel for the idolatrie of Salomon was deuided and the ten tribes caried from Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon king of Iuda vnto Ieroboam king of Israel who inuented many wicked things in Israel idolatrie new religion contempt of the true God putting vp for their god the golden calfe thus he and his posterities continued from the fourth yeere of Rehoboam vntil the 19. yeere of Nabuchodonosor which was 390. yeeres at what time the last destruction of Ierusalem and the captiuitie of Iuda was Archippus the third Iudge atthis time ruled Athens where he gouerned 19. yeeres vnder whom flourished Sextus Homerus a citizen of Athens this man gaue new lawes to the Athenians The Thracians were strong by this time and became great on land and seas Smendes king of Egypt to whom Ieroboam fled and with whome he staied vntil Salomon died this Smendes is named in Scripture Sesac this came vp against Ierusalem the fift yere of Rehoboam destroyed the citie spoiled the temple and
pleasures he commaunded fire to be put to his pallace I meane that pile of wood which he made for his graue and so ended his life and the Empire together in fire to escape his enemies thus ended the monarchie of Assyria after one thousand two hundreth and fourtie yeeres continuance Behold the euents of the kingdoms of the world how God gaue them alwayes vp to the enemies when they flourished most in glory and were most in force power Euen so was Chaldea and Assyria the only empires of the world which farre excelled all other kingdomes when it was ouerthrowen by Cyrus insomuch that the great and mightie king Nabuchodonosor the onely Hercules by Megasthenes so named of the East kingdomes who aduanced himselfe vp vnto the heauens who was compared for his great magnificence and glorious pompe of his huge empire for the pride of his minde and insolencie of his state to the starre Lucifer for the brightnes beautie and glorie of his Empire his greatnes was such that hee had diuine honours done vnto him but his pride and pompe was layde in the pitte For in the time of Nabuchodonosor the Chaldeans and Assyrians flourished for they were kings of the Arabians of the Egyptians of all Syria and for the glorie and greatnes of their kingdome it passed all others farre and being the first kingdome of the world was called the golden kingdome aureum seculum the other three Monarchies were called Argenteum seculum the siluer age beganne in Cyrus time in Persia the brasen age in Macedonia in the time of Alexander and last the Iron age among the Romanes beganne in Iulius Caesars time described in Daniel by the foure beastes For all Nabuchodonosors power strength states and kingdomes lost all within threescore and tenne yeeres of this his great possession and power Euen so the kings of Egypt which flourished in like strength and claimed the like maiestie lost their kingdome in the midest of their glory and were ouerthrowen by Cambyses To bee short because God would bee knowen vnto his people whom the wicked neuer confessed to bee the God of victorie he deliuered Pharao and all Egypt into the handes of Nabuchodonosor and for his pompe and pride herein thinking that it was his owne strength his owne force and power hee deliuered Nabuchodonosor and his posterities with all the Empire of Assyria and Chaldea into the handes of Cyrus whose kingdome flourished much aboue the rest vntil Darius sirnamed Codomanus whose wealth force and kingdomes were such that he made nothing of all the world beside God gaue him ouer into the handes of Alexander the great whose greatnesse continued not long for the like vnthankefulnesse to God for his kingdome passed to the Romanes Thus God appointed the weakest sometime to vanquish the strongest and raised vp the meanest to ouercome the mightiest Thus was Egypt subdued by the Chaldeans the Chaldeans by the Persians the Persians by the Macedonians the Macedonians by the Romanes and the long empire of the Romans their pompe and their glorie taken away by the Germanes and the Germanes rather prouinces to be called then an Empire so wickednesse preuailed that Turkes Canes Sophies with such infidels of long time flourished Then Arbaces and Phul Belochus deuided these Empires Phul Belochus helde Babylon and Niniue Arbaces possessed Media and Persia for his part But to write of Chaldea first this Phul Belochus though he dwelt in Babylon and raigned asking there eight and fourtie yeeres yet the name of the Monarchie continued still in Assyria for that the most part of the other Kings had their mansion in Niniue and therefore after Sardanapalus time called the newe kingdome of Assyria Nowe Belochus being settled king in Babylon called also the king of Assur hee came against the lande of Israel and mooued warres against Manahem then king but being pacified with a thousand talents of siluer he returned to Babylon without any harme done and there died when he had raigned eight and fourtie yeeres After him succeeded his sonne Phul Assur named in Scripture Tyglat Phul Assur this infidel God stirred vp against Israel for their sinnes hee tooke all these Cities and coastes Aron Abel Bethmecha Asor Gilead and Galilee and all the land of Nepthali and caried them vnto Assyria this king raigned three and twentie yeeres as both Functius and Melancthon write yet Metasthenes would haue him to raigne twentie and fiue yeeres After this succeeded Salmanasser the thirde king of newe Assyria hee likewise was by God appointed a scourge for the sinâ—…s of Israel and the idolatrie of Samaria hee came from Niniue vnto Samaria besieged it three yeeres and tooke it and caried all Israel captiue vnto Assyria and put them in Halah and in Habor cities of the Medes for at that time the Medes and the Persians were subiect vnto the Assyrians Thus were the 10. tribes caried captiue away from Samaria vnto Assyria in the ninth yeere of Hosea king of Israel after the building of Samaria 210. yeres the whole kingdome of Israel was destroyed when it had continued from the first yeere of Roboam the sonne of Salomon to the last yeere of king Hosea two hundreth fiftie and three yeeres as Functius affirmeth Then Salmanassar filled al the cities of Samaria with men from Babylon and from Hamath in stead of the children of Israel for the kings of Samaria enuied so much the kings of Iuda the state of Ierusalem the pompe of the high priest and the magnificence of Salomons temple that the kings of Samaria builded temples erected two idolatrous altars in Dan and Bethel where they sacrificed vnto the golden calfe and honoured idols of Baal yet God raised good men as Elias and Elizeus Amos and Osea by whom the Church of God in this wicked kingdome was still preserued This king Salmanasser brought the Medes and Persians subiect vnto Assyria and destroyed the Moabites as the Prophet Esay afore tolde there is mention made of this king in the tenth chapter of Osea where the Prophet sayeth As Salmanasser destroyed Betharbell in the day of battaile the mother with the children was dashed in pieces so shall Bethel doe vnto you Vnder this king Salmanasser was Israel scattered like sheepe for the Lyons dispersed them first the king of Ashur that was Salmanasser hath deuoured him and last Nabuchodonosor hath taken his bones the one caried the tenne tribes of Israel the other caried the two tribes of Iuda prisoners vnto Babylon This Salmanasser is named of Ptolome Nabonasser he raigned in the eight Olympiad when Romulus was king in Rome Ezechias was king in Iuda and Osea king in Israel before the captiuitie of Iuda one hundreth thirtie and three yeeres so long was betweene the destruction of Ierusalem and Samaria for Salmanasser did raigne seuen yeeres king in Assyria before hee had besieged Samaria which is to bee noted to auoyde errours in accompt From the
Egypt so that the king of Egypt came no more out of his lande as it is written against the king of Babylon hee layde siege to Tire and wasted all the regions there about he brought vnder the king of Babylon all Libya the most part of Asia vnto the land of Armenia This king grewe so great that Philostratus doeth so set him in his histories that he passed Hercules in force and power Strabo saith that the Chaldeans esteemed more of Nabuchodonosor then the Grecians did of Hercules Nabuchodonosor made kingdomes to shake the earth to tremble and the whole worlde a forest and left almost no where vnconquered but Iudea where after all his other warres and conquests hee sendeth his deputie Nabuzaradan generall of his armie he commeth with a huge armie of the Chaldeans a great band of Aramites of Moabites of Ammonites for Nabuchodonosor had heard that Iehoiakim had rebelled after hee had payed tribute for three yeeres This was the cause of the destruction of Iehoiakim after he had raigned three yeres he was deceiued much trusting to haue ayde by Necho king of Egypt and so lost both the kingdome and himselfe This was the iudgement of God for the sinnes of Manasses and the idolatrie of Iuda not weighing the crying out of Ieremie though night and day he perswaded them to yeelde vp the Citie and to followethe Lorde for Ierusalem was full of innocent blood and therefore God vsed these wicked tyrants to execute his commandement After this Iehoiakin the sonne of Iehoiakim when he had reigned three moneths being 18. yeeres of age Nabuchodonosor fearing least he shoulde become false and so reuenge his fathers death came against him he and his mother his princes and his seruants yeelded to Nabuchodonosor by the councell of Ieremie And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king in stead of his nephewe Iehoiakin and changed his name to Zedechia who likewise offended the Lord and would not be councelled by Ieremie but hee and his people mocked the messengers of God despised his word and misused his Prophets so long that Nabuchodonosor came and slue their young men with the sworde kild all and spared none But for the rest of Nabuchodonosors tyranny his crueltie and slaughter specially of Iewes they are read in the fourth booke of Kings Chap. 24. and 25. in in Esai in Ieremie This king is euery where mentioned with the Prophets and in Ecclesiasticall histories Likewise Iosephus orderly setteth downe his seuerall warres against Ierusalem first in the eleuenth yere of Iechonias he came with great force and slue the most part in Ierusalem killed the king and buried him in sepulchro asini threw him dead vnburied out of the Citie according to the prophecie of Ieremie saying Iehoiakim shal be buried as an asse is buried euen drawne and cast foorth without the gates of Ierusalem like a carrion neither shall any lament him neither mourne for him he tooke also the chiefe men of the Citie euen 3000. and carried them vnto Babylon amongst whom Ezechiel being yet a very young man was lead likewise captiue This was before tolde of by Ieremie the Prophet but not beleeued The second time hee came against Iehoiakin whom Nabuchodonosor aduaunced vnto his fathers seate but fearing hee would reuoult by being mindfull of his fathers death hee tooke him his mother his familie his nobles and others to the number of tenne thousand eight hundred thirtie and two and carried them vnto Chaldea yet Nabuchodonosor sware to the king to his counsell that he would spare them vpon their submission to the which the king by the perswasions of the Prophet Ieremie yelded but the tyrant kept no promise With this king Daniel Anania Azaria and Misael being of the kings stocke were taken prisoners and commaunded by the king that they shoulde bee brought vp in the Chaldean tongue to serue the king afterward The third and last comming of Nabuchodonosor was against Zedechia the last king of Iuda hee layde siege to Ierusalem eighteene moneths during which time great famine and plague with manifolde miseries more befell them and at last the destruction of the Citie men women and children slaine before the King his Princes and Nobles put to the sworde the wealth and treasure of the Citie caried to Babylon the Temple burned the King himselfe taken his children killed before the kings face then his eyes put out and caried in chaines to Babylon where hee died most miserably in prison Thus God did put his sworde in Nabuchodonosors hand as an instrument of his wrath to punish sinne Of this matter more is spoken of in the historie of the Iewes otherwayes called the Hebrewes When Nabuchodonosor had reigned fourtie three yeeres Metasthenes saith fourtie fiue yeeres the Chaldean historie reporteth that hee prophecied the destruction of Babylon being by Daniel taught and by God called to bee one of his chiefe instruments in his Church In a little before hee died hee confessed the glory and maiestie of God saying I giue thankes vnto the most High I prayse and honour him that liueth for euer who restored vnto me my kingdome my honour and my vnderstanding whose works are all trueth and his wayes iudgements for nowe I confesse that he is able to abase those that walke in pride he liued in Tarquinius Priscus time the fift king of Rome and in the eighteene Iubilee of the Iewes and in the fourtie nine Olympiads In the time of Nabuchodonosors father Dracos lawes was written in Athens Solon Thales Milesius florished the seuen Sages of Greece liued this time the Prophet Ezechiel beganne to prophecie in Babylon the fift yeere of the captiuitie For as you shall reade of the Medes and Persians and of the Romanes that they were made by God executours instruments and hammers for so the Lord spake of them saying Thou art my hammer and weapons of warre for with thee will I breake the nations and with thee will I destroy kingdomes by thee will I breake man and woman and by thee will I breake young olde you shall finde this phrase often rehearsed by God in the mouthes of the Prophets so God calles Nabuchodonosor his seruant saith I wil put my sword in Nabuchodonosors hand so Senaherib so Salmanasser and so Satan himselfe is Gods seruant to worke his will to obey his commandement and to execute his iudgements After this Nabuchodonosor succeeded his sōne Euilmerodach he reigned 30. yeres he reigned one yere together with his father it seemeth that this Euilmerodach was instructed by Daniel to feare God for after that Nabuchodonosor had turned to the Lord began to be a benefactor to the Church to the mēbers thereof this his sonne likewise when he became king of Babylon after his father in the first yere of his reigne brought Iehoiakin king of Iuda out of prison hee restored him to libertie and aduanced him to
honor he gaue him princely apparel did set his throne aboue the throne of the kings that were then in Babel he had allowance in the Court for his diet he had rest quietnes continued in fauour with the king all the daies of his life Thus by Gods great prouidēce the seede of Dauid which in king Zedechias was extinguished yet in Iehoiakin was reserued euen vnto Christ for after 37. yeeres imprisonment so long was Iehoiakin his wife his children in Babylon by the councell of the Prophet Ieremie he was of king Euilmerodach so esteemed that hauing a sonne named Mesezabel surnamed Salathiel who likewise had a sōne borne in Babylon his name as Philo Iudaeus saith was Mesezebel this Salathiel had a sonne called afterward Barachias or Zorobabel a great man of authoritie amongst the Iewes beloued of God and by whom God brought his people againe to reedifie his temple This Euilmerodach is called in Herodot Labynitus where you shall reade that his wife Nitochris being a discreete wise woman and of such commendations for her diligence policie and wonderful great workes buildings in Babylon that she was coūted another Semiramis did much aduance her husbands fame for her great actions that she did in Babylon farre otherwayes then Zenophon Zonaras or Iosephus writes reade the first of Herodot There reigned after this Euilmerodach the last king of Assyria a great Idolater named Balthasar this contemned God despised his commandements disdained the instructions of Daniel though hee sawe the workes of God dayly and heard by Daniel of the wonders hee shewed vpon Nabuchodonosor yet he feasted he banqueted and commaunded to bring him the golden and siluer vessels which his graundfather Nabuchodonosor had brought from the Temple in Ierusalem that hee his wiues and his concubines might drinke therein This Balthasar did in great contempt of God commit all euill and all idolatrie which for his ingratitude and forgetfulnesse Daniel tolde him what should become of his kingdome repeating the great goodnesse of God vnto Nabuchodonosor the maiestie honour glory and many kingdomes which God gaue him yea all people nations and languages trembled and feared Nabuchodonosor vntill he puft vp himselfe in pride and hardened his heart against God then his glory fell his honor forsooke him his kingdomes lost himselfe made like a beast and his dwelling was with wilde asses All this did Balthasar knowe and yet he humbled not himselfe to God for the which Gods iudgement fell vpon him and vpon his kingdome for he was slaine and his kingdome had Cyrus king of Persia for that was the full effect of this sentence Mene Thekel Phares written vpon the plaister of the wall of the kings palace by the finger of God the last destruction of the Chaldeans and the end of the seuentie yeeres captiuitie before told of Daniel and prophecied by the rest of the Prophets here Nabuchodonosor and his posteritie ended and the kingdome of Chaldea translated first vnto the Medes and afterward to the Persians OF THE ORIGINALL beginning of the Egyptians and of their continuance of their Kings and gouernments why Egypt was called Oceana or Nilea NOwe I will goe from Assur the sonne of Sem and followe Mizraim the sonne of Cham into Egypt for from Chus and Mizraim came the Ethiopians and the Egyptians After that Chus and Mizraim and their children at the building of Babel in the land of Shinear had come into Afrike Chus went to Ethiopia with his companie Mizraim possessed Egypt with all his familie this Mizraim is called in histories Oceanus after whose name Egypt was first named Oceana though in the Scripture and in the Hebrewe histories it was named Mizreia after the name of Mizraim the sonne of Cham. I reade in Manethon and in others that from the first comming of Mizraim into Egypt vnto Osiris time which was 280. yeeres Egypt had three seuerall names first Oceana after the name of Oceanus in Berosus in Scripture Mizraim the second name was Aeria after the name of the riuer Nilus the third Aeria which continued vntill Osiris time and after Osiris time named Osiriana according to his name at what time Abraham was in Egypt vntill Ramesses time surnamed Egyptus about the time that the Israelites left Egypt after Abrahams being in Egypt foure hundred and thirtie yeres During which time of these foure seueral names Egypt was gouerned by states and potentates of Dynasteia a forme of a common wealth like vnto the state of the Hebrewes gouernment by the councel of Sanhedrin or like the Grecians ruled by their Amphictions But first to speake of the fertilitie of the soile the maners of the people the antiquitie of the countrey the greatnes of their gouernment specially of many rare wonders which are in Egypt more then in any kingdome of the world for the description of Egypt I referre you as you haue read before of other coūtries to Strabo Pomponius Mela and Solinus Egypt was diuided i◅to sixe seueral kinds of people the first three which were kings priests and souldiers gouerned the state and cōmon wealth of Egypt the other three serued in the countrey to vse things necessary for the kingdome for the state which were husbandmen craftesmen shepheards Concerning the antiquitie of the Egyptians they contended therein with the Scithians and with the people of Phrygia for this opinion the Egyptians hold of their antiquitie and that registred in ancient chronicles that during their cōtinuance in Egypt the starres haue foure times altered their courses and the sunne twise likewise they haue recorded 330. kings to haue reigned in Egypt before king Amasis time which was king of Egypt when Cyrus was king of Persia. The vaine assertion that the Egyptiās held of their antiquitie was of continuance aboue 13 thousand yeeres you must vnderstand Lunares annos Of their superstitious religion to their gods it is set foorth by Herodot in all pointes howe two blacke pigeons the one flying to Libya cōmanded them to builde a temple vnto Iupiter surnamed Hamon to receiue oracles and to be instructed thereby aswell by ceremonies in the religion of their gods as also in maners liuing of their countrey the other pigeon in Thebes a Citie of Egypt in like sort cōmanded an other temple to be builded where the like oracles also should be deliuered to them of Thebes The olde priestes of Egypt hauing these warnings as they supposed by some power diuine being of greater authoritie in the beginning then the kings of Egypt were they began to worship as many gods as they thought good and yet not to erect images idols in their temples for in the greatest ancientest cities of Egypt the princes nobles of the countrie contended sundry times in the yeere to offer sacrifice and to celebrate feastes to these gods with such solemne rites and ceremonies as were by the oracles commaunded these
changed betweene 12. Princes which should equally gouerne the whole kingdome of Egypt so did for 15. yeres as Diodorus affirmeth After this one of the 12. princes obtained into his owne hand the whole kingdome and gouerned 54. yeres after augmenting the confines of Egypt by the ayde of certaine Grecians which against their wils were driuen into Egypt by a tempest with whom Psammiticus entred into friendship and came thereby to be king of Egypt To these Grecians did the king giue a countrey to dwell in farre from Nilus with these Greekes Psammiticus cōmaunded that certaine yong gentlemen of Egypt should be brought vp in the Greeke tongue which afterward made Egypt acquainted therewith While yet Psammiticus was one of the 12. magistrats before he became king these 12. consented to make some monument in memory of their gouernment therefore they erected many huge strange works as pillars porches labirinths Piramides temples other sumptuous buildings they also studying how to passe these monuments inuented to make a Labirinth vpō the lake of Meris not far frō the city of Crocodiles for so the Egyptians had cities according to the names of those fowles fishes and beastes which they had honored for their gods and had erected temples for sacrifices in these cities and though the temple of Diana in Ephesus the temple of Iuno in Samos were huge monstrous for their bignes yet the Piramides of Egypt were farre more greater But the Labirinth far excelled this greatest Piramides for within this Labirinth were chambers parlers halles and other roomes to the number of three thousand whereof an hundreth and fiftie were made vnder the ground and the other aboue ground with such artificiall worke with the pictures and likenes of all kinde of creatures that it farre excelled all the monuments of Egypt and the place whereupon it was made and builded was a lake of three thousand sixe hundreth furlongs which are three hundreth seuentie and fiue miles which is more wonderfull then the Labirinth it selfe Herodoti fabula But now to the king Psammiticus againe who hauing long layd siege to Azotum a citie of Syria and after many yeeres ouerthrowen for it was the longest siege that euer endured which may be read of Psammiticus died after whom succeeded his sonne Necho of whom the Prophets make true mention and therefore Herodotus Diodorus and others may be the better spared being prophane writers because hee and his doings is mentioned in the sacred histories of whom the Prophets write that the wrath of God was ripe to giue iudgement against Egypt at this time for Egypt had so long offended the Lorde with their vaine superstition and idolatrie Now Necho was cried out vpon by the Prophet Ezechiel which was by the riuer Perath and gaue sentence against all Egypt in this sort Howle and crie woe be vnto Egypt the sworde shall come vpon Egypt and feare shall come vpon Aethiopia Pathros shall be desolate and fire shall be in Zoan which is Taphnis Thus the Prophet cried out againe I will powre out my wrath vpon Shin which is named in histories Pelusium and I will destroy the multitude of No the yong men of Auen which is otherwise called Heliopolis and of Phibeseth which is also named of olde Pubastum shall fall by the sworde CHAP. III. Of the last kings of Egypt by the name of Pharaos which continued a thousand two hundreth yeres and of the first conquering of Egypt by Cambyses the second king of Persia. THis time great warres grewe betweene the Assyrians and the Egyptians the greatnes of both these kingdomes which then were the onely kingdomes of the world were destroyed by the sword for so the Prophet saide that Egypt should be the reward of the king of Babylon for his labour which he tooke against Tyrus and so it was performed in Necho after much mischiefe that he had done to Israel he was deliuered into the hands of Nabuchodonosor for so the Lord said I will strengthen the armes of Nabuchodonosor and the armes of Pharao shal be weakened Of this Necho and Aprie the last Pharaos mentioned in Scripture had full triall for Necho raigned seuenteene yeeres and left behind him a sonne named Psammis which raigned 6. yeeres and making warre with the Aethiopians died About this time Phaortes king of the Medes with al his army was ouerthrowen by the Assyrians at what time the Scithians entred into Asia spoiled and wasted almost to the countrey of Palestina Tullus Hostilius the third king of Rome died in the beginning of the raigne of Necho Herodotus doth place Apries the sonne of this Psammis This king for a time prospered like his grandfather Psammiticus but I wil admit Herodotus to speake of this king Apries for the like cause as before for I finde that he is called in Ieremie Hophra To this king many of Ierusalem fled from the hand of Nabuchodonosor where they were as well entertained as with Nabuchodonosor for so the Prophet said that the sword should follow them into Egypt and Pharao should destroy all that fled from Nabuchodonosor who at that very time tooke the citie and brought all Iuda captiue into Babylon though Ieremie perswaded the contrary yet they of Iuda vowed to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen and vnto the gods of Egypt but the God of Abraham and Isaac gaue them ouer to the sworde and destroyed them with famine And after that Apries had fedde his tyrannie against the Iewes and had slaine the Prophet Ieremie afterward he ouerthrew Sidon besieged Tyre and had done great harme in Iudea and the word of the Lord came vnto him saying I will giue Pharao Hophra king of Egypt into the handes of his enemies and into the hands of them that seeke his life euen into the hands of Nabuchodonosor Though Herodotus affirmeth as other prophane histories doe that Apries was after the ouerthrow of Sydon forsaken of his people and vanquished by Amasis at Memphis and caried captiue from Memphis into Sais into his owne pallace before But now Amasis raigned king in Egypt and ruler of Apries throne thus Apries after he had raigned thirtie fiue yeeres died by the handes of his enemies During the raignes of these two last kings Necho and Apries which was fiftie three yeres many destructions of countreys and cities happened as the destruction of Niniue and also Assyria by Ciaxeres king of the Medes the destruction of Hierusalem and all Iudea by Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and the warres betweene the Chaldeans and the Egyptians which continued seuen and twentie yeeres the victorie whereof fell to the king of Babylon as the Prophet before had sayde I will giue the lande of Egypt into the hande of Nabuchodonosor for wages to his Armie This time raigned in Rome Ancus Martius the fourth king and Tarquinius Priscus the fifth king Europus raigned now the seuenth king of Macedonia
and in Lydia Haliates their eight king Hitherunto the liues of Pharaos kings of Egypt which continued from the first Amasis in the beginning of the eighteenth Dynastia which was about the time of the going of the Patriarch Iacob into Egypt vnto his sonne Ioseph vntil the time of this Amasis the last king of that name about twelue hundreth yeeres so long continued the names of Pharaos This Amasias as the rest of the kings before him was so idolatrous and so addicted to obey Oracles that hee also imitated his predecessours in such fonde buildings to carie huge stones from Memphis and from Elephantina to builde a temple vp vnto Minerua in the citie of Sai that hee much mused how he might passe the rest with the monstrousnesse of the great huge stones to build temples images colossus wherein he in one monument excelled the rest He caused a house to be made of one stone to be brought from the citie of Elephantina to the citie of Sais which is as Herodotus writeth twentie dayes sayling two thousand chosen men were three yeeres in bringing this house to Sai of all other workes most to bee wondered for this stone was one and twentie cubites in length and fourteene in breadth and also hee made a colossus or an image in Memphis before the temple of Vulcan of seuentie and fiue foote long he builded likewise a large temple for Isis in Memphis Thus the kings of Egypt stroue one after another to excell in their workes and vaine monuments In the time of this king a lawe was made in Egypt that in euery Prouince of Egypt the President thereof should take accompt and examine the youthes of their prouinces how and after what sort they liued for to see an idle man in Egypt that could not answere for himselfe howe hee liued it was death and therefore to auoyde idlenesse they were thus compelled by the Kings of Egypt to carie stones to the building of Piramides temples Colossus Labirinthes and such like This law afterward was by Solon brought to Greece for Solon was in Egypt in the time of the last Amasis Pomponius Mela saith that in the raigne of Amasis were twentie thousand cities Herodotus saith one thousand and twentie cities for old Egypt in times past was very great and large for hard by the marches of Affricke in the shore standeth Alexandria on the borders of Arabia is the citie of Pelusium other faire cities are farre from the sea as Memphis Sai Bubastis Elephantina and and Thebes which is reported to haue an 100. brasen gates and so many princes pallaces Many good lawes are written among the Egyptians by Sasiches and by Sesostris but specially by Bocchoris of whose lawes I wil set dowme some few as Diodorus wrote them to the nomber of 17. 1. The first law was that none might violate their gods with othes the offenders herein were punished as false to God and man 2. If any ayded not a man iniuried or beaten or robbed by any man either vpon the way as he trauailed or in the place where he dwelt he was to die for it if he might haue helped it else to publish and to call for helpe 3. False witnes was so punished by a decree made for that purpose the punishment that hee that was accused should haue being proued should be for the false accuser not being proued 4. Against idlenes all the names of the citie parish or countrey are brought and recorded with the magistrates of the prouinces are examined how they are occupied how they liue of what trade or trafique he or they be of if he be found idle he shall die by the lawe in Egypt this law Solon caried with him from Egypt to Athens 5. If any man killed a freeman or a seruant death was his punishment 6. If the father killed the sonne he was free frō death but he should for three dayes be punished as the decree was made in that behalfe for the Egyptians thought not the father worthy of death for killing of his sōne quia auctor fuit 7. For the sonne that killed his father the greatest torments that might be deuised was by lawe appointed for him for to take the life of him away which gaue him life 8. If a woman with child by law be condemned to die she is reserued vntill the childe be borne for the Egyptians thinke it not fit that two should be punished when one had offended and that the giltlesse with the giltie should be condemned Iniquum enim iustum cum iniusto poenam pati This law was caried from Egypt into Greece from Greece into other countreis 9 The souldier that offended his captaine in the fielde or had transgressed the commandement of the officers he should not die but with all infamie and shame he should haue two letters printed in his forehead as cōmon markes of infamie but if hee had reuealed any secrets to the enemies the lawe had commaunded his tongue to be pluckt out of his head 10 If any had clipt any lawfull coine or counterfaited the like or diminished the weight by lawe he should die 11 If any man had counterfaited the hand of any man or had taken away any letters or had put in any letters in any writings or found faultie in forging any deede or letters he should haue both his hands cut off 12 If any had violated by force any maid or free woman he should haue that member punished that had offended his priuie members cut off if by consent the man and woman sinned it was by lawe appointed that the man should be beaten with roddes to the nūber of a thousand stripes and the woman should haue her nose cut off for a marke of a whore 13 For satisfiyng of creditors in borowing of money it was by an othe confirmed not with obligations made that the money shoulde be paide vpon the day appointed for a sacred othe sincerely inuiolated was more esteemed in Egypt then any writing or bond made for it was a wonder to see in Egypt a man forsworne 14 For it was not lawfull to arrest any man in Egypt for debtes by the lawe of Bochoris but to seize vpon the goods or substance for whatsoeuer passed in secrete writings betweene the partie and creditour no arrest was admitted for all the people of Egypt were diuided into foure partes which were husbandmen craftesmen shepheards and souldiers payment was made to the creditors by the goods of the debtors and not by arrest for they thought that a man free borne shoulde for no money be imprisoned specially the souldiers which with danger of life defendeth his countrey 15 The like law was in Egypt for vsurie by Bochoris which was brought to Athens by Solon which lawe was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by this lawe Solon commaunded that no Citizen in Athens should be put in prison for vsurie for the Egyptians condemned much the Grecians that had by the law
nor their countrey so simple a beginning the Parthians had vntill they scattered themselues to serue as mercenarie souldiers then beganne the Parthians to haue some fame by their seruice which were as I saide before scant knowen It is written by Solinus that Parthia grew into so large an Empire that it conteined 18. kingdomes these kingdomes are deuided into two partes eleuen of the eighteene called the vpper kingdomes beginning from the borders of Armenia passing along the Caspian sea coast to Scithia the other seuen kingdomes haue on the West the Medes on the South Carmania on the North Hircania the language of the Parthians is mingled partly with the Medes and partly with the Scithians their apparel after the custome of Scithia their souldiers in fight were their seruants of whom the Parthians had as great care as of their children teaching them in their youth to ride to shoote and to doe all other martiall exploits for of fiftie thousand souldiers which they had against M. Antonius were none free men but 450. all the rest were seruants The Parthians began to erect a kingdome at what time raigned in Egypt Euergetes the thirde king and in Macedonia raigned king Demetrius likewise in Asia and Syria raigned Seleucus Gabinius the forth king About this time the Carthagineans had great warres with the Numidians which endured foure yeeres of these warres Polibeus writeth In the time of the first king of Parthia which was named Arsaces Eumenes king of Bithynia inuaded Asia This king Arsaces deserued no lesse fame by his great prowesse and valiant deedes by his fortun at warres and good successe amongst the Parthians then Cyrus did amongst the Persians or Alexander the great amongst the Macedonians The Parthians so loued this Arsaces aliue and so honoured him dead that all the kings of Parthia after him were called Arsaces with no lesse dignitie then the Caesars of Rome or Pharaoâ—…s of Egypt and yet a meane man in the beginning who might more bragge of vertue knowledge then of dignitie or parentage for before these Parthians followed Eumenes in the warres of Asia after Eumenes they followed Antigonus after Antigonus they followed Seleucus Nicanor after him Antiochus At what time the Parthians reuoulted and made a choise of this king named Arsaces who brought such renowne to the Parthians such credite to the countrey as enlarged their confines and augmented their Empire This time one Theodotus being but then President ouer 1000. Townes and Cities in Bactriana proclaimed himselfe king of the Bactrians with this king Theodotus Arsaces entred in societie and with his sonne after him nowe when Arsaces had setled himselfe quietly in Parthia he gaue them lawes to liue by he did set and frame all things in order hee builded Townes and Cities and one chiefe Metropolitane Citie and named it Daram This king had a sonne named Mithridates who after his father reigned in Parthia with no lesse fame then his father he leauied an armie of a hundred thousand footemen and twentie thousand horsemen fought with Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus king of Syria with such inuincible courage that Antiochus thought it his best way to haue peace with him When this king died succeeded him Pampatius the third king in Parthia who when he had reigned twelue yeeres left behinde him two sonnes the one named Pharnaces the other Mithridates the elder brother after the Parthian maner enioyed his fathers seate and his father surnamed Arsaces as the other kings were This king ouerthrew a very stout Nation called Mardi and did as his predecessors had done adde some people or wanne some countrey to Parthia who hauing many children when hee died and hauing more care of his countrey then of his children appointed his brother Mithridates to be king of Parthia a man of great courage and singular vertues The same very time when Mithridates entred into Parthia as king did Encratides likewise enter to the kingdome of the Bactrians but these two kings prospered not alike for Encratides after diuers and sundry battels giuen to him by the Sogdians Dranganites and Indians wherein he gaue diuers repulses vnto his enemies but at length so wearied with continuall warres hee was ouerthrowen and vanquished In Parthia with better successe fought Mithridates with the Medes whom after many doubtfull battels Mithridates subdued the Medes and brought them subiect vnder the Parthians and appointed in Medea Bachasus to be lieutenant and went himselfe into Hircania and then waged warres with the king of Elymees which he vanquished and all his countrey and ioyned them to the Parthians so that Parthia was so strengthened by the Medes the Elimees other nations that they gouerned from mount Caueasus to the riuer Euphrates so that poore Parthia before a base people and a rude countrey are nowe become lords ouer the stoute Medes so by Gods appointment kingdomes and Empires doe both flowe and ebbe during this time Masinissa was by sundry battels driuen out of his kingdome by Syphax king of Numidia At that time reigned in Syria Seleucus Philopator their seuenth king and in Egypt reigned Ptolomei Philometor the sixt king Cornelius Scipio about this time triumphed ouer Asia After this Mithridates death succeeded his sonne Phrahartes who had not the fortune which his father had for Phrahartes was sore vexed by the Scythians who at the first came to aide the king of Parthia against Antiochus king of Syria the souldiers fell to mutinie for want of pay and therefore wasted and spoiled the Confines of Parthia burned townes and robbed countries that Phrahartes was constrained to leauy an armie and to make warres vpon the Scythians whose lucke had beene better if hee had taried in Parthia where hee left behinde him Himerus too young a man to gouerne a kingdome who lost at home in Parthia asmuch as Phrahartes lost in Scythia After Phrahartes was ouerthrowen by the Scythians Artabanus succeded who likewise shortly was slaine in the warres at Colchata after whom succeeded his sonne Mithridates the second of that name who for his noble deedes and valiant actes was named Mithridates the great and yet not so great as infortunate for when he had reuenged the death of his father vpon the Scythians plagued the Armenians and had gotten diuers Nations subiect vnto Parthia yet hee was banished from Parthia and his kingdome giuen to Horodes his brother Horodes hauing the kingdome of Parthia in his hand hearing that his brother Mithridates had fledde into Babylon to auoide further feare hee besieged Babylon vntill by famine they were compelled to yeelde the Citie Mithridates hoping for pardon yeelded himselfe to his brother but Horodes supposing that he would prooue rather an enemie then a brother commaunded him to be slaine before his face By this time the Parthians grewe so great and waxed so strong that their fame extended into Rome a Citie that coulde neuer abide no kingdome nor no
countrey to florish beside themselues and therefore the Romanes sent Marcus Crassus one of the greatest men of Rome to Parthia who had such conceiptes in his head that the victorie of Lucullus against Tigranes king of Armenia and all that Pompei did against Mithridates king of Pontus were but trifles to that which hee entended for hee thought to conquer the Bactrians the Indians and the great Ocean sea For in his decree and commission to him giuen by the Senate there was no mention made of the Parthians which the Parthians knewe and therefore sent Embassadours vnto Crassus opening vnto him that hee offered warres vnto the Parthians against his decree by the Senate but Crassus more bold then wise saide that Horodes king of Parthia shoulde answere him in Seleucia One of the Parthian Embassadours fell a laughing shewing to Crassus the palme of his hande saying Haires shall sooner growe in the palme of my hand before you come to Seleucia and so with defiance of Crassus the Embassadours returned to their king telling him that he was to prepare for warres By this time Artabazes king of Armenia came to the campe of Crassus with sixe thousand horsemen promising Crassus tenne thousand more horsemen and thirtie thousand footemen but that promise was not kept for hee was assaulted by the Parthians in his countrey beside Crassus had in his armie fiftie thousand Horodes king of Parthia made ready for Crassus and appointed one named Surena his lieutenant the second man in all Parthia next to the king in experience value reputation and riches for Plutarch saith that when Surena remooued with his owne houshold onely he had a thousand Camels to carie his sumpters and two hundred Coches of Curtizans a thousand men of armes armed from toppe to toe beside another thousand more lightly armed his whole traine Court made aboue ten thousand horse Crassus thought long to giue battell vnto the Parthians but the miserable sight of the ouerthrowen Romanes which were so martyred with such torments shewing vnto their captaines their handes fast nayled to their targettes with arrowes and their feete likewise shotte through and nayled to the ground the forked arrowes fast in their bodies and so wounded with speares and pikes that the most part of the Romane gentlemen slue themselues for so did Censorinus and Publius Crassus himselfe commaunded one of his gentlemen to kill him whose head was cut off after by the enemie and brought to his father for a present whose sight killed the Romanes hearts Yet the olde Crassus shewed greater courage at that time then euer hee had done before hee made an oration to his souldiers when his heart was full of sorowe brought them examples howe Lucullus ouercame not Tigranes neither Scipio Antiochus the great without blood Thus hee comforted his people and perswaded them to turne their sorowes into furie and to shewe themselues worthie Romanes for the reuenge of his sonnes death but the inconstancie of Crassus fortune was no better then his sonne after many vnlucki◅ battels to bee slaine and his head to be cut off as his sonnes was and twentie thousand Romanes slaine beside Surena did send Crassus vnto Herodes the king his master into Armenia After Crassus and his sonne were thus shamefully slaine in Parthia the Parthians so triumphed of this in feastes and playes making rimes and iestes as Plutarch saith of both Crassus heads About this enuie beganne a quarrell in Rome first betweene Lucullus and Pompei and after betweene Pompei and Caesar nowe the Romanes hauing susteined such foile in Parthia and the Parthians such victorie ouer the Romanes that Horodes king of Parthia and his sonne Pacorus conceiued great pride therein but pride will haue a fall and so it fell to the Parthians After diuers great victories of many Countries Ventidius a Romane lieutenant of Marcus Antonius who fully reuenged the death of Crassus with such a slaughter of the Parthians that in the first battell that he had with Horodes he slue Pharnabates Labienus which two encreased much the Parthians fame while Labienus was in Syria two of the chiefe captaines he had in the second battell he farre excelled the first and slue many more of the Parthians in this battell Pacorus the kings owne sonne was slaine This made the victorie of Ventidius more notable this exploit was a full requitall of Crassus death so that Ventidius a meane man borne was the onely man that euer triumphed ouer the Parthians vnto the very last day of them when newes of these victories came to Horodes that his sonne Pacorus was slaine with all his armie of whom hee heard before so well of in vanquishing and ouerthrowing diuers armies both in Asia and Syria hee suddenly fell to such a furie that hee became beside himselfe that for many dayes hee was dumbe without speach and when hee spake any worde hee spake nothing but Pacorus hee thought that hee sawe him that he heard him and that he spake with him But in time after hee had recouered his former state hee imagined of thirtie sonnes he had who should be king after him at length hee bequeathed his kingdome vnto his sonne Phrahartes this was the last king of Parthia About this time much trouble was in Rome betweene Caesar and Pompei the great the ciuill warres whereof had almost ouerthrowen the state of the Romanes the which I will write of in the Romane historie nowe when Phrahartes had slaine his father Horodes and had possessed the kingdome of Parthia hee doubting lest the like murther might happen to him hee made sure woorke After hee had slaine the king his father hee also slue his thirtie brethren this tyrannie in the beginning of his gouernment made diuers gentlemen of Parthia to forsake him to flee vnto Antonius to whō as Plutarch saith Antonius gaue diuers cities as Larissa Arethusa others After this hee tooke a generall muster of all his armie and of his confederates that were come by commaundement to aide him from Armenia and other places so that Antonius had threescore thousand footemen and tenne thousand horsemen beside thirtie thousand of other Nations This puissant armie made all Asia to tremble and yet no worthy exploite done but besieging the Citie of Phrata in Media the loue hee bare to Cleopatra was thought to be the cause of his ill lucke In the meane time Phrahartes king of Parthia being aduertised where Antonius left his engines of battell hee sent a number of horsemen to fight with Tatianus who was in that conflict slaine with tenne thousand more at that time this troubled all Antonius armie notwithstanding Antonius hasted to battell with them at what time hee put the Parthians to flight without any great slaughter of the Parthians Antonius lingering still and doing no great acte in Parthia determined to giue ouer such craftie people and though Antonius had ouercome the Parthians in eighteene
seuerall battels yet they gaue him diuers repulses and such ouerthrowes as Antonius was most willing to let them alone and to depart from them whome they followed in his returne at the hard heeles to his great losse and shame This made Phrahartes king of Parthia so proude that Antonius the great Romane tooke his flight from Parthia that hee vsed such murther and tyrannie in his Countrie that his owne subiects threwe him out of his countrie and kingdome and placed in his seate Tiridates to bee king vntill Phrahartes after hee had beene thus banished was ayded by the king of Scythia to bee restored vnto his kingdome againe Then Tiridates hearing that the Scythians came with a great armie to restore Phrahartes he fledde into Spaine vnto Octauius Caesar thither likewise did Phrahartes send Embassadors when Caesar had heard both the parties the complaintes of the banished king Phrahartes and the request of Tiridates saying that Parthia was fitte to be subiect to the Romane Empire affirming also that if it should please Caesar to substitute him lieutenant vnder the Romanes in Parthia that he would with all Parthia holde with Rome Notwithstanding Caesar vsed in this great clemencie both wisdome and iustice he commaunded that Phrahartes sonne shoulde bee king in Parthia and that Tiridates if it pleased him should continue in Rome vpon Caesars charges vntill his returne from Spaine at which time Caesar hauing occasion after he came home to Rome from Spaine to go to Syria and to dispose of those kingdomes which his predecessours had conquered in the East countries and to set all things in order he charged then that Phrahartes should make no warres against the Parthians promising that hee and his posteritie should gouerne Parthia vnder the Romanes willing and commanding him and the king his sonne to send those ensignes to Rome which Marcus Crassus lost at Parthia and cōmanded them to be true friends to the Romanes The fortune of this Caesar was such that he could then cōmand with a word more then Antonius who sought it with blowes or Crassus that sought it with his death This Caesar afterward called Augustus brought parthia to be a prouince vnto the Romanes and ended without warres which other could not do with warres Thus the kingdome of Parthia which beganne in the hundred thirtie three Olympiad and ended in the beginning of the Monarchie of Augustus Caesar in the hundred eightie eight Olympiad after hee had conquered his friend Marcus Antonius There reigned in Parthia eleuen kings whose names are here vnder written 1 Arsaces the first king by whom the kinges of Parthia were all called Arsaces 2 Mithridates the second king of Parthia 3 Pampatius the third king of Parthia 4 Pharnaces the fourth king of Parthia 5 Mithridates the fift king of Parthia 6 Phrahartes the sixt king of Parthia 7 Artabanus the seuenth king of Parthia 8 Mithridates the great the eight king of Parthia and sonne to Artabanus 9 Horodes the ninth king of Parthia 10 Phrahartes the tenth king of Parthia 11 The eleuenth and last king of Parthia sonne to Phrahartes and supposed to be called Phrahartes after his fathers name OF THE ANTIQITIE OF Media of the originall of their Kings and of their common wealth gouernment and continuance THough the Assyrians the Chaldeans and the Egyptians were conquered by the Persians yet I wil touch the historie of Media before I handle Persia for that the Medes likewise were made subiect vnto the Persiās for al these kingdoms came at length to Cyrus hand For as the kingdome of Media began atone time with the newe kingdome of Assyria after Sardanapalus time so they ended about one time and both these kingdomes by Cyrus taken vnto Persia and euen so of Lydia the next historie to this was also by the Persians subdued of the which also I meane briefely to speake before I handle Persia for so the course of time and the order of the histories doe require but now of the Medes For Strabo in the description of the kingdome of Media sayth that Parthia is bordered vpon the East side of Media and on the South it is inhabited with people called Cadusij and as Strabo writeth it hath other nations dwelling about the Sea of Hircania the riuer Halis as Herodote doth write is the Confines of both Media and Lydia And hee sayth further that the Medes were called Arij before and then long after that Medea came from Cholchos vnto Athens from Athens vnto this people then called Arij changed the name of the countrey after her owne name Media whō the Greekes called after that Medi by the name of Medea but otherwayes confirmed by Iosephus and by Zonaras in his first booke who say that Medi had their originall from Madai the sonne of Iaphet and of him as Melancthon sayth named Madei first and after of the Greekes called Medi. There were many Townes in Media first builded by the Macedonians inhabited by the Grccians as Laodicea Apannia Rhaga which Nicanor builded The Medes in times past florished a kingdome that gouerned many Countries and had vnder their Empire the most part of Asia vntill the Persians vanquished the Assyrians by king Cyrus which Cyrus afterwarde subdued the Medes and brought both Assyria and Media vnto the Empire of Persia. The chiefe Pallace of the kings of Media is called Eobatana where the kings of Media kept their Court euery winter Herodote which wrote his historie in the time of Xerxes sayth that after the Medes had conquered the Assyrians the Medes had no kings of long time after but euery Citie by popular state was then gouerned vntill Deiocis time who being wise and withall very ambitious plausible in his speach and gentle in his dealings wanne the peoples hearts to affect him much who by secrete meanes aspiring to the kingdome hauing many great friendes by councell to further him and with power to aide him vntill by common consent of the whole Estate hee was chosen King in the fourtie fiue yeere after the building of Rome and in the seuenth yeere of Numa Pompilius reigne the second king of Rome in the eighteene Olympiad For after that Arbaces then chiefe Gouernour of the Medes had ioyned in friendshippe with Bellochus lieutenant of Babylon and both conspired as you heard before in the historie of the Assyrians against Sardanapalus whom after they had with three or foure battels conquered the Assyrians with their Empire was translated vnto the Medes by Arbaces which Medes yet had no king created but were ruled and gouerned by Arbaces as Babylon was by Bellochus Nowe after that Arbaces had gouerned the Medes twentie eight yeeres at what time Procas Siluius reigned king ouer the Latines and at Athens Thespeius liued their tenth Iudge after their kings It is written that one Phidon of Argiue found about this time the vse of measures and weights This Arbaces began to reigne ouer the Medes
fourtie two yeeres before the Olympiads at the which time the kingdome of Macedonia began so that the Medes Macedonians began fourtie two yeeres before the Lydians and the Lydians twentie foure yeeres before the Romanes Ctesias a great antiquarie of the Persians who wrote in Artaxerxes time presently after Herodot saith that after Arbaces time a sonne of his succeeded him named Madanes who reigned 50. yeres and then followed Sosarmus which reigned 30. yeeres after him succeeded Aristeus who held long warres with the Cadusians by whom he was at length slaine but before he died he cōmanded by will that the Medes should neuer be in league with the Cadusians but with sworde and fire to persecute them vntill they were brought subiect vnto the Medes After the death of this Aristeus reigned in Media Artines 22. yeeres after him Artelanus gouerned the Medes fourtie yeeres in whose time the Parthians were subdued and brought vnder the Empire of the Medes after they had yelded them selues and the Countrey vnto the king of Saca which king both he and his Countrey after two yeeres great warres had betweene them and the Medes were vanquished both they and the Parthians when the Medes had brought the king of Parthia and the king of Saca vnder the yoke of Media at what time Artabanus reigned king ouer the Medes after whom succeeded Astiages which with some writers is named Apanda This was the last king of Media which was conquered both he his countrey by Cyrus king of Persia whose historie is at large set foorth in the Empire of Persia Diodorus with others which write of these kings as Herodot and Ctesias Great cōtrouersie there is betweene writers about the kings of Media of their succession of their reigne and of their gouernments though Strabo and Pomponius Mela doe fully describe the situation of Media yet the best Chronographers varie much of their gouernment Iustinus affirmeth that the Medes reigned 350. yeres others say 304. making their computations from Sardanapalus time whom the Medes conquered vntil the time of Cyrus by whom the Medes were vanquished so long the Empire stood Againe they vary much in the names of their kings for as I named from Arbases the first king vntill Astiages the last king and the ninth king of the Medes so some againe after this sort doe set downe the lynes of the kings of Media After Arbases reigned Sosarmus the second king of Media he reigned thirtie yeeres at what time reigned in Egypt a king of singular wisedome very courteous and gentle much commended of Herodot for many rare vertues named of Functius Osorus and of Eusebius Nicerinus About this time was Achas king of Iuda borne and Coenus the second king of Macedonia beganne with Sosarmus the second king of Media to reigne Marke the order of time for both the Macedonians and the Medes at one time began their kingdomes euen then the Lacedemonians ended their kingdomes for so God worketh by order of nature and time The Peloponesians the Athenians were so plagued one of another by continuall ciuill warres the slaughter so great on both sides the warres so long as men cōquered on neither parties yeelded at last vnto necessitie and were forced to forsake the fields to withdraw themseles from destroying of both their coūtries for the warres that was betweene the Athenians the Lacedemonians frō time to time was the ouerthrow of all Greece the cause arysing frō so little a quarell as hereafter shal be mentioned in the historie of Greece While these warres endured in Greece Romulus and Rhemus were borne and the third king of Media beganne to gouerne the Medes his name was Medidus in the first Olympiad at which time the king of Tyre which was named Elulaeus as Menander testifieth a writer of their owne Chronicles was besieged by Salmanassar king of Assyria who after he hee had spoiled Phoenicia Samaria he turned his force against Tyre After great slaughter he tooke Sidon Arce and Paletire with many other Cities from the king of Tyre and brought the spoyle thereof vnto Niniue And yet sayth Menander for all his victorie he was the second time discomfited his Nauies so scattered that fiue hundred of his best souldiers were taken by the Cananites and by the king of Tyre whereat Salmanassar waxed full of wrath and commaunded his souldiers to stoppe all conduites and all passages of waters that for fiue yeeres they were forced to digge out water and to make welles and springes to susteine themselues withall and this historie is written in the Chronicles of Tyre About this time liued that good and learned Poete Archimus that wrote of the warres of Troy Coelius king of the Thuscans ayded Romulus the first king of Rome with men and money against the people called Cennienses and the Antenates of this kings name mount Coelius one of the seuen hilles of Rome was called Plutarch sayth that Numa Pompilius the second king of Rome was borne about this time and in the twentie eight yeere of the third king of the Medes was that wicked king Sancherib with his horrible blasphemies with a hundred foure score fiue thousand of his souldiers slaine by the Angel of the Lord. After this Medidus the third king of Media had reigned fourtie yeeres succeeded him Cardiceas the fourth king who reigned thirteene yeeres During this kings gouernment the Empire of Assyria was brought by Merodach the sonne of Baladan vnto Babylon where Merodach reigned fourtie yeeres the first king of Babylon Nowe in Iudea gouerned a wicked king a great idolater a murtherer of the Prophetes and a most contemptuous despiser of God This Manasses filled all Ierusalem with blood hee martyred Esai the Prophet commaunding him to bee cutte in two pieces with a sawe for the which tyrannie God gaue him ouer to the handes of the Babylonians In Ethiop reigned about this time a king named Tarachus of whome Iosephus maketh mention that hee came to ayde Spethon king of Egypt against Senaherib in the sixteenth Olympiad About this time Nicomedia was builded Gela a Towne of Sicilia and Phaselis a Towne in Pamphilia were likewise builded All this while the Medes had no king crowned nor allowed but as a supreme Gouernour of all Media but were as you heard from Arbaces time vntill this time gouerned by a Magistrate or chiefe Gouernment euen vntill Deiocis which was the chiefe gouernour and the first king for Arbaces Sosarmus Medidus Cardiceas these foure were but gouernours though for order sake they were named kings CHAP. II. Of the first King of Media of their gouernment lawes and continuance from Deiocis vntill Astyages the last King of the Medes BVt Deiocis nowe after hee had gouerned wisely and discreetely the Medes hee through his owne pollicie and his friends councell became the first King by consent and by election When he
Tarquinius Priscus was the first king of Rome This time ruled in Lydia Cressus which within foureteene yeere after was likewise vanquished by Cyrus and his kingdome translated vnto Persia. It is in Zonaras and in Iosephus otherwise written about Cyrus and Astiages they affirme that Cyaxeres was the sonne of Astiages this was of Daniel called Darius Medus of Iosephus Zonaras Zenophon and others This was vncle vnto Cyrus and heire vnto Astiages hee together with Cyrus gouerned for a time afterwarde hauing but one daughter he bequethed his daughter and the kingdome vnto Cyrus his nephew his sisters sonne who was married vnto Cambyses While this Cyaxeres liued he honoured much Daniel and had him in great reuerence Herodotus writeth in the historie of Cyrus and sayeth that Cyrus married Cassandanes the daughter of Pharnaspis so doeth Zenophon and so doeth Zonaras write The Egyptians affirme that Cyrus married a wife in Egypt and by her got Cambyses ◅but howe foeuer Chronographers agree it is certaine that hee beganne a monarchie vpon the conquering of Lydia and Media as shall bee more at large written in the historie of Persia. The Medes fed on fruites Ex amigdalis tostis panes ex malis siccis ac tritis massas conficiunt They make their drinke of certaine rootes and they vse wilde beastes and wilde fowles for their foode for they nourish no tame beast And this is the propertie of the Medes and of their king to haue as many wiue's as they woulde they might not haue vnder seuen And so their women thought it a great praise and fame to haue many husbands but they might not liue without fiue husbands as Strabo doeth write in his eleuenth Booke OF THE ANTIQVITIE OF Lydia of the originall of their Kings and of their common wealth and gouernment THE kingdome of Lydia being before called as Herodotus writeth Maeonia beganne to take name of one Lydus the sonne of Artis but that seemeth to be fabulous as Herodotus is in many of his histories Lydia is named of Lud the fourth sonne of Sem as Iosephus Zonaras and Philo Iudaeus affirme This countrey is situate in this sort it hath Eastward Phrigia on the Southside Caria and on the Northside Misia as both Strabo and Plinie affirme The riuer Meander runneth through Lydia and compasseth the most part of Lydia Eusebius in his histories faith that the kingdome of Lydia beganne in the first Olympiad and in the beginning of the 14. Iubilee about which time Romulus the first king and builder of Rome was borne of whose birth as Dionysius and Plutarch write many strange things are read Lydia was before Rome 24. yeres and after the destruction of Troy 405 yeeres When I speake of the Romanes and of their kingdome you shall haue it fully set downe The kings of Lydia the kings of Rome and the kings of Media are almost of one time for assoone as the Medes began to set vp their kingdome the Assyrians which gouerned so long all the East part of the worlde decayed Likewise the Lacedemonians ended their gouernment and their kings failed in Alcanes time the ninth king of the Lacedemonians at which time the Macedemonians elected their first king called Cranaus so some countreys nations and kingdomes beginne others ende some rise and some fall as time giueth them licence by Gods appointment But nowe of the kings of Lydia where I finde in Eusebius their first king to be named Arsidius this Functius doeth call Ardisus at what time iudged the Athenians Aesculus the twelft Iudge of Athens after the kings who had gouerned from Cecrops their first king which began in Moses time vntill Codrus the last king of Athens which ended his kingdome in the time of Dauid where raigned that while 17. kings When Arsidius raigned in Lydia Ioathan was king in Iudea and in Samaria Pecah the 17. king of Israel These people of Lydia were first very warlike stoute and a couragious nation but Cyrus brake their backs and compelled them to be caupones institores as Iustine saith to leaue off armes for that oftentimes they rebelled against Cyrus and to vse such trafiques as were of the meanest credit hereby these stoute and strong nations before came now by Cyrus pollicie to be very idle and slouthfull whereby they inuented many vnthriftie games diuers playes at dice tenise and such like and hauing nothing to doe neither durst they doe any thing for feare of Cyrus they fell as Plinie saith to exercise Artes ludicras lenocinia and so became from a strong and stoute people the most slouthfull and idle people of the world Budaeus thinketh that this region Lydia is now called Anatolia after Arsidius had raigned in Lydia 36. yeeres succeeded him Aliagtes the second king of the Lydians at the which time grew great warres of twentie yeeres continuance betweene the Lacedemonians and the Messanians the cause thereof you shall reade in Orosius Catina a citie in Sicilia at this time was builded and Messana one of the chiefest cities of the Messanians was taken then by the Lacedemonians Now raigned in Rome Romulus the first king in Phrygia Mydas in Egypt Sacalion and in Macedonia Perdicas the fourth king of that countrey of whom Herodotus doth set forth how he from a meane state became king of the Macedonians Titus Liuius writeth and so doeth Dionysius that Romulus about this time did triumph ouer the Sabines whose warres continued two yeeres with whom after hee had furnished Rome with the spoyles of the Sabines and had taken their daughters and virgins by force to the nomber of 683. he suffred Tacius Sabinus at that time king of the Sabines to gouerne with him in Rome fiue yeeres at which time the citie of Rome was much increased and more amplified by adding thereunto Mount Coelius and Mount Quirinal Now ruled in Iudea Ezechias about the 12. Olympiad and the 15. Iubilee There fell about this time in Athens a thirde alteration of their gouernment after this sort After their 17. kings gouernment then gouerned in Athens Iudges to the nomber of 13. After the Iudges there was another state agreed vpō that euery 10. yeeres there should be a new magistrate in Athens and they were called Decennales principes and this gouernment endured 70. yeres which was the whole time of 7. princes and then againe changed vnto a popular state But let vs returne to the kings of Lydia the historie that I haue in hande After that this Aliagtes had raigned 14. yeeres he died and Meles succeeded him the thirde king of the Lydians of whom Herodotus doeth make mention that he was the first that triumphed ouer the people called Sardei This Meles had a bastard borne vnto him a stoute man a great souldiour and so great that he with his posteritie ruled the Sardeans vntil Cyrus time In this Meles time
were the Camerines subdued hauing once or twise before reuolted against the Romanes ouer whom Romulus the second time triumphed their cities taken and their countrey made a prouince to the Romanes By this time the people of Vienna mooued warres against Romulus but being ouerthrowen Romulus made his third and last triumph of these three triumphes reade Dionysius Romulus died to whom many townes cities and prouinces yeelded themselues vnto Romulus for the fame and report they heard of him for he was both religious and vertuous Hippomenes the fourth prince or magistrate then gouerned Athens After that Meles had gouerned the Lydians 12. yeeres there folowed the fourth king named Cādaules a foolish and a vaine king of whom this historie is of Herodotus written This Candaules whō the Greciās called Mirsilus had a passing faire woman to his wife of whom he ioyed much esteeming her to be the onely woman of the world for beautie and hauing a deare friend and one of his owne seruants named Giges from whom he could conceale nothing he perswaded this Giges to be an eye witnes of his wife whose perfection in al points he could not with tongue expresse vnto Giges but willed him to be in some secret place where and when he had appointed him to behold the rarenesse of her beautie Giges after three or foure denials being vrged thereunto by the king his master cōsented to the kings request secretly came to the place where the king had appointed him where he saw the queene naked as shewent to bed to whom Candaules when he knew that Giges suffficiently had viewed his wife he saide Esto fidelis Giges at the which wordes the Queene looked backe being amazed of his speach and saw the backe of Giges by chaunce as he went away requesting the king to tell who hee was after much entreatie he saide it was his seruant Giges The Queene dissembling the matter that night said nothing but in the morning shee did send for certaine of her chiefe friendes and told the cause and willed them to be in a place appointed ready against Giges came whom she sent for to whom she said these words Giges thou hast to chuse of two offers either to kill the king my husband and to marrie me and become king thy selfe in Lydia or els to be killed and lose thy life presently for in that place where he shewed me naked thou shalt destroy him there shalt thou haue a dagger ready which being perfourmed by Giges he married the Queene and became the fift king of the Lydians according to the oracle of Delphos who had afore told that Cādaules should be the last king of the stocke of Heraclides and Giges the sonne of Dascilus of the house of Memnades the fift king of Lydia which gouerned not long without due reuenge which fell in the time of Cyrus Thus the ancient stocke and the long succession of Heraclides euen from Hercules vntill Candaules the sonne of Mirsus was of fiue hundreth and two yeres continuance during which time raigned 22. kings one after another of the line of Hercules reade Herodotus Taurentum was builded by Philautus in the time of this Candaules by the Parthians reade Iustinus the thirde booke After that Giges had by wicked meanes obteined the kingdome of Lydia and had sent to Delphos great presents and rich rewards to Apollo for the oracles giuen he went in armes against Miletum and Smyrna two cities in Greece besieged Colophonem and subdued it No other action of any importance hath bene written of him he died when he had raigned 36. yeeres In Giges time Bizantium otherwise called Constantinople was builded About this time the tyrant Phalaris gouerned the Agrigentines Tullus Hostilius raigned thirde king of Rome in the last yeeres of Giges In Iuda raigned Amon. And amongst the Egyptians Psammeticus this Psammeticus when he had obtained Egypt into his owne handes being before but one of the twelue that gouerned Egypt he ioyned with the people of Caria and Ionia and thereby he much augmented the state of Egypt From this king vnto Cambyses time the historie is set foorth very plaine in Herodotus The Grecians about this time first frequented the oracle of Iupiter called Dodonaeū oraculum Archilocus the historian Aristoxenes the musition Simonides florished in these dayes In the seuenth yeere of Giges the state of Decennales principes ended and the common wealth of Athens was gouerned after-terward by a popular state called Democratia Now Ardis the sixt king of Lydia and sonne to Giges succeeded in the kingdome of whom there is litle or nothing mentioned In the beginning of this kings raigne in the 29. Olympiad and in the 16. Iubilee Zaleucus king of the Locresians decreed a lawe to his subiects concerning adulterie that whosoeuer should be found faultie in this offence should lose both his eyes His sonne violating this law was of his owne father the king iudged to loose both his eyes his nobles and his great men entreated for the yong mans fault but the king not neglecting to do iustice according to the law by him made and according to his sentence giuen vpon his sonne by the lawe he caused his sonne to be brought before him where in presence of his subiects the king shewed both mercie and iustice for hee commaunded first that one of his owne eyes should be put out and the other eye to be taken from his sonne A rare example of Iustice and mercie and the like not to be found in our dayes At this time in Rome triumphed Tullus Hostilius ouer the Fidenans the Vients and entred Rome triumphantly the ninth yere of his raigne Now raigned in Iudea Iosias a godly king who purged Ierusalem and all Iewrie from abominations and idolatrie and brought them to knowe the Lorde againe in whose time the Prophet Ieremie began to prophecie the destruction of Ierusalem and other kingdomes In Corinth raigned at this time Cipselus and amongst the Medes gouerned Phaortes their sixt king whom the Assyrians ouerthrew as Herodotus doeth affirme In the realme of Pontus there was this time builded a towne called Hystris and in Asia two other townes called Chautus and Stagera Terpander an excellent mufition at this time liued and Thales Milesius a great Philosopher whom Eusebius affirmeth to haue liued from the 30. Olympiad vntill the 58. Olympiad About this time the Sabines after much slaughter were againe vanquished by Tullus Hostilius then the Latins made warre against the Romanes which continued fiue yeres about which time Tullus Hostilius the thirde king of the Romanes with all his familie was burned in his owne house Solinus saith that he died in the 35 Olympiad Numa Pompilius a Sabine borne in the city of Cures the second king of Rome was consecrated by the soothsayers called Augures in his time bishops called Pontifices were created in Rome holy
kings of Sparta Heraclides And so the Emperors of Rome named first Caesares then were they called Augusti and the third time they were named Antonini Thus in these coūtries none might be king elected but of these houses families yet in other kingdoms they were otherwayes elected as The Ethiopians made choise of the most likeliest man in sight The Medes in like maner vsed to make choise of no king but such as excelled in talenesse of person and strength of body In Libya none should be king but he that could winne it with running for he that was most swift should be king in Libya and so according to custome and to the maners of euery Countrey or kingdome any prince or king was elected and chosen Againe there be in Persia two other nations called Cirtij and Marai beside a sect of people named Magi. The chiefe Cities of Persia before Babylon was by Cyrus wonne to bee a Persian Citie were Susa Parsagardia Persepolis and Gaza for there the Persian kings had their monuments in Gaza there lay there treasure and wealth Beroaldus in his Chronicles Suetonius and Tranquillus in August say that the Persians were called of the Greekes in ancient time Cephenes but they bragged and boasted of a more auncient name and called them selues Artaei But after that Perseus the sonne of Iupiter and Danaes had maried Andromada the daughter and heire of Cepheus and had by his wife a sonne named Perses after whose name then they being called Cephenes are nowe called Persis after the name of their king Persis This region of Persia was diuided vnto a hundreth twentie Prouinces in the time of Darius Hystaspis the third king of Persia appointing to euery Prouince a gouernor that should pay certeine tribute vnto the king Iosephus saith Elam the eldest sonne of Sem was the first original of the Elamites now called Persians a countrie most fertile and most florishing which had soueraigntie ouerall Asia After that Cyrus from a priuate man brought vp by a heardman in an obscure place in Media became lord of all Asia king of the greatest part of the Eastkingdomes and the conquerour of Astyages king of the Medes and of Croesus king of the Lydians and last of Balthasar the last king of Babylon and the last successour of Nabuchodonosor the great hee fortified himselfe with strength of munitions commanded garisons readie in euery great citie of Persia appointed races of horses to bee had in all the Empire of Persia and euery gouernour of euery Prouince to furnish the king with horses and men necessarie to defende the countrie for the Medes Assyrians Chaldeans Lydians and Egyptiās were by this time brought subiects vnder the Persiās And therefore their wealth must be infinite for in Artaxerxes time there was an hundreth and twentie Prouinces vnder the Monarchie of Persia as Iosephus writeth Ctesias and Dionisius two great writers of Persian histories affirmed that the king of Persia was woont to haue in his Pallace fifteene thousand euery day to dinner and supper for they receiued out of Asia euery yeere fourtie thousand and fiftie talents For when Alexander the great had conquered Persia and had taken Babylon he found a hundred fiftie and seuen thousand talents and yet not so much as Cyrus left behind him as Strabo saith and no maruell for Cyrus had all the wealth of Iudea and the treasure had in the Temple at Ierusalem which was infinite of Assyria Chaldea Lydia and Media and therefore Herodot called him Cyrus the great king and after Cyrus time all the kings of Persia would be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great kings For in all the histories you shall not reade that the Romanes who afterward likewise mastered the whole worlde had so much treasure at one time as either Cyrus had left in Persia or as Alexander had found in Persia yet Persia before Cyrus time was obscure and of no fame subiect vnto the Medes for Cyrus had long warres many battels with Euilmerodach in Assyria with Croesus in Lydia with Astyages in Media with many kings before he had rest and before hee had brought the Monarchie vnto Persia and to be called the great king Cyrus began his Empire at Babylon at what time Seruius Tullius the sixt king of the Romanes reigned in Rome and Amasis gouerned Egypt In Cyrus time the temple of Apollo was burned in Delphos the second time Cyrus obteined the kingdome of Persia in the beginning of the eighteene Iubilee and in the third yeere of the eightie Olympiad which much differ from Diod. Siculus who affirmeth that Xerxes the fourth king after Cyrus tooke his voiage into Greece in the seuentie fiue Olympiad from Polybius that affirmeth Xerxes went into Greece in the 74. Olympiad in the like error is Halicarnasseus Herodot and others some affirming Cyrus to begin his Empire in the 50. Olympiad some in the 54. some in the 57. some in the 60. Olympiad thus they erre some 30. Olympiads some 20. some more and some lesse of the true time of Cyrus for in the sacred historie by sound testimonie it was laid downe by Daniel and in Nehemias the very time of Cyrus Now after that Cyrus had brought all these kingdoms vnder the monarchie of Persia he tooke Armenia in hand hauing conquered the king the countrie of Armenia Tigranes the kings sonne of Armenia a familier old friend of Cyrus hearing of Cyrus victorie ouer his father he then being farre frō Armenia returned home with all haste and besought Cyrus not to thinke of the warres betweene his father and him but to remember the amitie familiaritie which was betweene them both and therefore Tigranes entreated Cyrus to haue the crowne after his father paying vnto Cyrus such tribute as he would appoint to which request Cyrus consented appointing fiftie talents yerely to be paid to the kings of Persia which is three thousand crownes After the conquest of Armenia Cyrus passed with his army vnto Phrygia Cappadocia and Arabia who coulde not long hold out but partly yeelded and partly conquered were brought subiect and to pay tribute vnto Cyrus Cyrus was woont before he entred into battell to sing a song to Castor and Pollux and to march as the olde Spartanes with hymnes and odes to the muses to solace their hearts and to auoide feare that might occupie their heads otherwayes Cyrus his garde or chiefe souldiers about him were called Homotimi as the best souldiers vnder Alexander the great were call Argyraspides vnder Achilles named Myrmidones vnder Pyrrhus called Dolopes and so of other great conquerors which had a peculiar name of their chiefe souldiers Nowe the last and the greatest victorie was ouer the Babylonians which he attempted not before he grew great and strong by other victories for truely before Babylon was wonne the monarchie was in Assyria We reade of no king that conquered so
and Herodotus Greece began to florish in philosophie and in all knowledge about this time In this kings time the Romanes sent to Athens for the lawes of the twelue tables at what time the Romanes created tenne men named Decemuiri to interprete the lawes About this time Titus Liuius writeth that the Frenchmen came out of Scythia first with one Marcomirus to the nomber of 489. thousand to the confines of Germanie where they were called first Nemmagi by the Saxons the second name they had of Cambra the Queene and were called Sicambri and the third name of Francus a king they were named Franci as you may reade more in the history of France But to returne to Artaxerxes whose zeale to the Church was such that he commaunded the Edict of Cyrus to be performed which was hindred by Cambyses and by Darius Histaspis his owne grandfather who after once he had permitted the Iewes to haue Cyrus decree performed a good king yet he was letted to doe that which now his sonne doeth by reason of the warres which hee had in Egypt and Greece for then warres were put to silence in Asia and in the East part At this time Artaxerxes did send Esdras with great treasures and substance to Ierusalem in the seuenth yere of his raigne to build vp againe Ierusalem to repaire the temple to restore to the Iewes their common wealth This Artaxerxes is named in Esdras to be Darius by the prophet Aggeus and Zacharie at what time a great multitude of the Iewes came from Babylon with Esdras to Ierusalem though Sisines the gouernour of Syria and Phoenicia would had hindered them had not Artaxerxes commanded to helpe them All this time Artabanus mused how he might destroy Artaxerxes to haue the kingdom for to that end before he slew Xerxes this kings father that imagination was strong with Artabanus laying the like snares to murther Artaxerxes but Artaxerxes hauing intelligence of the same and fearing Artabanus sonnes seuen stout and gallant gentlemen he gathered an armie of souldiers as though he had some secret voyage in hand amongst whom Artabanus was soonest and readiest armed and as Artaxerxes vewed his armie he spied Artabanus in armes of whom stil he stood in feare vntil he preuēted the danger with Artabanus death to saue his owne life The Iewes toke this Artaxerxes to be Darius Histaspis sonne whom they called Assuerus by queene Esther By this good king Nehemias was sent after Esdras to Ierusalem with the like rewards as before From the seuenth yeere of this Artaxerxes sirnamed the long hand some do beginne the seuentie weekes of Daniel concerning the comming of Messias About this time Pericles died a noble Captaine of Athens that succeeded Themistocles and Plato was borne whose master Socrates flourished at that time Thucydides which liued in the time of Artaxerxes saith Themistocles was driuen from Athens and banished vnto Persia yea to come to serue this king whose father he anoyed so much and whose people he vanquished in foure great battels so vngrateful Athens was towards Themistocles Aristides Alcibiades and others of whom I do speake in the historie of Greece The Iewes had some quietnes from Artaxerxes time the fift king of Persia vntill the time of Ochus the eight king of Persia. Likewise the Grecians were in rest and had the cities countreis to vse with free libertie by meanes of this king Artaxerxes for the Athenians and the Peloponesians were made friends for fourteene yeeres of whose warre afterwarde Thucydides continueth his history and writeth the calamitie of Greece which ensued the ciuill warres of the Grecians After folowed the Peloponesian warres which continued 27. yeeres to the ouerthrowe of all Greece In the seuenth yeere of this warre died Artaxerxes after he had raigned fourtie and foure yeres this warre began before Augustus Caesar foure hundreth yeres About this time Capua was taken of the Samnits and Macedonia was in many places wasted and burned by a Thracian captaine called Sitalices Agis was king in Lacedemonia this time and Archidamus raigned in Sparta There liued more learned men in Artaxerxes time then in any one kings time and that in euery part and coast of the world and therefore it is not amisse to put them in one place for that they were at one time I meane one age especially of Romanes Grecians Esdras and Nehemias two noble Iewes Aggeus and Zacharias two godly Prophets Empedocles and Parmenides two great Philosophers Phericides an Historiographer of Syria Cratinus a great writer of Tragedies and Comedies Sophocles and Euripides the Tragaedians And Proclitus a Philosopher Democritus and Heraclitus two Philosophers Hippocrates a famous Phisition attendant vpon king Artaxarexes Ctesias a Persian Chronographer and one of Artaxerxes houshold Socrates flourished this time and Plato his scholer was yet but yong Herodotus and Thucydides two great writers Aristophanes and Protagoras whose bookes were burned in Athens by a publique Edict And a litle after Pindarus and Diogoras the Philosopher Zeuxes and Phidias two renowmed cunning men in cutting or grauing Images statues in painting most excellent which skill amongst the Grecians was much esteemed In Artaxerxes time liued Miltiades Themistocles Cimon and Pericles foure famous Athenians In Rome Lucius Sicinius dentatus a very strong man Tribune of the people of whose strength Plinie in his seuenth booke Cap. 28. and Solinus Cap. 6. In Artaxerxes time the Romanes sent to Athens for the twelue Tables which Solon had made to be had in great reuerence amongst the Grecians In Persia after Artaxerxes succeeded Darius Nothus this maried Artaxerxes sister Bibliander thought him to bee Xerxes sonne others named him Xerxes the seconde others affirming him to be Artaxerxes sonne but it is not much material for Chronographers omit to put him amongst the kings of Persia so Ctesias himselfe a Persian writer who liued in his dayes and serued his predecessour Artaxerxes While this Darius raigned in Persia the Egyptians againe began to reuolt at what time Amartheus gouerned Egypt and Orestes raigned king in Macedonia The Athenians made this time a league with the Lacedemonians likewise they concluded a peace with the Argiues and with the people of Mantinea by the counsell of Alcibiades This time gaue the Lacedemonians a great ouerthrow to the Argiues whereupon peace was concluded Agis being then king in Lacedemonia and himselfe generall in the fielde at Tegaea The state of Greece was to be lamented from time to time for as they did thinke all the world to be barbarous beside themselues so of themselues they could not agree vntil all Greece was through ciuil warres destroyed and wasted one countrey bickering at another and one citie enuying an other that they who triumphed oft ouer the strong Persians are now troden vnder foote of their next neighbours For in this Darius Nothus time when the Athenians had giuen an ouerthrow to the Syracusans the Lacedemonians
enuied so much Athens that they sent a great companie of souldiers with Gilippus their captaine to bring downe the victories of the Athenians at what time the Athenians were ouerthrowen and the Syracusans triumphed In this warre died that noble fellow Nicias the generall of the Athenian armie with many mo famous Athenians which shal be more at large in another place when we speake of Greece be declared The Rhodians this time did reuolt from the Lacedemonians whereupon the Lacedemonians sent ambassadours to Persia to this Darius to haue his friendship and to ioyne with the Lacedemonians in a league of peace for the Medes likewise as the Egyptians did before them reuolted from Darius for at that time Egypt and Media began to rebel against Darius About this time Alcibiades who succeeded Nicias in Athens had gotten a great victorie at Chalcedon ouerthrew the captaine Pharnabazus taken by Zantium and was thereby made chiefe captaine of the Athenians being absent from Athens Now when Darius had raigned nineteene yeeres in Persia he left behind him two sonnes Artaxerxes sirnamed Mnemon to whom he bequethed the kingdome of Persia being his eldest sonne and Cyrus his second sonne to whom likewise he gaue certaine cities and prouinces vnder his gouernment Cyrus not well contented with his fathers will hee secretly rose in armes against his brother his father yet liuing who commaunding Cyrus to be brought vnto him layd him for a time in prison and kept him in fetters of golde But after Darius time it grew to further malice and to open warres for Cyrus bearing the name of the former auncient Cyrus which was a deare name among the Persians was the bolder to fall out with his brother supposing that the Persians would the more fauour him for the names sake which in trueth among the Persians was much honoured Cyrus was from his cradle of a hot stirring minde Artaxerxes milde and gentle in all his actions hee was named first Arsicas and is with many writers so called Now when Artaxerxes was consecrated king at Pasargardes in the temple of Minerua by the priestes of Persia reports were made vnto him that Cyrus his brother had conspired his death and had layed waite to kill him of the which Artaxerxes was by his counsell perswaded to trie out the treason of Cyrus which being found out yet by the meanes of his mother Parysatis who loued Cyrus dearely hee was of that fault pardoned Notwithstanding the great courtesie of Artaxerxes towards Cyrus he after this thirsted more for the kingdome of Persia then before for this king Artaxerxes Mnemon following his grandfathers steps Artaxerxes the long handed in all goodnes and vertue hee was much beloued of his subiects honoured of his countrey and of all countreys much esteemed he gaue himselfe to heare suiters causes and to let his poore subiects to haue accesse vnto him to open their causes Now such as desired innouations and change gaue out that the greatnes of the Empire of Persia stood in neede of a king that should be alwayes in armes such a prince as Cyrus was these people stirred vp Cyrus to open warre against his brother who leauing the gouernment of Lydia being also generall lieutenant of all Asia giuen vnto him by his father Darius sent messengers vnto Lacedemonia for helpe gathered of Greece and of barbarous nations to the nomber of thirteene thousand beside his owne force and marched boldly forwarde vntill hee heard that Artaxerxes had an armie of nine hundred thousand fighting men yet Cyrus went forward and gaue him battell and diuers sore assaults but preuailed not this warre is of Xenophon excellently described and set foorth in all points In this battell was Artaxerxes hurt by Cyrus his owne hand but afterwarde the miserie and the extremitie of Cyrus was such as by Plutarch is set in the life of Mnemon The cause of this warre was ambition and the desire of Cyrus to the kingdome but as Melancthon saith the rather moued hereunto by his mother Parysatis who hated Statira Artaxeres wife to the death The great magnanimitie iustice modestie liberalitie and other singular vertues which shined in this Cyrus is of Xenophon not forgotten in his booke de Cyriminoris expeditione for after Cyrus death all those that boasted to haue slaine him were by Parysatis meanes Cyrus mother so persecuted that they died most miserably as Artasyras and Mithridates To be short this Parysatis the kings mother found no rest vntil she had poisoned the Queene Statyra her daughter in law In the meane season Agesilaus king of Lacedemon maketh warres with the Persians Artaxerxes wisely looking to the warre sendeth Hermocrates to the most part of the cities of Greece with great treasures of gold and siluer to raise the rest of the Grecians against the Lacedemonians During this garboile betweene Artaxerxes and Agesilaus Parysatis was sent to Babylon to come to the Court for the king kept not his anger long against his mother After this Artaxerxes tooke a iourney against the Caduceans sent an armie to Egypt who had reuoulted from his father and thought to recouer both Media and Egypt Nowe the King entering into some yeeres hearing of some sturre and contention betweene his two sonnes Darius and Ochus either of them aspiring into the kingdome the yonger being Ochus a valiant man but of a hot nature had some in the Court that wrought both with the king with his sister Atossa who loued him dearely as Plutarch saith too dearely by a crime betweene them both suspected Notwithstanding Artaxerxes proclaimed Darius his eldest sonne to be king to see whether the like contention and rebellion would grow betweene his children as fell betweene him and his brother Cyrus to put Ochus his younger sonne out of all hope to succeede in Persia a king after his father he commaunded according to the lawe of Persia that his sonne Darius should weare the point of his hatte right vp in token of his succession for it was not lawfull to any sauing to the king or to his successour to weare his hatte with the point vpward There was likewise a custome in Persia that when any should be proclaimed successour or heire apparant to the crowne he should request any one thing at the kings hand and haue it there was a very faire gentlewoman taken after Cyrus death in the campe by Artaxerxes who had beene in great fauour with Cyrus a Grecian borne in Ionia named Aspasia called for witte and beautie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This woman did Artaxerxes so esteeme as when his sonne Darius craued this woman for his gift he was much offended thereby and yet must of force depart from her according to the lawe of Persia but it cost Darius his life for after Aspasia was taken againe from Darius by his father he began to be moued herein and to conspire the kings
to Rauenna Trebellius setteth downe the spoile that the Gothes haue done in Greece in Pontus and in Macedonia But to returne to Sapores king of Persia who in the seuenteenth yere of his reigne got a great armie of souldiers entred into Syria Cilicia Capadocia committed great crueltie and slaughter vntill Valerian the Emperour met him in Mesopotamia and gaue him battel where the king of Persia was ouerthrowen and taken by the Emperour by whom he was kept captiue in miserable seruitude all his life afterward in Persis Odenatus held then the whole Empire of the East in his hand at this time which being slaine by his coosin Maeonis Zenobia Odenatus wife a famous woman reuenged her husbands death after the king her husband had vanquished the Persians and had put the king Sapores to flight and pursued him vnto the citie of Ctesiphon where he besieged him and brought him to great extremitie This Zenobia ruled the Palmyrians with her two yong sonnes Herreminianus and Timolaus and as Trebellius writeth of her she sent an armie of souldiers against Egypt vnder two valiant captaines Sarba and Timogenes she was wise learned and stoute and compted for her courage and magnanimitie a second Semyramis In the last yeres of Sapores king of Persia was Paulus Samosatenus in the last council had at Antioche cōdemned as heretike and put from his bishopricke by Aurelian the Emperor The third king of Persia was called Ormisdates this raigned but one yeere and did nothing worth the writing But Aurelianus hauing asswaged the furie and sedition which then was at Rome sent his armie to Thracia and to Illyria where he vanquished the Barbarous nations slewe the grand captaiue of the Gothes by the riuer Danubius ouerthrew the Sue◅ians Sarmates and Germanes and slew of the Almanes fifteene thousande thence he returned his force vnto the East vanquished the Palmireans and their famous Queene zenobia and after he inuaded Egypt and triumphed ouer these nations in Rome After this he began to persecute the Christians and to send his commissions abroad vnto all places with great crueltie to vexe and to molest the Church but in the middest of his tyrannie he was slaine by conspiracie of his owne seruant betweene Bizantium and Heraclea the heresies of Manichees began in Aurelianus time Now in Persia began Vararanes their fourth king and another of that name succeeded him the fift king of Persia of whom there was nothing done during nine yeeres which they raigned worth the reciting After these succeeded in Persia Narses the sixt king of the Persians this began to flourish and to waxe strong gathered force about him and began to warre in Mesopotamia and in Armenia wasted subdued and vanquished all the prouinces thereabout tooke Galerius in hand and gaue him in battell the ouerthrow This Maximinus Galerius being elected together with Constantius Chlorus both Emperours for two yeeres the Romanes had then their handfull to do diuers nations reuolted from them and many countreis were in armes against them and they much weakened from the force and power of the olde Romanes by reason of the treason and murther one Emperour finding meanes to kill another therefore Constantius was made a gouernour of a great armie of Romanes to resist the force of Fraunce Hispaine Affricke and Italy Galerius appointed generall against Greece Illyrica Persia and the East countreys either of these two had the name of Caesar giuen them and well worthie For Constantius discomfited the Germanes made free the Frenchmen subdued and slewe threescore thousand of the Almanes Maximinus hee on the other side vanquished the whole armie of the Assyrians gaue the ouerthrowe to Narses king of Persia after the first battell and at that time brought vnder the Romane Empire fiue prouinces Misdates the eight king of the Persians raigned seuen yeres and nine monethes in whose raigne happened in Tyre and Sydon such an earthquake that innumerable people were slaine thereby that houses and whose streetes fell downe to the grounde in the yeere of CHRIST three hundreth and sixe In the which time Dioclesian the Emperour in the ninetenth yeere of his raigne began extremely to persecute the Christians which cōtinued most cruelly for thirteene yeres Of such persecution shall you scant reade in all the Ecclesiastical histories this Emperour was so proude that after hee had done his triumph in Rome with such pompe and magnificence he commaunded his subiects to adore him and to worship him with some diuine seruice Fratrem solis lune se nuncupans putting golden shoes on his feete wrought with pearles and precious stones with an edict giuen that his nobles and great men should kisse his feete By this time Sapor the ninth king of the Persians had raigned seuentie yeres he was crowned as Functius saith in his mothers wombe hee plagued those Christians that dwelt then in his territories with taxes tribute and with all crueltie at length persecuted them with open murther and slaughter for he slew Simeon Archbishoppe of Seleucia with a hundreth more in one day of Christians hee layed siege to Nisibis and got Singara Bizabda and Amyda three great townes from Constantius that were vnder the Romanes tooke them scattered and destroyed the Romane armie that peace was offered to Sapor at that time by the Romanes Of this king Sapor and of his great warres called Persicum bellum of his long gouernment and of his often persecution against the Christians reade Eutropius and Pomponius Laetus During his raigne Constantine the great was made Emperour of the Romanes the sonne of Constantius the last before him sirnamed Chlorus a good Emperor he sought peace and restored peace specially to the Christians which were before so persecuted by Dioclesian by Valerian by Sapor and by the Emperour Licinius which presently succeeded his vncle Constantine Eusebius sayeth that Helena the wife of Constantius Chlorus and mother to Constantine the great founde the Crosse vpon the which our Sauiour CHRIST died in Ierusalem Of this the Romane Papists make much more adoe then of the Sonne of GOD who died thereon for the Messias our Sauiour they robbe of his glory and honour and the Crosse of wood they worship and adore This Constantine builded two famous great cities the one named Helenopolis after his mothers name being before called Drepana an auncient citie in Bythinia the other hee builded and named it after his owne name Constantinopolis before called Bizantium a very auncient citie in Thracia At this time died in Syria and Cilicia a great multitude of people of famine and hunger This time was Athanasius called from exilement by the Emperour Constantine and was sent vnto Alexandria where hee was sore vexed by the Arrians a secte of heresies sprong vp in those dayes by one Arrius of whome the rest were named Arrians Donatius an arch heritike a beginner of other heresies
the Scythians who likewise had no houses but their wagons in the which they carie their wiues their children and themselues into any coūtrey where they take warre in hand Nowe of the Arabians trafique and marchandise and of their frankincense myrrhe and many other kinde of spices of their birdes Phoenix and Cynomolgies of their precious stones of their hilles sweete riuers and other rare things in Arabia I referre you to Strabo he leaueth nothing vntoucht within Arabia But I wil returne to Mahomet a poore man of a base and meane parentage brought vp a seruant to feede and to attend camels a young man of a wonderfull craftie subtile wit hauing married his mistresse and thereby growen wealthie he vsed the company of one Sergius a Monke with whom he was taught to accuse the Iewes as wicked cruel tyrants to kill a great Prophet and to accuse the Christians of ignorancie and of much simplicitie scoffing them for their superstitious ceremonies and meere fantasies in their religion as he said of their God Christ. This Mahomet vomited his malice in such sort that not onely Asia but Affricke and Europe were by him infected hee settled himselfe in the richest regions of all Arabia named Scenites where in short time through the craft and subtiltie of his fained religion and by the dayly accesse of a white pigeon in the eare to eate graines of wheat which he vsed to deceiue the simple supposing the pigeon to bee some spirit from God that instructed Mahomet in all good discipline and religion that whatsoeuer Mahomet did it was taken as done by a prophet He grew of such credite within Arabia that he made lawes and decrees he altered the whole course of the Arabians gouernment and brought the Saracens to beginne their yeeres and their accompt from the beginning of Mahomets raigne For as the Grecians were wont to nomber yeeres by their Olympiads the Romanes by their Lustrum so the Arabians and the Saracens vsed their accompt by Hegira begunne in the time of Mahomet at what time he escaped hardly the hands of the chiefe men in Arabia called Philarchi who thought to kill Mahomet for his newe doctrine against the religion of the Arabians But after he had escaped he gathered a great armie by meanes of many that tooke him and honoured him as a diuine prophet and entred with force and maine strength againe vpon his enemies and had the victory ouer them From the which time the Arabians beganne to accompt their yeeres in memorie of the escape of Mahomet by flight which the Arabians call Hegira and after by Mahomet commaunded in the time of Heraclius the Emperour and Pope Honorius in the yeere of our Sauiour sixe hundreth twentie and one to bee kept of the Saracens and of the Arabians in great honour and accompt and to beginne all their accompts trafiques and marchandise by Hegira And as wee vse the yeere of our Lorde at the very day that he was conceiued in the wombe of the Virgine by the holy Ghost so the Arabians from the time of this Hegira by Mahomet commaunded vsed their yeeres MAhomet the great prophet and the only Prince of Arabia began his gouernment in the yeere of our saluation 624. At what time Heraclius gouerned as Emperour in Constantinople he raigned nine yeres died and was honoured as a God to this day among the Saracens After this Mahomet raigned in Arabia Ebubezer three yeeres during which time he subdued the citie of Gaza and brought that prouince altogether vnder the Arabians who at this beganne to be sirnamed Amiras a name of dignitie as Caesars among the Romanes or Pharaos among the Egyptians this raigned the first Amiras The second Amiras was called Haumar which raigned 12. yeeres this enlarged the countrey of Arabia from Egypt vnto the riuer Euphrates this brought Persia subiect to Arabia and forced Hormisda their last king to take his flight and to leaue behinde him all his treasures and all the wealth of Persia. This Amiras tooke Caesarea a citie in Palestina after he had besieged it seuen yeeres by his lieutenant Muhanias who was his Generall from the confines of Egypt vnto Euphrates This Haumar after hee had destroyed the temple of Hierusalem caused the Crosse which hee found in the temple to be set vp in Mount Oliuet to scoffe there the Christians who beganne at that very time to worship euery where the Crosse that was the first Crosse and the first time that the vse of Crosses beganne from that in Mount Oliuet But after much harme done by this Haumar hee was slaine by a Persian woman named Margaret as hee was praying kneeling before the newe erected idole of Mahomet After this Haumar succeeded Hotaman the fourth Amiras this inuaded Affrica possessed diuers places and filled many townes with Saracens at what time Muhanias the chiefe Generall of all the Arabians territories sailed with a great nauie into Cyprus inuaded the whole Isle and tooke the citie Constantia and the citie Aradus and at his returne came to Rhodes destroyed the huge and monstrous image of Phoebus called Colossus Solis accompted one of the seuen wonders of the world While Muhanias was in warres with the Cyprians and the Rhodians the very same time another Prince of Arabia named in the Chronicles Busor inuaded Isauria destroyed the countrey made a great slaughter of the people and brought fiue thousande captiues prisoners into Arabia but within fewe dayes Hoaman was slaine through the treasonof his owne housholdes and chiefe friends This time raigned king in Fraunce Clodoueus the second of that name which Clodoueus was called Lewes the first and in Constantinople raigned Emperour Constans which was sonne to Constantius the third who had a great ouerthrowe in battell by sea by Muhamias with his armie of Saracens Eugenius then was elected the tenth Pope of Rome Hali who gouerned the Saracens after Hoaman with Muhamias for 3. yeeres at what time he was slaine by a conspiracie of souldiers after whose death Muhanias became the fift Amiras ouer the Arabians who gouerned foure and twentie yeeres and kept his court all that time at Damascus This Muhanias grew mightie and strong inuaded Affrica slew fourescore thousand Africanes spoyled the territories of the Romanes entred into their confines but the Romanes forced him to flee pursued him and compelled him to seeke the Romanes fauour paying three thousand pound in golde and fiftie Saracens for yerely tribute Constantine the fift sirnamed Pogonatus held then the Empire at Constantinople Gizid the sonne of Muhanias succeeded his father and raigned after him 3. yeeres this had not such successe as Muhamias his father had but after Gizid succeeded Habdella the seuenth Amiras against whom Marnan was elected the eight Amiras who died within nine moneths after and left his sonne Habdimelech to be the ninth Amiras this raigned two and twentie yeeres The Saracens about this time inuaded so
Emperour of Germanie in Englande Henrie the fourth flourished This Mahomet left to succeede him a sonne named Amurates the second of that name and the sixt king ouer the Turkes this Amurates farre excelled all his predecessours in his warres hee beganne to warre with the people called Mysores and their prince which nowe are named Seruij hee tooke their Cities Scopia and Nouemontum and tooke the Kings two sonnes and his daughter hee caused the Kings sonnes eyes to be pluckt out and yet maried their sister and thereby restored the Citie Nouemontum to the king againe After this hee commenced warres against the Germanes Hungarians and Valaches spoyled their territories and wasted their Countries and vsed great extremitie hee passed thence to Epire laide siege to Croia tooke it and possessed it After truice made and peace concluded betweene the Turke and the Hungarians Amurates against his promise and othe by perswasion of Pope Eugenius the fourth entred in armes and gaue two terrible battels to the Christians in the which many Nobles dyed and were taken In these two great victories the one at Varna the other at Basila he slue an infinite companie of Hungarians Polonians Hunnes and others of Germanie for in this warre at Varna Ladislaus king of Polonia was slaine and Cardinall Iulian with all their captaines and men of armes in the other at Basila all the Princes of Hungarie and many of the Nobles and Peeres of Germanie Thence hee returned into Asia after hee had subdued and conquered all places as hee traueiled and hauing had sufficient triall of his good fortune with some diffidence of further successe by some change of fortune hee committed the kingdome vnto his sonnes charge while yet hee liued being willing to take his rest and to see the euentes of the succession in the kingdome by his sonne ouer whom he appointed Tutour and Gouernour for that Mahomet his sonne was yet young a Turke named Calibassa but this during the time of thirtie foure yeeres did no great exploite but made one voiage to Epirus and besiged the Citie of Croia but in vaine for that valiant and noble captaine Scanderbeg draue him quickly with losse and shame from Epyrus and for very griefe hee dyed after his returne Of this Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus the historie is set foorth according to his desertes in Barletius In the time of this Mahomet Constantine the last of that name and the last Emperour of Constantinople reigned Soldan Zeledim Emperour of the Tartarians dyed in this time Nowe reigned Emperour of Germanie Albertus the second of that name which was both king of Hungaria and Bohemia hee reigned Emperour but two yeeres after whom succeeded Fredericke the third Archduke of Austria to be Emperour of Germanie which reigned Emperour fiftie foure yeres But to come to Mahomet the second of that name and the seuenth king of the Turkes This for his greatnesse and good successe in his warres was named Nouus Othomanus an other newe Othoman for as in the first Othoman the kingdome of the Turkes beganne so nowe by this Mahomet the Empire of the Turkes beganne and therefore he was called Othoman the great He subdued two Empires twelue kingdomes two hundred Cities and great Townes hee tooke from the Venetians the Isles of Chalcidis and Scodra hee tooke diuers Cities in Greece as Corinthus and Mitilena The Turkes inuaded Syria wasted and destroyed Hungaria and tooke al Euboca he tooke Capha a Citie in Pontus and Hydrantes in Italie hee tooke in battell by treacherie saith Functius Stephanus king of Mysia whom he vsed as Cambyses vsed Sisamnis he flayed him and banished him from his kingdome he destroyed all the prouince of Carinthia Quae quantae huius victoriae totus vix dies explicet the very wordes of Egnatius This Turke so plagued the Christians that yet to this day they coulde not recouer the losse howe be it hee was ouerthrowen by Scanderbeg in a great battell where hee lost an infinite number of his Turkes by Hussa Cassanus king both of Armenia and of Persia who also gaue a great ouerthrowe to Mahomet by Stephanus Prince of Valachia who gote ouer the Turkes a great victorie by Pope Sixtus the fourth who gaue battell by sea vnder the Cardinall of Aquileia by the Rhodians and by the Christians at a place called Alba Graeca hee was discomfited and diuers times ouerthrowen but still hee preuailed with more gaine then losse and with fame renowne that he is now Emperour of Constantinople and of Trapezuntium and king of many kingdomes lord and gouernour of so many Prouinces and Regions that he thereby is nowe named the great Turke Nowe after this Turke had reigned thirtie one yeeres he dyed in the yeere of our Lord God 1481. on the fift nones of May. After whose death great ciuill warres grew among the Turkes and continued for a time which being done Pazaites the second of that name and the eldest sonne of the last Mahomet hauing vanquished his younger brother obteined the Empire armed his men and himselfe out of hand assaulted the Castle of Valachia and tooke it after hee marched against the Soldan of Egypt by whome hee had sundry ouerthrowes that the Turke and the Soldan entred into a league and concluded a peace After he returned and went against the Germanes whom he by continuall warres brought vnder the Turkes seruitude and at that very time he so plagued the Venetians that he subdued Methon Dyrrhachium and Naupactum three strong great cities The Turkes vnder this Pazaites conquered and subdued many places for this Emperour vanquished the Polonians which people were called before Gelas and subdued many people inhabiting about Meotida hee destroyed the Citie of Craocia but constrained by the armie of Maximilian the Emperour to forsake their Fortes hee was also put to flight Reade Chromerus Chronicle of this Pazaites warres against the Venecians at what time hee returning from the ouerthrowe and subduing of Modon the Sophi king of Persia for so nowe all the kings of Persia are called Sophi gaue the Turkes a great ouerthrowe Thus farre doeth Egnatius prosecute the Turkes historie vntill Selimus time the ninth Emperour of the Turkes at what time reigned Emperour in Germanie Maximilian sonne to Frederike the third and in Fraunce Lewes the twelfth of that name This Pazaites after hee had reigned thirtie one yeeres died after whom succeeded Selimus the ninth Emperour of the Turkes who liued seuen yeeres in the Empire this had a great ouerthrowe in Armenia the great by the Sophy of Persia how be it afterward he recouered his strength and gathered an armie passed into Egypt gaue battell to the Soldan whom hee tooke as prisoner and at that time subdued all Egypt and Syria for nowe the kings of Egypt are called Soldani as the kings of Persia are Sophy But to come to Soliman the tenth Emperour of the Turkes who reigned
being the eight king of the Assyrians before the Athenians as long as Iacob was before Moses for in Athens raigned Cecrops the first king which king was of one time with Moses But let vs proceede The ninth king in Peloponesus was named Mesapius who raigned fourtie and seuen yeeres Philo Iudeus affirmeth that Iob about this time liued and that after his punishment and afflictions he maried Dina the daughter of Iacob but this is thought to be false and found otherwise that Iob and Dina were not of one time not by foure discents for that Iobab which is written in Genesis was of Iacobs time this Iobab was the second king that raigned in the lande of Edom as one of the stocke of Esau and therefore some writers erred herein Now foloweth in Peloponesus Heratus the 10. king in whose time one Hispalus the sonne of Heroules sirnamed Libius raigned in Celtiberia who at that time builded a city after his owne name and called it Hispalis You must vnderstand where you reade Celtiberia or Iberia that then that countrey was so called which is now named Spaine as it is in the treatise of Spaine more at large written when and how long Celtiberia or Iberia continued by that name and when the name of Spaine beganne The kings of Egypt beganne now to be called Pharaones a generall name of dignitie alwayes vnto their kings afterward for their proper names were not so The eighteenth Dynasteia of the Egyptians likewise beganne this time which continued three hundreth fourtie and eight yeres in the which gouernment Amasis was the first king Sparta a very famous citie amongst the Lacedemonians was nowe builded by one Spartus the sonne of Phoroneus the second king of the Argiues whome a litle before you read of Mar. Scot. sayeth that Greece was not tilled before this time that corne being brought then from Phoenicia to Greece was first at that time sowen but I will bee briefe in passing ouer the names of the kings of Poloponesus because I might come to the ripenesse of Greece which was many hundreth yeeres after this time The eleuenth king was named Plemneus and their twelft king named Orthopolis of these two wee haue nothing to write more then of the rest but in respect of the time and of the gouernment to open the naked state and weake Empires of the world at that time wherein there was no action done worthy of writing for scant armes were then knowen this onely wee finde what kings raigned then and in what partes of the worlde they gouerned hauing their those names which they haue not nowe for then the Frenchmen were called Celtae the Spaniards Celtiberi or Iberi and so of other nations But nowe raigned in Assyria Mammitus the thirteenth king and Crassus raigned ouer the Argiues the fift king This time Cath begate Amram Moses father and about this time Ioseph died in Egypt after which time the children of Israel were sore afflicted by the Egyptians vnder another Pharao sirnamed Amenophis a cruell tyrant ouer the Hebrewes then being vnder his subiection in Egypt This king made an Edict and charged the midwiues that all children of the Hebrewes should bee slaine or else cast into Nilus as soone as they were borne Of some this king is called Memnon About this time gouerned in certaine partes of Celtes one Lugdus after whome the place and the people were called Lugdunenses and likewise one named Narbon by whose name the countrey is to this day called Narbonensis which are two prouinces within Gallia now called Fraunce About this time flourished the great Astrologer Atlas which is of Poets fained to sustaine the skies vpon his shoulders for his skil and knowledge therein In the two and twentieth yeere of this king Orthopolis Amram married Iochabed and begate Aaron and three yeeres after begate Moses In Moses time beganne the kingdome of Thessalia where Emon the first king raigned and together with Thessalia sprang vp the kingdome of Athens three hundreth seuentie and fiue yeeres before the destruction of Troy and about seuentie yeeres before Israel was deliuered from the bondage of Pharao for from Cecrops the first king of Athens vnto the first Olympiad raigned in Athens seuenteene kings and twentie princes or Iudges first called Metondidae after called Decennales principes after the kings Of this king it is written that hee first named Iupiter a god and honoured him he erected the first altar in Greece found images and offered vp sacrifices which were not before Cecrops time seene in Greece for Castor and Pollux Liber and Mercurius with diuers ancient gods of the Gentiles were after the time of Cecrops But I will leaue Athens for a while and I will speake of the Sicyonians and Argiues for these two regions of Greece were the first regions that were gouerned by kings but such kings as then that time yeelded called Reguli but the state and regiment of the Argiues after the succession of foureteene kings was caried by Perseus into Mycena which kingdome of Mycena was established in Euristheus after whome raigned sixe kings and ended together at one time with the kingdome of Sicyonum as you shall reade after in the next chapter But now I wil set downe the names of the kings of the Sicyonians in order as I finde them in Ruffinus and in Functius tables 1 Egialeus after whose name the countrey was called Egialea raigned 52 yeeres 2 Europs 45. 3 Stelchin 20. 4 Apis after whose name the countrey was named Apia 25. 5 Thelassion 52. 6 Aegidius 34. 7 Thurimachus 14. In this kings time began the kingdome of the Argiues 8 Leucippus 53. 9 Messapius 47. 10 Heratus 46. 11 Plemneus 12. 12 Orthopolis 63. 13 Merathius 30. In whose time the kingdom of Athens began 14 Maretus 20. CHAP. II. Of the building of Athens of their beginning and of their first lawes vnder 17 kings being the thirde kingdome of Greece in antiquitie after the Sicionians and the Argiues CEcrops of whom mention is made before builded Athens in Achaia and hereof it was named first Cecropia after that it was called of one Ati Attica and last of all it was named of Minerua Athens for in the Greeke tongue Athenae is called Minerua though in ancient time it had other names as Mopsopia or Ionia Diadas and Orchomenon and now at this time of no great fame but a poore fisher towne which Mahomet the eight Emperour of the Turkes hath brought vnder In the dayes of Cecrops raigned that Pharao which was with all his nobilitie and chiualrie of Egypt drowned in the read sea for his wickednes and tyrannie against God and his people he was by his proper name called Chencres There happened in Cecrops time two great wonders in Greece the one a great deluge in Thessalia called Deucaleons floud the other that great harme of fire called
Incēdium Phaetontis at what time the Grecians were named Helenes after the name of Hellenes the sonne of Deucaleon and Pyrrha After this Cecrops folowed Cranaus the second king of Athens which raigned nine yeeres Hermes Trismegistus a great Philosopher and a priest of Egypt flourished though Suydas saith that he liued before Abrahams time yea some of the best learned that are best acquainted with histories thinke it a name fained and a booke framed of late vnder the name of Trismegistus Now folowed Marathus the foureteenth king of Peloponesus Erictherus the 15. king Choar the 16. king of Peloponesus as Functius saith Ruffinus nameth this king Astades I passe ouer the names without any matter to be written of them for Greece was yet as the Chaldeans and the Assyrians in the beginning building and beginning to frame kingdomes for all this time no part of Greece was knowen but Sicyonum which is the countrey of the Peloponesians after them the Argiues and now the Thessalians and the Athenians start vp and beginne a kingdom as the third and fourth gouernours of Greece in antiquitie About this time the citie of Corinth was builded this was first called Epira and grewe afterwarde to be one of the strongest cities and holdes in all Greece Nowe was the citie Epidaurus and the citie Bythinia builded now Memphis was builded in Egypt for the world was then busie onely in building at what time in Athens raigned Amphitrion the thirde king and after him succeeded Ericthonius the fourth king of Athens About which time came Phaenix and Cadmus from Thebes to Egypt and from Egypt vnto Syria and gouerned Tyre and Sidon at what time raigned in Creete Asterius and ouer the Argiues the ninth king called Stelenus I thought for obseruation of time very necessary to set downe the time and beginning of euery kingdome as they began in one place after another though I finde nothing yet in Greece worth the writing concerning either warres or gouernment Now beganne in Phrigia a new kingdome called Dardania after one Dardanius name who both builded this towne and raigned there the first king 31. yeres though Manethon setteth downe 64. I wil folow Archilochus in this historie whose assertion is more probable concerning time then Manethon is It was called before Meonia this kingdome beganne 830. yeeres after the flood when Amyntas the 19. king of the Assyrians kept his Court at Niniue About which time Moses died after whom succeeded Iosua In Egypt then gouerned Aegyptius after he had driuen his brother Danaus then king out of Egypt vsurped the kingdome after whose name Egypt was named before called Mizraim and had to his sirname Ramesses About this time in Egypt the first Labyrinth was builded by Menophis by some called Miris after which example Dedalus imitated the like worke and made the second Labyrinth in Creete at what time Minoes raigned king in Creete This Minoes was the first lawmaker in Creete when likewise Radamanthus ordained lawes in Licya Bellopares now king in Assyria gouerned and Epopeus the 17. king of the Peloponesians For that I see not much matters in following the course and order of these kings of Greece and for that I finde as I said before nothing historicall because yet time seemed raw in Greece and farre from the ciuil dissentions which long after happened in Greece from the forren warres which the Grecians had with the kings of Persia and Macedonia for now all the warres that were was in Assyria Chaldea I wil hasten therefore to come to the histories of Greece wil passe ouer these fragments of places and persons vntil I shall find matters to write of only I will set downe the names of the kings of the Argiues as they raigned orderly 1 Inachus the first king raigned 50. yeres 2 Phoroneus 60. 3 Apis. 35. 4 Argos 70. 5 Crassus 54. 6 Abas Phorbas 35. 7 Troiphas 46. In this kings time the kingdome of Athens beganne 8 Crotopus 21. 9 Stelenus 11. 10 Danaus which was driuen by his brother Rameses out of Egypt came to Argos and raigned 50. 11 Lynceus 41. 12 Abas 23. 13 Protheus 17. 14 Agrisius 13. Now the kingdom of the Argiues ended their foueraigntie was taken away into Mycena by Perseus a noble valiant captaine which had diuers victories ouer diuers countreis as ouer the Persians and now ouer the Argiues in the time of Agrisius after they had gouerned Argos 544. yeres where Eristheus a man most famous named another Hercules for his great courage and enterprises he was of the stocke of Atrides for Atreus which was Agamemnon Menelaus father was his owne vncle and therfore he gouerned the most part of Greece In his time which yet had growen to no strēgth he established the kingdom of Mycena and broght many subiects vnder it that Mycena became populous and strong and the Mycenians became to be conquerors of many prouinces therefore writers omit the name of Perseus and of Stelenus and they begin the kingdom frō the time of Eristheus after whom succeeded 6. kings who waxed strong mighty that then Mycena ruled al Greece These had the 10. yeres warres with the Troyans and at last conquered them which warre was the cause of their own destruction for that they began together at one time and both had equall nomber of kings for 6. kings raigned in Mycena and 6. in Troy whose names I haue here layd downe The kings of MYCENA The kings of TROY Eristheus raigned 45. yeres Dardanus the first king 31. Atreus and Thiestes 65. Ericthonius 2. 57. Tros 3. 60. Agamemnon Atreussonne 18. Ilus the 4. king 54. This came frō Mycena vnto Troy with 1202. shippes Laomedon the 5. raigned 36. In whose time Troy was destroyed by Hercules with his company going to Colchos Aegistus after Agamemnon 2. Priamus the 6. and last king was by Agamemnō subdued and his citie conquered Orestes 15. yeeres In whose time Mycena was subdued by the stocke of Heraclides vnder the Peloponesians  Thus ended the kings of Mycena and of Troy the one being destroyed by the other yet after Orestes was slaine by Pirrhus in the temple of Apollo Tisamenus Orestes sonne raigned 15. yeres after his fathers death and after Tisamenus raigned but two more which were called Penthillus and Cometes But there is scant any mention made of these after Orestes time Now after that these two kingdomes were destroyed and ouerthrowen presently the kingdome of the Latines beginneth in the person of Aeneas who trauailing from Troy vnto Italy after the destruction therof maried king Latinus daughter and heire which is spoken of in the originall antiquitie of the Latines by Halcarnassaeus Ruffinus Eusebius and others The Peloponesians raigned 860. yeeres and ended in the time of Samson the last Iudge of Israel which ended the gouernment of the Iudges in Israel which continued
their gouernment and continuance THis very time beganne the kingdome of Corinth to start vp where first raigned Alethes their first king which raigned fiue and thirtie yeeres in Corinth Together with the Corinthians beginne the Lacedemonians to set vp a kingdome where raigned first as king one Euristhenes of whome issued after those two valiant and noble Captaines Cleomenes and Leonidas so much for their courage and prowesse set forth in Thucydides whose greatnesse and courage shall when time serueth be declared to their great fame Vnderstand how by degrees one after another kings and kingdomes in Greece beginne 1 The first gouernment began in Peloponesus and continued during the time of 26. kings which was 860. yeres 2 The second kingdom which sprang vp in Greece were the Argiues where raigned 14. kings which continued 544. yeeres After these two the Athenians and the Thessalians beganne to flourish about one time Athens waxed more famous then any other region of Greece seuenteene kings successiuely raigned in Athens and continued from the going out of the children of Israel out of Egypt yea fourtie yeeres before that time vntill the 423. yeere after their departure out of Egypt euen from Moses time vntill Dauids raigne for in Moses time Cecrops the first king of Athens raigned and in Dauids time Codrus the last king of Athens This is a sure computation of time wherein can be no errour The ancient and first people of the worlde after the flood beganne to accompt the time from the going of Noah out of the Arke as the Chaldeans and Assyrians did as Berosus their owne countrey Chronographer doeth affirme whose historie endured from Noah to Moses Then the Hebrewes made their accompt from the deliuery of Israel out of Egypt as Iosephus their countrey man likewise affirmeth by their Iubilees which they vsed euery fiftieth yeere All other kinde of Chronicles which accompt by the Olympiads or from the raigne of Alexander which the Greekes vsed from the destruction of Troy or from the building of Rome which the Romanes and diuers other nations did doe much erre and must of necessitie erre for they neither agree of the time of the Olympiads neither of the time when Troy was destroyed nor when Rome was builded But I wil returne to my matter Now that Peloponesus Argos Thessalia and Athens haue altered their gouernement from kings vnto princes and magistrates and that now Lacedemonia and Corinth beginne together to erect vp their kingdoms and to enioy a Monarchie by the gouernment of kings who began to raigne in Lacedemon and in Corinth foure hundreth and thirteene yeres after the Israelits went out of Egypt at what time in Athens raigned Codrus the last king of 17. and ouer the Latins Aeneas Siluius the fourth king This time began warres betweene the Peloponesians and the Athenians while yet Codrus liued in the which warres to saue his countrey and to satisfie the Oracle giuen thereby he entred boldly valiantly to the midst of the enemies like Deâ—…ius or Curtius and died after whom succeeded Medon Codrus sonne after whose names the magistrats of Athens were called Metondidae About this time beganne Dauid to raigne king in Hebron Saul being slaine and his sonnes in the 8. Iubilee of the Iewes Latinus Siluius raigned ouer the Latins the 5. king In Tyre reigned Hiram one that loued and fauoured king Dauid all the dayes of his life this time gouerned in Assyria Eupales the thirtie two king of the Assyrians In Corinth gouerned Ixion the second king who reigned thirtie seuen yeeres in the hundred eighteene yeeres of the taking of Troy by the Grecians In Lacedemon likewise the seconde king called Argis succeeded who liued but one yeere after him succeeded the third king named Arcestratus who reigned thirtie fiue yeres A little after this Absalom slue his brother Amnon and fled to the king of Gessur about which time Salomon was borne of Bethseba for that I finde no great matter to write of the kings of Lacedemonia where reigned nine kings sauing Agesilaus onely and of the kings of Corinth where reigned twelue kings I meane to auoide tediousnesse to set downe the names of these kings aswell of Lacedemon as of Corinth in a table with their reignement and gouernment as here you see for that these two kingdomes beganne both at one and also ended about one time 1 Alethes the 1. king of Corinth he reigned 35. Looke Herod lib. 7. for these kings of Lacedemon 2 Ixion 37. 1 Euristhenes the first king of Lacedomon 42. 3 Agelaus 37. 2 Argis the 2. king one yeere 4 Pryminas 35. 3 Arcestratus 35. yeeres 5 Bacis the 5. king 35. 4 Labotes 37. yeeres 6 Agelas 30. 5 Doristus 29. yeeres 7 Eudemus 25. 6 Agesilaus 44. yeeres 8 Aristemedes 35. 7 Archelaus 60. yeeres 9 Egemnon 16. 8 Thalecus 8. reigned 40. 10 Philestenus 12. 9 Alcanes the last 37. 11 Autones the last 1. yeere  This Agesilaus being very wise valiant learned to obey before hee came to commaunde well instructed in militarie discipline iust vertuous in all his actions which the Ephori being chiefe of authorities within Sparta and were to controule kings insolencie and iniustice if any were by them vsed he first after he was elected king armed himself against the king of Persia for the defence of the Crecians his Countrie men that dwelled in Asia and after hee had set the Cities of Greece which were in Asia at libertie he entred vnto Phrygia where hee tooke many cities wanne great spoiles these exploites being done hee returned vnto the Citie of Ephesus where within fewe dayes hee had leuied a great number of men of armes imitating herein king Agamemnons example in chusing the best souldiers to warres with him and leauing behind at home the worst he from Ephesus entred into Caria and from thence to Lydia and tooke Sardis the head Citie of Lydia slue Tisaphernes the king of Persias Generall Agesilaus became so great by diuers victories gotten against the Persians and barbarous kings that hee was made generall of all LacedemoniaÌ„ nauies for as then Theopompus saith he was the worthiest man of fame in his time for he rather gloried in the praise of vertue then in the greatnesse of his authoritie Nowe Pharnabazus was come from Persia as generall after Tisaphernes who at his first comming had a sharpe welcome Agesilaus so prospered that being but two yeeres in Asia hee was for his honestie continencie courtesie and plaine dealing through all Asia much commended he was wont often to say that sentence of Timotheus as Mars vseth no mercie so Greece contemneth golde but Agesilaus being called from Asia home to Greece hee was much against his will enforced to fight in Greece and against Greekes his owne countrie men euen against that worthie and renowmed captaine Epaminondas whose magnanimitie Agesilaus often woondred at I neede not much to prayse the
common weale of Athens for that Cimon was inclined to take part with the best men and with the honestest causes he was the more esteemed not onely in Athens but in all Greece and specially of the Lacedemonians who could not brooke so well Pericles who tooke a contrary course euery way to Cimon of whose seruice abroade farre from Greece somewhat I wil recite for neither Themistocles nor his successour Pericles bridled more the crueltie of that mightie Persian king then Cimon did not only in chasing him out of Greece but folowing him hard at the heeles to Persia and brought him against his wil to conditions of peace After this he entred Thracia subdued them forced those Persians that dwelt in Coronesus an Isle in Thracia to flight Cimon was made general of Athens at which time he conquered the citie of Ionia and the citie of Amphipolis and wanne the Isle of Syros he subdued Asia from Ionia vnto Pamphylia and brought them in subiection vnder the Grecians Cimon after this went against the Faselits who were Grecians borne and yet enemies vnto Greece destroyed their countrey and wanne their chiefe citie called Faselis Againe Cimon had two great victories against the Persians in one day one victorie on sea where he tooke 200. sailes prisoners at the riuer Eurymedon Ariomandes being the kings lieutenant the other victory on land with great slaughter of the barbarous people al their tents and their pauilions he caried away Plutarch saith that these victories excelled the victorie of Salamia which the Grecians wanne by sea and the other which they wan by land before the citie of Platea By this valiant man Cimon the name of Athens was reuiued for Cimons only study and care was to haue Greece not to halt and therefore his secret desire and traueile was that Greece should stand vpon two legs which was Athens and Sparta He alwayes sought meanes to keepe the Athenians and the Lacedemonians in peace for the Athenians thought themselues to be the only light of al Greece affirming them only to be bread and borne in the countrey as Indigenae seditious people vnquiet and euer desirous of soueraigntie and therefore Cimon followed the Lacedemonians maners for their sobrietie and temperancie of life and wished alwayes their prosperitie This Cimon while he liued was the onely man that Greece was beholden vnto for vnder Cimon it flourished most and specially the Athenians which Demosthenes affirmeth in diuers of his orations that they had the soueraigntie of al Greece for the space of 73. yeeres compting from the time of Cimons victories at Euridemon vntill the yeelding of Athens vnto Lisander for after Cimons death no famous acte was done by any Grecian to the barbarous people sauing that Agesilaus king of Lacedemon came fiftie yeeres after Cimons death with an armie of Grecians into Asia and beganne a small warre of no notable exploit for that hee was called home againe to Greece by occasion of newe troubles and ciuill warres risen among the Grecians Now when Cimon had brought into Greece as it were an other golden worlde such as was in Saturnus raigne and hauing brought with him to Athens the bones of Theseus 700. yeres after Theseus death for the which he wanne exceedingly the Athenians hearts he died at the siege of the citie Citium in Cyprus after whom continued Pericles his colleague in gouernment of Athens for a time About this time in Rome tenne Magistrates were appointed and first created within a while after the putting downe of Tarquinius the last king of Rome called Decem viri from whom ambassadours were sent to Athens for the lawes of the 12. tables I will now leaue to speake of Athens and I will write what other cities of Greece did what kings raigned and what gouernment they had for at this time the chiefest cities of Greece were in an vprore for Xerxes after his shameful flight from Greece to Asia slew his brother Mancistes vsed abominable incest with both his brothers wife and his daughter and himselfe was after slaine by Artabanus Now while his sonne Artaxerxes raigned he was vertuous good and liberall and fauoured peace more then warre he liued vntil the seuenth yere of the warres of the Peloponesians Agesilaus raigned king in Lacedemon The Thebans waxed strong and beganne to haue the better of the Lacedemonians Sparta was now in the declining state had sustained much losses and harmes by the Boetians and by the Thebans by meanes of Epaminondas and Pelopidas therefore they sent for Agesilaus into Asia for while hee was in Asia Lisander lost againe two great battels and in the last Lisander himselfe was slaine CHAP. VI. Of the ciuill discention in Greece after Xerxes time howe euery citie was in armes one against another of their Peloponesian warres which continued 27. yeeres to the ouerthrow of Greece by Philippe and after by his sonne Alexander which shal be set downe in the next Chapter THus the Thebans ioyning with the Athenians through the great courage of Cimon hauing wonne these two victories the one by land the other by sea Cimon by his prowesse and valure recouered now Athens which before hee had lost Athens beganne to lift vp her selfe and being well refreshed by the spoyles of the Lacedemonians and encouraged by the death of Lisander and by the banishment of Pausanias it was hie time for Agesilaus to returne from Asia vnto Greece for Epaminondas the Thebane captaine vsed great celeritie in his warres and many Stratagems against Sparta Conon hearing of Agesilaus comming armed himselfe and as Iustine saith was then in Asia and came that time from Asia when Agesilaus came Agesilaus was scant come into Sparta but Epaminondas came spoyling and wasting and sacking all the countrey of Lacedemon with a great armie of fourtie thousande Thebans to the riuer of Eurotas which was a great terrour vnto Sparta hauing but sixe thousande which Agesilaus disposed in secret places of the towne for Sparta was not walled and therefore the more doubted of Epaminondas Now both Agesilaùs and Epaminondas stood on either side of the riuer Eurotas one beholding another a sight not pleasant to Sparta and readie to be brought to that ruine which happened thirtie yeeres before to Athens Now after Epaminondas had continued by Sparta 4. dayes and saw that he could not enter the citie after few battels on both sides of equall losse he departed and went to Arcadia such was the magnanimitie of the Spartās though they were brought to that calamitie by the Athenians before yet they held out while these flourished in Sparta namely Euristhenes Leonidas Eurybiades Pausanias Agesilaus Lysander Cleomenes Argestratus Doristus Archelaus Agis Archidamus Cleombrotus Brasidas Metagenes Clearchus Gilippus With many like but chiefly with Lycurgus who made Sparta most famous in discipline by his lawes Epaminondas and Pelopidas were chiefe gouernours of
citizens Thus Alcibiades hauing wonne fiue seuerall victories by giuing of fiue terrible battels 1 The first victorie at Abydos with great celeritie 2 The second victorie at Cizicum 3 The third victorie against Pharnabasus 4 The fourth battell at Chalcedon 5 The fift and last battell at Byzantium After these fiue victories Alcibiades hoysed saile and directed his course toward Athens where he was most honorablie receiued About this time the Egyptians reuolted from the Persians and the Medes but Darius subdued them straight againe to the Medes the Rhodians likewise brake their league with the Lacedemonians These Lacedemonians kept the Persians alwayes in their hand when neede required it to ayde them for of all Greece the Athenians were most hatefull to the Persians for that in the battell of Marathon the Athenians gaue so great an ouerthrowe to the Persians that twentie thousande Persians were slaine and many of them great men This rancor boyled in the Persians hearts though they had diuers times after the like ouerthrow as at Thermopila by Leonidas at Salamina by Themistocles at Platea and at other places yet no battell grieued them so much as the battell at Marathon by Miltiades Athens was the only Lady of all Greece in whose lappe were more noble and couragious captaines nourished then in all Greece beside and therefore she was feared of all Greece and enuied of all Asia Nowe after many good fortunes of the Athenians it fell out otherwise to them in the warres of Sicilia their state declined and their force diminished for by this time Alcibiades the thirde moneth after his returne being puffed vp with former pride went with an hundreth shippes into Asia where hee lost more to Athens in that one iourney then hee gained in the last fiue victories onely by his negligence letting to one Antiochus the charge and himselfe purposing to passe to Hellespont vpon pleasure The Athenians hereby being brought into great dispaire vnderstanding that Alcibiades willingly absented him selfe with a voluntary banishment from Athens made a choyse of Conon to succeede him in gouernment whose vnhappie succession was no better then banishment according to the law and custome of Athens for they had in Athens a kinde of banishment called Ostracismus that when any Magistrate generall or captaine waxed great and a potentate or mightie fearing that his greatnesse should annoy the state publique by some priuate hatred hee should bee banished for tenne yeeres The like lawe the Syracusans had concerning the banishment of their great men which they called Petalisimus which was a banishment for fiue yeeres These kindes of banishments did suppresse the furie and malice of the Captaines and great men for any offence likely to be suspected in them Now after that Alcibiades had ouerthrowen the whole force of Athens in this sort and that Lysander had a great spite to the state of Athens seeing the towne weake vnfurnished and vnfortunate without men or munitions hee besieged Athens which without great difficultie was yeelded vp vpon the sixt moneth and the sixteenth of March. Beholde the fall of the great glorie of Athens which before mastred all Greece and nowe by Lysander brought in subiection and made euen with the grounde and in steade of good gouernours he appointed thirtie Tyrants that should gouerne Athens as pleased them subiect to Sparta and almost vassals of the Lacedemonians and beside order was taken that Alcibiades should be slaine by meanes of Pharnabasus Darius generall doubting much that if Alcibiades were not preuented Athens should againe flourish so ambitious and so vnquiet was Alcibiades that scant all Greece could suffice him which Agis king of Sparta and Lysander saw in him When Alcibiades by deceit was slaine and Athens conquered the Lacedemonians were lords of all Greece notwithstanding when the Thebans and Corinthians contended to haue the citie of Athens altogether quite destroyed and from the ground raised vp that there should be no mention made of Athens for euer after the Lacedemonians consented not to that saying that Athens had bene of long time one of the two legges of Greece and further saide that it had bene one of the two eyes of Greece which had brought many great men vp the nourse of knowledge and the lanterne of Greece which had resisted the violence of all Asia and had giuen many times the ouerthrow to the barbarous nations and therefore not vtterly to confound it In this warre there were thirtie thousande taken captiues of the Athenians which against the lawes of Armes were slaine by Lysander some writers appointed the destruction of Athens to be in the last yeere of the Peloponesian warres and in the second yeere of Artaxerxes sirnamed Mnemon seuentie and seuen yeres after the great victory at Salamina and before the taking of Rome by the Gaules nineteene yeeres as Polibius setteth downe The cause of this ouerthrow begonne by the Athenians as you heard before was the hatred of Pericles against the Magarians In the very yeere that Athens was by Lysander destroyed Darius Nothus died the sixt king of Persia whose yonger sonne named Cyrus gouerned then the Lydians and the Medes This yere also was Dionysius the king of Sicilia banished the poore Athenians were sore afflicted Thebes and Argos and many townes besides of Greece were full of miserable and banished men from Athens amongst whome Thrasibulus a worthie man of great courage was forced to flie and to leaue Athens vnder the gouernment of tyrants who hauing a gard of thirtie thousand of citizen souldiers to defend them in all tyrannie made hauocke and spoile and great slaughter in Athens in so much that they made the children to daunce in their parents blood Amongst these thirtie tyrants was one named Theramenes who doubting that this tyrannie could not long endure perswaded with Critias to haue more mitigation and lenitie in the gouernment saying that Thrasibulus and Conon were yet aliue and had taken a strong fort in Attica called Philen. Diuers cities of Greece bewailed the lamentable estate of Athens Critias accused Theramenes of treason and though it was in the citie knowen that Theramenes was honest gentle and a good citizen yet Critias crueltie was such that Theramenes died Thus I leaue Athens foming in blood vnder cruel tyrants and wil something speake of Artaxerxes Mnemon to whom this very time the kingdome of Persia nowe happened by Darius Nothus his will bequething to Cyrus his yonger sonne Lydia and Ionia Cyrus was not pleased with this will and whether hee was by his mother mooued for Cyrus was the onely ioye of his mother or by him selfe enflamed through desire of soueraigntie hee gathered an armie of the lesser Asia and brought them ouer the riuer Euphrates and beganne warre with the king his brother The battell was sharpe and went in the beginning with Cyrus for Artaxerxes hoste yeelded for a time to the
furie of Cyrus souldiers and Artaxerxes himselfe had a wound giuen him by Cyrus his one hande but afterwarde Cyrus was taken and was bound with fetters of golde and had at that time died if his mother had not most earnestly entreated for him Cyrus by his mothers meanes being let at libertie with great furie followed his first purpose gathered a farre greater armie wherein were tenne thousand Grecians vvell and strongly furnished which came out of Greece to ayde Cyrus To be short it was in vaine Cyrus was slaine in that battell and his armie ouerthrowen yet Iustine saith that the Grecians valiantly stoode to it vnconquered in that wing of the battell where they stood Of this warre doeth Xenophon most amplie entreate with whom Cyrus the yonger himselfe was brought vp of this Cyrus and of his actes Xenophon wrote sixteene bookes eight of discipline militarie and other eight of his warres Now to Athens againe where tyrannie all this while gouerned but Thrasibulus was not carelesse how to represse these tyrants whome Ismenias a prince of Thebes secretly ayded and when that Sparta had made a decree that no citie of Greece should suffer any exiled Athenians to enter into it the Thebans resisted the decree and they also made not onely a decree within Thebes and in all Boetia that no house should be shut to the Athenians but ayded them with men and money Likewise Lysias an oratour of Syracusa bestowed 500. readie and well furnished souldiers to ayde Athens When this preparation was heard of in Athens the Tyrants sent to Pausanias king of Sparta to defende them which hee with some conscience refused for the which afterwarde Pausanias was accused by the Lacedemonians In the meane season Thrasybulus gaue battell to the thirtie Tyrants ouerthrewe them and tooke the citie of Athens restored libertie to the citizens at what time hee brought in Solons lawe to forget the iniuries past of friendes of parents and of children which were slaine in Athens vnder these thirtie Tyrants This lawe of Thrasybulus was reuiued by the Senatours of Rome which were in the time of Trium viri which were Octauius Augustus Marcus Antonius Lepidus Aemilius when Iulius Caesar was slaine to forget the reuenge of Caesars death to auoyde ciuill warres within Rome A litle after this Conon againe scattered the force of Sparta and after much hurt to the Lacedemonians he came to Athens and ioyned with Thrasybulus by whose courage and valure Athens by degrees reuiued for yet the ciuill warres in Greece were not ended for as these afflictions and miseries happened to Athens by ciuill warres so after to euery citie of Greece the like happened that of the onely countrey of the worlde it was brought into a most miserable destruction And for that you may reade the strength and force of Greece while they held together I wil set downe the warres and the victories which the Grecians haue had ouer the Persian kings and ouer all other barbarous princes in Asia and in all partes of the East at that time when that the Persians were lords and princes of the whole worlde and helde the Monarchie onely without resistance of any king or countrey yet in the most flourishing time of the Persians the Grecians had these victories of them which are layde downe before you viz. THe great battell at Marathon where Miltiades got the victorie ouer Darius Histaspis the thirde king of Persia. The famous enterprise and victorie of Leonidas at Thermopila where hee slewe twentie thousande Persians with three hundred Grecians The two terrible battels at Salamina where Themistocles and Aristides had the victorie against Xerxes both by sea and land The battell fought before Platea against Mardonius where was slaine sixe and twentie thousande and Mardonius the king of Persias lieutenant The victorie hereof was giuen to the Athenians yet the honour of the victorie by common report yeelded to the Plateans at what time Aristides was generall of Athens and Pausanias king of Sparta was generall of all Greece The warres of Chalcedon against Pharnabasus where Alcibiades wanne the victorie The warres betweene Ptolomey king of Egypt and Alexander king of Macedon the sonne of Amintas pacified and ended by Pelopidas and tooke the kings brother called Philippe which was Alexander the great his Father and thirtie more of the noblest mens sonnes in Macedon to Ostage and brought them to Thebes to let the worlde see the reputation of Greece then The victorie of Aristides gotten at Psittalia where he tooke three Persian lordes sonnes to Sandauce king Xerxes sister and the Grecians were of one minde and thought with such courage to bring Asia vnder the Empire of Greece The victorie of Cimon in the countrie of Thracia where he vanquished certeine great men of Persia allied to the king himselfe and kept the Citie of Eronea vpon the riuer of Strymon ouerthrewe the barbarous people inuaded the Thracians droue the Persians away and possessed al Thracia and appointed Grecians to inhabite the Countrie thus had the Greekes victorie out of Greece before their ciuill warres began this Cimon plagued the Persians past into Asia and returned with diuers victories into Greece againe When Nicias wanne the hauen of Syracusa and besieged the Citie in such sort that Euripides made an Epitaph vpon the graue of Nicias and had gotten eight seuerall victories ouer the Cicilians The victorie which Agesilaus had of Sardis the chiefe Citie of Lydia and the victorie ouer Tisaphernes lieutenant of all Persia who gaue battell to the Nation that dwell in Acarnea ouerthrewe them and destroyed them and had victorie and after went to Egypt being an olde man to Tachos king of Egypt where hee vsed a Stratageme that hee gote victorie of Tachos vnto Nectanebus nowe when Persia Asia Egypt Lydia felt the force of Greece then was Greece renowmed The victorie of Phocion in the Isle of Naxes in a battell by sea and another victorie of the Macedonians in a battell that Phocion had with Antipater where Leonatus who came out of Asia to ioyne with Antipater was killed The battell at Mantinea the chiefe Citie of Arcadia the victorie hereof fell to Epaminondas and to the Thebans CHAP. VII Of the last destruction of Greece by the Macedonians by meanes of ciuill discorde and the Peleponesian warres the onely cause of their ruine and confusion at what time king Philip brake their backes and his sonne Alexander their neckes and after them the Romanes kept them in perpetuall seruitude WHat should I write of the victories of Epaminondas Agis Cleomenes or of others which fell before the ciuil dissension of Greece I meane chiefely the Peloponesian warres though some of those victories were after the warres of Peloponesus yet certeinely while the Grecians helde as some time they woulde then was Xerxes driuen out of Greece and beaten in his owne
countrie then was Pyrrhus not onely resisted but also slaine at Argos then was Philip king of Macedon kept out of Greece vntill they beganne to be factious and seditious one citie against another and some had sought helpe of Philip to suppresse their owne Countrie men vntill hee was made gouernour of Greece Greece was not altogether conquered though in deede they were sore oppressed by the Peloponesian warres but nowe by Philip king of Macedon it was brought againe to ruine and the way left open to his sonne Alexander the great who after brought all Greece subiect to Macedonia whither the Monarchie of the Persians was translated and vnder whom all the worlde almost was subdued Nowe that I opened fewe victories vnto you which the Grecians with fame and great honour wanne if I shoulde set downe the victories which one Citie wanne of an other or one Countrie of an other they should be infinite for within twentie seuen yeeres all the Gities of Greece which were not for their number to be numbred and for their strength not to be spoken were destroyed for I dare speake it that Greece had more annoyance by two battels then all the gaines of the victories which the Greekes had ouer all the barbarous nations The first was at the riuer of goates giuen by Lysander against Athens called the battell at Aegos Potamos the other giuen by Epaminondas against Sparta called the battell of Leuctres These two Cities being the two eyes and the two legges of Greece could neuer agree the one enuying the state of the other vntill both were destroyed and by their occasion all Greece also destroyed About this time Camillus florished in Rome who both gaue the repulse to the French men euen at the gates of Rome when they had taken Rome and also triumphed ouer the Volscans ouer the Veiens ouer the Hetruscans for which good seruice he was the next yeere following made Dictator in Rome This fell in Rome when Mausolus king of Caria died and had by his wife Artemesia his tombe made so gorgeous that it was reputed as one of the seuen wonders of the world In Athens now after the thirtie tyrants were ouerthrowē gouerned tenne men of equall authoritie by Thrasibulus and Conon appointed called Decennales principes these two lifted Athens on foote againe for Conon had fiftie talents which he had gotten in Cyprus by king Euagoras this hee bestowed to raise vp the walles of Athens which Lysander made euen to the grounde for yet florished in Athens after these Peloponesian warres though not great captaines yet famous Philosophers and eloquent Orators which kept Greece in memorie and by whose meanes many monuments in Greece were reserued For now florished Plato and after him his scholler Aristotle Alexander the great his scholemaster for whose sake Athens was had before other Cities in reuerence in like sort as Augustus Caesar spared Alexandria in Egypt for Arius the Philosophers sake who then dwelt there yet Alexander made all meanes possible to take such Orators as did perswade the Athenians in armes against him and against his father before which were Lycurgus the Orator Demosthenes Aesc◅nes Demades and others which like barking dogges kept these wolues from Athens in perswading the people to be in armes against foreigne princes in the defence of Greece but when they had no enemie they became enemies within themselues When Greece was by reason of these ciuill warres made weake and not able to resist any great strength for after the death of Epaminondas greater warres and more seditious stirring fell in Greece then before Philip king of Macedon hauing full intelligence of the state of Greece howe by long warres betweene themselues they were easely to be ouerrunne hee secretly kindled a seconde fire in Greece by stirring of secrete captaines to encrease the hatred of the Grecians one against an other which could neuer be extinguished such was their desire to rule and to triumph one ouer another Philip king of Macedonia Alexander the great his father as yet like a foxe hiding himselfe in a denne watched oportunitie of time vntill contention grewe betweene the Phoceans and the Thebans about the sacriledge which the Phocians cōmitted in the temple of Apollo at Delphos of this occasion beganne the warres called bellum sacrum of the which mencion is made often in histories and specially with the Orators of Greece who cried crucifige vpon the Phocians for so execrable a thing before the Iudges Amphictions which were appointed generall Iudges for the whole state of Greece This warre beganne in the time of Ochus the eight king of Persia the Iudges laide a great fine vpon the Phocians which they grudged to pay beside the secrete perswasions of the Lacedemonians promising them aide to stand in armes against the Thebans who had before accused them Philomelus a Phocean captaine gathered a great armie brake the decree of the Iudges burned the tables where they were written and ouerthrewe the iudgement seate of the Amphictions By this occasion great warres grewe betweene the Phoceans and the Lacedemonians of the one side the Thebans and the Thessalians of the otherside About the beginning of this warre Alexander the great was borne Philomelus being killed in the fourth battell after hee had done some harme to the Thebans Onomarchus was appointed in his roome who likewise ouercame the Boetians and tooke one of the chiefe Cities called Coronea he ouerthrewe the Thessalians in two battels and slue a number of the Macedonians which Philip had sent to ayde the Phoceans The Thebans being thus weakened by the Phoceans they sent to Philip for aide and besought him to be their Generall in this warre This delighted much the king of Macedon for nowe he sawe an easie way to conquer the Phoceans the Athenians and the Lacedemonians and to bring all Greece subiect vnder Macedonia Philip came with great force not to reuenge the Thebans as he saide but to reuenge the sacriledge which the Phoceans did in Delphos for it is written that they spoyled the temple of tenne thousand talents which as Melancthon saith is threescore tunnes of gold In the third battell one Narchus was taken by Philip and hanged and sixe thousand of his souldiers slaine the Phoceans had wonne three principall Cities in Boetia Orchomenon Coronea and Corsia whereby they might easely subdue all Boetia at their owne will This warre of the Phoceans beganne fifteene yeeres after the battell of Mantinea where the worthie and valiant Epaminondas was slaine with whō this Philip king of Macedonia dwelt in house when Philip was taken an ostage by Pelopidas of Antipater as you reade before Philip seemed to haue obserued many good instructions which hee no doubt learned at Thebes in Epaminondas house and yet as great difference betweene the two men as is betweene golde and siluer for Epaminondas left not his fellowe behinde in Greece after him so
rare a man to be founde in Philosophie fewe like him brought vp vnder Lysias the Pythagorian in other exploites of warres not to giue place neither to Pyrrhus nor to Hanibal The calamitie of this Phocean warre annoyed Greece more then the warres of Peloponesus for the foolish Thebans did send not for a helper but a destroyer whē they sent for Philip for hee euer had a desire to Greece hee expected oportunitie and wrought all secret meanes possible to set all Greece by the eares About this time Ochus recouered Egypt againe which had reuoulted from the Persians since Cambyses time Also hee recouered Cyprus and Phoenicia Temnes betrayed Sidon vnto king Ochus whom hee afterward hanged for his paines after that Philip had taken Toron Olynthus and Miciberna 3. townes of Helespont and had wasted and destroyed many Countries and Cities of Greece by the onely meanes of this Phocean warres which continued tenne yeeres While Greece stood in great danger of Philip the Athenians and the Lacedemonians gathered their force againe but to no effect Philip waxed so strong in Greece that they were forced to seeke to entreate for peace for all Greece feared Philip more then they loued him for such were his secret stratagemes with deceitfull promises that all Greece sawe his malice but such was their inward enuie their hidden hatred and their secret working against themselues that they had rather haue any barbarous nation to gouerne them then one to loue an other and to ioyne with common assent for the defence of their Countrie This was the first cause of the Peloponesian warres the second cause of the Phocean warres the third and last cause of the destruction and slauerie of Greece Alexander the great a man of great fortune and of greater ambition being by Darius entreated to peace offering vnto Alexander his daughter Roxane in mariage with Mesopotamia and diuers other prouinces and territories answered in this sort That as the heauen coulde not abide two sunnes so the whole earth coulde not suffer two Alexanders It seemed truely that there was in euery Citie of Greece an Alexander for it is recorded in histories that Sparta might not endure two Lysanders at one time Athens might not suffer two Alcibiades Thebes might not suffer two Pelopidas neither the earth suffer two Alexanders but as Alexander had no longer time to florish then twelue yeeres so the whole state of Greece their Empire and their glorie continued not aboue a hundred and fifteene yeeres beginning from the battell at Marathon to the battell at Salamina tenne yeeres from the battell of Salamina vnto the first warres of the Peloponesians fiftie yeeres from the beginning of the Peloponesian warre vnto the last of the same at the battel at Aegos Potamos twentie seuen yeres which was the time of the ciuill warre of Greece and from that to the battell at Leuctres thirtie yeeres so long the glorie of Greece endured without conquest all which time was Greece a lady and mystresse of all nations I haue found so much errour in the Olympiads that I vse them as little as I may for Thucydides and Xenophon that onely wrote of Greeke histories were much deceiued in the Olympiads and yet they know their errour and therefore they vsed the Olympiads most seldome though they liued and wrote in the florishing time of the Olympiads After this they were had by Philip king of Macedon vnto some bondage though they warred thirtie yeeres and kept him hard play vntill the Thebans as you heard sought his helpe against the Phocians and made a rodde to beate themselues euen so nowe were the Phoceans forced to aske aide at Ochus hands king of Persia who did send three hundred talents with a hūdred fourescore thousand crownes Philip was commen with a great band of Macedonians and of Thessalians againe into the coast of Boetia where Phallecus the generall of the Thebans was also with an armie in armes ready to giue battell to the Phoceans who when he sawe the great power of king Philip in fielde he entreated of peace which being graunted by the king vpon condicion he should goe out of Boetia vnto Peloponesus this being done by Phallecus Philip had without resistance all Boetia yeelded vnto him The Phoceans are nowe brought subiect vnto Philip their Cities and Townes destroyed and the people dispersed vnto small villages paying three score talents yeerely vnto Philip the libertie and dignitie of the Iudges Amphictions were restored and a decree made that Philip should be Duke of all Greece thus Philip triumphed the more for that he had this good fortune in so honest a cause as in defending of the temple at Delphos and the iudges seate and dignitie of the Amphictions When he had ended this Phocean warre called bellum sacrum hee againe returned into Macedonia in the first yeere of the 108. Olympiad When the Athenians and the Lacedemonians sawe the force of Philip much to increase in Greece Demosthenes being euer an enemie to the Macedonians perswaded the Thebans and Cities of Greece to ioyne against Philip for the common libertie of their countrie Nine yeeres after the Phocean warres came Philip againe in armes into Greece after he had taken many Cities in Thracia had driuen Callias the tyraunt out of Euboea he likewise wanne the Citie of Bizantium which is called nowe Constantinople some time a Citie vnder the Lacedemonians and sometime vnder the Athenians A great battell was giuen vnto Philip at Cheronea fiftie seuen yeeres after the ouerthrowe of Athens at Aegos Potamos by Lysander which was so fought out that it was doubtfull for a time where the victorie should fall vntill Alexander the great being of the age of eighteene yeeres thrusted himselfe freshly into the middest of the battell by whose prowesse the Grecians gaue backe and their army was ouerthrowen In this battell sixe thousand Citizens of Athens were slaine and two thousand Citizens taken but many more of the Thebans were both killed and taken Amongst the Athenians which were taken Demades the Orator was one by whose meanes king Philip graunted them peace and deliuered them free from their raunsome for Demades sake for Demades bare good will alwayes vnto the Macedonians cleane contrarie to Demosthenes who both enuied them and spited them calling Alexander the great brainelesse boy but he notwithstanding esteemed Harpalus the Macedonian when he bribed him with twentie talents this made Orators in Athens to speake as Aeschines did or to be dumbe as Demosthenes was For such was the libertie of the people of Athens mainteined by the Orators against the Magistrates and chiefe men of Attica that when it pleased the people they woulde aduaunce whom they woulde and pull downe whom they list banish whom they liked not and call againe whom they fauoured insomuch that Athens was alwayes gouerned by a state of Democratia which made
Demosthenes to exclaime in these wordes Noctua populus Draco tria monstra Athenis for in Athens they esteemed more the seruants poore people straungers and specially mariners more then their Magistrates noble men officers or their chiefe Citizens The people grewe so strong and so headie in Athens that it was not lawfull to banish straungers or to punish seruaunts to be short of the common wealth of Athens and of Sparta reade Xenophon Nowe againe to the victorie at Cheronea the last and the sorest battell which brake the backe of the Citie of Athens Philip king of Macedon called together all the States of Greece into Corinth where by common consent hee was chosen and named Prince or rather Generall of all Greece against the Persians All Greece being nowe quiet in peace Philip beganne warres against the Persians and with great celeritie hee sent an armie into Asia While these things were doing Philip was slaine by Pausanias when hee was of the age of fourtie sixe yeeres after hee had reigned king twentie fiue yeeres Greece thought by the death of Philip againe to recouer their former libertie they little doubted Alexander being then but young neither Arideus which was Philips base sonne by Laryssea which for a time reigned after Alexander but according to their wonted maners full of innouations ambitions contencions and hatred neuer quiet but one Citie or other would be iarring the Persians power grewe great and the Greekes beganne to reuoult from Alexander which by succession after his father shoulde bee their chiefe Generall The Thebans offered themselues to ioyne with those Cities that woulde defende the libertie of Greece and exclude those Macedonian souldiers which Philip placed in the castle of Thebes called Cadmea Hereby Alexander tooke occasion to enter in armes ouerthrewe Thebes vnto the grounde wasted and spoyled diuers Cities in Boetia for at one time the Athenians the Lacedemonians and the Thebans reuoulted from Alexander by perswasion of Demosthenes being corrupted with rewardes of the Persians But when Thebes was destroyed Alexander sent to Athens offering peace vnto the Athenians vpon the yeelding vp of Demosthenes Lycurgus and others by the Citizens vnto Alexander Vnto this demaund of Alexander Demosthenes brought in the fable of the Woolfe who offered peace vnto the Shepheardes vpon condicion to haue the shepheards dogges away applying the morall hereof vnto the Oratours of Athens who by continuall barking to the people kept Greece frō forraine soueraigntie but the Athenians standing much in feare of Alexanders force and beside knowing their owne weakenes they sent Demades the Orator to entreate for peace which being obteined of Alexander by the meanes of Demades the Athenians the Lacedemonians the Thebans and the rest of the Cities of Greece hauing obteyned peace likewise by one consent they appointed Alexander their captaine and chiefe generall against the Persians At what time reigned Darius the tenth king of Persia to whom many of Philips children by other mariages fledde to see the euents and sequell of the warres betweene Alexander and Darius This last yeelding vp of Greece vnto Alexander was three yeeres after the great battell of Cheronea and after the warres of the Peloponesians three score yeeres Of this warre Thucydides diuided his eight bookes concerning the ciuill warres of the Grecians which continued twentie seuen yeeres euery booke comprehending three yeeres warres vntill twentie one yeeres expired at what time Thucydides died then Xenophon beganne where Thucydides ended Thus ended the glorie of Greece which florished in wisedome and knowledge from Solons time vntill Plato two hundred yeeres and from Platoes birth vntill this last conquest of Greece a hundred and twentie yeeres Though yet Greece brought many learned men after Alexanders time yet the fame and renowme of Greece was caried vnto Macedonia their Empire translated their libertie lost and all Greece made subiect vnto Macedonia at what time the Monarchie of Persia was lost and brought by Alexander vnto Macedonia OF THE KINGDOME OF Macedonia of the continuance lawes and gouernment of their Kings and of their warres vntil the time of Alexander the great AFter I haue briefely entreated of Greece and haue abridged many things which might haue beeue well in the histories of Greece yet I haue many times occasion to speake of Greece in handling of Macedonia neither neede I long to stay in Macedonia for of all the kings of Macedonia before Philips time little or nothing is to bee spokē of them so obscure a kingdom Macedonia was before Philpis time for that the warres of Philip of his sonne the great Alexander are mencioned in the Persian and in the Grecians historie I neede not much to write of them therefore I will begin with the descents of the kings of Macedon of the first names of the countrie which was called Emathia of one Emathius which was the first that obteined soueraigntie in Emathia which name continued vntil the time of Deucaleons nephew named Macedo he chā◅ged the name of Emathia called it after his owne name Macedonia Melacthō saith that the name of Macedonia is come of Kittim the sonne of Iauan the sōne of Iaphet Herodot other auncient writers affirme that the kings of Macedonia take their originall from Hercules Nowe the land which before was called Pieria Migdonia or Emathia is nowe called the Realme of Macedonia a countrie bounded on the East side with Thracia on the South with Thessalia on the West with the Illyrians hauing on the North side Peonia as Pomponius Mela saith the Macedonians inhabited many Cities of the which Pella was the most renowmed The kingdome of Macedonia in the beginning was of◅o great fame vntill Philips time which was Amyntas sonne and Alexanders father who first brought the name of Macedonia to be spoken of though before of sclender renowne and obscure fame rather deseruing the name of a Prouince then of a kingdome as Ruffinus writeth for as Cyrus reigne doeth much lighten the whole historie of the Persians and the very time of their kings in respect of Cyrus his decree and dealings with the Iewes by the meanes and traueile of Zorobabel Esdras and Nehemias mencioned in Scripture euen so doeth the name of the great Alexander reforme many errors in Xenophons histories for that the certeintie of the Macedonian historie depēdeth vpon the time of Alexāder which of necessitie must be within a 130. yeeres of Cyrus though many of the best writers erre much in this After Macedo succeeded Cranaus a captaine of certeine Peloponesians hee was the first that had the name of a king hee builded a Citie according to the Oracle that hee should followe a heard of goates and where they stand there to builde a Citie which he named Aegea others say that he came vpon a tempest to a towne named Edissa there beholding goates together he changed the name of Edissa vnto Egea there he builded and
others were in this kings time After this Philip succeeded Europus the 7. king of Macedonia of whom as of the rest nothing is to be written worth the memorie for yet the name of Macedonia was no further knowen then to their neighbours which were the Thracians Illyrians Thessalians for all the fame and report of the whole world the Chaldeans and the Assyrians had for they helde the monarchie so long that though the Egyptians flourished at one time and gaue them sundrie battels at their noses in Assyria and likewise the Hebrewes gaue diuers ouerthrowes in Iosaphats time Ezechias and Iosias kings of Iuda yet they continued welnigh thirteene hundreth yeres lords and monarches of the world vntil the Medes began to plague them and had taken the monarchie from them And then the Persians tooke it frō them of whom al writers were busie to write their warres their battels and of their conquest vntill the time of Alexander the great which is yet to come in the hundreth and fourteene Olympiads and now I entreat of histories of those kingdomes done in the 43. Olympiad which is 300. yeres for so long was betweene the first of Nabuchodonosor which was in the 17. Iubilee and the last of Alexander which was in the 23. Iubilee which is sixe Iubilees which is 300. yeeres for euery Iubilee is 50. yeeres It doeth agree with the Olympiads so farre am I behind to speake any great matter of the Macedonians sauing of Philippe Alexanders father a historie of two hundreth yeeres and therefore I will hasten to runne ouer the names of the first kings Alcetas the 8. king of Macedonia raigned 29. yeeres after whom succeeded Amintas the ninth king of Macedonia which raigned 50. yeeres Of this Amintas Iustine writeth a historie that when the Persians had sent ambassadours into Macedonia to entreate of peace in their wine they began wantonly and rudely to handle certaine ladies and gentlewomen of Macedonia Alexander the sōne of Amintas a yong galant prince being hereby much moued entreated his father an old man to take his rest that night said he would entertaine and keepe company with the ambassadors of Persia who were wel whittled with wine the ladies being desirous to depart were kept against their will vnder Alexander the yong prince promised other ladies to beare them company the rest of the night Now Alexander got certaine yong gentlemen in the habit forme of women hauing vnder their long clothes their naked daggers and commanded them that when the Persian ambassadours should abuse them or offer them any villany they should out of hand stabbe them which was accordingly brought to passe vpon this occasion warre was proclaimed betweene the Persians and the Macedonians Bubares was sent with an armie of Persians into Macedonia who after hee had seene Cygaea the daughter of king Amintas he was more prone to loue then bent to warre he maried Cygaea thereby peace was had betweene the Macedonians and the Persians About this time the Lacedemonians had warres against Polycrates the tyrant of Samos of this Polycrates successe happines and great fortune of his raigne read Herodotus The same time were the most part of kings called tyrants they were so ful of blood Tarquinius superbus the seuenth and last king of the Romanes for his great tyrannie and outragiousnes and for the wicked abuse of Lucretia by his sonne was odious hatefull to the Romans and became an enemie to Rome Cyrus was in his greatnes this time the only great man of the world for he wanne the Assyrians the Chaldeans and the Medes and brought them vnder the Empire of Persia he ouercame also the great and mightie Croesus king of Lydia In Macedonia raigned after Amintas his sonne Alexander this king was accompted riche and not without cause for he had so good successe in encreasing his substance that he first of al sentimages of cleane gold for a gift one to Apollos at Delphos another to Iupiter at Elis. He was greatly giuen to delite his eares in so much that he entertained many that were cunning vpon instruments amongst whom was Pindarus the harper Iu. Solinus saith that Archelaus had the kingdome of Macedonia at this mans hand he was politike in feates of warre and iudged the first deuiser of battel vpon the sea This Archelaus affected the companie of learned men hee so much delighted in learning that hee called Euripides the tragical Poet to be one of his priuie council for whose death afterward Archelaus long mourned and shaued both his head and beard at his funerall After this king the state of Macedonia being much troubled with dissention by the space of 10. kings gouernments was stayed at last in the raigne of Amintas which was father vnto Philip who was father vnto Alexāder the great and for that there is not much to be written of the most part of the kings of Macedonia vnto Philips time I haue set down their names according to Eusebius and Herodot The names of the kings of Macedon according to Eusebius The names of the kings of Macedon according to Herodotus Cranans and Caenus Alexāder the sonne of Amintas Tyrimas and Perdicas Amintas the sonne of Alceta Archaeus and Philippus Aloeta the sonne of Aeropus Europs and Alcetas Aeropus the sonne of Philip. Amintas Alexander Philip the sonne of Argaeus Perdicas and Orestes Argaeus the sonne of Perdicas Archelaus and Pausanias  Armintas and Argaeus  Alexander and Ptolomeus  And Philip Alexand. father  Of these are not much to be spoken as I said before therefore I will begin here with the raigne of Philippe of whom Macedonia had such expectation that they saw in him a light and such readie proofe of him as of one brought vp for three yeeres for an ostage of the king of the Macedonians in one of the chiefest cities of Greece and that in the house of Epaminondas the rarest Philosopher and the greatest captaine of those dayes Now the cities of Greece being full of ciuil warres some of them made meanes to Philip to ayde them and thereby elected him their chiefe generall in short time the occasion being thus offered to Philip he encreased his owne kingdome of Macedonia with the ruine of Greece for first he beganne to make warre vpon the Athenians the second citie of Greece a famous citie and full of ciuill discord which Philip well perceiued and therfore he vsed great celeritie to winne Athens and great policie to keepe Athens being wonne for he fauoured them when he could haue spoiled them he let them goe free without ransome that he tooke in the warres After he had brought Athens to his bow he tooke the most noble citie of Larissa and subdued all the countrey of Thessalie being the next ioyned countrey to Macedonia he fedde diuers captaines secretly in Greece to mooue ciuill seditions knowing that diuision in a kingdome
his father died he went into Peloponesus in Greece there called al Greece together and claimed the soueraigntie which his father had ouer them against the Persians which being granted he being by cōmon consent appointed their only chiefe gouernour against the Persians within short time after many of these cities beganne to murmure against Alexander and to reuolt frō Macedonia When Alexander perceiued that the Athenians the Thebans the Argiues the Lacedemonians the Arcadians studied and conuented together for the libertie of Greece he presently without any delay as his nature was had warre with Thessalie the next countrey vnto Macedonia after he subdued Thermopyla and vrged the Amphictions which were then appointed Iudges vniuersally for all Greece that with al their decrees and lawes they would mooue Greece by faire meanes to surrender the gouernment which his father had and also to him graunted After that the Athenians sent ambassadours and offered all courtesie to Alexāder the Corinthians likewise sought to please him in like sort which Alexander accepted in good part and returned with his armie from Greece into Macedonia hee was scant in Macedonia but the Grecians according to their custome beganne to send from citie to citie to stand against Alexander in the defence of their countrey the Thebans sent ambassadours to the Arcadians the Arcadians to the Argiues the Argiues to the Aeolians to whom the Athenians sent also by the perswasions of Demosthenes though they were before the first that entreated for peace at his hand Alexander hearing of these often false dealings he then cōmeth from Macedonia and Thracia with a huge armie of thirtie thousande footemen and three thousand horsemen and vnderstanding that the Thebans had him in contempt he fully determined to destroy their citie in such sort without mercie that it should terrifie all Greece thereby he layed siege to Thebes three dayes and the fourth day he made it euen to the ground there was not death spared neither to children nor to women the slaughter was so terrible that there was slaine within the citie of Thebes aboue sixe thousand maimed and taken aboue 3. hundreth thousand this fell in the hundreth and in the last yeere of the 11. Olympiad This terrour made Greece to quake Alexander being more angrie with Athens then with the rest he sent ambassadours to Athens to haue the 10. Orators sent vnto him for Alexander knew that the Orators whetted the people to reuolt and that they perswaded the Athenians with their eloquencie alwayes to rebell Athens was put now to her shift vntill Demades one of the Orators sought licence to goe to Alexander from the citie as an ambassadour hee vsed that force of eloquence to Alexander for peace which Demosthenes vsed against Alexāder to the Athenians for warres by Demades perswasion Alexander was wonne to pardon the Athenians againe Alexander returned into his owne kingdom and left Greece in quiet for a short time After Cassander the sonne of Antipater builded vp Thebes againe and then Alexander made himselfe ready to goe vnto Asia and with great celeritie as his maner was hee brought his armie out of Europe into Asia hee had in his band thirtie and two thousand footmen fiue thousand horsmen and an hundreth and eight shippes These newes being brought vnto Darius the last king of Persia which had vnder his gouernment all the East kingdomes and sawe him selfe so strong that hee called him selfe king of kings and cousin to the gods he litle esteemed the report and made small accompt of the Macedonian nomber commaunded some of his princes to take Alexander and to beate him like a childe with a rodde and after to bring him vnto Darius but Alexander was no longer in getting the victory ouer the huge hoste of the Persians at the riuer of Granicus then Darius was in directing his captaines to beate Alexander with rods this was the first battell and victorie which Alexander had where twentie thousande footemen and 250. horsemen were slaine After this battell Alexander tooke Lydia in hand wanne the citie of Sardis and shortly all Lydia hee tooke Ephesus and Miletum two famous cities hee besieged Halicarnassus wasted and spoyled it to the ground Alexander in this voyage after he had brought Lycia and Pamphylia vnder his wings he still inuaded Darius prouinces and territories further to prouoke him to warre many wondered at the a gilitie of Alexander and fearing much the greatnesse and good successe of Alexander being so yong a king that they beganne both to feare him and to loue him and to forsake Darius Alexander went forwarde still conquering and subduing all countreys he came into the territories and prouinces of Darius and hee entred Paphlagonia and came to the citie called Ancyra who without any strokes yeelded themselues by these occasions of Alexanders good successe Darius thought it was but fortune and not the deserts of Alexander he caused therefore a great muster at Babylon and made an armie readie of seuentie thousand footmen and thirtie thousand horsemen of the Persians he also had beside ten thousand horsemen of the Medes and fiftie thousande footemen two thousand Bactrians horsemen and ten thousande footemen he had of Armenia fourtie thousand footmen and seuen thousand horsmen of Hircania sixe thousand of the Derinces fourtie thousand footmen and two thousand horsmen from the Caspians eight thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen of Greece were ioyned vnto Darius that expected the ouerthrow of Alexander with his thirtie thousand he had such a huge nomber that he feared that Alexander would flie before he came to make battel for so Darius saide to Amintas the Macedonian But it came to passe otherwise Alexander had the victorie in that place which Darius appointed this battel was fought in Cilicia where Alexander killed aboue a hundreth thousand footemen and tenne thousand horsemen of Darius men this was the second battell in the which Darius mother and his wife and two of his daughters vnmaried were taken prisoners and brought to Alexander whose misfortune he more piried then he reioyced at the victorie such was the clemencie of Alexander vnto these miserable captiue Ladies yea such was his chastitie though they were as Plutarch faith most comely and faire not once to offer any worde of dishonour to them A greater conquest as I take it to ouercome himselfe then the victorie against Darius Alexander after this victorie remoued his campe to Marathon thence to Phoenices and to Biblon and hauing gotten these three cities hee came to Sydon a famous citie wanne that also for all Syria and Phoenicia Tyre excepted were brought by Alexander subiect vnto Maccdonia hee besieged Tyre and continued seuen moneths both by land and by sea for it was a citie of inuincible force and kept Alexander hot assaultes vsing all engines and pollicies and yet stoode in great doubt of the getting of Tyre vntill one night he dreamed that
leade his armie against the Boetians laide siege to Thebes and tooke it after that hearing that Lysimachus king of Thracia was taken prisoner by a barbarous nation hee went with his armie to inuade Thracia he was skant in Thracia but Lysimachus came home and beside hearing that Pyrrhus had forraged all Thessalia and had entred alreadie into the streightes of Thermopiles Demetrius was constreined to leaue both Thracia and also Thebes and to returne against Pyrrhus and for all that Pyrrhus sought Demetrius with his armie to giue him battell and Demetrius sought also Pyrrhus yet they mist both at that time but after Demetrius his lieutenant named Pantarchus a strong man and of great courage gaue to Pyrrhus battell which victorie fell to Pyrrhus the onely king that imitated Alexander the great and to him by all mens report most like in courage and prowesse After this victorie of Pyrrhus hee againe inuaded Macedonia being aduertised that Demetrius was sicke in the which iourney Pyrrhus came as farre as the citie Edissa without resistance yet Pyrrhus was driuen out of Macedonia that time with all his force Demetrius wanting leasure to fight with Pyrrhus hauing many warres in hand beside concluded a peace with Pyrrhus for then Demetrius was troubled diuers wayes Lysimachus king of Thracia inuaded the high countrie of Macedon next vnto Thracia and Ptolomei king of Egypt entred with his armie into Greece and Pyrrhus though there was a peace concluded yet stept in with Lysimachus entised the Macedonians partly through faire meanes and partly through flatterie to forsake Demetrius by this meanes Macedonia was diuided betweene Pyrrhus and Lysimachus and Pyrrhus was proclaimed king in Macedonia after they had chased Demetrius Pyrrhus reigned in Macedonia seuen moneths Againe Lysimachus made warre on Pyrrhus and after many battels Lysimachus gote the victorie and reigned king in Macedonia seuen yeeres Iustine praiseth this Lysimachus to be the rarest man of his time valiant and wise and a great Philosopher of a noble house borne of Macedonia where nowe he is become king It is written that this Lysimachus slue a lyon with his owne hand but I leaue him king of Macedonia and returne to Demetrius who for three yeeres had beene tossed with extreme hard fortune nowe for recouering of his kingdome againe hee had leuied a great armie of one hundred thousand footemen of twelue thousand horsemen and had gotten fiue hundred shippes together part in the hauen of Piraeus part at Corinth part at the Citie Chalcis and part about the Citie Pella His enemies hearing of these newes I meane three kings Seleucus Ptolome and Lysimachus ioyned themselues there together against Demetrius and beside they sent to Pyrrhus that poore Demetrius miserie from princely happinesse so ouerthrowen that his armie forsooke him himselfe yeelded vnto Seleucus his wife named Phila for very griefe poysoned her selfe and so kept as prisoner in Syria by Seleucus where Demetrius turned captiuitie into pleasure vnto his dying day who after hee had reigned sixe yeeres dyed in Cherronesus leauing behinde him by his wife Phila two children Antigonus and Stratonice and other two sonnes both named Demetrius of whom you shall heare more hereafter both Plutarch Iustine and Ruffinus affirme that the posteritie of Demetrius succeeded kings in Macedonia vntill the last king named Perseus this time also died Ptolomei Lagi king of Egypt with great fame and report Nowe Lysimachus reigned this while in Macedonia vsing such tyrannie and practising such crueltie against his owne subiects that they reuoulted from him and fledde to Seleucus then warre grewe betweene them that Lysimacus lost what hee wanne fifteene of his children and his life also by Seleucus this was the last battell fought amongst them that were of Alexanders successours Seleucus not long liued but within seuen moneths after was by Ptolomei surnamed Cheraunos brother to Ptolomeus Philadelphus the seconde king of Egypt after Alexander the great slaine for Lysimachus had maried the sister of this Ptolomei and reigned after his brother in lawe in Macedonia the space of one yeere after this Macedonia was continually plagued vntill their last king of Macedon named Perseus whom the Romanes ouercame by Paulus Aemilius and so brought Macedonia a Prouince vnder Rome Nowe this while Perdica vsed another way to bee king of Macedonia hee made meanes to marrie Cleopatra the sister of Alexander the great and thought so to ouerthrowe Aridaeus but hee was preuented by Antipater and slaine by his owne souldiers some thinkes that the ambition of Perdica was the first cause of all ciuil warres in marying Cleopatra Polybius saith that all these iolly captaines Ptolomie the sonne of Lagi Seleucus Lysimachus Ptolomie Cerannus died in the 124. Olympiad Macedonia had little good successe of their kings as you heard of Cassanders two sonnes Antipater and Alexander who reigned but foure yeeres Demetrius sixe Pyrrhus seuen moneths Lysimachus seuen yeeres and Ptolomei Cerannos one yeere after whom succeeded Meleager two moneths Antipater fourtie fiue daies yet Iustine saith he reigned one whole yeere and Sosthenes two yeeres After these kings the kingdome fell to the house of Demetrius as I saide before to Antigonus the sonne of Demetrius borne of Phila the daughter of Antipater and sister to Cassander This Antigonus was called the second Antigonus for the first Antigonus which was this Demetrius father was supposed and taken to be a base sonne of Philip and a brother of Alexander the great for so he himselfe in his decrees and statutes named himselfe Philips sonne of whose warres against Emmenes when he was king of Asia I spake in the historie of the kings of Asia and Syria The second Antigonus which was Demetrius sōne is much praysed for his iustice gouernment modestie and of such good vertuous disposition that he was surnamed of the Grecians Euergetes Of this second Antigonus issued foorth the second Demetrius which reigned tenne yeeres I will speake of the troubles in Macedonia during the reigne of Ptolomei Cerannius the seuēth king after Alexander of Meleager the eight king of Antipater the ninth and of Sosthenes the tenth king these foure kings reigned not aboue foure yeeres After Lysimachus by this false treacherie of his brother in lawe Ptolomei was deceiued and setled himselfe king in Macedonia hee concluded a peace with Antiochus and entred in friendship with Pyrrhus and by these meanes he was farre frō any feare of forraine enemies he mused howe he might destroy his owne sister Lysimachus wife and his children who of right ought to bee heires to the crowne of Macedonia hee sware that he would marie his sister and make her children by Lysimachus his owne to inherite the kingdome but he was no sooner within the Citie of Cassandria where he should marie Arsinoe the Queene but he commanded that both her sōnes the elder named Lysimachus after his fathers name of sixteene
yeeres of age and Philip three yeeres younger then his brother to be killed and their mother forced to steale away by night into Samothracia but hee was wel requited by Belgius hackt and slaine and his head cut off caried vpō a speare in opē sight of the Macedoniās which put them in no litle feare Sosthenes was proclaimed king of Macedonia a man of great courage hee resisted the furie and rage of the Frenchmen which wasted the countrie and spoyled the Cities vntill that Brennus another captaine of the Frenchmen ioyned with Belgius with a hundred fiftie thousand footemen and fifteene thousand horsemen and easily being so many might ouerthrowe so fewe Sosthenes was faine to take a holde for that time Brennus and Belgius spoyled Cities and Countries robbed their temples and had infinite treasure from the temple of Apollo Thus the Macedonians were sore plagued and had these two great ouerthrowes by Belgius and Brennus but the third ouerthrowe fell to the Frenchmen in such extreame sort that Brennus slue himselfe After this the Frenchmen againe inuaded Macedonia while Antigonus which was Demetrius brother reigned where they were vanquished ouerthrowen in most miserable sort this gote to Antigonus great credit vntil Pyrrhus gote the victorie of him and forced him to take his flight So poore Macedonia was still by one or other put to worse Pyrrhus mocking Antigonus for his brauerie to goe in purple like a king apparelled being chased out of his countrie by him and by others yet it was Antigonus chaūce to haue Pyrrhus head brought vnto him by Alcioneus his owne sonne from the siege of the citie of Argos where this great king after many victories ouer kings was slaine at a womans hand by throwing of a tyle stone When king Antiochus sawe Pyrrhus head throwen before him by his sonne in such contempt hee layed his staffe about his sonnes backe calling him a cruell murtherer and an vnnaturall barbarous beast and turning his eyes from the sight thereof weapt remembring Demetrius hard fortune which was his father and also the miserie and ende of the first Antigonus his graundfather he most honourably caused his head and his body to be burned his ashes burned Thus thestate of princes is changed sometime in the height of good lucke and fauour and sometime forsaken of their owne friends Antigonus hauing this great victorie of Pyrrhus vsed all clemencie towardes Pyrrhus sonne named Helenus sent him vnto his Realme of Epirus with honourable conuoye seasing all Pyrrhus campe and armie vsed his friendes courteously and receiued many of Pyrrhus souldiers preferred them Thus Pyrrhus who helde out against three kings Lysimachus Demetrius and Antigonus beside his magnanimitie and prowesse shewed against the Illyrians the Cicilians the Carthagineans and against the stoute Romanes and yet neuer conquered This Pyrrhus was preferred by Hanibals iudgement to be the second souldier of the worlde next to the great Alexander after whose death Greece fell to contencions as Macodonia by Antigonus florished but a short time for assoone as Pyrrhus dyed the Peloponesians yeelded to Antigonus Pyrrhus had a sonne named Alexander who burned in furie to reuenge his fathers death beganne vpon the confines of Macedonia to quarrell with Antigonus hee was no sooner returned from Greece into Macedonia but Antigonus had both lost his kingdome and himselfe by a faire battell giuen to him by Alexander the sonne of Pyrrhus Antigonus had a brother named Demetrius after his fathers name a very young man who so reuenged likewise the ouerthrowe of his brother that hee recouered not onely Macedonia from Alexander but forced him after a great ouerthrowe to flie from his owne kingdom of Epyrus so variable is the chaunce of warre and so mutable the state of man that sometime they be kings and conquerours and straight banished men Nowe Alexander fled to Arcadia from whence hee was restored to his kingdome within short space for Demetrius after the death of his brother Antigonus continued not long king in Macedonia for by time Agas king of Cyrena died and had left for his heire one daughter named Beronices whom her father espoused to king Ptolomeis sonne of Egypt but nowe Arsinoe king Agas her husband being dead and also hearing that king Antigonus was dead shee made meanes to send for Demetrius who came with all speede from Macedonia to Cyrena and hauing a sight of Arsinoes beautie hee fell more in desire of the mother then of the daughter This Demetrius being a proud insolent young king and giuing great cause to Beronice the young ladie to hate him he little esteeming that folowed his fancie to winne Arsinoe which when it was well knowen to the daughter and to many of the Court after howe Demetrius vsed himselfe Beronice and all men beganne mortally to mallice Demetrius and to turne their mindes againe towards Ptolomeus sonne They hated him in such sort that snares were inuēted for Demetrius and watches appointed to find him in the fault and so it came to passe then when he was in bedde with the mother the daughter brought certeine armed men into the chamber cōmaunded them to kill Demetrius Beronice entred not the chamber but stood at the doore spake vnto them that they should spare her mother which when Arsinoe heard after she had done what she could to saue Demetrius cōcerning his body with her body of force she was taken from him he slaine thus Beronice reuenged the wrongs spite of Demetrius done against her selfe and her mother after maried Ptolomeis sonne according to his father king Agas cōmandement this was the end of king Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius About this time Megasthenes a Persian Chronographer wrote his histories some call him Metasthenes this time the Romanes began to florish in all kind of excesse as in wearing of rings costly tires which as Plinie saith were skant before this time seene in Rome this time also was the Bible translated by the 70. interpreters into the Greeke tongue CHAP. IIII. Of the Romane warres with king Philip and his sonne Perseus the two last kings of Macedonia of their ouerthrowe by Paul Aemilius and of the ouerthrowe of false Philip and counterfaite Andriscus by Q. Metellus in the last conquest of Macedonia NOwe to returne to Macedonia after that Demetrius was slaine as you heard Philip Demetrius nephewe and sonne to Antigonus succeeded in Macedonia You must take heede least you be deceiued in the names of diuers Demetrius for the first and the greatest was called Demetrius Antigonus whose life Plutarch doeth write at large another Demetrius surnamed Poliorcetes who in his time destroyed a towne of Samaria which Perdicas builded vp againe and the third named Demetrius Phalerius which was gouernour of Athens vnder Cassander and the fourth Demetrius Antigonus sonne of whose death for adulterie with Queene Arsinoe you read of
before so likewise you shal reade of diuers Seleucus of diuers Antiochus and of diuers Ptolomeis where I speake of the kings of Asia Syria and Egypt much errour may growe hereby without heede taking Philip reigned now in Macedonia and hauing no long time to rest but at his first entrie had warres by the Romanes for whom Ti. Quintus Flaminius the Consul was in person to offer battell in the defence of Greece the rather for that Philip king of Macedon ayded Hannibal against the Romanes with all the force he could Philip prouided all things ready a man might thinke that Philip had force and power sufficient against a Consul of a citie being a king of a whole Realme and surely so he had had not Titus by his eloquence wonne al Greece against Philip and yet before this time the Grecians bare no great good will to the Romanes as Plutarch affirmeth Diuers times Flaminius offered battel to Philip but still refused by Philip auoided fearing such hard fortune as his predecessors had he kept the top of the mountaines with his armie that when the Romanes forced to gette vp the hilles they were receiued with dartes slings and shotte that lighted vpon them from the toppes of the hilles that the Romanes were sore anoyed But after they found meanes to winne the hilles by the aduise of Charopus a great man of Epirus Titus diuided his armie into three troupes and himselfe went with one of the three Philip lost then about two thousand souldiers the Macedonians fled and the Romanes spoiled their campe tooke all that they found in their tents Titus had some aduertisement that Philip fledde by Thessalia the Consul with great modestie did forbeare the spoyling and wasting of the Countrie hereby he wanne many friendes Philip was most desirous to haue peace with Titus and it was offered him vpon condition that he would that Greece should be at their libertie and remoue his garisons out of their Citie this Philip refused and thereupon all Greece came in and offered themselues vnto Titus without compulsion Nowe hauing Greece on his side he went towardes Thessalie with great hope to ouercome Philip Titus had in his armie about sixe and twentie thousande fighting men as Plutarch writeth king Philip on the other side had no lesse in number they beganne to march the one towardes the other neere the Citie of Scotusa there they determined to trie the battell where Titus gaue the ouerthrow and slue eight thousand in the fielde and tooke fiue thousand prisoners in the chase Philip was driuen to entreate for peace which was graunted vnto him vpon the condition before offered and taking one of Philips sōnes in hostage sent him to Rome to the Senate for then Hannibal of Carthage a great enemie of the Romanes was ouercome by Scipio Affricanus and banished out of his Countrie and commen to king Antiochus whom hee perswaded with all diligence to followe his good fortune and the encrease of his Empire Hanibal sought still to finde occasion to make warres with the Romanes and went about to bring Antiochus to ioyne with Philip two mightie kings against the Romanes In the meane time Titus had commissioners sent from Rome to ayde him and to assist him in the affaires of Greece willing him to looke to the Cities of Corinth of Chalcides and of Demetriade and to make sure that they should not enter into league and allyance with Antiochus and all the rest of Greece to set at libertie this was done by Titus and proclaimed by the Heralde and authorised by the Senate of Rome that all Greece should be free from all taxes impositions and subsidies After that Titus had sent Lentulus into Asia to set the Bargilians at libertie and Titillius into Thracia and Publius Iulius sent to king Antiochus to set the Grecians at libertie Titus himselfe went to the Prouince of Magnesia and from thence to Argos to set the Greekes at libertie which were vnder Philip and Antiochus from Argos returned into Rome after foure yeeres warre with Philip sauing that Pu. Sulpitius had the charge against Philip the first yeere being then Consul of Rome before Titus time who for the time of his being in Macedonia gaue two ouerthrowes vnto Philip king of Macedon and forced him to flee in great danger of his life But to returne to Titus who being called to Rome by the Senate came in solemne triumph with king Philips sonne before his chariot brought at that time saith Plutarch infinite treasures and leauing Philip to pay to the Romanes a thousand talents beside and not to molest and vexe the Cities of Greece and that it was not lawfull for Philip to warre or to fight out of his owne kingdome vnlesse he should be required thereunto by the Romanes Thus Philip being daunted of his great courage and much weakened in strength by the Romanes hauing two sonnes the one named Perseus the other Demetrius betweene them both grewe secret seditions and proceeded so in malice that though Demetrius was in Rome in hostage with Titus as you heard and Perseus in Macedonia with his father accusing his brother of his secrete treacherie towardes his father Philip and his countrey that the king was in offence against Demetrius and grewe more and more by Perseus soliciting the cause to doubt Demetrius hee coulde not quiet himselfe vntill Demetrius was had out of the way by poyson as Ruffinus sayeth but it was not long after but Philip had knowledge of the iniurie hee had done to his sonne Demetrius by the false accusation of his sonne Perseus hee studied howe to take reuenge vpon Perseus for the death of Demetrius and sawe no way vnlesse hee would leaue Macedonia without a king for then Perseus was the last of the line of Antigonus Thus poore king Philip being plagued by the Romanes for his kingdome and brought to a full weerinesse of his life at home by his two sonnes fell to a consumption and dyed afterhe had reigned king of Macedonia fourtie two yeeres Plutarch reciteth a historie of one Antigonus surnamed Doson that was cousin to the other Antigonus surnamed Gonates this Antigonts Doson reigned before Philippe fifteene yeeres As I toulde you before of the names of so many Demetrius so nowe the names of so many Antigonus may trouble the reader and therefore I will shewe the order of it The first Antigonus was taken to bee base brother to Alexander the great who after Alexanders dayes was taken to be the greatest and mightiest of all his successours This Antigonus had a sonne called Demetrius of whome came this seconde Antigonus surnamed Gonatas the third Antigonus surnamed Doson and after this Antigonus reigned Philip who dyed for sorowe and griefe for Demetrius death Nowe Perseus the last king of Macedonia succeeded his father Philip king of Macedonia in the fiue hundred seuentie fiue yeeres of the building of
Cappadocia Iberia Syria Egypt Bactria Scythia India all Asia and welnigh all the worlde now brought by Paulus Aemilius to be a prouince of the Romanes who in one day sold as Ruffinus wote 82. cities Thus is the kingdom and monarchie of Alexander king ouer kings troden downe by Aemilius a magistrate of a citie thus is Macedonia whose empire reached into the furthest part of the world made a prouince vnto Rome which in the time of Alexander was so famous neither the Assyrians by Ninus neither the Chaldeans by Nabuchodonosor neither the Medes by Darius Medus neither the Persians by Cyrus were of such fame as Macedonia was by Alexander It is a true saying Per me reges regnant c. It was decreed aboue before God how long the Caldeans should raigne before the Assyrians the Assyriās before the Medes the Medes before the Persians the Persians before the Macedonians in like sort how long the Romans shal cōtinue This was by Daniel diuinely reueiled by the 4. great beasts that came vp frō the sea one diuers to another the first a lion which had egles wings the 2. was like a beare the 3. like a leopard the 4. was terrible and it deuoured the rest And Daniel in Susa in another dreame or rather a vision saw a battel betwene a ramme and a goat which is Persia and Greece I referre you to the 7. and 8. of Daniel for the interpretation of the same where the text is most plainly by the prophet Daniel set downe where Daniel briefly deciphered the whole world in a short historie and layde downe the ground of all the histories of the worlde I meane after Daniels time who liued and prophecied in Cyrus time after whom the Persians the Grecians and the Romanes flourished Now to returne to Aemilius whose family saith Plutarch doth proceed from Numa Pompilius the 2. king of Rome and whose diuers victories ouer the Ligurians Illyrians and other nations of Affricke others might haue chalenged triumph in Rome without contention which was resisted by Seruius Galba for that he was so long as foure yeeres in warres against Perseus Galba and diuers others thought it dishonourable to the Romanes to cōsume so long a time with king Perseus sith the Romanes made king Antiochus to forsake Asia driuen thence beyond mount Taurus within the borders of Syria before that they had ouercome king Philippe in Thessalie and deliuered Greece from the bondage of the Macedonians and had conquered Hannibal the onely enemie of Rome and souldiour of the world vnto whom no king or captaine coulde be compared and therefore not to haue a triumph But Marcus Seruilius who had bene a Consul and had fought 23. combats of life and death in his owne person and had slaine as many as chalenged him man for man hee furthered the triumph which was by the whole consent of the Senate the people of Rome graunted vnto Aemilius but I omit to speake of his triumph vntil I set downe the triumphes of the kings consuls and Emperours of Rome because he is a Romane Here I write of Macedonia of their kings and of their triumphes who ended their gouernment in Perseus time in the 153. Olympiad after the building of Rome 586. yeres and in the beginning of the 26. Iubilee At what time raigned in Syria Antiochus Epiphanes the eight king to whom Pompilius was sent from the Senate to commaunde Antiochus to depart Egypt and that to answere the Romanes before he should go out of a litle circle which Pōpilius made with his white sticke which he had in his hand either yea or no. This time Prusias king of Bythinia cōmitted his sonne Nicomedes as Liuie saith to the Romanes within short space after that king Perseus was conquered by Paulus Aemilius vpon the 4. of September and that the Romanes had brought Macedonia vnder the Empire of Rome One Andrisius a meane man claimed by succession to be king after Perseus affirming himselfe to be Perseus sonne and changing his name from Andrisius to be Philippe gathered a great hoste vsurped the kingdome vntill Lu. Tremelius came from Rome and gaue him battell in the which Andrisius was quite ouerthrowen And so Macedonia after the gouernment of 36. kings as Ruffinus saith but as Functius and Trogus Pompeius say 38. kings for from Cranaus vnto Alexander the great were 23. kings from Alexander to Perseus 15. The names of those 23. kings before Alexander I wrote them before Alexanders raigne the other 15. are these following 1 Aridaeus raigned 7. yeres 2 Cassander 18. 3 Antipater and Alex. 4. 4 Demetrius 6. 5 Pyrrhus 7. moneths 6 Lysmachus 5. 7 Ptolomeus Ceraunus 1. 8 Meleager 2. moneths 9 Antipater 1. 10 Sosthenes 2. 11 Antigonus Gonatus 36. 12 Demetrius 10. 13 Antigonus Dosen 15. 14 Philip. 2. 15 Perseus the last king 10. yeeres OF THE FIRST WARRES of the kings of Asia and of Syria with the Romanes of their succession in the warres and of the continuance of their kingdomes after Alexanders death AFter the death of Alexander the great the world being left without a king his princes nobles and olde souldiers who did more aduaunce the renowme and fame of the Romanes then the glorie of Macedonia or Asia after much blood shedding and great crueltie euery man fought for a kingdome it came to passe as Daniel the Prophet said that all the kingdomes of Alexander fell betwene 4. princes and were deuided into foure kingdomes which was Egypt appointed to Ptolomey the sonne of Lagi Asia to Antigonus Persia and the East part to Seleucus Nicanor and Macedonia vnto Antipater as you heard in the historie of the kings of Macedonia Now I haue in hand to speake of Seleucus the great king after Alexander for after Antigonus was slaine and his sonne Demetrius dead being taken captiue by Seleucus he entred into Asia and cōquered from mount Taurus into Ionia which before Antigonus had vnder his gouernment and had subdued all the regions of the greater Asia and made himselfe mightie and great which was in the 14. yeere after Alexanders death The Iewes doe accompt the gouernment of the Grecians in Syria from the first yeere of Seleucus Nicanors raigne which in the Machabees is obserued This king grew so great that hauing subdued all Antigonus kingdomes and hauing giuen Lysimachus the ouerthrow being of the age of 77. yeeres he thought no lesse in his minde after such great victories but to become another Alexander and to bring all the worlde vnder his gouernment for hee ouercame the Bactrians and passed to the Indians hauing alreadie vnder his Scepter all Asia Persia Syria Babylon with diuers others Of this Seleucus Iustine writeth a strange historie how his mother Laodice being maried to Antiochus seemed in a dreame to haue layen with Apollo and to bee by him with childe and of a ring which Laodice dreamed to haue of Apollo in the
Asia euen to flee to Ptolomey where he was claptin prison frō whom he secretly stale away and fled but being taken by theeues was slaine About that very season his brother Seleucus by a fall he had frō his horse lost both his life and kingdom after he had raigned king of Asia and Syria 20. yeeres and so these two brethren by discord lost both Syria and Asia After this Seleucus came succeeded his sonne Seleucus Ceraunos the 5. king of Asia and Syria he after he had raigned 3. yeeres was slaine by one of his owne noblemen named Nicanor Then followed Antiochus surnamed the great the 6. king of Syria who indeed was so great that he wanne to his kingdome more then any of his predecessors and hauing long warres in Egypt with Ptolome Philopater by him for all his greatnes he had an ouerthrow or two But this Philopater died and left behind him a young sonne whom he committed for the safegard of his kingdome to the Romanes commending both his sonne in his minoritie his kingdome into the fidelity of the Senators for all kings in their distresse fled vnto the Romanes as to a sanctuary of refuge Now Antiochus the great in his minde contemned the Romanes made warres in Egypt vpon this yong king to whom the Senators sent Embassadors commanding him to auoyde Egypt not to warre vpō the yong king whom the Senators of Rome tooke to their tuition Antiochus esteemed not much the threatning of the Senators but rather despised the messengers making his armie ready against the Romanes hauing by this time Hannibal who by Scipio Affricanus was ouerthrowen at the battel of Zama which was the last ouerthrow of Hannibal for the Carthagineans had lost Sicilia Sardania Spaine and Hanibal was driuen out of Italy to Affrike and frō Affrike to Asia vnto king Antiochus where he was with great curtesie receiued By this time the Senate had intelligence that Nabis the tyrant had inuaded diuers countreies of Greece subdued manie cities and therefore they wrote vnto Titus Flaminius that Greece should be set at libertie from Nabis as Macedonia was from Philip. The greatnes of the Romanes was such that they thought to execute all warres by their commandement yet the name of Hannibal caried great reputation with all men and specially with the Romanes who had for 16. yeeres well tried his valure Antiochus at the first made much account of Hannibal for had he followed Hannibals aduise in his warres against the Romanes afterward as he did at the first Antiochus had done farre better for Hanibals counsell was that Antiochus should make warre with the Romanes in Italy for said he Italians must ouercome Italy and Romanes must conquere Rome Hanibal hated the Romanes and therefore he studied how to set forward Antiochus and perswaded Antiochus who trusted still in peace that as the Romanes had gotten the most part of Europe and Affrike so would they not giue ouer vntill they would get Asia if they might The authoritie and credit of Hanibal made Antiochus so to yeeld that Hanibal himself was sent to Syria to leuie a great nomber of ships he was made general of Antiochus army by sea together with one Apollonius This battel by sea had no good successe the victory fel to the Romans Apollonius fled and as Plutarch saith we find that Hanibal did nothing worth the memory After this battel assoone as Antiochus was ouercome by the Romans Hanibal fearing he should be deliuered to the Romans fled to Prusias king of Bythinia at whose hands he was required againe by Tit. Flaminius Now king Antiochus hauing lost 50. thousand footmen and 4000. horsmen was forced to desire peace which the Senate graunted him vpon conditions that he should auoid forth of Europe and Asia and medle no further but within the precinct of Taurus and also that hee should pay to the Romanes tenne thousand talents and 30. pledges for the assurance of his prouinces and lastly that hee should deliuer Hanibal who had bene the only procurour of the battel These conditions being performed by Antiochus the Senate gaue all those cities of Asia which Antiochus had lost to Eumenes king Atalus brother they gaue also to the Rhodians diuers other cities for that they had assisted the Romanes against Antiochus After this great victorie Lucius Cornelius Scipio returned to Rome and with great glory triumphed and then obtained the like name in Asia as his brother had before in Affrike which was to be called Scipio Asiaticus for that he conquered Antiochus the great at Magnesia had driuen him out of Asia euen as his father the elder Scipio was called for subduing of Hanibal and the driuing out of Hanibal of Affrike Scipio Affricanus All this while the Iewes were so much troubled betweene the kings of Egypt and the kings of Syria that they found that same true but specially by the king of Syria and therefore the Iewes rather did ioyne their force to the Egyptians against the kings of Syria for while Antiochus held warres with the Romanes Scopas king Ptolomey Epiphanes general was in Coelosyria possessed Samaria other cities of Iudea and molested the Iewes at that time much vntill Antiochus ouerthrew Scopas at the flood Iordan destroyed his army got those cities which Scopas had and entred into Ierusalē where he was fully pleased with rewards and satisfied with money with whom they had peace for Iudea as I said before had peace and quietnes frō Alexander the great vntil Antiochus the great which was 100. yeres and odd About this time 3. notable triumphes were at Rome the one by Scipio forth of Affricke before whose chariot Asdrubal was led the other by Metellus foorth of Macedonia before whose chariot Andriscus was led this was that false named and coūterfaited Philip the thirde triumph was by Metellus sirnamed Mummius ouer the Corinthians before whom were caried the brasen ensignes and painted tables and other sumptuous ornaments of that famous citie CHAP. II. Of that wicked and most blasphemous king Antiochus Epiphanes sonne to Antiochus the great and the type of Antichrist of his vsurpation and tyrānie of the kingdom of his sacking and crueltie in Ierusalem of his bloody warres and persecutions of Christians DVring the warres of Antiochus the great with the Romans ciuil warres began in Greece againe betweene the Athenians and the Aetolians Of these warres reade Polibius and Plutarch in the life of Philopomen Likewise Mithridates king of Parthia waged battel with the Sinopians About this time Siphax king of Numidia was after sundrie battels by Masinissa ouerthrowen and driuen out of his kingdome This time Pharnaces the fourth king of Parthia conquered those people called Mardi astoute nation as Iustine saith In the time of Antiochus the great there happened in one yeere 57. earthquakes insomuch that Rhodes and Caria were so shaken thereby that the
in reuerence This proude king entred into the temple of Salomon after hee had made such a slaughter of yong and olde of women and children that within three dayes 80. thousand were slaine and 40. thousand taken prisoners Menelaus the traitour the high priest a murtherer before of Onias and now a traitour to his countrey brought Antiochus into the citie guided him from place to place that after hee had taken 800. talents away from the temple he gate him away to Antiochia thinking in his pride to make men saile vpon the drie land and to walke vpon the sea The filthinesse and abomination of this beast is set foorth in the Macabees in the second booke the fift and sixt chapters from the beginning vnto the ende This was the second comming of Antiochus to Iudea and to Ierusalem in the eight yeere of his raigne two yeeres after his first being in Ierusalem whose comming and whose doings were by the Prophet Daniel before spoken for he saide that this tyrant should continue 3500. dayes in wasting and spoyling of Iudea in prophaning the temple in killing and murthering of Gods people The nomber of these dayes are sixe yeeres and sixe monethes so long endured this wolfe After this Habuit mercedem God rewarded him for he died in such torments that his bowels were eaten with wormes and himselfe brought in such miserie that he died according as he liued after hee had raigned twelue yeeres During his time the warres continued in Macedonia betweene Perseus the last king and Titus Aemilius the Consull and at length the conquerour of Perseus Prusias king of Bythinia came with his sonne Nicomedes to Rome where he commended his sonne to the Senators About this time Terentius flourished Nowe when Antiochus surnamed Eupator had entred in his fathers seate in the 150. yeere of the Greekes being in Syria and in the beginning of the 26. Iubilee he folowed his fathers steppes came with an armie to Ierusalem and besieged the castle of Sion but while he laied siege his generall Lysias tolde him that his kingdome was inuaded by the enemies Then he concluded peace with Iudea and returned in all haste into Syria brought Menelaus that wicked and cruell high priest with him who after much mischiefes done died at Beroea a towne of Syria Antiochus had not reigned but one yeere but Demetrius Soter fledde from Rome where he had bene a pledge during the whole gouernment of his brother Antiochus Epiphanes which was twelue yeeres and during some yeeres of his graundfather Antiochus the great he came to Syria entred the Citie of Tyrus where his souldiers apprehended both the king and his generall Lysias whom Demetrius commaunded to be killed before hee should see them though Eupator was his sisters sonne This Eupator ended his life after hee had reigned but two yeeres In the meane time Onias the sonne of Onias the high priest which was also slaine by Menelaus who succeeded him this Onias being of the Iewes surnamed the iust lamenting much the miserable estate of Iudea fled into Egypt to king Pto. Philometor and hauing licence of the king he builded a temple in the citie of Heliopolis to the likenesse of the temple in Ierusalem according to the saying of Esai In that day shall the altar of the Lord be in the middest of the land of Egypt and the Lord shal be knowen of the Egyptians and the Egyptians shall knowe the Lord. In that day Assur shall come to Egypt and Egypt into Assur This Demetrius sent Alcimus against Iudas Machabeus who by flatterie entred into Ierusalem and slue three score of the chiefe and greatest men of the citie after gathered a number of wicked persons together who did much harme in Iudea to whome king Demetrius sent Nicanor with an hoste of souldiers to ayde Alcimus This Nicanor blasphemed God prophaned the temple threatned the Iewes and came to Bethoron where Iudas Machabeus gaue him battell and ouerthrewe him This Demetrius was no lesse cruell to the Iewes then either his father or his brother were before him hee played the beare vntill Alexander Epiphanes Antiochus Eupators sonne came to the Citie of Ptolomais Iustine saith that this Alexander was a base man borne named Prompalus and that hee was made by others to take this name vpon him and to say that he was Antiochus sonne Atalus king of Asia Ptolome Philometor king of Egypt and Ariarathes king of Capadocia counselled Prompalus to inuade Demetrius kingdome which was done and a battell giuen in the which Demetrius was slaine after he had reigned tenne yeeres Now after Alexander had the victorie of Demetrius he claimed to be the king of Syria by succession fayning himselfe to be Antiochus Eupators sonne hee maried Cleopatra king Philometors daughter of Egypt the mariage was celebrated in the Citie of Ptolemais This Alexander was not ayded by these kings for any great affection they bare him but for the hatred they had towardes Demetrius who was so ambitious proude and cruell in the beginning of his reigne that these three kings of Egypt of Asia and Arabia had susteined losse and harme before Demetrius was ouerthrowen by Alexander he had two sonnes whom hee sent with great treasures to a friende of his named Gindius to auoide the daunger of the warres the elder of them was named Demetrius after his fathers name who hearing of his fathers death and of the riot and lust of this Alexander a man giuen to al vices and wickednesse came into Syria being aided by the king of Creete and possessed certeine Cities in Syria he appointed his generall one Appolonius who too much trusting his owne force and courage was in the first battell by Ionathas ouerthrowen Ptolome within a short time came with a great armie to see his sonne in lawe in Syria to whom all the cities opened their gates to welcome their king of Egypt they rather thinking that hee came to make peace betweene Demetrius and Alexander but Ptolome imagined howe hee might deceiue them both for a kingdome hee placed his souldiers in diuers Cities of Syria and because Alexander was then in Cicilia hee tooke occasion to offer him warres by taking his daughter away from him whome hee gaue in mariage againe to Demetrius Alexander hearing that his wife was taken from him and maried to Demetrius his mortall enemie summoned his father in lawe to battell wherein he had the ouerthrowe and was forced to flie to Arabia where Alexander was taken and slaine and his head sent by the king of Arabia to Egypt to king Ptolome Thus was Prompalus otherwaies named Alexander throwen downe from the throne of his kingdome deceiued by fortune and reuenged by iustice This reward he had to faine him selfe Antiochus sonne and falsely to alter his name from Prompalus vnto Alexander that Ptolome who ayded him to the kingdome and gaue his daughter in mariage to him the same Ptolome
droue him out of the kingdome and had both his head and his crowne giuen him But Philometor enioyed not long these great honors for within three dayes after he had receiued Alexanders head Ptolome died so long he ware the crowne of Syria When the Syrians heard that Alexander was dead in Arabia and Ptolome dead in Egypt they slue all the souldiers of Ptolome which were left in garisons in the Cities of Syria and receiued Demetrius Nicanor to be their king which was Demetrius Soters sonne Nowe when Demetrius had recouered his kingdome againe he fel in short time in as great contempt with all men for his slouthfulnesse as his father before him was for pride and to auoide that fault he waged warres with the Parthians to whom he gaue two seuerall ouerthrowes by the aide of the Bactrians and the Persians but afterward he was taken and sent prisoner into Hircania to Arsaces king of Persia. While Demetrius was in these warres Ionathas the high priest was by deceipt slaine by Trypho also he slue young Antiochus ouer whom he was tutour and reigned three yeeres king in Syria Cleopatra Demetrius wife fearing the tyrannie of this Trypho and knowing her husband to bee captiue in Hircania shee maried Antiochus Soter her husbands brother shee being then in the citie of Seleucia Antiochus leuied an armie came to Syria pursued Trypho from whom reuoulted all his souldiers and he himselfe fled Antiochus possessed Syria quietly and calling to mind the pride of his father the slouthfulnesse of his brother for which faultes they were both hated of their subiects hee vsed great diligence and faire meanes to winne those cities which had reuoulted from his brother yet according to his predecessours the kings of Syria he beganne shortly after this good mind to molest Iudea he besieged Hircanus the high priest in Ierusalem but he tooke money and remoued his siege In the twelfth of his reigne Antiochus beganne to warre against Phrahartes king of the Parthiās leuied an armie of eightie thousand men Phrahartes had Demetrius the brother of Antiochus in custodie with him to whom his father Arsaces had promised him before he died to restore him to his kingdome and thereupon gaue his daughter in mariage The king of Parthia was ouerthrowen and driuen to slight in two or three battels leauing al Parthia wasted and spoyled by Antiochus In the meane time Demetrius was sent by Phrahartes to his kingdome while Antiochus was absent from Syria In this warres of Parthia Antiochus came to Babylon where many kings gaue him the meeting for hee waxed great and strong and there hearing that his brother Demetrius was commen to Syria from Parthia and was receiued againe to his kingdome he made haste to returne with his souldiers to Syria but Phrahartes had prepared an armie vpon the way to meete him and to giue him battell where Antiochus was slaine CHAP. III. Of the last destruction of Asia and Syria through their ciuill dissention and long warres one with another the onely cause of their bondage afterward to the Romanes vnder whom they liued as subiects and all Asia and Syria made Prouinces vnder Rome WHen the king of Parthia had the victorie hee much repented him that he let loose Demetrius but hee coulde not helpe it When Demetrius had bin from his kingdome thirteene yeeres captiue but with great honour for that he maried Arsases daughter king of Parthia his returne to Syria was in the sixe hundred twentie seuen yeere after the building of Rome and hee reigned afterward foure yeeres for in the fourth yeere after his returne from Parthia where hee had bene thirteene yeeres captiue he leuied an armie against Hircanus but Demetrius woonted and intollerable pride was such that the Syrians by no meanes coulde abide him and therefore they sent to Egypt to king Ptolome that he would appoint them a king of the blood and house of Seleucus Such were the maners of the Syrians that vpon any broile or diffidence they had in their king the kings of Egypt shoulde be their shield and defende them and by that meanes onely diuers kings of Egypt became kings of Syria The people of Syria hauing sent to Egypt Ptolome prepared Alexander Zebenna with a great hoste against Demetrius from whom most of his subiects reuoulted and therefore the easier to be vanquished as it came to passe in the very first battell betweene him and Zebenna This Zebenna was one Protarchus sonne a meane man and such a one as Prompalus was of whō you reade before These false pollices and craftie deuices are alwayes in courtes about kings and princes as in Macedonia a false Philip and after him againe a fained Perseus so in Syria a false Prompalus and after him a false Zebenna of whom reade the fable in Iustine and in Functius When this Alexāder Zebenna had ouercome Demetrius he enioyed the kingdome of Syria two yeres quietly but shortly he waxed so proud and arrogant that he litle esteemed king Ptolome who only made him king in Syria Ptolome hearing of these newes recōciled himselfe first to his sister Cleopatra who had bin maried to both the brethren Antiochus and Demetrius kings of Syria and straight after sent an armie to ayde Gryphus who was by his mother appointed king which gaue battel to Zebenna ouerthrew him and forced him to flee to Antioch where for want of money to pay his souldiers he robbed the temple of Iupiter from thence he was driuen by the countrie to take his flight Againe his souldiers forsooke him and left him he was taken and brought to Griphus and by commaundement slaine Nowe Griphus hauing obteined his fathers kingdome doubted nothing of his mother Cleopatras treason being busie in other affaires of his kingdome vntill hee was made acquainted with his mothers intent of whō he had some triall both towards his father whom shee betrayed being her husband his brother whō also she slue being her owne sonne her ambitions impietie was so found that when she offered a cuppe of drinke to her sonne the king she was cōmaunded to drinke the same her selfe and so the poyson with the which she thought to poyson her sonne was made to be her owne draught and her owne death After this Griphus reigned king in Syria eight yeeres very quiet before Cizicoenus his brother beganne to warre he was his brother by the mother side borne by his vncle Antiochus Sedetes while the state of Syria was thus afflicted with continuall warres betweene brethren and brethrens children Ptolomeus Physcon died who left behinde him the kingdome to his wife and to his sonne of whō I haue entreated in the historie of Egypt But now the ciuill warres being in Syria betweene Antiochus Griphus Demetrius Nicanors sonne and Antiochus Cizicenus Antiochus Sedetes sonne though they were brethrē by the mothers side cousin germaines by the fathers yet their
ambition was such to the kingdom of Syria that they forgate fraternitie in blood fel to strokes one persecuting the other with cōtinual warres sundry battels vntil at lēgth Antiochus Griphus was slaine by the treacherie of Herodianus in the 662. yere after the building of Rome in the 29. yere of his reigne I remēber a history in Dionisius Halicarnassaeus in the which historie Rome is much commended in respect of other countries as Persia Greece Maccdonia Syria Asia kingdoms of ciuil warres the very cause of their ruine but in Rome no ciuil warre was knowen no mutinie no discord was seene for 620. yeres frō the time of Romulus the first king of Rome vntill the time of Tiberius Gracchus which was the first that died in an vprore which he himselfe beganne But while these ciuill warres endured in Syria Masinissa king of Numidia was occupied in Affrike hauing great wars betweene the Carthagineans the Numidians Aristonicus also the sonne of Attalus king of Pergamus brother to that valiant king Eumenes inuaded Asia as his owne kingdom fallen to him by succession of his father At that time reigned in Bythinia Nicomedes in Pōtus Mithridates the sōne of that great Mithridates who held warres with the Romanes of a long time About this time began the sects of people in Iudea the Pharises the Saduces and Esseni Of these Iosephus writeth beside we reade of them in the new Testament In the time of Antiochus Griphus Mecypsa king of Numidia died who left 3. sonnes behind him named Adherbalis Hiempsalis Iugurtha of this Salust maketh mention in the warres of Iugurth which warre happened in this time of Griphus for Marius the Romane Consul about this time triumphed ouer Iugurth Pompey the great was borne about the time of that triumph Lucretius the Poet also But I will come to Syria where after king Antiochus was slaine his sonne Seleucus succeeded him this prepared to reuenge his father vpon his vncle gathered his force gaue him battel and slue his vncle Antiochus Cizicoenus whose sōne reuēged vpō his cousin his fathers death he gaue him battel ouerthrewe him droue him out of Syria to Cicilia where hee was burned in his owne house and all his friendes with him Skant was this mischiefe done but straight another folowed Seleucus brother named Antiochus folowed fast Cizioenus sōne and slue him with all his armie Then Philip the third brother of Seleucus tooke much of the kings treasure and went priuately and dwelled in a part of Syria vntill that Ptolome who by his owne mother before that time was expelled out of Egypt though afterwarde hee was receiued king againe in the 663. yeere after the building of Rome This I say brought the fourth brother of Seleucus named Demetrius Eucerus to Damascus where hee was crowned king who ioyned with Philip ouerthrew Antiochus their brother and the eldest after Seleucus This murthering one another in Syria with such tyrannie and bloody treason betweene brethren and brethrens children that all the kings of Syria euen from Antiochus Epiphanes the eight king of Syria vntill Philip the seuenteenth king no forraine enemies needed to inuade Asia but one king destroyed an other by ciuill warres About this time Cneus Pompeius father to the great Pompe subdued the Picents and the Marsies and Silla ouercame the Samnites Betweene this Silla and Marius beganne a great quarrell about the warres of Mithridates these two though they did much good to their Countrie and were equal to the best yet they past al men in offence and harme towards Rome so that they onely were the two fire brandes of Italie Mithridates king of Pontus inuaded Asia obiected himselfe against the Romanes but Silla who at that time triumphed ouer all the countries and almost ouer Rome staied Mithridates Lucullus waged warres this time with the Parthians Nicomedes king of Bithinia in those dayes died and made the Romanes his heire as Attalus king of Asia did Mithridates Nowe Philip and Demetrius two brethren reigned the last kings of Syria of the blood of Seleucus which reigned not long for Demetrius went against Alexander king of the Iewes by whom he and his company were vanquished and driuen out of Iudea Demetrius being thus expulsed gathered those scattered souldiers which Alexander king of Iudea dispearsed and laid siege to the citie of Berea where his brother Philip lay where Demetrius was taken by the Parthiās sent to Parthia to be kept as a prisoner where he died After that Demetrius was sent to Parthia Philip came out of Beroea entred into Antioch and obteined the whole kingdom of Syria into his owne hand but he was shortly vanquished ouerthrowen by Gabinius the Romane The Syrians were cōpelled by this ciuil warre to cōmit themselues to forraine kings to auoid the tyrāny which lōg endured betweene the kings of Syria so that both the kings the kingdom of Syria were at the last breath some willing to call Mithridates king of Pontus some Ptolome king of Egypt and some Tygranes king of Armenia At length they made a choise of Tygranes to be their king the rather for the societie of the Parthiās the affinitie of Pōtus which were the next kingdōs vnto Armenia While these brethrē Philip Demet. were at variance such an earthquake was in Syria that 170000. men perished thereby many cities laid prostrate to the groūd Tygranes gouerned the Syrians 18. yeeres quietly without any warre or busines though in deede diuers there were that hoped for a day specially Antiochus Cizicoenus which all this time lay close in Cicilia Tygranes had thought to subdue Palestina and so after some leasure to warre vpō Iuda but hearing that Lu. Lucullus after that Mithridates was by the said Lucullus conquered marched forward into Armenia Tygranes was driuē to forsake Syria in al haste to returne to defend his owne coūtrie where he was ouercome in two or three great battels and at length taken in his chiefe citie called Artaxa Nowe Tygranes could not returne to Syria but he was led captiue to the Romanes by Pompei the great who after that wēt in person into Syria brought it to the forme gouernment of a prouince for that Syria as Plutarch saith wanted a lawfull king He made a prouince of Syria to the Romane Empire he cōquered al Iurie builded certeine cities in Iudea this very time M. Crassus with his sonne with all his armie was ouerthrowen and slaine in Parthia Likewise Iulius Caesar came into England called then Brittaine and conquered it at what time reigned in Brittaine Cassibelane who after two or three repulses giuen to Caesar yeelded consented to pay tribute At the cōming of Pompe into Syria Diodorus Siculus a great writer wēt to Egypt where he wrote in a booke of his the antiquitie of the Egyptiās About this time Titus Liuius the historiographer
Hanibal Then Fabius who in his ambassage offered to the Carthagineans the choise It was doubtfull a long time whether there were a sea beyond Afrike or whether the land might be coasted about or whether Afrike being barren waste ful of desertes moūtaines might extend so farre as that there were no ende of it vntill the voyage of Hanno a captaine of Carthage who tooke vpon him to searche the coastes and when he had traueiled much hee returned home with this answere that he wanted not sea roome but victuall After Hanno another called Endoxus passed out of the gulfe of Arabia hee traueiled so long that he brought notice with him of countries other things vnknowen in Affrike and Libya you must thinke that Affrike and Libya is all one generally In this countrie of Affrike is Mauritania a large and a wide countrie the end of this coast is the riuer Mulucha and the beginning thereof is from the Promontorie which the Greekes call Ampelisia from Mulucha Molochathi as Strabo writeth to the riuer Ampsaga lieth Numidia a countrie not so large as Mauritania but wealthier and better peopled Cirta is the greatest citie therein the pallace of king Iuba and king Siphax and after Massinissa and Mycipsa and of a long time their successours To describe Affrike perticularly it is infinite for that the most part of it is wast ground vnmanured and void wildernesse where strange and diuers kindes of beastes doe breede and also many fabulous things of Solinus and Strabo written as Satyrs Blenias such wilde people that rather are like beasts then men reade Solinus and Strabo of all the sundry sortes of serpēts strange beastes of the mōstrous kindes of creatures which breede in Affrike and Libya I will declare briefely the report of al Carthage Numidia two of the chiefest cities of Affrike of these townes mēcion is made of diuers writers This Carthage was builded at such time as Hiarbas reigned in Libya by a lady named Elissa otherwayes named Dido king Pigmaliōs sister of Tyre borne in Phoenicia after whō Tirians long inhabited a hundred thirtie fiue yeeres before the building of Rome was Carthage builded some say that Carthage was builded before Didos time by people of Tyre of whō Carthage was first named Byrsa Ioseph setteth downe the names of those kings that reigned in Tyre before Dido came to Affrika 1 Abibalus 2 His sonne Hiramus 34. 3 Abdemonius 4 Hyramus 2. 5 Baleastartus 43. 6 Abdastartus 9. 7 Astartus the sonne of Baleastartus 8 Astarimus which was slaine 9 by his brother Phelles that succeeded him 10 Ithobalus 11 Badezorus the sonne of I 12 thabolus after whome succeeded his sonne Mettinus 13 And last reigned Pygmalion which was brother vnto Dido These were the kings that reigned in Tyre before the building of Carthage Strabo sayth that there were 300. cities in that part of Affrika before the building of Carthage which were destroyed by the Pharusians and Nigretes Next vnto Carthage in authoritie and power was the Citie of Vtica famous for the name of Cato these two Cities were the onely hauens to the Romanes to enter into Libya Not farre from Vtica was Appollonia and Hermea two populous Townes well inhabited In this lesser Asia where Carthage and Vtica were both builded by the Phoenicians are diuers others Townes as Hippo Rheguis and Tabraca this part of Affrike florished and became so famous that the Romanes who in those dayes waxed strong had an eye to Affrike and as their maners and custome were neuer to be satisfied vntill they were lords of the whole world they beganne to be enemies to the kings of Libya and Affrike held them warres the first time for the space of twentie foure yeres with equal conquest to the Romanes It is written that in this first yeeres warre which the Romanes had with the Carthagineans that the Romanes susteined great losse and much harme specially by shipwracke The Romanes neuer waged any battell out of Italie before this time and therefore to know what power they were ableto make within the citie of Rome they mustred numbred them by the poles they found within the citie of Rome 300. thousand able souldiers to serue sauing 500. When Appius Claudius Q. Fuluius were Consuls in Rome the first battell was fought in Sicilia where the Romanes gate the victorie Appius triūphed ouer Hieron king of Sicilia ouer the Affrikanes The second and the third battel the Romanes wrought very great enterprises gate the victories against two nations of Affrica This time againe the Romanes triūphed ouer the Affricanes Hieron king of Sicilia intreated for peace and in consideration thereof gaue to the Romanes 200. talents of siluer but this peace endured not long for within fiue yeeres after the warres began the Romanes vnderstanding that the Affricanes came in heapes from Libya into Sicilia prepared an armie vnder the conduct of Cneus Cornelius and Caius Duillius then Consuls of Rome this battel was fought on the sea where Cornelius the Consul was deceiued by traine but Eutropius saith that the other Consul fought out the battel and ouercame the Affricanes he tooke 31. shippes and sunke 18. he slewe 3000. and tooke seuen thousand men prisoners This victory vpon the Sea happened better to the Romanes then they looked for Although the Carthagenians were often discomfited and ouerthrowen by the Romanes yet they escaped not free and specially vpon the sea where the Romanes sustained diuers losses and such losses as were equall to the victories which they wanne vpon the land When Lucius Scipio had wonne Corsica and Sardinia being then Consul at Rome and ledde from them with him to Rome many thousand prisoners ouer whom he triumphed by these diuers victories and triumphes which the Romanes had ouer the Libyans the Carthagenians were forced to forsake Sicilia and to returne to Affrica where the Romanes within a while transposed their warres against Hamilcar captaine of the Carthagineans to whome battell was giuen vpon the sea where Hamilcar was discomfited and constrayned to retire backe after he had lost 64. shippes This was the second victorie which the Romanes had vpō the sea ouer the Affricanes yet this time the Romanes lost two and twentie ships this battell was wonne by M. Attilius Regulus Lu. Manlius then both Consuls at Rome These captaines after they ariued farther into Affrike Clipea the chiefest city of Affrike yeelded thēselues to the Romans nowe Manlius returned to Rome with great pompe brought with him twentie seuen thousand prisoners Regulus remained still in Affrike whose worthy actes and famous victorie against the Carthagineans in the absence of his fellowe were such as hee ioyned battell with three of the best captaines of all Affrike at that time which was Asdrubal and Hamilcar Hanibals father In this victorie Regulus slue eighteene thousand of his
enemies hee tooke prisoners fiue thousand and eight Elephants and at that victorie as Eutropius sayth hee receiued vnder obeysance threescore and thirteene cities The losse was such to the Affricans that they desired peace of the Romanes which was denied by Regulus contrary to a Romanes nature which alwayes vsed al nations with great clemencie but Regulus gained nothing by this but shame and losse for the Carth◅ineans desired the ayde of the Lacedemonians which with all diligence sent a band of men with one Xantippus through whose meanes Regulus was ouercome in the next battell where the Romanes had a great ouerthrowe by the onely seueritie and too much insolencie of Regulus The Affricanes slue thirtie thousand Romanes and tooke prisoners fifteene thousand and Regulus himselfe was taken and cast into prison Thus hee that triumphed ouer Affrike with great fame and commendations lyeth nowe a captiue in a dungeon at the disposition of the Affricanes The Romanes hearing of these newes they presently sent M. Aemilius Paulus which passed ouer into Affrike with a nauie of three hundred sailes the battell was renued and fought vpon the sea with such courage of the Romanes that they sunke a hundred and foure shippes of their enemies tooke thirtie shippes and all the men within them slue and tooke prisoners besides fifteene thousand with the spoyle of Affricanes Aemilius enriched his souldiers All Affrike had beene conquered this time had not such either of warre or of peace gremio togae excusso pronounced openly publike warres to the Affricanes In the meane time the Saguntines famished yet some writers report that Saguntum endured 8. moneths siege as Plutarch and Liuie affirme The taking of this citie was a great furtherance to Hanibals enterprises The Romanes hearing of these newes deuided the prouinces betweene the two Consuls Publius Cornelius to Spaine and Titus Sempronius to Affrike and Sicilia and then the Romanes sent certaine of the noblest men of Rome to Carthage to pronounce open warre to the Carthagineans which was as brauely receiued as it was lustily offered Hanibal hearing of this preparation in Rome he left Asdrubal in Spaine and himselfe passed ouer the mountaines Pyrenei making his way where no way was as yet ouer the Alpes Eutropius reporteth that Hanibal brought with him to Italy 80. thousand footemen twentie thousand horsemen and 37. elephants Hanibal had great hope that the Ligurians and the Frenchmen would ayde him which in deede came to passe as hee expected Sempronius Gracchus conueyed his armie foorth of Sicilia Scipio in the meane time encountred with Hanibal but he was discomfited his men put to flight and Scipio himselfe returned wounded to his tents In like maner the other Consul fought with him at the riuer Trebia was ouerthrowen and escaped hardly himselfe Thus Hanibal got the victorie of both the Consuls yet it cost Hanibal the setting on for he lost many of his men and the most part of his elephants After this battel Hanibal ouercame all the countrey and did put all to fire and sworde whereupon diuers in Italy for feare yeelded themselues to Hanibal There were at that time fiue and twentie thousand Romanes slaine and the residue fled Flaminus the Consul at that very time was also slaine by Hanibal at the lake Thracimene which is in Perusia who had the charge of Sempronius place The Romans hearing of those hard newes appointed Fabius Maximus generall against Hanibal a graue wise man and of great authoritie and estimation with the people of Rome this Fabius by tracting the time and dalying brake the violence and force of Hanibal and thereby gaue him oftentimes the ouerthrow Hanibal vsed kinds of policies to draw Fabius to fight who remoued his campe frō citie to citie and from place to place with such furie and rage to see the delay of Fabius that Hanibal lost more then he wanne during the time of Fabius Of this it is written Cunctando restituit rem By this time there were two other created consuls in Rome Luc. Aemilius and Pub. Terentius Varro these succeeded Fabius but not with such good successe nor with the like fortune as Fabius had for Fabius aduertised both the consuls that they could neuer ouercome Hanibal but by prolonging to fight how be it light heads wil folow no counsel as it came to passe by the rashnesse of Varro contrary to the mind of the other consul who ioyned battell with Hanibal hard by a litle village in Apulia named Cannes where the Romanes had the greatest discomfiture that euer they had for in this battel the Affricans slew as Liui saith 40. thousand footmen and 2700. horsemen Plutarch saith that there were slaine 50. thousand footemen and 14. thousand taken prisoners Aemilius the consul slaine and to the nomber of 20. others of the order of consul and Pretors Againe in this great ouerthrow there were taken and slaine of the Senators 30. of noblemen and gentlemen 800. After that battel many cities in Italy which were before vnder the obeysance of the Romanes fell from them to Hanibal from that battell of Cannes Hanibal sent to Carthage 3. bushels ful of rings chaines which were pluckt from the necks and hands of the gentlemen Senators and souldiers of the Romans Thus Hanibal had such good successe in the beginning of his warres hauing subdued the Saguntines ouerthrowen the Romanes at the riuer Trebia slaine the consull Flaminius and the most part of his armie at the lake Thrasimene then the great slaughter and murther of the Romanes now at Cannes yet the Romans neuer quailed for al this their stout minds were such that they could not heare of peace the Romanes were neuer more valiant then when they were cōquered their courage their magnanimitie noble vertues were most seene in their aduersitie Now while Hanibal florished thus in Italy like a cōquerour his brother Asdrubal whom he left behind him in Spaine sustained a great ouerthrow by the two Scipios in which battel he lost 35. thousand men Now in the 4. yere after that Hanibal inuaded Italy Marcellus was sent against Hanibal who in truth fought with good fortune at Nola a citie of Campania and made Hanibal to forsake Nola with all his armie By this time Hanibal had gotten many cities frō the Romanes in Apulia and Calabria the fame of Hanibal was such that all the world spake of it for Philip king of Macedon sent to offer ayd to Hanibal against the Romanes the messengers were apprehended by the Romans and the whole matter knowen whereupon the Romans sent 4. generals at one time to 4. seueral places in Italy against Hanibal in Macedonia against king Philip in Spaine against Asdrubal Hanibals brother and in Sardinia against a Carthaginean captaine called also Asdrubal who was taken by Tit. Manlius the proconsul who slew besides of the Affricanes 12. thousand and tooke 1500. prisoners
now the warres were driuen out of Italy into Affrike where Syphax king of Numidia was taken Carthage spoiled and in great want and all Affrike in dispaire he was hereby bent to peace and entreated with Scipio for peace which was offred vpon these conditions that the Affricanss should pay to the Romans 500. thousand poūds But after long talke betwene Scipio and Hanibal no peace was agreed vpon insomuch that Hanibal was constrained to make his last battel this fielde was appointed to be fought where they prepared themselues to battel by the citie of Zama where Scipio had the victory In this battel Masinissa king of Numidia did valiantly this of a yong boy affected much Scipio and he was a sure friend to the Romans al his life Hanibal was welnigh taken in this battel but he escaped and left his tents behinde him where were found 20. thousand pounds of siluer and 800. thousand pounds of gold with infinit other treasures After this victory as Scipio came frō the battel he met with Vermina king Siphax sonne who at that instant brought an armie to ayd the Affricans he likewise was put to flight and followed into Carthage gate When the Carthagineans heard that Scipio was marching towards them they were much dismayed therby and sent to intreat for peace being aduertised that Hanibal was ouerthrowen and put to flight this peace was granted by Scipio vnto Carthage vpon such conditions as pleased best the conquerour Now after that Affrike was conquered no nation then was ashamed to be ouercome by the Romans for Affrike was made a prouince and as it were an open passage to encrease enlarge the empire of Rome When Scipio had broght the Affricanes subiect vnder the Romans before he departed frō Affrica he restored Masinissa to his kingdom againe adding therunto the best part of king Siphax countrey After this Scipio entred into Rome with pompe great triumph of the maner thereof I shal haue better cause to set down in the Romane history Thus was the end of the second Punick war which endured 19. yeres as Eutropius saith others affirme but 17. yeres There is an history extant in Appiā how Hanibal Scipio fought hand to hand in this battel after them how Masinissa and Hanibal fought very egerly with such bloody strokes that both were rescued twise or thrise Read Appian and Polibius of this battel We reade not of such a triumph as Scipio had though many had more shewes in plates treasures captiues prisoners as Silla Marius Pompey Caesar with others yet the cōquest of one Hanibal was such a thing all Affrike being on his side and almost all Italy as did more aduance the triumph of Scipio then all the aforesaid triumphes for during the space of 17. yeres the Romanes had more to do with one Hanibal then they had with all the kings of Asia and Europe at one time The battels of this second warre of Affrica were equall to either Alexander or Xerxes as the battel of Ticinū where Sempronius the Consul was slaine the second at the riuer Trebia where Pub. Aemilius the Consul was slaine the thirde at the lake Thrasimene where Manlius the Consul was slaine and all his armie the fourth at Cannes the fift at Sana and the sixt at Zama where Hanibal was put to flight And yet these two famous captaines had some enemies at home that enuied their glorie and great renowme It was a common saying Hanibal had in Carthage his Hanno and Scipio had in Rome his Fabius but because I shall haue occasion to speake of these two valiant captaines in diuers other places I will briefly passe to the thirde warres of Affrike which happened 52. yeres after these second warres Now what dealings fel in other countreis during the time of these 17. yeeres warres you shall reade that about the beginning of this second warre that Ptolomey Philopater king of Egypt he had warres against the Iewes spoiled Ierusalem prophaned the temple of Salomon and troubled all Iudea This very time the Rhodians waged warres against the Bizantians and the people of Creete had warres with the nations about them called the Gnosians and Litians Polibius in his fourth booke likewise sayeth that Mithridates king of Pontus had warres with the king of Sinopenses About this time the warres of Syria beganne betwene Antiochus the great king of Asia and Ptolomey Philopator king of Egypt for Hanibal fled this time from Affrike to Asia to Antiochus after he was cōquered by Scipio at Zama During these Punicke warres Hiero the king of Sicilia died which ayded the Affricanes against the Romanes in the first warres and his sonne named Hieronimus succeeded him who for his great insolencie and pride was slaine by his owne people This time the Macedonians had a great ouerthrow by the Romanes by the citie Appolonia at what time Nenius Crispus was generall for Rome Likewise Nicanor sirnamed Sicamber had the like ouerthrow by the king of Orchades During this warre Attalus king of Asia Pleuratus king of Thracia and Scerdiletus king of Illyria became in league with the Romans at what time warre was proclaimed by the Romanes against king Philip of Macedonia This time raigned in Parthia Pampatius otherwise by Iustine called Phrahartes the thirde king of Parthia Liuie doeth write that about this time a childe was borne with a Sowes head and other fabulous things in that place as an oxe to speake with mans voice The Samaritans annoyed much Iudea this time The Romanes lost more Senators Consuls noblemen and gentlemen in this second warre of Affrike then they did in conquering of Macedonia Egypt Syria and Asia And yet in ciuil warres betwene Silla and Marius I finde in Eutropius such slaughters of Consuls Praetors Aediles and Senatours as the nomber shal be set downe in the ciuill warres of Rome CHAP. III. Of the thirde and last Affricane warres betweene the Romanes and the Carthagineans which endured foure yeres of the ouerthrow of Carthage and Numantia of the ruine and last conquest of Affrica by the Romanes THe state of Affrike being by their last seconde warre weakened and almost brought to nothing by the Romanes the Affricanes were two and fiftie yeeres in recouering any strength either to defend themselues or to offend others in the meane time the Romanes very ambitious and very impatient to heare of any kingdome to flourish hauing waged warre with the Affricanes 24. yeeres the first time and 17. yeeres the second time and that out of Italy such nations and sundrie kings yea with all Affrica which is described to bee welnigh the thirde part of the world hauing I say conquered all Affrike and Libya the Romanes proclaimed warre against Philippe king of Macedonia there T. Quintus Flaminius had such good successe that peace was concluded vpon such conditions as pleased Flaminius Then had they warres against the Lacedemonians
concerning the office of the priests and 12. other cōcerning Philosophie and the discipline of Numa He commaunded in his last will that these bookes should be buried with his body at the hill called Ianiculū and so after he had liued 80. yeres and raigned 43. yeres he died who in his life time instituted these lawes 1. He instituted the kinds of priests which were called Flamines of these were 4 one to Iupiter called Flamen dialis who only should be present at sacrifice done to Iupiter two vnto Mars called Flamines Martiales these in like maner should instruct the people the maner and order of sacrifice done to Mars 3. And the fourth he appointed in the honour of Quirinus called Quirinalis Flamen to celebrate the memorie of Romulus for so Romulus was honoured and called by the name of Quirinus After this these priests were all bishops archbishops cardinals and patriarkes by the names of Flamines Protoflamines Archiflamines c. 4. Then Numa instituted another order of priesthood called Faeciales which were peace makers to pacifie quarels to entreat of peace if they could else to denounce warres for without their licence the king might not commence warre with the enemies 5. Againe he appointed another nōber of priests which were 12. named Salij that should dance leape before the sacrifice in the moneth of March apparelled with pide cassocks girded with swords about them with copper helmets on their heads with Thracian targets and short daggers in their hands 6. He augmented the nomber of soothsayers by Romulus first instituted erected a colledge of soothsayers appointing one to be chiefe called Pontifex Max. that had the auctority of hie priest was master of al the pōtifical lawes 7. He also made a lawe that no stranger might be of this sacred societie but such holy deuout and religious men as Pontifex Max. with his colledge of soothsayers should elect by diuination 8. He also appointed 4. vestal virgins which should watch and attend the holy and immortall fire with reuerence and great honor consecrated to Vesta which vsed like ceremonies as the olde women did in Athens in watching the holy lampe 9. He decreed that the targets called Ancylia should be in the custodie of the 12. priestes called Salij in like maner as the custodie of the lampe was cōmanded to the virgins 10. After this he deuided his people into diuers occupatiōs some to tillage some to one science some to another 11. He instituted certaine priestes to Berecynthia which should be gelded which were named Galli aster the name of a riuer in Phrygia where they were gelded but this was Pesinuntia as Images brought to Rome by Scipio Nasica long after Numas time to whom these ceremonies were done in memorie of Claudia who with her girdle halde the shippe where the idole of Pesinuntia was Reade of these lawes and orders more in Pomp. Laetus and in Fenestella CHAP. II. Of the gouernment lawes and orders of Rome after Numa Pompilius time vntill the ende of Tarquinius the proude the last king of Rome of their warres victories during this time ouer their neighbours about them of the enlargement of the citie of Rome and of their territories and last of the banishment of their kings AFter this Numa succeeded Tullus Hostilius borne in the towne of Medullia the thirde king of the Romanes a man of cleane contrary disposition to Numa this followed the nature of his grandfather Hostilius Tullus a deare and a sure friend of Romulus of whom by his seruice against the Sabines and others hee well deserued to be esteemed this was the first in Rome that ware a garland of oken leaues in token and proofe of his victorie against the Fidenats Such one was this Tullus more bent farre to warre then to peace readie to take any quarrell in hande to defende the citie which happened vnto him as soone as hee had entred into his kingdome for C. Cluilius chiefe gouernour of the Albanes much enuying the good successe of Rome permitted the Albanes to robbe to spoile and to waste the territories of Rome most desirous of warres against the Romans but before he could do any exploit he was found dead in his tent After him succeeded in his place Metius Suffetius which likewise vsurped folowed his predecessour Cluilius among all the iniuries against Tullus Hostilius against his faith and promise to the Romane Empire who in right of blood were kings of the Albanes and to whom they then ought by law of armes to haue payed tribute but M. Suffetius had the like end as Cluilius had Reade the whole history in Dion Halicarnassus of this king Now Tullus hauing this occasion offred to him by the Albanes he waged warres against the Veients and Fidenats and gaue them such sharpe battels that after he had conquered them triumphed ouer them he also in like sort wēt against the Albanes ouerthrew them tooke their city which was builded in Aeneas time by his sonne Ascanius named Alba longa which had florished 487. yeres brought the people captiue to Rome after much slaughter so that by the ruine and spoile of the Albanes the Romans glory increased their kingdom was enlarged for that the Latins were the first stocke of the Romanes from whence they had their first beginning and ofspring A history worth the reading is written in Halicanassaeus how Tullus king of the Romanes and Suffetius gouernour of the Albanes consented to auoyd great slaughter and much effusion of blood which should happen to both parties if their armies would enter into battel to cōmit the battel to three men chosen of either parties 3. of the Romans and 3 of the Albanes and where the victory shal happen there the other partie should yeeld The king Tullus brought into the field 3. men that were brethren the sonnes of Horatius a noble Romane Suffetius likewise broght into the field 3. brethren the sonnes of Curiatius these 3. Albane brethren were cousine germaines to the 3. Romane brethren These sixe men after they had sacrificed vnto their gods and had taken leaue of their parents friends they entred the battel and after a long doutful combate betwixt both parties the Romans conquered the Albanes and so by law of armes Alba longa their chiefe citie and all the kingdome of Albania was made subiect to the Romanes though still they rebelled and held out against the Romans many battels sundry euents of warres vntil Tul. Hostilius did fully conquer them in the 28. Olympiad at what time mount Coelius was adioyned to Rome and made habitable by the king and there Tullus the king kept his court Now as soone as the Albanes were conquered the Sabines againe waged warres against the Romans and were vāquished in the battell of Malicusa After that Tullus Hostilius had conquered Alba longa which was distant 12. miles
frō the citie of Rome then Veiena and Fidena the one 6. miles the other 18. miles distant from Rome had enlarged the citie with these confines and territories more then Romulus did he was striken with lightning that both hee his wife and all his house were burnt when he had raigned 32. yeres in the 35. Olymp. When this king raigned in Rome Zaleucus gouerned the Locresiās who for his law making law keeping is much mentioned in histories for in that law against adulterie his owne sonne first offending should haue lost both his eyes but his nobles made great intercessiō for the kings sonne the king to satisfie their requests shewing himselfe a naturall father to his sonne and a iust king to his people caused one of his sonnes eyes and another of his owne eyes to be taken out to performe the lawe which he made In the time of Tul. Hostilius Manasses king of Iuda was conuerted vnto his God and thereby restored to his kingdome when he expelled idolatry and serued God the rest of his life In Chaldea raigned Nabuchodonosor the father of the great Nabuchodonosor and in Media Phaortes the 6. king of the Medes During the time of this king in Rome raigned in Lydia Ardis their 6. king and in Macedonia Philip their 6. king also for the Medes the Macedonians the Lydians and the Romanes began their Empires within 60. yeres together Tullus Hostilius the third king appointed two Quaestors as it were two Treasurers to sease by the pole euery citizen of Rome to leauie and to keepe the same money to the vse of the citie he created also 2. Iudges which were called Duum viri these should determine causes for life and death In like sort of Ancus Martius with his lawes Tarquinius Priscus and his decrees you may reade in Pomp. Laetus and Fenestella Euen so Seruius Tullus the 6. king of Rome perceiuing that the Senators had more to doe then they could well accomplish especially in priuat causes of the citie he instituted two men called Censors to record and to write the nomber of all men in seruice to take view of such offenders within the citie and to punish crimes and offences and if any Senators should not execute iustice he should be depriued out of the Senate If any of the magistrats created by Romulus should not imitate and liue within the lawe of Romulus they should be by the Censors punished If any of the religious officers and the priests which Numa instituted should transgresse the lawe of Numa he should also by these Censors be reformed this office cōtinued 5. yeres and vpon the fift yere new Censors were made this was called Lustrū at what time althe citie was visited all faults opened vnto them and all iniuries done reformed by them as C. Fabritius being Censor remoued frō the Senate P. Cornelius Ruffinus for the expences of 10. pound more then was allowed by these Censors and so M. Cato banished C. Flaminius brother from the Senators for the fauouring of a prisoner at the request of a woman The auctoritie of those Censors were such as might reforme all things by law The old Romanes vsed to accompt their actions to nomber their yeeres euery fift yeere which they called Lustrum as the Greciās vsed to nomber the yeres by their Olympiad which the Greekes named Penterides This office of Censors continued for a time in Rome being renued euery fift yeere which was a great day in Rome and appointed by Seruius Tullus the sixt king of Rome and endured vntil Vespatian the Emperours time the last conquerour of Ierusalem 650. yeeres yet I reade not but of 75. Lustrums which is 360 yeres For Eutropius saith that both Lustrum and the Olympiad endured no longer then Sillas time But yet compted vntil Constantines time Tarquinius the proud appointed 3. men to keepe the Sibillas books after they were augmented from 3. to 10. and at last frō 10. to 15. These were chosen out aswel of the Patricians as of the vulgar people they should once a yere in the moneth of Februarie reade these bookes and after they should see the bookes safelie kept vntil Februarie againe Now after that Tullus died succeeded in Rome Anc. Martius the 4. king one in nature like vnto his grandfather Numa Pompilius and one that in the beginning of his gouernment imitated Numa in all points commanding the people to obserue the lawes and ceremonies of his grandfather thinking therby to haue the like successe of quietnes and peace commaunded Numas lawes to be written in tables and be set on postes and pillars in the market place studied diligently to keepe his people in peace thoght to liue quietly with that litle territorie that then the city of Rome gouerned But it happened otherwise for scant he had established himselfe in his kingdom whē the Latins vnder their gouernour there waged warres against the Romans and brought an army to the very towne of Medullia which they tooke and possest for 3. yeres in spite of Ancus Martius Now this king was forced to forsake Numa which liued in peace and to folow Tullus his predecessor in warres and therefore he altered his minde and gathered force together and began stoutly to answere the Latins and to giue them so many battels that he destroyed vanquished and wan their chiefe cities as Politoriū Telena Ficania and diuers others he recouered Medullia gaue diuers ouerthrowes to the Latins then straight he was much troubled with the Sabines and Fidenats the Veients and the Volscanes these people euer warred against the kings of Rome for yet Rome was not come to any greatnes But when they had quite conquered the Sabines Latines Veients Volscanes Fidenats and other nations next vnto them which oftentimes they did and they stil reuolted then the citie of Rome began to looke vnto other kingdomes but during the time of their kings their owne neighbours annoyed them most This king Ancus Martius had no rest during his whole gouernment vntill he had brought these people before spoken vnto subiection then he began to build to enlarge the city of Rome by taking mount Auentine vnto it and the hil Ianicula a large ground of 18. furlongs about ful of diuers yong trees specially laurel but by An. Martius made habitable and populous there vpon the hil Auentine a faire temple was builded vnto Diana and to this moūt Martius brought frō Telena and Politorium and other townes men and women to dwell there After this the king builded a towne fast vpō the sea shore called Hostia 6. miles frō Rome made a bridge ouer the riuer of Tiber which ranne by Rome he also builded a prison house to punish offenders diuers other monumēts which you may read in Halicarnasaeus whē he had raigned 24. yeres he died leauing behind him 2. sōnes the one an infant and
Fidenats destroyed them selues with fire the Veients were ouerthrowen and slaine by Camillus so that the deaths of these three hundred Fabians were fully reuenged These were chiefe men that reigned in Rome after the kings vntill the Decemuiri which had beene Consuls Dictators and the chiefe magistrates of Rome whose names are these 1 Lu. Iunius Brutus 2 Pub. Valerius Publicola 3 Mutius Scaeuola 4 Cai. Horatius Puluillus S Horatius Cocles 6 Titus Largius 7 Spu. Cassius 8 Mar. Coriolanus 9 Fab. Vibulanus 10 Q. Seruilius 11 And Appius Claudius from whome sprang the stocke of Claudia vntill the time of Decemuiri Nowe to speake some thing of that which was done in other coūtries about the time of the banishment of these kings Alexander the tenth king of Macedonia slue the Persians Embassadors at what time Bubaris a noble Persian and an Embassador sent vnto Macedonia maried the daughter of Amyntas and sister to Alexander and by that meanes peace was concluded betweene the Persians and the Macedonians About this time also the Persians vanquished the Ionians and tooke Miletum About the time of Tarquinius death florished Callimachus in the famous battell at Marathon and a fewe yeeres after Egypt reuoulted from Persia at what time Darius Hysdaspis thought to inuade Greece after whose death presently Xerxes his sonne sent his brother Achemenes to Egypt as his generall where he was slaine by Psammetichus his sonne king of Libya In the great warres of Xerxes in Thermopila and in Artimesia when Themistocles florished and triumphed ouer the Persians then florished in Rome Coriolanus in whose dayes the Romanes had no store of coyned money their wealth was in cattell for a mutton was then for tenne obolos the price of an oxe a hundred obolos Cimon a famous and a noble captaine of Athens subdued all Asia from Ionia vnto Pamphylia and banished from Greece all the barbarous people but within a litle while after Athens was by Mardonius taken about which time the three hundred Fabians were slaine in a battell against the Volscans This time florished in Greece Diagoras Sophocles Euripides Pindarus and Xerxes the famous painter In Rome at this time a newe Dictator was created and a muster taken within the Citie the second time Quintus Cicinatus was taken from the plough to weare the garment made for the Dictator called Toga pretexta he tooke his iourney forthwith against his enemies and putting them to flight deliuered the armie of the Romanes and besieged the hill Algidus This yeere ceased the office of the Consuls for a time and in the place of the two Consuls were chosen tenne men which should beare chiefe authoritie in the Citie and they were called Decemuiri During which office certeine noble men were sent from Rome to Athens to see the vsages of the most famous Cities of Greece and to conferre with the most learned men touching the lawes which they called the twelue tables At that time Spu. Posthumius Publius Sulpitius and Aulus Manlius three expert Romanes tooke the voyage to Athens brought the lawes of Solon with them and the lawes called the twelue tables By these lawes which they wrote themselues in brasen tables the tenne men ruled the Romanes the first yeere with the good liking of the people the seconde yeere to the hurt and preiudice of Rome and the third yeere to the great infamie and shame of the Decemuiri for when Appius Claudius one of the tenne Commissioners had defloured Virginia the onely daughter of Virginius hee beganne a commotion among the souldiers and chose to slay his daughters rather then to suffer the shame for which fact the Decemuiri were depriued of their authorities and they them selues condemned This is the seconde alteration of the state of Rome and all for women the first for the deflowring of Lucretia the kings were expelled and nowe for the like foule fact the Decemuiri were ouerthrowen by a decree had in mount Auentine after they had reigned in their full authorities three yeeres being rather tenne Tarquines or tenne tyraunts to destroy their Countrie then Iudges or Commissioners to defende and to saue their Countries I haue set downe their names to your viewe as they were put in the commission by Isidorus lib. 5. Halic lib. 10. Liui. lib. 3. and the first Decad. Appius Claudius Titus Gematius Pub. Cestius Valicanus Spurius Caius Iulius Aulus Manlius Publius Sulpitius Titus Romulus Veturius Geminius Publius Curiatius In the three hundred and fifteene yeere after Rome was built the Fidenats rebelled against the Romanes with whom the Veintines ioyned themselues to assist them at what time Tolominus reigned king ouer the Veentines These two Cities were not farre from Rome Fidena was but seuen miles and Veiena eighteene miles distant from Rome but the Fidenats Veientines and the Volscans which also tooke part against the Romanes were ouerthrowen by Marcus Aemilius then Dictator In that battell Telinus king of the Veientines was slaine the Romanes coulde neuer keepe their neighbours vnder hande though they had often subdued them for Furius Camillus when he was created Dictator he was sent vnto those vnruly people with an armie of Romanes who discomfited and vanquished them Immediatly hereupon the Frenchmen inuaded Rome and pursued the Romanes vnto the flood Allia within two miles of the Citie of Rome they besieged the Citie and wanne it and the chiefe of the Citizens fledde with Manlius vnto the Capitoll for their defence where if Camillus had not in time remoued the Frenchmens siege and yet at that time he was banished from Rome the Capitoll had beene wonne for before Camillus came the holy Geese saued the Capitoll for they ranne vp and downe for feare and bewrayed the Gaules with their noyse The terriblest and greatest victorie about one time happened nowe in Rome for after their great ouerthrowe giuen to the Romanes at the riuer Allia the Gaules laid siege presently to the Citie of Rome entred the Citie and finding no resistaunce they feared some treason marching vp to the Towne to the market place they sawe sitting there in iuory chaires with crownes garlands vpō their heads men all in purple long gownes with white staues in their handes with long white beardes who seemed to bee of such maiestie that the Gaules supposed them at the first sight to bee some goddes that sate like men to defende the Citie and were about to retire vntill they perceiued that they were men whom they with much furie slue with the sword and then raunsackt the Towne killed and spoiled and possest the whole Citie sauing Ti. Manlius who with a thousande Romanes tooke the Capitoll for their defence whom the Gaules coulde not winne in seuen moneths assault so long the Gaules had Rome in possession But to be short they were to their losse constrained to forsake Rome and were glad to take their flight by Camillus who
then though banished by the Romanes saued and rescued Rome at that time But Camillus remoued them put them to flight and pursued them with such a slaughter of them that hee recouered the golde and treasures and ensignes of warres which the French men had gotten and returned to Rome and so entred the Citie with his third triumph and was called the seconde Romulus for that hee recouered his Countrie from the enemies for in the time of his Dictatorshippe hee ouerthrewe the Phalissians Capenats the Veients tooke diuers Cities and wasted their Territories ouer whom he triumphed After this Camillus besieged the Falerians ouerthrew the Latines and the Volscans hee wanne the fielde of the Prenestines and slue the great armie of the Thuscans at Sutrium Camillus gaue diuers repulses to the Gaules and resisted stoutly the furi◅ of Brennus their king for in the time of this Camillus Rome was destroyed and quite burnt and againe built and by him afterwarde as by a seconde Romulus defended for hee was chosen Censor first hee was chosen twise Tribune of the souldiers and hee was fiue times chosen Dictator for then the Romanes had altered their gouernment from Kings to Cōsuls frō Consuls to Dictators frō Dictators to Decemuiri which Decemuiri continued not long and then againe to Consuls for in the first yeere after Rome was taken by the Gaules for in those daies they were not named French men but Gaules which is a more generall name two men were created which were called Tribunes of the souldiers in steade of the two Consuls which were of no lesse authoritie then the Consuls Howe be it the dignitie of the Tribunes endured not long for that office ceased for the people of Rome were so seditious in the time of Camillus that nothing coulde please them neither Kings Counsellers Dictators Praetors Tribunes or any other officer for now the Consuls were caused to be banished as the kings were and in their roumes were placed the tenne men called Decemuiri which continued but two yeres and out the third yeere then were placed magistrates named Tribuni Militum which gouerned 43. yeeres and then againe Consuls were placed in their authorities after Rome had bene without Consuls 45. yeres Thus the people put vp and put downe whom they list insomuch that Sex Ruf. saith that Rome was without any magistrate for foure yeeres for they stoned Posthumus the generall banished Coriolanus Camillus that such a furie reigned in the people that foure seuerall seditions grew in Rome by mutuall discord The first in Sacro Monte where the Romane people came armed in the 71. Olymp. against vsurers where at that time Menenius Agrippa an eloquent Romane appeased the furie and rage of the people with the fable betweene the belly and all members of the body by the which oration hee brought them to quietnes The second discord at Rome was in moūt Auentine 302. yeeres after the building of Rome in the time of Decemuiri whose insolencie and tyrannie were such that they forgote the destruction of their kings the arrogancie of Tarquine in rauishing of Lucretia they committed all offences iniuries full of filthy lustes without respect of lawe or conscience that Virginius seeing his daughter so oppressed by Appius Claudius slue her in the market place with his owne hand to auoide the present infamie and shame that his daughter Virginia was at hand to come vnto The third sedition at Rome on mount Ianiculū vnder Carmilius then being Tribune of the people and generall ouer them in the dāgerous seditions the cause was for the indignitie of mariages betweene the Patritiās the cōmon people which Liui at large setteth downe in his fourth booke The fourth sedition in Rome and the cause thereof was ambition desire ofhonor that the cōmonpeople would haue magistrates created ioyntly with the Patricians here grewe mutinie discord betweene the Patricians and the vulgar people this discorde fell in the seconde age of Rome called Adolescentia Romae About this time florished in Greece Pericles who succeeded Themistocles in his roume and gouerned Athens fourtie yeeres with great fame at what time hotte warres were betweene the Athenians and the Peloponesians During these broyles at Rome Xerxes the great king of Persia was slaine by Artabanus after whose death Artaxerxes surnamed the long handed did sende Esdras to Ierusalem from Babylon to repaire the Citie to builde the Temple and to reforme the common wealth of the Iewes destroyed by the Chaldeans before Cicilia was plagued by the Carthaginians and often oppressed by the common people Nowe reigned in Macedonia Perdicas the eleuenth king this time florished in Greece 1 Heraclitus 2 Empedocles and 3 Parmenides and after 4 them Aristophanes and 5 Hypocrates that famous physicion at what time also the great Philosopher 6 Soorates Platoes master kept his schoole at Athens This time reigned in Sparta Agis king of the Lacedemonians in Macedonia Archelaus their twelfth king About this time the originall of the kings of Fraunce beganne to spring in Germanie who at that time were driuen out of Scythia to the number of foure hundred eightie nine thousande first being called Neumagi secondly called Sicambri and the last time called Franci About this time the whole states of Greece were by the eares and beganne the warres of the Peloponesians which endured twentie seuen yeeres of whome Thucidides wrote a whole volume of eight bookes The Egyptians reuoulted from the Persians and rebelled vntill Darius Ochus time the eight king of Persi◅ Let vs returne to the historie of the Romanes for as soone as Camillus dyed the French men arriued and camped in Italie against whome Quintus Cicinatus being then elected Dictator was sent with an armie against the Frenchmen where Titus Manlius prouoked one of the French army to fight with him hand to hand whō he slue after he had slaine him he pluckt a chaine of gold frō his enemies necke put it about his owne necke for the which he his posteritie were called Torquati for a perpetuall memorie of that fact This was done 30. yeeres after that Camillus had expulsed the Frenchmen The like historie is written of Marcus Valerius who being chalenged by a Frenchman to a combate accepted the challenge and came readie armed vnto the fielde where a crowe lighted vpon his right arme and sate there still vntill his aduersarie came to handie gripes The crow flew and smote the Frenchman vpon the eye with his wings that he could not see to fight by meanes whereof he was slaine whereby hee was sirnamed Coruinus as Torquatus was At what time the Frenchmen were put to flight and againe by Sulpitius the Dictator they were subdued and the Thuscans likewise were the very same time vanquished by Caius Martius who then ledde prisoners with him to Rome in one triumph 7000 captiues By this
After this great victorie Manlius the Consul returned to Rome and brought 27. thousand prisoners and triumphed with great pompe and solemnitie and Attilius Regulus the other Consul remained still in Affrica who while his fellowe was in Rome ioyned battell with three great captaines of the Carthagineans at one time of whom Regulus got the victorie slew 18. thousand Affricanes tooke prisoners 5000. men and eight elephants and brought vnder obeysance of the Romans threescore and thirteene cities and at that time the Carthagineans desired peace of Regulus The inuincible courage of the Romanes was such that during the first Punicke warres which continued 22. yeeres in foure battels vpon the sea the Affricanes were quite vanquished and subdued not without great losses of the Romanes which they sustained by shipwracke and therefore the Senatours thought good to giue ouer that kinde of battell for the continuall and often damages which they sustained and specially in that battel when the Lacedemonians ayded the Affricanes at what time thirtie thousand Romanes were slaine fifteene thousande taken prisoners and their captaine Regulus taken and put in prison But this great ouerthrow of the Romanes was fully requited by Marcus Aemilius and Sergius Fuluius made Consuls for the next battell for as Eutropius affirmeth the Romans were so furious for the ouerthrow of Regulus that they prepared 300. saile to passe into Affrike In this battell Aemilius sunke 104. ships of his enemies tooke thirtie ships with all the men that fought in them slewe and tooke prisoners 15. thousand Affricanes with an exceeding great spoile with the which he enriched his souldiers At this time all Affrike had bene subdued had there not at that very time chanced so great a dearth in Affrike and yet the Consuls for all these victories suffred such shipwracke by a sudden tempest about the coast of Sicilie that of 484. ships skant eightie could be saued Many of these shipwrackes happened to the Romans which made their victories of lesse renowme but they were of such courage that nothing coulde dismay them on land nor on sea For though Publius Claudius had lost his people in an vnluckie battell by lande with no lesse euill successe by shipwracke then before you heard by sea yet with greater courage then before being more kindled to reuenge their losses and damages they prepared 400. saile well furnished for the which voyage they created Caius Luctatius and Aulus Posthumus Consuls The battell was fought ouer against Lilibeum a citie of Sicilie where the Romanes tooke 32. thousand prisoners slew thirteene thousand and sunke 125. ships Vpon this ouerthrow the Affricanes were compelled to desire peace being not able to wage warre longer with the Romans for they had lost both their chiefe captaines their ships their munitions in this onely battell and so their first warre ceased and peace proclaimed by the Romans which cōtinued 24. yeres vntil the second warres begunne by Hanibal These were the names of the Consuls and the chiefe valiant Romans that flourished then in Rome during the first Punicke warre Appius Claudius sirnamed Caudex Q. Fuluius Luc. Manlius Volso Mar. Attilius Regulus Mar. Aemilius Paulus Sergius Fuluius C. Sulpitius Paterculus Attilius Calatinus Cneus Seruilius Sepio C. Sempronius Blesus C. Furius Placidus Cn. Cornelius C. Duilius C. Aquilius Horus Lucius Cornelius Scipio C. Aurelius Cotta Pub. Seruilius Germinus Mar. Fabius Licinius Mar. Octacilius Crassus C. Luctatius Catullus Aul. Posthumius Albinus Lu. Manlius Regulus Mar. Valerius Maximus Q. Luctatius With many other noble Romanes Consuls Dictators Tribunes and other magistrates which then liued at Rome at the time of this warre CHAP. V. Of the Romane warres and of their conquest ouer Carthage Numantia and all Asia and of their diuers victories and triumphes ouer other nations during the time of this Affricane warres IN other countreys and kingdomes while this warre endured betwixt the Romanes and the Affricanes these kings raigned In Bythinia gouerned king Nicomedes who builded a great citie and named i◅ after his owne name Nicomedia In Asia and Syria raigned Antiochus sirnamed Theos the thirde king after Alexander the great died and Ptolomey Euergetes r◅igned likewise the thirde king of Egypt During this first Affricane warres the Parthians which were vassals vnder the Macedonians erected vp their kingdome ouer whom raigned as their first king one named Arsaces after whom the kings of Parthia were all named Arsaces In Macedonia this time raigned Antigonus sirnamed Gonatus whose successours continued kings in Macedonia vntil the Romanes ouercame and subdued them Alexander the great had not heard of the Romans in those dayes their fame and renowme being yet not farre knowen for they were from the first building of Rome vntill the first Punicke warres occupied in Italy where diuers stoute and valiant nations inhabited who were brought vnder the obeysance of Rome and so soone as Rome could commaunde Italy they commenced warre against the Affricanes But before when Alexander was in armes against the Persians and in armour against all the East kings the Romanes had warres in Italy at what time so many Alexanders so many Pyrrhus so many Hanibals in Rome liued then in valure and courage that both Pyrrhus and Hanibal felt of it to their losse and the ouerthrow of themselues Liuie writeth a noble historie in comparing certaine Romanes man for man to Alexander and of those that liued about the time of Alexander the great for he died about sixtie yeeres before the first Affricane warre For saith Liuie had Alexander come to Rome as conquerour then of all the East kings of the world he had found in Rome many conquerors and many Alexanders like himselfe as these vndernamed Mar. Valerius Coruinus Tit. Manlius Torquatus Caius Martius Rutilius Caius Sulpitius Lucius Papyrius Cursor M. Curius Dentatus Qu. Fabius Maximus Lucius Voluminius Qu. Publius Philo. Mar. Valerius Publicola T. Veturius Caluinus and 2. valiāt Romans callled Decis If then Alexander had made his voyage to Rome hee had found in his dayes these gallant Romanes being all Consuls or Dictato◅ and all conquerours he might well haue come to Rome like Alexander the conquerour but Liuie doubted hee should be driuen out like Darius conquered So were Pyrrhus and Hanibal who came both in Armes into Italy to conquer Rome but both driuen out of Italy and conquered for Pyrrhus at last saw it and saide Italy could not be conquered but with Ittalians neither coulde Rome be subdued but with Romanes For it was tolde him by his Orator and also his ambassadour Cineas that Rome was a citie full of kings and that euery Consul or Dictator of Rome was like king Pyrrhus himselfe in Epire Hanibal was also compelled to say after many bloodie battels and victories had ouer him and ouer his father Hamilcar that the Romanes had many Hanibals If Alexander might haue come to Rome before his time he should haue found Camillus another
Alexander before Camillus hee should haue found Coriolanus before Coriolanus hee should haue founde Publicola and euery one of these esteemed and prooued as Alexander After that the Romans had concluded peace with the Affricanes they were also at that time at rest from warre with all nations which thing happened not since the building of Rome vntill that time but once in Numna Pompilius raigne But they were not so long for when Lucius Posthumius Albinus was Consul warre was begunne betwixt the Illyrians and the Romanes ouer whome after they had taken many cities they triumphed and the Illyrians yeelded At what time the Frenchmen inuaded Italy with an armie of eight hundreth thousand but they were ouerthrowen by Aemilius the Consul and 40. thousand of the enemies slaine for the which a triumph was decreed vnto Aemilius and the like triumph was graunted vnto Marcellus who with a small troupe of horsmen slew Viridomarus the king of the Frenchmen as Eutropius saith with his owne hand and ouerthrew his armie cōquered Millaine and brought to Rome an exceeding great spoile The Istrians and the Ligurians also were within a while after subdued by the Romanes at what time Tenca Queene of the Illyrians slewe the Romane ambassadours against the lawe of Armes By this time the Carthagineans had gotten some strength and made themselues readie to reuenge the great losses and wrongs that they sustained in the first warres by the Romanes In the second warres Hanibal the sonne of Hamilcar being of the age of 20. yeeres was made generall as his father was in the first and presently with great furie beganne to lay siege to Saguntum and famished them thence he passed ouer the Alpes and brought to Italy 80. thousand footemen and 20. thousand horsemen conueyed his armie to the riuer Ticium where Pub Cornelius Scipio the Consul was discomfited and his armie slaine and scattered himselfe wounded and welnigh taken had not his sonne Scipio afterward called Affricanus rescued him Hanibal passed still forwarde with his armie and camped by the riuer Trebea where hee gaue the like ouerthrowe to Sempronius Gracchus the other Consul Thence Hanibal passed into Hetruria at what time by a great tempest he was much hindered being before wounded at the battell of Trebea and now his eye by mischaunce lost hee marched to Placentia where in a great battell hee slewe Caius Flaminius the Consul and 25. thousande souldiers Hanibal being thus heated with good successe of victories he passed vnto Apulia where he gaue the greatest ouerthrow to the Romans that euer they had in the battell at Cannes at what time Lucius Aemilius and Pub. Terentius Varro were Consuls for in this battell Aemilius the Consul was slaine and twentie other of the order of Consuls and Praetors 30. slaine and taken of the Senators infinit nomber of noble men gentlemen souldiers which I layd downe more particularly in the warres of Affrike This only battel made all Italy to quake and many cities and countreys to reuolt from the Romans as Capua Campania and other places It is written that Hanibal did at that time send to Carthage three bushels full of rings and iewels Howbeit Asdrubal which was Hanibals second brother had not the like lucke in Spaine as Hanibal had in Italy for hee lost that very time of his men thirtie and fiue thousand by the two Scipios which were then in Spaine captaines of the Romanes And within a while after both Asdrubal the seconde brother and Mago the thirde brother of Hanibal were the second time ouercome by the two Scipios againe in Spaine for at that time that Hanibal played the Lion in Italy and had taken many cities from the Romanes in Apulia and Calabria yet the Romanes in foure seuerall places at one time had foure generall lieutenants in armes 1. In Macedonia Valerius Liuius against Philip. 2. Titus Manlius Torquatus in Sardinia against the Sardinians 3. Pub. Cor. Scipio in Spaine against Asdrubal 4. In Italy against Hanibal The furie of Hanibal continued in Italy for tenne yeeres so that all Italy stoode in dispaire of themselues But when Fabius Max. was sent against Hanibal hee by detracting of time and delayes hindered the violence and rage of Hanibal and thereby finding oportunitie to set vpon Hanibal gaue him of tentimes the ouerthrowe and therefore hee was called Scutum Romanum The Romane targat onely by delayes And euen so was Marcellus for his heate and furie called Ensis Romanus and likened to Hanibal himselfe for Hanibal himselfe called Marcellus the Romane Hanibal and said further that Marcellus was neither quiet being conquerour nor conquered But while this violence of Hanibal continued in Italy in the tenth yeere after that hee inuaded Italy after many victories ouer the Romanes hee approched within foure miles of Rome and his horsemen came to the very gates of the citie At what time to encrease his fame his brother Asdrubal slewe both the Scipios in Spaine to the great discomfort of Rome who had for many yeeres bene conquerours in Spaine Hanibal might then haue easily conquered Rome if hee had set forwarde his armie for so Caesar saide afterward but hee feared the Consuls which were readie to come out of Rome to giue him battell And not without good cause for Hanibal found so many Scipios so many Fabius so many Marcellus and so many Hanibals like to himselfe that hee still stoode in awe of the Romanes for he heard that an other Scipio went to Spaine in the place of the two Scipios slaine by Asdrubal and also he heard of his victories ouer many cities and shortly after he heard of Carthage in Spaine in the which warres hee tooke Mago Hanibals brother and sent him with the residue of the prisoners to Rome This daunted the courage of Hanibal and augmented the glorie of Scipio being then of the age of twentie and foure yeeres after whose going into Spaine the fortune of Hanibal declined in Italy for Fabius Maximus recouered Tarentum and many other cities which had yeelded to Hanibal submitted themselues to Fabius Marcellus had also recouered Salopia and had taken Syracusa and many other cities in Campania and had sundrie times scattered Hanibal and his armie at Canusium for either of these two Consuls Fabius and Marcellus had bene twise Dictators and fiue times Consuls In Spaine also Pub. Scipio gaue an ouerthrowe to Asdrubal at Betula and slewe eight thousande Affricanes and Spaniards In the eleuenth yeere after that this warre beganne Marcellus that noble captaine whom Hanibal feared most was slaine at Venusia being then Consul whom Hanibal most honourablie caused to be buried in Venusia As Hanibal flourished with his victories in Italy so Scipio excelled in Spaine and had victories at will for hee discomfited the king of Spaine and atchieued great conquests About this time Hanibal sent for his brother Asdrubal to come from Spaine to
Italy who being preuented of set purpose by the way was slaine and all his armie by Appius Claudius Nero. In that time were fiftie and sixe thousande slaine and Asdrubals head brought and was throwen before the tents of Hanibal his brother Hanibal then beganne to dispaire of the successe of this warre for both in Spaine and in Affrica hee was by this meanes weakened in Italy all reuerted and slid from Hanibal Scipio subdued the Carthagineans and tooke Syphax king of Numidia prisoner who had ioyned to ayde the Affricanes against the Romanes and had also expelled by warre Masinissa out of his kingdome This great ouerthrowe in Spaine and in Affrike caused Hanibal to quake for in Italy hee beganne to be forsaken of his former fortune and in Affrike they cried out for ayde at Hanibals hand Now Hanibal perceiuing that all went to decay and being also sore wearied with continuall battels desired peace which was graunted vpon such straite and hard conditions as pleased not the Carthagineans and therefore they willed Hanibal rather to fight it out This last battell whereupon the whole state of Affrike depended was appointed to be fought at Zama But before these two great captaines should ioyne in battell Hanibal desired to speake with Scipio openly or priuately Scipio denied not the meeting of Hanibal in the sight of both the armies The speach of Hanibal tendred peace which Scipio without accepting the conditions before spoken would not allow the effect of both the speaches is written in Liuie To be short the battell at Zama ended where Scipio cōquered the Affricanes and put Hanibal to flight and then were the Affricanes to accept such conditions as Scipio offered them before for of necessitie they sought peace The conditions of peace were to restore Masinissa first to his kingdome and to returne all Romane prisoners into Italy to yeeld all their ships sauing tenne to deliuer all their elephants to the hand of the conquerour and that they should not make warre within Affrica or without without licence of the Senators of Rome and yeerely reuenues of 10. thousand talents of siluer to be payed to the Romanes This warre being finished and peace thus concluded Scipio was receiued vnto Rome with a great triumph hauing a sirname giuen him by the conquest of Affrica called Scipio Affricanus Of him and of others that serued in the second warre of Affrica of those that triumphed I meane Dictators Consuls Praetors and other Romane magistrates and captaines I haue layed downe to your viewe their names together in order as they serued in that fielde Publius Cornelius Scipio Titus Sempronius Quintus Flaminius Lucius Aemilius Paulus Marcus Attilius Regulus Publius Terentius Varro Luc. Posthumius Albinius Qu. Fabius Maximus Mar. Claudius Marcellus Mar. Valerius Leuinus Pub. Sulpitius Galba Cneus Fuluius Quintus Fuluius Flaccus Mar. Liuius Salinator Tit. Quintius Crispinus Lucius Veturius Quintus Caecilius Metellus Appius Claudius Nero. Scipio sirnamed Affricanus the son of Pub. Cor. Scipio These flourished chiefly and triumphed in the seconde warres of Affrike which endured as Eutropius saith 19. yeres but others say 17. yeeres Of this warre the Romanes waxed so strong that they soone conquered al nations and presently ensued warre in Macedonia against king Philippe for yet in Macedonia the Monarchie since the time of Alexander the great remained for the Romanes had driuen before this time that noble and valiant captaine Pyrrhus out of Italy and nowe after Pyrrhus they haue driuen out Hanibal the very scourge of Italie and whippe of Rome they haue also conquered the stoutest the valiantest nations that then reigned on the earth the Carthagineans the Libyans and the Affricanes with such terrible warres as Alexander might not compare neither in his great battels in Persia where he subdued Darius neither his warres in India where hee conquered king Porus for that Alexander made a conquest of many kingdoms without fighting as Egypt Iudea Greece with diuers other kingdomes which yeelded vnto him And so Cyrus before Alexander had the like lucke to conquer with great fame but not with such terrour and daunger of life as these Consuls of Rome But to the historie Skant had the second warres of Affrike beene ended but Embassadours came from Athens to Rome for aide against the king of Macedon the common people murmured for that they were weary with continuall warres But the whole Senate agreed with the Tribune of the people to send Titus Flaminius the sonne of him that was slaine at the battell of Thrasimen who at his first comming to Greece gaue battell to Philip hard by the hauen Epirus ouerthrew him and his armie Flaminius the Consul had a brother named Lucius Flaminius with whom ioyned Atalus king of Pergamum in Asia with certeine Rhodian souldiers who tooke Euboea and all the sea coasts Philip to become stronger ioyned in friendship with Antiochus the great king of Asia Howe be it Flaminius had such good successe in Greece that Philip was forced to entreate for peace which was graunted vpon these condicions That all the Cities of Greece within Asia and Europe should haue their owne libertie and lawes That al Romane prisoners should be deliuered to their Countrie That all their great Nauies shoulde bee deliuered to the Romanes with all their Elephants That hee should keepe no armie aboue the number of fiue hundred souldiers and that hee should commence no warre out of the Confines of Macedonia without licence and leaue of the Senate These condicions of peace were proclaimed with the sound of the trumpet through all the Cities of Greece By this time Hanibal who escaping from Scipio at the battell of Zama came to Antiochus councelled him with all meanes possible to warre vpon the Romanes being nowe so weakened by the last Affricane warre The authoritie of Hanibal moued Antiochus to take warres in hand against the Romanes for assoone as the warre in Macedonia finished and were giuen ouer by Philip the warres in Syria began by Antiochus and were executed by Hanibal But Hanibal was discomfited in battell on the sea and Antiochus himself put to flight at Magnesia a citie of Asia by Lu. Cornelius Scipio brother to Scipio Affricanus in the which battell as Eutropius saith were slaine fiftie thousande footemen and foure thousand horsemen Eumenes king of Pergamum the sōne of Attalus being as his father was alwaies a friend to the Romanes made all the power he could against Antiochus for an old grudge that Eumenes had to Antiochus To this warre of Syria came Scipio Affricanus to aide his brother Lu. being Consul then against Antiochus for Antiochus was so beset with M. Attilius Glabrio the Consul on the one side and Scipio Nasica on the other side at Thiatira by Emilius Regulus at Mionesus and by Lucius Scipio at Magnesia Nowe Nabides againe after he had submitted himselfe to Flaminius vpon
Basilides and Menander the successor of Simon Magus of whom in Ecclesiasticall historie you may reade more The fault of this Adrian was that hee enuied the glory of Traianus and was most ambitious of honor and fame otherwise he aduauntaged the common weale of Rome more then any for as I saide he was called the father of the Countrie and his wife Sabina was also called Augusta hee ordeyned lawes to the Athenians which hee himselfe pickt out of Draco and of Solons lawes hee in person traueiled all the Empire of Rome hee builded a faire Temple vnto Venus hee was very circumspect about the treasurie and when hee had reigned twentie two yeeres hee died in most miserable paines in Campania about the age of threescore offering himselfe to bee slaine to any of his deare friendes These were the chiefe men in Rome when Adrianus reigned Amilius Aelianus Lucius Verus Acilius Auiola Cornelius Pasna C. Bellicius Torquatus Catilius Seuerus Titus Aurelius Fuluius which succeeded Adri anus in the Empire Titus Appronianus Quintus Agulinus Salinator and Rusticus Att. Titianus M. Acilius Glabriotus Auius Libo Iuuentius Celsus and Neratius Marcellinus Lenas Pontianus Antoninus Ruffinus Sergius Seruianus Seruilius Hasta and Valerius Messala With many other great men which then gouerned as officers and magistrates in Rome when Adrianus raigned in whose time such earthquakes fel that Nicopolis and Caesarea 2. great townes in Palestina fell to the very grounde in the one and in the other earthquake in Macedonia a great city and the most part of Nycena lay prostrate on the ground which was rebuilded by Adrianus This time reuolted the Brytanes from the Romanes but were by Trebelius as Spartianus writeth mitigated and brought againe to subiection Titus Aurelius Fuluius succeeded Adrianus in the Empire by adoption This was also called Antoninus Pius for the great pitie and gentlenesse which he vsed towardes all men A good Emperour compared of writers to that religious king Numa Pompilius in like sort as Traianus was likened to Romulus he was beloued as a father and feared as a king He was borne in Gallia Transalpina in a citie named Nemesa which in the time of Iulius Caesar was established a Colonie of Rome The Indians Hircanians and Bactrians sent Embassadours with giftes and presents to honour him He was wont to say that he had rather saue one friende then destroy a thousand enemies The people woulde often call him by these names Lord King Emperour Iudge Patrone and father he endeuoured himselfe rather to defend then to amplifie and the Empire he assigned to the most honest men the graue the learned and the iust men to haue offices and to beare rule in the citie he aduanced good men and detested euill men and vsed no rigour nor crueltie to them Kings and captaines in his time laide aside their warres and would bring their controuersies and quarels to be decided by the Emperour Antoninus Pius he was so iust and so pitifull in all causes towards all men that therein he farre excelled all the Emperours he much honoured learned men and had in his dayes many of them in his Court with him In his time was Alexander Seuerus borne which after was Emperour of Rome During the time of his whole gouernment which was 23. yeeres and 3. moneths there was neither warres nor quarels in Rome In this time flourished many excellent men as these vnderwritten Galenus the mirrour of Phisitions Ptolomeus the great Astrologer Apolonius Basilides 2. great Philosophers and scholemaster to the Emperour Verus Nesomedes a Musition Taurus a Philospher of Platoes sect Arrianus a Philosopher in Nicomedia Maximus surnamed Tyrus likewise a great Philosopher At this time the Iewes beganne to fall into a furie to kill both the Greekes and the Romanes and to practise much tyrannie both in Egypt and Alexandria and in Palestina at what time gouerned Tinius Rufus in Iudea vnder the Romanes but they were soone pacified and quieted CHAP. IX Of the good Emperour Ma. Antoninus surnamed the Philosopher and of his sonne Comodus of the difference in their gouernment of the loue which the father had in Rome and of the hatred and contempt which the sonne had of the murther and slaughter of diuers Emperours from M. Antoninus the 17. Emperour vntil the time of Dioclesian the 38. Emperour AFter Titus Antoninus succeeded Marcus Antoninus Verus in the Empire a man of rare vertues borne of a great stocke for his descent was by the fathers side from Numa Pompilius and by his mothers side from king Salentinus This Emperor was a very learned man and he raigned ioyntly with Lucius Antoninus for in his dayes the Romanes began to haue two Emperours of equall authoritie to gouerne the common weale These two were as Eutropius saith brethren and they waged battell against the Parthians which neuer rebelled from Traianus time by whom they were conquered vntill Marcus Antoninus time But they also conquered the Parthians rounde and brought a triumph and did solemnize the same with his brother This Verus Antoninus atchieued sundrie victories he wan Seleucia a famous citie of Assyria by meanes of these noble captains Statius Priscus which subdued Armenia that then rebelled and Auidius Cassius which likewise kept Media and Babylon in subiection But as this Lucius departed from the citie Concordia he died of an issue of blood after whome againe Marcus Antoninus gouerned as Emperour more to be maruei led at for his rare vertues then to be commended for his singuler learning This professed not in outwarde shew to be a Philosopher but in liuing He was had in such admiration euen from his infancie for his graue behauiour and sober life that Adrianus purposed then he being but a childe to leaue him as his successor In philosophie he was instructed by Apollonius a Chalcedonian Philosopher and he was brought vp in the Greeke tongue by Sextus Cherronesus nephewe to Plutarch the Emperour in the Latine tongue he was brought vp with Frontus a very great Orator so that Marcus Antoninus excelled all other Emperours in all kinde of knowledge he was exceeding liberall as at his warres which he had against the Marcomenes where the Vandales the Sarmatians and al Barbarie were ready to mainteine warres against the Romanes were seene for he made open sale of his plate he solde all his apparell and solde diuers iewels and ornaments of precious stones he solde all his substance to auoyde the exactions of his subiects But the victorie which then he obtained repayed all his debtes and brought againe his plate his iewels and all other his substance home for it is written that these warres continued three yeeres and were the most terrible warres and equall to the warres of Carthage And when he had reduced Rome to a most fortunate state and had raigned to the contentation of all men 18. yeeres and had liued 61. yeeres
from the Consuls time vntill this time for the glorie of the Romanes excelled all the nations of the worlde in power and fame vntill tyrannie murther and persecution filled the streetes of Rome with blood whereby their glorie decayed and their state diminished Licinius Valerianns of whome I made mention a little before beganne his Empire in the yeere after Christes incarnation 256. who had the gouernement then of Rhoetia and Noricus being made by the souldiers Caesar soone after Augustus At what time Galienus also was created Caesar at Rome by the assent of the Senate and this was the onely occasion why so many Emperours of Rome were murthered to haue two Emperours at one time of equall authoritie to gouerne which kingdomes principality could neuer wel abide For after the authoritie of the Consuls ceased they created in the place of 2. consuls two Caesars which should gouerne ioyntly the one in the citie the other abroad These 2. Caesars practised more cōspiracy one to destroy another to haue sole gouernment ouer the empire then they vsed diligence care together to saue the empire for euery Caesar had great desire and was much ambicious howe hee might be created Augustus which was the greatest name of dignitie among the Romanes Thus the state of Rome by ambitious mens gouernement became at length to haue so many Caesars in the field as then pleased the souldiers and to haue so many Augustus in Rome as pleased the Citizens vntill the Germanes Gothes Vandales Hungarians Frenchmem with other nations might as well come with an armie into Italie and beard the Romanes in their Countrey as the Romanes might come out of Rome to commence warre any where out of Italie For nowe in the time of these two Caesars Licinius and Galienus the Germanes grewe so bolde that they entred within Italie and approched into the Citie Rauenna at what time the other Caesar Licinius was discōfited taken prisoner by Constantine at Nicomedia a city in Bythinia was slaine contrary to the oth promes which Constantiine made him yet had espoused Constantia Constantines sister Nowe the Almanes had spoyled France and inuaded Italie Greece Macedonia Pontus and all Asia were ouer runne by the Germanes and the Gothes These which were brought before by Traianus by Augustus vnder the Romane Empire are nowe by foreiners vanquished the cause was the Romanes anoied the Romanes euen as Pyrrus sayd or as Hanibal vnto Antiochus that the Romans must be conquered with Romanes which is now seene in the time of these Caesars for now the Parthians base people and seruants sometime of the Macedonians after they had gottē Mesopotamia they pretended to claime a title to Syria For nowe the strength of Romanes began to faile and their kingdomes and their teritories reuolted from them and went to wrecke For at that very time a base Frenchman called Posthumius intruded into the Romane Empire and gouerned the same by the space of tenne yeeres but he was slaine by the souldiers in a tumult by the snares of Lollianus After Posthumius a man of a meane occupation a handy craft man named Marius got the empire into his hand the next day after was slaine This time Lollianus also began another cōspiracy at what time Victorinus gouerned France who was slaine in the city Agrippa through the treason of one Acturius for that he defloured many maides matrons and gaue himselfe altogether to a filthie life See and marke the state of Rome in Lycinius Gallienus time First Posthumius his sonne were slaine by the conspiracie of Lollianus Lollianus slaine by the treason of Marius Marius also dispatched out of the way by Victorinus Victorinus killed by Acturius after whō succeeded Tetricus the Senator who in like sort as others were was by Aureolus slayne Aureolus after he had concluded peace with Gallienus and Valerianus who were both slaine at Millaine reigned alone See the murther slaughter of Emperors in Rome in those dayes for an Emperour was no sooner made but he either was killed violently or murthered secretly For Rome in those dayes was the onely Theater of tyrannie and so continued vntill a great part of the Empire was taken into Constantinople and within a while after it was fully gone into Germanie so they kept the name of an Emperour onely for a time but the dignity was decayed in Rome and beganne to flourish in other places After that time Aureolus in the 9. yere of his raigne was likewise slaine by Flauius Claudius a very good Emperour for he recouered againe many things which were gone to decay during the reigne of Licinius and Gallienus he was chosen Caesar by the souldiers created Augustus by the Senate a iust man and fitte to gouerne the weale publike he brought againe the Gothes the Macedonians and the Illyrianes vnder the Romane yoke and wanted but time onely to bring the other countreyes which were lost by his Predecessors vnder the Romanes but he died too timely when he had reigned but 19. moneths after whome succeeded Quintilius brother vnto Claudius and was nominated Emperour by the consent of the souldiers and for that he was a man of singular fobriety worthy to be compared with his brother Claudius he was by the Senate created Augustus and he continued but 17. dayes but he was slaine Eutropius saith that Flauius Claudius the Emperour had a golden Target hanged vp in the Councell house and had also in the capitoll a golden Image set vp for a perpetuall memorie of him and he appointed before he died that Aurelius Valerianus should reigne after him a stout Emperour and one that subdued the Marcomanes which then did spoile waste Millaine and the countreyes about He also subdued the Thracians the Illyrians he ouercame the Gothes and slue their captaine Cannaba beyond the riuer of Danubus After this he commenced wars in the East countreyes where Odenatus king of Palmirea had gotten many prouinces out of the Romanes hands but he was subdued and his wife Zenobia taken prisoner ouer whome Aurelianus the Emperour triumphed and after his triumphes he inuironed the citie with stronger walles he founded a Temple in Rome which he dedicated to the Sunne vpon the which Temple he bestowed an infinite deale of golde and precious stones Aurelianus after he had reigned 6. yeres he was slain through the treason of his own seruants in the mid way betwene Constantinople and Heraclea in a place called Cenophrurium but his death was not vnreuēged after that this Aurelianus was slain Rome was without an Emperor for 7. monethes vntill Annius Tacitus was elected Caesar a man of such good conuersation as was meet to gouern an empire Howbeit he deceased within 6. moneths was by death preuented as his successor Florianus who in like maner as Tacitus raigned but 2. moneths 20. daies died without any mentiō made
after a while hee returned and got his kingdome and forced Cacus to flie into Italie beeyng nowe agayne in his kingdome placed hee founde the vse of yrons and taught first the Spaniardes to make diuers kindes of weapons I finde in Manethon that Palatinus raigned eighteene yeeres in the first time before he was forced by Cacus to flie into Italie and after hee wanne his kingdome agayne after that Cacus had raigned sixe and thirtie yeeres in Spayne hee gouerned Spayne sixe yeeres This Cacus was supposed of the auncient Spaniardes to bee the sonne of Vulcan for that hee taught to make weapons for to fight in the fielde and founde the vse of yron This Cacus was borne in Celtiberia a part of Spayne two and fourtie yeeres before Hercules was borne as Manethon affirmeth hee gouerned Spayne 222. yeeres after the going of Israel out of Egypt At what time raigned in Egypt Romascs the second Larthes 22 Nowe reigned Dedalus of whom the Poets fayned that he with his sonne Icarus fledde with winges for Greece into Creete for the passing celeritie of his sayle This time Abimelech gouerned Israel who slue his seuentie brethren and was slaine himselfe after in the thirde yeere of his reigne by a woman at Thebes Aegeus King Pandeons sonne and father to Theseus reigned in Athens this time 23 Erithrus the 23. king of Spaine succeeded Palatuus and Cacies hee reigned king in Spayne 66. yeeres During which time Iair iudged Israel and after Iair Ieptha Mytreus the 27. king of the Assyrians raigned in Niniue In the eleuenth yeere of this Erithrus reigne came Euander out of Arcadia into Italie to whome Faunus the gouernour and ruler of this scattered people that dwelt about Rome called Aborigines which yet had certaine dwellinges gaue a fielde and a little hill afterwarde called Mons Auentinus where Hercules slue Cacus at what time Hercules came from Spayne into Italie before Aeneas comming 55. yeeres Theseus gouerned Athens after hee had subdued the monster Minotaurus and conquered Creete This Erithrus reigned in Spayne vntill the verie yeere that Troy was by the Greekes destroyed 24 After him succeeded Gargorus Mellicola the 24. and last king of Spayne who reigned 75. yeeres vntill the first yeere of Aeneas Syluius the fourth king of the Latins at what time the Lacedemonians and the Corinthians beganne to set vp their kingdomes for as the Troianes the Peloponesians and the Spaniardes ended their kingdomes so they at that instant beganne to flourish in their newe kingdomes for the Peloponesians after they had had sixe and twentie kings they were gouerned by Priestes called Carin The Troianes also were ouerthrowen after sixe kinges reigne and their Countrey destroyed with sworde and fire so that the remnaunt were scattered to seeke newe kingdomes and other countreyes some to Greece some to Italie and some to other places and the Spaniardes euen so after 24. Kings their kingdome was turned into prouinces and other particular gouernements Thus Spaine after it reigned vnder kings for the space of 988. yeeres is nowe become into prouinces gouerned by seuerall magistrates during which time of 988. yeres which their kings raigned yet were they not herd of in any part of the East countreys their fame grewe no further then to the Confines of Italie and to the furthest precinct of Spaine Ephorus an ancient writer affirmeth that all Spaine was taken to be but a citie named Iberia of all the East countries and I can easily beleeue it for the Romanes during the time of their seuen kings were no where spokē of but within Italie not so much as the Grecians their next neighbours made any mencion of them neither Thucidides nor Herodot late writers neuer thought of them in all their histories specially Herodot who wrote generally of all Asia In like maner the Grecians were not knowen vnto the Persians before Xerxes time for so Strabo affirmeth saying nec Graeci Persas nec Persae Graecos nouerunt nisi perparum quantum fama percepissent What fragments Manethon and others found of the antiquitie of Spaine and of their first gouernement of their kings I haue briefly noted but the time onely omitting other things of those dayes as meere fables and trifles not worth the writing CHAP. III. From the dissolution and change of the kingdome of Hispaine into Prouinces and Dominions vntill they were subdued by the Carthagineans and Africans vnder whom they were subiects vntill Scipio Africanus time at what time both Africa Carthage and Hispaine were made tributaries vnto the Romanes NOwe after the kings of Spaine had finished their kingdomes and the countrey was changed into particular prouinces and seuerall dominions which so continued vntill Spaine was subdued by the Carthagineans vnder whom they liued vntill Afrike and Carthage were conquered by the Romanes While Spaine was quietly gouerned by their kings their wisemen called Turdetani wrote their chronicles their lawes and the antiquities of their Countrey in ancient Poemes of 600. yeeres olde as they write These Turdetani were so honoured of the olde Spaniardes as Magi were of the Chaldeans Gymnosophistae Of the Indians the Druydes of the olde Gaules after called French men and as the Priestes of Isis and Serapis were esteemed in Egypt for at that time they were led by oracles as the other countreys were The Spaniardes vsed to consult with the oracles of Mnestheus not farre from the high towre of Capio which was for that purpose builded as the towre of Pharaoh was in Egypt to giue light to the Mariners vpon the Sea in winters darke nights Many good things were in Spaine in the time of their first kings which were not found afterwards vntil the Romans came for when the Romanes became lordes of Afrike and of Spaine which was the first conquest that euer the Romanes had out of Italie and the onely hardest and most dangerous victorie almost to the ruine and confusion of the Romanes as at the battell of Trebeia of Cannes of Thrasimene and of other bloodie battels seene and proued when I say they subdued Spaine they founde the countrey so fertile and so rich that both land and water yeelded plentie of all things for the Romanes found mines within twentie furlongs of new Carthage and the mines were of circuite round about foure hundred furlongs where the Romanes kept foure centurions to worke and to digge for siluer they wrought so that it was worth to the Romanes day by day fiue and twentie thousand Drachmes The Romanes were so flesht with the conquest of Africa and Spaine that they left no hill vndigged no riuer vnsounded no place vnsought insomuch that Pluto had much to doe to escape the auarice of the Romanes So Hanibal seemed to iudge of them when hee answered Antiochus the great when he shewed Hanibal the abundance of his wealth and his infinite treasures this sayeth Hanibal will please the Romanes but not suffice the Romanes But I
will returne to my Historie hauing nothing to write of them since the time of their kings vntill the first Romane warres in Affrike and in Spaine which was after their kings nine hundreth and odde yeeres During which time they liued vnder seuerall gouernement the most part of which time they liued subiect vnder the Affricanes and Carthagineans by whome Spaine was so fortified that the Carthaginians vsed Spaine for their strongest holde and their onely stay and succour against the force of the Romanes in so much that the Romanes had alwayes in Spaine during this Affrican warre some of the best and most notable Romane Captaines as their proconsuls and lieutenants to keepe Spaine in awe For from Spaine Hamilcar Asdrubal and after them Hanibal had their chiefest strength at any sudden pinch for Publius Cornelius Scipio and Cn. Cornelius Scipio two brethren were both appoynted lieutenants generall for the Romanes Pub. Scipio for the Sea and Cn. Scipio for the lande by whose great seruice and noble victories all Spaine was welnigh reuolted from the Carthagineans When the Romanes had gotten Spaine they were not long after in getting Carthage and all Affrike yet in the very yeere that Fabius Maximus and Claudius Marcellus were Consuls at Rome Mago and Asdrubal two noble Affrican Captaines gaue such diuers great ouerthrowes to the Romanes as the furthest part of Spaine which the Romanes called Vlterior Hispania forsooke the Romanes and were ready to yeelde to the Carthagineans had not Pub. Scipio at that instant ayded the Romane armie with his owne companie at what time two and twentie thousande Spaniardes and Carthagineans were slaine in two seuerall battels ten thousand taken prisoners and 36. ensignes Notwithstanding the Carthagineans passed from one towne of the Romanes to another from Illiturgum to Bigerra from Bigerra to Numidia from Numidia passed to Auringes sparing no towne of the Romanes though it were to their losse for through the valure and courage of both the Scipios being aided by king Masinissa an olde sure friend of the Romanes the Affricans and the Carthagineans were vanquished and slaine But yet had Asdrubal the sonne of Giscon an other conducting of a great armie and the other Asdrubal sonne to Amilcar and brother to Hanibal which Hanibal all this time helde warre with the Romanes within Italie had giuen diuers great ouerthrowes to the Romanes these two Asdrubals were with two great armies and Mago the noble captaine of Carthage had the guiding of the third armie The Romane Scipios being aduertised of these three great armies conducted by the three most famous captaines of Afrike deuised in like sort to giue battell to these African captaines at what time Pub. Cornelius tooke vpon him to giue battell to Mago and to Asdrubal Giscon and Cn. Scipio with the third part of the armie to set vpon the other Asdrubal Barchinus an olde captaine in Spaine but in this warre after that the Scipios had fought like noble Romanes to the last Pub. Cornelius Scipio was slaine in the seuenth yeere after hee was sent by the Senators to Spaine and 29. dayes before his brother Cn. Cornelius Scipio was slaine Eutropius affirmeth that they were rather beguiled by traine then vanquished by manhood for Asdrubal had many ouerthrowes by the Scipios in one battell he lost 25. thousande men Againe Asdrubal the second brother of Hanibal and Mago the third brother of Hanibal were both ouercome in Spaine by the Scipios of the maner and order of the warres of the Scipios in Spaine you shall reade more in the African warres Great mourning was made in Rome and in Spaine when these two Scipios were slaine for now the Romanes from time to time had no lesse care of Spaine then they had of Italie and nowe especially when these good Romane captaines were slaine they coulde not vpon the sudden finde out fitte men for Spaine some naming one man and some naming another vntill by a generall consent of the Senators of the Consuls and of the people Pub. Cornelius Scipio the yonger and sonne to that Pub. Scipio that died in Spaine being foure and twentie yeeres of age was appoynted to bee sent into Spaine to his fathers roome a man of singular rare vertues and one iudged of all the Romanes that were either in his dayes or in any time since most worthie of praise and fame For while hee liued at Rome in his youth hee woulde take nothing in hand before hee had gone into the Capitoll and there considered with great iudgement what hee had to doe This yong Scipio being sent to Spaine in the fiue hundreth fourtie and foure yeere after the building of Rome at what time M. Claudius Marcellus was made Consull the fourth time and M. Valerius Leuinus the second time lost no time but assaulted newe Carthage where the Affricans had all their golde and siluer and subdued it in one day From thence he passed forward into Betula a citie in Spaine besieged it tooke it and gaue battell to Asdrubal and ouercame him tooke Mago Hanibals brother prisoner and sent him to Rome with the residue All Spaine reuolted from Hanibal with one assent and tooke part with Scipio for hee had slaine Carthalon chiefe Captaine to Hanibal and put Asdrubal Hanibals brother to flight The fame of Scipio increased and his good successe in his affaires in Spaine was such that he recouered seuentie Cities and many Cities which earst had yeelded to Hanibal from the Romanes did nowe submit themselues to the Romanes Nowe all things prospered with the Romanes against Hanibal and his friendes in Spaine for one of his brethren named Mago was prisoner at Rome and nowe Asdrubal as he woulde haue secretly fledde from Spaine to Hanibal his brother into Italie and to flie from Scipio hee was preuented of sette purpose vpon the way by Appius Claudius Nero and M. Linus Salinator and slaine with all his armie Scipio full of prowesse and courage after this ouerthrowe of Asdrubal fought in Affrike a battell with Hanno a captaine of the Carthagineans slue him ouerthrewe his whole hoste tooke his tentes slue eleuen thousande and tooke foure thousande prisoners hee was sent for to Rome and created Consul the seconde time and after returned to Numidia and made warre with Siphax king of Numidia for that he ioyned to ayde the Affricans against the Romanes In this battell Siphax was taken and his kingdome giuen to Masinissa who in all danger followed Scipio This very time M. Portius Cato ouerthrewe a band of Spaniardes and after subdued certaine Cities in Spaine and triumphed ouer them with great pompe at Rome Nowe Iugurth being a very gallant youth was sent of Micipsa his vncle a captaine of a companie of horsemen into Spaine to associate Scipio and to ayd with him in his warre at that time against Numantia a great Citie in Spaine this Iugurth behaued him selfe so
the Saracens who was within 5. yeeres after restored to his kingdome and Sanctius slaine of his owne seruants This Alphonsus as both Blondus and Aemylius affirme plagued the Saracens tooke Toletum their chiefe Citie and restored to the people the Christian faith The kingdome of Bohemia began in the 9. yeere of Alphonsus gouernment at what time Henry the fourth reigned Emperour of Germany and Lodouicus Crassus gouerned Fraunce Alphonsus the 7. succeeded and reigned king foure yeeres Sanctius the 3. one yeere and Ferdinandus the 2. gouerned 17. yeeres Alphonsus the 8. surnamed the good reigned 50. yeeres in whose time Rogerius king of Sicilia warred vpon the emperor of Greece and tooke certeine cities at that time gaue some ouerthrowe to the Saracens but hee was spoyled by the Venetians in his returne at that time After al this succeeded Alphonsus the 9. which reigned 28. yeres Some writers omit this Polidorus calleth this Alphōsus the 8. This time Illomaniolinus king of the Saracens spoyled Spaine with fire and sword vntil the coast of Fraunce and possessed diuers Cities but all the kings of Spaine ioyned their force together and agreed with one consent to giue battel in the which the Saracens were ouerthrowen and infinite numbers slaine but Illomamolinus tooke Granata at that time Ferdinandus the 3. who succeeded Alphōsus I omit Henry the first that reigned 3. yeeres being a yong boy who playing among children brake his necke by chaunce at Palentia Then Ferdinandus finding that the Saracens were sore weakened and had lost many strong cities hee leauied an armie gaue sundry battels and forced those Saracens to flie out of the Isle Maiorica and gote their chiefe Citie and holde which was called Valentia and after obteyned many Townes and Cities of the Saracens for at this very time by Ferdinandus Spaine was almost euery where set at libertie frō the Saracens After that Ferdinandus had reigned 28. yeeres he died 1250. After whō succeeded Alphonsus the 10. of that name king Legio and Castile and reigned 23. yeeres All this time Spaine was possessed by the Saracēs who were called kings of Spaine other kings that reigned in some places of Spaine as in Castile Asturia Legio were as kings of litle prouinces and in respect of the Saracens were of small force Notwithstanding the Saracens were so beset on euery side by sundry Christian princes and so often discomfited and vanquished in many battels that now they are constrained to call their force together for Iacobus king of Arragon through the aide of other princes had obteined and got the Isles called Baleares This time reigned in Castile Sanctius the 4. who after he had reigned king of Castile and Legio 11. yeres he died After him succeeded Ferdinandus the 4. which reigned 15. yeeres who plagued the Saracens destroyed them in many places burning spoiling their holds and fortes After him folowed Alphonsus the 11. of that name who subdued conquered them at his wil he so plagued them that he tooke their only cities Alcala Bencay which is called the kings pallace slue many of the Saracens in the region of Granata where 200000. Saracens camped either to recouer their great losses which of late they had susteined or els to lose their liues together Alphōsus gaue them such a meeting that he slue of the horsemē thirtie thousand and fiftie thousand footemen the rest of the Saracens skattered fled frō the slaughter to saue thēselues but the rest cōtinued not long after Spaine nowe began to recouer her former libertie to florish which had bin so long kept vnder infidels during the time of 38. seueral kings After Alphōsus had reigned 40. yeres with happy cōquests he died Petrus the first succeeded reigned king of Castile 19. yeres whose cruelty was such that his owne brother Henry was cōstrained to flee to the king of Arragon by whose helpe he vanquished his brother the king possessed the kingdom of Castile at what time the king went with his three sōnes ouer into Aquitania frō whence he came with an army gaue battell to his brother recouered his kingdome againe Henry being thus vanquished he renued his force and cōmenced warre with Petrus in the which Petrus was slaine Henry the 2. time restored to the kingdom of Castile Ritius at large speaketh of this warre Now in Fraunce reigned Charles surnamed the wise and Charles the 4. the sonne of Iohn king of Bohemia which had bene emperor in Germany Betweene England Fraunce were great wars at this time for a litle before Edward the 3. had gotten victory by sea ouer the Frenchmen at Clusa whē the Frenchmen lost 400. ships and 30000. souldiers Henry the 2. succeeded reigned 10. yeres Ritius saith 8. some say 6. this sent aide to Charles king of Fraūce against the Englishmen betweene whō whot warres sharpe terrible battels cōtinued Then did Iohn the first succeed king in Castile reigned 11. yeres warre grew betweene this Iohn king of Castile and the king of Portingal 1378. Then succeded Iohn the 2. which reigned 47. yeres yet Functius placeth Henry 3. king of Castile after Iohn the first which reigned 16. yeres of whō reade Polidor how he established his kingdom for I may not be longin dilating histories but briefly passe ouer the names of the kings that reigned in Spaine of their wars first with the Carthagineās then with the Romās then with the Vādales the last the most dangerous wars they had with the Saracens and after the Saracens the ciuill warres they had to bring Spaine to a monarchie Nowe after Iohn the 2. had raigned 47. yeres he died during which time Sigismundus king of Hungaria was created Emperor of Germanie and Charles the seuenth raigned king of Fraunce which Fraunce at that instant was most miserably wasted and spoyled by Henrie the fift king of England who also was crowned king of Fraunce in the chiefe citie of Paris where he kept his Christmas Neither Paul Aemilius nor Arnoldus Ferronus make mention of this warre neither Tilius in his Chronicles of the kings of Fraunce seemeth to make any great matter of it but that the Frenchmen through discord ciuil dissention were ouerthrowen in a battell by Henrie the fift but they coulde speake more of Martellus for his victories against the Saracens of Faramundus of Charles the great whose greatnesse was neuer such as to be crowned king in Englande as Henrie the fift was in Paris but they want no writers to set foorth their glorie The decay of the Empire made them to flourish by meanes of the Popes who euer ayded them in any great actions and at last the Popes brought France to Rome After this succeeded in Spaine Henrie the fourth who raigned 23. yeres this time died Fla. Blondus a learned Chronographer
neighbors by whom the Romanes were put to flight with a great slaughter of Lollius souldiers In the mean time Francus when he had driuen out the Gothes from Germany after he had plagued the Gaules and had most miserably wasted and spoyled the countrey vnto the riuer Mosa as histories affirme slue 200000. Gaules which newes frighted much the Romanes In the 24. yeere of his raigne after he had concluded peace with diuers nations in Germany he made a decree that Sicambria shoulde be called Francia after the name of Francus which to this day continueth a strong and a stoute nation and the onely kingdome of the world for all commodities During which time ciuill warres waxed hoate betweene Iulius Caesar Pompeius the great which being soon extinguished both by the murthering of Pompey in Egypt and by the like murther of Caesar at Rome in the Senate after which began another new ciuil warre betweene Augustus Caesar and Marcus Antoninus which endured 12. yeeres at what time Ianus Temple was shut the third time and peace was then graunted to all nations by Augustus But the antiquitie of the name of Fraunce beginning from Francus time in the 190. Olympiade and in the beginning of the 29. Iubilee at what time Augustus Caesar subdued all Spayne and brought them vnder the Romane Empire Nowe the names before named Neumagi Marcomani Cimbri Celtae Sicambri and Samothei are now changed to be called Franci after this Francus succeeded his sonne Clogio the seconde king of Fraunce which raigned 30. yeeres a wise man and a great Astrologer a Southsayer and for skill and knowledge in many thinges he was named Magus In the fourth yeere of Clogios raigne Tiberius was sent by Augustus to Germanie with a very high hoste of Romanes who destroyed all places where they came into Clogio with an armie gaue vnto Tiberius a battell in the which Tiberius wanne no great conquest but rather losse and at that time departed from field without victorie yet the name of Fraunce was skant knowen a farre off for the newnesse and late change of the name and therefore the nations rounde about called Clogio a Germane and not a Frenchman Notwithstanding Clogio beyng growen to so great a name that he was feared as his father was before him of the verie Romanes he made his sonne named Phrisus a king and named the region where he gouerned Phrysia which at this day is called Frizeland this was made subiect to Fraunce at that very time paying yeerely tribute vnto Fraunce 260. oxen this was done by consent of all Fraunce for this Phrysus was the second sonne of Clogio Nowe Fraunce beganne to bee knowen by the name of Fraunce for Clogio hauing some ayde of the Saxons ouerthrew the Romanes armie and slue Marcus Lollius their generall in the fielde and after vanquished still the Gaules vntill hee became so mightie that hee left behinde him his second sonne king of Phrysia and his eldest sonne and heyre king of France named Herimerus who raigned after his father twelue yeres whose successe was neyther like to his father Clogio nor to his brother Phrysus who flourished in his newe kingdome and gaue diuers expulses to the Romane force insomuch that Friselande beganne to be spoken of through the prowesse and martiall feates of Phrisus their first king For Herimerus the elder brother fighting against his enemies very vnfortunately was slayne when he had raigned twelue yeres he died in the 32. yeere after Christes birth at what time gouerned in India Pontius Pilatus President to the Romane Empire About this time Herodes builded a citie in the honour of Tiberius Caesar the Emperor of Rome and named it Caesarea which was before called Turris Stratonis In the time of this Herimerus in the citie of Fidena a Theater fell downe at the play of an enterlude which the Romane Attilius builded for sword players where fiftie thousand were sore bruised maimed and slaine The fourth king of Fraunce was Marcomirus which raigned eighteene yeeres and had the like dealings within Gallia as his predecessors had In the seuenth yeere of Marcomirus raigne was Caius Caesar Caligula made Emperour in Rome Reade Tritemius of this Marcomirus and of his sonne Clodomirus who helde sharpe warre with the Romanes in Maguntia and manie sore battels within Gallia This time Guidericus king Bellinus sonne raigned king in Brytaine after whome succeeded by force of armes in Britayne Armiracus whome Claudius Caesar vanquished and triumphed ouer but let vs returne to the kings of Fraunce After Clodomirus succeeded his sonne Antenor the 2. of that name raigned 6. yeres who in the last yere of his raigne hauing occasiō to passe ouer the riuer of Mosa the bridge thereof being broken with the weight of the kinges companie hee more of his Princes were at this instant drowned threescore noble men more of Fraunce beside other Gentlemen and Captaines after whom followed Rhaterus the eldest sonne of Antenor who raigned in Fraunce 21. yeeres hee also did handle the Gaules in like sorte for before his predecessors had won that countrey which lay beyond the riuer Mosa had brought the Gaules most miserably vnder foote yet stil they held long wars and many sharpe battels with the French men vntill Faramondus time who was the first king named of Gallia which was 400. yeeres and odde After Francus time this Rhaterus after he had bestowed 21. yeeres in warres against the Gaules they renued the league which his predecessors had made with the Germanes Saxons and an other nation called the Dorings he builded a towne and named it Rhaterodamum and died This kings life and doings is set forth by Arebaldus in verse and after augmented by Hunibaldus In the second yeere of this Rhaterus raigne Nero then Emperour of Rome played his bloody tragedies against the Christians persecuted and tormented them and slue them with diuers kindes of death this time Alani a people of Scythia inuaded Media and made hauocke vnto the confines of Armenia at what time all the Philosophers and Mathematicians were banished from Rome and Italie in this kinges later time was Quintilianus brought to Rome by the Emperor Galba from Spaine After Rhaterus succeeded his sonne Richimerus which raigned 24. yeeres and had great warres both against the Gaules and against the Romanes and beyng ayded by the Germanes gaue a sharpe battell both to the Romanes and to the Gaules not farre from the citie of Basana Tritemius affirmeth that in that very yeere the Gothes had inuaded the coastes and confines of Germanie and were by this Richimerus king of Fraunce and Fernefrides kinges of the Dorings Turings and by Vidikindo king of the Saxons ouercome But in trueth the crie of Chronicles is against it and sayeth that these kinges of the Saxons and the king of Turings were long after Richimerus time but it is most
the Frenchmen and named it Francofordia and builded another Towne hard by the riuer Suenus and named it after his owne name Sunnia which is nowe called Sunda About the twelfth yeere of Farabertus king of Fraunce reigned in Britaine Lucius the sōne of Coilus who in the thirteenth yeere of his reigne as both Beda and Gildas affirme receiued the Christian faith from Eleutherius then twelfth byshop of Rome for Lucius king of Britaine sent to Rome for that purpose Embassadors with whom Eleutherius sent two bishops the one named Faganus the other Diuianus in the 239. Olympiad and in the 179. yeere after our Sauiour Christ. Tritemius and Hunibaldus two French writers at large doe handle the historie of Farabertus and therefore I will passe to Sunno his sōne who succeeded him in the kingdome reigned twentie eight yeeres This king reigned in Fraunce when Lucius Septimius Seuerus held warres in Britaine for after the death of Lucius the Barons of Britaine fel to ciuil wars at what time hee caused a trench to be cast from sea to sea along the length of 22. miles as Eutropius saith but Functius affirmeth it was in length 131. miles but here Polydor criethin his chronicle and saith that this was done 200. yeres after The next king that succeeded Sunno was Heldericus his sonne of whom Tritemius writeth much and saith that the Frenchmen before his time were not so ciuil neither in behauiour nor in clothing before Heldericus time they were rude and barbarous and at that time they had no sumptuous buildings no braue dwellings being brought to ciuill order by Hildegastus a man of great fame amongst the Frenchmen In the time of this Hildericus the kingdome of Persia beganne againe vnder Artaxerxes who slue at that time Artabanus king of the Parthians and hee was the first king in Persia since the conquest of Darius Codomanus by Alexander the great which was sixe hundred yeeres In Rome this time reigned Emperour Alexander Seuerus in whose dayes the Citie of Rome florished with wise men and learned in all knowledge This Hildericus had a sonne named Batherus who reigned eighteene yeeres at what time reigned in Rome that idle and lasciuious Emperour Gallienus hee was so carelesse of his Empire that thereby oportunitie was giuen to Batherus who euer lay in watch as his predecessours did before him to annoy the Romanes and to subdue the Gaules hee I say brought an armie of souldiers into Italie being ayded by the Germanes who beganne to thirst for the Empire of Rome which dayly fell at that time to a declining state Batherus spoyled and wasted all the Countrie of Italie with sworde and fire vntill Rauenna and hauing done much harme hee returned backe to his Countrie with great spoyle who after his returne from Italie leauied an armie of Saxons and of Germanes and passed the riuers of Rhene and Mosa and entred into Gallia where hee made great slaughter of the Gaules and subdued Gallia vnto the riuer of Sequana which is called Sene and from thence to the confines of Spaine This ouerthrowe both of the Romanes and the Gaules was in the thirteenth yeere of Batherus reigne who liued after fiue yeeres and dyed After whome succeeded Clodius the eldest sonne of Batherus he reigned king ouer the Frenchmen twentie seuen yeres during which time reigned in Rome thus many Emperors Aurelianus which reigned 6. yeeres Annius Tacitus and Florianus his brother and Aurelius Probus these foure Emperours reigned in Rome while this Clodius reigned in Fraunce For in the thirde yeere of this Clodius the Romanes being mindfull of their late iniuries by Farabertus and Batherus they sent a Romane armie into Almania where Tritemius sayth that many a Romane lost his life for at that time the Frenchmen inuaded the countrie of Gallia and subdued a great part thereof and possessed the same for the space of seuen yeeres For Gallia was the onely Countrie that the Frenchmen shotte at for all this while their Territories about the riuer of Rhene and from thence to the riuer of Mosa and had some part of Gallia gotten A little before this time reigned king of the Saxons Marbodus whose two sonnes named Antharius and Luterus were in that voyage made into Gallia in the time of Batherus this Clodius father Now this king Clodius after he had reigned twentie seuen yeeres hee dyed during which time many Countries were in an vprore as Archileus in Egypt Narseus in the East part rebelled the Quingentians molested Affrike aed Caransius detained Britaine with the sworde neglecting the charge of Maximianus the Emperour and his duetie and allegiance to the Romane state fledde to Britaine to auoide the Emperours wrath where hee was slaine by his companion Alectus after he had gouerned Britaine seuen yeres with force Alectus after hee had slaine Carausius tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Britaine 's for three yeeres vntill he againe was slaine by Asclepiadotus a Romane who gouerned the Britaines tenne yeeres peaceably After this succeeded in Fraunce Gualterus he reigned eight yeres after whom succeeded Dagobertus or as Functius sayth Degenbertus who reigned 11. yeres after him reigned his sōne Clogio two yeeres in whose time the Romanes and they of Gallia inuaded that part of Fraunce where Clogio and his auncestours did possesse and made great spoile waste of townes and people Many sharpe battels were commenced by the Romanes at what time this Clogio the 19. king of Fraunce was slaine in the field whose body being dead his owne brother Clodomirus withdrew out of the field and armed himselfe with Clogio his armour lest he might be knowen to be kild came to the field armed in all points like vnto the king his brother and was taken both of his owne souldiers and also of the Romanes Gaules to be Clogio entred into the midst of his armie encouraged them with his person māfully fighting as though he had bin a cōmon souldier whereby he kindled the hearts of the Frenchmen againe that they recouered their courage and put both the Romanes and the Gaules to flight and got the second victorie by Clodomirus though they lost the first and their king Clogio and though Clogio had two sonnes the elder called Helinus of twentie yeeres of age the yonger Richimerus of eighteene yet for that it was enacted that none should be king in Fraunce vntill hee were twentie foure yeeres of age as Tritemius affirmeth This Clodomirus their vncle and brother vnto Clogio succeeded in the gouernment of Fraunce and reigned 18. yeeres during whose reigne the Switzers called Sueni and the Dorings had such hote ciuil wars betweene them that no peace by no meanes could be had of neither parts therfore the Dorings to auoide these continuall sharpe wars offeredthis large territorie coūtrie for the which this strife grew to Clodomirus The Frenchmen
shee was a Christian who laboured much with the king her husband to become a Christian and with as great care shee dayly solicited the king to reuenge her father and vncles death The thirde warre was against the Almanes at what time he vowed if God would giue him the victorie hee would become a Christian which he performed and obtained the victory and was baptized by Remigius bishop of Rheme The fourth warre was against Alaricus king of the Gothes whom he slew in the fielde and discomfited all his armie By these foure great victories Clodoueus had brought all Gallia to be all Fraunce for during his bastards sonnes time he subdued Turingia and enlarged his countrey from the riuer of Rhein vnto the riuer Sequana Theodoricus being by his father Clodoueus sent as President to Aquitania at what time he brought diuers people by the sworde vnder his fathers subiection as Albios Rhatenes Tolasates and the people called Auerni He subdued Vastonia and other places Reade more of the warres of Clodoueus of his vowes and conuersion to the faith and of his victories in Paul Aemilius and in Tilius who after he had raigned thirtie yeeres he died and was buried in Paris Hitherto reacheth Hunibaldus historie of the antiquitie of Fraunce which he wrote and deuided into 18. bookes conteyning the history of all the kings from the first Marcomirus which came from Scythia vntill the time of Clodoueus death which were 47. kings which raigned by sundry names for the space of 950. yeeres While this Clodoueus raigned the Saracens inuaded Phoenicia Syria and Thracia and did great harme This time raigned in Persia Lambases whom Procopius named Blasen and about this time Anastatius the Emperour builded a most strong citie in Mesopotamia and named it after his owne name Anastasia and walled the citie of Theodocia in Armenia which the Emperour Theodosius had builded In the time of this Clodoueus Arthur raigned in Britaine who did much annoy the Saxons and had if he had long liued restored the Britaines againe to their former libertie But to returne to the successors of Clodoueus who left behinde him foure sonnes Theodoricus Clodomirus Childebertus and Lotharius amongst whom the kingdome of Fraunce was deuided the whole kingdome made a Tetrarchia and so in processe of time the whole kingdome fell to Childebertus hand frō whom the lines of the kings of Fraunce descende vntill Hildericus though some say it doth descend from Lotharius yet raigned these 4. brethren in seueral Prouinces of Fraunce as foure Tetrarches for a time During which time reade Procopius and Paul Aemilius and see the euents of fortune the vncertaintie of states and change of earthly dignitie and how Theodoricus and Clodomirus two of the brethren with all their children died then Childebertus deuided the whole kingdome betweene him and his brother Clotarius In the meane season let vs see what was done in other countreys for while these foure brethren gouerned Fraunce Rome was taken being besieged by the Gothes and destroyed and left desolate by Totila king of the Gothes he also vanquished the Brutians and the Lucans hee tooke Apulia and Calabria and besieged Placentia This warre of the Gothes cōtinued 18. yeeres during which warre raigned 3. kings ouer the Gothes the first Vitiges who destroyed Rome in his time but reedified and builded againe by Belisarius the second king Alaricus who was slaine within few moneths so that the most time of this 18. yeeres were continued vnder Totila who plagued so sore Italy and Rome that after that time Rome was so decayed and possessed with strangers that sooner you should finde in Italy a Germane then a Romane and in Rome it selfe tenne Vandols tenne Gothes or tenne Longobards for one citizen in so much that they were not able to appoint a Consul to gouerne them who had gouerned them for the space of 447. yeres so long the Consuls of Rome gouerned the citie which was vntill the Emperours time and then they gouerned the whole worlde But now not onely the dignitie of Consuls was lost which were of long time languishing and decaying since ciuil warres betwene themselues with persecution of the godly and tyrannie of the wicked Emperors but the name it selfe vtterly perished and quite abolished by those nations of Germanie who were scant knowen in Augustus Caesars time and therefore valeat Roma cum Papa who entred into Rome and tooke possession thereof within 40. yeeres of Clotarius gouernment At what time he erected vp his Papacie in Rome when Mahomet aduaunced vp the kingdome of the Saracens The Pope beganne his Papacie in Rome 14. yeres before Mahomet beganne his kingdome ouer the Saracens in Arabia Nowe a Pope for an Emperour gouerned Rome a prophet for a king raigned in Arabia of whome I spake in the historie of the Church and in the historie of the Saracens And now I will make mention of Iustinianus who gouerned then as Emperour vnder whome Bellisarius annoyed Italy subdued Siracusa and tooke Catina and in the last yeere of his Consulship subdued Sicilia After that he passed into Affrica and deliuered Carthage from the siege of Stoze and appointed one Salomon gouernour ouer the towne This Bellisarius prooued so excellent a captaine vnder Iustinianus the Emperor that he aduanced the name of the empire through his victories gotten in diuers battels that some write that Bellisarius had a triumph graunted him at Rome appointed by the Emp. Iustinian much is writtē of this Bellisarius in the wars called Persicum which Iustinianus begā but Bellisarius ended This Bellisarius toke Catina Siracusa and subdued al Sicilie Rauenna Naples and was made generall vnder Iustinian in the East empire where he merited the name of a good souldier Iustinianus made the 4. bookes of the Institutes and other 50. bookes of ciuill lawe called the Pandects which Tribonianus ended and brought to perfection This time Cosroes king of Persia inuaded Cilicia and Syria he tooke Antiochia and now againe the fourth time after he had concluded peace with Iustinianus he inuaded the territories of the Romanes but he was now driuen thence by Bellisarius at what time Arethus king of the Saracens came and yeelded to Iustinianus both his kingdome and his children Totila king of the Gothes this time gaue an ouerthrow to Demetrius vpon the sea and tooke Neapolis During these 45. yeres Hunni inuaded Europe spoyled and wasted into Bizantium which is Constantinople in Britaine died Arthur the sonne of Vter Pendragon after whome succeeded Constantius a wicked lewde Prince about which time Narses a Persian with a great armie entred into Italie vanquished the Gothes at Tagira and againe the Gothes ouerthrowen by Narses at Necerium and at last driuen out of Italie and their king Totila slayne Thus farre Procopius writeth of the warres of the Gothes Nowe to Clotharius which raigned in Fraunce 5. yeeres after the death
against Israel Debora and Barac ouerthrew him Functius and Râ—…fin Gedeon Iosephus lib. 5. cap. 7. Othoniel Shamgar Barac and Debora The great misery of Israel Iudg 7. Oreb and Zeeb 2. princes of Madianites slaine Euristheus Diuers names of Troy Dardania Troiae Ilion Zeneph de equiuecis The tyrannie of Abimalec Iotham escapeth Miletum buylded Tyre is builed Thola Iudge in Israel Hercules borne Iair the 8. Iudge of Israel Iairs 30. sonnes Iairs 30. sonnes possessed 30. Cities Israel oppressed 1. Reg. cap. 10. Ieptha is appointed their captayne Ieptha ruled 6. yeeres and died Minotaurus Androgeus sonne to Minoes king of Creete slaine Theseus sayled to Creete Minotaurus slayne The games of Olympia Theseus rauished Helen Iustin. lib. 2. Abesan supposed to be Boaz the husband of Ruth Iudic. 10. Elon Abdon Herodot lib. 2. Diodo lib. 2. The second rauishment of Helen Eusebius Samson 20. yeeres Elie 40. yeeres Orestes slewe Pirrhus Heraclides Mycena The vilenesse of the Iewes Their crie for a prophet and for a king Samuel anointed Saul Saul was chosen king of Israel Saul spared Agag and was reprooued by Samuel 50000. Bethshemites slain forlooking into the Arke of the Lord. Samuel hewed Agag The first anointing of Dauid king of Israel Debâ—…ra Dauid sent for by Saul Goliah Dauid slue the great Giant Goliah Sauls enuie to Dauid Samuel died at Rama in his own City 1. Sam. 2. 8. Saul killed himselfe iu Gilboa 1. Sam. 31. 2890 The triumph of the Philistines ouer Saul Dauid the last time after Sauls death anointed king ouer all Israel 2. Sam. cap. 5. A battaile betweene Abner the chiefe captaine of Saul and Ioab the chiefe captaine of Dauid Ioab killeth Abner 2. Sam. cap. 3. The Moabites and the Philistines are ouerthrown by Dauid and are tributaries to Israel 2. Sam. cap. 8. 2 Sam. 11. 12. Ioab was sisters sonne to Dauid Nathan the Prophet sent to accuse Dauid of adultery and murther Aâ—…hitophels councell Absalon killed Foure battels with the Philistines Ioab nombred all Israel by the commandement of Dauid 2. Sam. 24. Troubles in Israel againe Gad the prophet sent to Dauid Dauids counsell to Salomon Dauid dieth The kings of Athens ended Salomons raigne Adoniah Salomons elder brother aspired to the kingdome Salomons sentence vpon Adoniah Adoniah slaine Ioab slayne Abiathar the priest banished The office of the high Priest was taken from Elies house Salomon maried the daughter of Pharaoh Salomon florished Salomon wrote 3000. prouerbs and parables He wrote of trees from the highest to the lowest Ioseph lib. 8. cap. 2. 1. Reg. cap. 4. 40000. horses 2. Cron. 9. The hospitalitic of Salomon The building of the Temple 1. Reg. cap. 7. The Lord appeared to Salomon the second time Saba Salomon had 300. wiues 700. concubines Salomon an Idolater Salomon died What kings raigned in other countreis Salomon began his kingdome in the yere of the world 2930. Roboham despised counsel Ieroboam sent for into Egypt Ioseph lib. 8. cap. 3. Idolatry in Dan and Bethel The people of Israel deuided Roboham had 18. wiues 60. concubines Susack came vp against Ierusalem Susacks armie The first time that Ierusalem was taken by Susack Roboham died Abia moned wars against Ieroboam The greatest battaile that euer was in field and the greatest slaughter 〈◊〉 Cron. cap. 13. Ieroboam died Nadab the 2. king of Israel Asa the sixt king of Iuda Warres betweene Israel and Iuda 2. Cron. cap. 15. The praise of a good king Zareus king of the Aethiopians great armie Asa his victory Eutrop. lâ—…b 1. Nepher king of Egypt Iericho reedified Nadab slaine by Baasha Ela slaine by Zimri Zimri burned himselfe Ioseph liâ—… 8. cap. 9. Omri buylded Samaria Omri dyed Achab his sonne succeeded him Melancthon Chron. 2. Asa king of Iuda dyed Iosaphat a good king Menander in his Chronicles of the kings of Tyre The Rauens fed Elias The famine of Samaria 400. false prophets slaine Wicked Iezebel 1. Reg. cap. 22. Ioseph lib. 8. cap. 8. Achab slaine and is buried in Samaria The peace and quietnes in Iosaphats dayes Ammonites Moabites Idumeans by Iosaphat ouerthrowne Ioram succeeded Iosaphat his father Edom rebelled against Iuda The Philistines were stirred vp against Ioram Idolatry rewarded Ioram fought against Hazael king of Siria Iehu slue Hazael Iehu brake Iezabels necke Ochosias liued but one yere Athalia a cruel Queene Athalia destroyed all the kings seede only Iâ—…as saued 2 Cron. 23. 2. The stocke of Salomon perished False Prophets nouri shed priests to maintaine Idolatrie in Iuda Ioas began to roote out Idolatrie Ioas wanted good counsell and therefore followed flatterers Ioas killed Zachary the sonne of Iehoiada The king of Aram came with a small company against Ioas Iuda and Ierusalem Elizeus the Prophet died Persusennis Cheopes kings in Egypt Mezades Tiber first cal Albula Carthage buylded Amazias king of Iuda He reuenged his fathers death He ouer commeth the Edomites He committeth Idolatrie Amazias slaine by conspiracy Sardanapalus Vzias 2. Cron. cap. 26. Vzias leprosie Esai prophecied Kittims the Romans Manahem Pekahiah Ioatham king of Iuda The Olympiads began Ezechias and Romulus borne 2. Reg. 16. 3215 Hosea the last king of Israel Samaria taken 212. after it was builded by Omri Israel caried to Babylon 262. Sinne the cause of Gods wrath Ezechias Senaherib laid siege to Hierusalem 185. thousand slaine of the Assyrians by the Angel Sanacharib slaine by his sonnes before his Idoll in the temple 2. Cron. cap. 30. Ezechias Passeouer Ezechias died Manasses succeeded him Manasses Idolatrie Manasses againe restored to his kingdome Amon king of Iudah Iosias king of Iudah Iaddo the Prophet Chemarims Baals priests 2. Reg. 23. Ashtaroth Chemosh and Milcom Sanheâ—…rin Silo. Ieremie began to prophecie the 13. of Iosias Media Lidia and Rome welnigh oâ—… one continuance Beroald lib 3. Herodot lib. 4. Iosias slaine Ioachim brought captiue to Babylon Necho slaine by the king of Chaldea Iere. 36. Ioseph lib. 10. c. 8. 9. Some varie about the time of the captiuitie 21. Kings of Israel Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 12. The first wonder The 2. wonder The 3. wonder The 4. wonder The 5. wonder The 6. wonder The 7. wonder The 8. wonder The misery of the Iewes Euilmerodach The captiuity of Babylon The Chaldeans and the Assyrians The Medes and Persians The Macedonians and Grecians The fourth beast the Romans 〈◊〉 weekes The kings of Iuda and the kings of Rome ended almost about one time The first returne of the Iewes in Cyrus time Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 3. Ecbatana the chiefe citie of the Medes Esdras cap. 6. Zorobabel Melancthon lib. 2. Chron. Hircanus 2. the last of 15. gouernours Herodot lib. 4. Cambyses went against the Getes Herodot 6. Thucidides 1. Iustin. lib. 2. Ioseph lib. 11. cap. 7. Alexander the great Tribute to Alexander The solemne receiuing of Alexander the great vnto Ierusalem The reuerence of Alexander to the high Priest The benefits and good turnes of Alexander Alexanders benefits The succession of
THE CONSENT OF TIME DISCIPHERING the errors of the Grecians in their Olympiads the vncertaine computation of the Romanes in their Penteterydes and building of Rome of the Persians in their accompt of Cyrus and of the vanities of the Gentiles in fables of antiquities disagreeing with the Hebrewes and with the Sacred Histories in consent of time Wherein is also set downe the beginning continuance succession and ouerthrowes of kings kingdomes States and gouernments BY LODOVVIK LLOID Esquire PROVERB 24. Vir sapiens est fortis vir doctus robustus ¶ Imprinted at London by GEORGE BISHOP and RALPH NEVVBERIE Anno 1590. TO THE MOST REVErend IOHN Archbishop of CANTERBVRIE Primate and Metropliotane of all England and of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell I Am bold most reuerend to dedicate the fruits of this my trauaile such as they be vnto your Grace who can and will defend my rash attempt in so great a cause and yet not so great an enterprise of me to accuse errours as is necessary to your Grace to defend al writers in the prouing therof I haue presumed to write of the Consent of time a charge wherein I confesse my selfe farre inferiour to those that haue herein much erred Howbeit I am the bolder encouraged by the assurance of my warrant which I take from the Sacred Histories the Centre and grounde of all beginnings and the onely proofe of all antiquities without which sayeth Eusebius no Historie can bee true For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The errours are infinite in the computation of Rome of the time of Cyrus of the destruction of Troy and specially in the accompts of the Olympiads which made all Greeke and Latine writers to go farre amisse and to faile in consent of time very much sometime twentie or thirtie Olympiads sometime more sometime lesse the deceiptfulnes thereof not onely holy Histories haue confounded but whole successions of liues haue disproued for the Greekes saith Iosephus Nō tam studio notitiaveritatis quà m suis opinionibus multa prodidere falsa And therefore Thucydides vsed rather to accompt the time by the Peloponesian warre per aestates hyemes then by the Olympiads Seeing then right reuerend that prophane writers are thus wrapped in errors by missing the true warrant of time I tooke this my best course to prooue consent of histories by succession of Patriarkes by continuance of Iudges and by the gouernment of kings euen from the creation of man vnto the deluge from the deluge to the promise made to Abraham frō the promise to the Law giuen to Moses from the Law giuen to the building of the Temple from the Temple to the captiuitie and from the captiuitie to the MESSIAS truely prooued by Moses and by the Chronicles of the kings and last by Daniel who made a perfect abstract for all Chronographers VVherein he doeth instruct all writers how to finde the order and time of histories for the three last Monarchies whose Methode I followe as much as my simple capacitie suffered me alleaging such authorities as wrote best of euery Countrey endeuouring to auoyde the name of the Olympiads as the enemie of trueth and time Thus I yeelde your Grace mine accompt of my proceeding for Consent of time most humbly beseeching your L. to accept herein my good will as one that is to my small abilitie desirous to amend things amisse Your Graces most humbly to vse LODOVV LLOYD TO THE READER I Thinke my labour well bestowed my rewarde sufficient if my trauaile and good will be herein of the reader accepted I accuse my selfe of some rashnesse to wade into those strong streames that haue caried the best learned to a labirinth of errors who in seeking consent of time by vncerteine computations of the Gentiles haue missed the square and perfect frame of the Prophets the streight and perfect line from Adam vnto Christ without the which all prophane writers most grosly erre for can any true accompt of time be made by the Romanes computation either from the building of their Citie which was from yeere to yeere or by the censure of Lustrum which the Grecians call Penteterides which was from fiue yeere to fiue yeere or by the computation of their Indictions which was from fifteene yeere to fifteene yeere when neither the time of the building of Rome or of appointing of Lustrum or of the instituting of the indictions are not yet knowen or agreed vpon In like maner the olde Grecians from the time of Ninus from the destruction of Troy and last from the Olympiads so erred and became so fabulous in histories and since frō their Olympiads that Greece it selfe is called Grecia mendax for the Olympiads is the generall cause of all errors euen in the best learned for Xenophon who florished in the chiefe time of the Olympiads yet fallax in his accusatur The like grosse error is in the computation of the Persians of the time of Cyrus To speake of the Egyptians accompt from the one flowing of Nilus vnto another from one Dynastia vnto another during which time they say 340. kings reigned from the first Pharao called Amasis vnto the last Amasis named also Pharao farre from any true consent of time it were superfluous by this meanes Hellanicus accused Acusilaus Acusilaus Ephorus Ephorus Timaeus Timaeus Herodot and Herodot accused Hesiodus In briefe one so accused another that all erred in consent of time and that by reason of their false cōputation without looking to the succession of the Patriarches continuances of Iudges reignes of kings and without respect of the Iubilees which the Hebrues so obserued that they coulde not erre which if Plinie Halicarnassaeus Polybius Diodorus and the rest had obserued they had not so disagreed in a hundred two hundred three hundred foure hundred yeeres more or lesse from the sacred histories Had they looked to the histories of the Hebrewes they had found howe to auoide many inconueniences for prophane writers of the Assyrian Chaldean Egyptian and Persian histories can not but erre for that they wrote long after the time of these kingdomes I haue therefore for the more assurance of sound warrant answered the time with the historie of the Church and haue withall followed the best authorities both in sacred and in prophane histories as farre as my simple iudgement can reache Lodowik Lloid ¶ A briefe Table contayning the Arguments of the histories of this Booke with the authorities of euery Historie therunto annexed THE HEBREVVES OF the creation of the world and of the continuance of the first age therein from Adam vnto Noah Fol. 1. Of the most auncient and true historie of the Hebrewes after called Israel of their lawes and originall gouernment called Oligarchia from Abraham to whome the promise was made vnto Moses to whom the lawe was giuen 17. Of the birth of Moses of his fauour with God of his gouernment ouer Israel for 40. yeres in the wildernesse and deliuerance
Prophets but most of all in dignitie and honour for that lineally from Sem which first builded Hierusalem the Messias and Sauiour of the world according to the flesh descended though the historie taketh no beginning but frō the calling of Abraham out of Chaldea into the land of Canaan so called first after the land of Israel thirdly of Iudea fourthly last called after Christ our Sauiours death The holy land or the land of Palestina the inhabitants thereof were called accordingly Cananites Hebrewes Israelites Iewes of whom either to speake or to write of their lawes their Iudges their Kings or of their ceremonies or of their common wealth it was not lawfull neither for the Graecians nor for the Romanes and so affirmed by Iosephus that Demetrius Phalerius did auere before Philodelphus king of Alexandria that the Greekes nor the Latinists might translate handle or so much as to presume to write of any Hebrew historie being but prophane men as Theopompus Theodecta with others which were made blind by their arrogancie and became mad An other cause doeth Eusebius alleage that neither Greekes nor Latines were in time to write of the Hebrues histories for the greatest brag of the Greekes as Iosephus saieth and the most ancient historie of the Graecians is Homers worke they began to flourish in the time of Cyrus after that the Assyrians the Chaldeans and the Egyptians and many other kingdoms of the East were decaied and their empires lost at which time the temple in Ierusalem was by Cyrus permitted to be reedified 80. yeeres before the last permission by Artaxerxes surnamed Longimanus for Plato of whom Numenius the Pithagorean doth report is called of him Moses Attica lingua loquens euen that learned Philosopher doth confesse that the Graecians had their knowledge frō the Chaldeans and from the Egyptians and began to be famous and great after these great kingdomes were destroyed The seuen Sages were the first wise men knowen or commended in Greece which was in Cyrus time at what time Solon liued 200. yeres before Plato which was the infancie of Greece and the first schoole of their Philosophie Now the Hebrewes being the most auncientest people euen from Hebers birth vntill Christes death which was after Christes death 2000. yeeres odde they inhabited the land called Syria called likewise Phoenicia and now in latter yeeres called Iudea of this countrey doeth Iosephus write at large both of the nature of the people and of the goodnesse of the soile Hecateus the Abederit a good Philosopher and a great writer flourishing in the time of Alexander the great made a booke in describing and commending of Iudaea I wil them to read the 16. booke of Strabo that would know the situation of Iudea where the Reader shall be satisfied with the ful description of Iudea Iosephus a Iew borne being taken prisoner by Vespasian the Emperor at the last destructiō of Ierusalem at the which time he wrote a great volume containing 20. bookes of the antiquities of the Iewes he wrote other 7. bookes of the warres of the Iewes a man of great industrie learned in the Hebrew and Greeke tongue and very expert in the Iewish histories saieth that Egyptians were enuious to the children of Israel for so were they called after Iacobs time which by long wrastling with the Angel of the Lord was named Israel for first they were called Hebrewes from Hebers time vntil Iacob which was 478. yeeres and odde secondarily Israel from Iacob vntill the destruction of Samaria at what time ten tribes of Israel were by Salmanassar king of Assyria Senacheribs father brought captiue vnto Assyria in the time of Osea the last king of Israel 1026. yeeres as Bucholcerus affirmeth and from the destruction of Samaria vntill the last destruction of Ierusalem by Titus Vespasian they were called Iewes 786. yeeres Now the malice of Egypt towards Israel was such that they kept them in bondage 430. yeeres and euer after they were by God deliuered they still wrought euil against them and persecuted them with continuall hatred disliking their religion abhorring their ceremonies disdaining and much enuying the felicitie of the Iewes with the which the God of Israel by power and great miracles did aduance them to the abolishing of idolatrie and contemning of their false gods which the Egyptians the Chaldeans the Assyrians did adore and therfore the blessing of God was according to the promise vpon the Hebrewes first afterwards called Israel Iewes and continued frō Abraham to whom the promise was made vntill the time of the Messias the full accomplishment of the promise So these people bathed in blisse and being but a litle countrey few people from Dan to Berseba and of no estimation became by Gods fauour strong mightie conquerors of the greatest kings of the world So he said the Lord of all out of Sion shall my Law proceed and from Ierusalem my word This litle citie of Ierusalem chosen of God to be his seate though often for sinne destroyed and the people plagued yet still comforted to the stay of Gods Church It is written that Dauid the second king of Israel gaue these words to Salomon his sonne before he died Behold Praeparaui impensas domus Domini auritalenta centum millia argenti mille millia talentûm And againe it is writtē in the Chronicles that gold and siluer were as plentie in Ierusalem as stones in the street in the time of Salomō for there was in the temple of Salomon as Budaeus noteth 27. millions in ready coyne This made other kingdomes to enuie the prosperitie of the Hebrewes for by iust account of Budaeus there was left before vnto Salomon by Dauid his father ten times more treasures and substance in Ierusalem then Darius the great king of Persia left vnto Alexander the great in Babylon when he conquered it this was the promise which God performed to Abraham and to his seed for euer This godly Patriarch to whom the promise was made was 50. yeeres of age when Noah died 40. yeeres before Sodome and Gomorrha were destroied At 75. yeeres was Abraham called from Vr a towne of Chaldea in the last yeeres of Ninus the first king of the Assyrians Now while Abraham obeied God from time to time from place to place exercising himselfe in the obedience of GOD famine grew in the land of Canaan so that he with few Hebrewes were forced to flee into Egypt where hee continued three yeeres at what time he taught them knowledge of the starres read Astronomie and taught in Egypt Artes and Sciences as Iosephus saieth for Abraham was brought vp in Astrologie with the Chaldeans where hee dwelt with his father Thare in Vr and from whence the Egyptians had their learning and knowledge for Egypt was as yet scant in the world knowen where some of the Hebrewes staied after Abrahams departure and multiplied in
by Ioab to Dauid After this Dauid had foure great battels with the Philistines slew them and subdued them vnto the last Thus was Dauid deliuered by God from all daungers tyrannie and treason and saued from Saul Absalon and many others When Dauid had gotten by the sword peace and quietnesse and brought all nations subiect vnto him hee tooke his rest and thanked God in Psalmes Hymnes Odes Verses which Dauid sang vnto God in praise of victories which God gaue him But yet more troubles came on Dauid The Lord so suffered Satan to tempt him that Dauid commaunded Ioab to number all Israel and Iuda from Dan to Beersheba which Ioab did the people were in number of able fighting men 1100000. Gods wrath was kindled against Israel so that much it offended God that Dauid should trust in mē sithence onely God had oftentimes deliuered him and the Lord sent Gad Dauids seer with three things to take his choise Pestilence Famine or Warre Dauid chose rather to fal to Gods mercy then to trust to man Then fell pestilence in Israel from the one side of the countrey to the other and there died 70000. men Now after this Dauid waxed old and hee caused Salomon his sonne to bee annointed king before he died whom hee charged to walke before God vprightly exhorting him to serue God to vse iustice and iudgement in Israel Dauid commanded Salomon his sonne to kill Ioab for his murthering of Abner and Amasa and to take the like punishment of Semei which railed cursed me when saith he I was at the worst Dauid left to his sonne more welth in Israel to build a temple to the Lorde then Alexander the great had in Babylon by the conquest of Darius for Iosephus doth write that Hircanus the high priest a 1000. odde yeeres after Dauids death opened the graue of Dauid and brought 3000. talents to satisfie the rage of Antiochus Demetrius sonne who laying siege to Ierusalem was contēted to returne with some of these talents without any harme done And Dauid died being 70. yeres of age after he had bene 40. yeeres king of Israel seuen in Hebron and 33. in Ierusalem Dauid died 803. yeres after the death of Abrahā after the death of Adam 2000. after the birth of Christ 1070. During this time of Dauid raigned in Assyria Eupales the 32 king in Lacedemonia Argis the second king of the Lacedemonians Now failed the state of kings in Athens and there began a new forme of common wealth gouerned by Iudges which now began by Codrus sonne named Medon after whose name they were named afterward Medontidae for a while Latinus Sylaius raigned the 6. king ouer the Latines in Corinth raigned Ixeon the second king of Corinth About Dauids time there was builded in Asia a citie called Magnesia and another in Italie called Misene now called Cuma Salomon the sonne of Dauid the third king of Israel of the tribe of Iuda a man endued with singular wisdome in great fauour with God as soone as he had sit on his fathers throne he remembred the words of Dauid and with care and zeale he followed his fathers steps in seeking to please the Lord Notwithstanding the Israelites being froward and stubborne euer reuolting from their GOD were alwayes forgetfull of Gods benefites as after the death of Dauid fell out for in Dauids time Israel flourished and all things prospered in Iuda But scant had Salomon bene annointed king but Adoniah Salomons brother aspired to the kingdome secretly and subtillie seeking the good will of Bethsheba Salomons mother and by her meanes to haue Abishag which Dauid his father loued tenderly to wife But his craft was found out and his pretensed treason spied by Nathan the prophet and by Salomon himselfe who perceiuing that Adoniah was the elder brother and had Abiathar the priest on his side and Ioab who tooke Adoniahs part when he would haue vsurped the kingdome Salomon hereby was mooued to make sure waies and remembring his fathers charge before he died concerning Ioab and Semei he executed iustice first vpon Adoniah afterward commaunded Benaiah to fall vpon Ioab for the murthering of Abner Sauls chiefe captaine and Amasah a nigh kinseman of Dauid who enuying their fauour credite with the king slew them and was now iustly punished for sheading of bloud Now Adoniah and Ioab two great enimies of the king being dead Salomon banished Abiathar the priest and called to be a priest Sadock in the roome of Abiathar so the office of the high priest was taken away from the house of Eli and restored to the house of Phineas After that Salomon called Shemei and charged him with the breaking of his othe in passing ouer the riuer of Cedron being forbidden by the king charged him further with wickednesse against his father Dauid in reuiling and cursing of him and he was likewise slaine by the sonne of Iehoida called Benaia By this meanes the kingdome of Israel was established in Salomons hands and Salomon obeied God in all things and then he taketh Pharaoes king of Egypts daughter to wife Iosephus in his eight booke and 2. chapter saieth that the kings of Egypt were al called Pharaones from Minaeus time that builded Memphis vntil the time of Salomon which was 1300. yeeres for Minaeus raigned in Egypt many yeeres before Abraham came to Egypt this is the cause why Herodotus doth omit the names of the kings of Egypt euen 330. kings Salomon repaired the wals of Ierusalē and went to Gibeon to sacrifice for there their tabernacle was at that time there was no temple yet builded to the Lord in Ierusalem In Gibeon the Lord appeared by dreame to Salomon and gaue him wisedom more then any prince of the world had as by his sentence vpō the two harlots appeared Salomon flourished and prospered and farre excelled all the kings of the world for his wisedom was so abundant as the sand that is on the sea shore No Philosopher no Astrologer no Chaldean magi no Egyptian priest might apprehend Salomons iudgement for God was his schoolemaster Salomon was famous throughout the whole world hee wrote 3000. Prouerbes and bookes of Odes and Verses 1000. and made fiue and twentie songs which perished in Ierusalem when Israel was taken captiue vnto Babylon the temple then being burned and the citie destroyed He wrote of all kind of trees from the Cedar tree that is in Libanon vnto the Hysope that groweth on the wall He spake of beastes fowles and fishes He wrote of incantations and of other secret artes which Iosephus affirmeth at large And there came of all countries to heare the wisedome of Salomon and all the kings about him sent vnto him and sought his fauour Now coucerning the princes rulers and officers which were vnder Salomon the purueiance for victuals the number of his horses and the order of his house they
should eate him that should die in the fielde After Baasha succeeded Ela his sonne and reigned in Tirza 2. yeeres and Zimri his seruant conspired against him and when the people heard that Zimri had killed the king they rose against Zimri and made Omri their king At that time Israel was in campe against Gibethon and besieged Tirza which siege continued from the time of Nadab Ieroboams sonne where Zimri kept him selfe in holde and perceauing the citie should be taken by Omri he burned him selfe and the kings house with fire After this reigned Omri twelue yeeres sixe in Tirza and sixe in Samaria a towne which he builded and was the first king that was buried there after the building of Samaria and after the burning of Tirza After this the seate and pallace of the kings of Israel were in Samaria and they are often called the kings of Samaria and the kingdome of Samaria being so called of Samarus the lorde of that soile or rather of that mountaine where Samaria was builded This was the iudgement of God to bring his purpose to passe that one king should destroy an other king vnto the last confusion of Israel for such is the nature of idolatrie that the elder it is the more abominable it is superstition doth encrease and danger doth ensue After that Omri was deade and buried in Samaria his owne towne Achab his sonne succeeded one farre worse and more wicked then the rest for hee mended no euill thing in Israel but added euill to euill and augmented the sinnes of Israel he married that vngodlie and wicked wretch Iezabel by whose meanes being wicked before he fell to all strange and horrible idolatrie and cruell persecution he reared vp groues and altars to Baal and prouoked the God of Israel more then all the kings before him Yet the mercie of God neuer failed the faithfull he stirred vp good and godly men in wicked and superstitious countreyes as Abraham and Lot among the Chaldeans Tobi in Niniue Raguel and Gabel in Media and here amongest these idolatrous and wicked Israelites he raised Elias and Elizeus Amos and Osea faithfull Prophets to instruct his Church Nowe in Iuda king Afa waxed olde and died in the time of this euill and cruell king Achab after whome succeeded his sonne Iosaphat who gaue him selfe wholy to serue the Lorde and therefore preuailed against Israel God gaue him a pure heart to seeke Gods glorie that his enemies could not execute their rage against him for Iosaphat trusted in the Lorde and abolished idolatrie and he prospered Iosaphat builded in Iuda pallaces and cities and hee taught the people in Iuda and all Iuda brought presents to Iosaphat The Philistims and Arabians gaue him giftes and brought him tribute But let vs leaue Iosaphat a while and returne to Achab in Samaria where Elias was warned of famine that should come to Samaria of which famine Menander in his Chronicles of the kings of Tyre doeth make mention for Elias was commanded to depart Eastward and to hide him selfe in some place about the riuer of Cherith against Iordan which for want of raine became drie the hunger grew great in Israel This famine was 800. yeeres after the famine of Egypt in the time of Ioseph yet the Rauens euery day fedde Elias and brought him bread and flesh euery morning and euery euening and he dranke of the brooke Cherith thence went Elias to Sarepta and there mette with a poore widowe gathering stickes of whom he asked a morsell of bread and a little water and the woman said I haue but one handfull of meale in a barrel and a little oile in a cruse which I am about to make readie for me and for my sonne that we may eate before we die for there was no hope of any more sustenance yet of that little she had she gaue vnto the Prophet of God some part thereof for the which afterward the barrell was full alwaies of meale and the cruse full of oile vntill plentie of foode came as Elias saide hee restored the widowes sonne being dead to life againe He was sent to Achab to shewe Gods mercie to him and to his people in Samaria for the famine was great and God pitied the wicked for the godlies sake and strengthned Elias with his spirite to doe great miracles by sending downe fire from heauen to burne the sacrifice which he had prepared to his God to reproue Baals prophets therefore 400. of Baals prophets were slaine by Elias at the brooke Kishon whome their god Baal could not helpe But Elias was sought therefore of Iezebel Achabs wife she thought to reuenge the deaths of her Prophets yet her rage and furie failed and her purpose missed of Elias Achab by Iezebels counsell exercised all crueltie and tyrannie Naboth was killed for his vineyarde by Iezabels counsell and by the wickednes of his wife Achab became a vile Idolater a cruell murtherer and as one that wholy gaue him selfe to serue sinne Nowe while Achab was in committing one euill vpon an other in Samaria the peace ended which was made for three yeeres betweene Achab king of Israel and Benhadad king of Syria for after that Achab had victorie ouer Benhadad king of Syria for when Samaria was besieged by the king of Syria and the hostes of the Aramites filled the countrey yet God gaue the victorie to Achab. God before went about with signes and miracles to drawe Achab from his impietie and nowe he giueth him victories whereby he should acknowledge the Lord to be his God yet still trusting to his false prophets he ioyned the second time with Iosaphat king of Iuda went to Ramoth Gilead to fight againe with the king of Syria where Achab was slaine and he was brought to Samaria to be buried according to the Oracle of Elias When the king was thus slaine the battell was ended Iosaphat returned to Ierusalem for Iosaphat had made affinitie with Achab for Ioram Iosaphats sonne had married the daughter of Achab named Athalia a wicked woman such as her mother Iezabel was Thus Iosaphat walked in Dauids waies and sought not Baalim he was vertuous and godly and followed the commandements of God and forsooke the trade of Israel he abolished idolatrie from Iuda and prospered in riches and honor yet he was reproued and rebuked by the Prophet for that he would helpe the wicked and loue them that hated the Lord for the wrath and iudgement of God is ouer all those that support the wicked But in respect of his care and zeale which he had ouer Iuda he had happie successe in all his regiment In the 25. yeere of his reigne he called all the Elders and chiefe officers of Iuda before him commanded them seuerely to walke vprightly before God and to reade the lawes of God to the people and to acquaint them with the true religion his reward was therefore peace and quietnes within Iuda
praemium piorum pax For the Philistims paied their ordinarie tribute euery yeere and the Arabians as Iosephus saieth paied yeerely to Iosaphat 630. Lambes and so many yong kids The Lord gaue to Iosaphat victories ouer the Ammonits Moabites and Idumeans for the children of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and one slewe an other Thus God gaue vnto him marueilous victories ouer his enemies and Iuda flourished 25. yeeres the whole time of Iosaphats gouernment the time of his father Asa and the time of his Grandfather Abia three good kings of Iuda during the time of 69. yeeres Iuda preuailed against Israel After Iosaphats daies his sonne Ioram succeeded who offended the Lorde and walked in the waies of the kings of Israel and followed the steppes of his father in lawe Achab. Ioram made him selfe strong beganne in his first entring vnto the kingdome to play the tyrant for hee slewe all his brethren with the sworde and therefore Edom rebelled against Iuda because he had forsaken the God of his fathers The Philistims were stirred vp against Ioram and the Arabians he was cruell and became a tyrant euen vnto those whome by nature he ought to haue most chiefly defended But Elias prophesied to him the rewarde and iustice of God that would ensue thereof as Ioram afterwards felt for as he spared no blood but made hauocke of his brethren and of his countrey with the sworde so it happened to him to his wiues and to his children by the Arabians and other barbarous people of the Ethiopians who inuaded his countrey dispossessed him of his life and liuing such calamities which with his eies he sawe he died most miserably his guttes gushing out being in the displeasure of God and man Thus is idolatrie rewarded one onely sonne named Ochosias and that the yongest escaped the sworde and he succeeded his father as wicked as hee a very Idolater for hee could not be good being the sonne of Ioram borne of Athalia the daughter of Achab hee followed his mothers counsell and walked in the way of Achab and went with Ioram Achabs sonne to fight against Hazael king of Syria and he was in that warre wounded and after taken by Iehu king of Israel who hiding him selfe in Samaria Iehu slewe him and Ioram king of Israel for so he was of God commaunded and after a while he brake the necke of Iezabel Achabs wife and reigned him selfe king in Israel who was by God appointed to execute iudgement vpon the house of Achab. This king Iehu was annointed king for that purpose Ochosias liued but one yere which when his mother Athalia heard of she rose destroied all the kings seede to the intent that there should be none to make title to the crowne that thereby she might vsurpe the gouernment onely Iosias was saued by Iorams daughter who had maried Iehoiada the high Priest and his owne sister This time by the tyrannie of this wicked Queene the stock of Salomon the sonne of Dauid perished the kingdom of Iuda fell to the posteritie of Nathan an other sonne of Dauid of whose house it pleased God that Messias should be borne so that the posteritie of Salomon was altogether extinguished This Queene restored the temple of Baal raised vp altars nourished false prophets and priests to maintaine idolatrie in Iuda This Queene reigned 7. yeeres then was she slaine at the commandement of Iehoiada the hie Priest the house of Baal destroied and his altars broken and Mattan the Priest of Baal slaine Ioas nowe beganne to roote out all idolatrie and to set in order all thinges in Iuda hee pleased God and walked in his waies while Iehoiada the high Priest liued who was a faithfull Counsellor vnto him But after his death Ioas wanted good councell he followed flatterers and by them he was brought to idolatrie and after to tyrannie which alwaies ioyne together for Ioas killed Zacharie the sonne of Iehoiada the high Priest and a Prophet of the Lorde who had saued him from the tyrannie of Athalia This is that Zacharie of whom Christ maketh mētion in Luke saying that from the blood of Abel the iust vnto the blood of Zacharie the Prophet c. But what came of this The king of Aram he came with a small company against Ioas against Iuda and Ierusalem and destroied all the princes of the people and sent all the spoile of them vnto the king of Damascus and Ioas him selfe was of his owne seruants slaine In Ioas time Elizeus the Prophet died and Homer liued the first and most ancient learned amongest the Grecians While Ioram the sonne of Achab reigned king in Israel and Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat reigned king in Iuda being ioyned in affinitie by marriage In other countreies reigned Persusennis king in Egypt from this king and from Cheopes his predecessor in Egypt doeth Herodotus make mention not of the nomber but of the names of the kings of Egypt In Athens gouerned Mezades 30. yeeres the 6. Iudge and in Corinth likewise Agelas the 6. king In the daies of Ioram king of Iuda reigned ouer the Latines the 10. king Tiberinus Siluius 8. yeeres This king being drowned in the riuer called then Albula afterward named Tiber after his owne name Agrippa Siluius succeeded him the 11. king and he reigned 40. yeeres ouer the Latines In Lacedemonia Archelaus the 7. king who reigned 60. yeeres ouer the Lacedemonians The people of Rhodes at this time were lordes of the seas Pigmalion reigned king in Tyre 40. yeeres and in the 7. yeere of his reigne his sister Dido as Iosephus saith builded Carthage 143. yeeres after the building of Salomons Temple and before the building of Rome 135. Error is in Functius and in other in the time of the building of Carthage There was about this time of Ioas a king that reigned ouer the Tuscans named Felcinus he builded the chiefe citie of the Tuscans and named it after his owne name Felcina The Romanes long after that called that towne and the countrey it selfe was called Gallia Aurelia Nowe to the kings of Israel and Iuda After that Ioas had bene slaine by his owne seruants for the stoning to death of Zacharias Amazias Ioas his sonne succeeded him who in the beginning of his reigne shewed him selfe godly and did execute things vprightly but not with a perfect heart in respect of his predecessors he was called a good king he reuenged the death of Ioas his father and putteth them to death that slewe him he made prouision for warres and nombred all the men and hired a hundreth thousand valiant men out of Israel for an hundreth talents of siluer though he was forbidden by God so to doe But Amazias went forwards and slewe the Edomites and Amalekites euen 20000. But the men of Israel requited that slaughter they fell vpon the cities of
Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethoron as they returned from Amazias to Samaria backe and Amazias after the victorie he had ouer the Idumeans brought their gods and their idols of Seir and set them vp to be his gods and worshipped them But the gods of Edom brought Amazias to the handes of Ioas king of Israel and he was afterwards slaine by conspiracie fleeing from Ierusalem to Lachis While Amazias reigned in Iuda Ioram liued in Samaria and gouerned Israel and Ioram also gouerned Iuda of that name and at that time so two Iorams reigned together one in Iuda the other in Samaria after whome succeeded Ieroboam his sonne in Israel In the time of Amazias king of Iuda Sardanapalus reigned in Assyria their last king after whom the Assyrians lost their Monarchie for Belochus had Babylon and Niniue the two chiefe seates of the kings of Chaldea and Assyria Arbaces helde Media and Persia vnder his gouernment Hitherto neither the Assyrians nor Chaldeans molested Israel but afterwards God stirred them vp for his scourges to punish Iuda and Samaria for their idolatrie and after them the Medes and Persians were as though they were the hammers of God to destroy offenders After Amazias succeeded his sonne Vzias named also Azaria him did all the people of Iuda make king in steede of his father he was but sixteene yeeres of age when he began to reigne in Israel VVhile he obeied God he prospered in all his enterprises Hee ouerthrewe the Philistims brake downe the walles of Gath and Ashdod God helped him and prospered him against the Arabians and the Ammonites hee builded towres in Ierusalem and towres in the wildernes his fame spread to Egypt and all the nations about Ierusalem were vnder his winges but he waxed proude vsurped the Priestes office and he was punished and driuen out of the Temple and the leprosie rose in his forehead for he transgressed against God to presume to burne incense which was the Priestes office in the Temple being forbidden and resisted by Azaria and foure score other Priests Therefore he liued afterwards as a leper vnto the day of his death in a house by himselfe Vnder this king Esai began to prophecie and he prophecied 80. yeeres the fall of these great kingdomes Egypt Syria Assyria Chaldea and Tyre Hee likewise prophecied of Kittim and of the Macedonians This Prophet was by Manasses king of Iuda martyred cut in his middle with a sawe Nowe during the time of this king Vzias ruled in Israel Zachariah the sonne of Ieroboam being the last king of Israel that had the kingdome by succession of Iehu for hee was the fourth in descent from Iehu for so the Lord said to Iehu Thy sonnes shall sit on the throne of Israel vnto the fourth generation after thee Shallum reigned a moneth king in Samaria and Manahem slue him and reigned in his stead In the 39. yeere of Vzia beganne Manahem to reigne in Samaria he likewise sought not God but with money sought the fauour of Phulasser king of Ashur the father of Salmanassar and graundfather of Saneherib infidels and enemies of God and therefore God was wroth so that Manahem prospered not and his sonne Pekahia succeeded him in Israel and reigned two yeeres and died Nowe after Vzias dayes his sonne Ioatham succeeded him in the kingdgme of Iuda a man of great vertue godly and iust and seeking to please God Hee builded many ruinous things by reason still of warres and he was carefull to mend things amisse so that Ioatham became mightie because he directed his wayes before the Highest he fought with the Ammonites and preuailed and they paied him tribute The Olympiads of Greece began in the second yeere of Ioatham About which time Romulus the first king and builder of Rome was borne In Ioathams dayes beganne first the kingdome of Lydia Ezechias also was borne this time some suppose that in Greece Lycurgus the lawe maker of the Lacedemonians florished in these dayes after whom the kings in Lacedemonia failed and the gouernement was altered Nowe when Ioatham had reigned sixteene yeeres Achas succeeded in Iuda wicked vngodly cruell and a great Idolater like his predecessours hee made moulten Images for Baalim he burned his sonne and sacrificed him vnto Idols and deuils and therefore the Aramites smote him and Pekah king of Israel slue in Iuda sixe score thousand in one day and tooke prisoners two hundreth thousands and brought all the spoiles and treasures vnto Samaria Thus Iuda was destroyed vtterly almost ouerthrowne at that time Achas after this great slaughter did sende to Salmanasser king of Ashur gaue him golde and siluer and promised him more money but it helped him not for Achas sacrificed to the gods of Damascus and to the gods of Aram or of Syria which was the onely cause of his destruction which Esai the Prophet had warned him of After hee had reigned in Iuda sixteene yeeres hee dyed in whose dayes Romulus and Remus beganne to build Rome Dionysius writeth that the walles of Rome were begunne in the one and twentieth day of Aprill and in the first yeere of the seuenth Olympiad After this spoile and great slaughter of Iuda Salmanasser king of Ashur came vp against Samaria after that Hosea had reigned nine yeeres of the which he payed tribute for eight yeeres and in the ninth of his reigne he was taken prisoner and the Citie of Samaria giuen to the Babylonians and to the men of Hamath and to the men of Succoth and to the other strangers which the king of Ashur brought to dwell in Samaria in steade of the people of Israel and the tenne tribes of Israel were caried away captiue vnto the Cities of the Medes Thus was Israel dispossest from glory and libertie and caried captiue by Nabonasser vnto Assyria after they had continued two hundred fiftie and three yeeres after Salomons dayes and after the going of Israel out of Egypt seuen hundred seuentie and nine yeeres in the tenth Olympiad This last thraldome fell vpon them for idolatrie and blassphemie which Israel against their God committed hauing so often tasted of his mercie and seene his workes in defending them alwaies euen from their going out of Egypt where they were in slauerie and bondage 430. yeeres vntill nowe againe they are caried captiues and bondmen from Samaria their natiue countrey vnto Babylon 779. yeeres after their going out of Egypt for they so prouoked the Lorde to wrath euen from Ieroboams time who builded Dan and Bethel and erected golden calues therin to be worshipped vnto the time of Osea the last king during which time 19. kings reigned in Israel of the which not one walked before God sincerely but with horrible blasphemie most wicked idolatry they worshipped idols and images wherefore God gaue them ouer one to kill an other and one to destroy an other vntil Nabonasser which is Salmanassers time
who caried them prisoners vnto other strange countreies and set strangers to dwell in Samaria CHAP. VI. Of the continuance of the kings of Iuda after the kingdome of Israel was destroied Samaria taken and the 10. tribes of Israel carried captiue by Salmanassar into Assyria THis time reigned in Ierusalem Ezechias a godly zealous king who destroied idols and brake in peeces the brasen serpent he tooke away the high places cut downe the groues the altars their images and idols and walked before God vprightly and in the 14. yeere of his reigne came Senaherib with an huge host to Iuda spoiling and destroying Libna Lachis and other cities laide siege to Ierusalem threatned the king and blasphemed God most horribly challenging the gods of the nations and defying the God of Israel preferring the armies of flesh and the strength of his hoste But his bragging boasting was sharply punished by the Angel of God who slew at that time of the Assyrians an hundreth foure score and fiue thousand and Senacherib him selfe before his idoll Niseroch whom he worshipped preferred before the liuing God was slaine of his owne sonnes Adramelech Sarezer the iust iudgement of God for blasphemie After this Ezechias fell sicke and was restored to health in signe whereof God brought the Sunne 10. degrees backe in Achas diall this good king repaired the Temple instructed the Leuites in the religion he and all his princes of Iuda frequented the Temple sacrificed daily to their God oblations of thanks giuing and he commanded all the Nobles of Israel and Iuda from Dan to Bersheba to repaire to Ierusalem to keepe the Passeouer to the Lorde which Passeouer was so great that the like was not in Israel This Passeouer vnder Ezechias was 775. yeeres after the Passeouer of Moses and 775. yeeres before the Passeouer of Christ our Sauiour in the Newe Testament Now after that Ezechias had destroied idolatrie and had appointed Priestes and Leuites according to the commandement of God praied for his people and prouided for the Leuites liuings and ordained ouerseers to distribute to euery Leuite his portion Israel prospered all the daies of Ezechias and all things went well with Iuda But Ezechias being deade Manasses his sonne succeeded him not in religion nor in godlines for he followed not his father Ezechias in vertue but his Grandfather Achas in all kinde of vices for this most wicked king restored idolatrie in Israel vsed great crueltie and he erected altars to Baal and set vp images in groues he practised witchcraft and sorcerie and frequented the companie of them that had familiar spirits and those that were soothsayers This king did much euill in the sight of God he martyred the Prophet of God Esay and consecrated his sonne in fire to his idoll he shed innocent blood and filled Ierusalem with iniquitie Beholde such a good father to haue such a wicked sonne But the Lord God stretched ouer Ierusalem the line of Samaria the plummet of the house of Achab and promised to destroy Iuda as he had destroied Israel so he did with Manasses and gaue him to Assur and to his Captaines who brought him in fetters and bound in chaines to Babylon But when he was in tribulation in Babylon he called then vpon God and God heard him and deliuered him and restored him to his kingdome so merciful is God when he is called vpon for by this God instructed him to know him selfe and to humble him selfe before God whome he much abused You may read in the bookes of the Kings in the Chroniches the histories of the kings of Israel at large Manasses died and left behind him Amon his sonne who reigned 2. yeeres in Ierusalem he forsooke God also walked in the waies of Achas and he was slaine by his owne seruants which conspired against him in his owne house the people made Iosias his sonne king ouer Iuda who beganne to reigne in Ierusalem in the 8. yeere of his age and in that age he was instructed by God to haue care ouer the people of Israel he sent messengers vnto all the townes cities and countries territories to cal the Priests the Leuits the Nobles and all men of what degree soeuer to come to Ierusalem where he him selfe read the bookes of Moses vnto the people with oblations and sacrifices vnto God for the sinnes of Israel and those Priests that were not of Aarons stocke that serued idols and images he commanded them to be slaine and whatsoeuer he found in Israel of the reliques of Ieroboam he destroied and burned the bones of the false prophets vpon the altars that Ieroboam erected his zeale was prophesied of by Iaddo 300. yeeres before Iosias was borne Iosias hauing repaired the Temple and hauing found the booke of the Law he maketh a couenant with the Lord that he and his people should walke before God vprightly and iustly After that he killed their Priestes he brought downe their idols he slew the coniurers sorcerers and soothsayers and he burned the Priestes of Baal called Chemarims whome the kings of Iuda had founded to burne incense in high places euery place of Iuda to the Sunne to the Moone to the planets and to all the hostes of heauen His zeale encreased more and more he threw downe the altars of Achas and the altars of Manasses hee had put also downe the horses the charets which the idolatrous kinges had dedicated to the Sunne he ouerthrewe the abominable idolatrie of Salomon in the mount of Oliues called also in the Chronicles the mount of corruption where Salomon builded vp altars and groues to Ashtaroth the idoll of the Sidonians for Chemosh the idol of the Moabites for Milchom the idol of the Ammonits In Iosias time all Iudea flourished with the seruice of God and the lawes of the Countreies were put in practise for there was in euery citie among the Hebrewes a chiefe Magistrate as a Prince or Iudge to determine causes in equitie iustice among the people But in the Metropolitane Citie which was Ierusalem were 70. wise graue men whose court or consistorie was kept in Gazith The Iewish Talmudists named these Sanhedrin these passed both in nomber in dignitie other Magistrates these first gouerned in Silo after in Ierusalem elected by Moses by the expresse word of God these were Iudges for life death according to the custome lawes of the Hebrewes they were to condemne offendors 4. kind of waies by running vpon a man to death by stoning by burning and by strangling That day that these iudged any offender to death they obstained from meate These Councellers continued vntill Herods time and kept their Court at Gazith Beside these Sanhedrioth which were 71. were also twelue Princes ouer the people of euery tribe of Israel one which gouerned the whole twelue tribes of the people Some write that in euery Citie were
seuen of euery tribe But this good king was slaine in Mageddo by Necho king of Egypt who went vp at that time against the king of Asâ—…hur wherein Iosias did offend God because he consulted not with the Lord before he sought with Necho In Iosias time in the 13. yere of his reigne Ieremie began to prophesie the destruction of Ierusalem he foreshewed of the captiuitie of Babylon of the miserie of the Iewes of the famine and of the last ruine by Nabuchadonosor and howe afterward that king could not be quiet but was troubled with one dreame and other seeking soothsayers wise men of Babel coniurers sorcerers to interprete his visions dreames his vision of the 4. beastes of the 10. hornes of the battel betweene the Ramme and the Goate of the great image whose head was gold c. In Iosias time reigned in Media Phaortes the 6. king of the Medes and in Lidia reigned Ardis the 6. king of the Lidians for as I wrote before Lidia Media and Rome began welnigh together In Babylon reigned Nabuchodonosor the first of that name and the father of Nabuchodonosor the Great yet some take exception against the first Nabuchodonosor saying that there was none such as Beroaldus affirmeth He was the 3. king of the Chaldeans after Merodachs time In Rome gouerned Tullius Hostilius their 3. king who was now in warre with the Sabines and in Macedonia Philip the 6. king about which time the Grecians vsed first the Oracle called Dodonium oraculum Nowe in Locretia reigned Zaleuchus a famous Law maker and more famous for the keeping of his lawes being made euen against his owne sonne that should succeede after him king as in an other place you may read more Sibylla which is called Herophila was of great fame in Samos at this time Herodotus writeth that Batius the first king of Cyrena builded Zoan and after builded Cyrenes and furnished the same with people of Tyre and of Greece In the beginning of Iosias gouernment florished the great Historiographer Archilochus whose authoritie for time is with the best approued for he wrote a booke entituled De temporibus with whom at one time liued Simonides and Aristoxenes the Musition Iosias began to reigne in the 30. Olympiad and died in the 37. Olympiad and 16. Iubile of the Iewes After Iosias Ioachim his sonne succeeded for Necho king of Egypt after hee had killed Iosias in Mageddo hee gaue the kingdome to this Ioachim called also Eliachim paying 100. talents of siluer and one talent of gold for yeerely tribute vnto Egypt But Necho within a while was ouerthrowen in battell by Nabuchodonosor the great and the tribute which the Iewes paied vnto Necho now being slayne in the field by the king of Chaldea was paied to Nabuchodonosor But I haue writteÌ„ of this Ioachim of his sonne that succeeded him called also Ioachin or Iechonia of Nabuchodonosor in the histories of the Chaldeans how they were subdued by Nabuchodonosor whom God raised to destroy the rest of Israel the tribe of Iuda and the tribe of Beniamin With this Iechonia was Daniel Ananias Azaria and Misael caried captiue to Babylon of whom Nabuchodonosor had care to instruct them in the Chaldean tongue whereby they might serue the king and be in fauour It was the kings will that they should bee of Zedechias bloud of the best fauour and of the best complection Some write that this captiuitie began from the 3. yeere of Ioachim vnto the 20. yeere of Cyrus Some other write that it began from the preaching of Ieremie which was the 13. yeere of Iosias vnto the first yeere of Cyrus and others in the eleuenth yeere of Zedechias They would not heare Ieremie the Prophet who did foreshew the calamitie and miserie that should come vpon Ierusalem but they despised him imprisoned him and burned his bookes vntill an huge infinite armie of the Chaldeans laid siege to Ierusalem 18. moneths and that it was at length taken and destroied after much famine and plague during the time of these 18. moneths after that 21. kings of Dauids tribe raigned in Ierusalem for the space of 500. yeeres and odde counting as Iosephus saith beginning from Sauls raigne which was of another tribe The wonders which were seene before Ierusalem was destroied besides the threatning of the Prophets were such as might well perswade the Iewes of their calamities and miseries not then beleeued but afterwards felt The first time they saw right ouer the citie of Ierusalem a firie burning Comete most like a bloodie naked sword flourishing to and fro ouer the citie which continued for the space of one whole yeere The 2. wonder was a sudden cleere shining light as bright as day light being in the night time This light onely shined about Salomons Temple and about the sacrificing altars the which the Iewes construed to be their better fortune wherin they were deceiued The 3. wonder was that an Oxe being brought to the Temple to bee slaine and sacrificed vpon a festiuall day according to the Iewish maner that it brought foorth against the course of nature a Lambe in the middest of the temple which was terrible and monstrous The 4. wonder was that the East brasen gate of Salomons Temple being so great and so heauie with iron barres and great brasen bolts that Vix à viginti viris clauderetur the very wordes of Iosephus that 20. strong men could scant shut that gate opened of it selfe most willingly The barres loosed the bolts yeelded that some of the ignorant Iewes prognosticated the opening of the Temple should bee some great good thing to come The fift wonder was seene vpon the 21. day of May which seemed to be an hoste of men armed running on horsebacke and in charets aboue the Citie in the skies a little before Sunne setting The sixt wonder when the priests went vnto the temple in the feast of Pentecost as they were woont to do by night to celebrate diuine seruice they vpon a sudden felt the ground quiuer vnder their feete and the temple shooke and a voyce speaking Migremus hinc let vs depart hence Yet a more horrible wonder there was the daily crying and exclaiming of a countrey man Iesus the sonne of Ananus who for 7. yeeres and 5. moneths before the destruction ceased not in euery corner of the Citie in euery streete and specially in the temple vpon the Sabboth day saying Vox ab oriente vox ab occidente vox à quatuor ventis vox in Ierosolymam templum vox in omneÌ„ hunc populum continuing still this cry though he was punished by the magistrates and brought before Albinus the Roman which was then Caesars deputie in Ierusalem in somuch as he was thought to be some furious foole that he was left after whipping alone who cried Vae vae ciuitati vae phano vae populo and last of all he
said vae mihi This Iosephus saw with his eies heard with his eares who wrote this historie A greater wonder then all these The true Messias Christ 40. yeeres before told of this yet was not beleeued Ierusalem as it was oftentimes was neuer destroied but they were warned before by the prophets of God but they would not know the time of their visitation and therfore came these euils vpon the Iewes the towne sackt and made euen to the ground their temple burned themselues slaine destroied and scattered from the face of the whole earth Now Ierusalem being thus destroyed the temple burned the people slaine and the king Zedechia taken prisoner and brought to Babylon where he died Nabuchodonosor like a fierce Lion proceedeth forward inuaded Syria subdued the Ammonites and the Moabites brought his armie to Egypt slew the king subdued the countrey and brought those Iewes backe to Babylon that had fled from Ierusalem to Egypt This was the miserie of the Iewes and the last confusion of Iuda The historie of this king concerning the last end of the Iewes no where may be better read then with the Prophets Nabuchodonosor had a sonne called Euilmerodach who after the death of his father enlarged Iechonia from prison and vsed him princely for Iechonia in respect of Ierusalem and the people therein being by Ieremie the prophet perswaded thereto yelded himself his wife his children his nobles and all the two tribes vnto the hands of Nabuchodonosor Ieremie Ezechiel and Daniel haue laid downe the ful historie of Nabuchodonosor and of Euilmerodach and of Balthasar the three last kings of the Chaldeans in whose time the empire of Babylon was had away from the Chaldeans vnto the Persians by Cyrus This was the stocke of Dauid being 21. kings after Dauid lineally from his bodie descending ended whose names are these 1 Salomon 2 Rehoboam 3 Abia. 4 Asa. 5 Iosaphat 6 Ioram 7 Ochosias his mother 8 Athalia 9 Ioas. 10 Amazias 11 Azaria 12 Iotham 13 Achas 14 Ezechias 15 Manasses 16 Ammon 17 Iosias 18 Ioachas 19 Eliacim 20 Ioachim 21 Zedechias The kingdome of Iuda caried cap◅ue by Nabuchodonosor into Babylon after it had continued After the death of Salomon 395. yeeres After the flud 1709. yeeres After the natiuitie of Abraham 1416. After the burning of Sodom and Gomorrha and the other three Cities 1317. After the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt 912. After the destruction of Troy 577. From the natiuitie of Dauid 505. From the dedicating of Salomons temple 412. And after the taking of Samaria and the destruction of the ten tribes of Israel 133. yeeres CHAP. VII Of the returne of the Iewes into Ierusalem after the captiuitie first by the decree of Cyrus after by Darius and last by Artaxerxes of the second building of the Temple by Esdras Nehemia and Zorobabel and of the gouernment vnder the high priests AFter the captiuitie of the Iewes Daniel grew in great fauour with Nabuchodonosor being by God instructed to expound the dreames of the king and to vanquish Bel and all his priests and to conuert Nabuchodonosor to acknowledge God after he saw a dreame of foure beastes which came vp from the sea one differing from another The first was a Lion which had Eagles wings and the wings thereof were pluckt off and a mans heart was giuen him meaning the Chaldeans and the Assyrians which were strong and fierce and yet their power ouerthrowen by the Persians power The second beast like a Beare which had three ribs in his mouth betweene his teeth meaning the Persians which were barbarous and cruell The third was like a Leopard which had vpon his backe foure wings of a fowle this beast also had foure heads signifying Alexander the great with his foure captains which after Alexanders death had the empire among them for Cassander was king of Macedone and Antipater after him Saleucus had Babylon and Asia the great and Antigonus had Asia the lesse and Ptolomeus had Egypt The fourth beast which Daniel sawe was fearefull and terrible it had iron teeth it deuoured and brake in pieces and stampt the residue vnder his feete This was meant by their Romane empire a monster exceeding all kind of beasts for the tyrannie and greedines of the Romanes excelled the rest for that which the Romanes could not quietly enioy in other countries they would giue it to other kings vpon condicion to take them again when it pleased the Romanes To this Daniel was the vision of the 70. weekes opened by the angel Gabriel who enformed him and instructed him of the time of the Messias comming saying 70. weekes are determined vpon the people and vpon the holy Citie to finish the wickednes to seale vp sinnes to bring euerlasting righteousnes and to annoint the most holy Now at what time the 70. weekes began some controuersie there is some from the first edict of Cyrus some from Darius and some from the time that Daniel spake it and others from the 7. yeere of Artaxerxes Longimanus which was 80. yeeres after the first commandement of Cyrus The captiuitie of Babylon fell at that time when Tarquinius Priscus raigned in Rome after whom the Romanes had no more kings after but two so that the Iewes and the Romanes were gouerned by a state called Aristocratia of the Iewes The 70. weekes and the very last yeere of the captiuitie was likewise the last yere of the Assyrians Chaldeans for euen they which saw the destruction of Ierusalem sawe also the destruction of Babylon and what spoile soeuer Nabuchodonosor brought from Ierusalem vnto Babylon the same did Cyrus in the last yeere of his raigne restore with a commaundement giuen to all the princes that ruled vnder Cyrus to suffer the Iewes againe frō all places where they were scattered to returne to Iudea to builde vp Ierusalem againe and to repaire the temple and if any were not able through pouertie to returne king Cyrus commanded that they should be furnished with necessaries for God raised vp Cyrus to bee a friend to his people and hee called Zorobabel who was the chiefe gouernour of the Iewes The nomber of them that returned from the captiuitie of Iuda with the bountifulnes of Cyrus towardes them you may in the booke of Esdras reade at large For after that Cyrus was slaine by Tomiris in the warres of the Massegits his sonne Cambyses succeeded him who by the Samaritans complaint commaunded the Iewes to staye from the building and from their repairing of Ierusalem which continued 9. yeeres after Cambyses returning from Egypt died at Damascus after hee had subdued Egypt succeeded Darius the sonne of Histaspis Hee againe in the 2. yeere of his raigne authorized the Iewes to do as Cyrus had commanded them for so Darius found in a coffer of Cyrus in Ecbatana a booke wherin the acts of the kings of Medes Persians were written and the decree
of Cyrus which he also established by the meanes of Zorobabel in pleasing the king for his probleame as it is written in Esdras But God still exercised his people with some crosses because of their stubbernes for from the time they came home vnder Zorobabel they had maried with the Gentiles and offended God vntill the comming of Esdras from Darius with authoritie to build to repaire and to inhabite Ierusalem for so doth Bucholcerus in his Chronicles write saying that Daniel doeth comprehend in two words Ierusalem inhabitabitur aedificabitur the whole summe of Esdras bookes Nowe in the time of Darius of Cambyses before him and of Cyrus before Cambyses God stirred vp diuers excellent men to helpe his people to restore his Church and to builde his city againe as Zorobabel Esdras Nehemias with others whose care delight and zeale are extant in their owne bookes which they wrote For after their returne from Babylon there was peace and tranquilitie in Iudea vntil Ochus time for Nehemias liued 130. yeres and saw being very old a new broile and a greater calamitie of his coūtrey for though the posteritie of Dauid cōtinued vntil the time of the Machabees as gouernors Iudges of the people not naming themselues kings for the reuerence and feare which they bare vnto the kings of Persia. Salathiels sonne first gouernor of the Iewes after the captiuitie of Babylon Zorobabel of whom mention is made in Zacharie ruled Israel wisely discreetly 50. yeres Resa Mesulla the 2. gouernour in whose time Nehemias and Esdras came from Babylon to Ierusalem After him succeeded Iohanna Benresa the third Iudge who gouerned Israel 53. yeres The 4. was Iudas Hircanus the first of that name and thought of Melancthon to be so called for that Ochus king of Persia brought with him a nomber of the Iewes to Hircania and therfore Iudas was sirnamed Hircanus This iudged Israel when Alexander conquered Darius raigned 14. yeres Then Ioseph the first ruled the Iewes 7. yeeres The 5. ruler after Ioseph came Abner to gouerne the Iewes in whose time Ptolomeus the sonne of Lagi the first king of Egypt after Alexander the great vnder pretence to do sacrifice vpon the Sabboth day tooke the towne spoiled the temple slew imprisoned the Iewes and brought to Egypt infinite treasure Now after this Abner the 6. Iudge since the time of Alexāder succeeded of Dauids stock frō Abner to Ianna Hircanus the 2. who was the last of 15. gouernors ouer the Israelites after the captiuitie for they cōtinued euen vnto the time of the Machabees After this Haman plaied his part and thought to haue al the Iewes slaine cōmanded a gallowes to be made for Mardocheus the historie hereof is found in the booke of Esther for about the time of Cyrus death the gouernment was then altered in Rome Consuls were made after the building of Rome 244. yeres in the 67. Olympiad in the beginning of the 9. Iubilie at what time Cambises had subdued Egypt brought them subiects to the lawes of Persia After Cambises Darius went against the Getes and ouerthrew them and his chiefe captaine Zopirus sonne Megabisus vanquished the Thracians and subdued the Peonians and tooke Perinthus During this time the Lacedemonians had warres against Policrates the tyrant of Samos The Philosopher Pythagoras and Hippocrates the Phisition liued this time While the Iewes as you heard were in planting themselues in Ierusalem againe the Graecians were busie one with another Tyrants ruled Greece and gouerned by the bloodie law of Draco for Hipparchus and Hippias vsed tyrannie in Athens and were slayne both by Hermodius and Aristogiton Aristagoras a tyrant reuolted and rebelled against Darius which mooued Darius in armes against the Ionians and ouerthrew them and tooke their chiefe citie called Miletum A litle after Miltiades the chiefe captaine of Athens by the councel of Callimachus the famous Graecian ouerthrewe Darius king of Persias lieutenant called Hippias in the battell of Marathon where he slewe 6300. Persians as both Thucidides and Iustine doe report This ouerthrow of the Persians was at that very time when Tarquinius superbus made his last battel with the Romane Dictator Posthumius where he was put to flight and after died in exile Aristides surnamed the Iust was banished this time from Greece and Alcibiades called backe to Athens from his banishment Now Nehemia causing the law of Moses to bee read as an ordinance to serue God and reproouing them for their disobedience in ioining themselues with strangers they were in some quietnesse for a time though sometime murther and slaughter were betweene themselues committed for the which cause Bagoses the generall of Artaxerxes armie vnderstanding that the high Priest slewe his brother in the Temple being a deare friend to Bagoses he plagued the Iewes againe for the space of seuen yeeres and reuenged his death with slaughter and tribute he placed Iaddus in the office of the priesthood in his fathers place This high priest had to his brother one named Manasses which was sent to Samaria by Darius the last king of Persia. A little while after this Alexander the great after that his father Philip died hauing brought his armie ouer the Grecians sea called Helespont vnto the riuer of Granicus hauing subdued the Lydians Tyre besieged and taken Thebes wasted and spoiled al Asia he ouerthrew Darius the king of Persia carying his souldiers through Caria inuaded Pamphilia came ouer Euphrates vnto Syria tooke Damascus besieged Tyre and Sidon and he wrote to Hierusalem to the hie Priest Iaddus that his souldiers might haue passage without interruption and also requiring the tribute that was paied to Darius to be paid to him and to the crowne of Macedonia for that Alexander had vanquished Darius and had caried the Empire of Persia vnto Greece they of Hierusalem were frighted and much amased what to doe But cōcluding among themselues they opened the gates and the hie Priest came out with all the Priestes the Elders and Nobles of the Citie in most solemne sort to meete Alexander out of Hierusalem vnto a place named Sapha and saluted Alexander most humbly being in precious garments and pontifical robes with his sacred mitre whereupon was written the name of the God Iehoua The solemnitie and state whereof made Alexander to light from his horse and to yeelde to the hie Priest more honour and reuerence then his countreymen the Macedonians thought wel of so great a king so mightie a cōquerour euen Alexander the great to humble himselfe to a silie priest Parmenio demaunding the cause of Alexander why he honoured the priest somuch he answered that he reuerenced God whom the hie Priestrepresented at that time for I dreamed of these men euen as I behold them nowe when I was yet in Macedonia This Priest exhorted me then to be of good courage and bade me goe forward with my armie to Persia. Thus with great honor
and solemne sacrifice was Alexander receiued vnto Ierusalem where Daniels prophecies were brought vnto him and where also it was read vnto him that a king of Greece shoulde bring the Monarchie of Persia vnto Greece which was himselfe After all these things were done Alexander shewed great courtesie enlarged their common wealth quieted the Samaritans their enemies and brought all the Prouinces about vnder the Iewes Againe hee graunted them what they woulde aske of him permitted them to vse their religion to obserue their owne lawes and also promised that those Iewes which were scattered amongst the Caldeans Assyrians and Medes should haue such libertie to vse their religion and lawes as they had in Ierusalem and this continued during the time of Alexander which was but short For when he died the Empire was deuided betweene his Nobles Antigonus had Asia Seleucus had Babylon Lysimachus had Hellespont Cassander had Macedonia and Ptolomeus Lagi had Egypt These successors of Alexander hauing continuall warres one with an other which continued long Ptolomeus king of Egypt came vpon the Sabbath day to Ierusalem vnder pretence to offer sacrifice to the God of Israel tooke the towne vsed the Citizens hardly handled the Iewes most seuerely and sharpely they mistrusting him not imprisoned them and brought them with him in heapes to Egypt Thus still was Ierusalem exercised with tribulations and crosses but God stirred vp this kings sonne Ptolome philadelphus to them a friende louing and beneficiall wise learned and most desirous not onely to doe them good but also most willing to admit their lawes their Religion to come to Egypt and made a decree that all the Iewes wheresoeuer they were by his father imprisoned and captiuated shoulde be enlarged be set at libertie which were aboue 100000. Iewes as Ptolome in his Epistle written to the high Priest Eleazar doeth testifie where lie entreateth Eleazar to send to Egypt sixe of euery tribe of the best wisest and skilfullest men to translate the Bible then being onely in the Hebrewe tongue into the Greeke tōgue for that Ptolome was most desirous to haue the Bible in Greeke to be in his studie where he had a hūdred twentie thousand bookes in his Librarie In the dayes of this Ptoleme Lagi florished Theophrastus the Philosopher and Theodorus Athenaeus he sent messengers for this purpose to Ierusalem Aristaeus and one Andreas captaine of the Kings garde with whome he sent 100. talents of siluer to honour the Temple and to doe sacrifice therein besides viginti phialas aureas triginta argenteas quinque crateras mensam auream which in Iosephus all at large are described and set foorth worth the reading which things being most gratefull vnto the high Priest hee receiued them most louingly and vsed them with all humanitie and fauour and sent with them 70. wise and discreete men which shoulde translate the Bible as Philadelphus request was These seuentie men came to Alexandria where after much welcome long feasting great conference and disputations so much he ioyed of their comming and delighted in their company that the king Philadelphus continued his feast 12. dayes where wisedome and learning were exercised disputations practised arguments propounded the questions whereof you may reade in a booke which Aristeus wrote only concerning the meeting and comming togeather of these learned men These seuentie interpreters so named translated the Bible from Hebrue into Greeke in the yere of the world 3695. in the 24. Iubile and in the 127 Olympiad in the 12. yeere of Philadelphus reigne About this time Megasthenes the Persian writeth his histories Aratus the great Astrologer wrote his booke entituled Pheonomenon Nowe when Philadelphus had this sacred booke thus in Greeke translated he reioyced much and thought himselfe happy to haue such a booke in his Librarie and so conferring with Demetrius mused greatly that neither Historiographers Philosophers or Poets had not translated this booke before But Demetrius tolde the cause to the king saying that the Heathens durst not attempt it for diuers were punished for their rash enterprises to meddle therein as Theopompus who for writing of some sentences of the Scriptures amongst his owne prophane writings was xxx dayes depriued of his memorie distracted of his minde vntill by a vision in his sleepe he was warned to knowe his faults and to reconcile himself for the same Euen so Theodecta the Poet for putting a sentence of Gods booke presumptuously with his owne in a tragedie which he made was mad for a time and blind This learned king Philadelphus rewarded these 70. interpreters at their departure in this sort euery one of them had two talents of gold 3. sutes of costly and rich apparell and a standing golden cup which wayed a whole talent which by Budeus computation is 600. crownes if it be golde and euery of them had of him a precious costly and delicate bed wrought with all silke Moreouer he sent by them to Eleazar the hie Priest 10. riche tables with siluer feete with all things belonging thereunto a Chalice of 30. talents a diademe or a crowne ful of precious stones two golden cuppes to be dedicated to the altar 10. sutes of purple with 100. basens and censers of gold for sacrifice Thus much doth Iosephus report of this Ptolomeus Philadelphus but within a short time after this came Antiochus magnus who had al Asia Syria vnder his sword he vexed the Iewes spoiled the countrey slue the Citizens taketh the kingdome of Iudea subdued Egypt he full of all wickednes setteth vp Idols altars groues and Chappels of Idols he polluted the Sanctuarie defiled the Sabbath and the feast hee offered vp swines flesh and vncleane beastes Antiochus thus played the part of a tyrant that Ierusalē was desolate the Citizens fled the women and their children taken captiues and Antiochus forced Israel to forsake their God and to doe sacrifice to his Idoles sending commissioners to all Iudea to see the execution of them so great difference was betweene two heathen kings Alexander the great and Antiochus the great the one honoring the hie Priest sacrificed in the Temple brought all things vnder the Iewes againe vsed great courtesie the other Antiochus the great stealed wasted robbed the Temple the Citie all the Cities of Iuda vntill Mattathias a godly zealous man borne in the citie of Madis saw how Antiochus blasphemed God committed idolatrie in all Iudea somed in blood and practised al mischiefe and wickednesse He consulted with his fiue sonnes Iohn Iudas afterwarde called Machabeus Simon Eleazar and Ionathas to whom hee opened the calamities of his countrey the defacing of Moses lawes the blasphemie and idolatrie that were vsed by Antiochus in all Syria and Iudea and where that their predecessours euen from Abrahams time defended the Church with their owne blood so now it was as necessarie to stop the rage of
this tirant as Moses Iosua Dauid did to the enemies of God CHAP. VIII Of the Machabees and of the last kings of Iuda and of their gouernement vnder the Romanes and of the last destruction of Hierusalem by Titus the Emperour THey tooke courage in God they prouided to resist the violence of tyranny and when Mattathias died after one yeeres gouernement he appointed Iudas Machabeus whom hee knewe bestable in body and most willing in mind to be in armes with their God against this Antiochus and his idoles And though these brethren were not of the stocke of Dauid nor of the tribe of Iuda as you may reade in the Macchabees and in Iosephus yet they ioyned their force and power together and appointed Iudas Macchabeus chiefe captaine and ruler ouer them for in his actes he was liks a lion for the wicked fled for feare of him he killed Apollonius and Seron two princes of Syria and the most part of Antiochus armie who gathered the Gentiles and a great host of Samaria to fight against Israel who were slaine and scattered like sheepe before Iudas sworde and Iudas goeth forward against Gorgias doth the like he slue their souldiers and putteth Gorgias and the rest of his armie to flight Lysias lieftenant general of Antiochus hearing of this waxed wroth disdained his campe gathered 60000. chosen footemen and 5000. horsemen to fight against Ierusalem came to Iudea pitched his tents in Bethsura where Iudas came with ten thousand souldiers against him who with confidence in God and prayers made slue fiue thousande and put the rest to flight and Lysias himselfe escaped to Antiochus Iudas hauing these victories ouer Antiochus the great went vp to Ierusalem to repaire the Sanctuarie which lay wasted made a new altar for Antiochus had erected altar and the Image vpon it where they sacrificed according to the lawe and praysed God for their good successe Now while Iudas had vanquished the Heathens that went about to destroy Israel for they of Tyre and Sidon of Ptolemais of all Galile of the Heathens of the Gentiles were set in force against Israel after that Iudas had fought with the Edumeans Ammonites hearing of these newes Iudas gaue to his brother Simon 3000. souldiers to goe vnto Galile and he tooke his brother Ionathan with him to Galaad with 8000. and they had good successe and victorie in all their warres Antiochus in the meane season traueiling through the countrey of Persia hearing of the riches and treasures of Ptolemais besieged it but was by the Citizens forced to flee who died within a while after Lysias hauing knowledge of the kings death hee caused Antiochus Epiphanes the 2. sonne of Antiochus the great to be crowned king after his father who vsed much more extremitie in Ierusalem then his father did killing destroying the Citizens robbing the Temple and putting Idoles and images vpon the altar Being slaine in Persia his brothers eldest sonne Demetrius being at Rome came with all haste possible to Tripolis a Towne in Syria and hauing possessed the most part of Syria being their lawfull king by descent the people brought Antiochus Eupator and Lysias before Demetrius who commaunded them to bee killed before they came to his sight Now when that Demetrius was set on his fathers throne a great enemie of Iuda waxed hote to reuenge the slaughter which Iudas Machabeus made of his friends and fauourers while yet Demetrius saued himselfe in Rome Iudas perceiuing the cruell meaning of Demetrius and knowing well the power and force of the Romanes made them his friends through peace of mutuall friendship sending messengers vnto them Eupolemus and Iason brethrens children to Iudas Machabeus which of the Romanes were most louingly accepted and they sent to Ierusalem a letter written in tables of brasse wherein they had a memoriall or monument of their friendship and peace In the meane time Demetrius hauing heard of the death of Nichanor sendeth his armie against Iudas in the which battell after many ioyfull victories which Iudas had ouer his enemies he is now slaine by his enemies for he that was wont to pray to ouercome and now omitted to pray trusting to his strength and to the Romanes force was left of God to himselfe Iudas nowe being dead his brother Ionathan succeeded him and had present battell with Bacchides one of Demetrius captaines and with Alcimus and put them to flight During these broiles in Iudea Demetrius perceiuing he coulde gaine nothing by Ionathan desireth peace with the Iewes which being done Ionathan gouerned Israel quietly When Alexander the sonne of Antiochus had heard the promises which Demetrius made to Ionathan and also hearing of the courage vertue and manhood of Iudas Ionathan Simon and of the two other brethren hee sought the fauour of Ionathan and friendship of the Iewes Then Alexander maketh warres against Demetrius gathered a great host and ioyned in battell with the armie of Demetrius and the two kings fought it out vntil Demetrius was slaine Then Alexander sent his Embassadors to Ptolomeus king of Egypt signifying vnto him howe he wanne his fathers kingdome and sate on his throne requesting the kings daughter in mariage so to be in league of amitie to continue perpetual friends wherein Ptolomeus gladly consented and maried his daughter Cleopatra vnto Alexander at Ptolomais and they continued friends vntil discention fel betweene Ptolomeus his sonne in law Alexander for Ptolomeus tooke his daughter Cleopatra and gaue her to Demetrius the sonne of king Demetrius which Alexander slue a little before When Alexander heard howe that his wife was giuen to his enemie Demetrius in mariage hee came with an host against Ptolomeus his father in lawe for Ptolomeus had put two crownes vpon his owne head the crowne of Asia and the crowne of Egypt and had driuen Demetrius after the ouerthrowing of his army vnto Arabia where he had his head cut off by Zabelus and sent to Ptolomeus to Egypt who likewise died shortly after and Demetrius reigned after him All these kinges sought friendship at Ionathans hands for as Iudas Machabeus slue Nicanor Apollonius and Seron princes of Syria ouerthrewe Lysius Antiochus generall and his nigh cousin and putteth Gorgias and his host to flight as hee vanquished the heathens and ouerthrew the Citie of Ephron and wanne Bosorra with many more victories which hee had of Countries cities townes so Ionathan prospered against Bacchides Alcimus against the children of Ambrie against the princes of Demetrius so that Demetrius the king sought the fauour of Ionathan Alexander entreated for friendship with Ionathan Thus God blessed the sonnes of Mattathias because they were zealous in the lawes of God for after king Demetrius was slaine by Alexander and Alexander slaine againe by Demetrius sonne named Demetrius the Iewes all this while were quiet and so peace in Israel continued vnder Ionathan and Simon as in
other busines of their owne they went into the Synagogues appointed and made for them and not into the temple which was onely for the citizens of Hierusalem for both were frequented in our Sauiours time proued by himselfe saying I haue taught in the temple and in so many Synagogues in Galilee Asia mentioned so that one temple was in Hierusalem and many Synagogues and so many that I finde in an Hebrew cōmentary 480. Synagogues were within the city of Hierusalem and diuers other Synagogues dispersed through all Iudea but God commanded that he should be but in one place worshipped which was first in Silo in the tribe and mount of Ephraim after in Hierusalem in mount Sion in the tribe of Iuda Of the vse of the Tabernacle after the temple was by Salomon builded the Talmudists write many fables which I omit to recite Samaria being thus the second time destroyed by Aristobulus and Antigonus the Pharisees corrupt euil and seditious men much enuied the prosperitie of Hircanus his sonnes perswading the people to hate him but Hircanus after that hee had done great seruice for the Iewes and brought all things in quietnes he foresawe things to come and after he had gouerned Israel 31. yeres leauing behinde him 5. sonnes he died All this while there was no king in Iudea since the captiuitie of Babylon 481. yeeres but now after Hircanus time Aristobulus his eldest sonne succeeded him in gouernment who by report of slaunderers and backbiters caused his brother Antigonus whom he loued very dearely to be killed being most falsly accused of his enemies he left his owne mother to perish for famine and put the rest of his brethren in close prison But after a while his conscience did accuse him and tortured him in such sort that Aristobulus commaunded to bee brought to the place where Antigonus his brother was slaine and being caried to the place hee vomited blood in such abundance that he cried and said O corpus impudens quousque retinebis animam quam materni ac fraterni manes flagitant and so with torment hee died leauing behinde him his wife Solome whome the Greekes call Alexandra shee enlarged the sonnes of Hircanus which Aristobulus layed in prison one of them named Iannaeus which was also called Alexander not well thought of by his father but nowe made king after his brothers death by the meanes of Alexandra Aristobulus wife he as soone as hee had obteined the gouernement vsed the like tricke as his brother did before him hee caused one of his two brethren to be slaine and the other hee esteemed with honour This being done he went with an armie against the citie of Ptolomais at what time Ptolome sirnamed Lathurus was driuen by his mother Cleopatra out of Egypt and being at Cyprus she forced him thence so that Ptolome the sonne and Cleopatra the mother vsed their policie and exercised their tyrannie one against another When Cleopatra had gotten the citie Ptolomais after a long siege her sonne againe being driuen out of Egypt Alexander king of the Iewes renewed friendship with Cleopatra for that her sonne Ptolome had plagued Iudea Now being ayded by Cleopatra hee tooke Gadara and a strong fort called Amathuta to whome Demetrius Euserus gaue battell and discomfited his armie and fled himselfe to the mountaines hee straight gathered some strength and hauing gotten 6000. souldiers againe in a readines pursued after Demetrius who for feare fled at that time After this the Iewes being sundry times thus afflicted by their owne crueltie and tyrannie they conspired against Alexander and were in armes oft times but still ouerthrowne Such was Alexanders hard happe that sixe yeeres he was molested afflicted and persecuted of his owne nations and subiects that hee slewe of them from time to time about 50000. and yet still moued hee them to hate him so that being demaunded by him of the people what they would haue him to doe they with one consent saide Hang thy selfe Alexander hauing taken the citie Betoma after much slaughter and blood he brought the wealthiest and chiefest men of the citie in bandes and fetters prisoners to Ierusalem where he commanded before his face where he sate in a high rome of his palace 800. of the greatest and chiefest men to be hanged and before they were hāged he likewise cōmanded that their wiues and children should be flaine before their eyes While this tragedy was played at Ierusalem by Alexander Antiochus Griphus was slaine by the falshod of Heracleon after whom succeeded his sonne Seleucus made warres with his vncle Antiochus sirnamed Cizicenus whom Seleucus tooke in battel and slew Alexander was at that time called of the Iewes for his tyrannie for his sirname Thracida for while Alexander liued 8000. Iewes liued out of their coūtrey banished came not to Iewry during the time of Alexāder which was 27. yeres The Iewes were miserably hādled vnder this king for Ptolome Lamyrus slew 30000. Iewes at one time he made the captiues and prisoners to eat the flesh of their own countreymen being slaine in the warres of Alexander Himself slew 600. of his subiects being moued allured to seditiō against their king by the Pharisees a sect of the Iewes that extremely hated Alexander Now his wife Alexandra called Salomine the time of her first husband Aristobulus she raigned quietly after her husband 9. yeres Alexander had 2. sonnes Hircanus and Aristobulus and though that Hircanus was the elder brother heire to the crowne yet did Aristobulus gather an army and inuaded Iudea while yet Alexandra his mother liued Antipater the Idumean and Aretas king of Arabia tooke part to ayde the elder brother Hircanus Alexander had giuen councel to his wife before hee died to speake faire to the Pharisees who could much perswade the people and also to conceale his death vntill she had gotten the castle of Ierusalem considering his life to be offensiue to the people and to make no accompt of his burial but let the people vse their discretion She vsing this her husbands aduice became in great fauour with the people in the meane season Aristobulus fortified himselfe being by nature very quicke industrious made himselfe strong and hauing corrupted the Romane Scaurus then Pompeius the great Embassadour to be his friend to the Senators Hircanus againe sent to Rome opening his iniuries accusing and declaring the infidelitie and corruption of his Embassador crauing their ayde and helpe being the elder brother to haue his right Vpon this cōplaint Pompey being then in Armenia against Tigranes and comming to Damascus being newly by Metellus and Lolius taken he repared to Ierusalem with an hoste of souldiers at what time Caius Anthonius restored to Hircanus the gouernment and the office of the high Priest hee caried captiue with him to Rome Aristobulus with his 2. sonnes Alexander and Antigonus This furie of domesticall sedition this tyrannie and
erected vp a kingdome and was the first place that was inhabited as both Zenophon and Berosus affirme for the Caldeans knew that before the flood that men liued and that the continuance of them were before the flood one thousande sixe hundreth and fiftie yeeres and more for that then Noah and his sonnes taught the second age of things done in the former age and how for sinne God had destroied the world for the Egyptians and the Phoenicians long after the flood were taught by the Chaldeans of the flood and of the former time and after more perfectly instructed by Abraham which in the time of famine trauailed from Canaan into Egypt where for a time hee read Arithmeticke to the Egyptians then rude and ignorant of any great knowledge that hearing of these things they beganne very obscurely and darkely to set downe many things which they then not perfectly knewe and yet are vnperfect for that they were ignorant of the Genesis The goodnesse of God spared Noah for 350. yeres and more to instruct the second age to preach vnto them the wonderfull workes and mercies of God before the flood and to warne the world after the flood from sinne the onely cause of Gods wrath towards man and to bring them vp in the true religion of God not as prophane writers affirme that hee wandered all the countreys of the world by diuers and sundry names as by the name of Ogyges Ianus Coelus Oenotrius Geminus pater and many such fabulous names of his lawes in euery countrey of his religion and ceremonies in euery kingdome of his being in Italy in Spaine and in other countreys cleane contrary to the nature and trueth of the history which came after the flood vnto the place where he yet liued with his forefathers Lamech Methusalem Enoch and so foorth before the flood the land of Shinear where by the consent and opinion of the best learned he liued vntil he died I wil not therefore follow Caldean fables in the antiquities of their Caldean and Assyrian kings for that they haue no sound warrant for their historie but that which Berosus setteth downe which Manethon an Egyptian priest much commendeth and maketh many supplies of Berosus lies and so doeth Io. Annius a priest in Whitenberge in his Commentaries vpon Berosus and so doth Diodorus in his bookes of Fabulous antiquitie But leauing Berosus Menathon and Annius to forge their fables I wil as briefly as I can runne through this historie for that I can finde nothing true of them but that which I reade in the Bible from the time of Phul assur vntill Balsaars time which were but 10. kings whose names I set here downe 1 Phul assur named in the Scripture Tiglat Phul-assur 2 Salmanassar which destroyed Samaria and toke the 10. tribes of Israel vnto Niniue captiue 3 Saneherib who came against Ezechias to Hierusalem with an huge armie folowing his fathers tyrannie Saneherib 4 Merodach the first king of Babylon againe broght Niniue vnder Babylon 5 Berodach his sonne 6 Nabuchodonosor which destroied Hierusalem and tooke the tribe of Iuda captiue into Babylon 7 Euilmerodach Nabuchodonosors sonne this restored Iehoakim king of Iuda vnto his libertie againe after that Nebuchodonosor his father died 8 The last of these Kings was Balsaar of these many kings in this the history of the Prophetes make mention and so much of the historie is true I will therefore set downe the continuance the nombers of their kings the change and varietie of this Kingdome for after that Nimrod had drawen people together he first laide the foundation of the Empire made lawes began to builde a great Citie and named it Babylon the first Citie after the flood which Citie though Nimrod began it his sonne Belus amplified it and last of al Semiramis finished it in such forme and stately shewe as he that is desirous to knowe the length the breadth the compasse situation the strength and beautie of Babylō let him read Herodotus Solinus where it is largely described Though it is thought that Herodotus and others in this do erre for Iosephus lib. 1. contr App. and Beroaldus 3. Chr. affirme that the olde writers erred much about the building of Babylon and of Niniue for that which Nabuchodonosor claimed to be his owne saying Nonne haec est Babylon quam ego aedificaui in robore fortitudinis meae Is not this Babylon which I haue builded the Grecians and all olde writers attribute to Nimrod to Belus and to Semiramis The like fable is of Niniue which was builded first by Assur the sonne of Semi by writers is attributed to Nynus Herein both Greeke and Lataine Historians are ouer seene aswell in the time as in the persons in that they were ignorant of the Prophetes histories howbeit Babylon was begun by Nimrod and Belus and somewhat enlarged and beautified by Semiramis but the dignitie and chiefe soueraigntie of Babylon must be graunted to Nabuchodonosor vnder whom the Caldeans onely florished ouer all Kingdomes and enioyed aureum seculum So this Countrey florished first before all other Countreis Babylon the first towne the first seate of the Empire of the world being the chiefest palace of the king for so were they called kings of Babylon and the first kings in the worlde after the flood and so continued almost two hundred yeres vntill the time of Ninus who after he had builded Niniue in the plaine of Aturia a farre greater Towne then Babylon though before it was begunne by Assur one of the sonnes of Sem yet fully by Nynus finished This Nynus waxed great and strong layed siege to Babylon subdued it and brought the Empire of Caldea subiect vnto Assyria then both Caldea and Assyria became one Monarchie and then the kings of Babylon were called kings of Assyria and then Assyria hauing conquered Babylon began to be chiefe and continued from Belus time the first king of Assyria vntill Sardanapalus time the last king of Assyria which as Eusebius writeth was 12. hundred fourtie yeeres from the first reigne of Nynus vntill the last of Sardanapalus so long the seede of Sem continued kings and helde the Monarchie of Assyria As the kingdome of Babylon was translated then from the posteritie of Cham after the first 200. yeeres vnto the posteritie of Sem so nowe againe Niniue is made subiect to Babylon as it shal be hereafter shewed when the historie of the kings of Assyria is handled Thus Assyria sometime subiect to Chaldea and Chaldea to Assyria Niniue to Babylon and Babylon to Niniue vntill both were subdued by the Medes and after by the Persians so God doth appoint and God doth disappoint states and common wealthes according to the decree of his eternall will sinne being the onely cause of Gods anger and wrath his wrath the cause of all calamities destruction and subuersion of kingdomes as Sirach saith Regnum à gente in gentem transferetur propter iniustitiam
first yeere of Salmanasser vntill the first yeere of Nabuchodonosors raigne is 115. yeeres hee raigned but tenne yeere in the whole and then he died And after him succeeded Saneherib who dwelt in Niniue who following his fathers steppes in all tyrannie and seeking meanes to destroy the rest of Gods people came with a mightie huge armie to besiege Hierusalem against king Ezechias with most horrible blasphemies against God preferring his owne force and power being the arme of flesh before the Lord of heauen but the prayer of Ezechias the king and of the Prophete Esay was heard of God and God sent his Angels to defend his saincts and to destroy the enemies of his Church All the bragges of Sanneherib and all his horrible blasphemies the Lord at a moment with one blast blewe away his force his strength and his huge armies being one hundreth fourscore and fiue thousand were slaine by the Angell of the Lorde and Sanneherib fled to Niniue where his owne sonnes Adramelech and Sharazer slew him in the temple worshipping his god Nisroch euen before that Idole whome hee preferred before the liuing God the iust iudgement of God for blasphemie to bee slaine of his owne sonnes before the face of his god For this periured king Sanneherib sware vnto the Embassadours of Ezechias if hee might haue three hundreth talents of siluer and thirtie talents of golde hee would peaceably depart without offering of any iniurie to the Iewes this Ezechias by perswasions satisfied his demaunde but Sanneherib perfourmed not his promise but contrary to his othe returning from Egypt where hee layde siege to Pelusium in vaine fearing Tharsicos king of AEthiopia that with great power came to ayde the king of Egypt hee came as you heard and layde siege to Ierusalem but he had his reward Herodotus saith that in Egypt in one of the temples there was a statue made for Sanneherib with this sentence written in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This sentence is of some referred to Sethon king of Egypt And thus this wicked king after much mischiefe and harme done to the Church of God in the seuenth yeere of his raigne and in the 12. Olympiad died he and his father Salmanasser raigned in Assyria when Romulus and Rhemus raigned in Rome he had the ende you heard of you shall reade more of him in the second booke of Herodotus All this while Chaldea had their gouernours their lawes and all thinges free fit for the common wealth yet they payed tribute to the kings of Assyria Hitherto newe Assyria raigned as the chiefe seate of the Empire and held Babylon as subiect to their Scepter Now while this Sannehorib had in hand to conquere Iudea and thought thence to passe vnto Egypt as hee did imagining fully to subdue all those regions which his father Salmanasser thought to haue done when newes came to Babylon that all his armie was slaine at Ierusalem and himselfe killed at Niniue by his sonnes the Chaldeans being hereof aduertised tooke present occasions to set in for the Empire of Assyria Merodach being then gouernour of Babylon considering that both his two sonnes fled to Armenia after the murther of their father as Functius saith for feare of their elder brother Asserhaddon but Iosephus saith the yonger brother Nowe Asserhaddon one of the three sonnes of Sanneherib in whose time Manasses king of Iuda was borne when his father was slaine and his brethren fled he entred to his fathers seate and gouerned the Assyrians tenne yeres But Merodach the sonne of Baladan the gouernour of Babylon a discreete man looking vnto the gouernment of Asserhaddon being full of contention betweene the brethren the other two which fled before after they killed their father returne with a great armie against the king Asserhaddon their brother and helde ciuill warres within themselues so long that the Monarchie of Assyria became so weake that Merodach translated the kingdome of Assyria vnto Chaldea and brought Niniue againe subiect vnto Babylon Nowe when Merodach had raigned twelue yeeres in Babylon and after hauing the full dignitie and supremacie ouer the Assyrians and Chaldeans hee was named the first king of Babylon againe and raigned fourtie yeres in Babylon Of this Merodach there is mention made in Ieremie Capta est Babel confusus est Bel victus est Merodach which shal be more spoken of when the kingdome of Iudea is in hand Ptolomey doth call this Merodach Mardocempadus for in the Egyptian histories Herodotus differeth frō Eusebius others in the names of kings men must reade with great diligence with much care and weigh the computation of time as here betweene Metasthenes and Functius some controuersie riseth from the time of Belochus vnto Merodach But Functius following the best authoritie is best to be beleeued for he reproueth by propheticall histories the errour of Metasthenes which goeth about without warrant of Scripture to prooue histories of the Bible as these partly be for the most part both of Assyrian and Chaldean histories for after Sardanapalus time they do cōcurre with the time of the Prophets Esay doeth make mention of Merodach the sonne of Baladan who sent Ambassadours with letters vnto Ezechias with great presents to intreat of friendship and to be in league one with another where they were with all solemnitie receiued shewing vnto them all the treasures and pleasures of Ierusalem and returning to Babylon with rewards After Merodach died when hee had raigned fourtie yeeres in Babylon leauing behinde him his sonne Bemerodach who raigned one and twentie yeeres of whome litle or nothing we reade of After whom succeeded Nabuchodonosor the first father of the great Nabuchodonosor this king tooke warre in hand against Necho king of Egypt and went from Niniue to the riuer Perath which is likewise Euphrates where Necho came in person to fight against a citie of the Assyrians named Carchemish Iosias fearing Necho lest he passing through Iudea would haue taken his kingdome he not consulting with the Lord fighting with Necho was slaine in the valley of Megiddo or Magiddo as Herodotus and Functius affirme But to come to Nabuchodonosor To auoyde tediousnes I will ioyne him with his father letting the reader to the second of Herodotus where hee shall reade of this first Nabuchodonosor and his warres and for that hee ioyntly raigned two yeeres with his sonne as Functius doeth write the sonne being of greater fame and better knowen farre then the rest of the kings of Chaldea or of Assyria In the Ecclesiasticall historie I wil set downe his actions his warres his greatnes and his victories After his father had raigned 25. yeres this his sonne Nabuchodonosor the great who in the eight yeere of his raigne subdued all Syria Iudea onely excepted conquered from Euphrates vnto Pelusium and brought in subiection euen from the riuer of Egypt vnto the riuer Perath and all that pertained to the king of
Cranaus the second king And ouer the Argiues Crotopas their eight king CHAP. II. Of the kings of Egypt after Ramesses time sirnamed Aegyptus ' at what time Oceana was called Egypt after the name of Aegyptus before Mizreia NOw after the great ouerthrowe of the Egyptians in the red sea after a while began to raigne in Egypt Ramesses sirnamed Aegyptus after whose name Egypt was then called as Manethon writeth for at the first Egypt was named Oceana or Mizreia and the second time it was named Aerea and nowe the thirde time called Egypt as you reade before This Aegyptus after hee had vanquished his brother Danaus he vsurped vpon the Egyptians and raigned king of Egypt 68. yeeres for Egypt had not recouered her former state as yet since the ouerthrowe of Chencres and all the states of Egypt who perished in the red Sea pursuing the Israelites Of this Manethon seemeth most ignorant saying that the shepheards were driuen out of Egypt for some natural foule filthie disease as leprosie which the Israelites had affirming that Moses was an Egyptian borne in the citie of Heliopolis and that he was named Onarsiphus and became leprous and then went to the Israelites which euery where Manethon nameth Hicsos shepheards or captiues and became conuersant with them and was driuen out of Egypt with them In the beginning of this Aegyptus raigne Moses died after whom succeeded Iosua the second Iudge of Israel This time raigned in Assyria Amintes their 19. king Also Dionysius otherwise Bacchus whom the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subdued India and builded a towne after his owne name called Nisa in remembrance of his great victories that he had ouer the Indians Now succeeded in Egypt Myris or Moeris as Herodotus doth call him this king restored Egypt againe and recouered strength and great power and builded many notable and famous monuments worthy to be remembred he brought the riuer Nilus being out of hope to be repaired in course againe he made the lake Miris of such wonderfull bignes that he farre excelled the rest of the kings before him This Myris made the Labirinths of Egypt which after Dedalus taking an example of those Labirinths made the like in Creete imitating Myris in all points he builded such monuments for Vulcan in Egypt as Herodotus calleth them Digna Vulcano vestibula where you may reade more This king raigned fourtie yeeres in Egypt and had a sonne succeeded him of no lesse fame then himselfe named Sesostris of whom the priestes of Egypt spake much he began to augment the kingdome of Egyyt with diuers victories ouer the Syrians Phoenicians Thracians Scithians and the most part of Asia This king onely conquered Aethiopia and was king proclaimed both of Egypt and Aethiopia this king waxed strong on land and sea he made more monuments of his victories in diuers strange kingdoms leauing behinde him his statues and Images erected vp in forraine countreys some of them Herodotus doeth affirme to haue seene in his dayes which liued about Xerxes time one he saw in Palestina cut in a large stone with letters written round about his picture And about Ionia he saw two statues or pictures of this king Sesostris the one betweene Ionia and the citie of Ephâ—…sus the other as men goe from Sardinia into Smirna he was cut in two great high stones of fiue cubites length holding in his right hand a speare and in the left hande a bow being in all points of his apparell armed like an Egyptian with this sentence written betweene his two shoulders in the Egyptian tongue I haue caried this Countrey vpon my shoulders Some take these statues to be Memnon but the priestes of Egypt affirmed that it was Sesostris in his returne from his victories into Egypt euen he that caried kings captiues bound to his chariot from towne to towne from countrey to countrey In Aethopia and Egypt he had many of these pictures and many statues set vpon pillars and arches according to the maner of Egyptian triumphes This king was so honoured in Egypt and his statues after his death so esteemed that wheÌ„ Darius Histaspis long after that time came into Egypt being by his predecessor Cambyses conquered brought into subiection vnder the Persians yet he was not suffred by the priests of Vulcan to put his statue aboue the picture of Sesostris in Memphis affirming that Sesostris had conquered as many countreis and gotten as many victories as Darius had and beside Sesostris had ouerthrowne the strong and inuincible Scithians which Darius neuer could which speaches Darius tooke in good part and would not reuenge though well he might This Sesostris is named in Functius table Amenophis imitating Manethon the Egyptian writer where he is set downe to be the thirde in that gouernment Dynastia Larthes is a name likewise of dignitie as were Pharaos before the gouernours and potentats for in the first gouernment of Larthes which endured 194. yeres Zetus was the first as Manethon affirmeth and raigned 55. yeres After Zetus succeeded in this kinde of gouernment Ranses Larthes which gouerned 66. yeres after whom succeeded this king Sesostris the thirde Larthes which raigned 40. yeeres The fourth Larthes was named Phero the sonne of this Sesostris of which I spake last Herodotus reciteth a historie of this Phero that it happened to him to become blinde and so continued 11. yeeres at what time he was instructed by the oracle of Butis to finde out a temperat chaste woman which had neuer knowen carnalitie but onely one man and that hee should wash his eyes with this womans vrine and hee should receiue againe his sight This Phero Larthes making great speach and search for such a woman after many vaine trials he found one woman whose vrine healed him whom after he had his sight hee maried and caused all those women whose water could not helpe him to bee brought into the citie called Rubragleba red clay where both they and the citie were commaunded by the king to be burned After this Phero Larthes succeeded Thuoris the fift and last Larthes of those Potentates this king is named in Diodorus Cetes which the Greekes as Melancthon saith called Proteus for diuers illusions which he vsed in magicke whose temple was long seene after his death in Memphis To this king came Paris Priamus sonne at what time hee rauished Helen Menelaus wife from Sparta to Greece and was driuen of force into Egypt of his hard welcome there and of the kings-commandement to Alexander to depart from Egypt with threatning of death vnlesse he would be gone within three dayes with all Grecians with him sauing that the king stayed Helen in Egypt where Menelaus came after the siege of Troy and was honourably receiued by Proteus the king and welcoÌ„med of his wife Helen Others write that Menelaus and Helen went both together after Troy was destroyed by force of tempest into
to the people of Egypt then his brother was who in like sort vsed them with toile and with all kinde of bondage as Cheops did and therefore the like praise they had For after they had raigned both an hundred sixe yeres during which time Egypt suffered great calamitie they disdained after their death to call them by the names of kings but suffered shepherds to lodge in their stately Piramides loathing once to thinke vpon these two kings By this time ended the gouernment of 177. vnder the Potentats during which time many things happened in other kingdomes as erection of the kingdome of Israel after Samsons time their last Iudge by appointing Saul their first king about the 60. yeres of these last Potentats of Egypt At what time the kings of Peloponesus in Greece and their gouernment of Monarchia ended priestes which were called Carni were appointed magistrates After 26. kings had raigned in Scicionum about the 80. of this gouernment the kingdome of Lacedemonia and the kingdome of Corinth beganne both at one time at what time raigned in Athens Codrus their last king after whom the state altered into the gouernment of Iudges in the 114. yeere of this Dynastia during which time raigned in Assyria foure kings and ouer the Albanes otherwise called the Latins raigned sixe kings this was the twentie Dynastie of the Egyptians this began tenne yeeres before the sixt Iubilee and ended 19. yeeres after the beginning of the ninth Iubilee In Egypt gouerned by this time Mycerinus or Cerinus in Diodorus the sonne of Cheops a iust king and gentle vsing the people with much more clemencie then either his father or his vncle did before him he opened the temples which of an hundreth and sixe yeeres were shut vp he restored all Egypt into her former libertie which had bene long in calamitie and misery vnder his father he commaunded the people to be free from their taxes and toiles and vsed them with greatlenitie hee iudged iustly and shewed himselfe such a king that all the Egyptians thought themselues happie of his gouernment for he loathed tyrannie and crueltie and was much ashamed of his fathers reproche amongst the people This Mycerinus in the middest of his good gouernment had onely one daughter that died of whom her father to shewe the great loue which hee bare vnto her made such a monument for her buriall that it past all the burials of the kings of Egypt hee caused a coffine of the likenes of an oxe to be made set ouer all with golde wherein hee layed his daughter and hanged the same vp from the ground in his pallace at the citie of Sai where euery day the priestes came with frankincense and other sweete odours to doe sacrifice the oxe of Apis which was the God of Memphis and the oxe Mneum which was the God of Heliopolis were not so set foorth as this oxe of Sai where Mycerinus daughter was buried An other misfortune was denounced by an Oracle vnto Mycerinus that hee likewise should be buried within sixe yeres after his daughter for that he altered the state of Egypt and eased the Egyptians from such bondage as they were to abide for an hundreth and fiftie yeeres of the which Cheops and Cephrim two brethren perfourmed an hundreth and sixe remayning yet behinde fourtie and foure yeeres of the calamitie which by an Oracle was appointed for Egypt and to seeke to please the Oracle Mycerinus became a little better then his father Cheops or his vncle Cephrim two tyrants that plagued Egypt After this king the priests of Egypt doe set downe a king named Asichis of whom I finde in Herodotus that he past the rest of the kings of Egypt in building and vexing of his subiects in so much that hee made one Piramides to excell the rest with this inscription This Piramides doeth passe the rest as farre as Iupiter doeth excell the rest of the gods This king is named also Anisis in Melancthon and in Functius but in Herodotus Anisis or Asichis a king who came not to be king of Egypt by succession of blood but by election of the priestes who after he had raigned sixe yeeres was driuen out of Egypt by Sabacus an Aethiopian which raigned after Anisis 50. yeeres king of Egypt this king is called Sesac in the booke of the Kings of whom you may reade more for in the fift yeere of Roboam king of Iuda this Sesac king of Egypt is spoken of After Sabacus succeeded Sethon a priest of Vulcan this king after many ouerthrowes being left and forsaken of his owne people made his complaint to Vulcan of whom he was certified in a dreame that he should haue ayde and helpe if he would meete the king of Arabia and his armie and giue him battel Being thus encouraged with a smal cōpany of Egyptiās that folowed him he camped before the city of Pelusiū where the armie of the Arabians pitched their tents while the first night they lay in their tents rats vermine and myse of al the coūtrey about deuoured their arrows their bowstrings their quiuers their targets their instrumēts which they prepared for the warres so that the Arabians in the next morning fled In memory of this victory Sethon when he died caused himselfe to be buried in the temple of Vulcan and commaunded that his statue should be made in a stone with a rat in his hand with this sentence written about it In me quis intuēs pius esto In that place where Herodotus doth intreat of this Sethon he seemed very fabulous saith that the Isle of Foemis swimmeth on a lake and that the priests of Egypt affirme that from the first king of Egypt vntil this kings time 341. kings are past which are 11. more kings then Manethon before affirmed during which time the sunne foure times altered his course rising in the West and going downe in the East with such other vaine and friuolous fables cōcerning their antiquities This Sethon is named of Eusebius Spethon with whom Manethon supposeth in his chronicles that it was he that Sannaherib had warres with and after ouerthrew him for I reade in Eusebius and Iosephus who make mention of one Tarachus king of Aethiopia which came to ayde Sethon king of Egypt against Sanneherib at what time God had raised many enemies to plague Israel and Iuda for their transgressions against their God which so mercifully had saued them oftentimes as Assar Salmanasser which in the histories of the Prophets is called Tiglat Assar to whose hands God gaue ouer Samaria and tenne tribes of Israel and afterward Ierusalem to the hands of Nabuchodonosor with the other two tribes of Iuda Beniamin for both the kings of Assyria and of Egypt made a pray of Iuda as in the history of the Assyrians is more at large declared In Egypt after Sethon the priest of Vulcan died the gouernment
should claime more dignitie then was set downe by Alexander in a table which the Romanes afterward kept vsing the same order for a time as Alexander did It is written that the great Alexander had yeerely tribute paide vnto him during his life the summe of sixe thousande talents for Plutarch in the life of Agesilaus speaketh of a king named Tachus in Egypt to whom Agesilaus came from Sparta for Nectanabus was a nephew of king Tachus and one of his chiefe captaines who rebelled against the king and being chosen by the Egyptians their king he desired the aide of Agesilaus who ioyned with him being an olde souldier hauing had in hand greater battels in Greece against Pelopidas and Epaminondas then at that time with Nectanabus against Tachus Therefore Nectanabus committed all into the handes of Agesilaus by whom the victorie fell to Nectanabus Tachus the king forced to flee After this the affaires of this Nectanabus had good successe and hee was quietly stablished in his kingdome by the meanes of Agesilaus king of Sparta to whō Nectanabus gaue two hundred thirtie talents of siluer in readie money to defray the charges of his souldiers Thus Nectanabus reigned quietly in Egypt though vnder Darius the last king of Persia Mezabes gouerned Egypt who yeelded into the hands of Alexander the kingdome of Egypt assoone as hee had heard that his master king Darius was slaine and al Persia subdued by Alexander who as you heard before possessed Egypt without warres being yeelded of the state of Egypt From the time of Alexander the great vnto Iulius Caesar that is from the Monarchie of the Grecians vnto the Romanes is two hundred eightie two yeeres After the death of Alexander his kingdomes were diuided chiefely betweene foure of his graund captaines specially those kingdomes which were of the greatest fame and renowne as Macedonia to Cassander Asia the lesser to Antigonus Babylon and all Asia the great to Saleuchus furnamed Nicanor Egypt with the most part of Syria to Ptolomei the sonne of Lagi This was the first king of Egypt after Alexanders death after whose names all the kings of Egypt vntill Iulius Caesars time were called Ptolomei This king grewe great and mightie in Egypt and beganne strongly vpon the next nations vnto him to make warre and brought diuers subiects vnder the Empire of Egypt whose good successe in the beginning Perdiccas began to enuy This Perdiccas was the chiefe gouernor of Macedonia and as it were left a tutour ouer Arideus the base brother of Alexander the great to whom by common consent the kingdome of Macedonia was appointed Perdiccas supposing to keepe Egypt subiect to Macedonia and to bridle the insolencie which he sawe in Ptolomei he leauied a great armie of souldiers made a voiage into Egypt against whose comming Ptolomie with al celeritie gathered his army and gaue him battel wherein Perdiccas was slaine and his whole company ouerthrowen Vpon this ouerthrowe of Perdiccas Ptolomei king of Egypt waxed insolent of the victorie entred into Syria by strong hand brought Syria vnder Egypt after hee went to Ierusalem he plagued the citizēs wasted spoiled brought diuers out of Iudea captiues into Egypt Of this king the Prophet Daniel spake in this sort The king of the South shal be mightie and his dominion shal be great reade more in Daniel of this Antigonus being aduertised of Ptolomeis great victories howe he had vanquished Perdiccas subdued Syria sent his sonne Demetrius a young man of 22. yeeres and the first time that he tooke the charge of a General in hand and that against an old souldier of the great Alexander trained vp in discipline of warres alwaies Demetrius was put to flight 5000. of his men slaine and almost eight thousand taken by the Citie of Gaza Antigonus hearing howe his sonne was ouerthrowen said that this Ptolomei ouerthrew beardles men said further he should fight with bearded men And it came to passe that Demetrius being before put to flight was not quiet before he requited the last foile by the king of Egypt receiued with the like ouerthrow wherein Demetrius had the victorie of Ptolomei and of his army which victorie did put Ptolomei out of al Syria and brought Antigonus in againe By this time Seleucus whō Antigonus had driuen out of Babylon before came againe and entred into Babylon Cassander likewise fearing that young Hercules the sonne of Alexander the great being nowe of fourteene yeeres of age should be by the Macedonians so fauoured for his fathers sake that hee should be king in Macedonia therefore hee secretly commaunded that both Hercules and his mother Arsine should be murthered yet Cassander was not quiet vntill hee practised the like murther against Olympias Alexanders mother and against Roxana Alexanders wife Antigonus and his sonne Demetrius were much enuied for their victories this time in so much that all these kings after Alexanders death destroyed one another with continuall warres Lysimacus was slaine by Seleucus Seleucus was slaine by Ptolomei whose sister was maried to Lysimachus Polibeus writeth that in the hundred twentie fourth Olympiad Ptolomie Lagi king of Egypt Seleuchus Nicanor king of Syria Lysimachus king of Thracia and Ptolomei Cerannon brother to Philadelphus chiefe souldiers vnder Alexander the great were slaine one of another Thus Ptolomei the sonne of Lagi after hee had conquered Perdiccas ouerthrewe Demetrius subdued Syria and the most part of Iudea when hee reigned fourttie yeeres died during which time Demetrius Phalerius ruled Athens vnder Cassander and Demetrius surnamed Poliorcetes destroyed a Citie in Samaria which Perdiccas builded This time the people of Alexandria sent to entreate for the Romanes friendshippe to aide them if neede required This was the first request made to the Romanes by the Citizens of Alexandria in Egypt for the Romanes beganne to bee strong and they of Alexandria perceiuing the great warres and tyrannie that was in all partes of the worlde at that time And also hauing seene within Egypt more blood in the time of one Ptolomei then in twentie Pharaos for then Egypt had nothing to doe but to builde Piramides and to make Labirinths monstrous and needelesse monuments but nowe sworde and fire came into Egypt In the time of this king florished Theophrastus a famous Philosopher one of Aristotles schollers and Menedemus another Philosopher in the same time liued Menander the Tragedian Atheneus the Historian and Demetrius Phalerius In Egypt succeeded after Ptolome Lagi his sonne Philadelphus a learned prince and a great fauourer of learned men this king was iust discreete and gentle bent more to mainteine peace then to procure warres and therefore so beloued of his people and hee to them againe so louing that during his whole gouernment which was thirtie eight yeeres the Egyptians liued quietly without trouble or warres where before Egypt for a thousand foure hundred yeeres was brought vp vnder blind priests
idolatrous superstition giuen to all errours onely acquainted with the Egyptian tongue Now Philadelphus with greater care and zeale of his countrie then any of his predecessours had before kept with him diuers and sundrie learned men as Aratus Callimachus Apollonius Theocritus Hipparchus the Mathematician and Demetrius Phalerius the Philosopher which at that time was banished from Athens and receiued in Egypt Philadelphus a prudent and a learned prince and cōuersant with learned men knewe well that the Iewes religion their lawes their maners and their seruice of God did farre excell all the nations of the world he sent great presents and giftes to Eleazr the hie Priest then being at Ierusalem entreating him to send learned men of the Hebrewes that coulde translate the bookes of Moses and the Prophets into the Greeke tongue that Egypt might be acquainted with the worde of God aswell as Iuda to whom Eleazar sent seuentie two learned men to interprete and to translate the Bible After this hee prouided in Alexandria such a famous Librarie to the common vse of learned men as farre excelled all other Libraries And as Melancthon sayth hee caused many other thinges to bee translated into the Greeke tongue hee restored the poore Iewes that dwelt captiues in Egypt into libertie hee sent for learned men into all Regions hee honourably mainteined them and louingly vsed them that Egypt florished with sound doctrine and vertuous men for euen then Iesus the sonne of Sirach gathered in Egypt together many wise sentences and godly speaches many learned and vertuous lessons which his graundfather before had written in Ierusalem which hee nowe augmented with care and diligence and compiled in a booke which is reserued in the Church to great vse This king excelled all the Pharaos before him and all the Ptolomeis after him and during his reigne he studied to mainteine peace and to auoide warre and therefore bestowed his daughter Berenices to Antiochus surnamed Theos who offered diuers iniuries to mooue warres against Egypt but while Philadelphus liued Egypt prospered florished with all good successe but after that Philadelphus died his sonne Ptolomei Euergetes reigned twentie sixe yeeres of whom Daniel saide that the kings daughter of the South which was Berenices Philadelphus daughter and this king Euergetes sister shoulde come to the king of the North to make agreement but Daniel saide it shoulde not continue for shee shoulde bee deliuered to death and out of the budde of her rootes shall one stande vp named Euergetes and shall enter with an armie into the fortresse of the king of the North which is called Antiochus Theos and doe what hee list and shall preuaile Hee plagued the Syrians and reuenged Berenices his sister with diuers victories for hee caried captiues into Egypt their goddes with their moulten images and their precious vessels of siluer and golde for after Seleucus had lost his Nauies by a tempest on the sea hee geathered an armie by lande and gaue battaile to Ptolomei but the like misfortune fell then vnto him and the victorie happened to Ptolomei for hee was driuen to flee to Antiochia and from thence to craue his brother Antiochus helpe which then gouerned Cicilia Ptolomei hearing of these newes concluded a peace with Seleucus and returned into Egypt after he had fully requited his sisters death vpon the Syrians During Euergetes reigne the Parthians beganne their kingdome who were all named Arsaces as nowe the kings of Egypt were called Ptolomei this time the warres of Africke beganne betweene the Carthagineans and the Numidians at that time Amilcar was sent captaine generall into Spaine for Carthage in this Euergetes time certeine enterludes were appointed by the oracle of Sibilla in Rome named Floralia the fourth kalends of May in the honour of the goddesse Flora for faire weather and fruites of the earth like vnto the feast named Rubigalia which Numa Pompilius instituted the seuenth kalends of May in Rome After this Ptolomei Euergetes had reigned twentie sixe yeres he died whom succeeded his sonne Ptolomei surnamed Philopater a cruell beast and not a king but a monstrous tyrant a murtherer both of his wife and his sister Euridices whose filthy and lewde life is better to passe with silence then to expresse in writing of whome Iustine saide Noctes in stupris dies in conuiuijs consumsit letting his strumpet Agathocles and her mother Euanthea to rule and gouerne Egypt as pleased them for none might lesse commaunde in Egypt then the king nor none might doe more in Egypt then women for nothing delighted Philopator but women and dauncing and whatsoeuer Agathocles would that also Philopator would Against this king Antiochus the great king of Asia and Syria came towarde Egypt and beganne to take and spoile those Cities of Syria which held with Philopator the king of Egypt Antiochus comming forwarde towarde Egypt Ptolomei Philopator mette him and gaue him battell at Raphia a Towne in the Confines of Palestina where Antiochus the great was ouerthrowen and put to flight and forced to intreate for peace at Philopators hande and so Philopator king of Egypt gotte the victorie ouer Antiochus and recouered those Townes of Syria which Antiochus had woonne before This victorie was well gotten but not well vsed for Philopator was so puffed vp with pride and insolencie that hee thought hauing ouerthrowen Antiochus the great hee might well also ouerthrowe IEHOVAH the great entred Ierusalem spoyled the Temple slue the Citizens and made hauocke of Gods people some to bee deuoured of beastes and some to bee quartered by men Reade the Machabees further of this but specially reade the eleuenth of Daniel where the whole historie of the kings of Syria and Asia of Egypt of Persia of Greece and of the Romanes are before spoken by the Prophet There it said was by Daniel that Antiochus and all his armie should be deliuered into the handes of Philopator and after that victorie it was by the Prophete saide that Philopator shoulde waxe arrogant and proude and that he shoulde contemne and blaspheme the Lorde of Israel and the God of Iacob that hee shoulde prophane the Temple destroy the people and in his furie excell in tyrannie but at length hee shoulde not preuaile for hee was poysoned and so died after his most wicked and incestuous life leauing behinde him a sonne by his sister Euridices of fiue yeeres olde when hee had reigned seuenteene yeeres I passe briefely these Histories of Egypt for that in the historie of the kings of Syria and Asia the kings of Egypt are likewise spoken of and in the Machabees also you may reade further of this Antiochus for since the death of Alexander the great the kings of Syria and Asia could not agree with the kings of Egypt vntill the last destruction of both the kingdomes by the Romanes and therefore assoone as euer Philopator died Antiochus streight againe sought to inuade Egypt vnderstanding this Ptolomei
Epiphanes the sonne and heire of Philopator was young and not able to resist so great a King hee entred into Phoenicia and into other partes of Syria which yet liued subiect vnder the king of Egypt They of Alexandria sent to Rome to the Senators for ayde against Antiochus and against Philippe king of Macedonia for both these two kings affected the kingdome Ambassadors were sent from the Senators vnto Antiochus willing him to auoyde out of Egypt and not to doe iniurie to the yong king This messenger was litle esteemed of Antiochus and therefore the Senators pronounced him an enemie of the Romanes Antiochus being aduertised of this agreed with Ptolomey Epiphanes and gaue him Cleopatra his daughter in mariage supposing thereby the easier to get the kingdome of Egypt hee gaue Coelosyria Iudea Samaria and Phoenicia with his daughter to Epiphanes but he was deceiued and mist his purpose For he was preuented by the Romanes and kept off from Egypt hee was ouerthrowen and vanquished at Thermopila by Attilius and Glabrio Romane Consuls and the next yeere after he was quite driuen out of Syria and Asia by Lucius Cornelius Scipio at the citie of Magnesia Of this Antiochus the great and of his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes another monster Daniel before shewed their tyranny for during the time of these two kings Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria and Ptolomey Epiphanes king of Egypt the Iewes were most miserably afflicted Reade Iosephus how also the Samaritanes molested them and sore vexed them And for that I spake of these kings before in the history of Assyria I will briefly runne ouer the rest of these kings Now after that Ptolomey Epiphanes had raigned 24. yeeres hee died leauing two sonnes behinde him the elder called Philometor the yonger called Phiscon the elder brother raigned king in Egypt 35. yeeres of whom his vncle Antiochus Epiphanes a subtile king vnder the pretence of loue and care of his nephew became his ouerseer and tutour rather aspiring the kingdome then respecting the king for hee furnished Egypt with men of armes hauing the strongest townes of Egypt in his owne hand as Pelusium and others The king being yet yong idle slow and of no courage addicted to all filthie vices without respect of himselfe or of his kingdome fled to his brother Phiscon to Alexandria where both were besieged by Antiochus vntill Popilius the Romane was sent from the Senators of Rome to commaunde Antiochus out of Egypt without further delay which hee was constrained to obey though he did much harme before his departure out of Egypt Philometor hauing recouered his kingdome into his hand and the Romanes to be his friends to auoyde further braules and to stablish himselfe strong in Egypt he maried his daughter Cleopatra to Alexander who had then obtained the kingdome of Syria but this friendship continued not long for Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of that Demetrius vanquished by Alexander came to Syria got certaine townes into his handes appointed Apollonius captaine of Coelosyria who trusting too much to himselfe was quickly vanquished by Ionathas Philometor vnderstanding of these warres in Syria betweene his sonne in law Alexander and Demetrius he also hasted with an armie to Syria thought to preuent both and to haue Syria with Egypt he tooke his daughter Cleopatra away from Alexander and gaue her to Demetrius and both wickedly and falsly dealt with his sonne in law But Demetrius had Syria and Alexander was slaine by Zabdiel the king of Arabia and his head sent to Ptolomey Philometor to Egypt who then was king both of Egypt and Syria but for three dayes for within three dayes after Alexander was slaine in Arabia Philometor died in Egypt and Demetrius Nicanor was receiued king into Syria This time gouerned in Ierusalem prince Iannaeus the last gouernour of Iudea of the house of Dauid he with many battel 's discomfited the Arabians In Parthia raigned now Mithridates the fift king and in Macedonia raigned Perseus the last king In Philometors dayes Ariarathes king of Thracia sought the Romanes fauour and made a league of peace with them Aristobulus a Iewe borne a great Philosopher of the sect of the Peripatetiks expounded the bookes of Moses to Ptolomey Philopator In the beginning of this kings raigne died two of the most famous warriours of the world Scipio Affricanus the Romane and Hannibal the Carthaginian It is supposed that they both died in one yeere and both banished from their countreis But to Egypt againe After Philometor raigned Ptolomey Euergetes the second of that name and as Functius saith sirnamed Phiscon for the deformitie of his body but others as Manethon and Iustine say that this Euergetes was the seuenth king of Egypt and that Phiscon was the eight king It is not much material and therefore I will follow Functius who setteth downe in his table this Phiscon by the name of Euergetes whom Epiphanius called Philologon he raigned 29 yeres king of Egypt a monstrous and incestuous beast farre passing all other his predecessours in filthie wickednesse he was not so foule in the shape of his body as he was filthy in his minde for he kept his owne sister of whom he got a daughter and after with that daughter borne of his sister committed abominable incest He muthered his owne children and cut them in small pieces and made his wife their owne naturall mother to eate them but he had the reward due for such offences he was thrust out of his kingdome and died a banished slaue hated and abhorred of all men After Phiscon was banished raigned his brother Ptolomey sirnamed Alexander as Melancthon saith but Alexander raigned not long but was likewise banished as his brother was Then succeeded in Egypt Ptolomey Lathurus who in the 3. yere of Alexander king of Iuda was expelled out of his owne kingdom by his mother Cleopatra who fauoring more her yonger sonne named Alexander intended to make him king of Egypt she taking Lathurus wife maried her vnto Alexāder yet he mistrusting the great cruelty which he saw in his mother fled secretly letting the gouernment to his mother and to his wife This Cleopatra after that both her sonnes were thus banished raigned 10. yeres Ptolomey Lathurus being now in Cyprus and sent for by the citizens of Ptolomais to defend them from Alexander king of Iuda which hearing of Lathurus cōming left his purpose raised his siege returned to Ierusalem fearing the great armie of Ptolomey who had thirtie thousande in the fielde The citizens of Ptolomais when Alexander departed changed their purpose and kept Lathurus out of the towne whereby he was thus mooued to send some of his armie to oppresse Iudea some to lay new siege againe to Ptolomais Alexander being aduertised that Lathurus with al his armie spoyled and wasted his kingdome he returned and met at the flood of Iordan where Lathurus gaue a very great ouerthrow to the king of Iuda and
much the more the Scithians were more ignorant then the Greekes so much the more the Scithians excelled the Greekes in vertue their hardinesse and courage in warres was such that they were accompted amongst all other nations the most inuincible people of the worlde that it is doubtfull as Iustine saith whether the men or the women of Scithia be more famous they attempted no lesse Signiories then the whole Empire of Asia which Empire they so tamed with often inuasions that the Scithians were lords of Asia eight and twentie yeeres For at what time Ciaxares otherwise called by the Prophet Daniel Darius Medus layde siege to Niniue the chiefest citie of Assyria and being euen then readie to take Niniue the king of Scithia whose name was Madies came with a great armie of Scithians set vpon the Medes ouerthrew them spoyled and wasted at that time in their returne to Scithia all Asia and kept Asia vnder the kingdome of Scithia for the space of eight and twentie yeeres And againe before this time the Scithians brought Asia to pay them tribute at what time Tanais king of the Gothes was their general and againe before that time the Egyptians who with an armie set forward toward Scithia at what time Vexores raigned king in Egypt the Scithians hauing intelligence of their ambassadors comming answered in this sort that they marueiled much that so famous a prince as the king of Egypt should come to fish with golden hooks to Scithia so barren a countrey saying further that the Scithians had rather come to offer warres into Egypt then to welcom them into Scithia but such rude welcome as rude people can yeelde the king of Egypt shall haue and therewithall gaue to Vexores such a battell that he was ouerthrowen and cōstrained to take his flight to Egypt againe and was so folowed at the hard heeles that if bogs and marish ground had not stayed the Scithians they would haue giuen him battel in Egypt as they did comming home through Asia spoiling wasting and destroying it the thirde time Iustine writeth this historie at large That time the Scithians absented themselues from their countrey in Asia so long vntill their wiues sent vnto them threatning them that vnlesse they would out of hande returne home they would take their next neighbours for their husbandes and further they should not come when they would for after they did marrie their seruants that were left as shepheards and swineheards at home which resisted their owne masters to haue their wiues their houses and their owne countreis The like historie is written of the Amazones women of Scythia who gouerne and rule their coūtrey without men with such fame as Hercules Cyrus and Alexander the great can witnes of them The custome of these Amazones lest their stocke should perish was once a yere to accompany with people of their next confines for multiplication sake And thereby being with child if it should be a male child they presētly kil him or send him to his father if it should be female she was exercised frō her cradle in al martial exploits both on horsebacke and on foote she had the right dug or breast cut off wherby they might exercise their bowes Two Queenes raigned of the Amazones of passing great reports named Marpesia Lampedo of whom both Asia Europe haue tasted of their darts these two Queenes after they had won diuers townes in Asia and also had builded other townes in Asia they died vncōquered in their countrey After them succeeded Otrera the daughter of Marpesia who raigned together with her sister Antiopa Otrera or Oreithia hauing an armie out of Scythia leauing her sister Antiopa to defend Scythia the fame and renowne of these two Ladies kindled Hercules and his felow Theseus with diuers yong gallants of Greece to saile to Hircania a part of Scythia who vpon the sudden vnlooked for of Antiopa with some slaughter of the Amazones Hercules tooke Menalippe and Theseus tooke Hippolite both the Queenes sisters Otrera hearing of these newes returned home with all hast asked ayde of Sagillus king of Scythia to reuenge the wrong done by Hercules and Theseus against both her sisters saying also that the Amazones were Scythians aswel as he therfore not to deny ayde promising the king that women should be as wel in the foreward of the battel as men but Hercules restored Menalippe to the Queene her sister againe and Theseus married the other by whom he got Hippolitus After Otrera succeeded Penthesileia whose valiant acts and deedes in the Troyans warres against the Greekes who knewe them not After Penthesileia they succeeded orderly vntil the time of Alexander the great at what time Thalestris raigned Queene of the Amazones I will leaue this part of Scythia thus much commended by the Amazones and will briefly speake of other nations in Scythia as the Massegits a people of wōderful courage as by their warres against Cyrus might appeare for after that Cyrus had brought the Medes Chaldeans Assyrians Lydians and all Asia vnder the Empire of Persia hearing of the great harme and the inuasions that the Scythians had often done in Asia and Europe hee leuied a huge armie and passed towards Scythia at what time Tomiris raigned Queene ouer the Massegites who hearing of Cyrus cōming though he was then the onely monarch and conquerour that brought all the East kings vnder Persia yet she permitted him with al his armie to passe the riuer of Oraxis and to come and to make choise to set his campe as pleased him best Cyrus at that time vsed a stratagem left his tents full of all delicate and daintie banquets with all maner of wine and fained to take his flight for feare of the enemies The Queene hearing of Cyrus flight cōmanded her sonne named Spargapises out of hand to follow Cyrus with an armie of Massegetes The yong Scythian being not acquainted with such galant banquets in Scythia began to assaile Cyrus wine but hee and all his armie were ouerthrowen without any sword drawen or a blow giuen When Cyrus had returned and found the Scythians some drinking some sleeping some dauncing and all drunken he slew them with the sword and thought thereby that God fauoured much his cause to haue such a victorie ouer the Scythians without blood of the Persians and therefore he erected a temple to the goddesse of that countrey appointed that day a solemne feast called Sacaea which Cyrus consecrated in remembrance of his happie victorie When Queene Tomyris heard that her sonne Spargapises was slaine by Cyrus and al his army she leauied a great nomber of the Massegetes together and went in person her selfe to the battell that to the only battell that euer was in Scythia the greatest and the terriblest for two hundreth thousand Persians were slaine and Cyrus himselfe killed in that battel Of Cyrus burial his graue and his
epitaph and also the crueltie of Thomiris to Cyrus being dead I will write in the historie of Persia. After this great victorie of Tomyris the Scithians had peace vntil Lanthinus time king of Scithia After Cyrus time Darius Histaspis came to Scithia who being denied of king Lanthinus daughter in mariage he returned his loue to hatred he waged battel against Lathinus and brought to Scithia seuen hūdred thousand Persians of whom he left behind him slaine in Scithia fourescore tenne thousand and Darius himselfe constrained to take his flight with no lesse feare then danger into Persia againe In like sort the Scithians vsed Zopirona a general of Alexanders the great in a battel giuen by the Macedonians to the Scithians with such slaughter that the whole armie of Zopirona was ouerthrowen and himselfe hardly by flight escaped as Vexores king of Egypt Darius king of Persia had done before of such inuincible courage the Scithians were being frō their birth acquainted brought vp in hardines that life and death were esteemed alike they made no accompt of victory for wealth and treasure but for honour Alexander the great who had better successe in Scithia then any of his predecessors liked the people so wel for their hardy and valiant enterprises that he builded a city and named it Alexandria which was the first citie that he builded in Scithia which name was after raced by the Barbarians and repaired againe by Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus who according to his progenitors name called it Seleucia Into this citie saith Solinus Orodes king of Parthia conueyed the Romans that were taken at the slaughter of Crassus Strabo writeth that Alexander the great builded 8. great townes amongst the Bactrians and amongst the Sogdians two large countreys of Scithia also he saith that Alexander destroyed certaine cities in Bactria a citie called Cariata where Callisthenes the Philosopher was imprisoned by Alexander in Sogdiana he destroyed a citie which Cyrus builded after his owne name called Cira hard by the riuer Iaxartes I reade of none sauing of Alexader which ventured so much in Scithia as the Scithians haue done in other countreis you shall reade that the Scithians haue thrise inuaded Asia haue driuen the Cimerians out of Europe haue giuen to the Medes diuers ouerthrowes specially in a great battell at Mount Caucasus and after came into Media their owne countrey wasted it spoyled it and did possesse it as lords and rulers thereof vntill by a stratagem of the Medes the Scithians were slaine being drunken After the Medes the Egyptians were ouerthrowen with their king Vexores and put to flight After the Egyptians Phrahartes king of Parthia with all his Parthian armie and almost all the countrey of Parthia were at that time wellnigh conquered by the Scithians The Persians were twise by the Scithians ouercome vnder Darius Histaspis who was discomfited with all his armie and himselfe glad to take his heeles and vnder Cyrus the great king who also after two or three battels was slaine amongst the Scithians It was thought a thing most renowmed to make an armie and to enter Scithia Liber Pater was the first that trauailed into Scithia as farre as Panda a citie of the Sogdians where the first altar was erected in testimonie of so famous an enterprise The second altar was made euen in that place by Hercules The thirde by Semiramis Queene of Assyria The fourth and last altar was erected by Cyrus and therefore it was compted one of the greatest commendations of Alexander the great to make his voyage so farre whereby hee had the name of the fift that also erected his monument so inuincible were the nations of the Scithians that they would take no iniurie at home neither offer iustice abroade The antiquitie of the Scithians is such that there is no great certaintie of their time nor no sounde histories haue declared any thing formally neither of their kings nor of themselues and therefore I wil briefly ende their historie in this place onely setting downe the names of such kings as I found scattered in diuers histories of other kingdomes 1 Scytha the first king of Scythia of whose birth and beginning the Scythians do much bragge Reade Diodorus 2 Napis 3 Pluto 4 Sagillus 5 Targitaus 6 Plinos 7 Scolopithus 8 Penaxagora filius Sagilli 9 Tanais 10 Indathirsus 11 Saulius This king killed the Philosopher Anacharsis for that hee found him in Grecian robes executing the rites and ceremonies of the Greeks in a sacrifice to Berecynthia against the customes and lawes of Scythia 12 Spargapithus 13 Aripethes 14 Sciles This king was in like maner driuen out of his kingdom for imitating the Grecians in their sacrifice to Bacchus for the Scythians did mocke and floute the Greekes to alter themselues like faunes or Satires some like men some like women and some like beasts with darts in their hands and Yuie crownes on their heades after the maner of the Grecians which the Scythians could not abide 15 Octomasades 16 Lanthinus which raigned in Scythia when Darius king of Persia came with an army of seuen hundreth thousand and was ouerthrowen of the Amazones Sogdians Hircanians and of diuers other nations which dwel in Scythia which to write itwere but labour in vaine But a few of the Amazones Queenes I will set downe as Pēthisileia which came to the Troyan warres against the Grecians Menalippe that gaue battell to Hercules Hippolite that gaue battel to Theseus Tomiris that gaue battell to Cyrus and ouerthrew him Antiopia and Marpesia Otrera and other warlik Queenes But of Tamberlanes greatnes of his armie and victories against the Turke how he toooke him caried him in a cage with him to all his warres and howe he vsed to tread vpō his necke as a blocke to mount on horsebacke lute histories euery where are written OF THE ORIGINAL OF the Parthians and of the beginning of their kingdome and how long it continued of their kings gouernment and last destruction by the Romanes in the time of Augustus Caesar. THe Parthians were sometime people of Scythia and driuen frō thence as banished men weried and ouerthrowen and after by long warres they came to the deserts of Hircania and possessed the cōfines of those nations called Daces and Maiani for in the Scythian tongue the Parthians doeth signifie banished men so that the Parthians were first obscure and base people banished out of their countrey of Scythia in the time that the Asyrians the Medes flourished and long after that the Persians had gotten the monarchie from the Medes The Parthians were very rude without lords or lawes to rule them vntil the empire of Macedonia had gotten the masterie ouer the Persians for at what time Alexander the great died no Maccdonian would vouch safe to be king in Parthia the successors of Alexander made no accompt of the Parthians but as rude people and mercenarie souldiers neither esteeming them
was sure of the kingdome and had setled himselfe as a King hee straight commaunded Townes and Cities to be builded and erected many strong Fortes made good lawes and gouerned the Medes with equitie and iustice for the space of fiftie three yeres as both Herodot and Diodorus Siculus affirme This Deiocis likewise appointed a certeine garde for his person for change of state is dangerous for nowe Deiocis from a Magistrate was made a king and therefore with greater care and feare he foresawe things belonging to his person hee had his garison and his garde to attend his person and prouided that the Medes who both loued him and honoured him so much shoulde bee in all seruice at his becke he commaunded then to builde one great Towne a chiefe Citie and to bee the onely seate of the king as in all kingdomes the Palace of the king is the chiefest Nowe the Medes hauing this commaundement beganne with one consent to builde one great Towne aboue the rest fortified with walles and strengthened with garisons This citie was great and large and was called Ecbatana where this king Deiocis liued vsing such iustice and seueritie as hereby no man might haue accesse vnto him but by meanes hee grew so seuere that no man might haue sight of him no man might laugh cough or spit before him This was the onely king that brideled the Medes and asmuch commended for his seuere punishment of iniuries as for his sounde iudgement of iustice and equitie praysed There were many nations subiect vnto the Medes as Buse Paretaceni Arezantij Budi and others In his time reigned in Macedonia Perdiccas in Iudea Ezechias and his sonne Manasses in Rome reigned Romulus in the later ende of his reigne and in Lydia Candaules the fourth king of Lydia This time reigned in Egypt 12. gouernours of equal authoritie these ruled Egypt as supreame magistrates 15. yeres vntill Psammeticus one of these 12. Iudges had gotten the kingdome vnto his owne hands who reigned 54. yeeres king in Egypt You shall reade in Herodot and in Diodorus Siculus the whole historie euen from this king Psammeticus vntill the time of Cambyses As Kingdomes and Countries florished and became mightie strong in armes so they inuented militarie discipline to defende themselues their Countries euery Kingdome had their proper and seuerall order of fighting with varietie and change of their marching into battell with sundry and diuers kindes of Trumpets and ensignes The Egyptians had Crocodiles and cattes in their ensignes for those which they honoured as goddes in the Citie they vsed them in their warres in their ensignes and a Trumpet made of a horne The Indians had in their ensignes the picture of Hercules caried before them into battell with many little Belles and Timbrels for their Trumpets The Persians preferred in their ensignes the image of the sunne and burning lampes which should be caried in the middest of the armie The old Athenians caused an owle to be set in their ensignes and the Thebans the image of Sphinx with shaulmes flates for trumpets The Macedonians had a wolfe caried in their ensignes The ancient Romanes before they grew to their greatnes vsed a handfull of hay tied to the ende of their speares which should be caried before them as ensignes and thereby called manipulares miliets they had not yet vsed in their ensignes the picture of a horse which they vsed after the hay or of a bore or of Minotaurus or of the eagle which nowe they vse for their ensignes The Cimbrians had in their ensignes a brasen bull The olde auncient Germanes vsed to paint in their ensignes the likenesse of shining light The Parthians tied little brasen belles to their speares and infinite number of hornes hauing before them caried in their ensigne a flagge of red leather painted ouer ful of keies And so I might speake of more that vsed their coūtrie orders and maners in warres but mightie Emperours and Kings had in their seuerall ensignes what pleased them as Hanibal had a red flagge with a naked sword for his ensigne Old Osiris had the dogge Anubis in his ensigne Great Porus king of India had the image of Hercules caried before him in his ensigne Cyrus king of Persia a cocke Iulius Caesar an Elephant Eumenes king of Asia had in his ensigne the image of Ceres and the statue of Alexander the great Neoptolemus the image of Minerua Ca. Marius in the Cymbrian warres vsed to cary in his ensigne a siluer eagle and so vpon their tents they vsed the like And so of their secret watchword which the Emperours and great kings vsed in their warres I thought good to set downe some briefe examples of mightie great conquerours and captaines which they vsed in the fielde in the time of warre to their officers and souldiers Cyrus king of Persia would vse this for his watch-word Iupiter belli Dux Antiochus sirnamed Soter vsed this watchworde Bene valere Augustus Caesar Emperour of Rome vsed this word Faelicitas sometime Victoria M. Antonius in his warres vsed this worde Lar Deus Pompey the great vsed Invictus Hercules Caius Caligula the Emperour vsed Priapus and Venus for his watcheword Demetrius king of Macedonia had for his watchworde Iupiter Victoria The Emperour Septimus Seuerus vsed this word Laboremus As Pertinx the emperour vsed Militemus for their watch-words in their campe Claudius Caesar neuer missed this watchworde Virum vlcisci decet The watchworde of Silla was but Apollo The sixt king of the Medes was named Phaortes a man of great promesse and of great fortune who much encreased the state of Media with winning of many countreys and adding of many nations to the kingdome of Media he moued warres first against the Persians and brought them at length vnder his hand and vanquished them who became subiects vnder Phaortes to the Empire of Media After that he passed further vnto Asia destroying and vanquishing many stoute nations in so much that he brought all Asia vnder the Medes Againe he went with great force against the Assyrians layde siege to Niniue where he was slaine and all his armie vanquished he raigned in Media 22. yeeres about the 33. Olympiad 105. yeeres after the building of Rome At this time raigned in Iudea the good king Iosias who destroied idolatrie restored religion cōmanding the groues the altars and other superstitious places to be had in pieces he caused all the wickednes which raigned among the Iewes in his fathers dayes king Amon to be quite taken away Now in Lydia gouerned Ardeis the 6. king of the Lydians In Rome gouerned Tullus Hostilius the 3. king of the Romanes in Agrigentū at this time the great tyrant Phalaris exercised his tyrannie After Phaortes had brought all Asia vnder the Empire and had vanquished the Persians and now the monarchie was in Media the Medes grew so strong that they subdued
all countreis and became the only kingdom of force power whose fame and renowne was spread ouer the whole world After him succeeded Ciaxares the 7. king of the Medes this passed all the kings of Media before him and obscured the fame of his predecessors this king is named in Daniel Darius Medus as Melancthon doeth note This was he that subdued Asia and deuided Asia into nations countreys prouinces and kingdoms and the first among the Medes that deuised spearemen bowmen and horsemen and taught the Medes many warlicke feates he vanquished all the regions about Media and gathered all the force hee could against the Lydians and after brought all his armies ouer the riuer Halis and went to reuenge his fathers death Phaortes vpon the Assyrians besieged Niniue and as Eusebius testifieth he tooke the citie of Niniue and conquered the most part of Assyria except Babylon and fewe prouinces about Babylon It is written in Ruffinus that while Ciaxares layed siege to Niniue Madies king of Scythia came with great power against this Ciaxares with whom he encountred and put him to the worst scattered his armie and wan the field and remoued their siege frō Niniue in so much that the Scythians ruled gouerned al Asia for 28. yeres but afterward slaine and ouerthrowen by the Medes About this time Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon layed siege to Ierusalem tooke Zedekias the king burned the citie and destroyed the temple and the most part of the best Iewes were caried captiue into Babylon where Ezechiel began to prophecie both against Egypt and Babylon where likewise he prophecied the rebuilding of Ierusalem and the restoring of the Iewes after 70. yeres captiuitie There folowed in Media Astiages the 8. and last king of the Medes who raigned ouer the Medes 35. yeeres hauing onely one daughter named Mandanes of this her father thought so wel that he iudged no man among the Medes worthy of his daughter but gaue her in mariage to Cambyses king of Persia which then payed tribute vnto the Medes and were broght vnder their monarchie by cōquest Now Astiages the king being in his town Ecbatana dreamed of his daughter Mādanes in this sort he thought in his dreame that his daughter made so much water at one time as filled al the streets of the city Ecbatana that it did ouerflow all Asia who when he awaked mused much at this dreame fearing the successe thereof tooke order with one Harpagus a friend of his that when his daughter Mādanes should be brought to bed the child should presently be killed This cōmandement of the king troubled Harpagus insomuch that he himself detested so foule an act caused one named Mitridates a heardman of Astiages to come to his house to whō he imparted the kings cōmandement charging him to take the child and to bring him to some place where the childe might die to auoyde the displeasure of the king This poore man obeying Harpagus tooke the child delighted much in his fauour thinking in his heart that he was of some great parentage tooke it with him and hauing that time by his wife a childe borne dead hee tooke it and made as though it were Cambyses sonne buried him in a desart place and cōmanded his wife to bring vp Cyrus as her owne childe Now when Harpagus was throughly certified that Cyrus was killed buried by this his trusty friēd who saw the place where the dead childe was buried supposing it to be Cyrus Harpagus therof was very glad told the king that in al things his cōmandement was executed The king was merie al things very quiet and he doubted nothing While this Astiages was lustie and frolike Cyrus grew in the meane while to some stature being about tenne yeeres of age hauing some cause to be brought before Astyages he had some impression in his head and conceiued by imagination considering the time that Cyrus should haue bene killed and the age of Cyrus then present hee beganne to examine the matter with Harpagus and Harpagus with Midridates vntill the trueth was found Astiages being much disquieted with this Harpagus was troubled in minde fearing some mischance should happen vnto him by the meanes of this Cyrus of whom he dreamed as you heard commaunded him out of his sight and to goe vnto Persia to his father Cambyses and to his mother Mandanes and there vpon his allegeance to stay Cyrus began to feele his stomacke being very young to be very great yet for that time he obeyed the king and went to Persia where he consulted with Harpagus about the recouerie of the kingdome of Media For when Cyrus had heard how that Astiages had commaunded Harpagus to kill him and to haue him out of the way hee thought now being in yeeres fully to reuenge the said wrong he gathered his power together and had his souldiers in armes and was ready with his force to march against Astiages The bruite and great report of Cyrus preparation came to the eares of king Astiages who not being therewith a little frighted sent messengers vnto Cyrus commanding him vpon his allegeance to repaire to king Astiages To whom answere was made by Cyrus that Astiages should see Cyrus before hee wished to see him and that Cyrus would come before Astiages would haue him to come This answere of Cyrus being giuen to the king he straight commanded all Media to be in armes and with great hast with no lesse feare made his souldiers readie Nowe Harpagus hauing determined to flee from his charge being generall of the Medes vnto Cyrus When both the armies came to ioyne in battell Harpagus perfourmed promise with Cyrus forsooke the Medes and came to the Persians This first battell by reason of Harpagus and diuers noble men more of Media which reuolted was ouerthrowen by Cyrus Astiages againe gathered his force renewed his armie and came in field himselfe being general in person against Cyrus where hee was with all his souldiers ouerthrowen and his kingdome taken from him and the Empire of Media which before gouerned Persia is nowe againe brought by Cyrus vnto Persia. This was the vncertaine state of the worlde then sometime conquerours and sometime straight conquered as before you haue read of Assyria and Chaldea sometimes the Assyrians mastered the Chaldeans and againe the Chaldeans ouercame the Assyrians and so of the Medes and of the Persians for now the Persians are become lords of Media Lydia Chaldea Assyria all Asia and the most part of the East which the Medes hitherto for the space of an hundreth and thirtie yeres gouerned Asia about the riuer Halis Thus Media after it had in all continued three hundreth and fiftie yeeres from Sardanapalus vntill Cyrus time by Cyrus was ouerthrowen in the thirtie and fifte yeere of the raigne of Astiages two hundreth yeeres after the building of Rome at what time
fire vestall virgines and religious men and priestes of diuers orders as Salij Faeciales and Flamines which he instituted to serue his gods for hee was vertuous and good for when Rome was builded by Romulus Numa was borne The Cimmerians were now at this time ouerthrowen by the Scythians the Scythians entred vnto Asia and tooke Sardis the chiefest citie of the Medes and came conquering countreys and regions as farre as Palestina About this time Necho king of Egypt who a little before ouerthrewe the good and godly king Iosias is now by Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians vanquished by the riuer of Euphrates CHAP. II. Of the rest of the kings of Lydia from Ardis the sixt king vntill Craesus the last king of Lydia and of their destruction by Cyrus and the kingdome brought subiect to Persia. NOw succeeded Ardis his sonne named Sadaites the 7. king of the Lydians who as Herodot saith raigned 12. yeres but Functius saith 15. yeres Of this king nothing is mentioned with Historiographers but that in his time Ancus Martius the fourth king of Rome brought a huge armie against the Veientines which being by Martius ouerthrowen had his triumph graunted vnto him by the Senators This Martius made vpon Tiber a hauen called Hostia foure or fiue leagues from Rome and a passage frō thence to the sea The Sabines were ouerthrowen by this king as before oftentimes by his predecessors This time was Dirachium builded and Perosina Aulus Gelius an ancient writer reporteth an historie of one Arion a Lesbian borne a man of great skil in musicke a deare friend of Periander king of Corinth trauailing Sicilia and Italy he grew in great fauour with all men in all countreys and hauing in time heaped great wealth by his arte longed againe to be with Periander in Corinth Now being shipped and well forward toward Greece the mariners vnderstanding that he had much money spoyled and robbed him of his money and after being ready to kill him he befought them with teares to spare him so much time vntil he had attired himselfe in his best apparell and to licence him to play vpon his lute and to sing two or three songs before he died to the Muses which being graunted he prepared to play and sing very loude and in the midst of his song he leapt as farre as he could into the sea where the great Dolphine a fish as histories record very much entised with musicke greatly delighted with mans voyce caried him cleane vpon his backe from the water and brought him vnto an hauen of Lacedemonia called Tenarum from whence he trauailed to Corinth and opened to Periander the king the whole course of his fortune About this time Tarquinius Priscus the fift king of Rome began his gouernment in the 41. Olympiad as Dionysius writeth in the which Olympiad Cleonides a captaine of Thebes got the victorie in the games of Olympia After Sadaites folowed Haliates the 8 king of Lydia he raigned 49. yeeres in whose time though he himselfe did nothing worth the writing yet the most part of the kings of the worlde were busie the king of Assyria was in warie with the king of Egypt This time raigned in Babylon Nabuchodonosor to whose gouernment not only Assyria but al the East kings were broght vnder his becke Likewise about this time a great band of the Scythians were driuen to flee to the Medes where they were kindly harboured much made of and well intertained vntil such time as by some cōspiracie they were found rebellious vnto the king of the Medes then they fled from thence vnto Lydia to this king Haliates and being by him there succoured great warres grew thereof betweene the king of Media and the king of Lydia and continued vntil Astiages maried the daughter of Haliates vpon the which peace and great affinitie began to be betweene the Medes and the Lydians Herodotus who writeth this historie is thought of Functius and others to erre in the time In Egypt there raigned Apries whom Ieremie calleth Hophra whose name he ought to knowe for by this king Ieremie was put to death in Egypt In the 7. yeere of this king Haliates this Apries king of Egypt in the middest of his tyrannie God gaue him into the hands of his enemies so the Lord said I wil giue Pharao Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies as I gaue Zedechias king of Iuda And in another place the Lord saith I will giue the land of Egypt vnto Nabuchodonosort king of Babylon and Egypt shal be the wages for his armie to spoyle her spoyle and to take her praye For to Egypt flead Iuda for succour where they were put to the sword and not one escaped Now againe in Rome beganne Tarquinius Priscus the fift king of the Romanes he on the other side beganne to lay on about him with the Latins and with the Sabines that after he had brought the Latines with long warre to seeke fauour at his hande and being driuen out of the countrey by Tarquinius were forced to intreate for peace and to craue the Romanes friendship who by this time waxed so strong that all the West part of the world began to heare of the Romanes Now after that the Latins were vanquished the Sabines againe being olde auncient enemies of Rome a very warlicke nation with all force came against Tarquinius at what time their bridge was burned their tentes taken and themselues slaine and forced to intreat for truce for six yeres After the Sabines the Hetruscanes armed them against Tarquinius whose warre continued 9. yeres About this time the seuen sages of Greece florished whose names I thought good to put downe together for that they liued at one time Solon of Athens Thales of Milesia Pitacus of Mitilena Periander of Corinth Bias of Prienna Chilo of Sparta and Cleobulus of Lindia These singular wise men were in those dayes esteemed the rarest men of the world In this time the kingdome of Corinth failed in Periander the last king or rather the last tyrant and the gouernment was altered to a popular estate About that time Polymnestor a very yong man and as the historie hath termed him a boy being a feeding his fathers goats a hare by chance rūning by the boy folowed ranne so swiftly that he ouertooke the hare and brought her home to his father declaring the race the running betweene him and the hare to his father The matter being spread abroad the yong man was brought to the games Olympical where he wanne the victory in running and had a garland on his head as Solinus doth write Ciaxeres sōne vnto Astiages some say his father as Zonoras in his first booke but Zenophon likewise affirmeth with Iosephus that this Ciaxeres was Astiages sōne called by the name of Darius Medus of Daniel and of Iosephus but the Grecians named
him Ciaxares Cyrus vncle for when Astiages died he left behind him as his heire Ciaxares and a daughter named Mādanes which was maried to Cambyses I wil not molest the reader with variety of auctorities sometime disagreeing in computation of time or varying of the place or of the person but howsoeuer it is this Ciaxares became a great and a strong king for after he had conquered many countreis he went in armes against the Assyrians besieged Niniue tooke the spoyle thereof by ayde of Cyrus who afterward shortly sub dued it and became cōquerour of al Assyria and brought them subiect to the Medes About this time Solon made lawes to the Athenians and Milo Crotoniensis a Romane of a wōderful strength is reported by Solinus that he could cary vpon his backe an oxe that with a stroake of his bare hand he killed that oxe This Ciaxares at what time Harpagus layed siege to a towne in Phocea called Ionia the extremitie of his warre being such that they were forced to flee forsaking their towne and countrey towarde the West part where they builded a towne which they named Massilia of whom Eusebius in his chronicles maketh mention and in Iustine you shal reade the whole historie Diuers write of this Towne as Melancthon Strabo and Budeus that in Massilia Frenchmen in whose border this Towne was builded by frequenting the Towne and by exercising of the Grecians societie in the Towne grew in time to vnderstād the Greeke tongue the traffique their order their lawes and gouernment which in these dayes excelled in vertue and maners where of a long time the Greekes tongue florished the auncient customes and maners of Ionia were kept Nowe Tarquinius Priscus after he had triumphed ouer the Latines or Albans ouer the Sabins ouer the Hetruscans three seuerall triumphes hee was conspired and laide in waite for by Ancus Martius children his predecessors in Rome three yeeres before he was slaine after he had reigned thirtie eight yeeres and in the fourtie one Olympiad hee died Then followed by succession after Aliactes Croesus the ninth and last king of Lydia being thirtie fiue yeeres of age and being before hand growen vnto great force power and hauing heaped a great abundance of treasure began to warre vpon these Grecians which dwelt in Asia vpon the Ionians Aeoliās and the people called Doreans hee receiueth the Lacedemonians because they were stoute and a warlike nation into his societie Croesus thus following in pompe and pride of fortune hearing that Cyrus king of Persia had laid siege to Babylon and that Balthasar then king of Babylon had endured two or three ouerthrowes and most like to lose his kingdome vnlesse with some speede hee were ayded Croesus hasted to Babylon with more haste then good speede After his best done Balthasar was slaine Babylon taken and the Monarchie thereof caried vnto Persia by Cyrus Croesus being ouerthrowen and narowly escaping fled from whence he came to Lydia againe where after that Cyrus had layd all things in order and had disposed the victorie to his minde hee returned after Croesus vnto Lydia layde siege vnto Sardis the chiefe Citie and palace of the king where Croesus after his flight hearing of Cyrus comming and hauing felt his force before at Babylon he was not a little troubled but abiding the brunt thereof vntill Cyrus tooke the towne vanquished his power and brought the kingdome of Lydia subiect vnto the Persians thus was Croesus twise ouercome by Cyrus When Cyrus had brought these great kingdoms vnder the scepter of Persia he tooke an order with Croesus that he being depriued of his crowne and spoyled of his substance should yet haue a towne in his possession where hee might liue not as before a riche king but as a poore man In Croesus time reigned in Rome Seruius Tullus the sixt king of Rome in the 51. Olympiad and foure yeeres before the 18. Iubilee This king did adorne Rome and the common wealth thereof much and as Dyonisius Halicar reporteth of him he brought within 20. yeres space the Hetruscans to his becke he tamed al the countries about Rome and excelled in gouernment By this time Cyrus had subdued the Medes after Astyages was conuicted and the Medes made subiect to the Persians Ciaxerxes whose sonne as you heard before was called of some Darius Medus who reigned ioyntly with Cyrus 2. yeeres as Astyages here for a time The temple of Apollo at Delphus was now the second time set on fire the Lacedemonians with the Argiues were in armes about this time who were setled on eyther side with all the power they could make to make of one partie a conquest but before they ioyned in battell being better aduised by some councell they agreed to auoid the destruction of so many men that 300. chosen men of the Lacedemonians and likewise 300. chosen men of the Argiues should make an ende of the battell and they which shoulde haue the victory of these chosen men should be cōquerors and the others to yeeld where the victorie happened which being fought out the victorie fell to the Lacedemonians hauing but three of their 300. left aliue all the rest on both sides stood to it vnto the last man as Herodot doth write In Croesus time happened in Athens a great sedition betweene the Citizens about vsurie the crueltie whereof grew to be such as the vsurers claimed free mens sonnes daughters to be solde or otherwise as captiues or slaues to serue them vntill paiment were made This was one of Dracos lawes which as Demades sayth was written with blood To mitigate this crueltie Solon by consent of the whole Citie was chosen an vmpire whose Edict was that free mens children should not be sould or brought vnto any bondage for vsurie and further he decreed that all creditours should forgiue their debt vntill that time And Solon himselfe which made the lawe first performed the lawe therein for hee forgaue fiue talents himselfe which amounted to 2400. crownes for euery talent is sixe hundred crownes He added to the twelfth moneth called Lunaris annus the Epact which is eleuen dayes to make an equall number of dayes with the yeere of the sunne He gathered all the writings of Homer being 300. yeeres before vnto one volume hee made many good lawes in Athens So likewise at that time did Thales in Miletum a great Philosopher who did to many Cities in Greece as Solon did in Athens for they were in Croesus time In this time florished Pythagoras borne in Samos brought vp in Egypt and taught philosophie in Tarentum he was the first among the Italians that read philosophie whose sect after him were called Pythagoreans who farre differed from others in his doctrine It is written that Croesus bragging much of his substance and so preferring thereby himselfe to be the most fortunate happy king of the
of these two Iustine called these two Magi Comaris and Oropastis Herodotus doeth call the one Patizites and the other Smerdis Zonaras nameth the elder Tanoaxeres but it is not materiall for Eusebius doeth not nomber these two amongst the kings of Persia. But in the eight moneth one of the seuen princes or gouernours of Persia ouerthrew these Magi then these seuen princes being vertuous and welbeloued of the people agreed in loue and faith one with another one preferring another to the kingdome that it was hard for the people to make choise of any of them yet to them the election was referred Otanes one of the seuen princes thought that it was not necessary to haue a king to make a free common wealth bound to a Monarchia he perswaded the countrey to liue vnder the law of popular state called Democratia euery city to haue their magistrate and euery prouince to haue such gouernours as might defende the countrey with lawes and armes affirming the greatnes of a king to approch the nature of a tyrant and therfore most dangerous for when they giue ouer to be kings in doing iustice then they begin to be tyrants in committing rage and furie Megabisus held a contrary opinion allowing not a popular state who are neuer quiet neuer constant drawen one day of this side to morow of another affirming the furie and rage of the people to be intollerable and like the streame of a violent flood without wisdome in gouernment without reason in iudgement and euen like Hidra that monstrous beast of Lerna neuer satisfied neuer cōtented neuer quiet and compared it to the saying of Demosthenes that populus was one of the three monsters at Athens which raigned at one time Noctua draco populus the owle the dragon and the people Megabisus therefore disliked a Democraticall cōmon wealth perswaded that some of the wisest and best learned should be chosen for a state for to good men belong good counsell said he and they will in conscience and trueth refourme things amisse his reason tended to haue a common wealth called Oligarchia or Aristocratia and not a popular state The thirde Darius spake disanulling both Otanes and Megabisus opinion declaring by examples of diuers kingdomes the defect of kings as Zenophon and Herodotus most largely discourse and amongst Philosophers approued the best state of a common wealth to be a Monarchie alleadging also by Cyrus last will and Cambyses that while any of Cyrus stocke liued that they by succession should enioy the Scepter of Persia and if the house of Cyrus should faile then to make an election of a king by the seuen princes of Persia and the people And therefore both in reason a king is to be elected and by them commaunded of Cyrus to be confirmed The other foure which yet had spoken nothing but diligently hearing these three before they all consented with Darius and supposed that common wealth to be best where a Monarchie is the soueraigntie whereof is in a king and therefore they agreed all to elect a king and to auoyde contentions and quarrels they committed to Fortune their election in this sort That all the seuen princes should be a horsebacke the next morning in the suburbes of the citie to talke of this matter and that whose horse should neigh first after Sunne rising he should be king in Persia. They all to this consented and euery prince rode sumptuously to the place These were the names of the seuen princes Otanes Intaphernes Gobrias Megabisus Astphatines Hidarnes And Darius The night before they should ride to the place in the morning Darius consulted with the master of his horse opened the whole cause and asked his deuise by arte Oebarus so his name was assured Darius of some secret helpe hee brought Darius horse that night to a mare to that place where they should meete in the morning Darius riding vpon that horse by the counsell of Oebarus the next morning met according to their agreement altogether Darius horse hauing bene with the mare in that place beganne lustily to praunce and to neigh lowdly whereat the other sixe princes lighted immediatly from their horses and saluted him as their king This Darius now king of Persia had maried a daughter of Cyrus named Atossa of whom hee had Xerxes Within some space after Darius came to the kingdome the Assyrians beganne to reuolt from him hee layed siege to Babylon twentie moneths and could not preuaile vntill one Zopirus a subtile Persian who yeelded Babylon to Darius hand by this policie he himselfe did cut off his owne eares his nostrels and came all bloodie to Babylon accusing Darius crueltie who for perswading him to raise his siege and to spare blood he vsed me as you see The Babylonians light of beliefe thought it trueth made him captaine ouer a band of souldiers who for his more credit with the Babylonians gaue two or three light ouerthrowes to Darius men and by this meanes brought Babylon to Darius hand Of this Zopirus was Darius wont to say when he held a pomegranate in his hand that he wished nothing more in the world then to haue so many Zopirus as the pomegranate had kernels Now is Babylon the second time taken by the Persians When Darius was quietly setled in Babylon he made warres vpon the barbarous Scythians for euen as Cyrus was wont to driue the barbarous nations from Asia which came from the region of Arctoa so Darius tooke that course by his chiefe captaine Megabisus to clense Persia from strangers the Getes the Cimmerians and the Sauromats inhabited in Asia and about Thracia For of the Cimerians came those Germans called Cimbri and from the Getes came likewise the Gothes These Getes yeelded to Megabisus the Scythians he could not vanquish But after some warre he returned vnto Greece sent ambassadours vnto Amintas king of Macedonia to haue free passage through his countrey which being graunted more for feare then for loue Amintas entertained the ambassadours of Persia very liberally brought them to a banquet where after much rioting of wine they handled rudely the Macedonians ladies that beare them companie Alexander the sonne of Amintas and the great grandfather of Alexander the great being discontented with their beastlines desired the king his father to take his rest that night taking vpon him the entertainment of these Persians who after his father was gone he consulted with certaine noble men of Macedonia that they should come in most gorgious and sumptuous attire like women in the apparel of women with their naked weapons close vnder their garments commanding them when they should so beastly handle them next to stabbe them vnto the heart In the meane season Alexander desired them that the ladies might withdraw themselues for a time promising them they should presently returne to beare them companie in the meane time while these
and of his kingdome from Othoman the first vntil Selimus the eleuenth of the two Empires of Constantinople and Trapezumtium which now the Turckes doe gouerne of their beginning and of their first seruice vnder Basilius Macedo Emperour of Constantinople THe Turckes historie is like the Saracens or like the Scythians people without guide or gouernours vntil of late time they inhabited first about mount Caucasus from thence to the Caspia sea a nation mingled of the Scythians of the Hunnes which nowe are called Hungarians obscure and base people without any mencion made of them any where but of their bare names in Plinie a people scattered in Scythia and after into other Countries rather called Latrocinantes quà m belligerantes as Egnatius nameth them of whom as I saide Pomponius Mela maketh but little more mencion then Plinie did The first seruice which they did was vnder Basilius surnanamed Macedo then Emperour at Constantinople in the yere of our Sauiour eight hundred fourtie at what time they inuaded Armenia and within a while after gaue a battell to the Arabians vnder their first captaine called Mucaletius After twise or thrice good successe had against the Arabians and the Saracens they gathered together vnder a head at Tangrolipix where diuers more heaped and flocked to them from the streight of Caspia and from Caucasus there they waxed strong and began to inuade Asia vntill the time of Ottoman the first a man base and obscure borne cuius parentes agrarij but very valiant wise and fortunate he first beganne to aduaunce the name of the Turckes and to set foorth his force and power being much inflamed with desire of soueraigntie and very ambitious of honour and dignitie After hee had subdued a part of the kingdome of Bythinia and had taken certeine Cities and strong Townes towards the Sea Euxinus at what time reigned in Constantinople Michael surnamed Paleologus Emperour in the yeere of our Sauiour Christ a thousand three hundred this Ottomanus within twentie eight yeres which he reigned had strengthened his Cities Townes and had builded many strong Fortes and specially one inuincible Castle which hee named after his owne name Ottomanni Castrum This Othoman left behinde him a sonne named Orchanes in whose time contencion grewe betweene Paleologus and Cantachuzenus about the Empire of Greece whereby Orchanes power and force so encreased that while these two contended about the Empire hee tooke Prusia out of their handes a large strong Citie and finding his father in lawe Caramanus false and deceitfull hee ouerthrewe him and killed his sonne a young gallant youth but after that Orchanes had reigned twentie two yeeres hee was slaine in Bythinia After him succeeded his sonne Amurathes a man of singular courage and fortune who forgetting not his father nor graundfather Othoman imitated them in all manly exploites and presently armed him selfe against his owne graundfather Caramanus whose daughter was his naturall mother This Amurathes was solicited by the Emperour Paleologus being nowe a very olde man to aide him against the Bulgarians hard olde souldiers brought vp alwayes in warres to this hee quickely consented and prepared an armie of twelue thousand Turkes and brought them into Europe and did great seruice to the Emperour ouerthrewe the Bulgarians and reuenged the Emperour vpon the enemie but being after these victories tickled with the wealth and pleasures of Europe hauing giuen the repulse to Cantachuzenus which affected the Empire while he fained this seruice hee passed ouer the sea Helespont tooke Callipolis with other cities as Adrianopolis Bydus and Philippolis ouerthrewe and conquered euery prouince as he traueiled hee entred Bulgaria inuaded Seruia and slue the princes of the countrie named Lazarus with a great slaughter of his people but Amurathes escaped not long for hee was slaine by a seruaunt of Lazarus prince of Seruia who reuenged his masters death stoutly Thus Amurathes died after he had reigned twentie three yeeres after whom liued two sonnes of his the one named Paizates the other Soliman These two brethren coulde not agree they fel at such variance that Paizates slue his brother Soliman and presently after tooke in hand to reuenge his fathers death vpon Marcus Craienicius prince of the Bulgarians whom he subdued and after slue him in the fielde by which conquest he obteined the most part of Bulgaria And yet not therewith contented hee inuaded Bossina Croatia and other partes of Illyria wasted and spoyled all places into Thracia yet he could not quiet himselfe but laid siege to Constantinople and continued the same for eight yeeres and had at that time taken the Citie if hee had not beene preuented by two great armies of Frenchmen and Vngarians to whom this Pazaites gaue such a terrible battell that hee ouerthrewe both the armies and tooke the most part of the French captaines with their Generall the Duke of Burgundie with an infinite slaughter of the souldiers and had also at that time taken Sigismundus king of Hungaria vnlesse he had bene saued by the Venetian nauie From this great victorie hee againe returned to Constantinople endured his siege and laide hard at it When newes came that Tamberlanes the Scythian inuaded his Countrie he remoued his siege at these newes and made more haste then good speede for in that battell betweene Tamberlanes and Pazaites two hundred thousande Turkes were slaine at mount Stellum in the confines of Bythinia the Turke taken and set in fetters of gold and bound in chaines of gold and so kept all the dayes of his life in a Cage which Tamberlanes caried into euery forreigne warre out of his Countrie and vsed as some write as a blocke to mount on horsebacke This time reigned in Constantinople Andronicus as Blondus affirmeth this great victorie of Tamberlanes fell in the yeere of our Sauiour Christ 1397. at what time Charles the sixt surnamed Beneamatus was king in Fraunce and Vladislaus had taken the Empire of Germanie into his hand In Rome Pope Bonifacius the ninth of that name reigned This Pazaites had two sonnes the elder named Orchanes of some called Calepinus the younger named Mahomet which was also named Moses this by conspiracie and treacherie slue his brother Orchanes within two yeeres after his fathers death and reigned alone recouered and possessed all that Tamberlanes had gotten of his father This Mahomet had spite to the Bulgarians and to the Valaches and began with no lesse good successe to aduaunce the name of the Turkes then his father did hee waxed mightie and after hee had brought all these Prouinces and Regions about to be vassalles of the Turkes and had quieted himselfe after many victories hee made Adrianopolis to be his chiefe Citie where hee all his life kept his Court where after hee had reigned seuenteene yeeres hee dyed at what time Emanuel gouerned as Emperour in Constantinople and Sigismundus king of Hungaria reigned
fourtie eight yeeres and had diuers times many victories and as many ouerthrowes for first hee lay de siege to Rhodes tooke Alba Graeca by treacherie and deceipte but Virtus an Dolus quis in hoste requirit hee subdued Corsica and ouerthrewe a great armie of the Germanes by the Citie of Buda in Vngarie being betrayed and sould into the Turkes by Catzianerus and by the like treachery of a Spaniard the Turkes gote a very strong fort in Vngarie called Granensis Arx. After this Soliman laide siege to Vienna in Austrich and to diuers Townes in Sicilia but they were manfully resisted and repulsed from both Austrich and Sicilia His armies in the East Countries were so slaine and scattered by the Sophy of Persia that Soliman lost in two battels an infinite number of hia Turkes After these two great victories had ouer the Turkes by the Persians he was by the Germanes resisted at the hauen of Hercules he was by the Rhodians driuen out of the Isle of Militea he entred into a league with the Persians concluded peace with diuers princes of Asia came into Vngaria laid siege to Segethum where he died in his tents before he could win Segethum After his death his sōnes fought for the Empire Baiazetes was compelled to flee into Persia being by this ciuill warre ouerthrowen by his brother Selimus who of all the sonnes of Soliman was left aliue and succeeded his father in the Empire Vnder this Selimus the Turkes tooke warres in hand against the Saracens and prepared a nauie into Cyprus which had reuoulted from the Turkes After hee made a voyage against the Moscouians at the riuer of Tanais where Selimus lost more then hee wanne then he laide siege to Nicosia and to Famagusta two noble cities in Cyprus for Famagusta is the chiefe Citie of Cyprus Two yeeres after this the Persians gaue two great ouerthrowes to the Turkes in Mesopotamia at what time the Tartarians which in olde time were called Scythians wasted and spoyled Russia and Moscouia but I leaue the Soldane of Egypt the Sophi of Persia the Saracens the Turkes and those infidels and ende their historie in this Selimus laying their names downe as they reigned from Othoman the first vnto Selimus the eleuenth 1 Othoman reigned 28. yeres 2 Orchanes 22. 3 Amurathes 23. 4 Pazaites hauing slaine his brother Solimanus 26. 5 Mahomet 17. 6 Amurates the 2. of that name Mahomets sonne 34. 7 Mahomet the 2. which tooke the Empire from the Greekes 32. yeeres 8 Pazaites the 2. 31. 9 Selimus 7. 10 Soliman 48. 11 And after Soliman his sōne Selimus OF THE ANTIQVITIE OF Greece of the beginning of their Cities and Common wealth of their lawes and gouernments by degrees during yet the infancie of Greece NOwe I leaue Asia and come to Europe to that noble and famous Countrie of Greece though by order of historie I shoulde passe from Persia with Alexander the great into Macedonia whither the Empire from Persia was brought nowe by Alexander yet for that Greece is vpon the way and that Alexander the great subdued all the Prouinces of Greece and was by consent of all the Countrie made Emperour of Greece where his father Philip was made but a Duke or a Gouernour of Greece I will therefore first speake of Greece for that Macedonia and Greece were but one Empire and vnder the great Alexander for so hee was called in the sacred historie the King of Greece and so after Alexanders death they compted their yeeres after the reignes of the Kings of Greece and therefore I will passe first ouer Greece before I come to Macedonia To this Countrie came the third sonne of Iaphet named Iauan or Iaon of whom this Countrey nowe called Greece was then named Ionia for all Countreys had their names by the first inhabitants therin as in the 10. of Genesis is mencioned the first ground and originall from whence the nations of the world had their beginning by the description of the sonnes of Sem the sonnes of Cham and the sonnes of Iaphet After that Iaon the third sonne of Iaphet possessed Greece a Countrey for the situation thereof most delectable and fertile wherein many things of great accompt are most worthy to be remembred This Countrey of Greece is diuided vnto twelue regions The first and principall part of Greece is the region of Morea The 2. the Countrie of Athens The 3. of Corinth The 4. of Lacedemon The 5. of Messenia The 6. of Achaia The 7. of Boetia The 8. of Thessalia The 9. of Arcadia The 10. of Ionia The 11. and 12. of Dorica and Aeolica Although Strabo saieth that these two last are Countries within Peloponesus which is nowe called Morea which was the greatest and chiefest Countrey of Greece inhabited first by the Barbarous for so all Greece was inhabited first the Countrie of Athens onely excepted The platte forme of Peloponesus is like the leafe of a Plane tree with creekes and nookes and conteineth in length from the West vnto the East a thousand foure hundred furlongs and almost so much in breadth The coast of Peloponesus is on the north side with the Ionian sea on the West with the Sicilian sea on the South with the Candian sea all these Shires or Countries are situated within Morea Achaia Elis Messenia Laconia which is also named Lacedemonia and Arcadia which is enuironed rounde about with Peloponesus In euery countrey of these are very famous townes and cities named at large in Pomponius Mela and in Strabo Next Peloponesus beginneth the countrey of Hellas which is called and taken for true Greece In this Hellas is the region of Phocis where the temple and Oracle of Apollo in Delphos and the famous mount Parnassus here is also in that part of Greece Boetia where Thebes a most famous citie is and mount Cytheron much spoken of in Poetrie then is the countrey of Locris Megaris and of Athens more famous of it selfe then it neede to be commended as well for chiualrie and magnanimitie as also for learning and knowledge being the fountaine and nourse of Philosophie This countrey of Athens doeth Strabo describe in his ninth booke that he bestoweth all that booke in the setting forth onely of Athens with commendations of Boetia and Thessalia as the chiefest and rarest countreis of Greece for Thessalia cōtayning within it the renowmed mount Olympus which by meanes of the wooddie bottoms of the hill with a very pleasant riuer running through the same maketh a most delectable and pleasant soile called Tempe Thessalica vnto Thessalia belong the plaines of Pharsalia where Pompey was ouerthrowen in the last battell betweene Caesar and him In Thessalia are many notable riuers and cities many Isles lie ouer against the maine land of Athens as Salamis Sunim Cos and Ceos not farre from Athens is the plaine Marathon where was a bloodie battell betweene the Persians and the Athenians Greece
was so full of renowmed cities famous riuers notable mountaines a countrey of singular rarenesse in althings that it were to much labour to write the due praise of Greece But I referre him that would reade the setting forth of Greece to the eight ninth booke of Strabo to the second booke of Pomponius Mela where all Greece is particularly described at large and I will proceede to the seuerall gouernment of Greece in seuerall countreis and will set downe the continuance of euery Region with the names of the kings where and how long they raigned and for that the countrey of Morea is the first inhabited countrey of Greece and the largest region of the same called in Strabo Arxtotius Greciae I wiâ—… beginne with their common wealth This region was first named Aegialia by the name of Aegialeus their first king and continued so vntill the time of Apis the 4. king after whom this region was named Apia which name continued vnto the time of Sicyon the 19. king of Morea After this king Sicyons time the countrey was called Sicyonium and continued vntill Pelops time by whom againe the countrey was called Peloponesus and now at this time is called Morea so that Peloponesus had fiue seueral change of names from the first gouernment vnder Aegialeus the first king vntill Xeuxippus raigne the last king of the Peloponesians And although the kings of that region did nothing worth the memorie hauing bene twentie and sixe kings successiuely yet they are the very way to come further vnto Greece for all this while the whole countrey of Greece was inhabited with barbarous people and was farre from the fame which they gained afterwarde therefore I will briefly passe ouer the historie of their kings and their raigne because I might speake of other countreys in Greece which flourished together with Morea For the first king of this region was named Aegialeus he gouerned that part of Greece at what time Ninus raigned in Assyria and as Eusebius writeth Thebaei ruled Egypt in the yeere of the world two thousand one hundreth and seuen yet Bibliander would not allow so many yeeres by two hundreth and odde which is rather to bee followed for that it doeth with the Genesis agree For in the fiue and twentieth yere of this king Ninus was Abraham borne which was within two hundreth and ninetie yeeres after the flood and therefore better agreeth with Ninus time The second king after Aegialeus was named Europs hee raigned fiue and fourtie yeeres this time flourished Zoroastes the great king of the Bactrians he was thought to be the first that read Astrologie and taught to others Astronomie in whose time Tribeta the sonne of Ninus by Semiramis was expulsed out of the kingdome of Assyria and hee builded a towne in the coast of Gallia and called it Treueris The thirde king of Sicyonium was named Stelchium hee raigned twentie yeres at what time the kingdome of Creete beganne and had for the first king one named Cres after whose name the countrey of Creete was called This Cres builded a citie in Creete and named it Nosus in the which he also builded a temple to the goddesse Cybeles After him succeeded Apis the fourth king of that region after whom as I haue written before it was called Apia hee raigned then when Ninus the sonne of Ninus and Semiramis gouerned the Assyrians After him followed the fift king named Telasion in whose time died Noah the righteous preacher and patriarch and at which time Abraham begate Ismael vpon Agar the bond woman of this Ismael came all the Ismaelites a wicked nation that offended the Lorde In time afterward they were called Agareni after the name of Agar and now are called Saraceni which are infidels and heathens Now succeeded Telasion the sixt king of Peloponesus named Aegidius at what time raigned in Assyria Analius About this season Isaac the sonne of Abraham begate two twinnes vpon Rebecca his wife Esau which was also called Edom of whom the Idumeans came and Iacob afterwarde called Israel of whom issued the twelue tribes of Israel In this kings time Sodom Gomorrha Zeboim Adama and Zoar fiue principal great cities in the lande of Palestine were destroyed and burned with fire and brimstone from heauen the iust iudgement of God for sinne Thurimachus the eight king raigned 45. yeres in this kings gouernment Eusebius noteth the seuenteenth Dynastia of the Egyptians to begin where Shepheards gouerned as chiefe rulers for the space of 103. yeeres soueraigntie About which time the kingdome of the Argiues first sprang vp where Inachus raigned the first king within the kingdome of Argiue and afterwarde continued from Inachus vnto the time of Tenelanthus the last king of the Argiues as Marianus Scotus writeth foure hundreth yeeres After this Leucippus succeeded Messapius in Peloponesus at what time Bellochus raigned King in Assyria and Thelassus gouerned the countrey of Thessalia Among the Argiues raigned now Phoroneus the sonne of Inachus and Niobes the second king after his father this made lawes first to the Argiues and instituted orders in gouernment and wrote decrees for his subiects and ruled the Argiues to his great fame as Eusebius in his histories setteth forth In Licippus time Sem the sonne of Noah died after hee had liued sixe hundreth yeeres and had seene much miserie and great calamitie but not so much as his father before him had seene he liued after Abrahams dayes thirtie and fiue yeeres Osiris whom the Egyptians call Apis and sometime Serapis for that they adored this as their God liued about this time and destroyed that monster in Thracia called Licurgus Reade more of this in Herodotus Ismael Abrahams base sonne by Agar the bondwoman died now and left behinde him twelue sonnes great princes ouer many tribes and nations which began in time to grow enemies to the Church of God and to persecute the people of God and were named Ismaelites In this time raigned in Assyria Bellochus sirnamed Priscus their twelft king and in Egypt gouerned Menam the first king that taught the Egyptians many ceremonies as newe sacrifices to their gods religions and seruice and instructed them in many things for this time Egypt was raw and rude in skil and knowledge This Menam was thought of Functius to be that which is read in Scripture to be Mizraim and of Berosus called Oceanus There is nothing to be written of these kings worth the memorie of man for all this while Greece was inhabited with barbarous people nay the most of Greece was not yet inhabited Athens was not builded neither Sparta nor Corinth for the kingdom of Lacedemonia and the kingdome of Corinth began about Dauids birth The Argiues were the most ancient people in Greece next after the Peloponesians for they beganne to raigne in Argos in the time of Iacob the Patriarch at what time Baleus sirnamed Xerxes gouerned in Assyria
from Moses vntill Samsons time 400. yeeres and after Samsons death 40. yeeres kings began to raigne in Israel After that the kings ended in Sicyonum priestes raigned in that countrey of Peloponesus called Carnij which gouerned vntill the comming of that strong and ancient people called Heraclides who afterwarde grew of great force that the long ciuill warres which continued 27. yeeres to the last destruction of all Greece as more at large in Thucydides is mentioned and shal be spoken of me when the time of these ciuil warres shall come to be handled in this historie I in the meane season will returne to the state of Athens which by this time grewe to some fame though before as other parts of Greece obscured by reason of no action done worth the writing vntill Theseus time which raigned as you heard before in Poliphedes time the 24. king of Pelopones he brought vnto Athens al the whole prouince of Attica and dispersed people from other parts of Greece and made them all one corporation which were before dispersed vnto diuers villages he erected a council hall and made a towne house which the Athenians called Asti he instituted great feasts and sacrifices vnto Minerua called Panathaenea this was for all the countrey of Attica and he ordeined another feast which they called Metaecia for strangers and forreners that should come to dwel at Athens That done he began to set vp an estate of a common wealth he made distinctions of degrees and difference of states moreouer Theseus coyned money marked the coyne thereof with the stampe of an oxe in memorie of the bul of Marathon or of Taurus chiefe captaine of king Minos which Theseus subdued by combate appointed The stampe of the oxe continued in Athens vntill Pericles time at what season the owle was stamped in the coine of Athens The renowne of this Theseus was marueilously blowen through all Greece after diuers victories gotten against the Amazones the slaughter of king Deucaleon king Minos sonne of the vanquishing of the huge monster Minotaurus of the warres of Lapithes of the ouerthrowe of Captaine Taurus and of infinite more victories so that all Greece rang of Thesius fame that his acts came to certaine prouerbs in all parts of Greece Hic alter Theseus this is another Theseus Hoc sine Theseo nōfit This was not done without Theseus He discharged Athens of their tribute vnto king Minos appointed certaine games called Isthmia after the imitation and order of Hercules that euen as the Grecians did celebrate the games of Olympia in the honour of Iupiter by Hercules ordinance so they should likewise celebrat the feast of Isthmia games which Theseus made in the honour of Neptune for he imitated Hercules in all his actions The great admiration which Theseus had of Hercules courage made him in like sort with Themistocles to say that as the victories and triumphes of Miltiades would not suffer Themistocles to sleepe so the renowme and fame of Hercules could not keepe Theseus backe from the imitation thereof for they both were neere kinsmen He was so great a benefactor vnto Athens that on the 8. of October the Athenians doe most solemne sacrifice in remembrance of his returne frō Creete with the children of Athens after the killing of king Deucaleon and Minotaurus in the honor of Neptune as Plutarch saith The Athenians honour the name of Theseus which of some is supposed to be the sonne of Neptune euery 8. day of euery moneth so much Greece was beholden vnto Theseus Plutarch in the life of Theseus saith that Aegeus his father descended of the linage of the great Erictheus of the first inhabitants which occupied the coūtrey of Attica for there is no mention made that they came out of any other countrey but they were called Autochthones borne of themselues in the lande of Attica for so the Athenians would haue it This was the first that erected Athens and hauing ioyned the citie of Megara and all the territories thereabout vnto Attica he caused as Plutarch affirmeth foure square pillars to be set vp for the confines within the streight of Isthmis in Peloponesus with this sentence written on the pillars All from these pillars Eastwarde is in Ionia which is Attica and all from thence Westward was in Peloponesus to separate the countrey of Attica from Peloponesus for in Ionia Attica lay After this Theseus succeeded in Athens Mnestheus the eleuenth king which raigned foure and twentie yeeres This time gouerned Agamemnon in Mycena when Helen Menelaus his brothers wife was rauished and taken away by Paris who likewise being very yong was before rauished by Theseus I will briefly rehearse the rest of the kings of Athens for after Mnestheus Demophon succeeded in Athens the twelfth king ouer the Athenians and raigned 33. yeeres In whose time Aeneas maried Lauinia king Latinus daughter who gouerned them three yeeres and died and left to Ascanius his sonne the kingdome after him he raigned after his father thirtie eight yeeres This time raigned in Assyria Tauteus the twentie and ninth king of the Assyrians Eli the priest now iudged Israel and Samuel the Prophet was borne Oxintes the thirteenth king of Athens raigned twelue yeeres about which time Ascanius began to build a towne and named it Alba longa where he with all his Court remooued leauing Lauinium to his fathers wife Lauinia thirtie yeeres after his father Aeneas had builded the citie of Lauinium In this kings raigne the Amazones burned the temple of Diana in Ephesus Now followed in Athens the foureteenth king ouer the Athenians who raigned but one yeere after him raigned Thimoetes the 15. king he raigned eight yeeres This was the last king of the stocke of Erictheus after this time raigned Siluius the thirde king of the Latins here of all the kings of Alba were afterward called Syluij In the 70. yeeres after the destruction of Troy and foureteene yeeres after the kings failed in Peloponesus came certaine people from Greece vnto Peloponesus and possessed a great part of the countrey which were called Dores of this Thucydides onely can best report for it is his proper historie Now was Melanthus the sixteenth king ouer the Athenians which raigned 37. yeeres in this kings time raigned in Assyria Dercillus the 31. king About this time Samuel the Prophet iudged Israel with whom gouerned afterward king Saul during which gouernment the prophet Dauid was borne when Aeneas raigned the sixt king of the Latins at what time the stocke and familie called Heraclides entred Peloponesus who waxed so strong and fierce that they waged warres against the Athenians with whom they had diuers battels CHAP. III. Of the originall beginning of the kings of the Lacedemonians and of the kings of Corinth who at one time beganne their gouernment vnder the state of Monarchie and also ended about one time of
life of Agesilaus for it is set foorth in Plutarch euen from his youth his maners his warres his victories in such sort that Epaminondas though then his enemie at the battell at Leuctres before and after wondred much at his magnanimitie and commended much his agilitie courage and wisedome reade Plutarch of this and Zenophon where hee wrote an noble oration in the prayse of Agesilaus yet I will leaue the warres betweene them both concerning the libertie of the Boetians vntill some other place where more shal be spoken Zenophon was great with Agesilaus and in person present in all the warres whom he much loued and honoured to be short Sparta thought themselues happie to haue such a king but I omit vntill better occasion be offered to speake further of Agesilaus Nowe to the Lacedemonians againe whose kinges ended in Alcanes the ninth king being the last after that the Lacedemonians had a Monarchie vnder kings for three hundred and odde yeeres and nowe at the fall of the kings of Lacedemonia in the time of this king Egemnon which was the ninth king of Corinth diuers kingdomes sprang vp together as the kingdome of Assyria at what time Sardanapalus the last king there raigned of thirtie eight kings nowe translated vnto the Chaldeans by Phul Belochus The Medes this time beginne a kingdome vnder Arbaces and the Macedonians their newe kingdome vnder Caranus their first king and within fourtie yeeres after beganne the kingdome of Lydia and within thirtie yeeres after beganne Romulus his Empire in Rome so that within one hundred yeeres one after another sprang these fiue kingdomes The kingdom of new Assyria The kingdome of Media The kingdome of Macedonia The kingdome of Lydia And the Romanes beganne to haue footing and kings beganne to flourish about which time the kingdome of Corinth decayed after the raignement of twelue kings which gouerned wel nigh three hundred yeeres Now that the Lacedemonians and the Corinthians had a fall in their kings and that the state of their gouernment was altered to an other forme as before the Argiues and the Peloponesians the Athenians the Thessalians whereof that gouernment I meane of kings translated to another forme so likewise nowe the Lacedemonians and the Corinthians together were changed from Kings to Iudges and other popular Magistrates And as in Greece one countrie began with the other so one fell with the other and so I hasten to the historie of Greece whereof nothing yet is spoken but the accompting of time sauing the warres that the Grecians had with the kings of Persia and with the kings of the Medes for the first tribute that euer was paid out of Greece vnto any barbarous king was vnto Croesus the last king Lydia so long Greece florished as long as they had not ciuill warres betweene them selues which was the onely cause of the whole destruction of Greece otherwayes Asia Persia Media Lydia and Scythia felt the value of Greece enuied their fame and sought to ouerthrow their glorie and could not For Plutarch in the life of Solon sayth that Licurgus was the eleuenth person that descended from the right line of Hercules great controuersie there is amongst Historiographers concerning Licurgus time of his parentage and of his trauell out of his countrie they haue written diuersly of his gouernmēt of his lawes of his death but specially they vary of the time he liued in some will haue him in Iphitus time Aristotle is of that opinion others say that he was long before any of the Olympiads as Eratosthenes but Zenophon affirmeth that hee was of great antiquitie he was in the time of Heraclides which were neerest of blood vnto Hercules but howe so euer it is agreed it seemeth it should not be long from Homers time for that he was the first that brought the vnknowen poemes of Homer to light in Greece Chronographers varie much about the time of these men vnder written for in antiquitie of time they seeme more fabulous then historicall Hermes Tris. Homer Pythagoras Linus Orpheus Lycurgus Cyrus Romulus With infinite more which I omitte here to name CHAP. IIII. Of the generall gouernment in all the Cities of Greece from Lycurgus time the king and the lawmaker in Sparta vntill the comming of Xerxes the great the fourth king of Persia into Greece of Lycurgus lawes among the Lacedemonians and of Solons lawes among the Athenians THus Lycurgus being singular rare and wise in his doings first consulted with the oracles of Apollo at Delphus changeth the estate of the common wealth instituteth a Senate of the Lacedemonians to the number of twentie eight who should pul downe the furie of the people if neede so required by any innouations against the kings and againe to bridle the tyrannicall gouerment of the kings against the people and a litle after that a supreame authoritie was instituted and giuen to certaine Magistrates called Ephori who should likewise controule the Senate and the kings in their faults Lycurgus made lawes for the women of Lacedemonia and instituted disciplines for the maides to exercise therein as to runne to wrastle to cast the dart to throwe the barre hee made lawes touching mariage and appointed order for education of children they were taught after seuen yeeres of age howe to obey to susteine paine to endure labour and to continue in fight they were cōpelled to shaue their heads to goe bare legged to vse all kinde of exercise naked they laye together on a bedde of strawe which they them selues made of the toppes of reedes or canes that growe in the riuer Eurotas Licurgus also appointed them streight diet taught them short speach little meate and fewe wordes hereby grewe the Lacedemonians to be the onely famous people of the world the most endured souldiers and the most able men of body The like lawe Bochoris made in Egypt for the education of their children they might not exceede in expences vpon any male childe borne aboue twentie drachmes then either streight hee shoulde bee exercised a souldier in the fielde or with the priestes in Astronomie and Arithmetike or else if he were not a likely childe of limme and body fitte for a souldier he should be put with shepheards husbandmen or with some craftesmen for he might not be idle in Egypt It seemed that both Lycurgus and Solon brought from Egypt their lawes into Greece for all confesse that Egypt was mater artium Lycurgus appointed an order for buriall amongst the Lacedemonians hee did cut off all superstition of places but onely to lappe the corps within a red cloth and spread it ouer with oliue leaues commaunding by his law that they should not mourne for the dead past eleuen dayes on the twelfth day to doe sacrifice to Proserpina and to giue ouer mourning This streight kind of gouernment bred due obedience in Sparta that of Sparta none should traueile without licence And amongst the
Lacedemonians he made lawes that none should dwell in Sparta This Lycurgus framed his life according to the lawes he made and for that he would know of Apollo whether his forme maner of gouernment were good he went to Delphos to consult with the oracle and before hee went he sware the Senators the Ephories the king of Sparta to keepe his institutions lawes vntill he would come againe from Delphos where hee willingly died lest he should returne to Sparta whereby they might haue occasion by his returne to breake their oth In ancient time this towne Sparta had the soueraignty rule of a 100. townes euery yere an oxe in euery of these 100. townes was sacrificed vnto Mars this sacrifice was of long time vsed in Sparta named Hecatōba as Strabo saith This was a kind of sacrifice afterward vsed in diuers coūtries Al which time Iudges gouerned in Athens from Medon the first Iudge the sonne of Codrus vntil Eurixias time being the last Iudge for after 17. kings had reigned in Athens succeeded after iudges to the number of twentie who ruled the state of Athens from the time of Codrus the last king of Athens vntill the time of Tullius Hostilius the third king of the Romanes who reigned in the 22. Olympiad so long Iudges reigned as chief magistrates in Athens After these 20. iudges the forme of gouernment was againe altered in Athens that nine magistrates yerely should be chosen of the chiefe men of the noblest stocke within Athens which shoulde gouerne the state of Attica but as Eusebius saieth then ruled lust for lawes the libertie of Athens grew to be much offensiue vntil the time of Draco who made seuere lawes and sharpe punishments for offendors in the time of the 36. Olympiad Dracos lawes were called for their seueritie lex sanguine scripta lawes written with blood he was the first that made lawes in Athens After him succeeded in the 47. Olympiad Solon a singular man of rare vertue of great iustice he did mitigate the furie of Dracos lawes made found perfect lawes for the Athenians In this Solōs time Athens was wel gouerned florished before all other townes of Greece he instituted his lawes in Athens whē Cyrus reigned king in Persia welnigh 200. yeres before Alexander the great at what time the Greciās knew not the Persians neither did the Persians know the Grecians which seemed strange in so late a time yet Strabo writeth this an ancient writer that whereas the Romanes had at that time diuers warres with the Sabines Samnites Fidenats Thuscans and other nations about them the Greeke Historiographers tooke no notice of them neither Herodot Thucydides nor Zenophon so strange were the Romanes to the Grecians Lesse maruel it is that the Chaldeans and the Assyrians thought Spaine to be but a citie called as Iosephus saith Iberia euen so did they esteeme Fraunce and Italie being farre countries from the East where the most warres were in those first yeeres after the flood But to returne to Solon who studied by all possible meanes to furnish with good lawes and to be carefull of the state and gouernmēt of Athens for he chiefely delighted in moral Philosophie which treated of gouernment common weales which was most necessarie for those dayes for the seuen wise men which then florished in Greece sought no further knowledge then of things common for the vse of man for in those dayes he was called most wise that could handle great causes in matters of State and endeuour to haue a good witte in iudgement of gouernment which in Solons time was found rare in men and therefore Greece had but seuen wise men of great accompt for knowledge and iudgement which were named the seuen Sages whose names are these vnder written Solon of Athens Thales of Miletum Bias of Prienna Chilo of Sparta Cleobulus of Lindia Periander of Corinth Pittacus of Mytilena But in Athens warres grewe betweene the Magarians and the Athenians for the Isle of Salamina which was in the possession of the Magarians Solon herewith being moued fained this Stratageme to sende a trustie man of his owne to Megara fayning himselfe a reuoulted traytour and that of purpose hee came to tell them howe they might take all the chiefe Ladies and Gentlewomen of Athens together if they would follow him The Magarians easely beleeuing this man folowed him which when Solon vnderstood hee appointed certaine young men in womens apparel that should daunce on the shore side with short daggers vnder their clothes vntill their enemies were landed which being done the enemies hauing sight of these young Ladies dauncing and playing without any man with them they so greedily leapt one vpon the necke of the other to take such a faire bootie that not one escaped but were all slaine and by this meanes Salamina was gotten to the Athenians Neuerthelesse the Magarians were sharpely bent to recouer Salamina againe if by any meanes they coulde but Athens had still some great wittes who were euer most busie in bickering and quarreling with their neighbours for the Athenians coulde better perswade with their tongues then fight with their swords Solon wanne great honour and glorie for one oration hee made in the defence of the temple of Apollo Solon by subtiltie and witte set order betwixt the poore and the riche for by this time fell againe the Athenians to the olde troubles and dissencions about the gouernment of the citie so that all Atica was in it selfe diuided some taking part with the best and chiefest Citizens others with the common people Solon pacified this sedition for hee was neither partaker with the riche in the oppression of the poore nor with the poore in the necessitie of offence his equitie and vpright dealing was well knowen in Athens therefore hee was chosen gouernour by common consent of all the Countrie of Attica to reforme the rigour of the lawes and to temper the state of the cōmon weales And first he began to take away al Dracos bloodie lawes sauing for murder manslaughter for by the lawes of Dracos all kinde of offence was punished with death aswell the least fault as the greatest offence and therefore called lex sanguine scripta Then Solon erected the Councell of the Areopagites out of this Councell the citie of Athens did yeerely choose their gouernour for in Dracos time were certeine Iudges vpon life and death called Ephetes before the time of the Areopagites After this Solon established diuers lawes within the Citie of Athens and appointed three kindes of Councels to gouerne the Citie one aboue the other and then he instituted some lawes which I will briefely here recite he made a lawe for the maintenance of willes and testaments hee made an acte for planting and setting of trees an other acte he made that they shoulde not transport out of the Realme neither
Thebes who not only restored the Thebanes diuers times their libertie but also resisted the violence of the Lacedemonians and ouerthrewe their Seigniorie and brought Sparta so vnder foote that these two valiant captaines did breake and cut in sunder the lincks and chaines that made the Lacedemonians strong The Lacedemoniās who at that time were almost lords and masters of al Greece had diuers ouerthrowes by Pelopidas such was his good successe that during his life as Plutarch affirmeth he was gouernour of Boetia or general ouer the Thebanes he wanne the victorie of the Lacedemonians at the battell of Tegira where none else then Pelopidas might callenge any part of that victorie thereupon a new supplie was sent from Lacedemon to Tegira where a newe battell was presently offred to Pelopidas in the which battell he had the victorie and slew both the generals aswell him that with a new armie came from Sparta to Tegira as also the other which had the ouerthrow Now as the Thebanes waxed strong by the meanes of these two Captaines Epaminondas and Pelopidas so were they also ouerthrowen by diuers as by the Plateans and Boetians But Sparta was much molested with the Thebanes so that by happie successe of Pelopidas many victories were wonne and specially at the battell of Leuctres where both Pelopidas and Epaminondas played the champions for Epaminondas being generall brought all his power and force to giue the charge vpon Cleombrotus then king of Sparta with great furie Pelopidas perceiuing the intent of the Lacedemonians together with Epaminondas set vpon Cleombrotus before he could order his armie with such incredible courage that the Lacedemonians the only souldiers in martial discipline were driuen beside their skill and wonted courage of sighting to turne their backes and to take their flight and there were slaine that day more Lacedemonians in that battell then we reade of in any former battel Their king was slaine and a thousand of the best of authoritie the most part noble men of Lacedemon and almost brought to vtter ruine for this warre at Leuctres was as famous as any one battell of Greece This time only was Epaminondas gouernour of Boetia and generall of the armie afterward they were both gouernours of Boetia together at what time they both inuaded the countrey of Peloponesus and made the cities to rebel against the Lacedemonians passed ouer the riuer of Eurotas with seuentie thousand men and tooke many litle townes of the Lacedemonians wasted and destroyed all the countrey to the sea side The reputation of these two men Pelopidas and Epaminondas made all men most willingly to march vnder their conduction This great battel at Leuctres happened in the 32. yeres of Artaxerxes sirnamed Mnemon 29. yeeres after Lisander had brought Athens in subiection in the 102. Olympiad before Alexanders raigne 36. yeres so long held the Lacedemonians the Empire of Greece after the victory of Lisander at Athens which was thirtie yeeres And now Sparta is brought into that misery by Epaminondas Pelopidas as Athens was by Lisander the only two lampes of Greece the two eyes and the two legges of Greece and yet the only two that were the cause of the destruction of Greece The cause of these great and long ciuil warres seemed in the beginning but small but as Pindarus saith Scintilla parua magnam syluam comburit and so it came to passe by occasion of a litle contention betweene the Athenians and the Magareans de luco incenso The Athenians made a decree that it was not lawfull for any of Megara to enter into any part of Attica this was thought iniurious and therefore complaint was made vnto the Lacedemonians who sending messengers vnto Pericles the chiefe gouernour of Athens to entreate that that decree should not stand Pericles answered that the Lacedemonians sought a thing of small moment but that the example of the fault was intollerable and therefore the Lacedemonians should commaunde Pericles and all Athens in causes of greater waight This grew into such suspition with the Lacedemonians that warres of 27. yeeres came of it which was called Bellum Peloponesiacum the Peloponesians warre This spoyled and wasted Greece this warre full ended the glorie of Greece and brought the whole Empire to ruine to whom within 50. yeres before this warre all Asia was brought subiect as Xerxes could well witnes that Greece florished when he was forced with shame and losse secretly in a small boate to scape into Persia which Xerxes entred Greece with tenne hundred thousand souldiers with 1200. nauies some write 3000 Hee that thought Hellespont could not containe the nomber of his nauies and supposed that all Greece were not able to receiue his armie euen hee after that incontinently lost foure great battels and was like a coward driuen out of Greece leauing Mardonius his lieutenant with three hundred thousand souldiers behinde him who likewise at the battell of Platea was slaine and his armie ouerthrowen Then Greece flourished when Darius Histaspis which was Xerxes father had the ouerthrow at the great battell of Marathon at which time that noble and valiant man Miltiades was generall for Athens Then flourished Greece when the Lacedemonians liued after the lawes of Lycurgus and when the Athenians kept the lawes of Solon Then flourished Athens when the reuenues of Athens came yerely to the accompts of sixe hundreth talents nay it is written that Demetrius Phalerius which then gouerned Athens had yeerely comming into the treasure house twelue hūdred talents to the which Budeus doeth agree The citie of Athens flowed in wealth when that Isocrates could get 20. talents for one Oration and when Demosthenes had of Harpalus 20. talents for one dayes silence When the Athenians tooke the Isle Cythera and the castle Nisaea which was the only strēgth of Megara when they vanquished the Lacedemonians at Epidaurus and compelled them to make league with the Persians and craued their ayde and helpe against the Athenians when Thrasillus gaue an ouerthrow to the Lacedemonians by sea and to their general Mindarus betweene Sestos and Abydos and yet they lost more then they gained by the Lacedemonians such was then their malice as Cleon the Athenian and Brasidas the Lacedemonian two valiant captaines in the battell at Amphipolis fought so that they were both slaine and all their souldiers so in like sort was all Greece destroyed by ciuil warres such was the malice and enuie that one citie bare to another in the time of the Peloponesian warre For from the battell at Salamina where Xerxes had the great ouerthrow vntill the battell at Leuctres these iolie captaines flourished at Athens Callimachus Miltiades Themistocles Aristides Phocion Cimon Pericles Alcibiades Nicias Conon Thrasibulus Thrasillus Leosthenes Nicostratus Aristonymus Cleon. Aristarchus Theagenes With many such but specially with one Solon who beautified Athens before But nowe Athens by this ciuill warres is
much eclipsed from her glorie for this warre of the Peloponesians brake the backe of all Greece Alcibiades rashnesse was much giuen to pricke forwarde this warres for hee was ioyned with Nicias who fauoured the Lacedemonians and sought meanes to keepe the Athenians in friendship with the Lacedemonians which purchased Nicias great loue and fauour of the people which spited much Alcibiades to see Nicias in such credite with the people and therefore he studied how to infringe this peace and to diminish the fame of Nicias no other wayes then you heard before of Themistocles and Aristides the one enuious and glorious the other good and iust and so sirnamed Aristides the iust one finding fault with the other to the great danger and trouble of Athens After these succeeded two great men Pericles and Cimon the one factious and stubburne the other meeke and gentle and euen so now Alcibiades yong and ambitious Nicias sober and temperate for Alcibiades being the authour of the warres of Sicilie alluring the people with his pleasant toÌ„gue to make warres in Sicilia a beginning to further enterprise Nicias perswading to the contrary with all meanes possible affirming plaine that the citie of Syracusa was too great a matter for Athens to take in hand Alcibiades brought the Athenians much attentiue vnto him promising them to bring to passe great wonders hee assured the Athenians that if Syracusa might be conquered Lybia and Carthage might soone be conquered and so passe to Italy The Athenians people most desirous to enlarge their Segniorie who much coueted in Pericles life to haue Syracusa in hand now being perswaded by Alcibiades they are most willing to set him forward hauing 140. gallies and 5000. footemen very well armed and appointed besides archers and other light armed men to the nomber of thirteene hundreth but Alcibiades did no great exploit sauing the winning of the citie Catana for hee was called home immediatly by the Athenians to answere certaine accusations layd to his charge he returned from Sicilia not daring well for feare of his enemies to come vnto Athens he sent vnto Sparta to haue safe coÌ„duct and licence of the Lacedemonians to dwell in their countrey his request being obtained hee practised vpon his first comming seruice against his owne citie he counselled the Spartans speedily to send ayd to the Syracusans whom they had of long time before delayed Gylippus was sent from Sparta to Sicilia to ouerthrowe the Athenian armie His second counsell was that the Lesbians and they of Chios which were not in league with the Athenians should begin to warre vpon them The thirde counsell was that the Lacedemonians should fortifie the citie of Decelia which was within the territories of Attica Alcibiades himselfe would saile vnto Ionia to perswade those cities to ioyne with Sparta By this time Athens was on euery side troubled and the Athenians force diminished whereby grew great warres and ciuill discorde among the citizens of Greece The authoritie of Alcibiades his credite and his fame got him both enuie and malice and that of the best they feared his fauour with the people and as Plutarch saith he had such entertainment of Timea the Queene king Agis wife of Sparta that the king being abroad in the warres Alcibiades got the Queene at home with childe and therefore the chiefe magistrats of Sparta called Ephori wrote letters vnto certaine captaines of the warre to kill Alcibiades But hee hauing some intelligence hereof by the Queene practised with Tisapharnis the king of Persias lieutenant to withdrawe his fauour from the Lacedemonians and to ioyne with the Athenians For by this time Alcibiades had some hope by his friendes meanes to be called home againe to Athens for true it was he went to Samos 〈◊〉 was an armie of the Athenians readie to saile to Athens there Alcibiades was honourably receiued and by meanes of Thrasybulus hee was shortly after most louingly receiued into Athens at what time hee did some good seruice to Athens and requited the spite and enuie which the Lacedemonians shewed him in Sparta For now Myndarus the Admirall of the Lacedemonian armie by sea hauing threescore shippes and hauing giuen the ouerthrowe once or twise to the Athenians with this Myndarus ioyned also Pharnabasus the king of Persias 〈◊〉 with a bande of footemen for now Tizapharnes 〈◊〉 good friend died and in his place came this captaine â—…arnabassus being throughly stirred to reuenge the malice of Sparta hee went with a small nomber of gallies to the Isle of Cos there he was aduertised that the Athenians and the Lacedemonians were in battell by sea before the citie of Abydos and being in the midst of their fight Alcibiades discouered his galleis and commaunded straight to set vp his flagge in the toppe of the galleis of his Admirall and in the very heate of the battell when that the Athenians were at the worst Alcibiades freshly did set vpon the Peloponesians brake their shippes chased them to flight and got the victorie ouer the Lacedemonians by sea and after this victory straight the Peloponesians with an other armie and Pharnabasus with Mindarus were together in the citie of Cizicum Of this Alcibiades hauing intelligence hasted towards them for he had not forgotten the letters of the Ephores to the captaines for the killing of him Mindarus the Admirall and Pharnabasus the generall were no sooner on the maine sea but Alcibiades with his Athenians gaue them battell and ouerthrewe them scattered them and slewe a great nomber of them drowned more and killed Mindarus the Admirall in the fielde fighting valiantly and forced Pharnabasus to flie cowardly and to take the citie of Cizicum their losse was so great and their strength so diminished that Sparta hearing of this great victorie of the Athenians fell in great dispaire and doubted much of their state and gouernment for by this victorie the Athenians had the possession of the whole countrey of Helespont After this Alcibiades went againe against Pharnabasus spoiled his countrey tooke diuers of his townes and gaue the ouerthrow to the generall in his owne territories Alcibiades thence went and made warres against the Chalcedonians who were now reuolted from the Athenians and had receiued a gouernour and a garison of the Lacedemonians into their citie hee layed siege to Chalcedon Pharnabasus came to ayde the Chalcedonians but hee was with shame as before put to flight and Hyppocrates the Lacedemonian gouernour slew before the citie a great nomber of his men and tooke many of them prisoners and at that time made the Bythinians to make a league with the Athenians yeelding their towne and their possession into Alcibiades hand After this victorie of Chalcedon hee tooke the citie of Selybrea and went in armes against Byzantium where after a terrible battell hee wanne the citie and got the victorie with three hundreth prisoners of the best
is the onely ruine of a kingdom as in the warres betwene the Phocians and the Thebans was truely prooued and by Philip fully performed After this it happened that two brethren contended about the kingdome of Thracia which to auoyde warres both consented to the iudgement of Philip who not like a Iudge in giuing iudgement but like a foxe came with an armie and subdued both the brethren and so got the kingdome of Thracia subiect to Macedonia by these subtile dealings he also wanne Cappadocia and Epire and made warres against the Scythians All the endeuours of Philip was to this purpose that he might be the lord of Greece and vpon that he called all Greece to the citie of Corinth and offered to make warres vpon the Persians in his owne person This was to flatter Greece but Virtus an dolus quis in hoste requirit for the Persians euer annoyed Greece After that Philip had won Athens hee was sure of the Thebans and of the Boetians who alwayes were in a league with Athens by meanes of Demosthenes who euer perswaded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as tongue could doe to stand against Philip but when Philip waxed strōg who sought with flatery with his friends and with golde with his enemies and Greece waxed weake by reason of their ciuill warres and spoyling one of another he had free passage euery where being made gouernour of all Greece he then easily subdued the Illyrians and the Olynthians conquered Amphipolis Pyrinthus and Byzantium and by this meanes Philip became the onely king of all Macedonian kings before him He grew so great after his victory at Cherronea that he made then ready an armie to Persia and he deuised to bring the monarchie frō Persia to Macedonia which his sonne Alexander did within a while after Philip being thus aduaunced with many victories and triumphes leauing behind him at euery victorie some triumphant pillar or arch as trophes and monuments of his fortune was in the midst of his glory by the Oracles of Pythias warned of his death at what time he sacrificed to his gods a crowned bull Reade more of this in Diodorus After that Philip had much mooued all the cities of Greece to resist the Persians and to make one chiefe generall ouer all Greece against the Persians for Plinie writeth that Philip in the hundred eleuenth Olympiad had much weakened the state of Greece and therefore hee was the sooner chosen their captaine which being obteined he had what he sought Vpon this he returned into Macedonia prepared souldiers made ready his armie and was in the midst of his greatnesse when Pausanias for an iniurie receiued before for want of iustice betwene Attalus who had most horribly abused him and Philip being king to whom hee appealed of whome hee had though oftentimes he sought no remedie but rather flouts and scofs which kindled in Pausanias such hatred that hee reuenged the foule fact of Attalus vpon king Philippe and that with death Thus Philip raigned in Macedonia 23. yeeres at what time Ochus raigned in Persia and recouered Egypt and Camillus triumphed in Rome and ouerthrew the Frenchmen About this time died that noble Philosopher Plato after whom succeeded Speusippus after him Zenocrates Demosthenes and Aeschines two famous Orators flourished in Greece CHAP. II. Of the renowme and fame of Macedonia during the raigne of Alexander the great of his conquest and victories ouer all the East of his dangerous warres in India Egypt and in Scythia and of the subduing of Darius and the taking away of the Monarchie from Persia into Macedonia ALexander the great being of twentie yeeres of age succeeded and exceeded his father Philippe both in vertue and in vice they were thus farre one from another in nature that what Philip did through pollicie and subtiltie that Alexander would doe with open strength and courage Philip reioyced when hee might deceiue the enemie Alexander when he coulde ouerthrow them Philip more politicke like afoxe in council and deuice Alexander like a lion more fierce and couragious in conquering and subduing Philip sought meanes to be beloued of his enemies and to make his foes his friendes Alexander sought to be feared and to make his friendes his foes These and such other comparisons doeth Iustine setforth betweene the father and the sonne Alexander beganne to raigne by Curtius computations after the building of Rome foure hundreth twentie and fixe yeeres at what time Ca. Sulpitius and Lu. Papyrius were Consuls of Rome in the hundreth and eleuenth Olympiad when Iaddus was hie priest in Hierusalem Plutarch writeth that Alexander was descended from Hercules by Caranus side and that of his mothers side he came of the blood of Aeacides by Neoptolemus Olympias his mother dreamed the first night that she lay with Philip that lightning fell into her bellie and that light fire dispersed it selfe in diuers flames about her and king Philip also dreamed that he did seale his wiues bellie and that the seale left behinde it the print of a lion Alexander was borne the sixt day of Iune on the very same day that the temple of Diana was burned he had diuers graue tutours and gouernours Leonidas was chiefe gouernour vnto Alexander for that hee was a noble man and a kinsman to the Queene Olympias Aristotle was his chiefe tutour one of the greatest Philosophers and best learned men in his time King Philip had taken before the citie of Stagira where Aristotle was borne While this Alexander was yet yong one Philonicus a Thessalian had brought Bucephalus a gallant horse to be solde vnto Philip the price was thirteene talents they brought the horse to the fielde to be ridden whom they founde so rough that the riders said he would doe no seruice affirming that it was vnpossible to tame him they found him so churlish yerking out and suffering no man to come nigh him King Philippe commaunded them to take the horse away Alexander misliked the riders and tooke the horse in hande being a very yong man and turned him towards the sunne for that Alexander saw before that the horse started at his owne shadowe Alexander vsed the horse so that he rode him and made him as gentle as could be both with the spurre and with the bitte and so lighted from the horse to whome Philippe his father then said for ioy weeping Seeke a greater kingdome sonne then Macedonia is for Macedonia is to litle for thee This Aulus Gellius Plutarch and Plinie doe affirme This horse Alexander kept for his owne saddle vntill the warres of India where the horse with sickenesse died where hee made a monument in memorie of Bucephalus a towne after the name of the horse and named the citie Bucephalia which hee builded vpon the riuer Hidaspis Reade the whole 16. booke of Diodor. Siculus of the warres and gouernment of Philip. Now as soone as Philip
Hercules helde out to him his hand ouer the walles of Tyre and called him by his name then he followed and continued his siege vntill he had quite ouerthrowen Tyre This towne was builded by Agenor While Alexander conquered and subdued all places Darius was not idle to prepare his forces to giue the thirde battell vnto Alexander hee sent to Bessus his lieutenant in Bactria commaunding him to come with as many souldiers as possiblie he could and so the rest of his lieutenants he likewise sent and to make as great an armie as might yet terrifie Alexander hee sent to the Scythians and to the Indians and brought his force to Babylon At that time hee had thrise as many as he had in Cicilia In the meane season Alexander went to Gaza one of the chiefest cities of Syria at this towne Alexander had two seuerall wounds very dangerous and yet not so dangerous as the victorie was famous thence he remooued his tents and passed forwarde to Egypt sent his footemen to Pelusium he himselfe with few chosen souldiers passed ouer Nilus to Memphis and thence to all the parts of Egypt where he was receiued as a conquerour without battel giuen When he had set things in order in Egypt altering neither their lawes nor their customes he went forward and found a place where he builded the citie Alexandria and named it after his owne name After he had conquered all Egypt this citie was builded in the seuenth yeere of Alexanders raigne foure hundreth and twentie yeres after the building of Rome at what time Caius Petileus and Lu. Papyrius were consuls in Rome as Liuie writes When Alexander had brought all things to passe as he wisht hee left two ouerseers in Egypt with foure thousand souldiers with them the one was a Macedonian named Pencestes the other a Rhodian named Aesculus and returned and pitcht his tents hard by a little village of Assyria called Arbela where the last and the greatest battell was betweene Darius and Alexander But because I haue spoken of these three great victories of Alexander in the histories of Persia where I opened particularly the whole discourse of the warres I may passe to other matters with this farewell to Alexander that so fewe in nomber with so yong a king against such a mightie monarche as at that time had almost all the world vnder his gouernment and yet in three victories his kingdomes was taken from him aboue a hundred thousand slaine and Darius himselfe fled and being hard followed was slaine by Bessus Of this Alexander Daniel prophecied that such a king should come that might doe what hee list Iustine sayeth that Darius had in his armie three hundreth thousand footmen and a hundreth thousand horsemen Diodorus varieth much from that nomber and so doeth Curtius Plutarch saith that Darius had tenne hundreth thousand fighting men at that battell at Euphrates Also some writers differ for the place that this great battel was not at Arbeles Plutarch a man of great iudgement whom I had rather folow in matters of any controuersies then any other in this historie betweene Alexander and Darius therefore he setteth downe the first victorie at the riuer Granicus the second victorie in Silicia the thirde at Gausameles and not at Arbeles as the most writers affirme After these victories which Alexander had he remooued to Babylon where he continued 34. dayes from Babylon to Susa where hee found within the castle foure thousand talents in ready coine of gold and siluer beside other infinite treasures These townes yeelded to Alexander after the last ouerthrow of Darius without any assalt giuen and frō Susa went after Darius to Media where he fled and where he found Darius slaine by Bessus one of his owne captaines which was Darius lieutenant ouer the Bactrians This Bessus perceiuing that Alexander was following hard at the heeles of Darius thinking much to please Alexander slewe his owne lorde and master for the which Alexander rewarded him not according to his expectation but according to his deserts commaunded that hee should bee bound betweene two trees and by horses to bee drawen in pieces It is written that when Alexander saw Darius dead hee wept and couered his bodie with his owne cloake so wept Iulius Caesar when he saw the head of Pompey and Antigonus when he saw the head of Pyrrhus though they were enemies Nowe by Darius the Persians lost their monarchie and by Alexander the Macedonians wanne it Aristotle hearing of Alexanders good successe his victories and his conquests ouer so many nations to be such wrote vnto the king putting him in remembrance that GOD giueth victories and kingdomes are giuen by GOD to do good and not euill to vse iustice and not iniurie to be a king and not to be a tyrant By this time Alexander had raigned eight yeeres king in Macedonia after hee had conquered the Carians the Lydians the Cappadocians the Phrygians the Paphlagonians and the Pamphylians also he subdued the Cilicians the Syrians the Phoenicians the Armenians and the Persians the Medes and the Parthenians and was king of all the East countreys yet hee was not satisfied for he sawe the Scythians the Hircanians the Bactrians the Sogdians the Massagets and the Sagaes and the Indians vnconquered he could not quiet his minde before hee had subdued these nations Alexander sought where he might heare of a kingdome vnconquered and hearing of Hercules actes and exploits in the West kingdomes he fully had determined after hee had brought all Asia and the East countreys as he did to subiection to leade his armie and to passe into Affricke to Carthage and to Numidia and thence to Gades to see Hercules pillars thence hee thought to leade his armie vnto Iberia which is Spaine and from Spaine to the Alpes and so to Italy and from Italy to Epire leauing no where in his minde vnconquered So he fumed and fretted at the fame of Achilles of Theseus and of Hercules for Hercules was the onely man that Alexander emulated hee thought of Hercules as Caesar thought of Alexander This king was of such wonderfull hautinesse that hee thought that the earth might not suffer two Alexanders no more then the heauens might cōtaine two Sunnes so he answered Darius when he entreated for peace and offered thirtie thousand talents for his wife and his daughters And Alexander hearing Democritus the Philosopher affirming that there were many worldes hee brake out in teares and in great furie saide Is there more worldes then one and yet I haue not conquered halfe one world But hee was preuented with a contrary course he fell to take ease at Babylon where he gaue himselfe to banquets to riot to surfeting and to drinking and so hee bestowed in Babylon the rest of his life in all kinde of pleasures and pastimes Hee maried the Persian ladies with noble men of Macedonia and he himselfe
Thus after long seditious contentions they agreed among themselues that Antipater should gouerne Macedonia and Greece that Ptolome should gouerne Egypt and Afrike and part of Arabia Learchus should gouerne Lycia Pamphylia and the greater Phrygia Cappadocia and Paphlagonia were assigned to Eumenes to Laomedon were assigned Syria and Phoenicia to Cassander Caria to Menander Lydia and to Lysimachus Thracia Pontus and Cilicia Illyria to Philotes to Leonatus the lesser Phrygia these with others whose names Functius setteth downe These princes within fourteene yeeres by ciuill discord fell to variances and contencions that they destroyed one another such is the force of ambition that it neuer conteineth within any bounde of reason I will not repeate the names of those that were likewise assigned to gouerne the Sogdians the Bactrians the Indians and other places which in like maner through mutual dissension slue one another Alexander for a while was left vnburied in Babylon quite forgotten of all his princes vntil Ptolome as Curtius doeth witnesse sent for his body brought it to Memphis and from Memphis it was caried to Alexandria and there in his owne tombe was buried Nowe after these Princes were thus destroyed the Empire voide of any good gouernment for though they with one consent elected Arideus to bee king of Macedon yet their obedience was farre from their election but euery man aspired to a kingdome all the Countries betweene the riuer Hydaspes and the riuer Indus Taxillus gouerned In Persia gouerned Neoptolemus in Parthia Nicanor in Babylon Pencestes and Archesilaus had in his hand Mesopotamia All these practised meanes how they might from gouernours become kings for as I saide before Alexander left no king behind him for so it was before Alexander by Cyrus before Cyrus by Nabuchodonosor before Nabuchodonosor by Merodach before Merodach by Ninus before Ninus by Nimrod So God from the beginning by his great wisedome hath established kingdomes and common weales that where hee gaue his sworde there the victorie went and there the Monarchie florished so God ordeyned things to come to passe that nowe againe the Empire of Alexander should be deuided as Daniel the Prophet had before tolde saying That a strong king should come and gouerne and doe what pleased him but it should bee diuided in quatuor ventos Coeli as then it happened truely betweene foure princes though Iosephus sayeth fiue the first was Cassander the sonne of Antipater and euen hee who poysoned Alexander hee I say after his fathers death and after hee had destroyed the whole progenie of Alexander inuaded Macedonia and vsurped the kingdome the 2. Ptolo. Lagi the first king of Egypt and had the most part of Syria vnder his Scepter the 3. Seleucus surnamed Nicanor king of Babylon and of Asia the greater the 4. Antigonus king of Asia the lesse These and their posterities had entred in armes and beganne to warre within them selues that they likewise came to ruine and were destroyed one by another as you shall reade more in the histories of the kings of Asia and Syria In the meane season the Athenians againe a people euer desirous of soueraigntie vnderstanding that Alexander the great was dead were in armes against Antipater still looking to haue their former libertie ioyned with themselues the Aeolians gathered three thousand souldiers two hundred nauies now Demosthenes being banished frō Athens being at Megaris or as as Plutarch saith at Aegina for his 20. talents in bribes receiued of Harpalus was called backe by the Athenians who through his wōted eloquence allured the Argiues the Corinthians and the Scicionians to ioyne with the Athenians against Antipater who by election was king of Macedonia next after Alexander and chiefe gouernour ouer all Greece as Alexander was and his father Philip before him In these warres the Athenians had very good lucke in the beginning while yet Leosthenes their generall was aliue but hee being dead their good happe and successe died also before Leosthenes had shut vp Antipater in the citie of Lamia and straightly had there besieged him But this continued no longer then to the battel of Cranon where againe the Athenians were ouerthrowen and Demosthenes with many of their Orators fled and after to auoide Antipaters hand ridde away themselues by poyson Cassander beganne in Macedonia and in Greece to practise falshood after he had maried Arideus daughter Thessalonices for by consent of all the princes Arideus was appoinred to succeede Alexander and he reigned seuen yeeres king in Macedonia but Olympias Alexanders mother made meanes to dispatch both Arideus and his wife Euridices out of the way for that they resisted the Queene Olympias to come into Macedonia frō Epire and Olympias her selfe liued not long after for the Macedonians honoured her much for Philip her owne husbands sake and for Alexander her sonne vntill shee became to be cruell and to vse much tyrannie But Cassander who farre exceeded her in murthering and in destroying tooke her also and commaunded her to bee slaine and likewise commaunded Roxana Alezanders wife to be kept and to be looked vnto being sent with her sonne Alexander to Amphipolis but she her sonne was slaine While in this sort Cassander fomed in blood Antigonus who had obteined to be king of lesser Asia came in armes against Cassander Lysimachus king of Thracia and Seleucus king of greater Asia ioyned with Cassander and the battell was giuen at Gaza a citie of Palestina where Demetrius Antigonus sonne had the worse Cassander within a while after this battell died when he had reigned eighteene yeeres After whom succeeded two sonnes of Cassander named Antipater and Alexander who in much discord and with much adooe they reigned foure yeeres this young king Antipater after he had reigned three yeeres perceiuing that his mother was more bent to fauour her other sonne Alexander with his owne hand slue her vpon this vile murther Alexander presently sent to Demetrius for ayde and to reuenge his mothers death vpō his brother Demetrius was glad to heare such newes that Antipater had slaine his mother and nowe Alexander to rise against his brother sawe an open passage hereby offered vnto him to become king of Macedonia which so came to passe for both Antipater and Alexander one destroyed another for Lysimachus slue Antipater and Demetrius Alexander left the kingdome to Demetrius the posteritie of Cassander had no lōger time in Macedonia it was Gods iudgement for this Cassander as it is reported poysoned Alexander the great being with two other of his brethren Iolla Philip gentlemen of his priuie chamber their race ended for in the time of Antipater and his sonne Cassander Demosthenes Demades and the most part of the noble Orators of Athens were slaine And nowe Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus was proclaimed king of Macedon and beside Macedon he had Thessalie and the most part of Peleponesus hee further did
Rome and in the hundred and fiftie Olympiad at what time reigned king in Egypt Ptolomeus Philometor the sixth king and in Syria reigned Antiochus Epiphanes the eight king and also this time ouer the Parthians reigned Mithridates Arsaces who succeeded his brother Pharnachus this did great exploites of whom you shall reade in the histories of the Parthians written by Iustine in Rome Lucius Manlius and Quintus Fuluius were Consuls This Perseus succeeded Philip his father found the strength of his kingdome so great and so well prouided that hee had in his armorie to arme thirtie thousand he had in his fortes and strong places eight million bushels of corne safely lockt vp and hee had ready as much money as would serue to enterteine tenne thousand strangers in paye for tenne yeeres this also he found ready men leauied a great number which his father had prepared for the second warres of Macedonia Perseus being thus furnished tooke that in hand which was Philips purpose to warre against the Romanes and he mainteined warres a long time and had in the beginning good successe against the Romanes that in the first battell he made hee gaue the ouerthrow to Pu. Lucius the Consul and at that time generall for the Romanes he slue 2500. of his horsemen and tooke sixe hundred prisoners and beside he did suddenly set vpon their armie by sea riding at anker before the citie of Oren he tooke twentie of their great shippes and sunke the rest which were loden all with corne Thus Perseus began very hotly with the Romanes and gaue the ouerthrowe to the first Consul the second battell which Perseus fought was with Hostilius the second Consul and generall of Rome whom he likewise repulsed and when that Hostilius attempted by force to inuade Macedonia Perseus offered him battell in Thessalie and he refused him Perseus seemed so proud of these two victories against the two Consuls of Rome that hee little esteemed the Romanes went and fought a battell in the meane time with the Dardanians where hee slue tenne thousand of these barbarous people and brought a marueilous great spoyle away beside this hee gote the Gaules that dwelt about the riuer of Danubie to ioyne with him and practised with Gentius king of the Illyrians to ioyne also in this warre with him The Romanes being of these newes aduertised they thought good to send a skilfull souldier and a wise captaine as Paulus Aemilius was whom the Romans chose now the second time to be their consul and captaine in this second warre to whom they gaue the whole charge of Macedon Aemilius prepared an armie of an hundreth thousand against Perseus and when he had arriued into Macedon being aduertised how Perseus lay at the foote of mount Olympus with 4000. horsmen and with fourtie thousand footemen beside he had Gentius king of the Illyrians to whom Perseus promised thirtie thousand talents to ayde him against the Romanes Now Scipio sirnamed Nasica the adopted sonne of the great Scipio the Affricane and Fabius Maximus of whom Cicero said Cunctando restituit rem two yong valiant Romanes offered to take the straights offered to do diuers seruices but old Aemilius hauing wonne many victories hee could stay leasure and oportunitie of battel Now Perseus hauing pitched his campe before the citie of Pydne where Aemilius in hast marched and met in battell Polibius writeth this storie and saith so soone as the battel was begun Perseus withdrew himselfe and got into the citie of Pydne out of the battell vnder pretence to doe some sacrifice vnto Hercules but Aemilius with his sworde in hand lay on vpon the enemies The slaughter was so great on Perseus side that Plutarch saith that the riuer of Leucus ranne all bloodie the battell was so fierce on both sides that it continued not aboue two houres the victorie fel to the Romanes with the losse of 25. thousand Macedonians This victorie was heard of in Rome the very day that it was wonne saying that Castor and Pollux brought these newes to Rome In this battel I note one rare historie of Mar. Cato the sonne of great Cato and sonne in law to Aemilius who most valiantly fighting in the midst of the Macedonians by chance his sword fell out of his hande the which he tooke so grieuously that he ranne to the Romane armie where he told them what had befallen vnto him praying some of his friends to helpe him to recouer his sword saying that he thought more honour for him to die there then liuing to suffer his enemies to enioy any spoile of his whereupon a nomber of lustie valiant souldiers rushed in straight amōg their enemies about the place where the sworde fell their force and furie was such that it made a lane through the enemies and as yong raging lions with such force cleared the way in such sort that the sworde was found this happened in the middest of the battell Againe in this battell of Pydne a great feare tooke Aemilius after the victory who being very late in the night broght to his tent with torches and links missing his sonne beholding how his souldiers after this victorie decked themselues with crownes and garlands of laurell became sad and heauie supposing his sonne to be cast away vntil Scipio returned frō following the enemie then Aemilius ioy was doubled but that shortly followed which then missed Now Perseus fled from Pydne to Pella After this victory Aemilius made a progresse into Greece and cōming to Delphos there he saw king Perseus image of golde set vp vpon a great pillar of 4. square Aemilius commanded that image of him being conquered to be taken downe and his owne image being the conqueror to be set vp thence he went to the city of Olympia to visit the temple of Iupiter Olympian after he redeliuered to the Macedonians their countrey and townes againe to liue at libertie paying to the Romans for tribute yerely 100. talents After he went to Epirus hauing put al things at stay in Macedonia that the Macedonians submitted themselues to Aemilius Aemilius sent his lieutenant by sea to take king Perseus who fled to Samothracia where he and his children yeelded vnto Cneus Octauius lieutenant to Aemilius Of this great victorie newes came to Rome from Macedonia in one day some say 4. dayes This king Perseus was a very couetous prince hated of his subiects of no man beloued noted to be such a coward that Aemilius mocked him for it This Perseus lost in 2. houres in the battel of Pydne to the Romans great glory praise the fame renowne which Alexander the great had brought and wonne to Macedonia Of these 2. warres of Macedonia with the Romanes and of their last king conquered reade Liuie and Appianus in that booke entituled Mithridaticus This is that Macedonia which then Alexander had augmented with these many kingdoms Persia Media Armenia Albania
stone of the same ring was an Ancre imprinted which afterward was the cognizance of all Seleucus posteritie This ring did Laodice deliuer to her sonne Seleucus at that time when great Alexander tooke his conquest to Persia vnder whom Seleucus was then a souldier for hee was but base borne as in that historie ye may reade further yet this Seleucus after that Alexander died had growen to be the onely great king of all Alexanders successours and builded a great citie and named it Antiochia after his fathers name which was Antiochus a captaine vnder king Philip Alexanders father The elder that Seleucus waxed the more ambitious hee was euen so was Lysimachus as olde as hee the one seuentie and foure and the other seuentie and seuen and yet both giuen to seeke more kingdomes and at last seeking one to conquer the other as it came to passe after many battels Lysimachus was ouerthrowen and slaine by Seleucus Of this great victorie he waxed so proude that he forgate the frailenesse of fortune and the inconstancie of time not thinking that his death should be within seuen moneths after for Ptolomeus sirnamed Cerainon whose sister Lysimachus had maried reuenged the death of his brother in lawe This battell betweene Lysimachus and Seleucus was the last battell of all those that serued Alexander in his conquest for as Lysimachus ouerthrew Pyrrhus so Seleucus ouerthrew Lysimachus and now Ptolomeus ouerthrew Seleucus and that as I said before within seuen moneths after Lysimachus ouerthrow But Iustine saith Seleucus was slaine by snares and falshood By this time died the most part of those that were Alexanders princes and in his iourneyes with him chiefe captaines as Perdicca Craterus Emmenis Antigonus Antipater Cassander and his two sonnes Polibius saith that Ptolomeus the sonne of Lagi Lysimachus Seleucus and Ptolomey Cerainon died in the hundreth twentie and foure Olympiad which was after Alexanders the great tenne Olympiads which is fourtie yeeres for he died in the hundreth and fourteene Olympiad All writers doe agree of this Olympiad for the Greekes compted their yeeres from Alexanders death forward for before Alexanders time the Greekes histories erred much and specially by their Olympiads which made Chronographers to erre for al chronicles crie out vpon the Olympiads Seleucus after he had gotten so great fame that all Asia and Syria obeyed him he beganne to builde townes and cities as Antioch Laodicea Seleucia Apamia Edissa Berouea and Pellum and brought the Iewes to inhabite these cities he gaue them equall lawes and ordinances together with the Grecians to liue and to enioy their libertie thereby and after he raigned one and thirtie yeeres he died After him succeeded Antiochus Soter the second king of Syria hee raigned 19. yeeres after whom succeeded Antiochus sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This king played his part hee was the cause of all the warres betweene the Egyptians and Syrians he had great spite vnto Philadelphus the king of Egypt wasted and spoiled much of his countrey this king Philadelphus was adicted more to peace then to warre more giuē to his books then to brawles he tooke greater care to furnish Egypt with the lawes and ordinances of the Iewes then to prouide preparations against Antiochus and therefore to auoyde warre whereby he might finish many good things which he tooke in hande and specially the translation of the Bible from the Hebrew vnto the Greeke tongue by 70. graue wise and learned men for that cause he gaue his daughter Berenices in mariage to Antiochus This king Antiochus had before maried Laodices by whom hee had two sonnes the elder named Seleucus sirnamed Gallinicus and the yonger Antiochus sirnamed Ierax The mother of these two was diuorced for a time from king Antiochus Now after he had maried Berenices he liued in quiet and in fauour with his father in lawe Philadelphus as long as he liued but when Philadelphus died he called Laodices his first wife againe and turned Berenices aside for a time Laodices being returned vnto her husband deuised a way to kill Berenices Philadelphus daughter but first she imagined to requite her husbands courtesie for calling her home and fearing he would do the like againe she gaue him a cuppe of drinke and dispatched him quite then shee called both her sonnes and made them with speede onely to feede her furie to put Berenices out of the way Hence grew the cause of all the warres as I said betweene the kings of Egypt and the kings of Syria and not onely betweene those but also poore Iudea was so beaten and afflicted betwene these as they often times made a spoile of Ierusalem of the temple and of Gods flocke Of this Daniel spake that Berenice the kings daughter of the South should be matched with the king of the North which was Antiochus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king of Syria which is in the North in respect of Ierusalem for that the Prophet gaue the situation of that place to be betweene the South and the North. When Philadelphus died and his sonne Ptolomey Euergetes succeeded he thought to reuenge the murthering of his sister and made a great armie readie to giue battel to Seleucus and tooke from him the most part of Syria wasting and spoyling all Asia beside and hearing of sedition and mutinie in Egypt his own kingdom he returned hauing done great harme to Seleucus to answere those which rebelled in Egypt In the meane season Seleucus thoght not only to recouer his losse by Ptol. Euergetes but also to requite him with the like After this litle stay Seleucus came with a nomber of nauies and thought to haue againe those townes and cities which he lost to Ptolomey but a sudden tempest ouerwhelmed that enterprise and left nothing to Seleucus of al his preparation but nudum corpus spiritum himselfe with few others frō shipwracke he staied by these repulses and could not reuenge the wrōg he had by Ptolomey vntil he saw his time conuenient at which time as a man borne to be ouerthrowen he fled from the battell with losse and shame to Antioch and from thence he sent for ayde to his brother Antiochus to Silicia Ptolomey vnderstanding of Antiochus ayd he presently concluded a peace betweene Seleucus and himselfe for 10. yeeres Antiochus perceiued how the matter went and where he came to ayd his brother he now turneth his force and power against his brother and hauing many of the Celtes which were Frēchmen his hired souldiers ouer whom Brennus had the charge not Brēnus that sackt Rome for he was before 108. yeres but he gaue the ouerthrow to his brother Seleucus he was met againe with Eumenes king of Bythinia who saw a platforme layd before his face to possesse Asia if these two brethren might be conquered and therefore Seleucus being ouerthrowen by his brother Antiochus Eumenes againe ouerthrew Antiochus and droue him out of
huge idole of Phaebus called Colossus solis fell In these dayes an infant was borne hauing a head like a sow and many other mōstrous things fel in the time of Antiochus as Liui reporteth Eratosthenes the philosopher florished in this time The Romans were so strong in these dayes as Carthage Numidia and all Affricke were subdued Greece Macedonia Pontus and all Asia were conquered all kings of the world almost came then to Rome to see the maiestie of the Romanes to behold their triumphes and to offer themselues in seruice The end of this great king was to be slaine by rude countrey people as he would rob the temple of Belus he that thought to conquere the stoute Romanes was conquered by silie and simple men of Syria he that brought all Greece and Asia vnder his becke had this his death by his rashnesse and folly and as Melancthon saith of Antiochus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of an ill beginning proceedeth an ill ending When this Antiochus so was killed he left behinde him 3. sonnes and one daughter maried to Ptolomey of whom Philometor was borne his sonnes were named in this sort Seleucus sirnamed Philopater was the eldest who raigned 12. yeeres of whom we reade nothing worth the memory a man giuen to all vices to all idlenes lust wickednes and powling of his subiects This history is onely written in the Macabees where Simon vttereth what treasure was in the temple and how Heliodorus was sent by the king to take them away but hee was striken of God and had the repulse with such terrible sightes and strokes that Heliodorus wished death rather then life vntill the high Priest Onias prayed for him Of this Seleucus Daniel saide In loco Antiochi stabit vilis questor c. for there was nothing left vnspoken by Daniel before hand which should happen afterward This Seleucus beganne to raigne after his father in the 125. yeere of the Grecians raigne in Syria after the building of Rome 566. After this Seleucus died Antiochus sirnamed Epiphanes the second sonne of Antiochus the great being a pledge then in Rome with Demetrius hearing that his father was dead hee secretly fled from Rome and came with al force vnto Syria vsurped the kingdome and draue Seleucus sonne out of his countrey this began his gouernment in the 130. yeere after Alexander the great his death Polibius affirmeth this man to bee such as no wickednes escaped him craftie and subtile furious and ful of al mischiefe and of the best writers named the type of Antichrist Of the furie of this Antiochus and of other kings of Syria Daniel doth fully describe them and doth foreshewe their tyrannie against Iudea Reade the 11. of Daniel where he prophecieth against the kings of Syria together with the Persians Grecians Egyptians and Romanes howe all these should afflict Iudea This Antiochus in the beginning of his raigne beingfully acquainted with the Romanes power hauing bene so long in Rome a pledge for his father dissembled with the Senators and bare himselfe a friend vnto the Romanes for feare more then for loue after that he had filled Ierusalem with blood and had killed Onias the high priest a holy godly man he tooke money of Iason which was Onias brother and made him high priest who receiued Antiochus with al reuerence duetie into Ierusalem who slew the best citizens spoiled the towne and robbed the temple this was his first voyage to Ierusalem the high priest Iason which Antiochus had made plaied the tyrants part slew his owne citizens and made hauocke in Ierusalem of his owne countreymen friends and kinsmen but this king and this priest had the like reward by God appointed shame and confusion Read the Machabees and you shal haue the historie before you that Iason after he had wandered from citie to citie like a vagabond hated of all people and beloued of none being banished from Ierusalem died most miserablie in Arabia being accused before the king then named Areta Some write that he fled from Arabia to Egypt But I wil returne to that cruel monster king Antiochus who after he had dissembled with the Romans pretended care and gouernment ouer the yong Philometor king of Egypt being his sisters sonne for Cleopatra the daughter of Antiochus the great was married to Epiphanes who had giuen her for her dowrie Coelosyria Samaria Iudea and Phenicia by whom this Philometor was gotten This yong king being yet in his minoritie and tender of yeeres and by his father when he died committed to the fidelitie of the Senators of Rome whom he made tutors ouer his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes clayming some title to ouersee the yong king his nephew led an armie frō Syria vnto Egypt vnder pretence of loue care towards his nephew the yong king but he more thirsted for the kingdom then he esteemed the king he laied garisons in Memphis and filled all the cities of Egypt with souldiers specially Pelusiū and other strong cities Philometor misdouted these endeuors of Antiochus and so suspecting his vncle to be one that waied more the kingdom then the king he fled to his yonger brother to Alexandria sent to the Romans for aide against Antiochus who perceiuing that they were put in trust to haue some care of this king by his fathers last wil and testament to them cōmitted they determined to send Popilius frō the Senators to cōmand Antiochus as his father before him was cōmanded to depart out of Egypt and to suffer king Philometor to enioy his kingdom quietly While this Romane ambassador was preparing to come Antiochus hasted his purpose in folowing fast at the heeles of Philometor which was the elder brother therfore by succession king of Egypt he shipped in Cyprus and from thence to Coelosyria thēce to Egypt and so passing ouer Nilus to Leusnies a citie not farre from Alexandria where the Romane ambassador Popilius met him and deliuered the minde of the Senators in writing to him which being read he paused and said that he would consider further and cōsult with his friends to answere the Senators Popilius hauing a white sticke in his hand made around circle about king Antiochus saying Answer the Romans before thou go out of this circle that I may declare to the Senators thy words Antiochus was so amased at the stoute words of Pōpilius that he was constrained to say I will doe that which the Senators would haue me to doe And so he was forced in great furie to depart out of of Egypt but hee reuenged his wrath vpon the poore Iewes hee so plagued Iudea with spoile and slaughter and caused them to forsake their true and ancient religion which they had from Moses hee burned the bookes of Moses and of the Prophets he made the idole of Iupiter Olympus to be set vp and to be worshipped and commaunded all idolatrie and wickednes to be had in Ierusalem
which Manlius brought with him to Rome On the other side Hanibal plaied the lion besieged Tarentū and wan it after that the Romans had before won it possessed it 100. yeres and more how beit Marcellus hindred Hanibal of his purpose sundry times gaue him diuers ouerthrowes for of all the Romane captaines Marcellus matched Hanibal either in policie counsel wit or any other stratagem deuised of whom Hanibal said that he delt with an enemie that could be neuer quiet conquerour nor conquered and so hee spake of Fabius Maximus when he had againe wonne Tarentum saying The Romanes haue also their Hanibal Hanibal yet triumphed of his victories and was emboldened by his good fortune to march forwarde thinking to inuade the citie of Rome came and camped within 24. furlongs of Rome which is but three miles and from thence hee came with two thousand horses so neere vnto Rome that riding from the gate Colnia vnto Hercules temple hee had leasure to view at his pleasure the situation walles of Rome and might at that time haue conquered Rome if hee had then gone forward with his victories but he feared the Consuls retired for both the Consuls came with an armie against him and to increase the fame of the Affricanes Asdrubal slew both the Scipios which so long had bene conquerours in Spaine Eutropius saith that they were rather by traine beguiled then vanquished by manhood About this time a great part of Sicilia was recouered by Marcellus the Consul but Hanibals fortune continued still though he had diuers ouerthrowes of Marcellus and of Fabius Maximus two worthie Romane captaines yet he was farre before hande in victories and did much more harme to the Romans then Pyrrhus Mithridates Philip or Antiochus the great After that Hanibal had thought to haue inuaded Rome he retired to Campania and vpon the sudden he assaulted Cneus Fuluius being then in Italie slewe him and eight thousand ofhis people but Hanibals head was much occupied about Marcellus neuer ceasing to lay ambushes in euery place to murther him vntill at length he layed certaine bands of Numidians in a groue to entrap the enemies passing to and fro Marcellus cōming to view this groue the situation of that place fell vnfortunatly into Hanibals ambush where hee was compassed on either side with his enemies and fighting then most valiantly was slaine Hanibal being aduertised that Marcellus was slaine he was so glad in respect that Marcellus euer hindered his victories and most troubled him of all the Romane captaines that Hanibal supposed better ofhimselfe with hope he should meete no more with such as Marcellus was but he was deceiued he met with an other Scipio though in trueth two were slaine by Asdrubal in Spaine before but this Scipio reuenged their deaths and fully requited all iniuries that the Romanes receiued with the slaughter of many thousand Affricanes with the subduing of Carthage and Numantia and with the conquest of Hanibal with both his brethren Asdrubal and Mago Vntill this time Hanibal excelled all the captaines of the world as hee spake ofhimselfe if hee might haue conquered Scipio Now the state of Carthage changed and the fortune of Affrike fell and now the Romanes beganne againe to be aduanced for after that Scipio had won new Carthage in Spaine where the Affricanes had all their golde and siluer and furniture for warre remayning sending to Rome such hostages of the best Affricanes taken amongst whom Mago Hanibals brother was sent also with the residue there was great mirth in Rome of these newes Now while Scipio conquered Carthage in Spaine Q. Fabius Maximus recouered Tarentum in Italy for diuers cities of Italie hearing what victories Scipio had in Spaine reuolted from Hanibal and yeelded to the Romanes as Capua Salapia and others in like maner all the Spaniards tooke part with Scipio against Hanibal after that Scipio had subdued Carthage discomfited Asdrubal and vanquished the two kings Mandocius and Iudibilis Scipio hauing sent before to Rome great spoiles he himselfe returned to Rome after he had gotten in Spaine in one yeere 69. cities Now Hanibal beganne to decline from his former fortune sent for his brother Asdrubal out of Spaine who deliuering his place of gouernment vnto one Hanno a noble captaine of Carthage came with a great armie to Italy where he was by Marcus Liuius the consul met at Sena a citie of Apulia where battel was giuen to Asdrubal Of that battell Plutarch reporteth that fiftie sixe thousande were slaine of the Affricanes and Asdrubal himselfe so that the ouerthrow of that battell at Sena was almost as great as the ouerthrow which was giuen to the Romanes at the battell of Cannes yet Eutropius saith that Asdrubal fel into the ambushments which of set purpose were laied for him by Claudius Nero and Liuius Salinator These to spite Hanibal the more they set vp Asdrubals head vpon a pole and they sent to Hanibal notice of these newes this grieued not Hanibal a little to see his brothers head set before his tent his other brother Mago prisoner at Rome and himselfe in some dispaire of his countrey yet Hanibal when he saw his brothers head said Cannam Trebiam Thrasimenum fraterno capite pensauimus reuiuing much his heauie heart with the remembrance of so many Consuls Dictators and captaines heads of the Romanes slaine at the three great battels of Cannas Trebia and Thrasimene Euen then Hanibal was called for into Affrike for Scipio the yeere before was made Consul at Rome and sent by the Senate to Affrike in the fifteenth yeere after this second warre which beganne by Hanibal where all Affrike was in such doubt of Scipio that of necessitie they did sende for Hanibal and yet before he came Scipio ouercame the valiant captaine Hanno slew 11. thousand of his souldiers tooke his tents with 4500. of his souldiers and againe hee tooke Syphax king of Numidia or of Massylia prisoner because hee ayded the Affricanes inuaded his tents and sackt them and sent king Syphax with the most nobles of Numidia prisoners to Rome with an infinite spoile of which newes Rome reioyced not a litle But now to Hanibal who after he had bene such a scourge to Rome for 16. yeeres before he was called to Affrike it is written in Plutarch that after the last battell which he had in Italy with Sempronius before he toke the sea he set vp a triumphing arche or pillar by the temple of Iuno Lucina in the which arch were briefly engrauen his noble victories both in the Punicke and Grecke tongue for a memorial of his being in Italy and after he sailed to Leptis and frō thence to Zama and there when it was tolde Hanibal of the state of Affrike and the victories which Scipio had had and like more to haue considering that Sardinia Sicilia and Spaine were lost and
vanquished them and their generall called Nabides submission was made to the Romanes and peace also graunted to them vpon the like condition as was graunted to Philippe After this ensued warres in Syria against Antiochus the great whom likewise the Romanes so pursued after diuers ouerthrowes that his tents were inuaded and Antiochus himselfe was put to flight at the battell of Magnesia by Cornelius Scipio sirnamed Asiaticus The Romanes beganne to bee in such admiration with all Asia and Europe hauing alreadie subdued all Affrica that the name of a Romane was a very terrour vnto those kings that were furthest off The Affricanes while the Romanes were busie in Asia they beganne to quarrell with king Masinissa a sure and a constant friende to the Romanes being in armes in person against the Affricanes during the time of all the second warres The Romanes hearing of these newes sent ambassadours to Carthage to require them to withdrawe from Numidia and to cease the warres from their olde friend Masinissa the Carthagineans refused to obey the Romanes whereupon the thirde battell was taken in hand against the Carthagineans in the yeere after the building of Rome sixe hundreth and foure yet Eutropius sayeth sixe hundreth and one and in the 52. yeere after the second battell finished The Consuls tooke their voyage from Rome to inuade Carthage In this iourney Scipio nephewe to Scipio Affricanus was deputed generall of the armie a man well beloued and much reuerenced for that hee was a passing and good captaine readie and very circumspect of his charge by whome the Consuls with the armie were twise saued at the besieging of Carthage to the great honour of Scipio their generall The Carthagineans being not so strong neither so able to resist the violence of the Romanes as they were in the time of Hanibal appointed two valiant men named Asdrubal and Famea to be captaines of Carthage to whom the charge of Carthage was giuen these two iolie captaines Asdrubal and Famea so much sought to auoyde the meeting of Scipio as they thought to prolong the warres by keeping off rather then by comming into battell for the names of Scipios was terrible to the Affricanes Hereby the renowme of Scipio was such that the Senate called him home to Rome to haue the honour of Consulship being yet but a very yong man and before he should be sent to assault Carthage some dissention fell betweene the Senate whether Carthage should bee quite destroyed or no. Some thought that Carthage being so strong a citie would neuer long be quiet with the Romanes others thought that Rome should want the friendship of Carthage if Carthage should be destroyed it was at last agreed that the general Scipio should doe as pleased him by occasions giuen of the enemie Vpon this Scipio was sent againe to inuade Carthage about which time Masinissa died after that he had liued ninetie and seuen yeeres who left behinde him 44. sonnes whom hee committed to the faith of Scipio and amongst whom Masinissa requested Scipio to distribute his kingdome which being done Scipio went and besieged Carthage kept out victuals from the citie hauing also giuen them many hard and sharpe battels aswell by water as by lande whose good successe happened all well at last to Scipio for after hee had conquered them both by sea and by lande then hee applied his force to destroy Carthage a towne of great strength and very populous a great and a large citie of sixe Germane miles compasse and two Germane miles diameter euery way This Carthage was first builded by the people of Tyre and was by them called Byrsa Scipio commaunded the citie to be rased from the ground giuing licence to as many as would saue themselues to goe out of Carthage at what time 50. thousand saued themselues by escaping away the rest so despaired that some poysoned themselues some killed themselues and the most part burned themselues Asdrubal their generall fled to Scipio for mercie who hearing that his wife and children would not saue themselues but willingly died within Carthage hee also killed himselfe The burning of Carthage endured 16. dayes During which time Polibius who writeth all the Affricane historie saith that Scipio beholding the ruinous state of Carthage and the lamentable destruction of the people recited a Latine verse weeping Illa dies veniet cum fato Troia peribit And being demaunded why he wept and vsed those wordes Hee answered I weepe for that I thinke others shall see of Rome that which I see now of Carthage for that shall come saide Scipio that Rome shall likewise perish such is the miserie and state of this world and so fell it to Rome in the time of Totilas king of the Gothes 700. yeeres after the burning of Carthage When Carthage was thus destroyed the rest of the Affricanes yeelded all their townes which were in the beginning of the warres in nomber 300. Also they yeelded 200. thousand armories which they had in Lybia 3000. pieces of artilleries and all other engines instruments of warres as though they would neuer againe take warre in hande yet when Carthage was by the cōmandement of the Senat reedified in Affrike 22. yeeres after that it was destroied by Scipio Aemilianus sirnamed by the victorie Affricanus the yonger thither went diuers citizens of Rome to dwel This citie was begun by Caius Grachus afterward was fully restored to her former state and beautie by Iulius Caesar and his nephew Octa. Augustus his successor in the Empire After the burning of Carthage 14. yeres was likewise Numantia a citie in Celtiberia destroyed by the same Scipio Aemilianus a citie that did much annoy the Romans of great force and power a long time insomuch that the overthrowe of Numantia was more terrible then Carthage for they were brought to that famine within the citie and yet would not yeeld themselues that some killed thēselues some with poyson some with the sword and some with fire at last like desperate people they burned the towne and themselues While Scipio laid siege to Numantia newes came from Rome that Tyberius Grachus was slaine in such seditious quarrels as Tyberius himselfe began the cause being opened to Scipio of Tyberius his death he recited a Greeke verse of Homer saying to the companie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is let him die with the like death that cōmitteth such a fault But that verse cost Scipio his life for after hee returned from Numantia home for that hee saide Tyberius was iustly slaine Scipio was found the next morning dead in his bed This was the end of Scipio Affricanus the yonger he to be killed in Rome for his seruice to his countrie as his graundfather Scipio Affricanus was banished out of Rome to die in other countries But to returne to ende this third last warres of the Affricanes with the Romanes though Carthage and Numantia
things and will as I haue promised onely set downe the names of the kings of the Latines 2 Ascanius Aeneas sonne reigned after his father the second king of the Latines this Ascanius had a sonne named Iulus of whome doeth Gens Iulia spring out Ascanius is called in Halicar Eurilion who reigned twentie eight yeres 3 After Ascanius succeeded Syluius a brother of Ascanius a sonne vnto Aeneas by Lauina king Latinus daughter whom Aeneas left great with childe when he died she for feare of Ascanius hidde her selfe in mountaines and in wooddes vntill she was brought to bed and therefore her sonne was named Syluius after which name all the kings of the Albans were named Syluij this reigned king after Ascanius Iulus which was Ascanius sonne who became a priest and a religious man vnto the gods which vntill the time of Augustus the familie and stocke of Iulia remained and continued as great Bishops named mag ni Pontifices or else as high priests named summi Sacerdotes amōg the Romanes the onely men of great renowme and fame This Syluius reigned twentie nine yeeres and dyed and left behinde him Aeneas Syluius 4 Aeneas Syluius reigned thirtie one yeeres and left behind him a sonne named Latinus Syluius the fifth king of the Latines 5 Latinus reigned after his father fiftie yeeres and left behind a sonne named Alba Syluius which was the sixt king of the Latines 6 Syluius Alba reigned thirtie nine yeeres 7 After him succeeded Capetus Syluius the seuenth king of the Latines 24. yeeres Eusebius named this king Atyn Eutrop. lib. 1. doeth call him Epidum so doeth Ouid in Metamorph lib. 14. 8 Capetus left behind him Capis Syluius the 8. king of the Latines who reigned 28. yeeres of this king Capua a Citie in Italie was first builded 9 After this succeded Calpetus Syluius the ninth king of the Latines who reigned thirteene yeeres and left behinde him a sonne named Tiberinus 10 Tiberinus the tenth king of the Latines reigned 8. yeres and was slaine in a battell fought by the riuer Albula some say that he was drowned in Albula and therefore the riuers name was altered and named Tiber after the name of Tiberinus which is that riuer that runneth through Rome this Tiberinus left a sonne to succeede him called Agrippa Syluius 11 Agrippa Syluius reigned fourtie yeeres being the eleuenth king of the Latines 12 Alladius Syluius the twelfth king of the Latines succeeded Agrippa and reigned nineteene yeeres whom Eutrop doeth call Remus Syluius a wicked man and a cruell tyraunt vsing many horrible attempts against God therefore was worthely slaine by a thunder boult for he went about to make the people beleeue that hee was a God hee would gape and receiue the lightning into his mouth but he and all his house was therewith consumed 13 After him succeeded the thirteenth king of the Latines which was named Auentinus Syluius which reigned thirtie seuen yeeres of this king mount Auentine one of the seuen hilles in Rome was named for that this king Auentinus was buried there This time reigned Amazias king of Iuda brother to Amos Isaiah his father at what time reigned in Assyria Sardanapalus their last king 14 Procus Syluius succeeded the fourteenth king of the Latines which reigned twentie three yeeres who left the kingdome to his eldest sonne Numitor Syluius and left to his other younger sonne money and great wealth but this Amulius draue his elder brother Numitor out of his kingdome and Numitor was constrained like a priuate man to leade his life in the Countrie Amulius hauing vsurped vpon his brother studied to roote out and to make an end of his brothers house to bee the surer in his kingdome but hee was slaine in the Towne of Alba by Romulus who came of the body of Numitor by his daughter Rhea and as Annius doeth write begotten of Amulius his vncle by whom the kingdome of Alba descended vnto Romulus and was the seuenteenth king from Aeneas This I haue laide downe as I founde in Annius and Halicarnassaeus worde by word whereunto agree Fabius Pictor and M. Cato in his fragments CHAP. I. Of the first building of Rome by Romulus of his gouernment lawes and appointing of Magistrates after he had founded the citie of his warres with the Sabines of his conquestes and victories ouer these Sabines Fidenats and of his triumph ouer king Acron IWill omit to write of the prophane antiquitie of the Tuscans and of their chiefe citie Hetruria of whom you may reade Sempronius M. Cato Fabius Pictor and many others where you may satisfie your selues of many such fables as are to bee founde in prophane histories and therefore I will begin the historie of Rome frō the Latines and so briefly passe vnto Romulus the first builder and first king of Rome whose lineall race descended from the kings of the Latines in the which kingdome reigned successiuely sixteene kings before Romulus builded Rome from Aeneas time as in the histories of the kings of the Latines is declared And nowe in what Olympiad Rome was builded the Chronicles crie out one against another in such sort that some say that Rome was builded in the fift Olympiad some in the sixt Olympiad some in the eight some in the ninth and some in the twelfth Olympiad But the best agree that Rome was builded in the seuenth Olympiad for yet prophane histories were not acquainted with the actions of time for fewe or none wrote in those dayes or within three hundred yeeres after for Rome in the beginning was but a little towne and so frō time to time encreased her Territories and enlarged her Confines first by Romulus pollicie in warres and secondarily by Numa Pompilius wisedome in religion and peace At what time Phul Assur reigned the second king of newe Assyria for now the monarchie of the Assyrians was takē away into Babylon after Sardanapalus time by Phul Belochus the father of this king for the kingdomes of newe Assyria or of Babylon of the Medes and of Macedonia began before the kingdome of Rome the space of one Iubilee which is but fiftie yeres and the kingdom of Lydia began 26. yeres before Rome in the first Olympiad Thus at one time almost fiue kingdomes begā their gouernment About the name of Rome diuerse opinions are some say that the Pelagians after they had ouercome the greatest part of the world and had subdued many nations in the end did stay there and named it Rome first some say that after the destructiō of Troy certaine Troians to saue themselues frō the sword with their wiues tooke sea were driuē by winde to the Thuscan shore neere to the riuer Tiber that one Roma a Troiane lady named Rome after her owne name others hold opinion that it was Romanus the sonne of Vlisses and of Circes that first named Rome other say otherwayes Reade Plutarch Fabius Pictor
became generall for the Citizens that they deposed him frō his kingdome such was the seueritie of the Romanes in punishing adulterie being the only cause of the first alteration of the state publique in Rome For before Arūtius Tarquinius had cōmitted this abominable actiō with Lucretia the Romanes had forgotten the faults of the father in killing his father in lawe for he had conquered the Volscans he subdued the Citie of Gabios and of Suessa and after hee ouercame the Thuscans hee made peace with them and he builded Iupiter his Temple in the Capitol and he was laying siege to the citie of Arde tenne miles from Rome when his sonne Arūtius did defile Lucretia the foulenes of the fact was such that the souldiers forsooke the father for the offence of the sonne and the gates of the Citie were shutte against Tarquinius at his returne from the siege of Arde. Thus when he had reigned twentie fiue yeeres he fledde with his wife and children he was the seuenth and last king of the Romanes though afterward he sought the helpe of Porsenna king of Thuscia and thought to recouer his kingdome againe But when he perceiued that the Romanes would not accept him longer for their king and that Porsenna woulde aide him no longer to his kingdome hee departed to Thusculi a Citie not farre distant from Rome where hee liued with his wife a priuate man for the space of fourteene yeeres and then dyed his sonne Sextus was slaine in his owne citie Gabia whither he fledde for refuge In this sort reigned in Rome seuen kings for the space of two hundred fourtie foure yeeres as you heard before who for all their force and courages for all their long warres and sharpe battels their Empire extended not aboue fifteene myles from Rome the reason was that they fought with Romanes like them selues though they were called first by the names of Sabines Volscans Thuscans Veients Fidenats Samnites and Latines for vntill Romulus time the name of the Romanes was not knowen the Latines were the first auncient name of the Romanes from them Romulus and his brother Remus had their beginning for as you heard before Romulus builded Rome reigned amongst the Latines fifteene kings Thus much for the kings of Rome of their continuance and of their gouernment Nowe what was done in other Countries and what kings reigned while Tarqui the proud gouerned Rome Herodot and Iustine doth write that Cyrus the great king of Persia was conquered and slaine by Tomyris Queene of Scythia Psammenitus the last king of Egypt was subdued and all the kingdome of Egypt made tributarie vnto Persia by Cambyses who at that very time hindred the building of the Temple of Ierusalem vntil the second yeere of Darius Hysdaspis the third king of Persia. That Darius in the time of Tarquinius Superbus made warres against the Scythians by whō he was forced to take his flight This time wicked Haman vsed great meanes to destroy the Iewes with king Ahashuerosh which in prophane histories is named Darius the sonne of Hisdaspis but his councell then against Mardocheus happened to himselfe and to his tenne children the historie is written in the booke of Hester This time reigned in Athens Hyparchus the tyrant which afterward Harmodius and Aristogiton slue In the time of this Tarquinius the Persians reuoulted from their king Darius the sonne of Hysdaspis but by the subtiltie and sleight of Zopirus recouered and afterward the Persians by the meanes of Megabisus Zopirus some chiefe captaine of Darius tooke the Citie Perinthus and subdued Thracia and Peonia Here I haue set downe the names of the seuen kings of Rome and their continuance in gouernment Romulus reigned 38. Numa Pomp. 43. Tullus Hostilius 32. Ancus Martius 24. Lu. Tarquinus Priscus 38. Seruius Tullus 44. Tarquinius the proud 25. Nowe during the whole time of these seuen kings which were two hundred fourtie three yeres which was the first infancie of Rome for all their warres their victories and triumphes had first ouer the Hetruscanes the Sabines the Latines the Fidenates Antenates Veients and the Albanes their Empire extended no further then Ostia eighteene miles distant frō the citie of Rome After that the name of a king was banished and two Consuls were created to gouerne and to commaund with Serieantes before them with the authoritie and full power of kings CHAP. III. Of the first change of gouernment in Rome from a Monarchie vnto Aristocratia at what time one Dictator and two Consuls were appointed to gouerne the people in the roume of kings of their good gouernment lawes warres and victories vntill the Tarentine warres where Pyrrhus beganne to ayde the Tarentines against the Romanes AFter these kings were thus banished frō Rome they created in the place of one King two Cōsuls which continued after it was first instituted vntill Iulius Caesars reigne which was 464. yeeres it was decreed that these two Consuls should not rule aboue one yeere least the continuance of the office shoulde make them waxe hautie In the first yeere after the expulsing of the kings Lu. Iunius Brutus who had of all others procured most the banishment of Tarquinius was made the first Consul in Rome and with him Tarquinius Collatinus the husbande of Lucretia howe bee it Collatinus was forthwith depriued of his Consulship for that it was agreed that none should remaine within the Citie that bare the name of Tarquinius whereupon Valerius Publicola was elected Consul in his roume These two Consuls were not long in their office but Tarquinius who a little before was banished assembled a great armie to ayde him to recouer his kingdome in this battell Brutus the Consul and Arūtius Tarquinius his sonne slue one an other This battell seemed doubtfull for a time on both parties but at last the victorie fell to the Romanes The death of Brutus was much lamented in Rome for he so loued the libertie of Rome that hee caused his owne sonnes who for that they seemed to fauour Tarquinius case In. Brutus their father brought them into the market place and there Publicola being Consul at that time commaunded them first to bee beaten with roddes and after to bee beheaded before all the people for that they preferred the case of Tarquinius before the state of the Citie and therefore the women mourned for Brutus death a whole yeere in whose place Publicola hath chosen Consul in Brutus roume Spurius Lucretius Lucretias father who dyed by sicknesse After him Horatius Puluillus was made Consul for in the first yeere of Consulship siue Consuls reigned one after another againe warre was attempted by Tarquinius against the Romanes In this warre Porsenna king of Thuscia ayded Tarquinius but to no effect and therefore Tarquinius gaue ouer longer to warre against his Countrie contented himselfe to liue the rest of his time a priuate man and troubled not Publicola who being lefte quiet by Tarquinius when hee sawe that
neither by warre with the which hee often asfailed his Countriemen neither with treacherie which hee practised with the families of the Vitellians and the Aquillians hee coulde any way profite Then Publicola gaue himselfe fully to looke vnto Rome which was so impouerished by ciuill warres that collection of money was made for the buriall of Valerius the Consul his fellowe in office Hee first redressed thinges decayed in Rome in supplying the number of the Senators that were slaine in the warres of Tarquine in whose places hee chose newe Senators to the number of a hundred sixtie foure after he defended the Citie against Porsenna and destroyed the Countrie round about and slue of the Thuscanes fiue thousand he also vanquished the Sabines and triumphed ouer them and he subdued the Latines who were most busie against the Romanes this time for Rome was found in the time of this Publicola sore vnpeopled and poore by reason of the ciuil warres of Tarquinius and therefore all the Nations which the kings of Rome before had subdued beganne to reuoult and to wage warre freshly against the Romanes againe but they were by this valiant Romane brought to their first state and Rome much enriched by the spoyles of the Sabines Latines Thuscans and others This Publicola was Consul foure times seuerally he was a good man and a iust Romane hee made lawes and decrees within the Citie first hee ordeyned by lawe that all offendours being condemned by the iudgement of the Consuls might appeale vnto the people Hee likewise decreed that no man might exercise any office vnlesse hee came to it by the gifte of the people and he also made a lawe in the fauour of the poore Citizens that they should pay no custome nor impost whatsoeuer This hedid to winne the peoples fauour and to keepe them in hande many women then in Rome esteemed little of their life in respect of their Countrie as Cloelia Valeria and diuers others whose statues are erected vp on horsebacke in the holy streete Appius Claudius a very riche man of the Sabines came to Rome this time to dwell and brought with him fiue thousande families with their wiues and children of the most peaceable and esteemed men of the Sabines In the ninth yeere after the banishing of Tarquinius there was a newe office created in Rome called Dictatura which farre excelled in authoritie the office of the Consuls In this office Titus Largius was first instituted Dictator and in the same yeere an other newe officer called magister equitum an officer deputed to bee attendant vpon the Dictator in the which office Spurius Cassius was appointed The Dictator was not to continue in his office aboue sixe moneths for such was the authoritie of the Dictator that hee might deale in all causes and iudge of life and death without any appeale eyther to the Senate Consul or to the people and therefore the people much complaining beganne to make vproares and fel to dissension and to require for an officer to aide and defende the people and for that the Senators and Consuls as the people pretended the cause woulde haue them oppressed a cōmocion was thereby in Rome by the commons and therefore they created two men whom they called Tribuni Militum Tribunes of the people they were assigned to bee peculier Decisers and Determiners in causes belonging to the people This office continued vntil Sillas time by whom the office of Tribuneshippe was abrogated but after by Pompey the great restored In Rome dwelt a rare man of great seruice in the warres of Tarquine whom Largius the first Dictator knewe to be such as deserued great prayse then being a young man for hee was crowned with Oken leaues according to the Romanes maners in Tarquinius dayes and sithence profited Rome in diuers seruices in subduing the Volscans in winning the citie Corioles he inuaded the Antiates and often repressed the insolencie of the people insomuch that the Romanes hauing many warres in those dayes this Corolianus was at them all for there was no battell fought no warre enterprised but Coriolanus returned from thence with fame and honour But his vertue and renowme gate him much enuie for hereby hee was banished Rome by the Ediles Tribunes of the people against the Patricians will but the Romanes made a rodde to beate them selues when they banished Coriolanus for he came in armes against his owne Countrie and Citie with the Volscans being at that time their generall hee with great furie inuaded the Territories of Rome hee caused the communaltie of Rome and Nobilitie to fall to ciuill dissension hee so plagued the Romanes diuers wayes vnto the very gates of Rome he was so much moued against them that hee refused three seuerall Embassadours to heare them being his chiefe friendes sent vnto him by the Senate to entreate for peace hee refused to heare the Bishops and the Priestes Feciales He likewise denied the Augurers the sacrificers and the ministers of the goddes vntill Volumnia his mother and Virgillia his wife with their two young sonnes gotten by Coriolanus with Valeria the sister of Publicola and diuers other Ladies of Rome came to meete Coriolanus to entreate for peace vnto the Volscans campe and what time hee had compassion of his mother of his wife and of his two sonnes and of the other Ladies being his neere kinswomen then hee withdrewe his armie from Rome and yeelded to the teares of his mother but the fickle mindes of the people by the conspiracie of Tullus Aufidius were such that Coriolanus was murthered in the Citie of Antium at his very returne from that voyage What shall I say of Caius Mutius Sceuola of his noble attemptes against king Porsenna of Horatius Cocles and of diuers others whose statues at Rome and whose histories in euery booke written and in euery mans mouth can witnesse for in this very time in Rome when Cresius Fabius and Titus Virginius were Consuls three hundred noble men of the house and stocke of the Fabians tooke vpon them alone to wage battell against the Veientines offering themselues to the Senators and to the people of Rome to fight from this battell not one scaped of three hundred Fabians but one and another which was young at home not able to goe to warrefare for all the males of the Fabiaus were slaine in that battell These warres were extremely handled and prosecuted by the Hetruscans Fidenats and the Falascies against the Romanes when Rome was in most aduersitie and pouertie aswell for the late ciuill warres of Tarquine the proude as also diuers other forreigne enemies which on euery side assaulted Rome These 300. Fabians full of prowesse and valure vndertooke this warre against the Veients but being ouer charged with multitudes were all slaine sauing one to their great fame yet this followed after their death presently the Fasiliscians yeelded them selues to the Romanes the
time the Romanes force encreased and they preuailed in warlike feats and in chiualrie although yet their wealth and substance were very slender for men raigned then in Rome as had this sentence alwayes in their mouthes Agere magna pati fortia Romanorum est Mutius Scaeuola spake it first before Porsenna king of the Thuscanes so great were the Romanes so ful of valure and so renowmed were their actions that the Dictator of Rome was more feared then any Emperour of the world and a Consul more esteemed then a king as by their victories and triumphes ouer all nations may appeare The discipline of the Romanes was such as their generals lieutenants captaines officers yea the priuate souldier if hee had deserued should haue had his triumph or bee preferred vnto a higher place of seruice Plinie saith the garlands which were made for the Conquerors were some of lawrel some of oken leaues some of Mirtle some of greene grasse and some of golde The citie of Rome was full of statues and images erected as monuments of the Romanes pictures set vp at the barres where the Orators did plead and images in the market place of Dictators and Consuls that to bee a souldier in Rome was more then to be a captaine in Greece and to be a Consul in Rome were more then to be a king in other places so mightie the Romanes waxed by this that they warred nowe a hundreth and three miles distant from Rome and tooke the Samnits in hande against whome Lucius Papirius Cursor then created Dictator went with an armie giuing charge at his departure from Rome to Quintus Fabius Maximus who at that time was appointed an officer attendant vpon the Dictator called Magister equitū that he should not fight with the enemies during his absence Howbeit vpon occasions Fabius with great good lucke fought with the Samnits and vanquished them for which disobedience notwithstāding his good successe Luc. Papirius after his returne gaue sentence of death vpon him but hee was deliuered through the passing great fauour of the people In the second battell the Samnits ouercame the Romanes and caused them to their reproch to creepe vnder the yoke which was made with two speares in the earth and the thirde vpon the toppe of them like a gallowes In the thirde battel Luc. Papirius had the vpper hand ouer the Samnits and caused seuen thousand of the Samnits to creepe vnder the yoke at the battell of Allifas Thus the Samnits were discomfited by the Romanes but neuerthelesse they still renued their battell vntill Fabius Maximus came to ayde his sonne Quintus who was vanquished by the Samnits and three thousand of his souldiers slaine for of all nations that the Romanes had to doe withall the Samnits diminished most the force of the Romanes as in the bloodie battels at Tifernum Longula and at Lantula where Quintus Aulius generall of the Romanes was slaine Likewise in the battels at Satricula and Suessula the last ouerthrow of the Samnits reade Liui of the Samnits warres who continued their warres with the Romanes 49. yeeres but in an exceeding great battell they were slaine and ouerthrowen by Pub. Cornelius Ruffinus and Marcus Curius Dentatus then Consuls at Rome CHAP. IIII. Of the warres and victories of the Romans ouer king Pyrrhus called the Tarentine warres vntill the Carthaginean warres of their victories and triumphes had ouer Italy with diuers other forreine nations and kingdomes WHen the Romans had thus cōquered the Samnits they proclaimed open warres against the Tarentines which inhabited the furthest part of Italy for they had iniured the Romanes ambassadours who sent for Pyrrhus king of Epire to assist them Pyrrhus foorthwith came for he euer enuied the glorie of the Romanes and wished to haue some dealings with them for he was accompted the second souldier of the world next to Alexander the great for he was like to Alexander in all points This king discended of the line of Achilles and was named Pyrrhus as the name of Achilles sonne hee was glad to haue occasion offered him to warre against the Romanes he gathered souldiers and his forces together hee associated with the Samnits the Lucanes and the Brutaines and ioyned his armie with the Tarentines and marched forwarde to giue battell to Publius Valerius Leuinius the Consul to whome Pyrrhus gaue the ouerthrowe for Pyrrhus was then an olde souldier and had practised armes against Lysimachus king of Thracia and against Demetrius king of Macedonia Then the Consuls lost of Romane souldiers to the nomber of fifteene thousande and Pyrrhus got not that victorie without blood for he had slaine of his souldiers by the Romanes seuen thousand and Eutropius sayeth that Pyrrhus had fled and lost the fielde had not his elephants bene by whose meanes onely he ouerthrewe the Romanes Pyrrhus to shewe his greatnesse to the Romanes sent the prisoners which hee tooke without raunsome but the maiestie of the Senate requited Pyrrhus in letting so many prisoners of the Samnits and Tarentines free to Pyrrhus After this the second battel betwixt the Tarentines and the Romanes was at the citie of Ascalum where likewise Pyrrhus had the victorie ouer the Romanes This time the Carthagineans offered ayde to the Romanes and sent their ambassadors with a crowne made all of golde in token of their good will this gift should be put in the Capitol in the seate of Iupiter The Romans were somewhat heated by Pyrrhus and hauing lost two victories they prepared for the thirde battel whose charge was giuen to M. Curius Dentatus then Consul who exspecting ayde to come from Lucania vntill king Pyrrhus a hot rash captaine did set vpon them but to his great losse and to one of his last ouerthrowes in Italy I find in Eutropius that Pyrrhus lost twentie thousande of his souldiers his elephants and himselfe sore wounded Pyrrhus hauing this repulse sent one Cineas an ambassador to the Romanes an excellent eloquent Orator and one of Demosthenes chiefe scholers hee thought to entreate for peace vpon indifferent conditions but no condition pleased the Romanes vnlesse Pyrrhus would depart out of Italy This answere being returned from the Senate Pyrrhus demaunded of Cineas what maner of place Rome was Cineas answered that Rome was a citie of kings saying further that euery one in Rome was such as Pyrrhus was in Epire. Then said Pyrrhus were I king of Rome or had I Romane souldiers I should soone conquer all Asia and Europe Then Fabritius a noble Romane was sent against king Pyrrhus this Fabritius was so honoured at Rome and so esteemed abroade and yet a poore man that Pyrrhus offered him gold and siluer yea the fourth part of his kingdome if hee would forsake Rome This was that Fabritius that refused Pyrrhus gifts and also opened the treason and conspiracie of his Phisition who offred for money to bring Pyrrhus into
Fabritius hands and this was hee that forced Pyrrhus to flee to Sicilia and after hee had subdued the Samnits and the Lucanes hee had his triumph graunted him While Pyrrhus stayed musing in Sicilia Curius Dentatus and Cornelius Lentulus being Consuls were sent to meete Pyrrhus and to giue him battel for the Romanes suffered him to haue no rest within Italy In this battell the armie of Pyrrhus was slaine his tents sackt and hee himselfe driuen to Tarentum he lost 23. thousand that day ouer whom Curius Dentatus triumphed in his Consulship hee brought foure elephants into Rome which were the first that euer were seene in a triumph at Rome for before Pyrrhus warres the spoiles and the treasures of the Volscanes and the Sabines were but cattell the spoiles which the Romanes had of the Gaules were Carpenta the spoyle of the Samnits were but armours and broken weapons The like poore spoiles and praies had the Romans ouer the Fidenats poore townes not yet wel enriched for the ciuill warres which they had with the Romanes But Pyrrhus brought the strength and treasure of a king his golde and siluer his elephants and camels that the victorie which Curius Dentatus and Fabritius then Consuls at Rome had ouer Pyrrhus so reioyced Rome that their triumph then ouer Pyrrhus was the most ioyfull and acceptable triumph that euer Rome saw at that time To this ende came the vaine hope of king Pyrrhus who thought to haue conquered Italy and thereby to be king of Rome After he had spent 6. yeeres in continuall warres with the Romans he fled after whose flight immediatly all Italy was conquered and Sicilia Not long after Pyrrhus was slaine at Argos a citie of Greece for after Tarentum was destroyed then the Picents and their towne Asculum were also subdued by Sempronius After the Picents the Salentines and their chiefe port Brundusium was conquered by Mar. Attilius and last of all the Volscanes were also ouerthrowen by Fabius Gurges Thus was all Italy soone subdued after the ouerthrowe of Tarentum At this time flourished in Greece Agesilaus a noble man of Sparta and after the death of king Agis he was elected king in Sparta ouer the Lacedemonians with whome flourished for a time Lisander a valiant captaine of Sparta and a great enemie of Athens Alcibiades was famous in Camillus time and Niceas the Athenian who during Camillus warres in Rome and before his time a litle all Greece were busie in the Peloponesian warre This time Diogenes the Cynicke Plato the Philosopher liued and his scholer Aristotle was borne In Persia raigned Artaxerxes Mnemon sirnamed the great who helde warres for a short time with his brother Cyrus whom he slew Reade of this king in Xenophon his fift booke and after his sonne Ochus raigned king in Persia. In Macedonia raigned Philippe Alexander the great his father who subdued and conquered many nations in the time of Camillus and after succeeded him his sonne Alexander the great whose renowme and fame are in all bookes manifest This time liued Mausolus king of Caria whose tombe when he died the Queene his wife Artimesia made so gorgeous and so sumptuous that it was reckoned in the nomber of the seuen wonders Alexander Pheraeus the tyrant of Thessalia raigned at this time with whom Pelopidas had battel and who by Epaminondas his friend was rescued Likewise gouerned in Egypt as reuolted kings from the Persians since Cambyses time the second king of Persia vntill Darius Ochus raigne the eight king of Persia Nepherites sixe yeres Achoris twelue yeres and Nectanabus eighteene yeeres When now that Camillus was dead there succeeded a nomber of valiant Romanes as 1 Tit. Quintius Cicinatus 2 Tit. Manlius Torquatus 3 M. Val. sirnamedCoruinus 4 Q. Fabius Maximus 5 Luc. Papyrius Cursor 9 And Curius Dentatus With many more valiant Romanes that augmented the glorie of Rome in subduing the nations about them as the warres of the Volscans Thuscans Samnits and Torentines can witnes of which you may reade in Liuie in Halicarnassaeus in Eutropius and in others During which time the kings of Egypt after Alexander the great with the kings of Syria and Asia were as well occupied with warres in their owne kingdomes as the Romanes were in Italy so likewise were the kings of Macedonia and all the states of Greece for Alexanders souldiers and his captaines had filled all the East part of the world with warres for Alexander had subdued and conquered the most part of all the kings then liuing and brought them to pay tribute to the kings of Macedonia So that after his death they fought for kingdoms and euery king sought by warres to become like vnto Alexander and so by that meanes one destroyed another that then proud Persia which had the Chaldeās Assyrians Lydians Medes Egpptians all Asia and all the world vassals and subiects vnder them were then made to yeeld to the Macedonian empire You haue read how hitherto the Romanes haue from a litle towne in the beginning crept ouer all Italy and now are readie to trie their valour abroade and so to set foote in Affrike and Lybia countreis farre from Rome for yet the Romans had neuer waged warre forth of Italy And to the end they might vnderstand what power they were able to make there was a muster had and the names of the Romanes were nombred by the pole which amounted to the nomber of three hundreth thousand citizens In the 480. yere after the building of Rome the name of the Romanes became famous insomuch that they proclaimed warres against the people of Affrike at what time Appius Claudius sirnamed Caudex and Q. Fuluius were Cōsuls This warre endured vntil Q. Luctatius Aulus Manlius consulship which was 22. yeeres Of these 3 seueral warres which the Romans had with the Affricanes I haue said some thing in the Affricane historie The first warre was against Hamilcar Hanibals father a famous Captaine at that time of the Carthagineans with whom Hanibal in his youth was brought vp in Spaine at what time the Romanes pretended warres against Hieron king of Sicilie But he together with the residue of his nobilitie made peace with the Romans and gaue them in cōsideration thereof 200. talents of siluer and then the Affricans were ouercome in Sicilia which was the second time that the Romans triumphed ouer them After ◅his the Carthagineās were discomfited on the sea in the third battel where the Romans toke 31. ships and sunke 18. beside the slaughter of 3000. and the taking of 7000. with fewin dayes after This time Caius Aquilius and Lucius Scipio were Consuls for then Scipio wanne Corsica and Sardinia and led with him many thousande prisoners and triumphed in the second battell by sea Hamilcar the generall of the Carthagineans lost 64. ships and was forced to retire backe at what time Clipea the chiefest citie in Affrike was yeelded vp to the Romanes
what condicions he woulde being then vanquished and Armenes his sonne together with king Philips sonne Demetrius were led before Flaminius charet as hostages and pledges to Rome began to kindle more fire against the Romās but he was slaine by the Aetolians Eutrop writeth this historie otherwise but I stand not vpon controuersies After this ouerthrow giuen to Antiochus he made meanes to the Romanes for peace which was graunted if he would auoid forth of Europe Asia and meddle no further but within the precinct of Taurus giue to the Romanes 10. thousand talents 30. pledges for the assurance of his promise and in conclusion to deliuer Hanibal to them who had bin the cause of this warre This being done the Senat gaue to Eumenes all these cities of Asia which Antiochus had lost in battell likewise they gaue to the Rhodiās diuers other cities for that they assisted the Romanes against Antiochus By this victorie triumphed Lu. Cornelius Scipio in Rome where hee brought infinite spoile treasures of Asia and had the surname of Asiaticus giuen him was called Scipio Asiaticus as his brother was called Scipio Affricanus but both these brethrē were much enuied for their greatnes Scipio Affricanus was accused by Marcus Por. Cato by whose meanes afterwarde though he was not banished yet he most willing departed frō Rome into Lucernum saying these wordes O ingrata patria non habebis ossa mea His brother Scipio Affricanus was both accused and condemned when Caius Flaminius was Consul About this time Hanibal died is buried at Libissa a banished man out of his Countrie a man likewise that had deserued wel of his countrie Philip king of Macedon died also this very time This had both warred against the Romanes and assisted them against Antiochus After Philip died his sonne Perseus rebelled in Macedonia and reared warres against the Romanes with whō ioyned Cotys king of Illiria the Romanes were not long about Perseus for he was vanquished in one battell yea and as Phil. saith in one houre he fled from Pydna to Pella and within few dayes yeelded himselfe to Cneus Octauius in Samothracia and was brought out of hand to Paulus Emilius who after his honorable progresse in Greece and in Macedonia he shipped at the citie of Orica and returned to Italie to whō a triumph was graunted such a triumph as farre excelled others equall to Pompey or to Caesars triumphs For Emilius had in this triumph led before his chariot king Perseus himselfe being fourtie fiue yeeres of age and his two sonnes and in an other chariot Gentius king of the Illyrians with his brother and his sonnes ouer whom triumphed Caius Anitius This triumph is set foorth in Plutarch to the admiration of many strangers which then were at Rome as Eumenes king of Asia and Prusias king of Bythinia who at that time brought his sōne Nicomedes with him to Rome and committed him to the gouernment of the Senators CHAP. VI. Of the conspiracie of L. Catelina and of the two ciuill warres the first betweene Marius and Silla and the second betweene Pompei the great and Iu. Caesar during which time Carthage and Numantia were subdued in Hispaine and the last conquest of Affrika by Scipio the younger and also surnamed Affricanus the younger NOwe that the Romanes had quieted Asia and brought the kings of Egypt to bee friendes of the Romanes subdued Macedonia and made all Greece free from warres and when as they thought that they might take some repose and rest from further warres they were certified of newes from Carthage that the Affricanes and Carthagineans had broken the league of peace with the Romans whereupon the third warres were taken in hand for all this time of fiftie two yeres peace was kept betweene the Romanes and the Affricanes at what time the Romanes were occupied in the warres of Syria against Antiochus in the warres of Macedonia against king Philip and his sonne Perseus in Greece against Nabides the tyraunt of Lacedemonia in Illyria against king Gentius and in Bythinia against Prusias who had maried the sister of Perseus These kings and countries were no sooner quieted but the Affricanes began to commence warre the third time with the Romanes at what time Lu. Martius Censorinus and Marcus Manlius were Consuls at Rome in the yeere after the building of Rome sixe hundred and one some say sixe hundred fiue These Consuls tooke their voyage to inuade Carthage and by Mar. Portius Cato his councel being at that time the wisest man in Rome to rase Carthage from the grounde or to make it euen to the grounde yet Scipio Nasica a good man and so of the Senators esteemed and of the Citizens accompted contraried Cato in that councell perswading lenitie to bee fitte for the Romanes being conquerours The warre was taken in hand and so furiously folowed that Carthage within foure yeeres was destroyed by Scipio Emilianus nephewe to Affricanus who was deputed generall of the Romane armie at that time of whom Cato was wont to say Hic solus sapit one in vertue and courage most like to his predecessour Scipio Affricanus The chiefe captaine then in Carthage was one Asdrubal Phanea or as some say Famea These names Hamilcar and Asdrubal were in Carthage as Scipio or Fabius were in Rome In the beginning of this warre died Masinissa an olde constant friende alwayes to the Romanes after that he had liued ninetie eight yeeres Now Scipio with inuincible courage assaulted Carthage and wanne and pluckt it to the ground he waxed so famous thereby that being a yong man he was created Consul who by his prowesse and valure merited to be called Scipio Affricanus the yonger In the meane time while this warre was in Carthage one vsurped the name of Philip of the kingdome of Macedonia and proclaimed warres against the Romanes and gaue Publius Inuentius Pretor then of Rome the ouerthrowe and made such a slaughter of the Romane army that none skant escaped aliue Q. Cecilius Metellus was deputed captaine and sent against this false named Philip who slue twentie fiue thousand of his men recouered Macedonia and tooke prisoner this false Philip This time Corinthus the third citie of all Greece was ouerthrowen and pluckt to the grounde by Mūmius the Consul which Citie was builded by Beletes Hippios sonne nine hundred fiftie two yeeres before so long Corinthus florished Likewise at this very time againe one in Macedonia vsurped in like maner as before one false Philip nowe vsurped the name of Perseus but hee was soone subdued by Tremilus the Questor so that at once entred into the citie of Rome foure triumphs the first by Scipio Affricanus the yonger foorth of Affrike ouer Asdrubal the second by Metellus foorth of Macedonia ouer Andriscus which was that false Philip before spoken the third by Mūmius the Consul ouer the Citie of Corinth
After this triumphs Scipio was sent to Spaine to the Numantines who had a little before discomfited Q. Pompeius the Consul ouer whom he had his second triumph but shortly by Scipio the citie of Numantia was subdued hee had triumphed ouer Affrike About this time Attalus king Eumenes his father some say his brother died and made the people of Rome his heire and so by testament Asia was annexed to the Romane Empire notwithstanding warre ensued in Asia by Aristonicus a base sōne of Eumenes in that warre Pub. Lucius Crassus was slaine his head cut off and brought to Aristonicus and his body buried at Smirna It is written of this Crassus that he might brag of 5 principal great gifts To be most noble The most wealthiest The most eloquent To be the most learned ciuillian And to be the most high Bishop About this time Carthage in Affrike was reedified by the cōmandemēt of the Senat after that it was subdued by Scipio 22. yeres and as writeth Polib diuers Citizens of Rome went to dwel in Carthage Not long after this Scipio was found dead in his house not without great suspiciō of Caius Graccus now warre was by the Romanes cōmenced against the Thraciās at what time triumphed in Rome the two brethrē Metelli in one day the one ouer Thracia the other ouer Sardinia the wars of Iugurth immediatly after this ensued of whō Salust maketh menciō This was the sōne of Micipsa king of Numidia who hauing two other brethrē beside himselfe named Adherbalis and Hiemsalis these Iugurth slue and vsurped the kingdome for this fact the Romanes sent Lucius Calphurnius then Consul against Iugurth but hee did no good for hee was corrupted with money After Spurius Albinus Posthumus was sent by the Senators who fought with Iugurth but with great dishonour The thirde time Quintus Cecilius Metellus was sent who vanquished Iugurth and subdued Numidia at last tooke him and brought him prisoner to Rome Of this Iugurth you shall reade more in the Affricane historie and I will lay downe the names of the Romane Consuls captaines and generals that triumphed from the ende of the second Affricane warre which was from Scipio Affricanus the elder vntill the time of Scipio Affricanus the yonger which was 56. yeeres 1 Ti. Quin. Flaminius 2 Lu. Flamin his brother 3 Lu. Cornelius Scipio surnamed Affricanus 4 Lu. Valerius Flaccus 5 M. Portius Cato 6 Lucius Manlius 7 Scipio Nasica 8 Ti. Sempronius Longus 9 Spu. Posthu Albinus 10 Quintus Martius 11 M. Aemilius Lepidus 12 M. Sempro. Tuditanus 13 Lucius Anitius 14 Au. Manl. Torquatus 15 C. Lu. Crassus 16 Quintus Opimus 17 Sci. Affrica the yonger 18 Q. Cecilius Metellus 29 C. Cecilius Metellus 20 Lu. Cornelius Cnima 21 M. Liuius Drusus 22 C. Papirius Carbo 23 Lu. Celius Metellus 24 Cneus Octauius These with many other noble Romanes florished in those dayes for nowe the Romanes after all their wars in Affrika brought all kingdoms vnder the Empire of Rome for frō that time forward the glory of Rome did excel sauing for some ciuill wars that grew beeene Marius Silla after beweene Pompey Caesar els Rome was in her greatnes for in the 646. yeere after the building of Rome Caius Marius a man of great seruice amongst the Romanes in consideration that he had bene seuen times Consul in Rome was the onely cause of the first ciuil warre in Rome vpō indignation taken that Silla was preferred in the wars then against Mithridates king of Pontus who had already done good seruice in Asia Achaia though Mithridates had perswaded the Atheniās to resist Silla for at that time Mithridates held a great part of Asia in his hand and of Thracia so that many thought that Mithridates should in time conquer the Romane Empire for he was eager and cruell against those that loued the Romanes But Silla in spite of Mithridates his philosopher Athenius his successor Aristo the tyrant besieged Athens and wanne it where he killed a number of the Citizens many before were famished for a measure of wheate called Medinus was sold in Athens then for a thousand Drachmes which doe mount to a hundred crownes which before in time of peace was sold for fiue Drachmes After he had taken Athens he marched to Beotia and ouerthrewe Archilaus Mithridates generall slue a hundred thousand of his men and from thence to Thebes and did much harme both to the Citie and Citizens Marius disdaining the good successe of Silla made meanes to the Senate to haue that warre into his hand which Silla had against Mithridates This was graunted to Marius whereupon Silla in a great furie with all his armie returned backe to Rome entred the Citie killed Sulpitius slue many and draue Marius to flight and secretly went to Apheca Silla and Marius beganne nowe both to neglect the warres abroade against Mithridates and like two furious enemies of Italie spoyled their countrie and gaue libertie to the enemie to vanquish and subdue in this time Armenia the lesse and all the sea coastes called Ponticum and Bosphorus Silla by consent of the Senate tooke his iourney against Mithridates recouered Greece as you heard and other prouinces But to be short Silla ouercame Marius after many hotte broiles in Italie concluded peace with Mithridates returned to Rome at what time Lu. Scipio and Norbanus were Consuls in Rome These both thought to resist Sillas comming to Rome but Lu. Scipio with all his armie went and yeelded to Silla and the other Consul fled to Rhodes where for feare to come to Sillas hand hee slue himselfe That yeere Silla was made Dictator in Rome sixe hundred seuentie three yeeres after the building of Rome at what time he tyrannized against the Citizens of Rome so that Silla after much good seruice first done to his countrie afterwarde fell to such slaughter and tyrannie that he had beene better vnborne then borne And so of Marius may be spoken who plaied the like part before Silla and were both called faces faeces Italiae for their bloodshed in their coūtrie for Marius before Sillas slaughter and murthering of the Citizens of Rome hee killed Cneus Sulpitius and others so Sulpitius and others slue in Rome Cneus Octauius and many of the best of Rome aswell Noble men Senators Consuls as others This ciuil warre in Rome as Eutropius and Melancthon affirme endured tenne yeeres in the which were slaine aboue fiue hundred thousand souldiers twentie foure Consuls seuen Pretors fourtie Tribunes and as they write three hundred Senators beside Reade Melancthon of this warre Now after that Silla had these tenne yeres fomed in blood and had subdued both Marius and his sonne the yonger Marius hee triumphed ouer Mithridates with great glory In the latter yeeres of Silla young Pompey afterwarde surnamed the great for his prowesse courage was much honored of Silla
his long seruice and sent to Rome to his friends for that purpose The ciuil warres being thus ended betwixt Pompey and Caesar which continued fiue yeeres to the ouerthrow almost of the whole Empire and Caesar also after the ciuill warres of fiue yeres was slaine within 5. moneths Marcus the chiefe friend of Caesar a man of great credite in Rome was made Consul and for his greatnesse sake he was matched with Dolabella of this purpose done by the Senate to curbe Antonius for they doubted Antonius would aspire the kingdome as Caesar did Cicero laboured to bring Thrasibulus law called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Rome to quiet and pacifie the tumult and warre which was like to ensue by Caesars death But to no effect for the Senate tooke part with them which had slaine Caesar. Antonius sought by all meanes to reuenge Caesars death whereupon grew againe ciuill warres betwixt Octauius and Antonius This Octauius was sisters sonne to Iulius Caesar and he had adopted him to be his heire in the Empire of Rome in his testament This was called by the Senate to withstand the furie of Marcus Antonius So Pansa and Hircius then were Cōsuls ioyned with Octauius as both Eutrop. and Melancthon saith These 3. captaines went gainst Antonius and gaue him the ouetthrow Antonius fled to Lepidus an olde friende of Caesars and had at that time great bands of men readie they ioyned their force together but by Lepidus meanes Octauius and Antonius were made frendes These three Octauius Marcus Antonius and Marcus Lepidus had all the gouernment of the citie Octauius this time caused the Romanes to create him Consul when he was but twentie yeeres of age Euery man sawe how it would be in Rome and perceiued that this ciuil warre would exceede the rest before betwixt Silla and Marius and betweene Pompey and Caesar for Bratus and Cassius that slewe Caesar prepared an armie at Philippos a citie of Macedonia where they ioyned battell with Octauius and Antonius In this battell Cassius was slaine and in the next battel Brutus was slaine and an infinite nomber of nobilitie for during the warres that these triumuiri first had with Brutus and Cassius and their adherents and then with Sextus Pompeius the yonger sonne to Pompeius the great there were many Senators Consuls noblemen and gentlemen slaine on both sides It could be no other wayes considering the loue which the Romanes bare to Pompeius and their feare which they bare to Caesar. Now Lepidus one of Trium viri died in Affrica and the gouernment fell wholy betweene Octauius Caesar and Marcus Antonius Antonius had from Euphrates vnto the sea Illyricum and Caesar Octauius had from the sea Illyricum to the West Ocean but their friendship in gouernment continued not long It is an olde saying and true that Principalitie can abide no equalitie and therefore ciuill dissention fell betweene Octauius and Antonius Before they fell out betwixt themselues they slewe and murthered without lawe whom they lusted as Cicero Hortensius Lucullus with an infinite nomber of Senators of Consuls of noblemen and gentlemen which died in the warres of Brutus and Cassius And nowe againe newe ciuill warres beganne which continued twelue yeeres betwixt Octauius Caesar and Marcus Antonius but in the ende after many cruel battels and much slaughter Octauius got the victorie at what time Rome was so weakened by these ciuill warres that if then Pyrrhus Hanibal or Mithridates had liued they might soone haue conquered Rome Now when Antonius was vanquished by Octauius in a battell at Actium a towne of Epirus hee flead to Egypt being exempt of all hope to recouer his former state hee slewe himselfe and presently after him Cleopatra procured meanes to die for companie of her friend Antonius It is saide that Cleopatra affecting much the Empire of Rome was the cause of this ciuill discention for shee was the last Queene of Egypt after whose death Egypt was annexed to the Empire of Rome by Octauius and Cneus Cornelius Gallus was appointed lieutenant there This was the first Romane that gouerned Egypt Octauius Augustus after hee had vanquished Antonius and had gotten the whole Empire into his owne hand he became so louing to the people so gentle to the Senators and so liberall to the souldiers that he wanne the highest and lowest with great loue to fauour him The ciuil warres being thus ended Augustus became Consul the fourth time at what time hee entred into Rome with three triumphes the one ouer the Illyrians the second ouer Marcus Antonius the thirde ouer Cleopatra at what time hee was saluted by the name of Augustus and Pater patriae This time Ianus temple was shut the thirde time in Rome and now was the beginning of the peace and quietnes of the Romanes for from the building of Rome vntill Augustus raigne we reade that Ianus temple was not shut but twise before Augustus in whose time warres were pacified through the whole worlde and for ioy of these happie dayes the moneth Sextilis then was called Augustus after the Emperours name as his vncle Iulius had in the honour of his name the moneth then called Quintilis to be called Iulius This Emperour Augustus was fortunate in warres and circumspect in peace he enlarged greatly the Empire of Rome he annexed Egypt Hungarie Illyria Rhetia he vanquished the Danes in battel slew great armies of Germanes and brought 400. thousand Germanes forth of Germanie prisoners and placed them in France and replenished France with inhabitants of Germanie he brought Fraunce to pay tribute and brought Iudea a prouince vnder the Romanes During the time of the Consuls which endured 447. yeres it is to be wondered that one nation of one towne and that without a king but by Consuls should bring the most kingdomes of the world subiect to Rome as Affrike Hispaine France and Britaine of this side Rome made by Cōsuls to pay tribute vnto the Romanes beyond Rome Eastwarde and round about Rome Northward and Southward these kingdomes countreys were brought subiect to Rome and made prouinces of the Romanes by Consuls as Illyrians Istrians Dalmatians Macedonians al the Greekes the Medes the Thracians and the great Antiochus driuen out of Asia by Consuls of Rome Valiant Pyrrhus and mightie Mithridates kings of Epirus and Pontus ouerthrowen by Consuls of Rome Tigranes king of Armenia by Consuls Mesopotamians and Parthians brought in league with the Romanes by Consuls to be short all Syria Egypt and Sicilia were broght by Cōsuls of Rome to be prouinces vnder Rome What part of the world but Consuls of Rome were knowen Yea the Arabians and Saracens knewe the force of the Romane Consuls and when that the Romane consuls were lords of the whole world finding no nation able long to encounter with them their courage was such that they enuied one another greatly they spited one another in seruice and at last fel to
time Piso was Praetor in Syria and Pontius Pilate was President in Iudea This very time the Parthians required of the Romanes king Phraartes sonne named Vonones which was by his owne father put to the Romanes in pledge of loyaltie to come againe to his kingdome which being graunted hee shortly after was despised and driuen out of his kingdome by Artabanus Mithridates waged warre and died in the Isle of Thiae banished from Rome for at that time there was a lawe made in Italy for the banishing of Sooth sayers and Mathematicians Within a litle while after fell sharpe and cruel warre of this warre betweene the Parthians and Hiberians Reade Tacitus At this time many great terrible earthquakes chaunced and many great wonders were seeene a little before Christ Iesus suffered his death and passion for after the last earthquake spoken of before fell againe thirteene great and famous townes by another earthquake whose names Eusebius setteth downe in this sort as in the margent you may reade Our Sauiour Christ died in the Emperour Tiberius his raigne at what time were finished the seuentie weekes spoken of in Daniel about which time Philo Iudaeus was sent from Alexandria to Rome to entreate the Romanes to bee friendes to the Citizens of Alexandria This Philo Iudaeus was of great authoritie in those dayes being a Iewe borne his first comming to Rome was accepted the fifteenth yeere of the raigne of Tiberius the seconde comming was in the second yeere of the raigne of Caius Caligula where hee was but litle welcome and with threatning wordes of Caligula he returned backe to Alexandria In the time of this C. Caligula came Herode the Tetrarche from Iewrie to Rome and was by Caligula then banished from Iudea to Lugdunum a towne in France and Pontius Pilate who gaue sentence of death vpon the Sonne of God our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST in Ierusalem this time fell into such miseries and calamities that hee with his owne hande killed himselfe Matthewe the Euangelist wrote his Gospell in Iudea in the Hebrewe tongue in the last yeere of the Emperour Caligula at what time Simon Magus the Sorcerer flourished and was honoured as a god in Rome and in many other places I will returne to the successour of Caligula Tiberius Claudius hee sawe Drusus an vncle by the father side to Caligula and brothers sonne to Tiberius Nero this made warres vpon the Britaines which is now called England ouer whom he triumphed at Rome and at that time hee annexed certaine Ilands situate beyond Britaine called Orcades to the Empire of Rome he appointed playes in Rome at what time ciuil warres grew amongst the Parthians In the time of this Claudius diuers and sundry great famines were in many countreys great famine was in Iudea and the Apostles suffered much persecution but they were comforted by the brethren Of this famine spake Agabus in the Acts of the Apostles In Rome also was great famine and in Greece This Claudius Tiberius had a wife named Messalina a woman most vntemperate giuen to much filthie lust neuer satisfied with venerie nor neuer wearie by this lewde Empresse many were destroyed Many things did this Claudius very quietly and many things hee did very cruelly without discretion and behaued himselfe very courteously towards diuers of his friendes and therefore was thought of many not to be wise Eutropius saith that there was a most honorable tombe made to him at Mentz in Germanie This Emperour liued 64. yeeres and raigned in Rome Emperour foureteene yeeres after whome succeeded Claudius Domitius Nero who was sonne in lawe vnto Claudius Drusus who adopted him to be his successour in the Empire after the building of Rome 807. yeeres some say 809 and after that Christ died 57. This was the sixt Emperour of Rome who excelled all good Emperours for fiue yeeres gouernment for Traian the Emperour was wont to say Omnes principes procul à Neronis quinquennio distare for hee builded the Anephitheaters and founded Bathes and named them after his owne name at Rome he ordeined certaine places euery fiue Quinquenale imitating the Greekes in their Olympiads and named them Neronea the playes of Nero hee much resembled his vncle Caligula a man much giuen to all kinde of riot charges and expences hee poysoned the sonne of Claudius whom his father sirnamed Britanicus in remembrance of his victorie ouer the Britaines hee married Octauia and slew her husband and as Eusebius saith slewe her also hee married a courtezane named Poppea and slew her hee had carnall copulation with Agrippina his owne naturall mother and after slew her he also slewe a great nomber of the Senate and diuers other worthie citizens This Emperour exceeded all tyrants in crueltie hee committed diuers murthers vpon his owne kinsefolkes and slewe his scholemaster that graue and learned man Seneca When that this Nero had giuen himselfe wholy to all tyrannie and became an enemie to all good hee would daunce and sing openly with strumpets in the apparell of a cōmon minstrell Now when hee had murthered Senators citizens and diuers gentlemen and had slaine his owne brother his wife and his mother he set the citie of Rome on fire and let it burne for 6. dayes to make him know how the citie of Troy burned when it was on fire by the Grecians And when he had left no euill thing vndone on earth hee beganne to persecute the Church and to murther the saincts of God as shal be spoken in the History of the Church of Paul Peter and others Reade Tacitus of this wicked Emperour While he fomed in blood at Rome the Parthians bereft him of Armenia and he had almost as Eutropius saith lost Britaine he durst do nothing in feates of armes for these cruel facts he was abhorred of all men and cleane forsaken of his owne friends he was adiudged of the Senate to be an enemy of the weale publike Nero hearing that he should be drawen naked through the citie and be whipt til he were dead hee fled secretly forth of his Pallace by night with his Eunuch Sporus and slew himselfe 4. miles from Rome In the time of Nero fell by an earthquake three townes in Asia called Laodicea Hieropolis and Colossa Diuers earthquakes and many wonders were seene in Rome murther and slaughter in Iudea battels and blood At what time Albinus gouerned the Iewes vnder the Romans In Neroes time gouerned in Britaine Aruiragus in whose dayes many Britaines were conuerted to the faith by Ioseph of Arimathea a Iew borne and one of them that buried our Sauiour Christ. Thus the tyrant Nero which wished that all the citie of Rome had but one necke that he might with one stroke cut it off died after hee had raigned fourteene yeeres Emperour and liued one and thirtie yeeres CHAP. VIII From Nero the tyrant the sixt Emperour of Rome vntill the time of Lu. Antoninus Comodus the
their conquests were great their victories infinite but after the dignities of the Cōsuls were eclipsed by the greatnesse crueltie of the Emperours the state of Rome also beganne by a little and a little to loose her former fame and to decaye in credite for that they esteemed money more then men This vice of auarice excluded all kinde of vertues out of Rome and receiued into the Citie hidden hatred priuate wealth and yong councell whereby the lady of the whole worlde sometime is become now by auarice to be the handmaid of Spaine and Fraunce yea to be led by euery citie of Italie Thus was the glory of Rome brought vnder her owne seruants to be a captiue euen as Babylon Ierusalem Egypt and other kingdomes of whom the Prophets haue spoken prophecied the reward of their wickednesse idolatrie and horrible superstition The like destruction the Romanes must looke to haue as the Affricanes had after them the Chaldeans the Hebrewes and the Egyptians for their idolatrie and contempt of God The like ende and destruction as had the Persians the Medes the Macedonians and the Greekes must the Romanes by the prophesie of Daniel expect for I will the Reader to reade Daniel Esai Ieremie and Ezechiel of these great kingdoms before time for some destroyed and consumed and I will returne to the historie Now after that good Emperor Cocceius Nerua had reigned but one yeere foure moneths and nine dayes hee adopted Traiane to the Empire a Spaniard and not an Italian as many would haue it a godly Emperor a good man of whom many good things are written amongst the which he is most commended in two principal things sanctitas domi fortitudo for is he was patient in all traueiles and in all aduersities hee was very diligent in ciuill causes and very expert in militarie discipline hee was most liberall to his souldiers and beneficiall vnto all men he much honoured all learned men he onely of all other Emperors obserued iustice and practised the same to his people hee gouerned the weale publique in such sort that hee ought worthely to bee preserued aboue all other princes hee enlarged the borders and marches both in length and breadth of the Romane Empire which frō the time of Augustus was but defended and conserued by other Emperors vntil this time he is thus cōmended in Eutropius that his courtesie and sobrietie farre excelled his martiall feates hee was so familiar that he would ride goe and sit with his familiars hee would also banquet amongst them without esteeming of himself more then of another he openly and secretly enriched not onely his friendes but those whom he well heard of and aduaunced them to honors with whom he had small acquaintance hee infranchised many cities hee did so many great good things aswell in repairing ruinous Townes and Cities as also in building newe Cities Townes in diuers coūtries that in a maner he builded a new world againe for he builded sixe great Temples 1 To Apollo 2 To Mars 3 To Iupiter 4 To Aesculapius 5 To Ceres 6 To Berecynthia And therefore he was reputed in al the whole world of all men and likened vnto some god which had some diuine power to finish and to perfect a ruinous cōmon wealth being by his predecessors Nero Caligula Heliogabolus Domitianus and others welnigh wholy destroyed and defaced So much preuailed in him the fame of perfect goodnesse that at the election of any prince in Rome after Traians dayes the Senators and the people would wish him to be as fortunate as Augustus and in behauiour of vertue and goodnesse to be like the good Traiane who both for his goodnes vertue was also called Pater patriae as Augustus was for that hee subdued Dacia recouered Armenia which the Parthians had wonne he reduced vnder the obeysance of Rome Spaine Moscouia Arabia and the inhabitants of Cholcos hee had great warres in all the East countries and brought Assyria and Mesopotamia vnder his hand He reduced many kingdomes to be prouinces vnder the Romanes hee wanne Seleucia and Babylon and prepared a nauie for the redde Sea that thereby hee might spoyle and destroy the borders and coastes of Iudea About this time the Temple of Pantheon in Rome was burned he triumphed ouer the Danes and ouer the Scythians and brought Rome againe to her former fame and glory as it was in the time of Octauius Augustus The two mirrors of Rome liued in Rome and dyed with the like loue and fame after they had purchased great glory and renowme both for ciuill and marciall policie Traiane was canonised and was the first emperour buried within the Citie his bones were put in a golden cuppe and set vnder a pillar which mounted in height to an hundred fourtie foure foote Hee reigned nineteene yeeres whose facts and worthinesse are rife in memorie If you list to reade further of them looke in Capitolinus amongst all the emperours this you shall finde to excell the rest In Traianes time fell the fourth persecution of the Christians in whose time also dyed Iohn the Euangelist after whose death florished his scholers and disciples Papias and Polycarpus and Ignatius In Traians time happened such an earthquake that foure great Cities in Asia fell flatte to the grounde three in Galatia and two in Greece Traiane dyed of the flixe at Seleucia a towne of Isauria whē he had liued sixtie three yeeres after whom succeeded Aelius Adrianus the fifteenth emperour an Italian borne he was sisters sonne to Traiane and yet not adopted to the Empire by Traiane but by meanes of Plotina Traians wife hee was singularly learned both in the Greeke and in the Latine hee was excellently seene in Musicke and Geometrie and was so expert in Astronomie that hee made yerely Prognostications for him selfe hee excelled in diuers artes as in caruing grauing paynting cutting eyther in brasse or in marble Iustine writeth of this emperour that hee coulde write talke with his friendes aske questions and answere matters at one time hee gaue him selfe wholly to purchase peace and quietnesse and woulde often say that hee did more good in Rome by idlenesse then his predecessours by weapons for hee purchased peace during the whole time of his Empire In his time the Christians were sore persecuted vntill certeine learned of the Christians wrote bookes vnto the Emperour Adrian for mercie in sparing of Christian blood whereupon the Emperour wrote diuers Epistles to Iudea and to all prouinces belonging to the Empire of Rome that no Christian should be apprehended for religion sake at what time Ierusalem was named Aelia after that he had quieted the Iewes by his Sendrus and slue of them fiue thousand The Emperours name Aelius Adrianus for after that the Emperor Adriā wrote his letter to Minutius to stay his persecution certeine heretikes began to trouble the Church as Saturnius
of any things worth the memory After whom succeeded Probus a singuler souldier a man most expert in warfare for he subdued the Germanes the Sarmatians the Illyrians He ouercame the Gothes in Thracia he vanquished in sundry skirmishes diuers which attempted to vsurpe the state imperial as Saturninus in the East couÌ„trey Bonosus and Proculus which affected much the kingdome of Fraunce and Agrippina that claimed a title to Hispanie and Brytaine he vanquished them and triumphed ouer them this emperor licenced the Frenchmen and the Hungarians to haue vineyards This emperour was a iust and a stoute man equall in all pointes to Aurelianus his predecessor was slaine also in an iron towre at Sirmium in an vprore which grew amoÌ„gst the souldiers after he had reigned 6. yeres and 3. moneths After this emperour was Carus elected to gouerne the Romane empire who presently after he had obtained the empire made his 2. sonnes Carinus and Numerianus Caesars and commenced that warre against the Persians againe which Probus thought before he died to haue taken in hand which Carus perfourmed and subdued Mesopotamia and atchieued thinges manfully against the Persians He wanne Seleucia the chiefest citie of Syria and Ctesiphontes a towne in Persia. And when he had raigned two yeeres he was stricken with lightning and his sonne Numerianus was slaine being very yong with his father in the warres of Persia by the perswasion of Aper his father in lawe The other sonne of Carus called Carinus being deputed Caesar ouer Illyria Fraunce and Italie defloured noble women put innocents to death and practised all kind of mischiefe vntill he was ouerthrowne by Dioclesian the emperour who next succeeded his father Carus During which time Rome was in great trouble and the empire in great danger at what time these Magistrates and noble men flourished and some of them became emperors Patrenus Volisianus Pomponius Bassus Flauius Aclianus Annius Tacitus afterward Emperour Lucius Ragonius Vrinatus Gallius Hostilius afterward Caesar. Numus Albinus Maximius Dexter and Arcesilaus Iunius Tiberianus Pomponius Victorinus Aurelius Probus after made Caesar. Iunius Messula Oniuius Paternus Iunius Maximus Lurius Orphitus Pomponius Ianarius These bare most sway in Rome during the â—…e of these seuen Emperours which raigned no more but 18. yeeres All these seuen Claudius Florianus Quintilus Probus and Aurelianus Carus Tacitus  So short a time the Emperours of Rome then reigned that any Caesar was slaine sooner then any common souldier At the which time Germanie and Fraunce waxed so strong that the Romanes had their handes full to resist them and to keepe theÌ„ from Italie now they had entred Italie with great force spoyling and wasting the countries about vntil they came to Rauenna and Valerianus possessed Pannonia and Carausius gouerned the Brytaines which he detained by force when he fledde for feare of Maximianus CHAP. X. Of the rest of the Emperours of Rome after Dioclesians time at what time their Empire at Rome beganne to decay for that the dignitie of the old Emperours were diminished by reason that Constantinople whom Constantine the great had so enriched and beautified with their ancient monuments of Rome that olde Rome was hereby defaced and new Rome thereby flourished so that the Empire was deuided betweene two Emperours the one to be at Constantinople the other at Rome NOwe to Dioclesianus who beganne his reigne after that Carus Augustus was stricken with lightnings and his sonne Numerianus slaine by treason he was created Augustus he was borne at Dalmatia a Scriueners sonne as Eutropius saith but others affirme he was a bondman to Amulinus the Senator This Emperour assoone as he had obtained the Empire to his hande he reuenged the death of Numerianus slue Aper his sonne in lawe after subdued Carinus least he would claime the Empire being Carus his eldest sonne he associated to himselfe in the Empire Maximianus surnamed Herculius and made him Augustus who was before but Caesar. Beside he created other two Caesars Constantius Clorus and Maximianus Gabrius borne in Dacia for that in diuers countreies warre waxed hote and that Dioclesian of necessitie must needes appoynt these two Caesars and take Maximianus to be his fellow in the Empire This Dioclesianus caused Galerius to take to wife his daughter Valeria and caused Constantius to marry Theodora daughter in law to Herculius This time gouerned in Egypt Achilleus whom Dioclesian subdued and after tooke Busiris and Copon two cities of Egypt slue a number of their nobles and gaue Achilleus to be deuoured of wilde beastes In the eight moneth of his warre in Egypt he tooke Alexandria and after he had pacified Egypt hee returned to Rome at what time Herculeius returned froÌ„ Affrike and after he had finished his warres where he had subdued the QuinquagentiaÌ„s concluded peace with them afterward these two emperors liued and reigned together twentie yeres they ouercame Narses king of Persia they subdued the Caspians and the Basternes and coÌ„quered the Sarmatians and did triumph ouer them After this triumph DioclesiaÌ„ waxed so proud that he would be worshipped like a god and would be called brother to the sunne to the moone he had his shooes wrought with gold and precious stones caused people to come kneeling and kisse his feete Yet Eutropius writeth that after these great triumphs which both Dioclesian Herculeius had at Rome ouer Narses concubines his sisters and his children they resigned vp the imperial state and liued a priuat life the one in the citie of Solona and the other in Lucania for the which cause Dioclesianus was canonised after his death though he dyed a priuate man which was neuer graunted in Rome to any priuate man Then ConstaÌ„tius and Galerius which were but Caesars during the reigne of Dioclesian were both made emperours and the whole gouernment was deuided betweene them both Fraunce and Italie and Affrike were coÌ„mitted to Constantius Illyria Asia and the East partes to Galerius but Constantius a man of great modestie declared his worthinesse refused the trouble and toile of warres that he should haue in Affrike Fraunce and Italie and contented himselfe with the name of Augustus and after hee had reigned two yeeres deceased at Yorke in Britaine where Constantius had a base sonne that became gouernour in his fathers roome in Britaine Galerius when hee heard that Constantius his fellowe in the Empire died in Britaine he substituted vnder him two Caesars This time some commotion began at Rome where they nominated Maxentius sonne to Herculeus late Emperour which when his father heard of he came in all haste from Lucania to Rome and by all meanes possible perswaded Dioclesian to resigne the Empire into his hand againe which hee refused to doe Then Seuerus Caesar was sent to appease the commotion which the gard had made where he was slaine then Herculeus seemed as though he woulde depose his sonne
a citie in Fraunce The ouerthrow was such that their king was taken prisoner Fraunce againe recouered This time was Cōstantius occupied against the Parthians and returning home from thence to pacifie that cōmotion he died by the way after he had reigned 38. yeres at what time Iulianus was made Augustus But let vs know who florished in Rome during the reigne of this great Constantinus and his three sonnes which was seuentie yeeres Ruffinus Volusianus Arcadius Rufinus Anicius Iulianus Acilius Seuerus Paulinus Probianus Valerius Maximus Septimius Bassius Syluanus Caesar. Faecilianus and Tacianus who were Consuls when Constantine the great dyed Crispus Caesar. Ouinius Gallicanus Annianus and Anicius Rufinus Metilius Halarianus Dalmatius Caesar. Nepotianus Caesar. Catulinus Philomanus Publitius Optatus Lucinus Caesar. Magnentius and Decentius both Caesars Gallus Caesar. Cornelius Sergius Daelius Probinus Valerinus Proculus Fabius Titianus Mereatius Caerealus Claudius Iulianus Caesar who was next Emperour after Constantinus and his sonnes made great preparation against the Parthians at what time sundry Townes and holdes were peaceably yeelded to Iulianus hee returning from Assyria as a conquerour was slaine by his enemies in the seuenth yeere of his reigne This Emperour Iulianus did excell in the Greeke and in the Latine tongue he was passing well seene in all the liberall artes he was very eloquent and a great Philosopher Eutropius saith that Iulianus resembled much Marcus Antonius whom this Emperour in all points endeuoured to imitate but he was a persecutour of the Christians Iouinianus succeeded next Iulianus being chosen by consent of the souldiers hee was a very good Emperour and a great fauourer of the Christiās but being once or twise vanquished by the Persians he susteined such reproch that hewas forced to make peace with a great portiō ofhis empire which was not seene since the foundation of Rome This Iouinianus was borne in a prouince of Pannonia the sonne of one Verromanus who in his sleepe was warned that this Emperour should be named Iouinianus who after hee reigned eight moneths died but Eutropius affirmeth that he reigned Emperor seuen yeeres After him succeeded Valentianus the sonne of Gratianus a meane man of birth in whose time the West kingdomes began to annoy the Romane Empire for hitherto the Romanes kept the sole Empire in Rome vntill the time of Theodosius the great which was the fiftie Emperour from Iulius Caesar. Valentianus and his sonne together had the Empire betweene them twentie one yeeres Valentianus the father reigned of those fifteene yeres and his his sonne named also Valētianus being a yong boy proclaimed Caesar by the souldiers reigned the other sixe yeeres After them succeeded Theodosius Iunior in whose time the Gotes the Vandales began to be gouerned vnder kings The Longobards and the Hunnes at that very time began their kingdoms Many other kingdoms began this time as Britaine and Scotland and diuers nations in Germany waxed so strong so mighty that by often quarreling long tedious warres the Empire was not only diuided but quite taken into the West partes of the world so that frō the name of the Emperour of Rome he was long named the emperor of Constantinople and after that named the Emperor of Almaine where betweene these Gotes Vandales Longobards Hunnes Polonians and diuers other Potentates of Germany beside Fraunce Spaine England the empire still remaineth in Germany so that the dignitie of Rome the great glory and long renowme thereof is fallen frō an Emperour to a Pope after that Rome had florished vnder kings 243. yeeres vntill the time of Consuls vnder Consuls and Dictators 467. vntil the time of emperors vnder emperors 447. yeres Now I wil end this Romane historie for that the glory of the Romanes died the dignitie of the empire taken away nothing to be spokē of the Romanes after Iouinianus time which was the 43. emperour after Augustus reigne which gouerned Rome with glory fame for the space of 407 yeres as Sex Ruffi affirmeth yet these emperors whose names I haue subcribed gouerned as emperours vntill Charles the great at what time the empire begā to quaile the Germans began to florish and Rome quite forsaken and decayed And nowe for that the Empire is fully come to Germanie I will onely put downe the names of the emperours of Rome from Iu. Caesar vntill Theodosius the great which are these Iu. Caesar fiue moneths Octauius Augustus 56. yeeres C. Tiberius Nero. 23. yeeres C. Caesar Caligula 4. yeeres Tib. Clau. Drusus 13. yeeres Cl. Domitius Nero 13. yeeres and 8. moneths Serg. Sulp. Galba 7. moneths Siluius Otto 95. dayes Aul. Vitellius 8. moneths Fla. Vespasianus 12. yeeres Tit. Vespasianus 2. yeeres Fla. Domitianus 15. yeeres Coc. Nerua 16. moneths Vlpius Traianus 17. yeeres Aelius Adrianus 21. yeeres T. Antonius Pius 23. yeeres M. Aurelius Antoninus surna med the Philosopher 19. yeeres Lu. Aurelius Commodus 13. yeeres Aelius Pertinax and Didius Iulianus both these 2. Emperours reigned 5. moneths L. Septim Seuerus 18. yeeres Au. Antoninus Bassianus who was also named Caracalla 7. yeeres Opili Macrinus with his s◅ne Diadumeus both Emperours slaine by the souldiers within 14. moneths of their reigne these with others are omitted among writers by reason of their short gouernment one murthering of an other M. Aurelius Heliogabolus 4. yeeres Au. Alex. Seuerus 13. yeeres Maximinus with his sōne named also Maximi was of a meane souldier made Emperour without the authoritie of the Senate and reigned 3. yeeeres Balbinus Pupienus reigned one yeere and were both slaine in an vprore of the armie Gordianus reigned Emperour 6. yeeres M. Iulius Philippus with his sōne named Philip reigned 5. yeeres this was the first Christian Emperour Decius and his sonne 2. yeeres Gallus Hostilianus with his sonne Volusianus 2. yeeres Lucius Valerianus and Gallienus reigned both Caesars ioyntly 15. yeeres Fla. Claudius reigned 20. moneths his brothea Quintilius reigned after him but 17. dayes both good Emperours and yet according to the custome slaine by them who made them and proclaimed them emperors Val. Aurelianus raigned sixe yeeres and was slaine Annius Tacitus raigned sixe moneths and was slaine Florianus raigned 84. dayes and was killed Aurelius Probus raigned sixe yeeres 3. moneths Carus with his two sonnes Carinus and Numerianus in like sort slaine within two yeeres after hee was made Emperour Dioclesianus Iouius raigned 20. yeeres with whom raigned Maximianus Gallerius and Cōstantius Chlorus Constantinus the great raigned 31. yeeres This appointed the first order of the accompt called Indictiones after the Olympiads were expired After Constantine th◅ great raigned his sonne Constanstine and his two brethren Constantius and Constans 14. yeeres Magnentius raigned 3. yeres Beraldus saith that he raigned more yeres Iulianus raigned 7. yeeres Iouinianus raigned eight moneths Valentinianus raigned ioyntly with his brother Valens 15. yeeres Theodosius the great raigned 17. yeeres After this Theodosius no mention
much as the Image of Iupiter This could not be suffered and therefore Caesars Image was taken away for this cause and others which Caligula supposed against the Iewes for that he hated them extreemely Great slaughter was in Ierusalē Agrippa being cast into close prison by Tiberius is now not onely released and set at libertie but also made king of Lysania and chiefe in the Tetrarchie in the place of Herode before him but both Herod and Agrippa were exalted into these great honours as scourges and tortures to the Christians whom they persecuted to the death for now the Apostles were dispersed preaching the Name of Iesus in all countreys Iohn in Asia Andrew in Scythia Thomas in Parthia Peter in Gallatia Bythinia Pontus and Cappadocia Paul also after his conuersion doubted no danger feared no death but boldly and constantly preached In omnem terram exiuit sonus eorum that many godly men were stirred by their preaching to followe Christ first at Caesarea and then at Antioch for there were first Christians conuerted Many wonders were done by the Apostles through the name of Iesus the more that tyrants persecuted them the more increased the doctrine of the Church the more they were slaine by the sworde the more they increased in nomber by the word for at the stoning of Stephen the first Martyr many dispersed themselues into sundrie places At the beheading of Iames the brother of Iohn at the hanging of Philip the Apostle at Hieropolis at the martyring of Iames sirnamed the Iust called also the brother of Christ in Iudea these with infinite more Martyrs in the first persecution made the whole worlde amazed at their constancie and faith though the deuil stirred his apostles and sent them abroade likewise as aduersaries to the Church of God Simon Magus the Samaritane sorcerer flourished at Rome vnder Claudius the Emperour hauing all diuine honours attributed vnto him with his Image set vp and his Epigram Simoni deo sancto hauing before seduced many in Samaria and in other places from the trueth This Simon Magus the first causer of heresie after whom succeeded a monster likewise of Samaria professing himselfe to be the Messias whom the Iewes looked for saying that he came from heauen to earth to saue mankinde with such other blasphemies as Eusebius setteth forth at large Of these and of others I shall speake when I entreate of heretiques among whom Simon was the first fountaine and chiefe head of heresie so that Satan did set forward his church with al care and trauaile obiecting himselfe with his disciples against our Sauiour in all doctrine as long as it pleased God to licence him This time Tiberius Claudius raigned the first Emperour in Rome and in like order as his predecessor Caligula persecuted the Church Vnder this Emperour great famine happened in all parts of the world at what time Paul and Barnabas relieued the brethren at Ierusalem and in other places persecution grew more and more euen then in somuch that Paul and Peter were pursued from place to place vntill they came to bee martyred at Rome the one beheaded and the other hanged yet had they established the Church before their death Marcus the Euangelist and the disciple of Peter preached Christ in Egypt and taught in Alexandria so that many were conuerted and beleeued Hee was the first bishop of Alexandria and taught in the regions about vntill Pentapolis and after was lead with a halter about his necke and burned by Idolaters vnder Traiane the Emperour Matthewe being before one of the 70. disciples and after ioyned by drawing of lots into the nomber of the twelue Apostles in the place of Iudas the traitor taught and preached to the sauage people in Aethiopia about the riuer Phasis where hee left his bones in testimonie of the Gospel in the citie of Sebastopolis by the temple of the Sunne Euen so Luke borne in Antioch a Phisition by profession a follower of Paul by whose admonition hee wrote the Actes of the Apostles preaching and teaching the Gospel euery where died at Ephesus So that in those dayes the Apostles and the other disciples which then followed the Apostles were so persecuted by tyrants that mightily trauailed among the people of God to reduce them from the Church as Aegyptus a false prophet who by subtiltie and craft of the deuill seduced thirtie thousande Iewes and brought them from the wildernesse where hee taught them into mount Oliuet thinking thereby to laye siege and to take the citie by the sworde but hee was preuented by Felix the Romane Of this Aegyptus Paul was cried out vpon when the sedition was in Hierusalem Reade the one and twentieth of the Actes when Paul was brought before Felix And now in the time of Domitius Nero vnder whome the second persecution beganne they were more wearie of their slaughter of Christians and of their tyrannie towardes the Church then able to wearie those whome God raised as defenders and gouernours of his people for while this cruel Emperor Nero raigned Felix ruled in Iudea at what time beganne betweene the bishops and the hie Priestes against the people and against the chiefe Citizens of Hierusalem a newe sedition in the which many of the Iewes perished amongst whome Ionathas was slaine The like happened as you heard in the time of Claudius about the feast of Easter that thirtie thousand Iewes were slaine This Nero armed against God and settled to some in Christian blood first charging Felix to kill to murther and to persecute all sort of people but specially the Iewes After he sent Festus to succeede Felix and after Felix Albinus a cruel man by whom much blood was lost was sent from Rome to Ierusalem all persecuters and tormenters of the faithfull in somuch that the congregation of the faithfull at that time in Ierusalem were warned to remooue to Pella a village beyonde Iorden to auoyde the furie and hot persecution of that time for this cruel Nero was not onely contented to be a tyrant farre from Rome but also in the citie of Rome he would see the people of God so martyred before his face some with the sword some with fire and some otherwayes that he was most meerie when he saw much blood and yet was not satisfied vntil he saw Rome on fire it selfe he is named amongst some writers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for while this Emperour raigned in Rome Peter and Paul were martyred But his tragicall actions had their iust reward euen in Rome where hee was Emperour after that he had raigned almost 14. yeeres The contempt of Christ Iesus grew such in Iudea though the Prophets before he was borne preached vnto them the danger of their incredulitie and the Apostles after he was borne taught them and shewed the workes of Christ and Christ him selfe while yet hee liued among them wrought miracles and wonders yet the Iewes in
contempt of this waxed more stubburne and more insolent The slaughter was such in Iudea that the Saduces began to tickle the people againe with their inuentions that hearing of Festus death Ananias the hie priest before Albinus was come from Alexandria that succeeded Festus the Romane President persecuted many of the Saints in Hierusalem and did put to the sworde euery one that hee suspected to holde the doctrine of the Apostles So that by many tumults and seditions of the Scribes and the Pharisees the tyrannie and crueltie of the hie priestes and the people who euer kindled the Romanes to furie all Iudea was full of blood vntil the last destruction of them and of their countrey of the which they were often warned both by the Prophets and by Christ himselfe but Titus the Emperour was appointed to be their scourge to destroy their proud citie to burne their idolatrous temple and to ende their tyrannie which they vsed against God and his Church During which confusion and ruine of Ierusalem the congregation then remoued by diuine warning to Pella a towne beyoÌ„d Iordan for at that time saith Iosephus were in Ierusalem 30. Miriads of people euery Miriad being 10. hundreth thousand The history is knowen and therefore I referre you to Iosephus of the Iewes Eusebius his Ecclesiasticall historie at what time Achaia Lycia Rhodes Bizantium Samos Thracia and Sicilia were made Prouinces vnder the Romanes CHAP. II. From the third persecution vnder Domitian the 12. Emperor vnto the 6. persecutioÌ„ vnder Sept. Seuerus 22. Emperor of the coÌ„stancie of the faithful Martyrs euerywhere in the Church of God of their godly liues their deaths and their glorious victorie ouer Satan FLauius Domitianus Titus his brother vnder whom another persecution began ouer allthe stocke of Dauid left none of al them that were of kinne vnto Dauid in flesh This shewed himselfe another Nero farre vnlike vnto his father Vespasian or to his brother Titus and therefore named for his tyrannie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This time had raigned in Rome since the Apostles times these 3. bishops Linus which was the first Anacletus which was the second and Clemens which was the thirde Likewise in Antioch andin Alexandria 1. Anianus In Alexandria 1. Euodius In Antiochia Simon 2. Albilius 2. Ignatius and Iustus 3. Cerdo 3. Heros  bishops of Ierusalem were persecuted vnder Domitianus Nowe after this persecution vnder Flaminius Domitianus who banished from Rome all the Philosophers and the Mathematicians who played the wolfe with the flocke of Christ vnder whom Simeon the second â—…shop of Ierusalem was most cruelly tormented and martyred al the remnant that were aliue of the stocke of Dauid and all the Iewes which were any way in flesh kinne vnto our Sauiour Christ After this followed the 4. persecutioÌ„ vnder Traiane which was so hot so terrible that it past far exceeded the 3. other persecutions before vnder Caligula Nero and Domitianus It was such that it mooued Plinius secundus to write vnto Traiane the Emperour in the behalfe of the Christians to mitigate the furie and rage of persecution that raigned euery where in Syria Iudea Alexandria Antioch and all other places considering they did nothing but rise in the morning and meete together to sing Hymnes and Psalmes to praise God for Plini was amazed and quite astonied to see the multitude and nomber of Christians dayly encreasing notwithstanding all the persecutions and slaughter that was most extreemely vsed against them from time to time This caused Traiane the Emperor somewhat more mildely to handle them commaunding that the Christians should not be sought for to be persecuted but yet being founde to punish them for at this time flourished many godly and learned pillars of the Church as Ignatius bishop of Antioche Polycarpus bishop of Smirna Papias bishop of HieropolituÌ„ who suffered diuers kindes of torments and were martyred some deuoured of beastes some with the sworde some with fire some with hanging and many with many new inuented torments For at that time liued many of perillous nature that sought to please euil men and to punish good men The Iewes as men full of madnesse and voyde of the feare of God beganne a tumult againe in Egypt and in Alexandria and slewe both Romanes and Greekes they did vse such tyrannie at Cyrene at Thebes in the 19. yeere of Traianus that Turbo the Romane slewe and droue all the Iewes out of Egypt and Libya So likewise did Lucius Quintinus he slew many thousand Iewes and banished them to Mesopotamia by the commaundement of Martius Yet the Iewes continued vntill the seuere commandement of Adrianus the Emperour who succeeded Traiane who perceiuing their often tumults and seditions to be such as the Romanes coulde haue no rest while any Iewe liued in Iudea he most straightly charged that they should bee driuen out of their countrey and that not one should stay in Iudea And Adrianus commaunded that none should be suffered to dwell in any denne of the earth so that the citie which a litle before hee destroyed and the whole countrey conquered nowe the remnant of the Iewes as men forsaken of God are like vagabonds and roges banished and whipt out of their countrey and strangers are come to their place and the name of Ierusalem changed and called Aelia according to the name of the Romane Emperour This was the last ende of Ierusalem where Eusebius named 15. bishops euen from Christes death vntill the destruction of the citie faithful and constant Christians in spite of many persecutions and therefore I haue set downe their names before you as I found them in Eusebius 1 Iames named Iustus 2 Simon which was martyred vnder Domitianus 3 Iustus 4 Zacchus 5 Tobias 6 Beniamin 7 Ioannes 8 Mathias 9 Philippus 10 Senecas 11 Iustus the 2. of that name 12 Leui. 13 Ephres 14 Ioses 15 Iudas the last bishop of Ierusalem These were Bishops according to the Lawe of Moses of the Circumcision Now by the meanes of Adrianus and his Epistle written to Minutius Fundanus his lieutenant for the stay of this sore and extreeme persecution in all parts of the East the members of Christ had some rest vntill Antoninus Verus another persecutor and a vexer of the Church cleane against the good Emperor Antoniuus Pius his predecessor who wrote into all parts of Asia a litle before his latter ende not onely to spare the Christians froÌ„ persecution but also to fauour them and to ayde them letting them to liue to their God whome they serued commending much their constancie and faith towards their God But while God stirred some good Emperors to fauour his Church and the members thereof the deuil was as careful to raise sects of heretikes most wicked to blaspheme the doctrine of the Church as first Simon Magus and his disciple and successor Menander the Samaritane by whom two great
them lightly noting vnto you some fewe for example sake as now vnder Decius the Emperour these many 1 Metra a Priest 2. 3. Quinta and Appollonia two virgins you heard of these 4 Serapion martyred with all the torments that might be 5. 6. Iulianus and Coronion after scourging and sore whipping were throwen to Camels and after burned to ashes 7 Marca a blessed Martyr and a stout Christian at that time was burned aliue 8 A souldier that stoode by and sawe the tortuers so cruell resisted and stood stoutly to the face of the Magistrates in the profession of Christ and was after great tortures beheaded 9. 10. Epimachus and Alexander after long imprisonment and diuers torments were throwen to the fire with 4. wornē 14 more to accompanny them 15 Likewise Amonarium a blessed virgin 16. 17. Mercuria a sage and godly matrone and Dionitia a faithfull woman they made the magistrate amased and the torturers astonied to behold their cōstancie in their tormēts 18 Hieron Ater and Isidorus 3. Egyptians Dioscorus a boy of 15. yeres were most cruelly torne and broken in pieces by tortures and at last burned 22 Menesion an Egyptian full of faith endured most willingly to be martyred for the Gospel These with infinite more doth Dionisius a priest write to Fabius bishop of Antiochia setting forth his owne danger many times and also setteth downe that persecution which continued most cruelly for one yere for the nomber of the faithfull so increased their constancie and their faithso amased the wicked that they were both weary feareful to folowe their tyrannie at last ouerthrowen by their guiltie conscience but Dyonysius sayeth that diuers times came in place to see these persecutions certeine souldiers who seeing the orders and maners of the Christians towards God and his Church felt them selues much conuerted and most desirous to confesse themselues Christians At a great persecution in Alexandria standing before the Romane Magistrate when a certeine Christian among the rest waxed timerous and feared such torments as hee sawe other suffer hee thought to recant but these souldiers cōforted him with signes perswaded him with secret words and at length they came openly vnto him councelled and comforted him to die like a Christian and at length started in confessed themselues to the Magistrates to be Christians and therefore most willing with the rest to die for Christ Iesus sake It made the the Romane iudge and the rest of the Commissioners afraide supposing further that if they would vse this extreame crueltie of persecution all Alexandria and al Egypt would become in time Christians and therefore they rose vp from their seate frighted and amased of these strange sightes and the Christians had some rest The names of these last souldiers worthie to be engraued Captaines on marble for their victories and conquest ouer them selues which is the greatest conquest of all I cannot omitte they were foure in number 1 Ammon 2 Zenon 3 Ptolomeus 4 Ingenus And beside these foure an olde man named Theophilus in the next place hee bringeth in Ischyrion a faithfull Martyr of that time and Cheremon an olde Bishop of a Citie called Nilus who fled with his wife and children to the mountaines of Arabia to auoide the tyrānie of that time likewise of Vrbanus Sidonius and Selerius three Martyrs which suffered all kind of torments to enioy the glorious crowne of Martyrs When this cruell Emperour Decius died Gallus succeeded him both in life and in persecution about what time Origen also died This time in Rome Cornelius was the twentieth Bishop in Antiochia Demetrianus was the fourteenth Bishop in Alexandria this Dionisius that wrote of this last persecution the 13. Bishop In other places other godly faithfull Bishops reigned as Theoctistus in Caesarea Mezabantes in Ierusalem Marinus in Tyrus Heliodorus in Laodicea in Cappadocia Firmilianus Helenus in Tarsus so to be short in all Syria Arabia Pontus Bythinia and Mesopotamia godly and good Byshops liued vnder the feare of God This did Dionysius Byshop of Alexandria write to Stephanus the 22. Bishop of Rome of the peace and the staie of the persecution in all the parts of the East countries To this Bishop Stephen Ciprian bishop of Carthage wrote concerning those that were here tikes conuerted that by baptisme they were first to be receiued into the Church During this litle quietnesse and stay of persecution diuers and sundry sectes of heresies began to rise in many places as Heresis Nouatiana Sabellaena with others Cyprianus bishop of Carthage a singular deuoute man and a Martyr of the Church was of the Carthagineans and the Affricanes honored as a god to whō they erected a temple in memory of him celebrated a solemne feast calling often on the name of Cypriā which temple the Vandales in the time of their king Tuorichus destroyed Thus much Euagrius in his histories of the Church wrote of Cyprian who also dyed a most constant Martyr of Christ Iesus I omitte with Dionysius to name the Martyrs which dyed vnder Valerianus the emperour because they were so many men women children olde men young men olde women virgins souldiers and all kinde of people who became most willing Martyrs and suffered diuers torments for religion sake Amongst whome Lucius Maximus Demetrius Faustinus and Aquila suffered in Egypt also Eusebius was then Deacon and after made Byshop of Laodicea in Syria and Faustus who succeeded Eusebius Cheremon Caius and diuers other who from place to place to auoide that terrible persecution which reigned vnder the Emperour Valerianus wandred many Countries desertes mountaines And as for the Martyrs of Caesarea specially there were three which willingly came from their houses in the Countrie to Caesarea being ashamed and sory to haue seene so many good and godly Christians contending for the same noble crowne of Martyrs that they were so long negligent and carelesse of so glorious reward and therefore Priscus Malchus and Alexander claimed before the Iudge the rewarde of Christians and streight they were deliuered to be deuoured of beastes from whom these three stoute Christians shrinked not I will not omitte the historie of Marinus a knight of Caesarea who when hee obteyned that honour by iust desertes which was among the Romanes a rewarde for victorie and thereby to bee called Centurio a certeine Sycophant accused this knight to the Magistrate saying that it was not lawfull by the auncient lawes that Marinus should haue that Romane dignitie for that hee was a Christian who being demaunded most boldly confessed himselfe to bee a Christian and yet hauing three houres to deliberate of this cause Marinus went to consult with Theotecnus byshop then of Caesarea by whom he was in this instructed he brought him into the Temple and offered before him a naked sworde and the newe Testament of Christ Iesus Chuse said the byshop which thou wilt whereby he was
predecessours in so much that hee was compared vnto Cyrus king of Persia for his valure vnto Alexander the great for his victories and conquests who visited in like maner as Alexander did India Aethiopia Scythia and other farre kingdomes from Rome and hauing stayed persecution in most places hee comforted the Christians so that the Gospel beganne to florish among the Barbarous people in Armenta and in Persia. Hee reedified great and chiefe Cities as Nicomedia in Bythinia and also Bizantium in Thracia and made it equall to Rome in all points and named it after his ownename Constantinople for there was nothing in Rome but this Emperour builded the like in Constantinople in so much that it was called newe Rome the onely Citie of fame and renow me in all the East countries To this Towne many of the best learned men both Greekes and Iewes haue come and dwelt there here nowe religion florished Christians reioyced and all learned men of the world frequented Againe Constantine caused a temple to be made by the oke of Mambre this is nowe Terebinthus a place from Hebron distant fifteene furlongs and from Ierusalem 250. furlongs To this place the Phoenicians and the Arabians were wont once euery yere to come to traffique and to marchandize with the Iewes they kept a solemne feast in memorie of Abraham the Patriarch and offered in sacrifice after the lawe of Moses eyther an oxe or a goate or else a sheepe or a Cocke Euery nation honoured this place the Iewes in memorie of Abraham the Gentiles in memorie of the Angels that there appeared vnto Abraham the Christians in memorie of CHRIST IESVS the Sonne of GOD being there then the thirde Angel seene of Abraham before hee tooke flesh of the Virgine Marie well nigh two thousand yeeres This place also Constantine adorned and beautified with many monuments It were long to rehearse the goodnesse of this Emperour and to repeate his care and doings in all partes of the worlde for the Church hee caused a Synod at this time to beehad at Nice in Bythinia where were gathered together three hundred and eighteene Byshops in the which the heresie of Arrius was condemned At what time Athanasius was appointed Byshop of Alexandria to succeede Alexander who deposed Arrius The Arrians persecuted this Athanasius so that hee was forced to flee for succour to the Emperour Constantine This time succeeded in Antioch after Tiranus the nineteenth byshop Vitalis the twentieth after him Philogonus the twentie one after him Paulinus after him Eustachius whose place after hee was banished for the Gospel the Arrians occupied In Rome Marcus the seconde of that name was Byshop after whom succeeded Iulius the third In his dayes the Armenians and the Indians receiued Christianitie yet in Persia vnder king Sapores the Christians were sore persecuted the Magi of Persia perswaded Sapores the king to punish Simeon the Archbishop of Seleucia for that he was a friende to the Romanes By this meanes great persecution beganne in Persia against the Archbyshop Simeon and Vstazanes an olde man and likewise the kings tutour for that they would worship not the sunne after the manner of the Persians Likewise Pusices a noble man of the Court of Sapor with his daughter a faire virgine did suffer torments for the trueth Anania and Azadis the Kings eunuches and Tarbula the sister of Simeon in like sort suffered violent death and on that very day the Iewes by the commandement of Magi being by the king licenced brought an hundred Christians some of them were Byshops some Elders and some of other orders of the Church which for that they would not worship the sunne wereslaine with the sword It is written in Eusebius in the Ecclesiasticall histories of Her Zozamenis that two hundred and fiftie Byshops were put to the sworde by commaundement of Sapores the king for their constancie and faith in CHRIST IESVS whose names though not all yet some as I founde in the historie I set downe which are these 1 Barbasymes 2 Paulus 3 Gaddiabes 4 Sabinus 5 Mareas 6 Mocius 7 Manfriandes 8 Hormisdas 9 Papas 10 Iacobus 11 Romas 12 Maares 13 Agas 14 Bochres 15 Abdas 16 Abdiesus 17 Dausas 18 Abranims 19 Agdelas 20 Sabores 21 Issaac and 22 Dausas These were taken captiue and brought before the Magistrates and for not worshipping the Sunne according to the Persians maners the king commaunded that they should be put to the sword To this king Sapores Constantinus the Emperour wrote in fauour of the Christians which Epistle is extant in Eusebius in the life of Constantine Thus much I thought good to set downe among other wickednesses and tyrannies that reigned among the Romane Emperours Hee that will see more of persecution and heresies let him reade Eusebius Nicephorus and others and hee shall satisfie himselfe therein I thought it fitte to annexe thus much of persecution to the Romane Emperours and to Popes as to the authours of all persecutions in all Countries OF THE ANTIQVITIE OF Spaine and of the originall of their kings and of their contiuuance from Tubal vnto Hispanus During which time they were called by diuers seuerall names as Caetubales Hiberi Celtiberi and Hesperij of which I shall briefly speake in their places I Haue almost placed and followed all Iaphets sonnes and nowe I come to Hispaine where Tubal tooke possession which name is interpreted to be Hispaine by Iosephus I will bee as short as I can for that I would faine come to England and yet France is vpon my way where I must of necessitie stay a little to speake of them very briefly Spaine was deuided in olde time but into 3. Prouinces into Lusitania which is now called Portingale into Tarraconenses where the two Scipios builded a citie and named it Tarracon after the name of the Prouince and into Baetica which is so called by the riuer Baetis This Prouince is now named Andolasia or Granado The Romanes at what time they were lords of Spaine made no other diuision but high and low Hispaine by the name of superior inferior Hispania After it was deuided into sixe Prouinces in this sort named as foloweth 1 The first Prouince called Terracon 2 Called the Prouince of Carthage 3 Lusitania which is Portingale 4 Gallacia 5 Baetica which is Andolisia or Granado 6 Called Tingitana a Prouince being within Affrica Of these 6. Prouinces 2. of them are called Consulares prouinciae which is Betica Lusitania the other 4. called Presidiales Spaine is cut from Fraunce Eastward by the mountaine Pyrenaeus which doeth extend it selfe from the South vnto the North along betwene France and Spaine On the West Spaine hath the ocean sea and on the South the middle land sea This countrey is very barren in some places specially from Hercules pillars to the mountaine Pyrenaeus in other places it aboundeth in all kinde of good things for wines oliues yron
mines siluer and gold The length of Spaine from the West into the East is 6000. furlongs the breadth of Spaine is almost 5000. in some place scant three Of the description of Spaine of the aboundance and plentie of things of their cities townes riuers mines lakes mountaines and mounts reade Strabo Pomponius Mela and Iu. Solynus Of the antiquitie of these people and of their first arriuall into Spaine I finde some controuersie and in many things apparant errors Both Plutarch and Liui affirme that in antiquities men may most easily erre specially in these first actions of time when kingdomes first beganne Therefore I beginne from the Centre and ground of all true and perfit Chronicles the 10. of Genesis where we reade of the encrease of mankind after the flood and of the beginning of countreys and cities and here all countreys were deuided one from another in language and in kinred And had not Moses set downe the names of the first princes and their children and the coūtreis and kingdoms by them first inhabited we had bene as blinde men not able to iudge of colours or as they that neuer sawe the Sunne not knowing light frō darknes and they that wander with prophane writers frō Moses and from the prophetical histories shal be in no better case for of necessitie we must be forced to conferre with diuine histories for the certaintie of trueth in many things in the beginnings of kingdoms and countreys for otherwise men do erre most grossely folowing their owne fancies one reprehending another more to encrease cōtrouersies then to finde out the trueth as Appion accuseth Herodot for his meere fables in the history of Egypt and Iosephus reprehendeth Appion for his great lies in the history of the Iewes And here Berosus who setteth downe the first beginning of Spaine and of Chaldea and Syria is of many cried out vpon as a fained and lying Berosus yet many alleadge him and followe him of the best writers as Functius Ruffinus and others Berosus saith the Spaniards tooke their beginning from the Caspians a people in Scythia as the Persians the Phoenices people in Syria Celtes people now of France and the Mores and that is probable for after the flood the arke of Noah resting in Armenia not far frō Scythia after 150. yeres people being then multiplied came from thence to seeke countreys and to inhabite euery coast of the world Chus the father of Nimrod went to Aethiope Mizraim the sonne of Chus went to Egypt possessed about the riuer Nilus Gomerus the eldest sonne of Iaphet into that countrey afterward called Italy and Tubal the fift sonne of Iaphet came into that countrey which is now called Spaine Because I wrote of this in the beginning of euery kingdom I neede not much to speake of them and therfore I wil leaue the sonnes of Sem and the sonnes of Cham in their first possession I wil folow Iaphets sonnes which came here to Europe of whom I haue spokē sauing of Tubal who came into Spaine in the yere after the flood 143. within 12. yeeres after Nimrod began his kingdome in Chaldea within two yeeres after his eldest brother Gomerus came into Italy and 3. yeres before Mizraim which is called Oceanus went to Egypt as Functius setteth it downe in his tables This Tubal began to build and to inhabit first in Celtiberia a countrey in Spaine which is now called Byskay hee made a towne and named it after his owne name Tubal in that Prouince of Spaine which is called Baetica and kept many sheepe and cattel for that they are most necessary for man to liue by both for clothing of the body and for feeding of the belly for in the first beginning of time men were not so ambitious as to aspire great things When Tubal was settled in his owne towne he made lawes for his people to liue by taught the Celtiberians the people named Samotes To Tubal came one Samotes sirnamed Disteltas a most wise man yet not knowen but supposed to be Tubals brother one of Iaphets sonnes yet Moses maketh no mention of him Of the comming of Ianus which Berosus and other affirme to be Iauan frō Phaenicia to Affrica and from Affrica to Celtiberia to his sonnes sonne and with the people which he brought with him to dwel in Celtiberia I referre you to Berosus and to Annius Thus Tubal being 155. yeres old died fiue yeeres before Abraham was borne which was in the 43. yeere of Ninus The people were called Caetubales after Tubals name vntill Iberus time the 2. king of Celtiberia after whose name both the countrey and the people changed as Functius saith other say they were called Iberi of the riuer Iberus but Berosus whō Functius in all this historie doth folow saith of Iberus the king the riuer also was so named and the people that dwelt about the riuer were called Iberi So likewise of Celtiberia some writers affirme that it was so named because it is next to those people of France called Celtes and therefore called Celtiberia and surely the best coniectures in things vnknowen are best to bee allowed This Iberus raigned 37. yeres and died in the 37. yere of Semiramis Queene of Babylon During the life of Tubal Samotes had a sonne called Magus he raigned then ouer the people Celtes where he builded many townes and gouerned the people with care and great diligence Also in the 22 yeere of Semiramis Sabatius Saga after that he came to Italy to old father Ianus and had taught the countreymen tillage and other kinde of husbandrie he sent Sabus to that people which were called Sabines after and continued by that name vntill they were subdued by the Romans In the time of this king Iberus Isis was borne in Egypt the wife of Osiris of whome the Egyptians did glorie much for they found in a pillar of brasse this sentence written of Isis as an Epitaph ouer her graue I am Isis Queene of Egypt wife of great Osiris and mother to great king Orus taught of Mercurius to giue lawes to my people which none shall infringe to inuent the vse of sowing of corne I haue builded the famous citie Bubastia Reioyce Egypt that hath brought vp such a Queene I haue liued with you your Queene and now being dead I am placed among the glittering starres by the name of the starre Canis This monument was of the Egyptians much honoured Now followed in Celtiberia Iubalda the sonne of Iberus and the 3. king of Celtiberia he began his raigne in the yere 1993. after the creation of the world he dwelt hard by the mountaine Iubalda which he named after his owne name This is since called of the Mauritaines Ibiralta and of others corruptly he raigned 66. yeeres of whom nothing is to be written but that he at that time encreased by litle and litle his territories not by the
slew the great giant called Lycurgus in Thracia Of this Osiris whom the Egyptians named Serapis to whom they vsed much diuine honour and solemne sacrifice as to one of their principal gods read Herodot more of this god there you shal find how king Cambyses Cyrus sonne secōd king of Persia gaue a blow and wounded him in his temple whereat the Egyptians were more offended then for al the crueltie tyrannie which Cambyses did to them It made them to reuolt from Cambyses and to be in armes against the Persians to reuenge the blow which Cambyses gaue to their god Serapis Deabus in Celtiberia he is also named Geriō vsed this time great crueltie and tyrannie he found then one of the first mines of golde and after he found many other mines of gold siluer and of other mettals This time Mena raigned in Egypt the first king who instructed them in many things in Egypt as to woorship their gods to do sacrifice with diuers other ceremonies wher in Egypt excelled all other kingdoms he taught thē the vse of beds to lye on tables to sit at meat This Mena is supposed to be Mizraim Osyris which of Berosus is called Oceanus About this time dyed Ismael the base sonne of Abraham by his maide Agar after he had liued 137. yeeres he left behind him twelue sonnes princes ouer the people ouer his tribes In this tyraunt Deabus time otherwise called Gerion Ioseph was sold into Egypt and the Indians brought presents committed themselues vnto the Chaldeans for by this time many parts of the world were well inhabited and some kingdomes began to be populous and kings grew strong and mightie on the earth for now raigned in Assyria Baleus Iunior who flourished by his prowes courage augmented the territories of the Assyrians into the confines of India and excelled in fame nexte vnto Semiramis Queene of Assyria Osiris also had nowe gotten all Italie into his hand and held it for ten yeeres Typhon became a great tyrant killed his brother Osiris the iust vsurped the kingdome of Egypt So I might say of Anteus in Lybia of Busiris in Phoenicia and so of this Gerion in Celtiberia and of diuers others who forsooke to be kings being not contented with one kingdome became tyrants and vsed all kinde of cruelty deceites and treason to enlarge their dominions When this tyrant Gerion died in Celtiberia his 3. sonnes succeeded after him called Lomuini they builded a great town in Celtiberia named it after their names Lomuinia These brethrē after they iointly gouerned the Celtiberians for the space of 52. yeeres they left the countrey to bee gouerned by one Hispalus the sonne of Hercules Lybius This gouerned the Celtiberians for seuenteene yeeres and builded a strong towne and named it after his owne name Hispalis In his time the kinges of Egypt became first to be called Pharaoes a name giuen to them of dignitie for in the beginning of kingdoms men were yet simple contented with one Towne for diuers cities with a small territorie in steede of a great kingdome which shortly grew to that pride that kings would not be contented with a kingdome neither with 2. or 3. kingdomes they woulde faine get the whole worlde and some weepe with Alexander because there were no more but one world to winne So grew the intollerable insolencie of princes in short time vpon the earth that they would be called gods commanded by edicts that they should be so worshipped as Belus among the Assyrians Nabuchodonosor among the Caldeans Osiris among the Egyptians Alexander the great among the Persians and Dioclesian among the Romanes Idolatrie superstition vainglorie and selfe loue entred into mens hearts and possessed their mindes in such sort in steede of trueth simplicity iustice contentation and quietnes which yet raigned among men dum aureum seculumfloruit During the reigne of Hispalus in Celtiberia that gouernement called Dynasteia Politanorum beganne in Egypt which continued 348. yeeres Argus the fourth king of the Argiues gouerned after Hispalus had gouerned 11. yeres Hispanus succeeded king of Celtiberia which gouerned them for 32. yeres of this king Hispanus Celtiberia was named Hispaine for in Egypt beganne the names of Pharoes when the kings of Celtiberia were named kings of Hispaine CHAP. II. From the time of Hispanus by whom they were called Hispaniards vntill the monarchie was dissolued and the names of kinges ended after what time Hispayne was deuided vnto particular Prouinces and seuerall dominions after the raigne and gouernement of foure and twentie kings euen from Cetubal the first vnto Mellicola the last HItherto you reade howe that the first inhabitauntes were called by diuers names first of Tubal their first king by whome they were called Cetubals at the seconde change they were called Hiberi and the countrey Hiberia after the name of Hiberus their seconde king the thirde time they were called Celtiberi and the countrey Celtiberia the fourth time the countrey was called Hesperia and the fifte time nowe of Hispanus the countrey is called Hispayne This time in the East kingdomes nothing was done woorth the writing Forkinges were scant yet knowen no great warres yet heard of for at this time reguli non Reges fuere and therefore I thought it the best course to set downe the names of the first Kinges that then inhabited in Hispayne for all this while and of long time after no warre no victorie no martiall exploites were in anie part of the worlde sauing in the East among the Chaldeans and the Assyrians which grewe by this time so mighty that they held betwene them the first monarchie and yet their dominion seemed not to extend farre by the sequele I wil therefore bee briefe for that I cannot finde during the time of these 24. kings anie historie woorth the writing nor of long time after these foure and twentie kinges raigned in Spayne one after another 1 Tubal their first king by whom they were called Cetubals which raigned 155. yeeeres and had setled some seates and builded some townes and died 2 Iberus his sonne and their second king raigned 37. yeres he also died 3 Iubalda the third king and the sonne of Iberus raigned 66. yeeres and dwelt hard by a mount of his owne name called Iubalda which vnto this day is of the Spaniards named Gibralta 4 Brigus succeeded Iubalda in the 20. yere of Arius the sixt king of the Assyrians and gouerned in Celtiberia 51. yeeres 5 After him Tagus which is called Orma gouerned the Celtiberians and raigned 30. yeeres hee beganne to gouerne his kingdome with Baleus Xerxes the eight king of the Assyrians and at what time the Argiues reared first there and Phaeton came to Italie Phaetontis incendium 6 Then succeeded in Celtiberia Betus their sixth king which beganne his raigne when Armatrites the ninth king beganne in Assyria and raigned one and thirtie yeeres this time Eusebius setteth downe the
17. Dynasteia of the Egyptians which endured 103. yeeres During which time the shepherds had gouernment 7 Gerion surnamed Deabus raigned 35. yeeres he inuented the vse of many good things found first the vse of mynes of gold siluer and other mettals 8 After whom succeeded his three sonnes surnamed Lomuini which builded a towne after their owne name Lomuinia they also raigned 42. yeeres after their father 9 Hispalus the sonne of Hercules Libyus and the 9. king of the Celtiberians he raigned 11. yeeres he beganne his gouernment in the 36. yeere of Baleus Iunior the II. king of the Assyrians he did nothing but builded a towne and named it after his owne name Hispalis 10 After Hispalus succeeded the tenth king named Hispanus which raigned 32. yeeres by whom the whole countrey was called Hispania This time Iacob with his children went to Egypt when the great famine was almost ouer the whole world so long the name of Hispaine continued 11 Hercules after the death of Hispanus being verie aged raigned 19. yeeres at what time Mamitus the 13. king of the Assyrians gouerned at Niniuie 12 Hesperus raigned after Hercules 11. yeeres In Egypt began this time to raigne Mispharmutosis about which time Ioseph being an hundred yeres old died in Egypt Narbon raigned in that part of Fraunce which was called Celta after whome the countrey was after called Narbon 13 Kittim called in some places Atlas after hee had forced his brother Hesperus to forsake the kingdome and to flie into Italie raigned in Spaine 11. yeeres With this Kittim beganne to raigne in Assyria Maucaleus the 14. king and ouer the Argiues Crassus the fiftking 14 Sicorus raigned after Kittim Atlas who raigned 45. yeres for Kittim hauing his sonne in his steede to gouerne Spaine went to Italie and raigned there and was called for his great vertue and excellencie of minde of that countrey Italus This maried his daughter Electra to Cambo Blaston a Prince of the Ianigenes During the time of Sicorus Kittims sonne in Spaine raigned in Egypt Amenophis a cruel king who made a lawe that all the male children of the Israelites which then were in great cruell bondage in Egypt should be drowned in the riuer Nilus at which time Moses beyng borne then in Egypt was throwen to Nilus but he was preserued by the appoyntment of God This time reigned in Assyria Spherus the 15. king 15 Sicanus the sonne of Sicorus raigned after his Father 12. yeres king of Hispaine Phorbas the sixt king of the Argiues began in his kingdome to raigne and Sparetus the 17. king of the Assyrians 16 After Sicanus succeeded Siceleus which raigned in Spaine 44. yeeres this king came with the Sicilians to aide Iasius against Dardanus who both were in armes for the kingdome of Italie and did no other great thing In the beginning of this Siceleus raigne the kingdome of Athens beganne vnder Cecrops their first king in the fourth yeere of Sparetus the seuenteenth king of the Assyrians and in the sixte yeere of Marathus the thirteenth King of Peloponesus At what time Troyphas raigned the seuenth king of the Argiues and Acengeres raigned king of Egypt Functius sayeth that Mercurius Trismegistus an Egyptian Philosopher flourished about this time a great learned Priest whose bookes yet are to this day extant though some doe doubt of the same as in so ancient a thing men may easily doubt I thinke there was not so much diuinitie then in Egypt as Trismegistus seemeth to write in his bookes 17 After that Siceleus had raigned 44. yeeres his sonne named Lusus succeeded him and reigned thirtie yeeres this dwelt in that part of Spayne which he called after his owne name Lusitania thither he brought manie from Italie and other places to inhabite This Lusus beganne to reigne in Spayne in the thirteenth yeere of Ascatades the 18. King of the Assyrians in the verie yeere that Dardanus slue by deceit his brother Iasius and after fledde to Samothracia In the beginning of the reigne of this King the Israelites were deliuered from their bondage and great miserie vnder Pharao in Egypt after they had continued foure hundred thirtie yeeres there in seruitude This time reigned in Athens Cranaus their seconde king and ouer the Argiues Crotopus their eight king 18 Siculus the eighteenth king of Spayne succeeded Siceleus and reigned 64. yeeres That time that he beganne to gouerne Spaine then Dardanus beganne to erect a kingdome in Dardania which afterwarde was called Troy which was in the last yeere of Ascatades the 18. king of Assyria 830. yeeres after the flood of Noah This Dardanus after he was fledde to Samothracia for the killing of his brother Iasius for the gouernment of Italie he sought no right in Italie but resigned the same to Turrhenius who sailed into that part of Italie called Ianigena and possessed it and reigned 51. yeeres and Dardanus began his kingdome and was the first king of Dardania after called Troy This time Faunus Priscus reigned ouer the Latines then called Aborigenes for Latinus was the fift king after Faunus after whom they were called Latins after Latinus name their first king 19 Testa succeeded Siculus in Spaine and reigned seuentie yeeres During which time Manethon which onely writeth of the first 24. kinges doeth set downe nothing worth the writing for these kings were not heard of any way out of Spaine they liued so simply vnpeopled without any war or other exploits done the best is the noting of time thereigne of other kings the histories of the East coūtreys are by this historie briefly passed ouer During the 70. yeres of these kings Bellopares the 21. king and Lamprides the 22. king of the Assyrians reigned at Niniue Menophis gouerned Egypt Minos in Creete Abas ouer the Argiues Erictheus the sixt king of the Athenians In the latter yeeres of this king Samgar which succeeded Ehud iudged Israel after Samgar Debora and Barac 20 Romus the twentieth king that gouerned in Spaine he raigned three and thirty yeeres at what time raigned in Assyria Lampares the 24. king and ouer the Argiues Agrisius their fourteenth and last king In Dardania raigned Tros their thirde king who enlarged the citie of Dardania verie much and altered the name of Dardania after his owne name and called it Troia I take little heede to Manethon for hee doeth much differ from others in manie thinges and I make as much haste as I can to come to an ende Nowe after that Romus dyed Palatinus succeeded and raygned eighteene yeeres in whose time the kingdome of the Argiues was translated into Mycena where for a long time it continued 21 This time raigned in Troy Ilus after whose name Troy was called Ilion and in Assyria gouerned Paninas their 25. king Gedeon iudged Israel This Palatinus beyng a young man was driuen out of his kingdome by Cacus into Italie from whence
well in all this warre that Scipio after Numantia was destroyed wrote to king Micipsa in commendation of Iugurth to will him to esteeme of such a one as in all chiualrie and manhood resembled his graundfather Masinissa Iugurth by this meanes was adopted by Micipsa to be his sonne to ioyne with his other two sonnes Adherbal and Hiempsal whome he exhorted to be true to the Romanes and to hold with his brethren But of this I wrote in the Affrican Historie When Scipio had conquered all Affrica and brought all Hispaine subiect to the Romanes he returned into Rome with his great triumphes and left all things in quiet vntill Viriatus time a meane Spaniard but a shepheard in the beginning and after became a captaine among robbers and thieues This Spaniard grewe in time to bee called Protector of Spaine against the Romanes This Viriatus stirred many battels and raysed the Spaniardes for the space of fourteene yeeres against the Romanes They hearing of this at Rome Quintus SeruiliusC epio was sent foorth with a Romane armie against this Viriatus The battell was waged in Lusitania nowe called Portingal where Viriatus was slaine by his owne souldiers yet all Spaine was in an vprore by this Viriatus and many cities of Spaine reuolted from the Romanes and were at that time in armes for Viriatus had giuen a great ouerthrow to Caius Vetilius and all the Romane armie and Q. Pompeius then Consul was discomfited by the citizens of Numantia the worthiest Citie of Spaine And after him Caius Hostilius Mancinus had the like reproch and was forced to make infamous league with the Spaniardes so that the stout Romanes were twise discomfited by the Numantines and Spaine againe beganne to spite the Romanes This Viriatus kept playe with the Romanes and gaue them many hard battels and vanquished many great Romanes vntill another Scipio came and brought Spaine as lowe as his predecessors did and thereby was called Scipio Affricanus the yonger for of long time after the two Scipios the brethren and after Scipio Affricanus the elder that Pub. Scipios sonne that died in Spaine by whome all Spaine was subdued quietnesse was in Spaine and they payed tribute vnto the Romanes vntill the third Affrican warres which beganne two and fiftie yeeres after the second warre and in the sixe hundreth yeere after the building of Rome Then Famea and Asdrubal for this name was among them as Scipio was among the Romanes were appoynted lieutenants for Spaine who held out for a time vntill by Scipio the yonger they were vanquished for still Spaine was ayded by the Carthagineans and Affricans and both Carthage and Affrike were strengthened by the Spaniardes After Famea and Asdrubal were ouercome Sertorius a noble Romane who tooke part with Marius against Silla in the ciuill warres at Rome doubting the fortune and force of Silla fledde to Spaine stirred the Spaniardes to battell against the Romanes This warre was great and bloodie for the time that it continued for Romanes fought against Romanes for Metellus who was sent from Rome to Spaine against Sertorius for all that Metellus was an approued souldier yet hee was ouermatched by Sertorius The Senate sent Cn. Pompeius to ayde Metellus yet Sertorius assailed them and kept sharpe and eagre warre with equall fortune This warre en dured eight yeeres vntill Sertorius was slaine by his owne souldiers At that time Spaine againe submitted themselues to the Romanes the warre nowe ceased in Spaine and both Metellus and Pompeius had their seuerall triumphes ouer ◅aine in one day in the which day two other great triumphes were at Rome the one by Curio ouer the Macedonians the other by Seruilius ouer the Isaurians so that in one day foure triumphes entred into the Citie of Rome together so great and so famous was the glorie of Rome Then wee reade of nothing done in Spaine vntill Sextus Pompeius who after his fathers death Pompeius the great at Egypt fledde into Spaine to whome fledde M. Cato and diuers other noble Romanes they tooke certaine Cities in Spaine stirred the Spaniardes to withstand the Romanes opening the violence and ciuill warres of Rome the crueltie and slaughter of their friendes and the vtter destruction of their countrey This warre was appeased by Iulius Caesar after many sharpe and doubtfull battels betweene Sextus Pomepius and Caesar at what time Iulius made his triumph with great glorie and pompe ouer Spaine which was the last conquest of Spaine for by this time Caesar had triumphed ouer the Frenchmen ouer the Egyptians ouer Pontus ouer the Affricans and ouer Spaine last of all and brought Spaine subiect to the Romanes CHAP. IIII. From the time that the Romanes conquered Hispaine vnto the time of the Vandols the thirde conquest of Hispaine and from the Vandoles vnto the Gothes victorie ouer Hispaine the fourth conquest and from the Gothes vnto the time of the Saracens the fift conquest of Hispaine AFter which time Spaine was so obedient to the Romanes and so seruiceable that when Caesar died and good Augustus had taken the Empire in hand the Spaniards so honoured Augustus that they began to make their accompts and to nomber their yeres from the raigne of Augustus for as the Romanes vsed to nomber their yeeres from the first building of Rome the Grecians from their Olympiads the Saracens and the Arabians from Mahomet and the Christians from the birth of our Sauiour Christ so the Spaniards numbred their yeeres from Augustus whom they so esteemed and loued that they builded certaine townes and cities and named them after Augustus name so continued vntill the time of the Vandols and Gothes and after them the Saracens So long was Spaine vnder Augustus and vnder the Empire of Rome for as in Augustus time the Spaniards endeuoured euery way to please the Romanes in accompting the yeeres from Augustus by these foure letters A. Er. A. which signified Annus erat Augusti as the Arabians made their accompt by the worde Hegyra which Mahomet commanded of late dayes to be kept And of late dayes among the Romanes they nombred their yeeres per Indictiones which Constantine the great had made by Law to be obserued for the old accompts and nombring of yeeres of the Egyptians frō the flood of the Chaldeans from Adam the olde Greekes from Ninus and long after from the Olympiads so the ancient Romanes from the building of Rome and so diuers others from the destruction of Troy and the Christians from the time that our Sauiour Christ was conceiued in the wombe of the Virgine But now all Spaine was brought a Prouince by the Romans vnder whom Spaine was gouerned by the space of 420. yeres vntill the Empire was taken from Rome to Constantinople at what time the kingdome of the Gothes Vandols Hunnes and Lumbards beganne to flourish in the West countreys for during the glorie of the Romanes which was
from the very building of Rome vntill the ouerthrowe of their Empire about 1200. yeeres there was no stirring in these countreys that I named last for the name of Germanie where now the Empire lieth was not heard of in Rome before Augustus time to any purpose for during the time of their Consuls which was the second and the thirde age of Rome called Adolescentia iuuentus Romana they had conquered subdued all kingdomes and countreys and had made them Prouinces vnder the Romanes Now Spaine being brought vnder by the Vandoles vnder whom Spaine was gouerned 95. yeeres and after by the Gothes who possessed that part of Hispaine which Gunthericus king of the Vandales had first subdued being remoued thence further to Affrike the Gothes inhabited that countrey of Spaine which the Vandols left and were lords of Hispaine for two hundreth and odde yeres vntill the cōming of the Saracens who againe vanquished the Gothes and kept Hispaine vnder them after they had ouerthrowen the Gothes 800. yeeres And within short space Ricardus king of Vestgothes called a Sinode of 62. bishops into Tolleto the chiefe citie of Spaine where he caused the heresie of Arrius to be condemned Then in Hispaine after the Romans was Luyba chosen who raigned three yeres king of Spaine after whom within 3. yeres his brother Leogildus succeeded and subdued certaine cities of Spaine that rebelled after Luyba his death After him this Ricardus who beganne to set his seate more firmely in Spaine and to cal a Synode of bishops and to plant religion he brought all Spaine into a Monarchie vnder him but that Monarchie continued not long for the Saracens inuaded Spaine and brought them vnder their gouernment and had driuen those Christians that liued vnder the Gothes into Astura where they made a king to themselues named Pelagius not vsing the title of the Gothes but the title of Astura The multitude of the Saracens was such that they inuaded all partes of Spaine and possessed the best places in Spaine and dwelt there successiuely during the time of fifteene kings of the Saracens which gouerned Hispaine but the fifteene kings continued but 20. yeeres but this happened by the meanes of warres but after they continued lordes of Hispaine for 800. yeeres as you heard before This is the fift subiection that Spaine was brought into 1 The first time they were subdued by the Carthagineans 2 The second time by the Romanes 3 The thirde time by the Vandoles 4 The fourth time by the Gothes 5 And now the fift time by the Saracens These Saracens placed themselues in the best places of Spaine in the time that Rodericus the last king of the Vestgothes raigned at what time raigned in France Theodoricus sirnamed Cala and Leo the thirde of that name sirnamed Isaurus was Emperour of Greece and had his Court at Constantinople The Saracens were gouerned at their first arriuall in Spaine vnder one named Muza The Christian princes being sore afrighted with many sudden inuasions of such a multitude of infidels in diuers places of Christendome and specially in Spaine which they wholie possest they leauied their armies and gathered their forces and gaue them diuers ouerthrowes This time came out of Spaine into Fraunce 400000. Saracens with their wiues and children being enticed thither by the duke of Vastonia but the slaughter of them was such that their king also Abdimarus was slaine among them by Carolus Martellus anoble valiant prince of Fraunce and the remnant that were vnkilled of the Saracens fled and were by Humildus and Vaifarus ledde into Aquitania spoyled with sworde and fire all that Countrey of Fraunce but still were ouerthrowen by Martellus Againe the thirde time the Saracens inuaded Fraunce and tooke by treason Auenio but Martellus pursued them and assaulted the towne and subdued it at what time many of the Saracens were slaine and their king Athinus escaped by flight to Narbon yet Amoreus another king of the Saracens was slaine at that time by Carolus at Illiberis who persecuted them from place to place so that he ouerthrew and slewe them like sheepe and burned their townes How be it the Saracens still so encreased that the most part of Europe was in great danger of them After that Carolus Martellus had played his part with the Saracens Carolus sirnamed the Great beganne to warre vpon them tooke Augusta Pampile and many other townes and strong holdes from the possessions of the Saracens for at this time raigned king ouer the Saracens in Spaine Aygolandus with whome Charles the great had many sharpe battels for the Saracens had wasted and spoyled Sardinia and Corsica against whome Lewes sirnamed the Godly sonne to Charles the great leauied an armie and passed to Spaine besieged Dercosa but in vaine the furie and strength of the Saracens was then such that Charles the great being both Emperour and king was constrained to conclude peace for a time with the Saracens at which time Abumalach raigned king in Spaine ouer the Saracens With this king the league was made during which league Charles died All this time that Carolus Martellus and Charles the great were in warres with the Saracens after that Pelagius had raigned twentie yeeres king of Astura or of Legio for so hee willed himselfe and his posteritie to bee called quite renouncing the title of the Gothes who had raigned kings in Spaine before the comming of the Saracens after him succeeded Phasilla his sonne the seconde king of Astura this was torne in pieces of a beare as he was a hunting of wilde beasts after he had raigned two yeeres Alphonsus sirnamed Catholike succeeded in Astura the third king and raigned 19. yeeres After Alphonsus succeeded his sonne Phroilla the 4. king of Astura and raigned twelue yeeres at what time he was slaine by his brother Aurelius who raigned sixe yeeres after his brother by vsurpation and he made his heire and resigned the kingdome to Veramundus which was his brothers sonne whome hee slew for that Veramundus should not bewray the murther of his father But Veramundus mist the kingdome for his conspiracie and wicked silence Sillo raigned king who had married Aurelius sister named Egmund vntill Maruegatus a bastarde sonne of Alphōsus the Catholike by the ayd of the Mauritanes got the kingdome to whom he payed for tribute certaine nomber of Virgins yeerely during the life of Maruegatus but he died within three yeeres and that custome was disanulled Then Veramundus the sonne of Bilmarus which was sonne to Alphonsus the Catholike succeeded and raigned two yeeres and then resigned the kingdome to Alphonsus the sonne of Phroilla and became a religious man This Alphonsus was sirnamed the Chaste and raigned 36. yeres he ouerthrew and subdued the Saracens that possessed Lusitania and tooke their chiefe citie then called Olisiponis now called Lysborne Reade Aemil. lib. 2. This Alphonsus
Empire decayed For as the Romanes were strengthened by the subduing of the Latines and Albanes Crescit Roma Albae ruinis euen so Fraunce became strong by the ruine of Rome 1 After Farabertus succeeded his sonne Sunno and raigned 28. yeeres 2 Hildericus the sonne of Sunno 40. yeeres 3 Batherius the sonne of Hildericus 18. yeeres 4 Clodius the sonne of Batherius 27. yeeres 5 After Clodius succeeded his sonne Walterius and raigned 8. yeeres 6 After Walterius raigned his sonne Dagobertus or Degenbertus 11. yeeres 7 After him his sonne Clogio 2. yeeres 8 After Clogio his brother Clodomirus raigned after him 18. yeeres 9 After Clodomirus his sonne Richimerus raigned 13. yeeres 10 After him raigned Theodomirus 10. yeeres 11 After him raigned Clogio 18. yeeres 11 After Clogio Marcomirus the thirde of that name CHAP. IIII. From Faramundus the first king that had all Fraunce in his hand and from whom all Historians and Chronographers beginne the historie of Fraunce who beganne his raigne in Fraunce in the yeere of our Lord and Sauiour 420 of the lawes gouernment and warres from that time vnto Clodouaeus the first Christian king of Fraunce and so vntill Clodouaeus the second of that name and the 12. king after Faramundus NOw this Faramundus the sonne of Marcomirus the great when hee was made king of Fraunce he cōmitted the charge of his former gouernment which hee had in the East Fraunce to his brother Marcomirus he gouerned the Frenchmen in Gallia 7. yeeres and he augmented the crowne of Fraunce with more territories as Mosellana Augusta and other places He instructed the rude people and brought them from rudenesse to ciuilitie taught them to liue vnder a lawe made decrees and statutes to gouerne his countrey Here the crie of Chronicles for Pau. Aemilius writeth this historie farre otherwise so doeth Langaeus and hee saith that the Frenchmen were named Franci of one Francio the sonne of Hector But the trueth of this historie is found rather in Tritemius and Hunebaldus with whom both Functius and Lazius doe agree In this they agree all that from Faramundus time the kings of Gallia were nombred Iulius Caesar who long serued vnder the Romans in France deuided Gallia into three countreys from the riuer of Rhein vnto the riuer Sequana and that countrey is called Gallia Belgica from the riuer of Sein vnto Garumna that countrey is called Celtica and from Garumna vnto the mountaines Pyrenei which is called Aquitania which was before called Amorica With this Plini doeth accord All these people were in ancient time called Celtae Reade Strabo and Plini in the description of Gallia from mount Pyrenei to the riuer Garumna lieth Aquitania from thence to Sequana dwelt the Celtes and frō thence to the riuer Rhein the Belgians I will passe to the kings who beginne in this Faramundus time to be kings of Gallia after 870. yeeres warres by his predecessors before he raigned seuen yeeres and others affirme 11. yeeres In this Faramundus time the Lawe called Salica was made After whome succeeded Clodius his sonne sirnamed Crinitus or Comatus the second king of all France which was called then Gallia he raigned 28. yeeres and plagued the remnant of the Gaules which dwelt in Gallia vnconquered He gaue diuers sharpe battels to the Romanes and commaunded by an Edict that the Frenchmen should let their beards and the haires of their head grow and so to combe keepe it without cutting because they might bee knowen hereby to be the Frenchmen and to make a difference betwene them and others that dwelled within Gallia wherefore he was sirnamed Clodius Crinitus In the sixt yeere of his raigne he ouercame those people called Senouenses and Aurelionenses which dwelt about Lutetia and ioyned them to the kingdome of Fraunce He likewise in the ninth yeere of his raigne subdued the Saxons the Trentones the Doringes and brought all that part of Fraunce bordering vpon the sea into subiection and in the thirtieth yere of his raigne he also brought Bataui Tungri Menaxij and diuers other people that were cōmorant in the edge of France at what time the Gothes had done great harme in that part of Fraunce called Aquitania and also the Burgundians subdued much in Lugdunum This time the Scots and the Pictes inuaded Britaine and spoiled the countrey and did much harme About this time Atala king of that nation called Hunni in Germanie had much to doe with the Romanes and both gaue and tooke diuers repulses This Clodius when hee had enlarged the kingdome of Fraunce with the most part of Gallia and had raigned twentie yeeres some say 17. yeeres hee died in whose time Valentinianus had married Eudoxia the daughter of Theodosius the Emperour by whom Valentinianus was made Augustus This time Theodosius waged warres against the Vandols who had a king named Giezirichus who had license by Valentinianus to dwel in Affrica who had dwelt there in despite of the Romans for the space of 95. yeeres vntil by Iustinianus the Emperour they were thence expelled and driuen out and at that very time the Hunnes entered and spoiled Thracia and Illyrica and subdued with sword and fire vntill they came to Thermopila Likewise in the foureteenth yeere of this Clodius the Gothes brake their league against Spaine and possessed with the sworde the next territories to Spaine and besieged the citie of Narbon This time Patricius was sent from Celestinus then bishop of Rome to Ireland to instruct the Irishmen in the Christian faith of this Patricke the Irishmen bragge much In the time of this Clodius Vortigerus with the Saxons by deceit and craft inuaded Britaine for hitherto the Britaines kept tacke with the Romanes sometime in warre with them and sometime in peace Reade more of this in Beda This was in the yere after Christ 446 at what time great persecution was in Affrike vnder king Giezirichus the Vandole and the heresie called Eutichiana beganne to rise in Constantinople This time raigned in Persia Vararanes the fift of that name and fifteenth king of Persia. After this time we reade of no mention made of any Olympiad though long before they were little vsed for the Olympiads flourished vntill the time of Lucius Silla the Dictator yet vsed for computation sake but with most absurd and grosse errours both of Zenophon and Thucydides who little vsed them and yet erred in them though they liued and wrote then when the Olympiads most flourished and it made me also oftentimes to auoyd the Olympiads in my histories for that I found great errors in them But I will come to the thirde king of Fraunce Meroueus the sonne of Clodius who succeeded his father and raigned 12. yeeres others say but 10 and so the errour which was in the yeeres of Faramundus is corrected and amended This king lost nothing which his father got He did not onely defend and maintaine all
those countreys and territories which were ioyned to the kingdome of Fraunce by his father but also enlarged the same with the vanquishing and subduing of the Romanes in many places These French people by this time became so strong and so mightie that they were feared of all Northren nations and therefore certaine countreys conspired against them and commenced warre against them as Attila king of the Hunnes who slew his owne brother called Bleda which ioyntly raigned in the kingdome for to haue the sole gouernment with him that time ioyned Vualaricus king of the East Gothes Ardaricus king of Gepida and other nations of the North. These commenced warre vpon Meroueus with fiue hundreth thousand souldiers but he was ayded with Theodoricus king of the Vestgothes and with Aetius the Romane lieutenant And the battaile was terrible and great and endured from Sunne rising to Suune setting where 188. thousande were slaine but the victorie fell to the Frenchmen with great slaughter on either side for in that battaile was slaine Theodoricus king of the Vestgothes whose bodie was brought with great pompe and solemnitie to Tolosa to be buried In the next yeere after this great battaile Attila king of the Hunnes being of the mightiest power and of the greatest force of all Germanie inuaded Italy ouerthrowing and vtterly spoyling all partes and places of Italy where hee came into the harme and spoyle he did was such that Leo the first of that name then Bishop of Rome came in his pontificall robes and met him to whom Attila vsed great reuerence and obtained peace The like is written of the great Alexander who with the like honour reuerenced the high Priest at Hierusalem by whom Alexander was pacified and his warre turned to peace Now after in the eleuenth yere of Meroueus he besieged Augusta the chiefest citie of Treueres which Attila a litle before tooke with the sword and possessed it but recouered into Fraunce againe so that the Frenchmen by this time grewe so great so strong since the time they came first from Scythia into Germanie when they dwelt about the riuer of Rein in those places which are now called Holland Gilderland Cliueland and Frizland that they beganne to aduance themselues and to extol their kingdom aboue the Empire for with continual warres of almost 870. yeeres with the slaughter of many of their kings dukes and barons when they were yet called Sicambri and after Franci and now Galli they became at length so strong that rather the empire was subiect to France then France to the empire For this French nation as I said before behaued themselues so in all places where they dwelt that they would both vse their maners and speach and therefore were they called by so many names as Neumagi Marcomani Sicambri Germani Franci and Galli But this word France was encreased more and more and what victorie or conquest soeuer these kings obtained stil they ioyned it to that part of Fraunce where they first inhabited vntill they had conquered all other names within Gallia to be France and that euen from Francus which raigned but fewe yeeres before our Sauiour Christ. Now after that Merouaeus had raigned 12. yeres he died after whom succeeded his sonne Childericus who after he had raigned king for one yeere hee vsed such an inordinate filthie life and insolencie that he was dispossessed of his kingdome in whose place Egidius a Romane was elected who raigned eight yeeres some say but 3. yeres after But before he went he reposed all his trust in Virodomarus his friend an excellent souldier to whom he gaue halfe a piece of gold kept the other halfe himselfe willing him to beleeue no message without he sawe that halfe piece of golde But reade this historie in Aemilius and you shall finde howe Childericus was by Virodomarus restored to his kingdome againe and how Virodomarus was brought from Turingia with all the nobles of France into his kingdome where Childericus was placed againe in his kingdome being then gone to Bisinus king of Turingia for refuge and succour and with him came from thence Basana the kings daughter some say that she was Bissinus wife the king The histories say that she came and followed after Childericus from her father whom Childericus married and by whom hee got Clodoueus which was the first king that receiued the Christian faith Childericus after his returne to his kingdome remembring the victories and cōquests of his father began valiantly to recouer those places and townes frō the Romans which Egidius while he gouerned Fraunce had willingly lost He layd siege to Coloni◅ and ouerthrew it he remoued Odoacer from Fraunce which hee inuaded with a huge armie and put him to flight and when he had recouered all Fraunce from the Romanes subiection hee appointed lieutenants and generals in euery prouince of Fraunce and left all Fraunce free from the Romanes to his sonne Clodoueus and died when he had raigned 26. yeeres others say 23. yeeres Paul Aemilius affirmeth 30. In the time of this king came Ambrosius Aurelius the Romane and tooke the gouernment of Britaine after 20. conflicts hee was slaine by the English Saxons at what time certaine Britaines sailed ouer and came possessed Aquitania For now raigned in Italy Odoacer Hercules being driuen before out of Fraunce as you heard by Hildericus this Hercules hauing setled him selfe in Italy and assuming there the name of a king the Empire was remoued at that very time into Germany and Rome and all Italy were gouerned by strangers All the West kingdomes were much molested and sore vexed this time for as you heard Vortiger and after Hengistus scattered the Britaines to seeke new dwellings so me into Cambria which is now called Wales where they euer dwelt since that time and some to France which is called in France to this day litle Britaine Againe the Longobards setled themselues about the riuer Danubius and diuers other nations in Germanie and in the West countreys were placed and againe displaced by warre But to Clodoueus the son of Childericus by Basana who came to the kingdome of Fraunce at the age of 21. yeeres and raigned 30. yeeres he liued 15. of them a Pagane vnchristened in the other 15. he was christened and was the first that receiued the Christian faith into Fraunce and also the first king that possessed all Gallia vnder the crowne of Fraunce for in foure great battailes he had these victories The first against the Romanes whose lieutenant was called Siagrius who was taken in the bat◅aile and slaine and the armie of the Romanes put to flight and slaine The second warre was against Gothemarus and Gotegiseleus who before had slaine in warre Chilpericus his wiues father and Sigismundus his wiues vncle this warre Clodoueus tooke in hande at the suite and earnest request of his wife Clotildis for
chiefly the French men flourished in famous renowne and in whom all the lawes relikes and monuments are established NOwe I will goe forward with the histories of Fraunce and speake of Dagobertus who when he had raigned 14. yeeres died Aemilius saith 16. yeres for he raigned 2. yeres in Austrasia is buried in S. Denis which he himself had builded the seconde of that name and the twelfth king after Pharamundus succeeded This was called Lewis the first of that name This time raygned king of the Gothes Sisenandus who was by them and of Dagobertus aduaunced to gouerne the Gothes The Emperour Constantinus surnamed Iunior was by his stepmother Martina poysoned after hee had reigned foure moneths for that shee practised to haue her sonne Emperour who reigned with his mother two yeeres and then the treason of Martina was founde which was in this sort reuenged his nostrels were cutte and his mothers tongue was taken out and so were both least againe they might bee forgotten and bee receiued to the Empire banished from Constantinople By this time died Sigibertus king Clodouaens brother who adopted before his death Ildebertus the sonne of Grimoaldus supposing that he should haue no heire of his bodie but his wife being with childe when he died had a sonne named Dagobertus who was sent to a Monasterie in Scotland secretly to be brought by Grimoaldus for which cause Clodouaeus waged warre with Ildebertus the king and with his father Ildebertus was slaine in the field in battell and his father taken and put in prison in Paris where he died at what time Clodouaeus appoynted his owne sonne Childericus king in Austrasia This time in Fraunce the famine was such that the king Clodouaeus ooke all the gold and siluer which his father Dagobertus had set vp in Saint Dennis and other places and all the treasures out of the Temples in Fraunce to helpe the poore of Fraunce After Clodoueus had reigned seuenteene yeeres succeeded Clotarius the third of that name hee died and is buried with his father in S. Dennis and in Beroaldus table named Dagobertus the second who reigned foure yeeres After whome succeeded his brother Theodoricus who was in the first yeere of his raigne banished out of his kingdome for his incontinencie After him Hildericus Theodoricus brother was elected king of all Fraunce he reigned 12. yeres Beroaldus saith fiue he was slaine in hunting by one Bodillus whome the king had before most cruelly caused to be bound to a stake and to bee whipt with rods which he requited to the king with death Which newes being heard of Theodoricus the kings brother being before as you heard banished returned from a Monasterie and tooke againe the kingdome of Fraunce and reigned fourteene yeeres The kingdome of the Saracens had not onely vexed and molested the East kingdomes but also afflicted and persecuted the West countries and had diuers and sundry battels with the Emperours the Gothes and the Longobards and are nowe become nations most mightie and strong in all the West of whom reade Diaconus de gestis Longabardorum After these thinges reigned Clodouaeus the thirde of that name who reigned foure yeeres after whom Hildebertus Clodouaeus his brother succeeded and reigned eighteene yeeres but here some of the good and the best writers doe disagree for the state of Fraunce aswell for the names of their kings as also for the historie it selfe as some following Tritemius and some imitating Paulus Aemilius that one Chronicle cries against another During the reigne of Hildebertus Muhamad the Saracen inuaded Armenia and entred into Affrica for nowe the kingdome of the Saracens grewe so mightie and so strong that they troubled all the Nations of the worlde as you may reade in their histories This time reigned ouer the Longobardes Chimibertus and ouer the Gothes Vitiza for these two kingdomes florished nowe in Germanie and beganne to match the Empire After this reigned king in Fraunce Dagobertus the seconde of that name foure yeeres after whome Lotharius Dagobertus his brother reigned two yeeres some say seuen yeeres Beroaldus in his table affirmeth that for these two yeeres Fraunce had no king therein crowned but Interreges were appointed after which Chilpericus surnamed Daniel by the ayde of Carolus Martellus was crowned king of Fraunce and reigned fiue yeeres After him gouerned Theodoricus surnamed Cala the sonne of Dagobertus the seconde hee reigned fifteene yeeres Anastasius the seconde surnamed Artemius helde the Empire for two yeeres and after Theodosius the thirde of that name other two yeeres This time Gizid the twelfth Amiras who reigned foure yeeres and his sonne Euelid after him played their partes in Asia and in Europe as sometime the Scythians were wont to doe they laide siege to Constantinople but were thence expelled by hunger and colde and with all their whole nauies were burned and destroyed vpon the seas In the time of this Theodoricus the Cities of Italie beganne a newe regiment vnder Dukes euery Citie elected and made a choise of one gouernour vnder whom and to whom they liued as to their king laying aside the last kinde of gouernment called magistratus exarchatus This time the Scots and the Picts quieted themselues within their limittes and spared their often inuasions into Englande at what time Ceolulphus reigned in that part of Englaud called Northumberland With this king Beda a learned man amōgst the Britaines was in great reuerence and honour and dedicated to him the historie of the Church in English and by Bedas meanes Ceolulphus deliuered the gouernment to his vncle Egbertus and became a Moncke In the time of this king the Saracens which inhabited in diuers partes of Affrike and Spaine were driuen thence foorth to the number of foure hundred thousand by Edo at what time they inuaded Fraunce and were so miserably persecuted euery way that they lost Abdimarus their king with a great number of the Saracens but more is written of this in their owne historie Now to Hildericus the third of that name surnamed Stupidus the sonne of Theodoricus Cala who reigned nine yeres and after was by consent of all the princes of Fraunce deposed from his kingdome and in his place gouerned eighteene yeeres Pipinus during which time Hildericus liued priuately and secretely in an Abbie By this time died Carolus Martellus a great Prince of France and lieth buried among the kings at S. Denis Of whose valure fame and courage not onely in Fraunce but euery where Reade of this Noble Martellus and of his diuers worthy and renowmed victories ouer the Saracens in Paul Aemilius in the beginning of his 2. booke after whom succeeded Carolomanus which then yeelded all his signories and titles of dignities vnto Pipinus who presently thereupon called a Parliament of all the Princes and Barons of France to stablish lawes and decrees for the receyuing of the
towne hard by the hill Alba and named it Albalonga leauing his fathers wife Lauina in that Citie which Aeneas builded thirtie yeres before Ascanius builded Albalonga where during his life Ascanius kept his Court and it became the king of Albans Pallace at what time the names of the Latines were changed to the kings of Alba which endured foure hundred yeeres and odde vntill Tullus Hostilius the third king of Rome conquered them so that the right line and blood of the kings of Alba descended also from Aeneas by succession from the father vnto the sonne vntill Romulus time as Halicarnassaeus saith whose names are set downe orderly in Annius chronicles and in Berosus with whom Dyonis Halicar doeth in all points agree as well for the continuance of time as also for their sure naming of their kings which reigned betweene Aeneas and Romulus So doeth M. Cato in his fragments men of great credite in other histories to be skant in the Britaine historie allowed hinc liuor the cause thereof I take it in some rather negligence then ignorance for in trueth the Phisicion must study to ease his patients the Lawyer to please his client the Diuine to feede the soules so that few haue time to studie histories Yea many that read histories are to seeke in histories other wayes then the histories of Englād but I wil returne to Aeneas which is as Annius saith Imperij Romani origo and therefore I will begin from the comming of Aeneas into Laurentum in Italie Nowe as concerning the comming of Aeneas into Italie his toyles and trauailes reade Helanicus an olde auncient writer My onely purpose is to set downe the true histories of the Britaines hauing that name from Brutus euen as the Frenchmen were named of Francus and the Hispaniards from Hispanus If you reade Fab. Pictor de aureo seculo and Portius Cato you shall finde the kindred and predecessours of Romulus the first king of Rome so plainely to come out of the very house and stocke that Brutus the first king of the Britaine 's came out of so that the last king of the Latines I meane Aeneas and his sonne Ascanius the first king of Albalonga are of that antiquitie and continuance in Italie as Brutus is in Britaine now called Englande For as Romulus and the kings of Rome and after the Emperours and the Romanes were offsprings of the kinges of the Albanes and Latines and the Albanes and Latines offsprings of the kings of Troy so is it prooued that the Romanes came from Troy for Ascanius was graundfather vnto Brutus who first came into this Isle named then Albion but by Brutus after named Britaine Some take this for fables certeine it is that the beginning of antiquities seeme fabulous for that the errors of time haue obscured many things as is proued of the Romane histories whom the Grecians neuer knewe nor neuer heard of for neither Thucydides nor Xenophon two of the greatest writers in the florishing state of Greece yea and late after the foundation of Rome 360. yeeres neither Herodot after them made any mencion of Rome Euen so the Grecians were to the Persians and the Persians to the Grecians most ignorant not one knowing another before Xerxes with his huge armie thought to inuade Greece for these be the words of Strabo Nec Graeci Persas nec Persae Graecos agnorunt And as for Fraunce and Spaine they were taken but for two cities the one named Gallia the other Hesperia as Iosephus affirmeth Many men write very fables of their countries as Berosus if it be Berosus being a Chaldean priest wrote of the Chaldeans meere fables and more licencious of the kings of Assyria without any warrant of trueth not knowing the Scriptures where the best and soundest warrant of Chaldean histories are to be found In like sort Ctesias the Persian wrote of his countrie 23. bookes both vaine and foolish in setting foorth the antiquitie gouernment and greatnesse of the king of Persia then is truely prooued by true accompt of time as Plutarch affirmeth So Manethon an Egyptian priest wrote so many lies of his countrie of Egypt that accompteth 340. Pharoes successiuely from Amasis the first Pharao vnto Amasis the last Pharao but he is reprooued to his face by Iosephus in both his bookes against Appion the Egyptian and a scholemaster of Alexandria yet Manethon founde great fault in Herodot for his fables and lies of Egypt But let controuersies passe all countries haue their fables mingled with trueth and so I will returne to the histories of the Britaines whose certeintie and trueth is as sound and as true to bee prooued as either Fraunce Spaine or any other countrie whose continuance was without change of name for lōger time then many bragging kingdoms whose lawes whose kings whose countrie vnconquered longer then any of them both easie to be prooued by all sound writers for Spaine was conquered and subdued first by the Carthagineans and Affricanes secondly by the Romanes thirdly by the Vandales fourthly by the Gothes and fiftly by the Saracens who possessed almost all the kingdome of Spaine for 800. yeeres So may it be said of the change of their names as Catubales Iberians Celtiberians Hesperians and Spaniards which during the time of this change serued the Carthagineans the Romanes the Grekes the Gothes and the Saracens The Britaines neuer changed their names since Brutus time which is 2700. and odde yeeres which no one kingdome of the worlde can say so much though in some part it was subdued by the Romanes and then by the Danes and last by the Normanes yet they reserued their names vnchanged all the whole countrie of Camber the second sonne of Brutus vncōquered which of late is called Wales their auncient name vnchanged and their language vncorrupted So may I speake of the Frenchmen which were called at their first arriuall from Scythia into Germany Neumagi then were they called Sicambri thirdly Franci and fourthly Galli So were the Persians Elamites Artaeans and after Cephancs and last of all Persians so Egypt was called Oceana Nilea Aerea and last of all Egypt To conclude there is no nation that I can reade of but were subiect to diuers names therby knowē sauing onely the Britaines which continue vnto this day though the Danes beganne to call them Welsh as they call all strangers Welsh which was 1800. yeres odde as the reignes and gouernmēt of the kings of Britaine do manifestly proue whose names I neede not to write for that they be set downe to your viewe in tables printed with the pictures of all the kings of the Britaines Now after 1 Brutus 2 Locrinus 3 Madan 4 Mempricius 5 Ebrancus and 6 Brutus surnamed Viridescutum and so forward vntill Rudacus time the 20. king after Brutus at what time the kingdome was diuided into foure parts and gouerned by foure seuerall kings for fiftie yeeres Rudacus
vnto Ezechâ—…as Ambassadors Iâ—…seph lib. 10. cap. 3. 2. Chron. 35. Melancton lib. 2. 2. King 24. Functius Ruffinus Strabo lib. 15. Nabuchodonosor greater then Hercules The greatnes of Nabuchodonosor 2. Chron. 36. The first comming of Nabu vnto Ierusalem Ieremie 22. The 2. comming of Nabuchod vnto Ierusalem Ioseph lib. 10 cap. 9. Iosâ—…ph lib. 10. cap. 9. The third and last comming of Nabuchodo Ioseph lib. 10. cap 10. 11. Daniel 4. Bucholcerus Ruffinus Ieremie 51. All creatures obey God Melancthon lib. 2. Chron. Ieremie cap. 52. 2. Reg. cap. 25. Funct Lib. 〈◊〉 comment Barachias surnamed Zorababel Euilmerodach Herodâ—…t lib. 〈◊〉 Daniel liued this time and sawe the destruction of Babylon Daniel 5. Balthasar the last king of Babylon Herodot lib. 2. Straâ—…o lib. 17. Pompo Melâ—… lib. 1. Cap. 44. Diod. lib. 1. 〈◊〉 3. Pompo Mela. lib. 1. The old Egyptians counted a moneth for a yeere sometime 2 sometime 3. some time foure mo neths Herod lib. 2. Herod lib. 2. Pompo Mela. lib. 1. Strabo 17. Reade Diodo lib. 1. cap. 4. The sundry gods of Egypt Their burials The wonders of Egypt Herod lib. 2. Bâ—…roaldus lib. 4. Iosephus lib. 〈◊〉 in Appionem Errors in all antiquities of prophane writers 330. kings in Egypt â—…nesis cap. 12. Osiris The sundry names of Osiris Diodâ—…r lib. 2. Isis. Polimarchi chiefe officers with the king in warres Diodo Siculus lib. 1. cap. 1. Orus the 2. king Melancth lib. 2. Chron. Of Abraham being in Egypt Orus surnamed the great Lib. 2. Iosâ—…ph lib. 1. in Aâ—…pion Manetâ—…n lib. 3. Egyptiaâ—…oruÌ„ Manethon lib. 2. Egyptian Alisfragmuto 480000. Manethon callâ—…th the Hebrewe Hicsos Manethâ—…n lib. 3. Egyptian Cheremâ—… Iosephus lib. 12. contra Appionâ—… Dynasteia pâ—…siorum No mention of kings in their Dynast The first names of Pharâ—…es Amasis Chebron Amenophis Mephres Mispharmutosis Thutemosis Amenophis Moses was borne 350 yeeres after the calling of Abraham from Vr. Functius Diod. lib. 1. Herod lib. 2. Busiris Mercurius Trismegistus Acengeres Achorus Chencres Exodus cap. 14. Rameses The names of Egypt Manethon Mosâ—… called Onarsyphus Maneâ—…hon lib. 3. Aegyptiorum Myris Hâ—…rodot lib. 2. Melancâ—…hon lib. 2. Sâ—…sostris Herod lib. 2. Melancâ—…n lib. 2 Chron. Sâ—…rabo 17. Sesosâ—…ris the onely Hercules of Egâ—…pt 4. Larthâ—… Dynastia Larthes 194. Larthes were gouernours and principaliâ—…ie in Egypt Proteus named Cetes Ioseph lib. 1. contra Appio Herodot lib. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annâ—… Mundi 1783. Ramâ—…sinitus Good instructions of the father to his sonnes Herodotus lib. 2. Wine must be vsed and not abused Rewards doe trie skils A pretie deuise Theft rewarded with the mariage of a kings daughter Cheops Herodotus lib. 2. Cheops daughter 〈◊〉 Saul Egypt often gouerned by Potentates and pâ—…incipalitie called Dynasteia Herodlot lib. 2. Mycerinus Mycerinus Apis. Mneum Egypt ruled by Oracles Asichis Anisis Sabacus 3. Reg. cap. 14. Sethon Melancthon lib. 2. Chron. Herod lib. 2. Herodotus fabulous Iosephus lib. 10. cap. 1. Diodorus lib. 1. Psammiticus A Labirinth Pâ—…ramides and Labirinthes were made for kings burials A Labirinth described Herodotus lib. 2. Ezechiel 30. The citie of No is nowe called Alexandria Necho Psammis Apries Ieremie 44. cap. Melancthon lib. 2. Chron. Herodotus lib. 2. Ezechiel cap. 29. Ancus Martius Amasis The kings of Egypt contented one to excell another in building Idlenesse in Egypt punished 20000. Cities in Egypt Bochoris lawes A lawe for vsurie A law against theft A lawe for mariage Diodo lib. 2. cap. 3. Amasis the last name of Pharaoes Psammenitus Herodot lib. 3. Cambyses The crueltie of Cambyses Melancth liâ—… 2. Chron. Diodo lib. 2. The names of Pharaos changed to Ptilomeis 1425. The Egyptians then compted their yeeres sometime by 2. moneths sometime by 3. and sometime by 4. moneths Diodo lib. 1. cap. 1. The first king after Israel left Egypt Necho The maners of Egypt The maners in Egypt Diodo lib. 2. The whole time of the kings of Persia was but 130. Diodo erred Cambyses Melancth lib. 4 Melancth lib. 2. Chron. Nectanabus Agesilaus Diodo lib. 18. The kingdomes of Alexander diuided Functius lib. 3. Diodo lib. 18. Iosephus lib. 12. cap. 1. Daniel cap. 11. Ptolomeis victories ouer Demetrius Ptolomei ouerthrowen by Demetrius Iustine lib. 15. The tyranny of Cassander Polibeus lib. 2. The Romanes were of all nations feared The praise of Ptolomei Philadel Functius lib. 3. Coment Melancth lib. 2. Diodo lib. 1. Philadelphus the onely king of all the Ptolomeis Iosephus lib. 12. Cap. 2. Sirach and his sonne Ptolomei Euergetes 3. king of Egypt Daniel cap. 11. Floralia Rubigalia These feastes are set foorth in my dyall of dayes Plini lib. 18. cap. 29. Plutarch 〈◊〉 Numa Ptolomei Thilopator 4. king of Egypt Iustine lib. 29. Functius lib. 3. Antiochus the great Iustine lib. 3. Machabees Daniel cap. 4. Tyrants were euer warned Polibeus lib. 5. Ptolo. Epiphanes 5. king of Egypt Functius lib. 3. Comment Melancthon lib. 2. Chron. Iâ—…sephus lib. 12. cap. 13. Philometor the sixt king of Egypt Functius lib. 3. Comment Melancton lib. 2. Aristobulus a Philosopher Ptolomey Euergetes the 7. king Ptolomey Phiscon the 8. king Functius lib. 3. Comment Iustine lib. 38. Cleopatra Queene of Egypt Iosephus lib. 13. 30000. Iewes slaine by Lathurus Simeon Zacharias Ptolomey Lathurus the 10. king Ptolomey Auletes the 11. king Catos saying of Rome Ptolomey Dionysius the 12. king of Egypt Strabo lib. 17. Melancthon lib. 2. Cleopatra Augustus lawes in Alexandria Solinus cap. 60. 61. Pomponius Mela lib. 3. Beroaldus lib. 4. cap. 5. Berosus lib. 2. Plinie cap. 17. Iustine lib. 2. Herodotus lib. 2. Scithians Ruffiâ—…us de 〈◊〉 origine Functius Vexores Iustine lib. 2. The women of Scithia maried their seruants Iustinus lib. 2. Otrera the third Queene of Scythia Antiop the Queenes sister Iustinus lib. 2. Penthesileia the 4. Queene of Scythia Thalestris Cyrus Spargapises Tomyris soÌ„ne Strabo lib. 11. Sacaea Herodot lib. 1 Iustinus lib. 1. Lâ—…thinus king of Scithia Darius Histâ—…spis ouerthrowen Zopirona ouerthrowen Eight townes builded by Alexander Diuers countreys ouerthrowen by the Scithians The praise of Scithia Trophes set vp in Scithia Diodorus lib. 2. cap. 11. Paâ—…thia Parthians not esteemed Solinus cap. 68. Iustinus lib. 41. Polibeus lib. 2. Arsaces the first king of Pâ—…rthia Parthia by Arsices renowmed Iustine lib. 41. Mithridates 2. king of Parthia Pampatius 3. king of Parthia Pharnaces 4. king of Parthia Mithridates 5. king of Parthia Iustine lib. 4. Masinissa Phrahartes 6. king of Parthia Iâ—…stine lib. 42. Artabanus 7. king of Parthia Mithridates 8. king of Pathia Hâ—…rodes 9. king of Parthia Crassus sent to Parthia The answere of a Parthian vnto Crassus Surena captaine generall of the Parthians Crassus slaine and his head sent to the king of Parthia Enuie at Rome Plutarch in the life of Crassus Ventidius victorie ouerthe Parthians Pacorus slaine Ventidius victorie ouer the Parthians Horodes dumb Phrahartes the 10. king of Parthia Many reuoulted froÌ„ Phrahartes The great armie of Antonius Cleopatra Antonius depaâ—…ture from
reuenge vpon Philip. Comparison betwene Philip and Alexander iustin lib 9. Melanct. lib. 2. Olympias dreame Philippes dreame Leonidas Alexanders gouernour Bucephalus Bucephalus tamed by Alexander Plutar. in vita Alex. Curtius lib. 9. Diodor. lib. 16. The incoÌ„stancie of the Grecians Diod. lib. 17. Thebes destroyed Alexanders voyage to Asia Darius opinon of himselfe The first victorie at the riuer Granicus Ruffin de orig Maced Q Curt. lib. 3. Darius caused a muster at Babylon Darius armie Plutar. in vita Alexand. The second victorie of Alexander in Cilicia Melanct. lib. 2. Tyre besieged and taken Tyre by Agenor builded Q. Curt. lib. 4. Dâ—…rius 3 preparation against Alexander Gaza besieged Diod. lib. 17. Alexandriâ—… builded 420. yeeres after the building of Rome The thirde battel of Alexander at Arbela iustin lib. 11. Curtius lib. 5. Plutarch in Alexand. Darius slaine by Bessus The punishment of Bessus Plut. in Alex. Melanct. lib. 2 Chron. Diod. lib. 17. Curtius lib. 7. Alexander determined to imiâ—…ate in his victories Hercules The hautie minde of Alexander Alexander paâ—…em non patitur Diod. lib. 17. Roxana The first feast Q. Curt. lib. 7. 8. Melanct. lib. 2. Q. Cur. lib. 8. The 2. feast Odio qui sibi non sapit Plutarch in Alexand. Diuers opinions of Alexanders death Curtius Melanct. 2. Chron. The kingdom of Alexander compared to a Cyclope Buchol in Chro. Alexander died 280. before Caesar was slaine Liui. lib. 9. Contentions betweene Alex captaines Perdicca Meleager Iustine lib. 13. Ru ffi de origi Maced Alex. posterities slaine Funct coÌ„ment lib. 3. Iustine lib. 23. Ambition among the kings after Alex. Curtius lib. 10. Arideus the first king elected after Alex in Maced Alex. left no heire but the sword Daniel cap. 11. Cassander Ptolome Seleucus Antigonus Curtius lib. 13. Iustine lib. 13. Leosthenes Arideus Iustine lib. 14. Diod. lib. 19. The crueltie of Cassander Melanct. lib. 2. Chron. Demetrius Cassanders treacherie and murther Pyrrhus Funct lib. 3. Comment Diod. lib. 17. Iustine lib. 15. The praise of Lysimachus Curtius lib. 8. Demetrius armie Funct lib. 3. Coment Plutarch in Demetr Demetrius left two of his name behind Lysimachus Diod. lib. 17. and 18. All meanes made for king domes Polib lib. 2. The destruction of many kings within fewe yeres Antigonus the first the base soÌ„ne of Philip. Funct lib. 3. Comment Ptolome Ceran Iust. lib. 24. Tyrannie rewarded with tyrannie Sosthenes Diod. lib. 18. Demetrius Alciâ—…neus brought Pyrrhus head to Antigonus Instine lib. 25. Plutarch in Pirrho Hanibals words of Pyrrhus Antigonus Ouerthrowen by Pyrrhus sonne Alex. Fun. lib. 3. Coâ—…t Alex. againe was ouerthrowen by Demet. Antigo. his brother Demetrius Iustine lib. 26. Demet. slaine for adulterie There is Metasthenes and Megasthenes Plini lib. 33. Cap. 1. Philip king of Macedonia Plut in Aemil. Diuers Demet. Plut in Demet. T. Fâ—…minius Liui. lib. 31. Philip refused to meete Flami in battell Philip fledde The Cities of Greece yeelded to Tit. Philip at the battell of Scotusa lost 8000. Hanibals perswasions to Antiochus Plutarch in Tito Libertie proclaimed by Titus to the Greekes Ruffi de Mace Tit. Flami triumphed ouer king Philipâ—… sonne at Rome Liui. lib. 2. Decad. 4. Secret enuie betweene Philips two soÌ„nes Demetrius poysoned Philip died Of Antigonus the first the 2. and the 3. Perseus the last king of Macedonia Iustine lib. 41. The rich state of Perseus after Philip his father Perseus Perseus 1. victorie against Pu. Lucius Perseus 2. victorie against Hostilius Paulus Aemilius chosen Consul Liui. lib. 5. The battel at Pydne Plutarch in Aemilio Mar. Catces sword lost and found in the battel The magnanimitic and great courage of the Romanes Aemilius heauinesse Perseus image throwen down at Delphos The miserie of Perseus Diod. lib. 31. Liuie lib. 4. 5. 82. Cities sold by Paulus Aemilius All kings are by God established Daniel 7. 8. Daniel a sound warrant for the histories of three monarchies Seruius Galba Mar. Seruilius Perseus ouerthrowen the fourth of September The names of the kings of Macedonia after Alexander No king lest after Alexander Daniel cap. 11. Seleucus Diod. lib. 19. Laodices dreame Iustin. lib. 15. Ambition is dangerous Seleucus slaine Melanct. chron 2. The cry oftrue Chronicles vpon the Olympiads Functius Melanctâ—… 2. Chron. The praise of Philadelphus Antiochus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the third king of Syria Functius lib. 3. Comment The tyrannie of Laodices The cause of the Syrian warres Daniel 11. Sedition and great mutinie in Egypt Diod. lib. 18. Peace betwene Seleucus and Ptolomey Brennus Eumenes ouerthrew Antiochus Seleucus Ceraunos the 5. king of Asia and Syria Antiochus the great the sixt king of Syria Ieseph lib. 7. cap. 27. Hannibal fled to Antioch Nabis the tyrant Hanibals name Iustin. lib. 31. Hanibal hated the Romanes Melanct. chron 2. Antiochus desireth peace of the Romanes Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 27. de bel Iudaic. Eutrop. lib. 4. Scipio Asiaticus Ioseph lib. 12. cap. 3. Melanct. lib. 2. Chron. 3. Triumphes at Rome Polib lib. 4. Liuius lib. 3. Antiocus is slaine Seleucus Philopater the seuenth king of Syria Heliodorus punishment Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus Epiphanes the 8. king of Syria Ioseph lib. 1. cap. 1. de beâ—…ud Melanct. lib. 2. Chron. Machab. 2. cap. 5. Cleopatra maried to Epiphanes Philometor Cleopatras sonne by Ptolomey Epiphanes Functius lib. 3. Comment Popilius was sent to Antioch Iustin. 34. Popilius words to Antiochus Tit. Liuius lib. 5. Decad. 5. The tyrannie of Antiochus Machab. 2. cap. 5. Daniel cap. 8. Ioseph lib. de antiquit 12. cap. 13. Antihchus Eupator Demetrius Soter the 9. king Ioseph lib. 13. cap. 4. Esai cap. 19. Alcimus sent by Demetrius to Ierusalem Melanct. lib. 2. Chron. Alex. otherwayes Prompalus Demet. slaine by Alex. otherwayes Prompalus Iustine lib. 35. Apollonius Demet generall slaine Funct lib. 3. Coment Ioseph lib. 13. Cap. 8. Alex. head sent from Arabia to Egypt Ptolo. dyed Demetrius Nicanor Demet. taken prisoner Ionathas the high priest slaine Antiochus Soter The king of Parthia ouerthrowen Antiochus against the Parthians Iustine lib. 38. Funct lib 3. Comment Egypt too much trusted by the Syrians Alexander Zebenna Funct lib. 3. Coment Iustine lib. 39. Zebenna enioyed Syria Gryphus ouerthrew Zebenna Zebenna slaine Cleopatra by her owne drinke poysoned Brethren and cousin germaines Ioseph lib. 13 antiq cap. 21. Antiochus Griphus slaine Dioni Halicr lib. 2. Ioseph lib. 13. cap. 8. Esseni were as the Scribes among the Iewes Mysipsa Antiochus slaine Nothing in Syria but blood Silla and Marius two great enemies of Rome Demet. ouerthrowen by Alex. king of Iudea Demetrius taken by the Parthians The kings of Syria brought to extremitie Tygranes reigned 18 yeeres king of Syria Melanct. lib. 2. Pompe the great brought Syria to be a prouince of Rome Iu. Caesar came to England Diodo lib. 2. The kings of Aram which is Syria are more in sacred histories then prophane Iudg. cap. 3. Genesis 48. The true warrant of all antiquities is in
Alex. Opilius Macrinus 24. Marcus Aurelius Heliogabolus 25. Emperour Herod lib. 5. Vnhappy are those empires where tyrants raigne for kings Alex. Seuerus made Emperour at twelue yeres of age Seuerus Court florished with learned men Reade Egnati and Suetonius of this Emperour Maximinius slaine and his sonne Oros lib. 7. Cap. 19. Gordianus 27. Emperour Pupienus and Balbinus two Emperours slaine at Rome in their Palace Eutrop. lib. 9. M. Philip. 28. Emperour Reade Iuli. Capitol of these places Hactenus Iu. Capito Herodianus Oros. lib. 7. cap. 21. Gallus Hostil 30. Emperor Licinius Valerianus 31. Of 30. Emperours not 3. escaped free from murther Tyrannie and murther the cause of destruction Galienus Two Caesars hardly agree in one towne or countrey Sext. Aureliâ—… Eutrop. lib. 8. Galienus read of this more in Trebellius Rome fell to variance in these dayes The glory of Rome decaied Eutrop. lib. 9. Reade Trebellius of the miserable murthering and killing of Romane Emperours Flauius Claudius 32. Emperour Claudius had a golden target set vp in the Councell house Au. Valerianus a stout valiant Emperour Eutrop. lib. 9. Annius Tacitus 34. Florianus 35. Probus 36. Ann. Dom. 279. Read of these Sex Aurelius Victor Oros lib 7. cap. 23. 24. Carinus Numerianus two Caesars Eutrop. lib. 9. Carus stricken withlightning Orosius lib. 7. cap. 22. Carausius held Britaine by force Dioclesia the 38. Emperour Reade An. Victor of this Dioclesian Galerius maried Dioclesians daughter Aurelius victor Reade Oros. lib. 7. cap. 26. The pride of Diocles. Eutrop. lib. 9. Dioclesian canonised The Empire diuided betweene Galerius and Const. Galerius after the death of Const. substituted 2. Caesars vnder him Warre began betweene Maxentius Constantinus Foure Emperours at once in Rome Const. would haue no companion in the Empire Oros. lib. 7. cap. 〈◊〉 The sayings of the old Romanes Cerausius slaine Eutrop. lib. 10. Constantine the great made his three soÌ„ns three Caesars Euselius of CoÌ„stantinus life reade more there Constantinus praysed 318. Bishops in the couÌ„cell at Nice Euseb. Tripa lib. 2. cap. 18. Constantine slaine in Thracia Constans two sonnes slaine Magnentius made Emperour Nepotianus Pau. Oras lib. 7. cap. 29. Eutrop. lib. 10. Eutrop. lib. 10. Sex Aurel. Constantius died and Iulianus made Augustus These florished as chiefe magistrates in Rome at that time Iulianus slaine Iulian likened to M. Antonius Oros. lib. cap. 30. Iouinianus Iouini a good Emperour a fauourer of the Christians Eutrop. lib. 10. Valentianus Reade Oros. lib. 7. cap. 32. The glory of the Empire went by Constantine to Thracia Theodosius Iunior This time began the Vandales the Huns and Longbards their kingdoÌ„s A Pope ruleth Rome in the stead of an Emperour Rome compared to Babylon in greatnes of glorie and pompe Rome was the fourth deuouring and terrible beast that stamped all kingdomes vnder his feete by Daniel expounded The first persecution vnder Tiberius Nero the third Emperour of Rome The first persecution vnder Tib. Nero the thirde Emperour of Rome The Senators of Rome canonized whom they would to be gods The stubborne and rebellious Iewes Philo came to Rome the 2. time in Caligulas raigne Sedition in Alexandria Euseb. lib. 6. Petronius President in Hierusalem Ioseph cap. 15. The Apostles dispersed in to euery countrey to preach More Martyrs then Tyrants The first persecution Simon Magus had his â—…mage set vp with this title Simoni Deo Sancto Euseb. 3. cap. 23. Heretikes are Satans souldiours Acts 11. Euseb. 2. cap. 25. Marke the Euangelist died a martyr vnder Traiane the Emperor Mà thew the Apostle taught and preached in Ethiops Aegyptus a false prophet seduced 30â—…0 Iewes Acts. 21. Paul brought before Felix The second persecution Felix ruled in Iudea Ionathan slaine They fled from Hierusalem to Pella a village beyond Iorden The insolencie of the Iewes Ananias a hie Priest God vseth all things by meanes Titus the scourge of Ierâ—…salem Euseb. 3. cap. 8. Ioseph lib. 6. cap. 31. The 3. persecution Euseb. 3. cap. 29. The fourth persecution in Traianes time Euseb. Eccle. lib. 10. cap. 32. Plini wrote to Traiane Fire and blood the Enfignes of tyrants All the Iewes were driuen out of Egypt The Iewes banished from their countrey by the commandement of Adrian the Emperour Euseb. cap. 6. Hierusalem named Aelia Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 9. Gentiles commended the Christians Menander the Samaritan Simon Magus scholer Three great heretiques Euseb. 4. cap. 15. The fift persecution vnder Antoninus siranmed Verus Anno Christi 170. Godly Martyrs feared nothing Vetius Zacharias Luke 1. The glory of God is in his Saints Euseb. 4. cap. 21. Simon Magus The shifts of Satan is in vaine Eusebius 5. cap. 6. Godly bishops in Ierusalem after Vespatians time During the time of Comodus the Emperour many godly bishops flourished Euseb. 5. cap. 19. Apol. the Philosopher martyred The bishops of Rome in the beginning good constant Martyrs Leonides the father of Origen beheaded Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 1. Eccl. Diuers Martyrs in the time of Origin A good verse for a faire woman Tertulian was in the time of Origen Nicopolis before was called Emaus Metra a priest tortured Appollonia a zealous maid much tormeÌ„ted The infinite number of Martyrs Sauage wilde beasts spared the people of God The multitude of Martyrs The zeale of Martyrs in those dayes Many coÌ„uerted vnto the faith The Iudges were amased to see such coÌ„stancie in the Christians Euseb. 6. cap. 41. and 42. Theophilus Cheremon Origen dyed Many godly and good Byshops Cyprian bishop of Carthage The 8. persecution vnder Valerianus Martyrs encrease in euery countrie The crowne of Martyrs is eternitie The historie of Marinus a Romane knight The new Testament and the naked sword Alexandria a very seditious towne Dionysius A Synod at Rome Samosatenus confuted Persecution slacketh heresie reigned Euseb. cap. 27. Euseb. 8. booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The tyrannie vnder Dicclesiâ—… ouer the martyrs of God Persecution in Egypt 1700. Martyrs in 30. dayes A most vehement persecution The blood of godly Martyrs are precious in the Church of God A rare example in Micomedia Euseb. cap. 6. Courtiers Christians Courtiers Martyred The tyrannie of persecut oÌ„ All prisons in Townes and Cities full of Christians Perillus schollers inuent tortures to destroy Christians In Dioclesians time hell was opened to let the furies out Maximinus Tenth persecution 1700. Christians Martyred Maximinus sicke The tyrannie of this time might well be compared to the rage of Pharao ouer the Israelites The great clemencie of Constantine the great towards the ChristiaÌ„s Const. caused a Synod at Rome Licinius persecuted the Christians Licinius tyraÌ„nie against the Christians Rufinus lib. 2. cap. 8. Constantine the great compared to Cyrus and to Alex. Sozomenus 2. cap. 2. The Oke of Mambre Herma Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 3. Athanasius by the Arrians persecuted The Armenians and the Indians became Christians The Sunne worshipped in Persia. Pusices Zozam lib. 2. cap. 12. 250. Bishops executed by Sapores who reigned 70. yeeres These
were al martyred in Persia vnder king Sapores The Emperor Constan. wrote to Sapores king of Persia in fauour of the Christians Melanct. lib. 1. Baetica now called Andolosia The Romanes made but two Prouinces of Hispaine Reade of Hispaine Strabo lib. 2. 3. Pomp. Mela lib. 2. cap. 6. Liui lib. 2. All writers are to holde by Moses Controuersie Contentions among Historians From whence came the people after the flood to seeke dwellings The time of Tubals comming to Hispaine Celtiberia called now Byskaâ—… The simplicitie of the first kings not only of Hispaine but euery where Berosus in Nino Annius de reg Hispaniae Tubal died Coniectures in old antiquities allowed Berosus Sabatius Saga The monument of Isis â—…n Egypt Manethon de reg Hispanâ—…e Noah died in Iubaldas time The towne of Babylon Noth died after hee had seene in the world more miserie then any man for that he sawe before the flood and after the idolatrie of the people Genesis 12. Pentapolis fiue cities destroyed Stagnum Asphaltidis Brigus the 4. king The Numidians would be called Hyarbae Drius Druydes priests The simplicitie of the first age after the flood Aureum seculum Consent of time the touchstone of trueth Genesis 22. A temple builded and dedicated to Ianus Tagus the fift king The old kings of Hispaine are set downe by Manethon as the kings of Assyria are by Berosus Abraham died Belus the sixt king Sem liued 600. yeeres Plato in Timâ—…o Herodot lib. 2. and 3. Deabus found the first mines of golde Mena is supposed to be Osiris which Moses calleth Mizraim and whom Berosus calleth Oceanus Triphon Anteus Gerion Busiris sound tyrants Annius de regibus Hispaniâ—… Med called gods The kings of Celtiberia were called kings of Hispaine about that time that the kings of Egypt were called Pharaones Nothing among the old kings of Assyria and of Hispaine worth the writing Manethon would fayne haue had cause to write of old Hispaine The 17. Dynasteia of Egypt which endured 103. yeres Lomuini From this Hispanus the couÌ„trey of Hispaine was named Narbon Annius de reg Hisp. Kittim Atlas Manethon de reg Hispaniae 〈◊〉 Sicanus is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Spaine Siceleus Hermes Trismegistus Lusius 17. king of Hispaine The onely vse of this history is for consent of time 〈◊〉 kings of â—…ria and the â—…nges of Hispaine gouerned about one time Faunus Priscus Romus 20. king Manethon doeth write more of these historâ—…es Palatinus Cacus founde first the vse of yrons Manethon de reg Hispan Erythrus 23. king of Hispaine Aborigenes Gargorus Mellicola the last king of Hispaine Halicar lib. 1. The kings of Hispaine end their monarchie about the time that the Greciaus destroyed Troy Hispaine deuided into prouinces after the raigne of 24. Kings Ioseph lib. 2. cont Apio Strab. lib. 3. Strab. lib. 3. Turdetani were wise men of Hispaine The oracles of Mnestheus The commoditie of Hispaine not well knowen before the Romanes time Mines found by the Romans in Hispaine The auarice of the Romanes Hispaine was gouerned by seueral Magistrates in diuers prouinces for nine hundred yeres after their kings The first subiection vnder the Carthagineans The two Scipioâ—… Asdrub Mago The great victories of Pub. Scipio ouer the Hispaniardes and Carthagineans Bigerra the valure of the two Scipios Three great captaines of Africa Reade Liui. lib. 5. dec 3. The two Scipios slaine were much mourned for in Hispaine The praise of Scipio Scipio sent to Hispaine New Carthage assaulted and subdued by Scipio Asdrubal ouercome Mago Hanibals brother taken by Scipio Asdrubal slain The victories of Scipio ouer Asdrubal Hanno slaine King Syphax taken by Scipio Liui. 4. Scipios commendation of Iugurth Micipsa adopted Iugurth for his sonne Viriatus called the Hercules of Hispaine Vitilius and Q. Pompeius two Consuls ouerthrowen by Viriatus The names of Scipio knowen in Hispaine Famea and Asdrubal Sertorius Carthage aided by the Hispaniardes Sertorius a noble valiant Romane Metellus Cn. Pompeius sent to Hispaine against Sertorius Pompey and Metellus triumphed ouer Hispaine vpon one day at Rome M. Cato Spaine last conquered by Iul. Caesar. Augustus Caesar so honoured that the Spaniarâ—…s compted their yeres from Augâ—…stus time A Er. A. Hegyra Indictiones What time the Gentiles began to accompt their yeeres Hispaine vnder the Romanes 420. yeeres The time that Râ—…me flourished Germanie of no name before Augustus time Blondus Ritius Gundericus began in Hispaine when Faramundus beganne in Fraunce Reade â—…idus lib. 10. cap. 26. Pelagius Rodericus Muza Foure hundreth thousand Saracens inuaded Fraunce Saracens inuaded France the thirde time Car. Martellus had diuers victories ouer the Saracens Aygolandus king of the Saracens Abumalach 1 Pelagius the first king of Astura 2 3 4 alphonsus sonne named Catholike Phroilla the 4. king 5 6 Certaine noÌ„ber of yong virgins payed for tribute 7 8 Lusitania is now Portingale 9 Raimiris The spoile and wast of the Saraâ—… in Italy Alphonsus tyrannie Castile reuolted from Ordonius 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Luiterus lib. 5. cap. 1. 20 21 22. 23. 24 25 26. 27. 28. 29 30 Tolyd lib. 5. Illomamolinus 31 Hispaine set much at libertie by FerdinaÌ„dus 32 The force of the Saracens tryed 33 34 35 Alphonsus victorie ouer the Saracens Saracens ouerthrowen in Hispaine 36 Petrus slaine by Henry the second Reade Polyd. more 37 38 39 Lib. 20. The French writers can omit English victories Henry the fift crowned king of Fraunce in Paris 40 1475. 41 The first time that Hispaine was deuided betweene two kings Hispaine fiue â—…euerall times â—…onquered Hispaine first acquainted with India Hispaine began to florish this time and not before Hispaine got her greatest glory by Charls the fift The insolencie of Hispaine of late The decay of one countrie is the aduancing vp another The Hispaniards seifeloue The Pope and Mahomet com pared The long bon dage of Hispaine Ferdinandus sharles the fift Strab. 4. Ioseph lib. 1. cap. 6. Zona lib. 1. cap. 4. Iustine lib. 15. King of Bythinia Lu. Florus lib. 2. cap. 11. Iustine lib. 25. Gallograeci Brennus the Britaine inuaded Italie and tooke Rome Ambigatus Bellenosus and Sigonesus Brennus generall Lomnorius Lutarius The kings of Asia and Syria payed tribute to the Gaulgreekes 15000. talents of the gold of Tolossa Gellius lib. 3. cap. 9. lib. 32. The temple at Tolossa robbed by the Romans Sacriledge reuenged Diod. lib. 5. The sauage and cruell tyranny of the Gallograecians Ruffinus de Origine Gallograec Cneus Manlius triumphed ouer the Gaulgreekes Florus lib. 2. Liuius lib. 8. decad 4. The first comming of the Frenchmen into Germany Gomer Beroal lib. 4. Strab. lib. 4. 5. Mela lib. 2. 5. Solinus cap. 22. Marcomirus slaine by the Gothes The Frenchmen forced to seeke dwellings by the sword They dwelt about the riuer of Rhene and after in Bohemia and about Witenberge Gens aspera bellicosa Brennus driuen from Rome by Camillus
of them from Pharaoh by the direction and instruction of God of Ioshua his successour and of his warres and victories and of his good gouernment ouer Israel for 32. yeres and of the common wealth of the Hebrewes during the time of Moses and Ioshua which was 72. yeeres 26. Of the third change of common wealth of the Hebrewes first from Oligarchia vnder the Patriarches secondly from Aristocratia vnder the Iudges nowe to a Monarchie vnder kings which Israel cried out and neuer ceased vntill they had a king 41. Of the taking away of the tenne tribes from Iuda to Samaria by Ieroboam in the fourth yeere of Rehoboam Salomons sonne of the first diuision of Israel of their warres and last destructions of the kings of Israel by Salmanasser 54. Of the continuance of the kings of Iuda after the kingdome of Israel was destroyed Samaria taken and the tenne tribes of Israel caried capitue by Salmanasser into Assyria 68. Of the returne of the Iewes into Ierusalem after the captiuitie first by the decree of Cyrus after by Darius and last by Artaxerxes of the seconde building of the temple by Esdras Nehemias and Zorobabcl and of the gouernment vnder the high Priest 76. Of the Machabees and of the last kings of Iuda and of their gouernment vnder the Romanes and of their last destruction of Ierusalem by Titus the Emperour 85. ¶ I haue vsed in the historie of the Hebrues for my authorities these many writers whose names are vnder written Moyses Berosus Iosephus Eusebius P. Eberus dereb Iud. Sigonius Glareanus Melancthon Io. Freigius de vitis patrum M. Beroaldus Io. Functius THE CHALDEANS OF the first originall of the Chaldeans first called Arphaxades after the name of Arphaxad the third sonne of Sem which was the first kingdome of the world of their continuance gouernment and last destruction by Darius Medus and Cyrus Fol. 102. Of the rest of the kings of Assyria from Ascatades the 18. king vnto Sardanapalus the 36. and last king of the Assyrians which is since the Israelits left Egypt vntill the first Olympiad at what time Iotham raigned in Iudea 117. Of the kings of Babylon againe called new Assyria frō Sardanapalus which the Greekes call Tonoscon Coleros vntill Balsaar the last king of Babylon 128. Moses Eusebius Berosus Iosephus Manethon Tro. Pomp. Orosius Xenophon Zonaras Bucholcerus Ruffinus Iustinus THE EGYPTIANS OF the originall beginning of the Egyptians and of their continuance of their kings and gouernments Why Egypt was called Oceana or Nilea 141. Of the kings of Egypt after Ramesses time firnamed Egyptus at what time Oceana was called Egypt after the name of Egyptus before called Mizreia 153. Of the last kings of Egypt by the name of Pharaos which continued 1200. yeeres and of the first conquering of Egypt by Cambyses the second king of Persia. 165. Of the second conquest of Egypt by Alexander of their kings afterward called Ptolomeis vntil the time of Caesar Augustus by whom al Egypt was last conquered made a prouince subiect to the Romane Empire 177. Manethon Herodotus Cheremon Diod. Sicul. Io. Annius Blondus Appion Iustinus Ruffinus Iosephus Melancthon THE SCYTHIANS OF the antiquitie of the Scythians of their lawes gouernment and life of their hardines in warres and of their victories ouer the Persians and Egyptians and their often inuasions into Asia Fol. 191. Herodotus Dio. Siculus Plini Melancton Iustinus Berosus Strabo THE PARTHIANS OF the originall of the Parthians and of the beginning of their kingdome and how long it continued of their kings gouernment and last destruction by the Romanes in the time of Augustus Caesar. Fol. 199. Strabo Iustinus Solinus Plutarchus Liuius Val. Max. Linus Diodorus Melancthon THE MEDES OF the antiquitie of Media of the originall of their kings and of their common wealth gouernment and continuance Fol. 209. Of the first kings of Media of their gouernment lawes and continuance from Deiocis vntill Astyages the last king of the Medes 214. Strabo Zonaras Diodorus Orosius Iosephus Pomp. Mela. Trog Pomp. Ruffinus OF LYDIA OF the antiquitie of Lydia of the originall of their kings and of their common wealth and gouernment Fol. 223. Of the rest of the kings of Lydia from Ardis the sixt king vntill Croesus the last king of Lydia and of their destruction by Cyrus and the kingdome brought subiect to Persia. 229. Eusebius Ruffinus Herodot Diodor. Functius Trogus Pompeius Strabo Pomp. Mela. Melancthon Appianus OF PERSIA OF the first originall of Persians of the antiquitie of their kings of their common wealth and gouernment of their continuance and howe they haue bene called the great kings by the meanes dignitie of Cyrus 238. Of the two Magi that vsurped Persia after Cambyses time of Darius Histaspis and his good gouernment of Xerxes the great and his warres in Greece of his ignominious flight from Greece and of his death in Persia after his flight 249. Of the successors of Xerxes in Persia of their warres victories and gouernment of the state of Greece and of the prosperities victories and fame they had in Xerxes time 258. Of the tyrannie of Darius Ochus of his sonne Arsames and of the vtter confusion and last ruine of the Persians in the time of their last king Darius sirnamed Codomanus by Alexander the great 267. Of the state of the Persians vnder the Romans after the time that they were conquered by Alexander the great vntill the time of Alex. Seuerus Emperour of Rome 550. yeres after at what time began the new kingdome of Persia by one Artaxerxes and of his successours vntill the Persians the fourth time were vtterly destroyed by the Saracens 278. Xenophon Iosephus Io. Functius Dion Zonaras Strabo Herodotus L. Florus Q. Curtius Iustinus Io. Monachus Dio. Halicarnas OF MAHOMET OF the originall of Mahomet in Arabia of his greatnesse and credite not onely among the Saracens and Arabians but also in the East kingdoms of the inuasions of the Saracens of their scattering warres in Asia Europe and in Affrike and of their continuance Fol. 289. Pau. Aemilius Blondus Maspeus Iornandus de Get. Chron. Pol. Bonfinus de Hung. Functius OF THE TVRKES OF the great Turke and of his kindome from Othoman the first vntill Selimus the 11. of the two Empires of Constantinople and Trapezuntium which nowe the Turkes doe gouerne of their beginning and of their first seruice vnder Basilius Macedo Emperour of Constantinople 302. Egnatius Paul Iouius Chromerus Pol. Blondus Bonfinus Functius OF GREECE OF the antiquitie of Greece of the beginning of their cities and Common wealth of their lawes and gouernments by degrees during yet the infancie of Greece 311. Of the building of Athens of their beginning and of their first lawes vnder 17. kings being the thirde kingdome of Greece in antiquitie after the Sicionians and the Argiues 320. Of the originall beginning of the kings of the
ciuil warres betwene themselues as betwene Marius and Silla in the first warres betwene Pompey Caesar in the second warres and betweene Mar. Antonius and Octauius Augustus in the third warrs to the ouerthrow welnigh of the whole Romane empire For histories do report that in these three ciuil warres before mentioned died more Senators Consuls magistrats noblemen and gentlemen then in the three great Affricane warres the first by Hamilcar which endured 22. yeeres most cruell the second by Hanibal which endured 17. yeeres most terrible warres the thirde and last by Asdrubal which continued foure yeeres all which annoyed not Rome so much as did these three ciuil warres But let vs returne to the happie raigne of Augustus called the Prince of peace the father of the countrey and Emperor of Rome whose happie gouernment made vnhappie Rome happie and raised vp Rome from the ground vp to the heauens To this good Emperour the Persians and the Parthians sent ambassadors with presents to this the Scythians the Indians and the Garramants people that neuer heard before any speach of the Romanes sent both Legats and presents What shal be spoken more of this Emperour In his dayes in the two and fourtieth yere of this Emperours raigne the Emperour of all Emperours and King of all kings was in Bethleem a towne of Iurie borne of the Virgine Mary the onely begotten Sonne of God and the onely Sauiour of the worlde This is the true Messias sent from Heauen to earth to satisfie the wrath of his father This was the Lambe of God which tooke away the sinnes of the world And therefore Augustus was the happier for that in his time IESVS CHRIST the Sonne of God was borne as the Prophetes had before spoken Now after that this good Emperour had liued eightie sixe yeeres whose honour and loue was such in the whole world that townes were builded and named after the name of Caesar one by king Iuba in Mauritania another by Hero in Palestina and many kings left their owne kingdomes came to Rome to do seruice to Augustus He raigned fiftie and sixe yeres Emperour he died at Atella a towne of Campania was brought to be buried at Rome and was canonized after his death as a god Augustus had three things in Rome graunted the first to be Consul of Rome before he was twentie yeeres olde the second he was freed from any decree or law of the Senators and the thirde hee had his image on horsebacke set vp in the market place which was granted to none but to Silla and Caesar In this Emperours time flourished in Rome many notable learned men whose names are here subscribed Virgil this time flourished Horace also and Tibullus Propertius and Vitrimius Titus Liuius and Ouid. Valerius Maximus And Strabo When Augustus died there was peace ouer the whole world for the Sonne of God was then borne the king of all peace whose fame by miracles filled all the earth At what time raigned Tetrarche in Iudea Archelaus the sonne of that Herode who slewe so many infants thinking thereby to kill the Sonne of God and therefore spared not his owne sonnes Aristobulus and Alexandeer I haue spoken of this more in the historie of the Church In the time of this Emperour Augustus the kingdome of Fraunce beganne to be so named after the name of one Francus the sonne of Antharius king of Sicambria This Francus after that his father died made a decree that Sicambria should be called Francia after his owne name of whom I shal speake in the historie of Fraunce And now I will returne to Tiberius Caesar who was Liuia Augustus wiues sonne and Augustus sonne by adoption the successour of Augustus and the thirde Emperour of Rome of whom we reade that he was very eloquent and well learned but a great dissembler who gouerned the Empire with auarice crueltie lust and cowardlinesse for he waged battell no where himself in person but by his deputies and lieutenants He beganne his Empire in the 768. yere after the building of Rome and in the 15. yeere after Christ was borne at what time Sextus Pompeius was Consul in Rome This Tiberius had some warres with the Germanes which were before subdued by Augustus but nowe againe rebelled and brought to subiection by this Emperor Tiberius Of these warres reade Cornelius Tacitus Hee had warres before in Illyria in the time of his father in lawe Augustus ouer whom hee triumphed In the last yeere of Tiberius Nero was Domitius borne Tiberius was certified by Pilate from Hierusalem where hee gouerned vnder the Romanes of the miracles of Christ of his fame and of his life and doings Pilats letters were shewed to the Senators and Pilate was blamed and reprooued for that he suffered that IESVS to do any miracles without the consent of the Senators for Pilate put vp the Image of Tiberius in the temple at Ierusalem But in the latter ende of his raigne hee fell to great negligence of gouernment he gaue himselfe to be idle and thereby became vntemperate with inordinate lust in so much that hee was flouted and scoffed and called Biberius Mero in stead of Tiberius Nero and after he had raigned twentie and three yeeres he died in Campania as is supposed by the meanes of Caligula who succeeded him in the Empire This Caligula was sonne to Germanicus a lewde Emperour and a wicked who farre exceeded Tiberius in crueltie and in horrible life he commaunded his Images to be put vp euery where and altars to be consecrated to him and caused his Images to haue diuine honours and hee sent to Iudea and commaunded that his Image should bee set in the temple boasting of his filthie life and gouernment naming himselfe Iupiter for his incestuous life and naming him Bacchus for his drunkennesse Hee had carâ—…all copulation with all his three sisters and with his daughter whom hee begate vpon one of his sisters he defiled noble women and chaste matrones and gaue them after to others to be defiled hee was called the beast of Rome who after hee had raigned foure yeeres vsing great crueltie auarice filthie lust and horrible incest he was slaine in his Pallace by his owne souldiers as Iosephus writeth in his nineteenth booke His birth his life and his death is set foorth at large by Suetonius who also wrote of all the liues of all the Emperours most amplie omitting nothing that belonged to the Romane historie during the time of the Emperours What were done in other countreys since the death of that good Emperour Augustus what wickednesse ensued in Rome by his successours Claudius Tiberius and Caius Caligula Tacitus Suetonius Liuie and other writers haue written very largely In the time of Tiberius Nero within two yeeres of Augustus death happened such an earthquake in the night time that twelue great cities in Asia fell prostrate to the ground at what
Maxentius vnder colour of cruel pretence thinking to goe to Fraunce as intrueth he went meaning to kill his sonne in lawe Constantinus accusing his owne sonne how he repulsed him frō Rome and would haue killed him if he had not fledde but his guile was detected by his owne daughter Faustina who disclosed all her fathers conspiracie to her husband Constantine whereupon Herculeus fledde to Massilia where hee was slaine a man voide of all humanitie hurtfull to all c. After Herculeus was slaine Galerius dyed and then the empire was gouerned by Constantinus and Maxentius whose fathers were before them emperors and by Licinius and Maximinus but so many lordes coulde not agree long for Constantine vanquished Maxentius at Miluius bridge Within a short time warre grewe betweene Licinius and Maximinus and to auoide the emunent mischiefe Maximinus dyed suddenly at Tharsus Constantinus being of a hautie courage coueting to bee a sole Emperour made warre vpon Licinius dis deare friend and his brother in lawe who had espoused his daughter Constantia with whome hee had diuers battailes the one in Hungaria the seconde in Cybale the third in Nicomedia a famous Citie of Bythinia where Licinius yeelded himselfe to Constantine and yet contrarie to the lawe of armes and to the othe and promise made betweene them Licinius was slaine nowe there was no warre in Rome but betweene the Emperours and nothing is to be written but of murthering and killing of Emperours where before men wrote of their forreigne victories of their conquests of kingdomes of their triumphs of their pompe and glorie of their port and fame in so much that the Romanes onely bragd of themselues and said Magna agere fortia pati Romanorum est Nowe Cerausius fledde before to Britaine from Maximianus where in Dioclesians time hee was slaine by Alectus his companion after hee had kept Britaine by force for three yeeres after Cerausius and Alectus Alectus was subdued by Asclepiodotus captaine of the garde and so Britaine was recouered againe within tenne yeeres after Cerausius had taken it Nowe after that Maximianus Herculeus was slaine at Massilia thinking to returne to his sonne Maxentius againe Constantine the great hauing intelligence of these practises betweene the father and the sonne presently after the death of the father Maximianus hee commenced warre vpon his sonne Maxentius and ouerthrewe him as you heard before Then the great Constantine hauing the Empire in his owne hande hee appointed Constantinus Crispus his sonne to haue the gouernment in Fraunce his other two sonnes Constans and Constantius had the rule in the East partes his three sonnes were made three Caesars and him selfe made Augustus His great fortune was such that Constantinus was surnamed the great for hee was compared for the good successe hee had in the beginning of his Empire to Cyrus the great king of Persia and to Alexander the great king of Macedonia and in like sort prospered as they did at the first but afterwarde being altered from his wonted gentle and flexible minde hee persecuted his owne blood he slue his owne wife Fausta and his sisters sonne a very notable young man hee persecuted sundrie of his friendes and many of his alliaunce Constantinus was endued with many excellent vertues hee was of such passing industry in wars that he sūdry times ouer threw the Gotes wan great praise among the Barbariās This emperor was much adicted to the study of the liberall artes and he endeuored to gaine the loue of the people There was nothing wanting in Cōstantine that should be in a good emperor he enacted and established many sound lawes to the Romanes and furthered the Church of Christ with al care diligence for he destroyed many temples of the Gentiles In his time sundry Synods were called which shalbespoken of in another place specially the great Synod at Nice in Bythinia where 318. Bishops were together at what time the heresie of the Arrians as ouerthrowen He rebuilded in Thracia Byzantiū and named it after his owne name Cōstantinople and he reedified in Bythinia a towne called Drepana named it after his mothers name Helenopolis of whom Eusebius doeth write that Helena the mother of Constantine found the crosse whereon our Sauiour Christ suffered at Ierusalem and when he had made great preparation against the Parthians he dyed in Nicomedia after he had reigned thirtie one yeres and had liued sixtie sixe yeeres and left behind him his three sonnes Constantinus Constans and Constantius to succeede him in the Empire Hee left also a very gallant young man his brothers sonne named Dalinatius which was slaine in an vprore which fell among the souldiers in Thracia The three sonnes of Constantine had the Empire among them as by will and testament Constantine had commaunded but the elder brother not long after his fathers death attempted warre against his youngest brother at Aquileia and was slaine and then the Empire fell betweene the two other brethren Constantius and Constans the one gouerning in the East the other in the West In the same sort was Constans slaine in the Castle of Helena at Magnensium as his brother Constantine was in Thracia The third brother had diuers and sundry battels against Sapores king of Persia who neuer had good successe in any battell hee tooke in hand but that battell which hee fought at Singara and yet susteyned the losse of the victorie of that battell Thus the two sonnes of so worthie an Emperour dyed without any great conquest made Nowe by this time new matters grew in Illiria for Magnentius possessed Italie Fraunce and Affrike after the death of Constans though Sextus Aurelius writes otherwayes Yet this Magnentius was made Emperour by the souldiers at what time in Rome Nepotianus sisters sonne to Constantine the great was also by the people their created Caesar whom Magnentius returning from Affrike to Rome subdued within twentie eight dayes after he was made emperor after he created his owne brother Decentius to be Caesar reigned ioyntly three yeeres and sixe moneths vntil the vnhappy battel at Marsa where a great number of the Romanes were slaine and Magnētius vanquished who shortly after slue himselfe at Louaine Which newes being toulde to Decentius hee for very griefe hanged himselfe This time Constantius deputed his vncles sonne Gallus to be Caesar ouer the East partes but shortly after both Constantius and his cousin Gallus waged ciuil wars in the which warre Gallus was slaine by Cōstantius This time Syluanus being made Caesar attempted newe matters in Fraunce and was likewise slaine within thirtie yeeres after Now Constantius was Emperour alone and hauing the whole Empire in his owne hand he appointed Iulianus his vncles sonne and brother to Gallus Caesar ouer Fraunce This recouered the spoile of the Barbariās the townes and cities which they besieged and slue a great armie of the Almaines at Argētine
chronicles is set downe by the Prophet in describing the 4. beastes and their natures signifying thereby the Monarchies of the worlde their gouernment and their continuance the onely grounde from whēce all writers make good their histories But let no man write of his coūtrey with more affection then trueth wil warrant him for his proofe as it seemeth Berosus did of Chaldea Manethon of Egypt Ctesias of Persia for that they may easily be corrected by any late writer that is seene in the Sacred histories and yet they were men of singular authoritie and credite in histories of their countreys who by conferring Prophetical histories with their prophane writings men find nothing more then fables of antiquities and errors in lieu of true histories not knowing the Centre of all certaine Chronicles I meane the Prophetical histories But haue with them for my countrey also being cōtented to be excused with them by Liui In tanta rerum vetustate multi temporis errores implicātur c. For no doubt as Greeke histories are more vncertaine then the Latins of whom Iosephus saith that they had nothing to bragge of but their lies euery man setting downe in writing his opinion rather then studying the trueth of the historie But as occasion shall serue me so shal I speake of them and of others In the meane time I marueile much howe some men are more bent without either reason or authoritie to reprooue that which in true Histories is approoued Many of the best Romane writers seemed to be ignorant of that which they knew and yet would take no notice thereof they woulde not haue vrbem omnium gentium Imperiorum dominam to bee builded by any of Aeneas stocke or any ofsprings of the Troyans neither would they allow any part of Italy to be inhabited with the Grecians whome the Romanes mortally hated They claime their antiquitie frō Noah by the name of Ianus who came from Scythia Saga presently after the flood into Italy and after Ianus from Saturnus and from Cameses This Sempronius Mar. Cato and Fabius Pictor seeme fully to prooue and they stand to it stoutly notwithstanding they haue as many Greeke writers against them in proouing the contrary affirming that the Grecians Arcadians Lacedemonians Achaians and Pelasgians first inhabited Italy So Myrsilus in the whole booke which beginneth thus Italiam primùm coluere Graeci c. prooueth the Grecians to be the first inhabitants in Italy After Myrsilus followeth Dionysius Halicarnassaeus in like order and proofe as he that readeth Halicarnassaeus readeth Myrsilius and after Dionysius Herodotus who doeth not onely fully warrant Myrsilus and Dionysius but also concludeth with more warrants of his owne This cōtrouersie riseth betweene the Grecians and the Romanes about the antiquitie of Italy the Greekes calling Italy Spurcam spuriam nouitiam and the Romanes naming Greece Mendacem fabulosam The like controuersie grewe betweene the Egyptians and the Scythians in those dayes and the like nowe about the comming of Brute vnto this countrey whose cōming hath bene receiued and confirmed by succession of kings from Brutus to Cadwalader And after the kings the line and stocke of Brutus vnto this day 2700. yeeres sed nihil magnum somnianti for they can reprooue without authoritie but they wil not allow proofs with authorities such is their credite with some people as Pythagoras was with his owne schollers who thought Pythagoras speach a sufficient warrant to proue anything only alleaging 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I doubt there be many Pythagoreans that stand too much in their owne conceites some dreaming the word Britania to be Pritania some imagining the Britaines to to be Picts and that the originall of the Britaines shoulde bee from the Picts and many such other reasons rather fables wherein there is neither agreement of time which is to bee noted nor affinitie with speache neither likenesse of names nor any things else like for the Pictes came but the last day to Armorica which is little Britaine in Fraunce with one Rodericke their captaine from Scythia and not with Aeneas from Phrygia to seeke where they might haue place to inhabite I confesse that these Pictes and Scots inuaded Britaine and made often irruptions into Britaine in the time of Constantine the great Iouinianus Theodosius and many other Emperours but they were repelled and compelled with many a good beating to retire I should better allowe the opinion of those that say that the Pictes are Scots for with the Britaine 's the Picts by no likenesse may bee resembled neither by time nor by tongue I will leaue the Picts for the Scots whose kingdome was subdued and translated into Scotland by Kenedus king of the Scots where I leaue them Many licencious writers haue bene and are in the world not only in matters of antiquities but in other matters also Who will beleeue Polidor a strāger in Britaine before Giraldus a singular learned man borne in Britaine who had traueiled as many countries as Polidor did and therefore was in great credite with Rich. the second who who will beleeue a forreine late writer before Gildas the Britaine that wrote of his coūtrie in Claudius Caesars time If neither Giraldus nor Gildas nor any other ex bardis Britannis are allowed let Ponticus Virunnius let Iu. Caesar in his Comment whosaid they were ex eadem prosapia be allowed For the trueth thereof I doubt not but I shall write as true as the Frenchmen shall doe of Fraunce the Hispaniard of Hispaine and so of the rest I meane of the Saxons of the Greekes and of the Romanes and my reason shall be as probable for the landing of Brutus in this Island from Italie as the Italians shall prooue Ianus to come from Chaldea into Italie or as the Frenchmen shall prooue Marcomirus to come from Scythia into Germany and so in time to come into Fraunce and so to holde the name of Francus I will not speake of Caetubales Hiberians Hesperians nor of the olde Celtiberians afterwarde called Spaniards who had their name of Hispanus neither will I speake of the auncient stocke of Brutus while yet they dwelt in Creete and after in Phrygia and after that in Albalonga and last in Rome but of the comming of Brutus vnto this land the sonne of Syluius the sonne of Ascanius the sonne of Aeneas and from the name of the Britaine 's since that time of the which if any man doubt he may aswell doubt of the antiquitie of the Latines of the Albanes and last of the Romanes which al did issue and proceede of the house of Aeneas for imperij Romaniorigo Aeneas as is prooued by Halicarnassaeus which affirmeth that Romulus the first king of the Romanes was the seuenteenth king out of the body of Aeneas lineally descending for after Aeneas died being at his death king of the Latines three yeeres after whom succeeded his sonne Ascanius and builded a