a barbarous Countrie Pythagoras had planted his Philosophie in Italie almost two hundred years before Alexander was born therefore Italie at this time was neither ignorant nor barbarous nor was Rome at this time a village as Sir Walter will have Alexander to esteem of it but a great and warlike Citie beeing now above three hundred years old and victorious over their neighbors as the Romane stories can inform us neither was it the meanness of Rome nor barbarousness of Italie that kept off his conquering Armie from thence but the hardiness of that people the valor prowess and strength of that Nation on whom Alexander durst not adventure for if hee had hee should have found other manner of men then his loos effeminate and unskilful Asiaticks a people alwaies more fic to serv then to command apter for Venus then Mars so that the Romans themselvs never made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 state in Asia but they stil lost much of their Masculine virtues That the antient Italians were a hardie manlike people the King of Poëts tell's us Non hic Atrides nec fandi fictor Ulysses Durum à stirpe genus natos ad flumina primum Deferimur saevóque gelu duramus undis c. Omne aevum ferro teritur versáque juvencûm Terga fatigamus hast â nec tarda senectus Debilitat vires animi mutátque vigorem Caniciem gale â premimus semperque recentes Convectare juvat praedas vivere rapto Vob◠picta croco fulgenti murice vestis Desidiae cordi juvat indulgere choraeis c. And so the same Poet elswhere sheweth what men Italie brought forth Haec genus acre virûm Marsos pubemqueSabellam Assuetumque malo Ligurem Volcósque verutos Extulit haec Decios Marios magnosqueCamillos Scipiadas duros bello te maxime Caesar c. Such was the valor of the Italians that the Romans spent as * Florus sheweth above four hundred years in subduing them whereas they brought in subjection all the rest of the World in the space of little more then two hundred years Doubtless had Alexander encountred with the Gauls Germans and Britains as Cesar did hee had found more work for his Macedonians then hee did among the Perlians Therefore however Sir Walter preferr's the Eastern parts of the world to the Western in civilitie arms magnificence learning c. yet wee finde the contrarie and so did Pompeie whose vaste Eastern Armie was forced to yield to Cesar's smal Western Forces And the Turks know whether the Asians or Europeans are fittest to make his Janisaries or to which hee is most beholding for support of his Monarchie For civilitie and learning wee finde that the Western Greeks did civilize and instruct the Eastern Asiaticks The Gauls were ever more civil then the Germans though more Eastward as for the stories of China I give little credit to them nor do I believ that Printing and Artillerie with other Arts were so manie years among them before wee knew the use of them no more then that the World was created so manie thousand years before Moyses his computation which is the belief of the Chinois Lib. 1. cap. 9. 2. THe joining of Cottages together in one common field or Village the Latines call Vicus This word Vicus did not onely signifie a Countrie Cottage or Village but also a Street though in a Citie So wee read of Vicus sceleratus Vicus Cyprius and divers others in Rome and the word vicatim by Jullie is used for going from street to street And Vicinus was hee who dwelt in the same street as Vicanus was used for a Farmer or Countrie-man now pagus did signifie a Village consisting of divers Cottages not only from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a Well which was in common to them all but as I think from the old word page to bargain or covenant becaus they covenanted one with another to live justly and peaceably together or from pango to set graft or plant the proper work of husbandmen whence com's the word Paganus which at first signified a Countrie-man then it was used for those in the Citie which were exempted from war or had never used their Arms hence among Christians paganus signified a Heathen such as never fought under the Banner of Christ or becaus Christianitie was first professed in Cities and late received by the Countrie people or becaus Christianitie drove away Gentilism out of all civil and populous Cities into remote and obscure Villages Lib. 1. cap. 8. 15. 1. ASSUR the second son of Sem was father of the Assyrians This Countrie was so called not onely from Assur the first planter thereof but also from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ashur that is blessed * for it was happie in bread wine oil and honie it abounded also with excellent fruits hence Assyrium amomum in Virgil Assyrium gramen in Statius and Assyrii odores often in the Poëts and becaus of the abundance of silk there Assyriae vestes are taken for silk garments and Assyrius tapis is a kinde of Jasper stone This Countrie also was called Atyria from the Chaldee word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Atur for the Chaldee useth to change the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} into {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} so they saie Cuth for Cush It was called Adiabene {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as if the access to it were difficult by reason of the manie Rivers thereof som of which are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Impassible yet this Countrie was not impassible to Xenophon and Alexander in their expeditions Lib. 1. cap. 8 15. 1. Lud the fourth son of Sem gave name to the Lydians in Asia the less is the common opinion but I see not by what reason hee was moved to stragle thither from his friends The same reason might move him to plant in Asia the less far from his friends which hath moved manie Europeans to plant in America much farther from their friends to wit conveniencie of habitation sweetness of aër fertilitie of soil and such like motives Now the Lydians which came of Lud were of old called by the Greeks Maeones and Lydia Moenia as a Herodotus b and Strabo shew And Claudian think's they were so called from Maeon the antient King of Phrygia and Lydia dicti post Moeona regem Moeones Afterwards they were called Lydians from Lydus the son of Atys as c Herodotus and d Dionysius Alicarnassaeus affirm Hence Attalyda a town in Lydia was so called from Atys and Lydus But the Greeks are children in Antiquitie and fabulous therefore doubtless the name of Lydia was more antient and either planted by Lud or by his Children who from their Father's name might call it Lydia which is ordinatie Near or through this Countrie of Lydia did flow the winding River Maeander as e Plinie sheweth Lydia persusa flexuosi
bee seen in Ezech. 27. 12. besides the Temple called Gaditanum near Hercules his pillars as by divers Autors thought to bee built by the Phenicians and that Countrie of Spain to bee subdued and peopled by Hercules Tyrius not Thebanus as the Greeks * would have it for the Temple that stood there was built after the Phenician manner and after the same manner were the sacrifices and solemnities performed Lastly the word Iberia by which Spain was called is a Phenician word from the Hebrew Eber or the Childee Ebra which signifieth a passage or the bound and end of a thing intimating that Spain is the bound or end of the Earth beyond which these was no passage nor navigation yea the word Spain is Hebrew too as Bochartus a observeth for Saphan is a cunnie and Spain was called the Countrie of Cunnies for it abounded with them so that the Islands called Baleares now Majorca and Minorca were so infested with them that they were not in a long time habitable To conclude I believ there was one Tharsis whither Salomon's ships went in the East another on the Mediterrane Sea whither Jonas fled Lib. 1. cap. 12 1. NInive was built in the plains of Assyria on the banks of Tygris long before Ninus's time Niniveh or Ninus for so this Citie was called from Nimrod's son Ninus though not hee but Nimrod built it and the whole countrie of Assyria is called in Scripture The land of Nimrod Mich. 5. 6. Somtimes fathers called their Cities not by their own but by their son's names so Cain called the town hee built from his son's name Henoch and in Hebrew Niniveh is as much as Nâ—â—â—nave the habitation of Ninus as b Bochart observeth but there is great diversitie of opinions among writers concerning the siituation of Niniveh som placing it near Euphrates others near Tygris but 't is likely there were two towns of this name one near Euphrates called old Niniveh in philost. lib. 1. cap. 13 14. where Apollonius travelleth from Antiochia to Mesopoâ—amia through old Niuiveh the other which was the great Niniveh of three daies journie for the circuit of it was about threescore miles in compass stood upon the West side of Tygris or els Niniveh stood on Euphrates as Diodorus lib. 2. cap. 1. saith becaus Euphrates and Tygris in one place are united and so have but one name It is now called Mosal and is the chief seat of the Nestorian Hereticks This Citie was famous not onely for the magnificence riches and greatness thereof but also for antiquitie becaus it was extant in Abraham's time as Eusebius witnesseth here dwelt Phul Tiglath Pileser Shalmaneser Sennacherib by whose arms Samaria was exhausted and the Israelites translated into into Assyria and Media yet this vaste Citie was at last so destroied as likewise * Babylon that thought her self eternal and Seleucia built by Seleucus Alexander's successor in Syria and Babylon that as h Nahum the Prophet foretold the place where it stood should not bee known and as Lucian saith {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. there not anie mark or footstep to bee seen of it Lib. 2. cap. 1. 10. THis Amraphel was not at this time the greatest Monarch for the vallie of Pentapolis was subject to Chedarlaomer King of Elam or Persis This contradict's Scripture historie and reason for Amraphel i still first named by Moyses as beeing the greatest Prince Histories do show us that the Kings of Shinar or Babylon were the greatest Monarchs of those parts and that the Persians had no greatness till Cyrus therefore Amraphel King of Shinar must bee greater then Chedarlaomer King of Elam And it is not unlikely but this might bee Nimrod as the Jews think for hee might bee yet alive and it is usual for one man to have two or three names though Elam here might signifie Persia as I do believ it doth not but rather it was the name of a town in Assyria as Saint Hierom think's or in Persia as others yet Persia at this time was of no great esteem as for Sir Walter's reason that Chedarlaomer was the greatest King becaus to him were subject these five pettie Kings or Majors of towns it is very weak for so hee might as weil infer that Porus was a greater King then Alexander becaus hee had divers pettie Princes under him not subject to Alexander or that Herod to whom this lake of Sodom or countrie of Pentapolis was subject was greater Prince then Augustus Cesar Lib. 2. cap. 2. 4. EGypt is now called by the naturals in their own language Mezre So the Arabians at this daie cal it Meser and the Egyptian's first moneth of old was called Mesori in Scripture it is called somtime Masor as Isa. 19. 6. The rivers of Masor shall bee dried up Kimchi explain's it the river of Mizraim or Egypt So * in two other places but wee Translate the word Masor Forts or senced places for so indeed the word signifieth and Egypt was naturally fortified from the North by the sea from the South by the cataracts of Nilus and mountains of Ethiopia from the East and West by desarts Or Egypt may bee called Masor from the narrowness thereof for it is narrow and long from the sea to Syene and becaus Egypt is divided into two parts to wit the bigher where Nilus hath but one channel the lower where it is divided into divers channels called by the Greeks Δ delta from the triangular figure it make's hence it is called Misrajim in the Dual Number Lib. 2. cap. 2. 6. IN the reign of Hercules and Typhon seven years were spent This was that Hercules who made an expedition into Spain and erected those Pillars at Gades called by his name There a temple was built to him and sacrifices offered after the manner of the Phenicians Typhon for his wickedness and crueltie was called a gyant by the Grecians Hee made War against the gods hee travelled into Caucasus and at last was struck down by Jupiter's thunder and died near the lake Serbonis as Apollonius witnesseth {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Therefore Plutarch relate's in Antonio that the Egyptians called this lake {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Typhon's exhalations The gyant also Typhaeus who rebelled against Jupiter and is buried under Aetna in Sicilie is called Typhon and somtimes Briareus For these three are taken promiscuously one for another Typheus is called by Pindarus c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} hundreth headed and by d Virgil Centum g'minus Briareus e Apollodorus make's Typhon to have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the nature both of a man and of a serpent Hyginus make's him the childe of earth and hell having a hundred dragon ' heads growing on his shoulders e Philostratus make's Typhon and Enceladus all one beeing fast bound under the hill Aetna {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} But of Typhon
standing for 23 Here the numerical figure 5 is put for the greek letter 5 but this was doubtless the Printers ignorance yet I do not finde that the Greeks reckoned by their letters as Sir Walter set's down here for they do not write 26 by {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 5 but by {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which among them hath the valuation of 20 and 5 which is 6 so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is not 23 but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is 2 and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 3 which joined together make but 5 but this kinde of joining letters is not used among the Greeks Lib. 3. cap. 10. 11. NEar the river Phasis the Chalybes were seated These were the Chalybes of Scythia called by Plinie Armenochalybes Somtimes saith Strabo they were called Chaldaei and Halizones in Homer Chalybes and Alibes are thought to bee th esame These were thought to bee the first inventors or users of steel or the hardning of iron into steel but Gregorie Nazianzen make the Cyclopes the first inventors but indeed Vulcan or Tubal Cain rather was the first before the Flood perhaps after these Chalytes from whom steel is called Chalybs were the first that made use of it There were also in Spain a people called Chalybes from a river of the same name of these Justin speak's in his last book Virgil and Mela in his first book These Asian Chalybes are called by Atschylus {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} workers in Iron becaus they prepare it for steel and the Countrie hee call's {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Lib. 3. cap. 1. 1. Macedon so called of Macedon the son of Osiris I think it was rather called Macedonia from Makos or Mekos that is Long and hedone Pleasure becaus of the long and continuing pleasures of Tempe in Thessalie which was a part of Macedonia hence Macedonia was call'd of old Edonia it was called also Maketia and the inhabitants Macetae of whom Auson declar urb cap. 2. Maceturrque attollite nomen And Philip in A. Gellius l. 9. cap. 3. is called Terrae Macetiae Rex King of Macetia that is Macedon perhaps from the Hebrew Chittim for Alexander of Macedonia is said in the first book of Macab l. 1. c. 8. 5. to com out of the Land of Chittim {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} And Persius whom the Romans subdued is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} King of the Citei and Isaiah tell's the Tyrians chap. 22. ver. 1. that their destruction should break out Meeret Kithim from the land of Chittim for Alexander overthrew Tyrus I know also that It lie is called Chittim in Scripture but of that I will not now saie anie thing This region of Macedon had other names to wit Emathia and Emonia from Emus King thereof and husband of Rhodope who both for their pride were converted into hills of their own name Lib. 3. cap. 1. 11. NEbuchadnezzar lived and fed himself after the same manner and with the same food that beasts do not that hee was changed in figure external If hee was not changed in his outward shape why should Daniel writing his historie relate it so it is more consistent with an historical phrase and description to affirm hee was truly metamorphosed in his external figure then the other was it agrce's also more with the omnipotence of God who when hee is displeased with sinners can change them into beasts and when hee pleaseth restore them again to their ancient shape This also is consonant to other transformations in Scripture as of Lot's wife into a Pillar of Salt of Moyses his rod into a Serpent of water into wine of dust into lice c. If wee saie that Nebuchadnezzar's change was not in external figure so wee may affirm that Lot's wife was not truly transformed in her outward shape Lib. 4. cap. 3. THe last act of Demosthene's poisoning himself argue's som valor in him This last act argued no valor but cowardise in him for it is a cowardly trick for a souldier to fling down his Arms and run away out of the Camp without leav of his General Everie man is a souldier in this life placed in his proper Station by Almightie God the great General which station if hee forsake without leav hee is a coward Such a coward was Demosthenes who never more deserved the name of Ripsaspis then now Such a coward was Cato uticensis as Saint Austin de civit Dei lib. 1. prov's Such was Brutus and even Hannibal when hee poisoned himself for these out of pusillanimitie durst not look their enemies in the face and rather then they would shew anie courage in enduring the disgraces or tortures that they might bee put to did cowardly run away out of their life Hee is manlie couragious that can endure miseries Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest Such couragious champions was Christ such were his Aposties and Martyrs If wee would behold a brave couragious Romane indeed then look upon M. Attilius Regulus who rather then hee would kill himself and die like a coward did volentarily profer himself to the Carthaginians to endure all tortures This cowardlie trick of self murther is more proper for women then men and indeed wee finde in histories more women guiltie of this vice then men as Lucretia Cleopatra Dido and her sister Anna Phyllis Amata the wife of Latinus Iuturna the sister of Turnus Sappho the Lesbian mad Jocasta the daughter of Creon Phaedra the step-mother of Hippolitus Dejanira the wife of Hercules Statyra and Roxane the sisters of Mithridates the Lemnian Virgins who usually hanged themselvs and multitudes more And when wee read that som valiant men have killed themselvs wee must know that they never did this but when they had lost their masculine courage and were becom cowards and effeminate as Sardanapalus and Hercules who sate spinning and carding among women This cowardise of self-murther was so hated by the Athenians that they did not bestow on such the honor of burial and the Lemnians used to drag the naked bodies of self-murtherers up and down the streets The Prince of Poets placeth them in Hell bewailing their cowardise and wishing they were again upon the earth to endure all miseries lucemque perosi Projecere animas quam vellent aethere in alto Nunc pauperiem duros perferre labores Fata obstent Lib. 1 cap. 1. 3. HEe recovered the citie Crenides somtimes Datus and called it Philippi Where this citie of old stood it is much controverted Florus Ovid and Servius place it in Thestalia Plinie and Mela in Thracia but Ptolomie in Macedonia and so doth Saint Luke Act. 16. nor is it certain whether there were not two towns of that name in those countries Near to Philippi were those spacious fields called Philippici where