as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
Peace between the Two Lions of Gold and Gules doth by many Degrees exceed both by sparing our Blood and assuring the Land As it pleased God to punish the Usurpation and unnatural Cruelties of our own Kings so do we find he dealt with the Sons of Lewis Debonair Son of Charlemain For after Debonair had put out his Nephew Bernard's Eyes the Son of Pipin the Eldest of Charlemain King of Italy and Heir of the Empire and after that caused him to die in Prison there followed such Murder and Bloodshed Poisonings and Civil Wars till the whole Race of that famous Emperor was extinguished Debonair further to secure himself put his Bastard Brothers into a Monastery But God rais'd up his own Sons to vex invade imprison and depose him alledging the former Violences to his Nephew and Brothers Yet he did that which few Kings do he publickly acknowledg'd and recanted his Cruelty against Bernard in the Assembly of the States But Blood unjustly spilt is not easily expiated by Repentance And such Medicines to the Dead have but dead Rewards He having also given Aquitain to Pipin his Second Son sought after that to cast him out as indeed he did his Son after him of the same Name at the Persuasion of Judith to raise her Son Charles Lothair his eldest Son he left King of Italy and Emperor against whom his Nephew Pipin of Aquitain Lewis of Bavier and Charles the Bald made War between whom was fought the most Bloody Battel that ever was known in France in which the Loss of the Nobility and Men of War encouraged the Sarazens to invade Italy the to fall upon Almain and the Danes upon Normandy After being invaded by Lewis and by his own Conscience for rebelling against his Father and other Cruelties he quits the Empire and dyes in a Monastery Charles the Bald seizeth on Pipin his Nephew and kills him in a Cloyster oppresses the Nephews the Sons of Lothair and usurps the Empire His Son Caroloman rebells and hath his Eyes burnt out by his Father Lewis of Bavier and his Son Caroloman are overthrown by Charles and Lewis dies of Grief as Charles doth of Poison by Zedekias his Phisician a Jew Whose Son also Lewis le Begne dy'd of the same Potion and Charles the Simple succeeded whose Natural Brothers Lewis and Charlemain rebell'd The Younger is slain by a wild Boar the Elder brake his Neck as did also the Son of Bavier Charles the Gross became Lord of what Debonair's Sons had held in Germany who invading Charles the Simple is forsaken of Nobles Wife and Wit dying a distracted Beggar Charles the Simple held in Wardship by Eudes Mayor of the Palace and after by Robert his Brother lastly is surprised by the E. of Vermandois and dyed in Prison Lewis his Son succeeded and brake his Neck one of his Sons dyes of Poyson the other in Prison Francis I. was one of the worthiest Kings that ever France had except his exposing the Protestants of Mirandel and Cabriers to the Fire and Sword of which though he repented and charged his Son to do Iustice on the Murderers yet was not that unseasonable Care accepted of by God who cut off his Four Sons without Issue to succeed And notwithstanding all their Subtilty and Breach of Faith with all their Massacres upon those of the Religion the Crown was set on his Head whom they all endeavoured to ruin and the Protestants are now in number and strength more than ever Spain has found God the same as Don Pedro of Castile may witness who as he became the most merciless of all Heathen or Christian Tyrants as the History of Spain records so he perish'd by the Hands of his Younger Brother who dispossessed all his Children of their Inheritance John D. of Burgoign may parallel this King if any can who after a Trayterous Murder of the D. of Orleance caused the Chancellor Constable divers Bishops Officers of Justice of the Treasury Requests Chamber of Accompts with Sixteen Hundred others suddenly to be slain which kind of Death eased the World of himself Ferdinand holding Arragon by Vsurpation of his Ancestors added Castile and Leon which he held by force of Arms from the Daughter of the last Henry and expell'd his Neece from the Kingdom of Navarr He betrayed Ferdinand and Frederick King of Naples his Kinsman to the French with the Army sent to their succour The Politick King who sold Heaven and his own Honour to make his Son the greatest Monarch saw his Death with his Wives and her untimely Birth buried together the like End he saw of his own Eldest Daughter his Second dyed Mad his Third was cast off by our King Henry VIII and the Mother of a Daughter whose unhappy Zeal shed a Deluge of Innocent Blood and had all his Kingdoms possest by strange Masters Charles V. Son to Arch. D. Philip who had Married Ferdinand's Mad Daughter after the Death of many Multitudes of Christian Souldiers and renowned Captains in his vain Enterprizes upon France Germany and other States while the Turk took the City of Rhodes was in conclusion chased out of France and in some sort out of Germany being persued by D. Maurice over the Alps which he passed by Torch Light and crept into a Cloister and became his Son's Prisoner who paid him very slowly Philip II. his Son not content to hold Holland and Zealand wrested by his Ancestors from Jaqueline their lawful Prince and to possess many other parts of the Netherland Provinces in Peace by persuasion of that mischievous Cardinal of Granvil and other Tyrants forgetting the remarkable Services done to his Father and the Forty Millions of Florens presented him at his Entrance and his solemn Oaths twice taken to maintain their Privileges which they had enjoyed under Thirty five Earls conditional Princes began to Tyrannize over them by the Spanish Inquisition and other intolerable Impositions and lastly by Force of Arms sought to make himself not Monarch only like the Kings of England France c. but Turk-like to overturn all their National Fundamental Laws Privileges and Customs To effect this he easily obtained a Dispensation of his Oaths from the Pope and then divided the Nobility under the Government of his base Sister Margaret of Austria and Cardinal Granvil Then he employ'd that Merciless Spaniard Ferdinand Alvarez D. of Alva who in six Years cut off Eighteen Thousand six Hundred Gentlemen and others by the Hand of the Hang-man Failing of his purpose by Force he tryeth Policy and sent Don John of Austria his Bastard Brother who upon the Papal advantage made no scruple to swear and having received Six Hundred Thousand Pounds of the Provinces to ease them of the Garrisons he suddenly surprized the Citadel of Antwerp Namure c. yet after so many Thousands slain Thirty six Millions of Treasure spent in six Years he left the Countrey and the King spent above One Hundred Millions with the Death of Four Hundred Thousand Christians
and N. W. by Charan and Chanah On the S. by Sheb between which Chalds properly so called is contained which is the Eden we seek § 10. Eden hath not yet wholly lost the Name and notice of the old Country as is to be seen in two Epistles written by the Christians of Mesopotamia to the Pope An. 1552. Published by Masius mentioning the Island of Eden in the River Tigris which is commonly called Gozoria or Gezer So that we may perceive that Eden before the Flood comprehended besides the Land of Babylonia in the S. all Assyria Armenia and Mesopotamia bounded by Mount Taurus in the North. In this Isle which is ten Miles◠compass is the Metropolitan City and Patriarchy of all the Nestorian Christians in Assyria Mesopotamia Chaldea and Persia and is Twelve Miles above Mosell § 11. An Objection is made out of the Text That a River in the singular number divideth it self into Four Heads Answer Kimchi and Vatablus say the Singular here is put for the Plural as is used with the Hebrews But take it singular for Euphrates and we find it divided into Four Branches in the Country of Chaldea And what alteration soever Time hath bred clear it is that Parah in Moses is Euphrates and Hiddekel is Tigris which runneth through Assyria whose chief City is Nineve § 12. An Objection touching the Fertility of Paradise no where found is Answered That no place after the Flood was the same as it was in the Creation yet Herodotus commends that Country about Euphrates near the which Tigris runs beyond all he had seen yielding Two Hundred for One with plenty of Palm-Trees of which they make Meat Wine and Honey Strabo and Niger added Bread and Antony the Hermite addeth Flax. They mow the Blade twice and after feed it down with Cattel to prevent the Exuberance of overmuch Rankness And it is free from Weeds See Pliny lib. 18. ca. 17. who saith the Babylonians reap a Crop the second time without Sowing and yet cut their Corn twice in the Year they sow it saith Niger And lest their Cattel should perish by too great a satiety they drive them out of the Pastures saith Q. Curtius § 13. Pison and Gehon the other two Rivers of Paradise must be found to branch out of the River or Rivers of Eden and therefore the Fancy was strange to search out for Ganges in India and Nilus in Egypt The Errour about Pison was occasion'd by mistaking Havila in India whose Founder was a Son of Iocktan for that Havila upon Tigris afterwards called Susiana Planted by a Son of Cush If Largeness were respected in choise of Ganges Indus is not inferiour having Hydaspis famous in Great Alexander's Story and many like Rivers falling into it as Coas Suastus Acesinies Adries Hispalis Smnoch Indus is also nearer Tigris by almost 40 Degrees between which and Ganges is the great Kingdom of Magor As for Nilus it can no way be a Branch of a River which runneth through Eden with the rest seeing it runneth contrary to them springing from the South Coast and falleth North whereas they spring North and fall into the South Sea Pison therefore will rather be found a River branching out of Euphrates into Tigris at Appanico called Piso-tigris running through Havila or Susiana from Hercelus's Altar into the Persian Gulph and hath Gold and Bdelium and Onix-stones Time hath made greater Change of other Names than this as to call Babylon Bandas Baldady Bagded Boughedor and Bagdet at this Day Pison is called Basilius or Regius and Gehon is Mabar-sares Marsias Baar saris in Ptolomy and others Euphrates at her Fountain was called Pixirats and Puckperah Plutarch calls it Medus Zaranda others call it Cobar which is a Branch of it The Assyrians name it Armalchar and Nahor Malcha now it is called Phrat-Tigris in Hebrew Hiddekel others call it Dighto Diglath Seilax Sollax now Tegil Mereer conceived well the Euphrates and Tigris stream into Branches and that Euphrates falling into Gehon lost the Name and is swallowed up in Caldee Lakes near Vr But Pison breaking into Tigris falls into the Sea and produc'd a Name compounded of both Pysotygris running through Havilah so named of the Son of Chush inhabits both sides and mistaken for Ethiop 1 Sam. 15.7 § 14. Gehon by mistaking Ethiop for Chush drew them to Nilus which Error Pererius would evade by an E. Ethiopia in Arabia-Petraea and part of Felix which being granted Gehon is not Nilus no the 1000000 which Zerah brought against Asa came beyond Egypt but were Chushits Midianits Amalekits Ishmaelits inhabiting that Land of Chush over which Zera in Gerar near Iuda Commanded But to Pererius Pliny tells the E. Ethiopia was about Nilus S. of Egypt the W. was about the River Niger So that all that take Chush for Ethiopia Numb 12.1 do fail as also 2 Chron. 21.16 Beroaldus seeking Gehon at Gaza lost himself in the Desart by sinding a River scarce Twenty Miles long for Gehon which watered all the Land of Chush Westward from Tigris and went towards Arabia through the South of Chaldea where was Chusca after called Chuduca from whence either Increase or Force of Nimrod's Posterity made them disperse themselves more towards the West out of that part of Shinar where Nimrod out of Wit and Strength had seated himself As did his Father upon Gehon and a Brother of his called Havila on both sides of Tigris and along the Sea towards Arabia § 15. To Conclude it appeareth to me by Scripture Paradise was a Created place in our Habitable World in the lower parts of a Country called Eden from the Pleasantness thereof containing part of Armenia all Mesopotamia and Shinar This Region in Thirty five Degrees is most temperate abounding with whatsoever Life needeth without Labour exceeding both Indies with their perpetual Spring and Summer which are accompanied with fearful Thundring Lightning Earth-quakes Venomous Creatures and desperate Diseases from which Eden is free I desire no other Reward for my Labour in this Description but suspence of judgment 'till it be confuted by a more probable Opinion CHAP. IV. Of the two Chief Trees in Paradise § 1. THAT the two Trees of Life and Knowlegde were material Trees the most Learned and Religious Writers doubt not of though they were Figures of the Law and Gospel yet some would have them only Allegorical because of Salomon's Words Prov. 3.18 Apoc. 2.7 But Augustine answers the one excludeth not the other as Paradise was Terrestrial and yet signified a Celestial as Sara and Hagar were Women though Figures of the Old and New Testament The words also of the Text join these Trees with the rest that God produced Touching the Tree of Life it is hard to think that Bodies nourished by Corruptible means should be immortal yet if Adam had not disobeyed God's Commandment he and his Posterity might have lived an healthful unalterable Life Four times longer than the first Fathers and then been translated as
Berosus Functius c. in the Tenth Year of Nimrod and when Tubal was in Austria or Biscai in Spain the Twelfth Year of Nimrod Ann. 142 after the Flood For before Babels Confusion the Company were not dispers'd consider then the time of Building such a City and a Tower to equalize Mountains said Berosus or reach to Heaven said Nimrod which took an exceeding compass and whose Foundation in Marish Ground was full of Labours As for Materials the want was great and the Workmen unexperienced and the Work almost finished This time Glicas judged to be about 40 Years So that Gomer and Tubal could not Plant so soon Besides the tedious conveying of Wives Children Cattel from Shinar to Italy and Spain 4140 Miles through Countries now of much more difficult Passage Nimrod spent many Years in a short and more easy Journey to Shinar and why did Tubal leave many rich Countries to Plant in Biscay the most barren Country of the World To say they had the Convenience of Navigation shews Men know not what it is to carry Multitudes by Sea with Cattel on which they lived Whether Navigation was then in Use is doubted considering how long it was before Men durst cross the Seas and that the Invention was ascribed to the Tyrians long after by Tibullus § 4. Gog and Magog Tubal and Mesech settled first about lesser Asia where Beroaldus whom I find most judicious in this Plantation out of Ezekiel 38. and 39. findeth the Gomerians Tubalines and Togarminans Iosephus in this Plantation led Eusebius Epiphanius and Ar. Montanus into many errours and Gog and Magog have troubled many But this Gog the Prince of Magogians or Coelo-Syrians must needs be the Successor of Seleucius Nicanor who sought to extinguish the Iews Religion and force them to Idolatry Hermolaus Barborus maketh the Turks come from the Scythians Iunius makes it a National Name from Gyges who slew Candaulus King of Lydia where Strabo finds the Gygian Lake and in the South Borders Iunius finds Gygarta or Gogkarta in Syriak Gogs City in Coelo-Syria where Pliny placeth Bambice or Hierapolis which the Syrians call Magog Though Strabo make both to be Edessa in Mesopotamia but Ortelius doubts whether there be a mistake yet may the Name be common but certainly both were North of Israel Magog might be Father of the Scythians who wasted much of lesser Asia Possessed the Coelo-Syria and built Scythopolis and Hierapolis which themselves of Syrians call Magog being North from Iudea which Bellonius makes Aleppo where the Mermaid was Worship'd called Atergatis and by the Greeks Derceto Thus we see the Ancient Gomerians and Tubalins were no Italians or Spaniards Though long after they might send Colonies thither The Iberians of Old were called Thobelos of Tubal who from thence passed to Spain to search Mines saith Iustine but 't is more probable it was Peopled out of Africa Mesech also is Neighbour to Tubal of whom sprung the Miseans from Mount Adectas to Pontus afterwards called Cappadocia which is the Mazoca and is Magog's chief Country Gomer was Neighbour to Togarma Bordering on Syria and Cilicia whose Posterity Peopled Germany and the Borders of the Earth as Gomer signifieth But wanting Room forward to Exonerate their swelling Multitude they returned back upon their Neighbours Whereof they were called Cimbri which signifies Robbers in Camden's Judgment And though in Ancient times the Gauls used to beat them as Caesar Reports yet after they grew Warlike they pursued rich Conquests even into lesser Asia the Seat of their Progenitors Samothes is by Annius made Brother of Gomer and surnamed Dis but Functius and Vignier do justly disclaim him seeing Moses knew him not § 5. Noah also by Annius is brought out of the East into Italy to build Genoa and there to live Ninety-two Years but Moses silence is to me a sufficient Argument to disprove this Report seeing he did so carefully Record Nimrod's Cities As for Berosus and others whom he quotes for it their Fragments are manifestly proved Spurious neither could Noah be that Italian Ianus their First King who Dyed but 150 Years before Aeneas according to Eusebius and Lived in the days of Ruth 704. Years after Noah Let the Italians content themselves with a Ianus from the Greeks who Planted them 150 Years before the Destruction of Troy from whom they had their Idolatry as their Vestal Virgins and Holy Fire from Vesta his Wife which no man will believe to proceed from Noah There succeeded him Saturnus Picus Faunus Latinus before Aeneas in the Days of Sampson § 6. Nimrod Seating himself in Babylon Reason and Necessity taught the rest to remove to take the Benefit of those far extended Rivers which ran along Shinar as well for convenience in their Journeys as to provide for mutual entercourse for time to come Thus Chush the Father settled near his Son Nimrod in the South of Chaldea along Gehon which Tract Moses calls the Land of Chush Gen. 2.13 Havilaah the other Son of Chush took down Tigris on both sides especially the East which also is called the Land of Havila Gen. 2.11 afterwards Susiana Chush in length of time spread into Arabia the Desart and Stony where was the City of Chusca afterwards called Chusidia by Ptolomy So Seba and the rest Planted Arabia the Happy towards the Persian Gulf from whence after the stoppage of Euphrates they Traded to Babylon by Tigris Gomer Magog and the other Sons of Iaphet took the lesser Asia the better to spread themselves West and North. Tubalin ascended into Iberia The Magogians to Sarmatia The Gomerians in Asia were called Cymerians saith Herodotus and their Country was after was called Galatia by the Gallogreeks whom the Scythians drove into Albania and some into Phrygia both called Cymerians as was Bosphorus and a City by it Togarma Gomers Son dwelt near Sidon and overspread the lesser Armenia whose Kings were called Tigranes Meshach Iaphet's Son setled in Syracena in Armenia between the Mountains Moschici and Periards out of whose North-East springs Araxis and Euphrates out of the South Of whom came the Moscovites in the Judgment of Melancton Madai the Third Son of Iaphet Planted Media § 7. Iavan the Fourth Son of Iaphet from the West of lesser Asia sent Colonies into Greece whose Inhabitants were called Iones that is Athenians Strabo out of Hecasius says the Iones came out of Asia where the Name also remain'd Meshech the Sixth Son of Iaphet of whom before See § 4. which Name differs little from Aram's Sons Gen. 10.23 which 1 Chron. 1.17 is the very same They dwelt North from Iury and were Enemies to the Iews and it may be they were under one Prince but this Meshech commonly joined with Tubal If therefore he Planted first near Iury yet his Issue might pass into Cappadocia and so into Hircania Those which came of Aram nearer the Iews might be those to whom David fled in his Persecution Psal. 120.5 Tiras is Father of the Thracians
and revenge the other 2 And it was God's will when he would impose that long and tedious Journey upon Abraham that the Countreys should be in Peace through which he wandred to which end those Millions of Warriours and Engins perished with Semiramis to make the Recovery of lost Liberty the more easy Lastly Histories report that Arrius who succeeded Ninias recovered Bactria and Caspia and Baleus or Xerxes reduced the rest even to Egypt which argueth their former Revolt § 13. Consent of Writers almost forceth us to think as I have delivered touching the Four Kings yet if we take them rather for Four petty Kings which in that sluggish Reign of Ninias had gathered Colonies out of those Four Countries and Planted themselves elsewhere we shall remove some difficulties For if Chedorlaomer were King of Persia it self beyond Babylon what a Journey were it to come so far and gather such Forces which must pass so great Countries as Assyria Chaldea Mesopotamia Syria and part of Arabia to Conquer five small Cities and leave all the rest of Canaan yea to come in Person and that the second time But the Scripture maketh this Invasion no great matter but as matching four Kings to five as if the five were not so unequally matched though petty Kings as of necessity they had been if these four had been absolute Kings of the Kingdoms whose Names they bear If then the former Conjectures cannot agree to the Text to the Authority whereof all Human Reason must subscribe let the received Opinion stand that Amraphel was Ninias who was become inferiour to Chedorlaomer of Persia. From the Assyrian the History of Abraham leadeth us to the Egyptian Kingdom then also flourishing CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites THE Kings of Egypt 'till Israel 's Deliverance and the causes of the uncertainty of the History § Cham after Babel's Confusion having known Egypt's Fertility Planted it Anno 191 after the Flood Osiris succeeded Anno 352. Typhon or Hercules Anno 603. Orus 620. Sesostris the Great 735. Sesostris the Blind 786. Busiris or Oris 2 d. Anno 782. Acenchere or Thermutis or Meris 820. Rathoris 832. Chenchrese 841 drowned Augustin a diligent searcher of Antiquities omitted the Succession of Egyptian Kings finding no certainty of them through the Ambition of their Priests who to magnify the Antiquities which they only kept filled the Records with Romances and Names of Kings which never Reigned Other good Authors were over-credulous of what they found so Recorded Published the same in their own Names Of these Annius finding some Fragments and adding what he would is no farther to be Credited than where approved Writers Confirm his Assertion Herein the Old Christian Writers follow Eusebius but the Modern Annius and Prophane Authors follow Diodorus Herodotus c. § 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. § This is gathered from the Dyanasties of Egypt whose 16 th began in the 43 d. year of Ninus The 12 first under their 12 great Gods lasted 84 Years seven a-piece the 13 indured 14 years the 14 lasted 26 the fifteen was 37 which three last were under three younger Gods All the 75 added together make 161 years which being deducted out of 352 the remainder is 191 the beginning of Government there after Cham's arrival The same also is probable from their coming to Babel which being after the Flood Anno 131 and Forty years according to Glicas spent in Building we can allow no less than Twenty years for the slow passing such a Company through such a difficult long way which Sums being added make up 191 years when the first Dynasty began for to begin them sooner were either to plant Egypt as soon as Babel or with Mercator to make them before the Flood which their number exceeding the number of those long-liv'd Fathers will not admit § 3. The Dynasties of Egypt were not absolute Kings but Vice-Roys under Kings § The probability of this will appear by the custom of Kings governing by Great Men as of old the Kings of France by the Master of the Palace the Turk by a Grand Visier the Philistin Kings which came out of Egypt had a Captain as Abimelek had Phicol the Kings of Israel as Saul had Abner David had Ioab And Cham's lend disposition to follow Pleasure might breed the Custom which continued even to the days of Ioseph advanced to the place by Pharaoh from which Example William Arch Bishop of Tyre affirms the same Form of Government continued in Egypt in his days when the Sultans govern'd under the Calif as Lieutenants under a King How these Dynasties succeeded and how long they continued is uncertain § 4. Cham. and Mizraim or Oris § Of C ham the Scripture calls that Country the Land of Ham not for being Peopled by his Sons for so were other Countries which yet are never so called but for that himself planted it Osiris called himself the Eldest Son of Saturn as in Diodorus lib. 1. which Saturn of Egypt was Grand-father of Ninus as in his Monument Of Cham came the Temple of Hammon near Egypt And in Ierom's days the Egyptians called their Country Ham so Ortelius saith out of Plutarch that Egypt was called Chemia That Cham reigned 161 years is not improbable considering Sem his Brother lived 600 years Mizraim or Osiris according to Diodor succeeded of whom the Land also took its Name and by the Natives is yet called Mezre as Reineccius sheweth How long he Reigned is hard to determine but that he began at Abraham's Birth is probable when the Dynastie of the Thebaei began according to Eusebius § 5. Osiris Reign is guessed at by his Son Lebabim or Hercules Lybeus his Warring with Typhon and the Giants his Associates in Revenging his Fathers Death His Egyptian Wars he ended and begun his Italian in the 41 Year of Baleus King of Assyria according to Berosus when he left the Kingdom to his Brother Orus To this Egyptian and many other Wars before his Italian Krentzhemius alloweth but 6 Years which draweth Osiris Death to the 34 th Year of Belus and so makes him Reign 297 Years and so should end 7 Years after Israel came into Egypt This cannot be for the King under whom Israel came out-lived Iacob and had Reigned from before Ioseph's standing before Pharaoh yea we may give 13 Years more of Ioseph's Bondage to him This King then could not be Osiris who lived not so long as Iacob nor Typhon nor Hercules but Orus Son of Osiris advanced by Hercules § 6. Typhon and Hercules their Reigns are not distinctly defined only Orus is placed 7 Years after Osiris by Krentzhemius and whose Reign seemeth to last 115 Years and from whose Death to the Israelites Departure are 122 Years Sesostris or Sesonchosis succeeded according to Scholiast Apollonii He was a great Conquerour in Asia even into India and Europe Whom Iustin erroniously maketh Vexoris saith
he after setting his Country in Order or his Children returned and became incorporate with Israel § 3. Israel 's Iourney from Horeb to Kades § In this Journey they murmured for Flesh and were fed with Quails even to a Surfeit of which great numbers Dyed Then after the First Month they came to Hâ—zaroth where Miriam was smitten with Leprosie and so to Rithma near Kades Barnea whence the Spies were sent upon whose Return they mutined the Tenth time which being more Rebellious than all the rest God punished it accordingly extinguishing every one of those Seditions even the whole Multitude that came out of Egypt Two only Excepted And though the mildest of all Men was earnest with God for their Pardon yet not one escaped He spared them Forty Years till their Children were grown up and Multiplyed that in them he might perform his Promise which was never frustrated § 4 Of their Return and unwillingness thereto c. § Moses having related the Commandment of God touching their Return back toward the Red Sea they bewailed their Folly too late and as it is with Men whom God leaveth to themselves they wou'd needs amend their former Passionate Murmuring with a second desperate Contempt For now when God forbids with Threats they will desperately venture their own Destruction and were repelled and with Slaughter forced to take their way back to the Sea as God Commanded and came to Remmoparez c. Their Twenty Fourth Mansion was at Pharez where began the dangerous Insurrection of â—orah for which Offence and Contempt of God and his Ministers as 14700 Perished suddenly by Pestilence and 250 by Fire so those Lay-Men who would Usurp Ecclesiastical Authority were suddenly swallowed up alive of the Earth Form thence the 30 th Mansion was at Ietabata where Adrichomius maketh a River which runneth into the Sea between Midian and Aziongaber Now though it be Probable there was store of Fresh-water at Aziongaber where Solomon furnished his Fleets for East-India And though Herodotus mention a great River in Arabia the Stony which he calls Corys yet is Adrichom deceived in this as in many other things For it was at Punon that those Springs are spoken of which in Deut. 10.7 is also called Ietabata a Land of running Waters which by probability falls into the River Zared next adjoyning whereas that way is very long to Aziongaber Besides Belonius reports of divers Torrents of Fresh-waters in those Sandy parts of Arabia which running a few Miles are drunk up in the Sands From Ietabata they came to Hebrona and after Aziongaber called Beronice by Iosephus and Essia by Ierom which as yet was not in the command of Edom as after in Solomon's days § 5. From Aziongaber they removed to Zin Kades or Beeroth where Miriam dyed Then they came to Mount Hor where they murmured for Water and where Aaron dyed and Eleazer his Son succeeded § 6. Israel leaving the way by Edom after they had compassed the South they turned to the North toward the Wilderness of Moab leaving Eâ—â— oâ— the West When Arad King of the Sâ—â—th-Câ—â—â—â—anites thinking they would come by him while 〈◊〉 lay at Hor having had his Forces ready upon hâ— Borders made out into the Desart before Israel was removed and set upon such part of the Army as lay for his Advantage and took some Prisoners It is probable that either this Arad or his Predecessor had joined before with Amalek and worsting those Mutineers were thereupon incouraged to this Attempt As for the Overthrow which is reported Num. 21. to be given them by Israel it is rather to be understood of what was done after by Iosua than now by Moses For had Moses given them this Overthrow and destroyed their Cities he would never have left the South of Canaan once entred by him to wander about Edom and Moab and to seek a new Passage Neither could Israel have cause to Murmur the next day for Bread Or been weary of the Way if they had so lately taken the Spoil of Arad's Cities Yea they would rather have mutined against Moses for leaving such an Entrance into the intended Conquest and to lead them back into the Desarts which had consumed them They murmured presently upon their leaving Hor when they came to Phunon crossing the way to Aziongaber through Moab to Coelosyria and here the Brazen Serpent was erected From thence they proceeded as in the Holy Story and so came to Diblathaim Whence Moses sent to Sehon King of the Amorites to desire a Passage through his Country which he denyed § 7. Of the Book of the Lord's Battels and other lost Books § Iunius understanding thereby no special Book and Vatablus doubts Siracides refers it to Ioshua who fought the Lord's Battles cap. 46. But it seemeth probable there was such a Book lost as many others whereto reference is often made as Ios. 10.13 and 2 Sam. 1.18 and 2 Chron. 33.18 and 2 Chron. 9.29 and 12.15 and 20.34 1 Kings 4.32 33. Enoch's Books c. § 8. Of Moses sparing Lot 's Issue § Moab at this time inhabited the South of Arnon having lost the better side which the Amorites won from Vatablus the Predecessor of Balac What therefore Moses found in the Possession of Moab as also of Ammon he might not attempt but what the Amorites had taken from them The Emims and Zamzummims Giantly Nations had formerly dwelt there as the Anakims in Canaan but Moab and Ammon destroyed them Sihon proud of his Conquest against Moab presumed against Israel and lost All. Og King of Basan or Traconitis an Amorite was also destroyed and his Sixty Walled Towns taken by Iaer a Son of Manasses § 9. The Midianites with the Moabites practise against Israel and draw them to Idolatry for which God destroyed 24000 with the Pestilence The third time of numbring of the People who are found to be 601730 of which 12000 are sent against the Midianites who slew there Five petty Kings and destroyed their Cities after this Moses having divided his Conquest and blessed the Twelve Tribes dyed § 10. Observations out of Moses's Story touching God's Providence working his own purposes ordinarily by Mens affections Pharaoh's Fears bred his ungodly Policies and salvage Cruelties by this Moses is cast upon the Compassion of Pharaoh's Daughter and so provided of Princely Education Mens Affections cast him into Exile procured him a Wife and so a long stay to know the Wilderness to wean him from Ambition and so fit him to know God and to Govern Thus what Men think most casual God ordereth to the Effecting his own purposes many Years after CHAP. VI. Of the Bordering Nations Of other Renowned Men and of Joshua's Acts. § 1. HOW the Bordering Nations were prepared to be Enemies to Israel § Though the Ismaelites Moabites Ammonites and Edomites descended from Abraham and Isaac as did the Israelites and were not molested by them and therefore they should not have hinder'd their Conquest of Canaan yet God's all-disposing
which Collected the grounds of Egyptian Philosophy make him more Ancient than Moses being Author of the Egyptian Wisdom wherein Moses was Learned True it is that Hermes Divinity is contrary to Moses in many things especially in approving Linages But the advised rather may perceive those Books have been corrupted by the Egyptian Priests and were they in all things like themselves it were not unsafe with Eupolemus to say Hermes was Moses And that the Egyptian Theology was devised by the more Ancient Hermes which others judge to be Ioseph But these are over-curious Opinions Whoever he was God knoweth and Lactantius testifieth this of him He Writ many Books of Divine things touching the Majesty of the most High and one God calling him by the Name of one God and Father as we do c. And his acknowledgments of God are so contrary to Egyptian and Grecian Fictions that what is found in his Book inclining thereto was by corruption inserted For thus he speaketh God is the Lord and Father of all things the Fountain Life Power Light Mind and Spirit and all things are in and under him For his Word which out of himself proceedeth being most Perfect Generative and Operative made Nature Fruitful and producing And saith Suidas he was called Ter-Maximus for affirming there was one God in Trinity He fore-saw saith Ficinus the Ruin of the Old or superstitious Religion the Birth of the New Faith the coming of Christ future Judgment Resurrection Glory of the Blessed and the Punishment of sinners Lastly Calcidius the Platonist and Suidas cited by Volaterius Report this his Speech Hitherto O my Son being driven out of my Country I have lived a Stranger and Banished Man but now I am repairing homeward again in safety And when after a while being loosed from the Bonds of the Body I shall depart from you see you do not bewail me as Dead For I I do return to that best and Blessed City whereto all her Citizens by the Condition of Death are come For there is the only God the most High and Chief Prince who replenishing his Citizens with wonderful Sweetness in regard whereof this which many call Life is rather to be called Death I therefore adjure thee O Heaven Thou Wise work of the great God and thee O Voice of the Father which he first uttered when he framed the whole World I adjure by his only begotten Word and Spirit comprehending all things have Mercy upon me § 7. Aesculapius also flourished in this Age and became the God of Physitians he was Brother of Hermes as Vives on Augustin Judged Iamnes and Iambres those notorious Sorcerers that opposed Moses now lived and made such a Figure as if Moses and they had used the same Art as the beholders of common Capacity judged Though Moses charge them not with familiarity with the Devil and the Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Workers by Drugs yet did they excel in the impious Art as in dazling Eyes whom we call Prestigiators in natural Magicks which is a knowledge to use the Creatures qualities beyond common Judgment which discern not the best Virtues that God hath indued them with This the Cabalist calls the Wisdom of Nature used by Iacob in the Pied Lambs as Moses did that which they call the Wisdom of Divinity in his Miracles Hereby God made him excell all that ever were when he shewed himself so often to him and imployed him in such Services Moses is remembred by Profane Authors Clearchus Magastenes and Numenius The Patriarchs long lives are remembred by Estius Hyeronimus Egyptius Heasteus Elanicus Acusilaus Ephorus and Alexander the Historian The deluge by Berosus Nicen Damascenus The Confusion at Babel by Abidemus Estieus Sybil. Abraham was Honoured by Berosus written of by Hecolaeus and his Journey into Canaan by Damascen Eupolemon writ of him beginning from Babel's Building to his calling out of Canaan or Ur in Chaldea Eusebius collects many which confirm the Books of Moses Lastly Worthy is the Testimony of Strabo saying Moses taught the Egyptians were mistaken in Attributing to God the Image of Beasts and the Africans and Greeks Erred greatly giving their Gods the shape of Men whereas that only is God indeed which contains both us Earth Sea the Heaven the World and the Nature of all things whose Image doubtless no Man will dare to Form to the likeness of any thing Their rejecting all Images that worthy Temple and Place of Prayer was to be Erected to him for his Worship without Images § 8. Of Josua and so to Othoniel and his Contemporary § Iosua entred upon the Government in the First Month Nisan or March the 14 th Year of their Egression in the Reign of Aminias the Eighteenth King of Assyria Corax the Sixteenth Siciona Danus of Argives and Ericthonius of Athens saith Augustin de civ Iosua appointeth Reuben Gad and the half Tribe of Manasses unto the Vanguard to lead the Host till the Land was Conquered as Iuda had in the Wilderness So upon the Tenth Day he led them over Iordan which gave way to them and Incamped in Gilgal and Circumcised them and on the Fourteenth they Celebrated the Passover the Third time when the Manna ceased The Wars and Victories of Iosua the Miraculous assistance of God and the Division of the Land are particularly at large set down in God's Book In the whole Story I observed in those Petty Kings First want of Wisdom as it is with Governours forsaken of God to Unite themselves against a strong and common Enemy before he had broken divers of them Secondly Iosua though sure of Divine assistance yet used the uttermost skill of a Wise Leader As sometime by Ambuscades Stratagems and shew of flying So by Surprize and Night-Marches and by pursuing his Victory Thirdly In the Passage between Iosua and the Gibeonites the Doctrine of keeping Faith is excellently taught taking away all perfidious cunning of Equivocating or crafty distinctions It is not possible to have a Case affording better Pretence to go off they were Hivites of whose Destruction God had given Express Commandment they Counterfeited in Word and Deed deliberately to deceive and lye in the very Point touching the Persons to be Covenanted with they were detestable Idolaters and as long as they lived were the Memory of Israels Errour and Iosua's oversight to be so overtaken and to be a scandal to Israel Iosua might say he Covenanted not with the Gibeonites but with Strangers and had no Commission but a former Express Law to the contrary yea and the People Mutined about it c. All notwithstanding Iosua durst use no Evasion to start from the Oath of the Lord wherein he was bound not to Man so much as to God It were a great sin to call God to Witness a Lye and so make him a Deceiver but we call him to be our Surety Yea we call him to Judge and so make him false in Witnessing in undertaking our Faith and
attempted it in Iephtha's days finding Israels weakness by long oppression of the Philistins who had disarmed them had also slain 34000 of them and that 50000 perished about Bethshemes and their King was not yet so acceptable to all his Subjects who were encouraged to begin with Iabesh Gilead so near unto them Saul to shew himself King being proprobably descended of one of the Four Hundred Virgins taken from the Gileadits undertook the relief of Iabesh assembling 330000 Men and Defeated the Ammonites Hence Samuel drew them all to Gilgal where Saul was again Confirmed King where also Samuel exhorted them to fear the Lord and rehearsed his own Justice After a Years Reign Saul chose him a strong Guard of Three Thousand 1 Sam. 13.2 § 4. Saul 's Disobedience and Rejection § Ionathan with his Regiment of 1000 surprised a Garrison of the Philistins which some judge was in Careatjearim where was the Ark but Iunius taketh it to be Gebah in Benjamin near Gibha where Ionathan stayed with his Thousand so that though the Philistins were much broken under Samuel yet they held some strong places in Israel of which this was one whose Surprise so enraged them that they gathered together the greatest Forces mention'd 1 Sam. 12. while Saul was at Gilgal expecting Samuel as he had been required 1 Sam. 10.8 But because Samuel came not so soon as Saul expected he hasteâ—ed to Sacrifice taking the Office of a Priest on him as some think or as others judge he in diffidence and distraction upon the Philistins Power and his Peoples deserting him attended not the Prophet's coming to direct him and pray for him For Samuel had sharply reproved and threatned him with great Indecency had he not had extraordinary warrant from the Lord. So they departed each from other Saul being come to Gibeah his own City being of strength his Forces were but 600 between him and Ionathan and of these not one had Sword or Spear of which the Reason is rendred in the Text. The like Policy Nebuchadonozer us'd in the Conquest of Iudaea and Dyonisius in Sicily It may be the other Israelits had some though these Six hundred had not for they might gain some at the overthrow of the Philistins and Ammonites As for the Weapons the Israelites used in these Wars they were Clubs Bows and Slings wherein they were expert 1 Chr. 12.2 and their Victories were rather extraordinary as by Thunder or Astonishments sent from God as in this next Overthrow by the hand of Ionathan and his Armour-bearer wherein God set them at dissention cap. 14.10 So that the Israelites needed no Swords when every Philistin's Sword supplyed the want After this Victory Saul undertook by turns all the bordering Enemies and by special Commandment the Amalekites in Arabia Petraea and the Desart ravaging from Havila to Shur But for presuming contrary to God's express Charge to spare Agag c. he was utterly rejected of the Lord for all his pretence of Sacrifice and Samuel never after visited Saul § 5. Samuel fearing to Anoint another King as God willed him is directed how to do it safely So that by cautious care to avoid danger he did no way derogate from God's Providence seeing the Lord himself tho' All-sufficient instructed Samuel to avoid Saul's Fury by the accustomed cautions ways of the World and therefore Men neglecting of Prayer to God and exercise of that Wisdom he hath indued the Mind of Man with for his preservation are stupified with the Opinion of Fate c. Iesse having presented all his Sons but David to Samuel he only whom the Father neglected is chosen of God and anointed by Samuel The Philistins in the mean time considering how Saul's Power increased while they sat still and doubting least Israel might become able to revenge themselves if they were suffer'd thus to encrease thought it good to offer a new Check presuming of their own Abilities and former Successes as for late Disasters they might suppose the one was by a casual Tempest and the last by a mistaken Alarum which wrought needless fear and put the Army to Rout. Having therefore taken the Field Encamping near Saul's Army and both keeping their ground of advantage they maintained some Skirmishes not joining in gross which the Philistins had cause to fear considering their late Success and thereupon perhaps provoked to single Combat with their Giant upon Condition of a general subjection of the vanquished Nation in their Champion This gave occasion to David now to make a famous entrance into the publick notice of the People with the success Recorded in Scripture By this Victory David fell under the heavy displeasure of Saul by reason of his great Merits whereupon he became a Convert Tyrant faithless to Men and irreligious to God as the History sheweth which brought him to the end we read of § 6. Of such as lived with Samuel and Saul § Aeneas Sylvius began to Reign over the Latins in Alba about the 11th year of Samuel and Reigned Thirty one years The same year Dorcillus began in Assyria being the Thirty first King and Reigned Forty years The Dores which came with Heraclides obtained Peloponnesus in this Age. Here follows the Account of the First Planters of Greece from Iopetus Father of Prometheus Father of Deucalion and Pyrrha King and Queen of Thessaly of whom came Helen Father of Xuthus Dorus and Aeolus Xuthus fled to Erictheus of Athens of whose Daughter came Achaeus and Ion. Achaeus for a slaughter fled to Laconia in Peloponnesus and gave it his Name and after recovered Thessaly Ion was made Governour of Attica which he brought into a civil Course and Planted Syciona then called Aegiolio and Married Helice the Kings Daughter of whom also the Land took Name Dorus second Son of Helen Planted about Parnassus and Lacedemon but when the Heraclides Nephews of Hercules Invaded Peloponnesus the Dores assisting they expelled the Achaeans in Laconia who seeking Habitation drove out the Ionians who failed into Asia on whose West Coast they Built Twelve Cities Hercules Ancestor of the Heraclides and his Twelve Labours of Fabulous Poets rehearsed Sure it is Greece was oblig'd to him for freeing it from many Tyrants and Thieves which oppressed the Land in the Reign of Euristheus who employed him therein being Jealous of him for his Virtue and Descent from Perseus His Children after his Death fled to the Athenians who assisted them against Euristheus whom they slew but upon the death of Hillus Son of Hercules slain in Combat by Echenus King of Tegeates in Arcadia who assisted Atreus Successor of Euristheus they were to leave the Country for one Hundred years now expired when they returned under Aristodemus when Tisamenus was King of Achaea § 7. Homer the Poet seemed to live about this time but the diversity of Mens Opinions and curiosity about this Age is so Ridiculous that I would not offend the Reader therewith But to shew the uncertainty of Historians as well in
remembers many Fâ—unders of the City but Livie will have it the Work of Romulus c. Of his Begetting Birth and Education Plutarch saith it is probable that Amulius came armed to Rhea which occasioned the Tale of Marce as the Nursing the Children by some Harlot occasioned the Tale of a Woolf for Harlots of old were called Wolves Halicarnassus tells us of the like Reports they have of Cyrus's Nursing by a Bitch and Semiramis by Birds So of his End they say he was taken away in a storm of Thunder c. Which was probably the fury of the Senators remembred also by Livie But as many Authors speak of great Lightning and Thunder that day so it may be he was slain by it as was Anastasius the Emperor and Emperor Carus Halicarnassus saith they caus'd it to be remembred nearest to Truth which say his Citizens slew him c. Plutarch reports of his Conquests of a few Miles about him not worth the speaking of if the following Greatness of Rome had not caus'd it to be remembred He Reign'd 37 Years first alone then with Tatius and after his death single 'till he was slain Numa a Man unknown to Romulus succeeded more Priest-like c. well resembling Rome's latter days which falling from Emperors Command into subjection of a Prelate swelling by degres from a Sheep-Hook to a Sword wherewith Victorious to excessive Magnificence it fell to Luxury and being unfortunate in defensive War is driven again to betake himself to the Crosier-Staff CHAP. XXI Of Hezechiah and his Contemporaries § 1. HEzechiah at 25 Years old succeeded about the end of Achaz 14 Years in the 3 d of Hosea King of Israel and Reigned 29 Years His first Work testified his Pious Zeal in opening the Temple shut up by his ungracious Father and reformed Religion c. Comp. 2 Chron. 29 and 30. with 2 Kings 18. It is uncertain whether he did this in his Father's time or in his sole Government as I rather think He invited also the Ten Tribes to the Passover which the Generality scorned In the fourth Year of Hezekiah the Israelites which scorned to Celebrate their Deliverance out of Egypt fell into a new Servitude wherein they continued to this day For Salmanasser Son of Tyglath hearing that Hosea King of Israel practised with Soe King of Egypt against him came and after Three Years Siege won Samaria and carried the Ten Tribes into Assyria and Media and placed others in the Land These later Assyrian and Persian Kings following are the first we find mentioned both in Profane and Sacred Books and therefore must serve to joyn the times of the old World with that following seeing none but Prophets have written otherwise than Fabulous of former Times True it is that Cyrus and some Persian Kings bear the same Name in Scripture and Profane Stories but of others the diversity of Names have bred question of the Persons as whether Salmanasser in Scripture be Nabonasser in Ptolomy and Nebuchadnezzar be Nabopolassar both which points Bucholcerus out of good Mathematick Observations hath well proved for by them it appears that from Nâ—bonasser to Chrisâ— were Seven Hundred Forty six years which agrees also to Salmanassar which is proved for that the space between Merdocenpadus and Nabonassar is found the same between Merodach who was Mardocenpadus and Salmanassar That as from the destruction of Samaria to that of Ierusalem are 133 years so in Ptolomy the same time is found between Nabonassar and Nabopolassar the Eighth year differing in Ptolomy being before the winning of Samaria spent in his Reign § 2. Hezekiah having denyed the Tribute to Senacherib which had been Covenanted with Tiglath his Grandfather acknowledged his Fault and laboured to purchase his Peace by Three Thousand Talents of Silver and Thirty of Gold by Senacherib's intending to set down the Conditions with his Sword sent from Lachish where he lay and invested Ierusalem c. where Vengeance from Heaven destroyed so many Thousands for their Master's Blasphemy who also drunk a Cup of the Wrath of God from his own Sons § 3. Hezechiah his Sickness Prayer Recovery and Sign thereof 2 Kings 20. His Lamentation saith Ierom was for want of a Son of whom the Messias might spring His entertaining the Babylonian Embassadors and vain-glory therein reproved Yet according to Humane Reason he thought fit to entertain them familiarly coming to Congratulate his Recovery with Presents being one which had weakened the Assyrian his greatest Enemy by seizing upon the Kingdom of Babylon of which he had been Lieutenant under Senacherib whose Son weak in Understanding and molested by his Elder Brethren gave him opportunity to Usurp Babylon as Belochus had dealt with Sardanapalus Thus Belochus Forty Eight years Tiglath Pilesar Twenty Seven Salmanassar Ten Senacherib Seven Esarhaddon Ten the Three last being Contemporaries with Hezechiah § 4. Hezechiah's Contemporaries in Media after Arabaces and Sosarmus according to Eusebius are Medidus Forty years Cordiceas Fifteen Years Then followed Deioces Fifty four Phraortes Twenty four Cyaxares Thirty two Astyages Thirty Eight and Cyaxares Two according to Xenophon Metasthenes in Anneus and Diodorus out of Ctesias differ much from Eusebius whom Mercator would fain reconcile but in vain In Athens Four of the Four Ten year Governours In Lidea Candaulus slain by Gyges who succeeded CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah § 1. THE Egyptians at this time contending with the Assyrians about Sovereignty giveth the occasion to consider the state of the Country which had flourished so long Of Cham Osiris and Orus and the rest with their Dynasties 'till Israel came out of Egypt we have heard and are to proceed from thence not regarding the idle Catalogue of Names of Kings set out by Herodotus and Dyodorus from the Mouths of the Egyptian Priests who for the most part were but Vice-Roys or Stewards like Ioseph and such as were the Soldans in later Ages For First we may not believe that the number of Generations we speak of were above Eighty from Abraham to the Persian Empire whereas we know there were but Forty two Generations to our Saviour Christ especially considering many of them were of about Forty years continuance we must therefore proportion the number to that of other Countries according to the time and esteem the rest but Regents who yet Ruled as Kings of which sort there might be many as may be well conceived in Reading W. Arch-Bishop of Tyre who sheweth that there was the Caleph Elhadech supream over Egypt under whom the Soldans ruled as Kings making War and Peace yea supplanting one another without the Calephs privity as fell out under Elhadech under whom San. was Soldan and yet chased away by Dagon and upon his death recovered again without the great Caleph's Hand who in the mean time only attended his state and delights in his Pallace which manner of Ruling by Vice-Roys the Author judgeth to have been from the Ancient Kings of Egypt § 2. It were
twenty seven days after with lamentable effect § 9. The Athenians after this loss had also their Subjects abroad rebellious and which recovered their long lost Liberty At home also the principal Citizens wearied with the Peoples Insolency changed the Government procuring the Captains abroad to set up an Aristocracy in the Towns of their Confederacy as four hundred usurped it at home But the Army at Samos disliked that usurpation and Alcibiades who was fâ—ed from the Lacedemonians who had honour'd him much till his Virtue had bred him Envy and was with Tissaphernes the Persian Vice-Roy with whom he was grown into such Favour as he persuaded him to stay his Favour to the Lacedemonians Yet his Revocation was not confirmed at Athens 'till the four hundred wearied with the Troubles of the Times and not prevailing with Sparta for Peace resigned their Authority to Five thousand which had been their Assistants who presently agreed to the revocation of him and his Companions § 10. After this Alcibiades joining with the Athenian Fleet after an Overthrow of the Lacedemonian Fleet commanded by Mindarus took Cyzicus Perinthus Chalcedon Bizantium and with this Honour returned to Athens where he was made High-Admiral But upon a loss of a great part of his Fleet by his Lieutenant in his Absence fighting contrary to his Commandment he was again forced to banish himself to a greater loss to Athens than before § 11. After this also the Athenians Ships in a discomfiture were forced into the Haven of Mytelene where they were beset so that Athens were compelled to Man all their Vessels to relieve them at Argamusae yet the ten Captains which had the Victory of the Lacedemonians were condemned at Athens unjustly as after appeared § 12. Lysander with the Peloponesian Fleet Besieged Lapsacus the Athenian Fleet of an hundred Eighty Sail came too late to relieve it and then put in at Sestos and after at Aeges-Potamos from whence they daily braved Lysander not a League off and return to Ages Potamos from whence the Men used to go by Land to Sestos leaving the Ships Alcibiades lived near and saw their negligent endangering the Ships and gave them warning which they regarded not so Lysander came suddainly on them and overthrew them went to Athens with Pausanias and Agis the Two Kings of Sparta and Summoned the City which refused 'till Famin Forced which fell on them by the Lacedemonians taking the Islands from them which used to relieve them So all her Subject Cities are freed the Wall to the Port cast down her Government restrained to her own Territories and she to use but Twelve Ships and to follow Sparta in all Wars And so ended the Peloponesian War after twenty seven years Her only hope of Recovery was in Alcibiades whose death the Lacedemonians procured Lacedemon abusing this good Success grew Odious so that many Cities of Greece combined against her and Thebes under the leading of Epaminondas who trained up Philip of Macedonia gave her a great Foil CHAP. IX Matters concurring with this War and a while after § 1. PERSIA after had Artaxerxes Xerxes the Second and after him Sogdianus his Brother who seem to be the Sons of Hester but one year whom Darius Notbus succeeded who slew Sogdianus as he had his Brother Xerxes He reigned Nineteen years Amyrtaeus an Egyptian Allyed himself with Greece overthrew the Persian Garrisons in Egypt and Reigned while Darius assisting the Lacedemonians with Money by the Overthrow of Athens recover'd what had been lost in Asia the lesser over which he made Cyrus his younger Son Lieutenant but upon some dislike intended to have dealt sharply with him had not Death prevented § 2. Athens after her Overthrow had Thirty Governours called Tyrants chosen to execute the Law with supreme Authority These contriving to retain that Power put certain Seditious Fellows to death without Law which all Men approved considering their Lewdness but not that it might prove their own case if their Governours please to call them Seditious as it fell out For their Thirty sent to Lacedemon to desire a Garrison pretending to cut off the Seditious but by entertaining the Captain to his liking they grew bold with the Chief Citizens and shed much Blood Theramenes one of them shewing his dislike after they had chosen Three thousand Citizens of their liking to assist in the Government with priviledge in question of Death to be tryed by Law and not at Commandment of the Thirty they call Theramenes in question as without the priviledge and put him to death § 3. After this the Tyrants Out-rage made many good Citizens fly to Thebes where Thrasybulus and about Seventy more resolve to free Athens of the Tyrants and take Phyla a strong place in the Territory of Athens which the Tyrants in vain sought to recover their strength encreasing to a Thousand with which they got Pyraeus the Suburbs of Athens on the Port and slew Seventy of the Three Thousand which came to expect them and Critias the chief Tyrant The Tyrants send for Aid to Sparta and Lysander is sent with Forces and Pausanias followed not to overthrow Thrasybulus but after some shew to work Peace which he did sending the Thirty and others that were the cause of the Tumult to Sparta CHAP. X. Cyrus the Younger his Expedition into Persia. § 1. ARtaxerxes Mnemon or the mindful succeeded in Persia Established by his Father who also at his Mother Parasali's earnest intreaty pardoned his Brother Cyrus's aspiring and Established him Vice-Roy in Lydia and those parts § 2. Cyrus after such Disgrace from his Brother who spared his Life only for his Mothers importunity of whose Favour he presumed knowing also the Affections of his People and presuming upon the Lacedemonians formerly aided by him thought his Interest to the Crown worth prosecuting He sends to Sparta which commands their Admiral to be at his command he seized on some Towns subject to Tissaphernes furnished the Grecian Captains with Money to List Souldiers to be at his Command then making a shew of Besieging Miletus he calls over his Grecian Forces and suddainly set forward toward Persia. § 3. Tissaphernes posting to the Court his News caus'd great Exclamations and Fear in which the King gathered his Army of Nine hundred Thousand with which yet he durst not venture the Tryal The Greeks which follow Cyrus are with difficulty allured over Euphrates c. but being over resolved to find out Artaxerxes who was retiring to the utmost Border of his Kingdom had not Teribazus one of his Captains dissuaded him § 4. Cyrus with his Army of One hundred thousand drawing toward his Brother who had Intrenched Forty Miles in Length Thirty Foot broad and Eighteen deep and yet left it at length when he thought he had been fled was forced suddenly to Arm. The Greeks not used to incounter such Multitudes began to distrust their own Courage yet upon the On-set found they had to do with so many contemptible Cowards
to molest the King This Offer was not accepted so War is continued in Asia against Strutha the King's Lieutenant there and in Greece among themselves but by means of Antalcidas the King they made Peace § 10. Olynthus a strong City in Thrace grew formidable to their Neighbours having subjected divers Cities which made the rest even in Macedon to crave aid of Lacedemon which brought it under and in their way Thebes is surprized by Treason § 11. Thebes recovered by a Plot layed by certain Banished Citizens and Phylladas a Scribe of the Town who at a Feast promising to bring them the Choice Women of the Town to the Embraces of the Attenders brought the Banish'd in Womens Attire being come secretly who slew them and freed the City CHAP. XII Thebes Flourished from the Battle of Leuctra to that of Mantinaea § 1. THE Lacedemonians were Stout and Grave in all Proceedings but dishonourable in neglecting all Respects which hinder'd the Commodity of Sparta which often brought them shame and loss when the execution was committed to weak conceited Men. Thus Thebes began to hold them hard to it and Athens began to surround Peloponesus with their Navy But Athens seeing Thebes to incroach on her weak Neighbours of which some were Dependents on them whom yet they could not succour being engaged in such Wars resolve to make Peace in Greece according to the Form Antalcidas brought from Persia. The Thebans being sent to agree and meet at Sparta with the rest where being required to subscribe to the freedom of the Boeotians Epaminondas required that Sparta should do the same for Laconia being no more subject to Sparta than Boeotia to Thebes Agesilaus hating Thebes did thereupon passionately dash the name of Thebes out of the League and in hast sent Cleombrotus one of their Kings with all his Power who was slain at Leuctra and the Flower of the Army after which loss Sparta never recover'd it self but Thebes grew to such Command that in a short time they brought Seventy Thousand strong to the Gates of Sparta § 2. The Athenians taking upon them to manage the Peace calling the Deputies of all the Confederated Estates conclude the general Liberty of all Towns small and great The Mantuans hereupon build their Town which Sparta had forced them to demolish and allie themselves with such Arcadian Towns as most hated Sparta But by a Faction among the Arcadians the Lacedemonians are called in and Agesilaus led them but effected little Epaminandos of Thebes assisted with divers other Countries which followed Thebes joyning with the Arcadians ravag'd Laconia where since the Dorians entred Six Hundred past where never Enemies set foot yet durst not the Lacedemonians come out of Sparta to succour it so he re-built Messene long ago destroyed by Sparta calling home the old Inhabitants § 3. Sparta after this required no more the leading of the Army or other Precedency only the Athenians yielded them the Leading by Land every Five Days successively with them a conclusion of vain Ambition as the next Invasion of Peloponesus shewed And this Example bred the like emulation in the Arcadians who thereupon will have their turn to lead with the Thebans which Insolency bred suspicion in the Thebans and Hatred in the rest so that in the next Enterprize of the Spartans upon them their Conceits overthrew them § 4. The Arcadians misfortune rejoyced the Thebans as without whose aid Enterprizes proved ill and by whom the Lacedemonians were kept under the Thessalians were protected and the Macedonian quarrels so moderated that Philip Son of Amyntas was committed to them as an Hostage In this Reputation little short of a general Command of all Greece they sent Famous Pelopidas to Artaxerxes for his Alliance which he granted rejecting the contrary Suits of the other Grecian States who had been very incommodious to him and his Predecessors where Thebes had always shewed good affection to Persia. Besides as they were no Seamen and so the less to be doubted in Asia so their strength might secure him against the rest who now might much molest him in the Revolt of all his Maritime Provinces by sending them aid without which he easily reduced them for the time set by Divine Providence for the Persians Fall was not yet come The Thebans thus made Protectors of the common Peace by the King yet got nothing the other Estates refusing § 5. Thebes being grown by the mutual envy of Athens and Sparta which being brought low are glad to combine against her all the other Estates of Greece are divided between them The Arcadians had renounced the Lacedemonians their old Leaders and are become doubtful Adherents to the Thebans without whose consent they had made Peace with the Athenians Epaminondas therefore with the Thebans thought to invade Peloponesus before the Arcadians turned Enemies and while Corinth in their way stood Neutral and the Arcadians were yet in disorder and had sent to Thebes to complain of the Captains in Tegea This Complaint was answered That their Peace with Athens was the Cause but Epaminondas would come by them and prove their Fidelity by their aid in his intended War The Arcadians amaz'd at this Answer send to Athens for help and to Sparta offering to help against the Invasion who kindly accepted it not standing upon point of Leading § 6. Epaminondas besides great Forces raised out of other parts of Greece had all the strength the Argives and Messenians could make and while he stayed at Nemia intercepted Intelligence that the Athenian Forces which he meant to encounter would come by Sea Thereupon he decamp'd and march'd to Tegea who with the most of Arcadia declare themselves his The common Opinion was that Epaminondas would first attempt the revolted Arcadians therefore the Lacedemonian Captains fortifie Mantinaea and send for Agesilaus from Sparta with the small Forces that were there so that Epaminondas with speed and secrecy marching to Sparta had surpriz'd it had not Agesilaus returned with precipitation upon Intelligence by an unknown Fellow Epaminondas disappointed of this hope is presented with another conceiving the Mantineans now fearing no danger would disperse themselves abroad in the Fields about their Harvest and thereupon sent his Horsemen before to interrupt them But the Athenians coming thither think to meet their Confederates rescued the distressed Mantineans in the Fields and presently after came all the Boeotians Power and the Lacedemonians and their Friends were at hand § 7. Epaminondas failing in both these Attempts to prevent the decay of the Terrour of his Name in Peloponesus resolved to check their Courage in the first growth and to leave a Memorable Character of this Expedition Having therefore warned his Men to prepare to fight for the Sovereignty of all Greece he made shew to the Enemy by intrenching to decline them so to allay their heat and breed security wherein he might suddenly strike amazement in them by breaking in as it hapned The Thebans had the
Souldiers but was taken and slain in Greece to Alexander's great Joy Great discontentment grew in his Army knowing his purpose to send his decay'd Souldiers to Macedon and to detain the rest whom he labour'd to pacify in vain 'till their Passions were evaporated when the inconsiderate Multitude may be led as a Whale with a twined Thread is drawn to Land after some tumbling Craterus is sent with those which were Licensed to return and made Lieutenant of Macedon Thrace and Thessaly which place Antipater now sent for by the King had held with great Fidelity Antipater could see no reason of his removal but a disposition in the King to send him after Parmenio With this Antipater the King for all his great courage had no great Appetite to grapple for Jealous Princes do not always stand in doubt of every ill affected though Valiant Man but where there is a Kingly Courage compounded of Hardiness and Understanding this is often so fearful to Kings as they take leave both of Law and Religion to free themselves of such Alexander after this went to Media to set things in Order where Hephestion his greatest Favourite dyed on whose Monument he bestowed Twelve thousand Talents The King took Methods to make all Men weary of his Government seeing Cruelty is more fearful than any Adventure that can be made against it Antipater therefore came not nor sent any Excuse but free'd himself by his Sons Cassander Philip and Lollaus who waited on the King's Cup. These at a drinking Feast in a Carouse in Hercules's Cup gave him a Draught of Drink stronger than Hercules himself so he quitted the World within a few days Princes seldom find advantage by making their Ministers over-great and thereby suspicious to themselves For he which doth not acknowledge Fidelity to be a Debt but that Kings ought to purchase it of their Vassals will never please himself with the Price given only the Restorative indeed that strengthens it is the Goodness and Vertue of the Prince and his Liberality makes it more diligent Antipater had Govern'd two or three Kingdoms Twelve years and peradventure knew not to play another part as Caesar which forgot the Art of Obedience after long governing the Gauls § 23. Alexander's Cruelty and Pride is inexcusable his Drunkenness no less Augustine justly derided his lamenting want of Employment when he should have no more to Conquer as if well to Govern the Conquered would not sufficiently busie his Brain His Valour a Thousand in his Army Matched His Liberality Seneca Taxeth and his Speech about a Kings gift is Foolish Compared with other troublers of the World Caesar and others after more glorious for he never undertook Warlike Nations CHAP. III. Aridaeus his Reign after Alexander ALexander in his stubborn Pride refused to establish any Successor esteeming none Worthy and the greatest Ambition of his Followers Learned of their Master to endure no Equals a Lesson soon taken out by Spirits reflecting upon their own Worth wanting the Reverence of a greater Object Thus the Question of the Succession became difficult Alexander having no Issue but by Barsinoe a Persian and Roxane of mean Condition both excepted against as of Conquered Nations Ptolomy the Son of Philip who gave his Mother Barsinoe great with Child to Lagus is of opinion the Rule should rest in the Captains to order it by Voices Aristonus another Captain propounded Perdicas as designed Successor by Alexander who at the point of death left his Kingdom to the worthiest and delivered his Ring to him who had succeeded his Favourite Hephestion in Favour and Place he being urged by many to take the Royal Estate upon him not content with the Souldiers acclamation of a counterfeit Modesty put it off looking that every one of the Princes would intreat him that so his Acceptance might be the less Envied But as he which feigns a sleep may be eaten with a Wolf so Meleager his Enemy took advantage of his Irresolution and acted against him concluded that whoever were Heir to the Crown the Souldiers ought to Inherit the Treasure to that which he invited them who were nothing backward in sharing it § 2. Aridaeus a Natural Brother of Alexander in this Uproar is named by some one liked by many and produced and commended by Meleager to the Army which changeth his Name to Philip investeth him in Alexander's Robes and proclaims him King contrary to the Mind of many of the Nobles who yet by the intercession of the Ancient Captains are reconciled though neither side meant faithfully For Meleager now Governing the King who was no wiser than Alexander's Chair in which he fate attempted to kill Perdicas who understanding of their coming which are sent to do it rebuked them with such Gravity that they departed honester than they came The Camp hearing of this Attempt fell into an Uproar which the King their Creature could not appease 'till offered to resign unto them so upon the King's motion after sundry Embassies between him and his Nobles Meleager is joined with Leonatus and Perdicas in Government of the Army so much Love is protested where none is meant For presently after upon Rumors against Perdicas purposely raised as if they proceeded from Meleager to make him guilty of seditious Rumours if he should give way thereto He to prevent the danger persuades Perdicas to a general Muster for cleansing the Army by punishing seditious Persons and other Offenders not in the least intending his special Friends and such as followed him when he disturbed the Election of a King by calling away Souldiers to the sharing of the Treasure The manner of this Muster is solemn having the Horsemen among whom the King must ride the Elephants the Macedonian Foot and Mercenaries set in Batalia in distinct parties so as to skirmish by way of Exercise The Macedonian Pikes called the Phalanx led by Meleager is placed at disadvantage and so charged by the Horse-men and Elephants as afforded no jesting and the King being now in Perdicas's possession must command to be delivered to death such of the Infantry as Perdicas required Thus Three hundred of Meleager's Friends and Followers are cast to the Elephants to be slain and Meleager flying to a Temple for Sanctuary having too late discovered the Design was there also slain The Princes held a new Counsel divide the Provinces among themselves leave Aridaeus the Office of a Visitor and Perdicas his Protector and Commander of his Forces and gave Aridaeus a Captain the Charge to bury the Corps of Alexander at Alexandria in Egypt Alexander in his life time knowing the factious quality of the Greeks had commanded that all the banished should be restored thinking by them to have a sure Party in every City but by that proud Injunction contrary to their Laws lost the Hearts of the rest who esteemed it a beginning of open Tyranny The Athenians and Aetolians who oppos'd this Decree upon Alexander's Death Proclaim War against the Macedonians and
Scipio took it who carried off One Million Four Hundred and Ten Thousand Pounds besides the Souldiers part It was oft Rebuilt and Invincible while it Commanded the Sea which almost compass'd it 't was Twenty Miles in Circuit and a treble Wall Without the Walls and between them were Streets with Vaults for Three Hundred Elephants and Stables for Four Thousand Horse with room for Provender and Lodging for the Horse-Men and Twenty Thousand Foot which never troubled the City as it is at this day in China The Castle of Beyrsa in the South-side was two Miles and a half in compass with an Arsenal under which the Ships and Gallies did Ride The Form of the Common-Wealth was like that of Sparta having Titular Kings and Aristocratical Senators but in latter times the People usurpt too much which confusion in Government with their too great trust to Mercenaries together with Avarice and Cruelty occasion'd their ruine They exacted from their Vassals one half of the Fruits of the Earth besides Tributes made merciless Officers by exactions to augment the Treasure and put to death without Mercy him who offended ignorantly nay even their Captains upon ill Success which made them often desperately to hazard all The Year after Tarquin's expulsion Rome sought a League with Carthage agreed the Romans should Trade in no part of Africk but no Haven in Italy to be shut against Carthage c. Their Care was to keep the Romans in continual War in Italy that Sicily destitute of aid from thence might more easily be brought under by them This made them offer Succours to Rome against Pyrrhus to prevent his interrupting their attempts in Sicily at which time the League was renewed especially against Pyrrhus who then defeated the purposes of Carthage for that time Some time before a Troop of Campanian Souldiers who had served under Agathâ—cles and were entertained in Messana as Friends with persidious Cruelty slew those that had trusted them and possessed their Cities Wives Lands and Goods and called themselves Mamertines who afterwards molested the Neighbours but were opposed by the Syracusians and Besieged But unable to hold out and being divided one side resolves to give themselves to Carthage the other to Rome The Carthaginians readily lay hold of the Offer send Forces and had the Castle surrendred But the contrary Faction drawing that side to agreement expelled the Captain for which he was Crucified at home as a Coward and Traytor Carthage hereupon besieges Messana and the Syracusians joyn with them by Sea and Land while Appius Claudius the Roman Consul with an Army passing the Streights of Sicily by Night put himself into Messana sending to the Carthaginians and Hierom King of Syracuse requiring them to depart from their Confederacy which Message being slighted occasion'd the Punick War § 2. Rome's undertaking the defence of Rhegium with a Legion of Four Thousand Roman Souldiers whom they had requested for their defence against Pyrrhus and the Carthaginians prov'd basely treacherous for these Confederating with the Mamertines plunder the City even as the Mamertines had formerly done at Messana The Romans upon Complaint hereof sent Forces which vanquished them and put all to death restoring Rhegium to its former Liberty to the high commendation of their Justice but when the Mamertines came to be consider'd tho' they had given example and aid to their Legion at Rhegium yet Profit prevailed against Justice which they used to pretend and their care to hinder Carthages further footing in Sicily persuaded them to defer the punishment of the Villains whose Fellows they had destroyed Appius Claudius being sent unto them of Messana sally'd out on that side Hierom kept and worsted him and the Syracusians who had foolishly joyned with Carthage against whom they must have sought aid at Rome if Messana had been won Hierom knowing such another Bargain would have made him Bankrupt departed and the next day the Carthaginians succeeded so ill that they left Camp and Country to the Romans who Confederated with this Nest of Thieves and Murderers with whom no League was just § 3. Sicily's Dominion is now become the Prize for which Rome and Carthage contend concerning which Island the general Opinion of Antiquity is that it was a Demy Island adjoyning to Italy near Rhegium and separated by Tempests others say by Earthquakes others by Tides It excells all the Islands of the Midland Sea in bigness and fertility and is formed like the Greek Δ Delta or a Triangle For Fertility Cicero calls it the Granary of the Commonwealth and Nurse of the vulgar sort furnishing their greatest Armies with Leather Apparel and Corn. About Leordium and other parts Wheat groweth of it self It had Six Colonies and Sixty Cities it bred Archimedes the Mathematician Euclid the Geometrician Empedocles the Philosopher and Diodorus the Historian It was Peopled by Sicans out of Spain after the first Inhabitants which were Giants and the Sicans were cast out by the Siculi from Italy driven out from the place in which Rome stands by the Pelasgi from these Siculi it beareth the name After them came the Morgetes out of Italy who were expelled by the Oznotrians c. The Trojans came after and then the Phenicians which built Parormus or Palmero The report of Giants which first Inhabited the Island I could reject did not Moses make us know that such were the first Planters of the Countries about Israel and did not other Authors confirm it as Augustine Tertullian Procopius Isidore Nicephorus Pliny Diodorus c. yea Vespusius in his second Navigation into America saw the like there And I wonder at this the less seeing the same is written of all Nations that is written of one touching their simplicity of Life mean Sustenance poor Cottages Cloathing of Skins Hunting Arms manner of Boats in all which as we are altered from the first Simplicity to extream Curiosity and excess in Building Diet Apparel so have we as monstrous Persons for Oppression and all Vices all which as Time bred and increased so shall it overthrow all Flesh at last The Greeks Plantation in Sicily was by Theocles who being driven upon it by an East Wind at his return reported to the Athenians the excellency of the place and upon their neglect persuaded the Chalcidians that were needy and industrious who sent a Colony of Eubaeans which built Naxus Archias with his Corinthians followed and built a part of that which was after called Syracuse adding three other parts as they encreased and possessing most of the Sea-Coast forced the Siculi into the Mountains at Trinacia The Chalcidians also got Leontium Catana and Hybla which they called Megara as the Rhodians and Cretians did Gala and their Postedid built Agrigentum The Syracusans also built Arra Casemeria Camerina Enna c. as the Messanians took Zancle changing the Name Agrigentium from popular Government was by Phaleris brought to Tyranny who after Thirty One Years was stoned to death and their liberty was recovered 'till
called home take a Ransom of the Epirots for the Town and Prisoners and returned home Rome sent to Teuta requiring satisfaction for the Italian Merchants but she refused and answered Kings use not to forbid their Subjects to get by Sea what they can And when one of the Roman Ambassadors replied That their manner was to revenge such private injuries and would teach her to reform her Kingly manner without all regard of the common Law of Nations she slew him The Romans to revenge this injury who can take no satisfaction but with the Sword sent an Army by Sea and another by Land Touching the Law of Nations concerning Ambassadors it seems grounded on this that seeing without Mediation there would never be an end of War it was thought equal to all Nations by light of Nature that Ambassadors should pass safely between Enemies yet if any State lay hand upon their Enemies Embassador not sent to them but to solicite a third Nation against them or shall practise against the Person of the Prince to whom he is sent this Law will fail him Teuta sends out a great Fleet Commanded by Demetrius Pharos of which part took Corcyra an Island in the Adriatique the other Besieged Dyrracticum when the Queen called home Demetrius I know not why but so as he chose rather to yield Corcyra to the Roman Consul and the Illyrian Garrison and went with him to Appolonia not far off which Pintus calls Sissopolis where the other Consul with Land Forces met and went to Durazzo and rais'd the Siege From thence they enter Illyrium and put the Queen to flight to Rison and prosecute the War force her to seek for Peace to quit the better part of Illyrium which they commit to Demetrius and to pay Tribute for the rest to Rome § 8. Rome took the next Arms against the Gauls in Lumbardy a fierce unadvised People more then Men at the first onset but less than Women after by whom Italy had many Alarms but few Wars especially when Rome had to do with other great Enemies as Pyrrhus or Carthage when they might have said little to it The Romans three Years before Pyrrhus had set upon the Gauls at home upon a slaughter in the Senones a Tribe of Gauls made of Lucius Coecilus and his Army at Arretium in Hetruria and had expelled the Senones and placed a Colony of Romans This made all the Tribes of the Gauls with those which dwelt on both sides of the Alps to enter into League to prevent their own expulsion the Insubrians Inhabited the Dutchy of Milan c. who also hired the Gessates on Rodanus and made an Army of fifty Thousand Foot and twenty Thousand Horse all choice Men besides the Seno-Galli before expelled The Cenonians and Venetians adhere to Rome and which upon that occasion caused a view of all their own and Allies Forces to be taken set down by Polybius where may be seen the Power of Rome in those days Seven hundred Thousand Foot and seventy Thousand Horse But all Heads are not fit for Helmets The one Consul with his part of the Army which was four Legions and thirty thousand Foot of the Allies and two thousand Horse met them in Tuscany where by a plain stratagem of shew to flag the Gauls they slew six thousand but upon the coming of Lucius Emilius the other Consul they resolve upon Retreats This had been Advantagious before the Enemy had been in Sight but extreme dangerous in head of the Enemy and all in Fear as the French found at Naples and the Gauls now who being follow'd by one Consul and met by another is forced and lost forty thousand and their Courage and in a short time all they had in Italy Thus the Romans spent twenty Three Years Peace with Carthage CHAP. III. Of the Second Punick War § 1. HAnnibal about twenty six Years old chosen General of the Carthaginian Forces in Spain is envied by Hanno and his Party neither being able to Tax the Virtue of their Enemies nor recommend themselves by any Service to the Common-Wealth except in dissuading from War and cautious Advice not to provoke the Romans But the Senate and People who knew the Romans Oath was no Security to Carthage unless she would become their Subject did the more highly esteem him as Aâ—ilcar his Father who had saved them Knowing therefore the Peace continu'd but 'till Rome could find Advantage they wished the beginning of the War rather while their State was in good Condition than to stay 'till being fallen into distress the Enemy should begin it Hannibal well understood this as also the advantage in getting the start and therefore thought long 'till he was dealing with them before they should have notice of his purpose which could not be conceal'd if once he came to Action besides the hinderance by slow and timerous proceeding therein Before therefore he would provoke the Romans by attempting Saguntum he wisely ended the Conquest of all that lay between as the Olcades near Tagus and Vaccai in Old Castile where they took Salamanca and Arbuâ—ala But the Spring following all that had escaped joyning with the Toletans to the number of One Hundred Thousand able Men stayed Hannibal on the Banks of Tagus which runneth by Lysbourn supposing his accustom'd Courage would now neglect discretion as he seemed to do at other times But he that is as a Chrystal for every Eye to see through makes himself an Ass for every Man to ride or drive whereas wise and honest Men in that which is Just and Virtuous are like Coffers with double Bottoms which shew not all at once Before he was General he was of all Men the most venturous which doth not always become a General and therefore he now dissembles Fear and draweth back from the River as fearing to ford it by that means to draw his Enemies into it But when he saw them pushing disorderly into the swift Stream he turned his Camels to entertain their Landing and pressing in with his Horse above and beneath upon them made a great slaughter which amazed the Spaniards on that side the River of Iberus The Saguntines post their Ambassadors to Rome who prâ—ceed Roman like with deliberation sending Ambassadors to and fro while Hannibal prepareth and found out also a pretence like that which the Romans made use of with the Mamertines for the Turdetani injured by the Saguntines implored his help The Romans were as glad of the Quarrel but were not yet ready and therefore temporize 'till they could raise an Army to remove the Seat of War to Saguntum In the mean time Demetrius Pharius whom the Romans had made their Illyrian King rebelled against whom Aemilius was sent but before his Landing in Illyria Hannibal sat down before Saguntum where by a Sallie made by the Citizens he was dangerously wounded but before it was long he put them all to the Sword many shut themselves in their Houses and then â—ired them Rome
sent T. Manlius who in his Consulship had won the Island with Twenty Two Thousand Foot and Twelve Hundred Horse as their commendable manner was to suport in their Provinces those Men and their Families which had first subdued them Manlius soon after his Arrival in one Day overthrew Hyostius who in his Fatherâ—s absence would needs venture upon the old Soldiers who slew above Thirty Thousand Men. Asdrubal the bold and other Carthaginians came soon after and made Manlius leave Cornus which he had Besieged and go to Calaris where in a Battle he slew Twelve Thousand and took Three Thousand Hyostus Asdâ—ubal and the rest dy'd and the Rebellion ended Sicily also grew troublesome after the Battle at Cannae when old Hierom King Siracuse dying left his Kingdom to Hyeronismus a Grandchild fifteen Years Old under tuition of fifteen Principal Men of which Andronodorus that Married Demarata Daughter of Hiero designing how to be the only Man applyed himself to the King pushing him on to assume the Government wherein he quickly exceeded and turned Tyrant He affected not the Romans as his Father had done despising the present weakness of Rome and casting an Eye upon the prevailing Fortune of Carthage entred League with them upon Condition that Sicily should be his But while he was busie herein his Tyranny produced Treason against his Person which took effect at Leontium where he was slain Andronodorus push'd no by his Wife endeavoured to become Tyrant but finding it yet too â—ard to compass applauded the Peoples liberty and so by them is chosen chief Praetor He â—inding Themistius who Married the Sister of Hieronymus affected as himself as he was also Wiv'd dealt with him and drew him to take his part But being too free in communicating their design 't was discover'd to the Senate so that entring into the Senate both were slain and their Wives also for affecting Royalty Then new Praetors are chosen in their place called Epicides and Hippocrates Born in Carthage but of Syracusan Parents both which Hannibal had used in the League with Hieronymus who being in Office opposed the Roman League But finding the People afraid of Marcellus who also required the City to expel them they stirred up the Leontines to take their Liberty as Syracuse had done for seeing the Tyrant was slain there it was no reason they should remain Subject to Syracuse When Marcellus heard that Leontium revolted from Syracuse he offered his help and won the Town in a day So the two Ringleaders fled to Hebersus but the Citizens were pardoâ—ed tho' the contrary Report bred a mutiny against the Roman Praetors Cruelty among the Syracusan Mercenaries These being led by their Praetors to Herbesus Epicides and Hyppocrates came out with Olive Branches to the Army wherein Six Hundred Creets whom Hannibal had used well took Protection of them and at Megara by a counterfeit Letter of Hyppocrates to Marcellus from Syracuse intreating him to make away their troublesome Mercenaries the Army was in such Uproar that the Praetors fled for Life So the Army was led by Hyppocrates to Syracuse who let him in where he slew whom he lifted set Slaves and Prisoners free as is usually done by Tyrants and thus the two Brethren became Lords of Syracuse Marcellus hearing of the alterations hoping by his success at Leontium to make short work at Syracuse presently Besieged it by Sea and Land omitting no violence and terrour in two or three Assaults but was beaten off not so much by virtue of the Defendents as by the skill of that Noble Mathematician Archimedes who at Hiero at the late King's request framed such Engines of War as did the Romans more mischief than could have been done by Cannon either by Sea or Land for they cast among them great Stones and Timber and by an Iron Graple would take up a Galley by the Prow and shake out all the Men c. Marcellus not knowing which way to turn and loath to give over resolved to famish the Town which was a desperate piece of work considering the large Haven and their Carthaginian Friends who even then had sent Himilco with twenty five Thousand Foot three Thousand Horse and twelve Elephants and Bomilcar with a Fleet had Victualled the City Upon Himilco's Landing many Towns yielded which forced Marcellus to rise with a great part of his Army to prevent him of other places as he did but came too late to Agrigentum which Himilco had gotten Winter coming on Marcellus leaving sufficient Force before Syracuse went to Leontium where Studying how to save his Honour which his leaving the Enterprize would impeach he falls on another Point of Dishonour to prevail by Treason which yet succeeded not In the end a Fugitive out of the City informed him of a Feast to be held to Diana for which there was plenty of Wine Upon this in the Night he scaled the Walls and took some part of the City which was divided by Walls like four or five Cities The Souldiers and Citizens after this offer to compound which Marcellus liketh but once or twice it is interrupted and being at a stand Marcellus in the time of the Treaty corrupted one of the Captains of the Town which was a Mercenary Spaniard by whose Treason he entred the Town and had a Booty no less than that of Carthage In this surprize Archimedes was slain whose death Marcellus lamenteth and Buried him Honourably This under-dealing of Marcellus was not approved at Rome considering Hiero's benefits and that the Citizens when at Liberty favoured Rome but were now over-ruled by Tyrants and MercenaÌ„ries Yet the Senate thought not good to restore the Booty nor give over the the Dominion Nevertheless it was not so well with Syracuse before as after considering their Factions Conspirators Tyrants Murders Banishments c. which yet Justifieth not Rome's injustice more than him which stole the Cup from a sick Person because he was always drinking in it After this all Sicily yeilded except Agrigentum c. held by Epicides Hanno and Mutines a Numidan a Wise and Valiant Man by whom Marcellus was much interrupted yet was his Virtue so envied by Hanno that he took his Charge from him The Numidians were so Incensed with this Indignity to their Country Man that they left Hanno and committed themselves to Mutines disposition who entring into Intelligence with Valentine Levinus the Roman Consul newly come delivered Agrigentum into his hands and assisted in the Conquest of all the rest § 16. Rome wanting Money to pay off the Souldiers and to mannage the War against Hannibal and that in Sicily when Marcellus and Livinus were chosen Consuls they proposed that the Consuls should bring in all the Money they had that the Senators do the like reserving of Gold or other Plate only a Salt-seller a Cup a Ring and some pieces of Art as Toys for their Wives and Children This example the Gentlemen and Commonality followed cheerfully all holding it equal that every private
Condition should run the Fortune of the Common-wealth which if once ruin'd in vain could any particulur Man hope to injoy the benefit of his proper substance Upon this Marcellus was sent against Hannibal and Livinus into Sicily where he finished what Marcellus left Hannibal by long hard Service and wanting Supplies from Carthage grew unable to keep the Field and sufficiently to Garrison his Towns this made him Demolish the places he could not Defend which aleniated many so that Salapia yielded to Marcellus and betrayed a Regiment of Hannibal's best Numidian Horse Hannibal in this strait hears of Masanissa with five Thousand Numidians sent to Spain and Asdrubal's coming to Italy which News made Hannibal then keep what he could and the Romans to recover â—hat they can Hannibal by great Marches came unlook'd for to Fulvius a Roman Praetor at Hardonia slew him Twelve Tribunes or Colonels and seven Thousand more others say thirteen Thousand burnt the Town and removed the Inhabitants Afterwards Marcellus who thought himself the only Roman fit to Incounter Hannibal met with him and lost six Ensigns and three Thousand Men but the next day Marcellus slew eight Thousand Carthaginians lost three Thousand and had so many wounded that he could follow Hannibal no further Quintus Fabius Maximus now Consul besieged Tarentum Garrisoned with Brutians whose Captain in Love with a Woman in the Town was drawn by a Brother of the Woman 's to betray it so all were put to the Sword even the Brutians contrary to his word that it might be thought he won the Town by Assault not by Treason But it saved not his Reputation Claudius Marcellus and C. Crispinus Consuls the next Year whom Hannibal entertained with many Skirmishes declined a set Battle till he might join with his Brother Asdrubal but watching all advantage he took them in his Ambuscade as they came to view a place with small Forces where they intended to Incamp Here Hannibal had placed in Covert some Companies of Numidians who incompassed them slew Marcellus wounded Crispine to Death and giving honourable Funerals to Marcellus sent his Ashes in a Silver Pot to young Marcellus Crispine considering that Hannibal had Marcellus's Ring with which he might deceive some Cities sent warning all about thereof even as a Letter in Marcellus's Name came to Salapia to prepare for his coming thither which Hannibal followed with Romen Fugitives which spake Latin to the Watch and bad them open to the Consul The Gate was opened and when six Hundred Men were entred the Port-Cullis were let down and Hannibal out-witted in his own Stratagem After Crispinus death Claudius Nero and M. Livius succeeded Consuls Of which two Livius had been many Years before condemned and expelled by the People for which indignity he refused the place till with much imporunity he was overcome Thus as Men in fair Weather break the Branches of the Palm Tree under which they shelter themselves in Storms so do the ungrateful with Men of Merit as Themistocles reprov'd the Athenians The two Consuls take their way Livius to meet Asdrubal Nero to follow Hannibal to hinder their Marches knowing the mischievous effects of a Conjunction of two Malevolent Planets It seemed that Livius was too weak to oppose Asdrubal and therefore Nero took six Hundred Foot and one Thousand Horse and in six Days long Marches came to him But Asdrubal perceiving the increase thought to decline a Battle by removing over the River Metaneus had not Nero followed and forced him to it in which Asdrubal was slain and fifty six Thousand with him saith Livy but Polybius numbers but ten Thousand After this Victory Nero hasted to his Camp with Asdrubal's Head which he threw before the Carthaginians and freed some Prisoners which might make Report of the Victory in Hannibal's Camp so to strike a terrour into it Here the Tide began to turn on the Romans side and so increased that no Bounds could contain it and Hannibal's hopes decayed daily From this thirteenth Year of the second Punick War unto the eighteenth in which it ended little is delivered worthy of Memory § 17. Publius Cornelius Scipio after Asdrubal's departure into Italy had to do with Hanno lately sent to succeed Asdrubal whom M. Syllanus shortly after took Prisoner Asdrubal Son of Gesco and Mago left by Asdrubal Son of Amilcar remained to make head who prepared seventy Thousand Foot four Thousand Horse and thirty two Elephants to keep the Field Scipio makes up his Legions with some Auxiliary Spaniards and seeks out the Enemy with forty five Thousand Foot and three Thousand Horse whom he fed well the day before and early next Morn provoked the empty Carthaginians to Battle as Hannibal had served his Father at Trebia Asdrubal wholly depended upon this Battle in which he was worsted whereupon Artanes with his Turdetans fell to the Romans and the other Spaniards being confirmed in the Report of the Carthaginians ill success at Metaurus in Italy never did them good service after Asdrubal perceiving this hasteth toward the Sea but is overtaken by Scipio and charged so furiously that he with seven Thousand took themselves to a strong piece of Ground from whence himself stole by Night to the Gades whither Mago and Masanissa followed and their Army dispersed So all the Towns except three submitted to Scipio who the Year after took them only Astapa was burnt with all the Riches therein by the Inhabitants who slew themselves except such as desperately broke out upon the Romans Camp and so were slain Asdrubal leaves Mago at Gades and Saileth to Syphax King of the Masaesili a People of the Numidians hoping to perswade him to be a Friend to Carthage but Scipio meeting him there drew him to the Roman side which he soon forsook Scipio returns to Spain and having taken Revenge of the three Cities which held out he celebrated Funeral Games at New Carthage for his Father and Unkle which was performed by Duels of Slaves as also such as had Quarrels for Title of Land which Friends could not compose Scipio being dangerously sick is reported Dead whereupon Mandonius and Indibilis two Spanish petty Kings rebel hoping to make themselves great and part of the Roman Army discontented with the little benefit they had got by the Roman Conquest fell to spoil drive away their Colonels choosing two base Leaders Scipio sent new Colonels which with fair words and promise of Pay brought them to Carthagenia where exemplary Justice is done upon the two Leaders and their Accomplices the rest having sworn Obedient receive Pay Mandonius and Indibilis pursued by Scipio submit and are pardoned but their former Power lessened Masanissa promiseth to serve the Romans and Mago by direction from Carthage leaveth Gades when he had Robbed it to go to Hannibal in Italy having Treasure sent to raise an Army So Gades presently yielded to the Romans and Scipio gives up the Province to a Successour and is chosen Consul § 18. Publius Cornelius Scipio
Counsellor left by his Uncle Antigonus to incroach upon the Liberties of the Achaeans who finding it opposed by Aratus he contrives to bring him into disgrace with Philip. The King by the grave admonition of Aratus and the example of Amphitamus an Elean Captain discovers Appelles's Malice who failing of his desire designs to be King himself as the Spider made a Web to take the Swallow which drove the Flies out of the Chimney He enters upon a Plot against the King how to check the good Success of his Proceedings and draws Leontius one of the Targenteers and Megale the King 's chief Secretary into the Conspiracy But the Reward of their Treason was their own Ruin After this a Peace is Solicited by several Embassadours to which Philip condescended by persuasion of Demetrius Pharius who also persuaded him to a League with Hannibal § 3. Philip upon the Peace of Greece prepares for Italy to assist Hannibal against the Romans whom Pharius hated for expelling him out of his Kingdom which they had forgiven him § 4. Philip before his Italian Expedition thought fit in Policy to bring the Greeks Associates under a more absolute Form of Subjection as Apelles had formerly advised but Demetrius Pharius could better observe the Kings humours and without Contention supplanted Aratus with the least Appearance which Apelles could never do by more forceable means In a Faction between the Nobles and Commons of the Messenians Philip was intreated to compose the difference of which occasion he was glad designing to assume the Government into his own hands But being discovered he pretended a Sacrifice in the Castle of Ithome and purposed to seize upon it which Demetrius called a Kingly point not to be neglected for so he should hold the Ox by both his Horns meaning that Ithome and Acrocorinthus were the two Horns of Peloponesus Yet Philip asking Aratus his Judgment he was told by him that in taking that Castle he should lose his strongest Castle which was his Credit upon which he gave over his purpose but with secret disgust of Aratus and his Son Next he seized on Oricum a Town of the Epirots his followers and besieged Apolonia and so instead of setling the Country he kindled that Fire which could never be extinguished till it lâ—id hold on his own Palace After that he Invaded the Messenians with open Force but in vain in which Attempt he lost Demetrius and afterwards out of a Tyrannical humour the worse he sped the more angry he grew against those who seemed not to favour his injurious doings as particularly against Old Aratus and his Son whose Poisoning he procured This was the recompence Aratus got for bringing the Macedonians into Peloponesus in spite of Cleomenes his Countryman and a Temperate Prince § 5. The Achaeans upon Aratus's Death chuse Philopoemen Praetor By whom they were persuaded to cut off their Expences in Bravery of Apparel Houshold-stuff and dainty Fare and bestowed it upon Armies As also he altered their Weapons and manner of Fighting and fitted them for Hand-service At this time Machanidas Lycurgus Tyrant of Lacedemon who entred the Country of the Mantinaeans was Courageously received by Philopoemen and slain with his own hand and four Thousand with him and as many taken Prisoners § 6. Philip having made Peace with the Romans and Aetolians prepares to invade Attalus King of Pergamus Son of Attalus the younger Brother of Philetarus the Eunuch the Treasurer of Lysimachus King of Thrace from whom he fled for fear of his Tyranny and seized upon Pergamus and nine Thousand Talents of Lysimachus's and Reigned twenty Years as Eumenes his Brothers Son did after him twenty two Years and Attalus after him an active Prince Bountiful and Valiant He made use of the Gauls then setled in Asia in that part which is called Galatia and Quarrels with Prusias King of Bithynia whose Ancestors began to Reign some Generations before the Great Alexander § 7. Prusias having Married the Daughter of Philip intreated-him to come over into Asia to Conquer Cios for him and not having any cause of Quarrel he besieged the Town took it omitting no Cruelty to the Inhabitants contrary to his promise made to divers Embassadours from the Rhodians and other Estates to whom he became odious Attalus considering to what end Philip's violent Ambition tended joining to the Rhodians fought with him at Sea where he sustained far greater loss than they and in the end was forced Home they pursuing him § 8. Attalus and the Rhodians solicite Rome against Philip So did Aurelius their Agent in Greece but Rome was not in Condition till Hannibal was Vanquished when the River of Styx was dried up that is when the necessity of Peace with Philip was taken away Attalus and the Rhodians meet the Roman Embassadour while Philip winneth Abidos in Asia § 9. Rome hearing the Calamity of Abidos resembling that of Saguntum could not ground a Quarrel thereon but thinking of another Saguntum at Athens a Confederate formerly wronged by Philip and imploring their aid which yet the People denied till P. Sulpicius the Consul told them that Philip's preparation was indeed for Italy if he could win Athens This feigned pretence prevailed and the Consul is sent who took not the way to Macedon but Landed at the River Apsus between Dyrrachium and Apolonia where he began the War and sent C. Claudius with Twenty Gallies and Souldiers to relieve Athens against certain Pyrates or Robbers by Sea and Land § 10. Claudius groweth weary of standing like a Scare-Crow to save all the Athenian Fields from Spoil and understanding that Chalcis in Eubaea was negligently Guarded Sailed thither in the Night and took it by Scalado Plunder'd it and set it on Fire Consuming the Kings Magazines of Corn and other Provision of War Philip hearing the News at Demetrias twenty Miles off marcheth speedily but finding them gone he Posteth to Athens in hope to surprise it in the Night but they had Intelligence of his coming So after a Skirmish before the return of Claudius he departed to Corinth and thence to an Assembly at Argos called against Nabis Tyrant of Lacedemon which had Invaded them after Philopoemen was out of Office and gone to Crete Here Philip by coming would have drawn the Achaeans to break with the Romans but was discover'd and so parting made no other Attempt against Athens having failed except in demolishing some Temples of admirable Workmanship in Attica Sulpicius Encamped near Apsus sent his Lieutenant Apistius to the Borders of Macedon who took Antripatria and put it to the Sword and Fire and other Towns and returned to their Camp by which Success divers of the Neighbours which affected not Philip offered Friendship to the Romans The Aetolian Parliament was at hand whither the Macedonians Romans Athenians c. send to persuade them to their Party The Macedonians set out the true scope of the Romans pretensions of Friendship by their Subjecting of Messana and Syracuse the
having been trained up in the Art of War by Cyna a Warlike Woman The Souldiers disappoint her and Pithon who hoped to have been intreated by them to hold and chose Antipater who in a few days arrived at the Camp with his Army and took it upon him as the only powerful Man then living of all Alexander's Captains whom all acknowledge their Superior Antipater taketh the King Queen and Princess into Macedon leaving Antigonus General of the Royal Army against Eumenes and Ruler of Asia during the War and besides his former Provinces gave him the Rule of Susiana § 11. Antigonus Lieutenant of Asia being to subdue Eumenes Alcetus and Attalus began with Eumenes seeking to Corrupt his Army by Letters but failed therein by Eumenes's cunning who made shew as if he writ them to try their faith to him Then Antigonus dealt with the Captains of which one brake out untimely and another called Apollonides held close 'till the Battle and then turned to Antigonus with such of the Horse-men as he could persuade being their General but Eumenes overtook him and cut him off though he lost the Battle Eumenes not able to keep the Field wished his Men to shift for themselves and retained only five hundred Horse and two hundred Foot with which he tired Antigonus in following At last he entred Nora a strong and well provided Fort bordering on Cappadocia where they parted without agreeing so Antigonus leaveth Nora besieged and with his other Forces entred Pisidia and overthrew Alcetus § 12. Ptolomy while other Princes were quiet in their Government sent an Army and won Syria and Phaenicia and took Laomedon the Governour thereof Prisoner Antipater being Eighty Years Old reposing great Confidence in Polyspercon one of Alexanders most Ancient Captains committed to him the Protectorship and Government of Macedon doubting his Son Cassander's sufficiency he also gave charge that no Woman should be admitted into the Administration of the Empire and so dyed § 13. Polysâ—ercon's skill was greater in War than in the high Office he now undertook being a man of an Inferior Wit fitter to assist than command in Chief The better to Countenance his Injunctions to the Governours of Provinces he and his Council thought fit to call the Queen of Olympias to Court whom Antipater suffered not in Macedon But Cassander Son of Antipater who thought himself the better Man was not satisfyed with the Captainship of a Thousand his Ambition soared high when he considered the Love of those which commanded the Garrisons and all the Rulers in the Cities so of Greece so placed by his Father Besides he had that Interest in Queen Euridice that was due only to her Husband all which would not serve to bear out an open Rebellion Cassander therefore finding what Ptolomy had done in Syria and what Antigonus aimed at since Antipater's death for whose sake he presumed upon them and seeing their occasions needed a Civil War he went to Antigonus in Asia and writ to Ptolomy § 14. Polyspercon upon Cassander's departure to disappoint him of his hopes from Greece decreed in Council to restore the popular Government in their Cities and discharge the Garrisons and Banish or kill the Governours placed by Antipater Thus he dishonours the Man that raised him overthrew worthy Men placed as Friends to the State of Macedon and gives away Macedon's Command of Greece if he means as he pretends c. § 15. Athens by this Decree in all haste cast out their Governours Phocion and others who fly for their Lives but cannot remove the Garrison commanded by Nicanor a trusty Friend to Cassander He possessing one of the Havens found means to take the other called Paraeus to their great discouragement but by Alexander the Son of Polyspercon coming with an Army are wholly misled as if he came to aid them whereas he came to get what Nicanor held if he could persuade him thereto Phocion and his Fellows fly to Polyspercon for Patronage but he finding he could not get the Key of Athens as he fought without offending the other Towns of Greece to cover his intent as meaning well to Athens he sent Phocion back into Athens who wickedly put him to death being above Eighty Years old who had been chosen forty five times Governour without seeking it whose Integrity was approved whose Counsel the City never repented nor private Man for trusting him Philip and Alexander honoured him but could fasten no Gifts upon him Athens never after bred a worthy Man § 16. Cassander with such Forces as Antigonus lent him entred Pireus which drew Polyspercon headlong into Attica with an Army but for want of Victuals departed leaving Alexander with some Forces to hindeâ— Nicanor 'till he in Peloponesus attempted Megalopolis which affected Cassander But the Town furnished with Fifteen thousand able Men was so defended and his Elephants so galled in their Feet with Nails driven through Boards laid and lightly covered in the Way that he prevailed not and wanting Provision to stay long he forsook the Siege After this his Admiral Clitus after an Overthrow given to Nicanor in Propontis is in the second Encounter Antigonus having furnished Nicanor utterly defeated which made Athens submit to Cassander as did other Cities § 17. Antigonus lying before the Fort Nora when he heard of Antipater's death knowing Eumenes's sufficiency and fidelity to Perdicas thought no Man fitter to be employed in his designs He sent therefore a Friend to them both to deal with him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Antigonus which he refused except Olympias and the Children of Alexander were put in which was yielded to so he departed Antigonus had before this taken on him as Lieutenant of Asia to remove Governours of Provinces as Aridaeus of Phrygia and Clitus of Lydia which repaired to the Court for Relief but all failed in Clitus's overthrow at Sea § 18. Antigonus now commanding the most of the Lesser Asia was able to enter Macedon and seize the Court but doubted the Reconciliation of Cassander and Polyspercon thereby he also knew Eumenes's fidelity to the Royal Blood Against him therefore he bent with Twenty thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse hoping to surprize him in Cilicia Eumenes a Thracian of all the old Souldiers was only faithful to the Royal Blood the Court therefore gave him Commission to raise an Army against Antigonus requiring the Provincials to assist and the old Silver-shield-bands to follow him § 19. Olympias the Old Queen intending to remove Aridaeus and place Alexander Son of Roxane joining with Polyspercon enters Macedon taketh Euridice and Aridaeus forsaken of all that followed her at the sight of Olympias both are Murdered and a hundred of Cassander's Friends with Nicanor his Brother § 20. Cassander lying at the Siege of Tegea in Peloponesus hearing these ill Tidings compounded with Tegea and shipt his Army into Thessaly the Aetolians keeping the Streights of Thermopylae by Land in favour of the Queen Cassander leaveth Callas with part
of his Forces to divert Polyspercon carrying the rest to Besiege Pidna a strong Sea-Town where Olympias lay with the Court. Aeacides King of Epyrus her Cousin hasted to her Succour but upon Difficulties of passages held by Cassander's Men his Subjects refuse to proceed and upon his seeking to inforce them banish him and join with Cassander Polyspercon now is the Queen 's only hope which also failed for by Callas's means corrupting of the Souldiers he was glad to make a swift Retreat for want of Men. The Miseries of the Besieged by Famin and Mortality was so great that she is forced to yield to Cassander upon promise of Life and procured Aristonus to whom she had committed Amphypolis to yield up the Town which he did and was killed by private Enemies procured to it by Cassander Olympias is then called into publick question in an Assembly of the Macedonians and condemned for the Murders committed by her under Title of Justice and shortly after put to death Cassander after his death Celebrated Funerals for Aridaeus and Euridice Married Thessalonica Daughter of King Philip taken in Pidna built the City Cassandria committed Roxane and Alexander to close Prison Re-edified Thebes and restored it c. CHAP. IV. Of Antigonus's growth in Asia § 1. EVmenes with the Argyraspides or Silver-Bands took his March towards the East with his Commission to take Possession of those Countries having small Assurance of his Silver Shields whose Captains scorned his direction Yet Ptolomy and Antigonus could not withdraw them Python and Seleuchus who govern'd Medea and Babylon as he went refused to let him pass 'till they were forc'd to fly so he came to the East where Peucestes and other Lords receive him yet through Opinion of Self-worthiness contended for Superiority but by his Wisdom and Command of the Kings Treasure he gained many of the most powerful § 2. Antigonus followed taking Python and Seleucus with him to force the Enemies further off from the King's Treasure in Susa but passing over Coprates by small Vessels when the greater part was over Eumenes who kept a Bridge on Tygris came with a Thousand Horse and four Thousand Foot and finding them disordered forced most of 'em into the River and drowned them and slew the rest except four Thousand which yielded in the sight of Antigonus who with Python turned to Media leaving Seleuchus to Besiege Susa Castle § 3. Eumenes desired to lead the Army into the Province left by Antigonus but Peucestes Governour of Persia drew them thither using all means to win the Souldiers which Eumenes prevented by a feign'd Letter from Orontes Governour of Armenia reporting Olympias had slain Cassander and sent Polyspercon with a great Army to join with Eumenes which News bred much fruitless joy Antigonus brings his Army out of Media to all their amazements yet Eumenes then sick in an Horse-Litter set his in a good form of Battle and though he were inferiour to Antigonus by a third part except Elephants he held it out and Antigonus was glad the next Night to steal away into Media § 4. Antigonus in the dead of Winter being within Nine Days Journey of his Enemy passed through a difficult Wilderness forbidding all use of Fire by Night to prevent his being discovered which was observed for some time but broken at last and so discerned Peucestes and the rest as Men amazed fly Eumenes stays them promising to protract Antigonus 'till their Forces be drawn up Then taking some choise Captains he disposed them on Tops of Hills looking towards Antigonus keeping many Fires thereon Antigonus thinking he was discovered and fearing to be forced while his Men were tired turned aside to places convenient for Refreshment but upon Advice finding that he was deluded he sent thinking to be revenged on them who were gone All the Eastern Army was come except the Elephants which he sent to cut off forcing the Horse-men which came with them and had overthrown the Elephants if brave Troops sent by Eumenes to look after them had not come in unexpectedly § 5. Eumenes having obtain'd the honour of an Expert General got therewith the hatred of Peucestes and the other Commanders which conspire his death but conclude to spare him 'till after the Battle with Antigonus which argued their Malice against his meer Virtue Eudamus who had charge of the Elephants whom he had obliged and others of whom he used to borrow Money when he needed not to make them the more careful of his Life certifyed him of the Treason Hereupon he made his Will and burnt his Writings of Secrets and considered what he should do To make his Peace with Antigonus were contrary to his Faith given to Olympias and the Princes c. He therefore resolved to withstand the Enemy and after to look to himself c. § 6. Eumenes's Souldiers not knowing the cause of his Perplexity encouraged him only desiring him to draw 'em up in Battalia and they would play the Men. Antigonus had the advantage in Horse but his Footmen advanced heavily being to encounter the old Silver Shields who had beaten them so oft as now also they slew five thousand of them without the loss of a Man Antigonus's Horse and Elephants had the better the rather by Peucestes who drew off one thousand five hundred Horse and departed But while all the charge lay on Eumenes Antigonus sent Companies of Horse about unto Eumenes's Carriages unseen by reason of the Dust and surprized them for the Night growing on they return'd to their Camps § 7. Eumenes finding the Silver Shields discontented for the loss of their Carriages comforted them with hopes of Recovery the Enemy being weakened by their Valour and unable to draw the Carts through the Wilderness of Mountains This availed not for Peucestes was gone and other Captains would fight no more Teutamus one of the Silver-shield Captains to win the Love of the Bands dealt secretly with Antigonus intreated the restoring of the Booty which was all the Old Souldiers had for many Years service The crafty Man answered that if they will deliver Eumenes he will do more for them which they presently performed and villanously betrayed their worthy General whom his Ambitious Adversary despairing to win slew This was the end of the Wisdom Fidelity Valour and Patience of him whose Courage no Adversity could lessen nor Prosperity his Circumspection But his Virtue Wit and Industry were all cast away by lâ—ading an Army without power to command besides God's purpose to cast down that Family he sought to uphold Antigonus buried him honourably burnt one of the Captains alive that betrayed him and committed all the Silver Shields to a Leader to carry them into far Countries with charge to Conjure such perjured Wretches nâ—vâ—r to come near Greece § 8. Antigonus and Python return to Media where while Pithon by Gifts sought to win the Souldiers which he only wanted to become chief Antigonus discerning it took him in his security condemn'd and