first Epistle from Rome calling it allegorically Babylon is utterly to be condemned since there is none who can certainly prove that conjecture neither is it grounded upon any firm foundation for although Babylon in the Revelation of S. John because it was a secret Prophecy was allegorically used yet in a plain and manifested history such kind of Allegories are not allowed From whence may be concluded that S. Peter wrote his first Epistle from this Babylon not from Rome The Travels of Saint John with the Annotation of the Times wherein he lived JOHN the Evangelist and Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the tenth year after the Nativity of our Saviour and was made his Disciple when he was 21 years of Age. He saw the Miracle of Christ when he changed the Water into Wine John cap 2. In the year following viz. in the 22 year of his Age he was taken into the number of the twelve Apostles Luke 6. Mar. 3. After that in the three and twentieth year of his age he saw the transfiguration of Christ in mount Thabor and when he was four and twenty years of age he stood under the Cross of our Saviour Christ and the same year a little after Christs Ascension he with the rest of the Apostles received the Gift of the holy Ghost being then the Feast of Pentecost which fell about the four and twentieth day of May in the same year he was cast into Prison with Peter for healing the lame Man Acts 3. 4. Thus much of his Youth About the middle of the first year after our Saviour Christs Ascension Iohn being then 25 years old was sent with Peter from the City of Ierusalem to Samaria 32 miles From Samaria he returned back again to Ierusalem 32 miles and as he returned preached the Gospel of Christ in divers Towns of the Samaritans Acts 8. Mary the Mother of our Lord being now 59 years of age died in the twelfth year after the Resurrection of Christ and was buried by Iohn the Evangelist in the Garden of Gethsemene Iohn being then 35 years old Four years after her death he was present at the Apostolical Council in Ierusalem Now Iames his Brother who was called the Elder was beheaded two years before for this Council was celebrated in the presence of Iames the younger Peter Iohn Paul and Barnabas c. about sixteen years after the Resurrection of Christ and fourteen after the Conversion of Paul Gal. 2. Before the Destruction of Ierusalem which happened about the 61 year of his age and 38 after Christs Ascension Iohn went from Ierusalem and came to Ephesus 544 miles where after the death of the Apostle Paul he governed the Churches of Asia minor In the 86 year of his age being cast into a Vessel of boiling Oyl and coming out unhurt by the command of Domitian the Emperour he was banished into the Isle of Pathmos distant from Ephesus 40 miles There he wrote his Revelation to the seven Churches in Asia minor whereof you may read Apoc. 1. From Pathmos he returned to Ierusalem which was forty miles being then 88 years of age and there he raised Drusana from Death to Life After this he governed the Churches in Asia four years that is from the Government of Nero the Emperour unto the fourth year of the Government of Trajan the Emperour and called the young Man to repentance which was of the Society of Thieves at length he died at Ephesus when he was 91 years old An. Dom. 100. as St. Ierom and Nicephorus li. 2. ca. 32. observe So all his Travels were 688 miles The Testimony of the Fathers concerning John THE Testimonies of the holy Fathers that are yet extant concerning Iohn are these In Euseb. â—i 3. c. 1. 18. 20. 3. you may read the History concerning the Conversion of the young Man from the company of Thieves Irenaeus witnesseth the same li. 2. ca. 23. In Irenaeus also li. 3. ca. 23. you may read the History of Cerinthus and how that Iohn lived until the time of Trajan the Emperour Also li. 3. ca. 11. he saith that the Gospel of St. Iohn was written because of the Blasphemy of Cerinthus The Description of the Towns and places to which John travelled Of Ephesus THIS was the Metropolitan City of Ionia scituated in Asia Minor 544 miles from Ierusalem North-westward It was built saith Strabo by Androclus the Son of Codrus King of Athens in the time of David King of Israel and because of the beautiful scituation and ferâ—ility of the Soil called Ephesus in future Ages growing into such credit and estimation that it was mightily increased and became one of the most famous Mart Towns in all Asia but it stood somewhat low so that the Sea brake in upon it and drowned it and many of the Inhabitants perished Nevertheless Lysimachus King of Thrace built it up again in the same place where now it stands and called it Arsinoes after his Wives name But he being dead it was again called by the antient name Ephesus There were many worthy Men that lived in it as Heraclitus Scotinus and Hermadorus who for his excellent understanding and singular honesty was banished Hipponachus also the Poet Perrhasius and Apelles the Painters Alexander the Orator and Theodotio a Iew who interpreted the Bible It was in ancient times inhabited by the Amazons whose Queen kept her court there and wonderfully increased and adorned it with fair and beautiful Buildings Here also that notable Temple dedicated to Diana which as Strab. saith li. 14. Plin. li. 36. c. 14. was 220 years a building It stood upon Morish Ground to avoid the danger of Earth-quakes There were in it 127 Pillars erected by so many Kings among which there were 36 that were curiously sicled and artificially carved and ingraven It was 425 foot long and 120 broad There were so many Gifts and Gratuities sent from all the Cities and Kings round about toward the building of this Temple that the Riches and Treasure thereof was wonderful insomuch that when it was finished it was accounted one of the stateliest Buildings the World could afford and numbered amongst the Wonders of the World This Temple thus built at such an extraordinary charge that it was almost unvaluable was set on fire by one Herostratus a wicked and perverse Fellow in the same Olympiad and Day that Alexander the Great was born who having nothing in him that might make him famous in after-ages burnt this goodly Building that so though not for his good but for his evil he might get a name But the Ephesians were so incensed because of this Mischief that they procured Proclamation to be made through all the Kingdoms round about that his name should not be once mentioned which perhaps for a time was observed but in future ages they could not prevent it but that he was both spoken of and written of Notwithstanding afterward the Inhabitants of this City became so exceeding wealthy that they soon
Athniel won and therefore Caleb gave him his Daughter Achsa for his Wife Iudg. 1. From Debir they went to Zephat sixteen miles vvhich Tovvn they vvon Iudg. 1. From Zephat they went to Gaza four miles From Gaza they went to Ascalon six miles Iudg. 1. From Ascalon they went to Hebron fourteen miles From Hebron they went back again to Debir where Athniel dwelt twelve miles So all the Travels of Caleb and Athniel were 132 miles The Description of the Towns and Places to which they travelled Of Beseck BEseck was a Metropolitan City of the Canaanites near to the Water Merom where Adoni-Beseck kept his Court forty four miles from Ierusalem toward the North and took the name of Desaeck or Bezeck which signifies Lightning Of this King you may read Iudg. 1. Of Zephah THIS was a Town upon the Borders of the Tribes of Iudah and Simeon not far from Siclag Iosh. 15. It takes the name from Zaphah which signifies a Watch-Tower and was also called by the Sons of Iudah who destroyed all the Countrey Chorma which signifies a Curse or a desolate place To the Citizens hereof David sent gifts 1 Sam. 36. Of Gaza OF this Town you may read more hereafter in the Travels of the Ark of the Covenant The Typical Signification of Caleb CALEB signifieth An hearty man or a man after Gods own heart loving his Neighbour with all his heart For Col is as much as Omnius which signifies all and Cala He forgiveth all and Leb or Lebbah signifieth an Heart the seat and fountain of all Life So that Caleb seems to take his name from a singular hearty affection whereby he forgiveth his Neighbour For as this man being of a noble Resolution and Courage in the 29 year of his age won Hebron a strong City and put to death the three Sons of Anak terrible Gyants so Christ the Son of God that so loved the World that he gave himself for it with more than humane resolution conquered Hell and those three mighty Gyants incident unto it the Sons of Sathan Sin the World and Death Of Athniel IN the year of the World 1503 and before Christ 2565 Ioshuah died after whose Death Caleb and Athniel Judged Israel about which time the Israelites committed Idolatry and worshipped Baal and Asteroth wherefore the Lord suffered them to fall into the hands of Cushan Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia But because of their Oppression they cryed unto the Lord and he stirred up Othniel the younger Brother of Caleb who in the year of the World 2512 conquered Cushan delivered the People and governed Israel forty years Iudg. 3. Athniel or Othniel signifies the God of Time being derived of Aeth that is an Age and is a Type of Christ who is the God of Time and in his due time conquered the World and Sathan the Prince thereof thereby delivering the poor afflicted members of his Church out of his miserable Servitude and Bondage for which cause God hath made him Judge over it and given him full power and authority to Rule and Govern it Of Ehud the third Iudge of Israel EHVD was the Son of Gira of the Tribe of Iudah and dwelt in the City of Iericho or of the Palms He was a valiant and resolute man lame of his right Hand Iug. 3. and to the Judgment of man not fit to be a Captain being so infirm Yet it happened that this man growing in favour with Eglon King of the Moabites who at this time kept his Court in Iericho which Town he had but eighteen years before conquered took opportunity by the Children of Israel's coming to Gilgal for they came thither to offer unto the Idol and to bring gifts of the King to present these Presents unto him and because of his former familiarity was admitted to speak in private with him in his Summer Parlour where as he was talking with him he thrust him into the Belly with a short Knife and locking the door he fled back to Seirah and told the Children of Israel what he had done From thence they presently went to Ephraim there blew the Trumpet and set upon the Moabites and put them to the Sword Iudg. 3. The Travels of Ehud EHVD went from Iericho to Gilgal two miles From Gilgal he went to Iericho two miles From Iericho he went to Mount Ephraim six miles From Mount Ephraim he went to Iordan four miles where he overthrew ten thousand Moabites So all the Travels of Ehud were fourteen miles Of Mount Ephraim THIS Mountain is about eight miles from Ierusalem towards the South and extends it self in Longitude to the City near the Mediterranean Sea called Ioppa which is distant from Ierusalem twenty miles toward the North-west The Travels of the Sons of Hobab the Kenite THE Sons of Hobab the Kenite Moses Brother-in-law went from Iericho to Arad a City in the Tribe of Iudah scituated in the Desart toward the South 44 miles Num. 10. Iudg. 1. Of Arad ARAD is a City in the Tribe of Iudah 22 miles from Ierusalem towards the South taking the name of a multitude of Asses that were found thereabouts in the Desart and is derived from Arod which signifies a wild Ass a rude Creature The Travels of Jael the Wife of Heber the Kenite who killed Sisera the Captain FROM Arad she and her Husband went to the Plain of Zaaenaim and dwelt there near to a Town called Kades a Town of Refuge of the Levites in the Tribe of Naphtali 166 miles there she killed Sisera This Town lieth 92 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Deborah and Barak DEBORAH was the Wife of Lapidoth and dwelt under a Palm-tree between Bethel and Ramath in Mount Ephraim eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North the Inhabitants thereabouts shew this Tree even to this day Barak the Son of Abineam a Noble Captain lived in her time at Kades a City of Refuge belonging to the Levites She succeeded Ehud in An. Mun. 2632. and before Christ 1336 years The Travels of Deborah and Barak BARAK went first from Kades Naphtali to the Palm-tree where Deborah dwelt being 84 miles From thence he went with Deborah back again to Kades being eighty four miles From Kades with 10000 men they went to the Hill Thabor thirty six miles Here as Iosephus writeth lib. Antiq. 4. there fell such a shower of Rain and Hail upon the Enemies of the Israelites that through the extream violence thereof they were dispersed and Sisera their Captain constrained to leave his Chariot and to save himself by flight never staying till he came to the Tabernacle of Iael the Wife of Hebar the Kenite scituated in the Valley of Zaaenaim thirty six miles from the foot of the Mountain Thabor where being asleep by reason of his great Journey Iael struck a Nail into the temple of his Head so he died From thence Barak pursued the Enemies with great slaughter to Haraseth of the Gentiles a City in the upper Galilee near to the Lake of
forty five years old was invited to a Marriage in Cana a City of Galilee which stood eight miles from Galilee towards the North-West Iohn 2. Here our Saviour Christ wrought his first miracle by changing water into wine From Cana in Galilee she went with our Saviour to Capernaum a City of Galilee a little before the Feast of the Paschal Lamb which was twenty miles From Capernaum she returned back to Nazareth which was accounted twelve miles In the thirty second year of the age of our Saviour Christ which was the second of his Ministry Mary went from Nazareth back again to Capernaum where our Saviour Christ cast forth a Devil Mat. 12. Mark 3. which was 12 miles From thence she returned back again to Nazareth which was twelve miles for in this Town she dwelt whilst Iesus travelled from place to place teaching and preaching the Word of God Mark 6. And although she oftentimes went from Nazareth with him to many places continuing still in his company yet then especially when he was to sustain the wrath of God and punishment for the Sin of man which was in the thirty fourth year of his age In which year she would not forsake him till his death for she went from Galilee to Ierusalem with him which waâ— sixty four miles a great Journey for one of her age being then forty eighâ— years old And when our Saviour was crucified she stood close by the Cross with a heavy and pensive countenance bewailing the death of her Son Then was the Prophecy of old Simeon accomplished And a Sword shall pass through thy Soul But after by his Glorious Resurrection and Ascension she was revived and comforted From the Passion of Christ to the death of the blessed Virgin Mary was twelve years all which time she lived with Iohn the Evangelist in Ierusalem and then being fifty nine years of age dyed and was buried according to the opinion of Nicephorus and others in the Garden called Gethsamene So all her Travels were 3506 miles Now follows the description of the Towns and Places to which she travelled Of Nazareth THIS was a Town almost of no estimation scituated in a certain Mountain in Galilee the lower sixty four miles and something more from Ierusalem towards the North in the Tribe of Zabulon In this Town our Saviour Jesus Christ was brought up Luke 1. 2. Some say that it was nineteen or twenty miles from Ierusalem but they mistake themselves yet I will not dispute thereof but follow my Authors Iacobus Ziglerus and Tilmanus Stella There is not any mention made of it that is extant in the Old Testament It hath a two-fold derivation the one by Zain and the other by Zade If it be written by Zain it may have a two-fold signification since the exposition of this name doth depend upon the Verb Nazar which signifies to consecrate and keep from hence Nezaer a Garland of Flowers or a Crown set with pretious Stones c. such as Kings and High-Priests are accustomed to wear Also from the same word Nazar is derived Nazir and thence Nazaraeus which is as much as to say He is separated from the use of Wine and suffering his Hair to be un-cut as being dedicated to the Lord. Therefore our Saviour Christ is justly called a Nazarite Luke 2. For â—aezer first signifies a holy man who hath made a holy Vow unto the Lord Secondly it doth denote a Crown or wreath of Sincerity Exod. 29. 39. Thirdly a holy Ointment wherewith Kings and Priests were anointed Levit. 27. And fourthly this word Nezaer signifies a Princely Crown 2 Sam. 1. 2. Kings 11. Psal. 89. 132. So that Nazareth being derived of Nazar and Nazir may signifie both a Crown and a holy City Iudg. 13. but if Nazareth be written by Zade it signifies a flourishing plant or Graff according to that of Isay c. 11. But there shall come a rod forth of the stock of Ishai and a Graff shall grow out of his root and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him The Inhabitants of this Town at this day shew certain Monuments and Reliques of what had happened in preceeding Ages as two Churches one built there where the Angel Gabriel saluted the Blessed Virgin and she conceived by the Spirit in which there stands three Altars hew'n out of a Rock and the other built as they say where the house of Ioseph and Mary stood because there our Saviour Christ was brought up Also they shew a Well where the Child Jesus drew Water and ministred to his Mother they also shew the vast Ruins of the Synagogue where our Saviour Christ expounded the sixty first Chapter of Isay for which cause they would have thrown him headlong down the Hill Luke 4. and many other things of which you may read in Borchardus the Monk In Saint Ierom's time some forty years before Christ Nazareth was a small Town called Nazarah Of the Mountains by which Mary passed when she went to visit her Cousin Elizabeth BEtween Nazareth and Ierusalem there standeth many high Hills as Mount Gilboa whereon King Saul killed himself Mount Gerisim and Hebal upon which Hills the Blessings and Cursings were pronounced Deut. 27. and Mount Ephraim upon which Ehud kill'd Eglon King of the Moabites Iudg. 13. Over this Mountain being very great and steep Mary travelled when she went to visit her Cousin Elizabeth Of Bethlehem THERE were two Cities called by this name the one Bethlem Iudah the other Bethlem Euphrata where our Saviour Christ was born and signifieth fruitful or the house of Bread It stood upon a Hill some six miles from Ierusalem towards the South The Inhabitants take upon them to shew the place where our Saviour Christ was born which stood upon the East side of the City close by the Wall thereof where as Eusebius saith Hellen the Mother of Constantine the Great caused to be built a fair and stately Church three hundred and twenty years afteâ— the Nativity of Christ. This Church was dedicated to St. Mary and remaineth to this day being had in great honour both amongst the Christians and the Turks and Saracens This Church is such a stately building that it is thought to exceed all the Churches of Christendom for Beauty and curious Workmanship It is two hundred twenty eight Foot long and eighty seven Foot wide being built all of Marble of divers colours and covered with Lead there are in it four rowes of Marble Pillars wonderful to look upon not only in regard of their number but of their greatness for there is fifty Pillars in every row The Body of this Church the Pillars from the bottom to the top the Walls and every part of it is beautified with lively Pictures adorned with divers Colours Silver Gold and curious Workmanship so as it is wonderful to behold The Pavement of it is of Marble polished and of divers colours so cunningly set in Works and with such variety that it is very delightful to such as look
after rebuilt this Temple of Diana and made it much fairer than it was before all the Citizens contributing with willing hands to the charge of the building insomuch that the Women brought all their Silver Gold and other pretious Ornaments and communicated them towards this great Work Also in after times those fair Pillars before spoken of were again erected towards the rebuilding whereof they received so many and wonderful Gifts from all the neighbouring Kings Cities and Countries that this Temple might as it was thought compare with all the World beside for Riches and Treasure It was standing in St. Paul's time who came thither about twelve years after the Resurrection of our Saviour and continued there three years in which time he so faithfully and diligently preached the Gospel that he converted most of the Citizens from their Idolatry and Worship of Diana to the reverend Knowledge and Confession of our blessed Saviour For which cause Demetrius the Silver Smith who made a great gain by Idolatry stirred up a great tumult so that the Gentiles running up and down the City for two hours space cried out with a loud voice Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. Here also Paul fought with Beasts 1 Cor. 15. And to this City Paul wrote his Epistle and sent it from Rome 996 miles He made Timothy also a Bishop of this City to whom he wrot two Epistles the first was sent him from Laodicea to Phrygia being 280 miles the second from Rome as I said By these Epistles Timothy was greatly comforted and taught them to his Disciples and Auditors that so they might constantly continue and persevere in the Christian Faith and Religion to the end To conclude Iohn the Evangelist came also to Ephesus and wrote his Gospel against the Heretick Cerinthus who denyed Christ to be the true God for which cause God grievously punished him so that he died as he was bathing himself in a Bath Irenaeus lib. 5. ca. 3. Euseb. li. 3. c. 22. This was the first Church to which Iohn wrote his Revelation and there when he returned out of Pathmos he raised his Host Drusana from death to life So when he had governed the Churches in Asia thirty years after the death of Paul he died when he was ninety one years old and was honourably buried at Ephesus not far from the City There was also another Iohn that liv'd in Ephesus to whom as many think the Epistles of Iohn the Evangelist were dedicated as Ierom sheweth in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers The Sepulchre of this man is shewed not far from the Sepulchre of St. Iohn the Evangelist as Euseb. witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 31. At this day this City is named Figlo ho Epheso See Gesner Of Pathmos THIS is an Isle of the Aegean Sea scituated betwixt Asia minor and Grecia 2080 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward Pli. l. 4. c. 12. saith that it was thirty miles in compass Into this Isle the Evangelist was banished by Domitian Nero where he wrote his Revelation It was one of the Cyclad Islands which were fifty three in number that lay round about the Island Delus as Stra. li. 10. Geog. observes It stood forty miles from Ephesus South-Westward and as Petr. Apianus saith was sometimes called Posidius but now Palmosa Of Smyrna THIS is the second City to which Iohn dedicated his Revelation It was scituated in Ionia in Asia minor 540 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward This was a very fair City beautified with many goodly buildings and of good account in Grecia It was at first but a Colony transplanted from another City in that Country But Theseus that great Prince being then King thereof that he might add some grace to that which he had begun he called it after his Wives name Smyrna signifying Myrrh Herodot saith that Homer was born here but not Blind and called by the name of Melisigines but after the Gumaenians called him of his Blindness Homer Strab. li. 14. Geogr. saith that the Inhabitants take upon them to shew his Picture standing there and also a Temple built in his Honour During his Life he was a man of small or no Reputation or rather contemned than honoured as Herod saith But after his death his Works beginning to grow famous the Cities of Greece contended who should Patronize him The Colophonians claim a part in him because he was in that Town and there made some of his Odysses They of Chios say he belonged to them because he lived there a long time and taught School But for ought that can be found by Authors the Smyrnians have most interest in him Nevertheless I leave him to them that please to Patronize him since it is not certainly found where he lived He lived about 900 years before Christ. Eusebius saith Hist. Eccl. lib. 4. cap. 14. that in after-times this City grew very famous and was so much inlarged that it became a Bishops See whereof Polycarâ—us a very godly and Religious man was Bishop He governed the Church in that place at such time as Iohn the Evangelist wrote his Revelation and by him cap. 2. is called the Angel of the Church of Smyrna This man after he had faithfully preached the Gospel for the space of 86 years was by the Inhabitants thereof condemned to death for the profession of Christ Anno 170. But the town of Smyrna because of the unthankfulness and cruelty of the Inhabitants was grievously punished for within ten years it was cast down by an Earth-quake since which time it was hardly rebuilt again The River Pactolus which beginneth in Lydia runneth by this Town of Smyrna But the Inhabitants because of the golden Veins that are found therein call it Crysorrhoas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. A little after that there was such an extreme Plague happened in Rome that they were constrained to carry out the dead Bodies in Carts Thus God turneth the Air and the Earth to the confusion of those that persecute his Church Of Pergamus THIS was another of the Towns whereto Iohn wrote his Revelation It was a famous City and Metropolitan of Mysia scituated in Asia minor 228 miles from Ierusalem North-westward It stood upon a high Rock close by the River Caicus from whence it was called Pergamus For in ancient times all famous and notable places were called amongst the Graecians Pergama as Suidas and Servius observe Strabo lib. 13. saith that in the time of Lysimachus the Son of Agathocles who was one of the Successours of Alexander the Great it was but a Castle in which place because of the strength of it he usually kept all his Treasure and those things that were of account and committed the custody of it unto one named Philetaerus an Eunuch of Tyanus But this man being accused to Lysimacus that he would have forced his Wife Arsinoes for fear of some future punishment because of that Offence moved the Inhabitants of that Hold to Rebellion At the same time also there happened many Commotions in
the Walls and combining himself with some of the Iews upon the seventh day of the second Month which answereth to the Month of May with great difficulty and much labour entred the first Wall which lay upon the North and won Mount Bâ—zethâ— and Neapolis Upon the twelfth of the same Month which was the Saâ—â—ath day he entred the second Wall which divided the Suburbs but this was again the same day recovered by the virtue of the Jews so that the Jewes were constrained to fight upon the Sabbath day according to the Propâ—â—â—y of our Saviour Christ Matt. 24. But after upon the sixteenth of this Moâ—th of May the Romans again recovered this Wall and kept it in their own custody Within a while after in the Month of June about this time the Famin growing intolerable within the Town Titus in the space of three dayâ— compassed in the whole City of Jerusalem with a Wall and 〈…〉 Towers and Castles lest any of the Jewes should fly to savâ— tâ—emselves Thus was the Prophecy of our Saviour Christ fulfilled Thy 〈◊〉 shall compass thee about and hem thee in on every side Iosephus was now in the City and walking upon the Walls earnestly intreated the Jewes to desist and no longer to oppose the Romans but this was so hateful a speech to many that they began to fling Darts at him And although at this time the extremity of the Famin was so sore that many died for want of sustenance yet all perswasions were in vain and such was the Calamity that as well those as went out as those that continued in the City were in like danger of their lives for they were either slain by the Enemy or else by the Pestilence and Famin common Injuries and unmerciful Outrages still attending upon War Their Misery did rather increase than at all lesson it self for the jealousie of Treason the hope of Riches and the madness of the Seditious distracted the minds of the Citizens with continual fears and filled the Streets full of Murther and daily spectacles of lamentable Tragedies The Markets were unfrequented with Corn the Victuals with Violâ—nce consumed and taken from the true owners And if it chanced that some one had more than would serve his turn though he dwelt in a fair and stately Building yet the remotest Room and most unfrequented he made his Tabernacle and that little which was left with great parcimony he consumed together with his life till both were ended Those that were Fathers and Senators of the People though before served and attended with reverence and great state in this confusion were glad of a small morsel though with much contention The Wife was not ashamed to take away the Meat from her Husband nor the Children from their Parents nor the Mothers from their Infants and if it hapned that in any house the Seditious seemed to smell food with violence they took it ransack'd the rooms round about whilest the Master thereof was made a laughing-stock and mournful Spectator of those mischiefs But according to the condition of Souldiers whose natural disposition is to be violent without any regard either of Sex or Kindred committed daily outrages So that here you might have seen the Mothers weeping over their dying Infants whilst their husbands were massacred in the streets by the Seditious The increase of days were the increase of Torments and the daily wants of such as were in Power being unaccustomed to such evils caused them to invent new means to satisfie their desire and practice unusual Torments for no other purpose but to find out Sustenance yea such was their insatiable â—â—irst of blood that they spared not him whom but now gave them all he had and lest he should live to cumber the City either hang him up by the heels till he died or else pulled out his Entrails with a sharp Iron Those that went out in the Night-time when the Romans were asleep to gather herbs the Seditious would meet and with violence take what they had got from them And though with tears and lamentations and prayers upon their knees they intreated but for one part a small moiety of that which a little before they had got with danger of their Lives yet they would not give it them and scap't fairly if they went away with Life These Insolencies were committed by the common Souldiers upon such as were the meaner sort of People But for the rest that were either Honourable or Rich they became a Prey to the Captains and Commanders some accused as Traitors and that they would have betrayed the City to the Romans others as Fugitives that they would forsake the City most under pretence of one crime or other despoiled of that they had And they whom Iohn had thus oppressed were entertained of Simon and whom Simon had injured they were entertained by Iohn both drunk the blood of the miserable Citizens like Water so that the desire of Rule was the cause of their dissention the concord of their evil and cruel actions There was an infinite number that perished in this City by Famin insomuch as houses were filled with the bodies of Infants and Children The Angle-gate was thrust full of dead corps The young Men that remained walked up and down the City like Images of Death The old Men were destroyed by the Pestilence the contagion of which disease taking away their Senses they became Mad. And of such as died among the Seditious their Wives or kindred had not room nor time to bury them but as they were putting them into the Grave they also dyed Yet for all this amongst this Miserable Society there was no Weeping no complaining no deploring of their necessities for the violence of the Famin having dryed up their radical moisture the fear of grief was taken from them and such as had most cause to lament and were most pricked with the sting of sorrow before they could utter their grief died the beholders not shedding a Tear so that through the whole City there was a still silence and a thick mist of Death and Destruction didfully possess the same But the Seditious were much more cruel than these were oppressed with Calamity and Sorrow for some opened the graves of the Dead and taking out their Bodies thrust them thorow with their Swords others to try the sharpness of the Edge of their Weapons would fall upon those that were yet alive and when they had slain them go away laughing at their pleasure So that as Iosephus saith there was scarce any mischief under the Sun but was both practised and tollerated in this City To conclude by Sedition the Romans conquered the City and Sedition conquered the Romans All love and modesty through this extream and intolerable Famin became utterly extinct and the dearest Friends would kill one another for a crust of bread the fairest Lady commit open Adultery for a little sustenance Their food was extraordinary and such as men did loath and hate some would
restrain offered to her Son hard Measure which Abraham upon her Complaint winked at whereupon Hagar partly oppress'd with Grief partly with Envy privily stole away from her Mistress and went from the Valley of Mâ—mre near Hebron to the Well of Life sixteen Miles Southward Genesis 16. and it is to be thought that her Journey tended towards Aegypt which was her native Country for this Well lay directly in the way as they went down into Egypt This flight of Hagar without doubt did greatly trouble Abraham's House and put him and his Wife into a great sorrow and fear lest she should destroy her self and the Infant or fall into some other Danger Wherefore that God might make evident the exceeding Care he had of them he sent an Angel unto Hagar and willed her to return unto her Master which Angel some think was the Son of God for he was called by the name of Iehovah Gen. 16. which name was not communicated to any created Angel Whereupon Hagar according to his Command went back again to her Mistress Sarah into the Valley of Mamre 16 miles Gen. 16. From Hebron Hagar went with her Mistress to that Kingly City Gerar six miles Gen. 20. At Gerar she and her Son Ismael were put out of her Masters house and going in the way that leadeth into Egypt they lost themselves in the Wilderness of Beersaba after they had travelled twelve miles from Gerar where oppress'd with want both of Water and other necessaries she fainted and her Son also wherefore she laid him under a Tree and about a Bows shoot off sate down and wept expecting nothing but death As she was in this misery God heard the voice of the Child and sent an Angel unto her saying Fear not for I will make of thy child a great Nation And God opened her eyes and lo close by her there was a Well so she went and filled her bottle and gave her Boy drink At this time Ismael was fifteen years of age So God blessed the Child and he became an Archer and lived in the Wilderness From thence she and her Son went into the Wilderness of Pharan eighty miles where Ismael married an Egyptian Gen. 21. So all the Travels of Hagar the Egyptian Maid were 132 miles Of the Fountain of Hagar which is also called the Well of Life THIS Well lieth between â—ared and Kades-Bernea ten miles from Ierusalem towards the South Some call it the Well of the Living and Seeing because God did there look mercifully upon Hagar when she fled from her Mistriss Here Isaac dwelt and had his two Sons Esau and Iacob Genes 26. Afterwards it was called the Well of the Living God and seemeth mystically to represent Baptism the Lavor of Grace and Regeneration by the operation and special working of the Spirit for the Church like Hagar with her Son Ismael travelling through the Wilderness of this World is press'd with a multitude of Sins and seeing her own misery finds no remedy but by Faith in Christ Jesus to be delivered from so heavy a Burthen wherefore they joyning together in Prayer crave the merciful audience and gracious assistance of God That it would please him of his goodness to refresh them with the Water of Life the Doctrine of Grace that so they may be made capable of eternal Glory For Hagar signifies a Pilgrim and Ismael a godly and good man whom the Lord heareth who travelling together with his Mother the Church in this World fighteth against the Enemies thereof and shooteth the Arrows of Faith against all infernal and cruel Beasts For Schamah signifies He hath heard and El The Almighty God who mercifully heareth the fervent Prayers and Petitions of the Just according to that of St. Iames ch 5. 15. Ismael was born Ann. Mundi 2035. Abraham being then 86 years of age He was circumcised at thirteen he went from his Father at fifteen he was at Abraham's Funeral being 89 years of age he died when he was 137 years of age fifty years after the death of Abraham and left behind him twelve Sons as Iacob did which were the Princes of their Families as was his Of which the Apostle Paul hath an excellent Allegory Abraham had two Sons one by the Bond-woman another by the Free-woman he that was of the Bond-woman was according to the Flesh but he that was of the Free-woman was by Promise By which things another thing is meant for the one which is Agar of Mount Sinai gendereth unto Bondage for Agar or Sinai is a Mountain in Arabia and answereth to Ierusalem that now is and she is in Bondage with her Children but Ierusalem which is above is free fâ—r it is written Rejoyce thou Barren c. Wherefore we are no more of the Bond-woman which is the Law but of the Free noâ— by our own Works or Righteousness but by Faith in Christ who maketh us Heirs of that Heavenly Ierusalem Where Ishmael dwelt PAran a City of Arabia the Stony stood an 104 miles from Ierusalem South-ward and taketh the name from fertility for Parah with the Hebrews signifies a fruitful root From this Metropolitan Town the Desart of Arabia the Stony near Cades taketh name of which mention is made Num. 13. and 14. Deut. 1. Gen. 14. 21. Habac. 3. and is called the Desart of Pharan Here Ishmael that excellent Archer and Hunter dwelt after that with great power and strength he had conquered all the Neighbouring Princes and People thereabout His Posterity also inhabited these Parts and after his name were called Ishmaelites some eighty miles from Ierusalem toward the South These People were excellent Souldiers and of noble courage their principal delight was shooting and therein they exceeded others living for the most part by Hunting and Pillage and so they continue to this day The Saracens who likewise had their abiding in those Parts were derived from that Family though they had rather take their name from Sara and from thence Saracens These are of the Opinion of the Turks The Travels of Eleazar the Servant of Abraham AFter Eleazar had sworn to his Master to take a Wife for his Son Isaac of the Generation of his Fathers he went from the Valley of Mamre near Hebron to Haran a City of Mesopotamia 468 miles off and there made a Contract with Rebecca the Daughter of Bethuel and Sister of Laban whom he took along with him and returned to his Master So that his Journey to and again was 944 miles These things happened in the Year of the World 2089 and before Christ 1879 Isaac then being forty years of age This Eleazar was Steward of Abraham's house and born at Damascus the chief City of Syria He was so called because God was his help Eleazar being a compound word of El and Ezaer which signifies Almighty God the helper From whence we may perceive that God is the Keeper of the Poor and a ready helper in time of Tribulation according to that in the Psalâ—s All they
him that travelled to Bethel and gave him two Loaves of Bread 1 Sam. 10. Then he came to the Mount of God which is the Town of Kirjath-jearim there a company of Prophets met him and prophecied then the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he began to prophecy which was about six miles from Bethlehem From Kirjath-jearim he went again to Gibeon which is four miles 1 Sam. 10. Then he went again from Gibeon to Gilgal and there he offered and Samuel shewed him what he should do which is 12 miles 1 Sam. 10. From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the Land of Gilead thirty six miles where he was chosen King From Mizpa he went again to Gibeon forty eight miles From Gibeon he went to Beseck forty miles there he gathered certain Souldiers and led them against Nahas King of the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. From Beseck he went with his Army to Iabes sixteen miles there he overthrew Nahas with all his Host. From Iabes in Gilead he went to Gilgal thirty six miles There he was placed in his Princely Seat 1 Sam. 11. From Gilgal he went to Michmas four miles there he sent 3000 men out of Israel to his Son Ionathan to Gibeon From Michmas he went to Gilgal with his Army four miles There he offered for which Samuel rebuked him 1 Sam. 13. From Gilgal he went to Mount Benjamin about twelve miles not far from Gibeon From Gibeon he went to Michmas eight miles There Ionathan overcame the Army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. From Michmas Saul followed the Enemy to Ajalon twelve miles There he would have slain his Son Ionathan because he had eaten a little Honey 1 Sam. 14. From Ajalon he went to Gibeon four miles where he kept Court From Gibeon he went to the Land of the Moabites 28 miles which he overcame 1 Sam. 14. From the Land of the Moabites he went into the Countrey of the Ammonites 40 miles which Countrey he overcame and took in all their Towns From the Land of the Ammonites he went to Gibeon 60 miles 1 Sam. 15. From Gibeon he went into the Land of Edom or Idumaea as it is commonly called forty miles and overcame all the Countrey From Idumaea he returned again to Gibeon forty miles From Gibeon he went with an Army about 600 miles to Zoba in Armenia which he overcame 1 Sam. 14. From the Kingdom of Zoba he returned to Gibeon 600 miles After that he went out against the Philistines 12 miles and as the History sheweth Saul had Wars with the Philistines during his life 1 Sam. 14. From the Philistines he returned again to Gibeon unto his Palace twelve miles From Gibeon he went into the Wilderness of Sur 160 miles there he overcame the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. Also he overcame the whole Countrey from the Town of Peluso to the Red Sea which is 92 miles From thence he went again into Iury to the Town of Carmel 140 miles 1 Sam. 15. And from thence he went unto Gilgal 32 miles There the Prophet Samuel rebuked him because he did not wholly destroy and consume the Amalekites and there Samuel hewed the Body of Agag King of the Amalekites into small pieces 1 Sam. 15. From Gilgal he went to Gibeon twelve miles In the eleventh year of Saul An. Mun. 2881 and before Christ 1807 David being then about twenty years of age was anointed King by Samuel Within a while after Saul was vexed with an evil Spirit then David played unto him upon the Harp by which he was eased Soon after he went forth with his Army towards Socho and Asekah which was some eight miles distant from Gibeah There David killed that famous Champion Goliah 1 Sam. 15. From thence the Israelites followed the chase of the Philistines to the Valley and River Soreck four miles and thence unto the Gates of their Cities that is to Ekron which is eight miles to Ascalon twenty miles and to Gath which was twenty four miles all the way putting the Philistines to the Sword So that there died in this Fight 30000 of them 1 Sam. 17. Then they returned back again and spoiled and burnt the Philistines Tents where they found great Riches twenty four miles From Socho and Aseka he returned again to Gibeon eight miles there the Women came out of all places in the Town dancing and with loud voices singing Saul hath slain a thousand but David ten thousand 1 Sam. 18. From Gibeon he went to Arimathea two miles minding to kill David and came to Naioth in Ramoth where Samuel and David were but the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophecied falling down upon the ground before Samuel and David all that day and the night ensuing 1 Sam. 19. From thence he returned again to Gibeon twelve miles there he thought to have killed his Son Ionathan with a Spear because he excused David There also he caused eighty five Priests to be put to death because the High Priest Abimelech at Nob had given David of the Shew-bread to eat and had delivered him Goliah's Sword 1 Sam. 21 22. From Gibeon he went to the Levitical Town Nob twelve miles where he spared neither man nor woman young nor old no not the innocent Children but put them all to the Sword and wholly destroyed the Town 1 Sam. 12. From the Town of Nob he returned to Gibeon twelve miles From Gibeon he went to the Wilderness of Moan South-ward 20 miles From the Wilderness of Moan he returned again to Gibeon 1 Sam. 23. twenty four miles From Gibeon he went to Engedi where David in a Cave cut off a piece of his Garment which was twenty four miles 1 Sam. 24. From thence he returned again to Gibeon twenty four miles From Gibeon he went to Ziph twenty two miles and as he lay asleep upon the Hill Hachila David came secretly into the Camp and took his Cup and his Spear from his Head and would not kill him 1 Sam. 26. From the Hill Hachila he returned unto Gibeah 22 miles From thence he went to fight with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa forty miles From Mount Gilboa having changed his Apparel he went to Endor which was four miles There he asked counsel of a Witch and the Devil appeared unto him in the likeness of Samuel 1 Sam. 28. From thence he returned again to Mount Gilboa to the Camp four miles and the next day he fought against the Enemy in which Battel his three Sons were slain and he himself put to flight 1 Samuel 31. 1 Chronicles 11. From Mount Gilboa he fled eight miles to Bethsan where he kill'd himself 1 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11. From thence the Body of Saul was brought to Iabes in Gilead where it was buried 2 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11. So all the Travels of Saul were 2428 miles The Description of the Towns and Places to which he travelled OF Gibea Salem Ramath and Iabes you may read before being memorable places to which Abraham Ioshuah and the Children of Israel
of the Moabites which happened about the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel An. Mundi 3055 and before Christ 913. He reigned with his Father Iehosaphat two years and after his Decease six So Ioram reigned eight years over Iudah and when he was forty years old died miserably 2 Reg. 8 9. About the beginning of the second year of this King's Reign which was the sixth of Iehoram King of Israel Elias the Prophet was taken up into Heaven About the beginning of his Reign he went from Ierusalem to Mount Seir being twenty eight miles South-ward where he used such extreme cruelty toward the Edomites which at this time were his Subjects that of a sudden they fell from him and chose them a King of their own 2 Reg. 8. From the Mountain of Seir he returned to Ierusalem which is twenty eight miles and there cruelly put to death his own Brothers But God stirred up against him the Philistines and Arabians who broke into Iuda and destroyed it with Fire and Sword They also went to Ierusalem and took thence all his Substance and Riches put his Children to the Sword all but Ioachas which was also called Ahaziah or Ochorias and carried away his Wives captive into Arabia Foelix which is near unto Ethiopia 1200 miles Then the Lord struck him with an extream pain in his Bowels of which after two years he died and was buried without any Funeral-pomp or honourable Respect near to the King's Tower A man unworthy to be buried in the Sepulchre of the rest of the Kings because he so much degenerated from David his Predecessor 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 28. So all the Travels of Ioram were fifty six miles The Travels of Ahaziah King of Judah AHaziah which also was called Iehoachas succeeded his Father Ioram in the Government of Iudah and began his Reign in the twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel Ann. Mund. 3062. and before Christ 906 and reigned one year 1 Reg. 8. He went from Ierusalem to Ramoth in Gilead which is accounted forty eight miles There he went to Battel with Iehoram King of Israel against the Syrians 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 22. From Ramoth in Gilead he returned to Ierusalem forty eight miles Within a while after he went back again to visit his Kinsman Iehoram King of Israel to Iezteel for he was wounded in the Battel against Hasael and lay there to be cured which was forty eight miles With Iehoram he went to meet Iehu the Captain of the Host who shot an Arrow and wounded Iehoram that he died in the Field of Naboth the Iezreelite Wherefore Ahaziah to save his Life fled with all possible speed taking his way to the King's Garden that stood close by the Vineyard of Naboth the Iezreelite not far from teh City and Tower of Iezreel But Iehu followed him so close that he wounded him as he ascended up to a place called GVR which signifieth a Lions Whelp near unto the Town which is called Iiblea Wherefore Ahaziah feeling himself hurt went to Megiddo four miles from Iezreel and near to Apheck upon the West There as Iosephus saith lib. Antiq. 9. he caused his wounds to be searched and bound up This City of Megiddo is forty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward From Megiddo he went to Samaria which was fourteen miles there he lay hid for a while flying from one place to another to save himself 2 Chr. 22. But being found out he was carried back to the City of Megiddo which was fourteen miles and at the commandment of Iehu was there slain 1 Reg. 8. From Megiddo his Carcasa was carried to Ierusalem which was forty eight miles and there buried 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chron. 22. So all the Travels of Ahaziah King of Iudah were 224 miles Of that Idolatrous and wicked Queen Athalia AThalia was Sister to Ahab and Daughter to Omri married to Ioram Son of that good King Iehosaphat when he was but seventeen years of age and after the death of Azahiah who was slain about the twenty third year of his age she usurped upon the Kingdom of Israel Anno Mundi 3063 before Christ 905 and reigned with great Tyranny almost seven years So soon as she had obtained the Government she cruelly and miserably put to death the children of Ahaziah and all those that were next Heirs to the kingdom only Ioas who was saved by the policy of Iehoshabeath Sister to Ahasiah that stole him from among the rest of the King's Sons and put him to Nurse in her Bed-Chamber and he was with them in the House of God six years all which time Athalia raigned over the land And in the seventh year Iehojada waxed bold and proclaimed Ioas King as being next Heir to the Crown and anointed him in the Temple who after Athalia was slain succeeded in the Government 2 Reg. 11. 2 Chron. 23. Of Joas King of Judah JOas began to reign over Iudah when he was almost seven years of age and about the middle of the seventh year of Iehu King of Israel Anno Mundi 3069 and before Christ 899 and raigned over Iudah forty years He did that which was acceptable in the â—ight of the Lord all the days of Iehojada the Priest who crowned him King but after his death he fell into evil courses and caused that good Priest Zachariah the Son of Iehojada who was the Author of all his preferment to be stoned to death in the upper Court of the Temple which act argued that he was very unthankful and tyrannical But the Lord displeased with his cruelty within a year after the death of Zachariah stirred up the Syrians who invaded Iudaea and spoiled the City of Ierusalem in which War all those that stirred up the King to Idolatry were cruelly slain To conclude within a while after some of his Courtiers conspired against him and as he lay sick of a grievous disease in his bed put him to death and buried him in Milo the City of David Thus God justly punished this Tyrant for his Unthankfulness Apostasie and Cruelty when he had lived 47 years 2 Reg. 12. The Travels of Amasiah King of Judah AMasias or Amasiah signifies the strength of Iehovah This man was twenty five years of Age when he was enthronised by his Father about the second year of Ioas King of Israel Anno mundi 3108 and before Christ 806. He ruled the Kingdom while his Father was sick one year and after his decease twenty eight so all the years of his Reign were twenty nine He went with an Army from Ierusalem to Saelag that is to the Tower or Rock of Mount Seir forty miles towards the South here in the Valley of Salt he put to death a multitude of the Idumaeans And although this Town was very strongly scituated yet he won it and called it Ioctiel that is the Year of the Lord because God in that place heard his Prayers being derived of Iakah and El which is God hath heard Near to this Town Amasiah
commanded 10000 Idumaeans which he had taken in War to be cast down headlong from the top of an high Rock into a deep Valley in which fall their bones were shattered all to pieces and they died miserably 2 Reg. 14. From Selag-Ioctiel he returned to Ierusalem being forty miles where he began to worship the Gods of the Idumaeans that he brought along with him 2 Chron. 24. From Ierusalem he went to Bethsemes and there was overcome by Joas King of Israel which was four miles 2 Chron. 25. From Bethsemes Ioas led Amasiah back again to Ierusalem captive being four miles 2 Reg. 14. From Ierusalem he fled to the City of Lachis which was twenty miles and there was slain by his own Servants 2 Chron. 25. From Lachis his carkass was carried back again to Ierusalem twenty miles where it was buried in the City of David 2 Reg. 14. 2 Chron. 25. So all his Travels were 128 miles The Travels of Azariah or Uzziah King of Judah THIS man succeeded his Father Amasia in the year of the World 3138 and before Christ 830 when he was but sixteen years of age and reigned fifty two years his Mothers name was Iecoliah of Ierusalem He did those things which were upright in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord blessed him And after the death of his Father built Elah and restored it to Iudah He therefore went from Ierusalem to Elah 160 miles towards the South and rebuilt that Town it being a famous Mart-Town scituated upon the Red Sea and fortified it because Resin King of the Syrians in times past for want of due fortification won it and destroyed it 2 Chron. 26. From Elah he returned to Ierusalem 160 miles After he went from Ierusalem to Gath a City of the Philistines which was accounted thirty four miles this Town he won beat down the Walls and destroyed the Bulwarks thereof From thence he went to Iabnia which is twenty four miles and broke down the Walls thereof 2 Chron. 26. From thence he went to Azotus or Asdod which was eight miles 2 Chron. 26. From Asdod he went again to Ierusalem being twenty two miles Within a while after he gathered an Army and went from Ierusalem to Gur-Baal that is Gerar where he overcame the Arabians in a great Battel which was thirty two miles 2 Chron. 26. From Gerar he returned to Ierusalem being thirty two miles He went from Ierusalem that third time into the Land of the Ammonites sixty miles which People he conquered and made Tributary to him so that he was made Famous through all the Countries thereabout even to the utmost part of Aegypt because of his often Victories and Triumphs 2 Chron 26. Out of the land of the Ammonites he returned to Ierusalem being sixty miles But now being lift up with the Prosperity of Fortune and not content with his Regal Dignity he endeavoured to have chief Authority over the Priests also for which cause he went into that part of the Temple where the Altar of sweet Incense stood where it was lawful for none to go but the Priests and there took upon him to offer sweet Incense but as he was offering the Lord struck him with Leprosie so that he was constrained to dwell in a house by himself separated from the Congregation and his Son Iotham governed in his stead all the days of his Life But within a while after he died of this disease and was buried in the Kings Garden at Ierusalem and not in the Sepulchre of the Kings 2 Reg. 15. 2 Chron. 26. So all the Travels of Azariah King of Iudah were 592 miles Of the Places to which he travelled Of Elah THIS was a City scituated upon the Red Sea 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South between Ezion-Gaber and Midian This City Resin King of the Syrians conquered but Azariah King of Iudah drove thence the Syrians and made it so strong that it seemed impossible to be conquered It took the name of abundance of Oaks which as it seemeth grew about that place for Elah or Ilix signifies a kind of Oak Tree of which there is great plenty in the Holy Land so called because of their strength and hardness Of Jobnia THIS was a City near to Ioppa and Libba 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-West This City taketh the name of Wisdom and Prudence being derived of Bin to understand Of Gur-Baal THIS Town is also called Gerar where Abraham and Isaac sometimes travelled it is distant from Ierusalem thirty two miles towards the South-West and six miles from Hebron Here the Iews and neighbouring Arabians afterwards worshipped the Idol Baaâ— and therefore this City which in the times of the Patriarchs was called Gerar a Perigrination was after called Gur-Baal that is the Perigrination of the Idol Baal being derived of Gor which signifies He hath travelled The Travels of Jotham King of Judah JOtham signifies Whole and Perfect He succeeded his Father Azariah when he was about twenty five years of age Anno Mundi 3190 and before Christ 778. He raigned over Iudah seventeen years until the one and fortieth year of his age His Mothers name was Ichruscha so called from an Inheritance or Possession He began his Reign in the second year of Pekah King of Israel and continued it unitl the seventeenth year of his Government 2 Reg. 15. 17. When this noble Prince had rebuilded and richly adorned the House of the Lord he went from Ierusalem and invaded the Country of the Ammonites which was sixty miles conquered their King and made the whole Land pay him Tribute even a hundred Talents of Silver of the common weight 10000 measures of Wheat and 10000 of Barley yearly This Tribute continued three years From the Land of the Ammonites he went back to Ierusalem which was sixty miles where after he had adorned the Temple with many princely buildings he dyed about the one and fortieth year of his age 2 Reg. 15. So all his Travels were 120 miles Of Ahaz King of Judah AHAZ signifies Apprehending or a Possessor He began to reign after the death of his Father Iotham about the end of the seventeenth year of Pekah King of Israel Anno Mundi 3205 before Christ 762. He reigned wickedly 16 years 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. For he was a notorious Hypocrite who out of a perverse Zeal worshipped many Idols and burnt his Son in the Valley of Gehinnon as an Offering unto Moloch wherefore he was unhappy in his Government for God stirred up mighty enemies against even Reâ—in King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel who wasted and destroyed his Kingdom and streightly besieging Ierusalem conquered Ahaz in a great Battel and put to the Sword 120000 of his men After that Resin returned to Elath and took it so that he lost more then his Father had gotten Where being struck into a great fear by reason of these adversities he sent to crave the Aid of Tiglasse Phulasser King of the Assyrians who at his request
sent a great Army from Niniveh to Damascus 520 miles and there overcame Resin and put him to death and took captive 242000 of the people of Damascus and sent them into Cyren a Country of Africa 2 Reg. 16. The Travels of Ahaz KING Ahaz went from Ierusalem to Damascus which was 160 miles to meet Tiglath-Phulasser King of the Assyrians to rejoyce with him for his happy Victory and give him thanks for his aid and assistance where when he saw the Altar at Damascus to be very glorious he sent for Vrijah the chief Priest who took a patern thereof and carried it with him to Ierusalem where he made an Altar like unto it 2 Reg. 16. From Dâ—mascus he returned back again 160 miles So his Travels were 320 miles But yet Ahaz continued in his perverse Impiety and Idolatry without any regard or fear of God therefore he stirred up other Enemies against him viz. the Idumeans who took a great multitude of them captive and the Philistines who with their Army broke into the South part of the Tribe of Iudah and took these Cities following viz Bethsemes Ajalon Timnath Socho Gederâ—th and Gimso with their Villages These Cities for the most part are mentioned in the precedent Treatise except Gederoth and Gimso Gederoth commonly called Gederothaim is distant from Ierusalem eight miles towards the South-West and stands near to the Castle of Emaus being compassed about with a Hedge from whence it seemeth to take the name for Gadar is as much as to say he hath hedged about Giâ—so was also in the Tribe of Iudah but in what place is not certainly known Thus King Ahaz all the days of his Life did evil in the sight of the Lord for which God punished him and all the Land and in the sixteenth year of his Reign he died and was buried with his Fathers in the City of David The Travelâ— of Ezekias King of Judah EZâ—kias which signifies the Champion of Iehovah was born when his Father was but thirteen years of age which made many Questions whether he should succeed him as his lawful Heir in his Kingdom because they doubted whether he was lawfully begotten For if you do observe the order and course of the years and Chronologie in the Scripture you shall find that from the beginning of the thirteenth year of the age of Ahaz to the first year of the Reign of this King Ezekias make just twenty five years Ezekias therefore began to reign after the death of his Father Ahaz about the end of the third year of Hosea King of Israel 2 Reg. 19. Anno mun 3222 before Christ 746 being then about twenty five years of age a little before Easter as it appeareth 2 Chron. 29. He governed that Kingdom with great Commendations twenty nine years The first Journey that he â—ook was from Ierusalem to Gaza which was forty four miles there he overcame the Army of the Philistines and recovered all those Cities which his Father Ahaz had lost according to that in the Prophet Esay cap. 15. 2 Reg. 18. From Gaza he returned to Ierusalem which was forty four miles there he broke down the places for Idolatry and the brazen Serpent made by Moses in the Wilderness and called it Nehustan a Brazen thing that hath nothing in it self of a Divine nature and could neither profit nor hurt therefore ought not to be worshipped This Brazen Serpent was kept in memory of that Sign that God shewed unto the Children of Israel in the Desart when they were bitten and stung to death by fiery Serpents for looking upon this Brazen Serpent they were healed But now because of the abuse thereof by the Iews which turned it into Idolatry it was broken to pieces Num. 21. 2 Reg. 18. So all the Travels of Ezechias were eighty eight miles In the fourteenth year of the Reign of Ezekias and in the thirty eighth year of his age Senacharib that mighty Emperour of the Assyrians having taken many Towns and Cities in the holy-Land would have also besieged Ierusalem and for that purpose sent from Lachis which was twenty miles distant from Ierusalem Thartan Rabsarim and Rabsacha three mighty Princes Embassadors with a great Train to attend them These men went about the City to see in what part it was most subject to battery and might easiest be got so when they came to the Conduit of the upper Pool which is by the path of the Fullers Field between the Fish-Gate and the Old-Gate in that place where they might easiliest be heard they called to the King but Eliakim the Son of Hilkiah which was Hezekia's Steward Shebna the Chancellor and Ioah the Son of Asaph the Recorder went upon the Wall then Rabsacha uttered blasphemous words against the Lord but Ezekias when he had heard what the Enemy had said called all the Elders of Ierusalem together and sent for Isaiah the Prophet the Son of Amos and they went into the Temple of the Lord and prayed Wherefore the Lord heard their Prayers and sent his Angel into the Camp of the Assyrians and lo in one night there were slain 185000 men as they lay in their Tents before Gibeah which at this time they besieged being distant from Ierusalem some ten miles towards the South-West This great deliverance happen'd in the year of the World 3253 and before Christ 733. About the end of the thirty eighth year of the age of Ezekiah he fell into a dangerous disease which so far forth as could be gathered by all likelihoods was the Plague for God doth oftentimes try the Patience of his Saints with sundry afflictions but yet at his servent Prayers he was restored to Health and his days were lengthened fifteen years at which time the Sun went back ten Degrees according to the variation of the shadow in the Dyal of Ierusalem 2 Reg. 20. Isa 38. 2 Chr. 32. But at the end of the fifteen years which was about the fifty fourth year of his age he dyed and was buried with his Fathers The Travels of Manasses MAnasses or Manasseh signifieth forgetting or he hath forgotten This man was twelve years old when he succeeded his Father Ezekiah in the Kingdom of Iudah he began to reign Anno mundi 3251 and before Christ 717. This King was a great Idolater and one that put the Prophets of the Lord to death so that it was wonderful to see what Tyranny and mischief he wrought in Israel wherefore the Lord stirred up the Assyrians against him who overcame him in a great Battel and took him Captive carrying him bound in Chains from Ierusalem to Babylon even 680 miles But after being humbled by his afflictions he came to a knowledge of himself and repenting for his former evil humbling himself with prayer and fasting under the hand of God wherefore the Lord took compassion of him and stirred up the mind of the King of Babylon to mercy so that he loosed his bands and sent him back again to Ierusalem 680 miles From that time
forward he left Idolatry and worshipped the true God adorned the Temple of the Lord with many fair and beautiful Buildings and in the five and fiftieth year of his age he died and was buried in the Kings Garden 2 Reg. 21. 2 Chron. 33. So all the Travels of Manasses were 1360 miles Of Amon King of Judah AMon signifieth True and Faithful he succeeded his Father Manasses when he was twenty two years of age Anno mundi 3307 before Christ 661. He reigned two years and then because of his exceeding Idolatry the Lord cast him off when he was about twenty four years of age near which time some of his Servants conspired against him and put him to death The Travels of King Josiah JOSIAH signifies A Sacrifice of the Lord he succeeded his Father Manasses in the Government when he was but eight years of age Anno Mundi 3309 before Christ 659. He governed Israel with great commendations thirty two years 2 Reg. 22. his Mothers name was Iedidah and dwelt in a Town called Bâ—zâ—ath but how far this Town stood from Ierusalem is not set down by any Author This good King went from Ierusalem to Bethel which was eight miles there he burnt upon the Altar which Ieroboam built the bones of the Priests of Baal as the man of God which came from Iudah had told Ieroboam 350 years before 1 Reg. 13. 2 Chr. 35. From Bethel he returned back to Ierusalem which was eight miles there he celebrated the Passover with a solemn Feast and great Attendance 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. In the last year of his Reign he went with his Army from Ierusalem to Megiddo being forty four miles against Pharaoh Necho King of Aegypt in which Battel he was slain with an Arrow about the thirty ninth year of his age 2 Chron. 3 5. From Megiddo his Body was carried in a Chariot back again to Ierusalem which was forty four miles and there with great Lamentations honourably buried 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. So all his Travels were 104 miles The Travels of Jehoahas King of Judah JEhoahas signifies the knowledge of God he succeeded his Father Iosiah in the twenty third year of his age Anno Mundi 3340 which was 628 years before Christ and reigned only three Months 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ieremy cap. 22. calleth this man Schallum that is a Recompence He went from Ierusalem to Riblah a City in the Tibe of Nepthaly which is accounted eighty miles where he was taken Prisoner by Pharaoh Necho 2 Reg. 23. From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led him Captive bound in Chains back again to Ierusalem being eighty miles and there appointed Iehojakim his elder Brother to reign in his place 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chron. 36. From Ierusalem he carried Iehoahas to Memphis the Metropolitan City of Aegypt which was 244 miles 2 Reg. 23. So all the Travels of Iehoahas were 404 miles Of Jehoiakim King of Judah JEhoiakim was the eldest Son of Iosiah that Good King and succeeded his Brother Iehoahas in the Kingdom Anno Mundi 3341 before Christ 627 he governed Iudah eleven years Pharaoh Necho made him King when he was twenty five years of age to whom he was constrained to pay 100 Talents of Silver and a Talent of Gold This Money being payed he obtained the Kingdom and continued in great Impiety and Idolatry for which cause he was sharply reprehended by Ieremiah the Prophet but he being offended at his words sought to put him to death wherefore the Lord stirred up Nebuchadnezzar the second of that name Emperour of the Assyrians and Babylonians who in the eleventh year of this King's Reign came to Ierusalem and took him captive tyed him in two chains and would have carried him to Babylon but his mind changed wherefore he caused him to be put to death and cast out into the Fields of Ierusalem for a prey to wild Beasts Ier. 22. 2 Reg. 23. Of Jehoiachin King of Judah Jehoiachin signifies the preparation of Iehovah This man succeeded his Brother Iehoiakim and began his Reign about the end of the 3351 year of the World and reigned only three Months and ten days which was about the eighth year of Nabuchadonozor the Great at which time he was led captive from Ierusalem to Babylon together with Mordochae and many other Nobles which was 680 miles This Captivity happened 617 years before Christ 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ester 2. Ier. 52. The Travels of Zedekiah the last King of Judah AFter Iehoiachin succeeded Zedekiah which signifies the just man of God This was the Son of the good King Iosiah yet an impious Tyrant who by the permission of Nabuchadonozor the Great was suffered to be King of Iudah after his Brother when he was one and twenty years of age He began to reign about the beginning of the 3352 year of the World and before Christ 616 he governed tyranically eleven years 2 Reg. 24. In the eleventh year of this King Ierusalem was taken by Nabuchadonezar the great Emperour of the Babylonians wherefore Zedekiah to escape the brunt of War fled from Ierusalem with all possible speed to Iericho which was twelve miles Ier. 39. 5. From the plain near the City Iericho where he was overcome by the Princes of the Chaldeans he was led to Riblah to Nebuchadonezar which was sixty eight miles From Riblah after the Emperour Nabuchadonezar had caused all his Children to be put to death before his face and had put out both his eyes he led him captive to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserably 2 Reg. 25. So all the Travels of Zedekiah King of Iudah were 680 miles Of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Nabuchadonezar IN the ninth year of this Zedekiah which was the last King of Iudah Nabuchadonezar began to besiege Ierusalem it being then Winter Anno Mundi 3860 upon the tenth day of the tenth Month Tebeth which answereth to the seven and twentieth day of December which day the Iews till now observed as a fasting day The Siege continued even till the eleventh year of this King Ierem. 39. 5. 2 Reg. 25. and upon the ninth day of the fourth Month Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Upon the seventh day of the fifth Month Ab Nabuzaradan chief Captain of the Army was sent back by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroyed and burned the houses and buildings of the City of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. upon the tenth day of the fifth Month Ab which answereth to the ninth day of August being the Sabbath day the Temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first Captivity and Destruction of the City Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperour happened Anno Mundi 3362 and before Christ 606 three hundred and ninety years being then fully compleat and ended from the first year of Ieroboam King of Israel who set up the Golden Calves and
And do ye proud Citizens put such trust in the strength and scituation of your City that you think I am not able to come to it with my Army by Land You shall well perceive within this short space that you are scituated upon the Continent and that I will enter it and sack it With these terrible words the Ambassadors departed and shortly after Alexander followed them with a great and mighty Army But when it was known that Alexander had undertaken the sacking of this City there were many that thought it almost impossible for him to accomplish his designs first because of the inconstancy of the Winds and the vehemency of the Water whereby all such matter as they cast into the Sea to joyn it to the Continent would be driven away by the violence of the Water again the City was compassed about with such exceeding high Walls and fortified with such strong Towers that it was not possible for him to bring any Engines to batter them or fasten any scaling Ladders to ascend them unless it were by Ships Twice Alexander attempted by flinging into the Sea mighty Trees of Libanus and heaps of the ruins of ancient Tyre to have made a Bridge to it or else joyn it to the Continent insomuch as the Tyrians mocked the Macedonians saying What can your King Alexander conquer Neptune the God of the Sea For the violence of the Sea was so extream that it carried away all things with it and oftentimes broke the Ships that were joyned together to make a Bridge and drowned the Souldiers that besieged and fought against the City During this Siege a Citizen of Myrus dreamt that their Idol Apollo would depart from them whereupon they bound the Image of Apollo with a Chain of Gold unto the Pillar whereon he stood that he might not leave them There happened also a horrible ostent amongst the Macedonians for a certain Souldier breaking Bread there fell from it some few drops of Bloud at the hearing of which accident Alexander was greatly amazed until he was resolved by one Aristander a very skilful Prophet that if it issued from off the outside of the Bread it had betokened a heavy event to the Macedonians but in regard that it issued from the inside of the Bread it foreshewed that he should forthwith conquer the Town he had so long besieged and so it happened for when Alexander had besieged the City for the space of seven months with great difficulty he won it but before he could win it he was constrained to use a great multitude of Ships and fasten them together with iron bands upon which placing many Engines of battery and other offensive instruments what with the moving of the Ships and the extream Violence of the battery they overcame the City This exploit Alexander performed when he was 25 years of age and about 300 years before Christ. There was one thing that Alexander did during his Siege that was memorable for before any of his Souldiers would attempt to ascend the Walls he went in Person with his Crown upon his head and Princely Armour and scaled a high Tower of the City where he exprest an extraordinary resolution and by reason of his courage did great hurt to the Enemy who perceiving him to be the King resorted to that place in great heaps and shot at him with all their might but he manfully defended himself and compelled the enemy to fly In this assault there were 6000 of the Inhabitants slain and after he had entred the Walls and sackt the City he caused 2000 to be tyed to crosses and thrown into the Sea From whence may be gathered that God by this young Prince did accomplish this great Work that the Prophecies of the Prophets Esay 23. Ieremy 43. and Ezekiel 25 26. might be fulfilled Afterward Alexander as Pliny and Strabo observe caused the Sea to be filled up that it might be no more an Island and joyned it to the Continent upon which place he caused Tyrus to be rebuilded and compassed it about with a Wall five and twenty foot thick strengthened with twelve Towers that it might be sufficiently fortified to oppose the incursion of any Enemy so that it continued safe a long time after and in the time of our Saviour Christ was a fair City though it never attained to the former dignity and Power that it had before Alexander conquered it The ancient City of Tyre was distant from this City about four miles towards the South Our Saviour Christ being in the borders of Tyrus and Sidon helpt a Woman of Canaan whose Daughter had been cruelly tormented with a Devil Matt. 15. In the time of Dioclesian the Emperour there were many Martyrs put to death in this City And at this time it is called by the name of El porta del Zur that is the Haven of Zur as it was in the old Testament called by the name of Zor In the year 1100. when the holy Land was in the hands of the Christians there was an Archbishop of Tyre under whose Government were the Bishops of Ptolomais Sidon and Beryti c. The holy man Origen lieth buried in this City in the Church of the holy Sepulchre which is compassed about and fortified with a mighty strong Wall There also lies buried the Emperour Frederick Barbarosso who died Anno 1160 after he had done many valiant acts and sought many great Battels for the Christians against the Turks and Saracens being overcome by Saphadinus the Sultans Son and put to flight was drowned in the River of Suro to the great grief of his Army but he left behind him a famous report Pope Alexander the third being a great Enemy to this Emperour in S. Marys Church in the City of Venice when this Prince submitted himself to his Holiness set his Foot upon his neck repeating these Words Thou shalt tread upon the Aspe and upon the Basilisk c. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History saith that there are yet standing in Tyre certain Marble Pillars and other precious Stones of wonderful greatness that it amazeth such as behold them neer to which there have been many Christians and Pilgrims put to death by the Saracens There are also four Wells of wholsome and pleasant Water standing not far from it Of which Wells you may read before Of Zidon THIS also was a City of Phoenicia scituated upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea thirty six miles from Ierusalem towaâ—d the North and sixteen from Tyrus In times past it was assigned to the Tribe of Ashur and lay upon the borders of the Philistines neer to Mount Libanus Being called Sidon or Zidon of Zidon the Son of Canaan who first built it Gen. 10. and signifies a Hunter It was a notable Mart Town wherein much Sattin was made which kind of stuff was very precious among the Iewes and it is said that Ioseph of Arimathia wrapped the Body of our Saviour in white Satin for in Matthew 27. it is called
close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the Sea sometimes called Dardani◠of Dardanus King of Troy who when he had slain his Brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the Foundation of the City called Troy and of that Kingdom And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the nearness that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the Rock whereon it stood it soon changed the name and then especially when the People called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood upon such a lofty place that from thence all the Countries round about might easily be seen Arsinoe Queen of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her Brother into this Island who after put to death all her Children and usurp'd upon the Kingdom of Thrace A cruel part in a Brother Virg. lib. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Terciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adays is Samothracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Act. 16. It is said St. Paul sailed from Troadis to Samothracia and so went thence into Thracia and came to the City of Neapolis Of Neapolis THIS Neapolis to which Paul went was a City of Thrace not far from Macedonia 880 miles from Ierusalem North-westward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sicha◠stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but above all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chief City of the Neapolitan Kingdom Of Philippa THIS City in times past was called Crenides because of the Veins of Gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon Father of Alexander the Great caused it in the year before Christ 354 to be re-edefied and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the River Stridon 926 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-west and indowed with many Priviledges In those times the Gold was so much increased in this place that the Revenue thereof was worth to this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 l. the Talent amounteth to forty five millions of pounds yearly By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his Gold to be coined and called it after his own name Philippian Gold To this place Paul came and did many Miracles taught the Gospel and converted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth even 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Town and sent it them by the hand of Epaphroditus even 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THIS was a City of Macedonia compassed about with the River Strymon from whence it took the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the North-west Here also the Apostle Paul was Act. 17. Of Appollonia THIS was a City of Mygdonia scituated not far from Thessalonica towards the West close by the River Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west being so called from Appollines which signifies the Sun It stood twenty miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Grecia close by the Adriatick Sea another among Islands of Thrace a third in Crete on this side the River Ister a fourth in Syria and a fifth in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THIS was a City of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood upon the Sea after called Therma of the hot Baths that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the Son of Amintas King of the Macedonians who gave it that name either of the great Victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his Daughter called Thessalonica who was the Mother of Cassandrus It stood close by the Thermaick Gulph not far from the Mouth of the River Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west The Apostle Paul taught publickly in this City and there converted a great multitude of People Act. 17. He also wrote two Epistles to the Inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperour of Rome there hapened by reason of some Discontent a grievous Sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stir some of his Captains and Governours were slain Wherefore the Emperour having intelligence of what had hapened sent an Army against the City with Authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it happened that the City was fill'd with many unjust slaughters for the Souldiers respecting more their private profit than the equity of the cause spared neither Innocent nor Nocent Young nor Old so that as well the Inhabitants as Strangers that resorted thither did partake of this Misery and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first Authors of this Rebellion But because the Emperour was consenting unto these evils Ambrose Bishop of Millain would not suffer him without publick repentance to come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wherefore in a publick Assembly he acknowledged his offence with great Contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 14. This Town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronicus Palaeologus Son of Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople who held it a long time until Amurath Emperour of the Turks won it from them and exercised grievous cruelty upon the Inhabitants At this day it is a fair and goodly City wherein is to be seen 23 Churches and is inhabited both by Christians Iews and Turks as Sebastian Munster saith but the greatest number is Iews who are partly Merchants partly of other Trades their number in this place as it is said by some of their own Nation is 14000 and they have 80 Synagogues but they are constrained to wear yellow wreaths about their heads the Christians blew and the Turks white There are many Iews also in Constantinople and Adrianople but in no place more than in this Town which is now called Salonica Of Berraea THIS is a City of Macedon scituated upon the River of Halakmon 960 miles from Ierusalem North-westward In this City the Iews stirred up a great tumult and sedition against the Apostle Paul Act. 17. At this day it is called Voria Of Athens THIS was the most famous City of all Grecia the Mother of Arts and a bountiful nourisher of large and mighty Colonies in that part of Achaia called Acte or Attica It was scituated upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea 720 miles from Ierusalem Westward It took name from a Divine knowledg for the word is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mind
bordering upon Caria being so called from the Vaults and Caves that are in it and distant from Ierusalem 524 miles It hath a City called after the same Name wherein there was a stately Temple built in honour of Iuno and another standing in the Suburbs thereof dedicated to Aesculapius this was a very sumptuous Temple and made very rich because of the many Presents and Gifts that were sent and dedicated to it When the Romans had obtained the Command of this Isle Octavius the Father of Augustus Caesar took out of this Temple a naked Venus which was a goodly Image and carried it with him to Rome in honour of his Progenitors who derived their Progeny from her It is in compass 56 miles being so pleasantly scituated that it was a Sea-Mark to Mariners very fruitful and bringing forth abundance of Wine and Silk by reason of a certain Fish that is found there from which they got great Plenty See Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. There were many that lived only by weaving of Silk and above the rest there was one Pamphila the Daughter of Plates that was most excellent in that Art There were many famous men that were either born or lived in that Country as Hippocrates that excellent Physician Apelles that notable Painter Simus the Physician Philetas the Poet and Orator Nicia the Prince and Tyrant of Cous Ariston the Peripatetick and Theomnestus that notable Politician At this day this Isle is within the Turkish Empire and by them called Stacu also the principal City thereof is called by the same Name and wholly inhabited by the Turks two Towns only being inhabited by the Grecians but there are many that dwell in strong Castles compassed with round and stately Towers This Country is very fertile abounding with Cattel and the Mountains thereof are little inferiour to those of Crete Of Rhodes THE City and Isle of Rhodes which is so called from the sweet Smell or Roses is scituated in the Mediterranean Sea a little from Asia the less upon the South being distant from Ierusalem 140 miles toward the North-west as Strabo saith lib. 14. It is in compass 112 miles It was at first called Ophy then Statilia and after Telchin of the Inhabitants thereof who were called Telchines a People which as some say were Witches others say curious Artificers and were the first that found out the making of Brass and Iron At last it took the name of Rhodes from the principal City that stood in it for there were three Cities in it viz. Lyndus Camirus and Ialyssus In Lyndus Cleobulus one of the seven Wise-men of Greece and Chares that famous Statuary who made the Colossus which stood in this Isle were born Ialyssus of a Rose that was found in it was called Rhodes being scituated upon an exceeding high Promontory lying toward the East part of that Isle This exceeded the other two Cities both for Ports Ways Walls and other Ornaments and the Inhabitants were governed with such excellent Laws and so skilful in Navigation that it might compare with the strongest City of the World and for a long time had the Command of the Sea round about and utterly abolished all Pirates and Robbers from those parts Diodorus Sicul. lib. 6 saith that it was called Rhodes of Rhodia a fair and beautiful Maid who was dearly beloved of Apollo and therefore this Island was dedicated to the Sun for as Solinus saith Though the Heavens be never so cloudy yet the Sun shineth in Rhodes Pindarus the Poet because of the fertility of the Soil and the exceeding Opulency of the Inhabitants saith that it rained Gold in that Country In former times it flourished with Learning and good Arts insomuch that the Romans for the most part sent their Children to be brought up at Rhodes This Isle is very fruitful and bringeth forth many things necessary for the maintenance of Life but above all a certain Red Wine which the Romans did greatly delight in and valued at a high Price In this City lived that notable Painter called Protogines which Apelles conquered in that Science as Pliny saith li. 35. ca. 10. Demetrius King of Asia erected a notable Colossus or Statue of the Sun in this Isle which that notable Carver Chares made being outwardly all of pure Brass but within nothing but Stones it was seventy Cubits high and so artificially made that it was accounted for one of the Wonders of the World Afterward it was carried into Egypt by the Egyptians who won the Town This Isle is famous to this day in times past it was accounted one oâ— the Keys of Christendom but at this day subject unto the Turk of which yoâ— may read more in the Turkish History Of Patara PAtara was a City of Licia so called of Patarus the Builder thereof who was the Son of Apollones or Lacones as Strabo and Servius saith it was scituated upon the South-side of Asia the less close by the shore of the Mediterranean Sea 408 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west Ptolomaeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt enlarged the City and called it after his Sisters Name Arsinoes Lysiaca to put a difference between it and other Cities called after that Name for there was an Arsinoe in Egypt and another near Cyrene where Apollo in certain months of the Winter Season by the help of the Devil gave answer to them that sought after him St. Paul was in this Town Act. 11. There was also another Town of this Name in Achaia where St. Andrew was crucified The Travels of St. Paul when he was taken Captive and carried Prisoner to Rome IN the 57 year after the Nativity of Christ Paul being then 47 years of Age by the command of Claudius Lysius was taken and scourged by the Iews and brought thence to Antipatris by Night because there were forty Iews which had sworn his Death which was twelve miles Act. 22 23 24. From Antipatris he was brought to Caesarea Strato which was twenty eight miles where he was brought before Foelix who was President for the Romans in those parts and was captive there for the space of two days Act. 24 25 26. In the fifty ninth year after the Nativity of Christ Paul being then 49 years of Age or thereabouts was sent by Portius Festus President of the Iews to Rome so Paul sailed from Caesarea Strato to Sidon which was 84 miles Act. 27. From thence Paul sailed close by Cyprus because the Wind was contrary and came to the Sea over against Cilicia which was very troublesom and so passing by Pamphilia they came to Myra which was 480 miles Loosing from Myra they sailed to Gnidum which was 248 miles Act. 27. From Gnidum they sailed towards the South and came to Crete and so passed by the Towns of Salmo Lasaea and Assus and so came to Phoenicia which was 180 miles From Phoenicia they came to the Island of Claudia which was 108 miles From the Island of Claudia they came to Melite which now is called