the stock of Ithamar that obtained that High-Priesthood which continued in his stock until Solomon cast out Abâ—athar and put in Zâ—dok descended from Eleazer 1 Kings 2.26 35. In his time for the Sins of the Priests and People the Lord gave his Ark the Sacrament of his Presence into the hands of the Philistins as he did his Temple to be destroyed by the Chaldeans and after by the Romans because they put more Confidence therein than in the Lord himself whose Law they would not observe Whereas after the Captivity and in the time of the Machabees while they feared the Lord they were Victorious without an Ark more than they were when they guarded themselves with the Sign void of substance David also knew the Ark was not made for an Ensign in the Field The Trojans believed that while the Paladium or Image of Minerva was in the City it should never be overthrown The Christians also carried into the Field in the last Fatal Battel against Saladine the very Cross as they were made to believe whereon Christ died and yet lost themselves and the Wood. But Chrysostom said well upon St. Matthew if that be his work of them which wore part of St. Iohn's Gospel about their Necks for an Amulet or Preservative If the words profit thee nâ—t in thine Ears how can they about thy Neck For it was neither the Wood of the Ark or of the Cross but the Reverence of the Father that gave them for a memory of his Covenant and the Faith of his Son which shed his Blood on the other for Redemption that could or can profit them or us either in this Life or after it The Holy story telleth us how after this Victory of the Philistins the Ark of God was in Captivity yet they overthrew the Philistin's Dagon and brake off both Head and Hands to shew he had neither Wisdom nor Power in God's Presence and that God and the Devil cannot inhabit in one House or one Heart If this Idol then could not endure the representation of the true God what Marvel is it that when it pleased him to Cloath his only Begotten with Flesh and sent him into the World that all the Oracles wherein the Devil derided and betray'd Mortal Men lost Power Speech and Operation at that instant For when the true Light which never had any beginning of Brightness brake through the Clouds of a Virgins Womb shining upon the Earth long obscured by Idolatry all these stinking Vapours vanished Plutarch rehearseth a Memorable History of that Age of the death of their great God Pan but could not find the true cause thereof c. God also plagued the Philistims as well as their God and forced them to return his Ark and to give him Glory after they had tried all their wit to the contrary See the Story Thus God is acknowledged of his Enemies as he had been of Pharaoh and was after of Nebuchodonezer Darius c. § 3. Of Samuel's Government 1 Sam. 7. He descended of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 for his Father Elcana a Levite of Mount Ephraim came of Korah the Son of Izaar Son of Cheath Son of Levi. His Mother after long Barreness obtained him by earnest Prayer to avoid the reproach of Barrenness as it was esteemed considering it was God's Promise Deut. 7. and Blessing to Adam and Abraham c. Under his Government the Lord freed Israel from the Philistins who at his Prayers were miraculously overthrown as were the Amalekites at the Prayer of Moses He Ministred Justice at three fit places Of which see Cap. 12. § 1. CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel § 1. THE deliberation to change the Government into a Kingdom arose upon Samuel's being grown unable to sustain the Burthen of so careful a Government which he put over his Sons who failing of their Father's Care and Uprightness and relishing nothing but Gain sold Law and Justice to the best Chap-men The Elders observing this and that the Old Man though a Prophet yet as a natural Father discerned not his Sons Errors and remembring the lamentable success of Eli's Sons Rule saw no other way to put them off than by desiring a King This Motion displeased Samuel who seeking Counsel from God as in a Cause of so great consequence he was order'd to hear the Voice of the People yet so as God accounted it a Wrong to himself rather than to Samuel and therefore commanded him to declare unto them the Inconveniencies and Miseries which shall befall them under that Government All which are not intolerable but as have been and are still born by Subjects free Consent But the Oppressions threatned verse 14 c. give an occasion â—o the Question Whether a King fearing God or one which will Rule by his own discretion and playeth the Tyrant be here set out as some judge or that the Text only teacheth what they ought with patience to bear at their Sovereigns hand as others judge The first ground themselves upon Deut. 17.14 c. and on the words of the Text which do not say he may but he will do so and so shewing what Power severed from Piety will do as in Achab's Example contrary to the Law Deut. 16.18 The Arguments on the other side are largely handled in that Discourse of free Monarchies which I shall not take upon me here to Insert This change of Government God fore-told Gen. 15. and 17. and 49. and provided for the direction of it by Laws Deut. 17. But whether the Reasons which move most Nations moved them to choose a Monarch or thereby to be cleared from the Sons of Samuel doth not so plainly appear for neither Perswasions nor Threats could draw them from their desire of a King § 2. Saul ' s Election § Samuel by God's direction having yielded to the People returned to his City Rama expecting the Lord's direction touching the King to be chosen which the Lord accordinly performed giving him warning the day before Samuel hereupon prepared to entertain whom God should send and Saul intending nothing less than a Kingdom found it and was Anointed and Confirmed by signs given him by Samuel and returned home Thus God oft by meanest occasions ordereth the greatest things and in Moses and David's Calling from feeding Sheep Iames and Iohn from Fishing c. Among the Signs given to Saul one was of the Company of the Prophets not such as by divine Revelation fore-told things to come as Moses Ioshua Samuel c. but such as were exercised in Expounding Scriptures as were those 1 Cor. 14. at which time God changed his Heart from a Vulgar condition to a Kingly After this another Assembly at Mispezh Saul was Published and designed King by God and accepted of the People and saluted King § 3. Saul's Establishment after his Victory against the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. The Ammonites attending the Advantage of Times for recovery of their Territories taken from them by the Amorites having in vain
strange God's as Terah himself Ios. 24. Yet after Abraham's being called their willing departure with him from their Country and ordinary reverend Speeches of Iehova prove they were no Infidels and without Faith Gen. 24.31 50. I dare not therefore pronounce them out of the Church who I am sure were in the Faith § 6. Abraham's being first named proveth him not the Eldest § If in Scripture it appear not that God made especial choice of the First-born as it is in Seth Isaac Iacob Iuda David c. the being first named can prove no Birth-right Shem is first named among the Sons of Noah whereof said Augustine Order of Nativity is not here respected but signification of future Dignities in Gen. 25. And he rather judged Abraham the Youngest of the Three Piety saith he or rather Divine Election which draweth with it Piety and the Fear of God gave precedence to Shem among the Sons of Noah and to Abraham among the Sons of Terah Again Moses testifies Abraham was 75 Years old when he left Charran Stephen saith it was after Terah's death at 83 he rescued Lot at 86 Ismael was born and Isaac at 100 and all in Canaan But if he begat Abraham at 70 Abraham must be 135 Years old when he entred Canaan c. Moreover by this Accompt Isaac must be 35 years Old and Ismael 49. at Terah's death and Born in Mesopotamia contrary to Scripture Thirdly by this reckoning Terah should be but 145 Years Old at his Death when Abraham was 75. Fourthly Sarah being within Ten Years of Abraham her Unkle Haran her Father being his younger Brother must beget her at Nine Years Old which Reason Lyra useth The like Reason is taken from the Age of Lot the Son of Haran called an Old Man at Abrahams's Eighty third year § 7. The Conclusion noting the Authors on both sides § It agreeth with Scripture Nature Time and Reason that Haran was Terah's Eldest Son Augustin was herein uncertain and what he saith in his City of God lib. 16.15 is answered in his 52d Question on Gen. And as he follow'd Iosephus so Isidore and Beda follow him The Hebrews and generally the Romanists following the first Opinion allow but 292 Years from the Flood to Abraham But Theodoret and divers later Beroald Codornan Beucer Calvin Beza Iunius c. hold Abraham begotten in the 130 th Year of Terah Scaliger Seth Calvisius c. to the contrary call it Heresy in Chronology Bucholcreus Chitreus Functius and others follow them yet Torniellus in his Annals confutes them But if we advisedly consider the state of the World in Abraham's days we shall rather increase the time from the Flood to Abraham as the Septuagint did to 1072 than shorten it to 292 For such paring of Time to the quick draws the Blood of the Story if Scripture's Testimony were not supreme Seeing then we know the World was so peopled and Kingdoms so furnished with Cities of State and Strength more time is required for it than many imagine c. § 8. The Assyrians Times order'd by Abraham 's History § Thus Abraham's Birth being 352 Years after the Flood and so the 2009 th Year of the World bringeth Ninus's 43 to the same date of the 352 Years we must consider what probably was spent before the coming to Shinar admitting Chus were born the Year after the Flood His youngest Son Nimrod Founder of the Empire born after Dedan Son of Raamah the fourth Son of Chus could not according to the ordinary course of those Times be esteemed Born 'till 65 Years after Chus allowing 30 Years to Chus before his first Son and 30 Years to Raama Father of Dedan born before Nimrod and 5 Years for his five Elder Brethren Allow 60 Years after for two Generations before their setting forth before Shinar and six Years for their Travail with Wives Children and Cattel out of the East through over-grown Countries and Mountains Thus 131 Years are spent before Babel is taken in hand the 221 Years which remain of 352 are divided to Ninus 42 before Abraham's Birth 65 to Belus and 114 to Nimrod yet this maketh Nimrod in all not above 180 Years old which was not much for that Generation Gen. 11.3 in which they lived yea 400 Years Ninus lived 9 Years after and Semiramis suceeded 42 Years when Abraham was 52 Years old Ninias or Zameis succeeded 38 in whose 23 d Year Abraham at 75 years old came to Canaan and 10 years after Abraham over-threw Amraphel King of Shinar which may seem to have been Ninias in whose 33 d year it happen'd though the Reasons to the contrary are not easily answer'd § 9. Amraphel King of Shinar probably was Ninias § Ninias was King of Babylon at that time in the 85th year of Abraham It is objected that Chedorlaomer was greater now than Amraphel who therefore was not like to be Ninias To this it may be answered under Ninias the Babylonian Command was fallen and the Persian his Neighbour King of Elam was enlarged § 10. Arioch King of Ellassar § This Country can neither be Pontus nor Hellespontus as some think being so far out of the way to be drawn by the Persian who little needed to seek such aid against such petty Kings which had not in all so much ground as Middlesex of which sort Canaan had 33 destroyed by Ioshua And the whole Country these four Kings subdued was no more than the two little Provinces of Traconitis or Basan and the Region of the Moabites Stephanus a Grecian Cosmographer de Vrbibus findeth Ellas in the Border of Coelosyria and Hierom calls it the City of Arioch This City was also in the Borders of Arabia of which Arioch indeed was King and Confederate with the Assyrian Kings as in Ninus's Life c. § 11. Tidal King of Nations § There were divers petty Kingdoms adjoining to Phoenicia and Palestine as Palmirenia Batanea Laodicene Apamena Chalcidice Cassiotis Chalibonitis having Mesopotamia on the North and Arabia on the East It is probable these were joined together under Tidal § 12. Chedorlaomer the chief of the Four § He was not King of Assur and the other three Vice-Roys as Pererius judgeth for Moses never useth Elam for Assyria or Babylon Neither do I believe the Assyrian or Babylonian Kingdoms were very large at this time 1. From Example Things hastily set up with violence last not as Alexander's Conquests and Tamberlain's whose Empires dyed with them neither had they time to review what they had done God adjoining short life to asswage Fury and Nature cares least for what she doth in hast Ninus persued boundless Dominion with Violence Semiramis exceeded him c. 2. Ninias having changed Nature and Condition with his Mother preferring Pleasure and Ease before Honour and Greatness as he indured his Mother's Reign so wanted he Spirit to maintain what she left him against Neighbouring Princes whose Wounds and Wrongs from his Parents put them in mind to cure the one
corrupt in Judgment the least of which Offences were heinous to a King how odious then is it to God to make him break Promises to Deceive to pervert Judgment Four Hundred Years after Saul's breaking this Oath of his Fore-Fathers brought evil on all Israel which manifested that God had not forgotten that his Name had secured secured that Poor People and he did them Justice on Saul's House And certainly if Equivocating may delude another the strength of the Objection is broken and Truth in all Tryals is driven away and honest Men are Inthralled to Villanies No League between Kings nor Truce between Armies but the Sword must still be held unsheathed Yet can it not do oftentimes what the Powerful Name of God in an Oath can do in making of Peace and procuring Passage for Men held no security like an Oath no Witness Surety or Judge like God neither durst Men which feared him call him forth to their occasions but with Religious Truth Almarick the Fifth King of the Christians in Palestine breaks Faith with Elbadech Caliph of Egypt who thereupon called the Turk to aid who after he had made War beat the Christians out of Palâ—stine neither could the Wooden Cross brought into the Field as the last Refuge Save them having for-sworn by him which was Crucified on it So when Eugemenes Commanded the King of Hungary after a great Victory to break the Oath with Amurath he lost himself and Thirty Thousand Christians Lastly Observe how it pleased God that the unconquered Cities became Thorns in their Eyes c. See Iosh. 1. 2. 11. 13. Ioshua Governed 18 Years others hold more or less but the Necessity of 480 Years from their Delivering to Solomon's Temple admits no more nor any space between him and Othoniel Ericthonius King of Athens Lynceus of Argive Phoenix and Cadmus flourished now CHAP. VII Of the Phoenician Kingdom and of the Invention of Letters § 1. I Have gathered a Brief of those Kings of whom Time hath left any Record to Posterity The Limits of this Kingdom of Phoenicia in the South are uncertain Strabo extends it to Pelusium the first Port of Egypt Corvinus and Budaeus to Gaza Pliny takes but Ioppa Ptolomy who seldom failed in his Art stayeth at Chorseus which seemeth to be the River at Megiddo He also begins it in the North at Elutherius which falls into the Sea at Aradus North of Orthosia Thus it comprehends these Maritime Cities Aradus Orthosia Tripolis Botris Biblus Beritus Sidon Tyrus Acon Dora and Caesarea of Palestine so that it Commanded the Trade of the Mediterranean for all the East Zidon was the Regal Seat and so continued till Ioshua and all the People were called Zidonians as Procopius confirmeth in his Vandal Wars That Zidon the First Son of Canaan was the Founder we doubt not and yet it was in his Posterities command in Moses Days As for Agenor whether he was an Egyptian of Thebes or a Native of this Country bred up there it may be that in Ioshua's days he and his Four Sons Cadmus Phoenix Cyrus and Cilix might come out of Egypt with such Force as the Egyptians could spare to the succoâ—r of the Coast and so to Fortifie the Sea Towns having the benefit of such Ships as were then in use And when Cadmus his Eldest pursuing Taurus King of Crete who had stoln away his Sister Europe in the Surprize of Tyre was drawn into Greece he seated himself there Agenor commiting this Country to his Two Sons called it by his Name when also North Tyrus was Built and Zidon Fortified whereof it was that Agenor was reputed the Founder from whose time Phoenicia became more Famous Belus whether Grandfather or Father to Agenor as some judge it is no matter but it seemeth he was Ancienter to the Phoenicians who Honoured that Name great was the strength of these Phoenicians Cities which held out against the Iews but put Nebuchadonosor and Alexander to great difficulties Touching the mention of Letters the Ethiopians claim it and that Atlas Orion Orpheus Linus Hercules Prometheus Cadmus had the first light from them and that Pythagoras was instructed by the Lybians The Phoenicians boast of it and indeed they were very Ancient and had Famous Records used by Iosephus Lastly Some ascribe it to Moses without all probability seeing Learning then flourished in Egypt and Assyria but true it is the Excellent Spirits of the First Age found it either Seth Enos c. And God every where present hath given this Invention to Nations which never had Commerce with others As in Mexico were found Books like Egyptian Hieroglyphicks The Americans have an Heraldry § 2. Of the Phoenician Kings especially of Tyrus § Agenor living with Ioshua Phoenix succeeded after whom till the Siege of Troy when Phasis Governed we find not who succeeded In Ieremy's time we find Zidon and Tyre had petty Kings and in Xerxes time Tetrannestus Ruled that part of Phoenicia at the Persians Command and afterwards subdued by Nebuchadonosor Alexander also cast out Strabo King of Zidon and put in Balonimus a Poor Gardner of the decayed Royal Blood preferred by another Citizen to whom Hephestion offered it by Alexander's gift more we find not of Zidon Tyrus sometime a Daughter of Zidon outlived her Mother and had her own Kings of which Twenty in Descent are found in Iosephus and Theophilus Antiochius though they differ in the time of their Reigns and other particulars Abibalus the First whom Suron succeeded and paid Tribute to David and Solomon Others Named by Iosephus and Theophilus Fellow to Ithabalus called in Scripture Eâ—hbaal Father to Iezabel who is there called King of the Zidonians and by Iosephus King also of the Tyrians The Third from him they Name Pigmalion whose Sister Elisa Married Sycheus whom Pigmalion slew for his Wealth but was prevented by Elisa who Conveyed it to a Ship and fled into Africa where she Built Carthage 143 Years 8 after Solomon's Temple and as long before Rome and 289 after Troy's Destruction Eluleus succeeded who overthrew Salmanassers Fleet in the Port of Tyrus Ethobales succeeded in whose time Nebuchodonoser after 13 Years Siege won Tyrus Baal succeeded Ethobales and after Baal 't was govern'd by Iudges successively § 3. Bozius believes that the Tyrians proceeded from the Edumaeans c. But is confuted by Scripture by which it appears that Eliphas which came from Theman to Iob was no Edomite nor was that Theman in Edumaea but in Arabia East from Iob whereas Edom was South Ismael had a Son called Theman who by all likelihood gave Name to Theman in the East From â—hom Eliphaz Iobs Friend descended Suhe also a Son of Kethura and Midian his Brother of whom came Bildad the Shuite and the Midianites at their first setling were sent by Abraham into the East which from Canaan was Arabia the Desart not Seer which was South So in the History of the Judges the Midianites and Amalekites are said to be
that in Nebuchadnezzar's Seven Years of Madness Niglisar might govern by his Wife Nitocris's means Nebuchadnezzar's Daughter and Labassardach after him but slain after Nine Months presently before Nebuchadnezzar's Restauration CHAP. II. The Persians greatness how it grew § 1. THAT the Medes were chief in the overthrow of Babylon the infallible Witness of Two great Prophets maketh good Esa. 13 17. Ier. 51.11.28 according to which Iulius Africanus proveth Babel was taken before Cyrus began to Reign So that the Empire lost by Balthassar the last of Belochus's Line fell to Cyaxares or Darius Medus the last of Arbaces's Race who succeeded his Father Astyages c. § 2. Cyrus to whom alone the Greeks ascribe the Conquest of Babel was thought immediate Successor to Astyages by some who deny he had any other Son than this Cyrus Son of Mandane his Daughter Viginer also probably reasoneth that Astyages had no such Son as Darius being unknown to so many Authors there named But Negative Arguments from Authors are of no force and necessity Either Astyages must be Darius in Daniel 9. which his Time will not suffer or another Successor before Cyrus must be granted who for Life commanded all Yet in regard he was Old and followed not the Wars in Person but Cyrus as his Lieutenant did all the Greeks who heard only of him ascribed all to him as did the Persians in Honour to him who shortly brought all to them § 3. Xenophon's Report of the Wars between the Assyrians and the Medes and Persians The Assyrians having command of so many Countries desired to bring under the Medes and Persians Knowing therefore their great strength he perswaded Croâ—sus the rich and strong King of Lydia to join with him which he easily yielded for the quarrel to the Medes who had warred against Alyattes his Father These together compose an Army of Two Hundred Thousand Foot and Sixty Thousand Horse but are overthrown by Darius and Cyaxares King of the Medes and Cyrus General of the Persian Forces and the Assyrian King slain so that many Assyrians revolted and Babylon was glad for her security to get mercenary strength while Cyrus pursueth his Victory to lesser Asia and took Croesus Prisoner After this followed the Attempt at Babylon Cyaxares bearing the Charge and Cyrus being Leader c. § 4. Achaemenes govern'd in Persia when Arbaces did the like in Media and both joined with Belochus against Sardanapalus and after held Persia for himself as the other did Media and Babylon yet Arbaces's absolute Command decayed 'till Deioces One hundred fortys year after when Salmanassar Reigned in Syria so that neither the Medes nor Persians found it fit to stir From Deioces to Astyages there past above Ninety years in which time Phraortes Reigned but not like to have Conquered Persia as Herodotus Writ For Susiana was under Daniel's Charge for Nebuchadnezzar who also would hardly have ventured into Syria and Egypt leaving such an Enemy on his Back It seemeth the Successors of Achaemenes did little worth remembring seeing in the Persian Greatness nothing was Published of their first Kings Xenophon reports the Crown descended from Father to Son many Descents and that Cambyses begot Cyrus so that the Story of Astyages's giving Mandane his Daughter to a base Man to disable her Issue whose Greatness he feared is improbable Two Races sprung from Achaemenes the First according to Reyneccius are Darius Cyrus First Cambyses Cyrus the Great Cambyses c. Of the Second Race came the Seven Princes who overthrew the Magi and chose Darius Son of Hystaspes one of them for King Persia first called Elemais of a Son of Shem c. Their City called Persepolis in the Second Book of Maccabees is called Elemais in the First Book and now Cyrus but Built in another place for that which Alexander destroyed at the request of the Harlot Thais The First Kingdom known to us according to the Interpreters of Gen. 14. was Chedorlaomer with whom Amraphel or Ninus joined in the War against the Arabians CHAP. III. Of Cyrus the First Persian Monarch § 1. CYRVS saith Strabo was so called of the River which watereth Persia Herodotus saith it signifies a Father Plutarch saith the Son Esai named him almost Two Hundred years before He Conquered Lydia and took Croesus before Babylon which he won in the Fifty Fifth Olympiad and in the Twenty Eighth Olympiad upon a Rebellion subdued it again § 2. Lydia had Lydus the Son of Atys her first King which Family was extinguished Argon descended from Hercules was chose by the Oracle and held Twenty two Generations to Candaulus the last Gyges succeeded him in Bed and Kingdom which he left to Atys Father of Sadiattes Father of Halyattes who begat Croesus All their time was One Hundred Seventy years Croesus so inlarged his Dominion that he was Inferiour to no King of that Age commanding Phrygia Bythynia Caria Misia Paphlagonia c. He in confidence of his good Success envying Cyrus's Fame and desirous to check his Prosperous Undertakings asked Counsel of Apollo Then Darius who assured Croesus passing Halis's River shall dissolve a great Dominion An Answer doubtful because the Devil was Ignorant of the Event § 3. Croesus thus resolved despised all Sandanes his Consellor's Arguments to the contrary as the Barrenness of the Enemies Country their hard manner of Living War-like Indefatigable and Prosperous by whose Fall he can gain only Fame wherein he excelled and if he were Beaten his Loss could be hardly told or soon conceived Croesus proceeds with a powerful Army but is staid at Pterium a strong City of Capadocia which he sought to force while Cyrus advanc'd Cratippus answer'd Pompey well That Kingdoms have their Increase and Periods from Divine Ordinance and so was it with these two great Princes whose Forces meeting the Persians had somewhat the better but Night parted them Croesus doubtful of the next days Success quit the Field to Cyrus and with all haste got into Sardis and because of Winter sent home his Forces not doubting any persuit Cyrus finding the Lydians gon followed slowly after to avoid discovering and having good Intelligence of Croesus's proceedings delay'd 'till the Forces were dispos'd to their Winter Garrison when unexpectedly he invested Sardis and in fourteen days forced it Croesus thrusting in among the multitude was ready to be slain had not his dumb Son forced by Passion cried Spare Croesus who thereupon was brought to Cyrus who judged him to be burnt Being upon the heap of Wood he cryed out O Solon Solon Solon and upon urging to declare what he meant answer'd That he found Solon's words true That no Man knew his own Happiness 'till his End Cyrus hearing thereof called for him remembring his own Mortality forgave him and ever after used him as a King and Companion Xenophon Reports that Cyrus used him so without speaking of the purpose of burning belike thinking it a Cruelty unworthy Cyrus so to use his Great Unkle by his Grandmother
others in the place of the Arks resting for the second Plantation of the World as I have done in the place of the Terrestrial Paradise for Man's first Plantation 2. The common Opinion is The Ark rested on Ararat in Great Armenia the Caldee calls it Kardu meaning the Hills Gordei in Great Armenia which N. Damascen calls Baris Berosus calls the Armenian Mountains Gordias Strabo found such a Promontory in Arabia Felix Pliny a Mart-Town which Ptolomy calls Ociles Pintus Acyla Niger Zidon Toy E. Gordei Damascen adjoins Mimmynd perhaps for Minni which word is used for Armenia and seemeth compounded of Minni and Aram that is Minni of Syria for Armenia was part of Syria These Mountains stand apart from all others on the North side of that Ridge of Mountains called Taurus or Niphates in the Plain of Armenia the Greater near the Lake Thospitis whence Tigris floweth in 75 Degrees Longitude and 41 42 Latitude One of these Gordei Epiphanius calls Lubar which in the Armenian Tongue signifieth Descent of Noah's coming down saith Iunius but any Hill of easy descent may be so called as himself confesseth correcting the Word Kubaris in Iosephus from hence came Lubra a Synagogue being commonly on Hills and the Latin Delubra My first Argument against the common Opinion is from the time of 130 Years which most who follow Berosus give Nimrod's coming to Shinar which by easy Journeys might be travailed in 20 days from the Gordei in Armenia having only Mesopotamia between and Tigris to help them This maketh it improbable they should be so many Years before they Planted such a Country so near them which could not be to them so long unknown being Encreased to a great Multitude long before those 130 Years My 2 d. Argument is from the Civility and Multitude of the Eastern Nations who had used Artillery and Printing long before the West It was thought a Fable in Philostratus that the Wise Men inhabiting between Hyphasis and Ganges drive away their Enemies with Thunder and Lightning whereby they defeated Hercules and Bacchus and made Hercules cast away his Golden Shield Io. Cuthenberge brought Printing from the East Conrade from him brought it to Rome and Gerson bettered it all about a 100 Years past Alexander Macedon found more Cities and Magnificence in the little Kingdom of Porus which lay close to India than in all his Travels esteeming Italy barbarous and Rome a Village But Babylon was in his Eye and the Fame of the East pierced his Ears Ioppan now Zippingari was exceeding Religious and addicted to Letters Philosophy Prayers and Worshipping but one God 5. My Third Argument is from the resistance which Semiramis found in Est-India though her Army exceeded Three Millions as Diod. Siculus out of Ctesias reports besides 500000 Horse and 100000 Waggons of all which admit but a third part true Nimrod's Greatness is not doubted nor that his People grew into such Multitudes by Semiramis's time Wife of Ninus Son of Belus Son of Nimrod But that a Colony sent from Babel into the East should so increase in so short a time is incredible yet these Authors Report that Staurobathez King of East-India exceeded her in numbers which could not be if the East were replenished by a Colony from Babylon 6. My Fourth Argument is 1st from Noah's person who being at Babel's Confusion and the 731st Year of his Age was not like to be unsetled and to seek a Seat 2. The Text saith he became a Husband-man which argueth his setled Course of Life not a Wanderer from Armenia to Babylon then to Arabia Felix then to Africa so to Spain Italy e. as they report not considering his Years the difficulty of Traveling in an over-grown wild World which had lyen waste 140 Years 3. Besides the place of his Landing being East from Babylon Rich and Pleasant the Wise Father would not neglect the planting of it and seek out less pleasing Parts with such difficulties 4. Neither is it to be thought the Reverend Father was at that presumptuous Work of Babel and restrained it not 5. We find Ioctan Havila and Opher Planted in India which were not like to have turned back from Shinar Lastly The Scriptures silence of Noah after his departure from the East to Shinar argueth him left there and so out of all occasions which might touch the History of the Iews which Moses was to prosecute 7. Annius on Berosus lands the Ark on the Caspian Mountain of Armenia to which purpose he confounds the Caspian and Gordian Hills which Ptolomy sets far asunder and Mercator sets 5 Degrees and Villanovanus much more Ancient sets 7 Degrees or 420 Miles one from the other And tho' I grant that Mankind was renewed in Scythia 250 Years before Ninus as Porticus Cato records yet was not this Scythia in Armenia but under the Mountains of Paropamisus in 130 Degrees of Longitude according to Ptolomy whereas the supposed Armenia Araxea is in 87. neither hath he any Scythia nearer Armenia Araxea though he sets out 100 several Nations of Scythians such as Imaus by the Asian Sarmatia on the West Imaus on the East the Sacces Sogdians and Margians on the South and the Mouth of Oxus and unknown Countries on the North. He also maketh the Asian Sarmatia to comprehend many Nations and a great part between Armenia and Scythia besides Colchis Iberia and Albania Neither Prenetus Iohn Plancrápio Haytonus the Armenian writing of Scythia or Tartaria speak one word of Armenia nor Matheus a Micon a Sarmasian Cannon of Cracovia who travelled a great part of Sarmatia Asiatica yet he observed that Tanais or Don and Volga or Edel spring but of Lakes and Marishes and not out of Riphian or Hyperborean Mountains in Scythia He also sheweth that the European Sarmatia contains Russia Lithuania and Moscho and is bounded on the West by Vissa or Vistula parting it from Germany That the Scythians in Asian Sarmatia came thither above 300 Years past out of the East where the Ark rested and that the Sacae-Scythians were North of Taurus or Ararat As for the Ariacan Scythians between Iaxartus and Iactus on the East of the Caspian they are no Armenians 9. My fifth Argument is from the place where Noah Planted a Vine which could not be in Armenia much colder than Italy and France where yet Vines grow not naturally as they did where Noah Planted as his Husbandry witnesseth 9. Objection 1. The Text saith from thence God scattered them c. Answer That is the Builders of the Tower which were not all but certain of them which were increased after the Flood 10. Objection 2. Ararat signifieth Armenia which the Caldean Paraph. calls Kardu 2. Answer Writers agree not about Ararat The Sybill's Books place it in Phrygia near where Caelenes was built whereabout the River Marsyas joineth with Meander but this is far from the Gordiean Mountains Iosephus out of Berosus placeth Ararat between Armenia and Parthia toward Adibene
as is generally held and was Iaphet's Seventh Son § 8. Ascanez Son of Gomer Eusebius makes Father of the Gothians Pliny finds Ascania and the River of Ascanius and the Lake of Ascanez between Prusia and Nice in Phrygia Iunius takes them for Inhabitants of Pontus and Bythinia in which Ptolomy hath such a Lake Strabo finds a City River and Lake in Mesia near Gio as Pliny But Ier. 51.27 determins it North of Asia near Ararat and Minni Mountains of Armenia Riphat Gomer's Son Father of Riphcior Paphlagone Famous in the North of Sarmatia after called Henites of whom Polonia Russia and Lithuania were Peopled Melancton thinks they spread from the Baltick to the Adriatick Sea and findeth a Venetian Gulf in Russia called Heneti the same with Veneti § 9. Elisa eldest Son of Iavan was Father of the Nicolians from whence the Grecians were called Helens saith Montanus and Ezek. 27.7 mentions the Isles of Elesa that is of Grece Tharsis his Second Son Planted Cilicia where is the City Tharsis This word is often put for the Sea because the greatest Ships were there and they were called Seamen and the first Iones Montanus and Cal. Paraphrase mistake it for Carthage Cittim his Third Son Father of the Macedonians not Italians Esa. 23. with 1 Mac. 1. Yet it may be he first Planted Cyprus where Iosephus found the City which remained in Ierom's days saith Pintus but this Isle proving too narrow they sent out and Peopled Macedon whose Plantation Melancton ascribes to him Dodanim his Fourth Son settled at Rhodes Dodanim and Rhodanim being easily confounded He also sent Colonies to Epirus where was the City Dodana § 10. Chush Eldest Son of Cham with his Associates Peopled Babylonia Chaldea and all the Arabias Ethiopia was not his as Iosephus the Septuagint and others misled by them judged First From Numb â—2 2 Moses's Wife was a Chushite not an Ethiopian as Iosephus Reports who tells us that Moses leading an Egyptian Army against the Ethiopians the Kings Daughter fell in Love with and betrayed the City Sheba to him after called Meros On the contrary Strabo and all Geographers place Sheba in Arabia whence the Queen came to visit Solomon Damianus and Goes tell us that the Prester Iohns of the Aybssinians came of that Queen by Solomon But without Scripture or Probability seeing her supposed Bastard assisted not his Brother Rehoboam against Shishack King of Egypt But Moses cleareth his Wives Kindred against Iosephus making her a Midian not far from Horeb. So Iethro's coming to Moses c. Chrisamensis also proveth Midia cannot be Ethiopia Thirdly So Ezek. 29.10 Nebuchadonosor's Conquest of Egypt is set out by the Bounds Seveneth which is next Ethiopia and the Chushits ill Translated Black Moors for Arabians the other next Neighbours whereas the Moors were beyond Seveneth or Syene as Scotland is beyond Barwick Fourthly So Ezek. 30.9 Chush cannot be Ethiopia but Arabia Whereto Nebuchadonosor having Conquered Egypt even the Tower Syene in Thebaida bordering on Ethiopia sent Ships over the Red-Sea which to the Ethiopians joyning to Syene he needed not to have done neither would the fall of Nilus suffer nor was his invading that part of Arabia so fit by Land all the length of Egypt being between and all the tedious Desarts of Paran Lastly This placing a Family of Chush from all the rest to go and come through Misraim would make a confusion in the Plantation Besides there was never any thing between Iews and Ethiopians as between them and Chushits Fourthly So Esa. 18.1 turning Chush to Ethiopia for Arabia puts one Kingdom for another confounding the Story For what Kingdom beyond the River of Ethiopia can be found which Assur was to waste as an Enemy to the Iews who were never injured by the Ethiopians much less by any beyond them But I acknowledge that here Egypt which threatned Israel is threatned and Arabia with it Esa. 19.20 The like Errour is committed in 1 Kings 19.9 Making Tirhaka an Ethiopian for a Chushite or Arabian as in Zerah 2 Chron. 14.9 For how should he bring such an Army through such a Kingdom as Egypt § 11. Mizarim Cham's Second Son took into Egypt along Nilus unto Syene bordering on Ethiopia to the South from the Mediterranean Sea which was his North Border Phut the Third Son travell'd to the West beyond him along the Sea Inhabiting Mauritania Egypt was known to Moses and the Prophets by the Name of Mizraim but was called Egypt by a King of that Name otherwise called Rameses the Son of Belus who chased his Brother Danaeus into Greece where he setled in Morea after the Flood 877. Many are the Fancies of the Egyptian Antiquity of Three Hundred and Thirty Kings before Amasis Contemporary with Cyrus and of their Story of 13000 Years c. And Mercator pleads their Antiquity from their Dynasties of which the Sixteenth began with the Flood so that the first must reach the Creation But Eusebius begins the Sixteenth with Abraham 292 Years after the Flood Annius begins the first Dynasty 131 Years after the Flood forgetting that he had said that Nimrod came but that Year to Shinar so that the Dynasty could not begin till after the Confusion But where Pererius holds it impossible that Egypt could be Peopled 200 Years after Adam and supposing it not replenished at all before the Flood I find no force in the assertion For we have no reason to give less Increase to the Sons of Adam than Noah the Age of the one being double and after a while treble to the other which Argueth strength to beget many a long time This appeared in Cham who replenished Five Cities with his own Issue Nimrod's Troops at Shinar were great no doubt yet it is probable all came not thither as may be gathered by the Multitudes which Encountered Semiramis in the East Indian Wars As for Egypt being an Established Kingdom in the Days of Abraham it argues 't was Inhabited long before And contrary to Pererius we may rather wonder how the World could contain the Issue of those long living heathful Fathers than doubt the Peopling of it For if our short Lives wherein scarce one in Ten Liveth to 50 Years the World wants no People And if Wars and Pestilence did not cut them off by Thousands the World could not contain them What would it do if none dyed before 50 or 100 Years Then Conceive the Millions when Men Lived 8 or 900 Years c. Pererius is likewise deceived in the occasion of their dispersing at Babel For had not that occasion happened their Increase would in short time have forc'd them to seek new Habitations c. That therefore the World was all over Peopled with offenders it appeareth by the Universality of the Flood As for Egypt's Antiquity it is probable that Mizaraim's Sons found some Monuments in Pillars Altars or other Stones or Metals touching former Government there which the Egyptians added to the Lives of the Kings
next after God produc'd their Crowns and the Peoples Love so purchas'd kept them on their Heads § 4. From this beginning of Regality grew Nobility Princes chusing by the same Rule of Virtue Men to assist them which Honour succeeded not by Blood but Virtue which is true Nobility the note of one Excelling another in Virtue and should bind Nobility not to degenerate As for Riches Power Glory c. they do no more define Nobility than bare Life defines a Man Honour is the Witness of Virtue and well-doing and true Nobility is the continuance of it in a Family so that where Virtue is extinguished they are like painted Images worshipped by the Ignorant for Christ our Lady and other Saints Flowers not manured turn to Weeds and the purest Fountain running through a filthy Soil is soon Corrupted Race and Linage is but the Matter Virtue and well deserving of a Common-wealth is the Form of true Nobility which being found in Posterity over-weigheth our proper Honour acquired by our own Virtue but if Virtue be wanting to Nobility by discent then Personal acquired Nobility is to be preferred without comparison for that by Descent may be in a very Villain There is a third Nobility which is in Parchment purchased by Silver or Favour being Badges of Affection which when Princes change they could wish they were blotted out But if we had as much Sense in our denegeration in Worthiness as we have of Vanity in deriving our selves from such Parents we shou'd perceive such Nobility to be our Shame CHAP. X. Of Nimrod Belus and Ninus § 1. NIMROD the Sovereign after the Flood was generally held a Tyrant But Melancton and Onomasticum Theologicum judge otherwise And it seemeth that his leading this Troop to Shinar was rather given him than Usurped seeing it is not Recorded that Noah or any of the Sons of his Body came with him or were in that presumptuous Action Some Ancients conceive Suphne and Ioctan were also Leaders but joyned not in that unbelieving Attempt and therefore lost not their Language § 2. Nimrod Belus and Ninus were different Persons though Eusebius and Ierom confound the two first and Augustine makes Belus King of Babylon which Argueth him to be Nimrod Mercator with less probability confounds Nimrod and Ninus out of Clemens Diodorus Siculus Reports that Ninus subdued Babylon which perhaps had Rebelled upon setling the Empire at Ninive which was also in Shinar § 3. Nimrod not Assur Built Ninive as Iunius hath rendered Moses's Text agreeable to Reason and Sense though Writers differ That Assur Built it greeth not with Moses's Order who especially intending the Story of the Hebrews first handleth the Birth of Noah's other Sons beginning with Iaphet proceeding with Cham and lastly with Shem not intermingling one with the other till he had set down a brief of all Three In the Narration of Cham he makes a distinct Discourse of Nimrod and his Brethren being to speak after at large of Babels Confusion by it self to shew us the Founder of the place and of the Empire which first over-ruled all the rest As for the Assyrian Kingdom it arose from the Babylonian according to Iunius So Calvin before followeth Epiphanius Ierom Cyril Methodius and P. Comestor with Cedrenus took Assur Gen. 10.11 to be Nimrod's Son as doth Torniellus of late But Rab. Maurus understood it as Iunius Yet Calvin contrary to Iunius and himself objecting Esay 23.13 than which no place more difficult to prove Assur founded the Chaldean much more the Assyrian Empire But the City of the Chaldeans founded and after destroyed by the Assyrians may with good probability be understood of Vr called Vrcta by Ptolomy Chaldeopolis by the Greeks and Cameria by Hecateus This Vr stood upon the chief stream of Euphrates by which it passed into the Persian Gulf though now it is stopped and runneth into Tigris of which stoppage Niger and Pliny speak This City then had Trade with Tyrus and was a Port Town By which the Sabeans sent Commodities to Babylon and so to Tyre This Vr founded by Shem's Son Assur was afterwards destroyed by the Assyrians which God fore-seeing sent away Abraham from thence That the Founder differs from Assur the destroyer is agreeable to the Truth and circumstances For thus Seth's Posterity which followed Assur being Planted at Vr were separated from the Idolatrous Chushits And if Sem's Son Assur founded Ninive how left he it to Ninus Son of Belus and Husband of Semiramis § 4. Nimrod called Saturn by Iulian Africanus established the Babylonian Monarchy which he inlarged into Assyria Where he Founded Ninive and other Cities which his Son Belus finished who after Nimrods 114 Years Reign succeeded and spent much time in draining the Marshes of Babel and began with Sabbatius in Armenia and Scythia Saga which Ninus finished § 5. Ninus's days might well afford many Kingdoms if we consider the order of their departing from Babel according to their Kindred every Family following the chief thereof whom Nature and Necessity taught the rest to submit unto and who took opportunity from Time and Nimrod's examples to exercise legal Authority Belus who succeeded Nimrod found Sabatius King of Armenia and Scythia able to resist him whom I take to be Tanais in Iustine As for his Vexoris Reineccius hath judiciously taken to be Sesostris the Great some Ages after Ninus Belus in common accompt Reigned 65 Years § 6. Belus I judge to be a Name rather given by Ninus for Honour to his Father than taken by him Cyrill calls him Arbelus and saith he was the first that would be called God Bel say the Learned signifying the Sun in Chalde and there Worshipped for God And many words in Scripture grew from it Bel Baal Belzebub Baalim which Name was given to God till upon abuse he forbad it The first Idolatry grew from hence c. The Old the most Ancient of every Family and Kings which Founded Cities were called Saturns their Sons Iupiters and Valiant Nephews Hercules § 7. Image-Worship began from Belus in Babel c. Schoolmen shift off this fearful Custom strangely For seeing the very Workman-ship is forbidden how can the heart of a wise Christian satisfie it self with the distinction of Douleia and Latrua and Hyperdouleia which can imply but a difference of Worship and it is most strange that Learned Men do strain their Wits to defend what Scripture oftentimes expresly forbids and Curses the practicers And where they say the Prophets condemn Heathen Idols only it is manifest Moses spake of the Living God saying You saw no Image when the Lord spake to you in Horeb. Basil forbids us to imagine any Form of God lest we limit him in our Minds what Presumption then is it to put him under the Greasy Pensil of a Painter or the rusty Tool of a Carver Rome for 170 Years by Numa's Law held it impiety till Tarquin Priscas and Varro condemned it as Augustin shews So Seneca Sybil
Palm or Olive so that the choice Orators Poets and Musicians resorted thither to shew their skill in setting out his Praise that won the Garland with such Vanity said Tully as if it had been a Conquest of a Province The time of the year was the Fifteenth of Hecatobaeon our Iune whereto they brought the Full Moon § 6. Iotham Twenty Five years old succeeded his Father Vzziah in his life time and reigned 26 years happy in all things as he was Devout and Virtuous 2 King 15.33 Contemporaries Aucomenus succeeded Pelesteus in Corinth whom Annual Magisteus succeeded contrary to Pausan. Aesculus in Athens Accamenes in Sparta Tiglath Pileser in Assyria Twenty five years and Two with his Son Twenty Seven in all Nahum the Prophet now fore-told the destruction of Ninive One Hundred and Fifty years beforehand Sosarmus and Medidus succeeded Arbaces in Media the Second and Third Kings there § 7. Achas succeeded in Iudah one year with Iotham in the Seventeenth year of Peka he was Twentâ— years old and Reigned Sixteen years an exceeding Idolater Sacrificing his Sons to Moloch or Saturn after the manner of the Heathens used of old Levit. 18. Deut. 12. by many Nations and at this day by the Americans as Acosta witnesseth c. God raised â—im Enemies on all sides so that when he saw his dead Gods failed him yet neglecting the living God he sought Aid of Tiglath Pileser who embraced the Advantage to go through with what his Father entred but had no leisure to finish it He therefore invaded Syria and won Damascus all Israel made Iudah Tributary though Achaz had hired him Contemporaries the Ephori in Lacedemon 130 years after Lycurgus opposed to Kings as the Tribunes in Rome against Consuls Alcamenon in Athens the last Governour for Life after which followed a Magistrate for Ten years Sylvii of Aeneas's Race ended after Three Hundred Years Romulus now built Rome the Eighth of Achaz the First of the Seventh Olympiad CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation in Ahaz's time § 1. ITALY before the Fall of Troy was known to the Greeks by the names of Hesperia Ausonia Oenotria of a Colony of Arcadians and Italy of Italus Reyneccius derives the Name rather from a Colony of Aetolians which Inhabited Brundusium from whose Names with small Change that part was called Italia which in time grew the common name saith Pliny Such change in the Aeolic Dialect is Familiar as to call an Island Peopled by Aetholians Aethalia The Original of Greeks and Latins was from Iavan who sailing over the Ionian Sea between Aetolia and the Western Ocean planted Greece and Italy Reyneccius makes Atlai Italus one which Berosus calls Cethim Italus but is deceived for Atlas is esteemed more Antient than Moses and if he were Cethim or Kithim Noah's Grand-Son his Antiquity exceeds that of Italy which Name Virgil confesseth later and from a Captain But seeing Hercules a little before Troy's Fall left a Colony of Eleans or Aetoleans it may be under the command of one called Aitolus a Name famous among Aetolians Italy might take Name of him § 2. Aborigines that is the Natives of the place Inhabited Latium whom Halycarnassus Varro and Reyneccius think to have been Arcadians who used to vaunt of their Antiquity having more constantly kept their Country in Peloponesus than other Greeks yet being fruitful sent Colonies to other Countries as when Evander was sent into the same parts of Italy Pelasgi an Antient Nation after gave Name to all Greece but such of them as came into Italy lost the Name of their Tribe in a short time Sicani Ausones Aurunci Rutili in after Ages disturbed Latium whiâ—h Satâ—rn had brought to some Civility and taught to dung the Ground That Latium took the name of Saturn's lurking there from Iupiter is far fetched and questionless a Fable yet many Fables were occasioned from some Antient Truths It may be then that Saturn hiding himself was some allusion to the old Opinion of the Wise Heathen that the true God was an unknown God to whom Paul found an Altar dedicated It cannot be in vain that the word Saturnus should also signify hidden coming of the Hebrew Satar to hide as some think c. Reyneccius proceedeth in deriving Latium from the Posterity of Iavan Inhabiting a Territory in lesser Asia called Elaitia who after the Trojan War went into Italy whence might grow Elaitinus and so Latinus c. § 3. The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas were Saturnus Picus Faunus Latinus Whether Saturnus were he whom the Greeks called Cronos e. the time of the Aborigines will admit but his Names of Stercus or Sterculius do argue him another so called of the Dungs he taught them to lay upon their ground Ezechiel often cals Idâ—ls Deos Stercoreos as Belzebul is Dominus Stercoreus c. § 4. Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood-Royal came to Latium with some 1200 Trojans and Married Laviana King Latinus's Daughter He had a Son before by his Wife Creusa Daughter of Priamus called Ascanius and Sirnamed Iulus After Aeneas's death Lavinia was great with Child by him and fearing Ascanius fled into a Wood where being Delivered the Child was called Sylvius Posthumus Bâ—t upon the Peoples disapproving of Lavinia's flight Ascanius called her home used her like a Queen and Educated her Son Ascanius to avoid dissention left the City Lavinium to Laviana and Founded Alba-Longa where he Reign'd about 30 Year and left his Son Iulus who upon contention with Sylvius whom the People favoured left the Kingdom and took the Priesthood for him and his Posterity Sylvius Posthumus Reigned 29. Sylvius Aeneas 31. Sylvius Latinus 10. Sylvius Alba 39. Sylvius Atis 36. Sylvius Capijs 28. Sylvius Capelus 13. Sylvius Tiberinus 8. Sylvius Agrippa 41. Sylvius Alladyus 19. Sylvius Aventinus 37. Sylvius Procas 23. Sylvius Amulius 44. He expelled his Elder Brother Sylvius Numitor slew his Son Aegestius and made his Daughter Ilia a Vestal-Virgin Numitor who yet either by her Uncle or some Warlike-Man conceived 2 Sons Romulus and Reineccius who in time slew Amulius and all his Family and restored Numitor in whom the Kingdom of Alba ended and received Magistrates Yet it contended with Rome 'till her Three Curiatij were vanquished by the Three Horatij Champions for Rome After this Metius the Alban Dictator following Tullus Hostilius in his War upon Tullus's disadvantage withdrew his Companies to distress Tullus for which he was torn in pieces at two Chariots and Alba Reigned but the Citizens were made free Denisons and her Nobles Patricians of Rome among whom was a Family of Iulij which hath since risen in Iulius Caesar c. § 5. Rome which devoured the Alban Kingdom and brake all the Kingdoms from Euphrates to the Western Ocean as that Alban the IV th a Beast with Iron-Teeth forespoken of cometh now to be handled only touching her Original which some seek to derive from Ianus others from the Greeks Plâ—tarch in the Life of Romulus
Cynea who replied He might do so if he could be content with his own Pyrrhus carrieth an Army of almost Thirty Thousand choice Souldiers to the Tarentines who were nothing forward in provision for War which while he was employ'd about Levinus the Roman Consul drew near wasting the Lucans so that Pyrrhus was forc'd with his own and some weak assistance of the Tarentines to try the Roman Valour But seeing them come on so bravely he offered to arbitrate a Peace between them and the Tarentines but was answered They neither chose him their Iudge nor feared him their Enemy Pyrrhus upon view of their Camp perceiving he had to deal with Men well-trained set a strong Corps du Guard upon the passage of the River which when he saw them force he thought it time to bring on his whole Forces before all the Army was come over and all little enough while Spear and Sword were used But when his Elephants came in the Roman Horse quickly turned head and the Foot at the sight and first impression of those strange Beasts fled with such consternation that they left their Camp to the Enemy Yet Pyrrhus by this trial finding the Romans could better endure many such Losses than he such Victories sent Cyneas to persuade an Agreement with the Romans which they refused as long as he was in Italy This Answer inflam'd Pyrrhus with desire to enter into League with that gallant City which refused to treat of Peace except he first left Italy They come therefore to a second Battel which he obtain'd by his Elephants but with such loss of the Flower of his Army that he desired any occasion to be gone with Honour § 4. Pyrrhus waiting an opportunity to leave Italy hath two occasions offered and first from Madecon where Ptolomy Ceraunus who had murthered Seleucus his Protector was slain by the Gauls who came out of the Country with those who took Rome and passing through many Countries and making long abode in Pannonia at length came to Macedon under one Belgius after whom came Brennus another Captain with One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Foot and Fifteen Thousand Horse which Sosthenes with the Macedonians avoided by shutting up the Cities At the same time also the Cicilians sent to Pyrrhus for aid against the Carthaginians which occasion he took and with Thirty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse entred Sicily expell'd the Carthaginians won Erex the strong City and in Syracusa began to play the Tyrant But being again called into Italy by the Tarentines against the Romans he was beaten by the Carthaginians Gallies and after that forced out of Italy to Epirus by M. Curius the Roman § 5. Antigonus Son of Demetrius Poliorcetes with an Army Navy and Treasure came into Macedon while Brennus with most of his Gauls was gone to plunder the Temple of Delpâ—os leaving Fifteen Thousand Foot and Three Thousand Horse These went to Antigonus requiring him to buy his Peace to whose Embassadors he shewed his Riches Navy Camp and Camels This being reported at their return inflamed the Gauls to hasten thither of whose coming Antigonus having intelligence left his Camp and put himself and all his Men into a Wood so the Gauls finding him gone hasted to the Sea-side supposing him fled Part of Antigonus's Army having recovered their Ships espying the Gauls presumptuous disorder taking their time suddenly went on shoar and set upon them with such Resolution that after the slaughter of many the rest yielded to Antigonus This Success bred in the Barbarians a great reputation of Antigonus but his own Men had no better opinion of him than of one who crept into Woods at sight of the Enemy This appeared shortly after when Pyrrhus being returned to Epirus with a small Army of Eight Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse came to make Devastations in Macedon in hope to force Antigonus to compound with him for his Peace At his entrance Two Thousand of Antigonus's Souldiers Revolted to him and many Cities yielded by which good beginning he took Courage to attempt Antigonus and his Army for the Kingdom Antigonus had no inclination to fight with him but to weary him with protracting time but Pyrrhus so forced a Streight in which he overtook him that he slew most of the Gauls Antigonus not taking any care to relieve them which the Captains of the Elephants fearing to be their own case yielded Then Pyrrhus went to the Phalanx which could not be Charged but in Front which was very dangerous but perceiving they had no desire to fight he drew near to them in Person persuading them to yield which they presently did so Antigonus with a few Horse fled to Thessalonica but is forced by Ptolomy Son of Pyrrhus who pursued him to fly to Peloponesus § 6. Pyrrhus having gotten the Kingdom of Macedon beaten Antigonus and the Gauls he thought himself without match in any of the Kingdoms of Alexander's Conquests He therefore raised an Army of Twenty Five Thousand Foot Two Thousand Horse and Twenty Four Elephants as against Antigonus in Peloponesus to free such Cities as he held there but indeed to restore King Cleonymus to Lacedemon but made shew of all Friendship to them This dissimulation the Lacedemonians had used 'till none would trust them and yet now they were not hurt by Pyrrhus's use of it by reason of his deferring the assaults 'till they had fortified the Town which was never done before He assailed the Town three days together and had won it the second day but for a Fall his wounded Horse gave him and the third day relief came unto them so that despairing to carry it he was content to go to Argos whither one Faction of the City called him promising to render it as the other Faction called Antigonus but both sides repented it when they were come and desired their departure which Antigonus assured them by Hostages Pyrrhus promised but design'd it not for by Night his Complices opened him a Gate at which his Army entred 'till the Elephants came which stop'd up the Gates from whence grew the Alarum the Citizens arm and put the Souldiers in the dark to great confusion they being ignorant of the Streets yet Pyrrhus gain'd the Market-place Antigonus came to their rescue and Pyrrhus is slain by a Slate cast from an House by a Woman whose Son was fighting with him THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK V. Part I. From the setled Rule of Alexander's Successors 'till the Romans Conquer'd Asia and Macedon CHAP. I. Of the First Punick War § 1. CArthage had stood above Six Hundred Years when she contended with Rome for Sicily it surpass'd Rome in Antiquity One Hundred and Fifty Years as well as in Dominion which extended from the West part of Cyrene to Hercules's Streights Fifteen Hundred Miles wherein stood Three Hundred Cities It commanded Spain and all the Islands in the Mediterranean South-West from Sicily it had Flourished about Seven Hundred and Thirty Years when
and Publius Licinius Crassus are chosen Consuls Scipio had Sicily decreed for his Province with leave to make War in Africa if he thought fit Which Quintus Fabius Maximus opposed nevertheless Scipio proceeds But was not allowed to Press Souldiers for Africa but what Fabius and other Ancient Senators should allow of Besides his Roman Forces Italy sent him seven Thousand Volunteers and all manner of needful Provision In Sicily he found two Legions sent thither from the Battle at Canna and Pressed three Hundred Horse Notwithstanding all which he had like to have been hindred in this Expedition upon complaint of the Locrians whose Town he had gotten from the Carthaginians by their assistance who were much oppressed by the Governours put in by him But the Commissioners sending into Sicily to examine matters found him so well prepared for Carthage that they quickened his March He sent Laelius into Asrick to make discoveries who met with Masanissa revolted from the Carthaginian side to the Roman for an injury they did him about Asdrubal's Daughters being Betrothed to him but by them given to Syphax a more mighty Numidian Prince Laelius understood the State of Africa by Masanissa whom â—â—phax had driven out of his Country and by persuasion of Sophonisba renounced the Alliance of Rome to join with the Carthaginians her Country-men This troubled Scipio and made him hasten to Africa lest the Senate hearing thereof should stay his Journey to which he had been induced upon hopes of his assistance He Lands in Africa is met by Masanissa and Incamped before Vtica Asdrubal was with Syphax his Son in Law to whom the Carthaginians send to call him Home being chosen their General and to intreat Syphax against Scipio who lay before Vtica Asdrubal makes a Levy of thirty Thousand Foot and three Thousand Horse and Syphax brings fifty Thousand Foot and ten Thousand Horse with which they March toward Scipio who dislodged to a place fit for his Navy where he designed to Winter and there Fortified his Camp Asdrubal and Syphax Incamp near to him but carelesly presuming upon their Numbers While they lay thus Scipio endeavours to draw Syphax from the Carthaginians and he tries to persuade Scipio to a Peace this is in debate while Scipio learns how weak the Enemies Camp was and how it might be set on fire whereupon he breaks off the Treaty of Peace pretending his Counsel would not agree to it Setting therefore all things in order for such a business he sent Laelius and Masanissa to begin with Syphax who lay farthest off and when he saw the Flame he drew on to Asdrubal's Camp which was in confusion running to help Syphax but immediately they found the like Flame in their own Camp Great was the slaughter in which but few escaped with Syphax and Asdrubal After this new Levies are made and a second Battle fought and the Romans obtain a second Victory Asdrubal flying to Carthage and Syphax home whither Masanissa and Laelius pursue him Scipio takes in many Towns some by force others by surrender for all the Subjects of Carthage wavered and Carthage it self durst not exact Taxes of them whom they had so often overburthened It is therefore decreed to Fortifie the City to send for Hannibal and to set out the Fleet against that of Scipio before Vtica who perceiving it hastened thither from Tunis to defend them so they returned having gotten only six empty Hulks from the Romans In the mean time Masanissa recovers his Kingdom and with Laelius proceeds against Syphax who quickly raised as great an Army as his first which he also lost as soon with himself and his Kingdom For being taken Masanissa carried him bound to Cirta his chief City which presently opened where Sophonisba yielded her self intreating she might not be delivered to the Romans which suit her Youth and excellent Beauty so recommended that Masanissa Married her presently Laelius and Scipio were afterwards offended with this Marriage and persuaded Masanissa to give her over for fear she should draw him into the same courses she had drawn Syphax Masanissa to prevent her falling into the Romans hands sent her a Cup of Poison with which she ended her Days And he presently after to prevent the effects of Melancholy for that fact is comforted by Scipio with a Crown and Proclaimed King § 19. Carthage hearing this bad News and seeing Scipio returned to Tunis are so astonish'd that they send Thirty of the Princes which were of the Privy Council of the City unto Scipio to beg Peace prostrate kissing his and his Councils Feet humbly acknowledging their fault in breaking the former Peace Scipio considering the poor case that Rome was in and the Wealth and Strength of Carthage accepted the submission on Condition Carthage should call home her Forces in Italy relinquish all the Islands deliver up all their Ships of War but Twenty all Prisoners and Fugitives meddle no more with Spain pay a great Sum of Mony and certain Hundred Thousand Bushels of Corn. These Articles are approved a Truce granted 'till they send to Rome and Masanissa sent home to his new Kingdom as if all were ended but it appeared after their Ambassadors were come to Rome they only sought to gain time 'till Hannibal were come by whom at least they hope to get a better Peace the Senate therefore refer all to Scipio But before their return Carthage had seiz'd on the Roman Ships with Provision from Sicily scatter'd by storm and sought to surprize Scipio's Ambassadors in their return from Carthage § 20. Hannibal after his loss at Metaurus remained among the Brutains expecting aid from Carthage and his Brother Mago with Forces raised in Gaul and Liguria who also solicited the Hetrurians which caused the Romans to employ Three Armies in those Three Countries Mago near Milan met with the Roman Forces with which he fought like a Son of Amilcar but with the Carthaginian Fortune losing Five Thousand and himself wounded to death was forced to retire to Liguria where he found Ambassadors to call him home immediately which he obeyed but died by the way Hannibal receiv'd the like Message of return which he heard with such impatience that he gnash'd his Teeth and hardly refraining from Tears he cried out that not Scipio but Hanno had overthrown the Barchines with the ruine of Carthage so he departed as if it had been to Exile Rome being certain of his departure appoint an Holy-day for Thanks to the Gods but Quintus Fabius rejoyc'd little being in doubt of the issue in Africa § 21. Hannibal Landed in Africk at Leptis almost an Hundred Miles from Carthage that marching along he might gather Horses which he wanted and Scipio sends to Masanissa and the Roman Company with him to make speed to him who brought Four Thousand Horse and Six Thousand Foot Laelius also is returned with the Carthaginian Ambassadors from Rome at which time M. Baebius kept the Camp in Scipio's absence He laid hands on the Ambassadors and
the Gallo-Grecians upon the River Halis who took all they had and went up to the Mountains Olympus and Margaena hoping the Consul either would not follow or be easily repelled But in both they were deceived being unfurnished with Arrows or Slings or defensive Armour and so in the end were forced to throw themselves off the Rocks leaving to the Romans all that Wealth which they had gotten by long robbing their Neighbours He forced Ararathes and others to submit from whom he also drew what he could get Finally having sworn the Peace of Antiochus and taken an Oath of his Embassadours for him to take his way Home by Hellespont loaden with rich Spoils and accordingly passing through Thrace he was eased of the carriage of no small part not without the instigation of Philip grown very uneasie with the Romans for not respecting him according to his Deserts as he thought But the Consuls at their return to Rome triumphed and Manlius was charged with sending his Armies over Taurus the fatal Bounds of Rome according to the Sybills Prophesie Yet Lucullus and Pompey led the Roman Army over those Hills with Manlius when he deferred Triumph there being an hot Inquisition in the City by the Tribunes against the Scipio's as not having brought into the Treasury what was gotten in their Victories This indignity so offended Publius Scipio that he left the City and never returned redeemed his Brethren and his Goods were all confiscated After this Manlius brought into the Treasury as much as made the last Payment of the Money borrowed of Private Men in the Punick War Thus began the Civil War of the Tongue in the Roman pleading Security from danger abroad and sufficient employment kindling this fire at Home which caught hold upon that great Worthy to whose Virtue Rome was so much indebted But these Factions did not long contain themselves within the hea◠of words but when Men found themselves over-matched at the Weapon of the Tongue whose Art in leading the multitude was grown to perfection they turned to open Hands by Prays in Streets and after by Battels in open Fields which in three Generations after overthrew the insolent Rule both of Senate and People CHAP. VI. Of the second Macedonian War ANtiochus being Overthrown Philip Eumenes and all Greece seemed to be Free Men and Govern by their own Laws but indeed were absolute Vassals to Rome which of the five Prerogatives of an absolute Monarch or Sovereign Power viz. To make Laws Magistrates Peace and War Coyn Money and receive Appeals the Romans had assumed four especially the greatest which is Appeals and in the other three interposed her self at Pleasure Yet Eumenes living far off and the Neighbour Nations not well subdued and obedient to Rome he was long unquestioned of any thing as was also Masanissa Philip's Temper was more noble as he which had not forgot his own former Greatness Honour of his Family and the high Reputation of his Kingdom His Magnanimity is construed Want of Reverence to the Roman Greatness so that upon the complaint of Eumenes and the States of Thessaly he must depart leaving even those places he had Conquered by the Consent of Rome Lisimachia the chief City in Thrace having been assistant in Philip's Usurpation was destroyed by the Thracians and Reedified by Antiochus after he had won Chersonesus both which the Romans bestowed upon Eumenes To these Aenus and Maronea had belonged both gotten by Philip and Fortified for Guard of his Kingdom against the Barbarous Thracians which now Eumenes beggeth but the People of these places endeavour their own Freedom from both This design of the Maronites so provoked Philip that by Cassander one of his Men in Maronea directed by Onomastus his Warden of the Sea Coast the Thracians were let into the Town which was sackt by them And when Cassander at the Romans demand was to be sent to Rome to be examined about it he was Poisoned by the Way according to Machivel's Rule Philip hereby grew further into question at Rome but sent Demetrius his Son who had been Hostage there and obtained the favour for him to answer In the mean time the Roman Embassadour which had judged between him and his Neighbours passing through Greece hears of a Controversie between the Achaeans and Lacedemonians which Lycortus the Achaean Praetor told Appius Claudius boldly that it was strange that the Romans should call their faithful Allies to account as if they were Vassals Appius answered like a Roman Lord and threatned to force them and shortly after the Senate made void all Judgments of Death or Banishment given by the Achaeans against the Lacedemonians And made it a question whether Lacedemon should not be made a free State as of Old Into this Slavery had the Romans brought all the States near them which had desired their Patronage and made them groan under the Yoke Demetrius returned to his Father with desired Peace more for his own sake than his Fathers as they wrote to Philip which made the Son insolent and the Father to hate both them and him § 2. Messene which had been annexed to the Achaean Commonwealth against their Wills grew bold upon the Romans Peremptory dealing with the Achaeans designing to fall off in hope to become a free State again Philopoemen Praetor of Achaea Levied Forces in haste to meet Dinocrates the Messenian Captain and forced him to retire till a fresh Supply coming from Messene compelled him to retreat in which labouring to make Way for his Horsemen himself weak with former Sickness was dismounted taken and carried to Messene where Dinocrates seeing him so generally affected hastned his Death by an Hangman which brought him a Cup of Poison Hannibal about the same time was with Prusias King of Bythinia to whom T. Quintius was sent to demand him as the most spiteful Enemy of Rome wherein the wretched King intending to give the Romans satisfaction set a Guard about Hannibal's Lodgings who seeing himself beset took a Poison which he always carried about him and so Died exclaiming against the Romans degenerating from the Virtue of their Ancestors who would not consent to the Poisoning of Pyrrhus their Enemy and against the Treachery of Prusias betraying his Guest contrary to the Honour of a King and the Laws of Hospitality and Faith given Publius Scipio died the same Year to accompany Philopoemen and Hannibal Being as great Generals as ever the World had but as Unfortunate as Famous Had Hannibal whose Tragedy we have endeavoured only some hints of been Prince of Carthage able to command such supplies as the War he took in hand required it is probable he had torn up the Roman Empire by the Roots But the strong Cowardly Factions of Enemies at Home made his great Virtue wanting Publick Force to sustain it to dissolve it self in his own and Countries Calamity From such Envy of Equals or jealousie of our Masters whether Kings or Commonwealths it is that no Profession is more