Innocent the first of that name excommunicated Arcadius the Emperor for that hee gaue consent to haue Saint Iohn Chrysostome expelled out of his Church as it is related in the Papall Law At this time flourisht Saint Augustine also Bishop of Hippo who was present at the third and fourth Counsell of Carthage where amongst others those decrees passed That the Bishop should haue a little mansion house neere to his Church That his housholdstuffe should be meane his table and prouision poore and by his vprightnesse and integrity of life should get himselfe authority That he should vse the vtensils of the Church as things committed to his charge and not as his owne This Innocent the first writ also to Saint Austine and to Aurelius Bishop of Carthage where exhorting them to mutuall prayers he cals them brothers and fellow-priests After Innocent followed Zozimus who commending the decrees of the Fathers and of antiquity saith that it is not lawfull no not for the See of Rome as they call it to make any alteration therein or any contradictory decree Hee also reprehends corrects the custome of his time that many men of no learning aspired to the order of Priesthood Boniface the first succeeded Zozimus in whose time the sixt Councell of Carthage was assembled whereto there was great concourse wherein Saint Austine also was present Boniface sending his Legates thither declared that the Councell of Nice had granted such priuiledge to the See of Rome that all Prouinces euery where should appeale thither and therfore requested the Fathers there assembled to establish and confirme the same Their answer was that as far as they knew there was not any such decree at Nice but that the certaine truth might be sifted out and knowne they were agreed to send for a true copy of the Councell from the Churches of Alexandria and Constantinople which being at length produced the decree was found quite contrary to wit each Prouince should haue the cognizance of their owne causes and that an appeale should lye from the Bishops to the Councells of the Prouince or else to the Oecumenicall Councell as they call it St. Cyril was then Bishop of Alexandria Boniface died before the copy came and his successor Celestinus vrging the same had his answer according to the tenor of that decree Arcadius dying his sonne Theodosius the II. succeeded Theodos II. 408. an 42. m. 2. d. 28. in whose raigne and by whose command a Councel was held at Ephesus in which Nestorius was condemned who denyed that Christ was borne God of the Virgin Mary and at this time dyed St. Augustine On the other side Stilico Honorius his Protector dealt no lesse perfidiously then Ruffinus For hee not onely gaue the Gothes leaue to inhabite and seat themselues in Gallia but also instigated them to march into Italy with their Leader Alaricus and took the City of Rome which happened in the yeare of Rome built 1162 and of our Lord 412. The Gothes keeping their Rendezuous at Rome for a while and harrazing the Countrey till they came to n A seacoast towne in Italy now called Reggio opposite to Sicilie Rhegium from thence sayld ouer into Sicily where they suffered shipwracke and lost their King But Stilico still continuing his villainous and treacherous practices with intent to translate the sway of gouernment into his owne sonne Eucherius his hands was vpon discouery of his plot taken and by Honorius his command put to death King Alaricus thus dispatcht the Gothes elected his kinsman Adolphus their King and vnder his leading marcht backe againe to Rome where what remained they spoile He being slaine Gensericus raigned after whose death followed Wallis with whem Constantine Honorius his sisters husband and Leiutenant for the Gallia's as afterwards Collegue in the Empire entered into amitie and league granting them Aquitania a part of Gallia to inhabite At the same time the Scots and Picts infested Brittaine but were put to flight by the auxiliary forces sent from Honorius the Emperour likewise the Vandals and Alans with their chiefetaine Gense ricus pillaged vp and downe Hispaine After Honorius his decease at Rome his sisters sonne Valentinianus succeeded him in the West and at Rome Theodosius Arcadius his sonne as aboue recited in the meane space gouerned the other part of the world at Constantinople About this time the Vandalls and Alans prouoked by the dissentions and factions of the Roman Captaines in Africa breake forth out of the Hispaines into Africa and wasted the country w th fire sword After with destruction a certaine part of Africa was giuen them to inhabite The Gothes who by Honorius his permission and consent as a little abouementioned inhabited Aquitane in Gallia not satisfied with their owne bounds offred violence and injury to their neighbours and wearied Narbon with their siege But Litorius being dispatcht thither with forces raised the siege set the Town at liberty brought in prouision and giuing them battell at the first sped well but afterwards was taken with the losse almost of his whole Army so great was this ouerthrow that the Romans were forced to sue for peace In like manner Gensericus King of the Vandalls breaking the league made with the Romans in Africa as before mentioned on a sudden surprizes Carthage where he exercised much cruelty which City had then continued in subiection to the Romans for 585. yeares Thus hauing got possession of Carthage hee strikes ouer into Sicilia which hee made flow with blood Hereupon Theodosius the Emperour rigging a Nauie prepares for warre against the Vandals but by reason the Hunnes forraged Thrace and Illyricum the Armie was recalled out of Sicilie to defend those parts The Scots Picts then againe make an irruption into Britaine and the inhabitants despairing of aid from the Romans desire helpe from the English The Saxons inuade Britaine about 448. a people of Saxonie who being allured with the beautifulnesse of the country by little and little conueying ouer more forces oppressing the Britaines brought the greatest part of the Iland into their subiection Not long after this Theodosius the second died at Constentinople in whose raigne as it is written the Sunne was doubled and a comet appeared almost from the Ides of Iuly till the moneth of September Martianus succeeded Theodosius in the East Martianus 450. an 6. m. 6. Wee haue aboue mentioned Gensericus with whom Valentinianus concluded a peace diuiding Affrica betwixt them About this time Athila King of the Huns hauing got Ducia and Pannonia most cruelly harrazed the neighbouring Countries Macedonia Mysia Thracia intending to conquer the Easterne part of the Romane Empire But perceiuing that the warre would be extreame difficult in regard the Gothes who then were in league with the Romans and inhabited part of Gallia as abouesaid aided the Romans therefore by his Ambassadours hee requires their amitie and confederacie but Aetius Valentinianus the Emperours Lieutenant preuented that who corroborating the league with Theodoricus
king of the Gothes wholly bent himselfe to the warre Athila neuerthelesse proceeds and in the Downes of Chaalons which part of France in regard of the plaines is Champaigne was this most dismall battell fought in which as it is recorded 180000. men were slaine And Athila losing the day determined to kill himselfe lest he should fall aliue into the hands of his enemies Howbeit king Theodoricus his sonne following Aetius the Lieutenants counsaile returned home with his forces to succeed his deceased Father whereby Athila getting time to recollect himselfe retires into Pannonia and leaying new forces marches full swoln with reuenge into Italiâ— where at length winning the Citie of Aquilleia first wearied out with a long-continuing siege sackt and burnt it Then forthwith he takes Concordia Padua Vicentia Verona Brescia Bergamo Millaine and Pauie and so pillaging vp and downe o Romandiola Flaminia incamped at the meeting of the Riuer of Mencius and Po where deliberating about his passage to Rome with his Armie Leo the first of that name Bishop of Rome comes to him and so farre preuailed that altering his intent he not onely surceased his expedition to Rome but also quite remouing out of Italie returned into Pannonia where within a while after he ended his daies This was that Leo many of whose Epistles to Theodosius the second and Martianus the Emperour are extant wherein he partly apologizes for his absence from the Councels by them conuocated and intreats them not to bee offended for sending thither of his Legates and partly also requests that they would designe some place in Italie rather then in Asia for the celebrating of Councels but he obtained nothing Whilest Athila thus raged vp and downe Italie the Citie of Venice was builded Venice begunne to be built An. 430. when many of the abler sort leauing the adioyning places betooke themselues to those sea-sands little Islelands and hillockes as into some harbour Thus meane and in a manner desperate and miserable was the beginning of this Citie which now as we see is growne to a wonderfull greatnesse They reckon 805. Dukes till this time the first whereof was p Some Authors call him Paulutius Anafestus and write of his beginning in Anno Dom. 697. and after their Citie built 282. Paulus Anazatus in the yeere of grace 706. being 252. yeeres after the beginning of the building of their Citie Afterwards when Valentinianus was slaine Gensericus King of the Vandals sailing ouer with a Nauie from Affrica into Italie marches with an exceeding great armie being aided by the Moores towards Rome and takes the Citie in a manner left quite desolate but at the earnest request of Leo the Bishop who also as aforesaid appeased Athila hee forbore fire and sword The Citie-sackt captiues were transported to Carthage in great troopes The enemies after this infest Campania with grieuous outrages rase Capua Nola Naples and other Cities those who suruiue the sword they condemne to the irons and growne rich with the wealth of Italie returne into Affrica Martianus Emperour of the East a Prince of a calme nature inioyed peace hee was wont to say That it was not sitting for a Prince to take armes as long as he might liue in peace In his raigne The fourth Councell at Chalcedon in Bythinia and by his command a very great Councell was assembled at Chalcedon wherein Eutyches who confounded the two natures in Christ was condemned There amongst the rest it was decreed that no Clerke as they call them should bee admitted to the Churches of two Cities Pluralitie of liuings as wee tearme it was not then heard of which now is growne so ordinarie as nothing is more common And almost within our memorie that custome crept in amongst other blemishes of the Church that the Pope may conferre two Bishoprickes vpon one man If now therefore he would restore the custome in this behalfe which was held in the next precedent age hee should doe his dutie but seeing that cannot be can we suppose it euer to be granted that matters shall be amended according to the holy Scriptures and decrees of the Apostles and primitiue times No they toile in vaine that ballance the deedes of the Popes with the rules of ancient Religion Martianus dying in the seuenth yeere of his Empire Leo 457. an 17. Leo succeeded him and Auitus when Gensericus after the taking of Rome was returned into Affrica succeeded Valentinianus at Rome and in the West next to him Majoranus then Seuerus and after him Anthemius after those followed others but nothing eminent who perished in their mutuall massacres and treacheries and raigned but a while insomuch that now the other part of the Roman Empire in the West stood in great danger Nothing memorable is recorded of Leo the Emperour but that he entred into amitie and league with the Gothes then wasting Illyricum and an Epistle or two of Leo the Bishop of Romes to him Zeno 474. an 17. m. 2. d. 7. are extant Zeno q Called Isauricus because he was borne in Isaurica in Cicilia Isauricus was his successor Among stthose also who ruled in Rome after Valentinianus his death Augustulus was one in whose raigne Odoacer with a maine armie of Herulians and Syrians out of Pannonia inuades Italie takes Orestes a Nobleman of Rome who was fled to Pauie with his forces puts him to death sackes and burnes the Citie and marching on takes in the whole Country as far as Rome Augustulus deiected in minde voluntarily resignes his Empire Odoacer enters the Citie and obtaining the kingdome of Italie gouerned without resistance fourteene yeeres But at length Theodorieus King of the East-Gothes sent by Zeno the Emperour marching from Constantinople ouerthrew the r Part of the Gothes Gepides and Bulgarians opposing him and so making his way through Mysia and Pannonia arriues in Italie and incampes himselfe not farre from Aquileta whither Odoacer afterwards repairing a sharpe battell insued Odoacer losing the day fled but recollecting his forces ioynes battell on fresh and is againe ouerthrown most part of his armie lost some whereof perished in battell others in Å¿ A Riuer running through Verona Athesis Hee flies amaine towards Rome where shut out he spoiles the Country about and comes to Rauenna there at length after three yeeres siege vpon the Cities yeelding she was taken and put to death Odoacer thus cut off Theodoricus became Lord of Italie marches to Rome where hee assembled two Councels of Bishops whom hee called together out of sundry Prouinces of Italie to sit vpon t Pope of Rome Symmachus his cause whom the greatest part refused as one vnworthy and falsly created This Theodoricus was an Arian as the Papall bookes haue it His sirname was u Because of his victory at Verona Veronensis and was descended from that Theodoricus abouementioned who was slaine in the battell against Athila King of the Hunnes Odoacer was a * Of Rugerland in Pomerania Rugian a people
all matters were caried after this boisterous manner the Sarazens laying hold on this fit opportunity march out of Egypt with an huge Army and againe surprise Africa and Lybia and welnigh all Hispaine Iustinianus hee whom I aboue spoke of Iustinian the II. againe 706. An. 6. expeld and bannisht by Leontius by helpe of Tribellius King of Bulgaria at length takes Constantinople and therein Leontius and Tiberius whom hee put to death c First causing them to be caried vp and downe the city bound in cords then trampling vpon their necks and lastly beheading them Philippius Bardanes 712. an 2. m. 9. d. 7. after which hee raigned sixe yeares cruelly prouing also ingratefull to King Tribellius and at length ioyning battle with Philippicus Bardanes to whom the souldiers had reuolted both he and his sonne Tiberius were there slaine Pope Constantine pronounced this Philippicus for difference in Religion a Schismatick whose eyes being afterwards pluckt out by his owne seruants Anastatius the II. was his successor Anastatius the II. 715. an 1. m. 3. Hee sent a strong Nauie to the Rhodes to make warre with the Sarazens constituting an ecclesiasticall person Generall thereof whom the souldiers refusing to obey a mutinie arose and one Theodosius of obscure parentage was created Emperour Theodosius Adramittenus 716. m. 7. d. 16. who changing the voyage marches to Constantinople takes the City and confines Anastasius whoÌ„ he ouerthrew in battaile to a Monastery but not long after being expulst by Leo Lieutenant of his forces Leo Conon 717. an 24. m. 2. d. 25. hee also betakes himselfe to a Monasticall life About this time which was in the yeare of Grace 717. the Moores with their whole powers breake into Spaine and subdue it Rodericke being then King of the Hispaines whom the Gothes had elected The Sarazens in Leo's raigne hauing ouerrunne Thrace besiege Constantinople both by sea and land for three yeares space but at length being well nigh destroyed by the plague were constrained to retire home This Leo was a mortall aduersary to Gregory the II. Bishop of Rome and charged his Vicar or Exarch in Italy by all meanes to cut him off but the Lombards defended the Pope not for any loue they bare him but to the end that by these dissensions they might enlarge their owne Territories For vpon this occasion they surprised many townes belonging to the Exarchie-Certaine of this Gregories Epistles to the Clergy and Laity of Thuringia d A part of Saxony where the City Erford stands are extant whereby he admonishes them more and more to encrease in the knowledge of God as also to the Saxons sharply deterring them from worshipping of Idolls in which employment hee vsed one e An Englishman borne in Deuonshire Boniface his helpe whom he had sent into Germany The Emperour Leo throwes all statues Images of Saints out of Churches and enioynes the Pope also to doe the like but hee not onely disobeyes but also denounces sharpe punishment against him perseuering in his purpose Constantine the V. 741. an 35. m. 1. d. 27. To Leo his son Constantine of that name the V. succeeded surnamed Copronymos of the same Religion with his father He setting forth with a great Nauie against the Sarazens for recouery of Alexandria in Egypt vnderstanding by a messenger of the insurrections hatched at home and of Artabastus the new elected Emperour retires to Constantinople takes the City by force and puts out Artabastus his eies He also as his father Leo liued in vehement discord with Gregory the III. Bishop of Rome who forthwith sending his Nuntio's excommunicates him and they being cast in prison hee made a decree in the Councell thereupon assembled That whosoeuer should hereafter demolish the Images of Saints or contumeliously abuse them should be vtterly excluded from the Communion of the Church after this with all diligence and endeauour he erected Images in diuers Churches and as farre as he could sumptuously adorned them After Gregory the III. Zacharias succeeded An Epistle of his is extant to one Boniface a Bishop in Germany the same man as it appeares whose helpe Gregory the II. vsed as a little aboue mentioned Zacharias satisfied his requests and permitted Bishopricks at Merburgh Bamberg and Erphord and also gaue him leaue to goe to Charlemaine Charles Martel his sonne who was desirous to haue a Councell held in some City of the French Kingdome and that he might diligently reforme the abuses of the Church but most especially remoue adulterers and those that had many wiues from the order of Priesthood for sithence after the vndertaking of the holy Ministery they ought not to haue or touch so much as one wife much lesse at one and the same time they should haue more for Pauls words that a Bishop should bee the husband of one wife is to bee vnderstood not of the time present but past to wit that hee who desires to be admitted into the ministeriall function should haue no more wiues then one To this Epistle Charlemaines Edict who stiles himselfe Duke of the French is annexed wherein hee ordaines that a Councell should be held euery yeare in his presence and commands that adulterous Priests and whoremongers should be remoued out of their places and likewise prohibits them from hunting and hawking and charges them not to maintaine any whore at home but concerning wiues not a word From this time Aistulphus King of the Lombards required a tribute from the Romans sharply menacing them in case of non-payment Stephen the II. of that name then Bishop of Rome seeing hee could not stop his mouth neither with flatteries nor rewards sues to Constantine the Emperour for ayde but no helpe comming from him hee sollicites Pipin lately as we below shall mention made king of the French to lend him his hand He marching with an Army into Italy besieges Pauie and compells Aistulphus to come to composition but the Enemy after Pipins returne home growne more kene againe takes armes whereupon Pipin againe solicited marches into Italy then at length Aistulphus surrenders the Exarchie to Pipin in which Country those Cities are of chiefe account Rauenna Fauentia Caesena Forli Forlimpopoli Bologna Reggio Parma and Placentia It is written that Pipin deliuered all this Countrey into the Popes hands though the Emperor first required him to restore them to him as belonging to the Empire not to the Church of Rome To Constantine â—â—o the IIII 775. an 4. m. 11. d. 26. his son Leo the IIII. succeeded He vndertooke one only expedition into f Against the Sarazeni Syria where discomfited he retires home and not long after dyed of the same religion with his father leauing behind him his son Constantine the VI. who by reason of his nonage not of ability to raigne his mother Irene gouerned the Common-wealth but he waxen warmer in g 20 yeares of age yeares deposing his mother tooke the Empire vpon himselfe with no lesse insolency
And I doubt not of your owne voluntary propension that way as much as your age can beare and your Tutors their diligent vigilancie Wherefore Illustrious Prince proceed auspiciously and as you are borne to the gouernement of a Common-wealth so furnish your selfe with such ammunition as is both perpetuall and will affoord infallible aid and not onely extenuate the labour which you must sometimes vndergoe in gouerning an ancient Prouince but also make it easie and pleasant From Strasburg Anno Dom. 1556. IOHN SLEIDAN of the foure chiefe Mōnarchies OR The key of History The first Booke BEfore I treat of the foure chiefe and principall Monarchies of the world Babylon Persia Greece and Rome I must speake a word or two of the great difference about computation of yeeres from the beginning of the world for the Hebrewes Eusebius S. Austin Alphonsus and Mirandula doe exceedingly vary amongst themselues But because almost all the learned men of our times doe in this point follow the account of the Hebrewes I also seeing the case so stands will tread in their steppes And first of all that I may come to my purpose I meane the first Monarchie passing by those occurrents which happened in the a Gen. 1 2 3 4 5 6 chap. first age of all as also the narration of the Flood sit hence all those are contained in holy Scriptures and cannot be better exprest I le take start at that time when the race of mankinde being reduced to a very small number begunne after that the * Moles massie multirude of waters was againe dispersed and the earth made drie to increase anew The time of the Flood is referred to the yeere of the world 1656. and b Gen 5. Mathusalah the seuenth from Adam died at that very time being 969. yeeres of age c Gen 7. Noah Mathusalah his * Nepos Grandchild by his sonne Lamech being then 600. yeeres of age and by Gods especiall fauour preserued together with his familie now when the number of men begunne to multiplie by little and little was the first that caused his children and posteritie by remoouing into seuerall Countries to inhabite the earth and build themselues cities and afterwards about the hundreth yeere after the Flood allotted to each of them his proper Prouince At which time Nimrod Noahs Grand-childes sonne together with his retinue inhabited the land of the Chaldees but at length the multitude of men still multiplying many were necessarily inforced to remoue and seeke out new seats and Colonies They before their departure desirous to leaue their perpetuall memoriall behinde them did thereupon d Gen. 11. It is credible that hereupon the Poets took occasion to make that fiction of the Giants who beaping moantaine vpon mountain went about to ouerthrow the gods Michael Glycas writes that there were forty yeers spent about building of this Tower Nimrod being their Chief-taine beginne to build a Citie and within that a Tower of transcendent height And forgetting Gods wrath which had so lately swallowed vp the whole Globe of the earth whereof Noah without all doubt had very much very often and diligently preached to them intended to extend the fame of their owne names by vaineglorious and ambitious workes But God herewith offended made frustrate these their enterprises sending amongst them a confusion of tongues whereas before that time there was but one and the same kinde of language all the world ouer Thus being constrained to surcease their begunne worke they departed into seuerall parts of the world From this confusion of tongues the citie called Babell took the name frō the time I mean frō the 131. yeer after the Flood or therabouts the kingdome of the Chaldees Babylonians took the beginnings The first King thereof was Nimrod before spoken of who as it is written ruled 56. yeeres The Scripture stiles him the e Gen. 10. 1 Chron. 5. Mich 5. The land of Babylon is called the land of Nimrod mightie Hunter and attributes to him strength and puissance Others call him Saturne and report that in the 45. yeere of his raign he sent away certaine Princes of Colonies hither and thither as Assur Madas Magog and Mosech Those erected kingdomes after their owne names as Assyria Media f Suidas writes that the Persians were so called but Melanctho◠think them to be the now Turks Magog and Mosco the two first whereof doe wholly belong to Asia and the third and last to Asia and Europe The Scripture makes mention of this g Assur Gen. 10. Belus Assur and that Niniue was by him builded Iupiter Belus succeeded his Father Nimrod who as historie speakes possessed all the Country from the sunne-serting to Sarmatia in Europe and afterwards made warre against Sabbatius King of Saga whom not he by reason hee was preuented by death Ninus the first Monarch about 1905. of the world but his sonne Ninus subdued who extending his dominions farre and wide was the first that euer tooke vpon him a Monarchie Noah died 350. yeeres after the Flood and about the 18 yeere after his death b Gen. 11. Abraham the tenth from Noah so commanded by God left his Country being then 75 yeers of age and in i Gen. 17. 24 yeere after that God made a couenant with him by ordaining the circumcision In the k Gen. 21. 100 yeere of his age his sonne Isaac was borne vnto him hee liued after that 75. yeeres for the tearme of mans life was now much shortened The manner of his Grand-childe l Gen. 37. Iacobs life and vpon what occasion he went downe into Egypt and there dyed how afterwards his posteritie remained in Egypt for some ages oppressed with most grieuous bondage and by Gods fauour brought out and set at libertie by his seruant Moses the holy m From the 30 ch of Gen. to the 14. of Exod. Scriptures declare This departing of the children of Israel out of Egypt is referred to the yeere of the world 2454. that is 430 yeeres after the promise made to Abraham as n Gal. 3. S. Paul hath it After Moses the children of Israel were gouerned by Iudges till the daies of Saul whom Dauid another King of the same people succeeded Now let vs returne to the Empire of Babylon Ninus being dead his wife Semiramis succeeded him in his Empire Semiramis who in riches victories and triumphs was inferiour to no mortall Prince She inlarged the towne of Babylon and made it a citie of sufficient greatnesse adorning it with diuers faire buildings and inuironing it with a wall Shee subdued Aethiopia and made warre also in India Her sonne Zameis the fifth King Zameis performed nothing worthy of memorie Arius but Arius who next succeeded him conioyned the Bactrians and Caspians to his Empire It is written that Aralius his successor was renowned for his wit and prowesse Aralius but what he atchieued is not committed to writing The next
to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
before that time After Alexanders death his spacious Empire was diuided amongst his Nobles Ptolomeus Laomedō Antigonus Cassander Leonatus Eumenes Python Lysimachus Antipater Meleager Seleucus but the chiefe of those was Seleucus afterwards made King of Syria as also Ptolomeus of Egypt Antigonus of the lesser Asia and Cassander of the Macedons Greece hauing quite cut off all Alexanders alliance This Lysimachus is he whom Alexander being on a time angry with caused to be shut vp w th a Lyon but whē he heard how hee had killed the beast highly esteemed of him Now most grieuous warres as it is common arose betwixt those forenamed successors and their sonnes and Nephewes for the mind once corrupted w th ambition can admit no rest but plots how to augment its own power by committing iniury vpon other men And all these Countries being most miserably afflicted with those wars by reason they were continuall by little and little grew into subiection to the Romanes who extending their dominions farre and wide made vp the fourth and last Monarchy whereof I am now to speake But amongst Alexanders successours in this Kingdome of Aegypt Ptolomeus Philodelphus was one a most laudable Prince For he as much as in his lay kept peace with all stirred vp the liberall sciences appointing stipends for schollers erected a most copious Library and commanded the books of Moses and the Prophets to be translated into the Greeke tongue The beginning of the city of Rome therefore was at that time when Salmanassar before mentioned raigned in Assyria that is in the first yeare of the seuenth Olympiad according to Plutarch and of the world 3212. when as almost 400. yeares before Rome built 3212. Aeneas had begun his raigne in n A part of Italy Latium after the Troian warres which Homer left to the memory of posterity of whose o Herodotus Dion Halicarnass Solinus and Gellius as Meibomius notes writeth of his time time as likewise of his p Gellius also writes of his Countrey country there is no certainty extant onely Cicero writes that many years before the building of Rome and Romulus there was such a man Howsoeuer there is no prophane writing of more antiquitie then his Poem for as Horace saith Many braue worthies flourisht ere those daies When Agamemnon shin'd whose bootlesse praise Hath not the force t' attract one liquid eie For lasting night with blacke obscuritie In ignorance inuelopt hath their names Wanting no Herald to proclaime their fames Cicero also signifies as much who writes that there was not the tract of an Orator to bee seene before Homers time As for the originall of Rome it was but meane and in a manner contemptible but because God hath so ordained as afterwards it shall be declared it grew vp to the height of potency In their first beginning seuen Kings raigned ouer them 244. yeares And in Seruius Tullus the sixt Kings raigne Solon and Pisistratus flourisht in Athens and Pythagoras in Italy as Cicero writes At what time Tarquinius the proud was expell'd He writes also that in this Seruius Tullus his raigne Athens had then stood about 700. yeares Hauing expell'd their Kings the gouernment of their State was translated to two Consuls whose office was annuall The first was Lucius Iunius Brutus one no lesse vehement and diligent about expulsion of the Kings and setting vp the liberty of his Countrey then vigilant and valiant in preseruation thereof For when his owne two sonnes Titus and Tiberius amongst other Noblemens sonnes of Rome had commun'd together in priuate consultations about calling in againe of the Tarquins after the matter was openly disclosed he put them to open death Hee also abrogated his Collegue Tarquinius Collatinus his authority who was his associate in expelling of the Kings as also coadiutor in his Councells Cicero defends this fact as iust and saith it was no lesse profitable then honourable to his Country that thereby both the name of the Tarquins and the remembrance of the Kingdome might bee extinguished But in this variable fortune of the Romans when all q Tuscanie Hetruria had conspired against them three hundred of the a 306. as Liuie Florus Ouid c. Fabies marched out of the Citie against the enemie and were all slaine sauing a childe which was left at home and so left aliue who afterwards raised the house againe this happened in the thirty three yeere after the expulsion of the Kings By reason of the troublesome state of the Common-wealth Ambassadours were sent into Greece in the three hundred yeere after the building of the Citie to fetch from thence the lawes which the Citie of Rome should vse After their returne the forme of gouernement of the Common-wealth was changed and the r Tenne Noblemen appointed to gouerne in stead of Consuls Decemvirs were put in authoritie with the gouernement therof but this order held not full three yeeres for Appius Claudius one of the Decemvirs by his lewdnesse in violently carrying away a Virgin daughter to Lucius Virginius a Citizen of Rome to serue his lust gaue occasion to the people wholly to subuert this order So the gouernement returned to the Consuls but those two held it but a few yeeres and then two ſ Much like our Knight Marshals at this day Tribunes of the Soldiers were constituted with Consular authoritie but they before their yeere was out left off their office and made roome againe for the Consuls and at this time which was in the three hundred fifteenth yeer of Rome built Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus the Dictator caused Caius Seruilius Hala master of the Cauallery to kill Spurius Melius also pluckt downe his house because hee indeauoured by his lauish liberalitie of corne in the Citie to procure the Kingdome Two yeeres after this the gouernement was reduced to the Tribunes of the Soldiers who afterwards were not bipartite but more were created at one and the same time as the people pleased and the state of the Common-wealth required This kinde of gouernment continued almost 70. yeeres and among the rest in this office flourisht Marcus Furius Camillus inferiour to none for valour who though hee had done worthy seruice for the Common-weale yet his ingratefull country thrust him out into banishment after hee had beene Tribune of the Soldiers the fourth time but after hee had recouered the Citio out of the hands of the t Inhabiting in and about Sons in Gallia Gallisenons who had taken it and vanquisht the enemie was restored to his former dignity and within two yeeres after made u He had power regall and was neuer chosen but when the Common-wealth was in great danger and could not hold his place aboue half a yeere Dictator A few yeeres after this Marcus Manlius he that defended the Capitoll against the Gaules being suspected of affecting soueraigntie was pitcht headlong from the top of the hill Tarpeium and a law made that no man descending from the stocke
fortunate sea-fight in Sicilie against Hanno Publius Duillius Consul Cicero rankes this Duillius Mannius Curius and Caius Fabritius as also Attilius Calatinus Cneius and Publius both Scipioes Aphricanus Marcellus and Fabius Maximus within the list of the most renowned Consuls of Rome The yeere following Lucius Cornelius Scipio Consull took the Ilands of Corsiea and Sardinia The Carthaginian warre after it had lasted three and twenty yeeres Held 23. yeeres was at last appeased Quintus Luctatius Catulus Cercus and Aulus Manlius Consulls Two yeeres before this was Ennius borne Hee was elder then Marcus Portius Cato who cals him his familiar consort by fiue yeeres And Rome was now againe intrapt with new wars against the a Of Tuscame Faliscians b Of Tuscame vpon the Sea-coast Lygurians c Sclauonians Illyrians d Of Gallia now France Galles e Bohemians Boies f Of now Lumbardie The second warre which the Carthaginians begun Anno Mundi 3751. Insubrians whom hauing at length ouercome the second Punicke or Carthaginian warre burst forth in the twenty fourth yeere after the conclusion of peace Publius Cornelius Scipio and Titus Sempronius Longus then Consuls Hannibal was Captaine Generall in this warre who sack't the Citie of Saguntum and bending his course through Spaine towards Gallia and from thence to Italie in three seuerall battels at g Now Pauie Ticinum the Riuer Trebia and the Lake Thrasimine ouercame the Romanes But Quintus Fabius Maximus being created Dictator and marching forth against the enemie by subtle and dilatorie withdrawing from him weakened and tooke off the edge of his force and furie This was that very Fabius whose fame Ennius celebrating saith thus of him One mans delay our safety hath regained Cicero accounts him a great Politician and saies that hee could conceale keepe silence dissemble insnare and preuent his enemies in their consultations But after this the Romans receiued a very great ouerthrow at h A towne of Apulia in Italie Canna which strucke such an horrid feare in the Citie that many of the abler sort purposed to flie and forsake the Citie but were re-animated and withdrawne from their intents by Publius Cornelius Scipio Publius his sonne a magnanimous yong Gentleman and then scarce foure and twenty complete The fourth yeere following Claudius Marcellus tooke Syracusa after a long continuing siege In the sacking of which Citie the famous Mathematitian Archimides was slaine who was drawing certaine Astronomicall figures in dust not dreaming of the conquest of his country Marcellus hauing notice hereof tooke his death wonderfull heauily and commanded his body to bee buried not onely suffering the conquered Citie to remaine in safetie as Cicero writes but also left it so furnished that it should stand for a Monument of victorie humanitie and clemency Moreouer as he speakes vpon Verres the i Much like our Lord chiefe Iustices at this day Praetors arriuall there in this victory of Marcellus there were fewer men then gods slaine but Liuie reports that many abhominable examples of wrath enuy and auarice were then and there shewed Cicero when he was k Much like our office of Lord Treasurer Questor of Sicilia hauing by some description found out the place of Archimedes buriall shewed his tomb to the Senate of Syracusa 137 y. afterwards though it was quite worne out of memory grown ouer with bryars and brambles and vnknowne to the very Citizens themselues He further reports that this City of Syracusa was the greatest most beautifull city in Greece and that it was compact of foure very great Cities the Island where was the fountaine of Arethusa hauing great store of fish Acradania where the market place * Porticus The publike walking place for pleasure recreation or exercise Prado and * Curia Senatehouse stood Tyche where the Temple of Fortune stood Neapolis built last of all where the most spacious Theater was erected Moreouer this of any forraigne Nation was the first that entred into amity and allegiance with the Romans and was their first prouince as the same Cicero testifies Annibal soone after his victory compelled all Campania to bee yeelded vp to him but his Army wintering at Capua with superfluity of victualls and riot became wholy disjoynted and broken The third yeare after the ouerthow of Syracusa Capua was surrendred into the hands of the Romans and it was long and much demurred vpon whether or no they should quite destroy the City at length they agreed to preserue it yet lest it should at any time afterwards bee able to raise any rebellion their fields were quite taken away all manner of authority both of Magistrates and Senatours abrogated as also the Councell of Estate no image of a Common-wealth left but was appointed to bee a storehouse for fruit the plowmens rendezuous the Countreymens market town and the common Garner and Cornhouse for the countrey of Campania Within two yeares after this Asdrubal brought ouer new Auxiliary Forces into Italy but was slain at the riuer of Metaurum by Marcus Liuius Salinator Caius Claudius Nero Consulls In the meane while Publius Cornesius Scipio had good successe in Spaine after his father his vncle had lost their liues there He hauing recouered the whole prouince returnes to Rome and being made Consull desired to be authorized ouer Africa that he might make war there But Quintus Fabius Maximus an aged graue Senator withstood him very earnestly and vrged that it was not fit to passe into Africa but to ioyne battell with Hannibal Scipio contrariwise that if warre were made with the Carthaginians within their own Quarters they must of necessity be constrained to call home Hannibal out of Italy in whō they setled their chiefe hopes and helpes After much dispute the Senate grants Scipio the Prouince of Sicilie and permits him if it might be commodious to the Common-wealth to passe ouer into Africa He therefore at length sets forward out of Sicilie into Africa where what hee had foretold the Senate by word he confirmed by deed For the Carthiginians hauing receiued some ouerthrowes by him and being much endammaged call backe Hannibal Thus he who for sixteene yeeres together had raged vp and downe Italy and pickt out a place vnder the verie walles of Rome where to pitch his Tents was compelled to returne home though sore against his will and to his great griefe where at length in his owne country quarrell Hannibal vanquished An. mund 3797. hee was vanquished by Scipio who soone after by decree of the Senate concluded a peace with the Enemie Hereupon came his surname of Africanus But here we must consider after what manner the Romans creptout of these most intricate straights for all their fortune now hung by a most slender threed yet so it was destined that they should ouersway all force and trouble and become Lords of the whole earth Some report that Hannibal foresaw this when hee heard of his brother Asdrubals ouerthrow The
that most famous Oratour Quintus Hortensius In the time of this Iugurthine warre the q Danes Cimbrians and r Germanes vanquished by Caius Marius 3867. Teutons pierce some into Italie some into Gallia where hauing very much annoied the Romans and in certaine battels sometimes ouercomming the Proconsuls sometimes their Lieutenants were at length ouerthrowne and put to the sword by Caius Marius the fourth time Consull the Teutons at ſ Aix Aquensis and the Cimbrians on the marches of t Lombardie Insubria To this felicitie succeeded a new tumult for certaine people of Italie as the Samnites Pelignians Marsians The Sociall war 3877. Vestinians Marusinians Vmbrians Picentines Lucanians reuolted from the Romans At diuers battels at length they were reduced to subiection In the necke of this followes another mischiefe and a dangerous one to the Common-wealth The war with Mithridates 3880. for Mithridates King of Pontus expelied Ariobarzanes King of Cappadocia and Nichomedes King of Bythinia both friends and confederates with the Romanes out of their dominions and seizing vpon Phrygia a Prouince of the Romanes broke into Asia Hereupon the Senate decreed to remedie it by the sword but iust in the nicke sprung vp a faction some requiring Lucius Sylla a man of Noble parentage others Caius Marius for their Generall Publius Sulpitius Tribune of the commons aided Marius his partie but Sylla hauing command ouer the armie expelled Marius the Citie who thus exiled and lurking in the marishes about Minturnae not without very imminent danger of his life in a little Barke strucke ouer into Affrica In Sylla's absence in the warres of Asia Lucius Cornelius Cinna Consull begunne to raise an vproare and practise new seditions who after hee was banished by his collegue Cneius Octauius and expelled the Citie makes fresh head againe and ioynes with Caius Marius who vpon that occasion was returned from Affrica Cinna and Marius besiege and take Rome 3882. Thus hauing contracted their forces they ioyntly besiege the Citie of Rome on that side where the village of Ianiculum stood when many of the Citie shewing themselues not so much cowards as perfidious wretches no meanes for resistance being left giuing them entrance they made all places flow with blood and destruction and forthwith reproclaiming thēselues Consuls in that their office exercise much crueltie among the rest Lucius Cinna committed that famous orator Marcus Antonius to the sword and Caius Marius did the like for Quintus Catulus Lucius Sylla hearing of those hurly-burlies hauing in a manner recouered all that he warred for concluding a peace with Mithridates returnes into Italy but Marius seuenth time Consull dyed before his arriuall Lucius Cinna had for his Collegue Cneius Papirius Carbo on their partie who although they opposed Sylla with might and maine were together with Marius his son put to flight and Sylla being now sole Commander pursued his aduersaries very sharpely hung out a writ of proscription sels the proscripts goods and disinabled their children of all priviledge and right of bearing honours in the Common-wealth and then making himselfe Dictator caried all matters according to his owne will and enfringed the Tribunes authority and when he sould the Citizens goods declared in the publike assemblies that he sold nothing but his owne prey Briefly it came to that passe that no man without his consent could hold either goods country or life and with such bitter hatred was he incenst against Caius Marius that he caused the reliques of his body to bee scattered and strewed vp and downe the riuer u Teueron Anio and hee himselfe was the first of any Nobleman of the house of the Cornelioes that desired to be burnt by fire it may be fearing lest the same accident shold befall his owne dead bodie Cicero relates that Marius was strong and valiant and constant in his wrath but hee taxes Sylla of vehemency and Lucius Cinna of cruelty Hee further stiles Marius the terror of his Enemies and the hope and helpe of his Country Lucius Sylla made foure new lawes against forgery parricide murther and iniuries In the time of his Dictatorship Marcus Cicero aged 26 yeeres came into the Court and pleaded Sextus Rossius his cause in publicke Before him these Orators were most famous Quintus Catulus Caius Iulius Marcus Antonius Lucius Crassus In which age saith Cicero the Latine tongue was growne to full perfection in a manner This age indeede wherein Cicero liued did most of all excell in learning For to let passe so many and so worthy Orators there were famous Lawiers and amongst the rest Caius Aquilius Gallus Lucius Lucilius Balbus Caius Iuventius Sextus Papirius who were Quintus Mutius Scaeuola the * Chiefe Priest about the sacrifices Pontifies Auditors to whom Cicero also in his youth was a retainer Publius Seruius Sulpitius was well neere Ciceroes equall hee was Auditor of the aboue named men and Aulus Ossilius Publius Alphenus Varus Caius Titus Decius the two Aufidioes Caius Atteius Pacuvius Flauius Priscus Cinna and Publius Caecilius were his schollers At the same time with Sulpitius flourisht Caius Trebatius whose scholler Antisteus Labeo was Cicero extolling the deceased Sulpitius in most ample words saith That if all who euer in any age professed the law in this Citie were gathered together into one place they were not to bee compared with Seruius Sulpitius for he was experienct in point of aequity as well as strict law Amongst those who were proscribed Quintus Sertorius was one a man renown'd both for his couragious valour and experience in military affaires He begun a most fierce warre in the further parts of Spaine Sertorius his warre 3890. where ouerthrowing certaine Roman Generalls brought many Cities into subiection Hereupon the guidance of this warre was at length committed to Cneius Pompeius when after many battels with diuersity of fortune on both sides at length Sertorius was treacherously slaine and afterwards Pompey being almost the tenth yeare after the beginning of the warre recouered Spaine About this time Nichomedes King of Bythinia departing this life made the Romanes his heires But Mithridates King of Pontus who formerly in that faction betwixt Marius and Sylla had strucke a league with Sertorius seizing vpon Bythinia with maine forces renewes the war Against him Lucius Lucullus was sent with an Army who when hee was Confull had good successe in his battells of horsemen and afterwards being Proconful defeating his forces and recouering Bythinia caused him to retire into Pontus and there to Mithridates receiuing an ouerthrow in a maine battell fled to Tigranes King of Armenia yet Lucullus still following and pursuing him in some few battailes defeated both their forces but the mutinous dissentions among the souldiers by some craftily rais'd hindered him from fully finishing the warre and bringing home the wisht successe and honour of his victory For within a while after Lucullus being called home Cneius Pompey was made Captaine Generall in that warre to which seruice Marcus Cicero
and conuicted of falshood Further bee it granted that the Emperor was thus most exceedingly profuse perhaps for himselfe onely hee might herein abate of his own right but could not doe it for his successors authorized with coequal power and Protectors of the Common-wealth For hee who damnifies the freedome and liberties of his Empire ought not to haue the title of Father of his Countrey nor can he ordaine another to share with him in equality of authority or preiudice the same By Constantine the Emperors appointment The first Councell of Nice held in An. 325. continued 3. yeares a most populous Counsell was called and assembled at Nice a City in Bythinia wherein the heresie of Arrius denying Christ to be coequall in substance with his father was condemned It s recorded that many Bishops not onely out of Europe and Asia but also out of Egypt and Lybia met together there Amongst other one decree was that through Egypt Lybia and Pontapolis the ancient custome should be maintained that is all the Bishops there should remaine vnder superiority of the Bishop of Alexandria notwithstanding the vsurpation and withholding therof by the Bishop of Rome as also that the Church of Antioch and other Prouinces and Churches should each one entirely retaine their peculiar priuiledges After this Councell certaine Iewd opinions were vented one Eustathius being Author about shunning of mariage e In monasticall manner and some women artired in mens habite about a new and vnusuall kind of habit about forbearance to eate flesh and forsaking propriety of possessions And hereupon many husbands procuring a diuorce and seruants leauing their masters betaking themselues to this new and religious habite as they call it women likewise taking the same course forsaking their husbands and those who fed vpon flesh as also the Ministers of the Church that were maried being publikely contemned as persons impure and vnacceptable to God a Counsell was assembled at Gangra a town in Paphlagonia wherein those were condemned who either taught or held that opinion Constantine for reestablishing a peace in the Common-wealth being with most generall acclamation confumed both by the Senate and people of Rome turned himselfe wholy to forraine warres and after many battels ouerthrew the Gâ—thes and Sarmatians then forraging the Countrey of Thracia afterwards being strucken in yeares he proclaimed warre against the Persians who wasted the Country of Mesopotamia and in Asia where he was arriued with his Army after receipt of a medicine for recouery of his health breathed his last not without suspition of poison This is he by surname stiled the Great who named Byzantium a City of Thrace after his owne f His desire was to haue it called New Rome but vse preuailed and altered it to Constantinople name and thither translated the Imperiall Seat He began his g At Rome but hee raigned 6. yeares before in Brittaine and elsewhere raigne about the three hundred and twelfth yeare after the birth of Christ It is written that Comets of wonderfull greatnesse were seene before his death Hee left three sonnes Constantine Constantius and Constans amongst those was the body of the Empire diuided to Constantine part of the Alpes Gallia Hispaine Brittaine h The Iland of Orkney lying neer and belonging to Scotland the Orcades Ireland and i Now called Island lying beyond Scotland as some say others Hitland Constantine 337. An. 3. Constantius 337. An. 24 Conslaus 337. An. 1â— Thyle were allotted to Constans Italy Africa with the Islands Illyricum Macedonia Achaia Peloponnesus and Greece to Constantius Asia and Thrace Constantine not satisfied with this diuision made warre vpon his brother Constans and at Aquileia whither he was then come ioyning battell with Constans his forces lost both his Army and his life Constans who in the meane time was vp in Armes against the k The same who were afterwards called Gothes Carion Getes and Sarmatians in Dacia returnes into Italie and hauing gotten the Alpes inuaded Gallia and in two yeares space won all his deceased brothers dominions but was slaine within a while after by the treachery and crafty dealing of Magnentius Him the souldiers before hand allured and inueigled with rewards elected Emperour Constantius the onely suruiuing brother of the three vpon notice hereof deputing Gallus his vncles sonne and sisters husband his Vice-gerent ouer Asia marches with a strong Army into Italy and so into Gallia where in maine battell he ouerthrew the Enemy But Magnentius escaping sends his Ambassadors to sue for peace Whose suit the Conqueror rejecting he on a fresh wages battell again but with ill successe thereupon flying to Lyons where perceiuing his owne friends to conspire his destruction and not hauing any corner where to hide himselfe became his owne executioner Afterwards Constantius commanded Gallus his Cosin germane and Vicegerent for Asia as abouesaid who abused his authority and power to bee put to death when he could not otherwise remedy it After this he returnes into Asia with intent to prosecute the warre in Persia which by reason of Magnentius his faction aboue-mentioned he had broken off And in regard the Germanes about this time making an inroad into Gallia forraged the Countrey there hee adopted his other Cosin germane Iulianus Gallus his brother and to him committed the protection of Gallia Iulianus hauing had prosperous successe in his designes and in many battel 's gotten the vpper hand beat backe the Enemy beyond the Rhyne tooke many prisoners and rescued many Roman souldiers out of prison and at l Strasburg in Germany Argentine almost quite cut off the Enemies whole Army Hereupon the souldiers proclaime him not onely Caesar but also Augustus and set a Diadem vpon his head but against his will as hee pretended For in his letters to Constantius he indeauoured to remoue the envie of the fact froÌ„ himselfe But Constantius hereat greiuously offended ceasing his warre in Persia and liberally and kindly entreating the neighbouring nations that they might continue their allegiance sets forward on his iourney to reduce Iulianus to his duty but on the way whilst hee was yet in Asia being taken with a feuer ended his life first ordaining Iulianus his successor During Iulianus his raigne the enemies contained themselues within their owne bounds not raising any commotion in any place Julianus 361. an 1. m. 7. d. 23. He himselfe went out against the Persians and forraging Assyria hauing put the Enemies forces to flight marched forwards as farre as Ctesiphon At length returning home with his forces the enemy set vpon him in the rere where fighting in the midst of his souldiers in the maine battalia hee receiued a wound whereof within a while after he died an enemy to the name of Christ The souldiers hauing thus lost their Leader Iouinianus 363. m. 7. d. 22. being plunged in great distresse create Iouinianus Emperor at what time Iulius the first of that name was Bishop of Rome certaine of whose Epistles to
Citie of Burdeaux Many of the prime Nobilitie were slaine in that battell The Annall-Writers record that the English were not aboue 7000. when the French made against them with many forces about 60000 strong This was in the yeere 1356. the XII of the Kalends of October The King was carried prisoner into England and died the feuenth yeere after Wencestaus being as historie speakes of him both by nature and course of life Wenceslaus 1379 an 2. m. 5. d. 28. very vicious quite neglected the Common-wealth Hee for a summe of money created Iohn Galeas of the house of the Viscounts a man both couetous and cruell Duke of Millaine and Lombardie In his raigne Iagello Duke of Lithuania or Luten was after King Lewis his death created King of Polonia by consent of the Nobles This King was great Grandfather to Sigismund the moderne King there and was the first that receiued Baptisme changing his name to Vladislaus Sigismund King of Hungarie was ouerthrowne in battell at Nieopolis by Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes the third of the kalends of October Charls the VI. K. of France sent a goodly troope of horse for aid into Hungarie vnder conduct of Iohn sonne of Philip the bold Duke of Burgundie which Iohn was taken in that battell and carried prisoner to the Turke where he stood at the next doore to death but yet escaped which as the French Writers relate happened thus There was a certaine Physiognomer one of that packe that professe to know the dispositions and natures of men by their body eyes countenance and face familiar with Baiazet who viewing the prisoner willed and perswaded the Emperour to dismisse him in safetie For hee should bee the man that after his returne home should kindle a most violent combustion which should set a good part either of Europe or of the Christian world on fire Vpon this perswasion the Turke dismisses him and the rest of the Nobilitie that were prisoners after they had paid 20000. crownes for their ransome After his returne into France hee began to quarrell with Lewis Duke of Orleans the Kings brother For he by reason of the Kings sicknesse which was in a manner desperate desired to gouerne the Common-wealth being nearest of kindred to the king But the Duke of Burgundie for that he was cousin-germane to the King and elder then the other challenged the gouernment his Father Philip being dead rather to belong to him This sore euery day more and more festering at length the Duke of Orleans was murthered in Paris in the night time as hee was going home from supper The murtherers were sent priuily by the Duke of Burgundie who was so farre from denying the fact that he maintained it This was in the yeere 1407. the ninth of the kalends of December The XII yeare following the Duke of Burgundy comming to a place appointed about a pacification in this cause was entrapped by treachery and murthered by certaine of the Duke of Orleans his friends that had sworne his death Charles the Dolphin the Kings sonne who was iudge in that controuersie being present at the fact This is the head-spring of the warre betwixt those two houses which hath so often broke forth euer since that time till within our memory Wenceslaus by reason of his negligence growne into contempt Robert 14â—0 an 9 m 8. d. 22. the Princes depriue him of the gouernment and elect Robert Duke of Bauaria Count Palatine He presently applied himselfe about reformation of Wenceslaus his misgouernment and would not ratifie the grant made by him to Iohn Galeas but contriued a new how to reduce Lombardy into the Imperiall dominions for which and other such like causes marching downe into Italy the said Galeas hindered and repelled him The State of Italy was in those times very troublesome cheifly by the Emperour Charles and Wenceslaus their default being too indulgent ouer that Nation For ouer and besides Galeas lately made Duke of Millaine The Venetians Florentines Genowaies made war vpon their neighbours and all right was swayed by the sword and violence Furthermore by reason of the Popes continuall absence nothing but factions and those dangerous ones swarmed at Rome Then also Galeas D. of Millaine made warre vpon the Florentines who to worke their owne reuenge solicite the Emperor by large proffers to march downe againe into Italy but when the Emperor was come to Padua Hee at request of the Venetians who likewise hated Galâ—â—a and withall perceiuing that their prouision was not answerable to their great promises retires into Germanie casting off all care of Italy whose estate afterwards grew more weake by its owne ciuill broyles To the Emperour Robert Sigismund 14â—â— an 26. m. 8. Sigismund the Emperour Wencestâ—us his brother King of Hungary succeeds At this time there were three Popes Iohn the XXXIII Gregory the XII and Benedict the XIII insomuch as by their factions almost all the Prouinces of Europe were at oddes For there was not one publike Councel at any time since Innocent the III. as their bookes testifie being 200. yeares and the state of the Clergie was most corrupt a kinde of bottomlesse sincke of vices and maladies hauing made an inundation which in a manner scorned to be stopped For Boniface the VIII was Pope in the interim who tooke vpon him both the Papall and Imperiall authority Then the next after him Clement the V. of Burdeaux at Philip the Faire the French Kings request forsaking Rome remoued his Court into France and after his death the Cardinalls falling into sharpe dissentions amongst themselues made a vacancie for some yeares but at length Iohn the XXII of Aquitaine was created Pope at Lyons The fifth Pope after him which was Gregory the XI when the Popes had kept their Court in France then for 71. yeares together returnes to Rome but after his death Vrbane the VI. a Neapolitan and Clement the VI. a Sauoysin contended for the Papacy The first whereof vpheld himselfe by the Italian partie and liued at Rome the other by the French and liued at Auinion After those two were dead the other there before mentioned were by seuerall factions chosen in their places the Papall Monster hauing then three heads At what time many worthy men both Italians and French deplored the State of the Church inueighing bitterly enough against the corruptions and vices of those times as farre as they could see in those dayes of darknesse Amongst the rest Petrarch was one who when the Popes and Cardinals lay at Auinion called that City the whore of Babylon Whereupon to determine that Controuersie a Councell was assembled at Constance in Germanie by order whereof those Three were deposed and Martin the V. elected At this Councell Iohn Hâ—â— and Hierome of Prague were burnt for heresie though they came thither vnder safe conduct from the Emperour Sigismund the Emperour is much commended for that He to benefit the Common-wealth went almost to all the Kings in Christendome to exhort them to
Ammonites and Moabites passed into Aegypt with an army where hauing got possession of all that Countrey afterwards begun his Monarchy In the second yeare of his Monarchy as the learned of our times collect he saw in his dreame a great Image whose head was of gold the brest and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse the legges of iron the feet part of iron part of clay When hee awakt and could not call to mind what he had dreamt but yet remain'd mightily astonisht calling together his Magicians and soothsayers charged them vnder paine of death to interpret his dreame Daniel a yong man Captiue with the rest of his Nation brought thither from Ierusalem signified that he could satisfie the kings desire being brought forth first hee shewed what the dreame was and afterwards interpreted the meaning therof The Image said hee signifies the foure chiefe Monarchies of the world which are to succeed in order and turning his speech to the King himselfe Thou said hee whom God hath inuested with supreame power and glory to whom he hath giuen rule ouer all men beasts of the field fowles of the ayre Thou I say art the Golden Head of that Image After thee another kingdome of siluer shall arise worse then this of thine afterwards the third kingdome of brasse which shall beare rule farre and wide but the fourth kingdome shall be of iron for as yron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all things so also shall the fourth and last breake in peeces all the rest and bring them in subiection to it This therefore is the first and formerly neuer heard of prophesie of the four Monarchies which God reuealed to vs by his Prophet Daniel A thing truly worthy to bee committed to memory because in a few words it comprises the historie of all ages vntill the end of the world as afterwards I am to speake of Now it sufficeth how at this time first of all God hath discouered to vs the order and successiue course of the Monarchies Dan. 4. That place in Daniel also manifests more clearly of what great puissance this Nabuchodonozor was where the Scripture compares him to a Tree whose height reached to heauen which as it were oueâ—shaddowed the whole earth whose leaues were very faire and most abundantly loaden with fruit whereby all creatures were fed and fatned in whose braÌ„ches boughes all manner of fowle dwelt and made their nests This therfore is the first Monarchy which as it was exceedingly amplified in this Kings raigne hoisted vp to the very highest steppe So also it fell away and in his Nephewes time was quite extinguished euen as God had denounced by Daniel and other of his Prophets This Nabuchodonozor raigned three forty yeares It would quite the cost if all mortall men especially Kings and Princes would read diligently consider with how dreadfull a spectacle and example God as Daniel sets it downe reuenged his pride Dan. 4. and 5. that so they might the more reuerence Gods diuine Maiestie Euilmerodach 2 King 25. Ierem. 51. and performe that office to the people which is committed to them His son Euilmerodach succeded him he raigned 30 yeares Assur Labassardach and his successor Assur three yeares Labassardach who raigned y Metasthener and others say but 6. euen yeares succeeded him After him Balthasar bore rule â—â—ue yeares Many reckon them after this manner but the learned of our time omitting two of them Balthazar put Balthasar next after his father Euilmerodach write that he raign'd 14. y. which is very necessary to make the perfect number of 70. yeares during which space the Iewes were in captiuity to the Babylonians sithence their captiuity begun in the nineteenth yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne Those who obserue this order and leaue out the two Kings before spoken of follow the Tract of Scripture and especially the Prophet Ieremieâ—s testimony Ierem. 25. who prophesied that the Iewes should serue the King of Babell his son and his sons son but in this point let euery man haue his iudgement free to himselfe Howbeit Balthazar as the Scripture mentions was the last King of the Babylonians Dan. 5. and in this all Writers agree As for the manner of the taking of Babylon many Authors describe it Dan. 5. Daniel also mentions how God denounced to this King his imminent and euen present calamitie and relates how the gouernement of the Monarchie after that King was slaine was translated to Darius the Mede Darius then 62. yeeres of age Many Writers call this Darius Cyarxes who was the son of Astiages eight King of the Medes whom Daniel cals Assuerus Dan. 9. who hauing no issue male bestowed his daughter in mariage vpon Cyrus the King of Persia's sister sonne and being prouokt to enter into a warre with the King of the Assyrians sent for aid to Cyrus who leading his forces thither and being made Generall of the whole armie returned conquerour hauing taken that most powerfull z Babylon Dan. 9. Citie It is recorded that Darius liued not aboue a yeere after this victorie And then when Darius was yet liuing after the taking of Babylon and the children of Israel Ier. 25. and 29. Dan. 9. had by this time remained captiue in Babylon almost 70. yeeres God reuealed in more ample manner to Daniel according to his praiers in that behalf who made knowne the same to the Prophet Ieremie foreshewer of the captiuitie Cyrùs founder of the second Monarchy of the Persians when the first of the Assyrians had stood about 1538. yeeres this was about 3434. and did not onely confirme the nearnes of their freedome but also shewed what time the Messias should come who should satisfie for the sinnes of men After Darius his death the sway of gouernment was committed to his sonne in law Cyrus and this is the beginning of the second Monarchie for now Cyrus alone held in his owne hands Assyria Media and Persia euen to the Ionian sea as Thucidides hath it hauing before his winning of Babylon taken Craesus that most puissant King of Lydia So this Cyrus is first King of the Persians and founder of the second Monarchie This most renowned Prince hauing vanquisht the Babylonians made warre with the Scythians whether going with his armie and at length intrapped and inuironed by his enemies was there slaine In the beginning of his raigne after the taking of Babylon hee permitted the Iewes to returne home againe out of captiuitie 2 Chro. 16. that they might reedifie the Temple and the Citie of Ierusalem and to that purpose bestowed very liberally out of his own Treasurie Isai 44. and 45. God by his Prophet Isai had foretold him by name some ages before he was born Xenophon brings him in discoursing with his sons before his death about the immortalitie of the soule as Cicero hath it who interprets that place as all others very elegantly Cyrus reached the 70. yeere of
his age and raigned 30 yeers being 40. yeeres old at the beginning of his raigne His sonnes name was Cambyses Cambyses whom when hee went from home to the Scythian warre he set ouer his Kingdome He his Father being absent and in imploiments tooke Egypt In warre indeed hee was renowned but otherwise vitious and did not represent his Fathers vertues Among the rest of his filthie and sauage deeds he commanded his own brother to be slain trecherously Plato in his bookes which he writ of the Lawes reports how Cyrus was very much to blame for that he brought vp his sons effiminately amongst women who when they grew into riper yeeres being corrupted by flatterers for the most part abusing their cares did after their Fathers decease Darius the sonne of Histaspis indanger one anothers life Darius the sonne of Hystaspis succeeded Cambyces second King of the Persians who suruiued his Father but a short space And by reason that many of his subiects together with the rest the Babylonians did after Cyrus his death and so great an ouerthrow of his armie reuolt from the kingdome of Persia Hee tooke armes at the first steppe of his raigne and reunited them to his Empire hauing after a long siege taken Babylon also by helpe of a He mangled himselfe cutting off his cares nose and lippes faigning that Darius had so puâ—â—isht him for speaking in the Babylonians behalfe whe eupon they receiued him and by that policie hee got the Citie for Darias Zopyrus Within a while after he made warre against the Athenians who vpon a sodaine mustering vp their forces not expecting any aid from the Lacedemonians did at Marathon with about 10000. men Miltiades being their Leader ouercome his huge b It consisted of 600000. men armie Darius was aminded to renew the warre but death preuented him in his very first attempt whose sonne and successor Xerxes Xerxes in the tenth yeer after the battell at Marathon as Thucidides relates came with an c Some confine it to 1000000 but Justine extends it to 2000000 and Herodotus to more innumerable armie with intent to subdue all Greece Hereupon the chiefe managing of these warres was by common consent committed to the Lacedemonians because they bore greatest sway all ouer Greece but the Athenians followed Themistocles his counsaile quitting their Citie leauing their wiues and children in one place or other betooke themselues to their shippes and ioyning battell with the enemie at Salamina ouercame him That victorie was very commodious to all Greece in generall for Xerxes being also expelled their Country did by an infortunate and a dishonourable flight In a little Fishers boate returne home and the Grecians likewise after his departure But the Athenians hauing a Nauie of 400. saile or thereabouts coasting on further and pursuing their enemies tooke the towne of Sestos vpon Hellespont which the Persians held and there wintring afterwards returned home gathered together their dispersed wiues and children and repaired the walls of their Citie which the enemie burnt when hee tooke it and fortified the Port. This warre of the Persians or as Thucidides calls it of the Medes happened as Cicero writes almost at the very same time with the Volscian warre where the exild Romane Coriolanus was Generall Xerxes his warre An. Mund. 3488 and that was in the 266. yeere after the building of Rome Herodotus before Thucidides writ of this Persian warre Cicero calls him the Father of historie but reports that his writings are stuft with an infinite companie of fables The Lacedemonians were sore offended at this fortification of the Athenians but sith they could not tell how to amend themselues buried all in murmuring silence and both they as also the rest of the Grecians together with the Athenians ioyning forces tooke the I le of Cyprus and the Citie d Now called Constantinople Byzantium which the Persians held Among the rest of the Lacedemonian Captaines in this warre Pausanias was one who being condemned of treason after he was returned home and lay besieged in a certaine Sanctuarie was famished to death with hunger Themistocles also being in like manner accused fled Soone after this Greece was tossed vp and downe with sundry wars and dissentions partly forraigne and partly domesticall which Thucidides pithily relates But at length in the fiftieth yeere after Xerxes departure out of Greece as Cicero reports it after Thucidides that cruell warre sprung out when the whole Country of e Now called Morea Peloponnesus conspired against the Athenians Pericles Anaxagoras his scholler being their Leader in that warre who as Aristophanes reports lightned thundred and set all Greece on fire with his tongue For these in times past were the master-pieces of prowesse and eloquence On the other part Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians had supreame command Thucidides who writ of this warre was both equall to and emulous of Pericles Sophocles the tragicall Poet was as Cicero writes Pericles his collegue in the Generalship Now let vs returne to Xerxes He by reason of such his bad successe being growne into contempt was slain by his own subiects Artaxerxes Long-hand His sonne Artaxerxes Long-hand succeeded him To him fled the exiled Themistocles whom we spake of a little before and there f Poysoned himselfe because he would not goe with Artaxerxes to sight agaiâ—st his owne Country Darius Nothus ended his life was buried at Magnesia After Long-hand Darius Nothus raigned who married his owne sister In the beginning of this Kings raigne happened the aforesaid Peloponnesian warre And the Athenians though they had remora's enough besides yet in the fourth yeere of this warre as Thucidides recites in his third booke they sent a Nauie into Sicilie vnder pretence to aid the Leontinians against the Syracusans but their intent was to bring that Iland vnder their subiection that so they might more conueniently subdue Greece and afterwards when they were returned and fostered their owne factions Hermocrates of Syracusa was the first that moued the Sicilians to liue in peace laying aside all grudges for the Athenians had laid snares of bondage to intrappe the libertie of their whole country his perswasion tooke effect This was in the seuenth yeere of this warre Three yeeres after this the Athenians and Peloponnesians concluded a truce for fifty yeeres but it held not full seauen for euen then many outrages were broached and though the peace were not quite abolished and gappes of offences committed were euer anon stopt vp againe by truces yet in the 17 yeere they burst forth againe into open warre with full forces this second warre continued tenne yeeres Then the Athenians send ouer againe their Nauie most exquisitely furnished into Sicilie The chiefe Commanders whereof among the rest were Alcibiades and Nicias Nicias very earnestly declaiming certaine Orations to that purpose disswaded them from this voiage but Alcibiades perswaded the contrarie The Peloponnesians gaue aid to the Sicilians at
length the Athenians incounter with their enemies in the Port of Syracusa but after a doubtfull and dangerous battell were all of them put to flight and slaine In the meane time the Lacedemonians and their confederates conclude a league against the Athenians with Darius King of Persia Tissaphernes was Darius his Ambassadour Next after Codrus Polydor of Sparta and Aristomenes of Messene these following are for the most part reputed the chiefe and most renowned Captaines of the Greekes some whereof performed worthy seruice for the whole Country of Greece and euery one for his owne country at the least as Miltiades Leonidas Themistocles Pericles Aristides Pausanias Xantippus Leotychidas Cimon Conon Epaminondas Leosthenes Aratus of Sicyon Philopoemen Most of these were at length banished their countries Cicero describes the Port of Syracusa and reports how the Athenian Nauie onely which consisted of 300. ships did within mans memorie inuade it and was vanquished and ouerthrowne within the same by reason of the aduantage in the scituation and nature of the place and port it selfe and then first of all was the puissance of that Citie borne down abated and ouerwhelmed and shipwracke was made of Nobilitie Gouernement and Glory Thucidides relates that the circuit of Sicilie is as much as a great vessell can saile round about in eight daies space and that the Iland is distant from the Continent about twenty g Two miles and a haâ—e furlongs Darius had two sonnes Artaxerxes Mnemon and Cyrus Artaxerxes Mnemon the first whereof succeeded his father and Cyrus gouerned lonia but not being content with his owne share made war vpon the King his brother was there ouerthrown and slaine Marcus Portius Cato as Cicero hath it cals this Cyrus the yonger King of Persia a man of an excellent wit and the glory of his Kingdome He commends him also for his delight in husbaÌ„dry as Xenophon writes of him for this Xenophon was one of his souldiers and very familiar with him and for that cause was afterwards driuen into exile by the Athenians who were in league amity with Mnemon Ochus Darius After Mnemon raigned Ochus his third and youngest sonne Darius the last of all succeeded Against him Alexander King Philip of Macedon his sonne made warre who after hee had subdued Thebes and pacified Greece set forward into Asia in three battels ouerthrew Darius taking his mother wife and daughters prisoners Darius offered him very large conditions part of his kingdome to the riuer of Euphrates but he refused both and ceased not till hee had ouerthrowne him for when Darius saw that hee could not make his peace vpon these conditions hee renewes the war the third time and comming against him with a most puissant Army was the third time ouerthrowne and as he fled slaine by his owne men when together with him the Monarchy of Persia which had stood 200. yeares was extinguished Alexander by these famous victories brought vnder his subiection almost all the countries lying Eastward The third Monarchie of the Greekes founded by Alexander the Great about 3609. after the Persian Monarchie had stood about 200. yeares translated the Imperiall feat out of Asia into Europe and founded the third Monarchie After this he made warres in India but such is the weakenesse of mortall men those blasts of ful-handed and indulgent fortune could not breath vpon him but must needes puffe him vp with ambition when hauing plaied many insolent prankes and in a manner commanded diuine worship to be giuen him comming to Babylon there died of a feuer or as many write of poison being 33 years of age and hauing raigned 12 yeares Calanus an Indian as Cicero relates foretold him of his death whom as he was going to be h He caused himselfe to be burnt following the ancient custome of the chiefemen of his Nation burnt AlexaÌ„der asked if he had any thing to say Oyes quoth he I shall see thee â—re it be long Within a few dayes after Alexander breathed his last which was as it is commonly taken in the hundred fourteenth i Games in honor of Iupiter celebrated euery fift yeere they begun An. mund 3186 〈◊〉 Most authors as Meibomius notes agree that he dyed in the 429 y. after the building of Rome Olympian in the foure hundred and ninth yeare after the building of the City of Rome which is 322. yeares before the birth of Christ He was a very deuout louer of good Arts most liberall towards learned men is therefore highly extold in many of their workes He delighted much in Homers Poems and though we read that hee was neuer without many learned men about him to record his acts yet when hee stood before Achilles his tomb in Sigeum O happy young man said he that hast found such an Herald as Homer to proclaime thy vertues For as hee would rather then any others haue Apelles his l Painter Pictor and Lysippus his m Statuist Fictor so would hee haue his worth extold and commended to the memorie of posterity by such as in setting forth his glory could purchase renowne to their owne wits He imployed his Tutor Aristotle about describing the nature of all liuing creatures and for that purpose procured certaine thousands of men throughout Greece Asia as Grasiers Huntsmen Fishermen Fishmongers Fowlers many more such like to giue him information of each creature It s written that hee gaue to the Author himselfe in recompence of his labour 800 Talents which amounts as the learned of our times collect to 1480. Crownes He sent Xenocrates the Philosopher 50 Talents by his Ambassador which comes to 1030 Crownes which when hee refused and sent him word back again by his Ambassadors that he hath no need of so much money What said he has he no friend whoÌ„ he may benefit by theÌ„ In his tender yeares when he was Aristotles scholler hee was as Cicero writes endued with a most excellent wit and exceeding great modesty but afterwards aduanced with the title of King He grew proud cruell and deboist Historiographers tell wondrous stories of Darius his gorgeous pomp delicious pastimes and riotous exesse For hee kept within his Tents Cookes of all kinds Hucksters crammers of fowle Artificers clerks of his kitchin and Confectioners lest hee should bee vnprouided of any meanes that might encrease his bodily pleasure Many writers speake of the Kings of Persia their solemnities and sumptuous prouision in their daily banquets elsewhere They were wont to keep many wiues as Cicero writes and to those they gaue certaine cities that such a citie should find such a woman with all manner of attire for her head and such a City with this or that apparell Such was Darius his end as I formerly recited who as he fled from Alexander drinking foule water polluted with dead corpes denyed that euer in al his life he drunk a more pleasant draught for he neuer drunke when hee was a thirst
of any Senatour of the house of the Manlies should bee called Marcus After this Camillus was the seuenth time created Tribune of the Soldiers and being very old ended his life in the 389. yeere after the building of Rome the gouernment being a yeere before his death againe reduced to the Consuls The first whereof was a * One of the Commeueltie Plebeian In those times flourisht the most renowned Captaines of warre in that Citie such as were Marcus Valerius Corvinus Titus Manlius Torquatus Caius Martius Rutilius Publius Decius Mus Papirius Cursor Publius Philo Lucius Volumninus and others One of which namely Titus Manlius Torquatus one of the Consuls beheaded his owne sonne for that he contrary to his command and out of his ranke had encountred his enemie in a single combat although hee got the vpperhand Publius Decius Alus the other Consull in the battell against the Latines deuow'd and bequeathed himselfe to death for the Romano Armie when violently rushing into the thickest troopes of his enemies by his death re-established the tottering state of Rome His sonne of his owne name foure times Consull performed the like against the Galli-Senones forty foure yeers after that At the same before-mentioned time in the x Most Authors agree of 10. or 12. yeers before viz. Anno Mundi 3620. or 22. 420. yeere of Rome built Alexander the great founder of the third Monarchie as we haue aboue declared flourished and made his warres Titus Liuius compares Lucius Papyrius Cursor with him and extending his discourse as well for his owne as his Readers recreation shews that he was able to haue resisted Alexander if happily hee had led his forces into Europe after his conquest of Asia and made warre vpon the Romanes This before-recited Papyrius Cursor was indued with the very quintessence of valour for omitting other his valiant acts when Titus Veturius Caluinus and Spurius Posthumius Albinus the two Consuls together with the whole armie at the y Made of speares or iauelings stucke in the ground vnder which the conquered were to passe in dishonour Forks of Caudium were compelled by the Lamnits to goe ignobly vnder the yoke and had made a dishonourable peace with the enemie Hee being created Consull vanquisht the late conquering enemie and put him to flight as also when hee was Dictator made his owne Master of the Cauallery an example to teach what strict obseruance ought to bee had in militarie discipline In this age also and a little vpwards Greece brought forth men of transcendent learning for then flourished Socrates and from him as from a certaine fountaine Aristippus Plato Antisthenes Speusippus Aristotle Diâ—aearchus Xenocrates Heraclides Theophrastus Polemo and Strabo all of them Physiologers and as Cicero cals them Speculators and hunters of Nature Then also flourished most famous Oratours as Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus Hippias Isoerates Lysias Demostenes Hyperides Aeschines Phalerius Demetrius And Historiographers chiefly Xenophon whom Cicero cals a Socratist and Calisthenes Alexander the great his companion In this age liued Dionysius the Spracusan Tirant to whom when Plato came and spoke freely concerning the dutie of a Prince he put him in great danger of his life as Cicero relates This was hee who committed not the guard of his body to his allies but to certaine strangers and sauage and barbarous people hee who taught his daughters how to cut their haire that they should not aduenture their neckes vnder the Barbers hands who suffered them not to vse any manner of edge-toole after they were come to yeeres but made them cindge his head and beard with red-hot Walnut-shels who resorted to his wiues often times by night but first made sure to suruey and prie into all places who not daring to shew himselfe in the common Pulpits was wont to speake to the people out of a Tower who shewed Damocles one of his Parrasites what manner of felicitie that of his was which he had boasted of for as hee sate in the middest of his choisest delicates with abundance and superfluitie of all manner of pleasures he caused a glittering sword hanging by a bristle of a horses vpper lip to be let downe that it might hang ouer his necke About forty two yeeres after Alexanders death Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes came into Italie and made warre with the Romanes In his second yeeres warre he solicited the Senate about concluding of a peace and a league But Appius Claudius both old and blinde who as Cicero writes had beene twice Consull before that came into the Court and disswaded the Senate inclining to peace from making any league with him for euen in that case wherein he then was he had so much courage as not to shrinke from any either priuate or publike seruice The Oration which hee then pronounced concerning Pyrrhus when hee broke off the peace was extant in Ciceroes daies as hee himselfe witnesseth At this time Cains Fabritius Luscinus performed a worthy piece of seruice for the Common-wealth who being solicited by Pyrrhus to reuolt contemned his most ample gifts and large proffers nor onely so but also sent him backe againe a certaine captiued runne-away who had certified that hee could take away the Kings life by poison Cicero compares him with Aristides the Athenian Mannius Curius Dentatus gaue Pyrrhus an vtter ouerthrow at his second inuasion of Italie and triumphed ouer him This Pyrrhus was the first that euer brought Elephants into Lucania And till this time being almost fiue hundred yeeres continuance the Romans were in warres with the inhabitants of Italie onely amongst whom the Latines Veientes Aequies Faliscians Samnites Hetrucians resisted very stoutly sometimes conquered sometimes conquering who being at length subdued and a peace setled that most bloody warre against the Carthaginians sprung vp the z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. originall of which Citie is by euident testimonie prooued to be farre more z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. ancient then Rome This warre begunne in the foure hundred eighty fift yeere of Rome built In which that noble act which hath report of performance by Marcus Attilius Regulus deserues singular commemoration who being taken prisoner by the Carthaginians and sent by them to Rome to treate of a peace and exchange of prisoners with condition except hee preuailed to returne to his bondage Hee when hee came thither perswaded the Senate the quite contrary way shewed that it was repugnant to the custom of the Common-wealth but yet holding it a point of honour to hold promise with his enemie returned to Carthage where hee was put to death with the most cruell kinde of punishment his eye-lids being cut away and so bound fast in an engine consumed to death by waking This warre proceeding the Romans had their first and
amongst themselues but Marcus Portius Cato vrging the contrarie shewed what danger might hang ouer the Common-wealth of Rome by reason of that Citie vnlesse it were quite destroyed and this his opinion carried it he himselfe departing his life in the time of this deliberation hauing attained to the eighty fift yeere of his age Cicero rankes him amongst the ancient Orators and places him next after Marcus Cornelius Cethegus whom Ennius as he reports extolled Hee also further relates that there were a hundred and fifty of Catoes Orations extant stuft with excellent words and matter and reprehends those of his time for their too much nicenesse in not diligently perusing them He compares him with Lysias the Athenian Writer In this third Punicke warre Publius Scipio Aemilianus Publius Macedonicus his sonne and Publius Scipio Aphricanus his nephew by adoption was at length made Captaine Generall He in the fourth yeere of his warre begunne by others after a sharpe siege continuing for certaine daies tooke the Citie of Carthage sackt it burnt it and laid it leuell with the ground Carthage destroyed 3822. thereupon gaining his sirname likewise stiled Aphricanus as hee was that ouerthrew Hannibal as aforesaid And this was the period of this most puissant Citie which by originall was more ancient then Rome and for worthinesse of Captaines scarce inferiour to it hauing borne rule farre and wide Cicero writes that Publius Scipio after hee had taken Carthage restored to the Sicilians those Ensignes ornaments which the Carthaginians had taken from them some yeers before as also to the Agrigentines that famous brazen Bull which is reported to bee Phalaris the Tyrants wherein hee was wont for punishment to inclose men aliue and then to set it on fire This Phalaris lost not his life by trechery as many other Tyrants did but the whole multitude of the Agrigentines fell vpon him Cicero calls Affrica the tower of all Prouinces Much about this time the Romans made warre with the Achaians a certaine people of Greece for offring iniurie to their Ambassadours Lucius Mummius Consul was Captaine Generall in this warre who getting the vpperhand in battell forced all Achaia to be yeelded vp to him and by decree of the Senate set fire on Corinth the chiefe Citie and vtterly subuerted it lest at any time hereafter being repaired it might arise and lift vp head againe Mummius hereupon was sirnamed Achaicus About this time also one Viriathus who from a Shepheard grew to be a Hunter from a Hunter to a Highway-thiefe and afterward leader of a strong Armie kept the Country of n Now Portugal in Spaine Lusitania in possession who for some certaine yeeres holding play with the Romans and very oft putting them to the foile was at length trecherously slaine and soone after Decius Iunius Brutus subdued all Lusitania euen to the Ocean In the mean time the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow from the Numantines a people of Spaine for refusing to accept of the peace made by Mummius the Consull in regard it was dishonourable of a new create Publius Scipio Aemilianus Aphricanus Consull contrarie to the ordinarie course and to him commit the charge of the warre who marching forth with an armie hauing recalled the soldiers growne more effiminate and impatient of labour to obseruance of strict militarie discipline after hee had besieged the citie of Numantia some certaine daies Numantia destroied 3832. tooke and subuerted it in the fourteenth yeere after the subuersion of Carthage and of Rome built sixe hundred and twenty Cicero cals Carthage and Numantia the two terrours of the Roman Empire At this time there arose an vproare of the bond-slaues in Sicilie who hauing gathered together great forces were at length with much adoe repressed by Caius Fuluius the Consull After this the Romans had warre with Aristomius in Asia for Attalus King of Pergamos had by his testament made the Romanes his heires but Aristomius being allied to him seized vpon that part of Asia and defrauded the Romans of the benefit of his Testament Him Marcus Peperua Consull vanquished and at length tooke prisoner The yeere following which was the 625. yeere of Rome built Scipio Aphricanus murthered 3837. Scipio Aphricanus lying at his owne house was in the night-time murthered by his owne kinsfolkes as it was supposed Cicero makes relation of his most fluent eloquence his fidelitie and integritie and writes that albeit the whole Citie was plunged in depth of sorrow for his death yet no man opened his mouth about the cause therof He reports also that in this yeere the sunne was twice doubled Thus this most renowned Commander ended his daies aged 56. yeers which as Cicero in a most sweet fictitious inuention faignes Aphricanus the elder had forewarned him of In this age liued Lucilius Terence Pacuuius Accius Licinius Caecilius Afranius Caius Laelius one most intimate with Aphricanus calls this Pacuuius his friend but Terence his familiar consort After this Fabius Maximus Consul in a maine battell ouerthrew the n Of Sauoy Allobroges o About the Riuer Lâ—ire Aruerni and p About Rhodes Ruteni people of Gallia At the same time Caius Gracebus Tribune of the soldiers an eloquent man and defender of the Agrarian law was slaine at Rome his brother Tiberius Gracchus hauing twelue yeers before lost his life for the like cause Cicero giues both of them commendations for their eloquence and writes that Tiberius his Orations were not very beautifully set forth in words but were acute and full of wisedome and Caius his brothers were fittest to be perused by those of the yonger sort as seruing not onely to whet on but also to nourish the wit and hee stiles him the most wittie and most eloquent of all the Romans Gracchus dream't that he heard his brother Tiberius telling him that hee should die of the same death wherof he did and as Cicero reports he told it to many before hee was created Tribune of the Commons Their lawes are extant about prouision of corne replantation of Colonies The warre with Jugurth King of Numidia begunneâ—â— Anno Mundi 3857. soldiers rewards for their seruice gouernement of the Prouince the peopls suffrages about election of Magistrates and of letting to farme King Attalus his lands and the country of Asia After these Tribunician dissentions followed that war which the Romans had with Iugurtha King of Numidia It was begunne by Lucius Calphurnius Bestia Consull continued by Quintus Coecilius Metellus Ended 3859. and ended by Caius Marius the Consull who serued in the warres with Publius Scipio For Bacchus King of Mauritania Iugurtha's confederate not willing any longer to vndergoe the hazard of warre deliuered vp Iugurtha bound into Sylla's hands who was sent ouer to him for that purpose by Marius And at this very time which was in the sixe hundred forty seuenth yeere of Rome built was Marcus Tullius Cicero borne Cicero borne 38. being eight yeeres after the birth of
also was a motioner hauing made a very elegant Oration to the people in Pompeyes commendation Lucullus thus recalled held his triumph neuerthelesse and bestowed a very sumptuous banquet vpon the Romans soone after this leauing his Offices in the Common wealth hee liued at home privately studiing Philosophie and erected a most copiously furnisht Library In his ordinary table he was as at all times els very sumptuous and magnificent Cicero makes mention of this Library and sayes that he was wont to come thither to cull forth bookes Pompey put Mithridates to flight and pursu'd him very farre He caus'd King Tigranes to yeeld himselfe ouer into his hands and seeing him abased and forlorne in his campe aduanced him as Cicero writes and placing the * Insigne regium Diadem vpon his head again which he had taken from him vnder certaine cautions commanded him to raigne againe At length Mithridates being besieged by his owne sonne Pharnaces slew himselfe That warre which Pompey made against the Pyrates which was before hee went against Mithridates wonne him much authority This warre thus appeased presently another ciuill broile is broached for Lucius Catilina with many more conspired the ruine of the Common wealth but by Ciceroes singular industry who was then Consull his villany was discouered he expelled the City and hauing gathered together certaine bands and troopes of abiect fellowes in Hetruria was in battell by Caius Antonius Consul Ciceroes Collegue ouerthrowne and slaine Cicero euery where amongst his workes speakes much of the seruice which he then performed for the Common wealth and makes relation not onely of the firebrands then seene in the night time the flaming of the elements lightnings and earthquakes but also applies those wondrous prodigies which hapned when Lucius Cotta and Torquatus were Consulls being two yeares before his Consulship to this time when many Turrets in the Capitoll were strucke downe the Images of the gods ouerthrowne the statues of the ancient Heroes beat down the brazen tables of the Law melted as also the statue of Romes builder Romulus in forme of an Infant gaping and sucking at the teats of a wolfe was smitten Cicero describing Catilines nature and qualities saies that there neuer was such another Monster as hee vpon the face of the Earth composed of such contrary different and mutually antipathizing appetites and dispositions of nature In the time of Ciceroes Consulship was Caius Octauius borne Caius Octauius borne 3906. and Iudaea made Tributary to the Romanes after Cnelius Pompey had surprized the City of Ierusalem The fift yeare following Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius Consuls the x Now called Switzers Heluetians changed their habitation and leuying maine forces intended to passe thorow the Prouince of Gallia into the further parts thereof and there to seat themselues in regard of the fertility of the soile But Caius Iulius Caesar who was sixe yeares younger then Cicero hauing notice hereof preparing an Armie the Senate hauing authoriz'd him ouer that Prouince marcht thither and in pitcht battell vanquished the Enemy and afterwards going out against Arionistus King of the Germanes who had annoyed the Country of Gallia y That part of France betwixt the Riuer of Seine Garonne Celtica but more especially the z Now Walloons Heduies confederates with the Romanes ouerthrew him at Besanson a Towne of the a burgundians inhabiting about the riuer Seine Sequans not farre from the Rhyne Soone after he brought the whole Countrey of Gallia in subiection to the Romanes and forthwith striking ouer the sea into Brittaine conquered it Cicero reports that Caesar writ to him out of Brittaine on the first day of September and the Letters came to his hands the eight twentieth day of the same moneth When Caesar went into Gallia Cicero being molested by Publius Clodius Tribune of the Commons departed into exile first making an oration to the Gentry and Commons wherin he commended his children and family to their care and within a few moneths after being called backe by the Senate with exceeding great congratulation of the prople made another Oration to the Romanes wherein he rendered thanks to his friends Afterwards hee laid the blame on Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius Consuls for his banishment and shewed that by them hee was betrayed declaiming certaine Orations against each of them in one whereof hee counsail'd the Senate to take from them the Prouinces of Syria and Macedonia and not to call backe Caius Caesar hauing most happy successe in his wares in Gallia but to continue his authority whereby he might fully finish the warre Meane while Ptolomie Auletes King of Aegypt for his slothfulnesse and cruelty thrust out of his kingdome came to Rome and the Senate at Cneius Pompeyes entreaty restor'd him by Aulus Gabinius expelling Archelaus whom the people had ordained to be their king At length Gabinus was adiudged to pay into the common treasury 10000 Talents or as some of our times suppose 6000000. Euery Talent amounteth to 176 pound sterling because hee had receiued so much from Ptolomie And Marcus Crassus who had in charge the managing of the Parthian warre hauing past ouer the Riuer of Euphrates was ouerthrowne and soone after slaine at an enterview vpon Truce This was he who was wont to say that no man was rich except hee could maintaine an a An Army consisted of 2400 foot and 20000 horse Army at his owne charge About this time was Publius Clodius slaine by Titus Anaio Milo Cicero defended Milo Cneius Pompey being then the third time and alone Consull yet at length he was commanded to go into exile The warres with the Galles being ended which was about the eight yeare thereof that ciuill warre of Caius Caesars The ciuill warre betwixt Caesar and Pompey begunne 3916. with his sonne in law Pompey burst forth The occasion whereof was because Caesar was to be depriu'd of his Consulship except hee would first dismisse his forces and surrender his Prouince but hee was aduised that it could no waies stand with his safety to part from his Army yet hee condescended descended vpon condition that Pompey as well as hee should yeeld vp his forces but when that was refused marching out with his forces with incredible celeritie hee left Gallia and came into Italy where entring into the Country of Flaminia he tooke many townes some by force b Now Romandiâ—la oâ— hersome by dedition Vpon notice hereof Pompey and the two Consulls Caius Marcellus and Lucius Lentulus flye from Rome to BrundusiuÌ„ a Sea coast Towne in c Puell Apulia thither marcht Caesar but before his arriuall the Consuls had struck ouer the Seas to Durachium d Durace in Macedonia and not long after Pompey followes them Now Caesar being preuented by time not hauing a Nauie in readinesse could not pursue them but returnes to Rome where calling together the Senate he makes complaint of his iniuries and also propounded certaine conditions of peace but
of the Empire In Egypt there were three as many in Hispaine and eight in Germanie The yeerly expence as many in their computation reckon amounts to 2100000. crownes so as they may distribute amongst euery legion 272000. crownes yeerely A legion as they hold consists of 6000. footmen and 500. horsemen Octauius is very much commended for his loue and liberalitie towards men renowned for their learning The most famous Poets which then flourished were Varius Virgil Plotius Valgius Fusous the two Viscoes Pollio Messala the Bibulies Seruius Furnius and Horace who desired that his workes might haue approbation froÌ„ them not regarding other mens censures of theÌ„ But the most famous wits of Reme flourisht in a certaine continuall order from Marcus Portius Cato and Aphricanus the elder vntill this time For this age wherein Augustus liued was in a manner the last that retained that genuine sense and pure vigour of the Latine tongue for afterwards by little and little it grew more and more corrupt till it degenerated into meere barbarisme which continued euen till within our memorie The Poets borne at a Citie of Betica in Spaine Corduba vsed as Tully saith a kinde of grosse and vncouth garbe but what thinke wee would hee haue iudged of them who liued after him aboue a hundred yeeres not onely those who were borne and brought vp at Corduba but those of Rome also Now Tiberius Augustus his wiues sonne Tiberius An. Dom. 16. an 23. m. â— d. 26. as also his sonne in law and by adoption did but vtterly against his will at leastwise hee pretended so being with much adoe at last perswaded to it by the Senates entreaty take vpon him the Empire and at his first entrance vndertooke nothing of himselfe alone but communicated with the Senate in all matters of importance notwithstanding within a little while after quite neglecting the affaires of the common-wealth wholly gaue ouer himselfe to his pleasures In his raigne the Parthians bereft him of Aâ—menia and the Dacians and Sarmatians of Moesia the Germanes forraged Gallia but all those losses nothing at all mooued him Many writers and those men of great esteeme in point of Diuinity record that in the fifteenth yeare of his raign our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST was crucified Christ crucified An. etatis 34. Luk. cap. 3. but Saint Luke writes that in that same yeare he was baptiz'd by Iohn Baptist At that time flourisht those Lawiers Marcus Coccius Nerna the father and sonne and Cassius Longinus Tiberius Nero who serued in the warre at Alexandria with Caius Caesar was this Tiberius his Father To him Caius Caesar Caligula succeeded Caius Caligula An. â—om 38. an 3. m. 8. d. 8. the most wicked sonne and direct monster of Germanicus his most worthie father It s recorded that Tiberius in those twentie three yeares which he raigned had gathered together an infinite Masse of gold which Caligula out of hand in the very first yeare consumed About the second yeare of his raigne Herod Antipa Herod the Great his Sonne he who beheaded Iohn the Baptist was sent in banishment to b Lyons in France Lugdunum to whom Herod Agrippa succeeded who beheaded Iames the Apostle After Caligula was slaine Claudius his vncle was broght in Claudius 42. an 13. m. 8. d. 20. He hearing that Brittaine had reuolted went thither and after hee had subdued part of the Iland returned home In his raigne happened that great generall dearth which Agabus foretold Acts 11. as the Euangelist Saint Luke mentions Claudius Nero Nero 56. An. 13. this Claudius his successor openly signified that at some time or other hee would quite abrogate the order of the Senatours In his raigne Brittaine gaue him a great ouerthrow massacring the Roman Citizens and confederates there the Legions also in Armenia were compelled to goe reprochfully vnder the yoke with much difficulty Syria was held in Gallia reuolted by the meanes of Iulius Vindex Gouernour of that prouince as afterwards Spaine Galba 68. m. 7. d. 7. Sergius Galba being their Leader And whilst he was casting about how to recouer those losses Othom 4. Vitellius m. 8. and making ready his iourney into Gallia the rest of his forces which lay dispersed in other prouinces rebelled Histories relate what a loathsome and outragious Monster he was and thereupon being condemned by the Senate as an enemy to the Common-wealth by the helpe of one of his seruants he killed himselfe Besides Seneca these Poets theÌ„ florished Lucan Persius and Silius Italicus the last whereof was Confull in the last yeare of Neroes raigne From that time the State of the Common wealth was brought to that passe that the Creation of the Emperours lay within the power of the Armies and legions of the Romanes After this manner was Vespatian made Emperour Vespatian 69. an 9. m. 11. d. 24. For those bands which lay in Masia Pannonia Iudaea and Syria reuolted from Aulâ—s Vitellius and swore fealtie to Vespasian Hee subdued Achaia Lycia Rhodes Byzantium Samos Thracia Cilicia and Comagena making them Roman Prouinces and vtterly subuerted Ierusalem Titus 79. an 2. m. 2. d. 20. Domitiaen 81. an 15. which warre his son Titus mannaged Flauius Domitian made warre against the d Now of the Lantzgraue of Hessens Countrey Nerua 96 an 1. m. 1. Trajane 97 an 19. m. 6. d. 15. Chatties Dacians and Sarmatians and triumphed ouer them Then liued those Poets Statius Iuuenal and Martial Vlpius Trajane adopted by Cocceus Nerua and afterwards made Emperour subdued the Dacians twice rebelling bringing them in subiection to the Romans and planting Colonies there marching with an Army against Armenia and the Parthians vpon dedition and fauour brought them into his partie thereupon gaining his sirname of Parthicus but almost all those Countries by him subdued at length rebelled especially the Armenians and Mesopotamians and the Parthians reiected the King whom hee had assigned them as soon as his backe was turned homewards towards Italy Aelius Adrianus subdued Iâ—daea then rebelling Adrianus 116. an 19. m. 6. d. 15. the occasion of this warre was because he had erected a Temple at Ierusalem which City he suffered to bee inhabited againe to Iupiter Olympius which fact the Iewes tooke most hainously Hee likewise visited the Gallia's Germany Brittaine and the Hispaines as afterwards Mauritania the Parthians Asia and Greece returning home through Sicilie from thence went againe into Africa and after his returne to Rome sets forward againe into Greece and from thence passed into Arabia and afterward to Egypt Assembling the Senate Antoninus Pius 151. an 22. m. 7. d. 26. hee commended to them Antoninus Pius who being made Emperor after him maintain'd peace endeauoring to obtaine all mens good will and by his letters and courteous demeanure kept forreine Kings and people within their obedience In his time flourisht those Lawiers Alburnius Valens Tuscianus Vindius Verus Vlpius Marcellus Arrianus Tertullianus Saluius Iulianus Lucius Volusius Metianus
To Antonius Pius his sonne Marcus Antoninus surnamed the Philosopher succeeded Antoninus the Philosopher 160 an 19. m. 0. d. 11. He tooke his c Carien calls him his brotuer kinsman Lucius Aurelius Verus to be his Associate in the Empire By him hee had happy successe in his warres in Parthia hee himselfe looking to the affaires of the Common-wealth at home and in the City but soone after Verus dying he raigned alone and ouercame in his warre against the Germaues ouerthrowing also the f Now Morauians Marcomannes Sarmatians Vandalls and g Inhabitants in and about Silesia Quadies who had inuaded the h Vpper lower Hungaria Pannonia's For at this time almost all the nations from Illyricum to Gallia had conspired against the name of the Romanes Commodus Antoninus the most lewd sonne of this most laudable Prince Commodus Anteninus 79. an 12. m. 8. d. 15. by his Leiutenants ouerthrew the i Of Mauritania or Morisco in Barbary Pertinax m. 3. Didius Iulianus m. 7. Septimius Seuerus 192. ca. 17. m. 8. â— 5. Moores and Dacians quieted the Pannoniaes Germanie and Britanie which Countries cast off their subiection He himselfe in the meane while wallowing in all manner of filthinesse and crueltie Septimius Seuerus had ciuâ—ll warres with Niger and Albinus who procured Asia and Gallia to make a reuolt he had good successe in his warres against the Parthians vanquâ—shed the Iewes throughout Syria subdued Abagatus King of the Persians and compelled the Arabians to come to composition He fortified Brittanie with a wall crosse ouertwart the Iland reaching to the Ocean on both sides and hauing subdued those people that annoyed the Country dyed at Yorke His son Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla Caracalla 210. an 6. m. 2. d. 5. made warre against the Parthians and Armenians This was hee that commanded Pupinianus * PrafectuÌ„ praetorij Gouernor of the pretorian Cohort Captaine of the Guard to bee put to death for refusing to defend his k For Caracalla slew his brother Geta. fratricide In his time flourisht many Lawyers and most of them Pupinianus his Auditors as Tarruntius Paternus Macer Papirius Fronto Anthius Maximus Hermogenianus Africanus Florentinus Triphoninus Iushts Callistratus Venuleius Celsus After Caracalla was slaine Macrinus succeeded Macrinus 216. An. 1. m. 1. d. 28. who hauing bad successe in his warres against Artabanus King of the Parthians and perceiuing the legions encline to Heliogabulus Bassianus his son Heliogabulus 217. an 3 m. 9. d. 4. Alexander Senerus 221. an 13. m. 0. d. 9. concluded a peace Alexander Seuerus a stout souldier successor to Heliogabulus that most brutish of men ouerthrew Artaxerxes King of the Persians in maine battle and recouered Mesopotamia which was lost by Heliogabulus Hee made warre by his Lieutenants in Mauritania Illyricum and Armenia and had good successe but afterwards in his expedition against the Germanes who had forraged the Countrey of Gallia was murthered by certaine of his owne souldiers Vlpianus the Lawyer Pupinianus his scholler was very intimate with him and in his time liued Paulus Pomponius and Modestinus To this Alexander Maximinus succeeded Maximinus 234. An. 2. Hee with maine forces marches into Germanie his Army consisting not onely of Roman souldiers but also of Moores Osdronians and Parthians who had serued vnder Alexander He burnt the Dorps in Germany farre and wide put very many of his enemies to the sword and tooke many more prisoners returning with a wealthy Army Germany being at peace he marches to Syrmium and was purposed to haue made warre against the Sarmatians not onely so but his further intent was to haue brought all those Countries which lye northward euen to the Ocean in subiection to the Roman Empire but his souldiers not enduring his cruelty Gordianus 236. m. 1. d. 6. created Gordianus their Captaine Generall which the Senate bearing no good will neither towards Maximinus ratified and proclaimed the other enemie to the Common-wealth He going about to reuenge this fact first made an Oration to the armie and then set forwards towards Rome the Senate vpon notice hereof proclaime Pupienus and Balbinus their Emperours Pupienus Balbinus 236. an 1. some moneths and to Pupienus was committed the charge of the warre against Maximinus who together with his sonne was at the siege of l A Citie in Italie Aquileia slaine by his owne soldiers as hee lay asleepe in his Tent. After this Pupienus and Balbinus being both slaine in a mutinie amongst the soldiers in the second yeere of their raigne the gouernement of the Empire was committed to Gordianus a yong Gentleman Gordianus iunior 237 Ann. 6. He in the fourth yeere of his raigne marched through Moesia and Thracia against the Persians in those countries subdued the enemies of the Romans from thence striking through Syria came to Antiochia which was then held by the Persians There he fought diuers battels in so much as hee compelled the Persians who were in a manner accounted the terror of Italie to containe themselues in their own limits At length in the sixth yeere of his Empire hee was slaine being betraied by Philip Captaine of the Gâ—ard Philip 243. An. 5. who had raised a mutinie amongst the soldiers And this Philip also who sent ouer his Lieutenants with an armie against the Scythians that were vp in armes against the confederates of the Romans and their free-boroughs came to the m He was slaine by his owne soldiers at Verona Decius 248. An. 2. like end Decius succeeded him who being created Emperour by the Legions of Illyricum and afterwards by coÌ„sent of the Senate first of all appeased the troubles in Gallia Afterwards commending the care of the Common-wealth to the Senate Hee together with his sonne whom hee had made his Collegue in the Empire sets forwards hauing the Senates consent thereunto on his expedition against the Scythians who both by sea and land forraged the country of Thracia and other dominions of the Empire from whence after some battels hauing got the vpper-hand and drawne the enemie into a narrow straight place he had returned with complete victorie had not Gallus Hostilianus Gouernour of the furthest parts of Moesia reuealed his counsell to the enemie whereupon it came to passe vpon ioyning battell that both hee and his sonne by trecherie circumuented were slaine After this Gallus 250. An. 1. m. 6. Gallus made Emperour by one of the Legions and the remainder of the furuiuing soldiers concluded a peace with the Scythians to the dishonour and ignominie of the Romans in that he promised to pay them tribute neuer heard of before and altogether vnworthy the Maiesty of so renowned a State The Scythians hereupon growne more fierce broke the league ouer-runne Dardania Thrace Thessalie Macedonia not resting there but Asia also â—ouerthrowing and subuerting very many Cities At length many other Countries after the example of the Scythians turned enemies to the Romans and many rebelled
Britaine in his iourney through Illyricum towards his intended warre against the Persians was trecherously slaine by his owne soldiers At this time the Common-wealth flourished peace being setled in all nations on euery side farre and neere in so much as Probus would sometimes say that the world would come to that passe shortly that there would be no need of Legions and garrisons but the souldiers offended at this his speech thought it best to cut him off After him followed Carus Carus 282. An. 1. and some moneths together with his sonnes Corinus Numerianus hee subdued the Sarneatians who now after Probus his death were growne more insolent and menaced euen Italie it selfe then making an expedition against the Persians tooke Mesopotamia and marching on further died His yonger sonne Numerianus serued in the warres with him his other sonne Carinus hee had set ouer the Gallia's Numerianus was slaine by his t Arius Aper Diocletian 284. an 20. wiues father and in his place came Diocletian with whom Carinus had diuers conflicts about obtaining the Empire but was ouerthrowne and slaine Diocletian in regard of the troubles and seditions in many places kindling tooke to him for his Collegue Maximianus He quiered the country of Gallia then in commotion as also Affrica and Diocletian Egypt putting the Authors of these broiles to death He recouered Britaina also in the tenth yeer after the reuolt and to the end that the state of the Common-wealth might be more firme and to auoid new commotions about succession hee adopted Galerius and Maximianus Constantius Chlorius Galerius being sent by Diocletian against Narses King of the Parthians had ill fortune in that warre losing the major part of his armie but afterwards commanded to renew the warre he ouerthrew the enemie in maine battell and marching on further in those places then any other Emperour except Trajan tooke Ctesiphon subdued all Assyria and recouered the fiue Prouinces lying beyond the riuer u Running through Armenia Tigris which had reuolted in Trajan the Emperours time Diocletian hauing setled the affaires of Asia returned into Europe where the Scythians Sarmatians * Almaines lying betwixt the Alpes and Ments as Carion supposes Alans x People of Sarmatia Bastarnans y â—welling about the Riuer Carpis in Scythia Constantius Galerius 304. an 2 m 3. an 7. m. 5. Carpies Chatties and Quadies were then all in peace Afterwards both hee as also Maximianus resigning their Soueraigntie inuest their Collegues before mentioned with the title of Emperours Constantius of the Gallia's Britaine the Hispaines Italie and Affrica and Galerius of Illyricum Greece and Asia Marcellus was then Bishop of Rome whose decree is extant prohibiting Bishops from calling a Synode without the authority of the Sea of Rome as also to condemne any Bishop who should appeale to Rome But Maxentius the Emperour persecuting him his estate as others before him was both meane and miserable Whereupon it may easily bee coniectured whether or no he in those perplexities and lurking corners could take so much vpon him as to establish such manner of decrees At length Constantius dying at Yorke Galerius adopted Severus and Maximianus In the meane space the Preterian souldiers at Rome elect Maxentius their Emperour After Seuerus was slaine Maximianus made choice of Licinius for his Collegue in the Empire Among those arose great troubles whereupon the Nobles of Rome call home Constantine Constantius his sonne then imploied in the Gallia's to rescue their Citie from the tyranny of Maxentius Constantine the Great 306. an 30. m. 9. d. 27. Hee marching forward into Italie with part of his armie in pitcht field got the victorie and afterwards quite defeated Maxentius his forces at the Citie of Rome After this hee fought against Licinius who being ouerthrowne in battell and almost growne into hatred with all men was at length slaine by his own souldiers Many write that the cause of this warre was for that Licinius did bitterly persecute the professors of Christianitie although he had been very often intreated and admonished to the contrary by Constantine For from the time of the resurrection of Christ vntill this age almost three hundred yeeres the professors of Christ were diuersly punished omitting those whereof the Scripture makes mention as of z Acts 7. Stephen a Acts 11. Iames the brother of Iohn b Acts 9. Peters imprisonment and inlargement by the Angel passing ouer in silence Paul likewise who grieuously persecuted the Church of God but after his conuersion escaped no kinde of punishment for Christs cause the Roman Emperours also as Nero Domitian Trajan Septimius Seuerus Decius Valerian Aurelian Diocletian and Maximian committed most horrible and outragious masfacres But Constantine comming to the Empire and imbracing the true Religion affoorded harbour and refuge to the Christians Then first of all beganne the Bishops of Rome to liue in safeâ—ie for till then almost all of them who from Peter whom they will haue to be their first are reckoned to thirty three were tormented with persecutions Their decrees are inserted in the bookes of the Councels but the greatest part of them are so sleight triuiall quite different from the sacred Scriptures as makes it credible that they were a long time after forged by some others But if they bee true and proceeded from them then indeed that which Paul by prophesie foretold 2 Thes 2. seemes most rightly to bee applied to this place that then that sonne of perdition and man of sinne beganne to worke the mysterie of iniquity That decree yet extant goes vnder Anacletus his name the fourth from Peter as they reckon wherein he ordaineth the Church of Rome to be by Christs command and institution the head of other Churches To Alexander the next after him is that decree attributed where he commands that the water should be consecrated with salt to purge the people and to auoid the snares of the Deuill But iudge I pray you how far those differ from that Maiestie of the Apostles how farre from the writings of S. c S. Ierom writes that he dyed in the 68 yere after the passion Suidas says that he liued 120 yeares Iohn the Euangelist who almost liued till this very time I haue onely set downe these two decrees that by them wee may iudge of the rest for they are almost of the same molde and cary open colour of ambition and not onely the speech wants the grace but also the matter it selfe hath no salt in it Colos 4. both which Paul requires in the Ministers of the Church And to this place also appertaines that decree of Constantine the Emperor which they haue inserted into their books for the foundation and bulwarke of their power For the cause and occasion of his excessiue d In conferring as they imagine the City of Rome the Empire of the West c. vpon he Popes liberality which is there set downe may out of history be disproued
certaine helpers in that worke whose names are mentioned all ouer He did the like also in the references and lawes of the Emperours which being comprehended in three bookes the Gregorian Hermogenian and Theodosian he contracted into one volume naming it Iustinians Code vsing other mens helpes therein whose names the Emperour reckons vp in the preface to his booke There are Authors that report how this Tribonianus was a couetous man and for gaine Virgil 6. Aenoad as the Poet saith made and marred lawes In the Code before mentioned there are many of Iustinians lawes which contradict the former There was added also a peculiar worke of new constitutions which throughout beare the name and title of Iustinian The Emperour intreated Belisarius whom I spoke of him by whose prowesse hee had obtained so many and so glorious victories most ignominiously and in his extreame old age caused his eyes to bee put out In his raigne some Councels were assembled at Constantinople wherein Menna Patriarch of that Citie sate President who as their bookes haue it is stiled the most holy most blessed and oecumenicall In the beginning of the Code an Epistle of the Emperour to the Archbishop of the Citie of Rome is set downe wherein he calls him the Head of all Churches and subiects all to him Furthermore although the learned are of opinion that it was forged yet grant it be true it is certaine that this controuersie continued many yeers after til at length the Bishops of Rome amplified with abilities preuailed and in the possession of the Church would erect to themselues a Tower which whether reared by the hands of men or fauour of Princes now carries the name as though it were founded by power diuine We haue formerly mentioned how the sixth Councell of Carthage was held in S. Austines time wherein Pope Boniface the first and Pope Caelestines fallacies were vnmasked when they alledged how it was decreed at Nice that all Prouinces should appeale to them And in Iustinians time Boniface the second was Bishop of Rome whose Epistle is extant wherein he sharpely reprehends Aurelius Bishop of Carthage in the before-mentioned Councell and saies that he with his fellowes did by the deuils instigation resist the Church of Rome as also giues God thankes that in his time Eulalius Aurelius his successor was reconciled to the Church of Rome and after that rehearses the words of Eulalius wherein he professes that hee condemnes both his predecessors and successors whosoeuer they bee that goe about to weaken the priuiledges of the holy and Apostolicall Church of Rome Agapetus the next to Boniface remoued Anthemius Patriarch of Constantinople out of his place for denying the two natures in Christ Theodora the Empresse tooke this very hainously and by Belisarius admonished Siluirius Agapetus his successor to restore him and Belisarius certaine other accusations also being laid to his charge turnes him out of his place and sends him into banishment substituting Vigilius who likewise called to Constantinople and refusing to recall Anthemius was condemned to the like punishment whereby it sufficiently appeares in what manner the Bishops of Rome were then subiect to the power of the Emperour Iustine the II. Iustine Iâ—I 565. an 10. m. 10. d. 20. being Emperor the Persian war was renued which miscarying Archelaus the Emperors Lieutenant of a new concludes a peace Narses the Emperors Lieutenant throughout Italy after the Gothes were expulst and Totilas dead held Italy almost sixteene yeares afterwards called home by the Emperour from whom receiuing certain vnwelcome letters and therein perceiuing his ingratitude he not onely stayes still but surther for reuenge sending away his Ambassadours instigates the Lombards then seated in Pannonia proffering them very large rewards to depart from Pannonia and come into Italy the most pleasant and fruitfull of all Countries Thereupon they tooke that part of Italy which till this day retaines the name from them This Iustine as it is written constituted an Exarch Gouernour throughout Italy hee was as it were the Emperors Vicar or Deputy His chiefe seat was at Rauenna neglecting Rome and in each City and towne ordaining some Gouernour The Italian writers report that this new ordinance was the bane of Italy and Rome Narses soone after dyed at Rome Tiberius not long before adopted and made Collegue in the Empire Tiberius II. 576. an 6. m. 10. d. 8. was Iustines successor He got two happie victories against the Persians and established a peace with the Lombards whose Kingdome then reached from the Samnites vnto the Alpes the City of Rome onely expected which after they had for a space sharply besieged at length constrained by force of tempest and raine raised their siege Mauritius 582. an 19. m. 3. d. 11. Mauritius Tiberius his sonne in law being created Emperor in some certaine battels by his Lieutenants ouerthrew the Persians and at length concluded a peace with them recalling his Army he expelled the Scythians out of Mysia repressed the Lombards throughout Italy chased the Hunnes out of Pannonia but being hated of the souldiers for his couetousnesse was enforced vpon a mutinie arisen to flie to Chalcedon there at length was slain together with his wife children Phocas 603. an 8. m. 4. d. 9. and whole race by Phocas the Centurion who afterwards throgh sedition was proclaimed Emperor It is written that in Mauritius his raigne a Comet appeared for sixe moneths space and then also was Mahomet borne whom we will speake of hereafter At that time Iohn Bishop of Constantinople stiled himselfe the vniuersall Patriarch but Pelagius the second Bishop of Rome vehemently resisted him and pronounced his decrees void His successor Gregory the first sharply reprehends him for this and indeed confesses that in the Councell of Chalcedon this title and honour was giuen to his predecessors but none of them vsed it As also he exhorts Mauritius the Emperour by his Letters to restraine him for that also appertained to his authority which he in arrogating such a kinde of power did much impaire It is recorded that the next after Gregory Boniface the III obtained the primacie from Phocas certaine Edicts and charters being publisht in that behalfe In Phocas his raigne the Persians very greiuously annoyed the Common-wealth seizing vpon Mesopotamia and Assyria and marching on euen vnto the lesser Asia such was the negligence of this Prince Germany also together with Gallia and a great part of Italy reuolted The Saracens wasted Aegypt and he himselfe being slaine for his cruelty and neglect of the Common-wealth Heraclius succeeded Then againe the Persians marching on very farre through Aegypt inuade Africa which they bring vnder their subiection The Scythians diuersly dismember Europe Heraclius at length marching into Asia when hee could not make his peace though propounding certaine conditions little tending to the honour of the Romanes almost by meere constraint encountred with the Persians who now also forraged Iudaea and in a battell or two discomfited them Then
then cruelty whereupon certaine conspiracies being practized against him he set a mulct amongst others vpon his vncle Nicephorus and put out his eyes And at length he himselfe by the meanes of his mother was serued with the same sauce within a while after dying of griefe and thereupon the sway of gouernment returned into her hands Irene the Empresse 797. an 4. Who afterwards in the fourth yeere of her Empire was deposed and sent into exile Nicephorus whom we before mentioned was her successor In the meane time whilest matters were thus tumultuously caryed at Constantinople the name of Charles King of the French grew famous For he hauing finished the warre in Aquitania at the request of Adrian Bishop of Rome marches into Italy and as his Father Pipin repressed Aistulphus King of the Lombards as abouesaid so he after a long siege tooke Desiderius Aistulphus his successor a heauy foe to Italy and Adrian the I. As also excluded his sonne Adalgisius out of the Kingdome and chased him quite out of Italy For the Emperours of Rome by reason of their farre remote absence I meane at Constantinople euer since Constantine the Great and being likewise hindered not onely with forraigne wars but also with ciuill domesticall dissensions in a manner neglected Italy or at leastwise could not conueniently protect it especially the Lombards raigning there Furthermore most of them also being at deadly dissention with the Bishops of Rome as we haue formerly specified out of their hatred towards them were not moued at this prosperous estate of the Lombards For this cause the Popes prouided forraigne defence and because no house was in those times of more renowne and puissance then that of the French Kings in regard of the greatnesse of their noble exploits to them they flie as to a harbour in time of trouble And after this manner Adrian dying Leo the third who succeeded him hauing many aduersaries at Rome Charles the Great 801. an 13. m. 1. d 4. sued to Charles Pipins son who at his fourth accession to the Citie was by the Pope and all the people proclaimed Emperour which happened at the same time when nought but factions swarmed at Constantinople insomuch as the very time it selfe and state of the Common-wealth seemed to administer the cause and occasion of this change Thus therefore the Empire of the West came to the Germanes for without all doubt Pipin and Charles were Germanes This was in the eight hundred and first yeere after Christs birth Now Nicephorus was ouercome and slaineby the Bulgars and his scull made a drinking bowle by Crumnus King of the Bulgars after Nicephorus the Emperours of the East were tossed with continuall warres for at first the Bulgars often incountred them then the Sarazens issuing out of Affrica tooke the I le of Candie as afterwards Sicilie and made hauocke in Asia farre and wide and last of all the Turks a people of Scythia The Emperours of Greece from Nicephorus to Constantine Palaeologus the last are reckoned to 50 some whereof were women but most of those were sloathfull And in ConstaÌ„tine Monomachus his raign the Turkes from a base originall by degrees getting ground more and more began to wast Asia and daily increasing their power at length made vp a Monarchie but no new or fifth one but sprouted out of that part of the Romane Empire lying in the East Ottoman first Monarch of the Turkes an 1300. Of which Monarchie Ottoman was the head about the yeere of Christ 1300. Afterwards Ma hom et of that name the second great Grandfather to Solyman who now swaies the Empire taking Constantinople putting Constantine Palaeologus the Emperour before mentioned together with his whole family to the sword vtterly extinguisht the nâ—me and succession of Emperours of our Religion in those parts And the Turkes to this day hold Asia Syria Egypt Mesopotamia Iudea the Rhodes all Greece Thracia Bulgaria Macedonia Illyricum both the Mysia's and of late almost the other part of Hungary and some part of Affrica In former times the Churches of Ierusalem Antioch Constantinople and Rome contended amongst themselues for primacie but especially the two last as wee formerly shewed but the Turke ended that controuersie and set such a confusion in those h Hierus Antioch Constantinople three places that there is not a tract remaining of a Church or Christian Congregation and the matter it selfe shewes of what colour the face and what the state is of that i Rome Church now remaining which now those * Aemulis riuals or eye-sores being remoued alone triumphs Therefore hauing shewne after what manner the other part of the Roman Empires body lying in the East vtterly decaied and fell into the hands of strangers it remaines that we should also briefly vnfold how that part in the west quite perished and found new Lords But here by the way let vs consider after what a wonderfull kinde of mockerie of fortune that maiesticall glory and sublimitie of the Empire was from those Romans and ancient families brought into the hands of strangers and some of them of base degrees some being Spaniards others originally of Pannonia Dacia Dardania Dalmatia Gallia Thrace Cappadocia But chiefly it is worth obseruance how doubtfull and miserable the estate of these Emperours was for their dignitie and safetie consisted not in the power of the Senate or people but of the Legions and souldiers so that it may stand for a great wonder that any would vndertake this charge so dangerous and obuious to iniuries For from Caius Caesar who was murthered in the face of the Senate till Charles the Great about thirty of them were slaine foure whereof killed themselues alwaies something was wanting in them which the souldiers desired who could abide the good no more then the wicked but vpon the least occasion raising a tumult cut off those whom sometimes they had drawne vp to that height of honour against their wills as for example it was Aelius Pertinax his case The Senate stood in feare of the Emperour but the Emperour himselfe was swaied by the will and in a manner the becke of the rascall souldiers And this presumption they tooke vpon them after Caius Caesars death especially those veterane bands which he had imploied in Gallia Hispaine and Affrica Hereupon Cicero deploring this Couragious they are indeed saith hee but in regard of the memory of those exploits which they atchieued for the liberty of the Romans and the dignitie of the Common-wealth too fierce and recall all our Councell to their violence The end of the second Booke IOHN SLEIDAN of the foure chiefe Monarchies OR The key of History The third Booke BEfore wee speake of Charles the Great to whoÌ„ I told you the Empire of the West was befallen some thing must be vnfolded concerning the Germanes from whom hee deriues his originall And first of all it is manifest beyond all doubt that the Germanes very oft passed ouer the
and seat as appeares out of that which we haue before mentioned was by the Emperour Charles redintigrated and as it were a new bodie re-assumed beautie and feature after so many and so great Prouinces were reduced into one mans principalitie Nicephorus the other Emperour in the East was much displeased hereat but Charles by his humanitie and kindenesse appeased him and interchanging presents both of them liued in amitie and the certaine bounds of each Empire were set out Besides other assemblies he had a Councell at Rhemes wherin amongst many others one decree was that Bishops should diligently peruse the holy Scriptures and Preach the Word of God There was a Councell also held at Mentz the yeere before his death and others some yeeres before at Tours Chaalons and Arles about reformation of the Church as they deliuer it that liued in those times Then constituting his sonne Lewis heire of his kingdome and of the Empire died at Aix a towne in Gallia Belgica aged seuenty yeeres in the yeere after Christs birth eight hundred and fourteene after hee had beene Emperour almost fourteene yeeres the first of any Germane aduanced to that dignitie In his time there were onely one and twenty Metropolitane Cities as they call them throughout Italie Germanie and France as Rome Rauenna Millaine Friuly Grado Cullen Mentz Saltzburgh Triers Roane Sens Besanson Lyons Rhemes Orleans Vienna Monstier Iuerdun Burdeaux Tours and Burges in Berry Pipin his Father committed the Exarchat taken from the Lombards into the Bishops of Romes hands as aboue said which indeed is so deliuered to memorie and it is reported that hee directly gaue it to them but that very many call into question Eginardus one very familiar with y Charles him and his sworne Scribe writes that hee more dearely esteemed of that Church which they call S. Peters in Rome then any other and that a great masse of gold siluer and iewels was transported thither and very many gifts sent from him to the Popes for herein he vsed extraordinary diligence that by his meanes and procurement the Citie of Rome might inioy her ancient authoritie and S. Peters Church might not onely remaine safe and secured vnder his patronage but also flourish in wealth aboue other Churches Thus much onely he writes but of the donation of so many and such potent Cities within the bounds of the Empire not a word nay it is written that after his fourth comming into Italie when hee was created Emperour he ordered not onely the publike affaires but also both ecclesiasticall and priuate concerning the Pope the Citie of Rome and all Italie For when he was not yet Emperour but onely King of France hauing vanquished Desiderius King of the Lombards as aboue faid he came to Rome and had a Councell in which as their bookes relate Adrian the first together with the whole Councell granted him the right and power of electing the Pope as also disposing of the sea Apostolique as they tearme it and confirming Bishops Eginardus attributes to this Charles many vertues worthie of a Prince as temperance modestie frugalitie loue to religion learning eloquence and knowledge not onely of the Latine but also of the Greeke tongue withall his exceeding care and diligence in educating and nurturing vp his children to the same course He also as it is written founded the Academie of Paris as well of his owne accord as also by the instigation of z Commonly called Alcoinus an English man so Bede and others Albinus his Tutor for learning of the arts as Eginardus reports He also gaue Germane names to the twelue moneths and to the windes which they now vse whereas before that time as the same writer relates the French vsed partly Latine partly barbarous names And thus farre in Preface-wise touching the Germanes and the Emperour Charles henceforward I le briefly run ouer and shew after what manner this part of the Romane Empire in the West hard and sharpe restored and recollected by Charles againe decaied which being diuided fell into many mens dominions who held the same as their proper right not acknowledging the fountaine from whence they flowed Insomuch as that Maiesticall and so much renowned sublimitie of the Romane Empire is nothing else at this day then a certaine slender shadow of a great bodie after it was shrunk from such an huge masse to Germanie one onely particle of Europe Last of all I le briefly explaine how Daniel foretold this interchangeable course of Monarchies and fall of the Romane Empire Now Lewis Charles his son Lewis l. 814 an 26. m. 14. d. 24. another Germane Emperour renewed amitie with Leo Armenius Emperour of Greece and Pope Leo dying in the third yeere of his raigne his successor Stephen the IIII. comming into France consecrated a Emperour him at Rhemes To this Pope Paschalis succeeded who by reason the Emperour interposed not his authoritie diligently and earnestly excusing the fact alledged that the Papacie was obtruded vpon him altogether against his will The Papall bookes haue it that this Lewis the Emperour confirmed to this Paschalis and to the rest after him both the possession of goods and also permitted a free election that whomsoeuer all the Romans should iudge fit for that dignitie he should be accounted Pope But I see not what credence can be giuen to such kinde of writings as these for they so iarre amongst themselues and are so patcht together without all method that it cannot bee vnderstood what should follow Lewis had three sonnes Lotharius whom hee elected Collegue in the Empire and his Kingdome Charles who succeded his deceased brother b In France Pipin he set ouer Aquitania and Lewis ouer Bauaria Vpon a rebellion raised The Emperour Lewis deposed by his owne sonnes an 833. hee being taken by his sonnes and deposed from his Kingdome was confined to a Monasticall life at Compeigne a towne of the Sâ—issons The French Annall writers report that the ecclesiasticall Prelates whose hautinesse and riot hee desired to restraine conuocating some assemblies at Aix stirred vp those broyles against him and prouokt his sonnes to put in practice this so impious a fact Restored the sixt moneth following But being set at liberty the sixt moneth following to the great contentment of the people hee recouered his Kingdome and all more Because the place serues let vs by the way take a view of the many Nationall Synods held in France for next after that beforementioned at Aix there was another at Troy in Champaigne after that at Rhemes Tours Digion Paris Lyons Vienna Auinion Vierron Orleans and many more in the same places for when the affaires of the Common-wealth so required the Kings themselues conuocated aswell the States Ecclesiasticall as others for reforming of publike enormities In like manner Lewis the twelth at bitter enmity wiâ—h Iulius the second assembled a Councell of his owne people at Tours and Lyons in the yeare of Grace 1510. and 1511. Now to the
towards them After Henries decease when the Electorall Princes could not agree there was an interreigne or vacancy a h For two yeares Conradus to 24. an 14. m. 10. d. 12. while At length Conradus Duke of Franconia succeeded He enforced Stephen King of Hungary to conditions of peace And hauing setled the affaires of Germany makes speed into Italy which was almost all ready to rebell And at first he laies siege to Millaine then going to Rome where consecrated by Iohn the XVIII hee 's proclaimed Augustus with the peoples acclamation Then impoâ—ing a mulct vpon those that attempted the innouation he composed Italy and returned into Germany But new troubles againe kindling in Italy hee marches thither and punishes the Authors of that Conspiracy the Archbishop of Millaine being one amongst the rest neither desisted hee till hee had brought it all vnder his subiection Hauing dispatcht there hee returnes home and dyed at Vtrecht a Towne vpon the frontiers of i Holland Batauia His son Henry of that name the III. succeeded him by consent of the Electorall Princes Hee supprest the Bohemians then rebelling and made them tributary re-inthronized Peter King of Hungary once or twice deposed by his owne subiects and quieted the whole Countrey though not without great losse of his own men At this time hapned an exceeding great vprâ— aâ—e at Rome for Three contended for the Papacy and what they attempted was all by sinister practices those were Benedict the IX Siluester the III. and Gregory the VI. The Emperour hereupon marching thither hauing after a siege taken the City he calls a Synod and constitutes Suitgerus Bishop of Bamberg Pope who changing his name was called Clement the II. from whom soone after the Pope receiued consecration Then againe the Citizens tooke oath not any wayes to meddle with the Popes Creation without the Emperours assent Italy thus set at peace againe soone after the Emperours returne into Germany Pope Clement dyed and was buryed at Bambergh The Emperor vpon notice hereof creates Boppo Bishop of Frisingen Pope This was Damasus the II. who holding the place but 23 dayes Leo the IX Bishop of Tull supplied the deceaseds place A certaine parcell of an Epistle of his is extant wherin he saies it is not lawfull for a Bishop Priest or Deacon to forsake his wife for Religion sake but it is fit they should find her with such necessaries as belong to naturall sustentation notwithstanding in case she vse carnall copulation it is not lawfull sithence Paul saies He had power aswell as the other Apostles to lead about a wife 1 Cor. 9. which place he thus interprets That the Apostles had their wiues alwayes with them for this intent that they should be maintained together with them by those whom their husbands instructed in the Christian Religion and faith and not that they should exercise the office of wedlocke or lye together therefore Saint Paul thought fit to vse the word lead about and not lye with In the yeare 1050 Leo going from Rome assembled a Councell of 42. Bishops at Mentz wherein the Emperor sare President He dying within three yeares after Gebehardus Bishop of Aisten by the Emperours assent succeeded him this was Victor the II. The Emperour marching into Italy after hee had setled the affaires there returnes into Germanie comes to treaty with Henry the first of that name King of France dyes in Saxonie and was buried at Spire the Pope and many other Nobles being present at his death He had a sonne called Henry very k Seuen yeares old Henry IIII 1056. An. 49. m. 10. d. 3. yong but was constituted Emperour a little before notwithstanding his Mother and the Bishop of Auspurge gouerned the Empire Within a while after Pope Victor the II. dyes after hee had held the Papacy little aboue two yeares To him Fredericke of the house of Lorraine called Stephen the IX succeeded Hee also within few moneths after dying at Florence One Benedict of that name the X. by helpe of his friends and without the Emperours assent sets vpon the Papacie The Romans liked not well of this prancke who to acquit themselues dispatching their Ambassadour to the Emperour proffer the same fidelitie to him which they had performed to his Father and intreat him to constitute a lawfull Pope Benedict hereupon depriued the Emperour gaue them Gerhardus Bishop of Florence this was Nicholas the II. The Princes of Germanie grudged much that the Common-wealth should be gouerned by a woman the Emperouâ—s mother as aboue said vpon which occasion a meane was inuented to draw away her sonne from her whereupon the Archbishop of Mentz and Cullen had the prime managing of all affaires to them the Archbishop of Bremen one in exceeding great fauour with the young Prince was now and then conioyned who alone ouer-ruling him disposes of Ecclesiasticall promotions to himselfe and his friends especially Abbeies and to keepe the flame of enuy lower perswades the Emperour to conferre them likewise vpon other Princes In the meane space Nicholas the II. dies in whose place the Emperour constitutes the Bishop of Parma but hauing not at all acquainted the Senate of Rome herewith and in that regard some troubles likely to insue Alexander the II. Bishop of Luca was elected Betwixt those two a sharpe controuersie followed but Alexander hauing the longer sword carried it The Archbishop of Bremen onely bearing all sway with the Emperour incensed his fellow Bishops against him by whom at length he was depriued and though shortly after restored to his place yet hee long suruiued it not And the Emperour necessity constraining him sith all in a manner complained of the state of the Common-wealth requested Anno Archbishop of Cullen to vndertake the Gouernement But he seeing insolencie and iniquitie bore great sway excusing his age and sicklinesse afterwards resignes vp his office to him This young Emperour now grown to two and twenty being by nature prone to vice beganne to increase his lasciuiousnesse and despising his wife Bertha kept many Concubines Then raising Castles all ouer Saxony intended to bring them into seruitude and restrained not his officers who vsed much excesse and insolencie Hereupon the Saxons as well the Nobilitie as Clergie knitting a league betooke themselues to Armes in vindication of their libertie which after much adoe and long intercession they lay downe againe he first satisfying their demands and making a narrow escape by flight in the night time Alexander the II. dying the Romane Nobilitie without the Emperours assent set vp Hildebrand called Gregory of that name the VII The Emperour vpon notice hereof expostulates with them by his Ambassadours and withall admonishes the Pope to giue him satisfaction herein Hee makes answer that hee was drawne to it against his will and when hee neuer dreamt of it and that he would not haue beene inaugurated before Hee and the rest of the Princes of Germany had approued of his election Thus hee appeased the Emperour and
the iarres betwixt them Now this Emperour standing vpon his owne right and power a great tumult arose at Rome in so much as the Emperour raised vp in the night was constrained to aide his owne men who fell by the sword all the Citie ouer But these factious persons once supprest he takes Paschal the II. and dismist him not till he had giuen him satisfaction by entring into a league but after the Emperour was returned into Germanie the Pope flies off from the league Henry the V. excommunicated by Paschal the II. 1115. whereto he had sworn in most sacred words and excommunicates the Emperour which stirred vp many of the Germane Princes to rebellion and amongst the rest more especially the Archbishop of Mentz The Emperour marching downe into Italie sends his Ambassadours to the Pope about a peace But whilest the matter was in hand the Pope dies To him Gelasius the II. succeedes The Emperour for that he was not called to the election marches to Rome and sets vp another Gelasius thus deposed excommunicates both him as also the Pope by him constituted and the Emperour in regard the Popes Legates solicited the Germanes to reuolt was constrained to retire home But Gelasius dying in the interim the Romans choose Calixtus the II. Hee thrust him out of his place whom the Emperor in hatred to Gelasius had created and after much interession compounds with the Emperour To Henry the V. Lotharius Lotharus II. 1125. an 13. d. 18. of the house of Saxony of that name the II. succeeded Him Conradus Duke of Sueuia opposed storming that the sway of gouernment was falne againe into the Saxons hands who marching into Italy to settle himselfe in that Kingdome whilst Lotharius in the interim held Germany fast destitute of aide returned home and made his peace with the Emperour Innocent the II. was then Pope of Rome Him Anacletus resisted to whom because he was descended from noble parentage Innocent was forced to yeeld but imploring the Emperors ayde was restored The Emperour returnes into Germany where hauing seâ—led the affaires hee marches downe againe into Italy with a mighty Army subdues some Cities then in rebellion and amongst the rest Ancona and Spoleti chased Roger King of Sicilie out of Apulia and Campania and as fame speakes of him scarce any Emperor since Charles the Great archieued more worthy exploits throughout Italy It is written that then also the ciuill law which as we mentioned was collected by Iustinian the Emperors command hauing been borne downe by stormes of warre was brought to light againe Conradus D. of Suenia succeeded him Conradus III. 1139. an 12. m. 10. d. 15. at what time Henry sirnamed the Proud was Duke of Bauaria and by mariage with the Emperour Lotharius his daughter Duke of Saxony also who affecting the Empire and plotting much mischiefe against the Emperour was proscribed and his lands giuen to others But Duke Henry hauing recouered Saxony as hee was marching into Bavaria dyed leauing behind him his sonne in fauour of whom the Saxons rose vp in rebellion against the Emperour and not so onely but Welpho also brother to the deceased Duke Henry by force of Arms challenged Bauaria excluding Ludolphus vpoÌ„ whom the Emperour had conferred that Prouince A little aboue wee mentioned how the Emperour expelled Roger King of Sicilie but whilst Germanie was thus turmoiled King Roger laying hold on the opportunity inuades Sicilie and chases out the Emperours Deputie and then spurres on Welpho with large promises to proceed and hold the Emperour in play The King of Hungarie too tooke the same course who also stood in feare of the Emperour At length the Emperour marching out against the Sarazens lost his army and returnes home from whence intending to goe downe into Italy hauing all in readinesse dyed at Bamberg m Commonly called Barbarossa Frederick Barbarossa 1152. an 38. m. 3. d. 7 Frederick Aenobarb or Red-beard Duke of Sueiua of that name the first succeeded him a man of heroicke spirit He in the beginning of his raigne made a peace among the Princes of Germanie and ended the controuersie about Saxony and Bauaria afterwards with a maine Army marches downe into Italy sets a mulct vpon the Veronesses who had contemned him and for example sake hangs some of the chiefe vpon gallowes He commanded a Court of Guard to bee kept about him neare Placentia by all the Leige-Princes of the Empire besieges Millaine rases Asta and layes Deitona leuell with the ground Going to Rome is consecrated by Adrian the IIII. suppresses the rebellious Citizens subuerts Spoleti and made a great slaughter subdues the Lombards and hauing broken the snares laid for him by the Veronesses returnes into Germany inflict an ignominious mulct vpon the Prince Palatine who in his abscence had raised some commotions The beginning of the Kingdome of Bohemia about 1â—00 and after that he made the Duke of Bohemia King In the meane space the Millanois practised many insolent outrages against their neighbours and againe reared vp Deitona demollshed by the Emperour whereupon hee returning with a strong army sacks Millaine by the ayde of the Cremonesses Pauians and Nouarians The City thus taken the multitude at the Princes of Germanie their intercession to whom they had petitioned was spared All Lombardy was reduced into his subiection from hence hauing setled the City with Lawes hee remoues to other people thereabouts After his returne they rebell contemne the Lawes by him established and demolish the Forts by him raised whereupon againe marching thither he harrazes the whole Country and rases all places within their Dominions In the meane space mortall conspiracies were in hatching against him all Italy ouer in which Pope Adrian before-mentioned was one who as soone as hee had absolutely resolued to excommunicate him a Drinking of water wherein a flie were drowned dyed The Emperour marching into Italy the third time vtterly euerts Millaine puts the Author of the rebellion to death and compells the rest of the multitude to goe into exile then besieging the City of Rome lost a great part of his Army by contagious sicknes For that cause raising his siege and placing garisons throughout Hetruria setting ouer at Spoleti Ancona and Rauenna such as hee pleased should gouerne the Common-wealth he returnes into Germany Pope Adrian dying two contend for the Papacy Victor and Alexander the III. the Emperour being absent who indeed enclined more to Victor but Alexander first excommunicates his Competitour and afterwards the dissention increasing the b Afterwards wheÌ„ the Emperour came to him to Venice for his absolution the Pope trode vpon his necke and caused that place in the Psalmist to bee sung Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and Basilisk c. The Emperour exclaiming that he did not this honour to him but to S. Peter the Pope replied To me and to Peter too Emperour also The Millanois perceiuing this occasion breake into rebellion and in many places in Italy
of their owne modestie in other mens impudency That decree which goes vnder Gratians name in diuers places amongst other passages hath these The Rule of the Church of Rome which is the blessed Apostle S. Peters seat must bee followed It is not lawfull to hold a Councell without permission of the Bishop of Rome The Lawes of the Church Rome are to bee obserued as pronounced by Peters owne mouth What yoke the Church of Rome imposes though it be not tolerable it must be endured The Ministers of the Church ought to vow chastity that is they should not mary It is lawfull for him that hath not a wife to haue a Concubine If the Pope bee negligent and remisse in his office hee may hurt indeed aswell himselfe as others notwithstanding he cannot bee iudged by any man because he himselfe is to iudge all men The Emperour ought to be ruled by and not rule ouer the Pope All mortall men besides may be iudged by men but the Pope Peters successour by God alone It is lawfull for the Pope to release subiects from their loyalty and oath whereby they are bound to their Prince In Gregories Decretall Epistles and in Boniface his sixt booke of Decretalls the Clementines and Extrauagants as they call them it is set down there amongst other things That the Popes authority is not subiect to the Decrees of Councells It belongs to the Pope to approue of the elected Emperor or to reiect him if hee bee not fit There are two great lights which gouerne the world the Sunne and the Moone The Pope is in stead of the Sunne and the Emperour of the Moone Bishops may deale more mildly with those that haue offended by adulterie and other such crimes as being of lower nature The Pope onely hath cognizance concerning the priuiledges of the Church of Rome The bones of excommunicate persons already buried ought to bee digged vp and throwne away The Pope may depose the Emperour from his place and Magistracy The Emperour is bound to performe allegiance and fealty to the Pope by oath It is iust that Ecclesiasticall persons should be exempt and free from all cost molestation and charge A man may bee declared an Heretique after his death and his goods be confiscated The sonnes of heretiques ought not to bee admitted to any place of gouernment either ciuill or ecclesiasticall It is necessary to saluation that all men bee subiect to the Pope of Rome Those few places onely are drawne out of an immense heape and what kind of stuffe they are there 's no man that is well in his wits but may perceiue The Law is that men of deepest learning should define the same Soueraigne reason is grafted in Nature which commands those things that are to bee done and forbids those that are contrary And all lawes ought to haue reference to the common good And the Law-maker ought to haue the like affection towards the people and Common-wealth that the father hath towards his owne Children but what likelihood hereof is there in any the beforementioned places but for them not onely to excuse those fopperies but also to garnish adorne and illustrate them with new Commentaries and rather to babble out any thing then suffer their dignity to bee impeached I pray you what grosse impudencie is this but â—â—eâ—sting no deeper If pride auarice ambition of bearing rule and ignorance of learning drew them on to make such decrees if they themselues vary in opinions nor will one bee tyed to anothers lawes because endued with equality of power pray thee why doest thou macerate thy selfe in straightning those crooked and contrarizing decrees I omit that Ocean or rather sincke I meane that part of the Papall law containing the sale of benefices as they cal them and consecrated goods for who is able to reckon vp their deceipts and collusions no not they themselues that haue beene factors many yeares together in this kind of trafficke do sufficiently vnderstand and know all the trickes when new ones are daily inuented But this argument requires both another time and a booke of purpose now therefore let vs returne to our purpose As Frederick the Emperour so also Lewis the IX King of France inuaded Syria and Aegypt with an Army who afterwards o Of the plague dyed at the siege of p In Africa where formerly as some say Carthage stood Tunis City in the yeare of Grace 1270. In his raigne William Bishop of Paris raised a question about Ecclesiasticall Benefices which cause being publikely discust his opinion tooke place that it was not lawfull for any man to hold more then one but it is sufficient to haue spoken onely and writ down such decrees as those To Gregory Innocent the IIII succeeded vpon whom as it were by hereditary succession the Emperours displeasure fell Wherupon calling a Councel at Lyons he summons the Emperour excommunicates him for not appearing depriues him of his dignity exhorting the Princes of Germany to choose another and this his decree which amongst others is in priuate as also certaine of the Emperours Epistles to seuerall Kings are extant wherein he demonstrates at large the Popes iniquitie and his owne innocencie The Emperour was minded to goe to Lyons and trie his fortunes but a new rebellion breaking forth throughout Italie turnes all his forces that way where good successe failing him he returning into Puel began to languish and at length died Some say hee was poisoned others strangled by his bastard sonne Manfred who afterwards inuaded Italie At that time liued the famous Lawier Azo after whom the whole streame of Writers followed who violating that sharpe and seuere edict of the Emperour q Commanding his Code onely into which as abouesaid the whole law was contracied to be bserued Iustinian filled the world with an innumerable companie of Books from whence we must now seeke those points which those Ancients handled most copiously and learnedly For one man compiles anothers workes so that there is no end or measure of writing and all ouerflowes in contrary opinions in so much as the old mans saying may properly take place here who hauing asked three Lawyers their aduise you haue done brauely saith he I am a great deale further to seeke then before I omit the quiddities which are daily deuised in abundance for the Comedians saying falls right here that craft starts one mischiefe in the necke of another Cicero complaines that many worthy ordinances were setled by lawes but those for the most part were corrupted and depraued by Lawyers inuentions What if hee were now liuing and saw those Pyramides of bookes and our moderne practice and that sacred repositorie of the lawes thus filthily polluted miserably contaminated Howbeit as God indeed hath within our memorie brought all other Arts to light againe so hath he raised vp many men who being furnished with the help of good learning thinke those paines taken in this behalfe not to be repented of being to restore this
subiect most beautifull and altogether necessary for the societie of mankinde yea this gift euen heauenly drawne out and conuaied from the mid-fountaines of Philosophie to it 's former splendor and equitie which their indeauours merit not onely publike commendation but also remuneration After his death there was a vacancie for almost 22. yeeres A vacancie in the Empire for the space of 22. yeers after Fredericke the II. his decease first one then another being elected who notwithstanding held not the sway of gouernement in those troublesome times In the meane time the Kingdome of Naples fell from the Emperour Frederickes house into the hands of the French and afterwards Sicilie also For the Popes relied vpon the French power though soone after most cruell warres insued about those Kingdomes betwixt the house of Arragon and the house of Angiers in France but that appertaines not to this place When the Common-wealth had floated in this state as aforesaid for so many yeers together Rudolphus Habspurgh 1273. an 17. m. 9. d. 16. Rudolphus Habspurgh is created Emperour He in the beginning of his raign appeased those commotions spread throughout Germanie And after some Diets ended marches out against Ottacar King of Bohemia then in rebellion whom he inforced to conditions of peace which he notwithstanding by his wiues instigation not long after breakes and marching the second time into Austria is slaine in battell Ladislaus Cunus King of Hungary aided the Emperour Rudolphus At length a peace being concluded with the Bohemians by r Iutta the Emperous daughter was married to Wencislaus King of Bohemia Ottacars sonne marriage the Emperour gaue Austria which the King of Bohemia had held many yeeres together to Albertus his sonne and being hindred by diuers businesses in Germany went not downe into Italie neither was he inclined much that way howsoeuer for it is reported of him that hee would sometimes merrily tell a tale of the Foxe that would not visit the Lyon lying counterfeitly sicke in a certaine denne because hee was affrighted with the footsteps of other beasts of which none had returned notwithstanding he deputed a Gouernour in Italie in manner of Vice-Emperour and as it is written confirmed the often mentioned Countrey of Flaminiae and the Exarchie to the Church of Rome when hee saw very small commoditie returne to him from those parts For the Emperours wearied with perpetuall dissention and variance with the Popes became more remisse neither would the Popes euer bee at quiet till they had remoued them forth of the Coasts of Italie and therefore in a manner shelrring themselues vnder the wings of the French Kings and fostering their factions by the Bishops of Germany at length effected their owne wished desires But here by the way let vs call to minde the interchangeable course of estates when as they who were secure had their being and held their place and dignitie by fauour of the Emperours were inriched by their goods and liberalities both arrogated dominion ouer them and also defrauded them of their patrimony For they keepe to themselues not onely a good part of Italie but haue also strictly obliged the Kings of Sicilie and Naples to their partie which two kings both pay thē yeerely tribute and also are forbidden to vndertake the imperiall dignitie without their permission and when they receiue possession from them amongst other clauses that is one part of their oath That memorable massacre of the French through out Sicilie happened in Rudolphus the Emperours time For they being in possession of that Country where after soldiers fashion playing many insolent and outragious prankes were by secret conspiracie after a signe giuen all put to the sword when the Bell rung to euening prayers This Massacre is cōmonly called the Sicilian Vespers The Sicilian Vespers 1281. which was committed vpon Easter day in the yeere 1281. Rudolphus vpon a summe of money paid infranchised and set charge-free many Cities in Italie belonging to the Empire as the Bononians Florentines Genowaies Lucans and others After this assembling the Princes at Franckeford he desired but in vaine to haue his sonne Albert assigned his successor Rudolphus dying Adolphus of Nassaw 1292. an 6. m 5. d. 7. Adolphus of the house of Nassaw succeeded who not long after beganne to picke quarrels with Albertus Arch-duke of Austria and moreouer offending the Princes of Germanie by his demeanour as also the Archbishop of Mentz by whose helpe hee was made Emperour is deposed and Albertus Arch-duke of Austria Rudolphus his sonne is elected who vniting his forces hauing the Princes aid makes forward toward Adolphus when giuing him battell in the Bishopricke of Spire Adolphus being grieuously wounded by Albertus was soone after slaine by the rest of the souldiers After this victorie Albertus 1298 an 9. m 9. d. 5. Albertus to confirme his owne title lest any might report that his former election was vniust desired to bee solemnly created Emperour which done Pope Boniface the VIII reclaimed denying to ratifie what the rest of the Princes had done but within a while after when Philip the Faire King of France and hee fell into bitter dissention hee approoued of Albertus and spoke much in praise of his progenitours At length Albertus was slaine by his owne kinsmen as hee was marching into Bohemia hauing all in readinesse to intrude his sonne Fredericke into that kingdome This Pope Boniface added a sixth Booke to Gregory the IX his decretall Epistles which are contained in fiue Bookes Amongst the rest he made a decree that it might be lawfull for the Pope to dispossesse himselfe of the Papacie for is written that he himselfe by sinister meanes perswaded Caelestine the V. thereunto whom hee succeded After Albertus Henry Henry the VII 1308. an 4. m. 9. of that name the VII of the house of Luxemburgh is created Emperour He hauing by marriage made his sonne King of Bohemia goe downe into Italie the estate whereof was at that time most miserable For euer since Fredericke the II. his decease about 57. yeers the Emperour neglected Italie which caused the sundry dilacerations therof from them by the greater Nobles especially by the ſ Two Noble families in Sueuia which afterwards remoued into Italie Guelphs and Gibelines which two factions haue many retainers in those parts He therefore first of all constitutes Gouernours ouer the Cities and free burroughs throughout Lombardie and swore the inhabitants to his subiection then resting a while at Millaine indeauouring but all in vaine to reconcile the before-mentioned factions where when Turianus Gouernour of the Citie had complotted to assaile him vnawares after discouerie of the conspiracie and suppression of his aduersaries hee commits the gouernement of the Citie to a Vicount All the Cities in that Country yeelded into his power and protection onely Brescia rebelled the walles whereof hauing after a long siege taken it hee demolisht Then marching through Genua and so striking ouer to Pisa arriued at Rome and