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
Sophocles And though Papists say that Heathen Images are instead of Letters yet as Heathen Pictures proved notorious Idols so those Stocks Stones c. called Pictures of Christ our Lady c. were by the Ignorant not only Worshipped but thought to live It is safest then for Christians to believe Gods Commandments directly against Images and that which the Prophets and St. Paul speak plainly and convincingly § 8. Ninus the first Idolater an Invader of others and publick Adulterer Of whom nothing is certain which is written for Berosus who chiefly followed him in the Assyrian Succession from Nimrod to Ascalodius in the days of Ioshua is disproved by many Ctesias who lived with Cyrus the Younger a gross flatterer of Princes speaks of incredible numbers in Ninus and Semiramis's Wars He with the help of Aricus King of Arabia subdued Syria Barzanes of Armenia and Zoroaster of Bactria at his second Expedition by the Valour of Semiramis whom he took from Menon her Husband who for Grief drowned himself CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus § 1. NINVS finished Ninive as Semiramis did Babel began by Nimrod Ninive Four Hundred Forty Furlongs in Circuit the Wall an Hundred Foot high and had One Thousand Five Hundred Towers yet Semiramis exceeded him in Babylon § 2. Ninus Dyed after 52 Years Reign Anno Mundi 2019. Plutarch Reports he gave Semiramis one days absolute Rule as she desired in which she commanded his Death She saith Iustin was so like Ninias her Son as that she took upon her to Personate him but it is highly improbable considering she Reigned 42 Years and used her own Name § 3. Semiramis as to her Parentage and Education is variously Reported but not determined by any Author § 4. Her Indian Expedition if Ctesias were worthy of Credit would yet burthen any Mans faith to believe she had Three Millions of Foot One of Horse Two Hundred Thousand Charets and Camels Mounted All which Power perished with her by the hand of Stenobates § 5. Belus's Temple Built by her Four Square a Mile high by Eight Ascents each a Furlong high and of lesser Circuits on whose top the Chaldean Priests observed the Stars Many take the Ruins of it made by Xerxes for Nimrod's Tower c. See Pyramids of Egypt THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire NINEAS or Zameis succeeded Semiramis in the Empire altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria as Berosus reports contrary to Diodorus Iustinus Orosius and all others He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealousie of them Arrius succeeded whom Suidas calls Tâ—uras He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians Aralius succeeded sumptuous in Jewels and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines Baleus Xerxes succeeded The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns are best found out by the times of Abraham and his Posterity set down by Scriptures which are only void of Errors whereto all other Writings are subject No marvel then if in the Ancient Affairs History want assurance said Plutarch Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be ascertained all agree it was in the 43 d of Ninus but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood in which he was Born Archilochus de Temporibus in Annius maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus whereto add 43 which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking seeing to be Learned in many Errours or to be ignorant in all things hath little advantage of each other § 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. § First they Argue from Scripture Secondly from Authority of Iosephus Augustine Beda Isidore and others First The Scripture is Gen. 11.26 when Abraham is first Named the Worthiest and Son of the Promise therefore First-born Secondly Moses respected the History of Abraham not Nahor Thirdly If Abraham were not the First-born his Birth is uncertain Fourthly Unprobable Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age. § 3. Answer to the Objections § Leaving what Divines have Answered to scan this Question we are to consider whether Abraham made two Journies from Charran unto Canaan the former before the latter after his Fathers Death as some conceive upon what is said Heb. 11.3 Against this fancy Martyr Stephen Witnesseth that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead This can be no other than that of which Moses writ Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2 c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life but Moses so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews therein to disagree with Moses Secondly Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan distant Three Hundred English Miles unknown to him and tedious over Mountains and Desarts which he must pass three times in two Journies and so make Nine Hundred Miles besides his Travel from Vr to Charran as much more And consider the Train Abraham had with him Gen. 12.5 which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran till his Fathers Death as 't is plain Act. 7.4 when also by their account Abraham must be about 135 Years Old and Isaac also must be about 35 When he might well have Married him and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey Neither can this Opinion agree with that which Abraham's Servant Reported to Laban touching his Master which he could not be ignorant of if he had been so lately there Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies most of them of less importance than this neither can any reason be given why Abraham did return this second time to Charran but only to support their Opinions § 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age unâ—it for a Child as Abraham was at One Hundred Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering but if they consider Sarah's the wonder was in her own disability not Abraham's who had divers Sons 37 Years after yea many Ages after that Boaz Obed and Iesse Begat Sons at 200 Years or there about § 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain and so the succeeding Times I Answer Abraham's Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death as if his Birth had been dated For as St. Stephen tells us his departure followed his Father's death so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years and his Father's 205 at his Death To the Objection that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran to set out their Age as he did Abraham's I Answer There were great Reasons to respect them also considering the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham Isaac and Iacob's Marrying with them And though they had Worshipped
Providence had order'd to the contrary by ordinary means For first these Nations having setled there from the beginning and matched with Canaanites and fallen to their Idolatry and having had neighbourly Commerce with them it could not be but they should affect them being also the ancient Inhabitants Secondly the Israelites by long abode in Egypt were become strangers to them and the less affected for differences in Religion and feared for being a Potent United People whereas the Canaanites were divided and therefore not feared of them so much Thirdly both Ismalites and Edomites being Carnal People might resent the Actions of Israel for their old Quarrels between their first Parents yet none of these directly opposed them in defence of the Canaanites Only the Amalekites which are commonly taken to be a Tribe of Edom offered them violence which was never forgiven § 2. Of the Kings of the Canaanites and Moabites § Speaking of the Canaanites we understand the seven Nations descended from Cham by Canaan whose proper Habitation was bounded by Iordan on the East the Mediterranean Sea on the West Of these the first we read of is Hamor the Hittitish Lord in Iacob's days of the Hittites Arad is the Second who is named King of the Canaanites in the South of Canaan bordering on Edom and the Red Sea Sihon King of Heshon and Og King of Bashan were next who had driven out the Moabites and Ammonites out of all the Valley East of Iordan Adonizedek is the Fifth with whom Ioshua nameth Four other Kings all Amorites Iabin King of Hazor or which afore-time was head of those Kingdoms and Iobab King of Madon then Adonibezek that Tyrant of Bezek and Iabin the Second King of Hazor Iudg. 4. overthrown by Baras The Midianites descended from Abraham by Midian the Son of Ketura Some of them dwelt by the Red Sea where Ragvell or Revell called also Iethro and Kenis was King and Priest others of them were mixed with the Moabites and dwelt in Nabothea on the South-East of the Dead Sea whose Five Princes are named There are four others named slain by the Ephramites and Gideon Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Salmunna § 3. Of the Amalekites and Ismaelites Of Amalek's Original § Of them and of the Israelites few Kings are named and though the Ismaelites were more in number yet in Moses's days Amalek was more renowned than the rest of the Ismaeliets as after in the days of Saul when they were increased so far that he pursued them from Sur to Havila It seemeth the Israelites had left the barren Desarts of Arabia Petraea called Sur Paran and Sin to the Posterity of Ketura which joined with them and planted themselves in the better parts thereabout Nabaioth the Eldest of the Twelve Princes enjoy'd that fruitful part of Arabia Petraea which borders on Iudaea on the East they also peopled a Province of Arabia Felix Kedar the Second gave name to the East part of Basan or Batanea called Kedarens or Cedrens Abbiel the Third gave Name to Adubenes near the Mountains and divideth Arabia Felix from the Desart The Raabens were of Moshma which joyns to the Orchen near the Arabian Gulf by Zagmais Duma of whom came the Dumeans between the two former where was the City Dumeth Massa bred the Massams Hadar or Chadar the Athrites in Arabia Felix by the Napatheans Thema begat the Theminians among the Mountains where is the City Thema Ietur Father of Itureans or Chamathens whose King was Tohu in Davids days Naphish bred the Nubeans in Syria Zoba under King Adadezer in David's Days Cadma of whom came the Cadmonaeans or Asitae Worshipping the Fire as did the Babylonians The Amalekites opposed Israel from their coming out of Egypt joyning with all their Enemies as with the Canaanites Moabites Midianites and Edumaeans § 4. Prometheus Atlas and Pelasgus flourished in Moses Days § Pelasgus was now chosen King of Arcadia for teaching the Inhabitants to Erect Cottages and to make Food and Bread of Acorns who before lived on Roots and Herbs So long was it before Agriculture and Civilty came into Europe out of Egypt and the East Prometheus also flourished in this Age of the World Of whom it was Reported he formed Men out of Clay for his framing Men unto Wisdom His stealing Fire from Iupiter was his skill in the Stars which with great Study he got on Caucasus which occasion'd the Fable of his being bound there c. Africanus makes him within 44 Years of Ogyges Porphyry puts him with Inachus Atlas his Brother now flourished both Sons of Iapetus who according to Aescuâ—us had two others Oceanus and Hesperus Famous in the West There were others of the same Name but Mount Atlas South of Marocco came from him and both these of Cepheus and his Wife Cicero saith their Divine Knowledge occasioned those Fables Atlas skill in Astronomy produced the Pleiades and Hyades from his Daughters Some ascribe the finding out the Course of the Moon to him but others to Archas of whom Arcadia took Name who boast they are more Ancient than the Moon that is before her Motion and Influence was observed But Isacius Tzetzes a curious searcher of Antiquity ascribes it to Atlas of Lybia of Incomparable Gifts and Strength of whom Thalis Mirtius had his first Rudiments Ducalion King of Thessaly was the Son of Prometheus says Herodotus Apollonius Hesiod and Strabo In his time fell that great Inundation of Thessaly in which so few escaped the Vengeance which their exceeding Wickedness had drawn upon them Only Ducalion and Pyrrha excelling in Virtue escaped upon his Fathers fore-warning Phaetons Confiagration happened in Ethiopia and in Istria and the Mountain Vesuvius § 6. Mercurius Ter-Mximus called Hermes of the Greeks now flourished excelling all the Heathens in Wisdom Plato ascribes all invention of Letters to him whom Philo Biblius calls Tauntus Egyptians Tâ—oyth Alexandrians Thot As for the Conjecture that a Grecian Mercury carried Letters into Egypt is improbable seeing all profane Antiquity acknowledge that Greece had Learning out of Egypt and Phoenicia And that Cadmus brought Letters out of Egypt into Greece which was while Minos was King of Crete Lyncius the King of the Argives who succeeded Danaus who had Reigned 50 Years and Stenelus 10 Years before him and Crotopus before him in whose 10 Years Moses Dyed So much difference of time is between Hermes and Cadmus his coming into Boetia Neither did the Two Mercuries of Egypt mentioned by Augustine come out of Greece but Epolemus and Artapances ascribe that invention to Moses who taught it the Hebrews of whom the Phoenicians had it and Cadmus from them Ficinus is deceived thinking that Mercury upon whose Book he Commenteth was Four Descents after Moses So Ludovicus Vives thinks the Author of those Books was Grand-child to Mercury Ter-Maximus His long life of 300 Years might give ocsion to some to find him at one time to others at another and they
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
Cynea who replied He might do so if he could be content with his own Pyrrhus carrieth an Army of almost Thirty Thousand choice Souldiers to the Tarentines who were nothing forward in provision for War which while he was employ'd about Levinus the Roman Consul drew near wasting the Lucans so that Pyrrhus was forc'd with his own and some weak assistance of the Tarentines to try the Roman Valour But seeing them come on so bravely he offered to arbitrate a Peace between them and the Tarentines but was answered They neither chose him their Iudge nor feared him their Enemy Pyrrhus upon view of their Camp perceiving he had to deal with Men well-trained set a strong Corps du Guard upon the passage of the River which when he saw them force he thought it time to bring on his whole Forces before all the Army was come over and all little enough while Spear and Sword were used But when his Elephants came in the Roman Horse quickly turned head and the Foot at the sight and first impression of those strange Beasts fled with such consternation that they left their Camp to the Enemy Yet Pyrrhus by this trial finding the Romans could better endure many such Losses than he such Victories sent Cyneas to persuade an Agreement with the Romans which they refused as long as he was in Italy This Answer inflam'd Pyrrhus with desire to enter into League with that gallant City which refused to treat of Peace except he first left Italy They come therefore to a second Battel which he obtain'd by his Elephants but with such loss of the Flower of his Army that he desired any occasion to be gone with Honour § 4. Pyrrhus waiting an opportunity to leave Italy hath two occasions offered and first from Madecon where Ptolomy Ceraunus who had murthered Seleucus his Protector was slain by the Gauls who came out of the Country with those who took Rome and passing through many Countries and making long abode in Pannonia at length came to Macedon under one Belgius after whom came Brennus another Captain with One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Foot and Fifteen Thousand Horse which Sosthenes with the Macedonians avoided by shutting up the Cities At the same time also the Cicilians sent to Pyrrhus for aid against the Carthaginians which occasion he took and with Thirty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse entred Sicily expell'd the Carthaginians won Erex the strong City and in Syracusa began to play the Tyrant But being again called into Italy by the Tarentines against the Romans he was beaten by the Carthaginians Gallies and after that forced out of Italy to Epirus by M. Curius the Roman § 5. Antigonus Son of Demetrius Poliorcetes with an Army Navy and Treasure came into Macedon while Brennus with most of his Gauls was gone to plunder the Temple of Delpâ—os leaving Fifteen Thousand Foot and Three Thousand Horse These went to Antigonus requiring him to buy his Peace to whose Embassadors he shewed his Riches Navy Camp and Camels This being reported at their return inflamed the Gauls to hasten thither of whose coming Antigonus having intelligence left his Camp and put himself and all his Men into a Wood so the Gauls finding him gone hasted to the Sea-side supposing him fled Part of Antigonus's Army having recovered their Ships espying the Gauls presumptuous disorder taking their time suddenly went on shoar and set upon them with such Resolution that after the slaughter of many the rest yielded to Antigonus This Success bred in the Barbarians a great reputation of Antigonus but his own Men had no better opinion of him than of one who crept into Woods at sight of the Enemy This appeared shortly after when Pyrrhus being returned to Epirus with a small Army of Eight Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse came to make Devastations in Macedon in hope to force Antigonus to compound with him for his Peace At his entrance Two Thousand of Antigonus's Souldiers Revolted to him and many Cities yielded by which good beginning he took Courage to attempt Antigonus and his Army for the Kingdom Antigonus had no inclination to fight with him but to weary him with protracting time but Pyrrhus so forced a Streight in which he overtook him that he slew most of the Gauls Antigonus not taking any care to relieve them which the Captains of the Elephants fearing to be their own case yielded Then Pyrrhus went to the Phalanx which could not be Charged but in Front which was very dangerous but perceiving they had no desire to fight he drew near to them in Person persuading them to yield which they presently did so Antigonus with a few Horse fled to Thessalonica but is forced by Ptolomy Son of Pyrrhus who pursued him to fly to Peloponesus § 6. Pyrrhus having gotten the Kingdom of Macedon beaten Antigonus and the Gauls he thought himself without match in any of the Kingdoms of Alexander's Conquests He therefore raised an Army of Twenty Five Thousand Foot Two Thousand Horse and Twenty Four Elephants as against Antigonus in Peloponesus to free such Cities as he held there but indeed to restore King Cleonymus to Lacedemon but made shew of all Friendship to them This dissimulation the Lacedemonians had used 'till none would trust them and yet now they were not hurt by Pyrrhus's use of it by reason of his deferring the assaults 'till they had fortified the Town which was never done before He assailed the Town three days together and had won it the second day but for a Fall his wounded Horse gave him and the third day relief came unto them so that despairing to carry it he was content to go to Argos whither one Faction of the City called him promising to render it as the other Faction called Antigonus but both sides repented it when they were come and desired their departure which Antigonus assured them by Hostages Pyrrhus promised but design'd it not for by Night his Complices opened him a Gate at which his Army entred 'till the Elephants came which stop'd up the Gates from whence grew the Alarum the Citizens arm and put the Souldiers in the dark to great confusion they being ignorant of the Streets yet Pyrrhus gain'd the Market-place Antigonus came to their rescue and Pyrrhus is slain by a Slate cast from an House by a Woman whose Son was fighting with him THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK V. Part I. From the setled Rule of Alexander's Successors 'till the Romans Conquer'd Asia and Macedon CHAP. I. Of the First Punick War § 1. CArthage had stood above Six Hundred Years when she contended with Rome for Sicily it surpass'd Rome in Antiquity One Hundred and Fifty Years as well as in Dominion which extended from the West part of Cyrene to Hercules's Streights Fifteen Hundred Miles wherein stood Three Hundred Cities It commanded Spain and all the Islands in the Mediterranean South-West from Sicily it had Flourished about Seven Hundred and Thirty Years when
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