the Medes for his device is against Babylon c. Jer. 55. 11. And again verse 28. Prepare against her the Nations with the Kings of the Medes the Captains thereof and all the Rulers thereof and all the Land of his Dominion But certain it is that the Honour of that great Victory over Babylon was wholly given to Cyrus who was the Instrument pre-ordained and forenamed by God himself not onely for this Action but also for the delivery of his Church Yet Daniel makes it plain that himself not onely lived a great Officer under King Darius but that he continued in that estate to the first year of Cyrus which was not long after which also was the year of Daniels Death As for the Age of Cyrus we are beholding to Tully for it who in his first Book de Divinatione Cites it out of one Dionysius a Persian Writer in this manner The Sun saith Dionysius appeared unto Cyrus in his sleep standing at his feet which when Cyrus thrice endeavoured to take in his hands the Sun still turned aside and went away and the Magi who were the most learned men amongst the Persians said that by his thrice offering to take hold of the Sun was portended to him that he should reign thirty years which came to pass accordingly For he lived to the Age of seventy years and began not to reign till he was forty In the first year of Belshazzar Daniel had the Vision shewed him of the four Beasts signifying the four Monarchies and of God delivering over all power and Sovereignty to the Son of man Dan. 7. In the third year of Belshazzar the Vision of the Ram and Goat foreâ—â—ewing the destruction of the Persian Monarchy by Alexander the Great and the great misery which Antiochus should bring upon the People of God was shewed to Daniel living then at Susa in the Province of Elam upon the Bank of the River Ulai which environed the Castle of Susa and parted the Provinces of Susa and Elemais Dan. 8. whence we may collect that at that time the Province of Susa was not in the hands of the Medes and Persians but of the Babylonians under whom Daniel then lived Darius the Mede son of Cyaxares or Ahasuerus the Son of Astyages took upon him the Kingdom which was delivered over to him by Cyrus the Conqueror Dan. 5. 31. and 9. 1. The Angel in this first year of his Reign is said to have confirmed and strengthened him in his Kingdom Dan. 11. 1. After which he reigned two years Towards the end of the first year of Darius the Mede the seventy years of the Babylonish Captivity expired which began under Jehoiakim in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar at which time God promised that they should return into their own Countrey Jer. 29. 10. Thus saith the Lord that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place Upon consideration of which very time now so near approaching it was that Daniel poured out that most fervent Prayer for the Remission of his own sins and of his Peoples and for that promised deliverance out of their Captivity Whereupon the Angel Gabriel brought him an answer not only concerning this but also for the spiritual deliverance of the Church to be wrought at last by the Death of the Messias uttering that most famous and memorable Prophesie of the seventy Weeks Dan. 9. 12 c. The Samaritans by the means of some Courtiers about Cyrus whom they had bribed for that purpose disturbed the Jews in their building of the Temple Ezra 4. 5. Whence proceeded that three weeks mourning of the Prophet Daniel which Fast he begun about the third Day of the first Moneth in the third year of Cyrus Dan. 10. 1 4. After which upon the four and twentieth Day of the first Moneth that Vision of the Kings of Persia of Alexander the Great and his Successours and their Kingdoms was shewed and revealed unto Daniel as he stood upon the Bank of Hiddikel or Tygris All which is contained in the three last Chapters of Daniel which as may be collected out of the close thereof was the last Vision that ever he had and that but a little before his Death THE LIFE and DEATH OF ARTAXERXES MNEMON One of the Great MONARCHS OF PERSIA THere were two Artaxerxes's that were Monarchs of Persia the first was called Artaxerxes Longimanus or long-Long-hand because his right hand was longer than his left The second whole Life we are now setting forth was called Artaxerxes Mnemon from his excellent Memory This Artaxerxes was the Son of Darius Ochus begotten by him on the Body of Parysatis before he came to be King And Parysatis was the Daughter of the first Artaxerxes Darius had by his Wife Parysatis four Sons of the which the eldest was this Ataxerxes the second was called Cyrus the two younger Ostanes and Oxathres This Artaxerxes before he came to the Kingdom was called Arsaces but after he came to the Kingdom he assumed the name of Artaxerxes Darius Ochus raigned Nineteen Years and dyed at Babylon When he lay on his Death-bed his Son Artaxerxes asked him by what Wisdom and Policy he had maintained his State so long To the end said he that having learned by you I may follow your steps therein To whom Darius answered That he had done it by doing right to God and man Cyrus from his Childhood was of an hot stirring disposition and Artaxerxes on the contrary was alwayes mild and gentle Wherefore Parysatis always loved her Son Cyrus more than the Elder and therefore often urged her Husband Darius Ochus to follow the example of Darius Hystaspes to leave him to succeed in the Kingdom who was first born after he came to be King and not him who was born before This indeed did help Xerxes to the Kingdom Wherefore she urged this Example to induce her Husband to leave the Kingdom to Cyrus who was born after his Father was Crowned King and not unto Arsaces who was born before Yet could she never prevail For Darius by his last will gave the Kingdom to his eldest Son Artaxerxes and made Cyrus Governour of Lydiae and the King Leiutenant General of all the lower Countries of Asia next to the Sea side Shortly after the Death of Darius the new King Artaxerxes went unto Pasargades there to be Consecrated and Aâ—ointed King by the Priests of Persia At this place was a Temple dedicated to Minerva where the new Kings must be Consecrated after this manner When he came into the Temple he must put off his own Gown and put on that which the first and great Cyrus wore before he was King Then he must eat of a certain Tart or Fricacy made of Figs with Turpentine Then he must take a Drink made with Vinegar and Milk besides some other secret Ceremonies which none knew but the Priests themselves
Lacedemonians Then did the Lacedemonians send King Cleombrotus with an Army towards Thebes who being come near to Chaeronea with ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse he pitched his Camp there staying for his Allies The Thebans being informed of the approach of the enemy chose Epaminondas to be their Captain General giving him the charge of this War with six other Counsellers to be assisting to him Now there came Oracles to Thebes from all parts some promising Victory and others threatning their overthrow and Epaminondas commanded them to set those on the right hand of the chair for Orations that promised Victory and the other on the left hand which being so disposed of he gat up into the chair and said to his Citizens If you will be obedient to your Captains and valiant against your enemies these Oracles on the right hand belong to you But if through faintness of heart ye refuse dangers those on the left hand shall be your Portion Then did he list the Names of all the Thebans which were able to bear Arms and chose out of some parts of Boeotia such as he thought fittest for the Wars His Presence exceedingly cheered up his Army and all the the time that he was Captain the Thebans never saw in their Camp any of those which they call sudden fears He used to say that there was no Death more honest and desirable than to die in the Wars and that the body of a Souldier should be hardened to endure any labour or pains He could not abide fat men and therefore cashired a whole Company of them as unprofitable burdens in his Army He had in all but six thousand fighting men and as they marched forwards they met with some unlucky signs as many esteemed them but he valued them not thinking that a resolution to fight in a good cause ought to be much stronger and of more force to raise in him good Hope than these evil signs that appeared to make him fear the worst As he was marching towards the Lacedemonians they heard it Thunder and they that were neer him asked him what that meant He answered that it betokened that the Enemies brains were troubled and beclouded who having places of advantage hard by them yet encamped in the plaines Indeed the Lacedemonians waited there for their Allies who yet failed them For all of them having at leasure considered of the speech of Epaminondas at Sparta began to distast the ambition of the Lacedemonians Epaminondas seeing his advantage caused his Army to march with speed and wan the straights by the City of Coronea and encamped there Cleombrotus underâ— standing that the Thebans had possessed themselves of that pass despairing to recover it he made his Army to march a great compass about the Country of Phocide going along the Sea Coast through a dangerous and troublesome way and so at the last he entered into the Country of Boeotia and as he went he took in some little Towns and certain Gallies that lay upon the Coast and at the last arrived at Leuctres and there sat down to refresh his men who were overwearied with their tedious march Then did Epaminondas presently advance that way to meet them and having passed over some little Mountains he discovered them in the plain of Leuctres where his men were much amazed to see so great an Army of their Enemies The six Counsellers came together to consider whether they should go forward and fight few against many or else retreat waiting for some better advantage In this Councel their opinions fell out to be equal Three judged it best to retreat the other whereof Epaminondas was one thought it best to fight and with these three Pelopidas who was Captain of the Sacred Band joyned whereupon they all agreed to give them Battel Epaminondas seeing his Souldiers somewhat affrighted at the former ill signs to put courage into them he suborned some that were newly come from Thebes to scatter a report that no man could tell at Thebes what was become of the Arms that hung up in the Temple of Hercules but it was commonly said that the Demigods their Ancestors had taken them away to aid their posterity at this present time He caused another also who was newly come from Trophonius hole to report that the God which gives his Oracles therein commanded him to tell the Boeotians that when they had overcome their enemies in the plain of Leuctres they should celebrate yearly Plays to the honour of Jupiter and to gain the more credit to these devices Leandridas a Spartan that was banished out of his own Country and now was assisting the Boeotians being brought before the Souldiers he encouraged them to fight valiantly that Day for he swore unto them that the Lacedemonians had many Oracles bidding them to beware of Leuctres Epaminondas also assembling his Army encouraged them with strong and lively reasons to shew their valour so that at last the Souldiers being freed from their superstitious fears longed for nothing more than to come to blows Epaminondas ever concluded his Orations to them with these Words O worthy men embrace sacred Death Advance your selves to a most honorable and famous Fight for your Country for the Tombs of your Ancestors and for your Holy things Just at this very time there came to the Thebans an aid of five hundred Horse and fifteen hundred Foot all Thessalians conducted by Jason This Jason endeavored to have made peace with both parties but could not prevail Also as Cleombrotus retired with his Army out of Boeotia he met a great supply of Lacedemonians and their Allies brought to him by Archidamus the Son of Agesilaus These he sent before thinking to daunt the courage of the Thebans with the sight of them and himself with the rest of his Army suddenly returned into the plain of Leuctres being fully resolved to fight and the Boeotians for their part shrunk not an inch back and so on both sides they set their men in Battel array Epaminondas ordered his Battel after a new fashion never practised by any Captain For having chosen out of his Army the best and most valiant Souldiers he placed them together in one of the Points of his Battel where himself meant to fight in Person seconded by Pelopidas and his three hundred chosen men called the Holy Band In the other Point he placed his weaker men commanding them expresly not to abide the charge of their enemies that should assail them in Front but fair and softly retire when they saw them come near them and it fell out as he wished and he hoped to determine the Battel by the Virtue and prowess of those where he had placed all the flower and choice of his Army Now the sign of Battel being given the Lacedemonians advanced with the two Horns of their Battel ordered in the form of a Crescent On the contrary one of the wings of the Battel of the Boeotians began to give
him in his absence and the King grew angry and was sorry that he had trusted him so far But at length he returned and his Son also and either of them brought with him the Ambassadours of the Cadusians and so Peace was concluded with them both Then was Tiribazus highly in favour again and so departed with the King Artaxerxes at this time made it evident that cowardliness doth not always proceed from Pomp and curiosity which some think to effeminate mens hearts but rather from a base and abject mind that commonly follows evil and the worst counsel For neither the Jewels of Gold nor Kingly Robe not other sumptuous Ornaments which the King ever wore about him valued at twelve thousand Talents did hinder him at that time to travel and to take as much pains as any man in all his Army For he himself marched on foot the fore-most man carrying his knapsack in a scarf upon his Shoulders and his Target on his Arm with which he travelled over high stony Mountains so that his Souldiers seeing the Kings courage and the pains that he took they marched so nimbly as if they had wings about two hundred Furlongs a day At length the King by hard travel came to one of his own Houses where were stately Arbours and Parks with goodly Trees curiously planted but all the Countrey beside was naked and barren having no other Trees near and the weather was very cold the King therefore suffered his Souldiers to hew down the goodly Pines and Cypress Trees in his Parks and to embolden them he himself took an Axe in his hand and began to hew the goodliest Tree of them all The Souldiers seeing that fell every man to work so that in a short time they had wood enough and the Parks were filled with fires by which the Souldiers sat all night In this expedition Artaxerxes lost many valiant men and most of his Horses wherefore thinking that his men would mock him for his miscarriage he grew distrustfull of all and suspected the chiefest Nobles about him so that in a rage he put many of them to death and yet was not satisfied therewith For there is nothing more cruel nor a greater Bloud-sucker than a cowardly Tyrant as on the contrary there is nothing more courteous and less suspicious than a valiant and couragious man After this King Artaxerxes being grown very old heard that there were great contentions between his Sons which of them should inherit the Kingdome after his Death and that the same was diffused amongst his Kindred and Nobles The wisest of them desired that as he himself came to the Kingdom as his Fathers eldest Son so that he also should leave it to his eldest Son called Darius But the younger who was called Ochus being valiant and of a stirring nature had some in the Court that took his part and himself hoped to obtain the Crown by the means of his Sister Atossa whom he much loved and promised to marry her and to make her Queen if he came to the Kingdom after his Fathers Death Now Artaxerxes because he would put Ochus out of all hope to succeed him lest his expectation might put him to go about to practice that which Cyrus did and by this means his Realm should fall into factions and Civil Wars he proclaimed his Son Darius who was now fifty years old King after his Death and gave him leave from henceforth to wear the point of his Hat upright as the Persian Kings used to do Moreover the custome in Persia was that when any came to be proclaimed Heir apparent to the Crown that he should request a gift of him that Proclaimed him his Successor which the other grants whatsoever it be if it be possible Darius then asked his Father for his Concubine Aspasia who was first Concubine to Cyrus but now the King kept her for his own use She was born in Ionia of Free Parents and was brought up virtuously and amongst other beauties she was brought one night to Cyrus as he was at Supper those others without making nice of it sat down by him and were glad when Cybegan to play and be merry with them answering him pleasantly again But Aspasia stood on her feet by the Table and spake never a word and though Cyrus called her yet would she not come at him And when one of the Grooms would have forced her to him The first said she that shall lay hands on me shall repent it whereupon all that were present said she was a foolish thing and meanly brought up and knew not what belonged to Courtship But Cyrus being glad of it passed it over with laughter and said to him that brought them to him Dost thou not see that of all those that thou hast brought me there is not an honest woman but she After this Cyrus made much of and loved her very well and called her Aspasia the wise She was taken in the Camp of Cyrus amongst his spoils after his overthrow and now Darius begged her of his Father who was very angry in his mind for it For the Persians of all other things were very jealous of their Women and he was to be punished with Death that durst but speak to or touch any Concubine of the Kings though but in sport yea if they come near them or near their Coaches as they went abroad The Kings Daughter Atossa whom he had married against the Law was yet living and besides her he had three hundred and sixty Beautiful Concubines and yet when Darius asked Aspasia of him the King answered that she was a Free-woman born and if she would he was content that he should have her but if she was unwilling he would not by any means have him to force her So Aspasia was called and she was asked with which of them she would choose to be She answered with Darius This was contrary to the expectation of Artaxerxes who both by custome and Law was forced to let him have her But shortly after he took her from him again saying that he would place her in a Nunnery of Diana in the Country of Ecbatane there to serve the Goddess and to live chaste all her dayes Darius took this very impatiently either for that he was deeply in love with her or because he thought that his Father mocked him Tiribazus perceiving it he laboured to aggravate Darius his anger and he every day buzzed it in his ears that it was in vain for him to wear his hat upright if his affairs also went not right forward and that he deceived himself much if he did not know that his Brother by means of the women he kept secretly aspired to the Crown and that his Father being so inconstant as he was he must not expect to succeed him in the Kingdom For said he he that for a Grecian woman hath broken and violated the holiest Law that was in Persia thou must not think he will
suffered great want of water insomuch as when they came to the River Oxus there died more of them by immoderate drinking than Alexander had lost in any one Battel against the Persians He found upon the Banks of this great River no manner of Timber or other materials wherewith to make Bridges or Boats or Rafts but was forced to sew together Hides that covered his Carriages and stuffing them with straw he was six dayes in passing over his Army after that manner which Bessus might easily have distressed if he had dared but to look the Macedonians in the face He had formerly complained of Darius for neglecting to defend the Banks of Tigris and other Passes and yet now when this Traiterous slave had stiled himself a King he durst not perform any thing worthy of a slave and therefore they that were nearest to him and whom he most trusted to wit Spicamenes Dataphernes Cantanes and others the Commanders of his Army moved both by the care of their own safety and the remembrance of Bessus his Treason and cruelty against Darius bound him as he had done his Master only his chain was closed about his neck like a Mastiff Dog and so they dragged him along to present him to Alexander In the mean time Alexander was arrived at a certain Town inhabited by Greeks of Miletum brought thither by Xerxes when long before he returned out of Greece whose children had now almost forgotten their Countrey Language These entertained him with great joy but he most cruelly put them all to the Sword and destroyed their City At this place he received Bessus and having rewarded Spitamenes and his Associates he delivered the Traitor into the hands of Oxatre Brother to Darius to be tormented by him But now when he thought himself most secure and out of danger some twenty thousand Mountainers assaulted his Camp in repelling whom he received a shot in his leg the Arrow head sticking in the flesh so that he was fain to be carried in a Horse-Litter for some time after Shortly after he came unto Maracanda judged by some to be the same with Samarcand the Imperial City of the Great Tamerlain which was in compass seventy furlongs Here he received the Ambassadors of the Scythians called Avians who offered to serve him Presently after the Bactrians with the Sogdians were again stirred up to Rebellion by the same Spitamenes and Catanes who had lately delivered Bessus into Alexanders hands Many Cities were stoutly defended against him all which after he had subdued them he utterly defaced killing all therein At the Siege of one of these he received a blow in the neck which struck him to the ground and disabled him from action many dayes after In the mean while Spitamenes had recovered Samarcand against whom he sent Menedemus with three thousand Foot and eight hundred Horsemen In the heat of these affairs Alexander marched to the River Jaxartes that runs between Sogdiana and Scythia which he passed over while Menedemus was employed in the recovery of Samarcand Upon the Banks of this River he built another Alexandria sixty furlongs in compass which he beautified with Houses seventeen dayes after the walls were built But the Scythian King perswading himself that this City was built on purpose to keep him under made some attempts to hinder the erection of this new City but being naked of defensive Arms he was easily beaten away Sixty of the Macedonians are said to be slain in this conflict and eleven hundred wounded which might easily be done in passing a great River defended against them by good Archer Of the Scythian Horses eighteen hundred were brought into the Camp and many Prisoners Whilst Alexander was securing himself against those Scythians bordering upon Jaxartes he received the ill news that Menedemus was slain by Spitamenes his Army broken and most of them killed to wit two thousand Foot and three hundred Horse He therefore intending revenge upon Spitamenes made all the haste he could but Spitamenes fled into Bactria Whereupon Alexander killed burned and laid waste all before him not sparing the innocent Children and so departed leaving a new Governour in that Province To repair this loss he received a great supply of nineteen thousand men out of Greece Lycia and Syria with all which and his old Army he returned towards the South and passed the River of Oxus on the South-side whereof he built six Towns near each to other for their mutual security But he found a new upstart Rebell one Arimazes a Sogdian who was followed by thirty thousand Souldiers that defended against him a strong piece of ground on the top of an High and steep Hill Alexander sought but in vain to win him with fair words wherefore he made choice of three hundred young men and promised ten Talents to the first nine to the second and so proportionably to the rest that could find a way to creep to the top thereof This they performed with the loss of thirty two of their number and then made a sign to Alexander that they had accomplished his Commandment Hereupon he sent one Cophes to perswade Arimazes to yield up the place who being shewed 〈◊〉 Cophes that the Macedonians were already gotten up he yielded simply to Alexanders mercy and was with all his Kindred scourged and crucified which punishment they well deserved for keeping no better a watch in so dangerous a time For the place might have been defended against any power After these Sogdian and Scythian Wars Alexander committed the Government of Samarcand and the Country about it to Clytus whom yet he slew soon after for preferring the Virtue of Philip the Father before that of Alexander the Son or rather because he objected to the King the Death of Parmenio and derided the Oracle of Hammon for therein he touched him to the quick his Speech being in publick and at a drunken Banquet Clytus indeed had deserved as much at the Kings hand as any man living having saved his life which the King well remembred when he came to himself and when it was too late to repent As Clytus in his Cups forgat whom he offended so Alexander in his drunkenness forgat whom he slew for grief whereof he afterward tore his Face and sorrowed so inordinately that had he not been over-perswaded by Calisthenes he would have slain himself Drunkenness both kindles and discovers every vice It removes shame which gives impediment to bad attempts Where Wine gets the Mastery all the evil which before lay hidden breaks out Drunkenness indeed rather discovers vices than makes them Soon after this Spitamenes who slew Bessus and had lately revolted from Alexander was murthered by his own Wife and his Head was presented to Alexander Spitamenes being thus taken away the Dahans also seized upon his fellow Conspirator Dataphernes and delivered him up So that Alexander being now freed from all those petty Rebels and disposed of the Provinces that
six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse The Athenians having intelligence hereof sent their Army under the conduct of Chabrias who marched directly to Corinth where he met with a good supply of Souldiers from the Megarians Pallenians and Corinthians so that now he had a Brigade of ten thousand men These intended to fortifie and stop all the passages and entrances into the Country of Peloponnesus The Lacedemonians and their Allies joyning also with them made up an Army of twenty thousand men And accordingly beginning at the City of Cencrees unto the Haven of Lecheum they blocked all the ways from one Sea to another with mighty great pieces of Timber laid across and with a marvellous deep Diteh and this great work was followed with such speed both by reason of the great multitude of labourers as also through the frowardness of them that prosecuted it with such earnestness that they had quite finished it before the Boeotians could arrive there Epaminondas when he came thither viewing this fortification perceiving that the easiest place to storm it was that which the Lacedemonians themselves guarded he sent to give them defiance though they were thrice as many in number as he was yet for all this they durst not come out but kept close under their fortification Notwithstanding he assaulted them in it and at last drave them out In the heat of the fight every one doing his best some assailing others defending Epaminondas chose out the valiantest men in all his Army and bravely charging the Lacedemonians he forced them to give back and in dispite of them he entered into Peloponnesus which of all other his Noble exploits was the most wonderful and memorable action From thence he marched to the Cities of Epidaure and Trozen and so pillaged all the Country But he stayed not to take any of the Towns because they had strong Garrisons in them Yet he put Sicyone Phuente and some other Towns into such fear that they yielded themselves to him This being done he went to Corinth and overcame the Corinthians in a set Battel and beat them home even to the Gates of their City Yea some of his men were so unadvised trusting to their own Valour that they entered the Gates of their City pel mel with those that fled which put the Corinthians into such a terrible fear that they ran with all speed possible to shelter themselves in their Houses But Chabrias making head beat them out again and slew some whereupon he caused a token of Triumph to be set up as if he had given the Thebans an overthrow for which Epaminondas laughed him to scorn The Boeotians brought their Army as neer unto Corinth as they could and Chabrias with his Army encamped without the Walls in a very strong Place of advantage and there were many Skirmishes betwixt them in which Chabrias behaved himself with such Valour that he gained great reputation even of Epaminondas himself who upon a time being asked whom he thought to be the greatest Captain himself Chabrias or Iphecrates It s hard said he to judg whilst we are all alive News was brought to him that the Athenians had again sent an Army into Peloponnesus furnished with new Armor Indeed this Army consisted of ten thousand Spaniards and Gauls whom Dyonisius the Tyrant sent out of Sicily to aid the Lacedemonians having paid them for five months they did some reasonable service in this War and at the end of Summer returned home again It fell out in these last encounters that Epaminondas having forced the Lacedemonians that guarded the fortification before mentioned had many of them in his power to have slain them but he contented himself only with this Glory that in dispite of them he had entered into Peloponnesus seeking to do them no more hurt which gave occasion to those that envied his Glory to blame him and to accuse him of Treason as having willingly spared the enemies because they should in particular thank him only But here it will not be improper to take notice how he behaved himself amongst his Citizens and how wisely he defended his own Integrity Amongst all those that envied his Glory and Virtue there was one Meneclides an Orator and an eloquent man but withall most wicked and very malicious He finding that Eâ—aminondas won so much honour by the Wars never left perswading the Thebans to embrace Peace and prefer it before War and that because hereby they should not always live under the obedience and command of one man But Epaminondas one day told him in the open Counsel Thou wilt said he deceive the Thebans whilst thou advisest them to leave the Wars and highly commended ease and Peace thou goest about to put iron bolts upon their Feet For War begets Peace which yet cannot hold long but amongst them that know how to maintain it with the Sword Then turning himself to the Citizens he said If you will have the Principality and command of all Greece you must shroud your selves in your Tents and lie in your Pavillions in the open Fields and not follow Sports and Pastimes here at home For he knew well enough that the Boeotians undid themselves by ease and Idleness which made him endeavour continually to keep them in exercise and War Upon a time when the Thebans were to choose Captains they went about to choose Epaminondas one of the six Counsellours whereupon he said to them My Masters pray you consider of it now you are at leasure before you choose me For I tell you plainly If I be chosen your Captain you must to the Wars He used to call the Country of Boeotia which was a plain and Champion Country the Stage of War saying that it was impossible to keep it unless the Inhabitants had their Targets on their Arms and their Swords in their hands and this was not because he did not love Peace and privacy to study Philosophy or that he was not more careful of them that were under his charge than he was of himself using always to watch and forbear his meat when the Thebans were at their Banquets and Feasts giving themselves over to their pleasures but because he knew them well enough and was never more careful of any thing than to keep his Army from Idleness Upon a time the Arcadians desired him that some of his Companions might come into one of their Towns to lie dry and warm there all the Winter but he would by no means yield to it For said he to his Souldiers now they see you exercising your selves in Arms they wonder at you as brave and valiant men but if they should see you at the Fire side parching of Beans they would esteem no better of you than of themselves Neither could he endure Covetuousness for if at sometimes he gave his men leave to go a free booting his meaning was that whatsoever they got should be bestowed in furnishing them with good Arms and if any went about to
with a Dart with such force as breaking the Wood he left the Iron Head sticking in his Body Having received this deadly wound he fell immediately to the ground But then was there a more cruel fight about him than ever there was before which occasioned great Slaughter on both sides till the Thebans by fine force made their enemies to flie for their lives and when they had pursued them a while they returned back to their Camp that they might keep the dead Bodies in their Power which was a certain Sign that the Victory was theirs and then they sounded a retreat and so the Battel ended Both sides challenged the Victory and made Triumphs for it The Lacedemonians did it because the Athenians had slain those of Negropont that were sent to seize upon the Hills before mentioned and kept their bodies in their power The Thebans on the other side having overcome the Spartans had the bodies of them that were slain in the Battel in their power which was by far the greater number wherefore they said that they were the Victors Thus both standing upon their tearms it was a good while before either would send a Trumpet or Herauld to the other for leave to bury their dead Yet at last the Lacedemonians sent first and then they all betook themselves to give the dead an Honourable Burial And as for him that had killed Epaminondas he was highly esteemed and honoured for his Valiant Act and the Lacedemonians gave him many rich Presents and made him and his Posterity free from all publick Taxes and contributions in the Common-wealth As for Epaminondas he was brought yet alive into his Tent howbeit his Physitians and Surgeons being called together to dress his Wounds they all concluded that so soon as they plucked the Head of the Dart out of his body he must needs die And truly he made a most noble and worthy end For first he called for his Target-bearer who was always at his hand in the Battel and asked him Is my Target safe He brought it straight Then he asked Who had the Victory The Boeotians answered the Target-bearer Then he commanded them to bring to him Diophantus and Jolidas they told him they were both dead Upon this he advised his Citizens to make Peace with their enemies for that they had not any Captain of skill to lead them to the Wars And now said he it is time for me to die and therefore pluck the Dart Head out of my Body At this word all his Friends that were about him fetched grievous sighs and even cryed out for sorrow and one of them weeping said unto him Alas Epaminondas Thou diest now and leavest no Children behind thee Yea said he that I do For I leave two fair Daughters behind me whereof the one is the Victory at Leuctres and the other this of Mantinea So they pulled out the Dart and immediately he gave up the Ghost without shewing any sign that he was at all troubled at it He used often to say That War is the Bed of Honour and that it is a sweet Death to dye for ones Country He was one of the bravest Captains that ever we read of For whereas others excelled in some one or two Virtues by which they made their Fame great and glorious he excelled in all the Vertues and good Parts that could be desired in a Grave Politick and great Captain to make him compleat in all things that could be expected in an Heathen In his time he advanced his Country to the Principality of all Greece But after his Death they soon lost it and not long after Alexander the Great utterly brake them in pieces made Slaves of those that survived and razed their City to the very ground As in his life time he had always detested covetousness so after his Death the Thebans were faign to bury him at the common charge of the City because they found no mony in his House to defray the least part of the Funeral expences THE WICKED LIFE AND WOFUL DEATH OF HEROD the GREAT In whose time Our LORD CHRIST was Born HEROD sirnamed the Great was the Son of Antipas or Antipater an Idumaean a prime man both for birth and wealth amongst them His Mothers name was Cyprus born at an eminent place amongst the Arabians so that when this Herod acquired the Kingdom of Judea that Prophesie of old Jacob was fulfilled Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come This Antipater riding his circuit about the Province of Judea whereof Julius Caesar had made him Governour repressed them who were desirous of innovation both by threats and counsel telling them that if they would be content with their Prince Hyrcanus whom Caesar also had confirmed in the High-Priesthood they might live happily in their own possessions but if they promised themselves new hopes and thought that they should gain much by innovations they should have him a Master instead of a Governour and Hyrcanus a Tyrant instead of a King and Caesar and the Romans bitter enemies instead of Princes for that they would by no means suffer any thing to be altered from what they had setled But Antipater perceiving Hyrcanus to be dull and idle he settled the state of the Province as himself pleased making his elder Son Phasaelus Governour of Jerusalem and the Countries adjoyning and to Herod his second Son being then a very young man he committed the care of Galilee Herod being Praefect of Galilee there was one Esekias a Jew who associating to himself many other lewd persons exercised thievery and used to make incursions into Syria in Troops These Herod pursued and having taken Esekias he put him to Death which fact of his gat him much favour with the Syrians which Province also was then under his Government The violence and bold nature of Herod who was desirous of the Tyranny much terrified the Princes of the Jews wherefore they addressed themselves to Hyrcanus and openly accused Antipater but especially they complained of Herod for that he had put to death Esekias with many others without any Commission from Hyrcanus in contempt of their Laws by which no man ought to suffer though never so wicked unless he were first condemned by the Judges The Mothers also of them that were killed ceased not daily in the Temple to weary both the King and the people with their continual exclamations desiring that Herod might be made to give an account of these his doings before the Sanhedrim whereupon Hyrcanus moved herewith commanded Herod to be called before the Council and to plead his own cause Herod having ordered the affairs of Galilee as he thought best for his own advantage being fore-warned by his Father that he should not come into the Council as a Private Person he took with him a moderate but yet a sufficient Guard not too great lest he should
called him back so hastily and when he came to Celenderis a Town of Cilicia he began to doubt of his return hearing of and being extream sorrowful for the disgrace of his Mother yet failing forwards he came to Sebaste a Port of Caesarea where being saluted by none he went to Jerusalem It happened that Quintilius Varus was the same time at Jerusalem being sent as Successor to Saturninus into Syria and then called thither by Herod to assist him with his Counsel in those his weighty affairs As they were sitting both together in comes Antipater not knowing any thing and in his purple Garment that he used to wear entring the Palace but himself being entred the Guards suffered none of his followers to come in with him As he was coming near his Father thrust him from him reproaching him with the murther of his Brethren and his intention of poysoning his Father telling him that the next day Varus should hear and determine all things betwixt them and accordingly the next day Varus and the King sitting in Judgment his Father himself first began the accusation and left the prosecution and confirmation thereof to his old Friend Nicholas Damascene one that knew all the business and when Antipater could not clear himself from the crimes objected against him Varus commanded the poyson that he had prepared for his Father to be brought forth which being given to a condemned main killed him immediately after which Varus rose from the Council and the next day went to Antiochia but Herod cast his Son into Prison and signified so much by Letters to Caesar sending also messengers who by word of mouth might acquaint him with the cursed Treason of Antipater As these Messengers were posting to Rome Herod fell sick and made his will leaving his Kingdom to his youngest Son Herod Antipas being exasperated against his two elder Sons Archelaus and Philip by the false accusations of Antipater Judas the Son of Sariphaeus and Matthias the Son of Margalothus two of the most Learned of the Jews and best Interpreters of the Law knowing that the Kings sickness was incurable perswaded some young men that were their Scholars to throw down the Golden Eagle that was set up by Herod over the great gate of the Temple who accordingly going up at noon day pulled and hewed down with their axes the Eagle a great multitude being in the Temple and beholding it which as soon as it was told the Captain he came with a strong Band of Souldiers and laid hold upon some forty of the young men together with their Masters and brought them to Herod These constantly defending what they had done Herod commanded them to be bound and sent them to Jericho Then calling for the Rulers of the Jews into whose Assembly he was brought in a Litter by reason of his weakness he complained to them not so much of the injury done to himself as to God as he said These denying that it was done by their order somewhat pacified him only he took away the High-Priesthood from Matthias whom he suspected not to be a stranger to that fact and made his Successor Jazer the Brother of his Wife Mariamne the Daughter of Simon the High Priest but he burned alive the other Matthias that was the author of this sedition and his companions Herods disease began now to grow worse for he was burned with a slow fire which was not perceived so much by the outward touch as by the inward effects of it which burnt up his very Bowels He had also the disease called the Bulemia or Dog-like appetite which provoked him to a continual desire of eating and yet nothing would satisfie him He was also continually tormented with ulcers in his Bowels and pains of the Cholick His feet swelled with a moist phlegm and his thighs also His members rotted and were full of worms which occasioned an intolerable stink He was no less troubled with a Priapisme and moreover was vexed with grievous convulsions and difficulty of breathing And though he was so grievously tormented that every one judged that he could not be able to endure it long yet he hoped that he should break through it being very careful to send for the ablest Physicians and sought medicines from every place He went also beyond Jordan to the Hot Baths at Callirhoe which run into the Asphaltite Lake which beside the medicinal virtue are pleasant and good to be drunk There being by the advice of his Physicians set into a Bathing tub of oyl he seemed to them to be giving up the Ghost yet by the sudden crying out and lamentations of his Friends he came to himself again and now seeing no hope of recovery he commanded fifty Drachmaes to be given to every Souldier and having shewed much liberality to his Captains and Friends he returned again to Iericho Augustus being told that amongst the Children which Herod had caused to be slain at Bethlehem there was a Son also of his own slain He said That it was better to be Herods Hog than his Son Herod an Edict called together to Iericho all the most Noble of the Iews and when they came he shut them all up together in a place called the Hippodrome giving command to his Sister Salome and her Husband Alexus that as soon as He was dead they should cause his Souldiers to slay them all that so the people might have cause of sorrow who otherwise he feared would rejoyce at his death At this time Letters came from Rome from the Ambassadours whom He had sent to Caesar wherein they certified him that the Emperour left Antipater to his Fathers pleasure either to banish or to put him to death Herod hearing this was a little cheared but presently his torments returning and being greedy of meat He called for an apple and a knife to pare it intending with the knife to have stabbed himself which also he attempted but Archelaus his Nephew prevented him and holding his right Hand called for help This accident caused much sorrow fear and tumult through the whole Palace as if Herod had been dead Antipater perceiving the noise thought verily that his Father was dead and thereupon began to tamper with his Keeper about letting him out promising him great Rewards both for the present and for the future when it would lye in his power amply to reward him This his practice the Keeper told to the King who for indignation cryed and though he was so near death yet did he raise up himself on his Bed and commanded one of his Guard to go presently and kill Antipater and to bury him in the Castle of Hyrcanion without any honour which was done accordingly Then did He make a new Testament for Antipas whom before he had made Successor to his Kingdom he made Tetrarch of Galilee and Petrea To his Son Philip he assigned the Regions of Gaulanitis Trachonitis Batanaea and Pancada the name of a
Orator by the unquiet yet unwarlike Multitude he was bold to pull him down from his standing by plain force Hereat all the People murmured as if their common liberty were too much wronged by such insolence of this presumptuous Captain Which Hannibal perceiving rose up and spake unto them saying That they ought to pardon him if he had done otherwise than the customs of the City would allow for aâ— much as he had been thence absent ever since he was a Boy of nine years old until he was now a Man of five and forty Having thus excused himself he exhorted them to embrace the Peace as wanting ability to defend themselves had the demands of the Enemy been yâ—â— more rigorous His Father Amilcar at what time he did Sacrifice being ready to take his journey into Spain called his Son Hannibal being than but nine years old caused him to lay his hand upon the Altar and to swear that being come to mans estate he should pursue the Romans with immortal hatred and that he should work them all the mischief that possible he could THE LIFE and DEATH OF POMPEY THE GREAT STrabo the Father of Pompey was much hated by the People of Rome who feared his greatness obtained by Arms for he was a Noble Captain and to shew their distast when he was slain by a Thunderbolt as his Body was carrying to burial the People seized upon it and did great despite unto it But on the contrary never any other Roman besides Pompey had the love of the People so soon nor that continued constanter both in prosperity and adversity than it did to him And that which procured their love and good liking was his temperance in life aptness to Arms Eloquence of Speech Faithfulness of his Word and Courtesie in his Behaviour He gave without disdain and received with great Honour Being but a Child he had a certain grace in his look that wan Mens good wills before he spake His countenance was amiable mixed with gravity and when he come to Mans estate there appeared in his gesture and behaviour a grave and Princely Majesty His hair stood a little upright and the sweet cast and motion of his eyes made him very graceful He was sober and temperate in his Diet contenting himself with common Meats and when once in his sickness his Physicians advised him to eat a Thrush and none could be gotten a Friend told him that Lucullus a certain great man kept them all the year where he should be sure not to fail he replied What then If Lucullus were not should not Pompey live and therewithall letting his Physicians counsel alone he bad them dress him such meat as was easie to be had Pompey being a young man and in the Field with his Father who was in Arms against Cinna there lay with him in his Tent a Companion of his called Lucius Terentius who being corrupted with money promised Cinna to slay Pompey and other of his Confederates had promised to set their Generals Tent on fire This conspiracy was discovered to Pompey as he sat at Supper which nothing amazed him but he drank freely and was merrier with Terentius than ordinary But when it was bed-time he stole out of his own Tent and went into his Fathers In the Night Terentius went into Pompey's Tent and with his Sword gave many a thrust into the Matteress Presently also the whole Camp was in an uprore and the Souldiers out of hatred to their General would needs in all hast have gone and submitted to the Enemy and Strabo durst not go out of his Tent to speak to them but Pompey ran amongst these Mutineers and with Tears in his Eyes besought them not to betray their General He went also and threw himself flat on the Ground athwart the Gate of the Camp and told them that they should march over him if they had such a desire to be gone whereupon the Souldiers being ashamed of their treachery returned to their Lodgings Presently after his Fathers death Pompey being his heir he was accused for robbing the common Treasury and in particular for taking certain toils and cords of Hunters nets He confessed the having of them and that his Father gave him them when the City of Asculum was taken but that he had since lost them when Cinna came to Rome with his Army at which time the unruly Souldiers breaking into his House plundered him of all that he had This matter had many days of hearing before it was determined in which time Pompey shewed so much courage and prudence in managing of it that he wan such credit and favour by it that Antistius vvho at that time was Praetor and Judg of the cause fell into such a likeing of him that secretly he offered him his Daughter in Marriage and Pompey liked so well of the Match that the Parties were privately made sure each to other And not long after through the care and pains of Antistius when the Judges came to pass Sentence Pompey was cleered This business being over Pompey married Antistia after which going into Cinna's Camp he was wrongfully accused of some misdemeanours whereupon being afraid of the Tyrant he secretly stole away and when he could not be found in Cinna's Camp there went a rumour abroad that Cinna had murthered him which so irritated some vvho of a long time had hated Cinna that upon this occasion they rose up against him But he thinking to save himself by flight was pursued by a Captain with a drawn Sword Cinna seeing him fell down on his knees to him and profered him his Signet Ring vvhich vvas of great price to spare his life Tush said the Captain I come not to seal any Covenant but to be revenged upon a Villain and cruel Tyrant and vvithall ran him through and slevv him Cinna being thus dispatched Carbo took upon him the Govenment a more cruel Tyrant than the former And after him Sylla succeeded and at this time the Romans being grievously oppressed by one Tyrant after another thought themselves happy in the change of Governours For their City vvas brought into such misery as hoping no more to see Rome recover her lost liberty they desired yet a more tollerable bondage In Sylla's time Pompey vvas at a place in Italy called Picenum in the Marches of Anconae vvhere he had certain Lands but much more the love and favour of the Citizens for his Fathers sake He seeing that the most Noble Men of Rome forsook their Houses and estates to repair to the Camp of Sylla as unto a place of safety he also resolved to go thither yet not in a base manner like a Fugitive but purposed to raise an Army and to go in an Honourable manner as one that could do Sylla good service So he made tryal of the good will of the Picentines who readily joyned with him and whereas there was amongst them one Vindius who opposed Pompey saying That
River Euphrates and lodged hard by him Methridates prepared suspecting that Pompey would that Night storm his Camp but Pompey thought it not safe to fight in the dark and therefore resolved rather to encompass him that he might not fly and to fight him in the morning but Pompey's old Captains would needs fight presently which Pompey at last consented to and the Romans ran upon them with great cries which so affrighted their Enemies that they presently turned their backs and fled so that the Romans slew ten thousand of them and took their Camp Methridates himself with eight hundred Horse-men made a Lane through the Romans and so escaped Yet as soon as they were passed his men dispersed some one way some another that himself was left but with three Persons only whereof Hypsicratea a manlike woman was one who never left him but always looked to his Horse being armed after the Persian manner till he came to a strong Castle called Inora where was store of Gold and Silver and the Kings chiefest Treasure Here Methridates divided all his richest Apparel amongst his Friends and to each of them a mortal Poyson to carry about them whereby they might prevent falling into their Enemies hands alive Pompey built a City in the place where he gained this Victory betwixt the Rivers of Euphrates and Araxes situate in Armenia the Less which he called Nicopolis This City he gave by the consent of his Souldiers to such of them as were old lame sick wounded or disbanded to whom many of the Neighbours afterwards repairing the Nicopolitans lived after the manner of the Cappadocians From hence Methridates had intended to have gone into Armenia but King Tigranes prohibited it and promised an hundred Tallents to him that could kill him Passing therefore by the head of Euphrates he fled through the Country of Colchide In the mean time Pompey invaded Armenia being solicited thereto by Tigranes the younger who rebelled against his Father and met Pompey at the River of Araxes which falleth into the Caspian Sea Then did Pompey and he march forward taking in such Towns as yielded unto them Tigranes who had been much weakned by Lucullus understanding that Pompey was of a mild and Gentle nature he put his Souldiers into Garrisons and himself with his Friends and Kinsman went to meet Pompey When he came near his Camp being on Horseback there came two Sergeants to him commanding him to alight which he did accordingly and put off his Sword and gave it them and when he came before Pompey he shamefully fell upon the ground and imbraced his knees but Pompey took him by the hand raised him up and made him sit down by him on the one side and his Son on the other saying to them both As for your former losses you may thank Lucullus for them who hath taken from you Syria Phoenicia Cilicia Galatia and Sophena but for what you have left till my coming you shall enjoy it paying to the Romans six thousand Tallents for the wrong you have done them Provided also that your Son shall have Sophena for his part Tigranes accepted of the conditions whereupon the Romans saluted him King and he gave great sums of money amongst the Army But his Son was much discontented and when Pompey sent for him to come to Sup with him he refused wherefore Pompey imprisoned him and kept him to be led in his Triumph at Rome Shortly after Phraates King of Parthia sent Ambassadors to desire this young Prince who was his Son in Law and to tell Pompey that Euphrates must be the uttermost bounds of his Conquest Pompey answered that Tygranes had more right to his Son than Phraates and as for limiting his borders he would do it with Justice So leaving Afranius to keep Armenia he passed by other Nations that inhabited about the Mountain of Caucasus having Methridates in chase Two of the chiefest of these Nations were the Iberians and the Albanians near to the Caspian Sea These upon his request suffered him to pass through their Countries But Winter hasting on apace these Barbarous People raised an Army of fourty thousand fighting men and passed over the River of Cyrnus Pompey could have hindred their passage but yet let them come over and then fought with them and overcame them and slew multitudes of them in the Field whereupon they submitted and made peace with him Then Pompey went against the Iberians who took part with Methridates They were more and better Souldiers than the Albanians they were never subject to the Medes and Persians nor to Alexander the Great These Pompey overcame also in a bloody fight and slew nine thousand of them and took ten thousand Prisoners From thence he went into the Country of Colchide where Servilius met him by the River of Phasis with his Fleet with which he kept the Pontick Sea He found it a hard work to pursue Methridates any further who had hid himself amongst a People that bordered upon the Lake of Maeotis He heard also that the Albanians had rebelled wherefore he went back to be revenged on them passing over the River of Cyrnus again yet with much difficulty because the Barbarous People had made a defence on the further side by felling and laying many Trees across all along the Bank of the River and when he was got over he was to travel through a dry Country a great way before he came to any Water whereupon he caused ten thousand Goats skins to be filled with Water and so marched over it At the River Abas he met with his Enemies who had now an Army of one hundred and twenty thousand Footmen and ten thousand Horsemen but Armed only in Beast skins There General was Cosis the Kings Brother In the Battel this Cosis flew upon Pompey and throwing a Dart at him wounded him in the flank but Pompey ran him through with a Lance and slew him Some say that some Amazons assisted this People against Pompey After this Battel Pompey going back to invade the Country of Hyrcania as far as the Caspian Sea was forced to retreat by reason of an infinite number of deadly Serpents that he met withal wherefore he went back into Armenia the less to which place he had many rich presents sent him from the Kings of the Elymians and the Medes to whom he returned courteous answers Yet he sent Afranius with part of his Army against the King of Parthia who had much harrased and plundred the Country of Tygranes and he drave him out At this time the Concubines of Methridates were brought to him but he would not touch any one of them but sent them all home again to their Parents and Friends being most of them the Daughters of Princes and other Noble Captains Only Stratonice whom Methridates loved above all the rest with whom he had left the custody of his Castle where lay all his Treasures of Gold and Silver was but a Singers
had gathered together a great number of his Souldiers after the overthrow whem he had transported with him into Africk he complained to his Friends for that they had compelled him to fight by Land and not suffered him to make use of his Fleet wherein he was the stronger and that he kept not his Army neer to the Sea that in case he miscarried at Land he might presently have repaired to his Fleet at Sea and thereby have resisted his Enemy Thus Pompey being driven to attempt somewhat according to his small ability to some Cities he sent Ambassadours to others he went himself to gather mony wherewith he armed and manned some Ships But fearing the sudden approach of his Enemy before he could be in readiness to resist him he bethought himself to what place he might retire for his better safety and resolved that there was never a Province of the Romans that was able to secure him and for other strange Nations he thought none safer for him to retire into than Parthia which was able to aid and help him Some advised him to go into Africk unto King Juba But Theophanes the Lesbian said that it was great folly to decline Egypt that was but three days sail from thence and where Ptolomy was who was lately come to mans estate and was infinitely bound to Pompey for the late favours which he shewed to his Father and not put himself into the hands of the Parthians the most unfaithful Nation in the World He thought it also an ill part for him to carry his young Wife of the Noble Family of Scipio amongst such barbarous People who care not how basely they abuse any strangers The Speech altered Pompeys mind and made him resolve to flie into Egypt and so with his Wife Cornelia he departed from Cyprus in a Galley of Seleucia The rest of his Train imbarked also some in Gallies other in Merchant Ships and so passed the Sea vvithout danger When Pompey heard that King Ptolomy was in the City of Pelusium with his Army vvarring against his Sister he steered that way and sent a Messenger before to the King to certifie him of his arrival and to entreat him to give him entertainment King Ptolomy was at this time but a young man and under him the whole Realm was governed by one Photinus He therefore assembled a Councel of the chiefest and wisest of his Court and when they were met Photinus in the Kings name commanded every man to declare his Judgment about the reception of Pompey whether they should intertain him or not and truly it was a sad thing that Photinus an Eunuch and Theodotus of Chio vvho was the Kings Schoolmaster for Rhetorick and Achillas an Egyptian should consult amongst themselves what they should do vvith Pompey the Great All this vvhile Pompey rode at Anchor near to the shore expecting the resolution of this Councel amongst vvhom their opinions vvere various some were for others against his reception But Theodotus the Rhetorician to shevv his eloquence perswaded them that neither the one nor the other was to be done For said he if we receive him we shall make Caesar our Enemy and Pompey our Lord If we receive him not Pompey will blame us and Caesar also for not keeping him Our safest way therefore is to kill him for thereby we shall win the good will of the one and not sear the displeasure of the other Adding that Mortui non Mordent A dead man bites not This they all resolved upon and accordingly gave Achillas Commission to do it This being concluded Achill as took vvith him Septimius vvho had sometimes served under Pompey and Salvius a Centurion and two or three other Souldiers and so made to wards Pompeys Galley about vvhom there were at this time the chiefest of his Train to see vvhat vvould be the issue of this matter But vvhen they favv vvhat intertainment he was like to have and that they came not in that Princely manner answerable to the hopes that Theophanes had put them in seeing so few men coming tovvards him in a Fisherboat they began to mistrust the sequel and advised Pompey to turn back and to launch again into the Sea vvhilst he was yet out of the reach of their Darts In the mean time the Fisherboat drevv near and Septimius rose up and saluted Pompey in the Roman Tongue by the name of Imperator or Emperor Achillas also spake to him in Greek vvishing him to come into his Boat the shore being full of mud and sand banks so that his Galley could not carry him to the shore At this time they saw afar off divers of the Kings Gallies which were arming vvith all speed possible and all the shore vvas full of Souldiers so that though Pompey and his Friends vvould have altered their minds yet they could not tell hovv to escape and if they had diseovered their mistrust of them they had given the Murtherers a cloak for their cruelty Pompey therefore taking his leave of his Wife Cornelia vvho lamented his Death before his end he commanded tvvo of his Centurions to go dovvn before him into the Boat and took vvith him only Philip one of his Slaves enfranchised vvith another Slave called Scynes When Achilles reaching out his hand to receive Pompey into his Boat he turned him to his Wife and Son and repeated these Verses of Sophocles The Man that into Court comes free Must there in state of bondage be These were the last Words which he spake to them The Land being far off when he saw never a man in the Boat speak friendly to him he said unto Septimius Methinks my Friend I should know thee for thou hast served under me heretofore the other nodded with his head but gave him no answer Pompey observing these things took a little Book into his hand wherein he had written an Oration that he ment to make to King Ptolomy and began to read it As they approached to the shore Cornelia with her Friends about her stood up in great fear to see what would become of Pompey and she hoped well when she saw many of the Kings People on the shore coming towards Pompey as it were to receive and honour him at his landing But even as Pompey took Philip by the hand to rise more easily Septimius came behind him and thrust him through with his Sword Salvius and Achillas also made at him with their Swords Pompey did no more but took up his Gown with which he covered his face and took the wounds in a manly manner only sighing a little Thus ended he is Life the very next day after his Birth being fifty nine years old They which rode at Anchor in their Ships when they saw him thus Murthered gave such a fearful cry that it was heard to the shore And weighing their Anchors with speed they hoised Sail and departed having a lusty gale of Wind to help them The Aegyptians had thought to pursue
to him But these his fair shews continued not long There was at this time at Rome a Governour for the Eastern Emperour called Paul Ephialte him Didier corrupted and the administration of Justice being in his hands he made use of him so cunningly as that in the presence of Pope Steven he caused him to seize upon two of his chief Secretaries Christopher and Sergius whom Didier accused of some pretended crimes and presently to hang them in an infamous manner Their greatest offence was because they favoured the French Neither did he rest here but caused all the principal Citizens to be banished whom he observed to be of the French faction that so having removed all hinderances he might be Master of Rome in despite of the Pope Steven was not so dull but he discovered the Lombards practice exceedingly to tend to his prejudice whereupon he sent to Charlemagne beseeching him to prepare an Army against Didiers force This Charlemagne easily assented to and fully resolved upon But Didier had provided a divertisement in France by the means of Caroloman to stop Charles his passage into Italy making work for him in Guienne where there arose a perilous War upon this occasion Though the Country of Guienne depended upon the Crown of France yet were there many Tumults raised by the practices of some Noblemen of the Country who frequently stirred up the people mutinous enough of themselves to Rebellion The cause of these Troubles was the abuse of the former Kings Clemency and Bounty who suffered such people as he conquered to enjoy their priviledges and liberties Eudon a Nobleman of Guienne began first under Martel Jeffery and Hunalt his Children and heirs of his discontent had continued it under Pepin and Jeffery being now dead Hunalt succeeded him with the like hatred which Caroloman fomented that he might imploy him against his Brother Charles Guienne was a part of Charles his portion But Hunalts design was to withdraw that Country wholly from the Crown of France and for that end he pretended a Title to the Dukedom thereof labouring to procure the people to Elect him having the promise and assistance of Caroloman to further him therein Indeed the countenance of Caroloman could do much but the wisdom and courage of Charlemagne prevailed more For being advertised of Hunalts practice and of his Brothers secret designs he armed with such speed as that he surprised the Towns of Poictiers Xante and Angoulesm and all the Country adjoyning Hunalt who had reckoned without Charles finding himself thus prevented fled to a Noble man of that Country called Loup whom he held not only to be firm to his faction but also his trusty and affectionate friend Charlemagne being informed hereof sent presently to Loup requiring him to deliver Hunalt into his hands who was guilty of high Treason and in the mean time he built a Fort in the midst of the Country where the Rivers of Dordonne and Lisle do joyn which he called Fronsac the better to secure his Country against such Invaders Loup not daring to refuse delivered up Hunalt and all his Family into the hands of Charles who pardoned Loup and all that obeyed him thus ending a dangerous War without blows And to Hunalt he granted life and liberty and the enjoyment of his goods leaving a memorable example to all Princes how to carry themselves in a Civil War preventing a mischief by prudence and diligence and not to thrust their vanquished Subjects into despair by rigour Caroloman seeing his practices against his Brother to succeed so ill undertook a journy to Rome with an intent to cause some alterations there which yet he covered with a pretence of devotion He also took his Mother Berthe along with him and in their passage they were hourably entertained by Didier King of the Lombards where Berthe treated and concluded a marriage between her Son Charlemagne and Theodora Sister or Daughter to this Didier who was one of the greatest enemies to her Sons good fortune Yet Charlemagne to please his Mother received his Wife but soon after put her away as neither suiting with his affects or affairs and so that which was intended as a cause of love bred a greater hatred betwixt these two Princes Caroloman having affected nothing at Rome answerable to his desire but only discovered his foolish and malicious jealousie too apparent under his feigned devotion returned into France and there soon after died Anno Christi 770. Leaving the intire Kingdom to his Brother who had how no Corrival Charlemagne having put away his Wife Theadora upon suspition of incontinency he married Hildegard or Ildegrade Daughter to the Duke of Sueve his Vassal by whom he had Charles Pepin and Lewis and three Daughters Rotrude Berthe and Gille who were the Nursery of his Noble Family But Carolomans jealousie died not with him but survived in his Wife Berthe who being impatient of her present condition and thrust headlong with a spirit of revenge against her Brother in Law Charles retired with her two Sons to Didier King of Lombardy as to the most bitter and irreconcilable enemy of her Brother Charles Didier intertained her and her Children very courteously hoping by them to promote his design But it proved the leaven of his own destruction His practice together with the Widows was to procure the present Pope who Steven being dead was one Adrian a Roman Gentleman to Crown and confirm the Sons of Caroloman for Kings of France wherein the Lombard had two designs First by this means to bring the Pope in disgrace with Charlemagne that he might the easilier suppress him being destitute of the French aides whereon he chiefly relyed and Secondly to set France in a flame by setting up new Kings in it Didier therefore earnestly besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake But Adrian well acquainted with the Lombards humour was so resolute in denying his request as that they fell into open hatred And Didier being much displeased with this repulse took Arms and with his Forces entred into the Exarchy being a Signory under the Popes jurisdiction and besieged Ravenna the chief City of the Exarchy Whereupon the Pope sent his Nuncio to him to expostulate the cause of this so sudden War against his Subjects desiring him to restore what he had taken and not to procced in this Hostile manner without any reasonable cause and that upon the pain of Excommunication At the same time there fell out a great occasion to encrease the hatred between Charlemagne and Didier For that Hunalt who had been before vanquished in Guienne and to whom Charles had shew'd so much favour very ingratefully retired himself to Didier who did not only receive him courteously but honoured him by making him General of his Army which he had raised against the