another of the Medes and Persians For he thinks that Cyaxares the first King of the Medes whom he supposes to have been Assuerus delivered the Persians whom his Father Phraortes had Conquered to his Son Darius to be governed by him as their King Whom Daniel c. 9.1 calls as he conjectures Darius the Son of Assuerus of the Seed of the Medes And Cyaxares I. had Astyages for his Successor in the Kingdom of the Medes Dispossest by Cyrus but Darius who was also called Astyages the Grandfather of Cyrus had Cyaxares for his Successor See Marsham ad Saec. 18. But there are many things that do occasion me to dissent from him though otherwise it must be confessed that there can be nothing almost besides conjectures in this business 3426. 558. LV. iii. 196. Craesus last King of Lydia Reigned sixteen years his Father being still alive as Petavius supposes The Poets Ibycus Simonides and Stesichorus as also the Philosopher Anaximenes flourished at this time 3429. 555. LVI ii 199. After the Death of Neriglissor Baltassar his Son Reigned alone nine Months at the end whereof he was Slain by Nabonides's faction or as Petavius thinks by that of Darius the Mede and Nabonides or Darius the Mede succeeded him In this Age lived Xenophanes of Colophon the Philosopher and Theognis the Poet Sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now flourished Phalaris the Tyrant of Agrigentum flourished then also one Perillus is said to have made him a brazen bull hollow within wherein he shut up Men alive and putting fire under it made their crying to seem like the bellowing of a Bull. But the first on whom the experiment was tryed was Perillus himself of whom Ovid in his first Book de Arte Amandi after he had said that Busiris slew the Man who first taught him to pacifie the Gods with the blood of his Guests speaks thus Et Phalaris tauro violenti membra Perilli Torruit infelix imbuit auctor opus Justus uterque fuit neque enim Lex aequior ulla est Quà m necis artifices arte perire suá 3440. 544. LIX i. 210. Croesus King of Lydia marched against the Persians or the Army of the Medes and Persians commanded by Cyrus the Persian and while he hoped to return home Conqueror he was deluded by the Ambiguous answer of the Oracle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For having past over the River Haly he was overcome by Cyrus and upon the taking of Sardis was made a Prisoner and carryed into Captivity leaving all Asia unto Cyrus A little after flourished Anaximander the Milesian who foundout the obliquity of the Zodiack and Pherecydes of Scyros not the Syrian for he was not of Syria but of the Isle of Scyros who was Pythagoras his Master who not long after were followed by Hipponax and Hippicus the Poets In these times lived Consucius in the furthermost parts of Asia among the Chineses who was an excellent Philosopher Of whom see Mart. Martinius in his History of China lib. 4. and Philip Coupletius in his Proem to Confucius Not long after Croesus his overthrow when Harpagus in Cyrus's Name governed the lesser Asia the Phocaeans being weary of his Rule left Asia and Sailed into Gaul where they fixed their Seats about a place where now Marseilles stands and built that City 3446. 538. LX. v. 216. This year Cyrus having subdued the King of Babylon's Confederates marched to Babylon it self which he took and for his Reward his Uncle Cyaxares who dyed soon after bestowed his only Daughter Mandanes upon him whom when he had marryed he was made Heir to all Cyaxares his Kingdom and gave a beginning to the Persian Monarchy which had not any equal to it before Daniel the Prophet lived to this time who was carried captive into Babylon by Nebuchadnezer to whom under Nabonidus or Darius the Mede the last King of Babylon the Prophecy of the Seventy weeks was Revealed upon the elapsing of which the Messias was to come as we shall see hereafter The Return of the Jews The Eighth EPOCH From the Return of the Jews out of the Babylonish Captivity to the Subduing of Carthage are 336 years which makes up the Eighth PERIOD Year of the W. Year before Christ Olymp. of the Building of Rome 3446. 538. LX. v. 216. THE same year wherein Cyrus began his Reign upon the taking of Babylon he put forth a Decree wherein the Jews who were held in Captivity by the Kings of Babylon were ordered to Rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem in obedience to which they returned in great numbers into their own Country under the Conduct of Zorobabel together with Josua the Son of Josedec the High Priest Two years after they laid the Foundations of the Temple and erected an Altar But the Samaritans their Neighbours who also worshipped the God of Israel while they pretended a readiness of themselves to assist the Jews in the work and were refused by the Jews they endeavoured by their Calumnies to induce the King of Persia to put a stop to the further carrying on of the building Esd 4. In these times Simenides of Ceos Anacreon of Samos Lyrick Poets and Xenophanes the natural Philosopher and Poet flourished amongst the Greeks 3451. 533. LXI iv 221. This year Tarquinius Superbus the last King of the Romans having Slain his Father in Law began his Reign which continued for four and twenty years Five years after Cyrus wageth War with the Scythians if you believe Justin and Herodotus and was slain by Thomyris Queen of Scythia But Ctesias says that he was wounded in a Battle he fought against the Derbices and dyed three days after having first given many good Precepts to his Sons Cambyses and Tanyoxares But Zenophon clearly describes him dying pleasantly in a good old Age after he had Reigned thirty years He was Succeeded by Cambyses II. King of Persia who Reigned seven years and five Months Cambyses upon the Death of Amasis King of Egypt and his being Succeeded by Psammenitus in that Kingdom invaded it where after he had done many cruel Acts and in the mean time commanded his Brother in Persia to be put to Death he at last ran mad and not long after was wounded and dyed After his Death a certain Magician called Smerdis very much resembling Tanyoxares both in body and face took upon him to be the same Person and Reigned seven Months Petavius thinks this Man to have been Artaxerxes whom Esdras makes to Succeed Ahasuerus c. 9.7 See his Book de Doct. temp lib. 12.27 About these times Polycrates the Tyrant of Samos was crucified by Oron Governor of Sardis who took him by a stratagem after he held the Tyrannick power for eleven years with great Success 3436. 521. LXIV iii. 233. After the counterfeit Tanyoxares had hid himself seven Months he was at last taken and destroy'd by the Seven Peers of Persia who conspired against him and one of their number viz. Darius the Son of Hystaspis was made choice of in his room
whence arose great Janglings 450. Theodosius having once expelled his Wife Eudoxin and Sister Pulcheria whose wise Counsels had been a long time useful to him from the Court did now upon a sense of his errour recall them and died not long after after he had appointed Marcianus to succeed him who together with his Wife Pulcheria taking the Reins of Empire into his hands assembled the Council of Chalcedon which was styled the Fourth General one and wherein Eutyches and Dioscorus were condemned From these times it seems to have come to pass that the Abyssines and others in Egypt who were infected with Dioscorus's Doctrine have begun to oppose other Christians as there were many in Babylon who followed Nestorius's Opinions remnants of whom continue to this day both in Africa and Asia Though Attila at that time was overcome in some Battels by Aetius yet he wasted Gaul and Italy far and near in which Age they say the City of Venice had its beginning many Persons for fear of Attila flying into the Island wherein the same is situated 453. He died the year after he had quitted Italy 454. Valentinian not long after he had put Aetius to death was himself cut off by Maximus a Senator who had advised him to that Fact But Eudoxia Valentinian's Wife called Geisericus out of Africa who possessing himself of Rome transported vast Riches from thence into Africa and marry'd Eudoxia's Daughter of the same Name to his Son Hunericus 455. Avitus in the mean time usurped the Empire in Italy while Merâ—veus who was the third in descent from Pharamund and who distinguish'd the first Race of the Kings of France by that of the Merovingian according to his own Name reigned among the Franks Theodoricus King of the Goths brought the Suevians who held part of Spain under his Subjection after he had made their King Rechiarius his Prisoner being encouraged thereunto by the Persuasions of Avitus 457. But this Person next year being forsaken by the Gauls and Goths lost both his Empire and his Life At the same time died Martianus Emperor in the East and was succeeded by Leo with whose consent Majorianus was made Emperor of Ravenna But this Prince after four years Reign was slain by Ricimer and succeeded by Severus In those times it was they say that the Egyptian Monks of the Eutychian Persuasion raised Commotions under the leading of Timotheus Aelurus and that at last they advanced him into the Episcopal See of Alexandria when they had slain Proterius but that Aelurus soon after was banish'd by the Emperor Leo. 463. Peter Fullo another seditious Person having expelled Martyrius invaded the See of Antioch They say this Peter held the same Opinion as the Theopaschites who affirmed That not only Man but God had suffered and that he had added to the Trisagium who died for us these words Sancte fortis Sancte Deus Sancte Immortalis qui passus es pro nobis miserere nobis O Holy and Strong Holy God Holy and Immortal who hast suffered for us have mercy on us But he was quickly banish'd by Leo. 465. This year Severus by the Treachery of Ricimer a Patrician was poisoned and died after whose decease there was an Interregnum for one year when Theodoricus King of the Goths departed this life and left his Son Evaricus to succeed him After this did Leo the Emperor send Anthemius a Nobleman to Rome and made him Augustus 467. In the mean time Geisericus who with a strong Fleet wasted the Coasts of Greece being overcome by Lea's Generals sued for Peace and confined himself within the Bounds of Africa But soon after he raised new Commotions which were difficultly quelled because of the Treachery of Basiliscus whom Leo sent against him 472. Anthemius was slain by Ricimer his Son-in-Law and Olybrius advanced to his Place who died the same year His Successor was Glycerius After him came Majorinus and then Nepos all of them in the space of two years There were also others who rashly snapt at the Western Empire which they could not hold At length Augustulus the Son of Orestes was the last Emperor of the West 474. Leo in the East left a Son of his own Name Leo II. who made Zeno his Colleague in the Empire and not long after by his death gave Basiliscus and opportunity to invade the Empire who expelled Zeno But he in a short time recovered his Station and made an Exile of Basiliscus in which state he died 476. In the mean time the Ostrogoths wasted Illyricum and Italy while the Arabian Saracens did the same by Mesopotamia or caused the People to ransom it for Money The Herulians also being called in by Nepos's Favourers whom Augustulus had succeeded divested this last of the Throne and at length PUT AN END TO THE WESTERN EMPIRE So that their King Odoacer took the Government upon him 482. Acacius whom Zeno had advanced to the See of Constantinople was the occasion of his writing a Letter to the Clergy and Monks of Egypt wherein he reconciled the Tenets of those who followed Dioscorus's Opinion with the Decrees of the Synod of Chalcedon And those who followed the said Decrees were by others called Melchites because they embraced the Opinion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melech the King for in the Arabick Language used by the Egytian-Arabs that is the Name they give a King as 't is also in the Hebrew Zeno would have the Egyptians subscribe this Epistle which in inserted in Evagrius's Ecclesiastical History lib. iii. cap. 14. but herein they did not comply with him The same was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it was written with a design of reconciling the contending Parties The Synods of Nice Constantinople and Ephesus are approved of therein but that of Chalcedon is left out and this Confession of Faith inserted We confess one only begotten Son of God and God made true Man our Lord Jesus Christ These words are taken out of the Chalcedon Creed See Evag. l. 2. c. 4. consubstantial with the Father according to the Divine Nature and the same consubstantial with us according to his Humanity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who came down and was begotten by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and the Mother of God That he is One and not Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For we call both the Miracles and Sufferings which he endured of his own accord in the flesh the Miracles and Sufferings of One but for those who divide or confound them or introduce a phantom we by no means receive them for that true and sinless Incarnation from the Mother of God made no accession of another Son for the Trinity always remains the Trinity though God to wit the Word one of the Trinity was Incarnate Those who have followed this Edict because they have neither condemned the Eutychians nor others nor yet adhered to the Heads of any one Faction have been called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Doubting and
of Abraham out of Mesopotamia to the time of the Law given by Moses which we referr to the year of the World 2453 before Christ 1531 and comprehends 431 years The Fourth commences from the time of the Law given by Moses from whence to the taking of Troy we reckon 347 years in the year of the World 2800 before Christ 1184. The Fifth is the Destruction of Troy from whence to the building of the Temple of Jerusalem which was effected An. M. 2992 before Christ 992 are comprehended 192 years The sixth is the Building of the Temple at Jerusalem by Solomon which was 216 years before the first Olympiad which is computed to fall in the year of the World 3208 before Christ 776. The Seventh is taken from the first Olympiad from whence are reckoned 238 years to the return of the Jews from the Babylonish Captivity that hapned An. M. 3446 before Christ 538. The Eighth is the Freeing of the Jews from the Babylonish Captivity by Cyrus which fell out 336 years before Carthage was overcome by Scipio An. M. 3782 before Christ 202. The Ninth is taken from the Subduing of Carthage which hapned 202 years before our Saviours Birth and fell out in the year of the World 3984. The Tenth is the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ from which to the Conversion of Constantine the Great to the Christian Faith are reckoned 312 years which fell out An. M. 4296. The Eleventh is taken from the Conversion of Constantine which hapned 488 years before the Reign of Charles the Great which begun in the year of our Lord 800 An. M. 4784. The Twelfth we fetch from the Reign of Charles the Great with which we close up this our Compendium of Ancient History Now as for those Intervals of time that flow between the several Epochs them we call Periods The Creation The First EPOCH From the beginning of the World to the Deluge are computed 1656 years which space contains The First PERIOD The year of the World The year before Christ 1. 3984. THE most accurate Chronologers do reckon that the World was Created in Autumn in the Month of October concerning which you may consult Dionys Petavius his Ration Lib. 2. p. 2. as also his book De Doc. temp p. 2. l. 9. c. 7. We are informed by no other History besides the Scripture what was done in this Interval of time which yet at the same time speaks of things with that obscureness and brevity that but little knowledge of those times can be got from thence Recourse may be had to the first six Chapters of Genesis where after the Creation of the World these are the principal Events to be met with The Creation of Adam and Eve their sinning and begetting Cain and Abel 129. 3855. Cain Slew his Brother Abel when Adam and Eve had no other Sons besides them but afterwards begat Seth the Scripture says nothing of any Children they had of the Female Sex save that before Adam dyed he begat Sons and Daughters Gen. 5.4 987. 2997. Enoch was Translated to Heaven without tasting of Death 1536. 2448. God forewarns the corrupted World of the Deluge by Noah an hundred and Twenty years before it came to pass Here two things are observable the long life of the Antediluvian Patriarchs and their food They lived then many Ages which when some Men have not been able to digest they have said they were Monthly years so that 1200 years before the Deluge made up no more than 100 Solar years but how ridiculous this is will immediately appear by observing of the Computation for according to their Calculation Seth who is said to have begot Children when he was 105 years old must have begot his first born at nine years of Age and others as Enoch Cainan and Mahalaleel must have done so much sooner See Lanct Div. Inst lib. 2. c. 12. As to their Food most of the Ancient and many of the Modern Writers have been of Opinion that they lived only upon Fruit and that eating of Flesh did not begin till after the Flood which is very likely from Gen. 9.3 The Deluge The Second EPOCH From the Deluge to the calling of Abraham are 366 years which Interval makes up The Second PERIOD The year of the World The year before Christ 1656. 2328. GOD sent the Deluge to destroy the Corrupted Race of Mankind from off the face of the Earth and Noah with his Family alone escaped whereof there remain clear Footsteps in the Ancient Monuments of the Heathens concerning which among others Hugo Grotius may be consulted in his Annotations on the first Book of V. R. C. as also Sam. Bochartus in his Phaleg lib. 1. The Memory of Noah and his Sons Sem Cham and Japheth remained among the Heathens though obscured with divers Fables as they have shewed 1809. 2175. Then Mankind began to Build the Tower of Babel to preserve them a Name among Posterity and about which they might fix their Habitations least they should be scattered over the face of the Earth But through Discord they were dissipated into different Regions and it came to pass in process of time that the Original Language underwent various changes among a People that were so remote from one another Of this you may see what we have writ in our Philological Comment upon Gen. 11. The Posterity of Sem fixed their Seats in the upper Asia of Cham partly in Asia and partly in Africa and of Japheth in the lesser Asia and Europe See Gen. c. 10. as also the forecited Bochartus Soon after the first Discipation of Mankind Nimrod the Son of Chus who in the Chaldee is called Bar-Chus whence the name of Bacchus amongst the Greeks began to settle his Empire in Mesopotamia the beginning of whose Kingdom were Babylon Ezech Chalne and Acchad in the Land of Sinaar that is Babylon from whence he went out into Assyria and built Nineve Rechoboth Chalach and Rosen as Moses relates Gen. 10.10 11. by which words is only meant that he laid the Foundation of those Cities which were afterwards so called for Nineve was so named some ages after by Ninus See Bochartus his Phaleg Lib. 4. c. 12. But whether the Kingdom descended from this first King to his Posterity is uncertain Africanus doth indeed recite the Names of seven Chaldean Kings and six Arabian that Reigned in Babylon but these are clearly different from those which some have produced out of Ctesia The first that Africanus has is called Evechous but that in Ctesia is Belus and therefore all these are to be reckoned amongst the obscure number See Is Vossius and Dion Petavius Kingdoms were in those times very small and what has been usually said of that great Empire of Babylon whose bounds were extended by Ninus the Son of Belus who is thought to have been Nimrod through all the greater Asia is a meer Fable The Earth in those days was in a manner incumbred every where with Trees and inhabited rather
length Eustathius a Catholick and worthy Prelate was put in Theodor. lib. i. c. 7. Blondell has well observed in the Margin of Petavius it 's wrong for what Eusebius relates belongs to the Deposing of Eustathius He might also have added That it was not the Arians but Eustathius that was the occasion of the Sedition whom Eusebius in the fore-cited place calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This same year was the City Byzantium Dedicated which Constantine had two years before begun to re-build and was according to the Emperor's Name called Constantinople From henceforward it was made the Metropolis of the East and began to be called ÎΕΑ ΡΩΜΗ 333. Constans the Son of Constantine was made Caesar this year The Sarmatians about the same time that had been so often conquered and their rebellious Servants being brought to submit were divided through Macedon Thrace and Italy 335. Dalmatius the Emperor Constantine's Brother's Son having been advanced to the Dignity of Caesar the Empire was in this manner divided between the Caesars Constantine the Younger had the Charge of Gaul Constantius of the East and Africa Illyricum and Italy was the lot of Constans whilst Dalmatius was to look after the Gothick Frontiers Then it was that Athanasius was condemned in the Synod of Tyre because he had by ill methods got himself made Bishop of Alexandria and for other grievous Offences if you will believe Philostorgius See lib. iii. § 11. It 's certain that though Philostorgius was a favourer of Arius yet where he believes him to have fallen into an Error he fails not to reprove him and therefore he might deal candidly in other things See lib. ii § 3. Athanasius being accused a second time by the same Bishops now assembled at Constantinople that had condemned him at Tyre was by Constantine banished to Treves This year it was that Arius is said to have died by a wonderful Judgment of God as his Adversaries afterwards gave out but their Squabbles were then too hot to encline us to give credit to either Side 337. This year died the Emperor Constantine the Great after a Reign of One and thirty years His three Sous Constantine Constantius and Constans were immediately Proclaimed who divided the Empire betwixt them Dalmatius Caesar Constantius the Brother of Constantine the Great and Anaballianus on whom the Purple and Golden Robe was conferred by Constantine who declared them Nobilissimi at the same time were also in some measure Sharers in the Empire As to this last mention'd Dignity you may consult John Meursius in his Lexicon Graeco-Barbarum under the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But these three were slain in a Tumult of the Soldiery by the means of Constantius who egged the latter to it or at least connived at them and together with them Optatus made a Patrician by Constantine of which word see the said Author under the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same being a new-coin'd Honour which privileged him who enjoy'd it to take Place of the Praejectus Praetorio At the same time Ablavius who was Praefectus Praetorio was cut off also We learn out of Philostorgius that there was a Rumour spread abroad That Constantine was poison'd by his Brethren and that when he found his death draw nigh he made his Will and commanded the first of his Sons that should reach Nicomedia where he died to revenge his death And perhaps Constantius who first arrived there laid hold of this pretence to cut them all off 341. Athanasius was honourably recalled from Banishment by Constantine the Younger who not long after making War upon his Brother Constans and breaking more like a Robber than an Enemy in War into his Division of the Empire was slain Athanasius was thereupon called to the Synod of Antioch where about an hundred Bishops were assembled one third whereof espoused Arius's Opinion who condemned and deposed him putting Gregory the Cappadocian into his See In the mean time Julius Bishop of Rome absolved not only Athanasius in a Synod assembled in that City but also condemned the Synod of Antioch And Athanasius returning to Alexandria raised a great Tumult against Gregory wherein divers Soldiers and Citizens were slain Macedonius at the same time being substituted by Hermogenes the Emperor's Praefect in the room of Eusebius who from the See of Nicomedia was translated to that of Constantinople Hermogenes was tore to pieces by the Homoousian Party as they were called these last being intent to restore Paul who had been put out to the exercise of his Function again Then it was that Photinus the Disciple of Marcellus of Ancyra they said broach'd his Opinion concerning Christ which was much the same as far as may be gathered from the Ancients with that of Paul of Samosata of which we have made mention under the Emperor Aurelian 344. There was a new Council held by the Arians at Antioch wherein was formed a new Confession of Faith besides that made in the former Synod held in the same City wherein the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was left out The latter is said to have been Lucian the Martyr's whom Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Philostorgius own to have been of Arius's Opinion See Sozomen lib. iii. cap. 5. Lucian and the Arians in this same Confession declining to make the Son Consubstantial say that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is As to his Divinity Immutable and not obnoxious to Change but the Immutable Image of the Essence Council and Power of the Father the First-born of every Creature H. Valesius translates the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In no wise differing But though the word frequently occurs in that sence yet it signifies also Immutable Which enclines me to believe that Lucian would have a Confession made in such terms as were agreeable to both Parties which hath been often done in relation to this Controversy 347. While Constantius was engaged in a War against the Persians Constans in the West was intent upon the Restitution of Athanasius to the See of Alexandria and for that end with his Brother's concurrence called a Synod at Sardis a City in Illyricum in the Confines of Thrace and Mysia Here met Three hundred and seventy Bishops wherein when most of them were Homoousians Athanasius was absolved But the Arian Bishops stealing from thence met at Philippi and set up contrary Decrees which they also called by the Name of Sardis-Decrees Neither would Athanasius have been recalled to Alexandria but that Gregory being killed by the Homoousian Party and that Constantius moved by Constans his threathing Letters thought fit to restore him for Peace-sake two years after the Synod of Sardis 350. Constans was this year slain by Magnentius who seized upon the Empire in Gaul The same was done by Vetranio in Panonia and Nepotianus at Rome But Magnentius quickly over-powered the rest though he was himself a year after he assumed the Empire ruined by Constantius The same year wherein Magnentius was slain
that such a vast number of People could be contained in the lower Egypt but the wonder will be lessen'd to him that considers how populous and fertil Egypt was of Old Concerning which consult J. Vossius observ var. c. 10. Neither could there be any danger in the Opinion though we were to grant that the Copyers or Transcribers might through neglect mistake in the number so as that they are sometimes found in our Books to be more than really they were But of this we shall speak elsewhere After they had passed dry-shod through the Red-Sea they lived forty years in the Desarts of Arabia where what befell them is contained in Exodas Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy There it was more especially that they received the Law which comprehended three sorts of Precepts The first related to good Manners and were common to all Mankind alike others related to Sacred Rites and the third were established for the Government of Civil Society The Moral Precepts were approved of by all Civilized Nations and every Wife Man as to the Ceremonials there are several of them taken from those of the Egyptians which God established by a Law because the Israelites were already used to them those being rectified which might be faulty concerning which you may consult the Famous J. Marsham and J. Spencera There were also many things in their Polity alike from whence it came to pass that the Athenian Laws agreed in many things with those of the Hebrews as Learned Men and especially Sam. Petyte have observed which last has made a Collection of them because that as Cecrops the first King of Athens being an Egyptian born brought his own Country Laws into the Country of the Athenians so also Moses by God's Command the Children of Israel having been used to the Laws of Egypt commanded many Precepts out of them though he added many particular ones But above all others this was peculiar to the Common-wealth of Israel that God was the chief Magistrate therein and that there was no name of any other Polity could agree with it so that a new one was to be invented which they called a Theocracy 2493. 1421. Moses dyed before he got into the Land of Canaan leaving to the Jews that Law which he had given them in the Name of God 2498. 1486. Joshua having Subdued the Land of Canaan divided it among the twelve Tribes and dyed eight years after 2570. 1425. The Argives having turned out Gelanor the last King of Inachus's Race gave the Government to Danaus who came from Egypt into Greece 2525. 1459. When the Children of Israel after the Death of Joshua fell into Idolatry they were Conquered by Cuschan King of Mesopotamia and paid him Tribute for eight years but at length they were delivered by Othoniel the first Judge after Joshua in Israel 2583. 1401. The Israelites returning again to their former sins were subdued by Eglon King of Moab who was Slain by Ehud their second Judge Some think that Minos Reigned about this time others will have him to have Reigned King of Crete much later some again contend there were two of them one more Ancient and a famous Law-giver and the other co-temporary with Theseus who also lived about the end of this our Period The Kingdom of Troy was Erected and Enlarged in the lesser Asia by Dardanus Erichthonius Tros Assaracus Laomedon and some other Princes Pelops the Phrygian the Son of Tantalus Reigned in Peloponnesus and left his Name to all that Country At this time the Isthmian Games were institutedh which were Celebrated in Honour of Archemorus every third year at the Isthmus of Corinth But some will have them to have been Consecrated to the Memory of Archemorus by Adrastus and those Captains that went to Thebes which hapned later perhaps these only restored them in Honour of Archemorus Belus in the same Age Reigned in Assyria and after his Death was reputed to have been taken into the number of the Gods 2663. 1321. Jabin King of Canaan Subdued the Israelites but they were delivered Twenty years after by Deborah and Barak 2730. 1254. He was Succeeded by Gideon who overthrew the Midianites without fighting this Man was otherwise called Jerubbaal and Sanchoniathon of Berytis consulted him when he writ his History which he composed in the Phoenician Tongue and which Philo-byblius translated into Greek of which version there are some fragments still remaining See Sam. Bochaâ—tus in his Canaan lib. 2. Cap. ult You may also consult Henry Dodwell's Dissertation concerning it who would have Sanchoniathon to be a Supposititious Author 2770. 1214. Abimelech the Son of Gideon after he had Slain his Seventy Brethren Invaded the Office of Judge He was Succeeded by Thola Jair and Jephtha whose Deeds are recorded in the Book of Judges We shall only observe out of the History of Jephtha who vowed his Daughter in Sacrifice that some Learned Men have thought the Fable of Iphigenia to have sprung from thence whom the Greeks are said to have Slain in Aulis Certainly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do not much differ about which you may consult Capellus in his Diatriba de voto Jephthae But these belong to the following Period Many things during the time of these Judges in Israel worthy of Remembrance have hapned both in the East and West which cannot be reduced to any certain year Ninus the Son of Belus Reigned in the Greater Asia in the time of Deborah the same that built Niniveh and extended the Empire of Assyria far and near through Asia It was then this Empire seems to have begun to Flourish so as that Ninus may be esteemed as it were the founder of it The Computation of Herodotus is herein more exact from which it appears that the Empire of the Ancient Assyrians lasted only 500. years especially in the upper Asia After Ninus his Death his Widow Semiramis Ruled the Empire concerning whom as well as Ninus you may read Justin lib. 1. Palaetyrus or old Tyre was built in the Reign of Ninus as some would have it but others have thought it to be much older As for Greece there were several Kings who Reigned one after another as well in Athens as in Peloponnesus In Erichthonius his Reign who was the fourth King of the Athenians from Cecrops were the Panathenaea or Minerva's Festival instituted and under Erichtheus the Sixth King were appointed the Eleusinian Sacrifices in Eleusis a City in the Province of Athens which were attended with very Great and Sacred Rites and Phoemonoe was the first Priest at Delphos that delivered Oracles in Hexameter Verse Amphion Reigned in these times at Thebes and Perseus at Mycene A little after the time of Baruck the Theban Hercules the Son of Amphitryon and Alcmene Flourished He was believed to have been Jupiter's Son because in Old Times all that were Valiant were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Jupiter's Sons even as the Hebrews called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
under the leading of Leonidas durst with wonderfull boldness oppose his Land-forces at the Streights of Thermopylae where valiantly fighting they were every man of them Slain But that vast Army was next year utterly overthrown at Plataea a City of Boeotia Mardonius being General of the Persians as Pausanias and Aristides were of the Graecians In these times flourish'd Pindar the Poet and Anaxagoras the Philosopher 3057. 477. LXXV iv 277. Caeso Fabius who with the single Family of the Fabij to the number of three hundred and six of ripe years and four thousand Vassals made War against the Vejentians was overthrown by them at the River Cremera and the whole Army destroyed of which Ovid in his Fastorum says Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes Ad Bellum missos perdidit una dies One day the Fabij all One day the Fabian Race made all extinct But that many things are false herein as that amongst such a number of Men grown there was one under Age is shewn by Dionys Halicarnasseus and the matter is handled at large by Jac. Perizonius in his Observ c. 5. At this time Sicily was imbroil'd several ways what with Gelon and Hieron Tyrants of Syracuse and Theron of Agrigentum within and the Carthaginians from without who endeavoured to possess themselves of it 3510. 474. LXXVI iii. 280. Artaxerxes was made partner with his Father in the Kingdom About the same time Sophocles began to teach the way of Tragedies and a few years after was the most excellent Tragedian Euripides born In the same Age also flourished Herodotus of Hallicarnassus who is the most Ancient of all the Greek Historians we have 3514. 470. LXXVII iii. 284. Cimon the Son of Miltiades Admiral of the Athenians Fleet took away several Cities of Asia from the Persians and overcame them at Sea with two hundred and fifty Ships only when they had no less than three hundred and forty and a little after gained another Victory over their Land Forces at Eurymedon a City of Pamphylia The Athenians at that time waged War with good success against their Neighbours in Greece and gave divers overthrows to the Thassians Thracians and Aeginetans The Lacedaemonians also brought the Hilotes and Messenians who Rebelled against them under Subjection again having sent home the Auxiliary Troops of Athens because of the suspicion they had of them 3516. 468. LXXVIII i. 286. T. Quinctius General of the Romans obtained a Victory over the Voscians and after the taking of Antium Triumphed Next year upon the Death of Hieron in the Isle of Sicily succeeded his Brother Thrasibulus in his Tyranny over Syracuse but being expelled by the Syracusians he went into Banishment to Locris and from that time forward the Syracusians enjoyed a free State for 40 years together till Dionysius his days 3519. 465. LXXVIII iv 289. Artabanus the Hyrcanian slew Xerxes and Accused his Brother Darius of the Parricide before Artaxerxes whom as we have said Xerxes had made his Copartner in the Empire Darius being condemn'd to die Artaxerxes was wounded by Artabanus but afterwards slain by him whence he obtain'd the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Long Hands and began this year to Reign alone and Reigned XL years To him Themistocles fled in his Banishment who was very kindly received and rewarded by him The same Artaxerxes was a great favourer of the Jews and in the twentieth year of his Reign gave Nehemiah leave to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem when Cyrus had only allowed them the favour of Rebuilding the Temple Nehemiah finish'd that work in a very short time notwithstanding all the opposition made to the contrary by the neighbouring Samaritans Ammonites and Arabians 3522. 462. LXXIX iii. 292. In the mean while there was a Law made at Rome after several Tumults raised by the People which was called the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri that were to be created with consular power as well from among the Commonalty as Nobility The year after Ap. Herdonius the Sabine with four thousand Exiles and Servants seized on the Capitol but soon after by the assistance above all others of the Tusculans they were driven out Thenceforward the Romans gave many overthrows to the Sabines and Aequi and when it hapned so that Minucius the Consul through ill management was Besieged by the Aequi in his Camp Quinctius Cincinnatus being called from his Plow to take upon him the Office of Dictator he conquered the Aequi and made them Slaves The Athenians this very time under the Conduct of Leocrates often beat the Corinthians and Epidaurians and forced Garrisons upon the Aeginetae and Megarensians after which under the leading of Myronides they Routed the Lacedaemonians and from this spark was afterwards that flame of the Peloponnesian War kindled 3530. 454. LXXXI iii. 300. Petavius thinks that Daniel s Seventy weeks ought to take their beginning from this year See Lib. 12. de Doc. temp This same year upon the Abrogating of the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri there were three Embassadors sent into Greece to make an inspection into the Laws of that Country and especially into those of Athens that they might amend the Roman Laws by them Upon the return of the Embassadors which was three years after the Tribunes of the People and Consuls were laid aside and the Decemviri constituted to set down the Laws of the Common-wealth who were the first that reduced the same into ten Tables which by the addition of two more to them afterwards made up those Famous twelve Tables which were the foundation of the whole Body of the Roman Laws After the Republick had for the space of two years or a little more been Governed by this sort of Magistracy it reverted to its Ancient form upon this occasion As the Decemviri demeaned themselves but indifferently in their charge and that Appius Claudius had made Virginia a free Maiden of Rome a Slave out of the hopes he had to enjoy her her Father Virginius Slew him made the People Mutiny and brought things so to bear that the Office of the Decemviri was Abrogated and Tributes of the People and Consuls were chosen again While these things were doing in Rome Nehemiah returning from Chaldaea together with Ezra the Scribe Rectified the corrupt manners of the Jews and pressed upon them the observation of the Law of Moses From this time it was that the Jews began to gather the Books of Scripture together into one Volume which is the same we have at this day But seeing that the Jews during the Babylonish Captivity had almost forgot the Hebrew Tongue and way of Writing the Ancient Books were written in Assyrian Characters and what was read in the Hebrew Tongue in the Scriptures was expounded to the People in the Chaldee See Lud. Capellus concerning the Hebrew letters But the Samaritans when they received Moses his Law before the Phoenician or Ancient Character was grown quite obsolete preserved them from whence it comes
to pass that the Pentateuch which was written in the Ancient Letters is so handed down to us There are Relicks of them to this day in Mount Gerizim In this Age Herodotus whom the Greeks call the Father of History published his Books when there was already an History of the Hebrews for fifteen Ages beginning only with Abraham without going higher He seems to have said nothing of the Hebrews because that the Land of Judaea at that time was through the long absence of its Inhabitants in a mean State and the Jewish affairs were inconsiderable besides that it was the business of the Greeks to know only those Nations with whom they had some commerce or other Artaxerxes King of Persia being overthrown several times by the Greeks but more particularly by the Athenians under the Conduct of Cimon was forced to make a Dishonourable Peace with them upon these conditions amongst others that he should be oblig'd to leave the Maritime Cities of Asia free that he should not come nearer to the Sea than the space of ground that a Horse could run over without stopping and that he should not be carryed in a Ship between the Cyamean and Chelidonean Islands While the Athenians were overcoming the common Enemy they procured to themselves the envy of their Neighbours and especially of the Lacedaemonians from whence breaking out into an open War the Lacedaemonians were often worsted in Battle by Pericles and Tolmides the Athenian Generals At last both sides agreed to a Truce of thirty years which neither kept In these times flourished Democritus Melissus Empedocles Parmenides Zeno Eleates and Socrates who is to be preferred before all the rest of the Philosophers As also the orators Gorgias Prodicus Lysias together with the Poets Sophocles Aristophanes and Euripides 3540. 444. LXXXIV i. 310. This year were the Tribunes of the People upon a Tumult of the People first created with Consular Power but finding that would not do about three Months after they put Consuls in their room Next year the Quinquennial Censors were first Created who had full power over the manners of the Citizens so as to punish and regulate them as they pleased not long after Sp. Melius in the time of a great Famine at Rome by distributing of Corn to the People thought to make himself King but L. Quinctius being made Dictator he was Slain in pursuance to his commands by C. Servilius Ahala The Romans in the succeeding years gained several Victories over the Vejentians and Etrurians especially under the leading of Mamercus Aemilius In the mean while there were divers Commotions raised in Greece the Athenians under the Command of Pericles reduced once and again the Revolting Samians under their Obedience And seeing according to Thucydides it was not long after that the first War between the Corcyraeans and Corinthians brake forth the Athenians by the perswasion of the Embassadors of Corcyra made an Allyance with them by whose Aid they became Conquerors And now the Lacedaemonians out of envy to the Athenians having called a Dyet concluded that the Truce made fourteen years since was violated by the Athenians 3553. 431. LXXXVII ii 323. Hence sprung the Peloponnesian War while the Romans being involved in a War with the Aqui and Volscians under the Conduct of A. Posthumius the Dictator triumphed over them This Posthumius put his Son to Death because he had fought contrary to his Commands These were the principal causes of the Peloponnesian War because the Lacedaemonians envyed the power of the Athenians and for that Pericles after he had spent Seven thousand Talents during the time of his Magistracy refused to give an account thereof which he hoped to get clear of when the People were involved in War neither was he mistaken therein for two years after he dyed In this War which lasted for seven and twenty years Theramenes Thrasybulus Demosthenes and Alcibiades on the Athenian side performed many brave Exploits and those that were Famous among the Lacedaemonians were Brasides Myndarus and Lysander Admiral of their Fleet who took Athens rased the Walls of the City and committed the Government of it to thirty Tyrants Thucydides has written an accurate History of this War and he lived in that Age. We shall pass by the circumstances thereof and briefly touch upon other things that fell out in the interim of time 3558. 326. LXXXVIII iii. 328. This year there were again created at Rome four Military Tribunes who fought against the Vejentians with bad Success But Mamercus Aemilius being made Dictator he overcame them together with the Fidenates and took and rased the City Fidena it self Next year upon the Death of Artaxerxes who Reigned forty years Xerxes Succeeded for two Months and Sogdianus for Seven 3560. 424. LXXXIX ii 331. Darius The Bastard Succeeded him and was the Ninth King of Persia who Reigned nineteen years There were two Consuls created at Rome next year according to Ancient custom who were Succeeded by nine Military Tribunes with the same power for the space of nine years 3568. 416. XCI 338. The Athenians undertake the Sicilian War in favour of the Citizens of Aegesta and the Leontini against those of Selinos and Syracuse Alcibiades Nicias and Lamachus being constituted Generals of their Forces Alcibiades was presently after recalled as being accused of an impious fact because he had taken care to throw down all the carv'd Statues of Mercury the night before his departure but Alcibiades fled to Lacedaemon whom he excited to send Succours to the Syracusians who sent Gylippus by whom at last the Athenians received great overthrows Alcibiades a little after got leave to return home from his Banishment and brought things so to bear that Tissaphernes who was angry with the Athenians was reconciled to them and that an Oligarchy was set up in Athens Wherefore there were four hundred appointed for the Administration of the Government butthey degenerating into Tyrants were removed and other Magistrates put into their room to whom the care of the Commonweath was committed 3574. 410. XCII iii. 344. While the War was carryed on in Sicily between the Cities of Aegesta Syracuse and others of that Island Hannibal the Grandson of Amilcar the Son of Giscon was sent thither by the Carthaginians to whom the Aegestans fled for Succour At length the People of Rome did the year following prevail to get three Quaestors of the People made The Romans afterwards overthrew the Volscians divers times and hitherto confined themselves within the bounds of Italy Hence forward also the Military Tribunes managed the Republick for fifteen years 3579. 405. XCIII iv 349. Many Memorable things hapned this year when the Siege of Veij began which lasted ten years And Dionysius raised such accusations against the Commanders of the Syracusians that he was at last in conjunction with others chosen General And when afterwards he commanded the Army alone he set himself up for a Tyrant and compelled the Carthaginians though often conquerors to make Peace
357. CV iv 397. While divers Wars were waged among the Greeks all which seem to have turned to the advantage of Philip King of Macedon only Dionysius Tyrant of Syracuse was divested of his Government by Dion during his absence from Syracuse Two Transport Ships laden with Mercenary Troops overturned a Government furnished with 400 Ships of War an Hundred thousand Foot and Ten thousand Horse In the mean time Philip Subdued the three Neighbouring Kings of Thrace Paeonia and Illyria and in the three hundred fifty sixth year before the Birth of Christ had born to him by his Wife Olympias his Son Alexander on the very same day wherein the fam'd Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt Of this Timaeus in his History spake prettily when he said that it was not to be wondered that Diana who was desirous to be at the Labour of Olympias should be absent from home as you have it cited in Cicero de natura Deor. lib. 2. c. 27. A little after began that called the Sacred War in Greece which the Thebans and Locrensians undertook against the People of Phocis because these last had possest themselves of some part of the Holy Ground and afterwards by the incouragement of Philomelus pillaged the Temple of Apollo at Delphos Philip after eight years time put an end to this War by destroying the Cities of Phocis 3633. 351. CVII ii 403. Artaxerxes Ochus sent an Army against the Phoenicians and Cyprians who revolted from him and subdued the Cyprians by the help of Idrieus Prince of Caria Phocion of Athens and Evagora who held Cyprus in his Name but Tennes King of Sydon having received from Nectanebos King of Egypt some mercenary Greeks to assist him defended himself for some time but afterwards having made a Peace with the King he was slain which brought the Sydonians to such a desponding condition that they burnt themselves and all their Substance together with their City all at once From hence forward the Riches of New Tyre seem to have encreased as being a Place that was very potent in Alexander's days whereas the Affairs of the Sydonians were but in a mean condition Nectanebos himself was driven out of Egypt by Ochus with the assistance more particularly of the Theban Army and forced to fly into Aethiopia Four Years after Dionysius recovered Syracuse ten years after he had lost it but the Syracusians some time after having got of the Corinthians Timoleon for a General who had kill'd his Brother Timophanes for seeking to compass the Supreme Power into his hands Dionysius was driven out again who went to Corinth where it was said he turn'd Schoolmaster to get him a livelyhood The same Timoleon overthrew the Carthaginians divers times In this tract of time the Romans under the Conduct of several Dictators and Consuls a Catalogue of whom you have in Petavius's Tables won several Victories over the Gauls Samnites and other neighbouring Nations but they underwent very great danger in that called the Social War where T. Manlius struck off his Son's Head because that being challenged to a single Combat he overcame his Enemy when there were strict Orders given that none should stir out of their Ranks The other Consul P. Decius Mus devoted himself to death for the Army the same being a Ceremony usual to the Romans in extreme Danger 3644. 340. CX i. 414. Artaxerxes Ochus was succeeded by Arses who was the twelfth King of Persia and reigned four years At this time flourished Isocrates Demosthenes and Aechines Athenian Orators and the Philosopher Anaxarchus Epicurus was born the year before Ochus his death Philip after many happy Successes overcame the Athenians and Boeotians at Charonea in which Battel his Son Alexander but then Eighteen years of age fought valiantly Then Philip was chosen by all Greece to be their Captain-General against the Persians but next year he was slain by Pausanias after he had reigned four and twenty years 3648. 336. CXI i. 418. Bagoas the Eunuch who slew Ochus and put Arses upon the Throne having laid him aside and substituted Darius Codomannus Arsamus's Son and Great Grand-son to Darius the Bastard in his room yet when he went about to take away Darius by Poison Darius forced him to drink the Cup he had made ready for that purpose In the mean time Alexander Philip's Son was chosen General of the Greeks against the Persians and when the Thebans revolted from him he hasted from Thrace where he was then waging War besieged Thebes took and levelled it with the ground no Houses being saved but a few among which were those of Pindar and Epaminondas From thence the following year he transported the Army into Asia and overturned the Persian Empire We shall pass over most of his Actions unmentioned as being such as may easily be seen in Quintus Gurrius 3652. 332. CXII i. 422. Alexander after he had taken Tyre went to Jerusalem with a design to be revenged on the Jews who refused to send him any Aid while he was engaged in the said Siege but he was pacified by Jaddua the High-priest who being dress'd in his Sacerdotal Ornaments went out to meet him with all the People clad in White and commanded Sacrifices to be offered for him and granted the Jews many Privileges In these times also Manasses the Brother of Jaddua raised a Disturbance who refusing to put off Sanballat's Daughter the Samaritan whom he had married contrary to the Law was forced to flee to Samaria Sanballat his Father-in-Law who was much in favour with Darius by whom he was made Governor of that Country obtained leave of the King for this Man to build a Temple in Mount Garizin like unto that at Jerusalem The same Sanballat when he saw how prosperously things went with Alexander revolted from Darius and sent the other some Auxiliary Troops when he was besieging Tyre whereby he won to himself the Favour of Alexander From thence Alexander went and in the Battel of Arbela gave Darius a total Overthrow who having norrowly escaped being killed among the rest was said to have been slain afterwards by Bessus Governor of Bactria The Persian Monarchy ended with this King after it had lasted for about two hundred years Whilst Alexander the Macedonian subdued the Upper Asia Alexander King of Epirus his Uncle waged War in Italy where at length he died It 's reported that he comparing the War his Sister's Son was engaged in with his own should say That Alexander had to do with Women but he with Men. In the mean time the Romans fought with the Gauls and Samnites with various success but at last after having been beaten in some Battels they came off Conquerors in the War 3660. 324. CXIV i. 430. Alexander having almost conquered all Asia by Arms returned to Babylon and died there after he had reigned twelve years and seven months on the 22d day of June He would appoint no Successor but his Empire being divided into several Dynasties was from henceforwards infested
other Outrages there Soon after he endeavoured by exquisite Torments to bring the Jews to abjure their Religion many of whom he forced to it though he was not able by the cruellest kinds of Death he could think of to frighten others to it among which number were Eleazar and his seven Brethren of whom read 2 Mac. vi vii 3816. 168. CLIII i. 586. Matthatias one of the Lineage of Aaron fled to the Mountains of Judaea and invited those Jews who were zealous for their Old Religion to come and join him but he dying the following year left Judas Maccabaeus his Son to succeed him who performed many famous Exploits against Antiochus his Captains Now the reason why Matthatias's Sons were called Maccabees was because these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Machbai were on their Ensigns which are the initial letters of these four words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who among the gods is like unto thee O Lord They were also called Hasmonaei from the Chaldee word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Princes 3819. 165. CLIII iv 589. Judas after he had won many Victories over Antiochus's Generals purged the Temple that had been polluted and consecrated the same by a new Dedication on the 25th Day of the Month Casleu that is November the 23d Hence it was that the Feast called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The Dedication of the Temple was celebrated every year Next year Antiochus being dead Judas began to take upon him the Office of High-Priest though he could not yet take the City of David where Antiochus Epiphanes had planted a Garrison While he laid Siege to it Antiochus Eupator the Son of Epiphanes came with an Army to Jerusalem and for some time sate down before it but having afterwards patcht up a Peace he entred the City and took and demolish'd the Walls thereof A little after this Demetrius Soter this Prince's Uncle who had been long kept for an Hostage at Rome privately left the City went into Syria and having recovered his Father's Kingdom slew Antiochus and Lysias his chief General and then growing angry with the Jews he was soon after by the artifice of Alcimus who lay upon the catch for the High-Priesthood brought to make a League with them But the Peace was of no long duration for next year a War broke out between them and Judas Maccabaeus fought Bacchides Demetrius's General and slew him Now it was that Eumenes and Attalus Kings of Pergamus lived as also Hipparchus a famous Astronomer among the Greeks not to forget Pacuvius of Brundusium a Tragedy-Writer among the Romans 3835. 149. CLVII iv 605. The Carthaginians molesting Masinissa King of Numidia who was Confederate with the Romans and building Ships contrary to the Articles of the last Peace gave a beginning to the Third Punick War which was carry'd on by Sea and Land by both Consuls and within four years finally terminated with the Destruction of Carthage by Scipio Aemilianus Much about the same times began the Achaian War occasioned by the Achaians driving out the Roman Legates from thence as also the War in Spain against Viriatus who invaded Lusitania 3839. 145. CLVIII iv 609. The Jews under the Conduct of Jonathan the Brother of Judas did well enough neither were the Kings of Syria at Enmity with them and Jonathan brought things so well to bear that he made a League with the Romans and Lacedaemonians which last he accosted in a very honourable manner as if they had been originally descended from the same Stock as the Jews 1 Maccab. xii He was succeeded in the Office of High-Priest by his Brother Simon three years after the fore-mention'd League 3851. 139. CLXI iv 621. The Achaian War was terminated within a year after the first commencement of it and the City of Corinth being burnt by L. Mummius Achaia was reduced into the form of a Province which is so much the more to be wonder'd at that the Jews should a little before make an Alliance with the Lacedaemonians who were in Confederacy with the Achaians But in Spain things were carry'd on with various successes until now that Scipio Aemylianus after a long Siege destroyed Numantia Simon two years before this being treacherously slain by Ptolemy his Son-in-Law he was succeeded by John Hyrcanus his Son who was at first in amity with Antiochus Sidetes but afterwards becoming his Enemy laid some of his Cities waste and among others Sicima and Garizim where the Temple that had been built above two hundred years before was utterly destroyed Then he subdued the Edomites and forced them to be Circumcised because they were the Posterity of Abraham The very same year that Numantia was taken died Attalus and left the Romans his Heir and the now bringing of rich Hangings Paintings Pictures Precious Moveables c. out of Asia into Italy began to infect the Romans with Luxury and debauch their Manners That year also Tiberius Gracchus Tribune of the People raising a Sedition in the City was slain It was not long after that the Romans began to lead Colonies into Gallia Transalpina after they had subdued the Inhabitants of the Province of Narbonne whilst all things in Asia were turned topsie-turvy by base Murders among the Kings of Syria Demetrius was killed by his Wife Cleopatra for Rhodogunes's sake She also did the same by his Son Seleucus who had assum'd the Kingly Power without her Authority Antiochus Grypus reigned in his stead who made his Mother Cleopatra that would have given him Poison drink it her self After which he waged War with his Brother Antiochus Cyzicenus for a long time with various success 3873. 111. CLXVII ii 643. This year began the Jugurthine War the History whereof is written by Salust King Jugurtha corrupted some of the Roman Commanders with Money and received great Overthrows from others of them till at length after the Revolution of eight years he was led in triumph by C. Marius then Consul At that time it was that Aristobulus upon the Death of Hyrcanus succeeded as High-Priest and reigned one year leaving the Kingdom to Alexander Jannes his Brother who was greatly distressed by Ptolemy Lathurus King of Egypt Marius overcame the Teutones and Ambrones at a Place called Aquae Sextiae and from henceforward the Romans began to oppress the Gauls 3830. 94. CLXXI. iii. 660. Ariobarzanes being by Mithridates expelled the Kingdom of Cappadocia was restored by L. Sulla Propraetor of Cilicia and this gave a beginning to the Mithridatick War which kept the Roman Armies in play for forty years together A little after Nicomedes King of Bithynia being expelled by the same Mithridates was reinstated by Sulla But Mithridates the very next year after the Restitution of Nicomedes having levied a greater Army seized on and wasted Phrygia took care to put to death all the Citizens of Rome that were in Asia and that in one day and invaded Macedon Thrace and Greece Sulla was at that time engaged in the Italian War and gave
the Samnites a great overthrow Marius in the mean time by the assistance of C. Sulpicius Tribune of the People endeavoured to deprive him of his Command But Sulla returning out of Campania to Rome slew Sulpicius and put Marius to flight Italy was again much afflicted the following year with the Armies commanded by Marius Cinna Carbo and Sertorius while Sulla won many Battels from Mithridates and wasted his Army Marius dying of Sickness Cinna being then Consul L. Flaccus succeeded Sulla in the Command but his own Lieutenant Fimbria killed Flaccus who being afterwards forsaken by the Army that went over to Sulla slew himself Nay Cinna was also slain by the very Army he got ready to march against Sulla leaving the Consulship to Carbo alone who refused to accept of the Terms of Peace offered him by Sulla This Man therefore marched out of Greece at the Head of Thirty thousand Men and with them overthrew a much more numerous Army of Cn. Norbanus Flaccus the Consul in Battel At the same time Q. Sertorius who had an Army in Italy despairing of any good Success went into the farther Province of Spain which fell unto his lot to govern But Cneus Pompeius who afterwards conquered him joined Sulla with three Volonian Legions being then but Three and twenty Years old Sulla next year overthrew C. Marius the other 's Son in battel at Praeneste and then possessing himself of the City confiscated the Estates of his Enemies He also fought with and overcame the Praetor Damasippus Marius Carrinates and the Samnite Troops before the Gate called Collina He was afterwards made Dictator which Office after three years space he laid down of himself 3906. 78. CLXXV iii. 676. Hyrcanus upon the death of King Alexander his Father succeeded him in the Kingdom of Judaea and reigned eleven years In the mean time Sertorius in Spain being one while beaten another while Victor worsted the Roman Armies commanded by Metellus and Pompey in divers Battels till that after five years both himself and Perpenna his Lieutenant were slain by the Treachery of their own Men whereby Pompey had the opportunity of recovering Spain At that time Servilius conquered the Isaurians and took their Cities in Cilicia from whence having got the Sirname of Isauricus conquered the Pirates and reduced Cilicia and Crete into the form of a Province he triumphed L. Lucullus engaged in the Mithridatick War and won many Victories over that King That War called the Servile one breaking forth under the Conduct of Spartacus it was with difficulty put an end to in three years space by M. Crassus the Praetor and Cn. Pompeius Cicero was then Quaestor in Sicily and began to be famous for his Eloquence Varro also with Lucretius Catullus and other learned Men lived in those days 3917. 67. CLXXVIII ii 687. Servilius having not perfectly destroyed the Cilician Pirates and others who having repaired their Shipping infested the Seas every where Pompey was entrusted with an extraordinary Commission to clear the Seas from those Robbers which he perform'd with that celerity that he either took them all or having burnt their Ships rendred them incapable of more mischief in the space of forty days The same Pompey being next year sent against Mithridates did at length put a final period to that War and so had the honour of Triumphing He performed also many famous Exploits almost throughout all Asia Then Hyrcanus King and High-Priest of the Jews was put out of the Pontificate by his Brother Aristobulus who exercised that Charge for the space of three years but being taken Prisoner by Pompey when he conquered Jerusalem he was together with his Children sent to Rome and Hyrcanus restored again to his former Office The same year Cicero being Consul delivered the Commonwealth of Rome from a most dangerous Conspiracy Cataline who was the Chief of it being overcome and slain by Petreius Lieutenant to Anthony the other Consul 3924. 60. CLXXX i. 694. Pompey Crassus and Caesar having contracted a strict Friendship one with another formed a Design of oppressing the Commonwealth now distracted with divers Factions Caesar obtained Gaul for his Province and held the same for ten years Syria fell to Crassus his lot from whence marching against the Parthians he was together with his Son P. Crassus and the whole Army hemmed in by their Horse and slain The two Provinces of Spain came to Pompey's share In the mean time Cicero was sent to and recalled from Banishment Hyrcanus in Judaea being driven out of Jerusalem by Alexander the Son of Aristobulus was restored by Gabinius This same Gabinius that he might lessen the Authority of the Grand Synedrim or Council at Jerusalem erected four more like thereunto viz. at Gadaris Amathus Jericho and Saphoris While Caesar was getting several Victories over the Gauls and Germans Pompey dedicated his Theatre and gave Plays wherein ten Lions and eighteen Elephants were slain But Crassus as was said before warring rashly against the Parthians perished in the said Expedition 3933. 51. CLXXXII ii 703. Cicero this year got a Decree of the Senate to make him Proconsul in Cilicia and after having overcome some bands of Robbers in Mount Amanus and taken some Castles was saluted by the Army with the Title of Imperator Cassius also at the same time valiantly defended Syria against the Irruption of the Parthians so that they were forced to be gone re infectâ Next year after the Senate had in vain required Caesar to dismiss his Army broke out the Civil War between him and Pompey wherein first Caesar entring Italy with his Army drove the Senate and Pompey from thence Then Pompey's Troops in Spain submitted to him and after that returning victorions to Rome he entred upon the Consulship and having transported his Army over into Epirus he overcame Pompey himself who flying into Egypt was slain by Ptolemy Caesar pursuing Pompey thither was very like to have been cut off by the King of Egypt yet he overcame the Alexandrians and entred upon the Office of Perpetual Dictator He conquer'd Scipio Pompey's Son-in Law in Africa the following year and at last in the fifth year from the first breaking out of the Civil War beat Pompey's Sons in Spain by which last Victory he got the Sovereign Power entirely into his hands Then he bethought himself of regulating the Course of the Year and seeing the preceding one which was called the Year of Confusion by his Command consisted of 445 Days this which was the 45th before the Birth of our Saviour was the First Julian Year the same being made up of 365 Days and 6 Hours which being set together make One Day in every Fourth Year the same being called the Bissextile or Leap-Year See Pet. Rationar p. 2. l. i. c. 1. He was slain in the fourth year of his Dictatorship and the sixth after the commencement of the Civil War on the First of March in the Senate-House There was one Antipater an Edomite by Nation who
being advanced by the favour of Hyrcanus to the highest Employments at the Court of Jerusalem proved very serviceable to Caesar in the Expedition he made to Alexandria and therefore was made by him Governor of Judaea This Man was Herod the Great 's Father who for all that upon the death of Caesar assisted Cassius and when he was overcome joined in with the Interests of M. Antony as we shall see by and by and made way for himself to obtain the Throne by his marrying some time after Mariamne Hyrcanus's Grand-daughter We are to observe in the first place that Brutus and Cassius who were Heads of the Conspiracy for cutting off of Julius Caesar were in some time overcome by C. Octavius Caesar and M. Antony after they had caused great Disturbances in the Empire which would be too tedious for me to particularize what was most remarkable were the Proscriptions they made wherein perished a great many of the best and most accomplish'd Men of which number was Cicero M. Lepidus as Triumvir had a hand in these mischiefs with Antony and Caesar and then dying left the Supreme Power in their hands but they almost ever after were at perpetual enmity one with another until at last they brake out into a Civil War Sextus Pompeius who was the only surviving Son of Pompcy the Great was then in possession of Sicily and had a strong Naval Force but being at length conquered by Octavius Caesar he was by Antony's Command cut off as he was going to him for succour 3945. 39. CLXXXV ii 715. The Parthians while these things were in agitation brake into Syria and having seized on Jerusalem they at the Instigation of Antigonus the Son of Aristobulus cut off the Ears of Hyrcanus divested him of the Pontificate and made Antigonus High-Priest in his room Herod who took Hyrcanus's part fled to Antony and Caesar at Rome of whom he obtained the Kingdom of Judaea according to a Decree of the Senate beyond his own expectation From thence going into Judaea and being assisted by C. Sosius he took Jerusalem in the fourth year of his Reign Having made Antigonus a Prisoner he crucified him and thus having put an end to the Dominion of the Hasmonaean Family that had continued One hundred twenty six years he advanced one Ananelus who was fetch'd from Babylon and made him High-Priest but he discharged him afterwards and put in Aristobulus the Brother of Mariamne his Wife whom soon after because he found him Popular he caused to be strangled as he was swimming He also commanded his Wife Mariamne to be beheaded some years after because she continually upbraided him with that Murther 3953. 13. CLXXXVI ii 723. This year was the Actian War waged by Augustus Caesar against Antony and Cleopatra wherein the former prevailed and took Egypt while the other two laid violent hands upon themselves Caesar triumphed the third year after and it was not long before he obtained the Name of Augustus The Actions performed by him we shall pass over as having been set forth by divers Persons and only say That after such bloody Beginnings when once he got the Supreme Power into his own hands entirely he proved to be an excellent Prince and govern'd the Commonwealth with great Clemency the most notable Examples whereof you have in Seneca de Clementia He was also a favourer of Learning whereby it came to pass that many excellent Men flourish'd in all sorts of good Literature in his time the chief of whom whose Writings have reach'd our hands were Livy Strabo Vitruvius Virgil Horace Tibullus Propertius Ovid c. He had no Male Children but only one Daughter named Julia whom at first he married to Marcellus his Sister's Son that died young and afterwards to M. Vipsanius Agrippa who together with Mecaenas was his intimate Friend From this last Marriage came Caius and Lucius Caesaeres who being Adopted by their Grand-father died young Augustus also Adopted Tiberius and Drusus his Sons-in-Law the Children of Livia Tiberius died without leaving any Child for his Son Drusus by the treachery of his Wife Livia died before him But from Germanicus the Son of Drusus came a numerous Progeny of whom hereafter yet Germanicus himself as well as his Father Drusus lived not to an advanced Age. 3979. 5. CXCIII iv 750. Herod after the perpetrating of various Murthers and even upon his own Children Alexander and Aristobulus Mariamne's Sons being near his end for the compleating of his Cruelty slew the Children of Bethlehem because there was a rumour spread abroad That the King of the Jews should be born there For Christ according to the Calculation of Petavius whom we follow herein was born about Fifteen Months before the death of Herod The Wise Men soon after came into Judaea and from their making an enquiry where the King of the Jews was born Herod took occasion to cut off the Infants as aforesaid He also a little after commanded his Son Antipater whom he kept in Prison and knew he had designed to poison him to be slain The which when Augustus heard Macrobius in his Saturn lib. ii c. 4. says he should express himself to this purpose That it were better to be Herod 's Hog than his Son Archelaus after Herod's death came to Rome that in pursuance to his Father's Will he might obtain the Kingdom of Judaea from Augustus who divided the same into Tetrarchies or four Governments two whereof he bestowed upon Archelans and gave Herod Antipas and Philip each of them one 3983. 1. CXCIV iv 753. Though all Chronologers do agree that our Saviour was born about these Times yet as to the Year they do not agree some are of opinion that blessed Nativity happened six years before the vulgar Computation Petavius thinks it to have been five and Baronius and Scaliger with some others will have it to be no more than two years In the mean time that they may not derogate from the ancient usage and lest a confusion should be introduced into the Account all reckon the Years according to the Vulgar Opinion which is That our Saviour was born when Cossus Cornelius Lentulus and L. Calphurnius Piso were Consuls on the Twenty fift Day of December Forty three Years after the first Consulship of Augustus when in conjunction with Antony and Lepidus he invaded the Rights of the Commonwealth of Rome Yet this is not accounted the First Year of Christ but the following one only in reference to the Calculation of the Julian Year Christ The Xth EPOCH From the Nativity of Christ to the Conversion of Constantine the Great are reckon'd Three Hundred and Twelve Years which makes up The Xth PERIOD Years from the Birth of Christ 3. TIBERIVS who was of a morose and jealous Nature being not able to agree with Caius and Lucius Caesars withdrew into the Isle of Rhodes and lived there for seven years but having this year obtained leave of Augustus he came back to Rome wherein Lucius being sent into
Spain sickened and died at Marseilles Eighteen Months after his Brother's decease Caius also departed this life in Lycia as he was at last returning into Italy whither he had been required to come by Augustus Tiberius from henceforward was as it were by the Suffrage of all Men designed Successor of the Empire Augustus had indeed a third Grand-son from his Daughter Julia whose Name was Agrippa but him he never dignified with those Honours nor loved to that degree as he did his Brothers Augustus at length after he had governed the Empire for fifty seven years obtained the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or easie death which he wish'd for at Nola in Campania on the 19th of August in the Seventysixth year of his age 14. Tiberius suceeded Augustus and reigned Two and twenty years This Prince by his overcruelty afflicted the Romans grievously as you may see in Tacitus and Suetonius In the mean time Germanicus the Son of his Brother Drusus reduced the mutinous Legions in Germany to Obedience though they made a tender unto him of the Empire and led them against the Cherusci Chatti and Angrivarii Nations dwelling about the Rhine whom he overcame and then triumphed From thence he was sent with an extraordinary Commission into the East of whom Tiberius who was of a most mistrustful and exceeding timorous Disposition growing jealous 't was believed he was poison'd by Piso Governor of Syria two years after Tiberius after the Revolution of seven years left Rome and retired to Campania with an intention never to return confining himself to the Island Caprea to his dying day The very same year that he went into Caprea was Pontius Filate sent Governor into Judaea 28. The next year which was the fifteenth of the Reign of Tiberius John the Son of Zacharias who was born in the same year with our Saviour began to preach Repentance in Judaea neither did he admit the Jews themselves to become his Disciples without they were first Baptized 30. After he had spent a year in that Work Christ came to be baptized by him and then began his own Ministry but John was cast into Prison by Herod upon account of the Reason given in the Gospel This year died Livia Tiberius's Mother being hated by her wicked Son when she had lived eighty six years 33. Christ in the third year after he began his Preaching was Crucified for the Salvation of Mankind on the Twenty third Day of March the Sixth Festival and fifteenth Moon according to the Usage field in Judaea when he had celebrated the Passover the third or at least the second time aster he had entred upon his Office He died towards the end of a Friday and rested in the Grave all the Saturday together with part both of Friday and the Sunday following that is about Six and thirty Hours in all He arose the Twenty fifth of March before Sun-rising ascended into Heaven the Third of May and sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles the Thirteenth of the same Month. The Apostles henceforward began to preach the Gospel not only in the Ghaldaean or Greek Tongues which were used in Judaea and common to them but also in all other Languages throughout the World This very year Stephen was martyred and the Church of Jerusalem except the Apostles scattered 34. But that we according to our Custom may mix Prophane with Sacred History two very memorable things happen'd at Rome this same year and four years after Sejanus who had been in highest favour with Tiberius was accused by him in the Letters he wrote to the Senate there upon taken Prisoner and put to death And the Parthians who were at very ill Terms with Tiberius and the Romans growing weary of their King Arabanus came to Rome that they might get Tiberius to allow of Phraates to be their King But Phraates dying on his Journey he made Tyridates their King and him Vitellius Governor of Syria conducted to his Kingdom Then died Philip Herod's Son on whom Augustus conferred a Tetrarchy in Judaea 36. Paulus Tarsensis who was converted to the Faith in the Three and thirtieth Year of our Redemption began then to enter upon his Apostolical Function and three Years after his Conversion went up to Jerusalem to see Peter from thence to Casarea and from Casarea journeyed to Tarsus 37. Next year died Tiberius and was succeeded by Caius Caligula Germanicus's Son As soon as he came to the Empire he set Agrippa Herod's Grandson by Aristobulus at liberty and not only bestowed on him the Tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias but also the Title of King This is that Agrippa whereof mention is made in the Acts of the Apostles Peter went the same year to Antioch where after the Revolution of three years the Disciples of Christ were called Christians Caligula after he had reigned four years and abounded in all Wickedness so far as to have a mind to be esteem'd a God and worshipped accordingly was at last cut off by Chaerea and other Conspirators 41. Claudius his Uncle succeeded him who was as remarkable for his Blockishness as the other was for his Madness Seneca writ an elegant Satyr upon him entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Emperor also enlarged the Kingdom of Agrippa by adding Judaea and Samaria thereunto which made him go to Jerusalem and to please the People to persecute the Christians of whom he slew James the Apostle and threw Peter into Prison The Ancients have recorded That Peter went next year from Antioch to Rome to oppose Simon Magus But some Modern Writers in this and the last Age from some Difficulties in Chronology and other light Conjectures deny that Peter ever was at Rome and even what all Antiquity hath unanimously concurred in that he suffered Martyrdom there But it looks like an absurdity in a thing of that nature to contradict all Men because we cannot clear up some Difficulties that lie in the way Indeed it 's certain Peter never was at Rome in the space of four and twenty years together but that he never saw that City looks like a crime to deny Consult hereupon the First Dissertation of Dr. Pearson concerning the Succession of the First Bishops of Rome chap. vii viii There are no Remains left to shew whether at Rome or where else the Second Epistle of Peter was written Hugo Grotius Salmasius and Joseph Scaliger think it to be none of his The First is said to be written from Babylon and by Babylon the Ancients meant no other than Rome by reason of the Greatness of the Roman Empire in conformity to that of Babylon and whose Metropolis might therefore very well be dignified with the Name of the Metropolis of the Babylonish Empire 'T is true Peter makes no mention of Paul therein because he was not then at Rome The time when it was written cannot be assign'd See Lud. Cappellus in his Appendix to the Apostolical History where however he enclines to the contrary Opinion The same Author has
furnish'd us with an History of Paul's Travels and the time when he wrote each of his Epistles which Argument is also most accurately handled by Dr. Pearson in his Annales Paulini and Praelectiones in Acta 49. Claudius in the ninth year of his Reign turn'd the Jews out of Rome and the Christians also with them who were at that time confounded with and taken for the Jews whence Suetonius says that they Auctore Chresto tumultuantes growing tumultuous under Christ their Leader were expelled Rome Then it was as some will have it that Peter returned into Judaea and Aquila and Prisoilla came to Corinth as you have it Act. xviii The same year arose a Controversie at Antioch about the Jewish Ceremonies Whereupon the Apostles with the Church of Jerusalem make that Decree that is contained in the XVth Chapter of the Acts. Claudius at that time having slain his Wife Messalina who was an open Adulteress marry'd Agrippina the Daughter of his Brother Germanicus who by Domitius Ahenobarbus had a Son whose Name was Nero to whom this same Year he assigned L. Seneca now recalled from Banishment for his Tutor and being moved thereunto by the advice of his freed Man Pallaes disinherited his Son Britannicus whom Messalina bare him In the fourth year of Claudius's Reign died King Agrippa so that his Kingdom was put under the Government of Roman Magistrates who by innumerable Enormities so exasperated the minds of the Jews that they broke out at last into open War 54. Claudius being removed by Poison was succeeded by Nero whose very Name was enough to strike Horrour for his brutal savage Disposition and unheard-of Cruelties He slew his own Mother Brother Britanmicus Seneca his Tutor and other famous Men turn'd Stage-Player set Rome on fire and having cast the odium of the Crime upon the Christians cut off a great many of them by exquisite Torments In his time lived Perseus and Lucan the Poet as did Quintillian a little before who was a most excellent Rhetorician It was not long after that Juvenal flourish'd to whom we are to join Curtius the Historian though he publish'd his History in Vespasian's Reign 68. Peter and Paul are thought to have suffered Martyrdom at Rome in the fourteenth and last year of Nero's Reign 69. The Jewish War began a little before whereof Josephus who was engaged therein has writ an accurate History Vespasian Governor of Syria won many Victories over the Jews before he assumed the Empire into his Hands which he acquired the year after Nero's death when Galba Otho and Vitellius having slain one another had in vain endeavoured to secure themselves He then made his Son Titus Commander in Chief in the Jewish War who after a Siege of seven months took Jerusalem and razed it down to the Ground As there was scarce any other Nation that committed such flagitious Impieties and Evils as the Jews did in this War so was there scarce ever any that suffered so much A little after this was Onion or the Temple of the Jews in Egypt built by Onias the High-Priest levelled with the Ground upon a Tumult raised by the Jews in that Country Somewhat before these-times are supposed to be written the Two Epistles of those Apostolick Men viz. Barnabas which is Catholick or Universal and Clemens First Bishop of Rome to the Corinthians The Ancients differ very much whether Clemens or Liâ—â—â— or else Cletus was first fixed in the See of Rome Hereof you may consult Dr. Pearson and Henry Dodwell in his Dissertation concerning the Succession of the first Bishops of Rome At this time flourished Asconius Pedianus the famous Grammarian as did also Pliny Author of the Natural History 79. After Vespasian had for the space of ten years and six months governed the Empire he died and left Titus the best of Emperors to succeed him who complained That he lost a Day when he had not done some good Deed or other But he scarce attained to the third year of his Reign in which he was cut off by an untimely fate and left so much the more longing after him by how much his Brother Domitian that succeeded him proved a worse Prince than he This Man growing imperious both towards God and Man commanded himself to be stiled both God and Lord slew a great many of the Citizens and expelled Philosophers out of Rome for which Sulpitia writ the Satyr upon him which is still extant 81. But he who was thus outragious to Heathens proved much more so to the Christians in raising up the Second Persecution after Nero against them though it was of short duration of which you may read as well as of others in Dodwell's Dissertation entituled de Pancitate Martyrum 93. John the Apostle is said at that time to have been thrown into a Cauldron of hot Oil and to have come from thence safe and unhurt and to be afterwards banished to the Isle of Patmos Christianity began now to spread it self far and near so that Persons of highest Quality began to own and profess it of the number of whom was Flavius Clemens Consul and Domitian's Cousin German whom for that reason he commanded to be put to death About these times it 's generally believed that John writ the Apocalypse or Book of Revelation and Josephus himself bears witness that he was employed in writing his Book of Antiquities At the same time flourished Justus of Tiberias Josephus's Enemy who also wrote the Jewish History 96. Domitian after he had reigned for the space of fifteen years was slain by certain Persons that conspired against him and was succeeded in the Empire by Cocceius Nerva who rescinded all the other had done whence it came to pass that John had the opportunity of returning from the Isle of Patmos into Asia where the next year which was the Ninetieth of his Age he is said to have wrote his Gospel and to have lived two years longer 98. Nerva after he had reigned one year and some months had Vlpius Trajanus for his Successor who did great things for he conquered the Dacians Armenians Iberians Sarmatians Parthians and several other Barbarous Nations But the Persecution that was raised during his Reign against the Christians did not a little detract from that Princely Vertue of Clemency wherewith he was allowed to have been endowed However it was of no long continuance as appears by the 17th Epist Lib. 10. of Plinius Junior where he gives the Christians a great Character This is reckon'd for the Third Persecution wherein many did not die as Mr. Dodwell sets forth But yet it was under this Emperor that Clemens Bishop of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch suffered Martyrdom concerning whose Epistles that are remaining you may consult the most learned Doctors James Vsher and John Pearson 113. The Jews making an Insurrection in Cyrene and Egypt after having committed many Outrages were slain in vast numbers as well in the forementioned Places as in the Isle of Cyprus whither it was
would not obey him to take off his Father by Poison to be put to death and in their ruine was also Papinian the Lawyer involved because he would not consent to the said Execution 215. Agrippinus Bishop of Carthage having held a Council in these times Enacted That Hereticks should be Re-baptized 217. Antoninus the Emperor after he had ravaged the Kingdom of Parthia and was come back to Mesopotamia was taken off by Opilius Macrinus by the means of Martialis the Centurion after he had reigned for six years But Macrinas himself after one year's Reign together with his Son Diadamenianus whom he had made Caesar was slain by the Soldiery Antoninus Alagabalus a most wicked Emperor succeeded him He was at first a Priest of Alagabalus a God of the Emisseni from whom he had his Name for Alah gabal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Mountain-God or God of the Mountain The Emissenians worshipped God under the form of a Mountain which they believed to have fallen down from Heaven and who was esteemed to be the chief among them as is set forth at large by Is Casaubon and Claud. Salmasius upon Heliogabalus of Lampridius He introduced the Worship of his Name-sake-God into Rome and built him a Temple there He adopted his Cousin-German Alexander Mammea's Son whom he called Caesar and after he had reigned three years and nine months was together with his Mother Julia slain at Rome in a Tumult made by the Soldiery and thrown into the Tiber. 222. Alexander a good Prince assumed the Imperial Dignity He is said to have worshipped Apollonius Tyanaeus Christ Abraham and Orpheus in his private Chapel so that we do not find the Christians much molested in his Reign Nay it 's said that he would have built a Temple for our Saviour which Adrian was affirmed to have designed who commanded Temples to be built in Cities without any Statues in them He also allowed especial Privileges to the Jews and if any suffered Martyrdom in his Reign the same must be attributed to certain Lawyers whose Counsel he made use of and who were great Enemies to the Christians Amongst others Vlpian Pomponius Celsus Modestinus Paulus Proculus and Venuleius were famous 231. About these times it was that Origen undertook a most useful Work upon the Old Testament he put forth that called by the Name of Tetrapla where you have first the Hebrew Text in Hebrew Characters then the same in Greek after which follows the four famous Versions of the Septuagint Aquila Symmachus and Theodotion whence sprang the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not from the number of the Columns but of the Versions for the Columns were five whereas the Versions were no more than four An Example whereof we have subjoined in this place 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Hebraic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LXX Int. Aquila Symmach Theodot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But seeing that in the Reign of Antonine Caracalla there were three Versions more found in a great Tub at Jericho which they called the Fifth Sixth and Seventh there were with the addition of these two Columns more made one whereof took up the Fifth place as the Sixth and Seventh who were looked upon as all one took up the other and perhaps there was no great difference between them That work being ended in this manner they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the same consisted of fix Versions the Sixth and the Seventh being reputed but for one But Epiphanius and some other eminent Writers have given this Edition the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had a regard to the Columns and not the Versions that is they allowed two Columns for the Hebrew Text and six for the Versions for the reason already given They have also for the same reason called that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we before with Origen and Jerom have distinguish'd by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen hath also done this in the Septuagint's Version that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which was vulgarly used wherein are many things added or borrowed from other Interpreters he hath distinguish'd them which were not the Septuagint's with Asterisms and Lines but in the Hexapla hath inserted the Septuagint's unmix'd As to this point you may consult Eusebius lib. vi cap. 16. of his Ecclesiastical History and Henry Valesius upon him as also Is Vossius adtertias Objectiones Ric. Simonii Andrew Masius's Pref. to the Greek Text of Joshua may withal be seen upon this occasion From this Origen several of whose Pieces are quite lost but many still extant as from an Everlasting Fountain have the Fathers of the Greek Church drawn almost all their Writings neither did St. Jerom borrow a little matter from him though his great Opponent nor Ruffinus Presbytes of Aquileia who stuck close to his part who also translated much of him into Latin He was afterwards accused of divers Errors concerning which you may consult Sulpicius Severus in his Dialogues Indeed as to those Controversies relating to Grace yea and to the Holy Trinity and other Points of Christian Theology he hath very different Sentiments from those which afterwards prevailed especially in the Latin Church At that time flourished Gregory Thaumaturgus and Julius Africanus who were great Admirers of Origen In this Age it was that Artaxerxes the Persian after he had overcome and slain Artabanus restored the Empire to the Persians or rather suppress'd the Name of Parthia yet Alexander overcame this Prince but was soon after together with his Mother slain by the Soldiers when he had reigned thirteen years In his Reign lived Dio Cassius who wrote the Roman History 235. Maximinus whose Father was a Goth and Mother an Alane succeeded him being made Emperor by the Soldiery without the concurrence of the Senate This very year to which Writers refer the Sixth Persecution the Gordians Father and Son usurp the Empire Which was no sooner made known at Rome but the Romans by the Authority of the Senate revolted from Maximinus and chose Twenty Senators to take care of the Publick Weal But after the Revolution of one year the Gordians were slain by Capelianus and Maximinus himself while together with his Son he laid Siege to Aquileia was cut off also The Senate presently advanced Maximius and Pupienus into his Place But these as being beloved by the People and hated by the Soldiery ran the same fate in the following year 238. Gordianus yet a Child was chosen Emperor by the African Legions who by the Assistance of Misitheus his Father-in-Law a most valiant and learned Person held the Dignity for six years But not being able to hinder Philip the Arab from killing him and getting himself to be Praefectus Praetorio or Captain of the Life-guard in his room he was slain the next year by the same Person 244. M. Julius Philippus together
with his Son of his own Name and Caesar held the Empire for about five years Some of the Ancients have mistakingly thought these Philips to have been Christians as after Joseph Scaliger and David Clerk in his Sacred Questions quaest xix hath shewed The Father was slain at Verona and the Son at Rome by the Soldiery 249. The next that succeeded in the Empire was Decius who was descended from Lower Hungary and who is said to have raised the Seventh Persecution against the Christians St. Cyprian flourishing under this Prince who a year before Decius came to be Emperor was made Bishop of Carthage wherein he succeeded Donatus Not long after a Schism brake forth in Africa upon account of the Defection of Persons from the Faith in time of the Persecution which we have spoken of whom Felicissimus the Deacon would never allow to come to Communion wherein he was followed by Novatus and Novatianus the Presbyters who a little while after were condemned in a Synod held at Rome 251. Three years after Decius was succeeded in the Empire by C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus and C. Vibius Volusianus whom his Father made his Colleague in the Empire But these at the expiration of about three years as they were marching against Aemylianus who was forming new Designs against them in Moesia were slain at Interamna and three months were hardly at an end when Aemylianus himself ran the same fate 254. Valerian was made Emperor in Noricum and Galienus at Rome under whom began the Eighth Persecution In the third year of their Reign St. Cyprian having assembled a Synod of the Bishops of Africa Enacted That the Baptism of Hereticks was not valid and that therefore they ought to be Rebaptized who had been Baptized by them The same thing was Decreed by Firmilianus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and Dionysius of Alexandria Stephen Bishop of Rome opposed both and got another Synod of Italian Bishops to withstand them Two years after St. Cyprian was martyred in Africa In these times several Nations from Scythia and Germany particularly the Gorani Goths Carpi and Burgundians made an Irruption into the East which wrought so much Distraction in the Empire that many assumed the Imperial Dignity among whom seeing there were thirty Persons of greater Eminency than the rest they were called by the Name of the Thirty Tyrants which was taken from that of the Athenian Oligarchy the History of whom we have written by Trebellius Pollio About these times Sabellius originally of Ptolemais in Libya is said to have broach'd his Opinion which if we may give credit to the Ancients was this That he believed God who was one and the same numerically was in certain respects called Father Son and Holy Spirit 260. Valerian going unadvisedly to conferr with Sapores King of Persia was taken and slain by him Galienus after he had reigned with his Father for seven years held the Empire eight years longer but not without the Assistance of his Brother P. Lucinius Valerianus whom his Father had created Caesar While this Prince gave himself up wholly to his Pleasures Odenatus King of Palmyra seized on the East and defended those Parts against the Persians but being slain soon after his Wife Zenobia a Woman of a masculine Spirit took the Government upon her At this same time it was they say that Paul of Samosata Bishop of Antioch was condemned in the First Synod of Antioch for teaching that Christ was but a meer Man 268. Gallienus and Valerianus being treacherously slain M. Aurelius Claudius succeeded who reigned almost two years 270. This last Emperor dying of the Plague was succeeded by Aurelianus who is reckoned among the good Princes In his Reign it 's recorded That Paul of Samosata was condemned again at Antioch That when he would not go out of the House belonging to the Church nor be driven from the Flock whereof he was Pastor before he was driven thence by the Authority of the Emperor Aurelian though an Heathen Which how it could be done I cannot easily imagine seeing that Eusebius who tells this Story says that the Ninth Persecution raised against the Christians was in this Emperor's Reign 275. This Emperor overcame Zenobia and led her away in Triumph and commanded his Rhetorician Longinus who was Greek Secretary to him because it was thought he had wrote haughty Letters to be put to death Himself after a year and half 's Reign was treacherously murthered by Mnestheus his Secretary After whose decease happened what had never come to pass at any time before an Interregnum for Eight Months while the Senate and Army would leave the Power of chusing an Emperor to one another M. Claudius Tacitus was chosen by the Senate who died six months after and was succeeded by his Brother Florianus who in about another month's time was slain and succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Probus 276. In this Emperor's Reign sprang up the Heresie of the Manichaeans which had its beginning from a Babylonish Servant whose Name was Manes now in that Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man i. e. a Vessel which with the addition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dechai of the Living makes it Mandechai 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Vessel of God This Man defended the Fatality held by the Stoicks and denied Free-Will so far to Man that all things must be done necessarily but for Sin and Vice he attributed none of that to God for he urged with the Persians and Magi that besides God there was another Principle which was the Author of all Evil. There were also several of the ancient Hereticks who in like manner denied this Freedom and introduced a fatal Necessity Which made Irenaeus Athenagoras Origen and other Fathers inveigh most sharply against such Opinions 282. The Emperor Probus for his severe Discipline over the Soldiery in his March through Illyricum was slain by them after he had reigned six years He was succeeded by M. Aurelius Carus who made his Sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars and who succeeded him he being slain in Mesopotamia by a Thunderbolt within a year's time It was not much longer before Dioclesian a Dalmatian the Freed-man of Anulinus the Senator cut them off In these days lived Olympius and Nemesianus the Poets some Eclogues of whom which are not contemptible have survived to our times 284. Then also flourished Minutius Felix Arnobius and not long after Lactantius who writ against the Heathens in the Defence of the Christian Religion Seeing there were now divers Tumults in France that Britain was not quiet Wars coming on from the East and Seditions raised in Africa Dioclesian created Maximianus Herculius whom he had made Caesar before now Emperor And not long after they constituted each of them a Caesar which were Maximianus Armentarius and Constantius Chlorus who was sent into Britain against Carausius that had caused himself to be declared Emperor 291. Eutropius saith That Dioclesian was the first that found out the form of Royal Vsage
Sentiments of the Manichaeans concerning the Liberty of Man About these times Valentinian the Younger put forth an Edict in favour of the Arians while Theodosius on the other hand did many things in favour of the Homoousians as they called them So that the pious Rules no less strove with one another by the Authority of the Emperors whom they endeavoured to engage on their side than they did in Reproaches and Anathema's Now it was that Cyril of Jerusalem flourish'd and Jerom and John both Presbyters of Antioch which last was called Chrysostom began to grow famous and about two years after the latter was made Presbyter when the Antiochians had thrown down the Statues of Theodosius he made those Orations which are known by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At the same time Maximus the Tyrant was overcome and slain by Theodosius at Aquileia Neither did his Son Victor survive him long for Count Arbogastes cut off his Head in Gaul Theodosius restored to Valentinian what he took from Maximus Two years after the People of Thessalonica having slain a principal Officer of his Theodosius commanded a great slaughter to be made of them For which reason St. Ambrose shut him out of the Church of Milan till he had given signs of a Publick Repentance neither was he admitted in till after the expiration of some months as other Penitents used to do Moreover he made a Law That the Execution of Sentence past should be deferred for Thirty Days Valentinian also the same year made a Law concerning Deaconesses and Women consecrated to God That they should give nothing to the Churches Which was Repealed not long after And this proved to be the fate of all the Edicts that seemed to take any thing away from the Clergy A Decree of the same Emperor had a like success wherein it was Enacted That Monks should not enter into Cities but dwell in solitary Places For the same was disused in three years after or thereabouts 391. Eugenius relying upon the aid of Count Arbogastus invaded the Western Empire and Valentinian not long after died of a Wound he received of Arbogastus at Vienna He was a Catechumen aâ— that time and desired Ambrose to Baptize him before he went upon the Expedition he had projected against the Barbarians But though he died unbaptized yet Ambrose in his Funeral Sermon stick'd not to say that he was saved Then began great Wranglings to arise about Origen's Opinions between John Bishop of Jerusalem and Epiphanius Bishop of Salamis in Cyprus whose Epistle concerning the said John of Jerusalem's Errors is still extant and was turned into Latin by St. Jerom. Paladius of Galata and Ruffinus a Presbyter of Aquileia were favourers of the same Opinions You may consult Sulpitius Seuerus's Dialogaes and the Origeniana of P. D. Huetius upon this Subject Theodosius being accompany'd with Honorius whom the year before he had created Augustus marched against Arbogastus and Eugenius and having joined Battle was worsted the first day But he overcame the day following the Winds as they said fighting for him Theodosius died the year after this Victory Ruffinus had dispossess'd his Son Arcadius of the Eastern Empire to whom his Father had assign'd it had it not been for Stilicho Honorius's General who defeated and slew him Then Augustine who had been ordained Presbyter five years before was made Bishop of Hipp. Claudian the last of the Latin Poets flourish'd at that time Eutropius was assisting to Stilicho in the overthrowing of Ruffinus but they could not agree long Eutropius made it his business to get the former who was going to the East declared an Enemy to the Commonwealth by the Emperor and Senate and endeavoured from under Honorius's Command to take away Africa by the means of Gildon wherein he proved at first successful But Mascezel Gildo's Brother having received supplies of Men from Stilicho overcame his Brother and distressed him so far by his Victory that he went and hang'd himself and himself soon after was by Stilicho's Command thrown over a Bridge into the River 398. John Chrysostom was made Patriarch of Constantinople a Person no less addicted to a severity of Discipline than famous for Eloquence While he ruled the Church of Constantinople Gainas a Confident of Eutropius having made a League with the Barbarians so far deceived him that in some time he effected his ruine But after divers Commotions raised in Constantinople he was at length slain himself in Thrace At the same time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having assembled a Synod took care to have Origen and his Followers condemned He used ill the Origenian Monks of Egypt who in vain fled for Protection to St. Chrysostom 400. Then it was that Alaricus King of the Goths wasted Italy and had Gaul and Spain assigned him by Honorius to dwell in There were several Synods held about these times in Africa against the Donatists whom at length seeing they could not do it by Arguments they overcame by Force And this St. Augustine in his Epistle to Vincentius asserts to be lawful 403. St. Chrysostom not long after was condemned by Theophilus of Alexandria and some other Bishops at the Instigation of Eudoxia the Empress whom he had offended by inveighing against the Plays that were celebrated in honour of her at her Silver Statue which stood not far from the Church Next year he was exil'd into Cilicia thence into Armema and in the fourth year of his Banishment died at Comana upon the Euxine Sea 408. Arcadius himself who sent him into Banishment died also not long after leaving Theodosius his Son an Infant behind him and whom he recommended to the Protection of Isdegerdes King of Persia who discharged the Trust committed to him with great fidelity Stilicho endeavouring to get his Son Eucherius made Caesar was slain Whereupon Alaricus offered to enter into a League with Honorius But the latter rejecting the Terms the other advanced with his Army twice to Rome and at last took the City while one Constantius an obscure Person who invaded the Empire was in the mean time slain in Gaul Alaricus when he had taken and plundered Rome did at his departure take along with him Placidia Honorius's Sister and bestowed her in Marriage on Ataulphus his Kinsman who upon the other's death that happened in a short while after succeeded him in his Dominions 413. About these times Coelestius a Disciple of Peâ—…gius who was a Scot or Britain was condemned â—n the Synod of Carthage Pelagius's Tenet was That all Men had strength enough and to spare bestowed upon them by God whereby freely to discharge their Duty and that they stood in no need of other extraordinary Grace to help them therein besides what the Providence of God bestowed upon all Men and That Infants were neither capable of Vice nor Vertue which then only exert themselves when they become adult Others who denied the said liberty and believed most Men through an Eternal Necessity which they called Predestination
were adjudged to go to Hell withstood them stifly and under the Name of Divine Grace which they said Pelagius was an Enemy to establish'd their own Opinion among the Christians which before was scarce ever heard of in the World At the same time Attalus and Heracliaenus set up for Tyrants in Italy and Africa but quickly lost their Usurped Power while the Goths in the mean time waged War against the Alans and Vandals in Spain and Gaul under the Conduct of Vallias Ataulphus's his Successor who restored Placidia to Honorius and was marry'd to Count Constantius 514. This year the first Synod at Diospolis in the Land of Palestine was held against Pelagius where he is said to have retracted his Errors and to be absolved Another Synod in conformity to this condemned the Pelagian Errors in Africa and sent Letters to Innocent Bishop of Rome to induce him to do the like The same thing was done that year by the Synod held at Milevitum in Numidia But Coelestius the Disciple of Pelagius coming to Rome after the death of Innocent cleared himself before Zosimus then Pope who wrote to the Clergy in Africa That if they knew of any one that were minded to accuse Coelestius they should send him to Rome And he did at the same time inveigh bitterly against Lazarus and Herotes two Gaulish Bishops for their rash Accusation of Coelestius and Pelagius He wrote also not long after such other Letters in favour of Pelagius which Pelagius's Adversaries say were obtained through cunning Dissimulation But there is no reason we should believe them before Pelagius seeing they used all the Artifice imaginable to defame his Doctrine and obtained an Order from Honorius against him See Ger. John Vossius in Historia Pelagiana From thence in the mean time arose Contentions about Appeals from Places beyond the Seas while Zosimus in opposition to the African Bishops urged That Appeals to the See of Rome were lawful and for this he insisted upon I do not know what Canon of the Council of Nice whereby he said it was manifest those Appeals were Canonical But the African Fathers found the Canon was fictitious by sending some to the East to bring them the Canons of that Council And hence sprung a Schism between the Roman and African Churches 420. While the Romans waged War against the Persians in the East and that Honorius who govern'd the Western Empire wasted away his time in Idleness the Kingdom of the Franks under Pharamond is said to have begun 424. A few years after when Placidia with her Sons Valentinian and Honorius were drove away by the Emperor Honorius she fled to Theodosius into the East where she had the Dignity of Augusta conferred upon her as her Son Valentinian had that of Caesar This Prince upon the death of Honorius was sent into Italy to suppress John Principal Notary who had invaded the Empire of the deceased Which he successfully performed and in a little time after did by the help of Aetius a valiant Man to whom he was much obliged overthrow Count Boniface who had seized upon the Empire in Africa 428. Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople is said to have spread his Doctrine at that time whereby he contended as they would have it That there were Two Persons in Christ Cyril Bishop of Alexandria opposed him vehemently though it 's very likely the whole Contest was nothing but meer Word-warring nay if Cyril's words were as rigidly scann'd as those of Nestorius the Bishop of Alexandria would appear to be more Heterodox than the other But yet the Synod assembled at Ephesus which was called the Third General one and which consisted of Two hundred Bishops condemned Nestorius But John Bishop of Antioch coming thither with his Party did on the fifth day after Nestorius's Condemnation serve Cyril the same turn and annull the Council's Decrees From whence arose a Schism in the Eastern Churches which could scarce be composed again The whole Controversy had its beginning from the ambiguity of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For while some confounded the terms and said there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ Others who made a Distinction between them contended That there were indeed Two Natures in him but One Person Besides which there were also some who said there were but One Nature and One Person in him from whence afterwards sprang the Opinion of the Eutychians of whom by and by At length when Cyril's Party who were at first inferiour to the other got the better on 't with the Emperor Theodosius Nestorius's Books were condemned In Defence whereof the Nestorians published the Books of Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodorus of Mopsuestenum who defended both Natures which were condemned by some and approved by others when they did not rightly understand one another Then was the Theodosian Code publish'd being the year after Vincentius Larinensis put out his Book called Commonitorium The Goths Huns and Vandals about these times molested the Roman Empire in divers Parts tho' the Roman Generals craftily made use sometimes of one sometimes of another's friendship in order to appease the rest 437. Valentinian the Second marry'd Eudoxia Theodosius's Daughter to whom he had been betrothed a long time before Eudoxia the Mother of this Prince went to Jerusalem the next year to pay her Vows where she stayed for the space of a year for then it was that holy Places began to be had in much veneration and many Pilgrimages were under taken thither several also of the Reliques of the Saints long since deceased began to grow famous by which great Miracles were said to be done whereby it came to pass that Men began to invoke the holy Martyrs and others by whose Prayers they believed those things they asked of God would be more easily obtained From henceforward the Thirteenth Book of Dionysius Petavius de Doct. Temp. is stuffed with a great many Monkish Stories he neglecting no opportunity of taking notice of those Reliques which at that time grew in vogue with the People 439. Carthage was taken by the Vandals after it had been almost for Six hundred years in the hands of the Romans The Conquerors are said to have vented their rage against the Christians and especially the Priests by the Command of King Geisericus It 's said there were several Manichaeans discovered at this time in Italy who were sharply prosecuted by Leo Bishop of Rome Bleda and Attila Kings of the Huns ravaged Illyricum and Thrace and besides that extorted great Summs of Money from Theodosius But Attila after his Brother Bleda was slain had the whole Power in his hands and not long after over-ran almost all Europe 448. Eutyches this year is said to have been convicted of Heresie in the Synod of Constantinople because he confounded the Natures of Christ which Nestorius had over separated But next year there was a Synod held at Ephesus wherein Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria restored him to Communion again from
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Headless others give a different original to the Name than this now suggested 484. Zeno over and above the Church-Commotions he had to do with had Illus and Leontius who rebelled against him to suppress At that time there arose new Wranglings among the Bishops hence it came to pass that seeing some had long since introduced the Pictures of the Saints into their Churches others have esteemed that Practice to tend to Superstition therefore these last purg'd their Churches of them and run them down both by Word and Writing among whom Philoxenus Bishop of Hierapolis was Chief 490. This year Theodoricus having conquer'd Odoacer King of the Heruli possess'd himself of Italy This Prince is not the same as is above-mention'd under the Emperors Martianus and Leo. Zeno died next year and was succeeded by Anastasius through the favour of Ariadne the deceased Emperor's Wife who was enamour'd on him in the Life-time of her Husband Zeno's Brother Longinus being excluded who being sent by Anastasius into Isauria rebelled against him and was with difficulty after a seven years War overcome 492. Anastasius favoured those whom they called the Doubters or Headless and allowed every Man the freedom to follow what he pleased and turn'd those out of the Churches who raised Tumults about the Synod of Chalcedon or condemned or approved it But the Emperor who was very much for Peace could not bring to Agreement those Bishops who were but little acquainted with the Christian Religion and such sharp Sticklers for the said Divisions they thunder'd out their Anathema's continually against and refused Communion with one another Concerning which it 's worth while to read Evagrius lib. iii. cap. 30. At this time was Odoacer slain by Theodonicus who having master'd all Italy besieged him at Ravenna in vain for three years 495. There were indeed many of the Goths who embraced the Christian Religion in this Age but they were hated by the Homoousians as Hereticks because they were Followers of Arius's Opinions The Kings of France were also Heathens till now but Clodovieus received the Christian Faith this year Then did the Burgundian Affairs flourish but in a short time the French had the mastery of them 501. There were great Contests this year in the Conclave whether Symmachus or Laurentius should he Pope which could not be composed without Bloodshed though there were Counts present whom Theodoricus sent thither to suppress the Seditious At length Symmachus prevailed and therefore was esteemed lawfully chosen for here things are always measured by Success 510. Though Anastasius could scarce defend the Empire against the Persians and Saracens yet he was plagued besides with the Domestick Seditions both of the Ecclesiasticks and Laicks The contrary Factions often-times murthered one another at the Publick Plays and the Bishops wrangled continually about the Henotick and Chalcedon Synod Some Historians have recorded That when he would have added these words to the Trisagium Who was crucified for us he was almost destroyed by the Catholick Monks who while they breathed nothing else but the death of the Emperor and all the Doubters thus they called them cried out as if violence had been offer'd them that the time of their Suffering Martyrdom was at hand See Evagr. lib. 111. cap. 44. and Theodorus lib. 11. p. 562. of Valesius's Edition But it 's hardly credible that Anastasius who was one of the Doubters and a lover of Peace as Evagrius describes him to be would attempt to do any thing by Violence but because he would not comply with Macedonius the Bishop of Constantinople's humours in destroying his Adversaries it 's not to be doubted but what these did was attributed to the Emperour as Zealots usually do Historians also say that Severus the Theopaschite Invaded the See of Antioch and that tho' Anastasius before bound him by an Oath not to put the Council of Macedon under an Anathema yet as soon as ever he was fixed in his Bishoprick he did without any regard to his Oath anathematize the said Council from whence it 's manifest that while Anastasius mediated between both Parties he was lashed by both as it usually happens in Civil Contentions where the Seditious look upon them to be their Enemies who do not sight under their Banners 514. Hence sprang the Rebellion of Vitalianus a Scythian Count who took up Arms for the Homoousians against Anastasius under Pretence whereof he drained great Summs of Money from Anastasius until a Peace was concluded upon condition that a Synod should be called where Hormisdas Bishop of Rome should be present who was alike an Enemy to the Eutychians and Doubters They say the Emperour promised to do this with an Oath but that afterward he broke his word doubtless because he would not have new Definitions coined whereby nothing else was designed but the Oppression of certain Bishops that stood in their way for they were minded to assemble only the Orthodox or most of them at least who should Condemn without Mercy such as they called Hereticks 518. Now it was that Anastasius died being above Eighty years Old and an Emperor endued with great Moderation but he was exposed to the Reproaches both of the Eutychians and their Adversaries because he would not let the Reins loose to neither Party He was Succeeded by Justin a Thracian Born who was a Favourer only of the Adversaries of the Eutychians and carried things no longer with an even hand according to the Example of Anastasius Hormisdas sent Messengers to him who so animated those who were of the same Sentiments with him that they every where opprest the contrary Party by Violence offer'd to and Decrees made against them 525. They say there were a great many Manichaeans at this time in Persia so that they infected Cabades his Son who was Heir to the Crown with their Heresy which made Cabades cunningly to get them all together into one place and then sent his Guards who cut them all off Justin also slew many of them and by his Edict according to the Custom of those times condemned divers others to Death The same Prince grievously persecuted the Arians which coming to the Ears of Theodoricus King of the Goths he sent John Bishop of Rome to Constantinople to tell Justin That unless he gave over Troubling of the Arians Theodoricus would use the Homoousians or Consubstantial Men in the same manner Priscian the Grammarian and Boetius a Man of Consular Dignity who was also a very Learned Person flourished in this Age this last together with Symmachus his Father-in-Law were upon a false Accusation put to Death by Theodoricus who Imprisoned John Bishop of Rome together with the Legates he had sent with him to Constantinople because they seemed underhand to favour the Persecution of the Arians and that John after his return troubled them openly as much as he could in Italy 527. Justin the Emperor after a Reign almosth of Nine Years made Justinian his Sister's Son his
from Ireland to the Picts and to have converted them also to the Faith From henceforward the Christian Religion flourish'd in that Island which before seemed to have lain hid therein seeing the same if we believe Gildas a British Writer of those times had been brought thither in Tiberius's days 565. Justin II. Steward of the Houshold and his Sister's Son succeeded Justinian in the Empire who because he did not go out of his Palace by reason of a Meagrim wherewith he was afflicted he could not give a Hearing to the Complaints of the People against the Nobles which yet were very great but they had Satisfaction given them through the prudent Management and Severity of the Captain of the Guard Narses in the beginning of his Reign was called out of Italy and Longinas put into his room who was the first Exarch of Ravenna At that time Alboinus King of the Lombards leaving their Habitations in Germany invaded part of Italy where they erected the Kingdom of the Lombards 578. Justin died without doing any thing memorable and left Tiberius Anicius Constantine for his Successor Leovigildus King of the Goths in Spain is said at this time to have forbidden that any of those who went from the Homoousian or Consubstantial Party over to the Arians should be rebaptized by them as had been practised before but that they should only be admitted by the Imposition of Hands with this set form of Words If he gives Glory to the Father through the Son in the holy Spirit which Evagrius also says was in use among the Arians in the East 582. Tiberius did in the mean time overthrow the Persians in several Battles by his General Mauritius whom for that reason he created Caesar because he had overcome the Enemy with a small Army and falling Sick not long after he appointed him to be Emperor and gave him his Daughter Constantina to Wife The Avarians made War upon him but without Success while the French fought with the Lombards and the Saxons with the Suevians who had taken Possession of their Seats in Germany while the Saxons were with the Lombards in Italy These last People after the Death of Alboinus were without a King for Ten Years but at last they advanced Atharitus to the Regal Dignity who prevailed mightily over the Romans in Italy Recaredus at the same time quits Arianism and espouses the Consubstantialists Opinion in Spain and for that reason had the Appellation of Catholick given him Mauritius by his Generals Philippicus and Commentiolus worsted the Persians in divers Battles at what time Gregory sirnam'd the Great was chosen Bishop of Rome in a Season when a great Plague raged there Gregory soon after wrote his Dialogues and Evagrius bears Testimony that he wrote his History in the same Age. The Avares and Sclavi having possess'd themselves of Pannonia and the neighbouring Countries Mauritius was almost continually at War with them therefore as he was resolved to keep an Army upon the Frontiers of the Empire to defend the remote Provinces he chose rather that they should take up their Winter Quarters in the Enemies Countries than there which so disgusted the Soldiery that they rebelled against him and chose Phocas a Centurion to be Emperor who presently laying hold of the opportunity marched with a Body of his Troops directly for Constantinople and soon after when he had first slain Mauritius's Sons before his Face put him to Death also who shewed wonderful Constancy in this Tragedy 602. This Phocas is said to have given the Title of Vniversal Patriarch to the Bishops of Rome and a right of Precedency before the Bishop of Constantinople which hapned during the Incumbency of Boniface who next to Sabinianus succeeded Gregory and was the Third of that Name 606. Phocas as he had begun went on to reign cruelly and condemned all to Death whom he suspected to be in the least guilty of any Innovation without excepting his own Sons in Law Hence it was that several conspired together against him and Heraclius and Gregoras made an Agreement between themselves that he should be Emperor that Killed him wherein Heraclius prevail'd who immediately together with his Wife Eudoxia took upon him the Imperial Dignity This Prince observing Phocas's neglect of Military Affairs made it his first Care to levy an Army to oppose the Persians who ravaged all the Frontiers of the Empire Soon after died his Wife after she had brought him forth a Son whom he named Heraclius and dignify'd with the Title of Augustus then with the Permission of Sergius the Patriarch he Married Martina his own Niece 5. 〈◊〉 that time a most wicked Woman in France whose Name was Brunechildis sowed Discord between her Nephews Theodobertus and Theodoricus disturbed the Royal Family and at length after he had been twice overthrown procured Theodobert to be slain by his Brother She her self afterwards took care to have his Children put to Death and then removed Theodoricus also by Poison out of the way who was Succeeded by Clotair his Cousin-German and who obtained the Monarchy of all France which was before divided between the Brethren Now the first Attempts of Heraclius to raise an Army proving slow and faint because he was naturally averse to War the Persians and Avares rejecting the terms of Peace he offer'd them pressed him hard on both Sides so that he went seriously to work about forming an Army wherewith having now made Peace with the Avares he might at least repress the Insolence of the Persians for which end he was forc'd to borrow Silver and Gold Plate and other the Sacred Treasure of the Church Wherefore the War commenced in the Twelfth Year of his Reign at the beginning whereof the Persian General Saes having contrary to the Law of Nations made his 70 Ambassadors Prisoners sent them to King Cosroes who being Angry that he had not taken Heraclius himself commanded Saes his Skin to be flea'd off alive and put Sarbarus into his Command 622. Mahomet this year being accused of Sedition in Mecha a City of Arabia fled to Medina which for that reason by the Arabs is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Medinath ol Nabi the Jurisdiction of the Prophet from this year it is that the Mahometans begin their Aera which they called by the name of Hegira i. e. flight It 's said Mahomet was at first a Keeper of Camels but that afterwards by conferring with a certain Monk whose name was Sergius who was a follower of Manetes's Phantastical Opinion he became well instructed in the Notion of Predestination for which the Mahometans are great Sticklers and for those who thought Christ himself had not Suffer'd but that a Phantasm was substituted in his room which is believed by Mahomet's Followers to this day From hence it was that the Crafty Man had an itching desire to erect a new Sect in the World whereof himself was Head wherefore having Married his Mistress whom he had served in looking after her Camels he