beforementioned Gerion the last king and ruler of Spain In the time when these three brethren thus reigned and ruled together happened that generally known accident which afterward the world so universally entertained from the report of loud-tongued Fame which was the untimely and unfortunat death of Osyris surnamed Iupiter Iustus who was most traiterously and vilely murdred by his brother Typhaeus Egiptius whose all-lamented death was afterward highly revenged by his sonne Hercules Lybicus who instantly took up armes and scoured almost all the countries of the world untill hee had found out the authour of the murther of his father Osyris upon whose bodie his angrie and wrathfull mind tooke in the end direfull and cruell revenge at which time also hee beeing in the pride and fulnesse of furie and choller searcht out all corners and places of abode where any such like bloudie and impious gyants rulers and commaunders kept their tyrannicall and uncivile governments among the rest he slew Busyris in Phoenicia Typhaeus the younger in Phrygia Mylinus a great commaunder on the sea in Crete Antheus in Lybia the Lestrigones in Italie and afterwards these three bretheren called Geriones in Spaine and also many others in many other places as hath alreadie heretofore beene spoken of After the overthrow thus of these late specified Geriones hee established and appointed to succeed them one called Hispalus who now after these instantly tooke upon him the government thereof Hispalus therefore according to the report and affirmation of Berosus now entered to take possession of the regaltie and principalitie of Spaine which was from the floud five hundred fourescore and nine yeares before the erection of Troy two hundred one fortie years before the birth of Christ a thousand seven hundred twentie seven and after the first finding out and peopling of Spain three hundred seven and fortie yeares Of this Hispalus the citie Hispalis first was erected and so entearmed and he was the sonne of Hercules Lybicus as many authours and writers of fame and great antiquitie have given in report unto the posteritie of time Hee reigned and commaunded over Spaine untill the very end of the reigne and governement of Baleus the Babylonians eleventh king which was by just reckoning and account the time of seventeene yeares In the first yeare of the raigne of Altades the twelfth king of Babylonia Hispanus the nephew of Hercules was established king and sole ruler over the dominions of Spaine of whome the countrey then generally was called Hispania which the mallice of time hath not yet worne out but still it is knowne and called after the same name After him Hercules comming out of Italie fraught with yeares and many victories tooke upon him by the election and suffrages of all the people the rule government thereof And thus hath been lineally drawne foorth the first inhabitation of the countrey of Spaine with the particular and right successions of the kings and commaunders thereof as hath been warranted and allowed by writers of great antiquitie and industrious Chronographers of Spain where we will now surcease to wade any further having brought it unto the very times where wee last left our cheefe purpose and matter and will goe forward and proceed from hence untill wee shall nearer arrive at the time wherein Troy was first erected and founded following herein the same manner of method and forme with which wee first set forth and meane to continue unto the end by the favourable permission and allowance of the divine Majestie Hercules therefore ruling thus in Spaine built and erected many goodly cities and faire castles in that countrey wherupon at this day in some auncient records and monumentall schedules of Spaine you may read of another title given unto him which is Hercules edificator He was called also by these names as Her Hercol Arno Musarno and they thus signifie and are englished from the Hebrew tongue as S. Ierome and others expound it Her signifieth hairie Hercol all covered over with haire Arno signifieth a Lion and Musarno the portraiture or effigies of a Lyon and these names were thus ascribed unto him for that he alwaies wore for his upper garment the hairie skins of Lyons Beares Leopards and other such like beasts and for that on his shield or targuet was depainted and drawne the shape and forme of a Lyon and which in all his wars and attempts hee alwaies caried about him with some he was called the knight of the ramping Lyon The town of Vetulonia called also Viterbe caused the picture of Hercules to bee stamped and imprinted on their coine which continued unto the time of the raigne and governement of the last king of the Lumbards who then abollished the remembrance therof by any such representation or means of memorie After the time of some nineteene yeares or thereabouts as most writers doe alleadge having governed with all love and obedience of the people Hercules died leaving all those countries thereabouts heavily lamenting the losse and departure of so noble and gallant a conqueror which was about the time of his owne age three hundred and fiftie yeares and after he had reigned and commaunded in Fraunce Italie and Spaine threescore and seven yeares In solemne remembrance of whose generally deplored death the people of Spaine erected many must sumptuous and costly monuments and bestowed upon him a wonderfull rich and stately tombe which as some hold was built hard by that place which as wee now call them the Gades pillars or columns of Hercules are seated upon being not far from the famous streights of Gibraltar Vnto him also after his death they attributed very godlike honors and tearms of veneration and reverence so was hee possessed while hee lived among mortals with the love and opinion of all those people therabouts and wheresoever else he had governed and commanded And more of this so far renowmed conquerour Hercules shall not at this time bee declared whose victories triumphes exploits would indeed require a small volume of themselves being so many so glorious so worthie deserving in the perfection of their owne merit to be insculpt in the brasse leaved booke of time-resisting and endlesse perpetuitie And now we will revert our pen to speake of his two famous sons Tuscus king of Italie and Galatheus king of Fraunce and of their issue and posteritie But first is to be understood that unto the kingdome of Spaine next after Hercules succeeded Hesperus beeing the twelfth king and governor thereof who was brother unto the renoumed Atlas whome hereafter occasion will bee presented to speake and entreat of It hath been before declared and mentioned how that the great Monarch and Emperour Hercules dispossessing himselfe voluntarily of two royall mighty kingdomes placed and instituted therein his two sons Tuscus and Galatheus who long time after lived reciprocally reigned together in their severall commaunds and governement in all peace quiet and tranquilitie And to shew and manifest this their love
in those countries destributing unto every number certaine quarters to remaine in and after this time in short space many countries were againe reinhabited and peopled afresh which since the floud were desolat and lay naked and depopulat About the one and twentieth yeare of this his returne from the above written voyage Noe began to divide kingdomes also to erect monarchies in the world of which the first was the monarchie of Babylon over the which Nembroth the Giant the sonne of his nephew Cus who was the sonne of Cham was first of all established in the hundred and one and thirtieth year after the inundation and hee was called the first Saturne or king over the Babylonians and Assyrians who afterward in a faire Campania called Sennaar laid the foundation and erected the great tower and citie of Babell which he had caused to be built even to the height of the highest mountaines but after by the confusion of languages it was given over and left unfinished Nembroth after this lived in peace and tranquilitie 56 yeares Not many years after the setting up of the monarchie of Babylon Noe divided foure particular kingdomes in Europe viz. the kingdome of Italie Spain Fraunce and of Almaigne for in Italie raigned Comerus Gallus the eldest sonne of Iaphet in Spaine ruled Tuball called also Iuball the fifteenth sonne of Iaphet in Fraunce Samothes surnamed Dis Iaphets fourth sonne and over Almaign now called Germanie governed the Giant Tuyscon one of the sonnes of Noe. And so likewise in many other places of the world were severall governements and kingdomes then erected which now to recite were tedious and impertinent to our purpose every one of them a long time kept and were contented with their quarters so allotted unto them and imposed lawes and edicts unto their people and they called the countrey after their own name as also many mountaines rivers and townes were so entearmed to the end that all succeeding posteritie might know by what meanes and by whome such citties and other monuments receaved their first ground and foundation After these kingdomes and governements erected and the earth now againe well peopled Noe now undertaketh his second voiage into Europe leaving Sabatius Saga his nephew and brother to Nembroth king of Babylon to governe and commaund over the countrey of Armenia from whence hee now departeth with purpose to visit his children and to know of their estates And this Sabatius Saga called also Saturne had all the countrey even unto the land of Bactria lying towards India at this day called Tartaria under his rule and authoritie These things at home thus established Noe surnamed Ianus with his wife Titea and many multitudes of people besides began his voyage which was eight score and nine yeares after the floud and in the eight and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of Nembroth towards Hyrcania which he then peopled and called them after his owne name Ianij From thence he came to Mesopotamia where also he left behind him many people to inhabit and from thence he attained the countrey called Arabia Foelix where he erected two citties the one called Noa the other Ianinea furnishing them with inhabitants after hee passed from thence and came into Affrica which part of the world hee first assigned unto the governement and soveraignetie of his second sonne Cham but at that time there ruled Triton the sonne of Saba which was the son of Cus the eldest sonne of the same Cham. This Triton receaved Noe and his companie with great joy and gladnesse of hart and he staied there some halfe a year in which time Triton died and left his sonne Hammon inheritour to the kingdome of Affrica otherwise called Lybia After this Noe passed forward and at the length arrived in Spaine which was two hundred fiftie nine yeares after the floud and in the tenth yeare of the raigne of Ninus the third king of Babylon Iuball or Tuball the fift son of Iaphet and the first king of Spaine as all hystories do affirme received his grandfather Noe Ianus and his grandmother Tytea with honorable entertainement and all gladsome willingnesse who also were exceeding joyfull to see the prosperous estate of their nephew Iuball for so much as they found that hee governed his people with great justice policie and good lawes as Berosus in a certaine place alleadgeth saying Anno Nini quarto Tuyscon gigas Sarmatas legibus format apud Rhenum Idipsum agit Iubal apud Celtiberos hoc est Hispanos Samothes apud Celtas Noe therefore to helpe his nephew for the better peopling of his countrey founded there two great citties calling the one Noela and the other Noegla in remembrance and honour of those his two faire daughters so called beeing the wives of Iaphet and Cham after this departed for Italie to his nephew or grand child Comerus Gallus the first sonne of Iaphet whom before he had appointed to bee king of that countrey In this voyage and in his remaine in Spaine were spent nine yeares Now it is not written whether he went this journey into Italie by land or sea notwithstanding it is very likely and agreeth with good probabilitie that in this his voyage he would not passe by without visiting the wise prince his nephew Samothes the brother of Iuball king of Spaine who was by his appointment created the first king of Fraunce as is before touched and hee had raigned about this time sixe score yeares and lived after this in peace and tranquillitie five and thirtie yeares and upward The second time of the comming of Ianus thus into Italie was in the time of his age eight hundred and threescore yeares and now eight score since his last departure from thence where thinking to find Comerus Gallus hee now understood that he was dead and that his son Cham contrarie to the appointment of Noe not contented with the soveraigne domination of Affrica had there wrongfully usurped the siegnorie of Italie and had now commaunded over that countrey five and twentie yeares or therabouts and which was worse as all the other kings in Europe had instructed and governed their people in civilitie manners and education hee contrarie to such their good examples had most abhominably corrupted the youth of Italie with all manner of impieties vices and odious sinnes which he with the helpe of those people called Aborigines which he brought along with him to people the countrey made them to embrace entertain and live in Noe upon the knowledge of this waxt marvellous heavie and discontent as sorrowing for the ungodlinesse of his owne sonne and suffered him thus for the space of three years to continue therin hoping dayly to see some amendment or other in him but finding him to persever therin and rather to encrease in it than otherwise hee banisht him with a certaine number of people with him from out the confines of Italie from whence departed hee arrived in the Island of Sicilia where hee with his companie long after
battell utterly subdue them which victorie was atchieved hard by the river Oris in Arabia and in the same place where Osyris himselfe slew the mightie Gyant and tyrant Antheus The world being thus delivered of the perverse generation of Cham Isis remained a peacefull and secure governesse and queene over Aegypt which shee compassed as well by her owne pollicies and devises as by the valour and hardie prowesse of her children of which the cheefest and most valiant was called Hercules of Lybia of whome now withdrawing my pen for a while to speake further of Isis I will more amply entreat Hercules therefore the most valourous and courageous young prince after hee had by this meanes revenged the death of his father Osyris upon his uncle Typhon and the rest of his associates began now to have a feeling of this owne power and vigour and undertaketh many most tedious voyages to scour all places of the world from the tyrannie and oppression of such inhumane and impious tyrants and first he passed through the province of Phoenicia where he slew the tyrant Busyris the sonne of him whom Osyris before had slaine From thence he went into Phrygia where Troy afterward was built and there overcame the young tyrant Tipheus and he gave the governement of that country to his own son Athus which he begat of a ladie called Omphale as hereafter shall bee declared Likewise he vanquisht the Gyant Mylinus the younger king of the Island of Candia and from thence hee came into Affrica since called Barbaria of which hee named most part of it Lybia after his owne name which before was called Phutea and there in memory of his conquests hee erected a columne and stately pinacle From hence passing through the streights of Gibraltar hee arrived in Spaine where upon his first landing hee fought bodie to bodie against the three Gerions which were brothers and joint commaunders and kings of Spaine those also hee overcame and slew and created his sonne Hispalus king and ruler of that countrey which was now the ninth king thereof and of whom the citie Hispalis now called Sivile in Spaine tooke her name and was so called After this Hercules determined to make a journey into Italie there also to purchase further fame and reputation by suppressing the tyrannie of those that there then lived according to their owne will power and mightinesse In this his jorney towards Italie by land he passeth through the kingdome called Regnum Celticum then called also Gaule and at this day is knowne and nominated by the name of Fraunce of the antiquitie of which countrey before wee come to speake of his arrivall in Italie having so fit occasion we will in this place something remember First therefore we must find out and know in what time and in what age this famous Hercules of Lybia passed through the countrey in this his journey for so much as it is not written of any certainetie or by any authenticke author That hee ever journeied through this kingdome before although some doe hold That hee went that way into Spaine with his father Iupiter surnamed Iustus in the reigne of Lucus the eight king of Gaule as hath been before somewhat commemorated and this matter may bee easily and evidently discovered by comparing the times wherein Hispalus was established and made king of Spain with those succeeding of which Johannes Annius Iohannes Annius of Viterbe a most excellent writer diligent Hystoriographer in his Chronicles of Spaine sayth That the same Hispalus was crowned and invested in the kingdome of Spaine by his father Hercules in the six and thirtieth yeare of Baleus the second of that name the eleventh king of Babylonia which was after the floud five hundred fourescore and ten years before the foundation of Troy two hundred threescore and one and before the incarnation of Christ a thousand seven hundred and seven and twenty for Hercules was born presently after the death of Ninus the third king of Babylon from whose death unto the six and thirtieth yeare of Baleus the eleventh king were just two hundred fourescore and ten yeares so that by this meanes it may clearely bee perceived in what time and in what age this Lybian Hercules so arrived in Gaule being presently after the coronation of his sonne Hispalus in Spaine At this very time therefore of his comming into Gaule which wee will now hereafter call Fraunce reigned and governed in that countrey as their king and commander one called by the name of Iupiter Celtes the sonne of king Lucus whom before we a little touched who exceeded all others in riches in those dayes and was marvellous wealthie in sheepe in cattell and in pasturage which were all the goods and possessions that princes in those times abounded in in that countrey for then silver or gold was not there known jewels and rare stones were disesteemed no tributes were paied no taxes or impositions laid upon the subjects all things without deceit art or any villanous invention of mans braine were peaceably enjoyed And to confirme this their ignorance of silver and such mettals Diodorus Siculus thus sayth That the sheepheards of this king Iupiter Celtes attending their flockes on the top of those mountaines which devide the kingdome of Fraunce from that of Spaine called Pyrenci espied on the suddain on the one side of the furthermost hils certaine liquid moisture to run downe in hastie streames into the vallies below and at the higher part of that mountaine certaine flames of fire in most furious manner to shew themselves in so much that very hard rockes and stonie substances on that mountaine were dissolved and were melted with the extremitie of the heat and riscaldation of those fires which also ceased not but continued in that strange maner many moneths together The silly and simple understanding of these sheepeheards by no meanes assumed any apprehension of this so straunge working of nature but entertained it as a matter exceeding their capacitie and reach of judgement and therefore passed it over with the lesser woonder in that they acknowledged in themselves so deepe an imperfection and want of knowledge But it so fortuned That certaine merchants of Phoenicia travelling along those coasts and perceiving that that mettal must needs be good which so distilled and tumbled downe from the tops of those mountains being as many old writers alleadge the mettall of silver began to feele the dispositions of those all ignorant sheepeheards and to come to some composition and friendly tearmes for exchaunge of some wares they had with that mettall which those hils in that plentie so affourded and yeelded forth The poore sheepeheards as I told you before not capable of the true value thereof for matters of very little worth which those merchants then had exchaunged the one for the other without any suspect of disadvantage or ill bargaine on their sides and therupon the Phoenicians laded and fraughted their ships then abiding in a port or haven not farre
first inhabited and peopled in the hundred and eight yeare after the generall floud After this his returne into Armenia having there rested himselfe some one and twentie yeares hee began to invent the foundations of great citties and to establish kingdomes and siegnories throughout the world so that in the hundred and two and thirtieth year after the deluge he first erected and appointed the monarchie of the Babylonians of which the first king was called Nembroth Noes cousin and about the thirteenth yeare of the raigne of this Nembroth hee instituted and established for the king of the Gaules one other of his kinsmen called Samothes surnamed Dis the fourth sonne of Iaphet a man very wise and well governed Samothes therefore accordingly tooke his leave of the Patriarke Noe his grandmother Titea of his father Iaphet and of his mother Noegla and the rest of his kindred and set forward toward his kingdome and governement with all expedition possible carying along with him diverse sorts of cattell poultrey and other things necessarie for the maintaining and conservation of mankind which kind of things were all the riches treasures that men desired to possesse in those daies and thus with all his traine familie and followers hee taketh shipping in the sea called Marc major and in the end by the favorable assistance of prosperous winds he arrived within the confines of Gaule which was some seven thirtie yeares after his first being there with his grandfather Noe and about eightscore and foure yeares after the deluge by which it may bee understood That this Samothes the fourth sonne of Iaphet was little lesse than seven score yeares of age when he now last visited the countrey Samothes therfore now entred into his own kingdome with his wife children and followers and also his horses kine and other things necessarie began to settle himselfe therein and to give out edicts and breefe commaunds what he would have done and performed in this his countrey which was done in the yeare after the floud above written and about two thousand fourescore and thirteene yeares before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ The countrey was very much peopled by this time and great encreases of all other things there were found upon his now comming for it was now seven and thirty yeares past since Noe left people there first to inhabit and multiplie which in such a time grew to great abundance of all things whatsoever His welcome and entertainement was wonderous gladly accepted of those people and men of the countrey who acknowledged him as their Lord their Patriarke their cheefe and their Saturne which names in those daies were given as titles only of honor excellence and dignitie as Zenophon in his Aequivocals also sayth Saturni dicuntur familiarium nobilium regum qui urbes condiderunt Primogeniti eorum vocantur Ioves Iunones vero Nepotes eorum Hercules fortissimi cetera It may now very well bee imagined that those people having so long time lived without a governour king or particular commaunder must of necessitie bee very rude uncivile obstinat and barbarous living onely according to the lawes of Nature and following their owne wils desires and concupiscence Yet notwithstanding Samothes by faire and gentle demeanures mild cariages so woon their hearts unto him that they became easily reclaimed and brought to be docible and obedient to what precepts or commaunds were imposed upon them and upon this hee devised lawes and ordinances for domesticke conversation which he caused to bee made plaine unto the people who at the first something wondered at so straunge alterations having so many yeares together lived without any cheefe or any lawes to curbe or bridle their naturall fantasies and disordinat affections And these lawes were made in the fourth yeare of the raigne of Ninus the third king of Babylon at what time also Tuyscon the Gyant his uncle king of Almaigne and Tuball king of Spaine did the like instructing their people very industriously in the rules of Philosophie Physicke and Astronomie which they themselves had learned of their grandfather Noe and their father Iaphet And if it bee here demaunded what kind of writings they then used Berosas doth answere that they were certaine Phoenician characters letters which also were used in Armenia which were very like unto those which Cadmus long time after brought from Phoenicia into Greece and therefore Iulius Caesar in his sixt booke of Commentaries sayth That the Gaules did use in those times Greeke letters for their manner of writing but undoubtedly those characters were found long time before they were ever knowne in Greece as Zenophon and many other authors confidently doe affirme Samothes surnamed Dis living thus in all tranquilitie and peaceable securitie among his people ceased not dayly to possesse their hearts with strong opinions of the worth and value of learning for it is written that hee was the wisest and most learned prince in the world in those times as Berosus also alloweth when he thus sayth Samothes qui Dis vocatur Celtas colonias fundavit nec erat quis etate illa isto sapientior ac propterea Samothes dictus est Among other his rules of Philosophie and learning one was beeing the cheefest hee taught the people That the soules of men were immortall which before they hardly beleeved as men dwelling in the shade of ignorance and invelloped with darke mists of errour After he had thus established lawes and ordinances for the good governement of his country and all his people enjoying peaceably the fruits of quietnesse after the end of seven and fortie yeares he rendered up unto Nature that debt which could not be any longer kept backe and detained and left his eldest sonne called Magus inherit or unto his kingdome and governement which was in the one and fiftieth yeare of the raigne of Nynus the third king of Babylon and when his father Samothes had commaunded that countrey sevenscore five yeares being at his death about three hundred yeares of age or much thereabout This Samothes was of that esteeme in those dayes and so generally reverenced and loved for his vertues through all that countrey that the Gaulois or Frenchmen even unto the time of Iulius Caesar boasted and gloried of nothing so much as that they were descended and issued from him so highly was he possest of the peoples hearts in the greatest opinion of truest love the which thing also Iulius Caesar in the sixt booke of his Commentaries more copiously remembreth In his time also the sects of Philosophie first tooke their beginning and originall in Europe and were called Samothees which were men studied and expert in all letters humane and divine contrarie to the opinion of many who write that Greece was the first mother and bringer forth of arts and sciences But Diogenes Laertius in the beginning of his booke entituled The lives of the Philosophers contradicteth those suppositions saying Philosophiam à Barbaris initia sumpsisse complures
speake of more than that hee begat a son called Iupiter Celtes the ninth king of Fraunce and father to the faire and beautious gyantesse Galathea whom before wee so largely spoke of and remembred And it is by computation and due reckoning found that since the first Saturn and king of Fraunce called Samothes surnamed Dis unto the raign of Iupiter Celtes were about four hundred years And now having thus lineally drawne the succession of every king of this countrey since the first inhabitation thereof untill this Iupiter Celtes and so consequently unto his sonne in law Hercules of Lybia now the tenth king of Fraunce we will proceed with him now employed about his affaires in Italie and with his issue and posteritie as it is delivered by authours of great worth learning and authoritie It hath been before somewhat touched how Hercules passing through those mountainous places of the countrey of Savoy at length arrived in Italie where having a puissant armie hee presently fell to wars with the Gyants called Lestrigones most bloudie cruell and oppressive tyrants and the murderers or consenting aidants unto the death of his father Osyris surnamed Iupiter Iustus With these powerfull commaunders in that countrey he entertained many fights and found them very resolute prepared to endure the uttermost of his mightinesse and strength yet in the end after a ten yeares wars he victoriously triumphed over them and utterly razed out all their issue and posteritie whatsoever and the place wherein his last battell against these Gyants was fought in retaineth still his old name and is yet called The valley of the Gyants which is hard adjoyning unto the cittie called Tuscanella in Tuscania These civile intestine broiles being thus valiantly and successefully appeased Hercules remained a quiet and peaceable possessor of all the countrey of Italie wherein he raigned and continued for the space of twenty yeares much about the time that his father Osyris his grandfather Cham and his great grandfather Noe had there commaunded in which time hee bestowed many gracious and commodious good turnes upon the people of that countrey and built and erected many gallant and famous cities although the most part of them bee at this day by the all consuming tyrannie of Time ruinated spoiled and decayed He also at this time caused the Island of Sardinia to be peopled frequented and inhabited which untill that time lay wast depopulate and barbarous and in this place hee appointed a ruler called Iolaus to commaund as under him that countrey and those people so committed unto him Hee likewise caused through most part of Italie especially in the moorish wettest places thereof many ditches and trenches to bee cast up that thereby the palludious meres and standing lakes might find passages to emptie their flouds and that the fields and bastures by that meanes might be preserved drie and be made more fit for agriculture tillage and other necessarie encreases for the generall profit and good of all the whole countrey thereabouts and of him the river Arnus taketh name for Hercules was also surnamed Musarnus and he lived for the most part of the time that he spent in that countrey in a cittie called Fesula in Tuscania which citie even at this day though not in that glory as heretofore giveth the armes of Hercules Italie being thus freed from the servitude wherein it lived of those ungodly and uncivile Gyants and beeing now brought to a generall quietnesse ease and prosperous estate Hercules determined with himselfe to send for both of his eldest sonnes to establish the one in the principalitie of Italie the other in the kingdome of France and hee to take his journey once againe into Spaine to which countrey hee was much addicted there to live privately and to spend the rest of his yeares to come in peace pleasantnesse and in all content Whereupon hee dispatched messengers to his wife Galathea then remaining in Fraunce as hath been before spoken of to send him presently his sonne Galatheus being now of mans estate and very able to beare armes Other messengers were dispatched into Scythia now called Tartaria there to seek out his eldest sonne Tuscus then remaining with the queene Araxa queene of Scythia inhabiting those countries which lie upon the floud Tanais and by the moores and water-lakes called Meotides Vpon the commandement of king Hercules Galathea his wife presently sent unto him his son Galatheus into Italie accompanied with the greatest men of Fraunce who was very joyously welcommed unto his father with great feasts and signes of gladnesse for he was now growne up unto a gallant big proportion of bodie and comely feature and was also of a very gentle and gracious disposition mild in his demeanures and yet majesticall and of a spirit-promising aspect throughout all his countenance Not long after him arrived his elder brother Tuscus from Tartaria who also was of a mightie corpulencie and extraordinarie large stature whom indeed Hercules had begot in the very prime of his youth and vigorous lustinesse Vpon the meeting of these two a great court or assembly of great lords and princes was held in all pompe glorie and magnificence where in the presence of all the noble Lords and Barons of diverse countries and governments as of Aegypt Lybia now called Affrica Spaine Fraunce Italie and Tartaria with great solemnities rites and ceremonies Tuscus was created and established the sole king Saturne and commaunder of all the countrey of Italie and hee was there invested in the dignitie of Ceritus that is as much to say as Iupiter crowned or Patriarke of Tuscania the yonger brother Galatheus aged about six and thirtie yeares or thereabouts was preferred also at that time unto the rule and governement of the kingdome of Fraunce All which ceremonies were performed with great triumph state and royaltie and kept in the citie of Viterba in the yeare after the universall inundation of the world six hundred and five and twentie before the foundation of Troy ninescore and one yeares and before the incarnation of Christ a thousand six hundred fortie eight These things thus solemnely consummated and Hercules voluntarily dispossessing himselfe of these two such imperiall crowns After he had delivered some instructions principles of good government to these new erected kings Tuscus and Galatheus after a generall conge of them all he took his journey towards Spaine to the great discontent and greese of all the cheefe Barons and also of the Plebeians throughout all the countrey of Italie but beeing now arrived in Spaine he found his son Hâ—spalus which hee himselfe had before established in that kingdome to be dead who had reigned onely seventeene yeares and that after him succeeded his nephew Hispanus the seventeenth king of Spaine and the first of that name who called the country after his owne name Hispania which name it ever since hath retained for before that time it was called Hâ—beria This Hispanus raigned afterwards some two and thirtie yeares
they are among the rest of the fables which the Grecians used inserted for it is nothing likely that the use of yron beeing in those times found out he would have used any such inferiour meanes of defence for the safetie of his bodie This assertion also maketh cleane contrarie against him for Hercules of Lybia was borne before the destruction of Troy according to the computation of the Aegyptian yeares above tenne thousand yeares but Alceus not fully two thousand as Diodorus in his first booke of Time alleadgeth which manner of computation and reckoning of the Aegyptians if we wil reduce to the order and rule observed by the Chaldeans Scythians Hebrewes and Ianigenae which is by the circular circumference and revolution of the Sunne accounting it as we now reckon we shall find that he was borne presently after the king of Babylon called Ninus which is according to our latter observation some eight hundred yeares before the overthrow and ruine of Troy which maketh up the number proportion of ten thousand yeares held and observed among the Aegyptians by which we may perceive the great distance of time that was betweene these two famous personages Hercules Egiptius or Libicus the sonne of Osyris surnamed Iupiter Iustus and Hercules Graecus or Alceus or as some hold the son of Amphitrio and Alcmena or the son by adulterous meanes as some others doe thinke of one called Iupiter Graecus But having now thus farre digressed from the maine entendement wee will returne to the prosecuting thereof The continuance of the raigne of the above written Iubalda king of Spaine dured from the foure and thirtith yeare of the raigne of Semiramis the Babylonian Empresse untill the eighteenth yeare of Arius which is in the whole about the time of threescore and foure yeares as by the diligent carefull collections both of Eusebius and Berosus is clearely approoved And about this time the Patriarke Abraham beeing about the age of a hundred yeares is borne his son Isaack Isaack born as all hystories for the most part give record and mention In the governement of this king Iubalda no memorable act done in that countrey is left written by hystorians Vnto the kingdome of Spaine next after him succeeded Brygus which was in the eighteenth yeare of the late specified Arius the Babylonians sixt king which is from the first inhabitation of Spaine two hundred threescore and seven yeares and before the foundation of Troy four hundred and thirtie This word Brygus with the Arameans and Armenians is called Castellum And the Etruscians at this day with whome many words of the Aramen language remaine call a castle Bricola by changing the letter g into c. This king Brygus as Berosus other writers affirme founded and erected many townes and great castles in the kingdome of Spaine as Ptolomie also copiously hath delivered as in the countrey of Lusitania there are castles called at this day Laccobryga Mirobryga and others And in the province of Taracona a towne called Brygantum Volubryga and many others sounding and ending after the name of the king Brygus Plinie sayth in his fift booke of naturall hystorie Plinie that many old writers do affirme That a certain people called Brygi in Europe travelled into Asia and there builded a citie and called it Brygios which afterwards by chaunging the letter B into P was called Phrygios and that the Phrygians afterwards from these people tooke their first originall and being of whome issued that famous progenie of the Trojanes so gloriously renowmed throughout the world and this king Brygus reigned in all securitie and peace untill the first yeare of the reigne of Balaneus the eight king of Babylon which was about two and fiftie yeares or near therabouts The fift king of Spaine was Tagus as Berosus and Diodorus deliver and he began his rule and government before the nativitie of Christ a thousand eight hundred threescore and five yeares before the building of Troy threescore and eighteene yeares after the first peopling of Spaine three hundred and nine yeares And of this kings name that far-famed river Tagus taketh her name in which as Plinie and Solynus report were found many golden sands heaped together in many places of that river This king with many authours is called also Tagum Orma and Moyses by synoereicall composition tearmeth him Tagorma as Ptolomie and many other writers of great worth and credite more particularly have spoken of the same and this Tagus reigned in the kingdome of Spain about the time of thirtie yeares by all due computation and conferring of consent of times and as Berosus affirmeth the same In the first yeare of the reigne of Armatritis the ninth king of the Babylonians and Assyrians the rule and governement of the kingdome of Spaine fell and came unto Betus of whom afterwards a great part of that country tooke her name and was knowne by the name of Baetica The Etruscians by transposition and division of ae cal him Beatus which with the Latines signifies happie or blessed The Hebrewes derive this word Betus from Behin which as S. Ierome interprets it meaneth as much as locus vitae meae id est foelic tatis â—ptatae and from hence it is likely that in this countrey some supposed the Elesian fields to be and so also thereby many other such like suppositions arose which to decide would here bee tedious and too much digression from the matter entended This king Betus raigned seven and thirtie yeares as Berosus and other authors doe alleadge After him in the eight and thirtith yeare of Armatritis above mentioned Gerion surnamed Aser challenged unto him the rule and domination of the countrey of Spain wherein it is written he governed with great tyrannie and oppression of the inhabitants thereof intruding himselfe by violent and forcible means into the possession and governement of that kingdome This word Gerion signifies in the Hebrew tongue as much as advena in Latin which he manifested more plainely by comming from Mauritania into this kingdome of Spaine and ruling there like a straunger according to his owne will desire and mightinesse Berosus as also Diodorus Siculus doth affirme That he had another name also which in the Aramen Mauritanian language was Deabo in the Greeke Chryseo in Latine Aureo which first of all came of his great wealth and store of gold in which he most wonderously abounded in those daies and this Gerion reigned thus in this his usurped authoritie untill the eight and twentith yeare of the raigne of Belochus the tenth king and ruler of Babylonia which was about the time of three thirtie years or near therabouts Immediatly after him three brethren together tooke the rule and government of this countrey of Spaine into their hands which were called Deabi Lomnimi which word as S. Ierome expoundeth it signifieth the cheefes or rulers of armies and which wee call by the name of the three Gerions beeing indeed the sons of the
in the kingdome of Spaine he appointed one of his sonnes to reign called Sicorus which was now by just account the foureteenth king thereof When these things were thus done he went also into Sicilia as Galatheus before had done and there for a while he rested himselfe till at the length he returned againe backe into Italie wherin afterwards he lived many yeares This Italus Atlas by his descent was of the linage of Iaphet and of his sonne Comerus Gallus the first king of Italie and it was hee which according to the opinions of many excelled most of all men then living in the knowledge of Astrologie for which cause the busie Poets fained that he supported and upheld the heavens with his shoulders Altheus all this while was suppressed and kept under by the mightinesse of this ruler by reason whereof hystories cannot speake of any worthie matter done or performed by him onely it is written he builded and erected two very large and beautifull cities one of them called Alteta the other Althea with a castle also called after the same name And this Altheus the sonne of Tuscus before specified was uncle unto Dardanus the first builder and founder of Troy Hee had also a sonne called Blascon but it is not read that hee was afterward Coritus that is king of Italie or commanded in any extraordinary power and authoritie but that this Atlas Italus created and established one of his owne sonnes called Morges in the dignitie and office thereof wrongfully disinheriting the true heires that might lawfully have challenged the same so that by this unjust meanes of usurpation greatnesse the line and issue of Hercules was debarred from the possessing and enjoying of what rightfully belonged unto them Also he created and appointed his daughter called Rhoma as dutchesse and commaundresse of the people and nation called Aborigines of whome heretofore wee something spoke of And this Rhoma was afterward maried to a prince of Tuscane of whom she had a son called after her owne name Rhomanessos who was the first that ever laid the first foundation of the citie of Rome as Sempronius very confidently affirmeth condemning all those which attribute the first founding thereof unto Romulus who sayth hee indeed beautified and enlarged the same but was not the first that laid the foundation thereof and that his name Romulus being himselfe found hard by that cittie by wonderous accident tooke his name of Roma and not Roma of Romulus as the above written authour Sempronius a very sufficient writer and some others also of allowed authoritie have averred the same And the interpretation of this word Rhomanessos as S. Ierome the Talmudists and many others doe expound it is as much as Magna aut potens sublimitas a mightie or powerfull height or glorie beeing compounded of two severall words of the Aramean language Roma which interpreted signifies sublimitas and Nesson which is validum or magnum or as some understand it it signifieth validum augurium which is a strong and infallible prophecie which indeed the exceeding greatnesse all subjugating power mightinesse of that Empire did afterwards very fitly answer and make good being raised unto that infinit greatnesse and highest perfection of soveraignetie that it impelled almost the greater part of the world to sue unto her for favour and to become tributarie in great taxes and impositions unto her seat magnificence And this citie also was called long after by the name of Valentia of which now wee will cease further to entreat returning to the matter before handled of Atlas surnamed Italus now flourishing and commaunding over Italie in great puissance glorie and mightinesse who although as it is alreadie before specified he bore great affection favour and love unto his sonne Morges and had established him in the regaltie and kingdome of Italie as Coritus yet hee began in the end to thinke and meditat with himself how apparent and monstrous wrongs and indignities hee had offered to all the issue and posteritie of Hercules in expelling Altheus and depriving his sonne Blascon of his right in the principalitie of that countrey in those thoughts and humors hee caused to be called unto him Camboblascon the sonne of the beforementioned Blascon the sonne of Altheus and in lieu and recompence of all former and forepassed injuries hee gave unto him one of his owne daughters in mariage and matrimoniall association who was called Electra with whome in dowrie hee gave all those townes and countries lying about the Alpes and the hether mountaines nearest confining upon Italie and upon this presently after died After whose death his sonne Morges possessed belike with holy and religious cogitations acknowledging the mightie wrong and disparagement which his father had imposed on his brother in law Camboblascon in depriving him of his rightfull succession willingly and voluntarily despoiled himselfe of his crowne and commaund and transferred it upon Camboblascon whom presently hee caused to bee created and established in the dignitie of Coritus that is the Iupiter or king of Italie and so after that contented himselfe to live privately and obscurely with his brother in law and sister Electra with whome hee had not many yeares lived and conversed but hee died and paied Nature that debt which no sureties can put off or be bound for and so then Camboblascon was with more generall allowances of the people fully invested in his office and place of Coritus which is as much to say as Iupiter Coronatus as I have alreadie made known and which I cannot almost too often expound in that many have made so many and severall doubts and scrupules What these Iupiters Saturnes and Hercules might meane which names indeed are nothing else but titles of honour superioritie and dignitie and Iupiter was such as in Aegypt Pharoa and in Rome Caesar and as now their Pope for Iupiter is as much as Iuvans pater and Papa Pater patrium And whereas the superstitious people in those dayes honored and reverenced them as gods it was nothing else but for some excellencie and great dignitie they possessed or for some great vertue learning and knowledge they were then endued with as Fabius Pictor and Zenophon have delivered the same saying Principes quia iusti erant religionibus dediti iure habiti dij dicti Non enim arbitria illorum ab equo vel populis à iure innato discedebant Now then having satisfied that point we may the more boldly proceed with our intendment and with the matters of this Camboblascon king of Italie and Iupiter and Patriarke thereof and the great father as they say of the famous and renowmed Trojans And this king built the faire cittie of Montoblascon in Tuscania which by corruption is now called and knowne by the name of Montflascon and another also which hee named Coritus now called Cornete which is situated about some fortie miles from the now mightie cittie of Rome And this Camboblascon had by his wise Electra
the daughter of Atlas Italus king of Italie three children which are these Iasius Dardanus and Armonia Iasius being created Coritus and Patriarke of Italie his father being alive who also bestowed upon him the rule and kingdome of Fraunce as many hystoriographers affirm the next yeare after so that he became very mightie and powerfull in all those countries thereabouts And now we will proceed with the rest of the kings of Fraunce beginning where we last left of which was if it bee remembred at Galatheus the noble sonne of Hercules of Lybia and of his faire wife Galathea where it was then mentioned how this Galatheus at the hands of his loving brother Tuscus received the Island of Sicilia and accordingly caried with him people to inhabite and possesse the countrey which being performed he returned also back again into Fraunce as hath been likewise before somewhat touched after which time hee lived peaceably and quietly many yeares governing his people with great mildnesse and clemencie and yet mingled and accompanied with uprightnesse of justice and execution of his laws and edicts of whose deeds and performances more than are alreadie spoken of few or no writers have mentioned onely that of him and of his name the countrey generally was called Gaule and so continued and the people therof tearmed Gaulons which by corruption and overturning of many ages and times are now in some part of that countrey called Wallons and which before Galatheus were called Samothei or Celti And it is most likely by the conjecturall opinions of most writers that this king Galatheus remained and lived in those dayes for the most part in that part of Gaule which is now the province of Acquitaine which is so called of the abundance of waters and rivers wherein that countrey was wont to exceed and that this place was held to be the first and most auncient of all the other parts of Fraunce which indeed are onely two more for that the whole countrey of France is by most devided onely into three parts and they are called Gallia Acquinatica Celtica and Belgica which of themselves retaine and carie the very names of the first kings and rulers of them as before is something specified The cheefe citties and principall siegnories of Gallia Aquinatica The cheefe cities of Gallia Acquinatica are supposed and held to bee these as most auncient writers doe consent Narbon Thoulouse Caours Rodetz Lymoges Perigort Bourdeaulx Zainctes Augolesme Baione Clermont Bourges Tours Foix Lestore Allebreth Saint Pons Nantes Resnes Saint Malo and others The cheefest rivers and waters these Gironde Dordonne Garonne Loire Lalier Cher Charente many others now too long to recite After the death of the famous and most renowmed prince Galatheus his sonne Harbon tooke upon him the governement of the countrey and was established the twelfth king of Fraunce who presently erected and built a very gallant cittie for his seat and called it Harbonne after his owne name which is now called Narbonne as many authours doe affirme And of this king little or nothing is left written memorable or meriting a tedious commemoration or rehearsall onely hee left behind him a son called Lugdus which was now the thirteenth king of this countrey of Fraunce and who built the famous citie called Lugdunum called also Lyon which is now one of the cheefest and principallest cities of France and which hath long time flourished in great priviledges prerogatives and extraordinarie customes beeing a citie indeed tres-auncient and of long continuance and of her name all that province is called Lyonnoise which as some hold is contained within the bounds of Gallia Celtica and is the greatest and the cheefest part thereof The first foundation building of the cittie of Lyons in Fraunce And this citie of Lyons was first founded and erected by the same king Lugdus in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of Mancaleus the foureteenth king of Babylon which is as much to say as after the floud inundation of the whole world sixe hundred and fourescore yeares after the first inhabiting of Fraunce five hundred and sixteene yeares before the foundation of the cittie of Troy one hundred and fortie yeares and before the now famous citie of Paris was erected two hundred and twentie years before Rome was built five hundred threescore and eighteene yeares and before the incarnation and birth of our Saviour Christ a thousand sixe hundred seven and thirtie yeares or neare thereabouts And in the times of this king Lugdus arrived and came into Fraunce the queene Isis who was so famous and so renowmed throughout all the world After this Lugdus succeded his eldest sonne Belgius now the foureteenth king of that countrey whose name is yet even fresh in all mens memories for of his name that great and populous countrey called Gallia Belgica tooke her title and was so called of which as of the other we will now make some mention The cheefest rivers and waters thereof are these Lescault la Sambre le Lis le Rin Meuse and Moselle Saine Marne Somme le Daulx and others the cheefe woods and forrests these Mormault and Ardenne The highest hils and mountaines are the hill Saint Claude les Faucsilles and Vosegus The principall villages and greatest citties are these Cambray Vallenciennes Couloign Conflans Vtrecht Mayence Strasbourg Aix Constance Lyege Tournay Arras Amiens Beauvais Senlis Laon Noyon Soissons Meaulx Rouan Rains Metz Langres Besancon Salins Dole Losanne Geneve and Camberi The cheefe siegnories are these the Dukedomes of Iulliers Cleves Cheldes Brabant Lorraine Bar Lembourg and Luxembourg the counties Palatine Haynau Bourgoigne Ferretes Montbeliard Flaunders Artois Champaine Holland Zeland and Namur This king Belgius of whome all these gallant and most famous countries were thus called builded also the citie of Belges of which now only some ruines and reliques of memorie are left which are to be seene in the countrey of Haynau and which Iulius Caesar likewise in the sixteenth booke of his Commentaries doth mention remember where he calleth it Belgium This word Belgius as many old writers expound it signifieth in the Hebrew or Phenician language which toung the ancient Gauloys then used as much as An auncient god wrastling for in those times as I alreadie have spoken the people called their kings gods by which it may be gathered that this their king Belgius was a great wrastler unto which kind of exercise and unto the barriers the people inhabiting in Gallia Belgica did not long since wonderfully much addict themselves were very active and skilfull therein howsoever at this day those sports for the most part are now utterly left off and rejected S. Ierom sayth also That this word Belga signifieth in the Hebrew tongue An auncient commotion or an old strife and indeed heretofore those people of that country were much conversant in wars in troubles and dissentions and were held to bee the most valiant and strongest nation of this part of the world as Caesar also
in his Commentaries alleadgeth to the same purpose saying Fortissimi autem omnium Belgi And Strabo in the fourth booke of his Commentaries also sayth thus Omnium Gallorum Belgi sunt summi as a people that in those times as it is written could bring into the field three hundred thousand fighting men And thus much for the descriptions of the people of the countrey called Gallia Belgica with the cheefest townes siegnories and rivers thereof and now we will looke back again for the prosecuting and finishing of our former matter In this king Belgius the line and race of Galatheus the sonne of Hercules Lybicus failed and was determinate so that upon his death the people of Fraunce beeing of themselves wonderfully desirous to elect one of that linage so near as it was possible bestowed the government and commaund of that countrey upon the above written Iasius Ianigena the sonne of Iupiter Camboblascon And so by that meanes Iasius was invested and established in that kingdome as the fifteenth king and Patriark thereof And in this yeare the realm kingdome of Athens in Greece was first set up and begun as Berosus our cheefly followed author in these matters of antiquitie averreth who thus saith Apud Ianigenas à patre Iasius creatus est Coritus anno sequente simul ceperent duo reges videlice primus Rex Athentensium Cecrops priscus Iasius Ianigena apud Celtas And this was about fourescore yeares or thereabouts before the first building and erection of the cittie of Troy Iasius Ianigena the eldest son of Iupiter Camboblascon as is before declared beeing thus so gloriously possessed of two such regall and powerfull kingdomes and being in the cheefest spring and blooming daies of his age contracted and joined in mariage with a noble and rich ladie called Ipitis Cibeles for the celebration of which nuptials and espousals great feasts and ceremonies of joy and triumph were held and kept and as some write performed in the cittie of Viterbe then the capitall seat of all Tuscania And this was before the foundation of Troy threescore and seventeene yeares in the presence of Dardanus the first builder thereof and brother to the new maried king Iasius Ianigena Many writers doe affirme That in this mariage were greater triumphs pastimes sports magnificencie state and pomp than in any other in those times throughout all the world whatsoever and cheefely in respect of that noble assembly and meeting of so many mightie and great princes and more particularly for the comming of the famous empresse and goddesse as they tearme her the Aegyptian Isis the daughter of Cham the wife of Iupiter Iustus otherwise called Osyris and the mother of that all renowmed and ever memorable conquerour Hercules of Lybia king and emperor of all Fraunce Italie and Spaine And this Isis there first taught those peple the manner of making bread of floure meale and such like stuffe although before that Osyris her husband had instructed them in knowledge of agriculture tilling and sowing corne yet they were not untill now perfected in the use and right applying thereof especially for the making of bread which they learned and understood by the comming of this empresse Isis And this mariage and ceremonie of association and matrimonie was the first that in those times was celebrated and solemnized with any rites feastivals or new invented usances as Diodorus Siculus to the same purpose thus sayth these beeing his very words Has nuptias à dijs primum celebratas ferunt Cereremque in gratiam Iasij ei ex frumento panem attulisse Mercurium lyram Palladem decantatum monile peplum ac tibias c. This their goddesse Isis otherwise called by the names of Ceres Iuno Frugifera Legifera and others was by all probabilitie and by the opinion of all writers a woman of wonderfull long life and many yeares for at her now arrivall and comming to this mariage into Italie she was at the least foure hundred and fiftie yeares old as shee that was borne in the first yeare of the raigne of Semiramis queene of Babylon and lived in the whole at the least six hundred and sixteene yeares for shee was living after the first destruction and desolation of Troy by the space of fortie yeares or neare thereabouts as almost all writers have delivered in their opinions to the same purpose and effect Iohannes Annius an old writer sayth That shee was in Germanie in the time of Hercules Alemannus the eleventh king of that countrey by him called Almaigne and Cornelius Tacitus also seemeth to affirme the same by these words Pars Suevorum etiam Isidi sacrificat It is written also that she was in Fraunce in the time of Lugdus then king thereof as hath beene before declared and that shee had travelled almost all these parts of Europe instructing and teaching the poore ignorant people the use of many things then unknown unfound out And to approove the better that she was present at this mariage of Iasius Ianigena it is yet apparent in that countrey of Tuscan by many very auncient scrols lest still from time to time in that countrey from one posteritie to another as also certaine old statues and monuments of marble with inscriptions of characters infixed thereon found out in the times of Pope Alexander the sixt averre the same which as Iohannes Annius sayth were first found in the earth in the citie of Viterbe and that there were at that time upon further digging and search of more such like reliques found hidden far in the ground four severall images or pictures of triumph the one was of Iasius the other of his mother Electra the third of his faire sister Armonia which never maried but continued and died a vestall virgine and the fourth was of Cibeles the now new maried wife of Iasius There was also found another square kind of table made of marble on which were in Greeke letters these words following engraved which not long after were thus translated into Latine Coritina desponsatio cum Electra Atlai Kytij iamdudum pertransiverat maxima Isis Frumentaria atque Panifica concessit ad nuptias Iasij filij Coriti in habitaculum turrite Cibeles sponse Iasij in prelio Cybelario ad fontem Cybelarium paulo post sub vadimonia palatia paulo post à scelerato fratre Dardano Iasius male perijt in agro Iasinello in Theisijs c. And these be the very words used heretofore by authors of antiquitie By these therefore and by like semblable apparences it is cleared that this Isis their so reverently-adored goddesse was now present at the consummation of the espousals of Iasius Ianigena king of Italie and Fraunce with the ladie Ipitis Cibeles his wife And that this Isis had travelled and journeied through many and diverse countries it appeareth by many and severall pillars and stonie monuments erected in many countries of Europe in that behalfe as many authours doe produce Diodorus Siculus inferreth That in Aegypt
shee caused her selfe a mightie and stately columne to be erected wherein she caused also these words to bee insculped and inserted Ego sum Isis Egipti Regina à Mercurio erudita Que ego legibus statui nullus soluet ego sum Osyrides ego sum prima frugum inventrix ego sum Oriregis mater But to omit many other like authorities and approvements which might conduce to the clearer manifesting and unclouding of what was first proposed wee will now goe forward with this royall mariage of Iasius that we with more speed may attaine to the complete accomplishment and effectuating of my purposed entendment This great king and ruler Iasius Ianigena had of this his wife Cibeles a sonne called Corybantus so that now there wanted not any terrene or earth-born delight or felicitie which might make this happie-seeming potentate more fortunat mightie or contentfull but it is a common humor of fortune that amidst the thickest and most abundances of her graces and favours shee in some angrie or fantasticke imagination suddainely snatcheth away her so liberally bestowed gifts and leaveth the late possessors thereof involved and wrapt in a world of the miserablest unhappinesse and soule vexations that may be invented as by the fatall successe and end of this kings life most plainely appeareth For when as Dardanus his younger brother a man indeed of a proud heart great courage and inward ambition saw his brother Iasius thus to float as it were on the calme seas of joyous prosperitie and to tast of the sweet cup of Nectar which Fortune oftentimes administreth unto her favourites and thus to live famous in such abundant measure of grace and happinesse hee infinitely repined and malliciously stomacked such the greatnesse and height of his power and authoritie he beeing himselfe so suppressed and obscured by the spight of Fortune and living privately and without commaund as an inferiour or some base born person or slave These things oftentimes revolving and studying within himselfe he could not now any longer depresse or quench the overfurious heat of his aspiring spirit but in a disdainefull and scorning kind of fashion went unto his brother the king to demaund leave and licence That upon some occasions of discontent pretended he might depart out of the countrey to seeke out his better fortunes which request Iasius refused to condiscend unto and would by no meanes allow of his brothers purposes in that behalfe intended whereupon Dardanus taking it in great dislike and disparagement unto his greatnesse began secretly to enter into deadly hostilitie with him and to gather many factions and parties together on his side which by reason that he was exceedingly well beloved throughout most of those countries grew to a great number and multitude of men especially of those people then inhabiting on the other side of the river Tybre which we called since the Latines besides the countrey of Naples Povilla Calabria and others thereabouts all these conjoyned and consorted with the faction of Dardanus and with Iasius all those on this side of Tybre beeing them of Tuscania Fraunce and other particular provinces thereabouts At this very time as many writers doe deliver happened in the world many uncouth straunge and wonderfull portents as fearefull earthquakes lightening blazing comets and ougly visions as also throughout all Thessalie a generall overflow and deluge of waters in another part of Greece a strange combustion of houses and townes and miserable effects of fire throughout most part of that countrey In the same time also Pharao king of Aegypt following Moyses and the children of Israel through the red sea with all his armie perished and were overwhelmed with the churlish buffetings of the angrie and wrathfull billowes All which signes and extraordinarie accidents did manifestly pretoken prefigure the suddain approch of some great alteration of estates and troubles of mightie kingdomes The fire of discontent and enmitie betweene the two brothers beeing thus wholly set on flame and diverse attempts and meetings of wrath passed betweene them it happened that Dardanus received the worst and upon many encounters still was put unto his shifts especially by the fresh supplie and aid which Siceleus king of the isle of Sicilia the sixteenth king of Spain had then brought unto his brother Iasius so that continually being weakened more and more both in numbers of men and in the courages of them that staied he was enforced for his own securitie to give over those such publicke meanes of oppression and revenge and to betake his thoughts unto contriving and plotting of some more inward and therefore more daungerous stratagems So that in the end to avoid prolixitie and tedious circumstance he so wrought that he awaited a time when the king his brother then all suspectlesse of any intended mischeefe went privately to a fountaine or spring to wash himselfe which occasion and oportunitie so fairely presenting it selfe Dardanus most traiterously and vilely murdered him And upon that not daring to adventure his stay or to engage himselfe so far in those cases of perill he presently tooke shipping in the next haven and with all his jewels what else riches portable he could cary with him away with many of his freinds followers and servitors he secretly and closely set saile and departed The right noble and trespuissant king of Fraunce thus cruelly murdered by the bloudie hands of his owne naturall though in that unnaturall brother in the fiftith year of his raigne and mightie governement and in the fourscore and fourth yeare of his owne age all the people and inhabitants thereabouts began mightily to bewaile his untimely and miserable end which was before the foundation of Troy eight and twentie yeares or much thereabouts In generall deploration and laments of this kings death not only Italy and France but all parts of the world unto whome the shrill voiced trumpet of Fame had sounded forth this report conjoyned and bemoned together for that hee kept peace and amitie with all princes whatsoever in all unitie love and concord and carried himselfe so upright and so wise in the troublesome managing of affaires belonging unto two kingdomes that hee gained and woon unto him the hearts and affections of almost all people whatsoever After his death his sonne Coribantus succeeded in the governement of the kingdome of Italie but not of Fraunce so that the people thereof were a good while after without a cheefe or ruler but in the end they chose and elected one that was nearest unto the linage and line of Hercules as they might and his name was Allobrox now the sixteenth king therof The which king afterward for the most part kept and remained at the foot of the mountaines Apennini afronting upon Italie and there commaunded even unto the hils Pyrenei which divide the countrey of Spaine from France and from the Mediterranean sea unto the maine Ocean and unto the river of Rhyne and he there builded and erected many famous townes and
citties of which some were those which were since called Piemont Savoy Proavnce Daulphine and others and which people of very late times if not at this day were called Allobroges and in this kings raigne was the farre-famed and mightie citie of Troy first built and erected To come unto the foundation of which wee must here in these affaires pause and take breath a while and returne unto Dardanus now on the sea tossed with uncertaine fortunes and tempest-beaten indeed with overblowing and cruell winds so that he remained in very great daunger and hazard to bee cast away and swallowed in the vast and mercilesse embracements of the all-wracking waters Enforced by these calamities hee was glad to put in at an Island of the Ciclades attending there the favourable smiles of Fortune and the abatement of those horrible and tempestuous stormes In the end hee put foorth againe and recovered the sea Archipelagus and went afterwards on shore in an Island in Greece called Samos or Samothrace according to that which the Poet Virgil in his eight booke of his Aeneidos sayth Arunculos ita ferre senec his ortus in agris Dardanus Ideas frigiae penetravit ad urbes Treiciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur This Island of Samos or Samothracia is directly opposite unto the countrey of Thrace in Greece where Constantinople is erected which heretofore abounded in all plenteous maner with Vines Olive trees Grapes and others such like fruit of most sorts and in this countrey also was the learned and famous Philosopher Pythagoras borne and one of the prophetesses called Sibeles Sameos but it is now the more to bee lamented in the tyrannous hands and possessions of the bloudie and barbarous Turke In this countrey Dardanus staied a good space before he laid the foundation of Troy hoping yet to bee recalled home againe into Italie but when hee perceived that all hopes were frustrate that were builded on such grounds hee putteth himselfe foorth to seeke out as yet his further fortunes which happened as hereafter shall breefely be unfolded It is to be understood that on the other side of the sea Helle sponte which is called also the streights leading unto Constantinople in the firme continent of a countrey called Asia Minor now called Natalia or Turkie and not far from the above written Island of Samos is a province called Lydia which heretofore was called also Meonia in the which countrey as also in those next and neare adjoyning thereunto called Phrygia raigned and governed at that time a prince called by the name of Athus the younger of the same bloud and parentage as was Dardanus for if it bee remembered we long since spake how Hercules of Lybia had a ladie to his wife called Omphale by whom hee begat a sonne called Athus the great of which Athus from discent to discent in foure generations came this Athus the younger king of Meonia and Phrygia and who had two sonnes also the one called by the name of Lydus the other Turâ—henus This king Athus having now upon the arrivall of Dardanus great abundance of people in his countrey by reason of fruitfull encreases and multiplications and having also but small store of victuals and food in his countrey to nourish and maintaine so populous a state for want of which great famines pestilences and other diseases arose in the countrey knew not almost how to dispose of his people or in what sort to remedie this mischeefe so that in the end hee was enforced by reason of that mortall famine to discharge many of his subjects out of the countrey to seeke out some new inhabitations and places of abode which thing also they wonderous willingly embraced as glad to be rid and quit of so penurious and starving a place Dardanus hearing and understanding of these proceedings and in what necessities they stood in by meanes of the overaboundance of inhabitants presently made his repaire to king Athus and there desired of him That since hee must needs send forth such people for the finding out of new places of habitations that he would bestow the charge conduct and leading of them upon him and that hee would joyne with them for the provisions and necessaries needfull and convenient for the setling of themselves in such their new places of abode residence and habitation This thing king Athus very willingly entertained especially for that Dardanus was of his owne kindred and consanguinitie This request and desire of Dardanus thus obtained hee knew no other meanes to requite so great a favour and to bee occasion to draw on further kindnesses but to offer unto Athus and utterly to resigne all his right title interrest and claime in the kingdome of Italie for one of his sonnes unto which of them the father pleased and was contented This profer of Dardanus beeing well considered of by king Athus was in the end thankefully accepted in lieu and exchaunge whereof was allowed unto Dardanus a certaine quantitie and peece of ground in Phrygia for him to build and erect a citie upon And betweene the two brethren Lydus and Turrhenus lots were indifferently cast which of them with a certaine number of people should set forward for Italie and which should stay at home for the deciding whereof it fell unto Lydus to remain behind and to be left inheritor unto that kingdome which afterwards of his name was called Lydia and that Turrhenus should bee presently dispatched away with his people to inhabite in Italie of whome afterwards also it was called by the name of Turrhena These covenants and agreements concluded upon Turrhenus setteth forward from Asia Minor now called Turkie in his journey for Italie and Dardanus with his people and associats began now to build in Phrygia and in short space fully finished and erected a citie which he called after his own name Dardania which was before the incarnation of Christ a thousand foure hundred fourescore and seven yeares before the building of Rome by Romulus foure hundred and seven and twentie yeares and before the citie of Paris was erected threescore and tenne yeares as Eusebius and most writers doe affirme On the other side Turrhenus is arrived in Italie and presently repaireth unto the queene Cibeles the widdow and late wife to Iasius Ianigena as before hath been declared as also unto her sonne Coribantus king of Tuscania unto which two hee brought and presented many costly and rich gifts from his father Athus king of Meonia who also received them in all gracious and kind acceptance as comming from their kinsman and of the race and bloud of Hercules of Lybia Turrhenus had not long remained here but that he was highly favoured of the king Coribantus who now desirous to see and understand of the estate of his kinsman Dardanus prepared presently to take in hand that so long and tedious journey and ordained and instituted at home for the governement of his countrey the order of the twelve Dukes whereof Turrhenus was one and so with
a great troupe and companie of followers friends he embarked for the cost of Phrygia to see the greatnesse of Dardanus and the beautie and excellencie of his new built citie Dardania After some tedious and troublesome travels in this voyage at the last hee arrived at his wished and desired place where with all manner of ceremonie he was joyfully entertained by Dardanus whose reciprocall and mutuall love grew in the end to bee such as hee resolved and there set downe his rest for ever to remaine and not to returne againe into Italie but sent word thether of his purposes and commaunding them to create and establish Turrhenus in his absence king and sole ruler over all that countrey In few yeares Dardanus began to grow unto great mightinesse riches and power who had also a neighbour prince of mightie puissance wealthie and fortunate whose name was Teâ—â—rus whereupon many writers call the Phrygians also Teucri and this Teucrus was the sonne of Scamander and Idea and had also himselfe a very beautifull and faire daughter which hee maried shortly after unto Dardanus and was called Batea of whome Dardanus begot a sonne called Eâ—icthonius who succeeded after him and was inheritour unto the kingdome of Phrygia This Ericthonius in processe of time arose up unto a wonderfull greatnesse and large possessions who as many writers do affirme was accounted to bee one of the richest kings in those daies in that part of the world who as it is also said had at the least three thousand horses of his owne continually feeding in his pastures And this Ericthonius had also a sonne whom he named Tros whome after his death hee left as successour and inheritour unto him and of whose name afterwards the Dardanians were called Trojans This Tros very much obliged and beautified the cittie also of Dardania 〈…〉 which long time after it retained 〈…〉 had three sonnes which were Ilus Assaracus 〈…〉 hee brought up in the knowledge 〈…〉 warlicke sciences unto which kind of studie as it is written hee himselfe also was much addicted and had many yeares together maintained hostile warres with the king of Crete called Iupiter the fourth of that name there in which warres his sonne Ganimedes was taken prisoner even by the hands of Iupiter himselfe who for that in his ensigne and colours he gave an Eagle being his armes it should seeme the Poets for that cause have devised and feigne 〈…〉 as hee was on hunting was snatcht up from the 〈◊〉 unto heaven by Iupiter 〈…〉 Eagle find that hee is now taken for one of the twelve signes of the Zodiake called Aquarius Some other authors also write that one Tantalus king of high Phrygia and of Paphlagonia a most miserable covetous and auaricious prince had laid certaine snaâ—es and privie meanes to entrap this Ganimedes and to take him prisoner as hee used to sport himselfe in hunting thinking by that devise to get a mightie raunsome of his father Tros for the redeeming and enfranchising of his imprisoned and captivated sonne and that this Tantalus sent him to one Iupiter of the Isle of Crete for to safegard him and to have halfe the raunsome which should bee paied for his redeliverie and freedome And for such like causes belike the Poets also doe invent and say that Tantalus is plagued and tormented in hell standing up to the chin in water and apples hanging downe unto his lips and yet can neither drinke nor tast the one or the other and it is also more credibly written that he died most miserably and in great extremitie His sonne Pelops also banished and exiled his owne naturall countrey fled into Greece and there maried a wonderfull rich wife and great ladie by which meanes hee got unto himselfe and obtained the commaund of a whole countrey which he called after his own name Peloponnesus which is now the countrey of Mauritania and subject unto the Empire of the Turke And of this Pelops issued and came the two famous captaines Agamemnon and Menelaus Tros thus having lost his sonne on this fashion studied upon revenge and in the meane times comforted himselfe with his two other sonnes Ilus and Assaracus And this Ilus called Troy after that Ilion who begat a sonne named Laomedon the father of the renowmed Priamus and of Assaracus issued and came Anchises Aeneas father And the before written Tros ruled commaunded there in great power and puissance for the space of threescore yeares or neare thereabouts Archilochus as Archilochus in his booke of Times alloadgeth Laomedon the sonne of king Ilus as is beforesaid after the death of his father tooke upon him the rule and government of Troy in the two hundred and two and twentieth yeare after the first foundation therof by Dardanus and hee had five sonnes and two daughters which were these Priamus Titonus Lampus Clytion and Letaon and of these Homer in his Iliads maketh further mention his daughters were Antigone and Hesione Homer The Greeke Poets who indeed for the most part are full of such like fables doe say that the two gods Neptune and Apollo for a certaine summe of money promised them by him went with him about the circuit of the citie and there erected wonderfull strong and most huge high wals round about the same the which wals afterwards finished accordingly and no money received nor to bee got Apollo in great rage and anger infected the citie with a deadly and generall pestilence and Neptune in token of his wrath and displeasure also sent a monster of the sea among them unto which they must every day give and throw a young child or els that they all should perish and bee devoured by the ravenous maw and hunger thereof and that in the end it happened upon the daughter of Laomedon called Hesione to be given unto this marine beast which say they was rescued and releeved by great fortune by Hercules of Greece which came that way and who afterwards slew that monster and in gratification therof the ladie Hesione the daughter of Laomedon was promised unto him not long after in marriage but yet not married unto him by reason of the unwillingnesse afterward howsoever it fell out of her father for the breach of which promise Hercules afterwards slew Laomedon in open battell and spoyled and ruinated such his glorious citie And for that Thelamon his consort had that day behaved himselfe very valiantly in fight hee bestowed the young ladie Hesione upon him as his concubine and slave who carried her away with him into the countrey of Solamina whereof he was then king and ruler But it is most certaine that for the most part all those Greeke writers have erred infinitely and have delivered many most unlikely hystories for this Hercules as hath been before spoken was a notable and a famous pyrate and hee slew Laomedon by trecherie and surprised Troy on a suddaine and unawares and also hee was a common ravisher of maidens as of Hesione Medea and others as