his Mother a Mede of whom this very Nebuchadnezzar at the hour of his Death uttered this Prophesie There shall come a Persian Mule who shall make use of your Devils as his Fellow-Souldiers to bring you into Bondage He calls Cyrus a Mule because he was to be born of a Father and Mother of two divers Nations THE LIFE and DEATH OF CYRUS THE GREAT The First Founder of the PERSIAN EMPIRE CYRUS was the Son of Cambyses King of Persia by Mandanes the Daughter of Astyages King of Media He was so named by the Prophet Isay almost two hundred years before he was born Isa. 45. 1 4. Thus saith the Lord unto Cyrus his anointed c. Cyrus his first Education was under his Father Cambyses with whom he lived till he was twelve years old and somewhat more at which time he was sent for together with his Mother Mandanes by his Grandfather Astyages into Media In Media he served Astyages first as one of his Halberdiers and then as one of his Armour-bearers till he was called home into Persia by his Father Cambyses when as yet he had one year to spend at School and when he had spent seventeen years at School amongst Boyes he spent ten years more amongst youths When Cyrus was now almost sixteen years old Evilmerodach the King of Assyria being about to marry a Wife called Nicotris made an in-rode with a great Army of Horse and Foot into the borders of Media there to take his pleasure in hunting and harrassing of the Countrey against whom Astyages and Cyaxares his Son and Cyrus his Grand-child who then first began to bear Arms being but about fifteen or sixteen years old marched out met with him and in a great Battel overthrew him and drave him out of his borders Indeed the Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Father of Evilmerodach gave courage to those that had found him a troublesome Neighbour to stand upon prouder terms with the Babylonians than in his flourishing estate they durst have used But Evilmerodach being too proud to digest this loss which he had received by the Medes and their Allies the Persians under Cyrus he drew unto his party the Lydians and all the people of the lesser Asia with great gifts and strong perswasions hoping by their assistance to overwhelm his enemies with a strong invasion whom in vain he had sought to weary out by a lingring War The issue of these great preparations made by Evilmerodach against the Medes was such as opened the way to the fulfilling divers Prophesies which were many years before uttered against Babel by Isay and Jeremy For the Babylonians and their Confederates who trusting in their numbers thought to have buried the Medes and Persians under their thick showers of Arrows and Darts were encountred with an Army of stout and well trained men weightily Armed for close fight by whom they were beaten in a great Battel wherein Evilmerodach was slain After which that great Empire that was raised and upheld by Nebuchadnezzar was grievously shaken and enfeibled under his unprosperous Son and left to be sustained by his Grand-child Belshazzar a man more like to have overthrown it when it was greatest and strongest than to repair it when it was in a way of falling Xenophon relates the matter thus When the Babylonian had enlarged his Empire with many Victories and was become Lord of all Syria and many other Countreys he began to hope that if the Medes could be brought under his Subjection there would not then be left any Nation adjoyning able to make head against him For the King of the Medes was able to bring into the Field sixty thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse to which the Forces of Persia being joyned made an exceeding great Army Considering therefore the strength of such a neighbour he invited Croesus King of Lydia a Prince very mighty both in men and Treasure and with him other Lords of Asia the less to his assistance alledging that those Eastern Nations were very powerfull and so firmly conjoyned by League and many Alliances that it would not be easie no nor possible for any one Nation to resist them With these suggestions backed with rich Presents he drew to himself so many adherents as he compounded an Army of two hundred Thousand Foot and sixty thousand Horse Of which ten thousand Horse and forty thousand Foot were brought by Croesus who had great cause of enmity against the Medes for that they had made great Wars against his Father Allyattes Whereupon Cyrus was by his Father Cambyses and the Council of the Kingdom made General of the Persian Army and sent away into Media with thirty thousand Souldiers and one thousand Commanders all of equal Authority under him and when he came thither he was also made by his Uncle Cyaxares who had sent for him General of the Median Forces and the management of the War against the Babylonian was wholly committed to him With this Army he marched against Evilmerodach and his associates and in a very bloody Battel overthrew them In which defeat Evilmerodach King of Babylon being slain so many of his Subjects revolted that Babylon it self could no longer be secured but by the help of Mercenaries waged with great sums of money out of Asia the less Egypt and other Countries which new levied Forces were also defeated and scattered by Cyrus who following his advantage possessed himself of a great part of the lesser Asia Those Persians which followed Cyrus and were by him levied are reckoned to be thirty thousand Foot of which one thousand were Armed Gentlemen the rest of the common sort were Archers and such as used the Dart or Sling Croesus notwithstanding the men lost and the Treasure spent in the quarrel of the Babylonians yet did he Conquer Aeolis Doris and Ionia Provinces possessed by the Greeks in Asia the less adjoyning to his Kingdom of Lydia He gave Laws also to the Phrygians Bithynians Carians Mysians Paphlagonians and other Nations He also enforced the Ephesians to acknowledge him for their Lord He also obtained a signal Victory against the Sacaeans a Nation of the Scythians All which he performed in fourteen years And being now confident by reason of his good successes and withall envious at Cyrus his Fame and Prosperity doubting also that his great Victories might in the end grow perillous to himself he consulted with the Oracle of Apollo whom he presented with marvellous rich gifts what success he might hope for in his undertakings against Cyrus from whom he received this ambiguous answer Croesus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim Croesus passing over the River Halys shall dissolve a great Dominion For the Devil being doubtful of his success gave him this Riddle which might be construed either way to the ruine of Persia or of his own Lydia Hereupon Croesus interpreting it as he most desired resolved to stop the course of Cyrus his progress
Sons the tenth part of their Fathers Patrimony and to Daughters the twentieth part but few or none had any benefit by this promise yea on the contrary they sacked many of them that demanded these rights They exacted great sums of money in Rome and all over Italy and to encourage the Souldiers they gave them unmeasurable gifts and granted them daily new pillage The Legions they Wintered in the richest Cities upon free Quarter To be short men by fear and custome were so inured to slavery that they became more slaves than the Tyrants would have had them These three men having done what they would in Rome and knowing that Brutus and Cassius had a very great Army in Greece who called themselves the Deliverers of their Countrey saying that they would go and set Rome at liberty from Oppression Cassius having overthrown and slain Dolabella in Syria and being informed that by the assistance of their Friends they had gotten together eighteen Legions hereupon Mark Anthony and Octavian resolved to go against them wich the greatest Army that they could possibly make of old Souldiers and that Lepidus should stay to guard Rome and accordingly they departed and arrived in Greece and marching on they drew near to the place where Brutus and Cassius were encamped which was in Macedonia in the Philippick Fields Before they came to joyn Battel there were sundry Prodigies for Fowls of prey hovered about the Camp of Brutus as if it had been their own already and as they marched out to Battel a Blackmoor met them which they accounted an ill Omen Brutus being alone in his Tent at night a man sad and gastly appeared to him and being asked what he was he answered I am thy evil Genius and so vanished But on the contrary Birds and Beasts promised good success to Caesar. These Armies lying so near together had frequent skirmishes and at last came to a Battel where the Victory was strangely divided For Brutus on the one side of the Field did beat Octavian and put his Battalion to rout pursuing them into the Camp where many of them were slain and while Brutus was following his Victory his partner Cassius was overthrown by Mark Anthony though he did all that was possible to encourage his men and by reason of the clouds of Dust knew nothing of Brutus his Victory whereupon retiring to an high ground he there pitched his Tent and so standing and looking about he saw Brutus his Troops coming to his aid and to relieve him but he imagining that they came flying before their enemies commanded a slave of his whom he had made free to kill him who did it accordingly Octavians men that escaped by flight retired to Mark Anthonies Camp and had not Brutus his men busied themselves in ransacking Octavians Camp they had that day obtained an entire Victory for they might in due time have rescued and relieved Cassius and both of them being joyned together might easily have overthrown Mark Anthony but God had otherwise determined The Victory being thus divided the Generals of either party gathered their Forces together and of Brutus side were slain eight thousand men and of the Enemies side a far greater number Brutus did his best to encourage and comfort his Souldiers and the Gentlemen which followed Cassius and the next day though both Armies were put in battel Array yet they fought not but a few dayes after Brutus by his Souldiers was forced to come to another Battel who was of himself willing rather to delay and prolong the War knowing that his Enemies wanted Victuals and many other necessaries and because he reposed no great trust in the Forces of Cassius for he found that they were fearful and hard to be commanded because of their late overthrow When they came to the second encounter Brutus did all the Offices of an able General and of a Valiant Knight yet in the end his men were broken and overthrown by the Enemy Brutus having gathered his scattered Troops together found himself unable to make any farther resistance and being advised by some of his Friends to fly he told them That so he would yet not with his feet but with his hands and thereupon taking a Sword from a Servant of his called Stratus he slew himself Thus Octavian and Mark Anthony remained Victors and Masters of the Field and all things succeeded according to Caesars desire for whom God in his secret Counsel had reserved the Monarchy of the whole World which for the present was divided between three These Wars being ended and the Legions of Brutus and Cassius reduced to the obedience of the Conquerours Octavian and Mark Anthony agreed and resolved that Anthony should remain to govern Greece and Asia that Lepidus should go into Africk and that Octavian should return to Rome and accordingly Mark Anthony went into Asia where he gave himself up to sensuality and delights with the fair but wanton Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt and Octavian though with some hindrances by reason of his health at last came to Rome Not long after there arose new Wars and troubles for though Octavian was at peace with Lepidus who was now in Africk Octavian having under his command Spain France part of Germany Italy and Illyricum yet Lucius Antonius who at this time was Consul being provoked thereto by his Sister in Law Fulvia Wife to Mark Anthony began to oppose himself against Lepidus and Octavian seeking to overthrow the Triumvirat which contention brake out about the division of Fields which Caesar had made to the Souldiers which had served him in his Wars Some say that Fulvia made this stir that she might procure the return of Mark Anthony to her of whom she was jealous hearing of his familiarity with Cleopatra The discord in Rome grew to that height that they came to Arms and Lucius Antonius went from the City and levied an Army against Octavian who also marched towards him with his Forces But Lucius not daring to joyn Battel shut himself up in Perugia where Caesar immediately besieged him and Divorced himself from Claudia the Daughter of Fulvia and was married to his third Wife Scribonia by whom he had one onely Daughter Octavian being about twenty three years old so strictly besieged Perugia that Lucius and his men were brought to such straits for want of Victuals that he was forced to yield up himself to Octavian who pardoned him and used him kindly and thus this War was ended without bloudshed And so Octavian returned to Rome of which he was now sole Lord and from hence some reckon the beginning of his Empire which was about four years after the Death of Julius Caesar and about thirty eight years before the Incarnation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Caesar being now in quiet Fulvia by Letters and false Informations sought to stir up her Husband Mark Anthony against Octavian with which resolution she left Italy and
the Exchequer twenty five hundred thousand Crowns and suffered private men to take of it for three years without Interest putting in good security for the paying back of the principal and condemned such Usurers as had taken more than the Law allowed to pay four times as much to those who had been oppressed by them THE LIFE and DEATH OF TAMERLANE THE GREAT WHO FLORISHED ANNO CHRISTI 1400. TAMERLANE was born at Samercand the chief City of the Zagatajan Tartars His Father was called Zain-Cham or as others will Og Prince of the Zagatajans of the Country Sachithays sometimes part of the famous Kingdom of Parthia third in descent from Zingis the great and successful Captain of the Tartars which Og being a Prince of a peaceable nature accounting it no less honour quietly to keep the Countries left him by his Father than with much trouble and no less hazard to seek how to enlarge the same long lived in most happy peace with his Subjects no less happy therein than himself not so much seeking after the hoording up of Gold and Silver things of that Nation not regarded nor valued as contenting himself with the encrease and profit of his Sheep and herds of Cattel then and yet also the principal revenues of the Tartar Kings and Princes which happily gave occasion to some ignorant of the manner and customs of those Northern Nations and Countries to account them all for Shepherds and Herdsmen and so also to have reported of this mighty Prince as if he had been a Shepherds Son or Herdsman himself vainly measuring his Nobility by the homely course of life of his People and Subjects and not by the honour of his House and Heroical Vertues hardly to be paralelled by any Prince of that or the former Ages His peaceable Father now well stricken in years and weary of the World delivered up his Kingdom to this his Son not yet past fifteen years old joyning unto him two of his most faithful Councellours Odmar and Ally to assist him in the government of his State whom Tamerlane dearly loved whilst they lived and much honoured the remembrance of them being dead The first proof of Tamerlanes Fortune and Valour was against the great Duke of Mosco or Emperour of Russia for spoiling of a City which had put it self under his protection and for entring his Country and proclaiming War against him whom he in a great Battel overthrew having slain twenty seven thousand of the Muscovites Footmen and between fifteen and sixteen thousand Horsemen with the loss of scarce eight thousand Horsemen and four thousand Footmen of his own After which Battel Tamerlane beholding so many thousands of men lying dead upon the ground was so far from rejoycing thereat that turning himself to one of his familiar Friends he lamented the condition of such as commandâ— over great Armies commending his Fathers quiet course of life accounting him happy in seeking for rest and such most unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to procure their own glory protesting himself even from his heart to be grieved to see such sad tokens of his Victory Alhacen in his Arabick History of Tamerlane makes this Narrative of the Battel The Muscovites saith he had a great Army which he had gathered together out of sundry Nations and Tamerlane intending not to put up such wrongs and indignities assembled all his Forces and those of his Allies The Muscovites forces were such as had been well trained up in the Wars For having lately concluded a Peace with the King of Poland he had from thence ten thousand very good Horsemen There were also with him many Hungarian Gentlemen under the conduct of one Uladislaus who brought with him more than eight thousand Horse so that he had in his Army about eighty thousand Horse and one hundred thousand Footmen Tamerlane had in his Army about one hundred and twenty thousand Horse and one hundred and fifty thousand Foot but not so good Souldiers as the Muscovites for his Subjects had been long trained up in peace under his peaceable Father and though they had been sometimes exercised yet they wanted the practical part of War Tamerlanes order in his march was this He caused all his Army to be divided into Squadrons each consisting of six thousand Horse save his own which consisted of ten thousand so that he made eighteen Squadrons besides his own The Avantguard was conducted by Odmar who led eight Squadrons which were flanked by forty thousand Footmen divided on the right and left sides who shot an infinite number of Arrows The Battel was conducted by Tamerlane who with his own led ten Squadrons and fifty thousand Footmen the best and choicest Souldiers of his whole Army The Prince of Thanais his Kinsman led the Arereward with six Squadrons of Horse and forty thousand Foot his forlorn Hope consisted of some three thousand Horse adventurers The Muscovites fought by double Ranks with Lances and they seemed to be a greater number than Tamerlanes making a great noise but Tamerlanes skill and multitude at length overcame the force and valour of the Muscovites the Victory bending to the Parthians side which they pursued hotly In this Battel Tamerlane was hurt on the side of the left Eye and had two Horses slain under him and indeed that day Odmar was the safeguard of the Prince but he lost Ally who was slain with an Arrow The Battle being ended Tamerlane returned thanks to God publickly for his Victory and the next day reviewing his Army he found that he had lost between seven and eight thousand Horsemen and between three and four thousand Footmen The Muscovites lost about twenty seven thousand Foot and fifteen or sixteen thousand Horse The Prince slacked no time after so great a Victory but marching on came into the borders of the Muscovites whom he enforced this agreement That they should become his Tributaries paying yearly one hundred thousand Duckats That the great Duke should defray all the charges of the Wars amounting to three hundred thousand Duckats That he should withdraw his Army and send back all the Prisoners and that for the performance hereof he should give pledges which should be changed every year All which being agreed to he returned with great content and glory to his Father Shortly after the great Cham of Tartary his Fathers Brother being grown old and out of hope of having any more Children moved with the Fame of his Nephew after this Victory sent him divers presents and withal offering him his only Daughter in Marriage sent him word that he would proclaim him Heir apparent to his Empire as indeed in right he was being his Brothers Son and the Daughters not using to succeed in those Empires Which so great an offer Tamerlane gladly accepted and so the marriage was afterwards with great Triumph at the old Emperours Court solemnized and consummated and our Tamerlane
Uncle had caused justice to be done on the chief movers of sedition in Cambalu so that the People complained of the old Emperours cruelty but commended the mercy of Tamerlane When he came back to his Army he was received of all his Souldiers with loud acclamations calling him Most Great Emperour and most Victorious Amongst his Captains he discoursed of the beauty and greatneâ—s of the City of Cambalu and afterwards asked Odmars advise whether it were not best for him to visit the old Emperour and with his Emperess to spend the Winter with him at Quinsay Odmar remembring the honour which he had received there easily perceived his inclination to that journy yet by all means disswaded him from it To which Tamerlane answered that he had always found his fidelity and love to him which he was sorry that he could not recompence to the full But saith he whereas I had thought to give my self some ease I perceive that instead of the delicacies and pleasures of Quinsay I must make the desarts of Cipribit my resting place after my travels in this new Victory yet a rumour being spread that the Prince intended to visit the Emperour every man began to desire to return into his own Country hoping to enjoy the sweetness of his native soil which Tamerlane being informed of calling his Army to a Rendevouz he thus spake unto them We have my faithful Souldiers begun an enterprise against the King of China who hath of late repulsed even beyond the Mountains the Tartarian name but were hindred to our great grief by the foolish rashness of Calix and were driven to turn the bridle to punish him wherein you have all assisted me It grieves me that I cannot as well boast of the fresh spoils of a stranger as I may by the means of your weapons of those of our unfaithful Subjects and as in times past of the fierce Muscovites against whom with your assistance I made trial of my first Arms but for this last Victory being against our own Subjects I cannot speak of it without shedding tears desiring to bury such Victories in oblivion together with all the glory and honour gotten thereby Neither do I recount these things to you but to shew that I forget not your faithfulness and the great travel you have endured for my sake We must not therefore be weary but must turn our weapons against those which imagine us to be full of troubles whereas we are indeed Victorious Our companions and all our amunition is advanced near to our Enemy already we must in that place my Souldiers and friendly Followers pass over the rest of Winter Our Companions look for us our Enemies are secure and look not for us at this season of the year and know that our Army that is already there is not sufficient for offence but only for defence You shall receive double pay the better to furnish you against the injury of cold and as we shall be apparelled with double garments so I hope we shall be cloathed with double glory Having thus spoken his Souldiers all cryed One God in Heaven and one Emperour on Earth shewing their willingness to obey his commands The Prince after this remained there eight days longer sending back Zamai with twenty five thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot to Sachethay for the safety of his estate in those parts and so after solemn and publick Prayers the Army began to march forwards He forgat not likewise to dispatch away a Messenger to the Great Cham to acquaint him with all his purposes which he approved very well of By the same Messenger he also beseeched him in the Spring to send him fifty thousand men to recruit his Army and some moneys for the payment of his Souldiers which also he granted sending also good store of warlike munition and plenty of Victuals knowing how much the success of the War would advance the Tartarian greatness and profit The Army being upon their March in thirty eight days came to Cipribit yet met with many inconveniences by the way There they had news of Calibes who was glad to hear how businesses had passed and came to visit the Prince who entertained him very courteously acquainting him with his purpose and also understood by him how all things passed in the Kingdom of China The next day the Prince came to Pazanfou where Calibes Forces were who had often fought with and tried the valour of the Chinois but found it much inferiour to their own There the Prince took a general Muster of all his Army caused them to be paid took notice of their countenances whilst they all cryed out God save the victorious and invincible Emperour according to their custom The Prince of Thanais who commanded the Army with Calibes had diligently viewed the Wall and the ways by which he might forcibly enter into China and had sent many Spies by certain ways through the Mountains into that Country by whom he was advertised of all their proceedings He had also gained by his courtesie a Lord of those Mountains called the Lord of Vauchefu that commanded over a great Countrey who being desirous of a new Master and to submit to Tamerlane had told the Prince of Thanais that he was able to do Emperour good service and to help him much in his Wars against the Chinois This the Prince of Thanais discovered to Tamerlane who was very desirous to speak with this Lord whereupon a day was appointed and Tamerlane without moving of his Army went to the Tents of the Prince of Thanais where this aforesaid Lord met him and the Emperour having heaped upon him many gifts of fair Horses and rich Furs and other rare things this Lord spake thus unto him Know my Lord that it is but lost labour for you to think that with your Armies you shall be able to force this Wall made by the Chinois to hinder the incursion of your Subjects the Defendants have too much advantage therein I doubt not of your Souldiers valour and courage I know you have conquered many Nations with them and that whatsoever you command them they will effect it or die in the enterprise I know that you have great and wise Captains with you and that you of all Persons in the World are most worthy to command them But all this will be but in vain against the Wall of the Chinois where I assure you are fifty thousand men to keep it neither can you stay there so short a time but there will come fifty thousand more to assist them led by one Xianxi who had already received such a commandment The King of China will himself follow who will give you Battel with two hundred thousand Horsemen and as many Foot and though happily your Fortune and valour may carry away the Victory yet I believe it will cost you dear But to shew you how much the reputation and courtesies of your Servants have prevailed with me
ten thousand of my best Horse whom I will send into every place where I shall think needful within my Army for to impart my commands Over the first forty thousand Horse the Prince of Ciarchan commanded over the formost Footmen was the Lord Synopes a Genovois Kinsman to Axalla and his Lieutenant over the Footmen a Captain of great estimation The Prince Axalla's charge consisted of five Squadrons of Horsemen Bajazet's Army also being fair and great came bravely still on forwards towards their Enemies who stirred not a whit from the place which they had chosen for the Battel except certain light-Horsemen Scythians Parthians and Muscovites who being sent out as loose men hotly skirmished between the two Armies Tamerlane was informed by a spie that Bajazet was on foot in the midst of thirty thousand Janizaries his principal men of War and greatest strength amongst whom he ment that day to fight and in whom he had repoled his greatest hope His Battel of Horse was very fair amounting to the number of one hundred and forty thousand all old Souldiers the Sultan of Egypt also had sent to his aid thirty thousand Mamelukes all excellent good Horsemen with thirty thousand Footmen so that his Army marching all in a front in the form of a half Moon seemed almost as great as Tamerlanes These Turks with infinite number of horrible cries still advanced forwards Tamerlanes Souldiers all the while standing still with great silence Never was there a more furious charge than the Turks gave upon the Prince of Ciarchan who was commanded not to fight till the Enemy came unto him neither could there have been chosen a fairer Plain and where the skilful choice of the place gave less advantage either to the one or to other only Tamerlane had a River on the left side of his Army serving him to some small advantage Now this young Prince of Ciarchan with his forty thousand Horse was in the first encounter almost wholly overthrown yet having fought right valiantly and entred even in the midst of the Janizaries where the Person of Bajazet was putting them into disorder he was himself there slain About which time Axalla set upon them with his squadrons but not with the like danger for having overthrown one of the Enemies Wings and cut it all to pieces and his Footmen coming to joyn with him as was appointed he faced the Battalion of the Janizaries who right valiantly behaved themselves for the safety of their Prince This furious fight continued an hour and yet you could not have seen any scattered but the one still resolutely fighting against the other You might there have seen the Horsemen like mountains rushing together and infinite numbers of men dying crying lamenting and threatning all at the same instant Tamerlane had patience all this while to see the event of this so mortal a fight but perceiving his men at last to be begin to give ground he sent ten thousand of his Horse to joyn with the ten thousand appointed for the Rereward commanding them to assist him when they saw that he had need and so himself gave a furious Charge and made them to give him room causing the Footmen also to charge over whom the Prince of Thanais commanded who gave a gallant charge upon the Battalion of Janizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who before had sustained a great burden Now Bajazet had in his Army a great number of Mercinary Tartars called Destenses with many thousands of other Souldiers taken up in the Countries of the poor exiled Mahometan Princes in whose just quarrel and the Greek Emperours Tamerlane had chiefly undertaken that War These Tartarians and other Souldiers seeing some their friends and other some their natural and loving Princes in Tamerlanes Army stricken with the terrour of disloyalty and abhorring the cruelty of the proud Tyrant in the heat of the Battel revolted from Bajazet to their own Princes which much weakned Bajazets Forces who nevertheless with his own men of War especially the Janizaries and the help of the Christian Souldiers brought to his aid from Servia and other places of Europe with great courage maintained the fight But the multitude rather than true valour prevailed for as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men was by the Janizaries the Mamelukes and the rest performed both for the preservation of their Prince and for gaining the Victory But in the end the Horsemen with whom Tamerlane himself was giving a fresh charge and his Avantguard being rallied and joyning with him he with much ado obtained the Victory Bajazet himself being wounded when he saw all desperate mounted on Horseback thinking to have escaped but falling into Axalla's hands he yielded himself to him supposing him to have been Tamerlane neither did Axalla for a while know him but took him for some great Commander in the Turks Army Musa sirnamed Zelabi or the Noble one of Bajazets Sons with divers other of his great Captains were there taken also and amongst the rest George Despot of Servia who notwithstanding his misfortune had that day by his valour gained the reputation of a great and valiant Captain insomuch as Tamerlane in the very heat of the Battel marvelled to see him and his Servians and the other Christians that he had brought to the aid of Bajazet to fight so valianty whereupon turning to some of his Captains that were near him he said See how valiantly these Religious fight supposing them by their strange attire to have been some of the Turks superstitious Votaries But the Despot being now taken and afterwards brought to Tamerlane he was by him courteously entertained yet withal reproved for that he had assisted Bajazet against him who was come in favour to the Christian Emperour and the other poor oppressed Princes such as the Despot himself was who thereupon boldly answered That indeed it was not according to his profession but according to the prosperity of Bajazet unto whom it seemed that all the world should bend and that he did it for his own safety Whereupon Tamerlane excused him and without any more ado gave him liberty at his own pleasure to depart Bajazet himself Being afterwards brought to Tamerlane as a Prisoner was by him courteously entertained who never shewed any token of submission at all but according to his proud nature without respect of his present state answered him presumptuously to whatever he demanded of him Wherewith Tamerlane being somewhat moved told him that it was in his power to take his life from him whereto he answered no more but Do it for that loss will be my greatest happiness Then Tamerlane demanded of him what made him so proud as to enterprize to bring so noble a Prince as the Greek Emperour into his subjection He answered Even the same cause which moved thee to invade me namely the desire of glory and sovereignity But wherefore then said
Sarazins their conquered Countries free and therefore said he the Treaty of an accord is easie seeing all the question is only to leave to every man his own and to suffer him to enjoy it quietly the World being wide enough for us all But to the end this Treaty might take good effect after many messages to and fro they resolve to come to a Parlee and upon Charlemagne's Faith given Aigoland came to his Camp Charlemagne either really moved with a zeal for Religion or at least making it the colour of his Actions gave the Sarazin to understand that he should have his Friendship if he would leave his Pagan Superstition be Baptized and make open profession of Christianity The Sarazin although he had a goodly Army yet not willing to hazard any thing and content with his former revenge upon Charlemagne desired nothing more than to return quietly into Spain And being now in the midst of his Enemies Camp to maintain his reputation he made no shew at all of fear but talking to his own advantage as if no Force but only reason should move him he entred into a serious and cunning discourse with Charlemagne shewing That unnecessary Wars were the ruin of Mankind and that he was grieved to see so much Blood spilt That he had not begun but followed being urged by necessity to defend himself and his Countrey against the Forces of Charlemagne That he was not yet so dejected nor his Forces so weak as to refuse the Battel But for that it would be an infinite loss to hazard the lives of so many men he desired rather to make tryal of the right by some Troops and they that vanquished should be deemed to have the right and true Religion on their side Protesting to yield to that Religion which should appear to be the best upon this tryal This Proposal and condition was accepted by Charlemagne The combate was fought the proof made and the Christian Troop vanquished that of the Sarazin Then did Aigoland protest openly that he would become a Christian but in heart he had no such meaning and therefore took this opportunity to fly from his promise He gives Charlemagne a visit and finds him at the Table well accompanied with his chief followers for then it was the custome of Kings not to sit and eat alone but casting his eye aside he saw twelve poor men ill apparelled sitting upon the ground near to the Table of the Noblemen and demanded what those poor miserable creatures were which did there feed apart One answered That they were the servants of God He then replied Surely your God is of small account whose servants are so miserable and contemptible And thereupon takes an occasion to retire himself having lost nothing but made great advantage by this Treaty Having hereby qualified the force of Charlemagne viewed his Army made shew of his own courage and dexterity and all without an Ambassadour Charlemagne on the other side seeing himself thus deluded and affronted was resolved to take revenge for so notable a loss of men and so bold an attempt of the Sarazin so that with all speed he raised an Army of a hundred and thirty thousand men and being thus fraught with Choler and indignation he returned into Spain His first entry was prosperous For in the encounter he defeated Aigolands Army near to Pampelune and for a Seal of his Victory he carried away the head of Aigoland his Enemy who was slain by the hand of Arnold of Belange a Noble and Valiant Knight But the sequel was not answerable to the beginning For notwithstanding the overthrow of the Sarazin Troops all the rest in Spain were not vanquished where there were more Kings and more men of War who kept correspondence with Amurath King of Babylon which place was their Nursery and Store-house Marsile and Belingand two Brethren were the chief of thè remainder of the Sarazin Army wherein there was a great Babylonian Gyant called Ferragat of an exceeding stature him did Rowland slay who was Nephew to Charlemagne after which the Sarazins gathered together the relicts of their broken Troops and made a shew of resolute men vowing to sell their lives at a dear rate to Charlemagne being favoured by many great and good Towns in the Countrey Charlemagne makes a sudden stop and pursues not his Victory God reserving to himself a Sovereign power over all mens designes yea over the greatest and in matters of greatest consequence to the end that all may learn to ask Counsel and success of him and it was his will and pleasure that the French Forces should not conquer and possess Spain the which he had reserved as a portion for another Nation Thus Charles who should have prosecuted his late Victory vigorously grew remiss which encouraged Idnabala the Sarazin who had free access into the Camp to make a motion of Peace He was a good Secretary of his own Companions minds what shew soever he made of speaking of himself Charlemagne finding by his late experience that the event of War is uncertain and doubtful and that this War tended to the loss of his Subjects who imployed both their lives and goods for the purchase of an uncertain Victory and seeing himself overburdened with great affairs in his other Estates to the preservation whereof reason did summon him rather than to seek for new he seemed not unwilling to hearken to the motion of Idnabala who assured him that he found the Sarazins affairs to be so desperate that they would be glad to embrace his friendship at whatsoever rate they purchased it The Treaty hereupon began and the chief Article was propounded which was that they should embrace the Christian Religion and this Charlemagne seemed to urge with great vehemency but finding the Sarazins obstinate in their refusal he was content to grant them peace paying him some great sums of money as a token that they had been vanquished by him And accordingly he sent a Noble man of his Court named Ganes to treat with them who being by bribes corrupted by Marsile and Belingand undertook so to order businesses that Charlemagne should return into France and by the way should receive a notable disgrace yet they seemed to make such a composition and agreement which in shew was very honourable for Charlemagne to whom they promised to pay as an Homage and acknowledgment for the Peace he should grant them what sums of money he would appoint and that thereupon he should retire with his Army into France yet leaving such Forces in Spain as he pleased to see the condition which should be agreed upon performed But Ganes had discovered to them that Charlemagne upon other accounts was necessitated to return and therefore desired to leave the smallest Forces that he could in Spain The Agreement being thus concluded Charlemagne departed with his Army attending a better opportunity to effect what he had designed and he left his Nephew Rowland only with
six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse The Athenians having intelligence hereof sent their Army under the conduct of Chabrias who marched directly to Corinth where he met with a good supply of Souldiers from the Megarians Pallenians and Corinthians so that now he had a Brigade of ten thousand men These intended to fortifie and stop all the passages and entrances into the Country of Peloponnesus The Lacedemonians and their Allies joyning also with them made up an Army of twenty thousand men And accordingly beginning at the City of Cencrees unto the Haven of Lecheum they blocked all the ways from one Sea to another with mighty great pieces of Timber laid across and with a marvellous deep Diteh and this great work was followed with such speed both by reason of the great multitude of labourers as also through the frowardness of them that prosecuted it with such earnestness that they had quite finished it before the Boeotians could arrive there Epaminondas when he came thither viewing this fortification perceiving that the easiest place to storm it was that which the Lacedemonians themselves guarded he sent to give them defiance though they were thrice as many in number as he was yet for all this they durst not come out but kept close under their fortification Notwithstanding he assaulted them in it and at last drave them out In the heat of the fight every one doing his best some assailing others defending Epaminondas chose out the valiantest men in all his Army and bravely charging the Lacedemonians he forced them to give back and in dispite of them he entered into Peloponnesus which of all other his Noble exploits was the most wonderful and memorable action From thence he marched to the Cities of Epidaure and Trozen and so pillaged all the Country But he stayed not to take any of the Towns because they had strong Garrisons in them Yet he put Sicyone Phuente and some other Towns into such fear that they yielded themselves to him This being done he went to Corinth and overcame the Corinthians in a set Battel and beat them home even to the Gates of their City Yea some of his men were so unadvised trusting to their own Valour that they entered the Gates of their City pel mel with those that fled which put the Corinthians into such a terrible fear that they ran with all speed possible to shelter themselves in their Houses But Chabrias making head beat them out again and slew some whereupon he caused a token of Triumph to be set up as if he had given the Thebans an overthrow for which Epaminondas laughed him to scorn The Boeotians brought their Army as neer unto Corinth as they could and Chabrias with his Army encamped without the Walls in a very strong Place of advantage and there were many Skirmishes betwixt them in which Chabrias behaved himself with such Valour that he gained great reputation even of Epaminondas himself who upon a time being asked whom he thought to be the greatest Captain himself Chabrias or Iphecrates It s hard said he to judg whilst we are all alive News was brought to him that the Athenians had again sent an Army into Peloponnesus furnished with new Armor Indeed this Army consisted of ten thousand Spaniards and Gauls whom Dyonisius the Tyrant sent out of Sicily to aid the Lacedemonians having paid them for five months they did some reasonable service in this War and at the end of Summer returned home again It fell out in these last encounters that Epaminondas having forced the Lacedemonians that guarded the fortification before mentioned had many of them in his power to have slain them but he contented himself only with this Glory that in dispite of them he had entered into Peloponnesus seeking to do them no more hurt which gave occasion to those that envied his Glory to blame him and to accuse him of Treason as having willingly spared the enemies because they should in particular thank him only But here it will not be improper to take notice how he behaved himself amongst his Citizens and how wisely he defended his own Integrity Amongst all those that envied his Glory and Virtue there was one Meneclides an Orator and an eloquent man but withall most wicked and very malicious He finding that Eâ—aminondas won so much honour by the Wars never left perswading the Thebans to embrace Peace and prefer it before War and that because hereby they should not always live under the obedience and command of one man But Epaminondas one day told him in the open Counsel Thou wilt said he deceive the Thebans whilst thou advisest them to leave the Wars and highly commended ease and Peace thou goest about to put iron bolts upon their Feet For War begets Peace which yet cannot hold long but amongst them that know how to maintain it with the Sword Then turning himself to the Citizens he said If you will have the Principality and command of all Greece you must shroud your selves in your Tents and lie in your Pavillions in the open Fields and not follow Sports and Pastimes here at home For he knew well enough that the Boeotians undid themselves by ease and Idleness which made him endeavour continually to keep them in exercise and War Upon a time when the Thebans were to choose Captains they went about to choose Epaminondas one of the six Counsellours whereupon he said to them My Masters pray you consider of it now you are at leasure before you choose me For I tell you plainly If I be chosen your Captain you must to the Wars He used to call the Country of Boeotia which was a plain and Champion Country the Stage of War saying that it was impossible to keep it unless the Inhabitants had their Targets on their Arms and their Swords in their hands and this was not because he did not love Peace and privacy to study Philosophy or that he was not more careful of them that were under his charge than he was of himself using always to watch and forbear his meat when the Thebans were at their Banquets and Feasts giving themselves over to their pleasures but because he knew them well enough and was never more careful of any thing than to keep his Army from Idleness Upon a time the Arcadians desired him that some of his Companions might come into one of their Towns to lie dry and warm there all the Winter but he would by no means yield to it For said he to his Souldiers now they see you exercising your selves in Arms they wonder at you as brave and valiant men but if they should see you at the Fire side parching of Beans they would esteem no better of you than of themselves Neither could he endure Covetuousness for if at sometimes he gave his men leave to go a free booting his meaning was that whatsoever they got should be bestowed in furnishing them with good Arms and if any went about to
Pelopidas and Ismenias So with them he returned back to Thebes and always continued a faithful Friend to Pelopidas so long as they lived together Yet would he never share with him in his Riches but did still persevere in his former strict Poverty and Discipline He was very bold and yet it was mingled with a winning sweetness and a lively grace as may appear in sundry Examples Besides his bold speech to Agesilaus mentioned before At another time the Argians having made a League with the Thebans the Athenians sent their Ambassadors into Arcadâ—a to see if they could gain the Arcadians to be their Friends And these Ambassadors began roundly and hotly to charge and accuse both the one and the other and Callistratus speaking for them reproached them with Orestes and Oedipus Epaminondas being present at that Assembly stood up and said My Lords we confess that in times past we had a man that killed his Father and in Argos one that killed his Mother but as for us now we have banished all such wicked Murtherers out of our Country and the Athenians have intertained them At another time when the Spartans had laid many great and grievous imputations to the charge of the Thebans he said If they have done nothing else my Lords of Sparta yet at least they have made you forget to speak little But that which was most excellent and observable in Epaminondas and which indeed did stop the mouth of envy it self was his moderation and temperance knowing how to use any state or condition and never to rage either against himself or others always bearing this mind that howsoever they took him and in what place soever they set him he was well contented so that he might but advance the good of his Country As may appear by this Example on a time his evil-willers thinking to bring him into disgrace and meerly out of spite made him superintendant or overseer of all the customs whilst others of his inferiors unworthy to be compared with him were placed in the most honourable Offices Yet despised he not this mean Office but discharged it very Faithfully For said he the Office or Authority shews not only what the man is but also the man what the Office is Shortly after Epaminondas was returned out of Thessaly the Arcadians were overcome by Archidamus and the Lacedemonians who in the fight lost not a man and therefore they called this journey the tearless Battel and Epaminondas foreseeing that the Arcadians would yet have another storm he gave them counsel to fortifie their Towns which they did accordingly and built that City which afterwards was called Megalopolis situated in a very convenient place Whilst the Thebans made War with the Elians their Neighbours the mind of Epaminondas was always lifted up to high enterprizes for the good of his Country wherefore in an Oration which he made to his Citizens he perswaded them to make themselves strong by Sea and to endeavour to get the principality and to make themselves the Lords thereof This Oration was full of lively reason whereby he shewed and proved unto them that the enterprize was both honourable and profitable which he made out by sundry Arguments telling them that it was an easie thing for them who were now the stronger by Land to make themselves also the stronger by Sea and the rather for that the Athenians in the War against Xerxes though they had armed and set forth two hundred Gallies armed and well appointed with men yet they willingly submitted themselves to the Lacedemonians He alleadged many other reasons whereby he prevailed so far that the Thebans were willing to undertake the enterprize and thereupon gave present order to build an hundred Gallies and an Arsenal with so many Rooms that they might lay them under covert in the Dock They ordered also to send to them of Rhodes and of Chio and of Byzantium to desire their furtherance in this enterprize for which end Epaminondas was sent with an Army unto these Cities In his Passage he met with Leches a Captain of the Athenians with a number of Ships in his Fleet who was set on purpose to hinder this design of the Thebans Yet Epaminondas so affrighted him that he made him retire back again and holding on his course he brought the aforenamed Cities to enter into League with the Thebans Shortly after the Thebans fell out with the City of Orchomene which had done them great hurt and mischief and having won it by assault slew all the men that were able to bear Arms and made all the women and children Slaves Some time after the death of Pelopidas certain private Persons of Mantinea fearing to be called to an account for their bad behaviours and robberies which they had committed if the Arcadians and Elians should agree they so brought it about that they raised a new quarrel in the Country which was divided into two Factons whereof the Mantineans were the chief on the one side and the Tageates on the other This quarrel went so far that the Parties would needs try it by Arms. The Tageates sent to request aid of the Thebans who accordingly chose Epaminondas their Captain General and sent him with a good number of men of War to aid the Tageates The Mantineans being terrified with this aid that came out of Boeotia to their enemies and at the reputation of their Captain they immediately sent to the Athenians and Lacedemonians the greatest enemies of the Boeotians for their assistance which both the Cities granted Upon this there fell out many and great skirmishes in divers parts of Peloponnesus and Epaminondas being not far off from Mantinea understood by some of the Country men that Agesilaus and his Lacedemonians were come into the Field and that they wasted all the Territories of the Tageates whereupon judging that there were but few men left in the City of Sparta to defend it he undertook a great exploit and dangerous and had certainly effected it if the marvelous good Fortune of Sparta had not hindred it His design was this He departed from Tegea by Night the Mantineans knowing nothing of it and taking a by way he had certainly surprised Sparta without striking a stroak had not a Post of Candia speedily carried word of it to Agesilaus who immediately dispatched away an Horse-man to give intelligence to them of Sparta to stand upon their guard and he himself speedily hasted after and arrived there a little before the coming of the Thebans who being very near the City a little before day they gave an assault to them that defended it This made Agesilaus to bestir himself wonderfully even beyond the strength of so old a man But his Son Archidamus and Isadas the Son of Phoebidas fought valiantly on all parts Epaminondas seeing how prepared the Spartans were to oppose him began then to suspect that his design was discovered yet notwithstanding he left not off to force them all he could
the West side of the City they upon the Walls shot at him with Darts and Arrows others also sallying out in Troops beat up some of his quarters Then did Herod by an Herald proclaim round about the Walls that he came for the publick good and to preserve the City from ruin and withal he promised pardon for all former actings On the other side Antigonus directing his Speech to Silo and the Romans told them that it was unjustly done of the Senate to give the Kingdom to Herod a private man and an Idumaean and so but an half-Jew whereas by custom it was to be given to one of the High-Priests line His men also shooting valiantly from the Towers drave the enemy from the Walls and Silo who was beforehand bribed by Antigonus suborned some of his Souldiers to demand of Herod more provisions and larger pay and to be withdrawn into commodious Winter-quarters The Army being thus troubled and beginning to dislodg Herod intreated the Captains and Souldiers of Silo's Army that they would not now forsake him he being sent both by Anthony Caesar and the Senate to take possession of the Kingdom and withal he sent into all the Country and brought in such store of provisions that there was no occasion for Silo and his Army to complain He commanded his Friends also that inhabited about Samaria that they should bring to Jericho Corn Wine Oyl Cattle and other necessaries that the Souldiers for the future might have plenty Antigonus having intelligence hereof sent forth some to intercept the Victualers but Herod taking with him some Cohorts viz. five of the Romans and as many of the Jews with some forreign Souldiers and a few Horse mixed with them flew out to Jericho and found the City forsaken of the Inhabitants and five hundred Families of them were fled to the tops of the Hills whom he took and dismissed in safety But the Romans entring the City plundered it where they found all sorts of precious movables Herod leaving a Garrison there returned to his Camp before Jerusalem and then dismissed the Romans sending them into Winter-quarters in Idumaea Samaria and Galile which Countries were lately surrendred to them But Antigonus by bribes obtained of Silo that part of the Roman Army should he quartered in Lydda currying thereby favour with Anthony and thus the Romans lived in plenty and without bearing Arms. But Herod could not be idle For sending his Brother Joseph into Idumaea with a thousand Foot and four hundred Horse himself went into Samaria and there setled his Mother and the rest of his kindred whom he had drawn out of Massada Then did he march into Galile where he surprized some places which were yet held by Antigonus his Garrisons and when he came to Sephorus in snowy weather Antigonus his men fled away and there he found great store of necessaries From thence he sent a Troop of Horse and three Companies of Foot against some Thieves that dwelt in Caves not far from the Village Arbela by which means he kept them from doing mischief Then he marched with his whole Army whom the enemy met and encountred resolutely inso much as Herods left wing began to waver till himself coming on with the main body encouraged his own men to stand their ground and caused the enemy to flee whom he followed as far as Jordan by which Victory he brought all Galile into his subjection except those that dwelt in the Caves and so giving to every one of his Souldiers a hundred and fifty Drachmes and more to his Captains he dismissed them into their Winter-quarters There came Silo to him with his Captains who had wintered with Antigonus and who now would maintain them no longer commanding the Inhabitants thereabout to spoil the Country of all Victuals and to retire to the mountains that the Romans might perish through famine But Herod committed the charge of provisions to his Brother Pheroras and withal commanded him to rebuild Alexandrium who in a short time furnished the Souldiers with abundance of all necessaries and built again Alexandrium that had formerly been dismantled Ventidius in Syria sent for Silo to assist him against the Parthians but commanded him first to assist Herod and to bring Herod and the rest of the Auxiliaries of those Provinces along with him But Herod sending Silo to him went himself with his Souldiers against the Thieves that lived in Caves and in the mean time made Ptolomy Governour of the Country which fell out ill for him for being set upon by those who had formerly disturbed the Country he was slain by them after which they retired into Fens and inaccessible places infesting with their inrodes and robberies all the Country But when Herod returned he made them pay dear for their Thieveries for some of them he killed others flying to their fortified places he pursued and having taken them put them to death and razed their strong holds and sined the Cities in an hundred Talents About this time Anthony commanded Ventidius to send Machaeras to aid Herod with two Legions and a thousand Horse but when he came being corrupted by Antigonus with money he would needs go to him against Herods mind under a colour of observing his actions but Antigonus suspecting him denied him admittance and drave him away with slings whereby he found that Herod had given him good counsel and blamed himself for not following of it whereupon he retired to Emmaus and in his march killed all the Jews that came to hand without distinction of Friend or Foe being provoked by Antigonus his dealing At which cruelty Herod was much grieved intending to go to Anthony and saying that he needed other manner of men than those who did him more hurt than his enemies whereas of himself he was able to subdue Antigonus but Machaeras overtaking him intreated him to stay or if he was resolved to go on yet at least that he would leave with him his Brother Joseph that with their united Forces they might make war upon Antigonus Thus after much intreaty he was reconciled to Machaeras and so leaving his brother Joseph with his Army he commanded him in his absence that he should not put all to the hazard of a Battel but himself hasted to Anthony whom he found besieging Samosata a City near to the River Euphrates and carried along with him some Auxiliaries both of Horse and Foot Anthony entertained him very honourably and much praised him for his valour Joseph unmindful of his Brothers command taking with him his own Forces and five Roman Cohorts that were given him by Machaeras went towards Jericho purposing to reap the enemies Corn now that it was ripe and encamped in the mountains because the Roman Cohorts were raw Souldiers most of them being lately taken up in Syria yet there he was circumvented by the enemy in the midst of those fastnesses and having lost six Cohorts he himself valiantly fighting was
into Arabia Nabathaea vvhere they vvere entertained by Silaeus vvho vvas an enemy to Herod because he had denyed him his Sister Salome to Wife vvho gave them a place to dvvell in that vvas vvell fortified Herod and his Sons sailing homvvard arrived at Sebaste in Cilicia vvhere they met vvith Archelaus King of Cappadocia vvho courteously entertained Herod much rejoycing that his Sons vvere reconciled to him and that Alexander had fairly ansvvered the crimes that vvere objected against him and so giving royal gifts each to other they parted Herod being returned into Iudea called the people together and told them what he had done in his Voyage and declared to them that his Sons should Reign after him first Antipater and then Alexander and Aristobulus that he had by Mariamne About this time in the year of the world 3994 Agrippa the first King of the Iews of that name was born who dyed when he was fifty four years old being struck by an Angel Act. 12. 23. Also that lame man was now born who being above forty years old was healed by Peter at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple Act. 4. 22. Herod having finished Caesarea Stratonis in the twenty eighth year of his Reign he dedicated it with great solemnity and many sports and pastimes After which he began to build another Town in a field called Capharsala which he called Antipatris after his Fathers name and a Castle also which he called Cyprus after his Mothers name In honour also of his dead Brother he built in Ierusalem a very fair Tower not inferiour to the Egyptian Pharos and called it Phasaelus and afterwards he built a Town of the same name in the Valley of Iericho from whence the Countrey thereabouts is called Phasalus Herod having wasted his wealth by his great Prodigality and now wanting mony after the example of John Hyrcanus in the night without the knowledg of the people he opened Davids Sepulchre where though he found no money yet he found great store of precious things and ornaments of gold which he took away for the expiation of which fact he afterwards built a most sumptuous Monument of white Marble at the entrance of the Sepulchre Antipater suborning other men falsly to accuse his Brethren Alexander and Aristobulus takes upon him their defence that making a shew of good will to them he might the easier oppress them and by these subtilties he so wrought upon his Father that he thought him to be his only preserver Hereupon Herod commended his Steward Ptolomy unto Antipater and communicated all his Counsels with his Mother Doris so that all things were done as they pleased and still the King was imbittered against those whom it was their profit that he should be angry with About this time Pheroras Herods Brother fell so madly in love with his own servant that he refused marriage with Cypros the Kings Daughter that was offered him by his Brother He also accused Herod to his Son Alexander as if he had been greatly in love with his Wife Glaphyra for both which Herod was highly displeased with him In the year of the world 3996 he began to be diseased who lying at the Pool of Bethesda was after thirty eight years restored to health by Christ Joh. 5. 5. Alexander by the subtilties of his adversaries being even driven to desperation was at this time reconciled to his Father by Archelaus King of the Cappadocians who came to Jerusalem to visit Herod and being accounted one of Herods chief Friends received great gifts from him and when he departed Herod brought him as far as Antioch Not long after Herod went a third time to Rome to visit Caesar in whose absence those Thieves of Trachonis whom Sylloeus had entertained with their inrodes infested not only Judaea but all Coelosyria Syllaeus affording them both impunity and security Herod being returned from Rome celebrated the Dedication of the Temple re-edified by him in the space of nine years and a half on the very Birth-day of his Kingdom which he was wont to celebrate with great joy at which time he Sacrificed unto God three hundred Oxen and other of the people offered an innumerable company of Sacrifices every one according to his ability Herod finding that in his absence his People had sustained much dammage by those Thieves of Trachonis and seeing he could not subdue them being under the protection of the Arabian he therefore entred Trachonis and destroyed their Families which yet did but incense them the more so that contemning all dangers they molested Herods Countries with continual excursions driving and carrying away the peoples Goods Herod hereupon sent to the Presidents of Syria Saturninus and Volumnius desiring that he might have the punishing of the Thieves of Trachonis who by their incursions had often wasted his Country They when they heard hereof being increased to the number of a thousand began to waste both Fields and Villages cutting the throats of all that fell into their hands wherefore Herod demanded those Thieves to be delivered over to him and withall required the sixty Talents that he had lent Obodas upon Syllaeus his security who had thrust Obodas from the Government and now ruled all himself But Syllaeus denied that the Thieves were in Arabia and deferred also to pay the money whereupon the business was debated before Saturninus and Volumnius and in conclusion it was determined by them that within thirty dayes space both the money should be repaid and the runawayes of both Countries should be delivered up and Syllaeus swore by the Fortune of Caesar before the Presidents of Syria that he would perform what was enjoyned But when the time was expired Syllaeus being unwilling to stand to the agreement went to Rome and in the mean time Herod by the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius to punish those obstinate people raised an Army entred Arabia and marched as far in three dayes as they used to do in seven and when he came to the Castle where the Thieves kept he took it at the first assault and demolished a Fortress also called Raeptu and when a Captain of the Arabians came to their aid they joyned Battel in which few of the Herodians were slain but there dyed twenty five of the Arabians together with their Captain whereupon the rest â—led Being thus revenged of the Thieves he brought three thousand Idumaeans into Trachona to restrain the Thieveries committed there and certified the Roman Generals that he had only used that power which they had granted against those obstimate Arabians which upon enquiry they found to be true There were Letters posted away to Rome to Syllaeus that related matters far otherwise aggravating every thing after their manner by which Lyes Caesar was so much incensed against Herod that he wrote threatning Letters to him because he had marched with an Army out of his own Kingdom without his leave and he was so far provoked that he would
not hear his Ambassadours but dismissed them without an answer The Trachonites and Arabians taking hold of this occasion molested the Garison of the Idumaeans that Herod had set over them but Herod being affrighted with Caesars anger was fain to connive at it About this time Obodas King of Arabia Nabathaea dyed and one Aeneas succeeded him who changed his name into Aretas which Syllaeus hearing of at Rome endeavoured by false accusations to have him thrust from the Kingdom and to get it to himself bestowing much money upon the Courtiers and promising great things unto Caesar whom he knew to be offended with Aretas for assuming the Kingdom without his consent In the mean while Aretas sent Letters and rich presents unto Caesar and amongst them a Crown worth many Talents But Caesar would not hear his Ambassadours and scorned his Presents and dismissed them without any thing done Herod being continually vexed with the insolencies of the Arabians sent Nicholas Damascene to Rome to see if by the mediation of his Friends he could get Justice from Caesar But in the mean time the discord with his Sons that he had by Mariamne was greatly heightned by the artifices of Eurichus a Lacedemonian which occasioned Herod to find out their supposed Treachery to put to death by various torments many both of his own and of his Sons Friends yet could he find no other evil by them but some too free complaints of improvident young men concerning their Fathers immoderate cruelty and his too easie hearkning to base pick-thanks of the wicked deceits of their Brother Antipater and of the faction that was combined against them and that to free themselves from these mischiefs they were said to think of flying to Archelaus King of Cappadocia which thing indeed they did not deny Hereupon Herod cast them into Prison as if they had been convicted of Treason against their Father resolving to punish them according as his affairs went at Rome and concerning this business he sent Letters to Caesar by Volumnius the Roman General and Olympius his Friend At Rome Nicholas Damascene joyned himself to the Arabians that came to accuse Syllaeus professing that he was his accuser also before Augustus and not Herods defender and this he did lest he should be repulsed as others had been before him When by this means he had gotten access into Caesars presence he indeed laid open many of Syllaeus his crimes and withall added that Caesar was circumvented with his lyes in the cause of Herod which he confirmed by certain authentick records This so prevailed with Caesar that he condemned Syllaeus and remanded him into the Province that when he had satisfied the debt he might be punished From this time Augustus was reconciled to Aretas and Herod and then received the Presents that before he had so often rejected and confirmed the Kingdom of the Arabians to Aretas He advised Herod also by his Letters to call a Council of his Friends at Berytus and joyning the Presidents of Syria with Archelaus the King of Cappadocia by their joynt advice to determine of the business about his Sons About this time the Angel Gabriel who long before had foretold to Daniel the coming of the Messias by a certain number of Weeks appeared at the right side of the Altar of incense to Zachary the Priest of the course of Abia telling him that there should be born to him now in his old age his Wise Elizabeth also being well stricken in years and barren a Son Called John a Nazarite and the forerunner of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias which he not believing was made dumb Luke 1. 5. 22. Herod having received Augustus his Letters rejoyced exceedingly both because he was returned into his favour and for that he had granted him power to do what he would with his Sons and hereupon he convened by messengers all those that Caesar had appointed to Berythus except only Archelaus and kept his Sons not far from the place in a City of the Sidonians and the Case being opened Saturninus one that had been Consul delivered his opinion but moderated with circumstances that Herods Sons were to be condemned but not to be put to death After him his three Sons that were his Lieutenants delivered their opinions to the same purpose But Voluminus pronounced that they were to be punished with death whose opinion the major part followed and so the Council being ended Herod took his Sons with him and meeting with Nicholas Damascene at Tyrus they went together to Caesarea Here whenas a certain old Souldier named Tyro had smartly reprehended Herod for his wickedness determined against his Sons and told him that three hundred more of his Captains were of the same opinion Herod commanded him to be cast into Prison Trypho the Kings Barber taking this occasion accused Tyro for that he had often sollicited him to cut the Kings throat with his razor as he was trimming him and immediatly both Tyro and his Son and the Barber were tortured and Herod bringing those three hundred Captains and Tyro and his Son and the Barber accused them before the People against whom the people throwing any thing that came next to hand slew them every one Then were Alexander and Aristobulus led to Sebaste and there strangled by their Fathers command and their bodies were buried in the Castle of Alexandrion where Alexander their Grandfather by the Mothers side and many of their Progenitors had been buried Antipater when his Brethren were now dead intended to remove his Father also out of the way and knowing that he was hated by many in the Kingdom he endeavoured by Bribes to get the good will of his Fathers Friends both at Rome and in Judea but especially of Saturninus the President of Syria and of Pheroras and Salome the Brother and Sister of Herod At this time Herod sent home Glaphira the Widow of his Son Alexander to her Father Archelaus the King of Cappadocia and gave her a Dowry out of his Treasury lest some controversie should arise concerning it and withall he took great care of the young children of Alexander and Aristobulus which Antipater took very heavily fearing lest when they should come to age they would hinder his designs he sought therefore their destruction and he so overcame Herod by his flatteries that he suffered him to marry the daughter of Aristobulus and his Son to marry the daughter of his Unkle Pheroras About this time Herod invited Zamaris a Babylonian Jew and gave him a Countrey in Trachonis to inhabit and this he did that he might be a guard to that Countrey against Thieves and Zamaris coming with five hundred Horse and an hundred of his Kinsmen erected Castles in divers places of that Country by which means he secured the Jews that came from Babylon to the Feasts at Jerusalem from the Thieves Antipater working Treason against his Father drew in his Unkle Pheroras and some
and gave him Battel by Sea and after endured a Siege by Land Yet after a while they besought him to receive them to mercy yielding themselves their Towns and Islands which they had strongly fortified into his hands Thus was this War ended and all the Pirats within less than three Months space driven out of the Seas Pompey won also a great number of Ships and ninety Gallies armed with Copper Spurs As for those whom he had taken who were in number about twenty thousand lusty Men and good Souldiers he would not put them to Death but planted them in inland Countries in certain small Towns of the Cilicians that were scarce inhabited who were very glad of them and gave them Lands to maintain them and whereas the City of the Solians had not long before been destroyed by Tygranes King of Armenia he replenished it again by placing many of them there He bestowed others of them in the City of Dyma in the Country of Achaia which lacked Inhabitants and had great store of good Land belonging to it though many of his Enemies greatly blamed him for it Before Pompey was chosen General against the Pirats young Metellus was sent Praetor into Creet who finding it to be a Den of these Thieves he took many of them and put them to Death the rest that escaped being straightly besieged by him sent unto Pompey craving pardon and desiring him to receive them to mercy Pompey accordingly pardoned them and wrote to Metellus requiring him to give over that War commanding the Cities also that they should not obey Metellus He sent also Lucius Octavius one of his Lieutenants who entered into the Towns besieged by Metellus and sought against him in the behalf of the Pirats This act of Pompey procured him much ill will for that he fought for the common Enemies of the World who had neither God nor Law and that only to deprive a Roman Praetor of his Triumph who had done such good service against them Yet Metellus left not off his Wars for Pompey's Letters but having taken the Pirats he put them to Death When the news came to Rome that the Piratick War was ended and that Pompey had no more to do but to go from City to City to visit them one Manlius a Tribune of the People brought in another Law that Pompey taking the Army from Lucullus and all the Provinces under his Government with all Bythinia which Glabrio kept should go and War upon Tygranes and Methridates and yet reserve in his hands all his jurisdiction and Army by Sea in as royal a manner as he had it before which was to make him an absolute Monarch over all the Roman Empire The Senate stuck not so much at the injury offered to Lucullus depriving him of the honour of his doings and giving it to another but that which most grived them was to see Pompey's power established into a plain Tyranny Hereupon they encouraged one another to oppose it to the uttermost yet when the day came for the passing of this Law they all drew back for fear of angring the People and none durst oppose it Only Catulus inveied against it a long time together But say what he could the Decree passed by the voices of the Tribes And thus was Pompey in his absence made Lord of all that which Sylla with much effusion of blood had attained to with great difficulty When Pompey by Letters from Rome was informed what Law the People had past in his behalf he seemed to be much grieved that such great Offices and charges should be laid upon him one in the neck of another and clapping his hands on his Thigh he said O Gods shall I never see an end of these troubles Had it not been better for me to have been a mean Man and unknown than thus continually to be ingaged in War What! shall I never see the time that breaking the neck of spite and envy against me I may yet once in my life live quietly at hone in my Country with my Wife and Children His Friends that were about him were much displeased with this his deep dissimulation knowing that his ambitious desire to rule made him glad at heart to be thus imployed the rather because of the contention between him and Lucullus which his deeds forthwith discovered Hereupon he sent forth his Preceps into all quarters requiring all Souldiers immediately to repare to him and caused all the Kings and Princes within his jurisdiction to attend him and so going through all the Countries he changed all that Lucullus had before established He also released the penalties that were imposed upon them and took from them all the favours that Lucullus had granted them Lucullus finding himself so hardly dealt with Friends on both sides mediated a meeting betwixt them that they might talk together and accordingly they met in Galatia having their Sergeants and Officers with Rods wreathed about vvith Lawrel carried before them vvhich shevved that Pompey came to take Lucullus's honour from him Indeed Lucullus had been Consul before Pompey and was the older man yet Pompey exceeded him in dignity having Triumphed twice At their first meeting they discoursed very courteously each commending the others deeds and each rejoycing at the others good success but at parting they fell to hot words Pompey upbraiding Lucullus's covetousness and Lucullus Pompey's ambition so that their Friends had much ado to part them Lucullus when he was gone divided the Lands in Galatia which he had conquered and bestowed other gifts upon them Pompey on the other side camping hard by him commanded the People every where not to obey him He took his Souldiers also from him leaving him only sixteen hundred choosing out such as he thought would do him small service He blemished his Glory also telling every one that Lucullus had fought only with the shadow and pomp of those two Kings and that he had left him to fight with all their force and power Lucullus on the other side said that Pompey went only to fight with such as himself had subdued and that he sought the honour of Triumph over Armenia and Pontus as he had formerly practised to Triumph for overcoming a few Slaves and Fugitives Lucullus being now gone Pompey sent strong Garrisons into all the Sea coast from Phoenicia to the Bosphorus and then marched towards Methridates who had in his Camp thirty thousand Footmen and two thousand Horsemen yet durst he not fight but encamped upon an high Mountain till he was forced to leave it for lack of Water He was no sooner gone but Pompey seized upon the place and setting his Souldiers to dig he found Water enough for all his Army Then he encamped round about Methridates besieging him in his own Camp Methridates endured it forty five days and then slaying all the sick and impotent in his Camp with the choise of his Army he escaped by Night Another time Pompey found him by the
yielded himself unto Caesar and putting off his Generals Robe he went to his Tent and submitted to him Octavian received him as if he had never offended very courteously and honourably but restored him neither to his State nor power and sent him with a good company to Rome without any Office but the High Priesthood which he had held ever since the Death of Julius Caesar and so this difference was ended without bloodshed Octavian now retaining Sicily to himself and having devested Lepidus of the Triumvirat he appropriated to himself the Province of Africk and remained General of the three Armies to wit of Lepidus of Pompey and of his own wherein were forty five Legions of Footmen and twenty five thousand Horse all well armed besides many other Numidians He had also upon the Sea six hundred Gallies and many Ships and Brigandines And now waited only for an opportunity to fall out with Mark Anthony that he might make himself Lord of all Yet for the present he paid his Souldiers as well as he could and gave Coronets Honours and Arms to those who had deserved well in these Wars He then dispersed his Armies sending them to their own homes loaden with many fair promises He also left and sent Praetors and Governours into Sicily and Africk and so hasted towards Rome where he was received with Ovation which was little less than a Triumph with incredible joy and honour and was so exceedingly beloved that in many places they erected Temples and Altars to him as to their Gods and he reformed such things as by reason of the Wars were grown out of order At this time Mark Anthony who was in the East though he had no great success in his Parthian War yet was he still of great power very Rich and well obeyed in the Provinces of Greece Asia and Aegypt and in the rest of his Governments But he was so besotted with the love and company of Cleopatra the Queen of Aegypt that he thought of nothing but how to saitsfie her humour in the mean time neglecting and forgetting his Wife Octavia the Sister of Octavian who in beauty and Wisdom was nothing inferiour to Cleopatra and in virtue and goodness did far excel her The Monarchy of the World being thus divided between these two the one in the East the other in the West yet as though each of them had not enough they studied each of them to supplant and destroy the other Chiefly Octavian who seeing that Anthony neglected his Sister and did not send for her he continually advised and urged her to go to her Husband that he might have a fair occasion to fall out with him if she were not well intertained But she not well understanding his design that she might prevent all controversies between her Brother and her Husband departed from Rome carrying with her many Jewels and Presents which she had gotten together therewith to present Mark Anthony But he having fixed his heart upon Cleopatra wrote to her by the way that she should go into Greece and stay at Athens till he returned from the Parthian War yet did he never go against them Cleopatra hindering him Notwithstanding Octavia sent all those things which she had brought to her Husband and all this not prevailing to procure her acceptance she went full of grief to Rome Then did Octavian begin openly to complain of Mark Anthony and to declare himself his Enemy and Mark Anthony entered into a League with the King of the Medes the better to strengthen himself causing Cleopatra besides the Title of Aegypt to be called Queen of Syria Lybia and Cyprus and joyntly with her a Son of hers called Caesarion of whom Julius Caesar left her with Child when he was in Aegypt and to two Sons which himself had by her called Ptolomy and Alexander he gave the Title of Kings to Alexander of Armenia and Parthia and to Ptolomy of Cilicia and Phoenicia hereupon the enmity between Octavian and him greatly encreased yet was the War deferred because of other Wars which Octavian had in Illyricum and Dalmatia The People of these Countries seeing the Romans engaged in Civil Wars rebelled together with those of Austria Hungary and Bavaria who joyned with them This War Octavian undertook in his own Person which was very cruel and dangerous wherein he was twice wounded and gave great proof both of his Wisdom and Valour yet in the end he not only subdued and tamed Illyricum but both the Panonnia's and all the neighbouring Nations with had joyned with them Then did Octavian return Victorious to Rome and though a Triumph was granted him yet would he not Triumph as then so great was his desire to make War against Mark Anthony who was no better affected towards him For he levied Souldiers procured Friends and Armies against him and promised Cleopatra to bring her Triumphing into Rome Yea she requested of him the Rule and Empire of Rome and he promised it her Matters standing upon these tearms Mark Anthony sent his Wife Octavia a Bill of Divorce according to the custom of those times commanding her to go out of his House wherein she dwelt in Rome This and other indignities Octavian imparted to the Senate complaining against Anthony and in his Orations to the People he accused him for that the second five years of his Triumvirat and League being expired yet came he not to Rome neither respecting the authority of the Senate nor of the People but held his place and kept possession of the East and of Greece and by such suggestions he incensed the People against him Mark Anthony on the other side by Letters and Messengers complained that Octavian had often broken the Peace and had cast Sextus Pmpey out of Sicily retaining that and other places which he held to himself and that therein he had no respect of him nor had given him any part thereof and that he detained the Gallies which he had lent him for that War As also that he had deprived Lepidus of his Government and kept all those Provinces and all the Legions which were his without imparting any share thereof to him and that he had divided all the Lands in Italy to his own Souldiers not assigning any part thereof to his Thus the one accused the othet either pretending that they were forced to undertake the War whereas the truth is it was their Ambition and insatiable desire to Rule that pricked them forward to it Hereupon they called divers Nations to their aid so as the whole World in a manner either of one side or other was in Arms. Those in the West for Octavian and those in the East for Anthony at least the best and choisest men of them all Anthony was first in the Field and came with a great Army to the famous City of Ephesus in Jonia a Province of Asia the less whither he had sent for his Navy to transport him into Europe And he had in readiness
according to his Uncles promise and his own right was proclaimed Heir apparent of that great Empire Thus was Tamerlane made Great being ever after this marriage by the old Emperour his Uncle and now his Father in Law so long as he lived notably supported and after his death he succeeded him in that so vast and mighty an Empire Before his marriage Tamerlane would needs be crowned to the intent that none should think that the Crown came to him by the right of his Wife but by his own right and during his abode in the City of Quavicai where the old Emperour was he was entertained with all kind of Triumphs wherein he always carried away the Bell whether in shooting in the Bow in changing of Horses in the middest of their courses in Tiltings and in all other exercises which required agility or strength and so after two Months he returned with his Wife to Samercand in which City he delighted exceedingly to remain because the situation thereof was fair and being watered with a great River was a place of great Traffick whereby it was made richer than any other in that Country And whensoever be received intelligence from the Emperour his Uncle he still imparted the same to Odmar whom he used at his right hand in all his great affairs There was also in his Court a Christian whom he loved much and every one greatly respected called Axalla a Genovois by Birth brought up from his youth about his Person for he countenanced all that worshipped one only God that was the Creator of all things And about this time the old Emperour sent to him to stir him up to War against the great King of China who stiled himself Lord of the World and Son of the Sun who had exceeded his bounds and incroached upon the Tartarian Empire This was no small enterprise and therefore before he would begin the same he sent Ambassadours to the King of China to demand restitution of his Lands and the passages of a River called Tachii which were within the Tartarian Border and on this side that stupendious Wall builded on purpose by the Kings of China for the defence of their Country against the incursions of the Tartars and whilst he attended for the return of his Ambassadours expecting a Negative answer he caused his forces to be assembled together from all parts appointing their rendezvous to be in the Horda of Baschir The old Emperour also assembled for his aid two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the brave men of his Court that were accustomed to the Wars For this Emperour had greatly encreased his limits and conquered a great Country so as all these men were well trained up in the Wars and had been accustomed to travel and pains These were to joyn with Tamerlanes Army in the Desarts of Ergimul at a certain day In the mean time Ambassadours which were sent return and inform the Prince that this proud King of China wondering how any durst denounce War against him making this lofty answer That Tamerlane should content himself with that which he had left him which also he might have taken from him c. This answer being heard our Prince marched directly to his Army gave orders for conveiance of Victuals from all parts sent to hasten forwards his Confederates imparted the answer to the old Emperour caused the insolence of the King of China to be published that all the world might know the justness of his cause yet before his departure he went to take leave of his own Father who endued with a singular and Fatherly affection kissed him a thousand times made solemn Prayers for his prosperity drew off his Imperial Ring and gave it him telling him that he should never see him again for that he was hasting to his last rest and calling Odmar bad him farewel requiring his faithfulness to his Son The Prince having performed this duty returned to Samercand where the Empress his Wife remained whom he took along with him in this journey as the manner of that Country is and so presently departed committing the charge and care of his Kingdom in his absence to one Samay a man well practised in State affairs who also had had the charge of our Prince in his youth These things being dispatched he marched forwards in the middest of his Army which consisted of fifty thousand Horse and a hundred thousand Footmen relying principally on the Forces of the great Cham his Uncle yet he left order that the rest of his Forces should be ready to advance upon the first command as soon as he should be joyned with his Uncles Army In his march he was stayed by the way in regard some distemper of his body contracted by reason of his change of the air yet the Forces which Catiles Captain of the Army of the great Cham conducted went daily forwards Now the news of his distemperature was bruted abroad in all places yet did he not neglect ot send to the great Cham and often to advertise him of the state of his health to the end that the same should not cause any alteration which might arise in that great Empire whereunto he was lately advanced For he was very suspicious of a great Lord named Calix who was discontented with his advancement and had not yet acknowledged him as all other his Subjects had and indeed it was not without cause that he suspected him for Calix being informed that the Forces of the great Cham were advanced beyond the Mountains having passed the River of Meau and were encamped at Bouprou and that Tamerlane was sick he thought it a fit time for his enterprize and thereupon assembling the greatest part of his most faithful followers he told them that now was the time for them to shake off the yoak of the Parthians who otherwise would enslave them and seeing that now their Prince was so badly minded as to translate the Empire to Tamerlane of his own mind without calling them to Council which had interest in the election that this was the only means to assure their liberty which otherwise was like to be lost He caused also a remour to be spread that Tamerlane was very sick the Emperour old and crazy and that his Forces were far separated from him yet like cunning Traytors they dispatched away a Messenger to the great Cham to assure him that they bended not their Forces against him but were his faithful and obedient Subjects and they only armed themselves because they would not be governed by the Parthians their ancient Enemies As soon as our Prince was advertised of the pretences of Calix he marched one days journey forward to the end that he might approach unto Calibes who what face soever he set on the matter yet hearkened what would become of Calix that he might likewise make some commotion This Calibes was by Tamerlane made Commander of his Avantguard
with a very proud and haughty countenance and approaching near to the Emperour he by his Interpreter asked of Axalla which was he and being shewed him he spake in an haughty language after this manner The gods whom I worship being provoked against my Nation and People have conspired against my good fortune and made me this day thy prisoner But forasmuch as it is reported over all the world that Tamerlane maketh war for the honour of his Nation thou shouldst be content with this thy glory that the Lord of the world and child of the Sun is in thy power to receive such Laws as thou pleasest to subscribe unto him This he spake in a brave manner without any other humbling of himself The Emperour on the other side saluting him very courteously led him into his Tent. This King of China was a great Prince having two hundred famous Cities within his Kingdom which also is a fruitful and plentiful Countrey wherein are Mines of Gold and Silver much Musk and Rliubarb It abounds in Fish and Fowl and hath much Silk and Porclane with Cotton and Linnen c. Then did Tamerlane assemble his Captains to consult about the disposal of the King and how the Victory should be best improved At the same time he received news by Odmar that the Kings Brother who escaped out of the battel was at Quantou which he had strongly fortified and that great store of forces began to adjoyn themselves to him Hereupon he commanded two thousand Parthian horse to convey the King to Paguinfou and from thence to Burda where he was to be kept carefully Then did he resolve upon the besieging of Quantou and if it were possible to shut up the Kings Brother therein it being one of the principal seats that belonged to the King of China It was forty Leagues from the place where the battel was fought Thither therefore he sent a good party of his Army under Odmar who pitched his Tents about the City But the Kings Brother was gone The Emperour in the mean time summoned and took in many lesser Cities which yielded wholly to his mercy making great lamentation for their captive King yet the gentleness of the Conquerour made them to take all their losses with patience and the rather because they heard that he used their King courteously The Kings brother also sent Ambassadours to Tamerlane craving leave to see the King and to know of his health which the Emperour willingly assented to Now the Kings brother hearing of the estate of the besieged in Quantou he resolved either to relieve it or to fight a battel for which end he advanced strait unto Porchio making a bridge of Boats to pass over the River But Odmar being informed that about fifty thousand of his men were come over he suddenly set upon them being out of order and not informed of their enemies approach also to prevent the coming over of the rest to their assistance he sent a fire-boat down the stream against their bridge of Boats which brake it in sunder and where it was resisted set all on fire and so in a great battel overthrew them The King of Cauchin-China who was amongst them fighting valiantly was slain The Kings Brother who was on the other side of the River not yet come over saw his men slain and drowned and could not relieve them This second overthrow was of no small importance though it was but the third part of the Kings brothers Army For the Citizens of Quantou hearing of it and despairing of relief sent out some Proposals for their surrender Axalla which received them presently dispatched away a faithful messenger to the Emperour to know his pleasure therein This was more welcome news to him than the overthrow of his Enemies wherefore he referred all to the sufficiency and fidelity of Axalla So that upon Treaty the City was surrendred to Axalla who caused the Garrison to come out and received the inhabitants into the Emperours protection and all that would might continue in it unarmed afterwards he entred into it and was received with great signs of joy by the Inhabitants who resolved to entertain the Emperour with all the solemnity that might be Axalla put thirty thousand men into it for a Garrison injoyning the Citizens to pay the Emperours Army four hundred and fifty thousand Crowns Presently after he received a command from the Emperour to stay in the City himself and to send all the rest of his Footmen unto him which he commanded the rather because he understood that Ambassadours were coming to him from the Kings Brother to treat of Peace and he presumed the sight of all his Army together ready to march would strike such a terrour into them as would cause them the readilier to assent to good terms The Ambassadours sent by the Kings Brother were of their chiefest men whom Tamerlane entertained with all humanity causing his greatness to appear to them as also the activity of his Horsemen whereby they might discern that it would tend to the destruction of their Country if they agreed not with him Then did the Ambassadours deliver their message which consisted of two branches One was for the delivery of their King the other for the preservation of their Countrey The Emperour answered that they should deliver their message in writing and he would give a speedy answer Their Propositions were that they would leave Paguinfou and all the Country beyond it with all the Fortresses of the mountains in Tamerlanes possession That they would pay all the charges of his Army from that day forward And that they would give two millions of gold for the ransome of their King To this the Emperour answered that he would keep that which he had conquered within the Countrey being his own as taken by his arms That he would have the River by which his Army was now encamped and so along to the Sea to be his Frontiers That the King of China should pay him yearly two hundred thousand Crowns which should be delivered at Paguinfou for acknowledgment of his submission to his Empire That he should pay five hundred thousand Crowns in ready money for the charge of his Army That the King of China should be delivered and that all the other Chinois prisoners should pay ransomes to particular men that took them except those which carried the names of Kings who should pay ten thousand Crowns for their liberty and peace And that no Chinois should be kept for a slave nor sold for such hereafter being under the Emperours obedience That Traffick and intercourse of Merchants should be free between both the Nations That the King of China should deliver his Brother and two other called Kings with twelve principal men of the Countrey for Hostages to secure the Peace These conditions after they had consulted together were accepted of hoping that time would restore again their ancient liberty and in the
to him But these his fair shews continued not long There was at this time at Rome a Governour for the Eastern Emperour called Paul Ephialte him Didier corrupted and the administration of Justice being in his hands he made use of him so cunningly as that in the presence of Pope Steven he caused him to seize upon two of his chief Secretaries Christopher and Sergius whom Didier accused of some pretended crimes and presently to hang them in an infamous manner Their greatest offence was because they favoured the French Neither did he rest here but caused all the principal Citizens to be banished whom he observed to be of the French faction that so having removed all hinderances he might be Master of Rome in despite of the Pope Steven was not so dull but he discovered the Lombards practice exceedingly to tend to his prejudice whereupon he sent to Charlemagne beseeching him to prepare an Army against Didiers force This Charlemagne easily assented to and fully resolved upon But Didier had provided a divertisement in France by the means of Caroloman to stop Charles his passage into Italy making work for him in Guienne where there arose a perilous War upon this occasion Though the Country of Guienne depended upon the Crown of France yet were there many Tumults raised by the practices of some Noblemen of the Country who frequently stirred up the people mutinous enough of themselves to Rebellion The cause of these Troubles was the abuse of the former Kings Clemency and Bounty who suffered such people as he conquered to enjoy their priviledges and liberties Eudon a Nobleman of Guienne began first under Martel Jeffery and Hunalt his Children and heirs of his discontent had continued it under Pepin and Jeffery being now dead Hunalt succeeded him with the like hatred which Caroloman fomented that he might imploy him against his Brother Charles Guienne was a part of Charles his portion But Hunalts design was to withdraw that Country wholly from the Crown of France and for that end he pretended a Title to the Dukedom thereof labouring to procure the people to Elect him having the promise and assistance of Caroloman to further him therein Indeed the countenance of Caroloman could do much but the wisdom and courage of Charlemagne prevailed more For being advertised of Hunalts practice and of his Brothers secret designs he armed with such speed as that he surprised the Towns of Poictiers Xante and Angoulesm and all the Country adjoyning Hunalt who had reckoned without Charles finding himself thus prevented fled to a Noble man of that Country called Loup whom he held not only to be firm to his faction but also his trusty and affectionate friend Charlemagne being informed hereof sent presently to Loup requiring him to deliver Hunalt into his hands who was guilty of high Treason and in the mean time he built a Fort in the midst of the Country where the Rivers of Dordonne and Lisle do joyn which he called Fronsac the better to secure his Country against such Invaders Loup not daring to refuse delivered up Hunalt and all his Family into the hands of Charles who pardoned Loup and all that obeyed him thus ending a dangerous War without blows And to Hunalt he granted life and liberty and the enjoyment of his goods leaving a memorable example to all Princes how to carry themselves in a Civil War preventing a mischief by prudence and diligence and not to thrust their vanquished Subjects into despair by rigour Caroloman seeing his practices against his Brother to succeed so ill undertook a journy to Rome with an intent to cause some alterations there which yet he covered with a pretence of devotion He also took his Mother Berthe along with him and in their passage they were hourably entertained by Didier King of the Lombards where Berthe treated and concluded a marriage between her Son Charlemagne and Theodora Sister or Daughter to this Didier who was one of the greatest enemies to her Sons good fortune Yet Charlemagne to please his Mother received his Wife but soon after put her away as neither suiting with his affects or affairs and so that which was intended as a cause of love bred a greater hatred betwixt these two Princes Caroloman having affected nothing at Rome answerable to his desire but only discovered his foolish and malicious jealousie too apparent under his feigned devotion returned into France and there soon after died Anno Christi 770. Leaving the intire Kingdom to his Brother who had how no Corrival Charlemagne having put away his Wife Theadora upon suspition of incontinency he married Hildegard or Ildegrade Daughter to the Duke of Sueve his Vassal by whom he had Charles Pepin and Lewis and three Daughters Rotrude Berthe and Gille who were the Nursery of his Noble Family But Carolomans jealousie died not with him but survived in his Wife Berthe who being impatient of her present condition and thrust headlong with a spirit of revenge against her Brother in Law Charles retired with her two Sons to Didier King of Lombardy as to the most bitter and irreconcilable enemy of her Brother Charles Didier intertained her and her Children very courteously hoping by them to promote his design But it proved the leaven of his own destruction His practice together with the Widows was to procure the present Pope who Steven being dead was one Adrian a Roman Gentleman to Crown and confirm the Sons of Caroloman for Kings of France wherein the Lombard had two designs First by this means to bring the Pope in disgrace with Charlemagne that he might the easilier suppress him being destitute of the French aides whereon he chiefly relyed and Secondly to set France in a flame by setting up new Kings in it Didier therefore earnestly besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake besought the Pope to grant this favour to the Sons of Caroloman for his sake But Adrian well acquainted with the Lombards humour was so resolute in denying his request as that they fell into open hatred And Didier being much displeased with this repulse took Arms and with his Forces entred into the Exarchy being a Signory under the Popes jurisdiction and besieged Ravenna the chief City of the Exarchy Whereupon the Pope sent his Nuncio to him to expostulate the cause of this so sudden War against his Subjects desiring him to restore what he had taken and not to procced in this Hostile manner without any reasonable cause and that upon the pain of Excommunication At the same time there fell out a great occasion to encrease the hatred between Charlemagne and Didier For that Hunalt who had been before vanquished in Guienne and to whom Charles had shew'd so much favour very ingratefully retired himself to Didier who did not only receive him courteously but honoured him by making him General of his Army which he had raised against the