in the Territory of Troy A woman shall descend of the Jewes called Mary and of her shall be borne the Sonne of God named Iesus and that without carnall copulation for she shall be a Virgin before and after his Birth he shall be both God and Man he shall fulfill the Lawes of the Jewes and shall adde his owne Law thereunto and his Kingdome shall remaine for ever The ninth was of Phrygia and prophesied in the Towne of Ancire one of her sayings were The Highest shall come from Heaven and shall confirme the counsaile in Heaven and a Virgin shall be shewed in the valleyes of the desarts The tenth was Albunea surnamed Tiburtina because shee was borne at Tyber 15 miles from Rome The invisible Word shall be borne of a Virgin hee shall converse among sinners and shall of them be despised Lactantius Firmianus rehearseth divers of their prophecies without making any particular mention of them they are to be referred specially notwithstanding as it should seeme unto Sibylla Samberta who wrote 24 Books in verse chiefely intreating of the comming miracles and life of Christ whereunto the sayings of all the other Sibyls are conformable S. Austine likewise in the 2â— Chapter of his 18 booke De civitate Dei reciteth those prophecies aâ— followeth Then he shall bee taken by the wicked hands of the Infidels and they shall give him buffets on his face with their sacrilegious hands and they shall spit upon him with their foule and cursed mouthes He shall turne unto them his shoulders suffering them to be whipped yea hee shall hold his peace without speaking â—re a word to the end that â—oâ—e shall know from whence his words proceede He shall also be crowned with Thornes they shall give him gall to eate vinegar to drink behold the feast that they shall make him in so much that thou ignorant and blind people shalt not know thy GOD conversing among men but thou shalt crowne him with Thornes mingling for him gall and vinegar Then the vaile of the Temple shall rend and at mid-day it shall be darke night for the space of three houres So the just shall dye the death and his death or sleepe shal continue three dayes and when he shall have beene in the bowels of the earth hee shall rise againe and returne to life Lactantius more over Lib. 4. Chap. 15.10 hearteth these Prophecies of them He shall raise the dead the impotent and lame shall goe and râ—nne nimbly the deafe shall heare the blind shall see the dumble shall speake freely And a little before that sayth with five loaves and two fishes hee shall nourish in the Desarts 5000 men and the fragments thereof shall be sufficient to satisfie many more Many other things were foretold by these Sybils as well of the ruines of great States as of Christ The twelve Apostles with their Martyrdomes IAmes the Sonne of Zebe dee called maior for that hee was chosen to be an Apostle was sent to convert Spaine from whence by reason of the obstinacy of the people for he converted in all but nine persons hee returned shortly againe to preach in Iudea Where by the envy of a Jewish Bishop callâ—â— Abiâ—â—har he was accused and beheaded by the consent of Hered Agrippa His body was conveyed by his Disciples first to Ierusalem and from thence to Spaine where it yet remaineth in Compostella a famous pilgrimage Iames the sonne of Alpheus called minor for that hee was last chosen he was the first Bishop of Ierusalem and that by the space of thirty years and then as he was preaching in the Temple he was throwne headlong downe by the Pharises and by them stoned to death He was buried by the Temple Simon by Christ called Peter through the indignation of Nero because he had overcome Simon Magus I was crucified with his head downe ward according as he desired Saul after his conversion called Paul after hee had endured and escaped many dangers and â—orments as beating with rods and put in the stockes by Philippus stoned in Lystra delivered to wilde beasts in Ephesus bound and beaten in Ierusalem and many others lastly came to Rome where by the commandement of Nero he was beheaded because he was a Roman borne the same day that Peter was crucified Paul in stead of Iohn because hee ended not his life with Martyrdome Philip after he had preached through the whole Countrey of Scythia and converted a great part thereof in the space of twenty yeares was at the last in the Citty of Hierapolis when hee had there extirped the Heresie of the Hebeonites fastned to the Crosse and so died Bartholmew went to preach in India and afterward came to Albania a City of Armenia the greater where hee converted the King of that Citty and destroyed the Idols wherefore by the commandment of Astiagus brother to the King Po emius whom hee had converted hee was flead alive His body was afterwards brought to Italy and is as some say at Rome Andrew Simon Peters brother went first to preach in Achaia and afterward preached in Scythia but lastly hee was taken at Patras a City of Achaia by Ege is Proconsull of that Province who because he had converted his Wife Maximilla cast him in prison where hee was sore beaten and lastly stretched out and bound on a slope crosse to augment his torment and so died Thomas preached the Gospell â—o the Parthians Medes Persiâ—â—s Hyrcanians Bragmans and converted a great part of India He was by the Infidels throwne into a burning Furnace and come â—â—â—ur hurt Finally because he prayed God to destroy the 〈◊〉 of the Sunne which the 〈◊〉 fiâ—â—â— would have compelled him â—o worship hee was by them thrust through with speares and swords Marbent after he had preached much in Iâ—dea he went into Ethiopia and there converted the greatest part of that Country Finally having newly ended his prayers and lifting up his hands to Heaven by the Altar certaine spies came behinde him and ranne him through with their swords which waâ— donne by the commandement of a King of those Countries Iudas called also Thaddeus after the ascention of our Lord was sent by Thomas to heale Abagar King of Edissa afterwards hee preached in Pontus and Mesopotamia and converted many cruell and barbarous people Lastly he came to Persia where for confounding of their Idols he was suddenly runne upon and murdered by the Pâ—gan Bishops of that Countrie He is buried at Netre a Citty of Armenia Simon called Chananeus brother to Thaddeus and Iames the lesse after hee had preached in Egypt returned to Ierusalem whereof by the consent of the Apostles he was made Bishop after the Martyrdome of his brother Iames. As touching his death and Martyrdome some say that he suffered with his brother Iudas Thaddeus in Persia others that hee was through the envy of Hereticks accused to be a Christian before the Consull Atticus and therefore crucified â—s his Master was Mathyas after the ascention of Christ
at the foote or foundation therof it was all built of marble â—one and in the building thereof were imployed continually for the space 20 yeares â—600000 men and for the sustenance of these workmen was disburst in radish and such other â—oots 1800 tallents which according to our reckoning is the summe 1880000 crownes this might seeme uncredible were it not that it is affirmed by so many authors of authority The fourth was the Mausol of Mausolus King of Caria and husband to Artemisia so called this woman for the great love shee bare to her spouse burned his dead body and dranke the pouder thereof thinking no Sepulcher so worthy as her owne body and the rest of the pouder she buried in this famous Tombe the stone whereof waâ— of an excellent kinde of marble it was 411 feete in circuit and 25 cubits high and waâ— environed about with 36 Piller of stone wonderfully welâ— carved The fift was the Temple oâ— Diana builded by the Amazones it was 455 foot long and 220 foote broad and in it stood 127 marble pillers each of them being 70 foote high the worke thereof was so wonderfull curious that it was 220 yeares a making The sixt was the Image of Iupiter Olympius in Achaia all of Porphyre an infinite number of little pieces joyned together this image beside the excellency of the worke is especially noted for the greatnesse thereof and was the more famous by reason of the game called Olympiades there kept The seaventh was the Tower Pharos nigh unto Alexandria in Egypt builded by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt to direct the passengers which came to take haven therabouts by burning of pitch or other like things in the toppe this Tower was of a marvellous height and singular workemanship the building whereof cost according to our money 480000 crownes Some Authors put for the seventh wonder the Gardens and Orchards upon the walls of Babylon Others put the Obelisque of Semiramis which differeth in nothing from a Pyramid saving that it is all one stone the Obelisque Semiramis caused to be wrought and taken out of the mountaines of Armenia it was a hundreth and fifty foote high and every square was foure and twenty foote broad at the bottome so that it contained in circuit 96 foot The seven wise men of Greece BIas borne in the haven town of Priene in the Countrie of Ionia Solon borne in the Iland of Salamine Chilo borne in Lacedemonia Cleobulus borne at Lindus in the I le of Rhodes Pittacus borne at Mitylene in the I le of Lesbos Thales borne at Mileto in Greece Periander King of Corinth The tenne Sibylles THe first was of Persia called Samberta or Persica which among other Prophecies said the wombe of the Virgine shall be â—he salvation of Gentiles The second was of Libya called Lybica One of her Prophecies was The day shall come that men shall see the King of all living things and a Virgine Lady of the world shall hold him in â—er lap The third was Themis surnamed Delphica because shee was borne and prophecied at Delphos A prophet shal be born of a Virgine The forth was Cumaea born at Cimeria a City of Campania in Italy who prophesied that God should bee borne of a Virgine and converse among sinners The fift was the famous Erithrea borne at Babylon who especially prophecied a great part of our Christian Religion in certaine verses recited by Eusebius the first letters of every which verses being put together make these words Iesus Christ Sonne of God Saviour These verses are translated into Latine by Saint Austine Lib. 18 and 23. de civitate die the substance whereof followeth The earth shall sweat signe oâ— judgement from heaven shalâ— come a King which shalâ— raigne for ever that is to say in humane flesh to the end that by his presence hee judge the world so the unfaithfull aswell as the faithfull shall see God with their eyes aloft among his Saints and in the end of the world the soules of men with their bodies shal appeare whom hee shall judge when the roundnesse of the earth untilled shall bee full of clods of earth and grasse men shall cast away their idols and all their precious jewels the world shall be consumed with fire hee shall pierce the inferiour parts and breake the gates of hell then to the flesh of Saints shall bee given free and cleere light and the evill shall bee burned with eternall fire all secrets shall bee opened and every one shall know the secret of his neighbour and God shall discover the consciences and harts of all men then shall there bee lamentation and gnashing ofteeth The Sunne and Starres shall lose their light the Firmament shall be dissolved and the Moone shall be darkened the Mountaines shall be throwne downe and the Valleyes shall be made equall with them there shall be nothing in the world higher or lower then another Mountaines and Valleyes shall bee made plaine al things shal cease the earth shall bee dâ—yed unto powder and dust the fountains and rivers shall be burned likewise then shall a Trumpet sound from Heaven in wofull horrible manner and the opening of the earth shall discover confused and darke hell with the torments and paines of the miserable condemnec and here before the Judge shall come every King a river of fire and brimstone shal fal from Heaven Divers other things were prophesied by this Sibyll and because they were obscure and therefore not to be comprehended by the Gentiles before they came to passe shee sayd of her selfe these words They shall thinke mee a false and blinde Prophetesse but when they shall see these things come to passe they will remember me and call me no more a false Prophetesse but a Prophetesse of the Almighty God The sixt was called Samia borne in the I le of Samos which said Hee being rich shall bee borne of a poore Maide the creatures of the earth shall adore him praise him forever The seventh was called Cumana because shee prophesied at Cumas a Towne of Campania in Italy shee prophesied that he should come from Heaven and reigne here in poverty he should rule in silence and bee borne of a Virgine Shee is affirmed to have written Nine Bookes of the Sybills They were all presented by an old woman to Tarquinius Superbus but hee not willing to pay so great a summe of money as was demanded denâ—ed them wherupon the old woman burnt three of them requiring as much money for the other sixe as for all which being denied she also burned the other three asking as much for the three remaining as for the rest which Superbus amaz'd gave and the old trotte vanished These Books contained manâ—fest Prophesies of the Kingdome of Christ his Name his Birth and Death They were burned by the Arch Traytour Stilico so that those Prophesies which are now extant are onely such as are extracted out of others writings The eight was called Helespâ—ntica borne at Marmisea
1000 to take away the dissention which before times had beene for the choosing of Emperours and ordayned moreover that being chosen by these seven Electors hee should be called Caesar but being afterwards crowned by the Bishop of Rome he should be called Augustus The three Crownes of the Emperour THe first Crowne is of Silver for the Realme of Germany and is kept at Aix the Chappell The second Crowne is of Iron for the Realme of Lombardy and is kept at Modene a little Towne not farre from Milan And the third of Gold for the Empire of Rome where it is kept The twelve Peers or Pairs of France IN the Realme of France to be a Peer is the greatest dignity under the King for that in many things they have almost equall authority with Kings for Peere in the French tongue signifieth equall But because it might bee too prolixe a matter to speake of their prerogatives it shall suffice to number them and each of their offices at the sacring or coronation of a new King These ancient Peers are twelve in number whereof sixe are of the Clergy and sixe are Lay men the sixe of the Clergy with their offices at the coronation are the Archbishop and Duke of Reins which hath his accustomed charge to oynt and consecrate the King the Bishop and Duke of Lacon whose office is to bring the holy Ampoule or divine water wherwith the king is annointed the Bishop and Duke of Langres whose office is to bring the scepter and the hand of justice the Bishop and Earle of Beauvais bringeth the Kings cloake the Bishop and Earle of Chaalons bringeth the Kings Ring the Bishop and Earle of Noyon bringeth the Kings girdle The sixe temporall Peers with their offices at the coronation are the Duke of Burgundie Deane or chiefe of the rest whose office is to bring the kings crown the Duke of Guyen bringeth the first square banner the Duke of Normandy bringeth the second square banner the Earle of Tholouse bringeth the Kings spurrs the Earle of Champaine bringeth the Kingly banner or the standart of warre and the Earle of Flaunders bringeth the Kings sword And although the five first temporall Peerdomes be united to the crowne and the sixt bee subject to another Prince yet at the Kings coronation there are other noble men appointed to supply their roome and offices These bee the twelve ancient Peers although since their creation others have beene made which though they have like authority to judge in the Court of Parliament yet they want offices at the King coronation and beare not that majesty that the other Peers doe for that they are not of so great antiquity The eight Parliaments of France THE chiefe and generallest justice of the Realme of France is continually kept in eight Citties wherein are Palaces made expressely for that purpose and this generall kinde of justice is divided into eight parts according to the eight Citties and every of them are called Parliaments which differ very little from our Tearmes but whereas these are but foure times in a yeare those are continually kept each of them having in stead of our Lord Chancelor a chiefe President The first and chiefest of these Parliaments is that of Paris called the Court of the Peers of France and to the equity and judgement of this Parliament many forraigne Kings and Princes have submitted themselves in matters of greatest importance as to the most venerable and chiefest Senate of justice in the world Such were the Emperor Fredericke the second called Barberossa King of both Scycils when hee submitted himselfe to the judgment of this Court of Parliament as touching all the controversies of his Empire and Kingdomes which hee had against Pope Innocent the fourth Philip Prince of Tarente and the Duke of Burgundie who submitted them selves to this Parliament for the controversie betwixt them upon the expences of the recovery of the Empire of Constantinople The Duke of Lorraine subject to the Empire and the Lord Guy of Chastillon who submitted themselves to the judgement of this Court as concerning the limitation of their lands and possessions the Daulphin of Vienna and the Earle of Sauoy submitted themselves to the judgement of this Parliament concerning the suit betwixt them for the homage of the Marquisat of Saluces Moreover without the consent of this Parliament it hath not beene seene that the Kings of France have done or passed any matter of importance touching the state of the Realme so much is it respected both within the Realme and abroad This Court of Parliament was first ordayned by Phillip the fayre King of France The second Parliament is at Bordeaux for the countries of Gwyen Gascione Zaintonge Perigort part of Poictou and others and was first ordained by Charles the seventh The third Parliament is at Roven for the dukedome of Normandy first made Exchequer by Philip the fayre and afterwards continuall Parliament by Lewes the twelfth The fourth Parliament is at Tholouze first ordained for certaine times in the yeare by Philip the faire and afterwards made continually by Charles the seventh for the Country of Languedoc The fift Parliament is at Grenoble for the country of Daulphine instituted by Lewes the 11 The sixt Parliament is at Diion for the dukedome of Burgundie it was likewise ordained by the sayd Lewes the 11. The seventh Parliament is at Aix for the Earledome of Provence appointed by Lewes the 12. The eight Parliament is at Renes in Britaine ordayned by Henry the second Of all these Parliaments Paris Parliament is the chiefe and certaine cases are reserved to be judged only at the Parliament of Paris The seven Saxon Kingdomes that England was once divided into THe fâ—rst was the Kingdome of Kent which had his beginniâ—g of the Saxon Hengist in one yeare of our Lord 476 and the fift yeare of Vortiger King of Britaine his last reigne for he had beene deposed the Kingdome continued 342 yeares till that Egbert King of Westsaxons vanquished Baldred last King thereof and joyned it to his owne Kingdome The second Kingdome was of Sussex or Southsaxons which began by the Saxon Ella in the yeare of our Lord 482 and the second yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued not above 112 yeares The third Kingdome was of East-angles or East Englishmen and contained Northfolke and Suffolke it was first begunne by the Saxon Vffa about the yeare of our Lord 492 and the 11 yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued 376 yeares the last King whereof was Saint Edmond martyr'd by the Danes The fourth was the Kingdome of Westsaxons containing the West-country of England and had his beginning by the Saxon Cerdicus the yeare of our Lord 522 and the fift yeare of Arthur the great King of Britaine and endured from the first yeare of Cerdicus to the last of Alured the terme of 378 yeares The Kings of this Countrey subdued at length all the other sixe Kingdomes which Egbert began and Alured finished making all the South part of this Iland one Monarchy The fift was the Kingdome of Northumberland contayning the Countries betwixt the river of Humber and Scotland had his beginning of the Saxon Ida King of
successours Kings of France And the brothers or companions of this Order were bound at the receiving thereof to forsake and leave all other Orders if any they had either of a Prince or any company only excepting Emperors Kings and Dukes which beside this Order might weare that Order whereof they were chiefe with the agreement and consent of the King and Brotherhood of the said Order and in like manner the said King of France might weare beside his owne the Order of other Emperours Kings and Dukes And for the connoissance of this Order and the Knights thereof he gave to every of them a Coller of Gold wrought with Cockle shels enterlacing one another with a double pointing Ribbon of Silke with golden Tagges the word Immensi Arenor Oceani which King Francis the first because his name was Francis changed into a white Friars of Franciscans Girdle made of a twisted corde and hangeth on that Coller a tablet of St. Michael upon a Rocke conquering the Divell Of the institution of this Order is made a book containing 98 Articles wherein are set downe the things whereunto the Knights of this Order are subject The fift Order is that of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry the 3. King of France on New-yeares day in the yeare 1579 it was called by the name of the Holy Ghost because this Henry was on a Whitsonday chosen King of Poland Of this also is written a Booke contayning the Articles whereunto the Knights thereof are bound Among the which I have principally noted one that is to defend and sustaine the Clergy for the King doth give to every of them the rent of certaine Abbeyes religious houses or other spirituall lands whereof they shall alow a certaine stipend to the entertaining of a certaine number of religious persons in every religious house under him and for that benefit are sworne at their entring into the sayd Order alwayes to defend the Spirituality and maintaine the Clergy in their priviledges but how they keepe their Oath it is well seene in every place of their spirituall possessions and therof my selfe have oftentimes had ocular experience for travailing in that Countrey and passing oftentimes by goodly religious houses I have sometimes for recreation having well tryed the courteous demeanor that commonly religious men use towards strangers that come to view their houses entred into sundry of them where I have divers times bin sufficiently enformed by the religious how the King had given the rents and possessions of their houses to the Knights of his Order with the conditions already rehearsed which Knights allow them such bare exhibition that by reason it is not sufficient to entertaine the fourth part of the number by them appointed almost all of them are constrayned either to forsake their houses and begge or else there to starve through which occasion many goodly religious houses are of late fallen in decay for want of reparation trimming up and inhabiting and will domore and more without a redresse And this have I learned in divers religious houses beside the common murmuring of the Clergy and so wee may see how these Knights called of the Holy Ghost for to defend and mainetaine the spirituality doe under pretence thereof rob and prodigally waste the spirituall possessions so that it may seeme only to be a policy under the correction of better judgment put in the Kings head to diminish spirituall livings which in that Countrey are wonderful great and satisfie his prodigall minde in rewarding by that meanes his flatterers because through his exceeding lavishnesse hee is scarce able otherwise to reward them The Bishop of Rome considering what dismembring of Church-lands decay of Gods service commeth through this Order in the Realme of France will not grant the confirmation thereof although the King hath beene instant for the same but notwithstanding the Popes misliking thereof the Order is maintained though to the great weakning of the religion in that Countrey Yea at the last celebration thereof which was on New-yeares day eeven 1581 I saw three Bishops were admitted into that Order The Collar is of Flowers de lys and flames of Gold with a Crosse and a Dove on it pendent representing the Holy Ghost wrought in Orenge tauny Velvet garnished about with silver beames which the Knights of that Order weare upon their Cloakes before their heart Their robe is a blacke Velvet Mantle poudered with Lillies and flames of Gold and Silver None are admitted to this Order who cannot proove their Nobility by three descents at least The sixt Order is of the Bath brought first into England 1399 by Henry the fourth They are created at the Coronation of Kings and Queenes and the installation of the Princes of Wales Their duty is to defend true Religion Widdows Maids Orphans and to maintaine the Kings rights The 13 Cantons of Swisserland THE inhabitants of Helvetia or Swisserland after they had emancipated themselves from the yoake of the Empire and expelled the Nobility of the Imperiall faction began to make leagues and confederacies one Towne with another to fortifie themselves by that meanes against forraigne invasions if any happened And in processe of time within little more then an hundred yeares are increased to the number of 13 which they call Cantons by which the whole Countrey of Swisse is governed and defended And here according to their antiquity I place them the first that confederated together and gave example to the rest were Vri Swits Vndervard Villages and these 3 by little little have drawn to their faction all the rest that follow Lucerne Zurich Citties Glaris Zug Villages Berne Fribourg Soulleurre Basle Schaffouse Citties Appensel Village Whereof 7 professe the Romish Religion viz. Vri Swits Vndervard Zug Lucerne Fribourg and Soulleurre the rest are Zuinglians which diversity of Religion hath caused dissention and mortal warres of late yeares among them although they be all sworne together to defend their liberties against Strangers Non munus sed animus FINIS
miles Asia so called from the Daughter of Oceanus and Thetis Wife to Iapetus and Mother to Prometheus or as some say of Asia the Sonne of Manae King of Lydia is separated from Europe by the River Tanais now called Duina by the Sea called in time past Palus Mcotides now Mare de Zabache and by Pontus Euxinus now Mare Maiorica and by part of the Mediterranean Sea and from Africk by the River of Nile the Red Sea and the Aegyptian Istmus It stretcheth in length 5200. miles and in bredth 4560. miles Affrica which some say is so called of one Affer of the line of Abraham is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean sea and from Asia by the Rod sea and the Fiver of Nile Africa is in length 4155. and in bredth 1920. miles America oâ— West-India so called of Americus Vespusius but first found out by Christopher Columbus of Genua the yeare of our Lord 1492. it is like an Iland round about environed with the great Ocean but the length and bredth no man knoweth Africa is greater then Europa Asia then Africa and America bigger then all The foure Monarchies THe first Monarchy was of the Assyrians founded by Ninus about the yeare of the World 2220. augmented by the Queene Semiramis and after it had endured the terme of 1300. yeares it was translated by Arbactus unto the Medes and there having endured 350. yeares it was lost by Astyages and conquered by Cyrus The second Monarchy was of the Persians founded by Cyrus the yeere of the World 3425. which after it had endured 191. yeares was lost by Darius and subdued by Alexander the great The third Monarchy was of the Grecians founded by Alexander the great in the yeare of the World 3634. and before Christ 320 yeares after whose death it was divided among the Prefects which in his life-time he had appointed in divers Countries By which division Seleucus was King of Syria Ptolomeus of Egypt Antigonus of Asia Cassander of Macedonia and Greece all which Countries were after subdued by the Romans The fourth Monarchy or Empire was of the Romans founded by Iulius Caesar in the yeare of the World 3914 after the building of Rome 706 yeares and before Christ 47 yeares This Monarchy flourished about the space of 470 yeares till that after the death of Theodosius the great it was divided by his two Sonnes into two Empires Arcadius was Emperour of Constantinople which Empire endured though afterwards much diministred by the invasions of barbarous nations untill the yeare of our Lord 1453 and then was quite lost by Constantine and conquered by Mahomet second King of Turkes Honorius was Emperour of Rome which Empire shortly after in the yeare of our Lord 475 and about the ninth moneth of the reigne of Augustus was utterly ruinated by Othacar King of Goths And long after the yeare of our Lord 801 it was restored by Charles the great and by him united to the Crownne of France and by his successors translated into Germany where it yet remaineth as a shadow onely or representation of the greatnesse and majesty of the ancient Roman Empire The sixe Ages of the World IN the dividing of these Ages there is great contrariety of Opinions among Writers for that some follow the computation of the 72 Interpreters and some follow the Hebrewes and the common Text of the Bible The first Age from the creation of the world till the universall Flood endured according to the Hebrewes 1656 yeares which agreeth with the saying of S. Hierome Bede Philo and the common text of the Bible The 72. Interpreters and Eusebius hold that it endured 2242 yeares and Saint Austine is of opinion that it endured 2272. Of this Age few or no things are recited worthy of memory Except the birth of the first man Adam and the creation of all things The second age from Noahs floud till the birth of Abraham endured according to the 72 Interpretours Eusebius and the greatest part of writers 942 and according to the Hebrewes but 292 yeares Saint Austin counteth 172 yeares In this age was builded Babel The tower of confusion the Empire of the Assyrians beganne and the great City of Ninive was builded which contained in circuit three daies journey The third age from Abraham to David endured by the agreement of all Authors 942 yeares During this age was the peregrination of Abraham the beginning of the Amazones Sodom and Gommorrah were destroied Ioseph was sold to the Egyptians Moses passed the red Sea Iob the just lived Iason conquered the golden Fleete the destruction of Troy the Latins beganne to raigne in Italy The fourth age from the beginning of the raigne of David till the leading of the Iewes captive into Babylon endured 485 yeares during this age the Empire of Assyrians was translated to the Medes the Olympiades of the Grecians beganne Carthage was builded by Dido and Rome by Romulus Byzance was also builded the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and thereupon the calamity of the Jewes The fift age from the transmigration of Babylon to the comming of Christ endured by the agreement of al 589 yeares During this age Cyrus beganne the Monarchie of the Persians the 70 yeare of this age the Jewes returned to their Countrie Consuls beganne to rule in Rome Xerxes invaded Greece with an armie of 1000000 men Plato Aristotle and Demostenes flourished with many other worthy Philosophers Alexander wonne the Monarchy of the world the destruction of Carthage by the Romans Caesar usurped the Empire of Rome The Sixt age beganne at the birth of our Saviour Christ which yet endureth and shall endure to the end of the world The seaven wonders of the World THe first were the walls of Babylon built by Semiramis of stone joyned together with a strange kinde of slimy and gluish morter which groweth in the mines of those Countries and especially in the Lake where stoode in time past Sodome and Gomorrah now called Asfaltida These walls according to the towne were built in quadrangle and contained in circuit as sayth Pliny in the twenty sixt Chapter of his sixt booke 60 miles so that every square was fifteene mile long they were 200 foote high and fifty foote thicke and to build these walls were hired by Semiramis out of divers Countries for a long space 300000 men The second was the Pillar of the sunne offered by the Gentills unto Iupiter This Pillar stoode in the I le of Rhodes and was made of iron in the forme of a man of incredible greatnesse in so much that a man mighst scarce fadome the great singer thereof After it had stood 56 yeares it fell downe by reason of an earthquake and so lay till the Iland was wonne by the Souldan of Egypt who carried so much mettle away as loaded 900 Camels The third were the Pyramides of Egypt among the which there is one specially noted about the City of Memphis now called grand Caire this Pyramid covered about 40 acres of land