the Princes and Embassadors of the King of Assyria spake blasphemous words against the Lord wherefore he slew 185 thousand of them as appeareth in the 2. King 19. Of the valley of the sonne of Hinnon THis valley lieth behind the city of Ierusalem Southward on the left hand as they went from Ierusalem to Bethelem In this valley the Iewes set vp an Idoll of copper like a King which they called Moloch that is a King of Idols This Copper Idoll stood with the arms stretching out and vnder it there was a great fire whereby the Image shewed fire-redde and besides that the more to honour it they made a great fire betweene two walls which burnt for his sake and through this fire the Idolatrous Priests cast liuing children into Molochs burning armes which he with his armes red hot burnt to death And in this manner the Iewes offered their owne children to the Idoll Moloch and when they did it they made a great noise crie and beat vpon a drum that the fathers when their children were offered should not here them crie by reason of the great noise of Drums This valley was called the valley of Tophet for Tophet signifies a Drum This was a most grosse and fearefull Idolatry therefore Christ likened this valley of Hinnon to hell fire for he called it Gehenna Mat. 5. That the Iewes should keepe themselues from this monstrous Idolatrie God made a law That if any man were taken committing this kind of Idolatry he should forthwith be stoned to death and not suffered to liue Leuit. 18. 20. The valley of Gehennon is oftentimes named in the holy Scriptures Iosh 15. Nehem. 11.2 Paral. 28.33 Ier. 7. Ierom writeth that here by this Idol Moloch in the valley of Hinnon there was a Wood for the water ran out of the Fountaine Siloah along by it and made the valley moist Of the field of bloud called Hakeldama THis field of bloud which was bought for thirty siluer pence for the which Iudas betraied our Sauiour Christ lay not farre from the valley of Hinnon Southward by the city of Ierusalem as Ierom writeth Of the hill Hameskita or offence and stander THis hill lay Southeast not farre from Ierusalem something wide of mount Oliuet so that there was but one Valley betweene them and was not altogether so high as it Also vpon this hill King Solomon in his old age suffered his wiues or concubines to make Idolatrous Temples wherein he and his wiues worshipped Idols Of the destruction of this famous Citie of Ierusalem by TITVS VESPASIAN THus haue I briefly set forth the dignitie scituation curiosity of the buildings of Ierusalem together with the richnesse of the Temple and sumptuousnesse of the houses now it rests to describe vnto you the manner and meanes how this famous Citie was destroyed surely a thing worthy wonder according to that in Ieremy Whosoeuer shall heare of it his eares shall tingle And that it might be the more famous and the Christians within it might take notice of the neer approaching desolation there were diuers strange accidents hapned and visions seene As first about some foure yeares before the riuer Iordan was turned out of her course and was brought into the Citie Pella a while after that for a yeare together there hung a Comet like a flaming sword ouer the City And in the night there was seene a light in the Temple And in the day when they were at sacrifice a Calfe brought forth a Lambe Then about the middle of the night the Easterne gates of the Temple opened of their owne accord In the skies were seene armies of men fighting and Horses and Chariots running too and againe And at last there was heard a terrible voice in the temple vttering these words Migremus hinc that is Let vs goe hence And that there might be a generall Proclamation of this sad and cruell desolation through the whole citie one Ananias the sonne of Iesus a man poore and impotent vpon the Feast of the Tabernacles ran through all the streets of the Citie and crying O a voice from the East and a voice from the West a voice from the foure windes a voice ouer Ierusalem and the Temple a voice ouer the Bridegroome and the Bride and a voice ouer the whole multitude of this Citie And although he was whipt and imprisoned and cruelly handled yet so long as he liued hee would not cease to vtter these words which by some were judg'd to foretel the horrible desolation which after hapned For Titus Caesar sonne of Flavius the Emperor about seuentie yeares after the Natiuitie of our Lord and about eight and thirty after his ascension vtterly ouerthrew it euen to the ground about the first day of the moneth of Aprill and within a yeare after these signes For he taking aduantage of the three factions which at this time swaied in Ierusalem One of Eleazer the Priest the sonne of Simon the other of Zilotus the chiefe Prince which held the Temple and the third of Iohannes Giscalenus a cruell fellow which had the command of the inferiour Citie besieged it and made this a fit opportunitie to further his enterprises whiles the seditious and factious people little regarding their owne safetie gaue way by their euill and intestine warrs to what he intended weakning themselues much more by their continued slaughters than the enemy by his inuasion Insomuch as the whole citie and Temple was filled with dead bodies common insolencies and publique rapines were ordinarily amongst them some set fire of the City others dispoiling the Temple a third sort killing the Priests euen as they were at sacrifice al places ful of dead bodies and to this to adde a greater measure of miserie without any regard at all to their future defence set fire of the store-house wherein the corne lay for the sustentation of the Citie and consumed that in one day which had been long a gathering by this meanes it came to passe that they were sorely afflicted with the pestilence through the corruption of the aire and with famine for want of Corne. All these things notwithstanding such was the crueltie obstinacie and peruersenesse of this people could not restraine them from violating the most sacred and holy things of the Temple insomuch as Iohannes Giscalenus had a full determination to haue destroyed it but that he was preuented by the Romans About this time was the feast of the Passeouer and it fell vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill being the Sabboth to the celebration whereof there resorted to Ierusalem about three hundred thousand Iewes These the enemy gaue way to enter into the Citie but considering their present necessitie for want of victuals vpon a suddain drew vp their forces and so straightly beleagered them that all this huge multitude was as it were imprisoned within the wals where partaking of the former misery they either died by the plague or famin Whence may be perceiued the maruellous prouidence
carrieth the smell vnto the red sea and they that saile can easily discerne the sweetnesse of the aire There is gold also found there very fine and pure insomuch as for the goodnesse of it it is called Arabian gold The Phoenix is found there of which there is but one in the world Pliny lib. 9. cap. 35. describes her to be as big as an Eagle with a list of feathers like gold about her necke the rest are of a purple colour therefore from Phoenicea and the purple colour of her wings shee is called Phoenix Shee hath a tuft of feathers vpon her head like vnto a crowne Shee liueth 660 yeares at the end of which time she buildeth her a nest of Cassia Cinnamon Calamus and other pretious Gummes and herbs which the Sun by the extremitie of the heate and the wauing of her wings fires and she taking delight in the sweetnesse of the sauor houers so long ouer it that she burnes her selfe in her owne nest Within a while after out of the marrow of her bones and the ashes of her body there groweth a worme which by little and little increaseth to some bignesse and after to a purple bird Then her wings extend themselues to a full greatnesse till such time as she commeth to be a perfect Phoenix This Bird doth liuely represent our Sauiour Christ who only and alone is the true Messiah and through whom we must expect euerlasting life who in the fulnesse of time offered himself a Sacrifice vpon the Crosse sustaining the punishment for sin at the time of his Passion putting on a purple robe being all be sprinkled with his owne bloud Ioh. 19. And as the Phoenix is burnt in her owne nest so likewise was hee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath according to that in the 22 Psal My heart is become like melting wax in the middest of my body And as the Phoenix of it selfe begetteth another of the same kinde so Christ by the power of his Deitie raised vp his body from the dust of the earth and ascended vp into heauen a glorious body to sit at the right hand of his father in that euerlasting Kingdome of glory Thus gentle Reader I thought fit to describe vnto you these two townes that when you shall reade of them in the holy Scripture the one being in Aethiopia towards the South the other in Arabia Foelix and called Seba you might discerne the one from the other of both which there is mention in the 72 Psalme The Kings of the Sea and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Saba and Seba shall giue gifts The Trauels of King Pharaoh out of Aegypt when he ouercame the Towne of Gazer 1 Reg. 9. IN the 16 yeare of King Dauid Anno mundi 2906 and before Christ 1602 Chabreus King of Aegypt began to raigne and raigned 56 yeares Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2. Herodotus calleth this man Chephrines in his second booke and Eusebius Nepher Cherres He went from Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt with a great armie 268 miles euen vnto the tribe of Ephraim and there tooke Gazer a Citie of the Leuites and burned it with fire 1 Reg. 8. Ios 21. After he came to Ierusalem which was 28 miles And this city which he had thus destroied he gaue to his daughter the wife of Solomon 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Memphis in Aegypt 244 miles So all the Trauels of King Pharaoh were 244 miles Of Memphis MEmphis is a great city in Egypt where commonly the kings of that country keepe their Courts and lyeth from Ierusalem 244 miles South-westward This citie was built a little before the floud but repaired and enlarged by a king called Ogdoo who in loue of his daughter after her name called it Memphis You may reade of it in the ninth of Hosea called there by the name of Moph for thus he saith The people of Israel are gone out of the land of Ephraim because of their Idolatrie into Aegypt but Aegypt shall gather them vp Moph that is Memphis shall bury them Moph or Mapheth in this place signifieth A prodigious wonder but the rest of the Prophets call it Noph for the fertilitie pleasantnes of the country as you may reade Esa 19. The Princes of the Zoan are become foolish and the Princes of Noph or of Memphis are deceiued See also Ierem. 2.44.46 Ezech. 30. in which places you may find it called after this name Zoan is the citie Tanis where Moses wrought all his miracles But Noph or Moph is this Memphis a beautifull towne large and spacious scituated in the strongest and profitablest place in Aegypt diuided into two parts by the riuer Nilus so that any kind of commodities or merchandise might with ease bee brouht thither by water for which cause the kings of that countrie for the most part kept their abiding there Strabo saith lib. 17. That vpon the East part of this citie there standeth a Tower or Castle called Babylon built by certaine Babylonians who leauing their owne countrey by the permissions of the kings of Egipt dwelt there in after times there was placed a garrison in it one of the three which were for the defence of Aegypt and by Ptolomy was called Babilon through both which viz. Memphis and Babilon Nilus passed the one standing vpon the East side the other vpon the West Zoan or Tanis stood about some foure miles from this towne and was a faire spacious citie also scituated towards the South vpon the East side of Nilus to which the kings of that country often resorted and Heliopolis anothet faire citie stood some six miles off that towards the Northeast All these foure townes were so wonderfully inhabited by reason of their pleasant profitable scituation that in processe of time they become all one citie and in this age is called Alcaire containing in circuit 60 miles so that it seemeth to spectators to be like a country replenished with nothing but fair houses goodly churches strong towers exceeding all the rest of the cities of Egypt aswell for the beautifulnesse of the place as the extent and largenesse of it It is reported that in the yeare of our Lord 1476 there was such an extreme pestilence in it that there died 20000 a day from whence may be gathered how infinitely it is peopled Neere to this towne stood the Pyramides which are held to he one of the wonders of the World as Strabo saith lib. 17. the height of one of them was 625 foot and square on each side 883 foot it was twentie yeares a building a hundred thousand workemen emploied about it whence it may be easily gathered how hard and difficult it was in those times to get stone it being for the most part brought from Arabia and at what an excessiue charge they were that set vp them Of Gazar This Citie is described in the Trauels of Solomon The Trauels of Hadad King of Idumaea WHen Dauid conquered Idumaea Hadad
the Places to which they trauelled Hion and Dan. HIon and Dan are two towns neere to mount Libanus and the fountains of Iordan some 104 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Hion signifies A towne of the fountain because it standeth neere to the Towne or Fountaines from whence Iordan issueth Of Abel-Bethmaacha you may reade before Of Chineroth THis Chineroth or Cineroth was the metropolitan City of the tribe of Nepthali 72 miles from Ierusalem Northward It was scituated in a very fruitfull and pleasant place and for that cause was so called for Kinroth being deriued of Kinnor signifieth Musicke or Mirth The Trauels of NAAMAN the Syrian NAaman came from Damascus to Samaria which was 132 miles to be cured of his Leprosie by Elizeus who commanded him to goe to the riuer Iordan and wash himselfe therein 7 times and he should be clensed Wherfore from Samaria he went to Iordan 26 miles there according to the commandement of the Prophet he washed himselfe 7 times and was clensed 2 Reg. 5. From the riuer Iordan he returned backe againe to Elizeus the Prophet to giue him thanks for that benefit which was about 16 miles From Samaria he returned backe to Damascus 132 miles So all the trauels of Naaman the Syrian were 296 miles The Trauels of HASAEL King of Syria HEe went from Damascus where Elizeus told him that hee should succeed his Lord and Master Benhadad in the kingdome to Ramoth Gilead with his Army which was 104 miles There he ouercame Iehoram king of Israel in a great battel 2 Reg. cap. 8. From thence he returned to Damascus 104 miles After he went from Damascus to the city Aroer which was 132 miles From thence he went through the land of Giliad into the kingdom of Basan vntil he came to mount Libanus which is accounted 80 miles and conquered all that part 2 Reg. 10. After he returned into his own kingdom to Damascus which is 320 miles Within a while after he went againe from Damascus with his army to Gath which is reckoned 188 miles This city he won From Gath he went to Ierusalem 32 miles which he besieged so streightly that Ioas King of Iudah was constrained to giue him great aboundance of gold to raise his siege and be gon 2 Reg. 12. From Ierusalem he went back to Damascus which was about 160 miles The last journey that he went against the Israelites was when he besieged Samaria at which time he won many cities towns round about in the countrey and made them tributaries to him 2 Reg. 13. which was 132 miles Hauing finished this expedition he returned back to Damascus 132 miles and there died and was buried So all the trauels of Hasael King of Syria were 1384 miles The cities of Aroer and Gath are described before therefore I shall not need to speake of them again in this place The Trauels of BENHADAD second of that name King of Syria THis Benhadad was the son of Hasael and succeeded him in the gouernment He went from the city Damascus with a great army to Apheck which is 104 miles This King was three times one after another ouerthrowne by Ioab King of Israel lost all those cities which Hasael his father had formerly conquered 2 Reg. 13. From Apheck he returned to Damascus 104 miles and there died So both journies were 208 miles The Trauels of RESIN King of Syria RESIN King of Syria went from Damascus and ioyning his Army with that of Pekah King of Israel they went to Ierusalem and streightly besieged Ahab King of Iudah 2 Reg. 16. which was 160 miles At this time which was in the yeare of the world 3206 and before Christ 762 the Prophet Esay ca. 7. foretold of the birth of our Sauior Christ saying Behold a Virgin being great shal bring forth a child and shall call his name EMANVEL From thence he brought his army through Idumaea to Elath a city of the Red sea some 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and 16 miles from Ezeongaber Northward This city Resin won and thrust the Iewes out of it From Elath hee went to Damascus 280 miles where hee was slain by Tiglath Phulasser that mighty King of the Assyrians who carried a great multitude of the inhabitants of Damascus into the countrey of Syrene where they endured a miserable exile 2 Reg. 16. So all the trauels of King Resin were 600 miles The Trauels of the Kings of Iudah which reigned in the City of Ierusalem and first of the Trauels of REHOBOHAM REhoboam the sonne of Solomon succeeded his father in the Kingdome and began his reign Anno mundi 2971 and before Christ 977. who by reason of his extreme crueltie and threats following the counsell of his yong Courtiers rather than of his graue Senators the same yeare lost 10 of the Tribes that fell from him and rebelled against him so that he reigned ouer Iudah and Benjamin 17 yeares 1 Reg. 11. 14. A little after the death of Solomon he went to Sichem 32 miles where he was anointed and crowned King But the people perceiuing that hee carried himselfe very proudly and arrogantly desired him that he would ease him of the burden formerly imposed vpon them by his father for Solomon had set a certaine Taxe on euery man because hee was at extraordinarie charges as long as the temple was building but he little regarding their request told them that his little finger should be heauier than the whole burthen of his father wherefore they disliking his speech fel all from him except Benjamin and Iudah Wherefore the King shunning the fury of the people with all possible speed went from Sichem to Ierusalem back again being 32 miles Then he fortified all the chiefe cities of Iuda and Benjamin 2 Chr. 11. So all the trauels of Rehoboam were 64 miles But he principally fortified 14 cities in the tribe of Iuda that with the more safetie he might oppose his enemy Ieroboam King of Israel viz. Bethlehem Etam Thecoa Bethzura Adullam Gath Maresa Ziph Adoraijm Lachis Aseca Zarea Ajalon Hebron most of which townes and the memorable actions don in them are described in the former part of this Treatise I will therefore speake only of such townes as haue not as yet bin mentioned Of Maresa THis was a city in the tribe of Iuda 16 miles from Ierusalem Westward which Rehoboam repaired and fortified 2 Chr. 11. where King Asa ouercame the Ethiopians in a cruel battel 2 Chr. 14. Here Michaias and Eleazer the Prophets were born 2 Chr. 20. Mich. 1.2 Ios 15 Georgias also fled into this city when hee was ouercome by Iudas Machabeus 2 Mac. 12. It was scituated on the borders of the tribes of Iuda and Dan as S. Ierom saith in whose time the ruins thereof were to be seene Maresca signifies an Inheritance being deriued of Moraschah that is a Possession Of Bethzura THis is a strong castle often mentioned in the history of the Machabees scituated on a mountaine some 5 furlongs from
from one man that is Christ Iesus For as by the first Adam sin came into the world and by sin death and damnation so by the second Adam that sinne is pardoned and man made partaker of eternall happinesse And that these things might be the more apparant vnto thee I haue described the Townes Cities and places mentioned in their seuerall Trauels both what they were in former times and what they are at this present That so by the due consideration of both thou mightst obserue the mutation and change of estates since through the revolution of times those things which seeme most permanent haue within the compasse of a few yeares beene subuerted and the ruines of those Cities which haue been greatest left to make euident lamentable examples of vast and vnheard of destructions from whence such as haue any small knowledg of the Spirit may draw such comfortable resolutions that neither pouerty can subuert them nor riches and honor exalt them but according to S. Iames ca. 1. They may possesse themselues in peace since neither the prosperitie of the world is permanent nor the aduersitie thereof intolerable The knowledge of both which how soeuer to some it may seeme ridiculous yet to such as are at all touched with the sence of worldly affaires it cannot chuse but take a deep impression and draw them thence to the knowledge of Christ Iesus and of his doctrine To which end and for which purpose I haue principally endeauored to publish this Treatise that so comparing the estate of man in this present world with the estate of grace in the world to come they might perceiue the impotencie of the one and the permanencie of the other and from both draw immoueable Axiomes That there can be no saluation where there is no humilitie nor no prosperity where there is not a knowledge of Christ Iesus in his humanitie and thence gather That the afflictions of this world to which hee is most subiect through the whole course of his life is the ready means to honor and immortal glory But that these things may the better appeare vnto thee I will endeauor to lay before thee the beginning and so farre as the holy Scripture leads mee the ending of our Sauiour From whence thou mayst draw such comfortable resolutions that in what estate soeuer thou art whether in prosperitie or aduersitie thou mayst therewith rest content c. Of Zacharias the father of Iohn Baptist ZAcharias or Zachariahu signifies Gods remembrance This man was the father of Iohn the Baptist being a Priest of the Tribe of Aaron and dwelling at a Towne called Abia of which you may reade 1 Chr. 24. There were three famous men of this name as Basilius saith One that was a Prophet of the Lord and liued 520 yeares before the birth of Christ Zachar. 1. And another that was the sonne of Iehoiada the high-Priest who at the command of that ingrateful King Ioas was stoned to death in the vpper Court of the Temple 2 Chr. 24. And a third which was this Zacharias the father of Iohn Baptist and son of Barachias that is The Blessed who according to the opinion of Basil was slain for no other cause but for saying that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary This man had to wife Elizabeth of the posteritie of the high-Priest Aaron and by her had a son called Iohn so 〈◊〉 of the Lord who was afterward called Iohn the Baptist Elizabeth signifies The Rest of God being deriued of Eli and Scabbath that is The Rest and Sabbath of the Lord. The inhabitants of the Holy land take vpon them euen to this day to shew the house where Zacharias Elizabeth dwelt in a town that standeth on the right hand of the way as you go from Emmaus to Ierusalem But saint Luke ca. 1. saith That Zacharias dwelt not in a town or field but i◠the city of Iudah which was scituated in the mountain of Iudah Risnerus and Iohannes Hedenus write That Zacharias dwelt in Ierusalem in that part of the city scituated vpon mount Bezetha as in the first booke of the description of Ierusalem hath bin declared And this seemeth to be verified out of Nehemia cap. 3. Yet there are some of opinion that hee dwelt at Hebron because that was the chiefe city of the tribe of Iuda and a town of the Priests The Trauels of the Virgin Mary MAry if it be deriued of Marah signifieth such a person as is oppressed with carefulnesse and griefe one that is layd open to all miserie and calamity prest with continual vexation and mourning She was born vpon the 8 day of September 14 yeares before the birth of Christ and in the fifteenth of her age brought forth her only begotten son according to S. Hierome and others Her fathers name was Eliakim of the house of Dauid Vpon the fiue and twentieth day of March in the same yeare that our Sauior Christ was born Mary being then 14 yeares old and the Angel Gabriel declared vnto her the embassie of the Conception of our Lord Iesus Christ A little after about the beginning of April an M. 3967 she went from Nazareth in great haste ouer the hils to Ierusalem 64 miles to the house of Zacharias and there saluted her cousin Elizabeth Luk. 1. From thence she returned back again to Nazareth which was 64 miles And when the command came out from Augustus that all the world should be taxed then Ioseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethlehem 72 miles and there the time of Maries deleuerance drew neere and lo she bare the Son of the liuing God our Lord and Sauior Christ Luke 2. From Bethlehem Ioseph and Mary brought the childe Iesus to Ierusalem and presented him in the Temple which was 6 miles Luke 2. And when they had accomplished all things according to the Law they returned backe again to Nazareth a towne in Galilee 64 miles From Nazareth they went backe again to Bethlem 72 miles Thither the Wise men comming out of the East brought the childe Iesus Gold Frankincense and Myrrh Mat. 2. From Bethlehem the same night that Herod caused all the infants of two yeares old and vnder to be slain Ioseph and Mary fled with the childe Iesus to Hermopolis a city in Egypt which was 296 miles Mat. 2. Zozom lib. 6. From thence they returned back again with the child Iesus to Nazareth 368 miles for they were greatly afraid lest Archilaus who succeeded his father Herod in the gouerment of the Iews would seeke the childes life Mat. 2. From Nazareth Ioseph and Mary came euery yere to Ierusalem which was 64 miles to the feast of the Passeouer and so many miles backe againe which for ten yeares continuance came to 1280 miles When Christ was twelue yeares of age and at the beginning of the thirteenth he went with his parents from Nazareth to the feast of the Passeouer which was 64 miles Luke 2. And when the daies of the feast of the Passeouer were
Sauiour Christ and the remainder is his age At his circumcision he was called Saul that is a mortall man but when he was made the Apostle of the Gentiles he was called Paul of which name there was a noble family in Rome so called because of the lownesse of their stature and smalnesse of their body as Carolus Sigonius obserueth In the 35 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul was an inquisitor for priuate heresie and a cruel persecutor of the Gospel The next yeare he went from Ierusalem to Damascus in Syria which was 160 miles in which journey about the 25 day of Ianuary he was conuerted and vpon the 28 day of Ianuary was baptized by Ananias So he staied some few daies in Damascus and taught the Gospell of Christ Acts 9. 22. In the same yere that he was conuerted the Iewes those that were enemies to the Gospell went about by deceit to take his life wherefore he went from Damascus to Arabia Petraea which was 160 miles here hee continued teaching the Gospell by the space of three yeares that is from the beginning of the 35 to the end of the 37 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Act. 9. In the 38 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ he returned from Arabia Petraea and came to Damascus which was 160 miles and there he diligently taught the Gospell of Christ But when in the same yeare Araeta King of Arabia went about to put him secretly to death he was let down in a basket ouer the wall and so went from Damascus to Ierusalem which was 160 miles and when hee came thither he brought Barnabas to the Apostles and shewed them his conuersion and remained with Peter 15 daies preaching the Gospell At this time he saw Iames the sonne of Alpheus and brother of our Lord Acts 9. 2 Cor. 11. Galat. 1. But when his aduersaries that were at Ierusalem went about secretly to put him to death hee went from Ierusalem and was brought by the brethren to Caesarea Strato which was 32 miles Acts 9. About the 38 yere after the natiuitie of Christ he went thence into Syria to Tarsus a citie of Cilicia which was 272 miles here he continued some yeares teaching the Gospell of Christ Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 11. In the 41 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and about the seuenth yeare of his Ministrie hee was brought by Barnabas from Tarsus to Antiochia in Syria which was 120 miles At this time and in this towne all those that beleeued in Christ began to bee called Christians wheras before they were called Disciples and brothers Acts 11. These things hapned in the eight yeare after the resurrection of Christ about this time also Matthew wrote his Gospell and Agabus prophesied of the vniuersall dearth that should happen vnder Claudius Acts 11. In the 42 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then at Antiochia and about 32 yeres of age was wrapt vp into the third heauen 14 yeares before he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. In the 43 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ the famine wherof Agabus prophecied being now begun hee went with the gifts of the Church from Antiochia to Ierusalem which was 280 miles this yeare Iames the elder was beheaded at the command of Agrippa Acts 11. 12. In the 44 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul and Barnabas with Peter were deliuered out of prison by the Angell of the Lord. Now hauing distributed the gifts of the Church hee returned in the company of Iohn Marke from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles So these trauels were 1928 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled of Tarsus or Tharsus THis was the Metropolis of Cilicia scituated vpon the riuer of Cydnus which beginning at Mount Taurus runs thence through this towne into the Mediterranean sea It was first built by Perseus King of the Persians whom the Poëts faigne to bee the sonne of Iupiter and Danaë called Tharsus of the Hyacinth stone which as it seemeth is found thereabouts It was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North in antient time a goodly city but through the injurie of the time and inuasion of the enemy much impaired lay almost ruined til as Strab. saith li. 14. it was repaired by Sardanapalus that effeminat K. of the Assirians of whom Tully remembreth this Epitaph lib. 5. Tuscula Haec habeo quae aedi quaeque exaturata libido Hausit at illa jacent multa praeclara relicta What things I eat or spend in sport and play Those I enjoy the rest I cast away From his time vntill the raigne of Darius the last king of the Persians it continued in great prosperity and was become a maruellous stately citie the inhabitants therof being growne very wealthy but then Alexander the Great making warre vpon that Prince amongst others brought his Army against this citie but the citisens hearing of his notable exployts durst not abide his comming therefore they fired the citie left hee should make a prey of their riches and fled which when Alexander perceiued he gaue order to Parmenio with all possible speed to quench the fire and saue the citie In the meane time the King being prest with an extraordinary thirst by reason of the extreame heate that was in that country the dust and his long journie put off his roiall garments and cast himselfe into the riuer Cydnus which being a cold water comming out of the North stroke the heat presently inward and so benummed his sinewes that had it not been for the present helpe of his souldiers and the extraordinarie diligence and care of Philip his Phisitian he had died immediately notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God and the carefulnesse of his physitian hee recouered his dangerous sickenesse beyond the expectation of man and after ouercame Darius in a sharpe and cruell warre neere to a place called Issa as you may reade before See Plutarch in vita Alexand. and Quintus Curtius From that time forward this citie grew to be very famous and daily increased in statelinesse and faire buildings And to adde more dignitie to it there was a famous Academie in which were many learned and rare Philosophers in so much that they of Tharsus exceeded the Philosophers of Athens and Alexandria for learning and knowleged though indeed for number of scholers and common resort they exceeded Tharsus Saint Paul was borne and brought vp in this Towne and here learned the knowledge of the tongues Philosophie and other good arts Hee also perused the writings of Aratus Epimenides Menander and other learned men whose sayings are here and there dispersed through his Epistles From thence he was sent to Ierusalem where hee liued and was brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel who was Prouost of that Academy and after was conuerted to be an Apostle of Christ Iesus as appeareth Acts 22. This towne at this day is subject to the Empire of the Turkes and called
lower city or the daughter of Sion It was so beautiful that some hold of which number are Egesippus and Eusebius that it exceeded the rest of the city Here stood the house of Helena Queen of the Adiabenors neer about the midst of it as Iosep obserueth Li. Bell. 7. cap. 13. which Queene beeing conuerted to the Iewish Religion built her an house in this City that shee might pray in the Temple Here stood the houses of her sonnes Monobazius and Grapta here stood the houses of the high priests Annas and Caiaphas not far from the valley Tyropae King Herod also that wicked man who caused the innocent Children to be put to death built him an house heere neere about the place where the Machabees in times past had a Castle for they built two one in mount Moriah another in this Mount That in mount Moriah was after called the Castle of Antonia and stood right against the Temple as is aforesaid And this being very sumptuously built and a Royall seat was after the death of this Herod a Palace for his Successors Archilaus and Herod Agrippa Not farre off he caused two faire Theatres to be also built the one in honour of the Emperour Augustus and this on the one side joined to a tower called Acropolis which was built by Antigonus Epiphanes on a purpose to place a Garrison in to keepe the Iewes in bondage which Iudas Machabeus afterwards made leuel with the ground and on the other side towards his owne Pallace It resembled a semi-Circle made all of white Marble fairely polished the building somewhat low within full of high bankes one rising aboue another like Scaffolds so that the whole multitude might easily heare or see whatsoeuer was said or done It was curiously beautified with gold siluer and many goodly pictures but amongst the rest the battailes which the Emperour Augustus had woon against his people were liuely pourtrayed To this place as well Iews as Gentiles resorted to see Interludes and Playes acted The other was an Amphitheatre and stood vpon the South side of the house it was built round in a whole circle compassed about with high walls large and spatious Here they vsed to fence and to fight both on horse-backe and in Waggons And in the fifth yere in honor of Augustus the circensian games according to the Rites of the Gentiles were very sumptuously performed On the South side of this Amphitheater stood queen Bernice house Sister to Agrippa junior it was a very faire and sumptuous Building little inferiour to King Herods This stood in the market place and so all along were very sumptuous and stately Pillars Heere Agrippa himselfe had also an house and ouer against that vpon the North stood the Iudgement hall where the Sanhedrim or the Councell of the seuenty Elders vsed to meet to heare and determine of mens causes To this place Christ was brought when they asked him if he was Christ Luke 22. Here were the Apostles whipt Acts 5. and close by this stood the house of Pilat the Pretor fairely glistering with gold in which house all the Romane Pretors and Presidents for the most part had their residence and here our Sauiour Christ was whipt crowned with Thornes and spit vpon Not far off from this Pretors house stood the Chancerie or rather as we terme it the Treasury a stately and magnificent house curiously built and appointed onely to lay Records and common Chronologies in Heere also the Officers of the towne gaue in their accounts and Creditors entred their debts This was vtterly destroyed by Vespasian Thus much for the Buildings on this Mount Next the market place was a thing very memorable and was so large and spatious that in the time of the Warres many great battels were fought there as Iosephus saith In this market place close by Pilats house stood a high seat or Tribunal made of faire stone curiously wrought and for the eminence of it called in the Chaldaean tongue Gabatha and because it was built of stone the Grecians called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Lapidanium and with vs it might be termed an heape of stones * for so the word signifieth Here Pilat taking water washed his hands before the people Or a well wrought stone and said I am innocent of this mans bloud At which they cried His bloud be vpon vs and our children And after by Gods appointment according to their own wish fel vpon them for in the same place and close by the same Seat it hapned that Herod wanting money demanded of the Iewes so much out of their Treasurie which they called Corban as would pay for the making of a Water-course for he assayed to bring water into the City from a Fountaine some two hundred furlongs off it but the Iewes supposing it a needlesse worke not onely denied him but gaue many outragious and spitefull speeches tumultuously flocked about him and with great clamors prest vpon him euen as he was in his seat wherfore perceiuing the danger and to preuent mischief he sent to his souldiers to apparell themselues like Citisens and vnder their gownes to bring with them a dagger or ponyard and mingle themselues among the multitude which they did obseruing who they were that made the greatest vprore and when Herod gaue the signe fel vpon them with their ponyards killing a great multitude The rest seeing this massacre suspecting treason amongst themselues fell one vpon another and many for feare of losse or to auoid future danger killed themselues In this very place also Florus Generall of the common souldiers within few yeares after vpon a small occasion made another cruell massacre and much more barbarous than the former for hee spared none the best of them he caused to be whipt to death or else crucified and put to the sword and for the Vulgar spared neither woman nor childe So that within the compasse of one day there died of this obstinate and wicked Nation aboue seuen hundred and thirty This outrage was so cruell that all strangers which inhabited within the town pitied their misery but especially Queen Bernice who being partly frighted with their shreeks partly moued to commiseration through the extremitie of their affliction indangered her life to present her selfe before Florus and vpon her knees besought him to take some mercy and pitty of them and withdraw his hand of vengeance from the bloud of the guiltlesse But the fury of the Roman souldiers was so fierce and the resolution of Florus so vnremoueable that neither her teares nor the present calamities could persuade him But as in such Vprores it commonly happeneth she with the rest was in danger of her safety and was constrained the next night for the preseruation of her estate to keep a strong watch lest the Roman souldiers should haue done her some violence Thus we may see a iust reuenge of a periured and stif necked people and that in the place where the offence was committed though at
of their necessities for the violence of the famin hauing dried vp their radical moisture the feare of griefe was taken from them and such as had most cause to lament and were most pricked with the sting of sorrow before they could vtter their griefe died the beholders not shedding a tear so that through the whole city there was a still silence and a thicke mist of death and destruction did fully possesse the same But the seditious were much more cruell than these were oppressed with calamitie and sorrow for some opened the graues of the dead and taking out their bodies thrust them thorow with their swords Others to trie the sharpenesse of the edge of their weapons would fall vpon those that were yet aliue and when they had slaine them goe away laughing at their pleasure So that as Iosephus saith there was scarce any mischiefe vnder the Sunne but was both practised and tollerated in this Citie To conclude by sedition the Romans conquered the Citie and sedition conquered the Romans All loue and modestie through this extreme and intollerable famine became vtterly extinct and the deerest friends would kill one another for a crust of bread the fairest Lady commit open adultery for a little sustinance Their food was extraordinary and such as men did loath and hate Some would feed vpon snailes and wormes others of old hay chopt small many ate corne either vnground or made into bread some pluckt the meat from the spit raw others with their teeth gnaud off the leather off their shields And that very mouth which cried Crucifie him crucifie him let his bloud be vpon vs and our children was constrained to feed vpon three sorts of dung that is to say Doues dung Oxens dung and Mans dung Moreouer many were constrained for meere necessitie to feed vpon the dead bodies of such as a little before dyed partly by famine partly by the pestilence And to conclude for very madnesse eat vp their gold for some of them being taken as they were flying for their safety by the Romans in their excrement was found gold of which the souldiers hearing and supposing that all the Iewes had beene full of gold thorow couetousnesse of that gaine in one night killed 2000 of them and ript vp their bellies And had not Titus Caesar by a seuere Edict forbidden these cruell and vnheard of slaughters there had beene many more slaine To make an end of this vnheard of famine I will repeat one memorable example our of Iosephus of an outrage which a mother committed euen vpon her owne sonne There was a woman of the inhabitants beyond Iordan whose name was Marie of the stocke of Eliazer and of the Towne Bethezor which signifies the house of Hissop shee was of a noble and rich family and amongst others went to Ierusalem in hope of safety where she was likewise oppressed with the miserie of this siege for as soone as she had brought all her riches and substance into the City which she had before beyond Iordan this famine growing greater and greater vpon the inhabitants The seditious perceiuing that this woman was well furnished both with riches and sustinance on a suddain set vpon her house dispoiled her of her substance tooke away her sustinance and vtterly depriued her of all meanes to liue Shee beeing pricked with the misery and calamitie of the times saw it little preuailed to striue wherefore with teares vpon her knees she intreated that shee might haue but some small part of that they had taken from her to maintain her selfe and her son with life but the seditious gaue little eare to her intreaties wherfore being mooued to extreme anger she daily cursed with contumelious words those barbarous villains that had thus rob'd her of all her means but when shee saw that neither anger nor intreatie could procure mercie and through the Towne not one morsell of food was to be found partly prest with an extreame necessitie partly with a furious rage beyond all nature and compassion laid violent hands vpon her owne sonne and accounted an vntimely death more honourable than that he should liue to bee a prey to the seditious or a slaue to the Romans The body of this infant shee rosted and eat the soldiers of the Towne beeing prest with hunger smelling the meat supposing that as in former times they should haue found plenty with violence broke in vpon her and looke what she had prouided greedily consumed and compelled her to fetch the rest which shee did and when they were well satisfied she shewed them the head and feet of her sonne which they perceiuing loathing the inhumanitie of the fact with dejected countenance departed This famine was so extreame that one measure of graine was worth a talent that is 600 crownes But the Romans all this while did abound with plenty of all things and to vex the Iewes they shewed them the great aboundance of their store for the neighboring prouinces sent them supplies After this famine there followed an extreme plague procured partly through the stanch of the bodies that lay vnburied partly by the multitude of the massacres that daily hapned that as Egisippus writeth within the compasse of eleuen weekes there were carried out by one gate of the Citie 111000 dead bodies yet could they not emptie the Citie but that they were constrained either to bury them at the publike charge or else cast them ouer the wals into the ditches of the citie which when Titus saw and that the putrifaction of the bodies swam vpon the brim of the ditch for it was full with dead carkasses fetching a deepe sigh and lifting vp his hands to heauen he said God is my witnes this is not my fault but the punishment of God vpon them The city being thus pestired with sedition famine pestilence and warre was made now a ready prey to the Enemy and that they might make a finall end of their miseries Titus caused the engines of batterie to be brought against the walls and vpon the first day of the fourth month whicn answers to our Iune he took the third wall which lay vpon the North. Vpon the fourth of Iune after though with great labour he tooke the Tower of Antonia and in it placed a Garrison Vpon the seuenteenth day of the fourth moneth which was a fast to the Iewes Iosephus going vp to the top of that Tower made an Oration to Giscalinus and the rest to disswade them from their rebellion cease to oppose the Romans but this little preuailed Vpon the twentieth day of Iuly the Iewes burnt a part of the Porch of the Temple towards the North not far from the Tower of Antonia lest that the Romans hauing got that Hold should with the greater facilitie haue conquered the Temple also Two daies after the Romans destroyed the whole Porch with fire and the Iewes helpt to pull it downe with their hands this was none of the three Porches but a bulwarke of the Temple Vpon the 25
both and with great facility conquered the kingdome and destroied Ierusalem In this yeare 1187 there happened so great an Eclipse of the Sunne that at noone day the Starres were plainely to bee seene Soone after this Raimond and Guy were both taken prisoners and thirty thousand Christians cruelly put to the sword After this the Saracens sacked the Towne threw the Bells out of the Steeples made stables of the Churches only the Temple on Mount Golgotha stood vntoucht for the Turkes and Saracens honour Christ as a great Prophet And thus the new kingdome of the Christians in Ierusalem ended which was vpon the second day of October in the yeare 1187 after it had continued in their possession 88 yeares During the continuance of this kingdome there were many horrible visions and strange Signes and Wonders seene both in Heauen on earth and in the ayre foreshewing no doubt that God was not well pleased with their actions which sought to restore that kingdom of Ierusalem For My kingdome saith Christ is not of this world And although after that there were many Kings that by all possible means endeauored to recouer and restore the same and for that purpose haue leauied many great Armies and vndertaken many tedious journies yet all their counsels and determinations came to nothing for that God so often as they vndertooke any such expedition either stayed their Armies oppressed them with war or else plagued them with famine in such an extreame measure that with very hunger they haue bin constrained to eat their Horses Frederick Barbarossus may be an example of these calamities who with a great army making an expedition to Ierusalem as he was trauelling through Asia minor his horse started and flung him into the riuer where he died miserably ere he could be saued Many other Princes besides in the like enterprise came to the like ends for they were either destroied by the Barbarians with the losse of thousands of their men cruelly slain or vtterly destroied with vnnatural diseases or vntimely deaths Now when the Emperour Fredericke the second of that name had beseeged and brought to great miserie the Sultan of Egypt and the Knights Templers had done the like to Damieta Corderio the Sultans son beat downe the walls of Ierusalem and had it not bin for the great lamentations and ernest entreaties of the Christians he would haue destroied the city but for their sakes he left standing Solomons Temple and the Temple of the holy Sepulchre for at this time Christians inhabit in them Within a while after about the yeare 1228 Fredericke the second of that name Emperor of Rome went to the holy land with a great army and came to Ptolomais otherwise called Acon where staying a while he made a league with the Sultan of Egipt for ten years regained Ierusalem without drawing sword was there crowned in the yeare 1229 keeping at that time in Ierusalem a royal Easter This man fortified the Christians with a garrison rebuilt Nazareth and Ioppa and so returned into Italy In the yeare 1246 Cassanus King of the Tartars being persuaded by the Sultan with a great army inuaded Iudaea won Ierusalem caused the Christians to be cruelly slaine beat downe the holy Sepulchre euen to small pieces and left but little standing It was after this destroyed by Tamerlaine King of the Tartars and by Mahomet the second of that name Emperour of the Turkes But the Monkes had leaue to build vp the holy Sepulcre againe for the which they payed to the Sultan or his Deputy a yearely tribute In the yeare of our Lord 1516 Selymus Emperor of the Turks about the twenty fourth day of August neere to Damascus ouercame Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt in a cruell Warre and put to death many thousands of his men and the Sultan himselfe seeking to saue his life by flight was miserably slaine This Selymus conquered the Holy Land Syria Damascus and all the Countries thereabouts and as he went through Iudaea leauing his Army at Gaza with a few of his Souldiers he went to Ierusalem that he might see with his eyes that place which was made so famous by the antient Writers and was so often mentioned in the Old and New Testament But when he came he found nothing but a ruinate and waste place barren and rude to looke vpon inhabited by a few poore Christians and they also held in great contempt and bondage paying a great tribute to the Sultan of Egypt for their liberty and the holy Sepulchre as P. Iouius writeth But after that Selymus in that place had done his Offerings and Sacrifices to his god Mahomet seeing the Priests and Christians prest with extreme pouertie out of his singular mercy and compassion gaue them a large and sumptuous gift when hee had stayed but one day and one night in the Towne The next morning before day he went with all expedition to his Army at Gaza from thence into Egypt where he besieged the great and famous city Alcaire and in the yeare 1517 took it conquered all the country vtterly extirpated the Sultan and went away with an honorable victory and rich booty From this yeare euen till now the towne of Aelia or Ierusalem is vnder the jurisdiction of the Turks Thus may we see how often and with what miserable calamities this city hath bin afflicted euen since the first destruction by Vespasian which makes euident the great iudgment of God not only vpon the Iews but also vpon the earth where they inhabited for their infidelitie and vnmercifull cruelty The description of Ierusalem and the scituation thereof as it is now in these times THe former incursions and common desolations leauing this town ruined and spoiled for want of inhabitants it became a desart and forsaken place onely some few Christians either out of the zeale of religion or for vulgar ostentation to shew that there had bin a town dwelt there and thus it continued vntill the yeare 1542. at which time Solyman the great Turk either in respect of the strength of the place or in hope of profit or else to get himselfe a name with great cost and labor re-edified it set vp many stately buildings and sumptuous houses beautified it with two costly Temples the one the Temple of Solomon and the other the holy Sepulchre inlarged the extent thereof and seated it vpon high hils After all this compast it about with a spatious and thicke wall and vpon that placed many strong and stately towers wherein there stands eight gates viz. the fish gate the Old gate S. Stephens gate so called because they say S. Stephen went out by that gate when hee was stoned the Angle gate the Dung gate the Sheep gate the Golden and Fountaine gates Thus the antient city and that which the Emperor Adrian built being both destroied in another place is set vp again So that between both this new city standeth and the first city begins to be again inhabited Of the Temple of the
in sinne poureth out his bloud vpon vs whereby we are made capable of eternall life Of the place where Adam and Eua dwelt after the breaking of the commandement Gen. 3. ADam and Eua being driuen out of Paradise dwelt at Damascus 160 miles from Ierusalem as Munster and others write the Townes-men of Damascus at this day shew the place where Cain slew his brother Abel and it is well to be beleeued that this Citie receiues her name thereby for Damascus signifies bloud-shedding or a place which hath drunke vp bloud Of the place where Cain dwelt CAin after he had slaine his brother Abel dwelt in the land of Nod a land of feare and disquiet in the Towne of Hanoch and as some thinke it was the same place where Babylon after Noes Floud was built being foure hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem Eastward Of the place where Noah dwelt NOah signifying quiet and rest dwelt in Armenia six hundred miles from Ierusalem Northward hard by Mount Ararat vpon which Mount the Arke after the Floud staied it selfe Gen. 8. Ptolomeus nameth These high Hills in Armenia Gordes which are alwaies couered with snow and no man may get vpon them Sem. SEm who in the holy Scriptures is called Melchisedeck that is a King of righteousnesse dwelt in the Citie of Ierusalem which as then was called Salem that is a Citie of peace Nimroth NImroth was the first Prince and regent vpon earth and built Babylon which is six hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem Eastward Strabo writeth That in Babylon there was an old foure square Tower built of bricke foure hundred and sixteene ells high * That is 200 yards high and each side thereof foure hundred and sixteene ells broad This without doubt was a piece of the Tower of Babylon the toppe whereof should haue reached vp to Heauen Gen. 22. Babel or Babylon signifieth a confusion because in that place God confounded the workemens tongues when they built the Tower of Babylon The Trauels of Abraham 1 ABraham went out of his owne Countrey of Vhr in Chaldaea to the Citie of Haran in Mesopotamia which is 376 miles 2 Erom Haran by Gods commandement hee went to Sichem which is foure hundred miles 3 From Sichem he went to the Plaine and wood of Mamre to the Hill betweene Bethel and Hay which is 28 miles 4 From thence he went into Aegypt trauelling Southward 240 miles 5 Out of Aegypt he went againe into Canaan to the hill that lyeth betweene Bethel and Hay which is 240 miles Gen. 13. 6 From thence hee went to the Plaine of Mamre neere Hebron 32 miles 7 From the plaine of Mamre hee went to Dan which is 124 miles and there ouerthrew the foure Kings which had taken Lot prisoner Gen. 14. 8 Then he pursued the enemie for the space of 80 miles to Hobam in Phoenicia which lyeth in the left side of Damasco Gen. 14. 9 From Phoenicia hee went to Sodom wnere Melchisedech met him which are 160 miles Gen. 14. 10 From Sodom he went backe again to the plaine of Mamre which are 40 miles 11 From the Plaine of Mamre he went to Gerer which is six miles where his sonne Isaac was borne Gen. 20.21 12 From Gerar he went to Beersaba which is 12 miles where he tooke an oath of King Abimilech 13 From Beersaba he went to mount Moriah which is 40 miles where he would haue offered his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. 14 From mount Moriah hee returned againe to Beersaba which is 40 miles 15 From Beersaba he and his wife went to the plaine of Mamre by Hebron which is 16 miles and there they died and were buried Gen. 23. and 25. So that all the Trauels of the Patriarch Abraham were 1794 miles Now followeth the description of the Townes and places THe Towne of Vhr in Chaldaea where Abraham was borne at this day is called Orchae as Petrus Appianus writeth and is distant from Ierusalem 624 miles Eastward It seemeth it either tooke that name from light or fire or else from diuine worship for there they vsed to offer many burnt offerings but at that time they committed idolatry for which cause Abraham went from thence perceiuing that the Chaldeans tooke the fire for their god because fire came downe from Heauen and consumed their offerings Learned men therefore are of opinion that the Chaldaeans in the town of Vhr worshipped the fire for their god Haran or Charan that is Wrath. HAran is the chiefe city in Mesopotamia where Abraham for a time dwelt with his father Thara There the rich Roman Crassus with his army was ouerthrowne by the Parthians and is distant from Ierusalem 440 miles North-Eastward taking its name from the water Charan which runneth through it But at this day the city is called Ophra lying eleuen daies journy from Mossel or Nineueh as D. Leonard Ronwolfe writeth who in Anno 1575 vpon the thirtieth of Ianuary was in that towne Ophra or Haran is a faire city well inhabited and indifferent great compassed about with walls and towers richly furnished with merchandise but especially with faire couerlets of diuers colors that are made therein There is likewise great trade and trafique for diuers kindes of wares brought thither by Caravans which are great numbers of camels horses other beasts that cary great burdens with many men to conduct them which traffique and trauell from one city to another This city in times past belonged to the Parthians euen then when Crassus the rich Roman fifty three years before the birth of Christ robbed the temple of Ierusalem and of those holy relicks bare away to the value of six tuns of gold For which God punished him openly for vpon the sixt of Iune after hee was by the Parthians ouerthrown hard by Haran in Mesopotamia and there taken and slaine The Parthians pouring molten gold into his mouth said Drinke now thy sill thou greedy Wretch of that which thou so long hast thirsted after for with this thou mayst fill thy greedy throat In this ouerthrow were slaine thirty thousand Romans and by that meanes the city of Haran returned againe vnder the Parthians After that the Persians took it but now it is vnder the Turk In this city of Haran at this day there is to be seene a Well of very cleare water at which Rebecca gaue drinke to Eleazer Abrahams seruant and to his Camels Genes 24.19 This Well by the townsmen is called Abrahams wel there also Rachel Labans daughter first spake with the holy Patriark Iacob who turning the stone off from the Wel gaue her sheep of the water to drinke This water hath a very pleasant taste and is a notable Type of holy Baptisme for like as the holy Fathers tooke their wiues by this wel so Christ receiueth his holy congregation by the Well of Baptisme in his Word and holy Sacrament This is the right Wel of Israel which floweth into euerlasting life The city of Haran now called Ophra lieth from Nineueh 232
and be reconciled to her but her father shut him out of doores because he had married his wife to another man wherefore he tooke a company of Foxes and tying them taile to taile put fire-brands to their tailes and turned them into the wheat of the Philistines and they set fire of all the Wheat and Vines and Oliues thereabout Iudg. 15. From thence he went to a caue in the rock Eta and there dwelt which is 12 miles Iudg. 15. At the rocke Eta Sampson was bound with two new cords by the Israelites and from thence led to Ramah Lehi which is six miles where hee killed 1000 Philistines with the jaw bone of an Asse that he found in the way From thence he went to Gaza a citie of the Philistins which is 42 miles here he carried away the gates of the citie From Gaza he carried these gates with the posts to the top of a hill neere Hebron which is 20 miles Iudg. 16. From Hebron he went to the riuer Sorecke where hee dwelt with Dalilah the Harlot and by her was deceiued and taken of the Philistines which are 12 miles Being taken of the Philistines he put out both his eies and bound him in chains and led him from thence to Gaza which is 32 miles there they brought him into the house of their god Dagon to make them sport but he pulled downe the house a multitude of them were slaine where he also died and was buried in the Sepulchre of Manoah his father betweene Zerea and Esthaol 28 miles from Gaza and almost 20 from Ierusalem towards the West This was in the yeare of the World 1811 and before Christ 1157. So all the Trauels of Sampson were 240 miles The description of the seuerall Townes and places to which SAMPSON trauelled Of Zarea THis is a city in the tribes of Iuda and Dan neere the riuer Soreck and taketh the name from a Cole or Leprosie being deriued of Sarag that is He was Leaprous it stood 18 miles from Ierusalem Westward Of Esthaol THis was a Towne in the Tribe of Dan two miles from Zarea and stood neere the Riuer Sorecke some 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the West and taketh the name from a Woman and Fortitude for Isca signifieth a woman and El or Ol strong or powerfull Here Sampson was brought vp In S. Ieroms time this was called Asto not farre from whence Sampson lieth buried Of Timnah You may reade of this in the trauels of Iudah Of Ascalon THis was a citie of the Philistines scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea some 30 miles from Ierusalem Westward and to this day retaineth the figure of halfe a circle it taketh the name from an ignominious fire being deriued of Esh and Kalon an ignominious light Of Gaza Of this Towne you may reade in the trauels of Ioshuah Of the Riuer Sorek THis was a very pleasant riuer vpon the banke whereof grew great plentie of Vines and Palmes from whence it seemeth to haue taken the name for Sorek in Hebrew signifieth a Myrtle branch which bringeth forth a pleasant berrie whereof excellent Wine is made It takes the beginning at a fountaine in the tribe of Iuda some 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the West where there is a very fertile valley in which Dalilah that betraied Sampson dwelt and from thence it runneth through the land of the Philistines and falleth into the Mediterranean sea Of the rocke Eta IN this rocke there was a caue wherein Sampson dwelt as in a strong tower it stood in the Tribe of Iuda neere to the riuer Sorecke 12 miles from Ierusalem toward the West and seemeth to take the name from Fowles for before that Sampson inhabited there a multitude of fowles bred vpon it and therefore it was called Eta for Aith signifies a Fowle This rocke growing to decay was repaired againe by Ierobaham that idolatrous King of Israel Of Sampson SAmpson or Schimpson according to the Hebrew text taketh his name from the Sunne for Schaemaes in Hebrew signifieth the Sunne and seemeth to haue some affinity with Hercules which signifieth The glory of the aire for what can be said to be the glory of the aire but the Light of the Sunne without which it would become exceeding darke wherefore as some thinke this Sampson was the true Hercules and those noble exploits that hee did the Graecians attributed to their Hercules The typicall signification of SAMPSON HE typically representeth Christ diuers waies first in his person hee was a mightie man secondly in his profession hee was a Nazarite thirdly in his calling he was a Prince and Iudge fourthly in his manner of liuing for he went from place to place to reuenge himselfe vpon the enemies of Gods people the children of Israel and in his death euen so our Sauiour Christ is that strong man who being mightier than the Diuel hath dispossest him of his tyrannicall jurisdiction ouer the soules of mankinde hath taken away those gates of death by his mercy opening vnto vs the dore of life that so being set at liberty from that hellish imprisonment we may be made partakers of euerlasting happinesse he was also a Nazarite euen from his mothers womb borne and bred there tying himselfe to a vow of bondage that we might be made free he is a Prince for euer and a Priest after the order of Melchisadeck during the continuance of his life in this vaile of misery his chiefest actions were to go from place to place to teach to doe good and to rescue and relieue the poore distressed members of the Church who lay miserably afflicted vnder the hands of Sathan healing some relieuing others and bringing a third sort into the state of grace so that as Sampson deliuered the Israelites from the bondage of the Philistins Christ our Prince and Iudge deliuereth his from the slauerie of Sathan by his death sauing more soules than in his life And therby pulling down the strong buildings the temptations of Sathan hath laid them leuel with the ground that they shall neuer be restored againe And lastly after this life ended he shall be our Prince and Iudge and bring vs to that place of promise prepared for vs in his euerlasting kingdome The trauels of the Spies of the Danites SHortly after the death of Sampson the Spies of the Danites went from Zarea and Eastaol to mount Ephraim to the house of Michah which is 24 miles Iudg. 18. From thence they went to Lais which is a hundred and foure miles Iudg. 18. From thence they returned to Zarea and Esthaol which is 126 miles Iudg. 18. So all their trauels were 244 miles Of Lais. LAis was a citie scituated at the foot of mount Libanus some 104 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was sometimes called Belenus this because it stood so farre from aid was quickly conquered by the Danites and by them vtterly destroyed it signifieth a roring or deuouring Lion But after being rebuilt by the Danites they called it Dan
and the Canaanites lâ—sem Dan being deriued of Laeschaem which signifieth a Lion The trauels of the Danites THe army of the Danites went from Zarea and Esthaol to Kiriathiearim and there pitched their tents which is 16 miles Iudg. 15. From thence they went to mount Ephraim to the house of Micha and tooke his carued Image and his Leuite from him which was eight miles Iudges 15. From thence they went to Lais 104 miles So all the Trauels were 128 miles Of Kiriath-jearim KIriath-jearim was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Iuda vpon the borders of the tribe of Benjamin about a mile from Ierusalem Westward It somtime belonged to the Gibeonites Ios 9. and signifies a city of the desart or woods beeing deriued from Kiriah which signifies a city and Iaar a wood or Forrest Here stood the arke of the Couenant after it had bin in the land of the Philistines seuen moneths and stood in the house of Abinadab whose son Eliazer because he was of the family of the Leuites by consent of the children of Israel was consecrated priest thereof to attend and keep it here it remained 48 yeares till Dauid fetched it thence with great ioy 1 Sam. 7. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. Here Saul was anointed King by Samuel here the company of the Prophets that is the scolers of the Wise came downe from the more eminent places where the arke of God was with holy songs and instruments of musick and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul and he sung and praised God with them They called this the Hill of God because the Arke of the Couenant stood in it 1 Sam 10. Here Ionathan the sonne of Saul thrust out a garrison of the Philistimes which held this towne in subiection 1 Sam. 14. Neere to this place was the valley Rephaim or of the Gyants where Dauid won a memorable battel against the Philistims and pursued them with great slaughter euen to the plain of Perizim 2 Sam. 15. The Trauels of the Leuite whose Concubine the Inhabitants of Gibeon most wickedly abused THis Leuite dwelt in Ramath in mount Ephraim from whence he went to Bethlehem Iuda which is 16 miles to fetch back his concubine or rather his wife which was the daughter of a certain citizen in Bethlehem but a bond seruant not free such they called concubines because they had neither the honor to be mistresse of the house neither could their posteritie inherit in lands or goods of their father although before God they were lawfull wiues Iudg. 19. From Bethlehem they returned back again on foot to Ierusalem which then was called Iebus because the Iebusits inhabited there Which is 6 miles Iudg. 19. From thence they went to Gibeah not far distant from the city Gibeon where after Saul kept his Royall seat 1 Sam. 22. Here the Gibeonites abused the Levits concubine Which was almost 4 miles From thence he went home to his own city Ramath in Mount Ephraim and there cut the dead body of his wife in 12 parts and sent them throughout all the tribes of Israel Which is 8 miles So all his trauels were 34 miles Of Ramath THis was a city in Mount Ephraim some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifieth a high and lofty Citie being deriued of Rom that is It was high This towne Baësa King of Israel would haue fortified and repaired after it had bin decayed but hee was hindred by Benhadad King of the Syrians that he could not finish what hee had begun There were many townes and Cities of this name as Ramoth where Ahab dwelt 1 Reg. 22. Ramathaim Sophim or Arimathia where the prophet Samuel dwelt 1 Sam. 1. and there where the Ark of God stood not far from Gibeah was called Ramah also Iudg. 19. There was another Ramath in the tribe of Nepthali Ios 19. all of them being so called because they stood vpon very high mountains The Trauels of the Children of Israel when they fought against the Benjamites FRom Mizpah in the land of Gilead where they appointed to meet for in the enemies land they could not assemble themselues the whole army of the Israelites went to the Arke of God in Shilo which was about 48 miles From thence they went with their army to Gibeah where they lost 22000 of their men which is 2 miles From thence they returned to Shilo and intreated God for aid which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence they went the second time to Gibeah and entred battell againe with the enemy but because they trusted in their own strength therefore in this second expedition there were slain 18000 of their men Which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence the whole Army of the Israelites returned backe again and before the Lord in Shilo lamented the ouerthrow they had twice sustained and with earnest prayers implored his ayd that they might obtain the victorie Which was 2 miles Iud. 20. From thence they returned the third time to Gibeah there with great expedition renued the war because they trusted in God and not to their own strength they put to the sword 25000 of the Benjamits and won a notable victorie Iudg. 20. which was 2 miles Hauing taken and burnt the city of Gibeah with fire they returned backe vnto the town of Shilo which is two miles there before the Lord they began to lament the calamitie of the tribe of Benjamin saying Wherefore hath this thing hapned that one of the Tribes should be rooted out before thee Iudg. 21. From thence they went to Iabes in Gilead and besieged and tooke it and destroyed it to the ground which is 52 miles From thence they returned back again to Shilo with them brought 400 maids which they gaue to the Benjamites to bee their wiues Iudg. 21. Which was 52 miles So all the trauels of the children of Israel were 164 miles Of Iabes THis was a city in the land of Gilead 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast the inhabitants whereof buried the bones of Saul and Ionathan his son 1 Sam. 31. it is deriued of Iabesh which signifieth a dry city Here endeth the booke of IVDGES The trauels of ELIMELECH and his wife NAOMI ELIMELECK and his wife went from Bethlehem Iuda into the Land of the Moabites where he died which is 40 miles From thence she returned with her daughter in law Ruth to Bethlehem Iuda where Boez married Ruth which was fortie miles So their Trauels were 80 miles The first Booke of SAMVEL The Trauels of HANNA the mother of the Prophet SAMVEL HEr husband Elkana and she went from Ramathaim Sophim in mount Ephraim to Shilo the house of the Lord which was 12 miles where by earnest prayers she obtained of the Lord a sonne 1 Sam. 1. From thence shee returned backe againe to Ramathaim Sophim and there Samuel was borne 1 Sam. 1. which was 12 miles From thence she went to Shilo to present her sonne before the Lord and hee remained
all speed pursued the enemy and in the way as hee went he found an Aegyptian who a little before the Amalekits had left there because he was vnable to follow them This Aegyptian guided Dauid to the tents of the Amalekits who suspecting no such euill were making merry with the booty that they had taken But Dauid with the rest of his company so manfully behaued themselues that they gaue the Amalekites a sudden ouerthrow and as it often hapneth to such as are negligent and carelesse he tooke away from them their former bootie and put most of them to the sword This battell was fought some 8 or 12 miles from Ziclag as by the circumstance of the history may appeare From this slaughter he returned backe to Ziclag which is 12 miles and repaired it to euery neighbouring citie sending a part of the prey Here hee had certaine intelligence of the successe of the Israelites in their wars against the Philistins and of the death of Saul and Ionathan which hee bitterly lamented 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 1. These things hapned in the 10 yeare after Samuel had annointed Dauid King From Ziclag he went to Hebron a metropolitane Citie of the tribe of Iuda being a towne of refuge belonging to the Leuites which was 16 miles At this time Dauid was about the age of thirtie yeares and was annointed King by the Tribe of Iudah in the yeare of the World 2891 and before Christ 1077. Here he kept his Court seuen yeares and six moneths From hence also he sent messengers to Iabes in Gilead 44 miles to signifie his gracious acceptance of that fauour which they shewed vnto Saul in burying of his body there 2 Sam. 1. 1 Chr. 12. From Hebron Dauid went to Ierusalem 22 miles which then was called Iebus being possessed of the Iebusites but he woon it with strong hand and thrust them out of it and in mount Sion set vp the city Millo which was after called the city of Dauid and signifies A place of plenty He began his raigne in Ierusalem in the 38 yere of his age and 7 of his raigne In this place also he set vp his house made of Cedar wood of which Hyram King of Tyrus sent him great plenty from Mount Libanus distant from thence 104 miles 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 12. From thence he went to the valley of Rephaim some 3 miles from Ierusalem in the way that leadeth to the citie of Bethlem where he fought a memorable fight against the Philistines and ouercame them for which cause it was also called Baal-Perizim because by the helpe and assistance of God he had conquered the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 5. After he had dispersed the enemies hee returned to Ierusalem which is 4 miles The Philistines came the same yeare into the valley of Rephaim againe and pitched their tents within three miles and a halfe of Ierusalem and the Lord gaue Dauid a signe that when he heard a noyse in the mulberry trees hee should set vpon the enemy so Dauid went forth and close by the towne of Gaeba and Kiriath-jearim about two miles from Ierusalem Westward he set vpon the enemie and gaue them the second ouerthrow 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 15. From thence Dauid followed the enemy to Gaza which was 18 miles 2 Sam. 5. In the 10 yeare of his raigne from his first beginning in Hebron Dauid assembled all the Princes Priests and chiefe men of Israel to the number of 30000 which inhabited from Sechor till you come to Chaemah a citie of Nepthalie at the foot of mount Libanus euen 163 miles off These men assembled themselues in the citie of Ierusalem and from thence they with Dauid went to Kiriath-jearim which was about a mile to fetch the Arke of the Couenant from thence into the city of Dauid 1 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. From Kiriath-jearim Dauid and all his traine returned backe again to Ierusalem which was about a mile and they placed the Arke of the Lord in a new cart and caused it to be drawne with Oxen which turned out of the way to the threshing floure of Nachon where Vza rashly and inconsiderately touching the Arke of God contrary to the Diuine Law was presently slaine by the Lord in the way and that place was called Paeri-Vza that is The breach of Vza For he was not of the Tribe of Aaron to whom it was only lawfull to touch the Arke therfore the Lord strooke him that he died miserably wherefore Dauid being terrified by this example of Gods seueritie would not that day bring the ark of the Lord into Ierusalem but carried it to the house of a certaine Nobleman called Obed-Aedom a Gittite who dwelt not far from Ierusalem but when it was told Dauid that the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Aedom and all his family because the arke was there Dauid went from Ierusalem with a great multitude of people to the house of Obed-Aedom who as is said before dwelt not farre from Ierusalem yet there are some that say he was an excellent musitian in Ierusalem and dwelt in Mount Acra that is in the lower citie and from thence Dauid fetcht the Arke of the Lord into the vpper citie which stood vpon mount Sion but I hold the other opinion to be the more probable When the Arke was carried by the Priests Dauid girt himself with a linnen Ephod which kinde of garment the Priests of the inferior order vsed to weare and danced before it singing Psalms and hymnes to the praise and glory of God and with great state brought it to the citie of Ierusalem with the sound of Trumpets and instruments of musick and placed it in the middle of the Tabernacle which they had curiously erected in Mount Sion in the vpper citie which was also called the citie of Dauid This hapned in the tenth yere of his raigne at which time Michal Sauls daughter despised him in her heart and laughed at him but God gaue her a due recompence as you may reade 2 Sam. 6. and him a just reward for he promised by the Prophet Nathan That of his posteritie and bloud the King of Kings and Sauiour of the world should be borne In the yere following Dauid inuaded the land of the Philistins and the citie of Gath which with strong hand he woon this was 34 miles from Ierusalem From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem 34 miles In the twelfth yere of his raigne he afflicted the Moabits with cruel war and destroyed two of their armies with the sword and the rest of the multitude made tributarie which was 24 miles 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19. He returned thence to Ierusalem with great triumph and joy 24 miles In the 13 yeare of his raigne Anno mundi 2903 and before Christ 1065 he made an expedition vnto Zoba which Iosephus calleth Sophenam and is in Armenia neere to Masia or Mount Taurus 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which you may reade before Dauid in this place woon
Ierusalem she returned backe again which was 964 miles So all her trauels were 1928 miles Of Aethiopia THis Countrey by the Hebrewes is called Chus of Chus the son of Cham who was the son of Noah and after Aethiopia ab astu torrida because of the great heate wherewith oftentimes the habitable land and people as also the wildernesse were sorely scorched and burned for it is scituated in the third part of the world called Africa lying vnder the torrid Zone and the Aequator which two by common experience are found to bee extreme hot Of Saba SAba is a metropolitan city in Ethiopia lying beyond Egypt 846 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and tooke the name from a certain pretious stone called Achates wherin might plainly be discerned in certain distinct colors the rising of fountains the chanels of riuers high mountains and somtimes of chariots and horses drawing them It is reported That Pyrrhus King of the Epirots had one of them wherein was liuely represented the nine Muses and Apollo playing on the Viol portrayed by naturall staines and colours so artificially as if they had bin don by some curious workman Of this stone you may reade more in Pliny li. 37. ca. 1.10 It was first found in Achates a riuer of Sicilia whence it tooke the name Afterward in India and Phrygia and of the Hebrewes was called Schaeba or Saba In this city that Queen dwelt who came to heare Solomons wisedom and gaue him for a present 120 talents of pure gold which at 3 pounds an ounce comes to 270000 pounds sterling Afterwards Cambyses King of Persia ouercame it and all the country round about it and after his sisters name called it Meroës It is a stately city to this day scituated in a plain country and compassed about with the riuer Nilus like an Island being now called Elsaba hauing some affinitie to the antient name Saba The Inhabitants of this towne goe naked all but their priuy parts which they couer either with Silke Cotton or some more costly matter and are of a blacke colour which as some thinke hapneth by reason of the extreme heat The land also is maruellously scortched and turned in many places to sand and dust So that the country is thereby wonderfull barren About Meroes or Saba which is made fruitful by the inundation of Nilus there is found plenty of salt brasse yron and some pretious stones Their sheep goats oxen and other cattell are of lesse stature than in other Countries Their dogs are very fierce and cruell In times past there were mighty princes that had the gouernement and command of it and the Country round about it But after as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 29. it was in the jurisdiction and gouernment of Queenes who for their noble resolutions courage were called Candaces One of which name in Tiberius the Emperours time was famous both for the extent of her dominions in which she exceeded all the rest of her predecessors as also in regard of her manly presence and noble spirit The Eunuch which Philip baptised Acts 8. was Treasurer or Chamberlain to this Queene and it is to be thought By him the doctrine of the Gospell of Christ was first made knowne in Saba and in the countrey of Aethiopia which afterwards was more largely propagated and dispersed by the Evangelist S. Mathew who taught there This city lieth to the longitude of 61 degrees and 30 scruples in the eleuation of the Pole Artick to the latitude 16 degrees and 25 scruples So that it seemes the inhabitants haue two winters two summers or rather a continual summer because their winter is much hotter than our summer But when the Sunne attaineth to the 15 degree of Taurus and Leo and in the Dog daies it then lies perpendicular ouer that country and neither their bodies nor houses giue any shadowes In the 61 of Esay it is said They shall come from Saba and bring gold frankincense to praise the Lord. From whence some some haue concluded That those wise men which came vnto the childe Iesus and brought Gold Frankincense and Myrrh were Aethiopians and came thence But this agreeth not well with the words of Mathew ca. 2. where it is written That the wise men came out of the East that is from the rising of the Sun to Ierusalem For Saba according to our Sauiors words Mat. 12. lieth towards the South for he saith The Queen of the South that is of Saba shall come forth in the day of Iudgement against this generation and condemne it for she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Solomon c. But if Saba lie vpon the South as here it plainely appeareth then it must needs follow they came not thence but rather from Persia which from Ierusalem lies Eastward For at Susa the metropolis of that country there was an Academy for the whole kingdom in which were chiefly studied Diuinity the Mathematickes and History So that it is likely by their Art they might attain to the knowledge of this diuine Mysterie and from thence come to Ierusalem which was 520 miles Eastward Therfore this place of the Prophet Esay is rather to be referred to the propagation of the church through the whole world where some of euery nation shall bring presents vnto the Lord. There is also another Saba in Arabia Foelix so called from Zaeba the son of Chus the son of Cham the sonne of Noah and it is distant from Ierusalem 1248 miles toward the Southeast In Hebrew it signifies the city of Drunkennesse or of Mirth but with the Syrians Antiquitie Some would haue it in the Arabian tongue to signifie a Mysterie But S. Ierom interprets it To sound their conuersion It is the metropolitan City of Arabia Foelix and by Strabo lib. 6. called Meriaba being scituated in a high and pleasant mountain full of fruitfull trees There inhabiteth in it the King of that countrey a mightie Prince his Gouernors and most of such as haue authority vnder him The land is called the Kingdome of the Sabaeans but generally Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie of the place for it yeeldeth twice euery yeare great plenty of Frankincense Myrrh Cinnamon Balsam and other odoriferous herbs The tree out of which this Myrrh commeth is fiue cubits high hairy and full of prickles and when you cut the barke there commeth forth a bitter gumme wherewith if you anoint a dead body it will continue long without rotting The frankincense also that is found there droppeth from Cedar trees like a glewie substance and so congealeth into a Gum. This happeneth twice euery yeare and according vnto the season it changeth colour in the Spring it is red in the Summer white This is the best Frankincense in all Arabia Foelix Through the whole country there is a very delectable smell by reason of the Myrrh Frankincense and Cinnamon that is found in it insomuch that if the winde blowes amongst the trees it
of the Assyrians ioyning his army with Pekah son of Remalia King of Israel had streightly besiege Ierusalem Ahas was constrained to craue aid of this Tiglath Phulasser sent him great presents which he accepted kindly brought his arm from Niniveh to Damascus 520 miles where he put Resin and the whole city to the sword 2 Reg. 16. From Damascus he came with his army into the land of Israel which was 120 miles where he ouercame Pekah in a great battell conquered all the land of Gilead and the tribe of Nepthaly and put a great multitude of the Israelites into perpetuall exile 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went backe to Niniueh 640 miles A little after this King Tiglath Philasser went from Ninive to Ierusalem 680 miles where hee so streitly besieged that wicked King Ahas that he was constrained to giue him great abundance of gold and siluer to raise his siege and be gon 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem he returned back to Ninive being 680 miles So all his trauels were 6640 miles OF the city Niniveh you may reade after in the trauels of Ionas the Prophet Of Kyr which is commonly called Cyrene KYr or Cyrene is scituated in Africa 816 miles from Ierusalem Westward In which country Simon that bore the crosse of Christ was borne Mat. 27. Luke 23. It signifies in Hebrew A strong wall and in Latine a Heart The Trauels of King SALMANASSER SAlmanasser signifieth The Assyrian Peace-maker This man Ptolomaeus that excellent Mathematician calleth Nabonassarus that is the Prophet of the Assyrians He began to reign vpon the 26 of February An. mundi 3221 before Christ 747 and reigned ten yeares or thereabout This man went with his army from Ninive to Samaria being 652 miles where hee compelled Hosea the last King of Israel to pay him tribute 2 Reg. 16. From thence he returned backe again with his army to Niniveh 652 miles After when Hosea K. of Israel conspiring with So K. of Egypt denied to pay him tribute hee returned backe againe the second time to Samaria which was 652 miles and after 3 yeres siege he tooke and destroied it with fire and sword and conquered all the country round about From Samaria he returned back again to Niniveh 652 miles So all the trauels of Salmanasser King of the Assyrians were 2608 miles The Trauels of SENACHARIB King of the Assyrians SEnacharib as Melancthon expounds it signifieth a two edged Sword He succeeded his father Salmanasser Ann. M. 3231. before Christ 737. He reigned 7 years This man imitating his father endeauored to cary away the rest of Gods people into captiuitie for which purpose he brought an army from Niniveh to Lachis which was 700 miles which town he besieged sent his Princes to Ieresalem beeing 20 miles where hee blasphemed the Lord of which you may reade more in the historie of King Hezekiah From Lachis hee went to Libnah 8 miles This was a strong Hold but he besieged it so narrowly that within a while after he had begun the siege he tooke it While he was before this town there came newes That Taracha a King of the Ethiopians had inuaded his country Wherefore he sent the second time messengers to Ierusalem But the Lord was offended with their blasphemie wherefore hee sent his Angell who in one night destroyed 185000 of his army This sudden and vnexpected euill falling upon him in a great feare he returned to Niniveh 692 miles where he was slain by his sons in the Temple The same of these things was so divulged abroad that Herodotus lib. 2. makes mention of them So these three journies make 1400 miles Of Lachis and Libnah you may reade before Of Assarhaddon King of the Assyrians ASsarhaddon his father Senacharib being slaine succeeded in the gouernment An. mundi 3238 which agreeth with the 730 yeare before Christ and reigned ten yeares in Niniveh the chiefe city of the Assyrians Here again the mutation change of Kingdoms may be obserued for Merodach a Chaldaean rebelling against Senacharib continued his gouernment in Babylon 11 yeares that is during a part of the reign of Senacharib and all the reign of Assarhaddon his son in which time he conquered the Assyrians and made them subiect to the empire of the Babylonians Of Merodach the first Emperor of the Babylonians MErodach signifieth A bitter repentance He was the sonne of Baladan Prince of Babylon who ruled at such time as Senacharib had that grieuous ouerthrow in Iudah Wherefore taking aduantage of the time and the necessitie of that Prince he rebelled against him and his son Assarhaddon taking vpon him the absolute command of the city and whole Empire The beginning of whose reign hapned in the yeare of the world 3236 and before Christ 732. This Merodach sent to Ierusalem wise and learned men with gifts and presents to King Ezekiah iust in that yeare when the Sun went backe ten degrees to know the truth of this miracle For it was a custome amongst the Nations round about Ierusalem if any thing hapned beyond the expectation of man to send thither to enquire the truth thereof Such and so wise a people were the Iewes esteemed in those times as may appeare by diuers places in holy Scripture In the beginning of the 12 yeare of this King Assarhaddon Emperor of the Assyrians died after whose death he became Emperor of all Assyria Chaldea He began to reign ouer that spatious kingdome An. mundi 3247 before Christ 721. and reigned after that 40 yeares Of Ben-Merodach Emperor of Babylon BEn-Merodach that is the son of Merodach succeeded his father An. M. 3287. before Christ 681. He reigned 21 yeares Of Nebuchadnezar first of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar signifieth A Divine Iudge He was the most potent king of all the Babylonians This man obtained the chiefe command ouer the Babylonian Empire An. M. 3309 before Christ 659. He reigned 35 yeares and held his Court somtime in Babylon sometimes in Niniveh Iud. 1. He made war with Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt of which battell you may reade 2 Reg. 25. 2 Chr. 35. in the vally of Megiddo where Iosias was slain Herod lib. 2. doth also make mention of this battell and calls the place by the name of Magdalum Of which Ieremy also speaketh But they were towns in the tribe of Manasses scituated neere to the plaine where this battell was fought in which country Mary Magdalen was borne The Trauels of Nebuchadnezar the second of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadnesar or Nebuchadonesar the Great which Ptolomaeus calleth Nebupollasser about the end of the third yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah being a little before created Emperour his father yet liuing came vnto Ierusalem which hee besieged so streightly that hee constrained Ioachim to pay him Tribute for thirty seuen yeares Berosus saith Lib. 3. A little after that is Anno mundi 3344. before Christ 624 hee was sent against the Syrians Phoeniceans Egyptians that rebelled So
Diuel Mat. 15. wherefore you shall read more of it in the second Tombe Of Evil-Merodach Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians AMilinus Evil-Merodach son of Nebuchadonesar the great succeeded his father An. M. 3388. before Christ 580. In the first yeare of his reign he set at liberty Iechonias King of Iuda and attributed to him the title dignitie and maintenance of a King Iechonias being then 55 yeares of age and 37 after he had been in captiuitie 2 Kin. vlt. Ier. vlt. Whence it is concluded by most That this Emperor did also embrace the doctrine of Daniel concerning the true God as did Nebuchadonesar his father who had before by publique Edict professed it to the whole State caused it to be published through his dominions and therfore shewed fauor and mercy toward King Iechonias And from thence it is thought that those which were impious princes about him called him Amelinus that is the Circumcised being deriued of Mol which signifies to circumcise and Evil simple and foolish Merodach His wiues name was Nitocris according to Herod lib. 1. She was a very magnificent and wise woman set vp many faire and goodly buildings in Babylon and was the mother of Balthasar the last Emperor of the Assyrians Dan. 5. Of Niriglissoroor Emperor of Babylon NIriglissoroor whose syrname was Regassar son in law to Nebuchadnesar the Great hauing slain Euil-Merodach his wiues brother reigned ouer the Babylonians and Assyrians foure yeares as Berosus saith Of Labassardach the last Emperor of the Babylonions LAbassardach the son of Niriglissoroor succeeded his father He reigned only 9 moneths and died without heire male Of Balthazar Nabonidus the last Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians ANno mundi 3415 and before Christ 553 Balthazar Nabonidus whose syrname was Labynitus the son of Euil-Merodach and Nitocris obtained the Empire and reigned 17 yeares according to Berosus with Iosep cont App. Alexand. Polyb. apud Eusebium Praep. lib. 9. cap. 4. Alphae hist with Euseb calleth this King Nabinidochus This is that Balthazar saith Iosephus lib. Ant. 10. ca. 13 which Daniel cap. 5. calleth the son of Nebuchadonesar though indeed he was but his sons son as may be gathered from that of Ier. cap. 25. All nations shall serue Nebuchadonesar and his son and his sons son Balthasar signifies The Host of the Lord destroying his Enemies Labynitus signifies a shaken Sword This man as he was celebrating a great feast vnto Venus whom they call in the Assirian tongue Myleta amongst a great multitude of his Nobility and in that vsing extraordinary excesse and blasphemy against the Lord In the middest of his feast and all his merriments he saw a hand writing vpon the wall which left these words Mene Mene Tekel Vphrasin of which you may reade more Dan. 5. Some say That at this very time the city was taken by Cyrus Emperour of the Persians and he put to the sword in those sports pastimes But certain it is that he was slain at a banquet lost his empire and was the last of the Assyrian Emperors but whether at that time I refer it to the opinion of the Reader ¶ The Trauels of the Kings of Aegypt that fought against of Iudah And first of SISACK who made war vpon Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon THat proud and presumptuous Prince Sisack which signifies a Garment of Silke in the last yeare of his regne which was the first of Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon came with 1200 Chariots and 60000 Horse from Memphis to Ierusalem which was 244 miles bringing in his Army a great multitude of people of diuers Nations as Lybians Ethiopians c. With this company he besieged Ierusalem and tooke it wasted the city spoiled the Temple and tooke thence the golden shields which Solomon had made and destroyed that faire and beautifull house which Solomon had built From whence that saying of his owne was verified Eccles That it is a great euill vpon the earth for a man to take care to lay vp riches and treasures in this world yet knoweth not who shall inherit it For those things which a little before hee had with great labour and paines builded and beautified within lesse than 20 yeares after were destroyed and made desolate by this King From Ierusalem Sisack returned with the spoiles of the temple and city to Memphis in Egypt which was 244 miles and in the yeare following he was stricken by the Lord with a grieuous disease of which he died miserably So these two journies were 488 miles The Trauels of PHARAOH NECHO King of Aegypt who made warre vpon IOSIAH King of Iudah NEcho signifies an Enemy or Inuader This man was one of the greatest of all the Egyptian Kings who in the thirteenth yeare of his reigne made war vpon Nebuchadnezar the first and in the valley of Megiddo neere to Magdala which was 244 miles from Memphis fought a great battell wherein Iosiah King of Iudah was wounded to the death From the valley of Megiddo Pharaoh Necho went to the Riuer Euphrates which was 360 miles where he fought a second battel with Nebuchadnezar vpon a plaine neere to Carchemis where hee lost the day and was put to flight From Carchemis he fled to Riblah in the land of Israel which was 320 miles where in the land of Chaemath neere to the lake Samachonites he ouercame Ioachas King of Iudah and took him prisoner From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led Ioachas bound to Ierusalem being 80 miles and made Ioachim his brother King in his place From Ierusalem he returned to Memphis 240 miles Within four years after he went the second time with a great army from Memphis to the riuer of Euphrates which was 640 miles But there he was the second time ouercome by Nebuchadnesar and constrained to fly thence back again to Memphis in Aegypt being 640 miles But Nebuchadnesar followed him with an army of chosen men and conquered all Aegypt tooke Pharaoh Necho and made his sonne Psammeticus King in his place who was the second of that name Of this battell there is mention Ier. ca. 25 26. So all the trauels of Pharaoh Necho were 1524 miles The Trauels of the holy Prophets and first of the Prophet ELIAH ELiah the Prophet went from This be which was in the land of Gilead to Samaria 24 miles where he told the wicked King Ahab that there should bee neither rain nor dew for the space of 7 years 1 Reg. cap. 17. From Samaria he went to the riuer Kerith 24 miles where hee was fed by a Rauen. From Kerith hee went to Sarepta which was 100 miles where he sojorned with a poor widow that found him necessaries whose sun he restored to life 1 Reg. 17. From Sarepta he went to Mount Carmel in the land of Israel being 60 miles and by the way as he went he met Obediah which signifieth The Seruant of the Lord and King Ahab whom he rebuked sharply because of his idolatry Also vpon this mountaine he put all Baals
Ioppa and Silicia to the Streights betweene Spain and Mauritania Into this Sea Ionas was cast when the Whale deuoured him In like manner the Red sea and all others that are ocean seas are called Tharsis as appeareth in the 72 Psalme where it is said The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring Presents Here the Kings whose Empires extend themselues alongst the sea coast are vnderstood But the city Tharsis the countrey of the Apostle Paul is not a kingdome neither euer had a King much lesse many Kings So Solomon sent his shippes by Tharsin that is by sea towards the Southeast into the Red sea and Eastern Ocean that they might bring gold pretious stones and sweet gummes from Arabia But the ships could not saile by the Red sea vnto the town of Tharsis vnlesse they would haue sailed ouer the land which is vnpossible because Tharsis lieth into the land from the Red sea as all Cosmographers agree So also the Psalmist saith Thou breakest with thy strong windes the ships of Tharsis that is of the sea beside many such like speeches From whence S. Ierom concludes that Tharsis may better signifie the sea than the city Tharsis Of the Euxine sea THe Euxine Ocean is that great and troublesome sea which beginning not farre from Constantinople runneth from Bosphorus and Thrace towards the East and North containing to the Longitude eight hundred miles but to the Latitude two hundred and eighty Towards the South it toucheth vpon Asia the lesse towards the East vpon Calcos towards the West Thracia and Valachia but towards the North it is ioyned to the poole of Maeotides This sea in times past was called Pontus Axenus that is the inhospitable country because as Strabo lib. 1. of his Cosmography saith The inhabitants neere about the sea-shore did vsually sacrifice those strangers they got or else cast their bodies vnto dogs to he deuoured making drinking cups of their skuls But after when the Ionians had built certain townes vpon the sea coast and had restrained the incursions of certaine Scythian theeues which vsually preyed vpon Merchants that resorted thither at the command of Pontus their King who had obtained a large and spatious kingdom in that country they called it Pontus Euxinus which is as much to say as the hospitable country Ovid testifieth almost the same concerning the originall of the name of this sea after this manner Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti Dictus ab antiquis Axinus ille fuit The chilly shores of th' Euxine sea constraines me to abide In antient time call'd Axinus as it along did glide Of Ninus or Nineveh NInus or Nineveh was a city of Assyria where the Emperours of that country vsed to keep their courts It was first built by Ninus that great Emperour of the first Monarchy 300 yeares after the floud and 2000 before Christ about the time when the Patriarch Abraham was borne It continued in great glory for the space almost of 1500 yeares and was distant from Ierusalem toward the Northeast 684 miles vpon the East side ioyning to the riuer Tygris on the North to the Caspian sea It takes the name from the beauty of it being deriued of Navah which signifieth A comely place spatious and pleasant There are many that are of opinion that in many things it exceeded Babylon as for the sumptuousnesse of the buildings the strength of the Walls and the extent The walls were so thicke that three Chariots might haue met vpon them without any danger and beautified with an hundred and fifty towers Ionas being sent of God to this city was three daies going through it that is as Luther expounds it through euery street of it in which time he conuerted a hundred and twenty thousand to repentance Arbaces who was also called Arphaxad was then Emperor This Arbaces Iustine lib. 2. calleth Arbactus he was a Captaine of the Medes who perceiuing the effeminat disposition of Sardanapalus the then Emperour taking aduantage of the times and this mans weaknesse conspired with some of his companions to vsurp vpon his gouernment and that he might make them hate and loath his loosenesse brought them into a room where the might see him sitting amongst his harlots tyred in womans apparell and carding wooll This sight greatly displeasing them and before being encouraged by Arbactus they seised vpon the city and besieged Sardanapalus in his palace But to preuent the miserie of a shameful death after he had gathered all his riches together he set fire on his palace where he his companions and treasure perished This fire continued 15 daies and hapned 823 yeares before Christ about which time Arbactus succeeded Sardanapalus began to reign and continued his gouernment 28 yeres But the Medes held not the Assyrian Empire long for Phul Belochus who at this time reigned in Babylon and his successour Tiglath Philasser are called Kings of Assyria betweene whom there hapned many great Warres 2 Kings 15.26 From whence may be gathered That after the death of Arbactus these Emperours dwelt in Niniveh and succeeded in the Empire Thus was this city greatly defaced with continuall euills the Lord before hand giuing them many admonitions and gentle corrections if it had bin in them to haue conceiued it to winne them to repentance but they continued still in their sins therefore according to their former prophecies Cyaxares King of the Medes besieging this towne tooke it and destroyed it euen vnto the ground as Eusebius saith This desolation hapned 13 yeares before the destruction of Ierusalem in the 11 yeare of Sadyattis King of the Lyddians who was grandfather to Croesus An. mundi 3349 before Christ 619. After this destruction it lay a long time desolat but at length some part of it was restored though with much trouble then when it was at the best estate constrained to suffer many changes and at length vtterly destroied by Tamerlane the Great the second time An. mun 3390. After this the inhabitants of that countrey vpon the East side of the riuer Tygris began the third time to build it But whether this third restoring of this City was at the command of some Prince that had the gouernment of the Country thereabouts or because of the scituation or for priuat profit it is not set down neuerthelesse it is again repaired standing on the borders of Armenia beautified with goodly buildings with faire and spatious streets compassed about as other cities of the East are with walls and ditches sufficiently strengthned to oppose the Enemy But in respect of the former Niniveh it seemes a small village It hath a bridge built of ships lying vpon the East side of it ouer the riuer Tygris and vpon that side of the Riuer there stand many faire gardens and orchards and the land there also is very fertil and pleasant But vpon the West of Tygris the soile is nothing so fruitfull At this day it is called by the name of Mossel so that although
country or city which is not sufficiently knowne vnto thee search this alphabeticall Table here following and thou shalt finde the whole matter declared vnto thee An alphabeticall Table of all the Countries and Cities mentioned in the Prophets A ABARIM that is a bridge or a passage ouer It was a mountain of the Moabits where the Israelites pitched their tents Num. 33. ACHOR the valley of Trouble Here Achan was stoned to death for his theeuery It stood not farre from Gilgal toward the North 12 miles from Ierusalem Ios 7. Isa 6. ADAMA Red earth This was one of the cities that were destroied with fire and brimstone from heauen AI Hilly This city Ioshuah burnt with fire It lay 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ios 8. AIATH Idem Esa 10. AR or ARI a Lion It was a city of the Moabits lying beyond Iordan in the tribe of Benjamin called Ariopolis scituated vpon the banke of the riuer Arnon 24 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Deut. 2. In Esa 15. it is called Arar a Destroyer ARAM Noble or Mighty Armenia and Syria are so called of Aram the son of Sem the chiefe city of which country is Damascus Pliny lib. 6.17 saith The Scythians were also in antient times called Aramites ARNON a famous riuer of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben which falls into the dead sea 20 miles from Ierusalem Eastward In Esa 16. it is called RANAN he hath shouted for ioy AROER by vsurpation an Ewe tree This is a city of the Moabits neere to the riuer Arnon in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ier. 40. There is another citie so called neere to Damascus in Syria Esa 7. ARPAD the light of redemption This was a city in the land of Damascus Ier. 49. There is another flourishing city of that name which may compare with Antiochia for greatnesse Esa 10. But where it is scituated it is vncertain ARVAD was a part of the land of Canaan so called of Aruad the son of Canaan Gen. 10. ASCANES or Tuiscones are a people descended of Ascenitz the son of Gomer the son of Iaphet which sometimes dwelt in Armenia but now haue their abiding in Germany 2 Gen. 10. Esa 51. So that of Gomer they are called Germanes and of Ascanes Ascanians or Tuiscons ASSECA fortified round about Neer to this town Dauid killed Goliah It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Westward ASSVR or ASSYRIA a blessed country being so called of Assur the son of Sem. AVEN Iniquity Bethel was so called after Ieroboam had there set vp a golden Calfe Hos 10. B BABEL Confusion Babylon is the metropolitan city of Chaldaea 280 miles from Ierusalem Eastward BATH Domesticall It was a town of the Moabits in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Iordan Esa 16. BAZRA a grape-gathering It was a city of the Edomites scituaâ—â—d vpon the banke of Iordan on the farther side neere to Bethabara 20 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esa 24.36 Ier. 48. Note here that the country of the Moabits in times past was subiect to the Edomits and then this city was in their jurisdiction but after the Moabits got it into their hands again and held it It was one of the six towns of refuge mentioned Ios 29. BEROTHAI a Cypres tree This towne stood neere Hemath or Antiochia 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 49. In this city Dauid King of Israel tooke Hadadesar King of Zoba or Sophena and constrained him to giue him a great deal of Brasse as it is thought yearely for tribute for neere that city were many brasse mines BETHAVIN the house of iniquity Bethel was so called Hos 6. It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward BETH-CHaeREM the house of the Vines It was a towne not far from Ierusalem Northward Ier. 6. BETH-DIBLATHAIM the house of dried Figs. It was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETHIESIMOTH the house of desolations It was also a city of the Moabits beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben Ios 13. Ezech. 25.20 miles from Ierusalem BETH-GAMVL the house of Restitution This was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETH-BAALMEON the house of habitation for the idol Baal It was a city of the Moabits 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward not far from Aroer Ezek. 25. 1 Chr. 5. BVTZ a Castle of prey It was a city of the Ismaelites in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ier. 25. BEL and NEOB two idols of the Babylonians Esa 45. Bel signifieth the god of mixture or confusion Neob the god of prophecie C CALNO his perfection This is Seleucia scituated vpoa Tygris beyond Babylon 316 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It is now called Bagdeth Gen. 10. Esay 2. CANNE a firme foundation It was a city of the Syrians Ezek. cap. 27. CAPHIHOR a little Sphere or around globe like vnto a Globe or pomegranat Also Cappadocia a countrey of Asia the lesse 600 miles from Ierusalem Northward CARCHEMIS a sacrificed Lambe This was scituated too neer Euphrates in Syria 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ierem. cap. 25. D DEEDAN a city of the Idumaeans so called of Dedan the son of Esau Ier. 25. Isa 21. DIBON a mist This was a City of the Moabites neere Hesbon in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DIBLATH a bunch of Figs. It was a city in the tribe of Nepthali neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 6. Here Zedekiah had his eies put out 2 Kin. 25 Ier. 39.52 DIMON Bloudy This is a city in the tribe of Reuben which as S. Ierom saith is 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DVMA Silence A city of the Israelites so called of Duma the son of Ismael It stood in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Esay 25.21 E EGBATHANA the metropolitan city of the Medes distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles Northeastward EDEN Pleasure A city of Syria scituated neer Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esay 7. This is thought to haue been a part of Paradice EGLAIM a roud Drop It was a town of the Moabites Esay 15.16 ELAM a Yong man so called of Elem the son of Sem Esa 10.21 After Perseus had got in this country a great gouernment he called it after his own name Persia ELEALE the ascention of God It was a city beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben between Iacza and Hehbon 26 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Num. 32. ELIM a Hart. This was a lake so called in the land of the Moabits Esa 10. ELISA the Lambe of God So were the Aeolians called in Grecia of Elysa the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Ezek. 7. Gen. 10. ENAGLAIM the fountaine of Calves It was a towne or Castle neere to the Red sea Ezek. 10. EPHA the land of Obscuritie It was a part of Arabia Petraea so called of Epha the sonne of Midian the sonne of Abraham Gen. 25. Esa 60. G GEBIM a Ditch This was a town in the tribe of Iuda Esa 10. GEBAH a hill
whom God in the beginning made a good Angell exalted him in the heauens and made him much more glorious than others yet notwithstanding glorying in himselfe hee contemned his Maker nothing would content him but to become like vnto him yea he desired to be worshipped of our Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 4. And as Haman endeauoured to ouerthrow not only all the people of the Iewes but Queene Hester also so the Diuell doth not onely endeauour to ouerthrow the whole Church but if it were possible the head of the Church Christ Iesus Of that holy man Iob. IOb was a holy and good man he dwelt in the land of Vz so called of Vz the sonne of Aram the son of Sem as S. Ierome vpon Genesis obserueth This Vz was that great man which built as was thought Damascus in Syria and all the land which extendeth from Damascus to Iordan after his name was called Vz that is the land of counsell fot so Vz signifieth There were two townes in this countrey where Iob is said to haue dwelt that is Astaroth-Carnaim and Batzra Asteroth-Carnaim was distant from Ierusalem 52 miles towards the Northeast the inhabitants of which towne worshipped the goddesse Venus and called her by the name of Astaroth of which you may reade before S. Ierome saith That the sepulchre of Iob was to be seene in his time in that towne and later writers testifie as much for their times This towne at this day is called Carnea Batzra is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis it signifieth a grape gathering In this towne it was thought that Iob was borne it lay beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast All this countrey in those times was subject to the King of the Edomites or Idumaeans but after it was joyned to the land of the Moabites they hauing conquered the kings of Edom you man reade more of it in the 6 of Isay also Ios 20. where is shewed that it was one of the six cities of refuge appointed by Ioshua Heere Iob for the most part continued and held this towne in great honour and reputation He liued about the time of Baela first king of the Edomites and according to the opinion of Saint Ierom Augustine Ambrose Philo and Luther was for his excellent vertue and singular piety chosen King of that countrey which he greatly enlarged making all the countries and neighbouring Princes neer adjoining tributary vnto him wherfore as Ierom saith in locis Hebraicis hauing obtained so large an Empire he remoued his seat from Batzra to Astaroth Carnaim which was a strong and well defenced citie where in those times as Moses witnesseth Gen. 14. there inhabited mightie men and noble Heroes that so by their vertue he might with the greater facilitie suppresse and conquer other Prouinces There are many thinke him to be of the stocke of Abraham and of the family of Esau because he is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis where it is said That when Baela died Iobab the sonne of Zerah of Bozra or Betzra raigned in his stead And Saint Ierom in his preface vpon the booke of Iob sheweth that he was but fiue degrees remoued from Abraham for Abraham had Ishmael Basmath who was the wife ef Esau mother of Reguel grandmother to Sarah and great grandmother to Iob. So that by the mothers side Iob descended from Ishmael and by the fathers side from Esau Isaac Esau Reguel Serah Iob or Iobab king of Idumaea Gen. 36. Notwithstanding there are some that are of opinion That he descended from Nahor Abrahams brother and was of the family of Vz Nahors sonne which opinion also Saint Ierom mentioneth in his Hebraicall questions But most of the antient fathers hold this nothing so probable Luther vpon the 36 chapter of Genesis saith That he was King long time before Moses carried the children of Israel out of Aegypt For Iuda and Aser the sonnes of Iacob had children before they went into the land of Aegypt Gen. 46. therefore it is not impossible for Reguel the sonne of Esau to haue children also since he was married long before his brother Iacob From hence then it may be gathered that Iob was King of Idumaea before Iacob and his sonnes went into the land of Aegypt For although the fourteene sonnes of Esau gouerned the land of Edom like so many Princes of which number Reguel the grandfather of Iob was one because they held it as their inheritance yet to auoid sedition and distractions which oftentimes happen where there is not a certaine head and principall commander therefore they elected Bela the sonne of Beor to be their King after whose death they chose Iob because he was a holy man of God and in his actions just and vpright who without doubt raigned amongst the Edomites a long time For he liued after his afflictions which God imposed vpon him to trie him 140 yeares Plato saith he married Dina the daughter of Iacob but Saint Ierome That he married the daughter of an Arabian by whom hee had Enon Both these may be true for his first wife being dead he might marrie an Arabian After the death of Iob the Gyants Heroes in Asteroth Carnaim fell againe from the Idumaeans for when Moses brought the children of Israel out of the desart of Arabia Petraea and that they had conquered the land beyond Iordan the city Astaroth-Carnaim had a King called Og who gouerned all the Kingdome of Basan This Gyant was of a mighty stature he had a bed of yron * Foure yards a half long two broad nine cubits long and foure broad Deut. 3. Of Eliphaz ELiphaz the Themanite was the brother of Reguel Iobs grandfather This Eliphaz had a sonne called Theman who built a citie and after his owne name called it Theman where Eliphaz his father dwelt with him From whence it hapned that he was called Eliphaz the Themanite Iob 2. It was distant from Ierusalem forty miles towards the South and therefore it was called a citie of the South you may reade of Eliphaz in Ier. cap. 25. He had a Concubine called Thimnah because of her beauty comely proportion by her he had Amaleck of whom came the Amalekites betweene whom and the children of Israel were cruell wars Exod. 17. The Trauels of Eliphaz the Themanite FRom Themen hee went to Astaroth-Carnaim where Iob dwelt which is accounted 92 miles to comfort his friend Iob Iob 2. From Astaroth-Carnaim he returned backe to his owne house which was 92 miles So the trauels of Eliphaz were 184 miles Of Bildad Iobes friend BEyond Iordan and the sea of Galile not farre from Astaroth-Carnaim there is at this day found a town called Suah where as it is thought Bildad the friend of Iob dwelt Neer to this towne as Sebastian Francus obserueth in his Cosmographie there was yerly in the Summer season a great mart kept in certain tents and tabernacles erected for that purpose of diuers colours Bildad signifies
empire of the Persians came to Persepolis in the yeare before Christ 329 and there celebrated a great feast in triumph of his victories to which there resorted a great many women not such as were of the better sort but them that followed the camp and liued dissolutely amongst whom was that notable curtesan Thais who perceiuing the King inclined to mirth and full with wine began to flatter him in his cups among other things to commend and dignifie his noble exploits withall giuing him to vnderstand how acceptable it would be to the Grecians to see that royall palace of the Persians fired which had so often afflicted Grecia No sooner had she vttered these words but another seconded her and then a third After the whole assembly cried out Shall we reuenge the injurie of Grecians and burn the city with that they al rose in great fury the king himself being crowned beginning first to fire the palace wherein was great aboundance of Cedar from whence it happened that suddenly the fire spred it selfe a great way which when the army that lay without the walls perceiued with all speed came to the city to stay the burning of it for which purpose many brought water with them But when they beheld the King himselfe busie in this tragedie laying aside their water they also in hope of booty and to imitate the steps of their Prince fell to firing the city and according to the custom of soldiers in such massacres made a prey of what they could get increasing the fire with dry stuffe and other combustible matter whereby it came to passe that the whole city was therewith fired and burnt to the ground This was the end of that mighty city which ruled ouer so many nations where so many mighty Princes gouerned that was the scourge of Grecia and the greatest part of the world that sent forth a Navie of 10000 ships and an army of an infinit number there being at this day nothing to be seen vnlesse the riuer Araxes that ran close by it remaineth Thus was that consumed in a fury which the King and all his army before endeauoured to spare But after it turned to the great shame of the Macedonians that their King should fire so famous a city in the midst of his cups and Alexander himselfe after hee had slept repented what he had done You shall find in 2 Mac. cap. 6. That Antiochus Epiphanes besieged a certaine City in Persia called Persepolis from whence for his exceeding couetousnesse and sacriledge he was forced by the inhabitants dwelling about the town to raise his siege be gon Therefore some may gather that this Persepolis before mentioned was rebuilded because it also stood in Persia but if you read 1 Mac. cap. 6. you shall finde that this city so besieged by Antiochus was also called Elymais wherein stood the temple of Diana beautified with goodly ornaments shining with the splendor of fine gold wherewith it was gilt In which temple as faith Iosephus lib. Ant. 12. Alexander the Great left his armor and other things From whence may be gathered that this towne was not the Persepolis which he caused to be burnt but rather some other towne built out of the ruines of that city according to the opinion of Quintus Curtius or else some village standing neere to it which being built vp and inlarged might of some be called new Persepolis though indeed it was antiently called Elymais and all the East part of Persia beyond Susa of that towne called Elematica hauing some affinitie with Elam the antient name of Persia so called of Elam the son of Sem Gen. 10. Wherefore it may well be concluded that that Persepolis burnt down by Alexander was neuer restored but lieth waste to this day Thus the empire of the Persians afrer they had ruled ouer the nations of the earth 260 yeares was conquered by the Grecians who held it 129 yeares At the end of which time Demetrius Nicanor the last Emperour of the Grecrans in Syria and Asia going with a great army out of Syria toward the East Arsaces King of the Medes and Parthians being aided by the citisens of Elymais the Persians and Bactrians meeting him in those parts gaue him many sharp and cruell battels and in the end vnder pretence of peace took him prisoner in the yere before Christ 137 and from that time the Parthians gouerned Persia and Grecia and opposed the Romans in many cruell battels Afterward in the yere of our Lord 226 Artaxerxes that mighty Lord of Persia ouercame Artabanus King of the Parthians in a mighty battell and took his crown from his head the same yere entring vpon the gouernment of Persia 548 years after the death of Alexander the Great from which time Artaxerxes and his posteritie reigned in Persia for the space of 314 yeares in the which space there succeeded 28 Kings viz. Artaxerxes 1. Sapores Ormisdates Vararanes Vararanes 2. Vararanes 3. Narses Misdates Sapores 2. Artaxerxes 2. Sapores 3. Vararanes 4. Cermazat syrnamed Isdigertes Vararanes 5. Vararanes 6. Perozes Valens Cavades Zambades Cavades 2. Cosroës Hormisda Cosroës 2. Siroes Adhasir Sarbaras Bornarim Hormisda 2. who was the last King of the Persians for being ouercome by Humarus Amiras of the Saracens and third Emperor of the Mahumetans he was thrown out of his kingdom Anno Dom. 640. After which time it continued long in the gouernement of the Saracens and Turks Where that holy Priest Mattathias the father of Iudas Machabeus dwelt MAttathias and Dorotheus haue both one signification that is The gift of God being deriued of Matath a gift and Iah God This Mattathias was a holy Priest of the tribe of Levi the son of Iohn the son of Simon of whom all that family was called the posteritie of Simon of the stocke of Ioarib of whom you may read 1 Chr. 15. He dwelt in a town called Modin 14 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest scituated in a mountaine close by the way as you go to Ioppa in the tribe of Dan. Modin signifieth a measure being deriued of Madad he hath measured In this place seeing the crueltie of Antiochus Epiphanes and the insolencie of his soldiers he killed one of his captains and afterward in the synagogue put to death an idolatrous Iew ouerthrew the Altar set vp by Antiochus after called forth all the inhabitants of Modin and other towns neere adioyning to withstand the fury of this King So they brought their goods out of the city into the wildernesse where they incamped themselues and after so manfully opposed Antiochus that he deliuered all the cities towns thereabouts out of his bondage and from idolatry But beeing now grown old after he had admonished his sons to constancy in the seruice of God and courage in defence of the countrey he died in the yeare before Christ 164 and was buried at Modin where afterward his sons were buried Simon his third son high-priest of Ierusalem did maruellously beautifie this
their hands but by reason of his faire speeches they suffered him to depart with life 2 Mac. 12.1 Mac. 5. From thence he went to Bozor a faire citie which was scituated beyond Iordan neere to Bethabara in the Tribe of Reuben it was also called Bazra which was 24 miles this towne he tooke and burned with fire Isa 64. 1 Mac. 5. From Bozor he went to Mizpa where Ieptha sometime sacrificed his daughter which was 32 miles In that journey Iudas Macchabeus rescued the castle of Datheman draue thence Timotheus and put to the sword 8000 of his armie After he went thence to Mizpa woon the towne burnt it with fire and put to the sword all the male children because the inhabitants had vexed the children of Israel with continuall robbery After that hee woon many other townes and cities thereabouts 1 Mac. 5. From Mizpa Iudas passed the riuer and went to Astaroth-Carnaim which in the second of Macchabes is called Carnion which was eight miles here he destroyed the temple of Venus which the inhabitants call Astaroth and put 25000 of the inhabitants to the sword He went also to Atargation a towne not far off and tooke it and deliuered all the Israelites from the greatest to the least which were in captiuitie amongst the Giliadites 1 Macch. 5. 2 Macch. 22. From Astaroth-Carnaim hee went to Ephron which was 16 miles this citie Iudas Macchabeus destroied because the inhabitants thereof denied him passage and went through it ouer the dead bodies 2 Macch. 5. Here Gideon Iudge of Israel sometime dwelt it tooke the name from the rising vp of the dust being deriued of Aphar that is he hath made a dust From Ephron Iudas passed ouer Iordan into the great field of Galile and so went to Scythopolis which in antient time was called Bethsan which was foure miles From Bethsan or Scythopolis he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles a little before Penticost in the fourth yeare of his gouernment in the yere 161 before Christ 1 Macch. 5. 2 Maccab 12. After the feast of Penticost he went from Ierusalem to Maresa which was 16 miles here he ouercame Gorgias gouernour of Idumaea in a great buttell 2 Mac. 12. From Maresa hee went with his army to Odullam which was 6 miles Here sometime Dauid hid himselfe From Odullam he returned to Ierusalem which was 8 miles 2 Mac. 12. From Ierusalem he brought his army to Hebron the Metropolitan citie of the Idumaeans which was 22 miles this Towne he woon and all the townes and castles neere adjoyning 1 Macchab 5. From thence he went to Samaria which was fiftie six miles 1 Mac. 5. From Samaria he led his army against Azotus which was 44 miles This was a citie of the Philistins which he destroied broke their Altars and burnt their idols in the fire 1 Mac. 5. After that he conquered two castles in Idumaea 1 Mac. 10. After that he returned to Ierusalem which was accounted 22 miles 1 Mac. 5. From Ierusalem he went to meet Timotheus chiefe captaine of the Syrians who came with a great army to inuade Iudaea But when the battell waxed hot there appeared to the enemies from heauen fiue comely men vpon horses with bridles of gold two of which led the Iewes and tooke Macchabeus betweene them and couered him on euery side with their weapons that none could hurt him but against their enemies they shot Darts and lightnings so that they were confounded with blindnesse and beaten downe whereby the Iewes obtained a great victory and put to the sword 20500 foot and 600 horse the rest seeing this great slaughter fled So Iudas praised the Lord and pursued the enemies to Gazara which was 16 miles Heere Timotheus hid himselfe in a caue but the Iewes tooke the citie found him out and put him to death together with his brother Chaerea and Pollophanes 2 Mac. 10. From Gazara Iudas Macchabeus returned to Ierusalem which was 16 miles In the yere following which was the fift of his taigne and 160 before Christ Iudas Maccab. besieged the tower of Sion in Ierusalem because those that were in the garrison had put to the sword some of the Iewes that were sacrificing in the Temple But Antiochus Eupator the son of Antiochus Epiphanes hearing of it at the instigation of Menelaus chiefe Priest of the Iewes brought a great armie to their rescue wherefore Iudas Macchabeus hearing of his comming left the siege and went from Ierusalem to Modin to meet him which was 14 miles Here he ouercame Antiochus destroyed his Elephants and put 4000 of his souldiers to the sword 2 Macc. 13. When King Antiochus had felt a taste of the boldnesse of the Iewes he went with his army through by-waies and secret passages to the castle of Bethsura which he besieged whither Iudas followed him which was 12 miles incamping himselfe a mile from Bethsura in a straight place called Bethzachara Here Antiochus betimes in the morning thinking to take the armie of the Iewes at an aduantage set vpon them But the Iewes and their leaders behaued themselues so manfully that they put Antiochus the second time to flight and kil'd 600 of his men In this battell Eliazer the brother of Iudas Macchabeus was slain by an Elephant Ios lib. Antiq. 12. lib. 16.1 Macc. 6. From Bethzachara he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 2 miles And when the king had taken the town of Bethsura for they were constrained to yeeld by reason of famine he followed Iudas with whom he joyned the third time in battell but Iudas ouercame him and put to the sword many of his army Wherefore hauing certaine intelligence that Philip whom he had made ouerseer of the affaires at Antiochia rebelled he made a peace with Iudas Macchabeus was appeased towards the Iewes did sacrifice adorned the Temple and shewed great gentlenesse towards the people So Antiochus departed out of Iudaea and tooke Menelaus that seditious high Priest along with him captiue 1 Macc. 6. 2 Mac. 13. After in the 6 yeare of his gouernment Iudas went with his armie through all the borders of Iudaea and executed justice vpon all such as were offenders and contemners of the true religion After when Iudas had certaine intelligence that Nicanor whom Demetrius King of Syria had sent against Ierusalem went about by fraudulent courses and vnder pretence of friendship to take away his life 2 Macc. 14. he went priuily from Ierusalem and came to Caphar-Salama scituated 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Here Nicanor and he joyned battell but Iudas discomfited his armie and put to the sword about fiue thousand of his men himselfe not escaping without great danger 1 Mac. 7. From Caphar-Salama Iudas came to Samaria which was 28 miles here he rested himselfe and refreshed his armie a while 2 Mac. 15. In the yere before Christ 128 he went from Samaria to Adarsa which was 28 miles and there vpon the 13 day of Adar which answereth to the 13 day of February neere to Bethoron the
and recited the parable of the Sheepe Ioh. 10. Also vpon the Sabboth day a little before the feast of the Dedication he healed a man that was born blind Iohn 9. In this feast the Iewes being angry because he had healed the blind man vpon the Sabboth day compassed our Sauiour about as he was in Solomons Porch and when they heard our Sauiour confesse openly that hee was the Sonne of God they began to grow into a fury and for very anger would haue stoned him to death Wherefore our Sauiour Christ went thence beyond Iordan and continued there the rest of the Winter Iohn 10. But before hee went to Ierusalem there were returned vnto him certaine of the seuentie Disciples which a little before in the moneth of September he had sent abroad and there at that time he recited the similitude of the man who descending from Ierusalem to Iericho fell amongst theeues This similitude seemeth to be taken from the present occasion because our Sauior Christ going from Ierusalem beyond Iordan was to passe through great wildernesses just in the way as they goe thence to Iericho Iohn 10. At the same time he went from Ierusalem to Bethania which was almost two miles and there visited Mary and Martha where Martha ministred vnto him but Mary sitting at his feet gaue diligent heed to his Doctrine Luke 10. At this time he tooke his leaue of these two sisters and went thence to Bethabara beyond Iordan where Iohn baptised which was 16 miles it being now about the midst of Winter Christ at this time being about 33 yeares of age I am not ignorant that there were many which refer that long journey of our Sauiour Christ when hee went to visit all Iudaea the sending forth of his Disciples diuers other miracles mentioned from the ninth chapter of Luke to the sixteenth to the beginning of the following yere But I am of opinion that all those things could not haue beene done within the compasse of foure moneths and before the feast of the Dedication so that it must needs bee that the seuentie Disciples were sent forth before the feast of the Dedication for after the feast of the Dedication which was celebrated in the midst of Winter Iohn 10. there were but two moneths betweene it and the raising vp of Lazarus in which short time all those things which are described by Luke could not possibly be accomplished especially considering that our Sauiour Christ wintered some time in Bethabara and there taught the multitude that came vnto him Ioh. 2. So these trauels of our Sauiour were 596 miles or thereabouts besides the diuers visitations and journeies hee went hither and thither which because of the great multitude of them it was not possible for the Euangelist to set them downe Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Bethsaida BEthsaida signifies the house of hunting being deriued of Baith a house and Zaid hunting from Zod he hath hunted for from this place went the fishers and hunters which fished and hunted through the world Ierem. 16. In this Towne dwelt three Apostles Peter Andrew and Philip Iohn 1. It was scituated vpon the West side of the Galilean sea in the Tribe of Issachar fiftie six miles from Ierusalem towards the North. And because of the aboundance of Fishes that were in the sea of Galile Peter and Andrew became Fishers and in that vocation got their liuing till our Lord and Sauiour Christ made them Fishers of men Matt. 4. Luke 5. Before the birth of Christ this was but a small Towne and without doubt was so called from hunting because close by it stood a wildernesse that did greatly abound with wilde beasts Philip the Tetrarch of Traconitis and Itura made this a faire citie which in honour of Iulia hee called Iuliades This Iulia was the daughter of Augustus Caesar and wife of Tiberias Philip also brought many inhabitants thither who dwelt in that Citie But when Herod the Tetrarch of Galile and brother of this Philip had builded vp Bethara which stood beyond the riuer Iordan on the East side of the sea of Galilee and called it by the name of Iuliades in honour of this Iulia. This towne re-edified and inlarged by Philip was called againe in the time of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ after the antient name Bethsaida and so continueth to this day From hence it is manifest that the sea of Galile was subject to the gouernment of both these Tetrachs since vpon the shore thereof on both sides they had cities standing I doe thinke the wildernesse or wood and land neere adjoining to Bethsaida is called Itura of Ietur the sonne of Ismael Gen. 25. or else from the compasse and roundnesse of it for Tur in Hebrew signifies A circle But that Itura stood vpon the West side of the sea of Galilee those that haue beene at the Holy land can testifie This citie of Bethsaida hath an antient water course comming from a riuer not far from it which Iosephus calleth little Iordan which falleth into the sea of Galile just in the mid-way betweene this towne and Capernaum the channell whereof appeareth to this day Beside the many sermons which our Sauior Christ preached here he did many notable miracles Marc. 8. c. But for the ingratitude and impietie of the citisens the curse of our Sauiour fell vpon them Woe be thee Chorazin woe be to thee Bethsaida for if the miracles had beene done in Tyrus and Sidon which haue beene done in thee they had long ere this repented in sackloth and ashes Verily verily I say vnto you it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sydon in the day of judgement than for you Matt. 11. Luc. 10. The prophecie of our Sauiour Christ fell vpon them accordingly for after diuers and sundry ouerthrowes and deuastations this towne became vtterly vnpeopled and as Britenbacchus saith there are scarce six houses standing in it at this day Of Chorazin THis city also stands vpon the further side of Iordan close by the sea of Galile in the same country as Capernaum stands for the city of Chorazin standeth vpon the East side of the riuer Iordan where it falleth into the sea of Galile and Capernaum vpon the West in the halfe tribe of Manasses some 16 miles from the citie of Ierusalem towards the North. This citie also neglecting the preachings and miracles of our Sauiour Christ felt the efficacie and force of the curse of the Sonne of God Mat. 11. Luc. 10. For there is not at this day a house to be seene onely some ruines where it stood Chorazin doth denote a dukedome or principality from Coh and Razon a Prince and Duke for Rozez signifies A laborious Prince Ierom turning this word Rozez into Razi calls it A secret mistery or my secret Of Tiberias TIberias standeth vpon the West side of the sea of Galilee 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Before the birth of Christ it was called Kinnereth that is the
of Oliues you come vnto the place where Christ mounted vpon the Asse as we reade Matth. 21. And a little after you may see the whole citie of Ierusalem with Solomons Temple and the Church of the holy sepulchre with many other holy places Then as you descend from the top of the mount of Oliues you may see the place where the multitude cryed Hosanna blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. And in this discent also our Sauiour Christ wept ouer Ierusalem saying O Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered thee vnder my wings as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but thou wouldest not Of Bethpage BEthpage standeth vpon the right hand of the way towards the East as you goe from Bethania to Ierusalem and as S. Ierom saith was somtimes a habitation of the Priests which at their appointed times went vp to Ierusalem to minister to the Lord. It was so called because of the multitude of Figs that grow there for Pagim signifies a Figge Cant. 2. Bethpage is a notable type of the Church for that ought likewise to be fruitfull and to bring forth sweet Figges that is good workes and many other comfortable vertues that so men in their afflictions might be comforted As it is thought the Fig-tree that our Sauiour Christ cursed because it wanted fruit stood not farre from Bethpage Matth. 21. Marke 11. Wherefore let vs take heed that wee be not like that fruitlesse Fig-tree couered onely like our forefathers Adam and Eue with leaues and bearing no fruit Gen. 3. lest so Gods curse fall vpon vs and we be thrust out of eternall happinesse Matth. 3. Of the Castle from whence the Asse and the Colt were brought vpon which our Sauiour rode to Ierusalem THis Castle as Adamus Risnerus saith was a certaine Hold compassed about with strong walls and within beautified with a faire pallace supported with goodly columnes it stood not farre from the Mount of Oliues just in the deuiding of the way as you goe from Bethania to Ierusalem for there goes one way to the fountaine gate and another to the valley of Gehinnon In the Hebrew text it is called Tirah as you may reade in Matthew which signifies not onely a Castle but a firme and sure building with good decorum and order for Tor signifies a circular order It is credible that this Hold is a resting place and that the Asse and the colt were tied in the way for this cause that if by chance any trauellers were wearie by reason of the tediousnesse of their journey they might hire them for certain houres to carrie them ouer the Mount of Oliues and so returne them backe againe The Allegoricall meaning of this Asse and the Colt according to the opinion of many learned men signifies the people of the Iewes who were burthened with Moses lawes and the Asses Colt signifies the rest of the Gentiles which were not charged with the burthen of Moses law but tyed onely to the law of nature So we also like trauellers and strangers in this miserable world are tyed to the afflictions and calamities thereof standing in two waies expecting the death of the body and libertie of the soule then our Sauior Christ commeth in peace and looseth this bond of death as the Apostle saith Rom. 7. and bringeth vs to that heauenly Ierusalem eternall joy according to that of Saint Paul in the first of the Philippians I desire to be loosed and to be with our Lord Iesus Christ Of the Mount of Oliues ABout halfe a mile and a furlong from Ierusalem towards the East stood the Mount of Oliues very fruitfull and pleasant bringing forth Oliues Palmes Figs Gossumpine many other notable fruits but principally Palmes and Oliues of which the mountaine taketh the name It is said in Pliny lib. 16. cap. 19. that these Oliue and Palme trees doe neuer lose their leaues and are greene both Winter and Summer Saint Austine calleth it The mountaine of vnction because of the fertilitie and pleasantnesse of it also The mountaine of health because it bringeth forth Oyles and many other plants necessarie for Physicke also The mountain of light first because it lieth vpon the East so that the Sun shineth in the morning very pleasantly vpon it and in the euening when it setteth the beames thereof reflecting vpon the Temple of Ierusalem casteth a beautifull light to this Mount secondly because it bringeth forth Oyle which is the nourishment and life of light thirdly because it was beautified with the gratious presence of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ which is the Day-starre and light of the Church rising vpon high to enlighten all those which shall be called vnto eternall happinesse For which cause it typically representeth the Church which is the light of the World wherein are found many Christians that bring forth pleasant fruit good workes relieuing the necessitie of such as are in want comforting the afflicted patiently supporting the calamitie and misery of this world that so they might triumphantly rejoyce with Christ in that heauenly citie of Ierusalem What things Zacharias hath spoken of this Mount in his last chapter is to be vnderstood of the preaching of the Gospell and propagation of the Church through all the world Saint Ierom saith in his Epitaph vpon S. Paul That vpon this hill the Iewes commonly burnt the red Cow with the ashes whereof the people of God being sprinckled they were purified and sanctified of which you may reade Num. 19. Heb. 6. Hellen the Empresse mother to that godly Emperor Constantine the Great about the yeare of our Lord 332 caused a faire and beautifull church to be built vpon this Mount just in the place where our blessed Lord and Sauior Christ ascended vp into heauen It was built round all of white polished marble vpon the top therof there is no roofe but a window euen as Christ should ascend through it as Eusebius saith in the life of the Emperour Constantine the Great lib. 3. cap. 40. The same S. Ierom affirmeth in his booke de locis Hebraicis He also saith That the inhabitants of the Holy land take vpon them to shew in this Church the impression of the feet of our Sauiour Christ which hapned as they say just at such time as he ascended vp into heauen out of which trauellers and pilgrims take sand to carry with them as an holy relicke though indeed it is verily to be thought that they were feet made in stone by antient Monkes thereby to get mony from such as resorted thither vpon deuotion for looke how oft pilgrims take thence the sand they are presenly filled againe from whence may bee gathered that there is no sand naturally there Euery man therefore ought to embrace a neerer way to saluation than to follow those monkish fables and to seeke Christ in the holy Scripture not vpon the Mount of Oliues or amongst sand for since the graue could not containe him the Mount of Oliues cannot hold him
1â—0 broad There were so many gifts gratuities sent from all the cities and kings round about toward the building of this Temple that the riches and treasure thereof was wonderfull insomuch that when it was finished it was accounted one of the stateliest buildings the world could afford and numbered amongst the wonders of the world This temple thus built at such an extraordinarie charge that it was almost vnvaluable was set on fire by one Herostratus a wicked peruerse fellow in the same Olympiad and day that Alexander the Great was borne who hauing nothing in him that might make him famous in after-ages burnt this goodly building that so though not for his good but for his euill he might get a name But the Ephesians were so insenced because of this mischiefe that they procured proclamation to bee made through all the kingdomes round about that his name should not be once mentioned which perhaps for a time was obserued but in future ages they could not preuent it but that he was both spoken of written of Notwithstanding afterward the inhabitants of this City became so exceeding wealthy that they soon after rebuilt this temple of Diana and made it much fairer than it was before all the Citisens contributing with willing hands to the charge of the building insomuch that the women brought all their siluer gold and other pretious ornaments and communicated them towards this great worke Also in after-times those faire pillars before spoken of were againe erected towards the rebuilding whereof they receiued so many and wonderfull gifts from all the neighbouring Kings Cities and Countries that this Temple might as it was thought compare with all the world beside for riches and treasure It was standing in S. Pauls time who came thither about 12 yeares after the resurrection of our Sauior and continued there three yeares in which time he so faithfully and diligently preached the Gospell that he conuerted most of the Citisens from their idolatry and worship of Diana to the reuerend knowledge and confession of our blessed Sauior For which cause Demetrius the siluer smith who made a great gain by idolatry stirred vp a great tumult so that the Gentiles running vp and down the City for two houres space cried out with a loud voice Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. Here also Paul fought with beasts 1 Cor. 15. And to this city Paul wrot his Epistle and sent it from Rome 996 miles He made Timothy also a Bishop of this city to whom he wrot two Epistles the first was sent him from Laodicea to Phrygia beeing 280 miles the second from Rome as I said By these Epistles Timothy was greatly comforted and taught them to his disciples and auditors that so they might constantly continue perseuer in the Christian faith and religion to the end To conclude Iohn the Evangelist came also to Ephesus wrot his Gospel against the heretick Cerinthus who denied Christ to be the true God for which cause God grieuously punished him so that he died as hee was bathing himselfe in a bath Irenaeus lib. 5. ca. 3. Euseb li. 3. c. 22. This was the first Church to which Iohn wrot his Reuelation and there when he returned out of Pathmos he raised his host Drusana from death to life So when he had gouerned the churches in Asia 30 yeares after the death of Paul hee died when hee was 91 yeares old and was honorably buried at Ephesus not far from the city There was also another Iohn that liued in Ephesus to whom as many think the Epistles of Iohn the Evangelist were dedicated as Ierom sheweth in his catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers The sepulchre of this man is shewed not far from the Sepulchre of S. Iohn the Evangelist as Euseb witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 31. At this day this city is named Figlo ho Epheso See Gesner Of Pathmos THis is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituated betwixt Asia minor Grecia 2080 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Pli. l. 4. c. 12. saith that it was 30 miles in compasse Into this Isle the Evangelist was banished by Domitian Nero where he wrot his Reuelation It was one of the Cyclad Islands which were 53 in number that lay round about the Island Delus as Stra. li. 10. Geog. obserues It stood 40 miles from Ephesus Southwestward and as Petr. Apianus saith was somtimes called Posidius but now Palmosa Of Smyrna THis is the second city to which Iohn dedicated his Reuelation It was scituated in Ionia in Asia minor 540 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward This was a very faire city beautified with many goodly buildings and of good account in Grecia It was at first but a Colony transplanted from another city in that country But Theseus that great prince beeing then King thereof that he might adde some grace to that which hee had begun hee called it after his wiues name Smyrna signifying Myrrh Herod saith that Homer was born here but not blind and called by the name of Melisigines but after the Cumaenians called him of his blindnesse Homer Strab. li. 14. Geogr. saith That the inhabitants take vpon them to shew his picture standing there also a temple built in his honour During his life he was a man of small or no reputation or rather contemned than honored as Herod saith But after his death his works beginning to grow famous the Cities of Greece contended who should patronise him The Colophonians claim a part in him because he was in that towne and there made some of his Odysses They of Chios say he belonged to them because he liued there a long time and taught schoole But for ought that can bee found by Authours the Smyrnians haue most interest in him Neuerthelesse I leaue him to them that please to patronise him since it is not certainly found where hee liued He liued about 900 yeares before Christ Eusebius saith Hist Eccles lib. 4. cap. 14. that in after times this city grew very famous and was so much inlarged that it became a Bishops See whereof Polycarpus a very godly and religious man was Bishop He gouerned the Church in that place at such time as Iohn the Evangelist wrot his Reuelation and by him cap. 2. is called the Angell of the Church of Smyrna This man after he had faithfully preached the Gospell for the space of 86 yeares was by the inhabitants thereof condemned to death for the profession of Christ Anno 170. But the towne of Smyrna because of the vnthankfulnesse and crueltie of the inhabitants was grieuously punished for within ten yeares it was cast downe by an earthquake since which time it was hardly rebuilt again The riuer Pactolus which beginneth in Lydia runneth by this town of Smyrna But the inhabitants because of the golden veins that are found therein call it Crysorrhoas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. A little after that there was such an extreme plague hapned in Rome that they were constrained to carry out the dead bodies
remained there seuen daies Acts 21. From Tyrus Paul and his companions sailed to Ptolomais which was 24 miles From thence they came to Caesarea Strato which was 44 miles there they remained in the house of Philip the Euangelist who was one of the seuen Deacons with Stephen Acts 21. From thence Paul went to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and there about the feast of Penticost he was taken by the Iewes imprisoned and scourged Acts 21. At this time Paul was about 47 yeares of age So all these Trauels were 3396 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled And first of Assus COncerning Laodicea to which Paul trauelled you may reade before I will therefore proceed to Assus which was a towne within the jurisdiction of Troada scituated close by the Aegean sea 700 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East as Strabo saith Lib. 13. wonderfully fortified both by nature and art so that it is a thing almost impossible to be conquered There is found close by it the stone called Sarchophagus in which if any mans corps be buried within the space of 40 daies it is vtterly consumed all but the teeth as Pliny saith li. 36. cap. 17. In this citie Cleantes the Stoicke was borne as Chrysippus saith Of Mitylene THe Isle and towne of Mitylene is scituated in the Aegean sea 624 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest In times past called Lesbus which obtained the whole jurisdiction gouernment of Troada It is in compasse 136 miles and containeth in length from the North to the South 56 miles In it is found much matter for the making and calking of ships there was many goodly cities in it as Mitylene and Pyrrha which stood vpon the West part of it also the Metropolitan called Lesbos Eressus the hauen of Antissa and Mithymna Of Lesbos in times past this whole Isle was called Lesbus vntill the citie of Mitylene grew famous being so called of Mitylene the daughter of Macharus as Diodorus saith lib. 4. and after that cities name it was called Mitylene There were many other goodly cities which stood in this Isle but they were either consumed by earthquakes or drowned by the sea The land thereof was very pleasant and fruitfull bringing forth grapes whereof there was a very excellent and cleere wine made which they of Constantinople principally liked there is also found great store of Cypresse Pines and plenty of figs come thence Their horses are very strong but of a low stature it is very mountainy and pestred with wild beasts There were many famous men that liued and were borne in this country as Pittachus one of the seuen Wise-men of Graece Aliaeus the Poet and Alcimenides his brother Diophanes the Orator and Theophanes who wrote the acts of Pompey the Great as it appeareth in Tullies Oration for Archia Theophrastus also that notable Philosopher who at first was called Tyrtamanus then Euphrastus that it a good Orator and lastly Theophrastus that is a diuine Orator this man was an excellent Perapateticke and scholler to Aristotle whom he succeeded in his schoole and had two thousand schollers Vitruvius the Architect maketh mention of Mitylen in his first booke saying that it was a very magnificent city and rarely builded but very badly scituated for when the South winde did blow the inhabitants grew sicke when the West they coughed and when the North wind did blow they were made well Notwithstanding the Apostle Paul and his companions came to this citie as it appeareth Acts 20. At this day it is vnder the iurisdiction of the Turkes and is called by the name of Midilly Of Chius THis is an Isle scituated in the Aegean sea distant from Ierusalem 600 miles towards the Northwest being 112 miles in compasse the principall citie thereof is called Chios taking the name as some say from the Masticke tree which sweateth out a certaine gum of the Syrians called Chian and by vs Mastick this Mastick is the best in those parts of the world Ephorus calleth it by the antient name Aetalia but Cleobulus Chia either because of the Nymph called Chion or else because of the whitenesse of the soile there are others that call it Patyusia and there are some who deriue the name of Chius from the temple of Apollo that standeth in it called Chion There stands in it a faire and goodly mountaine called Pellenaeum from whence the inhabitants dig very excellent marble Also in times past the best Malmsey came thence but in these daies it is brought from Creet Of Samus THis is an Isle and Citie scituated in the Aegean Sea vpon a high or loftie piece of ground so that from thence the inhabitants may see into all the Countries neere adjoyning lying vpon the coast of Ephesus and Ionia 560 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest it was in compasse 88 miles very fertile and pleasant much exceeding Chius although it brought forth no Wine In times past it was called Artemisia Parthenea and Stephane taking those names from a crowne or wreath of sweet smelling floures of which there were great plenty in this Isle the Poëts feigne that Iuno was both borne and brought vp in it and Varro saith That there was a faire and stately Temple dedicated vnto her where solemne seruice and the rites of Marriage were yearely celebrated Pythagoras the Philosopher was borne here and one of the Sybels which prophecied of the comming of Christ liued here S. Paul also came to this Isle and conuerted many as appeareth Acts 20. There is another Isle called Samus scituated vpon the coast of Epirus not far from the gulph of Ambracius called also Cephalenia not far from the promontorie of Actium where Augustus ouercame Antonius in honour of which victory he built vp a citie and called it Nicapolis c. Of Trogyllium THis is a promontorie and town not far from Ephesus scituared in Asia minor at the foot of the Mountaine Mycales foure miles and somewhat more from Samus where Paul staied Act. 20. It is distant from Ierusalem 460 miles toward the Northwest There are which say that S. Paul staied at a certaine Isle joining close to this promontory called after that by the name of Trogylium See Strabo lib. 14. Of Myletus THis was a famous city scituated vpon the borders of Ionia and Caesaria close by the shore of the Aegean sea 104 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest The Poëts fein that Miletus who was the first builder of this citie was the son of Apollo and called it after his owne name Myletus but Strabo lib. 12. thinketh that it was rather built by Sarpedon the sonne of Iupiter and brother to Radamanthus and Minos and by him was called Myletus from another Citie of the same name which stood in Crete The wooll that commeth from this towne is wonderfull soft and singular good for many purposes but it was principally vsed to make cloth of which they died into an excellent purple and transported into many places There were
many famous men that either liued or were borne in this towne as Thales Milesius one of the seuen Wise-men of Graece Anaximander who was his scholler Anaximenes and Hecataeus the Historian also Eschenes the Orator not he that contended with Demosthenes who taking too much libertie against Pompey was banished Timothius the musician and Pittacus the Philosopher besides many others But of all these Thales Milesius was held in greatest estimation because he was thought to be the first that taught natural Philosophie and the Mathematicks amongst the Grecians He was the first also that foretold of the Eclipse of the Sun about such time as the battell was fought betweene Cyaxares father of Astyages King of the Medes and Hallyatâ—es father of Croesus K. of the Lidians which was about the 44 Olimpiad There came vnto him a certaine man who asked him what was the hardest thing in the world he answered seipsum nosce to know himselfe Another came to him and askt him how he might do to liue justly he answered Si quae in alijs reprehendimus ipse non faciamus That we doe not those things which we reprehend in others He died about the 58 Olympiad Meletus at this day is called Melasa Of Cous. THis is one of the Cyclad Islands lying in the Aegean sea bordring vpon Caria being so called from the Vaults and caues that are in it and distant from Ierusalem 524 miles It hath a city called after the same name wherein there was a stately Temple built in honour of Iuno another standing in the suburbs therof dedicated to Aesculapius this was a very sumptuous temple and made very rich because of the many presents and gifts that were sent and dedicated to it When the Romanes had obtained the command of this Isle Octavius the father of Augustus Caesar tooke out of this temple a naked Venus which was a goodly image and carried it with him to Rome in honour of his progenitors who deriued their progenie from her It is in compasse 56 miles being so pleasantly scituated that it was a sea marke to Mariners very fruitfull and bringing forth abundance of wine silke by reason of a certain fish that is found there from which they got great plenty See Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. There were many that liued onely by weauing of silke and aboue the rest there was one Pamphila the daughter of Plates that was most excellent in that Art There were many famous men that were either born or liued in that country as Hipocrates that excellent Physitian Apelles that notable painter Simus the Physician Philetas the poët and orator Nicia the prince and tyrant of Cous Ariston the Peripatetick and Theomnestus that notable politician At this day this Isle is within the Turkish Empire and by them called Stacu also the principall citie thereof is called by the same name and wholly inhabited by the Turks two towns only being inhabited by the Grecians but there are many that dwell in strong castles compassed with round and stately towers This countrey is very fertile abounding with cattell and the mountaines thereof are little inferior to those of Creet Of Rhodes THe city and Isle of Rhodes which is so called from the sweet smell or roses is scituated in the Mediterranean sea a little from Asia the lesse vpon the South being distant from Ierusalem 140 miles toward the Northwest as Strab. saith l. 14. It is in compasse 112 miles It was at first called Ophy then Statilia after Telchin of the inhabitants thereof who were called Telchines a people which as some say were witches others say curious Artificers and were the first that found out the making of brasse and yron At last it tooke the name of Rhodes from the principal city that stood in it for there were three cities in it viz. Lyndus Camirus and Ialyssus In Lyndus Cleobulus one of the seuen Wisemen of Graece and Chares that famous Statuarie who made the Colossus which stood in this Isle were borne Ialyssus of a Rose that was found in it was called Rhodes being scituated vpon an exceeding high promontorie lying toward the East part of that Isle This exceeded the other two cities both for ports waies walls and other ornaments and the inhabitants were gouerned with such excellent lawes and so skilfull in nauigation that it might compare with the strongest citie of the world and for a long time had the command of the sea round about and vtterly abolished all Pirats and robbers from those parts Diodorus Sicul. li. 6. saith that it was called Rhodes of Rhodia a faire and beautifull maid who was dearely beloued of Apollo and therefore this Island was dedicated to the Sunne for as Solinus saith though the heauens be neuer so cloudy yet the Sun shineth in Rhodes Pindarus the Poet because of the fertility of the soile and the exceeding opulencie of the inhabitants saith that it rained gold in that country In former times it flourished with learning and good arts insomuch that the Romans for the most part sent their children to be brought vp at Rhodes This Isle is very fruitfull and bringeth forth many things necessarie for the maintenance of life but aboue all a certaine red wine which the Romans did greatly delight in and valued at a high price In this city liued that notable Painter called Protogines which Apelles conquered in that science as Pliny saith lib. 35. ca. 10. Demetrius King of Asia erected a notable Collossus or Statue of the Sun in this Isle which that notable caruer Chares made being outwardly all of pure brasse but within nothing but stones it was seuentie cubits high and so artificially made that it was accounted for one of the wonders of the world Afterward it was carried into Aegypt by the Aegyptians who woon the towne This Isle is famous to this day in times past it was accounted one of the keys of Christendome but at this day subject vnto the Turk of which you may reade more in the Turkish History Of Patara PAtara was a Citie of Licia so called of Patarus the builder thereof who was the sonne of Apollones or Lacones as Strabo and Servius saith it was scituated vpon the South side of Asia the lesse close by the shore of the Mediterranean sea 408 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest Ptolomaeus Philadelphius K. of Aegypt inlarged this city and called it after his sisters name Arsinoës Lysiaca to put a difference betweene it and other Cities called after that name for there was an Arsinoe in Aegypt and another neere Cyrene where Apollo in certaine Moneths of the winter season by the help of the Divel gaue answer to them that sought after him S. Paul was in this towne Acts 11. There was also another towne of this name in Achaia where S. Andrew was crucified The Trauels of S. Paul when he was taken captiue and carried Prisoner to Rome IN the 57 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then 47 yeares of
vanisheth away and is without any corporiall substance In the same moneth of Aprill our Sauiour Christ appeared again to Peter Thomas Nathaniel the sons of Zebedeus and other two Disciples as they were fishing vpon the shore of Tiberias which stood 56 miles from Ierusalem Northward betweene Bethsaida and Capernaum Ioh. 21. The day of this apparition is not set downe From the sea of Tiberias neere to Capernaum and Bethsaida to mount Thabor scituated in Galile is reckoned 10 miles there about the end of April our Sauior Christ appeared to aboue 500 brethren at once where many worshipped him others doubted Mat. 28. 1 Cor. 15. In the month of May our Sauior Christ appeared to Iames the son of Alpheus for he had been seen before of Iames the sonne of Zebedeus both which were after crowned with martyrdom in the city Ierusalem the son of Zebedeus vpon the 25 day of Iuly ten yeares after the resurrection and the sonne of Alpheus vpon the feast day of the Passeouer was throwne from a Pinnacle of the Temple 29 yeares after the resurrection of our Sauior Vpon the 40 day after his resurrection hee returned fiftie sixe miles to Ierusalem where his disciples were assembled together and vpon the fourteenth day of May in the sight of all the Apostles with great triumph and ioy he ascended vp into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of his father in diuine majestie and glory Mar. Luk. vlt. Act. 1. Psal 28. Ephes 1. 1 Pet. 3. Heb. 1. So these Trauels of our Sauior Christ were 319 miles But if you reckon his trauels from the time of his infancie to the day of his ascention they make 3093 miles Besides his generall Visitations and journies hither and thither which were so many that as Iohn witnesseth cap. vlt. they could not be described ¶ Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Iericho THis city stood very pleasantly in the tribe of Benjamin ten miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Ioshuah ouercame this towne by sounding of trumpets Ios 6. Heb. 11. it was rebuilt by Hiel and was compassed about with a new wall by Herod that mighty King of the Iews who put the innocent children to death and called it after his mothers name Cyprus Ios de Bell. Iud. lib. 1. cap. 16. And although this city was taken and vtterly ouerthrown the second time by the Romans at such time as Vespasian and his son Titus wasted and destroied Ierusalem and all the land of Iudaea yet afterward it was re-edified and in Ieroms time which was 400 yeares after Christ it was a faire city There was shewn the house of Zacheus and the Sycomore tree that he went vpon to see Christ Luk. 19. But by reason of the often destructions and deuastations that hath fallen vpon it there is not to be seen at this day aboue eight houses in the towne and all the monuments and Reliques of the holy places are vtterly destroyed the house of Zacheus and the Sicomore tree are no more to be seen in that place only the place is to be seen where our Sauiour restored the blind man to sight when hee cried after him Lord thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon mee Luke Chap. 18. Also though this Countrey throughout be very fruitfull and pleasant yet is it nothing so fertile and pleasant as it was when the Children of Israel did dwell there For the Roses of Iericho are no more to bee found there but rather in a Village about sixteen miles from Iordan towards the East And although they stand so farre distant off yet they retain their antient name Between Ierusalem and Iericho there is a desart or wildernes which by the inhabitants of the holy land is called Quarentena where the man of which Christ speaketh fell among theeues Luk. 10. There is in the same place at this day great theeuing and many roberies committed as Brittenbacchus saith In this place also is to be seen the riuer Chereth where the Rauens fed Eliah 1 Reg. 17. Neere to Iericho also is found the riuer the water whereof Elizaeus made sweet by casting in salt whereas before it was bitter and it remaines very pleasant and sweet to this day 2 Reg. 2. Of Ephraim THis city is so called from the pleasantnesse and fruitfulnes of the soile being deriued from Parah To fructifie It lieth 8 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward iust in the way as you go from thence to Iericho in the wildernesse of Quarentena close by the riuer Chereth in the tribe of Benjamin Heere our Sauiour Christ after he had raised Lazarus from death to life hid himself with his disciples because the Iewes sought to take away his life by deceit The Passeouer following he was made a sacrifice for the sin of man Ioh. 11. Of Bethania THis city was a type of the Church which is alwaies subject to the Crosse and exposed to euery calamitie and therefore is called Bethania that is The house of sorrow and affliction being deriued of Baith an House and Oni Affliction According to the prophecie of our Sauiour who foretold of the afflictions and tribulations that should fall vpon his Church You shall mourn but you shall be comforted and your griefe shall be turned into ioy It was distant from Ierusalem almost two miles towards the South-East Borchardus the Monke obserueth That close by a Well about a stones cast out of this Towne there is shewed the place where Martha met our Sauiour Christ when he came to Bethania and a little after called her sister to meet him Iohn cap. 11. There is also shewne in this Towne the house of Simon the Leper where ◠certaine woman hauing an Alabaster boxe of pretious Ointment poured it on our Sauiors head not without the great indignation of his Disciples Matth. 26. There is also to be seene the house of Martha to which our Sauiour did oftentimes resort Luk. 10. Ioh. 11. 12. and in that place there is at this day a Church built in honour of those two sisters which were the sisters of Lazarus There is also seen the sepulchre out of which Lazarus was raised from death to life Ioh. 11. which stands close by the said Church and ouer it is built a chappell of Marble very decent and comely The Saracens hold this Chappell in great estimation You cannot see the citie of Ierusalem from Bethania because of the mount of Oliues but as soon as you ascend a little hill in the way as you got hence to Ierusalem you may discerne mount Sion and a part of the city then when you are discended from that hill the citie is againe hidden After that vpon the left side of the mount of Oliues some stones cast from Bethpage you doe leaue a small village standing vnder the mountaine of Offence where Solomon in times past committed Idolatry From this village the Asse and the Colt was brought vnto Christ Not farre from thence vpon the South side as you goe vpon the Mount