several parts being the Spring Summer Autumn and Winter Macrobius as Macrobius in his Saturnals also remembreth saying Ianus apud nos in quatuor partes spectat ut demonstrateius simulachrum èphaleris advectū Afterwards the Phenicians pourtraied him foorth in the forme of a Dragon biting her taile to shew thereby the roundnesse and the beginning and ending of the yeare In honour of him also at this day the first moneth of the yeare is called after his owne name Ianuarius Servius as Servius in his Aeneidos affirmeth The ancients likewise have shaped him forth with two keyes in his hand to shew thereby that he was the invent or of gates and dores as also of the locking of them and making them fast to the end that the holy temples and sacred places should not bee polluted with the impious abuse of theeves and uncivile persons and to avoid adulteries and other such like sinnes then raigning and of his name since have all dores and gates been called Ianuae In many other sorts and formes have the auncients defigured the image of this Noe Ianus as Propertius and many others have written who in the fourth booke of his Elegies thus speaketh Quid mirare meas tot in uno corpore formas Accipe Vertumni signa paterna dei Tuscus ego Tuscis orior c. And undoubtedly there hath not beene read of any that lived so uprightly and justly as this Patriarke Noe neither that ever any had such honours reverence and godlike adoration done unto him both in his life time and after his death who also was among those people in those daies called God neither is it to bee wondered that in those elder times there were so many gods held worshipped among the auncients for so much as it is to bee understood That in those daies all those princes rulers and governors that had lived vertuously justly and godly and had commaunded their people with mildnesse equitie and uprightnesse were entearmed gods and that also without performing any idolatrous adoration or reverence unto them as Metasthenes an auncient author and hystorian of Persia affirmeth where hee thus saith Ante Nynum ducentis quadragintà novem annis regnatum fuit sub tribus dijs regibus quorum qui primus universo imperavit orbi fuit Ogyges qui prefuit inundationi terrarū c. Cathon also another very auncient writer thus speaketh Italia complura a dijs ducibus sortita fuit nomina à Iano Ianicula quem quidem Enotrium dictum existimant quia invenit uvum far And for these and such like reasons Moyses and other godly Patriarkes were called gods not that they were so in essence but onely in participation as in the seventh chapter of Exodus it is written Ego te dedi deum Pharaoni and in the the three and twenty chapter Dijs non detrahes principem populi tui ne maledicas Further also the Prophet David thus sayth Principes populorum congregati sunt cum deo Abraham quoniam dij fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt These things are thus so amply and at large exposed to the end that the reader of this Treatise should not so much marvell or wonder when mention is made in this booke of gods and goddesses which in those daies were so much observed and reverenced Ovid. Ovid rehearsing the words of this Noe Ianus and shewing that in his death the golden age ceased thus sayth Tunc ego regnabam patiens cum terra deorum Esset humanis numina mixta locis Nondum iustitiam facinus mortale fugarat Vltima de superis illa reliquit humum Proque meta populum sive vt pudor ille regebat Nullus erat iustis reddere iura labor Nil mihi cum bello postes pacem que tuebar c. And as Noe was among these auncients thus honored and adored and temples and altars consecrated unto him so also was Titea his wife held in great reverence worship and holy esteeme who was called also Vesta Aretia Terra Regina sacrorum magna Cybeles Materque deorum atque Vestalium Princeps sive Abbatissa as Berosus and other writers affirme Having thus touched the death of this good Patriarke Noe it shall not bee now impertinent something to remember and speake of the wicked and abhominable life of his degenerate sonne Cham which although of it selfe it be worthlesse of any recapitulation or recitall yet to descend to the lineall genealogie of the Lybian Hercules the Great it cannot bee well omitted from which Hercules Dardanus the first founder and erecter of Troy descended and came It hath been alreadie specified how Noe deviding the universall earth unto his children and how Cham abounding in all vices and detestable courses notwithstanding was not deprived of his portion but had his right of inheritance justly allotted unto him which was the third part of the world and particularly Affrica to the hether part of Aegypt for which countries he was commaunded by his father to depart with his wife Noegla and five and thirtie rulers which is as much to say as the cheefes of familie of his bloud and house as also with all their children and issue which was accordingly performed and presently he established himselfe as king and Saturne of Aegypt where he erected and built a citie called Chem-Myn and among them also he himselfe was called Pan and Silvanus which people likewise so engendred and issued of that familie to honour and worship him the more and to shew their love unto him lived in all impious and ungracious manner perpetrating most odious and soule-damning villanies affirming publickly That men ought lawfully to have the companie of their owne mothers sisters and daughters in all lusts and concupiscence of the flesh and other many most inhumane and shamefull acts not to be recited And to shew that they gloried and bosted in the wickednesse of such their king and ruler they entearmed him by the name of Cham Esenuus which signifieth their infamous god Pan. And thus he ruled in Egipt long time even unto the six and fiftith yeare of the raigne of Iupiter Belus the second king of Babylon in the which yeare he began to travell and came into Italie which was then called Kytim to his brother Comerus Gallus the first king of that countrey after whose death C ham presently usurped and undertooke that mightie governement who in stead of vertuous instructions and godly laws in which all other princes round about him his kinsmen commaunding Germanie Spaine and France had instructed and taught their people cleane contrarie infected the youth of Italie with all manner of impieties incivilitie and corruptible vices persuading them beeing of themselves well addicted to usurie robberie murder poysonings and the studie of the Magicke art who by reason of his owne great skill therein was surnamed Zoroastes and was the first inventor and practiser of that vild and diabolicall learning of the use of which hee composed and
beforementioned Gerion the last king and ruler of Spain In the time when these three brethren thus reigned and ruled together happened that generally known accident which afterward the world so universally entertained from the report of loud-tongued Fame which was the untimely and unfortunat death of Osyris surnamed Iupiter Iustus who was most traiterously and vilely murdred by his brother Typhaeus Egiptius whose all-lamented death was afterward highly revenged by his sonne Hercules Lybicus who instantly took up armes and scoured almost all the countries of the world untill hee had found out the authour of the murther of his father Osyris upon whose bodie his angrie and wrathfull mind tooke in the end direfull and cruell revenge at which time also hee beeing in the pride and fulnesse of furie and choller searcht out all corners and places of abode where any such like bloudie and impious gyants rulers and commaunders kept their tyrannicall and uncivile governments among the rest he slew Busyris in Phoenicia Typhaeus the younger in Phrygia Mylinus a great commaunder on the sea in Crete Antheus in Lybia the Lestrigones in Italie and afterwards these three bretheren called Geriones in Spaine and also many others in many other places as hath alreadie heretofore beene spoken of After the overthrow thus of these late specified Geriones hee established and appointed to succeed them one called Hispalus who now after these instantly tooke upon him the government thereof Hispalus therefore according to the report and affirmation of Berosus now entered to take possession of the regaltie and principalitie of Spaine which was from the floud five hundred fourescore and nine yeares before the erection of Troy two hundred one fortie years before the birth of Christ a thousand seven hundred twentie seven and after the first finding out and peopling of Spain three hundred seven and fortie yeares Of this Hispalus the citie Hispalis first was erected and so entearmed and he was the sonne of Hercules Lybicus as many authours and writers of fame and great antiquitie have given in report unto the posteritie of time Hee reigned and commaunded over Spaine untill the very end of the reigne and governement of Baleus the Babylonians eleventh king which was by just reckoning and account the time of seventeene yeares In the first yeare of the raigne of Altades the twelfth king of Babylonia Hispanus the nephew of Hercules was established king and sole ruler over the dominions of Spaine of whome the countrey then generally was called Hispania which the mallice of time hath not yet worne out but still it is knowne and called after the same name After him Hercules comming out of Italie fraught with yeares and many victories tooke upon him by the election and suffrages of all the people the rule government thereof And thus hath been lineally drawne foorth the first inhabitation of the countrey of Spaine with the particular and right successions of the kings and commaunders thereof as hath been warranted and allowed by writers of great antiquitie and industrious Chronographers of Spain where we will now surcease to wade any further having brought it unto the very times where wee last left our cheefe purpose and matter and will goe forward and proceed from hence untill wee shall nearer arrive at the time wherein Troy was first erected and founded following herein the same manner of method and forme with which wee first set forth and meane to continue unto the end by the favourable permission and allowance of the divine Majestie Hercules therefore ruling thus in Spaine built and erected many goodly cities and faire castles in that countrey wherupon at this day in some auncient records and monumentall schedules of Spaine you may read of another title given unto him which is Hercules edificator He was called also by these names as Her Hercol Arno Musarno and they thus signifie and are englished from the Hebrew tongue as S. Ierome and others expound it Her signifieth hairie Hercol all covered over with haire Arno signifieth a Lion and Musarno the portraiture or effigies of a Lyon and these names were thus ascribed unto him for that he alwaies wore for his upper garment the hairie skins of Lyons Beares Leopards and other such like beasts and for that on his shield or targuet was depainted and drawne the shape and forme of a Lyon and which in all his wars and attempts hee alwaies caried about him with some he was called the knight of the ramping Lyon The town of Vetulonia called also Viterbe caused the picture of Hercules to bee stamped and imprinted on their coine which continued unto the time of the raigne and governement of the last king of the Lumbards who then abollished the remembrance therof by any such representation or means of memorie After the time of some nineteene yeares or thereabouts as most writers doe alleadge having governed with all love and obedience of the people Hercules died leaving all those countries thereabouts heavily lamenting the losse and departure of so noble and gallant a conqueror which was about the time of his owne age three hundred and fiftie yeares and after he had reigned and commaunded in Fraunce Italie and Spaine threescore and seven yeares In solemne remembrance of whose generally deplored death the people of Spaine erected many must sumptuous and costly monuments and bestowed upon him a wonderfull rich and stately tombe which as some hold was built hard by that place which as wee now call them the Gades pillars or columns of Hercules are seated upon being not far from the famous streights of Gibraltar Vnto him also after his death they attributed very godlike honors and tearms of veneration and reverence so was hee possessed while hee lived among mortals with the love and opinion of all those people therabouts and wheresoever else he had governed and commanded And more of this so far renowmed conquerour Hercules shall not at this time bee declared whose victories triumphes exploits would indeed require a small volume of themselves being so many so glorious so worthie deserving in the perfection of their owne merit to be insculpt in the brasse leaved booke of time-resisting and endlesse perpetuitie And now we will revert our pen to speake of his two famous sons Tuscus king of Italie and Galatheus king of Fraunce and of their issue and posteritie But first is to be understood that unto the kingdome of Spaine next after Hercules succeeded Hesperus beeing the twelfth king and governor thereof who was brother unto the renoumed Atlas whome hereafter occasion will bee presented to speake and entreat of It hath been before declared and mentioned how that the great Monarch and Emperour Hercules dispossessing himselfe voluntarily of two royall mighty kingdomes placed and instituted therein his two sons Tuscus and Galatheus who long time after lived reciprocally reigned together in their severall commaunds and governement in all peace quiet and tranquilitie And to shew and manifest this their love
battell utterly subdue them which victorie was atchieved hard by the river Oris in Arabia and in the same place where Osyris himselfe slew the mightie Gyant and tyrant Antheus The world being thus delivered of the perverse generation of Cham Isis remained a peacefull and secure governesse and queene over Aegypt which shee compassed as well by her owne pollicies and devises as by the valour and hardie prowesse of her children of which the cheefest and most valiant was called Hercules of Lybia of whome now withdrawing my pen for a while to speake further of Isis I will more amply entreat Hercules therefore the most valourous and courageous young prince after hee had by this meanes revenged the death of his father Osyris upon his uncle Typhon and the rest of his associates began now to have a feeling of this owne power and vigour and undertaketh many most tedious voyages to scour all places of the world from the tyrannie and oppression of such inhumane and impious tyrants and first he passed through the province of Phoenicia where he slew the tyrant Busyris the sonne of him whom Osyris before had slaine From thence he went into Phrygia where Troy afterward was built and there overcame the young tyrant Tipheus and he gave the governement of that country to his own son Athus which he begat of a ladie called Omphale as hereafter shall bee declared Likewise he vanquisht the Gyant Mylinus the younger king of the Island of Candia and from thence hee came into Affrica since called Barbaria of which hee named most part of it Lybia after his owne name which before was called Phutea and there in memory of his conquests hee erected a columne and stately pinacle From hence passing through the streights of Gibraltar hee arrived in Spaine where upon his first landing hee fought bodie to bodie against the three Gerions which were brothers and joint commaunders and kings of Spaine those also hee overcame and slew and created his sonne Hispalus king and ruler of that countrey which was now the ninth king thereof and of whom the citie Hispalis now called Sivile in Spaine tooke her name and was so called After this Hercules determined to make a journey into Italie there also to purchase further fame and reputation by suppressing the tyrannie of those that there then lived according to their owne will power and mightinesse In this his jorney towards Italie by land he passeth through the kingdome called Regnum Celticum then called also Gaule and at this day is knowne and nominated by the name of Fraunce of the antiquitie of which countrey before wee come to speake of his arrivall in Italie having so fit occasion we will in this place something remember First therefore we must find out and know in what time and in what age this famous Hercules of Lybia passed through the countrey in this his journey for so much as it is not written of any certainetie or by any authenticke author That hee ever journeied through this kingdome before although some doe hold That hee went that way into Spaine with his father Iupiter surnamed Iustus in the reigne of Lucus the eight king of Gaule as hath been before somewhat commemorated and this matter may bee easily and evidently discovered by comparing the times wherein Hispalus was established and made king of Spain with those succeeding of which Johannes Annius Iohannes Annius of Viterbe a most excellent writer diligent Hystoriographer in his Chronicles of Spaine sayth That the same Hispalus was crowned and invested in the kingdome of Spaine by his father Hercules in the six and thirtieth yeare of Baleus the second of that name the eleventh king of Babylonia which was after the floud five hundred fourescore and ten years before the foundation of Troy two hundred threescore and one and before the incarnation of Christ a thousand seven hundred and seven and twenty for Hercules was born presently after the death of Ninus the third king of Babylon from whose death unto the six and thirtieth yeare of Baleus the eleventh king were just two hundred fourescore and ten yeares so that by this meanes it may clearely bee perceived in what time and in what age this Lybian Hercules so arrived in Gaule being presently after the coronation of his sonne Hispalus in Spaine At this very time therefore of his comming into Gaule which wee will now hereafter call Fraunce reigned and governed in that countrey as their king and commander one called by the name of Iupiter Celtes the sonne of king Lucus whom before we a little touched who exceeded all others in riches in those dayes and was marvellous wealthie in sheepe in cattell and in pasturage which were all the goods and possessions that princes in those times abounded in in that countrey for then silver or gold was not there known jewels and rare stones were disesteemed no tributes were paied no taxes or impositions laid upon the subjects all things without deceit art or any villanous invention of mans braine were peaceably enjoyed And to confirme this their ignorance of silver and such mettals Diodorus Siculus thus sayth That the sheepheards of this king Iupiter Celtes attending their flockes on the top of those mountaines which devide the kingdome of Fraunce from that of Spaine called Pyrenci espied on the suddain on the one side of the furthermost hils certaine liquid moisture to run downe in hastie streames into the vallies below and at the higher part of that mountaine certaine flames of fire in most furious manner to shew themselves in so much that very hard rockes and stonie substances on that mountaine were dissolved and were melted with the extremitie of the heat and riscaldation of those fires which also ceased not but continued in that strange maner many moneths together The silly and simple understanding of these sheepeheards by no meanes assumed any apprehension of this so straunge working of nature but entertained it as a matter exceeding their capacitie and reach of judgement and therefore passed it over with the lesser woonder in that they acknowledged in themselves so deepe an imperfection and want of knowledge But it so fortuned That certaine merchants of Phoenicia travelling along those coasts and perceiving that that mettal must needs be good which so distilled and tumbled downe from the tops of those mountains being as many old writers alleadge the mettall of silver began to feele the dispositions of those all ignorant sheepeheards and to come to some composition and friendly tearmes for exchaunge of some wares they had with that mettall which those hils in that plentie so affourded and yeelded forth The poore sheepeheards as I told you before not capable of the true value thereof for matters of very little worth which those merchants then had exchaunged the one for the other without any suspect of disadvantage or ill bargaine on their sides and therupon the Phoenicians laded and fraughted their ships then abiding in a port or haven not farre
auctores asserunt constat enim apud Persas claruisse Magos apud Babilonios Assirios floruisse Caldeos apud Celtas Gallos Druidas qui Samothei dicuntur Magus the eldest sonne of the Patriarke and Saturne Samothes surnamed Dis began now to take upon him the rule and commaund of this his countrey so left unto him by rightfull succession from his father in the three hundred yeare after the floud after the nativitie of the Patriarke Abraham eight yeares and before the birth of Christ two thousand and seventeene yeares This Magus was a prince of great wisedome learning and judgement and also a great builder as the interpretation of his name delivereth us for this word Magus in the Scythian toung signifieth a builder or erecter and in the Persian language a Philosopher or a wise man And Berosus in his booke of Time thus sayth of him Nini LI. anno apud Celtas regnavit Samothis filius Magus à quo oppida plurima posita sunt in ea regione by which it may be gathered that hee was the first that ever in that country caused any villages cities townes or houses to bee built and erected for before that time men lived altogether in the fields under the umbrages of trees and covertures of some pleasant groves Iohannes Annius di Viterba in his Commentaries upon Berosus sayth That this word Magus signifieth in that tongue which first was used in that countrey of Gaule as much as a pallace house or mansion which opinion challengeth unto it selfe the stronger probabilitie for that with Ptolomie in his Cosmographie you shall find that most of the most auncient townes in that country ended with this word Magus as in Aquitaine Noviomagus in the province of Lyons Neomagus in Gallia Belgica Rhotomagus which is now the citie of Roan in Normandie there is also Berbetomagus Vindomagus and many others whose names doe end in this word Magus as also Nimegham in Guelderland was called likewise Noviomagus By all these instances it is made apparent that this Magus the sonne of Samothes Magus king of Fraunce the first that ever built townes in that country and caused them to be inhabited was the first that reduced gathered together the people of that countrey into villages townes and boroughs And further either of his life or the certaine time or continuance of his raigne and governement it hath not been by any allowed author or ancient writer capitulated After Magus succeeded one of his sons called Sarron Sarron king of Fraunce the first foūder of Vniversities the third king of Fraunce who excelled in the studie of letters and governed his people with great mildnes clemencie and uprightnesse and he was the first that erected universities or publicke schooles of learning and of him also came a sect of Philosophers called Sarronides as Diodorus Siculus in his sixt booke of Antiquities affirmeth thus saying Sunt apud Celtas Theologi ac Philosophi quos vocant Sarronidas qui precipue ab eis coluntur nam moris est apud illos nullum absque Philosopho sacrificium facere c. For in those daies Philosophers and men of learning were regarded with great reverence zeale and gracious respect and nothing there of any import was concluded or agreed upon without their privities consent or aduise therein Vnto the kingdome of Fraunce after Sarron came Drijus Sarrons eldest sonne unto whom Berosus ascribeth this title Apud Celtas Drijus peritiae plenus Hee began to raigne foure hundred and tenne yeares after the generall deluge which was about two hundred five fiftie yeares after the first foundation and inhabitation of the kingdome of Fraunce Hee was deepely seene in principles of Philosophie very skilfull in many other sciences And it is very credibly delivered by many very grave and learned writers that he built the cittie of Dreux in Normandie and that of his name came the sect of Philosophers which were called Druydes which were wondrous learned Divines Augurers Magicians and Sacrificers but such their oblations and sacrifices in these their dayes of blindnesse were performed with such inhumane and ungodly fashions with the effusion and shedding of human bloud in that lamentable and cruell manner as is too straunge to be reported which unnaturall and impious custome was abolished and cleane put downe by the first Romane Emperours Augustus and Divus Claudius as Suetonius Tranquilius Iulius Caesar and Plinie more directly have particularized the same After the death of this king Drijus his sonne called Bardus raigned in his place was the fift king of France This Bardus was the first deviser and inventor of rimes songs and Musicke of whome the Poets and Rhethoricians first tooke their sect which were called also Bardes Bardus king of Fraunce first invētor of Poetrie as Diodorus Siculus in his sixt booke more at large remembreth And these Poets and singers were held in that reverenced regard in those times among those people that if upon the instant encounter of the battels of the enemies on both parts these Poets had stept and put themselves in betweene both the armies they had for that present time recalled their furious intendments and beene mollified with the pleasant persuasive tongues of these eloquent Rhethoricians and sweet-singing Poets as Berosus in one place sayth to the same purpose Etiam apud agrestiores barbaros ira cedit sapientiae Mars reveretur musas The debt due unto Nature being fully satisfied by this king Bardus for no quillit or evacuation whatsoever may avoid it his eldest sonne called Longho was called upon to undertake that which his father had left hereditarie unto him of whome no extraordinarie memorable thing is left by fame unto the sonnes of time nor any authoritie of any great antiquarie possesseth us with his worthinesse vertues or perfections it is only supposed that before his death he built the citie of Langres which we call in Latin Civitas Lingonensis And hee had a sonne called Bardus the younger which was the seventh king of Fraunce and began to commaund some three hundred and one and fortie yeares after the foundation and enpeopling of this countrey of Fraunce And it is very probable That of these two kings Longho and Bardus the first originall and beginning of the people called Lombards took their being and name for they are entearmed in Latine Longobardi which nation although at the first they were extracted and descended out of Almaign now called Germanie yet they bare domination and rule for the space of two hundred yeares and more in Italie even untill the time of king Charlemaine who absolutely deprived them of all commaund power and authoritie in that countrey round about The eight king of Fraunce was Lucus the sonne of Bardus the younger of whom it is written as Ptolomy and others doe affirme the people called Luces or Lucenses since inhabiting about the cittie of Paris tooke their name and originall Of him also writers have beene very sparing to
the daughter of Atlas Italus king of Italie three children which are these Iasius Dardanus and Armonia Iasius being created Coritus and Patriarke of Italie his father being alive who also bestowed upon him the rule and kingdome of Fraunce as many hystoriographers affirm the next yeare after so that he became very mightie and powerfull in all those countries thereabouts And now we will proceed with the rest of the kings of Fraunce beginning where we last left of which was if it bee remembred at Galatheus the noble sonne of Hercules of Lybia and of his faire wife Galathea where it was then mentioned how this Galatheus at the hands of his loving brother Tuscus received the Island of Sicilia and accordingly caried with him people to inhabite and possesse the countrey which being performed he returned also back again into Fraunce as hath been likewise before somewhat touched after which time hee lived peaceably and quietly many yeares governing his people with great mildnesse and clemencie and yet mingled and accompanied with uprightnesse of justice and execution of his laws and edicts of whose deeds and performances more than are alreadie spoken of few or no writers have mentioned onely that of him and of his name the countrey generally was called Gaule and so continued and the people therof tearmed Gaulons which by corruption and overturning of many ages and times are now in some part of that countrey called Wallons and which before Galatheus were called Samothei or Celti And it is most likely by the conjecturall opinions of most writers that this king Galatheus remained and lived in those dayes for the most part in that part of Gaule which is now the province of Acquitaine which is so called of the abundance of waters and rivers wherein that countrey was wont to exceed and that this place was held to be the first and most auncient of all the other parts of Fraunce which indeed are onely two more for that the whole countrey of France is by most devided onely into three parts and they are called Gallia Acquinatica Celtica and Belgica which of themselves retaine and carie the very names of the first kings and rulers of them as before is something specified The cheefe citties and principall siegnories of Gallia Aquinatica The cheefe cities of Gallia Acquinatica are supposed and held to bee these as most auncient writers doe consent Narbon Thoulouse Caours Rodetz Lymoges Perigort Bourdeaulx Zainctes Augolesme Baione Clermont Bourges Tours Foix Lestore Allebreth Saint Pons Nantes Resnes Saint Malo and others The cheefest rivers and waters these Gironde Dordonne Garonne Loire Lalier Cher Charente many others now too long to recite After the death of the famous and most renowmed prince Galatheus his sonne Harbon tooke upon him the governement of the countrey and was established the twelfth king of Fraunce who presently erected and built a very gallant cittie for his seat and called it Harbonne after his owne name which is now called Narbonne as many authours doe affirme And of this king little or nothing is left written memorable or meriting a tedious commemoration or rehearsall onely hee left behind him a son called Lugdus which was now the thirteenth king of this countrey of Fraunce and who built the famous citie called Lugdunum called also Lyon which is now one of the cheefest and principallest cities of France and which hath long time flourished in great priviledges prerogatives and extraordinarie customes beeing a citie indeed tres-auncient and of long continuance and of her name all that province is called Lyonnoise which as some hold is contained within the bounds of Gallia Celtica and is the greatest and the cheefest part thereof The first foundation building of the cittie of Lyons in Fraunce And this citie of Lyons was first founded and erected by the same king Lugdus in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of Mancaleus the foureteenth king of Babylon which is as much to say as after the floud inundation of the whole world sixe hundred and fourescore yeares after the first inhabiting of Fraunce five hundred and sixteene yeares before the foundation of the cittie of Troy one hundred and fortie yeares and before the now famous citie of Paris was erected two hundred and twentie years before Rome was built five hundred threescore and eighteene yeares and before the incarnation and birth of our Saviour Christ a thousand sixe hundred seven and thirtie yeares or neare thereabouts And in the times of this king Lugdus arrived and came into Fraunce the queene Isis who was so famous and so renowmed throughout all the world After this Lugdus succeded his eldest sonne Belgius now the foureteenth king of that countrey whose name is yet even fresh in all mens memories for of his name that great and populous countrey called Gallia Belgica tooke her title and was so called of which as of the other we will now make some mention The cheefest rivers and waters thereof are these Lescault la Sambre le Lis le Rin Meuse and Moselle Saine Marne Somme le Daulx and others the cheefe woods and forrests these Mormault and Ardenne The highest hils and mountaines are the hill Saint Claude les Faucsilles and Vosegus The principall villages and greatest citties are these Cambray Vallenciennes Couloign Conflans Vtrecht Mayence Strasbourg Aix Constance Lyege Tournay Arras Amiens Beauvais Senlis Laon Noyon Soissons Meaulx Rouan Rains Metz Langres Besancon Salins Dole Losanne Geneve and Camberi The cheefe siegnories are these the Dukedomes of Iulliers Cleves Cheldes Brabant Lorraine Bar Lembourg and Luxembourg the counties Palatine Haynau Bourgoigne Ferretes Montbeliard Flaunders Artois Champaine Holland Zeland and Namur This king Belgius of whome all these gallant and most famous countries were thus called builded also the citie of Belges of which now only some ruines and reliques of memorie are left which are to be seene in the countrey of Haynau and which Iulius Caesar likewise in the sixteenth booke of his Commentaries doth mention remember where he calleth it Belgium This word Belgius as many old writers expound it signifieth in the Hebrew or Phenician language which toung the ancient Gauloys then used as much as An auncient god wrastling for in those times as I alreadie have spoken the people called their kings gods by which it may be gathered that this their king Belgius was a great wrastler unto which kind of exercise and unto the barriers the people inhabiting in Gallia Belgica did not long since wonderfully much addict themselves were very active and skilfull therein howsoever at this day those sports for the most part are now utterly left off and rejected S. Ierom sayth also That this word Belga signifieth in the Hebrew tongue An auncient commotion or an old strife and indeed heretofore those people of that country were much conversant in wars in troubles and dissentions and were held to bee the most valiant and strongest nation of this part of the world as Caesar also
oftentimes of strange and horrible Gyants other rare and admirable things the reader may perhaps remain incredulous and scarse beleeve them to bee true accounting them wholly fabulous and by invention fashioned yet to alleadge some authoritie for the confirmation therof leaving out infinite other examples of infallible certainetie you only shall be referred to the holy scriptures and also unto Iosephus the Iewish writer who amply hath handled the apologie therof among the rest Nembroth Golias and others are apparent that they were Gyants and of unusuall stature strength proportion of bodie If the authoritie of Boccace may be accepted he thus writeth of himselfe In my time sayth hee there was found under the foot and hollow caverne of a mountaine not far from the citie of Deprana in the Isle of Sicilia the bodie of a marvellous huge and strange proportioned Gyant which seemed to hold in one of his hands a mightie long peece of wood like unto the bodie of a young tree or the mast of a ship which so soone as it was touched fell all into ashes and dust but it was all garnisht wrought about with lead which remained sound and firm it was found to weigh five hundred pound weight his bodie also being touched consumed and became all pouder and ashes except certaine of his bones and three of his teeth which were also peized and every tooth weighed fortie ounces For the height and full stature of his bodie it was conjectured by the people of that countrey to be two hundred cubits long And the same authour sayth That his teeth were afterwards hanged up in our ladies church of Deprana for a straunge monument and a thing of wonderfull admiration In many other places are the bones of gyants that lived in those daies kept and preserved for woonders and reliques of memorie but yet not of so uncouth and almost incredible hugenesse but leaving these matters to bee further ruminated by the scrupulous I will returne to our maine intendment proceeding till I have further explaned the obscuritie thereof These things above spoken of being atchieved by Osyris against those Gyants and molesters of civile conversation he departed out of Italie with all his royall armie singularly well prepared and in gallant equipage accompanied with gods heroes demie gods and martialists that is with all valiant courageous and wise princes rulers and captaines and it is not written whether in this his journey he passed through Gaule now called Fraunce or went that way by sea but hard by the continent hee coasted in which then ruled one Lucus king of that famous countrey but howsoever he journeied hee now is strived in Spaine where once againe hee renued mortall battels against the Tytans which were mightie Gyants and cousins to those he before discomfited in Italie these also hee now subdueth and quite raseth out all their generation leaving the governement of that countrey to the commaund of Gerion And from thence he againe sayled into Greece and arived in the province of Peloponnesus now called Morea and hee there setled himselfe and ruled in the citie of Arges for the space of five and thirtie yeares as it is written by Eusebius in his booke of Time After this he createth his sonne Egialus king of Achaia Eusebius and so returneth againe into Aegypt there to spend his latter daies with his wife and sister Isis surnamed Iuno who tooke such his comming home in full joyous acceptance and gladsome pleasingnesse By this time all the world had beene filled with the report of Osyris great fame and worthinesse unto whom were ascribed and given many titles names of triumph as Iupiter Iustus Dux Rex Consultor Cuius regnum perpetuum est habitatio in Olympo all which were cleane contrary to those wherewith his father Cham was entituled Being thus returned into his countrey of Aegypt hee caused in many and severall parts and corners thereof to bee erected certaine columnes and high pillars in which he commaunded to bee cut out and engraved for the preservation and memorie of his name and glory these following lines Diodorus Siculus as Diodorus Siculus repeateth them Mihi pater Saturnus deorum olim iunior sum vero Osyris rex qui vniversum peragravi orbem usque ad Indorum desertos fines ad eos quoque sum profectus qui arcto subjacent Istri fontes usque Oceanum sum Saturni filius antiquior germen ex pulchro generoso ortum cui genus non semen fuit nec fuit in orbe locus quem non adinerim docens ea quorum inventor fui After hee thus was quietly seated in his kingdome of Aegypt his brother Typhon the Aegyptian who in all villanie mallice followed the humors of his father Cham began now to repine and envie at the glorie and fortune of the Emperor Osyris in so much as he fell into a present conspiracie with many other mallicious Gyants for the death and destruction of him and of his greatnesse which hee most traiterously prosecuted so far as in the end by subtill and craftie practises he entrapped him who was by him and the rest of the Gyants cruelly murdered and torn in peeces whose bodie they divided and had hewne out into six and twentie peeces whereof every Gyant had a share and part as a reward and satisfaction for such their bloudie and victorious stratageme but afterwards these parts of his bodie were found out and gathered together againe by the meanes of his wife Isis and buried with their right honor and due solemnitie whom after his death the Aegyptians held worshipped as a god as also the children of Israel did the like in the desart Boccace sayth That hee was called also Serapis and that the auncient Poets tearmed him likewise Dionysius Liber Pater and Bacchus and that hee was the first that ever triumphed which was in the first voyage hee made into the Indies and that the invention of garlands and crownes was by him devised Our authour Berosus by his collections seemeth to alleadge That this Emperour Osyris was thus slaine in the prime and flower of his age having attained onely unto three hundred yeares for he was borne about the time of Ninus the third king of Babylon and died in the raign of Baleus the Babylonians eleventh king by which it is very apparent what woonderfull long time men in those ages did live His wife Isis survived him two hundred and fourescore yeares as hereafter shall bee mentioned who after that shee had with all fit ceremonies and rites performed the funerals of her murdered husband began nowe to thinke upon the actors thereof and to meditate upon revenge and direfull practises whereupon she convocateth all her children and nephewes and inciteth them to the embracement of this her attempt and action against the horrible murderers of her newly enterred husband To be short they condiscend to her motion and in the field encounter with Typhon and his associates and in
in the kingdome of Spaine he appointed one of his sonnes to reign called Sicorus which was now by just account the foureteenth king thereof When these things were thus done he went also into Sicilia as Galatheus before had done and there for a while he rested himselfe till at the length he returned againe backe into Italie wherin afterwards he lived many yeares This Italus Atlas by his descent was of the linage of Iaphet and of his sonne Comerus Gallus the first king of Italie and it was hee which according to the opinions of many excelled most of all men then living in the knowledge of Astrologie for which cause the busie Poets fained that he supported and upheld the heavens with his shoulders Altheus all this while was suppressed and kept under by the mightinesse of this ruler by reason whereof hystories cannot speake of any worthie matter done or performed by him onely it is written he builded and erected two very large and beautifull cities one of them called Alteta the other Althea with a castle also called after the same name And this Altheus the sonne of Tuscus before specified was uncle unto Dardanus the first builder and founder of Troy Hee had also a sonne called Blascon but it is not read that hee was afterward Coritus that is king of Italie or commanded in any extraordinary power and authoritie but that this Atlas Italus created and established one of his owne sonnes called Morges in the dignitie and office thereof wrongfully disinheriting the true heires that might lawfully have challenged the same so that by this unjust meanes of usurpation greatnesse the line and issue of Hercules was debarred from the possessing and enjoying of what rightfully belonged unto them Also he created and appointed his daughter called Rhoma as dutchesse and commaundresse of the people and nation called Aborigines of whome heretofore wee something spoke of And this Rhoma was afterward maried to a prince of Tuscane of whom she had a son called after her owne name Rhomanessos who was the first that ever laid the first foundation of the citie of Rome as Sempronius very confidently affirmeth condemning all those which attribute the first founding thereof unto Romulus who sayth hee indeed beautified and enlarged the same but was not the first that laid the foundation thereof and that his name Romulus being himselfe found hard by that cittie by wonderous accident tooke his name of Roma and not Roma of Romulus as the above written authour Sempronius a very sufficient writer and some others also of allowed authoritie have averred the same And the interpretation of this word Rhomanessos as S. Ierome the Talmudists and many others doe expound it is as much as Magna aut potens sublimitas a mightie or powerfull height or glorie beeing compounded of two severall words of the Aramean language Roma which interpreted signifies sublimitas and Nesson which is validum or magnum or as some understand it it signifieth validum augurium which is a strong and infallible prophecie which indeed the exceeding greatnesse all subjugating power mightinesse of that Empire did afterwards very fitly answer and make good being raised unto that infinit greatnesse and highest perfection of soveraignetie that it impelled almost the greater part of the world to sue unto her for favour and to become tributarie in great taxes and impositions unto her seat magnificence And this citie also was called long after by the name of Valentia of which now wee will cease further to entreat returning to the matter before handled of Atlas surnamed Italus now flourishing and commaunding over Italie in great puissance glorie and mightinesse who although as it is alreadie before specified he bore great affection favour and love unto his sonne Morges and had established him in the regaltie and kingdome of Italie as Coritus yet hee began in the end to thinke and meditat with himself how apparent and monstrous wrongs and indignities hee had offered to all the issue and posteritie of Hercules in expelling Altheus and depriving his sonne Blascon of his right in the principalitie of that countrey in those thoughts and humors hee caused to be called unto him Camboblascon the sonne of the beforementioned Blascon the sonne of Altheus and in lieu and recompence of all former and forepassed injuries hee gave unto him one of his owne daughters in mariage and matrimoniall association who was called Electra with whome in dowrie hee gave all those townes and countries lying about the Alpes and the hether mountaines nearest confining upon Italie and upon this presently after died After whose death his sonne Morges possessed belike with holy and religious cogitations acknowledging the mightie wrong and disparagement which his father had imposed on his brother in law Camboblascon in depriving him of his rightfull succession willingly and voluntarily despoiled himselfe of his crowne and commaund and transferred it upon Camboblascon whom presently hee caused to bee created and established in the dignitie of Coritus that is the Iupiter or king of Italie and so after that contented himselfe to live privately and obscurely with his brother in law and sister Electra with whome hee had not many yeares lived and conversed but hee died and paied Nature that debt which no sureties can put off or be bound for and so then Camboblascon was with more generall allowances of the people fully invested in his office and place of Coritus which is as much to say as Iupiter Coronatus as I have alreadie made known and which I cannot almost too often expound in that many have made so many and severall doubts and scrupules What these Iupiters Saturnes and Hercules might meane which names indeed are nothing else but titles of honour superioritie and dignitie and Iupiter was such as in Aegypt Pharoa and in Rome Caesar and as now their Pope for Iupiter is as much as Iuvans pater and Papa Pater patrium And whereas the superstitious people in those dayes honored and reverenced them as gods it was nothing else but for some excellencie and great dignitie they possessed or for some great vertue learning and knowledge they were then endued with as Fabius Pictor and Zenophon have delivered the same saying Principes quia iusti erant religionibus dediti iure habiti dij dicti Non enim arbitria illorum ab equo vel populis à iure innato discedebant Now then having satisfied that point we may the more boldly proceed with our intendment and with the matters of this Camboblascon king of Italie and Iupiter and Patriarke thereof and the great father as they say of the famous and renowmed Trojans And this king built the faire cittie of Montoblascon in Tuscania which by corruption is now called and knowne by the name of Montflascon and another also which hee named Coritus now called Cornete which is situated about some fortie miles from the now mightie cittie of Rome And this Camboblascon had by his wise Electra
in his Commentaries alleadgeth to the same purpose saying Fortissimi autem omnium Belgi And Strabo in the fourth booke of his Commentaries also sayth thus Omnium Gallorum Belgi sunt summi as a people that in those times as it is written could bring into the field three hundred thousand fighting men And thus much for the descriptions of the people of the countrey called Gallia Belgica with the cheefest townes siegnories and rivers thereof and now we will looke back again for the prosecuting and finishing of our former matter In this king Belgius the line and race of Galatheus the sonne of Hercules Lybicus failed and was determinate so that upon his death the people of Fraunce beeing of themselves wonderfully desirous to elect one of that linage so near as it was possible bestowed the government and commaund of that countrey upon the above written Iasius Ianigena the sonne of Iupiter Camboblascon And so by that meanes Iasius was invested and established in that kingdome as the fifteenth king and Patriark thereof And in this yeare the realm kingdome of Athens in Greece was first set up and begun as Berosus our cheefly followed author in these matters of antiquitie averreth who thus saith Apud Ianigenas à patre Iasius creatus est Coritus anno sequente simul ceperent duo reges videlice primus Rex Athentensium Cecrops priscus Iasius Ianigena apud Celtas And this was about fourescore yeares or thereabouts before the first building and erection of the cittie of Troy Iasius Ianigena the eldest son of Iupiter Camboblascon as is before declared beeing thus so gloriously possessed of two such regall and powerfull kingdomes and being in the cheefest spring and blooming daies of his age contracted and joined in mariage with a noble and rich ladie called Ipitis Cibeles for the celebration of which nuptials and espousals great feasts and ceremonies of joy and triumph were held and kept and as some write performed in the cittie of Viterbe then the capitall seat of all Tuscania And this was before the foundation of Troy threescore and seventeene yeares in the presence of Dardanus the first builder thereof and brother to the new maried king Iasius Ianigena Many writers doe affirme That in this mariage were greater triumphs pastimes sports magnificencie state and pomp than in any other in those times throughout all the world whatsoever and cheefely in respect of that noble assembly and meeting of so many mightie and great princes and more particularly for the comming of the famous empresse and goddesse as they tearme her the Aegyptian Isis the daughter of Cham the wife of Iupiter Iustus otherwise called Osyris and the mother of that all renowmed and ever memorable conquerour Hercules of Lybia king and emperor of all Fraunce Italie and Spaine And this Isis there first taught those peple the manner of making bread of floure meale and such like stuffe although before that Osyris her husband had instructed them in knowledge of agriculture tilling and sowing corne yet they were not untill now perfected in the use and right applying thereof especially for the making of bread which they learned and understood by the comming of this empresse Isis And this mariage and ceremonie of association and matrimonie was the first that in those times was celebrated and solemnized with any rites feastivals or new invented usances as Diodorus Siculus to the same purpose thus sayth these beeing his very words Has nuptias à dijs primum celebratas ferunt Cereremque in gratiam Iasij ei ex frumento panem attulisse Mercurium lyram Palladem decantatum monile peplum ac tibias c. This their goddesse Isis otherwise called by the names of Ceres Iuno Frugifera Legifera and others was by all probabilitie and by the opinion of all writers a woman of wonderfull long life and many yeares for at her now arrivall and comming to this mariage into Italie she was at the least foure hundred and fiftie yeares old as shee that was borne in the first yeare of the raigne of Semiramis queene of Babylon and lived in the whole at the least six hundred and sixteene yeares for shee was living after the first destruction and desolation of Troy by the space of fortie yeares or neare thereabouts as almost all writers have delivered in their opinions to the same purpose and effect Iohannes Annius an old writer sayth That shee was in Germanie in the time of Hercules Alemannus the eleventh king of that countrey by him called Almaigne and Cornelius Tacitus also seemeth to affirme the same by these words Pars Suevorum etiam Isidi sacrificat It is written also that she was in Fraunce in the time of Lugdus then king thereof as hath beene before declared and that shee had travelled almost all these parts of Europe instructing and teaching the poore ignorant people the use of many things then unknown unfound out And to approove the better that she was present at this mariage of Iasius Ianigena it is yet apparent in that countrey of Tuscan by many very auncient scrols lest still from time to time in that countrey from one posteritie to another as also certaine old statues and monuments of marble with inscriptions of characters infixed thereon found out in the times of Pope Alexander the sixt averre the same which as Iohannes Annius sayth were first found in the earth in the citie of Viterbe and that there were at that time upon further digging and search of more such like reliques found hidden far in the ground four severall images or pictures of triumph the one was of Iasius the other of his mother Electra the third of his faire sister Armonia which never maried but continued and died a vestall virgine and the fourth was of Cibeles the now new maried wife of Iasius There was also found another square kind of table made of marble on which were in Greeke letters these words following engraved which not long after were thus translated into Latine Coritina desponsatio cum Electra Atlai Kytij iamdudum pertransiverat maxima Isis Frumentaria atque Panifica concessit ad nuptias Iasij filij Coriti in habitaculum turrite Cibeles sponse Iasij in prelio Cybelario ad fontem Cybelarium paulo post sub vadimonia palatia paulo post à scelerato fratre Dardano Iasius male perijt in agro Iasinello in Theisijs c. And these be the very words used heretofore by authors of antiquitie By these therefore and by like semblable apparences it is cleared that this Isis their so reverently-adored goddesse was now present at the consummation of the espousals of Iasius Ianigena king of Italie and Fraunce with the ladie Ipitis Cibeles his wife And that this Isis had travelled and journeied through many and diverse countries it appeareth by many and severall pillars and stonie monuments erected in many countries of Europe in that behalfe as many authours doe produce Diodorus Siculus inferreth That in Aegypt
shee caused her selfe a mightie and stately columne to be erected wherein she caused also these words to bee insculped and inserted Ego sum Isis Egipti Regina à Mercurio erudita Que ego legibus statui nullus soluet ego sum Osyrides ego sum prima frugum inventrix ego sum Oriregis mater But to omit many other like authorities and approvements which might conduce to the clearer manifesting and unclouding of what was first proposed wee will now goe forward with this royall mariage of Iasius that we with more speed may attaine to the complete accomplishment and effectuating of my purposed entendment This great king and ruler Iasius Ianigena had of this his wife Cibeles a sonne called Corybantus so that now there wanted not any terrene or earth-born delight or felicitie which might make this happie-seeming potentate more fortunat mightie or contentfull but it is a common humor of fortune that amidst the thickest and most abundances of her graces and favours shee in some angrie or fantasticke imagination suddainely snatcheth away her so liberally bestowed gifts and leaveth the late possessors thereof involved and wrapt in a world of the miserablest unhappinesse and soule vexations that may be invented as by the fatall successe and end of this kings life most plainely appeareth For when as Dardanus his younger brother a man indeed of a proud heart great courage and inward ambition saw his brother Iasius thus to float as it were on the calme seas of joyous prosperitie and to tast of the sweet cup of Nectar which Fortune oftentimes administreth unto her favourites and thus to live famous in such abundant measure of grace and happinesse hee infinitely repined and malliciously stomacked such the greatnesse and height of his power and authoritie he beeing himselfe so suppressed and obscured by the spight of Fortune and living privately and without commaund as an inferiour or some base born person or slave These things oftentimes revolving and studying within himselfe he could not now any longer depresse or quench the overfurious heat of his aspiring spirit but in a disdainefull and scorning kind of fashion went unto his brother the king to demaund leave and licence That upon some occasions of discontent pretended he might depart out of the countrey to seeke out his better fortunes which request Iasius refused to condiscend unto and would by no meanes allow of his brothers purposes in that behalfe intended whereupon Dardanus taking it in great dislike and disparagement unto his greatnesse began secretly to enter into deadly hostilitie with him and to gather many factions and parties together on his side which by reason that he was exceedingly well beloved throughout most of those countries grew to a great number and multitude of men especially of those people then inhabiting on the other side of the river Tybre which we called since the Latines besides the countrey of Naples Povilla Calabria and others thereabouts all these conjoyned and consorted with the faction of Dardanus and with Iasius all those on this side of Tybre beeing them of Tuscania Fraunce and other particular provinces thereabouts At this very time as many writers doe deliver happened in the world many uncouth straunge and wonderfull portents as fearefull earthquakes lightening blazing comets and ougly visions as also throughout all Thessalie a generall overflow and deluge of waters in another part of Greece a strange combustion of houses and townes and miserable effects of fire throughout most part of that countrey In the same time also Pharao king of Aegypt following Moyses and the children of Israel through the red sea with all his armie perished and were overwhelmed with the churlish buffetings of the angrie and wrathfull billowes All which signes and extraordinarie accidents did manifestly pretoken prefigure the suddain approch of some great alteration of estates and troubles of mightie kingdomes The fire of discontent and enmitie betweene the two brothers beeing thus wholly set on flame and diverse attempts and meetings of wrath passed betweene them it happened that Dardanus received the worst and upon many encounters still was put unto his shifts especially by the fresh supplie and aid which Siceleus king of the isle of Sicilia the sixteenth king of Spain had then brought unto his brother Iasius so that continually being weakened more and more both in numbers of men and in the courages of them that staied he was enforced for his own securitie to give over those such publicke meanes of oppression and revenge and to betake his thoughts unto contriving and plotting of some more inward and therefore more daungerous stratagems So that in the end to avoid prolixitie and tedious circumstance he so wrought that he awaited a time when the king his brother then all suspectlesse of any intended mischeefe went privately to a fountaine or spring to wash himselfe which occasion and oportunitie so fairely presenting it selfe Dardanus most traiterously and vilely murdered him And upon that not daring to adventure his stay or to engage himselfe so far in those cases of perill he presently tooke shipping in the next haven and with all his jewels what else riches portable he could cary with him away with many of his freinds followers and servitors he secretly and closely set saile and departed The right noble and trespuissant king of Fraunce thus cruelly murdered by the bloudie hands of his owne naturall though in that unnaturall brother in the fiftith year of his raigne and mightie governement and in the fourscore and fourth yeare of his owne age all the people and inhabitants thereabouts began mightily to bewaile his untimely and miserable end which was before the foundation of Troy eight and twentie yeares or much thereabouts In generall deploration and laments of this kings death not only Italy and France but all parts of the world unto whome the shrill voiced trumpet of Fame had sounded forth this report conjoyned and bemoned together for that hee kept peace and amitie with all princes whatsoever in all unitie love and concord and carried himselfe so upright and so wise in the troublesome managing of affaires belonging unto two kingdomes that hee gained and woon unto him the hearts and affections of almost all people whatsoever After his death his sonne Coribantus succeeded in the governement of the kingdome of Italie but not of Fraunce so that the people thereof were a good while after without a cheefe or ruler but in the end they chose and elected one that was nearest unto the linage and line of Hercules as they might and his name was Allobrox now the sixteenth king therof The which king afterward for the most part kept and remained at the foot of the mountaines Apennini afronting upon Italie and there commaunded even unto the hils Pyrenei which divide the countrey of Spaine from France and from the Mediterranean sea unto the maine Ocean and unto the river of Rhyne and he there builded and erected many famous townes and
a great troupe and companie of followers friends he embarked for the cost of Phrygia to see the greatnesse of Dardanus and the beautie and excellencie of his new built citie Dardania After some tedious and troublesome travels in this voyage at the last hee arrived at his wished and desired place where with all manner of ceremonie he was joyfully entertained by Dardanus whose reciprocall and mutuall love grew in the end to bee such as hee resolved and there set downe his rest for ever to remaine and not to returne againe into Italie but sent word thether of his purposes and commaunding them to create and establish Turrhenus in his absence king and sole ruler over all that countrey In few yeares Dardanus began to grow unto great mightinesse riches and power who had also a neighbour prince of mightie puissance wealthie and fortunate whose name was Teâ—â—rus whereupon many writers call the Phrygians also Teucri and this Teucrus was the sonne of Scamander and Idea and had also himselfe a very beautifull and faire daughter which hee maried shortly after unto Dardanus and was called Batea of whome Dardanus begot a sonne called Eâ—icthonius who succeeded after him and was inheritour unto the kingdome of Phrygia This Ericthonius in processe of time arose up unto a wonderfull greatnesse and large possessions who as many writers do affirme was accounted to bee one of the richest kings in those daies in that part of the world who as it is also said had at the least three thousand horses of his owne continually feeding in his pastures And this Ericthonius had also a sonne whom he named Tros whome after his death hee left as successour and inheritour unto him and of whose name afterwards the Dardanians were called Trojans This Tros very much obliged and beautified the cittie also of Dardania 〈…〉 which long time after it retained 〈…〉 had three sonnes which were Ilus Assaracus 〈…〉 hee brought up in the knowledge 〈…〉 warlicke sciences unto which kind of studie as it is written hee himselfe also was much addicted and had many yeares together maintained hostile warres with the king of Crete called Iupiter the fourth of that name there in which warres his sonne Ganimedes was taken prisoner even by the hands of Iupiter himselfe who for that in his ensigne and colours he gave an Eagle being his armes it should seeme the Poets for that cause have devised and feigne 〈…〉 as hee was on hunting was snatcht up from the 〈◊〉 unto heaven by Iupiter 〈…〉 Eagle find that hee is now taken for one of the twelve signes of the Zodiake called Aquarius Some other authors also write that one Tantalus king of high Phrygia and of Paphlagonia a most miserable covetous and auaricious prince had laid certaine snaâ—es and privie meanes to entrap this Ganimedes and to take him prisoner as hee used to sport himselfe in hunting thinking by that devise to get a mightie raunsome of his father Tros for the redeeming and enfranchising of his imprisoned and captivated sonne and that this Tantalus sent him to one Iupiter of the Isle of Crete for to safegard him and to have halfe the raunsome which should bee paied for his redeliverie and freedome And for such like causes belike the Poets also doe invent and say that Tantalus is plagued and tormented in hell standing up to the chin in water and apples hanging downe unto his lips and yet can neither drinke nor tast the one or the other and it is also more credibly written that he died most miserably and in great extremitie His sonne Pelops also banished and exiled his owne naturall countrey fled into Greece and there maried a wonderfull rich wife and great ladie by which meanes hee got unto himselfe and obtained the commaund of a whole countrey which he called after his own name Peloponnesus which is now the countrey of Mauritania and subject unto the Empire of the Turke And of this Pelops issued and came the two famous captaines Agamemnon and Menelaus Tros thus having lost his sonne on this fashion studied upon revenge and in the meane times comforted himselfe with his two other sonnes Ilus and Assaracus And this Ilus called Troy after that Ilion who begat a sonne named Laomedon the father of the renowmed Priamus and of Assaracus issued and came Anchises Aeneas father And the before written Tros ruled commaunded there in great power and puissance for the space of threescore yeares or neare thereabouts Archilochus as Archilochus in his booke of Times alloadgeth Laomedon the sonne of king Ilus as is beforesaid after the death of his father tooke upon him the rule and government of Troy in the two hundred and two and twentieth yeare after the first foundation therof by Dardanus and hee had five sonnes and two daughters which were these Priamus Titonus Lampus Clytion and Letaon and of these Homer in his Iliads maketh further mention his daughters were Antigone and Hesione Homer The Greeke Poets who indeed for the most part are full of such like fables doe say that the two gods Neptune and Apollo for a certaine summe of money promised them by him went with him about the circuit of the citie and there erected wonderfull strong and most huge high wals round about the same the which wals afterwards finished accordingly and no money received nor to bee got Apollo in great rage and anger infected the citie with a deadly and generall pestilence and Neptune in token of his wrath and displeasure also sent a monster of the sea among them unto which they must every day give and throw a young child or els that they all should perish and bee devoured by the ravenous maw and hunger thereof and that in the end it happened upon the daughter of Laomedon called Hesione to be given unto this marine beast which say they was rescued and releeved by great fortune by Hercules of Greece which came that way and who afterwards slew that monster and in gratification therof the ladie Hesione the daughter of Laomedon was promised unto him not long after in marriage but yet not married unto him by reason of the unwillingnesse afterward howsoever it fell out of her father for the breach of which promise Hercules afterwards slew Laomedon in open battell and spoyled and ruinated such his glorious citie And for that Thelamon his consort had that day behaved himselfe very valiantly in fight hee bestowed the young ladie Hesione upon him as his concubine and slave who carried her away with him into the countrey of Solamina whereof he was then king and ruler But it is most certaine that for the most part all those Greeke writers have erred infinitely and have delivered many most unlikely hystories for this Hercules as hath been before spoken was a notable and a famous pyrate and hee slew Laomedon by trecherie and surprised Troy on a suddaine and unawares and also hee was a common ravisher of maidens as of Hesione Medea and others as