that they had an Oracle that Ninivie should never be taken till the River first proved an enemy to it The River swelling with rain breaks the wall which he never could suspect But in the third year fell such rains that Euphrates or Lycus upon which some conceive that Strabo placeth the City and not Euphrates nor Tigris as others swelling with abundance of waters made a breach in the Wall twenty Furlongs in length At this the King utterly discouraged Sardanapalus burneth himselfe in his Palace as judging the Oracle to be fulfilled lest he should fall alive into the hands of his enemies he built a pile of wood in his Palace upon which he heaped his treasures and rich attire and making a little room in the midst wherein he bestowed himselfe his Concubines and Eunuchs set fire to the heap and so perished with this Company and the Palace Such was the end of him who placed all his felicity in his sensuall appetite which he would have also recorded in his (p) Athenaeus lib. 1. Epitaph and advised the Reader to imitate He is reported to have built but rather he restored two Cities of Cilicia in one day viz. Tarsus and Anchiala in the later of which was his (q) Strabo l. 14. Edit Causab p. 672. A. Haec habeo quae edi quaeque exsaturata libido Hausit at illae jacent multa praeclara relicta Epitaph à Cicerone versum Tusc l. 5. Quid aliud inquit Aristoteles in Bovis non in Hominis sepulchro incideres Haec habere se dicit quae neâ—vivus quidem diutius babebat quà m fruebatur Monument to be seen being a Statue of stone with the finger and thumb of the right hand joyned together as about to give a fillip Upon the Monument was written in Assyrian Characters Sardanapalus the Son of Anacyndaraca built Anchiales and Tarsus in one day As for thee Friend Eat drink and play for all things else are not worth this viz. that fillip In him this line of the Assyrians failed the Empire being divided into two Principalities after it had continued about 1400 years reckoned from the building of Babylon This fall of Sardanapalus hapned about the year of the World 3186 43 years before the first Olympiad 12. The (r) Diodorus l. 2. p. 81. A. besiegers understanding what was become of Sardanapalus presenly entred in at the breach and took the City Then investing Arbaces with a royall roabe Arbaces made King they created him King who rewarded them according to their deserts and allotted the Provinces to their severall Governours Belesis according to agreement having received the principality of Babylon Granteth Babylon to Belesis and understanding from an Eunuch how great treasure Sardanapalus had burnt with himselfe begged the ashes of Arbaces under pretence of having made a vow in the heat of the War to carry them to Babylon and therewith to raise a lasting Monument of the destruction of the Assyrian Empire He being ignorant of his covetous design graunted his request but when the matter was discovered referred his judgement to a Councill of Officers who condemned him to death Yet being desirous to begin his reign mildly he not onely remitted this punishment but permitted him to enjoy all the gold and silver already transported and what remained which amounted to many talents he conveied it to Ecbatane the chief City of the Medes (Å¿) L. 2. p. 816 Diodorus and (t) L. 6. p. 737. Strabo tell us how he levelled Ninus or Ninive with the ground Some (u) Jacob. Cappellus Hist Sacr. Exotica p. 170. Simson in Chronico ad A. M. 3187. think it was onely the Castle seeing the City had afterwards Kings if not comparable to the rest yet great and powerfull which they think might descend from Belesis What kind of Government was in Media 13. Herodotus (x) Lib. 1. c. 95. writeth how the Medes having freed themselves from the Assyrian yoak lived for many Ages without a King in way of a popular government But (y) Vide Droderum ut supra p. 84. Ctesias of Gnidus an Author of something a later date who served Cyrus the younger in his expedition against his Brother Artaxerxes and being taken prisoner in the Battell was for his excellent skill in Physick which he professed received into favour by the King and lived in good esteem in his Court 16. years pretending to transcribe his History out of the Records of Persia reported that Arbaces after the overthrow of the Assyrians Kings of Media according to Ctesias reigned 18. years and as he left the dominion of Asia to the Medes so also the Soveraignty over them to his Son Mandauces That Mandauces having reigned 50. years left the Kingdom to Sesarmus who reigned 30. Him followed Artias and reigned 50 then Arbianis 22 Arsaeus 40 in whose time the Cadusians revolted through the procurement of Parsodas the President of his Councill whom he had offended Artynes 22. Artibarnes 14 in whose reign the Parthians revolted and gave up themselves to the Sacae And last of all Astyages his Son who being overthrown by Cyrus the Empire was thereby devolved upon the Persians 14. That Ctesias out of design wrote things contrary to Herodotus is probable enough and that he is fabulous cannot be denied yet have we a succession of Kings elsewhere (z) Euseb in Chronico recorded though such an one as scarce in one name agreeth with that of his According to Eusebius Sosarmus is said to have succeeded Arbaces and continued 30 years then Medidus 40 Cardiceas 13 and then Deioces whom Herodotus will have to have first obtained soveraignty over the Medes For having as he (a) Lib. 1. c. 9 7 98 c. writeth an ambition that way he made himselfe popular by pretence to the love of Justice which then ran at a low ebbe amongst them for want of authority He first took upon him to decide the controversies of his own Village which performing with much equity and conscience thence became known to other parts and at length became so famous that few would bring their causes before any other Judge than him alone Being aware of this he withdrew himself giving out that no longer could he undergo such a burthen and thereby neglect his private affairs Hereupon robberies violence and oppression returned throughout the Country insomuch that the people gathering together from all quarters after a serious debate concluded there was necessity of having a King under whose protection every man living might the better minde his domestick matters Deioces how he got the Kingdom Deioces was chosen by universall consent who having got the power into his hands caused them to build a City for his residence which he called Ecbatane and having ruled with abundant severity 53 years left the Kingdom to his Son Phraortes Phraortes He after he had reigned 22 left for successor his Son Cyaxares who having
afforded least advantage By Land no War arose that gave any sufficient advantage of inlarging their dominions further than to the disturbance of their next Neighbours they stirred not abroad nor gave their minds to any new Conquests Those that were Subjects were patient under the yoak and Equalls in power made no considerable quarrells till all Greece came to be divided in the old War betwixt the Inhabitants of Chalcis and Eretria Then to hinder them from growing great the affairs of the Persians were advanced till having cast out their Tyrants who all this while contenting themselves with the private power they had over particular places stirred not they got ground by little and little of the Eastern Empire Almost during this whole Period had they * No written Laws no written Laws Homer being witnesse who never useth the word * No written Laws Law throughout his writings †Joseph centra Apion l. 2. They were not generally governed but by indefinite Sentences and Praecepts of their Kings remaining a long time without any written Praecepts and referring all to the event according to which Judgment insued Such was the most antient condition of Greece in generall Now a particular account is to be given of the severall Kingdoms and States that were most considerable and contemporary with the Babylonian Empire SECT II. The Sicyonian Kingdom The Sicyonian Kingdom most ancient 1. THe affairs of the Sicyonian have the (a) Euseb in Chronic. August de Civit Dei l. 18. Pausan in Corinthiacis p. 49. Edit Graec. Francfurti 1583. first place allotted to them in Antiquity who inhabited a City situated upon the Bay of Corinth and the confines of Achaia Here Aegialeus began a Kingdom about 270 years after the universall Deluge 232 before the beginning of Inachus 1313 before the first Olympiad Aegialeus the first King the year of the World 1915 according to the Vulgar way of computation without taking in the 100 years formerly mentioned in the History of the Judges and the 859th year of Noah whilst Ninus reigned in Assyria A. M. 1915. From him the City was first called Aegialia and part of the Peninsula it self according to some SECT 2. which afterwards was from Pelops named Peloponnesus Europs Telchines Apis. He left his Kingdom to Europs his Son after he had reigned 52 years and Europs having reigned 45 was succeeded by Telchines He governed 20 and was followed by Apis who was so great that all within the Isthmus was from him called Apios When he had continued 25 years Thelxion his Son Thelxion succeeded him during whose reign all things were so prosperous and happie that being dead they worshiped him for a god by sacrifices Aegyrus and solemnizing games which as they say were first invented for his sake Him followed Aegyrus after he had reigned 52 years Aegyrus or Aegydrus Thurimachus Leucippus Peratus reigned 33 Thurimachus 45 Leucippus 53 who had onely a Daughter named Calchinia on which Neptune or rather Mesapus begat Peratus who was Heir to his Grand-father and governed 47 years Plemnaeus Orthopolis After Peratus followed Plemnaeus whose children all died as soon as they were born till Ceres came in the likenesse of a Woman and brought up Orthopolis who succeeded his Father having reigned 48 years 2. Orthopolis the twelfth King of Aegialea had a Daughter named Chrysorthe Coronus Corax Epopeus on which Apollo is supposed to have begot Corenus his successor Coronus left two Sons Corax and Lamedon Corax after he had reigned 30 years died without issue and Epopeus a Thessalian seized on his Kingdom Epopeus stole Antiopes the Daughter of Nycteus King of Thebes for which injury he was prosecuted with War by the Thebans A battell being fought he had the better but both the Kings were mortally wounded Nycteus presently died after he was carried home but left the tuition of Labdacus the Son of Polydorus and Nephew to Cadmus whose Guardian he had been to his Brother Lycus requesting of him to lead down another Army into Aegialea to revenge him upon Epopeus to punish Antiope if he could take her Lamedon but in the mean time Epopeus died also of his wounds being neglected and Lamedon the Son of Coronus obtained his Fathers Kingdom gave up Antiope to Lycus as Pausanias writeth though Apollodorus saith A. M. 2616. that Lycus took Aegialea and slew Epopeus Antiope in the way to Thebes fell in travell and brought forth Amphion and Zethus who being found and nourished by an Herdsman the former gave himself to Musick and the later to nourishing of Cattell and both afterwards revenged their Mother upon Lycus and his Wife Dirce from whose hard usage she had escaped and came to them 3. Lamedon maried Phenò the Daughter of Clytius an Athenian and undertaking War against Archander and Architeles the Achaeans sent for Sicyon the Son of Metion and Nephew of Erechtheus out of Attica to assist him Sicyon from whom the City was named to whom giving his Daughter Zeuxippe in mariage A. M. 2656. he left him also his Successor From Sicyon the City was named Sicyon and the Country Sicyonia He had a Daughter named Chthonophyle on which Mercury begat Polybus after whose birth she was maried to Phlias the Son of Dionysus Polybus Adrastus and to him bore Androdamas Polybus succeeding his Grand-father left also his Grand-Son Adrastus by his Daughter maried to Talaus King of Argos his Heyr who being expelled his own City had fled to him But he making his peace at home returned Janiscus and after his departure Janiscus or Inachus the Nephew of that Clytis whose Daughter maried with Lamedon came out of Attica and obtained the Kingdom Phaestus After Janiscus had reigned 42 years he gave way by death to Phaestus one vulgarly accounted the Son of Hercules who after eight years at the direction of an Oracle went over into Crete where he built a City of his own name Zeuxippus 4. After his departure Zeuxippus the Son of Apollo by the Nymph Syllis A. M. 2846. was King of Sicyon but reigned not long Hippolytus Nephew to Phaestus by his Son Rhopalus Hippolytus obtained his Grand-Fathers seat Against him Agamemnon King of Mycenae made War till he forced him to submit After four years succeeded Polyphides Polyphides Pelasgus and continued 31 then Pelasgus 20 and after this * Ex Castore Rhodio Chronographo Eusebius would have Zeuxippus to have begun his reign which after 32 years ended with the Kingdom The Priests of Apollo Carinus It having now continued the space of 962 years the Priests of Apollo Carnius obtained the Soveraignty and held it 33. SECT 3. Lacestades Phalces seizeth upon Sicyon But Pausanias writeth that when Lacestades the son of Hippolytus reigned at Sicyon Phalces the son of Temenus who had been King of Argos seized upon it with the Dores in the night time
for he contented himself with the Equestrian rank neither could he not obtain greater things but he would * Maecenas eques Hetrusco de Sanguint regum Intra fortunam qui cupis esse tuam Propertius l. 3. not He had great power with Augustus which he improved to the allaying of his passion and doing good offices for others as one example shews above the rest On a time as Augustus sate in Judgment and was about to sentence many to death he perceiving it and nor able to come at him for the croud wrote these words Rise up at last Executioner in a table and cast them into Caesar's lap as some other matter who having read them presently departed without condemning any Neither did this offend Augustus but he was glad that he had one who would be so free with him and curb that anger which either his inclination or the urgency of businesse moved him to (a) Cilnius Arreti Tyrrhenis ortus in oris Clarum nomen erat Silius Italicus Cilnius was the antient name of his Family and Arretium in the Tyrrhenian Coasts the place of it (b) L. 7. c. 5â— Pliny telleth strange passages of him as that he never was without an Ague and for three years before his death never slept a quarter of an hour together In the same year which was that wherein Augustus mended the Calendar and called the moneth Sextilis after himself Horace the Poet also died in the 57 year of his age His familiarity with Caesar and Maecenas is sufficiently known His life is written by Suetonius 40. Augustus having again quieted all Nations and shut the Temple of Janus the third time having ordained a general taxation throughout the Empire that he might know the State and worth thereof having also refused the name of Dominus or Lord with great earnestnesse which he forbad even his Children and Nephews by an edict to use towards him the Lord and Heir of all things came into the World in the fulnesse of time revealed by the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Daniel for the fulfilling of the promises made concerning the seed of the woman The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ which should break the serpents head A. M. 4003. Ol. 194. an 3. V. C. 752. Caesare Augusto 13. M. Plautio Silano Coss Great difference there is in assigning the year of the World wherein our Saviour was born by reason of the difficulty of computation arising from the several versions of the Scriptures the intricate and uncertain successions of the Judges the variety of the forms of years and the several reckonings as to parcels of such as are related in Scripture A great help for the regulation of these things is afforded from prophane Histories But it beginneth but with Cyrus whose History as to the restauration of the Jews presenteth us with the first certain note of conjunction he being so named both by holy and prophane Writers but not Nebuchadnesar and yet the duration of his reign is also uncertain Yet as from all these opinions weighed together a good account may be given in another place more proper for the length of it as to the year of the World so the Evangelist teaching us that in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Christ was about thirty years old it must needs follow that Augustus reigned fifteen years after his birth so that if we count as some do the reign of Augustus from the death of Julius Caesar it lasted 57 years and then must Christ be born in the 42 of it But if we follow them as the order of this Work doth who with more reason fetch the beginning of his Empire from the death of Antony and the conquest of Aegypt then Christ's birth fell into the 28 year thereof and according to the computation which we most approve into the 4003 year of the World the 752 of the City and the third year of the 194 Olympiad wherein Caesar Augustus himself the thirteenth time and M. Plautius Silanus were Consuls Although Cyrenius who was Consul ten years before and is called elsewhere P. Sulpicius Quirinus might not formally be President of Syria which Office as others say was now obtained by Quintilius Vanus Josephus Antiq. l. 17. c. 7. who succeeded Saturninus who as yet was not departed out of the Province yet being set over this taxation by Augustus in that place this title might well be given him though he then governed Cilicia De bello Judaic l. 1. c. 15. as Herod is by Jesephus said to be constituted Procurator of all Syria though it had it's Officers who were to act by his assistance and direction Herod had now reigned 37 years and odd moneths and being deluded by the Wise Men whom he willingly suffered to search out Christ that he might destroy him killed all the children in and about Bethlehem of two years and under Matth. 2.16 which cruelty was but agreable with his disposition and constant practice Here that we may describe his affaires we must make a little digression and take them where we formerly left them A digression to the affairs of Herod 41. After he had obtained the possession of his Kingdom Josephus Antiq. l. 15. c. 1 c. he put to death 45 of Antigonus his friends having procured him to be beheaded as we formerly shewed Then did he prefer to the High-Priesthood one Ananel an obscure man neglecting Aristobulus the son of Aristobulus the King and brother to his own wife Mariamne and Antony desiring to see this youth for the fame of his beauty he fearing the Roman might advance him to stay him at home gave him the Priesthood and excused his neglect to send him by the inclination of the Jews to rebellion Perceiving him then to be in extraordinary favour with the Jews and that his mother Alexandra which he kept very close because of her restlesse spirit plorted the escape of her self and son into Aegypt a year after as he was swimming he caused him to be drowned and though Cleopatra accused him hereof to Antony yet by presents he made his Peace He maketh away Aristobulus In the Civil Wars he sided with Antony who having forces sufficient desired him to chastize the Arabians that denied the Tribute imposed on them This he did and though at first his attempts miscaried yet in another battel he quite overthrew and brought them under After the overthrow of Antony he had little hope that his own matters would go well He murdered Hyrcanus who onely survived of all the males of the Royal Family and whom he had recalled from Babylon Idem ibid. c. 9 c. whither he was caried by the Parthians He took the advantage of the old man's intent to flye into Arabia through the importunity of his daughter Alexandra who promised him great things if Herod should miscary under the power of Augustus Then providing as well as he could for the worst in case it should happen
some time till weary of this bondage he conspired with So King of Aegypt and refused to pay his tribute Hereupon Salmanasser subdued first the Moabites lest he should have an Enemy at his back then invaded Israel and besieged Samaria A. M. 3280. Ezechiae 6. in the fourth year of Hezekiah King of Judah The Israelites carried away Captive and the seventh of Hoshea At the end of three years in the sixth of Hezekiah and the ninth of Hosea he took the City and carried the Israelites Captive into Assyria where he placed them in Chalach Chabor by the River of Gosan and in the Cities of Media because they had not obeyed the voice of the Lord but transgressed the Covenant In their Seat he placed certain Persians that inhabited by the River Chuthus and afterwards in distinction from the Jews were called Samaritans The Samaritans placed in their room This hapned to Israel for their abhominable Idolatry 255 years after the rent of the Kingdom so that this Schism lasted five Jubilies and ten years in the 832 after the entrance into Canaan according to Ludovicus Cappellus and therefore in the end of the seventeenth Jubilie from that in the year of the World 3380. or 3381. and so in the end of the 69 Jubily from the Creation SECT 3. 134 before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Captivity of Iudah CHAP. IV. The most ancient Kingdom of Egypt Contemporary with the Babylonian Empire C ham the first inhabitant of Egypt after the Flood 1. THis Countrey falling at the Division of the Earth to Cham and his Posterity seemeth also to have been inhabited by himself For thence (a) Psal 105.23 27. David knew it by the name of the Land of Ham (b) In Iside Plutarch found it was called Chemia Stephanus Hermochymius the Inhabitants themselves calling it (c) Isiodorus Hieronymus in Genesim vide cap. 1. Parag. 22. Kam who distinguished their Nomi by this Allusion into Chemmis Psochemmis Psittachemmis the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon in Africk and the names of Ammonis and Ammonia given to that Countrey challenge no other Original It is not probable that these names should be onely given to it upon this account that part of his Posterity here fixed themselves for then the like might have been expected concerning many other places Misraim his son Misraim his second son succeeded him or he to whom Moses giveth this name Lege Bocharti Phaleg l. 4. c. 24. as father of the Inhabitants of the Land of Misraiim it scarce being the name of a man because not of the singular number The Scripture calleth Egypt (d) 2 Kings 19.24 Esaias 19.6 Mich. 7.12 often by the name of Masor which seemeth the singular of Misraiim contracted from Mesoraiim signifieth a fortified place no Countrey in the World being more fenced by its natural situation The Arabians at this day know the Metropolis Alcairo by the name of Mesre and the Egyptians anciently called their first moneth Mesori The dual word Misraiim seemeth to hint at the distinction of Egypt into (e) Orosius l. 1. c. 2. Upper and Lower whereof the former watered by the River Nile running in one Channel was divided into Thebais and Heptanomus Thebais being called the Land of Pathros and distinguished from Egypt by Isaiah and Jeremiah and the lower part was by the Greeks called Delta from the Triangular Figure thereof the River being herein divided into many branches The same with Osiris 2. This Misraim is thought to be the same with Osiris so much spoken of by the Egyptians and accounted the son of Saturn the eldest of the gods and also the son of Jupiter Hammon For Osiris being by the Greeks named Dionysus Diodorus Siculus lib. 1. pag. 1. one telleth us that he had this appellation both from his Father and Countrey the former part of the word noting the one and the later the other viz. Nysa a Citie of Arabia Foelix built by Cham in which he seemeth to have been born From the reign of Osiris to the coming down of Alexander the Great into Egypt the Priests reckoned some above 10000 years others little lesse then 23000. But several forms of years being used in several Nations we are to suppose theirs to have been measured rather by the course of the Moon through the Zodiack than that of the Sun Jacobus Cappellus therefore thinketh 1889 years to have passed from the reign of this Osiris to Alexander his going down into Egypt the beginning whereof he fixeth at the 1778th year of the World 100 and odd years after the Flood about the same time that Nimrod his Nephew began his principality at Babylon Osiris and Isis their renowned acts This Osiris is feigned by the Egyptians to have married his sister Isis and they make them the true Bacchus and Ceres Much they are both reported to have done for the benefit of mankind by bringing it to civility to him they ascribe the finding out of Agriculture and to her the invention of Corn and Laws He built Thebes the ancient seat of the Kings with 100 Gates travelled into the greatest part of the World to teach men civility with the use of Corn and Wine taking Pan along with him who being had in great reverence amongst the Egyptians dedicated a Citie to him by the name of Chemmis In his time lived Hermes or Mercurius SECT 4. and Hercules who being otherwise called Gygâ—n or Gygnâ—n is said to have helped the gods against the Gyants Osiris when he returned was killed by his wicked brother Typhon Osiris killed by Typhon 3. Typhon seizing upon the Kingdom was by Isis Diodorus through the help of her son Orus dispossessed again of it and his life after which gathering together the 26 parts of her husbands body into which he had mâ—ngled it she instituted to him divine honours Typhon punished by Isis and her son Orus ordering that the several Tribes of the Priests should dedicate some one of their living Creatures to him and for him worship it as long as it lived then at its death seeking out another of the same kind to do as much to it Several things were consecrated in several places yet by a general consent the Sacred Bull called Apis The Sacred Bull Apis. or Mnevis was most valued and chiefly adored because of the special help that kind of Creature affordeth to Tillage This Bull was black all over having onely a square white spot in his forehead saith Herodotus on his right side saith Pliny like to a Crescent being also sacred to the Moon as Marcellâ—nus will have it On the back he had the image of an Eagle a knot on the tongue like to a Crab and on his Tail double hairs This kind of beast did the Egyptians worship as the greatest God with astonishing veneration as Macrobius termeth it till it had lived several years but not being suffered to passe a certain
digging of Wells although (q) Vide lib. 8. p. 376 371. Strabo proveth that by reason of it's situation it could never want the commodity of that Element Having reigned (r) Euseb Apollod 50 years he died and was succeeded by Lynceus who governed 41 and on Hypermnestra begat Abas his Successor Abas ruled 23 years and begat on his wife Ocalea the Daughter of Mantineus Acrisius and Praetus Acrisius and Praetus Twins They are said to have strugled in the womb and did it to purpose afterwards for the Kingdom Pausan in Argolicis Praetus first obtained and held it seventeen years but then was driven from Argos by Acrisius and forced to flye into Lycia to Iobas his Father-in-Law King of that Country From him he returned with armed hand seised upon Tyrâ—nthe and afterwards joyned battell with his Brother wherein they two are reported first of all others to have used Targets The battell ending with aequall successe they came to an accommodation and divided the Kingdom Acrisius was to stay at Argos and Praetus to enjoy Heraeus Midaea Tirynthe and the maritime parts Praetus had by his wife Sthenobaea a Son named Megapenthes and three Daughters which being taken with the fury of Bacchus Melampus the Poet is said to have cured Acrisius on Eurydice begat a Daughter named Danae Danae and consulting the Oracle about issue-Male was answered that he should have no Son but a Nephew by his Daughter that should procure his death Hereupon he shut up Danae with her Nurse in the ground but Jupiter turning himself into a golden shower thereby got to her Mother to Perseus and begat Perseus Both Mother and Son were put into an Ark and cast into the Sea which drave them ashore on the Island Seriphus where Dictys Brother to Polydectes the King educated the Boy Being grown up he made an Expedition into Africk where he slew the Gorgon Medusa being sent as the Fable goeth by Polydectes who sought to be revenged on him for hindering him from the Marriage of his Mother but Pansanias not at all regarding the Fable writeth that this Medusa was the Daughter of Phorchus and succeeded him in his Kingdom which lay upon the Lake Tritonis that she was wont to go out to hunt and fight with the Africans over which she reigned but Perseus coming against her with choise Forces out of Peloponnesus so that this Voyage must have been after his return thither and his Grand-Father's death she was entrapped by him and slain in the night He admiring her beauty cut off her head and caried it into Greece for a spectacle 10. Perseus after this married Andromeda Daughter to Cepheus by Cassiopeia who reigned at Joppe a maritime Town of Phoenicia having first saved her from being devoured by a Whale This by one is thus interpreted Conon apud Photium in Bibliotheca That Phoenix by her Father's consent took her away by force and carying her in a Ship called the Whale Perseus sailing that way and hearing her lamentations boarded the Ship and delivering her out of his hands married her After this he returned to Sisyphus where he revenged upon Polydectes the violence offered to his Mother and then with her and his wife went to Argos to see his Grand-Father who being afraid because of the Oracle Apollod lib. 2. departed into Pelasgia or Thessalie so called from the Pelasgi who were now removed thither out of Peloponnesus being a vagabond people and staying in no place where when Teutamias King of the Larissaeans made Games in honour of his deceased Father thither also came Perseus amongst other lusty and active young Men and slew his Grand-Father at unawares in the Game Perseus killeth Acrisius The Generall Councill of the Amphyctiones by a stroak of a quoit upon his foot after he had reigned thirty years 11. Some (Å¿) Lege Strabon lib. 9. p. 419 420. think that rather to Acrisius then to Amphyction the Son of Deucalion who 182 years before began his reign at Athens the founding of the famous Concill of the Amphyctiones is to be ascribed It seemeth probable that Amphyction first of all assembled it in Thessalie near the Streights of Thermopylae Pausanias writeth to have been the common opinion and that Acrisius thence transferred it to Delphos in Phocis where it for the most part assembled this place being the middle of Greece and (t) Lege Pausan in Phocicis as the Greeks thought of the World it self where was also the famed Oracle of Apollo Pythius For These Cities which at first had onely right to send their Deputies to the Coucill were such as either were seated in Thessalie or near unto it This was the chief Tribunall of all Greece for deciding of publick and most weighty causes betwixt the severall Cities and Common-wealths The authority thereof was very great insomuch as it's Decrees have sometimes been executed by the Sword with the great motions of severall States some or other scarce ever being wanting to undertake the work It used to meet twice a year and oftener if necessity required in the beginning of Spring and Autumne the Cities sending their Deputies three two or one according to their bignesse These were called Pylagorae because they met at Pylae a place near to the Temple of which they also had the oversight and praesided over the Games made in honour of Apollo Pythius every other year This Court continued for many Ages without change untill the time of Philip King of Macedon and Father of Alexander the Great who overthrowing the Phocians in the Sacred War for their Sacriledge outed them and the Lacedaemonians their assistants of their Priviledges of voting therein and transferred the right to his own Kingdom Long after Augustus Caesar innovated again by removing the Magnesians Maleans and others from their interest herein and making Nicopolis a City built by him in memory of his Victory at Actium free of that Society as Pausanias telleth us who hath also recorded that in his time which fell in with the reign of Antoninus Pius the Roman Emperour this Councill was still maintained and kept up consisting of thirty persons 12. Perseus after that dysaster which hapned to his Grand-Father A.M. 2693. was ashamed to return to Argos his Inheritance and therefore went to Tirynthe and changed Kingdoms with his Cousin Megapenthes He built Mycenae so called from his Sword 's * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scabberd that fell from him in this place which thing he took as a sign that here he should build a City and making it his seat The Kingdom of Argos divided therein reigned 58 years About this time this Kingdom of Argos that had now continued about 544 years came to be divided into three parts For Anaxagoras the Son of Megapenthes contenting himself with a third of his half gave the other two to Melampus the Son of Amythaon and his Brother Bias u Apollod lib. 2.
either for that he who is said to have found out the way of purging had cured the Daughters of Praetus Aunts to Anaxagoras of their madnesse as was told before or (x) Pausan ut suprà Diodor. l. 4. p. 188. invented a Remedy for that distemper which had seized epidemically upon the women of those parts But Perseus begat of Andromeda five Sons Perses Alcaeus Sthenelus Electryon and Mestor Hereof Perses the first as the Greeks believed gave Originall to the Persians Alcaus was Father to Amphytrion Stheneles succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Mycenae and Electryon begat Alcmena wife to Amphytrion Sthenelus on a Daughter of Pelops begat Eurystheus his Successor seven moneths after whose birth Hercules the Son Amphytrion and Alcmena was born Hercules Aphules their other Son coming into the World after Hercules for they were Twins Amphytrion was accounted the Father of him and Jupiter of Hercules whereupon A. M. 2724 Juno is said to have ever hated him and by the help of Ilythia Lucina or the Moon to have hindred his birth and kept his Mother in travell for seven dayes The Boy was first named Alcaeus after his Grand-Father but afterwards for his great atchievements called Hercules and ascribed to no less a Father than Jupiter who made the night wherein he begat him as long as three that his strength might be the greater That this person was eminent in his time is easie to be granted but incredible things contained in twelve labours being reported to be done by him are either meant of the passing of the Sun through the twelve Signs of the Zodiack or what things were performed by several others that lived elsewhere have been by his Country-men attributed to him whose Epithete of Hercules signifying fame and glory spread abroad in the air came also to be given to them if the word be of no other than Greekish Original How many of that name 13. Cicero reckoneth up six who had the name of Hercules The first and most antient he maketh begotten by the antientest Jupiter on Lipitus and to have striven with Apollo about the Tripos The second was an Aegyptian Son to Nile who despised the Phrygian Letters The third a Native of Crete and one of the Idaei Dactyli who first found out the making of Iron by taking notice of the melting of that Metall in the Hill Ida when it burned and being five in number had the name of Dactyli from the fingers in number so many on each hand The fourth was son to Asteria the Sister of Latona and Father to Carthage being worshipped by the Tyrians Belus in India is reckoned for the fifth and then in the sixth place cometh this Son of Alcmena The Aegyptian Hercules is said to have aided the gods in their War against the Gyants which being the off-spring of the Earth Diodorus acknowlegeth that this cannot agree with the time of the Graecian Hercules who lived but one Age before the Trojan War but rather happened at the original of Mankind 14. Hercules the Tyrian is believed to have been the Captain of that Expedition which the Phoenicians made into Spain and Gades which though the Graecians attribute to theirs yet this convinceth their assertion of falshood that in the Island Gades was a most antient Temple wherein Hercules was worshipped not after the Graecian manner but according to the Rites of Phoenicia This was he who erected his pillars at the bound or unmost limit of the World and that overran Spain Italy and Gaul Ganchoniathon a Phoenician Author of great antiquity wrote that he was the Son of Demacuns and that his proper name was Melcharthus which signified the King of the City by the Greeks called Melicertes and Palaemon He was also called Diodas * Consule Bocharti Canaan lib. 1. cap. 24. by Eusebius for which Desanaus is thought to be corruptly written in Hierom's translation which Phoenicâ— â—ame he seemeth to have had because he was invocated by lovers their happy successe being supposed to depend on him Some think this Tyrian Hercules was the same with the Aegyptian or Libyan by Pausanias named Maceris who undertook a journey to Delphos and whose Son Sardus leading a Colonie into the Island Ichnusa changed it's name into Sardinia Tacitus * Annual lib. 2. writeth that the Libyans would have the most antient Hercules a native of their Country and that such as came near him in valour and renown were named after him Diodorus Siculus and Eusebius mention three of this name though the former attributeth all their actions to the youngest or the Son of Alcmena Servius four and Varro 44. And here must be remembred what was before noted that it was the custom of old to call the most antient Kings by the name of Saturn their Sons by that of Jupiter and their most valiant and active Nephews by this of Hercules 15. This Heroe being so much written and talked of it concerneth beginners to have some account of his actions and the rather because they include the labours of many Amphytrion his Father as it seemeth Apollodorus Diodor. was Prince of Tirynthos The story of Hercules the son of Alcmena but thence was forced to flye to Thebes having at unawars killed Electryon his Uncle and Father-in-Law where Hercules being educated slew Linus his Musick-Master with an Harpe as he taught him His Father seeing his disposition and fearing some such like accident might fall out again sent him amongst the Herdsmen where not yet eighteen years old he slew a Lyon For his extraordinary strength and courage he was taken notice of by Thespis or Thespius Prince of the Thespienses who made him lye with his fifty daughters of which begetting so many sons these afterwards passed over into the Island Sardinia with the name of Thespiades A little after this he delivered Thebes from the Tyranny of Erginus King of the Minyans who exacted an annual Tribute of 100 Oxen. He destroyed Orchomenus with his Palace therein and for this was rewarded with Megara daughter to Creon Prince of Thebes When he was about 20 years old he sailed with Jason amongst others to Colchos to fetch thence the Golden Fleece so much celebrated by Poets and variously interpreted by Expositors of Mythology 16. This Jason was the son of Aeson and the fourth in descent from Aeolus being born at Ioleus which place Pelias King thereof unjustly detained from his father The Argonautae He considering with himself what glory Perseus and others of late had gotten sought how he might accomplish some notable Enterprize for the eternizing of his name and having at length resolved on this design published his intentions throughout Greece by a Crier The young and active spirits of that time were much taken therewith and 53 of the flowr of Greece gave their names to the expedition of whom the most eminent besides Hercules were Orpheus Scholar to Linus Oiâ—eus Telamon and Peleus the sons of Aeacus Pollux and
after it was known that he lay with his Mother Cratea 8. He married Melissa the daughter of Procles or Patrocles tyrant of Epidaurus on whom he begat Cypselus and Lycophron Laertius in vita Periandri Herod ut suprà whereof the elder was very blockish and stupid At the instigation of his whores he afterwards killed his wife kicking her when she was great with childe then lay with her when she was dead and calling together the Corinthian women as well adorned as possible to celebrate the feast of Juno caused his guard to strip them all naked and made a parentation to Melissa of all their clothes and ornaments Lycophron his youngest son who onely was capable of Government moved by Procles his Grand-Father grew exceeding froward and refractory because of his Mother's death insomuch as differences and distasts increasing Periander banished him first his house then forbad all his Subjects to speak to or comfort him and at length forced him into Corcyra But after some years growing old infirm and unfit for businesse he sent for him home offering to passe over all to him but by no arguments or intreaties could he move him to return till he offered to change places and devest himself of all power Now when this was agreed on the Corcyraeans fearing above all things to have Periander come amongst them to prevent it killed the young man Periander to be revenged took away from them 300 of their choicest Boyes which he sent to Haliattes King of Lydia his friend and allie to be gelded but they being driven upon the Island Samus the Inhabitants took such pity both on them and their relations as to send them home safe and disappointed the Tyrant This so vexed him now almost eighty years old that he dyed of grief though by some he be reckoned amongst the seven Wise Men of Greece Suidas out of most antient Authors delivereth this character of him That he was an harsh and cruel Tyrant very martial scarce being ever out of War very powerful at Sea having so convenient Havens both upon the Ionian and Aegean Gulfs He reigned nigh forty years and dyed in the fourth of the 48th Olympiad A. M. 3420. Olymp. 48. an 4. V.C. 169. Nabuch 24. seven after the establishment of Solon's Laws A. M. 3420. Psammetichus 9. Periander being dead his Tyranny as it were tottered for three years and some six moneths during which time Psammetichus the son of Gordias brother to Periander or rather something akin to him held it as appeareth by (e) Politic. l. 5. c. 12. Aristotle who onely hath preserved his name to us from utter oblivion After his removal the power of one man was laid aside and the people put themselves into a Free-State which continued as long as the liberty of Greece it self The form thereof is not described to us by any antient Author onely this we know from (f) In Timoleonte Dione Plutarch that it was inclining more to Oligarchy than that of â—yracuse SECT 7. the power of the multitude being more bounded Yet for certain the Government was popular things of greatest consequence never being resolved on without the consent and decree of the people which kept those of highest concernment in its own power and if any other in the World was a friend to Antimonarchical liberty and an utter enemy to Monarchy where ever it was found in Greece For this City undertook many times great Wars for this very cause and not out of any ambitious design as is clear in the case of the Syracusians and others so that a Captain out of it was most desirable upon such an occasion as may hereafter be discovered SECT VII The antient Kingdom of Thebes 1. Boeotia had on the West Phocis on the East the Euboean Sea on the North the Eastern Locri and on the South Attica and Megaris The chief seat and Metropolis of this Country was Thebes the builder of which is not certainly known Calydnus Calydnus is reported first to have reigned here whence by a Poet of Chalcis it is called the Tower of Calydnus and in Hesychius Calydnaean is the same with Antient. After him was Ogyges A. M. 2244. or Ogygus Ogyges from whom Thebes by the Poets is called Ogygian and that great Ogygian Deluge is named which is said to have happened in his time 1020 years before the first Olympiad in the dayes of Phoroneus King of Argos as Africanus gathereth and so overwhelmed all the region of Attica that it made it inhabitable for 200 years as Pererius noteth Pausanias writeth In Boeoticis Atticis that he was King of the Ectenae the first Inhabitants of Thebais and that from his son Eleusine a famous Town in Attica took both Original and name as some were of opinion These Ectenae are reported to have been comsumed by Pestilence whom succeeded the Hyantes and Aonae that continued in those parts together with the Temmices who came from Sanium and the Leleges till Cadmus coming to Greece made himself Master of this place in the dayes of Corax King of Sicyon and Danaus of Argos 347 years after the beginning of Ogyges Cadmus 2. This Cadmus acccording to the tradition of the Greeks Apollod lib. 2. was son to Agenor the brother of Belus Uncle to Danaus and Aegyptus who coming out of Aegypt into Phoenice some 36 years before on his wife Telphassa begat three sons Cadmus Phoenix Cilix and a daughter named Europa This Europa Jupiter stole and carried over Sea into Crete in the likenesse of a Bull where he begat on her Minos Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon Diod. l. 4. p. 183. Asterius King of the Island afterwards married her and having no children of his own adopted her sons Herodotus telleth us that some Greeks Asterius perhaps Lib. 1. cap. 2. or some for him in revenge for what the Nation had formerly suffered from the Asiaticks in stealing away Ino went to Tyre and thence stole Europa the Kings daughter bringing her away in a ship whose ensign was a Bull whence occasion was given to feign that she was carried over upon a Bull 's back 3. Agenor sent out his three sons to seek their Sister Diod. lib. 4. p. 147. charging them never to return without her into Phoenicia Cadmus sailed first into the Island Callâ—sthe lying betwixt Crete and Callisthe where he left a Colony and thence into Thasus so named from Thasus one of his Companions Pausan l. 5. A. M. 2555. and head of another Colony left here and at length into Greece where in Boeotia being past all hope of finding his sister and consequently of returning into Phoenicia by the command of an Oracle he founded Thebes or re-edifying what was formerly built by Ogyges anew laid the foundation of the Castle which ever after from him retained the name of Cadmèa The Hyantae beaten by his Forces fled the night following into Phocis Strabo l. 9.
Syria most capable to receive his multitudes and opportune for the horse to charge in and for some time here he continued but Alexander delaying his march he was perswaded by his Courtiers that he dared not to adventure any further or look him in the face and because Winter approached he would lose no time and therefore sending away his money and stuff of most value with such as were not fit for War unto Damascus he hasted into Cilicia where he supposed Alexander to have possessed himself of the difficult passages as not daring to try battel in open field Supposing that he pretended sicknesse and hid himself in the straights he passed over the Mountain and went to Issus most imprudently passing by and leaving him at his back Taking this place and therein such of the Enemy as being sick and weak were there left he cut off their hands and then searing their Arms sent them away to tell their King what they had seen for he thought now the Enemy to have left Issus and fled for fear of him and for that reason hasted over the Hill Pinarus thinking to fall upon him in the Rear Alexander knowing for certain that he was passed by took thence occasion to encourage his Souldiers who now could not be overmatched by multitudes and sending a party of horse to view the straights returned thither by night and repossessed himself of them Then refreshing his men for the rest of the night he set a strong watch upon the Rock and in the morning went down into the path and set his Army in order for a battel The battel of Issus 34. This being done the Armies joyned ere long and Alexander seeing where Darius was made towards him which when Oxyathres the brother of Darius saw to prevent him he placed a Company of most valiant hors-men before the Chariot which cut off many of Alexander his men who pressed forwards But the Macedonians giving way to none in valour with great violence broke in amongst them and then a mighty slaughter followed and a great heap of Carkases lay before Darius his Chariot Many of the most noble Captains amongst the Persians fell some of the Macedonians and Alexander himself received a wound in his Thigh Darius his Chariot horses being wounded with spears began to fling threatned the overturning of him when fearing he should be taken alive he leaped out and mounting an horse ready for him he cast away his Royal apparel and shifted for himself after which his horse was put to the rout and ran away The Infantry discouraged herewith made no considerable opposition the great multitudes being unserviceable in so straight and precipitous a place and being put to the rout so hindred the flight and trode one another down that more damage accrued hence than from the meer strength of the Enemy Of the Persian horse Arrianus writeth 10000 to have been slain and of the foot 90000. with whom others consent as to the number of the horse but as to the foot there is little agreement some accounting more and others lesse 40000 are reported to have been taken 35. Of Alexander's men 504. Curtius saith were wounded 32 foot-men were slain and of hors-men 150. which some reckon lesse by 20. though another increaseth them to 300. Alexander following the Chace was forced to passe with his phalange over the Enemies dead bodies and with 1000 horse did great execution but was not able to reach Darius who rode upon a Mare that had a Foal left at home and therefore ran with more speed he being accustomed to have some kept for such necessities His Tents were easily taken and therein his Mother Wife Son and two daughters but of money not above 30000 Talents the rest being sent before-hand to Damascus The women hearing that Alexander was returned with the Robe of Darius made great lamentation which he understanding sent Leonatus to them to put them out of fear as to his death to promise them the maintenance of their former dignity and a Visit from him to be made the next morning As soon as it was light he went to them with Hephaestion his greatest favourite both whom when the Mother of Darius saw and knew not which was the King she made reverence to Hephaestion as seeming to her from the worth of his Clothes to be the greater person which when she understood to have been amisse was troubled at it and asked his pardon to which he answered smiling Be not troubled Mother for he also is Alexander A. M. 3672. Olymp. 111. ann 4. Darii 4. Alexand. 4. This battel of Issus was fought in the moneth Maemacterion Nicostratus or Nicocrates being Archon at Athens in the fourth year of the 111 Olympiad the foâ—â—th of the reign of Darius and the fourth of Alexander A. M. 3672. 36. Alexander after this victory marched for Syria and sent Parmenio before him to Damascus to seize upon Darius his Treasure Curtius lib. 3. which by Cophenes the Keeper thereof was betrayed into his hands and for that was rewarded with death by one of his Complices who sent his head to Darius Of Coyn here was found 2600 Talents besides 500 pound weight of Bullion and a World of other riches Of men and women 30000 were also taken with 7000 beasts that carried burthens Darius his Lieutenants revolt to Alexander Then was Parmenio sent to seize upon the Persian Fleet and others to take in the Cities of Syria which upon the report of the successe of the battel at Issus was easily done the Governours of Darius yielding themselves with their Treasures As Alexander travelled into Syria many petty Kings met him adorned with their Diadems Justin lib. 11. Curtius lib. 4. whereof some he received into friendship and others he deprived of their principalities as they had deserved of him When he came to the Citie Marathon he received Letters from Darius wherein he desired the ransom of his Wife Mother and Children with some other conditions of peace but such as rather became a Conquerour than one that had now been thrice shamefully beaten His offers scorned by Alexander not vouchsafing in his direction to Alexander the Title of King He disdained his offers justified his War from the invasion of Greece by the former Persian Kings and the treachery of Darius himself who hired one to murder him as Philip his father had formerly been by some set on by them He promised him his relations without Ransom if he would come himself as a Suppliant for them and safe conduct he both knowing as he said to overcome and shew favour to the Conquered And the next time he wrote he bad him remember that he did it not onely to a King but to his own King also 37. Alexander marched to Byblus Arrianus lib. 2. Curtius lib. 4. Justin lib. 11. which yielded to him upon composition and thence to Sidon the inhabitants of which being so hardly used formerly by Ochus in hatred
was fined 15000 Aera which sum in Silver made up 1500 Denarii For Ae s or brasse was then used for money and Denarius thence had the name for that it contained ten Asses thereof But within a while it fell out that Camillus was both missed any desired according to his wish 33. Many thousands of the Galls called Celtae finding their own Country too narrow for them with their wives and children left it to seek out new seats Some of them passing over the Sea pierced as far as the Riphaean mountains and placed themselves in the utmost limits of Europe others took up their habitation betwixt the Pyrenaans and the Alps near the Senones and Celtorii These a long time after having tasted of some Italian wine were furiously transported with a desire of inhabiting so rare a Soil as brought forth such fruit and passing over the Alps got into their power all that Country once belonging to the Etruscans and which reached from the Alps to both the Seas for that the Etruscans once inhabited all this Country Plutarch proveth thence that the Northern Sea was named Adriatick from Adria one of their Towns and the Southern Tyrrhenian from the Tyrrheni the same with Hetrusci At this time the posterity of those Galli Senones under the conduct of their King Brennus besieged Clusium a City of Hetruria The Galls besiege Clusium whose inhabitants sent to Rome desiring of that State to interpose by sending Ambassadors and Letters to their unjust oppressors The Senate performing this neighbourly part the Galls required part of the Territories of the Clusini who were as they said unable to manage them all and Brennus not condescending to any other conditions the Ambassadors all three of the Fabian family in great anger went into Clusium and caused the Inhabitants to make a sally out against the besiegers It hapned that in the fight Fabius Ambustus one of the three killing a Gall whilst he disarmed him was discovered whereupon Brennus conceiving just indignation broke up his Siege and marched towards Rome 34. Yet because he would not seem to proceed unjusty he sent thither requiring that the Ambassadors might be given up to him as having broke the Law of Nations But favour so far prevailed above equity that the matter being referred from the Senate to the People no satisfaction could be had from either Defeat the Romans at Alia nay the Ambassadors on the contrary were with three others created Tribunes Military for carying on the Warre Brennus then continuing his march and breathing revenge was met by the Tribunes at the River Alia eleven miles from the City who scarce striking one stroak quickly betook them to their heels and their Army after them The Galls persued them being amazed at the flight and cowardize of those who had already obtained for their valour a great name in the World but were astonished when they found the gates of Rome open and none upon the walls to make resistance for it had been resolved to quit the City and secure the Castel The greater part of the People departed into the adjoyning Country the rest possessed themselves of the Capitol all but certain old men of Senatorian degree who in their robes placed themselves in the Forum resolving to take such quarter as the disposition of the Enemy would afford them Brennus at first fearing some stratagem Come to Rome which is forsaken all but the Capitol after he perceived all to be clear entred the City His Soldiers were amazed to see the grave Senators sitting without fear in the Forum and hurt them not till one handling the long beard of M. Papirius the old man struck him with his staff upon the head whereupon the Gall slew him and then all the rest were killed with all of both Sexes and all ages that were found about the City which was also now burnt to the ground and the Capitol closely besieged 35. While the Galls lay before the Capitol A. M. 3615. Ol. 97. an 3. V. c. 364. Artax Mnemâ— 15. they carelesly demeaned themselves as secure of any Enemy and were scattered into the Country adjoyning Camillus at this time living in exile at Ardea procured the Inhabitants of that City to issue out upon them and killed many which the Romans who lay at Veii understanding chose him for their General desiring him to forget injuries and succour his distressed Country He objected his condition of banishment and refused to act except by commission from those in the Capitol whom he considered to be the body of the Roman State yet surviving There was one Pontius Cominius who undertook to procure him leave from their friends in the Capitol whither by a strange adventure he got Camillus made Dictator passing by the Enemy and swimming the River till he came to the Rock which then he made a shift to climbe and having procured the Senate to pronounce Camillus Dictator returned in the same manner By this time as well the besiegers as besieged were well wearied both parties for want of provisions and the Galls by reason of a Plague which raged amongst them so as having once attempted to surprize the Castel by climbing up the Rock they were discovered by the crying of the Geese consecrated to Juno and repelled by the valour of one Manlius especially they agreed for fifty pounds of Gold to rise and depart Yet so covetous were they that they took out the Gold as it was weighing and added to the weight which being complained of Brennus cast in his Sword also crying Vae victis which afterwards became a proverb But in the mean time came Camillus and nulling this compact as made without his consent who before was Dictator and therefore alone had power of making Peace overthrew them in fight and did such execution upon them in pursute Overthroweth them rescueth Rome as what remained of them was overpowered and cut off by the Country Thus Rome which was unexpectedly taken by the Galls about the Ides of the moneth Quinctilis was more unexpectedly recovered about the Ides of February so that as Plutarch writeth the Barbarians held it seven moneths in the 365 year of the City and the sixteenth of Artaxerxes Mnemon Hindereth the multitude from departing to Veii 36. The Tribunes now renewed their importunity about removing unto Veii which caused the Senate to procure Camillus his holding of the Office of Dictator though contrary to the custome for the whole year He with gentle language appeased the multitude shewing them how unworthy a thing it was to forsake the seat of their Ancestors and of their Country rites which were appropriate to the same place for to inhabit a conquered and enslaved City Then was Rome rebuilt in great haste whereby afterwards it became rather an heap of houses than a well ordered Town and that the watercourses formerly laid in the streets now ran for the most part under private houses Camillus having laid down his
the Principality of the Asmonaeans receiveth it's period and 6000 Horse The defendants with great earnestnesse and courage made resistance concermining and sometimes fighting with the Enemy in the ground though much straitned for provisions it being the Sabatical year 35. Force at length prevailed joyned with skil in both which the Romans excelled so that after five moneths twenty of the stoutest Soldiers and then Sosius his Centurion got over and the outward part of the Temple with the lower side of the City were taken and at length the other also where all were full of slaughters the Romans being enraged by the tediousnesse of the War and the Jews out of malice and particular grudges seeking to destroy all of the contrary Faction Antigonus came and fell on his knees before Sosius who received him with reviling speeches calling him Antigona Herod had much adoe to keep the Soldiers from entering the secret places of the Temple and to restrain them from slaughters demanding of Sosius if the Romans intended to make him King of a desert and adding that he should think the price of all that blood which was spilt to be very little though the Dominion of all the World should come into the bargain and at length was fain to redeem the City from further trouble by his own money wherewith he dismissed the Romans sufficiently inriched This disaster befel Jerusalem in the Consulship of M. Agrippa and Canidius Gallius and the last of the 185 Olympiad the third moneth in the fast and on the same day it had been taken by Pompey 27 years before Sosius consecrating a crown of gold to God went away with Antigonus unto Antony Idem ibid. l. 15. c. 1. Plutarch in Antonio Dio lib. 59. But Herod fearing that Antony carying him to Rome he should there obtain favour with the Senate as being of the Royal race and procure the Kingdom at their hands if not for himself yet for his children who never had ill deserved of the People of Rome he procured Antony to dispatch him out of the way who pretending at least the unquietnesse of the Jews for his sake caused him to be beheaded at Antioch And so the Principality of the Asmonaeans ceased after it had endured free from the yoak of Syria 98 years and Herod a man of forein and obscure birth was confirmed in the Soveraignty over Judaea by the Romans in the Empire of whom we shall hear further of him CHAP. VIII The affaires of Sicilie Contemporary with the Empire of the Macedonians From the death of Timoleon to the Sicilian or first Punick War containing the space of 73 years 1. THe constitutions of Timoleon being Popular and tending to the loose liberty of the Vulgar which was destitute of lawfully successive Princes Sicilie continued not in Peace many years being of all other places through want of lawful Monarchs most subject to the ambition and tyranny of those who though private Citizens through flattery and deceit enslaved their neighbours Amongst the rest Agathocles is most eminent none that ever in any time went before him The Original of Agathocles coming up to him or reaching him by far in cunning and cruelty He was the son of one Carcinus a Potter Diodorus Siculus lib. 19. ad Olymp. 115. ann 4. and brought up by his father in that trade of life who being banished from Rhegium in Italy his native soil came into Sicilie and placed himself at Thermae at that time subject to the Carthaginians Before he was born and when his mother was yet great with him the Delphick Oracle foretold that he should be the author of great calamities to the Carthaginians and also to all Sicilie and for that cause he was exposed by his father but preserved by his mother and reserved to such a time unknown to him as he repenting of what he had done gladly understood from her of his safety Being then again received by his father he was brought up in the trade of a Potter and was but young when Timeleon overthrew the Carthaginians at the River Cremissus and made all free of Syracuse that would come thither He was then with his father admitted into that City and not long after his father died but one Damas a chief Citizen being extraordinarily affected towards him for his comlinesse gave him whereon sufficiently to live and afterwards being created the Captain of the Agrigentines bestowed on him the place of a Colonel in the Army for that he was wont formerly in musters to wear those arms which none else could bear for their bignesse But now being advanced to this degree He is made a Colonel he rendred himself more popular by his bold adventurers and his making speeches often to the people and Damas dying he married his Widow whereby he got abundance of wealth A. M. 3688. Ol. 116. ann 4. V.C. 437. Ptol. Lagi 7. Afterwards it hapning that Crotone being besieged by the Brutii they of Syracuse sent relief thither which amongst other Captains was conducted by his brother Autander and he himself by decree of the people had also the Office of a Colonel But the Chief command was committed to Heraclides and Sosistratus the later of which out of envy defrauded him of the rewards of his valour which he now abundantly shewed whereat he was so inraged as to accuse him and his Companions to the people of affecting the Tyranny but they giving no credit to his words Sosistratus after his return seized on the Principality Liveth in Italy Agathocles then for some time continued in Italy and endeavouring to get Crotone into his power failed of his Enterprize and withdrew himself to Tarentum 2. He was received into pay amongst the Mercenaries but being suspected to attempt new matters was not long after again cashiered after which getting together a Company of Italian Fugitives he relieved Rheginum then set upon by Sosistratus and Heraclides and then Sosistratus being banished Syracuse together with his Authority returned thither where sometimes a private person otherwises an Officer he valiantly behaved himself against the Tyrant's faction in which the Carthaginians and a great number of the chiefest Citizens were ingaged Having once broke into the Citie Gela and there being overmatched by Sosistratus and the Towns-men so that he and his party were all of them in danger to be cut off Endangered at Gela. he sent his Trumpetters round about to the Walls commanding them to sound an Allarm whereby it came to passe as he intended that the Enemy thinking the besiegers had broken in from all quarters retired from him to repulse them and so he safely retreated this Sconce This businesse of Sosistratus being over and Acestorides the Corinthian Created General of the Syracusians Agathocles was suspected because of his politick head Suspected to affect the Tyranny and banished to affect the Tyranny yet Acestorides would not take him of publickly for raising new stirs but commanding him to depart the
boldly was dismissed with a very dissatisfactory answer at his coming in having had * Valer. Max. lib. 2. cap. 5. Exemp 5. Urine thrown upon him or one of his companions War therefore was decreed against the Tarentines and committed to the management of L. Aemilius the Consul who first indeavoured by fair means to reclaim them and when that could not do it wasted their Territories with fire and sword revenging their insolence with cruelty as Orosius writeth for which service he triumphed the year after his Consulship as appeareth out of an old inscription The Tarentines finding themselves too weak for the encounter sent to Pyrrhus King of Epirus for aid whom they had formerly assisted against the Corcyraeans They send for Pyrrhus King of Epirus Plutarch in Pyrrho The multitude were of themselves rather inclined to peace but a certain company of men by Greek Authors called Demagogi from their leading of the people would not let them rest till they had resolved upon the War whereupon they sent Ambassadors to Pyrrhus who not onely in their name but of other Italians also Presented him with gifts and signified that they stood in need of a General Eminent both for abilities and reputation Italy it self being able to furnish them with forces out of the Countreys of the Lucanians Messapians and Samnites The King being of a restlesse spirit incouraging himself in vain hopes whereby he grasped as it were the Empire of all the West promised them to come over with an Army A. M. 3725. Ol. 125. ann 1. V.C. 474. Seleucidarum 33. Antiochi Soceris 3. Ptol. Philadelph 5. and dispatched before him with 3000 men One Cineas a Thessalian an excellent Orator and Scholar of Demosthenes He afterwards took the Sea himself with twenty Elephants 3000 horse and 22 foot besides 500 Archers and Slingers but upon the Main was seized with such a Tempest that his Fleet being severed many Vessels were lost he was forced to leap out into the water and with great hazard got to Land and onely at present two Elephants a very few hors-men and about 2000 foot could be recovered from the shipwrack by the Messapians upon the Coasts of whom they were cast 10. Pyrrhus did nothing without the consent of the Tarentines till his ships and the greater part of his Army arrived Idem ibid. then taking notice how they minded nothing but bathing and feasting he shut up the publick meeting places restrained them from walking in which exercise they were wont to discourse idly concerning War and forbidding drinking and Games called them to Arms making Levies of the youth with some rigour and severity Valerius Laevinus the Consul hasting to give him battel ere the assistance of the Confederates came he drew out his Army to him but before they should joyn sent to him offering himself an Umpire betwixt the Romans and their adversaries to which Valerius answered that they neither cared for him as an Umpire nor feared him as an Enemy and taking his Spies he caused them to be led throughout the Camp and then bade them return and tell him what they had seen Eutrop. Pyrrhus pitched his Tents betwixt Pandosa and Heraclea a Town situate betwixt Tarentum and Metaponius built by the Tarentines The Romans beyond the River Siris not Liris a River of Campania as Florus and Orosius write who also draw Heraclea out of that part of Magna Graecia lying upon Siris Metapontus into Campania In the fight Pyrrhus had his horse killed under him by one Obsidius a Ferentane who was slain in the place by his followers This made him change Armour with one near to him who being made at for him and struck down his Armour was taken from off him and being carried about by the Romans in token of his death struck such a terrour into his Soldiers that it had cost him the victory but that he seasonably with some labour made himself known Whilest the victory seemed yet to be doubtfull or rather to incline toward the Romans the Elephants being brought into the battel decided the controversie Till the passing of Alexander into the East this beast had been talked of but never seen by the Europaeans nor them of Asia except the Indians and their neighbours as also the Southern Africans Homer describeth the houses of rich men to have been adorned with Ivory but as * Exemp vide in Atticis p. 11. Justin l. 18. Pausanias noteth never mentioneth the beast The Romans themselves were amazed not knowing what they were Who defeateth Laevinus the Consul by the help of his Elephants but the fault is laid upon their horses which not enduring the smell nor bignesse of the Elephants broke their Ranks which opportunity the King took and sending his horse in amongst the Romans thus disordered put them to the rout He got but a bloudy victory he himself being wounded and a great part of his men slain though of the numbers on either side Writers do not agree 11. Having taken prisoners 1800 of the Romans Eutrop. ut priùs Plutarch he used them with great civility and buried their dead whom observing to be wounded all before and to be with stern countenances he lifted up his eyes and said He could have been Master of all the world if he had had but such Soldiers Marcheth towards Rome After this having received the Auxiliaries of the Samnites Lucani and Brutii he marched towards Rome as far as Praeneste a Town 18 miles distant from the Citie wasting all with fire and sword in his passage Hearing that the Romans were busie in recruiting their Army he considered it was most creditable for him to make peace with them being he had no hopes to subdue them and for that purpose sent Cineas to feel their minds a man so powerfull in the art of Rhetorick that the King acknowledged him to have stormed more Cities by his tongue Sendeth about a peace which Appius Claudius hindereth than he had ever done by force of Arms. Cineas presented the principal Citizens and their Wives with gifts from Pyrrhus but they refused them When he had something wrought upon the Senate to make a peace and admit Pyrrhus into the Citie Appius Claudius now blind came in and by an Oration recorded by Plutarch procured the contrary The Ambassadour at his return being asked what he thought of Rome answered that the Senate seemed to him as a Council of so many Kings After Cineas his return the Romans sent to Pyrrhus about redeeming of prisoners amongst others C. Fabricius a man of great note for virtue and poverty The King being informed by Cineas concerning his disposition offered him Gold which when he refused with great resolution to try his gravity the next day as they were talking together he commanded the greatest Elephant he had to be set behind the hanging and then on a sudden the Tapestry being removed the beast held his proboscis over Fabricius his head
Nero disswaded it judging it better to secure them till Cataline were suppressed and the thing better sifted out Of this opinion was C. Julius Caesar something suspected to be privy to the design He would have them dispersed in several Towns in Italy by the Consul's appointment afterwards to be tried and not put to death altogether unheard This seemed very plausible till Cato great Grand-son to M. Porcius Cato the Censor very earnestly pressed the contrary falling foul upon Caesar as a suspicious person Fourth Then the Consul made his fourth Oration wherein he so disputeth of the two contrary opinions as he evidently inclineth to severity as fearing what the guilty party might do the night following out of necessity and desperation Catalines complices put to death Hereby the Senate was induced to put them to death as surprized in the fact which Cicero saw done accordingly ere the house arose After this Cataline was overtaken by C. Antonius the other Consul near the Alps as he was going into Gall to perfect his Levies and there fighting most valiantly was slain And he himself slain His men also fought it out to the last scarcely one of them being taken So was quasht this most dangerous conspiracy by the vigilancy especially of Cicero the Consul who wrote an History thereof which is lost Publick thanks for his great care and pains were given to him and at the instance of Cato with divers acclamations of the People he was first of all others stiled Father of his Countrey C. Julius Caesar beginneth to be eminent 43. Now began C. Julius Caesar to be very eminent two years after these stirs being sent as Praetor into the further Spain Lege Suttonium in Julio He was born in the 654 year of the Citie C. Marius the sixth time and L. Valerius Flaccus being Consuls the same that the Sedition about Saturninus hapned on the 12th day of the moneth Quinctilis afterward from him named July by Antonius his Law His birth His father was C. Julius Caesar who never arose higher than the Praetorship and died suddenly at Pisae as his shooes were drawing on in the morning his mother was Aurelia the daughter of C. Cotta and Julia the wife of Marius was his Aunt In his youth having married Cinna's daughter by which he had Julia refusing to put her away he was in great danger being with much ado spared by Sylla who as it were foretelling what trouble he would bring to the State said that in Caesar were many Marii The foundation of his Military skill he laid in Asia The foundation of his Military skill under M. Thermus the Praetor by whom being sent into Bithynia to fetch away the Navy he stayed with Nicomedes the King to whom it was suspected that he prostituted himself Afterwards in the taking of Mitylene he had deserved well and served under Servilius Isauricus in Cilicia but not long For hearing of Sylla's death and hoping to make his fortune out of the dissentions raised by Lepidus home he came but not finding a convenient oppportunity and having to no purpose accused Dolobella to shun the Envy thereby contracted he went to Rhodes to hear Apollonius whence sayling in Winter he fell into the hands of the Pirates and was forced to purchase his freedom with fifty Talents to revenge which he procured some ships took some of them whom he nailed to Crosses though without leave from the Praetor who would have sold them After this he gave a stop to Mithridates his Lieutenant and saved divers Cities in Asia He assisted Pompey the Consul and others Made Quaestor in restoring the Tribuneship which Sylla had broken Shortly after he was made Quaestor and sent into further Spain where going about to administer Justice he came to Gades and saw Alexanders image in the Temple of Hercules It troubled him exceedingly to consider that he himself had done no memorable thing at that age wherein Alexander had Conquered the World and thereupon he earnestly desired to be recalled that being in the Citie he might catch at some opportunity for his own advancement Joyneth with factious persons 44. Having got leave to return ere his time was out he joyned presently with the Latine Colonies in demanding the freedom of the Citie and had incited them to some desperate design but that the Senate for fear of the worst retained the Legions some time which were raised for Cilicia He was suspected to have been of the party of M. Crassus of P. Sulla also and Autronius who having been designed Consuls were found to have indirectly sought for the Office and so according to Law forfeited their places to the discoverers in the beginning of the year to set upon the Senate and kill whom they pleased Crassus being made Dictator he was to have been Master of the hors-men under him and all things being ordered according to their pleasure the Consulship was to have been restored to the other two â—ome have affirmed whom Suetonius citeth that he also conspired with Cn. Piso that the one in the Citie and the other abroad should rise which was prevented by Piso's death Made Aedilis Being after this Aedilis he so managed the businesse of publick buildings and shews that all was ascribed to him and nothing to his Collegue by which means and others he procured the favour of the People and essayed by the Tribunes to get Egypt assigned to him which now having expelled the King he thought would affoard him an opportunity of an extraordinary command But he was crossed by the great ones whom that he might vex he restored the Trophies erected by Marius over the Cimbri which Sulla had caused to be pulled down and suborned those who accused Rabirius By his means especially the Senate had suppressed Saturninus the seditious Tribune and now being brought before Caesar as his Judge he was so severe against him that nothing so much helped the man in his appeal from him to the People 45. After his repulse as to Egypt he stood for the High-Priesthood and by large sums such corruption were those times arrived at bought so many voices as he carried it from two most powerfull men and his Seniors Getteth by bribery the High Priesthood having more suffrages out of their two Tribes than they had out of all the rest besides Then being Praetor he stood for the complices of Cataline so earnestly as he drew to his party the brother of Cicero the Consul and diverse others After this he assisted Caecilius Metellus the Tribune in preferring turbulent Laws till both of them by a decree of the Senate were displaced and yet then would he sit and execute his Office still till forced to withdraw then out of policy he restrained the multitude which flocked to him Joyneth again with seditious men and offered to restore him by strong hand of which the Senate taking notice gave him thanks with great commendations and re-invested
to Rome his brother made him a feast wherein were served up 2000 several dishes of fish the daintiest that could be found and 7000 sorts of fowl But he far exceeded this preparation at the Dedication of the Great Platter which he called Minerva's Target in which were mixed together the livers of Guilt-heads brains of Pheasants and Peacocks with the tongues of Phaenicopters and the small guts of Sea-Lampries fetched as far as the Carpathian Sea and the Straights of Gibraltar He would also eat meat taken from the hearth in time of sacrifice and fetched from Victualling houses either smoaking made ready the day before or half eaten And cruel 5. He was prone to the killing of any person and for any cause whatsoever Noble-men his School-fellows and contemporaries he deceitfully made away by degrees To one in a Feaver desiring a draught of cold water he gave poyson in it with his own hands He scarcely ever spared any of his creditors or others that asked him the money he ought One of them saluting him he sent away to be put to death and presently again calling him back for which the by-standers commended his clemency he caused him to be killed before his eyes saying that he would satiate his eyes with the slaughter of him and another that interceded for him he put to death with his two sons A certain Knight whom he commanded to be slain to save his life told him he had made him his heir whereupon he commanded his will to be produced in which finding that the man's Freedman was made coheir with him he caused them both to be put to death He was most cruel towards Mathematicians because they foretold his reign would be but short And to compleat all he was suspected to have killed his mother These vices onely seemed to put him in mind of his condition for else so great a stupidity had seized on him that if others had not known him to be the Prince he himself would quickly have forgot it He accounted all sharp that was wholesom liking of nothing but what was pleasant and fortifying himself onely with mirth and sottishnesse against all dangers he forgot all things past and regarded nothing present or to come not a word of Warre proceeded from him Vespasian put upon seeking the Empire the rumour and talk of which was forbidden in the City But he was within a short time rouzed by the coming of the forces of Vespasian who was by others put upon seeking the Empire being then Judaea 6. Vespasian that we may now prosecute the History of his actions in that Country after Titus had brought the Army to Ptolemais our of Aegypt His acts in Judaea Josephus de bello lib. 3. c. 5. c. with his forces united set upon Galile and at the first onset took Gedara which was burnt and destroyed Thence removing to Jotapata on the 21 day of May he took it by storm after 40 dayes though stoutly defended by Joseph the Historian Joseph was taken and kept to be sent prisoner to Nero but desiring to speak with Vespasian foretold him that he should loose him out of captivity but as Emperour After this bestowing his Armie at Caesarea and Scythopolis to refresh the Legions he himself went to Caesarea Philippi where he was entertained by Agrippa the King for twenty dayes Then went he about to subdue Tiberias and Tarichaea whereof the former yielded and was spared at the request of the King Idem l. 4. c. 1 2 c. but the later was taken by force and destroyed After this were Gamala Giscala and the Hill Itaburium taken and all Galile being reduced Vespasian and Titus returned to Caesarea The Jews fall out amongst themselves 7. The Jews were now imbroyled in civil dissentions whilst some desired Peace and others would not hear a word of it Idem ibid. c. 5 6. Parties were made and fought in every City and rash young men prevailed every where against the grave and elder sort who foresaw the calamity At first they robbed one another singly but at length turned thieves in whole troops committing such cruelties as equalled the misfortune received from the Romans At last the thieves loaded with plunder brake into Jerusalem where they not onely consumed the provisions of the People but filled the City with slaughters rapines and dissentions They cast the principal of the Citizens into prison and then put them to death unheard pretending that they intended to betray the City to the Romans yet for all this wickednesse they boasted of zeal for the Law of God and customs of their Country and thereupon were called Zealots Horrid outrages committed by the Zealots The People being about to rise against them they betook themselves to the Temple where they made one Phanias an ignorant fellow High-Priest though he was not of the order of Priests but they were opposed by Ananus who procured the People to rise against them and beat them into the inner part Hereupon they sent to the Idumaeans accusing Ananus of an intention to betray their Counntry and forasmuch as they fought for the liberty thereof and now were besieged they implored their assistance Twenty thousand came and being let into the City together with the Zealots committed horrid outrages against the Inhabitants They slew 8000 the first night and afterwards other 1200 of the chiefest amongst whom was Ananus besides an infinite number of the common sort then at length the Idumaeans perceiving the wickednesse of the Zealots and that they had falsely accused the Nobility set at liberty 2000 which they had imprisoned and returned home After their departure the Zealots renewed their slaughters and raged more cruelly than ever especially against such as they had found attempting to flye to the Romans 8. But they presently after fell out amongst themselves Idem l. 5. c. 3 4 5 6 c. by reason of one John who with a seditious party holding Giscala pretended to receive the conditions given him by Titus and stole away to Jerusalem There becoming the great Incendiary he now affected soveraign power but he was withstood by such as before this had been equal to him Though they thus disagreed yet herein they consented to spoil the People and Jerusalem being thus filled with tumults those that were without the City had liberty to rob and spoil and those whose Towns were hereby destroyed assembled together in the Wildernesse and uniting brake into other Temples and Towns so that there was no place in Judaea All Judaea languisheth in an unheard-of manner which did not languish in an unheard-of manner together with the mother City Vespasian excited by the seditious and intreated by the fugitives to save their Country prepared for the siege of Jerusalem and that he might not leave an Enemy at his back took in Gadara where 13000 were put to the Sword and all other places beyond the River except the Castle of Macheron He
great Grandfather on the mother's side the second time by Lucius Commodus and the third by Pius He made Lucius the son of Lucius Commodus by whom he was adopted the second time partner with him in the Empire as his brother and six moneths after having a son born to him on the Calends of September named him Commodus after his said adoptive father Marcus and Lucius were the first two that ever joyntly and with equal power and authority ruled the Empire being very contrary in disposition though through the goodnesse and prudence of the former they maintained concord betwixt themselves Marcus notwithstanding his publick place was so in love with the liberal Sciences that he would frequent the Lectures of Philosophers Lucius having little capacity and lesse affection for such matters gave himself up to luxury and idlenesse onely so far restraining himself as his interest compelled him to comply with his Collegue although he might have been diverted from such courses by the Wars For Vologesus King of Parthia brake into Armenia Cappadocia and Syria laying all waste before him overthrew the Roman Army and put to flight Attidius Cornelianus who at that time governed Syria Against him Lucius was sent and by his Captains did very great things not onely for the recovery and relief of those places but also in Assyria For he therein took Seleucia situate upon the River Hidaspes with 400000 persons for which he triumphed with his brother But after they had reigned eleven years Lucius died of an Apoplexy as he rode with his Collegue in the same Chariot 22. As for the disposition and carriage of Marcus both as a Heathen Man and a Prince he scarcely ever had his Superiour in goodnesse and virtue Being extraordinarily learned upon which account he was sirnamed Philosophus he abounded according to the dictates of right reason with moderation justice and clemency For the maintenance of his Wars that he might not be burthensom to his subjects he sold several things to raise money The head of Avidius Cassius who having rebelled against him was slain in the East being sent to him he caused it presently without any insulting language to be buried Marcus giveth the freedom of the Citie to all Aurel. Victor telleth us that in his time the freedom of the Citie was promiscuously given to all so that Cambden seemeth mistaken who writeth that by the ordinance of Pius as many as were in the Roman World became Citizens of Rome This freedom of the Citie was wont to be given either with privilege of suffrage or without The first that had it without suffrage were the Caerites We understand saith Gellius Lib. 16. cap. 13. that the Caerites were first made Municipes without the right of suffrage and that it was granted to them that they should receive the honour of the Roman Citie but be freed from businesse and burthens for that they received and kept the sacra or idols in the Gallick war Freedom of the Citie various Paterculus also telleth us that in the Consulship of Sp. Posthumius and Veturius Calvinus Campanis data est civitas partique Samnitium sine suffragio and in the same place M. Curio Rufino Cornelio Coss Sabinis sine suffragio data civitas What Municipium was and who Municipes is worthy of consideration In the time of Gellius it appears from him that those words were much in use but nothing understood For such as were of Colonies would call both themselves and their Countreymen Municipes which saith he is far distant from reason and truth Even so what Muncipi are and how much they differ from a Colony we are ignorant and we think that Colonies are in a better condition than they 23. Of this opinion so full of errour Adrian the Emperour learnedly discoursed in his Oration which he made in the Senate concerning the Italicenses or Inhabitants of Italica in Spain as they were called from whom he himself descended He wondred that the Italicenses and other antient Municipia amongst whom he named them of Utica when they might live according to their own customes and laws were tickled with a desire to be changed into the condition of Colonies He said that the Praenestines earnestly desired of Tiberius to be altered from the state of a Colony to that of a Municipium and that the Emperour granted it in consideration that under the Walls of their Town he had recovered from a deadly disease Municipes therefore so Gellius concludeth are Roman Citizens of the Municipia using their own freedom and Laws onely partakers of honourable imployment Muneris honorarii with the Roman people from undertaking which imployment à quo munere capessendo they seem to be named being bound by no other necessities nor by any Law of the Roman people for as much as their Land never belonged to it Then proceedeth he to distinguish in the matter of the Caerites betwixt such Municipes as had right of suffrage and not for if there had been no such distinction he would never have said The first Municipes we understand to have been made without right of suffrage were Caerites For a more clear discovery of the relations of other places unto Rome we shall observe this four-fold distinction of privileges There was 1 Jus Civitatis The several sorts of Privileges 2 Jus Municipii 3 Jus Coloniae 4 Jus Latii Jus Civitatis was freedom of the Citie and we find in Paterculus that it was cum suffragio sine suffragio Jus Civitatis Jus Municipii Jus Municipii we find in Gellius to have also been freedom of the Citie for Municipes were also called Cives Romani and were named Municipes a muneribus capiendis or capessendis there was also as appeareth from Gellius Jus Muncipii cum sine suffragio Jus Civitatis therefore Jus Municipii seem to have differed little the former was larger respecting single persons sometimes absolutely considered without relation to any place that was related to Rome as a Municipium For single persons Ambassadors or others have had the freedom of the Citie bestowed on them primarily without respect to any place at all who perhaps could not be called Municipes because such seem to have been proper and onely Free-men of Municipia and not otherwise than mediately to have been free of Rome The power or right of suffrage will not suffer us to imagine that because Gellius calleth the imployment of the Municipes munus honorarium therefore it was but titular For by the right of suffrage they had power to assemble in the Comitia and Vote in their Tribes Centuries and Curiae as the occasion required and hence doubtlesse were capable of honorable Offices And the word it self though sometimes it may be expounded Titular as the Consuls after Constantines time or rather Consulares as they are called in * Lib. 6. epist 20. Cassiodorus and their Office Consularitas are termed Consules
of Adrian in the * Lib. 4. c. 25. words of Melita Bishop of Sardis who wrote an Apology to the Emperour and also * C. 13. exemplifieth the Epistle it self This letter also of M. Antoninus Philosophus is extant in the most antient Copy of the Vatican library in the end of Justin Martyr's works added by some studious and well-affected person first translated into Greek out of Latin and again into Latin out of Greek most accurately as we are informed by Syâ—burgius in his Annotations upon Justin Martyr But the Emperour being called into Pannonia for the finishing of the War there and passing into Sarmatia fell sick Hereupon seriously bethinking himself what might happen to the Empire in the minority of his son these parts being not fully reduced to obedience especially in case he should degenerate from the worth of his ancestors and give himself up to luxury and cruelty he called his friends together and seriously commended him unto them to be advised and assisted for the best After this he lived but one day and a night to the grief of all men He died at Vendebona the 17 of March in the 58 year of his age M. Aurelius dieth and of his Empire the 19 the 932 of the City A.D. 180. Arrius Praeseus the 2 time and Aelius Gordianus being Consuls Commodus 31. Herodianus l. 1. Olymp. 239. an 4. V. C. 932. A. D. 180. Commodus his son for whose sake Dio maketh the Physicians to have killed him succeeded him having two years before been made a Consul through a dispensation with the Lex Annaria as Lampridius writeth although it seemeth something strange that this Law could take place upon those to whom the title of Augustus was not denied Being owned by the Army for some time he governed according to the direction of his Father's friends but being obnoxious to flatterers by reason of his youth who sought to make their own ends out of him he shotly after contrary to the judgement of his best Counsellors made a dishonourable Peace with the Enemy and away he went to enjoy the pleasures of Rome where he was joyfully received for his fathers sake his beatuty also much commending him to the eye For a time he here also harkned to his fathers friends but making one Perennius an old Soldier Captain of his Guards he being excessively covetous allured him at first by pleasures to idlenesse and neglect of businesse then governing all himself he falsely accused them and others of the richer sort that he might seize on their estates This his design was furthered by Lucilla the Emperour's sister who grudging that Crispina Commodus his wife should take place of her entered into a conspiracy against her brother and ingaged one Quadratus a young Noble man therein who perswaded Quintianus to kill Commodus His difficulties But he meeting him had no power to do the deed onely shewing his dagger said The Senate sends thee this and so was apprehended and put to death with his complices These words concerning the Senate thus foolishly spoken never went out of the Emperours mind but made him suspect all the Fathers which advantage Perennius took and perswaded him to kill all the chiefest of them This being performed this man affected the Soveraignty but was in good time discovered both he and his sons whom he had sent into Illyricum to draw the Legions to revolt and received their reward 32. Commodus to prevent the too great power of one man put two into his place Cleander and Niger for the time to come and yet presently after had more plots laid for his life There was one Maternus who practising the trade of robbery got a great company of Highway-men together and making himself Captain of a considerable Army wasted Gall and Spain and thence repelled resolved to venture for the Soveraignty it self Having but little hope to obtain it by force because of the People and the Pretorian bands he betook him to his wits At that time the Annual solemnity was kept in honour of the mother of their gods wherein it was lawful for Soldiers or any other to imitate Magistrates or their Officers Taking this opportunity he sent some of his Soldiers privily armed to get amongst the Sargeants and Officers of the Emperour and so to kill him but being betrayed by his own party he and his plot both miscaried After this succeeded a terrible Pestilence accompanied with a Famine which Cleander a Phrygian one who from a slave came into greatest power made an occasion to advance himself He bought up all the Corn thinking by a largesse thereof to purchase the Empire of the Soldiers and People but these rising against him as the cause of the Dearth and Plague too after that with great difficulty by reason of his power the matter was revealed to Commodus he also received his reward These things caused the Emperour to be jealous of all men to cast off all care of State affaires and giving ear to every back-biter to kill any Hence also no persons of worth being admitted into his presence he was ruled by dissolute companions and fell more and more into disorder 33. He turned chariot-driver Idem ibid. Orosius l. 7. c. 16. and spent his time in killing beasts with darts and other unworthy exercises He was the best markesman that ever was known scarcely ever missing any mark he aimed at He publickly killed multitudes of wild beasts upon the theatre amongst the rest a Panthere which just being about to devour a man he hit and slew in the nick of time as she was about to seize on him In stead of Commodus the son of Marcus he commanded himself to be called Hercules the son of Jupiter Casting off the usual Robe of Princes in complyance with that name he would lye on a Lyons skin and have a club in his hand yet he would wear purple garments and cloath of Gold His cariage To his former title he added Amazonian and Conquerour Rome he stilled Immortal and Fortunate and the World His Colony A great fire hapened in the City which burned that excellent Library gathered by his Praedecessors with the Temple of Peace and other buildings which accident as the People accounted an ill omen so they laid the guilt upon him knowing well his practices which he never strove to conceal Though his throwing of darts upon the theatre much derogated from the Imperial Majesty they were indifferently pleased with it but when he came naked upon the stage and acted the common fencer it seemed intolerable At length at the Feast of Janus resolving not to proceed from his Palace as Emperour but as a Fencer from the fencing School attended with such like to the view of the People this occasioned his end 34. For this his resolution being known to his Friends Martia his beloved Concubine Laetus his General and Electus his Chamberlain laboured with all intreaties to divert him from so shameful a
and fully reduced into a Province before Cambden wisheth to remember That the Romans had by antient custom in their Provinces Kings as the instruments of their bondage that the Britains even then refused to obey Commodus and that they themselves possessed and held freely those parts of the Island which were beyond the aforesaid wall and had there Kings of their own and that Antoninus Pius a few years before having put an end to War permitted Kingdoms to be ruled by their own Kings and Provinces by their own Comites He citeth Tertullian who much about this time wrote that Those places amongst the Britains which yielded the Romans no accesse are now subdued unto Christ Britain is inclosed within the compasse of the Ocean The Nation of the Mauri and the barbarous Getulians are beset by the Romans for fear they might passe beyond the limits of their Countries What should I speak of the Romans who with Garrisons of their Legions fortifie their Empire neither are they able to extend the power of their Dominion beyond these very Nations But the Kingdom and Name of Christ reacheth further still it is believed in every place and is worshipped of all those People above named c. 43. But our Ecclesiastical Writers thus Cambden proceedeth who have imployed both time and diligence in the consideration of this point endeavour and labour to prove and that out of antient Fathers of credit that before this time in the very dawning and infancy of the Church Britain had received Christian Religion and namely that Joseph of Arimathea a Noble Senator sailed out of Gall into Britain and that Claudia Rufina the wife of Aulus Pudens which woman as is credibly thought St. Paul nameth in his later Epistle to Timothy and whom the Poet Martial so highly commendeth was a Britain born They cite the testimony of Dorotheus who commonly goeth under the name of the Bishop of Tyre who in his Synopsis hath recorded that Simon Zelotes having travelled through Mauritiana was at last slain and buried in Britain as also that Aristobulus whom St. Paul mentioneth in his Epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britain to which Nicephorus inclineth notwithstanding he speaketh of Britiana and not of Britania They report likewise upon the authority of Simeon that great Metaphrast and of the Menology of the Greeks that St. Peter came hither and spread abroad the Light of Gods Word out of Sophronius also and Theodoret that St. Paul after his second imprisonment in Rome visited this our Country Whereupon * Transiit Oceanum qua facit insula portum Quasque Britannus habet terras quasque ultima Thule Venantius Fortunatus wrote of him except he speaketh of his Doctrine if he may be believed as a Poet. But to this purpose saith our Author maketh especially that which ere-while I alleged out of Tertullian as also that which Origen recordeth how The Britains with one consent imbraced the Faith and made way themselves to God by means of the Druidae who did alwaies beat upon this Article of Belief That there is but one God And verily of great moment is that with me which Gildas writeth after he had mentioned the rebellion of Boodicia and treated of the revenge thereof In the mean while saith he Christ that true sun shining with his most glittering brightnesse upon the universal World not from the temporal skie and firmament but even from the highest cope of Heaven exceeding all times vouchsafed first his beams that is to say his precepts and doctrine in the time as we know of Tiberius Caesar unto this frozen Island full of ice and lying out as it were in a long tract of earth remote from the visible Sun Chrysostome likewise to note so much by the way writeth of the Christian Religion in this Island as followeth The British Islands seated without this Sea and within the very Ocean have felt the power of the Word for even there also be Churches founded and Altars erected of that Word I say which is planted in the Souls and now also in the lips of all People And the same Chrysostome in another place How often have People in Britain fed of mans flesh but now with fasting they refresh the Soul Likewise St. Hierome The Britain divided from our World if he proceed in Religion leaving the Western parts towards the Suns setting will seek Jerusalem a City known to him by form onely and relation of Scriptures 44. As for Hereticks which lived in the time with the forementioned Bishops Hereticks and the reigns of Marcus and Commodus There were the Secundians called so from Secundus who together with Epiphanes and Isidorus taught the same with Valentinus In life they were beastly all women among them were common they denied the resurrection of the flesh Ptolomaeus of whom were named the Ptolomaei Epiphan August de haeresibus Euseb taught the heretical opinions of the Gnosticks and of Valentinus adding thereunto of his own certain heathenish doctrines out of Homer Marcus of whom the Marcosii Colorbasus of whom the Colorbasii and Heracleon of whom the Hereticks were called Heracleonites sacrifized with witchcraft to amaze their auditory they pronounced Hebrew words Many women coming to Church under colour of receiving the power of Prophecy from them confessed they were abused by them Marcus ran away with another mans wife They poured oyl and water upon the head of the deceased hoping so to redeem them They said that the life and generation of man consisted in seven Starrs that Christ suffered not indeed and that there was no resurrection of the flesh Alcibiades refraining the use of Gods Creatures Euseb l. 5. c. 3. was reformed by Attalus the Martyr Archonitici Hereticks in Palestine referred all things unto mans powers They said the Sabbath was the God of the Jews and the Devil the son of the Sabbath (b) L. 4. c. 27. Tatianus the Scholar of Justin Martyr gave original to the Encratitae so called from continencie For they abhorred mariage forbad the use of living creatures offered water instead of wine in the Sacrament and denied that Adam was saved Severus of whom were named the Severians added to the opinions of Tatianus reviling Paul rejecting his Epistles and the Acts of the Apostles He said that a woman was of the Devil that man from the midle upwards was of God and beneath of the Devil Apelles Pontinus and other Marcionites about this time also disturbed the Peace of the Church 45. Epiphan Aug. There were also certain Hereticks of Galatia and Cappadocia called Pepuzians as also Quintiliani and Priscilliani because they said that Christ in form of a woman being the bed-fellow of Quintilla or Pricilla revealed unto her Divine Mysteryes Women were Priests amongst them and their sacrifices were alike to the Montanists of which Sect they seem to have been seeing also his Prophetesses were of the Town Pepuza Artotyritae were Hereticks which offered bread and cheese in the Sacrament
the Barbarians and Romans which Bassianus afterwards increased When he had in some sort repressed the Rebels he sickned not so much out of any bodily distemper as for grief and sorrow of mind by reason of the desperate and unreclaimable demeanour of his son Antoninus who once or twice gave the attempt to kill him with his own hand Here he dieth These were his last words A troubled State of the Commonwealth I found in every place but I leave it in peace and quietnesse even amongst the Britains He died at Eboracum now called York having tried as he * Omnia fui nihil expedit said all sorts of lives and condemned all of vanity on the day before the Nones of February having reigned 18 years and almost lived 66. A. V. C. 964. A. D. 211. Q. Epidius Rufus and Pomponius Bassus being Consuls 8. Severus his body was in a Military sort carried forth by his Soldiers to the funeral fire and honoured with a solemn justing and running at tilt performed by his Sons and Soldiers He was also Canonized a god after the ordinary manner of the Apotheosis of the Roman Emperours which being not formerly touched its convenient in this place to describe as we have it from Herodian A custom saith he Lib. 4. ad initium the Romans have to consecrate those Emperors that die their sons or successors surviving And whosoever are thus honoured be canonized and registred in the Roll of their Divi or gods During this complement they hold a general mourning through the whole City and the same mixed with a festival solemnity The manner of the Apotheosis of the Roman Emperours For the dead body they bury with a sumptuous funeral according to the manner of other men But they frame an Image of wax resembling in all points the party deceased and lay the same openly at the Entry of the Palace upon a most ample and stately bed of Ivory erected on high and covered with Cloath of Gold And verily that Image lieth with a pale colour like unto a sick man About the bed there sits a good part of the day the whole body of the Senate on the left hand arrayed in their blacks and on the right hand certain Matrones honorable by the Dignity of their Husbands or Parents And there is not one of them seen to wear any Gold about them nor to be adorned with Jewels but clad in white and slender Garments they represent mourners This they do for seven dayes together during which time the Physicians resort dayly to him to feel his pulse and consider of his disease and thereupon as of their Patient judicially pronounce that he groweth worse and worse Then when he seemeth to be dead certain of the noblest and most choice young men as well of Senatorian as Equestrian rank take up the bed and carry it through the Via Sacra into the old Forum where the Roman Magistrates were wont to lay down their Offices Here on both sides are certain steps raised in manner of stairs upon which on the one hand are placed a quire of boyes of noblest birth and Patritian dignity and on the other a Company of women of noble parentage singing in commendation of the deceased Prince Hymns and Sonets tuned to a solemn and mournfull note 9. These things done they take up the bed or hearse again and carry it out of the City into the Campus Martius where in the broadest place thereof a frame or turret four-square with equal sides is raised and made in manner of a Tabernacle of no other matter than great pieces of Timber Now this within is all filled with dry fuel but without adorned with rich hangings interwoven with Gold wire with divers Ivory portraicts of Imagery and sundry curious pictures Over this frame stood another somewhat lesse but in form and furniture like unto the former with windows and doors standing open And so a third and fourth Turret smaller every one than that next beneath it and others like it still one after another till you come to the last which is the least of all the rest The manner of this building you may compare to those Lanterns or light Towers standing by Haven sides and commonly called Phari which give light by fire in the night time and direct ships at Sea in their course to safe Harbours The Hearse then being mounted up into the second Tabernacle they get together spices and odours of all sorts as also all the sweet smelling fruits herbs juyces and liquors that the whole World will affoard and thereon pour them by heaps For there is no Nation City or State nor any person of rank and quality but strive every one to bestow in honour of the Prince these last gifts and presents Now when there 's a mighty heap of spices raised and the whole room is therewith filled then all of Knights degree first ride about the aedifice marching in a certain measure and therewith in their courses and recourses observe a Warlike kind of motion round in just measure and number Chariots are also driven about by such as sitting in them are cloathed in purple and represent all the famous Roman Captains and Emperours These things thus performed he that succeedeth in the Empire takes a torch and sets it to the tabernacle then all the rest on every side put fire under and every place being filled with that drye fuel and odors instantly are taken with a vehement fire Then presently from the last and least tabernacle as from some high turret when the fire is put underneath an Eagle is let flye which is believed to carry the Princes Soul up into Heaven And so from that time forward the Emperour is adored amongst the rest of the gods 10. Lege Herodian l. 4. Aurel. Vict. Spartian Eutrop l. 9. Dion lib. 77. Orosium l. 7. c. 8. Severus left his two son Antoninus Bassianus called also Caracalla from a barbarous habit he gave to the people as Spartianus writeth and Geta equal sharers in the Empire They after his death left not off their former contentions but increased them to that height that they could neither live nor reign together but thought of parting the Empire betwixt them but their mother Julia Spartianus maketh her the step-mother of Antoninus and to have loved him better than her own son Geta nay filthily insomuch that she maried him afterwards by her passionate interposition hindred it They then betook themselves to secret conspiracies which succeeding not Antoninus resolved though it were by open force to kill his brother whom he perceived to be far better beloved than himself and either breaking into his brothers chamber Bassianus having killed his brother cruelly rageth against others or getting in by his mothers means under pretence of reconciliation to be made killed him in her bosom This done he secured the Empire to him by bribing the Soldiers to whom he was so profuse that in one day he
assemble to proâ—ure the hurt of any one we are the same in a body as when separated as we are in particular so we are in general that is to say in whatsoever estate we are found we injure no body when any virtuous or godly People are associated when any pious or chast persons assemble together their union should not be called a faction but a lawful society Thus Tertullian to whose words as to the harmlesse cariage of the Christians in their Assemblies Apostates witnessed as appeareth from what Pliny the younger wrote to Trajan As for the crimes supposed to be committed by them they ever challenged any witnesse to be produced of them and sufficiently confute the vain reports in their Apologies They laughed at the fiction of the Asses head and such like stuff and as for worshiping Crosses Octavius in his answer to Cecilius saith Cruces etiam nec colimus nec optamus Crosses we neither worship nor wish for Neither did they meet for seditious ends as for the alteration of Governments destruction of Princes or changing of Magistrates Though they rather than any of late time might pretend to Saintship They were good and loyal Subjects yet did they not make it an advantage to raise themselves whereby they laid no claim to the riches power or dominion of the World they did not hold that temporal dominion was founded in grace nor that the true and spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ destroyed the right and interest of earthly Princes They made no insurrections covered on rebellious designs with the name of Religion neither did by violence attempt a reformation although they were so many thousands as in all probability they might have born down all before them though they filled all places consisted of all degrees and hereby shared in all interests in power and intelligence and by their combinations might have taken their opportunities and easily by force of arms made way for their designs yet obedience to their Princes they ever held most inviolable by the Principles of their Religion and made use of no other weapons than prayers and tears though for their own safety and preservation Hear to this pupose what challenges Tertullian makes to such as if he had not had truth on his side would have been sufficiently ready to instance wherein the Christians offended which they yet never adventured to do 26. In the midst of all these outrages have you observed that these People who as you think have framed so strange a conspiracy and on the other side might be animated enough for revenge by the punishments wherewith you take away their lives endeavoured any thing against you to ressent the evil treating they have received Think you that they want an occasion Tertul. Apolog. c. 37. when in one night onely a small number of torches would be enough to satisfie their Revenge if with us it were permitted to render evil for evil but God forbid we should do so A Religion that is all divine ought not to revenge by the instigation of men and must not think it strange to suffer that which is made use of to prove them If we would declare against you as open rather than pursue you as secret Enemies might we not have forces and troops enough It may be the Moors and Marcomanns the Parthians or whatsoever People they are shut up in the bounds of the Country they inhabit make a greater number of men than they that are spread throughout all the Universe and have no other limits than that of the World Our Religion is but of late and we fill already all that your power acknowledgeth Cities Fortresses Isles Provinces the Assemblies of the People the Armies also the wards and tenths of Rome the Palace the Senate and the Publick places Finally we leave you but the Temples What Wars were we not able to undertake with what readinesse might we not arm our selves although we should be the weaker we that suffer our selves so willingly to be killed if in our Religion it were not rather lawful to let our selves be killed than to kill others we could also make War against you without taking up arms by casting our selves into a revolt it were enough not to live with you and to separate our selves our divorce would print shame in your foreheads For if Christians who make so great a multitude of all sorts of persons should abandon you to retire unto some Country of the World dispersed from all society truly the losse of so many Citizens of what condition soever would disparage your Government and also our retreat would be a rude punishment to you without doubt this solitude that would remain with you this silence of all things this general astonishment of nature even as if all the world were dead would frighten you you might go seek Subjects to command there would remain to you more Enemies than Citizens now you have more Citizens than Enemies because there are a greater number of Christians among you 27. Thus we see their peaceable demeanour how their minds stood affected towards their Princes let Tertullian also inform us As for us Apol. c. 30. in the prayers we make for the Emperours we call upon the eternal God the true God the living God c. In the same place It is to him to whom we Christians addresse our prayers make them with hands opened and lifted up because innocent the head bare because no cause to be ashamed when we pray to God There are none telleth us the words we are to say because it is our heart that acteth rather than our tongue We pray for all the Emperours and ask of God that he would give them a long life that their Empire enjoy a profound Peace their house happy concord their Armies be innumerable themselves assisted with good Councils the People remain in their duties no trouble arise in the World against their authority In conclusion we forget nothing the Prince can wish for either as a man or as an Emperour A little after Whilst we implore the grace of God for the Emperours with our hands lifted up and stretched towards Heaven let irons peirce us let us be put on gibbets and crosses fires consume us knives cut our throats beasts devour us A Christian while in prayer lifting up his hands to God is in a condition fit to receive all sorts of punishment and therefore continue O Magistrates so affected to Justice ravish our Souls whilst they are in prayers for the welfare of the Emperours and make a crime of Truth and the Service of God In the following Chapter We intreat them who believe our Religion takes no care of the preservation of the Emperours to examine the Laws of our God to read our Books which we hide not and which by divers accidents fall into other hands than ours They will learn there that it is commanded by a superabundant charity to pray to God for our Enemies Chap. 31. and to
wish good to them that persecute us Now have we greater Enemies and ruder persecutors than those who make offended Majesty the ground of the crime they impute unto us Holy Scriptures content not themselves with this commandment they have another more precise and clearer Pray say they for Kings Princes and Powers that you may live in peace in the midst of publick tranquillity In another place But why should I stay longer in making known with what sence of Religion and Piety Christians honour Emperours It sufficeth to say we are obliged to render them our duties Chap. 32. as to whom our Master hath commanded us so to do 28. As these Primitive Saints were good Christians in the excercise of their Religion and dutiful Subjects towards their Princes so also good men free from vice and adorned with Virtues Chap. 44. or if any were noted to be of contrary practice they were disowned and the Censures of the Church cut them off from it's society We speak as boldly saith Tertullian of the Christians you put to death for we have an unreproveable testimony of their integrity which we take also from your Registers You who are imployed every day in judging those that are kept in prisons and who terminate their processes by the sentences you give against them And good men of all the malefactors accused before you of so many sorts of crimes is there any of them charged with Murther Robbery Sacrilege and other faults to whom they impute also that he is a Christian either when Christians are presented to be punished as Criminals because they are Christians is there any amongst them whose life is like that of other prisoners all the Malefactors wherewith your prisons are so filled that they are overcharged are of your Religion they are also of your Religion that make the Mines grone under the weight of their stroakes they are the wretched creatures of the same Religion you are wherewith the wild beasts fill their bellies All those poor Criminals which your Citizens keep to make them cruelly kill one another before a bloody people have the same opinion you have of the Deity Finally among all those wretched creatures there 's not one Christian unlesse he be charged by justice because of his name Christian Or if there be a Christian found attainted of the same crime he hath no more the name Christian because he hath lost that divine quality in losing his innocency Chap. 46. Elsewhere But some will say even among us there are a people that give themselves the liberty of doing evil that free themselves from subjection to our Laws from any what ever exact observation of what is legally commanded by us It is true there are some such but so soon as they fall into this disorder we hold them no more for Christians The fear of God and purity of his precepts constrained them to this holy demeanour for opinion of men and their rules as this our Author observeth canot reach the heart not procure that Virtue which is truly good The admirable fruits their doctrine produced the knowledge whereof became publick by the commerce they had in the World made so down-right a conflict with rude incredulity that to defend herself she was forced to say that their profeson had no Divine matter in it but was onely a Sect of Philosophy that obliged Christians to rank themselves there in the exercise of Moral Virtues 29. Though there was some diversity of opinions amongst them yet as we shewed before they maintained mutual Love and that herein they were highly eminent as to all pious effects is already evident Origen in his Work against Celsus wherein he especially answereth to cavils raised against the Author and Doctrin of Christian Religion takes off that prejudice that might arise from diversity of opinions They were eminent for love and unity of affection by a comparison of this difference with the numerous or rather innumerous Sects of Heathen Philosophers Tertullian layeth the great guilt of Heresie upon such who being animated with the spirit of Philosophy infected the purity of the Gospel with the corruption of their own opinions In the same place he acquainteth us what was the Primitive touch-stone of Doctrines most worthy now to be considered These People saith he that are separated from us have violated the Faith of Jesus Christ and we beat down their errors by this onely exception Apolog. c. 47. that the true rule of Truth is that which hath been taught by our Master and transmitted to us by those holy persons who had the happinesse to hear his Word and receive his Divine Institutions we shall shew in another place that all which is not conformable to this rule hath been invented by new Doctors who came not till after the blessed companions of the Sonne of God They forced Devils out of bodies and to confesse the truth 30. All these excellent qualities in those holy persons might have sufficed to stop the mouths of Calumniators and had weight sufficient to have moved the minds of all men to the truth But that Victory which Christians obtained over Devils might much more have convinced them of the power which was superiour to that of their false Gods Christians were wont to drive away these Devils from the bodies of men forced them to confesse that they were no other than Devils and that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and his way the true Religion As to the former first hear Tertullian Apolog. c. 37. But if we were not near you who would snatch you away from these secret Enemies whose malignant operations make so strange a confusion in your minds and so horrible an alteration of your healths I have heard speak of the possession of Devils wherewith you are tormented from whence we deliver you freely and without reward if we had the spirit of Revenge it were enough to satisfie us that these corrupted spirits might at all times seize on your bodies and that entrance therein were alwayes open to them But as you do not think of that you ought viz. so dear a protection you cease not to declare a People to be your Enemies who do you no hurt whose assistance is so absolutely necessary for you It is true we are Enemies yet not of men but of their errors In another place Chap. 31. As for Devils or Genies we are wont to conjure them to drive them away from the bodies of men whereof they are seized and render them not the honours due to God only by swearing by them Justin Martyr in his fifth * Pag. 45. totius operis Apology 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. For many possessed with Devils throughout the World and this your City whom many Exorcists Inchanters and Conjurers could not cure Many of our men through the name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontius Pilate have healed and now also do heal disarming and driving out of men