a Royal Feast to which he invites his Father and all his brethren David excuses himself and the other earnestly intreats that his eldest brother Amnon might supply his place to which his Father consents The brethren enter joyfully into the Hall where the Banquet was where Absolom had prepared a Bloudy Spectacle and horrible Sacifice he gives the word to his Servants that when his brother Amnon had drank plentifully they should take their opportunity to kill him without inquiring the cause since his Command was sufficient authority and security The Wine and good cheer having made them merry on a sudden drawn Swords glittered before their eyes Fear came upon all but the danger was only to Amnon who was suddenly Murthered his bloud leaping on his Brothers Table for a just revenge of his shameful lust The Brethren affrighted instantly fly and report brings the sad news to David that Absolon had slain all his Brethren The poor King casts himself on his face upon the ground weeping and all the Court tear their cloaths and put on Mourning when Jonadas certifies that none but Amnon was killed in revenge of the offence committed against Thamar David returns a little to himself and his other Children present themselves before him affrighted and weeping for that which had passed Absolon saves himself in the House of his Grand-Father by the Mother the King of Geshur where he remains three years without daring to see the King his Father who would no ways pardon this great Crime Joab labours to reconcile the Son to the Father by the mediation of a discreet Woman of Tekoah and at length prevails Absolon returns the King imbraces him gives him the kiss of peace and re-establishes him in the Court The Spirit of this Prince was high and tempestuous and being well made courteous liberal couragious and capable of great undertakings he entertained ambitious thoughts He saw his Father declining Adonijah his elder Brother too much a fondling and Solomon yet a Child unable to oppose him and therefore conceived the Kingdom could not slip out of his hands And the better to secure it he provided himself a guard of Souldiers and ceased not secretly to gain the hearts and good will of all his Fathers Subjects Never was any Prince more prodigal of his Courtesies whoever had any business with the King he called them to him imbraced them kissed them and enquired of their condition and suit and said There was no other mishop but that the King was old and tired with business and had not appointed any one to hear the Complaints of his Subjects and do them Justice but if one day he should have that charge due to him by his cirth he would give full satisfaction to every one By this means he made himself Conqueror of hearts and by the advice of Achitophel a great Politicion gets leave of David to perform a Vow in Hebron whither he goes accompanied with many of his Followers giving order to the rest of his Confederates that at the first sound of a Trumpet they should march to him which being done he caused himself to be crowned King in Hebron The news came quickly to David that his Son had revolted and got possession of Hebron and that all the Forces of the Kingdom ran to him This poor Prince at the tydings of this Rebellion thinks of nothing but flying and leaves his chief City to save himself in the by paths of the Wilderness He is the first that goes forth without a Horse to ride on upon his â—are feet with his head uncovered and tears in his Eyes marching thus like a true Penitent and adoring the Judgments of God which made him bear the enraged Tongue of Shimei with a deep patience and would not suffer him to be chastized for his horrid insolence Mean while Absolon entred Jerusalem without resistance where Achitophel to make the difference irreconcileable gave him the detestable Counsel to abuse his Fathers Concubines that were left in the Pallace After he had perform'd this Villany he contrives to surprize his Father at unawares which by Achitophels subtilty might have probably succeeded had not Hushai a secret Friend of Davids who joyn'd himself to Absolon on purpose to discover his designs prevented the Plot by this cunning speech That they should do nothing hastily since his Father was an old Captain and politick in War who had still in his Army men of Valour and Counsel and that it stood not with his honour to give Battle unless he were assured of the Victory for if at the first Encounter he should be repulsed it would be of dangerous consequence and might so discourage his men that his whole Army might be routed but if he would stay a while the People would gather to him as the Sand on the Sea shore and being in the midst of such a mighty Army nothing would be able to stand before him This Counsel being preferr'd before Achitophels he was so inraged that he goes instantly home and hangs himself by the most manifest Justice of God. After which Absolon thinking himself sufficiently strong passes over Jordan makes Amasa his chief Captain and designs to give Battle to his Earler David having had a little leisure to recollect and fortifie himself takes Courage again and dividing his Army into three parts appoints Joab Abishai and Ittai to command it He would have been present himself had not his Council disswaded him therefore encouraging his people and charging them strictly if they should gain the Victory to secure his Son Absolon without any hurt he retired out of the Camp. The Trumpets sound and the Armies approach Davids men having a good Cause ingage like Lions But the Rebels affrighted with their own guilt were soon disordered and put to flight so that one Party seemed to come only to kill and the other to be slain Twenty thousand falling dead on the place Absolon astonisht at this sudden change of Fortune gets on his Mule and flies through a Forrest where his head being caught within the branches of a Tree his Mule left him hanging between Heaven and Earth as a spectacle of the Vengeance of God for his ingratitude to so good a Father Of which Joab having notice struck him through with three Darts though forbidden by David and ten young Souldiers made an end of him the body was interred in a Pit under a great heap of Stones though he had built a stately Monument for himself which he called Absolons Place Behold the horrible end of an Evil Son and a Rebellious Subject sufficient to deter Posterity from such wicked practices to the end of the World. While this was doing David inclosed himself in a little Town expecting the Event and continually inquiring of the health of Absolon but when certain news came of his death he was pierced with so violent a grief that he could not be comforted losing all Courage and crying every moment O Absolon my Son Absolon Oh that this
Bossu having no Children made him his Heir and gave him the Earldom of Bullen which occasioned him to have that Strname who by his Heroick Actions hath rendred himself one of the Worthies of the World He was naturally inclined to all sorts of Virtue much whereof was owing to his happy education under the exact care of a wise Father and a Mother of extraordinary merit who with a diligence unusual to her Sex had her self studyed and therefore infused into him all sort of curious Learning and is said to have predicted the future greatness of her three Sons for one day as the Earl her husband demanded of her what she had hid in her lap being playing with the Children she very seriously answered that she had there three Great Princes one Duke one King and one Earl which was afterwards verified in the admirable Fortunes of these three Princes for Godfrey was Duke of Lorrain and King of Jerusalem Baldwin was King of the same Realm after Godfrey and Prince of Edessa and Eustace whom some say was the elder Brother was Earl of Bullen after the death of his Father It is likewise related that she had a strange dream before the Birth of Prince Godfrey for the Sun seemed to descend from the sky and fall into her lap and she saw her little Son sitting on a Throne in the midst thereof But this is certain that she used to relate with much pleasure after the Glorious success her Sons had in the Holy-War that long before there was any discourse thereof Prince Godfrey used to say That he would one day take a Voyage to Jerusalem not for Devotion only as a Pilgrim but as a Captain and Conqueror at the head of an Army to chase the wicked Infidels from that Holy place After his Uncles death the Emperor Henry the Fourth pretending that the Dutchy of the lower Lorrain for want of Heirs Male devolved to him conferred it on his Son Conrade leaving Godsrey nothing there but the Marquisate of Antwerp and on the other side Albert Earl of Namur his kinsman and the Bishop of Verdun endeavoured to deprive him of Bullen and Verdun So that before he was seventeen years of age he was compelled to an early Valour for recovering his Right which he did by vanquishing their joint Porces and conquering Earl Albert in a single combat And then he assisted the Emperor Henry in his Wars in Italy and Germany though he had injuriously dealt with him who was at length so much overcome by his extraordinary merit and the considerable services he had performed that he again put him into possession of Lorrain his Mothers inheritance which he had detained from him thirteen years and likewise gave him his fister Adelaida in marraige Godfreys aflairs being in so good a Posture the Voyage for the Holy Land was proclaimed which he imbraced with such earnestness and generosity that he sold almost all his Estate to the Bishops of Leige and Verdun to raise Forces so that by an odd adventure the Princes improverished themselvess to serve Jesus Christ and the Priests inriched themselves with the spoils of these Temporal Princes chusing rather to make use of that money which like them they should have imployed in this Holy Expedition to advance their present fortunes which they saw these Princes so generously part with for the Love of God Godfrey being hereby provided to raise Souldiers his fame and repuration soon furnished him with military men from all parts many Princes and Gentlemen also his Friends serving under him as Volunteers He was now about thirty five years old and so excellently qualified both in Person and mind for a Captain and a Souldier that he obtained an absolute Empire over those Spirits who voluntarily submitted to his conduct But Peter the Hermite addressing himself to him Godfrey perceiving he should be clogged with a multitude of unprofitable people who followed that Priest and were more like to cause a Famine than give any real assistance he ordered that they should march under their own Leader and Peter being a Gentleman who before his turning Hermit had born arms the desire of glory induced him to believe that he might lawfully undertake such a military command without affronting the order of Priesthoed or imbracing the World which he had renounced but he soon found by woful experience what it was to exceed the Bounds of his Profession for his Soldiers in their march living upon free Quarter were most of them knockt on the head by the Inhabitants before they got to Constantinople In August 1096. Godfrey with an Army of ten thousand Horse and seventy thousand Foot well appointed and attended with many Princes and Nobles of the first Quality marched into Germany and passing over the vast Countries of Bulgaâ—ia he at length arrived at Philipolis in Thracia where some differences with Alexis the Greek Emperor being composed he at length came to Constantinople whither the rest of the Christian Princes and their Forces following soon after it was resolved first to Besiege Nice the Capital City of Bythinia and Duke Godfrey advancing before as far as Nicomedia and having levelled the ways over the Mountains from that Town to Nice they invested that place May 16. Godfrey with his Brother Baldwin took the Right hand over against the Principal Gate of the City where it was most strongly Fortified May 24. A general Assault was given upon several Quarters at once and the Combat was continued all day till night parted them and the next morning again renewed with extraordinary fury though without effect the Besieged being not only gallant men but in hourly expâ—ctation of relief from Soliman the Turkish Emperor to whom they had dispatcht an Express to inform him of their condition and the Sultans Letters in Answer to them whereby he assured them of certain relief the next morning being intercepted by the Christians they accordingly made Provision to receive him The Turks early in the morning descended from the Mountains and dividing into two great Bodies one of them assaulted Godfreys Quarter which lay next to that of Reymond Earl of Flanders but were received by both these Princes with so much vigor that they were presently put into disorder and forced to a hasty flight yet the Besieged continued to make an obstinate defence among whom there was one Valiant Turk who for his great Bulk and extraordinary Strength seem'd a Giant that defended one of the Towers which were assaulted by Count Raymond he had been often repulsed but still renewed the Attack making terrible havock among the Christians and intollerably insulting over those who fell under his Arms and exposing himself naked to a vast number of Arrows that were shot at him he with both his hands fell to throwing down Stones of a prodigious bigness upon those who attempted to undermine the Wall though he had above twenty Arrows sticking in his Breast and looked as if he were bristled with them Godfrey coming from his
War I will send some Prudent Person fairly to demand the Restitution of Hesione which if granted I will be content to remit all their other Affronts The whole Council approved of this his Resolution and Anthenor one of his Princes was instantly dispatcht to Salamine to King Telamon and being admitted into his presence he thus Addressed him Sir Priamus King of Troy hath sent me to your Highness to desire you would please to restore him his Sister Hesione whom contrary to the Laws of Honour you detain as your Concubine it being no way proper to your glory thus to abuse the Daughter and Sister of a King who issues from a more Noble Family than your self Yet if you please to send her back my Master is willing to pass by all other Indignities and Damages which he hath received from you or yours King Telamon upon hearing this Message fell into an extreme Passion and fiercely replyed Friend whatever you are I cannot but much admire at the weakness of Priamus with whom I have no Correspondence nor Amity and whom I have not the least cause to fear nor grant his request Thy King ought to remember that I and others my Confederates came into his Country to revenge an injury which his Father Laomedon offered to some of our Allies and because I was the first who entered the City of Troy with great danger of my Life and Effusion of my Blood Hesione of whom thou speakest was bestowed upon me as the recompence of my Victory to use her at my pleasure and since she is so Noble and Beautiful a Lady I am very unwilling to be deprived of what is so delightful to me and whom I obtained with so much pains and danger go therefore and tell Priamus that he is never like to recover her but with the point of his Sword Neither can I think that thou art a very discreet Person to undertake such a Voyage with so great peril of thy Life and to bring such an Errand into a Countrey where thou and thy Countreymen are mortally hated I command thee therefore to go hence with all speed as thou hopest to escape a severe and cruel death Anthenor instantly took Shipping and carried the same Message to King Peleus then to King Castor and Pollux and lastly to Duke Nestor all of them Graecian Princes who all defied Priamus with the utmost contempt and scorn especially Nestor who all inraged said Thou vile wretch were it not for my Nobility I would cause thy Tongue to be pluckt out of thy mouth for presuming to utter such things before me and in despight of thy King would see thee torn piecemeal by Wild-Horses Anthenor doubting he might be as good as his word returned immediately to Sea and sailed toward Troy where at length after many dangers he arrived in safety And then in the Company of several Noblemen he presented himself before King Priamus all the Barons of the Realm and all the Kings Sons being present to hear what Tydings he brought To whom Anthenor gave a full Account of his Embassy and of all that happened to him during his Voyage At the recital whereof Priamus was very much disturbed and by their opprobious Speeches he perceived that it was impossible to recover his Sister without bringing on himself the utmost force and fury of the Graecians Soon after he again assembled his Nobility to his Palace of Ilium to whom he thus spake My Lords you may remember that by your advice I sent Anthenor into Greece to demand the return of my Sister by all fair means possible you likewise are sensible what injurious answers they gave to my proposals and how little they value the wrongs we have received insomuch that they threaten us with new mischiefs which Heaven forbid should ever fall upon us But since we have a strong and well fortified City and several considerable Princes firmly confederate with us in my opinion we are in a Capacity to revenge these reiterated damages Therefore if you think fit we will send our Forces privately into their Countreys where finding them utterly unprovided of defence we shall be able in some measure to right our selves upon them Neither ought you to be discouraged because they have been lately so victorious against us since it often happens that the Conquerors at length are vanquished by the Conquered All present were satisfied with this determination and being all dismist he called all his Sons who were not present at the debate to whom he again declared his intention with tears in his eyes to this purpose Dear Sons you ought never to forget the death of your Grand-father Laomedon nor the servitude of your Aunt Hesione whom the Greeks our inveterate Enemies abuse at their own pleasure which methinks should stir up thoughts of revenge in your minds but if this do not move you yet you ought to endeavour it for my Satisfaction who have brought you up with the utmost care and diligence and who am ready to dye with sorrow and vexation in reflecting on the multiplied injuries I have received from them And thou my Wise and Valiant Son Hector thou who art the Eldest of thy Brethren I require thee chiefly to undertake this matter thou shalt be the Principal Commander in executing this my will and all the rest will gladly obey thee yea the whole Kingdom will willingly submit to thy Conduct whom they know to be so valiant and couragious and therefore upon thee I must lay all the burden of this War and discharge my self thereof not doubting but by thy prudence and valour all will be brought to an happy effect and thy Father be revived in his old Age with the reports of thy growing glory To this speech Hector returned this mild and discreet answer Dear Father and my Soveraign Lord I am satisfied that there are none of your Sons but are sufficiently inclined to require satisfaction for any wrongs offered us or any of our Family according to the quality of the Person abused so doth the injury appear greater It is natural to men to seek redress of injuries yea the very Beasts by nature strive to do the same Neither Most Dear Father is there any of your Sons who ought more sensibly to resent the Murder of our Lord and Grandfather than I who am the eldest But I beseech you before you undertake this enterprise to consider seriously what may be the Issue and Event thereof otherwise you may have cause to repent that ever it was begun I speak not this out of Contradiction or Cowardise but only to induce your Highness to take mature advice and deliberation in the matter You know that all Africa and Europe are Subject to the Greeks and that they abound with stout and valiant Souldiers so that our strength in men at Arms is not comparable to theirs Why therefore should we who live in peace and quietness disturb our own Welfare and Prosperity Hesione is not of so much value that
we should indanger all our Lives and Estates only for her sake She hath been already a long time in Greece and I think it were better she should spend the rest of her days which cannot be many in that Countrey than that we should run such great hazards to fetch her home again I again declare Dread Sir I speak not this for fear or want of Courage but because the chance of War is uncertain and lest fortune by this adventure should confound and destroy our Realm or at least cause us to wish a thousand times that we had never undertaken so dangerous an Enterprize When Paris heard Hector thus declare his mind he was much concerned and standing up say'd Dread Lord I beseech you hear me one word To what ill end can this undertaking against the Greeks possibly come Are we not furnished with as gallant and couragious Knights as any in the World Yes certainly and are able to defy the greatest force can be brought against us Go on therefore I intreat you with your design in sending some Men and Ships to Land and Forrage in Greece and if you please to accept of my Service I shall most readily undertake this imploy not doubting but to do them very great damage and to bring away some Noble Lady by exchanging of whom you 〈…〉 your Sister Hesione without further troubâ—â—â— Deiphobus the third Son confirmed what Paris had say'd but Helenus the fourth who was a Priest or Southsayer smartly replied Mighty Father and Soveraign beware that the thirst of revenge do not bring upon you greater mischiefs You know very well I understand and can foretel things to come as you have often experienced The Gods forbid that it should ever happen Paris should be sent into Greece for if you make an assault upon them I now declare and presage you shall see this Honourable City destroyed by them and your Trojans and all your Children killed be therefore perswaded not to adventure upon what will certainly end in utter desolation with the death of your self and Queen and we that are your Children shall not escape For if Paris go into Greece all these evils shall surely come upon you The King was much disturbed at these words and for some time all stood silent when Troylus his youngest Son briskly answered My noble Lords why are you discouraged for the words of this cowardly Priest who you know doth as naturally hate War and Fighting as he loves good eating and drinking Who can believe that any man knows future events unless they are revealed to him by the Gods it were then great folly in us to concern our selves about his dreams If Helenus be afraid let him go into the Temple and sing Service and let us Dear Lord and Father revenge by force of Arms the injuries we have received from the Greeks send your Ships therefore instantly and doubt not but your valiant Subjects will procure you sufficient satisfaction from your enemies The whole Assembly approving this advice they broke up and Priamus presently dispatcht his two Sons Paris and Deiphobus to raise Forces in Panonia though Cassandra his Daughter Sirnamed the Prophetess upon hearing this their resolution like one frantick thus cryed out O Noble City of Troy what Fury hath moved thy Citizens to bring thee to ruin and desolation How soon wilt thou be overthrown and destroyed even unto the ground O Queen Hecuba for what crime hast thou deserved to see the lamentable death of all thy Children Why dost thou not prevent Paris from going into Greece which will be the cause of so many deplorable mischiefs She then ran to her Father and drowned in tears humbly besought him by no means to proceed in this enterprize because by her Science she certainly foresaw horrible effects would undoubtedly follow But neither the disswasions of Hector nor Helenus nor the admonitions of Cassandra could prevail in the least upon the mind of Priamus nor stagger his resolution as if inevitable destiny had absolutely designed the ruin both of himself and his Kingdom In the Spring Paris and Deiphobus returned with three Thousand stout Soldiers and were soon after imbarqued in twenty Ships accompanied with Aeneas Anthenor and Polidamas and Landing at Sparta were received by Menelaus King thereof with all expressions of kindness and civility and when his Affairs did require his presence in Crete now Candia he left Paris at his Pallace in his absence but the Affection of this King was requited with a notable Treason and Ingratitude For Paris having secretly Contracted a Friendship with Helena his Queen the Sister of Castor and Pollux and accounted then one of the greatest Beauties in the World he Debauched her and when he saw a favourable opportunity he rifled his Pallace plundered the City of Argos and carried all away Captive with Helena and her two Ladies of Honour and at length brought them all to Troy The next Morning he married her in the Chief Temple of that City King Priamus received his Sons and their Booty with great joy remembring his hard usage from the Greeks during his Captivity and because they had utterly ruined his City in the Reign of his Father Laomedon in hope likewise hereby to recover his Sister Hesione out of their hands When Cassandra heard and saw the rejoicing at the Marriage of Paris which lasted eight days throughout the whole City she like a Frantick Woman cryed out O unhappy Trojans what madness is it to rejoice at this Wedding which will bring so many evils Your selves and your Children shall be slain this Famous City shall be utterly destroyed O unhappy Mothers you shall see your sucking Babes torn in pieces before your Eyes O most unfortunate Mother and Queen Hecuba where wilt thou find Tears enough to weep for the Murder of thy Children O blind and foolish people why do you not send Helena home again before the Swords of your Enemies be sheathed in your Bowels do you believe that her King and Husband will not seek Revenge Yes certainly and woful will his vengeance be unto you O unhappy Helena thou wilt be the cause of sad calamities to this our Countrey King Priamus hearing her thus crying commanded her silence which she refusing was cast into Prison where she continued many days Happy had it been for him and his people too had they believed this warning of hers which might have prevented those desolations that will be read with pity to the end of the World. Menâ—laus who was at that time with King Nestor at Epirus hearing the news of the carrying away his Wife and ruin of his City was exâ—reamly disturbed and sent to Agamemnon King of Mycene his brother to come to him who arriving and understanding the affair he was mightily concerned for this disgrace of Menelaus which obliged him to acquaint the Princes of Greece with this notable affront which all the Nations had received by this Action They all agreed to consult about this business in
who hearing that Constantine was proclaimed Prince was much disturbed and sent Ambassadors to Arthur to complain that contrary to the honour of a King he by proclaiming Constantine his Heir had broken the League between himself and his Father and endeavoured to defeat him of his rightful Inheritance desiring him not so easily to consent to the perswasions of the Brittains as thereby to violate the Laws both of God and man and admonishing him yet to observe the League which he had solemnly sworn to and to perswade his Subjects to do the like lest they should provoke the wrath of Almighty God against them who is a just revenger of the breach of all Oaths Leagues and Covenants To this the Nobles of Brittain answered That the League concluded between Arthur and Loth endered but for their Lives and was determined upon the death of either of them and therefore Arthur had done nothing but according to the duty of a Prince who tendred the peace and happiness of his Subjects in providing one of their own Nation to succeed him thereby to prevent the Realm from falling into the hands of strangers which they could by no means suffer Therefore if the Picts loved their Weal Security it would be good for them to be contented with their own Bounds and Dominions since if they should attempt to gain other mens Estates and Territories they would be forced in a short time to see the mischievous Consequences of such ill advised undertakings The Ambassadors of Pictland returning with this Answer the whole Nation were so stirr'd with indignation that they resolved immediately to revenge their wrongs by open War But first they endeavoured to procure the Scots to assist them and sending Ambassadors to Eugenius then King of Scotland he readily agreed to their requests upon pretence that some Scotch Rebels who fled to Arthur were received by him and likewise suffered to make In roads into Scotland Arthur having notice of these Transactions and War being Proclaimed against him he first secured the Sea coasts with consâ—derable forces to prevent the Landing of the Saxons if they should attempt it And then marched with the rest of his Army as far as the River Humber near the Banks whereof he pitcht his Tents a place formerly fatal for the overthrow of the Brittains expecting the Scots and Picts who in a short time came up to them and both Armies were in sight ready to ingage each other when certain Bishops of all the three Nations riding to and fro took great pains to perswade the Kings to Peace and Concord especially since what they were going to try with the Sword and the loss of much Bloud and many Lives might as well be composed by an Amicable and Friendly Agreement Neither could they better gratifie the Saxons the common Enemies to the Christian Religion than by weakning and destroying each other to make way for them to Conquer all together Mordred and Eugenius were induced by these carnest exhortations to refer the differences to some indifferent Persons and presently to lay down their arms upon assurance that the League with King Loth should be faithfully observed Arthur was also content for his part to have agreed thereto but the other Brittains especially the Kindred and Allies of Constantine utterly refused it and gave divers reproachful words to the Bishops for their unseasonable interposing since they were already ranged in battel so that it might be doubted they designed to betray their Army to their Enemies under pretence of an unprofitable agreement After this both Parties ingaged with great fury but the Brittains had such disadvantage by the place where they stood which was full of Mire Bogs and Mosses that they could neither advantagiously defend themselves nor offend their Enemies yet the Battel continued a long time with the slaughter of so many men that the river Humbâ—r near which it was fought grew red with bloud and carried a multitude of dead bodies into the Sea. In the heat of the sight a subtil Scot cryed out with a loud voice in the Brittish tongue that Arthur and most of his Nobility were slain and it was therefore in vain to resist any longer or hope for Victory but better for every man to shift for himself and endeavour to make his escape This news wonderfully incouraged the Scots and Picts but the Brittains were so much astonished at it that the greatest partinstantâ— fled away Others judging it only a crafty device to discourage them continued to make the utmost resistance till they were overpowred and almost every man slain This Victory was veryhardly got and cost more lives than any other for many years before for of the Scots and Picts who won the Feild there were killed above Twenty Thousand together with King Mordred and abundance of the Nobility of both Nations Of the Brittains and their confederates in the fight and pursuit above thirty thousand fell and among them King Arthur himself and Gawan brother to Mordred who had such an intire affection for his Lord and Master Arthur that he fought couragiously on his side that day against his own brother Mordred Gawan and most part of the Brittish Nobility were likewise slain Next day the Camp was plundred and among other rich spoyls Guyniver King Arthurs Wife with a great number of other Ladys and Gentlewomen were taken Prisoners though she and some others were afterward redeemed upon ransom This Bloudy Battel was fought in the year of our Lord 542. the 26 year of the reign of King Arthur and so much weakned both the Picts Scots and Brittains that they could not recover their losses in man years The same year many strange Prodigies were seen The Grass and Herbs in Yorkshire were stained with Bloud Near Camelon a Cow brought forth a Calf with two heads and an Ewe brought forth a Lamb of both Sexes The Sun for several days appeared like Bloud The Sky was full of bright Stars at noon divers days together In Wales there was a Battel between the Crows and Magpies on one side and the Ravens on the other and great slaughter was made on each side The Body of this famous Worthy was buried at Glassenbury in Somersetshire in the Church yard and discovered in the reign of King Henry the second who being informed by a Welch Ministrel that could sing many Historys in Welch of the Acts of the ancient Brittains declared that Arthurs Body was there buried Sixteen foot deep between two Pillars lest his Enemies the Saxons should have found him Henry caused the place to be dug up After they had digged about seven Foot they found a mighty broad Stone with a leaden Cross fastened to that part which lay downward with this Inscription Hic jacet Sepultus inclytus Rex Arthurus in Insulae Avaloniae Here lieth the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalonia His Body was inclosed in a great Tree made hollow whith being opened his Bones appeared of a very great bigness his
The History of the Nine Worthies OF THE WORLD Three whereof were Gentiles I. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy. II. Alexander the Great King of Macedon III. Iulius Caesar First Emperor of Rome Three Jews IV. Ioshua Captain General of Israel V. David King of Israel VI. Iudas Maccabeus a Valiant Commander Three Christians VII Arthur King of Brittain VIII Charles the Great Emp. of Germany IX Godfrey of Bulloign King of Jerusalem Being an Account of their Glorious Lives Worthy Actions Renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated with Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Oâ—dâ—â— London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1687. BY Arms and Virtue these to Honour rose By both they Conquer'd and ore'came their Foes Whereby of Worthies they obtain'd the name Whose Acts are registred in the Book of Fame Though they are Dead their Deeds will never But still be Famous to Posterity TO THE READER HAving often heard and read of the Nine Worthies and not meeting with any particular Relation of them I thought it might be worth my while to search out who they were and found that the Ancients celebrated the memory of nine Renowned Persons for the most Worthy Hero's in the Ages wherein they lived Three whereof were Gentiles Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy Alexander the Great King of Macedon and Conqueror of the World and Julius Caesar the first Emperor of Rome Three were Jews Joshua Captain General and Leader of the Hebrews into the Land of Canaan David King of Israel and Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Jewish Champion against the Tyranny of Antiochus And the last three were Christians Arthur the famous King 〈◊〉 Bâ—â—â—â—ain who valiantly defended his Countrey against the Saxons Charlemaign or Charles the Great King of France and Emperor of Germany and Godfrey of Bulloign called King of Jerusalem so memorable for his Gallant Atchievements in recovering the Holy Land from Sarazens and Infidels Having discovered their names I next endeavoured to collect from the most credible and Authentick Authors what I could meet with of the Worthy Actions and exploits whereby they obtained the Great Title of Worthies which I have done in as brief a method as such notable Deeds could be contained in which I now present to my Countreymen both for their Information and Delight not doubting but it will be acceptable especially since a Couragious Prince of our own Nation has been dignified with this mighty Honour If it please as I hope it may I shall be very well satisfied with the pains I have taken in gathering these Remarks out of other Voluminous Histories R. B. The History of Hector of Troy the First Worthy of the World. REnowned Hector Priams Valiant Son Deservedly the Name of Worthy won His Countries miseries he did foresee And therefore first ingag'd unwillingly But when his Fathers Glory call'd him forth He then displaid his Gallantry and worth His Thundring Arm no Graecian could withstand All fled and trembled where he did command At length at unawares he lost his Life Achilles thus betwixt them ends the strife Troy and his Fathers House soon after fell As Hellon and Cassandra did foretell THough the Poets have mingled and corrupted the History of the Destruction of Troy with their Fictions and Fables as they have most other true Storys of former Ages yet it is most certainly related by Ancient Historians of undoubted veracity that the Ruin of this famous City was occasioned by means of a Wooden Horse as is commonly believed And that Hector the Son of King Priamus of whom we now write the Life was a renowned and Valiant Captain and lost his Life in defeâ—ce of his Father and his Country But for the better understanding the Story we will look farther back and consider the original of this once Magnificent City Troy was hertofore one of the most Noble Câ—our of Asia Minor as well for its Largeness and â—iches as for that renowned War which it managed against the Armies of Greece It was scituate in Phrygia a Province stretching it self upon the Coast of the Aegean Sea near the Hellespont called now the River of Constantinople over against the Chersonesus of Thracia and the Island Tenedos which was not far distant from it The River Scamander which proceeded from Mount Ida ran by the Walls thereof and joining with the Râ—ver Simois they both together empty themselves into the Sea near the Promontory called Sigeum The first who built this City and commanded there in Chief was Dardanus the Son of the King of Corinth When his Elder Brother was dead a dispute arose between him and his other Brother about the Succession part of the People favouring one and the rest the other but Dardanus having at length defeated and killed his Brother Jasius He with his Favourites were forced for their security to take Shipping and fly into Phrygia where he married the Daughter of King Teucer with whom he jointly reigned in that Countrey which was then named Teuoria and afterward Dardania by which name also the City of Troy was then called This happened about the time that Moses left the leading of the People of Israel to Joshua about seven hundred years before the building of the City of Rome and six hundred and fifty years after the first foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy Dardanus left his Kingdom to his Son Erichthonius who begat Tros When he was possest of the Kingdom he called the City after his own name Troja and the Countrey round about Troas This Tros had several Sons the eldest was named Ganimedes and having War with Tantalus King of Phrygia he took his Son Ganimedes Prisoner and sent him as a present to Jupiter King of Crete now called Candia and this gave occasion to the Fable that Ganimedes was ravished by Jupiter His second Son was Assaracus who was Father of Capys of whom came Auchises the Favourite of Venus who had by him Aeneas born upon the banks of the River Simois But the Heir of his Crown was Ilus who altered the name of Troy to Ilium which he mightily inriched Laomedon succeeded his Father Ilus he fortified Troy with Walls by the assistance of Apollo and Neptune who being both fallen into displeasure with their Prince and seeing themselves reduced to extream poverty in a strange Countrey far from their possessions which were in Crete they resolved to enter themselves into the service of King Laomedon to help to build the Walls of his City They wrought long for this ungrateful King but when they saw no hopes of the reward promised them with an Oath for their labours but that he was so unworthy to refuse it he was afflicted with many diseases so that to be delivered he was forced to expose his own Daughter Hesione to be devoured by a Sea Monster it being required of them to deliver up a Virgin every year to be destroyed by them The King was extreamly
concerned that the Lot should fall upon his Daughter but Hercules travelling that way came to Laomedon and offered to deliver her by destroying the Monster if the King would give him for a reward some Noble Horses called for their excellency The Horses of the Sun then in his Stables in Troy. The promise was made but perfidious Lâ—omedon stood not to it after Hesione was set at liberty which so much incensed Hercules that he besieged the City of Troy took and plundred it kill'd Laomedon and carryed his Son into Captivity who was afterward redeemed by the Trojans and for that cause was named Priamus which in Greek signifies Redeemed To effect this Hercules had the assistance of his Friends and Allies especially of Telamon the King of Salames and Father of Ajax He carryed away all Laomedons wealth with Hesione his Daughter who was married to King Telamon Priamus being redeemed by his Subjects and established in the Kingdom began to inlarge his Dominions and to render the City of Trey far more famous than ever it was before for he rebuilt all the Walls adorning them with Forts and Bastions which were then called Pergama His Wives name was Hecuba Daughter of the King of Thracia She had by him many Sons as Hector Polites Deiphobus Helenus the Southsayer Troilus Paris and Polydorus and three Daughters named Polyxena Cassandra and Creusa His Court and Pallace were full of pomp and glory and he lived in this prosperous Estate many years but when he espoused the quarrels of the Asian People against Greece thereby ingaging himself in the publick enmity of his Country and suffered Paris to affront the Grecians he brought up on himself and his subjects utter Ruin and Destruction and was at last so unhappy to behold with his own Eyes the total desolation of the City of Troy which had lasted only three hundred years as Herodotus a faithful Historian hath related When Hecuba was with Child of Paris she dreamed she was bringing into the World a Firebrand that should kindle the flames of War in that Countrey and cause a general Destruction therein It was the custom of the Heathens when any strange accident happen'd to consult the Oracles and enquire from them what they ought to do When Priamus therefore understood his Wives Dream he sent to take advice with the Oracle who informed him that this Child would be the cause of the Ruin of his Countrey To prevent this as soon as he was born the King delivered him into the hands of a Souldier named Archelaus that he might cast him into the woods to be devoured of the Wilde Beasts and thereby avoid the mischief which threatned his Kingdom But the Mother seeing the Child so beautiful and well shaped was moved with compassion sent him to Mount Ida to the Kings Shepherd where he was brought up as his Son this mean education did not take from him the generous qualities and inclinations which he had received from his illustrious birth for on every occasion he made appear to all the World a great Courage Prudence and Justice and all other virtues worthy of a Prince so that he proved as Valiant as he was handsome Insomuch that the Poets feigned Juno Pallas and Venus agreed to chuse him sole Arbitrator and Judge of their Concerns in a difference between them which was this At the Marriage of Peleus and Thetis whilst these Goddesses were merry at the Feast the Goddess of Discord cast into the middle of the Company a Golden Apple with this Inscription For the Fairest and most Beautiful Each of these Ladies claimed it as their own and because they could not agree they resolved to leave it to the judgment of Paris who was corrupted with the Charms and Promises of Venus For she had ingaged to procure him the handsomest Lady in the World whereupon he despised the Riches of Juno and the Wisdom of Pallas and pronounced his sentence in favour of Venus whereby he provoked the Wrath of these Goddesses against himself and all his Nation This is the Fable After in a Publick Assembly he declared who he was for the Nobles and Gentry of the Countrey being met near the City to see the sport of Wrastling when every one strove to express his Strength and Courage he likewise went forth and threw to the ground many who undertook to ingage with him Hector the Son of Priamus among the rest did try his strength and was also overcome But this disgrace so inraged him against Paris that he resolv'd to kill him esteeming him no better than a Countrey Clown In his Anger he had taken away his Life had not Paris to prevent it shewn him certain small Jewels which Queen Hecuba his Mother had delivered to the Shepherd his Tutor and thereby declared himself to be his Brother King Priamus who had already admired his Address and Courage in the Combats was ravished with joy to understand the strange preservation of such an Excellent Son He therefore imbraced him brought him to his Pallace and gave him a Train of Attendants suitable to his Quality having forgot the Oracle foretold he was to be ruin of his Kingdom and Country He was at first renowned for his Justice and Civil behaviour but vice overcame his Generous Disposition and the Pleasures of the Court and sudden change of his condition altered his Temper and Carriage so that he had two natural Sons by Oenone Daphnis and Ideus who were as obscure as their Father was Famous King Priamus thinking himself now strong enough to encounter his old Enemies the Graecians assembled his Nobility to Court to whom he spake to this purpose My Lords You cannot forget the cruel injuries we have undeservedly received from the Greeks who lately invaded our Countrey and barbarously murdered your Parents and Friends as well as mine Having likewise carried away Captive Hesione my most Fair and Beloved Sister whom they still retain among them as a common Strumpet You must needs remember how they battered down this Famous City overthrowing and ruining the Walls Houses and Pallaces thereof even to the very ground and robbed us of all our Riches and Wealth wherewith Troy did then abound I therefore think it very just and reasonable that by the assistance of the Gods who resist the Proud and Insolent we ought to join together and endeavonr to take vengeance of them for those many wrongs we have received since our City is now so well peopled with valiant Soldiers and that we have Arms and Riches enough to furnish a compleat Army You know likewise we have made Alliances with divers great Princes our Neighbours who no doubt will assist us if we should have occasion for their help So that my opinion is we ought now to seek Redress for all our wrongs But since the fortune of War is uncertain and none call tell the Event thereof and though the dishonour of my Noble Sister be a very great Affront to me yet before I begin the
night coming on both sides retired In the next fight many gallant Commanders were killed but the Trojans lost more than the Greeks But in the seventh Battle though Hector was very much disswaded from fighting that day both by his Father Priamus and his Wife Andromache who seeing him Armed fell at his Feet together with her two little Sons humbly intreating him to disarm himself since she had drearned the night before that if he went out that day he should certainly be slain and said she If you will not do it for my sake yet have compassion on your Dear little Children and do not expose both them and me to a Cruel Death or cause us by your death to be carried into slavery in a strange Countrey But her reasons not in the least prevailing his Mother Queen Hecuba and Queen Hellena with all his Sisters came to him with tears in their Eyes and begged him not to go out yet all to no purpose for taking his Horse he was just going into the fight which was already begun when his Father Priam seizing his Horse by the Bridle prevented him and made him return but he would by no means be perswaded to disarm The Battle was very bloody to the Trajans and by the obstinate Valour of the Greeks they were beaten back to the City Gates and Margetton one of Priamus natural Sons was slain by Achilles which when Hector heard he was so inraged that putting on his helmet he privately got away into the Fight where he soon dispatcht several of the most forward Greek Captains and again restored the Battle by his presence so that the Greeks lay dead on all sides When Achilles observed Hector to make such havock of his Commanders he concluded that all his indeavours or hopes of success would be in vain whilst Hector lived and therefore taking a Noble Graecian with him call'd Policceus they came upon him with the utmost fury imaginable but Hector soon dispatcht the Nobleman Achilles resolving to revenge his Death assaulted him couragiously but Hector threw a dart at him with such violence that it wounded him in the thigh Achilles retired to bind up his wound and then returning to the Battle with a very great Spear wherewith he vowed to be the death of Hector he found him carrying a Graecian Prince very richly armed out of the Field having thrown his shield behind him for his ease and thereby left his breast uncovered Achilles observing his advantage without being perceived by Hector came suddenly up to him and thrust his Spear into his Body wherewith this Gallant Worthy fell instantly dead to the ground King Memnon who was present seeing Hector slain fell upon Achilles with his utmost force striking him to the ground and wounding him very dangerously but his Souldiers laid him upon his Shield and so carried him into his Tent The Trojans were wonderfully discouraged at his death and retired into the City with much sorrow and lamontation But who can express the grief of his Father Mother Wife and Kindred they tore their garments and faces and were for a long time as it were distracted for grief Hector being buried with much funeral Pomp and State the Trojans fell upon the Greeks and cut off abundance of them in revenge of his death To conclude there were many slain and much blood Spilt in the frequent Sallies of the besieged and Memnon whom the Trojans put their trust in next to Hector being likewise slain they were much terrified yet was Achilles soon after killed by Paris at which they began to take courage again and express their Joy but it lasted not long for Pyrrhus the Son of Achilles being arrived from Greece succeeded his Father in all his Offices and had no less success in the Encounters although he was very young He revenged his death upon the Trojans in many Battles in one of which he killed Paris At last the besieged were so unhappy as to see their Palladium upon which they superstitiously believed the safety of their City did depend stolen and carryed away privately by Ulisses and Diomedes You must know that Troy was first built by Dardania and afterward inlarged by his great Grand-son Ilus who named it Ilium This Prince made his Prayer to the Gods that they would please to give him some sign whether they did approve of the Building this City Immediately at his words saith the Story there fell down from above the Palladium which was an Image of three Cubits long holding in one hand a Lance and in the other a Spindle with a Distaff The Statue no sooner toucht the Earth but it began to march in the presence of the King. The Oracle afterward inform'd him that Troy should never be taken nor destroy'd whilst that remained safe Ulisses and Diomedes stole secretly into the Citadel of Troy through a Gutter and carried away the Palladium This caused King Priamus to come to an Agreement with the Greeks but had no mind to restore Helena who was Married to Deiphobus his Younger Son after the death of Paris Aeneas and Anthenor were Commissioned to Treat with the Enemy who concluded a Peace for a certain sum of Money and a quantity of Provisions which the Trojans were to furnish the Greeks for their return home This Peace was but a cheat that the Greeks might surprize them with less difficulty When they raised the Siege they pretended to leave behind them a Present for Minerva to appease her Wrath as if they had displeased her by Stealing away and prophaning the Palladium for that purpose they caused a Wooden Horse of a Prodigious bigness to be made In the Belly of it they shut up a great many of the stoutest and ablest Soldiers of the Army and left it before the Walls of the City and retired with their whole Forces as if for good and all but they went no farther than the Isle of Tenedos expecting to see the success of their Enterprize The Besieged immediately go out of their City where they had been shut up so long they visit all the quarters of the Graecian Camp they admire this great Wooden Horse At length they consult whether they should carry it into their City Some were for it others suspected some deceit among whom one Lacoon cast his Lance against it but seemed to be instantly punished for two dreadful Serpents immediately killed him and his two Children This Accident caused them all to resolve to drag this Wooden Engine into Troy. But they were far more eager when they heard the Relation and discourse of one Sinon a Fellow taught by Vlisses for this purpose and taken as a spy by the Trojans who told them That when the Fleet was ready to set sail toward Greece the Gods had demanded a Graecian to be sacrificed to them that the Voyage might be prosperous and that Vlisses his mortal Enemy having caused the Lot to fall upon him he was forced to run away and hide himself Thus persisting in his
dissimulation he told them that the design of the Greeks was to reconcile themselves to the Goddess Pallas and therefore they had dedicated unto her this Horse which they had caused to be made so large that it might not enter within the Walls of the City and that the Trojans might not make use of it to their advantage and to the prejudice of the Greeks This Discourse removed out of their minds all Jealousie and Suspition and caused them to resolve to break down a part of the City Wall to carry in this great Horse Every one imployed himself in this Work with all their â—ower and diligence and having drawn it into the midst of the City they all departed to Drink Dance and make merry wherein they continued till night and were then overcome with Wine and Sleep When Sinon saw things in this posture he opened the Belly of the Horse to let out the Soldiers who had been there shut in and then he made a Fire to give notice to the Greek Army who hastening back without noise entered by the breach lately made in the Wall and soon disperst themselves into every part of the City to burn and plunder it Pyrhut went directly to the Pallace where he Massacred King Priamus and all his Sons and his Daughter Polixena The rest of the poor Inhabitants had no Quarter granted them but were all cruclly murdered without respect to Quality Sex or Age And thus after ten years Siege this Famous City was destroyed and burnt to the ground about three hundred years after it had been built by Dardanus and about two thousand eight hundred years from the Creation of the World. Helena the occasion of all this desolation returned with her Husband to Sparta where she lived till his death She being afterwards banished by the Sons of Menelaus fled to Rhodes to Queen Polixena her old Acquaintance who suffered her to be hang'd on a Tree for her Infamous and Wicked Life The History of Alexander the Great the Second Worthy of the World THE Second Worthy was Great Alexander That Valiant Captain and renown'd Commander He in his youth did the known World subdue And wept beeause he found no more to do He was a Prince that had a Mighty Mind And to all Glorious Actions was inclin'd With Thirty Thousand men he put to slight Six hundred thousand Persians and quite Destroy'd that Potent Monarchy which long Had Triumpht over Nations Great and Strong Yet he who others could subdue by wine Was Conquered and did his Life resign ALexander the Great was the Son of Philip King of Macedon and Olympias His Father after he subdued Greece and was acknowledged their Captain General listed the Auxiliaries of ever City by whom he was to be assisted against any Invasion or to lead them forth against any Nation for it was not doubted but that the Empire of the Persians was the design of those great preparations the number of foot were two Hundred Thousand and fifteen Thousand Horse besides which he had an Army of Macedonians and another of the barbarous Nations who were conquered and borderers upon his Kingdom In the Spring he sent Parmenio Amyntas and Attalus whose Sister he had lately Married having divorc Olympias upon suspition of incontinency into that part of Asia which was under the power of the Persians But while the Auxiliaries of Greece were drawing into a Body he celebrated the Nuptials of Cleopatra his Daughter and Alexander whom he had made King of Epirus The day was remarkable for the magnificence of the Two Kings the one Marrying the other giving his Daughter in Marriage Neither was there wanting the delight of Enterludes and Masks to the beholding whereof when King Philip passed without a Guard between the two Alexanders his own Son and his Son in Law Pausanias one of the Nobility being suspected by none Killed Philp as he was going through the croud and made the day destined to mirth and Marriage black with the lamentation of a funeral This Pausanias about the fourteenth year of his age was inforced to be a Prostitute or Sodomite to Attalus to which indignity this ignominy was added that Attalus having afterwards brought him into the Banquet and made him drunk did not onely expose him to his own lust but to all his guests and rendred him a common laughing stock among them which Pausanias resenting with great indignation often complain'd of it to Philip but finding that he was both deluded and delayed in his just complaints likewise that his adversary was honoured with a new addition of power greatness he converted his anger against Philip himself that revenge which he could not have on his adversary he took on his unrightous Judge Pausanias was seized and crucified for the Fact. As there were divers Nations in the army of Philip so he being slain there were divers agitations of minds in them In these distractions the coming of Alexander was a Soveraign remedy who in a very obliging Speech quieted their minds and procured to himself a very great esteem from them He was then but twenty years old and gave exceeding hopes of a growing Vertue He freed the Macedonians from all Tributes whatsoever unless a discharge from the War wherewith they were extreamly satisfied declaring that they had only lost the Person but not the Vertue or valour of their King He caused all who were guilty of his Fathers death to be slain at his Funeral He awed many Nations who were ready to rebel and marching privately into Greece called the Magistrates of all the Citys to Corinth by whom he was made General in the place of his Father after which he proceeded in his preparations for the Persian War begun by his Father during which he had notice that the Athenians Lacedemonians and Thebans had revolted to the Persians by the treachery of Demosthens the Orator who corrupted him with a great sum of gold But upon Alexanders approach they soon returned again to their obedience the Thebans only persisting who were thereupon quickly subdued their City levelled to the ground and their Citizens sold for Captives Alexander being now wholly intent upon the War in Asia put to death all his Kindred or friends that he imagined might nourish any aspiring thoughts After which having drawn his Army all into one Body he speedily imbarqued them and being come within sight of Asia inflamed with an incredible ardor of Spirit he erected 12 Altars where he made his Vows to the Gods of War He then divided all his Patrimony and Kingdom which he had in Macedonia and Europe amongst his Friends alleaging That Asia was sufficient for himself And before any of his Ships Sailed he offered Sacrifices desiring Victory in this War in which he was to be the Revenger of Greece so often invaded by the Persians whose Empire was grown Old and Ripe for change it being now high time that the Turn should again come about when others who would use their power
ever Darius on the other side was no less industrious admonishing his men not to forgot the ancient Glory of the Persian Empire and of their everlasting possession of it which was granted them by the Immortal Gods. After this the Battle was fought with great resolution in which both Kings were wounded and the Victory was doubtful till Darius fled thereupon there followed a great slaughter of the Persians threescore and ten thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse being slain and forty thousand taken Prisoners Of the Macedons were slain one Hundred and Thirty Foot and one hundred and fifty Horse Much Gold and other rich moveables were found in the Persian Camp and among the Captives there were the Mother and Wife of Darius and his two Daughters to comfort whom when Alexander came in person with some Souldiers they imbracing one onother expecting present death made a Screaking lamentation then humbling themselves to the knees of Alexander they desired not life but only a reprieve till they had buried Darius Alexander moved at their Piety assured them he was alive and to remove from them the fear of death commanded they should be honoured as Queens and that the daughters should chuse them Husbands according to their Quality After which observing the riches and precious furniture of Darius he was possest with admiration and then first began to delight in luxurious Banquets and Feasts and to be tempted by the Beauties of Barsinoe his Captive on whom he begot a Son named Hercules But considering Darius was yet alive he commanded Parmenio to seize upon the Persian Fleet and sent other Commanders to take possession of some Citys in Asia who soon delivered themselves up with vast Sums of Gold upon the same of this great Victory He then advanced into Syria where many Kings of the East with Fillets and Miters met him some of whom he received as Friends others he deprived of their Kingdoms preferring new Kings and among others Abdolominus was by him chosen King of Sidonia who before lived miserably his only imployment being to scour Ditches and water Gardens Alexander rejecting the Nobility least they should impute their Royalty to their birth and not his generosity The Citizens of Tyre sending him a weighty Crown of Gold on pretence of gratifying him the gift was gratefully accepted and the Ambassadors were told He would come thither himself and pay his vows to Hercules Who alleging he might perform that better in the Old Town of Tyre in the ancient Church he was so incensed that he threatned utterly to destroy their City and immediately drawing his Army to the Island was resolutely received by the Tyrians who depended on assistance from Carthage but that failing they were not long after surprized by Treachery and destroyed He then took Rhodes Egypt and Cilicia upon composition and resolved to visit the Temple of Jupiter Hamon to inquire of future events and of his own Original since his Mother Olympias had confessed to his Father Philip that Alexander was not begot by him but by a vast great Serpent and Philip a little before his death openly declared That Alexander was not his Son and divorced Olympias as guilty of incontinence Alexander therefore being ambitious of being a God and to free his Mother from disgrace sent some before hand with presents to the Priests ordering them what answers they should return so that entring the Temple they instantly saluted him as the Son of Hamon who being joyful of this adoption by this Deity commanded that Jupiter Hamon should be esteemed his Father He then demanded Whether full Revenge had been taken of his Fathers Murtherers It was answered That his Father could neither be killed nor dye but the Revenge for King Philip was fully perform'd In Answer to a third demand it was said That both Victory in all Wars and the possession of all Lands was granted to him His Commanders and Intimates were likewise enjoyn'd by the Priest to worship him as a God and not as a King. From hence he was possessed with wonderful insolence and pride altogether estranging himself from his former familiarity learnt of the Graecians and Macedonians He then built Alexandria and setled a Colony of Macedons there commanding it should be the Chief City of Egypt Darius flying to Babylon sent Letters to Alexander offering him a vast sum of money for redeeming the Captive Ladies who returned answer That to redeem them he must not only give his money but his Empire Darius soon after writ again proposing his Daughter in Marriage and a great part of the Empire but Alexander writ back That he gave him only what was his own before and commanded him to come as a Suppliant to him and to permit the Conqueror to dispose of the Kingdom at his own pleasure Darius hereby dispairing of Peace prepared again for War and advanced against Alexander with four hundred thousand Foot and one hundred thousand Horse In his march he was informed his Wife was dead and that Alexander had been extreamly kind to her and the rest lamenting her death and assisting at her Funeral and that he often went to comfort his Mother and Daughters whereat he confessed He was truly Conquered since after so many Battles his Enemy had likewise overcome him in kindness and that it was some comfort to him in his Misery to be subdued by so gallant an Adversary He thereupon writ the third time to him giving him many thanks for his Civil Respects to his Family offering his other Daughter and the greater part of his Kingdom even to the River Euphrates and thirty thousand Talents for the other Captives Alexander answered That giving thanks to an Enemy was superfluous neither had he done any thing either for Flattery fear of future events or in hope of peace but out of the greatness of his mind whereby he had learnt to contend against the Forces but not the calamities of his Enemies He promised to allow the same grants to Darius if he would be his second not his equal but as the World could not be governed by two Suns no more could it endure the Government of two such great Empires in a safe condition therefore said he Come if you will and this very day surrender your self to me or else prepare for Battle the next wherein you have no reason to promise your self any beter success than you have already found Next day both Armies stood ready to fight at which instant Alexander possest with too much care fell into a deep sleep and was hardly waked by Parmenio and all admiring that he who slept little should now be overcome therewith in so great danger he replied That his being delivered from a great fear was the occasion of it since now he was to fight with all the Forces of Darius at once being before afraid the War would be delayed should the Persians have divided their Army Before the Battle both Armies viewed each other the Macedons admired the multitude greatness
you have been so zealous will be the destruction of the Nobility and Common Interest we have so earnestly defended for I assure you there are in Caesar many Marii or disturbers of their Countrey He first bore arms in Asia as a Voluntier and afterward in Cilicia but hearing of Sylla's death and hoping for new troubles from the discontents of M. Lepidus he return'd to Rome where he accused C. Dolabella of extortion but unable to make good his charge and Dolabella acquit he withdrew to Rhodes both to avoid envy and to study more privately under A. Molon the most celebrated Orator of those times In his passage he was taken by Pyrates in whose hands he continued forty days with great perturbation of mind with only his Physician and two servants having sent away the rest to procure his ransom who bringing fifty Talents he was set ashoar to recompence their kindness he puts immediately again to Sea pursues overtakes and executes these Robbers as he had often threatned them in jest when he was their Prisoner In the mean time Mithridates making great devastation in the neighbouring Countreys Caesar thinking it dishonourable to lye still while his Allies were in distress he past from Rhodes to Asia and raising what Forces he could beat Mithridates Governor out of those Provinces and confirmed several in their allegiance who before were inclining to revolt The first dignity bestow'd on him by the People was to be Tribune which Office he strenuously maintained Being Quester he made Funeral Orations according to custom in praise of Julia his Aunt and Cornelia his Wife wherein he speaks thus of his Extraction My Aunt Julia by the Mothers side was descended from Kings and by the Fathers she was allied to the Gods for from Ancius Marcius the Marcij who were called Reges or Kings are derived and the Juâ—â— were derived from Venus In our House there fore we have the Majesty of Kings who are thâ— most potent among men and the Veneration 〈◊〉 the Gods who are more powerful than they Aâ— Questor the Government of the furthest part oâ— Spain fell to his Lot and going his Circuit tâ— keep Courts of Justice he came to Cadez wheâ— observing the Image of Alexander in the Temâ— ple of Hercules he fetcht a deep sigh for having done nothing remarkable at that Age whereiâ— he had Conquered the World Upon which contemplation he beg'd to be immediately dismist designing for Rome to attend some greateâ— Enterprize He likewise dreamed the Nightâ— before that he had ravished his Mother and was extreamly exalted when the Interpreteâ— told him it was a presage of his Dominion over the whole Earth since the Mother which seem'd to be violated could be nothing but the Earth the common Mother of all Departing therefore out of Spain before his Commission was expired he went amongst the Latin Colonies who were at that time pressing for their Freedom and if not prevented had certainly excited them to Sedition Yet this did not discourage him for being made Aedil he was suspected of Conspiracy with M. Crassus Sylla and Antonius their design was to have set upon the Senate and having cut the Throats of such as they thought convenient Crassus was â—o have been Dictator and Caesar Master of â—he Horse and the Republick to be setled acâ—ording to their contrivance but at the day â—ppointed either for fear or remorse Crassus â—bsenting himself their Plot was not Executed â—n his Aedilship he beautified the Market-places â—nd Halls of Justice and adorned the Capitol with Galleries that From thence the common People might be spectators of the Baiting of wild Beasts Stage-Plays and such other diverâ—ions as might insinuate his generosity toward â—hem To which were added Sword-Players â—n so great numbers that his Enemies alarum'd â—t their multitude published an Edict to reâ—train them to a certain number having hereâ—y obliged the People he intended to get the Government of Egypt to himself by their Act and when the Nobility prevented him therein â—he was much disturb'd Yet by his liberality â—he soon after obtained the Office of High-Priest which he managed with extravagant profuseâ—ess The Conspiracy of Cataline being discovered and the Senate generally condemning him and his Accomplices to death Caesar only was the man who endeavoured to moderate the Sentence into Imprisonment and Confiscation which he prest with so much heat that had not Cato's Oration recollected them the whole Senate had complied Yet he afterward opposed the Execution of the Decree with that obstinacy that he was threatned to be kill'd by the Guards who set their Swords to his Throat and frightned him into compliance He next asserted some Priviledges in behalf of the People contrary to the mind of the Senate who thereupon forbid him to proceed in executing them of which he took no notice but went on till some Soldiers were ordered to interrupt him Then he dismist his Officers and laid by his Purple Robe retiring privately to his own House as if submitting to the iniquity of that time Two days after the People came to him in great throngs and in a tumultuous way offered him their assistance but he appeased them beyond all expectation and the Senate who suddenly met about that Commotion sent him thanks by some Principal Persons He was also re-invited into the Senate commended restor'd and the Decree for his suspension revoked He fell again into some trouble upon an accusation of being concern'd in Catalines Conspiracy but appealing to the Testimony of Cicero he was cleered of it and his Accuser fined his goods seized and himself almost torn in pieces by the People In a short time he was made Consul with Bibulus and some affronts being put upon him by the Senate he contracted a strict Friendship with Pompey at that time at defiance with the Senate to whom he reconciled Crassus and joining all together nothing for the future could be transacted in the State but by the consent of all three After his promotion to the Consulship a Law called Lex Agraria being propounded and his Companion Bibulus protesting against it Caesar violently drove him out of the place and finding upon his complaint of that violence that none of the Senate durst move in his behalf in utter despair he retired immediately to his House where he continued all the rest of his Consulship so that now Caesar had the sole administration of Affairs which he managed with that uncontroulable arbitrariness that some merry Citizens upon subscribing any Will or Record writ thus Not when Caesar and Bibulus but when Julius and Caesar were Consuls and these Verses were dispersed Non Bibulo quidquam c. All things of late Great Caesar acts alone Poor Bibulus is out of Fashion grown Upon all occasions he extended his power to the utmost The Farmers of the Revenues petitioning for abatement because of the hardness of their Bargain he abated them a third part admonishing them to bid more warily for the future He
he returned from manifest perils with Victory and the applause of Israel and that he behaved himself with great wisdom Saul suspected him more than before and injuriously married his Eldest Daughter to another But since his honour was ingag'd and to prevent the scandal of faithlesness he offers him his younger Daughter Michael but with very harsh and dangerous conditions no less than by the death of two hundred Philistims whom he hoped it was hardly possible for him to vanquish but herein God who overthrows the designs of the malicious to establish his own Councils upon their ruines caused the Victories and Marriage of David to succeed to his own content accompanied with the good will and admiration of all the Court. Jonathan the Eldest Son of Saul was so astonished with his valiant Exploits his rare Virtues and incomparable Carriage that he loved him as his own Heart and bereft himself of the most precious things he had to adorn him withal David likewise swears unto him reciprocally an Immortal Friendship and their two Souls seem'd united together with an indissoluble affection Poor Jonathan who was of incomparable mildness declared to his Father as much as he durst the innocency of David and the great services he had done to the Crown assuring him there was not a man in the Kingdom of a more harmless and pleasing Conversation and that it was the joy of his Heart and his only safety to have him always at his side Saul seem'd to be overcome with these discourses and suffered David whom he had driven far off to return again near his Person but Saul upon a day when David play'd on the Harp in his presence endeavoured to strike him through with his Lance had not Davids nimbleness avoided that evil blow and lest any should charge him with perfidiousness he excused it by the distemper of his Spirit Jonathan yet another time endeavoured his reconciliation but being repelled by Saul with harsh words and threats to kill him he saw clearly there was no more safety for his Friend and perswaded him to retire David goes from Court and makes a sad departure from his beloved Jonathan thousands of tears and sighs being vented betwixt them Saul seeing he was escaped out of his bloudy hands sends Souldiers to bring him back which Michal his Wife having notice of she tells her Husband and makes him depart suddenly in the deep silence of the night putting in his place an Image in the Bed Next morning Sauls Guards break into the House and passing on to the Bed there found the counterfeit Michal was accused thereof and chidden by Saul but she excused her self saying Her Husband had compelled her to it threatning to kill her if she would not obey This still increased his rage and caused him to invent every day new means to destroy him whom above all men he ought to have preserved In the mean time David knew not whither to retire himself He would have taken the boldness to have gone to Samuel who was yet alive but this would have been prejudicial to both in the mind of Saul who turned all suspitions into fury He therefore goes to the Town of Nob to Abimelech the High-Priest who seeing him in a very mean Equipage was somewhat amazed at his Arrival But David to confirm him said that he came about some urgent business of the Kings and had not time to provide for his Journey desiring the Priest to give him some Bread and a Sword who having no other gave him some Loaves of the Consecrated Shew-Bread and the Sword of Goliah which was kept in the Tabernacle for a Monument Saul hearing that David was seen in the Woods with a Lance in his hand and accompanied with several Captains and Officers sharply complained of the unfaithfulness of his Servants Whereupon Doeg an Edomite of a barbarous behaviour to get savour with his Master accused Abimelech the Priest with all his Company for furnishing David with Weapons and Provisions he being present at that time Saul instantly sent for him and reproached him with the fact he wisely excused it as not knowing but David was as much in the Kings favour as ever and that what he did was for Sauls service as he judged This excuse was very just and lawful but the jealousie of Saul was never satisfied so that without any other form of proceeding he commanded that villanous Butcher Doeg all others refusing to lift up their hands against these sacred Persons to fall upon the High-Priest and the Priests that accompanied him eighty five in number who were all murdered in one day and that cursed Servant exceeding his Commission drove on his Murderers to the Town of Nob which they filled with Fire and Bloud David having understood by Abiathar the Son of the High-Priest all that was past was pierced with most bitter grief accusing himself as the cause of the death of these unhappy ones and perceiving well the Spirit of Saul was wholly invenomed he saved himself in the Cave of Adullam where though he thought himself hid from the Eyes of all the World yet his Father and Brethren flying the Persecution found him out and wounded his tender heart with their Lamentations for the change of his condition who was now no longer a David Triumphant the object of all thoughts and the discourse of all Tongues He comforted them the best he could and recommended them to the protection of the King of Moab till he knew what it would please God to do with him At this time all the banished that fled for safety and all the miserable betook themselves to David to the number of four hundred men who intrenched themselves in a Fortress going forth every day to seek wherewithal to maintain themselves In the midst of all these misfortunes the good Prince kept always in his Heart a true love of his Countrey and knowing that the Philistines had laid Siege before Keilâ—h he fail'd not to relieve it though this ungrateful City designed to have delivered him up to Saul if he had inclosed himself therein which having consulted the Oracle of God he would not do but retired to the Desart of Ziph where Jonathan his beloved Friend secretly met him comforted him and assured him that he should be King after his Father and that himself would be content to be his second Mean while David ran from Desart to Desart with his Troops when he received a severe Check from Nabal to whom he sent for relief and for which he threatened to destroy his Family had not Abigal who appeared before him with great wisdom and humility stayed the Sword already drawn for the desolation of her Family The Philistines about this time had taken the Field whom Saul having encountred and driven back he returns to the pursuit of David with three thousand men and entring into a Cave for necessity where David was hid with a small number of his most faithful Servants they perswaded him That by the
Joab trecherously surprizing him killed him at the Gate of the City David was much perplexed hereat and uttered grievous Curses against Joab and his whole race and to deface the blemish of this Murder be assisted at the Funerals of Abner protesting against the cruelty of those who had taken away his Life and highly setting forth the praises of the dead yet he caused not process to be made against Joab conceiving that he was not able to destroy him in such a time when it was dangerous to provoke him After this Ishbosheth King of Israel was slain by two Murtherers Rechab and Baanah as he slept on his Bed at Noonday who cut off his Head and brought it to David at which this great King was so highly incensed abhorring this barbarous Fact that he instantly condemn'd them to death and their Heads and Feet being cut off they were hang'd up at the Fishâ—ood of Hebron The death of Ishbosheth the Son of Saul ended the difference between the two 〈◊〉 Houses and all the Tribes yielded universally to David So that now he began to Reign absolutely and to disscover the Admirable Qualities and Royal Virtues wherewith he was adorned And it is certain that of all the Kings of Judah none equall'd him in all kind of perfections He was one who feared God without Superstition was Religious without Hypocrisie Valiant without Sternness Liberal without reproaching any a good Husband without Covetousness Valiant without Insolence Vigilant without Unquietness Wise without Subtilty Courteous without Loosness Humble without Cowardliness Cheerful without too much Familiarity Grave without Fierceness and Kind without any Complement Above all he was all his Life very Zealous for Religion and wonderfully affected toward Divine things setling the Worship of God and composing Hymns for the people which have continued to all Ages and serve for perpetual Springs of Devotion even to this very day Yet did these Exercises no way diminish his Actions of Valour He overthrew the Philistines in two great Battels and made War on every side in the East against the Moabites and Amonites in the West against the Phoenicians on the South against the Amalekites Arabians and Idumeans and in the North against the Syrians Sabeans and Mesopotamians and was happy in all his Enterprizes Besides which he made Leagues with the Kings his Neighbours which he gained either by Friendship or Force He rendred Justice exactly to his Subjects favoured Arts Inricht and Fortified Towns Erected Stately Pallaces and brought the Kingdom of Judah out of Servility who had not yet known what Magnificence was He was honoured by the great Ones beloved by the Priests admired by the Wisest and almost adored by the People But as all light in mortal things hath a shaddow God suffered him to fall into a great offence which served to humble him and caused very much trouble in his House His mind being freed from the cares of War and Business he descried from the top of his Pallace a Woman that bathed her self in her Garden he inquired her name her Kindred and her Quality and becoming in Love thereby sends for her to his house and had Company with her How dear did this unhappy cast of his Eye cost him When a man once exceeds in this blind Passion he goes further than ever he designed She soon after sends word to David that she had Conceived and that her Husband having not seen her of a long time might have very ill apprehensions of her The honour of this lost Creature must now be covered the King sends for her Husband under some other pretence he comes from the Army is kindly entertained and David is earnest with him to go home and take his ease with his Wife but the good man refuses it saying That it was not fit for him to lye in a Bed when the Ark of God and his Captain Joab were under Tents He lies on the ground before the door of the Kings Chamber and so passeth the night having no desire but to return speedily to the Army Alas poor Vriah thou art made a harmless Sacrifice and wast but too faithful and therefore must water with thy bloud the guilt of thy Master David dictates a bloudy Letter to Joab to place Vriah in the Forlorn hope that he might be fairly rid of him and Vriah carries this deadly Letter Joab without inquiring obeys the Innocent Vriah is massacred and these false Lovers now think themselves secure David remains nine Months covered with this Filth and Bloud without coming to the knowledge of himself until Nathan the Prophet removes the Vail that blinded him who though he knew how dangerous it was to reprove a King and especially in such a case yet resolved to shew David his sin by uttering a Parable of a Rich Man that had great Store of Sheep who yet had violently taken away one only Ewe from a Poor Man which David finding very strange judged him worthy of death whereat the Prophet hits him home telling him He was the Man who had caused poor Uriah to be slain after he had taken Bathsheba from him David awaking as it were out of a dead sleep acknowledged his sin with a true humility and submitted himself to all the Chastisements it should please the great Judge to inflict upon him He was presently changed into another man and was exceeding Penitent his Heart bleeding and his Eyes weeping continually for his grievous offence and God beginning the punishments of his sin which yet he had pardoned as to his own person caused the Child Conceived in Adultery to dye A year after those pitiful Tragadies of his House which the Lord had threatned him with came upon him and filled his heart with terrors Amnon the eldest Son of David fell in love with his sister Thamar a very fair Princess and being in dispair of obtaining his desire falls sick The King his Father goes to see him to take order for his health who tells him There is but one medicine that will cure him which is that his sister Thamar should come and make him broth with her own hand wherein she had much skill This is easily granted and the innocent Maid goes to him who soon discovers his passion to her which she as violently opposed by reasons and tears Whereupon this barbarous Man proceeds to force and ravishes her which being past he entred into as furious a repentance and not enduring to behold her drives her out of his House with reproach and scoâ—â— she puts on morning attire and covers her head with ashes and at last discovers all to Absolom her brother by the same Mother who comforts her and promises revenge David hears of it but remembring his own offence durst not censure that of his Son especially since he loved him tenderly and feared to offend him Absolom seeing David did nothing in it resolved to do himself Justice with his own hands and having kepâ— his design secret two years to prevent suspition he makes
favour had been done for me that I might have died for thee Every one cast down his Eyes for pity and the whole Victory was turned into sorrow Joab always bold and insolent toward his Master reproaches David thinking thereby to justify his own fault telling him That he would put to confusion all his faithful Servants who had that day saved his Life his House and Kingdom that he seemed of a very strange nature to hate those that loved him and love them that hated him since it was plain that if all his good Captains and Souldiers had perished to save the life of one Rebellious Son he would have been very well satisfied Further he swore to him by the Living God That if he did not rise and entertain those who returned from the Battel there would not one man remain with him before morning which would prove a greater displeasure than had ever yet happened to him He presses him so vehemently that the King without daring to answer a word rose up and did all he required By degrees his great grief diminished and the rejoicings of the people who came to carry him back to Jerusalem in triumph made him forget his loss and endeavouring to bring back all to him he pardoned them with unspeakable meekness being ready to give Joabs place to Amasa Absolons chief Captain But Joab quickly prevented this by killing with his own hand him who was designed his Successor After this he pursued Sheba a Captain of the Rebels who retired into Adela which being besieged by Joab a Woman of great discretion and credit with the people perswaded them to slay him and throw his head over the Wall which put an end to this whole bloudy War. After Davids re-establishment in his Kingdom he reigned about Eleven years in full peace and in continual exercises of Piety and Justice and assembling the States of his Realm he made his Son Solomon whom he had chosen to be confirmed King in his stead He lived near seventy two years reigned forty and died a thousand thirty two years before the Birth of our Saviour and about three thousand from the Creation of the World leaving vast Treasures for building the Temple as an Eternal Monument of his Devotion and Understanding It was a special favour to him that Jesus Christ should be born of his Line and that his Birth was revealed to him so long before it was known to the world He oft sets it down on the â—ide of his Psalms and was in an Extasie in Contemplation by the foretast of this happiness Men usually take their Nobility and Names from their Predecessors but David drew his from a Son who is the Father of Glory and Author of Eternity All things were great in Davids Person but the height of all this greatness is that from his Family there was given to us a Jesus The Hist of Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Commander of the Jews The Sixt Worthy of the World. This Valiant Worthy for his Countreys Cause And in defending of Gods Truth and Laws Was still ingag'd and often with a few He Thousands of his Enemies did subdue Their Number nor their strength he did not fear Hoping that God would still for him appear Who fought his Battels And would ne're comply To wicked Heathenish Idolatry At length forsook by almost all his men His Courage would not suffer him even then To fly away but being with killing tir'd He dearly sold his life and so expir'd AFter the death of Alexander the Great his Army and Dominions were divided between his Captains among whom Seleucus made himself King of Syria And afterward Antiochus Epiphanius reigned in Asia who being invited by some Apostate Jews to come to Jerusalem he incamped before it and by his Faction within had the gates opened and the City betrayed to him about the year of the World 3796. and before the Nativity of Christ 168. He robbed the Temple and carried away the Golden Table Candlestick and Censers with all the other vessels dedicated to God leaving nothing of any value behind him and raising such an horrible persecution against the Jews that the Heavens seemed to weep and the Earth to blush with Bloud It was a sport to that barbarous man to prophane Holy things and a continual exercise to flea and roast men alive or to throw them into boiling Caldrons for no other crime but persisting in the True Religion as he did by the Seven Sons of the Maccabees whose courage and constancy out-brav'd all his most exquisite Tortures He overturned the Altars upon the bleeding Priests strangled the Children in the bosom of their sighing Mothers the Flames devoured the sacred and prophane Buildings without distinction and the Houses that now seemed but Dens of Beasts represented so hideous a spectacle as gave more desire to die than courage to live Amidst these desolations was found a gallant Old man named Matthias a Priest the Father of many Sons all men of valour who went out of Jerusalem to retire himself to the City of Modin where he assembled his Family resolving to oppose themselves against the fury of the Tyrant but was quickly summoned to render up himself and all his men and to offer Incense to their Pagan Idols But this virtuous man calling his people together spake thus to them We should be too much in love with Life to keep it with the loss of the True Religion I am sorry that ever I was born in such an Age as to have seen the disasters of my Nation and the desolation of the Holy Jerusalem abandoned to the hands of Rapine and to impious prophanation Her Temple hath been the Object of all reproaches and those Vessels of Glory that served for the Ministry of the Living God have been taken away by violence We have seen our Streets covered with dead Bodies and the little Children with their Throats cut lying upon the Carcasses of their Fathers And what Nation hath not possessed our Inheritance and enriched themselves with our Spoils The holiness of the Temple hath not stayed Sacriligious hands neither hath this famous City been able to preserve it self from Flames After this what pleasure can we have in Life unless it be to revenge the quarrel of God I am promised all the honours and priviledges I can reasonably hope for if I will obey King Antiochus and joyn with those Apostates who have so basely betrayed their Faith but God forbid that I should ever fall into so odious a compliance When almost all my Nation have conspired to forsake the Law of their God and accommodate themselves to the times and their Princes will I can answer for my self my Children and my Brethren and can assure my self they will never commit so vild a crime Let all those who have a Zeal for True Religion joyn themselves with us and know that among so many miseries there is nothing better than to proceed in the ways of Religion and Glory though with the loss of
our dearest bloud and life In the mean time the Kings Commissioners pressing every one to declare himself one of the Jews whether induced by terror or reward steps forth from among the people to sacrifice according to the command of the King wherewith Matthias inflamed with Zeal was so displeased that he and his Sons fell upon him and hewed him in pieces they also slew Apollos the Kings Captain and other Souldiers who withstood them Then he overthrew the Altar and with a loud voice said All that are affected to the Laws of their Fathers and the Service of God let them follow me Whereupon many of them retired with their Wives and Children into the Desarts and Caves but were soon pursued and overtaken by the Kings Captains who again renewed their perswasions to them to offer Sacrifice to the Idols which the Jews absolutely refusing and resolving rather to die than commit such Impiety these bloudy Persecutors assaulted them on the Sabbath day and burnt them in their Caves who neither resisted nor defended themselves lest they should prophane the Sabbath Some thousands of Men Women and Children were there destroyed yet divers escaped who joyned themselves with Matthias and chose him for their Captain who then inform'd them that they might lawfully fight on the Sabbath if they were assaulted else they were guilty of their own deaths And having assembled a sufficient number he destroyed the Heathen Altars and slew those who had forsaken their Religion commanding them to circumcise their Children and driving from every place those whom Antiochus had appointed to see the Laws executed Having thus governed one year he fell sick and perceiving his death to approach he sent for his five Sons John Simeon Judas Maccabeus Eleazer and Jonathan whom he earnestly exhorted to follow his steps its maintaining the Law of God and fighting for their Countrey assuring them of the divine assistance which never fails those who love and fear God but taking pleasure in their virtues will grant them favour to recover their former liberty and peace And saith he God will establish you in the possession of your ancient Laws and though our bodies are mortal and subject to death yet the memory of our virtuous actions will remain to eternity never doubt therefore to venture your lives in so good a Cause but above all I exhort you to love and concord and whatever you find any one most apt and fitted for let him prosecute the same without contradiction from the rest I charge you to obey your brother Simeon a politick and valiant man in what ever he shall Counsel you but make Judas Maccabeus your Captain who is couragious and strong for he shall revenge the injuries and outrages that have been done to our Nation and shall put your Enemies to flight Assist him therefore like men of valour and such as fear God and thereby you shall be sure to prevail Soon after Matthias gave up the Ghost and Judas Maccabâ—us was made General who by the assistance of his Brethren and other Jews drove the Enemy out of the Country and cleansed the Land of Idolatry Which when Apollonius the General of Antiochus in Samaria heard he invaded Judea Against whom Maccabeus went forth and in a terrible Battle overthrew and killed Apollonius taking his Camp and therein a very rich Booty together with his Sword. After this Seron Governour of Coelosyria with the assistance of many Apostate Jews marcht against Judas to Bâ—thoron who observing his Souldiers discouraged by their great numbers and because they had fasted so long and were thereby disabled he incouraged them saying That Victory did not consist in numbers of men but in their Devotion toward God who had so assisted their Forefathers that with small Forces they had often defeated many thousands of their Enemies They were hereby so prevail'd upon that without sear of their multitude they ran all upon Sevon routed his Army and slew him together with eight hundred of the Syrians the rest escaping by flight Antiochus inraged at this defeat commanded Lysias the Governour of Egypt to go with a very strong Army and conquer Judea and then to sell the Inhabitants for Slaves to those that would give most and utterly to destroy and ruine Jerusalem Lysias having this command sent Prolomy Nicanor and Gorgias men of great Authority about the King with Forty thousand Foot and Seven thousand Horse to invade Judea who marching to the City of Emaus greatly increased their Forces Judas having viewed the Camp and number of his Enemies exhorted his Souldiers to repose their confidence and hope of Victory in God alone appointing likewise a Fast to humble themselves before God by supplications and prayers in such a time of extream danger and assuring them that God would have compassion on them and strengthen them to put their Adversaries to shamâ— Next day he mustered his Army discharging all who were newly married or had lately bought Possessions according to the Law and then spake thus to the rest Countrymen and Companions we had never more occasion to express our Courage and contemn Dangers than at this present For if you now fight valiantly you may in this one Battle recover your Liberties whereby you will have opportunity again to serve the True God and live a happy life But if you prove Cowards in this Encounter you will be branded with perpetual Infamy and indanger the utter extirpation of your Nation Consider therefore that if you fight not you must die and on the contrary assure your selves that in fighting for your Religion Laws and Liberties you shall obtain Immortal Glory Be ready Theerfore in the morning to give your mortal Enemies Battle Immediately news was brought him that a strong party of Horse and Foot were design'd to falâ— on him that night whereupon Maccabeus suddenly resolved to break into the Enemies Army the same night while they were so divided Having therefore refreshed himself and his Army and leaving many Fires in his Camp to deceive the Enemy he marcht all night to seek them out Gorgias finding the Jews had forsaken their Camp imagined that they were fled to the Mountains for fear and deligently pursued them But in the morning Judas with only three thousand men ill armed shewed himself to the Enemy at Emaus and having observed their posture he perswaded his men To fight Valiantly since he was certain God would deliver their Enemies into their hands and thereupon causing his Trumpets to sound he fell upon them with such fury and resolution that being absolutely affrighted and surprized they instantly gave ground and having slain such as resisted he pursued the rest to the Plains of Idumea In this fight three thousand of the Enemy were Killed yet would he not suffer his Souldiers to take the spoil telling them that they were still to fight with Gorgias and his Army whom when by Gods help they had beaten they should then securely inrich themselves with the booty Gorgias and his
continually crawling out so that he rotted above ground with such an intollerable stink that none could come near him neither could himself indure it And thus this vile Person who had insolently boasted he would make Jerusalem a common Burying place and the streets thereof run with the Bloud of Gods People by his just Judgment ended his life in extream misery Before his death he made Philip his Cheif Captain Governor of his Kingdom requiring him to be very careful of his Son Antiochus Then was Antiochus proclaimed King and Sirnamed Eupator About which time the Apostate Jews in garrison at Jerusalem did much mischief slaying those unawares who came to Worship and offer Sacrifices in the Temple Judas hereupon resolved to cut them off and accordingly besieged the Fort with his Army when some of the beseiged escaping by night went and desired Antiochus not to suffer those to perish who for his Fathers sake had forsaken their God and their Religion who thereupon sent a mighty Army of an hundred thousand foot twenty thousand Horse and thirty two Elephants under Lysias their Captain to relieve them who sate down before Bethsura a strong City but were valiantly resisted by the inhabitants who fallied out and burnt the Engines prepared for battery Whereupon Judas raising his seige before the Castle of Jerusalem marched toward the Enemy who preparing to meet him Antiochus then present caused his Elephants to march first through the narrow passage where Judas was incamped each Elephant having a thousand Foot and an hundred Horse for his guard with a Tower on his back furniâ—â—â— with Archers The rest of his Forces were ordereâ—â—â— march by the Mountains and with great shouts to aâ—â—â—l their Enemies and by uncovering their brazen and golden Bucklers to dazel the eyes of the Jews Yet was Judas no way disturbed but incouraging his Army slew six hundred of the Forlorn Hope Eleazer the Brother of Judas seeing a huge Elephant with Royal trappings and judging the King was on him having with a noble courage slain those about him thrust his Sword into the belly of the Beast who suddenly falling slew him with his weight Judas observing the great strength of the Enemy matcht back to Jerusâ—lem Antiochus following him and taking Bethsura by Treaty for want of provisions and dispairing of relief they having the Kings Oath that no violence should be offered them yet he thrust them out of the City and put a Garrison therein He lay long before the Temple of Jerusalem the besieged defending it gallantly only they wanted Victuals the Land not having been tilled for seven years before whereupon divers secretly fled and few remain'd to defend the Temple when by Gods providence Antiochus had news that Philip his Fathers Governor was coming out of Persia to make himself Lord of his Countrey Whereupon Antiochus sent an Herald to Judas promising the Jews peace and the liberty of their Religion Which Judas accepting and taking the Kings Oath for the true performance thereof he surrendred up the Temple to Antiochus who entring the same and finding it so impregnable a place he contrary to his Oath commanded the Wall that incompassed it to be levell'd and so returned to Antioch with Onias the High Priest whom by the counsel of Lysias be put to death because he had advised his Father to inforce the Jews to forsake their Religion A just reward for so wicked a Fact. Philip having Conquered much of his Countrey Antiochus marcht against him fought with him and slew him Soon after Demetrius Son of Seleucus took Tripolis in Syria and declaring himself King invaded the Kingdom of Antiochus to whom the people generally submitting seized on Antiochus and Lysias and bringing them to Demetrius he caused them to be slain To this new King divers Jews banished for their impiety together with Alcimus the High Priest resorted accusing Judas Maccabeus his brethren and the rest of the Nation for killing their Friends and banishing such as were for Demetrius Who much moved with these reports sent a great Army under Bacchides a Valiant and Experienced General to destroy Judas and his Confederates He marching into Judea sent to Judas pretending to make peace with him who observing him to have such strong Forces would not trust to his false promises though some of the people did having his Oath for their protection but paid dear for their credulity for he slew threescore of them at one time Then going from Jerusalem he seized and put to death many Jews commanding the rest to obey Aleimus the High-Priest who by his feigned and familiar deportment drew many wicked Jews to join with him and then marched through the Countrey slaying all who were for Judas who seeing many upright men thus causlesly killed he with his Army went through the Land and flew all the Apostates that were of Alcimus his Faction He thereupon going to Demetrius made grievous complaints against Judas and shewing how dangerous it would be to the State if he went thus on Demetrius thereupon sent an Army against Judas under Nicanor commanding him not to spare any one of the Nation of the Jews Nicanor coming to Jerusalem offered no act of hostility but endeavouring to intrap Judas by subtilty sent him a peaceable Message protesting he deâ—gned no injury but came only to express the good affections of Demetrius to the Jewish Nation Judas and his Brethren deceived with these fair pretences entertained him and his Army and Nicanor saluting Judas whilst they were in discourse he gave a sign to his Souldiers to seize him but Judas discovering the Treason escaped from him and got to his Army Upon which Nicanor proclaimed open War against him and fought him near Caper-Salama where â—e obtained the Victory and constrained Judas to reâ—etreat into the Fortress of Jerusalem where Nicanor â—esieged him a while and then retired At which time certain of the Priests and Elders met him and having given him reverence they showed him the Sacrifices they intended to offer to God for the Kings prosperity But Demetrius blaspheming threatned them if they did not deliver Judas into his hands at his return he would destroy the Temple Hereupon the Priests wept abundantly beseeching God to defend the Temple and his True Worshipers from the outrage of their Enemies Nicanor coming near Bethhoron received a great supply of Souldiers out of Syria Judas likewise was not far off with about a thousand men yet exhorting his Souldiers to trust in God and not fear the multitude of their Enemies he couragiously encountred Nicanor where the Conflict was doubtful yet at last Judas had the advantage killing a great number of his Enemies Nicanor himself fighting valiantly was slain whereupon his Army fled and Judas speedily pursuing made a great slaughter and by sounding a Trumpet giving notice to the Neighbouring places the Inhabitants armed themselves and killed those that fled so that not one escaped from this Battle though they were at least Nine thousand men
Brittish Ferces whilst their Ambassadors pretended to make an Accommodation that therefore they should expect nothing from Arthur but the utmost reveng and the most cruel Severities of War in recompence of their wicked infidelity They had no sooner received this answer but forty other of the Principal Saxons arrived who endeavoured to excuse what had happened over night laying all the blame on some few rash heady fellows who knew nothing of the proceedings of the Commanders of the Army nor of their sending Ambassadors to them But Arthur suspecting this to be another subtle trick of the Saxons commanded these Messengers as well as the former to be secured in the Marshals Tent whilst he himself in the second Watch of the night marched privately against the Enemy dividing his Army into three parts and having goue about three miles they fell upon the Saxons Out-guards e're they were aware which caused such a tumult and confusion amongst them one calling and crying out upon another that the most valiant among them were dismayed Mordred desirous to revenge his last overthrow fell in fiercely among them But some having by this time armed themselves made resistance defending themselves amidst the Carts and Carriages and thereby for a while stopt the violence of the Brittains others unable to resist broke out of the Camp and fled but being pursued by the Brittish Horse a great number perisht in the next River chusing drowning rather than to fall into the hands of their merciless Adversaries who that day gave no Quarter It was thought this Bloudy Battle and so great a slaughter of such a multitude of Saxons would have utterly disabled them that they should never after have been troublesome to the Brittains Arthur having thus vanquished his Enemies dismist all the Ambassadors in his Camp upon condition they would return back to Germany but suffered the rest of the meaner Saxons to remain still in the Land provided they would turn Christians and pay a yearly Tribute The Scots and Picts who had assisted him in this War he treated with much State and Magnificence at London giving them all possible respect and honour and dismissing them with rich Presents and Princely rewards It is written of King Arthur that in one Battle against the Saxons with his Sword named Callibourn he slew above eight hundred of them if it be possible to be true In twelve set Battles besides Skirmishes he is said to have return'd Victor from the slaughter of the Saxons The names of which places are said to be The first at the mouth of the River Gleyn The second third fourth and fifth near the River Douglas in Lenox The sixth at the River Bassus The seventh in the Wood Calidon The eight near the Castle of Guinien The ninth at Carlion in Wales The tenth by the Sea-side in a place called Rithwood The eleventh upon a Hill named Agued Cathergain The twelfth at Bath or Bathen Hill. Whilst these things were acted in Brittain Conranus King of Scotland was Murthered in his Bed-chamber by the Treason of Donald Governor of Athol in the twentieth year of his Reign and the sixteenth of Arthurs Dominion over Brittain After whom succeeded Eugenius his Nephew About this time some Authors ascribe to Arthur the obtaining of many glorious Victories against the Irish Danes Norwegians and other Northern Nations yea some affirm that he subdued most part of Germany the Low Countries Normandy France the Romans and the people of the East the credit whereof seems very doubtful Only it is certain as Hector Boetius affirms that Arthur lived in the days of Justinian the Emperor about which time the Goths Vandals Burgonians and French invaded and ruin'd divers parts of the Roman Empire yet we find no mention of K. Arthur acting any thing among them But notwithstanding his wonderful Atchievements it is related Lucius Hiberus the Roman Legate demanded of him a Tribute for Brittain which he not only denied but also threatend to have a Tribute from Rome as appears by his Letters sent to the Senate to this purpose Vnderstand you of Rome that I am King Arthur of Brittain and freely it hold and shall hold and at Rome hastily will I be not to give you Truage or Tribute but to require Truage of you for Constantine who was Hellens Son and other of my Ancestors Conquered Rome and thereof were Emperors and what they had I hope to recover by Gods grace And accordingly saith the story he set forward against Lucius Hiberius who with great power and vain confidence came marching against him where after a long and bloudy fight the Romans were discomfited their General kill'd and his slain Body sent to the Senate for a Tribute from Brittain King Arthur to increase the Courage of his Soldiers is said to have instituted the Order of the Knights of the Round Table to which none were admitted but such of the Nobility as were most renowned for Virtue and Courage they were in all the number of one hundred and fifty the Chiefest of them being Sir Lancelot Sâ—r Tristram Sir Lamrock Sir Gawin and others They were all recorded for Knights of great Renown and had not King Arthurs Valour been most transcendent each of them might have passed for no less than a Worthy These things are related of him of which the Reader may credit as much as he please To pass therefore these questionable matters let us proceed to what is more certain After the Brittains were delivered from the terror of the Saxons and had for some time enjoyed peace and quietness they grew Rich and Wealthy and then began to repent of the League they had made with Loth King of the Picts whereby it was agreed that Mordred his Son should succeed they now resolving that no Forreigner should Reign over them and therefore addressing themselves unanimously to King Arthur they humbly beseech him since he had no Sons to nominate a Successor of their own Nation to govern them after his decease Arthur finding it in vain to contradict this their resolution since they absolutely refused to be ruled by a Stranger advised them to find out one of the Bloud-Royal themselves whom for his Wisdom Valour and Nobility they were willing should Reign over them and he for his part promised to ratifie and confirm their Election The Nobility and Commons thereupon met together with great joy and at length agreed upon Constantine the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwal a virtuous and comely young Gentleman and induced with all Princely qualities who being brought by the Peers of the Realm into the Council Chamber and presented to Arthur he gladly accepted their Choice and forthwith caused Constantine to be Proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Crown by the name of Prince of Brittain who being thus preferr'd behaved himself with that discretion and gallantry that the Brittains entertained a very high opinion of his worth and future Government Mean time Loth King of the Picts deoâ—asing Mordred his Son succeeded him