was crowned by some of the Cardinals because Pope Clement the V. hauing left the Citie was remoued into France and kept his Court at Auinion When the Cardinals required the oath of him which they said was to bee giuen to the Pope hee refused it and would not haue any such kind of oath to be thereby bound to the Pope vpon notice hereof the Pope to inlarge his owne power expounded that generall forme of the oath at large and annexed it to the rest of his decrees now extant For he himselfe also preferred many lawes which retaine their name from him and are called the Clementines The knights of the Temple supprest about 1308. Now also those Knights called the Templars being very puissant were by the same violence put to death and made away in diuers places Philip the Faire King of France by the Popes permission seized vpon a great part of their Reuenues Soone after the name and memorie of them was condemned and by the French nationall Synod at Vienna their lands were giuen to those called the Knights of the Rhodes At this time also the Vniuersitie of Orleans was founded by King Philip and Pope Clements authoritie After the Emperour Henries t He was poisoned by a Monk with a cup of Wine in the Communion decease and buriall at Pisa being poisoned as it was strongly suspected there followed most bitter contentions about the election for Fredericke Archduke of Austria the Emperour Alberts sonne Lewis 1314 an 32. m. 11. d. 24. Fredericke of Austria opposeth him and is elected Emperour also and Lewis Duke of Bauaria were competitors for the Empire The Archbishop of Mentz crowned Lewis at Aix and the Archbishop of Cullen Fredericke at Bena and Pope Iohn the XXIII proclaimed them both Emperours but of the two was more inclined to Fredericke which proclamation increased the flame of discord Forces being mustered vpon both sides a sharpe battell was fought at Esling a towne in Sueuia but in a manner with equall fortune and soone after another in Bauaria with stronger forces Fredericke the other Emperour taken prisoner 1323. in which the Archduke Fredericke was taken prisoner losing a good part of his Armie afterwards he was see at libertie and returning home died within a few yeeres after Lewis the Emperour hauing thus compast the Empire marches downe into Italie in despight of the Pope constitutes Gouernors ouer al the Cities free-burroughes and is crowned at Millaine by the Archbishop there from whence hauing sent his Ambassadours to the Pope at Auinion againe and againe about his solemne inauguration and there failing he goes to Rome after he had setled the affaires of Millaine At Rome hee was entertained with exceeding great ioy and crowned by one or two of the Cardinals but the Pope ingeminating his excommunication he by the aduise of his Nobles creates another Pope and after this fashion continued these most deadly flames of hatred betwixt them not without most scandalous criminations cast forth on both sides The French Annall-writers report that Charles the Faire King Philips sonne was the first that granted Pope Iohn Tenths of Ecclesiasticall goods in France and shared the prey betwixt themselues but the Popes chiefe aime in procuring this was to furnish himselfe with money against the Emperour After the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope dies and his successor Benedict the XII both excommunicated and depriued him of his dignitie Whereupon the Emperour conuening the Princes at Franckeford in a solemne speech complaines of the Popes iniuries explaines the reasons of his allegiance produces and declares the ancient lawes of the Empire withall shewing that the Bishop of Rome had nothing to doe with the Common-wealth of the Empire For he who is elected by the Princes consent is truely Emperour without any assent consent or consecration from the Pope all that being but a ceremonie which by little and little crept vp and now is growne too high to the great dishonour and indammagement of the Empire After this Pope Benedict dying Clement the VI. succeeded one farre more violent then any before him who in vehement manner propounded certaine ignominious conditions vpon refusall whereof hee grew a great deale more furious sharpely admonishing the Princes to choose another Emperour within a certaine time by him limited which if they would not dae hee would take care that the Church should not want a Patrone and Aduocate any longer Whilest the Common-wealth was thus tossed the Emperour Lewis departed this life and Charles King Iohn his sonne Henry the VII his Nephew was elected King of Bohemia A little before this began the occasion of that cruell war betwixt the French and English When Charles the Faire King of France dying without issue male which was in the yeere 1327. Edward king of England of that name the III. being sonne to Isabel King Charles his sister challenged the Kingdome as due to him but the Estates of France which are called the Peeres set the crowne vpon Philip of Valeis cozen germane to the deceased King Charles excluding not onely King Edward the sisters sonne but also King Charles his posthume daughter alledging that the inheritance of that kingdom did in no wise appertaine to daughters hereupon insued that bloody warre scarce yet quenched The beginning of the Emperour Charles the IIII. Charles the IIII. 1346. an 32. m. 7. d. 14. his raigne was troublesome and the Imperiall dignitie was offred to Edward the third King of England but hee as it was reported refused it being hindered by the French wars After the quenching of sundry combustions in Germany the Emperour Charles goes downe into Italie and by consent of Pope Innocent the VI. then being in France is crowned at Rome by some Cardinals vpon condition not to stay any longer either at Rome or in Italie Hee returnes to Millaine and granted the office of perpetuall Vice-Emperour for Lombardie to the house of the Viscounts who then bore great sway in Millaine in respect of which honour they gaue him an huge masse of money and not they onely but others also vpon whom hee had bestowed any thing which act much extenuated the Emperours authority in that Country After his returne out of Italie he summoned a Diet of the Princes and there preferred that decree of the Empire called the t Containing the lawes and rites to be obserued in the election of the Emp as also the dignitie and office of each Elector and other Princes and Nobles Golden bull lastly he assignes his sonne Wenceslaus his successor in the Empire which as it is wriâ—ten he procured with great difficultie though with large rewards and not long after died In his raigne Iohn King of France Philip of Valois his sonne together with his yongest sonne Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundie sirnamed the Stout or the Bold was in pitcht field neere Poictiers taken prisoner by the English who were then in possession of a good part of Aquitaine and the
And I doubt not of your owne voluntary propension that way as much as your age can beare and your Tutors their diligent vigilancie Wherefore Illustrious Prince proceed auspiciously and as you are borne to the gouernement of a Common-wealth so furnish your selfe with such ammunition as is both perpetuall and will affoord infallible aid and not onely extenuate the labour which you must sometimes vndergoe in gouerning an ancient Prouince but also make it easie and pleasant From Strasburg Anno Dom. 1556. IOHN SLEIDAN of the foure chiefe Mōnarchies OR The key of History The first Booke BEfore I treat of the foure chiefe and principall Monarchies of the world Babylon Persia Greece and Rome I must speake a word or two of the great difference about computation of yeeres from the beginning of the world for the Hebrewes Eusebius S. Austin Alphonsus and Mirandula doe exceedingly vary amongst themselues But because almost all the learned men of our times doe in this point follow the account of the Hebrewes I also seeing the case so stands will tread in their steppes And first of all that I may come to my purpose I meane the first Monarchie passing by those occurrents which happened in the a Gen. 1 2 3 4 5 6 chap. first age of all as also the narration of the Flood sit hence all those are contained in holy Scriptures and cannot be better exprest I le take start at that time when the race of mankinde being reduced to a very small number begunne after that the * Moles massie multirude of waters was againe dispersed and the earth made drie to increase anew The time of the Flood is referred to the yeere of the world 1656. and b Gen 5. Mathusalah the seuenth from Adam died at that very time being 969. yeeres of age c Gen 7. Noah Mathusalah his * Nepos Grandchild by his sonne Lamech being then 600. yeeres of age and by Gods especiall fauour preserued together with his familie now when the number of men begunne to multiplie by little and little was the first that caused his children and posteritie by remoouing into seuerall Countries to inhabite the earth and build themselues cities and afterwards about the hundreth yeere after the Flood allotted to each of them his proper Prouince At which time Nimrod Noahs Grand-childes sonne together with his retinue inhabited the land of the Chaldees but at length the multitude of men still multiplying many were necessarily inforced to remoue and seeke out new seats and Colonies They before their departure desirous to leaue their perpetuall memoriall behinde them did thereupon d Gen. 11. It is credible that hereupon the Poets took occasion to make that fiction of the Giants who beaping moantaine vpon mountain went about to ouerthrow the gods Michael Glycas writes that there were forty yeers spent about building of this Tower Nimrod being their Chief-taine beginne to build a Citie and within that a Tower of transcendent height And forgetting Gods wrath which had so lately swallowed vp the whole Globe of the earth whereof Noah without all doubt had very much very often and diligently preached to them intended to extend the fame of their owne names by vaineglorious and ambitious workes But God herewith offended made frustrate these their enterprises sending amongst them a confusion of tongues whereas before that time there was but one and the same kinde of language all the world ouer Thus being constrained to surcease their begunne worke they departed into seuerall parts of the world From this confusion of tongues the citie called Babell took the name frō the time I mean frō the 131. yeer after the Flood or therabouts the kingdome of the Chaldees Babylonians took the beginnings The first King thereof was Nimrod before spoken of who as it is written ruled 56. yeeres The Scripture stiles him the e Gen. 10. 1 Chron. 5. Mich 5. The land of Babylon is called the land of Nimrod mightie Hunter and attributes to him strength and puissance Others call him Saturne and report that in the 45. yeere of his raign he sent away certaine Princes of Colonies hither and thither as Assur Madas Magog and Mosech Those erected kingdomes after their owne names as Assyria Media f Suidas writes that the Persians were so called but Melanctho◠think them to be the now Turks Magog and Mosco the two first whereof doe wholly belong to Asia and the third and last to Asia and Europe The Scripture makes mention of this g Assur Gen. 10. Belus Assur and that Niniue was by him builded Iupiter Belus succeeded his Father Nimrod who as historie speakes possessed all the Country from the sunne-serting to Sarmatia in Europe and afterwards made warre against Sabbatius King of Saga whom not he by reason hee was preuented by death Ninus the first Monarch about 1905. of the world but his sonne Ninus subdued who extending his dominions farre and wide was the first that euer tooke vpon him a Monarchie Noah died 350. yeeres after the Flood and about the 18 yeere after his death b Gen. 11. Abraham the tenth from Noah so commanded by God left his Country being then 75 yeers of age and in i Gen. 17. 24 yeere after that God made a couenant with him by ordaining the circumcision In the k Gen. 21. 100 yeere of his age his sonne Isaac was borne vnto him hee liued after that 75. yeeres for the tearme of mans life was now much shortened The manner of his Grand-childe l Gen. 37. Iacobs life and vpon what occasion he went downe into Egypt and there dyed how afterwards his posteritie remained in Egypt for some ages oppressed with most grieuous bondage and by Gods fauour brought out and set at libertie by his seruant Moses the holy m From the 30 ch of Gen. to the 14. of Exod. Scriptures declare This departing of the children of Israel out of Egypt is referred to the yeere of the world 2454. that is 430 yeeres after the promise made to Abraham as n Gal. 3. S. Paul hath it After Moses the children of Israel were gouerned by Iudges till the daies of Saul whom Dauid another King of the same people succeeded Now let vs returne to the Empire of Babylon Ninus being dead his wife Semiramis succeeded him in his Empire Semiramis who in riches victories and triumphs was inferiour to no mortall Prince She inlarged the towne of Babylon and made it a citie of sufficient greatnesse adorning it with diuers faire buildings and inuironing it with a wall Shee subdued Aethiopia and made warre also in India Her sonne Zameis the fifth King Zameis performed nothing worthy of memorie Arius but Arius who next succeeded him conioyned the Bactrians and Caspians to his Empire It is written that Aralius his successor was renowned for his wit and prowesse Aralius but what he atchieued is not committed to writing The next
also was a motioner hauing made a very elegant Oration to the people in Pompeyes commendation Lucullus thus recalled held his triumph neuerthelesse and bestowed a very sumptuous banquet vpon the Romans soone after this leauing his Offices in the Common wealth hee liued at home privately studiing Philosophie and erected a most copiously furnisht Library In his ordinary table he was as at all times els very sumptuous and magnificent Cicero makes mention of this Library and sayes that he was wont to come thither to cull forth bookes Pompey put Mithridates to flight and pursu'd him very farre He caus'd King Tigranes to yeeld himselfe ouer into his hands and seeing him abased and forlorne in his campe aduanced him as Cicero writes and placing the * Insigne regium Diadem vpon his head again which he had taken from him vnder certaine cautions commanded him to raigne againe At length Mithridates being besieged by his owne sonne Pharnaces slew himselfe That warre which Pompey made against the Pyrates which was before hee went against Mithridates wonne him much authority This warre thus appeased presently another ciuill broile is broached for Lucius Catilina with many more conspired the ruine of the Common wealth but by Ciceroes singular industry who was then Consull his villany was discouered he expelled the City and hauing gathered together certaine bands and troopes of abiect fellowes in Hetruria was in battell by Caius Antonius Consul Ciceroes Collegue ouerthrowne and slaine Cicero euery where amongst his workes speakes much of the seruice which he then performed for the Common wealth and makes relation not onely of the firebrands then seene in the night time the flaming of the elements lightnings and earthquakes but also applies those wondrous prodigies which hapned when Lucius Cotta and Torquatus were Consulls being two yeares before his Consulship to this time when many Turrets in the Capitoll were strucke downe the Images of the gods ouerthrowne the statues of the ancient Heroes beat down the brazen tables of the Law melted as also the statue of Romes builder Romulus in forme of an Infant gaping and sucking at the teats of a wolfe was smitten Cicero describing Catilines nature and qualities saies that there neuer was such another Monster as hee vpon the face of the Earth composed of such contrary different and mutually antipathizing appetites and dispositions of nature In the time of Ciceroes Consulship was Caius Octauius borne Caius Octauius borne 3906. and Iudaea made Tributary to the Romanes after Cnelius Pompey had surprized the City of Ierusalem The fift yeare following Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius Consuls the x Now called Switzers Heluetians changed their habitation and leuying maine forces intended to passe thorow the Prouince of Gallia into the further parts thereof and there to seat themselues in regard of the fertility of the soile But Caius Iulius Caesar who was sixe yeares younger then Cicero hauing notice hereof preparing an Armie the Senate hauing authoriz'd him ouer that Prouince marcht thither and in pitcht battell vanquished the Enemy and afterwards going out against Arionistus King of the Germanes who had annoyed the Country of Gallia y That part of France betwixt the Riuer of Seine Garonne Celtica but more especially the z Now Walloons Heduies confederates with the Romanes ouerthrew him at Besanson a Towne of the a burgundians inhabiting about the riuer Seine Sequans not farre from the Rhyne Soone after he brought the whole Countrey of Gallia in subiection to the Romanes and forthwith striking ouer the sea into Brittaine conquered it Cicero reports that Caesar writ to him out of Brittaine on the first day of September and the Letters came to his hands the eight twentieth day of the same moneth When Caesar went into Gallia Cicero being molested by Publius Clodius Tribune of the Commons departed into exile first making an oration to the Gentry and Commons wherin he commended his children and family to their care and within a few moneths after being called backe by the Senate with exceeding great congratulation of the prople made another Oration to the Romanes wherein he rendered thanks to his friends Afterwards hee laid the blame on Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius Consuls for his banishment and shewed that by them hee was betrayed declaiming certaine Orations against each of them in one whereof hee counsail'd the Senate to take from them the Prouinces of Syria and Macedonia and not to call backe Caius Caesar hauing most happy successe in his wares in Gallia but to continue his authority whereby he might fully finish the warre Meane while Ptolomie Auletes King of Aegypt for his slothfulnesse and cruelty thrust out of his kingdome came to Rome and the Senate at Cneius Pompeyes entreaty restor'd him by Aulus Gabinius expelling Archelaus whom the people had ordained to be their king At length Gabinus was adiudged to pay into the common treasury 10000 Talents or as some of our times suppose 6000000. Euery Talent amounteth to 176 pound sterling because hee had receiued so much from Ptolomie And Marcus Crassus who had in charge the managing of the Parthian warre hauing past ouer the Riuer of Euphrates was ouerthrowne and soone after slaine at an enterview vpon Truce This was he who was wont to say that no man was rich except hee could maintaine an a An Army consisted of 2400 foot and 20000 horse Army at his owne charge About this time was Publius Clodius slaine by Titus Anaio Milo Cicero defended Milo Cneius Pompey being then the third time and alone Consull yet at length he was commanded to go into exile The warres with the Galles being ended which was about the eight yeare thereof that ciuill warre of Caius Caesars The ciuill warre betwixt Caesar and Pompey begunne 3916. with his sonne in law Pompey burst forth The occasion whereof was because Caesar was to be depriu'd of his Consulship except hee would first dismisse his forces and surrender his Prouince but hee was aduised that it could no waies stand with his safety to part from his Army yet hee condescended descended vpon condition that Pompey as well as hee should yeeld vp his forces but when that was refused marching out with his forces with incredible celeritie hee left Gallia and came into Italy where entring into the Country of Flaminia he tooke many townes some by force b Now Romandiâ—la oâ— hersome by dedition Vpon notice hereof Pompey and the two Consulls Caius Marcellus and Lucius Lentulus flye from Rome to BrundusiuÌ„ a Sea coast Towne in c Puell Apulia thither marcht Caesar but before his arriuall the Consuls had struck ouer the Seas to Durachium d Durace in Macedonia and not long after Pompey followes them Now Caesar being preuented by time not hauing a Nauie in readinesse could not pursue them but returnes to Rome where calling together the Senate he makes complaint of his iniuries and also propounded certaine conditions of peace but
haue a care of the common good After the affaires were setled in Germany hee goes downe into Italy at what time the Venetians and Florentines were vp in Armes both by sea land against Philip Maria Iohn Galeas his son Duke of Millaine and so forward to Rome being there consecrated by Eugenius the IIII. and returned by Basil where then there was another Councell held Albertus Archduke of Austria Albertus II. 1437. an 1. m. 9. d. 27. King of Hungary and Bohemia was his successour whom the ciuill warres at home and forraigne abroad held backe from Italy About this time those wits were rouzed vp againe which beganne to polish the liberall sciences language and good letters the Italians indeed gaue the onset who were furthered by helpe of the Graecians and then after followed the Germanes French and other Nations and further when the inuention of u Printing wâ—s inuented in Germany in the yeare 1440 So Pollydor Virgill and others affirme Printing came to light so immense was the profit thereof that it is incredible what a happy and ioyfull progresse ensued For now this course of studie hauing beene constantly continued euer since that time It is aduanced so high that this our age may enter into comparison with the most learned ages in time past and in this regard is blessed aboue all the rest in that it hath pleased God to illuminate this knowledge of the best Arts and languages with the true knowledge of Him Whereas those Ancients furnished onely with the helpe of learning though men most eloquent yet they were plunged in depth of darknes and searcht in vaine after that quintessence of goodnesse whereof they writ so much To Albertus Frederick III. 1440. an 53. m. 7. d. 19. Fredericke the III. Archduke of Austria succeeded hee passed quietly to Rome and receiued consecration from Pope Nicholas the V. so returning home without drawing a sword in Italy In the fourth yeare of his raigne Vladislaus Vladislaus his sonne King of Polonia and Hungary hauing by Pope Eugenius the III. his instigation broke the Truce was ouerthrowne in battell and slaine at Varna or Dionysiopolis the XI of Nouember by Amurath the II. Emperour of the Turkes The IX yeare after this Mahomet Amuraths sonne Constantinople taken by Amurath the II. 1453. The Turkish Army at the siege thereof consisted of 400000. men tooke the City of Constantinople by force of Armes which his successors haue now held this * From 1453. when it was taken till 1556. when Sleidan writ this booke Maximilian 1493. an 25 m. 4. d. 25. The Moors chased cut of Granado in Spaine 1487. Charles the V. 1519. an 38. m. 6. d. 27. 103. yeares keeping their Imperiall Court there Casimiâ— Vladislaus his brother succeeded him in the Kingdome of Polonia and Ladislaus the Emperor Albert the II. his posthume sonne in Hungary To Fredericke the Emperor his son Maximilian succeeded A little before the death of this Emperour Fredericke Ferdinando King of Spaine chasing out the Moores annexed Betica commonly called the Kingdome of Granado to his owne Crowne Maximilian as he did many more made warre also vpon the Venetians Him the most puissant Emperor Charles being his grandchild by his son * Archd. of Austria Philip succeeded who now swayes the Scepter Thus out of that which we haue mentioned it clearly appeares after what manner the Romane Empire then which none euer was or will be more potent is now in a manner crusht in peeces For throughout Asia we haue not so much as a foot or a nailes breadth as the prouerbe is The Turkes Scythians and other Enemies of our Religon hold all there Wee haue lost all Africa but what hath beene recouered of late yeares by Charles the V. when hee wonne Tunis from Aenobarbe the Turkish Lieutenant archieuing a glorious victory and made the King there tributary to him as also the fifteenth yeare following besieged and tooke the Town of Aphricke Portugal Spaine France Britaine Denmarke Sarmatia Pannonia Illyricum all Greece with the adiacent Countries are torne away as also the Ilands of Sicilie Sardinia Corsica Maiorique and Minorique and Sauoy which Prouinces haue their peculiar Lords who hold full power in all matters and are not at a penny charge about any affaires of the Empire Now let vs looke vpon Italy the old ancient and first patrimony of the Romane Empire but wherein doth it participate with vs The Kings of Spaine by ancient succession hold Calabria Apulia Campania and Naples The Popes keepe in their hands the City of Rome formerly the Emperours Palace and Court Imperiâ—ll together with Marca de Ancona Romandiola and part of Tuscane who are so farre from acknowledging subiection to the Emperour that they hold the Emperours and their Deputies to bee bound to them Those Cities there of any strength either haue their proper Lords or else are swayed by factions and hauing nothing at all to doe with vs. Now for the Venetians what a company hold they not onely of goodly Cities and freeburrowes but also Prouinces they themselues in the interim being an absolute free-state and quite separated from the Romane Empire As for Insubria commonly called Lombardy that indeed belongs somewhat nearer to vs but it totters too neither receiue wee any certaine profit from thence For after that our Emperours had as abouesaid first constituted Viscounts there as they call them and afterwards Dukes how miserably was it rent to peeces and euer since that time how little did it benefit vs For our Emperours neglecting it in time of the warres there the house of the Sfortia's dispossessing the Vicounts seized vpon it whom afterwards Lewis the XII and Francis the I. Kings of France excluded the latter whereof held it for sixe yeeres till the Emperour Charles the V. recouered it Thus you see no reuenues come from any part of Italie for they neither repaire to our Diets nor contribute any thing at all to any publike vse or necessitie but what they doe voluntarily or in fauour to the Emperour onely Germanie remaines which alwaies repugned the Romane Empire scarce euer free from rebellion as before appears till at length it was gathered together by the Emperour Charles the Great and reduced into one body after which time when the power of electing the Emperours was committed to the seuen Electors as we haue formerly shewed it became the Emperours Court and Mansion place And here too wee must consider with what difficultie this little diminitiue body of the Empire congealed in Germanie could incorporate it self for when were we euer free from iarres and ciuill broiles So now whatsoeuer goes vnder the name of the Empire is incuded within the bounds of Germany for all forraigne places and those without the compasse thereof are fallen away Howbeit we see there are many euen within those small compast limits that flie backe and as much as they can withdraw themselues and their countries forth of the iurisdiction of the
to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
length the Athenians incounter with their enemies in the Port of Syracusa but after a doubtfull and dangerous battell were all of them put to flight and slaine In the meane time the Lacedemonians and their confederates conclude a league against the Athenians with Darius King of Persia Tissaphernes was Darius his Ambassadour Next after Codrus Polydor of Sparta and Aristomenes of Messene these following are for the most part reputed the chiefe and most renowned Captaines of the Greekes some whereof performed worthy seruice for the whole Country of Greece and euery one for his owne country at the least as Miltiades Leonidas Themistocles Pericles Aristides Pausanias Xantippus Leotychidas Cimon Conon Epaminondas Leosthenes Aratus of Sicyon Philopoemen Most of these were at length banished their countries Cicero describes the Port of Syracusa and reports how the Athenian Nauie onely which consisted of 300. ships did within mans memorie inuade it and was vanquished and ouerthrowne within the same by reason of the aduantage in the scituation and nature of the place and port it selfe and then first of all was the puissance of that Citie borne down abated and ouerwhelmed and shipwracke was made of Nobilitie Gouernement and Glory Thucidides relates that the circuit of Sicilie is as much as a great vessell can saile round about in eight daies space and that the Iland is distant from the Continent about twenty g Two miles and a haâ—e furlongs Darius had two sonnes Artaxerxes Mnemon and Cyrus Artaxerxes Mnemon the first whereof succeeded his father and Cyrus gouerned lonia but not being content with his owne share made war vpon the King his brother was there ouerthrown and slaine Marcus Portius Cato as Cicero hath it cals this Cyrus the yonger King of Persia a man of an excellent wit and the glory of his Kingdome He commends him also for his delight in husbaÌ„dry as Xenophon writes of him for this Xenophon was one of his souldiers and very familiar with him and for that cause was afterwards driuen into exile by the Athenians who were in league amity with Mnemon Ochus Darius After Mnemon raigned Ochus his third and youngest sonne Darius the last of all succeeded Against him Alexander King Philip of Macedon his sonne made warre who after hee had subdued Thebes and pacified Greece set forward into Asia in three battels ouerthrew Darius taking his mother wife and daughters prisoners Darius offered him very large conditions part of his kingdome to the riuer of Euphrates but he refused both and ceased not till hee had ouerthrowne him for when Darius saw that hee could not make his peace vpon these conditions hee renewes the war the third time and comming against him with a most puissant Army was the third time ouerthrowne and as he fled slaine by his owne men when together with him the Monarchy of Persia which had stood 200. yeares was extinguished Alexander by these famous victories brought vnder his subiection almost all the countries lying Eastward The third Monarchie of the Greekes founded by Alexander the Great about 3609. after the Persian Monarchie had stood about 200. yeares translated the Imperiall feat out of Asia into Europe and founded the third Monarchie After this he made warres in India but such is the weakenesse of mortall men those blasts of ful-handed and indulgent fortune could not breath vpon him but must needes puffe him vp with ambition when hauing plaied many insolent prankes and in a manner commanded diuine worship to be giuen him comming to Babylon there died of a feuer or as many write of poison being 33 years of age and hauing raigned 12 yeares Calanus an Indian as Cicero relates foretold him of his death whom as he was going to be h He caused himselfe to be burnt following the ancient custome of the chiefemen of his Nation burnt AlexaÌ„der asked if he had any thing to say Oyes quoth he I shall see thee â—re it be long Within a few dayes after Alexander breathed his last which was as it is commonly taken in the hundred fourteenth i Games in honor of Iupiter celebrated euery fift yeere they begun An. mund 3186 〈◊〉 Most authors as Meibomius notes agree that he dyed in the 429 y. after the building of Rome Olympian in the foure hundred and ninth yeare after the building of the City of Rome which is 322. yeares before the birth of Christ He was a very deuout louer of good Arts most liberall towards learned men is therefore highly extold in many of their workes He delighted much in Homers Poems and though we read that hee was neuer without many learned men about him to record his acts yet when hee stood before Achilles his tomb in Sigeum O happy young man said he that hast found such an Herald as Homer to proclaime thy vertues For as hee would rather then any others haue Apelles his l Painter Pictor and Lysippus his m Statuist Fictor so would hee haue his worth extold and commended to the memorie of posterity by such as in setting forth his glory could purchase renowne to their owne wits He imployed his Tutor Aristotle about describing the nature of all liuing creatures and for that purpose procured certaine thousands of men throughout Greece Asia as Grasiers Huntsmen Fishermen Fishmongers Fowlers many more such like to giue him information of each creature It s written that hee gaue to the Author himselfe in recompence of his labour 800 Talents which amounts as the learned of our times collect to 1480. Crownes He sent Xenocrates the Philosopher 50 Talents by his Ambassador which comes to 1030 Crownes which when hee refused and sent him word back again by his Ambassadors that he hath no need of so much money What said he has he no friend whoÌ„ he may benefit by theÌ„ In his tender yeares when he was Aristotles scholler hee was as Cicero writes endued with a most excellent wit and exceeding great modesty but afterwards aduanced with the title of King He grew proud cruell and deboist Historiographers tell wondrous stories of Darius his gorgeous pomp delicious pastimes and riotous exesse For hee kept within his Tents Cookes of all kinds Hucksters crammers of fowle Artificers clerks of his kitchin and Confectioners lest hee should bee vnprouided of any meanes that might encrease his bodily pleasure Many writers speake of the Kings of Persia their solemnities and sumptuous prouision in their daily banquets elsewhere They were wont to keep many wiues as Cicero writes and to those they gaue certaine cities that such a citie should find such a woman with all manner of attire for her head and such a City with this or that apparell Such was Darius his end as I formerly recited who as he fled from Alexander drinking foule water polluted with dead corpes denyed that euer in al his life he drunk a more pleasant draught for he neuer drunke when hee was a thirst
words which hee then vs'd Horace sets them downe in that Ode Horace l. 4. Ode 4. wherein he celebrates the fame of Drusus and his house which being most learned elegant worthily amongst other matters deserues commemoration by all of the yonger sort Thus the Romanes being at peace with the Carthaginians besides those warres wherein they were employed in Italy Istria and Lusitania The Roman warre with Philip King of Macedonia 3770. made sharpe warre against Philip King of Macedonia who infested the Countrey of Greece In this warre Titus Quintus Flaminius was Generall who at length getting the vpper hand of the Enemy did by decree of the Senate restore Greece to its former liberty and amongst other iniunctions prohibited King Philip from making war in any place out of his owne Territories without decree of the Senate The Roman wars with Antiochus King of Syria 3777. To this warre another succeeded against Antiochus King of Syria who passing ouer into Europe was ouerthrowne and expelled Greece by Mannius Glabrio Philip King of Macedon aiding the Romanes in that warre Those before recited Kings of Asia Syria and Macedonia descended from their posterity who as wee haue aboue related diuided the prouinces amongst them after Alexander the Great his death For Carthage being pacified and all Italy brought vnder subiection the Romanes hauing subdued their neighbouring Countries of Europe both by sea and land were now grown to that height that Kings and people farre remote implored their patronage After this manner the Egyptians whose King Ptolomy Epiphanes was a very young Prince and not of ability by reason of his non-age to gouerne them being brought into imminent danger by Antiochus the Great sent ouer their Ambassadors to Rome petitioning the Senate to vndertake the tuition of their young King Hereupon the Senate enioyned Antiochus to forbeare Egypt Hee hereat incensed but more especially when Hannibal who was fled to him and remained his guest very earnestly perswaded him to the warre strucke ouer with a Nauie into Greece and there as wee reported before was put to flight Whereupon the Romans setting forth with an Armado pursue him and striking ouer into Asia ouerthrew in a maine battell and beat him backe beyond the Mountaine Taurus Cicero relates how after this ouerthrow he was wont to say that the Romans had done him a very good turne for now being freed from too exceeding great gouernment hee would conteine himselfe within the moderate bounds of a Kingdome Lucius Cornelius Scipio Publius Scipio Africanus his brother was Captaine Generall in this warre thereupon surnamed Asiaticus After this Marcus Fuluius Nobilior vanquished the l A certaine people of Greece Aetolians and triumphed ouer them And Publius Scipio Africanus after his returne home out of Asia whither he was sent in Ambassage to his brother in time of this warre being crost by the m Officers appointed for protection of the Commons against the Nobles Tribunes of the Commons withdrew himselfe into his village of Liternum and there this man of transcendent worth ended his life being as many write 52. yeares old of the same age with Marcus Portius Cato In that Dialogue Sleidan as Meibomius notes mistakes Africanus for Quintus Fabius Cunctator whom Cicero speaks of which Cicero writ of old age hee brings in Cato speaking very affectionately and honorably both of his age and studies but most especially extolling his magnanimity howbeit Liuie writes that Cato was his enemy and was wont much to disquiet himselfe with the odious enuie that he bore against him for his fortitude Cicero commends him for his dexterous celeritie in dispatch of businesse At this time flourisht those Poets Ennius Plautus and Neuius After Antiochur his ouerthrow Hannibal fled to Prusias King of Bythinia and when the Romanes desired to haue him deliuered into their hand by a draught of poison finished his life Hannibal poisoneth himselfe An. 3786. To Antiochus his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded who likewise practised by treachery to haue seized vpon the Kingdome of Egypt for that he was vncle to Ptolomie Philometer King of Egypt who succeeded after his fathers death hereupon professing himselfe to be the yong Kings Tutor purposed to dispatch him and so transferre the sway of gouernement into his own hands but his plot being discouered the Romans whom the Egyptians had againe solicited for aide sent ouer to him in Ambassage Caius Popilius Laenas who comming to conference with Antiochus commanded him in the name of the Romans to depart from Alexandria which hee then besieged who desiring time to deliberate vpon it Laenas with a little rod drew a circle round about him in the place where hee stood and in flat termes charged him to giue his answer what he would doe before hee stirred out of that Ring Hee hereat dismaid and not being ignorant of the puisance of the Romans promised peace Those passages are onely for this purpose mentioned that it may appeare how the Romans from these small beginnings gathered ground step by step and climbed vp to the highest branch of gouernment For now their puissance hauing outstript the bounds of Italy made an impression into seuerall Quarters of the world but a great part of their labour yet remained towards the keeping in together the ponderous burthen of this their Empire whose circuit contained the chiefest part of the whole world as hereafter though briefly I le declare in order Philip King of Macedon he whom I formerly spoke of taking it very hainously that the Romanes had put him to such a straight was aminded to renew the warre but being preuented by death his sonne and successor Perseus hauing beene long before that incensed against the Romanes vndertooke this warre as it were a part of his inheritage but Lucius Aemilius Paulus the second time Consull Perseus K. of Macedonia with his wife mother Children led in triumph at Rome by Aemilius Paulus 3802. at length ouerthrew him in battell tooke him together with his wife mother and Children and led them in triumph for this cause surnamed Macedonicus and from that time Macedonia became one of the Prouinces of the Romanes The yeare next before this dyed Ennius aged 70. yeares as Cicero hath it Within a few yeares following Publius Cornelius Nasica subdued Dalmatia and not long after the third Punicke or Carthaginian warre begunne The third Punick or Carthiginian warre 3819. For the Carthaginians being impatient of peace and ease offer violence and hostility to the rest of their neighbours but more especially to Massinissa King of Numidia a confederate and friend of the Romanes The Romans being requested for their aid decreed to make warre in the 604. yeere of Rome built but herein they differed in their opinions whether it were better to raze the Citie or preserue it safe some were of opinion that it should not bee destroyed for that said they Carthage being taken away they should fall into ciuill warres and dissentions
being sleighted off by the Senate he marches to e Marsiles in France Massilia where the gates were shut against him hereupon rigging his Nauie he besieges it both by sea and land and there leauing his Deputies sets forward into Spaine where at length hee compels Petreius and Africanius two of Pompeyes Captaines together with the whole Armie to yeeld Then he returns to Massilia which City despairing of all ayde presently yeelds to his power and after he was made Dictator in his absence by Marcus Lepidus the Praetor repaires to Rome calls an assemblie and is created Consull together with Publius Seruilius Isauricus soone after hauing setled the affaires of the City hee strikes ouer into Greece and at length ouerthrew Pompey in Thessaly in a maine battell Pompey ouerthrowne 3921. and disbanded him though his Army farre exceeded Caesars Pompey thus put to flight arriues in Egypt Ptolomy Dionysius Ptolomy Auletes son being then King thereof which Auletes when he was expelled his Kingdome Pompey had restored by Aulus Gabinius as aforesaid In regard of which benefit hee expected aid and protection from that Countrey but the King being a child his Nobles either despising Pompeyes fortune or else fearing some troubles treacherously kill him And slaine Caesar pursuing Pompey arriues at Alexandria with 3200 men and there first of all had notice of Pompeyes death Cicero passing his censure vpon both of theÌ„ If in the last war saith he Pompey had abated somewhat from his austere grauity and and Caesar much from his ambition wee should haue had both a firme peace and some Common wealth left vs. The King of Aegypt was then in warres with his sister Cleopatra Hereupon Caesar being at Alexandria would haue their controuersies rather decided by course of law before himselfe then by ciuill warres amongst themselues because hee was Consull of Rome and some yeares before there was a coÌ„federacy agreed vpon with Ptolomy the Kings father by decree and consent of the Senate But the States tooke this most hainously complaining that their Kings Royall Maiesty was ecclipsed in calling him to sit in iudgement vpon their controuersies Thus incensed in minde they prepare to make warre against Caesar but he after much danger getting the vpper hand did not reduce it into the forme of a Prouince but tollerated Cleopatra and her yonger brother the King being slaine to hold the Kingdome From thence marching into Syria and afterwards into Pontus hee put to flight King Pharnaces Mithridates his sonne and setled peace in Cappadocia Armenia Gallo-Greece Pontus and Bythinia Forthwith returning into I talie and so to Rome about the middle of Winter at the Winter * Solstitium Sun-sted he strikes ouer from f A towne and promontory in Sicilie Lilybeum into Africa though warned by a chiefe Soothsayer not to take his voyage before the end of Winter Scipio and Cato Marcus Portius Catoes Nephewes sonnes were fled thither from the battell at g Where Pompey was ouerâ—hrowne Pharsalia and hauing gathered together a great Army drew King h King of â—â—aâ—â—itâ—nia Iuba into confederacy with them Cesar marching thither ouerthrew and destroied them all but Cato lest hee should fall into his hands killed himselfe at i Now called Biserta in Barbarie Vtica which fact Cicero defends and saith that it was better for him whom nature had indued with incredible grauitie so to doe then to behold the face of a Tyrant This Cato was of the sect of the Stoickes and would oftentimes maintaine strange opinions in the Senate as though he were versed in Platoes politickes as Cicero saith and not in the refuse off-spring of Romulus Afterward Cesar repaires to Rome and hauing triumphed ouer Gallia Egypt Pontus and Affrica set forward to Spaine where he warred against and subdued Sextus Pompeius Thus hauing vanquished all his aduersaries and setled a peace in many Nations farre and wide in the fift yeere after the beginning of his ciuill warres The fourth Monarchie begun by Caius Cesar An. 3925. being 300. yeeres and odde after Alexander the Great he returns to Rome where after hee had triumphed ouer Hispaine hee assumed the offred title and authoritie of perpetuall Dictator and swaied the Senate according to his owne will hee in a manner hauing the sole bestowing of all honours and publike offices conferring them vpon whom he pleased thereby incurring many mens ill-will And now the state of the Common-wealth being altered and the supreame gouernment thereof reduced to one mans principalitie those conspiracies then in brewing against him were at length broached For in the fift moneth after his returne to Rome Caius Cesar slaine hee was slaine in Pompeys * Curia Court-house on the Ides of March and by those very men whom by his late shewed kindnesse hee had obliged to him as also pardoned them for seruing against him in the Pompeian warre Those were Marcus and Decius Brutus Caius Cassius Cneius Domitius Caius Trebonius Quintus Tullius Cimber two of the Sernilioes Casea Hala and many more Marcus Antonius the Consull Cesars Collegue indicted Cicero also before the Senate as guilty of the murther for that Marcus Brutus presently after Cesar was slain holding vp his dagger on high shouted aloud and nominated him congratulating him for recouerie of their libertie Many report that Caius Cesar spake to Marcus Brutus in Greeke as hee rushed vpon him and called him sonne how they take it I know not but it is euident out of Cicero that Brutus was fifteene yeers yonger then he Caius Cesar made diuers lawes some whereof when he was Consull and other some when he was Dictator which after his name were called the Iulian lawes as about distribution of lands concerning violence Maiestie extortion Priest-ships vsurie Others lawes there were which goe vnder his name but were made by Octauius All commend him for his clemency and Cicero giues him praise for his wit quicknesse reason memorie learning prouidence diligence but hee stormed grieuously at his authoritie yet secretly and in an Epistle to Atticus Thou shalt perceiue saith he that this kingdome can scarce hold halfe a yeere together But in al those proceedings Cicero carried himselfe very wauering and inconstantly for during the warre he followed Pompeyes partie and his camp although hee reprehended his discouragement of minde and cowardise and in his Epistles to his friends hee cals Cesar a war-waging Tyrant and monster But after Pompey was put to flight and slaine and Cesar had pardoned many of his aduersaries he changes his stile and in three set Orations extolled him with praises to the very heauens Further when Cesar heard that there was treason plotted against him and would often say that hee had liued long enough he beseeches and requests him to reiect that opinion for although hee was full fraught with glory and in that regard for himselfe had liued long enough yet hee had not liued long enough for the Common-wealth which could not be
king of the Gothes wholly bent himselfe to the warre Athila neuerthelesse proceeds and in the Downes of Chaalons which part of France in regard of the plaines is Champaigne was this most dismall battell fought in which as it is recorded 180000. men were slaine And Athila losing the day determined to kill himselfe lest he should fall aliue into the hands of his enemies Howbeit king Theodoricus his sonne following Aetius the Lieutenants counsaile returned home with his forces to succeed his deceased Father whereby Athila getting time to recollect himselfe retires into Pannonia and leaying new forces marches full swoln with reuenge into Italiâ— where at length winning the Citie of Aquilleia first wearied out with a long-continuing siege sackt and burnt it Then forthwith he takes Concordia Padua Vicentia Verona Brescia Bergamo Millaine and Pauie and so pillaging vp and downe o Romandiola Flaminia incamped at the meeting of the Riuer of Mencius and Po where deliberating about his passage to Rome with his Armie Leo the first of that name Bishop of Rome comes to him and so farre preuailed that altering his intent he not onely surceased his expedition to Rome but also quite remouing out of Italie returned into Pannonia where within a while after he ended his daies This was that Leo many of whose Epistles to Theodosius the second and Martianus the Emperour are extant wherein he partly apologizes for his absence from the Councels by them conuocated and intreats them not to bee offended for sending thither of his Legates and partly also requests that they would designe some place in Italie rather then in Asia for the celebrating of Councels but he obtained nothing Whilest Athila thus raged vp and downe Italie the Citie of Venice was builded Venice begunne to be built An. 430. when many of the abler sort leauing the adioyning places betooke themselues to those sea-sands little Islelands and hillockes as into some harbour Thus meane and in a manner desperate and miserable was the beginning of this Citie which now as we see is growne to a wonderfull greatnesse They reckon 805. Dukes till this time the first whereof was p Some Authors call him Paulutius Anafestus and write of his beginning in Anno Dom. 697. and after their Citie built 282. Paulus Anazatus in the yeere of grace 706. being 252. yeeres after the beginning of the building of their Citie Afterwards when Valentinianus was slaine Gensericus King of the Vandals sailing ouer with a Nauie from Affrica into Italie marches with an exceeding great armie being aided by the Moores towards Rome and takes the Citie in a manner left quite desolate but at the earnest request of Leo the Bishop who also as aforesaid appeased Athila hee forbore fire and sword The Citie-sackt captiues were transported to Carthage in great troopes The enemies after this infest Campania with grieuous outrages rase Capua Nola Naples and other Cities those who suruiue the sword they condemne to the irons and growne rich with the wealth of Italie returne into Affrica Martianus Emperour of the East a Prince of a calme nature inioyed peace hee was wont to say That it was not sitting for a Prince to take armes as long as he might liue in peace In his raigne The fourth Councell at Chalcedon in Bythinia and by his command a very great Councell was assembled at Chalcedon wherein Eutyches who confounded the two natures in Christ was condemned There amongst the rest it was decreed that no Clerke as they call them should bee admitted to the Churches of two Cities Pluralitie of liuings as wee tearme it was not then heard of which now is growne so ordinarie as nothing is more common And almost within our memorie that custome crept in amongst other blemishes of the Church that the Pope may conferre two Bishoprickes vpon one man If now therefore he would restore the custome in this behalfe which was held in the next precedent age hee should doe his dutie but seeing that cannot be can we suppose it euer to be granted that matters shall be amended according to the holy Scriptures and decrees of the Apostles and primitiue times No they toile in vaine that ballance the deedes of the Popes with the rules of ancient Religion Martianus dying in the seuenth yeere of his Empire Leo 457. an 17. Leo succeeded him and Auitus when Gensericus after the taking of Rome was returned into Affrica succeeded Valentinianus at Rome and in the West next to him Majoranus then Seuerus and after him Anthemius after those followed others but nothing eminent who perished in their mutuall massacres and treacheries and raigned but a while insomuch that now the other part of the Roman Empire in the West stood in great danger Nothing memorable is recorded of Leo the Emperour but that he entred into amitie and league with the Gothes then wasting Illyricum and an Epistle or two of Leo the Bishop of Romes to him Zeno 474. an 17. m. 2. d. 7. are extant Zeno q Called Isauricus because he was borne in Isaurica in Cicilia Isauricus was his successor Among stthose also who ruled in Rome after Valentinianus his death Augustulus was one in whose raigne Odoacer with a maine armie of Herulians and Syrians out of Pannonia inuades Italie takes Orestes a Nobleman of Rome who was fled to Pauie with his forces puts him to death sackes and burnes the Citie and marching on takes in the whole Country as far as Rome Augustulus deiected in minde voluntarily resignes his Empire Odoacer enters the Citie and obtaining the kingdome of Italie gouerned without resistance fourteene yeeres But at length Theodorieus King of the East-Gothes sent by Zeno the Emperour marching from Constantinople ouerthrew the r Part of the Gothes Gepides and Bulgarians opposing him and so making his way through Mysia and Pannonia arriues in Italie and incampes himselfe not farre from Aquileta whither Odoacer afterwards repairing a sharpe battell insued Odoacer losing the day fled but recollecting his forces ioynes battell on fresh and is againe ouerthrown most part of his armie lost some whereof perished in battell others in Å¿ A Riuer running through Verona Athesis Hee flies amaine towards Rome where shut out he spoiles the Country about and comes to Rauenna there at length after three yeeres siege vpon the Cities yeelding she was taken and put to death Odoacer thus cut off Theodoricus became Lord of Italie marches to Rome where hee assembled two Councels of Bishops whom hee called together out of sundry Prouinces of Italie to sit vpon t Pope of Rome Symmachus his cause whom the greatest part refused as one vnworthy and falsly created This Theodoricus was an Arian as the Papall bookes haue it His sirname was u Because of his victory at Verona Veronensis and was descended from that Theodoricus abouementioned who was slaine in the battell against Athila King of the Hunnes Odoacer was a * Of Rugerland in Pomerania Rugian a people
Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
the iarres betwixt them Now this Emperour standing vpon his owne right and power a great tumult arose at Rome in so much as the Emperour raised vp in the night was constrained to aide his owne men who fell by the sword all the Citie ouer But these factious persons once supprest he takes Paschal the II. and dismist him not till he had giuen him satisfaction by entring into a league but after the Emperour was returned into Germanie the Pope flies off from the league Henry the V. excommunicated by Paschal the II. 1115. whereto he had sworn in most sacred words and excommunicates the Emperour which stirred vp many of the Germane Princes to rebellion and amongst the rest more especially the Archbishop of Mentz The Emperour marching downe into Italie sends his Ambassadours to the Pope about a peace But whilest the matter was in hand the Pope dies To him Gelasius the II. succeedes The Emperour for that he was not called to the election marches to Rome and sets vp another Gelasius thus deposed excommunicates both him as also the Pope by him constituted and the Emperour in regard the Popes Legates solicited the Germanes to reuolt was constrained to retire home But Gelasius dying in the interim the Romans choose Calixtus the II. Hee thrust him out of his place whom the Emperor in hatred to Gelasius had created and after much interession compounds with the Emperour To Henry the V. Lotharius Lotharus II. 1125. an 13. d. 18. of the house of Saxony of that name the II. succeeded Him Conradus Duke of Sueuia opposed storming that the sway of gouernment was falne againe into the Saxons hands who marching into Italy to settle himselfe in that Kingdome whilst Lotharius in the interim held Germany fast destitute of aide returned home and made his peace with the Emperour Innocent the II. was then Pope of Rome Him Anacletus resisted to whom because he was descended from noble parentage Innocent was forced to yeeld but imploring the Emperors ayde was restored The Emperour returnes into Germany where hauing seâ—led the affaires hee marches downe againe into Italy with a mighty Army subdues some Cities then in rebellion and amongst the rest Ancona and Spoleti chased Roger King of Sicilie out of Apulia and Campania and as fame speakes of him scarce any Emperor since Charles the Great archieued more worthy exploits throughout Italy It is written that then also the ciuill law which as we mentioned was collected by Iustinian the Emperors command hauing been borne downe by stormes of warre was brought to light againe Conradus D. of Suenia succeeded him Conradus III. 1139. an 12. m. 10. d. 15. at what time Henry sirnamed the Proud was Duke of Bauaria and by mariage with the Emperour Lotharius his daughter Duke of Saxony also who affecting the Empire and plotting much mischiefe against the Emperour was proscribed and his lands giuen to others But Duke Henry hauing recouered Saxony as hee was marching into Bavaria dyed leauing behind him his sonne in fauour of whom the Saxons rose vp in rebellion against the Emperour and not so onely but Welpho also brother to the deceased Duke Henry by force of Arms challenged Bauaria excluding Ludolphus vpoÌ„ whom the Emperour had conferred that Prouince A little aboue wee mentioned how the Emperour expelled Roger King of Sicilie but whilst Germanie was thus turmoiled King Roger laying hold on the opportunity inuades Sicilie and chases out the Emperours Deputie and then spurres on Welpho with large promises to proceed and hold the Emperour in play The King of Hungarie too tooke the same course who also stood in feare of the Emperour At length the Emperour marching out against the Sarazens lost his army and returnes home from whence intending to goe downe into Italy hauing all in readinesse dyed at Bamberg m Commonly called Barbarossa Frederick Barbarossa 1152. an 38. m. 3. d. 7 Frederick Aenobarb or Red-beard Duke of Sueiua of that name the first succeeded him a man of heroicke spirit He in the beginning of his raigne made a peace among the Princes of Germanie and ended the controuersie about Saxony and Bauaria afterwards with a maine Army marches downe into Italy sets a mulct vpon the Veronesses who had contemned him and for example sake hangs some of the chiefe vpon gallowes He commanded a Court of Guard to bee kept about him neare Placentia by all the Leige-Princes of the Empire besieges Millaine rases Asta and layes Deitona leuell with the ground Going to Rome is consecrated by Adrian the IIII. suppresses the rebellious Citizens subuerts Spoleti and made a great slaughter subdues the Lombards and hauing broken the snares laid for him by the Veronesses returnes into Germany inflict an ignominious mulct vpon the Prince Palatine who in his abscence had raised some commotions The beginning of the Kingdome of Bohemia about 1â—00 and after that he made the Duke of Bohemia King In the meane space the Millanois practised many insolent outrages against their neighbours and againe reared vp Deitona demollshed by the Emperour whereupon hee returning with a strong army sacks Millaine by the ayde of the Cremonesses Pauians and Nouarians The City thus taken the multitude at the Princes of Germanie their intercession to whom they had petitioned was spared All Lombardy was reduced into his subiection from hence hauing setled the City with Lawes hee remoues to other people thereabouts After his returne they rebell contemne the Lawes by him established and demolish the Forts by him raised whereupon againe marching thither he harrazes the whole Country and rases all places within their Dominions In the meane space mortall conspiracies were in hatching against him all Italy ouer in which Pope Adrian before-mentioned was one who as soone as hee had absolutely resolued to excommunicate him a Drinking of water wherein a flie were drowned dyed The Emperour marching into Italy the third time vtterly euerts Millaine puts the Author of the rebellion to death and compells the rest of the multitude to goe into exile then besieging the City of Rome lost a great part of his Army by contagious sicknes For that cause raising his siege and placing garisons throughout Hetruria setting ouer at Spoleti Ancona and Rauenna such as hee pleased should gouerne the Common-wealth he returnes into Germany Pope Adrian dying two contend for the Papacy Victor and Alexander the III. the Emperour being absent who indeed enclined more to Victor but Alexander first excommunicates his Competitour and afterwards the dissention increasing the b Afterwards wheÌ„ the Emperour came to him to Venice for his absolution the Pope trode vpon his necke and caused that place in the Psalmist to bee sung Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and Basilisk c. The Emperour exclaiming that he did not this honour to him but to S. Peter the Pope replied To me and to Peter too Emperour also The Millanois perceiuing this occasion breake into rebellion and in many places in Italy
Empire I passe ouer in silence those neighbouring Kings and other Princes that day by day catch snatch away as much as they can from this feeble and saplesse little body which scarce cleaues to the bones striuing to bring that into their owne dominions which belonged to the Common-wealth But to come to an end in some time let vs lend our attention to Daniels prophecie concerning all that is spoken We haue treated of the Image that Nabuchodonozar saw in his dreame whereto wee will returne againe but in the interim take a view of some other places In his VII Chap. he describes the foure beasts which in a dream he saw cōming out of the Sea A Lyon a Beare a Leopard and the fourth and last he saies was terrible and dreadfull to behold The Lyon signifies the kingdome of Assyria the two wings which he had are as it were the two members of that Empire Babylon and Assyria By the Beare is vnderstood the kingdome of Persia by which Babylon was conquered the three ribs which hee saies were in his mouth betwixt his teeth are the three chiefe Kings of that Monarchie Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes who were more famous then the rest and eate much flesh as he speakes that is brought many nations into their subiection The Leopard is Alexander the Great or the Greeke Empire his foure wings heads are the foure kingdomes which rise out of that Monarchy after Alexanders death The fourth and last Beast is the Romane Empire the tenne hornes are his members or Prouinces such as were Syria Aegypt Asia Greece Affricke Spaine Gallia Italie Germanie Brittaine for all those they held Now a certaine little horne grew vp and shot forth amongst the tenne hornes which pluckt away three hornes from those ten This notifies the kingdome of Mahomet or the Turke which from a small beginning budding forth of the Romane Monarchy seized vpon three of the chiefest parts thereof Egypt Asia and Greece Further this little horne hath eyes and was reproachfull against God For Mahomet vented a new kinde of doctrine which was well liked of by his followers as carrying some shew of wisedome in it Those are the eyes but indeed hee blasphemes God For hee abolishes the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles and acknowledges no benefit by Christ but reproachfully railes against all doctrine concerning Christ Further that little horne saith he shall make warre with the Saints and sore afflict them till the Ancient of daies shall come to iudgement who hath neither beginning nor end whereby it clearely appeares that within the time of this Empire the tearme of this world shall haue an end and shall neuer be againe but after the dissolution of all earthly Principalities then shall follow that perpetual kingdome whereof Christ shall be Prince and Head In his eight chapter the Prophet Daniel describes the Ramme and the Goat which the Angell afterwards plainely interprets saying the Ram with two hornes betokens the Kings of the Medes and Persians and the Goat the Greeke Empire and the great horne in his forehead the first king of that Empire and that foure hornes succeeded after that horne was broken it signifies saith he that foure kingdomes shall rise out of that Empire but not to bee compared to that first King for strength and puissance Here we may see how properly and infallibly the Prophet Daniel portraies Alexander the Great two hundred yeeres and more before his raigne For it shall so fall out saith hee that the Goat shall not touch the earth that is he should runne ouer his warres with exceeding celeritie and no man should be able to deliuer the Ramme out of his hand for Alexander raigned onely twelue yeeres in which little inch of time hee almost subdued all Asia as wee haue aboue shewed And though the Medes and Persians were of incredible strength yet in three set battels Darius was ouerthrowne and lost his life and his Empire both at once Many write that when Alexander came to Ierusalem the High-Priest read that place of Daniel to him which exceedingly reioyced him Againe that another horne should rise from amongst those foure hornes at first but small but afterwards very powerfull which should grieuously oppresse the Sanctuary herely saith hee hee foretells those most bitter persecutions which the Iewes should suffer vnder Alexander the Great his successors the Kings of Egypt and Syria betwixt whom the Country of Iudea lies For the Iewes haue felt that horne which rose out of the foure hornes in Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria that most cruell destroier Hither also we must apply the eleuenth chapter wherein he speakes againe of Alexander the Great and so copiously and properly that it may rather seeme an Historie then a Prophecie But now again let vs return to Nabuchodonozors Image whereof vpon occasion wee spoke in our first booke as for the interpretation thereof concerning the three first Monarchies I will not repeat it because it is both perspicuous as also made good by the times themselues onely we will speake something of the fourth because it both properly appertaines vnto vs who liue in it and is more exactly described by Daniel It shall be of iron saith he which shall breake in pieces and bring all the rest of the Monarchies in subiection to it there needs not many words in explanation hereof for the matter it selfe speakes and it manifestly appeares out of the historie of those Monarchs which wee haue reckoned vp But the Images feet and the toes of the feet are part of iron part of potters clay As the foot of a mans body is diuided into toes so the Romane Empire after it hath for a while continued strong being supported by iron legges and incircled the whole world in its circumference shall fall into toes and that massie body shall be dissolued This also is plainely effected and needs no explication for at this day what is more diuided then the body of that most spacious Empire And though the case thus stand yet because the sole of the foot is of iron the foundation shall remaine and shall neuer bee extinguished but the reliques title and dignitie thereof shall endere till Christ at his comming shall set a period to all humane things but it is cleare as noone day and beyond all doubt that it is now at the lowest ebbe That goodly tree is fallen but the root stickes fast and remaines yet not hauing any sappe and therefore vnable to grow vp and increase againe but quite dead and withered yet no force of man shall bee able vtterly to extirpate this roote and foot-soale of iron nature but it shall sticke fast grounded in the earth till the whole world shall be destroied Hereof also wee haue had experience for many haue often attempted the subuersion of this small and slender parcel of the Empire as the Popes of Rome and lastly the Turkes who though they haue done great matters and it may bee promise greater to themselues yet