notorious uncertainty of their Accounts for every Body that has studied History knows that the Chaldeans or Babylonians assign'd their Monarchy Myriads of Years and boasted of their Astronomical Observations for an extravagant number of Ages and their Histories are so full of Lies that Aristotle reckon'd among the Tellers of Fables those that wrote of the Assyrians Polit. v. 10. Nor are the Egyptian Accounts of Time more to be credited for by reason of an Emulation between them and the Chaldeans for Antiquity they have had recourse to extravagant Fables and tell us That the Gods and Demy Gods reigned in Aegypt 34201 Years before that Empire fell into the Hands of Men and the Accounts they give since that time are altogether uncertain and imperfect for notwithstanding the Care that they are said to have taken in preserving their History Science c. by inscribing it on Pillars and maintaining Colleges of Priests for its Propagation yet their History is so imperfect that even in the Days of Herodotus they could give no certain Account of the building of the Pyramids or the Time of their great Monarch Sesostris and Plato has declared in his Timaeus That the Aegyptian Priests whom the Greeks so often consulted to know the Origine of the World were miserably ignorant of Antiquity The Chinese Chronology is still less to be regarded for not only are their Histories dated many Ages before the Creation and full of incredible Stories and Extravagances as for Instance 'T is related that a certain Hauzu who liv'd in the time of Confucius lay four-score Years in his Mothers Womb but also their own Chronologers differ in their Accounts for Su-ma-quam a famous Annalist of China who lived about the Year 1066. of the Vulgar Aera does not make their Empire so ancient as the rest of the Historians of that Nation for whereas they make it begin at Folci Su-ma-quam places it above 250 Years lower and maintains that Hoam-ti was their first King Wherefore though the Science of the Chaldeans and Egyptians has been so famous in the World and the Wisdom of the Chinese be so much talk'd of now adays their Chronology at least ought not to bear any great Authority among us and much less ought the Sacred History of the Bible to be sacrificed to it Tho' the Chronology of the Septuagint Bible be by some prefer'd before the Vulgar yet 't is utterly irreconcilable with the Antiquities of the Chaldeans and Egyptians the former only carrying the Times higher by 1500 Years than the Vulgar Account whereas the latter pretend the World to be Forty thousand Years older And whatever Esteem the Chronology of the Septuagint may have among some Men either because 't is made use of in the Martyrology of the Church or because Baronius is pleased to follow it yet 't is certain that the Church does not prefer it to that of the Hebrew Bible which it looks upon to be most Authentick and a great many Men famous for their Piety as well as Learning are of the same Opinion 'T is true the Chronology of the Septuagint is in the Roman Martyrology but it does not from thence follow that it ought to have the Preference The Reason of its being there is because the Church had always an Esteem for what was Ancient and her greatest Care being to preserve the more solid Goods such as are the Articles of Faith the Points of Morality and the Rules of Discipline she did not much regard these Trifles of Chronology but left them to be discussed by her Learned Disputants provided they manag'd them with that admirable Temper so conspicuous in S. Augustine who says with relation to these Matters Eligo tantam Ignorantiam confiteri quam falsam Scientiam profiteri i. e. I had rather own my Ignorance in these Things than pretend to a false Knowledge After all it must be confessed That a Man ought not to be too anxious or supercilious in Point of Chronology because 't is impossible to make it hang together so well as to put it beyond Dispute The Records of Antiquity as well Sacred as Prophane leave us too much in the Dark to pretend to it There will be still insuperable Difficulties and we shall meet with a thousand Instances wherein it will be impossible for us to know whether we be in the Right or no. To prove this we shall produce Five very prevalent Arguments Five Reasons of the uncertainty of Chronology I. The vast difference there is about Chronology betwixt the Bible of the Septuagints and our Vulgar causes such a Perplexity that a Man does not know which way to get out of it The Greek Bible reckons 1500 Years more than the Hebrew and Latin Bibles from the Creation of the World to the Birth of Abraham and the Misfortune is that one cannot tell on which side the Error lies Some accuse the Greek Bible of extending the Times too far Others maintain That the Iews have contracted them too much and that their Corruption of the Hebrew Bible has occasioned the same Mistakes in the Latin Version This Dispute is the more troublesome as it is a hard Matter to decide it One Thing however is certain which is That S. Augustine lays the Fault upon the Greek Bible or rather upon those that first Transcrib'd it from the Original of Ptolemus Philadelphus who as he pretends have introduced 1500 Years too many in the Lives of the Patriarchs De Civit. Dei Lib. 15. Cap. 13. But every Body is not of S. Augustine's Opinion And the Author of The Antiquity of Times restored with a great many more has very different Thoughts and speaks quite another way of the Greek Bible So difficult it is to know which Side to be for in this Dispute II. It is very difficult to compute the Chronology of the Bible exactly by reason that in the Succession of the Judges of the People of God and the Kings of Iuda and Israel the Scripture makes no difference between a growing and a compleat Year whereas it is not to be imagin'd that a Patriarch a Judge or a King did live just 900 100 or 60 Years without any odd Months and Days Wherefore as Theophilus of Antioch wisely observes it is impossible exactly to determine the Times of the Patriarchs and Kings Ad Autol. Lib. 3. Therefore Chronologers are obliged to suppose a great Improbability viz. That the Years of the Pedigrees of the Bible are always fully expired and compleat Now if these Years be but just begun and a Man reckons them for whole and compleat ones he will stretch out and lengthen the Times but on the contrary if the Holy Writers have omitted the odd Months and Days of growing Years 't is most certain that we shall shorten and contract the Times if we keep precisely to the computation of the Bible Therefore in Matters of Chronology we must of necessity be satisfied with Conjectures and Probabilities upon a thousand Occasions We must
not certainly known who compil'd this Book tho' some ascribe it to Samuel It represents the Republick of the Iews under the Dominion of Iudges counting from the death of Ioshua to that of Sampson It contains a Series of History of it may be 317 Years that is to say from the Year of the World 2570 to 2887. Therein the Israelites are to be found groaning under very severe Hardships God having delivered them over to the Power of their Enemies for the Punishment of their Idolatries VIII Ruth This Book whose Author is not known contains an Example of uncommon Piety and of the singular Providence of God Ruth a Moabitish Woman being not willing to forsake her Mother-in-Law follows her till she comes into her own Country where God so employs his Providence for the Welfare of Ruth that she marries for her second Husband Boas a very rich Man of that Country and becomes Mother of Obed Grand-father of David from whom our Saviour Iesus Christ descended according to the Flesh. There is no doubt but this History of Ruth hapned in the time of the Iudges 'T is said to be during the Administration of Samgar about 28 Years after the death of Ioshua IX The first Book of Samuel contains all that passed under the Governments of Heli and Samuel as likewise under the Reign of Saul for about the space of 101 Years that is from the Year of the World 2848 to 2949. X. The second Book of Samuel comprehends all the Reign of David during 40 Years XI The First Book of Kings contains the History of Solomon's Reign as likewise how his Kingdom was divided after his Death Afterwards it treats of Four Kigns of Iuda There is in this Book a Series of History for the space of 126 Years XII The Second Book of Kings contains the several Reigns of 12 Kings of Israel to the Destruction of that Kingdom and of 16 Kings of Iuda to the Captivity of Babylon This Book also relates wonderful Things of Elijah and Elisha his Companion It contains in all the History of 308 Years The Author of the First and Second Books of Kings is unknown but all together include the space of 597 Years XIII The First Book of the Paralipomenes or Chronicles XIV The Second Book of the Paralipomenes or Chronicles These two Books are so nam'd because they contain the Acts and other Circumstances which had been omitted in the foregoing Historical Books This Second ends at the Year of the World 3468. where ended likewise the 70 Years of Captivity when Cyrus gave Liberty to the People of Iuda to return into their own Country to build their Temple and the Walls of Ierusalem 'T is commonly thought that Esdras was Author of these two Books XV. The First Book of Esdras according to the common Opinion was written by the Person whose Name it bears It contains the History of the Captivity of the Iews with their Deliverance and Re-establishment in Iudea from the first Year of Cyrus his Reign to the 20th of Artaxerxes sirnam'd the Long-handed All which comprehends the space of 28 Years computing from the Year of the World 3468 to 3550. XVI The Second Book of Esdras was compil'd by Nehemiah It begins at the 20th Year of Artaxerxes and continues even to the beginning of the Reign of Darius his Son sirnam'd the Bastard which comprehends the History of the Iews during 31 Years and extends to the Year of the World 3581. XVII Tobit There are those that are of Opinion that Tobit the Father and the Son were the Compilers of their own History but this carries no Authority along with it Tobit was one of those Israelites that was transported out of Samaria by King Senacherib This Book includes several great Examples of Virtue and excellent Principles of Morality You may there observe Tobit faithful to God even under strange Trials His Charity the Care he had to bury the Dead his Patience after he had lost his Sight and finally his admirable Instructions of Piety to his Son Tobit the Son informs us with what Dispositions we are to engage in Marriage In a word the Providence of God towards all those that put their Trust in him shines throughout the whole course of this Book XVIII Iudith The Author of this Book is by no means known Huetius was of Opinion That it was writ during the Captivity in Babylon tho' the History of Iudith related in this Book hapned according to the Opinion of the Learned before this Captivity Thus it is thought that this wonderful Expeditâ—on of that Pious Widow who was 64 Years old when she cut off Holofernes's Head was transacted after King Manasses was Re-establish'd Iudith liv'd 41 Years after this bold Action that is to say to the Year of the World 3389. when she was 109 Years of Age. XIX Esther The History of Esther hapen'd under the Reign of Darius Son of Histaspes It is Ahasuerus who is all along mention'd in this Book The Composure of it is attributed to Mordecai but it appears to me that Esther might also have had a hand in it XX. Iob. It is thought that this Book was first written in Arabick and afterwards Translated into Hebrew by Moses The History of Iob can by no means be a Fiction the Persons and Nations therein mention'd by their proper Names the several Testimonies of Tobit Ezekiel and S. Iames together with the Sentiments of the ancient Fathers ought to convince us that this Story is true Iob was either before Moses or else at the same time with him and this History probably hapned during the Israelites being in the Desert because there is no mention made in it of the written Law XXI The Psalms These are commonly ascrib'd to David altho' there be many that are none of his and which have been written a long time after his Death as well by Esdras as other Prophets XXII The Proverbs of Solomon This Book was Compos'd by him whose Name it bears and contains excellent Precepts of Life as well in what relates to the Service of God as our duty towards our Neighbour XXIII Ecclesiastes also belongs to Solomon This Book decries perfectly the Vanity of the greatest Enjoyments in this World XXIV The Canticles or Song of Songs is also of Solomon This Book is altogether Mystical It describes in a very lively manner the incomprehensible Love of Christ towards the Church his Spouse as likewise the Churches return to Christ. S. Ierom observes that among the Iews none were suffer'd to read this Book till they had attain'd the Age of 30 Years so that we may say with this Father That Solomon writ his Proverbs for those that were just entred in the Paths of Piety his Ecclesiastes for such as were somewhat advanc'd But for his Canticles they requir'd a Mind altogether elevated and disengag'd from the Clogs of this World XXV The Book of Wisdom This Book contains the Spirit and many other Things of Solomon altho' in all
make up the Breach between the young Queen and King Ptolemy who afterwards took an Occasion to fall out with Cesar. They declared War against each other Cesar was like to have been cut off but at last Ptolemy was conquered and drowned in his flight After this Cesar became Master of all Egypt which he was not then willing to make one of the Roman Provinces For he bestowed this great Kingdom on his Mistress Cleopatra for some private Favours he had received of her and to secure the Government to her married her to the younger Brother of Ptolemy 65 3904. 12. Ptolemy Iunior reigned in conjunction with Cleopatra who had the entire Authority in her own Hands because her young Brother whom she had married was not above 11 years old 46 3909. Mark Anthony charmed with the Beauty of Cleopatra abandoned the War he was engaged in against the Parthians and waited upon that Princess into Egypt where he spent whole Days and Nights in Revellings and Banquetings Pliny makes mention of a Pearl worth 50000 l. which the Queen powder'd and made him drink off to excite him to Venery Whether this be true or no is not so certain as that Anthony married Cleopatra and bestowed upon her Phenicia the Lower Syria the Isle of Cyprus Cilicia Arabia and part of Iudea The Romans were very much offended that he should be so Prodigal of what was none of his own but belonged to them Anthony after he had with great Success conquered Armenia returned back to Egypt where he gave himself up to a thousand Extravagancies He stiled Cleopatra the Queen of Queens and Ptolemy Cesareon her Son he called the King of Kings He never afterwards marched out in any Expedition but took Cleopatra with him 41 3919. Augustus Cesar offended that Anthony had repudiated his Sister Octavia upon his marrying Cleopatra rendred him odious to all the Romans and made Preparations to carry the War into Egypt against that Queen who at Rome was accused of bewitching Anthony The next year a Sea-fight happened at Actium between Anthony and Augustus wherein the former was defeated Soon after they engaged by Land where Anthony's Army was again routed and he forced to fly and was abandoned by his Friends Anthony in despair of Success laid violent Hands upon himself and soon after Cleopatra did the same by applying an Asp to her Wrist as some Authors report By her Death the Kingdom of Egypt was reduced to a Roman Province in the year of the World 3920 before Christ 30 Anno Vrbis Romae Conditae 722. We should now give you an Account of the State of Egypt as it was a Province under LVIII Emperors viz. XLI Roman and XVII Eastern which lasted 667 years to the year of Christ 637 at which time Omar the second Calif and Successor of Mahomet conquered Egypt from Heraclius the Eastern Emperor by Amar one of his Generals But this we shall treat of in the next Volume wherein we shall give you a Succession of the Roman and Eastern Emperors CHAP. VII Of Sicyonia SIcyon was one of the most ancient Cities of the World It was situated in Peloponesus a Peninsula of Greece upon a Hill about two Leagues off the Sea 'T is from this City that Sicyonia a part of Greece derives its Name The Account of this State is the most Ancient of any in Europe but withal the Darkest and most Obscure However to give some Idea of Sicyon we shall consider it under two distinct States which lasted about 966 years Sect. 1. The State of Sicyon under XXVI Kings from Egialeus who began to Reign in the Year of the World 1900 to the 33d Year of the Reign of Zeuxippus in the Year of the World 2833 which lasted 933 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 1900. 1. EGialeus reigned about 40 years 2050 1940. 2. Europs reigned about 35 years 2010 1975. 3. Telchin reigned about 15 years 1975 1990. 4. Apis reigned about 20 years 1960 2010. 5. Thelxion reigned about 40 years 1940 2050. 6. Egirus reigned about 32 years 1900 2082. 7. Thurimachus reigned 45 years 1868 2127. 8. Leucippus reigned about 53 years 1823 2180. 9. Messapus reigned 47 years 1770 2227 10. Peratus reigned 46 years 1723 2273. 11. Plemneus reigned 48 years 1677 2321. 12. Orthopolis reigned 63 years 1629 2384. 13. Melanthus or Marathon reigned 30 years 1566 2414. 14. Marathus reigned 20 years 1536 2434. 15. Echires reigned 55 years 1516 2489. 16. Chorax reigned 30 years 1461 2519. 17. Epopeus reigned 35 years 1481 2554. 18. Laomedon reigned 40 years 1396 2594. 19. Sicyon reigned 45 years from him Sicyonia took its Name which before was called Egialea 1356 2639. 20. Polybus said to be the Son of Mercury by the Daughter of Iupiter reigned 40 years 1311 2679. 21. Inachus or Ianiscus reigned 42 years 1271 2721. 22. Phestus reigned 11 years 1229 2732. 23. Adrastus reigned 4 years 1218 2736. 24. Poliphides reigned 31 years 1214 2767. 25. Pelasgus reigned 33 years 1183 2800. 26. Zeuxippus reigned 33 years 1150 Sect. 2. Years of the World Years before Christ. 2833. THE Second State of Sicyonia was governed by the Priests of Apollo on whom the Administration was devolved after the Death of Zeuxippus This State lasted only 33 years viz. to the year of the World 2866 at which time the Kings of Mycene seized upon this little Kingdom and annexed it to their own Dominions 1117 CHAP. VIII Argos THere were several Places of this Name but the Argos we treat of here was the Capital City of Argia or Argolidis It was situated on the Banks of Planizza which by the Latins was called Inachus Fluvius in Peloponesus Father Coronelli in his Description of the Morea tells us That this City formerly Dared the whole World to shew its Equal for Stateliness and Magnificence We shall consider this Kingdom under two States which lasted about 545 years Sect. 1. The First State of Argos under IX Kings began in the Year of the World 2093 which is 1081 Years before the first Olympiad Years of the World Years before Christ. 2093. 1. INachus reigned 50 years He is reckon'd by the Greeks to be the most Ancient of all the known Kings 1857 2143. 2. Phoroneus reigned 63 years He is said to be the first Law-maker 1807 2206. 3. Apis reigned 35 years He was a great Prince ruled in Egypt and was called Serapis or Osiris as the Greeks report and ruled also in Spain and Italy 1744 2241. 4. Argus reigned 70 years 1709 2311. 5. Criasus by others called Pâ—irasus reigned 54 years 1639 2365. 6. Phorbas reigned 35 years 1585 2400. 7. Triopas reigned 46 years 1550 2446. 8. Crotopus reigned 21 years 1504 2467. 9. Sthenelus reigned 11 years 1483 His Son Gelanor succeeded and was expelled by Danaus Sect. 2. The Second State of Argos under V. Kings called Danaides Years of the World Years before Christ. 2478. 1. DAnaus being driven out of Egypt by his Brother came into Argos and conquered
by the Adriatick Sea on the East by the Egean Sea on the North by the Vpper Moesia and on the South by Epirus Achaia and Thessaly This Kingdom began in the year of the World 3137 under Caranus the Heraclide and lasted 645 years till it became at last a Roman Province We may consider this Kingdom under three distinct States Sect. 1. The First State of Macedon under XX. Kings of which Philip the Father of Alexander the Great was the last which lasted 477 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3137. 1. CAranus the Heraclide founded this Monarchy and reigned 28 years 813 3165. 2. Cenus succeeded and reigned 12 years 785 3177. 3. Thurimos succeeded his Father and reigned 38 years 773 3215. 4. Perdiccas I. succeeded his Father and reigned 51 years It seems he shewed the Place where he and his Successors should be buried 735 3266. 5. Argeus the Son of Perdiccas succeeded and reigned 38 years 684 3304. 6. Philip I. succeeded his Father Argeus and reigned 38 years 646 3342. 7. Aeropus the Son of Philip reigned 26 years He was carried in his Cradle against the Illyrians who thereupon were routed 608 3368. 8. Alcetas succeeded his Father Aeropus and reigned 29 years 582 3397. 9. Amyntas I. the Son of Alcetas succeeded and reigned 50 years 553 3447. 10. Alexander I. Sirnamed the Rich succeeded his Father Amyntas and reigned 43 years He slew the Persian Ambassadors who would have abused the Macedonian Ladies sent two Images of massy Gold to Delphos and Elis and would not be corrupted by the Persians but discovered all their Plots against Greece 503 3490. 11. Perdiceas II. the Son of Alexander succeeded and reigned 28 years 460 3518. 12. Perdiceas III. succeeded but reigned a short time being killed by 432 13. Archelans his Bastard Brother who succeeded and reigned 24 years 3542. 14. Orestes the Son of Archelans succeeded was committed to the Tutelage of Eropus who killed him and succeeded 408 15. Eropus the Governor of Orestes reigned about 6 years 3548. 16. Pausanias the Son of Eropus reigned only one year being put to Death by 402 3549. 17. Amyntas II. the Husband of Eurydice who ascended the Throne and reigned 24 years but had a troublesom time on 't 401 3573. 18. Alexander II. succeeded his Father Amyntas and reigned only one year He sued for Peace from the Illyrians and sent them his Brother Philip as an Hostage who was by them sent to the Thebans 377 3574. Ptolemy Alorites usurped the Throne but was killed by Perdiccas after he had reigned 3 years 376 3577. 19. Perdiccas IV. governed Macedon 5 years He was slain in a Battel fought against the Illyrians left his Son very young whereupon the Macedonians made his Brother Philip II. King within a short time after his Death 373 3588. 20. Philip II. ascended the Throne with a great many good Qualifications He was Courageous and Prudent and when he was Hostage at Thebes he dwelt with Epaminondas a great Philosopher as well as a great General His Conversation with so great a Man was of extraordinary use to him as appeared afterwards in the whole Sequel of his Life And it may be very justly affirmed that the Grandeur of the Kingdom of Macedon the Greatness of Alexander and perhaps the Grecian Monarchy was owing to the Instructions which Philip learnt from Epaminondas He reigned 26 years 362 This King made his Peace with the strongest but subdued the weakest Countries such as the Athenians Pannonians and Illyrians He set all Greece into Flames and took an opportunity from their Divisions of becoming their Master 3595. This year Alexander was born at the City Pella Some Authors tell us that on this very Day Philip received these three extraordinary Pieces of News 1. That Parmenio had defeated the Illyrians 2. That he had won the Prize at the Olympick Games And 3. That he had a Son brought into the World But the Learned Criticks have discovered that these Events were not at the same time What is most certain is that on the Birth-Day of Alexander the Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt by a Villanous Incendiary who was willing by this Act to render his Name famous or rather infamous to Posterity Great Care has been taken to smother his Name but Theopompus in his History tells us he was called Erostratus 355 3605. This year Philip besieged Perinthus a Town in Thrace but the King of Persia jealous of the growing Greatness of King Philip succoured the Perinthians which gave occasion to Philip to think of carrying on a War against the Persians Within a while after he set upon the Athenians and defeated them in the Battel of Cheronea where his Son Alexander about 18 years old signalized himself At last having made Preparations for the War against Persia he was slain at his Daughter's Wedding by Pausanias a young Macedonian to whom he had refused Justice 345 Sect. 2. The Second State of Macedon under Alexander the Great lasted only 13 Years Years of the World Years before Christ 3614. ALexander the Great raised Macedon to the highest Pitch of Grandeur for at last this mighty Conqueror within 12 or 13 years extended the Bounds of his Kingdom so far into Europe Asia and Africa that Macedon might then very justly have been stiled The Mistress of the Vniverse The Danube and the Black Sea bounded his Conquests Northward the River Hydaspes the Indian Sea the Gulphs of Persia and Arabia bounded them on the East and Cyrene the Capital City of Cyreniacum or Pentapolis in Africa bounded them Southward All this large Tract of Country was under his Dominions But having already treated of the Progress of his Conquests in speaking to the Grecian Monarchy chap. 4. we shall not trouble our selves or our Reader with any Repetitions 336 After Alexander's Death at Babylon there happened a long Contest between the Commanders about the Election of a Successor at last they agreed to salute Arideus King This Arideus was Alexander's base Brother whom King Philip had by a Comedian named Philinna Sect. 3. The Third State of Macedon under XVII Kings lasted 155 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3627. 1. ARideus was only a Titular King all his Authority being in the Hands of four Governors or Tutors viz. Perdiccas Python Antipater and Polysperchon When he ascended the Throne he took the Name of Philip Arideus and reigned only 6 years and 4 months for he was put to Death with his Wife Eurydice by the Order of Olympias Alexander's Mother upon her return into Macedon 323 3633. 2. Cassaneder succeeded him and reigned 19 years He returning at the Head of an Army from Peloponnesus besieged the Queen Olympias in Pydna forced her to surrender and put her to Death Afterwards he married Thessalonice the Daughter of Philip and made young Alexander the Posthumous Son of Alexander the Great with his Mother Roxana Prisoners in the Fort of Amphipolis Within a while after a League
VI. Epocha's the Name of every one of which begins with a C. so that all the Secret lies in retaining six Words whose Initial Letter is C. viz. Creatio Cataclysinus Caldaei Cyrus Cittim Caesares But because when a Thing is once well begun it is easy to bring it to Perfection we may also carry the Secret a great way farther For after a little Study upon the Matter I have found Seven other Names that begin with the same Letter by the Help of which we may lead Chronology under XIII Epocha's down to these latter Times Years of the World Years before Jes. Chr. 0. 1. Creation of the World 3950. 1656. 2. Cataclysm or Universal Deluge 2294. 3203. 3. Chaldaean or Babylonian Empire began under Nabonassor whence an Aera is dated 747. 3390. 4. Cyrus the Founder of the Persian Empire 560. 3614. 5. Cittim is an Hebrew Word which signifies the Macedonians from whom came Alexander the Great Founder of the Empire of the Grecians 336. 3804. 6. Carthage conquered 146. 3950 or 3948. 7. CHRIST the Messiah Son of the Eternal Father 0. Years of the Vulg. Aera 8. Constantine the Great first Christian Emperor 312. 9. Clovis I. Christian King in France 481. 10. Charlemaign or Charles the Great Emperor 800. 11. Capet Hugo-Capet the first King of the third Race of the Kings of France 987. 12. Croisade or Holy War undertaken by S. Lewis to fulfil a Vow where he was made Prisoner 1248. 13. Constantinople taken by Mahomet II. who put to Death Constantius Palaeologus call'd Dragoses the last Emperor of the Greeks 1453. It is observable that JESUS CHRIST who makes here the Seventh Epocha is placed just in the middle of XIII So that it is very easy to remember six Words before and six after CHAP. V. A new Division of the Times or the XIV Royal Epocha's of the Vniversal Chronology I Call Royal the following Epocha's because they are fixed and settled either at a King or a Person of Sovereign Authority Young People who generally have good Memories would do well to learn the Series of these Epocha's with the Events I have comprehended under every one of them That this Study may not seem too dry I have illustrated every Epocha by some few Historical Passages or some great and remarkable Action which I have placed at the Head of them the better to strike the â—magination and imprint a more lively and deep Image â—n the Memory These XIV Epocha's comprehend the Universal Chronology since they begin with the Creation of the World and descend down to this present Time I â—ntermix them with the most curious and important Passages both of Sacred and Civil or Prophane History â—hat I may insensibly ingage in this laborious Study those Persons that will read nothing but what 's pleasant â—nd diverting EPOCHA I. Adam or the Creation of the World The 23d October in the Year of the Iulian Period 765. and before the Birth of Jesus Christ 3950. This Epocha reaches to the Deluge and lasts 1656 Years GOD who had been alone during an infinite number of Ages and found in Himself a World a Throne and all Things besides being willing to exert his Omnipotence and communicative Goodness brought forth out of Nothing this vast Universe What he made at first was but a dark empty Chaos without Form and destitute of the Order and Beauty that afterwards appeared in it In six Days God formed the Heavens and the Earth and all that therein is and created Man after his own Image to whom he gave the Command of the Beasts of the Field the Fowls of the Air and all the Things on the Face of the Earth A Female also created He that a Generation of this noble Creature might be continued throughout all Ages This happy Couple he placed in a delicious Paradice which he himself had planted but Sin and Disobedience ruin'd their Felicity and the just God was provok'd to expel them that happy Place cursing the Earth with Sterility and denying them and their Posterity the Fruits of it without Toil and Labour From this divine-form'd Pair have all Mankind proceeded and from this Sin of Theirs have all their Posterity been prone to Vice and subjected to unruly Passions which hurried them on in the commission of Evil and caus'd Rapine and Violence to triumph in the Land from hence it was that Dominion was assum'd by one and taken from him by another and almost nothing but Wars and Revolutions have filled up the Space of Time the Relations whereof is the chief Subject of History Tho' the Scriptures name only three Sons of Adam viz. Cain Abel and Seth it says he begat Sons and Daughters which undoubtedly he did a great number as did also his Sons and Grandsons but the naming of these only being sufficient to make a Calculation of Chronology and deduce the Genealogy of Noah the rest were omitted Years of the World Years before Jes. Chr. 130. Abel a Shepherd is killed by his Brotheâ— Cain 3870â— 130. Seth is born 235. Enos the Son of Seth is born He is the firâ—â— that shews his Zeal for the establishing of God's Worâ—ship 325. Cainam the Son of Enos is born 395. Mahaaleel the Son of Cainam is born 460. Iared the Son of Mathalaleel is born 622. Enoch the Son of Iared is born 687. Methusalah the Son of Enoch is born 587. Lamech the Son of Methusaleh is born 930. Adam dies 930 Years old 302â—â— 987. Enoch VIIth Patriarch being accepted to Goâ— is taken up from the World 365 Years old withoâ—â— dying The Place whither he was translated is unknowâ— to Men. 1042. Seth dies 912 Years old 1056. Noah the Son of Lamech is born 289â—â— 1140. Enos dies 905 Years old 1235. Cainam dies 910 Years old 1290. Mahalaleel dies 895 Years old 1422. Iared dies 962 Years old 1536. Noah 480 Years old is commanded by God to work on the Ark 120 Years before the Deluge 1556. Iaphet is born 1558. Shem is born 1651. Lamech dies 777 Years old 1656. Methusalah dies 969 Years old some few Days before the Deluge or Flood He is the longest-liv'd Man that ever was EPOCHA II. 1656. Noah or the Universal Deluge 2294. This Epocha extends as far as God's Alliance with Abraham and lasts 426 Years THe Wickedness of Man was grown so great that this darling Creature of Heaven became its Aversion and it repented God that he had made him But tho' his Justice provok'd him totally to destroy the whole Race yet because some were found just it pleased the Divine Mercy to permit a Generation of Mankind and of all Creatures for his Service to be preserv'd to the end of the World and therefore when the Crimes of the Inhabitants of the Earth grew intolerable and required an extraordinary Punishment God resolv'd by Water to destroy the whole World of Animals excepting only Eight Persons viz. Noah with his Wife three Sons and their Wives together with a pair of
given him He upon his Grandfather's Advice left the People to choose what sort of Government they pleased who immediately made him King and being established upon the Throne he divided the People into three Tribes each Tribe into ten Curiae and each Curia into ten Decuriae Another Distinction which he made of the People was into Patritians and Plebeians He made choice of 100 of the former to assist him in the Government who were called the Senate Such as he enrolled in this Assembly were called Patres Conscripti the common Title of all Senators for ever after The next thing he did was to settle the Authority of King Senate and People After which he raised 300 young Men out of the Curiae to be a Guard to his Person and made choice of twelve Lictors to be his constant Attendants to punish Offenders and to obey his Commands His next Device to encrease the City was to get Wives for his Subjects whereupon by Advice of his Grandfather and the Consent of the Senate he proclaimed a Feast and Publick Games in Honour of Neptune which caused a great Concourse of Men Women and Children from all Parts In the midst of the Solemnity upon a Signal given the Romans with drawn Swords seized upon 683 Virgins for whom Romulus chose so many Husbands This Act incens'd their Neighbours who immediately prepared for a War against the Romans The Cities of Cenina Antemna and Crustuminum begun the War first but were defeated by Romulus for which he triumph'd and at his return marked out a Spot of Ground upon Mount Capitoline for a Temple â—o Iupiter Feretrius the Place where the Capitol afterwards stood The Sabines who were principally concerned in the late Affront were the most backward but withal the most formidable of those who warred against the Romans They marched against Rome under the Command of their King Tatius took the Capitoline and were very near giving a total Rout to the Romans But the Sabine Women whom the Romans had stolen and married put an end to the War made them Friends and the Sabines came and increased the number of the Inhabitants of Rome The Peace was made on these Terms First That Romulus and Tatius should reign jointly in Rome Secondly That the City should be still called Rome from Romulus but the Citizens Quirites from Cures the Native Place of Tatius Thirdly That the two Nations should be united and as many Sabines as pleased should be made free of Rome Upon this the Capitoline was taken in built upon and inhabited by the Sabines 100 of the principal Men among them being added to the Senate Tatius was soon after killed by the Lavinians and Romulus remained sole Monarch of Rome fought against the Fidenates and others with good Success But thô he was thus engaged in continual War yet he laid the Foundation of Religion and enacted several wholsom Laws At last he was killed as is supposed in the Senate-House and his Body carried away Piecemeal by the Senators who concealed the Murder and reported that he was taken up among the Gods He reigned 37 years After his Death there happened an Interregnum for a whole year but the People being dissatisfied at that sort of Government resolved upon Electing a new King Numa Pompilius a Sabine was chosen who at first refused but at last accepted of the Kingdom 3236. 2. Numa Pompilius succeeded Romulus and reigned 44 years 714 This good King had an opportunity by the Peace he enjoyed to compleat what his Predecessor had begun He first Disbanded the 300 Celeres who were the Guard of Romulus then built a Temple to Ianus brought in the Pontifices Ordained the Vestal Virgins and Instituted the Orders of the Salii and the Feciales and to gain the more Credit and Obedience to his Constitutions he pretended they were dictated to him by the Goddess Eggeria with whom he said that he had often and immediate Converse His Religion was chiefly the Pythagorean Besides those Religious Matters he made many good and wholsom Laws and by both softened the Genius of that rugged People and strengthened that City which had been founded upon War and Bloodshed One of the Principal Things he did was the Reformation of the Year which in Romulus's time was much out of Order 3279. 3. Tullus Hostilius the Son of that Hostilius who in the Reign of Romulus had behaved himself very valiantly against the Sabines in the Citadel was created King by Universal Consent and reigned 33 years 671 In his time the Albans robbed and pillaged in the Roman Territories and the Romans to revenge the Injury did the same to the Alban State upon which a War broke out between them Both Parties drew up their Army in Battalia but agreed at last that the Quarrel should be decided by a Combat of three Persons on each Side and the Conquering Party should have the Preeminence and Command over the other The three Horatii for the Râ—mans and the three Curiatii for the Albans undertook the Combat wherein two of the Horatii were killed outright and the three Curiatii were wounded the third Horatius by a Stratagem fought with and killed the three Curiatii and so went off Conqueror Tullus Hostilius warred against the Fidâ—nates and Veleâ—tes who had in the last War with â—iba drawn their Forces together at Fidenae with a Design of falling upon both Albans and Romans after they had weaken'd themselves in Battel He drew out an Army of both against them and routed them notwithstanding the Treachery of Suffetius the Alban General his Ally who after the Battel was condemned to be torn in pieces by Wild Horses for his double Dealing This King sent and demolished Alba transplanted the Inhabitants to Rome allowed them Mount Celius to live in and granted them all the Roman Privileges After he had conquered the Fidenates he warred with the Sabines and subdued them and began a War against the Latines which lasted several years At last he died some say by Lightning with his whole Family thô more probably by some Treasonable Practices 3312. 4. Ancus Martius the Grandson of Numa was made King and reigned 24 years 638 This Ancus was much of the same Temper with his Grandfather and was for restoring the Religious Ceremonies which had been neglected in the last Reign He was no great lover of Fighting but was at last forced to be a Warriour against his will For the Latines contemning him as a sluggish Prince made Incursions into the Roman Territories Upon this he was obliged to proclaim War against them according to the Ceremonies appointed by his Grandfather Numa He defeated them in several Rencounters forced them to sue for a Peace and obtained a Triumph over them Some of the Latines he transplanted to Rome and granted them the Aventiâ—e Hill to build upon and possess After this he fought with great Success against the Fidenates Sabines Veientes and Volsci whom he subdued Beside these great Actions abroad he did many at
300. In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aleph there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 800. In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schin there 's a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 300 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 700. Finally in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tau there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 400. Now all these Numbers put together make up just 4000. which is the Year of the World of the coming of the Messiah Altho' this be an After-divination of a Thing already past yet we must own that there is in it a great deal of Sagacity and that the happy and precise Agreeableness which is found betwixt the Number 4000. contain'd in this Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that of the Year of the World wherein we place the Birth of the Messiah is not altogether to be slighted This difference among Authors concerning the Time of our Saviour's Birth proceeds chiefly from a Mistake of the Year of the World that Abraham was born in for the old Opinion was That he was the eldest Son of Terah and born in the 70 th Year of his Father's Age but more exact Chronologists particularly Archbishop Usher Sir Walter Raleigh and Dr. Howell say That he was not the eldest Son but born after his two Brethren Nahor and Haran and in the 130 th Year of his Father's Age which makes a difference of 60 Years Now the time from Abraham downward is calculated right enough but by reason of this difference of 60 Years in his time the computation from the Creation which was 1948 or 2008 Years before the Birth of Abraham must necessarily be different also when apply'd to the Years of other Aera's If the old Account be follow'd which places Abraham 's Birth in the 70 th Year of his Father and in the 1948 th of the World then the Year of our Saviour's Birth will fall in with the 3948 th of the World but if the other Computation take place it will be found to be in the 4008 th Year of the World which is 60 Years more Wherefore our Author's Supputation of 4000 Years falls in pretty well with this and may justly enough be follow'd But inasmuch as this Account is modern and not made by the generality of Chronologers we have not chosen to follow it in this Work complying rather with Helvicus and Tallent which being the latest both of good Esteem in the World and the only two general Chronologies in English will to be sure be applied to by our Reader when he desires more particular Information than this small Volume can admit of but he will be puzzled to find what he wants if the Aera's do not agree And then it is but adding 60 to the Year of the World and you have the other Computation also 'T is for this Reason that we have ventur'd to Recede from our Author and make the Accounts all along to comply with Helvicus and Tallent except only that for the sake of a round Number we have follow'd Mr. Tallent and suppos'd 3950 Years from the Creation to our Saviour which being but two Years more than Helvicus can breed no great difference CHAP. IV. The Vsefulness of Chronological Tables to Beginners Different Divisions of the Times in order to help the Memory THE Usefulness of Geographical Maps is now so well known that 't is needless to give ones self the trouble to demonstrate how difficult it would be to learn that Science without them And it must be confess'd that since the Art of making Maps and Globes have been so well known that Study tho' formerly a very crabbed and difficult one is become a meer Diversion and to such a Proficiency may a common Capacity in our Days arrive by these Helps as to Vie with a great Master of Antiquity Of the same Use are Chronological Tables and the Study of History for as Maps by representing to our Sight the Extent of Countries and the Distance and Situation of Towns leave a clear and distinct Notion of them in the Imagination and make an Impression upon the Memory just so do Chronological Tables figurate to us the Series and Concatenation of Times We see there at once the Rise of Great Monarchies â—he Progress they make by impetuous Conquests and â—fterwards how they are canton'd and dismember'd â—nd finally dwindle away and disappear to make Room for others that succeed ' em Also as by a Map we may see the whole Earth at once and observe all the Countries that lie in the same Climate so Chronological Tables give us a Prospect of a general Synchronism that is the History of what â—as happen'd and the eminent Men that have liv'd in â—â—e same Age in all the several Nations of the â—orld By the Use of such Helps the Knowledge one reâ—â—ives is duly digested in the Mind without which the â—â—eatest Learning will make your Head but a confus'd â—â—â—brary And Order ought to be more exactly obâ—â—â—v'd in the Study of History than in any other Sciâ—â—ce because unless you regard the State of other â—ations as well as of that whereof your Author treats 〈◊〉 cannot sufficiently comprehend the Story for an â—istorian has always occasion to speak of other People â—â—an those he immediately writes of but it would too â—â—ch break the Thread of his Discourse to launch out â—o so large Digressions as an Abstract of their Hiâ—â—â—ry would make and he is therefore forc'd to supâ—â—se the Reader already inform'd of it that he may purâ—â—â— the Business he is upon Besides by remembring â—â—at Figure one Nation makes in the World with reâ—â—â—ct to another we shall a great deal the better underâ—â—â—nd the Reasons of Actions and be enabled to make 〈◊〉 truer Judgment of them As for Example To him â—â—o knows That the Persian Monarchy was much deâ—â—â—'d and the People of that Nation drown'd in Luâ—â—ry and Sloth the Victories of Alexander will not appear so Romantick as without that Knowledge they necessarily must Again The Story of Dido and Aeneaâ— will pass well enough upon one that does not know they liv'd at 300 Years distance 'T is therefore undoubtedly true that the Student in History ought firsâ— to be made acquainted with these sort of Tables But as narrow-mouth'd Vessels will overflow if Liâ—quor be pour'd too hastily into 'em and on the conâ—â—trary receive it all if put in gently so the Mind 〈◊〉 Man if charg'd with too much Instruction at once forgets it all Wherefore the young Student ought 〈◊〉 be let by degrees into the Chamber of Knowledge And at first I would shew him only one general Table which should be a kind of Skeleton of this Sciencâ— containing only very remarkable Persons and Thingâ— which afterwards may be compleated and by eaâ—â— Additions all the History of the World inserted This is so reasonable an Axiom that it is of Self-suâ—â—ficient Force
However to give it the better Authâ—â—rity we will set down the Words of Iustus Lipsius 〈◊〉 his 61st Epist. In the Knowledge of Times it is enouâ—â— says he to understand the general Series and Order Things and to see where the Empires Wars and 〈◊〉 remarkable Events have their beginning and end Aâ— he wish'd that some Body would give us such a Tabâ—â— Dionysius Petavius has answer'd his Desire and puâ—â—lish'd Chronological Tables in Latin And of 〈◊〉 Days the like has been done in English in a smâ—â—â— Pocket Volume ingeniously contriv'd by Colonel Pâ—â—â—sons Others have multiplied the Tables to that degâ—â—â— that they make up a whole Book which 't is true are 〈◊〉 more compleat and of excellent Use when the Reaâ—â—â— is grown to more Proficiency Of these Helvicus is 〈◊〉 best unless our Country-man Mr. Tallent may be pâ—â—â—ferr'd And then to make the better Impression on the Mâ—â—mory I would have the whole History of the Woâ—â—â— divided into certain Epocha's which should commeâ—â— from some very notable Action and by Synchroâ—â— apply'd to other Actions by which means the times 〈◊〉 smaller Events would be the better remember'd Again as Geometricians resolve a Problemn by examining it part by part and forming an Analysis so here if the History be divided first into Two afterwards into Three Four or more Epocha's it will much facilitate the Learning 'T is for this Reason that we have made use of this Method proposing first only the great Aera's of the World and our Saviour then divide it into 4 7 and 13 parts the Times whereof having fixed we proceed to set down Particulars in a larger Chronology divided into Fifteen Royal Epocha's 'T is not to be express'd what a vast Light these different Divisions of the Times will give to this Study from which People have always been discourag'd by reason of its Obscurity It is well known That Division among Logicians is one of their best Means of arriving to the exact Knowledge of any Subject in Dispute which made Socrates call it An Art inspired by God §. 1. First Division of the Times into two Parts THe First Part contains all that space of Time from the Creation of the World to the Birth of JESUS CHRIST which according to our Computation through all this Book is of 3950 Years This is properly what they call The Time of the Old Testament During this long Extent we see the Estaâ—lishment and Downfal of three Great Monarchies â—iz the Assyrian Persian and Grecian which have preceded the Empire of the Romans In that space of 40 Centuries we shall find also a â—reat Number of other States Kingdoms and Repubâ—icks the greatest part of which became Roman Proâ—inces when Rome a little before the Birth of the Son of God made her self Mistress of the whole Universe The Second Part contains all the Time elapsed from the Birth of JESUS CHRIST to this present â—ime which according to the Vulgar Computation is â—698 Years This is what they call the Time of the New Testament which space of 17 Ages comprehends all the most considerable Events and Transactions in the Roman Empire in the Eastern and Western Empires in the Kingdoms of France Spain and England and in the other States and Republicks of Europe Asia Africa and America These are the two most important Epocha's in History One is the Creation of the World by the Eternal Father and the other the Restauration of the World by the Son of God consubstantial to his Father §. 2. Second Divison of the Times into three Parts according to Varro VArro divides the whole Series of Ages into three Times the first of which he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obscure and uncertain the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fabulous and the third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Historical I. The obscure and uncertain Time is that from the first Original of Mankind down to the Deluge oâ— Ogiges about the Year of the World 2154. and 17â—â— Years before the Vulgar Aera and 1020 before thâ— Frist Olympiad This Time is called obscure and uncertain because the Historios of the Nations of the World give no Account of what has happen'd for 2â— Centuries II. The fabulous Time begins at the Deluge of Ogiges and reaches as far as the Olympiads that is to thâ— Year of the World 3174. and 776 Years before thâ— Vulgar Aera and lasts 1020 Years It is called fabulous because in effect whatever Prophane Historian have written about those Times is intermixt with 〈◊〉 great many Fables What they relate about the Argoâ—nautes Vlysses Helena Hercules and some others is foâ— incoherent that we know not what to think of it Wâ— must make the same Judgment of the Burning of Troy And if we should strictly examine what Poets have lefâ— us upon that Subject we should perhaps be apt to beâ—lieve That Troy was never but a Fiction of their Imagination What Herodotus relates from the Taking of Troy to the Olympiads signifies very little and is intermix'd with a great many Tales and Romantick Stories If he had been serious in his Accounts of the Scythians Egyptians and several other Nations we should be obliged to call him the Father of Lies and Fables whom Cicero honours with the Title of the Father of History But tho' we should be forc'd to give Credit to those Relations which carry so few Characters of Truth with them we would not therefore be much the better for it since Herodotus's History reaching no higher than Giges King of the Lydians who lived about the Year of the World 3238. and 712 Years before the Vulgar Aera he leaves us at a Loss and in the Dark for about 3300 Years of which he gives no Account What we find in Berosus Manetho Metasthenes Philo and Annius is still very uncertain and there 's a great deal of Reason to doubt whither there ever were Kings that bore the Names which those Authors give them And indeed we meet no where in all the Old Testament with the Name of any of those Kings of the Assyrians so much celebrated by Prophane Historians whereas we often meet with those of the Princes of the Moabites Ammonites Mesopotamia Egypt Syria and others less considerable that have been either the Enemies or Allies of the Iews We must not expect more Light from other Historians Diodorus Siculus begins his History at the Siege of Troy Trogus Pompeius ascends no higher than Ninus and who shall instruct us of what has happened before those Times Christian Religion into whose Hands the Holy Scriptures are deposited can alone by the Light she draws from them connect the first Times into a continued and uninterrupted Succession from the beginning of the World to the Return from the Babylonian Captivity And then as we find more Obscurity in the Accounts of Time in the Holy Scripture we find in requital more Light in the Writings of Prophane Authors However we must observe That the Bible serves only to