Bizantium Cyrus King of Persia was the Sone of one Cambises of an obscure familie in Persia Mandane the doughter of Astiages KiÌ„g of Media Who after ther position of his dreame by the whiche he vnderstode y t his doughters Sone shuld be King of all Asye that him self shuld lose his Royalme caused Cirus immediatly after he was borne to be put furth lefte alone in a Forest to y e ende he might be deuoured of wylde beastes But there a Bitche gaue him sucke defended hym from Beastes and Byrdes vntyll that the Kynges Sheperde founde hym caryed hym home to hys wyfe and gaue her the charge to nouryshe hym The woman was afterwardes called Spaâ—on because amonges the Persyans a Dogge is so named After that he waxed greate he was called Cyrus by the Sheperdes his Companions knowen to be Astiages doughters Sone and sente into Persia where he obtained much credite and aucthority Finally he assembled an Armye to make warre vpon Astyages his Grandefather from whom he berefte y e Royalme of Media vnto the which the Persians were subiect And by thys meanes Cyrus became Kynge of Perse and Media Before hys tyme the Persians had no Kinges but were subiecte vnto other Royaulmes After his victorie against Astiages he vanquisshed toke prisoner Croesus the King Lidia which was so riche But in conclusion him selfe was ouercomen and slayne by Thomyris Quene of Scithia wâ—en he had reigned .xxx. yeres Vnto hym succeded Cambises his Sone as Iustin in his first booke meÌ„cioneth Eusebius sayeth that CaÌ„bises reygned .viii. yeres Vnder Cirus Kynge of Persia by hys owne permissioÌ„ begaÌ„ the reparacioÌ„ of y e TeÌ„ple of HierusaleÌ„ which notw tstaÌ„dig was discoÌ„tinued many yeres after And at y e last finished the .vi. yeare of Darius Reigne Kinge likewise of Persya as witnesseth the .vi. .vii. Chapiters of Esdras in the Bible and Sabellyque in the .vii. Booke of his secoÌ„de Enneade After Cambyses two Brethern called Magi vsurped y e kingdoÌ„ .vii. Monethes After whoÌ„ Darius raigned .xxxvi. yeres And in the seconde yere of his Reigne Zorobabell by his permissioÌ„ renewed the reparacion of the TeÌ„ple of HierusaleÌ„ This Darius was nat he y t AlexaÌ„der the great vanquished but that was the .x. king after him called Dariê° also In whom the Royaulme of Persia toke hys eande Cyzicum is a Citye of Asye vpon the Sea syde in a Royaulme called Misia the lesse as witnesseth Ptolomee in the fyrst Table of Asie And so sayeth Plinie in the .xxxii. Chapiter of his .vi. Booke D. DAnubie or Danowe Loke on Ister Darius loke on these wordes AlexaÌ„der Cirê° Dionisus the Elder was a Tirant of Sicile Son of Hermocrates as saieth Sabellique He was verye well learned as writeth Plinie who preferreth none before him sauiÌ„g Plato in Philosophye Philopenê° in Poetrie two y e notablest men of learning in all his time In y e same yere y t the KingdoÌ„ of Athenes ended and Darius Kynge of Perse dyed Dionisus loste his Royalme as sayeth Sabellique in the nynthe Booke of hys fyrste Enneade Wherein he agreeth not wyth Eusebius Dyonisius Sonne was likewyse named Dyonisius the yonger who was also a Tirante of Sicile and raygned in a citye called Siracuses out of the whiche he was expulsed twyse ones by Dion And the second tyme by Timoleon sent agaynst hym by the Corynthians After thys seconde expulsion he kept a schole and taught yonge chyldren at Corynthe as wryteth Valerius Maximus E. Eridanus is a Ryuer of Italye otherwyse called Padus whych coÌ„meth as sayth Plinie in y e .xvi. chap. the .iij. boke of his natural History out of a mountaigne called Vesulus After that he hideth him selfe in the grounde and issueth out againe in the confynes of the Foruibienses Of all Ryuers ther is none more renowned The Grekes cal it Eridanus There is no Riuer besydes that encreaseth greater wythin so lytle space For it hathe a merueylous abundaunce of water falling into y e Sea Adriaitque Betwene the cytyes of Rauenna and Altinum it is verye domageable vnto the Countrey For by the space of .vi. skore myles as sayeth Plinie it doeth seperate it selfe into many Riuers Lakes And because that euerye Ryuer is large and great they call the same seuen Seas as witnesseth Herodyan in hys eyght boke Euphrates Loke on thys worde Syrye Europe Loke on thys worde Aphryque G. Galatians are those whiche enhabit the realme of Galatia which is in Asya betwene Bithinia Capadocia as sayen Plinye in the laste chap. of hys fyfth boke and Ptolome in y e fyrst Table of Asye The same Realme is called also Gallogretia and the people Gallogreci because that when the Gaules came to the ayde and succour of the kyng of Bythynie they helde and possessed that part of the Royalme Wherefore it is so named as wryteth Sabellique Gallus a Ryuer Looke on theyse wordes Goddesse Pesynuntyne Ganymedes was Son of Tros king of Phrigia who had Issue Ilus Assacus and Ganimedes The Fables surmise which is the most coÌ„mon opinion y e Iupiter rauished Ganimedes for his beauty by an Egle. But Sabellique in the .x. boke of hys fyrste Enneade sayth y t Ganymedes the Son of Tros was rauished by Tantalus kynge of Paphlagenie to abuse hym Whereby there arose great warre betwene the two kynges And it is most lyke that being very yonge he was iniuriously rauished by Tantalus vnder y e signe of the Egle were the battayles fought vpon the land or Sea Whych hath bene cause of the inuentioÌ„ of the Fable that sayeth that the Egle by ordynaunce of Iupiter rauyshed hym Gaule or Fraunce Cesar in his commentaries saith that Gaule is deuided into thre partes wherof y e Belges helde the one the Celtes another and the Aquitans inhabited the thyrd The Aquitans are seperated froÌ„ the Celtes by the Ryuer of Garumna The Celtes are sequestred from the Belges by the Ryuers of Marne and Seyn And the Belges are sundred frome the Almaignes by the Rheyn In the which diuision Gaule Narbonique is not comprised Ptolomee in hys fourth Table of Europe and in the chapyters of the same dothe deuyde Gaule into foure partes appoyntynge Gaule Aquitanyque to extende as farre as the Ryuer of Loyre And from Loyre to the Ryuers of Seyn and Marne is Gaule named Lugdunensis And from Seyn vnto Rheyn Gaule Narbonique extendeth it selfe vnto the Sea Mediterranean beyonde the Alpes and the Ryuer Varus vnto the Pyrrhenyan Mountaignes Gaule the rounded or otherwyse called Lumberdye is in the Lymytes of Italye and is the same countreye whyche is named Liguria nexte vnto the Alpes and the Sea All the other Gaule or Fraunce is called Gaule bering bushe Gaule Narbonique was before tyme named Brachata as sayeth Pliniie in the thyrde boke and the fourth chapyter Goddesse Pesynuntyne is y e same that Cicero in hys bokes of the lawes calleth the Moother Idea whyche is the selfe same that the Romaynes name the Moother
of the Goddes and doo greatlye reuerence Liuie in the .ix. booke of hys seconde warre Punique sayth that they founde in the Sybyline bokes whyche were perused and redde ouer because of the often raynynge of stones the same yeare that when so euer anye straunger and forreyne enemye shoulde moue warre agaynste Italye he myghte be vanquysshed and expelled thence yf the Moother Idea were transported to Rome from a fyelde of Phrigia named Pesinus The whyche to do the Romaynes sent fiue Ambassadours wyth fyue greate shyppes called Cynqueremes to Atalus king of Asie Who led them to the place called Pesynus delyuered them the holye stone whych the inhabitauntes there called y e Moother of the Goddes and appoynted theym to carye it vnto Rome It was receyued at the Hauen of Hostia by Publius Scipio beynge iudged at that tyme the worthyest manne in all the Cytye to do the same caryed vnto Rome and sette in the Temple of Victorye wythin the Palayce the .xiij. daye of Apryll whyche was celebrated and solempnyzed wyth feastes and gyftes that the people in greate aboundance offered vnto the Goddesse Whych playes the Romaynes called Megalesia The same Goddesse is called Ops whome they suppose to be y e wyfe of Saturne called Rhea by the whyche they vnderstande the earth that geueth affluence and abundaunce of all thynge She is otherwise named Cybele of the name of a Hyl and cytye of Phrigia where her sacrifyces were fyrst instituted Or she is called Cybele of Cimbals which signifyeth the Instrumentes and Soundes they vsed in the sacryfyces The Poetes sayen that she roade in a Chariot and had a crown of Towers wherby they sygnyfye that the earthe hangeth in the ayre and the world tourneth alwayes rounde aboute and that the earth hathe vpon it Cytyes and Townes wherein be Towers She is called Moother of the Goddes because she engendreth all thyng She is also called Pales for y t she is y e Goddesse of sheperdes her feastes are called Palilia And she is also surnamed Berecinthia of a moūtaygne of Phrigie called Berecynthes Accordyng to the diuersytye of her names she hath dyuers powers dyuers sacryfyces and dyuers ministers Vnder theyse names Cybele Berecynthia Goddesse Pesynuntyne Moother Idea because they came of names of places in Phrigia from whence thys Goddesse was broughte to Rome is no diuersitie of puyssaunce sygnified Thys Goddesse hathe Priestes and Ministers called Galli by the name of a Riuer named Gallus in Phrigia The water wherof causeth theym to be mad that drynke it Those Priestes be gelded who beyng sturred wyth madnesse noddynge theyr heades vp and downe wyth great noyse of small Belles whych they caryed did prophesye and tell of thynges to come in that madnesse They were otherwyse called Corybantes I. ILium is the same Cytye that we call Troye the great Ilus son of Tros in y e coūtrey called Troas dyd buylde thys ritye Iliū so called of his name And of the countrey wherin it stode it was named Troye as wytnesseth Sabellique in the fyfth booke of hys fyrst Enneade The Countrey is ioynyng vnto Phrigia on the East and towardes the west it hath the Sea Hellespontique as Ptolomee hathe described it in hys first Table of Asie Illiria The Royalme of Illiria described by Ptolomee in his .v. Table of Europe hath on y e North Coste y e .ii. Pannonies on y e west y e coūtry called Istria Towards the East it hath y e high Misia And towards y e South a part of Macedonia This Roialme is also named Liburnia y e part which extēdeth towards y e high Misia is called Dalinatia At this presēt the Illiriā Regiō is called Sclauonia Loke Ptolome in y e said .v. cable of Europe India There are .ii. Indes both in Asia ioyning togithers wherof thone maketh an ende of Asie towards thoriēt is called Inde beyonde the Riuer of Ganges On this side the Riuer is Inde called Inde on this side Ganges which hath on the East syde the same Riuer On the west the Royalmes of Paropanisades Arachosia Gedrosia On y e North y e moūtaine Imaus And on the Southe the Indian Sea as sayeth Ptolome in the fyrste Chapiter of the .x. Table of Asye ¶ Iocasta was y e wife of Laius King of Thebes After whose deceasse she maried her own Sone Oedipus vnwares And had by him .ii. childrē Etheocles Polinices who fought togithers after Dedipus death for the Royalme of Thebes And in y e same cōbate both y e Bretherne slew one an other as saieth Sabellique in y e .vij. Booke of his first Emeade For this cause did y e Alexādriens in mocquerie call Antonines Mother Iocasta because Antonyne for to obtayne Thempyre alone had slayne hys Brother Geta as the .ij. Sones of Iocasta slewe one an other for the Royalme of Thebes Ionie Plyne in the .v. Booke the .xxix. Chapi sayeth that the Countrey of Lydia watered ouer wyth the Riuer of Meander very croked and full of tourninges both extende aboue Ionie hauing on y e East syde Phrigia on the North Misia and on the Southe Caria The which Countrey of Lidia was before called Meonie By y e descriptiō y t Ptolomee maketh in y e firste Table of A◠Ionie is y e self same Regiō y t is called Lidye or Meonye At the lest wise it is a parte therof bosiding vpon the Sea whiche for that cause is called Ionyan The same Ionian Sea dothe extende frō the Bankes of Ionie vnto the bankes of thysle of Sicile Plinye in the iiii booke the .xi. Chap. sayeth that the Greekes deuyded the Ionian Sea into the Sea of Sicile and the Sea of Crete so called bicause of the nigh Isles Ptolome in the .v. boke the seconde Capiter sayeth that the Regiō proprelie called Asia hath on the North syde Bithinia On the West a part of Propontis the Sea Hellespontique the Sea Ieariā the Sea Myrtoique On y e East the Regiōs of Licia Pamphilia Galatia And on the Southe the Sea of the Rhodes In this Region are cōprised Lidia Caria other small Royalmes In Lidia is Ionia as it is before saied And Ionie is ryght ouer aneanst an Isle called Icarie whereof the Sea there is named Icariā And it is the same which is called Ionian Caria is betwene Lidie the Sea of y e Rhodes On the West it hath the Sea Icarian or Myrtoique And on y e East is Licia ioyned to Pamphilia ¶ Issicus Sinus is a reflexion bendinge of the Sea which hath on the West thyste of Cipres And on the East Siria ioyned vnto the Bankes of Siria And on the Northe syde is the Countrey of Cilicia In y e plaine by the same tourning of the Sea is the Citye of Alexādrie builded by Alexāder y e grete in memorie of y e batail by him wonne against Darius King of Persia In this place also was the battayle betwene Seuerus Niger ¶ Ister is a great and
meruaylouse Ryuer otherwyse called Danubie or Danowe comming oute of a mountayne of Almayne named Arnoba Beyonde the Alpes it passeth by Innumerable Countreis The further it runneth the more it encreaseth reteining the name of Danow vntyll it commeth by the Countrey of Illiria nowe called Sclauonie where he chaungeth hys name and is called Ister And receyuinge hys encrease of .lx. Riuers which fall into hym he departeth from y e earth and entreth into the Sea Pontique by .vi. grete armes as sayeth Plynye in the .iiii. booke the .xi. Chapiter of his Historie naturall L. LAodicea is a Cytye of Siria nighe vnto the Sea and not very farre distant from Antioche whyche is also in Siria but further from the Sea as wytnesseth Ptolomee in the .iiii. Table of Asye ¶ Latium is a parte of Italye in the whyche standen Rome Tusculum Prenesâ—e Ardea Tibur and many other Cities as writeth Ptolomee in the fyrste Chapiter of the syxte Table of Europe Those that enhabyte this parte of Italy are by the Romaynes called Latini ¶ Laurentum is a Cytye of Italye in the same parte that is called Latium nighe vnto Hostia By Laurentum there is a forest sacred vnto the Sonne as sayeth Plynye in the .v. Chapiter of his thyrde booke ¶ Liber Pater in Englysshe Free father is the selfe same God that we call Apollo as saieth Macrobius in his Saturnales after Aristotle for diuerse causes and amonges other bicause that in Thrace there is a Temple and Oratory dedicated vnto Liber wherin answeres and Prophesyes are rendered But in the same Temple those whyche oughte to Prophecie do drinke wyne excessiuely as they whyche render oracles in the Cytye of Clarium after thei haue dronke muche water The Lacedemonyens in the sacryfyces whyche they made to Apollo ware Garlandes of Iuye as yf they dyd sacrifyce to Bacchus The Boetians affyrmynge that the Hyll Parnassus was sacred vnto Apollo dyd alwayes there kepe the Oracle of Delphus and the Caues of Bacchus dedicated vnto the same GOD. For thys cause in that Hyll were the sacryfyces made vnto Apollo and Liber Pater ¶ In thys Hyll also where the Bacchanales celebrated ones in two yeare whyche shewed that Apollo Lyber and Bacchus were but one GOD. And he was called Lyber that is to saye Frea bycause the Sonne whyche we call Apollo dothe frealy and without subiection tourne compasse the worlde beynge sometimes highe and sometymes lowe and kepynge his course diuerse wayes ¶ Lybie is a Region of Aphrique And it is expedient to know that there are .ii. Libies For Ptolomee in the .v. Chapitre of his .iiii. Table of Aphrique setteth one Libye ioyned with Egipte the Marmarike Region And saieth y e Egipt the Marmarike Region haue on the West part the Royalme of Cirenia folowynge the continuation of one Lyne whiche draweth by a Citye called Darius that standeth vpon the Egiptian Sea And in the .vi. Chapi of the .iiii. Table of Aphrique he setteth an other Libye called Libye the Inner whiche hath on the North the seconde Mauritanie Aphrique y e lesse the Cirenayake Region On the Easte a parte of the Marmarike Region Ethiope whiche is vnder Egipt Towardes the South it hath Ethiope y e Inner And towardes y e west it hath y e west Sea For more descriptioÌ„ hereof looke Ptolome iÌ„ y e forsaid Chap. tables ¶ Lydie is a Countrie of Asia vpon the Egean Sea betwene Phrigia Caria This Contrey hath .ii. Riuers of great same The one of them is on the Northe coste called Pactolus wherin are founde many vaynes of Golde And thother is in the South syde called Meanâ—er which is very eroked beÌ„ding in oute Loke Ptolome in the fyrste Table of Asye M. MAuritanie Ptolome in his first Table of Affrike appointeth .ii. Mauritanies Thone whereof is more West right ouer aneanst Spaine Betique and called Mauritania Triganica Thother beinge more nere Thorient is named Mauritania Cesariensis and on the Easte parte ioyned vnto Numidia ¶ Medes be the people of the Royaulme called Media Ptolomee in his .vi. booke the secoÌ„de Chap. sayeth that this RegioÌ„ hath on y e North cost a part of the HircaniaÌ„ Sea On the West y e grete Armenie and Assirie On On the Easte Hircanie Parthie And towardes the Southe it hath the region called Corinthena Thus is this regioÌ„ described in the .v. table of Asie Plinie in the vi booke the .xxvij. chap. sayeth that Marcus Agrippa sayd y e Media Parthia the couÌ„trey of Persâ—e had on the East the riuer Indus On the West the ryuer Tygris On the Northe Taurus Cacausus And on the South the redde Sea Media Looke on the worde Medes Mesapotamie is a royalme of Asâ—e betwene the riuers of Euphrates Tigris as sayth Plinie in y e .xii. chap. of the .v. boke And in the .vi. boke the .xxv. chap. he sayeth that all the countreye of Mesapotamâ—e was subiect vnto the Affricans Looke more on thys worde Syrye Misiens The hygh Misie as Ptolomee hath described it in the ninth table of Europe is bouÌ„ding vpoÌ„ Thrace on the East part On the South vnto a lytle Royalme named Dardania which is aboue Macedonia And on North vnto the Ryuer of Danowe The lowe Misâ—e is nygh vnto y e falling of Danowe in the sea called Pontus Euxinus ¶ Loke on this word Propontys The Misiens are those which inhabit these .ii. regions Plinie in the .xxvi. chap. the thyrde boke called these royalmes Misia Ther are .ij. other in Asie after the description that Ptolomee maketh in the fyrste Table of Asie Thone called Misia the more thother Misia the lesse both ioyning to Phrigia vpoÌ„ the Hellespontian Sea N. NIcea is a cytye of Bithynie as sayen Ptolomee and Plinie Nicomedia is a Cytye nygh vnto the Sea in the Royalme of Bithynye Numidia is a countrey in Affrike betwene Mauritanie the countrey of Carthage after the descriptioÌ„ of Ptolome in the .ii. table of Affryke Thys couÌ„trey was very much renowned through the vertue of Masinissa who was king sometyme therof Thinhabitauntes are called Numidians or Nomades because y e often tymes they chauÌ„ge theyr habitations cary theyr housholdes froÌ„ one place to another in wagoÌ„s as saith Plinie in y e thyrd chap. the .v. boke of hys naturall Hystorye Sabellique in the fyrst boke of hys .v. Enneade O. ORgia be sacrifices made aswell vnto the Moother of the Goddes as vnto Bacchus other Goddes by the pryestes called Galli that are madde ¶ Ocean is the great Sea that enuironeth al y e earthe and ioyneth hym self w t the Mediterrane Sea betwene the pyllers of Hercules Thone wherof is in Mauritania called Abilla And thother in Spayne named Calpe The Mediterrane Sea is enclosed w t earth on euery syde that is to say on the right side wyth Affryke and on the lefte syde wyth Europe and Asie P. PAnuonie Ptolome in y e .v. table of
folowing had asmuche authoritee as Themperour And because thei coulde not be in all places when neade requyred thei sent their Proconsulles into the Prouinces which had there as greate authoritee as if y e Consulles had bene present This word Proconsull also sygnifyeth hym whyche is in steade of the Consull and dothe that that the Consull shoulde doo as sayeth Fenestella and Pomponius Letus of the Romayne Magistrates ¶ Prodigiouse tokes were signes which ofteÌ„ times happened naturally Neuerthelesse thei betokened one myshap or other Wherfore some do saye y e prodigiouse is deryued of that whyche oughte to be feared as the soÌ„ge of the Harpie called Celeno whereof Virgile speaketh Duch are the singinge of a Rauen the meetinge of a weesel when a maÌ„ goeth forth of his house Thiese and suche other lyke did men in olde time accoÌ„pte monstruouse and signifieng some calamytie to ensue ¶ Propontis is a part of the Mediterrane Sea whiche is deuided into diuerse partes For Pontus is a parte of the same Sea Propontis is a part of PoÌ„tus Pliniein the .iiij. boke y e .xij. Chapiter saieth y t the firste straite of the Sea which is betwene Thrace Asie where Xerxes made a Bridge to passeouer his Army is called Hellespontus And that is a small arme of y e Sea very strayte After y t it is somewhat brode then retourneth into a narowe strayte again This Sea y t is the broder parte is called PropoÌ„tis and the streite is named Bosphorus Thracius beynge in bredthe .v. paces onely Ouer thys streite Darius king of Serse father of Xerxes passed his army vpon a Brydge In exteÌ„ding further towards the North beyoÌ„de Bosphorus Thracius the Sea doth enlarge him selfe wonderfully is called Pontus Euxinus And after y t it retourneth to a strait again is called Bosphorus Cimmerius whiche is thissue of one of the Lakes Meotides y t is the last part of y e Mediterrane Sea towardes the Northe All thiese Seas aboue specifyed are partes of the Sea Pontus ¶ Ptolomeus after he had expelled Antigonus y e Sone of Demetrius helde the Royalme of Macedonie as saieth Sabbelique in the .viij. booke of his .iiij. Emeade He fayned him selfe to be amorouse of hys owne Sister Arsinde and that he desyred to haue her to wyfe But when she had condiscended to the same he shewed apparauntly after his receite into the City of Cassandra that his purpose was to bereue his syster of the Citye and to slea the chyldren that she hadde by Lysymachus her fyrste husbande whome he slewe in their Mothers armes At the laste he was vanquished by the Gaules vnder the leading of Belgius theyr Capitaine takeÌ„ prisoner and beheaded and his heade pitched vpon a polle to feare the Macedones withall ¶ Pyrrhichius is a foote or measure composed of two shorte sillables so called by the name of Pirrhus king of the Royaulme called Epyrus whiche is nyghe vnto Thessalie and beneth Macedonie For that by him was inuented a kynde of daunsynge called Pyrrichius as sayeth Plinye in the .vj. Chap. of the .vij. Booke The which leaping or daunsing was by mouyng and measure of two short syllables whereof Herodian in hys fourthe Booke maketh mencion R. Rhenus Looke on this woorde The Rheyn S. SArmates are the people and enhabitauntes of the Regions Sarmatiques Plinye and Ptolome sayen there are two Sarmaties one in Europe an other in Asie And bothe nighe vnto the Ryuer Tanais whych diuideth Europe and Asye and nyghe vnto the Lakes Meotides whereinto Tanais dothe fall Ptolomee in the .v. Chapiter of hys .iiij. Booke sayeth that Sarmatie of Europe exteÌ„deth towards y e North as farre as the great Ocean which in that part is called the Sarmatique Ocean Towards the West vnto the Riuer named Vistula Towardes the Southe vnto the mountaynes Sarmatiques which make separacioÌ„ of Sarmatie and the countrey of Dace and the lower Misye Towards the East vnto a streite plot of yearth named Isthmê° of y e Lake or Riuer Bicis And it hath on the one syde the lakes Meotides and the Ryuer of Tanais And in the .v. Booke the .ix. Chapiter Ptolomee saieth that Sarmatie which is in Asie hathe on the Northe a Lande vnknoweÌ„ On the West it hath Sarmatie of Europe vnto the heade and the Ryuer selfe of Tanais On the Easte the Lakes Meotides vnto the streyte of the Sea called Cimmerius On the Southe it hathe a parte of the Mediterrane Sea called Eurinus Pontus which is verye nygh vnto y e Lakes Meotides and it stretcheth from thence vnto the Riuer Corax And from the Riuer Corax aboue the Regions of Colchis Iberie Albanie vnto y e Hircanien Sea whiche is otherwyse named the Caspian Sea And on the East it hath a part of the same Hircanyen Sea and the Riuer of Rha vntyll that it entreth into Sarmatye where Sarmatie stretcheth vnto the Scithians Plynye in the .iiii. booke the .xii. Chapiter sayeth that the Greekes dothe call them Saromates that we name Sarmates and that the name of Scithians passeth vnto the Sarmates and to the Almaynes ¶ Saturnales were feastes and sacrifices of Saturne instituted and ordeined fyrste by Ianus to the honour of Saturne who taughte hym to tyll the earthe And after Saturnes decense he dedycated an aultare and sacrifices vnto hym which are called Saturnales The auncient fathers did solempnize thiese feastes one day only in the yere that is to weete in December the xiiij Calendes of Ianuary But after y t Ceasar had added .ij. dayes more vnto that moneth the feastes were celebrated the .xxvi. CaleÌ„des of Ianuary Which caused that the common people beyng ignoraunt of those daies did celebrate the feastes many tymes in the yere Many Authours do affirme that in olde tyme the Paturnales endured .vij. dayes during the which feastes the Seruauntes Bondemen had as grete aucthoritie as their Maisters and had lycence to doo what lyked them selues beste So saieth Macrobius in the firste Booke the .vi. Chap. of hys Saturnales ¶ Peculer playes were celebrated ones in three ages whyche was thre hundred yeres ¶ Septentrion It is certayne as sayeth Aulus Gellius in the seconde Booke the .xxij. Chapiter of his Attique nyghtes that the heauen hathe foure Regions That is to saye the Oriente Occidente Meridionall and SeptentrioÌ„ The Meridionall or South SepteÌ„trion or Northe are alwayes remayning in their own places And the Northe is in that place of the Heauen which is ryght opposite to the South whiche is in the middes betwene the Oriente and the Occident where the Sonne neuer coÌ„meth The Orient is very variable For in the Somer the Sonne ryseth in that place from whence commeth the wynde Bize whyche is somewhat towardes the Northe In the myddle or meane dayes the Sonne ryseth where the wynde Eurus is And in the shortest daies it ryseth towards the South in the same part y t the winde called Vulturnus or other wyse Euronotus is And as there
are .iii. risiÌ„ges eue so are there thre settinges or descendinges likewyse mencioned and thre windes cumming froÌ„ the same thre settinges That is to weete Caurus named by y e Greekes Argestes blowing righte againste the wynde Bize Fauonius or Zephirus againste Eurus And Africus named by the Greekes Libs against Vulturnus The wynde which coÌ„meth froÌ„ the South because y t the South chauÌ„geth not is one in Latin called Auster in Greeke Notus bicause it is moyste The Northe parte by like reason hath one onely wynde which bloweth against Auster This name Septetrion as saieth Aulus Gellius in the Chapiter last cited commeth of that that .vii. starres doo make a signe in the heaueÌ„ in forme of a wayne oxen yoked to labour or elles bicause the iii. next starres that a man may se in the Northe nigh one vnto an other do make as it were a triangle and thys sygne is ryght opposite vnto the Southe ¶ Sirmium is a Cytye of the lower Pannonie towardes the hygh Misye drawinge to the East It is beyonde y e Ryuer of Danowe as saieth Ptolomee in the. xvi Chap. of his thyrd boke Plynie in the .xxv. chap. of his thyrde boke saieth y t a Riuer called Bacuntius entereth into y e Ryuer Paus nygh vnto the City SirmiuÌ„ ¶ Syrie as Ptolome descrybeth it in the .iiii. Table of Asye is seperated from Armenye on the Northe by the mouÌ„taigne Taurus On the South is Arabie on y e West stretchyng towardes y e Isle of Cypre is y e Sea of Sirie which is now called y e Sea of Phoenicia And on the East is Mesapotamye Plynie in y e .v. booke the .xii. Chapiter sayeth that Syrie was the greatest of all the ProuiÌ„ces therfore had y e name of al Royalmes which wer subiect vnto it For towards Arabi it was called Iudea or Iury Palestine Phoenice more inwarde Damascene In stretchiÌ„g towards y e South it is called Babilone And betwene y e Riuers of Tigris Euphrates it is named Mesapotamie BeyoÌ„d y e MouÌ„tain Taurê° it is called Sophene where Euphrates is deuided into .ij. partes And beyond Armenie it is called Assyrye On y e part where it bouÌ„deth vpoÌ„ Cilicia it is called Antioche The part of Syrya which lyeth along the sea coast are the countreyes of Idumea Iudea And in stretchinge more hygher towardes the Northe is the countrey of Phoenice And after it is more nere Euphrates it is called Sirie as saith Plinie in deuiding Sirie more exquisitely All the Sea which is nygh thys part is called the Phenician Sea The people of Phoenicia hathe bene meruaylouslye renowned for that they were the fyrste Inuenters of letters of Astrologie of making shyps and all engens of warre T. TAurus is a Mountaygne in Asie meruaylouse huge great as sayeth Plinie in the .xxvij. chap. the .v. boke of hys natural historye For he saith that hys begynnynge is vpon the bancke of the Oriental Sea and passeth from thence by many peoples and Countreys makyng separation betwene them At his begynnyng which is at the Indian Sea he hath on the ryght syde the North and on the lefte syde the Southe stretchynge towards to y e West by the middes of Asie sauynge where he encountreth the Sea After that he bendeth towardes the North and fetcheth a great compasse on thone syde Then he stretcheth towardes the Phoenician Sea On thother side towards y e Pontian Sea and on another parte to the Hircanian Sea And he goeth verye nygh vnto the Lake Meotide And after he hathe verye muche bowed and tourned hym selfe he ioyneth wyth the Mountaygnes Riphees whyche are in the North. And all the way as he passeth he hath diuers names For in India where he begynneth he is named Imaus after that Paropanisus Circius Chanibades and manye other names Where he is moste hyghest he is called Cacausus which is aboue y e royalmes of Colchis Iberie Albanie And where he stretcheth out hys armes as yf he woulde embrace the Sea he is named SarpedoÌ„ Coracesius Cragus Wher he hath portes for separation and passage albeit the same be trenched naturally opened yet is it all one Mountaygne Those portes are called in one place Armenien which is Armenie In another parte they are called Caspien nighe vnto the people called Caspij who are betwene Armenie the great the Medes And they are in another place called the Portes of Cylycye And although it hath in diuers places dyuers names yet is it in Greke called by one name the mouÌ„taygnes Ceranques Thus sayeth Plinye in the place afore alledged Lyuie thother Historyens sayen y t thys mountaigne doeth appoynte the lymyttes and bonndes of the Romayne Empyre ¶ Theater Loke on thys worde Amphitheater ¶ The Aegean sea parte of the Mediterrane sea is betwene Asie Macedonie and is called Aegean because that in the same Sea are manye Isles so nygh one another that a farre of they seame to be Goates which the Grekes call Egas or because that Aegea Queene of the Amazones was therein drowned or elles for that Aegeus the father of Theseus threwe hym selfe headlonge into it as sayth Sextus Pompeius ¶ The Ionian sea Loke on thys worde Ionie ¶ The Rhein Cesar in hys commentaryes sayth that Gaule Belgique extendeth on the East vnto the Rhein And beyonde it are the Almaygnes and thereby the Rhein doeth deuyde Gaule Belgique from the Almaygnes In Gaule Belgique are comprised the couÌ„treyes of Lorrayne Luxenbourg Guelders Flaunders Thys Ryuer commeth out of the Alpes and falleth into the Sea of Flaunders Before his entery into the Sea he maketh an Isle whyche is the countrey of Hollande nyghe vnto the whyche is the countrey of Guelders bendyng towardes the head of the same Ryuer Beyonde it is Luxenbourg and Lorrayne whych is seperated from Luxenbourg by y e Riuer of Meselle whych coÌ„meth out of y e mountaygne Vogesus and falleth into the Rhein Out of the same mountaygne commeth the Meuse whyche runneth lykewyse into the Flemyshe sea Betwene the Meuse and the Ryuer of Somme towardes the Sea is the countreye of Flaunders whyche is seperated from Fraunce by the sayde Ryuer of Somme as it is apparauntlye described and fygured in the newe Table adioyned vnto the Tables of Ptolomee ¶ The men at armes Pretorian Loke on these wordes Cohorte Pretoryan ¶ The seuen Seas Looke on thys worde Eridanus ¶ The Tygre Loke on thys worde Tygris ¶ The Tirrhenian Sea is y e low Sea which exteÌ„deth alonge by Italie nigh vnto the coste of Hoffie And is so called by the name of Tyrrhenus sonne of Atys and brother of Lidus kyng of Lydie who came into Italy and with his people inhabited that part of Italy which is vpon the lowe sea whereby the Region is also called Tyrrhenie After it was called Tuscie and Hetrurie as sayeth Sabellique ¶ Thrace is Royalme of Europe in the furthest part therof towardes the Orient The which Realme hath on the
wyth contynual colde cloudes Wylt thou neuer O Emperour sayde they leaue drynkynge of water digged congeled togyther as yse Shal other meÌ„ enioye the clere well springes the pleasaunt colde of the runnynge ryuers and the holsome ayre of Italye By these allurynges to wantonnesse they easely enflammed the yonge mans mynde wyth vehemente desyre of those plesures Wherfore furthwyth hauynge called hys frendes togyther he dyssymuled not that he was verye desyrous of hys natyue countrey But yet fearynge to declare the very cause of hys sodeyn alteracyon of mynde he fayned that he stoode in greate doubte leaste any ryche manne of the nobylytie woulde take possessyon of the Imperyall Palayce And thereupon gatherynge vntoo hym a greate power of meÌ„ would as oute of y e strongest fortresse chalenge vntoo hym selfe the princypall domynyon of all theÌ„pyre For sayd he amonges the people may easely be leuied a mighty approued coÌ„pany of yonge men Whiles he thiese causes moued all the rest hauing their eyes caste vpon the earth with styll and sorowfull countenaunce Pompeianus who in age was the moost auncient and had maried CoÌ„modus eldest syster arose vp and sayed It is no meruayle o Sonne and soueraigne that you are holden wyth desyre of your countrey for the very same desyre of seyng oure housholdes dothe vrge and sturre vs also But we represse that affection for that thaffaires we haue here in hande requyre the fyrste parte and lyeth vs more vpon to dispatche As for the pleasures of the Citye you shall longer enioye hereafter And Rome is contynually where the Emperour soiourneth Nowe to gyue ouer the warre lately begonne besydes that it is shamefull it is also very peryllous for thereby we minister occasion of audacitee vnto the Barbarouse people who wyll thinke that we are not departed for cause of recreacioÌ„ but that we are fledde being daunted with feare And vnto your selfe howe gloriouse wyll it be after ye haue vanquished all your enemies and enlarged the boundes of your Empyre vnto the ocean to retourne to Rome wyth tryumphe and therin to haue ledde bounde as captyues the barbarouse kynges and Lordes for truly after this sorte in the former worldes did the Romaynes were noble and famouse There is no cause why you shoulde feare that your affayres in the city are in any hasarde For euery principall senatour is here present wyth you and the hole army doth before your eyes defende your Empire yea and all your chiefest Treasoure is with vs also The memorie besides of your father hath establysshed a stedfast and perfecte beneuolence towardes you with all estates When Pompeianus perswading hym to the better had thus muche spoken he did somewhat at that present represse the wyll and endeuour of the younge Emperour who fearyng the olde mans sayinges hauing nothing wherwith he myght well replye dismyssed the counsayle promisyng that he would more diligently at leysure debate with hym selfe those thinges Yet afterwarde hys seruauntes and parasites callynge more instantely vpon hym he made no further relacion vnto hys Counsailours But hauyng sent his letters vnto Rome and appointed whom he thought meete to defende the bankes of Hister and restreigne the attemptes of the Barbariens he caused furthwith his remouing to be proclaymed Thei that were lefte behynde diligently executed the offices appoynted them and wythin a lytle space broughte many in subiection And some they ioyned by great gyftes in frendeshyp vnto them The whiche was not verye harde to doo For the Barbarouse people beyng naturally gready of money and despysers of all daungers do eyther gette their liuing wyth inuasions and pylleng of their neyghbours or elles for an appoynted salarie sell their peace The which thing Commodus perceyuyng that he might with money wherof he had innumerable abundauÌ„ce purchase hym selfe securitee and quiet he denyed nothing vnto the demaunders Now assone as the fame of hys setting forwarde was spredde in the armye sodeynly a greate sturre was amonges all the Souldyours euery man desyring to returne vnto Rome and affecting the pleasures of the citye to leue theyr enemyes countrey And when it was blowen abroade by reporte of purseuauntes and postes that the Emperour was retourning to the Citye an incredible ioye wandered amonges the common people euery man conceuing in hym selfe a singuler hope of theÌ„perours presence and trusting assuredly that he would folowe his fathers steppes Hym selfe making speade in hys iourney and passynge wyth a certayne feruencie of youthe in his charyot throughe the myddes of all theÌ„ cities was receiued with princely reuerence and ioyfull assemblies of the people welcomed as one most acceptable and wyshed for vnto them And when he approched nygh vnto Rome the hole Senate and the Romayne commons eche of them coueiting to preuent other crowned wyth lawrell and caryeng all â—ynde of flowers that the presente season of the yere â—yd minister met as farre as they coulde from the citye their prince notable in the floure of youth and nobilitie of byrthe For truely they loued him with most feruent affection beyng borne and brought vp amonges them and then possessynge in the thirde degree thempyer and regimente of Rome For of his fathers syde he issued from the chiefest of the Senatours And hys Mother Faustina a Princes wyfe the doughter of Antoninus Pius niece by her mother vnto Hadrian dyd referre the Pedegrue of her kynred vnto Traian her grete graundefather Of this parentage was Commodus descended vnto whome besydes the flowre of his age was giuen also an excelleÌ„cie of bewtie a congruent stature of body an amiable and manly countenaunce pleasauÌ„t and shining beames in hys eyes and a yelow and curled heare whiche when he came into the Sonne dyd so glyster that manye deamed the same as he passed by them to be sprinkeled ouer wyth golden duste Many also estemed it a token of diuinyte coniecturing that the rayes about the top of his heade were by generacion and nature gyuen vnto hym The softe heares besydes sprange oute of hys cheekes and couered them as it were with flowers They receyued therfore this such an Emperour wyth ioyfull showtes and strawing of Garlandes and flowers in the way as he passed After he was enteryd into the Citie visyted and saluted the Temples fyrste of Iupiter and then of the other Goddes and gyuen thankes to the hole Senate and the Pretorian Souldiours for their fidelite obserued towards hym he went into thimperiall palayce For a fewe yeres after this he did honourably entrete his fathers frendes and vsed their counsaile in all his affayres Those yeres expired he coÌ„mytted the charge of the hole Empyre vnto other coÌ„stituted Capitaine of his garde an Italyan named Perennes a man verie experte and skylfull in warfare The same abusyng the age of the yonge Emperour permytted hym to be corrupted w t sensuall lustes and ruffyans And takynge vpon hym selfe all charge and labour ruled the hole Empyre There was in the man an insatiable thyrste
Phalaux in the honoure and remembraunce of Alexander When thei were so assembled he commaunded them to seperate themselfes in bandes a greate space one from an other that he mighte electe oute of them the apteste ages statures and personages for the warres The yonge men creditynge the same and perswaded wyth a coloure of truthe thrughe the greate honoure he had before shewed towardes theyr deade Prince resorted thither in many cōpanyes bringinge with them their Parētes and Bretherne with ioyouse acclamaciōs shoutes Then Antonine went about eche companye vewing them and praisinge this and that in euerye one as he liked vntil his whole host had compassed them vnwares and loking for no such thinge And when he perceaued them al to be enclosed with his armie entangled as it were with nettes him self came furth with his garde and gaue a watche word vnto the Souldiours who furthwith ran vpon the people and slewe with meruaylous slaughter the naked and vnarmed youth al other that wer present Of the Souldiors some were occupied in murdering onely other some buried the deade corpses in huge pyttes coueringe them with earth againe raysed a meruaylous highe hil Many were drawen half dead into y e pittes many were buryed quicke There perished besides very many of the Souldiours them selfes For they which had any breth remaining and not fully lost theyr natural strength clipping the Souldiors which ranne vpon them drewe the same also into the pittes wyth them And there was so great a murdre committed that with streames of bloud which ranne alonge the playnes not onely the mouthe of Nylus but also the Sea by the Citie became red of colour Thys eanded Antonyne affecting the Parthyane surname and renowme of Thoriental conquest although the people were nowe in perfecte peace inuented this crafte He wrate letters vnto Artabanus king of Parthia and sent vnto him Ambassadors with sundrie sumptuous giftes In those letters he wrate that he wold take to wife the kinges doughter for y t him self was a prince and a princes sonne And therfore it besemed not hys estate to become son in law of any priuate or meane persone but rather to mary a Queene or the doughter of a great and puisaunt king He alledged that the Empires of Rome and Parthia being the .ii. mightiest of the world ▪ shoulde by this affinitie ioyne togethers and no ryuer disseuerynge them be of so great strength that it were impossible for any forreyne power to vaynquishe them For quod he all the Barbarous nations whiche are nowe subiecte vnto both these Empires wyll easely continewe in subiection when euerye of them shall haue theyr owne rulers and gouernours The Romaynes he affyrmed had an armye of fote men the whyche wyth speares and in playne battayle excelled all other And the Parthians had a greate power of horsemen and experte archers Wherefore these thynges ioyned togethers and agreinge in one they shoulde he sayde easely retayne vnder one Scepter and Diademe the Empire of the whole worlde The pleasaunte spyces and fyne clothe also whiche came from them to the Romaynes and the goodly metall and all curious wroughte thynges which were transported from the Romains to them agayne shoulde not after thys mary age be seldome caried as it was wont by marchauntes but thuse therof shoulde be in common to them without let or interruption in one land and vnder one gouernour After the Parthian kinge had receaued these letters he fyrst denied the request saying that a barbarous matrimony became not a Romain For what cōcord quod he woulde be betwene them which vsed not one language nor one kind of liuing appayrel There were he sayde at Rome manye Senatours doughters amonges whome the Emperoure might chose hym a wyfe as there were in hys dominion certayne called Arsacide Neyther was there anye cause he thoughte why anye of them shoulde be alyenated from theyr natiue countrey With thys aunswere he repulsed the Emperours suyte But Antonyne neuer lefte of sendynge manye gyftes and promysynge by othes hys perfecte loue towardes hys doughter vntyll the Barbarous prynce beleuynge hys wordes promysed to geue hym hys doughter to wyfe When the fame of thys was spredde all the Barbarous people prepared themselues to receaue the Romayne Emperoure reioysynge wyth a certayne hope of contynuall peace thereafter Then Antonine hauing passed without let or staye of anye man the Riuers entred into the Parthian Region and rode thrughe the same as hys owne And in hys waye all the people celebrated sacryfices burning encense vpō the decked Aultares wherwith he fayned hym selfe to be greatly pleased After a lōge iorney he approched at the laste nyghe the Palaice of Artabanus Who met wyth him in a certaine plaine before the Cytye to receaue hym as a newe Brydegrome and hys Sonne in lawe And a greate multytude of the Barbarouse people crowned wyth theyr countrey floures and apparayled in garmentes adorned wyth golde and varyable colours celebrated the same as a feaste and solempnytye daunsynge togithers by the sounde of Pypes and Tabors For in those instrumentes they are aboue measure delyted especially when thei are ones wel tyipled with wine But when all the multytude were assembled togythers and hauing lefte their horses behinde and laide asyde their bowes and arrowes applyed them selfes to banquetynge and gatheringe togither in a rude plumpe stode withoute order whyles thei suspected no harme but euery mā thrusting forwardes to see the newe maryed man Sodeynly Antonyne wyth a preuy sygne commaunded all hys men to slea and destroy the Barbarouse people They beyng astonyed with that sodeyne chaunce turned theyr backes and fledde from the Romaynes whyche pursued and slewe them Artabanus hym selfe beynge socoured and set vpon a horse by some of hys Garde dyd wyth greate dyfficultye escape But the residewe of y e Parthians were euery where ouerthrowen and murdered For thei neither had their horses which thei most vsed thei hadde perdie sente theim before to grasse neyther coulde thei flee for theyr wyde garmentes hangynge downe to theyr heales interrupted theyr runnynge Thei broughte not besydes theyr bowes and arowes with them for what neaded that at a weddynge Thus after a great murder done on the Parthiens and a greate bootye of men and beastes taken captyues and ledde awaye Antonyne departed And withoute any resystence burned the Townes and vyllages geauing lycence vnto his Souldiours to ransake and spoyle all that they woulde or could This mischief calamitie did the Parthiens vnwares receiue Then Anthonyne hauing vyseted the inwarde partes of Parthia and his Souldiours beyng weryed w t rapyne and murder retourned into Mesapotamye From thence he sygnified vnto the Senate people of Rome that he had subdued Thoriente and brought in subiection all the men of those Regiōs The Senate albeit thei before knewe perfectly the hole circumstaunce for Princes affayres can by no meanes contynew longe in hugger mugger yet throughe feare and flaterye
euery daye agaynste him seeking some occasion were it euer so small to flea hym And so it was by destenye appoynted that Macrinus after he had one onely yeare voluptuousely Raigned should lose both hys Empyre his lyfe fortune hauing ministred lyght and symple occasyon to the Souldiors to commytte that thei had desyred There was a certen Phenycien woman named Moesa borne in a Citye of Phenicia called Emesa Suster vnto Iulia the wyfe of Seuerus Moother of Anthonine Who during the Raigne of Seuerus and Anthonine and the lyfe of Iulia had dwelte in themperours Palayce The same Moesa after the death of her Suster and murdre of Anthonyne Macrinus had commaunded to retourne into her owne Countrey w t all her substance And in sothe she was wonderfull ryche of money as one whyche of verye longe tyme had bene brought vp within thimperiall Treasourie And being retorned home she there continually remayned hauynge two daughters of the whiche the eldest hyght Soemis and the yōger was named Mammea The eldre had a Sōne called Bassianus and the yōger had an other named Alexianus Bothe these yonge mē were brought vp vnder their Moothers Grandmother Bassian was fourtene yeres olde and Alexianus x. Thei were priestes of the Sonne whiche thenhabitauntes of that contrey do chiefly worship naming it in the Phenicien tōgue Heleogabalus Vnto hym haue thei dedicated a very great Temple decked and adorned with abundaūce of Golde Syluer and preciouse stones And not onely thenhabytantes them selues do worshyppe it but all the noble menne also of the nexte nacions and the Barbarouse Kynges doo euerye yeare offer vnto it sumptuouse and precyouse gyftes There is no ymage made after the Romayne and Grecien facion lyke vnto thys God For it is a myghtye stone from the botom sharpened more and more vnto the toppe much lyke a Pynaple The colour of the stone is blacke whyche they reporte to be fallen oute of heauen In the same stone are sene very many formes and colours which they affirme to be the shape of the Sonne made by no mans hande Vnto this ymage was Bassianus sacred priest And because he was thelder hym selfe moste commonlye executed the office apparelled gorgeouslye after the Barbarous maner For he ware a cote wouen with gold hauing longe sleues and retchynge downe to hys heeles Hys legges were couered from the hāmes to the toes with lyke vesture of golde and purple And he ware on hys head a garland of freshe floures shining with colours He was then besydes in the floure of hys youth and the beautifullest of all yonge men at that tyme lyuynge And because hys beautye wyth the proportion of his bodye the floure of hys age and his gorgious decked apparel wer so agreable togethers men compared him vnto the goodly Images of Dionyse Nowe whyles thys Bassianus was celebrating the sacrifice and daunsyng after the Barbarous maner men dyd attentiuely loke vpō him but chiefly the Romayne Souldiours either for that they knew him to be of the Imperiall bloude or elles because hys floryshynge beautye allured euerye man to caste hys eyes towardes hym for the Romayne hoste laye then nyghe that Cytye beyng sente thither for the defence of Phenicia and shortly after departed from thence as we shall hereafter declare As they resorted to the Churche daylye throughe the pretence of religion they gladlye behelde the yonge man Amonges them certayne banyshed Romaynes familier with Moesa Whome she perceyuynge to wonder at the beautie of thys Striplinge reported vnto thē that he was the Sonne of Antonine although he were supposed anothers doubtfull it is whether she spake the truth or not For she said y t whiles she abode in thimperial palaice with her suster Antonine had to do with her .ii. doughters being then yong faire This being once told vnto them by them told againe vnto the residue of their felowes was furthwith published throughout thole Campe. It was besides reported that Mesa had whole heapes of money which she would gladlye distribute amonges the souldiors if thei wold restore thempire vnto her issue They promised her therfore yf she would come priuely by night into the Campe to opē the gate receaue her w t her folkes in For the which promise the olde woman denied them nothyng that they dyd demaunde being contente rather to attempt or take in hād any daūger thē to lede a priuat abiect life Wherfore she departed secretly by night out of y e citie w t her doughters neuewes was conueyed by the afore named fugitiues into the Campe. And beinge into the same wythout interruption receaued furthewyth all the Souldyours called the yong man Antonyne apparelled hym wyth purple and kepte hym with a sure garde amonges them for a whyle Then they broughte all the vitayls and necessaryes that they coulde gette in the nexte vylages and fyeldes wyth theyr wyues and children into the Campe. And so fortified them selues within the same that yf nede required they myght abyde the siege When these thinges were reported vnto Macrinus then soiornyng at Antioche and a rumour was spred throughout the host that Antonynes son was foūde that the suster of Iulia gaue money vnto the Souldiors when all that was spoken of or thoughte to be possible was holden for trew euery man beganne to doubt ▪ and reuolt from Macrinus styrred partly ther vnto through the hate thei bare vnto him partelye through the pitie whiche they had of the memorye of Antonine but especially encensed w t desire hope of monei So y t furth w t many fled vnto y e new Antonine But Macrinus cōtēpninge thole matter as childish vsing his accustomed alacritie of minde abode him self at home sent one of his capytains furth with as great a power as seamed sufficient for the subduing of the rebelles But when Iulianus for that was the Capitains name came thither began to lay siege to the walles the Souldiours y t were within shewed frō their Towers other high places the yong man criyng with loude voices that he was y e Son of Antonine lifting vp great bagges of money which are the only baite of treason And they crediting that he was Antonines son in deade because they wolde haue it so apeare esteming also his face liniamentes of bodye to be verye lyke strake of Iulianus head and sent it vnto Macrinus That eanded the gates of the fortresse were opened and them selfes receiued in Thus was theyr power augmented able not onely to abide a siege and repulse an assaulte but also to pytche a fielde a great number of fugitiues dayly resortynge vnto them When Macrinus heard therof he incontinently marched forwardes with thole armie to assaulte the fortresse And Antonine led his power futh against him for that his Souldiours woulde not tarie the siege beynge able ynough to fyght in playne battayle Then bothe the armyes encountred togethers in the confynes
the Macedonian power was greatlye worne through sundrye battayles growen by discention amonges them selues Arsaces the Parthian is cyted by Hystories to be the fyrste Persuader of the Parthians to reuolte from the Macedonians And he by the consente of the Parthians and other Barbarous people hys neyghbours wearynge on hys head the Diademe obtayned the kyngdome and lefte the same vnto hys posteritye euen vnto the time of the kynge Artabanus whome Artaxerxes hauing slayne restored as it is sayde the kyngdome vnto the Persians and broughte in subiection the nygh Barbarous nacions he dyd nowe prouoke the Romayne power to armes When relacion was made hereof to Alexander at Rome he determined no longer to â—eare the insolencye of the Barbarous kynge especyallye seynge hys Liuetenauntes and Captaynes called hym thyther Finallye wyth greate grudgynge and sore agaynste hys wyll he prepared hys expedition into the Orient And therfore generall musters were made thoroughout Italye and the Prouinces of all suche as seamed apte eyther in stature of bodye or strengthe of yeares In the same musters were many muties and tumultes amonges the Romayne Subiectes reasonynge what power myghte be equall vnto so great a multitude of Barbarous people And Alexander commaunded all the Pretorian Souldyours and other men at armes whyche were a Rome to repayre into the fieldes where hym selfe veynge ascended into the Tribunal seate spake these wordes vnto theym I woulde wyshe my felowes in armes to make suche an oration vnto you as should according to the accustomed wont vnto me the speaker get loue and honour and vnto you the hearers brynge ioye and gladnes For seyng we haue now many yeres lyued in peaceable tranquillitie yf ye shal heare of any new thing lately happened peraduenture ye wylbe a feard of the same as of a thynge vnluckelye chaunsed Neuertheles it becommeth valiaunt moderat men in deede to wishe for the beste but yet to suffer take in worth what soeuer happeneth For as the thynge we do with pleasure is swete and delectable so is that we do with vertue coÌ„mendable glorious And as he which first geueth occasion of warre seameth iniurious euen so he which withstandeth wronge is more confident in his coÌ„science conceaueth a better hope of his quarell for that it is ryghteous Artaxerxes a man of Persia hauynge slayne hys Soueraygne lorde Artabanus and translated hys kyngdome vnto the Persians doth nowe enterpryse in contempnynge the Romayne Maiestie to prouoke vs to battayle inuadynge at thys present and wastynge oure Prouinces I endeuoured at the fyrste to reduce hym by gentle letters from hys vnsaeiable gredines and exhorted hym not to coueyte that was not his owne But he being puffed vp with Barbarous insolencye wyl not holde hym selfe within hys owne bouÌ„des but chalengeth vs vnto Battayle Let vs not therfore triâ—le in the thyng or deferre the matter But you which are bere present of the auncient sorte of Souldyours cause hym to knowe the manifolde victories whyche you haue obteined vnder the gouerment and leading of Seuerus and my father Antonine And you whiche are yong men seke and coueyte I say this praise and glorye whereby all men maye perceaue that you knowe not onely howe to lyue in peace quietlye and obserue it reuerentlye but also when nede requireth to fyght valiauntly Touchynge the Barbarous people as it is theyr vsage to pursue vehementlye all suche as at the fyrst flee and recule euen so doo themselues tourne theyr backes vnto those whyche manfully persist in the fyght For they loke not for anye victorye in fyghtynge a playne Batayle but vsynge Inuasyons and Rodes accompte them selues Conquerours of all they can gette by stelth and robberye But we on the contrarye parte haue all thynges decked meete for the warres wherewyth we haue learned to ouerthrowe and vanquyshe them When Alexander hadde spoken theise wordes the men of armes receaued hym ioyfullye shoutyng and shewynge theym selues readye to goe wyth good wylles into the warre Then he distributed a greate Summe of money amonges theym and commauÌ„nded them to prepare them selues to the iourney Anone after he made the lyke Oration in the Senate house and appoynted the daye of hys departure The whiche beyng comme after he had acccordinge to the auncient vsage fynished hys sacrsfice he departed the Senate and all the Romaine people conueyyng hym out of Rome vpon the which he loked backe wyth wepynge eyes Neyther was there anye of the common people whyche watered not hys plantes in the beholdynge of hys departure For all the multitude was desyrous of hym because he was broughte vp amonges them and had gouerned thempire verye manye yeares wyth muche modestye When he was departed he vsed dilygent spede in his iourney visited the Illirian people men of war encreased hys power euery where weÌ„t vnto Antioche In that Citie he prepared all suche necessaries as were expedient for the warres And caused hys Souldiours to exercise them selues in feates of armes Him selfe prouyded wyth muche dilygence weapons and harnesse for the same It semed then good vnto hym to proue by another Ambassade whether the Persian Kynge woulde condiscende vnto peace and vnitie For beynge hym selfe presente he lytle doubted eyther to persuade Artaxerxes as he woulde or at least wyse put hym in feare wyth menaces But the barbarous kynge dismissed the Romayne Oratours home agayne wythout any thynge concluded And in theyr companye sent fourtye of the goodlyest men of stature in hys armye who were gorgiouslye apparelled in ryche Robes adourned wyth gold rode vpon great Coursers and caryed great Bowes in theyr handes thynkynge to abashe the Romaynes wyth the syghte of theyr talnes and sumptuous rayment The effect of theyr Ambassade was this The great Kyng Artaxerxes commaunded the Romaynes w t theyr Emperour to depart out of Syria al that part of Asia which is situate ouer against Europe suffer the Persians to raygne haue dominion as farre as Ionia and Caria and all suche lande as the Aegean Sea and Pontus doo enuiron When these fourtye Ambassadours had declared their message Alexander commaunded them to be apprehended toke from them al their sumpteous apparail and seÌ„t them into Phrigia where he alotted vnto theÌ„ certayne Vilages and fieldes to tyll and enhabit beynge satysfied wyth this punyshmente of exyle from their natiue Countrey For he rekened it very cruel and nothing agreable to maÌ„hood to put theÌ„ to death for thexecutynge theyr Maisters commaundemente not beyng taken in battayle When thiese thynges were thus ended and whiles Alexander was busyed in preparacion of Bridges to passe ouer the Ryuers and to leade the Romayne Armye into the confynes of the Barbariens there reuolted and fledde froÌ„ hym many Egiptian Souldiours and in Siria also dyuerse Commocions beganne to kyndle agaynste hys gouernemente But the same were furthewyth appeased and the Rebelles taken and put to deathe Then Alexander sente certayne armyes of Souldiours into the nigh Regiones that thereby the
with sodeyne assaultes inuade their enemyes because the thickenesse and nygh growing togither of the trees seemed to become a great impediment vnto the arrowes and dartes of theyr enemies And thei thought that the depth of their maryshes and Pooles would be dauÌ„gerouse vnto the Romaynes for that thei were ignoraunte of the passages and Countrey But vnto themselues very easye and profytable because they wading daily through them vp to the knees perfectly knewe whiche were the passable foordes whiche vnpossible to get ouer And truly the Germaines are verye cunnynge in swymming as men which onely swymme and bathe them selues in Ryuers In theise places therfore was the battayle begon where fyrste of all the Romayne Emperour enterprysed the confllycte very valiauntly For when thei were come vnto a greate broade Maryshe within the which the Germaines had retyred them selues the Romaines beinge afearde to pursue their enemyes Maximinius fyrste entered vpon a great Courser into the Maryshe wher his horse fouÌ„dered to y e belye slewe with great maÌ„hode many of the Barbarous people whyche resysted Wherefore the resydue of tharmye beynge pricked wyth shame yf they shoulde forsake their Emperour nowe fyghtynge for them aduentured theim selues also into the Maryshe And then were there slayne many of eyther parte but so that there was no Barbarien lefte a lyue the Romayne Emperour fyghtynge moste valyauntlye Whereby the Maryshe beynge fylled wyth deade carcases and the lake beynge myngled wyth bloode caused it to seame that thys foote Battayle was foughte wyth shyppes vppon the water This victory wyth other hys stoute and mightye factes he not onely sygnifyed vnto the Senate and people of Rome by letters but also beynge Printed in a great Table caused it to be publyshed before the Coorte that the Romaynes myghte not onely heare of hys valyaunte deades but also haue theim perfectly expressed before theyr eyes The same Table with the reste of hys honours the Senate afterwardes pullyd downe and abolyshed There were manye other skyrmyshes and batayles foughten wherein hym selfe throughe hys fyrste gyuynge the onsette and manfull fyghtynge gate euer the price and renowne Then he retourned against the wynter season into Pannony wyth manye prysoners and greate bootye of Catayle And wynterynge wythin the Cytye of Syrmium whyche is the greatest Cytye of that Countrey he prepared all necessaries for hys vyage agaynst the sprynge time threatnyng wholy to subdue all the Barbarouse nacions of the Germaynes eueÌ„ to the Ocean The whiche thing it seamed he woulde assuredlye brynge to passe such a one was he in the affaires of warrefare and shuld haue obtayned a wonderfull glory through hys factes yf he hadde not bene more outragiouse to hys owne subiectes then to hys enemyes But to what purpose are the Barbariens slaine yf much more murder be commytted wythin the Cytie self of Rome and the nacions subiecte thereunto or what auayleth it to haue plentye of Captiues and prayes of beastes yf by hys conquestes and fortune the Romaynes theim selues be dyspoyled of all they haue For not onely free lybertye but also entysynge was giueÌ„ vnto perniciouse promoters to accuse and cyrcumuente wyth fraude whome thei would Yea and to renewe yf neade were faultes before done by mens Auncestours some of them vnknowen and vnharde of vntyll that present instaunt Neyther was there any man detected of anye offence but the same was furthwyth condempned and all his goodes confyscate Whereby a man myghte daylye see dyuerse whiche before were wonderfull ryche and welthye nowe begge theyr breade So greate was the couetyse of hys Tyrannye whyles he dystrybuted money continually amonges the menne of warre His eares besydes were open vnto all complayntes so that he had no regard to any maÌ„s age or dignitie For manye Capytaines of armyes Gouernours of prouinces wyth dyuerse that hadde bene Counsulles and for theyr merites tryumphed being ones for anye fonde trifle or lyghte cause accused he caused furthwyth to be apprehended and puttynge theim in Chariottes alone wythout any Seruaunte attendynge vppon theim compelled theim to come oute of the Easte and Weste yf the chaunce so happened and oute of the Southe also vnto Pannony where hym selfe soiourned And there spoylynge theim of all theyr substaunce and entreatynge theim wyth moste shamefull sclaunders he afflycted theym wyth death or banyshemente But as longe as one or two suffered thiese domages and the sayde calamity passed not theyr lynage the common people lytle regarded it For the aduerse chaunces of Ryche and welthy menne were not onely of the Commons neglected but also manye of theim of a frowarde mynde and peruerse wyll in despyte of the Ryche men were verye gladde wyth the same theyr myseryes But after that Maximinus hadde thus broughte vnto extreme pouertye the famylies of many noble and famouse menne reckenynge theim of no value and but tryfles towardes the satysfienge of hys outragiouse coueteousnes he tourned hys mynde vnto the Robberye and spoylynge of the common Treasorye For what so euer money hadde bene before layde vp for the Common prouysyon of Corne or what so euer Ryches remayned to be dystributed amonges the people wyth all suche Treasoure as serued to the deckynge of the Theaters and gorgiouse settynge furthe of festyuall Pompes and playes the same euerye iote he adiudged to hymselfe Besydes that the gyftes of all the Temples the Statues and honours of all the Goddes and famouse men wyth what so euer publycke worke Ciuyll ornamentes or matter whyche seamed conuenyente to make money of were put to the fyre Whiche thing dyd chieflye gnawe and vexe the hartes of the people caused as it were a commoÌ„ mourning saying that wythoute warre or battayle the Cytye was lyke to be assaulted taken so that many of the people auentured to resyste hym and to defende the Temples wyshynge rather to be slayne before thaultars of the immortall Goddes then to see theyr CouÌ„trey destroyed And hereby chiefly did the myndes of the CommoÌ„ people beginne to grudge against him thrughoute all the Cytyes of Thempyre Neyther were the Souldiours theÌ„ selues very glad with it for that theyr neyghbours and kynsfolke rebuked them and imputed to theyr faulte that Maximinus dyd thus behaue hym selfe Thiese enormityes therefore beynge of no small importaunce dyd prouoke the people to hatred and rebellioÌ„ But hithervnto thei medled not saue onely wyth wordes callynge vppon the Goddes whome Maximinus had offended for that there was none durste take vppon hym to reuenge the cause vntyll that after three yeres eande of hys Reygne vppon a lyghte occasyon as the affayres of Tyrrauntes are waueringe and subiecte to chauÌ„ge the Affricans fyrste enterprysed to fall to Armes and rebellyon and this was the cause There was a certaine Liuetenaunt in Carthage who wanted nothynge that appartayned to extreme furye and outeragiouse Tyrranny The same crepte into his Princes fauour by condepning of men extorting of monei For Maximinê° loued theÌ„ most of al other whoÌ„ he knew to
deade coulde not be vndone they helde them selues contented althoughe vnwillingly and fayned to reioyce with the reste Then layeng a syde their weapons thei went to the walles of Aquileye lyke peaceable mē and there declaring the death of Maximyne desyred that the Gates might be set opē vnto them beyng nowe of their mortall enemyes become their louing frendes But the Capitaynes of Aquileia would not permyt it but shewed furth vppon the walles the Images of Maximus Albinus and Gordian Emperours crowned with Garlandes of Lawrell Vnto the which Images them selues fyrste making ioyful acclamacions exorted the Army also to acknowledge and reuerence them whome the Senate and people of Rome hadde chosen to be Emperours For said thei the other Gordians before passed are amonges the Goddes They did set furth also vpon the walles a market of all necessaries with greate abundaunce of meate wyne garmētes and all other thinges which that riche and florishing Cytie could minister vnto them That thing did meruelously abashe the Souldiours who perceyued that the Cytezins had store ynoughe of vitayll to abyde a farre longer seage And on the other side them selues being afflicted with wante of foode should rather haue all perysshed than conquered that Citie abounding wyth all thinges expedient for mans relief Whyles the Souldiours thus aboade vnder the walles and tooke such thinges as their necessitie required in companye of the Citezins their countenaunce was of peace and frendship a forme of siege as yet remaining for that the Romayne Souldiours laye aboute the walles whiche were enclosed and shut In the meane while that theise thinges were in doing at Aquileya y e horse men which caried the Emperours heades to Rome making great haste with spedy diligence were receiued into euery Citie and Town with the gates opē and the multitude of Citezins and enhabitauntes berynge Lawrell in their handes And then hauinge passed y e Marishes Lakes whiche are betwene Altinum Rauenna thei founde Maximus in Rauenna leuieng waging Souldiours out of the Citye and Italy and calling a great number of Germains vnto his ayde the which were sent him by the cōmon people of Germany whō he before in his Proconsulship amonges them had prudentely gouerned Whiles he was thus mustering his power against Maximine y e horsemē arriued ther sodēli bringing w t thē y e Princes heades declared y e victory w t the prosperouse successe of their affaires y e good wil cōset of y e people Army to y e obediece of those Emperors whō y e Senate had elected Whē thiese thīges were so sodēly w t out expectaciō reported furthw t the people ran vnto the Aulters to sacrifice euery man singyng and reioysynge at the victory whiche wythoute any troublesome busynes they had obtayned Then Maximus after the sacryfyce eanded dismissed the horsmen to Rome to cary thither the sayd heades and declare the whole circumstaūce vnto the people When they were ariued at the Cytye and hauynge putte the heades vpon twoo Speares caried the same throughe y e streates to be seane of the people no tonge can tell the ioye and myrth was there that daye For there was no person eyther yonge or olde but ranne vnto the Temples and Aulters No man abode within hys owne house but ranne lyke madde men shoutynge and reioysynge one with an other and gatherynge theym selues together in a circle as thoughe some manne woulde make an Oration vnto them Albinus hym selfe offered an hundreth beastes and all the Magistrates reioysed aboue measure as though they had escaped y e axe whych before henge ouer theyr neckes Purseuaūtes Postes were sente besydes wyth Laurell in theyr handes to beare those newes vnto all the Prouinces Whyle thys so great ioye and myrthe continued amonges the Romaynes Maximus remoued frō Rauenna and went vnto Aquileia hauyng passed al the Maryshes in the whyche the Ryuer Eridanus and the nyghe Lakes doth ouerflowe so that they runne into the Sea by .vii. armes and therefore the nyghe enhabitauntes cal the same Lake in theyr tonge .vii. Seas Furthwith the Aquileiens opened their gates and receaued Maximus And verye manye Cytyes of Italye sente theyr chiefe Magistrates as Ambassadors vnto him clothed in white garmētes crowned wyth Laurell bringinge with theym the Images of theyr Countrey Goddes and Crownes of Golde yf there were any amonges their chiefest Iewels wher withall they gratified Maximus and strowed bowes to him in his passage The armye which had besieged Aquileia mette hym also in peaceable apparell wyth Laurell in their handes but not with so trewe and louyng affection as with a fayned good wyll and reuerence for the tyme onelye applyed vnto the presente state of the Prince Yea many of them morned priuelye that he whom they had chosen was slayne those whyche the Senate had created possessed the Principalytie After Maximus had spente the first second daye in offering of sacrifice the thyrd day he assembled al y e army together in the playne there sitting in y e Tribunal seate made thys Oration vnto them Howe profitable your penitence and fauour reconciled wyth the Romayne people hathe been vnto you your selues haue by experience throughlye learned in acceptyng peace for warre and obseruyng the othe of true warriours which is one the most holy sacred mysterie of the Romaine Empyre Wherefore you ought hereafter to enioye the same cōmoditie in gardyng your loyaltye and faythe towardes the people and Senate of Rome to vs your Emperours whō through our nobilitie bothe of byrth in actes done as it were by certayne degrees ascended the Senate and people of Rome haue elected Neyther is the possession of principalitie peculier vnto one man but of olde antiquitie common vnto all the Romayn people For in the Cytye selfe is establyshed the Fortune of Thempyre and to vs wyth you is commytted the administration of the same If you wyl therfore retaine wyth you that order and modestye that becommeth you and geue due honour and reuerence vnto your Prynces ye shall not onely obtayne vnto your selues a blessed lyfe flowyng and aboundyng with all goodnes but also all Nacions and Cytyes lyuynge in reste wyll contynewe in theyr duetye of allegyaunce Ye shall lyue as youre owne heartes desyre euerye man at home in hys owne house not troubled wyth warres in forreyne Countreyes that beynge oure charge to see the Barbarous people remayne in peace and defende the same For whyles there are two Emperours bothe the Citye and forreyne affaires shalbe administred more easlye one of theym beynge alwayes readye to go whyther necessitye shall call hym Neyther nede ye to doubte that any memorye shall remayne of that is tofore done eyther in vs for whatsoeuer ye dyd was by commaundement or in the Romayne people or elles in anye other Nacion whyche for iniurie done vnto theym haue rebelled Let all be forgotten let there be a perfecte bonde of constante frendshyppe and a perpetuall faythe of loue and
that is the age decrepite vncertayne and doubtfull Aethiope loke on this worde Libye Alexander the grete was the Sone of Philyp king of Macedonye and Olympias In his tender age he was enstructed in learning And after that by y e space of .x. yeres brought vp in Philosophy vnder Aristotle the most excellent Philosopher of all his time After the death of hys Father coueting to be Lord of all the worlde he apparayled his Armye against Darius the Kinge of Persia who wyth his predecessours had bene the auncient enemyes of Grece Hym dyd Alexander vanquishe in sundry batayles and depryued of the Persian Kyngdome But after he had obtained many notable victories in the .xxx. yere of hys age he dyed by poyson at BabyloÌ„ as Iustin writeth Neuerthelesse Plutarche affirmeth the coÌ„trary say enge that he died of an Ague very vehement wherin was no suspicion of Poyson The Prouinces and Countreyes by him Conquered did Perdicas vnto whome at his deathe withoute any more wordes he delyuered hys Rynge distribute amonges many Gouernours who altered their offices of gouernauÌ„ce in to Royaulnes and made them selues Kynges And so was Thempyre of Alexander broughte into manye Kyngedomes The resydue of hys lyfe ye maye rede in Plutarche and Quintus Curtius Alexandrye whereof Herodian speaketh in the thirde Booke is a Citye of Siria hard by a reflexioÌ„ of the Sea called Sinus Issicus wherefore loke vpoÌ„ thiese wordes Issicus Sinus There is an other Citye called Alexandrye in the Region of Troas where Troye the greate stode as Plinie writeth in the .xxx. Chapiter of hys .v. Booke Anonter Cytye named Alerandrie is in Egypte scituate vpon the Sea side oueraneanste the Isle Pharus as sayth Plinie in the .xxxi. Chapiter of the same boke Thys Cytye is the principall of all Egypte as London is of England Into the whiche Ptolomeus the kyng of Egypte desyred to be remitted by the Romaines as it appeareth by many Epistles of Cicero vnto Lentulus in the fyrste booke of hys familiar Epistles Of thys Cytye doth Herodian make mencion in the .iiii. booke of his Historye and of the Treason wrought agaynst the Citezins thereof by Antonyne There is another Cytye named Alexandrie by the mountaynes of Casxij in the Realme of Sogdia nygh vnto the Bactrians whych hath on the South the mountaigne Cacausus Another AlexaÌ„drie buylded lykewyse by Alexander the great standeth in the Region called Margiana of a Ryuers name whiche is Margus The same hathe on the West side Hircania on the East the Bactrians and on the South the Realmes of Parthia and Aria Thys Citie was destroyed by the Barbarous people and in the same place was a new buylded by Seleucus the Sonne of Antiochus who named it Seleucia as recordeth Plinie in the xvi Chapyter of his .vi. boke Another citie called Alexandrie in the Countreye of Carmania in Inde boundynge vpon Persia Of theise Cityes and countreyes loke Ptolomeus and Plinie Altinum loke thys worde Aquileia Amphitheater is a place made to behold plaies in the which is in fourme round as yf it were buylded of .ii. Theaters and therfore is called Amphitheater A Theater is made halfe in compasse betwene the ij corners wherof is played that whiche men behold called of the Latinystes Scena The nexte place vnto it is called Orchestra where the Senatours stauÌ„ge Ambassadours do sit In the middes of the Theater are the Seates for Knightes and that place is named Canea Rounde aboute the Theater withinfurth are degrees and steppes so made that the hygher they ascend the longer and larger they are Vpon the which y e people do sit as euery man can get him place Marcê° Scaurus as witnesseth Plinie in the .xxxiii. boke the xv chap. for one Playe which endured .xxx. dayes only dyd buylde a Theater the greatest of all other that were euer made by mans handes The Scene whereof was of thre stages had .iii. C.lx. Pyllers of marble of Affrique of the whiche the higher were of one piece and xxxviii fote in height The lower parte of y e Scene was of Marble and the stage in the myddes of Glasse which neuer man heard of before There was besydes for y e more gorgious beautyfyeng of it .iii. M. Images of Copper with so much rychesse Tapistrie of golde and Tables of auncient notable pictures y t it is almoste incredible to beleue as wryteth Plinie The greeces wheron men sate in the same did receiue lxxx M. persons Caius Iulius Cesar fyrst of all builded an Amphitheater in the fyelde called Campus Martius whyche Augustus pulled downe and in the same place made a Tombe Antioche is a parte of Siria boundynge vpon the Royalme of Cilicia as sayeth Plinie in the xii chap. of hys fyfth boke In thys part is a Cytye of the same name as wryteth Ptolomeus in the fourth Table of Asya Thys is the Cytye to the whyche Antonyne went and from thence to Alexandrie in Egypt Ther is another Antyoche in the couÌ„trey of Assyrya where Alexander vanquyshed Darius the whych is next vnto Syrya as wytnesseth Plinye in the .xiij. chapyter of hys .vi. boke Amonges the Isles of the Asyan Sea Plynye in hys .v. booke the .xxi. Chapyter sayeth there is one called Antyoche whyche standeth in the Sea of Pamphilia Apoplexie as sayeth Galien in the .v. chapyter of hys thyrde booke of the places affected is a disease by the whych all a mans synewes and vaynes do lose theyr force of fealynge and mouynge Thys dysease commeth sodeynlye and by the same a man shall vnethes fetche brethe Affryke The Cosmographers do deuide y e Earth into thre partes That is to wete Europe Asie Affryke Europe is seperated from Asia by the Ryuer Tanais and the Lakes called Meotides wythin y t whiche Tanais doeth fall And it is desseuered from Asie by the Sea Mediterrane so named for that it is in the myddes of the earthe or elles because it is enclosed wyth earth on euery syde sauynge where he hath his yssue betwene the pyllers of Hercules wherof the one is in Mauritania the other in Spayne Betwene the whiche Hercules made waie and passage for the Mediterrane Sea to ioyne with Thocean And it hathe none other yssue then betwene those two pyllers It extendeth towardes the Easte as farre as Siria whiche is in Asia Towardes the Northe vnto the lakes Meotides On the Southe parte it hath alwaies Aphrique which is sequestred from Asie by an arme of y e Sea called Sinus Arabicus That is the Redde Sea wherby the chyldren of Israell passed out of Egypte into the Desertes of Arabie Europe is muche Northe and so is it West in respecte of Asie And it is the least of the thre partes conteynynge the Isles of England and Scotlande and the nexte Isles thervnto Spaine Fraunce Almayne Italye Grece wyth the Isles theyr neyghbours Asie conteyneth Asie the lesse Lydia Caria Bythynia Galatia Capadocia Armenia Cilicia Sarmatia Assiria Arabia Persia Hircania Media Iudea the two Yndes and
Europe doth describe .ij. Pannonies ioyning one to another Thone of theÌ„ called the high Pannonie bouÌ„deth on the West vpoÌ„ a royalme of olde time called NoricuÌ„ at this present Bauiers Thother called y e low Pannenie nigh ioyninge vnto the higher stretcheth to the ryuer of Danow Of y t which riuer declinyng towards the South that part which receaueth the ryuer Saus doth eand the lower Pannonie on the East And on the South drawyng towardes y e Hadriatique Sea are the roialmes of Illiria or Sclauonie Dalmatio In these regions there be .ij. ryuers Drauus Saus Drauus which is the more swyft coÌ„meth out of the countrey of Bauiers And Saus which runneth more slowely out of y e Alpes Carnicyan as saith Plinie in the thyrd boke the .xxv. chap. of hys naturall Hystorye ¶ Panthers are beastes very cruel as y e coÌ„iunctioÌ„ of the word doth sufficiently shew which signifieth all cruel The skyns of these beastes are spotted ouer w t rounde white spots And there is no beast so notably spotted as y e PaÌ„ther y e Tigre These PaÌ„thers do sauour woÌ„derful swete And for their sauoure other beastes resorte vnto theÌ„ But yet they are afeard of y e Panthers fyerce loke Wherfore y e Panther hideth his head suffreth al y e rest of his bodie to be loked on y t he mai the better take his pray of the other beastes being amased There is no great difference betwene y e Panther the Leopard sauyng y t the Panther is more white And Plinie in hys viij boke the .xvi. chap. sayth that he coulde neuer fynde other difference In the same chap. he telleth a meruaylous tale of a Panther which remeÌ„bred the good turne that a man had before done vnto him In Siriâ— and in Affryke there be many of these beastes ¶ Parthians The royalme of Parthia as Ptolomee describeth it in his .v. Table of Asie stretcheth on the North vnto Hircanie to y e mouÌ„taignes betwene theÌ„ On y e South it hath Carmanie On y e East the Ariens On y e West the Medes And this regioÌ„ is enuironed w t hils on al partes So saith Plinie in the .vi. boke y e .xxv. chap. Who saith also y t the ParthiaÌ„s haue .xviij. kyngdoms And their Prouinces are betwene the red sea on y e South the HircaniaÌ„ sea on y e North Xi of theÌ„ be beyond Armenie the mouÌ„taignes called Caspij do extend along by the Caspian sea vnto the Seâ—thians drawing towardes y e sea And these realmes be called y e high realmes Thother y e low realmes The ParthiaÌ„s whiche are not in y e firste description are called Nomades ¶ Patroclus the frend of Achylles was in the warres betwene the Grekes the Troyans there slayne by Hector the sonne of Priamus kynge of Troy ¶ Perynthiens are a people of Thrace wherin staÌ„deth a citie called Perinthus w t in y t which ther is a fortresse called Bizia some time beloÌ„ging to y e kings of Thrace In this royalme there are no Swalowes for y e offence of Tereus kyng of Thrace as saith Plinie in y e .xi. cap. the .iiij. boke of his naturall history ThoffeÌ„ce was this His wife named Progne y e king of Athenes doughter had a sister which hight Philomela whom she greatly desired to see And Tereus to please her w t all promysed to fetthe her sister In bringing of her he defloured her And to y e end she shuld not disclose it to any persoÌ„ he cut out her toÌ„ge shut her vp in a secret place told Progue y t she died by y e way But Philomela wrote w t blode in a kerchief all the matter sent it vnto Progne her sister Who being chaufed w t ire for y e same slew a litle childe called Itis which she had by Tereus presented it him to eate Tereus perceauing y t matter pursued her And she fleing away was turned into a Swalowe Tereus him selfe into a Lapwinge and Itis into a Fesaunte Pesynus Loke on these wordes Goddesse PesinuÌ„tine Phari Pharus is an Isle in the sea of Egypt wherein standeth a cytye buylded by Alexander the great ouer aneanst Alexandrie which was lykewyse buylded by y e same Alexander The Isle Pharus is so nyghe vnto Egypt Alexandrie that at thys day there is no more betwene theÌ„ but a bridge to passe froÌ„ thone to thother as sayth Plinie in the .xi. chap. of hys thyrde boke In the cytye of Pharus Ptolomeus Philadelphus the kyng made a meruaylous hygh Tower whyche is numbred amonges the meruayles of the world vpon the whyche there is alwayes a great burnyng light to shew the hauen vnto them that saile by night on the Seas And because that thys lyght is so renowned many doo call all other Towers whiche haue fyre and lyght in theÌ„ after that sort Phari as our present Authour doth him selfe Phenices Looke on thys worde Syrye Phrigâ—e is a countrey of Asie whyche boundeth on the West vpoÌ„ the countrey of Troye y e great And as sayth Plinie in the .v. boke the .xxxii. chap. Thys couÌ„trey is ioynynge to Galatia on the Northe On the Southe it hath Lycâ—onie Pysidie and Mygdonie And on y e East it toucheth the countrey of Cappadoce Ptolome describeth thys countrey in the fyrst Table of Asie and dothe not alot vnto it so great a compasse Pitanite is as muche to saye as Laconique or Lacedemonien because Pytanas was the father of Thrasibulus the Lacedemonien who was slayne in fyghting valiauntlye in the warre After hys decease Pytanas shewed hym selfe very graue and prudent saying that it was a rare thyng to dye so well Wherfore he wylled hys countrey men not to weepe for hys death because he dyed valyauntlye as it became a Lacedemonian So sayth Ausonius the Poete in an Epigrame Ther was another Thrasybulus of Athenes whyche had a voyce very loude and bygge of whome Plutarque speaketh in the lyfe of Alcybyades Pontus Loke on thys worde Propontis Proconsull In the tyme that Posthumus Albus and Spurius Fulsius were Consulles and warre was made against the people called Equi dwelling in Italy which warre was vnfortunate to the Romaines Titus Quintus was fyrst created Proconsal to goo and ayde one of the Consulles whiche was besieged to the ende that the other Consull mighte remayne at Rome leuy more meÌ„ And this Proconsull had .vi. SergeaÌ„ts goeng before him with mases His owne ornameÌ„tes were like vnto the Consulles FroÌ„ that tyme forwardes it was ordeined that those which had bene Consulles one yere shuld the next yere foloweng be Proconsulles for to go into the Prouinces And euery of them had hys Liuetenaunt which was called Legatus to assiste him in hys affaires The Proconsull had iurisdiction onely in the Prouince giuen vnto him but that was nat voluntary as to infranchyse a bondeman The fyrst day of Ianuary yerely did y e Romaines chose two Counsulles which during thole yere