remembers many Fâ—unders of the City but Livie will have it the Work of Romulus c. Of his Begetting Birth and Education Plutarch saith it is probable that Amulius came armed to Rhea which occasioned the Tale of Marce as the Nursing the Children by some Harlot occasioned the Tale of a Woolf for Harlots of old were called Wolves Halicarnassus tells us of the like Reports they have of Cyrus's Nursing by a Bitch and Semiramis by Birds So of his End they say he was taken away in a storm of Thunder c. Which was probably the fury of the Senators remembred also by Livie But as many Authors speak of great Lightning and Thunder that day so it may be he was slain by it as was Anastasius the Emperor and Emperor Carus Halicarnassus saith they caus'd it to be remembred nearest to Truth which say his Citizens slew him c. Plutarch reports of his Conquests of a few Miles about him not worth the speaking of if the following Greatness of Rome had not caus'd it to be remembred He Reign'd 37 Years first alone then with Tatius and after his death single 'till he was slain Numa a Man unknown to Romulus succeeded more Priest-like c. well resembling Rome's latter days which falling from Emperors Command into subjection of a Prelate swelling by degres from a Sheep-Hook to a Sword wherewith Victorious to excessive Magnificence it fell to Luxury and being unfortunate in defensive War is driven again to betake himself to the Crosier-Staff CHAP. XXI Of Hezechiah and his Contemporaries § 1. HEzechiah at 25 Years old succeeded about the end of Achaz 14 Years in the 3 d of Hosea King of Israel and Reigned 29 Years His first Work testified his Pious Zeal in opening the Temple shut up by his ungracious Father and reformed Religion c. Comp. 2 Chron. 29 and 30. with 2 Kings 18. It is uncertain whether he did this in his Father's time or in his sole Government as I rather think He invited also the Ten Tribes to the Passover which the Generality scorned In the fourth Year of Hezekiah the Israelites which scorned to Celebrate their Deliverance out of Egypt fell into a new Servitude wherein they continued to this day For Salmanasser Son of Tyglath hearing that Hosea King of Israel practised with Soe King of Egypt against him came and after Three Years Siege won Samaria and carried the Ten Tribes into Assyria and Media and placed others in the Land These later Assyrian and Persian Kings following are the first we find mentioned both in Profane and Sacred Books and therefore must serve to joyn the times of the old World with that following seeing none but Prophets have written otherwise than Fabulous of former Times True it is that Cyrus and some Persian Kings bear the same Name in Scripture and Profane Stories but of others the diversity of Names have bred question of the Persons as whether Salmanasser in Scripture be Nabonasser in Ptolomy and Nebuchadnezzar be Nabopolassar both which points Bucholcerus out of good Mathematick Observations hath well proved for by them it appears that from Nâ—bonasser to Chrisâ— were Seven Hundred Forty six years which agrees also to Salmanassar which is proved for that the space between Merdocenpadus and Nabonassar is found the same between Merodach who was Mardocenpadus and Salmanassar That as from the destruction of Samaria to that of Ierusalem are 133 years so in Ptolomy the same time is found between Nabonassar and Nabopolassar the Eighth year differing in Ptolomy being before the winning of Samaria spent in his Reign § 2. Hezekiah having denyed the Tribute to Senacherib which had been Covenanted with Tiglath his Grandfather acknowledged his Fault and laboured to purchase his Peace by Three Thousand Talents of Silver and Thirty of Gold by Senacherib's intending to set down the Conditions with his Sword sent from Lachish where he lay and invested Ierusalem c. where Vengeance from Heaven destroyed so many Thousands for their Master's Blasphemy who also drunk a Cup of the Wrath of God from his own Sons § 3. Hezechiah his Sickness Prayer Recovery and Sign thereof 2 Kings 20. His Lamentation saith Ierom was for want of a Son of whom the Messias might spring His entertaining the Babylonian Embassadors and vain-glory therein reproved Yet according to Humane Reason he thought fit to entertain them familiarly coming to Congratulate his Recovery with Presents being one which had weakened the Assyrian his greatest Enemy by seizing upon the Kingdom of Babylon of which he had been Lieutenant under Senacherib whose Son weak in Understanding and molested by his Elder Brethren gave him opportunity to Usurp Babylon as Belochus had dealt with Sardanapalus Thus Belochus Forty Eight years Tiglath Pilesar Twenty Seven Salmanassar Ten Senacherib Seven Esarhaddon Ten the Three last being Contemporaries with Hezechiah § 4. Hezechiah's Contemporaries in Media after Arabaces and Sosarmus according to Eusebius are Medidus Forty years Cordiceas Fifteen Years Then followed Deioces Fifty four Phraortes Twenty four Cyaxares Thirty two Astyages Thirty Eight and Cyaxares Two according to Xenophon Metasthenes in Anneus and Diodorus out of Ctesias differ much from Eusebius whom Mercator would fain reconcile but in vain In Athens Four of the Four Ten year Governours In Lidea Candaulus slain by Gyges who succeeded CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah § 1. THE Egyptians at this time contending with the Assyrians about Sovereignty giveth the occasion to consider the state of the Country which had flourished so long Of Cham Osiris and Orus and the rest with their Dynasties 'till Israel came out of Egypt we have heard and are to proceed from thence not regarding the idle Catalogue of Names of Kings set out by Herodotus and Dyodorus from the Mouths of the Egyptian Priests who for the most part were but Vice-Roys or Stewards like Ioseph and such as were the Soldans in later Ages For First we may not believe that the number of Generations we speak of were above Eighty from Abraham to the Persian Empire whereas we know there were but Forty two Generations to our Saviour Christ especially considering many of them were of about Forty years continuance we must therefore proportion the number to that of other Countries according to the time and esteem the rest but Regents who yet Ruled as Kings of which sort there might be many as may be well conceived in Reading W. Arch-Bishop of Tyre who sheweth that there was the Caleph Elhadech supream over Egypt under whom the Soldans ruled as Kings making War and Peace yea supplanting one another without the Calephs privity as fell out under Elhadech under whom San. was Soldan and yet chased away by Dagon and upon his death recovered again without the great Caleph's Hand who in the mean time only attended his state and delights in his Pallace which manner of Ruling by Vice-Roys the Author judgeth to have been from the Ancient Kings of Egypt § 2. It were
to lose the richest Country he had Oh by what Plots by what Oaths treacherous Practices Oppressions Imprisonments Tortures Poysonings and under what Reasons of State and Polity have these Kings pulled the Vengeance of God upon themselves upon Theirs and upon prudent Ministers and at last have brought these things to pass for their Enemies Advantage and found an effect so directly contrary to all their own Counsels and Cruelties that the one could never have hoped for it and the other never have succeeded had no such Opposition been made God hath said it and performed it ever I will destroy the Wisdom of the Wise. But to what end do we lay before the Eyes of the Living the Fate and Fortunes of the Dead seeing the World is the same it hath been and the Children will obey their Parents It is in the present that all the Wits of the World are exercised and to enjoy the Times we have we hold all things lawful and either hope to hold them forever or hope there is nothing after them to be hoped for For as we are content to forget our own Experience and counterfeit Ignorance of our Knowledge in things that concern our selves or perswade our selves that God hath given us Letters Patents to persue all our irreligious Affections with a Non obstante So we neither look behind us what has been nor before us what shall be It is true the â—uantity we have is of the Body we are by it joined to the Earth we are compounded of the Earth and inhabit the Earth The Heavens are high afar off and unexplorable We have a sense of corporeal things but of eternal Grace only by Revelation No wonder then that our Thoughts are so Earthly and a less wonder that the Words of worthless Men cannot cleanse us seeing their Instructions and Doctrine whose Vnderstanding the Holy Ghost vouchsafed to inhabit have not performed it For the Prophet Isaiah cryed out long ago Lord who hath believed our Reports And doubtless as he complained of his time so are they less believed every day though Religion be still Mens Mouths we profess to know but by works deny him which argueth an universal Dissimulation For Happiness consisteth in a Divine Life not in knowledge of Divine Things wherein Devils excel us Contentions about Religion have bred lamentable effects and the Discourse thereof hath near upon driven the Practice out of the World He which obtaineth Knowledge only by Mens Disputations of Religion would judge that Heaven were chiefly to be desired but look upon many Disputers Lives and nothing is found in the Soul but Hypocrisie We are all in effect become Comedians in Religion we act in Voice and Gesture Divine Virtues but in course of Life we renonnce the part we play and Charity Justice and Truth have their Being but in Terms as the Philosophers Materia prima That Wisdom which teacheth us the Knowledge of God hath great Esteem enough in that we give it our good Word but the Wisdom which is altogether exercised in gathering Riches by which we purchase Honour in the World These are the Marks we Shoot at the Care whereof is our own in this Life and the Peril our own in the future Though in our greatest Abundance we have but one Man's Portion as the Man of the greatest Wisdom and Ability hath told us As for those which devour the rest and follow us in fair Weather they again forsake us in the first Storm of our Misfortune and fly away before Sea and Wind leaving us to the Malice of our Destinies Among a Thousand Examples take that of Mr. Dannet Charles V. at Vlushing in his return to Spain conferring with Seldius his Brother Ferdinand's Embassador till the dead of Night when they sh â—â—â— part called some of his Servants and when none answered being either gone or asleep himself took the Candle to light down Seldius notwithstanding his importunity to the contrary But at the stairs foot he desir'd him to remember when he was dead That whom he had known in his time environ'd with mighty Armies he hath seen forsaken of his own Domesticks But you will say Men more regard the Honour done to great Men than the former It is true indeed provided that an inward Love from their Iustice and Piety accompanying the outward Worship given to their Places and Power without which the applause of the Multitude is as the Out cry of a Herd of Animals who without knowledge of any true Cause please themselves with the Noise they make Impious Men in Prosperity have ever been applauded and the most Virtuous if unprosperous have ever been despised and Virtue and Fortune are rarely distinguish'd For as Fortune's Man rides the Horse so Fortune her self rides the Man who when he is descended on foot the Man is taken from his Beast and Fortune from the Man a base Groom beats the one and bitter Contempt spurns at the other with equal liberty The Second thing which Men more respect is raising of Posterity If these Men conceive that Souls departed take any Comfort therein they are Wise in a foollish thing as Lactantius speaketh De sal sap li. 3. c. 28. For when our Mortal Spirits are departed and dispos'd of by God they are pleased no more in in Posterity than Stones are proud which sleep in the Walls of a King's Palace neither have they more Sorrow in their Poverty than there is Shame in the Prop of a Beggar 's Cottage The Dead tho' Holy know nothing no not of their own Children For the Souls departed are not Conversant with the Affairs of the Living said Augustin de Cura pro Mort. Iob also of whom we cannot doubt tells us we shall neither understand of our Childrens Honour or low Degree Man walketh in a Shadow disquieting himself in vain he heapeth up Riches and cannot tell who shall gather them The living saith Eccles. know they shall die but the Dead know nothing at all for who shall shew to Man what shall be after him under the Sun And when he consider'd all his Labours and could not tell whether a Fool or a Wise Man should enjoy the Fruit thereof himself hated his own Labours What can other Men hope to know after Death When Isaiah confesseth Abraham himself is gnorant of us Death's dark Night shall cover us till he return that hath Triumph'd over it when we shall again receive Organs glorified and Immortal the Seats of Evangelical Affections and the Souls of the Blessed shall be exercised in so great Admiration as that they can admit no mixture of less Ioy nor any return of Mortal Affections towards Friends Children c. Whether we shall retain any particular Knowledge of them or in any sort distinguish them no Man can assure us and the Wisest Men doubt But on the contrary if a Divine Life retain any of those Faculties which the Soul exercised in a Mortal Body we shall not then so divide the Ioys of
greater difference in the rest which cannot be ascribed to the long abstinence from Marriage upon Religious respect as we see in holy Enoch Noah's Brethren perished in the Flood and so might some unnamed Children begotten before the three named being 500 Years old before § 5. The Patriarchs Years have been questioned some holding them Lunary or Egyptian but that cannot be for then some should beget Children at 6 7 or 8 Years old and the Eldest should live not 100 Years which is short of many after the Flood yea long since Pliny witnesseth under Vespasian in a search many were found above 120 and some 140 Years Old Simple Diet and temperate Life made the Essaeans Egyptian Priests Persian Magicians Indian Brachmans live long saith Iosephus Pliny reports Nestor's 3 Ages Tyresia's 6 Sybils 300 Years Endymion's little less Ant. Fumea a good Historian reports of an Indian above 300 Years Old and my self knew the old Countess of Desmond An. 1589 who lived many Years after who had been married in the Reign of King Edw. 4. To conclude there are three things not to speak of Constellations which are natural Causes of long and healthful Life Strong Parents pure Air and temperate use of Dyet Pleasure and Rest all which excelled in the First Ages And though the Flood infused an impure quality into the Earth to hurt the means of Man's Life yet Time hath more consumed Natures Vigour as that which hath made the Heavens wax old like a Garment Hereto add our strange Education of Children upon unnatural Curiosity nourished by a strange Dugg Hasty Marriage before Natures Seed be ripe or Stock well rooted to yield a Branch fit to replant But above all the Luxury of latter Ages which wilfully oppresseth Nature and then thinks to relieve her with strong Waters hot Spices Sauces c. § 6. The Patriarchs knowledge of the Creation might well come by Tradition from Adam to Moses seeing Methusalem lived with Adam 243 Years and with Noah 500 Years and he with Abraham 58 Years from whom it was not hard to pass by Isaac Iacob and his Posterity to Moses Yet for the more certainty of the Truth it was undoubtedly delivered to Moses by immediate Inspiration of the Holy Ghost as his many Miracles do prove Questionless also Letters were from the Infancy of the World as Enoch's Pillars and his Prophecy witness of which part was found in Saba saith Origen and Tertullian read some Pages neither can it be denyed there was such saith Augustine § 7. The Patriarchs Lives were lightly passed over 'till Enoch whose Piety is commended and his leaving the World not by Death Whether his Change were such as shall be at the last day let Divines judge Lamech's Prophecy of his Son Noah is touch'd upon but Noah's Life is handled more amply The Wisdom Policy and Wars of that World were no doubt great as may be gathered Gen. 5.4 but the Universal Impiety which brought the Universal Destruction deserved that the Memory of their Actions should be drowned with their Bodies It were madness to imagine the Sons of God spoken of Gen. 5.24 were good Angels which begat Giants on Women as Iosephus dreamt and deceived Lactantius Confuted by Augustine and Chrysostom § 8. The Giants spoken of Gen. 5. Becanus strains his Wit to prove they were not such properly but so called for their Oppression But Moses calling them Mighty which argueth extraordinary Strength and Men of Renown and great undertaking there is more Reason to hold them Giants in a proper sense especially considering what Scripture Reporteth of such in the Days of Abraham Moses and Ioshua David c. yea of whole Kindreds and Countries If such were found in the Third and Fourth Ages of the Worlds decay there is no Reason to doubt thereof in the First and Second flourishing Ages From this Story grew the Conceit That Giants were the Sons of Heaven and Earth And from Nimrod grew the Tale of Giants casting up Mountains to the top of Heaven CHAP. VI. The Original of Idolatry and Reliques of Antiquity in Fables §. 1 THE Greeks and others corrupting the Story of the Creation and mingling their Fables with them suppos'd that After-Ages would take those Discourses of God and Nature for Inventions of Philosophers and Poets But as skilful Chymists can extract healthful Medicines out of Poison and Poison out of wholsome Herbs c. so may much Truth be found out of those Fables §. 2 The Antiquity of Corruption was even from Noah's Family For the liberal Grace of God being withdrawn after Man's Fall such a perpetual Eclipse of spiritual things follow'd and produc'd such effects as the general Deluge could not cleanse them even in the selected Family of Noah wherein were found those that renewed the Defection from God for which they had seen the Worlds destruction Hence the Caldeans Egyptians and Phaenicians soon after became Idolaters and the Greeks received their 12 Gods from Egypt and erected to them Altars Images and Temples saith Herodotus §. 3 As Men departed out of the way of Truth stray on in unknown Vices to Eternal Perdition so these blind Idolaters being fallen from the God of Heaven to seek God's on Earth to Worship beginning with Men they proceed to Beasts Fouls Fishes Trees Herbs the Four Elements Winds Morning Evening Stars Yea Affections Passions Sorrow Sickness besides Spirits infernal and among Terrestrials even the basest wanted not divine Honour as Dogs Cats Swine Leeks Onions c. which barbarous Blasphemy Iuvenal thus derided O happy Nations which of their own sowing Have store of Gods in every Garden growing § 4. Of Iupiter and other Gods That Egypt had knowledge of the First Age by Misraim the Son of Cham who had lived 100 Years in it we doubt not Having therefore learned that Cain did first build Cities they made him ancient Iupiter whom the Athenians also called Pollyeus and Herceios Founder and Fortifier of Cities This Iupiter married his Sister as did Cain His Father Adam they made Saturn and his Sons Iubal Tubal and Tubal-Cain were made Mercury Vulcan and Apollo Inventers of Pastorage Smiths-craft and Musick Naome Augustine expounds Venusta which was Venus Vulcan's Wife and Eva was Rhea the Dragon which kept the Golden Apple was the Serpent that beguiled Eva. Paradise was the Garden of Hesperides So Saturn's dividing the World between Three Sons came of Noah and his Sons and Nimrod's Tower was the attempt of Giants against Heaven The Egyptians also Worshipped Seth as their most Ancient Parent from whom they called their chief Province Setheitica and in Bithinia we â—ind the City Cethia § 5. Of the Three Chief Iupiters the First was Son of Aether Dies the Second of Coelum an Arcadian and King of Athens the Third Famous in the Greek Fables was of Creet or Candia as some say but there is no certainty c. § 6. Iupiter Chammon more Ancient than all the Grecian Iupiters was Cham Father
Sophocles And though Papists say that Heathen Images are instead of Letters yet as Heathen Pictures proved notorious Idols so those Stocks Stones c. called Pictures of Christ our Lady c. were by the Ignorant not only Worshipped but thought to live It is safest then for Christians to believe Gods Commandments directly against Images and that which the Prophets and St. Paul speak plainly and convincingly § 8. Ninus the first Idolater an Invader of others and publick Adulterer Of whom nothing is certain which is written for Berosus who chiefly followed him in the Assyrian Succession from Nimrod to Ascalodius in the days of Ioshua is disproved by many Ctesias who lived with Cyrus the Younger a gross flatterer of Princes speaks of incredible numbers in Ninus and Semiramis's Wars He with the help of Aricus King of Arabia subdued Syria Barzanes of Armenia and Zoroaster of Bactria at his second Expedition by the Valour of Semiramis whom he took from Menon her Husband who for Grief drowned himself CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus § 1. NINVS finished Ninive as Semiramis did Babel began by Nimrod Ninive Four Hundred Forty Furlongs in Circuit the Wall an Hundred Foot high and had One Thousand Five Hundred Towers yet Semiramis exceeded him in Babylon § 2. Ninus Dyed after 52 Years Reign Anno Mundi 2019. Plutarch Reports he gave Semiramis one days absolute Rule as she desired in which she commanded his Death She saith Iustin was so like Ninias her Son as that she took upon her to Personate him but it is highly improbable considering she Reigned 42 Years and used her own Name § 3. Semiramis as to her Parentage and Education is variously Reported but not determined by any Author § 4. Her Indian Expedition if Ctesias were worthy of Credit would yet burthen any Mans faith to believe she had Three Millions of Foot One of Horse Two Hundred Thousand Charets and Camels Mounted All which Power perished with her by the hand of Stenobates § 5. Belus's Temple Built by her Four Square a Mile high by Eight Ascents each a Furlong high and of lesser Circuits on whose top the Chaldean Priests observed the Stars Many take the Ruins of it made by Xerxes for Nimrod's Tower c. See Pyramids of Egypt THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire NINEAS or Zameis succeeded Semiramis in the Empire altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria as Berosus reports contrary to Diodorus Iustinus Orosius and all others He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealousie of them Arrius succeeded whom Suidas calls Tâ—uras He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians Aralius succeeded sumptuous in Jewels and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines Baleus Xerxes succeeded The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns are best found out by the times of Abraham and his Posterity set down by Scriptures which are only void of Errors whereto all other Writings are subject No marvel then if in the Ancient Affairs History want assurance said Plutarch Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be ascertained all agree it was in the 43 d of Ninus but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood in which he was Born Archilochus de Temporibus in Annius maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus whereto add 43 which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking seeing to be Learned in many Errours or to be ignorant in all things hath little advantage of each other § 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. § First they Argue from Scripture Secondly from Authority of Iosephus Augustine Beda Isidore and others First The Scripture is Gen. 11.26 when Abraham is first Named the Worthiest and Son of the Promise therefore First-born Secondly Moses respected the History of Abraham not Nahor Thirdly If Abraham were not the First-born his Birth is uncertain Fourthly Unprobable Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age. § 3. Answer to the Objections § Leaving what Divines have Answered to scan this Question we are to consider whether Abraham made two Journies from Charran unto Canaan the former before the latter after his Fathers Death as some conceive upon what is said Heb. 11.3 Against this fancy Martyr Stephen Witnesseth that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead This can be no other than that of which Moses writ Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2 c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life but Moses so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews therein to disagree with Moses Secondly Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan distant Three Hundred English Miles unknown to him and tedious over Mountains and Desarts which he must pass three times in two Journies and so make Nine Hundred Miles besides his Travel from Vr to Charran as much more And consider the Train Abraham had with him Gen. 12.5 which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran till his Fathers Death as 't is plain Act. 7.4 when also by their account Abraham must be about 135 Years Old and Isaac also must be about 35 When he might well have Married him and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey Neither can this Opinion agree with that which Abraham's Servant Reported to Laban touching his Master which he could not be ignorant of if he had been so lately there Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies most of them of less importance than this neither can any reason be given why Abraham did return this second time to Charran but only to support their Opinions § 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age unâ—it for a Child as Abraham was at One Hundred Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering but if they consider Sarah's the wonder was in her own disability not Abraham's who had divers Sons 37 Years after yea many Ages after that Boaz Obed and Iesse Begat Sons at 200 Years or there about § 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain and so the succeeding Times I Answer Abraham's Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death as if his Birth had been dated For as St. Stephen tells us his departure followed his Father's death so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years and his Father's 205 at his Death To the Objection that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran to set out their Age as he did Abraham's I Answer There were great Reasons to respect them also considering the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham Isaac and Iacob's Marrying with them And though they had Worshipped
and revenge the other 2 And it was God's will when he would impose that long and tedious Journey upon Abraham that the Countreys should be in Peace through which he wandred to which end those Millions of Warriours and Engins perished with Semiramis to make the Recovery of lost Liberty the more easy Lastly Histories report that Arrius who succeeded Ninias recovered Bactria and Caspia and Baleus or Xerxes reduced the rest even to Egypt which argueth their former Revolt § 13. Consent of Writers almost forceth us to think as I have delivered touching the Four Kings yet if we take them rather for Four petty Kings which in that sluggish Reign of Ninias had gathered Colonies out of those Four Countries and Planted themselves elsewhere we shall remove some difficulties For if Chedorlaomer were King of Persia it self beyond Babylon what a Journey were it to come so far and gather such Forces which must pass so great Countries as Assyria Chaldea Mesopotamia Syria and part of Arabia to Conquer five small Cities and leave all the rest of Canaan yea to come in Person and that the second time But the Scripture maketh this Invasion no great matter but as matching four Kings to five as if the five were not so unequally matched though petty Kings as of necessity they had been if these four had been absolute Kings of the Kingdoms whose Names they bear If then the former Conjectures cannot agree to the Text to the Authority whereof all Human Reason must subscribe let the received Opinion stand that Amraphel was Ninias who was become inferiour to Chedorlaomer of Persia. From the Assyrian the History of Abraham leadeth us to the Egyptian Kingdom then also flourishing CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites THE Kings of Egypt 'till Israel 's Deliverance and the causes of the uncertainty of the History § Cham after Babel's Confusion having known Egypt's Fertility Planted it Anno 191 after the Flood Osiris succeeded Anno 352. Typhon or Hercules Anno 603. Orus 620. Sesostris the Great 735. Sesostris the Blind 786. Busiris or Oris 2 d. Anno 782. Acenchere or Thermutis or Meris 820. Rathoris 832. Chenchrese 841 drowned Augustin a diligent searcher of Antiquities omitted the Succession of Egyptian Kings finding no certainty of them through the Ambition of their Priests who to magnify the Antiquities which they only kept filled the Records with Romances and Names of Kings which never Reigned Other good Authors were over-credulous of what they found so Recorded Published the same in their own Names Of these Annius finding some Fragments and adding what he would is no farther to be Credited than where approved Writers Confirm his Assertion Herein the Old Christian Writers follow Eusebius but the Modern Annius and Prophane Authors follow Diodorus Herodotus c. § 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. § This is gathered from the Dyanasties of Egypt whose 16 th began in the 43 d. year of Ninus The 12 first under their 12 great Gods lasted 84 Years seven a-piece the 13 indured 14 years the 14 lasted 26 the fifteen was 37 which three last were under three younger Gods All the 75 added together make 161 years which being deducted out of 352 the remainder is 191 the beginning of Government there after Cham's arrival The same also is probable from their coming to Babel which being after the Flood Anno 131 and Forty years according to Glicas spent in Building we can allow no less than Twenty years for the slow passing such a Company through such a difficult long way which Sums being added make up 191 years when the first Dynasty began for to begin them sooner were either to plant Egypt as soon as Babel or with Mercator to make them before the Flood which their number exceeding the number of those long-liv'd Fathers will not admit § 3. The Dynasties of Egypt were not absolute Kings but Vice-Roys under Kings § The probability of this will appear by the custom of Kings governing by Great Men as of old the Kings of France by the Master of the Palace the Turk by a Grand Visier the Philistin Kings which came out of Egypt had a Captain as Abimelek had Phicol the Kings of Israel as Saul had Abner David had Ioab And Cham's lend disposition to follow Pleasure might breed the Custom which continued even to the days of Ioseph advanced to the place by Pharaoh from which Example William Arch Bishop of Tyre affirms the same Form of Government continued in Egypt in his days when the Sultans govern'd under the Calif as Lieutenants under a King How these Dynasties succeeded and how long they continued is uncertain § 4. Cham. and Mizraim or Oris § Of C ham the Scripture calls that Country the Land of Ham not for being Peopled by his Sons for so were other Countries which yet are never so called but for that himself planted it Osiris called himself the Eldest Son of Saturn as in Diodorus lib. 1. which Saturn of Egypt was Grand-father of Ninus as in his Monument Of Cham came the Temple of Hammon near Egypt And in Ierom's days the Egyptians called their Country Ham so Ortelius saith out of Plutarch that Egypt was called Chemia That Cham reigned 161 years is not improbable considering Sem his Brother lived 600 years Mizraim or Osiris according to Diodor succeeded of whom the Land also took its Name and by the Natives is yet called Mezre as Reineccius sheweth How long he Reigned is hard to determine but that he began at Abraham's Birth is probable when the Dynastie of the Thebaei began according to Eusebius § 5. Osiris Reign is guessed at by his Son Lebabim or Hercules Lybeus his Warring with Typhon and the Giants his Associates in Revenging his Fathers Death His Egyptian Wars he ended and begun his Italian in the 41 Year of Baleus King of Assyria according to Berosus when he left the Kingdom to his Brother Orus To this Egyptian and many other Wars before his Italian Krentzhemius alloweth but 6 Years which draweth Osiris Death to the 34 th Year of Belus and so makes him Reign 297 Years and so should end 7 Years after Israel came into Egypt This cannot be for the King under whom Israel came out-lived Iacob and had Reigned from before Ioseph's standing before Pharaoh yea we may give 13 Years more of Ioseph's Bondage to him This King then could not be Osiris who lived not so long as Iacob nor Typhon nor Hercules but Orus Son of Osiris advanced by Hercules § 6. Typhon and Hercules their Reigns are not distinctly defined only Orus is placed 7 Years after Osiris by Krentzhemius and whose Reign seemeth to last 115 Years and from whose Death to the Israelites Departure are 122 Years Sesostris or Sesonchosis succeeded according to Scholiast Apollonii He was a great Conquerour in Asia even into India and Europe Whom Iustin erroniously maketh Vexoris saith
which Collected the grounds of Egyptian Philosophy make him more Ancient than Moses being Author of the Egyptian Wisdom wherein Moses was Learned True it is that Hermes Divinity is contrary to Moses in many things especially in approving Linages But the advised rather may perceive those Books have been corrupted by the Egyptian Priests and were they in all things like themselves it were not unsafe with Eupolemus to say Hermes was Moses And that the Egyptian Theology was devised by the more Ancient Hermes which others judge to be Ioseph But these are over-curious Opinions Whoever he was God knoweth and Lactantius testifieth this of him He Writ many Books of Divine things touching the Majesty of the most High and one God calling him by the Name of one God and Father as we do c. And his acknowledgments of God are so contrary to Egyptian and Grecian Fictions that what is found in his Book inclining thereto was by corruption inserted For thus he speaketh God is the Lord and Father of all things the Fountain Life Power Light Mind and Spirit and all things are in and under him For his Word which out of himself proceedeth being most Perfect Generative and Operative made Nature Fruitful and producing And saith Suidas he was called Ter-Maximus for affirming there was one God in Trinity He fore-saw saith Ficinus the Ruin of the Old or superstitious Religion the Birth of the New Faith the coming of Christ future Judgment Resurrection Glory of the Blessed and the Punishment of sinners Lastly Calcidius the Platonist and Suidas cited by Volaterius Report this his Speech Hitherto O my Son being driven out of my Country I have lived a Stranger and Banished Man but now I am repairing homeward again in safety And when after a while being loosed from the Bonds of the Body I shall depart from you see you do not bewail me as Dead For I I do return to that best and Blessed City whereto all her Citizens by the Condition of Death are come For there is the only God the most High and Chief Prince who replenishing his Citizens with wonderful Sweetness in regard whereof this which many call Life is rather to be called Death I therefore adjure thee O Heaven Thou Wise work of the great God and thee O Voice of the Father which he first uttered when he framed the whole World I adjure by his only begotten Word and Spirit comprehending all things have Mercy upon me § 7. Aesculapius also flourished in this Age and became the God of Physitians he was Brother of Hermes as Vives on Augustin Judged Iamnes and Iambres those notorious Sorcerers that opposed Moses now lived and made such a Figure as if Moses and they had used the same Art as the beholders of common Capacity judged Though Moses charge them not with familiarity with the Devil and the Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Workers by Drugs yet did they excel in the impious Art as in dazling Eyes whom we call Prestigiators in natural Magicks which is a knowledge to use the Creatures qualities beyond common Judgment which discern not the best Virtues that God hath indued them with This the Cabalist calls the Wisdom of Nature used by Iacob in the Pied Lambs as Moses did that which they call the Wisdom of Divinity in his Miracles Hereby God made him excell all that ever were when he shewed himself so often to him and imployed him in such Services Moses is remembred by Profane Authors Clearchus Magastenes and Numenius The Patriarchs long lives are remembred by Estius Hyeronimus Egyptius Heasteus Elanicus Acusilaus Ephorus and Alexander the Historian The deluge by Berosus Nicen Damascenus The Confusion at Babel by Abidemus Estieus Sybil. Abraham was Honoured by Berosus written of by Hecolaeus and his Journey into Canaan by Damascen Eupolemon writ of him beginning from Babel's Building to his calling out of Canaan or Ur in Chaldea Eusebius collects many which confirm the Books of Moses Lastly Worthy is the Testimony of Strabo saying Moses taught the Egyptians were mistaken in Attributing to God the Image of Beasts and the Africans and Greeks Erred greatly giving their Gods the shape of Men whereas that only is God indeed which contains both us Earth Sea the Heaven the World and the Nature of all things whose Image doubtless no Man will dare to Form to the likeness of any thing Their rejecting all Images that worthy Temple and Place of Prayer was to be Erected to him for his Worship without Images § 8. Of Josua and so to Othoniel and his Contemporary § Iosua entred upon the Government in the First Month Nisan or March the 14 th Year of their Egression in the Reign of Aminias the Eighteenth King of Assyria Corax the Sixteenth Siciona Danus of Argives and Ericthonius of Athens saith Augustin de civ Iosua appointeth Reuben Gad and the half Tribe of Manasses unto the Vanguard to lead the Host till the Land was Conquered as Iuda had in the Wilderness So upon the Tenth Day he led them over Iordan which gave way to them and Incamped in Gilgal and Circumcised them and on the Fourteenth they Celebrated the Passover the Third time when the Manna ceased The Wars and Victories of Iosua the Miraculous assistance of God and the Division of the Land are particularly at large set down in God's Book In the whole Story I observed in those Petty Kings First want of Wisdom as it is with Governours forsaken of God to Unite themselves against a strong and common Enemy before he had broken divers of them Secondly Iosua though sure of Divine assistance yet used the uttermost skill of a Wise Leader As sometime by Ambuscades Stratagems and shew of flying So by Surprize and Night-Marches and by pursuing his Victory Thirdly In the Passage between Iosua and the Gibeonites the Doctrine of keeping Faith is excellently taught taking away all perfidious cunning of Equivocating or crafty distinctions It is not possible to have a Case affording better Pretence to go off they were Hivites of whose Destruction God had given Express Commandment they Counterfeited in Word and Deed deliberately to deceive and lye in the very Point touching the Persons to be Covenanted with they were detestable Idolaters and as long as they lived were the Memory of Israels Errour and Iosua's oversight to be so overtaken and to be a scandal to Israel Iosua might say he Covenanted not with the Gibeonites but with Strangers and had no Commission but a former Express Law to the contrary yea and the People Mutined about it c. All notwithstanding Iosua durst use no Evasion to start from the Oath of the Lord wherein he was bound not to Man so much as to God It were a great sin to call God to Witness a Lye and so make him a Deceiver but we call him to be our Surety Yea we call him to Judge and so make him false in Witnessing in undertaking our Faith and
the stock of Ithamar that obtained that High-Priesthood which continued in his stock until Solomon cast out Abâ—athar and put in Zâ—dok descended from Eleazer 1 Kings 2.26 35. In his time for the Sins of the Priests and People the Lord gave his Ark the Sacrament of his Presence into the hands of the Philistins as he did his Temple to be destroyed by the Chaldeans and after by the Romans because they put more Confidence therein than in the Lord himself whose Law they would not observe Whereas after the Captivity and in the time of the Machabees while they feared the Lord they were Victorious without an Ark more than they were when they guarded themselves with the Sign void of substance David also knew the Ark was not made for an Ensign in the Field The Trojans believed that while the Paladium or Image of Minerva was in the City it should never be overthrown The Christians also carried into the Field in the last Fatal Battel against Saladine the very Cross as they were made to believe whereon Christ died and yet lost themselves and the Wood. But Chrysostom said well upon St. Matthew if that be his work of them which wore part of St. Iohn's Gospel about their Necks for an Amulet or Preservative If the words profit thee nâ—t in thine Ears how can they about thy Neck For it was neither the Wood of the Ark or of the Cross but the Reverence of the Father that gave them for a memory of his Covenant and the Faith of his Son which shed his Blood on the other for Redemption that could or can profit them or us either in this Life or after it The Holy story telleth us how after this Victory of the Philistins the Ark of God was in Captivity yet they overthrew the Philistin's Dagon and brake off both Head and Hands to shew he had neither Wisdom nor Power in God's Presence and that God and the Devil cannot inhabit in one House or one Heart If this Idol then could not endure the representation of the true God what Marvel is it that when it pleased him to Cloath his only Begotten with Flesh and sent him into the World that all the Oracles wherein the Devil derided and betray'd Mortal Men lost Power Speech and Operation at that instant For when the true Light which never had any beginning of Brightness brake through the Clouds of a Virgins Womb shining upon the Earth long obscured by Idolatry all these stinking Vapours vanished Plutarch rehearseth a Memorable History of that Age of the death of their great God Pan but could not find the true cause thereof c. God also plagued the Philistims as well as their God and forced them to return his Ark and to give him Glory after they had tried all their wit to the contrary See the Story Thus God is acknowledged of his Enemies as he had been of Pharaoh and was after of Nebuchodonezer Darius c. § 3. Of Samuel's Government 1 Sam. 7. He descended of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 for his Father Elcana a Levite of Mount Ephraim came of Korah the Son of Izaar Son of Cheath Son of Levi. His Mother after long Barreness obtained him by earnest Prayer to avoid the reproach of Barrenness as it was esteemed considering it was God's Promise Deut. 7. and Blessing to Adam and Abraham c. Under his Government the Lord freed Israel from the Philistins who at his Prayers were miraculously overthrown as were the Amalekites at the Prayer of Moses He Ministred Justice at three fit places Of which see Cap. 12. § 1. CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel § 1. THE deliberation to change the Government into a Kingdom arose upon Samuel's being grown unable to sustain the Burthen of so careful a Government which he put over his Sons who failing of their Father's Care and Uprightness and relishing nothing but Gain sold Law and Justice to the best Chap-men The Elders observing this and that the Old Man though a Prophet yet as a natural Father discerned not his Sons Errors and remembring the lamentable success of Eli's Sons Rule saw no other way to put them off than by desiring a King This Motion displeased Samuel who seeking Counsel from God as in a Cause of so great consequence he was order'd to hear the Voice of the People yet so as God accounted it a Wrong to himself rather than to Samuel and therefore commanded him to declare unto them the Inconveniencies and Miseries which shall befall them under that Government All which are not intolerable but as have been and are still born by Subjects free Consent But the Oppressions threatned verse 14 c. give an occasion â—o the Question Whether a King fearing God or one which will Rule by his own discretion and playeth the Tyrant be here set out as some judge or that the Text only teacheth what they ought with patience to bear at their Sovereigns hand as others judge The first ground themselves upon Deut. 17.14 c. and on the words of the Text which do not say he may but he will do so and so shewing what Power severed from Piety will do as in Achab's Example contrary to the Law Deut. 16.18 The Arguments on the other side are largely handled in that Discourse of free Monarchies which I shall not take upon me here to Insert This change of Government God fore-told Gen. 15. and 17. and 49. and provided for the direction of it by Laws Deut. 17. But whether the Reasons which move most Nations moved them to choose a Monarch or thereby to be cleared from the Sons of Samuel doth not so plainly appear for neither Perswasions nor Threats could draw them from their desire of a King § 2. Saul ' s Election § Samuel by God's direction having yielded to the People returned to his City Rama expecting the Lord's direction touching the King to be chosen which the Lord accordinly performed giving him warning the day before Samuel hereupon prepared to entertain whom God should send and Saul intending nothing less than a Kingdom found it and was Anointed and Confirmed by signs given him by Samuel and returned home Thus God oft by meanest occasions ordereth the greatest things and in Moses and David's Calling from feeding Sheep Iames and Iohn from Fishing c. Among the Signs given to Saul one was of the Company of the Prophets not such as by divine Revelation fore-told things to come as Moses Ioshua Samuel c. but such as were exercised in Expounding Scriptures as were those 1 Cor. 14. at which time God changed his Heart from a Vulgar condition to a Kingly After this another Assembly at Mispezh Saul was Published and designed King by God and accepted of the People and saluted King § 3. Saul's Establishment after his Victory against the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. The Ammonites attending the Advantage of Times for recovery of their Territories taken from them by the Amorites having in vain
in largeness This number may be thought strange in so small a Territory being far greater than any Muster ever taken of that Country Ioab had found 500000 Rehoboam 180000 Abia 408000 Asa 580000 Amazia found 300000 Uzziah 307000 and surely if Iehosophat had 1160000 Men he would not have feared Moab and Ammon c. I am therefore of Opinion submitting to better Judgments that the numbers spoken of 2 Chron. 17. were not all at one time but that the two first numbers under Adnah and Iehobanan were after Mustred and Commanded by Amasia Eliada and Iehosabad yet this Mighty Prince made a League with Ahab and matched his Son Ioram with his Daughter and assisted him at Ramoth-Gilead for which he was reproved by Iehu the Prophet as he was a second time by the Prophet Eliezer for joyning with Ahab's Son in preparing a Fleet. So he joyned with Iehoram against Moab and had perished by Famine if Elisha had not relieved them from God whose Goodness was ever prone to save the Evil for the sake of the Good but never destroyed the Good for the Evil. Ophratenes now Reigned in Assyria Capetas and Tiberinus at Alba in Italy Atazedes in Athens Agesilaus in Corinth Archilochus in Lacedemon Badesorus in Tyrus Achab Ochozias and Iehoram in Israel CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahazia JEhoram the Son of Iehosaphat being thirty two Years old began to Reign and Reigned 8 Year of which 4 was in his Father's Life who at his two Journeys with Ahab and Iehoram Kings of Israel left him Viceroy 'till his return The first was in Iehosaphat's 17th Year when also Ahazia Son of Ahab began to Reign whose Brother Iehoram the 2 d year after succeeded K. of Israel in the 2 d year of Iehoram King of Iuda that is of his Reign when his Father Iehosaphat took the sole Government again upon him 'till the Fifth year after when he reassumed his Son Ioram into the Government 2 Kings 8. two years before his death in the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel So that Iehosaphat Reigning Twenty five years 2 King 22.42 it is evident his Son Iehoram could not be King of Iuda 'till the Eighth year of Iehoram King of Israel The like regard is to be had in accounting the Reigns of other Kings of Iuda and Israel whose years are sometime to be taken compleat current or confounded with other Kings preceding or succeeding as the comparing of their Times together shall require In this History consider that Iehosaphat a Religious King is the first of Rehoboam's Issue that entred a League both Offensive and Defensive with the Kings of Israel with whom his Predecessors had tyred themselves in vain with continual Wars This Confederacy with one which hated the Lord could not long prosper not issuing from the true Root and Fountain of all Wisdom yet as a piece of sound Policy it wanted not fair Pretences of much common good as mutual Fortification of both Kingdoms against Uncircumcised Ancient Enemies For confirmation of such an apparent Good unto Posterity therefore the Bond of Affinity was knit by Marriage of Iehoram with Athalia a Lady of a Masculine Spirit who had learned so much of Iezabel her Brother's Wife that she durst undertake more in Ierusalem than the other in Samaria as a Fire-brand ordained by God to Consume many Nobles in Iuda and perhaps some whose Worldly Wisdom regardless of God's pleasure had brought her in The Syrian Wars at Ramoth-Gilead were the first Fruits of this League undertaken upon equal Adventure but upon the hope of Benefit only to Ahab As godly Princes seldom thrive by matching with Idolaters but rather serve the Turns of those false Friends who being ill-affected towards God cannot be well affected to his Servants At this time also as Ahaziah was designed King by Ahab his Father so was Ioram by Iehosaphat after the others Example without Example in any of their Predecessors § 2. Iehoram's Reign so diversly dated in Scripture argueth that Iehosaphat having taken him into the Government as Ahab had given Example found cause after to recall that Power Probable it is that his Insolent Idolatrous Wife having corrupted him was the cause that the Government both for Religion and Justice grew so far out of order that Iehosaphat was forced to the Reformation we read of and sequestred his Son from the Government 'till it were setled again and so after five years called him to it the second time which bred a new Date as did his Father's death two years after breed a third Many things might move Iehosaphat to Iehoram's second calling to Govern him as to try what Wisdom his restraint had wrought or to prevent his Brethrens Insolency against him if Iehosaphat had at his Death left him in disgrace which might be the cause of great Tumults it may be also Iehoram by dissimulation had won the good Opinion on of his â—ather and Brethren formerly offended it being usual in violent fierce Natures to be as abject and servile in their Adversity as insolent and bloody upon Advantage Howsoever it was this is manifest that his Father at his death doubting his Affection to his Brethren for their better Security besides great Riches gave them the custody of strong Cities and unusual means against unusual Perils § 3. Jehoram 's Reign alone in which Edom and Libna Rebel § Iehosaphat's providence for his younger Sons availed nothing against the determination of an higher Providence for these strong Cities were a weak defence for the young Princes against his Power to whom the Citizens were obedient If they came in upon the King's Summons he had them without difficulty if they refused they were Traytors yet could not hold out when all would fail them for fear of a Potent King However it was all were slain and many great Men with them who had any way offended the Tyrant either formerly or in behalf of his Brethren Iehoram after this made innovation in Religion not only incouraging the People prone to Idolatry of all other sins detested of God but using Compulsion also and was the first we read of that inforced Irreligion Edom in the mean time revolted and made themselves a King having from David's days been Tributaries and govern'd by Vice-Roys Now Isaac's Prophecy began to take effect that Esau should break the Yoke of Iacob for after this Edom was never subject to the Kings of Iuda Yea in process of time Antipater and Herod Elumeans Reigned as Kings in Ierusalem Lybna also a City of the Levites in Iuda rebelled against him because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers In defence of whose Worship these Levites thought themselves bound especially against his inforcement to the contrary Wherein also they might take Incouragement for Iehosaphat's Charge 2 Chron. 29.8 But as Iehoram had left Edom in their defection so he attempted nothing against Libna which seemeth to proceed from a doubtful Mind whether to put Weapons into the Hands of his
Palm or Olive so that the choice Orators Poets and Musicians resorted thither to shew their skill in setting out his Praise that won the Garland with such Vanity said Tully as if it had been a Conquest of a Province The time of the year was the Fifteenth of Hecatobaeon our Iune whereto they brought the Full Moon § 6. Iotham Twenty Five years old succeeded his Father Vzziah in his life time and reigned 26 years happy in all things as he was Devout and Virtuous 2 King 15.33 Contemporaries Aucomenus succeeded Pelesteus in Corinth whom Annual Magisteus succeeded contrary to Pausan. Aesculus in Athens Accamenes in Sparta Tiglath Pileser in Assyria Twenty five years and Two with his Son Twenty Seven in all Nahum the Prophet now fore-told the destruction of Ninive One Hundred and Fifty years beforehand Sosarmus and Medidus succeeded Arbaces in Media the Second and Third Kings there § 7. Achas succeeded in Iudah one year with Iotham in the Seventeenth year of Peka he was Twentâ— years old and Reigned Sixteen years an exceeding Idolater Sacrificing his Sons to Moloch or Saturn after the manner of the Heathens used of old Levit. 18. Deut. 12. by many Nations and at this day by the Americans as Acosta witnesseth c. God raised â—im Enemies on all sides so that when he saw his dead Gods failed him yet neglecting the living God he sought Aid of Tiglath Pileser who embraced the Advantage to go through with what his Father entred but had no leisure to finish it He therefore invaded Syria and won Damascus all Israel made Iudah Tributary though Achaz had hired him Contemporaries the Ephori in Lacedemon 130 years after Lycurgus opposed to Kings as the Tribunes in Rome against Consuls Alcamenon in Athens the last Governour for Life after which followed a Magistrate for Ten years Sylvii of Aeneas's Race ended after Three Hundred Years Romulus now built Rome the Eighth of Achaz the First of the Seventh Olympiad CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation in Ahaz's time § 1. ITALY before the Fall of Troy was known to the Greeks by the names of Hesperia Ausonia Oenotria of a Colony of Arcadians and Italy of Italus Reyneccius derives the Name rather from a Colony of Aetolians which Inhabited Brundusium from whose Names with small Change that part was called Italia which in time grew the common name saith Pliny Such change in the Aeolic Dialect is Familiar as to call an Island Peopled by Aetholians Aethalia The Original of Greeks and Latins was from Iavan who sailing over the Ionian Sea between Aetolia and the Western Ocean planted Greece and Italy Reyneccius makes Atlai Italus one which Berosus calls Cethim Italus but is deceived for Atlas is esteemed more Antient than Moses and if he were Cethim or Kithim Noah's Grand-Son his Antiquity exceeds that of Italy which Name Virgil confesseth later and from a Captain But seeing Hercules a little before Troy's Fall left a Colony of Eleans or Aetoleans it may be under the command of one called Aitolus a Name famous among Aetolians Italy might take Name of him § 2. Aborigines that is the Natives of the place Inhabited Latium whom Halycarnassus Varro and Reyneccius think to have been Arcadians who used to vaunt of their Antiquity having more constantly kept their Country in Peloponesus than other Greeks yet being fruitful sent Colonies to other Countries as when Evander was sent into the same parts of Italy Pelasgi an Antient Nation after gave Name to all Greece but such of them as came into Italy lost the Name of their Tribe in a short time Sicani Ausones Aurunci Rutili in after Ages disturbed Latium whiâ—h Satâ—rn had brought to some Civility and taught to dung the Ground That Latium took the name of Saturn's lurking there from Iupiter is far fetched and questionless a Fable yet many Fables were occasioned from some Antient Truths It may be then that Saturn hiding himself was some allusion to the old Opinion of the Wise Heathen that the true God was an unknown God to whom Paul found an Altar dedicated It cannot be in vain that the word Saturnus should also signify hidden coming of the Hebrew Satar to hide as some think c. Reyneccius proceedeth in deriving Latium from the Posterity of Iavan Inhabiting a Territory in lesser Asia called Elaitia who after the Trojan War went into Italy whence might grow Elaitinus and so Latinus c. § 3. The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas were Saturnus Picus Faunus Latinus Whether Saturnus were he whom the Greeks called Cronos e. the time of the Aborigines will admit but his Names of Stercus or Sterculius do argue him another so called of the Dungs he taught them to lay upon their ground Ezechiel often cals Idâ—ls Deos Stercoreos as Belzebul is Dominus Stercoreus c. § 4. Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood-Royal came to Latium with some 1200 Trojans and Married Laviana King Latinus's Daughter He had a Son before by his Wife Creusa Daughter of Priamus called Ascanius and Sirnamed Iulus After Aeneas's death Lavinia was great with Child by him and fearing Ascanius fled into a Wood where being Delivered the Child was called Sylvius Posthumus Bâ—t upon the Peoples disapproving of Lavinia's flight Ascanius called her home used her like a Queen and Educated her Son Ascanius to avoid dissention left the City Lavinium to Laviana and Founded Alba-Longa where he Reign'd about 30 Year and left his Son Iulus who upon contention with Sylvius whom the People favoured left the Kingdom and took the Priesthood for him and his Posterity Sylvius Posthumus Reigned 29. Sylvius Aeneas 31. Sylvius Latinus 10. Sylvius Alba 39. Sylvius Atis 36. Sylvius Capijs 28. Sylvius Capelus 13. Sylvius Tiberinus 8. Sylvius Agrippa 41. Sylvius Alladyus 19. Sylvius Aventinus 37. Sylvius Procas 23. Sylvius Amulius 44. He expelled his Elder Brother Sylvius Numitor slew his Son Aegestius and made his Daughter Ilia a Vestal-Virgin Numitor who yet either by her Uncle or some Warlike-Man conceived 2 Sons Romulus and Reineccius who in time slew Amulius and all his Family and restored Numitor in whom the Kingdom of Alba ended and received Magistrates Yet it contended with Rome 'till her Three Curiatij were vanquished by the Three Horatij Champions for Rome After this Metius the Alban Dictator following Tullus Hostilius in his War upon Tullus's disadvantage withdrew his Companies to distress Tullus for which he was torn in pieces at two Chariots and Alba Reigned but the Citizens were made free Denisons and her Nobles Patricians of Rome among whom was a Family of Iulij which hath since risen in Iulius Caesar c. § 5. Rome which devoured the Alban Kingdom and brake all the Kingdoms from Euphrates to the Western Ocean as that Alban the IV th a Beast with Iron-Teeth forespoken of cometh now to be handled only touching her Original which some seek to derive from Ianus others from the Greeks Plâ—tarch in the Life of Romulus
as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
be attended with more than one Woman abroad except they were drunken which Dispensations Women were ashamed to claim § 6. Ierusalem in the third year of Iehojakim is Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar the second year of his Reign with his Father and notwithstanding the assistance of Neco King of Egypt forced Iehojakim to become his Vassal and took Daniel and his Fellows Hostages but hasted home not intending there to stay Neco coming with such disadvantage so far from home in a Country which loved him not Besides his Father's death called him to possess his own before he sought other Mens But the next year which was Nebuchadnezzar's first and Neco's last they fought on the Bank of Euphrates where Neco Fought his last and Nebuchadnezzar recover'd all Syria Pausanius succeeded Neco but inferiour in Valour he thought to restore Iehoahaz his Prisoner and cast out Iehojakim but the Lord said to the contrary Iehojakim also rely'd on the Egyptians 'till Nebuchadnezzar forced a Tribute on him so he submitted quietly three years in his fourth year it seemeth that Ieremiah was first Imprisoned Tyrus holding out against Nebuchadnezzar was in his seventh year Besieged and in his fourteenth year taken for her Captivity was limited to seventy years and her Siege was thirteen It was divided from the Main by a deep broad Channel excelled in store of Ships which Nebuchadnezzar wanted and every Wind brought supply from Foreign Parts so that it feared neither Force nor Famine But God that had threatned Tyre sent a King impatient of resistance to undertake such a piece of work to stop a vast Channel in the Sea using thereto the Wood of Libanus not far off and the Ruins of old Tyre with the toilsom labour of many thousands of Men wherewith he prevailed at length But the wealthy Citizens fled by Sea to Creet and left little Wealth for Booty therefore the Lord promised them Egypt see Ezek. 29.18 19. Iehojakim upon what occasion is uncertain whether Mutiny among the Souldiers or Rumour of the Egyptians coming against Nebuchadnezzar renounced his Subjection but was presently subdued by Nebuchadnezzar and slain and his Son Iehojakim or Ieconias put in his place and after three Months removed to Babylon and Mattanias his Uncle established in his stead and called Zedekiah who took an Oath of subjection In his fourth year he went to Babel about some business wherein it seems he was not satisfied for upon his return he began to practice with the Neighbouring Princes of Moab c. what year Iohanan the False Prophet opposed Ieremy Nebuchadnezzar hearing of Zedekiah's practice came in the dead of Winter and Besieged Ierusalem and though the year following he raised his Siege to meet Hophra yet upon the Egyptians abandoning his Enterprize he returned and gave the City no rest 'till he brake it up Zedekiah escaping in the Night through a Vault under the Earth is yet overtaken c. and his Eyes being put out he was carried into Babel but saw it not as Ezekiel foretold Ch. 12.13 This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah and eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar the year after the Temple was burnt the four hundred thirty first year after the Building What followed is written 2 Kings 25. Ier. 39. 52. THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK III. Part I. FROM The Destruction of Ierusalem unto Philip of Macedon CHAP. I. The time from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall § 1. THE Connexion of Sacred and Profane History § Before the Grecian Olympiads and the Eastern Date from Nabonassar the Course of Time had no beaten Path as after it had more certain Marks yet from Ierusalem's Destruction the former with the succeeding Ages are more clearly discern'd in their Connection The harm which some have found in the years of the overgrown Monarchies doth preserve their Names which otherwise might have been forgotten but cannot shew the Year of such a King in which any thing expressed in Scripture was done Neither could any certainty be gathered from the late Kings of the Assyrians c. if Nebuchadnezzar's Reign had not been precisely applied to the years of Iehojakim and Zedekiah Hence have we the first light to discover how to connect Sacred and Profane Histories for Iudah's Seventy years Captivity begin under Nebuchadnezzar and ending the first of Cyrus directs us backward and forward This first year of Cyrus is joyned with the first of the fifty fifth Olympiad And that he Reigned twenty three year before his Monarchy and seven after is apparent and giving them four hundred and eight year between Troy's Fall and Iphetus's restoring the Olympiads we may arrive to the knowledge of the true Grecian Antiquities For other Nations let St. Augustine be trusted § 2. The Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity being our chief mark of direction we are to inform our selves truly therein Some begin from Ieconias's Captivity eleven year before Zedekiah citing Ezek. 40.1 Beraldus judgeth that it began the first of Nebuchadnezzar and fourth of Ioakim citing 2 Chron. 36. and Dan. 1. Matth. 1.11 but cannot thus make it good Wretched Porphyrie scoffeth at St. Matth. 1.11 not knowing Iosias's Sons had divers Names as Epiphanius shewed The Wretch affirmeth the Book of Daniel was written long after his death at or near the time of Antiochus Epiphanes whom Eusebius Apollonius c. have answered And the Seventy Interpreters Translated it out of Hebrew one hundred year before that Iaddus the High-Priest also shewed the Book to the Great Alexander c. True it is the Iews ascribe it to Esdras and equal it not to the Prophet but put it among the Hagiographs or Holy Books which are Daniel Psalms Iob Proverbs Canticles Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Hester Nehemiah and Chronicles Our Christian Councils and Fathers acknowledge it Canonical and our Saviour who cited no Apocrypha cited it as a proof exceeding all § 3. That the Seventy Years Captivity began at Ierusalem's destruction not Ieconias's Captivity is clear Ieremiah himself explained himself and Daniel cited by some to the contrary Compare Chap. 25.9 11 12. with Chap. 29.10 where in the first place he expresly beginneth the Captivity of Seventy years at Ierusalem's Destruction and thereof certifies the Captivity in the second place So also it is understood by themselves 2 Chron. 36.19 20 21. So Dan. 9.2 the Seventy years referred to Ierusalem's Desolation § 4. Touching the King's Reigning in Babylon those seventy Years and the time of each help us a little to the times before or after neither it seems were most of their Acts worth Recording For as Nebuchadnezzar's latter times were either in delights or madness so his Posterity grew slothful as Sons whose Fathers have purchased enough to their hands yet let us consider of Men's Opinions therein and judge as we see cause The surest Opinion is theirs which follow the Scripture which Name only Nebuchadnezzar Evilmerodach and Balthasar and Ieremy which seemeth to limit the Dominion of Babel to Father Son
their Rendezvous at Sardis whose whole Company Pythias a Lydian entertain'd with Food and presented the King with two Thousand Talents of Silver and four Millions of Gold wanting Seven thousand which Xerxes made up and gave all back again Yet the Tyrant cut one of his five Sons into two parts for whom the Father had intreated to be spared in this Expedition to tend him in his Age. He cut Mount Athos and five Cities in the half Island from Thrace He also made a Bridge of Six hundred Seventy two Gallies over the Hellespont over which all his Army passed in Seven days which he beheld in the Plains of Abidos from an high place Here Artabanus put him in mind That Man's Life is so much more miserable than the end that the happiest man oft pleaseth himself more with the desire of Death than Life c. and layed before him two great Dangers that might proceed from such a Multitude at Sea by Storm having no Harbour to command or able to receive them at Land the Country not able to feed them c. He only replyed that great Enterprizes were never undertaken without great Perils which is a good Resolution if Necessity inforce the Enterprise which here it did not c. and such Multitudes are rather heavy Burthens than strong Aids impossible to be Marshalled § 3. Xerxes having Transported his Army into Thrace being to pass the Straits of Thermopile of half an Acre between the Mountains which divide Thessaly from Greece was resisted by Leonidas King of Sparta with three hundred Men and three or four hundred Greeks 'till a Fugitive Grecian taught the Persians a Way by the Ridge of the Mountains by which part of their Army ascending came upon their Backs Yet Leonidas with his Seven hundred Men stood to it and slew twenty thousand and two of the Kings Brethren though in the end he and the rest were slâ—in This valorous Resolution especially of the Lacedemonians terrified Xerxes so that he asked Counsel of Demoratus a Banished King of Sparta who advised to send sufficient Force in three hundred Ships to ravage Lycaonia so to divert the Lacedemonians and their Neighbours at home while Xerxes subdued the rest Achamenes the Kings Brother advised him to keep the Ships together near the Land Forces considering four hundred were cast away in a Storm But the Grecian Navy lying at Artemisium where the Persian Armada thought to inclose them knowing they had sent two hundred Ships about met them in the Night unlook'd for and Defeated them The other intending by strong hand to repair that loss set upon the Grecian Navy but had the worst leaving both the place and Spoil to the Enemy § 4. Xerxes being entred the Phocians Country ravag'd it and the Regions adjoining he sent also to pillage the Temple of Delphos but was overwhelmed they say by two Rocks which brake from Parnassus Surely his Attempt was Impious seeing he believ'd Apollo a God so that the only Holy might give the Devil leave to defend himself against his own Servant which dishonour'd him For saith he will a Man spoil his God Mat. 3.8 Ier. 2.9 10. Yea the Persians had blamed the Athenians for Burning Cybel's Temple in the City Sardis He proceeded to Athens which was forsaken and Burnt the Citadel and Temple § 5. The Athenians had removed their Wives and Children to Salamis c. prising the common Liberty of Greece before private yet the Greeks resolved to abandon Salamis and Aegina had not Themistocles Admiral of the Athenian Fleet dissuaded them from it as also from the purpose to fortify Peloponesus only and abandon the rest of Greece as not defensible yet could he not prevail 'till he threatned that the Athenians whose Ships were the Strength of the Greek Navy would take their Wives and Children and remove to Italy and there plant themselves The Peloponesians knowing how desperate the Case would be with them were glad to yield § 6. The Persians deliberate to offer the Greeks a Battle which the King desired and the Leaders to give him content seem to approve of it But Artemisia Princess of Halicarnasseus advised the King to set forward to Peloponesus to separate the Greek Navy while every one would haste to defend his own and so single were easily mastered which conjoined were too strong by their better Skill at Sea The Peloponesians amazed at the approach and fearing the Enemies March to Peloponesus esteeming all Greece lost but that part resolve to set Sail for Isemus Themistocles knowing he had no spare time to bestow on Ears shut up by Fear sent a trusty Messenger to tell the Persians of this intended flight willing them with speed to send some Forces about the Island The Persians thinking the Athenians did this to make their way for Favour as meaning to fall to the King followed the Advice The Peloponesians in the Morning intending to weigh Anchor saw the Enemy in their way and so were forced to the Fight in the Straights of Salamis where they had a memorable Victory forcing the Enemies Ships to fall foul one upon another and so could neither Fight nor fly § 7. After the Victory every Captain by Scrutiny was willed to write his Name which merited most and every Man ambitious of the Honour set his own Name first and Themistocles next Affection serving her self first is then content to yield to Vertue next Xerxes set a good Face on it as intending a new Preparation but the Princes which knew his Temper discerned his saint Heart especially Mardonius Author of this War He therefore to prevent the King's Indignation went unto him with many fair Words laying the faulâ— upon the Cowardly Egyptians Phoenycians and Cilicians which was no dishonour to the King who had taken Athens which was principally intended and the most of Greece Hereupon he desired the King to leave him three hundred Thousand men to finish the War and himself with the rest to return to Asia The King's Care liked well hereof and made haste hearing the Greeks intended to break his Bridge as Themistocles had inform'd under-hand so to weaken the Army and ease the Country § 8. Mardonius having undertaken to reduce Greece removed to Thessaly and from thence sent Alexander King of Macedon with great Promises to persuade the Athenians to come in which the Lacedemonians understanding sent likewise to persuade them to remain firm The Athenians Answer Alexander renouncing Amity with Xerxes as long as the Sun kept his Course whereupon Mardonius hasted to Athens which was again left to him void From thence he solicited them with many fair promises in vain yet the Lacedemonians grew cold in sending Aid 'till the Athenians grew to threaten a Course which would little please them A Counsellor of Sparta thereupon said our Wall upon Istonus will little avail us if Athens listen to Mardonius with which Speech the Lacedemonians bethought themselves and dispatched five thousand Spartans and gave orders for
twenty seven days after with lamentable effect § 9. The Athenians after this loss had also their Subjects abroad rebellious and which recovered their long lost Liberty At home also the principal Citizens wearied with the Peoples Insolency changed the Government procuring the Captains abroad to set up an Aristocracy in the Towns of their Confederacy as four hundred usurped it at home But the Army at Samos disliked that usurpation and Alcibiades who was fâ—ed from the Lacedemonians who had honour'd him much till his Virtue had bred him Envy and was with Tissaphernes the Persian Vice-Roy with whom he was grown into such Favour as he persuaded him to stay his Favour to the Lacedemonians Yet his Revocation was not confirmed at Athens 'till the four hundred wearied with the Troubles of the Times and not prevailing with Sparta for Peace resigned their Authority to Five thousand which had been their Assistants who presently agreed to the revocation of him and his Companions § 10. After this Alcibiades joining with the Athenian Fleet after an Overthrow of the Lacedemonian Fleet commanded by Mindarus took Cyzicus Perinthus Chalcedon Bizantium and with this Honour returned to Athens where he was made High-Admiral But upon a loss of a great part of his Fleet by his Lieutenant in his Absence fighting contrary to his Commandment he was again forced to banish himself to a greater loss to Athens than before § 11. After this also the Athenians Ships in a discomfiture were forced into the Haven of Mytelene where they were beset so that Athens were compelled to Man all their Vessels to relieve them at Argamusae yet the ten Captains which had the Victory of the Lacedemonians were condemned at Athens unjustly as after appeared § 12. Lysander with the Peloponesian Fleet Besieged Lapsacus the Athenian Fleet of an hundred Eighty Sail came too late to relieve it and then put in at Sestos and after at Aeges-Potamos from whence they daily braved Lysander not a League off and return to Ages Potamos from whence the Men used to go by Land to Sestos leaving the Ships Alcibiades lived near and saw their negligent endangering the Ships and gave them warning which they regarded not so Lysander came suddainly on them and overthrew them went to Athens with Pausanias and Agis the Two Kings of Sparta and Summoned the City which refused 'till Famin Forced which fell on them by the Lacedemonians taking the Islands from them which used to relieve them So all her Subject Cities are freed the Wall to the Port cast down her Government restrained to her own Territories and she to use but Twelve Ships and to follow Sparta in all Wars And so ended the Peloponesian War after twenty seven years Her only hope of Recovery was in Alcibiades whose death the Lacedemonians procured Lacedemon abusing this good Success grew Odious so that many Cities of Greece combined against her and Thebes under the leading of Epaminondas who trained up Philip of Macedonia gave her a great Foil CHAP. IX Matters concurring with this War and a while after § 1. PERSIA after had Artaxerxes Xerxes the Second and after him Sogdianus his Brother who seem to be the Sons of Hester but one year whom Darius Notbus succeeded who slew Sogdianus as he had his Brother Xerxes He reigned Nineteen years Amyrtaeus an Egyptian Allyed himself with Greece overthrew the Persian Garrisons in Egypt and Reigned while Darius assisting the Lacedemonians with Money by the Overthrow of Athens recover'd what had been lost in Asia the lesser over which he made Cyrus his younger Son Lieutenant but upon some dislike intended to have dealt sharply with him had not Death prevented § 2. Athens after her Overthrow had Thirty Governours called Tyrants chosen to execute the Law with supreme Authority These contriving to retain that Power put certain Seditious Fellows to death without Law which all Men approved considering their Lewdness but not that it might prove their own case if their Governours please to call them Seditious as it fell out For their Thirty sent to Lacedemon to desire a Garrison pretending to cut off the Seditious but by entertaining the Captain to his liking they grew bold with the Chief Citizens and shed much Blood Theramenes one of them shewing his dislike after they had chosen Three thousand Citizens of their liking to assist in the Government with priviledge in question of Death to be tryed by Law and not at Commandment of the Thirty they call Theramenes in question as without the priviledge and put him to death § 3. After this the Tyrants Out-rage made many good Citizens fly to Thebes where Thrasybulus and about Seventy more resolve to free Athens of the Tyrants and take Phyla a strong place in the Territory of Athens which the Tyrants in vain sought to recover their strength encreasing to a Thousand with which they got Pyraeus the Suburbs of Athens on the Port and slew Seventy of the Three Thousand which came to expect them and Critias the chief Tyrant The Tyrants send for Aid to Sparta and Lysander is sent with Forces and Pausanias followed not to overthrow Thrasybulus but after some shew to work Peace which he did sending the Thirty and others that were the cause of the Tumult to Sparta CHAP. X. Cyrus the Younger his Expedition into Persia. § 1. ARtaxerxes Mnemon or the mindful succeeded in Persia Established by his Father who also at his Mother Parasali's earnest intreaty pardoned his Brother Cyrus's aspiring and Established him Vice-Roy in Lydia and those parts § 2. Cyrus after such Disgrace from his Brother who spared his Life only for his Mothers importunity of whose Favour he presumed knowing also the Affections of his People and presuming upon the Lacedemonians formerly aided by him thought his Interest to the Crown worth prosecuting He sends to Sparta which commands their Admiral to be at his command he seized on some Towns subject to Tissaphernes furnished the Grecian Captains with Money to List Souldiers to be at his Command then making a shew of Besieging Miletus he calls over his Grecian Forces and suddainly set forward toward Persia. § 3. Tissaphernes posting to the Court his News caus'd great Exclamations and Fear in which the King gathered his Army of Nine hundred Thousand with which yet he durst not venture the Tryal The Greeks which follow Cyrus are with difficulty allured over Euphrates c. but being over resolved to find out Artaxerxes who was retiring to the utmost Border of his Kingdom had not Teribazus one of his Captains dissuaded him § 4. Cyrus with his Army of One hundred thousand drawing toward his Brother who had Intrenched Forty Miles in Length Thirty Foot broad and Eighteen deep and yet left it at length when he thought he had been fled was forced suddenly to Arm. The Greeks not used to incounter such Multitudes began to distrust their own Courage yet upon the On-set found they had to do with so many contemptible Cowards
General Councel of Greece To this Enterprize he needed no drawing on but forthwith entred Phocis won Plataea and subdued all the Region Athens by persuasion of Demosthenes drawing the Thebans to joyn rejected Philip's reasonable Conditions of Peace and put their Freedom to the chance of one Battle at Cheronia wherein they were overthrown yet Philip attempted not their City as he put a Garison in Thebes c. Shortly after at Corinth he is chosen and stiled first Commander of all Greece by the general States whereupon he raised an Army of great strength against Persia Commanded by Attalus and Parmenio who transported it into Asia while he intended the Marriage of Cleopatra his Daughter to Alexander King of Epirus At this Marriage-Feast he was slain by one Pausanias of his Guard for not doing him right upon Attalus who had made him drunk and then procured his Carnal abusing c. Olympias encouraged the Murther of her Husband § 9. Alexander's Greatness was so well founded by his Father that the finishing it with ease was more glorious to him than the beginning was to Philip for besides his subduing that Famous Nation of Greece he left him many Choice Commanders as worthy of Crowns as himself CHAP. II. Of Alexander the Great § 1. ALexander succeeded Philip his Father after Twenty Five Years Reign being a Prince no less Valiant by Nature than by Education enriched with all sorts of good Learning He entred upon his Reign Four Hundred and Seventeen Years after Rome's Building being Twenty Years Old which young Years encouraged his Neighbouring Nations to consult about recovery of Liberty which he prevented with much Expedition For after Revenge of his Father's death and freeing his own Nation from all Exactions and Bodily Slavery and winning with Clemency such as feared his Disposition to Cruelty and using Austerity to such as contemned his Youth He made a Journey into Peloponesus and so well exercised his Spirits among them that by the Councel of the State of Greece he was Elected General against the Persians which Enterprize possessed all his Thoughts But the Persian Gold having guilt Demosthenes's Tongue he persuaded the Athenians with the Thebans and Lacedemonians to stand for their Ancient Liberty and gave it out that Alexander was slain Indeed Policy as it is now a-days defined by Falsâ—hood and Knavery holding that devised Rumours and Lyes tho' they serve the turn but for a day or two are greatly available but in all my Observations I have found the Success as ridiculous as the Invention for Men finding themselves abused by such Baits at other times neglect true Reports which much concerneth them to believe Alexander much grieved to have his Thoughts diverted and time lost from his Persian Enterprize made such expedition that he brought the first News himself of his preparation to Athens which as upon a sudden fainting presently submitted and easily pardoned by persuasion of Alexander's desire to see Persia as Wise Men are not easily drawn from great Purposes nor by occasion easily put off Then he subdued the Nations bordering North of Macedon but yet could not get out of Europe 'till he had demolish'd Thebes which attempted his Garison in the Citadel and obstinately refused to yield up the Authors of their Rebellion § 2. Alexander having without cause given put to death his Mother-in-Laws Kinsmen advanced by his Father and some of his own whom he suspected took also with him into Asia such Tributary Princes as he doubted by unjust Cruelty to secure all things yet the End fell out contrary to the Policy which Ambition commended to him all his Planting was soon rooted up whom he most trusted were the most Traiterous and his Mother Friends and Children fell by as merciless a Sword as his own and Confusion left his dead Body in the Grave He passed into Asia with Thirty Two Thousand Foot and Five Thousand Horse all Old Souldiers which he landed near Troy where at the River of Granick he was forced to climb up the deep Bank guarded against him with many Thousand Persians of whom he slew Twenty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse But this slaughter must be taken rather on the Back than the Breast for had they stood to it Alexander must needs have lost above Twenty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse especially if the Persian Horsemen had fought fiercely and the Grecians in Darius's Pay fought it out to the last Man as Plutarch Reports § 3. Alexander's Souldiers were greatly encouraged by winning this Passage and all the Country so terrified that all the lesser Asia yielded without a Blow For in all Invasions where the Invaded are beaten upon great advantage of place they will easily be persuaded that such an Enemy upon equal terms can hardly be resisted the Assailant therefore in such Cases of defending Places is to be opposed with the ablest Forces yet fewest Places of great circuit are so fenced wherein one Entrance or other is not to be forced by an able Enemy as the Alps wherein Francis the French King found entrance to Milan though the Switzers guarded them Xerxes forced the entrance at Thermopylae Cyrus the younger and Alexander found the Gates of Taurus open into Cilicia Iulius Agricola found Fords into Anglesey which made the amazed Britains submit c. It was therefore well done of Alexander to pass the River in the Face of their Enemies without seeking an easier Passage beating off the Enemy in their strength leaving no hope of Succour to their Followers in so unable Protectors After this Sardis Ephesus Trallis and Magnesia yielded them selves and so enjoyed their own Laws but he demolish'd Halicarnassus for its obstinate resistance Then he entred Caria and restored Ada the Queen expelled by Darius's Lieutenant and Lycia Pamphylia Pisidia and all the Sea-Coasts of lesser Asia and then entred Celenas on Meander and so through Phrygia toward the Euxine-Sea and so to Gordium where he cut thâ— Gordian-Knot asunder He also expelled the Persians out of the Isles of Lesbos Scio and Coas which he committed to two of his Captains to clear the Sea-Coast on his back and then remov'd to Ancira on the River Sangarius as is Gordium and so to Paphlagonia Here he heard of the death of Menon Darius's Lieutenant which much heartened him being the only Captain he respected of all his Enemies For so much hath the Spirit of some one Man excelled as it hath undertaken and effected the alteration of the greatest States as the erection of Monarchs Conquest of Kingdoms guiding handfuls of Men against Multitudes of equal bodily strength contriving Victories beyond all hope and Discourse of Reason converting the fearful Passions of his own Followers into Magnanimity and the Valour of his Enemies into Cowardize Such Spirits have been stirred up in sundry Ages to erect and cast down and to bring all Things Persons and States to the same certain ends which that Infinite Spirit of the