the CyreniaÌ„s came to him thither brought him pÌ„sentes whoÌ„ he iently entertained assuring theÌ„ of his frendship And that done went forwards in his voyage The firste the second daies traueil seamed tollerable not beiÌ„g yet come to the barein and wild wildernes and yet the ground they passed on was but vnfrutefull and dead erth But when the plaens apeared that were couered ouer wyth deape sand they then loked and sought a farre of wyth their eyes for the land eueÌ„ as men be accustomed to do wheÌ„ they saill in the mayne Sea For they could not iudge them selues on lande where they neuer sawe tree nor any apearance of habitacion or haunt of men And water ther was none to be found in that drie and burniÌ„g sand and such as thei had brought with them in bottels vpon camelles backes was consumed and spent Besides the sonne was so hote that it dried and burned vp all thinges When they were afflicted after this maner whither yt were by the wil of god or by chauÌ„ce the clowdes sodenly ouerwelmed the skye and so shadowed them that it was great coÌ„fort to suche as were forweried with the heat thoughe they wanted water to drinck But to supplie ther lacke therin ther fell by and by a great shoure which euery man for the greate desire they had to drincke gaped to receyue with open mouth When they had traueled foure dayes in passiÌ„g of these wild desertes and were come nere vnto the place of the Oracle there apeared a great swarme of Crowes flieng lowe before the troupe and when the hoste merched softely they sat downe vpon the grouÌ„d and sometime flewe forwardes as they had bene guides the shewe vnto tharmye the way The destricion of Hamon At length they came vnto the place consecrate vnto Iupiter where as it was a wonder to se in the mides of so wyld a desert such a grouÌ„d so enuironed on al partes with high trees defending the heat of the sonne such a nombre of springes ronyng euery where which cause the woodes alwaies to loke greane The ayer there al seasons of the yeare is like vnto the springe tyme holsom and temperat to liue in This cuntrey doth border wyth the Ethiops towardes the Este and vpon the arabies that they cal Troglodites vpoÌ„ the southe Ethiops Whose contrey stretche to the Red sea vpon the west it confineth with other Ethiops that be called Symenos vpon the the north by a NacioÌ„ called NasamoÌ„s who inhabiting vpon a flat shore be acustumed to liue on spoiles of the sea and lye alwaies in a wayt vpon the coste to spoyle such ships as suffre wracke the people which inhabite about the wood be called HaÌ„monios dwel in cotages scatered abrode The middes of there woode closed about with a treable walle is vnto them as a Castle In the fyrste warde is the Palaice of there auncient kinges in the second ther wyues children and concubines were lodged in whych place the Oracle of Iupiter is also The descricon of the Idolle And the laste is a place apointed for the men of warre Ther is also an other wood whiche in the middes hath a spring called the fountaine of the sonne which at the rising is luke warme in the heat of the day it is coolde in the euenynge warmeth againe so that at mydnight it is scalding hote and as it draweth towardes daie it demynisheth his heate more and more The same thing that is worshipped for Iubiter hath not the symilitude of other Images that craftes men do make for goddes but is very like vnto the fashioÌ„ of a nauell hauing in the middes a Emeraâ—de set about with perles WheÌ„ any answer is required the priestes cary thesame in a ship of gold that hath many plates of siluer hanging on both sides The Matrones the virgines folowe after singinge a iude songe after their couÌ„trey manner wherby they beleue to obtayne of Iupiter to shewe hys Oracle manifeste and true When Alexander was come vnto the place the eldeste of the Priestes met him and called him sonne affirming that Iupiter his father had geuen hym that name and he forgetting the state of his mortalitie said that he bothe did receyue and acknowledge thesame Then he demaunded further if thempire of the hole worlde were apointed to hym by destiny The flattery of the prophettes Whereupon the prophet prepared before to flattery aunswered that the hole worlde should come vnder his obeysaunce After that he demaunded whether al had suffred death that murthered his father The priest answered that his father could not be harmed by the treason of any man but he said that all Philippes killers were put to death one thing he added more that he should be inuincible til suche time as he should departe to the gods Thereupon Alexander made sacrifice both offred vnto Iupiter gaue great giftes vnto the priestes He liceÌ„sed also his frendes that they might coÌ„sult with the oracle for suche thinges as they would demauÌ„de but they enquired no further but if it were Iupiter his wil that thei shuld worship their king with deuine honours To them it was answered that if they honoured their prince being victorer as a god A digressioÌ„ it should be acceptable vnto Iupiter If he had with iudgement wayed the oracle according to the veritie he should well haue perceiued the vntruthe that was therein but whome fortune hath brought to beleue in her she make theÌ„ many times more desirous of glory then able to receiue it Alexander not only suffred but also coÌ„maunded himself to be called the sonne of Iupiter whiles he weÌ„t about to encrease the fame of his actes he did corrupt and deface them through suche vayne titles Whereby the Macedons accustomed to be gouerned by kinges but yet reseruiÌ„g a greater shadowe of libertie then other nacioÌ„s did withstaÌ„de hym more arogantly in affecting of hys in mortalytie then was eyther expedyent for hym or them but thes thinges shal be declared in tyme conuenient Nowe I will procede in the reste of his doinges The building of Alexandâ—a When AlexaÌ„der was returned from hamon and come to the marisse of Marcotes scituat nere vnto the Isle of Pharos viewed the nature of the place was at the fyrste determined to biuld a Citie within the Iland But afterwardes coÌ„sidering the Isle not to be large enough chose out the ground where AlexaÌ„dria is nowe called by the name of the biulder contayning all that ground betweÌ„e the Mere and the sea the which was in coÌ„pass as the walles went .lxxx. furlonges When he had takeÌ„ ordre for building of this Citie leuing such behind him as he had apointed for the performaÌ„s therof departed vnto Memphis He had a desire not vnreasoÌ„able if it had ben in time conuenieÌ„t to haue visited both the inward partes of Egipt also Ethiopia And the affeccion he had to viewe antiquities the famous pallaces of Memon and
it the waâ—eds of many smale streames Whiche ryuer of Medus beyng muche lesse then thesame whiche it doth receyue runneth from thence towardes the south Sea No place could be more aboundant of grasse for euerery where nere vnto the water the grounde was couered ouer wyth flowres The riuer was shadowed ouer wyth plantyne and pople trees which by reason they stande somwhat highe and the water ronne lowe in a depe chanell seme to such as be a farre to be woodes adioynning to the Mountains He counted no contrey in al Asia to be more holsome or to haue more temperat ayer then thys both by reason of shadowing mouÌ„tein that euermore defendeth the heate and also of the sea which on the parte being at hand with a certeine temperature doth norishe the ground When the prisoner had made a descriptioÌ„ of the contrey after this maner the kinge enquired of hym whither he knewe those thinges by hearing say or els had sene them with hys eyes He sayde that he had bene an herdman knewe the contrey veraie well and al the wayes thither And that he had bene twise taken prisoner ones by PercaÌ„s in Licia and now the second time by hym Vpon those wordes Alexander called an oracle to memorye wherby it was signified to him that a Lician shouâ—d be hys guide into Perce Wherfore promising to him suche rewardes as the present necessitie required as hys estate was mete to receiue willed him to be armed after the Macedons maner and wyth good spede to go shewe on the waye Which though he had declared to be but streight and difficult yet AlexaÌ„der put no doubt to passe it wyth a fewe meÌ„ except any thought he said that Alexander would not attempte that thyng for to wynne glorye and perpetuall commendacion that the herdman had done often tymes in feading of his beastes TheÌ„ the prisoner left not to alledge the difficulties of the waye specially for such as ware armour Then the kinge said Take me for suertie that neuer one of them that be appoynted to the shall refuce to go where thou shalt passe Craterus That done he left Craterus with the charge of his campe and he hym self passed forwardes with suche fotemen as were accustomed to his person with those haÌ„des of whom Meleager had charge Meleager and a thousaÌ„d Archers on horsback taking first ordre with Crateus that he should kepe his caÌ„pe in such forme as it had bene vsed before cause many fiers to be made of purpose that the enemies might that rather think hym to be there stil present aduising him further that if Ariobarzanes shuld get knowlege of his enterprise send part of his powre to stop his passage that theÌ„ Craterus should shew al the terror they could to cause him coÌ„uert theÌ„ self to the defence of the daunger that was next at hand But if he should deceiue his enemye recouer the hil vpon hym that then vpon the hearing of the alarome in the Percians campe preparing theÌ„ selues to his resistauÌ„ce he should not doubt to passe that way from which they wer repulced the day before wher he iudged thei should find no resistaunce the enemies being conuerted towards him In the third watch he set forwardes in great sileÌ„ce without blowyng of trompet passed on by such way as was shewed him by the guide Euery souldier that was lyght armed carieng thre dayes vitaile But when he was on his way besides the wild rockes and sharpe stones that caused them oft fayle their foting the snowe also driuen wyth the wynd was a great impediment to them in their iourney For they fell diuers tymes downe into pittes and suche as coueted to pull them out were oft times drawen after The night also wyth the countrey vnknowne and the guide of whose fidelitye they doubted encreased muche their feare considering â—hat if they should not deceiue their enemies watch they should be taken like beastes they wayed also that both the sauegard of them and of the king lay in the handes of one that was a prisoner At length they came to a mounteyne wher as the way towards Ariobarzanes lay on the right haÌ„d TheÌ„ he sent before by the guiding of such as they had taken prisoners Philotas Cenon Amintas Policarpon wyth a band of the lighteste Armed whom he aduised that forasmuch as they had both horsemeÌ„ and fotemen and the couÌ„trey fertell and habound of fodder that they should make no haste but passe forwardes faire easely And he with the esquiers of his body the band of horsemeÌ„ that they called Agema was guided by another bipath farre of froÌ„ that place wher his enemies kept their watch But the way was so streight and so depe that thei suffred great trouble vexacioÌ„ in passing therof It was middaie they were so weried that of necessitie they must take reste for they had so farre to go as they had trauailed all redy sauing that the waye was not so difficult nor so roughe He refreshed therefore his men with meat with sleape in the secoÌ„d watche did rise vp passed the reste of hys iourney without any great difficultie Sauing in the part where the mouÌ„tayne begaÌ„ne to fall aslope towards the plaine their passage was sodeinly stopped by a great gull made with the violence of the streames that ranne downe the mouÌ„tains by wearing away of the earth And besids the trees staÌ„ding so thick the bowes that grewe one within another appeared before theÌ„ as a coÌ„tinual hedge WheÌ„ they saw theÌ„selues staied after this maner such desperacioÌ„ fel amoÌ„ges theÌ„ that thei could sâ—arsly abstain froÌ„ teares The darknes being a great encrease of their terror seing thei could not enioy any benefit of the statres For if any gaue light the same was takeÌ„ away by the shadow of the trees And the vse of the eares could not serue for one to receiue counsel and comforte at an other the wynd whyrlid so amoÌ„ges the leaues and the shakyng of the bowes made such a noyse But at length the daie which they so much desired demynished wyth his lighte the terrors that the darknes of the night did make For by fetching of a little compasse about they passed the holow gylle and euery man began to be aguide Finally they got vp in the toppe of the hille from whence they might beholde their enemies lieng in campe TheÌ„ the macedons shewed them selues stoutly in their Armour appering sodeinly on their backes when they mistrusted no suche thyng and there slewe suche as came fyrste to encountre wyth them So that on the one parte the greuous noyse of them that were slayne and the miserable showt of suche as ran in for succour amonges their owne companye put the rest to flyght without making any resistaunce When the alarome was once hard in the camp wher Craterus lay the Army by and by passed forwards to go through the streightes in the which they were repulsed the day
Mennon Mennon was appointed lieutenaÌ„t with .iiii. thousand footemen and .vi. C. horsemen Alexander from thence entred with his army into a couÌ„trey not knowen to such as borderd vpoÌ„ it For thinhabitauÌ„tes would not haue coÌ„uersacioÌ„ with any other people Thei were called Paramisadans Paramisadans being a rustical kynd of men moste rude amongest all the barbarous nacions The hardnes of the countrey had so indurated their disposicions They lye moste towardes the coold north pole ioyning with the Bactrians vpoÌ„ the west and bend towardes the Indian sea vpon the south They vse to build their houses of brick and because the land is full of bareyne mountaynes voyde of timbre they make their whole houses of the same Whiche beginning brode beneth growing euermore narrowe towardes the toppe endeth like the keele of a shyp wheras a hole is made aboue to receiue light Such of their vynes and trees that bring furth frute as they will preserue froÌ„ the violence of the cold they couer theÌ„ with earth during the winter season when the snowe is vanished away they restore them agayne to the ayer and to the sonne The earth was there couered with such snow frosen so hard that there remained no sygne of any birde or beste within the couÌ„trey The ayer besides was so darck that litle light appeared but the earth couered as it were with a dymme shadowe men could scarsly deserue thinges very nere at hand The armye brought into this countrey destitute of all cultiuacion of man suffred all the discomodities and miseries that might be endured both of hungre colde werynes and dispayre There were many of them that died for colde and the snowe destroyed their feete but specially it perysshed many mennes syght When they were weried and not able to traueyll any further they layd themselues downe vpon the frosen snowe Whiche hauyng once left the mocion of their bodies whiche stored in theÌ„ their naturall heate They were streyght wayes so nummed for coolde that they could not ryse agayne tyll they were lift vp by their coÌ„panions And remedy was there none in this matter but to compell them to go forwardes for then by storyng of them selues their naturall heat was reuiued and they recouered agayne some strength Suche as recouered the Cotagies wherin the couÌ„treymen dwelled were very well refresshed But the darkenes was so greate that the houses could not be otherwyse deserned then by the smoke The inhabiters that had neuer sene straungers before amonges them when they behelde the armed men come sodaynly vpon them were amased for feare and brought furth what soeuer they had to saue their bodies froÌ„ violeÌ„ce AlexaÌ„der went on his fete amoÌ„ges his men raising such as were lieng releuing suche as he sawe afflicted with the cold with his own clothes He was sene one while in the forward another while in the middes and some tyme in the rereward to the great trauaill of his body At length they came to places better manured where he refresshed his army with plenty of vittels there remained in campe till suche tyme as al that were left behinde came vnto their fellowes Then he went forwardes with his army to the mount Caucasus whiche deuideth all Asia into two partes Caucasus For on the one syde it stretcheth towardes the sea of Cilicia and on the other side to the Caspian sea to the ryuer of Araxes and the desertes of Scythia To this mount Caucasus there ioyneth another mountaine called Taurus Taurus next vnto it in bignes whiche riseth froÌ„ Capadochia passing by Cilicia closeth with the mountaines of Armeny Out of these mountaines ioyning thus together as it were in one continuall rydge all the ryuers of Asia do discende Some of them ronning into the redde sea some into the Caspian and Hircanian sea other into the Sea of Ponte In .xvii. dayes Alexander with hys army passed the mounte Caucasus wherin a rocke that is .x. furlonges in compasse and foure in height Prometheus the antiquitie fayned that Prometheus laye bound At the foote of this mountaine AlexaÌ„der chase out a place to build a cytie wherin he placed .vii. thousand of the moste auncient Macedons and such other besides whose seruice he woulde not vse any more in the warres and called thesame Alexandria Alexandria But Bessus that was put in feare with Alexanders celecyte made sacrifice vnto the Goddes of his countrey and according to the custome of those nacions consulted with his frendes and his capitaines for the mayntenaunce of the warres beyng at meate And when thei were wel charged with wine thei extolled greatly their owne power and despisyng the rashenes of their enemies and their small numbre But chiefelye Bessus was moste arrogant in his wordes who puffed vp with pride by reason of the kingdome he had newely gotten by treason Bessus wordes and not master of his wyttes began to declare howe that Darius by his folye hadde encreased his enemies fame who woulde nedes fight with them in the straightes of Celicia when by retirynge backe he myght haue drawen them before they shoulde haue ben ware into desert places and there haue put riuers and mouÌ„taines betwene his enemies and him and amonges the saine so enclosed them that they coulde by no possibilitye haue fledde away and much lesse make any resistaunce Wherfore he saied he was become of opinioÌ„ to go backe amoÌ„ges the Sogdians wheras the riuer of Oxus shoulde be as a walle betwixte him and his enemies tyll suche time as he myghte assemble a stronge power of the nacions therabout knowing very well that the Chorasmyons the Dahans and Sacans the Indians and Scythyans inhabitynge beyonde the riuer of Tanais woulde come to his assistaunce of whoÌ„ there was none so little that any Macedon with the toppe of his heade coulde reache to his shoulders They al in their dronkeÌ„nes asseÌ„ted to him affirming that onely to be the wisest waye WherupoÌ„ Bessus caused the wine to be caried about plentifully to coÌ„quere Alexander vpon drinke There was at that feaste one Cobares a Median whyche in the Arte Magick if it be an Arte and not rather a disceyte of sâ—me vayne manne was more notable by his profession then by his knoweledge but otherwise a moderate and an honest man He making a preamble before his tale Cobarus wordes sayd He was not ignoraunt howe muche more better it was to be obedient to others counsell then to be a counsell geuer For suche as be folowers of other mennes deuises are sure to haue no worse fortune then the rest but suche as be authours and persuaders of any matter commonly prepare their owne perill and therwith deliuered the cup he had in his hand and proceded thus The nature of man in this respect may be called peruers and euell because euery one can se better in other mennes matters then in their own Their counsels must nedes be alwayes full of perturbacion whiche take their own aduise
affirmed their original to come of Bacchê° who in dede builded their city at the fote of a mouÌ„taine called Meroe The mouÌ„te Meroe The qualitie of whiche mountaine being reported to Alexander by thinhabiters he sent vittels before passed thether with his whole armye ascendyng vp to the toppe The mountayne grew ful of vynes Iuie aboundyng with sprynges that flowed out in euery place The same was also pleÌ„tiful of many kindes of Apples of most pleasaunt taste the ground also brought forthe corne without any cultiuation There grew also pleÌ„ty of Laurell trees with many kind of wild frute I caÌ„ not impute it to any mâ—cion of religioÌ„ but rather to pleÌ„ty and wantonnes that caused theÌ„ to repaire thither wherof the Iuye and the vyne leaues they made them selfes garlandes and ran vp and downe after a dissolute maner all the holowes and valeyes there about rebounding with the voice of so many thousandes calling vpoÌ„ Bacchus to whom that place was dedicate Which licence and libertie begonne a fewe was spredde sosodeinly through out the hole armye that the souldiers scatered abrode wythout ordre lay heare and there reposing them selues vpon the grasse and leaues they had gathered togither as it had bene in a time of quiet and moste assured peace Whiche lycensiousnes of the souldiers rising by chaunce Alexander dyd not withstand but ten daies togither made feastes to Bacchus during which tyme he plentyfully banketed hys hole armye Who can therefore denye but that greatnes of fame and glory is oftentymes a benefite rather of fortune then of vertue for ther enemies had no harte to set vpon them whiles they were drowned in thys excesse of banketting dronkenship and drowsenes but were as much afrayed of there dronken noyse as if they had hard there cry encountring with them in battell whiche felicitie preseruing them here did afterwardes defend them after the same maner in the middes of their enemies retorning as it were in triumphe from the Ocean Sea when they were giuen all to festing and to dronkenes When Alexander descended from the mountaine he went to a countrey called Dedala which thinhabiters forsoke fledde to the woods and the wyld mountaines Dedala and therfore passed from thence into Achadera Achadera which he found both burned and habandoned likewise of thinhabiters wherby of necessitye he was compelled to vse the warre after an other maner For he deuided hys armye into diuers partes shewed his powre in many places at ones By which meanes he oppressed them before they coulde prouide and subdued them to their vtter ruyne Ptolomeus toke most Cities but Alexander wanne the greateste and afterwardes ioyned agayne his armye togither which he had thus deuided Coaspe That done he went forwards and passed a riuer called Coaspe where he left Cenon to besiege a riche Cytie called Bezira Bezira Amazaga and he him selfe went to Amazaga where Assacanns beinge deade had lefte the dominion both of the countrey and the Citie to his mother Cleophes Quene Cleophes There were .xxx. thousand fotemen to defend that Cytie whiche bothe was well fortified and stronge of scituacion â–ª being enclosed vpon the este with a swift riuer that hath sâ—epe bankes defendyng the cytie â–ª that it caÌ„not be approched on that side vpon the South and the weste partes nature as it were for the nonce had planted high rockes betwyxt the which there laye depe holowes and pittes made of old antyquitie wheras the rockes cessed ther began a dike of a wouÌ„derfull depth and widenes The wall wherwith the citie was enclosed was .xxxv. furlonges in compasse whereof the nether partes were builded of stonne and the vpper partes of Claye Yet stones were mixed with the clay to the intent that the fraille substance clinging to the hardre the one should bynd the other And left the earth wasshed vpon with the raine might fal altogether there were stanchinges of Tymbre put betwixt to stay the holle worck Which couered ouer wyth bordes was a waye for men to go vpon Alexander beholding this kynde of fortificacion was vncertayne what to do For he sawe he could not approche to the walles but by fylling of those dikes and holowe places And that he could not otherwise fil theÌ„ then by making of a mounte which was the only way he had to bryng his engines to the walles But whiles he was viewing the towne after that maner he was striken from the wall with an arrowe in the thieghe Which he pulled out and without wrappinge of his wound called for his horse and letted not for hys hurt to giue order for such thinges as he though expedient But at length when by hanging of hys legge the blod drue from the wounde and waxed colde wherby hys hurte beganne to payne hym he then sayde That he was called the Sonne of Iuppiter but he felt in hym self the passions of a deseased bodye Yet notwithstandyng he would not returne into the campe before he had viewed all thinges that were necessary and apoynted all thinges he would haue done After that the souldiers had receyued there apointment by pluâ—kyng downe of houses without the towne they gotte great plenty of stuf to make the mount withal And by casting stockes of trees on heapes into the dykes and holowe places the mount within nyne dayes was raised vp to the top of the wales and the towres were planted vpon the same such was the labour and dilygence the souldiers vsed in the matier The kynge before hys wounde was closed vp went to see howe the workes went forwarde and when he parceyued them in such case commended the souldiers for there dilygence caused thyngynes to be brought to the walles out of the whych they that defended the walles were sore afflicted wyth shotte And by reason they had not sene any such kynd of worke were wonderfully amased spesially when they beheld the towres of suche bignes come forwardes and yet coulde not perceiue bâ— what meanes they were moued iudged those things to be done by the powre of the Gods And besides they could not think it a mateir of mans inuencion that so great dartes and speares as came amonges them should be shot by engynes disperyng therefore of the defence of there Citye they retired into the Castle And bicause they could not be satisfied any maner of waie til they had yealded theÌ„ selfes â–ª they sent Embasseadors to the king to ask pardon Which thing obtained at his hands the Quene with a great trayne of noble women came furth bearing in there handes cuppes of gold ful of wyne Who presenting her little sonne before the kinges feete not onely obtayned pardonne but also restorement of her former dignytie Wherefore some thought that her beuty procured hir more fauore then his mercie But this is certaine that the child which afterwardes she brought furth who soeuer did beget it was called AlexaÌ„der FroÌ„ this place Polycarpon was sent with a powre vnto a City