Aulus Gellius in his second booke say that to spoyle this villaines desire of renowne it was forbidden vnder great and greeuous paine that none should write his name to the ende he might faile of the fame and glory he expected But thys serued to small purpose for Solinus and Strabo say that he was named Erostratus of him came the Prouerbe that when anie one would be famous for a vicious acte they would say This is the renowne of Erostratus Againe it may bee spoken for a notable thing that the same day the Temple was burnt Alexander the great was borne who conquered all Asia Heereof are Authours Plutarch in the life of Alexander and Cicero in his seconde Booke of the nature of the Gods there it is reported in many places likewise in the booke of Diuination and it is said that while the Temple burned the Sages prognosticated the destruction of all Asia as afterwarde it happened by Alexander Some say the Temple was re-edified againe farre more great and excellent then it was before and that the Maister of the work was named Democrates The sixt Wonder of the World COncerning the sixt meruaile it was the Idoll or Image of Iupiter Olimpus which was in his Temple in Achaia betweene the Citties of Elis and Pisa the place being named Olimpia and likewise the Temple because of Iupiter Olimpus of whom Strabo in his eyght booke and Pomponius Mela in his seconde booke say that thys statue or Image which was in the Temple was renowned as well for the perfection and admirable workmanship as also for the greatnesse thereof It was made of Porphire some say Iuory by the hande of Phidias the most excellent Engrauer and Image-maker that euer was Plinie in hys thirty fiue and thirtie sixe bookes makes mention of it so doe manie other beside Strabo sayth the excellencie thereof was in the greatnesse and that which makes it more admirable is that it was of Porphiry cut in an infinite number of peeces It is saide that Phidias was toucht with one onely imperfection which was that hee had not well compassed the proportion of the Image with the Temple because it was in such sort placed and so huge as when one considered what might be the height thereof ifhe were vnderneath vpon hys feete he would imagine nothing more could be contained within the Temple Notwithstanding the renowne of this Image was highly aduaunced and made the Temple more known then otherwise it would haue beene because in that place was the sports and Games called Olimpia hence it came that they accounted the yeeres by Olimpiades whereof they madè fiue yeeres in fiue yeres The games were first instituted by Hercules afterward when they had left them off they were restored and re-established by Emonies after some Authours by Sphyron four or fiue yeeres after the destruction of Troy according to Eusebius there beginneth the yeere of the sâ—st Olimpiade The seauenth Wonder of the World LAstly for the seauenth wonder some say that it was the Tower in the Ile of Pharos neere to the Cittie of Alexandria in Egipt Pharos was a little Ile long and straite seated on the coast of Egipt directly against the mouth of Nylus which in times past as saith Pomponius Mela in his second booke and Plinie in his fift was altogether inclosed with firme Lande and afterwarde to the times of the selfe same Authours it was embraced wyth the mayne Sea saue onely a bridge wherby they passed from the one Ile to the other In this firme Land is the great Cittie of Alexandria builded by Alexander the great which Cittie was afterwarde a Colonie to Iulius Caesar. In this Ile called Pharos after the name of a great Pilot to Menelaus who was there buried the Kings of Egipt caused to be builded a Tower of Marble meruailous in height and work-manship vpon a Mountaine enuironed with water The laboure thereon bestowed was such as it cost eyght hundred Talents which value foure hundred and four-score thousand Crownes according to the computation of Budaeus and it was builded for no other purpose then to alight a fire in the night on the top thereof for guyde and direction to the shyppes that came to take port there Thys Tower according to the most great opinion was builded by Ptolomeus Philodelphus King of Egipt and the chiefe Archetect that made it was named Sistrates as we are certified by Plinie in his fiue and thirty Booke Caesar in his Comentaries greatly commendeth the height worke of thys Tower and sayth it was called Pharos taking name of the Ile so saith Amianus Marcellinus in his first booke treating of the Historie of thys Tower and Solinus in his Polyhistor in the end of the thirty foure Chapter that al Towers which were made afterward were named Pharos after this one as was the Pharos of Messina and else where Againe I thinke that the fires which are ordinarily carried in Ships to guide them in the night from others by thys occasion are named Pharos Thus thys Tower is the last of these seauen VVonders albeit that by many it is not placed among the number of them but in sted thereof is named the high grounded Gardens of Babilon whereof already wee haue spoken Lactantius Firmianus holdeth so saith that these Gardens were vppon the Arches and Towers admirable in greatnes with a number of Fountaines the forme of which building is amply set downe by Diodorus the Scicilian Caelio the Rhodian discoursing on the seauen Wonders agrees not that this seauenth is the Tower of Pharos or the high hanging Gardens but the Obelisque of Semiramis which was made after the same fashion and structure of the Piramides for it began so in a Quadrangle and finished in a sharpe point nor was there any difference between the Obelisque and the Piramides but that the Obelisque was onely of one peece and therfore could be nothing so high as the Piramides It is found written that certaine of them were so great as Towers and of a very faire stone there is one at this day in Rome named Caesars Needle which was brought out of Egipt and is a very meruailous thing to beholde as well for the greatnesse and to consider the manner howe it was brought thether Of the Obelisque of Semiramis which Caelio as I haue said numbreth amongst the seauen Meruailes it is iustified in wryting that it was an hundred fifty foote high as also four and twenty foote broade in a quadrangle so that the whole compasse thereof was ninety foote And this stone so beeing whole sound was taken from the Mountaines in Armenia and by the commaundement of Semiramis brought into Babilon Caldea but in trueth when we consider how it was drawne carried and lifted vp it seemeth altogether a matter incredible if the tymes of antiquitie had not like thinges or more strange whereof we are truely certified by Authours worthy of credite and other very great Obelisques which the
according to Budaeus amounted to twentie seauen Millions nine hundred thousande Crownes of the Sunne and twelue hundred thirtie-two Talents of siluer which come to seauen hundred thirty seauen thousande Crownes of the Crowne Yet is not comprised in this sum what was giuen to three-score and ten thousande Labourers of whoÌ„ mention is made in the 5. chapter of the 1. Booke of the Kings nor of 3000. three hundred Maisters that ruled and ouer-sawe the worke nor the charges offraights and carriages nor how much the brasse and yron cost nor what rewarde was giuen to eyght 〈◊〉 thousande men more sent him for handy-crafts men by the King of Egipt Wherfore we may well imagine that Salomons Temple was a worke of wonder and the cost thereon bestowed inestimable It is written in the second booke of the Chronicles the fourth Chapter That all the Vessels Basons Candlesticks Censors Lampes Organes and other musicall instruments of the Temple the Alsar the Ports the Tables and Hindges were of pure gold Wee reade likewise in the first Booke of the Chronicles the nine and twentith chapter that the Princes and Fathers of the linage of Israell also the Captaines of thousands and hundreds offered willingly and gaue for the seruice of the house of God fiue thousands Talents and ten thousand peeces of Golde tenne thousand Talents of siluer eighteene thousande Talents of Brasse and one hundred thousande Talents of yron And they with whom precious stones were found gaue them to the Treasure of the house of the Lord. Salomon caused to be made three hundred Shieldes of fine Golde that is to say couered with Gold framed in fashion of Plates accounting each Plate worth sixe hundred sicles which value two thousand and foure hundred Crownes of the Sunne Three hundred Targets which are little light Shieldes of the purest purified Gold and placed them in the house of Lybanon Eupolemus adioynes heereto a thousande Shieldes of Gold It is written in the tenth Chapter of the third Booke of the Kings that Salomon made a great seate royall of Iuorie and couered it with the best Gold And the seate had sixe steps and the top of the seate was round behind and there were Pommels on either side of the seate And there stoode twelue Lyons on the steppes sixe on a side there was neuer like worke seene in any Kingdome Salomon sacrificed at one time to God two and twentie thousand Oxen and an hundred twentie thousand Sheepe His ordinary expence day by day was thirtie quarters of fine Manchet flower and three-score quarters of other meale ten stalled Oxen and twentie out of the Pastures an hundred sheepe besides Hartes Buckes Wilde-goates and Capons And Salomon had fortie thousande stalles of Horsses for Chariots and as many Heards of Horsses he had likewise twelue thousand Horse-men according as it is written in the thyrd Booke of the Kings the fourth Chapter The riches of Darius QUintus Curtius Plutarch Strabo and other Historians haue supposed written that Alexander the great after his conquest of Darius king of Persia found in the Treasurie of his conquered enemie twenty-nine thousand talents which valued an hundred and eight Millions of Crownes of the Crowne So choysely and deerely did Darius account ofhis pleasure in the night as he lodged in a Chamber betweene two great Hals hys bedde beeing spred foorth very sumptuously and couered with a Vine of Gold in manner of an Arbour enriched with Grapes hanging thereon which were most curious and costly precious stones The richnes of the very pillow of his bed was woorth fiftie thousande Talents which doe amount to thirtie Millions of Crownes When Alexander gained the battaile against him in Cilicia he was then but fiue twenty yeeres old and sent his Lieuetenant Parmeâ—o to the Citty of Damas where Darius had with-drawne a greâ— part of the afore-named Treasure there he found foure hundred and twenty-nine Ladies his Concubines well skild in Musique which hee brought with him into his Hoast for his delight and pastime with sixe and forty workmen that wrought vpoÌ„ flowers making curious Trammels and Chaplets for Ladyes most odoriferous two hundred three-score and seauenteene Cookes twenty Potters that made Pots other necessaries of earth for the daily vse of the Kitchine nine chiefe Maisters of the Paistrie three-score ten sluggerds of one sort and seauenteene of an other whose labour was to mixte the Aromatique wines to blende and temper the sweet delicious licquors and most arteficiall drinkes thorow bagges and such like fit for the purpose forty other work-men that made sweet odours sauours both dry and licquid If then the King of Persia had so much store of delights in warre when he was prepared to a fight so full of hazard danger what may we imagine he had at other times and in what aboundance of pleasures he lyued when he held hys assured quiet in Babilon a Citty exceeding in all superfluities and vices yet florishing abounding plentifully in wondrous wealth Herodotus in the third booke of hys Historie deuided the Realme of Persia into twenty Gouernements or Prouinces the principall was the Kingdom of Lydia wherof the rich Craesus was King that afterwarde was vanquished by Cyrus and brought into captiuitie Plinie speaking of the estate of the Persians in his tyme sayth that the Empire of the Persians which as then was translated to the Parthians contained eyghteene Kingdomes Herodotus in the Booke before named sheweth by iourneyes lodgings that from Sardis beeing in Lydia to Susa which was the chiefe seate and aboad of the Kings was full three Monthes iourney Quintus Curtius sayth that in two Citties of Persia to wit Susa Persepolis Alexander found an hundred three-score ten thousand Talents of siluer in one heape which himselfe tearmed a summe innumerable an hundred thousande Talents valued three-score Millions of Crownes The sayd Darius had one of the fayrest women in the world to hys Wife who was likewise taken with her two daughters ten thousand Talents he woulde haue giuen for to haue them againe and one halfe of hys Countrey which would not be graunted yet Alexander intreated them very honourablie and wythout any reproche Hee neuer afterward sawe his wife and daughters but once and in short while after himselfe was traiterously slaine by Bessus who had the principal charge vnder him The liberalitie of Alexander the great to his men of warre ALexander the great after his conquest and returne out of Asia beeing aduertised that hys Souldiours and men of warre were indebted by hys seruice caused their debts to be payde and bringing money into the midst of hys Campe according to the affirmation of each one how much he owed so much in ready pay was deliuered them the sum amouÌ„ted to sixe Millions of Crownes He was studious of great knowledge hauing euer-more vnder the pillowe of hys bed the poesie of Homer He wrote a Greeke Epistle to Aristotle which is reported by Plutarch
to their successours for they had rather thus spend it among their people then any of their heyres should be aduantaged by their death inheriting theyr goods and money It is found also written that these Piramides serued for Sepulchers to the Kings and who so will consider the multitude of the Hebrew people that serued in Egypt by whom the Kings caused to be builded Citties and Fortresses they will not bee abashed heereat seeing it is a thing verie certaine that sixe hundred thousand men beside great multitude of women and young children endured the seruitude all which were imployed and serued in these meruaylous workes So then it is no matter of meruaile howe these buildings should be made for it is said that in Turnops Garlike and Scallions to maintaine this number of workmen were spent eighteene hundred Talents which valued the price of each daies worke a Million and four-score thousand Crownes Diodorus sayth that all the cōpasse therof and very farre about there was not so much as one little stone nor apparance that any person had beene there nor signe of any foundation but the Grauell verie small and fine as any salte so that it seemed this Piramides was there set by the hand of God and that it was naturally created the top therof resembling as if it touched heauen If wee set aside the old auncient Bookes yet shall we find witnesses in our owne later tymes for Peter Martyr of Millaine a man learned that was Ambassadour for the Princes Catholique Don Ferdinand and Dame Isabell to the Soldane of Egipt in the yeere one thousande fiue hundred and one made a booke of what he had seene done in his Embassade therein he reciteth as if it were by word of mouth that he sawe these Piramides and agreeth with what the auncient Authours haue written And particulerly he speakes of two which hee had seene that were of incredible height he sayth hee measured the squares of one and found each to be three hundred and fifteene paces and about thirteene hundred in compasse that on euery side there were such huge great stones as each one seemed a building of it selfe He sayth moreouer that certaine of hys company got vp on one of them by great labour and though in long tyme they reached the top saying that on the verie highest of all was one onelie stone so great and broade as thirty men might easily stand vppon it And when they were belowe they said they supposed themselues to haue been in a Clowde they were so high and they seemed to haue lost the light their braynes wheeling about and turning downe-warde Whereby he saith that the number of people is not to be doubted nor yet the expence which is saide to be consumed about these things The fourth wonder of the world THE fourth Miracle was that of Mausolus made by Artemisia wife to the said Mausolus king of Caria a Prouince of Asia the great This Queene according to Aulus Gellius in the tenth booke of his Ati Nox and diuers other Historians so deerely loued her husbande as euerie one sette her downe for a notable example both of loue chastitie The King dying for hys death she vsed teares and extreame complaints other then the custome of womē now is she would make him a Sepulcher conformable to the great loue she bare him such a one it was as it is placed among the seauen Wonders of the world The stone of all this building was of an excellent Marble which had the compasse and circuit of four hundred eleuen foote and twentie fiue cubits in height it had about it sixe and twentie pillers of stone cut with wonderfull cunning It was open on all sides hauing Arches of seauenty-three foote wide and it was made by the handes of the most exquisite work-men that coulde bee found The part toward the East was made and grauen by Scopas the North-side by Briax the South part by Timotheus and the West by Leochares The perfection of this worke was such and the building so faire and sumptuous as is was called Mausolus after the King for whom it was made so that all other Sepulchres that vntil this day haue been builded for the excellent workmanship of this one are likewise called Mausolaea Heerof made mention Plinie in his thirty-fiue booke and fifth Chapter Pomponius Mela in his first booke Herodotus and Strabo in his seauenth booke Aulus Gellius likewise heerof keepes memorie and many other Historians beside It is recorded that Artemisia after the death of her husbande liued continually in teares and pensiuenes and that she dyed before her work was finished hauing drunken in powder the bones of her husbande which shee caused to be burned for this purpose and so made him a Sepulchre of her owne body The fift Wonder of the World LIttle contention needeth about the fift of these Meruailes for that was the Temple of Diana whom the Gentiles thorow follie adored for a Goddesse and builded this Temple in the Citty of Ephesus in Asia in the Prouince of Ionia Plinie in his sixteene booke and thirtie foure Chapter writing of this Temple saith that it contained foure hundred and twentie fiue foote in length and two hundred and twentie in breadth The worke was of such meruailous cunning as it was two hundred and twentie yeeres in perfecting and it was builded in a Lake to preuent the danger of the earth-quaking on the foundation beeing layde harde powder of coales and there-vpon wooll to keepe the place moyst and marshie It had an hundred and twentie seauen Colloms of excellent Marble they beeing each one three-score and tenne foote in height and euery Collome was caused to be made by a seuerall King of Asia thirtie seauen of them was grauen with meruailous cunning skyll they all beeing of most choise Marble The principall Maister of this worke according to Pinie was Dresiphon and after Strabo in his four-teene booke Archiphron notwith-standing this diuersitie of opinion is to be borne withall considering how long time was required about it and therefore it had more then one Maister especially for the trymming by diuers in sundry times Solinus in hys fourteene Chapter and Pomponius Mela in his first booke say that the Amazones builded and dedicated thys Temple Moreouer Solinus saith that when the puissant King Xerxes went to the conquest of Greece and that hee burned all the Temples yet he reserued this onely All Historians doe agree that the Pyllers of this Temple helde vp the plauncher of wood so arteficially wrought as was possible to be doone and that it was couered with Cedar according to Plinie in his sixt booke and 49. chapter the Gates seelings beeing of Cipres Afterward a villaine seeing this sumptuous and admirable building he was desirous to burne it and so hee did when beeing taken for thys offence he confessed he dyd it for no other intent but to leaue a renowne of hymselfe to the world But Ualerius the great and
Archaioplutos OR THE RICHES OF Elder ages Proouing by manie good and learned Authours that the auncient Emperors Kings were more rich and magnificent then such as liue in these daies Heereto is annexed the honours of the braue Romaine Souldiours With the seauen Wonders of the Worlde Written in French by Guil. Thelin Lord of Gutmont and Morillonuilliers and truely translated into English Patere aut Abstine AT LONDON Printed by I. C. for Richard Smith and are to be sold at his shop at the West doore of Paules 1592. To the Right Honourable and vertuous Lord Gilbert Lord Talbot the honourable Earle of Shrewesburie Knight of the most noble order of the Garter c. The fulnesse of content in all his heroycall desires I Offer to your Honour the paines of a Noble Frenchman how vnskilfully by me turned into English I leaue to your wonted honourable consideration who beeing enriched with so many singuler perfections will not frowne on the good endeuours of an humble well-willer I haue no meane whereby to excuse my boldnes but onelie this a reuerend and vnfained affection to your honour with forward zeale in duetie to doe anie thing you shall commaund me if this may excuse me it is as much as I desire and which heereafter I wil better imploy my selfe to deserue Your honours humble affectionate An Monday One of the Messengers of her Maiesties Chamber To the courteous Reader IF thys harshe and vnpleasant translation courteous Gentlemen may passe wyth your wonted kind acceptance expect a worke from the Presse very shortly more aunswerable to your humours namely the sweet conceited Historie of Orlando Amoroso Though farre inferiour to that already extant of Orlando Furioso doone by so rare a Scholler of the Muses yet what wants in cunning good wyll shall supply to compleat Orlandos vvhole Historie together A. M. A briefe extract of certain Histories wherin is declared that the Emperours and Kings of elder tymes were more rich and magnificent then such as liue at thys day taken from the Volumes of sundry good Authors The tryumph of Salomons Temple and what the making thereof valued WEE reade in the first Booke of the Chronicles the twentie two chapter that Dauid saide to Salomon My Son comfort thy selfe plucke vp thy hart and be strong dreade not neither be discouraged For according to my pouertie haue I prepared for the house of the Lord such dispence as shall be needfull to make vp the same to wit an hundred thousand Talents of Golde and a thousand thousand Talents of Siluer which is one Million with three thousand Talents of Gold of Ophir of the best choise Thys sum is infinite and not to be numbred An hūdred thousand Talents of gold doe value three-score thousand Millions of Crownes The Million of Talents of siluer valueth sixe hundred Millions of Crownes according to the estimate of Budaeus in hys Booke of Coynes Where speaking of the tryumphes of Caesar he saith that he caused to be brought into the publique Treasurie three-score and fiue thousand Talents of siluer which valued nine and thirty Millions of Crownes He maketh also the like mention where he speaketh of Cyrus King of Persia who tooke Craesus and his treasure amounting to fiue hundred thousand Talents of siluer which value three hundred Millions of Gold It is written in the second Chapter of the third booke of Kings that in the time of Salomon he had so much siluer out of Iudea as there was not any account made thereof The shyps belonging to Salomon king Hyram went by three and three yeerely to Tharsus whence they brought great quantitie of Gold and siluer in so much that as the Text saith there was such store of gold and siluer in Ierusalem as the King esteemed therof no otherwise then of stones the Vessels and all the vtencelles together of the house of Lybanon was of fine Gold Iosephus in his seauenth booke of Antiquities witnesseth that Dauid when he deceassed left greater riches then any other King were he Hebrewe or Gentile which was hydden within his Sepulchre as also in the Coffer or Vessell monumentarie wherin the bones and ashes of the Kinges were wont to be kept so that his treasure was verie hard to be found Likewise in the ninth Booke of the Euangelicall preparation he sayth that hee hath read in Eupolemus an auncient Historian that the King of Tyre and of Phoenicia with many other beside were tributaries to King Dauid from whom hee conquered these Treasures by force of Armes and by the Diuine fore-pointment the place was shewen him where the Temple shoulde be builded But because hee had soyled his hands with blood-shed in warre it was told him that he should not builde the fore-saide Temple Wherefore he prepared so great aboundance as he could of gold siluer brasse stones Tymber of Cipres and Cedar and sent it into the Ile which hee called Urpha situate in the Red-sea which was wonderfully stored with Mines of Gold and from whence was brought an innumerable quantitie After his deceasse Salomon wrote Letters to the King of Egipt named Uafres after this manner Salomon King of Iudea to Vafres his friende King of Egipt perpetuall health Knowe that by the grace of God and from King Dauid my Father this kingdome is discended vnto me he in his life time gaue mee in charge that I should builde a Temple to the Creator of heauen and earth for which cause I haue written to thee that thou wouldest giue me comfort and assistance in this busines Therfore I require thee to send me Maisters of Masons Stone-cutters Carpenters and workmen who may erect for me the said Temple These Letters receiued by the King of Egipt were in this manner answered I sende thee eyght score thousand men such as are expert chiefe in erecting of buildings euen such as thou hast required of me Like Letters wrote Salomon to Suron King of Tyre receiuing like aunswere and like number of Maisters in workes and buildings This History written by Eupolemus an Historian Gentile agreeth in euery part with the holy Scripture as in the fift Chapter of the thirde booke of the Kinges and there is no other difference but onely that concerning Tyre where he calleth the king of Tyre Suron the Scripture nameth hym Hyram Iosephus in the eyght Booke of his Antiquities saith that these two Epistles or Letters of King Salomon and King Hyram were in his tyme intirely sound and perfect both in Tyre and in Iudea Eupolemus passeth further and sayth that all the gold which was imployed about the Temple the Colloms and Vessels of Gold amounted to foure Millions and sixe hundred thousand Crownes The siluer for the nayles and other thinges valued twelue hundred and thirtie two Talents After the work-men were contented they of Egypt sent home into theyr Countrey as also the men of Tyre the sum that was gyuen to each one for his paines was tenne Talents of Gold The dispence of the Temple
in his life the forme thereof beeing thus Alexander vnto Aristotle greeting Thou hast not done rightlie or well in putting forth the bookes of the Acroamaticall sciences for wherein shal I excell any other heereafter if the science wherin I was instructed by thee be taught and made common to euerie one As for my selfe I woulde thou shouldest know that I make more account and had rather goe beyond all men in excellencie of of learning and knowledge then in greatnesse of power or deedes of Armes He commaunded Aristotle to write fiftie bookes of the nature of beastes gyuing hym for hys paines as sayth Atheneus a Greeke Authour eyght hundred Talents which value foure hundred and foure-score thousand Crownes A president howe learning was esteemed in elder tymes where now Schollers paines are neither rewarded nor regarded Hee sent likewise fiftie Talents to Xenocrates which he refused saying hee had no neede of so much money to maintaine hys poore estate Whereat Alexander was offended saying he was vnciuill to refuse his gift though hee needed it not himselfe yet he might take it and bestowe it among hys friendes The same Atheneus in his fourth booke of the banquet of the Sages following the aduise of the Persian Histories sayth that in what soeuer place Alexander was he would customably sitte at the Table at supper after his conquest of Asia and eate among his Friendes in a common Hall hauing alwaies with him the number of three-score and ten at the least To maintaine thys custome he appointed for the ordinary dispence therof an hundred Attique Mynaes which value a thousand Crownes But King Dauid saith he who was conquered by hym had a custome diuers times to make publique banquets apparantlie in hys Court which alwaies was in the open Halles where were present to the number of fifteene thousande And for euery such banquet as we now speake of the estate ordained appointed for the dispence of the Table two hundred and forty Myriades which amount to two Millions and foure hundred thousand Crownes for euery Myriade valueth ten thousand whereof an hundred Myriades make a Million and fortie Myriades four hundred thousand Crownes The riches of Mydas and Cyrus PLinie in hys three and thirty booke sayth that Mydas king of Phrigia and Craesus King of Lydia which at thys daie is called Natolia a Prouince in Turkie were enriched with Golde beyonde number or measure Cyrus also King of Persia who tooke Craesus and his treasures had infinite wealth for he spoyled all Asia so that by his victories he gained fiue hundred thousande Talents of siluer to wit talents of Egypt which value as he sayth each Talent foure-score pound weight of siluer And thys summe is reported according to the great Iacke or Tankarde belonging to Semiramis which weighed fifteene Talents Thys summe or quantitie of siluer is the verie greatest that Budaeus remembreth to be gathered in money at one time together which amounteth to three hundred Millions of Crownes and rating them after the Talents of Egypt as saith Plinie there shall be sixteene parts ouer aboue which com to fiftie Millions Nor is it to be meruailed that he gathethered so much for he had vnder his power the auncient Treasures of Assiria which was translated from the Medes and many other Countreyes beside so that heere among hee had the old riches of Dauid and Salomon He reporteth moreouer that there was an auncient King of Cholchos named Esubopes that first of all made opening of the Mynes and founde the richnes of the earth where-out hee drewe innumerable store of Golde and Siluer He likewise had victory against Sosestres King of Egipt who wonderfully abounded in wealth so that this King of Cholchos had in his house the pyllers roofes doores and vaultes of pure Golde On the wonderfull riches that was in this Countrey was inuented the fable of the Golden Fleece The riches of Sardanapalus SArdanapalus who liued two hundred yeres after Salomon and by hys deceasse brought an ende to the Kingdom of the Assirians according as Atheneus the Greeke writer recordeth beeing seated in his Pallace and house royall by Arbaces hys Lieuetenant of the Medes there burned himselfe and his Concubines Ctesias reciteth that when the sayd king Sardanapalus liued hauing no meanes left to with-stand the siedge and that all kynde of victuales wexed scant hee caused to bee made in a seperate place from other resorte in his Pallace a frame of Carpenters worke containing the height of four hūdred foote in manner and fashion of a Pyramides in the middest wherof he commaunded to be placed an hundred and fiftie Couches of Gold which serued to make most sumptuous and magnificent banquets vpon agreeing wyth the custome of old By the sides of them or els vpon them was deuised as many Tables of Gold thys doone heere would he entertaine his Wife hys Concubines and Ladyes of hys Court such as he best affected they not knowing or doubting what he intended to doe after them he followed making fast the doore without any hope to return back againe But before hee thus lockt vp himselfe among thē hee caused to be brought thether as sayth the History a thousand Myriades of Gold and a Myriade of Myriades of siluer with a great number of habillements for men and women of purple with sundry other very sumptuous accoustrements When he was inclosed by his cōmaundement his Eunuches and Groomes of hys Chamber put fire to the huge frame of Carpenters worke which endured burning the space of fifteene dayes such as behelde thys wondrous flaming fire supposed that he was sacrifycing to the Gods Thus ended Sardanapalus his licentious life and all the rest that were with him consuming there likewise a thousand Myriades of Gold which value an hundred Millions For-beare we then to estimate the Myriade of Myriades of Siluer the Couches of gold the Tables of gold and other costly habillements As also three thousande Talents of gold which value eyghteene hundred thousand Crownes which he sent from his seate royall to King Nynus to whom hee had gyuen his Chyldren in keeping The riches of the Emperour Anthony the Triumuire and the magnificence of his Queene Cleopatra PLutarch sayth that the Emperour Anthony the Triumuire spente in one yeere two hundred thousand Talents which value six-score Millions of golde that the estates of Asia had yeelded him for the offence they committed against him in maintaining and bearing fauour to his enemies Cassius Brutus in the Countrey of Macedon in such an amercement were they taxed for two yeeres albeit the fine was determined for nine yeeres This summe was imployed in payment of a largesse and gyft promised to his Souldiours which vvas as Plutarch reporteth fiue thousand Drachmes for each one which come to twentie thousand Sestertiaes esteemed fiue hundred Crownes His Army was eyght and twentie thousande Legionaries and ten thousand men beside the Horsmen The estimation of Anthonies gift to hys men of warre amounted for an hundred
seeme incredible yet the number and conformitie of Histories doe plainely iustifie them The Romaines for these great exployts of Armes graunted them yet other honours preheminences as the power of publique iudgement seating them in the yuorie Chaire called Curialis which was the seat of the Ediles and Pretors as it was permitted to Scipio oftentimes they yeelded to souldiours the greatest authorities according as it was lawfull for the people to doe it beeing a degree of estate subiect to the liberty of the Fathers conscript and of the people It was lawful for the Captaines to erect tryumphal statues and to clothe or deck them as if they had beene Consuls The Senate permitted by manner of reward and congratulation that they might bring to the Temples the Armes spoiles of the enemies vanquished by them in Battaile and these things were named Manubiae that is to say the booties gotten from the enemies The Romaines had another laudable custome which was to giue to the chyldren of such as had been slaine in warre like wages as they gaue their Fathers when they liued and to the old Souldiours which had long time followed seruice they would giue so much good and substantiall lande as they might very wel liue thereon suffering them to dwell in Citties and Prouinces that had beene conquered euen as themselues pleased to like or chuse In this sort the Citty of Ciuill was made by Caesar a Romaine Colonie from which tearme we may easily deriue our french saying of a newe habitation or transmigration of people Cordo◠was also made a Colonie by this meane and infinite other in dyuers Prouinces In breese the Romaines neuer left any good turne vnrewarded and without great priuiledge for which cause was founde amongst them the most valiant men that euer haue beene in any Nation because each one stroue to attaine these degrees onelie by vertue I leaue many other sorts of rewards which the Romaines vsed in case of Armes in that I imagine I haue spoken sufficiently notwithstanding it is a thing certaine that if they haue gone beyond all other Nations in reknowledging remunerating such good actions it cannot likewise be denyed but in learning punishment of disorders they haue doone much more For if any one were not acquainted with honour and vertue yet shame and feare of punishment with-helde him from doing any vile deede were it thorow necessity or in hope of gaine because the paines were so great rigorous against such as did badly For if they lost any honour wherto they had been called or that they had been whipped euen to the blood they were thrust into yrons as they had beene slaues and if they had fled leauing their Captaines in the battaile they were eyther thrust vpon a spyt or otherwise extreamely handled and so according to theyr offence was the punishment inflicted Titus Liuius writeth that a Squadron of Appius Claudius to whom hee had in charge the keeping of a certaine place forsooke it and lost it which he being desirous to punish yet notwithstanding mercifullie it was graunted him to sunder them in tenne to a company afterward Lots were cast and they to whom the chaunce happened were punished with death for safetie of the other Iulius Frontinus sayth that Marcus Antonius dyd the like to a Band of hys which had not defended his Rampiers but suffered the enemies to set them on fire They vsed sundrie other punishments to to their disobedient Souldiours whereof would aske a long tyme to speak wherfore onely I say that as in those times there was no default in honoring rewarding goodnesse so likewise was there no defect in punishing wickednesse Of the seauen Wonders or Meruailes of the World SVch as haue read the auncient Historians Oratours and Poets haue founde mention made in sundrie of their writings of seauē Meruailes or Wonders of the World which were in diuers and contrary places All they that haue written doe agree on sixe but about the seauenth they hold variable opinions and likewise there is difference in placing one before another Notwithstanding I intende first to speake of the walles of Babilon which are placed in number of these Meruailes and that for good cause because the greatnesse of the place and compasse of ground dooth seeme incredible Let vs leaue to speake of the diuersitie of tongues which was there where Nemrod builded the Tower of Babell whereby the Citty first tooke name The walles we now speake of according to the most soundest opinion as of Trogus Pompeus and Iustin in the first Booke of his abridged Hystories was founded by the famous Queene Semiramis Mother to Ninus Diodorus Scicilianus in his third booke Amianus Marcellus in his 23. booke Paulus Orosius in his second booke maintaineth the same with the greatest part of the Authours among the Gentiles yet notwithstanding S. Austine in his first booke of the Cittie of GOD and Iosephus in the sixt booke of his Antiquities say that they were builded by Nemrod being ay ded by his proude and mighty Giants but were it the foundation or reparation which Semiramis did it suffiseth that she was greatly ennobled thereby The plot of this Citty was a plaine on the one side the other passed by the Riuer of Euphrates the draught or figure of thys Cittie was in a Quadrangle the wals maruailous high and wrought with very cunning workmanship the thing it selfe was of stone ioyned with white lyme and Morter which grew in the Quarries of the Country especially in the great Lake of Iudea where sometime stoode Sodome and Gomorha named Asphaltida or Mare mortuum which casteth forth earth like Pitch or Glewe the very strongest that can be found The Historians doe disagree about the height and largenes of the compasse of the wals which might easilie happen by reason of the diuers measures they made Plinie sayth the circuite of the walles was three-score thousand paces so that one of the squares was fifteene miles-long hee saith likewise that they were two hundred foote in height one of which feete exceedeth by three singers the measure of the Romaine foote in thicknesse they were fifty foote of the same measure which in trueth is a thing very admirable Diodorus the Scicilian sayth in his thyrd booke that the walles of this Citty had in compasse three hundred and three-score Stades euerie Stade containing in length sixe-score fiue paces and that they were so broade or large as sixe Chariots might passe thereon along together without the one hindring the other The bridges rocks Towers and Gardens Semiramis caused to be made were to very wonderfull astonishment and it is found written that shee had in daily pay to this worke three hundred thousande men of all the Kingdomes that were subiect to her Quintus Curtius adioyneth heereto eight Stades more in length and an hundred cubits more in height but Paulus Orosius faith in his seconde booke that they were foure-hundred and foure-score Stades long which amount
Kings of Egipt cause to be made Plinie in his sixt booke eyght and ninth chapters shewes the maner of drawing these stones forth of the Quarries and Mines of stone Of these Piramides Obelisques Statues and Colosses maketh mention the learned Polyphius in the beginning of his Hypne-rotomachia Of the great Treasure found in Pouilla IN the time of Robert Guâ—scardo in Pouilla was found a statue of Marble which had about the head in manner of a Garlande a circle of brasse wherein was engrauen these Latine wordes Calendis Maii oriente Sole aurum caput habebo Which is to say In the Calends of Maie at the rising of the Sunne I shall haue a heade of golde Robert searched long to know the signification of these words yet coulde hee not find any one to instruct him in the true vnderstanding vntill at last there was a Saraâ—en well skilled in the Magique Arte being prisoner to Robert hauing â—st demaunded his liberty in recompence of the interpretation he offered todisclose the wordes written on the statue His deliueraunce being graunted by the Duke Guyscardo he declared them in this manner to wit On the day of the Calendes of May at the rysing of the Sun he obserued and marked the place where the shadow of the statues heade finished on the ground and there he commaunded theÌ„ to dig very deepe by which meanes should be vnderstoode the meaning of the word Robert caused a deepe digging to bee made in the appointed place where in little while was discouered and founde a mightie masse of Treasure which gaue him good principall ayde in his meruailous enterprises And for the Saracen beside other recoÌ„pences he receiued of Robert the recouery of his liberty was the most ioyfull thing which in al the world could happen to him These three last discourses were translated out of the diuers Lessons of Pierre Messie and Antonie du Verdier Sieur de Vaupriuaz An aduertisement to the Reader A Man can hardly haue knowledge of the estate of the Romaine Empire nor lykewise of the Kingdomes Signories and principalities that are in Greece and Asia vnlesse he vnderstande their moneyes manners and behauiour in speech which hath bred heer-to-fore a generall error and confusion For they that haue written an hundred times Sestertiaes meant and signified an hundred times an hundred thousand Sestertiaes the which custome and kinde of speeche hath brought the Interpreters and Translatours of good Authours since within a thousande yeeres into great doubt and errour There were some that imagined and thought them to be the same indeede and therfore spake thereof indifferently others there were that either vnderstood them not or else could not comprehend theÌ„ and so by reason of their weakenes doubting there hath ensued very great disference and alteration But the verie trueth is that this manner of speech came in vse by abbreuiation of the language for when they woulde signifie a great sum to cut short the word they would say an hundred times Sestertiaes in sted of saying an hundred times an hundred thousand Sestertiaes And foure hundred tymes Sestertiaes in sted of four hundred times an hundred thousande twelue times Sestertiaes meaning twelue thousande Sestertiaes c. To know summarily the declaration and meaning of the summes contained in the Histories I haue according to the account of Budaeus gathered the notes and abridged them as followeth to be knowen after our owne English money or after the value of the French Crownes THE As valueth foure small French Deniers not so much as an English farthing Thys As is the very least peece of coyne or currant Money that is In signification according to the Latine it is taken for a pound weight consisting of twelue ounces In diuision of solid thinges as of Lande or inheritance it is likewise takeÌ„ for the whole part or portion There is required sixe Sextans to make or value an As. A Sextan is a coyne lesse then that which is called a Quadran by the third part It likewise is a certaine poyse or weight being two ounces after some called Obolus after other the sixt part of a pound It is the sixt part of any measure summe or quantity that is deuided into 12. parts It is somtime likewise taken for 2. inches Also the sixt parte of Iugerum which is so much grounde as one yoke of Oxen wyll eare in a day It containes in length two hundred and forty foote and in bredth one hundred and twenty foote which multiplied riseth to 28800. It may bee vsed for our English Acre of grounde which neuerthelesse containeth more c. or for a furlong Obolus is also a small peece of Coyne but variable according to the CouÌ„try in France it is a little brasse peece the sixt parte of a Souse with vs in England it is a half-penny Yet Iunius taketh it for a penny and farthing of our money It is also a weight containing three Carrets that is halfe a Scruple It is sometime vsed as Obolus terrae fyue foote in breadth and tenne in length which containes siftie foote square A Quadran in coyne is a brasen piece called Triunx or Teruntius the fourteenth part of Denarius or as wee in England count the fourth parte of a penny which is our farthing It is the fourth part of an As that is three ounces and a quarter Also the fourth part of any nuÌ„ber or measure or three inches It is vsed diuers waies as Quadrans operae Col the fourth part of a daies work Ex quadrante haeredem facere Ulpian to make heire of the fourth part Quadrans vini Cels. sixe ounces of Wine after Budaeus After Physitians foure ounces and a halfe Four Quadrans or Quadrins value an As. The Libella or little booke as it is tearmed is a coyne likewise valuing one As. Of this coyne there were two sorts one the tenth part of Sestertius another the tenth part of Denarius Of English money it is no more theÌ„ three farthings It is taken some time for a pound weight Sesquiobolus valueth not halfe a Souse french It is diuersly taken in other Countreyes but in England it is likewise no more then three farthings Also it is a poyse containing three parts of a Scruple The little Sestertius valueth ten Deniers a halfe This coyne was among the Romaines whereof Denarius contained foure and is so called quasi Semitertius for it contained two and a halfe of the brasen coyne called As and is marked with this figure H. S. Of English money it is estimated woorth two pence I meane the little Sestertius The Drachma valueth three french Souses or Sols whereof there be three-score in a French Crowne It is otherwise called three Shillings and sixe pence of this peece there is mention made in the Gospell of S. Mathew This Drachma is a coyne figured with a Bullocke counterpoysing an olde sterling Groate of eyght pence to the ounce It was diuersly taken by the name of Solidus