Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue of which Five were the Sons of Michoâ—'s Sister as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear as in the like ver 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competitors so was the Nation strengthened by the valour of many brave Commanders of which Six Colonels under the General had Thirty Captains of Thousands among whom the difference of place and Honour grew by meer consideration of Virtue as we see Abishai Brother of Ioab and the King's Kinsman short in Honour of the first Three David thus Established in ostentation of his Power provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence for his numbring of them and slew Seventy Thousand § 8. David's last Acts. § Abishag in his impotence keepeth him Warm c. Adonijah aspireth which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor and to set him in his Throne whereupon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered After this David having two especial Cares remaining of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts one concerning Solomon's peaceable holding his Crown the other about building the Temple he called a Parliament of all the Princes c. In this Assembly he signifieth his purpose and the approbation of God chargeth all and Solomon by Name v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work according to the Form which God himself had appointed laying down his own preparation whereto the Princes and others added their free-will offering This being done David made a solemn Feast at which time Solomon was again anointed King and received Fealty of the Princes People and the King's Sons After all this David as upon his Death-Bed again with powerful words giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God and then adviseth him concerning Ioab who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert yet for his intolerable Insolence came to such an end by Justice when time served as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption David after Forty Years Reign died being Seventy Years old having been a Man of small Stature exceeding Strength and for internal Gifts and Graces passing all others and putting his Human Frailty apart commended by God himself to be according to his own Heart Being a Prophet as well as a King he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest and writ many Psalms but whether all the Book is disputed though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it Christ and his Apostles cite him § 9. David and Solomon's Treasures § David's Treasure exceeded as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple 1 Chron. 22.14 which amounteth to 3333â— Cart loads of Silver or 6000 l. sterling to every Cart-load and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold a matter incredible but for Testimony of Scripture where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony Eusebius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis or Achanis to the Isle Vpher or Opher by Ortelius then his Husbandry which was great his Presents Tributes Taxations Capitations his Spoils the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies even from Ioshua's days Of Solomon's Treasure see 1 Kings 9.20 and 10.14.29 See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepulcher out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents and Herod more § 10. David's Contemporaries § Achis a Philistin King of Gath and another in Solomon's days Latinus Sylvius King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens after whom they changed the Government into a Principality for Life without Regal Title This change was made in honour of Codrus voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores to disappoint the Oracle Eupalus the Third King of Assyria sate 38 Years Ixion the second King of the Heraclids in Corinth Son of Eurythenes Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon he restored the Laconians and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves for refusing Tribute as at length all the Messenians were and thereof called Helons that is Slaves Slave came from Sclavi which were Samaritans now Russians which Conquering Illyria would be called Slaves which with them signifieth glorious but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness but not ripened their Wits the Italians which made many of them Bond-men used their Name in Reproach calling all Bond-men Slaves Achetratus succeeded Agis in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus assisted by the Iones built Ephesus in Caria and was slain of the Carians He also held Erithrae famous for Sybyls which writ Verses of Iesus Christ Son of God the Saviour reported by Augustine who saw them Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign when David Besieged Rabba Magnesia on Meander in Asia founded now and Capua Campania CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. § 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991 st Year of the World and was first Congratulated by Hiram King of Tyre according to the Ancient Custom of Princes Though his Reign were peaceable yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah without warrant either from his Father or the Law of God The occasion was his desire of Abyshag but being his Elder Brother who also had sought the Kingdom it was enough as a word is to the Wise and he which seeth the Claw knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion as a demonstration of a new Treason such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Widow or Concubines as Absolom's taking his Father's Concubines was a taking possession of a Royalty so it was applied to David by Nathan c. 2 Sam. 12.8 Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah was according to God's Law and of Nations but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute and not without Example in Iacob for private Inheritance As for what we read of Peoples Elections it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose and not to frustrate the Elder 's Right Solomon also executed Ioab deposed Abiathar and put Shemei to death He Married the Daughter of Vaphres as Eusebius calls him King of Egypt and according to his request to God obtained extraordinary Wisdom especially for Government as appeared in the Example purposely set down of his judging the two Harlots yet did he excell in all other Knowledge § 2. Solomon's Building and Glory § Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him Of the Glorious Temple and parts of it many Learned Men have Written as Salmeron Montanus Bibera Barradas Azorius Villalpandus Pineda c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities Lib. 8. § 2. Besides the matchless Temple he made many other Magnificent Buildings of which Gerar on the Border of Ephraim taught the Egyptians to
remembers many Fâ—unders of the City but Livie will have it the Work of Romulus c. Of his Begetting Birth and Education Plutarch saith it is probable that Amulius came armed to Rhea which occasioned the Tale of Marce as the Nursing the Children by some Harlot occasioned the Tale of a Woolf for Harlots of old were called Wolves Halicarnassus tells us of the like Reports they have of Cyrus's Nursing by a Bitch and Semiramis by Birds So of his End they say he was taken away in a storm of Thunder c. Which was probably the fury of the Senators remembred also by Livie But as many Authors speak of great Lightning and Thunder that day so it may be he was slain by it as was Anastasius the Emperor and Emperor Carus Halicarnassus saith they caus'd it to be remembred nearest to Truth which say his Citizens slew him c. Plutarch reports of his Conquests of a few Miles about him not worth the speaking of if the following Greatness of Rome had not caus'd it to be remembred He Reign'd 37 Years first alone then with Tatius and after his death single 'till he was slain Numa a Man unknown to Romulus succeeded more Priest-like c. well resembling Rome's latter days which falling from Emperors Command into subjection of a Prelate swelling by degres from a Sheep-Hook to a Sword wherewith Victorious to excessive Magnificence it fell to Luxury and being unfortunate in defensive War is driven again to betake himself to the Crosier-Staff CHAP. XXI Of Hezechiah and his Contemporaries § 1. HEzechiah at 25 Years old succeeded about the end of Achaz 14 Years in the 3 d of Hosea King of Israel and Reigned 29 Years His first Work testified his Pious Zeal in opening the Temple shut up by his ungracious Father and reformed Religion c. Comp. 2 Chron. 29 and 30. with 2 Kings 18. It is uncertain whether he did this in his Father's time or in his sole Government as I rather think He invited also the Ten Tribes to the Passover which the Generality scorned In the fourth Year of Hezekiah the Israelites which scorned to Celebrate their Deliverance out of Egypt fell into a new Servitude wherein they continued to this day For Salmanasser Son of Tyglath hearing that Hosea King of Israel practised with Soe King of Egypt against him came and after Three Years Siege won Samaria and carried the Ten Tribes into Assyria and Media and placed others in the Land These later Assyrian and Persian Kings following are the first we find mentioned both in Profane and Sacred Books and therefore must serve to joyn the times of the old World with that following seeing none but Prophets have written otherwise than Fabulous of former Times True it is that Cyrus and some Persian Kings bear the same Name in Scripture and Profane Stories but of others the diversity of Names have bred question of the Persons as whether Salmanasser in Scripture be Nabonasser in Ptolomy and Nebuchadnezzar be Nabopolassar both which points Bucholcerus out of good Mathematick Observations hath well proved for by them it appears that from Nâ—bonasser to Chrisâ— were Seven Hundred Forty six years which agrees also to Salmanassar which is proved for that the space between Merdocenpadus and Nabonassar is found the same between Merodach who was Mardocenpadus and Salmanassar That as from the destruction of Samaria to that of Ierusalem are 133 years so in Ptolomy the same time is found between Nabonassar and Nabopolassar the Eighth year differing in Ptolomy being before the winning of Samaria spent in his Reign § 2. Hezekiah having denyed the Tribute to Senacherib which had been Covenanted with Tiglath his Grandfather acknowledged his Fault and laboured to purchase his Peace by Three Thousand Talents of Silver and Thirty of Gold by Senacherib's intending to set down the Conditions with his Sword sent from Lachish where he lay and invested Ierusalem c. where Vengeance from Heaven destroyed so many Thousands for their Master's Blasphemy who also drunk a Cup of the Wrath of God from his own Sons § 3. Hezechiah his Sickness Prayer Recovery and Sign thereof 2 Kings 20. His Lamentation saith Ierom was for want of a Son of whom the Messias might spring His entertaining the Babylonian Embassadors and vain-glory therein reproved Yet according to Humane Reason he thought fit to entertain them familiarly coming to Congratulate his Recovery with Presents being one which had weakened the Assyrian his greatest Enemy by seizing upon the Kingdom of Babylon of which he had been Lieutenant under Senacherib whose Son weak in Understanding and molested by his Elder Brethren gave him opportunity to Usurp Babylon as Belochus had dealt with Sardanapalus Thus Belochus Forty Eight years Tiglath Pilesar Twenty Seven Salmanassar Ten Senacherib Seven Esarhaddon Ten the Three last being Contemporaries with Hezechiah § 4. Hezechiah's Contemporaries in Media after Arabaces and Sosarmus according to Eusebius are Medidus Forty years Cordiceas Fifteen Years Then followed Deioces Fifty four Phraortes Twenty four Cyaxares Thirty two Astyages Thirty Eight and Cyaxares Two according to Xenophon Metasthenes in Anneus and Diodorus out of Ctesias differ much from Eusebius whom Mercator would fain reconcile but in vain In Athens Four of the Four Ten year Governours In Lidea Candaulus slain by Gyges who succeeded CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah § 1. THE Egyptians at this time contending with the Assyrians about Sovereignty giveth the occasion to consider the state of the Country which had flourished so long Of Cham Osiris and Orus and the rest with their Dynasties 'till Israel came out of Egypt we have heard and are to proceed from thence not regarding the idle Catalogue of Names of Kings set out by Herodotus and Dyodorus from the Mouths of the Egyptian Priests who for the most part were but Vice-Roys or Stewards like Ioseph and such as were the Soldans in later Ages For First we may not believe that the number of Generations we speak of were above Eighty from Abraham to the Persian Empire whereas we know there were but Forty two Generations to our Saviour Christ especially considering many of them were of about Forty years continuance we must therefore proportion the number to that of other Countries according to the time and esteem the rest but Regents who yet Ruled as Kings of which sort there might be many as may be well conceived in Reading W. Arch-Bishop of Tyre who sheweth that there was the Caleph Elhadech supream over Egypt under whom the Soldans ruled as Kings making War and Peace yea supplanting one another without the Calephs privity as fell out under Elhadech under whom San. was Soldan and yet chased away by Dagon and upon his death recovered again without the great Caleph's Hand who in the mean time only attended his state and delights in his Pallace which manner of Ruling by Vice-Roys the Author judgeth to have been from the Ancient Kings of Egypt § 2. It were
visit those parts in Rehoboam's days before they were sent for Thadimor Ioseph held to be Palmyra in the Desart of Syria to the North-East of Libanus the utmost Border of Solomon's Dominion which Ierom calls Thermeth and by Adrian Rebuilt and called Adrianopolis He also Repaired and Peopled the Towns Hiram refused and made his first and only Journey in Syria Zobah to establish his Tributes and then visited all the Borders of his Dominions from Palmyrena in the North to Eziongaber and Eloth in the South upon the Red-Sea § 3. Solomon from Eziongaber sent a Fleet to Ophir an Island of the Molucca's in East-India from whence he received 430 Talents of Gold all Charges defrayed Of the word Tharsis see before lib. 1. c. 8. § 9 10. Pineda dreamt Ophir was in the Cades or Calis-Malis his Country in Spain of old called Turtessus whereto the next way by the Mediterranean was hindred by the great Atlantick Island exceeding all Africa swallowed up and choaking the Streights with Mad like his Dream of Ionas's Whale which in 3 days swam about all Africa into the Red-Sea to cast him up 12000 Miles in compass Solomon's Chariots Horsemen daily Provision Wisdom c. See 1 Kings 4.10 with 2 Chron. 9. § 4. Solomon 's Fall and term of Life § Solomon forgetting what the Lord Commanded as he had plenty of all other things so of Wives even of Idolatrous Nations 1 Kings 11.1 2. prohibited whereupon they turned his heart after other Gods for which the Lord punish'd him with Enemies in his Age and rent his Kingdom from his Son as he threatned 1 Kings 11. Touching his Age it is conjectur'd by his Father's Actions whose Conquests were ended before he wan Rabba when Solomon was not Born So that half of David's Reign being spent at the time of vanquishing the Ammonites Solomon's Birth must fall after David's 20 Years and above a Year it could not be seeing Rehoboam's Age at Solomon's death compared with the many heavy things which befell David after and that David in his Charge to Solomon speaketh as to a Man grown though Solomon at Nineteen Years old speaking to the Lord about his weighty Charge might well call himself a Charge Some time after Ammon forced Thamar and two Years after was slain by Absolom who fied to Geshur where he abode three Years yet saw not his Father's face for two years How long after he brake into Rebellion is uncertain which seemeth to be the 30 th Year of David's Reign but the 40 th Year after his Anointing as those words 2 Sam. 15.7 may well be taken Which 40 Iosephus Theodoret and the Latin Translation read 4 Years to wit from Absolom's Return § 5. Solomon's Writings In his Proverbs he teacheth good Life and correcting the contrary In Eccles. the Vanity of Humane Nature In the Canticles he singeth the Epithalamion of Christ and his Church The Book of Wisdom the best Learned make us think it none of his and Kimchi ascribeth the 3 other to Isaiah the Prophet Iosephus also tells us of his own Invention rather than truly that Solomon wrote Books of Enchantments But certainly so strange an Example of Human Frailty was never read of that a Man endowed with Wisdom by God himself in honour of whom and for his Service he built the first and most glorious Temple of the World was made King not by Law but the Love of God and became the Wisest Richest and Happiest of all Kings did in the end by perswasion of weak wretched Idolatrous Women forget and forsake the Lord of all the World and giver of all goodness of which he was more liberal to him than to any that ever the World had § 6. Solomon's Contemporaries were Agelaus in Corinth Labotes in Lacedâ—monia Silvius Alba over the Latins Leosthenes in Assyria Argastus and after Archippus in Athens Baliastrus succeeded Hiram in Tyre others put Bozorius between Sesac after Vaphres in Egypt whom Eusebius calls Smerides and others by other Names CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram The Kingdom divided REhoboam succeeded his Father but was not so Wise as to resolve the People's Petition without Counsel nor yet to discern of Councils which is the very best of Wisdom in Princes and all others for though he consulted with grave advised Men yet he was Transported by his Favourites who ignorant of the nature of Severity which without the Temper of Clemency is Cruelty it self thrust him on to threaten an Increase of what was unsupportable already ignorant also that Severity is to be used for the Help and not for the Hurt of Subjects These foolish Parasites could better judge of the King's disposition which Learning was sufficient for to enable them to the Places they held This Answer of Rehoboam set forward Ieroboam's designs and the Prophecie of Ahijah as the sequel shewed for the People at once chose Ieroboam and after the manner of all Rebels forgetting Duty to God and Bonds of Nature renounced all interest in David the Honour of their Nation and murder the Officers sent to appease them After this Rehoboam intended Wars upon them but was stayed by the Prophet from God Ieroboam fortified himself and to prevent re-uniting by communion in Religion impiously set up a new Worship learn'd in Egypt expelling the Levites Thus by irreligious Policy he founded that Idolatry which rooted Israel out of the Land at last neither could he be stayed by the Prophet that foretold his Advancement nor Miracle upon his own hand This point of Policy must be made good though it cast off God and the Religion of his Fathers Whereunto an Italian Historian compares the Policy of his Nation in making good the State they have gotten by what means soever as if God would not oppose it Upon this ground Amos must not Prophecie at Bethel it is the King 's Court. Iehu will upon this ground maintain the Worship of Calves and Hen. IV of France change Religion c. whom yet the Protestants whom he forsook never hurt as the Papists did whom he followed But of the wretched end of such Policy all these are notable Examples § 2. Rehoboam 's Impiety Punishment End and Contemporaries § Rhehoboam Fortified his Cities as well against Egypt as Ieroboam and then forsook the Lord 1 Kings 14. and 1 Chron. 11. But in his Fifth Year Sesac of Egypt who favoured Ieroboam taught him how weak Fortifications are where God watcheth not the City Sesac brought with him the Lybeans Cusits of Arabia and Succaeans which were not the Troglodits spoken of by Pliny and Ptolomy as Iunius judgeth These were 600 Miles from the best of Egypt and were in the 22 d degree North from the Line too far for such an occasion The Succaeans were rather Arabian Egyptians as the Ichthyophagy in Ptolomy between the Mountains Alabastrine and the Red-Sea when this powerful Sesâ—c wan Ierusalem and other Cities of Iuda and added to the Spoil of them the Temple and
be attended with more than one Woman abroad except they were drunken which Dispensations Women were ashamed to claim § 6. Ierusalem in the third year of Iehojakim is Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar the second year of his Reign with his Father and notwithstanding the assistance of Neco King of Egypt forced Iehojakim to become his Vassal and took Daniel and his Fellows Hostages but hasted home not intending there to stay Neco coming with such disadvantage so far from home in a Country which loved him not Besides his Father's death called him to possess his own before he sought other Mens But the next year which was Nebuchadnezzar's first and Neco's last they fought on the Bank of Euphrates where Neco Fought his last and Nebuchadnezzar recover'd all Syria Pausanius succeeded Neco but inferiour in Valour he thought to restore Iehoahaz his Prisoner and cast out Iehojakim but the Lord said to the contrary Iehojakim also rely'd on the Egyptians 'till Nebuchadnezzar forced a Tribute on him so he submitted quietly three years in his fourth year it seemeth that Ieremiah was first Imprisoned Tyrus holding out against Nebuchadnezzar was in his seventh year Besieged and in his fourteenth year taken for her Captivity was limited to seventy years and her Siege was thirteen It was divided from the Main by a deep broad Channel excelled in store of Ships which Nebuchadnezzar wanted and every Wind brought supply from Foreign Parts so that it feared neither Force nor Famine But God that had threatned Tyre sent a King impatient of resistance to undertake such a piece of work to stop a vast Channel in the Sea using thereto the Wood of Libanus not far off and the Ruins of old Tyre with the toilsom labour of many thousands of Men wherewith he prevailed at length But the wealthy Citizens fled by Sea to Creet and left little Wealth for Booty therefore the Lord promised them Egypt see Ezek. 29.18 19. Iehojakim upon what occasion is uncertain whether Mutiny among the Souldiers or Rumour of the Egyptians coming against Nebuchadnezzar renounced his Subjection but was presently subdued by Nebuchadnezzar and slain and his Son Iehojakim or Ieconias put in his place and after three Months removed to Babylon and Mattanias his Uncle established in his stead and called Zedekiah who took an Oath of subjection In his fourth year he went to Babel about some business wherein it seems he was not satisfied for upon his return he began to practice with the Neighbouring Princes of Moab c. what year Iohanan the False Prophet opposed Ieremy Nebuchadnezzar hearing of Zedekiah's practice came in the dead of Winter and Besieged Ierusalem and though the year following he raised his Siege to meet Hophra yet upon the Egyptians abandoning his Enterprize he returned and gave the City no rest 'till he brake it up Zedekiah escaping in the Night through a Vault under the Earth is yet overtaken c. and his Eyes being put out he was carried into Babel but saw it not as Ezekiel foretold Ch. 12.13 This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah and eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar the year after the Temple was burnt the four hundred thirty first year after the Building What followed is written 2 Kings 25. Ier. 39. 52. THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK III. Part I. FROM The Destruction of Ierusalem unto Philip of Macedon CHAP. I. The time from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall § 1. THE Connexion of Sacred and Profane History § Before the Grecian Olympiads and the Eastern Date from Nabonassar the Course of Time had no beaten Path as after it had more certain Marks yet from Ierusalem's Destruction the former with the succeeding Ages are more clearly discern'd in their Connection The harm which some have found in the years of the overgrown Monarchies doth preserve their Names which otherwise might have been forgotten but cannot shew the Year of such a King in which any thing expressed in Scripture was done Neither could any certainty be gathered from the late Kings of the Assyrians c. if Nebuchadnezzar's Reign had not been precisely applied to the years of Iehojakim and Zedekiah Hence have we the first light to discover how to connect Sacred and Profane Histories for Iudah's Seventy years Captivity begin under Nebuchadnezzar and ending the first of Cyrus directs us backward and forward This first year of Cyrus is joyned with the first of the fifty fifth Olympiad And that he Reigned twenty three year before his Monarchy and seven after is apparent and giving them four hundred and eight year between Troy's Fall and Iphetus's restoring the Olympiads we may arrive to the knowledge of the true Grecian Antiquities For other Nations let St. Augustine be trusted § 2. The Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity being our chief mark of direction we are to inform our selves truly therein Some begin from Ieconias's Captivity eleven year before Zedekiah citing Ezek. 40.1 Beraldus judgeth that it began the first of Nebuchadnezzar and fourth of Ioakim citing 2 Chron. 36. and Dan. 1. Matth. 1.11 but cannot thus make it good Wretched Porphyrie scoffeth at St. Matth. 1.11 not knowing Iosias's Sons had divers Names as Epiphanius shewed The Wretch affirmeth the Book of Daniel was written long after his death at or near the time of Antiochus Epiphanes whom Eusebius Apollonius c. have answered And the Seventy Interpreters Translated it out of Hebrew one hundred year before that Iaddus the High-Priest also shewed the Book to the Great Alexander c. True it is the Iews ascribe it to Esdras and equal it not to the Prophet but put it among the Hagiographs or Holy Books which are Daniel Psalms Iob Proverbs Canticles Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Hester Nehemiah and Chronicles Our Christian Councils and Fathers acknowledge it Canonical and our Saviour who cited no Apocrypha cited it as a proof exceeding all § 3. That the Seventy Years Captivity began at Ierusalem's destruction not Ieconias's Captivity is clear Ieremiah himself explained himself and Daniel cited by some to the contrary Compare Chap. 25.9 11 12. with Chap. 29.10 where in the first place he expresly beginneth the Captivity of Seventy years at Ierusalem's Destruction and thereof certifies the Captivity in the second place So also it is understood by themselves 2 Chron. 36.19 20 21. So Dan. 9.2 the Seventy years referred to Ierusalem's Desolation § 4. Touching the King's Reigning in Babylon those seventy Years and the time of each help us a little to the times before or after neither it seems were most of their Acts worth Recording For as Nebuchadnezzar's latter times were either in delights or madness so his Posterity grew slothful as Sons whose Fathers have purchased enough to their hands yet let us consider of Men's Opinions therein and judge as we see cause The surest Opinion is theirs which follow the Scripture which Name only Nebuchadnezzar Evilmerodach and Balthasar and Ieremy which seemeth to limit the Dominion of Babel to Father Son
Heathens concerning God 31 8. Heathenism and Iudaism when destroy'd 32 9. Satans last Refuge 33 CHAP. VII Of Noah's Flood § 1 2 3. God's forewarning of it neither Ogyges's Flood nor that of Ducalion nor that of the Umbri was Noah's 34 35 3 4. Some Records of the Vniversal Island Noah's Flood supernatural ibid. 6. No need of new Created Waters What the Chataracts of Heaven are ibid. 8 9 10. Noah's Memory among the Heathen His Ark was of sufficient capacity rested upon the Hills Taurus 36 37 38. CHAP. VIII The Planting of Nations Noah's Sons which the Eldest 45 § 1. Whether Shem or Ham Elder than Japhet ibid. 2. All Histories must yield to Moses Lords of the first Ages were of the Issue of Ham. 45 3 4. Of the Isles of the Gentiles Of Gog Magog Tubal and Mesech 46 5 6 7 8 9 Berosus's Fiction Gomer and Togarma setled in the East Of the other Sons of Japhet Of Ascanes and Riphath Gomer's Eldest Son Of the four Sons of Javan 47 48 49. 10. Cush the Eldest Son of Ham was in Arabia 50 11. Mizraim chief Planter of Aegypt 52. 12. The Bounds of Canaan his Eleven Sons where situated ibid. 13. The Sons of Cush 54 14. The Issue of Mizraim 55 15. Sem's Posterity 56 CHAP. IX The Beginning and Establishment of Government 58 Sect. 1. Of Regal Absolute and Regal tempered by Laws 59 2. The approved sorts of Government 60 3. The good Government of the first Kings ibid. 4. The Original of Nobility 61 CHAP. X. Of Nimrod Belus and Ninus 62 Sect. 1 2 3 4. Nimrod first Sovereign after the Flood Built Ninive Established the Babylonian Monarchy 63 5 6 7 8. Of Ninus and Belus in whose time Image-Worship began The first Idolater 64 65 CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus ibid. BOOK II. From Abraham's Death to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years 67 CHAP. I. The time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire ibid. Sect. 1 2 3. Some Successors of Semiramis and of the Birth of Abraham 68 4. Terah begat Abraham in his 130th Year 69 5 6 7. Answers to several Objections about Abraham's Age. 70 71 8. The Assyrian times regulated by Abraham's History ibid. 9. Amraphel probably was Ninias 72 10 11. Arioth King of Alassar Tidal King of Nations 73 12. Chedorlaomer chief of the Four 74 CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites 75 Sect. 1. The Kings of Egypt and the causes of the uncertainty of the History ibid. 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. ibid. 3. The Dynasties were not Kings but Vice-Roys 76 4. Cham and Mizraim or Oris ibid. 5 6. Osiris's Reign guess'd at Typhon and Hercules their Reigns 77 7 8. Busiris or Orus's Reign Rathoris succeeded his Sister 78 CHAP. III. Israel's delivery out of Egypt 79 Sect. 1. Israel's Captivity and Moses's Birth ibid. 2. Cities of Egypt in Scripture ibid. 3 4 5. Moses's Preservation and Education Pharaoh and his Army drowned and Moses's Passage Miraculous 80 81. CHAP. IV. § 1. The Israelites Journey from the Red Sea to Sinai 83 2. Of the Amalekites Midianites Kenites and of Jethro ibid. 3. When the Law was given 84 CHAP. V. §. 1 The Story from receiving the Law to Moses's death 84. 2. The Offering of the Twelve Princes The Passover and Jethro's departure 85 3. Israel's Iourney from Horeb to Kades 86 4. Their unwillingness to return they remove to Zin 87 5 6. They turn to the North. ibid. 7. Of the Book of the Lord's Battels and other lost Books 88. 8. Moses sparing Lot's Issue 89 9. The Midianites and Moabites corrupt Israel ibid. CHAP. VI. Of the Bordering Nations Of other Renowned Men and of Iushua's Acts. 90 Sect. 1. How the bordering Nations were prepared to be Enemies to Israel ibid. 2 3. Of the Kings of the Canaanites and Moabites Of the Midianites Amalekites and Ismaelites 91 4 5 6 7. Prometheus Atlas Pelasgus Ducalion Hermies Aesculapius when they flourished 92 93 94 95. 8. Of Joshua Othoniel and his Cotemporaries 96 CHAP. VII Sect. 1 2. Of the Phoenician Kingdom and the Invention of Letters 99. 3 4. The Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to Achab. 101. CHAP. VIII The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on Jordan 103 CHAP IX Memorable things from Joshua to Jeptha 107 CHAP. X. The War and Destruction of Troy 114 CHAP. XI Of Samson Eli and Samuel 117 CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel 120 CHAP. XIII Of David and his condition under Saul his Reign overthrows the Philistins and Hadadezar his Troubles last Acts his vast Treasure his Cotemporaries 126 CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. His Building and Glory sends a Fleet to Ophir his Fall Writings and Cotemporaries 133 CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram Rehoboam's Impiety Punishment End and Cotemporaries Abija succeeds Rehoboam Asa succeeds Abija Israel unhappy under her Princes Jehosaphat succeeds Asa. His Cotemporaries 136 CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahaziah Jehoram's Reign alone Ahaziah perished with the House of Ahab 143 CHAP. XVII Athaliah's Vsurpation and Government for 6 Years 149 CHAP. XVIII Of Joash Amaziah and their Cotemporaries the Death of Jehojada and Apostacy of Joash Zachariah murdered by Joash The Death of Joash who is succeeded by Amaziah who is overthrown by Joash and afterwards slain An interregnum in Iudah Of Amaziah's Cotemporaries and of Sardanapalus 153 CHAP. XIX Of Uzziah and his Cotemporaries the end of his Reign and Life Of the Olympian Games Jothan and his Cotemporaries Achas and his Cotemporaries 165 CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation The Aborigines The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood Royal The beginning of Rome Romulus's Birth and Death 171 CHAP. XXI Of Hezekiah and his Cotemporaries his Deliverance his Sickness and Recovery Kings in Media in his Reign 175 CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah many of which were only Regents or Vice-Roys 177 CHAP. XXIII Of Manasses who succeeded Sethon and his Cotemporaries his Bondage and Enlargement The Messenian Wars 181 CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem 187 BOOK III. From the Destruction of Ierusalem to Philip of Macedon 197 CHAP. I. From the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall The Connection of Sacred and Prophane History The Babylonish Captivity several Opinions concerning it Nebuchadnezzar's Victories and Actions 197 CHAP. II. The Persian Greatness how it grew 204. CHAP. III. Cyrus the first Persian Monarch He takes Babylon His last Wars His Decree for Building God's Temple His two Sons and three Daughters 206 CHAP. IV. The Persian Affairs from Cyrus to Darius 110 CHAP. V. Darius the Son of Histaspes his Actions and Death 212 CAHP. VI. Xerxes Emperour of Persia his vast Army Opposed by Leonidas burnt the Temple of Athens The Peloponesians beat his Fleet. His Army is soon after Vanquish'd
216 CHAP. VII The Greek Affairs from the Persian Wars to the Peloponesian 221 CHAP. VIII The Peloponesian War with the Condition of Athens and Sparta at the beginning of it Alcibiades his Victories his deposing 224 CHAP. IX Matters concurring with the Peloponesian War and some time after 230 CHAP. X. Cyrus the Younger his Expedition into Persia and the great Services of Xenophon 232 CHAP. XI Of the Greek Affairs under the Lacedemonians Command 237 CHAP. XII Of the flourishing Condition of Thebes from the Battle of Leuctra to that of Mantinea Of the Peace that succeeded A Comparison between Agasilaus and the Roman Pompey 241 BOOK IV. CHAP. I. Of the Macedonian Kingdom from Philip Father to Alexander the Great to the Race of Antigonus 247 CHAP. II. Of Alexander the Great his Wars with Darius and others his Cruelty Death and Character 251 CHAP. III. Aordaeus's Reign after Alexander 271 CHAP. IV. Of Antigonus's growth in Asia 282 CHAP. V. Of the Civil Wars of Alexander's Captains 286 CHAP. VI. Of the Wars between the New Kings 'till they were all destroy'd 287 CHAP. VII Rome's Growth and the setling of the Eastern State 299 BOOK V. From the setled Rule of Alexander's Successors 'till the Romans Conquer'd Asia and Macedon CHAP. I. Of the First Punick War 307 CHAP. II. What pass'd between the First and Second Punick War 326 CHAP. III. Of the Second Punick War 336 CHAP. IV. Philip King of Macedon Father of Perseus subdu'd by the Romans 370 CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents 380 CHAP. VI. Of the Second Macedonian War With the death of Philopoemen Hannibal Scipio c. 396 ERRATA PAge 13. l. 31. r. but one p. 32. l. ult after slew add many thousands of them p. 37. l. 25. instead of Cursed r. not needful to be taken in p. 38. l. 19. dele Toy E. p. 54. l. 26. r. of Chush p. 64. l. 9. for Legal r. Regal p. 65. l. 29. for Babel r. Babylon p. 70. l. 23. for no r. a. p. 94. l. 13. for Linages r. Images p. 96. l. 10. r. many things p. 96. l. 19. for Their r. Therefore and for that r. a. p. 131. l. 15. for lightsomely r. plainly p. 139. l. 24. for Three r. Third p. 216. l. 27. after Thousand r. Darici p. 220. l. 10. for thirty thousand r. three hundred thousand ibid l. 20. after fifty thousand r. more p. 226. l. 26. for first r. worst p. 243. l. 35. after grown r. powerful p. 248. l. 28. r. set up Pausanius p. 286. l. 13. r. he would not share THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART I. OF THE First Ages from the Creation to Abraham CHAP. I. Of the Creation and Preservation of the World § GOD Invisible is seen in his Creatures God acknowledged by the wisest men to be a Power uneffable a Virtue infinite a Light by the abundant Clarity invisible an Understanding which it self can only comprehend an Essence eternal and spiritual of absolute Pureness and Simplicity was and is pleased to make himself known by the Works of the World In the wonderful magnitude whereof we behold the Image of that Glory which cannot be measured and that one Universal Nature which cannot be defined In the glorious Lights of Heaven we perceive a shadow of his Divine Countenance in his Provision for all that live his manifold Goodness and in creating by the absolute power of his own Word his All-sufficiency which All-sufficiency in Power and Wisdom which Light Virtue and Goodness being but Attributes of one simple Essence and one God we in all admire and in part discern by the Glass of his Creatures in the disposition order and variety of Bodies Celestial and Terrestrial Terrestrial in strange manifold Diversities Celestial in their Beauty Magnitude and continual contrary motions yet neither repugned intermixed nor confounded By these potent Effects we approach to the knowledge of the Omnipotent Cause and by these motions their Almighty wise Mover In these more than wonderful Works God speaketh to Men who by their Reason may know their Maker to be God who with Corporal Eyes can no otherways be seen but by his Word and this visible World Of all which Works there was no other Cause preceding but his Will no Matter but his Power no Workman but his Word no other Consideration but his own Goodness § 2. The Worlds Creation acknowledged by ancient Philosophers Mercurius Trismegistus called God the Original of the Vniverse and that God made it only by his Word Jupiter having hidden all things in himself did after send forth into the grateful Light the admirable Works he had fore-thought Pindar calls him the one God Father and Creator of all And Original of all saith Pâ—ato Though Scripture have no need of Foreign Testimonies yet St. Paul despised not the Use of Philosophers c. Truth by whomsoever uttered is of the Holy Ghost said Ambrose § 3. All things began to be in the Creation before which was neither Matter nor Form of any thing but the Eternal For had there been a former Matter the Creation had not been first and if any thing were before Created there must be a double Creation if any thing had been uncreated but God there must have been a Beginning and two infinite Eternals § 4. Heaven and Earth first Created was not Matter without all Form without which nothing can exist but it was that solid Substance and Matter as well of the Heavens and Orbs as of the Globe of the Earth and Waters which cover'd it the Seed of that Vniversal saith Calvin § 5. As Moses by Heaven meant the Matter of all Heavenly Bodies and Natures so by Earth comprehending the Waters he meant the Matter of all things under the Moon Waters in the plural signifying a double Liquor of divers natures mixed with Earth 'till God separated them § 6. Spirit of God moved c. Seeing that God is every way above Reason though the Effects which follow his wonderful ways of working may in some measure be perceived by Man's Understanding yet that manner and first operation of his divine Power cannot be conceived by any Mind or Spirit united with a mortal Body And St. Paul saith they are past finding out Therefore whether that motion vitality and operation were by Incubation or any other way that 's only known to God The English word Moved is most proper and significant for of motion proceeds all production and whatsoever is effected This moving â—pirit can be no other but that infinite Power of God which then formed and distinguished and which now sustains the Universe This motion of the Spirit upon the Waters produced their Spiritual and Natural motion which brought forth Heat whereof came rarefaction of Parts thus was Air begotten an Element lighter and superiour to the Waters § 7. The Light is next which for Excellency is first called good but as I conceive did not yet distinguish Day
he after setting his Country in Order or his Children returned and became incorporate with Israel § 3. Israel 's Iourney from Horeb to Kades § In this Journey they murmured for Flesh and were fed with Quails even to a Surfeit of which great numbers Dyed Then after the First Month they came to Hâ—zaroth where Miriam was smitten with Leprosie and so to Rithma near Kades Barnea whence the Spies were sent upon whose Return they mutined the Tenth time which being more Rebellious than all the rest God punished it accordingly extinguishing every one of those Seditions even the whole Multitude that came out of Egypt Two only Excepted And though the mildest of all Men was earnest with God for their Pardon yet not one escaped He spared them Forty Years till their Children were grown up and Multiplyed that in them he might perform his Promise which was never frustrated § 4 Of their Return and unwillingness thereto c. § Moses having related the Commandment of God touching their Return back toward the Red Sea they bewailed their Folly too late and as it is with Men whom God leaveth to themselves they wou'd needs amend their former Passionate Murmuring with a second desperate Contempt For now when God forbids with Threats they will desperately venture their own Destruction and were repelled and with Slaughter forced to take their way back to the Sea as God Commanded and came to Remmoparez c. Their Twenty Fourth Mansion was at Pharez where began the dangerous Insurrection of â—orah for which Offence and Contempt of God and his Ministers as 14700 Perished suddenly by Pestilence and 250 by Fire so those Lay-Men who would Usurp Ecclesiastical Authority were suddenly swallowed up alive of the Earth Form thence the 30 th Mansion was at Ietabata where Adrichomius maketh a River which runneth into the Sea between Midian and Aziongaber Now though it be Probable there was store of Fresh-water at Aziongaber where Solomon furnished his Fleets for East-India And though Herodotus mention a great River in Arabia the Stony which he calls Corys yet is Adrichom deceived in this as in many other things For it was at Punon that those Springs are spoken of which in Deut. 10.7 is also called Ietabata a Land of running Waters which by probability falls into the River Zared next adjoyning whereas that way is very long to Aziongaber Besides Belonius reports of divers Torrents of Fresh-waters in those Sandy parts of Arabia which running a few Miles are drunk up in the Sands From Ietabata they came to Hebrona and after Aziongaber called Beronice by Iosephus and Essia by Ierom which as yet was not in the command of Edom as after in Solomon's days § 5. From Aziongaber they removed to Zin Kades or Beeroth where Miriam dyed Then they came to Mount Hor where they murmured for Water and where Aaron dyed and Eleazer his Son succeeded § 6. Israel leaving the way by Edom after they had compassed the South they turned to the North toward the Wilderness of Moab leaving Eâ—â— oâ— the West When Arad King of the Sâ—â—th-Câ—â—â—â—anites thinking they would come by him while 〈◊〉 lay at Hor having had his Forces ready upon hâ— Borders made out into the Desart before Israel was removed and set upon such part of the Army as lay for his Advantage and took some Prisoners It is probable that either this Arad or his Predecessor had joined before with Amalek and worsting those Mutineers were thereupon incouraged to this Attempt As for the Overthrow which is reported Num. 21. to be given them by Israel it is rather to be understood of what was done after by Iosua than now by Moses For had Moses given them this Overthrow and destroyed their Cities he would never have left the South of Canaan once entred by him to wander about Edom and Moab and to seek a new Passage Neither could Israel have cause to Murmur the next day for Bread Or been weary of the Way if they had so lately taken the Spoil of Arad's Cities Yea they would rather have mutined against Moses for leaving such an Entrance into the intended Conquest and to lead them back into the Desarts which had consumed them They murmured presently upon their leaving Hor when they came to Phunon crossing the way to Aziongaber through Moab to Coelosyria and here the Brazen Serpent was erected From thence they proceeded as in the Holy Story and so came to Diblathaim Whence Moses sent to Sehon King of the Amorites to desire a Passage through his Country which he denyed § 7. Of the Book of the Lord's Battels and other lost Books § Iunius understanding thereby no special Book and Vatablus doubts Siracides refers it to Ioshua who fought the Lord's Battles cap. 46. But it seemeth probable there was such a Book lost as many others whereto reference is often made as Ios. 10.13 and 2 Sam. 1.18 and 2 Chron. 33.18 and 2 Chron. 9.29 and 12.15 and 20.34 1 Kings 4.32 33. Enoch's Books c. § 8. Of Moses sparing Lot 's Issue § Moab at this time inhabited the South of Arnon having lost the better side which the Amorites won from Vatablus the Predecessor of Balac What therefore Moses found in the Possession of Moab as also of Ammon he might not attempt but what the Amorites had taken from them The Emims and Zamzummims Giantly Nations had formerly dwelt there as the Anakims in Canaan but Moab and Ammon destroyed them Sihon proud of his Conquest against Moab presumed against Israel and lost All. Og King of Basan or Traconitis an Amorite was also destroyed and his Sixty Walled Towns taken by Iaer a Son of Manasses § 9. The Midianites with the Moabites practise against Israel and draw them to Idolatry for which God destroyed 24000 with the Pestilence The third time of numbring of the People who are found to be 601730 of which 12000 are sent against the Midianites who slew there Five petty Kings and destroyed their Cities after this Moses having divided his Conquest and blessed the Twelve Tribes dyed § 10. Observations out of Moses's Story touching God's Providence working his own purposes ordinarily by Mens affections Pharaoh's Fears bred his ungodly Policies and salvage Cruelties by this Moses is cast upon the Compassion of Pharaoh's Daughter and so provided of Princely Education Mens Affections cast him into Exile procured him a Wife and so a long stay to know the Wilderness to wean him from Ambition and so fit him to know God and to Govern Thus what Men think most casual God ordereth to the Effecting his own purposes many Years after CHAP. VI. Of the Bordering Nations Of other Renowned Men and of Joshua's Acts. § 1. HOW the Bordering Nations were prepared to be Enemies to Israel § Though the Ismaelites Moabites Ammonites and Edomites descended from Abraham and Isaac as did the Israelites and were not molested by them and therefore they should not have hinder'd their Conquest of Canaan yet God's all-disposing
their Father therewith which Cruelty was revenged on him and Agamemnon his Son and all his Linage by a natural Son of Thyestes Minos was now King of Crete whose Wife Pasiphae inamoured of Taurus her Husband's Secretary Dedalus being her Pander had a Child by him and another at the same Birth by Minos of which grew the Tale of the Minotaurs Dedalus upon discovery fled with Icarus in two Boats with Sails unto Cocalus King of Sicily In the flight Icarus was drowned and Minos was slain in persuing Dedalus whom Cocalus defended Sphinx a Woman Robber by Sea and Land upon the Borders of Corinth was overcome by Oedipus Commander of the Corinthian Forces her Swiftness and Cruelty bred the Tale of her Wings and Body of a Lyon Anteus the strong and cunning Wrestler near Hespendes in Mauritania lived about this time § 6. The Argonauts Expedition fell out about Gideon's Eleventh Year Many Fabulous Discourses have been hereof written and mystical Expositions made but Dercilus's Opinion is most probable That Iason with the Harvest-men of Greece went by Ship to rob Colchos enriched by certain steep falling Torrents not far from Caucasus which wash down many Grains of Gold which the Inhabitants get by setting many Fleeces of Wool in those Water-falls The many Rocks Straights Sands and other difficulties in the Passage between Greece and Pontus are Poetically converted into fierce Bulls Armed Men rising out of the Ground Syrens a Dragon cast asleep c. by Orpheus one of them § 7. Abimelech Gideon's natural Son Ambitiously Fought and got what his Father had refused as unlawful without special direction a Ruler over God's peculiar People and for his Establishment in his Usurped Power he slew Seventy Brethren upon one Stone Iotham the youngest only escaped this unheard of Inhumanity Such is Human Ambition a Monster which neither feareth God nor respecteth Nature and forgetteth the All-powerful Hand whose Revenge is without date All other Passions and Affections which torment the Souls of Men are by Contraries oft-times qualified but this darling of Sathan and first-born Sin that ever the World knew more Antient than Human Nature looketh only toward the end which it self sets down forgetting nothing how Inhuman soever that may conduce thereto and remembers nothing that Pity or Religion can offer to the contrary As for the deplorable effects that such attempts have had it ascribes to the Errors or weakness of the Undertakers and rather praiseth the Adventure than fears the like Success The Sechemits in a vain Glory to have a King of their own readily condescended to his Ambitious motion imbrue themselves with him in the Blood of Innocents and fit themselves to partake with him in the Vengeance fore-told by Iotham The Tapithae and Centaurus made War about this time against the Thebanes these were the first in those parts which learned to ride on Horses so that coming from the Mountains of Pindus on Horseback they were thought compounded Creatures Thola of Issachar govern'd after Abimelek 23 Years and Iair 22 years after him Priamus after that sacking of Ilium by Hercules being Ransomed began to Reign having rebuilt Troy and inlarged the Dominion almost over all the lesser Asia Of Fifty Sons he had Seventeen by Cuba Daughter of Gisseus King of Thrace Paris one of them attempting to recover his Aunt Hesione carried into Greece by Hercules took Helena the Wife of Menelaus c. Theseus the Tenth King of Athens in his Father Aegeus's Reign he put himself among the Seven young Men which the Athenians sent for Tribute yearly to Minos King of Crete who gaining Ariadne the King's Daughter's Affection received of her a Bottom of Thread by which to conduct himself out of the Labyrinth after he had slain the Minotaur â—hat is the Son of Taurus begotten of Pasipâ—ae to whom those Youths were committed c. He took Hippolita the Amazon Queen Prisoner and by her had a Son Hyppolitus whom he after sought to kill upon his Step-mother Phaedra's false Accusation whose incestuous Caresses he had rejected In his Escape he had received many dangerous Wounds of which being Cured the Tale of Esculapius grew c. After much good done to the ungrateful multitude they banish'd him They say he stole Helen from Aphidna in the First Year of Iair according to Eusebius which is not probable seeing she should prove Fifty Years old at the fall of Troy Under the two former Judges in Assyria reigned Mitreus and Tautanes after and in Egypt Amenophis Son of Ramses and Anemenes after him In Sicyonia reigned Thyaestus the Twenty second King Eight years Adrastus succeeded Four years then Polyphides the Thirteenth Mueschea succeeded Theseus King of Athens § 8. The Theban War the most antient that ever the Grecian Writers handled hapned in this Age wherein Greece continued but salvage holding and getting all by strong hand Robbing by Sea and Land little using Merchandise and not acquainted with Money and having few walled and but small Towns As some latter idle Chroniclers wanting good Matter fill their Books with Reports of Feasts dry Summers c. So they which write of Greece then tell us of great Floods Metamorphosâ—â— of Men-killing Moâ—â—ters Adulteries of their Gods begetting Mighty Men c. This Theban War the first Grecian Story of Note arose upon the disagreement between Eteocles and Polynices Sons of Oedipus Son of Laius King of Thebes These Brethren having Covenanted to Rule by Course Eteocles beginning was unwilling to lay down a Scepter once taken into hand which forced Polynices to fly to Adrastus King of the Argives who gave him a Wife and raised Forces to re-establish him in Thebes Eteocles withstands the Force and both Armies after great loss desire the Brethren to end the Quarrel by a single Combat in which both lost the day with their Lives and yet another Battel was fought in which the Argives were discomfited and fled and of the Commanders only Adrastus came to Athens At his request the Argives sent Forces under Theseus against Creon Governour of Thebes for denying Burial to the slain Argives who took the City and buried the slain But this contented not the Sons of the Noble Argives who Ten years after levied new Forces and forc'd Laodamas Son of Eteocles to fly and some says he was slain the Town was destroyed but repaired by Thirsander Son of Polynices who reigned after and led the Thebans to the War of Troy shortly after § 9. Iephtha judged Israel Six years and relieved them from the Oppression of the Ammonites which lay heavy upon the Tribes on the East of Iordan along Gilead He defended the Israelites Right against the Ammonites Claim both by Reason and the force of Arms and drove them not only out of all those Plains but also over the Mountains of Arabia to Minneth and Abel of the Vine-yard As for his Vow the Opinion that he did not Sacrifice his Daughter is more probable The Ephramitâ—s quarrell'd with Iephtha
vain to be curious about these Kings seeing Diodorus varies from Herodotus and Eusebius from both neither do late Writers know whom to follow The Kings from Chencres or Tuoris or Proteus are agreed upon of which according to Eusebius Acherres was next whom Reyneccius thinks to be Vchoreus in Diodore Founder of Memphis but then Timaus cannot be the great Osymandias as he also judgeth for there were more than Eight Generations between them contrary to Diodorus Touching Osymandais Mercator makes him the Husband of Acencâ—eres Daughter to Orus Second and finds Vchoreus the Eighth from him But I will pass over these inextricable doubts c. § 3. Cherres after Eight years of Acherres succeeded Fifteen years Armeus five years Ramesses Sixty Eight years which two last are the Danaus and Egyptus spoken of by the Greeks who make Danaus expelled Egypt become King of Argos in Greece But Reyneccius believes not Armeus to be Danaus though their time agree but rather thinks he was Meris which made the great Lake Myris 3600 Furlongs compass and Fifty Fadoms deep to receive Nilus over-flowing for store when Water was scarce § 4. Ameraphis succeeded his Father Forty years then Sethosis Fifty years to whom some ascribe improbably the famous Acts of Great Sesostris In him began the Dynastie of the Zarths or Generals which Title Five only held Ramases succeeded Sixty years mistaken for Sesostris the 2d Amenophis succeeded Forty years Andemenes Twenty six years Tâ—uoris the last Zarth Seven years whom some make Proteus whose Son Remphes succeeded but I doubt neitâ—er Father nor Son were Kings § 5. Many other Names of the Egyptian Kings are found scattered as Tonephersobis Senemues or Senepos Banchistis Thulis in Suidas who asking Seraps the Divel who was or should be so mighty as he was answered First God and then the Word and then the Spirit which Three be One and join in One all Three whose Power is endless Get thee hence frail Wight the Man of Life unknown excelling thee Cedreus hath the same and gives this King as great Antiquity as the Indies citing a Book called Little Genesis which word little alone argues Impostor besides the Frierly stuff he cites out of it His List of Old Egyptian Kings here set down are not worth writing out neither the Kings named by others Vaphres and Sesac will lead us into a fair way a while the first was Solomon's Father-in-Law according to Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius the second Eusebius calls Smendis with whom he begins the Twenty First Dynastie whose Entrance is found about the Twentieth of Solomon reckoning from Neco's death in the Fourth of Iehojakim King of Iudah upward as from the Fifth of Rehoboam wherein he plunder'd the Sanctuary but injoyed that Sacriledge as did Ioas and Craseus not one Year For the Kings from Sesac to Necho I chose the Greek Historians for Eusebius is out by failing to keep the reckoning between the Kings of Iudah and Israel § 6. Chemmis or Chembis succeeded Sesac Fifty years and built the great Pyramid whose Base was Seven Acres square and Six high which Diodore saw One Thousand Years after in Augustus's days Câ—abreus or Cheops succeeded Fifty years and then Cephrenes Fifty six both Builders of Pyramids for their Sepulchers Mycerinus his Son Six years as the Oracle had threatned for his opening the Idols Temple which his Predecessors had shut It may be Chemmis had learned their Vanity at Ierusalem and thereupon shut the Temple up Reyneccius gives him Fifty years Bochoris or Banchyris by Suidas succeed Forty four years Then Sabacus an Aethiopian But Herodotus omits both and hath Asychis who decreed the Debtors dead Body should be given to the will of the Creditor 'till the Debt were payed Anysis succeeded him and both could be but Six years Then came the former Aethiopian who Reigned Fifty years Scripture calls him Zonaras Sua with whom Hosea King of Israel made a Vain League against Salmanassar They say he left his Kingdom and returned into Aethiopia to avoid his God's Commandment to kill all the Priests of Egypt such was their Zeal to their Priests § 7. Sethom succeeded in the Twelfth of Hezekiaâ— and Fifth of Senacherib when Assur and Egypt contended which should Rule or serve Hezekiah though fixing special Confidence in God held it fit to make a League with Egypt by his People relying more on Egypt than on God Egypt promiseth much but only furnished him with some Treasure sent to hire Arabians which was intercepted Herodotus tells us a Tale of Sethom's Praying to Vulcan his God for Aid against the Assyrians who lay before Pelusium and he sent Mice which gnawed their Bow-strings and Straps of their Armour which made them depart His Reign Functius resolves to be 33 years giving no Reason yet upon search I find it within One Yeâ—r by dividing the years from Rehoboam's 5th to Iehâ—jakims 4th among the Kings of Egypt giving each his set time and the Remainder to Sethom CHAP. XXIII Of Manasses and his Contemporaries § 1. MAnasses Son of Hezekiah succeeded being Twelve Years Old and Reigned Fifty Five Years of whose Idolatry and extraordinary Wickedness see 2 Kings 21. and 2 Chron. 33. Of his putting the Reverend Prophet Isaiah to death with a Wooden Saw being Eighty years old Eusebius Epiphanius Isidore and others confirm His Captivity in Babel his Repenting Prayer Reformation and Death see 2 Chron. 33. Merodach having loved his Father might more easily be perswaded to restore him § 2. Aegypt after Sethom was miserably distracted with Civil dissention two Years then ill reform'd by a Government of 12 Princes of which 11 falling out with the 12 th were by him subdued and the Kingdom Usurped which Anarchy Diodore put after Sabacus omitting Sethom contrary to Herodotus These Twelve for a Monument of their Government made a Labyrinth near the Lake Maris which Heroclus prefers to the Chief Pyramid which excelled Diana's Temple Diodorus reports it the work of Marus or Menides five Generations before Proteus or the Trojan War and Reyneccius takes him to Annemenes as he doth Amenophis to be Amasis and Sethom to be Actisanes But he was deceived for the times we are now in shew us Amasis was Anisis Actisanes Sobacus and Marus one of the 12 Governours which made this Work Whereto serve the 12 great Halls in it c. Psamniticus one of the 12. cast out by the rest upon an Oracle as Herodotus tells the Tale which Diodore believes not hired Power out of Caria and Ionia with which he overthrew his Fellows and Ruled alone 54 Years saith Hierom which Mercator divides 44 alone and 10 before according to Eusebius And to make the reckoning fall even with the years from the 5 th of Rehoboam and the 4 th of Iehojakim we must confound the last of the 15 ascribed to the 12 Governours with the first of Psamnitius He first entertained Amity with the Greeks displeasing his Souldiers â—ith preferring his Mercenaries
to the right Wing iâ— an Expedition into Syria So that 2000 deâ—erted their Country and went to dwell in Aethiopia He won Asotus after 29 Years Siege by reason the Babylonians deferr'd it long The Report of breeding up Two Infants for trial of the Original Language is ascribed to him and that the first word they spake was Beccus which in the Phrygian Language is Bread Hereof Goreus Becanus is proud because in his low Dutch Becker is a Baker c. § 3. Manasses's time of Bondage and Enlargement is diversly disputed and were it certain it is like we should find the Egyptian Troubles no small occasion of both Torniel repeats 3 Opinions 1. of Bellarmine who thinks him taken in his 15 th Year of his Reign 2. Great Hebrew Chronologers hold it the 27 th 3. Kimchi after 40 years of Idolatry Torniellus rejects the two last and defends the first but in Affection rather than Judgment It is more probable Manasses lived longer in his Sin than 15 years if not 40. by two places of Scripture 2 Kings 21.17 and 2 Kings 24.3 4. utterly remits his Repentance Manasses's 15 th Year was Merodach's 31. his 27 th was the other's 43. and his 40 th the 5 of Nabolassar Son of Merodach now which of these or what other were the Year of his Captivity I forbear to shew my Opinion c. This was the first Mastery the Babylonians had over Iudah greater than what Salmanassar had of Achaz by which the Babylonians utterly alienated Manasses and his Son from Egypt and made them joyn against it as was seen in Iosias against Necho § 4. Contemporary Actions were the first and second Messenian Wars one in the Reign of Hezechias the other of Manasses The occasion was slight about private wrongs between a Messanean and a Spartan but sufficient to the ambitious Spartans tho' they were the Aggressors who could be drawn to no fair Composition offered by the other but the Sword must end it such was their restless desire to the fair Country of Messena bordering upon them They therefore swore secretly to follow the War 'till the Messenians were Conquer'd they then surpris'd Amphia a Frontier and put all to the Sword The Messenians Army an obstinate Force fought without Victory ended by dark night After this Friends came in on both sides and three other Battles were fought but in the last the Lacedemonians were put to flight Thus the War continued so long by the obstinacy of the Spartans that their Wives sent them word their Cities would become dispeopled for want of Issue whereupon they sent back their ablest young Men promiscuously to accompany their young Women whose Issue became the greatest part of the Nation and were called Parthians The Messenians at length by Oracle were order'd to Sacrifice a Virgin of the Stock of Egyptus of the Arcadian Royal Blood Aristodemus the King ripped up his own Daughters Belly to prove her a Virgin contrary to her Lover's report which to save her said she was with Child yet the Messenians prevailed not So that the miserable Father slew himself at the Grave with whom the Messenians lost their Courage and yielded after twenty years rigorous Contests After thirty years the young Men of the Messenians of whom young Aristodemus descended from Aegyptus was Chief finding their strength and scorning such Masters finding also the Argives and Arcadians firm resolv'd to attempt the Lacedemonians under the Conduct of Aristodemus in the Fourth Year of the Twenty Third Olympiad The Lacedemonians hast to quench the fire before it be too hot but found their Servants their Equals and Aristodemus refusing the Title of King for his Valour became their General and in the next Battle assisted with Argives Arcadians and Sicyonians put the Spartans Corinthians and others to flight and after surprized a Town in Laconia and vanquished Anaxander King of Sparta But by a treacherons defection of Aristocratus hired by the Enemy the Messenians are forced and slain Andamia the Chief Town and others far from Sea forsaken and the People forc'd to Era a strong Mountain which held the Enemy work for Eleven Years wherein Aristocratus with three hundred Souldiers abroad perform'd great things Supriz'd and Sack'd Amicta which was thrice taken and still he escaped Of which escapes that was admirable that being cast with Fifty more into a deep Natural Cave he died not of the Fall as the rest yet without hope 'till by a little light he spied a Fox eating on a dead Carcass and got it by the Tail and follow'd it 'till he could no further and then let it go seeing light in the hole and so wrought himself out with his Nails The Spartans believed not them which reported he was escaped 'till the slaughters he made of the Corinthians at Era assured it Thus Eleven Years were spent about Era which at last was enter'd in a stormy Night through neglect of the Watch which was discovered to the Spartans by a Slave fled from his Master into the City So the Messenians were dispers'd and Built Messina in Sicily and three hundred years after returned by Epaminondas's means § 5. Ardis King of Lydia succeeded Gyges his Father Forty nine years in the second of the twenty fifth Olympiad He incroached upon the Ionians in Asia took Colephon and Priene but the Cymmerians expell'd by the Scythians Invaded Asia won Sardis and held it 'till Alyatts this Man's Grandchild Phraortes King of the Medes the third Year of the twenty ninth Olympiad the last of Manasses succeeded his Father Deioces who had Reigned fifty three years who Commanded more absolutely than his Predecessor and by a more State-like Severity and Ceremonies upheld Majesty almost fallen He desired not to enlarge his Dominions but to Govern well his own and differed so much from his Predecessors that he seemed to be the first King of the Medes as Herodotus reports He was Founder of Ecbitane now Tauris and chosen by the Patrons of the Books of Iudith to be Arphaxad and so must Ben Merodach be Nebuchadnezar But the brief decision of this Controversie is the Book of Iudith which is not Canonical For as Chronologers can find no time to place that Story so Cosmographers are as much troubled to find Iapheth's Borders there set down and Phud and Lud so that for time and place they are Extra Anni Solisque Vias § 6. Other Contemporaries as Numa Pompilius in Rome who succeeded Romulus after one Year In the second year of Manasses he brought the rude multitude of Thieves and Out-Laws which followed Romulus to some good Civility by devising Ceremonies of Superstition as things of great importance learned of his Nymph Egeria Which Superstitions himself Condemned in his Books found almost Six Hundred Years after in his Grave which were publickly burnt as speaking against the Religion then in use After forty three year Tullus Hostilius succeeded in Manasses forty sixth and Reigned thirty two years for for the most part
that in Nebuchadnezzar's Seven Years of Madness Niglisar might govern by his Wife Nitocris's means Nebuchadnezzar's Daughter and Labassardach after him but slain after Nine Months presently before Nebuchadnezzar's Restauration CHAP. II. The Persians greatness how it grew § 1. THAT the Medes were chief in the overthrow of Babylon the infallible Witness of Two great Prophets maketh good Esa. 13 17. Ier. 51.11.28 according to which Iulius Africanus proveth Babel was taken before Cyrus began to Reign So that the Empire lost by Balthassar the last of Belochus's Line fell to Cyaxares or Darius Medus the last of Arbaces's Race who succeeded his Father Astyages c. § 2. Cyrus to whom alone the Greeks ascribe the Conquest of Babel was thought immediate Successor to Astyages by some who deny he had any other Son than this Cyrus Son of Mandane his Daughter Viginer also probably reasoneth that Astyages had no such Son as Darius being unknown to so many Authors there named But Negative Arguments from Authors are of no force and necessity Either Astyages must be Darius in Daniel 9. which his Time will not suffer or another Successor before Cyrus must be granted who for Life commanded all Yet in regard he was Old and followed not the Wars in Person but Cyrus as his Lieutenant did all the Greeks who heard only of him ascribed all to him as did the Persians in Honour to him who shortly brought all to them § 3. Xenophon's Report of the Wars between the Assyrians and the Medes and Persians The Assyrians having command of so many Countries desired to bring under the Medes and Persians Knowing therefore their great strength he perswaded Croâ—sus the rich and strong King of Lydia to join with him which he easily yielded for the quarrel to the Medes who had warred against Alyattes his Father These together compose an Army of Two Hundred Thousand Foot and Sixty Thousand Horse but are overthrown by Darius and Cyaxares King of the Medes and Cyrus General of the Persian Forces and the Assyrian King slain so that many Assyrians revolted and Babylon was glad for her security to get mercenary strength while Cyrus pursueth his Victory to lesser Asia and took Croesus Prisoner After this followed the Attempt at Babylon Cyaxares bearing the Charge and Cyrus being Leader c. § 4. Achaemenes govern'd in Persia when Arbaces did the like in Media and both joined with Belochus against Sardanapalus and after held Persia for himself as the other did Media and Babylon yet Arbaces's absolute Command decayed 'till Deioces One hundred fortys year after when Salmanassar Reigned in Syria so that neither the Medes nor Persians found it fit to stir From Deioces to Astyages there past above Ninety years in which time Phraortes Reigned but not like to have Conquered Persia as Herodotus Writ For Susiana was under Daniel's Charge for Nebuchadnezzar who also would hardly have ventured into Syria and Egypt leaving such an Enemy on his Back It seemeth the Successors of Achaemenes did little worth remembring seeing in the Persian Greatness nothing was Published of their first Kings Xenophon reports the Crown descended from Father to Son many Descents and that Cambyses begot Cyrus so that the Story of Astyages's giving Mandane his Daughter to a base Man to disable her Issue whose Greatness he feared is improbable Two Races sprung from Achaemenes the First according to Reyneccius are Darius Cyrus First Cambyses Cyrus the Great Cambyses c. Of the Second Race came the Seven Princes who overthrew the Magi and chose Darius Son of Hystaspes one of them for King Persia first called Elemais of a Son of Shem c. Their City called Persepolis in the Second Book of Maccabees is called Elemais in the First Book and now Cyrus but Built in another place for that which Alexander destroyed at the request of the Harlot Thais The First Kingdom known to us according to the Interpreters of Gen. 14. was Chedorlaomer with whom Amraphel or Ninus joined in the War against the Arabians CHAP. III. Of Cyrus the First Persian Monarch § 1. CYRVS saith Strabo was so called of the River which watereth Persia Herodotus saith it signifies a Father Plutarch saith the Son Esai named him almost Two Hundred years before He Conquered Lydia and took Croesus before Babylon which he won in the Fifty Fifth Olympiad and in the Twenty Eighth Olympiad upon a Rebellion subdued it again § 2. Lydia had Lydus the Son of Atys her first King which Family was extinguished Argon descended from Hercules was chose by the Oracle and held Twenty two Generations to Candaulus the last Gyges succeeded him in Bed and Kingdom which he left to Atys Father of Sadiattes Father of Halyattes who begat Croesus All their time was One Hundred Seventy years Croesus so inlarged his Dominion that he was Inferiour to no King of that Age commanding Phrygia Bythynia Caria Misia Paphlagonia c. He in confidence of his good Success envying Cyrus's Fame and desirous to check his Prosperous Undertakings asked Counsel of Apollo Then Darius who assured Croesus passing Halis's River shall dissolve a great Dominion An Answer doubtful because the Devil was Ignorant of the Event § 3. Croesus thus resolved despised all Sandanes his Consellor's Arguments to the contrary as the Barrenness of the Enemies Country their hard manner of Living War-like Indefatigable and Prosperous by whose Fall he can gain only Fame wherein he excelled and if he were Beaten his Loss could be hardly told or soon conceived Croesus proceeds with a powerful Army but is staid at Pterium a strong City of Capadocia which he sought to force while Cyrus advanc'd Cratippus answer'd Pompey well That Kingdoms have their Increase and Periods from Divine Ordinance and so was it with these two great Princes whose Forces meeting the Persians had somewhat the better but Night parted them Croesus doubtful of the next days Success quit the Field to Cyrus and with all haste got into Sardis and because of Winter sent home his Forces not doubting any persuit Cyrus finding the Lydians gon followed slowly after to avoid discovering and having good Intelligence of Croesus's proceedings delay'd 'till the Forces were dispos'd to their Winter Garrison when unexpectedly he invested Sardis and in fourteen days forced it Croesus thrusting in among the multitude was ready to be slain had not his dumb Son forced by Passion cried Spare Croesus who thereupon was brought to Cyrus who judged him to be burnt Being upon the heap of Wood he cryed out O Solon Solon Solon and upon urging to declare what he meant answer'd That he found Solon's words true That no Man knew his own Happiness 'till his End Cyrus hearing thereof called for him remembring his own Mortality forgave him and ever after used him as a King and Companion Xenophon Reports that Cyrus used him so without speaking of the purpose of burning belike thinking it a Cruelty unworthy Cyrus so to use his Great Unkle by his Grandmother
Honour of the Day by forcing all their Enemies out of the Field but lost their incomparable Commander Epaminondas by the stroak of a Dart in his Breast of which he died when the Truncheon was pulled out but first advised the Thebans to make Peace as wanting a General when he heard that Lobidas and Diophantes two Principal Men of War were slain Thus died the Worthiest Man that ever Greece bred and hardly matched in any Age or Country § 8. The Mantinean Battle was the greatest that had been ever in the Country of Natives in which all Greece were interessed which never had better Souldiers or braver Commanders The issue made all willing of a General Peace wherein was concluded every Estate should enjoy what it then held and none forced to depend on other the Messenians being included in this League for which the Lacedemonians refuse it After this Athens and Sparta had leisure to seek Wealth in foreign Wars as did Agesilaus who sent to assist Tachos King of Egypt descended from Amyrtaeus who rebelled against Darius Nothus But Agesilaus Trayterously fled from the King to his Rebels so that he was forced to flye to Persia and Nectanebus succeeded who Rewarded Agesilaus with two Hundred and Thirty Talent of Silver with which returning home he died THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK IV. Part I. Of the Macedonian Kingdom from Philip to the Race of Antigonus CHAP. I. Of Philip Father to Alexander the Great § 1. MAcedon at this time was little valued by the Greeks whose Glory in their Persian Victory did so pamper them that they neglected all Nations but themselves especially the Macedonians lately weakned by Neighbouring Princes in the time of Amyntas Father of Philip. But it fared with the Greeks as it commonly falleth out with Men of Note in the World that they often fall by the hands which they least fear and they considered not that all great Alterations are sudden and violent in which it is ever late to repair decayed Banks when inraged Rivers are once swollen Greece was far from care to repair their Fences between them and this Inundation that they rather brake them down by wasting each other so that as Orosius said the Cities of Greece lost all Command by striving each of them to Command all Macedon so called from Macedon Son of Osiris bordereth on the North whose Kings were from Temenus of the Race of Hercules and Argives by Nation Caranos of Argos Planted a Colony there upon surprize of Edessa about six years after Arbaces became King of Medea § 2. Philip the Second the youngest Son of Amyntas II. Educated under Epaminondas in Thebes where he was in Hostage escaped thence in the first year of the Hundred and Fifth Olympiad which was three Hundred Ninety and Three years after the Building of Rome Being returned to Macedon invironed with many Enemies he took upon him to Command as a Protector of his young Nephew Son of Percidas his Brother late King but his fruitful Ambition soon overgrew his Modesty and was easily persuaded by the People to take upon him the Absolute Rule as the necessity of the State required a King both Prudent and Active for as the King of Thrace sought to set Palesanias and the Athenians Argaeus the Sons of Aeropus the late Usurper so the Illyrians and Pannonians made daily incursions on all sides Philip to ease himself of these heavy burthens corrupted the Pannonian's Men of War with Mony and brought the Thracian King from Pausania and then made head against the Athenians and Argaeus whom he overthrew and forced the Athenians to desire Peace § 3. Philip had now leisure to look Northward invaded his bordering Enemies and slew Bardilus King of Illyrium recovering what he held in Macedon and forced the Pannonians to Tribute Then hasting to Thessalia his South Neighbour he took Larissa upon the River Peneus but before he would proceed with Thessaly he made sure of the entrance out of Thrace winning Amphipolis seated upon the bordering River he also recovered Pydna and Crenidus which he called Phillipi He also entred League with the Olynthians his Father 's mortal Enemies and gave them Pydna yet not designing they should hold it or their own § 4. Philip by the Phocian or Sacred War in the second year of the hundred and sixth Olympiad was drawn into Greece This War grew by occasion that the Phocians having Plowed up one piece of ground belonging to Delphos's Temple were by the Thebans prosecution fined a great Summ at the General Council of Greece and for refusing are Condemned to the Sword The Phocians hereupon plunder'd Apollo's Temple which yielded them Ten thousand Talents with which they hired many Men but after three Victories were beaten by the Thebans Thessalians c. In the mean time Philip at the Siege of Methon lost an Eye shortly after his Forces were overthrown in Thessaly by the Phocians and Thracians whom in the next Battle he defeated slew six thousand and took three thousand and freed Thessaly of the Tyrant Lycophron who had by force taken the City of Pheres § 5. Philip after this quarrel'd with the Olynthians a powerful People who had a contest with the Macedonians for protecting two of his half Brethren against his Sword for his Quarrels were balanced by his Ambition which made all things lawful that any way served his turn whether Murther of Brethren breach of Faith corrupting by Mony esteeming no place strong where his Ass laden with Gold could enter Therefore having overthrown them twice and forced them to keep their City he corrupted two Citizens which gave him entrance where he slew his Brethren and sold the Citizens for Slaves Thus he Conquer'd more by Corruption and Fraud than by Force as did Philip of Spain § 6. Philip at the Request of the Boeotians sent them aid against the Phocians sufficient to retard but not to end the War so to weaken the strength of Greece Artaxerxes Ochus also sent them One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Crowns but upon further request of his own presence whom they promise to give entrance into their Territory he went with Power sufficient to give Law to both Parties Upon whose coming Phatlecus the Phocian Leader fearing to shock with him made his Peace with him and with a Regiment of Eight Thousand Men withdrew into Peloponesus and left the Phocians to his mercy who made them Slaves § 7. Philip afer this slew many Thousands of the Illyrians and Dardanians brought Thrace to Tribute but was forced to leave Perinthus and Bizantium reliev'd by Athens Chios and Rhodes and when he sought Peace with Athens they refuse it upon Demosthenes's Eloquent persuasions Putting up this Affront he supplied himself by taking Seventy Merchants Ships and with new Forces entred Scythia with Alexander his Son but prospered not § 8. Philip after Eight Years spent Northward was again called by the Greeks against Amphissa who refused to obey the Decree of the Amphyctians or
and took an Hundred private Hostages The Rhodians presently erect Statues for Lysimachus and Cassander and make a God of Ptolomy § 3. Demetrius chaseth Cassander beyond the Straits of Thermopilae and recover'd all that Cassander held there the like he did in Peloponesus setting all Free and translateth Sicyon to anâ—ther place and called it Demetrius Then he was proclaimed General of all Greece and Athens decreed all his Commandments should be held Sacred and just with God and Men Cassander's Case now oblig'd him to seek Peace for Macedon but Antigonus will have absolute submission which made Cassander sollicit the Confederates Lysimachus Ptolomy and Seleucus who apprehending the common danger agree to joyn Forces against a common Enemy Lysimachus with part of Cassander's Forces begins and passeth the Hellespont makes hot War in Asia which Antigonus hasteth to oppose but cannot force Lysimachus home who stayed for Seleucus's coming and made him send for Demetrius c. § 4. Seleucus is come and joyned with Ptolomy's Forces and Lysimachus making Sixty four Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Five Hundred Horse Four Hundred Elephants and One Hundred aâ—med Carts Antigonus had Seventy Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Horse and Seventy Five Elephants they met at Ipsus near Ephesus where the only memorable Thing was that Demetrius encountred young Antiochus Son of Seleucus and so pursued him in flight that Seleucus interposeth his Elephants between Demetrius and Antigonus's Phalanx and with his Troops of Horse so forced it that many soon revolted and left him to death Thus Princes commonly succeed who are more fear'd by their Enemies than lov'd by Friends § 5. Demetrius finding all lost made a speedy retreat to Ephesus with Four Thousand Horse and Five Thousand Foot thinking long to be at Athens the Worshippers of his Godhead not knowing they had repealed his Deity 'till he met their Messengers not as Theories to Consult at their Oracle but as Officers to prohibit his entring their City which shameless Ingratitude more afflicted him than all the rest yet he spake them fair 'till he recovered his Ships out of their Haven In the mean time the Confederates are dividing his Father's Provinces of which Seleucus seised on Syria and part of Asia the less whereat the rest repined and consulted to oppose his Greatness in time whereof he was not ignorant knowing the Law of Sâ—â—te ought not to permit the over-growing of Neighbours Therefore to serve his turn of Demetrius against Lysimachus he Married his Daughter Stratonica but to save the life of his Son Antiochus who was passionately in love with her he gave her to him The like Alliance was between Ptolomy and Lysimachus Demetrius and Cassander Demetrius and Ptolomy yet not bound to each other but for the present as it hath been with Christian Kings whom neither Bed nor Book can make faithful in their Covenants Yet Demetrius had this advantage by Seleucus's Affinity that he got Cilicia from Plistarchus Brother to Cassander who yet was pacified by Phila their Sister Wife to Demetrius who also about that time married Ptolomy's Daughter yet Seleucus had rather have Demetrius further off having a mind to Cilicia as Ptolomy had to Cyprus and offered ready mony for it but in vain for Demetrius had already found there Twelve Thousand Talents of his Fathers § 6. Demetrius with Three Hundred good Ships entreth Attica besiegeth the City of Athens which Ptolomy sought to relieve but could not so by extream Famine it was yielded but was spared notwithstanding all their unthankfulness yet he put a Garrison in it to keep them honest by force Then he went to Peloponesus against Lacedemon but was hastily called away into Asia where Lysimachus had won many Towns from him and Ptolomy besieged Salamis in Cyprus where his Mother and Childrâ—n reâ—ained Yet hearing of Cassander's death and that his Sons Antipater and Alexander fought for the Kingdom and that Antipater had furiously slain their Mother Thessalonica for affecting his Brother he chose rather to go to assist Alexander who desired aid of him and Pyrrâ—us King of Epirus § 7. Pyrrhus Son of Aeacides an Infant at his Father's death was conveyed unto Glaucias King of Illyria who at Twelve Years old set him in his Kingdom out of which six years after he was forced and went to serve Demetrius who married his Sister and after the Overthrow at Ipsus became Hostage to Ptolomy upon his reconciliation with Demetrius In Aegypt he got the favour of Berenice Ptolomy's principal Wife and Married her Daughter and was restored to Epirus He being requested of Alexander to aid him against Antipater for reward took Ambracia by force Acarnania and much more leaving the united Brethren to divide the rest Demetrius also bâ—ing come after all was done is discontented and pretending Alexander had plotted his death slew him at a Feast and seized on his part of the Kingdom At which Antipater who had Married Lysimachus's Daughter was so inraged that his Father-in-Law to quiet him took away his troublesome life Thus the House which Cassander had raised with so much Treachery and Royal-Blood fell on his own Grave before the Earth was throughly setled Demetrius after this access of Dominion grew to such dissoluteness in Wine Women and Idleness that he would not endure the trouble of Petitions and doing justice so that the People grew weary of his idleness and the Souldiers of his vanity Having lost all he had in Asia and Cyprus but his Mother and Children which Ptolomy honourably sent him home he went against Thebes and won it twice then he went against Pyrrhus with two great Armies of which one led by Pentauchus was overthrown and he beaten by Pyrrhus upon Challenge hand to hand which loss offended not the Macedonians so much as the young Princes behaviour pleased them seeming to see a lively figure of Alexander in his best qualities This esteem of Pyrrhus was increased by the dislike which he had of Demetrius for his Insolency and Cruelty to his Souldiers of whom he said The more of them died the fewer he had to pay In the end he grew sensible of their general hatred which to prevent he intended a War in Asia with a Royal Army of almost One Hundred Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse and a Navy of Five Hundred Sail of which many exceeded all former greatness Seleucus and Ptolomy doubting the issue are earnest with Lysimachus and Pyrrhus to joyn against him who accordingly invade Macedon Lysimachus entring that part next him and when Demetrius went against him Pyrrhus broke in on his side and took Berrhaea which News put all the Camp in a consternation few forbearing seditious Speeches and many desiring to return home But he perceiving their design to go to Lysimachus their Countryman led them against Pyrrhus a Stranger thinking so to pacify them wherein he was deceived For though they were as hasty as he to meet with Pyrrhus yet was it not to fight with him but to
wintred when the Year was well advanc'd he pass'd the Appenine Mountains with such difficulty that he chose to take through the Fenns in which he lost his Elephants and the use of one Eye with the severity of his March and so came to Aretium where wasting all the Countries about Sixteen of which he set on fire just by Flaminius the Consul an hot-headed popular Orator who intending to quench it with Carthaginian Blood fell unadvisedly into Hannibal's Troops between Cortona and the Lake Thrasamene where he and Fifteen Thousand of the Romans were slain and Six Thousand escaped to the Mâ—untains where being discover'd they stay'd not but yet were overtaken by Maharbal to whom they yielded upon promise of Liberty which Condition Hannibal would not allow being made without him a trick learned of the Romans to break Covenants Now he had Fifteen Thousand Italian Prisoners of which the Romans he kept to hard meats but freed the rest in hopes to make the Italians his Allies but an ancient Reputation is not so soon lost Servilius the other Consul not knowing what was done sent Centronius with Four Thousand Men to encrease the Army but Maherbal intercepted them slew half and the rest yielded the News whereof made Servilius hasten to the defence of Rome Thus we discern the fruits of popular Jealousie in changing the Commanders in War yearly which endangereth the growth of the Empire For the best Wit in the World cannot inform it self in the compass of one year of all the good helps requisite to the prosecution of War to the best effect as Caesar did in Gaul by Ten Years continuance § 6. Rome amazed at this success and the imminâ—nt danger flye to an old Remedy long out of use and create a Dictator whose Office was above a Consul and scarcely subject to any controul The People as having Supream Authority chose Fabius Maximus the best Man of War in the City who chose M. Minutius Rufus Master of the Horse which is as his Lieutenant Fabius began with Reformation in Religion a commendable beginning if the Religion had been good The Sybil's Books were herein consulted which directed Vows to Mars a Sacrifice to Iupiter and a Temple to Venus which Trumperies prove the Books written by an ill Spirit Fabius sets out with four Legions and received Servilius's Army and sent him to Sea to pursue the Carthaginian Fleet which had intercepted the Supply sent to Scipio in Spain Hannibal in the mean time refreshed his Men armed the Africans after the Roman manner and so Coasted toward Apulia not to take any City by long Siege which breaks the force of a great Army but seeking to weaken the Romans reputation desired to be Master of the Field which would soon open the Gates of Cities Therefore he presented Fabius Battel as soon as he saw him but he would not bite knowing the difference between old Victorious Souldiers and Novices whom he would acquaint with dangers and to look upon the Lyon afar off before they set foot upon his Tail Minutius had a contrary disposition fiery like Flaminius taxing Fabius with Cowardise but that moved not this well-advised Commander who knew the danger of pursuing misfortune which wasteth it self by Suffering sooner than by Opposition It is the Invading Army that desires Battel and Hannibal's was also Victorious therefore Fabius suffered him to fall upon the Rich Territory of Campania himself keeping the Hills being much weaker in Horse But Winter drawing on Hannibal cannot stay in the wasted Country and could not get into a fresh but must pass by the Dictator who presumed he now had him fast but was deceived for Hannibal in a dark Night tying Faggots to the Horns of Two Thousand Kiâ—e and setting them on fire drove them over the Hills which terrible sight caus'd Fabius to keep his Trenches lest he should be circumvented so Hannibal pass'd by Fabius is call'd home about some matter of Religion leaving the Army with Minutius yet with peremptory Charge not to fight but Minutius finding the Army of one mind resolved to fight though it were death to transgress the Dictator's Charge His Success in the Encounter was good having taken such advantage that he dared Hannibal in his Camp and came off with the better The Army applauds Minutius but the People of Rome more and by motion of Metellus a Tribune seconded by Terentius Varro a Popular Fellow Enemy to the Nobility and who had been Praetor the last year Minutius is joyn'd in equal Authority with Fabius When they met Fabius divided the Army with Minutius by Lot which the other likes not so well as to Command the whose by Course but took his Lot and incamped a mile and a half from the Dictator as desirous to have occasion to Fight as Fabius to the contrary Hannibal design'd to try Minutius's Courage the next day and in the Night conceal'd an Ambush of Horse and Foot in spacious Caves in the Vallie and early in the Morning gave occasion to Minutius like the former which he gladly took but succeeded worse and had lost all if Fabius had not come to rescue him § 7. Fabius is commended by the principal Citizens but the inferiour sort cry out against his cold protracting the War doing nothing of Consequence all his year Terentius Varro took advantage to put in for the Consulship which far exceeded his own worth without the favour of the Multitude which supply all his wants especially having Bibilus Herenneus a Kinsman Tribune of the People who by his Place might speak what he pleas'd to assist him This bold Orator inveighed against the Nobility as the Causes which drew Hannibal into Italy who now could not be expelled without a Plebeian Consul The Fathers labour to hinder this first by choice of a Dictator which held not and by an Inter-Regnum which was a Government of Ten of the Fathers for Five Days in which the heat of the Multitude might be assuaged and all begin again but after five Days no other but Terentius will be heard of so that to bridle this violent Person Lucius Paulus Aemilius a Worthy Honourable Man is chosen the second Consul and a great levy of Men which made up the Army under the old Consuls Eighty Thousand Foot and Six Thousand Horse While this preparation and other businesses are ordering at Rome Hannibal who Wintred at Geryon in Apulia took the Castle of Canne where much of the Roman Provision lay but Servilius the old Consul could do nothing 'till the new came At their departing Fabius gravely exhorted Aemilius not only to play the Man against the Carthaginians but also in bridling the rashness of his Collegue who answer'd He would do his utmost for his Country but would rather adventure upon the Enemie's Sword than the Citizens malice § 8. Aemilius with his Collegue being come to the Camp took occasion to encourage the Souldiers by the Consideration of old Victories against the Carthaginians and other more warlike
performance he had already given his Son Demetrius an Hostage and four Hundred Talents Great was the joy at the conclusion but the Aetolians are dissatisfied and the Baeotians still favour the Macedonians Some also fear the Romans will prove the worse Neighbours not knowing the Romans design against Antiochus But to prevent all bad Rumours Quintius at the Istinian Games Proclaimed freedom from Garrisons and Liberty of their own Laws to the Corinthians Phocians Locrians Eubaeans Achaeans of Pithiotis Magnetians Thessalians and Perrhubians which the Greeks applauded with exceeding Thanks He also sent to Antiochus by his Embassadour then present requiring him to keep from the free Cities of Asia and restore to Ptolomy and Philip what he held of theirs and not to pass into Europe with an Army CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents § 1. SEleucus Nicanor slain by Ptolomy Cerannus Anno 4. Clymp 124. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeded Nineteen Years to whom Berosus the Chaldaean Dedicated his Assyrian-History which is notoriously falsified by Fryar Annius He neglected revenging his Fathers Death who had so loved him that he gave him Stratonica his own Wife being sick for her Antiochus the God as the flattering Melesians called him for freeing them from Timarchus the Tyrant succeeded Fifteen Year His first Wife was Laodice to whom he took also Bernice the Daughter of Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt and so compounded the War between them but falling into the hatred of Laodice she Poisoned him for it when her Son Seleucus Callinicus was ready to Reign She also murthered Bernice and her Son two or three Years after Ptolomy's Death but the Brother reveng'd it Ptolomy Philodelphus Son of Ptolomy the first King of Egypt after Alexander began to Reign with his Father and continued Forty Years He was first derived from Alexander's Successours which made League with Rome and his Off-spring the last of those Royal Families they rooted out He set at Liberty all the Iews which his Father made Slaves in Egypt and sent rich Gifts to God's Temple in Ierusalem and requested of Eleazer the Books of Holy Scripture and seventy two Learned Hebrews to Translate them into Greek to furnish his Library in Alexandria of which Genebrard thinks Iesus Sirach was one whom Iansenius proveth then living Iosephus Antiq. li. 12. c. 2. reports one Aristaeus writ the History thereof Seleucus Callinicus began his Reign with his Father's Murder which cost his Mothers Life she being slain by Ptolomaeus Evergetes in revenge of his Sister who Invaded Seleucus but was called Home by Domestick Troubles Seleucus perceiving himself not beloved of his Subjects sought not to gain them by merit but by force prepares a great Fleet against them whereon all his hope relyed which God overwhelmed in the Sea and himself hardly escaped His Subjects hoping he would become a new Man in Commiseration offer him their Service which so revived him that he raised an Army against Ptolomy who overthrew him which made him send for aid to his Brother Antiochus Hierax or Hawk for he cared not on whom he Preyed who was but fourteen Years Old and was extream Ambitious Before he came Seleuchus made Peace with Ptolomaeus but had no Peace of his Brother who overthrew him But shortly after overthrown himself by Eumenes King of Pergamus Son of Attalus and forced to flye away was taken up in Capadocia by Artamenes who designed to betray him which made him take his Wings to Egypt where Ptolomy knowing his persidious Nature imprisoned him whence escaping by means of a Harlot he fell into the hands of Thieves who murthered him Seleuchus at this time going to subdue the Bactrians and Parthians was taken Prisoner by Arsaces Founder of the Parthian Kingdom who yet released him but returning Home he broke his Neck by a fall from his Horse after twenty Years Reign Seleuchus Ceraunus succeeded his Father Three Years and was slain by Treason leaving Antiochus his Brother to succeed and Achaeus to Govern the Army § 2. Ptolomaeus Evergetes who suceeded Philadelphus yet Reigned having Married Berenice Daughter of Magas King of Cyrene added it to his Kingdom and as he thought the Countries of Coâ—losyria Palestine c. His and his Successours Wars with the Seleucidae were Prophecied of by Daniel Onias the High Priest had provoked him by detaining covetously twenty Talents Tribute but was pacified by Iosephus a Iew and having Reigned Twenty six Years Dyed in the 139 Olympiad Antiochus scarce Fifteen Years Old when he began his Reign which lasted Thirty six Years in his Minority was wholly Governed by one Hermias an Ambitions Man who incited him unseasonably to War against Ptolomaeus for recovery of Coelosyria c. while Molo the Kings Lieutenant in Media Rebelled Xenaetas is sent with Forces into Media which are overthrown while Antiochus lay in the Valley of Marsyas between Libanus and Antilibanus seeking to pass into Coelosyria Hearing therefore the News of Xenaetas he hastens into Media which he recovered from Molo whose left Wing Revolting to the King Molo with divers of his Friends to shorten the work killed themselves and so prevented the Hangman with their own Swords After this came the joyful News of his Queen's being Deliver'd of a Son Fortune being thus bountiful Antigonus Marches against Artabanes King of the Atropians who being very Old and Timerous yielded to whatever he Propos'd Antiochus in the East thought good to visit his Borders between the Caspian and Euxine Sea in which Journey his Physician informed him against Hermits of whom himself was grown Jealous and therefore consented to his killing About these times Achaeus rebelled in hope the King would perish in his Expedition yet Antiochus more intending the recovery of Coelosyria neglected him till he had gotten Seleucia first called Antigonia founded by Antigonus and after won by Seleuchus and then by Ptolomy Such is the vanity of Men who think to eternize their Names not by works of Vertue but of Greatness which never lasteth long Theodotus the Aetolian Ptolomy's Mercenary which formerlâ— dâ—fended Caelosyria agâ—inst Antiocâ—us now weary of his former Faithfulness Mercenary like sells it to him who took possession of Tirus and Ptolomais with the Aegyptian Fleet there Antiochus herewith emboldned aims at Egypt it self ruled by Agathocles and Sosibius whilst Ptolomy himself minds only his Pleasure These two make secret preparation but openly solicite Peace by themselves and several of their Allies and Antiochus willing to rest this Winter agreeth on a Truce for four Months to Treat of Peace which he designed only to lull his Enemies asleep who watched him better than he did them During the Truce Embassadours from Egypt are heard and both sides plead their right to Coelosyria and propound Covenants but both would have it or nothing The Truce ended Antiochus takes the Field presuming his ordinary Power will serve against his unprovided Enemies but was deceived and well beaten for it at Raphia losing Ten Thousand
Passage over Olympus was as difficult now as then So that Aemilius fell to enquire and found a Passage over Olympus but narrow leading to Perrabia difficult of Ascent but slenderly Guarded either not found or not attempted by Martius whose Men being tryed in getting over Ossa would hardly adventure such another But Paulus was a far more able Commander and had Taught them better than to question a Generals Command and made choice of five Thousand for the Enterprize whom he committed to his two Adopted Sons Scipio Aemilianus and Quintus Fabius Maximus These two the better to conceal their Journey over the Mountains Marched out another way till Night came and the Consul made shew as if he would have set upon Perseus and gain a Passage over Enipeus to divert him from the business intended so that Scipio and Fabius having forced the small Guard got in three Days over and were not discovered till the Guard which fled were come to the Camp Then was all in a Tumult and the King most of all amazed hasteth to Pydna where he consults whether he should Fortifie some Town or put all to the hazard of a Battle which latter though the worst is resolved upon and that which the Consul wished The King chose the place near Pydna whither the Consul came but made a stand till a place for the Camp were Intrenched and the Souldiers refreshed after Marching though both sides thought it long especially the Romans feared lest the King should remove further off That Evening was the Consul told by a Tribune of an Ecclipse of the Moon that Night and the Natural cause of it who was contented it should be Published in the Camp to prevent their Fear Superstition captivates the Wise where the help of true Religion is wanting Aemilius as soon as the Moon recovered her Light Congratulated her with a Sacrifice for which Plutarch calls him a Godly Man And the next Morning he made another to Hercules about which much of the Day was spent before the Grecian partial God gave a good sign to the Entrals of the Sacrifice so that on Day neither side had any great desire to Fight Yet after ten of the Clock upon a light occasion of watring of Horses two or three of each side fell to Blows and Parties came in so fast that both the Generals were forced to put their Men in order of Battel and after an Oration set them together But Perseus used the shift of a Coward to leave his Men and withdraw himself to Pydna pretending Sacrifice which being unseasonable proved him an Hypocritical Coward He sped accordingly for returning he found it little better than lost but got the Honour to be present that he might run away with his Men leaving Twenty Thousand Foot slain in the Field while he recovered Pella from which he fled in â—he Night for fear of his own Peopâ—e and came to Amphipolis but was glad to beâ— gon by Sea with his Treasure to Samothrace The Head having forsaken the Body little Sense was left or Strength to stand all the Kingdom fell presently into the Conquerours hand â—â—ile the King taketh Sanctuary with his Treasure Wife and Children in Samothrace and after base Suit to the Consul endeavours to escape in a Cretian Ship which having taken in much of his Treasure set Sail and left him in the lurch in the end he was forced to yield himself and all into the Consuls hand and so made the Conquest compleat Being before the Consul he meanly prostrated himself so that he seemed to dishonour the Victory as obtained upon a Man of so base a Condition Thus ended the Macedonian Kingdom after a War of Four Years and the Glory of the World was Translated to Rome § 9. Gentius King of Illyria with fifteen Thousand Men at Lyssus ready to assist Perseus upon Receipt of the Mony promised was attack'd by Anicius the Roman Praetor who drove him into Scodra or Sutary where after a while he yielded himself and all his Men to the Roman Praetor who ended that War in Thirty days § 10. Rome swelling with the Pride of her Fortune called the Rhodian Embassadours whom they threaten as Parties with Macedon whose Cause they had presumed to undertake And though they Congratulated the Victory Deprecated their Folly and their Citizens had put to Death or sent Prisoners to Rome all the chief Men of the Macedonian Faction yet War had been Proclaimed against them but for Cato who said it would be judged rather a Quarrel at their Wealth than any just cause considering also what Friends they had been to Rome in former Wars Macedon was divided into four Quarters and each prohibited Commerce with other Their Laws abrogated new given and all the Nobles sent into Italy and the Tribute lessened by half which was the best part of the Liberty Rome used to give Greece must now bear her Yoke and all that can be found not only Associates with Perseus but good Patriots which were not held serviceable to Rome were sent to Rome and there clapt up of which sort a Thousand were sent out of Achaea and Polybius among them This was the Virtue of the Roman Oath and League Epirus was more barbarously dealt with and given to the Souldiers to Plunder for their Pay to save the Macedonian Treasure whole So in one day seventy Cities of the Roman Confederates were Plundered by the Companies put into them in Peace only to Quarter and One Hundred and Fifty Thousand made Slaves which act of Aemilius stained his other Virtues § 11. Antiochus the Great dyed in the Thirty sixth Year of his Reign Seleuchus his Eldest Son succeeded Twelve Years whom Daniel described Three Hundred Years before Onias being then High Priest Mac. 3. The First Book of Maccabees ends An. 167 of the Syrian Kings the Second Book ends the 151 Year Antiochus Epiphanes succeedes his Brother in Syria An. 137 whose death he procured Ptolomeus Epiphanes after twenty four Years left Egypt to his Son Ptolomeus Philometor so called by the Rule of contraries for Murdering his Mother he was hated by his Subjects and rebelled against by his Brother Ptolomy Phiscon who got possession of Alexandria upon which contention Antiochus Epiphanes his Uncle thought to possess that Kingdom under pretence of protecting the Young Prince Antiochus's proceedings herein and at Ierusalem are Recorded 1. Mac. 1. About the beginning of the Macedonian War when besides the Spoil of Egypt he took all Coelosyria and sold the High Priests place to Iason thrust out Onias and after sold it to Manelaus who procured Onias being fled into the Sanctuary at Daphus by Antioch to be Murdered 2 Mac. 4. Onias his taking protection of Apollo and Diana seemed allowed by the Author which argues the Book to be Apocryphal His Second Expedition into Egypt 2 Mac. 1. was foreshewn by prodigious Signs in the Air for forty days together and was occasioned by the unexpected agreement of the Brethren which