in the fourth year of the fifth Olympiad the Archons which till now had continued in Office for life were at Athens made to hold but for ten years and the first of them was Alcmaeon After the Reign of fourteen Kings in Italy from the time of Aeneas Romulus Numitor's Grandson set up a new Kingdom of which Rome was the Metropolis whose Foundations are thought to have been laid about the end of the third year of the sixth Olympiad whence from the following year that way of reckoning from the building of the City dates its beginning Year of World Before Christ Olymp. Building of the City 3231. 753. VI. iv 1. Romulus first King of the Romans Reigned thirty eight years and the year following the Conquerors at the Olympick Games began to be crowned whereas they had before no other reward save that their Names were Registred among the publick Records Those Crowns were made of Pine Apple Olive-Trees c. 3237. 747. VIII ii 7. While Phul and Tiglath-Phalasar his Successor Reigned in Assyria and fixed their Royal residency in the City of Ninive Nabonassar began his Reign in Babylon whence the most celebrated Aera of Nabonassar took its beginning among the Chaldeans This Person seems to have restored the Babylonish Empire which was fallen and to be the same with him who was called Baladan whose Son was Merodac 2 Kings 20.12 See Petavius Lib. 9. c. 52. De Doct. temp The Sabines having by a certain Stratagem possessed themselves of the Rock Tarpeia were troublesom to the Romans and both Parties being ready to decide the difference by a Battle they were by the intervention of the Roman Matrons made friends so as that they coalesced both into one People and Tatius and Romulus Reigned jointly together 3241. 743. IX ii II. The Messenian War between the Messenians and Lacedaemonians began this year and lasted for twenty years till the Messenians were utterly overthrown Aristodemus a brave Man being General of the Messenian Forces Pausanias and Justin may be consulted hereupon 3258. 743. XIII iii. 28. In the time of Hezekiah King of Judah the Lacedaemonians were overthrown in a great Battle by Aristodemus who to propagate an off-spring prostituted their Wives from whence sprang the Parthenians who thirty years after under the Conduct of Philantus the Son of Aracus who was the Author of the prostitution of the Women going to seek out new Habitations possest themselves of Tarentum in Italy See Justin L. 3. 3263. 721. XIV iv 33. Salmanassar who Succeeded Tiglath Phalasar in the Kingdom of Assyria this year which was the last of Hezekiah's Reign after he had taken Samaria and Hosheah King of Israel carryed the ten Tribes Captive into Assyria and Media and Transplanted into their room other Nations given to Idolatry the History whereof may be read 2 Kings 17. and from them sprang those People who were afterward called Samaritans who received the Law of Moses and of the Books of Scripture allowed the Pentateuch only to be Canonical and they have the same to this day written in the old Hebrew Characters ' which the Jews have changed for the Chaldee ones 3269. 715. XVI ii 39. Romulus as we have already said the first King of the Romans and cotemporary with Hezekiah while he mustered the Army in the Marshes of Caprea upon the sudden rising of a Tempest was never seen more Some would have it that he was killed by the Senate and that afterward to avoid the scandal of it he was taken into the number of the Gods as if Mars had snatched him up into Heaven See Dionysius Halicarnas Lib. 1. About this time Sennacherib King of Assyria entred with an Army into Judaea as is set forth 2 Kings 19. But in the lesser Asia that Gyges who was so famous for his Wealth Governed being the first King of Lydia of the Mnermnadan Race after four others descended from Hercules of whom the last whose name was Candaules he with the Queens assistance cut off 3270. 714. XVI iii. 40. Numa Pompilius Succeeded Romulus in the Kingdom of Rome who improved the City by Religious Ceremonies and Civil Laws and Reigned three and forty years Next year Merodac King of Babylon while Assaraddon Sennacherib's Son ruled in Assyria sent Ambassadors to Hezekiah as we read 2 Kings c. 20. Assaraddon is thought to have invaded the Kingdom of Babylon which opinion is grounded upon this Argument in that there is no further distinction made after that in Scripture between the Kings of Babylon and Assyria 3286. 698. XX. iii. 56. Wicked Manasses Succeeded his Father Hezekiah who eight years after being carryed captive into Babylon upon his repentance was restored again and Reigned in all 55 years In his time the Medes under the conduct of Arbaces shook off the yoke of the Kings of Babylon and constituted Dejoces who was a Man eminent for Justice and Equity to be their King by whom was built the famous City of Ecbatana concerning whose name and largness you may consult Bochartus in his Phaleg l. 3. c. 14. 3297. 687. XXIII ii 67. From this time forwards the Archons at Athens were chosen annually and the first of them was Creon The Messenians the nineteenth year after the first War which they had waged with the Lacedaemonians revolted from them under the leading of Aristomenes who for the space of fourteen years valiantly defended them But at last the Lacedaemonians after ten years Siege took Messina and put an end to the War And the remainder of the Messenians upon the overthrow of their Country Sailed into Sicily where they possess'd themselves of Zancle which they called Messinâ—… 3313. 671. XXVII ii 83. The year before the Messenians Sailed thither Tullus Hostilius Succeeded Numa Pompilius and Reigned three and twenty years Egypt from the time of Sesostris King of that Country who we have told you was cotemporary with Rehoboam was molested with intestine troubles and divided into parts among diverse Princes until again in this Age it was brought under the obedience of Psammetichus alone concerning which see Sir John Marsham ad Saec. 16. 3326. 658. XXX i. 96. Cypselus began to act the Tyrant at Corinth and held it for thirty years having expelled the Bacchiades who hitherto had had the chief management of the Publick whence it came to pass that Demaratus the Corinthian Sail'd into Italy for fear of that Tyrannical Government and fixt himself at Tarquinij a City of Etruria 3341. 643. XXXI ii 111. Manasses King of Judah was Succeeded by his Son Amon who after he had Reigned two years left Josiah to Succeed him who was a pious and good King 3345. 639. XXX ii 115. Ancus Martius the fourth King of Rome began his Reign now which he continued for four and twenty years Then Solon was born the Law-giver of Athens and the year before Thales Milesius both which were of the number of those seven famous Wisemen of Greece The names of the other five who were equal to
under the leading of Leonidas durst with wonderfull boldness oppose his Land-forces at the Streights of Thermopylae where valiantly fighting they were every man of them Slain But that vast Army was next year utterly overthrown at Plataea a City of Boeotia Mardonius being General of the Persians as Pausanias and Aristides were of the Graecians In these times flourish'd Pindar the Poet and Anaxagoras the Philosopher 3057. 477. LXXV iv 277. Caeso Fabius who with the single Family of the Fabij to the number of three hundred and six of ripe years and four thousand Vassals made War against the Vejentians was overthrown by them at the River Cremera and the whole Army destroyed of which Ovid in his Fastorum says Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes Ad Bellum missos perdidit una dies One day the Fabij all One day the Fabian Race made all extinct But that many things are false herein as that amongst such a number of Men grown there was one under Age is shewn by Dionys Halicarnasseus and the matter is handled at large by Jac. Perizonius in his Observ c. 5. At this time Sicily was imbroil'd several ways what with Gelon and Hieron Tyrants of Syracuse and Theron of Agrigentum within and the Carthaginians from without who endeavoured to possess themselves of it 3510. 474. LXXVI iii. 280. Artaxerxes was made partner with his Father in the Kingdom About the same time Sophocles began to teach the way of Tragedies and a few years after was the most excellent Tragedian Euripides born In the same Age also flourished Herodotus of Hallicarnassus who is the most Ancient of all the Greek Historians we have 3514. 470. LXXVII iii. 284. Cimon the Son of Miltiades Admiral of the Athenians Fleet took away several Cities of Asia from the Persians and overcame them at Sea with two hundred and fifty Ships only when they had no less than three hundred and forty and a little after gained another Victory over their Land Forces at Eurymedon a City of Pamphylia The Athenians at that time waged War with good success against their Neighbours in Greece and gave divers overthrows to the Thassians Thracians and Aeginetans The Lacedaemonians also brought the Hilotes and Messenians who Rebelled against them under Subjection again having sent home the Auxiliary Troops of Athens because of the suspicion they had of them 3516. 468. LXXVIII i. 286. T. Quinctius General of the Romans obtained a Victory over the Voscians and after the taking of Antium Triumphed Next year upon the Death of Hieron in the Isle of Sicily succeeded his Brother Thrasibulus in his Tyranny over Syracuse but being expelled by the Syracusians he went into Banishment to Locris and from that time forward the Syracusians enjoyed a free State for 40 years together till Dionysius his days 3519. 465. LXXVIII iv 289. Artabanus the Hyrcanian slew Xerxes and Accused his Brother Darius of the Parricide before Artaxerxes whom as we have said Xerxes had made his Copartner in the Empire Darius being condemn'd to die Artaxerxes was wounded by Artabanus but afterwards slain by him whence he obtain'd the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Long Hands and began this year to Reign alone and Reigned XL years To him Themistocles fled in his Banishment who was very kindly received and rewarded by him The same Artaxerxes was a great favourer of the Jews and in the twentieth year of his Reign gave Nehemiah leave to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem when Cyrus had only allowed them the favour of Rebuilding the Temple Nehemiah finish'd that work in a very short time notwithstanding all the opposition made to the contrary by the neighbouring Samaritans Ammonites and Arabians 3522. 462. LXXIX iii. 292. In the mean while there was a Law made at Rome after several Tumults raised by the People which was called the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri that were to be created with consular power as well from among the Commonalty as Nobility The year after Ap. Herdonius the Sabine with four thousand Exiles and Servants seized on the Capitol but soon after by the assistance above all others of the Tusculans they were driven out Thenceforward the Romans gave many overthrows to the Sabines and Aequi and when it hapned so that Minucius the Consul through ill management was Besieged by the Aequi in his Camp Quinctius Cincinnatus being called from his Plow to take upon him the Office of Dictator he conquered the Aequi and made them Slaves The Athenians this very time under the Conduct of Leocrates often beat the Corinthians and Epidaurians and forced Garrisons upon the Aeginetae and Megarensians after which under the leading of Myronides they Routed the Lacedaemonians and from this spark was afterwards that flame of the Peloponnesian War kindled 3530. 454. LXXXI iii. 300. Petavius thinks that Daniel s Seventy weeks ought to take their beginning from this year See Lib. 12. de Doc. temp This same year upon the Abrogating of the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri there were three Embassadors sent into Greece to make an inspection into the Laws of that Country and especially into those of Athens that they might amend the Roman Laws by them Upon the return of the Embassadors which was three years after the Tribunes of the People and Consuls were laid aside and the Decemviri constituted to set down the Laws of the Common-wealth who were the first that reduced the same into ten Tables which by the addition of two more to them afterwards made up those Famous twelve Tables which were the foundation of the whole Body of the Roman Laws After the Republick had for the space of two years or a little more been Governed by this sort of Magistracy it reverted to its Ancient form upon this occasion As the Decemviri demeaned themselves but indifferently in their charge and that Appius Claudius had made Virginia a free Maiden of Rome a Slave out of the hopes he had to enjoy her her Father Virginius Slew him made the People Mutiny and brought things so to bear that the Office of the Decemviri was Abrogated and Tributes of the People and Consuls were chosen again While these things were doing in Rome Nehemiah returning from Chaldaea together with Ezra the Scribe Rectified the corrupt manners of the Jews and pressed upon them the observation of the Law of Moses From this time it was that the Jews began to gather the Books of Scripture together into one Volume which is the same we have at this day But seeing that the Jews during the Babylonish Captivity had almost forgot the Hebrew Tongue and way of Writing the Ancient Books were written in Assyrian Characters and what was read in the Hebrew Tongue in the Scriptures was expounded to the People in the Chaldee See Lud. Capellus concerning the Hebrew letters But the Samaritans when they received Moses his Law before the Phoenician or Ancient Character was grown quite obsolete preserved them from whence it comes
were adjudged to go to Hell withstood them stifly and under the Name of Divine Grace which they said Pelagius was an Enemy to establish'd their own Opinion among the Christians which before was scarce ever heard of in the World At the same time Attalus and Heracliaenus set up for Tyrants in Italy and Africa but quickly lost their Usurped Power while the Goths in the mean time waged War against the Alans and Vandals in Spain and Gaul under the Conduct of Vallias Ataulphus's his Successor who restored Placidia to Honorius and was marry'd to Count Constantius 514. This year the first Synod at Diospolis in the Land of Palestine was held against Pelagius where he is said to have retracted his Errors and to be absolved Another Synod in conformity to this condemned the Pelagian Errors in Africa and sent Letters to Innocent Bishop of Rome to induce him to do the like The same thing was done that year by the Synod held at Milevitum in Numidia But Coelestius the Disciple of Pelagius coming to Rome after the death of Innocent cleared himself before Zosimus then Pope who wrote to the Clergy in Africa That if they knew of any one that were minded to accuse Coelestius they should send him to Rome And he did at the same time inveigh bitterly against Lazarus and Herotes two Gaulish Bishops for their rash Accusation of Coelestius and Pelagius He wrote also not long after such other Letters in favour of Pelagius which Pelagius's Adversaries say were obtained through cunning Dissimulation But there is no reason we should believe them before Pelagius seeing they used all the Artifice imaginable to defame his Doctrine and obtained an Order from Honorius against him See Ger. John Vossius in Historia Pelagiana From thence in the mean time arose Contentions about Appeals from Places beyond the Seas while Zosimus in opposition to the African Bishops urged That Appeals to the See of Rome were lawful and for this he insisted upon I do not know what Canon of the Council of Nice whereby he said it was manifest those Appeals were Canonical But the African Fathers found the Canon was fictitious by sending some to the East to bring them the Canons of that Council And hence sprung a Schism between the Roman and African Churches 420. While the Romans waged War against the Persians in the East and that Honorius who govern'd the Western Empire wasted away his time in Idleness the Kingdom of the Franks under Pharamond is said to have begun 424. A few years after when Placidia with her Sons Valentinian and Honorius were drove away by the Emperor Honorius she fled to Theodosius into the East where she had the Dignity of Augusta conferred upon her as her Son Valentinian had that of Caesar This Prince upon the death of Honorius was sent into Italy to suppress John Principal Notary who had invaded the Empire of the deceased Which he successfully performed and in a little time after did by the help of Aetius a valiant Man to whom he was much obliged overthrow Count Boniface who had seized upon the Empire in Africa 428. Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople is said to have spread his Doctrine at that time whereby he contended as they would have it That there were Two Persons in Christ Cyril Bishop of Alexandria opposed him vehemently though it 's very likely the whole Contest was nothing but meer Word-warring nay if Cyril's words were as rigidly scann'd as those of Nestorius the Bishop of Alexandria would appear to be more Heterodox than the other But yet the Synod assembled at Ephesus which was called the Third General one and which consisted of Two hundred Bishops condemned Nestorius But John Bishop of Antioch coming thither with his Party did on the fifth day after Nestorius's Condemnation serve Cyril the same turn and annull the Council's Decrees From whence arose a Schism in the Eastern Churches which could scarce be composed again The whole Controversy had its beginning from the ambiguity of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For while some confounded the terms and said there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ Others who made a Distinction between them contended That there were indeed Two Natures in him but One Person Besides which there were also some who said there were but One Nature and One Person in him from whence afterwards sprang the Opinion of the Eutychians of whom by and by At length when Cyril's Party who were at first inferiour to the other got the better on 't with the Emperor Theodosius Nestorius's Books were condemned In Defence whereof the Nestorians published the Books of Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodorus of Mopsuestenum who defended both Natures which were condemned by some and approved by others when they did not rightly understand one another Then was the Theodosian Code publish'd being the year after Vincentius Larinensis put out his Book called Commonitorium The Goths Huns and Vandals about these times molested the Roman Empire in divers Parts tho' the Roman Generals craftily made use sometimes of one sometimes of another's friendship in order to appease the rest 437. Valentinian the Second marry'd Eudoxia Theodosius's Daughter to whom he had been betrothed a long time before Eudoxia the Mother of this Prince went to Jerusalem the next year to pay her Vows where she stayed for the space of a year for then it was that holy Places began to be had in much veneration and many Pilgrimages were under taken thither several also of the Reliques of the Saints long since deceased began to grow famous by which great Miracles were said to be done whereby it came to pass that Men began to invoke the holy Martyrs and others by whose Prayers they believed those things they asked of God would be more easily obtained From henceforward the Thirteenth Book of Dionysius Petavius de Doct. Temp. is stuffed with a great many Monkish Stories he neglecting no opportunity of taking notice of those Reliques which at that time grew in vogue with the People 439. Carthage was taken by the Vandals after it had been almost for Six hundred years in the hands of the Romans The Conquerors are said to have vented their rage against the Christians and especially the Priests by the Command of King Geisericus It 's said there were several Manichaeans discovered at this time in Italy who were sharply prosecuted by Leo Bishop of Rome Bleda and Attila Kings of the Huns ravaged Illyricum and Thrace and besides that extorted great Summs of Money from Theodosius But Attila after his Brother Bleda was slain had the whole Power in his hands and not long after over-ran almost all Europe 448. Eutyches this year is said to have been convicted of Heresie in the Synod of Constantinople because he confounded the Natures of Christ which Nestorius had over separated But next year there was a Synod held at Ephesus wherein Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria restored him to Communion again from
took this occasion to act the Part of a Prophet He was taken with the Falling-Sickness which he pretended to have come upon him when Michael the Archangel revealed any thing to him Sergius confirmed the Fiction and seeing there had been innumerable Divisions and Janglings among the Christians and were still in being concerning the Holy Trinity they deemed it a safer Way to assert but one Divine Person and Nature that all occasion of Strife might be taken away than to embrace any one of the Opinions in Controversie he also forbad the Drinking of Wine as if he had received the same in Command from God but in reality it was because he had learnt it of Sergius the Manichaean for those Sects thought it a Duty to abstain from Wine Some have said that Sergius was before a Jew and that therefore he retained something of Judaism which is not unlikely for besides the Tenents already mention'd to be held by the Mahometans these that follow savour of Judaism It 's not lawful for them to Eat Blood Swine's-Flesh any Creature that died of it self any thing Sacrificed to Idols Strangled any Animal killed with a Stick any thing cast out gored with an Horn or stung by a Viper Polygamy is tolerated and Divorce not forbidden They also Circumcise as the Jews did but whether Mahomet instituted the same or that the said Ceremony is now in use among the Saracens is a question However this may seem to be commendable in the Mahometans that they do not Arbitrarily adjudge all Mankind to the Punishments of Hell as appears from these words of Mahomet Alcoran Surat II. The Musselmen and those who Judaize with the Christians and Zabeans whoever of them shall believe in God to the Day of Judgment and do good shall have their reward of their Lord but not fear In like manner he blames the Jews and Christians for Condemning one another saying They have affirmed He shall not enter into Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian Says the Jew The Christians are nothing but say the Christians The Jews are nothing but in the Day of the Resurrection God shall judge between them concerning the thing about which they differ He also pretended That this Book was brought to him by Piece-Meals and various Chapters from Heaven by the Angel Gabriel It 's written in elegant Arabick exactly Comma'd and the Vowel Points are most Accurately added by his Disciples wherein some Learned Men think they have been imitated by the Jews 631. Mahomet drew away the greatest part of the Saracens a People of Arabia to be his Followers and as he had espoused Heraclius's Interest he assigned him Lands to inhabit on the Confines of Arabia Felix and died Nine years after his flight from Mecha at which place his Friends buried him whither the Mahometans go on Pilgrimage to this day to visit his Sepulchre His Successors afterwards by degrees invaded Egypt Palaestine and Syria 626. But to return again to Heraclius when he saw that all the offers of Peace he had made were rejected by the Enemy and that they kept no Faith with him he took Courage and marching in Person at the Head of his Army into Armenia and Persia got a famous Victory over the Persians But the Persians so wrought upon the Avares by the Rewards they gave them that they should join their Forces with them to set upon Constantinople and Chalcedon while with another Army they invaded the other Provinces of the Empire Heraclius sent several Armies against all these Enemies and called in the Turks to his Assistance who through the Streights of the Caspian Sea broke out of Scythia into the Persian Territories and ravaged the same far and near Now it was that the Name of that Nation came first to be known who afterwards possest themselves of all the Provinces of the Eastern Empire Heraclius by their Assistance distressed Cosroes very much who at length falling Sick at Seleucia was slain by his Eldest Son Siroes because he endeavoured to make his Younger Son King But Heraclius triumphed at Constantinople Next year when the Emperor was at Edessa and entred into a Discourse with Athanasius Syrus whom upon the Approbation of the Synod of Chalcedon he had made Patriarch of Antioch he asked him Whether there were one Will in Christ God and Man or two One answered Athanasius and Syrus Bishop of Alexandria with Sergius of Constantinople approving the same the Emperor embraced the said Opinion the Favonrers whereof were afterwards call'd by the Name of Monothelites and this occasioned great Disturbances in the East 632. The Saracens being made Strong by the favour of Heraclius when they saw the Persians weakned with the Losses they had sustained made War upon them with that Success that Othman after having slain Jezdegirdus the King of Persia seized upon that Empire whence arose the Jezdegirdies Aera which the Persians use Mahomet was Succeeded in Arabia by his Kinsman Abubecher who was call'd Chaliph i.e. Successor which Name by way of excellency or peculiarity was given to Mahomet's Successors This Man two years after was succeeded by Omar who in the Reign of Heraclius invaded Egypt Palaestine and Syria 639. This year Sergius Patriarch of Constantinople took care to get the Opinion of the Monothelites declared to be Catholick in a Synod that was Assembled for that Purpose and put out his Exposition in the Name of the Emperor which he sent into Italy that the Bishops of Rome might Subscribe it who otherwise should not be confirmed by the Emperor which then was requisite that their Election might be valid but Severinus would not Subscribe who was at that time chosen Bishop and who died not long after as did also Sergius himself 641. Heraclius after a Reign of Thirty Years died of a Dropsy and was immediately Succeeded in the Empire by his Son Constantine but in about four Months time was Poisoned by Martina his Mother-in-Law who advanced her Son Heracleon into his Place Yet six Months were scarce at an end when she together with her Son were dispossess'd of the Government by the Senate of Constantinople and that the Son might never after aspire to the Empire they cut his Nostrils but for Martina she had her Tongue cut out and Constans the Son of Constantine was advanced to the Throne 645. While Sigebert and Lodowick the Sons of Dagobert ruled their several Proportions in France Rotharithus King of the Lombards reduced into Writing the Laws of his Country which had been hitherto preserved only by Memory and Use bringing of them all into one Book which is still extant 648. Constans finding that divers of the Bishops of Africa and others were alienated from him because of his addictedness to the Monothelite Opinion he put forth an Edict called the Type whereby he forbad any to speak of the Will of Christ that this might be a check upon those who were of the contrary Sentiment But Pope Theodore supposing that thereby all