amongst those I reckon 1. Gerra 2. Elere 3. Nelaxa 4. Adrama all named by Ptolomy and all placed by him in the Longitude of 70 degrees or upwards more towards the East than well agreeth with the position of this Countrey or any part of Belying more towards the West than Trachonitis though to that part of Ituraea by him ascribed Hither also I refer the City of 5. Tishbe the Countrey of old Tobit and the Prophet Elias 6. Tob where Jophes lived in exile when oppreffed by his Brethren till the necessities of his Countrey called him to the publick government and 7. Hippus at the foot of those Mountains reckoned amongst the Cities of Coele-Syria 2. BATANEA is that part of Ituraea which antiently made up the best and greatest part of the Kingdome of Basan whence it had this name the changing of S to T as Assyria into Attyria and the like being usuall among the Greeks But that Kingdome being brought to an end by Moses it was given to the half tribe of Manasses so called of Manasses the Sonne of Joseph of whom there were found at the first muster neer Mount Sinai 32200 men able to bear armes which though consumed in the Desarts yet were they of such a swift increase that there were found 52700 fighting men of them when rhey passed over Jordan Their Territory on that side of the River streching from Jaboc on the South to the Realm of Gessur on the North and from the mountains unto Jordan East and West was exceeding fertile repenished withall sorts of Cattel and adorned with the goodliest Woods in that part of the World the Oakes of Basan being celebrated in the Holy Scriptures It had in it 60. fenced Cities when first conquered by those of this Tribe The principall of which 1. Pella formerly called Butis but being rebuilt by Seleucus the Great King of Syria was by him called Pella with reference to a City of that name in Macedon the birth-place of Alexander to whom Seleucus owed his greatness and whole estate Destroyed by Alexander Jannaeus King of the Jews because not willing to admit of the Law of Moses it was afterwards restored by Pompey to its former lustre Memorable in Church-story for the Admonition or premonishment given by a voice from Heaven to the Christians dwelling at Hierusalem to remove thence and dwell at Pella that so they might escape that destruction which the Roman Army under Titus was to bring upon it 2. Edrey the Seat-Royall of the Kings of Basan 3. Carnaim on the banks of Jaboc taken by Judas Maccabaeus who set fire on the Temple of the Idols there and burnt therein all such as sled thither for sanctuary 4. Ephror a strong City upon Jordan taken and burnt by the same Judas Maccabaeus for refusing to give a passage to his Army 5. Jabesh Gilead more neer unto the Mountains whence it had that Adjunct memorable in the Scriptures for the siege of Nabas King of the Ammonites the raising of that siege by Saul and the gratitude of the People towards him again in taking down imbalming and intombing the bodies of him and his Sonnes which the Philistims had most delpitefully hanged on the walls of Bethsan 6. Astaroth a City of great note in the Elder times the seat of the Rephaims a Giantlike race of men of whom descended Og of Basan from whence the Countrey adjoining had the name of the Land of giantâ— Astaroth the Godess of the Sidonians had here her worshippers 7. Gaulon sometimes possessed by Og of Basan and afterwards made one of the Cities of Refuge of such esteem in the times of the Greeks and Romans that the North part of Basanitis or Batanea was called Gaulonitis divided into Superior and Inferior so often mentioned by Josephus And of this City or Countrey was that Judas of Galâ—lee spoken of in the sift of the Acts the Founder of the Gaulonites or Anti-Herodians 8. Gamala in the Lower Gaulonitis so called because the Hill upon which it stood was fashioned like the back of a Camel invincibly situate strengthned both by Art and Nature and at the last with so great difficulty and hazard of Vespasians person stormed by Titus that the Romans in the heat of the execution spared neither Women nor Children insomuch that all the Inhabitants perished except some few Women which had hid themselves 9. Gadara after ten moneths siege taken and destroyed by Alexander Jannaeus King of the lews repaired by Pompey and by Gabinius made one of the five feats of Justice for the whole Countrey of Palestine the other four being Hierusalem Iericho Hamath and Sephorah 10. Gerasa or Gergesa the Chief City of the Gergesites the people whereof on the loss of their Swine intreated our Saviour to depart out of their costs as Saint Matthew hath it Saint Luke and Saint Mark ascribe it to the People of Gadara not that the Cities were both one or the Evangelists at ods in the Relation but because they were two neighbouring Cities and their fields lay in Common pour cause de vicinage as our Lawyers phrase it and so the storie might be common to both alike 11. Hippus not far from the River Iordan so called from a Garrison of Horse there placed by Herod not from the Mountain Hippus as some suppose which is too far off to have any influence upon it 12. Iulias built by Philip the Tetrarch of Ituraea in the Southern border of his estate in imitation of the like work of Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea to ingratiate himself with Iulia the wife of Tiberius Caesar 13. Abel by Iosephus called Abel Maacha for distinctions sake where Sheba that Grand Rebell being besieged by Ioab and the City brought into some danger had his head cut off and thrown over the wall at the perswasion of a wife woman of the Town So the rebellion ended and the City was saved North of Basanitis or Batanea lieth the Kingdome of GESSVR by a latter name called AVRANITIS from Hauran a chief City of it mentioned by the Prophet Ezekiel chap. 16. 18. A Kingdome spoken of by Moses as the Northern bound of the Half Tribe of Manasses on that side of Iordan Deut. 4. 14. by Iosuah as the Northern border of the Kingdome of Basar chap 12. 5 but reckoned as a part of Syria because held by the Aramites 2 Sam. 15. 8. A Kingdome though of no great territorie yet of some consideration in the eye of the World David esteeming the alliance of the Kings hereof of some use unto him and therefore marying Maacha the daughter of Tolmui King of Gessur by whom he had Absolom and Tamar And to this King it was that Absolom fled on the killing of Amnon abiding here three years as the storie telleth us Conterminus to this or at least not very much distant from it was the petit Kingdome of Isk-â—ob which sent 12000. men to the aid of the Ammonites against David and not far off but more
Egypt Odours from Arabia come From India Gums rich Drugs and Ivorie From Syria Mummie black red Ebonie From burning Chus from Peru Pearls and Gold From Russia Furs to keep the rich from cold From Florence Silks from Spain Fruit Saffron Sacks From Danemark Amber Cordage Firs and Flax. From France and Flanders Linnen Woad and Wine From Holland Hops Horse from the banks of Rhine From England Wooll All lands as God distributes To the Worlds treasure pay their sundry tributes This as Dn-Bartas speaks of the present times so questionless the same or the like Commerce held good in the first Ages of the Worlds Creation God furnishing all Countries from the first beginning with some Staple-commodities for the benefit of themselves and others for the maintaining of that entercourse between Nation and Nation which makes them link the closer in the bonds of Amitie And to this end also serve those severall Manufactures wherewith some Countries do abound in respect of others but looked on in the present Book as the works of men And of this kind also are there severall Polities and forms of Government For though all Magistracy in it self be from God originally and that the Monarchicall form comes neerest to the Government used by God himself yet being that some Polities are meerly but humane inventions and that even Monarchy it self is founded on the consent of men explicitely or implicitely required unto it All Government or Magistracie is called an Ordinance of man in holy Scripture 1 Pet. 11. v. 13. But those particular Works of men which are the most considerable part of our present subject are Castles Towns and Cities of most eminent note which thrive and prosper in the World according as they do partake of those Conveniencies which conduce most to their Magnificence and Greatness Of these Boterus gives us many relation being had to the time he lived in but of those many we shall touch upon the principall onely passing by those of lesser note as pleasantness of Site fruitfulness of Soyl salubritie of Air and such like obvious Observations First then there is required to the Magnificence and Splendour of Cities a Navigable River or some such easie passage by Sea which will bring thither a continual concourse and trade of Merchants as at Venice London Amsterdam Secondly some Staple-Manufactures or Commodities which will draw the like resort of Merchants though the conveniencie of Sea or Rivers invite them not as in Nurenberg in Germany a dry Town but mightily Traded Thirdly the Palace of the Prince For ubi Imperator ibi Roma where the Court is there will be a continuall confluence of Nobles Gentry Merchants and all sorts of Trades And by this means Madrid not long since a poor beggerly Village is grown the most populous Citie in all Spain Fourthly the Residence of the Nobility beautifieth a Citie with stately and magnificent Buildings which makes the Cities of Italy so much excell ours in England their Nobles dwelling in the Cities and ours for the most part in their Countrie-houses Fifthly the Seats or Tribunals of Justice on which both Advocates and Clients are to give attendance as in the Parliamentary Cities in France and Spires in Germany Sixtly Universities and Schools of Learning to which the Youth from all parts are to make resort which hath been long the chief cause of the flourishing of Oxford Cambridge Bononia in Italy and other Cities of good note beyond the Seas Seventhly Immunity from Tolls and Taxes most men being most desirous to inhabit there where their In-come will be greatest their Privileges largest and their Disbursements least So Naples Florence Venice having been desolated by Plagues were again suddainly re-peopled by granting large Immunities to all comers-in And last of all the opinion of Sanctitie either for the Reliques of Saints or some noted Shrines or the residence of some Famons man or the Seat of Religion is not the least Adamant which draws people to it to the great enriching of some Cities And of this Rome it self can give us two most pregnant evidences the one in reference to the Popes and these latter times that famous Town not otherwise subsisting now than by the constant residence of the Popes and Cardinals whose absence while the Papall Sea was kept at Avignon had made it over-grown with Briars and Brambles and buried it almost in its own sad ruins The other in the person of Titus Livius the Historian to see which man there came so many from the Coasts of France and Spam that Saint Hierome elegantly saith Quos ad suis contemplationem Roma non traxerat unius hujus hominis fama perduxit qui jam nrbem tantam ingressi aliud extra Urbem quaererent Such are the causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities when they are once built none of all which might possibly be looked at by the first builders of Cities I mean by Cain before the Flood and by Nimrod after it who aimed more at the love of Empire and self-preservation than at the generall good of Mankind or the particular wealth of those amongst whom they lived Of Cain it is affirmed expresly in the Book of God That being possessed with this fear that every one that found him would lay hands upon him and slay him in revenge of the blood of Abel He builded a Citie and called it by the name of his son Enoch Gen. 4. 17. Builded a Citie For what reason To fortifie and secure himself against all revenge as the Text doth intimate or thereby to oppresse his Neighbours as Iosephus witnesseth Neither was thiâ— the onely Citie of the first Ages though none but this be mentioned in the Book of God And that which the Scripture saith of Jubal that he was the Father of such as dwell in Tents and of such as have Cattell that is to say he was the first of those which lived upon Pasturage and followed their cartell up and down with their moveable Tents not having any certain home or habitations as the wild Arabs now and the ancient Nomades Is proof sufficient that the residue of all Mankind lived a more civill kind of life in their Towns and Villages And if Pomponius Mela be of any credit as in these things I think he is he will inform us that the Citie of Ioppa was built before the Flood that the King thereof was named Cepha and that his name and the name of his Brother Phineas together with the Grounds and Principles of their Religion were found graven upon certain Altars of stone But whether this be so or not certain it is that as well Canaan in the West whereon Ioppa stood as the Land of Nod on the East side of Paradise where Cain built his Citie were peopled long before the Flood and so were most of the other parts of the World besides And if well peopled in all or most parts thereof no doubt but they had Villages and Towns yea and Cities too as well for
another till they were almost all destroyed 2 Chron. 20. 23. From this time we hear nothing of them but that probably they recovered some parts of their former dwellings when the two Tribes and a half on the East of Iordan were carryed away captive by Tiglath Pileser Possessed hereof and of other their habitations till the reign of Zedekias King of Iudah when vanquished with the rest of these Nations by the Babylonians and Assyrians under Nabuchadnezzar Nor find we any mention of them in the ages following the name of Moab being forgotten or grown out of use the South parts of their Countrey laid to Arabia Petraea as the East parts were to that also of Arabia Deserta and all the rest as well as that which had been conquered by the Jews swallowed up in the general name of Palestinians 3. The AMMONITES inhabited on the North-East of the River Arnon and possessed all that tract from Arocr on the head of that River to the City of Rabbah and on both sides of the River Iaboc as well within the mountains of Galaaed as without the same The seat in elder times of the Rapharms and Zamzummins a Giantlike race of men as the Emmins were but vanquished also as the others by Cherdorlaomor Athtaroth and Heth being then the principal of their habitations Succeeded to in their desolate and forsaken dwellings by the children of Ammon the other Sonne of Lot and the brother of Moab both houses running the same fortune these Ammonites being conquered and deprived of the best part of their Countrey on the South-side of Iaboc by Og King of Basan as the Moabites at the same time of theirs by Sehon A monument of which subjection was the bed of Og found in the City of Rabbah the chief City of Ammon there to be seen when Moses had subdued the Kings of the Amorites as appeareth Deut. 3. Chief Cities at such times as the Israelites first conquered the Land of Canaan were 1. Rabbah the Regall City of their Kings taken by Og of Basan as is said before but again quitted as it seemeth on the comming of Moses that he might be the better able to keep the field Memorabble in suceeding times for the death of Vriah slaine here by a design of Davids when besieged by Joab Who haing brought it to termes of yielding sent for the King to come before it that he might have the honour of taking a place to defensible environed in a manner with the River Iaboc and therefore called the City of waâ—ers 2. Sam. 12. 27. Afterwards repaired and beautified by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt who having made himself master of those parts of Arabia which lie near unto it and liking the conveniencie of the situation honoured it with the name of Philadelphia 2. Dathema supposed to be Rithma by the learned Iunius mentioned Num. 33. 18. the Hebrew letters D. and R. being much alike a place of great strength amongst the Ammonites 3. Minneth in the South border and 4. Abel vinearum in the East border of Ammon both mentioned in the pursuite of that people when subdued by Iephte 4. Mitspa sometimes one of the Cities of the halfe Tribe of Manasses and at that time honoured with the residence of Iephte but afterwards recovered by the children of Ammon in whose hands it was when utterly destroyed and burnt by Iudas Maccabeaus 1 Macc. 5. 35. 6 Magod and 7. Bosor two other strong places of the Ammonites there also mentioned but said to be in the Region of Galaad by which name or by that of Gileadites all the Countrey of the Ammonites lying on this side of the Mountains was at that time called As for those Ammonites they had nothing at all to do with Israel as they passed towards Canaan neither provoking them nor provoked by them to any acts of hostility Afterwards not well pleased that they were no restored to the possession of those lands which had been taken from them by Og of Basan conferred by the decree of Moses on the tribe of Gad they joined with the Midianites in their expedition But worsted by the puissance and good fortune of Gedeon they lay still a while till stirred up by some secret motions from Almighty God to avenge him on that sinful and idolatrous people who by worshipping the Gods of the Heathen had provoked him to anger Prosperous in it for a time till his wrath was pacified who having made use of them to chastise his people delivered up his rod to be burnt by Jepthe vanquished and driven home by him with a very great saughter Not so much chrushed by the unsuccessefulness of this attempt but that in the time of Saul they break out again and besieged Jabesh Gilead Nabas a cruel Tyrant being then their King who having brought the City into great extremity would give them no other conditions than the loss of every mans right eye to the end that they using to carry a great Target on their left Armes wherewith the eye on that side was wholly shadowed they might by this means be disabled from all future service But Saul came time enough to save them from that shame and loss for that cause so offensive to Nabas that to despight him he shewed friendship to David in the time of his trouble A curtesie which David was so mindful of that he sent Ambassadours to Hanan the Sonne of Nabas to make acknowledgment of it and to confirm the amity which he had with his Father but found so ill requital from him that instead of thanks and kind accepance his messengers were despightfully handled their beards half shaven and their garments cut off by the knee Incensed wherewith he sent Joab against them by whom the Countrey was laid wast and Rabbah their chief City taken their Kings Crown weighing a talent of Gold set on Davids head and all the Prisoners executed with great severity some of them being cast into lime-kills and the rest torn in peeces with saws and harrows Quiet a long while after this we hear no great newes of them till the reign of Jehosophat against whom confederated with the Edomites and Moabites they made open warre but fell by one anothers swords as was said before Not well recovered of this blow they were subdued and made Tributaries by Ozias King of Judah and so continued in the time of Joatham his Sonne who so increased the ribute laid upon them by his Father that it amounted to a hundred Talents of Silver ten thousand measures of Wheat and as many of Barley Taught by this lesson how to value the Kings of Iudah they continued either quiet neighbours or obedient subjects though much improved in power and reputation by regaining the greatest part of their antient dwellings on the removal of the two Tribes and an half on the East of Iordan to the land of Assyria by Tiglath Phul-Assur For after this with reference to the common danger Baulis their King was so strict a confederate
that is to say from the sending it home by the Philistims till brought to Hierusalem by David 8. Beth-semes to which the Aâ—â— was brought by a yoke of Kine turned loose by the Philistims for irreverent looking into which there were slain by the immediate hand of God no fewer then 50070 persons of this City 9. Tsarah neer which is a fountain called the Fountain of Ethiopia because Philip there baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch 10. Caspin taken with great slaughter by Iudas Maccabaeus 11. Lachis remarkable for the death of Amaziah King of Iudah 12. Aialon a City of the Levites also in the valley whereof the Moon is said to have stood still at the prayers of Iosuah as the Sun did over the City of Gibeon the motion of the Heavens being said that he might have the more time for execution on the Kings of the Canaanites To this Tribe also belonged the Town and Territory of Dan or Leshem afterwards called Caesarea Philippi in the Tribe of NEPHTHALIM whereof we have there spoke already 3. The Tribe of SIMEON was so called from Simeon the second Sonne of Iâ—cob by his first wife Leah of whom were found at the first muster 59300 able men and but 22200 at the second muster when they came into Canaan Where they enjoyed but a small Territory to themselves their lot falling amongst the Philistims whom they were not able to expell and therefore they were taken into the Tribe of Iudah where they were permitted to enjoy some Towns and Villages intermixed with that more potent Tribe Afterwards in the reign of King Hezekiah some of them possessed themselves of Gedar belonging to the Children of Ham and others passing Southwards into Idumaea smote the Amaleâ—ites which inhabited in the Mountains thereof and dwelt in the places by them conquered But for all this wanting room for themselves and their Children many of them undertook the Office of Scribes or Scriveners and dispersed themselves amongst the rest of the Tribes teaching their Children to write and giving themselves to the employment of Publick Notaries God herein verifying the curse which Iacob had denounced on Simeon that he should be divided and scattered in Israel But for their fixed habitation which fell to them by lot it lay betwixt Dan upon the North and Idumaea on the South the Tribe of Iudah on the East and the Philistims upon the West Places of most observation in it 1. Gerar the Royall seat of the two Abimelechs Kings of the Philistims with whom Abraham and Isaac had to do and probably of some other of their Kings and Princes till subdued by the Israelites Situate in the South border of Canaan not far from the Wildernesse of Beersheba but in a very healthfull air called therefore Regio Salutaris in the times succeeding 2. Siceleg or Ziglag belonging to the Philistims till the time of David to whom given by Achish King of Gath for his place of retreat when persecuted by Saul from whom flying he lodged here all his goods and carriages sacked by the Amalekites but the booty recovered from them speedily by the diligence and good fortune of David 3. Haiin a City of the Levites 4. Cariath 〈◊〉 that is to say the City of Books seated within the bounds of Simeon but belonging to Iudah which some hold to be the University or Academie of old Palestine A Citie of the Levites also and at first possessed by the Sonnes of Anak or men of a Gigantine stature but taken by Othomel the Sonne of Kenâ— on the promise and encouragement which was given by Caleb that whosoever took it should have his Daughter Achsah to wife Afterwards it was called Debir Iudg. 1. 11. known in the time of Saint Hierome by the name of Daema 5. Chorma conceived by some to be that place mentioned 〈◊〉 14. 45 to which the Canaanites and Amalekites pursued those of Israel 6. Beershab or 〈◊〉 â—uramenti so called of the Well of waters and the oath which was there sworn betwixt Abraham and Abimelech Gen. 21. 31. Memorable in the Scripture for the Grove which Abraham there planted the wandring of Hagar thereabouts when she was cast out of Abrahams house with her young sonne â—â—mad and the dwelling of Isaac for which cause called the City of Isaac Situate in the extreme South border of the Land of Canaan the length whereof is often measured in the Scripture from this Town to Daâ— and for that cause well fortified by the Western Christians when they were possessed of this Countrey as standing on the borders of Idumaea and the Desarts of Arabia in the way from Egypt 4. The Tribe of IVDAH was so called from Iudah the fourth sonne of Iacob by his wife Leah of whom there were numbred at the first generall muster taken neer Mount Sinai 76600 fighting men and no fewer than 76500 at their entrance into the Land of Canaan The greatest Tribe and therefore answerably fitted with the largest territory bordering on the Dead Sea East upon Simeon West and the Tribe of Benjamin on the North and the Idumaeans on the South Comparatively large with reference to the other Tribes but otherwise unable to contain or feed those infinite multitudes without the extraordinary providence of Almighty God which are recorded to be in it King David mustering 470000 fighting men of this Tribe alone which was more than half the number found in the rest of the Tribes A Tribe which had a native Sovereignty over all the others the Scepter the Legislative power and the worlds Messiah being all promised unto this Places of most observation in it 1. Arad situate in the entrance of Iudaea in the way from the Wilderness of Edom. 2. Hebron one of the antientest Cities of Canaan the seat of Giants called Anakim or the sonnes of Anak This word Anak signifieth a chain worn for ornament and it seemeth that this Anak enriched with the spoils of his enemies wore a chain of Gold leaving both the custome and name to his posterity We read the like of Manlius Torquatus in the Roman Histories This Town did Abraham buy for a buriall place for his dead and in it his wife Sarah was first buried and after her four of the Patriarchs Adjoyning to this town is the plain of Mamre where Abraham the Father of the faithfull sitting in his Tent was visited from Heaven by God in the shape of man Here David kept his Court before the winning of Hierusalem to this place came the Tribes to anoint him King over Israel and hither came Absalon under the pretence of paying his vowes to usurp the Kingdome of his Father 3. Tecoa the City of Amos the Prophet and also of that woman who by the words which Ioab put into her mouth perswaded the King to call Absolon from exile In the Wilderness of this Tecoa there assembled the Inhabitants of Moab Ammon and Mount Seir to overthrow Iuda But the Lord being appeased by the publique Fast proclamed and kept by Iehosaphat and