the confidence of so young a man and cryed out twice Let him then Triumph on Gods Name Yet many were offended at it but Pompey to anger them more would be brought in his Triumphant Chariot drawn by four Elephants many of which Beasts he had taken from the Kings and Princes whom he had subdued Howbeit the City Gates being to narrow for them he was faign to leave his Elephants and to be drawn in with Horses Now his Souldiers that had not all they looked for nor that was promised to them sought to hinder his Triumph which being reported to him he said That he would rather lose all his preparations than be forced to flatter them He might have been made a Senator if he had sought after it but in that he did not being so young it pleased the People exceedingly especially when after his Triumph they saw him still amongst the Roman Knights On the other side Sylla was much vexed to see him come so fast forward and so soon to rise to so great credit yet being ashamed to hinder him he suppressed it till Pompey contrary to his mind brought in Lepidus to be Consul through the good will of the People that furthered his desire Hereupon Sylla seeing Pompey returning cross the Market place after the election with a great train of followers he said to him O young man I see thou art glad of this Victory and so thou hast cause for questionless it s a brave thing that through the favour of the People thou hast brought in Lepidus the vilest person of all other to be Consul before Catulus the honestest man in the City But let me advise thee to look well to thy self for thou hast advanced one that will be a dangerous enemy to thee Sylla also discovered his ill will to Pompey in that when he made his Will he gave Legacies to every one of his Friends and left Pompey wholly out yet did Pompey take it well enough and whereas Lepidus with some others after Sylla's Death would have kept his Body from being Buried in the Field of Mars and from Funeral solemnities Pompey prevailed to bury him honourably Shortly after Sylla's Death his Prophecy to Pompey concerning Lepidus proved true For Lepidus openly usurping the power which Sylla had raised an Army of those of Marius his faction whom Sylla had hitherto suppressed which put Pompey upon his best skill and experience For which end he presently took part with the Nobility and the honester part of the People by whom he was imployed to raise an Army against Lepidus who had already the greatest part of Italy and by the help of Brutus kept Gaul on this side the Mountains the rest Pompey easily subjected to himself only he was somewhat long in besieging Brutus in Modena During which time Lepidus brought his Army to the Gates of Rome demanding his second Consulship which much affrighted the People But they were soon comforted by a Letter which Pompey sent wherein he informed them that he had ended his Wars without bloodshed For Brutus had yielded himself to Pompey who had slain him Shortly after Lepidus was driven out of Italy into Sardinia where he fell sick and died At this time Sertorius was in Spain who kept the Romans in great awe being a valiant Captain and one to whom all the Fugitives resorted He had already overthrown many inferiour Captains and was now grapling with Metellus Pius who in his youth had been a Noble Souldier but now being old and too wary he neglected many opportunities which Sertorius by his dexterity took out of his hands Hereupon Pompey keeping his Army together endeavoured by the help of his Friends to be sent into Spain as an assistant to Metellus and at last by the endeavour of Lucius Philippicus he obtained the Government of that Country When Pompey was arrived in Spain Sertorius gave out bitter jeers against him saying That he would use no other weapons against the young Boy but Rods and that if he were not afraid of the old woman meaning Metellus much less was he afraid of him Yet for all these brags he stood better upon his guard and went stronger to fight than he did before being afraid of Pompey In this War the success was very various yet nothing grieved Pompey more than Sertorius his winning the City Lauron Yet shortly after in a set Battel near the City of Valentia he slew Herennius and Perpena both Gallant Souldiers and Lieutenants to Sertorius with ten thousand of their men This Victory so encouraged Pompey that he hasted to fight with Sertorius himself before Metellus came to him that he might have the sole Glory of the Conquest So they both met by the River of Sucron in the evening both fearing the comming of Metellus the one that he might fight alone the other that he might fight with one alone But when it came to trial the Victory fell out doubtful for either of their wings had the upper hand Sertorius waâ— great honour in this Battel bearing all before him wheresoever he went and Pompey encountering a great man at Armes cut off one of his hands yet he escaped by turning up his Horse with very rich caparisons amongst Pompey's followers and whilst they were contending about the Horse he escaped The next morning very early both the Generals brought their Armies again into the Field to confirm the Victory which either of them supposed that he had gotten But Metellus coming to Pompey at that present Sertorius retreated and dispersed his Army Pompey going to meet Metellus when they came near he commanded his Sergeants and Officers to put down their bundles of Rods and Axes which they carried before him to honour Metellus the more being a better man than himself But Metellus would not suffer it but in every thing made Pompey his equal only when they Camped together Metellus gave the watch word to all the Army Sertorius with a running Army cut them short of Victuals spoiling the Country and keeping the Sea-side so that they were forced to divide themselves and to go into other places for Provision Pompey in the mean time having spent most of his estate in this War sent to Rome for mony to pay his Souldiers threatning that if they would send him no money he would return with his Army into Italy Lucullus being now Consul though he was Pompey's enemy yet procured the money for him that himself might the better prevail to be sent against King Methridates For he feared that if Pompey returned into Italy he would procure to have that imployment In the men time Sertorius died and Perpenna who was chiefest man about him supplied his room But though he had the same Army the same means and the same power yet had he not the same wit and skill to use it Pompey therefore marching directly against him quickly discovered his insufficiency and laid a bait for him sending ten Troops to prey in
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
months and ten days he deposed and sent him Prisoner to Babylon together with Ezekiel Mordecay and Josedech the High Priest The Mother of Jeconias together with his Servants Eunuchs and all the ablest men and best Artificers in the Land were also then carried away Captives This Jeconias following the Counsel of the Prophet Jeremy made no resistance but submitted himself to the Kings will wherein he both pleased God and did that which was most profitable for himself though at the present it might seem otherwise to such as consider the evil that befel him rather than the greater evil that he thereby avoided This only particular act of his is recorded in Scripture which was good But it seems that he was at least a partaker in his Fathers sins if not a provoker which was the cause that though he submitted himself to Gods will yet did he not preserve his estate For so it is said That he did evil in the sight of the Lord according to all that his Father had done In his stead Nebuchadnezzar set up Mattania his Uncle making him King of Iudaea and called him Zedechias For like as Necho King of Egypt had formerly displaced Iehoahaz after he had slain his Father Iosias and set up Iehoiakim the Son by another Mother So Nebuchadnezzar slew Iehoiakim who depended on the Egyptians and carrying his Son Ieconias Prisoner to Babylon he gave the Kingdom to this Zedechias who was whole Brother to that Iehoahaz whom Necho took with him into Egypt and from Zedechias he required an Oath for his loyalty and faithful subjection which Zedechias gave him and called the living God to witness in the same that he would remain assured to the Kings of Chaldaea 2 Chron. 36. 13. Ezek. 17. 13 14 18. In the first year of Zedechias Ieremy saw and expounded the vision of the ripe and rotten Figs the one signifying those that were already carried away Captives the other signifying those Iews that yet remained and were afterwards destroyed Ier. 29. 17. In the fourth year of Zedechias Ieremy wrote in a Book all the evil which should fall upon Babylon which Book or Roul he gave to Seraiah when he went with King Zedechias to Babylon to visit Nebuchadnezzar willing him first to read it to the Captive Iews and then to bind a stone to it and cast it into Euphrates pronouncing these words Thus shall Babel be drowned and shall not rise from the evil which I will bring upon her This journey of Zedechias to Babylon is probably thought to be in a way of a visit and to carry some presents to Nebuchadnezzar But yet it is likely he had some suit to make which his Lordly Master refused to grant and sent him away discontented For at his return all the bordering Princes sent Messengers to him inciting him as it seems to those unquiet courses from which the Prophet Ieremy dehorted both him and them About which time the Prophet by Gods appointment made bonds and yokes one of which he wore about his own neck others he sent unto the five Kings of Edom Moab Ammon Tyre and Zidon by those Messengers which came to visit Zedechias making them know that if they and the King of Iuda continued in subjection to Babylon they should then possess and enjoy their own Countries If not they should assuredly perish by the Sword by Famine and by Pestilence He also foretold them that those Vessels which yet remained in Ierusalem should be carried after the other to Babylon yet at length should be restored again The same year Ananias the false Prophet took off the wooden yoke which Ieremy did wear as a sign of the Captivity of the Iews and brake it Vaunting that in like manner after two years God would break the strength of Babel and the yoke which he had laid on all Nations and that he would restore Ieconias and all the Iews with the Vessels and Riches of the Temple and put an end to all these troubles But Ieremy instead of his Wooden yoke wore a Collar of Iron and in sign that Ananias had given a false and deceitful hope to the People he fore-told the Death of this false Prophet which accordingly came to pass in the seventh Moneth After this when Zedechias had wavered long between Faith and Passion in the eighth year of his Reign he practiced more seriously against Nebuchadnezzar with his Neighbours the Edomites Ammonites Moabites Tyrians and others who were promised great aids by the Egyptians in confidence of whose assistance he resolved to shake off the Babylonian Yoke whereof when Nebuschad chadnezzar was informed he marched with his Army in the dead of Winter towards Ierusalem and besieged it Jeremy perswaded Zedechias to render the City and himself to him But Zedechias being confident of help from Egypt and being perswaded by his Princes and false Prophets that it was impossible that the Kingdom of Judah should be extirpated until the coming of Shilo according to Jacobs Prophesie Gen. 49. 10. he despised the counsel of Jeremy and imprisoned him For Jeremy had told the King that the City should be taken and burnt that the King should not escape but be taken Prisoner and brought to the presence of Nebuchadnezzar That he should not perish by the Sword but being carried to Babel should there dye a natural Death The following year Ierusalem was surrounded and more strictly besieged by Nebuchadnezzars Army whereupon the King of Egypt Pharaoh Hophra entred into Iudaea with his Army to succour Zedechias of whose revolt he had been the principal Author But Ieremy gave the Iews faithful counsel willing them not to have any trust in the succours of Egypt for he assured them that they should return back again and in no sort relieve them And it fell out accordingly For when the Chaldaeans removed from Ierusalem to encounter the Egyptians these bragging Patrons abandoned their enterprise and taking Gaza in their way homewards returned into Egypt as if they had already done enough leaving the poor people in Ierusalem to their destined miseries Ier. 34. 11 22. In the mean while the Iews who in the time of their extremity had released their Hebrew Bond-men and Bond-women according to the Law in the year of Iubile and made them free thereby to encourage them to fight did now upon the breaking up of the Chaldean Army repent of what they had done and thinking that all danger had been past they held them by force to their former slavery But the Chaldeans being returned to the Siege the Prophet Ieremy when the State of Ierusalem began now to grow to extremity counselled Zedechias to render himself to the Babylonians assuring him of his own life and of the safety of the City if he would do so But his obstinate heart led him on to that wretched end which his neglect of God and his Infidelity and Perjury had provided for him Three and
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
perform promise with thee He perswaded him also that it was not a like repulse to Ochus to be denied that which he looked for as it was for him to be turned out of all that ever he had gotten For said he if it please Ochus to live as a private man he might do it safely and no man will trouble him but for you who are already proclaimed King you must of necessity make your self King or else you cannot live Now besides these perswasions the largeness of the Empire and the fear Darius stood in of his Brother Ochus much prevailed with him infomuch that he flatly conspired against his Father Artaxerxes together with Tiribazus and both of them drew many Conspirators to joyn with them But one of the Kings Eunuchs smelling it out ran presently and told the King all and how they had determined suddenly to assail him and to kill him in his Bed in the night Artaxerxes having received this intelligence thought it not safe to be careless in a matter of so great importance as was his Life and yet that it would savour of too great lightness so suddenly to believe the Eunuch without better proof of the matter He therefore commanded the Eunuch to keep Company still with the Conspirators and to follow them whithersoever they went and in the mean time he caused the wall behind his Bed to be beaten down making a door in the place and Tapestry Hangings to be put up before it When the time was come as the Eunuch had advertized the King that the Conspirators intended to execute their Design Artaxerxes being laid on his bed rose not up till he had seen every Traytor in the face that came to kill him But when he saw them coming towards him with their Swords drawn he suddenly slip't under the Hangings into the inner Chamber and shut the door after him crying Murther Murther The Traytors hereupon fled the same way that they came failing of their purpose and bad Tiribazus save himself because he was known so they dispersed themselves and fled But Tiribazus was taken and after he had slain many of the Kings Guard fighting valiantly yet at last one with a Dart afar off slew him Darius also was taken and together with his Sons was brought Prisoner before the King The King referred him to be judged by his Peers and withall he commanded his Secretaries to set down all the Tryal in writing together with the opinion and sentence of every one of the Judges and to bring it to him In conclusion they all cast him and condemned him to dye Then the Officers laid hold on him and led him into a Chamber of the Prison where the Hang-man came with a Razor in his hand with which he used to cut mens throats who were so condemned But when he came into the Chamber he saw it was Darius whereupon his heart so failed that he durst not lay hands on him but went out again The Judges that were without bad him go in and do it unless he would have his own throat cut Then went he in again and took Darius by the hair and made him hold down his head and so cut his neck with the Rasor Artaxerxes being informed hereof went and worshipped the Sun and then turning to his Lords that were about him he said unto them My Lords God be with you and be merry at home in your Houses and tell them that were not here that the great God Oromazes hath taken revenge upon those that practised Treason against me Now Darius being dead Ochus stood in good hope to be next heir to the Crown and the rather through the means and assistance of his Sister Atossa But of his legitimate Brethren he most feared Ariaspes who was only left of all that were legitimate and of his Bastard Brethren he feared Arsames Not for that Ariaspes was elder than he but because he being of a soft and plain name the Persians desired that he might be their King And for Arsames he was wise and valiant and Ochus saw that his Father loved him dearly Now Ochus being subtle and malicious first shewed cruelty upon Arsames and then his Malice upon Ariaspes his Legitimate Brother For knowing him to be simple and plain he daily sent some of the Kings Eunuchs to him who carried him threatning messages as from the King telling him that he determined to put him to a cruel and shameful death These things being daily buzzed into his ears as great secrets did so terrifie poor Ariaspes as that being put in despair of his life he prepared a Poison and drank it to prevent a worse Death King Artaxerxes being informed of his Death took it very heavily and began to suspect the cause that made him thus destroy himself yet being grown very old he neglected to search it out But the Death of Ariaspes made him to love Arsames the better making it to appear that he had a better opinion of him than he had of Ochus and therefore made him privy to all his affairs Ochus seeing this could no longer defer his revenge and he therefore suborned Harpaces the son of Tiribazus to murther his Brother Arsames which accordingly he accomplished Now Artaxerxes being almost spent with age when he heard that his dearly beloved Son Arsames was Murthered was not able to bear it any longer but took it so to heart that he died of grief having lived fourscore and fourteen years and reigned threescore and two When he was dead the Persians found that he had been a good and a gracious Prince and one that loved his People and Subjects especially when they came to have tryal of his Successor Ochus that passed all men living in cruelty For when his Father was dead he dealt so with the Chiliarchs and Eunuchs that were about him that his Death was concealed for ten Months together in which time he dispatched away Letters signed with the Kings Seal into all parts of the Empire commanding them to receive Ochus for their King And when all men had acknowledged him and sworn fealty to him he then made known his Fathers death and commanded a publick mourning to be made for him after the Persian manner and assumed his Fathers name Artaxerxes And then filled and fouled his Court with the bloud of his Kindred and Nobles without respect of Age or Sex amongst whom he caused his own Sister whose Daughter he had married to be buried alive with her heels upward He also caused an Unkle of his with above a hundred of his Children and Grand-children descended out of his loyns to be put into a court and there shot to Death with Arrows This Artaxerxes following herein the example of Cambyses caused certain unjust Judges to be flead alive and their skins to be hung up over the Judgment-seats that they which sat therein seeing what hung over their heads might be the more careful to do Justice
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
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
Pompey's Enemy was the first man that moved that Pompey might be chosen Consul alone For said he by this means the Common-vvealth shall be rid of present trouble or it shall be in bondage to an honest man It vvas expected that Cato vvould have opposed this motion but rising up he told them that he vvould not first have made this motion but seeing it vvas propounded by another he thought it meet and reasonable to be follovved For said he Its better to have an Officer to command whatsoever he be than to have none at all and that there was none so sit to command in so troublesome a time as Pompey All the Senate consented hereto and ordained that Pompey only should be Consul and that if he savv it needful to have the assistance of an other he might name whom he saw good yet not till two months vvere past Pompey being thus made Consul alone he carried it very friendly unto Cato and thanked him for the honour he had done him intreating his assistance in the execution of his Office Cato replied that he had no reason to thank him for what he had done he had not done it for his sake but out of his respect to the publick good and that if he asked his counsel in any thing he would give it him privately if not that he would openly speak that which he thought best Pompey then married Cornelia the Daughter of Metellus Scipio the late Wife of young Publius Crassus slain with his Father in Parthia This Lady was of excellent beauty and gifts well learned skilful in Musick Geometry and Philosophy she was modest and sober free from brawling or foollish curiosity Her Father was Noble both by Birth and deportment Yet many disliked Pompey's marrying so young a Wife and giving himself to Feasting and Jollity when he should have looked to his Consulship in so troublesome a time Pompey proceeded sharply against those that by Bribery and indirect means came to their Offices He made Laws and Ordinances for the administration of Justice and himself dealt uprightly in all things and took order that Judgment should be administred with silence safety and gravity But when his Father in Law was accused he sent for three hundred and sixty Judges home to his House praying them to help him which the accuser of Scipio understanding let fall his suit Plancus also being accused Pompey contrary to the Law spake in his commendation whereupon Cato who was one of the Judges stopped his Ears saying that he would not hear an offender praised being contrary to the Law Plancus was condemned by all the Judges to the great shame of Pompey Yet otherwise he set all things in good order and chose his Father Scipio for his fellow Consul for the five last Months Then he caused the Government of his Provinces to be assigned to him for four years more with commission to take out of the Treasury a thousand Talents yearly for to defray the charges of his Wars Caesars Friends seeing this moved that some consideration might be had of him also who made great Wars for the Commonvvealth and by his good service had deserved either to be chosen Consul again or else that they should prolong his charge and Goverment that no other successor might reap the fruit of his labours Much stir arose about this matter But Pompey said that he had received Letters from Caesar by which he requested a successor and to be discharged of this War adding that he thought it fit they should grant him the priviledg to demand the second Consulship though he was absent This Cato stoutly withstood saying that leaving his Army he must return home as a private man and in his own Person crave recompence of his Country Pompey replying nothing hereto made many think he bore no great good vvill to Caesar the rather because he had sent to him for the two Legions which he had lent him under colour of his War against the Parthians Though Caesar smelt his design yet he sent his Souldiers and rewarded them liberally About this time Pompey fell dangerously sick at Naples whereof he yet recovered again and the Neapolitans sacrificed to the Gods for his recovery the like also did their Neighbours round about and it ran so generally through Italy that there was no City or Town wherein they did not make open Feasting and rejoyced for many days together The infinite number of People also which went to meet him out of all places was such that there was not room enough for them all but the High-ways Cities Towns and Ports were full of People Feasting and sacrificing to the Gods for his recovery Divers also went to meet him that were Crowned with Garlands casting Nosegays and Flowers upon him Yet some thought that this was the cause of the civil Wars that ensued For hereupon he grew so proud to see himself thus honoured that forgetting his former Government he began to despise Caesar thinking that he could easily overcome him when he pleased Besides Appius that brought him his two Legions from Caesar out of Gaul reproached much his doings there and gave out many foul words against Caesar. For he said that Pompey knew not his own strength who might overcome Caesar with his own Legions for that when they saw Pompey they would forsake Caesar and turn to him These flattering Speeches made Pompey so secure that he laughed them to scorn who were afraid of War and such as said that if Caesar came to Rome they knew not how his power could be resisted he smilingly bad them take no thought for if he did but stamp on the ground he could fill Italy with Armies both of Horse and Foot out of all places In the mean time Caesar increased his Army and drew neer to Italy and sent some of his Souldiers daily to Rome to be present at the election of Magistrates and many of those that were in Office he wan with mony amongst whom was Paulus one of the Consuls whom he drew to his side by giving him fifteen hundred Talents The like he did to Curio a Tribune of the People by paying his vast debts and he gained thereby Mark Anthony who was engaged for a great part of Curio's debt A Captain also sent from Caesar being at the Senate door and understanding that they would not prolong Caesars Government as he desired clapping his hand on his Sword he said Well! this shall give it him Curio requested in the behalf of Caesar that they would either cause Pompey to disband his Army or else licence Caesar to have his Army as well as he For said he being private men they will either agree between themselves or both being of like strength neither will seek any alteration for fear of the other But Marcellus the Consul opposed this hotly calling Caesar Thief and saying that he would proclaim him an open Enemy to Rome if he did not disperse
his Army Yet Curio Anthony and Piso procured that the Senate should decide the matter saying All they that would have Caesar disband his Army and Pomey to keep his let them go to the one side of the House and such as would have them both to disband let them stand on the other by this means it was carried against Pompey Curio much rejoyced at the Victory and going into the Market place he was there received by his faction with shouts of joy and clapping of hands and Nosegays of Flowers thrown upon him Pompey was not present to see the good will of the Senators to him but Marcellus stood up and said that he would not stand trifling and hearing Oration when he knew that ten Legions were already passed over the Alps intending to come in Arms against them and that he would send a man that should defend their Country well enough And so going through the Market place unto Pompey being followed by all the Senators he said openly Pompey I command thee to help thy Country with that Army thou hast already and also to leavy more to aid thee Lentulus also used the same Speech to him who was chosen for the year following When Pompey went to leavy Souldiers in Rome some would not obey him and others went very unwillingly the most part of them crying out Peace Peace Anthony also against the Senators minds read a Letter to the People sent from Caesar vvherein he seemed to make reasonable requests to draw the affections of the common People to him For he moved that both Pompey and he should resign their Governments and dismiss their Armies referring themselves wholly to the Judgments of the People and to deliver up unto them an account of their doings Cicero vvho was lately returned from Cilicia endeavoured to bring them to an agreement propounding that Caesar that should leave the Goverment of Gaul and his Army reserving only two Legions and the Government of Illyria attending his second Consulship Pompey liked not this motion and so all treaty of Peace was cut off In the mean time news came to Rome that Caesar had won Ariminum a large and strong City in Italy and that he came directly to Rome with a great power But the truth was he came but with three thousand Horse and five thousand Foot and would not stay for the rest of his Army that was not yet come over the Alps but hasted rather to suprise his Enemies on the sudden who were all in a hurly-burly not expecting him so soon than to stay till they were fully ready to fight with him When he came to the River of Rubicon which was the utmost bound of the Province which he had the charge of in Italy he made an Alt pondring with himself the great enterprise he took in hand At last he cryed out to them that were by Jacta est alea let the Die be cast Or let us put all to the hazard and so passed on with his Army News hereof coming to Rome never was there such a consternation and fear seen amongst them For all the Senate ran immediately to Pompey together with all the rest of the City Magistrates and Tullus asked him what power he had in readiness to resist Caesar He answered but something faulteringly that he had his two Legions that came from Caesar and with those that he had levied in hast he thought he should make up thirty thousand fighting men Then Tullus cryed out Ah! thou hast mocked us Pompey and thereupon ordered Ambassadours to be sent to Caesar. Phaonius also a bold man said Stamp now with thy Foot upon the Ground Pompey and make those Armies come which thou hast promised Pompey patiently bore this mock Then Cato thought good that they should make Pompey Lieutenant General of Rome with full and absolute Power to command all saying They that knew how to do the greatest mischief know best how to remedy the same And so immediately he departed to his Government in Sicily Also all the other Senators went to the Provinces whereunto they were appointed Thus all Italy being in Arms no man knew what was best to be done For such as were out of Rome came flying thither out of all parts and such as were in Rome fled out as fast where all things were in disorder They which were willing to obey were very few and they who by disobedience did hurt were too many neither would they suffer Pompey to order things as he would because every one followed his own fancy yea in one day they were in divers minds All this while Pompey could here no certainty of his Enemies the reports being so various and when he saw the tumult and confusion so great at Rome that there was no possibility of pacifying it he commandéd all the Senators to follow him declaring all such as staid behind to be Caesars Friends The two Consuls fled also without Sacrificing to the Gods as their manner was when they went to make War And Pompey in his greatest danger and trouble had great cause to think himself happy because he had every mans good will Shortly after Pompey was gone out of the City Caesar came into it who spake very friendly to all whom he found there labouring to quiet their fears Only he threatened Metellus one of the Tribunes because he would not suffer him to take any of the Treasure of the Commonwealth saying That it was not so hard a thing for him to kill him as to speak it Thus having put by Metellus and taken what he pleased out of the Treasury he prepared to follow Pompey intending to drive him out of Italy before his Army should come to him out of Spain Pompey in the mean time took Brundusium and having gotten some Ships together he caused the two Consuls presently to embark with thirty Compays of Footmen which he sent before to Dyrrachium He sent also his Father in Law Scipio and his Son Cneius Pompeyius into Syria to provide him Ships Then did he fortifie Brundusium and guarded the Walls with Souldiers commanding the Citizens not to stir out of their Houses He cast up Trenches also within the City at the end of all the streets saving those two which led to the Haven and filled those Trenches with sharp pointed stakes and when at leasure he had imbarked all the rest of his Souldiers he by a sign called off those vvhich guarded the Walls and having received them into his Ships he hoisted Sails and departed Caesar finding the Walls of Brundusium unguarded presently suspected that Pompey was fled and rushing into the City he had certainly faln into the Pits but that the Brundusians gave him warning of them whereupon he fetched a compass about to go to the Haven and coming thither he found all the Ships under sail save two vvherein were a few Souldiers Some judged this departure of Pompeys the best Stratagem of War that
them but when they saw they were past their reach they let them go Then striking off Pompeys Head they threw his Body overboard where it was a miserable spectacle to all that desired to behold it Philip his infranchised Bondman stirred not from it till the Aegyptians had glutted themselves with looking upon it Then having vvashed it with Salt water and wrapped it up in an old Shirt of his own he sought about the Sands and at last found a piece of an old Fisher-boat scarce enough to burn all the Body and as he was gathering the pieces of this Boat together there came to him an old Roman who in his Youth had served under Pompey saying O Friend what art thou that preparest the Funerals of Pompey the Great Philip answered that he was a Bondman of his infranchised Well said he thou shalt not have all this honour alone Pray thee let me accompany thee in this devout deed that I may not altogether repent me that I have dwelt so long in a strange Country where I have endured much misery but to recompence me let me have this good hap to touch Pompeys Body and to help to bury this most famous Captain of the Romans The next day Lucius Lentulus not knowing what had happened coming out of Cyprus sailed by the shore side and perceiving a Funeral fire and Philip standing by it he asked him whose Funeral it was But straight fetching a great sigh alas said he perhaps it is Pompeys the Great Then he landed a little and was presently slain This was the deplorable end of Pompey the Great Caesar not long after came into Aegypt where there were great Wars at which time Pompeys Head was presented to him but he turned aside and would not see it abhorring him that brought it as a detestable Murtherer Then looking on his Signet Ring whereon was engraven a Lion holding a Sword he burst out a weeeping Achillas and Photinus he put to death King Ptolomy being overthrown in Battel by the River Nilus vanished away and was never after heard of Theodotus escaped Caesars hands and wondred up and down Aegypt in great misery dispised of every man And afterwards Marchus-Brutus who slew Caesar when he conquered Asia met with this Theodotus by chance and putting him to all the torments he could possibly devise he at last slew him The Ashes of Pompeys Body were afterwards brought to his Wife Cornelia who buried them in a Town of hers near the City of Alba. THE LIFE and DEATH OF JULIUS CAESAR The First FOUNDER OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE JULIUS CAESAR by the Fathers side was of a very Noble and ancient Family and by the Mothers side he descended from the Kings of Rome who were extracted from the Trojan Aeneas When he was a youg man Sylla having gotten the Lordship of Rome would have had him put away his Wife Cornelia who was the Daughter of Cinna the Dictator but he could not prevail with him either by promises or threats to do it whereupon he took away her Joynter from him Sylla being very busie in putting to Death many of his Enemies yet passed by Caesar whom he contemned for his youth And Caesar was not contented to retire in safety in those stormy times but came and made suit to the People for the Priesthood which was then void when he had scant any hair on his Face but by Syllâ—s means he suffered a repulse who was so irritated hereby that he determined to have killed him and when some of Syllas Friends told him that it was to no purpose to put so young a man to Death he answered That they did not consider that there were many Marius 's in that one Boy Caesar being informed of his danger secretly fled from Rome and hid himself a long time amongst the Sabines wandering from one place to another yet at length he fell into the hands of a party of Syllas Souldiers who sought for him but he bribed their Captain with two Talents and so escaped Then went he unto the Sea side and taking Ship he passed into Bythinia unto King Nicomedes And after a while he took Sea again and fell into the hands of some Pirates who at that time kept all the Sea-coast with a great Fleet. They asked him twenty Talents for his Ransom Caesar laughed them to scorn as not knowing what a man they had taken and of himself promised them fifty Talents and sent some of his men to get him this mony so that he was almost left alone amongst these Thieves which were the cruellest Butchers in the World having only one of his Friends and two Slaves with him Thus he continued thirty eight days amongst them not as a Prisoner but rather waited upon as a Prince by them For he boldly exercised himself amongst them in their sports He would make Orations and call them together to hear them and if they seemed not to understand or regard them he would call them Blockheads and Beasts and laughing would threaten to hang them and they took all in good part thinking that it proceeded from his Boyish simplicity When his Ransome was come he paid it them and so was dismissed and presently arming and manning some Ships out of the Haven of Miletum he followed these Thieves and finding them yet at Anchor he took most of them and got a great Booty and carryed their Persons to the City of Pergamus and there imprisoned them whilst himself went to Jumus the Governour of Asia to whom the execution of these Pirats did belong But he desiring to get the mony because there was good store of it said that he would consider of theâ—e Prisoners at better leasure Caesar hereupon returned back to Pergamus and there hung up all the Thieves openly upon the Cross as he often had threatened that he would do when they thought that he was but in jest When Syllas power began to decay Caesars Friends wrote to him to return to Rome But he first went to Rhodes to study there for a time under the Tuition of Apollonius an honest man and excellent Rhetorician whose Schollar also Cicero had been Caesar had an excellent gift to speak well naturally which was much holpen by his Studies so that he was very Eloquent and might have been second to none but that he applied himself rather to follow the Wars and to mannage great matters than to pleading of causes When he was returned again to Rome he immediately wan the good will of the People by his Eloquence and courteous speaking to every man being more ceremonious in his deportment than could be expected from one of his years Besides he ever kept a good Table and fared well and was very liberal which much encreased his estimation with the People And his Enemies presuming that when he could not hold out that charge and expence the favour of the People would quickly decay they suffered him to go on
he resolved first to go into Spain which held for Pompey and where he had his best Legions under the command of Petreius and Afranius saying to his Friends Let us go against an Army which wants a Captain and afterwards we will go against a Captain that wants an Army For Pompeys Souldiers in Spain were very valiant and had been long exercised in Armes but their Commanders were neither Politick nor expert in War But on the contrary Pompey was a most Wise and Valiant Captain but his Souldiers were newly levyed and of small experience Caesar returning from Brundusium in sixty days space became Lord of all Italy and when he came to Rome the People were in great fear remembring the miseries they had suffered under Sylla But Caesar using his accustomed clemency hurt no man high nor low He called the Senators together which remained there comforting them with mild and good words and laying the whole fault upon Pompey he sought to justifie his own cause declaring how much he desired Peace with all requesting that Ambassadours might be sent to Pompey to procure the same And causing himself present to be chosen Consul he opened the Treasury though Metellus one of the Tribunes of the People opposed him and the Treasure which he took from thence which was very great he distributed amongst his Souldiers Then was he desirous to go into Spain first taking order for the civil Government and making choice of the Legions which should go with him he left the rest in Brundusium and Otranto and other strong places upon the Sea Coast to keep Pompey from landing if he should attempt to retùrn into Italy He also made Hortensius and Dolabella his Captains to provide Shipping to be brought into the Port of Brundusium there to be in a readiness against his return from Spain Quintus Valerius he sent with a Legion into Sardinia against Marcus Cotta which held the same for Pompey To Sicily he sent Curius and Marcus Cato with direction that having taken the same he should pass over into Africk Lepidus he sent to Rome as Prefect thereof and Mark Anthony he made Governour of all Italy And resolving to leave Lucinius Crassus in France with his accustomed celerity he went on his Journey finding no resistance neither in Italy nor France till he came to Marcelleis which held for Pompey This City he besieged and to avoid loss of time left Decius Brutus and Caius Trebonius with sufficient Forces who indured much in the siege himself hasted into Spain where being expected Afranius and Petreius attended him with four Roman Legions and the aid of their Friends between whom and Caesar the War continued for some while chiefly about the City of Lerida At first Caesar was in great danger and much distressed chiefly for want of Victuals as also for that the Winter was come on which troubled him with the swelling of Rivers before and after which there passed many great skirmishes between the two Armies And Caesar watching his opportunities at last brought his adversaries to such distress that they perished with hunger and were forced to come to a composition which was that the Legions should have liberty to go whither they pleased and so part of them took pay of Caesar the rest departed and Petreius and Afranius went to Pompey This War being ended and the Spring come Caesar that he might leave no Enemy behind him marched into the Province of Betica now Andaluzia with part of his forces commanding the rest to march whither he had appointed and there to stay for him because Marcus Varro held that Province for Pompey against Caesar with one good Legion But he not daring to oppose Caesar delivered up the Legion to him together with that Country and all was pacified there From thence Caesar went to Cordova where he called a Parliament of all the States of that Province in which he highly commended them and those of Sivil for taking his part and so marching forward he came to the Isle of Cadez where having gotten Ships in readiness he left Quintus Cassius with four Legions in that Province and so embarking he went to Taragona commanding his Legions to march by Land thither where having settled his affairs he advanced with his Army towards Narbona and from thence to Marcelleis which now yielded to him having endured many calamities during the Siege Caesar respecting the antiquity and fame of this City would not destroy it nor the Inhabitants but leaving a strong Garrison in it he ordered his Legions to march for Italy and himself with a sufficient guard and some of his Friends took passage by Sea to Rome Though all things succeeded thus well with Caesar yet some of his Captains had ill success For Caius Antonius whom he left with Dolabella for to command his Navy was overthrown and taken Prisoner in the Gulph of Venice by Octavius Lieutenant to Pompey In which overthrow this was very remarkable Anthony was faign to put his men into long Boats for want of Ships which were taken by a Strategem as in a toil by the Pompeians with Ropes under the Water One of them which had in it a thousand valiant young men being thus ensnared was assaulted by the Enemies whole Army against which they defended themselves bravely from morning till night and in the end being oppressed with the multitude by the perswasion of Valteius their Collonel they all slew one another rather than they would fall into the Enemies hand Dolabella was likewise overthrown near to the Island of Corcyra now Corfu and Curius who went with his two Legions into Africk though at first he had good success yet afterwards he was overthrown and most of his men slain by Juba King of Mauritania Pompeys Friend Caesar being come to Rome and made Dictator new Consuls were chosen whereof he being one layed aside his Dictatorship and provided Praetors for the Provinces as himself pleased He sent Marcus Lepidus into Spain Aulus Albinus into Sicily Sextus Peduceius into Sardinia and Decius Brutus into France and taking such further order as he thought good he departed from Rome in December towards Brundusium whither he commanded all his Forces to march there to take passage for Macedonia where he knew that Pompey staid with his Army who all that whole year that Caesar spent in his journey to Spain busied himself to provide a Navy wherein to return into Italy and in gathering Treasure and levying Souldiers having made an exceeding great provision of all things For there came unto him Ships money and men from sundry Kingdoms and Provinces both of Asia and Greece as from Syria Pontus Bithynia Cilicia Phoenicia Cappadocia Pomphilia Armenia Minor Aegypt Greece Thessaly Baeotia Achaia Epirus Athens Lacedemonia the Isles of Creet and Rhodes and from many other Countries There came also to his aid King Deiotarus and Aribarzanes of all which together with those which he brought with him from Italy
all the Ships and Gallies that possibly he could together with those whom Cassius had brought he therein shipped as many of his men as they could contain and passed into the lesser Asia where being advertised that Pompey had been in Cyprus he presumed that he was gone into Aegypt wherefore he steered the same course taking with him two Legions of old Souldiers only When he arrived at Alexandria he understood that Pompey presuming upon the many benefits and good entertainment which the Father of this King Ptolomy had received in his House had sent to this Ptolomy to harbour and assist him which accordingly the King promised and Pompey coming upon his safe conduct in a small Boat was by the false Kings commandment basely murthered thinking thereby to win the favour of Caesar. He understood likewise that Cornelia the Wife of Pompey and his Son Sextus Pompeius were fled from thence in the same ship wherein they came Caesar being landed and received into the City they brought him for a present the Head of the Great Pompey but he turned away and would not see it and when they brought him Pompeys Ring with his Seal of Arms he wept considering the end and success of the great adventures and properties of Pompey who with such honour and fame had Triumphed three times and been so many times Consul in Rome and had obtained so many Victories abroad When Caesar was landed in AEgypt he found the Country imbroiled in Civil Wars there being great discord between young King Ptolomy and his Sister Cleopatra about the division and Inheritance of that Kingdom wherein Julius Caesar as being a Roman Consul took upon him to be an Arbitrator For which cause or because their guilty consciences accused them for the treacherous murther of Pompey Fotinus the Eunuch who had contrived the said murther and Achillas who had been the actor of it fearing that Caesar inclined to favour Cleopatra sent for the Kings Army that lay near the City consisting of twenty thousand good Souldiers purposing to do by Caesar as they had done by Pompey so that within a few days there began between Caesar and his small Army both in the City and in the Harbour where the Ships and Gallies lay the most cruel and dangerous encounter that ever Caesar met with for he was often forced to fight in his own Person both within the City whereof the Enemies held the greater part and also in the Harbour with his Ships and was sometimes in so great peril and danger that he was forced to leap out of the Boat into the Water and by swimming to get one of the Gallies at which time he held his Commentaries in one hand above Water and carry his Robe in his teeth and to swim with the other hand But when his other Forces were come to him from Asia and other parts he at the end of nine months for so long these Wars lasted became Victorious as in all other his enterprises he had been and the young King Ptolomy was slain in fight In this War Caesar did such exploits and behaved himself so gallantly that for the same only he well deserved the fame and name of a brave Captain The Pride of the Aegyptians being thus tamed Caesar put to death the murtherers of Pompey and established the fair Cleopatra the Queen and Governess of Aegypt whom during his stay there he intertained for his Friend and had a Son by her called Caesarion And when he had quitted and settled all things in Aegypt he departed thence into Asia and travelled through Syria now Soria being informed that during his troubles in Aegypt King Pharnaces the Son of that mighty King Methridates thought it a fit time whilst the Romans were embroiled in Civil Wars to recover what his Father had lost For which end having overthrown Domitius whom Caesar had sent to govern those parts and having taken by force of Arms the Provinces of Bithynia and Cappadocia expelling thence King Ariobarzanes a Friend and Subject of Rome and beginning to do the like in Armenia the less which King Deiotarus had subjected to the Romans Caesar I say being informed hereof went with his Army sooner than Pharnaces imagined though he expected him and had intelligence of his appproach so that in few days they came to a Battel in which the King was soon overthrown and put to slight with great slaughter of his People yet himself escaped Caesar was very joyful for this Victory because of his earnest desire to return to Rome where he knew that many scandals were raised and many insolencies were committed for want of his presence He knew also that Pompeys eldest Son had seized upon a great part of Spain and had raised great Forces of those which Marcus Varro had left there and of his Fathers Troops He also understood that in Africa many Principal Romans who had escaped from the Battel of Pharsalia were gathered together whereof M. Cato surnamed Uticensis was the chief and Scipio Pompeys Father in Law and that these went thither with the greatest part of the Ships and Galleys which belonged to Pompey and with the greatest power that they were able to leavy and that joyning with Juba King of Mauritania they had subdued all that Country and had a great Army in a readiness to oppose him having chosen Scipio for their General because that Cato would not take that office upon him and for that the Name of Scipio had been so fortunate in Africa Caesar having intelligence of all these things within the space of a few days with great celerity and diligence recovered all that Pharnaces had usurped and chasing him out of Portus he regained all those Countries and so leaving Celius Minucius for General with two Legions to guard that Province pacifying the controversies and contentions in the rest and rewarding the Kings and Tetrachs which continued firm in their Leagues and amity with the Romans without any longer aboad he departed out of Asia and in a short space arrived in Italy and so passed to Rome within little more than a year after he went thence which was a very short time for the performance of so great matters and so long a Journey Presently after his comming to Rome he caused himself to be chosen Consul the third time and reforming so much as the time and his leasure would permit all disorders in Rome being troubled and not able to endure that his Enemies should possess Africk with great expedition he prepared all things necessary and from Rome took his way towards Africk commanding his Army to follow him First he went into Italy from whence taking Ship he passed over into Africk and though neither his Navy nor his Army arrived with him trusting to the valour of those that he had with him and his own good Fortune he landed with small Forces near to the City of Adrumentum and from thence marched to another City called Leptis
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
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
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
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