made provision for them for these thirteen years The Solymitans or Shepherds with the unclean multitude made now great havock of all things in Aegypt burning Villages and Cities and raging against the sacred Animals with their Priests whom they compelled to be their Butchers and drave away naked the forementioned Priest still giving Laws and framing their Policy who being from Osiris the Heliopolitan-god called Osarsiphus now changed his name into Moses But at the end of the thirteen years Amenophis returned with great power out of Aethiopia and with the assistance of his Son Rampses fell upon the Shepherds and unclean multitude whereof killing many they pursued the rest as far as the borders of Syria 13. These ridiculous lyes are much more augmented by others Chaeremon Chaeremon his ridiculous Lyes who professed to write the History of Aegypt giveth the same name Amenophis to the King and of Rhamesses to his Son but addeth that the Goddesse Isis appeared to the former complaining that her Temple was destroyed by War That Phritiphantes a sacred Scribe told the King that if he would be freed from terrors in the night he must purge Aegypt from polluted Men he therefore gathering out 250000 diseased persons cast them out of his borders That the two Scribes Moses and Joseph the Aegyptian name of the former being Tisithes and of the later Petesephis became their Leaders and coming to Pelusium found there 380000 which Amenophis having left behind would not convey into Aegypt with those they struck up a league and undertook an Expedition against the Land Amenophis not expecting the issue of their attempt fled into Aethiopia leaving his wife big with child which lying hid in a Cave brought forth a Son called Messenes He when he came to age expelled the Jews to the number of 200000 into Syria and received back his Father Amenophis out of Aethiopia Lisimachus his malicious forgeries 14. Lysimachus an Historian going beyond the other two in the maliciousnesse of his lyes wrote that when Bocchoris reigned in Aegypt the people of the Jews infected with Leprosie Scab and other diseases resorted to the Temple to beg for their living and many being infected with this disease barrennesse fell upon the Land Bocchoris sending to the Oracle of Ammon about it received this answer that the Temples were to be cleansed from impure and prophane persons who were to be cast out into the Desart but the scabbie and Leprous should be drowned the Sun not enduring they should live which being done and the Temples purified fruitfulnesse would be restored to the Earth Bocchoris accordingly ordered the Priests to gather all the prophane out of the Temples and give them up to Soldiers who were to carry them into the Wildernesse and the Leprous and Scabbie to be wrapped in Lead and cast into the Sea which being drowned accordingly the other were exposed to perish in the Desart But those consulting for their own safety kept fires that night and strict watch then the day following a solemn Fast to God for their preservation On the next counsell was given them by a certain Man named Moses that they should march on in one body till they arrived at some good Soil Then commanded he them to be kind to no man to give bad counsell rather than good and overthrow the Temples of the gods as many as they should find which being approved of they travelled through the Desart and after much trouble came to a fruitfull Soil where using the Inhabitants very injuriously and rifling and burning the Temples they arrived at length in that Country since called Iudaea and building a City seated themselves there This City was at first called Hierosyla from the spoiling of the Temples but afterwards to shun the disgrace of the occasion they changed it into Hierosolyme and took the name of Hierosolymitans Apion his Lyes 15. Further than this Apion a Grammarian of Alexandria Josephus Lib. 2. contr Apionem as he counterfeited himself but born in Oasis a Town of Aegypt amongst severall other lyes against the Jews wrote that he had received from the eldest of the Aegyptians how Moses was a Heliopolitan and being brought up according to the customs of his Country changed the rites thereof at his own pleasure That he led the Leprous Blind and Lame out of Aegypt but fairly saith it was in the first year of the seventh Olympiad the same wherein Carthage was built by the Tyrians which happened about 150 years after Hiram the King of Tyre as apppeareth out of the Phoenician Annals with whom Solomon was contemporary He mentioned the same number of infirm persons as Lysimachus but addeth a reason why the Sabbath was so called Travelling six dayes together saith he on the seventh day they rested in Judaea for that they were sorely plagued with Ulcers in their privy parts and named it Sabboth from the Aegyptian word Sabbatosis which signifieth that disease Notwithstanding that he saith they finished their journey in six dayes yet he further writeth that Moses hid himself for forty dayes upon the Mount Sinai which lyeth betwixt Aegypt and Arabia whence coming down he gave Laws unto the Jews As for the Jewish Religion he was not ashamed to write that in their Temple was set the head of an Asse made of gold and of great value which being there worshipped was taken thence when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled the place 16. Such absurdities were delivered by the Egyptians and those who out of desire to gratifie them have after their example endeavoured to conceal the truth to which Josephus in his two Books against Apion hath abundantly answered Severall reasons have moved them to corrupt their Originall Records Reason for these Lyes raised by the Aegyptians and others against the Jews The Israelites growing great in that Country out of it they returned to the promised Land by the stretched out arm of God to the great reproach of their cruel and imperious Lords The difference of religion raised also betwixt the two Nations as betwixt the Jews and the whole world mortall enmity whilst the one worshipped the onely true God and the base and degenerate spirit of the other fell down to things far inferior to themselves which difference some though but few persons discerning were ambitious to become Proselytes to the Jewish Doctrine Hence again arose such Envy that some descended to that indiscretion and weaknesse as to contradict their own most antient and authentick Writers The in-bred blindnesse of Men's minds increased by Paganish Education hath so far prevailed that the (b) As Diodorus Siculus in Eclog. lib. 34. 40. Tacitus Hist lib. 5. ad initium Justin. lib. 36. greatest part of Heathen Writers have in this contention sided with the Egyptians otherwise contemptible enough in their eyes and subscribed to what they have said concerning the Originall of the Jewish Nation though some (c) Strabo lib. 16. p. 761. Dion Cassius lib. 37. have not given credit to
which the Priests from whom Herodotus had his information hid this and all other things that tended to the dishonour of their Countrey 19. Returning from Aegypt into Palaestine he besieged (p) 2 Chron. 32. 1 Kings 19. Esay 37. Lachish and thence removed to Libnah where he wrote a blasphemous Letter to Hezekiah For hearing that Tirhakah King of Aethiopia or Arabia by Josephus called Tharsices by Strabâ— Tearkon was coming against him in behalf of the Egyptians he removed for fear and God sent his Angel into his Camp who slew in one night 85000 men which thing as a plague was also recorded by (q) Apud Joseph ut supra cap. 2. Berosus Then returned he as God had promised Hezekiah with great consternation into his own Land where raging against the Jews that dwelt at Niniveh if credit be to begiven to the book of â—obâ— he was after 44 dayes slain in the Temple of his idol Nisroch by his two sons Adâ—amelech and Sharezer who fled for it into the Land of Ararat or Armenia and Esarchaddon his son reigned in his stead Esarchaddon the same with Assaradinus 20. This Esarchaddon is thought and that probably to be the same with Assaradinus mentioned by Ptolomy in his Catalogue of Kings and who subdued Babylon It is also thought that (r) 2 Kings 17. this is he who when he brought a new Colony into Samaria from Babylon Cathah Ana Hamath and Sepharvaim at the same time making an inroad into Judaea as 't is very probable took (Å¿) 2 Chron. 33. Menasseh the King thereof in the Thorns and carried him in Captivity into Babylon for it appeareth from both these passages mentioned in Scripture that at this time that Citie was subject to the King of Assyria After Esarchaddon or Assaradinus had reigned thirteen years Saosduchinus succeeded him according to Ptolomy Saosduchinus and not Meroâ—ach whom the general opinion will have being King of Babylon to have killed him and again overthrown the Empire of the Assyrians For this succession is founded upon a feigned (t) Pseudo-Metasthenes apud Annium vit Eâ—bensem fol. 221. De cujus fictis Authoribus vide Joh. Goropium Biblioth Hispan Tom. 2. pag. 356. Gaspar Barterium ibid. pag. 386. 407. 417. 431. Seth. Calvis Isagog Chronil cap. 28.29 Chron. p. 171. A. Non est germanum opus Pam. in Tert. Apol. n. 287. Author imposed on the World with several others of the same credit and therefore deserveth to be rejected The time of this Saosduchinus falling in with that of Deioces who according to Herodotus built Ecbatane the Metropolis of Media if any credit be to be given to the book of Judith we may judge him to be that Nabuchadonosor mentioned there to have overthrown Arphaxad King of the Medes and builder of that Citie in the great plains of Ragan After he had taken him in the Mountains he slew him plundred Ecbatane and then returned victoriously unto Niniveh where he feasted his Army for 120 dayes The year after entring into Consultation how to subdue the several Nations about him he ordained Holophernes his General who straitly besieging Bethsara a Town of Judaea by the wisdom and courage of Judith the Widdow of one Manasses of the Tribe of Ephraim was circumvented and had his head cut off in his Tent. Chuniladanus 21. Saosduchinus or Saosducmus having reigned twenty years Chuniladanus succeeded him thought also to be the same with Saracus mentioned by Alexander Polyhistor Against him came (u) Herodotus lib. 1.102 c. Phraortes the son of Deioces in revenge of his father's death after he had first of all others subdued the Persians and the rest of Asia But his good fortune here forsook him and he perished with the greatest part of his Army in the 22 year of his reign His son Cyaxares succeeding is said to have been more puissant then his Ancestors and the first that distinguished the people of Asia into several Provinces and Souldiers into their several ranks of Pike-men Horsmen and those that used Darts He fought with the Lydians at which time so great an Eclipse of the Sun hapned that the day seemed to be turned into night Having brought to his obedience all Asia beyond the River Halys he gathered his forces together and went against Nineveh with intentions to destroy the Citie He overthrew the Assyrians in battel and besieged the place but it hapned at this time that a great Army of Scythians having driven the Cimmerians out of Europe The Scythians obtain Asia 28 years under conduct of Madyes the son of Protothya called otherwise Judathyrsus their King still followed them and from the Lake Maeâ—is leaving the Mountain Caucasus on their right hand pierced into Media 22. Cyaxares hereby was constrained to raise his siege went and gave them battel but was overthrown and lost the Dominion of Asia which the Scythians having obtained marched straight for Egypt Psammetichus the King met them on their way when they had new entred Palaestine and by good words backed with money prevailed with them to go no further They enjoyed the Dominion of Asia 28 years after the expiration of which term managing their affairs with as great neglect as formerly they had used diligence in polling and rifling the Countrey the greatest part of them being entertained by Cyaxares were made drunken and slain and the King recovered his Dominion Loose it During these things (x) Polyhistor apud Cedrenum vide Usserium in Annot. vet Test ad A. M. 3378. Nabopolassar a Babylonian and General to the Assyrian King contracted affinity with Astyages the son of Cyaxares and Governour of Media Nebucadnesar the son of Nabopolassar marrying Amylis daughter to Astyages The effect of this alliance was that they joyntly set upon Baracus or Chynaladanus in Niniveh and taking the Citie slew him therein after he had reigned 22 years At this time the Prophecies against Niniveh seem to be fulfilled in its destruction For in the latter end of the Greek book of Tobiaâ— it is written that Nebuchadonosor and Assuerus took Niniveh Tobias being yet alive who is said to have lived 127 years or as the Latine hath it 99. 95 having already passed from the taking of Samaria at which time he was carried Captive with his father into Assyria by Salmanasar Nabopolassar 23. Chynaladanus being dead Nabopolassar or Nabulassar obtained his Kingdom in the 123th year of Nabonasar according to (y) Magn. Syntax l. 5. c. 14. Ptolomy whose Canon of Kings also as to the term of years collected from the particular reign of each directly answereth to this account (z) 2 Kings 23. 2 Chron. 35. Against him came up Pharoh Necho and took Carchemish a Citie situate upon Euphrates killing Josiah the King of Judah who attempted to stop his passage He holding this Town the (a) Berosus apud Joseph lib. 1. contra Apionem Governour of Coelosyria and Phoenicia revolted from the
thirteen years and him Amenophis who reigned 21 under whom Jacob died To him succeeded Mephres according to Eusebius but Manethon after him placeth his Sister Amesses or Amerses to which he giveth 21 years and 9 moneths After this reigned Mephres twelve years Mephramuthosis 26 and Thuthmosis or Thmosis 9. After him followed Amenophis otherwise called Palmanothis and Phamenophis who reigned 31 years and by some is accounted that Memnon whose image of stone at Thebes in Aegypt sounded like an Harp when the Sun-beams first in the morning beat upon it which is witnessed by many Authors of good credit To him succeeded Orus or Horus who reigned 38 years and to him Acenchres who reigned 12. Manetho maketh Acenchres the Daughter of Orus and giveth to her 12 years and one moneth after her he bringeth in Rathâ—tis her Brother to whom he giveth 9 yeas But after Acencheres Eusebius placeth Achoris and giveth to him but 7 years to whom succeeded Cenchres the twelfth King who being more wicked than his Praedecessors oppressed the Israelites most grievously and continued eighteen years in his tyranny A.M. 2508. till an end was put to it in the Red Sea The Israelites afflicted in Aegypt 9. Above Eighty years had they vexed the Israelites with insupportable burthens notwithstanding which they grew and increased exceedingly nay although order was given to drown all the Male Children lest growing too numerous they might in time of War joyn with their enemies else get them out of the Land with an high hand or because of a Praediction mentioned by Josephus that an Hebrew should be born who was to afflict and overthrow the Aegyptians That the Jews lived amongst them is ever acknowledged by their Historians accounting it an honour as all Nations do to have sent forth Colonies But to take away disgrace and to save the honour of their Country which to the Priests was ever most solemn abhominable lyes have been made and strange stories devised concerning their first coming into Aegypt and especially about their departure which briefly to relate seemeth agreeable enough to the nature of our design 10. Manetho an Aegyptian Priest and Historian pretending to describe the Originall of the Jews relateth that in the dayes of one of their Kings In 2º Aegyptiac apud Josephum lib. 1. contr Apionem Timaus by name Manetho his Lyes concerning the Originall of the Jews a certain ignorant people called Hycsos which signifieth Royall Shepherds or Captives as he himself interpreteth it from the Eastern parts with great confidence invaded Aegypt which easily obtaining without any force of Arms they burnt the City and Temples and raged against the Natives with Sword and Servitude At length they made them a King of their own stock named Saltis who coming down into the Country about Memphis imposed a Tribute upon the upper and neather Province and put Garrisons in convenient places Especially he took care of the Eastern Coasts being jealous of the Power of the Assyrians so that in the Principality of Sais Eastward from the River Bubastis he built up a City called antiently Anaris which fortifying with most strong walls he therein placed a Garrison of 240000 Men. When he had reigned nineteen years he gave place to Baeon who governed 44 after him Apachnas 36 with seven moneths then Apochis 61 Janias 50 and one moneth then Assis 49. Under those six first Kings they sore oppressed and endeavoured utterly to destroy Aegypt and 511 years had they power over it Afterwards the Kings of the Province of Thebes and the remaining part of Aegypt fell on them with a great and lasting War and by a King named Alisfragmuthosis were they overcome and driven up into a place containing the quantity of 10000 Akers of ground called Auaris The Son of this King Themosis by name attempted the taking of this place besieging it with 480000 Men but dispairing of successe agreed with them that leaving Aegypt they should go whither else they pleased so that departing with all their goods to the number of 240000 persons they travelled through the Desart into Syria for that they feared the Assyrians who then obtained the Empire of Asia and built them a City in the Country afterwards called Judaea which might suffice for so many thousands and named it Jerusalem 11. To this history taken out of the antient records Manetho addeth as he confesseth fabulous reports rife amongst the Vulgar mixing with the Israelites a multitude of Aegyptians languishing with Leprosie and other diseases which he relateth as having forgotten that the Shepherds left Aegypt 518 years before as may be gathered from the series of the Kings and the distance of time betwixt Themusis who reigned when the Shepherds departed and Amenophis under whom the Lepers went out the time of whose reign neither dareth he to define though he be exact in the years of other Princes as Josephus noteth Now this Amenophis forsooth was told by a Priest of the same name That he might see the gods if he would cleanse his Kingdom from Lepers and other unclean persons He being a very religious Man gathered all the infirm out of the Land to the number of 80000 whom he sent with others to cut stones on the East of the River Nile there being amongst them also some of the learned Priests infected with Leprosie Because favour was shewed towards them the Priest who would have had them destroyed feared much the displeasure of the gods as well against himself as the King and foreseeing they should have power over Aegypt for thirteen years he durst not tell the King so much but wrote a Book concerning the matter and then killed himself which cast the King you must know into a great melancholly 12. But being still desired to do something for the security of the diseased people he gave them Avaris the City of the Shepherds now not inhabited whither being entred and perceiving the place to be very advantagious for rebellion they made choice of Osarsiphus one of the Priests of Heliopolis for their Captain swearing to obey him in all things He presently established for Law that they should not worship the gods nor abstain from such creatures as were most sacred to the Aegyptians to marry with none but those that were tied to them by the same league and commanding many other things especially such as he knew contrary to Aegyptian customs he prepared for War Then sent he to the Shepherds at Jerusalem formerly expelled by Themusis to open their condition to them and to invite them to give their assistance against Egypt The Shepherds readily closed with the motion and all to the number of 200000 marched down to Avaris Amenophis much startled hereat especially because of the Praediction of the Priest committed his Son but five years old to a Friend and together with Apis and his other gods went into Aethiopia where he was received with all his multitudes of Subjects and was kindly entertained by the King who
Idem in Argolicis after some years incurred the displeasure of his Sons for marrying his Daughter Hyrnetho to Deiphontes his kinsman he so affected them two above his other children that he made him his onely Counsellour in all affairs insomuch that his sons fearing he would transfer the Kingdom from themselves to him made their father away by one means or other And Cresphontes his Brother who had used too much cunning in getting Messene not long after seeming to be too gracious with the people incurred the displeasure of the Nobility In Messenicis and was murdered together with two of his Sons onely Aepitus then but young escaped and killing Polyphontes the usurper revenged his Father's death Recovering thus the Kingdom he had Successors Glaueus Isthmias Dotadas Sybotas Phâ—ntas Antiochus and Euphaes who dying of a wound received in a battel fought with the Lacedaemonians without issue Aristodemus was elected in his room Cisus and continued as long as the Kingdom it self lasted being overturned by means of the Spartans as will be seen in their story Cisus the eldest son of Temenus succeeded him though the people generally inclined to Deiphontes by whose party they were so stirred up and animated that Cisus being dead they took away from his Successors all regal power and authority All regal power taken from his Successos left them nothing but a meer empty title and so in reality this Kingdom fell being in effect turned into a Free-State Which change happened about forty years after the return of the Heraclidae A. M. 2940. 690 after the beginning of Inachus A. M. 2940. 38. One (f) Grotius ex Aeschylo in supplicibus de jure belli pacis lib. 1. cap. 3. and he a great one there is who would gather out of an old Tragoedian that the antient government of this Kingdom of the Inachidae was meerly absolute the King being by the Poet called both People and City not subject to any Laws but susteined by the power of his Throne and acting all things according to his meer will and pleasure But if credit may be given to the expresse words of (g) In Corinthiacis pag. 61. Pausanias SECT 4. rather than the liberty of a Poet The Kingdom of the Inachidae moderate Emmius thence concludeth their power was but moderate for the Argives saith Pausanias from the most antient times were exceeding studious of liberty Out of this principle being stirred up as it seemeth by the party of Deiphontes they abated the power of Cisus his Successors leaving them nothing but an empty name And this they further shewed when Meltas the Son of Lacidaus one of these Kings not enduring this abatement grew as they thought dissolute and imperious in the Government For impatient hereof they deprived him of all power took upon them to condemn him to death The Government made Democratical and pluckt up all Supremacy by the roots not suffering any afterwards to reign amongst them For though we meet with one afterwards called King of Argos in Herodotus yet that name signified no more than it did in the Common-wealths of Athens Carthage and Rome where this title was wont to be given to some sorts of Officers as this work will shew The Government was now Democratical the chief power lying in the people divided into three tribes to which the Senate was subordinate chosen every year for the preparing of matters for the whole body and the management of the executive power with authority to enact things of lesser consequence There was also a Council of State consisting of 80 persons besides inferior Magistrates of the City and Judges for determining of causes all which are mentioned in the league made betwixt the Argives Athenians and others described by Thucydides in his fifth Book of the Peloponnesian War No fuller intelligence have we concerning the constitution of this Common-wealth which yet flourished downwards for many Ages and had great contests with the Lacedaemonians especially about the territories of Thyrea to which both laid claim Sometimes they fell out about their confaederates being moved with much emulation and distaste at each others Government the one being a Democracie and the other an Oligarchie which once especially brought the State of Argos into great danger But these things belong to another place SECT IV. The most antient Kingdom and Common-wealth of Athens Cecrops 1. THe founding of the Athenian Kingdom is ascribed to (a) Eusebius in Chron. ex Castore A. M. 2449. Cecrops who first reigned in Attica then Acte in the dayes of Triopas King of Argos 373 years before the destruction of Troy 780 before the first Olympiad A. M. 2449. The (b) Diodorus l. 1. p. 17. Aegyptians said he was their Country-man and brought hither a Colonie of the Saitae who inhabited upon one of mouths of Nile He was feigned to be double-natured consisting both of a Serpentine and Humane shape because coming into Greece he shook off barbarism and turned civil Besides this Colonie he gathered the people of these parts into twelve Towns whereas before that they lived dispersedly according to the most antient custom of Greece and called them Athenae after the name of Minerva in the Greek Language The storie is (c) Augustin ex Varrone de Civitat Dei l. 18. c. 9. told that when the name came to be given on a sodain an Olive-tree and a Fountain of water appeared whereat Cecrops moved with wonder sent to enquire of the Oracle what they should mean It was answered that the Olive signified Minerva the water Neptune and that they might name that City from which of these two they pleased Hereupon all the men and women were gathered together to make the choice the men were for Neptune but the women being the greater number carried the name for Minerva Neptune angry hereat drowned their territories whom to pacify they punished the women several wayes They decreed that thenceforth they should not have a voice in any publick matter that no child should bear the mother's name and that they should not be called Athenaeae but Atticae Some women known by the name of Minerva there have been though impure spirits ambitious to blind men with superstition and idolatry might well act in this matter as Augustine telleth us under the name of Neptune Several Minerva's 2. Cicero 3º De natura Deorum mentioneth five several women that have had the name of Minerva The first was the mother of Apollo by Vulcan The second born of the River Nile and worshipped by the Saitae The third daughter to Jupiter Coelius The fourth begotten by Jupiter on Ceâ—iphe daughter to the Ocean called Coria by the Arcadians which invented the Chariot drawn by four horses The fifth was the daughter of Pallas said to have killed her Father because he attempted to violate her virginity Of these the second must be she that was thus honoured by Cecrops having founded
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
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
Classes Centuries and Tribes further the authority of the Senate and Commons with the Power of Magistrates he of all others hath delivered most accurately That these things may be better understood It 's commendation he compareth them with the customs of Greece as where he speaketh of Clients he occasionally maketh mention of this relation amongst the Athenians and Thessalians as Caesar also writeth it to have been ordinary amongst the Galls He compareth the Roman Dictator with the Harmostes of the Lacedaemonians the Archons of the Thessalians and the Aesymnetes of the Mitylenaeans The Laws of Romulus Numa and Servius had perished but for him as also the knowledge of the Original of Rome in a great measure and so choice are all his Collections that they tend as to the instruction of the Reader in the depth of State mysteries so also to his acquiring or retaining a religious awe of Providence Such is his History saith * Bodinus Method Histor cap. 4. one well able to judge that if it had been kept intire for it consisteth of twenty Books as Photius informeth us there would have been no cause of bewailing the losse of Varro's treasures with whom he was very familiar as well as Pompey the Great and Tubero and from whom he seemeth to have derived his choicest Antiquities These things render a sufficient account why he is made use of in the History of Roman matters rather than any other 20. Servius Tullius the sixt King of Rome first instituted the Census as was shewn before and did the work himself without any peculiar Officer as also did the Consuls untill this time But now in the 66th year from the banishment of Tarquinius and the 311 of the City there having been no Census for seventeen years for that the Consuls were necessarily diverted from that work by more urgent businesse the Senate procured out of their own order two peculiar Officers to be created who were called Censores because according to their Censio or estimation the People was cessed saith Varro or because every one accounted himself worth so much quanti illi censuissent as they judged or estimated according to Festus 21. At the beginning they were created for five years because according to Servius his constitution the People were to be cessed at ever Lustrum The duration of the Office of Censors which conteined so many But their dignity and power so increasing that they seemed of too long a continuance nine years after in the 320 of the City by a Law which Mamercus Aemilius the Dictator preferred Livius lib. 3. the duration of their Office was confined within the term of one year and an half Though their Office at first was onely to take an estimate of mens Estates and describing all publick and private fiches to distribute the People according to their wealth into Classes and Centuries Their power yet within a while they came to have inspection into manners also For they upon misdemeanour put out of the Senate took away publick horses and cast out of the Tribes The former kind of punishment was inflicted upon Senators the second upon Equites and the last upon meer Plebeians Their removing Senaters was by passing them by at the new election For In voce Praeteriti such Senators saith Festus as were passed by in former times were lyable to no disgrace because as the Kings chose and substituted whom they pleased so after them the Consuls and Tribunes Military such as they had greatest interest in first Patritians and then after Plebeians till by the Tribunitial Law of Ovinius it was ordained that the Censors out of every order or rank should curiatim elect the most worthy into the Senate whence it came to passe that such as were passed by or removed were noted with ignominie This note out of Festus hinteth to us the antient power of the Roman Kings in making Senators one of the greatest supporters of the Throne of their Empire 22. As for the disgrace which they put upon Equites Vide Plutarchum historiam narrantem in Pompeio Livium lib. 29. Festum in voce censio It was the custome for every Eques at the publick Census to appear before the Censors with their Horses in their hands If they approved of them they bade them passe by and lead away the Horse if they determined otherwise they took away the Horse and commanded him to be sold The third note of disgrace concerned the Plebeians whom they either removed from their own Tribe into another lesse honourable according to Livie or made them Aerarii and registred them in the tables of the Caerites whereby rhey were deprived of their Centurie and remained Citizens onely in this respect ut pro capitibus suis tributi nomine aera solverent as writeth Asconius Pedianus upon the Oration of Cicero against Q. Caecilius called Divinatio which disputeth who ought to be admitted the Accuser of Verres Lib. 16. cap. 13. Gellius telleth us what was meant by the tabulae Caeritum The Caerites inhabitants of Caere in Tuscany once called Agylla we understand to have been first of all made Municipals without any right of suffrage and it was granted them that they might receive the honour of being free of Rome without any trouble or burthen for that they received the Sacra or idols of the Romans and preserved them in the Gallick War that is when Rome was taken by the Galls as Livie hath the story also in this fourth Book Hence were those called Tabulae Caeritum vice versa wherein the Censors caused such to be registred as they deprived of the right of Suffrage Although these several sorts of punishment respected the several rancks of men Livie lib. 4. yet sometimes those of higher degree tasted of all or most of them so that Senators might not onely be passed by and Equites deprived of their Horses but lose their Tribes also and be reduced to the condition of Aerarii 23. This Office being committed to the prudent management of able persons The effects of it became effectual to the repression of such vice as fell not under the particular cognisance of penal Laws Private faults and domestick miscariages were by them noted with such actions sometimes as now would not simply incur the censure of precise illegallity or indecency Some of their questions upon oath were such as these (a) Lege A. Gellium l. 4. cap. ult Hast thou a wife according to thy mind to which one once making a jesting answer was made an Aerarius A certain man yawning before the Censors had been punished in that sort but that he swore he did it unwillingly being troubled with that disease which the Romans called Oscedo P. Scipio Nasica and M. Pompilius being Censors and finding a certain Knight very fat and compt whose horse was exceeding lean and ill favoured they asked him the reason of that difference to which he answered Because he looked to himself
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
acquired possessions envying him not the inheritance of his Ancestors Four years he kept it till such time as Pompey the Great having finished the War against Tigranes reduced it into the form of a Roman Province Appian in Mithridaticis Justin ibid. though he challenged it as his inheritance But it being easie to deal with him as he listed who was utterly unarmed he put it off by affirming it to be unreasonable that after the Romans had been at all the cost and pains to conquer Tigranes the reward should fall unto another and with saying that he would not leave it to him Is untimely spoiled of it by Pompey lest he being unable to protect it it should bee rendered obnoxious to the depredations of the Jews and Arabians Thus Antiochus having never ill deserved of the Romans was commanded to content himself within Comagena whence his posterity never stirred and the Kingdom of Syria fell A. M. 3942 the second of the 179 Olympiad A. M. 3942. Ol. 179. an 2. V. C. 691. Seleucid 250. sixty one years before the Aera of Christ in the 250 of the Seleucidae the 270 after the battel at Issus after which it fell under the power of Alexander the Great M. Tullus Cicero and C. Antonius Nepos being Consuls CHAP. VI. The Aegyptian Kingdom From the death of Ptolomy the son of Lagus to the death of Cleopatra and the reducing of Aegypt into the form of a Roman Province containing the space of 254 years PTolomy the son of Lagus had several sons by Eurydice his wife the daughter of Antipater and by Berenice Pausan in Atticis Justin lib. 16. which woman was sent down by Antipater onely to accompany her with whom yet he fell so in Love as marrying her Ptolomy Philadelphus he passionately affected her alwayes and a year or two before his death made one of her sons called afterwards Ptolomy Philadelphus his Copartner in the Kingdom and more than that served him sometimes as one of his attendants saying it was more excellent than a Kingdom to be the son of a King His eldest son by Eurydice seeing this thought it was no staying for him in Aegypt but fled to Seleucus by whom being honourably entertained with some hopes of being setled in Aegypt after his fathers death he so badly requited him as he treacherously slew him as we before shewed Philadelphus after his fathers death made away two of his brothers the one as conspiring against his life and the other as suspected to raise a Rebellion in Cyprus In power and riches he surpassed his father Being learned himself above the common raite of Princes he sought to promote knowledge by rewarding the most eminent and industrious of which flourished many in his time and founding that his famous Library at Alexandria consisting of 200000 Volumes Demetrius Phalereus that noble Philosopher and sometime Prince of Athens being he that was imployed in the Collection perswaded him to send to Eleazar the High-Priest of the (a) Vide circares Judaeorum Josephum contra Apionem lib. 2. Tertull. in Apolog Josephus Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 2. Aristeas de 70 Inter. Jews to desire their Law and that he might be the easilier induced to send it by the Counsel of Aristeas who wrote the story he purchased the liberty of all such Jews as were slaves in Aegypt to the number of about 100000. which cost him more then 460 Talents He sent also extraordinary rich gifts to the Temple and the High-Priest chusing out 72 men most eminent for birth learning and experience dispatched them into Aegypt with the Law to be translated by them into Greek The Translation of the Septuagint Being nobly entertained and feasted by him for several dayes they were set to their work in the Island Pharos right over against Alexandria which in 72 dayes with admirable agreement they are said to have finished after which the King having exceedingly admired the wisdom of the Law-giver and commanded the book carefully to be kept dismissed them with great Rewards to themselves and Presents to him that sent them 2. He got the sirname of Philadelphus Pausan in Atticis not for any love shewed to his brothers two of whom he put to death but to his sister Arsinoe whom after an incestuous though Aegyptian fashion he married having Children before by another Arsinoe daughter to Lysimachus by his sister he never had any she dying before she was delivered Demetrius Phalereus laboured to disswade his father from leaving him his successor and counselled him to bestow the Kingdom on some of Eurydice's sons for which he was now cast out of favour and died by the biting of an Asp which he put to his hand He had a brother by his mothers side named Magas Laertius in vita Demetrii Pausan ibid. whose father was one Philip a Macedonian but of base Original Him his mother had procured to be made Governour of Cyrene the Inhabitants of which he now raised and caused them to revolt from him and marched with an Army towards Aegypt and Ptolomy securing all the passages went out to encounter him But news coming in the way that the Marmaridae a people of the Lybian Nomades had rebelled Magas his brother obtaineth Cyrene Magas retreated in all haste back to Cyrene and Ptolomy then intending to follow him was hindred by the Galls in his Army whom he having hired amongst others he found to have plotted to seize upon Egypt but he brought them all to the number of 4000 through the Nile to a desert Island where with famine and other wayes they were made away Magas after this having married Apames the daughter of Antiochus Soter perswaded him to break the League betwixt him and his brother and invade Egypt which he prepared to do but Ptolomy sent several parties abroad into Syria and found him so much work at home that he could have no time to look abroad Justin lib. 26. and Magas before his death having a desire to be friends with his brother betrothed his daughter to his son Betwixt this Ptolomy and the next Antiochus sirnamed Theos were continual Wars till both being weary thereof entered into an Alliance Ptolomy giving him in marriage his daughter Berenice which proved but an occasion of greater trouble and the destruction of the Bride though he lived not to see it For he notwithstanding all his learning gave himself up to luxury and fondly dreaming he should live alwayes and that by him alone was found out immortality presently died after he had reigned 38 years alone Athenaeus lib. 12. cap. 17. and one with some odd moneths together with his father A. M. 3758. and the 2d of the 133th Olympiad 3. Ptolomy his son by Arsinoe the daughter of Lysimachus Justin lib. 27. succeeded him in the 16th year of Antiochus Theos and was sirnamed Euergetes As soon as he came to the Kingdom he had work enough made him in Syria
was decreed for a Province and upon the reporting of the matter an order was made Lentulus to stop Pompey's mouth procuring him to have the charge of Provisions in that time of dearth throughout the Empire The Alexandrians in the mean while ignorant of his voyage into Italie and thinking he had some wayes miscarried set over the Kingdom Berenice his legitimate daughter together with Tryphaena her elder sister called also Cleopatra the elder and sent into Syria to Antiochus Asiaticus to come and reign with the women and afterwards he dying to Philip Euergetes the son of Antiochus Grypus by Tryphaena daughter to Lathurus late King of Egypt but he was also hindred by Gabinius then late Roman President in Syria But hearing at length how things went at Rome they sent 100 of their Countrey-men thither to make their defence and recriminate their lawfull King which he understanding procured most of the Messengers to be made away in their journey and the rest coming to the Citie he either took away or deterred or else perswaded them to hold their peace The Senate hearing of this was grievously moved and the rather because that divers publick Ministers of others their Confederates had been made away with the rest as also for that it appeared that there was much corruption amongst themselves They sent therefore for Dion the Chief of the Embassie but Ptolomy his money had such influence upon him that he appeared not and not long after was also dispatched out of the way Pompey harboured the King all this time in his own house being yet desirous to restore him himself as Cicero signifieth to Lentulus then the Pro-consul of Cilicia who still waited also for the employment At length Sibylla's books being consulted were reported to forwarn the people of Rome never to reduce him by force and therefore to that purpose another decree was made in the Senate A great debate then ensued how the thing should be done some proposing one way and some another till at length Auletes perceiving it was neither likely to be effected by Pompey nor Lentulus Where getting no relief he departeth to Ephesus despaired of his return and getting him into Asia expected at Ephesus in the Temple of Diana a better advantage for the recovery of his right out of the hands of the imperious Rebels 26. And he had not been long there Dio lib. 39. when a convenient opportunity presented it self For Gabinius the President of Syria having grievously afflicted his Province by oppression not thinking that sufficient Joseph de bello Judaico lib. 1. cap. 6. Appian in Parthicis but hearing the Parthians to be exceeding rich set his resolution strongly to invade them When he had passed the River Euphrates Ptolomy came to him with Letters from Pompey and offered him 10000 Talents besides a great sum of money to the Soldiers part whereof they should have in hand to restore him Hireth Gabinans to restore him Most of the Officers were against the thing and Gabinius himself something stuck at it but being stirred up to it by Antonius who then Commanded the horse under him and especially bewitched by the money notwithstanding it was not lawfull for a President to stir out of his Province nor undertake Wars at his pleasure and the people at Rome out of respect to the Verses of Sibylla had forbidden Auletes to be restored at least such a way yet he onely made the difficulty of the thing a means to inhance the price of it and omitting the Parthian War undertook that against the Egyptians Berenice had about this time called one Seleucus out of Syria Dio Strabo ut suprà who vaunted himself of the blood royal of that Nation and made him partaker of the Kingdom marrying her self unto him but finding him to be of a sordid and base condition made him away after a little while Then an husband of a royal stock being enquired out for her Archelaus the son of Archelaus General to Mithridates the great King of Pontus and who had been made by Pompey Priest of the Tomani counterfeiting himself the son of the King procured by his friends to be received on the same terms with the other and reigned with her six moneths 27. But Gabinius leaving Syria to the tuition of a Child his son Plutarch in Antonio Dio Strabo ut suprà marched for Egypt through Palestine and coming to the sandy desart sent Antonius before with the horse to secure the Straights at the entry of the Countrey which he not onely bravely performed but took also Pelusium thereby gaining entrance for the whole Army A. M. 3950. Ol. 181. ann 2. V. C. 699. Hyrcani 9. Cn. Pompeio Mag. 2. M. Licinio Crasso 2. Coss which presently put to flight the Egyptians Archelaus himself was now taken but Gabinius considering that perhaps Ptolomy would be unwilling to give him so much money as he expected if with so small ado he should compleat the work being also soundly bribed by Archelaus he dismissed him under pretence of an escape A little after the Egyptians more earnest alwayes in rebellions than Wars were utterly discomfited Archelaus was slain and all Egypt recovered and restored to Auletes who presently put to death his daughter and the richest of the Nobility as they deserved standing then in great need of money Gabinius leaving a Guard behind him for Ptolomy's security which stayed at Alexandria married and begot Children giving up themselves to the luxury of the place went back into Syria and thence to Rome where his great gifts meeting with the corruption of the times onely purchased him his life being fined for his bribery and disobedient carriage A. M. 3954. Ol. 182. ann 2. V. C. 703. As for Auletes we hear no more of him Dieth since that he died 4 years after his restitution In the year of the World 3954. and the 2d of the 182 Olympiad 28. He left two sons and as many daughters behind him Caesar Comment de bello civili lib. 3. Dio lib. 42. Eutropius lib. 6. of which the eldest of either Sex he ordered should succeed him by his last Will and Testament which he conjured the people of Rome under whose tuition he left his Children by all the gods and the Leagues he had made with them should be observed and one of the Tables of which were brought to Rome to be laid up in the Treasury but this being hindred by publick businesse it was left with Pompey who was also appointed Guardian to the young King in this his nonage His eldest son and eldest daughter succeeding him she is driven away After three years the boy or rather Pothinus not Photinus as he is corruptly called in Caesar's Commentaries the Eunuch who managed his affairs expelled Cleopatra his sister and fellow both in marriage and the Kingdom so that she was forced to withdraw into Syria there to make provision for her re-establishment by
with his son Seleucus besieged Pergamus the Chief Citie of Enmenes the friend of the Romans was forced to raise his siege He sent to Aemilius the Roman Admiral now on those Coasts about peace who disowned any power of concluding it without the Consul Then did the Rhodians at Sea defeat his Admiral which was Hannibal a man out of his proper Element and afterward in a battel fought with Aemilius Eumenes and the Rhodians Antiochus affrighted at his bad successe at Sea maketh offers he fully lost the command of the Sea Affrighted herear he foolishly left Lysimachia which this year might have kept the Consul in action and adding one folly to another suffered Scipio to passe the Hellespont without interruption Now he offered to quit all places in Europe and such in Asia as were the friends of Rome to discharge half of the costs sustained by the Romans in the War and rather than not be quiet he was content to part with a portion of his own Kingdom These seemed but small things to the Consul who thought it just that he who had been the cause of the War Which are rejected should bear all the charges of it and not onely quit Ionia and Aeolis but leave all the Greek Cities to their liberty which could not be except he parted with all Asia on this side the Mountain Taurus The Ambassor had in charge to procure the favour of Africanus to whom was offered the restitution of his son taken prisoner and all that could be expected on this side the title of King if he would live with him But all private Offices of kindnesse onely would Africanus promise desiring him by all means to procure peace and when he had received his son not to fight till he should being now sick return to the Camp This caused Antiochus to delay fighting but the Consul followed and provoked him to give battel wherein his own Chariots Armed with Scithes being driven back upon his own men procured his overthrow He is overthrown and hath peace granted upon former demands After this peace was granted on the same terms as it had been offered to him before the battel And thus this War ended in a short time and lesse trouble than was expected the second Consul putting a period to it who in imitation of his brother took on him the sirname of Asiaticus 6. The year following wherein M. Fulvius Nobilior and Cn. Manlius were Consuls the former going into Greeco fell upon the Aetolians who now had taken from Philip Dolopia and Amphilochia with Athamania Livius lib. 38. and besieging Ambracia drove them once more to sue for peace They were referred by the Consul to Rome where the Ambassadors of Philip made great complaints against them upon the former account But the Rhodians and Athenians interceding once more for them their sute was granted on condition to pay 500 Euboean Talents at several paiments Peace granted to the Aetolians to restore all prisoners and have the same Friends and Enemies with the People of Rome 7. Cn. Manlius the other Consul was now in Asia where of that part taken from Antiochus much he conferred upon Eumenes and the Rhodians according to the result of the Senate This done he undertook an Expedition against the Gallograecians or Galatians Justin lib. 3. a People which having followed Brennus into Greece Manlius subdueth the Galatians after his death had 90 years before passed into Asia where they were so terrible as none denied them tribute before Attalus King of Pergamus They inhabited vast and high mountains and in that respect were with difficulty to be come at but the Consul by throwing darts especially at their huge bodies made great slaughter and subdued them Returning home through Thrace he had well nigh lost his booty by the inhabitants that lay in wait for it in the woody passages and hardly got leave to triumph because he had undertaken the War on his own head It is observed that luxury and idlenesse were first brought to Rome by his Army out of Asia through the provocations to effeminatenesse there found Luxury first brought to Rome by his Army and his loose and neglected Government 8. In the third year after the ending of the War with Antiochus and the same wherein he died envy procured the fall of those by whom the Victory was obtained For Scipio Africanus was accused of having defrauded the Treasury of the booty taken in the War Lege Livium lib. 28. Val. Max. l. 3. c. 7. exemp 1. Gellium Noct. Attic. l. 4. c. 18. and had a day set him by the Tribunes to answer it before the People It is not certain who was his accuser some mentioning M. Naevius and others the two Patilii Tribunes set on as some delivered by M. Porcius Cato the Enemy of Scipio The day of hearing being come Scipio Africanus called to account by the Tribunes and the Tribunes having taken their places in the Rostra the party entred the Assembly with a great train of Friends and Clients Silence being made he put on his triumphal crown and told the People how as that day he had overthrown Hannibal and the Carthaginians wherefore thinking it convenient for that time not to medle with any brawling businesse he would go and salute the gods in the Capitol A. M. 3818. Ol. 148. an 2. V. C. 567. Seleuci Philop. 1. Ptol. Epiphan 17. and give them thanks that as well that day as at other times they had given him both will and power to do eminent service for his Countrey Then he wished that such of them there present as thought it convenient would accompany him and pray that they might have such principal Officers Principes as he had been 9. Going up to the Capitol the whole Assembly followed him as also to all the temples in the City insomuch that the very Viators and Clerks left the Tribunes alone who also followed and from accusers turned admirers as appeareth from Valerius Maximus out of very shame The Tribunes accused him also grievously in the Senate and desired he might be brought to his answer He rising up produced the Books of accounts wherein was punctually set down all the particulars but he tore it in pieces before them all disdaining to give account for so small a matter in comparison of those vast sums he himself had brought into the Treasury His great spirit The next day of appearance he absented himself and his brother pretending his indisposition he was excused and another day appointed before which he withdrew himself to Linternum or Liternum a Sea Town of Campania For he clearly perceived under what envy he laboured He departeth to Linternum and is not condemned through the procurement of Gracchus it being also objected against him that he had spent in idlenesse all that Summer he lay in Sicily and his power with Antiochus who having discharged his son without ransom honoured him above all others
worse than did Agamemnon himself This hapned to Ilium in the later end of the 173 Olympiad about 1050 years after the first taking it by the Greeks 10. Mithridates receiving intelligence of the blow he had received at Orchomenus wrote to Archelaus to procure his peace on as good terms as he could To a Peace Sylla was not now averse being in great want of mony and receiving no recruits from the City where he was declared an Enemy and desiring above all things to carry back a good Army into Italy to revenge himself He offered Peace therefore on these conditions That he should deliver up all his Navy Forceth Mithridates to beg Peace all fugitives and Captives A. M. 3921. Ol. 174. an 1. V. C. 670. Seleucid 229. L. Cor. Cinna 4. Cn. Papirio Carbone 2 Coss restore the Inhabitants of Chios and others whom he had caried into Pontus remove his garrisons from all places whither he had brought them since the breach of the Peace pay all the charges of the War and be content with his Father's Kingdom All these conditions were agreed to save parting with Paphlagonia but the Ambassadors saying they could have had better terms of Fimbria drove Sylla into a great displeasure with a comparison so odious to him Shortly after Mithridates himself met him and found him so resolute as he gladly accepted all the terms So ended the first War with Mithridates being concluded by Sylla three years after his coming into Greece 11. Sylla required of Fimbria the Army to be deliverd up to him as held by no authority but was answered as having as little himself Appian Plutarch in Sylla Yet the Army denied to fight against that of Sylla and forsook Fimbria who thereupon sent a Slave to murder Sylla Fimbria's Army revolteth to him which was discovered He begged pardon and it was granted him so he would take ship and depart out of Asia but he said he had a better way and going to Pergamus there destroyed himself Sylla gave him to be buried saying he would not imitate the barbarism of Marius and Cinna towards his friends at Rome whom they deprived both of life and burial yet he kept in this mind but a while after his arival there whither he now hasted having fined Asia grievously for it's revolt He marcheth for Italy against his Enemies there and setled affaires according to present occasions He took Athens in his way whence he caried with him the Library of Apellicon the Teian in which were most of the Books of Aristotle and Theophrastus then not vulgarly known bought by him of the posterity of Nâ—leus to whom Theophrastus had given it He wrote to the Senate to which he recounted all the great services he had done and then how he had been rewarded by the party of Marius telling them plainly he would come and revenge both himself and the Publick by punishing the authors of the injuries not medling with any other either old or new Citizens The Senate hereat affrighted sent to treat with him offering their indeavour for his satisfaction if he would presently make knovvn his mind Cinna they ordered to stop his leavies but he onely returned them a plausible ansvver and proceeded designing himself and his Collegue Carbo Consuls again for the follovving year that there might be no need of going to Rome to a nevv creation He passed over some of his forces into Dalmatia there to fight Sylla but the hindermost vvere driven back by a tempest and they refused absolutely to fight against their Country-men so that those vvho as yet had not passed the Sea refused to go aboard Hereupon he going to speak vvith them an Officer vvho made vvay before him struck one of them vvho struck him again for vvhich offence he commanding him to be laid hold on a tumult arose vvherein he himself vvas ran through and so perished in his fourth Consulship and the 670 year of the City a man vvorthier to have died by command of the Conquereur than the fury of the Soldiers Carbo then continued Consul alone all the remaining part of the year 12. Cinna and Carbo had by a Lavv abrogated Sylla's command and procured War to be decreed against him before the Senate was affrighted into the offer of a mediation He answered that he would never be reconciled to such wicked persons as they desired he should but if the People of Rome would give them indemnity he should not oppose it yet he thought those that would come to him might be mose safe seeing he had at his devotion such an Army Hereby declaring sufficiently what his intentions were he also demanded restitution of his estate his antient dignity and honours but the messengers coming to Brundusium and there hearing of Cinna's death and the disturbance of the Commonwealth returned back to him Then crossed he the Sea to Brundusium with a Fleet of 1600 ships and 60000 men Being landed Landeth at Brundusium Metellus Pius who had absented himself from Rome for fear of Marius and Cinna came to him as also Pompey afterwards sirnamed the Great who though his father was no friend to Sylla yet coming now to him with some forces became afterwards his greatest favourite Besides these came Cethegus who having joyned with Cinna now begged pardon C. Norbanus and L. Scipio the Consuls with Carbo made all preparation for resistance The first tryal at arms was at Canusium where Norbanus lost 6000 men and fled to Capua Scipio through the treachery of his Army came with his son into the power of Sylla Defeateth Norbanus who dismissed them both After this Sulla sent to Norbanus to treat of Peace but perhaps being not thought serious had no answer returned back 13. He then passed on in Italy making havock of all things as Carbo did A. M. 3922. who getting into Rome procured Metellus and the rest that joyned with Sylla to be declared Enemies to the State Both parties sent up and down the Italian Cities labouring both by fair means and fowl to procure forces and so all this Summer was spent wherein the Capitol was burnt none knoweth how For the following year Papirius Carbo the third time and Marius son but adoptive as most probable to the old one were Consuls the later being but 27 years old A. M. 3923. Olymp. 174. ann 3. V. C. 672. In the Spring was Carinas the Lieutenant of Carbo overthrown by Metellus and Marius himself by Sylla and beaten into Praeneste where being close besieged and despairing of his own safety he wrote to Brutus then Praetor at Rome that he should under some pretext call together the Senate and kill those his Enemies P. Antisthius another Carbo L. Domitius and Mucius Scaevola the High-Priest which was with cruelty enough performed Metellus by his time having overthrown another Army of Carbo's Pompey defeated Marcius another of that party Sulla marched to Rome Entreth Rome which he easily entred many of the opposite
he would come into their Country Pompey invadeth Judaea where he setleth matters betwixt Hyrcanus and Aristobulus the two brothers which after he had setled Syria subdued the Arabians with the Ituraeans and reduced Pontus into a Province all in a short time he now performed being much incensed by Hyrcanus against the other He sent to Aristobulus to come to him and deliver up all his holds which he did with much regret and afterwards withdrew himself to Hierusalem to prepare for War Pompey suspecting some such matter delayed not to follow him who then came out to meet him but though the City was entred without opposition his Soldiers fortified the Temple and stood out which made him be delivered into custody The Temple being very strong by it's situation was after much labour taken in the third moneth Faustus the son of Sylla having first mounted the walls Twelve thousand Jews were slain of the Romans very few Pompey entred the Holy of Holies but medled with nothing restored Hyrcanus to the Priesthood and Government yet with command not to wear a diadem and took Aristobulus along with him making Judaea tributary to Rome as is more largely related in it's proper place After this leaving Syria with two Legions to Scaurâ—â— his Quaestor he fully subdued Cilicia and thence returning into Pontus setled things there bestowing the Kingdom of Bosphorâ—â— upon Pharâ—â—ces At his return he wintred at Ephesus whence having subdued many Princes and joyned others as Allies to the State of Rome having taken 1000 Castles 900 Cities and restored 39 having planted Colonies in eight Cities and Countries and ordered the policy of such as through the continent of Asia belonged to the Romans and having magnificently rewarded his Soldiers he returned into Italy A. M. 3444. V.C. 693. and at Rome triumphed two dayes together very gloriously leading amongst other captives Aristobulus King of Judaea after he had spent five years in his Eastern Expedition 40. The same year wherein Mithridates died and the Temple of Jerusalem was taken hapned a most dangerous conspiracy at Rome Lege Sallust de Conjuratione Catalinae Orosium l. 6. c. 3. 6. Appian de bello civili lib. 2. Dionem l. 37. p. 42. E. by the means of L. Sergius Catalina The conspiracy of Cataline a Patrician by degree but one of a debaucht and infamous life Some years before he had been accused of incest with Fabia a Vestal Nan but by the means of Caculâ—s was acquitted suspected also to have murdered his son for the love of Aurelia who would not marry one that had children Having contracted by this loosenesse of life a vast debt he grew desperate and sought for power and command that he might if possible obtain the soveraignty over all but being also suspected hereof he twice received a repulse in standing for the Consulship The later time it was caried from him by Cicero whom he would have killed in the Comitia and railed at as a foreiner and upstart because he was born but of an Equestrian family at Arpinum a Town in Pugâ—ia a Province now of the Kingdom of Naples Hereby driven into extream disdain and rage he fell into that course wherein formerly he had been ingaged with Piso for the destruction of his Country to whom also L. Aurelius Cotta and L. Mâ—â—lius Torquatus being denied the Consulship which they had sought by indirect means two years before joyned themselves and anew plotted the destruction of the Consuls and Senate Velleium Patercul l. 2. c. 34 35. Livii Epitom lib. 103. the burning of the City and overthrowing of the Commonwealth with Lentulus C. Cethegus and others This Lentalus had been Consul seven years before and now was Praetor as also Cethegas being driven on by a vain confidence he had in the Books of Sibylla which he would often say did portend that the soveraign power should be in the hands of three Cornelii viz. Sylla Cinna and himself Discovered by the means of Fulvia 41. The plot was discovered through Falvia a Courtisan to whom Q. Curius one of the Conspirators a man that for his debaucheries had by the Censors been removed out of the Senate blabbed it out while he boasted to her that shortly he should be a very considerable man She gave intelligence to Cicero who out of them two got the whole matter how and where they had met and what designs they had in hand particularly for his own destruction to be brought about by L. Vasgunteius a Senator and C. Cornelius of Equestrian rank under pretence of a kind visit He appointed guards to the several parts of the City and on the eighth of November as the year then went called the Senate together whither came Cataline amongst the rest but none of the Senators would come near him so as that part of the bench whereon he sate was wholly void Cicero whether feaing him or angry to see him there Cicero maketh his first Oration against him made his first Oration against him wherein he commanded him to depart the City He went away late in the night with 300 armed men and Lictors carying Axes and Rods before him as a Magistrate into Etruria gathering Soldiers all along intending to return and make prey of the City which upon his departure he had given order to burn as also to kill Cicero which Lentulus and Cethegus took upon them to do as soon as he should come to Faesulae In the mean time the Ambassadors of the Allobroges who were come to Town to accuse their Magistrates were also drawn in to stir up the Galls against the Commonwealth but declaring it to Fabius Sanga their Patron it was the custome for each Nation or State to have one in the Citie it came to Tullie's ear and so was prevented 42. The day after Cataline's departure the Consul made his second Oration wherein he Congratulates the People and Commonwealth concerning his absence His second The Senate judged Cataline an Enemy and Manlius with whom in Etruria he had joyned they deprived Lentulus of his Office by whom the Ambassadors had been drawn in who confessed they had often heard from him what he idlely conjectured out of Sibylla's books Cicero's third Oration declareth what was done in the Senate Third The times being very dangerous he propounded to the Fathers to consider what course was to be taken with Lentulus Cethegus Stalius and Cassius all whom he having secured this bred a great disturbance for the Slaves and Dependents of the two former got together a great company of Artificers and indeavoured to break in upon the back-side of the Praetor's house and rescue their Lords This being known the Consul hasted out of the Senate-house and appointed a vvatch to be set then returning asked the opinions of the Senators Silanus designed Consul for the ensuing year being first asked his opinion according to the custom was for putting them to death and so were divers others till
appeared in that first Philip then Alexander his son and their Successors easily subdued and kept them under As for their Colonies each one usually followed the fortune of its Metropolis little but tumults banishments and Massacres do we hear of or of private mens getting the power over them for that wanting rightfull and successive Princes they lay open to the cheats of their fellow Citizens The particular cases of Corcyra Samus Syracuse and others demonstrate this and therewith the danger and infirmity of Antimonarchical Government 9. But in particular such were the several constitutions of these Cities that Aristotle himself liked none of them as appeareth in his books of Politicks The constitutions of their several States were dangerous The Cretian Commonwealth had its extravagancies and if a Government may be judged from the carriage and disposition of the people in the opinion of Epimenides one of their own Poets it was most naught Lycurgus by taking away the just and Hereditary power of the Kings of Sparta and contrary both to nature and loyalty dissolving the Government of his Forefathers made but way for many inconveniences in the too great power of the Senate and otherwise but especially for the tyranny of the Ephori five fellows chosen yearly out of the rabble who domineered with unparalleld insolence over all Solon's constitution after so many changes and alterations wherein no rest could be procured from the time they forsook Kingly Government gave no such setlement but that Pisistratus presently after cheating the rabble over and over very easily made himself Master of Athens Their Ostracism frighted all able persons from medling with the Commonwealth as also did the Petalism of Syracuse whereupon their affairs went down the wind till they were forced to recall the banished and change still from one constitution to another never being at quiet for that the multitude tyrannized in their assemblies As for the learning of the Greeks whereof they so much boasted they had it either from the Egyptians or Caldaeans who were subject to and from the beginning flourished under Monarchy and Pisistratus who was a Monarch though of his own making made the first Collection of books and thereby brought learning into Athens and Greece Finally the Greeks in their Wars were forced to make use of single persons and at home in their greatest necessities did they fly to them as Dionysius of Halicarnassus mentioneth the Harmostes of Lacedaemon the Archus of the Thessalians and the Aesâ—mnetes of the Mitylenaeans whom he compareth with the Dictator of the Romans 10. For the Romans 't is a meer mistake of Agrippa Their affairs never more prospered than under Monarchy if we consider the small beginnings of the City An answer to Agrippa's Argument taken from the Romans Romulus did exceeding much for his time and so did his successors in their several wayes with so small a power as such a Colony could produce insomuch as revengeful and furious Brutus acknowledged that no better way of Government could be found out than what they had chalked out to them The faults in it seem to have been his something too much indulging at his first constitutions a popular humour which might bring him to his end afterwards Then Servius to curry favour with the rabble that they might maintain him in his illegally procured power diminished the Regal authority and that of the Senate which gave the multitude such a scope as after could they not be reduced into any order After him Tarquinius the heir of Priscus might go about to recover this power for a little charity may be allowed us for one who lived in so dark and remote times and whose actions were onely recorded by his Enemies seeing we have formerly related his story as we find it and thereby might incur that prejudice which together with the fault of his son and the implacable malice of Brutus procured his banishment This may be added as an ill accident that Romulus dying childlesse the Kingdom came to be elective which thing must at length bring great inconveniences so that experience now hath taught such Kingdoms to continue the Government to particular Families But Brutus his giving to his Consuls full regal power though they were two and Annual and putting the sword fully into their hands together with his acknowledgement of the good government of all the former Kings do more than make us suspect his spleen to have acted him most in the change of the power especially the consequences considered For the power of the Consuls being shortly after diminished or rather enervated by Valerius who by flattering of the multitude got the name of Poplicola the common sort got head and confounded all things nothing but changes and re-changes hapening till at length they quite outed the Patricians of their power giving them leisure to repent their joyning with Brutus and brought things to that ruine and disorder formerly mentioned as compelled them to turn about and by their Lex Regia hereafter to be spoken of to devolve all their power upon a single Person 11. Such and so many were these seditions and tumults that thrice the common sort departed from the Patricians out of the City And no sooner was the War against their King ended but the stirs begun and these very stirs have we proved from Dionysius The disorders and tumults arising from their Antimonarchical Government to have procured immediately the setting up of another King in effect for half a year's continuance viz. the Dictator to which Officer they were forced to flye in all difficulties Now it sufficiently appeared that the want of a King hindred the promotion of their affaires for ever when any work was to be done abroad nay when the Enemy was even at the gates would the multitude mutiny and with so much adoe at length could be drawn out that businesse was retarded and thereby their affairs not a little impaired the Monarch being wanting who should have kept both orders in subjection and awe The weight of Usury and oppression was the first pretended cause of these stirs but from it the multitude passed on from one thing to another never resting till it had got all Offices of dignity power and profit into it's own hands as hath been at large made out To effect this they would one while have Consuls and another while Tribunes Military having formerly made Decemviri for the making of new Laws so that within the space of 134 years they had 37 changes in the Government 37 Changes of Government in 134 years wherof to make it clear fifteen were from Consuls to Tribunes Military and from Tribunes to Consuls the two grand ones from Kings to Consuls and from Consuls to Decemviri and twenty Dictatorships besides Interregnums many an one whereby for five dayes the chief power was in the hands of their Interreges Thus was the Government tossed to and fro by the multitude and little was done abroad by reason of these
clearly appeareth in Scripture what things our Lord did and suffered for unworthy sinners after he had eaten this Supper though the order of the former passages concerning his preaching be obscure and therefore we have more largely described them Being betrayed by Judas into the hands of the Chief-Priests and by them delivered up to Pilate the Governour he being convinced of his innocence and their malice sought how to deliver him till they told him that if he did it he was not Caesar 's friend whereupon fearing to be accused to Tiberius A. D. 33. Ol. 202. an 4. V. C. 787. of protecting one who affected the Kingdom he condemned him and delivered him to the Soldiers to be crucified This was about the sixt hour or a little after noon at what time a great darknesse arose for that the Sun was obscured and continued till the ninth hour or three of the clock Then Christ to shew the bitternesse of his torment cried yet with a loud voice Eli Eli Lamasabachtani and receiving the vineger after he had commended his soul into the hands of his Father gave up the ghost Thus he who was in the form of God and counted it no robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation and suffered death even the most ignominious death of the Crosse for ingrateful men 73. Some think that the darknesse which hapened at our Saviour's Passion was onely in the Land of Judaea But others finding that the Evangelists mention * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Luc. the whole Earth conclude that this Eclypse was Oecumenical or Universal Luke expresly saying that the Sun it self the eye of the whole World was darkned Some conceived that the Sun was darkened by the interposition of the body of the Moon The miraculous Eclypse at our Saviour's death whereof (a) Epist 7. Dionysius the Areopagite as he calleth himself was an eye witnesse at what time he and Apollophanes the Philosopher being at Heliopolis observed the Moon suddenly to cast her self before the Sun though it was not the time of conjunction and again from the ninth hour to the evening opposing her self to the middle line of the Sun If so it was an extraordinary miracle the Moon being now at the full as (b) De Civitat Dei l. 3. c. 15. Augustin observeth it to have been ever at the Passeover and consequently at the greatest distance from the Sun out of which respect others seem to have held that the Sun was darkned not by the interposition of that luminary but the retention of his beams That the darknesse was universal appeareth from the records of Heathen Writers which as (c) Lib. 7. c. 4. Orosius saith besides the Evangelists mentioned the greatnesse of the Eclypse And (d) Apologet. c. 21. Tertullian writing to Pagans saith You cannot make this wonder suspected seeing your own Calendars have remarked it and your selves retain the testimonies thereof in your own registers Amongst Greek Authors Phlegon (e) A ud Euseb in Chronico Orig. contra Celsum l. 2. in Matth. Trallianus the Freed-man of Adrian the Emperour Recorded by the Heathen in his Work of Olympiads or Chronicle which consisted of sixteen Books clearly spoke of this Eclypse writing in his thirteenth Book that in the fourth year of the 202 Olympiad the greatest Eclypse hapened that ever was known for at the sixth hour of the day it was night so that the Starrs were seen in the Heavens 74. That Christ was put to death in the reign of Tiberius by Pontius Pilate (a) Annal. l. 15. c. 44. Cornelius Tacitus writeth an Author guilty of Ethnick ignorance and prejudice But (b) Antiq. l. 18. c. 4. Josephus the noble Jewish Historian giveth him an honourable testimony writing that At the same time there was one Jesus a wise man The testimony of Josephus concerning Christ if it be lawful to call him a man For he was a worker of wonderful works and a teacher of those which willingly receive the truth He had also many followers not onely Jews but Gentiles and he was believed to be Christ And whereas by the malice of our Princes Pilate condemned him to be crucified yet notwithstanding they who first loved him have persevered For he appeared to them alive the third day the Prophets having foretold in their writings these and many other wonderful things concerning him and to this day the People from him called Christians hath not ceased This he relateth after he had spoken of that Sedition which hapened because of Pilate his bringing in of Caesar's Images Some from amongst our selves have not given credit to this relation thinking it to be foisted in by some Christians for the greater honour of our Religion But as the piae fraudes supposed to have been used by the Primitive Christians are rather increased than otherwise by some who either pedantically and out of ostentation seek for applause from the prejudice of their own cause as one hath done of late in reference to the matter in hand or as out of a melancholick and distrustful humour question the evidence of the truth so is there no reason that this testimony should be condemned amongst them For Josephus maketh mention of John Baptist giving him large commendations and relateth also that he was beheaded though he assigneth the cause to have been but of jealousie of him and lest he should make some commotions through his popularity which likely enough might be some cause especially the malice of Herodias considered which woman would not be wanting to fill his head with suspition although the main reason was his reproving of the incest He also maketh mention of James the brother of Alphaeus whom he calleth the brother of Jesus Christ how he was put to death at Jerusalem saying that all good men were sorely troubled at it and clearly expresseth himself dissatisfied in it writing that Ananus who commanded the murder to be done did ill and this he saith not onely because the Judicial power was taken away from the Jews as is evident from the course of his words 75. It is hence clear enough that Josephus was not in the number of those whom Herod Agrippa could have pleased in the killing of the other James the brother of John Defended to be true and not feigned by Christians and truly amongst the Jews such as were not extremely malicious against Christ were something inclining to him if we consider the temper of that People It cannot therefore be said that Josephus was so inveterately despightful against Christ and Christians that as some have thought he utterly passed over the story of Christ upon that account This Principle would have induced him to rail rather than to be silent to bespatter the Christian generation rather to say nothing or rather to seem displeased at their sufferings It 's true he was with the younger Agrippa but almost a
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
in vain seeking to escape hid themselves in caves and privies The Romans entering put all to the Sword and burnt the houses with all that fled to them for safeguard Titus commanded both the Temple and City to be utterly razed by a plow brought over them Titus commandeth the Temple and City to be utterly razed according to the custom onely the West part of the wall with three Towers for their strength and beauty he preserved A. D. 71. Ol. 212. an 2. V. C. 823. to bear testimony of the statelinesse of the City to posterity They would have crowned him as a Conquerour for this work but he refused the honour denying he was the author of it for that he onely served God herein who by it demonstrated his wrath against the Jews To such an end came this famous City on the eighth day of September in the second year of Vespasian he and Titus his son being Consuls 38 years after the death of Christ the Blood of whom now fell heavy upon them It had been taken in all six times by Asochaeus or Shishack King of Aegypt Nebuchadnesar Antiochus Epiphanes Pompey Herod and Sosius and now by Titus but twice onely was it destroyed viz. by Nebuchadnezar and Titus It was first built saith Josephus by Melchisedeck King of Salem and afterwards inlarged by David It was destroyed by the Babylonians 1468 years and six moneths after the founding of it and 477 years and six moneths after it had been taken by David from the Canaanites By Titus Vespasian it was destroyed 1179 years after David took it but from it's first founding to it's last destruction intervened 2177 years 20. John and Simon having hid themselves were taken and the former being condemned to perpetual prison the other was reserved for a Triumph The rest of the thieves and seditious were discovered one telling of another and were all slain Of those which during the whole War were taken captives the number amounted to 97000 and of those that perished in the siege to 1100000. ' o heavy was the guilt which lay on them for the death of Christ and such were the horrid enormities committed by them that we have reason to agree with Josephus who thought Lib. 6. c. 16. that if the Romans had delayed to come against them the City would either have been swallowed up of the Earth or have perished by some Deluge or else by Thunderbolts and Lightning have undergone the punishments of Sodom whose Inhabitants they exceeded in wickednesse A year after was Lucilius Bassus sent Lieutenant into Judaea Idem l. 7. c. 25 26 28 29 30 31. who taking the Army of Cerealis Vitellianus took the Castle of Herodian and of Machaerun beyond Jordan Not long after Vespasian wrote to Liberius Maximus the Governour to sell all the Land of the Jews upon whom wheresoever they lived he imposed a yearly tribute to be paied into the Capitol it being that they were wont to pay into the Temple at Jerusalem The War finished by Sylva About a year after Publius Sylva succeeded Bassus then dead and finished the War taking the strong Castle of Massada from Eleazar who held it with 960 hacksters who upon his motion set fire on the Castle and all their goods and then killed themselves Many such as these flying out of the Country came to Alexandria in Aegypt where they sollicited the Jews to revolt but were by them delivered up to the Romans and those of them that then escaped were afterwards taken Vespasian hearing of their attempt gave order to Lupus Governour of Alexandria The Temple of the Jews in Aegypt destroyed to demolish the Temple of the Jews built in Aegypt in times past by Onias brother of the High-Priest which he neglecting to do onely spoiled it of some consecrated things and shut it up But Paulinus his Successor utterly bereaved it of all and so shut it up that he made it inaccessible and without any shew of Religion 343 years after it was first built by Onias 21. But the Jews of Cyrene were also infected with a distemper of madnesse There one Jonathan a Weaver led many of the simple sort into the Wildernesse promising to shew them signs and wonders but by the chiefest of the Jews the matter being discovered to Catullus Governour of those parts A sedition of the Jews in Cyrene he sent Soldiers who slew most of them and not long after Jonathan himself was taken Catullus a covetous man procured him and others to accuse many unjustly whom having slain and seized on their estates he caried him to Rome where following the same trade Joseph the Historian was also accused but Vespasian having found out the deceit caused Jonathan first to be whipped and then burnt alive Catullus at present escaped through the mildnesse of the Emperour but not long after fell into grievous anguish of mind imagining he saw the ghosts of those he had slain and his bowels rotted away from him that he died miserably Thus far hath Josephus communicated to us the affairs of the Jews Vide Euseb Eccles Hist l. 3. c. 9 16. who being kindly entertaind by Vespasian was honoured with a Statue and his Books were thought worthy of the publick Library For the truth of his History concerning the Wars he had the testimony of the Emperours King Agrippa and others Titus would have the certain knowledge of these Wars delivered unto the World by his Books onely The end of Josephus his History Josephus contra Apionem lib. 1. Antiquit. l. ult c. ult commanding them to be published with the privilege of his own hand And King Agrippa wrote 62 Epistles wherein he testified of the true History delivered by him But his Jewish Antiquities he finished not till the thirteenth of Domitian when he himself was 56 years old as he testifieth at the end of that Work The Lex Regia renewed in behalf of Vespasena 22. To Vespasian was renewed the Lex Regia and the same power that Augustus Tiberius and the rest enjoyed was confirmed to him as hereditatr A fragment of this Law which evinceth that absolute power we formerly proved to have been in the Emperours is yet extant after this manner Let it be lawful for him to make a League with whom he pleaseth as it was lawful to Divus Augustus Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus and Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus The Lex Regia renewed to Vespasian c. As also to hold the Senate make report dismisse and make Senatus Consulta by reporting and separation as it was lawful to Divus Augustus Tib. Julius Caesar Augustus Tib. Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Moreover when as by his will authority Ex tabula aenea in basilica Lateranensi alta palmos 9. lata 5 digitos 3 crassa in Inscrip Gruteri pag. 242. Et ex Antiq. Epigrammatum libro apud Hottomannum l. de Legibus Romanis command or mandate or he being present the
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