begins with the time of Nembroth and ends with the Year of Christ 1348. This Author was a Florentine XLVIII Flavius Blondus a Native of Forli in Romania was Secretary to Eugenius IV. and divers other Popes He compos'd several Historical Works whereof there are X Books Romae Triumphantis III Romae Restauratae VIII Italiae Illustratae III Decads of the Roman History and a Treatise of the Origin and Actions of the Venetians This Author was a Philosopher who regarded Worldly-acquisitions but little insomuch that Fortune which seldom takes care of those sort of People suffer'd him so far to support his Character as to die Poor the Fourth of Iune in the Year of Christ 1463. Romae Pauper at Philosophum decuit Obiit says Father Labbe XLIX St. Antoninus Arch-bishop of Florence and a Fryer of the Order of St. Dominic liv'd in the Fifteenth Century with all the Reputation and Respect that his great Piety and Learning could procure him Amongst the rest of his Works there is one call'd Summa Historica an Historical Abridgment which consists of three Parts The First is from the beginning of the World to the Reign of Constantin The Second contains all remarkable Passages from Constantin to the Year 1198. being the time of the Pontificat of Innocent III. And the Third begins from thence and ends with the Year 1459. which was the time when he dy'd under the Pontificat of Pius II. and the Empire of Frederic III. L. Aeneas Sylvius who was Pope by the Name of Pius II. He was Born at Corsignano a Village of the Territory of Siena the 18th of October in 1405. After having been employ'd in several important Negotiations wherein he sufficiently demonstrated his great Abilities he was first made Bishop of Siena and then Cardinal by Calistus III. in the Year 1456. and afterwards that Pope being dead he succeeded him under the Name of Pius II. He has compos'd several Works all which denote his great Learning and Judgment but we shall only take notice of those that relate to History He has compil'd the History of the Council of Basile in II Books He also Abridg'd the History of Flavius Blondas There is also a Cosmography of his or the History of the whole World There is likewise his Europaean History which contains several remarkable Transactions in his time 'T is also believ'd that he wrote his own Life tho' it goes under the Name of Iohn Gobelin his Secretary He dy'd the 14th of August in the Year 1464. when about 58 Years Old LI. Laonicus Chalcocondylas an Athenian who liv'd in the Fifteenth Century He has written in Greek an History of the Turks in X Books which he begins with Othoman Son of Orthogulus who liv'd in the Year 1300. and carries it on to the Year 1463. When Mahomet II. was in War with the Venetians and Mathias King of Hungary It has moreover an Appendix which reaches down to 1565. LII B. Platina Native of Cremona according to Father Labbe and of Verona if we may believe Moreri was born in the Fifteenth Century His Name was not Baptist as some have thought but Bartholomew His quick Parts occasion'd him to be universally Esteem'd especially at Rome whither he went under the Pontificat of Pope Calistus II. and was very Munificently receiv'd by Cardinal Bessarion But Pope Paul II. became very much his Enemy and kept him four Months in Prison after which his Successor Sixtus IV. who knew him better bestow'd on him the Care of his Library in the Vatican He wrote the Lives of the Popes down to Paul II. which Work Onuphrius Panvinius a Fryar of the Order of St. Austin at Verona who liv'd in the Sixteenth Century continu'd to his time which was about the Year 1568. when he dy'd at Salermo Platina dy'd at Rome of the Plague in the Year 1481. LIII Anthony Bonfinius a Native of Ascoli liv'd towards the Year 1495. He was a very honest and laborious Man and had learnt almost all Languages It was at the request of Mathias Corvinus King of Hungary and Bohemia that he undertook the History of Hungary which he carry'd on to the Year 1495. It consists of IV Decads and half that is XLV Books LIV. Robertus Gaguinus Head of the Order of the Trinity was very much in favour with Charles VIII and Lewis XII of France where he had the keeping of the Royal Library He has compos'd several Works but the most considerable is his History of France in XII Books which reach down to the Reign of Charles VIII LV. Marcus Antonius Sabellicus Son to a Poor Farrier in Italy was a great Lover of Learning in which he made a considerable progress in a very short time We have a History of his from the beginning of the World to the Year of Christ 1504. And a History of the Affairs of Venice Paulus Iovius says that he dy'd at Venice in the Year 1506. LVI Iames Phillip of Bergamos of the Order of the Hermits of St. Austin was a Person of singular Merit and whom Pope Innocent VIII honour'd with a particular Esteem He compos'd a Chronicle which began at the Creation of the World and ended with the Year 1503. which was the Seventieth Year of the Age of this Author He liv'd afterwards Fifteen Years and dy'd about Eighty five Years Old in the Year 1518. LVII Iohannes Rauclerus a Noble-Man of Germany Son to Iohn Vergehau was Provost of the Church of Subingen and afterwards Professor of the Canon-Law in the University of that City This University was Founded by Count Everard afterwards First Duke of Wirtemberg in his return from Ierusalem in the Year 1477. Nauclerus was made Vice-Chancellor of it He has written a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to the Year 1500. which Nicolas Baselius continu'd down to the Year 1514. and which Surius likewise carry'd on farther to the Year 1574. The time of this Nauclerus his Death is Unknown LVIII Albert Krantz Doctor of Divinity and Dean of the Church of Hambourg liv'd towards the beginning of the Sixteenth Century He was a Man of great Learning join'd with admirable Piety The chiefest of his Works is an Ecclesiastical History entituled Metropolis wherein he treats of the Churches Founded and Restor'd by Charlemagne He has also compil'd an History of the Saxons in XIII Books Another of the Vandals in XIV and a Chronicle of Sweden Denmark and Norway which begins with Charlemagne and is carry'd on to the Year 1504. This Author dy'd the 7th of December 1517. which was the Year that Martin Luther first publish'd his Doctrin LIX Iames Wimphelinge a Priest of the Church of Spire and Professor in the University of Heidelberg liv'd in the beginning of the Sixteenth Century He was both Divine Orator Philosopher Poet and Historian He compos'd these Books viz. Epitome Imperatorum Rerum in Germania Gestarum De Episcopis Argentirensibus c. I could never meet with the time of his Death only
every Beast of the Field and Fowl of the Air which by Divine Direction Noah collected into an Ark or Ship of vast extent which according to the Commands of God he built and after 120 Years Labour having finish'd it the Flood-gates of Heaven were open'd and the Fountains of the Deep were broken up and in 40 Days time the Waters overwhelm'd the Face of the whole Earth so that all Creatures were destroy'd except Noah and what were with him in the Ark. But the executing Element having perform'd the Commands of Heaven it again return'd to its ancient Habitation part into the Bowels of the Earth and the rest exhal'd into Clouds leaving the Earth dry and again in a condition to be Cultivated Accordingly Noah and his Sons immediately set to work and in a few Ages the Land became fill'd with Inhabitants and Colonies were Transplanted to remoter Parts 1657. A Year after the beginning of the Flood Noah goes out of the Ark seeing the whole Face of the Earth dry and after a positive Order from God Shem Ham and Iapheth the Sons of Noah begin to Till the Ground The Life of Men shortened by one half 1723. Heber is born From him came the Hebrews and the Hebrew Language 1757. Phaleg is born His Name signifies Division because 't was in his time that Noah divided the Earth among his three Sons Iaphet had the West of Asia from the Mountains Taurus and Aman and all Europe Ham had Syria Arabia and all Africa Shem had all the Eastern Asia The Age of Men decreases very sensibly being at this time not above the fourth part of that of the Ante-diluvian Patriarchs 1800. About this time they began to build the Tower of Babel in the Plains of Sennaar 1816. A sort of Royal Authority has its first Rise in Egypt where some more violent than the rest take upon them to Domineer At this Time happen'd the Confusion of Languages which were divided into 72. The Hebrew Tongue remain'd in the Posterity of Heber This Confusion stop'd the Building of the Tower of Babel which those impious People were carrying on 1900. Nimrod the Grandson of Ham began the Babylonian or Assyrian Monarchy 2950. 1920. The King's Shepherds who came out of Arabia settle in Egypt and form a Government 1005. Ninus the Assyrian Monarch began to Reign 43 Years before the Birth of Abraham Semiramis his Wife the famous Assyrian Heroine succeeded him 1948. Abraham is born in the City of Vr in Chaldea a place famous for the Mathematicians that lived there 2002. Zoroaster King of the Bactrians is supposed to have invented Magick about this time 2023. Abraham comes out of Vr by God's Command to go and live at Charan a Town of Mesopotamia Hunting and Fowling were then invented 'T was about 300 Years before this time that the Chaldeans began to observe the Stars and the Motions of the Planets and practise Astronomy EPOCHA III. 2023. The Vocation of Abraham 1917. This Epocha reaches as far as the written Law and lasts 430 Years HEre God begins to make a People Elect and for that purpose he chuses Abraham to be the Stock and the Father of all the Faithful and declares to him That he will establish his Worship and his People which is to be this Holy Patriarch's Posterity in the Land of Canaan Besides the Promise he makes him of giving him a Son he adds that of Blessing all the Nations of the Earth in JESUS CHRIST born from his Posterity The Mark of this first Alliance of God with Men is the Circumcision 2024. Abraham press'd by the Famine goes down into Egypt where Apophis then reigned He is the same with Pharaoh mentioned in the Scripture who having taken away Sarah Abraham's Wife return'd her untouch'd to her Husband 2031. Berah King of Sodom with the other petty Kings of the Neighbouring Cities rebel against Codorlahomor King of Elam who had subjected them to his Domination 30 Years before 2047. Sodom Gomorrah Adamah and Seboim four abominable Towns are burnt by Fire from Heaven because of their infamous and detestable Crimes 1903. Circumcision instituted for a Token of the Alliance God made with Men in the Person of Abraham 2048. Isaac is born his Father Abraham being 100 Years old and his Mother Sarah 90. 2093. The Kingdom of Argos in the Peloponesus begins in Inachus the first known King of the Grecians 1080 Years before the First Olympiad 2207. Thethmosis or Amosis having expelled the Shepherds Kings reigns in Egypt 2154. The Deluge of Ogyges in Attica 1020 Years before the First Olympiad Varro places it 300 Years higher 2185. Iacob through his Mother Rebecca's Counsel and Assistance steals his Father Isaac's Benediction to the Prejudice of his Brother Esau. Towards this time began some of the Four Dynasties or Principalities of Egypt Thebes Thin Memphis Tanis the Capital of the lower Egypt 2229. Ioseph imprison'd upon the false Accusation of Potiphar's Wife is set at Liberty at three Years end having interpreted the Dreams of Pharaoh who raises him to the highest Dignities of the State 1721. 2238. Iacob press'd by the Famine descends into Egypt with all his Family The Israelites dwell there 215 Years 2255. Iacob dies in Egypt after he had adopted Manasses and Ephraim Ioseph's Sons He blesses them preferring the younger to the other 2309. Ioseph dies in Egypt having administred the Kingdom under several Kings Here ends the Book of Genesis 2360. The Kings of Egypt oppress the Israelites and put them to very laborious and painful Works 2373. Moses Son of Amram is born of his Mother Iocebeda Being 3 Months old he is expos'd on the Nile where the King's Daughter takes him up and through a miraculous Providence puts him out to Nurse to his Mother Iocebeda At 40 Years of Age he flies from Egypt into Arabia 2453. Moses tending the Flocks of Iethro his Father-in-Law is commanded by God to return into Egypt and demand of the King the Liberty of the Israelites who groan'd under a severe Bondage The King refuses the Liberty of the Israelites demanded by Moses God visits the Egyptians with ten Plagues At last upon a Tuesday the 5th Day of May towards Midnight Pharaoh lets the People of God go out of Egypt to the number of six hundred Men on Foot not including Children Pharaoh pursues the Israelites with an Army Moses opens a Passage in the Red Sea through which the Israelites go dry-foot and where Pharaoh is drowned with all his Army EPOCHA IV. 2453. Moses or the Written Law 1497. This Epocha reaches as far as the Taking of Troy and lasts 305 Years THree Months after the Deliverance of his People from Pharaoh's Tyranny God gave his Law to Moses on Mount Sinai There was heard from the Top of that Mountain a great noise of Thunder the Sky round about it was bright with Lightnings and the whole Mount seem'd to be a great Fire out of which arose a Flame like that of a burning Furnace 'T was
17. Codrus succeeded his Father Melanthius and reigned 21 years He for the safety of his People lost his own Life and by his Death gave them the Victory for the Oracle having predicted that the Party which lost their King should gain the Victory he disguised himself and secretly got into the Enemy's Camp where he purposely provoked them and received his Death for his Country's sake His two Sons Medon and Nileus contested the Kingdom which was the reason why the Athenians fearing that they should never have such another King as Codrus put an end to the Regal Power declared that Iupiter was the only King of the People of Athens and established Perpetual Archontes that is Governors or Magistrates who should have the Administration of the State during their whole Life and were only different from the Kings in Name and were accountable to the People 1090 Sect. 2. The Second State of Athens under XIII Perpetual Archontes which lasted the space of 316 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2882. 1. MEdon the Son of Codrus govern'd Athens 20 years 1068 2902. 2. Acastus governed 36 years In his time happened the famous Ionian Expedition For the Ionians being driven out of Peloponnesus by the Heraclidae and the Dorians under the Conduct of Neleus and Androclus Sons of Codrus took Ephesus and other Places in Asia Minor and called that part of it Ionia 1048 2939. 3. Archippus governed 17 years 1011 2956. 4. Thersippus governed 42 years 994 2998. 5. Phorbas governed 31 years 952 3029. 6. Megacles governed 30 years 921 3059. 7. Diognetus governed 28 years 891 3087. 8. Phoreclus governed 19 years 863 3106. 9. Ariphron governed 20 years 844 3126 10. Thespieus governed 27 years 824 3154. 11. Agamestor governed 11 years 796 3173. 12. Aeschylus governed 23 years 777 3174. At this time being 407 years after the taking of Troy 12 years before the building of Rome and 777 years before Christ the Olympiads began each containing the space of four years The first Olympiad was very famous for the Prize which Corebus the Cook won in a Race at the Olympick Games Here ended the time which Varro calls Fabulous because all that preceded the first Olympiad was mixed with a great many Fables And here began the Historical Time because some Rays of Truth began then to shine forth in History 3196. 13. Alcmeon governed 2 years and after his Death the Government of Athens was committed to Archontes or Governors who ruled only 10 years 754 Sect. 3. The Third State of Athens under VII Decennial Archontes which lasted 70 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 1. CHarops the Son of Aeschylus governed 10 years 752 3208. 2. Esimedes governed 10 years 742 3218. 3. Clidicus governed 10 years 732 3228. 4. â—lippomanes governed 10 years 'T is said that he tore his Daughter's Adulterer into pieces with wild Horses for which he was Deposed He accoâ—ding to Suidas was the last of the Race of Codruâ— 722 3238. 5. Leocrates governed 10 years 712 3248. 6. Apsandrus governed 10 years 702 3258. 7. Eâ—yxias governed 10 years He was the last of the Decennial Archontes So that the whole space of Time from Cecrops the first King of Athens down to the end of the Government of Eryxius takes up 874 years After his Government was expired Democracy was established in Athens and the State was to be governed by Annual Archontes 692 Sect. 4. The Fourth State of Athens under Annual Archontes which lasted about the space of 751 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3268. CReon was the first 682 3269. Next to him succeeded Tlesias 681 Instead of giving you an Account of the Succession and Names of these Annual Archontes which would be both a tedious and an useless Undertaking it will be more proper to set down those particular Events which contributed to the Happiness or Misery of Athens and these we will bring under their proper Centuries without affixing the Time to every particular Event but only to such as are most remarkable Years of the World Years before Christ. 3300. In this Century flourished the Seven Wise Men of Greece viz. Solon Bias Thales Pittacus Periander Chilon and Cleobolus Besides these flourished Anaximander the Son of Praxidamus who was born in Ionia Pherecydes Bion Proconessus Epimenides Anaximenes and several others The Photians a People of Ionia set out a Fleet and went and built Marseilles Within a while after Pittacus of Mytelene one of the seven Wise Men of Greece was sent by his Countrymen into Troas to fight Phrino the Commander of the Athenians but was conquered Soon after Periander another of the seven Wise Men of Greece made a Peace between the Athenians and the Mytelenians Within this Century Cylon attempted to make himself King but failing of his Aim fled with his Accomplices to the Altar who contrary to Promise were all killed by Megacles the Archon of that Year which caused great Disturbances and Factions to arise Epimedides to free the City from the Plague erected that famous Altar mentioned in the Acts to the VNKNOWN GOD. A second War happened with the Megarenses wherein Salamis was recovered 650 3384. Pisistratus descended from Codrus became a Tyrant of his Country He won the Poorer sort and by their means made himself King He was expelled by Megacles and Lycurgus afterwards sent a counterfeit Minerva in a Chariot to admonish the People of Athens to restore him He married the Daughter of Megacles was restored ruled well for some time honoured Solon collected Homer's Verses and put them in Order built the first Library in Athens which Xerxes afterwards carried away He repudiated the Daughter of Megacles was again expelled by him but returned and was kindly received by the People 566 In the 4th Year of the 39th Olympiad Anno M. 3330 Draco was Archon and made such severe Laws that they were said to be written in Blood and 22 years after Solon ruled who repealed these Laws and made many excellent Alterations in the Athenian Government In this Century Thales of Miletum died and Anaximander his Disciple was the first who discovered the Obliquity of the Zodiack which his Master could never find out 3400. After Pisistratus his Son Hipparchus succeeded and after him his other Son Hippias Hipparchus was a great Favourer of Learned Men but Harmodius and Aristogiton killed him who were also killed themselves Leaena the Harlot bit off her Tongue that she might not discover the Accomplices Hippias became at last very Cruel for which he was banished Athens Upon this he fled to Darius and set him upon the Thoughts of conquering Greece Darius was so incensed against the Athenians that every time he supp'd he ordered one of his Servants to cry out Here Mâ—mento Atheniensium Pray Sir don't forget the Athenians By the Instigation of Hippias the Persians did invade Greece but were beaten at Marathon by Miltiades where Hippias was killed And when Xerxes the Son
Period 2. From the First Dictator to the Tribunes of the People 381 Period 3. From the Creation of the Tribunes to the Decemviri 382 Period 4. From the Institution of the Decemviri to the Military Tribunes 384 Period 5. From the Creation of the Military Tribunes to the burning of Rome by the Gauls 385 Period 6. From the Gaul's Invasion to the War with the Samnites 386 Period 7. From the War with the Samnites to that with Pyrrhus 387 Period 8. From the War with Pyrrhus to the first Punick War 388 Period 9. From the beginning of the first Punick War to the second 389 Period 10. The second Punick War 391 Period 11. The third Punick War to the destruction of Carthage 393 Period 12. From thence to the Sedition of the Gracchi 394 Period 13. From thence to the first Civil War 396 Period 14. From Sylla's Dictatorship to the first Triumvirate 398 Period 15. The Actions of the first Triumvirate 399. Sect. 5. The fifth State of Rome under Emperors wherein began the Fourth or Roman Monarchy 401 A SHORT SYSTEM OF Universal History PART I. CHRONOLOGY THE Eternity of the World although it be taught by Aristotle and perhaps believ'd by some of our modern Smatterers in Philosophy is a Falshood so palpable that tho' we were not taught by Divine Revelation our own Reason would easily convince us That it is but within a certain number of Years that an ineffably Wise Eternal and Omnipotent Being hath drawn out of Nothing by the powerful virtue of his Almighty Word not only our Terrestrial World with all its Inhabitants but even the Heavens and all the Parts of the infinite Universe wherein Nature displays an innumerable variety of wonderful Objects and surprizing Operations 'T is needless for our Reason to examine what moved God Almighty to make Spiritual and Corporeal Creatures since he had liv'd Alone and Self-sufficient to use Tertullians's Words during a whole Eternity The least circumstance of the Creation is an Abyss that will make us giddy if we look down too fixedly into it And those Libertines who oppose the Truth which Faith bids us revere can never be able to frame a System of the Universe either so plausible or comfortable as that which the Christian Religion proposes to us For after all their Devices these impious Sophists are oblig'd to attribute to the visible and corporeal World that Eternity which they deny to that Supream God whom they are loath to acknowledge and whose Power is so sensibly conspicuous in all that Heaven and Earth present to our View But to omit all the many other Arguments that are justly brought to prove the Verity of the Commencement of the Earth according to the Mosaick Account of it we shall use but one viz. The Infancy of all Arts and Sciences for if there had been Men from all Eternity we ought to suppose they were endu'd with the same Capacities as all the Men generally speaking for the last 5000 Years have had And if so 't is the highest pitch of Madness to believe that they should lie in an eternal Sleep with respect to their nearest and tenderest Concerns without ever minding what might conduce to make their Lives either longer or more happy and neglect to exercise their Faculties in improving what would be so useful to them Arts and Sciences I say can it be believ'd that Men should not as well have made the best use of their Wits before Adam as after But it was not done for we are fully inform'd in the History of Inventions and the Progress of Arts and can deduce 'em all from that time and are also sensible that there are many yet to be learnt for though this and the last Age have furnish'd the World with many useful Discoveries and Inventions such as the Mariner's Compass Printing Artillery Telescopes Microscopes a New World as large as the Old and abundance of Curiosities in Anatomy Chymistry Natural Philosophy and the Mathematicks yet it is just Matter of Surprize to see Physick an Art of such great Concern to us so rude and unpolish'd or to speak without Figure so rash and dangerous as it still is whereas if there had been an Eternal Generation of Men so great a Progress had been made in all other Arts that they had before now been at Leisure to have studied this somewhat more minutely as of late Days other Works being dispatch'd they have begun to do And it is not to be doubted but the succeeding Ages will be as much better experienc'd in this Art than we are as we are in that and many others than our Predecessors were at least if the succeeding Years be as productive of great Genius's as these latter ones have been And if the Academies setled for the Improvement of Arts have still for some considerable length of Time such Protectors as we see now adays at the Heads of them those Learned Societies will undoubtedly transmit to After-Ages such Discoveries in Natural Philosophy Physick and Mathematicks as may enable them to draw more ready Helps for the Preservation of Health and the Conveniences of Life than we can now pretend to These are sensible and pregnant Proofs that not only the Earth is not Eternal but also that it cannot be very ancient for besides what we have mentioned there are many other visible Signs of its Infancy which any Man of ordinary Capacity and Judgment will be sensible of if he does never so little attend to them But it is not so easy to know how many Years are elaps'd since the Worlds Creation or the exact Time when those great Events have happen'd which the Divine Providence or the Passions of Men have in the several Ages of the World given Birth to There must be an Art to teach this and that Art is called Chronology from the two Greek Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ratio which as Navigation gives Rules to Pilots to steer by in great Voyages instructs us how to Tread surely in the vast and dark Country of Antiquity The following Pages contain an Instruction in this useful Science as brief as could be without Obscurity DEFINITIONS CHRONOLOGY is the Doctrin of Times and Epocha's An AGE or CENTURY is the Space of a hundred Years or a hundred Solar Revolutions LUSTRUM is the Space of five Years This Word is seldom us'd unless in Poetry OLYMPIAD is the Space of four Years which the Grecians reckon'd from one Celebration of the Olympick Games to another The first Olympiad begun the Year of the World 3174. 776 Years before the Christian Aera or Birth of Christ. Olympiads were the Epocha's of the Grecians their Name is derived from the Olympick Games instituted by Iphitus to the Honour of Hercules They were celebrated every fifth Year about the Summer Solstice or the 19th of Iuly at a Town of Elis in the Peleponesus now the Morea called Olympia Some are of Opinion That Iphitus was not
XLIII Malachi Prophesied after the re-edifying of the Temple He reproves the several Abuses which were crept into the Iewish Discipline As he is the last of the Prophets and that no more was to be expected till the coming of Iesus Christ he exhorts the People to stick to the Law of Moses till the Messiah should appear in the World XLIV The I. Book of Maccabees XLV The II. Book of Maccabees These two Books contain the State of the Church under the Third Monarchy which was that of the Greeks continuing Forty Years from the Death of Alexander the Great to that of Demetrius Soter The Second Book is an Abridgment of the Book of Iason who was one of the Iews of Cirena The Author of the First Book is not the Author of the Second as it appears to the Learned both from the difference of Style and different manner of counting the Years Secondly The New Testament contains 27 Books I. The Gospel according to St. Matthew was writ about 6 Years after the Death of Christ at the request of those Iews who had imbrac'd the Christian Faith St. Matthew from a Publican became an Apostle He has undertaken in his Gospel to relate the Royal Race of our Saviour and to represent him according to the Life he led in the Flesh wherefore he speaks chieflly as St. Austin remarks of those Actions and Instructions in which the Son of God has in a manner temper'd his Wisdom with his Divine Majesty that he might render the Example of his Life the more Imitable and Agreeable to our Weakness II. The Gospel according to St. Mark was written in the 3d Year of Claudius or the 43d of Christ according to the ordinary way of Reckoning that is 10 Years after our Saviour's Death This Gospel St. Mark writ at Rome at the request of the Christians of that Church and according to the Instructions he had receiv'd from St. Peter whose Disciple he had been He has follow'd St. Matthew in a many Things and in some places only abridg'd him nevertheless there are many Passages he has dwelt longer upon and observ'd many considerable Circumstances which St. Matthew omitted III. The Gospel according to St. Luke was writ by him 23 Years after Christs Ascension This St. Luke was a Physician and as he was very well acquainâ—ed with the Greek Tongue he has writ more elegantly than either St. Mark or St. Iohn He was not of the number of Apostles as was St. Matthew and St. Iohn but one of their Disciples in like manner as Saint Mark. IV. The Gospel according to St. Iohn the Son of Zebedee and Brother of St. Iames sirnam'd Major was written at Ephesus about the Year of Christ 96. and 63 Years after his Passion upon occasion of the Heresy of Cerinthus and Ebion both which maintain'd That Iesus Christ was but a Man whereupon all the Bishops of Asia and several others entreated St. Iohn to treat more largely on the Matter than the Three Apostles his Predecessors had done and to establish Christ's Divinity beyond Contradiction It was hereupon that Saint Austin observ'd That the other Three Evangelists had only trac'd Christ upon the Earth and as it were walk'd along with him in recounting the Actions of his mortal Life but that St. Iohn had soar'd like an Eagle above human Pitch and discover'd the Word even in the Bosom of God without being dazled with the Lustre of his Glory V. The Acts of the Apostles are properly the Birth and Establishment of the Church which was about the time of the Death of Jesus and the Accomplishment of all his Mysteries St. Paul is particularly celebrated in this History it having been writ by St. Luke who was his Disciple This Book contains the History of 29 or 30 Years from the death of Christ to the time St. Paul was carry'd Prisoner to Rome the first time which was in the Year 63. Which makes some believe that St. Luke wrote this Book at Rome at the same time The Epistles of St. Paul VI. His Epistle to the Romans is plac'd first not that it was writ first but according to the Dignity of the Place and the Church where it was writ The Subject of it is to abate the excessive Pride of the Iews and Gentiles and to unite under Jesus Christ as the Corner-stone by the Bonds of Grace and a Spirit of Humility This Epistle was writ from Corinth in the Year of Christ 57. and 24 Years after his Passion VII His First Epistle to the Corinthians he writ from Ephesus about the Year of Christ 57. and 24 Years after Christ's death Therein St. Paul lessens the Pagan Eloquence and Philosophy which the Corinthians so greatly admir'd He teaches 'em moreover how to prepare for the Communion c. VIII His Second Epistle to the Corinthians writ from Macedon near the same time with the First and sent them by Titus and St. Luke St. Paul therein chiefly admonishes the Corinthians to beware of false Apostles whom he attacks severely naming them Deceitful Workers and Ministers of the Devil IX His Epistle to the Galatians was writ to these People from Lesser Asia a little while after they had been converted by him upon account of false Teachers who had seduced them by persuading them that the Gospel would not be sufficient to save them unless they continu'd to Circumcise their Children and to submit to other Ceremonies of the Law He brings many Books out of Scripture to dissuade the Galatians from this Error and to convince them that they ought no longer to be Slaves under the Old Law but to enjoy the Freedom of the New This Epistle was writ from Ephesus in the Year of Christ 56. and 23 Years after his Passion X. His Epistle to the Ephesians writ from Rome when St. Paul was in Bonds there about the Year of Christ 62. and 29 Years after his Passion This great Apostle therein admonishes the Inhabitants of this Metropolis of Asia Minor not to give Ear to the Preachers of Iudaism who would not only have the Law join'd to the Gospel but also intermixt many other Fables with this Error XI His Epistle to the Philippians writ to the Christians of Philippi in Macedonia from Rome where St. Paul was then Prisoner Here this Holy Apostle professes a more than ordinary Affection for that People which he had Converted and who sent him thither considerable Subsistence when he was in want He exhorts them to continue always stedfast in their Faith to decline Disputes to love Prayer to be humble and charitable to each other to be unshaken in Adversity and to be always replenished with Peace and Joy XII His Epistle to the Colossians writ from Rome while he was Prisoner there in the Year of Christ 62. This People being of Phrygia not far from Laodicea having receiv'd the Faith they were afterwards not a little pester'd with ignorant Seducers who would needs intermix Iudaism and Philosophy with the Gospel St.
World during the space of 240 Years that is from the beginning of Cyrus's Empire to that of Xerxes being the time when our Historian wrote The Bishop of Meaux in his Universal History terms Herodotus the Great Historian Vossius de Historicis Graecis Lib. 1. Cap. 3. says That Herodotus design'd to have written the History of the Assyrians wherein he was to treat of the Kings of Babylon but that he believ'd that Work was never Publish'd because Herodotus was prevented finishing it by his Death Yet we may read Lib. 8. Hist. Animal Cap. 18. that Aristotle accus'd Herodotus of advancing an Untruth against Natural History when he affirm'd that an Eagle drank at the Siege of Nineveh for it is certain that those Birds which have hook'd Claws never drink Now this Passage which Aristotle reproaches Herodotus for is not to be found in his Work of the Nine Muses and therefore must have been in his History of the Assyrians Nineveh having been the Capital City of Assyria which may give a reasonable conjecture that he had written that History yet nevertheless the Ancients have made no manner of mention of it Vossius does not believe that the Life of Homer found at the end of Herodotus's History belong'd to him as some would have it and the Reason he gives seems to carry Authority along with it For says he Herodotus in his Euterpe places the Birth of Homer above 200 Years more backward than the Author of his Life has done Herodotus dy'd at Thuries whither he had voluntarily banish'd himself to be the more intent on his Studies and the Composing of his History II Thucydides was of illustrious Parentage It is reported That his Grand-father Marry'd the Daughter of a King of Thrace but what is more certain is That he himself was a Citizen of Athens He was a young Student in one of the most famous Colleges of Greece at the same time that Herodotus read his History With this Work he was infinitely Charm'd and could not help shewing so much Jealousie of the Author as if he had despair'd of ever performing the like which Heredotus perceiving immediately Prophesied that he would be a great Man and moreover told his Father That he was happy to have a Son at this Age who had so great a Sense of Fame and Glory His History was design'd to have contain'd all the Peloponesian War being that between the States of Athens and Sparta which lasted full 27 Years but he dy'd while he was about the 21st Year of it Theopompus supply'd the 6 other Years This History of Thucydides is divided into VIII Books Cicero professes a great esteem for Thucydides his manner of Writing when he Styles him Authorem subtilem Acutum Brevem Sententiis magis quam verbis abundantem Lib. 2. de Oratoria Father Rapin likewise in his Instructions for History affords this Author great Commendation for he says the same thing of his Style as Cicero had done before him The Style of Thucydides says he is more Noble and Lofty than that of Herodotus yet at the same time it fails of being so Natural and Easie. In some places it has those harshnesses which render it Obscure and it is every where more Luxuriant than the Style of Herodotus Thucydides says the same Author in another Place has Fire Force and Grandeur every thing in his Writings keeps up its self and nothing Languishes and Grovels It is in this that he excells Herodotus who frequently loses himself and grows too diffusive where he gives too great a loose to his Genius Longinus observes that Thucydides sometimes confounds the most regular Methods the better to surprize by a disorder and to change his Narration the oftner He also sometimes relates Things past as if they had been present and this to have the advantage of describing an Action which moves a Reader more as likewise renders him more Attentive Lucian finds fault with this Author's description of the Plague of Athens in the second Book of his History and this perhaps with reason enough for however Prudent he may be allow'd in other places yet there he has run out a little too much Lucian says also that Thucydides has succeeded better than other Historians in his Harangues for what he puts in the Mouths of the principal Actors in his History viz. Pericles Nicias Alcibiades Archidamus sometimes a whole Nation together are admâ—rable Instructions for Orators and to which Demosthenes was not a little beholden who became so great a Master in that Art Vossius says after Lucian that Demosthenes copy'd Thucydides's History eight times with his own Hand and likewise that the Emperor Charles V. always carry'd a French Translation of him about him where-ever he went Monsieur Rapin says farther That Thucydidâ—s and Livy are both sufficient to acquaint a Man what Genius History requires for that Antiquity has nothing to boast of more perfect than their Works There is nothing almost to be desir'd more in either of them unless it be that the former were more Natural and the latter more Sincere Thucydides has establish'd his Reputation with so pure Ideas that he deserves to be Credited in all Ages It is hard to meet with one of this Author 's excellent Temper who tho' he had been extreamly wrong'd by the Tyrant Pericles yet he always prais'd him as often as he found occasion and did frequent Justice to the Athenians tho' they had Banish'd him their Common-wealth He was a Man not at all guided by Passion and who propos'd only in what he writ to content the Judgment of Posterity by always speaking the Truth In a word Thucydides was exact in all that he writ and faithful and disinteressed in all he said and tho' he sometimes seems Austere and Suâ—ly yet is it ever what consists with Grandeur Photius says that as Herodotus is to be imitated by those that have a mind â—o be perfect in the Ionick Dialect so is Thucydides by such as would excel in the Attick Monsieur Le Vayer says that Thucydides had the Honour to be the first that gave a Soul to History by the several Harangues he made use of in all the three kinds 〈…〉 Whâ—â— before him it was but either a 〈…〉 or dead Body He flourish'd about the 〈…〉 before Christ A. M. 3490. 〈◊〉 Xenophon the Son of Gallus a Native of Athens was all at once a great Philosopher a great General and a great Historian Diogenes Laertius reports one thing of him which sufficiently demonstrates his Honesty He says that the Works of Thucydides having been lost and one Copy remaining only in Xenophon's Hands whereby that Author might have publish'd them for his own he nevertheless gave them to the Publick under the Name of their great Compiler Notwithstanding this the Athenians having afterwards suspected him of adhering to the Lacedemonians their Enemies banish'd him their Country He flourish'd about the Year of the World 3560. He is the first Philosoper that apply'd himself
his Protection and for his Maintenance procur'd him a Benefice in Calabria VIII Arrian Native of Nicomedia a City of Bithynia was a Disciple to Epictetus It is reported of him that he was both a Philosopher Geographer Historian and Lawgiver Suidas says He was brought up to the Consular Dignity that he had been in great request among the Romans and that by reason of the softness of his Stile he was term'd a second Xenophon Under the Reign of the Emperor Adrian he had very considerable Employments He has compos'd VII Books of the Conquests of Alexander the Great and one which treats particularly of the Indies Photius says That Arrian has no reason to give place to any Authors whatever tho' they have got the Name of the best Historians Rapin says That Arrian is but a Copyer of Xenophon and an affected Imitator of his Excellencies he having made VII Books of the Conquests of Alexander as Xenophon has of those of Cyrus There is also of the same Author A Description of the Euxin Sea and the several Countries that lie about it As likewise another Of the Red Sea with the Coasts of India and the Persian Gulph But these are only Pieces of Geography which have little or no relation to History M. de la Mothe le Vayer says thus of this Author What I shall further add concerning this Author is of great Consideration for altho' Arrian has often follow'd Maximus Tirius for which Ptolomy so severely blames him yet has he given a much more exact Description of the Oriental Indies than Ptolomy himself has as the modern Relations of the Portugals sufficiently prove Arrian study'd in the Place of his Birth where he became a Priest of Ceres and Prosperpine before he went to Rome as appears by his History of Bithynia quoted by Photius but which is now lost as well as that of the Alani and Parthians IX Appian descended from one of the best Families in Alexandria came to Rome in the time of the Emperor Trajan He there practis'd the Law for some time and pleaded with so great Force and Eloquence that he was soon advanc'd to be one of the Procuratores Caesaris and afterwards carried to greater Dignities in the Empire under Hadrian and Antoninus Pius His History contain'd XXIV Books beginning with the burning of Troy and proceeding through all the Progeny of Aeneas to Romulus and the founding of Rome Afterwards describing the Reigns of the VII Kings c. he comes to the Empire of Augustulus and from him onwards down to Trajan Of all this great number of Books we have at this Day but the least part remaining which are those of the Punick Syriack and Parthian Wars those against Mithridates the Spaniards and Hannibal together with the Civil Wars and those of Illyrium for as to those against the Celtae and Gauls we have only a few Fragments left Photius calls Appian an Impartial Author but which some will not allow accusing him of flattering the Romans to whom he always gives the Advantage in a Battle Scaliger says he is a very Novice in History and that he has stollen what is best in him calling him Alienorum Laborum Fucum Rapin says he was a Copyer of all the Greeks that treated on the same Subject which occasion'd his Stile to be as various as the Books from whence he stole He has taken from Plutarch what he thought Fine Yet after all his Works are not so much to be despis'd for they contain great Matter of Learning X. Diogenes Laertius appears in this Rank on no other account than that he has wrote the Lives and History of the Philosophers for if we should be oblig'd to mention none but such as had compil'd a Body of History we must have retrench'd Plutarch Diogenes Laertius and several others that follow they having written only some particular Histories To tell precisely the time and place of this Author's Birth is difficult There is a great deal of reason to believe he was a Grecian by reason that he commends that Country so extreamly for he says Greece is as well the Mother of Philosophy as of all Mankind Vossius says Laertius liv'd under Antoninus Pius or little after It is that Arria to whom Diogenes Dedicated his Lives of the Philosophers that was mention'd by Gallen in his Treatise de ' Theriaca She was much esteem'd by the Emperors because she lov'd Learning and adher'd to the Philosophy of Plato But for Laertius he sufficiently shews he was of the Sect of Epicurus as may appear by several Passages in his Book He is accus'd of treating oftentimes of Matters he did not understand XI Philostrates was of Lemnos or as some will have it of Tir or Athens so that the place of his Birth is uncertain He liv'd under the Reign of the Emperor Severus and at the Command of the Empress Iulia compos'd the History of Apollonius Thianaeus in VIII Books In the Life of this famous Magician there are a great many incredible things and altho' Philostrates in his Preface has profess'd to have follow'd the best Memoirs yet is he suspected to have had very erroneous Guides He makes his Apollonius work as many Miracles as one Hierocles did who compar'd him to Iesus Christ. But whom Eusebius confutes in a Treatise written on purpose Ludovicus Vives speaking of Philostrates says That he has corrected Homer's Fables with much greater of his own Magna Homeri Mendacia majoribus Mendacijs corrigit There are two or three more Authors of this Name which we must not confound with the Author of Apollonius's Life XII Dion Cassius was of Nice a City of Bithynia His Father Apronianus was Proconsul of Cilicia when as Adrian came to the Roman Empire Dion Cassius also himself had had several considerable Employments in the Roman Empire particularly had twice the honour of the Consulship conferr'd upon him by which it is plain that he had all the necessary Qualifications to write the History of his Time since he spoke of things whereof he had been Eye-witness and as one that had had a share in the Government of the State His History consisted LXXX Books divided into VIII Decads of which we have only the least part transmitted to us The Five and thirtieth Book is the first of those we have left and we have but summary Abstracts of the preceding Thirty four and an Abridgement of the Twenty last made by Xiphilinus a Monk of Constantinople He had begun his History with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy and pursued it down to Heliogabalus and the beginning of the Reign of Alexander Severus his Successor 'T was under this last Emperor that he Published his History which he had undertaken by the Command of Septimius Severus and the impulse of his Genius for Dion Cassius boasts of a Spirit that directed him and who had done him many a good turn And indeed it looks very strange that a Foreigner rich and powerful shou'd live easie
and Successor of Darius sent another Army of Persians under the command of Mardonius to invade Greece they were again routed at Thermopylae by Leonidas the Lacedemonian at Sea near Salamis by Themistocles the Athenian at Platea by Pausanias the Lacedemonian and at Mycale in Asia by Leotychidas But since we have already mentioned these Things when we treated of the Persian Monarchy we shall not any longer insist upon them We need only observe that after Athens was burnt by Mardonius Themistocles routed the Persians and brought the Athenians back to their City which they fortified and added the Pyreum to it much against the Spartan's Mind Themistocles was at last accused of corresponding with Pausanias the Lacedemonian to betray Greece to the Persians Thô it was improbable and groundless to imagine that he who had hazarded his life in the Defence of his Country should afterwards betray it to an Enemy yet upon this Suspicion he was banished fled to the Persians and afterwards killed himself as Plutarch informs us In this Century Cimon the Son of Miltiades was by the Athenians made Generalissimo of the Army then on foot to drive the Persians out of all Greece He sailed out of the Port of Pyrâ—um with 200 Galleys and routed the Persians both by Sea and Land in one day He was banished by Pericles's Party and recalled by his Means Pericles about this time was Archon or Governor of Athens He wasted Peloponnesus made Peace with Sparta foraged Sicyon subdued Eubea took Samos and routed the Corinthians at Polidea The Athenians in this Period of Time sent a Marine Supply to the Egyptians against the Persians who were conquered The Athenians in pursuing them made themselves Masters of Memphis but within a few years after they had ill Success in Egypt that whole Country falling into the Hands of Artaxerxes 550 In this Century the Grecian Writers of most Note were Anacreon and Pindar Poets Eschylus the Tragedian Herodotus the Historian and Hippocrates the Physician Much about this time flourished Meton the famous Mathematician and Grand Astronomer of Athens who found out that notable Period of 19 years in which space all the different Mutations of the Sun and Moon are compleated and they begin again to move from the same Point of the Zodiack This Discovery was received with so much Applause by the Athenians that they would have it written in Golden Letters in the most publick Place of that City From hence came the Title of the Golden Number the Use of which was handed from the Greeks to the Romans and from them to us Christians 3500. In the beginning of this Century began the famous Peloponnesian War which laâ—â—ed 27 years between the Athenians and the Spartans It first broke out in the first year of the LXXXVII Olympiad when Pithodorus the Archon of Athens wanted but two months of being out of his Office About this time a great Plague reigned in Ethiopia reached to Egypt afterwards to Lybia then to Persia and last of all reached Athens where it proved very mortal Thucydides gives us a large Description of this Plague in his History He speaks of it upon his own knowledge having been himself infected with it Hippocrates in one of his Tracts explains the Nature and the Effects thereof for he practised Physick at that time in Athens Lucretius who lived a long time after this at the end of his Sixth Book gives us likewise a Description thereof borrowing a great many Circumstances from Hippocrates In the 19th year of the Peloponnesian War Ninias designing to draw out the Naval Force of the Athenians very privately by night out of Syragus and to fall upon the Enemy saw about 10 a clock at night an Eclipse of the Moon which so startled him that he laid aside his Design which was the Cause of the Ruin of himself and all the Army After this happened an Engagement between the Athenians and Lacedemonians near Miletum wherein the latter had the Advantage The Oligarchy of 400 was abolished at Athens and that of 5000 was set up which ordered Alcibiades who had been banished to be recalled and his Goods which had been confiscated to be restored to him Alcibiades with Thrasybulus and Theramenus were made Generals of the Armies the Courage and Conduct of these great Commanders caused a new Change of Affairs in Athens all Things looking with a better Aspect than formerly A Sea-fight happened between the Fleet of Mindarus which was joined with the Ships of Syracuse and the Fleet of the Athenians commanded by Thrasillas and Thrasybulus The Victory was a long time very doubtful but at last favoured the Athenians who lost 15 of their Ships and took 21 of the Enemy's This Action happened about Cinossema a Promontory of Chersonnesus in Thrace which Place is noted for the famous Sepulcher of Hecuba which is there Here Thucydides concludes his History There happened another Sea-fight in the same place between the Athenian and Lacedemonian Fleets which last got the Victory under the Command of Hegefandride their Admiral Alcibiades Thrasybulus and Theramenus went to the Relief of Cyzicus which Mindarus the Commander of the Lacedemonians would have taken by Storm They came to an Engagement wherein the Athenians were Conquerors both by Sea and Land and Mindarus being hotly engaged in the Fight was slain The Athenians intercepted the Letters which the Secretary of Mindarus wrote to the Ephori of Lacedemonia concerning the Loss they had at Cyzicus the Stile whereof is very Laconical The Engagement has been sharp Mindarus was killed the Soldiers perish for want of Provisions and what shall we do The Lacedemonians were so far disheartened at this Defeat that they sued for a Peace but the Athenians refused it being excited to this Refusal by the Demagogues of the City These Demagogues were a sort of Men who were very fierce given to Change and Factious to the utmost of their Power and who by their bold Speeches drew the whole Populace after them But the Athenians often repented this Refusal of Peace to the Lacedemonians and Cleophon the most pestilent of these Demagogues was often reviled for having been the chief Cause of it The Athenians put all the Inhabitants of Miletum to the edge of the Sword took Cleophona and making Inroads the night after into Lycia where Harvest was nigh at hand they burnt up all the standing Corn pillaged the Villages and carried off a great many Slaves Much about this time Alcibiades was accused at Athens of Corresponding with the Lacedemonians and of being privately in League with Tissaphernes in hopes that when the War was over they would assist him in his Design of making himself Sovereign of Athens When Callias was Archon of Athens which was but a few years after the Athenians Successes the Scene of Affairs was much changed for in a Sea-Fight between the Athenians and Lacedemonians the former were routed And the next year the Athenian Fleet consisting of 180 Sail was taken
among the Canonical Writings of the New Testament This City was at first called Ephyra afterwards Heliopolis i. e. The City of the Sun It was famous for its Painters Architects and Carvers and was built by Sisâ—phus Corinth in the several Risques of Fortune which it has run has appeared to the World under VI. distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Corinth under the Race of Sisyphus of which there were X. Kings which lasted 269 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2543. 1. Sisyphus The same with him who as the Poets tell us was condemned to the endless Labour or rouling a Stone up a Hill which no sooner was at the top but rouled down again to the bottom and so renewed his Labour 2. Glaucus the first Instituter of the Ishmian Games 3. Bellerophon He being guilty of Homicide fled to Argos where he was kindly received by King Pretus But it seems Sthenobea the Queen of Argos falling in Love with Bellerophon tempted him to lie with her but upon his Refusal accused him of tempting to violate her Chastity which by the way is much the same with the Story of Ioseph and his Egyptian Mistress Upon this Pretus was offended sent him into Lycia to his Father-in-Law Iolas with Orders to put him to Death But Iolas after several Trials of his Valour so admired him that he not only spared his Life but married him to his Daughter Philonoe 4. Orynthion 5. Phocus 6. Thoas 7. Demophâ—on 8. Propodas 9. Doridas Both Sons of Propodas and 10. Hyanthidas Both Sons of Propodas Under these two last Kings the Heraclides fell into Peloponnesus and became Masters of Corinth 'T is to be observed that History is so obscure about these first Kings that the exact Time and Duration of each Reign cannot be set down Sect. II. The Second State of Corinth under IV. Kings called Heraclides which lasted 144 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2812. 1. Aletes the Son of Hippotaâ— the Son of Antiochus who was Nephew to Hercules He reigned 38 years 1138 2850. 2. Ixion reigned 34 years 1100 2884. 3. Agelaus reigned 37 years 1066 2921. 4. Prymnis reigned 35 years 1029 Sect. III. The Third State of Corinth under VIII Kings called Bacchides which lasted 215 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2956. 1. Bacchis reigned 35 years 994 2991. 2. Agelaus reigned 30 years 959 3021. 3. Eudemus reigned 25 years 929 3046. 4. Aristodemus reigned 35 years 904 3081. 5. Agemon reigned 16 years 869 3098. 6. Alexander reigned 39 years 852 3137. 7. Telstes reigned 34 years 813 3171. 8. Aristomenes or Automenes reigned only one year 779 Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3172. The Fourth State of Corinth was under Annual Magistrates which lasted 121 Years viz. From the Year of the World 3172 to the Year 3293. At this time the Government was changed into Aristocracy For 200 of the Bacchides ruled in Common and only created a Prytanis every Year from among themselves till at last it fell under the Tyranny of Cypselus and Periander who reigned about 73 Years 778 Sect. V. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3245. The Fifth State of Corinth was that of the Re-establishment of their Liberty By this means it became a Free Republick and had a great Share in the Wars carried on by the Grecians against the Persians and in the Wars between the Athenians and Lacedemonians as has been already observed This State lasted about 439 Years Sect. VI. The Sixth State of Corinth was under the Romans of which we shall have occasion to speak when we come to the Roman Monarchy CHAP. XIII Of the Mycenians MYcene was a City of Peloponesus situated between Argos and Corinth It was founded by Lacedemon the Son of Semelé But the Kingdom of Mycene was founded by Perseus the Son of Danae after he had killed by an Accident his Grandfather Acrisius King of Argos So that this State is to be looked upon only as a Continuation of the Kingdom of Argos the Regal Authority being translated thence by Perseus to Mycene about the year of the World 2641 before Christ 1309. This Kingdom or State lasted 218 Years under VII Kings Years of the World Years before Christ. 2641. 1. Perseus reigned about 57 years Before he was King he did many great Exploits among the rest overcame the Gorgons three Sea-Monsters 1309 2708. 2. Sthenelus succeeded his Father and reigned 8 years 1242 2716. 3. Eurystheus succeeded his Father Sthenelus and reigned 43 years In his time lived Hercules said to be the Son of Iupiter and Alcmena who by Eurystheus was injoined to destroy divers Monsters in hopes that he would have been killed by them But he always returned home Conqueror which gave an occasion to the Story of the twelve Labours of Hercules Eurystheus jealous of the growing Greatness of this Hero made War against the Heracâ—idae wherein he and all his Sons was killed 1234 2759. 4. Atreus and Thyestes the Sons of Pelops and Grandsons of Tantalus reigned conjunctly the space of 8 years They had another Brother named Plisthenes who died whilst young and committed the Care of his two Sons Agamemnon and Menelaus to his Brother Atreus He married Aerope the Mother of these Children and Daughter to Minos with whom Thyestes was caught in the Act of Adultery Atreus was so enraged that he first banished his Brother then recalled him within a while after and having killed his Sons dress'd them and served them up to him to be eaten Hence arose the Proverb of Thyestes's Supper 1191 Atreus after the Death of Eurystheus became Master of all Peloponnesus and put the Heraclidae to flight 2767. 5. Agamemnon reigned 15 years He declared War against the Trojans in the Behalf of his Brother Menelaus After Troy was taken he returned home but was there immediately killed by Aegysthus and his own Wife Clytemnestra who lived in Adultery with Aegysthus 1183 2782. 6. Aegysthus the Son of Thyestes born in Incest after the Death of Agamemnon succeeded and reigned 7 years 1168 2789. 7. Orestes the Son of Agamemnon revenged his Father's Death upon Aegysthus and his own Mother Clytemnestra whom he slew After which he ran mad but was restored to his Senses at the Altar of Diana in Taurica He reigned 70 years over Lacedemonia and Mycene 1161 2859. Orestes left two Sons behind him viz. Tisamenes and Penthilus who were Dethroned by the Heraclidae as they were returning to Peloponnesus 1091 CHAP. XIV Of the Thebans BOEOTIA one of the States of Greece was bounded on the West by Phocis on the East by the Eubean Sea on the North by Locris and on the South by Attica and Megaris The Metropolis of this Country was Thebes but who built it is uncertain Calydnus is said to have reigned first in that Place after him Ogyges but last Cadmus But since the Account of the Thebans before the Reign of Cadmus is very obscure we shall pass that
by and begin our Account with him Years of the World Years before Christ. 2525. The State of the Thebans under XIV Kings which lasted 295 Years 1425 1. CAdmus was the first King of the Thebans The Grecians tell us that he was the Son of Agenor who sent him and his other two Brothers in quest of their Sister Europa whom Iupiter had ravished forbidding them to return unless they brought their Sister with them That Cadmus at last after many fruitless Journeys came into Boeotia where despairing of ever meeting with his Sister being admonished by the Oracle he built or as 't is most probable repaired Thebes and added a Fort to it which from him was called the Cadmean Fort That he married Harmonia the Daughter of Mars and Venus of whom he had one Son named Polydorus and four Daughters Semele Ino Autonoe and Agaâ—e That he at last warred against the Illyrians conquered and reigned over them leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to be governed by his Son Polydorus This is the Account which the Grecians give us of Cadmus But thô they in Honour to him say he was a King's Son yet the Sidonians his Countrymen deny it and affirm that this Cadmus was only the King's Cook and that he ran away with a certain Musick-Girl called Harmonia His coming into Greece was about the same time that Ioshua governed Israel so that it may be very justly supposed that he carried a Colony of the Canaanites whom Ioshua had expelled into Greece Whether this or the other Account be truest we shall not here stand to determine thô upon very weighty Reasons the latter seems to be most probable However most agree that this was the Man who first brought Letters into Greece from Phenicia 2. Polydorus succeedded his Father married the Daughter of Nycteus by whom he had one Son Labdacus whom at his Death he left to the Care of his Father-in-Law 3. Labdacus succeeded In his time Epopeus the King of Sicyonia ravished Antiope the other Daughter of Nycteus upon which a War broke out between them wherein they both died of their Wounds which they received Upon the Death of Nycteus his Brother Lycus was made Labdacus's Governor who administred the Government so faithfully that Labdacus upon his Death committed his Infant Son Laius to his Care 4. Laiùs succeeded his Father In his Reign his Governor Lycus having punished Antiope according as Nycteus had ordered him was at War with her two Sons Amphion and Zethus and was killed by them in an Engagement Thebes was taken by them and the young Child Laius very narrowly escaped 5. Amphion and Zethus reigned over Thebes Amphion built Walls round Thebes married Niobe the Daughter of Tantalus and Sister of Pelops who having a great many Children boasted that she was a better Breeder than Latona her self which occasioned her to lose them all For Apollo was commanded to kill all the Males and Diana all the Females upon which Niobe was so stupified that the Poets feign she was turned into a Stone Thô this Account is rather Romance than true History yet we thought it would not be amiss to insert it that so our young Reader may have some Light even in the Fictions of the Poets which he may meet with A while after Amphion and his whole Family were cut off by the Plague Zethus pin'd away upon the Death of his Son whom his Wife had unfortunately killed and these Brothers being thus removed the Thebans restored Laius again to the Throne Laius married Iocasta the Daughter of Meneceus by whom he had a Son but the Oracle advising him to beware of him he bound his Feet and exposed him in order to make him away The infant was according to his Order exposed but found by a Shepherd and brought to Polybus King of Corinth He took care of the Child brought him up as his own and cured him of the Swelling which he had in his Feet from whence he was called Oedipus A long time after Laius uncertain what was become of his Son and Oedipus ignorant who were his Parents both went to make their Enquiries at the Oracle In Phocis they met by chance where Laius very roughly commanding him to give the way was killed by his Son whose hot Blood it seems could not brook such rude Provocation 6. Upon the Death of Laius Creon the Brother of Iocasta usurped the Throne till such time as Oedipus did explain the Riddle of the Monster Sphinx For all Travellers who passed by where she sate had the Riddle proposed to them upon these Terms That in case they could not explain it they should be put to Death but whoever did should marry Iocasta and be King of Thebes Oedipus unriddled the Riddle and married his own Mother Iocasta after he had killed his Father Both which he did ignorantly At last a full Discovery was made both of the Murder and the Incest of Oedipus upon which Iocasta hanged her self and he was kept Prisoner by his Sons sent to Athens and there died with King Theseus 7. Eteocles and Polynices the two Sons of Oedipus agreed to reign alternately but Eteocles being once upon the Throne would not let his Brother have his Turn in the Government Upon this Polynices made his Aplication to Adrastus King of Sicyon his Father-in-Law Adrastus to revenge the Affront marched at the Head of an Army and sat down before Thebes After many dubious Skirmishes it was agreed That the two Brothers should determine the Quarrel by fighting a single Duel They accordingly fought and killed each other but did not put an end to the Contest for a sharp Engagement followed wherein the Soldiers of Adrastus were cut off and himself rid away full speed for his Life 8. Laodamas the Son of Eteocles succeeded but being in his Minority Creon the Brother of Iocasta was his Governor Within ten years after the Sons of those who were cut off in the last Battel to revenge themselves upon the Thebans raised another War wherein Thebes and Laodamas were taken 9. Thersander the Son of Polynices set up by the Victors who leading the Beotians against Troy was slain by Telephus in Mysia 10. Pencleus made King by the Beotians but engaging with Euryphilus the Son of Telephus was slain in the Battel 11. Tisamenus the Son of Thersander succeeded 12. Damasicthon the Son of Opheta and Nephew to Pencleus 13. Ptolemeus succeeded 14. Xanthus the last King of Thebes was killed in a Duel by Melanthus the Messenian With him ended the Kingdom of Thebes which was turnâ—d into a Common-wealth in the year of the World 2820 before Christ 1130. But still the Thebans had a great Share both in the Intestine and Foreign Wars with which Greece was engaged as appears in the Accounts we have given of Athens and Lacedemonia CHAP. XV. Of the Macedonians THE Kingdom of Macedonia or Macedon so called from Macedon the Son of Osiris or as some say from Iupiter and Aethra was bounded on the West
memorable Actions against that King routed him and Tigranes King of Armenia often and in a short space reduced all Pontus except a few Places to the Romans About this time Spartacus the Gladiator having raised an Army of about 70000 Vagabonds and overthrown many of the Roman Commanders was conquered by Licinius Crassus the Proconsul in Apulia Whilst Lucullus was carrying on his Conquests over Mithridates and Tigranes Pompey was sent first to scour the Seas of the Pyrates who were sent out by Mithridates to infest the Italian Coasts which having done upon his return he was made Commander in Chief against Mithridates and his Allies Upon this he set upon his Expedition subdued Mithridates and Tigranes the latter of them made Peace with the Romans but the former being Deposed and made Prisoner by his Son Pharnaces got an honest Gaul to put an end to his Life Pompey marched against Darius the Median and Antiochus King of Syria for molesting the Roman Allies Afterwards he went into Iudea entred Ierusalem and made all Iewry Tributary to Rome At length he returned home loaded with Honour and Glory obtained a Triumph which lasted two days wherein appeared the Son of Tigranes with his Wife and Daughter Zozima the Wife of Tigranes himself Aristobulus King of Iudea the Sister of King Mithridates with her five Sons and some Ladies of Sâ—ythia Whilst Pompey was abroad a horrid Conspiracy was carried on at home by Catiline and his Accomplices which was discovered to Cicero the present Consul by Fulvia the Courtesan of Q. Curius one of the Plotters Upon this Catiline was banished several of the Conspirators apprehended and put to Death and the whole Plot was quashed by the Vigilance and Care of Cicero who was the first Man that was stiled the Father of his Country After these Disturbances Cesar who had been Questor and Aedile was made Pretor and afterwards attained the High-Priesthood Upon the expiring of his Pretorship he procured the Government of Spain prevailed upon Crassus a wealthy Man to be his Security for 830 Talents having run so far in Debt by his Profuseness returned to Italy stood for the Consulship and entred into a Combination with Pompey and Crassus who were stiled the first Triumvirate and managed the Affairs of Rome at their Discretion XV. Period from the First Triumvirate to the Dissolution of it by the Death of Crassus and Pompey and to the Perpetual Dictatorship of Cesar which takes in the time of 15 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3892. We are now arrived to that part of the Roman Affairs which make up a great part of their History but yet to keep to our proposed Brevity we shall relate only the principal Matters and that as briefly as possible The first Effect of this Triumvirate was the promoting Cesar to the Consulship one Bibulus being his Collegue As soon as Cesar was Cousul he confirmed all Pompey's Acts won the Commonalty over to him by preferring and enacting a Law for dividing certain Lands in Campania among such poor Citizens as had three Children or more procured the Province of Gaul to be assigned him for 5 years and accordingly at the end of his Consulship marched thither with four Legions 58 Before he went away he married his Daughter Iulia to Pompey procured his two Friends Gabinius and Piso to be made Consuls and Clodius one of the Tribunes In his Absence Cicero was banished by the Instigation of Clodius and Cato sent against Ptolemy King of Cyprus Cesar's first Enterprize was against the Helvetians whom he defeated and killed near 200000 of them After this he turned his Forces against Ariovistus King of Germany who had molested the Sequanians the Roman Allies had an Interview with him came to an Engagement and defeated him killing about 80000 Germans upon the Spot The next year Cesar marched against the Belgae who had confederated against the Romans gave them Battel defeated them and the rest bordering upon the Sea-Coast yielded After this he led his Army against the Nervians and cut them all in Pieces Upon the News of these Victories the Senate of Rome decreed a solemn Festival for 15 Days and this year Cicero was recalled from Banishment The next Spring Cesar designing for Italy sent out Servius Galba one of his Lieutenants against the Antuates Veragres and Seduni whom within a short time he defeated Soon after his return from Italy he marched against the Veneti and subdued them and about the latter end of the Campagn went against the Morini and Menapii but did nothing against them In the mean time Crassus and Sabinus two of his Lieutenants subdued the one the Sontiates and the other the Vnelli This Winter Cesar went to Italy took up his Head Quarters at Lucca where the Triumvirate entred upon new Measures and Pompey and Crassus being made Consuls continued Cesar five years longer in his Government in Gaul and assigned Syria and the Parthian War to Crassus and Africk and Spain to Pompey And by this time Cesar had got wherewithal to pay his Debts and make Presents to his Friends In the fourth year of Cesar's Expedition he fought an Army of Germans being 430000 strong defeated them entirely cast a Bridge over the Rhine relieved the Vbii returned and crossed the Seas to Britain made them submit and returned again to Gaul and reduced the Morini and Menapians The next year he crossed again into Britain gave them Battel defeated them and their General Cassivelan sent to him for a Treaty Upon his return into Gaul he relieved Q. Cicero one of his Lieutenants who was besieged by the Eburones The sixth Campagne Cesar reinforcing his Army with three Legions more and as many Auxiliaries as he could get subdued the Nervii Senones Carnutes and Menapii crossed the Rhine a second time marched against the Suevi turned his Arms against the Eburones returned to Gaul and put the Sicambri to flight who had set upon Cicero's Camp After this he fell afresh upon the Eburones and then called a Council in Gaul to punish all Revolters and for the supplying his Army with Necessaries Whilst Cesar was thus Successful in Gaul Crassus raised his Levies for the Parthian War in his Journey marched through Ierusalem rifled the Temple of its Treasure to the value of 10000 Talents fell upon the Parthians but was routed and killed by them Thus fell Crassus one of the Triumvirate and by this means gave rise to the Contests between the other two which soon after ensued Pompey kept at Rome and did all he could to lessen Cesar and to raise his own Esteem After the Death of Crassus great Contests happened in Rome Clodius was killed by his great Enemy Milo and Milo was banished to Marseilles Pompey was made Consul alone and afterwards took Scipio Metellus for his Collegue having lately married his Daughter Cornelia In the mean time Caesar carried on his Conquests in Gaul and in two years time compleated them He put in for the Consulship