Meridian Iapheth the lesse Asia towards the West whence many Nations of Europe proceeded Sems sonnes were fiue Elam of whom came the Persians from him Xenophon deriueth Cyrus Assur of him came the Assyrians Ninus of him the Niniuttes and Badilonians Arphaxad of him the Caldeans and from his Nephewe Fber were dâ—…riued the Herbrues the word signifieth Trauellers or Strangers Of this line came Abraham Dauid and the Messias Aram of him the Syrians descended of which Damasco is the metropolis therefore it was thus written The head of Aram is Damascus The posterity of Cam was Chus of whom came the Aethiopians in the farthest Coasts of Aphrica and the Libians cald to this day Chirsita The sonnes of Chus were Saba of whome the Sabaans and Euila of wheme the Indians descended Nemrod first raignd in Babylon Misraim occupied Aegypt which the Arabians and Turks to this day call Mizri The sonnes of misraim were Lydas who pcopled Lydia a Nation that after seated themselucs in some parts of Itahe and Labain of whom the Sun-burnt Lybians are thought to descend Of Euaâ—…m came the Cyrenians who built the Citty Cerenaica of who came the Mauritanians and of him a famous Riuer that still beares his name Of Canaan came the Sydonians and Tyrians Heath built Hebron where Abraham dwelt and was buried Iebuseus possest Gaba and Ierusalem Iapheths sons were Gomor or Togerma of whom the Cinerians take their originall They are seated beyond Thrace neer the Meotiden Fenne where the Bosphort inhab te not farre from Cimbrica Chersonessus Of Magog came the Sâ—…thians and of them the Turks and to proue the Turke to be in God and Magor Ezechiell saith the Nations of Magog lie toward the south which in the latest dayes shall seeke the fall of Israell And the Apocalip Magog shall lastly Emperise the world Of Madai came the Medes Of Iauan or Iabu the Iouians or Graecians The sonnes of Iauan were Elisa of whome came the Aeolians in Asia minor Tharsis built Tharsis the chiefe Citty of the Cilicians Of Cethim came the Macedonians Of Adodanim the Dodoneans in Epire. Iauan was that Ianus that raignd in Italy Of Tubal came the Hispani and Iberi Of Mosoch came the Muscouites Of Tyrus the Thrasians The Sons of Gomer were Ascanes Riphat and Togorma Of Ascanes came the 〈◊〉 who after shifted theÌ„selues into other Prouinces and ofthem came the Cimbrians the Bythinians the Cancoues the 〈◊〉 and Heueti Of Riphat came the Riphei Gyants that inhabited the Riphean Hilles where the Sanromass then liued By the 〈◊〉 are meant all such as speake in the 〈◊〉 tongue From Riphat came also the Paphlagonians these 〈◊〉 themselues into Europe some inhabiting Russia Lytuania and Polonia from the Adriaticke shoare vnto Illusria Likewise Fistula Albis and Bohemia where before liued the Hermaduri and Boij Among the Sonnes of Sem Gether is numbred of whom came the Getes they were called Gotti or Gothes who inhabited Wallachia these speake the Almain toung and mixt themselues with the Germans whose name is deriued of Gerim and Ani which signifieth miserable Strangers The French are cald 〈◊〉 of Wallen which in the Almain toong signifies Wanderers From Brute cam the Britons since called Angli In Nemrod was the first Monarchy establisht he liued a hundred years after the Floud after 200. yeares Ninus built Niniuy in 〈◊〉 whose wife Semiramis after his death erected the walles of Babilon Ninius her sonne succeeded in whose time Abraham came into Palestine Him succeeded Amraphel king of Sennaar or Babylon Of these Assyrian Monarches Sardanapalus was the last whose proud name we thus deriue Sar a Captaine Dan a ludge 〈◊〉 a Destroyer He was ouerthrowne by phul-Belochus a Babilonian and Arbaces a Medean when Osia raignd in Iuda phul belochus raigned ouer the Babilonians and Niniuites forty yeares Arbaces ouer the Meades and Persians Belochus warred vpon Israel whom succeeded his Sonne Phal Assur called in the Scriptures Tiglat Peilassur He raigned 23. yeares him Salmanasser succeeded and raigned ten yeares he besiedged Samaria of him Hosea speakes Chapter 10. 〈◊〉 succeeded Salmanasser who besiedged Hierusalem and raigned ten yeares his Army was ouerthrowne by the Angels Assur haddon next ruld ten yeares In him declined the Monarchy of Assiria and Merodach became Monarch ouer the Chaldees Benmerodach raigned after his Father 21. after him Nabuchednezzar Primus 35. He warred against Aegipt Nabuchadnezzar Magnus raigned forty in Zedechias time he besiedged Hierusalem a 〈◊〉 and sixe monthes him succeeded euill Merodach who releast Ieconias he dead Balsaar succeeded foureteene 〈◊〉 he was a greet Blasphemer In his time Babylon was raced and the Monarchy transferred to the Persians he himselfe being slaine by Cyrus The kings of Aegypt in the times of this Monarchy were these Osyris with his Wife Isis who liued in the time of Abraham Orus Bochoris Busyris Miris 〈◊〉 who liued in the time of Samson pherones of whom all the Kinges of Egypt were called pharoes Proteus whom some call Cetes to him Paris and Hellen sayled in theyr returne from Greece Rampsinitus Cephus or Cheops Cephris Mycerinus Anycis Sabachus called in the Bible Sesach Sethen Psamneticus Nechos who ouercame Iosia by the Citty Megeddo and was after slaine Nabuchadnezzar 〈◊〉 Apries who sackt 〈◊〉 and slew the Prophet Ieremiah Amasis in whose time the Monarchy came to the Persians In Greece in the time of this Monarchy liued Iapethus the Sonne of Noah after whoÌ„ raigned Hellas now was the expedition of the Argonats Erictheus Perseus and his Acts. The warres of Troy 〈◊〉 with the Theban History notorious in Oedipus and Iocasta with the deathes of the two Brothers Eleocles and Polynices Now were the 〈◊〉 famous Rome in the time of this first Monarchy was bullt the tenth year of Achas King of Iuda It was 〈◊〉 by Kings 6244 yeares Rhomulis raigned 38. Numa 43. Tullius Hostilius 32. Aucus Martius 2 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37. Seruius Tullius 44. In the last part of his raigne began the Persian Monarchy 〈◊〉 the proud 25. He was repulst his Kingdome by the Consull Brutus because his Sonne Sextus had 〈◊〉 rauished 〈◊〉 the wise of Collatyne The Persian Kings were first Cyrus who raigned 29. hee ouercame Cresus of Lydia besiedged Babylon and was after slaine by Tomyris Queene of Scithia In his time liued Thales Milesius Pithagoras borne in Samos Solon and Draco who first ordred the yeare 〈◊〉 the monthes added the Epact and collected first the Poems of Homor Cambises the second King who raigned 7. years added Egypt to his Empire and couered the Iudgement Seate with the skinne of his false Iudge Sisamnes The third Darius he by the neyhing of his 〈◊〉 was elected Emperor raigned 36. He by the craft of his Friend Zopyrus wan Babylon and added to his Dominions the Getes Cymerians and 〈◊〉 Now liued Hippias the Sonne of Pysistratus in 〈◊〉 and Miltiades This Darius was the Sonne
Husbands Bed denide 82 And proouing armes by them she honor sought She tam'd the VVelch-men and the Danes disgraced Next Edward Adelstane the battailes fought Of the bold English and the Castles raced as the proud Danes reard and to ruine brought The Sarafins euen from Hetruria chased Th Italian Guards they Gâ—…n ouerthrow VVhere bloud three dayes out of a VVell did flow 83 Now Gui of Warwick Danish Colebrand slew And England of all Tribute quite releast King Edmond did the Soueraignety pursue When Adelstane at Malmsbury deceast Slaine after fiue yeares by succession true Eldred his Brother raignes whose pomp increast Edmonds two Sons being young the Peeres coÌ„plaine and thinke their Vncle of more worth to raigne 84 France Tuskaine Germany the Hungars wast Hugh King of Italy by Fire destroyes The nauy of the Sarazens then past To Traxinetum Edwin next inioyes The Scepter Eldred hauing breath'd his last At Kingstone crown'd whose hart was set on toyes He Dunstan banisht his Landes and Treasure lauisht and his neere Nâ—…c vpon his Crowne-day rauisht 85 And next he slew her Husband for all which after foure yeares he was depriude his state Edgar his Brother a Prince wise and rich In all things â—…ust seuere and Fortunate ascends the Throne no Sorcerer nor Witch His sentence spard Theeues Bribers he did hate To him Ludwallis Prince of Wales obayd Three hundred Wolues for Tribute yearely payd 86 Forty seauen Monasteryes this King erected Red Crosses made and on mens Roabes were seared When Duffus had foure yeares the Scots protected Donewald a Scotch Lord that no bad thing feared Him basely slew and from his Throne derected From which â—…xe monthes no Moone or Sunne appeared The Turkes by Euecus Earle of Bygar Were Spaine expold he first King of Nauar. 87 King Edgar in his sixteenth yeare expyres When his Sonne Edward was at Kingstone crownde Slaine by his trayterous Stepdame who desires The Crowne for her Sonne Etheldred he founde Exter Abbey Swayne of Denmarke fires Citties and Townes in England burning round King Etheldred raign'd in this Kingdome free Thirty eyght yeares His murdred Brother three 88 Now Stephen was made first King of Hungary And thirty nine yeares raign'd Alphons of Spaine Besiedging great Visenum valiantly Was with an arrow kild and strowed the plaine All the Lord-Danes that liu'd here tyranously Were by the English Wiues in one night slaine Ierusalem was by the Turkes possest Whom twice the bold Venetian Duke distrest 89 King Edmond sir-nam'd Iron-side next his Father Inioyes the Kingdome gainst whom Swanus Son The bold Canutus all his Danâ—…s doth gather Twixt whom were many battayles lost and won After much bloods effusion they chose rather By single strife to end the broyles begon Theyr valors were in epuall ballance tryde and after Combat they the Land deuide 90 Edrick of Stratton valiant Edmond slew And from Canutus had a Traytors meede The valiant Dane in Stiles and Honors grew He Scotland wan and Norway To his seed Leauing foure Kingdomes Vice he did eschew Nor euer did a juster Prince succeed English and Danâ—…s he atton'd vnto his doome and after went on Pilgrimage to Roome 91 Robert the Norman Duke for valor famed Hyes to the holy warres in Palestine He gone his young Sonne William is proclaymed The Norman Duke Now seekes a Throne deuine Canutus when he twenty yeares had raigned and Harrold Harefoote vnto whom incline The Danâ—…s in England next the Scepter swayes and three yeares past at Oxford ends his dayes 92 Hardi-canutus the same number fild and drinking dide whom the good Edward Sainted For holy workes succeeds no bloud he spild Nor with knowne sinnes his high profession taynted He married as the great Earle Goodwin wild Th'Earles Daughter Edgitha and nothing wanted That a iust Prince should haue one and twenty years In zeale and clemency the Crowne he weares 93 This Goodwin Alphred Edward younger Brother Traytorously slew and by his power he yoaked The King himselfe betray de his Soueraigne Mother By Byshop Robert to these illes prouoked But Heauen no longer could such mischiefe smother Swearing by Bread he by the bit was choaked The swallowing Sea deuour'd all his Lands Which to this day beare name of Goodwins sands 94 William the Bastard Duke first landing heare Was by the King receaued and Englands Crowne Promist by Edward which no English Peere Was knowne to contradict after lenthome With greatest pompe and Harrold the same yeare Earle Goodwins sonne a man of great renowne Arriude in Normandy and with oathes deepe Sware the King dead for him the Crowne to keepe 95 But Edward dead Harrold vsurpes the seate Whom Fauston and the Norwey King inuade Vpon the North both whom he did defeate And brauely slew in battaile William made A new Incursion gainst whom in t' is heare Harrold his Ensignes in the field displayde The Norman Duke preuaylde and Harrald slaine William the first so cald begins his raigne In Brutes time whilst he gouernd Brittan Anaeus Siluius raigned amongst the Latines Dercitus in Assyria Athletets in Corinth Pipinus in Thusâ—…an Codrus in Athens in whose dayes the Arke of God was taken by the Philistims In Locrynes raigne Dauid was annoynted King ouer Israel In Guendolins raigne he 〈◊〉 Vriah and marryed Bersheba In Madans dayes Salomon built the Temple c. From Brute to Caelar the Brittans were not Tributary to any the gouernment of the Romans from Caesar to Theodosius lasted 483. years In Theodosius the youngers raign the yeare of Christ 443. the Tribute 〈◊〉 The gouernment of the Saxons continued the space of 600. yeares in continuall warre and hostility either with the Brittans the Danes or the Normans The opinions of those that write of the first inhabiting of this Iland are diuerse and how it came first to receiue the name of Albion some thinke of the Chalky and white Cliffe which seemes to wall it in from the Sea But Hugh Genisis a Roman Chronicler writing of all the Kinges and Kingdomes of the World from the Vniuer sall Deluge to Christ. Writes that Danaus King of Greece had fifty Daughters and Aegiptus as many Sonnes who being married and the women the first night murdring their Husbands were for the offence banished and sayling on the Seas were driuen vpon this Island which Albiana called after her Name Albion vvith these Ladies he reports that Spirits engendred and begotte Gyants who laie with their Mothers and Sisters led onely by their lustes till they had multiplyed themselues to the number of twelue thousand But Idoubt not but that this Land may contend with any other whatsoeuer for her antiquity being inhabited with the first which beeing continually vexed within it selfe with ciâ—… 〈◊〉 and forraine inuasions her Monuments and remembrances
haue by these warres bin de◅oured which haue left the certainty of our first Antiquity doubtfull to the world and not truely re◅embred by any that haue undertooke her first discouery Here moreouer wee could haue tooke fit occasion to haue recorded all the Genealogies before the flood with a briefe report who after the floud peopled euery other Kingdome and from whom euery Region tooke her Name but it had bin a course too strange and different from our purpose which is onely to finde out such thinges as haue alliance to this Land of Brittan and the memorable things best knowne to us We infist not much in Aeneas trauels of his landing at Carthage his loue to Queene Dldo her killing her selfe at his departure from her land the funer all of his Father Anchises with his warres against king Turnus for the beautious Laninia These because they are amply set downe in Virgils 12. Bookes of his Aeneids wee thought better rather superficially to passe them ouer with a bare remembrance then to bee too palpably tract in a History so common to all men Which we the rather to omit because we hasten to the antiquittes and the successiue Souer aigneties of our natiue Island whose age our purpose is to deriue from the first Inhabitantes and so to continue it euen to this present government The Antiquity of London was helde to bee longe before Rome For Brute landed here in the yeare of the Lord 2855. in the yeare before Christ 1108. Rome was built long after in the time that Riuallo ruld in Brittain the yeare after the floud 155◅ after Comerus the first king of Italy 1414 after the destruction of Troy 432 after Brute arriuedin in this Land of B◅tain 355. The end of the sixteenth CANTO Argumentum OF all great Brittans Kinges truely descended From the first Conqueror next we shall intreat How they haue sayld or how their hands extended Through any forraine Realmes by Conquest great How they begun and how their raignes they ended Till royall Iames claymes his Monarchall Seate In whom three kingdomes first by Brute deuided Vnited are and by one Scepter guided ARG. 2. From Norman William a true note collected Of all the kinges and Queenes that here protected CANTO 17. 1 William the Norman Duke is next inuested Sixt of that Dutchy entring by sterne warre A troublous raigne he liu'd and sildome rested From rough rebellious armes yet euery barre His Sword remou'd Hertford his pride detested But for his Treason was confined farre Earle Walter too into that faction led Disclosde the plot and for it lost his head 2 Duke Robert Williams Sonne by th'instigation Of the French King doth Normandy inuade Against whom William raysde the English nation And when no Prince betwixt them could perswade They met and fought with much loude acclamation Robert vnhorst his Father and then stayde His warlike hand whom by his voyce he knew And raisd him for which peace betweene them grew 3 William inuading France in Caan expyerd And there lies buried by his warlike Peeres after he many Towers and Townes had fierd Raigning o're England one and twenty yeares Foure Sonnes he left one Danghter much admierd Robert and Richard who ascends the Spheares Before ripe age William who next doth sway Henry cald Bewclack and fayre Adela 4 Whilst our great Conqueror liu'd the King of Danes Canutus by the English Out-Lawes ayded Inuades the North but William him restraynes Henry the Emperor Bauaria inuaded Malcolm that ore the troublous Scots then raignes Peirces Northumberland at this time vaded The Saxons glory Otho them defaced after the Thuringas he by armes had chaced 5 Eudochia who had seuen yeares worne the Crown Of Graciaes Empyre was by maryage tyde Vnto Rhomanus one of high renowne Sir-nam'd Diogenes Gregory denyde Marriage to Priests the Russ. Duke was put downe By Prince Demetrius neare to him allyde William foure Castles built his Foes to tame At Yorke at Lincolne aud at Nottighame 6 Henry then Casar for some sinne detected Did by the Pope stand excommunicate and being of his Feudor King reiected To Gregory submits him and his State Now liu'd the famous Oswald much respected Byshop of Sarum Casar absolu'd late The second time condemnd gainst Gregory sped Stating Rauennaes Robert in his sted 7 Vradislaus was the first King made Of Boheme and of all the Countries neare Ansell who then Galisiaes Scepter swayed Did gainst the Sarazens in armes appeare And wan from them Tolledo by the ayde Of Christian Princes Rufus gouernd heer Next after conquering William thirteene springs He sat inuested in our Throne of Kings 8 Twice Robert made incursion but supprest By Williams power the Scots inuade againe But are appeasd the Welshmen Rees inuest Who in a conflict was by William slaine lerusalem by Pagan Armes opprest Th' assembled christiā kings by force maintain Where dide in battaile as the rumor ran The Babilonian Souldan Soliman 9 The Norman Robert chusd King by election Of Palestine refusd the Sacred stile Which Bulloin Godfrey tooke to his protection Scotch Malcolm with his sonne entring by guile Northumbers Marches came to the deiection By valiant Robert who was Earle that while Both slaine in field K. William the same yeare Erected the great Hall in Westminster 10 Duncan vsurpes in Scotland not two yeares He gouernd there but in his bed was slaine Donnald restor'd not long the Scepter beares But Edgar that ambitious was to raigne By armes supprest him and the Dia'dem weares Rufus being hunting Tyrrell of his traine By glauncing of an Arrow the King slew Henrie next gouernes by succession true 11 Thirty fiue yeares did Henry Beauclarke guide Th'Helme-Royall he for Thest strict lawes decreed Robert returnd from Palestine defide Henry who after parley were agreed Long their truce lasted not Beu-clarke denide His Brothers pension great dissentions breed After much warre Duke Robert they surprise Who for a prisons breach forfeits his eyes 12 Norwich Cathedrall Church is founded new S. Bartholmewes built by Reior a Musitian In Belgia great Inundations grew Being almost drown'd Now vpon good condition Peace twixt the Emperor and King Henry grew Whose daughter was with much hye superstition Made Empresse Maud the English Queen being dead Henry takes Adelisia in her stead 13 The King of England with French Lodwicke tryes Great discords where the English gaine the best In their returne by Sea great Tempests ryse Where all the yssue-Royall most and least Perisht with many Nobles grane and wise Where eight-score soules at once are sent to rest Of all the ship one Butcher and no more Escapt the seas and swam vnto the shore 14 Geffrey plantagenet the Emperour dead Wiues Maud the Empresse vnto whom she bare Two sonnes Henry and Geoffrey now life fled From Beu-clarke who to Stephen resignes his Chaire
TROIA BRITANICA OR Great Britaines Troy A Poem Deuided into XVII seuerall Cantons intermixed with many pleasant Poeticall Tales Concluding with an Vniuersall Chronicle from the Creation untill these present Times Written by Tho Heywood Et prodesse solent Delectare Poetae LONDON Printed by W. Jaggard 1609. To the Right Honourable Edward Earle of Worcester Lord of Chepstoll Ragland and Gower Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter Mayster of the Horse and one of the Kinges most Honourable Priuy Councell TO you whose Fauour gaue my Muse first breath To try in th' Ayre her weake vnable wing And soare this pitch who else had tasted death Euen in her byrth from the Castalian spring She dedicates her labours as they are Though as you see poore featherlesse and bare Your Noble hand to her supportance gaue Euen in her Pen-lesse Age about to fall Her Cradle then had beene her Infant graue Had not your power and Grace kept her from thrall Then by the Muse by your hie bounty raisde Y' are by your Merit and my duty praisde Her power though weake yet to her sickly strength Is willing your past Graces to record Though smothered long yet she findes time at length To shew her office to her Patron-Lord Wishing for your sake that vpholds her still Her worth had correspondence to her will Then had her Theame that treats of forren deeds Beene only tunde to your desert and Merit And you from whom her nonage Art proceeds Should by her Pen Eternity inherit But since great Lord her best fruites are but words Prise what her hart not what her Art affoords T is fit those Lordes which we from Troy deriue Should in the Fate of Troy remembred be For since their Graund-sire vertues now suruiue And with the Spirits of this Age agree It makes vs fill our Cantons with such men As liumg now equaldtheyr vertues then Homer long since a Chronicler Diuine And Virgill haue redeemd olde Troy from fire Whose memory had with her buildings line In desolate ruyne had not theyr desire Snatcht her fayre Tytle from the burning flame Which with the Towhe had else consumde her name Had they surviude in these our flourishing daies Your vertues from the auncient Heroes drawne In spight of death or blacke obliuions rage Should liue for euer in Fames glorious fawne Rankt next to Troy our Troy-novant should be And next the Troyan Peeres your places free Nor let your Honour my weake stile despise That striues to Register your names with theirs For could my numbers like blinde Homersrise I would create you Fames eternall heyres Accept my strength my weaknesse I bewray Had I like Art I would as much as they Your Honours euer faithfully deuoted Tho Heywood TO the two-fold Readers the Courteous and the Criticke THe fauourable and gracious Reader I salute with a submisse Conge both of heart and knee To the scornefull I owe not so much as an hypocriticall intreat or a dissembled curtesie I am not so vnexperienced in the enuy of this Age but that I knowe I shall encounter most sharpe and seucre Censurers such as continually carpe at other mens labours and superficially pervsing them with a kind of negligence and skorne quote them by the way Thus This is an Error that was too much streacht this too slightly neglected heere many things might haue been added there it might haue beene better followed this superfluous that radiculous These indeed knowing no other meanes to haue them selues opinioned in the ranke of vnderstanders but by calumniating other mens industries These Satyrists I meet thus It were in my opinion more honor and honesty for them to betake them seriously to the like studies and the time they wast in detracting others rather spend in instructing themselues and by some more excellent worke moulded out of their owne braines giue the foyle to others of lesse Fame and consequence This were a commendable and worthy detraction sauouring of desert the other a meere rancorous folly grounded on nothing but malicious ignorance For who more apt to call coward then the most tymerous but he only merits a name among the valiaunt that hath actually and personally wonne his reputation by some deed of same and Honour But since these Criticks are a generall Subiect in the front of subiect booke I am content to neglect them as those Ireguard not and to the friendly and best iudging Reader thus turne my Apologie I haue aduentured right Courteous to publish this Poem and present it to thy generall acceptance If it be gently receiued and fauour ably ceusured it may incourage me to proceed in some future labour if any way distasted I am so farre from troubling the world with more that I shall hold this little much too much Yet if you vnderstandingly consider this proiect you shall finde included herein a briefe memory or Epitome of Chronicle euen from the first man vnto vs this second time created Britons with a faithfull Register not onely of memorable thinges done in Troy and this Island but of many and the most famous accidents happening through the World In who se raigne and what yeare of the world they chanced with which we haue conferred the Histories of the Sacred Byble the truth of the times so eeuen that who so euer will daigne the perv sall of these shall not onely perceiue such thinges were doone but bee also-satisfied in whose Raigne then successiuely gouerning in the kingdome of Britaine they happened In all which I haue taskt my selfe to such succinctnesse and breuity that in the iudisiall perusall of these few Cantons with the Scolies Annexed as little time shall bee hazzarded as profite from them be any way expected Accept then I entreat you this mingled Subject as well home-borne as forraine and Censure it as fauourably as I haue offred it freely Though something may perhaps distast something againe I presume will please the most curious Pallate Let that which pleaseth mittig at the harshnes of the other He that speaks much may excusably speake somewhat Idely and he that in vnknown Climats trauayles farre may by misaduenture wander out of the way but where the mayne intent and purpose is honest and good it is pardonable to expect the best And in that hope I prostrate these my barraine industries to your kindest and gentle Constructions Proemium I Hold it necessary as a Preface to this generall History to remember some Antiquities touching the ages of the World with the first peopling of kingdomes and of the foure Monarchies which may illustrate this Poem if in any place it appcate darke and intricate Theye are 16 56. from the Creation Noah entred the Ark and the Vntuerse was destroied by the Deluge with all mankind Noah and his family excepted of his three sonnes Sem Ham and Iapheth were all Nations procreated The posterity of Sem inhabited the East by the Riuer Euphrates Cham the places neere Irodan Nyle towards the
of Histaspes called in the Scripture Ashuerosh Husband to Hester called by 〈◊〉 Aristona as the Name of Vasts was Atossa Some refer the History of Iudith to these times Fourth Xerxes raigned 20. He 〈◊〉 Greece with an Armye of 10000000. Souldiers his cheese Captaine was Mardonius his chiefe Counseller Artabanus He was first repulsed by Pausanias of Sparta after expeld Greece by 〈◊〉 In these warres were famous Artstides and Cimon 4. Artaxerxus with the long hand ruld 40. He was thought to bee the Son to Darius and Hester In his time liued Esdras Haggeus Zachartus and Nehemiah About the time of the Pelloponesian Warre And now was Rome gouerned by the 〈◊〉 forme of gouernment infamous in the lust of 〈◊〉 to the chast Roman Lady Virginia Darius Nothus raigned 19 In his time hued famous Alcibiades and Sophocles Euripides two famous Tragedians Artaxerxes Memnon 40. he loued the famous Lady Aspatia the Noblest Greekes in his daies were Clearchus Anaxilaus Lisander who conquered Athens after gouerned by 30. Tyrants who were supprest by the 〈◊〉 of Thrasibulus Now happened the Wars betweene the Phocenses and the Locri with 〈◊〉 Leuctricum And now 〈◊〉 Conon and 〈◊〉 EpamaminoÌ„das in Greece about the 〈◊〉 that English Brennus sackt Rome Artaxerxes Ochus next Memnon raigned 26. In his time happened the Warre which was called Bellum sacrum 〈◊〉 raigned foure yeares he was slaine by Bagoas Him Darius succeeded in the sixt yeare of his raigne was slaine by Alexander the Great in whom began the third Monarchy translated to the Gracians Alexander by his Father Phillip deriueth his byrth from Hercules by his Mother Olimpius from Aeacus He conquered the World raigned as Emperor 12. years In the 32. of his age He dead the Monarchy was dâ—…ded into four parts Aegipt Syria Asia Mynor and Macedon The Kinges of Egypt after Alexander were these Ptolomeus the Sonne of Lagus Ptolomeus Philodelphus Alexander Philopater Epiphanes Philometer Euergetes Phiscon Alexander Lathurus Auletes Father to Câ—…patra Dionisius her Brother in whom ended the race of the Ptolomees and now Egypt came vnder the Iâ—…risdiction of the Romans The Kings of Macedon were Perdicas Craterus Antipater Cassander Antigonus 1. Antigonus 2. Demetrius Philippus and Perseus who was surprised by the Romans The Kings of Syria who after the death of Alexander possest Babylon Syria and Asia Minor were Antiochus Soter Antiochus Theos Antiochus Magnus who had these three Sons Seleucus Philopater Antiochus Epiphanes and Demetrius Demetrius after his Brothers decease had two Sonnes Demetrius Nicanor and Antiochus Sedetes The Son of Nicanor was Antiochus Griphus The Son of Sedetes was Antiochus Cyzenius These hauing slaine each other from theyr Issue Tygranes King of Armenia reâ—…t the Kingdome of Syria which first Lucullus and after Pompeius Magnus annext to the Roman Empyre These in the time of the third Monarchy were Captaines and Gouernors among the Iewes Nehemiah Ioconias Selathiel Zorobabel Resa Mesollam â—…ohanna Ben Resa Iudas Hircanus primus in his Dukedome Alexander flew Darius Iosephus primus Abner Semei Eli matathai Asa mahat Nagid Artaxad Haggai Eli Maslot Nahum Amos Sirach Matathia Siloah Iosephus Iunâ—…r Ianua secunâ—…s Hircanus And then began the race of the Machabees in Matathias whose Sons succeeded him Iudas Ionathas Simon Iohannes Hercanus The Kinges of that line were Aristobulus son to Hercanus Alexander Iâ—…neus Queen Alixandra his Wife otherwise cald Salome The Sonnes of Alexander were Hircanus and Aristobulus in theyr death ended the line of the Machabees Succeeding these in the 30. yeare of the raigne of Herod Tetrache was borne the Sauiour of the World vnto which we haue studyed to reduce the best knowne Nations of the Earth leauing the 4. Monarchy among the Romans who by this time awed the Earth whose warres and Fortunes being so commonly from many worthy Writers translated into our moderne tongue We here omâ—… letting this short Epitome onley serue in the Front of our Booke to instruct your memories and guide your thoughts through those vnknown Deserts in which without this direction many Readers may loose themselues bee this therefore their Pylot to direct them to the harbour of these latter Ages more familiarly knowne Argumentum TYTAN and Saturne differ their great strife Is by their carefull mother VESTA ended Saturane his Sister Sybill takes to wife And the heyre-males that are from theÌ„ descended He doomes to death faire Sybil saues the life Of Iupiter grim Saturne is offended And to the Oracle at Delphos hyes Whiles Titan thrugh the earth his fortune tries ARG. 2. The Worlds Creation gold from the earths veines Neptune and Plutoes birth ALPHA conteines CANTO 1. THis VNIVERSH with all therein conteined Was not at first of Water fashioned Nor of the Fire as others oft haue fcyned Nor of the Ayre as some haue vainly spred Nor the foure Elements in order trained Nor of Vacuitie and Atom's bred Nor hath it beene Eternall as is thought By naturall men that haue no further sought 2 Neither hath man in perpetuity bin And shall on earth eternally perseuer By endlesse Generation running in One circuit In corruption lasting euer Nor did that Nation first on earth begin Vnder the mid Equator some indeuour So to perswade that man was first begunne In the place next to the life-giuing Sunne 3 Neither was he of Earth and water framed Tempered with liuely heat as others write Nor were we in a former world first named As in their curious Problems some recite Others more ripe in Iudgement haue proclaimed Man fram'd of clay in fashion exquisite In whom were breath'd sparkes of Celestiall fire Whence he still keepes his Nature to aspire 4 But this most glorious Vniuerse was made Of nothing by the great Creators will The Ocean bounded in not to inuade Or swallow vp the Land so resteth still The azure Firmament to ouer-shade Both Continent and Waters which fulfil The Makers word one God doth sole extend Without beginning and shall see no end 5 That powerfull Trinity created man Adam of Earth in the faire field Damaske And of his rib he Euah formed than Supplying them with all things they can aske In these first two Humanity began In whom confinde IHBHOVAHS fix-daâ—…es taske From Adam then and Euahs first Creation It followes we deriue our Brittish Nation 6 Inspire me in this taske Ihoues seede I pray With Hippocrenes drops besprinke my head To comfort me vpon this tedious way And quicken my cold braine nigh dull and dead Direct my wandring spirits when they stray Least forren and forbidden paths they tread My iourney 's tedious blame not then my feares My voyage aymes at many thousand yeares 7 Oh giue me leaue from the Worlds first Creation The ancient names of Britons to deriue From Adam to the Worlds first Invndation And so from Noah to vs that yet suruâ—…e And hauing of Troyes
tast But when the Couenant long before decided Twixt him and Tytan he records at last It pierst his hart with sorrow for his life Seemes to him tedeous led without a wife 28 What bootes him all his Honours and ritch state His wealths-increase and all his worldly pleasure For whom doth he rise early and sleepe late Hauing no heyre to inherite all his Treasure He knowes he hath incur'd his Brothers hate Yet must his seed make of his kingdome seazure He enuyes his owne wealth bicause he knowes All his life time he toyles t' enrich his foes 29 He loues his Sister Sybill yet not so That if she châ—…dren haue their blouds to spill And yet his timerous passions howerly grow Nor can he on her beauty gaze his fill Faine would he marry her and yet doth know If shee haue Issue he her sonnes must kill So that he wishes now but all too late That for his vow he might Exchange his state 30 In this distraction many dayes he dwelt Till Loue at length in Saturnes hart preuailed Such feruent passions in his brest he felt That spight his Oath which he so much bewailed He feeles his soft thoughts in his bosome melt Needs must he yeild whom such faire Jookes assailed And now vpon this desperate point he stood To wade t' her bed thogh throgh his childrens blood 31 This can great Apis witnesse who that time Peloponessus gouern'd This records Iubalda who the Spanish seat doth clime This Craunus kneel'd to by th' Italian Lords This Satron who the Gaules rul'd in his prime Now to Semiramis Assyria affords The Monarchy who after Ninus dide Married her Sonne and perisht by his pride 32 The marriage rights with solemne feasts are done Sybill both wife and sister the first Queene That raign'd in Creete hath now conceiu'd a sonne Neuer hath lesse applausiue ioy bin seene At such a Brides Conception the time 's come The long suspensiue daies expired beene For if a male his blood the Earth must staine A male she brought forth and the Lad was slaine 33 For so the King commanded being a King He thought it base if he should breake his word Oh golden dayes of which the Poets sing How many can this Iron age afford That hold a promise such a precious thing Rather to yeeld their children to the sword Then that the world should say thy oath thou brakest Or wast so base to eate the word thou spakest 33 Such difference is twixt this and that of gold We in our sinnes are stronger Vertues weaker Words tide them fast but vs no bonds can hold They held it vil'd to be a promise breaker A Lyar was as strange in times of old As to find out amongst vs a true speaker Their harts were of pure mettall ours haue flawes Now lawes are wordes in those daies wordes were lawes 34 The Funerall of the first slaine infant ended And the sad daies of mourning quite expir'd At which the pittious Queene was most offended But now her spirits with dull sorrowes tired The King a second metting hath intended And the Queenes nuptiall bed againe desired Sibill conceiues and in her wombe doth cherish More children ready in their birth to perish 35 And growing neere her time the sorrowfull father Displeas'd to see his wife so apt to beare Who for his vowes-sake wish her barren rather The murther of his first sonne toucht him neare Sends through his Land a kingly traine to gather And makes for Delphos hoping he shall heare Some better comfort from the Delphian shrine Whose Oracles the king esteemes diuine 36 He therefore first his sacrifice prepares And on Apollos Altar Incense burnes Then kneeling to the Oracle his praiers Mount with the sacred sume which neare returnes Tell the pleas'd God acquainted with his cares Lookes downe from heauen sees him how he mourns Desiting that his power would nothing hide But tell what of her next birth should betide 37 With that there fell a storme of Raine and Thunder The Temple was all sire the Alter shooke The golden roofe aboue and pauement vnder Trembled at once about gan Saturne looke To see what heauenly power had caus'd this wonder Faine he the holy place would haue forsooke When th' Oracle thus spake thy wife growes great With one that shall depose thee from thy seat 38 For from her royall wombe shall one proceed That in despight of thee in Creet shall dwell So haue the neuer-changing fares decreed Such is the Oracles thrice sacred spell A sonne shall issue from king Saturnes seed That shall enforce his father downe to Hell This heard the discontented king arose And doubly sad away to Creet he goes 39 What shall he do faire Sibils time drawes neere And if the Lad which she brings forth suruiue The newes will stretch vnto his brothers eare To whom he sware to keepe no male aliue Besides a second cause he hath to feare Least he his father from his kingdome driue Then to preuent these ils he swears on hie Inspight of fate the infant borne shall die 40 Yet when the King his first sonnes death records In his resolued thoughts it breeds relenting The bloudy and vnnaturall act affords His troubled thoughts fresh cause of discontenting None dare approach his presence Queene noâ—… Lords That to his first childs death had bin consenting The first vnnaturall act appeares so vilde The king intends to saue his second childe 41 So oft as he the murder cals to mind So oft he vowes the second son to saue But thinking on his couenant grows vnkind And doomes it straight vnto a timelesse graue Againe the name of sonne would pitty find And for his oth some refuge seekes to haue But when the Oracle he doth recall The very thought of that confounded all 42 So deare to him his Crowne and state appeared That he his pompe before his blood preferred It ioyes him to commaund and to liue feared And now he thinkes his foolish pitty erred And setting light his issue seemes well cheared His fortune to the Goddes he hath referred Rather then loose his Scepter t is decreed Had he ten thousand brats they all should bleed 43 Resolu'd thus newes is brought him by his mother That Sibell late in trauell is deliuer'd Of two faire Twins a Sister and a Brother At this report his heart is well nigh shiuer'd Go spare the â—…one quoth he and kill the tother Alas saith she we women are pale-liuer'd And haue not heart to kill no beast so wilde Or brutish but would spare so sweete a childe 44 And shall a father then so madly fare With his owne issue his childs blood to spill And whom the Tigers and fell beasts would spare Shall reasonable man presume to kill The birds more tender ore their young ones are Fishes are kind vnto their issue still Fish bird and beast in sea Aire â—…arth that breedeth Though reasonlesse her tender young ones feedeth 45
is figured in his face And in his lookes the eye of Gorgons burnes The Greekes blunt sword can scarce his Helmet race So weake a foe inflamed Hector scornes Vpon his Crest his Faulchion he lets fall And cleaues the Greeke helme body armes and all 59 The emulous son of Thetis crost by chance The blacke goar'd field and came to view this blow And mad in mind against him charg'd his Lance In hope the towring Prince to ouerthrow Him Thoas seconds and doth proudly'aduance His reeking sword late crimson'd in the foe Both with remorflesse blowes the Prince offend And his bruisd Shield about his arme they bend 60 Had not his helmet beene of mettall pure With Axes they had hewed it from his head But he that made it was an Arts-man sure Else had his braines bin on his harnesse spread Nor had he long bin able to indure Such tedious battry had not Fortune led Paris Aeneas Troylus and the rest To rescue valiant Hector thus opprest 61 At their approch the Achive bands retire Whom to their Pallisadoes they pursue By this in heauen ten thousand Lampes of fire Shine through the ayre and now both Hoasts withdrew The re-assembled Greekes Hector admire And mongst themselues into sad counsell grew Since not by force of Armes by what sly traine The neuer-daunted Worthy may be slaine 62 More honoured Hector in his royall braine Reuolues on milder thoughts how bloud to saue It pitties him to see so many slaine And come to such a generall timelesse graue Then that no more red bloud may Symois staine And change the coulour of her siluer waue He by a generall challenge will deuise For thousands safeties one to Sacrifice 63 Against all Greece hee 'l flyng his hostile gage And to a single Fight their Princes dare That two bolde Champions may the combat wage And in their mutuall Fury thousands spare Meane time blacke night from th' vniuersall Stage Of Earth is cha'st and driuen Now all prepare For th' early Field and with Apollo rise To shine in Armour by his rhadiant eies 64 The Princes to the place where Hector lay Throng in theyr Armes and his command attend After they had tooke and giuen the time of day with him they to the aged King descend Before whom Hector briefly doth display his purpost challenge which they all commend For well his Father and his Brothers know Hector hath power t' incounter any foe 65 The Sunne vp the steepe Easterne hils clymes fast Th'embattaild Greekes vpon the plaines appeare To them the faire-rankt Troians march in hast Within the reach of Hectors armed speare Both Hoasts attend the charge when vnagast The Prince first wafts that all the Campemay may heare Then leaning on his Iauelin makes this boast Euen in the face of their assembled hoast 66 You curled Greekes that haue vnpeopled quite Threescore vast Kingdomes of theyr ablest men To throng our fieldes with numbers infinite All hopelesse of theyr safe returne agen Among these sixty Kings that shine so bright In burnisht Steele vpon this sanguine Fen Can you select one boulder then the rest T' encounter armed Hector Creast to Creast 67 Or if your Princes be too weake a number Can all those threescore Climats yeild one hand Amidst this world that coms our Realme to cumber That dares betweene these hoasts gainst Hector stand Or doe you all feare deaths eternall slumber As well your Kinges as those of common band That with a braue breath'd in so many eares No soule more valiant then the rest appeares 68 If any of these Princes proue so free His prodigall life against ours to ingage Know by exposing his whole thousands be Sau'd from the spoyle of warres infernall rage Oh let me then that thrifty Champion see That will spare Graecian blood with him â—…wage wage Equall contention with my liues expence I will maintaine the Troians eminence 69 A Prince shall meet that Prince as neere allide To thundering Ihoue as he that 's best degreed If in his warlike Chariot he will ride I in my Chariot will conâ—…tont his speed March me these foure white Coursers Greece hath tride These faire Andromache doth mornely feed With her white hand with bread of purest wheat And waters them with Wine still when they eat 70 Xanthus Podargus Lampus Aethon deare To Hector you my armed Coach shall draw And in this fierce exposure shall appeare Before the best Steeds that the Sun ere saw But all Greece cannot match your swift Carrere Not Diomedes Steeds that fed on râ—…w And mangled limbes that in their Mangers bleed Can equall you in courage or in speed 71 Therefore I le cease that oddes and once againe Leauing the Kings to common men I turne Among such clusters growing on this plaine In no warme brest doth so much valor burne But shall so many shewers of blood still raine On Symois banke so many widdowes mourne For their slaine Lords so many Children cry For their poore Fathers that heere slaughtred die 72 If not for Loue of honour in despaire Methinkes some one our puissance should accost For noâ—… two soules that heere assembled are Shall scape the â—…y of our Troian hoast Death and deuouring ruin shall not spare One of your infinites you are ingrost All on destructions File then let some Greeke Despairing life a death with honor seeke 73 Yeilds our besieged Towne a Nobler spirit Then sixty assembled Kingdomes can produce That none dares enterpose his hostile merit But all put off this combat with excuse Among such infinites will none inherit A name with vs Feares Greece our hand shall sluce Their Vniuersall blood That feare can slaue So many Legions with one Hectors braue 74 I beg it of you Greekes let some forth stand To try what puissancelyes in Hectors sword If I be foyl'd by his all-daring hand The Spartan Hellen shall be soone restord And all the spoyles brought from the fertile Land Of Cythara made good and he ador'd With these ennobled armes the sword and crest Of Hector Honors more then all the rest 75 If I subdue your Champion Greece in peace Shall ease our burden'd earth of this huge weight Hostility betweene our hoasts shall cease You with your men and armes your ships shall freight And from our bloud-stain'd soyle free this large prease So shall illustrate Hector reach his height When th' Vniuersall world hath vnderstood Hector gag'd his to saue his Citties blood 76 Oh let it not in after times be saide Twice thirty kingdomes could not one man finde Prince Knight or Swaine durst equally inuade A Troian Prince in Armes and height of mind Nor let succeeding time the Greekes vpbraide To heare such lofty spirits so soone declinde Behold heere stand I to abide the rage Of his arm'd hand that dares but touch our gage 77 These words thus breath'd a generall showt is giuen Through al the Trâ—…n army which aspires And strikes against the Marble floores of heauen Where fixed are