Passage over Olympus was as difficult now as then So that Aemilius fell to enquire and found a Passage over Olympus but narrow leading to Perrabia difficult of Ascent but slenderly Guarded either not found or not attempted by Martius whose Men being tryed in getting over Ossa would hardly adventure such another But Paulus was a far more able Commander and had Taught them better than to question a Generals Command and made choice of five Thousand for the Enterprize whom he committed to his two Adopted Sons Scipio Aemilianus and Quintus Fabius Maximus These two the better to conceal their Journey over the Mountains Marched out another way till Night came and the Consul made shew as if he would have set upon Perseus and gain a Passage over Enipeus to divert him from the business intended so that Scipio and Fabius having forced the small Guard got in three Days over and were not discovered till the Guard which fled were come to the Camp Then was all in a Tumult and the King most of all amazed hasteth to Pydna where he consults whether he should Fortifie some Town or put all to the hazard of a Battle which latter though the worst is resolved upon and that which the Consul wished The King chose the place near Pydna whither the Consul came but made a stand till a place for the Camp were Intrenched and the Souldiers refreshed after Marching though both sides thought it long especially the Romans feared lest the King should remove further off That Evening was the Consul told by a Tribune of an Ecclipse of the Moon that Night and the Natural cause of it who was contented it should be Published in the Camp to prevent their Fear Superstition captivates the Wise where the help of true Religion is wanting Aemilius as soon as the Moon recovered her Light Congratulated her with a Sacrifice for which Plutarch calls him a Godly Man And the next Morning he made another to Hercules about which much of the Day was spent before the Grecian partial God gave a good sign to the Entrals of the Sacrifice so that on Day neither side had any great desire to Fight Yet after ten of the Clock upon a light occasion of watring of Horses two or three of each side fell to Blows and Parties came in so fast that both the Generals were forced to put their Men in order of Battel and after an Oration set them together But Perseus used the shift of a Coward to leave his Men and withdraw himself to Pydna pretending Sacrifice which being unseasonable proved him an Hypocritical Coward He sped accordingly for returning he found it little better than lost but got the Honour to be present that he might run away with his Men leaving Twenty Thousand Foot slain in the Field while he recovered Pella from which he fled in â—he Night for fear of his own Peopâ—e and came to Amphipolis but was glad to beâ— gon by Sea with his Treasure to Samothrace The Head having forsaken the Body little Sense was left or Strength to stand all the Kingdom fell presently into the Conquerours hand â—â—ile the King taketh Sanctuary with his Treasure Wife and Children in Samothrace and after base Suit to the Consul endeavours to escape in a Cretian Ship which having taken in much of his Treasure set Sail and left him in the lurch in the end he was forced to yield himself and all into the Consuls hand and so made the Conquest compleat Being before the Consul he meanly prostrated himself so that he seemed to dishonour the Victory as obtained upon a Man of so base a Condition Thus ended the Macedonian Kingdom after a War of Four Years and the Glory of the World was Translated to Rome § 9. Gentius King of Illyria with fifteen Thousand Men at Lyssus ready to assist Perseus upon Receipt of the Mony promised was attack'd by Anicius the Roman Praetor who drove him into Scodra or Sutary where after a while he yielded himself and all his Men to the Roman Praetor who ended that War in Thirty days § 10. Rome swelling with the Pride of her Fortune called the Rhodian Embassadours whom they threaten as Parties with Macedon whose Cause they had presumed to undertake And though they Congratulated the Victory Deprecated their Folly and their Citizens had put to Death or sent Prisoners to Rome all the chief Men of the Macedonian Faction yet War had been Proclaimed against them but for Cato who said it would be judged rather a Quarrel at their Wealth than any just cause considering also what Friends they had been to Rome in former Wars Macedon was divided into four Quarters and each prohibited Commerce with other Their Laws abrogated new given and all the Nobles sent into Italy and the Tribute lessened by half which was the best part of the Liberty Rome used to give Greece must now bear her Yoke and all that can be found not only Associates with Perseus but good Patriots which were not held serviceable to Rome were sent to Rome and there clapt up of which sort a Thousand were sent out of Achaea and Polybius among them This was the Virtue of the Roman Oath and League Epirus was more barbarously dealt with and given to the Souldiers to Plunder for their Pay to save the Macedonian Treasure whole So in one day seventy Cities of the Roman Confederates were Plundered by the Companies put into them in Peace only to Quarter and One Hundred and Fifty Thousand made Slaves which act of Aemilius stained his other Virtues § 11. Antiochus the Great dyed in the Thirty sixth Year of his Reign Seleuchus his Eldest Son succeeded Twelve Years whom Daniel described Three Hundred Years before Onias being then High Priest Mac. 3. The First Book of Maccabees ends An. 167 of the Syrian Kings the Second Book ends the 151 Year Antiochus Epiphanes succeedes his Brother in Syria An. 137 whose death he procured Ptolomeus Epiphanes after twenty four Years left Egypt to his Son Ptolomeus Philometor so called by the Rule of contraries for Murdering his Mother he was hated by his Subjects and rebelled against by his Brother Ptolomy Phiscon who got possession of Alexandria upon which contention Antiochus Epiphanes his Uncle thought to possess that Kingdom under pretence of protecting the Young Prince Antiochus's proceedings herein and at Ierusalem are Recorded 1. Mac. 1. About the beginning of the Macedonian War when besides the Spoil of Egypt he took all Coelosyria and sold the High Priests place to Iason thrust out Onias and after sold it to Manelaus who procured Onias being fled into the Sanctuary at Daphus by Antioch to be Murdered 2 Mac. 4. Onias his taking protection of Apollo and Diana seemed allowed by the Author which argues the Book to be Apocryphal His Second Expedition into Egypt 2 Mac. 1. was foreshewn by prodigious Signs in the Air for forty days together and was occasioned by the unexpected agreement of the Brethren which
Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue of which Five were the Sons of Michoâ—'s Sister as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear as in the like ver 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competitors so was the Nation strengthened by the valour of many brave Commanders of which Six Colonels under the General had Thirty Captains of Thousands among whom the difference of place and Honour grew by meer consideration of Virtue as we see Abishai Brother of Ioab and the King's Kinsman short in Honour of the first Three David thus Established in ostentation of his Power provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence for his numbring of them and slew Seventy Thousand § 8. David's last Acts. § Abishag in his impotence keepeth him Warm c. Adonijah aspireth which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor and to set him in his Throne whereupon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered After this David having two especial Cares remaining of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts one concerning Solomon's peaceable holding his Crown the other about building the Temple he called a Parliament of all the Princes c. In this Assembly he signifieth his purpose and the approbation of God chargeth all and Solomon by Name v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work according to the Form which God himself had appointed laying down his own preparation whereto the Princes and others added their free-will offering This being done David made a solemn Feast at which time Solomon was again anointed King and received Fealty of the Princes People and the King's Sons After all this David as upon his Death-Bed again with powerful words giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God and then adviseth him concerning Ioab who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert yet for his intolerable Insolence came to such an end by Justice when time served as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption David after Forty Years Reign died being Seventy Years old having been a Man of small Stature exceeding Strength and for internal Gifts and Graces passing all others and putting his Human Frailty apart commended by God himself to be according to his own Heart Being a Prophet as well as a King he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest and writ many Psalms but whether all the Book is disputed though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it Christ and his Apostles cite him § 9. David and Solomon's Treasures § David's Treasure exceeded as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple 1 Chron. 22.14 which amounteth to 3333â— Cart loads of Silver or 6000 l. sterling to every Cart-load and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold a matter incredible but for Testimony of Scripture where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony Eusebius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis or Achanis to the Isle Vpher or Opher by Ortelius then his Husbandry which was great his Presents Tributes Taxations Capitations his Spoils the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies even from Ioshua's days Of Solomon's Treasure see 1 Kings 9.20 and 10.14.29 See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepulcher out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents and Herod more § 10. David's Contemporaries § Achis a Philistin King of Gath and another in Solomon's days Latinus Sylvius King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens after whom they changed the Government into a Principality for Life without Regal Title This change was made in honour of Codrus voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores to disappoint the Oracle Eupalus the Third King of Assyria sate 38 Years Ixion the second King of the Heraclids in Corinth Son of Eurythenes Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon he restored the Laconians and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves for refusing Tribute as at length all the Messenians were and thereof called Helons that is Slaves Slave came from Sclavi which were Samaritans now Russians which Conquering Illyria would be called Slaves which with them signifieth glorious but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness but not ripened their Wits the Italians which made many of them Bond-men used their Name in Reproach calling all Bond-men Slaves Achetratus succeeded Agis in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus assisted by the Iones built Ephesus in Caria and was slain of the Carians He also held Erithrae famous for Sybyls which writ Verses of Iesus Christ Son of God the Saviour reported by Augustine who saw them Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign when David Besieged Rabba Magnesia on Meander in Asia founded now and Capua Campania CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. § 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991 st Year of the World and was first Congratulated by Hiram King of Tyre according to the Ancient Custom of Princes Though his Reign were peaceable yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah without warrant either from his Father or the Law of God The occasion was his desire of Abyshag but being his Elder Brother who also had sought the Kingdom it was enough as a word is to the Wise and he which seeth the Claw knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion as a demonstration of a new Treason such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Widow or Concubines as Absolom's taking his Father's Concubines was a taking possession of a Royalty so it was applied to David by Nathan c. 2 Sam. 12.8 Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah was according to God's Law and of Nations but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute and not without Example in Iacob for private Inheritance As for what we read of Peoples Elections it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose and not to frustrate the Elder 's Right Solomon also executed Ioab deposed Abiathar and put Shemei to death He Married the Daughter of Vaphres as Eusebius calls him King of Egypt and according to his request to God obtained extraordinary Wisdom especially for Government as appeared in the Example purposely set down of his judging the two Harlots yet did he excell in all other Knowledge § 2. Solomon's Building and Glory § Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him Of the Glorious Temple and parts of it many Learned Men have Written as Salmeron Montanus Bibera Barradas Azorius Villalpandus Pineda c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities Lib. 8. § 2. Besides the matchless Temple he made many other Magnificent Buildings of which Gerar on the Border of Ephraim taught the Egyptians to
to the right Wing iâ— an Expedition into Syria So that 2000 deâ—erted their Country and went to dwell in Aethiopia He won Asotus after 29 Years Siege by reason the Babylonians deferr'd it long The Report of breeding up Two Infants for trial of the Original Language is ascribed to him and that the first word they spake was Beccus which in the Phrygian Language is Bread Hereof Goreus Becanus is proud because in his low Dutch Becker is a Baker c. § 3. Manasses's time of Bondage and Enlargement is diversly disputed and were it certain it is like we should find the Egyptian Troubles no small occasion of both Torniel repeats 3 Opinions 1. of Bellarmine who thinks him taken in his 15 th Year of his Reign 2. Great Hebrew Chronologers hold it the 27 th 3. Kimchi after 40 years of Idolatry Torniellus rejects the two last and defends the first but in Affection rather than Judgment It is more probable Manasses lived longer in his Sin than 15 years if not 40. by two places of Scripture 2 Kings 21.17 and 2 Kings 24.3 4. utterly remits his Repentance Manasses's 15 th Year was Merodach's 31. his 27 th was the other's 43. and his 40 th the 5 of Nabolassar Son of Merodach now which of these or what other were the Year of his Captivity I forbear to shew my Opinion c. This was the first Mastery the Babylonians had over Iudah greater than what Salmanassar had of Achaz by which the Babylonians utterly alienated Manasses and his Son from Egypt and made them joyn against it as was seen in Iosias against Necho § 4. Contemporary Actions were the first and second Messenian Wars one in the Reign of Hezechias the other of Manasses The occasion was slight about private wrongs between a Messanean and a Spartan but sufficient to the ambitious Spartans tho' they were the Aggressors who could be drawn to no fair Composition offered by the other but the Sword must end it such was their restless desire to the fair Country of Messena bordering upon them They therefore swore secretly to follow the War 'till the Messenians were Conquer'd they then surpris'd Amphia a Frontier and put all to the Sword The Messenians Army an obstinate Force fought without Victory ended by dark night After this Friends came in on both sides and three other Battles were fought but in the last the Lacedemonians were put to flight Thus the War continued so long by the obstinacy of the Spartans that their Wives sent them word their Cities would become dispeopled for want of Issue whereupon they sent back their ablest young Men promiscuously to accompany their young Women whose Issue became the greatest part of the Nation and were called Parthians The Messenians at length by Oracle were order'd to Sacrifice a Virgin of the Stock of Egyptus of the Arcadian Royal Blood Aristodemus the King ripped up his own Daughters Belly to prove her a Virgin contrary to her Lover's report which to save her said she was with Child yet the Messenians prevailed not So that the miserable Father slew himself at the Grave with whom the Messenians lost their Courage and yielded after twenty years rigorous Contests After thirty years the young Men of the Messenians of whom young Aristodemus descended from Aegyptus was Chief finding their strength and scorning such Masters finding also the Argives and Arcadians firm resolv'd to attempt the Lacedemonians under the Conduct of Aristodemus in the Fourth Year of the Twenty Third Olympiad The Lacedemonians hast to quench the fire before it be too hot but found their Servants their Equals and Aristodemus refusing the Title of King for his Valour became their General and in the next Battle assisted with Argives Arcadians and Sicyonians put the Spartans Corinthians and others to flight and after surprized a Town in Laconia and vanquished Anaxander King of Sparta But by a treacherons defection of Aristocratus hired by the Enemy the Messenians are forced and slain Andamia the Chief Town and others far from Sea forsaken and the People forc'd to Era a strong Mountain which held the Enemy work for Eleven Years wherein Aristocratus with three hundred Souldiers abroad perform'd great things Supriz'd and Sack'd Amicta which was thrice taken and still he escaped Of which escapes that was admirable that being cast with Fifty more into a deep Natural Cave he died not of the Fall as the rest yet without hope 'till by a little light he spied a Fox eating on a dead Carcass and got it by the Tail and follow'd it 'till he could no further and then let it go seeing light in the hole and so wrought himself out with his Nails The Spartans believed not them which reported he was escaped 'till the slaughters he made of the Corinthians at Era assured it Thus Eleven Years were spent about Era which at last was enter'd in a stormy Night through neglect of the Watch which was discovered to the Spartans by a Slave fled from his Master into the City So the Messenians were dispers'd and Built Messina in Sicily and three hundred years after returned by Epaminondas's means § 5. Ardis King of Lydia succeeded Gyges his Father Forty nine years in the second of the twenty fifth Olympiad He incroached upon the Ionians in Asia took Colephon and Priene but the Cymmerians expell'd by the Scythians Invaded Asia won Sardis and held it 'till Alyatts this Man's Grandchild Phraortes King of the Medes the third Year of the twenty ninth Olympiad the last of Manasses succeeded his Father Deioces who had Reigned fifty three years who Commanded more absolutely than his Predecessor and by a more State-like Severity and Ceremonies upheld Majesty almost fallen He desired not to enlarge his Dominions but to Govern well his own and differed so much from his Predecessors that he seemed to be the first King of the Medes as Herodotus reports He was Founder of Ecbitane now Tauris and chosen by the Patrons of the Books of Iudith to be Arphaxad and so must Ben Merodach be Nebuchadnezar But the brief decision of this Controversie is the Book of Iudith which is not Canonical For as Chronologers can find no time to place that Story so Cosmographers are as much troubled to find Iapheth's Borders there set down and Phud and Lud so that for time and place they are Extra Anni Solisque Vias § 6. Other Contemporaries as Numa Pompilius in Rome who succeeded Romulus after one Year In the second year of Manasses he brought the rude multitude of Thieves and Out-Laws which followed Romulus to some good Civility by devising Ceremonies of Superstition as things of great importance learned of his Nymph Egeria Which Superstitions himself Condemned in his Books found almost Six Hundred Years after in his Grave which were publickly burnt as speaking against the Religion then in use After forty three year Tullus Hostilius succeeded in Manasses forty sixth and Reigned thirty two years for for the most part
Peace between the Two Lions of Gold and Gules doth by many Degrees exceed both by sparing our Blood and assuring the Land As it pleased God to punish the Usurpation and unnatural Cruelties of our own Kings so do we find he dealt with the Sons of Lewis Debonair Son of Charlemain For after Debonair had put out his Nephew Bernard's Eyes the Son of Pipin the Eldest of Charlemain King of Italy and Heir of the Empire and after that caused him to die in Prison there followed such Murder and Bloodshed Poisonings and Civil Wars till the whole Race of that famous Emperor was extinguished Debonair further to secure himself put his Bastard Brothers into a Monastery But God rais'd up his own Sons to vex invade imprison and depose him alledging the former Violences to his Nephew and Brothers Yet he did that which few Kings do he publickly acknowledg'd and recanted his Cruelty against Bernard in the Assembly of the States But Blood unjustly spilt is not easily expiated by Repentance And such Medicines to the Dead have but dead Rewards He having also given Aquitain to Pipin his Second Son sought after that to cast him out as indeed he did his Son after him of the same Name at the Persuasion of Judith to raise her Son Charles Lothair his eldest Son he left King of Italy and Emperor against whom his Nephew Pipin of Aquitain Lewis of Bavier and Charles the Bald made War between whom was fought the most Bloody Battel that ever was known in France in which the Loss of the Nobility and Men of War encouraged the Sarazens to invade Italy the to fall upon Almain and the Danes upon Normandy After being invaded by Lewis and by his own Conscience for rebelling against his Father and other Cruelties he quits the Empire and dyes in a Monastery Charles the Bald seizeth on Pipin his Nephew and kills him in a Cloyster oppresses the Nephews the Sons of Lothair and usurps the Empire His Son Caroloman rebells and hath his Eyes burnt out by his Father Lewis of Bavier and his Son Caroloman are overthrown by Charles and Lewis dies of Grief as Charles doth of Poison by Zedekias his Phisician a Jew Whose Son also Lewis le Begne dy'd of the same Potion and Charles the Simple succeeded whose Natural Brothers Lewis and Charlemain rebell'd The Younger is slain by a wild Boar the Elder brake his Neck as did also the Son of Bavier Charles the Gross became Lord of what Debonair's Sons had held in Germany who invading Charles the Simple is forsaken of Nobles Wife and Wit dying a distracted Beggar Charles the Simple held in Wardship by Eudes Mayor of the Palace and after by Robert his Brother lastly is surprised by the E. of Vermandois and dyed in Prison Lewis his Son succeeded and brake his Neck one of his Sons dyes of Poyson the other in Prison Francis I. was one of the worthiest Kings that ever France had except his exposing the Protestants of Mirandel and Cabriers to the Fire and Sword of which though he repented and charged his Son to do Iustice on the Murderers yet was not that unseasonable Care accepted of by God who cut off his Four Sons without Issue to succeed And notwithstanding all their Subtilty and Breach of Faith with all their Massacres upon those of the Religion the Crown was set on his Head whom they all endeavoured to ruin and the Protestants are now in number and strength more than ever Spain has found God the same as Don Pedro of Castile may witness who as he became the most merciless of all Heathen or Christian Tyrants as the History of Spain records so he perish'd by the Hands of his Younger Brother who dispossessed all his Children of their Inheritance John D. of Burgoign may parallel this King if any can who after a Trayterous Murder of the D. of Orleance caused the Chancellor Constable divers Bishops Officers of Justice of the Treasury Requests Chamber of Accompts with Sixteen Hundred others suddenly to be slain which kind of Death eased the World of himself Ferdinand holding Arragon by Vsurpation of his Ancestors added Castile and Leon which he held by force of Arms from the Daughter of the last Henry and expell'd his Neece from the Kingdom of Navarr He betrayed Ferdinand and Frederick King of Naples his Kinsman to the French with the Army sent to their succour The Politick King who sold Heaven and his own Honour to make his Son the greatest Monarch saw his Death with his Wives and her untimely Birth buried together the like End he saw of his own Eldest Daughter his Second dyed Mad his Third was cast off by our King Henry VIII and the Mother of a Daughter whose unhappy Zeal shed a Deluge of Innocent Blood and had all his Kingdoms possest by strange Masters Charles V. Son to Arch. D. Philip who had Married Ferdinand's Mad Daughter after the Death of many Multitudes of Christian Souldiers and renowned Captains in his vain Enterprizes upon France Germany and other States while the Turk took the City of Rhodes was in conclusion chased out of France and in some sort out of Germany being persued by D. Maurice over the Alps which he passed by Torch Light and crept into a Cloister and became his Son's Prisoner who paid him very slowly Philip II. his Son not content to hold Holland and Zealand wrested by his Ancestors from Jaqueline their lawful Prince and to possess many other parts of the Netherland Provinces in Peace by persuasion of that mischievous Cardinal of Granvil and other Tyrants forgetting the remarkable Services done to his Father and the Forty Millions of Florens presented him at his Entrance and his solemn Oaths twice taken to maintain their Privileges which they had enjoyed under Thirty five Earls conditional Princes began to Tyrannize over them by the Spanish Inquisition and other intolerable Impositions and lastly by Force of Arms sought to make himself not Monarch only like the Kings of England France c. but Turk-like to overturn all their National Fundamental Laws Privileges and Customs To effect this he easily obtained a Dispensation of his Oaths from the Pope and then divided the Nobility under the Government of his base Sister Margaret of Austria and Cardinal Granvil Then he employ'd that Merciless Spaniard Ferdinand Alvarez D. of Alva who in six Years cut off Eighteen Thousand six Hundred Gentlemen and others by the Hand of the Hang-man Failing of his purpose by Force he tryeth Policy and sent Don John of Austria his Bastard Brother who upon the Papal advantage made no scruple to swear and having received Six Hundred Thousand Pounds of the Provinces to ease them of the Garrisons he suddenly surprized the Citadel of Antwerp Namure c. yet after so many Thousands slain Thirty six Millions of Treasure spent in six Years he left the Countrey and the King spent above One Hundred Millions with the Death of Four Hundred Thousand Christians
Heaven as to cast any part thereof on the memory of their Felicities which remain in the World Whose Estates be they greater than ever the World gave we shall from the difference then known to us even detest the Consideration thereof And whatsoever shall remain of all that 's past the same will consist in the Charity which we exercised when living and in the Piety Iustice and firm Faith for which it pleased the infinite Mercy of God to accept of us and receive us Shall we then value Honour and Riches at nothing and neglect them as unnecessary and vain certainly no. For that infinite Wisdom of God which hath distinguished his Angels the Light and Beauty of Heavenly Bodies differenced Beasts and Birds Created the Eagle and the Fly the Cedar and the Shrub given the fairest tinture to the Ruby and quickest Light to the Diamond hath also Ordained Kings Dukes Magistrates and Judges amongst his People And as Honour is left to Posterity as an Enfign of the Vettue and Vnderstanding of their Ancestors so being Titles with proportionable Estates fall under the miserable Succours of other Mens Pity I account it Foolishness to condemn such Care Provided that Worldly Goods be well gotten and that we raise not our Building out of other Mens Ruins which God accurseth by Jeremiah and Isaiah and True Wisdom forbids Prov. 1.10 to 18 19. And if we could afford our selves so much Leisure as to consider That he who has most in the World hath in respect of the World nothing and he who has the longest time to live in it hath no Proportion at all therein comparing it with the Time past when we were not or with the Time to come in which we shall abide for ever I say if our Portion in the World and our Time in the World be thus considered they differ little from nothing It is not out of any Excellency of Vnderstanding that we so much prize the one which hath in Effect no being and so much neglect the other which hath no ending Coveting the Mortal Things of the World as if our Souls were there Immortal and neglect the things Immortal as if our selves after the World were but Mortal Let every Man value his own Wisdom as he pleases the Rich Man think all Fools that cannot equal his Abundance The Revengeful esteen them negligent which have not trampled upoâ— their Opposites The Politician think them Block heads that cannot merchandize their Faith Yet when we come within Sight of the Port oâ— Death to which all Winds drive us and when by letting fall the fatal Anchor which can never be weighed again the Navigation of this Life takes End Then it is I say that our own Cogitations those sad and severe ones formerly thrown off by Health and Felicity return again and pay us to the uttermost for all the pleasing Passages of our Lives past Then it is we cry for God's Mercy when we can no longer exercise Cruelty then this terrible Sentence God will not be mocked strikâ—th through our Souls For if the righteous shall scarcely be saved and that God spared not the Angels where shall those appear who having served their Appetites all their Lives presum'd that the severe Commands of the dreadful God were given in Sport and that the last faint Breath is forced to sound Lord have Mercy without any kinâ— of Satisfaction to Men or Amendment Oh how many saith a Reverend Father descend to Eternal Torments and Sorrows with this Hope It is indeed a Comfort to our Friends to have it said we died well for all desire to die the Death of the Righteous as Balaam did But what shall we call indeed a Mocking of God if that those Men mock him not that think it enough for God to ask him Mercy at Leisure with the last Remains of a Malicious Breath This well-dying Prayer amounts to as much as this We beseech thee O God that all the Falshoods Forswearing and Treacheries of our Lives past may be well pleasing to thee that thou wilt for our Sakes that have had no Leisure to do any thing for thine change thy Nature though impossible and forget to be a just God that thou wilt love Injuries and Oppressions call Ambition Wisdom and Charity Foolishness For I shall prejudice my Son which I am resolved not to do if I make Restitution and confess my self to have been unjust which I am too proud to do if I deliver the Oppressed These wise Worldlings have either found or made them a Leaden God like that which Lewis the Eleventh wore in his Cap and used to kiss it and ask it Pardon when he had caused any to be murdered promising it should be the last as when by the Practice of a Cardinal and falsified Sacrament he caused the Earl of Armagnack to be stabbed at Prayers Of this Composition are all devout Lovers of the World that they fear all that is worthless and frivolous they fear the Plots and Practices yea the very Whisperings of their Opposites they fear the Opinions of Men which beat but upon Shadows They flatter and forsake the prosperous or unprosperous Friends or Kings Yea they dive under Water like Ducks at every Peble Stone thrown at them by a powerful Hand On the contrary they shew an obstinate and Gigantick Valour against the terrible Iudgments of the All-powerful God yea they shew themselves Gods against God and Slaves towards Men whose Bodies and Consciences are alike rotten Now for the rest if we examine the Difference between the Rich and Mighty whom we call Fortunate and the Poor and Oppressed whom we account Wretched we shall find the Vnhappiness of the one and the Misery of the other so tyed by God to the very Instant and so subject to enterchange witness the sudden Downfall of the greatest and the speedy Rise of the meanest that the one hath nothing certain whereof to boast nor the other to lament For no Man is so assured of Honour Riches Health or Life but may be deprived of either or all the very next hour for what an Evening will bring with it is uncertain and none can tell what shall be to morrow saith St. James To Day he is set up to Morrow he shall not be found for he is turned into Dust and his Purpose perisheth And though the Air of Adversity be very obscure yet therein we better discern God than in the shining Light of Worldly Glory through whose Clearness no Vanity whatsoever can escape our Sight And though Adversity seem ridiculous to the Happy and Fortunate who delight themselves at others Misfortunes though it seem grievous to those which were in it Yet this is true that of all that 's past to the very Instant what remains is equal to either For though we have lived many Years and in them have rejoyced according to Solomon or have we sorrowed as long yet looking back we find both Ioy and Sorrow sailed out of Sight and Death
the Flood of Ogyges 100 after Iacob's Now Deucalion was born Anno 2356 and his Flood when he was 89 Years old which is Anno 2438 after Noah's 782 to which agrees Xenophon in Annius This Flood over-ran most of Italy when Egypt also was afflicted with Water and the Italians which escaped it were called Vmbri § 4. Noah's Flood as Berosus reports was heard of amongst the Caldeans N. Damascen maketh particular mention of it Eusebius also Records out of an Ancient History of Abidenus that one Sissitbus fore-warned by Saturn of a Flood fled to the Armenian Hills in a Ship who after the Fall of the Waters sent Birds three times to discover c. Cyril cites Polyhistor mentioning a general Flood Plato also produceth an Egyptian Priest reporting to Solon out of their Holy Books of an universal Flood long before Ogyges in Attica and calls Noah Old Ogyges He also speaks of a Flood of Nilus before that in Attica which afflicted the lower Egypt under King Prometheus 'till by Hercules's direction Nilus was reduced within her Banks whereof grew the Tale of an Eagle which feeding on Prometheus's Liver was slain by Hercules Xenophon cited by Annius speaks of the Universal Flood under the first Ogyges of Nine Months continuance a second of Nilus under Prometheus of one Month a third under Ogyges Atticus of two Months a fourth under Deucalion of three Months a fifth under Proteus of Egypt in Helene's Rape Diod. Siculus remembers another in lesser Asia before Deucalion's There was one in the Venetian Territories Anno 590. In Friesland a Flood drouned 100000 Anno 1238. In Dort in Holland 10000 perished Anno 1446. Others are mentioned by Strozius § 5. Noah's Flood was extraordinary not upon natural Causes as the other but by God's special Power strengthening the influence of Stars to fill all the Cisterns of Waters in Fountains and Clouds And though H. of Machline Scholar of Albertus observed a conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter in the last and of a watery Sign and House of Luna over against the Ship by which the Flood might have been foreseen and was also by Noah as P. de Aliaao judgeth yet however God used second Causes he added supernatural force to the Clouds and Fountains to empty their whole Treasuries of Waters § 6. There needed not new Created Waters in this Flood not to dispute whether God hath restrained himself from Creating For when he brake up the Fountains of the Deep and opened the Windows or Sluces of Heaven he shewed no new Creation but used his old Store contained in the vast Concavities of the Earth and in the Clouds wherewith he compassed the Earth after an extraordinary manner besides his Condensation of the Air to convert it into Rain which is so ordinary and thus might the Waters grow to exceed the Mountains 15 Cubits As for the Constellation they speak of L. Vives reports from a great Astrologer that the like was observed Anno 1524 after which it was exceeding Fair. To conclude I find no other Mystery in the word Cataract signifying the Windows or Flood-gates of Heaven but the violent casting down Waters not diffusively after the natural manner but as when it is emptied out of a Vessel in a whole body as it is sometimes in India which are called Spouts of Water Thus God loosed the retentive Power in the upper Air and the Clouds in which at other times he shutteth up the Waters to carry them to a place appointed § 7. Noah's Memory among the Heathen who for divers respects gave him divers Names as Ogyges the first because his Flood was before the Grecian Ogyges Saturn because he was Father of Nations Prometheus for his fore-sight Ianus Bifrons for his seeing what went before and came after the Flood Chaos and Seed of the World Coelum Sun Virtumnus Bacchus Liber Pater before him of Greece but of old the word was Boachus of Noachus He was also called Nisius of Mount Nisa in India joining to Paropanisus and other Easterly Mountains where the Ark rested and where the Grecian Bacchus never came His Posterity also named Cities Mountains and Rivers by his Name as a City by the Red Sea the River Noachus in Thracia § 8. Noah's Ark touching the Name Epiphanius in Ancyrius calls it Aron which properly signifyeth the Ark in the Sanctuary as Thebell a Vessel which swimmeth called Larnenx in Greek Certain places where it was framed cannot be defined yet Becanus conceives it was neer Caucasus where grow the noblest Cedars not far from the Nisaans with whom Alexander made War By all Probability the place was not far from where it landed being so large heavy laden wanting Sails of Form not apt to move and in a Calm as it is in all Rains down-right It was thought to have a flat Bottom and a crested Roof and the Wood Gopher of which it was made by all probability was Cedar being light easy to cut sweet and lasting abounding in the Eastern Mountains the Pitch was like to a Bitume which melteth only by Fire as is that by the dead Sea and Babylon § 9. Of the Ark's Capacity whose Measures as God prescribed so the proportion saith Augustin answered the shape of a Man's Body whose Length contained the Bredth six times and the Depth ten being a Figure of God's City or Church in this World c. In the Measure the Cubit is questioned whether it were the common which is from the Elbow to the top of the Middle Finger a Foot and a half or the plain Cubit which is an handful more or the Kings and Persians which is three Inches more than the common or the sacred which is double the common wanting a quarter or the Geometrical which is six common Cubits and was embraced by Origen as also by Augustin who yet changed his Mind because Fishes were not Cursed Though Man's mischievous Ignorance seeketh many Impossibilities in this work yet no Monstrous thing is found in it for the number of Kinds to be stored in it was not so great excluding such as sprung from unnatural Copulations and diversity of Soils but that the common Cubit of those times may serve for add half a Foot to the common Cubit of our times which is a Foot and half and the length riseth to be six Hundred Foot the Bredth one Hundred the Depth Sixty As for the Geometrical Cubit it was not in use then as we see in the Measure of Giants and height of the Altar which might have no Steps Exod. 20.26 Buteo hate prov'd that the Number of Creatures might well be placed in the Ark which contained 450000 Cubical Cubits which is sufficient for a Hundred kind of Beasts and their Meat in the lower and second Story and 280 Fouls with Noah and his in the third § 10. Of the Arks resting on part of Mount Taurus or Caucasus between East-India and Scythia passing by many needless Disputes I will endeavour to satisfie my self and
as is generally held and was Iaphet's Seventh Son § 8. Ascanez Son of Gomer Eusebius makes Father of the Gothians Pliny finds Ascania and the River of Ascanius and the Lake of Ascanez between Prusia and Nice in Phrygia Iunius takes them for Inhabitants of Pontus and Bythinia in which Ptolomy hath such a Lake Strabo finds a City River and Lake in Mesia near Gio as Pliny But Ier. 51.27 determins it North of Asia near Ararat and Minni Mountains of Armenia Riphat Gomer's Son Father of Riphcior Paphlagone Famous in the North of Sarmatia after called Henites of whom Polonia Russia and Lithuania were Peopled Melancton thinks they spread from the Baltick to the Adriatick Sea and findeth a Venetian Gulf in Russia called Heneti the same with Veneti § 9. Elisa eldest Son of Iavan was Father of the Nicolians from whence the Grecians were called Helens saith Montanus and Ezek. 27.7 mentions the Isles of Elesa that is of Grece Tharsis his Second Son Planted Cilicia where is the City Tharsis This word is often put for the Sea because the greatest Ships were there and they were called Seamen and the first Iones Montanus and Cal. Paraphrase mistake it for Carthage Cittim his Third Son Father of the Macedonians not Italians Esa. 23. with 1 Mac. 1. Yet it may be he first Planted Cyprus where Iosephus found the City which remained in Ierom's days saith Pintus but this Isle proving too narrow they sent out and Peopled Macedon whose Plantation Melancton ascribes to him Dodanim his Fourth Son settled at Rhodes Dodanim and Rhodanim being easily confounded He also sent Colonies to Epirus where was the City Dodana § 10. Chush Eldest Son of Cham with his Associates Peopled Babylonia Chaldea and all the Arabias Ethiopia was not his as Iosephus the Septuagint and others misled by them judged First From Numb â—2 2 Moses's Wife was a Chushite not an Ethiopian as Iosephus Reports who tells us that Moses leading an Egyptian Army against the Ethiopians the Kings Daughter fell in Love with and betrayed the City Sheba to him after called Meros On the contrary Strabo and all Geographers place Sheba in Arabia whence the Queen came to visit Solomon Damianus and Goes tell us that the Prester Iohns of the Aybssinians came of that Queen by Solomon But without Scripture or Probability seeing her supposed Bastard assisted not his Brother Rehoboam against Shishack King of Egypt But Moses cleareth his Wives Kindred against Iosephus making her a Midian not far from Horeb. So Iethro's coming to Moses c. Chrisamensis also proveth Midia cannot be Ethiopia Thirdly So Ezek. 29.10 Nebuchadonosor's Conquest of Egypt is set out by the Bounds Seveneth which is next Ethiopia and the Chushits ill Translated Black Moors for Arabians the other next Neighbours whereas the Moors were beyond Seveneth or Syene as Scotland is beyond Barwick Fourthly So Ezek. 30.9 Chush cannot be Ethiopia but Arabia Whereto Nebuchadonosor having Conquered Egypt even the Tower Syene in Thebaida bordering on Ethiopia sent Ships over the Red-Sea which to the Ethiopians joyning to Syene he needed not to have done neither would the fall of Nilus suffer nor was his invading that part of Arabia so fit by Land all the length of Egypt being between and all the tedious Desarts of Paran Lastly This placing a Family of Chush from all the rest to go and come through Misraim would make a confusion in the Plantation Besides there was never any thing between Iews and Ethiopians as between them and Chushits Fourthly So Esa. 18.1 turning Chush to Ethiopia for Arabia puts one Kingdom for another confounding the Story For what Kingdom beyond the River of Ethiopia can be found which Assur was to waste as an Enemy to the Iews who were never injured by the Ethiopians much less by any beyond them But I acknowledge that here Egypt which threatned Israel is threatned and Arabia with it Esa. 19.20 The like Errour is committed in 1 Kings 19.9 Making Tirhaka an Ethiopian for a Chushite or Arabian as in Zerah 2 Chron. 14.9 For how should he bring such an Army through such a Kingdom as Egypt § 11. Mizarim Cham's Second Son took into Egypt along Nilus unto Syene bordering on Ethiopia to the South from the Mediterranean Sea which was his North Border Phut the Third Son travell'd to the West beyond him along the Sea Inhabiting Mauritania Egypt was known to Moses and the Prophets by the Name of Mizraim but was called Egypt by a King of that Name otherwise called Rameses the Son of Belus who chased his Brother Danaeus into Greece where he setled in Morea after the Flood 877. Many are the Fancies of the Egyptian Antiquity of Three Hundred and Thirty Kings before Amasis Contemporary with Cyrus and of their Story of 13000 Years c. And Mercator pleads their Antiquity from their Dynasties of which the Sixteenth began with the Flood so that the first must reach the Creation But Eusebius begins the Sixteenth with Abraham 292 Years after the Flood Annius begins the first Dynasty 131 Years after the Flood forgetting that he had said that Nimrod came but that Year to Shinar so that the Dynasty could not begin till after the Confusion But where Pererius holds it impossible that Egypt could be Peopled 200 Years after Adam and supposing it not replenished at all before the Flood I find no force in the assertion For we have no reason to give less Increase to the Sons of Adam than Noah the Age of the one being double and after a while treble to the other which Argueth strength to beget many a long time This appeared in Cham who replenished Five Cities with his own Issue Nimrod's Troops at Shinar were great no doubt yet it is probable all came not thither as may be gathered by the Multitudes which Encountered Semiramis in the East Indian Wars As for Egypt being an Established Kingdom in the Days of Abraham it argues 't was Inhabited long before And contrary to Pererius we may rather wonder how the World could contain the Issue of those long living heathful Fathers than doubt the Peopling of it For if our short Lives wherein scarce one in Ten Liveth to 50 Years the World wants no People And if Wars and Pestilence did not cut them off by Thousands the World could not contain them What would it do if none dyed before 50 or 100 Years Then Conceive the Millions when Men Lived 8 or 900 Years c. Pererius is likewise deceived in the occasion of their dispersing at Babel For had not that occasion happened their Increase would in short time have forc'd them to seek new Habitations c. That therefore the World was all over Peopled with offenders it appeareth by the Universality of the Flood As for Egypt's Antiquity it is probable that Mizaraim's Sons found some Monuments in Pillars Altars or other Stones or Metals touching former Government there which the Egyptians added to the Lives of the Kings
Reineccius some Ages after Ninus This Sesostris some think is Besak but it is not so as divers differences in setting out their Wars do manifest Whereas after Orus Menas is Reported by Herodotus and Diodorus Reineccius noteth that Osiris was so called by way of Dignity Krentzhemius probably gathers that Menas was Mercurius Ter-maximus Conquerour Philosopher and Benefactor to Mankind giving good Laws and teaching profitable Arts to his Conquered People After 33 Years he fell Blind as did Pherones his Son whom 14 Years after Orus the Second or Busiris succeeded 75 Years before Israel's Departure out of Egypt § 7. Busiris or Orus the Second whom Reineccius judgeth to have been a new Family though according to all Mens computation he began 5 Years after Moses's Birth yet might he be first Author of the Israelites Misery Ruling as Vice-Roy under the blind King whom he might easily draw to that Oppression of Strangers so to ease the Subjects and to win their Favour to promote his Off-spring to the Crown which he attained and held 30 Years according to Eusebius After him Thermutis Pharaob's Daughter which took Moses out of the Water succeeded Eusebius calls her Acencris but placeth Amenophis next before Busiris Herodotus and Diodorus call Sesostris Son Pheron so it may be she was his Daughter who Marrying Busiris Reigned after him 12 Years § 8. Rathoris or Athoris succeeded his Sister 9 Years and after him Chencris who perished in the Red Sea and Achencris succeeded 8 Years and Cherres 15 in whose 15 Years Epaphus Son of Teligonus Rathoris Brother Reigneth in the lower Egypt and Built Memphis Epaphus had Lybia which had Agenor Belus and Busiris Belus had Ameus or Danaeus who Reigned 4 Years after Cherres and then by Egyptus or Ramesses his Brother expelled who Reigning 68 Years he had Fifty Sons Danaeus had Fifty Daughters He began the Kingdom of Argos in Greece CHAP. III. Of Israels Delivery out of Egypt § 1. OF Israel's Captivty and Moses Birth § L. Vives on Augustin cites divers Opinions of Moses Birth but to me it is most Probable that he was Born while Saphrus called Spherus and Ipberus Govern'd Assyria Orthopolis Cicyonia and Criasus the Argives and Sesostris 2 d. the Egyptians For according to Augustin he led Israel out of Egypt about the end of Cecrops King of the Athenians which falls about the 9 th Year of Ascatades of Assyria who Ruled 41. Sparetus his Predecessor 40. Mamelus before him 30. And Saphrus 20 before So that from the 19 th of Saphrus to the 9 th of Ascatades which was the 46 th of Cecrops are 80 Years which was Moses Age when he brought Israel out of Egypt There being then 64 Years between Iosephs ' Death and Moses's Birth the Israelites Oppression seemeth to begin some 8 or 9 Years before Ioseph Dyed Anno Mundi 2370. Moses 80 th Year of Age was 2514. § 2. Of the Cities of Egypt mentioned in Scripture § Zoan Num. 13.23 called Taphnus Ier. 2.43 c. Ezek. 30. The Septuagint calls it Tanis c. This was near Gosen and chief City of the lower Egypt On or Heliopolis in the South of the lower Egypt Gen. 41.45 after Iunius Here Onias Built a Temple for the Jews under Ptolomy Philopater which stood till Vespasian's time Noph the City Esa. 19.13 Hos. 9.6 is called Mopb or Memphis by the Septuagint Pelusium which the Septuagint calls Sois. Montanus Lebna Iunius Sin Belbeis after now the Septuagint calls Diospolis and was afterwards called Alexandrina by Ierom. Moses 's Preservation and Education § Pharaoâ— having by Oppression discontented the Israelites and then doubting what a Poor Oppressed Multitude might be provoked to by suggestion of the Devil resolved the Slaughter of the Male Children in their Birth giving Order to all their Midwives by Two of the Chief of them But being by their Piety disappointed he Commanded all his People to perform his Bloody Decree which yet his Beloved Daughter finding Moses in an Ark of Reeds in Nilus was so far from Executing that she took him out of the Water and gave him Princely Education as her own Whose Excellent Learning testified by Pâ—ilo and Iosephus Martyr Stephen Confirmeth Leaving Iosephus's Fancy of Moses Besieging Saba of Ethiopia which he won by the means of the Kings Daughter whom he Married c. Moses in Rescuing an Israelite having slain an Egyptian fled into Arabia Petrea in whose Mountainous Desarts apart from the Glory of the World the Glory of God covered him over being from an Honourable Adopted Son of a Kings Daughter turned into the Condition of an humbe Shepherd In this Country lying between Iudea and Egypt he lived 40 Years skilful in the ways of the Wilderness through which he was to lead Israel and by exercise in a Pastoral Life he was prepared to Principality and perfected his Learning gotten in Egypt by Meditation in the Wilderness From Government of gentle Cattel Kings are called Shepherds to teach them to rule Men. Moses being called back into Egypt is Taught a Name by which he Describes God to the Hebrews setting out his ever only Being there being nothing â— that hath being of it self but that Eternal One of whose being all other things are but shadows Of all the Ten Plagues the last only brought that Tyrant Pharaoh to an absolute submission when he began to fear his own Life The Paschal Lamb was a Sacrament of our spotless Saviour § 3. Pharaoh seeing the Israelites departure with the Spoil also of the Egyptians bethought himself and pursuing them with all his Power Exod. 14.7 over-took them after Three Days March And though Moses knew he went out with the mighty Hand of God yet he neglected nothing becoming a Wise Man and a Valiant Conductor So he removed from Ramases in Goshen whither the dispersed Hebrews were gathered as to their Rendezvous and Marched Eastward toward Etham and Encamped at Succoth the Fifteenth Day of Abib which thenceforth was accounted the first Month of their Year for Religious Occasions leaving another for Politick which they distinguish from Sacred in Recording things Transacted § 4. Israel passing from Succoth kept Mountainous rough Ground on his left-hand to Etham that Pharaoh's Chariots should not compass him From Etham the next day he Marched South Eight Miles and on the Third day he came to Pihachoroth between the Mountains of Etham on the North and Baalzephon on the South and Encamped upon the wash of the Sea § 5. Moses who feared nothing but God himself comforting the fearful Multitude Exod. 14.13 called on God and putting in practice his Direction safely passed over the Foord which the Lord had made and left their stupified Enemies to the merciless Waves which returned upon them This Sea called Chencrese in which Pharaoh Perished the 16 th Year of his Reign is commonly called the Red Sea though of the Colour of other Waters It seemeth to me that Name grew from the Clifts Sands Islands and
the stock of Ithamar that obtained that High-Priesthood which continued in his stock until Solomon cast out Abâ—athar and put in Zâ—dok descended from Eleazer 1 Kings 2.26 35. In his time for the Sins of the Priests and People the Lord gave his Ark the Sacrament of his Presence into the hands of the Philistins as he did his Temple to be destroyed by the Chaldeans and after by the Romans because they put more Confidence therein than in the Lord himself whose Law they would not observe Whereas after the Captivity and in the time of the Machabees while they feared the Lord they were Victorious without an Ark more than they were when they guarded themselves with the Sign void of substance David also knew the Ark was not made for an Ensign in the Field The Trojans believed that while the Paladium or Image of Minerva was in the City it should never be overthrown The Christians also carried into the Field in the last Fatal Battel against Saladine the very Cross as they were made to believe whereon Christ died and yet lost themselves and the Wood. But Chrysostom said well upon St. Matthew if that be his work of them which wore part of St. Iohn's Gospel about their Necks for an Amulet or Preservative If the words profit thee nâ—t in thine Ears how can they about thy Neck For it was neither the Wood of the Ark or of the Cross but the Reverence of the Father that gave them for a memory of his Covenant and the Faith of his Son which shed his Blood on the other for Redemption that could or can profit them or us either in this Life or after it The Holy story telleth us how after this Victory of the Philistins the Ark of God was in Captivity yet they overthrew the Philistin's Dagon and brake off both Head and Hands to shew he had neither Wisdom nor Power in God's Presence and that God and the Devil cannot inhabit in one House or one Heart If this Idol then could not endure the representation of the true God what Marvel is it that when it pleased him to Cloath his only Begotten with Flesh and sent him into the World that all the Oracles wherein the Devil derided and betray'd Mortal Men lost Power Speech and Operation at that instant For when the true Light which never had any beginning of Brightness brake through the Clouds of a Virgins Womb shining upon the Earth long obscured by Idolatry all these stinking Vapours vanished Plutarch rehearseth a Memorable History of that Age of the death of their great God Pan but could not find the true cause thereof c. God also plagued the Philistims as well as their God and forced them to return his Ark and to give him Glory after they had tried all their wit to the contrary See the Story Thus God is acknowledged of his Enemies as he had been of Pharaoh and was after of Nebuchodonezer Darius c. § 3. Of Samuel's Government 1 Sam. 7. He descended of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 for his Father Elcana a Levite of Mount Ephraim came of Korah the Son of Izaar Son of Cheath Son of Levi. His Mother after long Barreness obtained him by earnest Prayer to avoid the reproach of Barrenness as it was esteemed considering it was God's Promise Deut. 7. and Blessing to Adam and Abraham c. Under his Government the Lord freed Israel from the Philistins who at his Prayers were miraculously overthrown as were the Amalekites at the Prayer of Moses He Ministred Justice at three fit places Of which see Cap. 12. § 1. CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel § 1. THE deliberation to change the Government into a Kingdom arose upon Samuel's being grown unable to sustain the Burthen of so careful a Government which he put over his Sons who failing of their Father's Care and Uprightness and relishing nothing but Gain sold Law and Justice to the best Chap-men The Elders observing this and that the Old Man though a Prophet yet as a natural Father discerned not his Sons Errors and remembring the lamentable success of Eli's Sons Rule saw no other way to put them off than by desiring a King This Motion displeased Samuel who seeking Counsel from God as in a Cause of so great consequence he was order'd to hear the Voice of the People yet so as God accounted it a Wrong to himself rather than to Samuel and therefore commanded him to declare unto them the Inconveniencies and Miseries which shall befall them under that Government All which are not intolerable but as have been and are still born by Subjects free Consent But the Oppressions threatned verse 14 c. give an occasion â—o the Question Whether a King fearing God or one which will Rule by his own discretion and playeth the Tyrant be here set out as some judge or that the Text only teacheth what they ought with patience to bear at their Sovereigns hand as others judge The first ground themselves upon Deut. 17.14 c. and on the words of the Text which do not say he may but he will do so and so shewing what Power severed from Piety will do as in Achab's Example contrary to the Law Deut. 16.18 The Arguments on the other side are largely handled in that Discourse of free Monarchies which I shall not take upon me here to Insert This change of Government God fore-told Gen. 15. and 17. and 49. and provided for the direction of it by Laws Deut. 17. But whether the Reasons which move most Nations moved them to choose a Monarch or thereby to be cleared from the Sons of Samuel doth not so plainly appear for neither Perswasions nor Threats could draw them from their desire of a King § 2. Saul ' s Election § Samuel by God's direction having yielded to the People returned to his City Rama expecting the Lord's direction touching the King to be chosen which the Lord accordinly performed giving him warning the day before Samuel hereupon prepared to entertain whom God should send and Saul intending nothing less than a Kingdom found it and was Anointed and Confirmed by signs given him by Samuel and returned home Thus God oft by meanest occasions ordereth the greatest things and in Moses and David's Calling from feeding Sheep Iames and Iohn from Fishing c. Among the Signs given to Saul one was of the Company of the Prophets not such as by divine Revelation fore-told things to come as Moses Ioshua Samuel c. but such as were exercised in Expounding Scriptures as were those 1 Cor. 14. at which time God changed his Heart from a Vulgar condition to a Kingly After this another Assembly at Mispezh Saul was Published and designed King by God and accepted of the People and saluted King § 3. Saul's Establishment after his Victory against the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. The Ammonites attending the Advantage of Times for recovery of their Territories taken from them by the Amorites having in vain
visit those parts in Rehoboam's days before they were sent for Thadimor Ioseph held to be Palmyra in the Desart of Syria to the North-East of Libanus the utmost Border of Solomon's Dominion which Ierom calls Thermeth and by Adrian Rebuilt and called Adrianopolis He also Repaired and Peopled the Towns Hiram refused and made his first and only Journey in Syria Zobah to establish his Tributes and then visited all the Borders of his Dominions from Palmyrena in the North to Eziongaber and Eloth in the South upon the Red-Sea § 3. Solomon from Eziongaber sent a Fleet to Ophir an Island of the Molucca's in East-India from whence he received 430 Talents of Gold all Charges defrayed Of the word Tharsis see before lib. 1. c. 8. § 9 10. Pineda dreamt Ophir was in the Cades or Calis-Malis his Country in Spain of old called Turtessus whereto the next way by the Mediterranean was hindred by the great Atlantick Island exceeding all Africa swallowed up and choaking the Streights with Mad like his Dream of Ionas's Whale which in 3 days swam about all Africa into the Red-Sea to cast him up 12000 Miles in compass Solomon's Chariots Horsemen daily Provision Wisdom c. See 1 Kings 4.10 with 2 Chron. 9. § 4. Solomon 's Fall and term of Life § Solomon forgetting what the Lord Commanded as he had plenty of all other things so of Wives even of Idolatrous Nations 1 Kings 11.1 2. prohibited whereupon they turned his heart after other Gods for which the Lord punish'd him with Enemies in his Age and rent his Kingdom from his Son as he threatned 1 Kings 11. Touching his Age it is conjectur'd by his Father's Actions whose Conquests were ended before he wan Rabba when Solomon was not Born So that half of David's Reign being spent at the time of vanquishing the Ammonites Solomon's Birth must fall after David's 20 Years and above a Year it could not be seeing Rehoboam's Age at Solomon's death compared with the many heavy things which befell David after and that David in his Charge to Solomon speaketh as to a Man grown though Solomon at Nineteen Years old speaking to the Lord about his weighty Charge might well call himself a Charge Some time after Ammon forced Thamar and two Years after was slain by Absolom who fied to Geshur where he abode three Years yet saw not his Father's face for two years How long after he brake into Rebellion is uncertain which seemeth to be the 30 th Year of David's Reign but the 40 th Year after his Anointing as those words 2 Sam. 15.7 may well be taken Which 40 Iosephus Theodoret and the Latin Translation read 4 Years to wit from Absolom's Return § 5. Solomon's Writings In his Proverbs he teacheth good Life and correcting the contrary In Eccles. the Vanity of Humane Nature In the Canticles he singeth the Epithalamion of Christ and his Church The Book of Wisdom the best Learned make us think it none of his and Kimchi ascribeth the 3 other to Isaiah the Prophet Iosephus also tells us of his own Invention rather than truly that Solomon wrote Books of Enchantments But certainly so strange an Example of Human Frailty was never read of that a Man endowed with Wisdom by God himself in honour of whom and for his Service he built the first and most glorious Temple of the World was made King not by Law but the Love of God and became the Wisest Richest and Happiest of all Kings did in the end by perswasion of weak wretched Idolatrous Women forget and forsake the Lord of all the World and giver of all goodness of which he was more liberal to him than to any that ever the World had § 6. Solomon's Contemporaries were Agelaus in Corinth Labotes in Lacedâ—monia Silvius Alba over the Latins Leosthenes in Assyria Argastus and after Archippus in Athens Baliastrus succeeded Hiram in Tyre others put Bozorius between Sesac after Vaphres in Egypt whom Eusebius calls Smerides and others by other Names CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram The Kingdom divided REhoboam succeeded his Father but was not so Wise as to resolve the People's Petition without Counsel nor yet to discern of Councils which is the very best of Wisdom in Princes and all others for though he consulted with grave advised Men yet he was Transported by his Favourites who ignorant of the nature of Severity which without the Temper of Clemency is Cruelty it self thrust him on to threaten an Increase of what was unsupportable already ignorant also that Severity is to be used for the Help and not for the Hurt of Subjects These foolish Parasites could better judge of the King's disposition which Learning was sufficient for to enable them to the Places they held This Answer of Rehoboam set forward Ieroboam's designs and the Prophecie of Ahijah as the sequel shewed for the People at once chose Ieroboam and after the manner of all Rebels forgetting Duty to God and Bonds of Nature renounced all interest in David the Honour of their Nation and murder the Officers sent to appease them After this Rehoboam intended Wars upon them but was stayed by the Prophet from God Ieroboam fortified himself and to prevent re-uniting by communion in Religion impiously set up a new Worship learn'd in Egypt expelling the Levites Thus by irreligious Policy he founded that Idolatry which rooted Israel out of the Land at last neither could he be stayed by the Prophet that foretold his Advancement nor Miracle upon his own hand This point of Policy must be made good though it cast off God and the Religion of his Fathers Whereunto an Italian Historian compares the Policy of his Nation in making good the State they have gotten by what means soever as if God would not oppose it Upon this ground Amos must not Prophecie at Bethel it is the King 's Court. Iehu will upon this ground maintain the Worship of Calves and Hen. IV of France change Religion c. whom yet the Protestants whom he forsook never hurt as the Papists did whom he followed But of the wretched end of such Policy all these are notable Examples § 2. Rehoboam 's Impiety Punishment End and Contemporaries § Rhehoboam Fortified his Cities as well against Egypt as Ieroboam and then forsook the Lord 1 Kings 14. and 1 Chron. 11. But in his Fifth Year Sesac of Egypt who favoured Ieroboam taught him how weak Fortifications are where God watcheth not the City Sesac brought with him the Lybeans Cusits of Arabia and Succaeans which were not the Troglodits spoken of by Pliny and Ptolomy as Iunius judgeth These were 600 Miles from the best of Egypt and were in the 22 d degree North from the Line too far for such an occasion The Succaeans were rather Arabian Egyptians as the Ichthyophagy in Ptolomy between the Mountains Alabastrine and the Red-Sea when this powerful Sesâ—c wan Ierusalem and other Cities of Iuda and added to the Spoil of them the Temple and
remembers many Fâ—unders of the City but Livie will have it the Work of Romulus c. Of his Begetting Birth and Education Plutarch saith it is probable that Amulius came armed to Rhea which occasioned the Tale of Marce as the Nursing the Children by some Harlot occasioned the Tale of a Woolf for Harlots of old were called Wolves Halicarnassus tells us of the like Reports they have of Cyrus's Nursing by a Bitch and Semiramis by Birds So of his End they say he was taken away in a storm of Thunder c. Which was probably the fury of the Senators remembred also by Livie But as many Authors speak of great Lightning and Thunder that day so it may be he was slain by it as was Anastasius the Emperor and Emperor Carus Halicarnassus saith they caus'd it to be remembred nearest to Truth which say his Citizens slew him c. Plutarch reports of his Conquests of a few Miles about him not worth the speaking of if the following Greatness of Rome had not caus'd it to be remembred He Reign'd 37 Years first alone then with Tatius and after his death single 'till he was slain Numa a Man unknown to Romulus succeeded more Priest-like c. well resembling Rome's latter days which falling from Emperors Command into subjection of a Prelate swelling by degres from a Sheep-Hook to a Sword wherewith Victorious to excessive Magnificence it fell to Luxury and being unfortunate in defensive War is driven again to betake himself to the Crosier-Staff CHAP. XXI Of Hezechiah and his Contemporaries § 1. HEzechiah at 25 Years old succeeded about the end of Achaz 14 Years in the 3 d of Hosea King of Israel and Reigned 29 Years His first Work testified his Pious Zeal in opening the Temple shut up by his ungracious Father and reformed Religion c. Comp. 2 Chron. 29 and 30. with 2 Kings 18. It is uncertain whether he did this in his Father's time or in his sole Government as I rather think He invited also the Ten Tribes to the Passover which the Generality scorned In the fourth Year of Hezekiah the Israelites which scorned to Celebrate their Deliverance out of Egypt fell into a new Servitude wherein they continued to this day For Salmanasser Son of Tyglath hearing that Hosea King of Israel practised with Soe King of Egypt against him came and after Three Years Siege won Samaria and carried the Ten Tribes into Assyria and Media and placed others in the Land These later Assyrian and Persian Kings following are the first we find mentioned both in Profane and Sacred Books and therefore must serve to joyn the times of the old World with that following seeing none but Prophets have written otherwise than Fabulous of former Times True it is that Cyrus and some Persian Kings bear the same Name in Scripture and Profane Stories but of others the diversity of Names have bred question of the Persons as whether Salmanasser in Scripture be Nabonasser in Ptolomy and Nebuchadnezzar be Nabopolassar both which points Bucholcerus out of good Mathematick Observations hath well proved for by them it appears that from Nâ—bonasser to Chrisâ— were Seven Hundred Forty six years which agrees also to Salmanassar which is proved for that the space between Merdocenpadus and Nabonassar is found the same between Merodach who was Mardocenpadus and Salmanassar That as from the destruction of Samaria to that of Ierusalem are 133 years so in Ptolomy the same time is found between Nabonassar and Nabopolassar the Eighth year differing in Ptolomy being before the winning of Samaria spent in his Reign § 2. Hezekiah having denyed the Tribute to Senacherib which had been Covenanted with Tiglath his Grandfather acknowledged his Fault and laboured to purchase his Peace by Three Thousand Talents of Silver and Thirty of Gold by Senacherib's intending to set down the Conditions with his Sword sent from Lachish where he lay and invested Ierusalem c. where Vengeance from Heaven destroyed so many Thousands for their Master's Blasphemy who also drunk a Cup of the Wrath of God from his own Sons § 3. Hezechiah his Sickness Prayer Recovery and Sign thereof 2 Kings 20. His Lamentation saith Ierom was for want of a Son of whom the Messias might spring His entertaining the Babylonian Embassadors and vain-glory therein reproved Yet according to Humane Reason he thought fit to entertain them familiarly coming to Congratulate his Recovery with Presents being one which had weakened the Assyrian his greatest Enemy by seizing upon the Kingdom of Babylon of which he had been Lieutenant under Senacherib whose Son weak in Understanding and molested by his Elder Brethren gave him opportunity to Usurp Babylon as Belochus had dealt with Sardanapalus Thus Belochus Forty Eight years Tiglath Pilesar Twenty Seven Salmanassar Ten Senacherib Seven Esarhaddon Ten the Three last being Contemporaries with Hezechiah § 4. Hezechiah's Contemporaries in Media after Arabaces and Sosarmus according to Eusebius are Medidus Forty years Cordiceas Fifteen Years Then followed Deioces Fifty four Phraortes Twenty four Cyaxares Thirty two Astyages Thirty Eight and Cyaxares Two according to Xenophon Metasthenes in Anneus and Diodorus out of Ctesias differ much from Eusebius whom Mercator would fain reconcile but in vain In Athens Four of the Four Ten year Governours In Lidea Candaulus slain by Gyges who succeeded CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah § 1. THE Egyptians at this time contending with the Assyrians about Sovereignty giveth the occasion to consider the state of the Country which had flourished so long Of Cham Osiris and Orus and the rest with their Dynasties 'till Israel came out of Egypt we have heard and are to proceed from thence not regarding the idle Catalogue of Names of Kings set out by Herodotus and Dyodorus from the Mouths of the Egyptian Priests who for the most part were but Vice-Roys or Stewards like Ioseph and such as were the Soldans in later Ages For First we may not believe that the number of Generations we speak of were above Eighty from Abraham to the Persian Empire whereas we know there were but Forty two Generations to our Saviour Christ especially considering many of them were of about Forty years continuance we must therefore proportion the number to that of other Countries according to the time and esteem the rest but Regents who yet Ruled as Kings of which sort there might be many as may be well conceived in Reading W. Arch-Bishop of Tyre who sheweth that there was the Caleph Elhadech supream over Egypt under whom the Soldans ruled as Kings making War and Peace yea supplanting one another without the Calephs privity as fell out under Elhadech under whom San. was Soldan and yet chased away by Dagon and upon his death recovered again without the great Caleph's Hand who in the mean time only attended his state and delights in his Pallace which manner of Ruling by Vice-Roys the Author judgeth to have been from the Ancient Kings of Egypt § 2. It were
that in Nebuchadnezzar's Seven Years of Madness Niglisar might govern by his Wife Nitocris's means Nebuchadnezzar's Daughter and Labassardach after him but slain after Nine Months presently before Nebuchadnezzar's Restauration CHAP. II. The Persians greatness how it grew § 1. THAT the Medes were chief in the overthrow of Babylon the infallible Witness of Two great Prophets maketh good Esa. 13 17. Ier. 51.11.28 according to which Iulius Africanus proveth Babel was taken before Cyrus began to Reign So that the Empire lost by Balthassar the last of Belochus's Line fell to Cyaxares or Darius Medus the last of Arbaces's Race who succeeded his Father Astyages c. § 2. Cyrus to whom alone the Greeks ascribe the Conquest of Babel was thought immediate Successor to Astyages by some who deny he had any other Son than this Cyrus Son of Mandane his Daughter Viginer also probably reasoneth that Astyages had no such Son as Darius being unknown to so many Authors there named But Negative Arguments from Authors are of no force and necessity Either Astyages must be Darius in Daniel 9. which his Time will not suffer or another Successor before Cyrus must be granted who for Life commanded all Yet in regard he was Old and followed not the Wars in Person but Cyrus as his Lieutenant did all the Greeks who heard only of him ascribed all to him as did the Persians in Honour to him who shortly brought all to them § 3. Xenophon's Report of the Wars between the Assyrians and the Medes and Persians The Assyrians having command of so many Countries desired to bring under the Medes and Persians Knowing therefore their great strength he perswaded Croâ—sus the rich and strong King of Lydia to join with him which he easily yielded for the quarrel to the Medes who had warred against Alyattes his Father These together compose an Army of Two Hundred Thousand Foot and Sixty Thousand Horse but are overthrown by Darius and Cyaxares King of the Medes and Cyrus General of the Persian Forces and the Assyrian King slain so that many Assyrians revolted and Babylon was glad for her security to get mercenary strength while Cyrus pursueth his Victory to lesser Asia and took Croesus Prisoner After this followed the Attempt at Babylon Cyaxares bearing the Charge and Cyrus being Leader c. § 4. Achaemenes govern'd in Persia when Arbaces did the like in Media and both joined with Belochus against Sardanapalus and after held Persia for himself as the other did Media and Babylon yet Arbaces's absolute Command decayed 'till Deioces One hundred fortys year after when Salmanassar Reigned in Syria so that neither the Medes nor Persians found it fit to stir From Deioces to Astyages there past above Ninety years in which time Phraortes Reigned but not like to have Conquered Persia as Herodotus Writ For Susiana was under Daniel's Charge for Nebuchadnezzar who also would hardly have ventured into Syria and Egypt leaving such an Enemy on his Back It seemeth the Successors of Achaemenes did little worth remembring seeing in the Persian Greatness nothing was Published of their first Kings Xenophon reports the Crown descended from Father to Son many Descents and that Cambyses begot Cyrus so that the Story of Astyages's giving Mandane his Daughter to a base Man to disable her Issue whose Greatness he feared is improbable Two Races sprung from Achaemenes the First according to Reyneccius are Darius Cyrus First Cambyses Cyrus the Great Cambyses c. Of the Second Race came the Seven Princes who overthrew the Magi and chose Darius Son of Hystaspes one of them for King Persia first called Elemais of a Son of Shem c. Their City called Persepolis in the Second Book of Maccabees is called Elemais in the First Book and now Cyrus but Built in another place for that which Alexander destroyed at the request of the Harlot Thais The First Kingdom known to us according to the Interpreters of Gen. 14. was Chedorlaomer with whom Amraphel or Ninus joined in the War against the Arabians CHAP. III. Of Cyrus the First Persian Monarch § 1. CYRVS saith Strabo was so called of the River which watereth Persia Herodotus saith it signifies a Father Plutarch saith the Son Esai named him almost Two Hundred years before He Conquered Lydia and took Croesus before Babylon which he won in the Fifty Fifth Olympiad and in the Twenty Eighth Olympiad upon a Rebellion subdued it again § 2. Lydia had Lydus the Son of Atys her first King which Family was extinguished Argon descended from Hercules was chose by the Oracle and held Twenty two Generations to Candaulus the last Gyges succeeded him in Bed and Kingdom which he left to Atys Father of Sadiattes Father of Halyattes who begat Croesus All their time was One Hundred Seventy years Croesus so inlarged his Dominion that he was Inferiour to no King of that Age commanding Phrygia Bythynia Caria Misia Paphlagonia c. He in confidence of his good Success envying Cyrus's Fame and desirous to check his Prosperous Undertakings asked Counsel of Apollo Then Darius who assured Croesus passing Halis's River shall dissolve a great Dominion An Answer doubtful because the Devil was Ignorant of the Event § 3. Croesus thus resolved despised all Sandanes his Consellor's Arguments to the contrary as the Barrenness of the Enemies Country their hard manner of Living War-like Indefatigable and Prosperous by whose Fall he can gain only Fame wherein he excelled and if he were Beaten his Loss could be hardly told or soon conceived Croesus proceeds with a powerful Army but is staid at Pterium a strong City of Capadocia which he sought to force while Cyrus advanc'd Cratippus answer'd Pompey well That Kingdoms have their Increase and Periods from Divine Ordinance and so was it with these two great Princes whose Forces meeting the Persians had somewhat the better but Night parted them Croesus doubtful of the next days Success quit the Field to Cyrus and with all haste got into Sardis and because of Winter sent home his Forces not doubting any persuit Cyrus finding the Lydians gon followed slowly after to avoid discovering and having good Intelligence of Croesus's proceedings delay'd 'till the Forces were dispos'd to their Winter Garrison when unexpectedly he invested Sardis and in fourteen days forced it Croesus thrusting in among the multitude was ready to be slain had not his dumb Son forced by Passion cried Spare Croesus who thereupon was brought to Cyrus who judged him to be burnt Being upon the heap of Wood he cryed out O Solon Solon Solon and upon urging to declare what he meant answer'd That he found Solon's words true That no Man knew his own Happiness 'till his End Cyrus hearing thereof called for him remembring his own Mortality forgave him and ever after used him as a King and Companion Xenophon Reports that Cyrus used him so without speaking of the purpose of burning belike thinking it a Cruelty unworthy Cyrus so to use his Great Unkle by his Grandmother
who fled without consideration Cyrus glad to see it and being thereupon adopted King yet desires to appear worthy of it put himself with Six hundred Horse upon a Squadron of Six thousand which fled before him and being left by his Followers which pursued the Enemy he again spying the King in the midst of his Troops brake in with a Iew and pierced the King's Curace but was presently slain and his Head and right Hand being cut off were shewed on a Spear Point recalled thy flying Persians who before were crying on Cyrus for Mercy After this the King and Tissaphernes met and followed the Greeks which knew not of Cyrus's Death who seeing the King following turned to him And he wheeling about left them and took an Hill from which they forced him and then returned to their Quarters § 5. Artaxerxes could not rejoice in his Success when he thought what Report the Greeks would make of the baseness of his People which might incourage the Greeks to visit his Country with more Force than he would like The next Morning therefore when they knew from Ariaeus of Cyrus's end he sent Phalinus a Greek unto them to require their Arms and to sue for Mercy which they scorned c. § 6. The Greeks next Night came to Ariaeus a principal Commander under Cyrus who tarried for them but Four hundred Foot and 40 Horse all Thraconians fled to the King Ariaeus who being offered by them to make him King wanted the Courage to venture for it but was glad to covenant with them for mutual assistance in returning which he directed The next day they lighted on the King's Army which gave them way yea the King sent to them about a Peace and appointed them a place where to have Victuals § 7. Tissaphernes cometh to them like a Fox to entrap them pretending his Love to them being Neighbour to Greece and promising his Mediation to the King if they will send a mild Answer and to Conduct them home Hereupon a League is sworn betweeen them and he returned to the King and after Twenty days came back to them and set forward The Greeks grew jealous of his long stay and would not have staied had not Clearchus their General persuaded them relying too much on Tissaphernes's Oath Tissaphernes after some days March together found opportunity upon Clearchus seeking to assure him of the Greeks good Will to him which he seemed to doubt to draw all their Captains to his Camp promising to tell them which of them it was which sought secretly to raise dissention between them Thus having drawn them into his Snare he sent Clearchus and other four Colonels to the King but slew the rest then he sent Ariaeus as from the King to require them to yield but in vain § 8. The Greeks amused at the loss of their Leaders neglected to consult what Supplies to make 'till Xenophon whose Learning supplyed the want of Experience awaked them who thereupon is intreated to take the charge of Proxenus's Regiment and those Captains Xenophon made Slings took Fifty Horses out of the Carriages and set Men on their backs taught the Archers to shoot compass which they had not used and thus kept off the Persian Archers Thus their Valour made them way through all difficulties so that Tissaphernes fell to his surest course to distress them by burning all the Country before them § 9. The Greeks passing through the Carduchi a Fierce Swift People and skilful Archers with the Sling were much troubled with them seven days and came to Centriles which runneth between them and Armenia where Forces were layed to hinder their Passage but finding a Ford they chased away the Persian Subjects and left the Carduchi which seem to have Inhabited the Mountain Niphates not far from Tygris Spring contrary to Ptolomy who placeth them far East upon the River Cyrus in Medea § 10. The Greeks being come to Armenia passed Sixty Miles to the heads of Tygris and as far beyond peaceably 'till Teribazus encountred them at the River Teleboa He Governing for the Persians pretended to favour the Greeks and made a Covenant with them but in their security lying in wait for them was discovered by a Souldier taken by the Greeks who found him out on the sudden and made him leave his Rich Pavilion behind him Thence they went to the Northward near the Fountains of Euphrates where they found store of Victuals c. § 11. The Greeks came to the River Phasis and passed those Nations the Phasians and Chalybeans the first fled with all Provision into strong Holds of which one was forced and yielded store of Cattle The Fierce Chalybeans afflicted them much and fought with them hand to hand the Scythians used them kindly at Ginias whose Governour led them to Mount Moschici whence they saw the Euxine-Sea Then they came to Trabisond or Trapezus a Colonie of Greeks in Colchos whose People used them with Hostility which was well requited while they rested at Trapezus § 12. The Greeks at Trabisond desiring Shipping for their Men's easie Travel which the Lacedemonian Admiral who lay there promised to provide But lying long in expectation of Ships and Victuals failing they sent their Sick with Women Children and Baggage by Sea and the Army being Eight Thousand Six Hundred Men went by Land to Cerasus a Greek Town as was Cotione their next Lodging both Colonies from Sinope as was Trapezus Here the Inhabitants Discourtesie made the Souldiers to use violence which the Sinopians took ill and threatned Revenge Xenophon excused it by necessity which if it would not serve he shewed how little he fear'd them upon which considerations they yielded § 13. Xenophon while Ships are preparing intended to build a City thereabouts which being discovered they most disliked the Design and Sinope and Heraclea much feared it and to prevent it promise both Ships and Mony The Ships are sent without Mony which made the Captains fear a Mutiny having held the Souldiers in hope of it but upon coming of Cherisophus from the Lacedemonian Admiral with a few Gallies and promise of Mony at their arrival in Greece they set out from the Port of Sinope § 14. The Greeks drawing homeward thought fit to chuse an Absolute Commander desiring Xenophon to take it upon him which he refused knowing the trouble of leading Voluntaries Cherisophus accepts the offer but was soon deposed for not favouring their intent to surprize Heraclea which had been friendly to them For four Thousand four Hundred of them being Arcadians and Achaeans chose new Leaders and forsook the rest but had been overthrown in Bithynia if Xenophon and his Company had not come in § 15. Xenophon forceth the Persians and Thracians in Bithynia and ravages that part about Cape Calpas and carries the Spoil to Chrysopolis near Chalcedon and Sold it Tissaphernes doubting their coming into Phrygia procured the Admiral of Sparta to lead them out into Europe and so ended that famous Expedition which opened the
§ 15. Thalestris or Minothea Queen of the Amazons visited Alexander and made suit to him for his Company 'till she were with Child by him which she obtained and departed Plutarch citeth many for this Report which yet is rather a Tale than true not being mention'd by Alexander in his Epistle to Antipater and laughed at by King Lysimachus of Thrace a follower of Alexander Here in a digression he citeth Pomponius Mela Solinus Ptolomy Pliny Claudian Diodorus Herodotus Ammonius Marcellinus Plutarch to prove there were such Amazons of old And to justify his own Report of such now in the South part of America he citeth Fra. Lopez his Indian History p. 2. cap. 28. and Vlrichus Schnidel and Ed. Lopes in Disc. § 16. Alexander having begun at Persepolis to fall into the Persian Luxury now took on him Persian Robes and Greatness to be Adored to esteem Clemency as Baseness Temperance a poor humour fitter for a Teacher of Youth than an incomparable King His Court and Camp grew full of shameless Courtisans and Sodomy Eunuchs and all other shameless Manners of the vanquished Persians which he had detested but now exceeded that Monster Darius from whose Tyranny he vaunted he had deliver'd many Nations by assistance of the Gods he served which detested the Persian Vices His nearest Friends grew ashamed of him crying out he had more impoverished the Macedonians in their Virtues than inriched them in their Victories and made them more Slaves than the Conquered Alexander understanding hereof sought to pacify the wiser sort with Gifts and gave out that Bessus had assumed the Title of King of Bactria and raised a great Army so persuading them to go on Coming to pass over an inaccessable Rock he forced away the Guarder by the Smoke of a Pile of Wood taking the advantage of the Winds as in Guicciardine three hundred Spaniards were smothered by firing withered Grass § 17. Alexander at the entrance of Bactria taketh the way of Hyrcania and thence Northward towards the Mardi on the Caspian and so over the Mountain Coranus into Aria East of Bactria where the City Artaconna yielded after some resistance Here upon a Treason of Dimnus and others against Alexander Philotas is suspected for not acquainting Alexander with it after that Cebalius had discovered it unto him but upon Examination his error of Concealment for want of opportunity to tell the King was for his Father Parmenio's sake and his own good Service and his dead Brother Pardoned But upon Craterus his Enemies instigation pretending piety for the King's preservation the Prince swallowed his Promise and made his Enemies his Judges Alexander the Evening of the same Night he had appointed for Philotas's apprehension called him to a Banquet and discoursed familiarly with him as of old but being in the dead of the Night apprehended and bound he cried out O Alexander the malice of mine Enemies surmounts thy Mercies and is more constant than the word of a King Among other Circumstances urged by Alexander this was not the least that in Answer to a Letter written to him by the King of the Honour given him by Iupiter Hamon he said He could but joy that he was admitted into the Fellowship of the Gods yet he could not but grieve for those which should live under one which would exceed the Nature of a Man Hereby Alexander gather'd he envy'd his Glory for so the Monster Flattery persuaded Princes of the Men which cannot approve in them things to be abhorred Philotas the next day is brought bound like a Thief to hear the King's Oration against him his Father the Greatest Captain in the World and his Brethren slain in his Service which so opprest him with Grief that he could utter nothing but Tears Sorrow having wasted his Spirits But when he would have answered in the Persian Tongue which all understood the King departed saying he disdained his own Country Language Thus all are encouraged to exceed in hatred against him seeing the King's resolution so that his Defence availed not Though none of the Conspirators upon torment accused him yet by resistless and unnatural Torments devised by Craterus Cinus Hephestion and others he accused himself in hopes to be slain out-right but was deceived though he confessed not what he knew but what they best liked Of this kind of judicial Proceeding St. Augustine complaineth * So Seneca speaking of Alexander's Cruelty said Cruelty is no Humane Vice it is unworthy so mild a Spirit it is a beastly Rage to delight in Blood and changing a Man into a Salvage Monster The like End had all the accused Only Parmenio yet lived who with great Fidelity had served both the Father and the Son opened the way into Asia depressed Attalus the King's Enemy in all hazards led the Vanguard prudent in Councel successful in Attempts beloved of the Men of War as he who had purchased of the King the East Empire and all his Glory This Man being in Media must be dispatched by Polydamas his best beloved Friend leaving Cleander and others who murthered him reading the King's Letter Thus ended Parmenio who had performed many notable things without the King who did nothing without him worth praise Alexander after this subdued the Araspians and Araâ—â—sians and came to the foot of Taurus where he built another Alexandria which he Peopled with Seven Hundred ancient Macedonians Bessus forsakes Bactria of which Artabazus is made Governour and Alexander followed him over Oxus into Sogdiana where he lost more Men by drinking inordinately after great want than in any Battle with the Persians At this River Bessus might easily have distressed him being forced to pass over his Army with Hides stuffed with Straw and sowed together but Spitamines Dataphernes Catanes c. Commanders of his Army remembring how he had served Darius laid Hands on him bound him and with a Chain about his Neck led him like a Mastiff Dog to Alexander who gave him to Oxatres Darius's Brother to torment Shortly after he came to Maracanda which Petrus Perondinus takes to be Samarchand Iamerlames a Regal City which was Seventy Furlongs compass But upon the Rebellion of the Bactrians and Sogdians stirred up by Spitamines and Catanes he left the place which they recovered while he was busy in subduing others against whom he employed Menedemus In the mean time Alexander Marched on to the River Iaxartes not Tanais as Curtius and Trogus mistake it being two thousand Miles from Sogdiana upon which he Built a City of his Name sixty Furlongs in compass which while the Citizens sought to hinder as prejudicial to their excursions some Sixty Macedonians were slain and One thousand one hundred hurt in passing that great River to repell them Menedemus the mean while with 2000 Foot and 300 Horse are slain by Spitamenes who flies into Bactria and leaveth Sogdiana where Alexander kills and wasteth without mercy Here he received supply of Nineteen thousand out of Greece Syria and Lycia as oft before
Souldiers but was taken and slain in Greece to Alexander's great Joy Great discontentment grew in his Army knowing his purpose to send his decay'd Souldiers to Macedon and to detain the rest whom he labour'd to pacify in vain 'till their Passions were evaporated when the inconsiderate Multitude may be led as a Whale with a twined Thread is drawn to Land after some tumbling Craterus is sent with those which were Licensed to return and made Lieutenant of Macedon Thrace and Thessaly which place Antipater now sent for by the King had held with great Fidelity Antipater could see no reason of his removal but a disposition in the King to send him after Parmenio With this Antipater the King for all his great courage had no great Appetite to grapple for Jealous Princes do not always stand in doubt of every ill affected though Valiant Man but where there is a Kingly Courage compounded of Hardiness and Understanding this is often so fearful to Kings as they take leave both of Law and Religion to free themselves of such Alexander after this went to Media to set things in Order where Hephestion his greatest Favourite dyed on whose Monument he bestowed Twelve thousand Talents The King took Methods to make all Men weary of his Government seeing Cruelty is more fearful than any Adventure that can be made against it Antipater therefore came not nor sent any Excuse but free'd himself by his Sons Cassander Philip and Lollaus who waited on the King's Cup. These at a drinking Feast in a Carouse in Hercules's Cup gave him a Draught of Drink stronger than Hercules himself so he quitted the World within a few days Princes seldom find advantage by making their Ministers over-great and thereby suspicious to themselves For he which doth not acknowledge Fidelity to be a Debt but that Kings ought to purchase it of their Vassals will never please himself with the Price given only the Restorative indeed that strengthens it is the Goodness and Vertue of the Prince and his Liberality makes it more diligent Antipater had Govern'd two or three Kingdoms Twelve years and peradventure knew not to play another part as Caesar which forgot the Art of Obedience after long governing the Gauls § 23. Alexander's Cruelty and Pride is inexcusable his Drunkenness no less Augustine justly derided his lamenting want of Employment when he should have no more to Conquer as if well to Govern the Conquered would not sufficiently busie his Brain His Valour a Thousand in his Army Matched His Liberality Seneca Taxeth and his Speech about a Kings gift is Foolish Compared with other troublers of the World Caesar and others after more glorious for he never undertook Warlike Nations CHAP. III. Aridaeus his Reign after Alexander ALexander in his stubborn Pride refused to establish any Successor esteeming none Worthy and the greatest Ambition of his Followers Learned of their Master to endure no Equals a Lesson soon taken out by Spirits reflecting upon their own Worth wanting the Reverence of a greater Object Thus the Question of the Succession became difficult Alexander having no Issue but by Barsinoe a Persian and Roxane of mean Condition both excepted against as of Conquered Nations Ptolomy the Son of Philip who gave his Mother Barsinoe great with Child to Lagus is of opinion the Rule should rest in the Captains to order it by Voices Aristonus another Captain propounded Perdicas as designed Successor by Alexander who at the point of death left his Kingdom to the worthiest and delivered his Ring to him who had succeeded his Favourite Hephestion in Favour and Place he being urged by many to take the Royal Estate upon him not content with the Souldiers acclamation of a counterfeit Modesty put it off looking that every one of the Princes would intreat him that so his Acceptance might be the less Envied But as he which feigns a sleep may be eaten with a Wolf so Meleager his Enemy took advantage of his Irresolution and acted against him concluded that whoever were Heir to the Crown the Souldiers ought to Inherit the Treasure to that which he invited them who were nothing backward in sharing it § 2. Aridaeus a Natural Brother of Alexander in this Uproar is named by some one liked by many and produced and commended by Meleager to the Army which changeth his Name to Philip investeth him in Alexander's Robes and proclaims him King contrary to the Mind of many of the Nobles who yet by the intercession of the Ancient Captains are reconciled though neither side meant faithfully For Meleager now Governing the King who was no wiser than Alexander's Chair in which he fate attempted to kill Perdicas who understanding of their coming which are sent to do it rebuked them with such Gravity that they departed honester than they came The Camp hearing of this Attempt fell into an Uproar which the King their Creature could not appease 'till offered to resign unto them so upon the King's motion after sundry Embassies between him and his Nobles Meleager is joined with Leonatus and Perdicas in Government of the Army so much Love is protested where none is meant For presently after upon Rumors against Perdicas purposely raised as if they proceeded from Meleager to make him guilty of seditious Rumours if he should give way thereto He to prevent the danger persuades Perdicas to a general Muster for cleansing the Army by punishing seditious Persons and other Offenders not in the least intending his special Friends and such as followed him when he disturbed the Election of a King by calling away Souldiers to the sharing of the Treasure The manner of this Muster is solemn having the Horsemen among whom the King must ride the Elephants the Macedonian Foot and Mercenaries set in Batalia in distinct parties so as to skirmish by way of Exercise The Macedonian Pikes called the Phalanx led by Meleager is placed at disadvantage and so charged by the Horse-men and Elephants as afforded no jesting and the King being now in Perdicas's possession must command to be delivered to death such of the Infantry as Perdicas required Thus Three hundred of Meleager's Friends and Followers are cast to the Elephants to be slain and Meleager flying to a Temple for Sanctuary having too late discovered the Design was there also slain The Princes held a new Counsel divide the Provinces among themselves leave Aridaeus the Office of a Visitor and Perdicas his Protector and Commander of his Forces and gave Aridaeus a Captain the Charge to bury the Corps of Alexander at Alexandria in Egypt Alexander in his life time knowing the factious quality of the Greeks had commanded that all the banished should be restored thinking by them to have a sure Party in every City but by that proud Injunction contrary to their Laws lost the Hearts of the rest who esteemed it a beginning of open Tyranny The Athenians and Aetolians who oppos'd this Decree upon Alexander's Death Proclaim War against the Macedonians and
Athenians make a sorrowful rehearsal of the outrages done them by Philip the Romans plead their former League with Aetolia and threaten those that join with Philip Which sheweth their meaning however they pretend to assist their Friends Which in the Conclusion is referred to Dorymachus their Praetor § 11. Philip and the Consul met in the Borders of Maeedon toward Illyria and had divers Skirmishes in which the Romans by an Ambush had a great loss at first but by Philip's stay to pick up straglers he was overtaken by the Roman Legions which forc'd him to flye and he hardly escaped his Horse being slain and he forced to accept his Subjects Horse who was after slain The King recovers his Camp in the Night taking his way Home But was overtaken and put to a loss before he could recover Macedon which was Invaded by the Borderers The Aetolians hearing of Philip's ill success Invade Thâ—ssâ—ly and cruelly Plunder'd a few Towns but Philip finding them dispersed slew many of them § 12. Rome thinking her self safe at Home by keeping War abroad found more trouble than they expected by the Gauls Governed by one Amilcar a Carthaginian who took their Colony of Placentia a good strong Town which neither Hannibal nor Asdrubal could force Upon this they sent to Carthage but the Carthaginians disclaim Amilcar and Banish him and sent Corn to Rome and to the Army in Macedon King Masanissa would also have lent them Two Thousand Numidian Horse but they were content with half the Number The Gauls at the Siege of Cremona are Overthrown L. Iunius and Amilcar slain and the Work against the Gauls made easie for them which follow § 13. Rome was not wont to trifle but to bid the Enemy Battel or force them to it as soon as they could but now they learn of Greece to War by Negotiations Their Treasure was yet empty and they in Debt to the Citizens yet weary of making slow Proceedings by Confederates they increase the Macedonian Army at least eight Thousand Foot and eight Hundred Horse which they committed to Quintus Flaminius the new Consul This augmentation was requisite for that Attalus desired to be spared being Invaded at Home by Antiochus which they condescended to promise to and Mediate Peace between them both being Loving Friends But all this shew of Friendship with Antiochus was but till they had made safe way through Macedon as after appeared Quintus being come finds Philip and Villius the old Consul Encamped one against the other in the Straits of Epirus by the River Apsus where he stayed long seeking passage over the Mountain Guarded by Philip. During this delay the King and Consul Treat of Peace but in vain for that the Consul required the freeing all Greece and Namely Thessaly which had been Subject to Macedon ever since Philip Father of Alexander Ater this the Consul was guided by an Herdsman sent by a Prince of the Epirots which loved the Romans so that Philip with the loss of two Thousand Men is forced Home through Thessaly which he wasted as he went as did the Aetolians and the Consul made a gleaning and took some Cities and for want of Provision returned by Phocis an Allie of Macedon In the mean time the Consuls Brother Admiral of the Navy with Attalus and the Rhodians wan two Cities of Eubaea and besiege Cenchrea the Haven and Arsenal of Corinth This quickened the Achaeans desire to forsake Philip having had so many motives by his injuries done them and their having so brave a Leader of Philopoemen In the end they hold an Assembly at Sicyon whither their Embassadours on both sides come with their Adherents where at last they decree to forsake Philip and join with their Enemies After this Philip's Lieutenant lying in Corinth was drawn by the multitude in Argos to assist them so they cast out the Achaean Guard and accepted Philip for Patron who thereupon had some hopes of a good end upon a Treaty The Consul also considering his Office would Expire before he could end the War is willing to enter into it that he might have the Honour of the Peace After two or three meetings demands and offers being made Philip refers himself to the Senate of Rome which the Consul liked and Embassadours from all parts meet but upon Philip's Embassadours denial to have warrant to yield Corinth Dolchis and Demetria all was dasht Philip to be revenged of the Achaeans made League with the Tyrant Nabis of Lacedemon and to oblige him he gave Argos into his hands which so lately had given it self to him from the Achaeans The Tyrant the next day Pillaged all the rich Men and to please the Multitude he made equal division of the Land as Tyrants use to do and presently made a League with Quintius who continued General against Philip. § 14. T. Quintius being continued General of the Macedonian War with twenty six Thousand seeketh out Philip who had a proportionable Number and found him in Thessaly near the City Pherae where though Philip designed not that day to put all to the Fortune of Battel yet being drawn on by the good Success of a Skirmish and the advantage of the Hill Cynoscephalae or Dogs-heads he chose his Ground But by reason the Mountain was full of Knobs like Dogs heads he could Marshal but one part of the Army leaving the rest to follow in order as they could By this roughness they could keep no order fit to make any Impression or good resistance and so were broken by Quintius's right Wing sent to them up the Hill Of which Wing a Tribune and twenty Ensigns or about two Thousand Men turning down the Hill on the left hand fell on Philip's Phalanx or square Battel with Pikes in the Rear and put all to flight when Philip thought the day his own So he lost eight Thousand slain and five Thousand Prisoners § 15. Quintius made haste to Larissa a City in Italy which opened to him so all the Warlike Archarnamians left Philip and gave themselves to the Romans The Poereans also rise against Dinocrates the Kings Lieutenant and recover'd the Province Philip considering his present necessity thought it Wisdom to yield to it and first sent and then went to Quintius to Treat about a Peace for which a day was appointed for all the Associates in which as the insolent Aetolians too much insulted over Philip and sought his utter Subversion so Quintius as generously opposed them Philip yielded to all that Quintius required and four Months Truce is agreed to by all but the Insolent Aetolians and the determination referred to the Senate of Rome The new Consuls oppose the Peace as fraudulent which made the Senate wave it but the Tribunes refer it to the People by whose Sovereign Authority it was concluded The Conditions were to remove all Garrisons out of Greece by a set day yield up Captives Renegados Ships of War except five lesser and one great one and pay a Thousand Talents and for
performance he had already given his Son Demetrius an Hostage and four Hundred Talents Great was the joy at the conclusion but the Aetolians are dissatisfied and the Baeotians still favour the Macedonians Some also fear the Romans will prove the worse Neighbours not knowing the Romans design against Antiochus But to prevent all bad Rumours Quintius at the Istinian Games Proclaimed freedom from Garrisons and Liberty of their own Laws to the Corinthians Phocians Locrians Eubaeans Achaeans of Pithiotis Magnetians Thessalians and Perrhubians which the Greeks applauded with exceeding Thanks He also sent to Antiochus by his Embassadour then present requiring him to keep from the free Cities of Asia and restore to Ptolomy and Philip what he held of theirs and not to pass into Europe with an Army CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents § 1. SEleucus Nicanor slain by Ptolomy Cerannus Anno 4. Clymp 124. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeded Nineteen Years to whom Berosus the Chaldaean Dedicated his Assyrian-History which is notoriously falsified by Fryar Annius He neglected revenging his Fathers Death who had so loved him that he gave him Stratonica his own Wife being sick for her Antiochus the God as the flattering Melesians called him for freeing them from Timarchus the Tyrant succeeded Fifteen Year His first Wife was Laodice to whom he took also Bernice the Daughter of Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt and so compounded the War between them but falling into the hatred of Laodice she Poisoned him for it when her Son Seleucus Callinicus was ready to Reign She also murthered Bernice and her Son two or three Years after Ptolomy's Death but the Brother reveng'd it Ptolomy Philodelphus Son of Ptolomy the first King of Egypt after Alexander began to Reign with his Father and continued Forty Years He was first derived from Alexander's Successours which made League with Rome and his Off-spring the last of those Royal Families they rooted out He set at Liberty all the Iews which his Father made Slaves in Egypt and sent rich Gifts to God's Temple in Ierusalem and requested of Eleazer the Books of Holy Scripture and seventy two Learned Hebrews to Translate them into Greek to furnish his Library in Alexandria of which Genebrard thinks Iesus Sirach was one whom Iansenius proveth then living Iosephus Antiq. li. 12. c. 2. reports one Aristaeus writ the History thereof Seleucus Callinicus began his Reign with his Father's Murder which cost his Mothers Life she being slain by Ptolomaeus Evergetes in revenge of his Sister who Invaded Seleucus but was called Home by Domestick Troubles Seleucus perceiving himself not beloved of his Subjects sought not to gain them by merit but by force prepares a great Fleet against them whereon all his hope relyed which God overwhelmed in the Sea and himself hardly escaped His Subjects hoping he would become a new Man in Commiseration offer him their Service which so revived him that he raised an Army against Ptolomy who overthrew him which made him send for aid to his Brother Antiochus Hierax or Hawk for he cared not on whom he Preyed who was but fourteen Years Old and was extream Ambitious Before he came Seleuchus made Peace with Ptolomaeus but had no Peace of his Brother who overthrew him But shortly after overthrown himself by Eumenes King of Pergamus Son of Attalus and forced to flye away was taken up in Capadocia by Artamenes who designed to betray him which made him take his Wings to Egypt where Ptolomy knowing his persidious Nature imprisoned him whence escaping by means of a Harlot he fell into the hands of Thieves who murthered him Seleuchus at this time going to subdue the Bactrians and Parthians was taken Prisoner by Arsaces Founder of the Parthian Kingdom who yet released him but returning Home he broke his Neck by a fall from his Horse after twenty Years Reign Seleuchus Ceraunus succeeded his Father Three Years and was slain by Treason leaving Antiochus his Brother to succeed and Achaeus to Govern the Army § 2. Ptolomaeus Evergetes who suceeded Philadelphus yet Reigned having Married Berenice Daughter of Magas King of Cyrene added it to his Kingdom and as he thought the Countries of Coâ—losyria Palestine c. His and his Successours Wars with the Seleucidae were Prophecied of by Daniel Onias the High Priest had provoked him by detaining covetously twenty Talents Tribute but was pacified by Iosephus a Iew and having Reigned Twenty six Years Dyed in the 139 Olympiad Antiochus scarce Fifteen Years Old when he began his Reign which lasted Thirty six Years in his Minority was wholly Governed by one Hermias an Ambitions Man who incited him unseasonably to War against Ptolomaeus for recovery of Coelosyria c. while Molo the Kings Lieutenant in Media Rebelled Xenaetas is sent with Forces into Media which are overthrown while Antiochus lay in the Valley of Marsyas between Libanus and Antilibanus seeking to pass into Coelosyria Hearing therefore the News of Xenaetas he hastens into Media which he recovered from Molo whose left Wing Revolting to the King Molo with divers of his Friends to shorten the work killed themselves and so prevented the Hangman with their own Swords After this came the joyful News of his Queen's being Deliver'd of a Son Fortune being thus bountiful Antigonus Marches against Artabanes King of the Atropians who being very Old and Timerous yielded to whatever he Propos'd Antiochus in the East thought good to visit his Borders between the Caspian and Euxine Sea in which Journey his Physician informed him against Hermits of whom himself was grown Jealous and therefore consented to his killing About these times Achaeus rebelled in hope the King would perish in his Expedition yet Antiochus more intending the recovery of Coelosyria neglected him till he had gotten Seleucia first called Antigonia founded by Antigonus and after won by Seleuchus and then by Ptolomy Such is the vanity of Men who think to eternize their Names not by works of Vertue but of Greatness which never lasteth long Theodotus the Aetolian Ptolomy's Mercenary which formerlâ— dâ—fended Caelosyria agâ—inst Antiocâ—us now weary of his former Faithfulness Mercenary like sells it to him who took possession of Tirus and Ptolomais with the Aegyptian Fleet there Antiochus herewith emboldned aims at Egypt it self ruled by Agathocles and Sosibius whilst Ptolomy himself minds only his Pleasure These two make secret preparation but openly solicite Peace by themselves and several of their Allies and Antiochus willing to rest this Winter agreeth on a Truce for four Months to Treat of Peace which he designed only to lull his Enemies asleep who watched him better than he did them During the Truce Embassadours from Egypt are heard and both sides plead their right to Coelosyria and propound Covenants but both would have it or nothing The Truce ended Antiochus takes the Field presuming his ordinary Power will serve against his unprovided Enemies but was deceived and well beaten for it at Raphia losing Ten Thousand
to whom Ptolomy Philip Carthage and Masanissa offer their assistance but only Philip is accepted and recompenced with Athamania Aminander the King being expelled All Thessaly willingly yielded and Antiochus is perplexed crying out he was betrayed and called upon the Aetolians who sent in some small Forces with which and his own he took the Passage of the Straits of Thermopylae out of which nevertheless he was beaten by the Consul Porcius Cato's indefatigable labour in finding out an unknown Passage up where the Aetolians had six Hundred to keep the Place whom he put to flight and following them was led to Antiochus's Camp upon sight of whom all ran away and Antiochus forsaketh Greece In few days all that Antiochus had got was recovered and Heraclia won from the Aetolians to their great Terrour they having sent Post to Antiochus for Aid before they had been subdued by the Romans who now left no Enemy behind against their Invading Asia Antiochus upon that consideration sent Nicanor with Money and promise of Forces but upon loss of Heraclia they sue humbly to the Consul who will scarcely hear them In the end offering to yield to the Romans upon discretion he required such Conditions as they thought slavish whereupon he offered to lay Chains upon them but was over persuaded So he went to besiege Naupactus while Quintius was settling Peloponesus from whence he came to the Consul when the earnest Suit of the Aetolians had procured Truce while they might send to Rome which they did to no purpose whereupon they Sue for Pardon The Consul suddenly attempeth Lamia and won it while they prepare against him at Naupactus and then goeth to Amphysia § 8. Cornelius Scipio is chosen Consul and upon Publius Scipio Africanus's offer to be his Lieutenant is appointed to Asia who having Thirteen Thousand Foot and an Hundred Horse came into Greece and took charge of that Army at Amphysia which presently was forsaken but the Castle held out and was thought impregnable which made Publius Scipio procure a Years Truce for them much desiring to be in Asia So that the Scipio's set forward and in Macedon find all desired assistance and Philip to accompany them to the Hellespont where they stay till the Navy to Transport them be ready At the Sea this Spring Polixenidas banished Rhodia but Antiocâ—us's faithful Admiral desiring to be revenged hearing the Rhodian Fleet lay at Samos sent the Admiral private Intelligence that if his Banishment might be repealed he would betray the Kings Fleet. After agreement between them the Rhodian grew secure so that Polixenidas coming suddenly upon him took or sunk all but five Seleucus Son of Antiochus besieged Pergamus which was defended by Attalus Brother of King Eumenes who was assisted by Diophanes bâ—ed up by Philopoemen with a Thousand Foot and an Hundred Horse He observing from the Walls how careless the Enemy was went out with his Achaeans and encamped near the Enemy who derided his boldness and seeing him so quiet became secure but were soon surprized and many slain So that after such another defeat Seleucus was forced to quit the Siege Antiochus shortly after lost Forty Gallies near Myonesus a Promontory in Asia being Overthrown by the Romans and Rhodians so that he had but Forty nine left Upon this he called Home the Garrison from Lysimachia and Mustred all his Forces intending only his own defence to which he desired a Supply of his Father in Law the King of Cappadocia But he hearing the Consul was Landed in Asia sent to intreat Peace offering to free what Towns he would name upon the Coast yea to part Asia with them and bear half their Charge All this the Consul thought too little he will have all the Charges and all the lesser Asia freed and him confined over Mount Taurus to which Publius Scipio adviseth the Kings Embassadour to persuade his Master when he privately solicited his mediation to the Consul His King esteeming these demands no less than if he had been Conquered would not listen to them having Seventy Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse Ninety two Elephants and many Armed Chariots after the Eastern manner with Sithes nor did he fear him For hearing Publius Scipio was sick he sent him his Son whom he had taken Prisoner and used honourably which comforted the Father who for requital wished him not to fight till he heard of his coming to the Camp The King hereupon removed to Magnesia on Sypylus and Fortified himself being followed by the Consul who offered him Battle which he would not accept till at last fearing to dishearten his Men when the Consul took the Field and set his Men in order he also did the like which made an admirable Show for numbers and variety through the different manner every Nation used It is shameful to relate and incredible to believe how little resistance this brave Show of Asiatiques made suffering themselves to be slain like so many Beasts to the Number of Fifty Thousand Foot and Four Thousand Horse besides Prisoners with only the loss of three Hundred Roman Foot Twenty four Horse and Twenty five of Eumenes's Men. Antiochus sends from Apamea whither he was fled an Embassadour with full Power to submit to what the Consul would require to which Publius Scipio obtained leave to Answer because it should be moderate He requireth Fifteen Thousand Talents to be paid at set times That Antiochus shall abandon all on this side Taurus pay Eumenes four Hundred Talents and a proportion of Corn put in Twenty Hostages and deliver Hannibal and Thoas the Aetolian unto the Romans Antiochus's Embassadour comes to Rome accompanied with King Eumenes and the Rhodians and the Peace is Confirmed with the division of the Conquests among the Roman Allies to their full satisfaction Cornelius Scipio returning hath a Triumph exceeding any Ten before and had the Sirname Asiatique for his Title as the Merits of his Victory tho' the Virtue requisite was short of that in Publius Scipio § 9. Marcus Fulvius and Curius Manlius the Consuls have Greece and Asia divided between them being more than one could look after at once having the Aetolians to reduce unto the acknowledgment of the Romans and their new Conquests in Asia to be regulated In the interim of the Aetolians Truce Aminander whose Kingdom of Athamania the Romans had permitted Philip to Possess found means to recover it as the Aetolians did the Amphilochians and Aperantians Fulvius being come into Greece besieged the noble City Ambracia which much imported the Aetolians not to lose and yet were not able to relieve it So that the Athenians and Rhodians interceed for Peace which the Consul finding the difficulty of winning the Town condescended to To Rome they go and agree to divers Articles which make them more obnoxious to Rome than any people of Greece Consul Manlius in Asia visited all that Antiochus had lost on this side Taurus and loaded himself with the Booty and at length came to
equal Laws gave his Subjects easie access and was so mild that many Nations offered subjection yet he laid divers Taxes on them Babel being revolted in the time of the Magi Darius Besieg'd it and by Zopirus who for his sake cut off his own Ears and Nose fled to the Babylonians and complained of Darius's Cruelty For dissuading the Siege of Babel he is made their Leader and recovers it § 3. He gave order for Building the Temple and made a Decree against all that should hinder it Ezr. 6. § 4. Darius having recovered Babylon invaded Scythia passing over Ister or Danubius by a Bridge of small Vessels which he committed to the keeping of the Ionians and Aetolians among whom Miltiades persuaded them to break it down so to distress Darius but Histiaeus Prince of Milet of Ionia dissuaded ' em Darius entering the Desart Country of Bessaravia found neither People nor Relief the Scythians there being all Grasiers and Horsemen without any Town or Tillage and living in Waggons which at every station they set in order of a Town as do the Chrim Tartars their Posterities at this day Darius wearied with seeking and seeing his Folly sent to them either to submit or try his Valour who for Answer sent him a Bird a Frog a Mouse and five Arrows This dumb shew Darius took as a yielding him All even the Elements in which these Creatures live and their Weapons But Gobrias one of the Seven Princes construed their meaning aright as telling him he cannot escape their Arrows except by flight diving or hiding himself This they made good by assailing his Camp vexing it with continual Alarums and so fearless forsook his Camp by Night and hasted to Ister whither yet the Scythians came before him missing him as they came They persuaded the Ionians to depart assuring them the Persians should never hurt nor harm them which had proved true if Hystiaeus had proved firm and stayed for them there § 5. Darius escaping the Scythians Invaded Thrace and Macedon transplanted the Paeonians and possessed Chalcedon Byzantium Perinthus c. and the best part of Thrace Then he sent to Amyntas King of Macedon requiring his subjection by the Earth and Water as the Persian manner was He doubting his own strength entertain'd the Ambassadors who offering incivility to the Ladies at a Feast were slain by the device of Alexander the King's Son sending young Men in the Ladies Attire Darius intending to revenge the Affront was pacifyed by Bubaris a principal Commander under Darius to whom Alexander succeeded his Father and had given Gygea his Sister who persuaded him how necessary the amity with Macedon was in the intended War with the Greeks § 6. The War with Greece grew upon occasion of Pysistratus who in the time of the Annual Government upon a divsion of two great Families in Athens usurped the Government as in behalf of the People who yet perceiving he aimed at a Monarchy which of all Forms of Government they could not brook they forced him to fly the first and second time but the third time by hiring Forces he recovered and Ruled Seventeen years after and left it to his Sons Hyppias and Hypparâ—hus the last of which was Murthered by Hermodius for his unnatural Lust to him Hereupon Hyppias doubting himself and falling to more severity than had been there used they raise Armies with the Lacedemonians aid and forced him to give over and leave the City He being Allied to Aeantides Tyrant of Lampsacus was by him presented to Darius § 7. These Grecian Colonies in the Sea Coast of Asia after Five hundred years Liberty were brought under by Croesus and fell with him under the Persian Yoke and were by the Practise of Histiaeus put into Rebellion because Darius had taken him to Susa and they under shew of Honour held him as doubting his greatness in Ionia This he perceived to be practised with Aristagoras his Cousin and Deputy in Miletum to make a Breach hoping to be sent to reduce them as he was For Darius hearing of this Revolt and of the Athenians joining with them was exceedingly provoked against Athens being excited by Hyppias as for the Ionians he sent Histiaeus who promised what he intended not but before his coming Artaphemes had broken their Power being Vice-Roy in Lydia so that Histiaeus after vain attempts was taken and lost his Head § 8. Darius who first pretended only against the Athenians and Eritraeans for assisting the Ionians and Burning Sardis seeing the good Success of the Forces against them sent and demanded Acknowledgments from all the Greeks who generally refused and forced the Aegenits which had submitted to renounce it Darius prepares an Hundred Thousand Foot and Sixty Thousand Horses which as they passed over the Sea took the Cyclad Islands and so advanc'd to Eritria in Euboea and sack'd it From thence they pass into Attica conducted by Hippias their King Twenty Years after who Incamped in Marathon toward Athens The Athenians sent Phidippidus to the Lacedemonians for Succour which he failed of but in Arcadia a Familiar Devil supposed to be Pan promised the Gods assistance which much Incouraged the Multitude who rely more on blind Prophecies than solid Reason The Athenian Forces were Ten Thousand and One Thousand Plataeans with which coming into the Field the Persians scorned their small numbers and thought them void of Understanding to venter into the Field But in conclusion the Greeks fighting for all they had and the Persians for what they needed not Necessity provok'd the one and Confidence in their Multitude making the other secure the Persians are put to Rout fly to their Ships which will drive them too when Courage was lost Of the Persians were slain in the Place Six Thousand Three Hundred of the Greeks One hundred Ninety two which they say fell out by strange Sights frighting the Persians Miltiades carried the honour of this Victory but having broken his Thigh in a Service which he sought against the Isle Paros at his return his ungrateful Citizens cast him in Prison where in a few days he ended his Life Darius after Thirty Six Years Reign dyed CHAP. VI. Of Xerxes Emperour of Persia. § 1. XErxes succeeded and inherited with his Crown a double War one with Egypt the other with Greece as terrible in Preparation as ridiculous in Success from which War Artaban Brother to the late Darius dissuaded him But Mardonius Grand-Child to Hystaspis as was Xerxes and his Brother in-Law by Marriage of his Sister persuadeth it Herodotus tells of 1700000 Foot but Trogus makes it 700000 Foot and 80000 Horse besides Camels Chariots and other Beasts for Carriage The Commanders were all Princes of the Blood of which Mardonius Cousin to the King was chief only the Immortal Regiment which was ever supplyed with Ten thousand select Persians was given to Hydarnes Gallies Two thousand two hundred and Eight and three thousand Vessels for Transportation § 2. This World of an Army made
their Rendezvous at Sardis whose whole Company Pythias a Lydian entertain'd with Food and presented the King with two Thousand Talents of Silver and four Millions of Gold wanting Seven thousand which Xerxes made up and gave all back again Yet the Tyrant cut one of his five Sons into two parts for whom the Father had intreated to be spared in this Expedition to tend him in his Age. He cut Mount Athos and five Cities in the half Island from Thrace He also made a Bridge of Six hundred Seventy two Gallies over the Hellespont over which all his Army passed in Seven days which he beheld in the Plains of Abidos from an high place Here Artabanus put him in mind That Man's Life is so much more miserable than the end that the happiest man oft pleaseth himself more with the desire of Death than Life c. and layed before him two great Dangers that might proceed from such a Multitude at Sea by Storm having no Harbour to command or able to receive them at Land the Country not able to feed them c. He only replyed that great Enterprizes were never undertaken without great Perils which is a good Resolution if Necessity inforce the Enterprise which here it did not c. and such Multitudes are rather heavy Burthens than strong Aids impossible to be Marshalled § 3. Xerxes having Transported his Army into Thrace being to pass the Straits of Thermopile of half an Acre between the Mountains which divide Thessaly from Greece was resisted by Leonidas King of Sparta with three hundred Men and three or four hundred Greeks 'till a Fugitive Grecian taught the Persians a Way by the Ridge of the Mountains by which part of their Army ascending came upon their Backs Yet Leonidas with his Seven hundred Men stood to it and slew twenty thousand and two of the Kings Brethren though in the end he and the rest were slâ—in This valorous Resolution especially of the Lacedemonians terrified Xerxes so that he asked Counsel of Demoratus a Banished King of Sparta who advised to send sufficient Force in three hundred Ships to ravage Lycaonia so to divert the Lacedemonians and their Neighbours at home while Xerxes subdued the rest Achamenes the Kings Brother advised him to keep the Ships together near the Land Forces considering four hundred were cast away in a Storm But the Grecian Navy lying at Artemisium where the Persian Armada thought to inclose them knowing they had sent two hundred Ships about met them in the Night unlook'd for and Defeated them The other intending by strong hand to repair that loss set upon the Grecian Navy but had the worst leaving both the place and Spoil to the Enemy § 4. Xerxes being entred the Phocians Country ravag'd it and the Regions adjoining he sent also to pillage the Temple of Delphos but was overwhelmed they say by two Rocks which brake from Parnassus Surely his Attempt was Impious seeing he believ'd Apollo a God so that the only Holy might give the Devil leave to defend himself against his own Servant which dishonour'd him For saith he will a Man spoil his God Mat. 3.8 Ier. 2.9 10. Yea the Persians had blamed the Athenians for Burning Cybel's Temple in the City Sardis He proceeded to Athens which was forsaken and Burnt the Citadel and Temple § 5. The Athenians had removed their Wives and Children to Salamis c. prising the common Liberty of Greece before private yet the Greeks resolved to abandon Salamis and Aegina had not Themistocles Admiral of the Athenian Fleet dissuaded them from it as also from the purpose to fortify Peloponesus only and abandon the rest of Greece as not defensible yet could he not prevail 'till he threatned that the Athenians whose Ships were the Strength of the Greek Navy would take their Wives and Children and remove to Italy and there plant themselves The Peloponesians knowing how desperate the Case would be with them were glad to yield § 6. The Persians deliberate to offer the Greeks a Battle which the King desired and the Leaders to give him content seem to approve of it But Artemisia Princess of Halicarnasseus advised the King to set forward to Peloponesus to separate the Greek Navy while every one would haste to defend his own and so single were easily mastered which conjoined were too strong by their better Skill at Sea The Peloponesians amazed at the approach and fearing the Enemies March to Peloponesus esteeming all Greece lost but that part resolve to set Sail for Isemus Themistocles knowing he had no spare time to bestow on Ears shut up by Fear sent a trusty Messenger to tell the Persians of this intended flight willing them with speed to send some Forces about the Island The Persians thinking the Athenians did this to make their way for Favour as meaning to fall to the King followed the Advice The Peloponesians in the Morning intending to weigh Anchor saw the Enemy in their way and so were forced to the Fight in the Straights of Salamis where they had a memorable Victory forcing the Enemies Ships to fall foul one upon another and so could neither Fight nor fly § 7. After the Victory every Captain by Scrutiny was willed to write his Name which merited most and every Man ambitious of the Honour set his own Name first and Themistocles next Affection serving her self first is then content to yield to Vertue next Xerxes set a good Face on it as intending a new Preparation but the Princes which knew his Temper discerned his saint Heart especially Mardonius Author of this War He therefore to prevent the King's Indignation went unto him with many fair Words laying the faulâ— upon the Cowardly Egyptians Phoenycians and Cilicians which was no dishonour to the King who had taken Athens which was principally intended and the most of Greece Hereupon he desired the King to leave him three hundred Thousand men to finish the War and himself with the rest to return to Asia The King's Care liked well hereof and made haste hearing the Greeks intended to break his Bridge as Themistocles had inform'd under-hand so to weaken the Army and ease the Country § 8. Mardonius having undertaken to reduce Greece removed to Thessaly and from thence sent Alexander King of Macedon with great Promises to persuade the Athenians to come in which the Lacedemonians understanding sent likewise to persuade them to remain firm The Athenians Answer Alexander renouncing Amity with Xerxes as long as the Sun kept his Course whereupon Mardonius hasted to Athens which was again left to him void From thence he solicited them with many fair promises in vain yet the Lacedemonians grew cold in sending Aid 'till the Athenians grew to threaten a Course which would little please them A Counsellor of Sparta thereupon said our Wall upon Istonus will little avail us if Athens listen to Mardonius with which Speech the Lacedemonians bethought themselves and dispatched five thousand Spartans and gave orders for