1â—0 broad There were so many gifts gratuities sent from all the cities and kings round about toward the building of this Temple that the riches and treasure thereof was wonderfull insomuch that when it was finished it was accounted one of the stateliest buildings the world could afford and numbered amongst the wonders of the world This temple thus built at such an extraordinarie charge that it was almost vnvaluable was set on fire by one Herostratus a wicked peruerse fellow in the same Olympiad and day that Alexander the Great was borne who hauing nothing in him that might make him famous in after-ages burnt this goodly building that so though not for his good but for his euill he might get a name But the Ephesians were so insenced because of this mischiefe that they procured proclamation to bee made through all the kingdomes round about that his name should not be once mentioned which perhaps for a time was obserued but in future ages they could not preuent it but that he was both spoken of written of Notwithstanding afterward the inhabitants of this City became so exceeding wealthy that they soon after rebuilt this temple of Diana and made it much fairer than it was before all the Citisens contributing with willing hands to the charge of the building insomuch that the women brought all their siluer gold and other pretious ornaments and communicated them towards this great worke Also in after-times those faire pillars before spoken of were againe erected towards the rebuilding whereof they receiued so many and wonderfull gifts from all the neighbouring Kings Cities and Countries that this Temple might as it was thought compare with all the world beside for riches and treasure It was standing in S. Pauls time who came thither about 12 yeares after the resurrection of our Sauior and continued there three yeares in which time he so faithfully and diligently preached the Gospell that he conuerted most of the Citisens from their idolatry and worship of Diana to the reuerend knowledge and confession of our blessed Sauior For which cause Demetrius the siluer smith who made a great gain by idolatry stirred vp a great tumult so that the Gentiles running vp and down the City for two houres space cried out with a loud voice Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. Here also Paul fought with beasts 1 Cor. 15. And to this city Paul wrot his Epistle and sent it from Rome 996 miles He made Timothy also a Bishop of this city to whom he wrot two Epistles the first was sent him from Laodicea to Phrygia beeing 280 miles the second from Rome as I said By these Epistles Timothy was greatly comforted and taught them to his disciples and auditors that so they might constantly continue perseuer in the Christian faith and religion to the end To conclude Iohn the Evangelist came also to Ephesus wrot his Gospel against the heretick Cerinthus who denied Christ to be the true God for which cause God grieuously punished him so that he died as hee was bathing himselfe in a bath Irenaeus lib. 5. ca. 3. Euseb li. 3. c. 22. This was the first Church to which Iohn wrot his Reuelation and there when he returned out of Pathmos he raised his host Drusana from death to life So when he had gouerned the churches in Asia 30 yeares after the death of Paul hee died when hee was 91 yeares old and was honorably buried at Ephesus not far from the city There was also another Iohn that liued in Ephesus to whom as many think the Epistles of Iohn the Evangelist were dedicated as Ierom sheweth in his catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers The sepulchre of this man is shewed not far from the Sepulchre of S. Iohn the Evangelist as Euseb witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 31. At this day this city is named Figlo ho Epheso See Gesner Of Pathmos THis is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituated betwixt Asia minor Grecia 2080 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Pli. l. 4. c. 12. saith that it was 30 miles in compasse Into this Isle the Evangelist was banished by Domitian Nero where he wrot his Reuelation It was one of the Cyclad Islands which were 53 in number that lay round about the Island Delus as Stra. li. 10. Geog. obserues It stood 40 miles from Ephesus Southwestward and as Petr. Apianus saith was somtimes called Posidius but now Palmosa Of Smyrna THis is the second city to which Iohn dedicated his Reuelation It was scituated in Ionia in Asia minor 540 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward This was a very faire city beautified with many goodly buildings and of good account in Grecia It was at first but a Colony transplanted from another city in that country But Theseus that great prince beeing then King thereof that he might adde some grace to that which hee had begun hee called it after his wiues name Smyrna signifying Myrrh Herod saith that Homer was born here but not blind and called by the name of Melisigines but after the Cumaenians called him of his blindnesse Homer Strab. li. 14. Geogr. saith That the inhabitants take vpon them to shew his picture standing there also a temple built in his honour During his life he was a man of small or no reputation or rather contemned than honored as Herod saith But after his death his works beginning to grow famous the Cities of Greece contended who should patronise him The Colophonians claim a part in him because he was in that towne and there made some of his Odysses They of Chios say he belonged to them because he liued there a long time and taught schoole But for ought that can bee found by Authours the Smyrnians haue most interest in him Neuerthelesse I leaue him to them that please to patronise him since it is not certainly found where hee liued He liued about 900 yeares before Christ Eusebius saith Hist Eccles lib. 4. cap. 14. that in after times this city grew very famous and was so much inlarged that it became a Bishops See whereof Polycarpus a very godly and religious man was Bishop He gouerned the Church in that place at such time as Iohn the Evangelist wrot his Reuelation and by him cap. 2. is called the Angell of the Church of Smyrna This man after he had faithfully preached the Gospell for the space of 86 yeares was by the inhabitants thereof condemned to death for the profession of Christ Anno 170. But the towne of Smyrna because of the vnthankfulnesse and crueltie of the inhabitants was grieuously punished for within ten yeares it was cast downe by an earthquake since which time it was hardly rebuilt again The riuer Pactolus which beginneth in Lydia runneth by this town of Smyrna But the inhabitants because of the golden veins that are found therein call it Crysorrhoas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. A little after that there was such an extreme plague hapned in Rome that they were constrained to carry out the dead bodies
downe the walls destroied the Temple which the Emperor Constantine had built and made havock of al things Presently vpon this the Turkes that came out of Scythia by the Caspian mountains won the city draue thence the Saracens Thus we may see that the Saracens and Turks though they were both of one religion yet for the country of the Iewes fought one against another and compelled the Christians to pay them Tribute for the fourth part of the city wherein the Sepulchre of our Lord stood being againe restored by the Emperor Constantine after the destruction of Caliphas The Christians being weary of this tribute and of the oppression of the Infidels became sutors to Pope Vrban the second of that name for their deliuery who in the yeare 1094 assembled a Councel at Clearemont in France and by the instigation of one Peter the hermit stirred vp the hearts of diuers Christian princes and great Lords to make a croysado so that 10000 braue well mounted souldiers went into the Holy land and for a token of their war bore red crosses vpon their armes In the same yeare there was a great blasing starre seene in the West and after that followed a great plague for the space of two yeares through the world this neuerthelesse hindred them not in their designes but that they went their intended journy won the City of Aelia from the Saracens deliuered the Christians from their bondage and tax and chose Godfrey of Lorrain Earle of Bullion King thereof whom they anointed in the Temple of the holy Sepulchre but hee refused to be crowned with a Crowne of gold saying That it ill beseemed him to be called King of Ierusalem the true King whereof was Christ or to sit crowned with gold in the place where he was crowned with thorns that was the Son of the euer-liuing God and then chose Arnolphus of Rhodes Patriarch In the moneth of October the same yeare a blasing Starre of maruellous bignesse appeared towards the South it seemed to be like a wauing sword foreshewing no doubt the destruction of all those that went about to re-establish this earthly Ierusalem Immediatly after the Feast of the Natiuitie of Christ all the Christians of the East countries vpon Candlemas day came out of Syria but especially out of Antiochia to Ierusalem in the Temple of the holy Sepulchre consecrated their Bishops and Chorasters and with one consent sung Illuminare Ierusalem They tooke also all the Cities Castles and Villages and ouer them set Bishops created foure Principalities one at Ierusalem another at Antiochia a third at Edissa a fourth at Tripoly Also certain Earledomes and Baronies as at Brito Zidon Caesarea Galilee Ioppa and Ascalon All these were appointed to pay tribute to the King of Ierusalem All this was done in the yere of our Lord 1099. No sooner were these newes published to the world but there was an vniuersall croysado through all Christendom for the conquering and winning of the rest of the holy land but before they could get thither they were either slaine by the Grecians and other nations or els died through famin thirst so that in them was fulfilled the prophecie of Zacharias cap. 12.3 where it is said It shall happen that I will make Ierusalem an heauy stone for all people all they that lift it vp shal be torn though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it And verse 9 And in that day I will seeke to destroy all the nations that come against Ierusalem This yeare 1100 died Godfrey King of Ierusalem of a feuer vpon the â—8 day of Iuly when he had reigned scarce a yere and was buried in the temple of mount Calvarie After him succeeded his brother Baldovin the first of that name second King of Ierusalem This man reigned 18 years in Ierusalem and being ouercome by Caliphas Sultan of Egypt after the losse of thirteene thousand Christians he had much adoe to escape with life Within a short time after hee died without issue Baldwin the second succeeded his vncle and was the third king of Ierusalem He began his reign Anno 1118. This man ouercame the Turks and the King of Damascus had issue only one daughter named Milesent whom he maried to the Earle of Angiers and gaue with her the kingdom of Ierusalem and died without heire male in the yeare 1131. Fulco in right of his wife succeeded his father in law was the fourth King of Ierusalem This Fulco was brother to the King of England he reigned 13 years fought many worthy battels against the Turkes put 3000 of their men to the sword tooke many of them prisoners and caried them to Ierusalem After that as hee was hunting the Hare by Acon riding speedily hee fell from his horse and was sorely brused whereof he died and left two sonnes called Baldwin and Almerick Baldwin the third was the fifth King of Ierusalem and succeeded his father He won the city of Ascalon he rebuilt the towne of Boza which had beene destroyed placed there certaine Knights Templers he lost the City of Edissa to the Saracens where many Christians were cruelly slain And hauing reigned 19 yeares he died without issue After him succeeded his brother Almerick as was the sixt king of Ierusalem In the time of this king the Sultan of Egypt gaue a great ouerthrow to the Knights Templers which he seeking to reuenge inuaded Egypt with a great army besieged the great city of Alcaire but to small purpose wherefore returning back to Ierusalem he shortly after died when he had reigned 12 years he left behinde him three children a sonne called Baldwin and two daughters Sibilla and Isabella Baldwin the fourth succeeded his father and was the seuenth king of Ierusalem who abusing his gouernment was struck with leprosie with the contagion of which disease he died miserably in the 25 yere of his age hauing reigned 13 years Baldwin the fift of that name the onely begotten son of his sister Sibil by his consent was chosen his successor a youth of 9 yeares old his fathers name was William Mountferrat earle of March who dying his mother married one Guy Earle of Lusignan to whom Baldwin committed the protection of the kingdome and of his yong kinsman till he came to mans estate But this yong man within 7 years after the death of his vncle died sitting at his table not without suspition of poison Guy his protector by the persuasion of his wife and at the instigation of the Ierosolimits took vpon him the gouernment but Raimond Earle of Tripoli was his great aduersary for that Baldwin 4. for his exceeding pride at the instigation of that Guy had displaced him of all his Offices and titles in the commonwealth These two striuing for the kingdom it hapned that Guy was charged with his kinsmans death vnder which pretence Raimond made war against him During these troubles Saladine Sultan of Egypt taking aduantage of this opportunitie made war vpon them
King of Egypt 2 Reg. 23. In the trauels of Iosiah King of Iuda I will speake of this town more at large The 27 King dwelt at Kades Ios 19.21 The 28 King dwelt at Iaknedam 27 miles from Ierusalem Northward being vpon the Mediterranean sea This towne was alotted to the Tribe of Zabulon and giuen to the Levits Ios 21. The 29 King dwelt at Naphet Dor which towne lay vpon the sea coast between the hill Carmel and the town of Cesarea Stratonis 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward The 30 King dwelt at Gilgal between Iericho and the Riuer Iordan and was the first King that Iosuah ouercame and slew al his host The 31 King dwelt at Thirtza in the Tribe of Manasses 24 miles from Ierusalem In this towne Ieroboam and after him all the Kings of Israel kept their courts before Samaria was built THE BOOKE OF IVDGES The Trauels of Caleb and Athniel CAleb and Athniel with all the Children of Iuda went from Iuda to Beseck 44 miles where they tooke King Adoni-Beseck prisoner and cut off his fingers and toes Iudg. 1. From Beseck they went to Ierusalem 44 miles which they tooke by force and burnt it Iudg. 1. From Ierusalem they went to Hebron 22 miles which they tooke and slew the Gyants that inhabited therein Iudg. 1. Not far from Hebron lay the towne of Debir which Athniel won and therefore Caleb gaue him his daughter Achsa for his wife Iudg. 1. From Debir they went to Zephat 16 miles which town they won Iudg. 1. From Zephat they went to Gaza 4 miles From Gaza they went to Ascalon 6 miles Iudg. 1. From Ascalon the went to Hebron 14 miles From Hebron they went backe again to Debir where Athniel dwelt 12 miles So all the trauels of Caleb and Athniel were 132 miles The Description of the Townes and places to which they trauelled Of Beseck BEseck was a metropolitan city of the Canaanites neere to the water Merom where Adoni-Beseck kept his Court 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North and tooke the name of Desaeck or Beseck which signifies lightning Of this King you may reade Iudg. 1. Of Zephah THis was a town vpon the borders of the tribes of Iudah and Simeon not far from Siclag Ios 15. It takes the name from Zaphah which signifies a watch-tower and was also called by the sons of Iuda who destroyed all the country Chorma which signifies a Curse or a desolat place To the citisens hereof Dauid sent gifts 1 Sam. 36. Of Gaza OF this town you may reade more hereafter in the Trauels of the Arke of the Couenant The typicall signification of CALEB CALEB signifieth An hearty man or A man after Gods owne heart louing his Neighbour with all his heart For Col is as much as Omnis which signifies All and Cala Hee forgiueth all and Leb or Lebbah signifieth an Heart the seat and fountain of all life So that Caleb seems to take his name from a singular heartie affection whereby he forgiueth his neighbour For as this man being of a noble resolution and courage in the 29 yeare of his age won Hebron a strong City and put to death the three sons of Anak terrible Gyants so Christ the Son of God that so loued the world that he gaue himselfe for it with a more than humane resolution conquered hell and those three mighty Gyants incident vnto it the sons of Sathan Sin the World and Death Of Athniel IN the yeare of the World 1503 and before Christ 2565 Ioshuah died after whose death Caleb and Athniel iudged Israel about which time the Israelites committed idolatry and worshipped Baal and Asteroth wherefore the Lord suffered them to fall into the hands of Chushan Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia But because of their oppression they cried vnto the Lord and hee stirred vp Othniel the yonger brother of Caleb who in the yeare of the world 2512 conquered Chushan deliuered the people and gouerned Israel 40 years Iudg. 3. Athniel or Othniel signifies the god of time being deriued of Aeth that is an Age and is a Type of Christ who is the God of time and in his due time conquered the world and Sathan the prince thereof thereby deliuering the poore afflicted members of his Church out of his miserable seruitude and bondage for which cause God hath made him judge ouer it and giuen him fell power and authority to rule and gouern it The Trauels of Ehud the third Iudge of Israel EHud was the sonne of Gira of the Tribe of Iuda and dwelt in the City of Iericho or of the Palmes Hee was a valiant and resolute man lame of his right hand Iudg. 3. and to the iudgement of man not fit to bee a Captaine beeing so infirme Yet it happened that this man growing in fauor with Eglon King of the Moabites who at this time kept his Court in Iericho which towne he had but eighteene yeares before conquered tooke opportunitie by the Children of Israels comming to Gilgal for they came thither to offer to the Idoll and to bring gifts of the king to present these presents vnto him and because of his former familiaritie was admitted to speake in priuat with him in his summer parlour where as he was talking with him he thrust him into the belly with a short knife and locking the dore he fled back to Seirah and told the children of Israell what he had done From thence they presently went to Ephraim there blew the trumpet and set vpon the Moabits and put them to the sword Iudg. 3. The Trauels of Ehud EHud went from Iericho to Gilgal 2 miles From Gilgal he went to Iericho 2 miles From Iericho he went to mount Ephraim 6 miles From Mount Ephraim he went to Iorden 4 miles where hee ouerthrew 10000 Moabites So all the trauels of Ehud were 14 miles Of Mount Ephraim THis mountain is about 8 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and extends it selfe in longitude to the city neer the Mediterranean sea called Ioppa which is distant from Ierusalem 20 miles toward the Northwest The Trauels of the sonnes of Hobab the Kenite THe sons of Hobab the Kenite Moses brother in law were from Iericho to Arad a City in the tribe of Iuda scituated in the desart toward the South Num. 10. Iudg. 1. 44 miles Of Arad ARad is a city in the Tribe of Iuda 22 miles from Ierusalem towards the South taking the name of a multitude of asses that were found thereabouts in the desart and is deriued from Arod which signifies a wilde Asse a rude creature The Trauels of Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite who killed Sisera the Captaine FRom Arad shee and her husband went to the plaine of Zaaenaim and dwelt there neere to a Towne called Kades a Towne of refuge of the Leuites in the Tribe of Nephthali 166 miles there she killed Sisera This towne lieth 92 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Deborah and Barak DEborah was the wife of Lapidoth and dwelt vnder
the inhabitants to death because of their mocks From thence he went to Ophra foure miles where gathering together all the gold which hee had taken from the Midianites he made a rich Ephod Iudg. 8. From Ophra hee went to Sichem where his sonne Abimalech was borne which is 10 miles From thence he returned backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there he died after he had judged Israel 10 yeares So all the trauels of Gedion were 82 miles The Description of the Townes and places to which GEDION trauelled Of Iesreel IEsreel was a faire Citie scituated vpon a hill neere to the flood Kison bordering vpon the Tribe of Isacher 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifieth the seed of God being deriued from El and Dara the seed of the Almighty God There was another of this name in the tribe of Iuda Ios 15. In times past this was onely the seat and chiefe abiding place of the Kings of Israel For Ahab and Iesabel kept their Court there and Ioram their sonne whom Iehu ouercame and here Iesabel was eaten vp of dogs At this day this faire citie hath in it but thirtie houses and is called by the inhabitants of the holy land Sanatham being scituated at the foot of the mountaine Gilboah Westward in it there is a Watch tower vpon the top whereof you may see through all Galile to Carmel and the mountaines of Phaenicia also to mount Thabor and the mountaines beyond Iordan called Gilead Of this Towne you may reade Ios 17.19 2 Sam. 2. Of Nobach THis was a citie beyond Iordan and stood in the halfe Tribe of Manasses 38 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward In times past it was called Kenah but after Nobach Prince of the halfe Tribe of Manasseh had conquered it he called it Nobach Num. 23. and signifieth a Prophet being deriued of Nabah or Nabach he hath prophesied or cryed out Of Iogbeha THis towne was built by the children of Gad and lies beyond Iordan 34 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from the height of the place where it standeth being deriued from Gabah which signifieth it excelleth in height Of this you may reade Iudg. 8. Numb 32. Of Karkor KArkor is a citie in the halfe Tribe of Manasseh and is scituated beyond Iordan some forty miles distant from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from Kir which signifies he hath destroyed or subuerted the walls for here the two Kings Zeba and Zalmuna were taken Saint Ierom saith in his booke de locis Hebraicis That in his time it was a faire Towne The typicall signification of GEDION THis Gedion whose name signifieth to root out destroied and subuerted the enemies of the Iewes so Christ hath destroied the kingdome of Sathan and daily rooteth out all his impious and wicked members which are enemies to his Church The Trauels of Abimalech the sixt Iudge of Israel GEDION being dead Abimalech his sonne went from Ophra to Sichem which is ten miles and there was chosen by the citizens to succeed his father in the gouernment From thence he went backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there put to death his 70 brethren all sonnes of Gedion but by diuers concubins for God permitted Bigamie but did not command it From Ophra he went ten miles into the land of Sichem and there was chosen King about the yeare of the World 2712. From Sichem which was the seat of the kingdome he went to Ophra being ten miles there he iudged Israel three yeares After that hee went the third time backe to the Sichemites which is 10 miles but they breaking promise with him for very madnesse he caused the citie to be destroied and salt to be sowne in the place that so euer after it might become barren accursed and vnhabitable From Sichem hee went with his hoast to Thebets or Tebez which is two miles where he was mortally wounded by a woman that flang a stone vpon him at the siege of that towne wherof he died Iudg. 9. So all the Trauels of Abimelech were 52 miles Of Thebez THis was distant from Sichem two miles Northward and from Ierusalem 38 it tooke the name from Bitzah which signifieth a deepe pond Abimelech tooke his name from an hereditary kingdome or rather because he obtained the kingdome ouer Israel after his father and is as much to say as My father is a King because good Princes differ little from good fathers for Maelaech with the Hebrews signifieth a King Malechah a Queene and Malchech a kingdome So that this name Abimelech properly signifieth a King or one that is a father of his people Of the flight of Iotham which was the brother of Abimelech IOtham signifieth a perfect and swift man being deriued from Iatham that is perfect and swift This man at such time as Abimilech put to death the rest of his brethren to saue his life fled to Mount Carizin where hee propounded the riddle mentioned Iudg. 9. And after from thence he went to Beerah where he hid himselfe from the fury of Abimelech All this was 44 miles Of Mount Gerizim GErizim or Garizim was a mountaine in the kingdome of the Samaritans and extended it selfe in the longitude as farre as Iericho neere to mount Hebal In these two mountains the blessings and the cursings were recited of which more shall be said hereafter and it taketh the name from the felling down of trees being deriued from Garaz which signifieth to cut or to fel down here Christ spoke with the Samaritan Iohn 4. Of Beerah BEerah was a Towne in the Tribe of Iudah ten miles from Ierusalem Westward Neere to this Citie Iudas Machabeus fought a memorable battell against Bacchides and others whom he conquered It taketh the name from a cleere Well being deriued of Beer that is he hath made cleere Of Thola the seuenth Iudge of Israel In the 3 yeare of this mans rule Hercules king of the Argiues famous for his twelue labors began to raign Macrob. lib. 1. THola takes his name from a red worme or purple colour which colour is proper to Princes Hee succeeded Abimelech in the gouernment of the Iewes and began to rule An. mun 2715. and 1253 yeares before Christ His fathers name was Puah of the Tribe of Issacher He dwelt in Samir a citie of Mount Ephraim not far from Iericho twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North and there he was buried as you may see Iosh 15. Of Iair the eighth Iudge of Israel In the 10 yeare of this Iudge An. mun 2747 and before Christ 1221 Hercules died and Priamus king of Troy began his raigne which he lost fortie yeares after IAir succeeded Thola began his gouerment in the yere of the world 2738 and 1230 yeares before Christ He took his name from the singular worth and noble disposition that was in him This Iair was one of the tribe of Manasseh he was lame of both his feet and was a man of great estimation among the Iewes for
all speed pursued the enemy and in the way as hee went he found an Aegyptian who a little before the Amalekits had left there because he was vnable to follow them This Aegyptian guided Dauid to the tents of the Amalekits who suspecting no such euill were making merry with the booty that they had taken But Dauid with the rest of his company so manfully behaued themselues that they gaue the Amalekites a sudden ouerthrow and as it often hapneth to such as are negligent and carelesse he tooke away from them their former bootie and put most of them to the sword This battell was fought some 8 or 12 miles from Ziclag as by the circumstance of the history may appeare From this slaughter he returned backe to Ziclag which is 12 miles and repaired it to euery neighbouring citie sending a part of the prey Here hee had certaine intelligence of the successe of the Israelites in their wars against the Philistins and of the death of Saul and Ionathan which hee bitterly lamented 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 1. These things hapned in the 10 yeare after Samuel had annointed Dauid King From Ziclag he went to Hebron a metropolitane Citie of the tribe of Iuda being a towne of refuge belonging to the Leuites which was 16 miles At this time Dauid was about the age of thirtie yeares and was annointed King by the Tribe of Iudah in the yeare of the World 2891 and before Christ 1077. Here he kept his Court seuen yeares and six moneths From hence also he sent messengers to Iabes in Gilead 44 miles to signifie his gracious acceptance of that fauour which they shewed vnto Saul in burying of his body there 2 Sam. 1. 1 Chr. 12. From Hebron Dauid went to Ierusalem 22 miles which then was called Iebus being possessed of the Iebusites but he woon it with strong hand and thrust them out of it and in mount Sion set vp the city Millo which was after called the city of Dauid and signifies A place of plenty He began his raigne in Ierusalem in the 38 yere of his age and 7 of his raigne In this place also he set vp his house made of Cedar wood of which Hyram King of Tyrus sent him great plenty from Mount Libanus distant from thence 104 miles 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 12. From thence he went to the valley of Rephaim some 3 miles from Ierusalem in the way that leadeth to the citie of Bethlem where he fought a memorable fight against the Philistines and ouercame them for which cause it was also called Baal-Perizim because by the helpe and assistance of God he had conquered the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 5. After he had dispersed the enemies hee returned to Ierusalem which is 4 miles The Philistines came the same yeare into the valley of Rephaim againe and pitched their tents within three miles and a halfe of Ierusalem and the Lord gaue Dauid a signe that when he heard a noyse in the mulberry trees hee should set vpon the enemy so Dauid went forth and close by the towne of Gaeba and Kiriath-jearim about two miles from Ierusalem Westward he set vpon the enemie and gaue them the second ouerthrow 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 15. From thence Dauid followed the enemy to Gaza which was 18 miles 2 Sam. 5. In the 10 yeare of his raigne from his first beginning in Hebron Dauid assembled all the Princes Priests and chiefe men of Israel to the number of 30000 which inhabited from Sechor till you come to Chaemah a citie of Nepthalie at the foot of mount Libanus euen 163 miles off These men assembled themselues in the citie of Ierusalem and from thence they with Dauid went to Kiriath-jearim which was about a mile to fetch the Arke of the Couenant from thence into the city of Dauid 1 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. From Kiriath-jearim Dauid and all his traine returned backe again to Ierusalem which was about a mile and they placed the Arke of the Lord in a new cart and caused it to be drawne with Oxen which turned out of the way to the threshing floure of Nachon where Vza rashly and inconsiderately touching the Arke of God contrary to the Diuine Law was presently slaine by the Lord in the way and that place was called Paeri-Vza that is The breach of Vza For he was not of the Tribe of Aaron to whom it was only lawfull to touch the Arke therfore the Lord strooke him that he died miserably wherefore Dauid being terrified by this example of Gods seueritie would not that day bring the ark of the Lord into Ierusalem but carried it to the house of a certaine Nobleman called Obed-Aedom a Gittite who dwelt not far from Ierusalem but when it was told Dauid that the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Aedom and all his family because the arke was there Dauid went from Ierusalem with a great multitude of people to the house of Obed-Aedom who as is said before dwelt not farre from Ierusalem yet there are some that say he was an excellent musitian in Ierusalem and dwelt in Mount Acra that is in the lower citie and from thence Dauid fetcht the Arke of the Lord into the vpper citie which stood vpon mount Sion but I hold the other opinion to be the more probable When the Arke was carried by the Priests Dauid girt himself with a linnen Ephod which kinde of garment the Priests of the inferior order vsed to weare and danced before it singing Psalms and hymnes to the praise and glory of God and with great state brought it to the citie of Ierusalem with the sound of Trumpets and instruments of musick and placed it in the middle of the Tabernacle which they had curiously erected in Mount Sion in the vpper citie which was also called the citie of Dauid This hapned in the tenth yere of his raigne at which time Michal Sauls daughter despised him in her heart and laughed at him but God gaue her a due recompence as you may reade 2 Sam. 6. and him a just reward for he promised by the Prophet Nathan That of his posteritie and bloud the King of Kings and Sauiour of the world should be borne In the yere following Dauid inuaded the land of the Philistins and the citie of Gath which with strong hand he woon this was 34 miles from Ierusalem From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem 34 miles In the twelfth yere of his raigne he afflicted the Moabits with cruel war and destroyed two of their armies with the sword and the rest of the multitude made tributarie which was 24 miles 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19. He returned thence to Ierusalem with great triumph and joy 24 miles In the 13 yeare of his raigne Anno mundi 2903 and before Christ 1065 he made an expedition vnto Zoba which Iosephus calleth Sophenam and is in Armenia neere to Masia or Mount Taurus 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which you may reade before Dauid in this place woon
a memorable battell against Hadad-Ezer the King thereof neere to the riuer Euphrates he tooke 700 horse and 20000 foot burnt their chariots tooke 100 castles conquered all the Townes and Countrey round about and went away with a great bootie as well of Gold as siluer brasse and other things which brasse for the excellencie thereof was like vnto gold and as Iosephus saith afterwards Solomon made the molten sea of it When Gadarezer King of the Syrians he that built that famous citie of Damascus heard of the ouerthrow of Hadad-Ezer hee sent a great army to his aid which King Dauid neere to the riuer Euphrates smote with the sword so that 20000 of them were slaine and he carried away a glorious victorie extending his gouernment from Ierusalem 600 miles towards the North that is into Armenia and beyond the riuer Euphrates and made these two nations tributary vnto him 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19. After Dauid had woon these 2 memorable victories neere Euphrates he went thence with all his army towards the South and inuaded the land of Syria in which journey Ioram the sonne of Tohi King of Antiochia which citie at this time was called Hemath met Dauid with gifts and presents in the name of his Father returning him many thankes because he had destroied the common enemy Hadad-Ezer and by strong hand subdued and quelled the furie of that mighty tyrant who was also a trouble and vexation to the Kingdome of Antiochia Dauid entertained this message kindly thankfully receiued his gifts which was of gold siluer and fine brasse and so gaue Ioram an acceptable dispatch and from thence with his army went to Damascus the Metropolitan citie of Syria where in the valley of salt he got a great victory in which 18000 Syrians were slaine and soon after the Citie of Damascus taken in which Dauid placed a garrison and compelled them to pay tribute 2 Sam. 8. This was distant from the kingdome of Soba 520 miles From Damascus he went with his army into the land of the Ammonites 100 miles in the way that leadeth out of Syria to Ierusalem all which he conquered and all the cities and townes thereabouts and compelled them to pay tribute 2 Sam. 8. From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was 60 miles and all the bootie that he had gotten in his journey he dedicated vnto the Lord 2 Sam. 8. A while after hee with his army made an incursion into the land of Idumaea and compelled the inhabitants to pay tribute Moreouer he destroied the citie of Midian the Metropolitane of that countrey of which you may reade before it was distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the South So that the extent of Dauids kingdome from the North to the South was 800 miles euen from the kingdome of Soba to the Red sea and from the East to the West 120 miles from Tyrus and Sydon reaching to Damascus Thus by the singular blessing of God he obtained a spacious and powerfull Empire 1 Sam. 8. 1 Reg. 11. 1 Chr. 19. He made his expedition into Idumaea about the 14 yeare of his raigne From Midian in Idumaea hee returned with great glory and praise to Ierusalem which was 160 miles In the 14 yere of his raigne and in the yere of the world 2904 and before Christ 1064 Nahas King of the Ammonites died and Haron his sonne succeeded him this man contemptuously abused the messengers of Dauid 2 Sam. 10. and to justifie that injury he gathered an army out of Soba Siria and Mesopotamia euen a mighty Host to oppose Dauid who in the 15 yeare of his gouernment met him with his Armie at Helam some twenty miles from Ierusalem where he obtained a notable victorie and destroied 700 chariots and 40000 horse 1 Chr. 20. Dauid after this with great applause of the people was entertained into Ierusalem which was 20 miles distant where being puft vp with prosperity he forgat his former pietie and sanctitie and by degrees fell into vnlawfull actions and vnjust desires whence it hapned that soone after he committed adulterie with Bathseba after that to hide his fault caused her husband to be slaine This was kept secret till the Lord by Nathan sharply reprehends him laies before him what hee was and what his present estate is from whence that came and then concludes that he is most vnthankfull carelesse and negligent towards God and man in committing those insolencies neither left he there but told him that God would seuerely punish him for his offence which after hapned as you may reade 1 Sa. 11.12.14.17 Dauid being nipt in his conscience with this sharpe reprehension fell into great lamentation the extremitie of whose passions may very well appeare in the poenitentiall Psalmes which at this time and soone after hee wrot and left to future ages After this about the end of Summer he gathered an army and went into the land of the Ammonites some 64 miles where hee took the Metropolitan citie which at that time was called Rabba because of the multitude of citizens that were in it but after being restored by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt hee called it after his own Philadelphia there took the crowne from the head of the king of the Ammonites which weighed a Talent of * How much this was you may read after in the quantitie of weights gold being as Iosephus saith richly adorned with faire Sardonicke stones of which you may reade in 2 Sam. 12. From thence he returned back to Ierusalem which is 64 miles where hee married Bathseba and by her had foure sonnes Simeon Sobab Nathan and Solomon 1 Chr. 3. Soone after this Ammon defloured his sister Thamar not long after that his son Absalon killed his brother Ammon beeing then about 18 yeares of age which Dauid tooke so hainously that he would not suffer him to come into his sight for three yeares 1 Sam. 13. Then Ioab by the subtiltie of the woman of Tekoa reconciled him to the king his father yet neuerthelesse he came not to his court of two yeares after This Absolon was a goodly man affable for which cause enen at that time the people began to affect him Afterward in the yeare of the world 2950 and before Christ 1408 Absolon being then about 25 yeares of age moued sedition against his father A matter remarkeable that although he had slaine his owne brother being disgraced and absent from the Court almost fiue yeres yet within short time after he so strongly vnited the affection of the people to him that he constrained Dauid standing in feare of his greatnesse all his former acts and worthy victories notwithstanding to forsake his owne citie and for safety to fly to the mount of Oliues beeing three quarters of a mile from the citie There he staied a while to see the condition of the tumult but necessitie constrained him to take his way to Bahuzim And as he was going Zimri the sonne of Gesa of the house of Saul cursed
that hee was constrained to leaue the battell 1 Reg. 22. And as he went backe againe to Samaria which was 24 miles he dyed of his wound Of this man you may reade more 1 Reg. 21. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahab were 152 miles The Description of Carmel Apheck and Ramoth you may reade before Of Iesreel IEzreel is a city in the Tribe of Issachar scituated vpon a rising ground some 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Ahab somtimes kept his court Here Noboth the Israelite dwelt an honest and religious man one of good esteeme and authoritie that feared God and would not suffer the inheritance of one Tribe to be transferred to another because God had commanded the contrary Nu. vlt. For which cause he would not sell his vineyard to Ahab wherefore Iezabel that wicked woman to satisfie the Kings desire caused him to be stoned Iezreel signifies The seed of God being deriued of Sera Seed and El the Almighty God Though in former times this hath bin a faire town yet at this day there is not past 30 houses in it and is called Charity standing at the foot of Mount Gilboah they shew at this day the field of Naboth the Iesrelite lying towards the West as you goe into the citie a little before you come at it This towne standeth vpon a faire prospect for you may see from thence through all Galile to Carmel the mountaines of Phoenicia and Mount Thabor also from Mount Gilead by Iordan and Mount Salem where Iohn baptised neere by Mount Hermon vpon the North side of Mount Gilboah there lies a faire and plaine way to the citie Iezreel by which Iehu came when he made wars vpon Iehoram King of Israel of which you may reade more 2 Reg. 9. It stood not far from the riuer Kison as you may reade Ios 17.19 1 Sam. 2. 1 Reg. 4. 18. Of Ahaziah the sonne of Ahab AHaziah was crowned king of Israel during the life of his father a cruell and wicked man he began his raigne in the 17 yeare of Iosaphat king of Iudah Anno mundi 3049 and before Christ 919 about such time as Ahab went downe to Ramoth Gilead to recouer it from the Syrians within a while after the death of his father hee fell through the lattice window in his vpper chamber which was in Samaria of which hurt he died Of this you may reade more 1 King 1. The Trauels of Iehoram King of Israel IEhoram succeeded his brother Ahazia in the kingdome of Israel who began his raigne in the 18 yeare of Iosaphat King of Iudah and as Iosephus saith li. Ant. 9. about the fifth yeare of his raigne went from Samaria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles There he told Iosaphat how the king of Moab had rebelled against him therefore desired him to goe along with him to the war 2 Reg. 3. Then Iehoram and Iosaphat and the King of Edom went from Ierusalem and compassed about through the wildernesse of Idumaea by the space of seuen daies so that they and their army for want of water had almost perished but at the prayers of the Prophet Elisha they were miraculously preserued At length they came to Petra the Metropolitan Citie of the Moabites and is distant from Ierusalem 172 miles which they tooke and consumed it with fire and sword 2 Reg. 3. From the citie of Petra Iehoram King of Israel returned backe to Samaria which was 104 miles where within a while afrer he was so sorely besieged by Benhadad king of Syria that the famine grew very great within the towne insomuch as a certaine woman eate her owne childe 2 Reg. 6. From Samaria he went to Ramoth in Gilead with his armie which is 24 miles where he was ouercome by Asahel King of the Syrians and wounded euen to the death 2 Reg. 8. From the fight of Ramoth Gilead he was carried in his chariot backe to Iezreel which was 24 miles where he lay to be cured of his hurts But Iehu one of his chiefe Captaines rebelled against him and as hee was in his Charriot shot an arrow and wounded him the second time whereof he died in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite 2 Reg. 9. So all the Trauels of Iehoram were 356 miles The Trauels of Iehu King of Israel IEHV signifies A constant man in himselfe and was the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Nimschi hee was annointed King of Israel in the castle at Ramoth in Gilead by Elisha Anno mundi 3063 and before Christ 905 hee raigned 28 yeares 2 Reg. 9. From Ramoth in Gilead in his Chariot he went to Iezreel which was 24 miles where in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite he killed Iehoram with an arrow And when he came to the gates of the citie he caused Iezabel to be throwne from a tower whom he trampled vnder his horse feet And after in that same place shee was eaten vp with dogs Then hee sent messengers to Samaria commanding the Samaritans that they should put to death the 70 sonnes of Ahab which they immediately did and sent their heads vnto him in baskets 2 Reg. 10. From Iezreel he went to Samaria which is 16 miles In that journey he caused to be slaine by his ministers the 42 brothers of Ahaziah king of Iuda neere to the well which was beside the house where sheepe was shorne And when he came to Samaria he caused all the posterity of Ahab to be vtterly destroied and rooted out And to conclude the tragedy by a cunning policie put to death all the priests of Baal 2 Reg. 10. So all the trauels of Iehu were 40 miles Of Iehoahas King of Israel IEhoahas was the sonne of Iehu and succeeded his father in the Kingdome of Israel he began his raigne in the 33 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah in the yeare of the World 3091 and before Christ 876 hee raigned ouer Israel 17 yeares God stirred vp against this wicked King Asahel King of the Syrians who with 10000 foot and fiue hundred horse besieged Samaria very strongly put to the sword many of his subjects and got many cities and townes from him as the Prophet Elisha had before told him 2 Reg. 8. 13. The Trauels of Ioas King of Israel IOas succeeded his father Iehoahas and while he was yet liuing was annointed King of Israel in the 37 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah and raigned two yeares with his father after his death 15 so all the raigne of Ioas was 17 yeares This man was a great souldier and went from Samaria with an army against the Citie of Apheck which was 14 miles there he smote the Syrians and in three seuerall battels carried away the victory recouering the Cities which his father Iehoahas had lost according to the prophecie of Elisha 2 Reg. 17. From Apheck he returned to Samaria which was foureteene miles From thence he went with his army to Bethsemes in the land of Iuda where in a sharpe and cruell war he conquered Amasia and tooke him
the Places to which they trauelled Hion and Dan. HIon and Dan are two towns neere to mount Libanus and the fountains of Iordan some 104 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Hion signifies A towne of the fountain because it standeth neere to the Towne or Fountaines from whence Iordan issueth Of Abel-Bethmaacha you may reade before Of Chineroth THis Chineroth or Cineroth was the metropolitan City of the tribe of Nepthali 72 miles from Ierusalem Northward It was scituated in a very fruitfull and pleasant place and for that cause was so called for Kinroth being deriued of Kinnor signifieth Musicke or Mirth The Trauels of NAAMAN the Syrian NAaman came from Damascus to Samaria which was 132 miles to be cured of his Leprosie by Elizeus who commanded him to goe to the riuer Iordan and wash himselfe therein 7 times and he should be clensed Wherfore from Samaria he went to Iordan 26 miles there according to the commandement of the Prophet he washed himselfe 7 times and was clensed 2 Reg. 5. From the riuer Iordan he returned backe againe to Elizeus the Prophet to giue him thanks for that benefit which was about 16 miles From Samaria he returned backe to Damascus 132 miles So all the trauels of Naaman the Syrian were 296 miles The Trauels of HASAEL King of Syria HEe went from Damascus where Elizeus told him that hee should succeed his Lord and Master Benhadad in the kingdome to Ramoth Gilead with his Army which was 104 miles There he ouercame Iehoram king of Israel in a great battel 2 Reg. cap. 8. From thence he returned to Damascus 104 miles After he went from Damascus to the city Aroer which was 132 miles From thence he went through the land of Giliad into the kingdom of Basan vntil he came to mount Libanus which is accounted 80 miles and conquered all that part 2 Reg. 10. After he returned into his own kingdom to Damascus which is 320 miles Within a while after he went againe from Damascus with his army to Gath which is reckoned 188 miles This city he won From Gath he went to Ierusalem 32 miles which he besieged so streightly that Ioas King of Iudah was constrained to giue him great aboundance of gold to raise his siege and be gon 2 Reg. 12. From Ierusalem he went back to Damascus which was about 160 miles The last journey that he went against the Israelites was when he besieged Samaria at which time he won many cities towns round about in the countrey and made them tributaries to him 2 Reg. 13. which was 132 miles Hauing finished this expedition he returned back to Damascus 132 miles and there died and was buried So all the trauels of Hasael King of Syria were 1384 miles The cities of Aroer and Gath are described before therefore I shall not need to speake of them again in this place The Trauels of BENHADAD second of that name King of Syria THis Benhadad was the son of Hasael and succeeded him in the gouernment He went from the city Damascus with a great army to Apheck which is 104 miles This King was three times one after another ouerthrowne by Ioab King of Israel lost all those cities which Hasael his father had formerly conquered 2 Reg. 13. From Apheck he returned to Damascus 104 miles and there died So both journies were 208 miles The Trauels of RESIN King of Syria RESIN King of Syria went from Damascus and ioyning his Army with that of Pekah King of Israel they went to Ierusalem and streightly besieged Ahab King of Iudah 2 Reg. 16. which was 160 miles At this time which was in the yeare of the world 3206 and before Christ 762 the Prophet Esay ca. 7. foretold of the birth of our Sauior Christ saying Behold a Virgin being great shal bring forth a child and shall call his name EMANVEL From thence he brought his army through Idumaea to Elath a city of the Red sea some 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and 16 miles from Ezeongaber Northward This city Resin won and thrust the Iewes out of it From Elath hee went to Damascus 280 miles where hee was slain by Tiglath Phulasser that mighty King of the Assyrians who carried a great multitude of the inhabitants of Damascus into the countrey of Syrene where they endured a miserable exile 2 Reg. 16. So all the trauels of King Resin were 600 miles The Trauels of the Kings of Iudah which reigned in the City of Ierusalem and first of the Trauels of REHOBOHAM REhoboam the sonne of Solomon succeeded his father in the Kingdome and began his reign Anno mundi 2971 and before Christ 977. who by reason of his extreme crueltie and threats following the counsell of his yong Courtiers rather than of his graue Senators the same yeare lost 10 of the Tribes that fell from him and rebelled against him so that he reigned ouer Iudah and Benjamin 17 yeares 1 Reg. 11. 14. A little after the death of Solomon he went to Sichem 32 miles where he was anointed and crowned King But the people perceiuing that hee carried himselfe very proudly and arrogantly desired him that he would ease him of the burden formerly imposed vpon them by his father for Solomon had set a certaine Taxe on euery man because hee was at extraordinarie charges as long as the temple was building but he little regarding their request told them that his little finger should be heauier than the whole burthen of his father wherefore they disliking his speech fel all from him except Benjamin and Iudah Wherefore the King shunning the fury of the people with all possible speed went from Sichem to Ierusalem back again being 32 miles Then he fortified all the chiefe cities of Iuda and Benjamin 2 Chr. 11. So all the trauels of Rehoboam were 64 miles But he principally fortified 14 cities in the tribe of Iuda that with the more safetie he might oppose his enemy Ieroboam King of Israel viz. Bethlehem Etam Thecoa Bethzura Adullam Gath Maresa Ziph Adoraijm Lachis Aseca Zarea Ajalon Hebron most of which townes and the memorable actions don in them are described in the former part of this Treatise I will therefore speake only of such townes as haue not as yet bin mentioned Of Maresa THis was a city in the tribe of Iuda 16 miles from Ierusalem Westward which Rehoboam repaired and fortified 2 Chr. 11. where King Asa ouercame the Ethiopians in a cruel battel 2 Chr. 14. Here Michaias and Eleazer the Prophets were born 2 Chr. 20. Mich. 1.2 Ios 15 Georgias also fled into this city when hee was ouercome by Iudas Machabeus 2 Mac. 12. It was scituated on the borders of the tribes of Iuda and Dan as S. Ierom saith in whose time the ruins thereof were to be seene Maresca signifies an Inheritance being deriued of Moraschah that is a Possession Of Bethzura THis is a strong castle often mentioned in the history of the Machabees scituated on a mountaine some 5 furlongs from
Ierusalem Southward and fell by lot vnto the tribe of Iuda This tower was as it were a bulwark for the city of Ierusalem stood in the way as you go thence to Bethlem and so to Gaza Of Zareah THis was a city in the tribe of Iuda eight miles from Ierusalem toward the West which Rehoboam did also repaire and fortifie 2 Chr. 11. There was another city of this name scituated vpon the border of the tribes of Iuda and Dan 18 miles from Ierusalem Westward of which you may reade in the trauels of Sampson Of Adoraijm ADoraijm or Adarah was a city in the tribe of Iuda 44 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward which Rehoboam the son of Solomon also fortified 2 Chr. 11. It is scituated vpon the borders of Iudah and Arabia Petraea betweene Cades and Casmona It signifies a glorious City being deriued of Adar he was glorious The Trauels of King Abia. ABijah or Abia signifies The Father of the sea Hee began to reign in the 18 yeare of Ieroboam his Aduersary An. mundi 2988 before Christ 980 and reigned ouer Israel 3 yeres 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 17. He went from Ierusalem to the mount Zemeraim 8 miles After that hee went to Bethel and conquered all the countrey from thence to Ephron which was 36 miles From Ephron hee returned to Ierusalem 44 miles there hee tooke vnto him 14 wiues and begat 20 sonnes and 16 daughters 2 Chron. 13. The Trauels of ASA King of Iudah ASa signifies a Physitian He began to reigne about the end of the 21 yeare of Ieroboam King of Israel An. mundi 2990. before Christ 978. He gouerned Iudah with great commendations 41 yeares He went from Ierusalem to Maresa 16 miles where in the valley of Zephatha hee ouercame the Ethiopians in a memorable battell 2 Chr. 14. From thence he pursued the Ethiopians to Gerar being 22 miles and recouered many cities which the Ethiopians dwelt in 2 Chr. ca. 14. From Gerar he went to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and offered to the Lord of the spoiles that hee had taken 700 Oxen and 7000 sheepe 2 Chr. 15. These trauels of King Asa make 70 miles The journey and expedition of Saerah King of Aethiopia whom Asa King of Iudah ouercame in the valley of Zephatha SAerah or Saerach signifieth A noble and puissant Lord. This was a mighty and warlike Prince who gouerned Lybia and Aethiopia the King of which countrey at this day wee call Presbyter Iohn or rather Petro Iohannes who holdeth his Court in a faire and goodly city called Hamarich the Metropolitan of all Aethiopia and extendeth his gouernment beyond Meroes in Affrica Many though ignorantly suppose he is a Priest because he is called Presbyter though indeed he is not so but rather a puissant and mighty Emperor But to return to Saerah or Saerach who in hope to extend his Empire into these parts went with a great army out of Ethiopia to the valley of Zephatha in Iuda to fight with Asa King of Iudah 1200 miles but lost the day and returned with great shame 2 Chr. 15. It seemeth that this King was the mightiest of all his predecessors and a Prince of no vulgar estimation because of the multitude and great aboundance of soldiers which he brought in his army for it is reported that there were 1000000 that bore armor and 300 chariots but this great army was dispersed and most of them died miserably as did that great army of Xerxes which consisted of 1700000. From whence it may be concluded That it is not the strength of man which deliuereth him but the Lord. The Trauels of IEHOSAPHAT King of Iudah IEhosaphat signifies The Iudge of the Lord. He began his reign in the fourth yeare of Ahab 1 Reg. 22. The greatest part therfore of the first yeare of this King hapned in the yeare of the world 3033 and before Christ 935. Hee reigned ouer Israel 25 yeares that is from the 35 of his age till the 60. In the 7 yeare of his reigne hee went from Ierusalem to Samaria which was 32 miles to visit his kinsman Ahab King of Israel for Ioram his son some ten yeares before had maried Athaliah King Ahabs Sister 2 Reg. 8. From Samaria hee went with Ahab to the war at Ramoth in Gilead which was 24 miles where Ahab was slaine 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 18. From Ramoth he went safe from the wars to Ierusalem which was 48 miles From Ierusalem hee went to the city of Beersaba the vtmost bounds of his kingdome towards the South to instruct his people in the Law of the Lord which was 42 miles from Ierusalem Southward From Beersaba passing through all his kingdome hee came to Mount Ephraim which was 48 miles and the vtmost bounds of his kingdome Northward beeing some 8 miles from Ierusalem 2 Chr. 19. From Mount Ephraim he went to Ierusalem which was eight miles Thus Iehosaphat went through al his dominions to instruct his subjects in pietie and the true worship of God In euery Citie ordaining Iudges and Gouernours Magistrates Procurators and Assessors committing to their discretion the deciding of all controuersies saying to them Take heed what you doe for the office which you haue taken vpon you is not humane but Diuine and as you iudge so shall you bee iudged for the Lord is with you in iudgement Wherefore doe all things with diligence and in the feare of the Lord for with the Lord there is no iniquitie nor respect of persons neither taketh he any bribes And he himselfe remained chiefe Iudge in Ierusalem to whom any might appeale from the inferior Iudges that so there might be a iust end of controuersies 2 Chr. 16. Afterward Iehosaphat went forth with his army to Tecoa sixe miles from Ierusalem where by feruent prayers the sounding of trumpets and other musical instruments he obtained a memorable battell against the Moabites Ammonites and Idumaeans for the Lord turned the weapons of them one against another and they wounded one another to the death This fight happened in a faire vally between Tecoa and Engedi So Iehosaphat pursued the enemy for three daies with great slaughter and returned with a mighty spoile This was called the valley of Blessing because of this great victorie at Tecoa and began 8 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward and extended it selfe to the tower of Engedi neer to the banke of the red sea 20 miles From Engedi out of the valley of Blessing Iehosaphat and his army returned to Ierusalem 20 miles and went into the Temple with shalmes harpes timbrels and great joy thankfully acknowledging Gods mercifull fauor toward him in giuing him so great a victorie 2 Chr. 20. But as there is nothing in this life that can be said permanent so likewise the felicitie of Iehosaphat changed on a sudden the froward and aduerse frowne of aduersitie seising vpon his prosperitie for ioyning with that wicked and impious King of Israel Ahaziah vpon condition to build a certain navy of ships at Ezeongaber to
fetch gold from Tharshish and other places in India he displeased the Lord for which cause there arose a great tempest which brake down the workes and destroyed the Navy From Ierusalem he went with Iehoram King of Israel to war against the Moabites and with them went the King of Idumaea so passing through the desarts of Edom they came to Mount Seir and so went to Petra the chiefe city of the King of the Moabits distant from Ierusalem 72 miles 2 Reg. 3. From Petra Iehosaphat returned to Ierusalem 72 miles where he died and was buried 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 21. So all the trauels of Iehosaphat King of Iuda were 372 miles The Typicall signification of IEHOSAPHAT AS Iehosaphat by prayer and the sound of trumpets and other instruments of musick ouercame dispersed his enemies without drawing his sword so Christ also by the sound of his Word and doctrine without drawing weapon ouercame the enemies of the Church The Trauels of IORAM King of Iudah IOram signifies The Exalted of the Lord. He was crowned king his father yet liuing at such time as he made his expedition against Mesa King of the Moabites which hapned about the fift yere of Iehoram King of Israel An. mundi 3055 before Christ 913. He reigned with his father Iehosaphat 2 yeares and after his decease six So Ioram reigned 8 yeares ouer Iudah and when hee was forty yeares old died miserably 2 Reg. 8. 9. About the beginning of the second yeare of this Kings reign which was the sixt of Iehoram King of Israel Elias the Prophet was taken vp into heauen About the beginning of his reigne he went from Ierusalem to Mount Seir which was 28 miles Southward where he vsed such extreme cruelty toward the Edomites which at this time were his subiects that of a sudden they fell from him and chose them a King of their own 2 Reg. 8. From the Mountain of Seir he returned to Ierusalem which is 28 miles and there cruelly put to death his owne brothers But God stirred vp against him the Philistines and Arabians who broke into Iuda and destroyed it with fire and sword They also went to Ierusalem and tooke thence all his substance and riches put his children to the sword all but Ioachas which also called Ahaziah or Ochorias caried away his wiues captiue into Arabia Foelix which is neer vnto Ethiopia 1200 miles Then the Lord strooke him with an extreme paine in his bowels of which after two yeares he died and was buried without any funerall pomp or honorable respect neere to the Kings tower A man vnworthy to be buried in the sepulchre of the rest of the Kings because hee so much degenerated from Dauid his predecessor 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 28. So all the trauels of Ioram were 56 miles The Trauels of AHAZIAH King of Iudah AHaziah which also was called Iehoachas succeeded his Father Ioram in the gouernment of Iudah began his reign in the 12 yeare of Iehoram King of Israel Ann. mundi 3062. and before Christ 906 and reigned one yeare 1 Reg. 8. He went from Ierusalem to Ramoth in Gilead which is accounted 48 miles There he went to battell with Iehoram King of Israel against the Syrians 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 22. From Ramoth in Gilead he returned to Ierusalem forty eight miles Within a while after he went backe again to visit his kinsman Iehoram King of Israel to Iesreel for hee was wounded in the battell against Hasael and lay there to be cured which was forty and eight miles With Iehoram he went to meet Iehu the Captaine of the Host who shot an Arrow and wounded Iehoram that hee died in the field of Naboth the Iesreelite Wherefore Ahaziah to saue his life fled with all possible speed taking his way to the Kings garden that stood close by the vineyard of Naboth the Iesreelite not farre from the City and Tower of Iezreel But Iehu followed him so close that he wounded him as he ascended vp vnto a place called GVR which signifieth A Lions Whelpe neere vnto the Towne which is called Iiblea Wherefore Ahaziah feeling himselfe hurt he went to Megiddo foure miles from Iesreel and neere to Apheck vpon the West There as Iosephus saith Lib. Antiq. 9. hee caused his wounds to be searched and bound vp This citie of Megiddo is 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward From Megiddo hee went to Samaria which was 14 miles there he lay hid for a while flying from one place to another to saue himselfe 2 Chron. 22. But being found out he was carried backe to the citie of Megiddo which was 14 miles and at the commandement of Iehu was there slaine 1 Reg. 8. From Megiddo his carkasse was carried to Ierusalem which was 48 miles and there buried 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chron. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahaziah King of Iudah were 224 miles Of that Idolatrous and wicked Queene Athalia AThalia was sister to Ahab and daughter to Omri married to Ioram sonne of that good King Iehosaphat when he was but 17 yeares of age and after the death of Azahiah who was slaine about the 23 yeres of age she vsurped vpon the kingdome of Israel anno mundi 3063 before Christ 905 and raigned with great tyranny almost 7 yeares So soone as she had obtained the gouernment she cruelly and miserably put to death all the children of Ahaziah and all those that were next heire to the Kingdome onely Ioas who was saued by the policie of Iehoshabeath sister to Ahasiah that stole him from among the rest of the Kings sonnes and put him to nourse in her bed-chamber and hee was with them in the house of God six yeares all which time Athalia raigned ouer the land And in the seuenth yeare Iehoiada waxed bold and proclamed Ioas King as being next heire to the crowne and annointed him in the temple who after Athalia was slaine succeeded in the gouernment 2 Reg. 11. 4. 2 Chron. 22. Of Ioas King of Iudah IOas began th raigne ouer Iudah when he was almost 7 yeres of age and about the middle of the seuenth yeare of Iehu King of Israel anno mundi 3069 and before Christ 899 and raigned ouer Iudah 40 yeres He did that which was acceptable in the sight of the Lord all the daies of Iehoiada the Priest who crowned him king but after his death he fell into euil courses and caused that good Priest Zachariah the sonne of Iehoiada who was the author of all his preferment to be stoned to death in the vpper court of the Temple which act argued that he was very vnthankefull and tyrannicall But the Lord displeased with his crueltie within a yeare after the death of Zachariah stirred vp the Syrians who inuaded Iudaea and spoiled the citie of Ierusalem in which warre all those that stirred vp the king to Idolatrie were cruelly slaine To conclude within a while after some of his courtiers conspired against him and as he lay sicke of a grieuous disease in his
bed put him to death and buried him in Millo the Citie of Dauid Thus God justly punished this tyrant for his vnthankefulnesse apostasie and cruelty when he had liued 47 yeares 2 Reg. 12. The Trauels of Amasiah King of Iuda AMasias or Amasiah signifies the strength of Iehouah This man was 25 yeares of age when he was enthronised by his father about the second yeare of Ioas King of Israel Anno mundi 3108 and before Christ 806. He ruled the kingdome while his father was sicke one yeare and after his decease 28 so all the yeares of his raigne were 29. He went with an army from Ierusalem to Saelag that is to the tower or rocke of Mount Seir 40 miles towards the South here in the valley of Salt he put to death a multitude of the Idumaeans And although this towne was very strongly scituated yet he woon it and called it Ioctiel that is The eare of the Lord because God in that place heard his prayers being deriued of Iakah and El which is God hath heard Neere to this Towne Amasiah commanded ten thousand Idumaeans which hee had taken in warre to be cast downe headlong from the top of an high rocke into a deepe valley in which fall their bones were shattered all to pieces and they died miserably 2 Reg. 14. From Selag Ioctiel hee returned to Ierusalem which was 40 miles where hee began to worship the gods of the Idumaeans that he brought along with him 2 Chron. 25. From Ierusalem hee went to Bethsemes and there was ouercome by Ioas King of Israel which was 4 miles 2 Chron. 25. From Bethsemes Ioas led Amasiah backe againe to Ierusalem captiue which was 4 miles 2 Reg. 14. From Ierusalem he fled to the citie of Lachis which was 20 miles and there was slaine by his owne seruants 2 Chron. 25. From Lachis his carkasse was carried backe againe to Ierusalem 20 miles where it was buried in the citie of Dauid 2 Reg. 14. 2 Chron. 25. So all his trauels were 128 miles The Trauels of Azariah or Vzziah King of Iudah THis man succeeded his father Amasia in the yeare of the world 3138 and before Christ 830 when hee was but 16 yeares of age and raigned 52 yeares his mothers name was Iecoliah of Ierusalem He did those things that were vpright in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord blessed him And after the death of his father built Elah and restored it to Iudah He therefore went from Ierusalem to Elah 160 miles towards the South and rebuilt that towne it being a famous Mart towne scituated vpon the red sea and fortified it because Resin King of the Syrians in times past for want of due fortification woon it and destroied it 2 Chron 26. From Elah he returned to Ierusalem 160 miles After hee went from Ierusalem to Gath a citie of the Philistines which was accounted 34 miles this towne he woon beat downe the wals and destroied the Bulwarkes thereof From thence he went to Iabnia which is 24 miles and broke downe the wals thereof 2 Chron. 26. From thence he went to Azotus or Asdod which was 8 miles 2 Chron. 26. From Asdod he went againe to Ierusalem being 22 miles Within a while after he gathered an armie and went from Ierusalem to Gur-Baal that is Gerar where he ouercame the Arabians in a great battell which was 32 miles 2 Chron. 26. From Gerar he returned to Ierusalem being 32 miles He went from Ierusalem the third time into the land of the Amonites 60 miles which people he conquered and made tributarie to him so that he was made famous through all the countries thereabout euen to the vtmost part of Egypt because of his often victories and triumphs 2 Chron. 26. Out of the land of the Ammonites he returned to Ierusalem which was 60 miles But now being lift vp with the prosperitie of fortune and not content with his regall dignitie he endeauoured to haue chiefe authority ouer the Priests also for which cause he went into that part of the temple where the Altar of sweet incense stood where it was lawfull for none to goe but the Priests and there tooke vpon him to offer sweet incense but as he was offering the Lord strucke him with Leprosie so that he was constrained to dwell in a house by himselfe separated from the congregation And his sonne Iotham gouerned in his stead all the dayes of his life But within a while after he died of this disease and was buried in the Kings garden at Ierusalem and not in the sepulchre of the Kings 2 Reg. 15. 2 Chron. 26. So all the trauels of Azariah King of Iuda were 592 miles Of the places to which he trauelled Of Elah THis was a city scituated vpon the Red Sea 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South betweene Ezion-gaber and Midian This city Resin King of the Syrians conquered but Azariah King of Iudah droue thence the Syrians and made it so strong that it seemed impossible to be conquered It tooke the name of aboundance of Oakes which as it seemeth grew about that place for Elah or Ilix signifies a kind of Oake tree of which there is great plenty in the Holy land so called because of their strength and hardnesse Of Iabnia THis was a city neere to Ioppa and Lidda 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This city taketh the name of wisedome and prudence being deriued of Bin to vnderstand Of Gur-Baal THis towne is also called Gerar where Abraham and Isaac sometimes trauelled it is distant from Ierusalem 32 miles towards the Southwest and six miles from Hebron Here the Iewes and neighbouring Arabians afterward worshipped the Idol Baal and therefore this citie which in the times of the Patriarchs was called Gerar a Perigrination was after called Gur-Baal that is the Perigrination of the idoll Baal being deriued of Gor which signifies He hath trauelled The Trauels of Iotham King of Iudah IOtham signifies Whole and Perfect He succeeded his father Azariah when he was about 25 yeares of age anno mundi 3190 and before Christ 778. He raigned ouer Iudah 17 yeares vntill the 41 yeare of his age His mothers name was Icruscha so called from an inheritance or possession He began his raigne in the second yeare of Pekah King of Israel and continued it vntill the 17 yeare of his gouernment 2 Reg. 15. 17. When this noble Prince had rebuilded and richly adorned the porch of the house of the Lord he went from Ierusalem and inuaded the countrey of the Ammonites which was 60 miles conquered their King and made the whole land pay him tribute euen a hundred talents of siluer of the common weight and 10000 measure of Wheate and 10000 of Barley yearely This tribute continued three yeares From the land of the Ammonites he went backe to Ierusalem which was 60 miles where after he had adorned the Citie and Temple with many Princely buildings hee died about the 41 yeare of his age 2 Reg. 15. So all
fathers The Trauels of Manasses MAnasses or Manasseth signifieth forgetting or he hath forgotten This man was 12 yeares old when hee succeeded his father Ezekiah in the Kingdome of Iudah he began to raigne anno mundi 3251 and before Christ 717. This King was a great Idolater and one that put the Prophets of the Lord to death so that it was wonderfull to see what tyranny mischiefe he wrought in Israel wherefore the Lord stirred vp the Assirians against him who ouercame him in a great battell and tooke him captiue carrying him bound in chaines from Ierusalem to Babylon euen 680 miles But after being humbled by his afflictions he came to a knowledge of himselfe and repented for his former euill humbling himselfe with prayer and fasting vnder the hand of God wherefore the Lord tooke compassion of him and stirred vp the minde of the King of Babylon to mercy so that hee loosed his bands and sent him backe againe to Ierusalem 680 miles From that time forward he left idolatry and worshipped the true God adorned the Temple of the Lord with many faire and beautifull buildings and in the 55 yeare of his age he died and was buried in the Kings garden 1 Reg. 21. 2 Chron. 33. So all the trauels of Manasses were 1360 miles Of Amon King of Iuda AMon signifieth True and faithfull he succeeded his father Manasses when he was but 22 yeares of age anno mundi 3307 before Christ 661. He raigned two yeres and then because of his exceeding idolatry the Lord cast him off when he was about 24 yeres of age neere which time some of his seruants conspired against him and put him to death The Trauels of King Iosiah IOsiah signifies A sacrifice of the Lord he succeeded his father Manasses in the gouernment when he was but 8 yeres of age Anno mundi 3309 hefore Christ 659. He gouerned Israel with great commendations 32 yeares 2 Reg. 22. his mothers name was Iedidah and dwelt in a towne called Bozkath but how farre this Towne stood from Ierusalem it is not set downe by any Author This good King went from Ierusalem to Bethel which was 8 miles there he burnt vpon the Altar which Ieroboam built the bones of the Priests of Baal as the man of God that came from Iuda had told Ieroboam 350 yeres before 1 Reg. 13. 2 Chr. 23. From Bethel he returned backe again to Ierusalem which was 8 miles there he celebrated the Passeouer with a solemne feast and great attendance 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. In the last yeare of his raigne he went with his army from Ierusalem to Megiddo which was 44 miles against Pharaoh Necho K. of Aegypt in which battell he was slaine with an arrow about the 39 yeare of his age 2 Chron. 35. From Megiddo his body was carried in a chariot backe again to Ierusalem which was 44 miles and there with great lamentations honourably buried 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. So all his trauels were 104 miles The Trauels of Iehoahas King of Iudah IEhoahas signifies The knowledge of God he succeeded his father Iosiah in the 23 yeare of his age Anno mundi 3340 which was 628 yeares before Christ and raigned onely three moneths 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ieremy cap. 22. calleth this man Schallum that is A recompence He went from Ierusalem to Riblah a city in the tribe of Nepthaly which is accounted 80 miles where he was taken prisoner by Pharaoh Necho 2 Reg. 23. From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led him captiue bound in chaines backe again to Ierusalem which was 80 miles and there appointed Iehoiakim his elder brother to raigne in his place 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chron. 36. From Ierusalem he carried Iehoahas to Memphis the Metropolitan citie of Aegypt which was 244 miles 2 Reg. 23. So all the Trauels of Iehoahas were 404 miles Of Iehoiakim King of Iuda IEhoiakim was the eldest sonne of Iosiah that good King and succeeded his brother Iehoahas in the Kingdome Anno mundi 3341 before Christ 627 he gouerned Iudah 11 yeares Pharaoh Necho made him King when he was 25 yeares of age to whom he was constrained to pay 100 talents of * What this is in our money you may reade after in the quantitie of moneys siluer and a talent of gold This money being payed he obtained the Kingdome and continued in great impiety and idolatry for which cause he was sharply reprehended by Ieremiah the Prophet but he being offended at his words sought to put him to death wherefore the Lord stirred vp Nebuchadnezzar the second of that name Emperour of the Assirians and Babylonians who in the 11 yeare of this Kings raigne came to Ierusalem and took him captiue tyed him in two chaines and would haue carried him to Babylon but his minde changed wherefore hee caused him to be put to death and cast out into the fields of Ierusalem for a prey to wilde beasts Ier. 22. 2 Reg. 23. Of Iehoiachin King of Iudah IEhoiachin signifies the preparation of Iehouah This man succeeded his brother Iehoiakim and began his raigne about the end of the 3351 yere of the world and raigned only 3 moneths and 10 daies which was about the 8 yeare of Nabuchodonesor the great at which time he was led captiue from Ierusalem to Babylon together with Mordochae and many other Nobles which was 680 miles This captiuitie hapned 617 yeares before Christ 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ester 2. Ier. 52. The Trauels of Zedekiah the last King of Iudah AFter Iehoiachin succeeded Zedekiah which signifies The just man of God This was the sonne of that good King Iosiah yet an impious tyrant who by the permission of Nabuchadonezar the great was suffered to be King of Iudah after his brother when he was 21 yeares of age He began to raigne about the beginning of the 3352 yeare of the World and before Christ 616 he gouerned tyrannically 11 yeares 2 Reg. 24. In the 11 yere of this king Ierusalem was taken by Nabuchadonezar the great Emperour of the Babylonians wherefore Zedekiah to escape the brunt of war fled from Ierusalem with all possible speed to Iericho which was 12 miles Ier. 39.52 From the plaine neere the citie of Iericho where he was ouercome by the Princes of the Chaldeans he was led to Riblah to Nebuchadonezar which was 68 miles From Riblah after the Emperour Nabuchadonezar had caused all his children to be put to death before his face and had put out both his eyes he led him captiue to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserable 2 Reg. 25. So all the Trauels of Zedekiah King of Iudah were 680 miles Of the destruction of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar In the ninth yeare of this Zedekiah which was the last King of Iudah Nabuchadonezar began to besiege Ierusalem it being then Winter anno mundi 3860 vpon the tenth day of the tenth moneth Tebeth which answereth to the 27 day of December which day the Iewes till now obserued as a fasting
16. So all his trauels were 176 miles Concerning the towns and places mentioned in these trauels you may reade before ¶ Of the Kings of Syria that succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes and made war vpon the MACHABEES And first of the Trauels of Antiochus Eupator THis Antiochus the yonger succeeded his father Antiochus Epiphanes in the 149 yere of the Grecians gouernment in Syria which was the 161 yere before Christ and he continued King of Asia and Syria 3 yeares Lysias the Kings Substitute for Syria called this man by the name of Eupator that is a good Father because Kings ought to be Fathers of their countries This Antiochus Eupator in the second yeare of his reign came with a great army from Antiochia to the town of Modin which was 380 miles From Modin he went to the Hold at Bethsura this he sharply besieged being 12 miles From Bethsura he went to Bethsachara almost a mile to meet wrth Iudas Machabeus who put him to flight and kild 600 of his men 1 Mac. 6. From Bethsachara hee returned to the Hold of Bethsura and won it which was almost a mile From Bethsura he came to Ierusalem which was halfe a mile From Ierusalem he went with his Army to Ptolomais beeing 76 miles From Ptolomais hee returned to Antiochia 204 miles and a halfe Concerning the townes and places mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Trauels of Demetrius Soter the brother of Antiochus Epiphanes IN An. mundi 3809. before Christ 159. Demetrius Soter the son of Seleucus Philopater who was sent to Rome brought a Navy from thence through the Mediterranian sea and came to Tripolis in Syria which journy was 2680 miles and vsurped vpon the gouernment of Syria against young Antiochus the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. From Tripolis he went to Antiochia where the King kept his court 88 miles Here he caused yong Antiochus and Lysias to be slain and after reigned in Syria 10 yeares At length he was slain in a great battel by Alexander the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. So all his trauels were 1760 miles Of Tripolis THis city was scituated in Phoenicia a prouince of Syria on the shore of the Mediterranian sea 170 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called because there dwelt in it three sorts of people viz. Tyrians Sydonians and Arabians It is a very famous City euen to this day the Ocean sea comming into euery street and principall place of it and full as populous as Tyrus For there inhabit Grecians Latines Armenians Maronites Nestorians and people of many other nations of diuers conditions and customes in manner of liuing It aboundeth also with great aboundance of costly Tapestrie which is made so curiously and with such cost that it is very delightfull to such as looke vpon it It is credibly reported That there are found within the city of Tripolis 4000 men that do little els but weaue and make Tapestry and such like costly hangings The country round about where it standeth is very pleasant because of the great aboundance of Vines Olives Figgs and other fruits and floures which yeeld a comfortable smell and is profitable for the maintenance of life it is called Paradice There is a field before the City some two miles in length and one in bredth in which there are to be seene very curious gardens and artificially contriued About six miles from the city standeth mount Libanus at the foot whereof riseth a goodly fountain which with great violence runneth thence but suddenly falling into the vallies it ioyns with other waters and becomes a faire and pleasant riuer watering all the gardens of the plain between Tripolis and Libanus but especially the mountains of the Leopards which is not far off In the Canticles cap. 4. there is mention of this hill Come with mee my Spouse from the dennes of the Lions and the mountains of the Leopards The water of this Spring is very cleare pleasant cold and healthfull vpon the banks of it there stand many churches religious houses It is called the Fountaine of the gardens and is diuided into three riuers or principal streams besides many other small brooks which run thence and fall into the sea so that the sentence Est 9. is verified of this A small fountaine shall increase to a great Riuer and shall be poured out against many waters The Trauels of King Alexander son of Epiphanes and brother to Antiochus Eupator OF this Alexander Iustin writes lib. 35. where he sheweth That he was not son to Antiochus Epiphanes as was supposed but had to name Prompalus being a man of the meaner sort of people but the Antiochians for the great tyranny of Demetrius falling into rebellion gaue vnto him the name of Alexander and withal caused it to be published abroad that he was the son of Epiphanes which by reason of his youth was easily beleeued And at this time Demetrius because of his crueltie being much hated of all sorts of people it came to passe that most and those of the greatest also combined with this yong man supposing him indeed to be of noble descent and the son of a King Wherefore Alexander or Prompatus being thus encouraged tooke vpon him to bee the brother of Antiochus Eupator and called himselfe the lawful heire and successor to the crowne of Syria going from thence to Ptolomais where he kept a royall court and in the yere of the world 3818 before Christ 150 by the help of the Antiochians other the inhabitants of Syria hee tooke vpon him the gouernment of that country and reigned fiue yeares This man suffered many varieties and changes of fortune at first was put to flight by Demetrius after hee put Demetrius to flight and at length put him to death and vsurpt vpon his gouernment In the third yere of his reign he maried Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Egypt by whom he had his son Antiochus To this marriage Ionathan was inuited In the last yeare of his gouernment hee went from Ptolomais to Antiochia which was 200 miles where hee opposed himselfe against Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter 1 Machab. cap. 10. From Antiochia he went to Cilicia which was 120 miles to suppresse the rebellion of his subiects but when hee heard that Ptolomeus Philometor his father in law had taken vp armes against him conquered Syria and giuen his wife to Demetrius Nicanor which had been maried vnto him two yeares before hee gathered all his forces hee could and with all expedition made good the war against Ptolomeus but hee was ouercome and fled into that part of Arabia which bordereth vpon the mountaine Amanus for refuge where Zabdiel the gouernor of that countrey fearing lest he should fall into the displeasure of Ptolomeus caused his seruants to cut off his head and sent it to him into Syria Within three daies after which sight he died being mortally wounded in the former battell Ios li. Ant. 13. c. 17.
ITINERARIVM TOTIVS SACRAE SCRIPTVRAE OR The Trauels of the holy Patriarchs Prophets Iudges Kings our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles as they are related in the Old and New TESTAMENTS With a description of the Townes and Places to which they trauelled and how many English miles they stood from IERVSALEM Also a short Treatise of the Weights Monies and Measures mentioned in the Scriptures reduced to our English valuations quantitie and weight Collected out of the Works of HENRY BVNTING and done into English by R.B. LONDON Printed by ADAM ISLIP 1636. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR HENRY MOVNTAGVE Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Majesties BENCH IT is a true saying of the Philosopher Right Honourable and my very good Lord that there is nothing wherin there is life but it hath either motion or action and such is the condition of man that a greater measure of both is imposed vpon him to humble him than vpon many other creatures The whole course of his life being compared vnto a Pilgrimage in which state a man can presume vpon no certaine continuance For as a Traueller that intendeth to finish his journey staies not in his Inne but desires more to be vpon his way than in his bed so it is with man who cannot possesse himselfe in rest from the time of his birth vntill his death and oftentimes is troubled with needlesse and vnprofitable Labours to attaine vnto his ends which got both they and he perish Let Alexander that great Emperour be a president of this who with much Labour hauing got a great estate enjoyed it but a short time and you may reade in this Treatise with what intollerable paines Antigonus Epiphanes endeauoured to establish his kingdome to him and yet in the end purchased little but a lamentable death There is none of the Patriarchs Princes Iudges Kings Prophets Apostles or others mentioned in the Scriptures that could make euident in the whole course of their life any better than a laborious and tedious Pilgrimage With what paines did Abraham wander from Chaldaea into the land of Canaan How was Moses tormented in the Wildernesse almost to the losse of his soule but absolutely neuer to come into the promised land And for Dauid how miserably liued hee when he could not trust his owne friends this is the state of man and to say truth he differs in little beside reason from other creatures and that either lockt vp in silence or not exprest in some memorable action makes him so much the more capable of misery being onely able to distinguish of joy and feare And that these things may be the more apparant I haue endeauoured to collect out of the Works of others this Treatise wherein is briefly described the Trauels of all the Prophets Princes c. together with the condition of Cities Countries Islands and other memorable places as they are mentioned in the Old and New Testaments All which that I might expresse that dutie which hath a long time lien concealed I haue wholly dedicated to your LL. seruice humbly intreating your fauourable acceptance of my paines that so being shrouded vnder your Ho. protection they may the better withstand the aduerse opinions of such as please to censure them At your Hon. seruice R.B. The Preface to the Reader IT hath alwaies beene held a matter worth note gentle Reader euen to the best Diuines to haue the Typographicall description of the townes and places as they are mentioned in the Scriptures and so much the rather because by comparing the actions of men with the beginnings and endings of Cities they might the better vnderstand the Prophets and perceiue the wonderfull prouidence of God who by his omnipotencie so disposeth of Estates that such Cities and Nations which haue beene mightie and ruled vpon the earth with great power notwithstanding on a sudden and by vnexpected euents haue beene vtterly subuerted and ouerthrowne Now that these things might be more apparant I haue in as good and briefe a method as I can gathered out of sundry Authors the particular description of the Cities Townes and places as they are mentioned in the Scriptures where they stood vnder whose command at what time they grew mightie and how lost and decayed To this also I haue added a particular narration of the Trauels of all the holy Patriarchs Prophets Princes Iudges Kings Emperours our blessed Sauiour and his Apostles to what townes they trauelled what memorable actions they did in those places with a short Chronologie of the times that so by comparing this discourse with any text of Scripture you may perceiue the time when those accidents happened All which things I am perswaded will proue no lesse pleasant than profitable and will giue a great light to the vnderstanding of the Bible But if you question with me How it is possible that I should come to the knowledge of those things considering that Babylon Niniuey Ierusalem and most of the Cities of the Holy Land are long since wasted and decaied to this I answer therein consists the greatnesse of the Trauell because I haue beene constrained to vse the helpe of many Authors who amongst other long and learned discourses haue here and there glanced at the actions that were done in the land of Iudaea amongst which are Strabo Ierome de Locis Hebraicis Plinie Liuie Plutarch and many others who haue described in the actions of the Persians Chaldaeans Graecians and Romans the state of the Iewes as it stood in those times with the Description of the Cities and townes And Saint Ierome who liued in that countrie tooke a great deale of paines to rectifie these imperfect discourses which more obscure authors haue laboured in and left to future ages that so those which would might by their dilligence and care make them vsefull to informe their vnderstanding both concerning the state of the Iewes and the obscure meaning of some of the prophesies Also the scituation and destruction of Ierusalem a thing pleasant and profitable to know and no whit vnworthie your consideration How all or the most part of the Townes Cities Countries Nations Islands Seas Desarts Mountaines and most memorable places are scituated from it how many miles English they stand distant what memorable actions haue beene done in them and for the most part where they stood and how they are at this day Besides to make this a perfect worke you shall finde after the end the old Testament and before the beglnning of the new a discourse concerning the weights measures and monies which are mentioned in the Scriptures reduced vnto our valuation how they were currant among the Iewes how with other people nations and countries by which meanes that necessitie of commutatiue Iustice for which monies were principally inuented will be apparent and by this meanes you shall perceiue what equalitie there is and hath beene vsed amongst Nations for the ordaining of measures and monies by which you may perceiue that this vniuerse being compared together
Lachis 65.51 31.49 Eglon 65.50 31.48 Makeda 65.49 31.52 Libna 95.49 31.50 Debir 65.32 31.46 Bethsur 65.47 31.48 Kechila 65.38 31.47 Maresa 65 42 31.54 Maon 65.38 31.41 Carmel 65.40 31.44 Ziph 65.38 31 43 Arah 65.45 31.37 Hebron 65.33 31.45 Gerer 65.37 31.42 Kades barnea 65.22 31.29 Adar 65.12 31.32 Carcaha 65.06 31.30 Hasmona 65.00 31.30 Bethsemes 65.55 31.55 Beersabah 65.31 31.40 Siclag 65.15 31.37 Ecron 65 â—0 31.58 Azotus 65.35 31.00 Astalon 65.24 31.52 Gath 65.23 31.48 Gaza 65.11 31.40 The townes lying on this side of the riuer Iordan Dan 67 25 33.08 Ior â—ons 67 31 33 07 Caesarea Philippi 67 30 33.05 Seleucia 67.17 32.50 Eruptio fluvij ex Samachoniride palude 67.11 32.44 Capernaum 66.53 31.29 Eruptio fluvij è mare Genezareth 66 43 32.21 Ephion 66.42 32.20 Ennon 66.40 32.16 Gamala 66.55 32.25 Salem 66.37 32.18 Chrit torrens 66.16 31.57 Ostia Iordanis 66.17 31.54 Engedi 66.22 31.43 Zoar vel Sagor 66.17 31.38 Eruptio Zered 66.19 31.34 Townes standing beyond Jordan Mirba 66.50 32.20 Astharoth 67.00 32.26 Astaroth 66.57 32.23 Gadara 66.48 32.23 Machanaim 66.44 32.19 Iaczar 66.39 32.12 Hesbon 66.28 32.05 Iabes 66.55 32.21 Ramah 66.51 32.20 Nobach 66.38 32.16 Iachsa 66.28 32 02 Aroer 66.30 32.00 Macherus 66.23 31.56 Minith 66.36 32.66 Midian 66.30 31.55 Didon 66.32 32.06 Punuel 66.39 31.18 Edrei 66.15 32.21 Abela Vinearum 67.00 32.23 Philadelphia 67.10 32.22 Pella 67.03 32.20 Phiala fons 67.43 33.05 Betharan 67.30 32.08 Pisgamons 66 26 32.01 Abarim montes 66.29 31.58 Townes in Egypt Memphis 61.50 29.50 Heliopolis 62.15 29.59 Tanis 63.30 29.50 Taphnis 62 30 31.00 Ony 60.30 30.10 Alaxandria 60.30 31.00 Mercurij ciuitas magna 61.40 28.55 Mercurij ciuitas parua 61.00 30.50 Delta magnum 62.00 30 00 Xois 62.30 30.45 Busitis 62.30 30.15 Hâ—sinoe 63.20 29.10 Solis fons 58.15 28.00 Journies out of Aegypt Raemses 63.00 30.05 Pihachiroth 62.50 29.40 Mara 63.35 29.50 Elim 63.45 29.50 Iuxta mare 63.55 29.45 Paran promontorium 65.00 29.00 Daphea 64.14 29.46 Alus 64.30 29.46 Raphiddim 64.40 29.53 Sinai mons 65.00 30.00 Hazeroth 65.50 30.14 Zephor mons 65.54 30.50 Mozeroth 64.18 39.04 Hasmona 65.09 31.30 Gidgad mons 65.30 30.20 Iothabatha 65.30 26.40 Habrona 65.30 29.40 Hesion Gaber 65.30 29.20 Sin 66.00 29.56 Hor mons 66.00 30.25 Salmona 66.25 30.40 Phunon 66.30 30.54 Oboth 66 50 31.04 Ieabarim 67.00 31.18 Zered rorrens vallis 66.44 31.20 Didon Gad 66.48 31.32 Almon diblathaim 66.48 31.24 Chedemoth solitudo 66.56 32.00 Beer puteus 66.50 23.00 Marthana Solitudo 66.49 23 00 Nathaleel 66.40 00.23 Bamoth vallie 66.30 32.00 Townes in Arabia Petraea Petra 65.40 31.18 Paran 94.30 30.04 Midian 65.30 29.15 Hesion gebar 65 35 29.00 Elana villa harla velelath 95.35 29.15 Ostia Nili Canopicum 66.50 31.05 Bolbithinum 61.30 31.05 Sâ—benniticum 61.45 31.05 Pathmiticum 91.35 31.10 Mendesium 62.45 31.10 Pelusiacum 63.15 31.15 Thon 63.00 31.30 Sirbonis lacus eruptio 65.45 31.50 Sirbonis lacus 63.30 31.10 Idem 63.45 31.10 Ciuitas Pelusium 36.25 31.20 Rhinocorura 94.40 31.10 Some other great Townes Babilon 76.00 35.00 Antiochia 60 30 33.35 Damascus 68.55 33.00 Palmira 72.40 35.10 Vr chaldeorum 78.00 39.40 Ecbathana 88.00 37.45 Rages in Media 93.40 36.04 Sula in Persia 83.00 34.15 Persepolis 91.00 33.20 Heccatompilon in Parthia 96.0 37.50 Zaba in Arabia foelix 97.00 13.00 Meroe 61.30 16.25 Haram in Mesopotania 75 15 36.10 Hircania 98.30 40.00 Ciraenae 50.00 31.20 The description of the Citie of Ierusalem as it was before Titus Vespasian destroyed it THe most holy and beautiful city of Ierusalem was twice destroyed first by Nebuchadnezzar the most puissant King of Babylon who did vtterly beat downe and ouerthrow the Citie burning the costly Temple which King Solomon had built After that Zorobabel and the high Priest Ioshua when they returned from the captiuitie of Babylon re-edified and built againe both the Citie and the Temple in the yeare before the birth of Christ 535. But the second temple which was built after their returne was neither so faire nor so great as the first for it was twenty * Cubitus is a foot and an halfe six hand bredths foure and twentie fingers broad being in former times the fourth part of the height of a man Cubitus a cubando the arme tbat men vse to leane vpon from the elbow to the hand Victru lib. 3. Cal. Lexicon Cubits lower than the former After that King Herod 17 yeares before the birth of Christ caused the said Temple to be broken downe againe as Iosephus saith and erected another new Temple in place thereof which neuerthelesse was not like the first temple that Solomon builded as touching the greatnesse but it was exceeding fairely decked and adorned with gold and siluer so that in regard of the beautifulnesse thereof it was a wonder vnto all that came to Ierusalem Which Temple 40 yeares after Christs death and Ascension was also vtterly destroyed by Titus the sonne of Flavius Vespasian the Emperour I will describe the forme of the Citie Ierusalem as it was before it was defaced by Titus the sonne of Vespasian and therewithall I will shew how the costly Ornaments which Solomon placed therein stood for seeing that the two brasen Pillars and the great Molten sea were not therin when our Lord Iesus Christ liued vpon earth being broken downe by Nabuchadnezzars soldiers it is therefore necessary and very requisite to bee knowne how they stood and to the end that the Reader may be fully satisfied I will also first declare the citie of Ierusalem as it was in those dayes with the chiefest Places Walls Towers Gates Houses Castles Fountaines Hills Vallies and all the principall things therein How the Citie Ierusalem is scituate and standeth distant from Germany THe Towne of Neurenberch is scituate in the middle of Germanie or neere thereabouts and Ierusalem is distant from Neurenberch fiue hundred * Which make 2000 miles English miles but if you will trauell to Venice and from thence to Ierusalem it is fiue hundred and fiftie * Which make 2200 miles miles The scituation of Ierusalem IErusalem was foure square Of the scituation of the Mountaines whereon Ierusalem stood and scituated vpon foure mountaines viz. Mount Sion Mount Moriah Mount Acra and Moun Bezetha Mount Sion was the highest of all and lay within the citie of Ierusalem towards the South whereon stood King Dauids house or the castle of Sion and the vppermost towne Mount Moriah whereon the Temple stood with other excellent buildings and Towers was on the East side of the city within the Walls Mount Acra whereon the lower towne was built stood Westward in the citie where Annas Caiphas Pilot Herod Agrippa Bernice Helena and other Kings and great Princes dwelt The holy Citie of Ierusalem may in this manner be briefely described THe most holy and beautifull Citie of Ierusalem if any would consider the three principall parts of the World The description of Ierusalem Europe Asia and Affrica stood in the middest of
and as Iosephus saith the sayd gate was 90 Ells high the doores whereof were forty Ells long and twenty Ells broad gilt all ouer and richly embossed beautified with Cherubims and pretious stones The wall before this gate towards the East was pure gold embost and curiously ingrauen in maner of Vines with great golden leaues as big as the stature of a man whereon there did hang the picture and forme of grapes which were made of fine Crystall Within that high gate also there did hang a Vaile or Curtaine as long and broad as the gate within This Vaile was made of a piece of Babylonian Tapistry wonderfully wrought and made of Silke beautified with diuers colours of Scarlet Purple and Velvet and as Iosephus writeth the Sphere of the heauens was wrought therein but the twelue Signes were not and when the winde blew the Vaile did moue like a Vane Of the Porches or open Courts of the Temple BEfore the high gate of the Temple towards the East there were three Porches or Courts open without roofes which were made all of polisht stone with fair marble pillars beautified with all kind of colours in which Porches men praised and serued God The first was called the vpper Porch where none but the priest might enter when he offered and serued God which porch stood next vnto the high Quire The second was called Solomons Hall or Porch there the people vsed to pray and in that court our Sauior Christ preached Iohn 10. The third porch King Herod built adding that therto for the heathen people which also came vnto Ierusalem to pray These three porches went foure square round about the Temple as the Temple it selfe was and betweene these porches there were also spaces left supported with pillars of marble and close aboue the head for men to walke vnder when it rained which were all made of Cedar and Cypresse wood and of marble stone beautified with gold But towards the East right ouer against the high Quire of the Temple there the Porches were broadest and greatest Here gentle Reader you must note that as often as in the Description of the Temple I speake of certain Ells you must not vnderstand such Ells as we vse here in our Countrey but only of the Geometrical ells or elbowes which are called Cubits being the length of one foot and a halfe or six hands in bredth and two such Ells or Cubits doe containe three foot which make a yard of our measure The first Temple which King Solomon built had but two Porches as also the second Temple which Zorobabel Ioshuah or Iesu the son of Iozedeck made after the captiuitie in Babylon but that was twenty cubits lower and inclosed about with two porches also But King Herod Ascalonita the great King of the Iewes son of Antipater Idumaeus 16 yeares before the birth of Christ pulled down that Temple and built a new Temple vp from the ground which was like to Solomons Temple but that it had three porches for Herod built the third Porch to the intent that the heathen people might pray therein as a sanctuarie for pilgrims and strangers as Iosephus writeth Antiq. Iud lib. 21 ca. 14. de Bello Iudaeo lib. 6. ca. 6. Item Egesippus lib. 1. cap. 35 36. But some do thinke which is more likely that the said Herod did but repaire and add buildings to the second Temple And where Iosephus lib. 2. contra Appionem writeth of four Porches whereas principally there were but three it is to be vnderstood that Solomons Portch was made with a wall in the middle thereof wherein on the North side the Iewish women that were vnspotted or vndefiled vsed to pray and on the other side being South the Iewish women who also according to the Law were vnspotted prayed as Iosephus saith lib. 6. cap. 6. de Bello Iudaeo A particular description of the three seuerall Porches or Courts belonging to the Temple IN the vpper Porch which stood right ouer against the high Quire in the Temple there was an Altar of brrasse proportioned foure square consisting of twenty cubits in length twenty cubits in bredth extending to ten cubits in height beautified with golden hornes whereon they vsed to offer burnt sacrifices of Oxen Sheepe Turtle Doues Calues and other things Also in times past there stood the great molten Sea made by King Solomon and the two brasen Pillars which were made with knobbes Pomegranats and Lillies very costly and most artificially done and ten Kettles vpon Treuets but those kettles and pillars with knobs and pomegranats and the great molten Sea made by King Solomon were carried away by Nabuchadnezzar King of Babylon and broken in pieces after which captiuity they were neuer seen more in the Temple for there were no more made But the Altar of Brasse with the great hornes whereon they offered oxen sheep and Doues was made againe and stood there as I said before by which there stood diuers Tables whereon they killed their Offerings In this Court also there was a goodly Fountaine with the Water whereof they vsed to wash the bloud of the beasts out of the Temple For there were certaine holes and gutters between the marble stones whereby the water ranne vnder the earth and through the earth was conueyed in a pipe into the Lake Kidron In this Court Zacharias the sonne of Barrachias was killed betweene the Temple and the Altar Mat. 23. And Zacharias the high priest the sonne of Ioiadah was stoned to death 2 Chron. 24. It was compassed about with a great wall made of Marble stone of diuers colours wherein there were diuers doores to goe out out and in decked with lofty towers and pleasant walks made of Cedar wood resembling our antient Cloisters But principally toward the East it had a great gate of seuenty Ells or cubits high and twenty fiue broad all couered ouer with gold as Iosephus writeth standing alwayes open without any doores to shut that euery man might looke into it when the Priest serued God If any man offered any thing he brought it to the Priest before the gate but might not go in himselfe Ieremy Chap. 26 and 36 calleth it the New gate Here also was the Chappel of Gemaria the sonne of Saphan in which Chappell Baruch read the booke of the Prophet Ieremy to the people Ieremy 36. And when the Sunne was in Capricorne it shone right in at that gate and through the high Quire of the Temple to the Holy of Holiest as Iosephus writeth Of the second or middle Court called Solomons Porch THis Court was something lower than the other for from it to the vppermost they went by certaine steps and in the tenth of Iohn is called Solomons Porch which as Iosephus writeth was parted in the middle with a Wall wherein on the North side the Iewish women that were clean and vndefiled vsed to pray and on the South the men according to the Law * Masculi enim ab austria muliere
a septentrione dominū innocarunt But no vnclean person or stranger or heathen might enter therein for on the East side thereof before the steps whereon men ascended into the said porch there stood a portall curiously made of marble stone and between it stood pillars of marble whereon was ingrauen in Hebrew Greeke Latine and Idumaean Tongues this sentence Omnis alienigena accidens ad habitaculum Domini moriatur That is If any stranger go into the house of God he shall surely die And Herod also caused to be hanged ouer the Easterne gate by which they came into this Court a golden Sword with this Inscription Peregrinus si fuerit ingressus moriatur That is If a Stranger be so bold to enter let him die So as no Stranger or Heathen might goe into Solomons Porch vpon danger of his life Here Simeon tooke the childe Iesus in his armes and sayd Lord let now thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation c. At the same time also the Prophetesse Anna the daughter of Phaneul of the tribe of Ashur made a notable prophesie of the child Iesus to all the people of Israel Luk. 2. and after Iesus was baptised in this place he taught wrought miracles and did many worthy and memorable actions The Apostles also commonly met together in this court here the holy-Ghost descended vpon them Here stood the Treasury which Heliodorus thought to haue robbed but was preuented by the Angel of God 2 Mac. 3. This was the same Treasury wherein the poore widow cast the two mites whom Christ commended for the same as appeares Mark 12. Vpon which S. Ambrose saith Deny not to cast two mites into this Treasury that is Faith and Grace sith by them thou shalt be made capable of a celestial kingdom neither flatter thy self with thy riches because thou canst giue more than the poore for God respects not how much but with what deuotion thou giuest thy reward Amb. li. de Viduo Epist li. 9. Ep. 76. And here Christ absolued the Adulteresse that was accused to him being sory for her offence saying I came not to condemne but to saue sinners that repent Vpon which S. Chrysostom saith Although thou art a publican yet thou maist be made an Evangelist though a persecuter of the Church yet an Apostle though a theef yet of the city of Paradise though a Magitian yet thou mayst worship God for there is no sin so dangerous but repentance may obtain pardon Not far from this Treasury there stood certain galleries curiously adorned with marble pillars the root whereof was plaited with siluer and gold and was close aboue the head that when it rained men might walke vnder them dry and indeed did much resemble our antient Monasteries The dores of these walks were couered ouer with gold and siluer so also was that high gate whereby men went Eastward into Solomons porch and was 50 cubits high and the dores forty as Iosephus writeth Of the third Court or porch wherein the heathens vsed to pray commonly called the Hall of the Gentiles or outward Court THis court was not built by the kings of Israel but by Herod when the rest of the Temple was re-edified some sixteene yeares before the birth of Christ and about six and forty before he began to preach Iohn 4. It was so spatious and sumptuously built that it amased the beholders containing an hundred cubits in bredth and seuen hundred and twenty cubits in length lying Eastward towards the brooke Kidron the pauement was of marble of diuers colours like the other Courts the walls with the marble pillars were fiue and twenty cubits high and the Walkes about it very curiously made were thirty cubits broad This was called Vestabulum Gentium where the heathens as well as the Iews might enter and pray Out of this place Christ draue the Buyers and Sellers ouerthrew the tables of the Money changers and the seats of those that sold Doues Io. 2. Mat. 21. And it stood something lower than Solomons Porch All these three Courts were inclosed within high walls and walks resembling our Cloisters where round about the Temple at euery corner of which stood very high Towers whereon when the Sabbath day came one of the Priests ouer might went and sounded a Trumpet to signifie that the next day was the Sabbath for then there were no bells The wall of this vttermost Court as Iosephus writeth was in height reckoning from the bottom to the Valley of Kidron foure hundred cubits and adorned with goodly Towers vpon the Pinnacles of which were built Summer houses and faire Walkes from whence men might see into the Temple and cleane ouer the Towne These were called the Pinnacles of the Temple and were so high that when one looked down from them into the valley their eies dazled in such maner that they could not see as Iosep writeth li. Antiq. 15. ca. 14. Vpon one of these Pinnacles the Diuel caried our Sauior Christ saying If thou be the Sonne of God cast thy selfe downe c. Mat. 4. And Iames the sonne of Alphaeus by the commandement of Annas the high Priest was from thence thrown into the vally of Cedron and falling vpon a Fullers instrument died Ios Ant. 20 ca. 8. c. The gate towards the East was thirty cubits high and had dores opening two wayes 15 cubits broad as Ios writeth made of pure brasse that shone like gold siluer artificially made and cunningly imbossed insomuch as it was called the beautiful gate of the temple as Pet. Io. was going into the temple by this gate they healed a man that had beene borne lame from his mothers wombe Acts 3. When a man went Eastward the Gates were one higher than another The first gate or the gate of the Heathens Court was thirty Cubits high The second that entred into Solomons Porch was 50 cubits the third which went into the highest last court was 70 cubits and the great high gate of the temple was ninety Cubits high so that euery gate of the Temple was twenty Cubits one higher than another And in these gates there were benches made for men to sit on There were many other Gates and doores on both sides some sixty some twenty Cubits broad all almost made of pure gold and of such weightinesse that as Iosephus writeth in his second booke to Appius two hundred men could scarce open and shut them Egisippus writeth That Vespasian comming before the Temple to assault it commanded his Souldiors to burne one of the golden Gates which then was shut that so he might ouercome the same and with strong hand carry away a most glorious Victorie For it was wonderfully fortified both by Nature and Art it had deepe Ditches loftie Towers like vnto Castles of defence and moreouer compassed about with Bulwarkes and strong walls insomuch that it was not possible to be won but with extreme difficultie and great labour When
both and with great facility conquered the kingdome and destroied Ierusalem In this yeare 1187 there happened so great an Eclipse of the Sunne that at noone day the Starres were plainely to bee seene Soone after this Raimond and Guy were both taken prisoners and thirty thousand Christians cruelly put to the sword After this the Saracens sacked the Towne threw the Bells out of the Steeples made stables of the Churches only the Temple on Mount Golgotha stood vntoucht for the Turkes and Saracens honour Christ as a great Prophet And thus the new kingdome of the Christians in Ierusalem ended which was vpon the second day of October in the yeare 1187 after it had continued in their possession 88 yeares During the continuance of this kingdome there were many horrible visions and strange Signes and Wonders seene both in Heauen on earth and in the ayre foreshewing no doubt that God was not well pleased with their actions which sought to restore that kingdom of Ierusalem For My kingdome saith Christ is not of this world And although after that there were many Kings that by all possible means endeauored to recouer and restore the same and for that purpose haue leauied many great Armies and vndertaken many tedious journies yet all their counsels and determinations came to nothing for that God so often as they vndertooke any such expedition either stayed their Armies oppressed them with war or else plagued them with famine in such an extreame measure that with very hunger they haue bin constrained to eat their Horses Frederick Barbarossus may be an example of these calamities who with a great army making an expedition to Ierusalem as he was trauelling through Asia minor his horse started and flung him into the riuer where he died miserably ere he could be saued Many other Princes besides in the like enterprise came to the like ends for they were either destroied by the Barbarians with the losse of thousands of their men cruelly slain or vtterly destroied with vnnatural diseases or vntimely deaths Now when the Emperour Fredericke the second of that name had beseeged and brought to great miserie the Sultan of Egypt and the Knights Templers had done the like to Damieta Corderio the Sultans son beat downe the walls of Ierusalem and had it not bin for the great lamentations and ernest entreaties of the Christians he would haue destroied the city but for their sakes he left standing Solomons Temple and the Temple of the holy Sepulchre for at this time Christians inhabit in them Within a while after about the yeare 1228 Fredericke the second of that name Emperor of Rome went to the holy land with a great army and came to Ptolomais otherwise called Acon where staying a while he made a league with the Sultan of Egipt for ten years regained Ierusalem without drawing sword was there crowned in the yeare 1229 keeping at that time in Ierusalem a royal Easter This man fortified the Christians with a garrison rebuilt Nazareth and Ioppa and so returned into Italy In the yeare 1246 Cassanus King of the Tartars being persuaded by the Sultan with a great army inuaded Iudaea won Ierusalem caused the Christians to be cruelly slaine beat downe the holy Sepulchre euen to small pieces and left but little standing It was after this destroyed by Tamerlaine King of the Tartars and by Mahomet the second of that name Emperour of the Turkes But the Monkes had leaue to build vp the holy Sepulcre againe for the which they payed to the Sultan or his Deputy a yearely tribute In the yeare of our Lord 1516 Selymus Emperor of the Turks about the twenty fourth day of August neere to Damascus ouercame Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt in a cruell Warre and put to death many thousands of his men and the Sultan himselfe seeking to saue his life by flight was miserably slaine This Selymus conquered the Holy Land Syria Damascus and all the Countries thereabouts and as he went through Iudaea leauing his Army at Gaza with a few of his Souldiers he went to Ierusalem that he might see with his eyes that place which was made so famous by the antient Writers and was so often mentioned in the Old and New Testament But when he came he found nothing but a ruinate and waste place barren and rude to looke vpon inhabited by a few poore Christians and they also held in great contempt and bondage paying a great tribute to the Sultan of Egypt for their liberty and the holy Sepulchre as P. Iouius writeth But after that Selymus in that place had done his Offerings and Sacrifices to his god Mahomet seeing the Priests and Christians prest with extreme pouertie out of his singular mercy and compassion gaue them a large and sumptuous gift when hee had stayed but one day and one night in the Towne The next morning before day he went with all expedition to his Army at Gaza from thence into Egypt where he besieged the great and famous city Alcaire and in the yeare 1517 took it conquered all the country vtterly extirpated the Sultan and went away with an honorable victory and rich booty From this yeare euen till now the towne of Aelia or Ierusalem is vnder the jurisdiction of the Turks Thus may we see how often and with what miserable calamities this city hath bin afflicted euen since the first destruction by Vespasian which makes euident the great iudgment of God not only vpon the Iews but also vpon the earth where they inhabited for their infidelitie and vnmercifull cruelty The description of Ierusalem and the scituation thereof as it is now in these times THe former incursions and common desolations leauing this town ruined and spoiled for want of inhabitants it became a desart and forsaken place onely some few Christians either out of the zeale of religion or for vulgar ostentation to shew that there had bin a town dwelt there and thus it continued vntill the yeare 1542. at which time Solyman the great Turk either in respect of the strength of the place or in hope of profit or else to get himselfe a name with great cost and labor re-edified it set vp many stately buildings and sumptuous houses beautified it with two costly Temples the one the Temple of Solomon and the other the holy Sepulchre inlarged the extent thereof and seated it vpon high hils After all this compast it about with a spatious and thicke wall and vpon that placed many strong and stately towers wherein there stands eight gates viz. the fish gate the Old gate S. Stephens gate so called because they say S. Stephen went out by that gate when hee was stoned the Angle gate the Dung gate the Sheep gate the Golden and Fountaine gates Thus the antient city and that which the Emperor Adrian built being both destroied in another place is set vp again So that between both this new city standeth and the first city begins to be again inhabited Of the Temple of the
miles Westward Sichem a Shoulder SIchem is a town in Samaria on the borders of Ephraim lying on mount Garizim 36 miles from Ierusalem Northward It takes the name as Phil. Melancthon writeth from the place wheron it standeth like a shoulder for Sichem signifies a shoulder Of this town I will speak more at large in the new Testament for that by it Christ spake with the Samaritan woman Ioh. 4. In this town Dina Iacobs daughter was rauished Gen. 34. and there the bones of the Patriarch Ioseph were buried Ios 24. Abimelech for spight vpon no occasion vtterly destroied the town and hauing razed it to the ground sowed it with salt Iudg. 9 But Ieroboam King of Ierusalem built it vp again and dwelt therin 1 Kin. 12. It was a free town whither a man-slayer might resort that had killed any man by chance and saue himselfe Ios 20. Mount Garizim wheron the town of Sichem stood was a piece of mount Ephraim Tanis in Hebrew Zoan an Inne or house of Harbor TAnis or Zoan was the chiefe city in Egypt where Pharaoh in Abrahams time kept his court as we reade in the thirteenth Chapter and fourth book of Moses and Psal 58. and lyeth 232 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward four miles from Tanis stood the kingly towne of Memphis which was likewise built before Abrahams time but at that time it was not so famous as Tanis for there is not one word spoken of Memphis in the books of Moses But when time serues I will speake more of these two places Of the Mount between Bethel and Hay THis hil is 4 miles from Ierusalem vpon the North lying between the 2 towns of Bethel Hay and is called mount Ephraim wher Abraham at his return out of Egipt the second time set vp his Tabernacle of purpose to be conuersant with Melchisedeck who dwelt in Ierusalem and with him gaue thanks to God for the singular fauors that he had shewed toward him in deliuering his wife Sara from the hands of Abimelech King of Egypt who would haue rauished her as he feared indangered his life In this place Lot separated himselfe from Abraham and went to dwell in Sodom Of the Plaine or Oke of Mamre THe Plain of Mamre stood a mile from Hebron towards the East and distant from Ierusalem 22 miles South-eastward In this yally there was a faire and pleasant wood where a certain yong man called Mamre dwelt This man was brother to Escal and Aner mentioned by Moses Genes 14. who according to the custome of gentlemen with vs in these times built vp his house neere to a pleasant Wood or bottome which as some thinke was called after his name Mamre Others of which opinion is Ierom of Aelon which signifies a valley or tree an Oke tree saith hee But Ioseph Aegesippus call it a Terebinth tree which both summer and winter beareth greene leaues like a Palme tree the sap or juice whereof is very good for medicine Abraham dwelling neere to this tree beeing entertained by the three Brothers as a stranger grew into such fauour and familiaritie with them that hee conuerted them from Paganisme and taught them to know the true and euer-liuing God To gratifie which great fauor they aided him in his Warre against the foure Kings that had taken Lot prisoner and gaue him free libertie to inhabit in and vse the Plain thereabouts for his cattel before whose dore as some Authors affirm this Terebinth or oke tree stood and so continued from the beginning of the world till the time of Constantine the Great it being lawfull for none to cut a bough of it or touch it with a hatchet because it was in those daies accounted a holy tree and visited by diuers strangers and then Helena caused a fair church to be built in that place and so much the rather for that Abraham sitting vnder that tree the three Angels appeared vnto him in the similitude or likenesse of men Gen. 8.1 2. And some are of opinion That because of this the Iewes offered Incense to their gods and committed idolatry vpon high mountaines and vnder green trees Ezek. 16. There was also a double Caue made of white marble which as Iosephus saith was very faire and beautifull to the eye and curiously wrought and polished wherein Abraham Isaac and Iacob with their Wiues Sarah Rebecca and Leah were buried and as some thinke was that caue which he purchased of the Hittites Gen. 23.34 But that Adam and Evah lie buried in the same place seeing there is no warrant for it in the holy Scriptures I let it passe because whatsoeuer hath not authoritie of Scripture to proue it may as easily be contemned as allowed But Abrahams sepulchre in Ieroms time was to be seen being old and decayed Of Hebron THis City was not onely a Kings Seat but a Priests also being built not long after the Floud and some seuen years before that City of the Egyptians called Zoan or Tanis Numb 13. and was placed vpon a goodly high mountaine very pleasant and delectable It taketh the name from Chabar which signifieth to accompany and from thence Chebron or Hebron A pleasant and delectable society It was a metropolitan city in the tribe of Iuda and after called Kiriatharba as it appeareth in Ioshuah 14. taking that name from Arba the chiefe Gouernour of that Citie This man was one of the Anakims and a very mighty Prince Others there are that say the city being diuided into foure parts was thereof called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Arba signifies a quaternion from the Rote Raba foure square It was first built by Heth the sonne of that cursed Canaan whose posterity the Hittites inhabited in it and such was their hospitalitie that they entertained Abraham being a stranger and traueller These people dwelt * Here also dwelt Sisai Abiman and Thalmas the sons of Anak there vntill Ioshuahs time and then one Hoham was King thereof who with other Kings opposing the Children of Israell was by them slain and had their country wasted and destroyed This town was after made a towne of refuge and belonged to the inheritance of Caleb and was together with Mamre in the tribe of Iuda Ios 20. Heere Dauid was first anointed King and reigned therein for the space of 7 yeares 2 Sam. 5. But this town by the iniury of time and oppression of the enemy is now become desolate only some few old reliques are to be seen to shew there had bin a town there Neuerthelesse there is a town not far from it which retaineth the name placed in a very fruitfull valley called Mamre to this day Heere while it was vnder the jurisdiction of the Christians stood a Cathedral church and a Bishops See but the Turks haue turned it into a Mosko or one of their churches Into this place they wil not suffer any Christian to enter The inhabitants take vpon them to shew vnto strangers many things as the vault or caue wherein
Amalekites in pieces 1 Sam. 16. From Gilgal he went to Arimathia 20 miles From Arimathia he went to Bethlehem 16 miles and there he anointed Dauid King 1 Sam. 16. Then he returned again to Arimathia 16 miles where he died and was buried 1 Sam. 28. So all the trauels of the Prophet Samuel were 364 miles Of Arimathia Mizpa Ramath and rhe rest of the townes mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Typicall signification of Samuel SAmuel is deriued of Shemuel that is desired of God And was a Type of God the Father for as Samuel anointed Dauid so God anointed his beloued Son with the oile of Gladnesse and of the Spirit Psal 45. Esay 61. The Trauels of King SAVL SAVL went from the town of Gibeon to mount Ephraim four miles to seek his fathers Asses in An. Mundi 2870 and before Christ 1908. From mount Ephraim he passed through the land of Salisa to the borders of the town of Salem 12 miles From Salem he went to the land of Gemini in the tribe of Benjamin 16 miles From the land of Iemini he went to Rama 4 miles there by Samuel he was anointed King 1 Sam. 10. This town lay not farre from Bethlehem and close by it lay Rachels graue There certaine men met with Saul in the borders of Benjamin at Zelach and shewed him that his fathers Asses were found which was about a mile from Ierusalem From thence Saul went about two miles to Zilzah there three men met him that trauelled to Bethel and gaue him two loaues of bread 1 Sam. 10. Then he came to the mount of God which is the town of Kiriath-jearim there a company of Prophets met him and prophecied then the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he began to prophecie which was about six miles from Bethlehem From Kiriath-jearim he went again to Gibeon which is foure miles 1 Sam. 10. Then he went again from Gibeon to Gilgal and there he offered and Samuel shewed him what he should do which is 12 miles 1 Sam. 10. From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead 36 miles where he was chosen King From Mizpa he went again to Gibeon 48 miles From Gibeon he went to Beseck 40 miles there he gathered certain soldiers and led them against Nahas King of the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. From Beseck he went with his army to Iabes 16 miles there he ouerthrew Nahas with all his host From Iabes in Giliad he went to Gilgal 36 miles There he was placed in his princely seat 1 Sam. 11. From Gilgal he went to Michmas 4 miles there he sent 3000 men out of Israel to his son Ionathan to Gibeon From Michmas hee went to Gilgal with his army 4 miles There he offered for which Samuel rebuked him 1 Sam. 13. From Gilgal hee went to Mount Benjamin about 12 miles not far from Gibeon From Gibeon hee went to Michmas 8 miles There Ionathan ouercame the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. From Michmas Saul followed the enemy to Ajalon 12 miles There he would haue slain his son Ionathan because he had eaten a little hony 1 Sam. 14. From Ajalon he went to Gibeon 4 miles where he kept court From Gibeon he went to the land of the Moabites 28 miles which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the land of the Moabites hee went into the countrey of Ammonites 40 miles which country he ouercame and tooke in all their towns From the land of the Ammonits he went to Gibeon 60 miles 1 Sam. 15. From Gibeon hee went into the land of Edom or Idumaea as it is commonly called 40 miles and ouercame all the countrey From Idumaea he returned again to Gibeon 40 miles From Gibeon he went with an army about 600 miles to Zoba in Armenia which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the kingdome of Zoba hee returned to Gibeon 600 miles After that he went out against the Philistines 12 miles and as the historie sheweth Saul had wars with the Philistins during his life 1 Sam. 14. From the Philistins he returned again to Gibeon vnto his palace 12 miles From Gibeon he went into the wildernesse of Sur 160 miles there he ouercame the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. Also he ouercame the whole country from the town of Peluso to the red sea which is 92 miles From thence he went again into Iury to the town of Carmel 140 miles 1 Sam. 15. And from thence he went vnto Gilgal 32 miles There the Prophet Samuel rebuked him because he did not wholly destroy and consume the Amalekites and there Samuel hewed the body of Agag King of the Amalekites into small pieces 1 Sam. 15. From Gilgal he went to Gibeon 12 miles In the 11 yeare of Saul An. M. 2881 and before Christ 1807 Dauid being then about 20 yeares of age was anointed King by Samuel Within a while after Saul was vexed with an euill spirit then Dauid played vnto him vpon the harpe by which he was eased Soon after he went forth with his Army towards Socho and Asecha which was some 8 miles distant from Gibeah There Dauid killed that famous champion Goliah 1 Sam. 15. From thence the Israelites followed the chase of the Philistins to the vally and riuer Soreck 4 miles and thence vnto the gates of their cities that is to Ekron which is eight miles to Ascalon 20 miles * From the place where Dauid killed Goliah and to Gath which was 24 miles all the way putting the Philistins to the sword So that there died in this fight 30000 of them 1 Sam. 17. Then they returned back again and spoiled and burnt the Philistines tents where they found great riches 24 miles From Socho and Aseka he returned again to Gibeon 8 miles there the women came out of all places in the town dancing and with loud voices singing Saul hath slain a thousand but Dauid ten thousand 1 Sam. 18. From Gibeon he went to Arimathia 2 miles minding to kill Dauid and came to Naioth in Ramoth where Samuel and Dauid were but the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he prophecied falling downe vpon the ground before Samuel and Dauid all that day and the nightensuing 1 Sam. 19. From thence he returned again to Gibeon 12 miles there he thought to haue killed his son Ionathan with a speare because he excused Dauid There also he caused 85 priests to be put to death because the high priest Abimilech at Nob had giuen Dauid of the Shew bread to eat and had deliuered him Goliahs sword 1 Sam. 21.22 From Gibeon he went to the Leviticall towne Nob 12 miles where he spared neither man nor woman yong nor old no not the innocent children but put them all to the sword and wholly destroyed the town 1 Sam. 12. From the town of Nob he returned to Gibeon 12 miles From Gibeon he went to the wildernes of Moan Southward 20 miles From the wildernesse of Moan hee returned again to Gibeon 1 Sam. 23. which was 24 miles
miles where women with great mirth joy met him saying Saul hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand for which cause Saul out of meere enuie for then he did not know that he had been annointed by Samuel would haue slaine him and his sonne Ionathan also for excusing him 1 Sam. 18.19 From Gibeah Ionathan went into the desart of Ziph some 22 miles to comfort Dauid there they swore a solemne oath of mutuall friendship to continue as long as they liued 1 Sam. 23. From thence Ionathan returned which was 22 miles 1 Sam. 23. At last he went to the wars with his father to mount Gilboah 40 miles there he his father his brothers Abinadab Melchisuah were slaine So all the trauels of Ionathan were 126 miles The trauels of Abiather Abimelechs sonne WHen Doeg the Idumaean at the command of Saul had slaine the Priests of the Lord this Abiather the son of Abimelech the high Priest fled to the Wood Hareth not farre from Kegilah some 20 miles and came and told Dauid of all that had hapned 1. Sam. 22.23 Of Kegilah THis was a Citie in the Tribe of Iuda 4 miles from Hebron towards the East 20 from Ierusalem toward the Southwest From which towne Dauid droue away the Philistines that had besieged it 1 Sam. 23. You may reade of it Iosh 23. Nehem 3. In S. Ieroms time it was but a small towne where the inhabitants shew to strangers the Sepulchre of Abacuck the Prophet Not farre off toward the West lieth Hareth that wood when Dauid was when Abiather came to him Kegila in Hebrew signifieth a Tent. The trauels of King Dauid DAuid was annointed King by Samuel when he was 20 yeres old Anno mundi 2881 and before Christ 1807. Within a while after he was sent by his father Isay or Iesse to Gibea of Saul which was eight miles there he played to Saul vpon the Harpe 1 Sam. 16. When Saul went out with his Armie against the Philistins Dauid returned backe to Bethlehem his owne countrey which was about eight miles There he fed his fathers sheep 1 Sam. 17. From thence he went to Socho and Asecha and killed Goliah which was foure miles From thence he carried the head of Goliah to Ierusalem which was 8 miles From thence hee went with king Saul to Gibeah which was 4 miles From Gibeah he went 12 miles into the land of the Philistins and to perform the promise which he had made put to the sword 200 of them From thence he returned and brought their forskins vnto Saul in recompence of which noble exploit he was married to Sauls daughter which was 12 miles A while after he made an incursion vpon the land of the Philistines and in a sharp and cruell war got a famous victorie and returned with glory to Gibeah which was at the least 24 miles But when Dauid perceiued that Saul went about to take away his life and that he was so narrowly pursued he had no way to escape but to be let down by a cord through a window he made hast and went from Gibeah to Arimathea where he complained vnto Samuel of the injuries of Saul and layd before him in what a miserable condition he was and to what straits brought Wherefore Samuel to comfort him brought him to Naioth which seemeth to be so called of the faire scituation and pleasantnesse of the place for Mabah signifies a laudable and comely place this was a Colledge of such as were professors of that sacred study of diuinity Now Saul hearing that Dauid was in this place came with some of his seruants on purpose to make him captiue But at the sight of Samuel he began to sing Psalmes and Hymnes after the manner of the Prophets From thence Dauid returned back vnto Gibeah some 12 miles where at the stone of Ezel not farre from Gibeah toward the South Ionathan went to Dauid counselled him to depart with all speed for that his father meant euill towards him So they tooke leaue either of other with teares 1 Sam. 20. Ezel signifies an Angle as was a stone full of angles or corners From thence he went to Nob which was 12 miles From thence he went to Gath a citie of the Philistines where he faigned himselfe mad because of Achis whom hee feared 1 Sam. 21. which was 24 miles From thence hee went to the caue of Odullam which was 24 miles and thither resorted vnto him many of his kindred and such as were indebted and in danger to the number of 40 persons In this place he wrote the 57 and 142 Psalmes as may appeare by their titles From thence he went to Mizpah in the land of the Moabites where at this time the King kept his court and there he carefully commanded his friends and followers to his safe protection till such time as the fury of Saul was asswaged 1 Sam. 22. From thence by the councell of the Prophet Gad he returned by the wildernesse of Hareth to Kegila and rescued it 40 miles Here Abiather the Priest came to him 1 Sam. 23. From thence fearing the comming of Saul hee went into the wildernesse of Ziph whither Ionathan came to him 1 Sam. 22. which was 4 miles From thence he went to the towne of Moan which was foure miles From thence he went to the hold of Engedi which were 36 miles From thence hee went six miles to Carmel in Iudaea where hee determined to haue destroyed Nabal for his churlishnesse 1 Sam. 25. From thence he went to Hackilah 2 miles From Hackilah he went to Gath where Achis king of the Philistines kept his court which was 16 miles This Achis was very courteous and bountifull minded he entertained Dauid and gaue him freely the city of Ziclag to inhabit in 1 Sam. 27. Wherefore Dauid went thence to the towne of Ziclag which was 12 miles 1 Sam. 27. and there inhabited one yeare and seuen moneths From thence Dauid went often towards the South and made incursions vpon the Amalekites wasting and destroying their land which lay in the Desart of Sur about 80 miles distant from Ziclag and a hundred and twenty miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west From the Desart of Sur he returned backe againe vnto Ziclag which was 80 miles and sent part of the prey which he had gotten to the King of the Philistines of which you may reade more 1 Sam. 27. From Ziclag Dauid went with the army of the Philistines to fight against Saul 88 miles euen to Sunem for the Philistines pitched betweene Iezreel and Sunem 1 Sam. 28.29 But because the Princes of the Philistines durst not trust him therefore by the consent of Achis their King hee returned backe to Ziclag 88 miles 1 Sam. 29. Whiles Dauid was gone with the Philistines to fight against Israel the Amalekites inuaded Ziclag tooke it and burnt it with fire and carried away Ahinoam and Abigal Dauids wiues captiues Wherefore when Dauid came to Ziclag and perceiued what had hapned with
him euery mans enemy then making himselfe apparant when he is in aduersitie and his best friends commonly forsake him From thence hee went to Iordan 14 miles where the Priests Ionathan and Ahinaaz brought him certaine intelligence of that wicked and peruerse councell of Achitophel a man in those times famous for his wisdome but perfidious in his actions as commonly such are that hope after honours or seeke to benefit themselues by innouation and change After he had intelligence hereof hee went ouer Iordan with those few men that he had with all possible speed went to Bethabara some 16 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-East At this place Ioshuah led the children of Israel through Iordan on drie ground Ios 3.4 and here Iohn the Baptist taught and baptised Christ Mat. 1. Luke 3. From thence hee went to Makanaim which is twentie eight miles where hee sent forth his army by bands against Absolon who at this time had assembled a great host neere the Wood Ephraim not far from that place where Ioshuah woon a memorable battell against the Canaanites and that the place might bee made more famous Dauids men though few in number gaue Absalon and his host as great Thus Absalon being left in danger to saue himself fled but in his flight the haire of his head being long and blowne with the wind tooke hold of the branch of a tree by which he hanged betweene heauen and earth as vnworthy of either and Ioab who but a little before was his friend in that very place with three darts put him to death a just end for so vnjust a man 1 Sam. 18. Dauid notwithstanding tooke the death of Absolon maruellous heauily till by Ioab he was recalled from that griefe and then in the company of Barzillai and of his sonne Chimea of Mephiboseth the sonne of Ionathan and Zeba his seruant Shimei also that before curst him who to leaue a memorable token of a base Sicophant after this victory came first downe to craue pardon for his offence with many others went along with him from Makanaim to Bethabara which was 28 miles To this place there came a great multitude of people to meet Dauid 2 Sam. 19. This Barzillai was one of the eighteene that held the principalitie of the citie of the Giliadites and had a sonne called Chimea whom Dauid tooke with him to Ierusalem that he might make euident his thankefulnesse towards him for that courtesie which he had receiued of his father From Bethabara Dauid passed Iordan and went backe to Gilgal which was 4 miles 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went to Ierusalem which was 12 miles in the same yeare that he was exiled by his sonne which was about the 13 yeare of his raigne The next yere Saba the sonne of Bicri taking example of Absolon and obseruing the mutabilitie of the peoples affections moued a sedition against Dauid but Ioab his captain ouercame him 2 Sam. 20. After this there followed three yeares of famine About the end of the third yeare of famine and in the 34 yeare of his raigne Dauid went to Iabes Gilead which was 52 miles to fetch the bones of Saul and Ionathan to bury them in the sepulchre of his fathers 2 Sam. 21. From Iabes in Gilead Dauid brought the bones and relickes of King Saul and Ionathan his sonne to Gibeah of Saul which was 52 miles and there he honourably buried them in the Sepulchre of his father Kish 2 Sam. 21. From thence Dauid returned to Ierusalem which was 4 miles In the 35 yere of his raigne he went forth to fight against the Philistines neer to the Leuiticall towne of Nob or Nobe which is 12 miles from Ierusalem vpon the borders of the countries of the Philistines in the tribe of Dan. From thence he returned backe againe to Ierusalem which is 12 miles So all the Trauels of Dauid were 3904 miles The Description of the places to which Dauid trauelled OF the cities of Socho Asekah Gibeon Gibeah of Saul Nob Ziph Moan Engaedi Arimathea Gath the Caue of Odullam Kegila Paran Apheck and Makanaim you may reade before in the trauels of Saul and the Iudges of Israel Of Ziclag ZIclag was a towne in the kingdome of Iuda neere to the riuer Besor 40 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest not far from Gaza a citie of the Philistines In Saint Ieroms time it was but a small towne 1 Sam. 27. Of Sur. SVr is a desart in the wildernesse of Arabia Petraea extending it selfe from the vtmost borders of Iudaea to the Red Sea euen vnto Aegypt and signifieth a Bulwarke or place of defence and is deriued of Schor which signifies To see or contemplate because from Bulwarks men may see into neighbouring countries This was a place of defence of the Aegyptians Gen. 16.20.25 Ex. 15. 1 Sam. 15.17 Of Sunem THis was a city in the tribe of Issacher 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Naim where Christ raised the widowes sonne to life Luke 7. So did Elizaeus the Prophet also 2 Kings 4. And seemeth to take the name of a Purple or Scarlet colour being deriued of Schanah which signifies He hath changed and interated a colour Of Gazer GAzer is a towne lying vpon the borders of the Philistines not farre from Ekron 16 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Of this you may reade before Of Sichor THe riuer of Sichor was in the desart of Sur not far from Rhinocura of which it tooke the name and runneth thence into the Mediterraneam Sea from whence also it is called the riuer of Aegypt 1 Chron. 13. It is 72 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Of the Hebrewes it is called Schichor or Siohor because of the blacknesse of the water Of Bahurim BAhurim was a town in the tribe of Benjamin a mile and something more from Ierusalem towards the Northeast To this place Phaltiel followed his wife Michael 2 Sam. 3. Here also Shimei cursed Dauid 2 Sam. 16. At this time it is a faire castle strongly fortified standing in a high place Neere vnto it in the valley just in the Kings way there is a stone called Bohen taking that name of Bohen the sonne of Reuben and is of an extraordinary greatnesse shining like vnto marble of this you may reade in the 15 of Ioshuah Bahurim or Bachurim signifies A citie of electors being deriued of Bachar To elect or chuse Of Dauids name DAuid is as much to say as my deere my beloued my chosen one being deriued of Dod which signifies a friend or beloued For which cause he was said to be a man after Gods owne heart How Dauid was a type of Christ DAuid represented Christ diuers waies First in his name he was beloued so God testifies of Christ This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased Secondly in the place of his birth he was borne at Bethlem so was Christ Thirdly in his imployment he was a shepheard so was Christ I am the true Shepheard for a good
Shepheard giueth his life for his Sheepe c. Fourthly in his musicke Dauid was cunning vpon the harp and by that comforted the afflicted spirit of Saul so Christ by the musick and harmonie of his doctrine the glad tydings of saluation comforteth the afflicted members of his Church Fiftly Dauid got his glory and preferment by the death of Goliah so Christ was glorified by conquering Death and the Diuell Sixtly Dauid was persecuted by Saul and pursued from one place to another so that he had not where to hide his head with safety so Christ was persecuted by his own countrymen the Iews shut out from the society of man and as he said Mat. 8. The Foxes haue holes and the Birds haue nests but the Son of man hath not where to hide his head Seuenthly in the dangers that Dauid sustained by Gods prouidence he was mercifully deliuered so Christ was inclosed and in danger of the Iews at Nazareth Luke 4. in Ierusalem in the Temple also Ioh. 8. but he escaped them al because then his time was not come Io. 7.8 Eightly as Absolon rebelled against Dauid being his father so the Iews rebelled against Christ although hee was their Creator according to that of Esay 61. I haue fed and brought vp children but they haue forsaken me Ninthly as Dauid fled to Mount Olivet for refuge being brought to a streight so Christ vpon Mount Olivet his heart being prest with an intollerable agonie fled to his Father by praier for comfort in that extremitie Tenthly as all the friends and familiars of Dauid forsooke him at such time as Absolon rebelled against him and followed him with persecutions mocks and taunts so Christ at such time as Iudas betrayed him into the hands of the Iewes was forsaken of all his followers and many of those which a little before he had done good vnto mocked and derided him as he was vpon the Crosse Lastly as Dauid was restored notwithstanding the former miseries and troubles to his antient glory and eminencie so Christ after he had suffered the due punishment for sin death and before that extteame miserie yet at length conquered both and by his diuine power restored himselfe to his former estate eternall glory The Trauels of ABNER one of Sauls Captaines HEe went with King Saul from Gibeah to the Wildernes of Ziph which was 22 miles Here he was rebuked by Dauid for his negligence From thence he returned to Gibeah 22 miles 1 Sam. 31. From thence he trauelled to the hill Gilboa where Saul killed himselfe 40 miles From thence he went to Machanaim where he made Ishbosheth Sauls son King who kept his court there seuen years 16 miles 2 Sam. 2. From thence hee went to Gibeon where hee slew Asahel Ioabs brother in battell Which was 44 miles 2 Sam. 2. From thence he went ouer Iordan to Bythron 28 miles From thence he went backe to Machanaim 16 miles 2 Sam. 2 Lastly he went thence to Hebron to Dauid and made a Couenant with him where he was treacherously slain by Ioab was 68 miles So all the trauels of Abner were 256 miles Of Bithron BIthron or Betharan was a town beyond Iordan in the tribe of Gad some 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward lying between Dibon and Iordan It taketh the name from a House of singing beeing deriued of Baith which signifieth a House and Ron He sung ioyfully The Trauels of IOAB IOAB Dauids Captain was the son of Zerviah Dauids sister for he had two Zerviah and Abogale Zerviah had Ioab Abishas and Asael Abigal had onely Amasa all which were great men in King Dauids time Now when Ioab heard that Abner had brought downe his army to Gibeon hee went from Hebron thither which was 24 miles and there his brother Asahel was slain 2 Sam. 2. From thence he went to Bethlehem 16 miles where he buried his brother 2 Sam. 2. From thence he returned to Hebron 20 miles Here vnder the gates of the city he traiterously killed Abner 2 Sam. 3. From thence he went with Dauid to Ierusalem where he won Sion and draue thence the blinde and the lame being 82 miles From thence he went with his Army against the Ammonites and Syrians whom he conquered in a cruel fight 60 miles 1 Sam. cap. 10. From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem 60 miles From thence he went with Dauid into Idumea 160 miles from Ierusalem Southward there he won the towne of Midian conquered the Idumaeans or Edomites 2 Sam. 8. From thence he returned to Ierusalem with his Army beeing 160 miles From thence hee went and besieged Rabba the metropolitan city of the Ammonites beeing 64 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Here Vriah was slain 2 Sam. 11. From thence he returned to Ierusalem with K. Dauid 64 miles From thence he went into the kingdom of Gesur which lieth beyond Iordan vpon Mount Libanus by the towne of Caesarea Philippi some 80 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward This countrey was called Trachonites From this land Ioab brought Absolon again to Ierusalem 2 Sam. 14. From thence he returned backe againe with Absolon to Ierusalem 88 miles From thence he went with Dauid when he fled from his sonne Absolon to Machanaim being 44 miles Not far from hence he slew Absolon 2 Sam. 18. From thence he came again with King Dauid to Ierusalem 44 miles 2 Sam. 10. From thence he went to Gibeah where he killed Amasa which was 4 miles From thence he went to the town of Abel-Bethmaacha in the tribe of Nepthali being about 88 miles This town he straightly besieged From thence he went again to Ierusalem 88 miles Afterward he went as Dauid commanded him to number the people at Aroer a towne beyond Iordan which was 24 miles 2 Sam. 24. From thence he went to Iaezer which is 16 miles From thence going through the land of Gilead and passing by the territories of the lower countrey of Hadsi hee came to the town of Dan neere to the place where the fountains of Iordan are which is accounted 116 miles From thence he went to that famous mart town Sidon which was 24 miles From that great towne Sidon he went to the walls of Tyre to which place great multitudes of ships resorted which was sixeteene miles From thence he went toward the South til he came to the city Beersaba which was the vtmost bounds of the Holy land Southwestward and was reckoned 132 miles From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem where he deliuered to Dauid the number of those that were chosen souldiers 2. Sam. 24. but the Lord strooke the country and city of Ierusalem with a great plague because hee did contrary to his command 2 Sam. 24. So all the trauels of Ioab were 1348 miles The description of the places to which he trauelled MAny of those cities mentioned in the trauels of Ioab are already described and set forth therefore I account it needlesse in this place againe to repeat them but only such townes as yet haue not bin mentioned
Of Gesur GEsur was a country neere to Caesarea Philippi in the land of Basan beyond Iordan neere Libanus in the Tetrarchie Trachonitides 88 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward With the King of this country Absolon remained in banishment for 3 yeres space after he had slain his brother Ammon and with vs may be termed the vally of Oxen 2 Sam. 13. Of Hadsi THe lower country of Hadsi stood neere to the city Corazin in the halfe tribe of Manasses 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast and signifies a new land beeing deriued of Chadasch that is New Of the fountaine Rogel THis was neere Ierusalem Eastward to which place Ionathan and Ahimaas Dauids intelligencers brought him newes of Absalons counsels and intentions 2 Sam. 17. It seemeth that trauellers vsually washed their feet in it from whence it was called the Wel of feet beeing deriued from Raegael signifying a Foot Neere to this place was the stone Zochaeleth where Adoniah at such time as he affected the kingdome contrary to his fathers liking called an assembly and made a great feast 1 Reg. 1. The Trauels of Baena and Rechab THese two went out of the tribe of Benjamin ouer Iordan to Machanaim 40 miles There they murthered their master king Ishbosheth in his chamber as he lay vpon his bed and after cut off his head The head they brought to King Dauid to Hebron 68 miles But Dauid was not pleased with their treacherie wherefore hee caused them both to be put to death So their trauels were 108 miles The Trauels of Absalon ABsalon was borne in Hebron and went with his father to Ierusalem 22 miles 2 Sam. 13. From thence he went to Baalhazor 8 miles where hee caused his brother Ammon to be slain From thence for feare of his father he fled into the land of Gesur 88 miles 2 Sam. 14. From thence he came backe with Ioab to Ierusalem which was 88 miles 2 Sam. 14. From thence he went to Hebron 22 miles and made himselfe King and rebelled against his father From thence he went backe againe to Ierusalem which is 22 miles There he lay with his fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16. From thence he pursued his father to Machanaim 40 miles there was hanged by the haire in an oke tree where Ioab put him to death 2 Sam. 18. So all the trauels of Absolon were 290 miles Of Baal-hazor IN this city Absolon made a great feast for his sheepe-sherers and inuited all his brothers to it where he caused Ammon to be slain because he had abused his sister Thamar It lieth in the way some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-East as you go to Iericho neere to mount Ephraim 2 Sam. 13. and is deriued of Baal which signifies a Lord or husband and Chazir a Den or caue Of the name ABSOLON ABSOLON signifieth a Father of peace although he was the author of all discord and sedition against his father The Trauels of the wise woman of Thecoa THis woman went from Thecoa to Ierusalem 8 miles and spake with King Dauid and with her sweet words shee persuaded him that he would recall his sonne out of exile who then remained in Gesur 2 Sam. 14. Of Thecoa THecoa was a city in the tribe of Iuda some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast neere this city Iosaphat by praier and the sound of Trumpets without drawing sword got a memorable victory and for that cause it signifieth the sound of a Trumpet In this place the prophet Amos dwelt and there lieth buried whose sepulchre was to be seene 400 yeares after Christ as S. Ierom obserueth It was from Bethlem Iuda 6 miles Neere to Techoa was the lake Aspher where Ionathan and Simon Iudas Machabeus brothers pitcht their tents 1 Mach. 9. Of this city you may reade Ier. 6. Am. 1. 2 Chr. 11. Of ACHITOPHEL THis perfideous and wicked man was borne in the towne of Gilo not far from Hebron and Debir in the tribe of Iudah Ios 15. 2 Sam. 15. 20 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward who when his counsell would not take place he went home to his own house and there desperatly hanged himselfe The Trauels of wicked Shimei SHimei went from Bahurim where he cursed King Dauid to Bathabara vpon the riuer Iordan which was 18 miles where he got pardon of Dauid 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went backe with King Dauid to Gilgall foure miles 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went with King Dauid to Ierusalem 12 miles 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went to Bahurim 3 miles From Bahurim King Solomon sent for him again to Ierusalem 3 miles There he was constrained to build him an house and not to depart thence vpon pain of death 1 Reg. 2. But Shimei transgressing this commandment of the king went to Gath a city of the Philistims 12 miles From thence hee returned back againe to Ierusalem 12 miles where he was slain by the command of King Solomon in the third yeare of his reign 1 Reg. 2. So all the trauels of Shimei were 104 miles The Books of Kings and Chronicles Of ABISHAG the Virgin that lay with Dauid THis Maid was accounted the fairest in all Israel for which cause she was brought to Ierusalem for King Dauid that she might lie with him in his old age to procure heat she was born at Sunem a town some 44 miles from Ierusalem 1 Reg. 1. Of Sunem you may read before in the trauels of Dauid Saul The Trauels of King Solomon SOlomon the son of Dauid King of Israel entred vpon the full gouernment of the kingdome of Israel An. mundi 2931. and before Christ 1037. when he was about 20 yeares old After he went from Ierusalem to Gilgal 4 miles and there offered vpon the altar which Moses had made 1000 burnt offerings 1 Reg. 3. 2 Chr. 1. From thence he went backe to Ierusalem which was 4 miles and built a Temple to the Lord in mount Moriah 1 Reg. 6. This was begun about the fourth yere of his reign and 480 yeres after the children of Israel came out of Egypt in the moneth Ziph which answereth to our May. So that the Temple began to bee built in Anno mundi 2934. and before Christ 1034. To the building whereof Hiram King of Tyre sent Cedar trees from Mount Libanus 120 miles to Ierusalem 1 Reg. 5. 2 Chr. 2. This Temple Solomon within plaited ouer with pure gold and set with pretious stones and finished it in the month of Nouember about the eleuenth yeare of his reigne 1 Reg. 6. The dedication whereof was about the twelfth yeare of his reigne and in the 32 yeare of his age Anno Mundi 2942 and before Christ 1026. The Temple being finished he began to build his owne house which was 13 yeares a building and was finished about the 44 yeare of his age and in the 24 of his reign 1 Reg. 7.8 After 20 years in which time he had finished the house of the Lord and his own house in Mount Sion that
he might manifest his thankfulnesse to the King of Tyre he went to Cabul a city in the tribe of Ashur some 80 miles Northward where hee gaue to the aforesaid Hiram 20 towns or cities with al the country round about wherefore King Hiram called this Cabul that is Displeasant and dirty 2 Reg. 9. You may reade of Cabul Ios 19. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 88 miles From thence he went to Hazor and restored the city which was 44 miles From thence he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles From thence he went to Megiddo which is not farre from Iesreel in the tribe of Manasses 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. This city Solomon fortified 1 Reg. 9. and Iosiah King of Iuda a long time after was there wounded to death 2 Reg. 9. From Megiddo he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles After that Pharaoh King of Egypt had conquered Gaser and destroyed it with fire hee gaue it to his Daughter the Wife of Solomon who rebuilt it This towne was scituated in the tribe of Ephraim 28 miles from Ierusalem Northward 1 Reg. 9. From Gaser Solomon returned backe again to Ierusalem being 28 miles From thence he went to the higher Bethoron which he fortified and stood twenty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went to the lower Bethoron 16 miles from the vpper toward the South 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From the lower Bethoron hee went to Ierusalem which was 8 miles After Solomon built the city Belath which was 12 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From thence he returned back to Ierusalem 12 miles and it is very like that Solomon often visited those towns that he had built and restored From Ierusalem he went to Hemath afterward called Antiochia which was 320 miles and compassed it about with a wall fortified it and afterward constrained all the kingdomes thereabout to be obedient to his gouernment 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went with great state into the kingdom of Zoba which is 600 miles and fortified all the great cities castles of that country that with the greater facility they might oppose the inuasions of neighbouring countries From thence hee returned to that famous city Thamar which was also called the city of the Palmes 400 miles this he rebuilt and fortified 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went to Ierusalem which is 388 miles From thence hee went to Ezeongaber neere the Red sea in the countrey of Idumaea where he built a company of stately ships and sent them to India to fetch gold which was 176 miles from Ierusalem Southward 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Ierusalem which is 176 miles But of his great prosperitie and aboundance of riches he grew proud for he excelled all the Kings neere him and gaue himselfe to vnlawfull pleasures he tooke vnto him 300 Concubines and 70 wiues by whose persuasion he began to worship the gods of the Gentiles which idolatry was euill in the sight of the Lord. And after he had reigned forty yeares which was about the sixtieth of his age he died and was buried by his father Dauid in Mount Sion the city of Dauid An. mundi 2770 and before Christ 998. So all the trauels of Solomon were 2544 miles The description of the places to which he trauelled Of Gazer you may reade before in the trauels of Dauid Of Bethoron THe vpper and the lower Bethoron were two Cities in the tribe of Ephraim built by Saaerah the daughter of Ephraim 1 Chron. 7. The inferiour Bethoron was not farre from the Castle of Emmaus 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest The superior was 20 miles distant toward the North. These towns Solomon repaired Neere to the lower Bethoron the Lord put the enemies of Ioshuah to flight with thunder and haile Ios 10. Here also Iudas Machabeus ouercame the army of Antiochus 1 Mac. 3. Here also he put Nicanor to death 1 Mac. 7. and signifieth A white house being deriued of Beth which signifies an house and Chor he hath made white Of Baaelath THis is a city twelue miles from Ierusalem Northwestward in the tribe of Dan. This city Solomon repaired at such time as he fell in loue with many women from whence it seemeth to take his name for Baaeleth signifieth his beloued Lady Of Thamar THamar Tadmor or Palmira stood partly in the desart of Siria and partly in a fruitfull soile being compassed about on the one side with a Wood on the other with faire and pleasant fields It was the Metropolitan city of all Syria not farre from Euphrates some 388 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward and as Pliny saith lib. 5. cap. 25. Although it lay betwixt two mighty Empires Rome and Parthia yet it was subiect to neither fairely scituated a free city adorned with fair and sumptuous buildings and contented with their own gouernment The wildernesses called after this towns name Palmarnae or the desarts of the Palms extend themselues to Petra the metropolitan city of Arabia Petraea and to the borders of Arabia foelix one daies journey from Euphrates two from the vpper part of Syria and six from Babylon as Iosephus obserueth Antiq. lib. 8. cap. 5. This city Solomon made tributary to him and fortified it with strong walls 1 Reg. 9. Of Ezeongaber you may reade before The Typicall signification of Solomon SOLOMON is as much as Frederick in high-Dutch which signifieth a Peace-maker being deriued of the Hebrew word Schelomoh or Schalom to bring glad tydings of peace Typically representing Christ the Prince of peace who hath reconciled vs with his heauenly Father and merited an eternall place of peace and happinesse for all such as trust in him Esay 9. And as Solomon built vp the Temple of the Lord with great majestie and glorie so Christ hath built vp that heauenly Temple the Church of God and adorned it with the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit in this world that so it might be capable of eternall glory in the world to come 2 Cor. 6. The Trauels of Solomons Ships THis Navy of Solomons went vnto Ophir that is India which was accounted from the Mart town 4800 miles From India they returned backe again 4800 miles so all their trauels were 9600 miles This journy was finished in 3 yeares to and again so that euerie yeare they went 3200 miles and brought home plenty of gold siluer pretious stones Ebony c. Of India MOses called this country Havilah Gen. 2. and Ios li. Antiq. 8. c. 7. Ophir which name saith he it took of two brothers so called which inhabited and gouerned that country all along the riuer Ganges But more modern writers deriue it from Indus a riuer passing through it It is a spatious and fruitfull country pleasant to inhabit and as Pomponius saith hath in it 5000 cities being diuided into two parts the outward and inward The Trauels of the Queene of Saba FRom Saba in Ethiopia she came to Ierusalem 964 miles From
Ierusalem she returned backe again which was 964 miles So all her trauels were 1928 miles Of Aethiopia THis Countrey by the Hebrewes is called Chus of Chus the son of Cham who was the son of Noah and after Aethiopia ab astu torrida because of the great heate wherewith oftentimes the habitable land and people as also the wildernesse were sorely scorched and burned for it is scituated in the third part of the world called Africa lying vnder the torrid Zone and the Aequator which two by common experience are found to bee extreme hot Of Saba SAba is a metropolitan city in Ethiopia lying beyond Egypt 846 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and tooke the name from a certain pretious stone called Achates wherin might plainly be discerned in certain distinct colors the rising of fountains the chanels of riuers high mountains and somtimes of chariots and horses drawing them It is reported That Pyrrhus King of the Epirots had one of them wherein was liuely represented the nine Muses and Apollo playing on the Viol portrayed by naturall staines and colours so artificially as if they had bin don by some curious workman Of this stone you may reade more in Pliny li. 37. ca. 1.10 It was first found in Achates a riuer of Sicilia whence it tooke the name Afterward in India and Phrygia and of the Hebrewes was called Schaeba or Saba In this city that Queen dwelt who came to heare Solomons wisedom and gaue him for a present 120 talents of pure gold which at 3 pounds an ounce comes to 270000 pounds sterling Afterwards Cambyses King of Persia ouercame it and all the country round about it and after his sisters name called it Meroës It is a stately city to this day scituated in a plain country and compassed about with the riuer Nilus like an Island being now called Elsaba hauing some affinitie to the antient name Saba The Inhabitants of this towne goe naked all but their priuy parts which they couer either with Silke Cotton or some more costly matter and are of a blacke colour which as some thinke hapneth by reason of the extreme heat The land also is maruellously scortched and turned in many places to sand and dust So that the country is thereby wonderfull barren About Meroes or Saba which is made fruitful by the inundation of Nilus there is found plenty of salt brasse yron and some pretious stones Their sheep goats oxen and other cattell are of lesse stature than in other Countries Their dogs are very fierce and cruell In times past there were mighty princes that had the gouernement and command of it and the Country round about it But after as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 29. it was in the jurisdiction and gouernment of Queenes who for their noble resolutions courage were called Candaces One of which name in Tiberius the Emperours time was famous both for the extent of her dominions in which she exceeded all the rest of her predecessors as also in regard of her manly presence and noble spirit The Eunuch which Philip baptised Acts 8. was Treasurer or Chamberlain to this Queene and it is to be thought By him the doctrine of the Gospell of Christ was first made knowne in Saba and in the countrey of Aethiopia which afterwards was more largely propagated and dispersed by the Evangelist S. Mathew who taught there This city lieth to the longitude of 61 degrees and 30 scruples in the eleuation of the Pole Artick to the latitude 16 degrees and 25 scruples So that it seemes the inhabitants haue two winters two summers or rather a continual summer because their winter is much hotter than our summer But when the Sunne attaineth to the 15 degree of Taurus and Leo and in the Dog daies it then lies perpendicular ouer that country and neither their bodies nor houses giue any shadowes In the 61 of Esay it is said They shall come from Saba and bring gold frankincense to praise the Lord. From whence some some haue concluded That those wise men which came vnto the childe Iesus and brought Gold Frankincense and Myrrh were Aethiopians and came thence But this agreeth not well with the words of Mathew ca. 2. where it is written That the wise men came out of the East that is from the rising of the Sun to Ierusalem For Saba according to our Sauiors words Mat. 12. lieth towards the South for he saith The Queen of the South that is of Saba shall come forth in the day of Iudgement against this generation and condemne it for she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Solomon c. But if Saba lie vpon the South as here it plainely appeareth then it must needs follow they came not thence but rather from Persia which from Ierusalem lies Eastward For at Susa the metropolis of that country there was an Academy for the whole kingdom in which were chiefly studied Diuinity the Mathematickes and History So that it is likely by their Art they might attain to the knowledge of this diuine Mysterie and from thence come to Ierusalem which was 520 miles Eastward Therfore this place of the Prophet Esay is rather to be referred to the propagation of the church through the whole world where some of euery nation shall bring presents vnto the Lord. There is also another Saba in Arabia Foelix so called from Zaeba the son of Chus the son of Cham the sonne of Noah and it is distant from Ierusalem 1248 miles toward the Southeast In Hebrew it signifies the city of Drunkennesse or of Mirth but with the Syrians Antiquitie Some would haue it in the Arabian tongue to signifie a Mysterie But S. Ierom interprets it To sound their conuersion It is the metropolitan City of Arabia Foelix and by Strabo lib. 6. called Meriaba being scituated in a high and pleasant mountain full of fruitfull trees There inhabiteth in it the King of that countrey a mightie Prince his Gouernors and most of such as haue authority vnder him The land is called the Kingdome of the Sabaeans but generally Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie of the place for it yeeldeth twice euery yeare great plenty of Frankincense Myrrh Cinnamon Balsam and other odoriferous herbs The tree out of which this Myrrh commeth is fiue cubits high hairy and full of prickles and when you cut the barke there commeth forth a bitter gumme wherewith if you anoint a dead body it will continue long without rotting The frankincense also that is found there droppeth from Cedar trees like a glewie substance and so congealeth into a Gum. This happeneth twice euery yeare and according vnto the season it changeth colour in the Spring it is red in the Summer white This is the best Frankincense in all Arabia Foelix Through the whole country there is a very delectable smell by reason of the Myrrh Frankincense and Cinnamon that is found in it insomuch that if the winde blowes amongst the trees it
carrieth the smell vnto the red sea and they that saile can easily discerne the sweetnesse of the aire There is gold also found there very fine and pure insomuch as for the goodnesse of it it is called Arabian gold The Phoenix is found there of which there is but one in the world Pliny lib. 9. cap. 35. describes her to be as big as an Eagle with a list of feathers like gold about her necke the rest are of a purple colour therefore from Phoenicea and the purple colour of her wings shee is called Phoenix Shee hath a tuft of feathers vpon her head like vnto a crowne Shee liueth 660 yeares at the end of which time she buildeth her a nest of Cassia Cinnamon Calamus and other pretious Gummes and herbs which the Sun by the extremitie of the heate and the wauing of her wings fires and she taking delight in the sweetnesse of the sauor houers so long ouer it that she burnes her selfe in her owne nest Within a while after out of the marrow of her bones and the ashes of her body there groweth a worme which by little and little increaseth to some bignesse and after to a purple bird Then her wings extend themselues to a full greatnesse till such time as she commeth to be a perfect Phoenix This Bird doth liuely represent our Sauiour Christ who only and alone is the true Messiah and through whom we must expect euerlasting life who in the fulnesse of time offered himself a Sacrifice vpon the Crosse sustaining the punishment for sin at the time of his Passion putting on a purple robe being all be sprinkled with his owne bloud Ioh. 19. And as the Phoenix is burnt in her owne nest so likewise was hee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath according to that in the 22 Psal My heart is become like melting wax in the middest of my body And as the Phoenix of it selfe begetteth another of the same kinde so Christ by the power of his Deitie raised vp his body from the dust of the earth and ascended vp into heauen a glorious body to sit at the right hand of his father in that euerlasting Kingdome of glory Thus gentle Reader I thought fit to describe vnto you these two townes that when you shall reade of them in the holy Scripture the one being in Aethiopia towards the South the other in Arabia Foelix and called Seba you might discerne the one from the other of both which there is mention in the 72 Psalme The Kings of the Sea and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Saba and Seba shall giue gifts The Trauels of King Pharaoh out of Aegypt when he ouercame the Towne of Gazer 1 Reg. 9. IN the 16 yeare of King Dauid Anno mundi 2906 and before Christ 1602 Chabreus King of Aegypt began to raigne and raigned 56 yeares Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2. Herodotus calleth this man Chephrines in his second booke and Eusebius Nepher Cherres He went from Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt with a great armie 268 miles euen vnto the tribe of Ephraim and there tooke Gazer a Citie of the Leuites and burned it with fire 1 Reg. 8. Ios 21. After he came to Ierusalem which was 28 miles And this city which he had thus destroied he gaue to his daughter the wife of Solomon 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Memphis in Aegypt 244 miles So all the Trauels of King Pharaoh were 244 miles Of Memphis MEmphis is a great city in Egypt where commonly the kings of that country keepe their Courts and lyeth from Ierusalem 244 miles South-westward This citie was built a little before the floud but repaired and enlarged by a king called Ogdoo who in loue of his daughter after her name called it Memphis You may reade of it in the ninth of Hosea called there by the name of Moph for thus he saith The people of Israel are gone out of the land of Ephraim because of their Idolatrie into Aegypt but Aegypt shall gather them vp Moph that is Memphis shall bury them Moph or Mapheth in this place signifieth A prodigious wonder but the rest of the Prophets call it Noph for the fertilitie pleasantnes of the country as you may reade Esa 19. The Princes of the Zoan are become foolish and the Princes of Noph or of Memphis are deceiued See also Ierem. 2.44.46 Ezech. 30. in which places you may find it called after this name Zoan is the citie Tanis where Moses wrought all his miracles But Noph or Moph is this Memphis a beautifull towne large and spacious scituated in the strongest and profitablest place in Aegypt diuided into two parts by the riuer Nilus so that any kind of commodities or merchandise might with ease bee brouht thither by water for which cause the kings of that countrie for the most part kept their abiding there Strabo saith lib. 17. That vpon the East part of this citie there standeth a Tower or Castle called Babylon built by certaine Babylonians who leauing their owne countrey by the permissions of the kings of Egipt dwelt there in after times there was placed a garrison in it one of the three which were for the defence of Aegypt and by Ptolomy was called Babilon through both which viz. Memphis and Babilon Nilus passed the one standing vpon the East side the other vpon the West Zoan or Tanis stood about some foure miles from this towne and was a faire spacious citie also scituated towards the South vpon the East side of Nilus to which the kings of that country often resorted and Heliopolis anothet faire citie stood some six miles off that towards the Northeast All these foure townes were so wonderfully inhabited by reason of their pleasant profitable scituation that in processe of time they become all one citie and in this age is called Alcaire containing in circuit 60 miles so that it seemeth to spectators to be like a country replenished with nothing but fair houses goodly churches strong towers exceeding all the rest of the cities of Egypt aswell for the beautifulnesse of the place as the extent and largenesse of it It is reported that in the yeare of our Lord 1476 there was such an extreme pestilence in it that there died 20000 a day from whence may be gathered how infinitely it is peopled Neere to this towne stood the Pyramides which are held to he one of the wonders of the World as Strabo saith lib. 17. the height of one of them was 625 foot and square on each side 883 foot it was twentie yeares a building a hundred thousand workemen emploied about it whence it may be easily gathered how hard and difficult it was in those times to get stone it being for the most part brought from Arabia and at what an excessiue charge they were that set vp them Of Gazar This Citie is described in the Trauels of Solomon The Trauels of Hadad King of Idumaea WHen Dauid conquered Idumaea Hadad
the King of that country with some few of his courtiers being then but young fled from Midian to Paran the Metropolitan Citie of Arabia Petraea which was 84 miles 1 Reg. 11. But because he thought himselfe scarce safe in that place he fled thence to Cheopes that impious and tyrannicall King of Aegypt that built the greatest of the three Pyramides at Memphis He hating King Dauid gaue him kinde entertainment assigned him a part of the Kingdome of Aegypt to dwell in and after married him with his sister Tachpenes by whom he had a sonne called Genubath who was brought vp in Pharaohs or King Chopes court where he continued all the life of Dauid being 27 yeares which was 120 miles Dauid being dead he returned into his own kingdome of Idumaea which was 200 miles From thence hee went to Damascus which was 240 miles where he was created King of the Syrians by Reson and other fugitiues which had conspired against Solomon by which meanes he grieuously troubled that Kingdome and became an vtter enemie to the Israelites all the life of Solomon And of him is the originall and stocke of the Kings of Syria So all the trauels of Hadad were 644 miles Of Midian and Paran you may reade before in the one dwelt Iethro Moses father in law in the other Ishmael that being the chiefe city of his dominions as you may reade Gen. 21. Ex. 2. Of Reson Solomons aduersarie AFter Dauid had conquered Hadad Ezer king of Zoba Reson his chiefe captaine gathered vp his dispersed souldiers of his army and fled from him to Damascus which was 120 miles and besieged it the Citizens whereof when neither Dauid nor Solomon could suppresse his rebellion entertained him for their King which principalitie he held The Trauels of the Kings of Israel and first of IEROBOAM THis man was the sonne of Nebat and borne at a towne called Zared not far from Bethlehem Ephrata some eight miles from Ierusalem from whence hee came to Solomon who made him captaine that he might collect the tribute of Manasses and Ephraim 1 Reg. 11. which was eight miles From Ierusalem as he went to Shilo which was foure miles he met the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite who told him that he should be King of Israel 1 Reg. 11. From thence he went to Memphis in Aegipt which was 224 miles because Solomon sought his life where he remained with Sesak king of Aegypt all the life of Solomon Eusebius calleth this King Osochores who that same yeare succeeded Macrenius Solomons father in law in that gouernment From thence hee returned to the towne of Sichem in Israel which was 280 miles where the Israelites made him chiefe captaine against Rehoboam Solomons sonne Wherefore Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat began to raigne ouer Israel An. mundi 2971 and before Christ 997 and raigned 22 yeares 1 Reg. 12. His first seat was at Sichem which he repaired and enlarged From Sichem in the first yeare of his raigne hee went to Penuell and there set vp many faire buildings which was twelue miles 1 Reg. 12. From Penuel he went 24 miles to the towne of Bethel where he caused a golden Calfe to be set vp for the people to worship From thence he went to Thirza which is 16 miles This citie he built and there kept his court 1 Reg. 14. From thence he went to the mount Zemaraim which is mount Ephraim 18 miles where he had a great battell with Abia king of Iuda and lost 500000 of his souldiers all chosen men of Israel 2 Chr. 13. verse 17. Hauing lost this battell with all possible speed that he could went thence to Thirza which is 18 miles there the Lord strucke him with a grieuous disease that hee died miserably 1 Reg. 14. 2 Chr. 13. So all the Trauels of Ieroboam first King of Israel were 623 miles The Description of the townes and places to which IEROBOAM trauelled Of Zemeraim THis was a certaine Plaine in mount Ephraim eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North neere to the towne of Bethel in the Tribe of Manasses for mount Ephraim is diuided into diuers parts and Tribes It seemeth to take the name of certaine trees that abound neere that place whereon cotton wooll groweth for Zaemaer signifieth Wooll which by little and little vpon such trees doth increase and grow to perfection Of Thirza THis was a faire and beautifull citie scituated in a high and pleasant mountaine in the Tribe of Manasses some twenty foure miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In this place the kings of Israel vsed to keep their courts vntill Samaria was built It was so called because of the excellencie and delectablenesse of the place for Thirza doth denote An acceptable and thankfull citie being deriued of Razah he receiueth thankfully Of the yeares of the iniquitie of Israel THe yeares of the iniquitie of Israel mentioned in Ezek. 4. is to be accounted from that day wherin Ieroboam first erected the golden Calues wherefore the greatest part of the first yeare of the iniquitie agreeth with the second yeare of Ieroboams raign From whence may be gathered that from that time till the destruction of Ierusalem by Nabuchadnezzar were 390 yeares full ended Of Ieroboams wife Queene of Israel SHee went from Thirzo to Zilo which was about 24 miles there she asked counsell of Ahijam the Prophet concerning her son Abia for he was sicke but he told her heauie tidings 1 Reg. 14.7 Wherefore being pensiue and troubled in her mind she returned backe againe to her husband to Thirzo which was 24 miles 1 Reg. 14. So these two journies were 48 miles The journey of the man of God which came out of Iuda THis man of God as Iosephus writeth lib. Ant. 8. came from Ierusalem to Bethel which was eight miles and was called by the name of Iadon which signifieth the Iudge of the Lord. When he came thither he reproued Ieroboam with an extraordinary spirit of whom you may reade more 1 Reg. 13. But being deceiued as he was returning a Lyon met him in the way where he was slaine and after buried in a sepulchre in Bethel The Trauels of NADAB the second King of Israel NAdab or Bonifacias succeeded his father Ieroboam in the Kingdome of Israel and was annointed while hee was yet liuing a liberall and free-hearted Prince Hee began to raigne in the second yeare of Asa King of Iuda Anno mundi 2992 and before Christ 977. Hee raigned during the life of his father a yeare and somewhat more but when hee had raigned two yeares hee went from Thirza with a great army to the citie of Gibithon which was 36 miles this towne he besieged very straitly but at length was slaine by one of his captaines called Baesa so he lost both his life and kingdome in that place 1 Reg. 15. Of Gibithon THis was a citie of the Leuites in the Tribe of Dan not farre from Ekron in the land of the Philistines 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the
West and signifieth a Royall or loftie gift The Trauels of Baesa King of Israel BAesa is as much to say as An industrous and promt man in doing any thing This may hauing slaine his Master Nadab neere vnto Gibithon vsurped vpon the Kingdome of Israel about the end of the third yearo of Asa King of Iuda and began his raigne Anno mundi 2992 before Christ 974 and raigned ouer Israel almost 24 yeares two of which he raigned with his sonne 1 Reg. 15. He went from Gibithon to Thirza 36 miles where hee vtterly rooted out the whole stocke and family of Ieroboam After falling into Idolatrie he was sharply reprehended for it by Iehu the Prophet the son of Hanani of whom you may reade more 1 Reg. 15. From Thirza he went to Ramah which is 16 miles this towne he built and fortified it very strongly 2 Chr. 29. But when he heard that Benhadad King of Syria had inuaded Israel hee left his building at Ramah and with all possible speed that hee could went to Thirza where hee died and was buried 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 16. So all the Trauels of Baesa were 68 miles Of Ramah Of this Citie you may reade before Of Ella or Elah King of Israel ELah signifies a cruell man This was the son of Baasha King of Israel who was crowned King his father yet liuing about the beginning of the 26 yeare of Asa king of Iuda at such time as Benhadad king of Syria inuaded and wasted Galilee He raigned two yeares one of them during the life of his father the other alone in Thirza at the end of which hee was slaine by Simri his seruant 1 Reg. 15. 16. Of Zimri King of Israel SImri signifieth a singer and was a captain ouer king Elahs chariots hee raigned 7 daies in Thirza in which time he put to death and vtterly rooted out all the posteritie of Baasha and then Omri besieged the Citie so straitly that he had no hope to escape wherefore he set the citie and pallace on fire in which he also perished 1 Reg. 15. 16. The Trauels of Omri King of Israel OMri signifieth a souldier or one that deserueth his pay He was made King by the Israelites in his tent while he was at wars neere to Gibithon from whence he went to Thirza which was 36 miles and besieged the same vpon the very day that Simri had put the posteritie of Baasha to the sword and took it He began to raigne in Thirza Anno mundi 3017 and before Christ 951 and raigned ouer Israel 12 yeres the first six of which was in Thirza the latter six in Samaria 1 Reg. 16. From Thirza he went to mount Semer six miles there Omri built Samaria and made it the seat of his kingdome He went thither about the seuenth yeare of his raigne 1 Reg. 16. So these two journies were 42 miles Of Samaria SAmaria the chiefe seat and Metropolis of Israel was built by Omri in mount Semer 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and took that name of Semer who was Lord of that mountaine of whom K. Omri bought it for two talents of siluer which amounteth to 1200 crownes In this citie 14 Kings of Israel kept their Courts viz. Omri who was the first founder of it Ahab Ahasia Iehoram Iehu Ioachas Ioas Ieroboam Zacharias Sallum Menahem Pekahia Pekah and Hosea who was the last of the Kings of Israel that raigned in this citie and lost it together with his libertie Of all these Kings there were but fiue that died naturally for the Lord being moued to wrath by reason of their impietie and idolatrie either gaue them vp into the hands of forrein enemies or by ciuill war amongst themselues they cruelly murthered one another vntill such time as the Assirians destroied the land and led the people captiue Thus the Lord punished with a sharp and seuere punishment this obstinat nation because they contemned the admonitions and doctrines of the Prophets amongst which Elias and Elizeus were the chiefe So that although Samaria was a faire and beautifull city and the country for that cause was called the prouince of Samaria yet notwithstanding that great God the Iudge of all things for the iniquitie of the people caused this faire Citie to be left desolate the inhabitants of the land to be dispersed and the earth for want of due vsage to lie as a wildernesse 2 Reg. 17. This city in the old Testament according to the Hebrew phrase is called Shaemaer of Schomron which signifies To keepe or a Tower of strength You may reade of this 1 Reg. 2. 2 Reg. 1. 7. The Greekes and Latines call it Samaria which signifieth The castle of Iehouah or of God You may reade more of this in the second Volume Of Hiel that built Iericho againe AFter the death of Omri King of Israel when Ahab his sonne began to raigne Hiel a very rich man in the town of Bethel that hee might leaue behind him an eternall memorie of his name went to Iericho which had bin formerly destroied by Ioshuah the son of Nun had lien wast for the space of 536 yeres where contrary to the commandement of the Lord and curse of Ioshuah he caused the said citie to be rebuilt such was the impious securitie and incredulitie of this man but the Lord was angry with him and he strooke all his children that they died The eldest son called Abiram at the laying of the foundation and his yongest sonne called Segub at the hanging on of the gates Ios 6. 1 Reg. 16. The Trauels of King Ahab AHab went from Samaria to the hill Carmel where Elias put to death the Priests of Baal which was about 32 miles 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Iezreel which is sixteene miles there he told his wife how Elias had put the priests of Baal to the sword 1 Reg. 18. From Iezreel he went againe to Samaria 18 miles where being prest with a hard siege by Benhadad King of Syria he broke out of the citie for his better safety and by Gods great prouidence and assistance he assailed the Syrians put a great multitude of them to the sword the rest fled and hee went away with a noble victory as the Prophet of the Lord had formerly told him 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went with his army to Napheck which was 14 miles where he renewed a second battell and therein had good successe so that hee tooke Benhadad aliue and put to the sword 100000 Syrians In this place the Prophet of the Lord reproued him for his ingratitude and obstinacie wherefore Ahab being angry he went from Apheck to Samaria which was eight miles 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went io Iesreel 16 miles where that perfidious Queene Iesabel caused Naboth to be put to death and tooke possession of his Vineyard 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he went to Ramoth Giliad 24 miles and there in a fight that hee had against the Syrians was so sore-wounded with an arrow
aliue 2 Reg. 14. which was 32 miles From Bethsemes hee went to Ierusalem and carried the King thereof with him captiue which was 4 miles He woon the citie and broke downe the Walls of it from the gate of Ephraim till you come to the Angle gate foure hundred cubits in length 2 Reg. 14. From the Citie of Ierusalem Ioas the conquerer returned to Samaria with the spoile of the temple and of the Kings house with many captiues and a great prey which was 32 miles where at the end of the seuenteenth yeare of his raigne he died and was buried In this mans time Elisha the Prophet died 2 Reg. 13. 14. So all the trauels of Ioas were 96 miles Of Bethsemes Of this Citie you may reade before The Trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name King of Israel THis Ieroboam succeeded his father Ioas in the Kingdome of Israel and began his raigne Anno mundi 3123 and before Christ 845 which according to the text of the Bible happened about the 15 yeare of Amasia King of Iuda and hee raigned 41 yeares 2 Reg. 14. He kept his court at Samaria where the Prophet Ionas told him that he should recouer not only the townes and cities of the land of Israel that had beene lost but also the cities of Hemeth and Damascus Wherefore he gathered a great army out of the citie of Samaria and went thence vnto Hemeth or Antiochia in Syria which was 248 miles This Citie he conquered and all the countrey thereabout so that he recouered all the ancient Townes and Cities that belonged to Dauid and Saul euen from Hemeth in Syria to Soba in Armenia with all the Cities Townes Castles and Countries neer adjoyning to them 2 Reg. 14. From Hemeth or Antiochia he went to Damascus which is 140 miles This citie he also tooke and all the countrie of Syria round about he made tributary to him 2 Reg. 14. From Damascus he went to the Red sea euen 320 miles and also recouered all the South part which in times past belonged vnto the kingdome of Israel 2 Reg. 14. After this he returned to Samaria his owne countrey which was 192 miles where in the 41 yeare of his raigne he died and was there buried After his death the kingdome of Israel was oppressed with tyranny vntill it was destroied by forreine nations and for the space of 12 yeares there was no King that succeeded him In the raigne of this king a little before his death there hapned an horrible earthquake of which you may reade Amos 1. which without doubt did foreshew some eminent changes that should happen in that kingdome as did afterward Zac. 41. So all the trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name were 900 miles Of Zachariah King of Israel TWelue yeares after the death of Ieroboam Zachariah his son began his raigne in Israel in the 38 yeare of Azaria king of Iuda which was Anno mundi 3975 and before Christ 793 he raigned six moneths and then was miserably slaine by Sallum his friend 2 Reg. 15. Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. Of Sallum King of Israel SAllum began to raigne after he had slaine Zachariah in the 39 yeare of Azariah King of Iuda and when hee had raigned scarce a moneth he was slaine by Menahem losing his life and kingdome together 2 Reg. 15. The Trauels of Menahem MEnahem was borne in Thirza in the Tribe of Iuda who began to raigne in the same yeare that he slew Sallum hee raigned ten yeares 2 Reg. 10. From Thirza he went to Samaria with his army which was six miles where hauing slaine Sallum his Lord and King he vsurpt vpon the kingdome 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went to Thipsa which is six miles This towne he cruelly destroied with fire and sword and all the townes thereabout because they refused to open their gates vnto him From Thipsa this cruell tyrant went backe again to Samaria 6 miles where he grieuously afflicted the children of Israel tenne yeares Wherefore the Lord being offended with him for his exceeding crueltie stirred vp Phul Belochus King of Assyria who came from Babylon to Samaria beeing 624 miles and put King Menahem to such an exceeding great streight that hee was constrained to buy and procure his peace with * What this was in our money you may read after in the quantity of monies 1000 talents which mony being receiued he suffered him to enioy his kingdom and returned backe vnto Babylon with all his army 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of King Menahem were 18 miles Of Thypsa THis was a towne neere to that kingly city Thirza scituated in the tribe of Manasses 24 miles from Ierusalem Northward But because the inhabitants thereof denied to open their gates to this cruell tyrant Menahem therefore he vtterly destroied it euen to the ground Thipsa signifieth The Paschal Lambe or a Passeouer being deriued of Pasach He passed by Of PEKAHIA King of Israel PEkahia reigned two yeares after his fathers death at the end of which term he was slain by Pekah the son of Remalia who succeeded him in the gouernment Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. saith That this murther was done at a banquet The Trauels of PEKAH King of Israel PEkah the son of Remalia began to reigâ—â— in Samaria Anno mundi 3189 and before Christ 779. in the 52 yeare of Azariah King of Iudah and reigned ouer Israel 20 yeres 2 Reg. 15. 16. From the city of Samaria he went with Resin King of Syria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and besieged it but could not take it neuerthelesse he ouercame Ahaz King of Iuda in a great battell and put to the sword in one day aboue 12000 souldiers that bare armor In this war were taken 200000 women children and maids all which hee carried Captiues to Samaria 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem hee returned to Samaria with a great bootie which was 32 miles and at the command of Obed the Prophet set at libertie all his captiues After about the end of the 20 yeare of his reign he was slain by Hosea his chiefe captain who succeeded him in the gouernment 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of Pekah were 64 miles Of HOSEA the last King of Israel HOsea began to reign in the fourth yere of Ahas king of Iuda Anno mundi 3209 and before Christ 759. He kept Court at Samaria and was a cruell and wicked King Wherefore God stirred vp Salmanasser Emperour of the Assyrians who about the end of the 7 yeare of his reigne came to Samaria and besieged it for the space of 3 yeares at the end of the third yeare with great labor he won it and all the country round about so that he tooke King Hosea prisoner and led him together with a great multitude of the Iewes amongst which were Gabriel and Raphel the friends of Toby the elder thence to Niniveh captiues beeing 652 miles From Niniveh he sent them to a place called Rages in Medea being 752 miles and
in that country peopled many towns cities with them so that there were many of the Israelites led into captiuitie aboue 1396 miles for so many miles is Rages and the Cities of the Medes from Ierusalem Northeastward This captiuitie of the ten Tribes hapned An. mundi 3227 and before Christ 741. OF the cities of Rages and Niniveh you may reade in the trauels of Toby and the Angell Gabriel The Trauels of the People which SALMANASSER Emperour of the Assyrians sent to dwell in the Land of Israel SALMANASSER after hee had carried the Children of Israel away captiue into Assyria sent as it is said part of them into Media and part of them into Persia and so dispersed them here and there about the Countrey But because the Land of Israel by reason of this captiuitie became desolate and without inhabitants therefore he caused those people which dwelt about the riuer Cutha in Persia to go thence and dwell in Samaria and in all the countrey round about to till the land and dresse the Vines least some other people that were strangers to his gouernment should vsurp vpon that kingdom it being thus without inhabitants Ios li. Ant. 9. You may reade of this also 2 Reg. 7. In whose place and neere to the said riuer of Cutha a multitude of Iewes with great shame and griefe were constrained to dwel He also gathered a great multitude of other people out of Babylon Hamath or Antiochia some out of his own dominions of Assyria also out of Medea and the people of Ava and Sepharuaijm which people are mentioned Esay 37. and sent them to inhabit in Samaria and all the cities and countries round about because it was a fertile and pleasant country and to defend it against the incursions of strangers From whence may be gathered that in this behalfe the policy of this Emperor was much greater that of the Romans for the retaining of this kingdome but especially than that of Titus Vespasian for hee hauing conquered the land wasted it and destroyed it with fire and sword put thence the inhabitants and dispersed them heere and there left the countrey bare and naked onely a few Garrisons were placed in the strongest cities to keepe it to their vse Which not beeing able enough to oppose the incursions of the Saracens that in great Troupes brake out of the Desarts of Arabia Petraea they soone lost all that they had gotten and the Turks ioining with them they haue now gained into their possession that pleasant and fruitfull Land of Iudaea and inhabit therein euen to this day to the great detriment and scandall of the Christians But to return to the people sent to inhabit this kingdom who as they were of diuers Nations so were they of diuers religions and euery Family had his particular god Wherefore the Lord sent a multitude of Lions among them which daily vexed them from whence it hapned that Salmanasser was constrained to send backe vnto them a Levite one of the Priests that had bin caried away captiue to shew them the true worship of God He came to Bethel and there taught them the doctrine of the Lord and the customes and ceremonies of the Mosaical Law whereby it hapned that they began to worship God and their idols in neither obseruing their antient custome For which cause they became so abominable vnto the Iewes that they refused their companie and familiaritie as that Samaritan woman confessed to Christ at Iacobs Well Ioh. 4. so that when the Iewes could call a man by any ignominious or odious name they would term him a Samaritan Ioh. 8. Do we not say rightly that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Diuell But of all the people which Salmanasser sent into the Holy land those that came out of the East part of Persia from Cutha called Cutheis dwelt in Samaria and got the chief command and gouernment ouer the rest The Trauels of the Kings of Syria that made warre vpon the Kings of Israel And first of the Trauels or incursions of BENHADAD BEnhadad King of Syria went from Damascus the chiefe city of his kingdome and came to Samaria and streightly besieged it in the time of Ahab King of Israel 1 Reg. 20. being 132 miles From thence being ouercome and put to flight by Ahab he returned backe againe to Damascus which was 132 miles The second time he came from thence and inuaded the land of Israel euen vnto the city of Apheck 124 miles which hee besieged But Ahab King of Israel ouercame him in a great battell and put 100000 Syrians to the sword and when the rest of the multitude would haue fled into the city the ruines of a wall fell vpon them so that there died 27000. This put King Benhadad into such a feare that hee was constrained to fly from one chamber to another to hide himselfe but at lost was taken and not without the great wrath and indignation of God by that wicked king Ahab pardoned and set at liberty 2 Reg. 20. Wherefore he went thence backe vnto Damascus which was 124 miles Within three years after he brought a great army against Ramoth in Gilead which is 104 miles from Damascus South-eastward Here he won of Ahab a great battell in which Ahab was slain with an arrow 1 Reg. 22. From thence he returned back to Damascus which was about 104 miles After that he came again from Damascus into the land of Israel with a great army 120 miles where he counselled with his Captains and men of war saying Here and there will we incamp our selues But the Prophet Elisha discouered their purposes 2 Reg. 6. Out of the land of Israel he returned to Damascus which was 120 miles From thence he returned again with his army to Samaria being 132 miles which the second time he besieged so straightly that an asses head was worth 80 pieces of siluer But yet the Lord at the feruent prayers of Elizeus the Prophet strook such a feare and anguish among the enemies that Benhadad and his army were constrained to fly 2 Reg. 6. Being sore troubled because he was thus put to flight he went to Damascus which was 132 miles and there within a while after died of grief 2 Reg. 9. So all the trauels of King Benhadad were 1224 miles The Trauels of the Captaines which Benhadad King of Syria sent to waste and destroy the land of Baesa King of Israel THis army went from Damascus and came to the towne of Hion 72 miles From thence they went to Dan which is 4 miles From Dan they went to the city of Abel-Bethmaacha twelue miles From thence they went to the land of Chineroth which was accounted 8 miles there they tooke certain cities of fruit and spoiled and destroyed them From Chineroth in the tribe of Nepthali when they had cruelly wasted destroyed that country they returned with a great booty to Damascus being 88 miles 1 Reg. 15. So all their Trauels were 184 miles ¶ The Description of
his trauels were 120 miles Of Ahaz King of Iudah AHAZ signifies Apprehending or a possessor He began to raigne after the death of his father Iotham about the end of the 17 yere of Pekah King of Israel Anno mundi 3206 before Christ 762. He raigned wickedly 16 yeares 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. For hee was a notorious hypocrite who out of a peruerse zeale worshipped many Idols and burnt his sonne in the valley of Gehinnon as an offering vnto Moloch Wherefore he was vnhappy in his gouernment for God stirred vp mighty enemies against him euen Resin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel who wasted and destroied his Kingdome and straightly besieging Ierusalem conquered Ahaz in a great battell and put to the sword 120000 of his men After that Resin returned to Elath and tooke it so that he lost more than his father had gotten Where being strucke into a great feare hy reason of these aduersities hee sent to craue the aid of Tiglasse Phulasser king of the Assirians who at his request sent a great Army from Niniueh to Damascus 520 miles and there ouercame Resin and put him to death and tooke captiue 242000 of the people of Damascus and sent them into Cyren a country of Africa 2 Reg. 16. The Trauels of Ahaz King Ahaz went from Ierusalem to Damascus which was 160 miles to meet Tiglath Phulasser King of the Assirians to rejoyce with him for his happy victory and giue him thanks for his aid and assistance where when he saw the Altar at Damascus to be very glorious he sent for Vrija the chiefe Priest who tooke a patterne thereof and carried it with him to Ierusalem where he made an Altar like vnto it 2 Reg. 16. From Damascus he returned backe againe 160 miles So his trauels were 320 miles But yet Ahaz continued in his peruerse impiety and idolatry without any regard or feare of God therefore he stirred vp other enemies against him viz. the Idumaeans who tooke a great multitude of them captiue and the Philistines who with their Army broke into the South part of the tribe of Iuda and tooke these cities following viz. Bethsemes Aialon Timnath Socho Gederoth and Gimso with their villages These Cities for the most part are mentioned in the precedent treatise except Gederoth and Gimso Gederoth commonly called Gederothaim is distant from Ierusalem eight little miles towards the South-west and stands neere to the castle of Emaus being compassed about with a hedge from whence it seemeth to take the name for Gadar is as much to say as He hath hedged about Gimso was also in the Tribe of Iuda but in what place it is not certainely known Thus king Ahaz all the daies of his life did euill in the sight of the Lord for which God punished him and all the land and in the 16 yeare of his raigne he died and was buried with his fathers in the Citie Dauid The Trauels of Ezekias King of Iuda Ezekias which signifies The Champion of Iehouah was borne when his father was but thirteene yeares of age which made many questions whether he should succeed him as his lawfull heire in his Kingdome because they doubted whether he was lawfully begotten For if you doe obserue the order and course of the yeares and chronologie in the Scripture you shall finde that from the beginning of the thirteenth yeare of the age of Ahaz to the first yeare of the raigne of this King Ezekias make just twenty fiue yeres Ezekias therefore began to raigne after the death of his father Ahaz about the end of the third yeare of Hosea King of Israel 2 Reg. 19. Anno mun 3222 before Christ 746 being then about 25 yeres of age a little before Easter as it appeareth 2 Chron. 29. He gouerned that Kingdome with great commendations 29 yeares The first journey that he tooke was from Ierusalem to Gaza which was 44 miles there he ouercame the Army of the Philistines and recouered all those cities which his father Ahaz had lost according to that in the Prophet Esay cap. 15. 2 Reg. 18. From Gaza hee returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles there he broke downe the places for idolatry and the brasen Serpent made by Moses in the wildernesse and called it Nehustan a brasen thing that hath nothing in it selfe of a diuine nature and could neither profit nor hurt therefore ought not to be worshipped This brasen serpent was kept in memory of that signe that God shewed vnto the children of Israel in the desart when they were bitten and stung to death by fiery serpents for looking vpon this brasen serpent they were healed But now because of the abuse thereof by the Iewes which turned it into idolatry it was broken to pieces Num. 21. 2 Reg. 18. So all the trauels of Ezechias were 88 miles In the 14 yeare of the raigne of Ezekias and in the 38 of his age Senacharib that mighty Emperour of the Assirians hauing taken many townes and cities in the Holy land would haue also besieged Ierusalem and for that purpose sent from Lachis which was 20 miles distant from Ierusalem Thartan Rabsarim and Rabsacha three mighty Princes Embassadors with a great traine to attend them These men went about the citie to see in what part it was most subject to batterie and might easiest begot so when they came to the conduit of the vpper poole which is by the path of the Fullers field between the Fish gate and the old gate in that place where they might easiliest be heard they called to the King but Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah which was Hezekias Steward Shebnah the Chancellor and Ioab the sonne of Asaph the Recorder went vpon the wall then Rabsacha vttered blasphemous words against the Lord but Ezekias when hee had heard what the enemie had said called all the Elders of Ierusalem together and sent for Isaiah the sonne of Amos the Prophet and they went into the temple of the Lord and praied Wherefore the Lord heard their prayers and sent his Angel into the Campe of the Assirians and loe in one night there were slaine 185000 men as they lay in their tents before Gibeah which at this time they besieged being distant from Ierusalem some ten miles towards the Southwest This great deliuerance hapned in the yeare of the world 3235 and before Christ 733. About the end of the 38 yeare of the age of Ezekiah he fell into a dangerous disease which so farre forth as could be gathered by all likelihoods was the plague for God doth oftentimes try the patience of his Saints with sundry afflictions but yet at his feruent prayers hee was restored to health and his daies were lengthned 15 yeares at which time the Sunne went backe ten degrees according to the variation of the shadow in the Dyall of Ierusalem 2 Reg. 20. Isa 38. 2 Chron. 32. But at the end of the 15 yeares which was about the 54 yeare of his age he died and was buried with his
day The siege continued euen till the 11 yere of this king Ierem. 39.52 2 Reg. 25. And vpon the 9 day of the 4 moneth Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Vpon the 7 of the 5 moneth Ab Nabusaraden chiefe captaine of the army was sent backe by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroied and burned the houses and buildings of the citie of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. vpon the tenth day of the fifth Moneth Ab which answereth to the ninth day of Argust being the Sabbath day the temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudaei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first captiuitie and destruction of the citie of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperor happened anno mundi 3362 and before Christ 606. Three hundred and nintie yeres being then fully compleat and ended from the first yeare of Iaroboam King of Israel who set vp the golden calues and caused them to be worshipped For after the end of these yeares according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 4. the sins of Ieroboam should be grieuously punished vpon the people of Iudah In like manner from the end of the 13 yere of Iosiah wherin Ieremie first began to prophecie vntill this yeare in which the children of Israel were carried away captiue into Babylon are numbred 40 yeares which by Ezek. cap. 4. are called the yeares of the iniquitie of Iuda because so long the Iewes did contemne and despise the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie Of Babylon HOw far this citie stood from Ierusalem you may reade before which by the Chaldaeans is called Shinear or Sinear and signifies To strike vpon the teeth being deriued of Schen A tooth and Naer To strike It may also bee taken for that when a man endeauoured with all speed to execute a thing which seemes to resemble the condition of Nimrod for that in this place he endeuoured to ouercome and conquer all his neighbours from whence this land was called Casdius that is The countrey of the destroyer So changing M into L it is called Chaldeus or Chaldaea The chiefe and Metropolitan citie of which countrie was this Babylon built some thirtie yeares after the floud by Nimrod or the Babylonian Saturne the first great commander of the world according to Berosus lib. 4. who writeth after this manner Nimrod which was accounted the sonne of Iupiter Belus being angry with the holy Priests of that great God Iehouah came with his colonie and people into the field of Sinear where hee built a citie and laid the foundation of a great tower 131 yeares after the floud and raised this tower to such a height and withall of such a hugenesse that it seemed as if it had beene some great mountaine because he would haue the Babylonian people accounted the chiefest and greatest in the world also their gouernor the King of Kings A little after he saith he built this tower but before he could finish it dyed in the 56 yeare aftet he began it wherefore the citie and tower of Babylon according to the opinion of Berosus was begun in Anno mundi 1788 which was 131 yeares after the flood and before Christ 2180. There were two causes wherefore the children of men built vp this Tower first that they might get them a name secondly that they might be safe in case there came another flood to drowne the world It was made of bricke and bittume least the water should loosen it But the Lord turned their enterprises into euill and diuided their Language so that they could not vnderstand one another whereby they were constrained to leaue off their building from whence it happened that their mindes manners vnderstandings studies and principall actions were vtterly changed and is the foundation of all discord and sedition where the feare of God and the true knowledge of Christ doth not preuent it From this diuision of tongues it is called the citie of Babylon this is the citie of diuision being deriued of the word Balal he hath confounded or mingled together Of this city you may reade in Ios lib. 1. cap. 9. where he bringeth in a saying of the Sibels which was That when all nations were of one language they built an exceeding high tower as though they would haue ascended by it into heauen but the Lord with great tempest and diuiding their tongues subuerted their enterprise from whence it was called Babylon This citie was the fairest in those times of all others scituated in a spacious plaine vpon euery side whereof there stood pleasant orchards and gardens it was built foure square compassed about with wals of an incredible strength and greatnesse being 50 cubits thicke and 200 high beautified within with goodly buildings fair temples richly guilt with gold and wonderfull to looke vpon It was in compasse 380 furlongs as Strabo saith which make 48 miles Through it ran the riuer Euphrates by which all things necessarie were conueyed to the Citie without it was compassed with faire ditches fil'd with water like riuers and in the wall there stood a hundred gates Herodotus saith That it was 480 furlongs about which make 60 miles English but that is not so credible The first founder of this citie was Nimrod who in those times was the chiefe commander of the world It is thought that he was the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noah whose name signifies a cruell gouernor or an vnmercifull tyrant And that his actions might be according to the signification of his name he is branded with most perspicuous note of cruelty omitting no violent action whereby he might enlarge his dominions incroching vpon other mens gouerments through a thirstie and ambitious desire of renowne without either respect of equitie or humanitie And to adde euill to euill committed many outrages vpon such as were accounted good men and the Priests of the great God Iehouah from whence there grew in him a more than humane resolution accounting himselfe in this world a god and through this opinion grew into contempt of all good things compelling such as were his subjects and vassals to do him worship and reuerence as to a diuine power which being ingraffed into the hearts of such as followed in succeeding ages they countenanced it with authority from whence it came to passe that he was inrolled into the number of their principall gods giuing him the name of Saturne whom the Hebrewes calleth Sudormin which elegantly imployeth Saturne Berosus saith that the Babylonian Iupiter succeeded this Nimrod whose authoritie I am willing to follow to auoid prolixitie This man so much inlarged the Citie that many in succeeding ages haue attributed the foundation thereof vnto him He ruled ouer it sixtie and one yeares After him succeeded Ninus or as some will haue it Nimrod the second who began his raigne Anno mundi 1909 before Christ 2061 he did many worthy acts during his life and added to the Empire of Babylon many Prouinces
and after hee had raigned 50 yeares dyed and was buried in Babylon After him succeeded Semiramis his wife who tooke vpon her the gouernement of the Assirian Empire her sonne Ninus being then within age and she began her gouernment Anno mundi 1959 before Christ 2009. Shee was one of the manliest and resolute women that we reade of and performed as many worthy and memorable actions This Queene built her sepulchre ouer the most eminent gate of Babylon in a publike and perspicuous place vpon which shee caused to be written in golden letters If there be any King of Babylon that shall come after me and stand in need of mony let him open this sepulchre and whatsoeuer he wanteth hee shall finde but before it will not be good for him to touch it This notwithstanding it continued till the raigne of Darius who opened this monument in hope to finde what the superscription imported but no money was there to bee had onely within might plainely be seene engrauen other letters to this effect Vnlesse thou hadst beene vnsatiably couetous thou wouldest neuer haue opened the graues of the dead in hope of gaine This woman beautified Babylon with many goodly buildings built vp the walles thereof set a bridge ouer Euphrates made a beautifull Orchard and a Garden in it beautified it with many goodly Towers and fortifications added vnto it many prouinces and gouernments and after all because of her owne lasciuious appetite as Sallust saith was murthered by her son Ninus who succeeded her in the gouernment There were many other memorable things within this Citie that were built before and after her time as Herodotus saith as that great and mighty tower before remembred in which stood the temple of Baelus and his sepulchre Not far from that stood a chappell wherein was the statue of Iupiter all of pure gold worth * What this was in our mony you may see after 800 talents of gold Without that chappell there stood an altar of pure gold vpon which they yearely offered 100000 talents of frankincense There was another also somwhat lesse vpon which they vsed to offer their sacrifices for it was not lawfull for them to offer any thing that had life vpon the greater altar there stood also in that place another statue twelue cubits high all of pure gold This City was after taken by Cyrus the first Emperour of the Persians Anno mundi 3432. before Christ 536. in the seuentieth yeare after the Captiuitie of Israel and Iudah according to the prophecie of Ieremy at which time the City was so great that they which dwelt in the middle of it did not know that the Enemie had entred within the walls at the further end which might happen because vpon that day when it was taken the Babylonians celebrated a Feast vnto Venus in which vsing extraordinarie diligence they were lesse mindfull of such things as hapned vnto them Thus this City that with great tyranny had triumphed ouer the Nations of the earth for the space of 1600 yeares being so plentifully furnished with all things necessary for the maintenance of life that the inhabitants therof contemned al other people was by Gods permission for their pride and presumption wasted and consumed by Cyrus as you haue heard and shortly after vtterly destroyed by Xerxes the fourth Emperor of the Persians and so continueth to this day as Strabo saith Where then ô world is thy prosperitie or Riches thy glory since in the one thou art consumed in the other left desolate Of the ruines of old Babylon that are extant at this day BAbylon which as you haue heard reigned ouer the Nations of the earth like a Queen at this day hath nothing to present you withall but an heap of stones out of the ruins whereof there was built a little towne close by where it stood called Elugo or Felugo scituated vpon the banke of the riuer Euphrates Not far from which it seemes there is a profitable harbor for ships where Merchants oftentimes go a shore and trauell thence through many Woods and desart places vnto Seleucia which at this day is called by the Turks Bagdeth distant thence some 36 miles and is the vtmost towne of the Turkish and Persian Empires towards the East being diuided in the midst by the riuer Tygris Some Merchants haue reported That the place where Babylon stood is become stony vnfruitfull and vnpleasant because of the ruines of the destroyed buildings which lie in the earth Also That there is found a tower built of a blacke stone which to outward appearance seemes to haue bin a very goodly house high and eminent so that vpon the top thereof a man might haue seen through the whole city This tower the Inhabitants of Felugo call the tower of Daniel in which was the chamber where hee vsed to pray vnto the Lord three times a day the windowes whereof looked toward Ierusalem Dan. 6. There is also to be seene diuers arches of the bridge which Semiramis built standing vpon the riuer Euphrates and the foundation of the great tower whose top should haue reached to heauen being in compasse two miles but not very high Within the ruines whereof are found certaine serpents very noisome and venomous about the bignesse of a Lizard hauing three heads and spect with diuers colours which the inhabitants call Eglones There are such a multitude of them that no man dares approch within halfe a mile of it at any time but in the Winter season nor then neither but for the space of a moneth in which time these serpents for the extremitie of the cold are constrained to keep their holes Thus as this Tower was hatefull vnto God in the beginning so likewise hath hee made it hurtfull vnto man euen to this day The Trauels of the Babylonian and Assyrian Kings and Emperours that fought against Israel and Iudah And first of Phul Belochus King of Assyria PHul Belochus that is He returned wasting began to reign among the Babylonians An. mundi 3149. before Christ 819 and gouerned 48 yeares This King or Emperour came from Babylon to Samaria which was 660 miles There he so streightly besieged Menahem King of Israel that he was constrained to giue him * What this was in our mony you may see after 1000 talents of siluer to raise his siege and depart 2 Reg. 15. From Samaria he returned back again to Babylon 660 miles So all the trauels of Phul Belochus were 1320 miles The Trauels of TIGLAT PHVLASSER King of the Assyrians TIglat Phulasser signifies The Assyrian Conquerour He was also called Tiglath Philasser 2 Reg. 15. which name is attributed to him either because he caried away the children of Israel captiue or else because of the conquest that he had of all Galile and ouer the tribe of Nepthali which he carried into Assyria Hee succeeded his father Phul Belochus in the gouernment of the Assyrians An. Mun. 3197. before Christ 771. and reigned 25 yeares When Resin King
of the Assyrians ioyning his army with Pekah son of Remalia King of Israel had streightly besiege Ierusalem Ahas was constrained to craue aid of this Tiglath Phulasser sent him great presents which he accepted kindly brought his arm from Niniveh to Damascus 520 miles where he put Resin and the whole city to the sword 2 Reg. 16. From Damascus he came with his army into the land of Israel which was 120 miles where he ouercame Pekah in a great battell conquered all the land of Gilead and the tribe of Nepthaly and put a great multitude of the Israelites into perpetuall exile 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went backe to Niniueh 640 miles A little after this King Tiglath Philasser went from Ninive to Ierusalem 680 miles where hee so streitly besieged that wicked King Ahas that he was constrained to giue him great abundance of gold and siluer to raise his siege and be gon 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem he returned back to Ninive being 680 miles So all his trauels were 6640 miles OF the city Niniveh you may reade after in the trauels of Ionas the Prophet Of Kyr which is commonly called Cyrene KYr or Cyrene is scituated in Africa 816 miles from Ierusalem Westward In which country Simon that bore the crosse of Christ was borne Mat. 27. Luke 23. It signifies in Hebrew A strong wall and in Latine a Heart The Trauels of King SALMANASSER SAlmanasser signifieth The Assyrian Peace-maker This man Ptolomaeus that excellent Mathematician calleth Nabonassarus that is the Prophet of the Assyrians He began to reign vpon the 26 of February An. mundi 3221 before Christ 747 and reigned ten yeares or thereabout This man went with his army from Ninive to Samaria being 652 miles where hee compelled Hosea the last King of Israel to pay him tribute 2 Reg. 16. From thence he returned backe again with his army to Niniveh 652 miles After when Hosea K. of Israel conspiring with So K. of Egypt denied to pay him tribute hee returned backe againe the second time to Samaria which was 652 miles and after 3 yeres siege he tooke and destroied it with fire and sword and conquered all the country round about From Samaria he returned back again to Niniveh 652 miles So all the trauels of Salmanasser King of the Assyrians were 2608 miles The Trauels of SENACHARIB King of the Assyrians SEnacharib as Melancthon expounds it signifieth a two edged Sword He succeeded his father Salmanasser Ann. M. 3231. before Christ 737. He reigned 7 years This man imitating his father endeauored to cary away the rest of Gods people into captiuitie for which purpose he brought an army from Niniveh to Lachis which was 700 miles which town he besieged sent his Princes to Ieresalem beeing 20 miles where hee blasphemed the Lord of which you may reade more in the historie of King Hezekiah From Lachis hee went to Libnah 8 miles This was a strong Hold but he besieged it so narrowly that within a while after he had begun the siege he tooke it While he was before this town there came newes That Taracha a King of the Ethiopians had inuaded his country Wherefore he sent the second time messengers to Ierusalem But the Lord was offended with their blasphemie wherefore hee sent his Angell who in one night destroyed 185000 of his army This sudden and vnexpected euill falling upon him in a great feare he returned to Niniveh 692 miles where he was slain by his sons in the Temple The same of these things was so divulged abroad that Herodotus lib. 2. makes mention of them So these three journies make 1400 miles Of Lachis and Libnah you may reade before Of Assarhaddon King of the Assyrians ASsarhaddon his father Senacharib being slaine succeeded in the gouernment An. mundi 3238 which agreeth with the 730 yeare before Christ and reigned ten yeares in Niniveh the chiefe city of the Assyrians Here again the mutation change of Kingdoms may be obserued for Merodach a Chaldaean rebelling against Senacharib continued his gouernment in Babylon 11 yeares that is during a part of the reign of Senacharib and all the reign of Assarhaddon his son in which time he conquered the Assyrians and made them subiect to the empire of the Babylonians Of Merodach the first Emperor of the Babylonians MErodach signifieth A bitter repentance He was the sonne of Baladan Prince of Babylon who ruled at such time as Senacharib had that grieuous ouerthrow in Iudah Wherefore taking aduantage of the time and the necessitie of that Prince he rebelled against him and his son Assarhaddon taking vpon him the absolute command of the city and whole Empire The beginning of whose reign hapned in the yeare of the world 3236 and before Christ 732. This Merodach sent to Ierusalem wise and learned men with gifts and presents to King Ezekiah iust in that yeare when the Sun went backe ten degrees to know the truth of this miracle For it was a custome amongst the Nations round about Ierusalem if any thing hapned beyond the expectation of man to send thither to enquire the truth thereof Such and so wise a people were the Iewes esteemed in those times as may appeare by diuers places in holy Scripture In the beginning of the 12 yeare of this King Assarhaddon Emperor of the Assyrians died after whose death he became Emperor of all Assyria Chaldea He began to reign ouer that spatious kingdome An. mundi 3247 before Christ 721. and reigned after that 40 yeares Of Ben-Merodach Emperor of Babylon BEn-Merodach that is the son of Merodach succeeded his father An. M. 3287. before Christ 681. He reigned 21 yeares Of Nebuchadnezar first of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar signifieth A Divine Iudge He was the most potent king of all the Babylonians This man obtained the chiefe command ouer the Babylonian Empire An. M. 3309 before Christ 659. He reigned 35 yeares and held his Court somtime in Babylon sometimes in Niniveh Iud. 1. He made war with Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt of which battell you may reade 2 Reg. 25. 2 Chr. 35. in the vally of Megiddo where Iosias was slain Herod lib. 2. doth also make mention of this battell and calls the place by the name of Magdalum Of which Ieremy also speaketh But they were towns in the tribe of Manasses scituated neere to the plaine where this battell was fought in which country Mary Magdalen was borne The Trauels of Nebuchadnezar the second of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadnesar or Nebuchadonesar the Great which Ptolomaeus calleth Nebupollasser about the end of the third yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah being a little before created Emperour his father yet liuing came vnto Ierusalem which hee besieged so streightly that hee constrained Ioachim to pay him Tribute for thirty seuen yeares Berosus saith Lib. 3. A little after that is Anno mundi 3344. before Christ 624 hee was sent against the Syrians Phoeniceans Egyptians that rebelled So
he went with his army from Babylon to Carchemis a City of Syria scituated neere the riuer Euphrates which was 280 miles Here he ouercame Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt in a great battel Ier. 46. Herod lib. 2. From Carchemis he went to Ierusalem which was 400 miles here he tooke Daniel and his companions captiue and brought them to Babylon After he went with his army to Pelusio being 132 miles which hee tooke conquered all the land of Egypt put to death Pharaoh Necho and made Psammeticus his son King in his place Ieremy the Prophet told of this war cap. 25.26 From Pelusio he returned to Babylon 800 miles Within a while after his father died and he succeeded in the gouernment and reigned 43 yeares In the 11 yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah he went again from Babylon to Ierusalem which was 680 miles and by policy tooke that city and put Ioachim the king thereof to death according to the prophecie of Ieremy cap. 22. 2 Kin. 24. From thence after he had made Iechonias his son King hee returned backe again to Babylon 680 miles About three moneths after he went the third time back to Ierusalem 680 miles for he feared Iechonias would rebell and reuenge the death of his father Ioachim 2 Kin. 24. In the eight yeare of his reign he tooke Iechonias Mardoche and 3000 other Iews of the Nobilitie and caried them captiue to Babylon which was 680 miles 2 Kin. 24. 2 Chr. 36. Est 2. Nine yeares after he came the fourth time to Ierusalem being 680 miles and besieged the City because of the impietie and rebellion of Zedekiah King thereof During this siege he tooke diuers towns but chiefly Lachis and Aseka Ier. 34. But when hee vnderstood that Pharaoh was comming with an army out of Egypt to rescue Zedekiah he raised his Campe and went about 80 miles into the countrey of Egypt which Pharaoh hearing was abashed and turned backe againe In the absence of this Emperor Ieremy the Prophet being then within the city hauing foretold the destruction therof would haue fled thence for his better safety into the tribe of Benjamin but by the way hee was taken in the gate of Benjamin and cast into prison Ier. 7. Within a while after according to the prophecie of Ieremy Nebuchadnezar returned out of the desart of Sur whither he went to meet the Egyptians being 80 miles and vtterly destroyed the city of Ierusalem carrying thence the vessels and ornaments of the Temple to Babylon 2 Kin. 25. 2 Chr. 36. From Ierusalem hee went to Riblah in the tribe of Nepthaly 80 miles where hee put out Zedekiahs eies and kild his children 2 Kin. 25. From Riblah he carried Zedekiah to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserably in prison 2 Kin. 25. Afterward Nebuchadnesar went with his army from Babylon to Tyrus which hee won and pittifully wasted with fire and sword according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 26. being 600 miles From Tyrus he went to Egypt and passed 480 miles through that kingdome conquering all the countries and prouinces as he went a long euen the Ammonits the Moabits Philistins Idumaeans and Egypt it selfe all which countries hee made tributarie to him Isa 15 16 19. Ier. 46 47 48 49. Ez. 25.29 From Egypt he returned to Babell 960 miles From that time till his death hee was Emperour of all those kingdoms In the second yeare of his Empire Daniel expounded vnto him his wonderfull dream vnder the similitude of an image setting forth the condition of the four monarchies of the world Dan. 2. Not long after he caused Sidrack Misack and Abednego to be cast into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship the golden image which he had set vp Dan. 3. Also this Nebuchadnesar for his great pride and arrogancie was by God strucken mad and into a deepe melancholy in which disease hee continued for the space of seuen yeares tyed in bonds and chaines running vp and downe like a beast and feeding vpon grasse and roots vntill he came to vnderstand That God the Gouernour of Heauen and earth had the disposing of Kingdoms and Gouernments giuing them to whom he list and againe taking them away At the end of which time he was restored to his vnderstanding and Empire and after beautified the city of Babylon with many goodly buildings faire orchards and pleasant places as Iosep lib. Ant. 10 saith And when hee had reigned 43 yeares died and was buried by his father in Babylon An. mundi 3387. and before Christ 581. So all the trauels of Nebuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar were 7892 miles ¶ The Description of the Cities and places that haue not as yet been mentioned Of Carchemis THis was a city in the country of Syria neere Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies A sacrificed Lambe being deriued of Car which signifies a Ram or Lambe and Mosch He hath cut in pieces It may also be taken in the third Conjugation for a Lambe sacrificed to the idol Chemosch or Chamos the god of meetings or nightly salutations Of Pelusio THis City Pelusio was built by Peleus the father of Achilles from whence it tooke the name It stands in Egypt some 172 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward neere to the gate of Nilus called Pelusiachus where it falleth into the Mediterranian sea Not far from this city in the mountain Casius vpon the borders of Arabia Petraea where the Temple of Iupiter Casius stood is to be seen the tomb of Pompey the great beautified and adorned by Adrianus Caesar as Capitolinus saith At this day this city is called by the name of Damiata You may read of it Ezek. cap. 30. Of Tyrus or Zor TYrus signifieth Cheese or to congeale together as Cheese doth milk somthing alluding to the Hebrew word Zor signifying to make straight or a rocke hauing a straight and sharpe edge It was the metropolitan city of Phoenicia now the hauen or passage of Sur but in antient time it was called Sarra Aul. Gel. lib. 14. cap. 6. It was scituated vpon a very high rocke compassed about with the Mediterranean sea 100 miles from Ierusalem Northward and a famous mart towne for all the Holy land By the description of Ezekiel it seemes to haue bin like vnto Venice both in scituation and dignitie Ez. 72.28 Ierem. Esay 27.28 and many other Prophets prophecied against this town saying Out of the land of Kithim that is from Macedonia the destroyer of Tyrus should come As after hapned for Alexander the Great King of Macedon besieged that town and in the 7 moneth after tooke it for the obtaining whereof he was constrained to fill vp the sea which compassed it about containing 700 paces and made it firm land for his army to passe vpon to the wals of the city In this country that famous Civilian Vlpian was borne as he writeth lib. 1. ff de Censibus And vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sidon Christ cured the daughter of a Canaanitish woman of a
Diuel Mat. 15. wherefore you shall read more of it in the second Tombe Of Evil-Merodach Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians AMilinus Evil-Merodach son of Nebuchadonesar the great succeeded his father An. M. 3388. before Christ 580. In the first yeare of his reign he set at liberty Iechonias King of Iuda and attributed to him the title dignitie and maintenance of a King Iechonias being then 55 yeares of age and 37 after he had been in captiuitie 2 Kin. vlt. Ier. vlt. Whence it is concluded by most That this Emperor did also embrace the doctrine of Daniel concerning the true God as did Nebuchadonesar his father who had before by publique Edict professed it to the whole State caused it to be published through his dominions and therfore shewed fauor and mercy toward King Iechonias And from thence it is thought that those which were impious princes about him called him Amelinus that is the Circumcised being deriued of Mol which signifies to circumcise and Evil simple and foolish Merodach His wiues name was Nitocris according to Herod lib. 1. She was a very magnificent and wise woman set vp many faire and goodly buildings in Babylon and was the mother of Balthasar the last Emperor of the Assyrians Dan. 5. Of Niriglissoroor Emperor of Babylon NIriglissoroor whose syrname was Regassar son in law to Nebuchadnesar the Great hauing slain Euil-Merodach his wiues brother reigned ouer the Babylonians and Assyrians foure yeares as Berosus saith Of Labassardach the last Emperor of the Babylonions LAbassardach the son of Niriglissoroor succeeded his father He reigned only 9 moneths and died without heire male Of Balthazar Nabonidus the last Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians ANno mundi 3415 and before Christ 553 Balthazar Nabonidus whose syrname was Labynitus the son of Euil-Merodach and Nitocris obtained the Empire and reigned 17 yeares according to Berosus with Iosep cont App. Alexand. Polyb. apud Eusebium Praep. lib. 9. cap. 4. Alphae hist with Euseb calleth this King Nabinidochus This is that Balthazar saith Iosephus lib. Ant. 10. ca. 13 which Daniel cap. 5. calleth the son of Nebuchadonesar though indeed he was but his sons son as may be gathered from that of Ier. cap. 25. All nations shall serue Nebuchadonesar and his son and his sons son Balthasar signifies The Host of the Lord destroying his Enemies Labynitus signifies a shaken Sword This man as he was celebrating a great feast vnto Venus whom they call in the Assirian tongue Myleta amongst a great multitude of his Nobility and in that vsing extraordinary excesse and blasphemy against the Lord In the middest of his feast and all his merriments he saw a hand writing vpon the wall which left these words Mene Mene Tekel Vphrasin of which you may reade more Dan. 5. Some say That at this very time the city was taken by Cyrus Emperour of the Persians and he put to the sword in those sports pastimes But certain it is that he was slain at a banquet lost his empire and was the last of the Assyrian Emperors but whether at that time I refer it to the opinion of the Reader ¶ The Trauels of the Kings of Aegypt that fought against of Iudah And first of SISACK who made war vpon Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon THat proud and presumptuous Prince Sisack which signifies a Garment of Silke in the last yeare of his regne which was the first of Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon came with 1200 Chariots and 60000 Horse from Memphis to Ierusalem which was 244 miles bringing in his Army a great multitude of people of diuers Nations as Lybians Ethiopians c. With this company he besieged Ierusalem and tooke it wasted the city spoiled the Temple and tooke thence the golden shields which Solomon had made and destroyed that faire and beautifull house which Solomon had built From whence that saying of his owne was verified Eccles That it is a great euill vpon the earth for a man to take care to lay vp riches and treasures in this world yet knoweth not who shall inherit it For those things which a little before hee had with great labour and paines builded and beautified within lesse than 20 yeares after were destroyed and made desolate by this King From Ierusalem Sisack returned with the spoiles of the temple and city to Memphis in Egypt which was 244 miles and in the yeare following he was stricken by the Lord with a grieuous disease of which he died miserably So these two journies were 488 miles The Trauels of PHARAOH NECHO King of Aegypt who made warre vpon IOSIAH King of Iudah NEcho signifies an Enemy or Inuader This man was one of the greatest of all the Egyptian Kings who in the thirteenth yeare of his reigne made war vpon Nebuchadnezar the first and in the valley of Megiddo neere to Magdala which was 244 miles from Memphis fought a great battell wherein Iosiah King of Iudah was wounded to the death From the valley of Megiddo Pharaoh Necho went to the Riuer Euphrates which was 360 miles where he fought a second battel with Nebuchadnezar vpon a plaine neere to Carchemis where hee lost the day and was put to flight From Carchemis he fled to Riblah in the land of Israel which was 320 miles where in the land of Chaemath neere to the lake Samachonites he ouercame Ioachas King of Iudah and took him prisoner From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led Ioachas bound to Ierusalem being 80 miles and made Ioachim his brother King in his place From Ierusalem he returned to Memphis 240 miles Within four years after he went the second time with a great army from Memphis to the riuer of Euphrates which was 640 miles But there he was the second time ouercome by Nebuchadnesar and constrained to fly thence back again to Memphis in Aegypt being 640 miles But Nebuchadnesar followed him with an army of chosen men and conquered all Aegypt tooke Pharaoh Necho and made his sonne Psammeticus King in his place who was the second of that name Of this battell there is mention Ier. ca. 25 26. So all the trauels of Pharaoh Necho were 1524 miles The Trauels of the holy Prophets and first of the Prophet ELIAH ELiah the Prophet went from This be which was in the land of Gilead to Samaria 24 miles where he told the wicked King Ahab that there should bee neither rain nor dew for the space of 7 years 1 Reg. cap. 17. From Samaria he went to the riuer Kerith 24 miles where hee was fed by a Rauen. From Kerith hee went to Sarepta which was 100 miles where he sojorned with a poor widow that found him necessaries whose sun he restored to life 1 Reg. 17. From Sarepta he went to Mount Carmel in the land of Israel being 60 miles and by the way as he went he met Obediah which signifieth The Seruant of the Lord and King Ahab whom he rebuked sharply because of his idolatry Also vpon this mountaine he put all Baals
the Lord he was borne in the Tribe of Benjamin in a Citie of the Priests called Anathoth and from thence came to Ierusalem which was two miles and continued there for 40 yeares teaching and prophecying From Ierusalem he was sent to Euphrates where in the cliffe of a rocke he hid his girdle Ier. 13. which was 400 miles From the riuer Euphrates he returned backe againe to Ierusalem 400 miles A little after the Lord sent him backe againe to Euphrates 400 miles to fetch his girdle and loe it was putrified From thence he returned backe againe the second time to Ierusalem 400 miles From Ierusalem he was led captiue bound in chaines with other prisoners to Ramath a citie in mount Ephraim which was eight miles there Nabusaraden the chiefe captaine caused him to be set at liberty From Ramath he went to Mispah which is 8 miles where he continued a while with Gediliah Prince of the Iewes which man had the chiefe command of certaine cities of Iudaea vnder Nabuchadnezzer But in the seuenth yeare of the captiuitie of the people of Israel Ishmael that was of the stocke and progenie of Dauid hoping to obtaine the gouernement of Iuda made warre vpon Gediliah and put him to death wherefore Ieremy went from thence with Iohn the son of Kareach Prince of the Iewes to Bethlem Euphrata which was 8 miles Ier. 41. Now when he had staied a while in a village neere Bethlem called Geruth Ghimeham were sometime Chimeham the sonne of Barzillai liued 2 Sam. 19. hee prophecied saying If you stay in this land you shall do well neither shall any euill hap vnto you but if you depart hence into Aegypt they shall deuoure you with famine and with the sword Ier. 42. But Iohn and the rest of the Princes would giue no credit to the words of Ieremy but went into Aegypt and compelled the Prophet to goe along with them so they went from Bethlehem to Tachpanes which was 172 miles Here the second time Ieremie prophecied vnto them saying Behold Nabuchadnezzer shall come hither and wast and destroy all the countrey of Aegypt beat downe the Images of Bethsemes or Heliopolis and carry away the Aegyptians into perpetuall captiuity Ier. 43. But the people of Israel being moued to anger because of his words stoned him to death So the Trauels of the Prophet Ieremiah were 1786 miles Concerning the townes and places mentioned in the Trauels of this Prophet you may reade of them before except Geruth Chimeham which stood close by Bethlehem it taketh the name from a stranger or traueller being deriued of Gor which signifieth He hath trauelled and Tachpanes which was a Citie of Aegypt some 180 miles from Ierusalem where the Prophet Ieremy was stoned to death it is oftentimes called by the name of Taphnis The trauels of Vrijah the Prophet VRias or Vriah signifies Illuminated or inlightned of the Lord. He was borne at Kiriath-jearim a mile from Ierusalem towards the West from thence he came to Ierusalem and there prophecied of the destruction of the Citie After when King Ioachim went about to take away his life he fled thence into Aegypt 160 miles But the king sent messengers into Aegipt fetcht Vrijah back againe to Ierusalem 160 miles and there cut off his head and caused his body to be throwne into the sepulchre of a poore despised man that it might not be knowne that he had beene a Prophet of the Lord. So all his trauels were 321 miles Of Hananias the false Prophet HAnanias or Chanania signifieth the grace of God This false Prophet was a Gibeonite and came from Gibeon to Ierusalem which was foure miles where he tooke the woodden yoakes from the necke of Ieremiah the Prophet but Ieremiah caused yron yokes to be made in their places and told Hananias that for his falshood that yere he should surely die as after he did Of the Prophet Ezekiel Ezekiel or Iechezkel signifies the strength or fortitude of God He was carried captiue with 3000 others of the Nobility of the Iewes from Ierusalem to Babylon which was 680 miles the same yeare that Nebuchadnezzer put King Ioachim to death within fiue yeares after a little before Easter the Booke of the Law was found 2 Chron. 3. He began to prophecie in Babylon Anno mundi 3356 before Christ 612 at which time he saw his first visions neere to the Riuer Chebar Of the Riuer Chebar THe riuer Chebar was neere Babylon in Chaldaea vpon the borders of Mesopotamia falling into Euphrates and was oftentimes called Aborras according to the opinion of many learned men Strabo in the seuenteenth book of his Geography saith that there is another riuer between Tygris and Euphrates called Basilius Aborras passeth along by the citie of Athemusia and is a very faire streame from whence it is called Chebar which signifies a swift and spacious riuer Neere to this riuer the Prophet Ezekiel saw the Glory and Majestie of our Lord Iesus Christ in a bright shining cloud In this place also dwelt many Iewes to whom hee prophecied and foretold the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnezzer and the captiuitie of Zedekiah The Trauels of the Prophet Daniel DAniel signifies The Iudge of God In the raigne of Ioachim King of Iudah he was carried away captiue from Ierusalem to Babylon by Nabuchadonezar which was 680 miles and there with his fellowes learned the Arts and Language of the Chaldaeans for three yeares He was then but young about some 19 or 20 yeares of age and liued in exile 91 yeares vntill the third yeare of Cyrus Emperour of the Persians about which time he saw his last vision and a little after died when hee was about 110 yeares of age as may be gathered by the circumstances of Histories and times From Babylon he went to Susan in Persia an mun 3418 before Christ 550 being then 94 yeares of age which was 252 miles where neere to the flood Eulaeus hee had a vision of a ram and a goate which set forth the state of the second Monarchie which was that of the Graecians In this vision Gabriel the Archangel appeared to Daniel Dan. 8. This was in the third yeare of King Balthasar From Susan Daniel returned to Babylon which was 252 miles Here hee interpreted to Belthasar the meaning of these words Men Mene Tekel Euphrasin Dan. 5. From Babylon he went to the riuer Tygris of Hidekel which was accounted 36 miles here in the third yeare of Cyrus King of Persia he saw his last vision which is described in the 10 11 and 12 chapters of his prophecie From Tygris he returned to his own house at Babylon which was 36 miles Sometimes also in his three last yeares of his life he vsed to goe to Egbatan the Metropolitan citie of the Medes which was accounted 464 miles from Babylon towards the Northeast Here Daniel built a faire and artificiall Temple so strongly that it remained vnperished and retained the ancient beautie many ages to the great admiration of all the
Ioppa and Silicia to the Streights betweene Spain and Mauritania Into this Sea Ionas was cast when the Whale deuoured him In like manner the Red sea and all others that are ocean seas are called Tharsis as appeareth in the 72 Psalme where it is said The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring Presents Here the Kings whose Empires extend themselues alongst the sea coast are vnderstood But the city Tharsis the countrey of the Apostle Paul is not a kingdome neither euer had a King much lesse many Kings So Solomon sent his shippes by Tharsin that is by sea towards the Southeast into the Red sea and Eastern Ocean that they might bring gold pretious stones and sweet gummes from Arabia But the ships could not saile by the Red sea vnto the town of Tharsis vnlesse they would haue sailed ouer the land which is vnpossible because Tharsis lieth into the land from the Red sea as all Cosmographers agree So also the Psalmist saith Thou breakest with thy strong windes the ships of Tharsis that is of the sea beside many such like speeches From whence S. Ierom concludes that Tharsis may better signifie the sea than the city Tharsis Of the Euxine sea THe Euxine Ocean is that great and troublesome sea which beginning not farre from Constantinople runneth from Bosphorus and Thrace towards the East and North containing to the Longitude eight hundred miles but to the Latitude two hundred and eighty Towards the South it toucheth vpon Asia the lesse towards the East vpon Calcos towards the West Thracia and Valachia but towards the North it is ioyned to the poole of Maeotides This sea in times past was called Pontus Axenus that is the inhospitable country because as Strabo lib. 1. of his Cosmography saith The inhabitants neere about the sea-shore did vsually sacrifice those strangers they got or else cast their bodies vnto dogs to he deuoured making drinking cups of their skuls But after when the Ionians had built certain townes vpon the sea coast and had restrained the incursions of certaine Scythian theeues which vsually preyed vpon Merchants that resorted thither at the command of Pontus their King who had obtained a large and spatious kingdom in that country they called it Pontus Euxinus which is as much to say as the hospitable country Ovid testifieth almost the same concerning the originall of the name of this sea after this manner Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti Dictus ab antiquis Axinus ille fuit The chilly shores of th' Euxine sea constraines me to abide In antient time call'd Axinus as it along did glide Of Ninus or Nineveh NInus or Nineveh was a city of Assyria where the Emperours of that country vsed to keep their courts It was first built by Ninus that great Emperour of the first Monarchy 300 yeares after the floud and 2000 before Christ about the time when the Patriarch Abraham was borne It continued in great glory for the space almost of 1500 yeares and was distant from Ierusalem toward the Northeast 684 miles vpon the East side ioyning to the riuer Tygris on the North to the Caspian sea It takes the name from the beauty of it being deriued of Navah which signifieth A comely place spatious and pleasant There are many that are of opinion that in many things it exceeded Babylon as for the sumptuousnesse of the buildings the strength of the Walls and the extent The walls were so thicke that three Chariots might haue met vpon them without any danger and beautified with an hundred and fifty towers Ionas being sent of God to this city was three daies going through it that is as Luther expounds it through euery street of it in which time he conuerted a hundred and twenty thousand to repentance Arbaces who was also called Arphaxad was then Emperor This Arbaces Iustine lib. 2. calleth Arbactus he was a Captaine of the Medes who perceiuing the effeminat disposition of Sardanapalus the then Emperour taking aduantage of the times and this mans weaknesse conspired with some of his companions to vsurp vpon his gouernment and that he might make them hate and loath his loosenesse brought them into a room where the might see him sitting amongst his harlots tyred in womans apparell and carding wooll This sight greatly displeasing them and before being encouraged by Arbactus they seised vpon the city and besieged Sardanapalus in his palace But to preuent the miserie of a shameful death after he had gathered all his riches together he set fire on his palace where he his companions and treasure perished This fire continued 15 daies and hapned 823 yeares before Christ about which time Arbactus succeeded Sardanapalus began to reign and continued his gouernment 28 yeres But the Medes held not the Assyrian Empire long for Phul Belochus who at this time reigned in Babylon and his successour Tiglath Philasser are called Kings of Assyria betweene whom there hapned many great Warres 2 Kings 15.26 From whence may be gathered That after the death of Arbactus these Emperours dwelt in Niniveh and succeeded in the Empire Thus was this city greatly defaced with continuall euills the Lord before hand giuing them many admonitions and gentle corrections if it had bin in them to haue conceiued it to winne them to repentance but they continued still in their sins therefore according to their former prophecies Cyaxares King of the Medes besieging this towne tooke it and destroyed it euen vnto the ground as Eusebius saith This desolation hapned 13 yeares before the destruction of Ierusalem in the 11 yeare of Sadyattis King of the Lyddians who was grandfather to Croesus An. mundi 3349 before Christ 619. After this destruction it lay a long time desolat but at length some part of it was restored though with much trouble then when it was at the best estate constrained to suffer many changes and at length vtterly destroied by Tamerlane the Great the second time An. mun 3390. After this the inhabitants of that countrey vpon the East side of the riuer Tygris began the third time to build it But whether this third restoring of this City was at the command of some Prince that had the gouernment of the Country thereabouts or because of the scituation or for priuat profit it is not set down neuerthelesse it is again repaired standing on the borders of Armenia beautified with goodly buildings with faire and spatious streets compassed about as other cities of the East are with walls and ditches sufficiently strengthned to oppose the Enemy But in respect of the former Niniveh it seemes a small village It hath a bridge built of ships lying vpon the East side of it ouer the riuer Tygris and vpon that side of the Riuer there stand many faire gardens and orchards and the land there also is very fertil and pleasant But vpon the West of Tygris the soile is nothing so fruitfull At this day it is called by the name of Mossel so that although
whom God in the beginning made a good Angell exalted him in the heauens and made him much more glorious than others yet notwithstanding glorying in himselfe hee contemned his Maker nothing would content him but to become like vnto him yea he desired to be worshipped of our Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 4. And as Haman endeauoured to ouerthrow not only all the people of the Iewes but Queene Hester also so the Diuell doth not onely endeauour to ouerthrow the whole Church but if it were possible the head of the Church Christ Iesus Of that holy man Iob. IOb was a holy and good man he dwelt in the land of Vz so called of Vz the sonne of Aram the son of Sem as S. Ierome vpon Genesis obserueth This Vz was that great man which built as was thought Damascus in Syria and all the land which extendeth from Damascus to Iordan after his name was called Vz that is the land of counsell fot so Vz signifieth There were two townes in this countrey where Iob is said to haue dwelt that is Astaroth-Carnaim and Batzra Asteroth-Carnaim was distant from Ierusalem 52 miles towards the Northeast the inhabitants of which towne worshipped the goddesse Venus and called her by the name of Astaroth of which you may reade before S. Ierome saith That the sepulchre of Iob was to be seene in his time in that towne and later writers testifie as much for their times This towne at this day is called Carnea Batzra is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis it signifieth a grape gathering In this towne it was thought that Iob was borne it lay beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast All this countrey in those times was subject to the King of the Edomites or Idumaeans but after it was joyned to the land of the Moabites they hauing conquered the kings of Edom you man reade more of it in the 6 of Isay also Ios 20. where is shewed that it was one of the six cities of refuge appointed by Ioshua Heere Iob for the most part continued and held this towne in great honour and reputation He liued about the time of Baela first king of the Edomites and according to the opinion of Saint Ierom Augustine Ambrose Philo and Luther was for his excellent vertue and singular piety chosen King of that countrey which he greatly enlarged making all the countries and neighbouring Princes neer adjoining tributary vnto him wherfore as Ierom saith in locis Hebraicis hauing obtained so large an Empire he remoued his seat from Batzra to Astaroth Carnaim which was a strong and well defenced citie where in those times as Moses witnesseth Gen. 14. there inhabited mightie men and noble Heroes that so by their vertue he might with the greater facilitie suppresse and conquer other Prouinces There are many thinke him to be of the stocke of Abraham and of the family of Esau because he is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis where it is said That when Baela died Iobab the sonne of Zerah of Bozra or Betzra raigned in his stead And Saint Ierom in his preface vpon the booke of Iob sheweth that he was but fiue degrees remoued from Abraham for Abraham had Ishmael Basmath who was the wife ef Esau mother of Reguel grandmother to Sarah and great grandmother to Iob. So that by the mothers side Iob descended from Ishmael and by the fathers side from Esau Isaac Esau Reguel Serah Iob or Iobab king of Idumaea Gen. 36. Notwithstanding there are some that are of opinion That he descended from Nahor Abrahams brother and was of the family of Vz Nahors sonne which opinion also Saint Ierom mentioneth in his Hebraicall questions But most of the antient fathers hold this nothing so probable Luther vpon the 36 chapter of Genesis saith That he was King long time before Moses carried the children of Israel out of Aegypt For Iuda and Aser the sonnes of Iacob had children before they went into the land of Aegypt Gen. 46. therefore it is not impossible for Reguel the sonne of Esau to haue children also since he was married long before his brother Iacob From hence then it may be gathered that Iob was King of Idumaea before Iacob and his sonnes went into the land of Aegypt For although the fourteene sonnes of Esau gouerned the land of Edom like so many Princes of which number Reguel the grandfather of Iob was one because they held it as their inheritance yet to auoid sedition and distractions which oftentimes happen where there is not a certaine head and principall commander therefore they elected Bela the sonne of Beor to be their King after whose death they chose Iob because he was a holy man of God and in his actions just and vpright who without doubt raigned amongst the Edomites a long time For he liued after his afflictions which God imposed vpon him to trie him 140 yeares Plato saith he married Dina the daughter of Iacob but Saint Ierome That he married the daughter of an Arabian by whom hee had Enon Both these may be true for his first wife being dead he might marrie an Arabian After the death of Iob the Gyants Heroes in Asteroth Carnaim fell againe from the Idumaeans for when Moses brought the children of Israel out of the desart of Arabia Petraea and that they had conquered the land beyond Iordan the city Astaroth-Carnaim had a King called Og who gouerned all the Kingdome of Basan This Gyant was of a mighty stature he had a bed of yron * Foure yards a half long two broad nine cubits long and foure broad Deut. 3. Of Eliphaz ELiphaz the Themanite was the brother of Reguel Iobs grandfather This Eliphaz had a sonne called Theman who built a citie and after his owne name called it Theman where Eliphaz his father dwelt with him From whence it hapned that he was called Eliphaz the Themanite Iob 2. It was distant from Ierusalem forty miles towards the South and therefore it was called a citie of the South you may reade of Eliphaz in Ier. cap. 25. He had a Concubine called Thimnah because of her beauty comely proportion by her he had Amaleck of whom came the Amalekites betweene whom and the children of Israel were cruell wars Exod. 17. The Trauels of Eliphaz the Themanite FRom Themen hee went to Astaroth-Carnaim where Iob dwelt which is accounted 92 miles to comfort his friend Iob Iob 2. From Astaroth-Carnaim he returned backe to his owne house which was 92 miles So the trauels of Eliphaz were 184 miles Of Bildad Iobes friend BEyond Iordan and the sea of Galile not farre from Astaroth-Carnaim there is at this day found a town called Suah where as it is thought Bildad the friend of Iob dwelt Neer to this towne as Sebastian Francus obserueth in his Cosmographie there was yerly in the Summer season a great mart kept in certain tents and tabernacles erected for that purpose of diuers colours Bildad signifies
an antient friend and Suah taketh the name from desolation being deriued of Scho he hath made desolate Of Zophar the friend of Iob. ZOphar dwelt in the citie of Naema Iosh 15. but how farre it stood from Ierusalem is vncertaine Zophar of Zaphar signifieth swift Naema signifies pleasant and delectable of Naem courteous and comfortable Of Iobs daughters THe Lord gaue vnto Iob after his affliction and that he had tried his faithfulnesse three daughters so faire that there were none fairer to be found in all the land The name of the first was Iemmima that is as faire as the day of Iom which signifies a day The second Kazia that is such a one as giueth a pleasant sauor like vnto the gum Cassia The third because of the excellencie of her countenance was called Kaeren Hapuch that is casting forth rayes or beames Iob. 42. APOCRYPHA The Booke of IVDETH Of Egbatana AFter the death of Arbactus or Arphaxad which signifies a mighty Lyon to whom Ionas prophecied as is said before there succeeded in the Empire of the Medes Mandanes Sarsomenes Artecarnis Cardiceas and Deioces who being enthronised in that Empire called himselfe Arphaxad or Arbactus the second This man built Egbatana the metropolitan citie of the Medes and beautified it with very faire buildings goodly walls made all of foure square stone cut and polished 70 cubits high and 30 broad towers standing vpon it 100 cubits in height as well those that were for the defence of the town as those where the gates were The aire in that country was temperate inclining rather to cold than heate because it lay toward the North it stood 1136 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Here for the most part this Emperor kept his court till as Herodotus saith he was vtterly conquered by Nebuchadnezzar Emperor of the Babylonians This was that Nebuchadnezzar which sent Holofernus with a mighty army against Iudaea Bethulia and many other cities and countries and would be worshipped as a god Iudeth 3. Of Hydaspes HYdaspes is a riuer that ariseth in Media which runneth thorough a part of Parthia extendeth it selfe into India and not farre from the citie Nisa falleth into Indus according to the opinion of Pliny and Strabo lib. 15. Neere this riuer Nabuchadnezzar ouercame Dieoces otherwise called Arbactus Iudg. 1. The description of the countries conquered by HOLOFERNES Of Kedar KEdar the wildernesse of Zur was thus called stood in the land of the Ishmaelites 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest and tooke the name of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. 25. Of the mountaines of Ange. THe mountaines of Ange lay betweene Pamphilia and Cicilia to the latitude of that famous country of Cilicia in Asia minor 320 miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Anchiale a citie of Cilicia from whence it seemeth to take the name Of Cilicia CIlicia is a prouince of Asia minor so called of Cilice the kings sonne of Syria and Phoenicia the Metropolitan Citie of which countrey was Tharsus where the Apostle Paul was borne it was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North. Of Mallos MAllos a citie of Cilicia was so called of Malo that is plenty of all things Stephanus saith that it took that name of Mollo who first built it It is a citie to this day and of most of the inhabitants of that country called Mallo as Gesner obserueth Of Gesem GEsem signifies fruitfull The land of Gosen in Aegypt was so called being deriued of Gusch that is a turfe it stood 174 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Of Aethyopia THis country stands beyond Aegipt 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the South where the Sunne is extreme hot that it turneth the complexion of the inhabitants to blackenesse here breed great abundance of Dragons and cruell beasts Of Esdrelon ESdrelon was a plaine lying betweene the mountains Thabor Hermon and Gilboa extending it selfe from the cities of Megiddo and Apheck to the sea of Gennezareth or Galile In this great field which was called the plaine of Galile and the field of Megiddo and Esdrelon there were many cruell battels fought for here Gideon ouercame the Midianites here Saul was put to flight by the Philistins from whence ascending into Mount Gilboa he killed himselfe Iosias also King of the Iewes was in this place put to flight by Pharaoh Necho and wounded vnto the death The camp of Holofernes was so great that it tooke vp all the plain which contained 16 miles in length In some parts it was wonderfull fruitfull and brought forth wine oyle and many other commodities in great abundance It stood 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called of Caeder that is a hid order and disposition for Alam is as much to say as he hath hid Of Sobal SObal was a countrey vpon the borders of Syria where Sophena was scituated neere to the riuer Euphrates which country Saul and Dauid Kings of Israel somtime conquered it stood 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifies an eare of corne Of Apamea THis was a famous citie in Tetrapolis of Syria two hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem towards she North built of Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria and was so called of Apamea his wife Of the city Bethulia BEthulia was scituated within 4 miles of Dothan and two of the Galilean sea 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward About four miles from this town in a mountain a little beside Dothan lay the tents of Holofernes in the sight of Bethulia Iudeth c. 7. between which Bethulia lay the plain of Esdrelon in the midst whereof there ran a pleasant riuer which in times past watred it Here Iudeth according to the custome of the Iewes washed her selfe The place where Bethulia stood is to be seene at this day the ruins of the town and many houses still remaining It was scituated vpon a goodly high mountaine strongly fortified by Nature and as it seemeth by art also A man might haue seen it thorough the greatest part of Galile but aboue the rest a certain castle in the end of the mountain made for the defence of the city They shew at this day in the mountaine and field neere Dothan the place where Holofernes camp stood and the reliques of their tents also the brook where Iudeth washed her selfe Bethulia signifieth The hand-maid of God being deriued of Bethulah a virgin and Iah God Holofernes a prophane Captaine of which sort are those tyrants that persecute the Church of God The Booke of TOBIAS The Trauels of Tobias the elder TObias the elder was caried captiue out of the tribe of Nepthaly where he was born to Ninive the Metropolitan city of Assiria being 600 miles at such time as Salmanasser King of the Assyrians caried away the tenne tribes of Israel into Assyria Captiue in the yeare before Christ 742. 2 Kings ca. 17. Tob. 1. From that time he continued in Ninive being then about 27 years old and numbred amongst the yong men
that went into exile for he was born about such time as Romulus and Remus were born which was An. mun 3200. and before Christ 798 Tob. 1. About the 30 yeare of his age he went from Niniveh into Media which was 752 miles and there came to a city called Rages in that country to visit the banished Israelites at which time hee lent by Gabel by bond 10 talents of siluer which amounts in our mony at v. s. vi d. the ounce to 2062 li. and 10 s. or thereabouts From Rages he returned backe againe to Niniveh 752 miles So all his trauels were 2104 miles The Trauels of the Angell Raphel and yong Tobias IN the yeare before Christ 708 the Archangell Raphel went from Niniveh to Rages in Media with Tobias the yonger being 752 miles From Rages in Media they returned backe again to Niniveh 752 miles So these journies were 1504 miles ¶ The description of the places mentioned in their trauels Of Nepthaly THis was the chiefe city of the tribe of Nepthaly 84 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. It stood in Galile and in times past was a strong town here Tobias the elder was born It is to be seene at this day as some say but much decayed and is now called by the name of Sirin scituated in a mountain so steep and strongly fortified by nature vpon the West side that it is impossible to ascend vpon it In a valley some two miles from this towne towards the South Naason spoken of in the first Chapter of Toby is scituated Vpon the left side whereof there stood a towne called Sophet but now there is nothing to be seene but a Castle where in antient times the Knights Templers kept their abiding and at this day is in the custody of the Turks This castle is scituated vpon a high mountaine fortified very strongly both by art and nature and standeth within a mile of Nepthaly Southwestward At such time as Iosephus that great Historiographer who was the sonne of Matthia of Marathia a Priest of the Iewes was chosen chiefe Commander of the tribe of Nepthaly he gathered an army of 100000 and fortified this castle Nepthaly and many other townes thereabouts continuing a long and sharp war against the Romans vntill Nepthaly was taken and he constrained to yeeld himselfe captiue In the taking in of which town Titus the son of Vespasian did first ascend the walls there made manifest his noble resolution and valor Vid. Ios de bell Iud. lib. 3 4. Of Rages a city of the Medes RAges is so called of a great Congregation being deriued of Ragasch that is He hath assembled a great company for it was a very populous city It was also called as Strab. li. 11. Cosmograp saith Rahga but after being rebuilt and fortified by Nicanor it was by him called Europus beeing distant from Ierusalem 1396 miles toward the Northeast The Persians call it Arsacia S. Ierom de Trad. Hebr. would haue Edissa a city of Mesopotamia or rather as Pliny saith of Coelosyria to be Rages which stands but 448 miles from Ierusalem Northward and from Ninive 188 miles Westward There are diuers others that haue wrot of this town of Edissa but that this and Rages should be both one I canot see how to agree with Toby for that hee himselfe hath set it down to stand in Media and the Cities of the Medes lie distant from Ierusalem 1396 miles Therefore gentle Reader I referre it to thy better consideration Of Iesus the sonne of Syrach SYrach signifies an Illustrous Prince being deriued of Sarach he hath shined forth he was of that noble family of Dauid that is the son of Syrach the son of Iesu cousin german to Amos Syrach who as Philo saith was the chiefe prince and captain of the children of Israel in the time of Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt is inserted into the genealogie of Christ Luke 3. He was born 230 years before Christ in the city Ierusalem from whence about the 38 yeare of his age he went to Alexandria a city of Egypt 288 miles Evergetes Ptolomais the sonne of Philadelphus being then King of that countrey where he gathered out of that flourishing Library set vp at the charge of Ptolomais Philadelphus his booke of Ecclesiasticus as bees from diuers floures gather sweet hony Of the great city Alexandria ALexandria was a city of Egypt distant from Ierusalem 288 miles Westward in antient time called No that is a Hinderance But Alexander the Great taking affection to this city in the yere 330 before Christ began to build it for by continuance of time it was much decayed and within the space of 17 dayes made it a goodly city much greater than it was before to which that he might adde the greater grace he called it after his owne name Alexandria and there he lieth buried after hee had gouerned the empire of the Grecians 7 yeares For although he died in Babylon the chiefe city of the Chaldaeans yet Ptolomais one of his chiefe Princes remoued his body thence in a golden chariot to Memphis in Egypt and 20 years after to Alexandria The scituation thereof is very delectable bordering to the North vpon the Mediterranian sea and to the South vpon the poole of Mareridis as Strabo saith lib. 17. It was ten miles about strongly fortified with walls beautified with goodly buildings scituated in a very fruitfull countrey And to giue a greater delight vnto the inhabitants without the Walls there stood many goodly Orchards and Gardens plentifully furnished with fruits and floures of diuers kindes as Pomecitrons Figges c. During the time of Ptolomais Philadelphus it was a famous and flourishing city for this Prince being a great louer of learning instituted an Academy as it is thought in it and added thereto a stately library wherin were 400000 Bookes The same whereof beeing published through the world many people of diuers Nations resorted thither to see it Then Eleazer also the high-priest of the Iews at the request of Ptolemais sent 72 Interpreters to translate the Bible out of Hebrew into Greeke which was as Eusebius obserueth in the third yeare of his reign before Christ 268. In recompence whereof he sent to be dedicated in the Temple of Ierusalem a table of gold richly adorned with Carbuncles smarages and other pretious stones two stately cups and 30 boules of pure gold as appeareth in Iosep lib. Antiq. 12. The Academy continued there till after Christs time as you may reade Acts 6. But the Library was consumed 47 yeares before Christ and the city greatly defaced For Iulius Caesar at that time making war with Pompey the yonger who continued with his sister Cleopatra in this City caused the Kings navy to be set on fire and the Library standing neer it the flame tooke hold of it and burnt it downe to the ground with all that was in it and defaced also a great part of the city Iosephus writing of this city compares it
with the fairest cities of those times being strongly fortified both by sea and land so that it seemed to be inuincible But at this day it is but a smal city the incursions of forrein enemies hauing wasted and destroied the greater part and left the rest to be a wonder to the world the heaps and ruins of goodly buildings making euident lamentable destructions Thus man with his deuices perisheth but the Lord endureth for euer Vpon the Booke of MACHABES The Trauels of Antiochus Epiphanes ANtiochus Epiphanes that is An illustrous Aduersary in the yeare of Christ 380 was sent out of Syria by Antiochus the Great to Rome which 1600 miles where he remained as an hostage for his father and his brother Seleucus Philopater seuenteen yeares 1 Mac. 1. After the death of his father he stole secretly from Rome and went backe again to Antiochia in Syria which was 1600 miles and there succeeded his brother Seleucus Philopater in the gouernment He began to reign 173 yeares before Christ In the third yeare of his reign he went from Antiochia to Tyrus 60 miles in that journey he conquered all the lower part of Syria and Phoenicia From thence he went aboue sixe score miles through Galilee and Iudaea conquering al the cities and countries that lay in his way and would also haue gon downe into Egypt but when hee heard that his nephew Ptolomais Philometor had proclaimed an assembly and parliament and would not acknowledge him for his Protector he sent Apolonius one of his princes vpon the day of the meeting into Egypt and he himselfe returned back again to Ioppa 2 Mac. 4. From Ioppa hee went to Ierusalem which was 20 miles where Iason the high-Priest and all the people receiued him with great honour At that time Antiochus placed a Gard in the Castle or tower of Ierusalem which was the beginning of their intolerable seruitude But for that yeare which was the fourth of his reign he returned through Phoenicia to Antiochia in Syria 280 miles In the fift yeare of his reign hee went from Antiochia with a great army into Cilicia being 80 miles There he appeased the vprores of the inhabitants of Tharsus and Mallotus and conquered all Cilicia 2 Mac. 4. From Cilicia he returned backe againe to Antiochia eightie miles In the sixt yeare of his reign Antiochus went with a great army both by sea and land wherein were many Elephants to Pelusio 400 miles This city he conquered and ouercame the Alexandrians in a navall battell 2 Mac. 4. From Pelusio hauing built a bridge ouer Nilus he went with his army to Memphis conquerd all the countries strong cities as he went about 140 miles and brought thither a mightie and great prey where according to the saying of the Prophet Daniel cap. 11. He dealt subtilly with Ptolomais Philometor From Memphis he returned to Alexandria where the citisens would not suffer him to enter the gates wherefore he besieged it but to small purpose which was 120 miles From Alexandria he returned to Pelusio which was 160 miles there he left a garrison to retaine what hee had gotten in Aegypt 1 Mac. 4. From Pelusio he returned to Antiochia with a great prey being 400 miles In the mean time Ptolomais King of Egypt his sister Cleopatra brought in the aid of the Romanes Livy Decad. lib. 4. 5. In the next yeare that is in the seuenth yeare of Antiochus Epiphanes there was seen in the aire as if there had been men fighting a Comet also appeared This happened in the yeare before Christ 167. This yeare in the spring Antiochus went the second time from Antiochia with his army into Alexandria in Egypt which was 560 miles So passing through Coelosyria and Iudaea hee came into Egypt which he inuaded with open war endeauoring to get that by force which hee could not get by entreaty But the Romans sent P. Popillius with other Embassadours into Egypt who hearing that Antiochus was come to Leusia which was within a mile of Alexandria the Romanes went thither to him Where when he had welcommed them and shewed all the courtesie hee could to P. Popillius P. Popillius deliuered him certain tables that he had about him written And first of all commanded him to reade them which he did Then he counselled with some of his friends What was best to be done in the businesse While he was thus in a great study P. Popillius with a wand that hee had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust saying Ere thou stirre a foot out of this circle returne thy answer that I may tell the Senate Whe-thou hadst rather haue warre or peace This hee vttered with such a firme countenance that it amased the King Wherefore after he had paused a while quoth hee I will doe what the Senate hath written or shall thinke fit So doing little or nothing in Egypt hee returned backe againe Iustine Lib. 34. Decad. Lib. 4. cap. 5. Ios lib. 12. cap. 6. These things hapned ann vrb Rom. 585. L. Aemilius Paulus Caius Licinius Crassus being then Consuls in which yeare the Moon was totally eclipsed Aemilius ouercame Perseus King of Macedon and reduced Macedonia into a Prouince Lib. Dec. 4. lib. 5. From Leusia Antiochus fearing lest the Iewes would forsake his Empire and rebell went to Ierusalem which was 288 miles but the inhabitants of the towne shut him out of the city wherefore he besieged it and by the treason of Menelaus chiefe Priest who for that purpose conspired with the gard that was in the castle quickly got it and entred the gates In every place where he came hee put the Citisens to the sword and for three daies space did little else but cruelly massacre the people He went also with Menelaus into the Temple where he polluted the sacred things of the Temple and took thence the vessels of siluer gold or whatsoeuer he found pretious or worthy so that the prey he tooke amounted to 1800 talents which make almost 11 tunne of pure gold all which were partly gifts dedicated to the Temple and partly treasure that was left there as in a safe and sure place to the vse of poore distressed widowes and orphans After that Antiochus had robbed the Temple of all the siluer and gold that he could finde had banished Iason had placed a strong garrison in the tower of Acropolis the captaine of which was one Philip a very cruell man and made Menelaus high-Priest with all this booty and some number of captiues hee returned to Antiochia which was 280 miles In the yeare following that is before Christ 166 Lu. Aemilius Paulus triumphed for the wars of Macedonia Not long after Antiochus misdoubting the fidelitie of the Iewes sent Apolonius with an army of 22000 to Ierusalem who entred the city vpon the Sabbath day and committed many outrages Then Antiochus hauing spent a great part of the gold and siluer which he had got from Ierusalem about the eleuenth yeare of his
reigne made his expedition from Antiochiato Persepolis it was also called Elymaides in Persia which was 196 miles Here he took the temple of Diana spoiled all that country round about and with strong hand gathered together a great masse of gold and siluer to maintain warre against Iudas Machabeus But a multitude of citisens disliking his sacriledge banded themselues together and put Antiochus and his souldiers to flight before hee could take the city of Persepolis 1 Mach. 6. 2 Mach. 9. Wherefore being driuen from thence he fled with his army to Egbatana a city in Media which was 209 miles Here hauing certain intelligence by letters of the noble exploits of Iudas Machabeus and that he purged the temple of such things as were prophane he fell into an extreme griefe and like one distracted railed against the Iewes and swore to be reuenged of them 1 Mac. 9. In this extreme anger he went from Egbatana to Babylon with his army which was 464 miles But as he went his Chariot was ouerthrown in the fall wherof he was so extremely wounded that they were constrained to carry him in a bed to Babylon where he shortly after died miserably So all his trauels were 8153 miles Thus may we see with what difficulties and dangers this wicked prince obtained his victories and past away his life somtime in trauel his journies long and troublesome somtimes in prosperitie somtimes in aduersitie again somtimes afflicted with troublesome cogitations sometimes with extreame anger seldome in peace and then also his actions sauoring of violence and filthines From whence it appeareth That the wicked with more sorowes troubles and vexations gaine eternall damnation than the Iust though they suffer many grieuous afflictions obtain euerlasting saluation For amongst all the Patriarchs good Kings and Prophets there is not found any that had so many long and tedious journies as this Antiochus who continually oppressed his minde and conscience with vnprofitable vanities and wicked thoughts and at length had a miserable and terrible end ¶ Of the Cities and places mentioned in his Trauels Of Antiochia ANtiochia where Antiochus Epiphanes kept his court was antiently called Chaemath or Riblah It was scituated in Syria 180 miles from Ierusalem towards the North neer to the Cities Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea which foure Cities as Strabo saith in the sixteenth Booke of his Geographie was built by Seleucus Nicanor first King of Syria This man was a mighty Prince and obtained the name of Nicanor which signifieth Victorie because he prospered in his warres and conquered his aduersaries For when within 13 yeares after the death of Alexander the Great hee had got the kingdome of Syria hee became so great in the 31 yeare of his reign that he obtained the empire of all the East and beside as Strabo saith re-edified and built vp these foure cities calling one of them Antiochia after the name of his father another Laodicea after the name of his mother a third after his own name Seleucia and the last Apamea after the name of his wife These foure cities because they were all built by one man and at one time were called Sisters But Antiochia was much fairer than the other and in those times was a greater city than any other called after that name yea it was equal to Alexandria in Egypt for glory and excellencie of building It was diuided into foure parts and those parts seperated with four wals The first which was antiently called Hemath A violent anger of Chamathai the sonne of Canaan was after Riblath from the multitude of the inhabitants and the third time by Seleucus after his fathers name called Antiochia In this part Seleucus to dignifie the City kept his court it being compassed about with goodly walls In the second part the citisens of Syria inhabited In the third Seleucus Callimichus afterward King of the Syrians kept his court and greatly beautified it But in the fourth where afterward many Christians inhabited Antigonus Epiphanes continued and did greatly adorn it and set it forth with goodly buildings and sumptuous houses Close by the Citie there stood a pleasant wood watered with many cleare fountains and delightfull springs to which there resorted a great multitude of Fowles of diuers sorts which sung very pleasantly among the trees to the great content and delectation of the citisens In the midst of this wood stood the temple of Apollo and Diana goodly things and very curiously built It was called the wood of Daphne because it was full of Laurel trees From this wood all the countrey thereabout is called Epidaphne Not far off standeth the riuer Orontes which beginneth in Coelosyria and passeth vnder the earth til it comes neere to Apamea where it riseth and watreth all Antiochia So passing thence it runneth some 16 miles and so fals into the Mediterranian sea Heere Paul preached and kept a Synod Euseb lib. 7. cap. 24. 25. There was another Synod kept heere by the Arrians Trip. lib. 4. 9. Stephanus reckons vp many other cities of this name as Antiochia Lisidia in Galatia where Paul preached Act. 3. and is distant from this 384 miles Antiochia in Mesopotamia which is also called Mygdonia and Nisibis in which Apollophanes the Stoicke and Pharnuchus that wrot the Persian historie are said to be born Antiochia between Syria and Arabia built by Semiramis Antiochia in Cilicia scituated neere to the riuer Pyramus Antiochia in Pieria also called by the Syrians Arados There is also a city called Antiochia neere mount Taurus in the countrey of Comagena Antiochia scituated vpon the lake of Callichan Antiochia in Scythia There was another in Caria called also Pithapolis Antiochia Marigiana built by Antiochus Soter And many Authors call Tharsus in Cilicia by the name of Antiochia Antiochia signifies an Aduersarie Of Rome ROme stands 1528 miles from Ierusalem Westward Of this city you may reade more in the trauels of the Apostle Paul Tyrus Ioppa Memphis Pelusio Mallo and Alexandria are before described Of Tharsus TArsus or Tharsus signifieth aa Hyacinth stone so called as some thinke of Tharsis the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet the son of Noah Gen. 10. It was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles Northward Of Persepolis PErsepolis was the metropolitan city of Persia distant from Ierusalem 1240 miles Eastward So called of Perseus that mightie King of the Persians who re-edified it and gaue it that name which is as much to say as the city of the Persians which also of him were so called The Astronomers because he was greatly affected to such as were skilfull in that art attributed his name and his wiues name to two constellations in the heauens of which Ovids fable is contriued of Pegasus and Andromache This city of Persepolis was so fair that it exceeded all the cities of the East both for statelinesse and beauty and so continued from Perseus time vntill Alexander the Great had conquered Darius at which time this great Emperor hauing got into his hand the whole
empire of the Persians came to Persepolis in the yeare before Christ 329 and there celebrated a great feast in triumph of his victories to which there resorted a great many women not such as were of the better sort but them that followed the camp and liued dissolutely amongst whom was that notable curtesan Thais who perceiuing the King inclined to mirth and full with wine began to flatter him in his cups among other things to commend and dignifie his noble exploits withall giuing him to vnderstand how acceptable it would be to the Grecians to see that royall palace of the Persians fired which had so often afflicted Grecia No sooner had she vttered these words but another seconded her and then a third After the whole assembly cried out Shall we reuenge the injurie of Grecians and burn the city with that they al rose in great fury the king himself being crowned beginning first to fire the palace wherein was great aboundance of Cedar from whence it happened that suddenly the fire spred it selfe a great way which when the army that lay without the walls perceiued with all speed came to the city to stay the burning of it for which purpose many brought water with them But when they beheld the King himselfe busie in this tragedie laying aside their water they also in hope of booty and to imitate the steps of their Prince fell to firing the city and according to the custom of soldiers in such massacres made a prey of what they could get increasing the fire with dry stuffe and other combustible matter whereby it came to passe that the whole city was therewith fired and burnt to the ground This was the end of that mighty city which ruled ouer so many nations where so many mighty Princes gouerned that was the scourge of Grecia and the greatest part of the world that sent forth a Navie of 10000 ships and an army of an infinit number there being at this day nothing to be seen vnlesse the riuer Araxes that ran close by it remaineth Thus was that consumed in a fury which the King and all his army before endeauoured to spare But after it turned to the great shame of the Macedonians that their King should fire so famous a city in the midst of his cups and Alexander himselfe after hee had slept repented what he had done You shall find in 2 Mac. cap. 6. That Antiochus Epiphanes besieged a certaine City in Persia called Persepolis from whence for his exceeding couetousnesse and sacriledge he was forced by the inhabitants dwelling about the town to raise his siege be gon Therefore some may gather that this Persepolis before mentioned was rebuilded because it also stood in Persia but if you read 1 Mac. cap. 6. you shall finde that this city so besieged by Antiochus was also called Elymais wherein stood the temple of Diana beautified with goodly ornaments shining with the splendor of fine gold wherewith it was gilt In which temple as faith Iosephus lib. Ant. 12. Alexander the Great left his armor and other things From whence may be gathered that this towne was not the Persepolis which he caused to be burnt but rather some other towne built out of the ruines of that city according to the opinion of Quintus Curtius or else some village standing neere to it which being built vp and inlarged might of some be called new Persepolis though indeed it was antiently called Elymais and all the East part of Persia beyond Susa of that towne called Elematica hauing some affinitie with Elam the antient name of Persia so called of Elam the son of Sem Gen. 10. Wherefore it may well be concluded that that Persepolis burnt down by Alexander was neuer restored but lieth waste to this day Thus the empire of the Persians afrer they had ruled ouer the nations of the earth 260 yeares was conquered by the Grecians who held it 129 yeares At the end of which time Demetrius Nicanor the last Emperour of the Grecrans in Syria and Asia going with a great army out of Syria toward the East Arsaces King of the Medes and Parthians being aided by the citisens of Elymais the Persians and Bactrians meeting him in those parts gaue him many sharp and cruell battels and in the end vnder pretence of peace took him prisoner in the yere before Christ 137 and from that time the Parthians gouerned Persia and Grecia and opposed the Romans in many cruell battels Afterward in the yere of our Lord 226 Artaxerxes that mighty Lord of Persia ouercame Artabanus King of the Parthians in a mighty battell and took his crown from his head the same yere entring vpon the gouernment of Persia 548 years after the death of Alexander the Great from which time Artaxerxes and his posteritie reigned in Persia for the space of 314 yeares in the which space there succeeded 28 Kings viz. Artaxerxes 1. Sapores Ormisdates Vararanes Vararanes 2. Vararanes 3. Narses Misdates Sapores 2. Artaxerxes 2. Sapores 3. Vararanes 4. Cermazat syrnamed Isdigertes Vararanes 5. Vararanes 6. Perozes Valens Cavades Zambades Cavades 2. Cosroës Hormisda Cosroës 2. Siroes Adhasir Sarbaras Bornarim Hormisda 2. who was the last King of the Persians for being ouercome by Humarus Amiras of the Saracens and third Emperor of the Mahumetans he was thrown out of his kingdom Anno Dom. 640. After which time it continued long in the gouernement of the Saracens and Turks Where that holy Priest Mattathias the father of Iudas Machabeus dwelt MAttathias and Dorotheus haue both one signification that is The gift of God being deriued of Matath a gift and Iah God This Mattathias was a holy Priest of the tribe of Levi the son of Iohn the son of Simon of whom all that family was called the posteritie of Simon of the stocke of Ioarib of whom you may read 1 Chr. 15. He dwelt in a town called Modin 14 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest scituated in a mountaine close by the way as you go to Ioppa in the tribe of Dan. Modin signifieth a measure being deriued of Madad he hath measured In this place seeing the crueltie of Antiochus Epiphanes and the insolencie of his soldiers he killed one of his captains and afterward in the synagogue put to death an idolatrous Iew ouerthrew the Altar set vp by Antiochus after called forth all the inhabitants of Modin and other towns neere adioyning to withstand the fury of this King So they brought their goods out of the city into the wildernesse where they incamped themselues and after so manfully opposed Antiochus that he deliuered all the cities towns thereabouts out of his bondage and from idolatry But beeing now grown old after he had admonished his sons to constancy in the seruice of God and courage in defence of the countrey he died in the yeare before Christ 164 and was buried at Modin where afterward his sons were buried Simon his third son high-priest of Ierusalem did maruellously beautifie this
all his wealth and returned into their citie with great joy But Ionathan and Simon tooke this injurie very heauily and much bewailed the death of their brother wherefore that they might bee reuenged of the inhabitants of Medaba they went thence twenty eight miles and hid themselues among the mountaines just in the way that led ftom Medaba to Canaan for they had heard that the sonnes of Iambri and the inhabitants of Medaba were gone forth with great jollitie to fetch home a Bride which was a Princes daughter of the land of Canaan Now as they were merrie vpon the way Ionathan and Simon his brother with their army went out from among the Mountaines and put a great number of them to the sword taking away a mighty spoyle From Medaba they went to the riuer Iordan which was three miles where vpon the East side of the riuer they pitched their Tents here he was constrained to fight a cruell battell with Bacchides vpon the Sabboth day but as he was in the fight hee met Bacchides and lift vp his hand to strike at him but he seeing the danger retyred Neuerthelesse he put to the sword 1000 of his men and after he and his followers leapt into the riuer and swam ouer so they all escaped without danger In the 56 yeare of the Graecians gouernment in Syria which was the fifth yere of the principalitie of Ionathan Bacchides returned againe with his army into Iudaea and besieged Ionathan and Simon in Bethbesan otherwise called Bethgalam some three miles distant from Iordan Here Ionathan leauing his brother Simon in the citie stole out by a posterne and went to all the villages neere adjoyning from whence he gathered an army of chosen men and set vpon Bacchides Simon also broke out of the city and set vpon him so that they greatly oppressed him and burned his Tents 1 Macchab. 9. Wherefore when Bacchides vnderstood that Ionathan and Simon had fortified that citie and that the Iewes were readie to defend it hee concluded a peace with Ionathan the captiues of either part were redeliuered and the Iewes liued in peace a good while after 1 Macchab. 9. From Bethbesan Ionathan went to Michmas which was six miles here he dwelt for a while and judged the people of Israel cherishing the good and rooting out the euill from amongst them 1 Macch. 9. From Michmas he went to Ierusalem which was ten miles Hither Alexander King of Syria and sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes sent him a purple robe and a golden crowne and ordained him high Priest of the Iewes Wherefore Ionathan on the day of the feast of the Tabernacles which was in the yere before Christ 150 tooke vpon him the office to be high Priest 1 Macchab. 10. The next yeare after which was the tenth of Ionathans rule after the death of Demetrius king of Syria who was slaine in the warres against Alexander there appeared a Comet of an extraordinarie greatnesse which was of such an exceeding brightnesse that it tooke away the darknesse of the night and the writers of those times affirme it to equall the Sunne in greatnesse After this Prodigi the Romans began the third Punick warre against the Carthaginians vide Camerar lib. 2. de ostent Ionathan in the eleuenth yeare of his raigne went from Ierusalem to Ptolemais which was 76 miles to the marriage of Alexander King of Syria and Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Aegypt where he was entertained very honourably 1 Mac. 10. From thence hee returned to Ierusalem which was 76 miles 1 Mac. 10. From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and woon the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he went to Asdod which was 12 miles there he burnt the Temple of Dagon and all that were in it From thence he went with his armie to Ascalon which was 12 miles this towne willingly yeelded vnto him From Ascalon he returned to Ierusalem which was 38 miles 1 Mac. 10. In the 15 yeare of his gouernment hee went to Ioppa which was 20 miles to meet Ptolomeus Philometer King of Aegypt and stayed there all that night 1 Mac. 11. The next day he went with the King of Aegypt to the riuer of Eleutherius which was 200 miles From thence he returned backe again to Ierusalem which was 200 miles Heere he besieged the tower of Acropolis because there were many wicked men got into it In the sixteenth yeare of his gouernement he went from Ierusalem to Ptolomais to Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria which was 76 miles From Ptolomais he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 76 miles From Ierusalem in the seuenteenth yeare of his gouernment he went beyond the riuer Euphrates which was accounted 400 miles and there gathered an army in ayd of Antiochus the younger the sonne of Alexander and went against Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was 400 miles From Ierusalem hee went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles From thence he came to Gaza which was 18 miles this towne he besieged and after a sharpe battell woon it From Gaza he went to Damascus in Syria which was about 200 miles From thence he returned to the lake of Genesereth which was 104 miles Here hee opposed the Army of Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence before day he remoued his campe to Chazor which was 32 miles where when part of his armie was put to flight by a stratagem he tore his garments put dust vpon his head and praied earnestly vnto the Lord for ayd and assistance so hauing recouered his strength and former courage hee returned with those few that hee had left him to the war where he put the army of King Demetrius to flight and slew three thousand of his men with the sword His enemies being thus dispersed hee pursued them to their Tents neere Cades in Galile which was 6 miles From thence he returned to Ierusalem with a glorious victorie which was about some 92 miles Here he made a league with the Romans and Spartans 1 Mac. 11.12 From Ierusalem he went with his armie into the countrey of Hemath that is Syria to the riuer Eleutherius which was 200 miles here he put his enemies to flight after they had burnt and consumed their Tents From thence he went to Nabathia in Arabia which was 120 miles Here he conquered the Arabians and Zabadians and spoiled their land From thence he went through all that country and wasted it till he came within eighty miles of Damascus From thence he returned home to Ierusalem which was 160 miles In the 18 and last yeare of his raigne he caused the wals of Ierusalem to be built and began to fortifie many places in Iudea 1 Macch. 12. Also the same yeare which was the 160 yeare of the gouernment of the Graecians in Syria the second booke of Macchabees was written as appeareth cap. 1. After from Ierusalem hee went to Bethsan to meet Tryphon which was 44 miles here being deceiued by the faire
So all his trauels were 320 miles Of Amanus AManus was a mountain between Syria and Cilicia which extendeth it selfe to the riuer Euphrates Between this Amanus and Euphrates Arabia deserta is scituated 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies The mountain of truth from Aman True and faithfull The Trauels of Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter IN the 165 yeare of the gouernment of the Grecians in Syria which was 141 yeares before Christ Demetrius syrnamed Nicanor which signifies Victorre sailed out of Creet into Cilicia which was 600 miles Ios Ant. 13. c. 6. 1 Mac. 10. Out of Cilicia he came into Syria the lower 160 miles where ioyning with Apolonius he tooke vpon him the crowne and Kingdom of Syria Afterward Apolonius went into Iudaea with a great army and besieged Iamnia Ptolomeus Philometor also assisted the proceedings of Demetrius seeing Alexander his son in law beginning to decline and the better to strengthen their allyance matched him to Cleopatra his daughter which before had bin wife to Alexander by which policie he added to the kingdom of Egypt all Asia ouer which he ruled 2 yeares 1 Mac. 11. After Demetrius Nicanor came out of Siria the lower with Ptolomeus Philometor to Antiochia which was 80 miles 1 Mac. 11. From Antiochia they went with their army to a plain neer the mountain Amanus 120 miles where in a sharpe war they ouercame Alexander and put him out of his kingdom Ios Ant. li. 3. c. 7. Now after the death of Ptolomeus Philometor Demetrius Nicanor Nicanor returned to Antiochia 120 miles where he gouerned the kingdome of Syria two yeares From Antiochia he went to Ptolomais which was 200 miles to which place Ionathan the high priest came to meet him where he gaue to him many presents and great gifts to win his fauour 1 Mac. 11. From Ptolomais he returned to Antiochia 200 miles There his soldiers and the city of Antiochia rebelled against him For which cause Ionathan the high-priest sent him 3000 men which deliuered the King out of danger put to the sword 100000 of the seditious and burnt the city of Antiochia 1 Mac. 11. But after Demetrius shewed himselfe vnthankfull hee was driuen out of his kingdome by Tryphon and yong Antiochus the sonne of King Alexander who was also called Theos which signifies God In the 172 yeare of the reigne of the Grecians in Syria which was 138 before Christ Nicanor hauing slaine Antiochus the son of Alexander he would haue reigned alone in Syria wherefore Demetrius who was the lawfull King of Syria being 3 yeares before driuen thence went 1200 miles into Media to craue aid against Tryphon but Arsaces king of the Medes Parthians and Persians sent the chiefe captain of his host against Demetrius who burned his tents tooke him prisoner and caried him back to his master to Hecatompylon the chiefe city of his kingdome distant from Syria 1220 miles toward the East Iustin lib. 36. 38. From Hecatompylon Arsaces sent him to Hyrcania the Metropolitan city of that countrey which was 176 miles where although Arsaces kept him as a prisoner yet he allowed him royall attendance and after maried him to his daughter Iust lib. 38. After the death of Arsaces with singular industry and policie he got out of captiuitie after he had beene 12 yeares prisoner in Hyrcania and came into Syria which was 14 miles where he recouered his kingdome and reigned foure yeares So all his Trauels were 4156 miles ¶ Of the Places to which he trauelled Of Creta now called Candia THis is an Island of the Mediterranian sea distant from Ierusalem 600 miles Westward very fruitfull and pleasant in which there growes great plenty of Cypresse trees and grapes of diuers kindes but principally such whereof Malmsey and Sacke are made Here Tytus Pauls Disciple was Bishop wherefore you shall reade more of it after Of Seleucia SEleucia is a famous city of Syria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward neere to which the riuer Orantes runneth and the mountaine Casius standeth which is 4 miles high Plin. l. 5. c. 22. You may read more of this in the trauels of S. Paul Of Syria SYria was sometimes called of the Hebrewes Aram of Aram the sonne of Sem of whom all Armenia tooke the name Aram signifies A man of great spirit and dignity being deriued of Rom that is lifted vp for he was a man of an excellent spirit Gen. cap. 10. Syria signifieth a great tract of land and is diuided into two parts the vpper and the lower In the vpper Syria are these cities Antiochia Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea in the lower Syria are Sydon Tyrus Berytus Tripolis and Orthosia This Countrey is scituated in a very temperat Zone from whence it happeneth that it is neither oppressed with too much cold nor heate There are that diuide Syria into foure parts that is into Syria Assyria Leucosyria and Coelosyria Also Pliny Lib. 5. Cap. 12. attributeth Mesopotamia and Babylonia to Syria But it is euident that these were distinct Countries from them in the which there reigned Emperours and Kings which had large and spatious Dominions For Syria is scituated betweene the Mediterranian sea and Euphrates but Mesopotamia which is so called because it is scituated in the middle of waters is separated from Syria and Assyria with the riuers Euphrates Tygris and Arabia is separated from Syria and Babylon with many vast wildernesses Therefore these countries cannot properly passe vnder the denomination of Syria Of Parthia PArthia is a spatious country full of mountains and desarts lying vpon the borders of Media Westward the Metropolis whereof is Hecatompylon taking the name of 100 gates wherewith it is fortified It lieth as Stephanus saith 1512 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Here Arsaces that mighty King of the Parthians kept his court who had vnder his gouernment Media Parthia Persia Hircania and the greatest part of all the countries toward the East It is called Parthia because of the fruitfulnesse of the soile being deriued of Parah To fructifie Of Hyrcania HYrcania is a fruitfull and pleasant countrey bordering vpon Media and the Caspian sea for the most part plain champian beautified with many faire Cities the chiefe of which are Hyrcania the Metropolis of the whole kingdome Talebrota Samariana Carta and Tape It was so fat and fruitfull that the inhabitants vse not to till and dresse the ground as they doe in other places but the seed that falleth from the huske vpon the earth springeth vp and bringeth forth great plenty and increase without further labour The Dewes also falling vpon the trees there droppeth from them oile and honey in great plenty It taketh the name as it is thought from a Wood called Hyrcania In like manner the Caspian sea which bordereth vpon it of this country is called Hyrcanum Many cruel beasts are found therein as the Panther the Tyger and the Leopard The Panther is of a whitish colour inclining something
to yellow spotted all ouer with round shining spots in like manner are their eies She is a friend almost to all kinde of creatures except the Aspe and Dragon and as Oppianus saith neuer taken but when shee is drunke or in her sleepe She is the female to the Leopard The Leopard is of the same colour and of the nature of a Wolfe being full hee hurteth nothing but if empty he preyeth vpon euery thing yea euen vpon men his breath is very sweet with which many other creatures being delighted he often preyes vpon them but beeing full he sleepeth somtimes three daies together The Tyger also is a very swift and cruell creature from whence he is so called his skin is yellow and full of black spots round and shining If shee chance to lose her yong she neuer leaues seeking till shee findes them out The Trauels of Tryphon that put Antiochus to death IN An. mundi 3826. before Christ 142. Tryphon somtime chief Captain to Alexander King of Syria who was slain in Arabia went to Emalcuel Prince of Arabia deserta with whom Antiochus the son of Alexander was brought vp where he so wrought with him that he got the boy from him and brought him thence into Syria 160 miles and within a while after besieged Antiochia tooke the towne droue thence Demetrius Nicanor and crowned yong Antiochus King of Assyria This journy to and again was 320 miles 1 Mac. 11. In the second yeare of the reign of young Antiochus Tryphon went from Antiochia to Bethsan where he perfidiously betrayed Ionathan the brother of Iudas Machabeus 1 Mac. 12. being thirtie six miles From Bethsan he went to Ptolomais 32 miles From Ptolomais he went to Addus a towne vpon the borders of Iudea 68 miles 1 Mac. 13. To Addus Simon sent his brothers Children and his ransome which was 60 talents of siluer but after hee had receiued the mony he broke his word and went thence with Ionathan and his sons to Ador 48 miles From Ador hee went to Bascharnan in the land of Gilead 96 miles Here he put to death Ionathan and his sonnes From the country of the Gileadites he returned to Antiochia which was 240 miles here he put to death yong Antiochus being but a boy of 7 yeares of age and vsurped vpon the gouernment in his place He began to reign in the 172 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria and reigned 3 yeares 1 Mac. 14. Ios li. Ant. 13. About the end of the three yeares which was in the 174 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria Antiochus Sedetes brother of Demetrius Nicanor made war vpon Tryphon and compelled him to fly from Antiochia to Dora 240 miles from Antiochia toward the South 1 Mac. 15. But Antiochus Sedetes followed him thither and so streightly besieged Dora that he was constrained to steale thence in a ship and saile to Orthosia which was 160 miles Lastly in the way as he was going thence to Apamea which was 120 miles he was taken and put to death So all his trauels were 1360 miles ¶ Of the places mentioned in his trauels which haue been formerly recited Of Dora DOra was a hauen towne scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward in the mid way between Carmel and Caesarea Strato In Ioseph cap. 17. it is called Dor that is à durans Of Orthosia THis was a city of Assiria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea neere to the place where the riuer Eleutherius falleth into it 200 miles from Ierusalem Northward being so called of Diana whom the Grecians called Orthosia that is Exalted or lifted vp Hither Tryphon sailed when hee fled from Antiochus Sedetes 1 Mac. 15. Plin. lib. 5. cap. 20. Concerning the trauels of Apolonius Nicanor Bacchides and Cendebius because they are sufficiently described in the trauels of the Machabees I thought it vnfit to speake further of them The Trauels of Heliodorus HEliodorus signifies the House of the Sun He was Scretarie and chiefe Gouernor of Antiochia in Syria for that mightie King Seleucus Philopater who was brother to that cruel Tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes and was sent by his Lord and master Seleucus from Antiochia to Ierusalem which is 80 miles to spoile the Temple of the Lord but the Lord sent an Angel richly beautified with armor of gold sitting vpon a horse who went to Heliodorus and with his horse trod him vnder his feet and there appeared two other Angels full of majestie and power that strooke Heliodorus and beat him with whips so that he lay vpon the floore of the Temple as a man halfe dead and could not go forth vntil he was caried out 2 Mac. 3. From Ierusalem he went with that good man Onias chief priest of the Iewes at whose earnest prayers and supplications hee was made whole to Antiochia 280 miles where hee told Seleucus Philopater of the wonderfull works of the Lord. So all his trauels were 580 miles The Trauels of the high-Priests of the Iewes that ruled before the Machabees as they are seuerally mentioned in the Books of Machabees And first of the trauels of Onias the high-Priest ONias signifies the riches of God from On Opulency and Iah God for although he was afflicted with pouertie in this world yet he was rich in God He succeeded his Father Simon the Iust an M. 3757. before Christ 211. Antiochus the great being King of Syria He was high-priest 39 years vntil the death of Seleucus Philopater at the end of which time one Simon the chiefe of those that kept the temple being ambitious of rule fell to words with Onias and from words to blowes so that there were many outrages committed by the friends of Simon Wherefore Onias to giue place to the fury of his aduersaries went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles But Seleucus Philopater being dead and Antiochus Epiphanes in the gouernment who was a couetous and cruell prince good Onias partly for fear of him and partly of his brother Iason who had but a little before purchased the office of high priest for 360 talents of siluer and promised to pay a yearely tribute of 80 talents durst not return home to Ierusalem but went to a sanctuary that stood in the wood of Daphne which was about one mile from Antiochia in hope of safety to which place one Andronichus chiefe Captaine to Antiochus came to him and with faire speeches and flattering words allured him out of the Sanctuary and traiterously put him to death So his trauels were 281 miles The Trauels of the high-Priest Iason IAson and Iesus haue both one signification he entred vpon the office of High priest in the first yere of Antiochus Epiphanes which was 173 yeares before Christ He went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles where after the death of Onias he payd to Antiochus for the office of high-priest almost 3 tunnes of gold with promise to pay a yearely tribute of 48000 crowns From Antiochia
he returned to Ierusalem 280 miles where he began to build the tower of Acropolis in mount Acra and that he might please that wicked King and keep his fauour hee built certain Theatres in Ierusalem and caused Interludes and Playes to be acted in them at such times and vpon such daies as the people were wont to meet in the Temple to serue God Also K. Antiochus Epiphanes in the 4 yeare of his priesthood comming to Ierusalem he gaue him royall entertainment The same yeare Iason was put out of his office of high-priest by the policy and cunning of his brother Menelaus and was constrained to fly into the land of the Ammonites beyond Iordan being 40 miles Two yeares after when Antiochus Epiphanes inuaded Aegypt there was a vaine rumor that he was slain wherefore Iason with a thousand souldiers returned to Ierusalem which was 40 miles and broke suddenly into the city so that Menelaus was constrained for safety of his life to fly to the garrison of the Syrians that were in Ierusalem But Antiochus hearing what had hapned came out of Aegypt with a great army to Ierusalem wherefore he fled thence backe again to the Ammonites 40 miles but they fearing that Antiochus would come thither with his army he was accused before Areta King of Arabia and constrained to fly from one city to another for safety Wherefore when he perceiued that he could not liue there secure he went thence into Egypt 280 miles From thence he went to the Lacedemonians 600 miles where he died in exile being cast out vnlamented or buried So all his trauels were 1560 miles Of Lacedemonia the metropolitan city of Peloponesus LAcedemonia or Sparta was a famous city of Peloponnesus distant from Ierusalem 600 miles toward the West which although it had no wals yet was it one of the fairest and most populous cities in all Grecia and was called Sparta of Spartus who was sometime King thereof and rebuilt it adorning it with faire goodly buildings At first it was built by one Lacedaemon who was king thereof and of him called Lacedemonia and after Menelaus that mighty King of the Grecians who had to wife Helena the fairest woman of all Grecia kept his court there Here also Lycurgus that famous Philosopher reigned as King and prescribed to the citisens and inhabitants excellent lawes by the obseruance whereof they became famous in after-ages and performed many noble wars and exploits against their enemies Ionathan and Simon held a friendly league with the Lacedemonians The Trauels of the high-Priest Menelaus THis Menelaus called also Onias was as Iosephus saith the third son of Simon the Iust and brother to Iason although 2 Mac. 3 4. he is said to be the brother of one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin who was chiefe of those that kept the Temple of whom you may reade before This man in the fourth yere of Antiochus Epiphanes was sent by Iason his brother to Antiochia being 280 miles vpon certain busines but principally to cary the king mony Where he made a secret Contract with him to pay him 30 talents * That is 180000 Crownes beside all that his brother Iason had payd him if hee would institute him to be high-Priest The King in hope of profit gaue eare to his motion and vnder pretence of injury wrong offered by Iason constrained him to leaue his office and flie from Ierusalem into the land of the Ammonites for his safety and so instituted Menelaus to be chiefe Priest of the Iewes who entred vpon his gouernment in the yeare before Christ 169. Wherefore Menelaus returned from Antiochia to Ierusalem 280 miles where he began to gouern not as chiefe Priest but as a cruell and wicked tyrant 2 Mac. 4. But when in the beginning of his gouernment hee could not pay that great summe of money which he had promised the king sent for him to Antiochia being 280 miles where for that time he was remoued from his office and his brother Lysimacus ordained chiefe Priest in his roome Wherefore Menelaus being sore troubled vexed and grieued in mind for that which had hapned in the first yeare of his priesthood returned backe from Antiochia to Ierusalem beeing 280 miles But a little after when Antiochus Epiphanes brought an Armie into Cilicia to suppresse the rebellion of the Tharsians and Mallotans Menelaus taking aduantage of the Kings absence went to Andronichus who was chief Agent for the King in Syria to Antiochia 280 miles and there gaue him certain golden vessels and jewels that he had stolne out of the temple to hire him to be his friend and help him to his office of high-priesthood againe But Onias the elder hearing of this sacriledge greatly reprehended Menelaus for this shamefull fact but he taking it in ill part combined with Andronichus who by faire speeches alluring him out of the sanctuary in the wood Daphne put him to death after hee had bin 5 years in exile But King Antiochus returning from Antiochia accused Andronichus of treason and by the means of a certain Courtier receiued Menelaus into fauor From Antiochia Menelaus returned to Ierusalem 280 miles where by the help of his brother Lysimachus he stole a great masse of mony out of the Temple Which sacriledge being known to the people they fell to vprore and killed Lysimachus close by the Treasurie They accused Menelaus also before Antiochus 2 Mac. cap. 4. Antiochus in the second yeare of his priesthood went to Tyrus which is 100 miles where he so corrupted certain courtiers with mony that he procured the fauor of Antiochus and caused his Accusers good and iust men to be banished thence as slanderers and such as went about to defame Menelaus From Tyrus he returned backe again to Ierusalem 100 miles where he fell into his old crueltie and in the third yere of his gouernment receiued Antiochus Epiphanes with his army into the city of Ierusalem who cruelly murthered the citisens and spoyled the Temple 2 Mac. 5. After the death of Antiochus who as it is said perished of a grieuous disease and was buried at Babylon his sonne Antiochus Eupator came with a great Army into Iudaea in hostile manner Wherefore Menelaus in the last yeare of his Priesthood went out to meet him But Lysias accused him vnto the King as one that was the onely author of all the euills that had hapned to the Iewes Wherefore Antiochus willed Lysias to take him prisoner who brought him to Berea a towne in Syria distant from Ierusalem 360 miles Northward where vpon the top of a Tower fifty cublts high he was tied to a wheel and had all his joints broken and through the extremity of the pain died 2 Mac. 3. So all his trauels were 2240 miles The Trauels of Alcimus High-Priest of the posteritie of Aaron THis Alcimus after the death of Menelaus which was the yere before Christ 150 went with certaine impious and wicked men to Demetrius Soter who liued in Antiochia in
Syria being 280 miles and there accused Iudas Machabeus and all the godly Iews vsing such flattery toward the King that he obtained the principalitie and office of high-Priest which he held three years 1 Mac. 7. From Antiochia he and Bacchides returned back to Ierusalem where hee was instituted in the office of high-priesthood which is 280 miles But when he saw that hee was not able to withstand the power and singular vertue of Iudas Machabeus he returned back to Antiochia 280 miles where after hee had accused the good men among the Iewes he obtained aid of Demetrius who sent Nicanor with a great army into Iudaea against Iudas to establish Alcimus in the priesthood So Alcimus and Nicanor returned into Iudaea 280 miles But Alcimus seeing familiar conference to passe between Nicanor and Iudas Machabeus he went backe againe to Antiochia 280 miles where he told Demetrius of the perfidious dealing of Nicanor Wherefore Demetrius being very angry at what had hapned wrot a sharp letter to Nicanor giuing him to vnderstand That it was much against his minde that hee should make a league with Iudas and further willed him the said league notwithstanding to bring him bound to Antiochia Vpon receit of which letter he made war vpon Iudas in which expedition Nicanor was taken and had his head cut off All this hapned in the first yeare of the priesthood of Alcimus But when Demetrius heard of this ouerthrow he sent Bacchides and Alcimus with a great army who went to Antiochia and came to Masloth in the country of Arbela 192 miles where they made incursions vpon the tribe of Nepthaly slew a great multitude of the Israelites 1 Mac. 9. From Masloth they went with their army to Gilgal 76 miles This hapned in the second yeare of the priesthood of Alcimus From Gilgal they came to Ierusalem 12 miles 1 Macchab. cap. 9. From thence they brought their army to Berea 12 miles here they were ouercome and put to flight by Iudas Machabeus 1 Mac. cap. 9. From Berea they fled amongst the mountaines which are between Azotus and Gazeron six miles Here Iudas Machabeus was slaine Wherefore Alcimus returned thence backe again to Ierusalem 20 miles and caused the walls of the inner house of the Temple and the monuments of the Priests to be taken down destroied but before his command was fully executed the Lord strooke him with a dead palsie of which he lay a time dumbe but within a while after he died of that disease in the second yeare of his priesthood an mundi 3811 and before Christ 157. Alcimus being dead Bacchides returned back to Demetrius in Syria 1 Mac. 9. For seuen yeares after there was no high Priest in Ierusalem till Ionathan the brother of Iudas Machabeus tooke vpon him that office 1 Mac. 10. So all his trauels were 1717 miles ¶ Of the places to which he trauelled Of Arbela THis was a city in the vpper Galile belonging to the tribe of Nepthali 96 miles from Ierusalem Northward Of which towne all the countrey is called Arbela being deriued of Arab To lie hid Of Masloth THis also is a towne of Nepthaly 92 miles from Ierusalem Northward and is deriued of Maschal which signifies Hee hath gouerned Of Berea TO this city Iotham sometime fled from the fury of his brother Abimilech Iudge of Israel Iudg. 9. It is scituated twelue miles from Ierusalem Westward and signifies a cleare Well Thus by Gods prouidence haue I described the Trauells and Iournies of the holy Patriarchs Kings and Prophets c. as they are seuerally mentioned in the old Testament that so gentle Reader thou mightst vnderstand what difficult and tedious journies and in them what great labour and vexation they were constrained to beare in this world till God of his mercy tooke them out of this vale of misery and placed them in euerlasting happinesse where now without doubt they remaine in peace FINIS The quantities of the Monies both Siluer and Gold as they are seuerally mentioned in the Scriptures reduced to our Weights and English valuations EVer since the time that Monies haue been allowed as currant in exchange betwixt man and man which for that purpose as Aristotle saith was first ordained it hath passed according to the valuation of a certaine weight which for the most part is vniuersall according to the worth and estimation thereof in the seuerall countries where it is to be sold exchanged or else by Coine which is currant according to the valuation that is imposed vpon it by the consent of a State or command of a Prince In both which there haue bin vsed sundry distinctions of greater and lesse valuations of weights and coine according to the necessitie and estimation thereof in seuerall Kingdomes and gouernments As amongst the Iewes they vsed weights and no coine and these distinguished in seuerall sorts and as is thought separated with sundry marks that they might be known each from other The weights that they vsed were commonly three viz. the Centiner or talent the Mina and the Sicle according to the opinion of Iosephus Budaeus Hostius and many others Of a Sicle A Sicle was a kind of weight currant among the Iewes containing precisely halfe an ounce of siluer or gold which that it might be distinguished had a particular effigies or superscription viz. vpon one side was to be seene the measure wherein they kept Manna in the Sanctuarie with this superscription The Sicle of Israel and on the other the rod of Aaron flourishing with this inscription Holy Ierusalem which is ordinarily worth in English mony 2 s. 6 d. and in gold 15 s. and more or lesse according to the purenesse or basenesse of either A sicle was diuided into these parts Into a Drachma i. 7 d. ob whereof 4 make a sicle Gen. 13.15 Exod. 21.32 c. Halfe sicles mentioned Exod. 30.13.15 ca. 38.26 which was the yearely tax imposed vpon euerie man toward the building of the Tabernacle i. 15 d. English Quadrans Sicli or the fourth part of a Sicle which was also in vse among the Iewes 1 Sam. 8.9 which amounts to a Roman peny and in our mony to 7 d. ob and by the Grecians were called Drachma Gherahs Exod. 30.13 which was the 20 part of a sicle and was worth 1 d. ob Of Sicles there were three sorts A common sicle which weighed a quarter of an ounce and was worth 15 d. The Kings sicle which weighed 3. Drachma's that is in our mony 22 d. ob The sicle of the Temple which weighed directly halfe an ounce and was worth 2 s. 6 d. Of a Mina Ios li. ant ca. 12 A Mina was a pound weight among the Iewes and were of two sorts one of gold which weighed 100 Drachma's another of siluer weighing 240 Drachma's These were called the antient weights but there was a later which is said to contain 100 Denaria's or Attick Drachma's Tract de Aug. cap. 8. which seem to be so called
was 1100 common sicles of siluer for which she cursed i. 68 li. 15 s. To the Levit that serued Micah she gaue yearly a suit of apparel tenths and ten siluerlings or sicles of the sanctuary forwith that kind of mony the Levits were rewarded i. 1 li. 5 s. I Samuel ANd all that remain of the house of Ely shall come and bow down vnto him for a piece of siluer in Hebrew it is Aâ—orah Cap. 2. v. 36. which Forestarius and Avenarius interpret Scrupulo Argenti which was 1 d. ob q. But if you take the ancient interpreters it was Obulum that is 1 d. q. Cap. 9. v. 8. When Saul sought his fathers asses his seruant had about him the fourth part of a common sicle of siluer that is 3 d. ob q. Cap. 17. v. 5. The Brigandine of the great gyant Goliah weighed 5000 sicles of brasse which at 16 ounces in the pound comes to 78 pounds and 2 ounces and the head of his speare weighed 60 sicles that is after the same weight 9 pound quarter and halfe of iron II Samuel Cap. 12. v. 30. 1 Chr. 21.2 ANd Dauid won the town of Rabba took the kings crown from his head and set it vpon his own head which weighed a talent of gold and was according to our common interpreters in these times a common talent of the Iewes i. 46 li. 14 ounces worth 2250 li. English But other writers considering that if it had bin so heauy the King could not haue worn it therefore they thinke it to be a talent according to the Syrian weight which is not aboue a quarter of an Hebrew talent and was of our weight 11 pound 4 ounces that is 551 li. And the reason of their opinion was because Rabbah and the whole countrey of the Children of Ammon lay in the land of Syria and therefore it must necessarily follow that their weight was Syrian weight the king of Rabbah neuer wearing this crowne but when hee made some solemne feast or triumph There are others that value it according to the worth of the crowne not of the weight and for that it was made of fine gold set with pretious stones and other jewels therefore it weighed a talent that is it was worth a talent according to that of Zach. ca. 1. So they weighed for my wages as much as I am valued i. 30 siluerlings Thus haue I set before you three interpretations follow which you like Cap. 18. v. 11 And Ioab spake vnto the man that brought him word that Absolon was hanging vpon an Oke tree saying If thou hadst smote him to the ground I would haue giuen thee ten sicles of siluer or ten siluerlings which was 12 s. 6 d. The man answered him and said If you had laid 1000 siluerlings that is 62 li. 10 s. in my hand yet I would not haue laid my hand vpon the Kings son When the Angell of God stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem and strooke the people with the pestilence p. 25. v. 25. at the commandement of Gad the Prophet Dauid went to Araunah the Iebusite and bought his threshing flore for fiftie sicles of siluer of the common weight Some say that euery tribe gaue fifty sicles which was 3 li. 2 s. 6 d. a Tribe and in the whole amounted to 37 li. 10 s. I. Kings THe Queene of Saba gaue vnto King Solomon 120 Centiners or Talents of gold which was 265000 pounds English Cap. 5. v. 28. this was pure Arabia gold and therefore according to the worth of gold in these daies much more than is set downe King Solomon had brought into his Kingdome in one yeare 666 Talents or Centiners of fiue Arabian gold Cap. 10. v. 14. which at 4500 pound the talent is 2997000 li. viz. two millions nine hundred ninetie seuen thousand pounds English But the siluer that Solomon had was not to be numbred And King Solomon caused 200 targuets to be made Cap. 10. v. 16. of the finest gold each targuet weighing 200 sicles of gold that is 600 Hungarians ducats and was worth 225 li. a targuet which in the whole amounteth to 45000 li. English There came and went vp out of Aegypt a chariot worth 600 sicles of siluer which is 37 li. 10 s. and a horse worth 150 li. that 9 li. 7 s. 6 d. II. Kings NAaman general of the King of Syrias host Cap. 5. v. 5. when he trauelled to Samaria to be healed of his leprosie tooke with him 10 talents of siluer that were of the common weight each talent worth 187 li. 10 s. being in the whole 1875 l. But if you account it after the Syrians talent as some would haue it which is but the fourth part of the Hebrew then it came to 46 li. 17 s. 6 d. the talent and in the whole to 468 li. 15 s. He also brought 1000 Drachmas of gold which were so many Hungarian ducats and were worth 375 li. English Being healed of his leprosie he gaue to Gehazie Cap. 5. v. 5. two talents of siluer in two bags which if they were according to the weight of the Iewes amounted to 375 li. and was as much as a man could carrie But if according to the Syrian weight then it came but to 95 li. which he might well carry and not be discouered Cap. 6. v. 25. Benhadad king of Syria so straightly besieged the city of Samaria that an Asses head was sold at 80 pieces of siluer or siluerlings which is 5 li. and a quarter of a cabe of Doues dung at fiue pieces or siluerlings that is 5 s. 4 d. But after the Lord struck the Syrians so that they fled from their siege Cap. 7. v. 18 and the citizens opened their gates and rifled their tents by which meanes there was such plentie that two measures of Barley was sold for a sicle that is 15 d. and two measures of fine floure at 15 d. Cap. 15. v. 19. When Phul king of Assiria inuaded Menahem king of Israel he was constrained to giue him a thousand talents of siluer that is 187500 li. that his helpe might be with him to establish a kingdome in his hand and depart for the payment of which money all the men of substance in Israel were constrained to pay fiftie sicles of siluer a piece that is 3 li. 2 s. 6 d. a man I Chronicles Cap. 22. v. 14. IT was said that Dauid left Solomon towards the building of the Temple 10000 talents of gold that is 450000000 li. foure hundred and fiftie millions of pounds also he left him for the finishing of the same worke 1000000 Talents of siluer which amount vnto 375000000 li. viz. three hundred seuentie fiue millions of pounds Cap. 29. v. 4. Also Dauid dedicated to the Temple of his owne goods 3000 talents of gold that is 135000 li. And of siluer 7000 talents that is 2625000 li. viz. 2 millions 6 hundred 25 thousand li. English The
vpon them to shew the place where Ioseph and Mary dwelt when they went downe into that countrey but how true it is I cannot tell because there is no Author for it Of Canah in Galile This was city in Galile distant from Ierusalem 68 miles towards the North of which you may reade more in the trauels of our Sauiour Christ Of Capernaum THis towne stood vpon the sea of Galile 68 miles from Ierusalem toward the North of which you may reade more after The trauels of the Wise-men out of the East which came to Bethlehem to see IESVS THe Magi were certaine wise men of Persia so called from Meditation being deriued of Hagah that is He hath meditated and taken in the third conjugation it signifies To finde or search out a thing they being such as gaue themselues to the knowledge of hard things and to finde out the secrets and misteries of nature But according to Varinus they were not only Philosophers but Priests also And Plato vpon Alcibiades saith Magia est deorum obseruantia siue cultus diuinus that is Magicke prescribeth the due obseruance and diuine worship of the gods Strabo saith Geogra lib. 6. That the Magi were such among the Persians as those whom the Indians call Gimnosophists and Academians the Babylonians Chaldaeans and the Hebrewes Prophets or Priests which taught the people diuine knowledge And when the ten Tribes were carried into captiuitie by Salmanasser Emperour of the Assirians into Assiria Media and Persia there is no question but they tooke with them into the East the holy bookes and volumes of the Law and of the Prophets whereby without doubt many of the people and Philosophers of the East came to haue a taste of the true knowledge and worship of God Also the Prophet Daniel was brought vp in all the arts of the Chaldaeans whose writings and prophecies were not only written and published amongst the Babylonians but also had in great account and estimation amongst the Magi so that they diligently perusing those books came not only to the knowledge of God but also without doubt to the knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whom they called The Starre of Iacob from whence may be concluded That the Wise-men that came to see our Sauiour Christ were rather of Susa in Persia than of Zaba in Aethyopia Wherefore these wise-men came from the Academy of Susa in Persia to Ierusalem which was 920 miles saying Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes for we haue seen his Starre in the East and are come to worship him This hapned in the moneth of Ianuarie in the second yeare after the birth of our Sauiour for Herod in the seuentieth yeare of his age caused all the male children of the Bethlemites of two yeares old and vnder according to the time that he was told of the Wise-men to be put to the sword From Ierusalem they went to Bethlehem which was 6 miles where vpon the sixt of Ianuary they offered their Presents which they brought out of Persia to our Sauior viz. Gold as to a King Frankincense as to a Priest and Myrrhe as to a mortall man Mat. 2. So let vs offer vnto Christ our Sauior the Gold of faith and heauenly doctrine the Frankincense of earnest prayers and the myrrhe of patience in the midst of calamitie Afterward the Wise-men as they had bin warned in a dream returned another way to Susa in Persia which was 920 miles So their trauels were 1846 miles Of Susa you may reade before in the trauels of the Old Testament Of the Starre that appeared to the Wise-men in the East SInce this Starre appeared in the lower region of the aire as it is apparant it did from thence it may be concluded That it neither was any of the fixed starres planet or a Comet because they commonly are seene in the vpper region of the aire but rather according to the opinion of some it was an Angell of God appearing in the forme of a bright shining Starre to direct the Wise-men in their way as they went to the town of Bethlem and so by little and little descending from the sublimitie of the aire pointed out vnto them the very house where they might find Mary the mother of our Lord and the childe Iesus Almost after the same manner as the Angell of the Lord in the time of Moses appeared to the children of Israel that is in the day like ta cloudy pillar and in the night like a flaming fire to direct them their way Exod. 13.14.34 Wherefore this Starre without doubt was no naturall apparition which hapned in the inferiour region of the aire suddenly vanishing away but as I haue said an Angel of the Lord representing the forme of a Starre Or else as Chrysostome saith a certaine miraculous new Starre which according to the opinion of Augustine was gouerned by an Angel of the Lord and for the greatnes of the body and variety of the aspects was not seene first in the land of Iudaea but in Persia a countrie in the East where the Magi dwelt and accompanied them thence into Iudea And although for a short space it left them in the journie yet when they came in the way to Bethlem it appeared to them againe Mat. 2. As Nicephorus and Chrysostome obserue the Starre appeared vpon the day of the conception of Christ being the 25 day of March about which time the Archangell Gabriel spoke with the Virgin Marie Luke 1. And with seene for a whole yeare and 41 weeks that is till the 6 of Ianuary in the beginning of the second yeare after the natiuitie of Christ It wanted 11 weeks of two yeares and therefore Herod caused all the male children of the Bethlehemites of two yeares old and vnder to be slaine according to the time declared vnto him by the wise men Mat. 2. Wherfore this new Starre did first foreshew the birth of Christ that bright shining Starre and eternall light of glory according to the prophecie of Billa Num. 22. Secondly the light of Gods Word the Gospel 2 Pet. 1. Thirdly godly faithful ministers and teachers who by their doctrine and godly life and conuersation should set before their auditors and such as obserue their actions the way to Christ and eternall happinesse Dan. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Baptist IN the moneth of Thisri which answereth to our September Annoo mundi 3966 the Feast of the Tabernacles being then celebrated the Archangell Gabriel told Zacharias the Priest of the conception of Iohn the Baptist which should be the voyce of a crier in the wildernesse And a little after that is about the Autumnall Aequinoctiall Iohn the Baptist was conceiued six moneths before our Sauiour The next yeare after about the moneth of Iuly he was borne Six moneths after that our Sauiour Christ was borne In which yeare Zacharias che father of Iohn Baptist was slaine in the vpper court betweene the Altar and the Temple for saying that our Sauiour Christ
repeating these words Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and vpon the Basiliske c. Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Historie saith that there are yet standing in Tyre certaine Marble pillars and other precious stones of a wonderfull greatnesse that it amaseth such as behold them neere to which there haue beene many Christians and Pilgrims put to death by the Saracens There are also foure wels of wholesome and pleasant water standing not far from it of which wells you may reade before Of Zidon THis also was a city of Phoenicia scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea thirtie six miles from Ierusalem toward the North and sixteene from Tyrus In times past it was assigned to the Tribe of Ashur and lay vpon the borders of the Philistines neere to Mount Libanus Being called Sidon or Zidon of Zidon the sonne of Canaan who first built it Gen. 10. and signifies a hunter It was a notable mart towne wherein much Satin was made which kinde of stuffe was very precious among the Iewes and it is said That Ioseph of Arimathia wrapped the body of our Sauior in white Satin for in Matthew 27. it is called Zadin which in English is Satin And as at this day the finest glasse is made at Venice so the finest glasse in those times was made at Sarepta a city that belonged to the Sidonians about which there stood many mines of which it is ' called Sarepta as you may reade before This towne in times past was one of the chiefe cities of Phoenicia but because of the extraordinarie pride of the citisens God afflicted them with diuers punishments brought in Ocho king of the Persians who besieged it and by treason woon it and burnt it to the ground as Diodorus Siculus lib. 16. saith The Citisens whereof were driuen to such streights by the enemy that there perished in the fire aboue fortie thousand men Within a while after Darius last Emperour of the Persians rebuilt it but made it nothing so beautifull neither fortified it in like manner as it was before hee ordained one Strato to be King thereof a man proud and arrogant After about three hundred and two yeares before the natiuitie of Christ Alexander being then but 24 yeres of age hauing ouercome Darius that mighty Emperour of the Persians at Issa a citie of Cilicia in a cruell and sharpe warre he sent Hephestion one of his Princes to the Sydonians with authoritie to depose Strato and to let the Citisens vnderstand that they should chuse him for their King whom they thought most worthy of that honour as Quint. Curt. sheweth lib. 4. At this time there was a certaine young man among the followers of Hephestion in whose behalfe he moued the Citisens that hee might be their King but they refused saying it was not their custome to chuse any to rule ouer them but such as were of the Kings stocke and progenie Hephestion hearing this answer greatly admired their resolution and modestie especially when they refused to accept him for their King whom others had sought to obtaine with fire and sword saying Truly there is more required to rule and gouerne a Kingdome than to get it but yet name one vnto me of royall discent whom you would willingly receiue to be your King So they named vnto him one Abdolomius who had beene knowne to haue beene of the Kings stocke by many discents but because of his pouertie he was constrained to dwell in the suburbs of the Citie in a cottage and had little else but a Garden to liue vpon This man howsoeuer poore and because of that of many contemned yet hee was knowne to be honest and of an vpright life following with all dilligence his vocation without any regard of other businesse insomuch as he was vtterly ignorant of all these stirre and combustions which had so lately vexed Asia As he was now in his garden digging and labouring purging it of weeds and planting herbes Hephestion with the rest of the Citizens went vnto him and brought him the robes and habiliments of a King The poore Gardner stood amazed to see such a company of gallants come vnto him but Hephestion told him That the occasion of their comming was to make an exchange with him of those royall ornaments which he had in his hands for those poore and foule garments which he wore therefore goe and wash thy selfe and returne So he did where immediately they put vpon him those royall robes and saluted him as their Soueraigne Afrer these things were finished quoth Hephestion Now remember in what a state thou art no more Gardener but a King and therefore take vnto thee the minde and resolution of a King that so thou mayest rule and gouerne this citie as a man worthy of that honour and remember that although the liues and goods of thy subjects are at thy command yet by them thou wast chosen neither be forgetfull of him that was the author of thine honour No sooner was he enthronised in his kingdom but fame who is more speedie than a thousand Posts had dispersed this newes through all the neighbouring cities some being thereby moued to admiration and quickned in their studies others stirred vp to indignation and enuie Those that were mighty and friends to Alexander contemned and despised his humilitie and pouertie and no sooner were they come into his presence but they began to accuse him for his ignorance wherefore Alexander commanded that he should come before him where after hee had welâ— viewed the lineaments and proportion of his person and could not perceiue it any whit repugnant to the fame of his birth hee demanded of him how it was possible that hee should endure his pouertie with patience To which he answered I pray the gods I may continue the gouernment of this kingdome with the like minde for these hands were sufficient for me to liue by and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing At which answer Alexander was so well pleased that he not only gaue him all the princely jewels and ornaments of the first king called Strato but also a great part of the booty which he tooke from the Emperor of Persia and added to his command all the neighboring countries round about This history I haue inserted that thereby we might perceiue the mighty power of God in all his works that can exalt the poore contented with his estate out of the very dust and can pull the mighty from their thrones So the Euill carke and care in this world to gather riches for the Vertuous to inherit But to return to Sidon This city did so much increase and grew so famous in succeeding ages that it was the chiefe town Tyrus onely excepted in all Phoenicia ioyning vpon the West to the Mediterranian sea extending it selfe towards the North and South lying in a plain vnder Antilibanus which mountain lay some two miles off it vpon the East It oftentimes because of the pride of the inhabitants felt the wrath and
the Market-place where they bought and sold was not farre from it Vpon a little hill close by this Port he caused a Church to be built in honour of Augustus Caesar This Temple was a very magnificent and stately building and in it hee caused the Statue of Augustus curiously wrought and cast iust in the figure of Iupiter Olympius to be erected and worshipped it as his god There are many other stately and sumptuous buildings that were set vp by this King But amongst the rest he bestowed great cost vpon the market place the Theatre and the Amphitheatre which hee wonderfully beautified and instituted certaine Games to be there vsed once euery fifth yeare in honour of Augustus as Iosep de Bell. Iud. li. 1. witnesseth After the death of this king Herod Agrippa was made King of the Iewes This Prince some ten yeares after the resurrection of Christ caused Iames the son of Zebedeus vpon the 25 day of Iuly to be put to death in Ierusalem and when he perceiued it was acceptable vnto the Iews in the following yeare about the feast of the Passeouer hee caused Peter to be cast into prison who by the prayers of the Church was miraculously deliuered as you may reade Acts 12. A little after that is about the moneth of August this King was strook by the Angel of the Lord and died miserably for when he came to Caesarea Strato he caused the publique shewes to be solemnly practised and in honor of Claudius Caesar set forth very sumptuous interludes and playes to which feast and shewes all the Nobility and Gentry of that countrey round about resorted Where the next day very early in the morning hauing put on a rich and goodly garment made all of cloath of gold he went into the theatre and there according to his vsuall custome sate in a princely seat and made an oration to the inhabitants of Tyre Now when the sunne was vp and shone vpon his garments the raies thereof cast such a reflection vpon the beholders that it dazled their eies insomuch that they could scarce see Wherefore those that were his flatterers hearing his gratious speech cried with a loud voice O Agrippa be propitious vnto vs for although heretofore we feared thee as a man yet now we well perceiue thou art of a more noble and Diuine nature But when the King taking delight in these speeches would not restrain the impious clamour of these flatterers a little after he lifted vp his head and vpon the top of a pillar he saw an Owle sitting ouer him Presently he was troubled in his minde and within a while after hee was strooke with an extreme paine in his bowels insomuch that with a loud voice he cried out vnto his friends I whom but now was called your god am but a man and him that you imagined to be immortall must presently die These words being ended they caried him sick into his palace and it was giuen out that he was dead No sooner came this newes to the eares of the vulgar but they with their wiues and children put on sack-cloath and fell vpon the ground with earnest supplications to God to bee mercifull vnto him But the King looking out of his window and seeing them lie thus prostrate vpon the earth wailing and weeping he could not abstain from teares At the length after he had beene cruelly tormented by the space of foure dayes vpon the fift dyed beeing the second of August the wormes hauing consumed his guts and eaten through his body Thus God grieuously punished him who had so much afflicted the members of the Church of Christ but towards other men as well strangers as Gentiles hee was milde and courteous He raigned in the whole almost seuen yeares for he held the Tetrarchy of Philip three yeares vnder Caligula and other foure yeares he held the whole kingdome of the Iewes He died in the eleuenth yeare after the resurrection and in the third of Claudius Caesar being then about 54 yeres of age Act. 22. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 19. Plinie saith that this towne of Caesaria Strato was sometime called Apollonia but after obtained the name of Caesarea Palestina Saint Ierome saith in his Epitaph vpon Paul that in his time which was 400 yeares after Christ there was to be seene in this place the house of Cornelius the Centurion whom Peter baptized Act. 10. This Cornelius is thought by some to haue been of the family of the Lentuli in Rome for they were also called Cornelij as appeareth in Salust in the conspiracy of Cataline it may be that this Cornelius was that Lentulus which wrot to Tiberius Caesar that excellent Epistle concerning the figure proportion and person of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ Also the house of Philip the deacon and the chambers of his foure daughters who were Prophetesses When Paul came vnto this towne Agabus the Prophet came vnto him who bound his hands and feet with the girdle of Paul saying The man that oweth this girdle shal be thus bound by the Iewes at Ierusalem and they shall deliuer him into the hands of the Gentiles Here he made a notable sermon before Festus Agrippa Iunior and his sister Bernice Act. 16. This towne flourished for a long time after the destruction of Ierusalem and it was scituated in a faire and profitable place fortified towards the West with the Mediterranean sea and towards the East it was compassed about with a lake in which were great aboundance of Crocodiles though the water was very sweet and of a great depth Many godly and religious men were here crowned with the wreath of martyrdome for professing the Gospel of Christ as Eusebius Bishop of this town and of Pamphilius well obserueth in his Eccles Hist But the Lord did so sharply reuenge the death of these men that at this day it is vtterly destroied and there is not a house left though in times past it had been a Bishops See There was also another town built by Philip the Tetrarch called Caesarea Philippi whereof you may reade before Of Ioppa COncerning this towne I haue already shewed many things in the Trauels of Ionas but omitted some specified by Brittenbach and Dr Ranwolfe who haue described the holy land as it was in the yeare of our Lord 1575. which Authors affirme that there is seen a great chain of iron fastned to a certain rock to the which ships that lay in that harbor were somtimes tied Also the chain wherewith Andromeda was fast bound to a stone when she should haue bin deuoured of the sea monster Also they say that there is a Chappell at this day built vp in the place where sometime the house of Simon the Tanner stood who gaue entertainment to Peter standing by a rock close by the sea side and dedicated to saint Peter But for the rest of the town although formerly it hath bin a goodly city it is vtterly destroied nothing standing but a part of the wall two castles
then closeth vp againe so that it can find no passage out it striueth with continuall motion to make way through the earth by which meanes the earth trembleth and shaketh and looke how much the deeper these vaults are vnder the earth so much the more violent are the Earthquakes by which means cities are oftentimes vtterly ouerthrowne and ruined sometimes the earth sinketh and ponds and riuers are swallowed vp It was at first called Diospolis that is the city of Iupiter then Rhoas and lastly it obtained the name of Laodicea And although at the beginning it was but a small town yet by reason of the fertilitie of the soile and pleasant scituation it of a sudden became a faire citie beautified with many faire and goodly houses wherein there dwelt many wealthie citizens so that for their nobilitie and worthinesse it was accounted the most famous towne in all Asia Here Hiero dwelt who diuided his inheritance among the citizens and ouer and aboue he gaue them two thousand talents of gold besides many other gifts and gratuities to adorne and beautifie the citie After him there liued Zeno the Orator and Polemon his sonne who for his noble acts was first by Antonio and then by Augustus Caesar honored with the dignitie of a King as Strabo witnesseth lib. 12. This Laodicea Colossis and Hieropolis where the Apostle Philip was crucified were sunk by an earthquake about the tenth yeare of Nero and a little before the Martyrdome of Paul There were three cities called after this name that is this which stood in Caria to which Paul neuer came as appeareth in the second chapter to the Collossians a second stood in Phrigia where Paul wrote his Epistle to Timothy and a third in Syria neere ro Antiochia Seleucia and Apamea The Trauels of Philip. THan a little after the martyrdome of Stephen which hapned in the Moneth of Ianuary thirtie and fiue yeares after the natiuitie of Christ Philip which one of the seauen Deacons with Stephen Acts 6. went from Ierusalem to Samaria which was thirtie and two miles and in many Cities of the Samaritans preached the Gospell and did many miracles at which time he conuerted Simon Magus Acts 8. From Samaria he went to Bethzur which was scituated fortie and foure miles towards the South here Philip baptised the Aethiopian who was Queene Candaces Eunuch And suddenly he was taken out of sight by the spirit of the Lord and went to Azotus which was 16 miles From thence preaching in all the cities as he went he came to Caesarea Strato which was 44 miles So all his Trauels were 136 miles Concerning the townes and places mentioned in his Trauels you may reade of them in seuerall places mentioned before The Trauels of the Aethiopian which was Eunuch to Queene Candaces who kept her court in Saba FRom Saba or Meroe in Aethiopia this Eunuch came to Ierusalem which was about 964 miles Acts 4. From Ierusalem he came to the towne of Bethzur which was 12 miles here he was baptised by Philip in the Moneth of Ianuary the next yeare after the resurrection of Christ From thence he returned to Saba in Aethiopia which was 952 miles So all his Trauels were 1928 miles Of Saba THis citie is before mentioned and at this time when the Eunuch came to Ierusalem Candaces gouerned it and a great part of Aethiopia Tiberius Caesar being then Emperour of Rome Shee was a very warlike woman but blinde of one eie as Strabo saith lib. 16. and Plin. lib. 6. cap. 29. In whose time the citie Saba was called Meroe and the Queenes for many successions Candaces because of the worthinesse of those Queenes which had beene of that name This woman was very well beloued of her subjects and was very gratious towards them as Suidas saith To this Queene the Eunuch which Philip baptised was chiefe Steward and no doubt spread the Christian faith in many places of those parts An Introduction to the Trauels of Saint Paul NOw before I enter vpon the Trauels of the Apostle Paul I though it fit to make a collection of all the Countries Islands and Cities wherein he taught so that they which are skilfull in Geometrie or Cosmographie might discerne their Longitudes Latitudes and seuerall distances according to the degrees and scruples hereafter following Townes in Italy  Long. Latit Rome 36.40 41.40 Puteoli 39.50 41.00 Naples 39.10 41.00 Capua 40.00 41.00 Brundusia 42.30 39.40 Regium 39.50 38.15 Townes in Graecia Constantinople 56.00 43.05 Neapolis 51.15 41.40 Philippi 50.45 41.45 Amphipolis 50.00 41.30 Apollonia Mygdoniae 49.30 40.30 Thessalonica 49.50 39.50 Athens 52.45 37.15 Corinthus 51.15 36.55 Ceâ—chera 51.20 37.00 Cities in Syria Antiochia 69.30 35.30 Seleucia 69.25 35.40 Sydon 67.15 33 30 Tyrus 67.00 33 20 Ptolomais 66.50 32.58 Caesarca Stratonis 66.16 23.25 Ioppa 66.40 32.06 Ierusalem 66.00 31.55 Damascus 60.55 30.00 Cities in Asia minor Thrasia 67.40 36.50 Attalia 62.15 36.30 Perga 62.15 36.56 Antiochia Pisidiae 62.30 39.00 Laodicea Phrigiae 63 40 39.40 Lystra 64.00 39.00 Iconium 64.30 38 45 Derbe 64.20 38 15 Calcedon 56.05 43.05 Nicea 57.00 41.40 Cities in Asia Ilium 55.30 41.00 Troada 55.25 40.40 Assus 56.00 40.15 Pergamus 57.25 39.45 Philadelphia 59.00 38.50 Sardis 58.20 38.15 Ephesus 57.40 37.40 Thyatira   Smyrna 58 25 38.25 Myletus 58.00 37.90 Halicarnassus 57.50 36.10 Gnydus 57.10 35.30 Patara 60.30 36.00 Mira 61.00 36.40 Hycropolis 60.00 38.15 Cities in Aegypt Alexandria 60.30 31.00 Memphis Alcayre 61.50 29.50 Hermopolis magna 61.40 28.55 Jslands Ciciliae ciuitatis Siracusa 39.30 37.15 Malta 38.45 34.50 Corsica 45.40 38.15 Creta 45.00 34.45 Clauda 52.20 34 00 Salamis 50.00 37 00 Enbea 43.40 38.15 Andros 55.00 37.12 Samathrocua 52.30 41.15 Mithilena 55 40 39 20 Chius 59.20 38.25 Trogylion 57 15 37 40 Pathmos 57.00 37.35 Cous 57.00 36.25 Rhodus 58.30 35.40 Raphus cypri 64.10 35.05 Salamais cypri 66.20 35.10 The Trauels of the holy Apostle S. Paul with an axact annotation of the times PAul was borne at Tarsus in Cicilia about the tenth yeare of the natiuitie of our Sauiour and was neere about the age of S. Iohn the Euangelist as the circumstances of Histories doe declare After he grew to some bignesse he was sent by his parents from thence to Ierusalem being 304 miles where he had not beene long brought vp with Gamaliel which signifies The recompence of God Acts 22. but he became the Disciple of Simon the just Luke 2. Acts 5. This Paul was of the Tribe of Benjamin Phil. 2. 2 Cor. 11. and being yet but a young man he was one of those that kept the garments of the holy Martyr S. Stephen who was stoned about the end of the foure and thirtieth yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Acts 1. at which time also S. Iohn the Euangelist was but foure and twentie yeares of age If therefore you would obserue the age of the Apostle Paul in this following discourse of his Trauels deduct ten from the yeres after the natiuitie of our
he bore to Homers Iliads Wherefore looke what Alexander had promised Lysimachus one of his chiefe Princes and King of Thrace after his death performed for he returned to Troy enlarged the city beautified it with goodly buildings set vp a stately Temple and then compast it about with strong wals After this sort it continued a long time vntill Fimbria a Questor of the Romans when he had slaine Valerius Flaccus the Consull with whom hee was sent against Mithridates King of Pontus besieged it and within ten dayes space woon it making his vaunts that hee conquered that citie in ten dayes which Agamemnon could scarce do in ten yeares to which one of the inhabitants of the citie answered That then Troy had a Hector but now it had none But for this hee cruelly wasted the citie This destruction hapned in the 84 yeare before Christ thus it lay desolate till Augustus Caesars time who caused it again to be re-edified and beautified with many faire and goodly buildings because the Romanes and especially those noble families of the Iulij and Caesars doe deriue their progenie from the Trojans for which cause Augustus vsed such diligence in the rebuilding of this citie and bestowed such infinit cost that he much exceeded Alexander and made it a faire and goodly citie At this day it is called Ilium But in the place of old Troy there is little to bee seene only a small towne as Strabo saith It is distant from Ierusalem 760 miles Northwestward Of Bythinia THis countrey is opposite to Constantinople scituated in Asia minor distant from Irusalem Northwestward and so called of Bythinus the sonne of Iupiter and Thrax It was sometime called Pontus Bebrycia and Mygdonia as Stephanus saith In this countrey the Apostle Paul could not preach the Gospel of Christ when he went into Macedonia and Graecia because hee was hindred by the Spirit Act. 16. The principall cities thereof were Calcidon Heraclea Nicea Nicomedia Apamea Flauiopolis Libissa where Hannibal lieth buried and Prusa now called Byrsa where in times past the Emperours of Turkie kept their Courts and were buried The mother and metropolis of all these cities was Nicea or rather Nicaea beeing distant from Ierusalem 720 miles towards the Northwest at the first called Antigonia of Antigonus the sonne of Philip King of Asia who built it after the death of Alexander the Great But Lysimachus called it Nicaea after his wifes name and at this day is called Nissa The compasse thereof is two miles being foure square scituated as Strabo saith lib. 12. in a faire and pleasant place lying close by the poole of Ascania and hath in it 4 gates standing in a direct line al which gates might easily haue beene seene from a certaine stone which stood in the middle of the Market place In this citie the most Christian Emperor Constantine the Great celebrated a Councell anno Dom. 325. at which time there were present 320 Bishops who condemned the Arrian herisie and instituted the Nicaen Creed But after that viz. anno Dom. 326 the Arrians endeauouring to hold a second Councell in this citie to confirme their opinions and to dissolue that which went before the Lord hindred them with an Earthquake by which almost half the citie was throwne down Not long after there hapned another earthquake which vtterly destroied it notwithstanding it was rebuilt again and in it a second Councell held wherein the Nicaen Creed was condemned There were many cities of this name that before spoken of another in Thrace a third in France not far from the riuer Varus a fourth as Stephanus saith is amongst the Lorrenses in Graecia a fift in Illeria a sixt in India a seuenth in Corsica and the eighth in Leuctris of Boetia Of Mysia THis is a country of Asia the lesse bordring vpon Helle spont and Troada being diuided into two parts that is the greater and the lesse That part that bordreth vpon Troada is distant from Ierusalem 800 miles Northwestward but that which is called Mysia the lesse and bordring vpon Lydia is 1028 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward In this countrey stood Pergamus to which Iohn wrote his Reuelation Scepsis where one Neleus kept the bookes of Aristotle til Apollonius time also Antandrus Adramitium Tranoiapolis and Apollinia which stood close by the riuer Thyndaeus The inhabitants were men of a base condition and contemned of the world insomuch as they became a prouerbe as often as a man would denote a thing of no estimation they would say Vltimum esse Mysiorum that is It is worse than the Mysians as it appeareth in Cicero's oration for Flaccus Yet notwithstanding Paul and Iohn the Euangelist preached the doctrine and light of the Gospell to this poore and despised people so that the Mysians which were a contemptible and abhominable nation before all the world were not so before God for they were conuerted at the preaching of Iohn and Paul From whence he saith Not many wise according to the flesh not many mightie not many noble but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world that they might confute and ouerthrow the wise c. 1. Cor. 1. In times past they were a great people though of smal estimation for they had vnder their iurisdiction Lydia Caria Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philidelphia and Laodicea to many of which Iohn wrote his Revelation Also as Herodotus saith Lib. 7. the Mysians and Teucrians before the Trojan war past into Europe and there woon and held Thracia Macedonia and all the land to the Adriatick sea c. Of Troas THis citie Troas where Paul raised Eutichus which signifies happie or fortunate from death to life Acts. 10. stood vpon the sea of Hellespont in Asia the lesse 720 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Antigonus king of Asia called it Troas because it was in the countrey where Troy was But after the death of Alexander he called it after his owne name Antigonia And the better to honour it kept his court there But Lysimachus King of Thrace hauing got this city into his iurisdiction bestowed great cost vpon it and set vp many fair and goodly buildings then called it after Alexanders name Alexandria and so it began to be called Alexandria Troas Plin. lib. 5. Strabo l. 13. Ier de locis Hebraicis Now it was called Alexandria Troas to put a difference between it and diuers other cities of that name for there was an Alexandria in Aegypt another in India and many others elsewhere but only this in the countrey where Troy stood It was scituated in a high and spacious mountaine about a mile and a halfe from the shore of Propontus towards the East between which Troads is twentie and eight miles It is a thing worthy obseruation to consider by what diuers names the sea that lies between Europe and Asia the lesse is called for betweene Constantinople and Calcidonia close by the Euxine sea it is called Thracius Bosphorus in which place it is not aboue halfe a mile
broad here Xerxes when he inuaded Graecia built vp a bridge for his army to passe ouer There is also another strait and narrow place in this sea which is called by the name of Cimmerius Bosphorius These two Bosphori are so called as some authors hold because a Bull when he loweth may be heard from the one side to the other but Pliny seemeth to deriue the name from Io that faire maid which Iupiter turned into a Cow who swam ouer this sea and of her was called Bosphorus lib. 6. cap. 1. It is also called Propontus because it lieth just before the Euxine sea and Hellespont from Helle the daughter of Athamantis K. of Thebes who was drowned therein then running thence it falleth into a gulph of the Mediterranean Ocean there it is called the Aegean sea of Aegeus King of Athens who drowned himselfe therein for the supposed losse of his sonne Theseus In this sea were scituate the Isles of Pathmos Mytelene Samothrace Chius Lesbus and many other Isles as you may reade in the trauels of S. Paul Of Samothracia ot Samothrace SAmothracia is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituate between Troades and Thracia eight hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the sea sometimes called Dardania of Dardanus King of Troy who when hee had slaine his brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the foundation of the citie called Troy and of that Kingdome And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the neerenes that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the rocke whereon it stood it soone changed the name and then especially when the people called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood vpon such a loftie place that from thence all the countries round about might easily bee seen Arsinoë Queene of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her brother into this Island who after put to death all her children and vsurpt vpon the kingdome of Thrace A cruell part in a brother Virg. li. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Treiciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adayes is Samo-Thracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Acts 16. it is said S. Paul sailed from Troad is to Samothracia so went thence into Thracia and came to the city of Neapolis Of Neapolis THis Neapolis to which Paul went was a city of Thrace not far from Macedoni 880 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sichar stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but aboue all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chiefe city of the Neapolitan kingdome Of Philippa THis city in times past was called Crenides because of the veins of gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon father of Alexander the Great caused it in the yeare before Christ 354 to bee re-edified and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the riuer Stridon 936 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest and endowed with many priuiledges In those times the gold was so much increased in this place that the reuenue thereof was worth vnto this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 li. the talent amounteth to forty fiue Millions of pounds yearely By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his gold to be coined and called it after his owne name Philippian gold To this place Paul came and did many miracles taught the Gospell and conuerted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth euen 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Towne and sent it them by the hands of Epaphroditus euen 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THis was a city of Macedonia compassed about with the riuer Strymon from whence it tooke the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the Northwest Here also the Apostle Paul was Acts 17. Of Apollonia THis was a citie of Mygdonia scituated not farre from Thessalonica towards the West close by the riuer Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest being so called from Apollines which signifies the Sunne it stood twentie miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Graecia close by the Adriatick sea another among the Islands of Thrace a third in Creet on this side the riuer Ister a fourth in Syria and a fift in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THis was a citie of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood vpon the sea after called Therma of the hot bathes that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the sonne of Amyntas King of the Macedonians who gaue it that name either of the great victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his daughter called Thessalonica who was the mother of Cassandrus it stood close by the Thermaick gulph not farre from the mouth of the riuer Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest The Apostle Paul taught publiquely in this city and there conuerted a great multitude of people Act. 17. Hee also wrote two Epistles to the inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperor of Rome there hapned by reason of some discontent a grieuous sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stirre some of his captains gouernors were slain Wherefore the Emperor hauing intelligence of what had hapned sent an army against the city with authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it hapned that the city was filled with many vniust slaughters for the soldiers respecting more their priuat profit than the equitie of the cause spared neither innocent nor nocent yong nor old so that as well the inhabitants as strangers that resorted thither did partake of this miserie and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first authors of this rebellion But because the emperor was consenting vnto these euils Ambrose Bishop of Millaine would not suffer him without publique repentance to come to the sacrament of the Lords supper wherefore in a publique assembly hee acknowledged his offence with great contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 24. This town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronichus Palaeologus son of Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople who held it a long time vntill Amurath Emperor of the Turkes won it from them and exercised grieuous cruelty vpon the inhabitants At this day it is
it was repaired by King Corinthus who as some thinke was the sonne of Marathon Suidas saith the sonne of Pelops others would haue him the sonne of Orestis and after his name was called Corinth that is The floure of Maides It was a faire and goodly citie very commodiously built for it stood betweene the two seas of Ionium and Aegeum so that there resorted thither great multitude of Merchants from all places Close by the citie there stood a steepe mountaine which was as it were a bulwarke for the defence thereof being 560 feet high and called Acrocorinthus that is the glory and strength of the Corinthians It was also compassed about with strong walls and beautified with many goodly buildings and temples but aboue the rest the Temple of Venus was had in great reputation which as Strabo saith stood vpon the top of the mountaine Acrocorinthus wherein there were aboue a thousand Maides prostituted euery yeare This Temple was had in such great honour and was so gloriously built that aboue all the places of the world there was resort vnto it Close by it stood the ancient castle called Sysyphius built all of white Marble and a little below that the fountaine of Pyrene dedicated to the Muses There were many mightie Princes that ruled in this citie as Alethes who was King thereof at such time as Samuel judged Israel which was 1103 yeares before Christ hee bestowed great cost vpon it set vp many faire and goodly buildings and ruled ouer it thirtie and fiue yeares as Eusebius saith After him there succeeded many Kings by whose worthinesse and prowesse it was so much inlarged and made so famous that it was little inferiour to the citie of Rome for at such time as Embassadors were sent thence to intreate of some businesse concerning the state the Corinthians did not let to giue them many reprochfull tearmes as Strabo saith lib. 8. because of which insolencie the Romans sent Lucius Mummus the Consul into Graetia who besieged Corinth and within a short time tooke it and burnt it downe to the ground in the yeare before Christ 145 of which you may reade more in Florus and in the second Decad of Lyuie It was a maruellous rich Towne and abounded with gold siluer and costly brasse also with plate and curious pictures so that although Mummius conquered Corinth yet Corinth conquered Rome for the citizens thereof were so bewitched with the riches and glory of this towne that they forgot their ancient seueritie and with violence followed their vices as Salust saith lib. 1. So that as before Corinth abounded with luxurie and diuers other abhominable euils as whoredome adulterie fornication couetousnes idolatry rapine and murther so Rome in future ages became as bad or worse than it Thus it continued waste from that time till Iulius Caesar was Emperour of Rome who hauing trauelled into those parts of the world and seene the ruines of this citie and the profitale scituation for traffique caused it to be rebuilded after which time it began to grow great spacious little inferiour to the former in glory and no lesse corrupted with vices hauing forgot the former miserie which it sustained by the hands of the Romans and so continued from the yeare before Christ 44 vntill the yeare after Christ 41 at which time Paul came thither preached the Gospell by whose diuine doctrine and godly life and conuersation they were conuerted from their euill courses and liued more holily and honestly as appeareth by the two Epistles of Saint Paul wrote from Philippos to the inhabitants of this towne But after they falling from their faith and forsaking their ancient integritie the Lord punished them with a second desolation for at such time as Amurath Emperor of the Turkes grew to eminencie and had conquered Thessalonica Boaetia and Attica he came into this Isthums and made all Peloponessus tributary to him Then after him Mahomet the second although the inhabitants of Corinth had fortified their citie with three walls and made it so strong that it was thought to be almost inuincible besieged it and woon it An. Dom. 1458. about six yeares after Constantinople was conquered by the Turkes But now it is in the command of the Venetians and that and all the countrey is called by the name of Morea as it appeareth in the Turkish Historie lib. 10. The fourth peregrination of the Apostle Paul IN the yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ 53 Paul went from Antiochia in Syria and came to Galatia and Laodicia in Phrygia and thence wrote his Epistle to Timothy as it appeareth by the subscription of that Epistle which was 380 miles From Laodicea hee went to Ephesus which was 280 miles and there appointed Timothy to be a Bishop and daily disputed in the schoole of a certaine Tyrant and did many miracles as it appeareth Acts 19. From Ephesus he came to Troada which was 200 miles where when he could not find Titus he was troubled in spirit 2 Cor. 2. From Troada hee sailed into Macedonia and came to Philippos which was 232 miles from hence hee wrote his Epistles to the Corinthians and sent them to Corinth which was 292 miles In the same yeare also Paul passing through Graecia in euery place where he came preaching and visiting the churches Act. 19. at length came to Corinthus which was 480 miles In the 57 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ when Paul had wintred among the Corinthians in the Spring that hee might auoyd the deceits of the Iewes who went about to take away his life hee went thence and returned to Philippos which was 292 miles where he celebrated the feast of Penticost Acts 2. From thence he sailed to Troada which was 232 miles where he raised Eutichus from death to life Acts 20. From Troada he went to Assa which was thirtie and six miles Acts 20. From Assa he sailed to Mileten which was 760 miles Acts 20. From Mileten he went to Chius which was 64 miles Acts 20. From Chius he sailed to Samus which was 60 miles and continued in the Isle of Trogylius which was close by Samus as Pl. saith lib. 5. cap. 3. and Strabo cap. 13. From Trogylius hee sailed by Ephesus and came to Miletus which was 160 miles From thence hee sent Messengers to the Ministers of Ephesus commanding them to haue a speciall care to the flocke of Christ which he had purchased with his pretious bloud and added that he was so much the more importunate in that behalfe because they should neuer see him againe Wherefore they embraced Paul with great lamentations and sorrow Acts 2. From Myletus he his companions went with a direct course to the Island of Cous which was 200 miles Acts 21. From thence the next day they went to Rhodes which was 84 miles From Rhodes they went to Patara which was 100 miles From Patara they sayled to Tyrus leauing Cyprus vpon the left hand which was 360 miles where hee found certaine Disciples and
This Island in times past was very rich populous for in it there was 100 townes the chiefe of which were Gnossos Cortyna and Zydon but Gnossos was the most principall and antientest wherin King Minos kept his court in it the notable Geographer Strabo was borne This town of Gnossos in times past was called Ceratur of the riuer Cerata which passeth by it but now it and all the Island is called Candia The Venetians euery three yeares appointed a new Duke to gouerne it In this Island stood the townes of Salmona and Lassica by Pliny called Lasas and in the middle between those two townes was the hauen of Gutfurt whereof Saint Luke maketh mention in the Acts of the Apostles cap. 27. saying That Paul counsailed the Saylers that were in the ship to anchor there and stay the Winter season in that Island but the Captain of the ship gaue more credit to the Master of the ship than to Pauls words wherby in the end they were in danger of their liues The townes of Salmona and Lassica with the hauen of Gutfurt lay Southward in this Island vpon the coast of the Mediterranean sea somewhat distant from them stood the towne of Asson by Pliny called Asum where they hoised out their boate and sayled Northward and because they had a faire South-winde they thought to saile to Phoenicia a hauen in Creta but the winde comming about to the East draue them backe againe into the sea by which meanes they were in danger of their liues This Island was brought vnder the subjection of the Romans 66 yeares before the birth of Christ and so for a long time continued vntill the Saracens entred therein and tooke it from the Romans 800 yeares after the birth of Christ After that in the yeare of our Lord 979 the Emperour of Constantinople draue the Saracens out of the Island and kept it but in the end the Venetians brought it vnder their subjection and seigniorie in the yeare of our Lord 1202 and at this day it is called Candia Of Clauda CLauda is an Isle not farre from Creet lying towards the Southwest in the Mediterranean sea 288 miles from Ierusalem towards the West at this day it is called Porto Gabaso here the Saylers the Apostle Paul and the rest of the company haled ouer-bord their Cock-boat and tyed it to their ship and fell to â—awing lest they should haue been sunke into Syrtis a dangerous gulph vpon those seas Acts 27. Of Syrtis THis is a gulph of the sea lying vpon the shore of Africa in which the water is both troublesome and the shore dangerous because of Quick-sands and in this there are two places most remarkeable called by the name of Syrtis from drawing and attracting ships vnto them by which they were greatly endangered the one was called the greater the other the lesse the greater lay 1000 miles from Ierusalem towards the West but the other lay vnder the Isle of Mylete towards the South being distant from Ierusalem 1320 miles towards the West in this place it was where Paul and his companians were in such danger mentioned Acts 17. Of Mylete THis Island was so called from the great aboundance of hony that was found in it but at this day it is called Malta scituated in the Mediterranean sea 1340 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It is very pleasant and fruitfull bringing forth great plenty of Wheat Rye Flax Comin Cotton Figs Wine Roses Violets Tyme Lauender and many other sweet and delightfull herbes from whence Bees did gather great plentie of honey The Sunne is very hot in this Island insomuch that by the extreame feruor thereof the inhabitants lose their naturall complexion and looke of a tawnie colour In Summer euenings there falleth great plenty of dewes whereby the earth is refreshed and the herbes increased There is neither snow nor frost seene in it for the Northerne windes which with vs are the authors of cold and frosts with them procure raine which greatly refresheth and increaseth the fruits of the earth so that the pastures and medowes become very pleasant and full of grasse and although it be but 28 miles long and 60 miles about notwithstanding it is very populous for in the eight parishes that stand in this Isle there is numbred aboue twentie thousand men The inhabitants are very honest religious and godly and the women faire chaste and modest for they neuer come abroad but with their faces couered The children that are borne in this country feare not any snakes neither are hurt be any thing that is venomous insomuch that they will take Scorpions and eat them without danger although in all other parts of the world those kinde of creatures are most pernitious In this Isle also there are bred a kinde of Dogs that are but small yet very white and shagged and so louing that the inhabitants of all the neighbouring countries will buy them though they be at deare rates The chiefe citie thereof called Malta is so strongly fortified both by art and nature that it is almost impossible to be conquered vnlesse it be either by treason or famin The tower or Castle thereof is fortified with the knights of S. Iohns Order who haue mightily expressed their valour and resolution in defending this town from the Turks About a mile from this the ruins of a goodly faire city are to bee seene And vpon the East promontorie a little from the city of Malta there yet remain the decaies which are worthy to looke vpon of a goodly temple dedicated to Iuno It seems by what remaineth that this church hath bin a fair and goodly thing in times past There is also here and there in the earth found certaine brasse monies hauing vpon the one side a superscription written in Greeke letters and vpon the other the image of Iuno There stood vpon the South side of Malta a Temple dedicated to Hercules the ruins of which are yet extant and in it are found monuments worthy of admiration At such time as the Captaine of Massanissa King of the Numidians had conquered this Island amongst other pretious things that he found in these Temples he tooke thence a great deale of goodly Ivorie but that religious King did faithfully restore all those things backe again and dedicated them to the seuerall Temples Thus we may perceiue that the inhabitants of this Isle of Malta were wholly giuen to idolatry and superstition vntil such time as Paul by the inconstancy and vehemencie of the winde was driuen vpon it and conuerted them from that peruerse and prophane worship to the Christian Religion at such time as he suffered shipwracke and Wintered amongst them Acts 27. The inhabitants shew vpon the North part of this Isle the place where the ship was cast away wherein the Apostle Paul was in which place they haue built vp a Chappel and dedicated it to Saint Paul They shew also a Caue in which they say he liued and they verily beleeue that he