but swim vpon the top be it either iron lead copper or any other weighty matter Of which Vespasian the emperor hauing notice to make experience of what he had heard made a journy of purpose to see it and with him tooke certain condemned men who for their offences had deserued death these he manacled and where he thought it to be deepest caused them to bee thrown in but they rose vp againe with such violence as if some storm or tempest had sent them vp The water thereof changeth three times a day and shineth against the sun with diuers colors casting out fire and great cakes of pitch much resembling Bulls without heads and of that quantity This pitch is good for diuers things as to calk ships to lay vpon cables and to vse in medicins wherefore such as come to this sea and know the nature of it haue certain Skifs and instruments wherewith they draw these cakes of pitch to their ships to which it cleaueth so fast it being naturally tough that being brought to land they cannot get it off again but by the help of vrine Vpon the banks thereof grow trees that beare fruit of diuers kinds as apples and such like which are faire and pleasant to the eie but if you either touch or open them you shall finde nothing but dust Brittenbacchus saith In this place the Serpent Tyrus whereof they vse to make treacle is found It is a little serpent about half a cubit long and a finger thick being of diuers colours and is so venomous that where it biteth there is no remedy vnlesse by cutting off the member The head of it is rough and hairy and there seemeth to lie vpon the tongue of it if it be angry a fiery flame The same Author saith That a little from Zoar betweene this Lake and the mountaines of Engedi the pillar whereinto Lots wife was turned is yet to be seen shining like salt The furthest part of this sea Northward lies 14 miles from Ierusalem toward the East the riuer Iordan runneth into it The trauell of the two Angels that led Lot out of Sodom THese two Angels hauing spoken with Abraham in the valley of Mamre neere Hebron forthwith went to Sodom some 40 miles distant from that place where Lot hauing entertained them into his house by their helpe was deliuered together with his wife and two daughters from that miserable desolation of the Sodomits Of Lots two Daughters LOt escaping this desolation and seeing a president of Gods iudgement fallen vpon his wife for her disobedience fearing that he should not continue safe in Zoar left that turned aside into the wildernesse and continued there among the mountains although the Lord had promised him safety in this town wherfore continuing in a Caue in the Wildernesse the eldest of his daughters losing her husband in this destruction supposing that all men had beene destroyed from off the earth counselled her sister to commit incest with her father Lot being now oppressed with care by reason of the former calamities gaue himself at the inticement of his daughters to drinke Wine insomuch as with the excesse he became drunke at which time not being himselfe he begat by his two daughters two sonnes the eldest had a sonne whom shee called Moab which signifies The begotten of his Father whereby the impudencie of this woman is laid open to the World in that she was not ashamed of her sinne Of him came the Moabites and dwelt vpon the North side of the lake Asphaltides some 32 miles from Ierusalem The yongest daughter had a son which she called Ben-ammy that is The son of my people for although she bare him with great shame yet she dwelt among the people of God Of him came the Ammonites that dwelt beyond mount Gilead threescore miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Of the foure Kings that tooke LOT prisoner THe first of them was called Amraphel King of Shinear or Babylon the son of Ninus and Semiramis as some thinke and is called somtime by the name of Berosus sometime Ninus He kept his court at Babylon in Chaldea which is 680 miles from Ierusalem Eastward This Ninus is called Amraphel because of the notable victories that he won and the number of countries and prouinces he conquered The second was Arioch or Arius his sonne He was thus called because of his courage and crueltie in war for Arioch signifies A mighty roaring Lion Arius Mars This man during the life of his father was created king of Lassir that is Assiria for so it is called in the Chaldaean tongue the chiefe city whereof is Nineueh and lies from Ierusalem Northeastward six hundred eighty foure miles The third was Keder-laomer King of the Elamites in Persia 1200 miles from Ierusalem toward the East This Prince had a great command in that country Keder signifies an Ornament or Crowne Laomer Well deseruing The fourth was Thideall King of the Nations Hee kept his court in Damascus the Metropolis of Assyria some 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward Thideal signifieth An exalted Lord of Alah that is To be lifted vp These foure kings were confederats and bent their expedition principally against Astaroth and Kiriathaim which they tooke and spoyled all the Countrey round about with fire and sword and their Armies being retyred from the spoyle met in the vally of Siddim where now the dead Sea runneth and there pitched their tents In this place after a cruel and sharp war they conquered the fiue Kings of that beautifull and pleasant soile of Pentapolis for so it was called because of those fiue cities that were in it where among others they tooke Lot captiue with all his substance Of Astoroth AStoroth seemes to be the city of Venus because the citisens thereof worshipped her for Astoroth is a goddesse of the Sidonians and is compounded of Ash which signifies a company of stars and Tor placed in order The Syrians call Venus Ashtoroth This towne lay in the land of Gilead and belonged to the halfe tribe of Manasse beyond Iordan 56 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward In this city the foure Kings of the East conquered the gyants of Karnaim that were mighty princes and commanders there when they made war against that and Kiriathaim Not far from hence also in the land of Ham there dwelt certaine Gyants called Zusim of Zus and Hamah which signifies to stir vp commotion These were very great strong and stately people and had the command of all the Countries thereabouts which they held in great feare and were conquered by the foure Kings Of Kiriathaim KIriathaim was a City in the tribe of Reubin beyond Iorden Ios 13. 22 miles from Ierusalem toward the East and so called because it was diuided into many parts and diuisions The heathens corruptly cal it Carthage The Hebrews deriue it from Kiriath which signifies a city and Emah Terror Here dwelt the Emims a graue and fearfull people for so their name signifies Of Hazezon Thamar THis Citie tooke the
So all his trauels were 320 miles Of Amanus AManus was a mountain between Syria and Cilicia which extendeth it selfe to the riuer Euphrates Between this Amanus and Euphrates Arabia deserta is scituated 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies The mountain of truth from Aman True and faithfull The Trauels of Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter IN the 165 yeare of the gouernment of the Grecians in Syria which was 141 yeares before Christ Demetrius syrnamed Nicanor which signifies Victorre sailed out of Creet into Cilicia which was 600 miles Ios Ant. 13. c. 6. 1 Mac. 10. Out of Cilicia he came into Syria the lower 160 miles where ioyning with Apolonius he tooke vpon him the crowne and Kingdom of Syria Afterward Apolonius went into Iudaea with a great army and besieged Iamnia Ptolomeus Philometor also assisted the proceedings of Demetrius seeing Alexander his son in law beginning to decline and the better to strengthen their allyance matched him to Cleopatra his daughter which before had bin wife to Alexander by which policie he added to the kingdom of Egypt all Asia ouer which he ruled 2 yeares 1 Mac. 11. After Demetrius Nicanor came out of Siria the lower with Ptolomeus Philometor to Antiochia which was 80 miles 1 Mac. 11. From Antiochia they went with their army to a plain neer the mountain Amanus 120 miles where in a sharpe war they ouercame Alexander and put him out of his kingdom Ios Ant. li. 3. c. 7. Now after the death of Ptolomeus Philometor Demetrius Nicanor Nicanor returned to Antiochia 120 miles where he gouerned the kingdome of Syria two yeares From Antiochia he went to Ptolomais which was 200 miles to which place Ionathan the high priest came to meet him where he gaue to him many presents and great gifts to win his fauour 1 Mac. 11. From Ptolomais he returned to Antiochia 200 miles There his soldiers and the city of Antiochia rebelled against him For which cause Ionathan the high-priest sent him 3000 men which deliuered the King out of danger put to the sword 100000 of the seditious and burnt the city of Antiochia 1 Mac. 11. But after Demetrius shewed himselfe vnthankfull hee was driuen out of his kingdome by Tryphon and yong Antiochus the sonne of King Alexander who was also called Theos which signifies God In the 172 yeare of the reigne of the Grecians in Syria which was 138 before Christ Nicanor hauing slaine Antiochus the son of Alexander he would haue reigned alone in Syria wherefore Demetrius who was the lawfull King of Syria being 3 yeares before driuen thence went 1200 miles into Media to craue aid against Tryphon but Arsaces king of the Medes Parthians and Persians sent the chiefe captain of his host against Demetrius who burned his tents tooke him prisoner and caried him back to his master to Hecatompylon the chiefe city of his kingdome distant from Syria 1220 miles toward the East Iustin lib. 36. 38. From Hecatompylon Arsaces sent him to Hyrcania the Metropolitan city of that countrey which was 176 miles where although Arsaces kept him as a prisoner yet he allowed him royall attendance and after maried him to his daughter Iust lib. 38. After the death of Arsaces with singular industry and policie he got out of captiuitie after he had beene 12 yeares prisoner in Hyrcania and came into Syria which was 14 miles where he recouered his kingdome and reigned foure yeares So all his Trauels were 4156 miles ¶ Of the Places to which he trauelled Of Creta now called Candia THis is an Island of the Mediterranian sea distant from Ierusalem 600 miles Westward very fruitfull and pleasant in which there growes great plenty of Cypresse trees and grapes of diuers kindes but principally such whereof Malmsey and Sacke are made Here Tytus Pauls Disciple was Bishop wherefore you shall reade more of it after Of Seleucia SEleucia is a famous city of Syria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward neere to which the riuer Orantes runneth and the mountaine Casius standeth which is 4 miles high Plin. l. 5. c. 22. You may read more of this in the trauels of S. Paul Of Syria SYria was sometimes called of the Hebrewes Aram of Aram the sonne of Sem of whom all Armenia tooke the name Aram signifies A man of great spirit and dignity being deriued of Rom that is lifted vp for he was a man of an excellent spirit Gen. cap. 10. Syria signifieth a great tract of land and is diuided into two parts the vpper and the lower In the vpper Syria are these cities Antiochia Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea in the lower Syria are Sydon Tyrus Berytus Tripolis and Orthosia This Countrey is scituated in a very temperat Zone from whence it happeneth that it is neither oppressed with too much cold nor heate There are that diuide Syria into foure parts that is into Syria Assyria Leucosyria and Coelosyria Also Pliny Lib. 5. Cap. 12. attributeth Mesopotamia and Babylonia to Syria But it is euident that these were distinct Countries from them in the which there reigned Emperours and Kings which had large and spatious Dominions For Syria is scituated betweene the Mediterranian sea and Euphrates but Mesopotamia which is so called because it is scituated in the middle of waters is separated from Syria and Assyria with the riuers Euphrates Tygris and Arabia is separated from Syria and Babylon with many vast wildernesses Therefore these countries cannot properly passe vnder the denomination of Syria Of Parthia PArthia is a spatious country full of mountains and desarts lying vpon the borders of Media Westward the Metropolis whereof is Hecatompylon taking the name of 100 gates wherewith it is fortified It lieth as Stephanus saith 1512 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Here Arsaces that mighty King of the Parthians kept his court who had vnder his gouernment Media Parthia Persia Hircania and the greatest part of all the countries toward the East It is called Parthia because of the fruitfulnesse of the soile being deriued of Parah To fructifie Of Hyrcania HYrcania is a fruitfull and pleasant countrey bordering vpon Media and the Caspian sea for the most part plain champian beautified with many faire Cities the chiefe of which are Hyrcania the Metropolis of the whole kingdome Talebrota Samariana Carta and Tape It was so fat and fruitfull that the inhabitants vse not to till and dresse the ground as they doe in other places but the seed that falleth from the huske vpon the earth springeth vp and bringeth forth great plenty and increase without further labour The Dewes also falling vpon the trees there droppeth from them oile and honey in great plenty It taketh the name as it is thought from a Wood called Hyrcania In like manner the Caspian sea which bordereth vpon it of this country is called Hyrcanum Many cruel beasts are found therein as the Panther the Tyger and the Leopard The Panther is of a whitish colour inclining something
the World vpon most high mountaines and rockes like an earthly Paradise a liuely figure of the euerlasting Citie of God This Citie being the metropolitan or principallest Citie of the Iewes stood in the Tribe of Benjamin at the first it was called Salem that is Peaceable when Melchisedech the Priest of God raigned therein which hee also built after the Deluge as Iosephus and Egisippus write But at that time it was not very great for it stood onely vpon Mount Sion Mount Moriah where Abraham would haue offered his sonne Isaac stood without the Citie and after that they tooke it into the Citie as when time serueth it shall be declared After the death of Melchisedech vnto whom Abraham payd the Tythes of all his goods the Iebusites dwelt in the Citie of Ierusalem and had the dominion of it and all the land thereabouts in their subjection called the City Iebus after their name which name was held a long time as we reade in Iosuah the 10. Iud. 10. 2. Samuel 1. But at the last Ioab King Dauids Generall of his Armie woon it draue the Iebusites out of it and called it Ierusalem that is a sight or vision of Peace It hath also other names in the holy Scripture for in Esay 29. it is called Ariel that is Gods Lyon and mount Libanus * Because it was made of the Ceder trees which came â—ut of Mount Libanus The Prophet Ezechiel 23. calleth it Ahaliba my fixed Pauillion or Tent that is a Citie wherein God had placed his owne habitation The circuit and bignesse of the City Ierusalem THe City of Ierusalem was foure square and in circumference three and thirtie * Which make foure English miles and one furlong furlongs as Iosephus writeth which three and thirty Furlongs make somewhat more than a Dutch mile Some write that it was foure miles compasse about yet these were not Dutch miles but Wallon or Italian miles for foure such Italian miles are a Dutch mile Of mount Sion the higher Citie MOunt Syon stood Northwards in the Citie Ierusalem and was much higher than all the other Hills that were therein therefore it was called Sion that is a watch Tower because from thence one might see the Holy land and all the countries thereabout vpon this Hill the vpper Citie was built which in the Scripture is called the City of Dauid because Dauid wan it from the Iebusites and beautified it with many goodly houses faire and costly buildings but especially with his house of Cedar wood which hee termed the castle of Sion which stood Westwards at the corner of the Hill looking into Bethlehem Southwards In that house Dauid dwelt and therein committed adulterie with Berseba the wife of Vriah the Hittite whose house also with the place of diuers priuie Councellers and officers stood vpon the said Hill not farre from the Kings Pallace as Iosephus writeth Beneath King Dauids house vpon Mount Sion within a Rocke there was to be seene the sepulchre or vault wherein King Dauid Solomon his son and other succeeding Kings of Iuda were entombed and buried Vpon mount Syon also towards the East King Herod had a Garden of pleasure not farre from the Fountaine called Silo Nemiah 3. and there also stood the Tower of Silo whereof Luke in the 13 chapter maketh mention Iosephus in the warres of the Iewes his first book and sixteenth chapter saith That King Herod vnder whom Christ Iesus was borne had two faire and strong houses or Towers which hee set and made in the vpper part of the City Ierusalem vpon mount Syon which were in a manner comparable with the Temple for beautifulnesse which he called after the name of his friends the one Caesarea for Caesar the Emperors sake and the other Agrippa according to the name of the noble Roman Marcus Agrippa that married the daughter of Augustus Caesar This may suffice to declare the scituation of the vpper Citie which stood vpon mount Sion and conteyned in circuit fifteene furlongs which is about halfe a mile This vppermost Citie in the sacred Scripture is called the Citie of Dauid it was also cal-Millo that is fulnesse or plenty for in it there was no want but aboundance of all things Of the steps which descended downe from the citie of Dauid vnto the lower Citie MOunt Sion whereon the vpper citie of Ierusalem did stand was such a high hard hill and so steepe that no man could climbe or ascend vnto it by any way or meanes but only one that is by steps for in the middle thereof there was a great paire of staires made which descended from Dauids Citie vnto the lower Citie That is 26 yards in height into the valley or dale of gates called Thyroreion which staires were 780 foot * high as Iohannes Heydonius writeth and beneath in the valley of Thyroreion ouer against the valley of Cedron at the foot of the staires stood a gate which was called the gate of Sion and they which went vp to mount Sion must passe through that gate and so vp those staires but it is thought neuerthelesse that in some other part of the hill there was some winding or other oblique way made by which horses and chariots by little and little might ascend Allegoricall or Spirituall significations of mount Sion SIon in Hebrew signifieth a sure hold or goodly aspect for that from the top thereof a man might haue seen all the land lying thereabouts and was a type of the highest heauens or habitation of Almighty God from whence he beholdeth all things vpon earth from which throne and heauenly habitation he descended into this lower Ierusalem and became our Redeemer Sauiour that so we being purged by his bloud from all our sinnes and imperfections he might bring vs into that heauenly Ierusalem which is eternall glorie Of Mount Moriah on which the Temple stood MOunt Moriah stood Eastward within Ierusalem which was a most hard stony hill from whence towards the rising of the Sunne men by staires might easily descend but round about on the other three sides it was steepe and vnapprochable like a stone wall yet it was not so high as Mount Sion howbeit it was exceeding high extending and reaching 600 foot in height and on the top thereof was a very faire plaine like vnto that of Mount Sion whereon in times past Abraham builded an Altar and would haue offered his sonne Isaac for a Sacrifice Gen. 22. At which time when Abraham obeyed the commandement of God intending to haue offered his sonne Isaac vpon the Hill and thereon had made an Altar then the said Hill lay without the Citie but long time after about the space of 850 yeres when King Dauid had conquered Ierusalem and driuen thence the Iebusites to enlarge the Citie he compassed in Mount Moriah and Mount Acra with a wall vpon which there stood many goodly buildings And amongst other things worthy obseruation vpon this Mount stood the Barne or Threshing floore
Abraham was buried the place where Cain killed Abel the Well where Adam and Eva wept seuen years for the death of their son with many such like fables which are to no purpose seeing they are not warrantable by Scripture Some bows shoot Eastward from this place is the field of Damascus where the red earth lieth whereof they feigne man to be made It is naturally tough may be wrought like wax or pitch There is also that is white of the same kind and this is conueyed to many places by the Saracens and sold at deare rates They vse it either for the teering of Sepulchres or to mingle with salves and vnguents Of Gerar. GErar is the vttermost towne in the land of Canaan and lieth between the desarts of Sur and Cades Gen. 20. Here King Abimelech kept his court at such time as Abraham came thither here Isaac was born Gen. 21. It takes the name from Gor which signifies a Pilgrim or Traueller and did well agree with the condition of the antient patriarchs that somtime liued there because for the most part they were like Pilgrimes and wayfaring men Gen. 47. It lay six miles from Hebron Southwest and from Ierusalem 30 vpon the territories of the tribe of Iuda Of Beerazaba BEerazaba is a towne scituated vpon the vtmost bounds of the Holy land forty miles from Ierusalem Southwestward and is deriued from Berr and Shebuah and signifieth the Wel of couenant for Abraham hauing digged a Wel neere to this place Abimelech King of Gerar entred into league with him and his posteritie Isaac also renued this league in this place as appears Gen. 21. It is now called Gallim or Giblin by the Iewes In S. Hieromes time it was a great towne Of Moriah VPon this Mount Abraham would haue offered his son Isaac and stood not far from Salem or mount Sion where Melchisedech dwelt They were so neere that Melchisedech vpon the tower of Sion might easily see the Angell that spake with Abraham when he renewed the couenant with him concerning his seed and posteritie and is deriued from Mor or Marar which signifies bitter Myrrh because as Gregorius saith the Church is euer subiect to affliction For all they that will serue God and liue religiously must suffer persecution Mat. 16. 2 Tim. 3. and Iarr which signifies to feare How Abraham may be typically apprehended ABraham signifies The father of a multitude from Ab pater a Father Ram excelsus Mighty and Hamon multitudinis Of a multitude Not in regard of the Iewes only but all those that in succeeding times shall be ingraffed into the Church and partake of euerlasting life through the mediation of Christ Iesus the promised seed Gal. 3. Ephes 1. Acts 3. and is a Type and figure of God the Father for as that Abraham was the father of many yet had but only one son so although God be the father of all nations yet had but one only son Iesus Christ begotten of his owne essence from before the beginning of the world And as Abraham so loued God that for his sake he would not haue spared his only son so God so loued Abraham and the World that hee gaue his only begotten son to die for the saluation of their soules The Trauels of Lot LOt trauelled with Abraham from Vr in Chaldaea to Haran in Mesopotamia which is 336 miles Gen. 12. 2 From Haran they trauelled to Sichem in the land of Canaan being 400 miles 3 From Sichem they trauelled through Morae to the hil lying between Bethel and Hay which is 24 miles 4 From the hill between Bethel and Hay they went into Egypt which is 240 miles Gen. 13. 5 From Egypt they went into the land of Canaan to the hil lying between Bethel and Hay where Abraham had dwelt before which is 240 miles Gen. 13. 6 From the hil between Bethel and Hay Lot separated himselfe from Abraham and went to the towne of Sodom Eastward which is 28 miles Gen. 13. 7 In the town of Sodom Lot was taken prisoner hee and all his houshold and led away to the town of Dan which is 32 miles Gen. 14. 8 And when Abraham had deliuered him out of the hands of his enemies pursued them he returned with him from Dan to Hobam in Phoenicia lying on the left side of Damascus being 80 miles 9 From Phoenicia Abraham came again with Lot to Sodom which is 160 miles 10 Lastly when the Lord had determined to raine fire and brimstone on Sodom Lot according to his commandement went thence to Zoar a little town neere adioyning where being drunk with Wine hee committed incest with both his daughters but after comming to the knowledge of his offence he was so sore afflicted in his conscience that with extreme grief he died Luther saith that Abraham tooke him to Hebron with him to comfort him and that there he died Hebron is 36 miles from Sodom So all the trauels of the Patriarch Lot were 1652 miles The Description of the Townes and places where he trauelled And first of Sodom THe cities that were destroyed with fire and brimstone from heauen were foure in number that is Sodom Gomorah Adama and Zeboim lying 24 miles from Ierusalem South-eastward where now the dead sea runs The fift was the city Bela called also Zoar which was spared for Lots sake distant from Sodom two miles This Lot accounted but a little City but there are that say it was a very spatious and princely place neere to which his wife for her disobedience was turned into a pillar of salt and not far off he committed incest with his two daughters And although Luther be of opinion that that also within a while after was burnt yet this cannot bee certainly prooued especially because it remaineth euen to this day scituated both in the antient place and called by the antient name vnlesse some new City hath beene lately built in the same place and is now called after that name which I cannot thinke to be true Sodamah signifieth a Mysterie Gomorah a Faggot of Thornes Adamah Red earth Zeboim Fertile and Pleasant Zoar The burning of Baela for in antient times it was called Baela It is the receiued opinion that the country wherein these fiue rich and opulent cities stood was called Pentapolis Of the Lake or dead Sea called Asphaltides IN the very same place where these Cities were burnt and destroyed there is at this day to be seene a Lake about 36 miles long and in some places six in others eight and 12 miles ouer It boileth with pitch and brimstone and in some places passeth by the name of the salt sea and in others the dead sea because of the noisome and venomous aire that riseth out of it insomuch as the very birds that fly ouer it fall down dead and if a beast doe but drink of it mixt with water it makes him incurably sick It is of a wonderfull nature for whatsoeuer heauy thing you fling into it will not sinke
commandement of the Lord he made a league with him Gen. 31. 4 From mount Gilead hee went to Mahanaim which is 16 miles and there he met with the Angels of God Gen. 31. 5 From Mahanaim he passed the water and went to Penuel which is foure miles and there wrestled with the Angel of God Gen. 32. 6 From Penuel hee went to Succoth where hee pitched his Tents 2 miles Gen. 33. 7 From Succoth hee passed the riuer of Iordan and went to Sichem not far from Salem about eight miles where his daughter Dinah was rauished Gen. 33. 8 From thence he went to Bethel which is eight and twenty miles Gen. 31. 9 From Bethel he went to Bethlehem Euphrata which is twelue miles in which way Rachel died and was buried not farre from Bethlehem then Iacob went forward and set vp his Tents neere to the Tower of Eder a mile from Bethlehem towards the South Gen. 35. 10 From Bethlehem Euphrata and the Tower of Eder he returned againe to the valley of Mamre neere Hebron to his father Isaac which is 20 miles Gen. 35. 11 From Hebron hee went to Beersaba which is 16 miles Gen. 38. 12 From Beersaba he went to the Towne of Ony a little off Aegypt in the land of Gossen which is 168 miles where Ioseph his sonne gaue him honourable entertainement Gen. 46. 13 From Ony he went to the citie * This was the chiefe Citie of Aegypt Zoan which is also called Tanis 28 miles where he was presented to K. Pharaoh Gen. 47. 14 From Tanis he returned to Ony which is 28 miles and there he dwelt and dyed in the land of Gossen Gen. 49. The Description of the Townes and places to which Iacob trauelled Of Bethel BEthel was a Towne in the Tribe of Benjamin eight miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifies The house of God In times past it was called Luz but Iacob seeing in that place the vision of the Ladder with the Angells ascending and descending vpon it and because there the Lord renued the couenant with him concerning his seed and the comming of Christ he therefore called it Bethel Afterward Ieroboam hauing vnlawfully vsurpt the kingdome of Rehoboham caused a calfe to be set vp there for which cause it was then called Bethauen which signifieth the house of sinne and abhominable offence Vatablus is of opinion that there are two Bethels one in the tribe of Benjamin the other in the tribe of Ephraim both not far from Hay but if this should be granted then these two townes should stand within two miles one of the other which seemeth very absurd therefore I dare boldly affirme that there was but one Bethel which stood vpon the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim both tribes bordering vpon the South side of the towne of Luz Iosh 16. 18. This towne of Bethel was at first in the Suburbs of Lue vntill the diuision of the tribes for then both these Tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin ending in that place so much increased this town that they became both one city and so were called Bethel Ie. 28. 35. Iosh 7. 18. From hence there is a two-fold mistery to be apprehended the first of Iacob whose sleeping in this place vpon a stone caused this Citie or Towne to be built and to retaine the name of Bethel that is The house of God So whosoeuer seekes to haue eternall life must rest vpon that corner stone Christ Iesus the sonne of the euerliuing God and by faith bee incorporated into the Church which is the house of God of which Christ the Annointed of the Lord is both King and Priest for euer Secondly as Iacob resting vpon this corner stone saw the Angels ascending and descending from heauen vnto earth so by this incorporation into the body of the Church of which Christ is the head by Faith and Baptisme our soules are made capable to ascend into that heauenly Tabernacle which he hath prepared for all those that beleeue according to that in Iohn 14. I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth vnto the father but by me only And whosoeuer is assured of this ladder that reacheth from heauen vnto earth may well say with Iacob surely the Lord Iesus Christ is in this place here is nothing but the house of God and here is the gate of heauen as Christ himselfe testifieth in the tenth of Iohn I am the doore and whosoeuer entreth not by me c. So that Christ is the head of his Church the ladder that ascendeth into heauen and the doore whereby we may enter into eternall life Of Gilead THis land of Gilead was a country that lay betweene Iordan and the mountaine of Gilead or rather betweene the sea of Galilee and the mount Gilead sixtie miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast for the mountaines of Gilead beginning at mount Gilead extended thence vnto Arabia the stony and seperated the countrey of Israel beyond Iordan from the countrey of the Amonites But that part which lyeth betweene the Sea of Galilee and Ammon is properly called Gilead for when Iacob and Laban made a couenant either with other in the mount Gilead they gathered a heape of stones and making a banquet eat together vpon it Gen. 13. and from thence that mountain and all the countrey thereabouts tooke the name For Laban in the Syrian tongue is called IEGAR SAHADVTA the heap of couenant But Iacob in the Hebrew language called that mountain together with all the Countrie thereabouts Galeed or Galaad the heape of testimonie for Gal signifieth a heape or graue and Galal He rolled or hee thrust into a round heape From whence the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to roule and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a circle is deriued Also Edah signifies testomonie with the Hebrewes being deriued from Id which signifies testaetus est that is he beareth witnesse and from hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Grecians is deriued which signifieth a witnesse This land of Gilead was very fertile and pleasant being adorned with many Castles and strong Cities And in this countrey the Prophet Eliah was taken vp into heauen in a fierie Chariot 1 Reg. 17.2 Reg. 2. The Graecians call this Decapolin from ten cities that are strongly built in that countrey Marc. 7. Of Machanaim MAchanaim was a Citie of the Leuites in the Tribe of Gad neere to the floud of Iordan and Iaboch fortie foure miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast and scituate in the land of Gilead beyond Iordan being so called of the Patriarch Iacob because there he saw the Tents and Armie of Angels which he vnderstood to be his assistants against his brother Esau whom hee feared Genesis 31. For Chana signifieth Castrametatus est that is the Tents are measured out from whence Machanaim is the proper name of a place being deriued from two Tents of Angels which appeared to Iacob That they might defend him in his journey For the Angels of God compasseth
oracle which interpreteth For Pathar with the Hebrewes is the same that He hath interpreted is with vs. Wherefore this Prophet trauelled from Pithora or Phatura in Mesopotamia to Abel or the plaine of Vines where his Asse spake Num. 22. which is 400 miles From thence he went to the land of the Moabites 40 miles where in the mount of Peor he blessed the children of Israel So all the trauels of this Prophet were 440 miles Of the Plain of the Vines THere is often mention of this place in the Scripture for the fertilitie of the countrey and plenty of sweet Wines there was a beautifull city built called Abel of the Vines some 56 miles from Ierusalem South-Eastward and was placed iust in the way as they went from Mesopotamia into the country of the Moabites Whereby it appeareth that neere to this place the Asse spake to Balaam Numb 22. In S. Ieroms time there was found a little Village so called where there was great plenty of Vines Here Ieptha ouercame the Ammorites and made a great slaughter Iud. 11. The Trauels of that noble Captaine IOSHVAH IOSHVAH and Caleb trauelled with Moses from Raemsis out of Aegypt through the Red sea and came to Kades-Barnea 26 miles From Cades-Barnea they were sent forth with other Spieâ— to the land of Canaan Num. 13. and went out of the wildernessâ— of Zin and Paran and came to the towne of Rechob in Galileâ— 140 miles From thence they went to the towne of Hamath in Syria which was after called Antiochia 188 miles From Hamath or Antiochia they returned againe to Hebron 304 miles where vpon the side of the riuer Escol they cut offâ— bunch of grapes with the stalke which was as much as both theâ— could beare vpon their shoulders Num. 13. From Hebron they returned againe to Kades-Barnea twentâ— miles There all the people murmured against Moses Num. 1â— Heereby it is to be seene that the Spies in forty dayes trauelleâ— 648 miles in the land of Canaan that is euery day 16 miles and little more After that Ioshuah and Caleb trauelled with Moses and the chiâ—dren of Israel to Ezeon-Gabir and from thence to the towne oâ— Iahza 464 miles From Iahza they past through two kingdoms to mount Libâ—nus 80 miles From mount Libanus they returned againe into the Land oâ— Sittim that lay by the hill Pisgah in the field of the Moabiteâ— 80 miles From the land of Sittim they past through the riuer of Iordâ—â— and came to Gilgal 6 miles where Ioshuah pitched his Campe Num. 21. Ios 4.5 From Gilgal he went to Iericho 2 miles there he assailed the towne with the sound of basons and won it Ios 6. From Iericho he went to Ai being 4 miles and took and burnt the whole towne Ios 7.8 From Ai he returned to Gilgal 4 miles and there vpon the hil of Ebal he built an altar vnto the Lord and there were the blessings and cursings pronounced Ios 8. Deut. 27. From Gilgal hee went to Gibeon twelue miles There the Sunne stood still during the battaile against the three Kings Ioshuah 10. From Gibeon he went to Ajalon 2 miles here the Moon stood still Ios 10. From Ajalon he went to Aseka 4 miles there it hailed vpon the enemies that fled before Israel Ios 10. From Aseka Ioshuah returned againe into the Camp at Gilgal 20 miles Ios 10. From Gilgal hee went to Makeda where hee hanged the fiue Kings Ios 10. From Makeda he went to Libna 2 miles and tooke the towne Ios 10. From Libna he went to Lachis 8 miles From Lachis he went to Eglon 8 miles From Eglon he went to Hebron which is sixteene miles Ioshuah 10. From Hebron he went to Debir a mile Ios 10. After that Ioshuah with one continued War won all that part of Iudaea which lay towards the South bordering Eastward vpon the Dead Sea Southward vpon Cades-Barnea Westward vpon Asdod and Gaza and Northward vpon Gibeon and Gilgal This circuit of land containeth about one hundred fifty and sixe miles From Gilgal Ioshuah went out with his army about 22 miles to the riuer of Merom where he slew the rest of the Kings of the Canaanites in a memorable battell Ios 11. From the riuer of Merom Ioshuah chased his enemies and followed them to Sidon which was 612 miles Ios 11. From Sidon he went again to Hazor 32 miles which town he burnt Ios 11. After that Ioshuah at one time won all the townes in the Holy land which lay Northward in the lands of Samaria and Galilea from Gibeon to mount Libanus and from the riuer of Iordan to the great sea called Mare Mediterranean which countries in circuit contain 280 miles After that Ioshuah returned again to his camp at Gilgal which lay 72 miles from the towne of Hazor where he made a diuision of the land amongst the children of Israel Ios 14 15. From Gilgal he went to Shilo 12 miles where he made an end of diuiding the land Ios 18. From Shilo he went to Timnah Sera eight miles and there he dwelt for the children of Israel gaue him that town for his own inheritance Ios 19. From Timnah Sera Ioshuah not long before hee died came to Sichem forty miles There he assembled all the tribes of Israel Ios 24. From Sichem he returned againe to Timnah Sera 40 miles where he died and was buried Ios 24. So all the trauels of Prince Ioshuah were 2392 miles The description of the seuerall townes and places to which Ioshuah trauelled ¶ Of Rechob THis was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Ashur 100 miles from Ierusalem toward the North Num. 13. and signifieth a broad street being deriued from Radhab that is To extend out in length Of Haemah or Chaemah THis was a city of the Levits in the Tribe of Nepthaly and was 100 miles from Ierusalem vpon the vtmost bounds of the holy land at the foot of Antilibanus Num. 11.34 Ios 19. deriued from Chamah that is furious or burning with anger Of Gilgal THis was a town between Iordan the city Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward where the children of Israel hauing past the riuer of Iordan first made war vpon all the Nations of the land of Canaan Here they solemnised the first paschal Lambe After they came into this land Manna ceased because they then ate the fruits of the countrey Here Ioshuah taking 12 stones out of Iordan pitcht them vp for a memorial Here the tabernacle of God stayed for a time which was the reason that afterward the Israelites committed idolatry in this place Ios 4.5 Hos 2.4.9 Amos 5. Neere to this place Ehud the third Iudge of the Children of Israel receiued gifts of them to carry to Eglon King of the Moabites dwelling at Iericho where hee killed him with a knife Here Saul was the second time confirmed King of Israel 2 Sam. 10. and as it seemes taketh name of Roundnesse Ioshuah at this time building his tent in a circular fashion for Galal
he might manifest his thankfulnesse to the King of Tyre he went to Cabul a city in the tribe of Ashur some 80 miles Northward where hee gaue to the aforesaid Hiram 20 towns or cities with al the country round about wherefore King Hiram called this Cabul that is Displeasant and dirty 2 Reg. 9. You may reade of Cabul Ios 19. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 88 miles From thence he went to Hazor and restored the city which was 44 miles From thence he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles From thence he went to Megiddo which is not farre from Iesreel in the tribe of Manasses 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. This city Solomon fortified 1 Reg. 9. and Iosiah King of Iuda a long time after was there wounded to death 2 Reg. 9. From Megiddo he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles After that Pharaoh King of Egypt had conquered Gaser and destroyed it with fire hee gaue it to his Daughter the Wife of Solomon who rebuilt it This towne was scituated in the tribe of Ephraim 28 miles from Ierusalem Northward 1 Reg. 9. From Gaser Solomon returned backe again to Ierusalem being 28 miles From thence he went to the higher Bethoron which he fortified and stood twenty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went to the lower Bethoron 16 miles from the vpper toward the South 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From the lower Bethoron hee went to Ierusalem which was 8 miles After Solomon built the city Belath which was 12 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From thence he returned back to Ierusalem 12 miles and it is very like that Solomon often visited those towns that he had built and restored From Ierusalem he went to Hemath afterward called Antiochia which was 320 miles and compassed it about with a wall fortified it and afterward constrained all the kingdomes thereabout to be obedient to his gouernment 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went with great state into the kingdom of Zoba which is 600 miles and fortified all the great cities castles of that country that with the greater facility they might oppose the inuasions of neighbouring countries From thence hee returned to that famous city Thamar which was also called the city of the Palmes 400 miles this he rebuilt and fortified 1 Reg. 9. 2 Chr. 8. From thence he went to Ierusalem which is 388 miles From thence hee went to Ezeongaber neere the Red sea in the countrey of Idumaea where he built a company of stately ships and sent them to India to fetch gold which was 176 miles from Ierusalem Southward 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Ierusalem which is 176 miles But of his great prosperitie and aboundance of riches he grew proud for he excelled all the Kings neere him and gaue himselfe to vnlawfull pleasures he tooke vnto him 300 Concubines and 70 wiues by whose persuasion he began to worship the gods of the Gentiles which idolatry was euill in the sight of the Lord. And after he had reigned forty yeares which was about the sixtieth of his age he died and was buried by his father Dauid in Mount Sion the city of Dauid An. mundi 2770 and before Christ 998. So all the trauels of Solomon were 2544 miles The description of the places to which he trauelled Of Gazer you may reade before in the trauels of Dauid Of Bethoron THe vpper and the lower Bethoron were two Cities in the tribe of Ephraim built by Saaerah the daughter of Ephraim 1 Chron. 7. The inferiour Bethoron was not farre from the Castle of Emmaus 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest The superior was 20 miles distant toward the North. These towns Solomon repaired Neere to the lower Bethoron the Lord put the enemies of Ioshuah to flight with thunder and haile Ios 10. Here also Iudas Machabeus ouercame the army of Antiochus 1 Mac. 3. Here also he put Nicanor to death 1 Mac. 7. and signifieth A white house being deriued of Beth which signifies an house and Chor he hath made white Of Baaelath THis is a city twelue miles from Ierusalem Northwestward in the tribe of Dan. This city Solomon repaired at such time as he fell in loue with many women from whence it seemeth to take his name for Baaeleth signifieth his beloued Lady Of Thamar THamar Tadmor or Palmira stood partly in the desart of Siria and partly in a fruitfull soile being compassed about on the one side with a Wood on the other with faire and pleasant fields It was the Metropolitan city of all Syria not farre from Euphrates some 388 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward and as Pliny saith lib. 5. cap. 25. Although it lay betwixt two mighty Empires Rome and Parthia yet it was subiect to neither fairely scituated a free city adorned with fair and sumptuous buildings and contented with their own gouernment The wildernesses called after this towns name Palmarnae or the desarts of the Palms extend themselues to Petra the metropolitan city of Arabia Petraea and to the borders of Arabia foelix one daies journey from Euphrates two from the vpper part of Syria and six from Babylon as Iosephus obserueth Antiq. lib. 8. cap. 5. This city Solomon made tributary to him and fortified it with strong walls 1 Reg. 9. Of Ezeongaber you may reade before The Typicall signification of Solomon SOLOMON is as much as Frederick in high-Dutch which signifieth a Peace-maker being deriued of the Hebrew word Schelomoh or Schalom to bring glad tydings of peace Typically representing Christ the Prince of peace who hath reconciled vs with his heauenly Father and merited an eternall place of peace and happinesse for all such as trust in him Esay 9. And as Solomon built vp the Temple of the Lord with great majestie and glorie so Christ hath built vp that heauenly Temple the Church of God and adorned it with the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit in this world that so it might be capable of eternall glory in the world to come 2 Cor. 6. The Trauels of Solomons Ships THis Navy of Solomons went vnto Ophir that is India which was accounted from the Mart town 4800 miles From India they returned backe again 4800 miles so all their trauels were 9600 miles This journy was finished in 3 yeares to and again so that euerie yeare they went 3200 miles and brought home plenty of gold siluer pretious stones Ebony c. Of India MOses called this country Havilah Gen. 2. and Ios li. Antiq. 8. c. 7. Ophir which name saith he it took of two brothers so called which inhabited and gouerned that country all along the riuer Ganges But more modern writers deriue it from Indus a riuer passing through it It is a spatious and fruitfull country pleasant to inhabit and as Pomponius saith hath in it 5000 cities being diuided into two parts the outward and inward The Trauels of the Queene of Saba FRom Saba in Ethiopia she came to Ierusalem 964 miles From
Ierusalem she returned backe again which was 964 miles So all her trauels were 1928 miles Of Aethiopia THis Countrey by the Hebrewes is called Chus of Chus the son of Cham who was the son of Noah and after Aethiopia ab astu torrida because of the great heate wherewith oftentimes the habitable land and people as also the wildernesse were sorely scorched and burned for it is scituated in the third part of the world called Africa lying vnder the torrid Zone and the Aequator which two by common experience are found to bee extreme hot Of Saba SAba is a metropolitan city in Ethiopia lying beyond Egypt 846 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and tooke the name from a certain pretious stone called Achates wherin might plainly be discerned in certain distinct colors the rising of fountains the chanels of riuers high mountains and somtimes of chariots and horses drawing them It is reported That Pyrrhus King of the Epirots had one of them wherein was liuely represented the nine Muses and Apollo playing on the Viol portrayed by naturall staines and colours so artificially as if they had bin don by some curious workman Of this stone you may reade more in Pliny li. 37. ca. 1.10 It was first found in Achates a riuer of Sicilia whence it tooke the name Afterward in India and Phrygia and of the Hebrewes was called Schaeba or Saba In this city that Queen dwelt who came to heare Solomons wisedom and gaue him for a present 120 talents of pure gold which at 3 pounds an ounce comes to 270000 pounds sterling Afterwards Cambyses King of Persia ouercame it and all the country round about it and after his sisters name called it Meroës It is a stately city to this day scituated in a plain country and compassed about with the riuer Nilus like an Island being now called Elsaba hauing some affinitie to the antient name Saba The Inhabitants of this towne goe naked all but their priuy parts which they couer either with Silke Cotton or some more costly matter and are of a blacke colour which as some thinke hapneth by reason of the extreme heat The land also is maruellously scortched and turned in many places to sand and dust So that the country is thereby wonderfull barren About Meroes or Saba which is made fruitful by the inundation of Nilus there is found plenty of salt brasse yron and some pretious stones Their sheep goats oxen and other cattell are of lesse stature than in other Countries Their dogs are very fierce and cruell In times past there were mighty princes that had the gouernement and command of it and the Country round about it But after as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 29. it was in the jurisdiction and gouernment of Queenes who for their noble resolutions courage were called Candaces One of which name in Tiberius the Emperours time was famous both for the extent of her dominions in which she exceeded all the rest of her predecessors as also in regard of her manly presence and noble spirit The Eunuch which Philip baptised Acts 8. was Treasurer or Chamberlain to this Queene and it is to be thought By him the doctrine of the Gospell of Christ was first made knowne in Saba and in the countrey of Aethiopia which afterwards was more largely propagated and dispersed by the Evangelist S. Mathew who taught there This city lieth to the longitude of 61 degrees and 30 scruples in the eleuation of the Pole Artick to the latitude 16 degrees and 25 scruples So that it seemes the inhabitants haue two winters two summers or rather a continual summer because their winter is much hotter than our summer But when the Sunne attaineth to the 15 degree of Taurus and Leo and in the Dog daies it then lies perpendicular ouer that country and neither their bodies nor houses giue any shadowes In the 61 of Esay it is said They shall come from Saba and bring gold frankincense to praise the Lord. From whence some some haue concluded That those wise men which came vnto the childe Iesus and brought Gold Frankincense and Myrrh were Aethiopians and came thence But this agreeth not well with the words of Mathew ca. 2. where it is written That the wise men came out of the East that is from the rising of the Sun to Ierusalem For Saba according to our Sauiors words Mat. 12. lieth towards the South for he saith The Queen of the South that is of Saba shall come forth in the day of Iudgement against this generation and condemne it for she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Solomon c. But if Saba lie vpon the South as here it plainely appeareth then it must needs follow they came not thence but rather from Persia which from Ierusalem lies Eastward For at Susa the metropolis of that country there was an Academy for the whole kingdom in which were chiefly studied Diuinity the Mathematickes and History So that it is likely by their Art they might attain to the knowledge of this diuine Mysterie and from thence come to Ierusalem which was 520 miles Eastward Therfore this place of the Prophet Esay is rather to be referred to the propagation of the church through the whole world where some of euery nation shall bring presents vnto the Lord. There is also another Saba in Arabia Foelix so called from Zaeba the son of Chus the son of Cham the sonne of Noah and it is distant from Ierusalem 1248 miles toward the Southeast In Hebrew it signifies the city of Drunkennesse or of Mirth but with the Syrians Antiquitie Some would haue it in the Arabian tongue to signifie a Mysterie But S. Ierom interprets it To sound their conuersion It is the metropolitan City of Arabia Foelix and by Strabo lib. 6. called Meriaba being scituated in a high and pleasant mountain full of fruitfull trees There inhabiteth in it the King of that countrey a mightie Prince his Gouernors and most of such as haue authority vnder him The land is called the Kingdome of the Sabaeans but generally Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie of the place for it yeeldeth twice euery yeare great plenty of Frankincense Myrrh Cinnamon Balsam and other odoriferous herbs The tree out of which this Myrrh commeth is fiue cubits high hairy and full of prickles and when you cut the barke there commeth forth a bitter gumme wherewith if you anoint a dead body it will continue long without rotting The frankincense also that is found there droppeth from Cedar trees like a glewie substance and so congealeth into a Gum. This happeneth twice euery yeare and according vnto the season it changeth colour in the Spring it is red in the Summer white This is the best Frankincense in all Arabia Foelix Through the whole country there is a very delectable smell by reason of the Myrrh Frankincense and Cinnamon that is found in it insomuch that if the winde blowes amongst the trees it
carrieth the smell vnto the red sea and they that saile can easily discerne the sweetnesse of the aire There is gold also found there very fine and pure insomuch as for the goodnesse of it it is called Arabian gold The Phoenix is found there of which there is but one in the world Pliny lib. 9. cap. 35. describes her to be as big as an Eagle with a list of feathers like gold about her necke the rest are of a purple colour therefore from Phoenicea and the purple colour of her wings shee is called Phoenix Shee hath a tuft of feathers vpon her head like vnto a crowne Shee liueth 660 yeares at the end of which time she buildeth her a nest of Cassia Cinnamon Calamus and other pretious Gummes and herbs which the Sun by the extremitie of the heate and the wauing of her wings fires and she taking delight in the sweetnesse of the sauor houers so long ouer it that she burnes her selfe in her owne nest Within a while after out of the marrow of her bones and the ashes of her body there groweth a worme which by little and little increaseth to some bignesse and after to a purple bird Then her wings extend themselues to a full greatnesse till such time as she commeth to be a perfect Phoenix This Bird doth liuely represent our Sauiour Christ who only and alone is the true Messiah and through whom we must expect euerlasting life who in the fulnesse of time offered himself a Sacrifice vpon the Crosse sustaining the punishment for sin at the time of his Passion putting on a purple robe being all be sprinkled with his owne bloud Ioh. 19. And as the Phoenix is burnt in her owne nest so likewise was hee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath according to that in the 22 Psal My heart is become like melting wax in the middest of my body And as the Phoenix of it selfe begetteth another of the same kinde so Christ by the power of his Deitie raised vp his body from the dust of the earth and ascended vp into heauen a glorious body to sit at the right hand of his father in that euerlasting Kingdome of glory Thus gentle Reader I thought fit to describe vnto you these two townes that when you shall reade of them in the holy Scripture the one being in Aethiopia towards the South the other in Arabia Foelix and called Seba you might discerne the one from the other of both which there is mention in the 72 Psalme The Kings of the Sea and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Saba and Seba shall giue gifts The Trauels of King Pharaoh out of Aegypt when he ouercame the Towne of Gazer 1 Reg. 9. IN the 16 yeare of King Dauid Anno mundi 2906 and before Christ 1602 Chabreus King of Aegypt began to raigne and raigned 56 yeares Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2. Herodotus calleth this man Chephrines in his second booke and Eusebius Nepher Cherres He went from Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt with a great armie 268 miles euen vnto the tribe of Ephraim and there tooke Gazer a Citie of the Leuites and burned it with fire 1 Reg. 8. Ios 21. After he came to Ierusalem which was 28 miles And this city which he had thus destroied he gaue to his daughter the wife of Solomon 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Memphis in Aegypt 244 miles So all the Trauels of King Pharaoh were 244 miles Of Memphis MEmphis is a great city in Egypt where commonly the kings of that country keepe their Courts and lyeth from Ierusalem 244 miles South-westward This citie was built a little before the floud but repaired and enlarged by a king called Ogdoo who in loue of his daughter after her name called it Memphis You may reade of it in the ninth of Hosea called there by the name of Moph for thus he saith The people of Israel are gone out of the land of Ephraim because of their Idolatrie into Aegypt but Aegypt shall gather them vp Moph that is Memphis shall bury them Moph or Mapheth in this place signifieth A prodigious wonder but the rest of the Prophets call it Noph for the fertilitie pleasantnes of the country as you may reade Esa 19. The Princes of the Zoan are become foolish and the Princes of Noph or of Memphis are deceiued See also Ierem. 2.44.46 Ezech. 30. in which places you may find it called after this name Zoan is the citie Tanis where Moses wrought all his miracles But Noph or Moph is this Memphis a beautifull towne large and spacious scituated in the strongest and profitablest place in Aegypt diuided into two parts by the riuer Nilus so that any kind of commodities or merchandise might with ease bee brouht thither by water for which cause the kings of that countrie for the most part kept their abiding there Strabo saith lib. 17. That vpon the East part of this citie there standeth a Tower or Castle called Babylon built by certaine Babylonians who leauing their owne countrey by the permissions of the kings of Egipt dwelt there in after times there was placed a garrison in it one of the three which were for the defence of Aegypt and by Ptolomy was called Babilon through both which viz. Memphis and Babilon Nilus passed the one standing vpon the East side the other vpon the West Zoan or Tanis stood about some foure miles from this towne and was a faire spacious citie also scituated towards the South vpon the East side of Nilus to which the kings of that country often resorted and Heliopolis anothet faire citie stood some six miles off that towards the Northeast All these foure townes were so wonderfully inhabited by reason of their pleasant profitable scituation that in processe of time they become all one citie and in this age is called Alcaire containing in circuit 60 miles so that it seemeth to spectators to be like a country replenished with nothing but fair houses goodly churches strong towers exceeding all the rest of the cities of Egypt aswell for the beautifulnesse of the place as the extent and largenesse of it It is reported that in the yeare of our Lord 1476 there was such an extreme pestilence in it that there died 20000 a day from whence may be gathered how infinitely it is peopled Neere to this towne stood the Pyramides which are held to he one of the wonders of the World as Strabo saith lib. 17. the height of one of them was 625 foot and square on each side 883 foot it was twentie yeares a building a hundred thousand workemen emploied about it whence it may be easily gathered how hard and difficult it was in those times to get stone it being for the most part brought from Arabia and at what an excessiue charge they were that set vp them Of Gazar This Citie is described in the Trauels of Solomon The Trauels of Hadad King of Idumaea WHen Dauid conquered Idumaea Hadad
day The siege continued euen till the 11 yere of this king Ierem. 39.52 2 Reg. 25. And vpon the 9 day of the 4 moneth Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Vpon the 7 of the 5 moneth Ab Nabusaraden chiefe captaine of the army was sent backe by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroied and burned the houses and buildings of the citie of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. vpon the tenth day of the fifth Moneth Ab which answereth to the ninth day of Argust being the Sabbath day the temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudaei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first captiuitie and destruction of the citie of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperor happened anno mundi 3362 and before Christ 606. Three hundred and nintie yeres being then fully compleat and ended from the first yeare of Iaroboam King of Israel who set vp the golden calues and caused them to be worshipped For after the end of these yeares according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 4. the sins of Ieroboam should be grieuously punished vpon the people of Iudah In like manner from the end of the 13 yere of Iosiah wherin Ieremie first began to prophecie vntill this yeare in which the children of Israel were carried away captiue into Babylon are numbred 40 yeares which by Ezek. cap. 4. are called the yeares of the iniquitie of Iuda because so long the Iewes did contemne and despise the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie Of Babylon HOw far this citie stood from Ierusalem you may reade before which by the Chaldaeans is called Shinear or Sinear and signifies To strike vpon the teeth being deriued of Schen A tooth and Naer To strike It may also bee taken for that when a man endeauoured with all speed to execute a thing which seemes to resemble the condition of Nimrod for that in this place he endeuoured to ouercome and conquer all his neighbours from whence this land was called Casdius that is The countrey of the destroyer So changing M into L it is called Chaldeus or Chaldaea The chiefe and Metropolitan citie of which countrie was this Babylon built some thirtie yeares after the floud by Nimrod or the Babylonian Saturne the first great commander of the world according to Berosus lib. 4. who writeth after this manner Nimrod which was accounted the sonne of Iupiter Belus being angry with the holy Priests of that great God Iehouah came with his colonie and people into the field of Sinear where hee built a citie and laid the foundation of a great tower 131 yeares after the floud and raised this tower to such a height and withall of such a hugenesse that it seemed as if it had beene some great mountaine because he would haue the Babylonian people accounted the chiefest and greatest in the world also their gouernor the King of Kings A little after he saith he built this tower but before he could finish it dyed in the 56 yeare aftet he began it wherefore the citie and tower of Babylon according to the opinion of Berosus was begun in Anno mundi 1788 which was 131 yeares after the flood and before Christ 2180. There were two causes wherefore the children of men built vp this Tower first that they might get them a name secondly that they might be safe in case there came another flood to drowne the world It was made of bricke and bittume least the water should loosen it But the Lord turned their enterprises into euill and diuided their Language so that they could not vnderstand one another whereby they were constrained to leaue off their building from whence it happened that their mindes manners vnderstandings studies and principall actions were vtterly changed and is the foundation of all discord and sedition where the feare of God and the true knowledge of Christ doth not preuent it From this diuision of tongues it is called the citie of Babylon this is the citie of diuision being deriued of the word Balal he hath confounded or mingled together Of this city you may reade in Ios lib. 1. cap. 9. where he bringeth in a saying of the Sibels which was That when all nations were of one language they built an exceeding high tower as though they would haue ascended by it into heauen but the Lord with great tempest and diuiding their tongues subuerted their enterprise from whence it was called Babylon This citie was the fairest in those times of all others scituated in a spacious plaine vpon euery side whereof there stood pleasant orchards and gardens it was built foure square compassed about with wals of an incredible strength and greatnesse being 50 cubits thicke and 200 high beautified within with goodly buildings fair temples richly guilt with gold and wonderfull to looke vpon It was in compasse 380 furlongs as Strabo saith which make 48 miles Through it ran the riuer Euphrates by which all things necessarie were conueyed to the Citie without it was compassed with faire ditches fil'd with water like riuers and in the wall there stood a hundred gates Herodotus saith That it was 480 furlongs about which make 60 miles English but that is not so credible The first founder of this citie was Nimrod who in those times was the chiefe commander of the world It is thought that he was the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noah whose name signifies a cruell gouernor or an vnmercifull tyrant And that his actions might be according to the signification of his name he is branded with most perspicuous note of cruelty omitting no violent action whereby he might enlarge his dominions incroching vpon other mens gouerments through a thirstie and ambitious desire of renowne without either respect of equitie or humanitie And to adde euill to euill committed many outrages vpon such as were accounted good men and the Priests of the great God Iehouah from whence there grew in him a more than humane resolution accounting himselfe in this world a god and through this opinion grew into contempt of all good things compelling such as were his subjects and vassals to do him worship and reuerence as to a diuine power which being ingraffed into the hearts of such as followed in succeeding ages they countenanced it with authority from whence it came to passe that he was inrolled into the number of their principall gods giuing him the name of Saturne whom the Hebrewes calleth Sudormin which elegantly imployeth Saturne Berosus saith that the Babylonian Iupiter succeeded this Nimrod whose authoritie I am willing to follow to auoid prolixitie This man so much inlarged the Citie that many in succeeding ages haue attributed the foundation thereof vnto him He ruled ouer it sixtie and one yeares After him succeeded Ninus or as some will haue it Nimrod the second who began his raigne Anno mundi 1909 before Christ 2061 he did many worthy acts during his life and added to the Empire of Babylon many Prouinces
of the Assyrians ioyning his army with Pekah son of Remalia King of Israel had streightly besiege Ierusalem Ahas was constrained to craue aid of this Tiglath Phulasser sent him great presents which he accepted kindly brought his arm from Niniveh to Damascus 520 miles where he put Resin and the whole city to the sword 2 Reg. 16. From Damascus he came with his army into the land of Israel which was 120 miles where he ouercame Pekah in a great battell conquered all the land of Gilead and the tribe of Nepthaly and put a great multitude of the Israelites into perpetuall exile 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went backe to Niniueh 640 miles A little after this King Tiglath Philasser went from Ninive to Ierusalem 680 miles where hee so streitly besieged that wicked King Ahas that he was constrained to giue him great abundance of gold and siluer to raise his siege and be gon 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem he returned back to Ninive being 680 miles So all his trauels were 6640 miles OF the city Niniveh you may reade after in the trauels of Ionas the Prophet Of Kyr which is commonly called Cyrene KYr or Cyrene is scituated in Africa 816 miles from Ierusalem Westward In which country Simon that bore the crosse of Christ was borne Mat. 27. Luke 23. It signifies in Hebrew A strong wall and in Latine a Heart The Trauels of King SALMANASSER SAlmanasser signifieth The Assyrian Peace-maker This man Ptolomaeus that excellent Mathematician calleth Nabonassarus that is the Prophet of the Assyrians He began to reign vpon the 26 of February An. mundi 3221 before Christ 747 and reigned ten yeares or thereabout This man went with his army from Ninive to Samaria being 652 miles where hee compelled Hosea the last King of Israel to pay him tribute 2 Reg. 16. From thence he returned backe again with his army to Niniveh 652 miles After when Hosea K. of Israel conspiring with So K. of Egypt denied to pay him tribute hee returned backe againe the second time to Samaria which was 652 miles and after 3 yeres siege he tooke and destroied it with fire and sword and conquered all the country round about From Samaria he returned back again to Niniveh 652 miles So all the trauels of Salmanasser King of the Assyrians were 2608 miles The Trauels of SENACHARIB King of the Assyrians SEnacharib as Melancthon expounds it signifieth a two edged Sword He succeeded his father Salmanasser Ann. M. 3231. before Christ 737. He reigned 7 years This man imitating his father endeauored to cary away the rest of Gods people into captiuitie for which purpose he brought an army from Niniveh to Lachis which was 700 miles which town he besieged sent his Princes to Ieresalem beeing 20 miles where hee blasphemed the Lord of which you may reade more in the historie of King Hezekiah From Lachis hee went to Libnah 8 miles This was a strong Hold but he besieged it so narrowly that within a while after he had begun the siege he tooke it While he was before this town there came newes That Taracha a King of the Ethiopians had inuaded his country Wherefore he sent the second time messengers to Ierusalem But the Lord was offended with their blasphemie wherefore hee sent his Angell who in one night destroyed 185000 of his army This sudden and vnexpected euill falling upon him in a great feare he returned to Niniveh 692 miles where he was slain by his sons in the Temple The same of these things was so divulged abroad that Herodotus lib. 2. makes mention of them So these three journies make 1400 miles Of Lachis and Libnah you may reade before Of Assarhaddon King of the Assyrians ASsarhaddon his father Senacharib being slaine succeeded in the gouernment An. mundi 3238 which agreeth with the 730 yeare before Christ and reigned ten yeares in Niniveh the chiefe city of the Assyrians Here again the mutation change of Kingdoms may be obserued for Merodach a Chaldaean rebelling against Senacharib continued his gouernment in Babylon 11 yeares that is during a part of the reign of Senacharib and all the reign of Assarhaddon his son in which time he conquered the Assyrians and made them subiect to the empire of the Babylonians Of Merodach the first Emperor of the Babylonians MErodach signifieth A bitter repentance He was the sonne of Baladan Prince of Babylon who ruled at such time as Senacharib had that grieuous ouerthrow in Iudah Wherefore taking aduantage of the time and the necessitie of that Prince he rebelled against him and his son Assarhaddon taking vpon him the absolute command of the city and whole Empire The beginning of whose reign hapned in the yeare of the world 3236 and before Christ 732. This Merodach sent to Ierusalem wise and learned men with gifts and presents to King Ezekiah iust in that yeare when the Sun went backe ten degrees to know the truth of this miracle For it was a custome amongst the Nations round about Ierusalem if any thing hapned beyond the expectation of man to send thither to enquire the truth thereof Such and so wise a people were the Iewes esteemed in those times as may appeare by diuers places in holy Scripture In the beginning of the 12 yeare of this King Assarhaddon Emperor of the Assyrians died after whose death he became Emperor of all Assyria Chaldea He began to reign ouer that spatious kingdome An. mundi 3247 before Christ 721. and reigned after that 40 yeares Of Ben-Merodach Emperor of Babylon BEn-Merodach that is the son of Merodach succeeded his father An. M. 3287. before Christ 681. He reigned 21 yeares Of Nebuchadnezar first of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar signifieth A Divine Iudge He was the most potent king of all the Babylonians This man obtained the chiefe command ouer the Babylonian Empire An. M. 3309 before Christ 659. He reigned 35 yeares and held his Court somtime in Babylon sometimes in Niniveh Iud. 1. He made war with Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt of which battell you may reade 2 Reg. 25. 2 Chr. 35. in the vally of Megiddo where Iosias was slain Herod lib. 2. doth also make mention of this battell and calls the place by the name of Magdalum Of which Ieremy also speaketh But they were towns in the tribe of Manasses scituated neere to the plaine where this battell was fought in which country Mary Magdalen was borne The Trauels of Nebuchadnezar the second of that name Emperor of Babylon NEbuchadnesar or Nebuchadonesar the Great which Ptolomaeus calleth Nebupollasser about the end of the third yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah being a little before created Emperour his father yet liuing came vnto Ierusalem which hee besieged so streightly that hee constrained Ioachim to pay him Tribute for thirty seuen yeares Berosus saith Lib. 3. A little after that is Anno mundi 3344. before Christ 624 hee was sent against the Syrians Phoeniceans Egyptians that rebelled So
spectators In it the Kings of the Medes Persians and Parthians were for the most part honourably buried the gouernement whereof was committed to a Priest of the Iewes as Iosephus saith lib. Antiq. 10. cap. 4. From Egbatan he returned backe againe to Babylon which was 464 miles and there died anno mun â—445 and before Christ 533. So all the trauels of the Prophet Daniel were 2184 miles Of the places to which he trauelled Of Susan SVsa or Susan is so called from a sweet smelling floure but chiefely a Rose or a Lillie because it is scituated in a faire and pleasant place It was a goodly citie lying on both sides of the riuer Eulaeus some 200 furlongs that is 25 miles English about as Policletus saith And of this citie all the country round about is called Susana bordering towards the North vpon Assiria towards the West vpon Babylon towards the South vpon the Gulph of Persia and joyneth vpon the East part of Persia towards the East There are but two cities that are eminent in it that is this and another called Tariana The aire in the Winter season is very temperate at which time the earth bringeth forth many pleasant floures and fruits but in the Summer it is extreme hot by which heate all things are scorched and burned away and by reason of the putrifaction of the aire as some think in that season there doe breed toads lyzards and other noysome serpents in great abundance so that the inhabitants are constrained partly because of the heat partly because of the loathsome and dangerous creatures to build their houses all of earth long and narrow the walls and roofes being at least a yard thicke that so the heat might not pierce through them or serpents breed in them Strabo lib. Geograph 5. saith that one Tython the brother of Laomedon king of Troy did first build this citie about such time as Thola judged Israel After him his sonne Nemmon beautified it with a faire and goodly castle calling it after his own name Memnon Of this man Homer speaketh This castle was such a goodly thing that a long time after his death the towne was called Memnon as Strabo obserueth but in Hester and Daniels times it was called Susa and the inhabitants Susans The Persian Emperors in those times keeping their courts there for the most part and did greatly beautifie the citie with faire buildings The first of these Emperours that liued here was Cyrus who after hee had conquered Babylon Assiria and many other Kingdomes and countries lying neere to the citie Susa that he might with more ease and better safety retaine them in his gouernment remoued his court from Persepolis which lay vp in the East part of Persia to this towne where all the Winter season for the most part he liued and in the Summer went to Egbatan the chiefe citie of Media because there at that season the aire was very temperate His successors after him obseruing the same course for their better conueniencie and to make euident their greater magnificence repaired the Castle of Memnon joyned to it many faire and goodly buildings and close by it planted a pleasant orchard of diuerse and sundry sorts of trees and hearbes It is reported that the gate whereby they entred into this orchard was very curiously built supported with pillars of polished marble imbossed with siluer and gold very rare to looke vpon ouer it was a banqueting house beautified with liuely pictures costly furniture and beds of gold and siluer couered with rich tapestry wrought with silke siluer and gold vpon these they vsed to eate their banquets it was paued with Porphire Marble and Hyacinths in such sort as it greatly delighted such as beheld it The Queene had a priuate garden to her selfe In which were great abundance of trees of diuers kindes and many sweet floures and herbes In which garden Ahashueras walked to qualifie the heat of his wrath ihat he had conceiued against that wicked and perfidious Hamon who through enuie and ambition sought the destruction of the whole nation of the Iewes lest by giuing place vnto anger he should transgresse the bounds of clemencie and justice wherefore it becommeth euery King Prince and Iudge to imitate the example of this Emperor who in the heate of his anger would determine nothing of so wicked a man for long and often deliberation becommeth euery wise man before he doth any thing Est 7. Not farre from the Emperors pallace in a faire and pleasant Garden there stood a colledge of the Magi that is such as the Persians accounted wise and learned men these were of such account for their knowledge and vnderstanding amongst that people that some of them in succeeding ages were chosen for Kings and gouernors in that countrie They studied for the most part the Mathematickes History Philosophie and Diuinitie and as many haue thought the Prophecies of Daniel Ezekiel and others wherefore as is said before many are of opinion That the Wise men which came into Iudaea to see Christ were of this Colledge and towne because it stood East from Ierusalem It is at this day called Cusistane as Ortelius and Sebastian Munster witnesses and in their times was vnder the gouernment of one Caliphus Emperour of the Saracens This Caliphus was strongly besieged by one Allan the great King of Tartaria in this Towne Anno Dom. 1250. But because of his exceeding couetousnesse and parcimony he lost the citie and was famished to death Of the Riuer Eulaeo VLai which Stra. li. 15. calleth Eulaea passed through the city of Susa and as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 27. tooke the beginning at Media and so fell into a whole or cauerne of the earth passed vnder the ground till it came neere to the citie Susa where it brake forth againe and compassed about the tower of Susa and a temple in that city dedicated to Diana The inhabitants hold this riuer in great estimation insomuch as the kings drink of no other water and for that purpose carry it a great way Strabo according to the testimony of Polycletus saith That there are two other Riuers of good account which passeth through Persia viz. Choaspes Tigris but neither of them are in like estimation as this is Of Elam PErsia in antient times was called after this name from Elam the sonne of Sem. But after Perseus had obtained a large and spacious gouernmâ—nt in that country it was after his name called Persia Elam signifieth a youth or a young man Of Egbatana or Egbatan THis is the metropolitan city of the Medes and is distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles towards the Northwest built by Deioce King of the Medes as Herod lib. 2. saith Here Daniel built a faire Temple of which you may reade more in his trauels Of this towne you may reade more in the trauels of Iudeth The typicall signification of Daniel DAniel signifies the Iudge of God tipically representing Christ who is appointed by that eternall Iehouah to
Ioppa and Silicia to the Streights betweene Spain and Mauritania Into this Sea Ionas was cast when the Whale deuoured him In like manner the Red sea and all others that are ocean seas are called Tharsis as appeareth in the 72 Psalme where it is said The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring Presents Here the Kings whose Empires extend themselues alongst the sea coast are vnderstood But the city Tharsis the countrey of the Apostle Paul is not a kingdome neither euer had a King much lesse many Kings So Solomon sent his shippes by Tharsin that is by sea towards the Southeast into the Red sea and Eastern Ocean that they might bring gold pretious stones and sweet gummes from Arabia But the ships could not saile by the Red sea vnto the town of Tharsis vnlesse they would haue sailed ouer the land which is vnpossible because Tharsis lieth into the land from the Red sea as all Cosmographers agree So also the Psalmist saith Thou breakest with thy strong windes the ships of Tharsis that is of the sea beside many such like speeches From whence S. Ierom concludes that Tharsis may better signifie the sea than the city Tharsis Of the Euxine sea THe Euxine Ocean is that great and troublesome sea which beginning not farre from Constantinople runneth from Bosphorus and Thrace towards the East and North containing to the Longitude eight hundred miles but to the Latitude two hundred and eighty Towards the South it toucheth vpon Asia the lesse towards the East vpon Calcos towards the West Thracia and Valachia but towards the North it is ioyned to the poole of Maeotides This sea in times past was called Pontus Axenus that is the inhospitable country because as Strabo lib. 1. of his Cosmography saith The inhabitants neere about the sea-shore did vsually sacrifice those strangers they got or else cast their bodies vnto dogs to he deuoured making drinking cups of their skuls But after when the Ionians had built certain townes vpon the sea coast and had restrained the incursions of certaine Scythian theeues which vsually preyed vpon Merchants that resorted thither at the command of Pontus their King who had obtained a large and spatious kingdom in that country they called it Pontus Euxinus which is as much to say as the hospitable country Ovid testifieth almost the same concerning the originall of the name of this sea after this manner Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti Dictus ab antiquis Axinus ille fuit The chilly shores of th' Euxine sea constraines me to abide In antient time call'd Axinus as it along did glide Of Ninus or Nineveh NInus or Nineveh was a city of Assyria where the Emperours of that country vsed to keep their courts It was first built by Ninus that great Emperour of the first Monarchy 300 yeares after the floud and 2000 before Christ about the time when the Patriarch Abraham was borne It continued in great glory for the space almost of 1500 yeares and was distant from Ierusalem toward the Northeast 684 miles vpon the East side ioyning to the riuer Tygris on the North to the Caspian sea It takes the name from the beauty of it being deriued of Navah which signifieth A comely place spatious and pleasant There are many that are of opinion that in many things it exceeded Babylon as for the sumptuousnesse of the buildings the strength of the Walls and the extent The walls were so thicke that three Chariots might haue met vpon them without any danger and beautified with an hundred and fifty towers Ionas being sent of God to this city was three daies going through it that is as Luther expounds it through euery street of it in which time he conuerted a hundred and twenty thousand to repentance Arbaces who was also called Arphaxad was then Emperor This Arbaces Iustine lib. 2. calleth Arbactus he was a Captaine of the Medes who perceiuing the effeminat disposition of Sardanapalus the then Emperour taking aduantage of the times and this mans weaknesse conspired with some of his companions to vsurp vpon his gouernment and that he might make them hate and loath his loosenesse brought them into a room where the might see him sitting amongst his harlots tyred in womans apparell and carding wooll This sight greatly displeasing them and before being encouraged by Arbactus they seised vpon the city and besieged Sardanapalus in his palace But to preuent the miserie of a shameful death after he had gathered all his riches together he set fire on his palace where he his companions and treasure perished This fire continued 15 daies and hapned 823 yeares before Christ about which time Arbactus succeeded Sardanapalus began to reign and continued his gouernment 28 yeres But the Medes held not the Assyrian Empire long for Phul Belochus who at this time reigned in Babylon and his successour Tiglath Philasser are called Kings of Assyria betweene whom there hapned many great Warres 2 Kings 15.26 From whence may be gathered That after the death of Arbactus these Emperours dwelt in Niniveh and succeeded in the Empire Thus was this city greatly defaced with continuall euills the Lord before hand giuing them many admonitions and gentle corrections if it had bin in them to haue conceiued it to winne them to repentance but they continued still in their sins therefore according to their former prophecies Cyaxares King of the Medes besieging this towne tooke it and destroyed it euen vnto the ground as Eusebius saith This desolation hapned 13 yeares before the destruction of Ierusalem in the 11 yeare of Sadyattis King of the Lyddians who was grandfather to Croesus An. mundi 3349 before Christ 619. After this destruction it lay a long time desolat but at length some part of it was restored though with much trouble then when it was at the best estate constrained to suffer many changes and at length vtterly destroied by Tamerlane the Great the second time An. mun 3390. After this the inhabitants of that countrey vpon the East side of the riuer Tygris began the third time to build it But whether this third restoring of this City was at the command of some Prince that had the gouernment of the Country thereabouts or because of the scituation or for priuat profit it is not set down neuerthelesse it is again repaired standing on the borders of Armenia beautified with goodly buildings with faire and spatious streets compassed about as other cities of the East are with walls and ditches sufficiently strengthned to oppose the Enemy But in respect of the former Niniveh it seemes a small village It hath a bridge built of ships lying vpon the East side of it ouer the riuer Tygris and vpon that side of the Riuer there stand many faire gardens and orchards and the land there also is very fertil and pleasant But vpon the West of Tygris the soile is nothing so fruitfull At this day it is called by the name of Mossel so that although
country or city which is not sufficiently knowne vnto thee search this alphabeticall Table here following and thou shalt finde the whole matter declared vnto thee An alphabeticall Table of all the Countries and Cities mentioned in the Prophets A ABARIM that is a bridge or a passage ouer It was a mountain of the Moabits where the Israelites pitched their tents Num. 33. ACHOR the valley of Trouble Here Achan was stoned to death for his theeuery It stood not farre from Gilgal toward the North 12 miles from Ierusalem Ios 7. Isa 6. ADAMA Red earth This was one of the cities that were destroied with fire and brimstone from heauen AI Hilly This city Ioshuah burnt with fire It lay 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ios 8. AIATH Idem Esa 10. AR or ARI a Lion It was a city of the Moabits lying beyond Iordan in the tribe of Benjamin called Ariopolis scituated vpon the banke of the riuer Arnon 24 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Deut. 2. In Esa 15. it is called Arar a Destroyer ARAM Noble or Mighty Armenia and Syria are so called of Aram the son of Sem the chiefe city of which country is Damascus Pliny lib. 6.17 saith The Scythians were also in antient times called Aramites ARNON a famous riuer of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben which falls into the dead sea 20 miles from Ierusalem Eastward In Esa 16. it is called RANAN he hath shouted for ioy AROER by vsurpation an Ewe tree This is a city of the Moabits neere to the riuer Arnon in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ier. 40. There is another citie so called neere to Damascus in Syria Esa 7. ARPAD the light of redemption This was a city in the land of Damascus Ier. 49. There is another flourishing city of that name which may compare with Antiochia for greatnesse Esa 10. But where it is scituated it is vncertain ARVAD was a part of the land of Canaan so called of Aruad the son of Canaan Gen. 10. ASCANES or Tuiscones are a people descended of Ascenitz the son of Gomer the son of Iaphet which sometimes dwelt in Armenia but now haue their abiding in Germany 2 Gen. 10. Esa 51. So that of Gomer they are called Germanes and of Ascanes Ascanians or Tuiscons ASSECA fortified round about Neer to this town Dauid killed Goliah It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Westward ASSVR or ASSYRIA a blessed country being so called of Assur the son of Sem. AVEN Iniquity Bethel was so called after Ieroboam had there set vp a golden Calfe Hos 10. B BABEL Confusion Babylon is the metropolitan city of Chaldaea 280 miles from Ierusalem Eastward BATH Domesticall It was a town of the Moabits in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Iordan Esa 16. BAZRA a grape-gathering It was a city of the Edomites scituaâ—â—d vpon the banke of Iordan on the farther side neere to Bethabara 20 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esa 24.36 Ier. 48. Note here that the country of the Moabits in times past was subiect to the Edomits and then this city was in their jurisdiction but after the Moabits got it into their hands again and held it It was one of the six towns of refuge mentioned Ios 29. BEROTHAI a Cypres tree This towne stood neere Hemath or Antiochia 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 49. In this city Dauid King of Israel tooke Hadadesar King of Zoba or Sophena and constrained him to giue him a great deal of Brasse as it is thought yearely for tribute for neere that city were many brasse mines BETHAVIN the house of iniquity Bethel was so called Hos 6. It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward BETH-CHaeREM the house of the Vines It was a towne not far from Ierusalem Northward Ier. 6. BETH-DIBLATHAIM the house of dried Figs. It was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETHIESIMOTH the house of desolations It was also a city of the Moabits beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben Ios 13. Ezech. 25.20 miles from Ierusalem BETH-GAMVL the house of Restitution This was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETH-BAALMEON the house of habitation for the idol Baal It was a city of the Moabits 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward not far from Aroer Ezek. 25. 1 Chr. 5. BVTZ a Castle of prey It was a city of the Ismaelites in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ier. 25. BEL and NEOB two idols of the Babylonians Esa 45. Bel signifieth the god of mixture or confusion Neob the god of prophecie C CALNO his perfection This is Seleucia scituated vpoa Tygris beyond Babylon 316 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It is now called Bagdeth Gen. 10. Esay 2. CANNE a firme foundation It was a city of the Syrians Ezek. cap. 27. CAPHIHOR a little Sphere or around globe like vnto a Globe or pomegranat Also Cappadocia a countrey of Asia the lesse 600 miles from Ierusalem Northward CARCHEMIS a sacrificed Lambe This was scituated too neer Euphrates in Syria 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ierem. cap. 25. D DEEDAN a city of the Idumaeans so called of Dedan the son of Esau Ier. 25. Isa 21. DIBON a mist This was a City of the Moabites neere Hesbon in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DIBLATH a bunch of Figs. It was a city in the tribe of Nepthali neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 6. Here Zedekiah had his eies put out 2 Kin. 25 Ier. 39.52 DIMON Bloudy This is a city in the tribe of Reuben which as S. Ierom saith is 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DVMA Silence A city of the Israelites so called of Duma the son of Ismael It stood in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Esay 25.21 E EGBATHANA the metropolitan city of the Medes distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles Northeastward EDEN Pleasure A city of Syria scituated neer Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esay 7. This is thought to haue been a part of Paradice EGLAIM a roud Drop It was a town of the Moabites Esay 15.16 ELAM a Yong man so called of Elem the son of Sem Esa 10.21 After Perseus had got in this country a great gouernment he called it after his own name Persia ELEALE the ascention of God It was a city beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben between Iacza and Hehbon 26 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Num. 32. ELIM a Hart. This was a lake so called in the land of the Moabits Esa 10. ELISA the Lambe of God So were the Aeolians called in Grecia of Elysa the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Ezek. 7. Gen. 10. ENAGLAIM the fountaine of Calves It was a towne or Castle neere to the Red sea Ezek. 10. EPHA the land of Obscuritie It was a part of Arabia Petraea so called of Epha the sonne of Midian the sonne of Abraham Gen. 25. Esa 60. G GEBIM a Ditch This was a town in the tribe of Iuda Esa 10. GEBAH a hill
It was a hill in the city of Kiriath-jearim there was a town also of the same name standing within a little of it This was a little more than a mile from Ierusalem Westward Esa 10. GEBAL a bound or limit It was the bounds and limits of Syria bordering vpon the Mediteranean sea This city Gibal or Gebal was 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward 1 Reg. 5. Psal 82. GIBEAH a hill It was also called Gibeon where Saul dwelt foure miles from Ierusalem Northward Esa 10. GILGAL a roundle or the compasse of a hill Here Ioshuah pitched his tents it stood between Iericho and Iordan 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward GOG The Turks were thus called because they liued in tents Ezek. 48. GOSAN a land and riuer in Mesopotamia called after that name 2 Reg. 17. Esa 37. H HADAD RIMMON a Pomegranat This was a towne neere to Megiddo where Iosia King of Iudah was wounded to death 46 miles from Ierusalem Northward Zach. 12. HADRACH the land of Gladnesse So the Prophet Zachary cals Syria cap. 19. HANES an ensigne of Grace This was a city of Egypt bordering vpon Assyria Esa 30. HARAM the Syrian liberty It was the metropolitan Citie of Mesopotamia where Abraham dwelt Gen. 11. distant from Ierusalem 440 miles Northeastward HAVERAN a Casement It was a City in Syria not farre from Damascus 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East Ezek. 47. HAZOR-ENON the gate of a fountain It was a city in Syria HAZOR-TICHON the middle Porch It was a town in Syria not far from Haveran Ezek. 47. HAZOR The land of Hay So the Ismaelities called their countrey HEMATH anger So the Prophets called Antiochia the Metropolitan of Assyria distant from Ierusalem 280 miles Northward HERMON Acurst It was a mountain beyond Iordan neer to Libanus 122 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast There is another mountain of this name neer to Naim and not far from Mount Tabor 44 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which the Psalmist speaketh Psal 89. Tabor and Hermon praise thy Name The mountain beyond Iordan is oftentimes called by the name of Mount Gilead HESBON an ingenious cogitation It was a city of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast HENAH and IEVAH were two idols Esa 37. HEVILAH Sandy So India is called and a certain part of Arabia Petraea of Hevilah the son of Chus Gen. 10. These countries are very dry and sandy HETHLON He hath rolled together It was a city of Syria neere to Antiochia Ezek. 47. HOLON a Window It was a town of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben and is also called Helon Num. 2. Ier. 47. HORONAIM the Syrian Liberties two towns of the Moabits Esa 16. I IACHZA the priuity of God A city of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward IAEZER the help of God A city of Refuge belonging to the Leuits in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 40 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward IAVAN GRECIA so called of Iavan the son of Iapheth which was distant from Ierusalem 800 miles Westward IEZREEL the Seed of God This is the city where Queen Iesabel was deuoured of Dogs It standeth 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward IRHERES or Heliopolis a city of the Sun This was a City of Egypt 224 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest K KEDAR Blacknesse This was a Desart of the Ismaelites called Sur 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward KIR PARIES a Wall This was Cyrene a great city in Africa which was 816 miles from Ierusalem Westward There was a town of this name in the land of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben Esa 16. KIR-HAZERETH or Kir-Hares a Mudwall It was a City of the Moabits in Arabia Petraea otherwise called Petra 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Esa 16. KIRIATHAIM a City This town was in the tribe of Reuben 22 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Esa 16. KIRIAH or Kirieth ibidem KITHIM a shining Iewel Macedonia is so called of Kithim the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ier. 2. Mac. 1. For if you doe diligently obserue the deriuation of names you shal find that of Kithim comes Maketis and so by continuance of time and change of words Macedonia It lieth 920 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward L LACHIS a continuall walking or as some will haue it A pleasant walke This was a city in the tribe of Iuda 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward Ier. 34. LAISA a Lionesse So was Caesarea Philippi somtimes called It was also called Dan scituated neere to the fountains of the riuer Iordan not far from Mount Libanus 104 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward LIBNA Frankincense It was a town in the tribe of Iudah 10 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-West LVD that is Lydia a country in Asia minor so called of Lud the sonne of Sem. LVIT greene grasse it is also a mountaine in the Tribe of Reuben Esa 6. M MAGOG dwelling vnder a shed or tent The Turks are so called Ezech. 38. MARESA an inheritance In this towne the Prophet Micah was borne Micha 1. it was scituated in the Tribe of Iuda distant from Ierusalem 16 miles towards the West MEDAI a measure the Kingdome of Media was so called of Medai the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. MEDBA warme water it was a city of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Esay 16. MEDEMENA a dunghill it was a towne in the tribe of Iudah neere Beerseba and Gaza 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Iosh 15. There was also another towne of the same name in the tribe of Benjamin not farre from Ierusalem Iosh 10. Ier. 48. MEGIDDO a wholesome apple Here Iosia King of Iuda was slain in war it stood 46 miles from Ierusalem Northward Zach. 12. MEPHAATH the splendor of waters it was a citie belonging to the Priests in the Tribe of Reuben subject to the Moabites 24 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Ier. 48. MESECH the tract of sowing so the Muscouites and Russians are called of Mesech the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. MIDIAN a measure a town lying vpon the red sea 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South so called of Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25. MISPE a Watch. This citie stood in the land of Giliad beyond Iordan eight and fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast There is another Towne of this name also not farre distant from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Benjamin Hosea 5. Ierem 40. MOAB a father The countrie of the Moabites scituated betweene the red sea and the mountaines Abarim Ezech. 9. MEVSAL running swiftly it was the name of a people that tooke their beginning from Vsal the sonne of Ioktan Gen. 19. N NABAIOTH the countrey of the Prophets this country beginneth in the Tribe of Gad beyond Iordan and extendeth to the East part of the dead sea and so by the land of the Moabites to the Red sea It taketh the name
of Nabaioth the sonne of Ishmael for all the tract of Arabia Petraea from the Red sea to the Gulph of Persia of him is called the land of Nabathaea Diodorus Siculus saith as much and further That it extendeth towards the East vnto the Indian sea Gen. 25. NEBO Prophesying It was a city of the Moabites in the Tribe of Reuben neere to mount Pisga twentie miles from Ierusalem towards the East Ier. 48. NIMRIM a Leopard This was also a citie in the Tribe of Gad beyond Iordan thirtie two miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Isa 16. NO a hinderance so was Alexandria a citie in Aegypt in ancient times called distant from Ierusalem 288 miles towards the West Ezek. 30. NOPH a honey combe so the Prophets call Memphis the Metropolis of Aegypt being distant from Ierusalem 244 miles towards the Southeast Isa 18. Ier. 2. Ezek. 30. O ON opulencie So Ezech. c. 30. calleth Heliopolis a city of Aegypt which is 224 miles distant from Ierusalem towards the Southwest OREB a Crow or Rauen. Neere to this place in mount Ephraim Prince Oreb was slaine not far from Iericho twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North Iudg. 7. Psal 83. OPHIR a pallace it was the proper name of the sonne of Ioâ—â— the posteritie of Sem of whom in times past India was called Ophir You may reade of this Gen. 10. 1 Reg. 9. P. PATHROS or PETRA the Metropolitan citie of Arabia Petraea 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the South It is a countrey also of Aegypt neere Taphnis 180 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Isa 11. Ezech. 29. PARATH fruitfull A name of the riuer Euphrates Ier. 2.13 PRAZIN a breach It is a valley neere Ierusalem where Dauid ouercame the Philistines 2 Sam. 5. PHVT is Africa so called of Phuth the sonne of Cham. Gen. 10. R RABBA a multitude Philadelphia the Metropolitan of the Ammonites is so called 96 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast RAEMA thunder so they called Aethyopia of Raema the sonne of Chus Gen. 10. RAMA high This citie stood eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North Isa 10. There were other cities also of the same name and signification REZEPH a cole it was a citie in Syria Isa 37. RIBLATH an inueterate anger This was a citie in the Tribe of Nepthaly neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Antiochia also was sometimes called Riblah 2 Reg. 25. Ier. 39.52 RIMMON a Pomegranat This was a citie in the Tribe of Iudah not far from Gerar 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-East S SABA the stone Achates This was the Metropolitan Citie of Aethyopia called also Meroe 960 miles ftom Ierusalem towards the South The two famous Queenes one that came to see Solomon the other mentioned Act. 8. dwelt in this towne SANIR a cleere light So mount Hermon beyond Iordan was called of the Ammonites it stood 112 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast SARION the Doues song So the Edomites called Mount Hermon that stood beyond Iordan SARON a faire plaine or a greene place So is that plain between the sea of Galile and Mount Ephraim called Is 35. There are some that thinke there is a Mountaine so called SELA a Rocke this is Petra a citie of Arabia ante SEPHARVAIM a citie of the Scribes it stood in Assiria Isa 37. SIBARIM a citie of Syria neere to Damascus Ezech. 47. SIBMA a possession a citie built by the sons of Reuben 24 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Num. 32. SICHOR blacke It is a brooke or riuer called Rhinocorurus which falleth into the Mediterranean sea neere to the towne Rinocorura scituated vpon the vtmost borders of the Holy land towards the South 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest The riuer Nilus in Aegypt is also called Sichor Ier. 2. SIMRI Gardians They were Arabians dwelling vpon an Angle of Isthumus of the red sea SINEAR a blow vpon the teeth Chaldea is so called Is 11. SION or SCAION by Schin not by Zade tranquilitie and securitie the Mount whereon Ierusalem stood is not so called but Mount Hermon beyond Iordan Deut. 4. SIENE or SEVENE illustrous it was a citie in Affrica vpon the borders of Aegypt and Aethyopia 516 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Iouias saith that the inhabitants at this day call it Guagheram T TACHPANES or TAPHNIS a couered or hidden ensigne It is a city in Aegypt 180 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ierem. 2.43 THAMAR a plaine This towne was built by Solomon and stood 360 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast THELASSER a Princes tombe it was a country vpon the borders of Assiria Isay 37. THEMATH wonderfull a city of Arabia Petraea Ier. 25. so called of Thama the sonne of Ismael Gen. 25. it stood 40 miles from Ierusalem Southward it is called Theman a City of the South THOGARMA perfection Tartaria was so called of Thogarma the sonne of Gomer the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ezech. 27. THVBAL a people bordering vpon the Muscouites so called of Thubal the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ezekiel cap. 27. 38. maketh Mesech Thubal Gog and Magog all one people from whence may be gathered that these people dwelt towards the North and were gouerned by one Prince In the 38 Chapter he calls them Gog that is the Turke who is Prince and gouernor in Mesech and Thubal Therefore without doubt the people of Russia in times past were called Thubal which people dwelt neere to Muscouia and this opinion seemes to be more probable than theirs that imagine the Italians and Spaniards which haue their dwellings neere vnto the riuer Iberia to be the offspring of Thubal V VPHAR the countrey of gold It is called also Ophir and India 1 Reg. 9. Ier. 10. Dan. 10. Psal 119. Z ZEB a Wolfe The wine-presse of Zeb was in Mount Ephraim not far from Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Zeb the Prince of the Midianites was slaine There is another towne of this name neere to the riuer Iaboch beyond Iordan 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast ZEBOIM pleasantnesse One of the fiue cities that were burnt with fire from heauen Gen. 14.19 Hosea 11. ZENAN a sheepfold it was a city in the Tribe of Iuda Mich. 1. ZOAN mouing Tanis a city in Aegypt where Moses wrought al his miracles before Pharaoh was so called it stood 232 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest ZOBA presumptuous This was also called Zophena it is the countrey of Armenia 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North which Dauid conquered 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chron. 19. ZOR a rocke Tyrus is so called it stood 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Thus gentle Reader for your better ease and vnderstanding haue I collected a short Alphabeticall Table and therein briefly described all those countries and cities mentioned in the Prophets that so by your diligent care and obseruation you may the better vnderstand the meaning of such texts of Scripture wherein they
an antient friend and Suah taketh the name from desolation being deriued of Scho he hath made desolate Of Zophar the friend of Iob. ZOphar dwelt in the citie of Naema Iosh 15. but how farre it stood from Ierusalem is vncertaine Zophar of Zaphar signifieth swift Naema signifies pleasant and delectable of Naem courteous and comfortable Of Iobs daughters THe Lord gaue vnto Iob after his affliction and that he had tried his faithfulnesse three daughters so faire that there were none fairer to be found in all the land The name of the first was Iemmima that is as faire as the day of Iom which signifies a day The second Kazia that is such a one as giueth a pleasant sauor like vnto the gum Cassia The third because of the excellencie of her countenance was called Kaeren Hapuch that is casting forth rayes or beames Iob. 42. APOCRYPHA The Booke of IVDETH Of Egbatana AFter the death of Arbactus or Arphaxad which signifies a mighty Lyon to whom Ionas prophecied as is said before there succeeded in the Empire of the Medes Mandanes Sarsomenes Artecarnis Cardiceas and Deioces who being enthronised in that Empire called himselfe Arphaxad or Arbactus the second This man built Egbatana the metropolitan citie of the Medes and beautified it with very faire buildings goodly walls made all of foure square stone cut and polished 70 cubits high and 30 broad towers standing vpon it 100 cubits in height as well those that were for the defence of the town as those where the gates were The aire in that country was temperate inclining rather to cold than heate because it lay toward the North it stood 1136 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Here for the most part this Emperor kept his court till as Herodotus saith he was vtterly conquered by Nebuchadnezzar Emperor of the Babylonians This was that Nebuchadnezzar which sent Holofernus with a mighty army against Iudaea Bethulia and many other cities and countries and would be worshipped as a god Iudeth 3. Of Hydaspes HYdaspes is a riuer that ariseth in Media which runneth thorough a part of Parthia extendeth it selfe into India and not farre from the citie Nisa falleth into Indus according to the opinion of Pliny and Strabo lib. 15. Neere this riuer Nabuchadnezzar ouercame Dieoces otherwise called Arbactus Iudg. 1. The description of the countries conquered by HOLOFERNES Of Kedar KEdar the wildernesse of Zur was thus called stood in the land of the Ishmaelites 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest and tooke the name of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. 25. Of the mountaines of Ange. THe mountaines of Ange lay betweene Pamphilia and Cicilia to the latitude of that famous country of Cilicia in Asia minor 320 miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Anchiale a citie of Cilicia from whence it seemeth to take the name Of Cilicia CIlicia is a prouince of Asia minor so called of Cilice the kings sonne of Syria and Phoenicia the Metropolitan Citie of which countrey was Tharsus where the Apostle Paul was borne it was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North. Of Mallos MAllos a citie of Cilicia was so called of Malo that is plenty of all things Stephanus saith that it took that name of Mollo who first built it It is a citie to this day and of most of the inhabitants of that country called Mallo as Gesner obserueth Of Gesem GEsem signifies fruitfull The land of Gosen in Aegypt was so called being deriued of Gusch that is a turfe it stood 174 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Of Aethyopia THis country stands beyond Aegipt 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the South where the Sunne is extreme hot that it turneth the complexion of the inhabitants to blackenesse here breed great abundance of Dragons and cruell beasts Of Esdrelon ESdrelon was a plaine lying betweene the mountains Thabor Hermon and Gilboa extending it selfe from the cities of Megiddo and Apheck to the sea of Gennezareth or Galile In this great field which was called the plaine of Galile and the field of Megiddo and Esdrelon there were many cruell battels fought for here Gideon ouercame the Midianites here Saul was put to flight by the Philistins from whence ascending into Mount Gilboa he killed himselfe Iosias also King of the Iewes was in this place put to flight by Pharaoh Necho and wounded vnto the death The camp of Holofernes was so great that it tooke vp all the plain which contained 16 miles in length In some parts it was wonderfull fruitfull and brought forth wine oyle and many other commodities in great abundance It stood 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called of Caeder that is a hid order and disposition for Alam is as much to say as he hath hid Of Sobal SObal was a countrey vpon the borders of Syria where Sophena was scituated neere to the riuer Euphrates which country Saul and Dauid Kings of Israel somtime conquered it stood 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifies an eare of corne Of Apamea THis was a famous citie in Tetrapolis of Syria two hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem towards she North built of Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria and was so called of Apamea his wife Of the city Bethulia BEthulia was scituated within 4 miles of Dothan and two of the Galilean sea 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward About four miles from this town in a mountain a little beside Dothan lay the tents of Holofernes in the sight of Bethulia Iudeth c. 7. between which Bethulia lay the plain of Esdrelon in the midst whereof there ran a pleasant riuer which in times past watred it Here Iudeth according to the custome of the Iewes washed her selfe The place where Bethulia stood is to be seene at this day the ruins of the town and many houses still remaining It was scituated vpon a goodly high mountaine strongly fortified by Nature and as it seemeth by art also A man might haue seen it thorough the greatest part of Galile but aboue the rest a certain castle in the end of the mountain made for the defence of the city They shew at this day in the mountaine and field neere Dothan the place where Holofernes camp stood and the reliques of their tents also the brook where Iudeth washed her selfe Bethulia signifieth The hand-maid of God being deriued of Bethulah a virgin and Iah God Holofernes a prophane Captaine of which sort are those tyrants that persecute the Church of God The Booke of TOBIAS The Trauels of Tobias the elder TObias the elder was caried captiue out of the tribe of Nepthaly where he was born to Ninive the Metropolitan city of Assiria being 600 miles at such time as Salmanasser King of the Assyrians caried away the tenne tribes of Israel into Assyria Captiue in the yeare before Christ 742. 2 Kings ca. 17. Tob. 1. From that time he continued in Ninive being then about 27 years old and numbred amongst the yong men
that went into exile for he was born about such time as Romulus and Remus were born which was An. mun 3200. and before Christ 798 Tob. 1. About the 30 yeare of his age he went from Niniveh into Media which was 752 miles and there came to a city called Rages in that country to visit the banished Israelites at which time hee lent by Gabel by bond 10 talents of siluer which amounts in our mony at v. s. vi d. the ounce to 2062 li. and 10 s. or thereabouts From Rages he returned backe againe to Niniveh 752 miles So all his trauels were 2104 miles The Trauels of the Angell Raphel and yong Tobias IN the yeare before Christ 708 the Archangell Raphel went from Niniveh to Rages in Media with Tobias the yonger being 752 miles From Rages in Media they returned backe again to Niniveh 752 miles So these journies were 1504 miles ¶ The description of the places mentioned in their trauels Of Nepthaly THis was the chiefe city of the tribe of Nepthaly 84 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. It stood in Galile and in times past was a strong town here Tobias the elder was born It is to be seene at this day as some say but much decayed and is now called by the name of Sirin scituated in a mountain so steep and strongly fortified by nature vpon the West side that it is impossible to ascend vpon it In a valley some two miles from this towne towards the South Naason spoken of in the first Chapter of Toby is scituated Vpon the left side whereof there stood a towne called Sophet but now there is nothing to be seene but a Castle where in antient times the Knights Templers kept their abiding and at this day is in the custody of the Turks This castle is scituated vpon a high mountaine fortified very strongly both by art and nature and standeth within a mile of Nepthaly Southwestward At such time as Iosephus that great Historiographer who was the sonne of Matthia of Marathia a Priest of the Iewes was chosen chiefe Commander of the tribe of Nepthaly he gathered an army of 100000 and fortified this castle Nepthaly and many other townes thereabouts continuing a long and sharp war against the Romans vntill Nepthaly was taken and he constrained to yeeld himselfe captiue In the taking in of which town Titus the son of Vespasian did first ascend the walls there made manifest his noble resolution and valor Vid. Ios de bell Iud. lib. 3 4. Of Rages a city of the Medes RAges is so called of a great Congregation being deriued of Ragasch that is He hath assembled a great company for it was a very populous city It was also called as Strab. li. 11. Cosmograp saith Rahga but after being rebuilt and fortified by Nicanor it was by him called Europus beeing distant from Ierusalem 1396 miles toward the Northeast The Persians call it Arsacia S. Ierom de Trad. Hebr. would haue Edissa a city of Mesopotamia or rather as Pliny saith of Coelosyria to be Rages which stands but 448 miles from Ierusalem Northward and from Ninive 188 miles Westward There are diuers others that haue wrot of this town of Edissa but that this and Rages should be both one I canot see how to agree with Toby for that hee himselfe hath set it down to stand in Media and the Cities of the Medes lie distant from Ierusalem 1396 miles Therefore gentle Reader I referre it to thy better consideration Of Iesus the sonne of Syrach SYrach signifies an Illustrous Prince being deriued of Sarach he hath shined forth he was of that noble family of Dauid that is the son of Syrach the son of Iesu cousin german to Amos Syrach who as Philo saith was the chiefe prince and captain of the children of Israel in the time of Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt is inserted into the genealogie of Christ Luke 3. He was born 230 years before Christ in the city Ierusalem from whence about the 38 yeare of his age he went to Alexandria a city of Egypt 288 miles Evergetes Ptolomais the sonne of Philadelphus being then King of that countrey where he gathered out of that flourishing Library set vp at the charge of Ptolomais Philadelphus his booke of Ecclesiasticus as bees from diuers floures gather sweet hony Of the great city Alexandria ALexandria was a city of Egypt distant from Ierusalem 288 miles Westward in antient time called No that is a Hinderance But Alexander the Great taking affection to this city in the yere 330 before Christ began to build it for by continuance of time it was much decayed and within the space of 17 dayes made it a goodly city much greater than it was before to which that he might adde the greater grace he called it after his owne name Alexandria and there he lieth buried after hee had gouerned the empire of the Grecians 7 yeares For although he died in Babylon the chiefe city of the Chaldaeans yet Ptolomais one of his chiefe Princes remoued his body thence in a golden chariot to Memphis in Egypt and 20 years after to Alexandria The scituation thereof is very delectable bordering to the North vpon the Mediterranian sea and to the South vpon the poole of Mareridis as Strabo saith lib. 17. It was ten miles about strongly fortified with walls beautified with goodly buildings scituated in a very fruitfull countrey And to giue a greater delight vnto the inhabitants without the Walls there stood many goodly Orchards and Gardens plentifully furnished with fruits and floures of diuers kindes as Pomecitrons Figges c. During the time of Ptolomais Philadelphus it was a famous and flourishing city for this Prince being a great louer of learning instituted an Academy as it is thought in it and added thereto a stately library wherin were 400000 Bookes The same whereof beeing published through the world many people of diuers Nations resorted thither to see it Then Eleazer also the high-priest of the Iews at the request of Ptolemais sent 72 Interpreters to translate the Bible out of Hebrew into Greeke which was as Eusebius obserueth in the third yeare of his reign before Christ 268. In recompence whereof he sent to be dedicated in the Temple of Ierusalem a table of gold richly adorned with Carbuncles smarages and other pretious stones two stately cups and 30 boules of pure gold as appeareth in Iosep lib. Antiq. 12. The Academy continued there till after Christs time as you may reade Acts 6. But the Library was consumed 47 yeares before Christ and the city greatly defaced For Iulius Caesar at that time making war with Pompey the yonger who continued with his sister Cleopatra in this City caused the Kings navy to be set on fire and the Library standing neer it the flame tooke hold of it and burnt it downe to the ground with all that was in it and defaced also a great part of the city Iosephus writing of this city compares it
reigne made his expedition from Antiochiato Persepolis it was also called Elymaides in Persia which was 196 miles Here he took the temple of Diana spoiled all that country round about and with strong hand gathered together a great masse of gold and siluer to maintain warre against Iudas Machabeus But a multitude of citisens disliking his sacriledge banded themselues together and put Antiochus and his souldiers to flight before hee could take the city of Persepolis 1 Mach. 6. 2 Mach. 9. Wherefore being driuen from thence he fled with his army to Egbatana a city in Media which was 209 miles Here hauing certain intelligence by letters of the noble exploits of Iudas Machabeus and that he purged the temple of such things as were prophane he fell into an extreme griefe and like one distracted railed against the Iewes and swore to be reuenged of them 1 Mac. 9. In this extreme anger he went from Egbatana to Babylon with his army which was 464 miles But as he went his Chariot was ouerthrown in the fall wherof he was so extremely wounded that they were constrained to carry him in a bed to Babylon where he shortly after died miserably So all his trauels were 8153 miles Thus may we see with what difficulties and dangers this wicked prince obtained his victories and past away his life somtime in trauel his journies long and troublesome somtimes in prosperitie somtimes in aduersitie again somtimes afflicted with troublesome cogitations sometimes with extreame anger seldome in peace and then also his actions sauoring of violence and filthines From whence it appeareth That the wicked with more sorowes troubles and vexations gaine eternall damnation than the Iust though they suffer many grieuous afflictions obtain euerlasting saluation For amongst all the Patriarchs good Kings and Prophets there is not found any that had so many long and tedious journies as this Antiochus who continually oppressed his minde and conscience with vnprofitable vanities and wicked thoughts and at length had a miserable and terrible end ¶ Of the Cities and places mentioned in his Trauels Of Antiochia ANtiochia where Antiochus Epiphanes kept his court was antiently called Chaemath or Riblah It was scituated in Syria 180 miles from Ierusalem towards the North neer to the Cities Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea which foure Cities as Strabo saith in the sixteenth Booke of his Geographie was built by Seleucus Nicanor first King of Syria This man was a mighty Prince and obtained the name of Nicanor which signifieth Victorie because he prospered in his warres and conquered his aduersaries For when within 13 yeares after the death of Alexander the Great hee had got the kingdome of Syria hee became so great in the 31 yeare of his reign that he obtained the empire of all the East and beside as Strabo saith re-edified and built vp these foure cities calling one of them Antiochia after the name of his father another Laodicea after the name of his mother a third after his own name Seleucia and the last Apamea after the name of his wife These foure cities because they were all built by one man and at one time were called Sisters But Antiochia was much fairer than the other and in those times was a greater city than any other called after that name yea it was equal to Alexandria in Egypt for glory and excellencie of building It was diuided into foure parts and those parts seperated with four wals The first which was antiently called Hemath A violent anger of Chamathai the sonne of Canaan was after Riblath from the multitude of the inhabitants and the third time by Seleucus after his fathers name called Antiochia In this part Seleucus to dignifie the City kept his court it being compassed about with goodly walls In the second part the citisens of Syria inhabited In the third Seleucus Callimichus afterward King of the Syrians kept his court and greatly beautified it But in the fourth where afterward many Christians inhabited Antigonus Epiphanes continued and did greatly adorn it and set it forth with goodly buildings and sumptuous houses Close by the Citie there stood a pleasant wood watered with many cleare fountains and delightfull springs to which there resorted a great multitude of Fowles of diuers sorts which sung very pleasantly among the trees to the great content and delectation of the citisens In the midst of this wood stood the temple of Apollo and Diana goodly things and very curiously built It was called the wood of Daphne because it was full of Laurel trees From this wood all the countrey thereabout is called Epidaphne Not far off standeth the riuer Orontes which beginneth in Coelosyria and passeth vnder the earth til it comes neere to Apamea where it riseth and watreth all Antiochia So passing thence it runneth some 16 miles and so fals into the Mediterranian sea Heere Paul preached and kept a Synod Euseb lib. 7. cap. 24. 25. There was another Synod kept heere by the Arrians Trip. lib. 4. 9. Stephanus reckons vp many other cities of this name as Antiochia Lisidia in Galatia where Paul preached Act. 3. and is distant from this 384 miles Antiochia in Mesopotamia which is also called Mygdonia and Nisibis in which Apollophanes the Stoicke and Pharnuchus that wrot the Persian historie are said to be born Antiochia between Syria and Arabia built by Semiramis Antiochia in Cilicia scituated neere to the riuer Pyramus Antiochia in Pieria also called by the Syrians Arados There is also a city called Antiochia neere mount Taurus in the countrey of Comagena Antiochia scituated vpon the lake of Callichan Antiochia in Scythia There was another in Caria called also Pithapolis Antiochia Marigiana built by Antiochus Soter And many Authors call Tharsus in Cilicia by the name of Antiochia Antiochia signifies an Aduersarie Of Rome ROme stands 1528 miles from Ierusalem Westward Of this city you may reade more in the trauels of the Apostle Paul Tyrus Ioppa Memphis Pelusio Mallo and Alexandria are before described Of Tharsus TArsus or Tharsus signifieth aa Hyacinth stone so called as some thinke of Tharsis the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet the son of Noah Gen. 10. It was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles Northward Of Persepolis PErsepolis was the metropolitan city of Persia distant from Ierusalem 1240 miles Eastward So called of Perseus that mightie King of the Persians who re-edified it and gaue it that name which is as much to say as the city of the Persians which also of him were so called The Astronomers because he was greatly affected to such as were skilfull in that art attributed his name and his wiues name to two constellations in the heauens of which Ovids fable is contriued of Pegasus and Andromache This city of Persepolis was so fair that it exceeded all the cities of the East both for statelinesse and beauty and so continued from Perseus time vntill Alexander the Great had conquered Darius at which time this great Emperor hauing got into his hand the whole
vpon the East side of the riuer they pitcht their tents 12 miles Here they fought with Bacchides After they went thence to Bethbesan 3 miles From thence they went to Ierusalem 12 miles Ios Ant. li. 18. cap. 1. From Ierusalem they went to Ioppa 20 miles and wonne the towne Ios lib. Ant. 13. ca. 6. From Ioppa they went to Asdod 12 miles and in the way they put the enemy to flight From Asdod they went to Ascalon which was 12 miles 1 Mac. cap. 10. From Ascalon they returned to Ierusalem which was 30 miles 1 Mac. 10. From thence he went to Bethsura halfe a mile this towne he won and placed a garrison in it 1 Mac. 11. Also in the absence of his brother Ionathan Simon went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles from Ierusalem 1 Mac. cap. 12. From thence he went to Ioppa which was twenty miles This towne the second time hee tooke and placed a Garrison therein ◠Mac. 12. From Ioppa hee returned againe to Ierusalem which was twenty miles Ios antiq lib. 13. cap. 8. From Ierusalem in the last yeare of his brother Ionathans gouernment he went to the plain of Sephala about 14 miles where he built the Hold of Abida 1 Mac. 12. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles There after the captiuitie of his brother Ionathan whom Tryphon by cunning had betrayed as is before said hee was chosen by the people of the Iewes into the principalitie From thence hee went to Addus to meet Tryphon 16 miles where he would haue ransomed his brother Ionathan 1 Machab. cap. 13. From Addus he went to a city of the Idumaeans called Ador or Adaram 48 miles From Ador he returned into Iudaea with his army 40 miles that he might oppose the inuasion of Tryphon and his souldiers lest they should haue destroyed the country and got Ierusalem in his absence Tryphon hauing put to death his brother Ionathan which was in the yeare before Christ 140 Simon entered vpon the office of high priest the same yere and continued in the gouernment eight yeares In the first yeare of his gouernment he went from Ierusalem to Modin 14 miles Here he buried the body of his brother Ionathan in his fathers sepulchre very honorably and richly beautified it From Modin he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles where he executed his priestly function diligently repaired the holds and decaied towns of Iudea compassing them about with stone wals and fortifying them with towers and bulwarks From thence he went to Gaza 44 miles from Ierusalem South-westward This town he tooke From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was foure and forty miles There he repaired the tower of Acropolis wherin he dwelt From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and won the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he returned to Ierusalem which was twenty miles where for a time hee liued very honourably and kept a princely port 1 Mac. 14. Lastly he went with his two sons Iudas and Mattathias and his wife to visit his father in law Ptolomeus the son of Abodus to the castle of Doch which was neere to Iericho some ten miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Here he was slain by his father in law at a banquet in the yeare before Christ 132 in the 11 moneth which answereth to our February 1 Mac. 16. So all his trauels were 799 miles ¶ The description of the places mentioned in his Trauels Of Arabath ARrabath or Araba was a city neere to the lake or riuer Merom not farre from Dothan 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. It seemes to take the name from Locusts wherof there are many kinds 1 Mac. 5. for there are Locusts that liue vpon herbs and flours others that fly in great swarms in the aire and some also that liue in the waters not much vnlike Crabs or Crayfishes their tailes only excepted Plin. lib. 9. cap. 12. reckons vp another kinde of Locusts whereof Iohn Baptist did feed and it was lawfull for the Iewes to eat of them hee describes them to haue foure feet and wings so that they can either fly or leap vpon the earth They can be resembled to nothing more fitly than to grashoppers These the Hebrewes call Rabae Levit. 11. Mat. 3. because of the aboundance of them being deriued of the verbe Rabah He hath multiplied or increased because these kinds of Locusts come in mighty great swarmes and multitudes into the East part of the world Of these kindes of Locusts Arabath took the name but they are not known to vs neuerthelesse such there are and as it appeareth in Levit. cap. 11. were permitted to be eaten among the Iewes From whence may be concluded that Iohn Baptist liued vpon these kinde of Locusts and not vpon Crabs or Cray-fishes or any such kinde of Locusts Mat. 3. Of Sephela SEphela is a plain compassed about with mountaines neere the riuer Sorecke It lieth 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward Here Simon built the castle Adida and fortified it very strongly Afterward there was a city built neere to this tower called Eleutheropolis It was a free city in the tribe of Iudah halfe way between Ierusalem and Ascalon of which Ierome speaketh li. de Locis Hebr. Of Doch THis was a strong tower the ruins wherof may be seen to this day It was scituated neere Iericho in the field of Hiericuntis ten miles from Ierusalem Northeastward where Ptolomeus the son of Abodus perfidiously put to death his son in law Simon high Priest of the Iewes From this tower you might haue seen all the country of the Giliadites the two tribes of Gad and Reuben and the halfe tribe of Manasses with the mountains of the Moabites Nebo Pisga and Abarim vid. 1 Mac. ca. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Hyrcanus IOhn Hyrcanus was made Captaine ouer all the men of War by his father Simon and went from Ierusalem to Gaza 44 miles where he dwelt 1 Mac. 13. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles in the 5 yeare of his fathers gouernment to let him vnderstand how Cendebius had inuaded the holy land 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he and his brother Iudas went with their army to Modin 14 miles where they stayed all night The next morning before day they gaue battell to Cendebius not far from Modin ouercame him and put him to flight So he pursued the chase till he came to the fortresse of Cedron which stood in the field of Azotus euen 8 miles From the field of Azotus he and his brother Iudas returned to Ierusalem being 22 miles 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he returned to Gaza which is 44 miles Now when Sorius Ptolomeus the son of Abodus who a little before had treacherously slaine his sonne in law Simon at a banquet heard of Iohns comming into the towne he sent forth certain traitors and homicides to put him to death also but Hyrcanus hauing certain intelligence of the matter preuented the mischief and put these traitors to the sword 1 Mac.
Bethsaida Migdala Tiberias and Trichaea these stood vpon the West Vpon the East stood Iulia and Gadara Of the holy mountaine neere Capernaum in Galile ABout a mile from Capernaum toward the Southwest is to be seene an exceeding high hill standing vpon the shore of the sea of Galile beautified with many herbes and floures of diuers kindes being very fruitfull and pleasant extending it self in length almost two bowes shoot and in bredth one From this hil one might haue seen the whole sea of Galile the countries of Itura and Trachonitis euen to mount Libanus also the mountaines Sanir and Hermon and a great part of the vpper and lower Galilee Heere also the inhabitants of the holy land shew a certaine stone on which they say our Sauiour Christ did vsually sit when he preached to the people which stone the Christians cal the table here was that sermon made of the eight Beatitudes Mat. 5.6.7 Luke 6. Here were the twelue Apostles chosen Luke 6. Mar. 3. And our Sauiour Christ descending from this mountaine in the suburbs of the City of Capernaum healed a man that was infected with the leprosie About thirty paces from the foot of this hill there ariseth a fountain which is compassed about with a wal and is thought to be a vein of Nilus because they finde in it such kind of fishes the like whereof are not to be found in any other place but Nilus Iosephus calleth this Spring Capernaum and likewise all the plaine being very pleasant and fruitfull for the space of a mile euen vnto Iordan after the same name because it is subiect to the jurisdiction of that city About 20 paces from this wall on the shore of the sea of Galile there is shewn a place where they say Christ appeared to his seuen Disciples after his resurrection and asked them whether they had any meat And about ten paces from that is shewn a place where they say our Sauiours Disciples came to land and they drew vp in their nets a great draught of fishes c. Ioh. 21. Of Naim NAim signifies Fruitfull and pleasant it stood 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and typically representeth the condition of this world For the children of this world liue in all manner of pleasures and delights neuer thinking of any sorrow til death seiseth on them but then that ouerturns all and those delights become loathsome vnto them Notwithstanding this one comfort wee haue left vs Hope in Christ Iesus who as â—e raised the Widowes son at the gates of this city from death to life will by his mighty power raise vs againe at the last day from the bowels of the earth and make vs partakers with him of an heauenly habitation It stood in the land of Samaria and in the tribe of Issacher about two miles off it vpon the East side stood mount Tabor a little from it vpon the South side stood mount Hermon the lesser and extended it selfe thence vnto the sea of Galile 16 miles Of these two hils you may read Psal 89. And about 2 miles from Naim Westward Sunem is to be seene to which the Prophet Elisaeus sometimes resorted 2 Reg. 4. Of Gadara GAdarah or Gederah in Hebrew signifies munition and somtimes it is taken to compasse about of Gadar hee hath hedged or compassed about S. Ierom saith in his time that is 400 yeares after Christ this was a very faire city and stood in a very high mountaine vpon the East side of the sea of Galilee beyond Iordan in the halfe tribe of Manasses some 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward and is to be seene at this day Strabo lib. 6. Geogr. saith that close by Gadara there is a venomous lake wherof what beast soeuer drinketh he immediatly loseth his hornes his hoofs and his haire and there are many that thinke this Lake became thus venomous because of the 2000 swine that were drowned in it when our Sauior suffered the diuels to enter into them Mat. 8. Mark 5. Luke 8. Close by this town stood Gerasa called also Gergesa Mat. 8. so named as some thinke of Girgasus the son of Canaan Gen. 10. Of Genesareth THis was a Countrey bordering vpon the Northwest side of the sea of Galile from whence this sea was called the Lake of Genesareth Luke 5. This land was very pleasant and fruitfull as if it had bin a Princes Garden bringing forth faire Apples Pomegranates Palmes Olives Vines and diuers other kinds of pleasant Fruits faire and goodly to the eye and therefore not without cause was it called the Garden of a Prince beeing deriued of Gan which signifies a Garden and Sur a Prince It is distant from Ierusalem six and fiftie miles towards the North as you may reade Matth. 6. 14. The chiefe cities of this countrey were Capernaum and Bethsaida of which cities though in former times they were very faire and large there are at this day not scarce eight houses to be seene The Trauels of our Sauiour Christ in the third yeare of his Ministrie which was the three and thirtieth yeare of his age FRom Ierusalem our Sauiour Christ returned some six and fiftie miles into Galile and in the beginning of this yeare wintered in that place so that as it may be gathered out of the Euangelists hee continued there the most part of Ianuarie and February and now the Spring approaching a little after the death of Saint Iohn the Baptist who as it is thought was put to death betweene the midst of Winter and the Spring not long before the feast of the Passeouer so that hee liued two yeares and a halfe in his Ministrie hee wrought many notable miracles not farre from the citie of Bethsaida The same time the Feast of the Passeouer drawing neere which was the third Passeouer of his Ministrie he went thence ouer Iordan and so beyond the sea of Tiberias Matth. 14. Make 6. Luke 9. At this time the Apostles of Christ being dispersed through all Galile and Iudaea teaching the Gospell of the Kingdome of heauen hearing of the miserable death of Iohn the Baptist about the beginning of the Moneth of Aprill returned with all possible speed out of euery part to our Sauiour Christ that so they might be secure against the tyranny of Herod Matth. 14. Marke 6. Luke 9. Also the Disciples of Iohn came vnto him and told him of his death and buriall Matth. 14. Our Sauiour Christ therefore hauing by this meanes certaine intelligence as he was betweene Bethsaida and Tiberias of the death of S Iohn Baptist in the month of April he went into a ship and passed about foure miles to the further side of the sea of Galile where in a certain desart he fed fiue thousand men with fiue barley loaues and two fishes Ioh. 6. From thence he returned backe again to the sea and so to Capernaum which was foure miles here he made that long sermon of the spirituall eating of his flesh Mat. 14. Luke 9. Iohn 6. From
punishing hand of God as wel by the inuasion of Enemies as sickenesse and dearth according to the predictions of the Prophets Esay 28. and Ezek. 28. vntil at last in succeeding ages it was vtterly destroyed the ruins of which city remain to this day and make euident that it was a faire and spatious towne There is to be seen yet to this day a city built out of the ruines of the former though nothing so large as it very strong mightily fortified so that it seemeth almost inuincible if it haue men wherewith to defend it Vpon the one side it ioyneth to the sea and vpon the other side of it there standeth two mighty strong castles one of them scituated toward the North vpon a very strong â—ock as it were in the heart of the sea the which was built by cerâ—ain Pilgrims that came out of Germany to visit the holy city of â—erusalem The other of them was scituated vpon a hill toward the South of the city as well fortified and no lesse difficult to be conquered These two castles with the whole city in times past were in the hands of the Knights templers The land round about it is very pleasant and fertile abounding with all kinde of good things necessarie for the maintenance of life and delight There is also found great aboundance of Grapes which are very delicious and pleasant to the tast wherof the wine Canamella is made But because the Turkes and Saracens are inhibited by the strict law of their Alcaron from drinking of wine therefore they suffer no vineyards to be planted neither the inhabitants to dresse those Vines that grow naturally Before the East gate of the antient city which now lies destroied there is built a Chappel in which place they say the woman of Canaan entreated our Sauior Christ to cast a Diuell out of her daughter Mat. 15. The mountain Antilibanus beginneth close by the riuer Eleutherius and extends it selfe beyond Tripolis and in some places it ioyneth so close to the sea that for the streightnesse of the wayes those that trauel that way can scarse passe In this city was the fairest purple in all those parts nay as some Authors affirme the like was not to be found in the world c. Of Cana Syro-Phoenicea THis towne which was called Cana the Great was scituated vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sydon 112 miles from Ierusalem Northward scituated in the Tribe of Ashur 4 miles from Sydon towards the South and three from Sarepta towards the East In this towne the Syrophoenician dwelt that besought our Sauior Christ to heale her daughter that was possessed of a diuel Mat. 15. Mar. 7. It was called Cana to put a difference betweene it and another Cana scituated in Galile the lower in which city our Sauior Christ turned water into wine You may reade more of this towne before Of Trachonitis THis city was so called from the stony hardnes of the mountains of Gilead which compasse it in vpon the East side in which prouince the tribe of Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses inhabited It was in antient times called Basan in which Og the mighty Gyant had a great command but Moses ouercame him and gaue the land to the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasses In Christs time the Tetrarch and gouernour of it was Philip who was son to Herod the Great and brother to Herod Antipas Tetrach in Galile and Petraea which Herod tooke to wife Herodia whom his brother Philip had formerly maried the said Philip beeing at that time aliue but because Iohn Baptist reprehended him for that fact therefore at her request he was beheaded in the Castle of Machera Itura was another Prouince belonging to the tetrarchy of Philip ioyning vpon the West to the riuer of Iordan and called Galile of the Gentiles of which you may reade before Of Decapolis THis country is so called of ten cities that were scituated in it It stood beyond Iordan and the sea of Galile as may be gathered out of Mark ca. 7. and Mat. 15. So that it is manifest that that country which in times past was called Gilead was afterward known and called by the name of Decapolis because of the ten cities which stood there as Chorazin which Christ cursed Mat. 11. Gamala where Agrippa King of the Iewes was hurt in his right arme Ios de bell Iud. lib. 4. cap. 1. Iuliades built by Herod Antipas in honor of the Empresse Iulia. Gadara where our Sauior Christ cast out the legion of diuels suffering them to enter into the herd of swine Mat. 8. Mar. 5. Astaroth the chiefe citie of that Countrey in the time of Og King of Basan Ios cap. 12. Here also that holy man Iob sometimes had his dwelling Iabes in Gilead where Saul King of Israel lieth buried 1 Sam. 31. Mizpah where Ieptha offered his daughter for a sacrifice to the Lord Iudg. 11. Ramoth in Gilead where King Ahab was slaine with a Dart 1 Reg. 22. And Abel of the Vines where Baalams Asse spake Num. 22. These are those ten cities whereof this country is called Decapolis being scituated in the land of Gilead betweene Iordan where our Sauior healed the man that was both blind and deafe Mark 7. This opinion exactly agreeth with that of the holy scripture Yet I know there are some as Plin. lib. 5. cap. 18. and others who differ from this in the description of this countrey but they erre from the truth Of Magdala THis was a city scituated vpon the West side of the Galilean sea 52 miles from Ierusalem Northward in which Country Mary who of this town was called Magdalen was borne At this time this city is called by the name of Castle Magdala in which place they shew the house of Mary Magdalen Vpon the West and North side of the city there lieth a great and spatious plain preserued only for pasture which Mar. cap. 8. calls Dalmanutha that is Drawn dry or a poore and naked habitation being deriued of Dalal He hath made dry and Maon a House or dwelling place It may be a notable figure of the Christian Church which in this world may rightly be said to haue a poore habitation but yet is a right Magdala that is a strong and impregnable Tower against which the gates of Hell shall not be able to preuaile Matt. 16. Vpon the borders of Magdala and Dalmanutha the Pharisees and Sadduces tempting our blessed Sauior Christ demanded of him a signe from heauen Mat. 15.16 Mar. 8. This city belonged to the tribe of Issacher Of Thabor MOunt Thabor was a round and high hill vpon which our blessed Sauior Christ was transfigured scituated vpon the borders of the tribes of Issacher Zebulon fifty two miles from the City of Ierusalem towards the North and extendeth it selfe toward the South to the riuer Kison Heere Deborah and Barack discomfited the Host of Sisera King of the Canaanites and put them to flight Iug. 4. Of this mountain
almost inuincible and for that cause called The mother of strength as the Church is called The mother of the righteous against which the gates of hell shall not be able to preuaile In the time of Iudas Macchabeus though it was then a small city it was numbred amongst the greatest cities of Iuda because of the scituation and strength of it To this place our Sauiour trauelled from Ierusalem the same day that hee arose from the dead Luke 24. In the time of the Romans warres in Iudaea this city was wonderfully defaced and ruined by the souldiers of Tiberius Maximus who was chiefe Captaine in this countrey in the absence of Titus Vespasian but yet not vtterly abolished for about a hundred and fiftie yeares after Heliogabolus Emperour of Rome caused it to be rebuilded and called by the name of Nicopolis that is the citie of Victorie Not farre from Emmaus there was an Inne or a place to which strangers might resort and there three waies met two went of either side the towne and one through it in this place the two Disciples constrained our blessed Sauiour to stay with them because it was then about Sunne-set Neere vnto this Inne Nicephorus and Zozemenus say in their Ecclesiasticall Historie there was a Spring or Well of that admirable vertue that if either man or beast that was infirme or sicke did drinke of the water thereof they were immediately restored to their former health The reason that these Authors haue for it because they are impertinent I willingly omit But to return ro the city of Emmaus as it is now called Nicopolis being scituated eight miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast in the way as you goe thence to Ioppa the countrey round about it being very fertile and pleasant by reason of the riuers and springs wherewith it is watered as Pliny saith l. 5. c. 14. and much altered from that which it was in times past but because you may reade more of this city in Pliny as it is at this day and in Nicephorus and Eusebius I leaue to speake further of it Of Simon of Cyrene THis Simon which carried the Crosse of our Sauiour Christ was born in Kir a city in Africa scituated 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the West Matth. 27. Luke 23. In which city Tiglath Phulasser Emperour of the Assirians planted many of the inhabitants of Damascus after he had conquered that city 2 Reg. 16. This citie and the country round about it by reason of these new inhabitants by little and little changed the name and wheras in former times it was called Kir in the time of our Sauiour it was commonly called Cyrene and this man of that countrey Simon of Cyrene At this day it is a strong and beautifull city scituated betweene Mareotides and Zeugitania at first built by Battus whom Callimachus the Poët claimeth to be his progenitor This Battus was a mighty king in Africa but was one that had a great impediment in his speech insomuch that many thinke this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue beene originally vsed by him and by none other Afterward as is said Tiglah Phulasser hauing obtained the jurisdiction of this citie planted the people of Damascus in it and they obtaining some power there continued till a long time after Christ and imbraced the religion of the Iewes built vp Synagogues and dispersed that law in many parts of those quarters There were some of this countrey that opposed that holy Marter Stephen and were consenting to his death There were many learned men in it as Eratosthenes the Mathematician Callimachus the Poët both which were had in great estimation among the Aegyptians Carneades also the Academian Cronus Apollonius and Hegesias the Philosopher of whom Cicero speaketh in the fifth book of his Tusculans and Eratosthenes the Historian who was sonne of Agaclis Salust saith that this citie in his time was so mightie that it maintained war against the Carthaginians for their bounds and limits of their fields and grounds a long time and Iustine lib. 39. That they maintained warre against two nations the Phoenes and the Aegyptians in which warres they gaue Aprius the King of the Aegyptians such a mighty ouerthrow that there were very few of his army that returned into his countrey with him as Horodot affirmeth lib. 4. there were also many great Princes that ruled in this city of which because you may reade in diuers other Authors more at large I omit to speake of them Of Ioseph of Arimathea who buried Christ THis Ioseph which caused our Sauior Christ to be buried in his garden was a rich man vpright just in all his actions a Senator of Ierusalem and one that expected the Kingdome of God borne at Arimathea a citie of the Iewes Luc. 23. This citie was sometime called Ramathaim Sophim and sometime Ramah because it was scituated in a high place and in times past was a fair citie standing 16 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest the description whereof you may reade before At this day it is called Ramalea being nothing so farre as it was but like a countrey towne the houses being carelessely dispersed here and there lying without walls or bulwarkes to defend it notwithstanding the ancient ruins of the former city is to be seen euen at this day There is also a great Inne or resting place for strangers hauing within it many roomes for the receit of passengers and a well of very sweet water This house was first purchased at the charge of Philip Duke of Burgondie and by him committed to the protection of the Monkes of Mount Sion by whom it is at this day made an hospitall wherein pilgrims trauellers and strangers are entertained and find much reliefe In an inward Orchard belonging to this hospital there is a faire plot of ground that bringeth forth great aboundance of Aloes of which there is often mention in the holy Scriptures but more especially in Psalme 48. Thy garments smell of Aloes and Cassia when thou commest out of thy Iuorie pallaces where they haue made thee glad Nichodemus a Prince of the Iewes together with Ioseph of Arimathea brought with them an hundred pound of Aloes mixed with Myrrhe to embalme the body of our Sauiour Christ when they had begged it of Pilat before they buried it Ioh. 19. Myrrh is a kind of gum that issueth out of a tree that growes in the East countries but principally in Arabia the tree out of which it issueth is commonly two yards and a halfe high with some pricks vpon it the barke whereof being cut there issueth out of it drops like teares which congealeth into a gum and is called Mirrh the principall vertue that it hath is to keepe the bodies of the Dead incorruptable see Pli. li. 12. ca. 15. 16. In Arabia Foelix there is such abundance of sweet Myrrhe Frankincense and other odoriferous gums that such as saile in the Red sea may easily smell the sauour of them There is also found
in carts Thus God turneth the aire and the earth to the confusion of those that persecute his Church Of Pergamus THis was another of the townes whereto Iohn wrot his Reuelation It was a famous city and metropolitan of Mysia scituated in Asia minor 228 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward It stood vpon a high rock close by the riuer Caicus from whence it was called Pergamus For in antient times all famous and notable places were called amongst the Graecians Pergama as Suidas and Servius obserueth Strabo lib. 13. saith That in the time of Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles who was one of the successours of Alexander the Great it was but a castle in which place because of the strength of it he vsually kept all his treasures and those things that were of account and committed the custody of it vnto one named Philetaerus an Eunuch of Tyanus But this man being accused to Lysimachus That he would haue forced his wife Arsinoës for feare of some future punishment because of that offence moued the inhabitants of that Hold to rebellion At the same time also there happened many commotions in Asia whereby Lysimachus was constrained to leaue this and make opposition against Seleucus Nicanor who had inuaded his dominions But in this war Lysimachus was slaine And Philetaerus hauing in his possession great riches that hee might enioy what hee had was alwayes obseruant to him that gat the victorie by which meanes he kept himselfe and his riches for the space of 20 yeares in that castle and then dyed and left all his wealth to Eumenes his brothers sonne who inlarged his gouernment and ouercame Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus This man after hee had raigned 32 yeares dyed and Attalus his sonne succeeded him in the Gouerment who hauing conquered Galatia made a league with the Romans and by them was first called by the name of a King After him succeeded his son Eumenes the second of that name who aided the Romanes against Antiochus magnus King of Syria for which seruice the Romans gaue him all the dominions that Antiochus had on this side the Alps. This man was the first that enlarged the castle of Pergamus and made it a goodly city planting round about it a thick wood or grove and called it Nicephorus And after he had reigned 49 yeares he died and left his kingdom to his son Attalus called Philometor This Attalus after hee had done many notable exploits died without issue when hee had reigned 5 yeares and left his kingdome to the Romans who turned it into a prouince There liued in this town many learned men as Galen the Physitian who was famous in the time of Trajan the Emperor and as the fame went liued 140 yeares Of that town also was Apolodorus the Rhetoritian who was schoole-master to Augustus Caesar of which man the Apollodorean sect tooke name and Dionysius Atticus his scholer Here Antipas was crowned with the Wreath of martyrdome To the Bishop of this Towne Iohn wrot his Reuelation and in the second Chapter thereof sharpely reprehendeth him because he bore with the sect of the Nicholaitans which although it lasted not long yet it was very dangerous Eusebius saith That Nicholaus one of the seuen Deacons for the poore at Antiochia of whom you may reade Act. cap. 6. was the first author of this sect yet Clem. Alexand. cleares him of it laying that offence rather on certaine idle persons that misconstruing his words being giuen ouer to vile affections couered their euils vnder his name calling themselues Nicolaits though indeed he had no hand in it but liued and died honestly The opinion that this Sect held as Euseb saith li. 3. ca. 23. and Irenaeus libr. 1. Chap. 27. was That women were to be common That it was lawful to eat meat offered to Idols That fornication and Adultery was no sin beside many other wicked and peruerse opinions concerning the Deity which would be too tedious to recite in this place You may read more of it in Eusebius and Tertullian Of Thyatira THis was the fourth church to which Iohn wrot his Reuelation it was scituated close by the riuer Caicus vpon the borders of Mysia and Lydia 600 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward It was a very faire city in Asia minor yet subiect to the Lydians In this country Lidda was born that dwelt at Philippa and gaue entertainment to Paul and Sylas Acts 16. Philippa was distant from this town 400 miles It was at first called according to the testimony of Stephen Pelopea and Semiramis But after Seleucus Nicanor K. of Syria making war vpon Lysimachus king of Thrace comming to this towne had newes that his wife had bore him a daughter in honor whereof he would needs haue the town called Thugateira which in Greeke signifies a daughter but Thyatira Diuine reuerence Of Sardis TO this city also S. Iohn wrot his Reuelation It was a famous and princely seat scituated in Asia not farre from the mountaine Tmolus where Croesus King of the Lydians kept his court being 536 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest It was so called without doubt of Sardus the sonne of Hercules which maketh Sardis in the plural number Of this Towne were those two Diodories which were Oratours The younger of them did write Histories and Poems and was one of Strabo's great friends Close by this Towne is found a precious stone which after the townes name is called Sardis it is of a fleshly colour and therefore is commonly called Carnalia of which you may reade more in Pliny lib 37. cap. 4. Of Philadelphia SAint Iohn also wrote his Reuelation to this city It was scituated in Mysia a countrie in Asia Minor being 450 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This city is so often troubled with Earthquakes that the inhabitants are many times constrained to dwell in the open fields Vpon the East side thereof lies a dry and barren country which seemeth to be burnt and scorcht with heat being 60 miles long and 48 miles broad where there grows no trees but there are found great plenty of grapes which being prest yeeld very pleasant wine and may compare with the best of those parts The superfices of the earth seemeth like ashes mountany stony and blacke many conjecture the cause therof to be by reason of the great thunders and lightning that they haue there but there are some which giue other reasons for it It was called Philadelphia of Attolus Philodelphius who first built it Of Laodicea THis was the seuenth and last Citie that Iohn directed his Reuelation to It stood close by the riuer Lycus in Caria a country in Asia the lesse fiue hundred and twentie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest and is likewise oftentimes troubled with Earthquakes as Sardis Magnesia and Philadelphia are The reason of these often Earthquakes is thought to be because there are vaults and hollow caues vnder the earth into which the aire in the time of heat hauing free entrance
by the name of Terassa beeing neither so famous nor so faire a citie as in the time when the Roman Empire flourished for then because of the extraordinary vertue of the citizens it was indowed with the libertie and freedome of Rome Of Damascus THis was a metropolitan towne in Syria distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the Northeast being an ancient and faire citie and before such time as Antiochia was built the head of all that kingdome It was scituated in a faire and fruitfull place close by the mountaine Libanus which bringeth forth Frankincense Ceders Cypresse and many odoriferous and sweet smelling floures There were many Kings that kept their court in it as Hadad Benhadad the first Benhadad the second Hasael and others who grieuously opposed the Kings of Israel in many sharpe and cruell warres as you may reade before The land round about it aboundeth with white and red Roses Pomegranats Almonds Figges and other sweet and pleasant fruits In that place the Alablaster stone is found very faire and cleere The aire pleasant and healthfull The riuer called Chrysorrus runneth close by it in which there is found golden veines which yeelded perfect gold The houses without are not very curious but within all of polished Marble and Alablaster guilt with resplendent gold so artificially that it dazleth the beholders eies There was a certaine Florentine who reuolted from the Christian faith and obtained to be chiefe gouernour of this towne in which he erected a strong and beautifull castle which stood for the defence of it No man can sufficiently expresse the beautie and glory of this citie there is great traffique and much resort of people to it but especially of Turkes Saracens Mamalucks and other kinds of Pagan people who are preferred before the Christians in that gouernment and although there are many Christians in that place yet they are constrained to indure great injurie by those Barbarians because they are hated euen to the death and if any of them chance to die they are buried in that place where Paul was conuerted The inhabitants shew the place where Saint Paul was let downe ouer the wall in a basket also the house of Ananias who cured the blindnesse of Paul besides many other things that are memorable in that citie of which you may reade in Sebestian Munster Sebastian Frankus Plin. lib. 5. and many other authors Of Arabia MAny things are already spoken concerning this Countrey as the diuision of the place one called Petraea the other Deserta and the third Foelix Arabia Petraea is so called from the Metropolitan citie thereof called Petra which is scituated forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South and bordereth vpon Aegypt and India It is also called Arabia Nabathea as you may reade before Paran and Sur are a part of it compassing towards the East the land of Iudaea and so extendeth to Damascus This countrey is very full of rockes and stones the chiefe citie Petra being scituated vpon a rocke of which it taketh the name Here standeth the mountaines Horeb and Sinai here the children of Israel trauelled when they went out of Aegypt here is the Sardonix stone found and the people of this countrey in times past were great Prophets and Astrologians here also S. Paul taught the Gospell a little after his conuersion Gal. 1. at which time Aretas was King thereof whose sister was married to Herod the Tetrarch of Galile and Petraea but he cast her off and married Herodias his brother Philips wife vpon which there began a bloudy warre betweene Aretas and Herod and a sharpe battell was fought neere to Gamala a citie beyond Iordan And although the two Kings were not at this battell yet by the treason and flight of the soldiers out of Tracones who without all question would haue reuenged the contempt done vnto their Lord Philip the Arabian armie carried away a notable victory as Iosephus witnesseth lib. antiq 18. cap. 9. Aretas signifieth An excellent man which was a common name to the Kings of Arabia It is to be thought that Damascus and all the Countrey round about was vnder the jurisdiction of this King and that he ordained a Lieutenant or Generall in those parts who would haue taken Paul and put him to death Acts 9. 2 Col. 12. The other part of Arabia is called by Ptolomie Deserta but Strabo calls it Scenilis because the inhabitants thereof are without buildings or Tents and liue like vagrants vp and downe the woods This is compast in vpon the South with certaine mountaines of Arabia Foelix towards the North it borders vpon Mesopotamia and towards the West vpon Petraea The third is called Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie therof for they haue there euery yeare two haruests as they haue in India as Strabo obserueth See Plin. lib. 6. cap. 28. Of Antiochia YOu may reade of this Towne before It is said that Luke the Euangelist was borne here This man was by profession a Physition Colos 4. and an inseparable companion to Paul in all his Trauels he was of the number of the seuentie Disciples as Epiphanius obserueth Tertullian saith in his fourth booke against Marcion that Luke receiued his Gospell from the mouth of Paul he liued till he was 84 yeares old and then died and lies buried at Constantinople as S. Ierom saith for his bones were remoued out or Achaia thither The second Trauels of the Apostle Paul in the company of Barnabas IN the eleuenth yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and in the foure and fortieth yeare of Paul he and Barnabas was sent by the holy spirit from Antiochia in Syria to Seleucia which was foure and twenty miles From Seleucia they sailed to Salamais in Cyprus which was 94 miles Acts 13. From thence they went to Paphos which is in the same Isle where Sergius Paulus was conuerted and Elymas the Magitian who professing himselfe to bee the Messias and Sonne of God was strucke with blindnesse Act. 13. this journey was 100 miles They loosing from Paphos went by sea and land the same yeare to Pergamus a city of Pamphilia scituated in Asia minor which was 148 miles In the 45 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ they went from Pergamus to Antiochia in Pisidia which was 132 miles From thence they went to Iconia which was 96 miles here they staied some time and conuerted many Act. 13. 14. In the 46 yere after the natiuitie of Christ there being a great tumult raised in that countrey lest the inhabitants should haue stoned them they fled thence to Lystra a city of Lyaconia where Paul healed the lame man which was 28 miles The inhabitants seeing this miracle worshipped them for gods and called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he wrought the miracle But not long after certaine Iewes comming from Antiochia and Iconia arriued in Listra by whose perswasion the people stoned Paul and supposing him to be dead carried him out of the citie but when his Disciptes came vnto him
he rose vp and went into the towne Act. 14. The next day they went to Derbe a citie of Lyaconia which was 48 miles From thence they returned backe againe to Lystra in the same yeare which was 28 miles From Iconia they came to Antiochia in Pisidia which was 16 miles in this citie they comforted the Disciples exhorting them that they should perseuere in their faith For through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdome of heauen They also elected Elders in the Churches so with fasting and praiers they commended them to the Lord in whom they beleeued In the 47 yeare after Christ they went from Antiochia thorough all Pisidia and came to Pergamus a citie in Pamphilia which was 132 miles here they preached the word of the Lord Acts 14. From Pergamus in the following yeare they went downe to the citie of Attalia which was 26 miles In the 48 yere after the natiuitie of Christ they loosed thence and went to Antiochia in Syria which was 340 miles here they assembled the Church and shewed what wonderfull things the Lord had wrought by them and how hee had opened the doore of faith vnto the Gentiles in this place they staied a great space Acts 14. In the yeare following they went from Antiochia to Ierusalem which was 280 miles to the Apostolicall Councell which was celebrated in that citie Anno Dom. 49. and as they went they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria and there declared the estate of the Church among the Gentiles Acts 15. From Ierusalem they with Sylas and Iudas syrnamed Barsabas went againe to Antiochia in Syria which was 280 miles here Paul opposed Peter for preaching vnto the Gentiles Gal. 2. So these trauels of Paul were 1744 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Cyprus BEcause you may reade of Seleucia before I therfore willingly omit it that I might speake more fully of Cyprus This is a faire and spacious Isle scituated in the Mediterranean sea in the gulph of Issa bordering vpon Cilicia and Syria distant 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the North as Strabo saith lib. 14. It is in compasse 428 miles very fertile powerfull and spacious for an Island There inhabited in it in times past nine Kings and as Pliny saith lib. 5. cap. 31. called Macaria or one of the happy Islands the inhabitants were giuen much vnto luxurie and venerie from whence it hapned that Venus was greatly honoured amongst them It is said that there are many pretious stones found in it besides Crystal Allum and Cypresse wood which abounds in that place from which it seemeth the Island was called Cyprus There are also found many Symples that are Physical much Sack comes thenee and many other things necessarie for the life of man Here also standeth the Mountaine Olympus whose top seemeth to touch the heauens from whence it taketh the name because there neuer lies any clouds vpon it Lucan lib. 2. There are foure mountaines of this name the one lyeth between Macedon and Thessalie the other in Cyprus the third amongst the Mysians at the foot whereof Haniball built Prusa and the fourth in Aethiopia vpon the East side of Heliopolis There are many cities in this countrey as Macaria Cyprus or Cyrhera after called Paphos and now Baffa in which there standeth such a famous Temple that Venus of that is called Cypria and Cytherea Nicosia and Salamus now called Famagusta There haue beene many and cruell sharpe warres betweene the Venetians and Turkes concerning this countrie but at this day it is vnder the jurisdiction of the Turks from whence they fetch great abundance of Pitch and Rosin for their ships and cables Of Salamais SAlamais Salamin or Salamina was one of the principal cities of Cyprus and was distant from Ierusalem 196 miles towards the North built by Teucer the sonne of Telamon and scituated in the Eubeian sea just against Athens The occasion why this town was built hapned by reason of a discontent that grew betweene Teucer and his father Telamon for Teucer returning from Troy not hauing reuenged the death of his brother Ajax so much incensed his father that he banished him his countrie whereupon Teucer sailed thence to Cyprus where he built this citie and because of the extraordinarie affection that he bore to the countrie where he was borne called it by the name of Salamena or Salamais Saint Ierom saith that there is a riuer of extraordinary hot water that runneth through a great part of this countrie and that it was once ouercome by the Iewes and vtterly ruined and destroied but afterward repeopled and called by the name of Constantia This towne at this day is called by the name of Famagusta and was taken with the whole Island of Cyprus by Mustapha chiefe Captaine to Selimus the second Emperour of the Turkes An. Dom. 1570. Solon that notable and famous Philosopher was borne in this Towne And Paul and Barnabas sailed out of Syria and liued in this Towne Acts 31. Of Paphos THis Citie is scituated vpon the shore of Cyprus 212 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and seemeth to take the name from Paphos the sonne of Pigmalion the Artificer In this towne there stood a notable Temple built by that Pigmalion in the honour of Venus for that as it seemeth by the Poets hee was much giuen to women Here Elimas that wicked Magician who as some will haue it called himselfe the sonne of Iesus as others the sonne of Iehouah dwelt whom the Lord by the hand of Paul strucke with blindnesse Here also Sergius Paulus the Proconsull was conuerted It was in times past a goodly faire citie as the ruines thereof testifie to this day but now it is destroied and almost desolate There as it is for the most part through that Island the ayre is impure and vnwholsom and the ruines of many goodly churches and buildings are to be seene also the wals of a strong and almost impregnable tower scituated vpon a hill in the middle of the citie and as may be thought was sometime the habitation of Sergius Paulus There is also showne vnder a certaine Church which in antient times belonged vnto the brothers of the Minories a certaine Prison diuided into seuen roomes where Paul and Barnabas were imprisoned for preaching the Gospell Here also vnder another Church is found a spring of very wholesome water which is a present remedy for the Ague and Feuer Here also is excellent Wine Of Perga PErga was a citie of Pamphilia from whence Diana is called Pergea because there was a notable Temple in that Towne which was dedicated to her It is scituated in Asia the lesse neere to Cheractus as Ptolomais saith but as Strabo saith close by Cestria a faire and goodly riuer 356 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. The countrey wherein this standeth is full of mountaines extending from the mountaine Taurus which beginneth in this place abounding with Vines Oliues and other fruits vnto the sea There are many
he bore to Homers Iliads Wherefore looke what Alexander had promised Lysimachus one of his chiefe Princes and King of Thrace after his death performed for he returned to Troy enlarged the city beautified it with goodly buildings set vp a stately Temple and then compast it about with strong wals After this sort it continued a long time vntill Fimbria a Questor of the Romans when he had slaine Valerius Flaccus the Consull with whom hee was sent against Mithridates King of Pontus besieged it and within ten dayes space woon it making his vaunts that hee conquered that citie in ten dayes which Agamemnon could scarce do in ten yeares to which one of the inhabitants of the citie answered That then Troy had a Hector but now it had none But for this hee cruelly wasted the citie This destruction hapned in the 84 yeare before Christ thus it lay desolate till Augustus Caesars time who caused it again to be re-edified and beautified with many faire and goodly buildings because the Romanes and especially those noble families of the Iulij and Caesars doe deriue their progenie from the Trojans for which cause Augustus vsed such diligence in the rebuilding of this citie and bestowed such infinit cost that he much exceeded Alexander and made it a faire and goodly citie At this day it is called Ilium But in the place of old Troy there is little to bee seene only a small towne as Strabo saith It is distant from Ierusalem 760 miles Northwestward Of Bythinia THis countrey is opposite to Constantinople scituated in Asia minor distant from Irusalem Northwestward and so called of Bythinus the sonne of Iupiter and Thrax It was sometime called Pontus Bebrycia and Mygdonia as Stephanus saith In this countrey the Apostle Paul could not preach the Gospel of Christ when he went into Macedonia and Graecia because hee was hindred by the Spirit Act. 16. The principall cities thereof were Calcidon Heraclea Nicea Nicomedia Apamea Flauiopolis Libissa where Hannibal lieth buried and Prusa now called Byrsa where in times past the Emperours of Turkie kept their Courts and were buried The mother and metropolis of all these cities was Nicea or rather Nicaea beeing distant from Ierusalem 720 miles towards the Northwest at the first called Antigonia of Antigonus the sonne of Philip King of Asia who built it after the death of Alexander the Great But Lysimachus called it Nicaea after his wifes name and at this day is called Nissa The compasse thereof is two miles being foure square scituated as Strabo saith lib. 12. in a faire and pleasant place lying close by the poole of Ascania and hath in it 4 gates standing in a direct line al which gates might easily haue beene seene from a certaine stone which stood in the middle of the Market place In this citie the most Christian Emperor Constantine the Great celebrated a Councell anno Dom. 325. at which time there were present 320 Bishops who condemned the Arrian herisie and instituted the Nicaen Creed But after that viz. anno Dom. 326 the Arrians endeauouring to hold a second Councell in this citie to confirme their opinions and to dissolue that which went before the Lord hindred them with an Earthquake by which almost half the citie was throwne down Not long after there hapned another earthquake which vtterly destroied it notwithstanding it was rebuilt again and in it a second Councell held wherein the Nicaen Creed was condemned There were many cities of this name that before spoken of another in Thrace a third in France not far from the riuer Varus a fourth as Stephanus saith is amongst the Lorrenses in Graecia a fift in Illeria a sixt in India a seuenth in Corsica and the eighth in Leuctris of Boetia Of Mysia THis is a country of Asia the lesse bordring vpon Helle spont and Troada being diuided into two parts that is the greater and the lesse That part that bordreth vpon Troada is distant from Ierusalem 800 miles Northwestward but that which is called Mysia the lesse and bordring vpon Lydia is 1028 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward In this countrey stood Pergamus to which Iohn wrote his Reuelation Scepsis where one Neleus kept the bookes of Aristotle til Apollonius time also Antandrus Adramitium Tranoiapolis and Apollinia which stood close by the riuer Thyndaeus The inhabitants were men of a base condition and contemned of the world insomuch as they became a prouerbe as often as a man would denote a thing of no estimation they would say Vltimum esse Mysiorum that is It is worse than the Mysians as it appeareth in Cicero's oration for Flaccus Yet notwithstanding Paul and Iohn the Euangelist preached the doctrine and light of the Gospell to this poore and despised people so that the Mysians which were a contemptible and abhominable nation before all the world were not so before God for they were conuerted at the preaching of Iohn and Paul From whence he saith Not many wise according to the flesh not many mightie not many noble but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world that they might confute and ouerthrow the wise c. 1. Cor. 1. In times past they were a great people though of smal estimation for they had vnder their iurisdiction Lydia Caria Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philidelphia and Laodicea to many of which Iohn wrote his Revelation Also as Herodotus saith Lib. 7. the Mysians and Teucrians before the Trojan war past into Europe and there woon and held Thracia Macedonia and all the land to the Adriatick sea c. Of Troas THis citie Troas where Paul raised Eutichus which signifies happie or fortunate from death to life Acts. 10. stood vpon the sea of Hellespont in Asia the lesse 720 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Antigonus king of Asia called it Troas because it was in the countrey where Troy was But after the death of Alexander he called it after his owne name Antigonia And the better to honour it kept his court there But Lysimachus King of Thrace hauing got this city into his iurisdiction bestowed great cost vpon it and set vp many fair and goodly buildings then called it after Alexanders name Alexandria and so it began to be called Alexandria Troas Plin. lib. 5. Strabo l. 13. Ier de locis Hebraicis Now it was called Alexandria Troas to put a difference between it and diuers other cities of that name for there was an Alexandria in Aegypt another in India and many others elsewhere but only this in the countrey where Troy stood It was scituated in a high and spacious mountaine about a mile and a halfe from the shore of Propontus towards the East between which Troads is twentie and eight miles It is a thing worthy obseruation to consider by what diuers names the sea that lies between Europe and Asia the lesse is called for betweene Constantinople and Calcidonia close by the Euxine sea it is called Thracius Bosphorus in which place it is not aboue halfe a mile
many famous men that either liued or were borne in this towne as Thales Milesius one of the seuen Wise-men of Graece Anaximander who was his scholler Anaximenes and Hecataeus the Historian also Eschenes the Orator not he that contended with Demosthenes who taking too much libertie against Pompey was banished Timothius the musician and Pittacus the Philosopher besides many others But of all these Thales Milesius was held in greatest estimation because he was thought to be the first that taught natural Philosophie and the Mathematicks amongst the Grecians He was the first also that foretold of the Eclipse of the Sun about such time as the battell was fought betweene Cyaxares father of Astyages King of the Medes and Hallyatâ—es father of Croesus K. of the Lidians which was about the 44 Olimpiad There came vnto him a certaine man who asked him what was the hardest thing in the world he answered seipsum nosce to know himselfe Another came to him and askt him how he might do to liue justly he answered Si quae in alijs reprehendimus ipse non faciamus That we doe not those things which we reprehend in others He died about the 58 Olympiad Meletus at this day is called Melasa Of Cous. THis is one of the Cyclad Islands lying in the Aegean sea bordring vpon Caria being so called from the Vaults and caues that are in it and distant from Ierusalem 524 miles It hath a city called after the same name wherein there was a stately Temple built in honour of Iuno another standing in the suburbs therof dedicated to Aesculapius this was a very sumptuous temple and made very rich because of the many presents and gifts that were sent and dedicated to it When the Romanes had obtained the command of this Isle Octavius the father of Augustus Caesar tooke out of this temple a naked Venus which was a goodly image and carried it with him to Rome in honour of his progenitors who deriued their progenie from her It is in compasse 56 miles being so pleasantly scituated that it was a sea marke to Mariners very fruitfull and bringing forth abundance of wine silke by reason of a certain fish that is found there from which they got great plenty See Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. There were many that liued onely by weauing of silke and aboue the rest there was one Pamphila the daughter of Plates that was most excellent in that Art There were many famous men that were either born or liued in that country as Hipocrates that excellent Physitian Apelles that notable painter Simus the Physician Philetas the poët and orator Nicia the prince and tyrant of Cous Ariston the Peripatetick and Theomnestus that notable politician At this day this Isle is within the Turkish Empire and by them called Stacu also the principall citie thereof is called by the same name and wholly inhabited by the Turks two towns only being inhabited by the Grecians but there are many that dwell in strong castles compassed with round and stately towers This countrey is very fertile abounding with cattell and the mountaines thereof are little inferior to those of Creet Of Rhodes THe city and Isle of Rhodes which is so called from the sweet smell or roses is scituated in the Mediterranean sea a little from Asia the lesse vpon the South being distant from Ierusalem 140 miles toward the Northwest as Strab. saith l. 14. It is in compasse 112 miles It was at first called Ophy then Statilia after Telchin of the inhabitants thereof who were called Telchines a people which as some say were witches others say curious Artificers and were the first that found out the making of brasse and yron At last it tooke the name of Rhodes from the principal city that stood in it for there were three cities in it viz. Lyndus Camirus and Ialyssus In Lyndus Cleobulus one of the seuen Wisemen of Graece and Chares that famous Statuarie who made the Colossus which stood in this Isle were borne Ialyssus of a Rose that was found in it was called Rhodes being scituated vpon an exceeding high promontorie lying toward the East part of that Isle This exceeded the other two cities both for ports waies walls and other ornaments and the inhabitants were gouerned with such excellent lawes and so skilfull in nauigation that it might compare with the strongest citie of the world and for a long time had the command of the sea round about and vtterly abolished all Pirats and robbers from those parts Diodorus Sicul. li. 6. saith that it was called Rhodes of Rhodia a faire and beautifull maid who was dearely beloued of Apollo and therefore this Island was dedicated to the Sunne for as Solinus saith though the heauens be neuer so cloudy yet the Sun shineth in Rhodes Pindarus the Poet because of the fertility of the soile and the exceeding opulencie of the inhabitants saith that it rained gold in that country In former times it flourished with learning and good arts insomuch that the Romans for the most part sent their children to be brought vp at Rhodes This Isle is very fruitfull and bringeth forth many things necessarie for the maintenance of life but aboue all a certaine red wine which the Romans did greatly delight in and valued at a high price In this city liued that notable Painter called Protogines which Apelles conquered in that science as Pliny saith lib. 35. ca. 10. Demetrius King of Asia erected a notable Collossus or Statue of the Sun in this Isle which that notable caruer Chares made being outwardly all of pure brasse but within nothing but stones it was seuentie cubits high and so artificially made that it was accounted for one of the wonders of the world Afterward it was carried into Aegypt by the Aegyptians who woon the towne This Isle is famous to this day in times past it was accounted one of the keys of Christendome but at this day subject vnto the Turk of which you may reade more in the Turkish History Of Patara PAtara was a Citie of Licia so called of Patarus the builder thereof who was the sonne of Apollones or Lacones as Strabo and Servius saith it was scituated vpon the South side of Asia the lesse close by the shore of the Mediterranean sea 408 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest Ptolomaeus Philadelphius K. of Aegypt inlarged this city and called it after his sisters name Arsinoës Lysiaca to put a difference betweene it and other Cities called after that name for there was an Arsinoe in Aegypt and another neere Cyrene where Apollo in certaine Moneths of the winter season by the help of the Divel gaue answer to them that sought after him S. Paul was in this towne Acts 11. There was also another towne of this name in Achaia where S. Andrew was crucified The Trauels of S. Paul when he was taken captiue and carried Prisoner to Rome IN the 57 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then 47 yeares of
expelled all venome and poyson out of that Island at such time as he was there It was first subiect vnto the Africans as may appeare by certaine Marble Pillars which are heere and there found in which there are ingrauen certain Characters of the Carthaginians not much vnlike to Hebrew letters And although the Inhabitants are Christians yet their speech is much like the Saracens which differeth little or nothing from the antient Punick At such time as Dido built Carthage which is thought to be 890 years before Christ Battus was King of this Isle and held a confederacy with Dido for when Hyarbas King of the Gelutians made warre vpon Dido because he could not obtain her in matrimony she receiued ayd from this Battus and when for the loue of Aeneas she had killed her self Hyarbas hauing conquered Carthage banished her sister Anne who was entertained by this Battus But Hyarbas taking that vnkindly made war vpon Battus and conquered the Island of Malta so it continued in the jurisdiction of the Carthaginians a long time after vntill the Carthaginians were conquered by the Romans and then one Titus Sempronius about such time as Hannibal brought his army before Trebia woon it 217 yeares before Christ And after it continued vnder the jurisdiction of the Romans 130 yeares and then it was conquered by the Saracens but they held it not long for Roger Norman King of Sicilia got it out of their power An. D. 1090. And so it continued in the hands of the Sicilians til An. Dom. 1520. And then Charles the fift being Emperor gaue it to the Knights of saint Iohn vpon condition that they should oppose the Turkes gallies and defend that part of Christendome So the Knights of S. Iohn together with their gouernor sailed to Malta so fortified it that it is impossible to be taken vnlesse by famine or treason There were many famous Bishops that liued in this place and very deuout Christians In the time of the Emperor Theodosius there was a Councel held at which were present 240 Bishops At this day this Bishopricke is subiect to the Archbishop of Palermo and the chiefe gouernement of the Isle is in the power of the Knights of S. Iohn c. Of Syracusa THis was a City of the Isle of Sicilia built by one Archia of Corinth standing close by the sea shore on the North side of the Isle 2756 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It was a faire and goodly city in antient time called Tetrapolis because it was diuided into three parts one of which parts stood in the Isle of Ortygia separated from the continent with a little streit sea and with that famous fountain Arthusia The other part was called Acradine and the third Tycha to which in after-times there was built vp a fourth and called by the name of Neapolis All this city was compassed in with three walls so strong and so admirably fortified both by Nature and Art that it opposed the Carthaginians in equall war It was called Syracusa from drawing or sucking and in processe of time obtained the whole jurisdiction and gouernment of that Isle which was so well peopled in the time of Dionysius the Tyrant that he was able to make and maintaine an Army of one hundred thousand foot and twelue thousand Horse There were two hauens in that part which was called Ortygia so maruellously fortified with such huge Rockes and other munition that they were wonderfull to looke vpon There also stood a Castle or Tower called by the name of Mercia which was so strong that when all the rest of the Town was conquered yet that maintained Warre for a long time In this Hold the Kings and Tyrants of this Countrey vsually kept their Treasures and other things that were materiall There were many worthy and famous Princes ruled in it but aboue them all Dionysius the elder exceeded the rest Who when hee saw what aboundance of Vessels of gold and siluer Dionysius the younger had heaped together cried out and said In te Regius affectus non est qui ex tanta poculorum vi amicum neminem conciliasti That is Verily the minde of a King is not in thee that out of so many Cups couldest not procure one Friend For after hee was banished and constrained to keepe a Schoole Both these Dionysians were learned men and great Philosophers It is thought that this Island was sometime a part of Italy and ioyning to the field of Brutius but in time through the violence of the sea separat from the continent From whence it was called Sicilita and also Trinacris because there were three mountaines standing vpon three promontories in three seueral places of it giuing the proportion of a triangle for there was an angle toward the South called Pactinus another towards the Southwest called Lilybaeus and another called Pelorus which lay distant neer about two miles from Italy In times past it was vnder the command of the Romanes but now the Spaniards haue chiefe gouernment of it There are many things remaining to this day worthy obseruation but chiefly the mountain Aetna which still casteth out fire smoke c. Of Rhegium THis was a town of Italy belonging to the family of the Brutians at first built by the Calcedonians and Messenians vpon the vtmost bounds of Italy toward the Sicilian sea beeing distant from that Isle 60 furlongs and called by the name of Rhegium as some thinke from Rumpo to breake for that neere about the place where that town stood the sea being very tempestuous broke the Isle of Sicilia from the continent Others think it was called Rhegium because it was so strong and beautifull a Citie that it might well haue bin the seat of a Prince Close by this city in the Sicilian sea there stands a rock somewhat aboue the water representing in figure the proportion of a man and round about it are to be seen other little rocks like barking dogs In this place the water is so extreme violent and runnes with so strong a current that it is very dangerous for mariners especially such as are ignorant to saile that way Wherefore the Poets made this verse to signifie a man that stood in a dangerous and doubtfull estate Decidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charibdim Seeking to shun Charibdis curled waves He thrusts himselfe into stern Scylla's jawes But that mariners might auoid these dangerous places vpon the North angle of Sicilia in the promontorie of Petorus there is erected a lofty tower standing as a sea mark that so they by that direction might escape these dangerous places Not far from Scillari is to be seen another town of that rock called Scyllacus but of the inhabitants it is commonly called Scyglius or Scyglio and Rhegium also at this day is called Rezo and Reggio of Antimnestus captain of Chalcedon and as Strab. li. 6. saith is scituated in Calabria 1332 miles from Ierusalem Westward Of Puteoli THis city is in Campania a countrey
of Italy not farre from Naples scituated on the sea shore 1388 miles from Ierusalem Westward taking that name from fountains or Wels of hot water being built by the Salamians as Eusebius saith about such time as the Tarquins were banished Rome 507 yeares before the natiuitie of Christ It was antiently called Dicaearchia because of their singular justice noble gouernment But when the Romans made war against Hannibal they fortified this town to withstand his forces and then called it Puteoli which name it retained a long time after At this day it is called Puzzoli At this city the Apostle Paul his companions ariued when they sailed into Rome Acts 27. Between Puteoli and Baia there lieth the lake of Lucrinus into which by the command of Augustus Caesar a Dolphin was thrown Now there was a young Youth called Simon the son of a poore man dwelling in Baia who vsually played among other youths vpon the banks of this lake and seeing the Dolphin it being a strange fish in those parts and verie amiable to looke vpon did take great delight in it and oft times fed it with bread and other things as he could get insomuch as the Dolphin when it heard the boyes voice vpon the banks of the riuer would resort to him receiue at his hand his accustomed food Thus it continued so long that the Dolphin would suffer the boy to handle him take him by the gils play with him yea and somtimes to get vpon his backe then swim with him a great way into the lake and bring him back again and suffer him to go safe vpon the shore After this manner hee continued for many yeares together and in the end the youth died Yet the Dolphin resorted to his vsuall place expecting his accustomed food from the hands of this boy but missing him he left the shore languisht away and died Concerning the nature of this fish you may read more at large in Pliny lib. 9. cap. 8. Of Colossa THis City is scituated in Phrygia a countrey in Asia minor neere the riuers of Lycus and Meander 520 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward not farre from Laodicea so called from the mighty statues and Colosso's that were set vp in it These cities Colossa Laodicea and Hierapolis where the Apostle Philip was put to death in the tenth yeare of Nero a little before Pauls martyrdome were sunke by an earthquake which without doubt was a great judgement of God vpon them because they refused the grace and comfort of the doctrine of the Gospel offered vnto them by the Apostles The Epistle of Paul dedicated to the Colossians was sent by the hand of Onesymus from Rome vnto these towns being 1080 miles For although the Rhodians were called Colossians because of that famous Colossus that stood there yet this city wherein Archippus and Philemon dwelt to whom Paul directed that Epistle stood in Phrygia a country of Asia minor and not in Rhodes Of Nicopolis NIcopolis is a city of Macedonia scituated close by the riuer Nessus not far from Philippus vpon the borders of Thrace 920 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward From hence the Apostle Paul wrot his Epistle to Titus and sent it to Creet 600 miles There are many other cities of this name one standing in Epyre built by Augustus another betweene Cilicia and Syria built by Alexander in glory of his victorie against Darius A fourth in Bythinia a fift in the holy land formerly called Emaus Of Rome THis city if wee rightly consider the deriuation of the name in Hebrew was not built without the singular prouidence of God being deriued of Rom i. Hee hath exalted or made high But the Grecians deriue it from Romen i. strength power Now although the prouidence of God extendeth to euery Creature may to the very haires of a mans head yet where hee determines to expresse his singular power there hee worketh beyond the expectation of man And who knowes not that the beginning of this City was meane raised from a confused company destitute both of ciuilitie communitie and lawes yet hath it bin and for the most part is the glory of the world and the great commander of the Princes of the earth It was so called at first by Romulus as Livy lib. 1. saith who first built it seuen hundred fifty and one yeares before the Natiuitie of Christ being scituated vpon seuen hils that is Capitolinus Aventinus Palatinus Caelius Exquilinus Viminalis and Quirinalis But after when the City was compassed about with walls the hill Ianiculus was inclosed within it The Vallies that lay between these hils were so raised vp with arches vaults and artificial mounts that in processe of time they became levell with the top of some of those hills It was beautified with faire and sumptuous buildings so that as it was the head of the world for command and power in like like manner it exceeded all the rest of the world for glory and riches but principally for stately buildings There were many goodly Temples dedicated to Iupiter Apollo Aesculapius Hercules Diana Iuno Minerva Lucia Concordia Fides Pietas Pax Victoria Isis besides many other dedicated to other gods But aboue all that was the most sumptuous that was called Pantheon deorum at this day called the Church of All hallowes Moreouer here was to be seen the princely Edifices of Kings Emperors Consuls Senators Patricians and other Romans who were mighty in wealth and substance built all of polished Marble beautified with gold and siluer beside palaces bulwarks theatres triumphant arches statues and such like al which were glorious and greatly adorned the city But aboue al these the house of Nero was most worthy of obseruation which to see to was built all of burnisht gold very curiously wrought Here also stood the monuments of the two Caesars Iulius and Augustus also their statues the one made of pure brasse the other of white marble Besides there were many fruitfull orchards water-courses wholsome baths brought thither by Antonius Nero Dioclesian and Constantine the Great Also the Emperor Constantine erected many goodly churches for the vse of the Christians indowed them with great means and amongst the rest that which was dedicated to Saint Iohn of Latteran a faire and goodly Church and for riches and curious workemanship might compare with the stateliest Temples that euer had beene in the world most of the ornaments and images beeing made of Gold and Siluer hee also erected the Vattican which was dedicated to Saint Peter and another holy house dedicated to Saint Paul in either of which he placed their seueral sepulchres and monuments bestowing extraordinary cost to beautifie them So many were the gifts and gratuites of this Emperour that they can scarce bee numbred so that although the Emperour Trajan and Boniface the fourth Pope of Rome bestowed great cost to beautifie and adorne the city yet were they nothing comparable to that which this Emperor did These things then beeing presented to your viewe
Copronius being then the Emperour of Rome since which time they haue conquered a great part of the World A Relation of the Trauells and Peregrinations of the Saints and holy Patriarchs as they are seuerally mentioned in the first Booke of MOSES And first of the first man ADAM ADAM the first man tooke his name from Adamah which signifies redde earth because he was made of the redde slime of the earth Therefore the Latines deriue Homo from Humo also the Graecians from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the earth But when man was layed open to all calamities miseries yea death the Hebrews called him Enosh which signifies a mortall and miserable man for this attribute to man agreeth with the word Nosch which signifies to be sicke of a deadly disease There are some that thinke that man was made in Syria neere to Damascus because there is found much redde earth Others say neere to Hebron a citie in the Tribe of Iuda and there also lies buried for in a caue neere that place lies much redde earth which the inhabitants euen to this day shew vnto Pilgrims but this is nothing to the purpose since we know that man was first created and then brought into Paradise Gen. 1. and 2. Of Paradise PAradise which in Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Hebrew Pardes signifies a pleasant Garden plentifully furnished with fruitfull trees but principally Myrtle trees which beareth a kinde of berrie of a very delectable taste for this Hebrew word seemeth to be a compound that is of Parah which signifies to fructifie and Hadas a mirtle of the fruit of which tree there is made a certaine wine called mirtle or mulberrie wine the mysterie hereof is that Christ is that tree of life that fruitful and pleasant mirtle wherby we are raised vp vnto eternall life Gen. 2. Apoc. 22. Mat. 11. Luther calleth Paradise in his discourse of Germany a pleasant Garden Eccl. 2. Munster an Orchard and in the Bible it is called Eden a place plentifully furnished with al things necessary for the procuring of pleasure delight The Grecians call it Hedone which signifies an extraordinary delectable and pleasant place for in it there was great aboundance of all things as well of trees fruits herbes and sweet smelling floures as of beasts and fowles of the heauen Into this place God put man to dresse it and keep it But where it stood and whether it be now vpon the earth there are diuers opinions the Romanists hold that it is placed in the East without the Tropicks others would haue it vnder the Aequator because it is a very temperate region but experience tells vs that there it is very hot and scorching others think it stands vpon the top of a high mountain free from all the violent motions and impressions of the ayre in which place they hold Aenoch and Eliah are yet liuing there are others that assigne the whole East part to be Paradise and that there were some peculiar places most fruitfull of which they thinke was Syria Damascus Arabia Foelix Egipt and Iudaea in which part man was put They also say that the tree of Knowledge stood vpon Mount Caluary neere about that place where Christ was crucified so that he made satisfaction for sinne in the same place where sinne was first committed And this I hold to be the better opinion and that it remained till the deluge kept in the custody of Angells at Gods appointment and by the floud together with other creatures was abolished And for that saying of our Sauior to the theefe vpon the crosse This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise is not to be vnderstood of the earthly Paradise but of the heauenly the place of the blessed angels and saints where God with his diuine majesty filleth them with the light of righteousnesse and quickneth them with eternall life This place Paul cals the third heauen and that heauenly Paradise of which the earthly Paradise is a type 2. Cor. 12. Of the foure Riuers that watered Paradise THe foure Flouds of Paradise were Pison Gihon Hidekel and Euphrates Gen. 2. There was but one Fountaine of all these floods and this was in Paradise it selfe which in those times was diuided into foure streames But as by the Flood all the face of the earth was changed so likewise were these riuers and their Fountains and Channells altered from the places where at first they were notwithstanding in memory of them there remaines some reliques though perhaps not in the same place nor springing out of one and the same Fountaine as they did before And as the Mediterranean sea the gulph of Arabia and many other Meeres and Lakes before the Flood were not but by the generall consent of all learned men hapned by that huge inundation the same may be said of these Riuers The head or beginning of the Riuer Pischon or Pison is 4800 miles Eastward from Ierusalem and is like vnto an arme of the Sea some 12 or 16 miles ouer and for that cause it taketh the name from Posch that is increasing or of an extraordinary greatnes from hence the Grecians cal it Phuson because it diuides it selfe into diuers Riuolets or Streames It compasseth in Hauilah it diuideth that part of the world which wee call India into the outward and inward and there is called Ganges taking that name from an Aethiopian King called Gange as Swydas saith Some say it is vnknowne where it first riseth others say it riseth in Scythia and watereth all the neighbour countries as it passeth along as Nylus doth and so being dispersed into 30 channels diuideth India with one of them the narrowest place of Ganges is 8 miles ouer and the shallowest 100 foot deepe it bringeth forth Dolphins Crocodiles and diuers other creatures Solinus and Strabo saith That the Riuer Tygris riseth in Armenia a very faire and cleare Fountaine it is distant from Ierusalem six hundred miles towards the North it runneth with such an exceeding swiftnesse that fishes cannot swimme against it and passeth through the lake of Arthusia without once mingling it selfe with the water and for this cause it is called Tigris which signifies a dart and a beast of extraordinary swiftnesse and cruelty This Riuer running from towards the North and the rising of the Sunne it compasseth in Mesopotamia and passeth by the borders of Media and Assiria and after that of Chaldaea and Arabia it there receiueth in the Riuer Hydaspis and so joyning with Euphrates falls into the lake of Persia The Hebrews called this Riuer Chidikill from Chadad which signifies acute and Kalal light for it is a swift running streame from hence the Graecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Celer the Germans Ein Zelter which signifies with vs a horse swiftly running for it passeth away swifter than an arrow out of a bow Going towards the East some 36 miles from the ancient Babylon it runneth through a towne called Bagedeth bordering vpon
them about that feare him Psal 33. and therefore Iacob with great joy brake out and said The tents of God are here and called it Machanaim This was assigned to the Leuits Iosh 21. and here Dauid was receiued when he fled from his sonne Absalon 2 Sam. 17. Here Iacob wrastles with the Angell Gen. 32. Of Pnuel or Penuel THis Towne was vpon the East side of Iordan close by the mouth of the riuer Iaboch in the tribe of Gad fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast and is deriued from Panah and El which signifies He beheld the Almighty God face to face and for that cause he called it Penuel or Pnuel which is the face of God Gen. 32. The Tower of this Towne was destroied in Gedeons time Iudg. 8. Of Succoth THis is a towne beyond Iordan not farre from Penuel in the tribe of Gad 40 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast Here Iacob set vp his tabernacles and continued for a while from whence it borrowes the name For Sachach signifies A couering and from thence it is called Succha and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Greeks which signifies A shield couering defence or tabernacle Of this towne there is mention in Iosh 13.2 Chr. 4. Gedeon caused the Citizens of this towne of Succoth to be torne to pieces with thornes Iudg. 8. Of Salem SAlem is a town of the Sichamites lying towards the East side of the riuer Iordan and in the midst of the tribe of Manasses fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Sichem where Dinah Iocobs daughter was rauished Gen. 33. 34. in Aenon neere to this place Iohn Baptist baptised and signifies A Citie of Peace and integritie Of Bethlem Euphrata THis town was distant from Ierusalem towards the South six miles it was scituated in a pleasant and fruitfull countrey and from thence tooke the name for Bethlachem is called The house of bread Euphrata signifies fruitfull being deriued from Parah that is to fructifie and Baith signifieth a house from the affinitie that it hath to Banah that is to build so that Baithlaechem doth denote vnto vs The house of bread and other fruits and meats that are fit to be eaten Here was Christ the sonne of God borne that bread of life of which whosoeuer eateth shall liue eternally Io. 6. And here Dauid was the second time annointed King 1 Sam. 16. Of this towne you may reade more in the second of Luke Of Rachels graue ABout a mile from Bethlem towards the North Rachel the wife of Iacob was buried ouer whom hee set a stately sepulchre made of twelue marble stones or Pyramides these stones are seene to this day vpon the right hand of the way as you goe from Bethlem to Ierusalem and from thence all the land thereabouts is called the land of Rachel For when Herod killed the innocent children all the inhabitants thereabouts wept and would not be comforted Matth. 2. Ierem. 31 Of the Towne of Aeder THis was a watch Tower of the Bethlamites about a mile from Bethlem towards the South and was so called from the flockes of Sheepe that resorted thither for Migdal signifies a Tower and Aeder a flocke or heard for thereabouts were very fertile pastures Here the Angels told the sheepheards of the natiuitie of Christ lying at Bethlem in a manger and in the place of that tower there was a Church built which in Ieroms time was called Angelus ad Pastores because the Angels there appeared to the sheepe-heards Here Iacob dwelt for a time and in this place Reuben lay with Billah his wife Gen. 36. Of Gosen and Ony. GOsen was a very delectable and fruitfull country in the land of Aegypt the Metropolitane whereof was Ony two hundred miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest in this Citie Iacob dwelt The typicall signification of the Patriarch Iacob IAcob signifies a supplanter and was a type of Christ who is that supplanter of Sathan and by his death hath broken his head in pieces Againe he is the type of a Christian man For as he wrestling with the Angell obtained a blessing so euery good man continually striuing with perseuerance in prayer shall at length obtaine an euerlasting blessing for for this cause was Iacob called Israel that is the Prince of God in that he preuailed with God so all those that beleeue in Christ are called Princes of the kingdome of heauen because by his mediation they haue preuailed with God and are made partakers of eternall life Iacob had two wiues Leah and Rachel Leah signifies wearied and was a type of the old Mosaicall Church for that was oppressed and wearied with the lawes of Moses and brought forth Priests Leuites Kings and warlike Princes by which the people of the Iewes became oppressed and wearied by extreame labors and at length were miserably extinguished for as it is in the 15 of the Acts of the Apostles The law of Moses was an intollerable and troublesome burthen But Rachel signifies a Sheepe and is a type and signe of the Church of God in the New Testament as Christ himselfe speaketh in the tenth of Iohn My sheepe heare my voice and follow me and I will giue them eternall life Sheepe are naturally patient and peaceable so all such as are of Christs Church seeke after patience and peace Leah was nothing so faire but much more fruitfull Rachel was nothing so fruitfull but a great deale fairer Leah was the mother of Benjamin which signifieth sorrow Rachel of Ioseph who was a type of Christ Of the Trauels of Esau ESau trauelled from mount Sier in Mesopotamia to the towne of Pnuell or Penuell eightie miles to meet his brother Iacob where the singular ciuilitie and humilitie of Iacob towards him is worthy obseruation For hee first sent to meet him then hee did him obedience to the ground seuen seuerall times and so saluted him saying Loe these are the children which God of his grace haue giuing his seruant From whence it may be gathered That it becommeth euery man if it be possible to win his enemy to peace and concord rather by humanitie and humilitie than by force for Esau seeing this kind of reuerence though before he had a full determination to doe him violence yet now he comes to meet him embraces him takes him about the necke beginnes to weepe and kisses him yea such was their loue that they both wept with joy Gen. 35. After Esau returning went home to Sier backe againe eightie miles these things hapned in the yeare of the World 2206 when both brethren were about 89 yeares of age and in the yeare before Christ 1762. Of mount Sier MOunt Sier where Esau and his posteritie dwelt is forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South and was so called of Sier the King or Lord thereof of whom came the Horrites who being driuen thence by the fourteene sonnes of Esau into Arabia the stony where they continued Gen. 36. It was called Edom of Esau and then Idumaea Gen.
much the more remarkable for that as some say snow lieth continually vpon the top of it so that a far off it seemeth white Of the riuer Iordan IOrdan is a pleasant sweet riuer watering the holy land whereof you may read before It is named Iorden at Caesarea Philippi a little from the foot of Antelibanus 104 miles from Ierusalem Northward it passeth through the lake Samachoniten and diuiding it into two equall parts from thence running thorow a great part of Galilee it falls into the sea Tyberias there as it were diuideth it into two parts it watereth that part of Iudaea called Samaria and about Easter which is the beginning of that haruest it floweth ouer the banks and fructifies many countries lying neere it at length it falleth into the lake Asphaltites and there endeth about 14 miles from Ierusalem Eastward So that from the first beginning of this Riuer to the end of it is 92 miles It is called Palah by the Hebrewes which signifieth swift and hidden because it riseth from a certain wel or pit called Phiala which is alwaies full of water but from whence it springeth is vnknown Ioshuah about Easter passed vpon dry ground through this riuer euen then when it was fullest of water Ios 3. So did Eliah Elisha 2 Reg. Here Naaman the leper washt himself 2 Reg. 5 Here Christ was baptised by S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. Luke 3. Of Hazor THis was a town in the vpper Galilee belonging to the tribe of Nepthali it was the chiefe Hold and city of the king of the Canaanites being distant from Ierusalem 80 miles towards the North. This Ioshuah destroyed with fire and sword Deborah also the Prophetesse besieged it tooke it and put Iabin the King thereof to death In times past it was a very strong city as the ruines thereof testifie Of Siloh SIloh the city and house of God was scituate on a high mountain in the tribe of Ephraim 4 miles and somwhat better from Ierusalem towards the North. Here the Arke of the Couenant continued from the time that the Israelites first entred into the land of Canaan till Eli the Priest fetcht it thence in whose time it was taken by the Philistims and he for very griefe therefore fel downe and brake his necke against a stone 1 Sam. 4. The inhabitants hereabouts shew the ruines of a certaine sepulchre standing vpon the top of this mount where they say Samuel was buried but that canot be true for he was buried at Ramath which now is called Arimathea Therefore it seems to be either the ruins of Elies sepulchre who died miserably in that place or else of the House of the Lord which many yeares past stood there Schiloh signifies Happy and peaceable being deriued from Schalah that is to liue at ease and in peace Of Timnah Of this you may reade in the Trauels of IVDAH The type and mysterie of IOSHVAH IOshuah and Iesus is all one in signification that is Sauour or a Defender and did typically represent our Sauior Christ that as this Ioshuah brought the children of Israel through Iordan into the land of Canaan so Iesus Christ the true Ioshuah and Sauiour of the world through that Iordan of Baptisme bringeth vs into that place of Promise Eternall life Where the one and thirty Kings dwelt ouercome and slain by IOSHVAH Ios 10. AS the Prophet Moses won all the land vpon the one side of Iordan so Ioshuah won all the Countrey on the other from the towne of Baalgadan beginning at mount Libanus not farre from Mount Hebron till you come to the town of Caesarea Philippi and to the hill Seir where somtime Esau dwelt all which is 160 miles long and 28 or 32 miles broad The first King that Ioshuah ouercame dwelt in Iericho The second King held his court in Ai. The third King dwelt in Ierusalem and was called Adoni-Zebec that is a Lord of Righteousnesse This King Ioshuah hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fourth King called Hoham dwelt at Hebron and was likewise hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fift King called Percam dwelt at Iarmouth in the tribe of Iuda 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 6 King called Iaphia dwelt at Lachis 2 miles from Iarmouth Southward He was also hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The seuenth King dwelt at Eglon called Debir and was also hanged at Makeda The 8 King was called Horam and held his princely seat in the tribe of Dan in the town of Gezer 16 miles from Ierusalem westward whom Ioshuah slew with all his men Ios 10. The ninth King dwelt at Debir The tenth King held his court at Gerar in the tribe of Iudah 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 11 King dwelt at Harma in the Tribe of Iudah which is vpon the borders of Arabia deserta not far from Ziclag 40 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward this town in times past was called Zephal that is a watch-tower because it stood vpon a hill But when the children of Iuda had ouerthrowne the whole army of the Canaanites they called it Haram a Curse Iud. 1. The 12 King dwelt at Arat 22 miles from Ierusalem Southward which was a towne of the Ammorites and tooke the name from the Asses that were in great troups within the woods thereabout It lay in the tribe of Iuda The 13 King dwelt at Libnah in the tribe of Iuda The 14 King dwelt at Odullam The 15 King dwelt at Makeda In this towne Ioshuah hanged fiue Kings Ios 10. The 16 King dwelt at Bethel The 17 King dwelt at Tapnah not far from Iordan Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward The 18 King dwelt at Hepher 6 miles from Ierusalem Northward part of this towne was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ionas the Prophet was borne in this towne 2 Reg. 14. and is 4 miles distant from the town of Nazareth Southward The 19 King dwelt at Apheck 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward and 2 miles from Iesreel There also the Arke of the Lord was taken and there also the sons of Eli the high priest were slain 1 Sam. 4. This town was in the halfe tribe of Manasses The 20 King dwelt at Lazaron 18 miles and a half from Ierusalem Northwestward not far from Ioppen and Lidda The 21 king dwelt at Nadan 14 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward The 22 King dwelt at Hazor The 23 King dwelt at Simron which town was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ioshuah 14. It lieth sixty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward not farre from the town of Nazareth in Galilee The 24 king dwelt at Achsap 88 miles from Ierusalem Northward which town was allotted to the tribe of Aser The 25 King dwelt at Tanaach 44 miles from Ierusalem this town belonged to the Levits and stood in the tribe of Manasses 6 miles from Iesreel Southward Ios 21. The 26 King dwelt at Megiddo 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward scarce 4 miles from Taanach By this towne of Megiddo Iosias King of Iuda was ouerthrown by Pharaoh Necho
King of Egypt 2 Reg. 23. In the trauels of Iosiah King of Iuda I will speake of this town more at large The 27 King dwelt at Kades Ios 19.21 The 28 King dwelt at Iaknedam 27 miles from Ierusalem Northward being vpon the Mediterranean sea This towne was alotted to the Tribe of Zabulon and giuen to the Levits Ios 21. The 29 King dwelt at Naphet Dor which towne lay vpon the sea coast between the hill Carmel and the town of Cesarea Stratonis 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward The 30 King dwelt at Gilgal between Iericho and the Riuer Iordan and was the first King that Iosuah ouercame and slew al his host The 31 King dwelt at Thirtza in the Tribe of Manasses 24 miles from Ierusalem In this towne Ieroboam and after him all the Kings of Israel kept their courts before Samaria was built THE BOOKE OF IVDGES The Trauels of Caleb and Athniel CAleb and Athniel with all the Children of Iuda went from Iuda to Beseck 44 miles where they tooke King Adoni-Beseck prisoner and cut off his fingers and toes Iudg. 1. From Beseck they went to Ierusalem 44 miles which they tooke by force and burnt it Iudg. 1. From Ierusalem they went to Hebron 22 miles which they tooke and slew the Gyants that inhabited therein Iudg. 1. Not far from Hebron lay the towne of Debir which Athniel won and therefore Caleb gaue him his daughter Achsa for his wife Iudg. 1. From Debir they went to Zephat 16 miles which town they won Iudg. 1. From Zephat they went to Gaza 4 miles From Gaza they went to Ascalon 6 miles Iudg. 1. From Ascalon the went to Hebron 14 miles From Hebron they went backe again to Debir where Athniel dwelt 12 miles So all the trauels of Caleb and Athniel were 132 miles The Description of the Townes and places to which they trauelled Of Beseck BEseck was a metropolitan city of the Canaanites neere to the water Merom where Adoni-Beseck kept his Court 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North and tooke the name of Desaeck or Beseck which signifies lightning Of this King you may reade Iudg. 1. Of Zephah THis was a town vpon the borders of the tribes of Iudah and Simeon not far from Siclag Ios 15. It takes the name from Zaphah which signifies a watch-tower and was also called by the sons of Iuda who destroyed all the country Chorma which signifies a Curse or a desolat place To the citisens hereof Dauid sent gifts 1 Sam. 36. Of Gaza OF this town you may reade more hereafter in the Trauels of the Arke of the Couenant The typicall signification of CALEB CALEB signifieth An hearty man or A man after Gods owne heart louing his Neighbour with all his heart For Col is as much as Omnis which signifies All and Cala Hee forgiueth all and Leb or Lebbah signifieth an Heart the seat and fountain of all life So that Caleb seems to take his name from a singular heartie affection whereby he forgiueth his neighbour For as this man being of a noble resolution and courage in the 29 yeare of his age won Hebron a strong City and put to death the three sons of Anak terrible Gyants so Christ the Son of God that so loued the world that he gaue himselfe for it with a more than humane resolution conquered hell and those three mighty Gyants incident vnto it the sons of Sathan Sin the World and Death Of Athniel IN the yeare of the World 1503 and before Christ 2565 Ioshuah died after whose death Caleb and Athniel iudged Israel about which time the Israelites committed idolatry and worshipped Baal and Asteroth wherefore the Lord suffered them to fall into the hands of Chushan Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia But because of their oppression they cried vnto the Lord and hee stirred vp Othniel the yonger brother of Caleb who in the yeare of the world 2512 conquered Chushan deliuered the people and gouerned Israel 40 years Iudg. 3. Athniel or Othniel signifies the god of time being deriued of Aeth that is an Age and is a Type of Christ who is the God of time and in his due time conquered the world and Sathan the prince thereof thereby deliuering the poore afflicted members of his Church out of his miserable seruitude and bondage for which cause God hath made him judge ouer it and giuen him fell power and authority to rule and gouern it The Trauels of Ehud the third Iudge of Israel EHud was the sonne of Gira of the Tribe of Iuda and dwelt in the City of Iericho or of the Palmes Hee was a valiant and resolute man lame of his right hand Iudg. 3. and to the iudgement of man not fit to bee a Captaine beeing so infirme Yet it happened that this man growing in fauor with Eglon King of the Moabites who at this time kept his Court in Iericho which towne he had but eighteene yeares before conquered tooke opportunitie by the Children of Israels comming to Gilgal for they came thither to offer to the Idoll and to bring gifts of the king to present these presents vnto him and because of his former familiaritie was admitted to speake in priuat with him in his summer parlour where as he was talking with him he thrust him into the belly with a short knife and locking the dore he fled back to Seirah and told the children of Israell what he had done From thence they presently went to Ephraim there blew the trumpet and set vpon the Moabits and put them to the sword Iudg. 3. The Trauels of Ehud EHud went from Iericho to Gilgal 2 miles From Gilgal he went to Iericho 2 miles From Iericho he went to mount Ephraim 6 miles From Mount Ephraim he went to Iorden 4 miles where hee ouerthrew 10000 Moabites So all the trauels of Ehud were 14 miles Of Mount Ephraim THis mountain is about 8 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and extends it selfe in longitude to the city neer the Mediterranean sea called Ioppa which is distant from Ierusalem 20 miles toward the Northwest The Trauels of the sonnes of Hobab the Kenite THe sons of Hobab the Kenite Moses brother in law were from Iericho to Arad a City in the tribe of Iuda scituated in the desart toward the South Num. 10. Iudg. 1. 44 miles Of Arad ARad is a city in the Tribe of Iuda 22 miles from Ierusalem towards the South taking the name of a multitude of asses that were found thereabouts in the desart and is deriued from Arod which signifies a wilde Asse a rude creature The Trauels of Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite who killed Sisera the Captaine FRom Arad shee and her husband went to the plaine of Zaaenaim and dwelt there neere to a Towne called Kades a Towne of refuge of the Leuites in the Tribe of Nephthali 166 miles there she killed Sisera This towne lieth 92 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Deborah and Barak DEborah was the wife of Lapidoth and dwelt vnder
Amalekites in pieces 1 Sam. 16. From Gilgal he went to Arimathia 20 miles From Arimathia he went to Bethlehem 16 miles and there he anointed Dauid King 1 Sam. 16. Then he returned again to Arimathia 16 miles where he died and was buried 1 Sam. 28. So all the trauels of the Prophet Samuel were 364 miles Of Arimathia Mizpa Ramath and rhe rest of the townes mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Typicall signification of Samuel SAmuel is deriued of Shemuel that is desired of God And was a Type of God the Father for as Samuel anointed Dauid so God anointed his beloued Son with the oile of Gladnesse and of the Spirit Psal 45. Esay 61. The Trauels of King SAVL SAVL went from the town of Gibeon to mount Ephraim four miles to seek his fathers Asses in An. Mundi 2870 and before Christ 1908. From mount Ephraim he passed through the land of Salisa to the borders of the town of Salem 12 miles From Salem he went to the land of Gemini in the tribe of Benjamin 16 miles From the land of Iemini he went to Rama 4 miles there by Samuel he was anointed King 1 Sam. 10. This town lay not farre from Bethlehem and close by it lay Rachels graue There certaine men met with Saul in the borders of Benjamin at Zelach and shewed him that his fathers Asses were found which was about a mile from Ierusalem From thence Saul went about two miles to Zilzah there three men met him that trauelled to Bethel and gaue him two loaues of bread 1 Sam. 10. Then he came to the mount of God which is the town of Kiriath-jearim there a company of Prophets met him and prophecied then the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he began to prophecie which was about six miles from Bethlehem From Kiriath-jearim he went again to Gibeon which is foure miles 1 Sam. 10. Then he went again from Gibeon to Gilgal and there he offered and Samuel shewed him what he should do which is 12 miles 1 Sam. 10. From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead 36 miles where he was chosen King From Mizpa he went again to Gibeon 48 miles From Gibeon he went to Beseck 40 miles there he gathered certain soldiers and led them against Nahas King of the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. From Beseck he went with his army to Iabes 16 miles there he ouerthrew Nahas with all his host From Iabes in Giliad he went to Gilgal 36 miles There he was placed in his princely seat 1 Sam. 11. From Gilgal he went to Michmas 4 miles there he sent 3000 men out of Israel to his son Ionathan to Gibeon From Michmas hee went to Gilgal with his army 4 miles There he offered for which Samuel rebuked him 1 Sam. 13. From Gilgal hee went to Mount Benjamin about 12 miles not far from Gibeon From Gibeon hee went to Michmas 8 miles There Ionathan ouercame the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. From Michmas Saul followed the enemy to Ajalon 12 miles There he would haue slain his son Ionathan because he had eaten a little hony 1 Sam. 14. From Ajalon he went to Gibeon 4 miles where he kept court From Gibeon he went to the land of the Moabites 28 miles which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the land of the Moabites hee went into the countrey of Ammonites 40 miles which country he ouercame and tooke in all their towns From the land of the Ammonits he went to Gibeon 60 miles 1 Sam. 15. From Gibeon hee went into the land of Edom or Idumaea as it is commonly called 40 miles and ouercame all the countrey From Idumaea he returned again to Gibeon 40 miles From Gibeon he went with an army about 600 miles to Zoba in Armenia which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the kingdome of Zoba hee returned to Gibeon 600 miles After that he went out against the Philistines 12 miles and as the historie sheweth Saul had wars with the Philistins during his life 1 Sam. 14. From the Philistins he returned again to Gibeon vnto his palace 12 miles From Gibeon he went into the wildernesse of Sur 160 miles there he ouercame the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. Also he ouercame the whole country from the town of Peluso to the red sea which is 92 miles From thence he went again into Iury to the town of Carmel 140 miles 1 Sam. 15. And from thence he went vnto Gilgal 32 miles There the Prophet Samuel rebuked him because he did not wholly destroy and consume the Amalekites and there Samuel hewed the body of Agag King of the Amalekites into small pieces 1 Sam. 15. From Gilgal he went to Gibeon 12 miles In the 11 yeare of Saul An. M. 2881 and before Christ 1807 Dauid being then about 20 yeares of age was anointed King by Samuel Within a while after Saul was vexed with an euill spirit then Dauid played vnto him vpon the harpe by which he was eased Soon after he went forth with his Army towards Socho and Asecha which was some 8 miles distant from Gibeah There Dauid killed that famous champion Goliah 1 Sam. 15. From thence the Israelites followed the chase of the Philistins to the vally and riuer Soreck 4 miles and thence vnto the gates of their cities that is to Ekron which is eight miles to Ascalon 20 miles * From the place where Dauid killed Goliah and to Gath which was 24 miles all the way putting the Philistins to the sword So that there died in this fight 30000 of them 1 Sam. 17. Then they returned back again and spoiled and burnt the Philistines tents where they found great riches 24 miles From Socho and Aseka he returned again to Gibeon 8 miles there the women came out of all places in the town dancing and with loud voices singing Saul hath slain a thousand but Dauid ten thousand 1 Sam. 18. From Gibeon he went to Arimathia 2 miles minding to kill Dauid and came to Naioth in Ramoth where Samuel and Dauid were but the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he prophecied falling downe vpon the ground before Samuel and Dauid all that day and the nightensuing 1 Sam. 19. From thence he returned again to Gibeon 12 miles there he thought to haue killed his son Ionathan with a speare because he excused Dauid There also he caused 85 priests to be put to death because the high priest Abimilech at Nob had giuen Dauid of the Shew bread to eat and had deliuered him Goliahs sword 1 Sam. 21.22 From Gibeon he went to the Leviticall towne Nob 12 miles where he spared neither man nor woman yong nor old no not the innocent children but put them all to the sword and wholly destroyed the town 1 Sam. 12. From the town of Nob he returned to Gibeon 12 miles From Gibeon he went to the wildernes of Moan Southward 20 miles From the wildernesse of Moan hee returned again to Gibeon 1 Sam. 23. which was 24 miles
From Gibeon he went to Engedi where Dauid in a caue cut off a piece of his garment which was 24 miles 1 Sam. 24. From thence he teturned again to Gibeon 24 miles From Gibeon he went to Ziph 22 miles and as he lay asleepe vpon the hill Hachila Dauid came secretly into the Campe and took his cup and his speare from his head and would not kil him 1 Sam. 26. From the hill Hachila he returned vnto Gibea 22 miles From thence hee went to fight with the Philistines at mount Gilboa 40 miles From mount Gilboa hauing changed his apparell he went to Endor which was 4 miles There he asked counsel of a witch and the Diuel appeared vnto him in the likenesse of Samuel 1 Sam. 28 From thence he returned again to mount Gilboa to the camp 4 miles and the next day he fought against the Enemy in which battel his three sonnes were slaine and hee himselfe put to flight 1 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11. From mount Gilboa he fled 8 miles to Bethsan where he kild himselfe 1 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11. From thence the body of Saul was brought to Iabes in Gilead where it was buried 2 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11. So all the trauels of Saul were 2428 miles The description of the townes and places to which he trauelled OF Gibea Salem Ramath and Iabes you may read before being memorable places to which Abraham Ioshuah and the children of Israel trauelled Of Bethsaliza THe land of Salisa with the city Bethsaliza was scituated in mount Ephraim 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest This was also called Baalsalisa 2. King 4. and signifieth the Trinity being deriued of Schillesch to make threefold Of Michmas THis was a citie in mount Ephraim in the borders of the tribes of Beniamin and Manasses not far from Iericho some ten miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Neere to this Citie Ionathan and his armor bearer put the armie of the Philistins to flight 1. Sam. 14. you may read of this towne in Esd 2. Isa 10. This was a strong citie of the Moabites and seemeth to take the name of Kemosch or Chamos which was a god which they worshipped in their banquets meetings for mirth as Bacchus somtime was amongst the Romans To this Idol Solomon built a temple 1. Reg. 11. Ier. 48. Of Zoba THe Kingdome of Zoba which Iosephus calleth Sophenam was in Armenia neer to the mountains Antitaurus and Masius 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North extending it selfe on both sides of the Riuer Euphrates It was a very large fruitfull and pleasant country wherein inhabited many Kings This place Saul conquered Dauid retained it 1 Sam. 14. 2 Sam. 8. And signifies An aspiring Kingdom being deriued of Zabah He hath aspired Of Carmel CArmel was a City in the tribe of Iudah scituated in a fertile mountaine some eight miles from Hebron toward the East but twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest in the wildernesse of Moan where that foolish and couetous fellow Nabal dwelt There is likewise another Towne called by the same name in the tribe of Issacher not farre from Ptolomais which is vpon the shore of the Mediteranian sea 64 miles from Ierusalem toward the North standing vpon a promontory which extendeth it selfe into the Ocean of which you may reade Ios 19. Ier. 46. In this city the Prophets Elias and Elizeus dwelt who put the Priests of Baal to death in that place 1 Reg. 18. 2 Reg. 4. Carmel signifieth Spike or a fertil field bringing forth Vines herbs and diuers kinds of floures and fruits and is oft times vsed for a pleasant place Esay 29.32.37 Ier. 24. There are a sect of Monks that of this mountain are called Carmelits who built for themselues an Abby there close by the Church of S. Maries about the yeare of the world 5170 and in the yeare of our Lord 1170. Of Azekah AZekah and Socho were two townes in the Tribe of Iudah eight miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west Of these you may reade before Of Nobe or Nob. THis was a Citie of the Priests in the Tribe of Benjamin where Abimelech High-Priest of the Israelites dwelt Who at such time as Dauid fled from Saul he gaue him of the Shew-bread and the Sword that he tooke from Goliah For the which cause Saul commanded fourescore and fiue Priests to bee slaine and the City with all the Inhabitants thereof to bee put to the sword 1 Sam. cap. 22. At this day as Bernard Brittenbacchus saith it is called Bethenopolis and is in the way betweene Ierusalem from whence it is distant some sixteen miles towards the Northeast Dyospolim It taketh the name from Naba which signifieth He hath prophecied Of this you may read 1 Sam. 20.21 22. and Esay 10. Of Maon THis was a town in the wildernesse of Iudaea some 24 miles from Ierusalem Southward neere Ziph and Carmel where Saul had besieged Dauid and all his men and would haue either put them to the sword or taken them captiues But the Philistins on a sudden inuaded the land so that Saul was constrained to leaue the siege to oppose their incursions It taketh the name from a fruitfull habitation and a firm and safe mansion 2 Sam. 23 Ios 15. Of Engedi THis was a castle or town scituated in a mountain neere to the shore of the Dead sea a little beyond Sodom six miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast and in the tribe of Iudah Ios 15. In times past it was a fruitfull place both of vines other fruits there also grew a kinde of balsam But Cleopatra in the time of Mark Anthony brought the roots of it into Egypt and there made a pleasant garden where now Christians inhabit There are yet some small stalks here and there of this Balsam to be found vpon this hill Engedi but the Saracens do not regard it neither dwell any Christians neere to dresse it so that it groweth to decay Engedi signifieth the fountaine or well of a Goat or Lambe These mountains are very high and of a wonderfull nature in some places great ragged rocks appearing in others plain and fruitful vallies insomuch as they are fearefull and horrible to strangers that behold them Of Ziph. THis was a Towne in the Desart of Ziph placed in a certaine mountaine not farre from Hebron in the Tribe of Iudah some 22 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Iosh 15. Vnto this desart neere to this city Dauid oft times resorted and at last was betrayed by the inhabitants of this towne It seemeth that the Towne and Wildernesse tooke that name of the aboundance of pitch that was found in it for Zaephaeth in Hebrew signifieth Pitch Of Gilboa THis was a mountain in the tribe of Manasse neere to Sichem and Apheck 40 miles from Ierusalem towards the North it extendeth 8 miles to the city Bethsan and two miles towards the North to mount Hermon It seems to take the name from the bubling forth or springing
vp of water for the riuer Kison begins at the foot of this mountain and diuides it self into diuers parts vntill it commeth to the hill Hermon and then it runs into two principal streams the one passeth toward the East into the sea of Galilee the other to the West towards Carmel and so into the Mediterranian sea There be some that are of opinion that neither raine nor dew falls vpon this hil because when Saul was slain Dauid cursed these mountains saying Let neither rain nor dew fal vpon you ô yee mountaines of Gilboa because the strong men of Israel were slaine there 2 Sam. 1. But this was but a figuratiue speech wherby Dauid would expresse the greatnesse of his sorrow for Borchardus the Monke speaking of this mountain saith That as he was ascending vpon it there was such a violent showre fell that he was wet through his clothes and the waters in great aboundance ran into the vallies And in the yeare of our Lord 1283 sleeping vpon this hill on the Eve of All Saints there was a great dew fell vpon his clothes onely some parts of it were very stony and barren as are many other mountains in that country Of Endor THis was a town in the tribe of Manasses neere the riuer Kison Ios 17. where Saul asked counsell of a witch 1 Sam. 28. It seemes to take the name from a fountaine of durance for Dor signifies he hath made sure It is distant from Ierusalem 44 miles toward the North. In S. Ieroms time this was but a smal village Of Bethsan THis was a city in the Tribe of Manasses betweene Bethulia and the sea of Galile some 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North Iosh 17. It taketh the name from a Church-yard or a place of rest for Beth signifieth a house and Iaschan he hath slept Here Saul killed himselfe and the Philistines cut off his head and set it vpon the wall of this citie Afterward about S. Ieroms time Ptolomie called this Scythopolis You may reade in the second booke of the Macchabes how it was the towne of the Scythians for the Scythians which dwelt some 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the North came with a great army into the Holy land and by force woon this citie and dwelt there of whom it was called the Scythian towne Ioseph in lib. 2. de Bell. Iud. cap. 18. remembreth a strange accident that hapned neere this towne for the Iewes besieging it there were of their own nation that dwelt within the city who that they might make a priuate gaine took wages of the Scythians to oppose their brethren and countreymen by which meanes the Scythians got the better But after a while the Scythians considering that the number of the Iewes were great and fearing some sudden insurrection or innouation gaue them warning to depart and leaue the towne they though with great griefe as being prest with a two-fold necessity their owne wants and the hatred of their kindred did so relying meerely vpon the courtesie of strangers But about some two dayes after in the night time the inhabitants of Scythopolis breaking out of the citie vnawarres fell vpon them and in recompence of their kindnesse put to the sword some thirteen thousand many slaine vnawares some as they were eating and most in their sleepe After they had committed this massacre they compassed about the wood where they were took away all their substance and suffered not a man to depart aliue Wherefore one Simon the soone of a certaine ancient and noble Citizen called Saul perceiuing their present miserie and that there was no hope to escape iminent death and vtter ruine in a cruell and desperate maner breakes out into these words O miserable wretch that I am that against my owne conscience haue lift vp these impious hands against my countrey committing daily massacres to pleasure them who at this day lay violent hands vpon all wee haue die therefore thou that art thus profane and with thine owne hands make an end of thy wretched life since thou doest not deserue to die honourably in the face of the enemy but wretchedly in a corner and for thine owne offence So soone as he had ended these words he turned him about with a fierce countenance and falling vpon his father mother wife and children put them all to the sword after burnt his goods and to make an end of the tragedy ran himselfe vpon his owne weapon These things hapned but a little before Vespasian came into the land of Iudaea At this day this Citie Sythopolis is called after the antient name Bethsan The typicall representation of SAVL SAul if it be properly taken doth sometime signifie a Graue or Sepulchre and sometimes Hell being deriued from Scheuol which may be taken for both As therefore Saul persecuted innocent Dauid with an inueterate malice euen vnto the death so the sonnes of Sathan euil and wicked men persecute Christ and his members with an immoueable malice sparing neither Prophets nor Apostles neither such as are religious no nor Christ himself but with cruell torments put them to lingering deaths till they be vtterly exryrpate as they thinke and then wanting objects to satisfie their sauage mindes they follow their owne diuellish councels till with Saul they come to desperate ends Schaul or Saul if it be taken in the better part signifieth He hath desired or called The Philistines trauels from their Campe to Michmas THe Philistines incamped themselues at Michmas vpon Mount Ephraim some ten miles from Ierusalem Northward and out of the Philistines campe there issued three armies to spoile the countrey The one marched towards Ophra and went from Michmas to Salem 28 miles From thence they went to Ophra 4 miles The second went from Michmas to Bethoron 8 miles The third went from Michmas to the valley of Zeboim eight miles So all the Trauels of the Philistines were 58 miles Of Zoboim THis valley is not farre from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Benjamin Nehem. 11. The trauels of Ionathan Sauls sonne IOnathan went from Gibeah to Kiriath-jearim which was two miles where hee draue the Philistines out of their campe 1 Sam. 13. From thence he went backe againe two miles From thence he went to Michmas which is 8 miles and there by the helpe of his Armor-bearer he gaue the Philistines a great ouerthrow 1 Sam. 14. From thence hee followed the enemy to Aialon wich is 12 miles there his father would haue put him to death because he had tasted a little hony 1 Sam. 14. From Aialon Saul and his sonne Ionathan returned to Gibeah his owne citie which was two miles From Gibeah hee went with his father to Socho and Asecha which was 8 miles where after Dauid had slaine Goliah for that singular vertue and heroicall spirit which Ionathan saw in him he loued him as he did his owne soule and preferred him before his owne life and honour 1 Sam. 18. From thence he went with his father to Gibeah some 8
are mentioned Of Esdras the Lawyer ESdras signifies a helper of Asar he helped He is a type of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our helper and Sauiour which hath brought vs into that holy land eternall life and is the restorer of religion and the Christian Common-wealth This Esdras was sent to Ierusalem to restore the common-wealth of the Iewes Anno mundi 3511 before Christ 457 in the seuenth yeare of Artaxerxes Longimanus that good Emperour of the Persians So he went from Babylon to Ahaeua a certaine riuer neere Babylon to which place he assembled a great multitude of Iewes and from thence sent to Caspia to fetch a certaine number of Leuites this land was in Chaldea not far from Babylon These being here met together celebrated a fast vnto the Lord and with solemne prayers besought his aide and furtherance in their enterprise then they went thence to Ierusalem which was 680 miles and there restored the Iudaicall gouerment instituting Ecclesiasticall officers chiefe Priests Princes and other gouernours Of the land of Caspia THe land of Caspia signifieth the land of siluer being deriued of Kesaeph that is siluer It was so called because they vsed to dig siluer in that place see Lyra it was a country neere Babylon where the priests and Leuites were in captiuitie and stood 680 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Of Nehemia IN the 20 yeare of Artaxerxes Longimanus which was anno mun 3524 and before Christ 444. Nehemias went from Susan to Ierusalem which was 920 miles there hee repaired the walls and gates in 52 daies Nehem. 1.2.6 When he had gouerned Iudaea 12 yeares he returned backe againe to Susan to Artaxerxes Longimanus which was 920 miles Nehem. 3. Afterward Artaxerxes about the end of his raigne suffered Nehemia to returne backe againe to Ierusalem which was 920 miles Nehem. 17. So these journeyes of Nehemia make 2760 miles Of this citie Susan you may reade before Of the name and typicall signification of Nehemiah NEhemiah signifies The consolation of God being deriued of Nicham He hath comforted This man was a type of our Lord Iesus Christ for as Nehemias was a comfort vnto the dispersed Iewes in that he was sent to restore them into their own country and to rebuild Ierusalem so Christ our comforter was sent by his Father from that euerlasting throne of heauen to refresh comfort vs by his doctrine and gather the dispersed members of his Church into one communion that he might bring them into that heauenly Ierusalem which he hath built and where he hath prepared a place for vs. The Trauels of Serubabel SErubabel carried the people of Israel from Babylon to Ierusalem which was 680 miles in the first yeare of Cyrus Emperor of Persia anno mundi 3433 before Christ 535. In the 17 yeare of his gouernment he went from Ierusalem to Susan 920 miles 3 Esd 3.4 From Susan he went to Babylon which was 242 miles 3 Es 4. From Babylon in the same yere he returned to Ierusalem 680 miles where the next yeare after in the beginning of the second moneth which answers to the 21 of May in the 3 yere of Darius Ahasuerus Zerubabel and Iosua the chiefe Priests of the Iewes began to build the Temple and finisht it in the sixt yere of the same King 1 Esd 6. So all the trauels of Zerubabel were 2280 miles The Booke of ESTER MOrdochius was led prisoner with Iechoniah to Babylon which was 680 miles From Babylon he went to Susan which was 252 miles there he brought vp Ester his brothers daughter and taught her honest discipline and the feare of God This maid was very beautifull and comely wherefore at such time as Darius Ahasuerus the sonne of Hystaspis had caused all the beautifull Virgins of his Empire to be brought before him that from amongst them he might chuse him a wife Mordochius adorned this Virgin with goodly apparell and she also went with them in whose presence by his instruction she behaued her selfe so well that the Emperor chose her from among the rest and made her his Queene she being at that time but a poore maid and of small abilitie They were married in Susan in the second yere of his Empire an mun 3454 and before Christ 514. From whence it is euident That preferment commeth neither from the East nor from the West but from the Lord. So these two journies make 932 miles The Types and Allegories collected out of the Booke of Ester MOrdochius or Mordochai signifies bitter and contrite being deriued of Marah He was bitter and Dachah Sorrowfull and contrite A fit resemblance of that true Mordochius Christ Iesus who for our sinnes and offences was constrained to drinke of that bitter cup of afflictions the necessities of this world suffering in his body more than tollerable torments as you may reade in his passion therefore justly called Mordochius that is bitter and contrite Ester and Alma haue both one signification that is a virgin or one kept from the bed of man Therefore she was a notable image of the Church who keepeth her selfe chast and vndefiled auoyding the society of euill men and although she seeme to be desolate and forsaken in this world in respect of the wicked who flourish like a floure and glory in voluptuousnesse and pleasure yet hath shee her Mordochius her Spouse her deerely beloued which prouides for her euen Iesus Christ that immaculate lambe who died for her saluation and will clothe her in white put into her hand a regall scepter crowne her with glory and set her with him in the throne of eternall happinesse Ahasuerus signifies a noble Captaine and typically represents God the father for as the Emperour had the command of 127 Prouinces and in them did principally rule so God our heauenly father is the Emperor and gouernor of all Kingdomes and all creatures both in heauen and in earth be obedient to his will he sitteth in that euerlasting pallace of heauen that place of joy and that eternall Paradice from whence he looketh downe to behold vs miserable and distressed creatures vpon earth of his mercifull goodnesse electing and chusing vs to be heires of that eternall Kingdome and purifieth vs with the graces of his holy Spirit so that we might be made capable to sit with him in eternall felicitie The disdainfull Queene Vasthy may be a fit Type and Effigies of this world not onely in respect of her pride but her excesse in drinking taking her name from Schatha which signifies To drinke so this World liueth in all manner of prodigalitie and luxurie and contemneth the Lord and King thereof that Almighty God which sitteth in the Heauens and therefore is justly throwne downe from that eternall Kingdome whereas on the contrary humble Ester that is the Church is taken vp into dignitie and crowned in that euerlasting Kingdome of Heauen Haman signifies A rebellious and proud man being deriued of HAMAN He hath stirred vp a tumult typically representing the Diuel
whom God in the beginning made a good Angell exalted him in the heauens and made him much more glorious than others yet notwithstanding glorying in himselfe hee contemned his Maker nothing would content him but to become like vnto him yea he desired to be worshipped of our Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 4. And as Haman endeauoured to ouerthrow not only all the people of the Iewes but Queene Hester also so the Diuell doth not onely endeauour to ouerthrow the whole Church but if it were possible the head of the Church Christ Iesus Of that holy man Iob. IOb was a holy and good man he dwelt in the land of Vz so called of Vz the sonne of Aram the son of Sem as S. Ierome vpon Genesis obserueth This Vz was that great man which built as was thought Damascus in Syria and all the land which extendeth from Damascus to Iordan after his name was called Vz that is the land of counsell fot so Vz signifieth There were two townes in this countrey where Iob is said to haue dwelt that is Astaroth-Carnaim and Batzra Asteroth-Carnaim was distant from Ierusalem 52 miles towards the Northeast the inhabitants of which towne worshipped the goddesse Venus and called her by the name of Astaroth of which you may reade before S. Ierome saith That the sepulchre of Iob was to be seene in his time in that towne and later writers testifie as much for their times This towne at this day is called Carnea Batzra is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis it signifieth a grape gathering In this towne it was thought that Iob was borne it lay beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast All this countrey in those times was subject to the King of the Edomites or Idumaeans but after it was joyned to the land of the Moabites they hauing conquered the kings of Edom you man reade more of it in the 6 of Isay also Ios 20. where is shewed that it was one of the six cities of refuge appointed by Ioshua Heere Iob for the most part continued and held this towne in great honour and reputation He liued about the time of Baela first king of the Edomites and according to the opinion of Saint Ierom Augustine Ambrose Philo and Luther was for his excellent vertue and singular piety chosen King of that countrey which he greatly enlarged making all the countries and neighbouring Princes neer adjoining tributary vnto him wherfore as Ierom saith in locis Hebraicis hauing obtained so large an Empire he remoued his seat from Batzra to Astaroth Carnaim which was a strong and well defenced citie where in those times as Moses witnesseth Gen. 14. there inhabited mightie men and noble Heroes that so by their vertue he might with the greater facilitie suppresse and conquer other Prouinces There are many thinke him to be of the stocke of Abraham and of the family of Esau because he is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis where it is said That when Baela died Iobab the sonne of Zerah of Bozra or Betzra raigned in his stead And Saint Ierom in his preface vpon the booke of Iob sheweth that he was but fiue degrees remoued from Abraham for Abraham had Ishmael Basmath who was the wife ef Esau mother of Reguel grandmother to Sarah and great grandmother to Iob. So that by the mothers side Iob descended from Ishmael and by the fathers side from Esau Isaac Esau Reguel Serah Iob or Iobab king of Idumaea Gen. 36. Notwithstanding there are some that are of opinion That he descended from Nahor Abrahams brother and was of the family of Vz Nahors sonne which opinion also Saint Ierom mentioneth in his Hebraicall questions But most of the antient fathers hold this nothing so probable Luther vpon the 36 chapter of Genesis saith That he was King long time before Moses carried the children of Israel out of Aegypt For Iuda and Aser the sonnes of Iacob had children before they went into the land of Aegypt Gen. 46. therefore it is not impossible for Reguel the sonne of Esau to haue children also since he was married long before his brother Iacob From hence then it may be gathered that Iob was King of Idumaea before Iacob and his sonnes went into the land of Aegypt For although the fourteene sonnes of Esau gouerned the land of Edom like so many Princes of which number Reguel the grandfather of Iob was one because they held it as their inheritance yet to auoid sedition and distractions which oftentimes happen where there is not a certaine head and principall commander therefore they elected Bela the sonne of Beor to be their King after whose death they chose Iob because he was a holy man of God and in his actions just and vpright who without doubt raigned amongst the Edomites a long time For he liued after his afflictions which God imposed vpon him to trie him 140 yeares Plato saith he married Dina the daughter of Iacob but Saint Ierome That he married the daughter of an Arabian by whom hee had Enon Both these may be true for his first wife being dead he might marrie an Arabian After the death of Iob the Gyants Heroes in Asteroth Carnaim fell againe from the Idumaeans for when Moses brought the children of Israel out of the desart of Arabia Petraea and that they had conquered the land beyond Iordan the city Astaroth-Carnaim had a King called Og who gouerned all the Kingdome of Basan This Gyant was of a mighty stature he had a bed of yron * Foure yards a half long two broad nine cubits long and foure broad Deut. 3. Of Eliphaz ELiphaz the Themanite was the brother of Reguel Iobs grandfather This Eliphaz had a sonne called Theman who built a citie and after his owne name called it Theman where Eliphaz his father dwelt with him From whence it hapned that he was called Eliphaz the Themanite Iob 2. It was distant from Ierusalem forty miles towards the South and therefore it was called a citie of the South you may reade of Eliphaz in Ier. cap. 25. He had a Concubine called Thimnah because of her beauty comely proportion by her he had Amaleck of whom came the Amalekites betweene whom and the children of Israel were cruell wars Exod. 17. The Trauels of Eliphaz the Themanite FRom Themen hee went to Astaroth-Carnaim where Iob dwelt which is accounted 92 miles to comfort his friend Iob Iob 2. From Astaroth-Carnaim he returned backe to his owne house which was 92 miles So the trauels of Eliphaz were 184 miles Of Bildad Iobes friend BEyond Iordan and the sea of Galile not farre from Astaroth-Carnaim there is at this day found a town called Suah where as it is thought Bildad the friend of Iob dwelt Neer to this towne as Sebastian Francus obserueth in his Cosmographie there was yerly in the Summer season a great mart kept in certain tents and tabernacles erected for that purpose of diuers colours Bildad signifies
lower he gaue Nicanor a great ouerthrow and put him with 35000 of his host to the sword 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. From Adara and Bethoron the lower hee followed the enemies to Gaza a Citie of the Philistines which was 44 miles 1 Mac. 9. From Gaza he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles there he caused the arme of Nicanor whom a little before he had slaine at the battell of Adarsa to be cut off his tongue to be cut out of his head shred small and giuen to the fowles of the heauen and his head to be cut from his shoulders because therewith he had blasphemed the Lord and the temple swearing desolation and destruction to it and the Iewes 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. A little after that is to say almost at the end of the 6 yere of his gouernment Iudas Macchabeus went out with 3000 chosen men in his army and pitched his tents neere Laisa 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the West But when the Iewes perceiued the mighty armie of Bacchides for hee had 20000 foot and 2000 horse in his hoast there were many of them discouraged so that all left him but 800 men Yet neuerthelesse Iudas constrained by necessitie withstood Bacchides and so manfully behaued himselfe in the battaile that hee ouercame him and put him to flight 1 Mac. 2. His enemies being thus put to flight he pursued them to the mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron which was 6 miles where being oppressed with the multitude and hemmed in amongst them was slaine He died in the moneth Nisan which answers to our April Anno mundi 3810 and before Christ 158 1 Mac. 9. From the Mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron his dead body was carried hacke againe to Modin which was 6 miles and there buried So his Trauels were 915 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Mispa Iamnia and Laisa you may reade before Of Caspin THis city stood not far from Iamnia 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This towne though it was strongly fortified yet Iudas Macchabeus woon it 2 Mac. 12. It is called Caspin of Keseph which signifies siluer There was another city called Casphor that is The siluer mountaine this stood in the land of Giliad neere Mispa which Iudas also woon 1 Mac. 4. Of Asseremoth otherwise called Gazaron GAzaron or Gazera was a citie of the Philistines neere Ecron 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It is so called from the cliffe of a rocke being deriued of Gezer which signifies a Cliffe Here Iudas Macchabeus was slaine 1 Mac. 6. Of the Tubiani TVbiani are a people that dwelt beyond Iordan in that part of Arabia Petraea which is called Nabathea of Nabaioth the sonne of Ishmael neere to a Mountaine of the Gileadites not farre distant from Abel of the Vines where it is thought Balaams Asse spoke This land is called Thubin and the inhabitants Tubiani because all that Countrey bringeth forth very pleasant and excellent Wine beeing deriued of Zob which signifieth good and Iaijn wine In this country Iudas Macchabeus continued three daies with his army Of Caphar-Salama THis town stood 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In Herod the greats time it was inlarged and made a very faire city which he caused to be called Antipatridis after the name of his father Antipater of which you may reade more in the Trauels of the Apostle Paul Of Adarsa THis was a towne in the tribe of Ephraim betweene Antipatridis and Bethoron the lower twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest It seemeth to be thus called from a noble gift for it is deriued of Adar which signifies illustrous and Schal a gift The Typicall signification of Iudas Macchabeus IVdas Macchabeus is a type and figure of our Lord Iesus Christ and Antiochus of that wicked Antichrist as the interpretation of their names do euidently declare for Iudas signifies a Confessor praysing God and glorifying his name for all his benefits so Christ the sonne of God is the praise and glory of his father for that in him and by him God the father praised as is euident in the song of Simeon In like manner our Lord Iesus Christ is worthily called Macchabeus for Macchabeus is a syrname of the Iewes which is written after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Machabai euery letter of which signifieth a seuerall word according to the Song of Moses in the fifteenth chapter of Exodus where are these words Michamocha baelim Iehouah that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods O Lord Thus did the children of Israel sing with Moses when God led them out of the land of Aegypt through the Red Sea and this sentence Iudas Macchabeus continually vsed as an Adage and the letters at the beginning of these words being joyned together into one word make the syrname Macchabai Therefore as he had alwaies this golden sentence in his mouth so had he it likewise in his name yea in his ensignes Wherefore this name likewise is worthy to be attributed to Christ for hee is that perfect image and glory of his eternall father Heb. 1. who is called Michael that is Who is like vnto God and Macchabeus or Machabai that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods ô Lord. Therfore he saith thus I am that great God that will deliuer you from al euil Ecce Deus fortis foelix de morte resurgo Tartareosque vnguens Daemona ipse ligo Behold I am the God of might from death to life that rose I binde the Diuell to my will his furies I oppose But Antiochus signifies an aduersarie or an opposer or one that fighteth against God The same also doth Sathan signifie in Hebrew He is therefore a fit type of that great opposer of God and Man Antichrist who fighteth against Christ that Iudas Macchabeus and true Captaine of the Church For as the one viz. Antochus was an aduersary against the Iewes the children of God so the other that is Antichrist is an aduersarie and enemy against Christ and his Church c. The Trauels of Ionathan the brother of Iudas Macchabeus IOnathan or Ionathas and Theodorus hath but one signification that is The gift of God This man the same yeare that Iudas his brother died succeeded him in the principalitie and gouerned the Iewes 18 yeares 1 Mac. 9. Ios lib. antiq 3. But vnderstand that Bacchides chiefe captaine of Demetrius King of Syria went about to take his life by craft hee and his brother Simon went from Modin and pitched their tents in the wildernesse of Tecoah neere to the lake of Asphar which was 20 miles From thence they sent their brother Iohn with certaine riches to the Nabathians which dwelt in Medaba in Arabia 28 miles desiring them in friendship to receiue their goods into the town and to keepe them for their vse but the sonnes of Iambri and the Nabathians issued out of Medaba and vnawares fell vpon Iohn put him to death tooke away
speeches of Tryphon he discharged his army all but 3000. From thence hee tooke these 3000 with him and went with Tryphon to Ptolomais which was 32 miles into which towne he was no sooner entred but Tryphon caused the citisens to shut the gates where all his men were slaine From Ptolomais Tryphon brought Ionathan the High-priest to Addus vpon the borders of Iudaea which was 68 miles from whence he sent to Simon the brothers of Ionathan whom he kept captiue in a castle neere adjoyning promising to release his brother if he would send his two sonnes to be hostages and let him haue a hundred talents of siluer that is 60000 crownes So Simon sent his two sons together with the money to Tryphon but Tryphon tooke them and the money and led them captiue with Ionathon their father from Addus to Addor a towne in Idumaea which was 48 miles From thence he carried them to Baschaman in the country of the Giliadites which was 96 miles where in the Winter season in the yeare before Christ 141 this cruell and perfideous tyrant put Ionathan and his sonnes to death From Baschamah of the Giliadites Simon remoued the bodies of Ionathan and his sonnes to Modin which was 60 miles where he buried them 1 Mac. 13. So all his trauels were 3007 miles The description of the places mentioned in his Trauels Of Michmas and Cades you may reade before Of Medaba THis city is scituated beyond Iordan in the Tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the East It seemes to take the name from a hot bath that stood neere it for there were many Baths and wholesome Springs stood beyond Iordan as Ios lib. ant 17. c. 9. witnesseth The same things are also mentioned in Esa cap. 26. For Medaba is deriued of Maijm and Doba which signifies warme or boyling water Of Bethbesan THis town was scituated in the Tribe of Benjamin neere Gilgall twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast The castle of this towne Ionathan and Simon fortified and repaired that it might be a strong place for them to retyre to from the danger of Baccides 1 Mac. 9. Ios li. ant 13. c. 1. saith that this towne was called the bouse of blushing being deriued of Bosch to blush and Bethagla a round house Of Ptolomais IN antient times this towne was called Acon scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterrean sea betweene Tyrus and Mount Carmel in the tribe of Aser 76 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. But the Aserites could not cast out the Canaanites out of that citie Ptolomeus King of Aegypt conquered this towne and rebuilt it calling it after his owne name Ptolomais which signifieth to make war In times past it was a goodly city strongly fortified with towers bulwarkes ditches and wals it was built in a triangular proportion like to a shield two parts whereof was compassed in by the sea and vpon the third there stood a fruitfull plaine wherein were corne grounds pastures medowes vineyards and orchards adorned with diuers kindes of fruits It had a very faire and spacious hauen for the preseruing of shippes it was beautified with Arcinals Castles Temples and many other buildings very stately and curious but at this day it is vtterly desolate and scarce to be perceiued where it stood Of Eleutherius ELeutherius was a riuer vpon the borders of Phaenicia and Syria neere to the citie Orthosia at the foot of Mount Libanus 200 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which you may reade in the history of Ionathan 1 Macch. 11.12 There is also another riuer of that name betweene Tyrus and Sarepta vpon the borders of Palestina 108 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Genezereth IT is a sea in Galile so called from the land of Genesara which lyeth about it here sometime Capernaum stood it signifies a Princely garden being deriued of Gen that is a garden and Sar a Prince for the countrey round about it was very pleasant You may reade more of this in the Trauels of our Sauiour Christ Of the field Chazor THis was a plaine neer to the towne Chazor or Hazor which is described in the Trauels of Ioshua It stood in the vpper Galile 84 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Zabadei ZAbadei were a people inhabiting Arabia Desarta neere to the riuer Eleutherius on the Northeast side of Syria and Damascus 200 miles from Ierusalem Arabia is three-fold the one part thereof is called Deserta which extendeth it selfe towards the North to Syria and Damascus the other is called Petraea in which vast wildernesse the children of Israel trauelled the third is called Arabia Foelix which is towards the South extending it selfe from the East to the gulfe of Persia and vpon the West it is shut in with the gulfe of Arabia But the Zabadei they inhabited in Arabia Deserta and were a people of a liberall and free condition from whence it seemeth they are so called for Zabab signifieth To endow or bestow Of Addus ADdus is called by Iosephus lib. antiq 13. cap. 9. Iadah it was a towne neer Arimathea in mount Ephraim 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest and is so called from a congregation being deriued of Iaad that is He hath assembled with authoritie and Edah a Congregation or Synagogue Of Ador. THis was a city of the Idumaeans 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Ador signifies a beautifull city being deriued of Adar that is famous and illustious and Or that is light Of Baschamah BAschamah standeth in the land of Gileah beyond Iordan 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast and is so called from sweet gums of which there is great plentie in that place The Trauels of the high Priest SIMON the brother of IVDAS MACCHABEVS SImon signifies an Auditor and one that heareth being deriued of Schamah He hath heard This man did many worthy acts during the life of Iudas Macchabeus for being sent into Galile in which countrey there were many that rebelled he supressed the insurrection and pursued the enemies into the citie of Ptolomais which was 76 miles From Ptolomais he brought his army to Arabath which was 36 miles In this place after he had assembled all the religious Israelites thereabout and their wiues and children he brought them thence to Ierusalem which was 44 miles After he went with his brother Iudas to many places and behaued himselfe manfully in all his enterprises 2 Mac. 8.14 Hee went also with him to the battell fought between Azotus Gazeron where Iudas was slain which was 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward 1 Mac. 9. Simon and Ionathan brought the dead body of their brother Iudas to Modin 6 miles and there buried him by his father Mattathias 1 Mac. 9. Afterward Simon and his brother Ionathan went from Modin to the lake Asphar in the wildernesse of Tecoa which was twentie miles From the desart of Tecoa they went to Medaba which was 28 miles After they returned thence to the riuer of Iordan where
16. So all his trauels were 176 miles Concerning the towns and places mentioned in these trauels you may reade before ¶ Of the Kings of Syria that succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes and made war vpon the MACHABEES And first of the Trauels of Antiochus Eupator THis Antiochus the yonger succeeded his father Antiochus Epiphanes in the 149 yere of the Grecians gouernment in Syria which was the 161 yere before Christ and he continued King of Asia and Syria 3 yeares Lysias the Kings Substitute for Syria called this man by the name of Eupator that is a good Father because Kings ought to be Fathers of their countries This Antiochus Eupator in the second yeare of his reign came with a great army from Antiochia to the town of Modin which was 380 miles From Modin he went to the Hold at Bethsura this he sharply besieged being 12 miles From Bethsura he went to Bethsachara almost a mile to meet wrth Iudas Machabeus who put him to flight and kild 600 of his men 1 Mac. 6. From Bethsachara hee returned to the Hold of Bethsura and won it which was almost a mile From Bethsura he came to Ierusalem which was halfe a mile From Ierusalem he went with his Army to Ptolomais beeing 76 miles From Ptolomais hee returned to Antiochia 204 miles and a halfe Concerning the townes and places mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Trauels of Demetrius Soter the brother of Antiochus Epiphanes IN An. mundi 3809. before Christ 159. Demetrius Soter the son of Seleucus Philopater who was sent to Rome brought a Navy from thence through the Mediterranian sea and came to Tripolis in Syria which journy was 2680 miles and vsurped vpon the gouernment of Syria against young Antiochus the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. From Tripolis he went to Antiochia where the King kept his court 88 miles Here he caused yong Antiochus and Lysias to be slain and after reigned in Syria 10 yeares At length he was slain in a great battel by Alexander the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. So all his trauels were 1760 miles Of Tripolis THis city was scituated in Phoenicia a prouince of Syria on the shore of the Mediterranian sea 170 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called because there dwelt in it three sorts of people viz. Tyrians Sydonians and Arabians It is a very famous City euen to this day the Ocean sea comming into euery street and principall place of it and full as populous as Tyrus For there inhabit Grecians Latines Armenians Maronites Nestorians and people of many other nations of diuers conditions and customes in manner of liuing It aboundeth also with great aboundance of costly Tapestrie which is made so curiously and with such cost that it is very delightfull to such as looke vpon it It is credibly reported That there are found within the city of Tripolis 4000 men that do little els but weaue and make Tapestry and such like costly hangings The country round about where it standeth is very pleasant because of the great aboundance of Vines Olives Figgs and other fruits and floures which yeeld a comfortable smell and is profitable for the maintenance of life it is called Paradice There is a field before the City some two miles in length and one in bredth in which there are to be seene very curious gardens and artificially contriued About six miles from the city standeth mount Libanus at the foot whereof riseth a goodly fountain which with great violence runneth thence but suddenly falling into the vallies it ioyns with other waters and becomes a faire and pleasant riuer watering all the gardens of the plain between Tripolis and Libanus but especially the mountains of the Leopards which is not far off In the Canticles cap. 4. there is mention of this hill Come with mee my Spouse from the dennes of the Lions and the mountains of the Leopards The water of this Spring is very cleare pleasant cold and healthfull vpon the banks of it there stand many churches religious houses It is called the Fountaine of the gardens and is diuided into three riuers or principal streams besides many other small brooks which run thence and fall into the sea so that the sentence Est 9. is verified of this A small fountaine shall increase to a great Riuer and shall be poured out against many waters The Trauels of King Alexander son of Epiphanes and brother to Antiochus Eupator OF this Alexander Iustin writes lib. 35. where he sheweth That he was not son to Antiochus Epiphanes as was supposed but had to name Prompalus being a man of the meaner sort of people but the Antiochians for the great tyranny of Demetrius falling into rebellion gaue vnto him the name of Alexander and withal caused it to be published abroad that he was the son of Epiphanes which by reason of his youth was easily beleeued And at this time Demetrius because of his crueltie being much hated of all sorts of people it came to passe that most and those of the greatest also combined with this yong man supposing him indeed to be of noble descent and the son of a King Wherefore Alexander or Prompatus being thus encouraged tooke vpon him to bee the brother of Antiochus Eupator and called himselfe the lawful heire and successor to the crowne of Syria going from thence to Ptolomais where he kept a royall court and in the yere of the world 3818 before Christ 150 by the help of the Antiochians other the inhabitants of Syria hee tooke vpon him the gouernment of that country and reigned fiue yeares This man suffered many varieties and changes of fortune at first was put to flight by Demetrius after hee put Demetrius to flight and at length put him to death and vsurpt vpon his gouernment In the third yere of his reign he maried Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Egypt by whom he had his son Antiochus To this marriage Ionathan was inuited In the last yeare of his gouernment hee went from Ptolomais to Antiochia which was 200 miles where hee opposed himselfe against Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter 1 Machab. cap. 10. From Antiochia he went to Cilicia which was 120 miles to suppresse the rebellion of his subiects but when hee heard that Ptolomeus Philometor his father in law had taken vp armes against him conquered Syria and giuen his wife to Demetrius Nicanor which had been maried vnto him two yeares before hee gathered all his forces hee could and with all expedition made good the war against Ptolomeus but hee was ouercome and fled into that part of Arabia which bordereth vpon the mountaine Amanus for refuge where Zabdiel the gouernor of that countrey fearing lest he should fall into the displeasure of Ptolomeus caused his seruants to cut off his head and sent it to him into Syria Within three daies after which sight he died being mortally wounded in the former battell Ios li. Ant. 13. c. 17.
glory Of Capernaum THis city was so called from the pleasant and comfortable scituation of it In the Hebrew text Mathew cals it Capharnacum i. The town of comfort being deriued of Nocham i. Consolation In this town our Sauior dwelt after he had left Nazareth and in it wrought many miracles as the healing of the sick casting out of diuels and such like whereof you may read Mat. 8. Mark 1. Luke 5.7 Iohn 4. It stood in the land of Genesareth vpon the West and North side of Iordan in an angle of land ioyning to the sea of Galile 56 miles from Ierusalem Northward in the tribe of Issacher and as it is thought by some iust in the middest of the twelue tribes Mat. 9. calls it the city of our Sauior And that Christ was no stranger but an inhabitant of this city it is manifest Mat. 17. where Christ when he gaue tribute to the magistrats of this city asked Peter saying Of whom doe the Kings of the earth take tribute Peter said Of strangers Then quoth hee the children are free yet neuerthelesse c. From whence may be gathered that he was no stranger but an inhabitant in Capernaum It had vpon the Northside of it the three Tribes Nepthalim Aser and Zabulon vpon the South Benjamin Iuda Dan and Simeon vpon the West Issacher Ephraim and the halfe Tribe of Manasses and vpon the East Reuben Gad and the other halfe tribe of Manasses so that our Sauior Christ dwelt in the midst of the 12 tribes of Israel Furthermore it was a goodly market towne and had as well relation to Tyrus and Sidon two townes of the Gentiles within 44 miles of it as to Ierusalem from whence may be verified that saying of Esa ca. 8.9 The land of Zebulon and Nepthalim neere the way of the sea beyond Iordan and Galile of the Gentiles a people which sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death saw a great Light This town is therfore instly called the city of Comfort and Consolation since our Sauior Christ dwelt there who with his doctrine and preaching refreshed comforted all such as were afflicted with the burthen of their sins But the great men that were inhabitants of this City had more respect to their priuat profit than to the doctrine miracles that Christ wrought among them from whence it came to passe that they did as it were neglect and contemne that good which God had offered vnto them which made our Sauior say And thou Capernaum which seemest to be exalted vp vnto heauen shalt be cast down into hell for if the miracles had been done in Sodom and Gomorah which haue been done in thee they had continued vntill this day Verily verily I say vnto you It shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorah in the day of Iudgment than for thee Mat. 11. For there was no such benefit offered to any Citie neither such honours and dignities as were to Capernaum our Sauior himselfe dwelling there Wherefore for their ingratitude and impiety the city hath diuers times bin wasted and destroied as well by the Romanes as other nations so that at this day this glorious city is become so desolate that there is scarce 8 houses standing and they also like small sheds Of Sichar IN antient time this towne was called Sichem of which you may reade more both in the trauels of Iacob and Abimilech After it came to be called Sichar according to the opinion of Luther vpon Genesis because the inhabitants of that country were giuen to pleasure and voluptuousnesse the greatest part of their delight being in drinking and quaffing for Sichar being deriued of Schachar signifieth to bee drunke or inordinately to swallow sweet and pleasant wine of which there was great plenty in that towne made of the juice of Apples the fruit of Palme trees and honey which may very well resemble Hipocras or Metheglin as some Authors haue it And although by the incursion of the Romanes it was vtterly wasted and left desolate yet in succeeding times it was rebuilt and called Nicapolis that is a New towne It is scituated very pleasantly and aboundeth with all manner of delights but it is vnfortified neither can it by any meanes bee fortified neither haue the inhabitants any helpe if they be oppressed by the Enemy but to fly for it is scituated in the middle of a valley betweene two high mountaines so that a man may fling a stone from the top of one of them into the city About two bowes shoot without the South gate of this towne is to be seene the Fountaine or Well of Iacob vpon the brimme of which our Sauiour Christ sate when hee was wearie as wee may reade in the fourth of Iohn This Well standeth iust in the way as Pilgrimes trauell to Ierusalem Vpon the right hand aboue this Well there standeth a mountain of an exceeding height diuided into two tops the one of them being called Gerizim the other Heball In mount Gerizim the Patriarch Ioshuah built an Altar and the people standing vpon mount Heball he caused the whole booke of Deuteronomie to be read ouer with the Blessings and Cursings so that all the people might heare them for thus we reade in Ios 8. The one halfe of the people stood close by Mount Gerizim and the other by mount Heball c. Deuteronom Chap. 27. These two great mountaines began vpon the right side of the Citie Sichar and extended themselues in length to the Citie of Iericho Vpon the left side of this Wel is to be seen the ruins of a great towne which is thought to be the old Sichem and by the relicks that remaine there it may be iudged to haue been a very goodly Citie For there are yet to bee seene certaine broken Pillars of Marble as also large and spatious Buildings which in times past without question haue beene very goodly things and standeth wonderfull pleasantly the soile round about it beeing very pleasant and fruitfull onely there is want of water This Towne lieth some two Bowes shoot from Sichar and the inhabitants of that place judge this Sichar to be Thebez where Abimelech died Iudg. 9. Not farre from Iacobs Well is to be seene that piece of ground which Iacob gaue to Ioseph more than the rest of his brethren Gen. 48. It is a long valley very fruitfull and pleasant where there lies buried in a certaine faire garden the bones of Iacob and Ioseph which were brought out of Aegypt Iosh 24. the reliques of which sepulchre are yet to be seene Mount Garizim or Gerizim is so called from the cutting downe of Trees for Garaz signifies To cut downc Vpon this Mountaine is to be seene euen to this day the place where the Temple stood that was built by Sanballath dedicated to Iupiter Olympius in contempt of the Temple of Ierusalem The chiefe Priest of this Temple was one Manasses a fugitiue of the stocke of Leui. This Manasses was brother to Iaddus chiefe Priest of Ierusalem
Mar. 4. Luke 8. The next day betimes in the morning he went out of the ship into the countrey of the Gadarens and healed two that were possessed of diuels Matth. 2. Mar. 5. Luk. 8. Out of these two he cast a legion of Diuels and suffered them to enter into the herd of swine which they caried headlong into the sea Presently our Sauiour Christ went thence 6 miles into the land of Genesareth where there was a great multitude vpon the sea shore not far from the City of Capernaum that expected his comming Mar. 5. Luke 8. Within a few daies after about the beginning of Iune hee entred into Capernaum and there healed the man that lay sick vpon his bed of a dead palsie Mat. 9. Mar. 2. Luke 5. after he went to sea and taught the multitude that came to him Mar 2. From Capernaum hee went to Caesarea Philippi 48 miles where being inuited to a banquet by Mathew he ate among Publicans and sinners and confuted the Pharisees and Iohns disciples In the same city he restored the daughter of Iairus to life Mat. 9. Marke 2. Luke 5. and as hee went thence hee restored two men to their sight and cast out a Diuell Mat. 9. About the end of the moneth of Iuly our Sauior Christ went from Cesarea Philippi to Nazareth 36 miles where because of the ingratitude and contempt of the citisens he did no great miracles Mark 6. Mat. 13. In the moneth of August our Sauior Christ went from Nazareth toward Ierusalem to the feast of Tabernacles and as he went visited the towns and cities neere adioyning Now when he saw that they wanted Teachers it beeing at this time the second haruest he said vnto his Disciples Loe the Haruest is great but the Labourers are few c. and he sent his Disciples out into the Haruest Mat. 9. Luke 9. Of this second haruest you may reade Exod. 23. where God commanded the people that they should obserue the feast of the Tabernacles when in the end of the yere they had gathered in all the fruits of the fields Also in Levit. 23. it is thus written From the fifteenth day of the seuenteenth moneth when you haue gathered all the fruits of your land you shall celebrate vnto the Lord your God seuen dayes c. From Galile our Sauior Christ came to Ierusalem 64 miles where from the 20 to the 27 day of September he celebrated the feast of Tabernacles according to the Law of God About the 18 day of Octob in this yeare the Practises of Seianus were discouered and he died miserably Tac. lib. 5. The rest of the trauels of our Sauiour Christ and the miracles that he wrought in these three last moneths of this yeare viz. in October Nouember and December for their great multitude cannot be described So the trauels of our Sauiour Christ in the second yeare of his Ministerie were 912 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Caesarea Philippi THis city is scituated not far from the foot of the mountain Antilibanus 104 miles from Ierusalem toward the North close by the two Wells of Iordan Ior and Dan. Vpon the East side of this Citie these two streames meet and make the Riuer Iordan Philip the Tetrarch of Traconitis called this city after his own name Philippus and in honor of the Romane Caesars he added the name of Caesaria Tiberias at this time beeing Emperour of Rome In times past it was called Laisch or Lais which signifies a rauening or roaring Lion But the tribe of Dan hauing conquered it and rebuilt it again they called it Dan and the inhabitants of the Holy land Laechem Dan as you may reade in the trauels of the Danits But this town as it is reported by such as haue trauelled into the holy land and by the authority of Volateran notwithstanding these names is often called Belenas Here as Eusebius Zozomenes and Nicephorus say in their Ecclesiasticall histories the woman that was diseased with the bloudie issue was healed by touching the hem of our Sauiours garment which woman in token of thankfulnesse for so great a benefit and in memory of so notable a miracle erected in this City a little without the gates of her house a stone pillar on which shee caused to be set the image of Christ made of brasse and behind that stood the image of this woman who had been diseased 12 yeares with the bloudy issue bowing her self at the feet of our Lord and touching the hem of his garment They also say there grew certain herbs about this pillar whereby miracles were wrought thirty yeares after it was set vp But Iulian the Apostata hauing intelligence of these things caused those images to be broken down and erected his own in the same place But soon after there hapned such an exceeding thunder that fire falling from heauen strook this image thus set vp by this cruell tyrant vpon the brest and cast the head and the necke thereof with great violence vpon the earth These things hapned in Caesarea Philippi Vpon the borders of Caesarea Philippi our Sauior Christ asked his Disciples saying Whom do men say that I am Mat. 6. Iosep Ant. li. 20. ca. 6. saith Agrippa King of the Iewes did much inlarge Caesarea Philippi in honor of Nero and called it after his name Neronia but it retained not that name long Of Peraea PEraea or Peraia was the vtmost part in the holy land in which were the Tribes Gad and Reuben separated from the rest of Iudea by the riuer Iordan and vnder the subiection and gouernement of Herod Antipas It was 16 miles from Ierusalem Eastward so called of Peran which signifies beyond or vpon the other side Pli. li. 4. ca. 1. In the castle of Macharuntes standing in this country Iohn Baptist was beheaded Of the sea of Galile THis sea lay 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward representing vpon the bankes a harpe in figure whence it was called Kinnaereth that is the sea of the harp Num. 34. for Kinnor signifieth an harpe Toward the North it extendeth it selfe into some bredth but toward the South it drew into a streight angle was called the sea of Galile because it bordered vpon Galile It was also called the lake of Genesareth because of the pleasantnesse and fruitfulnesse of the soile lying vpon the North side of it It is called Ioh. 6. the sea of Tiberias from the city Tiberias that stood vpon the shore of it It was but 4 miles and a little more broad but in length from the North to the South 12 miles Vpon the East side it had the towne Chorazin and vpon the West Capernaum and as Iosephus saith the water of this sea was very sweet and pleasant from whence it came to passe that fishes did greatly abound in it and there were many fishers that liued thereabouts only by fishing in that sea There were many other Cities besides those two before mentioned that stood vpon this Sea as
repeating these words Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and vpon the Basiliske c. Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Historie saith that there are yet standing in Tyre certaine Marble pillars and other precious stones of a wonderfull greatnesse that it amaseth such as behold them neere to which there haue beene many Christians and Pilgrims put to death by the Saracens There are also foure wels of wholesome and pleasant water standing not far from it of which wells you may reade before Of Zidon THis also was a city of Phoenicia scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea thirtie six miles from Ierusalem toward the North and sixteene from Tyrus In times past it was assigned to the Tribe of Ashur and lay vpon the borders of the Philistines neere to Mount Libanus Being called Sidon or Zidon of Zidon the sonne of Canaan who first built it Gen. 10. and signifies a hunter It was a notable mart towne wherein much Satin was made which kinde of stuffe was very precious among the Iewes and it is said That Ioseph of Arimathia wrapped the body of our Sauior in white Satin for in Matthew 27. it is called Zadin which in English is Satin And as at this day the finest glasse is made at Venice so the finest glasse in those times was made at Sarepta a city that belonged to the Sidonians about which there stood many mines of which it is ' called Sarepta as you may reade before This towne in times past was one of the chiefe cities of Phoenicia but because of the extraordinarie pride of the citisens God afflicted them with diuers punishments brought in Ocho king of the Persians who besieged it and by treason woon it and burnt it to the ground as Diodorus Siculus lib. 16. saith The Citisens whereof were driuen to such streights by the enemy that there perished in the fire aboue fortie thousand men Within a while after Darius last Emperour of the Persians rebuilt it but made it nothing so beautifull neither fortified it in like manner as it was before hee ordained one Strato to be King thereof a man proud and arrogant After about three hundred and two yeares before the natiuitie of Christ Alexander being then but 24 yeres of age hauing ouercome Darius that mighty Emperour of the Persians at Issa a citie of Cilicia in a cruell and sharpe warre he sent Hephestion one of his Princes to the Sydonians with authoritie to depose Strato and to let the Citisens vnderstand that they should chuse him for their King whom they thought most worthy of that honour as Quint. Curt. sheweth lib. 4. At this time there was a certaine young man among the followers of Hephestion in whose behalfe he moued the Citisens that hee might be their King but they refused saying it was not their custome to chuse any to rule ouer them but such as were of the Kings stocke and progenie Hephestion hearing this answer greatly admired their resolution and modestie especially when they refused to accept him for their King whom others had sought to obtaine with fire and sword saying Truly there is more required to rule and gouerne a Kingdome than to get it but yet name one vnto me of royall discent whom you would willingly receiue to be your King So they named vnto him one Abdolomius who had beene knowne to haue beene of the Kings stocke by many discents but because of his pouertie he was constrained to dwell in the suburbs of the Citie in a cottage and had little else but a Garden to liue vpon This man howsoeuer poore and because of that of many contemned yet hee was knowne to be honest and of an vpright life following with all dilligence his vocation without any regard of other businesse insomuch as he was vtterly ignorant of all these stirre and combustions which had so lately vexed Asia As he was now in his garden digging and labouring purging it of weeds and planting herbes Hephestion with the rest of the Citizens went vnto him and brought him the robes and habiliments of a King The poore Gardner stood amazed to see such a company of gallants come vnto him but Hephestion told him That the occasion of their comming was to make an exchange with him of those royall ornaments which he had in his hands for those poore and foule garments which he wore therefore goe and wash thy selfe and returne So he did where immediately they put vpon him those royall robes and saluted him as their Soueraigne Afrer these things were finished quoth Hephestion Now remember in what a state thou art no more Gardener but a King and therefore take vnto thee the minde and resolution of a King that so thou mayest rule and gouerne this citie as a man worthy of that honour and remember that although the liues and goods of thy subjects are at thy command yet by them thou wast chosen neither be forgetfull of him that was the author of thine honour No sooner was he enthronised in his kingdom but fame who is more speedie than a thousand Posts had dispersed this newes through all the neighbouring cities some being thereby moued to admiration and quickned in their studies others stirred vp to indignation and enuie Those that were mighty and friends to Alexander contemned and despised his humilitie and pouertie and no sooner were they come into his presence but they began to accuse him for his ignorance wherefore Alexander commanded that he should come before him where after hee had welâ— viewed the lineaments and proportion of his person and could not perceiue it any whit repugnant to the fame of his birth hee demanded of him how it was possible that hee should endure his pouertie with patience To which he answered I pray the gods I may continue the gouernment of this kingdome with the like minde for these hands were sufficient for me to liue by and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing At which answer Alexander was so well pleased that he not only gaue him all the princely jewels and ornaments of the first king called Strato but also a great part of the booty which he tooke from the Emperor of Persia and added to his command all the neighboring countries round about This history I haue inserted that thereby we might perceiue the mighty power of God in all his works that can exalt the poore contented with his estate out of the very dust and can pull the mighty from their thrones So the Euill carke and care in this world to gather riches for the Vertuous to inherit But to return to Sidon This city did so much increase and grew so famous in succeeding ages that it was the chiefe town Tyrus onely excepted in all Phoenicia ioyning vpon the West to the Mediterranian sea extending it selfe towards the North and South lying in a plain vnder Antilibanus which mountain lay some two miles off it vpon the East It oftentimes because of the pride of the inhabitants felt the wrath and
faire and fruitfull pastures in it and many goodly and beautifull cities as Aspendius Phaselis this Perga besides many others needlesse to be named There was vsually euery yeare a great feast kept here in honour of Diana but Paul and Barnabas comming to this town conuerted most of the inhabitants to the knowledge of God and of his sonne Christ Iessu Acts 13. Of Antiochia in Pisidia THis was the chiefe citie in Pisidia scituated in Asia minor 460 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. S. Paul conuerted a great multitude in this towne to the faith of Christ Of Iconium IConium was one of the Metropolitan Cities of Lycaonia as Pliny saith lib. 5. cap. 27. scituated not farre from the bowing of mount Taurus in Asia the lesse as Strabo saith lib. 12. 420 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In this citie Paul and Barnabas continued a long time and did many miracles by which meanes a great multitude of the inhabitants were conuerted to the Christian faith Acts 13.14 It is to this day a faire citie and vnder the gouernment of the Turks who woon it from the Princes of Caramanian About 400 yeares before there was a great battell fought close by this towne betweene the Saracens and the armie of the Emperour Conradus the third in which the Christians lost the day Of Lystra THis is a Citie in Lycaonia scituated in Asia the lesse 436 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In this Towne Timothy was borne Acts 16.2 Tim. 3. In this citie Paul healed the Cripple and was stoned Acts 14.2 Cor. 11. Of Darbe THis also was a citie in Lycaonia scituated in Asia the lesse 388 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Paul and Barnabus preached the Gospell Acts 14. Of Attalia ATtalia was a hauen Towne of Pamphilia built by Attalus Philadelphus King of Pergamus after whose name it was so called as Strato obserueth lib. 14. being distant from Ierusalem 332 miles towards the North. Paul and Barnabas sailed out of Syria into this towne At this day it is called Catalia The third Trauels of Paul in the company of Sylas IN the fifth yeare after the ascention of Christ Paul tooke vnto him Sylas and going through Syria and Cilicia came to Derbe which is 400 miles and there established the Churches Acts 15.16 From Derbe they went to Lystra 48 miles where Paul circumcised Timothy Acts 16. In the 51 yeare after Christ they went from Lystra and so trauelled through Galatia Phrygia and being hindred by the spirit that they could not preach in Bythinia they went thorow Mysia and so came to Troas where by a vision that Paul saw in the night he was admonished to go into Macedonia Acts 16. So this journey between Lycia and Troas was 480 miles Loosing from Troas they sailed with a direct course to Samo-Thracia 116 miles From thence they sailed to Neapolis 92 miles From thence they went to Philippos in Macedonia 24 miles Act. 16. here Lydda the seller of purple was conuerted and Paul dispossessed a Diuel and then he and Sylas being scourged were cast into prison Paul being then about 41 yeares of age Acts 16. From Philippos they went to Amphipolis about 36 miles Acts 17. From thence they went to Apollonia 44 miles From Apollonia they went to Thessalonica where the Iewes stirred vp a tumult 80 miles Wherefore they went thence by night and came to Berrhaea 60 miles here also the Iewes stirred vp a tumult Acts 17. These things hapned in the summer season An. Dom. 51. From Berrhaea Paul was brought by the Brethren to the sea where entring into a shippe hee went to Athens which was 264 miles where he conuerted Dionysius the Areopagite From this towne he wrot both his Epistles to the Thessalonians as the subscription witnesseth and sent them to Thessalonica These were the first Epistles that Paul wrot Afterward hee went from Athens and came to Corinthia 74 miles he came thither about the beginning of August An. D. 51 and continued there a whole yeare and six months preaching the Gospell and making tents with Aquila the Iew who was of that trade Acts 19. From Corinthia about the spring An. Do. 53. he went to Cenchraea with Aquila and Priscilla 304 miles There for deuotions sake he polled his head From Cenchraea he sailed in the company of Aquila and Priscilla to Ephesus about 304 miles Here he left them Acts 18. From Ephesus hee sailed to Caesarea Strato in Iudaea beeing 280 miles From Caesarea he went to Ierusalem 32 miles and saluted the Church From the city of Ierusalem Paul went to Antiochia in Syria 280 miles So all these trauels were 2154 miles ¶ Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Cilicia BEcause you may reade of Syria before I wil omit it and proceed to speake of Cilicia This was a countrey in Asia the lesse so called as some would haue it from Cilix the Kings son of Phoenicia compassed in vpon the East with the mountaine Amanus vpon the North with the mountaine Taurus vpon the West by Pamphilia and vpon the South by the Mediterranean sea At this day it is called Caramania and is distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North. In times past it was diuided into two parts that is into Cilicia the higher and the lower Cilicia the higher aboundeth with mountaines the lower is a plaine champian countrey very fertile and pleasant The principal cities thereof are Tarsus where the Apostle Paul was born and where the riuer Cydnus runs through the midst of it Issus where Alexander ouercame Darius last Emperor of the Persians Anazarba where Dioscorides that excellent Physitian was borne who was of great estimation with Antonius and Cleopatra There are six books yet extant of his profitable and necessary labours in that science From hence may be gathered that the scituation is strong and pleasant in regard it is fortified on euery side with mountaines but principally with the mountaine Taurus famous for the fertilitie of it and the passage of Alexander with his army who at the he conquered Darius went through the straight passages thereof being both dangerous and difficult and watered with many Riuers that take their beginning from that mountaine so passeth Southward through all Cilicia falling then into the Mediterranian sea Of Galatia GAlatia or Gallo-Grecia is a countrey of Asia minor distant from Ierusalem 400 miles hauing vpon the East Cappadocia vpon the South Pamphilia vpon the West Bythinia and on the North the Euxine sea The cities of this country were antiently Sinopis where King Mithridates kept his Court and Diogenes the Cynick was born Amisus also Pessinus where the Mother of the gods was had in great honor and was fetcht thence by the Romans This was a famous mart town as Livy saith li. 29. Laodicea Tauius and Ancyra where there was held a notable Sinod and in this large and spatious country also stood Antiochia Pisidia for the Galathians dwelt in all Paphlagonia a part
of Licaonia Pisidia and Isauria in which countries the Apostle Paul taught the Gospel of Christ These inhabitants which in those daies were called Galathians are said to be a people of France who ioyning themselues to the Cymbrians Danes and Germans vnder the conduct of Brennus their captain inuaded Italy in which enterprise they were so fortunat that they conquered a great part of it wherin they planted colonies and because of their neernesse to their own country in processe of time grew mightie and from that beginning the countrey where they inhabited was called Cice-alpine-Gallia taking that name partly of the place partly of the people After Brennus and his armie making vse of their fortunes forraged all Italy and came to Rome which they woone and sackt all but the Capitoll and that also was in great danger vntill such time as Camillus a valiant Roman Captaine taking aduantage of the enemies securitie who now tooke more care how to satisfie their couetousnesse than to defend what they had got of a sudden set vpon them by which vnexpected inuasion they were put to a maruellous straight and the besieged greatly incouraged so that they also issuing out of the Capitoll made such a slaughter that they forced Brennus and his armie to retire and to restore all the pillage that hee had got and also forsake the countrey This misfortune they bore patiently considering their former prosperitie and in hope of better successe sailed thence into Grecia where after they had attempted many noble exploits and failing in some they determined a voyage for Delphos because there was great store of treasure and the inhabitants as they supposed weake to oppose their armie In this expedition they vsed much pillage and robbing vpon the Seas and through many dangers came at length to this Isle landed their men wan the citie fired a great part of it and put many of the inhabitants to the sword with this victorie most of his armie which were more religious than the rest would haue willingly left the countrey but Brennus who beforetimes had beene vsed to sacriledge and those that were as couetous as himselfe thought it basenesse through an opinion of holinesse to leaue so great a bootie behind them as was contained in the Temple of Apollo for that place of all the Temples of the world in those times was notorious for riches and treasure the many and great gratuities and offerings of most Princes which were both magnificent and rich being hoarded vp in the secret caues of this Oracle wherefore they attempted the assault but with bad successe for the diuell raised such a tempest with thundring lightning and other strange and vncoth accidents that Brennus in this distemperature of the aire was * Some say he killed himself with his owne dagger slaine many of his shippes were set on fire and the greatest part of his armie lost being either spoiled with lightning slaine by the inhabitants or dispersed with feare Such euent had this sacrilegious attempt Those that remained after they had gathered themselues into a body went thence into Asia the lesse and planted themselues in this country where the inhabitants in processe of time called them Gallo-Graecians adding their originall name to that of the countrey wherein they liued and after for beauties sake they were called Galatians See Liu. lib. 5. Diodorus Siculus lib. 6. saith That the inhabitants of Galatia were so called of this people in the time that Gidion iudged Israel that Cyrus was Emperour of Persia both may be true considering the mutabilitie and change of States in those times Some thinke they were first called Galatians by Attalus King of Pergamus who gaue them a great ouerthrow close by the riuer Halym because they originally were of Gallia and continued sometime in Graecia and after came into Asia so he joyning these two names into one called them Gallo-Graecians or Gallatians This history is diuersly reported by diuers authors but all conclude that they rested and inhabited in Asia where their posteritie continued to this day In times past it was a very warlike and generous nation and in their expedition performed many noble exploits attaining to eminence onely by their sword for which cause many Princes neere them were beholding vnto them for their aide but withall cruell and barbarous insomuch as they oftentimes eat their captiues or offered them to their gods and thus they continued for the space of 300 yeares till Paul comming into that countrey preached the Gospell amongst them and conuerted them from this Barbarisme to the Christian faith He sent an Epistle to this people from Rome being 1200 miles They in those times held all Paphligonia a part of Phrigia Cappadocia and of all the neighbouring countries thereabouts which after their names was called Gallo Graecia or Galatia such a mightie nation was this growne in a short time at first being a people thrust out of theit owne countrey for want of a place to inhabit in as you may reade more at large in the fifth booke of Liuie whose authoritie I haue principally followed herein Of Phrygia PHrygia is as much to say as a dry and sandy country scituated in Asia the lesse between Galatia and Mysia 600 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward It is diuided into two parts the greater and the lesse in the greater Phrygia stood Smyrna in the lesse Dardania so called of Dardanus who first built it in which town there reigned many wealthy mighty Princes as Ericthonius Tros of whom it was called Troy Ilus of whom it was called Ilion Laomedon who was the father of Priamus the last king therof for in his time it was destroyed by the Grecians Of which desolation I will not speak because it is commonly known It lay waste so long although it had bin a faire and goodly city the like not in the world that the place where it stood was become like a plain field only here and there some heaps of old ruins to shew that there had been a city in that place And as Virgil said I am seges est vbi Troia fuit Corne now growes where Troy stood A long time after there were a certain people that called themselues Trojans who rebuilt it but not in the same place and in it erected a goodly Temple in honour of the goddesse Pallas to the which Temple Alexander the Great after he had conquered Darius King of Persia close by the riuer Granicus which tooke beginning in a mountain not far from Troy went and with singular gladnesse and great solemnitie offered many rich and goodly Presents enlarged the towne and greatly adorned But after he had ended the Persian war and conquered almost all the knowne world he sent very kinde and louing letters to these new Trojans promising not only to inlarge the towne and endow it with ma-priuiledges and reuenues but also to build vp a faire and sumptuous Temple there as Strabo lib. 15. saith all which was done for the loue
broad here Xerxes when he inuaded Graecia built vp a bridge for his army to passe ouer There is also another strait and narrow place in this sea which is called by the name of Cimmerius Bosphorius These two Bosphori are so called as some authors hold because a Bull when he loweth may be heard from the one side to the other but Pliny seemeth to deriue the name from Io that faire maid which Iupiter turned into a Cow who swam ouer this sea and of her was called Bosphorus lib. 6. cap. 1. It is also called Propontus because it lieth just before the Euxine sea and Hellespont from Helle the daughter of Athamantis K. of Thebes who was drowned therein then running thence it falleth into a gulph of the Mediterranean Ocean there it is called the Aegean sea of Aegeus King of Athens who drowned himselfe therein for the supposed losse of his sonne Theseus In this sea were scituate the Isles of Pathmos Mytelene Samothrace Chius Lesbus and many other Isles as you may reade in the trauels of S. Paul Of Samothracia ot Samothrace SAmothracia is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituate between Troades and Thracia eight hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the sea sometimes called Dardania of Dardanus King of Troy who when hee had slaine his brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the foundation of the citie called Troy and of that Kingdome And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the neerenes that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the rocke whereon it stood it soone changed the name and then especially when the people called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood vpon such a loftie place that from thence all the countries round about might easily bee seen Arsinoë Queene of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her brother into this Island who after put to death all her children and vsurpt vpon the kingdome of Thrace A cruell part in a brother Virg. li. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Treiciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adayes is Samo-Thracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Acts 16. it is said S. Paul sailed from Troad is to Samothracia so went thence into Thracia and came to the city of Neapolis Of Neapolis THis Neapolis to which Paul went was a city of Thrace not far from Macedoni 880 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sichar stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but aboue all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chiefe city of the Neapolitan kingdome Of Philippa THis city in times past was called Crenides because of the veins of gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon father of Alexander the Great caused it in the yeare before Christ 354 to bee re-edified and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the riuer Stridon 936 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest and endowed with many priuiledges In those times the gold was so much increased in this place that the reuenue thereof was worth vnto this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 li. the talent amounteth to forty fiue Millions of pounds yearely By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his gold to be coined and called it after his owne name Philippian gold To this place Paul came and did many miracles taught the Gospell and conuerted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth euen 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Towne and sent it them by the hands of Epaphroditus euen 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THis was a city of Macedonia compassed about with the riuer Strymon from whence it tooke the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the Northwest Here also the Apostle Paul was Acts 17. Of Apollonia THis was a citie of Mygdonia scituated not farre from Thessalonica towards the West close by the riuer Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest being so called from Apollines which signifies the Sunne it stood twentie miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Graecia close by the Adriatick sea another among the Islands of Thrace a third in Creet on this side the riuer Ister a fourth in Syria and a fift in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THis was a citie of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood vpon the sea after called Therma of the hot bathes that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the sonne of Amyntas King of the Macedonians who gaue it that name either of the great victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his daughter called Thessalonica who was the mother of Cassandrus it stood close by the Thermaick gulph not farre from the mouth of the riuer Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest The Apostle Paul taught publiquely in this city and there conuerted a great multitude of people Act. 17. Hee also wrote two Epistles to the inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperor of Rome there hapned by reason of some discontent a grieuous sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stirre some of his captains gouernors were slain Wherefore the Emperor hauing intelligence of what had hapned sent an army against the city with authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it hapned that the city was filled with many vniust slaughters for the soldiers respecting more their priuat profit than the equitie of the cause spared neither innocent nor nocent yong nor old so that as well the inhabitants as strangers that resorted thither did partake of this miserie and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first authors of this rebellion But because the emperor was consenting vnto these euils Ambrose Bishop of Millaine would not suffer him without publique repentance to come to the sacrament of the Lords supper wherefore in a publique assembly hee acknowledged his offence with great contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 24. This town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronichus Palaeologus son of Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople who held it a long time vntill Amurath Emperor of the Turkes won it from them and exercised grieuous cruelty vpon the inhabitants At this day it is
Syria 521. Dibon Gad 127. E ELeazer Abrahams seruant his trauels 93 Esau and his trauels 106. The typical signification of Esau ib. Elim 118. Eglon 135 Ehud 143 Of mount Ephraim 144. Elon and Ebzan 155. Estaol 157 â—limelrcâ— 164 â—cron 166 Engedi 175. Endor 176 Ella 216. Elah 244. Ezekias 247. Euil Merodach Emperour of Babylon 267. Eliah the Prophet and his trauels 271. The typicall signification of Eliah 274. Elisaeus or Elisha 274 His typicall signification 276. Ezekiel 281. Elam 285. Egbatan a famous citie 286 318. Euxinâ— sea 290. Eleutherius 351. Esdras the lawyer 310. Of the booke of Ester 312. The types and figures collected out of Ester 312. Eliphaz the Temanite 316 317. Esdrelon 320 Eporaim 480 Emmaus 490 Eyhesus 506 Queene Candaces Eunuch and his trauels 515. G GIhona hill 32. The valley of Hinnon idem Geraâ— 86. The countrey of Gilead 102. The land of Gosen 105 Goren Atad 112. The Graues of concupicence 121 Gedion Iudge of Israel 147 The typicall signification of Gedion 150. Gilgal 133. Gibion 134. Gaza 136. Of mount Gerizim 151 Gath 166 Of mount Gilboa where Saul killed himselfe 176. Gazer 192 Gesur 196. Gurbaal 245. Gath Hepher 289. Gesem 320. Genezereth 351. Tadara 448. The lake of Genezereth ib. Of Gethsamene and the gardens thereabouts 485. Of the countrey of Galatia and how the inhabitants came to be called Galatians 531 Gnidus 557. H HAran or Charan 81 Hebron and the inhabitants thereof 84. The field of Hakeldema 38. The hill Hameskita ib. Hazezon Thamar 92 Hagar and her trauels 96 Hagars Well and the signification of it 94. Heliopolis otherwise called the citie of the Sunne 111 Of mount Horeb 115. Hazaroth 121. Harada 123. Horgid gad 125. Of the mountaine Hor 126. Hazor 146. Hemath 133. Hay ibid. Hohab 144 Hananias the false Prophet 281 Hosea the Prophet 286. Of the Prophet Habacuck when he liued how he liued when he dyed and where hee lyeth buried 295 Of the riuer Hidaspia 319. Hyrcania the high Priest 364. Hesiodorus who would haue robbed the treasurie of Ierusalem 367. Hermopolis or the town of Mercurie 423. J OF Ierusalem 6. Of the scituation of it 7. The description of it ibid. The circuit and bignesse of it 8. Of the gates of Ierusalem 34. The destruction of Ierusalem by Vespatian from 38 to 49. Of Ierusalem after this destruction from 49 till 58. Of Ierusalem as it is now from 58 to 63. Of the sects in Ierusalem from 63 to 67. Where Ishmael dwelt 93. Of Jsaac and his trauels 94. The tipical signification of Isaac 98. Jacob and his trauels 99. The typicall signification of Jacob 105. Iuda and his trauels 107. Ioseph and his trauels 109 The typicall signification of Joseph 112. Iotbatha 125 Igim 127 Iahra 128. Iaezer ibid. Iael and her trauell 145 Ioshua and his trauels 137 The typicall signification of Joshua 138 The names of the kings that Ioshua ouercame and wher they dwelt 139 Iaboch 149 Iogbâ—ha 150 Iotham 157 Of Iaier Iudge of Israel 152 Ieptha and his trauels 153 The diuers opinions concerning his death 154. Iabes 163. Ionathan Sauls sonne and his trauels 179. Iohn and his trauels 194 Of the Countrey called India 204. Ieroboam and his trauels 124. Of Ieroboams wife 214. The iourney of the men of God which came out of Iuda 214. Iezreel 219 Iehoram and his trauels 224 Iehu and his trauels 221. Iehohas 222. Johas and his trauels ib. Ieroboam the second of that name and his trauels 223 Iehosaphat and his trauels 237. The typicall signification of Iehosaphat 239. Ioram king of Iuda and his trauels ibid. Of Ioas King of Iuda 241. Iabnia 245. Iotham King of Iuda and his trauels 245. Josiah and his trauels 250. Iehoahas King of Iudah and his trauels 251. Iâ—hâ—iakim King of Iudah ibid. Of the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnezzar 253. Of the Prophet Isayah 277. Of the Prophet Ieremiah and his trauels 279. Of the Prophet Ioel 287. Of the prophet Ionah and his trauels 288 The typicall signification of Ionah 294. Iapho 289. Of the holy man Iob 314. Of his three daughters 318. Of Iesus the sonne of Syrack 323 Iudas Macchabaeus and his trauels 336. The typicall signification of Iudas Macc. 344. Ionathan and his trauels 345 Iohn Hyrcanus and his trauels 356 Iason and his trauels 368 Iohn Baptist and his trauels 426. Iericho 479. Of Ioseph of Arimathea 493 Ioppa 503 Iohn and his trauels 504. The testimonie of the Fathers concerning Iohn 506. Iconium 528 K Kiriathauen 92. Karkor 150 Kiriathiâ—arim 161. Kegilah 180 Cyr 260. Kereth 271. eder 319. L LOt and his trauels 87. Of Lots daughters 90. Of the kings that tooke Lot prisoner 91 Of Libnah 122 135. Lachis ibid. Libanus 137. The Leuite and his trauels 161. Lais 160. Of Lacedemonia called also Sparta 369. Lidda 489. Laodicea 513. Lystra 528. M OF mount Moriah 10. The Aligoricall signification of it 11. The buildings vpon mount Moriah 25. 86 Of mount Acra from 27 to 29. Of mount Besetha 32. Of the mount of Oliues 37. Of the mount betweene Bethel and Hay 83. Machanaim 102. Mount Seire 106. Moses and his trauels 112. Midian 115. Marah 117. Mithca 123. Macehelath ib. Maseroth 124 Makedah 135 Merom 137 Mizpah 153. Minneth 154. Mickmaâ— 173. Maon 175. Memphis by whom and when built 209 Menahem and his trauels 224. Maresa 234. Manasses and his trauels 249. Micah 294. Malachi 296 Mallos 319 Mattaâ—hias 335 Medaba 350 Menelaus and his trauels 370 Of a Mina 376 The Virgin Mary and her trauels 415 Machares 429. Of the holy mountaine neer Capernaum 446. Mysia 536. Of the Isle and city of Mitylene 549. Of the Isle and citie of Mylerus now called Malta 551. Magdala 468. Of the Island Mylete 560 N OF Neapolis or the new town 32 Of Noah 78 Of Nimroth 79 Nabach 149. Nob 174. Nadab 214. Naaman the Syrian and his trauels 231 Nebuchadnezzer and his trauels 263 Ninus or Nineueh when built and by whom 291 Nahum the Prophet 294. Nehemia the Prophet 311. Nepthaly 322 Nazareth 418 Naim 447 Nicapolis 539 566. O OF the caue of Odullam 108. Oboth 127. Omry and his trauels 216. Obediah the Prophet 288 Orthosia 366. Onias and his trauels 367. P OF the poole Bethesda 26. Of Paradice and where it stood from 72 to 78. Of the Palme or Oke of Mamre where Abraham dwelt 83 Penuel 103 Of Pibaccharoth 116 Phunon 126. Pisgah 129. The Plaine of the Vines 129. The Philistims trauell from their campe to Michmas 178. Pharaoh and his trauels 209. Peka and Pekahiah 225. Of Phul Belochus King of the Assirians and his trauel 259. Pharaoh Necho King of Aegypt and his trauels 270 Pelusio 266. Persepolis when built by whom and why so called 337. Ptolomais 350 Of the countrey of Parthia 364. Perea 446. Peter and his trauels 494 Allegations of the Authour to proue that Peter was neuer at Rome 496. Of the Island called Pathmos 509 Of the famous
aliue 2 Reg. 14. which was 32 miles From Bethsemes hee went to Ierusalem and carried the King thereof with him captiue which was 4 miles He woon the citie and broke downe the Walls of it from the gate of Ephraim till you come to the Angle gate foure hundred cubits in length 2 Reg. 14. From the Citie of Ierusalem Ioas the conquerer returned to Samaria with the spoile of the temple and of the Kings house with many captiues and a great prey which was 32 miles where at the end of the seuenteenth yeare of his raigne he died and was buried In this mans time Elisha the Prophet died 2 Reg. 13. 14. So all the trauels of Ioas were 96 miles Of Bethsemes Of this Citie you may reade before The Trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name King of Israel THis Ieroboam succeeded his father Ioas in the Kingdome of Israel and began his raigne Anno mundi 3123 and before Christ 845 which according to the text of the Bible happened about the 15 yeare of Amasia King of Iuda and hee raigned 41 yeares 2 Reg. 14. He kept his court at Samaria where the Prophet Ionas told him that he should recouer not only the townes and cities of the land of Israel that had beene lost but also the cities of Hemeth and Damascus Wherefore he gathered a great army out of the citie of Samaria and went thence vnto Hemeth or Antiochia in Syria which was 248 miles This Citie he conquered and all the countrey thereabout so that he recouered all the ancient Townes and Cities that belonged to Dauid and Saul euen from Hemeth in Syria to Soba in Armenia with all the Cities Townes Castles and Countries neer adjoyning to them 2 Reg. 14. From Hemeth or Antiochia he went to Damascus which is 140 miles This citie he also tooke and all the countrie of Syria round about he made tributary to him 2 Reg. 14. From Damascus he went to the Red sea euen 320 miles and also recouered all the South part which in times past belonged vnto the kingdome of Israel 2 Reg. 14. After this he returned to Samaria his owne countrey which was 192 miles where in the 41 yeare of his raigne he died and was there buried After his death the kingdome of Israel was oppressed with tyranny vntill it was destroied by forreine nations and for the space of 12 yeares there was no King that succeeded him In the raigne of this king a little before his death there hapned an horrible earthquake of which you may reade Amos 1. which without doubt did foreshew some eminent changes that should happen in that kingdome as did afterward Zac. 41. So all the trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name were 900 miles Of Zachariah King of Israel TWelue yeares after the death of Ieroboam Zachariah his son began his raigne in Israel in the 38 yeare of Azaria king of Iuda which was Anno mundi 3975 and before Christ 793 he raigned six moneths and then was miserably slaine by Sallum his friend 2 Reg. 15. Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. Of Sallum King of Israel SAllum began to raigne after he had slaine Zachariah in the 39 yeare of Azariah King of Iuda and when hee had raigned scarce a moneth he was slaine by Menahem losing his life and kingdome together 2 Reg. 15. The Trauels of Menahem MEnahem was borne in Thirza in the Tribe of Iuda who began to raigne in the same yeare that he slew Sallum hee raigned ten yeares 2 Reg. 10. From Thirza he went to Samaria with his army which was six miles where hauing slaine Sallum his Lord and King he vsurpt vpon the kingdome 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went to Thipsa which is six miles This towne he cruelly destroied with fire and sword and all the townes thereabout because they refused to open their gates vnto him From Thipsa this cruell tyrant went backe again to Samaria 6 miles where he grieuously afflicted the children of Israel tenne yeares Wherefore the Lord being offended with him for his exceeding crueltie stirred vp Phul Belochus King of Assyria who came from Babylon to Samaria beeing 624 miles and put King Menahem to such an exceeding great streight that hee was constrained to buy and procure his peace with * What this was in our money you may read after in the quantity of monies 1000 talents which mony being receiued he suffered him to enioy his kingdom and returned backe vnto Babylon with all his army 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of King Menahem were 18 miles Of Thypsa THis was a towne neere to that kingly city Thirza scituated in the tribe of Manasses 24 miles from Ierusalem Northward But because the inhabitants thereof denied to open their gates to this cruell tyrant Menahem therefore he vtterly destroied it euen to the ground Thipsa signifieth The Paschal Lambe or a Passeouer being deriued of Pasach He passed by Of PEKAHIA King of Israel PEkahia reigned two yeares after his fathers death at the end of which term he was slain by Pekah the son of Remalia who succeeded him in the gouernment Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. saith That this murther was done at a banquet The Trauels of PEKAH King of Israel PEkah the son of Remalia began to reigâ—â— in Samaria Anno mundi 3189 and before Christ 779. in the 52 yeare of Azariah King of Iudah and reigned ouer Israel 20 yeres 2 Reg. 15. 16. From the city of Samaria he went with Resin King of Syria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and besieged it but could not take it neuerthelesse he ouercame Ahaz King of Iuda in a great battell and put to the sword in one day aboue 12000 souldiers that bare armor In this war were taken 200000 women children and maids all which hee carried Captiues to Samaria 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem hee returned to Samaria with a great bootie which was 32 miles and at the command of Obed the Prophet set at libertie all his captiues After about the end of the 20 yeare of his reign he was slain by Hosea his chiefe captain who succeeded him in the gouernment 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of Pekah were 64 miles Of HOSEA the last King of Israel HOsea began to reign in the fourth yere of Ahas king of Iuda Anno mundi 3209 and before Christ 759. He kept Court at Samaria and was a cruell and wicked King Wherefore God stirred vp Salmanasser Emperour of the Assyrians who about the end of the 7 yeare of his reigne came to Samaria and besieged it for the space of 3 yeares at the end of the third yeare with great labor he won it and all the country round about so that he tooke King Hosea prisoner and led him together with a great multitude of the Iewes amongst which were Gabriel and Raphel the friends of Toby the elder thence to Niniveh captiues beeing 652 miles From Niniveh he sent them to a place called Rages in Medea being 752 miles and
in that country peopled many towns cities with them so that there were many of the Israelites led into captiuitie aboue 1396 miles for so many miles is Rages and the Cities of the Medes from Ierusalem Northeastward This captiuitie of the ten Tribes hapned An. mundi 3227 and before Christ 741. OF the cities of Rages and Niniveh you may reade in the trauels of Toby and the Angell Gabriel The Trauels of the People which SALMANASSER Emperour of the Assyrians sent to dwell in the Land of Israel SALMANASSER after hee had carried the Children of Israel away captiue into Assyria sent as it is said part of them into Media and part of them into Persia and so dispersed them here and there about the Countrey But because the Land of Israel by reason of this captiuitie became desolate and without inhabitants therefore he caused those people which dwelt about the riuer Cutha in Persia to go thence and dwell in Samaria and in all the countrey round about to till the land and dresse the Vines least some other people that were strangers to his gouernment should vsurp vpon that kingdom it being thus without inhabitants Ios li. Ant. 9. You may reade of this also 2 Reg. 7. In whose place and neere to the said riuer of Cutha a multitude of Iewes with great shame and griefe were constrained to dwel He also gathered a great multitude of other people out of Babylon Hamath or Antiochia some out of his own dominions of Assyria also out of Medea and the people of Ava and Sepharuaijm which people are mentioned Esay 37. and sent them to inhabit in Samaria and all the cities and countries round about because it was a fertile and pleasant country and to defend it against the incursions of strangers From whence may be gathered that in this behalfe the policy of this Emperor was much greater that of the Romans for the retaining of this kingdome but especially than that of Titus Vespasian for hee hauing conquered the land wasted it and destroyed it with fire and sword put thence the inhabitants and dispersed them heere and there left the countrey bare and naked onely a few Garrisons were placed in the strongest cities to keepe it to their vse Which not beeing able enough to oppose the incursions of the Saracens that in great Troupes brake out of the Desarts of Arabia Petraea they soone lost all that they had gotten and the Turks ioining with them they haue now gained into their possession that pleasant and fruitfull Land of Iudaea and inhabit therein euen to this day to the great detriment and scandall of the Christians But to return to the people sent to inhabit this kingdom who as they were of diuers Nations so were they of diuers religions and euery Family had his particular god Wherefore the Lord sent a multitude of Lions among them which daily vexed them from whence it hapned that Salmanasser was constrained to send backe vnto them a Levite one of the Priests that had bin caried away captiue to shew them the true worship of God He came to Bethel and there taught them the doctrine of the Lord and the customes and ceremonies of the Mosaical Law whereby it hapned that they began to worship God and their idols in neither obseruing their antient custome For which cause they became so abominable vnto the Iewes that they refused their companie and familiaritie as that Samaritan woman confessed to Christ at Iacobs Well Ioh. 4. so that when the Iewes could call a man by any ignominious or odious name they would term him a Samaritan Ioh. 8. Do we not say rightly that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Diuell But of all the people which Salmanasser sent into the Holy land those that came out of the East part of Persia from Cutha called Cutheis dwelt in Samaria and got the chief command and gouernment ouer the rest The Trauels of the Kings of Syria that made warre vpon the Kings of Israel And first of the Trauels or incursions of BENHADAD BEnhadad King of Syria went from Damascus the chiefe city of his kingdome and came to Samaria and streightly besieged it in the time of Ahab King of Israel 1 Reg. 20. being 132 miles From thence being ouercome and put to flight by Ahab he returned backe againe to Damascus which was 132 miles The second time he came from thence and inuaded the land of Israel euen vnto the city of Apheck 124 miles which hee besieged But Ahab King of Israel ouercame him in a great battell and put 100000 Syrians to the sword and when the rest of the multitude would haue fled into the city the ruines of a wall fell vpon them so that there died 27000. This put King Benhadad into such a feare that hee was constrained to fly from one chamber to another to hide himselfe but at lost was taken and not without the great wrath and indignation of God by that wicked king Ahab pardoned and set at liberty 2 Reg. 20. Wherefore he went thence backe vnto Damascus which was 124 miles Within three years after he brought a great army against Ramoth in Gilead which is 104 miles from Damascus South-eastward Here he won of Ahab a great battell in which Ahab was slain with an arrow 1 Reg. 22. From thence he returned back to Damascus which was about 104 miles After that he came again from Damascus into the land of Israel with a great army 120 miles where he counselled with his Captains and men of war saying Here and there will we incamp our selues But the Prophet Elisha discouered their purposes 2 Reg. 6. Out of the land of Israel he returned to Damascus which was 120 miles From thence he returned again with his army to Samaria being 132 miles which the second time he besieged so straightly that an asses head was worth 80 pieces of siluer But yet the Lord at the feruent prayers of Elizeus the Prophet strook such a feare and anguish among the enemies that Benhadad and his army were constrained to fly 2 Reg. 6. Being sore troubled because he was thus put to flight he went to Damascus which was 132 miles and there within a while after died of grief 2 Reg. 9. So all the trauels of King Benhadad were 1224 miles The Trauels of the Captaines which Benhadad King of Syria sent to waste and destroy the land of Baesa King of Israel THis army went from Damascus and came to the towne of Hion 72 miles From thence they went to Dan which is 4 miles From Dan they went to the city of Abel-Bethmaacha twelue miles From thence they went to the land of Chineroth which was accounted 8 miles there they tooke certain cities of fruit and spoiled and destroyed them From Chineroth in the tribe of Nepthali when they had cruelly wasted destroyed that country they returned with a great booty to Damascus being 88 miles 1 Reg. 15. So all their Trauels were 184 miles ¶ The Description of
it stands in the same place yet doth it not retain the same name To this towne there is a great resort of merchants who bring vp their commodities from the Riuer Tygris hither and from hence conuey them to Bagdeth many other parts of the world The inhabitants thereof are for the most part Nestorians of whom you may reade before in the description of the Sects remaining in Ierusalem at this day They are had in great account and estimation among the Turkes because it is imagined that one of this sect helpt Mahomet to compose the Alcaron This Nestorius liued anno Dom. 429. and taught at Constantinople but after he was condemned at Ephesus for an heretick he was constrained to steale from Constantinople and to flie to Thebes in Egypt where God laid a grieuous punishment vpon him for his tongue began to rot in his head and to consume with vermin of which he died miserably The spirituall signification of the Prophet Ionas IOnas signifieth a Dove and typically representeth Christ in his name For Christ was that gratious and innocent Dove who hath made euident to man his singular mercy clemencie without any shew of bitternesse or wrath Then in his affliction for as Ionas thrust himselfe into the sea of calamity and there was swallowed vp of a Whale which might be well resembled to the grave so Christ our Sauior was cast into the sea of affliction the miserie and calamity of this world and after that thrust into the jawes of death the graue where as Ionas did in the whales belly he lay three daies and then arose againe the earth being vnable any longer to contain his body Of the Prophet Micah THis Prophet was born at Maresa a towne of Iudea 16 miles from Ierusalem Westward it signifieth a bitter field In S. Ieroms time the ruins of the wall of this City was to be seene Micha or Micheas signifieth humble or lowly This man was held in great estimation because he was the first that named the countrey where our Sauior Christ should be born viz. in Bethlehem 800 yeares before his natiuitie He liued an M. 3200. Of the Prophet Nahum NAhum signifies a Comforter Hee was borne in a towne of Galile called Elcosch as he saith in the beginning of his Prophecie This village was shewne vnto Saint Ierome by those that trauelled with him through the holy land in his time it was but a small village called by the name of Elcos and scituated as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith on the further side of Bethabara sixteene miles and something more from Ierusalem toward the Northeast This Prophet liued 750 yeres before Christ and prophecied of the destruction of Niniveh which after came to passe Of the Prophet Habacuck HAbacuck or Chabacuck signifies One that embraceth or a louer from Chaback He hath embraced For as a Nurse embraceth and kisseth her infant so also this Prophet embraced and comforted his people with comfortable doctrine lest by the destruction of Ierusalem which he prophecied should after happen by the Chaldaeans they should be driuen to desperation Paul tooke the foundation of his Epistle to the Romanes out of this Prophet reciting a saying of his viz. The Iust shall liue by faith He began to preach a little before the Prophet Ieremy 650 yeres before Christ aboue 100 yeares before Daniel was cast into the Lions den From whence most of the Learned conclude that this could not be that Habacuck which brought meat to Daniel as hee was among the Lions but they rather thinke it a fragment of a spiritual comedy and therefore worthy to be called Apocrypha Of the Prophet Zephania ZEphania signifies the Secretary of the Lord being deriued of Zaphan He hath kept secret He liued in Ierusalem and Iudaea in the time of Iosiah King of Iuda He was born as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith in a towne called Sabarthaca in the tribe of Simeon Of the Prophets Haggai and Zacharia HAggai or Chaggai signifieth A Priest celebrating the Feast of the Lord being deriued of Chagag He hath celebrated a feast And Zacharias or Zacharia doth denote such a man as remembred the Lord being deriued of Zachar that is Hee hath remembred or recorded These two Prophets prophecied in Ierusalem in the second yeare of Darius the son of Histaspis 519 years before Christ an mun 3449. Haggai began his prophecy vpon the first day of the sixt moneth Elul answering to the 28 of August He sharpely reprehended the people because they neglected the house of the Lord and built vp their own houses In the eighth moneth Marhusuan which for the most part answereth to our Nouember Zacharias the same yere began to prophecie and in his sermon exhorted the people to repentance adding the promise of our Sauior and that he would turn vnto them that would turn vnto him Zach. 1. These two Prophets lie buried 20 miles one from the other For as Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyre saith Haggai lies buried in Ierusalem amongst the Priests But Zacharias neere to a towne in the field of Bethania 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward But in the time of Theodosius the Emperor was remoued and preserued as an holy Relique Concerning that fable and figment inserted into the history Nicephorus I vtterly disallow Of the Prophet Malachi THis Prophet prophecied after the captiuity of Babylon and dwelt in the towne of Ziph as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith Malachi signifies an Angel sent and in Greek a Messenger for this Prophet preached so comfortably as if he had bin an angell of God but principally of Christ and Saint Iohn Baptist who should goe before him to prepare his way and make his paths straight S. Ierom in his Epistle to Paul and Eustochius writes that some of the Hebrewes suppose this Malachi to haue been Esdras the Scribe who was sent by Artaxerxes Longimanus Emperour of the Persians to restore the commonwealth of Israel in the yeare before Christ 457. An Instruction how the Prophets may rightly bee vnderstood FIrst looke into the Cosmographicall Table at the beginning of this booke and diligently obserue the countries cities that are there set downe and how they lie scituated from Ierusalem Toward the South of Ierusalem the Idumeans Ismaelites Arabians and Egyptians dwell Toward the East the Moabits Ammonites Chaldaeans Babylonians and Persians Toward the North the Phoeniceans Syrians Assyrians and Armenians Toward the West lieth the Mediterranian sea Grecia Italy Spain and the Isles of the sea Secondly this rule is to be obserued that as often as the Prophets speake of the tribes of Israel they vse these names viz. Israel Samaria Ephraim Ioseph Iesreel Bethel Bethauen these are the names of the Kingdom of Israel but to the kingdome of Iuda these names are attributed viz. Iudah Ierusalem Benjamin the house of Dauid But when the Prophets ioyn these two Kingdoms together they call them by the names of Iacob and Israel Thirdly when thou readest in the Prophets the name of any
faire and stately Church three hundred and twentie yeares after the natiuitie of Christ This Church was dedicated to Saint Marie and remaineth to this day being had in great honour both amongst the Christians and the Turkes and Sarazins This Church is such a stately building that it is thought to exceede all the Churches of Christendome for beautie and curious workemanship It is two hundred twentie and eight foot long and eightie seuen foot wide beeing built all of Marble of diuers colours and couered with lead There are in it foure rowes of Marble pillars wonderfull to looke vpon not onely in regard of their number but of their greatnesse for there is fiftie pillars in euery row The body of this church the pillars from the bottom to the top the walls and euerie part of it is beautified with liuely pictures adorned with diuers colours siluer gold and curious workemanship so as it is wonderfull to behold The pauement of it is of marble polished and of diuers colors so cunningly set in workes and with such variety that it is very delightful to such as look on it There is painted on the pillars and walls almost all the stories of the Old Testament till the birth of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ with such excellent cunning and so liuely that it is to bee admired In the Quire of this Church there is found two Altars one close by the Chappell of Saint Katherine at the East end thereof not far distant from which they shew the place where our Sauiour was circumcised and in the middle of the Quire there standeth another Altar where they say the wise men left their Dromedaries and prepared their gifts to present vnto our Sauiour when they worshipped him Vpon the South side of this quire towards the East they descend by ten stone steps into the Chappell of the Natiuitie of Christ richly beautified and curiously wrought paued with polished Narble This Chappell is not very great but wonderfull faire and sumptuous When the Holy land was ouerrun by the Gentiles this as many other places were in that countrey was all polluted with filth and dirt that they had much adoe to make it cleane a great while after Vpon the place where they said our Lady the blessed Virgin Mary brought forth our Sauiour into the world there is placed a Table of white Marble after the maner of an Altar about some foure foot from this they shew the place where the Manger stood a part of it yet remaining cut out of a rocke not of Marble but of other stone as many other Mangers are in that countrey Close by that there is an Altar where they say the wise-men presented their gifts to our Sauiour Christ and worshipped him At the entrance into the Church there standeth a goodly building which in times past seemed to haue been some Archbishops See but now is called Saint Maries Church Vpon the North side they descended by certaine stepps into the Chappell of Saint Ierom who lay a long time buried there till his bones were remoued thence to Saint Maries in Rome About a mile from Bethlehem Southward stood the Tower of Eder being a watch tower of the Bethlehemites and so called because there resorted thither many flockes of sheepe for Aeder signifieth A Heard Round about this Tower were faire and fruitfull pastures to which many sheepheards resorted to feed their flockes to some of which sheepheards the Angels told the glad tidings of the birth of our Sauiour and that he was laid in a Manger at Bethlehem For which cause in after times there was a Church built iust in the place where the Tower stood and in Saint Ieroms time called by the name of Angelos ad Pastores the same Luther affirmeth and that it is yet standing Iacob sometime dwelt in that place and buried his wife Rachel thereabouts The monument that hee set vpon her graue remaineth to this day which was twelue stones pitcht an end standing about a quarter of a mile from this place vpon the right hand as they goe to Ierusalem of which graue all the countrey thereabouts is called by the name of Rachel Of the way betweene Iudaea and Aegypt BEtweene Aegypt and Iudaea lieth Arabia Petraea a land for the most part barren and vnfruitfull full of sands rockes and mountaines destitute of water and subject to many dangers being in the Summer solstice scorched with extremity of heate the Sun being then perpendiculer ouer them according to Munster in the day time and in the night troubled with extreame windes which blowing the sand with great violence it casteth it vpon great heapes and mountaines by which dust both beasts and sometime men are suffocated and slaine Moreouer there dwell in this Desart a rude and dangerous people called Saracens who take their beginning from Ishmael and are therefore also called Ishmaelites being giuen to crueltie and maliciousnesse They get their liuing for the most part by theft and violence and as Ishmael was an excellent Archer so they also are very cunning in shooting and hunting vsing to this day their ancient euill custome of robbing and spoiling all that passe that way insomuch as Merchants are constrained to goe in great companies lest they should be indangered by them and by reason of the windes and sands are constrained to guide their journey by the compasse as men doe that saile vpon the sea Through this wildernesse did Ioseph and Marie passe when they went with the childe Iesus out of Iudaea into Aegypt where they were in danger of theeues subjects to be smothered by the sands constrained to trauell ouer high rockes and mountaines and to rest in feare because of Lyons Beares and other beasts which greatly abound in that place Besides diuers other discommodities were incident vnto them as want of meate drinke and other necessaries there being little water to be found there insomuch as had not the Lord by an expresse command charged him in a dreame to goe downe into Aegypt Ioseph durst hardly haue ventured vpon so difficult and dangerous a journey But the Lord so mercifully prouided for him that he both went and returned safe Thus may we see to what dangers these good people were exposed and what miseries they sustained from the beginning because of their sonne Christ Iesus Of Hermopilis HErmopilis was called the Towne of Mercurie distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the Southwest it was one of the chiefe cities in Aegypt as Appianus writeth Nicephorus and Zozemenus affirme lib. 5. cap. 22. that Ioseph and Mary came and liued in this Towne where they continued all the daies of Herod that cruel King But Ziglerius saith that they liued in the land of Gosen where the Patriarch Iacob and his posteritie liued which agreeth well with the words of S. Matthew cap. 2. and Hosea 11. Out of Aegypt haue I called my sonne This land of Gosen lay 200 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest The inhabitants of Alcaire in Aegypt take
vpon them to shew the place where Ioseph and Mary dwelt when they went downe into that countrey but how true it is I cannot tell because there is no Author for it Of Canah in Galile This was city in Galile distant from Ierusalem 68 miles towards the North of which you may reade more in the trauels of our Sauiour Christ Of Capernaum THis towne stood vpon the sea of Galile 68 miles from Ierusalem toward the North of which you may reade more after The trauels of the Wise-men out of the East which came to Bethlehem to see IESVS THe Magi were certaine wise men of Persia so called from Meditation being deriued of Hagah that is He hath meditated and taken in the third conjugation it signifies To finde or search out a thing they being such as gaue themselues to the knowledge of hard things and to finde out the secrets and misteries of nature But according to Varinus they were not only Philosophers but Priests also And Plato vpon Alcibiades saith Magia est deorum obseruantia siue cultus diuinus that is Magicke prescribeth the due obseruance and diuine worship of the gods Strabo saith Geogra lib. 6. That the Magi were such among the Persians as those whom the Indians call Gimnosophists and Academians the Babylonians Chaldaeans and the Hebrewes Prophets or Priests which taught the people diuine knowledge And when the ten Tribes were carried into captiuitie by Salmanasser Emperour of the Assirians into Assiria Media and Persia there is no question but they tooke with them into the East the holy bookes and volumes of the Law and of the Prophets whereby without doubt many of the people and Philosophers of the East came to haue a taste of the true knowledge and worship of God Also the Prophet Daniel was brought vp in all the arts of the Chaldaeans whose writings and prophecies were not only written and published amongst the Babylonians but also had in great account and estimation amongst the Magi so that they diligently perusing those books came not only to the knowledge of God but also without doubt to the knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whom they called The Starre of Iacob from whence may be concluded That the Wise-men that came to see our Sauiour Christ were rather of Susa in Persia than of Zaba in Aethyopia Wherefore these wise-men came from the Academy of Susa in Persia to Ierusalem which was 920 miles saying Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes for we haue seen his Starre in the East and are come to worship him This hapned in the moneth of Ianuarie in the second yeare after the birth of our Sauiour for Herod in the seuentieth yeare of his age caused all the male children of the Bethlemites of two yeares old and vnder according to the time that he was told of the Wise-men to be put to the sword From Ierusalem they went to Bethlehem which was 6 miles where vpon the sixt of Ianuary they offered their Presents which they brought out of Persia to our Sauior viz. Gold as to a King Frankincense as to a Priest and Myrrhe as to a mortall man Mat. 2. So let vs offer vnto Christ our Sauior the Gold of faith and heauenly doctrine the Frankincense of earnest prayers and the myrrhe of patience in the midst of calamitie Afterward the Wise-men as they had bin warned in a dream returned another way to Susa in Persia which was 920 miles So their trauels were 1846 miles Of Susa you may reade before in the trauels of the Old Testament Of the Starre that appeared to the Wise-men in the East SInce this Starre appeared in the lower region of the aire as it is apparant it did from thence it may be concluded That it neither was any of the fixed starres planet or a Comet because they commonly are seene in the vpper region of the aire but rather according to the opinion of some it was an Angell of God appearing in the forme of a bright shining Starre to direct the Wise-men in their way as they went to the town of Bethlem and so by little and little descending from the sublimitie of the aire pointed out vnto them the very house where they might find Mary the mother of our Lord and the childe Iesus Almost after the same manner as the Angell of the Lord in the time of Moses appeared to the children of Israel that is in the day like ta cloudy pillar and in the night like a flaming fire to direct them their way Exod. 13.14.34 Wherefore this Starre without doubt was no naturall apparition which hapned in the inferiour region of the aire suddenly vanishing away but as I haue said an Angel of the Lord representing the forme of a Starre Or else as Chrysostome saith a certaine miraculous new Starre which according to the opinion of Augustine was gouerned by an Angel of the Lord and for the greatnes of the body and variety of the aspects was not seene first in the land of Iudaea but in Persia a countrie in the East where the Magi dwelt and accompanied them thence into Iudea And although for a short space it left them in the journie yet when they came in the way to Bethlem it appeared to them againe Mat. 2. As Nicephorus and Chrysostome obserue the Starre appeared vpon the day of the conception of Christ being the 25 day of March about which time the Archangell Gabriel spoke with the Virgin Marie Luke 1. And with seene for a whole yeare and 41 weeks that is till the 6 of Ianuary in the beginning of the second yeare after the natiuitie of Christ It wanted 11 weeks of two yeares and therefore Herod caused all the male children of the Bethlehemites of two yeares old and vnder to be slaine according to the time declared vnto him by the wise men Mat. 2. Wherfore this new Starre did first foreshew the birth of Christ that bright shining Starre and eternall light of glory according to the prophecie of Billa Num. 22. Secondly the light of Gods Word the Gospel 2 Pet. 1. Thirdly godly faithful ministers and teachers who by their doctrine and godly life and conuersation should set before their auditors and such as obserue their actions the way to Christ and eternall happinesse Dan. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Baptist IN the moneth of Thisri which answereth to our September Annoo mundi 3966 the Feast of the Tabernacles being then celebrated the Archangell Gabriel told Zacharias the Priest of the conception of Iohn the Baptist which should be the voyce of a crier in the wildernesse And a little after that is about the Autumnall Aequinoctiall Iohn the Baptist was conceiued six moneths before our Sauiour The next yeare after about the moneth of Iuly he was borne Six moneths after that our Sauiour Christ was borne In which yeare Zacharias che father of Iohn Baptist was slaine in the vpper court betweene the Altar and the Temple for saying that our Sauiour Christ
city of the Harpe after which name the lake of Tiberias or sea of Galile is called Numb 14. But Herod the Tetrach of Galile at whose command Iohn the Baptist was beheaded did beautifie this Citie with many faire buildings and compassed about with strong walls and after Tiberias Caesars name called it Tiberias He also gathred thither many inhabitants and indowed it with many large priuiledges for although this place before the restoring of the citie was very filthy and impure by reason of the dead bodies both of men and beasts which lay in that place from whence it hapned that the Iewes shunned this place as vtterly vnlawfull and durst not dwel there yet notwithstanding Herod with singular industrie and diligence remoued all that filthinesse and in that very place built vp this Citie both faire and spacious partly with gifts partly with faire speeches alluring many Iewes to inhabit therin Many poore people also built themselues houses at their owne charge and those that had no children gaue way vnto the liberty of the citie besides many rich and noble men were constrained to remoue their whole families and to dwell in this citie so that in short time it became very well peopled according to Ios lib. Antiq 18. cap. 4. Egisip lib. 2. cap. 3. Not aboue two miles from Tiberias towards the South vpon the shore of the sea of Galile stood Tarachaea a town wherein Iosephus dwelt Now it hapned that the Citisens of Tiberias vpon some discontent and as it was thought at the instigation of one Clitus fell into rebellion of which Iosephus hauing certaine intelligence he caused all the gates of Terachaea to be shut least any man going thence should disclose his intentions or any comming from Tiberias should mooue that Citie also to rebellion and then priuily sent out a command to assemble all the shippes and other vessels that were vpon the sea or lake euen to the number of 230 ships all which he caused to be manned only with foure men apiece and of a sudden sailed towards Tiberias But when he came within view of the city so that the citisens from the wall might discern the ships he left the body of the nauie a good way remote from Tiberias and tooke only one ship manned with seuen men and went close to the citie of Tiberias as it seemed to haue had a parley with the citisens but they seeing such a multitude of ships and the bold resolution of Iosephus supposing that they had beene sufficiently manned and contained a great armie were greatly affraid insomuch that they cast away their armes and came out of the citie with humble petitions to Iosephus entreating him to spare the city and to take pity of the inhabitants Notwithstanding hee vtterly refused to shew them any mercie vnlesse they would deliuer vnto him the Ruler of the citie which they did so he settled the affaires of that Towne and tooke the Ruler thereof with him to Terachaea where hee committed him to prison But after it being certainely found out that one Clitus was the principall author of this rebellion he sent Leuyn one of his Gard with command to apprehend him and cut off both his hands of which punishment Clytus being certainly informed with tears and prayers humbly besought rhis Leuyn that he would spare one of his hands and he would willingly lose the other which with much ado was granted him vpon condition that he would cut off his owne hand so he tooke his sword and cut off his left hand which being done Iosephus returned the captiues to Tiberias and receiued the inhabitants againe into fauour and euer after reteyned it in obedience Vespasian also inuaded this citie at such time as he vndertooke his expedition against Ierusalem as it appeareth in Iosephus lib. de bello Iuda cap. 16. but the inhabitants fearing his greatnesse willingly submitted themselues to his power and opened him the gates going forth of the citie to meet him with great humilitie giuing him and his whole armie entertainment into the citie receiuing him with musick and songs and with great acclamations and shouts calling him their Sauiour and protector which kind of courtesies the Emperour tooke very louingly and in token of thankefulnesse for this kindenesse hee commanded his souldiers after they had broken downe a great part of the wall vpon the South side that they should abstaine from all manner of rapine and violence so that he continued there peaceably and went away peaceably This citie to this day as Borchardus the Monke saith is a faire towne scituated to the longitude vpon the shore of the said sea there beeing vpon the South side many wholesome bathes and springs and there are to be seene also many great ruins of decayed buildings The land also round about is very pleasant and fertile abounding with Palme trees Vines Oliues and Figs. This city in antient time was scituated in the Tribe of Issachar Of Tyrus or Zor THis was the chiefe citie of Phoenicia distant from Ierusalem 100 miles towards the North. It was first builded by the citisens of Zidon because of a sedition that hapned in that Citie 240 yeares before the Temple of Solomon as Iosephus saith just in the place where at this day the ruins of antient Tyre are to be seene But after it began to grow famous which was about such tims as Troy was destroled King Angenor remoued it to a rocke which stood in the heart of the Mediterranean sea compassed about therewith like an Island Ezek. 26. and bestowed great cost in fortifying and building it It stood round compassed with strong walls beautified with goodly buildings and fairely scituated for the entertainement of shippes for which puprose on euery side there were many safe hauens and harbours made It was but a small towne almost three miles about and two miles wide yet the great Mart Towne in those parts for Merchants resorted thither from all the three parts of the World Europe Asia and Africa as well for the vttering as buying commodities and was made so much the more famous because of the scituation and strength It stood distant from the land of Phoenicia almost two miles vpon which continent they had obtained a portion of land for the maintenance of the citie containing 19000 paces in compasse The citizens also being greatly inriched because of their trafficke built vp many faire cities and townes in more remote parts which was added to their jurisdiction as Leptis Vtica rnd Carthage scituated in Africa They also built Cades which at this day is called Caliz as Pliny saith lib. 5. cap. 19. beeing scituated in a very faire Island in the Mediterranian sea not far from Hercules pillars insomuch as the citizens of this towne hauing thus inlarged their command and increased their substance In euery place they called themselues Princes and tooke vpon them to weare scarlet and purple which colours in that place aboue all other colours were most artificially dyed And because
of the raritie of them transported thence into many countries more remote But because of their extreame arrogancie and pride it was twice conquered and ruinated First by Nabuchadonozer Emperour of Babylon and then by Alexander the Great as it appeareth in Quint. Curtius lib. in the life of Alexander Now the occasion that Alexander made warre vpon this Citie was because the citizens vpon a time sending vnto him certaine Embassadors with a crowne of gold in token of friendship and to congratulate his prosperitie which he accepted very kindely and gaue them royall entertainment as to his friends amongst other things hee told them that hee would come vnto their Citie and doe sacrifice to their god Hercules for the kings of the Macedonians are perswaded that they proceed from the off-spring of that god and beside hee was commanded by an Oracle so to do But the Embassadors of Tyre answered that the Temple of Hercules stood without the citie in Paaetzron where ancient Tyre stood so that the King might easily come thither to doe sacrifice but Alexander hearing these words could not containe himselfe but in a great anger answered And doe yee proud Citizens put such trust in the strength and scituation of your Citie that you thinke I am not able to come to it with my Army by land You shall well perceiue within this short space that you are scituated vpon the continent and that I will enter it and sacke it With these terrible words the Embassadors departed and shortly after Alexander followed them with a great and mightie army But when it was knowne that Alexander had vndertaken the sacking of this citie there were many that thought it almost impossible for him to accomplish his designes first because of the inconstancie of the windes and the vehemencie of the water whereby all such matter as they cast into the sea to joine it to the continent would be driuen away by the violence of the Water againe the city was compassed about with such exceeding high walls and fortified with such strong towers that it was not possible for him to bring any engines to batter them or fasten any scaling ladders to ascend them vnlesse it were by ships Twice Alexander attempted by flinging into the sea mighty trees of Libanus and heapes of the ruines of ancient Tyre to haue made a bridge to it or else joyne it to the continent insomuch as the Tyrians mocked the Macedonians saying What can your king Alexander conquer Neptune the God of the sea For the violence of the sea was so extreame that it carried away all things with it and oftentimes broke the ships that were joyned together to make a bridge and drowned the soldiers that besieged and sought against the citie During this siege a Citisen of Tyrus dreamt that their Idoll Apollo would depart from them whereupon they bound the Image of Apollo with a chaine of gold vnto the pillar whereon he stood that he might not leaue them There hapned also a horrible ostent amongst the Macedonians for a certaine souldier breaking bread there fell from it some few drops of bloud at the hearing of which accident Alexander was greatly amased vntill hee was resolued by one Aristander a very skilfull Prophet That if it issued from off the outside of the bread it had betokened a heauie euent to the Macedoniaes but in regard that it issued from the inside of the bread it foreshewed that hee should forthwith conquer the towne hee had so long besieged And so it hapned for when Alexander had besieged the city for the space of seuen moneths with great difficulty he woon it but before he could win it he was constrained to vse a great multitude of ships and fasten them together with yron bands vpon which placing many engines of battery and other offensiue instruments what with the moouing of the ships and the extreame violence of the batterie they ouercame the citie This exploit Alexander performed when he was 25 yeares of age and about 300 yeares before Christ There was one thing that Alexander did during his siege that was memorable for before any of his souldiers would attempt to ascend the walls hee went in person with his crowne vpon his head and in princely armor and scaled a high tower of the citie where he exprest an extraordinary resolution and by reason of his courage did great hurt to the enemy who perceiuing him to be the King resorted to that place in great heaps and shot at him with all their might but hee manfully defended himselfe and compelled the enemy to fly In this assault there were 6000 of the inhabitants slaine and after he had entred the wals and sackt the citie he caused 2000 to be tyed to crosses and throwne into the sea From whence may be gathered that God by this young Prince did accomplish this great worke that the prophecies of the Prophets Esay 23. Ieremy 43. and Ezekiel 25.26 might be fulfilled Afterward Alexander as Pliny and Strabo obserueth caused the sea to be filled vp that it might be no more an Island and joined it to the continent vpon which place he caused Tyrus to be rebuilded and compassed it about with a wall fiue and twentie foot thicke strengthned with twelue towers that it might be sufficiently fortified to oppose the incursion of any enemy so that it continued safe a long time after and in the time of our Sauiour Christ was a faire city though it neuer attaind to the former dignitie and power that it had before Alexander conquered it The ancient citie of Tyre was distant from this city about foure miles towards the South Our Sauiour Christ being in the borders of Tyrus and Sidon helpt a woman of Canaan whose daughter had beene cruelly tormented with a Diuell Matt. 15. In the time of Dioclesian the Emperour there were many Martyrs put to death in this Citie And at this time it is called by the name of El porta del zur that is the hauen of Zur as it was in the Old Testament called by the name of Zor In the yeare 1100 when the holy land was in the hands of the Christians there was an Archbishop of Tyre vnder whose gouerment were the Bishops of Ptolomais Sydon and Beryti c. The holy man Origen lieth buried in this citie in the Church of the holy Sepulchre which is compassed about fortified with a mighty strong wall There also lies buried the Emperour Fredericke Barbarosso who died Anno 1160 after hee had done many valiant acts and fought many great battels for the Christians against the Turkes and Saracens being ouercome by Saphadinus the Sultans son and put to flight was drowned in the riuer of Suro to the great griefe of his armie but he left behind him a famous report Pope Alexander the third being a great enemie to this Emperour in S. Maries church in the citie of Venice when this Prince submitted himself to his Holinesse set his foot vpon his neck