time employed But Cyrus went forward out of Sardes toward Babylon leaving there in the City a strong garrison * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Persians of footmen having Croesus in his company and carrying away with him many carts and waines loden with treasure and riches of all sorts Croesus also thither came who having precisely set downe in writing all the parcels of treasure which were in every waine gave up the said booke into Cyrus his hands saying withall unto him If you have about you quoth he O Cyrus this Inventary you shall know who dealeth truly and justly in delivering up his charge and who doth not Then said Cyrus You doe well good Croesus to provide thus for the worst But surely they shall for me carry the goods who are worthy even to be owners thereof so that if they embecile or steale any of it they shall but rob themselves of their owne goods Which said hee put those notes into the hands of his friends and Captaines that they might take account and know whether they that had the charge of those things delivered them backe safe and sound or no The Lydians likewise as many as he saw to shew themselves gallantly in armes on horsebacke and in chariots such also as endeavoured every way to performe that whereby they thought to doe him pleasure he led with him in his armie But whom he perceived to follow him unwillingly from them he tooke their horses and gave them to those Persians who first had served with him in the warres Their armour he burnt and constrained themselves to follow after with slings Yea and all those without armes whom he had vanquished and subdued he forced to exercise the sling thinking that kind of weapon and manner of service most base and servile For how ever it falleth out that slingers otherwhiles if they be in place with other forces stand in very good stead yet by themselves put them altogither if they encounter but a few of such as use weapons for close fight at hand they are not able to hold out the skirmish Now in his journey toward Babylon he brought under his subjection by the way the Phrygians inhabiting that great Phrygia the Cappadocians also and Arabians he subdued And with the harnois and weapons of all these hee furnished the Persian horsemen to the full number of 40000. Semblably many of the Captives horsemen he distributed among all his Associates throughout So he came before Babylon with a mighty power of horsemen with many archers also and darters but with slingers innumerable CHAP. VI. How Cyrus laid siege unto the City Babylon and by a wonderfull stratageme wonne it How the King of Assyria and his men were slaine the city put to the sacke and the fortresses rendred into his hands CYRVS being now set before Babylon with his whole armie invested the City Then accompanied with his friends and such of his Associates as were men of Action himselfe in person made a bravado and rode about the towne After he had well viewed the wals thereof he intended presently to withdraw his forces from the city At which time a certaine fugitive from out of the towne came and gave him intelligence that the Babylonians would sally forth upon him as hee should retire with his armie For when from the wals they beheld this maine battaile of yours saith he it seemed but weake And no mervaile in very truth that it should be so For when they encircled the wals being so large in compasse it could not otherwise be but the said maine battalion must grow thin and beare a small * or thicknesse depth with it Which newes when Cyrus heard standing in the mids of the armie with his guard about him he commaunded the souldiers heavily armed to display and stretch out the said battalion from both * or poynts ends and to goe off close by that part of the armie that stood still untill such time as both the said points raught unto him and enclosed the very mids Which when they did both they who kept their standing now that the bodie of the battaile was double in thicknesse as also those that went from both ends were more emboldened For they that stood still were presently neere unto the enemies But when by this manner of passing to and fro they had brought both points togither they stood more strong and confident as well they that went off by reason of them before as they before also for that those behind joyned unto them By meanes of displaying and spreading the battaile in this manner the best must needs bee raunged formost and hinmost but the worst cast into the mids Which order of embattailing seemed to be well provided both for to fight as also to keepe them from flight Moreover the horsemen and light appointed skirmishers in the wings approached ever to the Generall so much the neerer as the maine battaile thus reenforced and doubled bare greater * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thicknesse and became deeper After they were in this wise put in array they gave backe from thence * by little and little foot by foot so farre as a dart shot raught from the wall But when they were once without their reach they turned their faces toward the city and verily at the first having stepped some few paces forward they shifted full upon their shields and stood so as they might behold the wall at full and the farther they were off they shifted so much thinner Now when they thought themselves to bee in safety they retired in a continued order togither untill they were come unto their tents And after they were encamped Cyrus calling to him his best warriours and men of action said thus unto them My Friends and Associates we have viewed the city round about and how it is possible to force by assault the wals so strong and high withall I cannot see But this I suppose that the greater multitude of people there be within the City so long as they yssew not forth to fight the sooner shall they be overtaken with hunger Vnlesse therefore yee can alleadge some other way my advise is that presently we lay siege and beleaguer them Then spake Chrysantas This river here which is above * or a quarter of a mile 2. furlongs over runneth it * along the mids through the mids of the city Yes verily answered Gobryas and so deep it is withall that two men standing one upon the head of another will not reach above the water Whereby the city is better defended with the river than with the wals Let these matters goe by quoth Cyrus then unto Chrysantas which are above our strength and after that we have with all speed taken measure we must of necessity quarter our selves accordingly and goe in hand to dig a mighty deep and broad trench to the end that we may have need of as few warders as may be Having measured therefore all about the
wals leaving a space from the river sufficient for great * or platformes bulwarks hee digged an exceeding great trench round about the wall casting up the earth toward themselves Then the first thing that he did was to raise skonces hard to the river side making their foundations upon Date trees which tooke up no lesse than * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an acre in length For they will grow out in length more than so because the nature of the Date trees is such that if they bee pressed downe with any weight they will swell or bunch upward after the manner of those * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great asses backs called Canthelij Now these trees he built upon of purpose that hee might seeme especially to lay siege unto the city and in case the River should breake into the trench yet it might not carry away the said * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 skantses He erected also many other turrets or skantses upon the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 earth that was cast up to the end he might have as many places for Sentinels and warders as possibly he could * or turrets * or terrace And thus verily were they imployed But the Babylonians upon the wall made a mocke at this manner of siege as who were stored with victuals within for 20. yeeres and more Which when Cyrus heard he divided his armie into 12. parts that each part might by turnes watch and ward one moneth in the yeere The Babylonians likewise hearing of that derided them so much the more thinking this with themselves how the Phrygians * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lydians Lycians Arabians and Cappadocians should haue the warding of them all whom they supposed to be more friendly affected unto themselves than to the Persians And now by this time were the trenches digged and cast up But Cyrus having intelligence that there was in Babylon such a feast solemnized whereat they use all to drinke eate and banket all night long thereupon so soone as it grew to be darke he tooke with him a number of men and opened the heads of the trenches toward the river Which done the water in the night time flowed and ran into the trenches and thereby the chanell of the river keeping his way through the city became so passible as that it might be waded through by men Whiles this was thus in hand about the river Cyrus commaunded the Persian millenarie * Chiliarchi over 1000. men Colonels as well of foot as horse to come unto him leading their regiments of thousands 2. by 2. in ranke As for the rest that were associats he gave order to follow at their backs arraunged as they were before And they verily presented themselves accordingly Then Cyrus causing officers and ministers both footmen and horsemen to enter into the drie part of the river commaunded them to sound whether the bottom thereof were firme ground and passible or no And after they had brought word backe that it might be waded through hee assembled the Captaines as well of foot as horse unto whom he made such a speech as this This river my loving Friends hath left his ordinary course that leadeth into the City Let us enter in therefore with confidence fearing nought Considering that they against whom we now advance be no other than the very same whom when they were well friended and backed with associats when they were all awake sober armed and in order embattailed we defaited Whereas now we march against them what time as many of them are asleepe many drunke and all out of order But that they shall perceive also that we are gotten within the City they will be farre lesse able to fight than now For that they shall be astonied and amazed at this unexpected surprise And if any man haply thinke that wee shall have a hote welcome at our first entrance for feare least the townsmen get up to the roufes of their houses and from thence assaile us with shot on every side let this most of all embolden you For if any of them shall climbe up to their house-tops we have a God to helpe us even * i. Fire Vulcane For the porches of their houses be soone set on fire the dores are made of Date-tree-wood and those vernished and laid over with Bitumen which will soone catch fire and burne As for us good store we have of matches and torches which will quickly kindle and make a great fire We have pitch and hirds likewise that will as suddenly flame out Whereby it will come to passe that of necessitie they must either forsake their houses or bee soone consumed to ashes Goe to therefore and with good courage take armes And I my selfe in the name of God will lead you in this service As for you Gadatas and Gobryas shew us onely the wayes for yee know them full well and so soone as we be entred into the Citie guide us and bring us directly with all speed to the Kings Palace And that verily said the souldiers about Gobryas can be no wonderfull matter For the court gates will not be shut being as it is a time of banquetting and the whole Citie this night seemeth altogither set thereupon But we shall light upon the Warders before the Palace gates which are wont alwaies to be placed there as a Corps du guard Well saith Cyrus we must not therefore slacke our businesse but goe with all speed that we may take them most unprovided The word was no sooner spoken but they went forward And looke whomsoever they met in the way they were wounded and some slaine outright others fled backe againe into the Citie and part of them made outcryes and shouts Semblably the souldiers about Gobryas and Gadatas answered them with like shouts as if themselves had beene drinking and banquetting as well as they And so marched they on in great hast so farreas to the Kings Palace And verily Gadatas and Gobryas with their Companies being in ordinance of battaile found the Court-gates fast shut but such as were appointed to encounter the Warders ranne upon them drinking as they were by a great light fire and presently dealt with them as with enemies whereupon arose a huge noise and rumbling hurry which hurliburly when they within heard for the King commanded to see what the matter was certaine of them did set open the gates and ranne forth Then Gadatas his souldiers seeing the gates standing wide open rushed in chasing them as they fled backe againe into the Palace and beating them downe before them untill they came as farre as to the King himself whom they find standing with his cimiter that he had drawn And him the souldiers about Gadatas and Gobryas being many in number overcame and disputched They also about him were slaine every mothers sonne whiles one opposed somewhat in their way another did what he could to flie and escape and in one word whiles every
to destroy you choose rather to save your lives Which when the Aegyptians heard they asked this question Say we enter into league and friendship with you In what manner would you carry your selfe to usward Then answered Cyrus I will doe well by you and looke for the like at your hands as of true liege men And what good turne is that said they which you will deigne us Whereto Cyrus made this answer I will give you better pay during the warre than at this time yee receive But if there be a peace concluded as many of you as list to tarry with me I will endow with lands to occupie and Cities to inhabit I will bestow upon them wives and houshold servants Which when the Aegyptians heard they intreated him to except this onely in the Capitulation that they might not be compelled to beare armes against Croesus For him alone said they we acquit of all fault As for all other Articles they agreed unto and therewith plighted their faith and troth interchangeably And even at this very day the posteritie of those Aegyptians who then stayed with him continue firme and loyall unto the * Of Persia King and yeeld alleageance to him Vnto whom Cyrus gaue Cities both those in the higher country which in these dayes be called the Aegyptians Cities and also Larissa and Cyllene neere to Cumes by the Seaside which be yet held peaceably in possession by their issue and off-spring When Cyrus had atchieved these exploits he withdrew his forces even when it was darke and encamped in the Thyribarians country CHAP. III. How Cyrus following the traine of his victorie forced the Citie Sardes and tooke King Croesus prisoner The discourse that he held with him as touching the Oracle of Apollo And how hee did set him at libertie and saved the said Citie from saccage IN this battaile the Aegyptians alone of all the enemies bare themselves courageously and wonne renowne and of those on Cyrus side the Persian horsemen seemed to performe the bravest service In so much as that manner of armour which Cyrus caused them to be made for the men of Armes continueth still in credit and price to this very day Also those fythed Chariots were in high esteeme so that even in this age the King who reigneth in those parts reteines the use alwaies of that warlike kinde of Chariots The Camels onely affrighted the horses and did no other hurt For as they that rode upon them slew none of the horsemen so were not they killed by the horsemen because there was not an horse that came neere unto them And even that was thought then to doe good Howbeit there is no valiant man of any worth and qualitie willing either to keepe a Camel for his saddle or to practise fight and service from their backs Thus therefore being come againe to their wonted manner and fashion they are employed onely as beasts for carriage As for Cyrus his souldiers after they had supped and appointed their Sentinels betooke themselves as meet it was to their nights rest But Croesus upon this overthrow immediatly fled with his armie to Sardes the other nations departed and tooke the way homeward every man reaching so farre as possibly he could by night The morrow morning when day appeared Cyrus led his power forthwith directly to Sardes And no sooner was he come to the walles of the Citie but he planted his Ordnance and bent his Engins of Artillery intending to give an Assault thereto and prepared ladders to skale Whiles he was busied hereabout he caused the Chaldaees and Persians the night following to get up unto those munitions and bulwarks of the Sardians which seemed most steepe Now he that guided them was a Persian one who had beene a servant to a garrison souldier within the Castle of the City A man that had learned both the descent downe to the river and the ascent also into the Castle But when it was once knowne that the said high * or Castle fortresse was surprized the Lydians all abandoned the wals and fled every man whither he could Cyrus by the breake of day entred the City and gave commaundement that no man should breake his ray or quit his place But Croesus being shut close within his royall Palace cryed out unto Cyrus Howbeit Cyrus leaving a strong guard about him went in person to the Castle that was newly wonne Where seeing how the Persians kept the Piece as requisite it was and the Chaldaeans armour no where to bee seene for runne downe they were to rifle and ransake houses presently he called their Captaines togither and commaunded them with all speed to avoid out of the Armie For I cannot quoth he endure to see them that breake order and forsake their ranks to enrich themselves with pillage above others And know yee this assuredly quoth he that I had determined with my selfe to make you that serve with me such as all the Chaldaees might report to be happie But now mervaile not at all if some one stronger than your selves set upon you as yee depart from hence Which the Chaldaees hearing were so strucken with feare that they besought him to lay downe his anger saying they would restore all the money and goods which they had taken To whom Cyrus made answer that himselfe had no need thereof But if yee would have me saith he to cease my displeasure and indignation Bestow all that yee have gotten vpon them that kept the Castle For if the rest of the souldiers shall perceive that they who forsake not their ranks and stations gaine greater commodities than others all will goe well on my side And even so did the Chaldaeans as Cyrus commaunded And as many as had behaved themselves obediently received much money and goods of all kinds Now when Cyrus had pitched tents for his owne souldiers in that place of the City wherein hee thought most commodious for them to abide in armes hee gave commaundement that to supper they should goe Thus having set all things in order he commaunded that Croesus should be brought unto him No sooner saw hee Cyrus but he said All haile my Lord and Master For this is the name that Fortune hath graunted both you to use from henceforth and me also to call you by And you likewise quoth Cyrus All haile ô Croesus since we both of us are mortall men But would you my Croesus quoth he giue me any Counsell I would to God saith hee ô Cyrus I could deuise some good thing for you For I might thinke that the same would be gainefull and commodious modious to my selfe Then quoth Cyrus listen O Croesus what I shall say Whereas I see my souldiers spent by taking exceeding paines and plunged into many daungers thinke now that they hold in possession the richest Citie in all Asia next to Babylon I judge them worthy to receive some benefit for their service For this I know that unlesse they reape some fruit of their travailes I
man defended himselfe by what meanes he might In this meane while Cyrus sent forth certaine Cornets of horsemen into the streets with commandement to kill whomsoever they found out of their houses but to as many as kept within doores he made Proclamation by the mouth of those that were skilfull in the Syriacke tongue to abide still within house And looke who was taken abroad without doores there was no remedie but dye he must And thus did they accordingly Then came to them Gadatas and Gobryas who first of all worshipped the Gods by way of thanksgiving for that they were revenged of that wicked and impious Tyrant then weeping abundantly and leaping for very joy they kissed both the hands and feet of Cyrus When it was day light They that kept the fortresses and Citadels within perceiving that the Citie was wonne and the King slaine rendred up their holds likewise Cyrus immediatly seized them into his owne hands and sent garrison souldiers togither with Captaines into them Hee gave leave unto those for to bury their dead that were of kinne or neere allied unto them Also hee commanded the Heraulds to make proclamation That * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That would not bee neglected yet goe we must c. all the Babylonians should bring out and deliver up their Armes And wheresoever in any house there should be found harnois or weapons he commanded as many as were therein to be put to death So they brought forth their armes accordingly which Cyrus bestowed in the forts that they might be in readinesse against the time of need Which done the first thing that he went in hand with was to call for the * Priest Magi. And because the Citie was taken by force of armes he charged precisely that the first fruits of the spoile togither with all the shrines and chappels should be selected apart for the Gods After this as well private houses as stately and princely edifices he distributed among those whom he supposed to have had a hand in that exploit And thus as it was thought good and decreed he awarded the best unto the best But if there were any man that imagined he had a lesse part than he deserved he willed him to come forth and declare so much Moreover hee published by way of proclamation that the Babylonians should till the grounds pay * Or rent tribute yeeld obedience and service to them unto whom every one was allotted Furthermore he proclaimed thus much that both Persians and those who any wayes communicated with them yea and as many of the Confederates also as chose to stay with him they should terme as their Lords and Masters to whom they befell CHAP. VII How Cyrus established his Kingdome in Babylon instituted the honour and veneration of Kings entertained Eunuches for the service of his house and Persians for the guard of his person AFTER all this Cyrus being now desirous to compose himselfe so for his owne person as beseemed the State of a King by the advise of his friends thought it good that with least envie he might be seene seldome and with greatest Majestie This he wrought in this manner First by delight he tooke up his standing and gave audience to as many as had any thing to say unto him Whom so soone as he had answered and dispatched he sent away Folke perceiving that they were thus admitted and had free accesse flocked about him in multitudes infinite Thus whiles they preassed forward and thrust to come neere unto him there grew much stirre and fighting withall in such sort as his Serjeants and Officers did all they could to voide the numbers of them and to make way themselves to come unto him And if any even of his friends putting the people by came within sight Cyrus would reach forth his hand and draw them to him saying in this wise My friends stay a while untill I have dispatched this multitude out of the way and then shall wee commune togither at ease So his friends gave attendance But the concourse of people conflowed still more and more so that he was prevented by the evening before he could have leisure to conferre with his friends Therefore said Cyrus unto them It is hight time now my friends for this day to breake up the assembly To morrow morning faile not but come early For I would gladly speake with you When these his friends heard him say so they departed willingly and that apace as having beene punished all day long and wanted even the necessaries of this life The next morning Cyrus came againe to the same place But then he was beset with a greater throng by farre of people such as were desirous to have accesse unto him and much sooner were they there than his friends aforesaid But he having placed all about a great guard of Persian Halberds and Partisanes gave commandement that none should be so hardy as to present themselves unto him save onely those his favourites and the chiefe Rulers as well of Persians as of his Associates Who when they were all met togither Cyrus spake unto them in this manner My friends and Confederates Albeit no cause we have to blame the Gods for that hitherto we have not archieved all that we wished and prayed for Yet if the performing of brave exploits bring this withall that a man cannot repose himselfe as he would nor take delight and solace with his friends Farewell for my part all such felicitie For both yesterday ye perceived that from the very morning betimes wee began to give audience unto suiters and gave not over before eventide and now also yee see these are here come farre more in number than those yesterday to put mee unto new trouble And therefore if a man should give way unto these I accompt hereby that little use yee shall have of me or I of you And sure I am that of mine owne selfe I shall have very small or none at all There is also quoth hee another thing beside that I see very ridiculous For howsoever for mine owne part I stand affected to you as I ought yet of all these that throng here about mee I know in manner not one and they nathelesse are all of this disposition that if by thrusting and importunitie they can prevent you they will presume to obtaine at my hands their requests and be served before you But I would think it meet and reasonable that if any man have need of me he should make meanes to you my friends seeke your favour and request you to bring them to mee But some man haply will aske me why I did not carry my selfe so at first but lay open so as I did to all commers To whom I answere that I knew the state of warre affaires was such as it behooved not a Soveraine Commander to be wanting either in taking knowledge of all things requisite or in execution of such exploits as by any occurrents be presented And if Generals