yet was his victory so easie that the Persians flying he slew twenty thousand of the Foot and two thousand five hundred Horsemen with the loss of twelve of his own Foot and two and twenty of his Horsemen which shews that the Persians were rather killed in their backs whilst they ran away than hurt in their bosoms by resisting It was wisely done of Alexander to pass this River of Granick in the face of the enemy without seeking any other place or means to convey his men over For having beaten the Asiaticks upon their own ground he did thereby cut off no less of their reputation than of their strength leaving the partakers of such Cowards without hope of Succour Presently after this Victory he recovered Sardis Ephesus and the City of the Trallians and Magnesia all which were soon rendred to him the Inhabitants he received with great grace suffering them to be governed by their own Laws and about the same time by Parmenio he wan Miletus and by force took in Halicarnasseus which because it resisted obstinately he razed it to the ground From thence he went into Caria where Ada the Queen who had been cast out of all that she held except the City of Alinda by Darius his Leiutenants presented her self to him and adopted him for her Son and Successour which Alexander took so kindly that he left the whole Kingdom to her disposal Then entred he into Lycia and Pamphilia and assured to him all the Sea-coasts and subjecting to him Pisidia he steared his course towards Darius vvho as he was informed vvas marching towards him with a marvellous great Army by the vvay of Phrygia and this he might the easilier do for that his first Victory had laid under his feet all the Provinces of Asia the less which bordered upon the Sea-coast Then gave he order for the setling and Government of Lycia and Pamphilia and so marching towards the North he entred Celenas seated on the River Meander which was abandoned to him only the Castle held out which yet after forty days vvas surrendred to him also for so long time he gave them to attend succour from Darius From Celenas he passed on thorow Phrygia towards the Euxine Sea till he came to the City of Gordium somtimes the Regal City of King Midas vvhere he found the Gordian Knot which when he knew not hovv to undo he cut it asunder vvith his Svvord For there vvas an old Prophesie vvhich promised him that could unty it the Lordship of all Asia vvhereupon Alexander not respecting the manner so it vvere done assumed to himself the fulfilling of the Prophesie by hevving it in pieces Novv before he left this part of Asia to go to the East he took care to clear the Sea-coast on his back and to thrust the Persians out of the Islands of Lesbos Chio and Coos the charge vvhereof he committed to tvvo of his Captains giving them such directions as he judged most meet for that service and delivering to them fifty Talents for defraying the charges thereof and vvithal out of the spoil gotten by his first Victory he sent sixty Talents more to Antipater vvhom he had left for the Government of Macedonia and Greece From Celenas he vvent to Ancira standing on the same River of Sanguarius vvhich runs through Gordium there he mustered his Army and so entred into Paphlagonia vvhose Inhabitants submitted themselves to him and thereby obtained freedom from Tribute There he left Catus Governour vvith one Regiment of Macedonians newly come to him Here he heard of the Death of Memnon Darius's Lieutenant which much encouraged him to pass on towards him For of this one Commander he had more respect than of all the multitude assembled by Darius and of all the Captains he had besides Then did he travel hastily towards Cilicia with a desire to recover the Streights thereof before Darius should arrive there The Governour of Cilicia hearing of Alexanders hasty march left some Companies to keep the Streights which were indeed very defensible and now though too late began to prize and put in Execution the advice of Memnon who in the beginning of the Wars had counselled to wast all the provisions both for Man and Horse that could not be conveyed into strong holds and always to give ground to the Invader till he found some such notable advantage as might secure to him the Victory For the fury of an invading army is best broken by delays change of diet and want and other inconveniences bringing and breeding many diseases upon all Nations out of their own Country And had Darius kept the Macedonians but a while without meat and sleep refusing to give or take Battel and had wearied them with his light Horsemen as the Parthians afterwards did the Romans in all probability he might have saved both his life and Estate For it was one of the greatest encouragements given by Alexander to his Macedonians before the third and last fatal Battel that they were now to fight with all the strength of Persia at once But where God hath a purpose to destroy wise men are taken away and the charge of things is committed unto such as either cannot see what is for their good or that know not how to put in execution any sound advice the courte which Memnon had propounded must in all liklyhood have brought the Macedonians into great straits and stopt them at those narrow passages of Cilicia For had Cappadocia and Paphlagonia being wasted when Alexander was far off and the Streights of Cilicia been defended by Arsenes with his best Souldiers hunger would not have suffered the enemy to stay the tryal of all means for the forcing of that passage Or if the place could not have been defended yet might Cilicia at leasure have been throughly spoiled that the heart of Alexanders Army should have been broken whilest they sought out miseries by painful travel But Arsenes leaving a small number to defend the Streights took the best of his Army with him to wast and spoil the Country or rather as it seemed to make himself some work under which pretence he might with honesty run the further from Alexander And in truth he so handled the matter that he gave cause to the Cicilians to wish for Alexanders coming and as great cause to the Keepers of the Passage not to hinder it For Cowards are wise in apprehending all forms of danger These Guardians of the Streights hearing that Arsenes hasted to joyn himself with Darius burning down all as he went as one despairing to defend it began to think that surely their General who gave for lost the Country behind their backs had exposed themselves to certain ruin as men that were fit only to dull the Swords of the Macedonians Wherefore not being ambitious to die for their Prince and Country which honour they saw that Arsenes himself could well forbear they presently followed the footsteps of their General gleaning what he had
as formerly he used to do His Friends also and Favourites began to report that in the Books of the Sybils which in Rome were had in great Veneration it was written that the Parthians could never be overcome but by a man that should have the Title of a King and therefore he laboured that Caesar should take upon him that Title before his Parthian War and though he seemed to be displeased at it yet they suspected the contrary and their suspition was encreased for that whereas the Tribunes of the People had caused a man to be imprisoned who had set a Crown upon the Head of one of Caesars Statues he was so incensed against the Tribunes that did it that he deposed them from their Office And not long after when Mark Anthony who was his great favourite and that year his fellow Consul being at some publick Games came to Caesar and put a Crown upon his Head though he threw it down yet they all imagined that Mark Anthony would not have presumed to have done it without his good liking and that he did it but to prove the People how they would like it these and such like passages gave them occasion to desire and design his Death They were also father encouraged hereunto for that in sundry publick places certain writings were set up which did intice and animate them to conspire against him as upon the Statue of Brutus who in ancient times did chase the Kings out of Rome were written these words Would to God thou wert now living Brutus And upon the Image of Marcus Brutus who then was Praetor and descended from the former Brutus were these words Thou sleepest long Brutus Truly thou art not Brutus And again Thou art dead Brutus Would to God thou wert living Thou art unworthy of the succession from the Brute Surely thou art not descended from the good Brutus and such like other writings were set upon these Statues So as for these and such like reasons there were seventy of the most eminent men in Rome that conspired to murther Caesar of which the principal were Decius Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius Gaius Casca Attilius Cimber Servius Galba Quintus Ligarius Marcus Spurius c. who after divers consultations concluded to kill him upon the Ides of March which was the fifteenth day of that moneth in the Temple where the Senators were to sit that day Yet Brutus was held to be Caesars Son and had received great honours and many favours from him This conspiracy was kept so secret notwithstanding the great number of them that there was not any one found that discovered the same But there were so many signes and Prodigies and to himself there happened so many fore-warnings that without knowing any cause all men were of opinion that Caesars Death was near at hand Spurina also who was his Southsayer forewarned him to look to himself till the Ides of March were past for that his Life was in great danger And Caesars own Wife intreated him upon her knees that he would not that day go to the Senate For she had dreamed that he lay dead in her lap These and such like warnings prevailed so far with him that he was about to send to Mark Anthony to make his excuse and to put off the Senate to another day But what God hath determined must come to pass and therefore Brutus being present advised him by no means to discover any such fear and so he resolved to go Caesar made small account of Death and said That as for himself he had won power and fame and glory enough and that at no time he could die with greater honour And some discoursing the night before he was slain what Death was best Even that quoth he which is sudden and least prepensed The fifteenth of March being come he went from his house in a Litter towards the Senate and as he passed along the street there was a Petition delivered to him wherein was set down in Writing all that was concluded in this conspiracy and he which gave it prayed him to read it presently which he began to do but there came so many to speak to him that he could make no farther progress and this Paper was found in his hand when he was dead As he passed on he met with Spurina the Southsayer and pleasantly jesting he said to him Dost thou not know Spurina that the Ides of March are come Yea answered Spurina and I know that they are not yet past When he came to the Temple where the Senators met he alighted from his Litter and went in and having first done Sacrifice according to the custome which all that saw presaged to be fatal and infortunate He sat him down in his Chair and Brutus Albinus entertaining Mark Anthony at the door with discourse one of the Conspirators whose name was Celer came to Caesar under a pretence to intrcat him to release a Brother of his from Banishment and presently all the rest of the Conspirators drew near to his Chair which when Caesar saw thinking that they had all come for the same purpose he said unto them What force is this And at that instant one of them whose name was Casca beginning they all drew their poyniards and Swords which they had privately under their Gowns and began to wound him The first blow he received Casca gave him in the throat at which Caesar said aloud What dost thou Traitor Casca and wresting the Poyniard out of his hand he arose and stabbed Casca through the Arm and being about to strike him again he was prevented by the many wounds which the others gave him whilst with great force and courage he leaped from one side to the other to defend himself But when he saw Marcus Brutus with his drawn Sword in his hand wherewith he had already wounded him in the Thigh he was much amazed and said in the Greek Tongue Why how now Son Brutus And thou also And having so said seeing so many weapons bent against him and that no body came to his rescue he remembred to keep the honour of his Person with his right hand he covered his Head with part of his Robe and with his left hand girt himself and settled his clothes about him and being so covered he fell down to the ground having received three and twenty Wounds and it happened that his fall was at the foot of the seat on which Pompeys Statue stood So in this manner died one of the most Mighty Worthy Valiant Wise and most successful Princes and Captains that ever was in the World For his Excellencies Abilities Invincible Mind Incomparable Courage the Battels which he fought and Victories which he obtained the Provinces Kings and Nations which he subdued His Counsels Policies and Stratagems and bold attempts His Magnanimity Clemency and Bounty both to the Conquered and Conquerors the great Designs which he proposed to himself a little before he was slain being all weighed
his Mother a Mede of whom this very Nebuchadnezzar at the hour of his Death uttered this Prophesie There shall come a Persian Mule who shall make use of your Devils as his Fellow-Souldiers to bring you into Bondage He calls Cyrus a Mule because he was to be born of a Father and Mother of two divers Nations THE LIFE and DEATH OF CYRUS THE GREAT The First Founder of the PERSIAN EMPIRE CYRUS was the Son of Cambyses King of Persia by Mandanes the Daughter of Astyages King of Media He was so named by the Prophet Isay almost two hundred years before he was born Isa. 45. 1 4. Thus saith the Lord unto Cyrus his anointed c. Cyrus his first Education was under his Father Cambyses with whom he lived till he was twelve years old and somewhat more at which time he was sent for together with his Mother Mandanes by his Grandfather Astyages into Media In Media he served Astyages first as one of his Halberdiers and then as one of his Armour-bearers till he was called home into Persia by his Father Cambyses when as yet he had one year to spend at School and when he had spent seventeen years at School amongst Boyes he spent ten years more amongst youths When Cyrus was now almost sixteen years old Evilmerodach the King of Assyria being about to marry a Wife called Nicotris made an in-rode with a great Army of Horse and Foot into the borders of Media there to take his pleasure in hunting and harrassing of the Countrey against whom Astyages and Cyaxares his Son and Cyrus his Grand-child who then first began to bear Arms being but about fifteen or sixteen years old marched out met with him and in a great Battel overthrew him and drave him out of his borders Indeed the Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Father of Evilmerodach gave courage to those that had found him a troublesome Neighbour to stand upon prouder terms with the Babylonians than in his flourishing estate they durst have used But Evilmerodach being too proud to digest this loss which he had received by the Medes and their Allies the Persians under Cyrus he drew unto his party the Lydians and all the people of the lesser Asia with great gifts and strong perswasions hoping by their assistance to overwhelm his enemies with a strong invasion whom in vain he had sought to weary out by a lingring War The issue of these great preparations made by Evilmerodach against the Medes was such as opened the way to the fulfilling divers Prophesies which were many years before uttered against Babel by Isay and Jeremy For the Babylonians and their Confederates who trusting in their numbers thought to have buried the Medes and Persians under their thick showers of Arrows and Darts were encountred with an Army of stout and well trained men weightily Armed for close fight by whom they were beaten in a great Battel wherein Evilmerodach was slain After which that great Empire that was raised and upheld by Nebuchadnezzar was grievously shaken and enfeibled under his unprosperous Son and left to be sustained by his Grand-child Belshazzar a man more like to have overthrown it when it was greatest and strongest than to repair it when it was in a way of falling Xenophon relates the matter thus When the Babylonian had enlarged his Empire with many Victories and was become Lord of all Syria and many other Countreys he began to hope that if the Medes could be brought under his Subjection there would not then be left any Nation adjoyning able to make head against him For the King of the Medes was able to bring into the Field sixty thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse to which the Forces of Persia being joyned made an exceeding great Army Considering therefore the strength of such a neighbour he invited Croesus King of Lydia a Prince very mighty both in men and Treasure and with him other Lords of Asia the less to his assistance alledging that those Eastern Nations were very powerfull and so firmly conjoyned by League and many Alliances that it would not be easie no nor possible for any one Nation to resist them With these suggestions backed with rich Presents he drew to himself so many adherents as he compounded an Army of two hundred Thousand Foot and sixty thousand Horse Of which ten thousand Horse and forty thousand Foot were brought by Croesus who had great cause of enmity against the Medes for that they had made great Wars against his Father Allyattes Whereupon Cyrus was by his Father Cambyses and the Council of the Kingdom made General of the Persian Army and sent away into Media with thirty thousand Souldiers and one thousand Commanders all of equal Authority under him and when he came thither he was also made by his Uncle Cyaxares who had sent for him General of the Median Forces and the management of the War against the Babylonian was wholly committed to him With this Army he marched against Evilmerodach and his associates and in a very bloody Battel overthrew them In which defeat Evilmerodach King of Babylon being slain so many of his Subjects revolted that Babylon it self could no longer be secured but by the help of Mercenaries waged with great sums of money out of Asia the less Egypt and other Countries which new levied Forces were also defeated and scattered by Cyrus who following his advantage possessed himself of a great part of the lesser Asia Those Persians which followed Cyrus and were by him levied are reckoned to be thirty thousand Foot of which one thousand were Armed Gentlemen the rest of the common sort were Archers and such as used the Dart or Sling Croesus notwithstanding the men lost and the Treasure spent in the quarrel of the Babylonians yet did he Conquer Aeolis Doris and Ionia Provinces possessed by the Greeks in Asia the less adjoyning to his Kingdom of Lydia He gave Laws also to the Phrygians Bithynians Carians Mysians Paphlagonians and other Nations He also enforced the Ephesians to acknowledge him for their Lord He also obtained a signal Victory against the Sacaeans a Nation of the Scythians All which he performed in fourteen years And being now confident by reason of his good successes and withall envious at Cyrus his Fame and Prosperity doubting also that his great Victories might in the end grow perillous to himself he consulted with the Oracle of Apollo whom he presented with marvellous rich gifts what success he might hope for in his undertakings against Cyrus from whom he received this ambiguous answer Croesus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim Croesus passing over the River Halys shall dissolve a great Dominion For the Devil being doubtful of his success gave him this Riddle which might be construed either way to the ruine of Persia or of his own Lydia Hereupon Croesus interpreting it as he most desired resolved to stop the course of Cyrus his progress
with a Dart with such force as breaking the Wood he left the Iron Head sticking in his Body Having received this deadly wound he fell immediately to the ground But then was there a more cruel fight about him than ever there was before which occasioned great Slaughter on both sides till the Thebans by fine force made their enemies to flie for their lives and when they had pursued them a while they returned back to their Camp that they might keep the dead Bodies in their Power which was a certain Sign that the Victory was theirs and then they sounded a retreat and so the Battel ended Both sides challenged the Victory and made Triumphs for it The Lacedemonians did it because the Athenians had slain those of Negropont that were sent to seize upon the Hills before mentioned and kept their bodies in their power The Thebans on the other side having overcome the Spartans had the bodies of them that were slain in the Battel in their power which was by far the greater number wherefore they said that they were the Victors Thus both standing upon their tearms it was a good while before either would send a Trumpet or Herauld to the other for leave to bury their dead Yet at last the Lacedemonians sent first and then they all betook themselves to give the dead an Honourable Burial And as for him that had killed Epaminondas he was highly esteemed and honoured for his Valiant Act and the Lacedemonians gave him many rich Presents and made him and his Posterity free from all publick Taxes and contributions in the Common-wealth As for Epaminondas he was brought yet alive into his Tent howbeit his Physitians and Surgeons being called together to dress his Wounds they all concluded that so soon as they plucked the Head of the Dart out of his body he must needs die And truly he made a most noble and worthy end For first he called for his Target-bearer who was always at his hand in the Battel and asked him Is my Target safe He brought it straight Then he asked Who had the Victory The Boeotians answered the Target-bearer Then he commanded them to bring to him Diophantus and Jolidas they told him they were both dead Upon this he advised his Citizens to make Peace with their enemies for that they had not any Captain of skill to lead them to the Wars And now said he it is time for me to die and therefore pluck the Dart Head out of my Body At this word all his Friends that were about him fetched grievous sighs and even cryed out for sorrow and one of them weeping said unto him Alas Epaminondas Thou diest now and leavest no Children behind thee Yea said he that I do For I leave two fair Daughters behind me whereof the one is the Victory at Leuctres and the other this of Mantinea So they pulled out the Dart and immediately he gave up the Ghost without shewing any sign that he was at all troubled at it He used often to say That War is the Bed of Honour and that it is a sweet Death to dye for ones Country He was one of the bravest Captains that ever we read of For whereas others excelled in some one or two Virtues by which they made their Fame great and glorious he excelled in all the Vertues and good Parts that could be desired in a Grave Politick and great Captain to make him compleat in all things that could be expected in an Heathen In his time he advanced his Country to the Principality of all Greece But after his Death they soon lost it and not long after Alexander the Great utterly brake them in pieces made Slaves of those that survived and razed their City to the very ground As in his life time he had always detested covetousness so after his Death the Thebans were faign to bury him at the common charge of the City because they found no mony in his House to defray the least part of the Funeral expences THE WICKED LIFE AND WOFUL DEATH OF HEROD the GREAT In whose time Our LORD CHRIST was Born HEROD sirnamed the Great was the Son of Antipas or Antipater an Idumaean a prime man both for birth and wealth amongst them His Mothers name was Cyprus born at an eminent place amongst the Arabians so that when this Herod acquired the Kingdom of Judea that Prophesie of old Jacob was fulfilled Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come This Antipater riding his circuit about the Province of Judea whereof Julius Caesar had made him Governour repressed them who were desirous of innovation both by threats and counsel telling them that if they would be content with their Prince Hyrcanus whom Caesar also had confirmed in the High-Priesthood they might live happily in their own possessions but if they promised themselves new hopes and thought that they should gain much by innovations they should have him a Master instead of a Governour and Hyrcanus a Tyrant instead of a King and Caesar and the Romans bitter enemies instead of Princes for that they would by no means suffer any thing to be altered from what they had setled But Antipater perceiving Hyrcanus to be dull and idle he settled the state of the Province as himself pleased making his elder Son Phasaelus Governour of Jerusalem and the Countries adjoyning and to Herod his second Son being then a very young man he committed the care of Galilee Herod being Praefect of Galilee there was one Esekias a Jew who associating to himself many other lewd persons exercised thievery and used to make incursions into Syria in Troops These Herod pursued and having taken Esekias he put him to Death which fact of his gat him much favour with the Syrians which Province also was then under his Government The violence and bold nature of Herod who was desirous of the Tyranny much terrified the Princes of the Jews wherefore they addressed themselves to Hyrcanus and openly accused Antipater but especially they complained of Herod for that he had put to death Esekias with many others without any Commission from Hyrcanus in contempt of their Laws by which no man ought to suffer though never so wicked unless he were first condemned by the Judges The Mothers also of them that were killed ceased not daily in the Temple to weary both the King and the people with their continual exclamations desiring that Herod might be made to give an account of these his doings before the Sanhedrim whereupon Hyrcanus moved herewith commanded Herod to be called before the Council and to plead his own cause Herod having ordered the affairs of Galilee as he thought best for his own advantage being fore-warned by his Father that he should not come into the Council as a Private Person he took with him a moderate but yet a sufficient Guard not too great lest he should
a Kingdom that was anothers right should rage so insolently against the Family of the lawful Kings Anthony being prevailed with hereby when he came to Laodicea in Syria sent for Herod to come before him to answer what should be objected against him about the death of Aristobulus Herod during the time of his absence committed the care of his Kingdom to his Unkle Ioseph privately commanding him that if Anthony should do him any mischief he should presently put his Wife Mariamne to death pretending that he so loved her that he should esteem it a great wrong if any but himself should enjoy her beauty yea though it was after his Death When Herod came to Anthony he so appeased him with rich Presents that he brought on purpose with him from Ierusalem and by his frequent conferences with him that afterwards Cleopatra's instigations prevailed little For Anthony said that it was not fit that a King should be accountable for his actions otherwise he would cease to be a King For having once given him the honour the free exercise of his Kingly power was to be admitted unto him He told Cleopatra also that it was not fit for her too much to meddle with other mens matters During Herods absence Ioseph Governing the Kingdom he had occasion many times to converse with Mariamne partly upon business and partly to do her honour and in their discourses there was often mention made how much Herod loved her which discourse was laughed at by the Ladies especially by Alexandra But he was carried on with such a desire of provoking the Kings love to them that he told them what private command the King had given him supposing this was an infallible argument of his love because he could neither endure to live without her nor in death to be disjoyned from her but the Ladies were not of his mind rather abhorring the Tyranny of Herod who though he were dead yet would he seek their lives Presently after a rumour was spread about the City that Anthony had put Herod to death which much troubled all the Court especially the Ladies whereupon Alexandra perswaded Ioseph that taking them along with him he should fly to the Roman Legions that lay before the City under the command of the Tribune Iulius so that if any trouble arose in the City they might be secured by the Romans adding that she hoped if Mariamne came but once to the sight of Anthony she might obtain any thing of him yea even the Kingdom with whatsoever belonged to the Royal Family Whilst these things were under debate there came Letters from Herod which dashed all signifying how Anthony had honoured him both in the publick Assemblies and inviting him to his Feasts and that during the accusations of Cleopatra so that he feared her not for the time to come but hoped shortly to return to them Anthony having given Coelosyria unto Cleopatra instead of Iudea upon condition that she should not hereafter demand Iudea nor trouble him any further about that business As soon as these Letters were received the speech about flying to the Romans vanished but yet their debate about it was not hid For as soon as Herod had brought Anthony part of his way against the Parthians he returned into Iudea and immediately his Sister Salome and his Mother Cyprus told him what Alexandra's counsel was neither was she herewith contented but she accused her Husband Ioseph as if he had been too familiar with Mariamne and this she did out of an old grudge because the Queen a woman of an high spirit in their womanly brabbles had upbraided her with her obscure birth Mariamne by her Oath assured Herod of her chastity who told her again how much he loved her but she replied that it was not the part of a lover to command that if he died she should be put to death also Herod judging that this secret could never be known except she had committed adultery with Ioseph had much ado to refrain from killing her immediately but love overcoming his passion he refrained yed did he command Ioseph to be put to death without suffering him to plead for himself Alexandra also he cast into prison as the cause of all these evils Cleopatra having brought Anthony part of his way towards Parthia returned towards Egypt and by the way was entertained by Herod who assured unto her that part of Arabia which was granted unto her by Anthony to which he added the revenues of Iericho where are great store of the best Date Trees and where Balsom grows which being a precious Oyntment only grows there in two Gardens both which are the Kings the one of twenty acres the other of less By this means Herod grew into great familiarity with Cleopatra who sought to allure him to her Lust either through her great intemperance or because she sought by this means to betray him but though she pretended love to him yet Herod refused and held a consultation with his Friends about killing her who disswaded him from it and therefore having appeased her by great Presents and all manner of obsequiousness he accompanied her as far as Pelusium yet fearing both her and the People of the Jews he reserved the Castle as a refuge for himself laying in as many Arms there as were sufficient for ten thousand men Herod payed duely to Cleopatra the Tributes of Judea and Arabia which Anthony had given to her not thinking it safe to give her any occasion of disgust against him Herod being now free from troubles and having taken Hyrcanium a Town which hitherto a Sister of Antigonus had kept the Actian War brake forth between Augustus Caesar and Mark Anthony whereupon Herod made great preparation for the assisting of Anthony but he freed him from the trouble telling him that he needed them not and so dismissing him Herod returned home with a well-furnished Army wherewith he invaded Arabia going as far as Diospolis at which place the Arabians met him and after a fierce conflict the Jews got the Victory After this Herod made many inrodes into Arabia in the seventh year of his Reign after the death of Antigonus at which time the Actian War being begun Judea was shaken with such an Earthquake as never was the like before in which ten thousand men were overwhelmed by the ruins of the houses yet the Souldiers received no dammage because they lay in the open fields This being much aggravated by report so emboldened the Arabians that they laid hold on the Ambassadours of the Iews who in this their affliction came to demand peace and slew them and presently prepared for War with all earnestness Herod hearing hereof encouraged his men offered Sacrifice according to the custome and so in all haste marched with his Army over Iordan and having incamped at Philadelphia there the fight began about the taking of a Castle that lay between him and the Arabians in which the Iews got the better
effeminate than before About this time Hannibal sent his Brother Mago to Carthage vvith the joyful nevvs of this great Victory He told the Carthaginian Senate vvith hovv many Roman Generals his Brother had fought hovv many Consuls he had chased vvounded or slain Hovv the Romans vvho never used to shun a Battel vvere novv grown so cold that they thought their Dictator Fabius the only good Captain That not vvithout reason their spirits were thus abated since Hannibal had slain above two hundred and six thousand of them and taken above fifty thousand Prisoners He told them how many States in Italy followed the Fortune of those great Victories He told them that the War was even at an end if they vvould follovv it close and give the Romans no time of breathing He wished them to consider that the War was carried into an enemies Country that so many Battels had diminished his Brothers Army that the Souldiers that had deserved so well ought to be well rewarded and that it was not good to burden their new Italian Friends with exactions of Mony Corn c. But that these must be sent from Carthage Lastly he caused the Gold Rings taken from the Fingers of the Roman Knights that were slain to be powred out before them which being measured filled three Bushels This errand of Mago for the present found extraordinary good welcome And large supplies vvere voted to be sent to him But his old enemy Hanno obstructed them and the too much Parsimony of the Citizens was the cause that there was very little done and that which was done came too late However Mago brings the news of the great supply which was decreed to be sent which much rejoyced Hannibal and his new confederates The Spring drew on vvhen the supply was expected but there came no more than a few Elephants and Hannibal was forced to rest contented with them Then did he take the Field and sought to make himself Master of some good Haven Town that might serve to intertain the Carthaginian Fleet when it should arrive with the supplies For this end he sent Himilco who by the help of his good Friends the Brusians won Petilia he won also Concentia and Crotan and the City of Locri and many other places only the Town of Rhegium over against Sicily held out against him The Romans at this time were in such a case that Hannibal vvith a little help from Carthage might have reduced them to great extremity But his own Citizens suffered him to languish with expectation of their promised supplies which being still deferred from year to year caused as great opportunities to be lost as a Conqueror could have desired But whatsoever Hannibal thought he was faign to apply himself to his Italian Friends and to feed them with Hopes and to trifle way his time about Nola Naples Cumae c. being loath to weaken his Army by a hard Siege that was to be reserved for a vvork of more importance Many offers he made upon Nola but always vvith bad success Once Mercellus fought a Battel with him there under the Walls of the City having the Citizens to assist him vvherein Hannibal lost a thousand men which was no great marvail his forces being then divided and imployed in sundry parts of Italy at once At this time T. Sempronius Gracchus and Q. Fabius Maximus the late famous Dictator were chosen Consuls But Fabius was detained at Rome about matters of Religion or Superstition rather vvherewith the City vvas commonly especially in the times of danger very much troubled so Gracchus alone vvith a Consular Army waited upon Hannibal amongst the Campanes not able to meet him in the Field yet attentive to all occasions that should be presented The Slaves that lately had been Armed were a great part of his followers These and the rest of his men Gracchus continnally trained and had not a greater care to make his Army skilful in the exercises of War than in keeping it from quarrels that might arise by their upbrading one another vvith their base condition Gracchus at this time had a bickering vvith the Capuans upon whom he came at unawares and slew above two thousand of them and took their Camp but staid not long to rifâ—le it for fear of Hannibal that lay not far off By this his Providence he escaped a greater loss than he brought upon the Capuans For vvhen Hannibal heard hovv things vvent he presently marched thither hoping to find these young Souldiers and Slaves busied in loading themselves vvith the Booty But they were all gotten safe into Cumae which so angred Hannibal that at the earnest request of the Capuans he assailed it the next day Much labour and vvith ill success he spent about this Town He raised a Woodden Tower brought it close to the Walls thereby to assault it but they vvithin built a higher Tower vvhence they made resistance and found means to set Hannibals Tower on fire and vvhilst the Carthaginians were busie in quenching the fire they issued out charged them valiantly and drove them to their Trenches The Consul vvisely sounded a retreat in time or Hannibal had requited them The day following Hannibal presented Battel to them but Gracchus refused it Seeing therefore no likelyhood to prevail he raised his Siege and departed About this time Fabius the other Consul took the Field and recovered some small Towns that Hannibal had taken and punished the Inhabitants severely for their revolt the Carthaginians Army vvas too small to Garrison all the Towns that had yielded to them and withall to abide as it must do strong in the Field Wherefore Hannibal attending the supply from Carthage that would enable him to strike at Rome it self vvas driven in the mean time to alter his course of War and instead of making as he had formerly done a general invasion upon the vvhole Country he vvas faign to vvait upon occasions that grevv daily more commodious to the Enemy than to him When Hannibal vvas gone to Winter into Apulia Marcellus vvasted the Country of the Hirpines and Samnites the like did Fabius in Campania The People of Rome vvere very intentive upon the Work they had in hand they continued Fabius in his Consulship and joyned vvith him Cladius Marcellus Of these two Fabius vvas called the Shield and Marcellus the Roman Sword The great Name of these Consuls and the great preparations which they made put the Campans in fear that Capua it self should be besieged wherefore at their earnest request Hannibal came from Arpi and having comforted his Friends on a sudden he fell upon Puteoli a Sea-town of Campania about vvhich he spent three days in vain there being six thousand in Garrison vvherefore he left it and marched to Tarentum vvherein he had great intelligence In the mean time Hanno made a journy against Beneventum where T. Gracchus met him Hanno had vvith him about seventeen thousand Foot Brutians and Lucans
the Fields commanding them to disperse themselves abroad which accordingly they did and Perpenna took the opportunity and charged upon them and had them in chase but Pompey tarrying for them at a Foord was ready with his Army in good order gave them Battel and obtained the Victory and thus ended all the War For most of the Captains were slain and Perpenna himself taken Prisoner whom he presently put to Death Perpenna shewed to Pompey Letters from the greatest Noblemen of Rome who were desirous of change of Government willing him to return into Italy But Pompey fearing that they might occasion great commotions in Rome put Perpenna presently to Death and burned all the writings not so much as reading any one of them Pompey after this remained in Spain till he had pacified all tumults and then went with his Army back into Italy and arrived just when the War of the Bondmen and Fencers led by Spartacus was in the greatest fury Upon Pompey's coming Crassus being sent General against them made hast to give them Battel wherein he overcame them and slew twelve thousand and three hundred of these fugitive Slaves Yet Fortune intending to give Pompey some part of the honour five thousand of these Bondmen who escaped from the Battel fell into his hands whom he overcame and wrote to the Senate at Rome that Perpenna had overcome the Fencers in Battel and that he had plucked up this War by the roots The Romans receiving these Letters were very glad of the news for the love which they bore to him Yet for all the great honour and love they did bear to him they suspected and were afraid of him because he did not disband his Army fearing that he would follow Sylla's steps and rule over them by force Hereupon as many went forth to meet him out of fear as out of good will But when he told them that he would disband his Army so soon as he had Triumphed then his ill-willers could blame him for nothing but that he inclined more to the People than to the Nobles and because he desired to restore the Tribuneship to the People which Sylla had put down Indeed the common People at Rome never longed for any thing more than they did to see the Office of the Tribunes set up again and Pompey was very glad that he had such an opportunity thereby to ingratiate himself with them and to requite the love which they had shewed to him This was the second Triumph and the first Consulship which the Senate decreed to Pompey which made him neither the greater nor the better man Yet was it such an honour as Crassus the richest greatest and eloquentest man in Rome durst not demand before he had requested Pompey's good will therein And truely Pompey was very glad of the request having of a long time sought an opportunity whereby to gratifie him and therefore he made earnest suit to the People for him assuring them that he would as much thank them for making Crassus his fellow-consul and Colleage as he would for making himself Consul Yet when Pompey had obtained his request and they were both created Consuls they were in all things contrary one to the other and never agreed in any one thing whilst they ruled together Crassus had the more authority with the Senate and Pompey with the People for he restored to them the Office of Tribunes and passed by Edict that the Knights of Rome should have power again to Judge in causes both civil and criminal This wonderfully pleased the people when himself came in Person to the Censors and pray'd that he might be dispensed with for going into the Wars At this time Gellius and Lentulus were the Censors who being honourably set in their Tribunal seats taking a view of all the Roman Knights that mustered before them they marvelled when they saw Pompey comming with all the Ensigns of a Consul born before him and himself as other Knights did leading his Horse by the Bridle and when he came near he commanded the Sergeants that carried the Axes before him to make room for him to pass by the Barrs with his Horse where the Censors sate This made the People to flock about him wondring and rejoycing with great silence the Censors themselves also were marvellous glad to see him so obedient to the Law and did him great reverence Then did the elder of the Censors examine him thus Pompey the Great I pray thee tell me if thous didst serve so long in the War as the Law doth appoint Pompey answered aloud Yes verily have I done and that under no Captain but my self The People hearing this shouted aloud for joy and the Censors themselves came down from their seats and accompanied Pompey to his House to please the great multitude that followed him clapping their hands for joy At the end of their Consulship grudges growing higher between Crassus and Pompey there was one Gaius Aurelius a Knight who till then had never spoken in the publick Assembly He getting up into the Pulpit for Orations told the People openly that that night Jupiter had appeared to him and commanded him to tell both the Consuls from him that they should not leave their Office before they were reconciled together Yet for all this Pompey stirred not But Crassus took him by the hand and spake thus before the People My Lords I think it no dishonour to me to give place to Pompey sith you your selves have thought him worthy to be called the Great befor he had any hair on his face and to whom you granted the honour of two Triumphs before he came to be a Senator Having thus spoken they were reconciled together and so gave up thier Office Crassus after this retired to his former manner of life and Pompey as much as he could avoided pleading mens causes in publick and by degrees withdrew himself from frequenting the Market-place and came seldom abroad but when he did he had always a great train following him It was a rare thing to see him to be familiar with any one or to come abroad but with a great company of attendants The power of the Pirats upon the Seas began in Cilicia of which at first there was no great account made till they grew bold and venturous in King Methridates Wars being hired to serve him and when the Romans engaged in Civil Wars at home they neglected looking after them which made them more audacious For they did not only rob and spoil all Merchants by Sea but plundred Islands and Citics upon the Sea-coast insomuch as men of great Nobility and Wealth joyned with them and they set up store-houses in divers places and had Beacons to give warning by fire all along the Sea-coasts which were well watched they had also great Fleets of Ships well furnished with excellent Galliots skilful Pilots and Marriners their Ships were swift of Sail and Pinnaces for discovery All the Sea-coast over
eight hundred Gallies and Ships of burthen two hundred whereof Cleopatra gave him together with all the Ammunition and Victuals necessary for the Fleet He also took her along with him contrary to the advise of all those which were of his Counsel Then sailed he to the Isle of Samos to which he had appointed all the Kings Tetrarchs and People which served under him in this War to come by a day prefixed The Kings that met him there were Tarcondemus King of the upper Cilicia Archalaus of Cappadocia Philodelphus of Paphlagonia Methridates of Comagena and others Besides those which sent there Forces as Herod King of Judaea Amyntas of Lycaonia and the Kings of Arabia Of the Medes and Palemon King of Pontus with some others So that he had one hundred thousand well trained Footmen and twenty two thousand Horse besides his Navy by Sea which consisted of five hundred Gallies besides Ships of burden which carried his Ammunition and Victuals If Anthony thus furnished had presently passed into Italy he had put Octavian into great hazard For then he had not sufficient Forces to have withstood him nor other necessary Provision for the Wars But Mark Anthony delaying the time at Athens let slip the opportunity and gave Octavian leasure to provide all things necessary from Italy France Spain and all other his Provinces from whence he levied eighty thousand choise Souldiers and above twenty thousand good Horse and seeing that Anthony stayed so long he sent him word that seeing he had Ships and other fit provision he should come for Italy where he staid in the Field to give him Battel promising to afford him good Ports and Havens where he might safely land without interruption To this Anthony answered that it would be more honourable if he would determine this quarrel in Person against him body to body which he would willingly accept though he was now old and crazed and the other young and lusty and if he liked not of this challenge he would stay for him with his Army in the Fields of Pharsalia in the same place where Julius Caesar fought with Cneius Pompey These Messages passing between them without effect Anthony drew his Army by Land and his Navy by Sea towards Italy and Octavian imbarked his Legions at Brundusium and crossed the Sea to a place called Torma in the Province of Epire now called Romania and after some notable exploits performed the two Armies drew neer together as also did the Navies Octavians Navy consisted of two hundred and fifty Gallies but better armed and swifter than were Mark Anthonies though his were more in number And Mark Anthony being perswaded by Cleopatra who in this also was the cause of his ruin thereby to have the better means to fly if the Battel should be lost would needs try his Fortune in a Sea fight though his Army by Land had a great advantage over the other Anthony chose twenty thousand out of his Army and put them aboard his Fleet and Octavian who refused not the Sea-fight made his provision also and so shipping himfelf in his Gallies he committed the charge of his Land Army to Taurus and Anthony left his Land Forces with Canidius and in the sight of both the Armies these two brave Captains with the best Navies in the World took the Seas where they fought for no less than the Empire of the World Yet was the Fight deferred for three days in dispite of both Parties the Seas rising so high that they could not Govern their Vessels The fourth day they came to an encounter at a Cape called Accius in Epire not far from the place where their Land Armies stood The Battel was one of the most cruellest that ever was heard of and lasted ten hours before Octavian obtained the Victory though Mark Anthony staid not so long in the fight For Cleopatra in the greatest fury of the Battel fled away in her Galley whom seventy of her other Galleys followed and unfortunate Mark Anthony who all his life time hitherto had been a valiant and brave Captain seeing Cleopatra fly on whom he had fixed his eyes and heart shifting out of his own Galley into a lighter followed her without regard of his Armies either by Sea or Land and overtaking her went aboard her Galley wherein he sailed three days without either seeing or speaking with her being confounded with shame for shewing so much weekness and at last they arrived in the Port of Alexandria in Aegypt His Navy which he left fighting though now Headless and without a Captain yet continued to make gallant resistance till five thousand of them were slain and at last they were overcome rather for want of a Commander then through any force of an Enemy though Octavians light and swift Galleys were a great help to him and so he remained Conquerour and granted life and pardon to the conquered getting into his hands three hundred of their Galleys In Anthonys Army by Land there wanted neither courage nor constancy to theit General though he had so unworthily deserted them and therefore they continued seven days in their Camp ready to give Battel without accepting any composition from the Enemy and they would have staid longer had not Canidius their Captain abused his trust flying secretly from the Camp to seek Anthony whereupon the Army being destitute of a General yielded to the Enemy who admitted them into his own Army being nineteen Legions of Foot and twelve thousand Horse The Senators Knights and Noble men that had served Anthony many of them he fined in great sums of Money many he put to death and some he pardoned Then did Caesar sail to Athens and being pacified with the Greeks he distributed the Corn that was left in the War to the Cities that were afflicted with Famine and that were dispoiled of their Money Servants and Horses And Anthony being arrived in Aegypt chose out one good Ship of good burden and fraught with store of Treasure and rich Plate of Gold and Silver and gave it to his Friends intreating them to divide it amongst them and to shift for themselves and he wrote to Theophilus the Governour of Corinth that he would provide them an hiding place till they might make their Peace with Caesar. And Caesar of the spoils of the Enemy dedicated ten Ships to Apollo Actius Anthony being come into Africk went into a desart place wandering up and down only accompanied with two Friends and after a while he sent to the General of the Army which he had formerly raised for the defence of Aegypt but he slew his Messengers and said that he would not obey Anthony whereupon he had thought to have killed himself but being hindered by his Friends he went to Alexandria and after a while he built him an House in the Sea by the Isle of Pharos and there lived from the Company of all men saying That he would live the life of Timon
according to his Uncles promise and his own right was proclaimed Heir apparent of that great Empire Thus was Tamerlane made Great being ever after this marriage by the old Emperour his Uncle and now his Father in Law so long as he lived notably supported and after his death he succeeded him in that so vast and mighty an Empire Before his marriage Tamerlane would needs be crowned to the intent that none should think that the Crown came to him by the right of his Wife but by his own right and during his abode in the City of Quavicai where the old Emperour was he was entertained with all kind of Triumphs wherein he always carried away the Bell whether in shooting in the Bow in changing of Horses in the middest of their courses in Tiltings and in all other exercises which required agility or strength and so after two Months he returned with his Wife to Samercand in which City he delighted exceedingly to remain because the situation thereof was fair and being watered with a great River was a place of great Traffick whereby it was made richer than any other in that Country And whensoever be received intelligence from the Emperour his Uncle he still imparted the same to Odmar whom he used at his right hand in all his great affairs There was also in his Court a Christian whom he loved much and every one greatly respected called Axalla a Genovois by Birth brought up from his youth about his Person for he countenanced all that worshipped one only God that was the Creator of all things And about this time the old Emperour sent to him to stir him up to War against the great King of China who stiled himself Lord of the World and Son of the Sun who had exceeded his bounds and incroached upon the Tartarian Empire This was no small enterprise and therefore before he would begin the same he sent Ambassadours to the King of China to demand restitution of his Lands and the passages of a River called Tachii which were within the Tartarian Border and on this side that stupendious Wall builded on purpose by the Kings of China for the defence of their Country against the incursions of the Tartars and whilst he attended for the return of his Ambassadours expecting a Negative answer he caused his forces to be assembled together from all parts appointing their rendezvous to be in the Horda of Baschir The old Emperour also assembled for his aid two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the brave men of his Court that were accustomed to the Wars For this Emperour had greatly encreased his limits and conquered a great Country so as all these men were well trained up in the Wars and had been accustomed to travel and pains These were to joyn with Tamerlanes Army in the Desarts of Ergimul at a certain day In the mean time Ambassadours which were sent return and inform the Prince that this proud King of China wondering how any durst denounce War against him making this lofty answer That Tamerlane should content himself with that which he had left him which also he might have taken from him c. This answer being heard our Prince marched directly to his Army gave orders for conveiance of Victuals from all parts sent to hasten forwards his Confederates imparted the answer to the old Emperour caused the insolence of the King of China to be published that all the world might know the justness of his cause yet before his departure he went to take leave of his own Father who endued with a singular and Fatherly affection kissed him a thousand times made solemn Prayers for his prosperity drew off his Imperial Ring and gave it him telling him that he should never see him again for that he was hasting to his last rest and calling Odmar bad him farewel requiring his faithfulness to his Son The Prince having performed this duty returned to Samercand where the Empress his Wife remained whom he took along with him in this journey as the manner of that Country is and so presently departed committing the charge and care of his Kingdom in his absence to one Samay a man well practised in State affairs who also had had the charge of our Prince in his youth These things being dispatched he marched forwards in the middest of his Army which consisted of fifty thousand Horse and a hundred thousand Footmen relying principally on the Forces of the great Cham his Uncle yet he left order that the rest of his Forces should be ready to advance upon the first command as soon as he should be joyned with his Uncles Army In his march he was stayed by the way in regard some distemper of his body contracted by reason of his change of the air yet the Forces which Catiles Captain of the Army of the great Cham conducted went daily forwards Now the news of his distemperature was bruted abroad in all places yet did he not neglect ot send to the great Cham and often to advertise him of the state of his health to the end that the same should not cause any alteration which might arise in that great Empire whereunto he was lately advanced For he was very suspicious of a great Lord named Calix who was discontented with his advancement and had not yet acknowledged him as all other his Subjects had and indeed it was not without cause that he suspected him for Calix being informed that the Forces of the great Cham were advanced beyond the Mountains having passed the River of Meau and were encamped at Bouprou and that Tamerlane was sick he thought it a fit time for his enterprize and thereupon assembling the greatest part of his most faithful followers he told them that now was the time for them to shake off the yoak of the Parthians who otherwise would enslave them and seeing that now their Prince was so badly minded as to translate the Empire to Tamerlane of his own mind without calling them to Council which had interest in the election that this was the only means to assure their liberty which otherwise was like to be lost He caused also a remour to be spread that Tamerlane was very sick the Emperour old and crazy and that his Forces were far separated from him yet like cunning Traytors they dispatched away a Messenger to the great Cham to assure him that they bended not their Forces against him but were his faithful and obedient Subjects and they only armed themselves because they would not be governed by the Parthians their ancient Enemies As soon as our Prince was advertised of the pretences of Calix he marched one days journey forward to the end that he might approach unto Calibes who what face soever he set on the matter yet hearkened what would become of Calix that he might likewise make some commotion This Calibes was by Tamerlane made Commander of his Avantguard
all manner of merchandise as well for delight as necessity By these Ambassadours the Greek Emperour yielded his Empire together with his Person unto Tamerlane as his most faithful Subject and Vassal Which as he said he was bound to do for that he was by him delivered from the most cruel Tyrant of the World as also for the long journey he had undertaken for his sake and the discommodities he had endured with the hazard of his Person and loss of his Subjects which could not be otherwise compensated but with the offer of his own and his Subjects lives to him which for ever he therefore dedicated to his service with all the fidelity and loyalty that so great a benefit might deserve besides that his so many virtues and rare endowments which made him famous through the world did oblige him the more hereunto and that therefore he would attend him in his chief City to deliver it into his hands as his own together with all the Empire of Greece Now these Ambassadours expected no less than to fall into the bondage of Tamerlane judging that which they offered to be so great and delicate a morsel as that it would not be refused especially of such a Victorious Prince as was Tamerlane and that the acceptance thereof in kindness and Friendship was the best bargain they could make therein But they received at answer from this Worthy Prince far beyond their expectation For he with a mild countenance beholding them answered thus That he was not come from so far a countrey nor undertook such pains for the enlargement of his Dominions big enough already too base a thing for him to put himself into so great danger and hazard for but rather to win honour and to make his name famous to future Posterities And that he would make it appear to the World that he came to assist their Master as his Friend and Ally at his request and that his upright intentions therein were the greatest cause that God from above had favoured him and made him instrumental to bruise the head of the greatest and fiercest enemy of mankind that was under heaven and therefore to get him an immortal name his purpose was to make free so great and flourishing a City as was Constantinople governed by so noble and ancient a House as the Emperours That he had alwayes joyned Faith to his Courage which should never suffer him to make so great a breach into his reputation as that it should be reported of him that in the colour of a Friend he should come to invade the Dominions of his Ally That he desired no more but that the service he had done for the Greek Emperour might remain for ever engraven in the memory of his posterity to the end they might for ever wish well to him and his Successors by the remembring the good he had done for them That he wished that long might the noble Emperour live happily to govern his estate and that before his return he would so well consider of the establishing of the same as that he should not lightly fall into the same jeopardy Easie it is to judge what joy the Ambassadours did conceive upon hearing this so gracious an answer from the mouth of Tamerlane who rather than he would break his Faith refused an Empire offered him together with one of the stateliest and magnificentest Cities in the World After the testification of their joy and thankfulness these Ambassadours were by the command of Tamerlane royally feasted by Axalla having all the honour done to them that might be And one of them being sent back to carry this unexpected news to the Emperour filled both him and all the City of Constantinople with exceeding joy and gladness which both he and all his subjects testified by making of Bonefires and other signs of joy and pleasure And the Emperour the more to shew his gratitude by the advice of his Counsellours passed over the streight into Asia to see Tamerlane in Prusa and in person himself to give him thanks who hearing of his coming and being glad thereof presently sent Prince Axalla to meet him and to certifie him of the joy he conceived to have the good hap to see him as also to conduct him to Prusa where those two great Princes with the greatest magnificence that might be met and so spent one whole day in conversing together and the Greek Emperor the next daytaking his leave was by Tamerlane with much honour conducted out of the City Now had Tamerlane himself conceived a great desire to see the famous City of Constantinople from which he was not now far yet would he not go thither as a Conquerour but as a private person which by the means of Axalla was accomplished and he thereinto by the Greek Emperour privately received and with all familiarity possible entertained the Emperour shewing unto him all the rare and excellent things that were contained therein and the other Greek Princes devising all the means they could to do him pleasure and them that were with him who were all in a manner cloathed after the Greek fashion The Greek Emperour was curious to shew him all the beautiful Gardens along the Sea-coast and so privately conducting him about spent five or six dayes with all the mirth that might be Tamerlane by the way often saying that he had never seen a fairer City and that of all others considering the scituation of it it was right worthy to command all the World He wondred at the costly buildings of the Temples the fair engraven Pillars the high Piramides and the excellent Gardens afterwards saying often that it nothing repented him to have undertaken so long and dangerous a journey if it had been only to preserve so notable a City from fire and sword In the Greek Emperour he greatly commended his mild nature and courtesie who knowing that above all things he took pleasure in fair serviceable Horses gave unto him thirty of the fairest strongest and readiest that were possibly to be gotten all most richly furnished He sent likewise great Presents to all the Princes and great Commanders of the Army and bountifully caused to be delivered to them all things which he thought necessary for the Army So after these great kindnesses and a strict bond of Friendship made and by solemn Oath confirmed by these two great Princes Tamerlane with great contentment took leave of the Emperour and returned to his Army at Prusa wherewith now at pleasure he spoiled and wasted all the dominions of Bajazet in Asia no man daring to make head against him The Winter now drawing on Tamerlane dispersed his Army into divers Provinces of the lesser Asia expecting daily when some of Bajazet's sons or great Friends should make suit to him for his deliverance but none came most fearing the fierce nature of Bajazet who if he had been delivered was like enough to have taken severe revenge upon all that forsook
learned man to instruct him in the Greek and Latin Tongues and one Aymon to read to him Philosophy and the Mathematicks Himself also trained him up in Feates of Arms and Warlike exercises But above all and as the ground of all virtues he was careful to have him trained up and well instructed in Religion which all his life after he loved and honoured with great Reverence the Church and Pastors thereof He called the study of Humane Sciences his Pastimes and the companions of his Sword and did sometimes recreate himself therein He loved Learning and learned men by Nature He delighted in Poesy as some of his Writings do shew but especially in History wherein he was exceeding well read Charity Temperance Equity care of Justice to relieve his Subjects to keep his Faith and promise both to Friend and Foe and to use a Victory modestly were the notable effects of his excellent knowledg as remarkable in him as in any Prince that ever lived The Universities of Paris and Pisa either Founded or endowed by him witness the great love and honour that he did bear to learning During the Life of his Father Pepin he shewed how much he had profited in Arms under so good a Schoolmaster having great Commands under him which he discharged with notable reputation and the improvement of his skill and ability after he came to his Kingdom shew plainly that there was never any Souldier that carried Sword with more valour nor great Captain that commanded with more obedience or that performed Noble Actions with greater success or that used his Victories with more mildness and judgment Neither did ever King or Prince rule with more authority nor was more reverently obeyed by this Subjects and Souldiers than our Charles who therefore well deserved the name of Charlemagne or Charles the Great by reason of his great virtues He was of a lively disposition quick active and vehement Quicquid egit valdè egit Yet modesty and wisdom did so season and moderate his vivacity and vehemency as gave a great lustre to both and kept them within their due bounds And this mixture of divers humours so tempered with moderation made him as admirable for his Judgment as venerable in his Person and countenance There appeared in him a grave sweet Majesty in a goodly Personage His Body was large and strong He was very patient of labour Had a quick spirit was cleer and sound both in apprehension memory and judgment Resolution never failed him in difficulties nor a Reply in Discourses Terrible he was to some Amiable to others according to the Cause Persons and Occurrents which virtues purchased him such great esteem as that he was beloved respected and reverenced of all men which effects the story of his raign will shew For having received a great Kingdom from his Father he enlarged it with wonderful success God having raised him up to be a Bulwork to Christians against the inundation and rage of Barbarous Nations in the decay and ruin of the Empire And in prosecuting the Narrative hereof I shall first set down his actions during the Life of his Brother Caroloman then what he did from the the time of his death till he was made Emperour and lastly what his Deportment was from thence to his Death Caroloman being Crowned King at Soissons as Charles was at Wormes began to be extream jealous of his Brothers greatness whom with grief he saw to be beloved honoured and obeyed by all the French and that deservedly for his singular virtues and endowments both of Body and mind This jealousie too ordinary a concomitant of Princes made him seek by all means to undermine and overthrow the affairs of Charlemagne whose Eyes were fixed upon Italy as the fittest and most glorious Theatre wherein to exercise his valour and to maintain his authority and power amongst Christians and Caroloman did all that possibly he could to cross his designs therein But before I bring him upon that stage give me leave to shew you what at this time was the State of Italy and Rome Rome sometimes the Head of the World was of late become the Chios of all confusion the Randevouz of all Barbarous Nations as if they had vowed the ruin thereof by turns having already sackt it three times For under the Empire of Honorious Anno Christi 414. The Goths under their King Alaricus after two years siege took it and sackt it but did not dismantle it Forty five years after during the Empire of Martian Anno Christi 459. the Vandales under the conduct of Genserick their King took it again sackt it spoiled and disgraced it leading the Widow of the Emperour Valentinian the third away in Triumph And in the time of Justinian the Emperour the Goths under the command of Totila having weakned it by a long siege took it sackt and dismantled it Thus Rome was no more Rome but a spectacle of horrid confusion after so many devastations retaining nothing of her antient beauty but only the traces of her old buildings and the punishment of her Idolatry and Tyranny Afterwards the Longobards or Lombards held Italy for the space of two hundred years till by our Charlemagne they were subdued and expelled Presently after the Death of Pepin the Church of Rome fell into great confusions by the pactices of Didier King of Lombardy who having corrupted some of the Clergy caused Constantine Brother to Toton Duke of Nepezo to be chosen Pope which he persecuted with such violence that he procured Philippicus who ws already Canonically chosen to be deposed But the better party seeing themselves contemned by the Lombards assembled together and by common consent chose Steven the third a Sicilian by birth Pope who being conscious to his own weakness resolved to call in the King of France and to oppose him against his too-powerful enemies Charles being thus sollicited by the Pope sent twelve Prelates speedily to Rome that he might strengthen the Popes party against the other intending in a greater need to apply a greater remedy and the matter succeeded according to his desire For a Counsel being assembled at Lateran they confirmed Steven lawfully chosen and deposed Constantine who was set up by disorder and violence But Didier would not rest satisfied with this affront and seeing that force had succeeded no better he rosolved to try Policy intending to undermine Steven with fair pretences For which end he sent to congratulate his Election purged himself in reference to the Anti-Pope Constantine now degraded accused both him and his Brother Toton of ambition and protested to live with Steven in amity and to manifest this his good meaning he desired him to be pleased with his repair to Rome that there he might confer with him in private The Pope who never seeks to the French but in case of necessity was easily perswaded by Didier who came to Rome confered with the Pope and made great Protestations of his Obedience
to him But these his fair shews continued not long There was at this time at Rome a Governour for the Eastern Emperour called Paul Ephialte him Didier corrupted and the administration of Justice being in his hands he made use of him so cunningly as that in the presence of Pope Steven he caused him to seize upon two of his chief Secretaries Christopher and Sergius whom Didier accused of some pretended crimes and presently to hang them in an infamous manner Their greatest offence was because they favoured the French Neither did he rest here but caused all the principal Citizens to be banished whom he observed to be of the French faction that so having removed all hinderances he might be Master of Rome in despite of the Pope Steven was not so dull but he discovered the Lombards practice exceedingly to tend to his prejudice whereupon he sent to Charlemagne beseeching him to prepare an Army against Didiers force This Charlemagne easily assented to and fully resolved upon But Didier had provided a divertisement in France by the means of Caroloman to stop Charles his passage into Italy making work for him in Guienne where there arose a perilous War upon this occasion Though the Country of Guienne depended upon the Crown of France yet were there many Tumults raised by the practices of some Noblemen of the Country who frequently stirred up the people mutinous enough of themselves to Rebellion The cause of these Troubles was the abuse of the former Kings Clemency and Bounty who suffered such people as he conquered to enjoy their priviledges and liberties Eudon a Nobleman of Guienne began first under Martel Jeffery and Hunalt his Children and heirs of his discontent had continued it under Pepin and Jeffery being now dead Hunalt succeeded him with the like hatred which Caroloman fomented that he might imploy him against his Brother Charles Guienne was a part of Charles his portion But Hunalts design was to withdraw that Country wholly from the Crown of France and for that end he pretended a Title to the Dukedom thereof labouring to procure the people to Elect him having the promise and assistance of Caroloman to further him therein Indeed the countenance of Caroloman could do much but the wisdom and courage of Charlemagne prevailed more For being advertised of Hunalts practice and of his Brothers secret designs he armed with such speed as that he surprised the Towns of Poictiers Xante and Angoulesm and all the Country adjoyning Hunalt who had reckoned without Charles finding himself thus prevented fled to a Noble man of that Country called Loup whom he held not only to be firm to his faction but also his trusty and affectionate friend Charlemagne being informed hereof sent presently to Loup requiring him to deliver Hunalt into his hands who was guilty of high Treason and in the mean time he built a Fort in the midst of the Country where the Rivers of Dordonne and Lisle do joyn which he called Fronsac the better to secure his Country against such Invaders Loup not daring to refuse delivered up Hunalt and all his Family into the hands of Charles who pardoned Loup and all that obeyed him thus ending a dangerous War without blows And to Hunalt he granted life and liberty and the enjoyment of his goods leaving a memorable example to all Princes how to carry themselves in a Civil War preventing a mischief by prudence and diligence and not to thrust their vanquished Subjects into despair by rigour Caroloman seeing his practices against his Brother to succeed so ill undertook a journy to Rome with an intent to cause some alterations there which yet he covered with a pretence of devotion He also took his Mother Berthe along with him and in their passage they were hourably entertained by Didier King of the Lombards where Berthe treated and concluded a marriage between her Son Charlemagne and Theodora Sister or Daughter to this Didier who was one of the greatest enemies to her Sons good fortune Yet Charlemagne to please his Mother received his Wife but soon after put her away as neither suiting with his affects or affairs and so that which was intended as a cause of love bred a greater hatred betwixt these two Princes Caroloman having affected nothing at Rome answerable to his desire but only discovered his foolish and malicious jealousie too apparent under his feigned devotion returned into France and there soon after died Anno Christi 770. Leaving the intire Kingdom to his Brother who had how no Corrival Charlemagne having put away his Wife Theadora upon suspition of incontinency he married Hildegard or Ildegrade Daughter to the Duke of Sueve his Vassal by whom he had Charles Pepin and Lewis and three Daughters Rotrude Berthe and Gille who were the Nursery of his Noble Family But Carolomans jealousie died not with him but survived in his Wife Berthe who being impatient of her present condition and thrust headlong with a spirit of revenge against her Brother in Law Charles retired with her two Sons to Didier King of Lombardy as to the most bitter and irreconcilable enemy of her Brother Charles Didier intertained her and her Children very courteously hoping by them to promote his design But it proved the leaven of his own destruction His practice together with the Widows was to procure the present Pope who Steven being dead was one Adrian a Roman Gentleman to Crown and confirm the Sons of Caroloman for Kings of France wherein the Lombard had two designs First by this means to bring the Pope in disgrace with Charlemagne that he might the easilier suppress him being destitute of the French aides whereon he chiefly relyed and Secondly to set France in a flame by setting up new Kings in it Didier therefore earnestly besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake But Adrian well acquainted with the Lombards humour was so resolute in denying his request as that they fell into open hatred And Didier being much displeased with this repulse took Arms and with his Forces entred into the Exarchy being a Signory under the Popes jurisdiction and besieged Ravenna the chief City of the Exarchy Whereupon the Pope sent his Nuncio to him to expostulate the cause of this so sudden War against his Subjects desiring him to restore what he had taken and not to procced in this Hostile manner without any reasonable cause and that upon the pain of Excommunication At the same time there fell out a great occasion to encrease the hatred between Charlemagne and Didier For that Hunalt who had been before vanquished in Guienne and to whom Charles had shew'd so much favour very ingratefully retired himself to Didier who did not only receive him courteously but honoured him by making him General of his Army which he had raised against the
the War justly and ended it happily ruined the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy carrying Didier Prisoner with him to Lions or to Leeg for Authors agree not of the certain place This was Anno Christi 776. A notable date to present the Tragical end of so great a Kingdom which had continued in Italy for the space of two hundred and four years under Princes of divers dispositions But Pride Injustice and Tyranny had provoked the wrath of God against them so as whilst they thought to take from another they lost their own To usurp the liberties of others they fell into ignominious slavery themselves and their Subtily proved the occasion and hastener of their ruin An excellent Pattern for Princes and great States not to attempt an unjust and unnecessary War nor to usurp upon any other mans right thinking to prevail over a good cause by Craft and Policy Charlemagne as was said before used his Victory with great moderation towards the conquered Nation which gave great content to all the Italians who held it a gain to have lost their old Master and to be rightly made free by being subject to so wise a Lord. For he left unto them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were Vassals to Didier their Signiories To Aragise Son in Law to Didier he left the Marquisat of Beneventum He placed French Governours in conquered Lombardy whom he ordered to treat these his new Subjects with the like mildness as he shewed to those of his antient Patrimony left unto him by his Predecessors During the siege of Pavia Pope Adrian held a Councel at Rome in favour to Charlemagne to give him honours answerable to his merits of the Church wherein it was declared that the right to give all Benefices throughout all Christendom did belong to him No sooner was Charlemagne returned into France but Aldegise the Son of Didier sought to disquiet Italy being assisted by Constantine the Emperour of Constantinople and the practices of Rogand to whom Charlemagne had given Friul who now revolted from his Obedience But the vigilancy and care of the Governours whom Charlemagne had set over his new-conquered Subjects soon put an end to these Rebellions and Rogand being taken suffered according to his demerits being beheaded by the Kings commandment Thus Italy remaining quiet to him and his as conquered by a just War it was afterwards incorporated into the French Monarchy in his posterity being given in Partage to the Children of France whilst the good Government of the French Kings maintained the dignity of the Crown But the end of this War proved the beginning of another in Germany whereof the Saxons were the chief promoters drawing other People of Germany into their assistance This War continued the space of thirty yesrs yet not without some intermissions The Saxons having still a mind to oppose and Cross Charlemagne in his proceedings especially when he was busied in other affairs of great consequence These Saxons were subject to the Crown of France especially under Martel and Pepin his Son The motives of this War were divers The impatiency of a People desiring their antient liberty and not able to bear subjection to a forreigner the hatred and jealousie of a Potent Neighbour threatning them with servitude A controversie about the limits and bounds of their Lands But the greatest and most important cause was the diversity of Religion For the Saxons were obstinate in retaining and cleaving to their Pagan superstition which they had received from their Forefathers and Charlemagne urged them to forsake their Paganism and Idolatry and to make open profession of the Christian Faith being moved with Zeal to the general advancement of the Truth and the private Duty of a Prince to his Subjects to provide for their souls Health Upon this controversie about Religion the Saxons fought eight times with Charlemagne especially taking advantage when they found him busied elsewhere watching their opportunities either to cross him in his designs or to frustrate his attempts At such time as he was in Italy against Didier they played Rex not only in rejecting the French command but also in making War against those Cities in Germany which obeyed Charlemagne They had taken Eresbourg from the Crown of France even upon his return and besieged Sigisbourg robbing and spoiling all the Country round about Charlemagne who would never undertake any weighty matter without good advise assembled a Parliament at Wormes and by their Counsel and assistance levied a great Army to charge the Saxons in divers places at once This resolution succeeded happily For having vanquished the Saxons twice in one month in a pitched Field he soon reduced them to their ancient obedience Using his Victories with much modesty and discretion desiring rather to shew them the power of his authority then the rigour of his Force The chief amongst the Saxons was Widichind and as Religion was the chief motive of their frequent Rebellions so Charlemagne seeking the establishment of the Christian Religion in Saxony with great Zeal after much reluctance happily effected it For having vanquished this widichind by reason and humanity he brought him to the knowledg of the Truth and by his grave and prudent conversation he perswaded him without any Violence to leave and forsake his Pagan Superstition which force of Armes could never have effected in him nor in the Saxons For mens souls are not to be compelled with force of Arms but with reason And by the means and endeavours of this widichine the greatest part of the Saxons were brought to the knowledg of the true God and the obedience of the French Monarch And the most obstinate were forced either to submit or to abandon their Country And indeed great numbers of Saxons retired themselves into divers strange Countrys Thus the War with the Saxons was happily ended which had been long and dangerous and the Conquered by the Truth were the true Conquerours by attaining to the knowledg of the true God Charlemagne was very careful to have them well instructed in the Truth For which end he appointed godly and learned men in all places and gave them honourable maintenance whereby he shewed that his Piety was not inferiour to his Valour and happy success and for a president to Princes to make Religion the Soveraign end of their Arms and Authorities This Widichine was very eminent both for Wisdom Valour and Authority in his Country and from him are descended many famous Families as the two Henries the one called the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othos all of them Emperours as also the Dukes of Saxony the Marquesses of Misnia the Dukes of Savoy and the famous race of Hugh Capet in France From this War of Saxony did spring up many others in the Northern parts of which we shall hear afterwards but because in the Interim their fell out great Wars in Spain against the Sarazins which
the Gauls His Policy He overcomes the Belgae A Battel His Policy He overcomes the Germans He passes over the Rhine And went into England Julias death He beats the French The French rebel Caesar overcomes them Non vult Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve parem Disorders at Rome Pompey sole Consul Pompey deluded Factions 〈◊〉 Rome Caesar goes against Pompey He passes Rubicon Pompey flies and the Senate Caesar pursues him He is Lord of all Italy And went to Rome He went into Spain And conquered Pompeys men And other places He takes Marcelleis His Captains had ill success Pompey prepares for War Caesar goes against him Now Brindez Skirmishes betwixt them Caesars rashness Caesar is beaten Caesars policy Pompeys good resolution Pompey beaten and slain Caesars clemency He pursues Pompey He comes into Aegypt Vanity of vanities His Wars iâ—â— Aegypt His danger His Victory He passes into Asia Overcomes Pharnaces He comes to Rome He passes into Africk He overcomes Scipio Cato kills himself He returns to Rome His Triumphs He goes into Spain A cruel Battel His Victory He returns to Rome His power His clemency and Magnanimity Discontents arise Base flattery His great projects His Pride His dissimulation A Conspiracy against him His Death foretold He is slain His Character His Will Peace concluded A tumult He favoured the Jews His Parentage His first imployment He comes into Italy Many resor to him He comes to Rome M. Anthony's Pride And falshood Caesar raises 〈…〉 Anthony leaves Rome His Parsimony Caesars Policy Anthony declared an Enemy Caesar overcomes him He flies into France Caesar makes himself Consul A Triumvirate efected Many proscribed Ingratitude Cicero flies And is slain Horrid cruelty Sons unnatural Sons dutiful and good Wives good Wives bad Servants bad Servants good A good Son A Jezabel Base Covetousness Valour Oppression They go against Brutus and Cassius Prodigies A Spectrum Brutus beats Caesar. M. Anthony beats Cassius Brutus beaten Kills himself Anthony with Cleopatra Troubles in Rome Caesars Victory Anthony comes into Italy Peace made betwixt them Anthony marries Octavia They are reconciled with Sextus Pompey The Parthians beaten Caesar envies Sextus Pompey Wars against him Caesar marries Livia Pompey beaten Caesar beaten Pompey beaten And flies And is slain Caesars dangers He falls out with Lepidus Caesars Policy Lepidus overcome Caesar returns to Rome Anthony besotted with Cleopatra Caesar seeks a quarrel with him Caesars new troubles Quarrels betwixt them Preparations for War Anthony imprudence Caesars message Anthonys answer They meet They prepare to fight A Battel Anthony flies His mens fidelity His Army yields to Caesar. Anthony lives privately Casar highly honoured Anthony prepares for War Caesar pursues him into Aegypt Prodigies Cleopatras treachery Anthony kills himself Caesar bewails his Death Caesar pardons the Aâ—gyptians Cleopatras Passion She kills her self Caesars Triumpas Caesars commendations Flatâ—â—ry Janus Temple shut up New troubles Spain subdued Augustus his crosses Many Ambassadours come to him Our Saviour Christ born His Prudence and Justice His Vices His Crosses A Prodigy His Death His Character He was a Friend to marriage His temperance His Prudence The Devils Oracles dumb His Charity His Parentage His Fathers peaceable disposition He resigns his Kingdom to his Son Tamerlanes war against the Muscovites His Victory His merciful disposition His Battel with the Muscovites His Victory He is wounded in the Baâ—tel Ally slain Tamerlanes Piety The Articleâ— of Peace His marriage to the great Chams Daughter His Prudence His agility and strength His Piety His Justice His preparations against the King of China The King of China's Pride His Piety towards his Father His sickness His Policy The Rebellion of Calix The Rebels subtilty Tamerlanes Prudence His march against Calix Calix leaves Cambalu The number of Calix Army Tamerlanes Prudence The Battel between Tamerlane and Calix Calix beaten and taken prisoner Calix condemned and executed Tamerlanes march into Cathay Cambalu yielded to him His departure from Cambalu His Policy Odmars good Counsel Tamerlanes Speech to his Army His Piety His march towards China A Chinois Lord comes to Tamerlane His Speech to Tamerlane Calibes speech to Tamerlane Tamerlanes confidence of success Forces sent into Chini The wall forced His first victory in China The King of China's fear The King of China's superstition The wall beaten down Tamerlanes courtesie His gratitude His Policy He besieges Paguinfou Formerly taken from the Tartars A Suburb taken by storm The wall won Tamerlanes Prudence The City surrendred Axallas modesty Tamerlanes Piety The riches of the Chinois Tamerlane prepares for the Battel The Battel begins The Scythians charge the Chinois Tamerlanes Constancy Calibes wounded retreats The Parthians chargethorow The Foot charge Axalla valour Tamerlane chargeth The King of China beaten Tamerlanes temperance His humility and modesty His Piety The King of China brought before him The King of China's proud speech Tamerlane's Courtesie The riches of China Quantou besieged Odmars policy The King of China's brother overthrown Quantou surrendred Tamerlanes Policy The Ambassadours proposals Tamerlane's proposals Peace concluded The King of China delivered Odmar made Governour Tamerlane's gratitude His Prudence His possessions in China His return into Tartary His liberality His entertainment at Cambalu His presents to the old Emperour He is stirred up against Bajazet He sends Ambassadors Bajazets proud answer Tamerlanes preparations against him Tamerlanes speech His entertainment at Samercand Envy attendâ— vertue His march towards Bajazet His Auxiliaries His Prudence The Georgians assist him His strict Discipline His huge Army Bajazets Pride Bajazet advanced towards him Tamerlanes moderation He passeth the River Euphrates Turkish Pride Turks beaten Sebastia taken Bajazets arrogance Note Tamerlanes favour to the Christians Bajazets approach Sennas surprized by Tamerlane His Policy An Ambush Two thousand Turks overthrown The Bassa of Natolia taken His Speech to Tamerlane Tamerlanes reply His release He commendâ— Tamerlane Preparations for the Battel Tamerlanes prudent practice His prudent Speech His direction for the Battel The Battel begins Bajazets great Army The Prince of Ciarchan slain A furious Battel Tamerlane himself chargeth Many revolt to Tamerlane The Turks overthrow Bajazet wounded Bajazet taken The valour of the Christians The Despot of Service Speech Tamerlane releaseth him Bajazets proud behaviour Leoncla in edit Annal. Turk Note Lex Talionis Tamerlanes Piety The dead buried Tamerlanes Policy The number of the slain The uncertainty of worldly greatness Bajazet kept in a Cage Pride goeth before destruction Tamerlane prosecutes his Victory The Turks fly Prusa taken The Greek Emperour â—ends Ambassadours The Greek Empire yielded to Tamerlane It 's refused by him Tamerlanes fidelity The Ambassadours dismissed The Greek Emperour comes to him Tamerlane goes to Constantinople He highly commended it He sends his Army to thei◠〈◊〉 quarters Bajazets Pride Tamerlan's Justice He marcheâ— towards Egypt His battel with the Sultan The Sultan beaten flyeth Damasco taken by storm Tamerlane goes to Jerusalem His Piety He marcheth into Egypt Damietia taken Tamerlane marched to Cair Caire besieged Tamerlanes policy Caire stormed Axalla enters Caire taken The Sultan â—lyeth Tamerlane pursueth A brave retreat of the Mamelukes Fidelity rewarded Caire plundered Tamerlane goes to Alexandria The Sultan flyes Axalla pursues him Many Kings submit to Tamerlane Tamerlane desires to return home He secures his new conquests Calibes made Governour Tamerlane goes to Jerusalem Bajazet's Character Tamerlanes Devotion He enlargeth Samercand His love to his Souldiers He goeth towards Quinsay Odmar's Victory in China Tamerlane gives him his sister in marriage The old Emperour buried His Son brought up at Quinsay The King of China comes to him Tamerlane's â—lain apparel Quinsay described It was one hundred miles in compass His directions about the breeding of his Son His second Son born Recreations rightly used His Prudence His return to Samercand His Justice His love to his servants His bounty His frugality His Death His Character Note Pepins Children Pepins Death His Character Charles made King His Education His Valour and other vertues His Endowments Carolomans Envy The State of Rome Several Popes chosen Steven confirmed Didiers Policy The Popes Secretaries hanged The Pope sends for King Charles Troubles in Guienne Charles subdues Hunalt Charles his Policy and Glemency Charles his marriage Carolomans death Charles his second marriage Pope Adrian Didiers Policy He makes War against the Pope Hunalts ingratitude The Pope sends to Charles for aid Charles Arms against Didier Didier prospers in his Wars Charles calls a Parliament Enters Italy and heats Didier Charles besieges Pavia and Verona The Italians submit to him Veronaâ— taken And Pavia Didier taken Prisoner Charles his moderation A Counsel at Rome New troubles in Italy But suppresed Charles his Wars with the Saxons The cause of it Charles calls a Parliament The Saxons overcome And converted Charles his Wars in Spain Charles circumvented Charles calls a Parliament His great preparations His entry into Spain Pampelune taken Milon defeated Aigoland entred France Charles returns Aigoland's Policy Aigolands dissimulation Charles returns into Spain Aigoland overthrown and slain The Sarazins rally A Gyant slain A Treaty of Peace A Traytor Charles returns into France Rowland assaulted His Valour His Death Charles overcomes the Sarazins Returns into France A Rebellion in Italy His Wars in Bavaria His Victories His education of his children A Sedition in Rome The Pope freed out of Prison Flies to Charles Charles goes to Rome Clears the Pope upon his Oath The State of the Eastern Empire Contention about Images A Counsel from them Charles against Images An unnatural Mother Irene trears with Charles Irene hated and deposed Nicephorus succeeds her He treats with Charles His large Dominions His Title to the Empire Naucler An Agreement betwixt Charles and the Pope Charles is envied Zonas Nicephorus is slain The Saxons oft rebell Charles his Prudence Crantz in Saxon. Bishopricks erected Troubles is Italy War with the Venetians Charles makes his Will He gives Laws to his Subjects Infidels beaten And the Bohemians and Polanders His War with the King of Denmark Pepin dies And Charles New enemies rise up His love to the Church He called five Councels His Ecclesiastical Constitutions A Counsel at Frankfort His Temperance His Exercises His Charity His last Wars His preparation for Death He makes his Will His virtues His large Dominions His Character His Zeal His blemishes His Epitaph The time of his Death His Wives and Children His Devotion His care of his Children His League with Scotland
ten thousand of my best Horse whom I will send into every place where I shall think needful within my Army for to impart my commands Over the first forty thousand Horse the Prince of Ciarchan commanded over the formost Footmen was the Lord Synopes a Genovois Kinsman to Axalla and his Lieutenant over the Footmen a Captain of great estimation The Prince Axalla's charge consisted of five Squadrons of Horsemen Bajazet's Army also being fair and great came bravely still on forwards towards their Enemies who stirred not a whit from the place which they had chosen for the Battel except certain light-Horsemen Scythians Parthians and Muscovites who being sent out as loose men hotly skirmished between the two Armies Tamerlane was informed by a spie that Bajazet was on foot in the midst of thirty thousand Janizaries his principal men of War and greatest strength amongst whom he ment that day to fight and in whom he had repoled his greatest hope His Battel of Horse was very fair amounting to the number of one hundred and forty thousand all old Souldiers the Sultan of Egypt also had sent to his aid thirty thousand Mamelukes all excellent good Horsemen with thirty thousand Footmen so that his Army marching all in a front in the form of a half Moon seemed almost as great as Tamerlanes These Turks with infinite number of horrible cries still advanced forwards Tamerlanes Souldiers all the while standing still with great silence Never was there a more furious charge than the Turks gave upon the Prince of Ciarchan who was commanded not to fight till the Enemy came unto him neither could there have been chosen a fairer Plain and where the skilful choice of the place gave less advantage either to the one or to other only Tamerlane had a River on the left side of his Army serving him to some small advantage Now this young Prince of Ciarchan with his forty thousand Horse was in the first encounter almost wholly overthrown yet having fought right valiantly and entred even in the midst of the Janizaries where the Person of Bajazet was putting them into disorder he was himself there slain About which time Axalla set upon them with his squadrons but not with the like danger for having overthrown one of the Enemies Wings and cut it all to pieces and his Footmen coming to joyn with him as was appointed he faced the Battalion of the Janizaries who right valiantly behaved themselves for the safety of their Prince This furious fight continued an hour and yet you could not have seen any scattered but the one still resolutely fighting against the other You might there have seen the Horsemen like mountains rushing together and infinite numbers of men dying crying lamenting and threatning all at the same instant Tamerlane had patience all this while to see the event of this so mortal a fight but perceiving his men at last to be begin to give ground he sent ten thousand of his Horse to joyn with the ten thousand appointed for the Rereward commanding them to assist him when they saw that he had need and so himself gave a furious Charge and made them to give him room causing the Footmen also to charge over whom the Prince of Thanais commanded who gave a gallant charge upon the Battalion of Janizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who before had sustained a great burden Now Bajazet had in his Army a great number of Mercinary Tartars called Destenses with many thousands of other Souldiers taken up in the Countries of the poor exiled Mahometan Princes in whose just quarrel and the Greek Emperours Tamerlane had chiefly undertaken that War These Tartarians and other Souldiers seeing some their friends and other some their natural and loving Princes in Tamerlanes Army stricken with the terrour of disloyalty and abhorring the cruelty of the proud Tyrant in the heat of the Battel revolted from Bajazet to their own Princes which much weakned Bajazets Forces who nevertheless with his own men of War especially the Janizaries and the help of the Christian Souldiers brought to his aid from Servia and other places of Europe with great courage maintained the fight But the multitude rather than true valour prevailed for as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men was by the Janizaries the Mamelukes and the rest performed both for the preservation of their Prince and for gaining the Victory But in the end the Horsemen with whom Tamerlane himself was giving a fresh charge and his Avantguard being rallied and joyning with him he with much ado obtained the Victory Bajazet himself being wounded when he saw all desperate mounted on Horseback thinking to have escaped but falling into Axalla's hands he yielded himself to him supposing him to have been Tamerlane neither did Axalla for a while know him but took him for some great Commander in the Turks Army Musa sirnamed Zelabi or the Noble one of Bajazets Sons with divers other of his great Captains were there taken also and amongst the rest George Despot of Servia who notwithstanding his misfortune had that day by his valour gained the reputation of a great and valiant Captain insomuch as Tamerlane in the very heat of the Battel marvelled to see him and his Servians and the other Christians that he had brought to the aid of Bajazet to fight so valianty whereupon turning to some of his Captains that were near him he said See how valiantly these Religious fight supposing them by their strange attire to have been some of the Turks superstitious Votaries But the Despot being now taken and afterwards brought to Tamerlane he was by him courteously entertained yet withal reproved for that he had assisted Bajazet against him who was come in favour to the Christian Emperour and the other poor oppressed Princes such as the Despot himself was who thereupon boldly answered That indeed it was not according to his profession but according to the prosperity of Bajazet unto whom it seemed that all the world should bend and that he did it for his own safety Whereupon Tamerlane excused him and without any more ado gave him liberty at his own pleasure to depart Bajazet himself Being afterwards brought to Tamerlane as a Prisoner was by him courteously entertained who never shewed any token of submission at all but according to his proud nature without respect of his present state answered him presumptuously to whatever he demanded of him Wherewith Tamerlane being somewhat moved told him that it was in his power to take his life from him whereto he answered no more but Do it for that loss will be my greatest happiness Then Tamerlane demanded of him what made him so proud as to enterprize to bring so noble a Prince as the Greek Emperour into his subjection He answered Even the same cause which moved thee to invade me namely the desire of glory and sovereignity But wherefore then said
Tamerlane dost thou use such cruelty towards them whom thou overcomest without respect of Age or Sex That did I said he to strike the greater terrour into mine Enemies Then did Tamerlane ask him if he had ever given thanks to God for making him so great an Emperour No said he I never so much as thought upon any such thing Then said Tamerlane It s no wonder that so ungrateful a man should be made a spectacle of misery For you saith he being blind of an Eye and I lame of a Leg was there any worth in us that God should set us over two such great Empires to command so many men far more worthy than our selves But said Tamerlane what would thou have done with me if it had been my lot to have fallen into thy hands as thou art now in mine I would said Bajazet have enclosed thee in a Cage of Iron and so have carried thee up and down in Triumph through my Kingdom Even so said Tamerlane shalt thou be served And so causing him to be taken out of his presence turning to his followers he said Behold a proud and cruel man who deserves to be chastised accordingly and to be made an example to all the proud and cruel of the World of the just wrath of God against them I acknowledg that God this day hath delivered into my hands a great Enemy to whom therefore we must return thanks which he also caused publickly to be performed the same day for the Battel was ended about four a clock and there were divers hours yet of day-light The next day he caused the dead to be buried where amongst the rest was found the body of the Prince of Ciarchan dead in the midst of the Janizaries where he lay enclosed with their dead bodies shwing that he died not unrevenged whose untimely death Tamerlane much lamented causing his dead body to be Embalmed and with two thousand Horse and divers Turkish Prisoners chained together to be conveyed to Samercand until his coming thither All other dead bodies were with all honour that might be buried at Sennas This great bloody Battel was fought in the year of our Lord 1397. not far from Mount Stella where formerly the great King Methridates was by Pompey the Great in a great Battel overthrown It continued from seven a clock in the morning till four in the afternoon victory as it were all the while hovering with doubtful Wings over both Armies as uncertain where to light until at length the fortune of Tamerlane prevailed whose wisdom next unto God gave him the days Victory for that the politick tiring of the strong Forces of Bajazet was the safeguard of his own whereas if he had gone unto the Battel in one front assuredly the multitude finding such strong opposition had put it self into confusion but this successive manner of aiding his men made them all unto him profitable The number of the slain is variously reported The Turks themselves say that Bajazet lost there his noble Son Mustapha with two hundred thousand of his men and Tamerlane not many fewer Others say that the Turks lost about sixty thousand and Tamerlane not past twenty thousand But likely it is that the carnage was very great in so long a fight between two such Armies as probably never before met in a field together By this days event is plainly seen the uncertainty of worldly things and what small assurance even the greatest have in them Behold Bajazet the terrour of the World and as he thought superiour to fortune in an instant by the event of one Battel thrown into the bottom of misery and despair and that at such a time as he thought least of it even in the midst of his greatest strength It was three days before he could be pacified but as a desperate man still sought after death and called for it Neither did Tamerlane after he had once spoken with him at all afterwards use him courteously but as of a proud and insolent man made small account of him And to manifest that he knew how to curb the haughty he made him to be shackled in fetters and chains of Gold and so to be shut up in an Iron Cage made like a grate that he might be seen on every side and so carried him up and down as he passed thorow Asia to be made a scorn and derision to his own people over whom he had before Tyrannized And to his further disgrace upon Festival days he used him for a footstool to tread upon when he mounted on Horseback and at other times scornfully fed him like a Dog with fragments that fell from his Table A rare example of the uncertainty of worldly honours and greatness that he unto whose ambitious mind Asia and Europe two great parts of the World were too little should now be carried up and down cooped up in a little Iron cage like a dangerous wild beast How might he have taken up that speech of Hecuba in Seneca Quicunque Regno fidit magna potens dominatur in aula me videat Non unquam tulit Documenta Fo rs majora quà m fragili loco starent superbi Tamerlane used this severity not so much out of hatred to the man as to manifest the just Judgment of God against the arrogant folly of the proud And when on a time he was requested by one of his Nobles to remit some part of this rigour to so great a man he answered I do not use this rigour against him as a King but rather to punish him as a proud amibitious Tyrant polluted with the bloud of his own brother and many other innocents This so great an overthrow brought such a fear upon all the Countries possessed by Bajazet in Asia that Axalla being sent before Tamerlane with Forty thousand Horse and a hundred thousand Foot without carriages to prosecute the Victory came without resistance to Prusa whither all the remainder of Bajazets Army was retired with Bassa Mustapha all places as he marched along still yielding to him Yea the great Bassa with the rest hearing of his coming and not thinking themselves in safety in Asia fled over the streight of Hellespont to Callipolis and so Hadrianople Axalla coming to Prusa had the City without resistance yielded to him which by his Army was plundered and there with other of Bajazet's Wives and concubines he took prisoner the fair Despina Bajazet's best beloved Wife to the doubling of his grief Emanuel Paleologus now hearing of Tamerlane's coming to Prusa sent honourable Ambassadours thither before to Axalla by whom they were entertained till the coming of Tamerlane who received them with all the honour that might be shewing them all his magnificence and the order of his Camp to their great admiration For it resembled a most populous and well governed City by reason of the order that was therein which brought it plenty of victuals and of