the King's House and the Egyptian Kings after claimed Sovereignty of Iuda After 17 Years Reign Rehoboam died and Ieroboam out-lived him 4 Year Tersippus in Athens Doristus in Sparta Priminas in Corinth Sylvius Alys over the Latins Periciades in Assyria and Abdastrartus in Tyre whom his Foster-Brother Murdered and Usurped 12 Year but Astartus Son of Baleaster recovered the Kingdom from them § 3. Abia succeeded Rehoboam in his Kingdom and Vices yet God was pleased to give him the Victory over Ieroboam of whose Subjects he slew 500000 though he suffered his Father to be vanquished by Sesac the Egyptian not for want of Strength but Wisdom and Carriage which God giveth when and where it pleaseth him Who by the Affinity by which Solomon thought to assure his Estate the Lord brake it in his next Successor And tho' then God used to shew the Causes of such Judgments by his Prophets yet is he the same just God to raise and throw down Kings and Estates for the same Offences And those Afflictions of Israel and the Courses thereof are set down for Presidents to succeeding Ages As the Famin for Saul's Cruelty David's Calamities for Vriah Solomon's loss of Ten Tribes for Idolatry Rehoboam for Idolatry and Sodomy in the Land Ieroboam Ioram Ahab Iesabel The like Judgments are executed daily for the like Offences though Men wise in the World raise these effects no higher than to second Causes § 4. Asa after three years succeeded Abijah who reformed Religion and prospered He overthrew Zerah and his 100000 Men c. That Zerah was an Arabian not an Aethiopian was proved before But after he fell to rely on Man and hired Benhadad against Baasha not relying upon the Assistance of God he fell to persecute the Prophet which reproved him and to oppress the People for which God plagued him There lived at the same time Agesilaus and Bacis of Corinth Astartus and Astarlaius Kings of Tyre Alys and Capis Kings of the Latins Ophrateus in Assyria Tersippus and Phorbas in Athens Chemmis in Egypt whom Cheops succeeded and Reigned Fifty six years to the sixteenth of Ioas Baasa King of Israel began in the Third year of Asa and Reigned Twenty four years which was about the Twenty sixth Year of Asa so that his Attempt against Asa 2 Chron. 16.1 was the 26th of Asa but the 36th of the Kingdom of Iuda called Asa's because he there Reigned in it Consider that Rehoboam Reigned seventeen years Abijah three and Asa Forty one in whose Three Baasan began so the Thirty sixth year of Iuda's Kingdom fell in the Sixteenth year of Asa. § 5. The Alterations in the Kingdom of Israel in the Reign of Asa might have reduced the Ten Tribes to the House of David if God had not determined the contrary Ieroboam lost 500000 Nadab his Son in two years lost his Life and Kingdom so that of his Fathers Worldly Wisdom to Establish a Kingdom in his Posterity nothing remained but the hateful Memory that he made Israel to sin Baasa rooting out Ieroboam's House yet imbraced his Idolatry which drew the same Sentence of God's Wrath upon him and his Family and tho' he thought it Wisdom to Fortify his Kingdom which he found weakened by Asa by making League with Benhadad yet God turned his Wisdom into Foolishness and by the same Hand destroyed Nephtalim Ela Son of Baasha succeeded and was slain by Zimri who wanting strength to defend himself against Omri had Courage enough to burn himself in Terza Omri by the Peoples Division was a while opposed by Tibni but prevailed § 6. Israel thus afflicted under those unhappy Princes it is a wonder that the People returned not to their ancient Kings and reunited not to those Two Mighty Tribes but they still continued in grievous oppressions of the Factious Usurpers and Competitors and under the revenging hand of God for their defection To say God's secret Will was such was not reason either to the Ten Tribes not to return nor to Abijah after he had so weakned Israel not to perfect his Conquest for though his Father was restrained expresly by the Lord yet was not he We may then boldly look into two Causes First Why the People bore so quietly the slaughter of Nadab and interpretation of Ieroboam their own chosen King and revenged the death of Ela Son of Baasa an Usurper It is therefore probable that the People by defection from Rehoboam seeking ease of former Burthens found Ieroboam and his Son to retain some Kingly Prerogatives which had been grievous to them under Solomon which Baasa had forborn and reduced the form of Civil Government to a more temperate Method which much pleased them Secondly the same may be the Reason they returned not to the House of David whose Scepter they found so heavy under Solomon and were threatned by his Son with more burthen They had seen Ioab and Shimei slain without all form of Judgment Adonijah without Cause as Ieroboam should have been which lawless Power grew more barbarous in Iehoram Manases c. As for the Kings of Israel we find no such arbitrary proceeding for even Iezabel kept the form judicial against Naboth And well it may be though Ieroboam had established a Law against the Prophets of God which the Idolatrous People approved by which Law Iezabel slew so many This difference of Power Arbitrary and according to Law made the People of Iudah less affectionate to their Princes than the Israelites who were accustomed not to kill their Kings as the Iudeans did but revenged when they were able such as were slain by Usurpers The like moderation of Kingly Prerogatives in the Government of England gained such affection of the People as never any perish'd by the Fury of the People whose heat in greatest Insurrection was extinguished with the blood of some great Officers Let not Monarchs fear straitning of their Absoluteness by mighty Subjects as long as by their Wisdom they keep the hearts of the People who will be sure to come in on their side As Briarius with his hundred hands assisted Iupiter when all the Gods conspired against him For a good Form of Government is sufficient of it self to retain the People not only without assistance of a laborious Wit but even against all devices of the shrewdest Politicians every Sheriff and Constable being sooner able to arm the Multitude in the King's behalf than any over-weening Rebel against him Princes immediately assign'd by God or getting Command by strong hand have presumed of more Absolute Prerogatives than Kings Chosen and the People which thought Obedience to Princes a part of Duty to God will endure much more with patience than others who have Kings of their own chusing § 7. Iehosaphat a Religious Happy Prince succeeded Asa whose Forces of Men of War were 1160000 by which he recovered his Tributes from the Arabians and Philistins besides his own Garisons yet his Country did not exceed the County of Kent
their Father therewith which Cruelty was revenged on him and Agamemnon his Son and all his Linage by a natural Son of Thyestes Minos was now King of Crete whose Wife Pasiphae inamoured of Taurus her Husband's Secretary Dedalus being her Pander had a Child by him and another at the same Birth by Minos of which grew the Tale of the Minotaurs Dedalus upon discovery fled with Icarus in two Boats with Sails unto Cocalus King of Sicily In the flight Icarus was drowned and Minos was slain in persuing Dedalus whom Cocalus defended Sphinx a Woman Robber by Sea and Land upon the Borders of Corinth was overcome by Oedipus Commander of the Corinthian Forces her Swiftness and Cruelty bred the Tale of her Wings and Body of a Lyon Anteus the strong and cunning Wrestler near Hespendes in Mauritania lived about this time § 6. The Argonauts Expedition fell out about Gideon's Eleventh Year Many Fabulous Discourses have been hereof written and mystical Expositions made but Dercilus's Opinion is most probable That Iason with the Harvest-men of Greece went by Ship to rob Colchos enriched by certain steep falling Torrents not far from Caucasus which wash down many Grains of Gold which the Inhabitants get by setting many Fleeces of Wool in those Water-falls The many Rocks Straights Sands and other difficulties in the Passage between Greece and Pontus are Poetically converted into fierce Bulls Armed Men rising out of the Ground Syrens a Dragon cast asleep c. by Orpheus one of them § 7. Abimelech Gideon's natural Son Ambitiously Fought and got what his Father had refused as unlawful without special direction a Ruler over God's peculiar People and for his Establishment in his Usurped Power he slew Seventy Brethren upon one Stone Iotham the youngest only escaped this unheard of Inhumanity Such is Human Ambition a Monster which neither feareth God nor respecteth Nature and forgetteth the All-powerful Hand whose Revenge is without date All other Passions and Affections which torment the Souls of Men are by Contraries oft-times qualified but this darling of Sathan and first-born Sin that ever the World knew more Antient than Human Nature looketh only toward the end which it self sets down forgetting nothing how Inhuman soever that may conduce thereto and remembers nothing that Pity or Religion can offer to the contrary As for the deplorable effects that such attempts have had it ascribes to the Errors or weakness of the Undertakers and rather praiseth the Adventure than fears the like Success The Sechemits in a vain Glory to have a King of their own readily condescended to his Ambitious motion imbrue themselves with him in the Blood of Innocents and fit themselves to partake with him in the Vengeance fore-told by Iotham The Tapithae and Centaurus made War about this time against the Thebanes these were the first in those parts which learned to ride on Horses so that coming from the Mountains of Pindus on Horseback they were thought compounded Creatures Thola of Issachar govern'd after Abimelek 23 Years and Iair 22 years after him Priamus after that sacking of Ilium by Hercules being Ransomed began to Reign having rebuilt Troy and inlarged the Dominion almost over all the lesser Asia Of Fifty Sons he had Seventeen by Cuba Daughter of Gisseus King of Thrace Paris one of them attempting to recover his Aunt Hesione carried into Greece by Hercules took Helena the Wife of Menelaus c. Theseus the Tenth King of Athens in his Father Aegeus's Reign he put himself among the Seven young Men which the Athenians sent for Tribute yearly to Minos King of Crete who gaining Ariadne the King's Daughter's Affection received of her a Bottom of Thread by which to conduct himself out of the Labyrinth after he had slain the Minotaur â—hat is the Son of Taurus begotten of Pasipâ—ae to whom those Youths were committed c. He took Hippolita the Amazon Queen Prisoner and by her had a Son Hyppolitus whom he after sought to kill upon his Step-mother Phaedra's false Accusation whose incestuous Caresses he had rejected In his Escape he had received many dangerous Wounds of which being Cured the Tale of Esculapius grew c. After much good done to the ungrateful multitude they banish'd him They say he stole Helen from Aphidna in the First Year of Iair according to Eusebius which is not probable seeing she should prove Fifty Years old at the fall of Troy Under the two former Judges in Assyria reigned Mitreus and Tautanes after and in Egypt Amenophis Son of Ramses and Anemenes after him In Sicyonia reigned Thyaestus the Twenty second King Eight years Adrastus succeeded Four years then Polyphides the Thirteenth Mueschea succeeded Theseus King of Athens § 8. The Theban War the most antient that ever the Grecian Writers handled hapned in this Age wherein Greece continued but salvage holding and getting all by strong hand Robbing by Sea and Land little using Merchandise and not acquainted with Money and having few walled and but small Towns As some latter idle Chroniclers wanting good Matter fill their Books with Reports of Feasts dry Summers c. So they which write of Greece then tell us of great Floods Metamorphosâ—â— of Men-killing Moâ—â—ters Adulteries of their Gods begetting Mighty Men c. This Theban War the first Grecian Story of Note arose upon the disagreement between Eteocles and Polynices Sons of Oedipus Son of Laius King of Thebes These Brethren having Covenanted to Rule by Course Eteocles beginning was unwilling to lay down a Scepter once taken into hand which forced Polynices to fly to Adrastus King of the Argives who gave him a Wife and raised Forces to re-establish him in Thebes Eteocles withstands the Force and both Armies after great loss desire the Brethren to end the Quarrel by a single Combat in which both lost the day with their Lives and yet another Battel was fought in which the Argives were discomfited and fled and of the Commanders only Adrastus came to Athens At his request the Argives sent Forces under Theseus against Creon Governour of Thebes for denying Burial to the slain Argives who took the City and buried the slain But this contented not the Sons of the Noble Argives who Ten years after levied new Forces and forc'd Laodamas Son of Eteocles to fly and some says he was slain the Town was destroyed but repaired by Thirsander Son of Polynices who reigned after and led the Thebans to the War of Troy shortly after § 9. Iephtha judged Israel Six years and relieved them from the Oppression of the Ammonites which lay heavy upon the Tribes on the East of Iordan along Gilead He defended the Israelites Right against the Ammonites Claim both by Reason and the force of Arms and drove them not only out of all those Plains but also over the Mountains of Arabia to Minneth and Abel of the Vine-yard As for his Vow the Opinion that he did not Sacrifice his Daughter is more probable The Ephramitâ—s quarrell'd with Iephtha
as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
the stock of Ithamar that obtained that High-Priesthood which continued in his stock until Solomon cast out Abâ—athar and put in Zâ—dok descended from Eleazer 1 Kings 2.26 35. In his time for the Sins of the Priests and People the Lord gave his Ark the Sacrament of his Presence into the hands of the Philistins as he did his Temple to be destroyed by the Chaldeans and after by the Romans because they put more Confidence therein than in the Lord himself whose Law they would not observe Whereas after the Captivity and in the time of the Machabees while they feared the Lord they were Victorious without an Ark more than they were when they guarded themselves with the Sign void of substance David also knew the Ark was not made for an Ensign in the Field The Trojans believed that while the Paladium or Image of Minerva was in the City it should never be overthrown The Christians also carried into the Field in the last Fatal Battel against Saladine the very Cross as they were made to believe whereon Christ died and yet lost themselves and the Wood. But Chrysostom said well upon St. Matthew if that be his work of them which wore part of St. Iohn's Gospel about their Necks for an Amulet or Preservative If the words profit thee nâ—t in thine Ears how can they about thy Neck For it was neither the Wood of the Ark or of the Cross but the Reverence of the Father that gave them for a memory of his Covenant and the Faith of his Son which shed his Blood on the other for Redemption that could or can profit them or us either in this Life or after it The Holy story telleth us how after this Victory of the Philistins the Ark of God was in Captivity yet they overthrew the Philistin's Dagon and brake off both Head and Hands to shew he had neither Wisdom nor Power in God's Presence and that God and the Devil cannot inhabit in one House or one Heart If this Idol then could not endure the representation of the true God what Marvel is it that when it pleased him to Cloath his only Begotten with Flesh and sent him into the World that all the Oracles wherein the Devil derided and betray'd Mortal Men lost Power Speech and Operation at that instant For when the true Light which never had any beginning of Brightness brake through the Clouds of a Virgins Womb shining upon the Earth long obscured by Idolatry all these stinking Vapours vanished Plutarch rehearseth a Memorable History of that Age of the death of their great God Pan but could not find the true cause thereof c. God also plagued the Philistims as well as their God and forced them to return his Ark and to give him Glory after they had tried all their wit to the contrary See the Story Thus God is acknowledged of his Enemies as he had been of Pharaoh and was after of Nebuchodonezer Darius c. § 3. Of Samuel's Government 1 Sam. 7. He descended of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 for his Father Elcana a Levite of Mount Ephraim came of Korah the Son of Izaar Son of Cheath Son of Levi. His Mother after long Barreness obtained him by earnest Prayer to avoid the reproach of Barrenness as it was esteemed considering it was God's Promise Deut. 7. and Blessing to Adam and Abraham c. Under his Government the Lord freed Israel from the Philistins who at his Prayers were miraculously overthrown as were the Amalekites at the Prayer of Moses He Ministred Justice at three fit places Of which see Cap. 12. § 1. CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel § 1. THE deliberation to change the Government into a Kingdom arose upon Samuel's being grown unable to sustain the Burthen of so careful a Government which he put over his Sons who failing of their Father's Care and Uprightness and relishing nothing but Gain sold Law and Justice to the best Chap-men The Elders observing this and that the Old Man though a Prophet yet as a natural Father discerned not his Sons Errors and remembring the lamentable success of Eli's Sons Rule saw no other way to put them off than by desiring a King This Motion displeased Samuel who seeking Counsel from God as in a Cause of so great consequence he was order'd to hear the Voice of the People yet so as God accounted it a Wrong to himself rather than to Samuel and therefore commanded him to declare unto them the Inconveniencies and Miseries which shall befall them under that Government All which are not intolerable but as have been and are still born by Subjects free Consent But the Oppressions threatned verse 14 c. give an occasion â—o the Question Whether a King fearing God or one which will Rule by his own discretion and playeth the Tyrant be here set out as some judge or that the Text only teacheth what they ought with patience to bear at their Sovereigns hand as others judge The first ground themselves upon Deut. 17.14 c. and on the words of the Text which do not say he may but he will do so and so shewing what Power severed from Piety will do as in Achab's Example contrary to the Law Deut. 16.18 The Arguments on the other side are largely handled in that Discourse of free Monarchies which I shall not take upon me here to Insert This change of Government God fore-told Gen. 15. and 17. and 49. and provided for the direction of it by Laws Deut. 17. But whether the Reasons which move most Nations moved them to choose a Monarch or thereby to be cleared from the Sons of Samuel doth not so plainly appear for neither Perswasions nor Threats could draw them from their desire of a King § 2. Saul ' s Election § Samuel by God's direction having yielded to the People returned to his City Rama expecting the Lord's direction touching the King to be chosen which the Lord accordinly performed giving him warning the day before Samuel hereupon prepared to entertain whom God should send and Saul intending nothing less than a Kingdom found it and was Anointed and Confirmed by signs given him by Samuel and returned home Thus God oft by meanest occasions ordereth the greatest things and in Moses and David's Calling from feeding Sheep Iames and Iohn from Fishing c. Among the Signs given to Saul one was of the Company of the Prophets not such as by divine Revelation fore-told things to come as Moses Ioshua Samuel c. but such as were exercised in Expounding Scriptures as were those 1 Cor. 14. at which time God changed his Heart from a Vulgar condition to a Kingly After this another Assembly at Mispezh Saul was Published and designed King by God and accepted of the People and saluted King § 3. Saul's Establishment after his Victory against the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. The Ammonites attending the Advantage of Times for recovery of their Territories taken from them by the Amorites having in vain
deliberate grave and resolute for which all other Sâ—ates of Greece followed them the Athenians were eager sudden in concluding and hasty in execution obeyed by force and by means of their Ships forced the Islanders to hard Tribute The Lacedemonians being In-Landers perceiving the Athenians to grow great became jealous of them § 2. Athens to enlarge her Command used to protect the weaker States against the stronger though having been their Colonies as Corcyra was to Corinth This Wrong Corinth complained of to Sparta as others did and when Sparta could not prevail by intreaty they resolve on Force which Athens prepares for The Lacedemonians exceed in numbers and qualities the Athenians in many Ships and absolute Subjects § 3. Athens the tâ—o-first years had all the Country about wasted and the Towns visited with a grievous Pestilence by the throng of People and Cattle fled thither The Lacedemonians win Plataea but cannot rescue Mytilene from the Athenians for want of Ships their Confederates also grew weary so that the Lacedemonians seeing how little hurt they can do to Athens which was easily relieved by Sea fall to build Ships but to no purpose wanting good Seamen § 4. Sparta hearing that a Fleet of Athenians by contrary Winds stayed at Pilus a Promontory began to fortifie themselves there and hasted from Attica to put off such ill Neighbours from planting so near Peloponesus but finding the Garrison not so easily to be forced they possessed the Haven put four hundred Men into the Island and send part of the Fleet for Materials to ruine the Garrison The Athenian Fleet hearing of the Garrisons distresses returned and overthrew the Spartan Fleet c. The four hundred Men in the Island the Magistrates of Sparta seek to recover by sending to Athens to treat of Peace but in vain for Athens weighed Honour by Profit and held the advantage gotten and in the end by force took the Spartans in the Island Prisoners and sent them to Athens § 5. The Lacedemonians in this Condition labour for Peace which the insolent Athenians neglected 'till the overthrow their Forces by the Lacedemonians imployed in Thrace had received which made the Athenians more earnest to effect a Peace especially considering that beside the Athenian Power the Argives their ancient and not to be neglected Enemies were like to joyn with the Athenians the Thirty years Peace being expired The Peace at last is concluded but Conditions impossible for Lacedemon could not restore all the Cities which the Athenians had lost by their means as the Cities taken into their Protection refused to return subject to their old Lords the Athenians But before any quarrel grew the Spartans enter into a straighter Alliance with Athens by a League Offensive and Defensive to disappoint the Argives This League put all Greece in jealousie that these two would prove Lords of all § 6. The States of Greece which had excessively admired the Valour of Sparta seeing it now to seek Peace upon Terms not so Honourable grew to contemn it as the Corinthians Thebans c. who cast their Eyes upon the great Rich City of Argos and conceived great matters of it This is the common base Condition of the most who curiously searching into other Mens Vices cannot discern their Virtues and comparing our best parts with their first are justly plagued with false opinion of that good in others which we know wanting in our selves the Corinthians beginning complain that the Lacedemonians had left some of their Towns in the Athenians hands the Mantinians follow who feared revenge for that they had drawn some Arcadians from the Spartans to follow them These begin to enter League with the Argives and other Cities of Peloponesus follow The Lacedemonians knowing the scope of this new Confederacy send to Corinth to stop the Matter where it began chargeing them with their Oath of old Alliance which the Corinthians answer saying the Lacedemonians had first broken in concluding with Athens without care of restoring the Towns taken from Corinth c. The Corinthians thereupon enter League with Argos and draw others only the Thebans were not so forward because Argos was a popular State The Corinthians also for further security sought Peace with Athens and obtained a Truce but no League But in conclusion as Athens had by force gotten an absolute command and could perform what she promised so Lacedemon which had so many followers but voluntary could not do so as where they should restore Panacty held by the Thebans for recovery of Pylus they could not and so gave discontent to Athens There were also in Athens Alcibiades a young brave Noble-man and others as also some in Sparta desirous of War who promoted the breach of Peace what they could Alcibiades therefore sent to Argos which thought not now of superiority as lately she did but of Security advising them to secure-themselves by League with Athens The Lacedemonians seeing that Argos took that course sent to Athens to stay the proceeding knowing the Combination was not for their Wealth but by a trick of Alcibiades lost their labour § 7. The Argives presuming of their Allies molest the Epidaurians which the Spartans were bound to defend upon which occasion the Athenians and Spartans collaterally infest each other and the Corinthians Baeotians Phocians Locrians follow the Lacedemonians who in one Victory recovered much Reputation so that the Nobles of Argos getting the uper-hand of the Citizens made League with them renouncing Athens but the People recovering chased away their Nobles and reversed all § 8. Athens in the intermission of open War at home renew their hopes of subduing Sicily and sent such a Fleet as Greece never set out of which Alcibiades was one General Siracuse is besieged but relieved by the Lacedemonians and the Fleet block'd up in the Haven neither could Athens relieve it through home Factions whence Alcibiades was driven to banish himself and by this reason Sparta in the absence of their Forces Invaded Attica the Persians lending Money The Lacedemonians also by Alcibiades's Advice who fled to them fortifyed Decelia near Athens and all the Country about Yet the Athenians in their Obstinacy sent another Fleet which was quite vanquished in the Haven and the Army by Land utterly over-thrown This befell the Athenians deservedly by Nicias's Resolution who chose to venture little less than all the Power of Athens rather than to incur the Athenians Censure upon Return to be condemned unjustly as other Generals had been this Resolution cannot be commended seeing an honest valiant Man should do what Reason directs and measure Honour and Dishonour by a well-informed Conscience rather than the malicious Report and Censure of others yet it is excusable considering the Peoples Injustice and knowing an ill Fact is nothing so pernicious as an unjust Sentence which begun upon one becomes a President But his fear to fly as he thought to do was ridiculous because of an Eclipse that day which made him defer it 'till
Athenians make a sorrowful rehearsal of the outrages done them by Philip the Romans plead their former League with Aetolia and threaten those that join with Philip Which sheweth their meaning however they pretend to assist their Friends Which in the Conclusion is referred to Dorymachus their Praetor § 11. Philip and the Consul met in the Borders of Maeedon toward Illyria and had divers Skirmishes in which the Romans by an Ambush had a great loss at first but by Philip's stay to pick up straglers he was overtaken by the Roman Legions which forc'd him to flye and he hardly escaped his Horse being slain and he forced to accept his Subjects Horse who was after slain The King recovers his Camp in the Night taking his way Home But was overtaken and put to a loss before he could recover Macedon which was Invaded by the Borderers The Aetolians hearing of Philip's ill success Invade Thâ—ssâ—ly and cruelly Plunder'd a few Towns but Philip finding them dispersed slew many of them § 12. Rome thinking her self safe at Home by keeping War abroad found more trouble than they expected by the Gauls Governed by one Amilcar a Carthaginian who took their Colony of Placentia a good strong Town which neither Hannibal nor Asdrubal could force Upon this they sent to Carthage but the Carthaginians disclaim Amilcar and Banish him and sent Corn to Rome and to the Army in Macedon King Masanissa would also have lent them Two Thousand Numidian Horse but they were content with half the Number The Gauls at the Siege of Cremona are Overthrown L. Iunius and Amilcar slain and the Work against the Gauls made easie for them which follow § 13. Rome was not wont to trifle but to bid the Enemy Battel or force them to it as soon as they could but now they learn of Greece to War by Negotiations Their Treasure was yet empty and they in Debt to the Citizens yet weary of making slow Proceedings by Confederates they increase the Macedonian Army at least eight Thousand Foot and eight Hundred Horse which they committed to Quintus Flaminius the new Consul This augmentation was requisite for that Attalus desired to be spared being Invaded at Home by Antiochus which they condescended to promise to and Mediate Peace between them both being Loving Friends But all this shew of Friendship with Antiochus was but till they had made safe way through Macedon as after appeared Quintus being come finds Philip and Villius the old Consul Encamped one against the other in the Straits of Epirus by the River Apsus where he stayed long seeking passage over the Mountain Guarded by Philip. During this delay the King and Consul Treat of Peace but in vain for that the Consul required the freeing all Greece and Namely Thessaly which had been Subject to Macedon ever since Philip Father of Alexander Ater this the Consul was guided by an Herdsman sent by a Prince of the Epirots which loved the Romans so that Philip with the loss of two Thousand Men is forced Home through Thessaly which he wasted as he went as did the Aetolians and the Consul made a gleaning and took some Cities and for want of Provision returned by Phocis an Allie of Macedon In the mean time the Consuls Brother Admiral of the Navy with Attalus and the Rhodians wan two Cities of Eubaea and besiege Cenchrea the Haven and Arsenal of Corinth This quickened the Achaeans desire to forsake Philip having had so many motives by his injuries done them and their having so brave a Leader of Philopoemen In the end they hold an Assembly at Sicyon whither their Embassadours on both sides come with their Adherents where at last they decree to forsake Philip and join with their Enemies After this Philip's Lieutenant lying in Corinth was drawn by the multitude in Argos to assist them so they cast out the Achaean Guard and accepted Philip for Patron who thereupon had some hopes of a good end upon a Treaty The Consul also considering his Office would Expire before he could end the War is willing to enter into it that he might have the Honour of the Peace After two or three meetings demands and offers being made Philip refers himself to the Senate of Rome which the Consul liked and Embassadours from all parts meet but upon Philip's Embassadours denial to have warrant to yield Corinth Dolchis and Demetria all was dasht Philip to be revenged of the Achaeans made League with the Tyrant Nabis of Lacedemon and to oblige him he gave Argos into his hands which so lately had given it self to him from the Achaeans The Tyrant the next day Pillaged all the rich Men and to please the Multitude he made equal division of the Land as Tyrants use to do and presently made a League with Quintius who continued General against Philip. § 14. T. Quintius being continued General of the Macedonian War with twenty six Thousand seeketh out Philip who had a proportionable Number and found him in Thessaly near the City Pherae where though Philip designed not that day to put all to the Fortune of Battel yet being drawn on by the good Success of a Skirmish and the advantage of the Hill Cynoscephalae or Dogs-heads he chose his Ground But by reason the Mountain was full of Knobs like Dogs heads he could Marshal but one part of the Army leaving the rest to follow in order as they could By this roughness they could keep no order fit to make any Impression or good resistance and so were broken by Quintius's right Wing sent to them up the Hill Of which Wing a Tribune and twenty Ensigns or about two Thousand Men turning down the Hill on the left hand fell on Philip's Phalanx or square Battel with Pikes in the Rear and put all to flight when Philip thought the day his own So he lost eight Thousand slain and five Thousand Prisoners § 15. Quintius made haste to Larissa a City in Italy which opened to him so all the Warlike Archarnamians left Philip and gave themselves to the Romans The Poereans also rise against Dinocrates the Kings Lieutenant and recover'd the Province Philip considering his present necessity thought it Wisdom to yield to it and first sent and then went to Quintius to Treat about a Peace for which a day was appointed for all the Associates in which as the insolent Aetolians too much insulted over Philip and sought his utter Subversion so Quintius as generously opposed them Philip yielded to all that Quintius required and four Months Truce is agreed to by all but the Insolent Aetolians and the determination referred to the Senate of Rome The new Consuls oppose the Peace as fraudulent which made the Senate wave it but the Tribunes refer it to the People by whose Sovereign Authority it was concluded The Conditions were to remove all Garrisons out of Greece by a set day yield up Captives Renegados Ships of War except five lesser and one great one and pay a Thousand Talents and for