roof 42. In the time of this Tarquinius another great blessing as it was counted hapned to the Romans A certain strange woman came to the King Sibyls offering to sell nine books of the Oracles of Sibyl which when he refused to buy at her rate she went away and burning three of them returned and demanded as much for the six Being derided for a mad woman she departed and burning half of them returned with the other three still asking as much as at the first whereat Tarquin astonished sent for the Augures to know her meaning who answered that the nine ought to have been bought and the three were to be purchased at the same Rate The woman after the sale and delivery vanished and never after could be seen Tarquin chose two men out of the Nobility to keep them to whom he allowed two publick servants After his expulsion the people Elected most Noble persons Sibyls books who all their lives executing this Office were freed from all other burthens both Military and Civil to whom onely it was lawfull to look in them No sacred thing was so carefully kept as these Sibylline Oracles They were consulted by decree of the Senate when the Commonwealth was disturbed by any seditions when any great overthrow was received in War or any prodigies hapned They were kept by the Decemviri or ten men appointed to this Office within a Vault under the Capitol in a stone Chest till they perished at the burning of the place Those that the Romans used afterwards were Copied out of such as belonged to other Cities and private persons wherein were some supposititious things which they distinguished by the difference of the Acrosticks 43. The woman that brought those books to Tarquin having the name of Sibylla and there being many found to whom it hath been given besides something is to be said of those women for distinction The first Sibylla or woman Prophetesse to which the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Council of Jupiter was communicated as the word importeth was a Persian according to (a) Vide Ludov Vivem in Augustin de Civitate Dei lib. 18. cap. 23. Varro or else a Caldaean or an Hebrewesse born at Noe a Citie near the Red-Sea her name was Sambetha her father called Barossus and her mother Erymantha The second was a Lybian Themis of Delphos was the third The fourth was called Cumaea because she was born at Cimeriam a Town of Campania in Italy near to Cuma The fifth of Erythrae a Citie of Ionia in Asia at this day called Cabo Bianco The sixth was of the Island Samus her name being Phyto The seventh of Cuma and called Cumana her proper name being Amalthea according to some but Herophile and Demophila according to others Suidas calleth her Hierophile and saith she brought nine books to Tarquinius Priscus and demanded for them 300 Philippines being Gold Coyn of Philip King of Macedonia Pliny contrary to the common account of Writers mentioneth three books not nine and writeth that she burnt two of them But the eighth was called Hellespontiaca being born in the Trojan Countrey upon the Hellespont in a Village named Marmissus near to Gergetium which Heraclides of Pontus affirmed to have flourished in the dayes of Solon and Cyrus The ninth was a Phrygian and Prophecied at Ancyra The tenth was of Tibur by name Albanea being worshipped for a Goddesse at that place near the Banks of the River Aniene wherein her image is said to have been found holding a book in one hand These ten are reckoned by Varro There were several others also (b) Lib. 14. pag. 633. Strabo maketh two to have lived at Erythrae whereof the later flourished in the time of Alexander There was another of Colophon a Citie of Ionia Elissa and Cassandra the daughter of Priamus were accounted Sibyls There were also a Thessalian Marto the daughter of Tiresias the Theban and another of Epirus Moreover Carmentis the Arcadian the Mother of Evander and Fauna or Fatua the sister and wife of Faunus King of the Aborigenes in Italy might be reckoned in the number The siege of Ardea 44. In the work of the Capitol Tarquin employed the people and in other baser works wherewith he even tired them out so that to appease them and especially to recruit his own Coffers he made War against the Rutuli and besieged the rich Citie Ardea five German miles toward the East distant from Rome The quarrel he pretended to be for that they received the Roman Exiles and endeavoured to restore them but the true cause was his thirst after the riches of this most flourishing place once the Metropolis of the Rutuli While he lay before this Town taking great pains to gain it and the other as eagerly resisting yet so as he seemed to have hope to carry it an act of his eldest son Sextus occasioned both the freedom of the one and other Citie Dionysius writeth that he was sent to Collatia about some businesse concerning the War and going to the house of Tarquinius Collatinus his Kinsman Grand-son to Egerius the Nephew of Priscus he ravished his wife Lucretia Sextus Tarquinius ravisheth Lucretia the daughter of Lucretius a Noble Roman Livy and Aurelius Victor relate that the Courtiers drinking together in the Camp before Ardea and with them Tarquinius Collatinus the son of Egerius they fell severally on praising each one his own wife in so much as proceeding to an earnest dispute Collatinus said there needed not many words for that they might see within a few hours how far his Lucretia excelled them all and he desired them to ride to the several places and judge accordingly as they should find Being well heated with wine they agreed to this motion and away they rode They found not Lucretia junketting and idely spending her time as the Kings daughters in law but late at night hard at work amongst her maids so that by consent of all she far excelled the rest and Collatinus nobly entertaining his Guests returned with them to the siege 45. Now was Sextus Tarquinius inflamed with a lustfull desire after Lucretia because of her beauty and as it hapneth towards difficult or forbidden things the more because of her eminent chastity Within few dayes without the knowledge of her husband accompanied onely with one servant he returned to Collatia where being kindly entertained by her he was brought to his bed-chamber but when he thought all asleep having observed where she lay with a naked Dagger he went to her and laying his hand on her breast threatned her with death if she offered to stir He mixed threats with fair words but yet could not prevail till he told her he would first kill her and then his slave whom laying by her side he would report it was for having surprized her in Adultery with him whereby obtaining his prey in the morning he departed When he was gone she sent for her father from Rome and her husband from the Camp
hereby it came to passe as Plutarch observeth that the Kingly power being lesse was not subject to that envy which ruined the affairs of the Kings of Messene and Argos who would not moderate their power nor at all stoop to any popularity and the government here being poised continued longer as freed from the intestine distempers of the neighbour Commonwealth Yet it is also observed by * Machiavelli sopra la prima Decad. di Tito Livio one that the reason of the prosperity and long duration of the Spartan State above that of the Athenian and others is to bee fetched from it's so much partaking of Aristocracy and the want of that influence which the heady multitude had into the greatest affaires elsewhere 25. The general and most probable opinion is that the Ephori were brought in in the time of Theopompus So writeth Aristotle Plutarch and Valerius Maximus yet (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 1. cap. 65. Herodotus having reckoned up several things performed by Lycurgus in the framing of his Commonwealth at length addeth Further Lycurgus ordained the Ephori and Elders of which opinion Xenophon seemeth also to have been in his Treatise of the Lacedaemonian Commonwealth But though they were brought in during the reign of Theopompus yet it is not agreed of who was the principal cause of their creation because the end or design thereof is uncertaian though that ere now spoken of be generally received (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Legibus l. 3. Plato and Plutarch as he confesseth from him will have them created to be as a bridle to the power of the Kings for theirs it must needs be which he calleth hereditary Cicero also in his third Book of Laws testifieth that the Ephori at Sparta were opposed against the Kings as the Roman Tribunes against the Consuls who as well as the Senate were even at the first institution feared by the Commons for that they were the chief Patritian Magistrate at that time and the animosities in that State were caused by the distinction of the two orders Valerius Maximus maketh the same comparison betwixt Ephori and Tribunes and maketh them instituted by Theopompus for this very end whom Plato also seemeth upon the same account to call the third Saviour of the Lacedaemonians so that he must have been at the least instrumental in their institution Aristotle (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Politic. lib. 2. accounteth this Magistracy as the nerves of the Commonwealth joyning the parts thereof together because the people by virtue of it being partaker of Empire was quiet so that the people seemeth especially considered in this Office by which in another place the Philosopher expresly saith Theopompus moderated the power of the Kings But Cleomenes King of Sparta as (d) In Cleomene Plutarch himself relateth the Story affirmed in a speech to the people that Lycurgus having added the Senate to the Kings the Commonwealth was for a long time governed without any other Magistracy Afterwards when the Messenian War was drawn out in length the Kings because they were employed abroad chose some of their friends to administer Justice whom they left as their Deputies over the people and those were called Ephori from their inspection Being at first no other than Assistants to the Kings by little and little they assumed power to themselves and no body aware of it constituted a peculiar Office Hereof he said a sign remained at that day for that the King being called by the Ephori refused to come once and again but at the third call came to them besides Asteropus who first inlarged the bounds of this Office was Ephorus many ages after Their power 26. The power of those Magistrates for what end soever constituted as of others in other places was moderate at the first but in processe of time as the ambition of them and the confidence of the people thereupon increased it exceeded the due and just bounds and made the Government almost degenerate into a Democracy They not onely consulted with the Kings and Senate resolved about the affaires of State and judged of controversies amongst the people but afterwards grapled even the whole power into their hands doing all things themselves that were of moment They governed the Assemblies of the people proposing and gathering suffrages they made and disanulled leagues ordered what forces were to be sent out for which they also made provision they rewarded or punished according to their pleasure other Magistrates calling the very * Agis Kings to account for their lives insomuch that as the Philosopher observeth they obtained a kind of tyranny the onely remedy was that their Office was but annual Pausanias and being five in number the designs and indeavours of one or two were crossed and overthrown by the contrary party nothing being done without the consent of the whole College They rose not up as other Magistrates Vide Plutarch Corn. Nepotem in presence of the Kings with whom they mutually sware every moneth the Kings that they would rule according to the Laws and they in the name of the people to preserve their rule thus ordered safe and entire to them With their entring into their Office the year began constantly in Winter as we learn from Thucydides and from one of them as principal Lib. 5. the year was named who thence was called Eponymus as from the Archon at Athens At their first entrance they were wont to publish an Edict that the men should take off all the hayr from their upper lips Plutarch in Cleomene ex Aristotele and observe strictly all the Laws lest they should be constrained to punish them requiring obedience in a little thereby to inure the people to it In the Wars two of them used to go out with the Kings to assist them in their Councils They were wont to proclame open war against the publick slaves or Helots giving liberty to kill them and thence is to be derived that cruel custom of the Cryptia rather than from any constitution of Lycurgus as Aristotle thinketh The cause thereof as Plutarch judgeth was the conspiring of these slaves against their Masters during the Messenian War The Messenian War 27. In the second year of the ninth Olympiad this War began Pausanius in Messenicis though the ground of the quarrel had been partly laid several years before the bringing in of the Ephori In the dayes of Teleclus Father to Alcamenes now King there being a Temple of Diana in the borders Strabo l. 6 8. to which both the Lacedaemonians and Messenians constantly resorted it hapned that some Spartan Virgins going thither according to the custom were abused by the Messenians Just in lib. 3. and Teleclus indeavouring to prevent the injury was there slain moreover the Virgins for very shame and grief destroyed themselves as the Lacedaemonians told the story On the contrary the Messenians pleaded that at
that he onely could trust and rely upon him Ochus judging then that no delay was to be used procured Harpates the son of Ieribazus who fell in the treason of Darius to murder him Artaxerxes was already so spent with age that he seemed to want but the least furtherance to his death so that word being brought him of the death of Arsames he was not able to bear it but died heart-broken with sorrow after he had lived 94 years in the 43th of his reign in the third of the 104 Olympiad A. M. 3644. about 360 before the birth of Christ He was esteemed mild and loving towards his subjects which opinion was mightily confirmed by the cruelty and paricide of his successor SECT IV. From the death of Artaxerxes Mnemon and the beginning of Ochus to the death of Darius Codomannus containing the space of 32 years 1. OChus succeeded his father Diodorus after whom he was also named Artaxerxes and whose name the Persians put upon his Successors for a memorial of his mild and prosperous Government Some think him by the Persians to have been called Ochosueros Ochus succeedeth or Achosueros and that he is to be taken for that Achesuerus or Ahasuerus the husband of Esther mentioned in Scripture who by the seventy and Josephus after them is named Artaxerxes Some have thought Cambyses to have been the man Jacobus Cappellus alii but he reigned onely seven years whereas above twelve are given to Ahasuerus Neither could Darius the son of Hystaspes be he if the Jews with others rightly accounted the book of Esther to have been the last in order of all the Canonical Scripture of the Old Testament and for that Vashti his wife is thought to be Atossa the daughter of Cyrus it cannot be because he never put away Aâ—ossa on whom he begat Xerxes And although some plead hard for Xerxes because his wife is called by Herodotus Amestris which they take in the Persian tongue to be onely Ham-Esther yet 't is apparent out of the same Author that she was the daughter of Otanes a Persian Satrapa by Religion an Heathen and of a most cruel disposition Besides Ahasuerus in the seventh year of his reign was at Sushan but Xerxes in the seventh of his reign was absent in the War with Greece and though the Greeks corrupted forein names and might call Xerâ—es him whom the Persians named Actachsasta or Artachas-ta yet not one in his own language called Achoschverosch Esther's husband Neither is it probable that Longimanus could be the man who is both in sacred and prophane story called Artach-sasta and Artaxerxes but no where Achasuerus The same may be said of Nothus who both by Nehemiah and Greek writers is called Darius and of Artaxerxes Mnemon concerning whose wife Statira such things are written as can neither agree with Vashti nor Esther Now if that of Esther be the last Canonical book and Nehemiah lived to the time of Darius Nothus then is it probable that Esther lived in the reign of his son or Grand-son and cannot so conveniently be assigned for a wife to any as to Ochus 2. Ochus knowing of how great Authoâ—ity his fathers name was to his subjects and how contemptible he should be after his death was known Polyaenus Stratagem lib. 7. procured of the Eunuchs Chamberlains and Colonels to conceal it for ten moneths and in the mean time sending about the Royal Seal commanded in his fathers name to proclaim Ochus King When all owned and obeyed him as King he then confessed his fathers death and commanded a general mourning according to the custom of Persia and presently took away all Competition filled (a) Justin lib. 10. the Court with the bloud of his kindred and relations no regard being had either to Sex or Age. Amongst the rest he put to death his (b) Valerius Max. lib. 9. cap. 2. Ext. ex 7. Lib. 10. cap. â— sister Ocha being also his mother-in-law with cruel torments and his Uncle with his two sons and Nephews he caused to be set in an empty place and killed with Darts who seemeth well to have been father to Sisigambis mother to Darius the last Persian King whose 80 brethren together with their father Curtius reporteth to have been murdered by Ochus 3. From Ochus revolted Artabazus Diodorus ad Olymp. 106. ann 1. 4. against whom were sent some of the Persian Satrapaes with 70000 men and yet by the help of Chares the Athenian he overthrew them and rewarded Chares with a great summe of money Artabazus revolteth from him which he laid out in the paying of his Souldiers Ochus knowing of this expostulated seriously with the Athenians about it who hearing that he intended with 300 ships to assist their Enemies with whom they were now ingaged in the social War presently clap't up a peace with them Artabazus being forsaken of the Athenians betook himself to the Thebans who ordered Pammenes with 500 men to passe over into Asia to assist him by whose help Artabazus again overthrew the King's forces sent against him in two great and bloudy battels which got no small credit to Pammenes and his Boeotians Yet a few years after Idem ad Olymp. 107. ann 2. when the Thebans were ingaged in the Phocian War and reduced to extremity for want of money they sent to Artaxerxes Ochus and obtained of him 300 Talents which he did as it seemeth to put an obligation upon them to assist him in the War which he renewed against the Egyptians 4. Although Egypt had long before this revolted from the Persian Empire yet Ochus not at all affecting War kept himself quiet for having sent some Armies thither by the treachery or ignorance of their Captains they miscarried so that having several times badly sped though despised on that account by the Egyptians yet being a lover of his ease and quiet he submitted to the disgrace But now at this time about the eleventh year of his reign the Phoenicians and Cyprians taking heart and rebelling also he resolved to chastise them all with Arms and that in his own person and making great provision of all things for the War raised 300000 foot 30000 horse He invadeth Phoenicia and 300 Gallies besides Vessels of burthen The first Tempest of the War fell upon Phoenicia which revolted upon this occasion A famous Citie there was therein named Tripolis consisting according to it's name SECT 4. of three Cities distant a furlong from each other and inhabited by Tyrians Sidonians and Arcadians in which the assembly General of the Phoenicians met and resolved of their most important affairs Herein the Persian Satrapaes and Ambassadors behaving themselves very uncivilly and abusing the Sidonians they thereupon resolved to rebel and perswading the other Phoenicians to side with them for the obtaining of their liberty sent to Nectanebus King of Aegypt to desire him to receive them into confederacy against Ochus Then to begin their hostility they
the name of Consul But he should rather have said that then the name of Judex crept in for it appeareth out of Livie that they were called Judices next after Praetors before the name of Consuls came in The Historian in his third Book speaking of such things as happened in the first year after the writing of the twelve Tables addeth In these times it was the custom not to call the Consul by the name of Judex but Praetor (f) De Ling. Latina lib. 5. Varro out of antient Commentaries confirmeth this and (g) De Legib. lib. 3. Cicero giveth the Etymology of all these Offices thus à praeeundo judicando consulendo Praetores Judices Consules appellantur Some upon good grounds coniecture that after the creation of Praetors who were peculiar Judges the name of Judex was left and that of Consul succeeded which continued to the last Their power 2. The power of Consuls was at first the same with that of Kings allayed onely by plurality of persons and shortnesse of time so that Cicero calleth it Regium Imperium and Regia potestas and the Greeks chose to call them Hypatoi which signifieth those that are most excellent or chief as Dionysius telleth us In the beginning they might imprison and sentence at their pleasure having the power of life and death over the Citizens though scarce the authority to make peace and vvar as Lipsius affirmeth By degrees this great power was diminished and that especially by two things viz. Appeal and Interposing called Provocatio and Intercessio The former was presently brought in after the banishment of the Kings by Valerius Poplicola who preferred a Law for taking away animadversion upon Citizens from the Consuls and giving liberty of Appeal to the People as the higher Judge But by the Interposition of the Tribunes of the people who were afterwards created all actions of the Consuls whatsoever might be obstructed as by the voyce of the people it self whose power and dignity thenceforth dayly increased and took authority over all Magistrates Hereby was that of the Consuls much diminished Yet not quite broken and dissolved as long as the Commonwealth continued their Offices being both many and large For first they were the head of the State all ordinary Magistrates being subject and obnoxious to them except the Tribunes in whose actions they might interpose Secondly they had the chief Command in the War over Citizens and Associates as also over Provinces and Subjects whom they might punish and Authority to appoint Officers in the Army as appeareth out of Cicero and Polybius in several places Thirdly they assembled the people consulted with it preferred Laws also which if enacted bore their names Fourthly they received Letters from Governours of Provinces from Nations and Cities gave audience to Ambassadors and what was to be done either by Senate or people passed through their hands as chief Ministers of State Fifthly as the Senate handled and executed all things in peace and vvar so did they govern it in some sence they assembled and dismissed it therein they asked the Members their opinions counted and divided them and in conclusion they steered the ship of the Commonwealth This was their power while the free State continued but after it was subjected to the power of one person their authority was again much impaired few of all these privileges remaining to them for that the Prince assumed the rights of all Magistrates but especially those of the Consuls and Tribunes Under the Emperours they were employed in consulting the Senate administring Justice assigning Tutors or Guardians manumitting Slaves letting out to farm the Customs which Office formerly belonged to the Censors and managing publick Games besides they had the honour of having the year Characterized by their names as formerly These things will be sufficiently evinced at least most of them in the sequel of this History concerning Roman affairs Certain Rites concerning them 3. There were observed certain Consular Rites which it will rather behove us in this place to relate than scatteredly hereafter to give an account of them First of all the time wherein the Consuls assumed their Office was not set or constant but various till the year of the Citie 532. when both they and other Magistrates entred on the Calends of January having before as * Ad A.M. 3676. Simpson and others observe Commenced on the Calends of Quintilis called July as well as at other times The first day was an high day and very creditable to them the Senate and people meeting at their houses saluting and accompanying them to the Capitol where they took their Oaths and Sacrifized Thence they went to the Senate house where they were ordered by a Senatus Consultum to give thanks to the Prince of the Senate then sent they gifts to their friends and threw money to the people which later expense was afterwards taken away by the Emperours and appropriated to the repairing of aquaeducts They twice swore to govern according to the Laws as all other Magistrates did none being to keep his Office above five dayes except publickly sworn when first they entred once in the Capitol and then again in the Rostra in their hands to whom they succeeded and at the laying down of their Office again at the years end they swore in like manner that wittingly and willingly they had done nothing contrary to the said Laws Another Rite there was as Lipsius termeth it about their power which thereby was so increased as to become as absolute as the Kingly was This was onely upon an extraordinary occasion or in extream necessity when all lay at the stake and the Citie was in danger Then a Decree of the Senate passed in this form Viderint Consules nequid Resp detrimenti accipiat or Dent operam Consules nequid Resp detrimenti Capiat as * De bello Catalin◠Sallust hath it who addeth that this greatest power was given by the Senate to these Magistrates to raise forces make War all manner of wayes to punish Citizens and associates to have both at home and abroad in War absolute command and judiciary power Otherwise without the command of the people no Consul could do any of these things In a word by this Decree was restored to them that power or rather more given which was taken away by the Appeal and other Laws 4. What the Ornaments and Ensigns of the Consuls were we have formerly observed out of Dionysius to which shall be added upon occasion what may be thought requisite The age capable of this Office As for the age wherin a man was capable of this Office (a) Annal. lib. 11. Tacitus observeth that of old it was lawfull at any age to sue for the Consulship and the supream power of Dictator But afterwards being taught otherwise by experience in the 573th year of the Citie the Romans thought fit to set bounds to juvenile heat and ambition This was as (b) Lib. 10. Livy
his Passion and Resurrection to Tiberius and the Senate with the miracles done by him or by them in his name and how the multitude of believers daily increasing he was accounted a God Tiberius hereupon reported the matter to the Senate with his favourable suffrage that Christ might be accounted a God But the Senate because they were displeased that they had not first moved it refused to canonize him and by an Edict commanded that Christians should be banished the City especially by reason that Seianus the great minister of State most obstinately contradicted this Religion But Tiberius by another Edict threatened death to the accusers of Christians These things thus related by (a) Lib. 7. c. 4. Orosius are also witnessed by (b) Ecc. Hist l. 2. c. 2. Eusebius Tertullian and Justin Martyr whereof the testimonies of the two later are incontrolable for in their Apologies they durst not mention such things and cite such testimonies as they must needs know would be easily confuted 84. (a) Apologet. c. 5. Tertullian writeth that Tiberius referred it to the Senate with the prerogative of his own suffrage but they having not approved the thing refused it Caesar notwithstanding remained firm in his resolution and threatned such as should accuse the Christians This he openly asserteth in his Apology to the Pagans writing also in another (b) Cap. 21. place of the same excellent Work that Pilate who in his heart believed in Christ at the same time wrote all the History of him to the Emperour Tiberius whereupon the Caesar ' s themselves had worshipped our Master if their Government in so doing had been consistent with the men of this World and Christians permitted to have been saluted Caesars He giveth another reason why Christ was not at first worshipped as a God There was an antient Law that forbad introducing new ceremonies into Religion as worshipping strange Deities unlesse approved by the Senate and this was an unviolable and unalterable Law to which the Prince himself was subject He instanceth that Marcus Aemilius would have had divine honours rendred to his Idol called the god Albarnus but could not obtain it As for Justin Martyr he maketh it more evident telling plainly the Pagans in his second Aplogy that they may know these things thus to have been in the Acts which were written under Pontius Pilate and again that they might know that Christ wrought such miracles from the Acta or Acts made under Pontius Pilate Now the word Acta signifieth sometimes the Journal Book of the Senate then called Acta Senatus and otherwhiles the Records of the People or of the Publick then named Acta Publica De Actis consulant omaino Tirones Justum Lipsium in Comment ad Taciti Annal. lib. 5. Diurna and Urbana In the former sort was contained whatsoever was done or said by the Fathers In the later things concerning the People as Publick Judgments punishments Assemblies buildings nativities the death of eminent persons mariages and divorces These afforded matter for Historians to digest and adorn Now Justin Martyr either meaneth those Acta Publica wherein might be recorded what notable things hapned in the Provinces and set under the administration of the several Deputies or Governours or rather those Acta which Pilate himself composed in his Province For we cannot but imagine that care would be taken for the recording of things memorable as well in other places as in the City it self The Provinces had their Subcensors and their Tables And the Presidents and Deputies not onely certified by letters occasionally what happened but as we may easily apprehend did refer in Acta all memorable things which were sent to Rome and there it 's probable either transcribed into or laid up with the Acta Publica But thus much of the testimonies of Jews and Heathens concerning Christ 85. the Lord Jesus having risen the third day from the dead and after his resurrection given commission and instructions to his Disciples whom he ordained his Ambassadors to the whole World forty dayes after he arose ascended into Heaven The Ascension of Christ and sent down the Holy Ghost upon his Disciples according to his promise for the furnishing of them to the Work ten dayes after his ascension Many being converted to the Faith the Church increased and living in Love and Unity together they had all things common none calling any thing his own which he possessed About the end of the year as is rationally computed the Greeks or Hellenists Jews which living out of Judaea spake Greek in a peculiar dialect which is called Hellenistick and used the Scriptures in their Synagogues in that language murmured against the Hebrews or those who both read and spoke Hebrew for that their widdows were neglected in the daily ministration Hereupon the Apostles committed it to the number of the faithful to chuse seven men who should take care of what was gathered for the poor The seven Deacons made and these Ecclesiastical Writers call Deacons About this time James the Apostle the son of Alphaeus who is also called the brother of the Lord and was sirnamed Just was created the first Bishop of Jerusalem For thus Clemens wrote in the sixth Book of his Hypotyposewn as he is cited by Eusebius Peter and James and John though they were preferred after the ascension of the Lord contended not amongst themselves for glory and honour but with one consent appointed James the Just Bishop of Jerusalem The same Clemens in his first Book distinguished thus concerning the two which bore the name of James There were two James James the first Bishop of Jerusalem the one termed Just who was thrown down headlong from the pinacle and brained with a Fullers club the other beheaded Of him that was called Just Paul made mention saying I saw none of the Apostles save James the brother of the Lord. In the year following Christ's resurrection a great persecution was raised by the Jews against the Church wherein Stephan one of the seven Deacons and the Protomartyr was stoned to death by the procurement especially of Saul a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia But in this same year as this Saul was journying to Damascus to make havock of the Church he was converted and called to the Apostleship A. D 33. Ol. 203. an 1. V. C. 787. after which he went from Damascus into Arabia as he himself testifieth in his Epistle to the Galathians Saul converted Pilate making a slaughter of the Samaritans Eusebius in his Chronicon placeth the conversion of Saul afterwards called Paul in the nineteenth year of Tiberius 86. About this time it happened that a certain man who sought by all means the favour of the multitude Joseph Antiq. l. 18. c. 5. drew the Samaritans to Mount Gerizim which they accounted holy above all other mountains promising to shew them there the holy Vessels buried in a certain place by Moses Many had gathered themselves to the foot of
in Phrygia to which Cappadocia was near adjacent North to Judaea and excelled in the breed of Horses and Mules 2. Magog 19. From Magog Japhet's second Son descended the Scythians according to Josephus and others Gog and Magog being that part of Scythia about Cancasus which the Colchi and Armenians whose language was half Chaldaean called Gog-hasan i. e. the Fort of Gog and thence the Greeks Caucasus The same with Prometheus to whom also Gogarene was known which Stephanus describeth to be between the Colchi and Eastern Iberi Magog seemeth to be the same with Prometheus For as Prometheus was the Son of Japetus so Magog of Japhet Prometheus was feigned to be fixed to Caucasus and Caucasus was the seat of the Scyhians of old time till they expelled the Cimmerii and succeded them Prometheus brought down fire from heaven which might take Original from Magog his finding out of Metals in Colchis and Iberia And the Fable of his Heart or Liver being eaten by an Eagle may be found in (Å¿) Vide Bochartum lib. 1. the word Magog which signifieth to be dissolved or to decay Hierapolis a City in Syria seemeth to have been called also Magog from him seeing Deucalion the Scythian and Son of Prometheus is by Lucian said to have consecrated the Temple there to the Syrian Goddesse 3. Madai From Madai it 's generally granted that the Medes are issued the Medes and Persians being constantly in the Books of Daniel and Esther named Maedai and Paras From Javan descended the Iones 4. Javan or all that inhabited Greece from Thrace to the Isthmus of Corinth the Macedonians being included Homer calling them Jaones and Alexander being signified by (t) cap. 8. v. 21. Daniel under the name of the King of Javan His 4 Sons Elisa 1. 20. The Sons of Javan were Elisa Tarshish Kittim and Dodanim from whom four Provinces took their names From Elisa Aeolis according to Josephus but rather Elis the most antient and ample region of Peloponnesus part whereof is by Homer called Alisium to be taken for the whole Peninsula From Tarsis 2. Tarshish Josephus and others derive Tarsus the great City in Cilicia some Carthage another Tunis but Eusebius and Bochartus understand the Iberians or Spaniards amongst whom was a place called Tarlessus Besides this there was another * a Chron. 20.36 Tarsis in the Indian Sea whither ships went from Esion-gaber and indeed whatever the word originally signifieth whether Cilicia or any other place it is secondarily applied to the Mediterranean Sea which reacheth unto Phoenicia and sometimes seemeth to denote the Ocean it selfe 3. Kittim Josephus will have Cittim to have possessed himselfe of the Island Cyprus where was a City called Citium the native place of Zeno the Stoick and hence he saith the Hebrews called all Islands and maritime places by the name of Chethim Others will have the Chians some certain Nations of India others Cilicia some Macedonia to be understood by this word The Romans are by Daniel signified under this name and in Italy were of old the Cities Cetia Echetia and the River Cetus and Chittim imports the same thing with the word Latium betokening to lye hid The opinion therefore of Josephus is very probable that these Islands and Coasts of the Mediterrenean might be known to the Hebrews Chap. 11. ver 29 30. under the name of Chethim 4. Dodanim or rather Rhodanim Dodanim omitted in Josephus by some is interpreted Dardanians by others Dodanaeans But most antiently it was read Rhodanim which the Greek rendreth Rhodians though the name of Rhodes is later than Moses his time Bochartus therefore placeth this people in Gaul about the River Rhodanus now Rhene which he proveth not to have been so named from Rhoda a Town there founded by the Rhodians Rhodanim he saith signifieth Yellow or Saffron-coloured which agreeth well with the colour of the hair of the antient Gaules either naturall or affected wherein also the Brittains shewed themselves descended of the same stock as Jornandes judgeth 5. Tubal 21. Tubal and Mesech the fifth and sixth Sons of Japhet are joyned in Scripture most commonly together as near to each other Josephus from them deriveth the Iberians 6. Mesâ—ch and Cappadocians who had a City in his time known by the name of Mazacha Bochartus understandeth by Mesech and Tubal the Moschi and Tibareni which are so joyned together by Herodotus as Mesech and Tubal in the Scripture The Moschi besides Moschica properly so called possessed all from Phasis as far as Pontus of Cappadocia the Moschian Mountains reaching so far Then next succeeded the Tibarens according to Strabo who extendeth their borders to Pharnacra and Trapezond the Moschian and Colchian Mountains so that they lay betwixt the Trapezuntians and Inhabitants of Armenia the lesse Tubal and Mesech are noted by Ezechiel to abound in Slaves and Brasse which Chap. 27. v. 13. by the consent of Authors fitly agreeth with the regions of Pontus especially Cappadocia From Thiras most Authors derive Thrace 7. Tiras a woman of which Country was called Threissa and many names there both of places and persons perswade the same thing This was the portion of Japhet answerable to the blessing of his Father that God should enlarge him For unto it belonged all Europe how big soever besides Asia the less Media part of Armenia Iberia Albania and those vast Tracts towards the North inhabited of old by the Scythians and now by the Tartars To say nothing of the new World into which it's probable the Scythians passed by the Straits of Anian To his Posterity belong the Northern parts which by Jornandes an Historian of the Goths are deservedly termed The work-houses of people and sheaths of Nations Cham's portion 22. Cursed Cham was not excluded from Earthly blessings To his lot fell Aegypt and all Africk a great part of Syria and Arabia besides Babylonia Susiana Assyria and other Countries which his Grand-son Nimrod possessed himselfe of David very often calleth Aegypt the Land of Cham or Ham the antient Inhabitants themselves Chamia or Chemia Plutarch in Iside In Arabia and Africk the name of Ammon the aspiration being taken away was universally known as appeareth by Ammon a River in Arabia the promontory Ammonium and the people called Ammonii In Africk the City Ammonis upon the River Cinyphus The Chappell of Ammonis in the Island Meroe In Marmarica the City Ammonia vulgarly Paraetonium And the Ammonian Country where was the famous Oracle of Ammon Nay all Africk was called Ammonis or Ammonia Ham signifieth hot in which respect it agreeth well with the Greek word Zeus the name of Jupiter Ham was Noah's youngest Son so was Jupiter the youngest of Saturne From Cham's living in Africk the hottest part of the World Jupiter may be counted the Lord of Heaven And Saturne his being made an Eunuch by his Son Jupiter or Caelius by his Son Saturn as
exceeding rich and therefore requiring large room Esau departed to his former possession of Mount Seir Providence so ordaining it that when the Israelites should afterwards come to inherit Canaan his posterity might neither be destroyed nor displaced He was otherwise called Edom Edom. and from him Idumaea took it's name which seemeth from Strabo to have also included the Country of the Nabataeans And likely enough it is that he who married the Sister of Nebaioth might joyn himself to them and praeside over them This is the famous Heroe Vide Fulleâ— Miscell 4. c. 20. from whom not onely Idumaea but also the adjoyning Erithraean Edomaean or Red Sea all signifying the same thing was so called being known to the Greeks by the name of Erythras the same with Edom. 15. Gen. 41. But two years after Joseph had interpreted the Dreams of the servants of Pharaoh he was called up out of prison to explain the meaning of one which the King himself had dreamed This A. M. 2290. betokening 7 years of great plenty to come and after them as many of famine and it being necessary as he hinted to Pharaoh to chuse out some wise Man who being set over the Land should gather and preserve the fruits of the Earth against the time of want Pharaoh made choice of him being about 30 years old for this purpose he appointed him next to himself Joseph advanced and gave him in marriage Asenath the Daughter of Potipherah Priest of On or Heliopolis where Strabo writeth that the Priests of old time had their habitation on which be begat Ephraim and * A. M. 2297. Manasses According to his praediction 7 most plentiful years ensued wherein he gathered into store-houses the Corn that abounded and after them came 7 other of famine which praevailed sore both in Aegypt and the neighbouring Countries of Canaan and Arabia Chap. 42 43 c. Jacob amongst others wanting provisions in the 2d year of the famine sent his Sons down into Aegypt to buy Corn. Joseph knowing them though undiscovered accused them for coming as Spies cast them into prison and dismissed them not till Simeon the eldest of those which conspired against his life was bound and left as an Hostage for their bringing down of Benjamin that so their story might be confirmed of their being one Man's Sons and that their youngest Brother was left behind The next year being pressed with famine they returned and Benjamin with them whom their Father was constrained to let go Now after some further terrifying of them he made himself known and sent for his Father down into Aegypt Jacob understanding of his Son's life and promotion whom he had given over of a long time Jacob goeth into Aegypt A. M. 2298. for dead gladly went down and with him 66 Souls besides his Sons Wives in the 3d year of the famine of the World the 2298th aged 130 years 16. By Pharaoh's consent Joseph placed them in the Land of Goshen Chap. 47. and there nourished them during the famine He sold to the Egyptians the Corn formerly treasured up and therewith purchased for the King all their Money Goods and Lands except the Lands of the Priests which were not alienated The grounds he afterwards granted to the former owners Chap. 48 49. paying the fifth part of the profit to Pharaoh's use After Jacob had lived in Aegypt 17 years he adopted the two eldest Sons of Joseph viz. Manasses and Ephraim of whom the younger he preferred before the elder He called his Sons together blessed them and told them apart what should befall them in their posterity From Reuben his first born he took the preheminence because he had defiled his bed and gave it to Judah A. M. 2315. He prophecied of Christ's coming Dieth commanded them to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah in the Land of Canaan with his Ancestors and then died at the age of 147 years in the year of the World 2315. Joseph caused his servants the Physitians to embalme Israel and a mourning of 70 dayes or 72 was observed for him which number in that Country was onely proper to Kings Then obtaining leave of Pharaoh he and his Brethren with a great company of Courtiers carried him into the Land of Canaan Gen. 50. and buried him there according to his will where they also mourned for him 7 dayes 17. Being returned into Aegypt Joseph forgave his Brethren the fault they formerly had committed against him which now they feared he would revenge after their Father's death and as long as he lived he nourished them and their children This space of time was 54 years after his Father's death at the end whereof having exhorted them to Unity and Concord foretelling them their departure out of Aegypt Joseph dieth and commanding them thence to carry his Bones he dyed at the age of 110 years A. M. 2370. when he had governed Aegypt under severall Kings the space of 80. Trogus Pompeâ—us as appeareth out of Justin * Lib. 36. c. 2. his Epitomizer wrote many things concerning him partly taken out of the Sacred History partly mixed with such Fables as the Heathen were not wanting to invent concerning the Jews Abram Moses and Israel are made by him Kings of Damascus which City took it's name from their Predecessor Israel had ten Sons to whom he committed the Kingdom and commanded them to call themselves Jews from Judah who died before the division and whose portion was divided amongst them all The youngest of the 10 Sons was Joseph whose excellent wit his Brothers fearing they sold him to some Marchants that carried him down into Aegypt Here learning the Magick Arts he became very dear to the King having skill in working Wonders and interpretation of Dreams moreover nothing either Divine or Humane was beyond his reach insomuch that he foretold the barrennesse of the ground severall years before it hapned and all Aegypt had perished with famine but that the King by his advice caused Corn to be treasured up many years finally such was his knowledge that his answers seemed rather the Oracles of a God then the replies of a Man Then followeth that Moses was his Son who being both wise and beautiful became a leader to such Aegyptians as were infected with scab and itch and so returned to Damascus the Country of his Ancestors Which lyes with others hereafter to be mentioned are to be attributed to the malice of the Aegyptians With the life of Joseph endeth the first Book of Moses his history called by the Greeks Genesis which containeth the account of 2369 years of the World The next to it in order of time the Book of Job is thought to be of which Moses also is reputed Author by the common consent and opinion of the Hebrews 18. After the death of Joseph and all that generation Exod. 1. the Children of Israel increased abundantly and grew exceeding mighty so
wherein after he had slain Immaradus Pausan in Atticis the son of Eumolpus their General he also lost his life when he had reigned 50 years He left three sons Cecrops Metion and Pandorus who falling into contention about the succession put it to the arbitration of Xuthus He adjudged it to the eldest but yet would they not rest satisfied which made him leave Athens Cecrops 2d and go into Aegialea where he died This Cecrops the second some think to have gathered the people into twelve Towns for that living dispersedly abroad the Carians by Sea and the Boeotians called Aeonae by Land harrased the Countrey as * L. 9. p. 397. C. Strabo writeth At the end of 40 years his son named Pandion succeeded him Pandion who was expelled the Kingdom by the sons of Metion his Uncle and fled to Pyla the King of Megara his father-in-law who left him his Successor Whil'st he here reigned he begat four sons Aegens Lycus Pallas and Nisus Pausan ut priùs who after his death went against the Metiontidae and expelled them Athens the Dominions whereof they divided into four parts according to their father's injunctions Megara falling to Nisus who reigned there a long time Aegeus 7. Though this division was made yet was Aegeus Soveraign in effect for fear of whom Lycus fled to Athens Pallas the other brother had 50 sons A. M. 2723. which growing up gave cause enough to Aegeus to be jealous of them having him in contempt because he was childlesse For though he married two wives Plutarch in Theseo yet had he issue by neither of them which made him go to Delphos to enquire of the Oracle about posterity The answer being obscure in his return he was entertained by Pittheus the son of Pelops a man famous for learning at Traezene Begetteth Theseus who either understanding the Oracle or otherwise induced Apollod A.M. 2725. made his daughter Aethra to lye with him after he had caused him to drink good store of Wine At his departure he put a sword and a knife under a great stone bidding her if she brought forth a Boy as soon as he could remove the stone and take those things from under it to send him with them as tokens unto Athens and he would own him for his son She accordingly brought forth a son called Theseus from putting the marks under the stone whom Pittheus brought up and for that he proved exceeding prudent and couragious his mother at sixteen years of age brought him to the stone acquainting him with his Original and his fathers injunctions He easily removing it and taking away the tokens prepared for his journey but they were unwilling to let him go by Land because all the wayes were full of Robbers since Hercules who went up and down destroying them after his killing of Iphitus had quitted these parts and was gone into Lycia where for some years he served Omphale the Queen But Theseus burning with emulation upon hearing continually the praise of Hercules his Kins-man for their mothers vvere next Cousins resolved to take that vvay to obtain some renown in killing those Robbers and effected his design upon several of them 8. Being arrived at Athens he vvas in danger to be poysoned by his father through the perswasion of Medea who now vvas fled to him from Corinth Plutarch and filled his jealous head vvith suspitions of this stranger till thinking it vvisdom to make himself known rather than let another do it he shewed him the tokens vvhich he presently acknowledged owning him for his son made his subjects as such to take notice of him But the sons of Pallas who before had been seditious now seeing all hopes of the Kingdom taken from them by him and disdaining that Aegeus should first reign himself being not of the bloud Royal but adopted onely by Pandion as Plutarch vvriteth and then leave for his Successor a stranger and a Bastard they took Arms and the better to accomplish their design divided themselves into two parties whereof the one came openly vvith their father against Athens and the other lay in ambush The acts of Theseus Theseus having notice of the later sort surprized and cut them all off vvhich so discouraged the other as they separated themselves and fled Theseus after this to employ himself and gain the favour of the people went and took the Marathonian Bull fetch 't out of Crete by Hercules and brought him quick into the Citie after he had infested the Countrey very much Then sailed he to Crete vvhere as the fable goeth he slew the Minotaure a Monster kept by Minos King of that Island Minos 9. Minos (q) Diodorus l. 4. p. 183. Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon were the Children of Jupiter by Europa and all adopted by Asterius the Grand-son of Hellen by his son Teutamus King of that Island who married their mother and was childlesse Minos was the Law-giver of the Cretians this honour being ascribed to him by the most Authentick of ancient (r) Plato in legibus Aristot Politic. l. 2. cap. 8. Authors Yet (Å¿) Apud Strabon lib. 10. p. 476. Epherus in his book of Europaean Commonwealths vvrote that he was but an imitator of one Rhadamanthus of the same name with his brother who by others is also said to have been imployed by Minos in this work but more ancient who first cultivated the Island by Laws Cities and Common-wealths feigning that he had from Jupiter all the Ordinances which he published In (t) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imitation of him Minos having continued in the Law of Jupiter nine years produced Laws in writing and ascribed them to the same Author as Homer also hinteth vvhich (u) Odyss vvord of Homer though Strabo taketh to signifie a continuance for ten years yet Plato and from him (x) Lib. 1. c. 2. Exter Exemp 1. Valerius Maximus interpret it not of nine years continuance but every ninth year vvherein as it seemeth he amended his Laws Although Minos vvas a King yet he directed according to * Apud Strab. ut priùs pag. 480. B. Ephorus the vvhole model of his Laws to the freedom of his subjects This liberty he thought to be preserved best by Concord vvhich vvould be most established by the prevention of avarice and luxury the great causes of disagreement He would therefore have them all live soberly and frugally to vvhich purpose he ordained that Boys should live together in companies called Ageloe vvhen they vvere grown up and men in others called Syssitia from eating together vvhich they also named Andrâ—a from their mâ—nhood that taking their meat all in publick the poor might live in equal condition vvith the rich The form of the Cretian Common-wealth 10. After the abdication of regal power the chief Magistracy was exercised by ten Cosmi in power though not in number like to 〈◊〉 Spartan Ephori being chosen out of the lowest
with Hipparchus the Son of Pisistratus he went into Sicilie unto Hiero by whom being asked what God was he demanded a daies time to consider of it and after that another still professing that the more he studied the point the more he was to seek in it Some say he found out the Art of Memory and that being very covetous he first exposed the Muses to sale In the second year of the 58th Olympiad and eight before the Persian Empire died Anaximander the natural Philosopher of Miletus Anaximenes his Scholar flourished about that time Theagenes of Rhegium the most antient Chronographer Democedes of Crotone a Physician being taken Captive with Polycrates by Oetes the Persian was carried as a slave to Darius with whom he lived in great esteem after he had cured his foot and the breast of his wife Atossa 35. There flourished also in Darius his time Cadmus of Miletus an Historiographer there having been another of this name and place according to Suidas who in four Books wrote the History of Miletus and all Ionia and Strabo nameth Cadmus Phercydes and Hecataeus as those who first of all Greeks wrote Prose Hecataeus flourished at this time and gave light to Herodotus Phrynichus the Athenian a tragical Poet who first caused a woman to be personated and invented the verse with four feet Heraclitus the Ephesian a contemner of Heathenish Idols SECT 2. who out of fear wrote his Book of Nature in such an obscure manner that thence he got the name of Scotivus or Dark Zeno of Eâ—ea or Velia in Italy Scholar to Parmeaides who conspiring against Nearchus the Tyrant endured torments to death rather than he would discover his complices Pythagoras the son of Mnesarchus the Samian but born at Sidon in Phoenicia about the 53 Olympiad Diogenes Jamblicus Just a lib. 20. Plin. l. 2. c. 8. Being twelve years old he learnt of Thales and Phocylides from the later taking the transmigration of Souls Travelling into Aegypt and to Babylon he drunk in the learning of both places About the 68th Oâ—ympiad he went into Italy where he lived first at Crotone and then at Metapontus Here he taught and constituted the Italian School or Sect as Thales had done the Ionick Whereas others suffered themselves to be called Sophoi he would be called out of modesty Philosophus In the 67th Olympiad he found out the nature and course of the Planet Venus In the fourth year of the 70th he died at Metapontus where he was so admired that his house was made a Temple and that part of Italy called Magna Graecia Amongst his Scholars was Milo the famous Wrestler and women through him became famous for learning their Epistles being yet extant SECT II. Of such things as fell out amongst the Graecians from their Victories at Plataea and Mycale until the beginning of the Peloponnesian War containing the space of 48 years 1. THe Persians being overthrown in Greece both at Sea and Land Thucyd. l. 1. and so driven utterly out of Europe and those that fled into Asia in ships being also defeated at Mycale Leutychides the Spartan who there commanded in chief returned home with his associates of Peloponnesus The Athenians with the Ionians and those that inhabited upon the Hellespont besieged Sestus which the Persians had seized on all Winter and reduced it after which they also all departed home 2. The Athenians having brought home their wives and children Idem ibid. Plutarch Corn. Nepos in Themistocle after the overthrow of Mardonius had the popular Government restored by Arâ—stides and set themselves to rebuild the walls of their City in a greater compasse and stronger than had been formerly being thereto especially induced through the perswasion of Themistocles The Lacedaemonians above all others were hereat exceedingly troubled as considering that having obtained so great glory by the two Victories at Marathon and Salamina the Athenians would contend with them for the Principality and upon that account they wished them as weak as might be The Athenians rebuild their walls which the Lacedaemonians grudge They disswaded them therefore from going on with their work alleging that it was dangerous for Greece to have any fortified place without the Peloponnesus which the Barbarians might seize on and possesse They said they would send answer by Ambassadors of their own and Themistocles took the businesse upon him He first went alone and ordered that the rest should follow but not till the wall was brought to a reasonable height that in the mean time both bond and free should ply the work and sparing no place whether holy or prophane private or publick take all such stuff for building as they might soonest light on When he came at Sparta he demanded no audience but sought to protract the time pretending he expected his Collegues The Lacedaemonians complaining that neverthelesse the work went on and that he went about to deceive them the other Ambassadors arrived of whom after he knew that the fortifications were almost finished he laboured to perswade the Ephori who now had the chief power in that State that the things were false which they were made to believe desired them to send persons considerable whom they might trust to make inspection and keep him as an Hostage till their return 3. They sent accordingly three of their principal men to Athens and with them Themistocles his Collegues to whom he gave in charge that the Lacedaemonians should not be dismissed till his return After their departure he demanded audience of the Magistrates and Senate and then freely and openly professed that the Athenians by his advice agreeable to the common-Law of Nations But are eluded by Themistocle had fenced their publick and private gods with a wall that they might more easily defend them and neither could that be to the dammage of Greece of which Athens was the bulwark against the Barbarians for here the King's Navy had twice suffered Shipwrack He told them they did ill to regard more their private ambition than what was profitable for all Greece and to conclude if they expected the return of their Ambassadors they must dismisse him or else never expect to see them return which accordingly they were forced to do with much private regret though ashamed to own the cause He advised his Country-men further to finish the work of the Piraeus or Port of Athens which they had begun a long time before whilst he was Archon for he perswaded them first to apply themselves to Sea-matters as the way to obtain Dominion and commended to them that place as most convenient for their design having three natural Havens The wall he caused to be made so thick as two Carriages loaded with stones might passe by each other but brought the height of it but to half of that which he had designed And with so great a desire was he caried out for the inlargement of the Dominion of that State that observing the Lacedaemonian Navy to
on the Sacrosanct body of the Tribune and being General of an Army had received a defeat and returned with ignominie The Patritian exceedingly concerned left nothing unattempted to save him and desired him that giving way to the time he would take the habit agreeable to his condition but he flatly refused to do any thing poorly or unworthy of his Ancestors adding that he would die a thousand deaths rather than touch the knees of any as was the custome of Suppliants He forbad his friends to supplicate for him saying his shame would be doubled if he saw any do that in his behalf which he himself disdained to do Giving out many such like speeches he neither changed apparrel nor his countenance nor remitted any thing of his antient magnanimity Before the Trial he killeth himself and when he saw the whole City earnestly intent upon his tryal a few dayes before the appointed time he killed himself His friends gave out that he died of a natural death and the body being bought forth into the Forum his Son was there ready and asked leave of the Consuls to commend him in a funeral Oration according to the custome The Tribunes commanded the body to be taken away without any ceremony but the People were thereat displeased and suffered the young man to perform this last and usual Office of honour to his deceased Father 77. For this and the two following years the Romans fought successively against the Aequi Sabines and Volsci From the later was taken Antium being surrendred to T. Quintius Capitolinus the Consul who placed therein a Garrison In the following year wherein were Consuls Tib. Aemilius again and Q. Fabius son to one of the three brothers that with their Friends and Clients died at Cremera the Tribunes made new stirs about the Agrarian and Aemilius furthering the businesse the Senate to gratifie the multitude decreed that some part of the Lands lately taken from the Volsci and Antiates should be divided Yet not many would give their names being unwilling to forsake their native Country so that the Colony was made up out of the Latines and Hernici The Consuls marched Aemilius against the Volsci and Fabius against the Aequi both had successe the later forcing the Aequi to beg Peace the conditions whereof were left to him by the Senate But the Aequi receiving the Fugitives of Antium suffered them to make excursions into the Territories of the Latines and refused to give them up whereupon succeeded another War though the Romans obtained a bloody Victory in the third year after the making of the Peace In the next Consulship which was executed by L. Ebutius and P. Servilius Priscus fell a more grievous plague upon the City than ever before hapned A most grievous Plague It first consumed almost all Cattel and from the Country came into the City wherein it swept away an innumerable company of slaves and a fourth part of the Senators and amongst these the Consuls with most of the Tribunes Livie writeth that the Aediles supplied the place of Consuls The disease began about the Calends of September and continued that whole year sparing no Sexe or Age. 78. When this was known by the neighbour Nations the Volsci and Aequi War with the Aequi and Volsci supposing the time of destroying the Roman Empire to be come provided all things for a Siege and to divert the Romans invaded the Latines and Hernici their associates These sending to Rome for aid Eubutius was already dead and Servilius as yet alive in small hope assembled the Senators who were brought half dead in their Litters to the Court They gave them liberty to defend themselves which doing when the Enemies had wasted their grounds at their pleasures they marched for Rome but contrary to their expectations they found it sufficiently guarded though with sick and feeble men When the next Consuls were created L. Lucretius and T. Veturius Geminus the Pestilence ceased and all things being quiet at home for the Tribunes making adoe according to the custome about the Agrarian were commanded by the People to desist and expect better times they invaded those who had taken advantage at the publick calamity They had good successe abroad and better near home when the Aequi in their absence came and thought to have surprized the City For understanding the walls to be furnished with armed men and four cohorts of 600 apiece to stand before the gates they altered their course when they came to Tusculum but Lucretius met and gave them battel which they were hasty to imbrace before the coming of his Colleague For a time they fought couragiously but seeing a band of men behind them which came from a certain Castle they thought it had been the other Consul and fearing to be inclosed ran away having lost both their Captains and many other valiant men Afterwards without any let the Consuls wasted the Territories both of the Aequi and Volsci and returned home at the time of the Comitia Lucretius in full triumph and Veturius in the other called Ovation by decree of the Senate with the like pomp in all things except that he entred on foot and not in a Chariot which words conclude the ninth Book of Dionysius his Roman Antiquities 79. For the year following which was the first of the 80 Olympiad wherein Torymbas the Thessalian was Victor and Phrasicles Archon P. Volumnius and Ser. Sulpitius Camerinus were created Consuls Dionys l. 10. who having nothing to do abroad imployed themselves at home in defending the power of the Patritians against the Commons now much instigated against it by their Tribunes They were come so far as to assert that it was most agreeable with the constitution of a free State for the Citizens to have equal power in Government A. M. 3545. Ol. 80. an 1 V. C. 294. Artax Longius 5. The People now would have all things done by the prescript of Laws Fresh stirs about new Laws whereof as yet there were none written the Kings having judged according to their own discretion and the Consuls by certain presidents of those Princes formerly in power The least part was recorded in the Books of the Pontifies which none could come at except the Patritians C. Terentius or Terentillus Arsa according to Livie Tribune of the Commons the foregoing year had endeavoured to circumscribe within certain limits the power of the Consulship but left the matter unfinished because the greater part of Citizens were imployed in the War the Consuls on set purpose drawing it out in length till the Comitia Now the whole College of Tribunes renewed the attempt by the procurement of A. Virginius one of the number the whole City being divided about it Much contention there was in the Senate betwixt the Tribunes and the contrary Faction but at length not doing any good in that place they called the People together and proposed a Law that ten men might be chosen in Lawful Assembly such as
with the extravigancy of the ten retired themselves expecting the Comitia for the Creation of new Magistrates They add two Tables of Laws to the ten 5. The Decemviri added two Tables of Laws to the ten that were made the year before Amongst these new Laws there was one which forbad marriage betwixt the Patritians and Plebeians for no other cause as Dionysius conjectureth than lest the families being joyned together concord should ensue betwixt the two orders These Laws thus by accident saith (a) Lib. 2. Dig. de Origine Juris Pomponius came to be called the Laws of the twelve Tables being written by the Decemviri through the perswasion of one Hermodorus an Ephesian as some reported then banished into Italy concerning which person (b) Tusculan lib. 5. Plin. lib. 84. Strabo lib. 14. Cicero and others are to be consulted These Laws being established it followed SECT 1. that disputations and controversies of the Court should be necessary for as much as an interpretation was to be built upon the authority of the Learned This disputation or this unwritten Law composed by the Learned is not called by any peculiar name as all other parts but by the common one of Jus Civile or Civil Law onely Besides out of these Laws at the same time almost were composed certain cases wherein men contested one with another which cases lest the People should make them at their pleasure were to be certain and solemn and this part of Law is called Actiones Juris The Original of the Civil Law or Cases at Law Thus almost at the same time these three sorts of Laws arose viz. the Laws of the twelve Tables from these flowed the Civil Law and from the same were composed Cases at Law But the knowledge of expounding all these and the Cases themselves were kept by the College of Pontifices who appointed yearly those that judged Private Persons which custome the People used almost 100 years Afterward when Appius Claudius had propounded and reduced these Cases into form (c) Consule Valer. Max. l. 2. c. 5. exemp 2. A. Gellium Noct. Attic. l. 6. c. 9. Cicero pro Murena Gnaeus Flavius his Scribe and the son of a Libertine or of one whose father was once a Slave stole the Book and gave it to the People which accepted so thankfully of the gift that he was made Tribune of the Commons a Senator and Aedilis curulis This Book was called Jus Civile Flavianum as the other Jus Civile Papirianum Yet Flavius added nothing of his own to the Book The City increasing and there being as yet wanting certain sorts of Cases not long after Sextus Aelius composed other Cases and gave a Book to the People called Jus Aelianum How the parts of it came in by degrees 6. There being now in the City the Lex or Law of the twelve Tables the Jus Civile or Civil Law and the Cases of Law it came to passe that the Commons disagreeing with and separating from the Patritians appointed Laws of their own making called Plebiscita After their return there being a great controversie about these it was thought good to receive them also for Laws and so it was enacted by a Law preferred by * Vide Livium lib. 3. A. Gellium l. 15. c. 26. Hortensius the Dictator so though there was a difference in the form of making a Law called Lex and a Plebiscitum yet the authority was the same Then for that it was difficult for the People to meet because of it's multitudes necessity it self devolved the care of the Commonwealth upon the Senate So the Senate began to interpose and whatsoever it resolved was observed and that Law was called Senatus Consultum At the same time the Magistrates also administred Justice and that the People might know what they would determine concerning any thing and to fore-arm themselves they published Edicts which Edicts of the Praetors constituted the Jus Honorarium so named from the honour and authority of the Praetor Lastly as the course of affaires reduced the making of Laws to fewer fashions at length it came to passe through several Factions viz. of Sylla Marius Pompey and Caesar that there was necessity of the Commonwealth's being governed by a single person For the Senate not being able to govern all the Provinces a Prince was ordained and what he appointed was taken for Law So that in the Commonwealth of Rome all Law was either so constituted by a Law called Lex as that of the twelve Tables or properly called Jus Civile which being unwritten consisted in the interpretation of the Learned or Cases of Law which contained the form of Pleas or a Plebiscitum made without the authority of the Fathers or the Edict of a Magistrate called Jus Honorarium or a Senatus Consultum which without a Law Lex was ordained by the sole authority of the Senate or Principalis constitutio which the Prince himself enacted 7. These things are written by Pomponius in this narrative of the Original of Law for the better understanding whereof it is to be noted that the word Jus signifieth all Law or right in general and is that genus whereof Lex is but a species being defined by (a) Seu Scribenianus Institut l. 1. Tit. 2. Justinian the Emperour to be that which the People of Rome upon the quaestion put by a Senatorian Magistrate for example a Consul did enact As for the twelve Tables they were furnished with Laws partly borrowed from the Graecians partly added at the discretion of the Lawmakers and partly the same as formerly were in use SECT 2. Of the first sort were such especially as concerned private interests Of the second was that which forbad mariage betwixt the Nobility and Commons And of the third that Law which from Dionysius we formerly mentioned to have been made by Romulus giving power to a man to call together his wives kindred and judge her for drinking wine or dishonesty this is attested to have been taken into the twelve Tables by (b) Lib. 14. cap. 13. Plinie and (c) Lib. 10. cap. 23. Gellius also hinteth as much From (d) Jus triplex tabulae quod ter Sanxere quaternae Sacrum Privatum Populi commune quod usquam est Ausonius is observed that these twelve Tables were divided into three parts whereof the first contained what belonged to the Religion of the Romans the second what concerned the publick and the third the rights of private men Great are the commendations which many give of them but the most eminent is Cicero's Encomium that we name no more Disputing under the name of Crassus in (e) Lib. 1. de Oratore one place he thus speaketh If diversity of Studies please any in the twelve Tables there is a great image of Antiquity because the antient use of words is known and certain kinds of actions declare the life and custome of our Ancestors If any look at Polity you
Zechariah to defend Judaea giving it in charge not to sight with any Enemy till his return with the other he marched himself to the succour of them in Galaad Simon fought many battels with the Enemy Judas is victorious and killed many of them brought his Countrymen into Judaea with great gladnesse and Judas had the like successe taking many Towns and putting many thousands to the Sword but those that were left at home desiring also upon the report hereof to atchieve some military glory marched to Jamnia whence Gorgias issuing out put them to flight and following the chase as far as the borders of Judaea killed about 2000 of them 53. Lysias the King's Protector and chief Minister of State was displeased at the report of Judas's successe 2 Maccab. 11. 12. and taking 80000 Foot withall the Horse along with him resolved to make Jerusalem an habitation for the Greeks the Temple to pay tribute and the Priesthood thereof to set to sale every year He came and besieged Bethsura nigh to Jerusalem but Maccabaeus then meeting with him killed 11000 of his Foot with 1600 Horse-men and forced him with the rest many of them wounded and disarmed to shift for themselves Lysias again defeated Considering this defeat and that God fought for the Jews he sent to them to treat of Peace and according to his promise brought the King to yield to such reasonable conditions as were offered by Maccabaeus but it was quickly broken by Timotheus and other Captains that governed the places adjoyning to Judaea at which time they of Joppe also drawing 200 Jews craftily on shipboard drowned them in the sea Judas hearing this went and burned all the Vessels in the Haven at Joppe and understanding that the inhabitants of Jamnia had also intended such a thing against his Country-men he did as much for them then marching against Timotheus the Arabian Nomades set upon him being 5000 Foot and 500 Horse but were so entertained And the Scythian Nomades as yielding themselves with a promise of giving up their Cattel and being at his beck for the time to come they obtained Peace After this he stormed the City Caspis wherein was such a slaughter made of the Inhabitants that a Lake thereto adjoyning seemed to be full of blood and then proceeding 750 furlongs came to the Jews called Tubieni inhabiting the Land of Tob concerning which mention is made in the Book of Judges whence Timotheus was departed but had left a strong Garrison Chap. 11. which being taken by Dositheus and Sosipater two of Judas his Officers they put to the sword above 10000 men 54. Timotheus gathered together from the Nations round about him and the Arabians 120000 Foot and 2500 Horse wherewith 1 Maccab. 5. 2 Maccab. 12. putting up the women and children into a strong Fort called Carnion he came and pitched his Tents against Raphon beyond the brook but his great multitude was so surprized with fear upon the approaching of Judas that every man shifted for himself and what by their running upon one anothers swords and the pursute which Maccabaeus followed on with much earnestnesse 30000 of them were slain As also Timomotheus and he himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater from whom he obtained his liberty upon promise of dismissing such of their Countrymen as he had taken Judas then proceeding took Carnion wherein 25000 were put to the sword after which he gathered all the Jews out of Galaad to bring them into Judaea and for that the City Ephron through which they must needs passe denied them entrance they took it by force and destroying the Inhabitants went through and came up to Jerusalem to the Feast of Pentecost The Feast being ended he taking 3000 Foot and 400 Horse along with him And Gorgias went and fought with Gorgias whom one Dositheus of Bacenor his Company had once taken but holding him by the cloak a certain Thracian came and cut off his shoulder so that the prisoner escaped After the Victory the Jews coming to strip and bury such of their own party as had fallen that day found under their coats certain things dedicated to the idols of Jamnia so that it appearing that this being forbidden them by the Law was the cause of their death they betook themselves by Prayer to God intreating that it might not be charged upon them all After this Judas subdued the Edomites and the Philistines their idols he burnt and overthrew their altars The Edomites and Philistines subdued and then returning into Judaea for that he found the King's Garrison Soldiers which yet kept the Castle to straighten and infest the Israelites about the Sanctuary with all the People he besieged them close 1 Maccab. 6. but some of them with certain Jewish fugitives getting out went straight to Antiochus and perswaded him with all expedition to come and give a check to the growing power of the Jews 55. Antiochus gathering together all his friends and Captains Ibid. 2 Maccab. 1â— and a great Army concerning the number of which the two Books of Maccabees differ in a great rage marched thither intending to deal worse with them than his father had done before him and to him Menelaus joyned himself hoping by his means to regain the Priesthood Antiochus besiegeth Bethsura Passing through Idumaea he came and sate down before Bethsura where Judas by night with a choice party fell upon his Camp and piercing as far as his own Tent slew 4000 men and the prime Elephant with those upon him and giving an Alarm to the whole Army at break of the day safely retreated whereupon the King marched towards him the next day and coming to an engagement lost 600 men more but the Jews seeing themselves overpowered retreated Then returned he to the siege Which being taken he besiegeth Jerusalem which Judas sore molested cutting off many of his men and relieving the besieged with provisions who being not provided within themselves because this was the Sabbatical year yielded up the Town upon composition Antiochus having herein placed a Garrison marched up to Jerusalem and there made all provision possible for gaining it all manner of engines being raised for the casting of fire and stones which the besieged resisted as well as they might by others of their own but as for provisions were in no better condition than they of Bethsura had been which gave opportunity enough to the King but before he could perfect his work came news that Philip whom his Father had ordained to be his guardian being returned out of Aegypt was coming with the Forces which Epiphanes had left in Persia and Media to recover his right usurped by Lysias But is called away by the motions of Philip. Hereupon both he and his Captains were presently perswaded by Lysias because their provisions began to fail the place was strong and the affaires of the Kingdom required it to make Peace with
1 Maccab. 7. 2 Mac. 14. and now was not received nor owned by the people because that in the dayes of Epiphanes he had defiled himself came to Demetrius with other Apostates and such like as himself and accused his Countrey-men especially the Hasmonaeans i. e. Judas and his brethren that they had cut off and banished his friends Bachides sent by him against the Jews whereupon he sent one Bachides a trusty friend with great forces into Judaea confirming the Priesthood to Alcimus whom he sent back with him All their design being arrived there was to get Judas into their hands divers Scribes going out to them to sollicit for peace being confident because the Priest was of the seed of Aaron he most wickedly and contrary to his Oath given slew sixty of them in one day then Bachides going from Hierusalem sent about and caused divers that had fled from him and many of the people whom being slain he cast into a great pit and so committing the Countrey to Alcimus to the defence of which he left him some forces he returned unto his King Leaveth Alcimus the High-Priest with some forces After his departure Alcimus striving to confirm himself in the Priesthood made great havock of the people to restrain which Judas went throughout the Countrey and compelled his party to shut themselves up within their holds and growing stronger he restrained their invasions so that Alcimus being afraid of him goes once more unto the King carrying along with him a Crown of Gold a Palm and of the boughs which were used solemnly in the Temple and seeing he could not have any more accesse to the holy Altar taking a fit opportunity when he was asked of the affairs of his Countrey accused the Asidaeans and especially Judas as seditious of depriving him of the Priesthood the honour as he said of his Ancestors and plainly affirmed that as long as Maccabaeus lived the Kings affairs could not be secure This being seconded by some ill-willers to the Jews Demetrius was inflamed and sending for Nicanor one of his chiefest Princes Who accusing Judas Nicanor is sent against him and a bitter Enemy to the Israelites made him Captain over Judea and sent him forth with a Command to slay Judas to scatter them that were with him and make Alcimus High Priest of the great Temple 60. When he was come thither and understood the courage and resolution of Judas his brethren and companions for the defence of their Countrey he feared to try the chance of War and sent to make peace with the people who having agreed unto the Covenants the two Captains came together to consult about the League Nicanor was so taken with Judas as he continued with him loved him in his heart and perswaded him to marry and beget Children and so remained constant in his affection to him till Alcimus perceiving it Nicanor at first much loveth Maccabaeus and understanding the Covenants which were made betwixt them took a third journey to the King told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand and appointed Judas a Traitor to the Realm to be his Successor Demetrius being hereat displeased by Letters checked him for these things and commanded him in all haste to send Maccabaeus bound unto Antioch which grievously troubled him that he who had done no hurt should be thus used but conceving it necessary for him to comply with the pleasure of the King he waited for a convenient opportunity to accomplish it Then complained of by Alcimus seeketh his destruction Behaving himself thenceforth more roughly to him the other suspected something by the great change of his carriage and therefore gathering a few of his men withdrew himself from him but he followed him with a strong power to Hierusalem and drawing him out to talk with him had prepared some to seize on him yet he having notice hereof got away and would see him no more Seeing his design to be discovered he went and fought with him near Capharsalama in which he lost about 5000 of his men and the rest fled into the Citie of David After this he came up to Mount Sion and some of the Priests with the Elders of the people went forth of the sanctuary to salute him peaceably and shew him the burnt-offering that was offered for the King but he jeering hereat demanded Judas to be delivered unto him and they affirming with an Oath that they knew not where he was he stretching out his hand against the Temple swore that except Judas and his forces were delivered up he would when he should return in peace set the sanctuary on fire His blasphemous threats demolish the Altar and build there a stately Temple to Bacchus The Priests hearing this went in and standing before the Altar with tears begged of God that he would frustrate the mans intentions and be avenged upon him and his Host for his blasphemous words 61. Hearing that Judas was gone from Jerusalem into Samaria 1 Maccab. 7. 2.15 he went and pitched his Tents in Bethhoron where new supplies from Syria came to him the Enemy being in Hadasa 30 furlongs off with no more than 3000 men He would fain have fought on the Sabbath day which the Jews who were constrained to follow friendly dehorting him from with great blaspemy uttered against God he refused to hear them demanding if there were a living Lord in heaven who commanded that seventh day to be kept and saying he himself was mighty upon earth to command them to Arm themselves and to perform the Kings businesse He is slain in battel But coming to the ingagement he himself was slain first which when his Army saw they cast away their Arms and fled and the Israelites following the chace slew 30000. so that not one of the Army was left remaining Coming to the plunder of the field they cut off Nicanor's head and hands and carried them to Jerusalem where they were hung up before the Temple his tongue being cut in pieces and cast unto the Fouls The end of the second book of Maccabees Then they decreed that the 13th day of the 12th moneth Adar as the Syrians call it the day before Mardocheus his day should be observed every year as the Author of the second book of Maccabees tells us who with this story finisheth his work 1 Maccab. 8. 9. being the Epitome of the five books of Jason a Jew of Cyrene After Nicanor's death Judaea was quiet for some time and then Judas hearing of the power of the Romans and their compassion of the distressed and how much Demetrius stood in awe of them sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason the son of Eleazer on an Ambassage to the Senate Bachides and Alcimus sent into Judaea against Judas that entring into society with them the People might be freed from the yoke of Demetrius and the Greeks But Demetrius hearing of the mischance of Nicanor and his
hinteth At this Lustrum were cessed 271224 polls of Roman Citizens as appeareth from the Epitome of the 14 Book of Livie's History 17. The Roman name had begun to be famous before but was terrible after the overthrow of Pyrrhus In the second year after his flight (a) Livii Ep. l. 14. Eutrop. l. 2. Val. Max. l. 4. c. 3. ex 9. Ptolomy Philadelphus sent Ambassadors to congratulate with the Romans about their successe and to enter into confederacy with them They sent to do him honour Ptolomy Philadelphus by an Embasie maketh a confederacy with the Romans Ambassadors also to Alexandria where he received them most courteously and sent them back loaded with gifts At their return they brought the gifts though given to themselves in particular into the Treasury but the Senate commanded them to be restored In the third year after the departure of Pyrrhus the (b) Orosius l. 4. c. 3. Xonaras A. M. 3733. Ol. 127. an 1. V. C. 482. Seleucid 41. Antioch Sot 11. Ptol. Philad 13. Tarentines being neither able to drive out the Garrison he had there left under Milo nor procure Peace of the Romans desired aid of the Carthaginians wherewith giving the Romans battel they were overthrown Milo sensible how badly he was able to resist by leave from the Consul Papirius departed with his men and left the Castle which the Romans having got into their hands easily mastered the City the walls whereof they demolished Peace and liberty was granted to the Citizens and the two Consuls L. Papirius Cursor The Castle and Town of Tarentum taken most of Italy being now subdued and Sp. Cornelius Maximus both Consuls the second time triumphed having finished both the Tarentine War and that of the Samnites in the 481 or 482 year of the City as the Capitoline tables do shew The greatest part of Italy was now conquered an accession being made not onely of the Tarentines and Samnites but the Lucanians also and a little before of the Etruscans After this the (c) Livii Epit. lib. 15. Val. Max. l. 6 c. 6. exemp 5. Campanian Legion which without command had seized upon Rhegium was besieged and upon surrender was put to death The inhabitants of Apollonia in Illyricum sending Ambassadors to Rome the two Aeâ—iles Q. Fabius and Cn. Apronius beat them and for that were delivered up to the Apolloniates The Picentes were overcome and had peace given them SECT 2. Colonies were sent forth to Ariminum in the Country of the Piceni and to Beneventum till now called Maleventum in that of the Samnites About the same time was silver Coin first stamped at Rome brasse being used altogether till now the State having got much silver in a Castle of the Samnites as Xonaras writeth Silver money first stamped This hapned five years before the first Punick War as (d) Lib. 33. c. 3. Pliny computeth C. Fabius Pictor and Q. Ogulnius Gallus being Consuls in the fourteenth year of Antiochus Soter and the sixteenth of Ptolomy Philadelphus A. M. 3736 267 before the birth of Christ SECT II. From the First Punick War to that with Antiochus the Great in which the Romans first invaded Asia the space of 37 years 1. THe Umbri and Sallentini being newly subdued and the number of Quaestors being increased to eight the Romans took occasion to transfer their Armies over the Sea into Sicily and begun that which from the Island that gave both occasion to and was the seat of it is by Greek Writers called the Sicilian War There had the Mamertines most perfidiously seized on Messana The original of the Sicilian or first Punick War as is already related and thereupon were become Enemies to Hieron King of Syracuse who besieged them justly as thieves and murderers and had taken the City but that Annibal the Carthaginian cunningly diverted him with an intention to get it into his own hands as it came to passe for pretending fair things to the Mamertines as before to Hiero and sending them in provisions he possessed himself of the Castle They being thus cheated by him and now straightned by both who had joyned together against them betook themselves to the Romans for relief The Senate begun to be very sensible of the power of the Carthaginians who had now almost the whole Island in their hands and was jealous of their approach so near to Italy so that a just quarrel with them seemed very acceptable But so bad was the cause of the Mamertines as they could not in conscience undertake the patronage of it and gave them a denial A. M. 3740. Ol. 128. an 4. V. C. 490. Seleucid 49. Antioch Sâ—t 19. Ptolom Philad 21. From the Senate the thing was brought to the People which besides it's antient use to debate matters concerning War had by the Hortensian Law obtained power by it's Plebiscita to bind the whole State The Praetors shewed what great profit would redound to the Commonwealth in general and particularly to private Citizens who having suffered much by the late Italian Wars were desirous by a new one to recruit their fortunes and therefore by a Plebiscitum they decreed aid to bee sent to the Mamertines in the 489 year of the City Q. Fabius Maximus Gurges the third time and L. Mamilius Vitulus being Consuls 2. In the year following and the Consulship of Appius Claudius Caudex and M. Fulvius Flaccus Appius was sent over with an Army to Messana to execute the commands of the People He first defeated Hiero then the Carthaginians and so raised the siege The succeeding Consuls Manius Octacilius and M. Valerius Maximus were ordered both and with all the Legions Hiero King of Syracuse being worsted maketh his peace with the Romans to passe into Sicily wherewith Hiero was affrighted into obedience perceiving that the Romans were most likely to remain Victors and made his Peace upon these terms To restore all their prisoners without ransom and pay 100 Talents of Silver The Romans imbraced his frienship the more readily for that the Carthaginians being masters at Sea they could not well send over provisions which they hoped might be supplied by him in good measure They also by this alliance thought themselves eased of the burthen of War and therefore the next year they sent over but two Legions Valerius the Consul from Messana had the sirname of Messala who also having taken Catana carried thence a new Sundial to Rome Papirius Cursor having thirty years before set up the first that ever was in that City A Dial brought out of Sicily to Rome This though not perfect the People used 99 years till M. Philippus their Censor set up a perfect one by it and about the same time Scipio Nasica being Censor first divided the equal division of the day into hours by water dropping out of one vessel into another And Barbers This Pliny relateth out of Varro who also reported that out of Sicily the first Barbers were brought
paint themselves as many Writers do testifie Now the ancient Greeks who sayled by the Coasts understanding that the Nation was called Brith might unto it add Tania which word in Greek as the Glossaries shew betokeneth a Region and thereof made the compound name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Britons-Land which is corrupted into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but by Lucretius and Caesar the two first Romans that make mention thereof is truely called Britania In confirmation of this opinion Cambden observeth that in the names of well-nigh all the antient Britains there appeareth some signification of a colour which no doubt he saith arose from this kind of painting The Red colour is of the Britans called Coch and Goch which in his judgement lieth Couched in these names Cogidunuâ— Argentocoxus and Segonax The Black colour called Dù sheweth it self in Mandubratius Cartimandua Togodumnus Bunduica Cogidunus The White collour called Gwin in Venutius and Immanuentius The Waterish called Gwellwe in Vellocatus Carvilius and Suella The Blew which they call Glass in Cuniglasus and he proceedeth further But this Learned man coming to speak of the time wherein Britain came to be known abroad denieth that the Britains were with Hercules at the rape of Hesione that Ulysses was ever in Britain that the Britans bestowed any Presents upon Cato that King Alexander the Great or Hannibal was ever in the Island he doubteth whether ever the ship of Hiero mentioned by Athenaeus came hither yet thinketh that the Britans were mingled with the Câ—mbri and Galls in their expeditions into Italy and Greece Cambdens arguments that Britain was but known lately 12. But as the Romans Galls and Spaniards were unknown to Herodotus and the antient Greek Geographers so of this mind he ever was that it was late ere the Greeks and Romans heard of the Britans name For he judgeth that little book of the World which goeth abroad under the name of Aristotle and maketh mention of the Britans of Albion and Hierne to be of later dayes by far than that Philosopher as the best learned men saith he have judged He accounteth Polybius the antientest Greek vvriter that mentioneth the British Isles who yet knew nothing of them then doth he in reference to other Nations count it but a fable that Himilco the Carthaginian being commanded by his Superious to discover the Western Sea-Coasts of Europe entred into this Isle many years before that time And the first Latin Author to his knowledge that made mention of Britain was Lucretius in his Verses concerning the difference of aire Now that Lucretius lived but a little before Caesar no man denieth at what time we are taught out of Caesar himself that Divitiacus King of the Soissons and the most mighty Prince of all Gall Governed Britain which as also appeareth from Caesar is onely to be understood of the Maritime Coasts Howbeit Diodorus Siculus writeth that Britain had experience of no foreiners rule for neither Dionysus or Bacchus nor Hercules nor any other worthy or Demigod have we heard saith he to have attempted War upon that people Now Caesar who for his noble acts is called Divus was the first that subdued the Britans and forced them to pay a certain Tribute From his time saith Cambden and no further off must the Writer of our History fetch the beginning of his work if he throughly weigh with judgement what the Learned Varro hath in time past written viz. of the three distinctions of times which we have formerly mentioned uncertain before the Flood Fabulous before the Olympiads and Historical since the beginning of them and my self already heretofore signified This most learned man mentions this division of Varro because that the British History of Geffrey of Monmouth taketh its beginning 333 years before the first Olympiad This History we must absolutely disclaim as utterly Fabulous in reference to King Brutus and other fictions depending on his story But whether or no Britain was not known abroad till so late time as our Anquary judgeth must be examined for the honour of our Countrey saving ever that respect which is due and that justly unto his name and vvill not be at all dimished seeing the contest is betwixt him also and Bochartus himself 13. The controversie is decided clearly against Cambden if two things can but be made out 1. That the Cassiterides or Islands ef tinne were known very antiently The contrary asserted and 2. That the Cassiterides are no other than the British Isles The first is proved from the testimony of many that the Phoenicians were wont to trade to the Cassiterides and thence to fetch plenty of Tinne * Strabo affirmeth it and that they first traded thither alone from Gades Lib. 3. p. 175. hiding from others this course of traffick insomuch that a certain Phoenician Sailor being chased by a Roman Vessel chose rather to run his ship aground and suffer shipwrack to cause his pursuers to miscary than to reveal the matter for which fidelity having escaped himself he had his losse made up out of the publick Treasury at his return to Carthage Pliny also writeth (b) Lib. 7. c. 56. in the Chapter of the first inventors that Midacritus first caried Lead from the Island Cassiteris For Midacritus is to be read Melcarthus or Melicartus the Phoenician Hercules according to Sanchoniathon whom the Phoenicians make Author of the Western voyages (c) Lib. 3. c. 115. Herodotus acknowledgeth he knew not where the Cassiterides were but that there were some then he acknowlegeth also whence Tinne came to them the Greeks and from him it appeareth that they were situate in the utmost limits of Europe The Phoenicians being unwilling that any should know them but themselves the Greeks bought Tin and Lead either of them or the Venets or Narbonenses to whom it was wont to be caried by Land in a journy of thirty dayes as Diodorus telleth us (d) Videsis apud Bocharti Canaan l. 1. c. 39. Dionysius Paeriegetes mentioneth them under the name of Hesperides and so doth â—zetzes Festus Anienus speaketh of them under the name of Cestrymnedes expresly of the sailing of the Phoenicians to them and that Hamilco who was sent from the Senate of Carthage to discover the West came thither as he himself recorded whom Festus professeth to follow in the description of the West having made his collections out of the depth of the Punick Annals These things considered prove sufficiently that the Cassiterides were known in very ancient times 14. For the second that the British Isles are those Cassiterides or Stannaries there needs no proof Cambden himself confessing nay proving by many arguments that the Islands of Silly lying off from the Promontory of Cornwal eight leagues and in number 145 are the very same that from the plenty of Tin were called Cassiterides from their site Hesperides and Oestrymnides from Oestrymnis the Promontory of the Artabri now Gallitia in Spain over against which they lye
that he might succeed him supposing that all whom he had banished prayed also for his death he gave command that they should all be killed He would suffer none to be put to death but by degrees that so as he said they might feel themselves die He sorely afflicted the order of Knights and being incensed against the multitude for favouring a party against him he wished that the People of Rome had but one neck He was wont openly to complain of the condition of his time because not signalized by any publick calamity and how by the serenity thereof he should be buried in oblivion his being herein contrary to the disposition of Phalaris in so much as he would wish for some overthrow of the Armies some Famine Pestilence Fire or Earth-quake He purposed utterly to destroy the works of Virgil and Livy and take away the Law He took away honour from families and when he met with any beautifull person made them as deformed as he could He was so prodigal that he would drink most precious Pearls dissolved in Vinegar and invent all sorts of delicacies by which course he spent infinite sums in the space of three years which Tiberius had hoarded up and to recruit his Coffers raised unheard-of Tributes Amongst other means for increasing his revenue he set up stews in his Palace and some were sent about to invite all sorts of men to them such as came being commended for increasing Caesar's revenues He purposed to depart to Autium and thence to Alexandria but first to kill all the chief both of the Senatorian and Equestrian rank and answerably hereunto were there found after his death two Books whereof the title of one was Gladius or Sword and the other Pugio or Dagger wherein were written the names of such as he intended to murder A great chest also was found full of divers poisons which being by Claudius his appointment cast into the Sea the water is reported to have been so infected that the fish was therewith killed and was cast up by the tide upon the shoar These things are reported by Suetonius concerning which Author yet it is observed by some that he wrote the lives of the Emperours with as great liberty as they lived them 6. Many desired to have an hand in removing him Josephus Antiq. l. 19. c. 1. yet durst not attempt any thing But Cassius Chaereas the Captain of his Guard being grievously affronted by him for ever when Caius gave him the watch-word it should be some effeminate or obscene name He is slain by Cassius Chaereas the Captain of his Guard and he continually charged him with cowardize fully resolved to kill him and broke the businesse to others whom he thought to have the same desire with himself They killed him as he returned from the games of the Palace to refresh himself Chaereas giving him the first wound His guard of Germans which loved him exceedingly because of the profit they reaped from the execution of his cruel commands in a great rage killed all they could meet in the Palace and with much adoe were kept from putting thousands to death that were now assembled in the theatre Nay the common People allured by his shows and largesses endeavoured to find out the authors of his death to whom Valerius Asiaticus who had been Consul coming forth whilst they were in an uproar and every one inquired who had done the deed O said he I wish I had done it Being once advised to beware of a Cassius he suspected Cassius Longinus the Proconsul of Asia of the same family with Cassius one of the murtherers of Julius Caesar and sending for him put him to death never thinking that Chaereas had also that name Having reigned three years and ten moneths with eight dayes and lived 29 he thus died A. D. 42. Ol. 205. an 1. V. C. 794. on the ninth before the Calends of February in the 794 year of the City and the 42 after the birth of Christ hee himself the fourth time and C. Sextius Saturninus being Consuls 7. The Senate now as Josephus telleth us thought of resuming the antient form of Government though it was utterly impracticable Saturninus the Consul especially stickling for it But the Soldiers rightly judging Vide Joseph Antiq. l. 19. c. 2 3. Sueton in Claudio c. 10. that such an Empire could not be ruled in a Popular way and especially looking at their own advantage resolved the contrary Tiberius Claudius Drusus brother to Germanicus Caesar and son to Drusus by Antonia the younger the daughter of Antony the Triumvir and of Octavia the sister of Augustus was yet living Him they judging most fit to succed his Nephew pulled him out of an hole where he had hid himself to save his life Claudius his Uncle succeedeth him and straight-way declared him Emperour He was at first discouraged by the messages of the Senate but again took heart at the counsel and directions of King Agrippa so that the Senators despairing of successe gave over their enterprize but not without some of them seeking the Soveraignty for themselves which would have produced as great slaughters and desolations as ever had any of them obtained liberty to prosecute their desires The People were for Claudius his preferment envying the Senate it 's antient power and making account by the Soveraignty of one to be sheltred from it's avarice Hereby also they thought to avoid such Civil Wars as fell out amongst the great ones in the time of Pompey The wiser sort knew that it was impossible the Commonwealth should subsist but under Monarchy some one they were sure would establish himself and that through desolations confusions and slaughters they must come to it at last Self-preservation therefore and publick interest easily led them to the next heir who by his birth could challenge an interest For hereditary Monarchies by preserving due reverence excluding emulations and contests amongst equals by preventing numerous pretensions and the extravagant grandeur of divers families can onely secure the Peace and prosperity of their Subjects Putteth to death Chaereas 8. Idem c. 11. Claudius promised the Soldiers a donative upon their taking an oath to defend his person and authority Then put he to death Chaereas and others that killed Caius as a means to secure his own person but in reference to the Senate buried all things in oblivion and behaved himself moderately and civilly He confirmed Agrippa in his Kingdom and inlarged his dominions by an addition of Judaea and Samaria which heretofore belonged to his grandfather And he further bestowed on him Abila and the Principality of Libanus which had belonged to Lysanias Josephus ut supra c. 4 5. moreover upon his desire he granted to his brother Herod the Kingdom of Chalcis Inlargeth the Dominions of Agrippa and at the request of both published favourable Edicts in behalf of the Jews who groaned under the persecution of Caius This Agrippa called also
bestowed on them what his father had been unjustly scraping together for eighteen years Then falling like a savage beast into cruel courses he cut off all Geta's friends and acquaintance all the Senators of any considerable rank or wealth the Lieutenants and Governours of Provinces with the Vestal Nuns and set the Soldiers to kill the people beholding the Circensian Games After this going into Germany to please his Army he lived an hard and labouring life and thence passing into Thrace Olymp. 247. an 4. V.C. 965. A. D. 212. Bassiani 2. he there imitated Alexander the Great whom he ever much affected to talk of and pretended to emulate He went thence to Ilium were he counterfeited Achilles and so to Alexandria where he made the Inhabitants dearly repent of their rashnesse and folly 11. Being naturally given to much tatling they had formerly railed against him for his cruelty towards his brother and despised him for that being a man of so contemptible stature he compared himself to their Alexander Resolving then to be revenged on them he first entertained them very plausibly but afterwards drawing forth all the youth by a wile he compassed them in with his Army and killed them all After this desirous to become famous by some great exploit he sent to the Parthian for his Daughter and pretended that he himself would come and mary her whereby that King being perswaded to meet him with a great number of people he fell upon them and made a great slaughter for that they thought it needlesse to come armed to a wedding and Artabanus himself with difficulty escaped Getting here much booty and as he thought much glory he returned into Mesopotamia where he received punishment from above for his manifold cruelty There was one Opilius Macrinus an African born and one of his Captains whom he unworthily used This Macrinus receiving a letter from Maternianus directed to the Emperour who had commanded him to call together the Magicians and consult them about his end and whether any lay in wait for the Empire wherein Antoninus was advised to cut him off as aiming at the Soveraignty when he had ventured to open it perceiving that either he or his Master must dye and therefore procured one Martialis to kill him This man being inraged against the Emperour for that he had condemned his brother without sufficient hearing slew him as he was making water on the sixth of the Ides of April after he had reigned six years and two moneths in the first year of the 249 Olympiad A. V. C. 970. A. D. 217 Brutius Praesens and Extricatus being Consuls Amongst many others Caracallus put to death Papinianus the great Lawyer as it s said because he would not defend his paricide 12. In the first year of Severus that we may continue our method concerning Ecclesiastical matters died Victor Bishop of Rome Bishops on the fifth of the Calends of August and Zephirinus succeeded the fifteenth Bishop of that Sea according to Damasus In the last of Antoninus Bassianus Zepherinus died on the seventh before the Calends of September The Sea was vacant five dayes Then succeeded Callistus who therefore was elected the day before the Calends of September on the first feria After Dios Bishop of Jerusalem whom the Bishops of the neighbouring Churches had ordained after the departure of Narcissus Germanion succeeded Euseb Eccles Hist l. 6. c. 10. and after him Gordius in whose time Narcissus shewed himself again as if he had been risen from the dead and was intreated by the brethren to enjoy his Bishoprick being much marvelled at for his departure for his Philosophical course of life and especially for the vengance and plagues of God poured upon his accusers And because for his great age he was not able to supply the place Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia was joyned with him and governed alone after his death In the Church of Antioch Asclepiades was Bishop after Serapion about the first year of Caracalla and was succeeded by Philetus about the last of that Prince's reign 13. Upon Zepherinus Bishop of Rome falleth very foul Tertullian a Presbyter or Priest of Carthage in Africk for that he was more severe against such as through fear had sacrifized to Idols than against Whoremongers and Adulterers wherein not without cause truly saith Cappellus but yet without measure he blameth Zepherinus and the whole Roman Clergy the manners of whom were even now very corrupt if we may believe Tertullian But really not so much out of hatred to their vices as out of prejudice to the truth he calleth the Roman Clergy Psychicus Tertullian as well in his book de pudicitia as in that de monogamia which he thus beginneth Haeretici nuptias auferunt Psychici ingerunt He pretendeth therein onely to condemn second mariages but indeed most of his arguments respect both first and second although he himself had maried a wife and retained her in his Presbytery But mariage which he had learnt of the Orthodox to approve he learnt of Montanus to despise to whom he would have more revealed than to the Apostles because they as yet or for certain the Church could not bear the yoak of fastings and caelibate which Montanus brought in and he as a Montanist would inculcate This humour at length so possessed him that neither content with the title of Christian nor that of Presbyter he put on the Philosophick Pallium as a token of a more austere life wherein he would be eminent not onely amongst Christians but also Montanists The Africans either being amazed or laughing at this novelty he wrote an elegant but most obscure Book de pallio which before being miserably lacerated hath been of late dayes restored by the most learned Salmasius He wrote his Book de praescriptionibus about the eighth year of Commodus as Cappellus gathereth because in the end thereof making a Catalogue of Hereticks he mentioneth Theodotus who was censured by Victor Bishop of Rome for holding Christ to have been a meet man but not Artemon the Heretick who appeared shortly after 14. His book de corona militis acquainteth us with the occasion of the persecution of the Christians in the reign of Severus The Emperour ere he marched into the East in that Expedition wherein he overthrew the Parthians made his elder son his partner in the Tribunitial power and by his liberality pleased the People formerly inraged by the many punishments he inflicted By occasion of this liberality as it seemeth a Christian Soldier holding a certain garland or crown in his hand as if it were wickednesse for him to set it on his head as the rest did was asked why he did so and answered that he was a Christian This was the occasion of the Emperours rage About the fifteenth of Severus he wrote against the Mancionites whom he so impugneth as yet underhand he inculcareth his Montâ—nism For saith he Amongst us spiritual reason derived from the Comforter perswadeth in the Faith
meat beyond the length of the string by which he is bound to a violent leap Thus the conscious light being overthrown and put out c. so he proceedeth to the same purpose but in worse terms And Justin Martyr in his Conference with (c) Pag. 227. B. Tryphon the Jew demandeth of him after this manner Do you also believe concerning us that we devour men and after meat the lights being put out use wicked and promiscuous Copulation Lastly Theophylus Patriarch of Antioch in his third book (d) Pag. 119. D. to Antolycus against Calumniators of Christian Religion summeth up what we have already said in these words They say that our wives are common and accuse us that we use promiscuous Copulation Besides they lay to our charge that we do not abstain from our own sisters but rashly dare to violate those with incestuous lust But this is most cruel and brutish of the Crimes they object against us when with an impious mouth they prate that we eat mans flesh neither do they cease to traduce our Religion or Doctrine as of yesterday and destitute of all truth which neither we our selves if a controversie arise are able to defend with clear demonstrations Further they say that our Doctrine is nothing but folly and meet toys 17. That malice which invented these impious adjuncts of Christian Religion found out a suitable object of vvorship for the Romans had so far forgotten their own antient custom of serving their Gods without Images or resemblances for Numa as Plutarch telleth us and the antient Romans for many years admitted no Images in their Temples because the Deity cannot be made out by any external resemblance that they thought it impossible for any Religion not to be guilty of Idolatry towards some visible thing Hence came that fable related by (a) Histor lib. 5. Tacitus an Author guilty of malice against both Jews and Christians that the Jews consecrated the Image of an Asse because forsooth being pressed sorely with thirst in the deserts of Arabia certain wild Asses shewed them the Fountains where they were wont to drink although this Author who saith he lies not writeth that Pompey having taken Jerusalem and entred into the Temple to see the mysteries of the Jewish Religion saw there no Image at all (b) Apoll cap. 16. Tertullian conceiveth that from this tale sprung that conceit that the Christians the Religion of whom was drawn from that of the Jews and succeeded it worshipped the Effigies of an Asse And the object of it I hear saith Cecilius that they vvorship a Consecrated head of an Asse the most filthy of all sorts of Cattel I know not out of what foolish perswasion a Religion worthy of and descended from such manners But he goeth further and relateth a report that the very object of their vvorship was also obscene (c) Ibid. Tertullian further writeth that some were of opinion they worshipped the Crosse and Cecilius from the ignominious death of our Lord and this instrument of it argueth to the infamy of Christian Religion in an abominable manner Tertullian in the same place telleth us that some with more apparent reason believed the Sun to be their God and sent them to the Religion of the Persians herein suspecting them for so doing because when they prayed they turned themselves toward the East And after an answer to this lye he addeth The calumnies invented to cry down our Religion arose to such excesse of impiety that not long ago in this Citie a picture of our God was shewed by a certain infamous person that got his living by exposing to the sight of the people wild beasts who by a strange faculty gotten by him to avoid their bitings making use of his craft shewed also the aforesaid picture to all comers with this inscription thereon This is Onochoetes the God of Christians This supposed God of the Christians pretended by him had the ears of an Asse an hoof on one of his feet carried a book and was clothed with a Gown we laugh at the barbarousnesse of this name and the extravagancy of this figure Such were the blasphemies of Pagans against Christian vvorship and as an argument for them they produced the secrecy of Christian meetings which their own cruelty and rage had made necessary They (d) Tertul. Apol cap. 39 talked of nothing more than the excesse of the Tables of the Christians And after all this they (e) Idem ibid. cap. 42. objected that they were not any way profitable in the commerce of the World 18. As to their outward demeanour they accused them of Sedition as well as Atheism Let (a) Apol. cap. 10. Tertullian speak upon what frivolous grounds You say we vvorship not the Gods nor for the welfare of the Emperours offer sacrifices to them They were accused of Sedition The one of these two Crimes whereof you accuse us must necessarily follow upon the neck or in consequence of the other for being resolved to render no manner of vvorship to your Deities we must necessarily in like manner be resolved not to sacrifize at their Altars whether for our selves or for what person soever it be Hereupon you conclude us guilty of Sacrilege and high Treason Pliny was wont as appeareth from his Epistle to Trajan to try Christians by supplications made to the Images of the Gods and amongst these to the Emperour's picture by Frankinscence and Wine This burning incense was an ordinary tryal in all ages They were also counted singular and factious for that they would not swear by the Fortune or Genius of the Emperours This the holy Martyr (b) Epist Ecclesiae Smyrnens de S. Polycarpi Martyrio Pag. 20 21. Polycarp was bidden to do by the Proconsul a little before his suffering These prejudices and false opinions being heightned and irritated by the malice of Devils who found themselves neerly concerned therein procured wonderfull enmity and malice in the hearts of Pagans against the faith 19. Is it not strange saith (a) Apol. c. 3. Tertullian that the hatred vvherewith this name is pursued in such manner blinds the minds of most men that vvhen they vvitnesse the probity of a Christian they mix in their discourse as a reproach that he hath imbraced this Religion One saith truely he of vvhom you speak is an honest man if he vvere not a Christian and his life vvould be free from blame Another Do you know such a one vvho had the reputation of a vvise and discreet man he is lately turned Christian Again These people by an extreme blindnesse of hatred speak to the advantage of the name Christian Hence wonderfull hatred vvhen they strive to render it odious For say they How pleasant and of vvhat a good humour vvas that vvoman How sociable and jovial was that man 'T is pity they should be Christians So they impute the amendment of their lives to the profession of Christianity Some of them also
the eighteenth before the Calends of October and Lucius succeeded him who shortly after was banished In the second of Gallienus was he beheaded and after a vacancy of 35 dayes Stephen succeeded on the ninth of April the first feria who interceding for Basilides condemned by the Spaniards they defended their right against him and condemned his usurpation against the Africans as appeareth from Cyprian's Epistles as also that the boldnesse of the Roman Sea was now checked by all the Provinces After three years Stephen was beheaded by the command of Valerian and Sixtus succeeded him who being beheaded when Laurence the Deacon was fried to death by the command of Valerian Dionysius succeeded After him came Felix and then Eutychianus who being martyred in the first of Carus after nine dayes Caius succeeded December 16. Caius was crowned with Martyrdom in the twelfth of Diocletian and after eleven dayes Marcellinus succeeded who through fear offering incense to Idols when he denied it was overborn by the testimony of a multitude of witnesses confessed his fault and afterwards redeemed his credit by suffering Martyrdom Marcellus succeeded him After Marcellus succeeded Eusebius and then Miltiades then Sylvester who was Bishop at the time of the Council of Nice in the twentieth year of Constantine 19. After Alexander Mazabanes was Bishop of Jerusalem untill the reign of Gallus and Volusianus after him Hymeneus till the time of Aurelian Then followed Zambdas and Hermon according to (a) Lib. 7. c. 19. Eusebius who writeth that the Sea of Jerusalem was alwaies honoured and the succession continued unto his own dayes After Hermon Macarius was Bishop Socrat. Scholast l. 1. cap. 9 13. and was present at the Council of Nice In the Church of Antioch after Philetus succeeded Zebinus and then Babylas who died in prison in the persecution under Decius Him followed Fabius him Demetrianus and him Paulus Samosatenus the heretick who denying the Divinity of the Son of God was excommunicated and deprived by the second Synod held against him at Antioch in the dayes of (c) Euseb l. 7. c. 29 30. Aurelianus And when he would neither depart the Church nor avoid the house the Emperour was besought the first application to the Prince in this nature by the Christians to interpose and command by edict that such should have the house as agreed in doctrine with the followers of the Bishop of Rome and Italy Domnus was by the Synod appointed to succeed him after whom followed Timeus Cyrillus Dorotheus Tyrannus Vitalis Philogonus a Martyr and (d) Socrat. l. 1. c. 9 23. Eustathius who was at the Council of Nice He fell into the Heresie of Sabellius who being the Scholar of Noetus taught that the three Persons of the Trinity were but one but they differed in that Sabellius said not the Father to have suffered He was deposed by a Council held at Antioch Eusebius Pamphilius Bishop of Caesarea confuted him After his deposition the Sea was vacant eight years In the Sea of Alexandria after Heraclas Dionysius the Scholar of Origen was Bishop in the third year of Philip. He reporteth in (e) Quem vid. l. 6 7. passim Eusebius the peril he stood in and the persecution he suffered under Decius He wrote of the Alexandrian Martyrs to Fabius Bishop of Antioch and to Novatus the Heretick who being a Priest of Rome fell from his order and calling his Sect Cathari would not admit unto the Church such as fell after repentance and he abhorred second mariage Dionysius also wrote to Hermanion to Steven and Xistus Bishops of Rome unto Philemon a Minister of Rome and unto Dionysius Bishop of Rome He confuted the Book of Nepos the Chiliast and confounded in open disputation Coracion his disciple Hitherto this error of the Millenaries propagated by Papias had many of the Fathers that adhered to it who yet held that Christ when he came was to do his own work without any prejudice to Earthly Princes in the mean time Some observe that Dionysius striking at this error traduceth the Apocalypse as also defending the distinction of Persons against Sabellius seemeth to make three Essences Many betook themselves to Dionysius Bishop of Rome that he would reclaim him and obtained it After he had governed the Church seventeen years he died and Maximinus succeeded him whom followed Theonas and him Peter who was martyred under Diocletian Him succeeded Achillas and then came Alexander who was at the Council of Nice Hee by preaching of the Trinity somewhat curiously gave occasion to Arius one of his Clergy to fall from the Faith as * L. 1. c. 5. Socrates informeth us 20. In the fifth year of Philip whilst Fabianus was Bishop of Rome Donatus the Bishop of Carthage died and Cyprian succeeded him by consent of all men except Felicissimus who whilest the Heathens invaded his patrimony endeavoured to deprive him of his Bishoprick Felicissimus was ordained Bishop by Novatus Vita epistolae Cypriani who also ordained Novatianus against Cornelius Bishop of Rome Yet Cornelius favoured Felicissimus against Cyprian and would have taken Cognisance of their businesse whereupon Cyprian vehemently rebuketh him and denies that any one beyond the Sea hath right to passe judgement upon any matters concerning Africk And a little after the pride of the Roman Sea was reprehended by all those of the Provinces an occasion being given about Basilides who being censured in Spain complained to Stephen the Bishop of Rome Cyprian was several times driven into exile (a) Lib. 7. c. 3. Eusebius maketh him to have erred in rebaptizing Hereticks In the fourth of Valerian died Origen seventy years old Origen a man of admirable parts most austere life indefatigable industry and stupendious learning but of impure Doctrine Jerome sheweth how full of portentous errours his book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is (b) Quem consule de Civitate Dei l. 21. c. 17. Augustin saith he held the Devil at length should be delivered from Hell and associated with the holy Angels and for this and other things especially for holding alternate or successive blessednesse and misery for ever the Church did reject him Pamphilus wrote an Apology for him But his works are to be read with especial care and especially his Commentaries upon the Scripture concerning some of which Theodore (c) In Rom. cap. 3. vers 20. Beza passeth this censure Certe hoc ausim dicere si haec sunt Origenis cujus titulum praeferunt hunc hominem fuisse selectum Diaboli organum Apostolicae Doctrinae evertendae destinatum for he evaporateth the solid and substantial Doctrine of the Gospel into Allegorical and aery Notions 21. But God having exercised his people by many a fiery trial was pleased to preserve the bush unburned and at length to grant them Peace by Constantine who proved a nursing father to the Church taking away all penal Laws against them and enacting new ones not onely for their preservation but convenience and
comfort And as he preserved them from external violence so he also took care for their inward peace This had been somewhat of late disturbed by the Heresie of Manes from whom his followers were named Maniches who began to publish his impure Doctrine in the first of Probus in the 277 year of the ordinary or received Aera of Christ This fellow being a Persian Euseb l. 7. c. 28. said that he was born of a Virgin that he was both Christ and the holy Ghost and sent out twelve Disciples to preach his Doctrine which was made up of many old Heresies heretofore named But his and other grosse opinions found not such entertainment as to procure so much disturbance as that of Arius did who having as we said heard Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria discoursing curiously of the Trinity and thinking that he maintained the error of Sabellius in opposition to him fell to deny the blessed Trinity and affirmed that the son of God was like unto God in name onely and not in substance The Council of Nice His Heresie having been condemned in many Synods Constantine in the 20th of his reign A. D. 325. summoned a General Council to meet at Nice where assembled 318 Bishops In opposition to Arianism was framed the Nicene Creed June 19. Hosius presided as he had done in the Synodes of Egypt and first subscribed the Canons Besides the condemnation of Arius the Sanction concerning Easter made at Arles and in Palaestine was confirmed Moreover twenty Ecclesiastical Canons were established than which no good Author mentioneth more Now were the Temples of Idols overthrown and Churches Erected the service of Devils was banished and the vvorship of the true God owned and incouraged now faith and patience triumphed over most tedious and exquisite persecutions and truth dispelled the Clouds of prejudice and errour Mr. George Herbert his Church Militant REligion now flourish'd in Greece where Arts Gave her the highest place in all mens hearts Learning was pos'd Philosophy was set Sophisters taken in a fishers net Plato and Aristotle were at a losse And wheel'd about again to spell Christs Crosse Prayers chased Syllogisms into their den And Ergo was transform'd into Amen Though Greece took horse as soon as Egypt did And Rome as both yet Egypt faster rid And spent her period and prefixed time Before the other Greece being past her prime Religion went to Rome subduing those Who that they might subdue made all their foes The Warriour his dear skars no more resounds But seems to yield Christ hath the greater wounds Wounds willingly endur'd to work his blisse Who by an ambush lost his Paradise The great heart stoops and taketh from the dust A sad repentance not the spoils of lust Quitting his spear lest it should pierce again Him in his members who for him was slain The shepherds hook grew to a Scepter here Giving new names and numbers to the year But th' Empire dwelt in Greece to comfort them Who were cut short in Alexander's stem In both of these Prowesse and Arts did tame And tune mens hearts against the Gospel came Which using and not fearing skill in th' one Or strength in th' other did erect her Throne Many a rent and strugling th' Empire knew As dying things are wont untill it flew At length to Germany still Westward bending And there the Churches festival attending That as before Empire and Arts made way For no lesse Harbingers would serve than they So they might still and point us out the place Where first the Church should raise her down-cast face Strength levels ground Art makes a Garden there Then showrs Religion and makes all to bear Spain in the Empire shar'd with Germany But England in the higher victory Giving the Church a Crown to keep her state And not go lesse than she had done of late Constantines British line meant this of old And did this mystery wrap up and fold Within a sheet of paper which was rent From time's great Chronicle and hither sent Thus both the Church and Sun together ran Unto the farthest old Meridian How dear to me O God thy Counsels are Who may with thee compare FINIS READER there being many proper names in this work which the Printers rarely meet with elsewhere this hath occasioned the more faults in the Impression yet most of them are corrected by a frequent printing of them aright especially towards the later end of the Book most faults being onely the alteration of one letter in a word Such of these or others that are most notable thus correct and passe by the rest by thy candour PAge 1. line 12. for eat it read eat of it p. 2. marg for Mererum r. Mercerum p. 7. l. 43. f. Irelan r. Joctan p. 11. l. 22. f. Amonite r. Amorrhite p. 12. l. 3. f. Clesiphon r. Ctesiphon p. 13. l. 14 f. Pesen r. Resen p. 21. l. 47 f. Judaea r. India p. 24. marg f. Asheu r. Athenaeus p. 34. l. 26. f. Damascenus r. Damascus p. 39. marg f. Deut. r. Orat. p. 78. marg f. Phicium r. Phocium p. 82. l. 57 f. senerity r. serenity p. 86. l. 21. f. caried r. varied p. 88. l. 21. f. Aegyptians r. Aeginetans p. 91 l 20. f. Generation r. veneration p. 94. l. 54. f. Aphutes r. Iphicles p. 95. l. 32. f. Ganchoniathon r. Sanchoniathon p 109. l. 51. f. law r. cave p. 111. l. 7. f. antient r. after p. 116. l. 1. f. Grece r. Crete p. 187 l. 31. f. Pubares r. Bubares p. 192. l. 46. f. Mossa r. Atossa p. 199. l. 18. f. 161. r. 16. p. 213. f. penult r. 490. so p. 214. l. 10. 17. 18. r. 489. 490. p. 238. l. 16. f. Glos r. Glaus and l. 26. p. 293. l. 4. f. Corcyraeans r. Corinthians p. 297. l. 1. f. Menton r. Meton p. 362. marg Sordanus r. Soranus p 364. l. 34. f. Dubares r. Bubares p. 429. l. 30. f. Buleo r. Buteo p. 464. marg Scribonianus r. Tribonianus p. â—44 l. 32. f Antiochus r Antigonus p. 583. l. 51. dele self p. 596. l. 28. f. Phaeucia r. Phaenicia 646 l 38. f. took r. loose p. 743. l. 21 f. a fight r for flight p. 749. m. betwixt avus Rex r. Cecinna ibid. l 45. f. induced r. indued ibid. â— 5â— f Enemies r. Armies p. 760. m. Principalities r. Provinces p. 792. l. 16. Hypotyposeâ—â—n r. Hypotyposeon p. 798 penult f. Marcellus r. Marceâ—â—nus p. â—00 penult f. Cansi r. Cangi p. 830. l. 44. f. three r. the p. 839. l. 10. f. Municipi r Municipia p. 853. l. 10. f. Atraevi r. Atrevi p. 857. l. 10. betwixt Clemens Alexandrinus add called p. 866. l. 18. f. fifth r. first Books printed for Henry Herringman at the sign of the Anchor on the Lower Walk of the new Exchange THe great Exemplar the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus by Jer. Taylor Dr. in Divinity Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty